The courtroom is full again. Poe, buoyed by the success of the experiment and the prospect of resurrecting BB-8, walks proudly in by Finn's side. Jess, still a little shaky but on her feet again (and uncuffed, thank goodness), walks in hand-in-hand with Rey.
The experimenters' testimony is largely unnecessary, given that the few Resistance fighters who weren't in the arena have heard the story several times, from several different angles. The fact that "witch" has not become a joke around the base is proof positive of the depth of their respect for the General.
Hot pile of bantha shit, on the other hand… Snap's got his hands full. Jess is going to slap some respect back into those who keep repeating the epithet. But she might let it slide for a few days first. And of course, woe betide anyone who even mouths the words "Jedi scum."
The proceedings are quick: just a summary of the experiment's results, including a public thanks to Jess for her bravery in trying the drug. Finn escorts Poe out to the hallway one last time, brushes a kiss to his cheek, and hurries back inside. When the metal doors clang shut behind him, it is very quiet in the hallway. Poe stares at his feet.
"Commander Dameron." It's Ferin again. Poe looks up. "The base is with you, sir. You'll be all right."
Poe holds his gaze for a long time. Finally he nods. "Thank you, Private Ferin." He smiles crookedly. "It's an honor to have been guarded by you."
Ferin's lips twitch. "It's an honor to have guarded you, Commander Dameron."
Ferin's comm crackles to life. "Escort the prisoner inside the courtroom."
"Copy that." Poe's stomach flips with cold nausea. Ferin steps forward, unlocks Poe from the wall, marches him into the courtroom, and locks his cuffs onto the podium again. Poe braces his feet shoulder-width apart, clasps his hands together, and wills himself not to show fear.
It was easier to stand before Kylo Ren, he thinks. In the desert, he could protect his thoughts from the danger by holding onto a chestful of hot anger. Now it is not his body that is under threat, but his place in the galaxy. He is Commander Poe Dameron. He does not have a backup plan.
Leia stands. "Poe."
NO.
"You have been accused of one hundred and twenty-seven counts of murder and one count of high treason. Based on the evidence of the flight paths and your own admission that you believe you were flying a TIE-fighter while in the hands of the First Order, this court has ruled that you did, indeed, kill all one hundred and twenty-seven Resistance fighters and sympathizers."
Poe grips the podium hard enough to break through his skin.
"However, the results of today's experiment indicate that the drug synthesized from the trace compounds found in your bloodstream is capable of allowing a mind to be brainwashed into a different set of beliefs, strong enough to be willing to kill one's own people. Due to the drug, this court has ruled that you were unable to control your actions while under the influence of the brainwashing agent. In addition, the circumstances of your captivity indicate that you were unable to escape by any means in order to prevent further deaths from occurring."
Leia pauses a moment to let this sink in. "Therefore, this court finds you innocent of treason and absolves you of all culpability in the deaths of our Resistance fighters. We would therefore be proud to reinstate you as Starfighter Corps Commander."
Poe's head spins.
"However, we understand that the ordeal of your captivity, as well as the lack of trust from your fellow fighters upon your return, may make it difficult for you to resume your military duties. While we would be grieved to see you leave the Resistance, we would understand the necessity. You would be discharged with full honors and given what you need to make a new life for yourself. The choice is entirely up to you. You may take as much time as you require to decide."
"I— what?" Poe shakes his head. "General Organa." His voice cracks. "Of course I want to stay. This is my home. You are— you're all my—" He can't continue.
Leia's face cracks into the fullest smile he's ever seen on her, at least since Starkiller. "I'm glad to hear it. We will be honored to fight beside you again. Welcome back to the Resistance, Commander Dameron."
Poe's knees buckle. Only his deathgrip on the podium keeps him upright. Suddenly Finn's in front of him, fumbling with the lock control. The cuffs fall from his wrists. Finn kisses each wrist, throws his arms around Poe, kisses him fiercely. Poe can't remember how to move his body. His arms rise hesitantly, wrap around Finn, grab onto the muscles of his back to pull him close. He tastes salt, he must be crying, or maybe that's Finn, or maybe both of them, his ears are ringing, or maybe that's real noise? Poe breaks off from Finn to face the courtroom.
