Author's note: When did this fic get so big? LOL I am back from vacation, NOT SICK, and finally updating! Woot! This chapter is a little extra long to make up for missing a week. I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I watched TROS twice on my cruise, does that count?
Chapter 10
"We've cleared the city."
Rey kept her eyes on the Falcon's window, her senses on high alert. They'd managed to sneak to the main landing pad without too much trouble, but she had no doubt that they would be missed soon. The Falcon wasn't exactly the stealthiest ship in the galaxy. Once the Naboo realized they'd gone, they'd lose their slim advantage.
Poe glanced at her from the corner of his eye. She was tense, her fingertips tapping the yoke, even as she held the ship steady. They hadn't spoken much since they talked to Finn, aside from convincing Chewbacca to stay behind. The Wookie was not happy about it, but they needed someone to stay behind to watch over BB-8. He carried the precious memory from the drone, evidence they would need to prove their case. There hadn't been time to get it before they left. Poe knew his friend was more than capable of getting out of tough spots all on its own, but he felt better knowing BB-8 was with Chewie.
He shrugged out of his uniform jacket, tossed it into one of the seats behind him, and rolled up his sleeves. He spotted the corner of Rey's mouth twitch; he grinned. "You should focus on flying, sweetheart."
"I am focused."
"Sure, you are." Even that gentle teasing eased the tension just a bit; he felt her relax a fraction. Poe leaned over and kissed her temple. "We're gonna figure this out."
She nodded. "I know. I just…I guess I want to know why," she murmured. "Why me?"
Poe didn't have an answer. He wanted to know as badly as she did. The most logical assumption was that whoever was behind this saw Rey as a threat. She was the last Jedi. She'd destroyed the Sith once and for all. She was powerful. Her innate goodness and compassion drew people to her. He had no doubt that once word of her accomplishments made their way across the galaxy, she would have beings of all kinds flocking to her. She'd been so alone and afraid when she realized her power; he knew she didn't want anyone else to go through what she did. He was so proud of everything she'd done so far; she was the strongest person he knew.
Of course, that every same power made her a threat to anyone who wished to see chaos continue to reign in the galaxy. The legend of the Jedi could rally people as few other things could.
None of that mattered to Poe. He cared about Rey. She'd been through so much, more than any one person should have to deal with in one lifetime. He wanted to banish all her cares and hurts; he wanted to make her smile and laugh. Her laugh was one of his favorites sounds in the whole galaxy. Her very being lit up when she smiled; he especially loved that one she reserved just for him.
He couldn't fathom why anyone would want to destroy her light.
Rey hugged the coastline, keeping the Falcon low enough to stay off any radar in the area. She was grateful to have Poe in the co-pilot's seat, even though Chewie was less than thrilled. She appreciated his concern for her welfare, but Poe seemed to have a knack for soothing her anxieties. He kept smiling reassuringly in her direction, whenever he sensed her thoughts begin to tumble out of control.
"Base approaching," Poe murmured, glancing from his panel to the window. He fired up the Falcon's shields, just in case, but it appeared quiet. No fighters were scrambling; no personnel hurried along the ground. He could just make out the small craft Finn and Jannah had left in near the opening of the hangar.
The radio squawked. "Unknown vessel, identify yourself."
Rey and Poe shared a look. "This is the Millennium Falcon requesting permission to land."
This time a familiar voice came over the comm. "Rey, it's okay," Finn said. "Go ahead and land."
"Copy that, Finn." She glanced at Poe again. "He seems to have everything under control."
"Of course, he does. It's Finn." Poe sounded more confident than he felt; the whole trip he wondered how they would be greeted. They were supposed to be at a party after all. Poe and Rey brought the Falcon in next to Finn's ship, landing with a gentle thump. On their way to the gangway, both grabbed their blasters from the weapons rack; Rey's lightsaber was already clipped to her belt. They'd learned the hard way to wary.
Jannah was waiting for them at the bottom. "Any trouble?"
Rey shook her head. "Not so far."
"I'm sure someone will miss us soon enough."
Jannah smiled. "The Naboo enjoy their hospitality."
"I could do with a little less of it," Poe murmured. He'd never really been comfortable in such settings. Like that time he and Finn went undercover to Corellia to steal a list of people the First Order declared subversive and imprisoned. It was right after the battle of Crait; he'd been eager to redeem himself in Leia's eyes. But that kind of work required a finesse that he'd never really possessed. Suralinda had been much more comfortable than he. Even Finn seemed to enjoy it. Poe only settled down once the whole thing went sideways, and they had to fight their way out.
Rey smiled at him. "Sometimes it's not so bad." Her eyes moved over him, taking in the uniform. She liked that. A lot.
Poe found himself blushing. "Can we focus please?"
Jannah chuckled quietly. "Come on. Finn's this way." She led them into the hangar, which was brightly lit and pristine. Poe frowned, mentally comparing it to their base on Ajan Kloss. That wasn't even a base in the most formal sense, just a bunch of ships dropped down in the forest. They'd worked hard to clear trees and scrubs for the ships, while leaving as much intact as they dared. The forest was a good shield, lest they be discovered.
Rey sensed Poe's annoyance. "What's wrong?"
"This just feels…wrong. We've been fighting and toiling and dying for years while they sat here and did nothing." He thought about all those times they called for help and no one came. Crait, the weeks and months shortly after. Leia tried to sound the alarm about the First Order for years and no one took her seriously until it was too late. By then, everyone was too scared to join the fight. Why would this be any different?
Rey squeezed his hand. "I was one of those people," she reminded him. "Until BB-8 dropped into my life, I had no idea what was going on."
"That's different. You were trying to survive." He brushed an errant curl behind her ear. "And I'm very glad you did."
"We can't change the past. All we can do is move forward and do the best we can." Poe helped her see that. In the weeks since Exegol, she'd worried about her past and how is could affect her future. It was exhausting. Seeing firsthand how it twisted her grandfather into a monster frightened her. She didn't want to be like that. She didn't want power. She wanted a family, a home, a place to belong. She found that with the Resistance. With Finn. Most of all, with Poe. He didn't see the past when he looked at her. He saw a future filled with happiness and love and joy.
She was determined they would find it. Together.
"Rey! Poe!" Finn called. He waved, though his smile was somewhat grim. He stood by the console, like he was guarding it. "Glad to see you made it here in one piece."
Poe wasn't sure if he should be worried or offended. He didn't crash that much, for Maker's sake. And there were always extenuating circumstances! "What's so explosive you couldn't talk about it over the comm?"
Finn gestured to the seat in front of him. Rey slid into it; Poe spotted a uniformed figure out of the corner of his eye. Finn didn't seem alarmed, so he tried not to let it bother him. The figure was shorter than he by a good four inches; when they turned slightly, he blinked. They were female. Not unusual in the Resistance camp, but he couldn't recall any women in the Naboo armed forces.
"Remember those missing maintenance logs? We found them."
"Or rather, we found who wiped them," Jannah cut in. She had her arms crossed over her chest, her brown eyes scanning the area for potential eavesdroppers. Did she see their companion against the far wall? Was he the only one? "They missed a camera, it seems."
