Chapter Text
With all the remaining resistance members having boarded the Millennium Falcon, the sturdy cargo ship rose from the ground before leaving the mineral planet completely. The resistance was at its smallest yet, and somehow - after seeing the legendary Luke Skywalker once more - their hope was burning like a wildfire. But not for everyone.
After Finn had placed Rose on the med bed and covered her - waiting for the resistance medics to give her attention - he turned, looking around. Rey was talking to Leia, not wishing to interrupt he walked around the Millennium Falcon.
A lot had happened since he was last there - when he was conscious, that is - Han Solo had died, Starkiller base was destroyed and Rey had left to find the enigmatic Luke Skywalker. When he had awoken from his coma - he went to find anyone, especially Rey. For before he was taken out by Kylo Ren, she was lying unconscious in the snow of Starkiller.
After these 18 hours had finished - he just wanted to hug his friend and tell her everything. But he couldn’t. As his actions were eating away at him from the inside. Finn walked away from everyone else to find a quiet place on the Falcon. Little did he know he was being followed. By the time he had found a quiet spot; which took some time considering how many people, droids and new species of bird never seen before were packed into the Falcon; he was interrupted a few seconds later.
“You okay, bud?” Came a voice from behind, that made Finn jump from his skin.
Poe was standing, leaning on the door archway, smiling down at Finn.
“Poe,” the sight of the pilot made him smile and quickly embrace him in a hug.
Poe laughed, embracing his friend in a hug, “I only just saw you a few minutes ago,” whilst gently patting him on the back.
Finn slightly winced at the pat, clearly his saber wound couldn’t be healed completely, “I know,” Finn shrugged it off, as the two pulled out from their embrace, “But so much has happened and…” He stopped, as his thought trailed him back to that same feeling.
As Finn looked to the ground, swimming in thoughts of failing the resistance, Poe grabbed Finn by the shoulder, “Tell me what happened, Finn,” but he wasn’t angry, he was smiling back at him.
Finn took a big breath, relaxed and told Poe everything. What happened on Canto Bight, getting the codebreaker who betrayed them, and worst of all being so close to turning off the tracker but not close enough. Throughout it all Poe listened intently; he nodded and asked questions, always making sure to see if Finn was okay.
“I failed.”
Poe didn't reply to him straight away, but let what Finn said remain in the air for a few seconds, “That happens sometimes,” was what Poe replied, rather optimistically, “Everyone here in the resistance has failed on multiple times. Yes, even me,” He added, chuckling whilst patting Finn on the knee.
“The First Order found out about our plans because of me.“
Poe thought again, “Well, no,” He replied, continuing to think his answer out, “It wasn’t your fault,” Poe gestured to him sympathetically, as - in his mind - he was trying to string this all together as delicately as possibly, “It was the codebreaker. He’s the one they found that information from, not you. Right?”
“Yeah, But I put my trust in him,” Finn pointed in towards his chest, “And I shouldn’t have,” Shaking his head.
“Finn,” He repeated multiple times,” You’re making that sound like a character flaw,” Was what he eventually got out, but not after tripping up all his words, “But that’s not- that’s one of the reasons that makes you-“ Poe stopped for a while, gulped with red cheeks, “It’s one of the reason that makes you who you are. And you’re a great man, Finn. Trust me on that.”
Poe sat from up from the seat next to Finn, “You did good today, Finn. You’re a great asset to the resistance. You freed those creatures from Canto Bight and caused havoc. Those war profiteers deserved that.”
“They sold to us, did you know that?”
Poe’s smile faded, and he looked down to the ground in deep remorse, “I did, and I rallied against that alongside General Leia,” The resistance pilot sighed, “But that led us to the state we’re in now,” Poe said, gesturing out around the Falcon, “But I don’t- But I don’t, for one moment, ever regret that.”
Poe put out his hand, “So thank you for giving them hell, Finn. In my eyes, that makes you a hero.”
Finn grabbed Poe by the hand, and stood up. To which Poe shook it.
“I couldn’t stop the tracker.”
“No, No - you couldn’t,” Trying to reply as honestly as possible, but without hurting the ex stormtrooper’s feelings.
“We lost a lot of ships and people because of that.”
“Yes, we did,” Poe nodded, rubbing his hand on his chin, “But I could say the same about me, you know or just about-” Another sight let out by Poe, Finn grabbed him on the shoulder to reassure him, “Because of my attack on the dreadnaught we did too. I should’ve listened to Leia but-“ Placing his hands on his hips, “I believe so much in the resistance. It’s all I’ve ever known,” Poe looked off to the side, reminiscing. His life with the rebellion and resistance, “And we’re so thinly spread - I thought I saw the chance to weaken the first order. And I just - like a fool I jumped at the chance.” He looked back up to Finn, “I guess, that’s the point. We learn from our mistakes. I see hope reignited today in all these people. Your journey may have been a failure to you, but we can learn from it.”
Poe turned to walk out, but stopped and looked back, “I don’t think we officially welcomed you to the resistance, did we?” He said, with a grin.
Finn smiled back and straightened his back, “I’m honoured to join, Poe Dameron.”
The two walked out of their hidden corner, and joined the rest of the resistance. Poe took Finn around - properly greeting him with the other members of the resistance. And they all thanked, and greeted him with open arms. Especially Leia.
“Good to properly see you again, Finn.” The general told him, as she stood from her seat, “Although the plan wasn’t strictly official,” Giving Poe a strict glance, “I thank you and Rose for your willingness to fight for the resistance.”
Finn met with Rey again, the two once again embracing. Poe looked away, as if embarrassed and not wanting to tread their privacy. So he and BB8, who now optimistically followed Poe around the Falcon, sauntered off to let the friends have their long awaited reunion.