Everyone is standing.
His friends, his pilots, his comrades-in-arms— everyone on the base is clapping, cheering, laughing, shouting his name in a thunderous tumult of welcome. Poe looks from face to face, mouth open, stunned into silence. Finn watches, mesmerized, as Poe drinks in the trust and the welcome and the love of his fellow fighters. Watches as Poe's body slowly transform from prisoner to free man to commander. As Poe's gaunt, pale face slowly rekindles. As his dark eyes ignite with an incandescent fire.
Poe nods to the crowd and salutes. They cheer even louder. Poe turns back towards Finn. He flings his uncuffed arms out wide, wider, and pulls Finn into a fierce kiss.
Home at last.
The courtroom empties slowly, slowly, as everyone mobs Poe to shake hands, clap him on the back, welcome him home, wish him well. It's a lovely parade, but towards the end of it Poe's words are starting to cool in his mouth. No, you didn't always believe in me, he wants to say. You put me on trial. And you, I watched you testify against me. He understands suddenly why Leia had offered him a way out. Can he fight alongside those who believed him a traitor?
Not easily. But he'd rather be here with them, fighting for peace and justice, than anywhere else in the universe. And if they've decided to try to trust him again, then he can try to do the same.
Snap grabs him in for a bear hug. "Thank goodness you're back, Commander." His dark eyes laugh at Poe under a full head of black curls.
"Thanks for volunteering for the experiment, Snap. Are you—"
"Oh yeah. I'm fine. Except for, you know—"
"Hot—"
"Yeah. That. But honestly, I'm glad it's me they're teasing and not her for, you know—"
"Shooting at everyone."
"Yeah. That." Snap sighs and scrubs a hand through his beard. "Well. I'm going to have a few words with Jess tonight. Between her right hook and my death glare, we'll straighten everyone out."
Poe laughs, but sobers quickly. "And Snap, thanks for— I saw the memorial—"
"Poe." Snap claps a large hand on his shoulder. "Don't go thinking you're something special, ok? I'd do the same for anyone in the fleet. Your head gets any bigger, it won't fit inside the cockpit. Speaking of which, if you're up for it, we're going to start searching for a replacement for Black One tomorrow morning at 0700. I think you're probably going to be grounded still, at least level two, but keep an eye on your comm. We'll send you holos and stats for anything that looks promising."
"Thanks, Snap. Again. And—" Poe hesitates.
Snap waits him out, a rogue grin hovering around his lips. Poe sighs and rubs his temple. Finally he faces Snap again, uncomfortable. "Leia promoted you in my absence. I don't—"
Snap raises his brows, grin settling further into place.
"Do you—" Poe raises his hands in frustration and finally just blurts it out. "I don't want to cause a rift between us. But I also intend to return as Commander. I'm not sure that's a thing that can be shared, or—"
"Poe." Snap's grin broadens further. "Thanks so much for offering. Or almost offering. Or not really offering. But still. Really. I appreciate the thought. Yes, I'm ok with going back to being a squadron leader. Look, it was fun for a day or two, I like the helmet and the jacket and the front seat in mission control and the scared faces when I walk into a room. But you're the commander, Poe." His voice drops, serious. "You've earned it. Many times over. And anyway," he snorts, "I don't know how you keep all of those flight schematics in your head at the same time. One squadron, sure, but an entire fleet? I've been going nuts trying to keep up. I'll be glad to repaint my ship back to Blue One."
Poe clasps Snap by the shoulders, tilts his head up to look Snap in the eye. "Thank you, Snap. Thank you."
"How many 'thank-you's' is that by now, four? I'm sure you'll find a way to make them all up to me. Maybe start with some nice missions to Coruscant, time for a day or two of R&R in their nightclubs before returning to base."
Poe laughs. "I'll keep it in mind, Snap. Glad to be back in action with you."
"You too, Dameron." Snap claps his friend on the back.
As Snap walks on across the courtroom, Poe's surprised by a flying leap from Jessika. She stops short just shy of actually tackling him, suddenly afraid he'll topple over if she jumps him. "I'll be thinking about what you can do to pay me back, Dameron. Don't think I'll forget about it."