Rey poured over the footage. It was at an inconvenient angle; half the picture was shrouded in darkness. She could see the drone, however. Someone was definitely tampering with it. The figure glanced up every few seconds to see if they were being watched. After several glances toward the ceiling, Rey realized they were cataloging the cameras. "Where was this taken?" The saboteur seemed to look everywhere except at this camera; it was frustrating.
Finn turned and pointed. Poe saw a pile of crates sitting between two more Naboo fighters; no doubt they carried more of the training drones. "Where's the camera?"
Finn leaned over Rey and punched in a few commands. A schematic of the base appeared; he zoomed into the section they were standing in. "Cameras are here, here, here and here," he said, pointing to each flashing red dot. "This is the one our friend missed." It was tucked up in the rafters, covering the area from above.
"That explains the odd angle," Rey said quietly.
"They look young," Poe said, leaning over her shoulder.
"Younger than me?"
"No, right about your age, I'd say." His lips quirked and he brushed a quick kiss to her cheek. "Can't tell the gender though."
Rey rolled her eyes at him, then she turned her attention to the display. She punched in a few commands, trying to turn the picture around, adjust the brightness and saturation, anything that might help. What they really needed was for the saboteur to look at the camera. Come on, she thought. Just one look.
Poe straightened, keeping his hand on Rey's shoulder. Their companion was still on the other side of the room, appearing absorbed in their duties. "Hey Finn, who's that soldier over there?"
"Where?" Finn looked. "Oh, that's a friend. She's the Queen's personal aide."
"Are you sure you can trust her?"
"Poe, she'd been working with us since we arrived. The moment we realized the drone was tampered with, I called her. She's trustworthy. And she hasn't breathed a word of this to the Queen, which kinda puts her job in jeopardy."
Poe leaned back, chagrined. He really hated this feeling, but it was so hard to know who to trust. But he did trust Finn. He trusted him with his life; he had from the very beginning. If Finn trusted this soldier, then he would trust in his friend's judgment. "Right, sorry."
Finn laid a hand on Poe's shoulder. "Hey, I get it. We're all a little on edge." Finn didn't like the idea of Rey being in danger anymore than Poe did. But they were a team; they would figure this out.
"Yes!" Rey yelled excitedly.
"What is it?"
She pointed the screen, now frozen. "We have our saboteur."
Poe leaned in to get a closer look. He'd been right, the person was young, straight dark hair, stubbly attempt to grow a beard, a bit gangly. He looked familiar. "Why do I know him?"
Finn studied the face. "I've seen him too!" Suddenly, he slammed his hands down on the console. "That's one of Curke's aides! That slimy, no good, son of a rancor!"
Rey shivered. The image flickered in front of her, still and silent. She'd been so excited to find the answer, but now, she was just sad. Why would this random soldier of Naboo want her dead? Was he working for Curke or was it something else? Curke made no secret of his dislike of their presence, but was it enough to kill? That seemed extreme, even for him.
But, then again, she'd been fooled before.
Some stirred at the back of her mind; they were missing something. But what?
Jannah pointed at the screen. "What's that?"
"Where?" Poe asked, squinting at the image.
"There." She pointed at smudge on the boy's left wrist; the image was too fuzzy to make it out. She looked to Finn. "Tell me that's not what I think it is."
Finn looked from the display to Jannah, the color draining from his face. "No way. No, it can't be. Jannah, the picture's way too pixelated to tell what that is. It's probably just grease."
Jannah looked unimpressed. Poe didn't know her that well yet, but if she suspected something was off, then he was going to at least hear her out. "What is it, Jannah? Some First Order thing we don't know about?" That seemed to be a logical conclusion, given that Finn and Jannah were both ex-stormtroopers.
Jannah didn't take her eyes off Finn as she nodded. "Every day was a test for us. To see how well you obeyed, how well you fell in line. The conditioning…anyway, some took to it more than others. One by one, those troopers would be plucked from their platoons, never to see seen again."
Rey felt Poe's hand tighten on her shoulder. "What happened to them?"
"It was a big mystery at first, you know? We were taught not to care about one another, that we were expendable." Finn glanced away; Rey could feel the shame rolling off him. "But gradually, rumors started to circulate. I think, in the end, they wanted us to know. To give us something to aspire to." She spat out that last bit, disgust all over her face.
"And?" Poe couldn't fathom the horror of living like that; or how grateful he was that people like Finn and Jannah managed to overcome it.
It was Finn, not Jannah, who answered. "Operation Python."
"What's Operation Python?" What was it with the First Order and these stupid names, Poe wondered.
"A secret class of stormtroopers, spies, assassins," Finn explained.
"I thought the First Order was about forced labor as 'remedial' measure?" Poe asked. Of course, it was forced labor until the person died, but still. Not really better from straight up murder, now that he thought about it.
"That was only for show," Finn growled, his hands balling up into fists. "The ones they knew they couldn't turn were just killed."
Jannah covered his hands with hers, her warm brown eyes echoing the pain in Finn's. Rey saw it now, the deep connection they shared. As Jannah stroked his knuckles, Finn's brow smoothed out, his anger ebbed away. Rey looked away, suddenly feeling like she was intruding. Instinctively, she reached for Poe, who curled his fingers around hers and squeezed.
Poe rubbed the back of Rey's neck, allowing the silence to hang in the room. Finn clearly needed a few moments; Poe didn't blame him. He thought about that list he worked so hard to steal right after Crait. He'd been on it, so had Leia. Dozens more of their would be friends and allies. Good people, who knew what the First Order was doing was wrong and tried to speak out. How many of them were the subject of this Operation Python? Was he? If he was, then Rey certainly was. She was the most dangerous woman in the whole galaxy.
Emotions under control, Finn spoke again. "Supposedly, the members of Operation Python had some sort of mark. It was their only insignia. I never saw one, so I can't say for sure."
"What sort of mark?"
Jannah shrugged. "Some sort of rune, but I never knew what language it was."
"Sith." Rey looked up at Poe. "It had to be Sith, the one language so forbidden droids couldn't even speak it."
"That would make sense."
"But why?" Jannah asked. "We were always told the Force didn't exist. That it was a fairy tale. I didn't even believe in it until recently."
Poe frowned. "What did everyone think Kylo Ren was doing then? Magic tricks?" No magic trick felt like he'd felt when Kylo Ren got inside his head.
"You'd be surprised what a little sleight of hand can accomplish, General Dameron."
Four pairs of eyes looked up; Poe's jaw dropped. So did Finn's. The petite soldier, Finn's friend, stood before them, her cap in her hand. Long dark hair wrapped around her head in an elaborate braid; a playful yet somehow serious smile played on her lips.
It was the Queen of Naboo.
"Your highness," Rey said, shocked.
"Reva, you were her the whole time?" Finn demanded.
"Please forgive my subterfuge, Finn," the young woman said. "I meant no harm. You would be surprised at how difficult it is for people to be honest with royalty."
"It's a security measure too, I bet," Poe added. "I wondered why all your handmaidens looked alike."
"Just so, General."
Poe smiled. "Perhaps titles are no longer necessary?"
Reva smiled too. "I agree." She laid her cap aside. "I am Reva Tem."
"It's nice to finally meet you, Reva," Poe replied.
"You actually already did. Remember when you asked about a spot for a romantic outing?"
Poe blinked. "Wait, that was you?" Now he just felt stupid. Who asked a queen for advice regarding their love life? "I never suspected."
