The dark chasm they entered groaned with the wind, a morbid whistling accompanying them as they walked through a once glorious entrance hall. The place was decaying and falling apart. As though unbeknownst to him, Finn clutched for Poe's hand. He held it tight in his grip, taking comfort from human contact and his mere presence. There was something about Poe that just made him feel at ease. He was the charming, cock-sure pilot who had seen the world. From Finn's narrow experience, he thought that there wasn't a situation Poe couldn't handle with ease and a crooked grin. Poe glanced over at Finn, his brow furrowed, but he gave Finn's hand a squeeze, non-the-less, and held it without comment or complaint. They walked slowly, together, into the belly of the entrance hall. The ceiling stretched up into the very heavens, held aloft by marble and glass columns that were far too thin, in Finn's opinion, to hold up a roof. Their footsteps echoed, disturbing a nest of birds, who squawked at them in annoyance, making Finn jump. Poe held his hand a little tighter for just a moment, as though he too had been startled. The pilot had much more composure than him. Finn thought there was something graceful about Poe. He moved with such confidence. Finn greatly envied him that. He felt club-footed by comparison. Sure, Poe was cocky, but he had the goods to back it up. He really was the Best Pilot in the Resistance. Part of him felt that Poe had started his life. In a glorious blaze of light, he had come into Finn's life and changed it forever.
"Just some birds. It's fine." Poe said, in what could be described as a soothing tone. They stood together and stared all around them, their eyes being drawn to the crumbling glass ceiling.
"This place must have been a real beauty back in its day." Poe said, his eyes being drawn back down to Finn. They stared at each other in the pale light, the moment seeming to last an eternity.
"Whatcha doin?" came a small voice. A child. Poe stared around him, eyes alert, and his body coiled like a spring, as though he was ready to pounce at a moment's notice. Finn saw the child immediately. Perched on the top of a statue of a tall Jedi, who glared down at the pair of them, was a small girl. She had carrot-coloured hair tied back in three bunches. Just like Rey's. he thought. Finn pointed her out to Poe, who seemed to relax instantly. He let go of Finn's hand, much to Finn's regret.
"Well hey." His voice was friendly, and Finn could hear the smile in the other man's voice. "We're looking for our friends Luke and Rey. Do you know where they are?" The little girl tilted her head and stared at the pair of them with big green eyes. The girl clambered upright on top of the Jedi statue's head, then jumped from the great height. Finn's eyes widened, and he made to run forward to try to catch the child. Surely, all her bones would shatter? But she landed lightly on the balls of her feet. She skipped over to the two men, and stared up at Poe with big eyes. He smiled, his eyes crinkling, as he hunkered down to talk to the girl.
"I like your hair. Did Rey help you?" The little girl stuck a finger into her mouth, suddenly seeming shy. She nodded slowly, still staring up at Poe.
"Well my name is Poe, and this is Finn. We have some of Rey's stuff, and we want to give it back to her. We're not Jedi like she is, but we're all best friends. Do you know where she is?" Finn was amazed by the way Poe was speaking to the child. The little girl nodded and pointed back behind her. He had a way with children it seemed.
"She's with master Luke and the other padawanses." the little girl said, with the tiniest of lisps. Poe stood up and glanced at Finn. Other padawanses? What was a Padawanses? Finn was utterly confused.
"Could you, uh… Take us there?" Finn said, trying to mimic Poe's friendly voice. The little girl giggled and looked at him.
"You're silly. Sure. Come on!" She skipped on ahead of them, and guided them back through the large Temple. She was completely unmoved by her decaying surroundings. The small child just looked all the smaller for being in such a monumental setting. As she drew them in further through the temple, voices started to become more audible. A man's voice. It had to be Luke. The girl skipped into a comfortable looking room with several tiers and a plethora of soft cushions. Luke sat in the centre of the room, with a group of children sitting facing him, Rey amongst them, keeping them quiet. He spoke to them about some sort of Force something or other.
Finn's eyes were drawn straight to Rey, her eyes rapt on her teacher, taking in every word he said. He could almost see the gears turning behind her intelligent eyes. Her youthful face always seemed to be full of determination. The little girl stopped skipping, and bowed to Luke who had stopped speaking, to look up at the child and her companions.
"Cecily! I told you not to run off on your own." Rey spoke with gentle tones of concern, then her eyes moved up to see who had come in with the girl. Rey's eyes locked with Finn's. He felt his heart thumping in his chest, and he clutched the bag of her belongings closer. Would she be really mad at him? The corners of her lips turned upwards, as she slowly got to her feet. Finn almost forgot that there were other people in the room. Ever since he had met her on Jakku, Rey had been like a burning glorious sun that blinded him somewhat to the world around him. He only remembered there was a room full of children and a master Jedi before him when Luke spoke again.
"Okay, settle down! It's just Finn and Poe. Nothing special. Practice your force push on the cushions. NOT ON EACH OTHER! COYLA PUT HIM DOWN AT ONCE!" Finn heard Poe chuckle beside him as he watched a small Togruta girl lift a human boy up into the air by the ankle. Rey chose that moment to make her way over to the pair of men. She threw her arms around Finn.
"It's so good to see you!" she said quietly, into his ear. He held her all the closer for but a moment. She stood back and smiled softly at him. "Hey Poe. Good job bringing him back alive. No luck with Dara?" There was great kindness in her voice. Poe shrugged and shook his head.
"We got a bit of a lead, maybe, but it's like trying to catch dust on the wind." Rey frowned in sympathy and concern.
"She doesn't want to be found." Her voice was gently and consoling. Finn thought Poe needed it. He could tell how worried he was about Dara. He had met Dara. He doubted she was the sort of woman who needed worrying about. Poe had a way of picking people, he supposed.
Luke had finally calmed the children and set them to purpose. Finn could honestly say he looked a lot happier and healthier than the last time he had seen Luke. Teaching suited him, he decided.
"You need to speak to me." Luke said. There was kindness in his voice. Finn got a completely different impression of him now. He was wise, and fatherly. Finn felt a great deal more at ease around him.
"I do. I lost her. But she left me a note." Poe said. There was such absolute pain in his voice that was barely masked by his matter-of-fact tone. I lost her. Finn didn't think he had ever heard words of such defeat escape from the pilot's lips. Luke regarded the short man for a time.
"Well we'd best get to talking and find her."