Poe's broad grin matches hers. "Oh, I'm sure you won't. And I'm quite sure you deserve it, Pava." He holds her eyes with his for a moment, serious again. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Jess replies with equal solemnity, then whacks his arm. "But if you get sappy on me again, Dameron, I will hurt you."
"Noted." Poe grins at her.
Rey joins them, cutting her eyes at Jess. "Did you just hit him?"
"Maybe."
"Jess."
"He deserved it."
Rey eyes Poe. "Did you?"
Poe shrugs. "Probably."
"Definitely."
"Jess, you're impossible."
Jess raises her brows at Poe. "Would you like everyone to be very gentle around you and take great care not to hurt you?"
Poe levels a pair of mock dagger eyes at her. "Pava, you know damn well—"
Jess flashes a bright grin at Rey. "See, Rey, you just haven't known this guy as long as I have. Stick around a few more years, you'll figure it out." She waves a cheeky hand at the two of them before joining the crowd filing slowly out of the courtroom.
Rey turns to Poe. "Well, I was going to say that the clearing is probably a bit too far of a walk for tomorrow morning, but—"
Poe laughs. "No, you're right. I'd rather not get the pity eye, but I'm not delusional. Or at least not very delusional. I'm also not sure if they'll even let me out of the medbay tomorrow. But I'd love to meditate with you for a bit, when I can."
Rey's face lights up. "Good. Comm me when you're up for it, then. I'll be training in the morning."
"All right, then. And Rey—" Poe reaches a hand towards her. She takes it. "Thank you. For—the rescue, for the test, for—for everything. You took care of Finn while— while. Didn't you?"
"Only via holocall."
"Still."
Rey laughs suddenly. "I would say I'd be happy to do it again anytime, but I wouldn't, I really wouldn't, Poe, could you maybe try not to get yourself fucking captured again!"
Poe's eyes widen. It's rare to find such a vehement sentence, with a curse no less, in Rey's mouth. "I—yeah. Yeah, Rey. I'll do my best."
Rey nods, relaxed again. "Good. Now—" Her mouth quirks at the edges, wicked. "I have some things to discuss with a few of the officers."
Poe's not quite sure why the things involve checking a small datapad in her pocket, picking out a particular officer from the crowd, and pulling him out of the courtroom behind her, hissing intently in his ear, but he's not going to argue. And it doesn't escape his notice that the officer is one of those who testified against him. I have the best friends in the galaxy, he thinks. The absolute best.
Force, he missed them.
Leia's the last to leave the courtroom. He turns to her reluctantly, still not sure he can face her without showing his residual fury.
"General Organa." He nods to her. "Thank you. For ruling in my favor. For reinstating me as commander. For allowing the rescue mission to go out in the first place."
Leia folds her arms across her chest and looks him up and down. "Dameron. You're welcome." She pauses. "I'm sorry about the trial. And the cuffs."
"It's fine, General. I understand."
"No, you don't." Leia smiles crookedly. "Nerfherder. I don't think you'll ever learn how to lie convincingly. No, no, it's a good thing!" She waves a hand over his protests. "But if you can't lie, Poe, then you ought to be honest with me. You're furious about the trial. And the cuffs. That's not a Force thing; that's your face being an unencrypted transmission."
Leia's face slides into a crooked half-smile before she continues, serious. "Poe. This trial was just as real, and just as fake, as the last one. The base needed to see the evidence from the drug in order to trust you again. You needed to be officially absolved of your culpability in the deaths. We all needed to come to an official conclusion on your status, both in order to reinstate you as Starfighter Corps Commander and to reduce the likelihood of you finding a knife in your back on some dark night."
Leia takes his arm with a gentle hand. "And," she presses on, "I wanted to give you an honorable out. I really wasn't sure you would be able to return to us, after this." She can feel the empty space between his sleeve and his skin. "Keep in mind that you have as much time as you need to recover. And that my offer will always stand, should recovery prove too difficult. But, Poe—" Her gaze holds him still. "I have no doubt you'll heal from this in due time. There are many people here who love you. You have always been one of us, and you always will be. The trial just made it official again."