"Which is how it's supposed to be. Most of the time it is me under all that make up and headdress. But sometimes, when meeting new unknown potential allies, for example, one of my handmaidens takes my place. Other times, I just want to enjoy the people around me without all the formality."
"That's why I could never get a clear read on you," Rey said, thinking back. "Because it wasn't always you."
Finn was still stunned. This person that he'd worked closely with for weeks was actually the Queen! He'd confided their mission, treated her as an equal. But she was royalty.
Reva turned back to Finn. "Are you angry with me?"
"Honestly? I'm not sure."
Reva looked a bit hurt, but she covered it quickly. "Did you find what you were looking for?"
"We think so," Poe said. "We know who tampered with the drone." He and Rey showed the Queen—sorry, Reva—the footage, but Poe wasn't looking at the screen. He was looking at her. Part of him wanted to trust her, despite her subterfuge. It took a lot of bravery to come all the way out here without any security; he admired that. In a lot of ways, Reva reminded him of Leia.
Reva's brow furrowed; Rey saw the moment she recognized the saboteur. "Lundam Armas," she whispered.
"He's one of Curke's aides."
"He is, but he's just a boy."
"Older than you," Poe couldn't help but point out.
"Are you implying that age is the detriment of wisdom?" she asked, a brow cocked in his direction.
Poe felt Rey's eyes on him too; why did his mouth always get him into trouble? "Sorry. Of course not." His fiancé was over a decade his junior; he was the last person to be lecturing about age. "This isn't definitive proof; the actual logs are still missing. But I think it's enough to bring him in, yes?"
"Let's hope Rose has more luck untangling the corrupted data," Finn said.
"What logs?" Reva asked.
Rey answered, lest Poe offend the Queen again. "When we found the drone, we had our droid download its memory. When I examined it, I found several key logs were corrupted. We sent the data back to the Resistance base, hoping that our friend there could untangle it."
Reva placed her hands on her hips. "I suppose I should be upset, but I think I understand why you did it. All of us are figuring out who to trust."
"Indeed, Your highness. Sorry, Reva," Poe said. "Someone tried to kill the woman I love, and I'd like to know why."
"As would I, Poe. Perhaps it is time we…what do they say? Lay all our cards on the table?"
"What did you have in mind?"
Rey walked sedately beside Reva, hoping her nerves didn't show. The Queen was still in her soldier's uniform, a blaster at her hip. Rey couldn't help but admire the younger woman; she was cool, collected, brave. She was everything Rey imagined that a Queen should be. All along she'd had a good feeling about her; she was glad to see that she was right. At least so far. She didn't blame Poe for his caution; he'd been a soldier for a long time, he'd seen more of the galaxy. Really, it could still go either way.
On the way back, she'd tried to meditate, to see if she could see a glimpse of the future. Finn and Jannah's story about Operation Python worried her; if there were still operatives out in the galaxy, then countless more could be in danger. If key leaders died or disappeared, that could send the galaxy spiraling into even more chaos. Who did that help? The remnants of the First Order, trying desperately to regain a foothold in the galaxy.
If they allowed that to happen, then everything they'd suffered would have been for nothing.
Unfortunately, the Force revealed nothing to her.
It was frustrating, not knowing. But as she told Poe, having the Force was complicated. She would just have to be patient, do what she could. If her debacle with Ben taught her anything, it was that she didn't have all the answers. She couldn't save anyone who didn't want to be saved.
"That's a beautiful ring," Reva said quietly.
Rey instinctively curled her fingers around it. "It belonged to Poe's mother."
"A gift?"
"More like a promise." She recalled that this woman had been with Finn all evening; she didn't know about their engagement.
Reva's smile was warm. "A promise of marriage?" Rey nodded. "I imagine I'm not the first to congratulate you, but it is heartfelt all the same. You two care very deeply for each other."
"That night we first arrived, before the meeting," Rey began. "Was that you or a handmaiden?" That night the woman she believed to be Queen tried to warn her; she spoke of the forbidden love of Anakin and Padme. Rey refused to be intimidated; the old ways were gone and with them, the need to hide her love. She didn't think she could do it anyway. More importantly, she didn't want to. Poe was a good man; she was proud to be his partner. Just as he was hers.
Reva glanced away. "That was me. We switched after we re-entered the palace." She stopped and looked up at Rey. "I apologize if I offended you. I was not quite sure what to make of a Jedi who was so…open with her attachments. It goes against everything we've been taught. Even now, there are some among my people who resent the Jedi."
"Like Parbera?"
Reva nodded. "After the truth about Amidala's death came out, many were horrified. They were convinced that Skywalker had performed some Dark Side trick on her. They couldn't see they were two young people in love. Love is not the most rational of emotions."
Rey smiled. "No, it's not. But that's what makes it so extraordinary and powerful." She would do anything for the people she loved; she'd been willing to join the Sith merely to save them. Ben's love for his family brought him back and enabled him to fight beside her when she needed him most. Poe's love was a like warm blanket; it surrounded her, made her feel safe, and zinged through her blood. Finn's love made her laugh; Rose's love made her smile. She loved them all in different ways; she couldn't imagine her life without them. They were her family.
Reva smiled back. "If you don't mind the observation, General Dameron is also quite handsome. His attachment to you has been mourned among my handmaidens."
Rey flushed. She didn't quite know how to respond. She knew all too aware of how attractive her pilot was; she was a very lucky woman. "Your highness…"
"Reva, please."
"Then you must call me Rey. 'Master Skywalker' still feels like someone else." She hadn't known Luke that long, but his influence over her life remained. His acknowledgement that he was wrong about his self-exile and desire to end the Jedi had a profound affect on her. She hoped he would be proud of the route she'd chosen to take.
"You said that you chose it, your family name," Reva recalled. "In honor of your master?"
Rey nodded. "I didn't have a family name…before." She may be on a first name basis with the Queen of Naboo, but she wasn't going to advertise her real connection to this place. The situation was still too fraught. "But Master Luke and General Organa…they took me in and gave me somewhere to belong. Along with Finn and Poe and the rest of the Resistance."
"Princess Leia was the embodiment of strength and determination against incredible odds. I was sorry to hear of her passing."
"As was I. She is deeply missed by us all." Leia had given the galaxy for more than any one person should expect; she earned her rest. It was up to them to build something new, a lasting peace.
A soft beep got the Queen's attention. She checked her comm, nodding grimly. "Darri is in place," she confirmed. Darri was the handmaiden who'd taken her place earlier when she left with Finn, her most trusted confident and friend. "Shall we spring our trap, Rey?"
Rey plucked her lightsaber from her belt. "Ready when you are."
Poe reluctantly shrugged back into the uniform jacket; if he was going to do this sort of thing a lot, then he needed to get something that actually fit him. The jacket was just a hair too tight across his shoulders; the pants were a bit too long. He had those tucked in his boots, so it wasn't too obvious, but it made him self-conscious anyway.
"Where'd you find that get up anyway?" Finn asked, sliding his blaster into his holster.
"On the Tantive IV. It's gently used!"
Finn grinned. "I'll say."
"Rey likes it." His mind drifted back to the day they arrived, when she first saw him dressed like this. Judging from the once over she gave him, she definitely liked it. Poe had never considered himself vain necessarily (well, except for his hair. He loved his hair!), but when it was Rey, it was different.