The Falcon had been flying amongst the stars for a while now - as the higher officials figure out where to land (now that older bases have been destroyed and Crait is now known by the first order). Rey and many others were asleep now too - laying on couches and the grated floor of the Falcon. Rose was still being tended to by the medics. However, Finn found himself unable to sleep. As Poe was discussing with remaining Admirals, Captains and Commanders - he noticed Finn from the corner of his eye.
“Excuse me for a moment,” Stepping away from the discussion, with BB8 trailing behind him.
Poe sat next to Finn, who was sitting on some steps.
“Still okay, buddy?” He said, patting Finn’s thigh as he sat on the step with him.
BB8 stopped behind the two, beeping and whirring at the two, his head turning from both.
“Give us a sec, BB?” BB8 let a massive whirr out and rolled backwards, his eye caught on the two.
“I’m fine, Poe. Just can’t sleep after everything that’s happened in the span of just a few days - feels like I’ve aged years.”
“Well, you don’t look it,” Poe smoothly, yet accidentally, slipped out. “I mean - Anyway,” He quickly added, to turn attention away from what he’d said, “You joined us in probably the busiest we’ve ever been in taking down the First Order,” He smiled to Finn, his eyes shining as he looked at him, “Especially now that the New Republic gone there’s no one to fund or help us.” Poe had begun to talk about the whole situation, trying to reassure Finn. But then Finn let out a bigger bombshell.
“Rose kissed me on Crait.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Said Poe, taken back.
“She just… kissed me.” Said Finn, aghast - the return of Luke Skywalker, their escape and his reunion with Rey had made him completely forget about it until just now when sitting with Poe.
“When?” Said Poe, utterly shocked by such a thing.
“After she crashed into my ski speeder - she just… kissed me.”
“Why would she do that?” Poe blurted out, “Not that people wouldn’t want to kiss you. You’d be a good kisser, but well I don’t think that…” Poe quickly tripping over his own words that weren’t meant to dig him into a bigger hole.
“She said that this was all about saving the ones you love. But I…” Finn thought for a moment, thinking of the time he and Rose spent together. He liked her, sure, but he never thought of her like that. Only as a friend. “I don’t think of her that way, Poe. I don’t know how to tell her.”
Poe took a breath and thought about what to say, trying to hide his slightly red cheeks, “Be honest to her. Did you kiss back?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Well, that’s good,” Poe said, this time not even trying to save his skin.
Finn gave Poe a side glance, but just ignored the comment - he doubted it was that big. Then all he could think about what Rose had said. How it’s about saving the ones you love. Rose loved him, that’s what she had told him. But then he thought about the ones he loved and held dear to him. Rey - she was a close friend, and in a short span they had been through so much together. The same could be said for Rose, and Poe.
And then his thoughts turned to Poe - how he had been so ready to help him escape from the First Order, how he embraced him back on the base, let him keep his jacket. He searched deep into his mind - he was by his side when Finn was unconscious. And he was the first to talk to him when he got up from his coma - and he explained everything as much as he could for him. He was sweet, and that made Finn smile. And he was right there next to him - checking if he was okay.
And then it struck him - he had left Poe’s jacket behind during his undercover mission. That jacket meant a lot to him - it was a symbol of Poe and Finn and…
“Poe, I lost the jacket.”
“Finn?”
“I accidentally left it-“
“Buddy, buddy - calm down. I’m sure you didn’t mean to, and I doubt you expected the Supremacy to be taken down like it was.”
“It meant a lot to me.”
“Same here, Finn,” Poe grabbed him by the shoulders, “But you’re more important than a jacket.”
Finn smiled at Poe, he was so kind and Finn could always feel his passion in everything he did. Finn was surprised by Poe’s answer - if it meant so much to him why would he so willingly give it to him. His head was swimming with feelings and questions.
Finn then realised, that’s why Poe gave him his jacket. He had shared something that was important with him, because Poe cared about him. And he, of course, cared back. And as this all occurred, Finn had a realisation.
“-A lot of things are important to me,” Poe said, cheeks still red - trying to look away from Finn, ”Like the resistance for example,” Then he pulled at a necklace and showed it to Finn. The above light from the Falcon made it glimmer like a star. It was a ring. “This as well. It was my mother’s. She gave it to me in hopes that one day I would give it a person I care a lot about.”
Finn smiled, he had never seen this side of Poe before - it was relaxing. Poe was someone he would willingly fight beside, protect, and even die for. How was he so sure about how he felt about Poe?
“The resistance is about saving the ones you love.”
Poe smiled, looking at the ring.
And Finn grabbed it from him, and moved his palms to Poe’s hands.
The two smiled at each other - in a moment, they could both feel this spark. And, both together, they fell into the others eyes at once. Just staring, letting themselves both be taken in the moment. Neither knowing exactly what to do, or to say. But just allowing themselves to be swimming in this moment of silence, of tenderness. Of caring. For Finn, it had just clicked - a realisation that he’d have to think long and hard about before he could act. He needed to be ready for it, not to rush head first into it.
The two pulled out of the moments, both their cheeks red and both beaming at the other.
“I, uh-” Said Poe, scratching his forehead with a large grin upon his face, “I… Well, I-” Standing up and pointing to General Leia still in her conference, “I better get back.”
BB8 had returned, catching Poe off guard as he accidentally bumped into the droid (who let out a loud beep of surprise) as he walked back to where he came from.
Finn remained on the step, watching as Poe walked off - leaving Finn caught in a moment of such intense wonder and happiness. He knew he had a lot to deal with, but he didn’t care, he knew how he felt about the resistance pilot Poe Dameron.