Leia smiles again, pats him on the shoulder, and turns to leave. On her way out, she adds over her shoulder, "Oh, and you're level two grounded until cleared by medbay. If I hear you've gone off-planet before then, I will be royally pissed. You're welcome for not grounding you completely— in the condition you're in, I probably should have. Once you're cleared to fly and back in fighting condition, you can choose to return to active duty at any time. Or not, as you choose. Clear?"
Poe salutes automatically. "Yes, General."
Leia's face breaks into a relieved grin. "It's good to have you back, Commander Dameron."
He and Finn are the only ones left in the courtroom now. Poe stands there for a long moment, trying and failing to wrap his head around Leia's words. The trial. The memory of everyone cheering his name, rushing to hug him, welcoming him back to the base.
In the past 48 hours, he's been a prisoner of the First Order, of his rescuing friends, of the Resistance. He's been treated by doctors and discussed in court and consulted on how to run an experiment. He's watched his best friend endure, surrounded by friends, what he had to endure for months alone in a cell. He's been restored as Commander, as a full member of the Resistance, as a free man. His mind spirals around the last part, unsure what to do with it. Being home, being him. It's such a foreign thing.
"Poe?" Finn's hesitant voice breaks through his thoughts. Poe slowly turns to him, takes in his lover's familiar form. He reaches his hand out, touches Finn's arm, wraps his fingers around it, steps closer, slides his arm down to Finn's waist, cups the other hand around the back of Finn's neck. It's so strange, so right. His body is here. He's not quite sure where his mind is. Maybe halfway between, lost in deep dark space.
Finn waits, silent. Poe closes his eyes and touches his lips to Finn's, sucks Finn's tongue into his mouth, feels the connections between their bodies start to hum. Chest, hips, knees knocking against each other, teeth biting lips, shoulders pressed in tight, hands grabbing muscles, thigh between Finn's. Rough touches to ground him back into his home. To prove he here, he is strong, he is not breakable.
Finn, surprised at the fierce urgency in Poe's movements, takes a moment to follow his cue. But then his hands are sinking into Poe's hair, gripping it tightly, pulling hard enough to make Poe's breath come short. Finn laughs against his mouth as Poe's leg comes up to wrap around their waists. Reluctantly he breaks off, sweeps Poe's hair back from his forehead. "Careful, hey. If we keep going with what you're trying to do here, I'm going to end up having to carry you back to the medbay."
"It's fine, I'm fine, come on." Poe's eyes are overbright with need. But it's not just a need for touch, even for sex, and they both know that.
Finn leans his forehead against Poe's. "This isn't going to fix anything," he whispers.
"Didn't ask you to fix anything," Poe whispers back. "Didn't ask you to treat me like I'm going to break if you touch me too hard. I'm asking you, right now, to fuck me."
Finn's head pulls back from Poe's, eyes round. It's a moment before he can respond coherently. "That is an offer I will never pass up. But first we're going back to our room—"
"Oh," Poe says, looking around at the empty courtroom. "Right."
"—and then you're lying down on the bed before you fall down, because you actually did nearly collapse twice on our way here. Which suggests to me that you are not likely to be able to handle any kind of serious action. But—" Finn runs his tongue between his teeth. "I think we'll figure something out. Oh, Poe." He drops his head to Poe's shoulder. "You're alive. You're back. It's over. It's ok now. I can't—"
"You can't? Two days ago I was trapped and alone, trying to die, knowing that—Finn—I'm not going to be ok for a long time, you know that, right?" Poe's voice ends half an octave up from where he started.
"I know that, Poe." Finn frames Poe's face in his hands. "That's ok. There's no hurry. Take as long as you need. Forever. And whatever isn't going to be ok, even with time—that's ok too. You're here. You're alive. I don't give a fuck about anything else," Finn growls.
"Fucking. Right." Poe's talking too fast, avoiding the burn in the back of his throat. He's not going to cry, not now, not when he's finally back in the world of the living. "You promised. Let's go. Why are we still talking here?"
"Ok, Poe, ok," Finn laughs. He slides half-out of their embrace, one arm still slung around Poe's waist. "We're going to our room. We're not going to cry. We're not going to talk. We're going to fuck."