"Well, if Rey likes it…"
Poe tossed an empty porg nest at Finn's head. Finn ducked, still laughing. "Don't think I didn't see you and Jannah," he countered. "When did that start?"
Finn straightened, his laugh melting away into a huff. "Since when are we talking about me?"
"Since now. Spill." They didn't have anything to do until Rey sent them the go ahead. Poe was more than willing to spend that time needling his friend. Honestly, he was happy for Finn. Just like the rest of them, he deserved to be happy.
Finn sighed, but he told the story again. Part of him still had trouble believing it. Caring about someone like he cared about Jannah was still very new; he had no clue what he was doing. But he'd also never connected with someone the way he connected with her either. Back at the base, she understood exactly what he felt when he talked about Operation Python, the terror, the disgust at the things they'd been asked to do. She centered him when he felt like he was spiraling out of control.
"Yeah, I know exactly what you mean," Poe said, when Finn mentioned that. "It's nice to have someone to lean on." As leaders, they had to be strong for everyone around them; Rey was the person he could confide his deepest fears to. She understood him, as few people ever had.
"Yeah."
Poe was about to say something else when his comm beeped. "That's Rey."
"They in place?"
"Seems so. Let's go." The pair exited the Falcon and moved silently through the hangar. They saw no one, but that didn't stop the prickle of excitement slide down Poe's spine. This was the sort of thing he was good at. When he had a clear cut mission, he could focus. A sweep of the palace's security feeds showed that Armas was still in the building; he would be expected to be present for the opening negotiation between Naboo and the fledgling new Council.
Their mission was to flush out their quarry and capture him before he caused anymore trouble. Rey was with the Queen, acting as her personal bodyguard should things go south. In his experience, things almost always went south.
The corridors were quiet as they made their way back toward the where the party had been held. The formal meeting had started without them; Poe knew Beph wouldn't be happy about that. He didn't really care all that much; he had more important problems then Beph's ego. He still wasn't happy about what the man had implied about Rey; frankly, it was insulting.
Servants were still cleaning up when they entered. "General Dameron! General Finn! They've already begun," one of the older men scolded.
"We know. Just…keep it down," Poe muttered.
The man started, surprised. "Is something amiss, sir?"
"Something like that." Poe turned to Finn; something niggled at the back of his mind. On a hunch, he decided to change the plan slightly. "Alright, one of us needs to go in there." If they'd timed it right, Rey and Reva should already be there, waiting. "I think you should do it, Finn."
"Me? Why?"
"Because…you're more likely to keep your cool. Plus, it'll piss off Beph, which is a bonus." Poe really wanted to get Armas himself; the man tried to kill Rey. Poe wouldn't rest until he was locked up. "Just remember the signal, okay?"
"Right."
Now all Poe had to do was wait.
Rey's brow furrowed slightly when she saw Finn enter the room. Where was Poe? She reached out into the Force; he was nearby. Watching the exits in case Armas tried to bolt? She hoped so. The man in question hovered in a far corner; if Rey hadn't seen the security footage with her own eyes, she might not have believed he was their suspect. Around her age, he had dirty blonde hair and pale blue eyes; it appeared he was attempting to grow a beard, but it was patchy and rough. Generally unremarkable, with his slightly hunched shoulders and fidgeting hands, he was trying to keep a low profile. But if they were right, this was the man who tried to kill her.
The real question was why?
Poe believed it was her status as the last Jedi. That certainly made sense. If they knew her true lineage they'd probably try to recruit her, not kill her. Kylo Ren had tried repeatedly to turn her to the Dark Side; her grandfather had as well. It certainly was a part of her; she couldn't deny that. But she refused to let it define her. She chose light. She chose love and hope and light.
"Nice of you to finally join us, General," the fake Queen murmured.
Finn nodded to Rey as he approached the table. Poe's safe. Rey nodded back, hearing his message loud and clear. "Apologies, Your Highness. I lost track of time during my inspection of your civil defense base."
"And General Dameron?" Beph demanded. "He was here just a short time ago."
"We received a communication from Commander Connix about trouble on Dantooine," Finn shot back. "It's a big galaxy, Beph."
That seemed to mollify the man. "Shall we return to the matter at hand?"
"Wait." It was Darri, speaking as the Queen. Rey really had to look hard to spot the differences between her and the woman who stood a little way behind her. Reva appeared to be a simple soldier; no one paid her any mind. Darri's hair was the same color, but her eyes were slightly closer together, her nose a slightly different shape. The resemblance was uncanny if you didn't know the truth. Darri turned to Finn. "Was everything satisfactory, General?"
Rey tightened her grip on her lightsaber under her cloak. "What does that matter?" Beph asked. "That's not what this meeting is about. With all due respect, of course."
Darri's smile was brittle. "Of course. You are a guest here, Ambassador. I have been working closely with General Finn for several weeks and trust his judgment. If I am to make the most informed decision, I should hear all opinions about the state of our defenses, shouldn't I?"
Beph seemed surprised to be cowed by such a young woman. "Yes, yes, of course, Your Highness. Forgive me."
Rey smothered a grin; she wished Poe could see this. He would enjoy taking Beph down a few pegs.
"Your highness," Curke cut in. Rey's eyes darted to the old man, wary. Did he know about the attempt on her life? Did he order it? Curke had made his dislike of the Resistance clear, but he'd seemingly come around in the last few days. A front? She could see why Poe hated this sort of thing so much. Even with the Force, she had trouble reading the situation.
"Yes?"
"Perhaps we should wait for General Dameron?"
"Why?" Finn snapped. "You've had a problem with me since I arrived, Curke! Poe and I carry equal rank."
"Councilor, if you have a problem with General Finn, then I suggest you absent yourself from these proceedings," Darri said smoothly. "And I should reconsider your place on the Council."
Curke's eyes widened, horrified. He clapped his mouth shut, but Rey noticed how all his aides suddenly became tense. The Queen allowed that to hang over the room for a moment, then she turned her attention back to Finn. "You were saying, General?"
"Thank you, Your Highness." Finn appeared calm, collected; Rey was proud of him. He took very well to his role as general; she thought he would be a fantastic Jedi one day, if he chose. "As you know our troopers have been working closely with your defense forces, sharing information, cross training. It has been beneficial to both sides. I am grateful for your hospitality. However, as you know there was an incident at the base a few days ago."
"Incident? What incident?" Beph asked, surprised. "Why weren't we informed?"
"Because you didn't need to know. We don't work for you, Beph."
Other voices spoke up, but Rey had enough. "Someone tried to kill me," she said loud enough for all to hear.
"That's ludicrous!" Curke cried. "Who would try to kill a Jedi? It's madness!"
"Are you sure you're not protesting too much, Curke?" Finn sneered.
"Now see here!" Curke spluttered, but Rey wasn't looking at him. There was a figure at the back of the crowd of aides, trying to sneak off undetected. She was up in a flash, her chair screeching against the marble floor. The dark figure broke into a run, shoving people out of the way. Reva was right beside her, blaster drawn. There were shouts, panicked feet as most of the other dignitaries tried to flee or hide under the massive table. Other guards tried to make sense of the chaos, but they didn't know their target. Rey did.
She leaped over one of the overturned chairs, using the Force to propel her forward as she ignited her saber. She was nearly there, almost to the door! She saw her quarry turn, his eyes huge as he took her in. Then his face hardened, and he drew his blaster. He fired in her direction; Rey had to slow down half a step to deflect each bolt. They careened off her saber, hitting the floor, the wall, the ceiling. When she didn't stop following, Armas raised his blaster higher, shooting at a couple of the rafters. "Reva!" Rey called, catching the Queen by the hand at the last second and yanking her back. Reva raised her own blaster and shot toward where Armas had disappeared, as wood and plaster hit the ground.
"I'm fine," she panted. "Find him, Rey!"
Rey hesitated for another second (she was supposed to be protecting the Queen), but the best way to do that was to get their quarry. She dashed off, picking her way through the debris as quickly as the Force would allow her. She let it in fully, allowing it to guide her movements, her instincts. She knew Poe was out here somewhere, hopefully ready for just a turn of events.
A blaster bolt hurdled in her direction; she deflected it easily. Three more in quick succession had her saber moving in a blur of yellow light. She spotted a dark figure turn a corner; it had to be Armas. Another figure was running toward her from the opposite direction, blaster at the ready, but angled slightly downward. "Poe!"
"I take things didn't go quite as planned," he called, turning the corner just before she did.
"Something like that," she replied.
"He's trying to get a ship. We can't let that happen."
"So, we won't." Rey heard the alarm being raised, but she knew there wouldn't be enough time for the palace guards to stop anyone from leaving. She and Poe were on their own.
"Come on, this way." Poe's hand was steady as he led them toward the service lift he knew led to the hangar. It was a short cut the pilots used; he doubted Armas even knew it existed. "When this thing stops, I want you to take point, distract him."
"What will you do?"
"Hopefully get around behind him before he realizes you're not alone."
The situation was tense, fraught with things that could go wrong, but she was glad that she and Poe were together. "Be careful."
His grin was far too charming for the seriousness of the situation. "Always."
A couple of seconds later the lift opened; Rey raised her saber defensively as she stepped out. The Falcon was out on the landing pad; the only other ships in the hangar were handful of fighters and Beph's emissary shuttle. She placed herself between the main doors and the ships, reaching out with the Force. So far, it seemed she and Poe were alone in the hangar. Had Poe been wrong? Did Armas have a different escape route?
All doubt evaporated at the main blast doors opened. Armas wasn't even looking forward at first, clearly checking to see if he'd lost his pursuers. Rey was about to shout when a body came flying out of nowhere; it was Poe, tackling Armas to the ground! They landed with a loud thump, Armas crying out as the breath left his lungs. The two men struggled and kicked; Armas got the upper hand for a moment, causing Poe to lose his grip on his blaster. While he scrambled for it, Armas pushed himself up, now with a noticeable limp. He shot at Poe's back; Rey reached out with the Force at the last second and stopped both shots in midair.
Poe was slightly dazed, but he'd had worse. He probably had a couple of bruised ribs too. His mind was struggling to keep up, but he heard the shots. He snatched his blaster off the ground and turned, only to find two angry red streaks frozen in the air. Rey's hand was outstretched, her brow furrowed in concentration. Poe rolled away as quickly as he could, barely believing what he was seeing. He'd seen Kylo Ren do something similar, a long time ago. A moment later the bolts unfroze and harmlessly hit the floor where he'd just been.
He saw Armas running toward one of the instrument panels; Poe shot at it three times in rapid succession, disabling it. Their quarry shot at random, trying to lay down some covering fire for his next attempt to obtain a ship. Poe stayed low, moving between the piles of crates, disabling every instrument panel he could find. He trusted that Rey would take care of the man himself.
Once she was sure Poe was safe, Rey turned her attention back to Armas. Dashing from ship to ship, he was growing desperate. She kept him in her sights, saber raised. The hangar only had one exterior exit; she had to find the panel for the outer doors, then he would be trapped. More shots rang out; she blocked them all with her saber. She caught sight of Armas making a mad dash for Beph's shuttle; she threw her lightsaber in his path, careening past him and into one of the support struts for the open gangway. Armas shrieked and stumbled, trying to avoid the sparks and melting metal.
Her feet carried her closer and closer; she summoned her saber. She could have used the Force to stop him in his tracks, but she knew all too well what that felt like, to be that helpless. She didn't think the Force should be used like that; she would only do it as a last resort. In this case, Armas was stumbling and frightened by her display of power; just as he tried to get up, she pointed the yellow blade at his throat. "Stay. Down."
Poe struggled to his feet; his ribs definitely hurt. He kept his blaster drawn though, just in case the man got twitchy. "I'd listen to the lady if I were you," he said, trying to sound casual, but it came out more pained.
Rey turned her head slightly; Poe shrank back slightly at the ire in her eyes. "You and I are having a talk later, General."
"Look, I know you're mad, sweetheart…"
"Save it, Poe." She was furious that he'd gone off script and tried to take Armas on himself. Granted, no real harm had been done, but he'd nearly gotten shot in the back! He was too important to just go around taking the same crazy chances he always did. She was the Jedi; she was the target of the assassin. It was her responsibility.
"Sunshine…"
"Not. Now."
Poe decided discretion was the better part of valor in that moment. While Rey kept the would be assassin at saber point, he searched for some binders. He found a pair in one of the storage cubes and brought it over to where Armas knelt in front of Rey. He ignored the pain in his ribs as he holstered his blaster and yanked the assassin to his feet. The man grunted in pain as Poe bound his hands behind his back, allowing Rey to finally lower her saber.
They were heading back toward the lift when the doors from the palace opened. Reva and Finn led the charge; everyone came up short when they caught sight of Rey and Poe. "Are you guys alright?" Finn asked.
"We're fine," Poe said. In his case, it was a tiny fib, but he didn't think Finn would mind. "Not sure I can say the same for him."
"Your highness!" Armas cried, his voice cracking. "I am loyal, I swear!"
Reva's young face was stern. "Lundam Armas, you are under arrest for attempted murder and espionage," she said clearly. She was still dressed as a soldier, but no one around her questioned her authority. A platoon of Naboo palace guards approached to take him away.
"Wait," Finn said, holding up a hand. He turned to Reva. "Reva, there's something we need to check first." The Queen nodded, giving her permission. "Show me your arm, your left arm."
They had to unbind him for that; Poe's hand drifted to his blaster. Finn grabbed the man's wrist and yanked back the fabric of his jacket and shirt. The skin of Armas' inner wrist looked almost melted, but it was red and raw, like it had happened recently. "What used to be here?" Finn demanded. "Tell me!"
Armas's face transformed from frightened to arrogant. Cornered, he must have decided to drop the act. "What kind of idiot do you take me for?"
Rey pushed her way through. "Here, let me."
"Rey…" Poe said worriedly.
"It's okay." She was still angry with him, but she gave him a reassuring smile. She wasn't going to dig into Armas' thoughts; she only needed to see one image. She covered the scarring with her hand and reached into the Force. Show me the past. She breathed deeply, just like when she meditated and waited. It didn't take long; in her mind's eye, the scar melted away and revealed a glyph. One she'd seen before though she didn't know what it meant. She could sense the evil intent behind it though. She let go of Armas abruptly, not needing to see anymore.
"What did you see?"
Rey found a holopad; her fingers moved in swift strokes. "I saw this. Finn, is this the mark you spoke of?"
Finn inhaled sharply, nodding. "Yep, that's it."
Poe got between Armas and Rey. "Who are you working for? Who wants Rey dead?"
Armas refused to be baited. "The First Order will rise again!"
Reva nodded to her guards; they hauled Armas away. "You won't get anything out of him," she said to Poe. "He's a fanatic."
"We need something to go on! He tried to kill Rey, for Force sake!"
"And we will, but you must be patient."
"Patience is not his strong suit," Finn said. "I kinda agree with Poe. Someone ordered Operation Python to take out Rey. Armas won't be the last."
"Who knows who else is a target," Poe added. "You could be as well, Your Highness."
"I appreciate your concern, Poe. I promise that all of our resources are at your disposal."
"Ours as well." Everyone looked up; Rey was surprised to see Beph standing nearby. He looked shaken but determined. "I know what I saw tonight. The galaxy needs you, all of you." He nodded at Rey, Poe and Finn. "I apologize for my earlier skepticism. I will do all in my power to formalize relations between the ruling council and the Resistance. Will you consent to serve?"
"We promised to serve until the galaxy is at peace," Poe said, even though the very idea made him weary. "After that, we'll talk again."
The lights were dim; Poe fumbled for a pad on the wall. When the lights flickered on, Rey was almost exactly where he expected her to be, floating several inches above their bed, mediating. At least, he hoped she was meditating. After what happened in the hangar, he opted to give her some space, hoping her anger would cool. He spent the last several hours with Finn going through Armas' personal affects, trying to find some answers. At first, he spotted Rey helping clean up in the hangar, but after a while she disappeared. He could sense that she was still upset with him, so he let her be.
As long as she was safe, he was happy.
"Anything?" she asked, her eyes still closed.
"No." Poe was exhausted, but he knew they needed to talk. He didn't have a good explanation for why he did what he did, nothing beyond a need to hurt the man who'd tried to kill the woman he loved. She was right to be upset. "But Rose is working with the techs here to see if any secret transmissions were made."
"That's good." Rey finally opened her eyes and gently lowered herself to the bed. She was barefoot, dressed in her loose fitting sleepwear, her chestnut hair falling around her face in waves. Even though he sensed she was still a bit angry, he still found her breathtakingly beautiful.
"Listen, Rey…"
She stopped in front of him, a finger to his lips. "I need you to answer a question for me."
"Okay."
"What the hell were you thinking? What happened to me distracting him?"
He might have felt better if she shouted. Her voice was steady, but he saw a glimmer of the fear he'd put her through in her eyes. "I wasn't thinking," he said truthfully. "All I knew was that he tried to hurt you and I knew I couldn't give him another chance." He reached for her hands, thankful that she allowed him to cradle them in his. "The things I've seen you do…I know you can handle yourself, Rey. Hell, you saved my life. Again. Which probably wouldn't have needed saving if I'd stuck to the plan." He smiled, cheered when her lips quirked as she fought a smile. "I know all of that, but I'd still spare you any more pain, if I can."
Rey's anger had cooled considerably since they captured Armas. It melted even further at his words. She'd never had anyone care so deeply for her before. "It was still foolish and reckless."
He grinned. "Hi, I'm Poe Dameron. Have we met? Foolish and Reckless are my middle names, sweetheart."
She rolled her eyes. "I guess we're both still figuring out this part."
He nodded. "I guess we are." This would not be the last time their lives were in danger; he was sure of that. "But hey, you caught the bad guy, Sunshine. I just helped a little."
"If by helped you mean got roughed up, then yes."
He sighed. "I know. I'm no match for a Jedi."
Rey frowned. "That's not what I meant." She threaded their fingers together and squeezed. "Poe, we're both fighters, you know that. It was different…before. Before us."
"Truthfully, as much as I wanted you out there with us, the idea of you in danger never sat well with me. It still doesn't, but neither of us knows when to back away from a fight, do we?"
"I've been fighting my whole life, Poe. It's all I know." Her relationship with Poe was really the first time she felt any kind of security. She was afraid of losing that, of losing him.
"And I've been fighting far longer than I ever expected," he murmured. "Almost my whole adult life. I saw the Emperor's fleet be destroyed with my own eyes, but it's not over. Sometimes it feels like it never will be." Part of him thrived on the action, but the rest of him was just tired. Now that he and Rey were together, he wanted other things. Marriage, a home of their own, a family—in whatever form they chose.
His confession broke her heart. She kissed his forehead. "That's no way for a general to talk," she said gently.
"How about a weary soldier?"
"Everything going to be okay, Poe. As long as we take care of each other, we'll be okay." She mediated for hours, trying to see the future. Leia used to tell her that the Force could reveal many things, past, present, future. But she didn't need the Force to tell her what she already knew. Poe was her future, and she was his.
Poe pulled her into a hug, her unique scent bringing him some peace. "I'm forgiven?"
"On one condition."
Poe quirked a brow at her, curious. "And that is?"
For the first time since his arrival, her hazel eyes lit up. She smiled as they dropped to his lips. Poe realized her intention a second before her lips covered his. Kissing her felt like coming home, her lips warm and soft. She kissed him slowly, backing off every time he tried to deepen it. She smiled breathlessly every time, her hands sliding around his neck. Poe held her by the waist, the last coherent corner of his mind wondering what she was up to. "Rey?"
"Do you trust me?" she whispered.
"Always, Sunshine."
She kissed the shell of his ear. "Because I think the general needs a lesson in following orders."
Her breath was hot on his skin, her lithe form pressed against him. He swallowed heavily, her implication clear. "What sort of lesson?"
She'd never done anything like this before, so she hoped he would indulge her a little. "One you'll remember fondly, I hope."
He smiled. "How can I say no to that?" Suddenly, he wasn't the least bit tired; he wanted to see what she would do. He loved being the person she trusted enough for this.
"You have to do everything I say," she said, trying to sound stern. "Think you can do that?"
"You'll just have to see." He knew she would make it a challenge and Poe never backed down from a challenge.
"Kiss me."
Poe didn't hesitate, his mouth sliding over hers. She had to grip his biceps to stay upright; all the emotions from the last few hours seemed to pour out him all at once. It had been quite the evening, with Beph and the Queen, the adrenaline from capturing the assassin, fear, love, jealousy, anger. Rey clung to him, warmth flowing through her as her lover kissed her senseless.
Eventually, they needed to break for air, but Poe kept his forehead pressed to hers. She stole more kisses from his lips, needing to be close. Tonight would not be the last close call they had; for her, this was an affirmation that they were still alive, still happy. Gently, she pushed him backwards until his knees hit the lone chair in the room. It was much plusher than anything they had on the Falcon or back in the quarters on Ajan Kloss. "Sit."
Poe did so, his eyes following her. She moved behind him and reached down, deftly plucking open the buttons of his shirt. He swallowed again, his heart thumping hard in his chest. Rey finished her task and tugged the tails out of his pants. Poe shrugged the fabric off; Rey tossed it aside. Her lips caressed the base of his neck; a groan caught in his throat. "Rey…"
She smoothed her hands along his broad shoulders, admiring his bronze skin. Even here, there were a couple of faint scars. "Just relax," she whispered. She recalled her earlier promise of a massage; she intended to deliver. "Can you do that for me?"
"Is that all?"
"For now." Poe nodded, closing his eyes. He couldn't recall the last time anyone had tried to take care of him like this; he couldn't believe it, not after how he'd acted. He didn't deserve someone like Rey.
Rey started with his scalp, running her fingers through his thick curls over and over until they were a riotous mess. She couldn't help but smile; she loved his curls, almost like silk against her skin. Poe leaned back, biting back another moan as—slowly—the tension started to leak out of his body. Her touch was firm, not too hard, as she worked out the tension. For the first time a long time, Poe allowed his mind to drift, to simply soak in the sensations.
Rey ran the pads of her thumbs up and down his neck; she smiled to herself as he sighed softly. He was stubborn and reckless and perhaps sometimes enjoyed trouble a little too much, but he was hers. Poe grunted when she found a particularly stubborn knot in his shoulder; she paused. "Too much?"
"No, I'm good. I didn't even know that was there."
Rey resumed her task, kneading until the muscle unknotted and he sighed in pleasure. "Better?"
"Much, thank you, Sunshine." He felt better than he had in days; she seemed to have some sort of magic touch. She appeared in front of him, looking very pleased with herself. Her eyes flickered over him, almost appraising. He was about to say something when she climbed into the chair and straddled his lap. Her lips were on his before he could think, her tongue sliding into his mouth. Poe kissed her back enthusiastically, but he tried to let her set the pace. He was supposed to be following instructions, after all.
Rey leaned closer and closer, eager to have him as close as possible. Every hot slide of his tongue against hers was molten; desire pooled in her belly. She didn't know what sort of spell he had on her, but she needed him. She needed this.
The kiss broke as Poe winced. "Ow."
Rey sat up, instantly worried. "What? What hurts?"
"My ribs, but it's nothing." Rey frowned, already sliding off his lap. Sure, his ribs were a bit sore, but he liked her right where she was. "Sunshine, I'm really okay. Just got kicked a little too hard."
She knelt between his legs and gently explored his ribcage with her fingertips. When she saw his jaw tighten, she knew she'd found the right spot, on his left side. "Poe."
"I'm fine. Believe me, I've been hurt worse than this. You've seen me. Can't we just get back to our lesson? I was enjoying that." He flashed her a grin, hoping she would stop fussing.
"Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?"
"Because it's nothing. It might bruise in a few hours. It doesn't even hurt that much." He hadn't even thought about it until Rey's leg accidentally pressed against him. He was having too much fun with her in his lap, kissing him like he was everything. "Besides, you'll only want to heal me, and we've talked about this."
"And I told you that I'll use my life force how I want," she said, her jaw set. "So, lean back."
"Sweetheart…"
"You would do it for me," she said quietly. "If you could. Why is this different?"
He didn't have a good answer. Not one she would accept. She was every bit as stubborn as he was. "Rey…"
She pressed a featherlight kiss to his injured ribs, her lips warm and soft. She didn't stop, brushing more kisses over his ribs and belly, distracting him. He knew exactly what she was trying to do; he was helpless to resist her. She didn't need the Force to make him do anything. All she had to do was look at him like that; he was putty in her hands. "Okay," he breathed. "Okay."
Rey smiled up at him. "See? That's wasn't so hard."
"I'm getting you back for this," he murmured playfully. "One day."
Rey chuckled, as Poe leaned back in the chair. She carefully laid her hand over his injury and closed her eyes. She'd done this several times now; this would be quick. She felt the Force inside her, almost humming; she sent a bit from it from her to him. His skin was unmarked, but she felt his injury knit itself back together. "All done."
Poe sat up, the discomfort gone. He couldn't help but be in awe of her, even though he hated that she'd wasted something so precious on him. At some point, he needed to do some serious research on what exactly her healing ability entailed; he didn't want her putting herself at unnecessary risk, just for him. She was far more important than he was. "Thank you, mi amor," he said, leaning down to kiss her.
She sighed into his kiss; she needed him there with her, healthy and whole. "What does that mean?"
"'My love' in Yavinese," he replied, grinning. Her smile made his heart beat faster. She kissed him again, her hands planted firmly on his chest. Poe sank his fingers in her hair, angling her head to deepen the kiss. She let him, needing him as much as he needed her. Kissing him was always heady, intoxicating, but this was different. She'd healed him before, but this was different. They seemed to melt together, making them one mind, one flesh, one soul.
Rey broke the kiss long enough to climb back into her lover's lap, leaving them perched somewhat awkwardly on the edge. It didn't matter, their mouths fused together in another passionate kiss. Poe's hands slid up under her nightshirt; Rey shivered. "You're getting bold, General," she whispered.
"I thought you liked me that way," he growled, palming her breasts.
Rey bit back a groan. "You promised to follow orders."
"So, give one, Jedi," he countered.
Rey crossed her arms and dragged her shirt over her head. She was bare beneath it; her ring rested perfectly between her pert breasts. Her fingers encircled his wrists and tugged his hands free. "Mouth only," she said, more heat pooling between her legs. Poe looked like he wanted to devour her; part of her wanted to let him. Simply let go and allow him to have his way with her. Yet she was intrigued by the power he was giving her. No mind tricks, no restraints, just her.
Poe wet his lips, eager to do her bidding. He kissed the swell of each breast, his scruff scratching against the delicate skin. Rey moaned, her back arching slightly. Poe took advantage, taking one taut nipple into his mouth. He swirled his tongue around it, pausing to suck every few swipes. Rey squirmed in his lap; he could feel the growing heat between her legs.
He couldn't touch, but that didn't mean she couldn't. Rey carded her fingers through his mess of curls, exerting just enough pressure to keep him where she wanted him. "Gods," she breathed, another wave of arousal flooding her core. There was no way to ease the pressure from her perch on his lap, but she didn't want him to stop.
Poe tightened his grip on the arms of the chair; he had to fight the urge to touch her. She loved his hands on her body; he was curious how long she could last. She was already flushed and panting, writhing in his lap. She was slowly driving him crazy, but he enjoyed her pleasure. He enjoyed making his Jedi come undone, over and over and over. He switched his attention, latching on to her other breast. He sucked hard; Rey keened, her blunt nails scratching his scalp.
"Kriff, Poe," she panted, her hips trying to grind against him. She couldn't quite find the right angle; it was so frustrating! She wet her lips, breathing another curse as he continued to worship her with his mouth. Finally, she could take it no longer; she shoved the fabric of her leggings over her hips and fumbled for Poe's right hand. "Make me come. Now."
Poe flashed her a triumphant smile, then he hastened to obey. He resumed his worship of her stiffened peaks, moving from one to the other, back and forth. She held on to his shoulders for support as he slipped his hand between her legs; he could feel the heat radiating off her slick sex. Rey moaned softly when he found her swollen clit, working it rough circles. She moved instinctively, grinding against his hand, seeking her climax. Already so close, it wasn't long until she was trembling, hovering on the edge of bliss. Poe slid his hand deeper, sinking two fingers into her. Rey climaxed almost instantly, his name on her lips as wave after wave of bliss seized her. Poe drank her in, his beautiful Jedi. Tendrils of damp hair framed her face; her hazel eyes were half closed and unfocused.
"I love you," he whispered, his lips brushing the spot where her heart still raced.
Rey whimpered at the loss of his touch, but she remedied that by kissing him. "Love you too." They kissed lazily until her heart slowed to a more normal rhythm, then she surprised him by slithering off his lap. Rey peeled her leggings off and tossed them aside. Not long ago, she might have felt self-conscious about her nudity, but Poe always made her feel safe and loved. Her lips quirked in a naughty grin as she dropped her to her knees once more and reached for his boots. Poe watched as she slowly stripped him of his remaining clothes, all while wondering exactly what she could have in mind.
Rey dropped his pants in the pile of clothing, turning her attention back to her handsome pilot. It was definitely nice to no longer have to hide how attracted she was to him. He often said she was beautiful, but she found him to be a work of art. Gently, she reached out, her fingers caressing some of the scars that marked his bronze skin. She lavished the ribs she healed with kisses, her lips sliding down further along the V of his hips. Poe sucked in deep breaths, each gentle loving touch more arousing than the last. She touched him everywhere, except where he needed her the most. He bit his lip as her warm breath occasionally skimmed over his aching cock, but he didn't dare ask for anything.
Rey felt the tension in his body, the need building under the surface. She liked that she had that affect on him. Poe could have anyone he wanted, but he chose her. He loved her. His deep groan of satisfaction when she finally ran her tongue along the length of his erection was music to her ears. "Good?"
Poe let out a strained chuckle. "You can do anything you want to me, Sunshine. Kriff, I just need you."
Rey waited until his eyes locked with hers. "No touching," she admonished. "Can you do that?"
"I guess we'll see." He usually couldn't keep his hands off her; this would be a test, one he was eager to pass. He knew she wouldn't make it easy, but he loved that about her. He didn't want easy; he wanted her.
Rey started slow, caressing every inch of his cock with her lips and tongue. He was like velvety hot steel in her hand, as she stroked what she couldn't get into her mouth. Poe jerked as she sucked the swollen head, his hips thrusting into her mouth. "Kriffing hell," he cursed, gripping the chair tighter. "Sorry."
"It's okay." She'd been a little surprised, but his clear need fueled her own arousal. She could feel slickness sliding between her legs; she couldn't wait until he was inside her again. To prove that she wasn't fazed, she took him between her lips once more, deeper this time. She felt him throbbing against her tongue as she licked up and down his shaft; she tasted the salty precum. This was becoming one of her favorite things; she couldn't get enough of all the sounds he made. Poe couldn't seem to keep still, his hips thrusting upward almost every time she sucked him down. Rey didn't seem to mind, moving with him, until he was practically quivering with the need to come. It tingled at the base of his spine, so close, but he refused to give in.
"Rey…Sunshine," he gasped. This time he brushed the back of her throat and he groaned loudly. "Not like this. Please."
She released him with a soft pop; her lover looked utterly wrecked. The cords in his neck stood out; he was faintly trembling. His chest rose and fell in harsh pants; his curls were disheveled. He licked his lips, leaning his head back against the chair. Rey covered his hands with hers; his knuckles were white. He'd been good, obeying her with whatever she asked. Perhaps it was time to reward him? "How do you want me?"
Poe could hardly think straight, besides, he didn't want to ruin her fun. "You choose."
"Okay." She stood, taking his hand in hers. Poe rose on shaky legs, following her to their bed. She urged him to sit on the edge and lay back. Before she could overthink it, she straddled his lap, facing away from him. Poe groaned as her slick sex slid over his shaft. Rey rolled her hips back and forth, her eyes falling shut as he rubbed her just right. "Mmmm."
Poe braced himself on his elbows, watching her as she ground against him. She was utterly mesmerizing, her back arching in pleasure, her ass begging for his hands. This was a view he wouldn't get tired of any time soon. "Sweetheart…"
She could feel him; he craved the same connection she did. Rey angled her hips just enough to allow him to push inside; a low moan tumbled from her lips. "Yes," she breathed, leaning back to brace her hands on his chest. He felt incredible inside her, hard and thick and perfect.
Poe fell back against the bed, panting for air. It was almost too much. She was hot and slick and tight around him; they fit together like they were made for each other. Nothing had never felt like this, nothing except her. This position didn't allow for much movement, not that it mattered. Rey rolled and circled her hips, each small frisson of friction like a shock to her system. Her years of scavenging and climbing gave her strength in her lower body; she used it, bouncing on his cock. Sighs, moans and gasps filled the air; pressure built once more in her core. "Poe, so good."
"You're so kriffing perfect," he panted, reaching for her. She hadn't given him permission, but he didn't care. He needed to touch her. She gasped as he squeezed the globes of her ass between his fingers. "All mine."
Rey sat up straighter, one hand on his knee for balance. She had one more order for him. "Don't come yet," she breathed. "Soon, but not yet." Her other hand hurried to her swollen nub, stroking it firmly. It didn't take long for her to get to the edge; Poe groaned as her walls began to flutter. He had to run his preflight checklist through his head over and over to keep from following her into bliss as she fell apart in his lap. Her whole body trembled and shook; she squeezed his length tightly.
"Rey, Rey, Rey," he panted. He needed to come, but he didn't want to disappoint her. Poe forced himself up, looping one arm around her waist. Rey let out a half whine, half giggle as he flipped her onto the bed. He kissed her deeply, swallowing her laugh. "Tell me I can have you, Sunshine. Kriff, I need you so damn much."
She dragged his mouth back to hers, still in awe of the passion she invoked for him. No one had ever felt that way about her; she couldn't imagine sharing this kind of intimacy with anyone but Poe. She only wanted him. "Need you too."
He twisted her hips slightly so he could straddle her leg. He didn't need to test her readiness; she was slick and swollen from her previous orgasms. Poe rested her other leg over his hip as he sank into her, taking her in a single stroke. Rey gasped, full once more. She'd driven him nearly to the breaking point; Poe didn't disappoint her, bracing himself over her as he rode her with deep hard strokes. It felt like he was trying to imprint himself on her body, the way he already had her heart.
"Gods, you feel so good," he breathed. "I'm close, sweetheart, so close."
She kissed his forehead. "It's okay. It's okay."
But Poe was determined. He reached down and found her clit. Rey gasped, the nub already overstimulated. Her lover didn't stop, using his knowledge of her body to drag one final shattering climax from her. Her fingertips dug into his biceps with bruising force as she screamed; Poe allowed her clenching walls to drag him over the edge. Pleasure seemed to flow from her to him and back as he pulsed and throbbed inside her; nothing felt better than this, not even flying.
Rey felt him collapse beside her, but she was too overwhelmed to speak. Her lover snuggled up behind her; a faint smile tugged at her lips. She hummed happily, threading her fingers with his.
"Are you okay?" Poe breathed, kissing her bare shoulder.
"Mmhmm," she confirmed, eyes still closed. She would need to get cleaned up soon, but she liked being wrapped up with Poe more.
He could feel the exhaustion start to creep up on him, but he didn't want to sleep yet. "We're okay?"
How could he think she was still angry? "I'd say don't do anything like that again, but we both know that's an impossible promise."
"For both of us, I think."
She couldn't argue with that. The next time it could be her placing herself in harm's way unnecessarily. "We could at least try," she murmured, fighting a yawn.
"Deal." Poe leaned over and kissed her cheek. "As much as I'd love to keep holding you, you should get cleaned up."
She sighed. "Be right back."
Poe waited until she'd slipped into the fresher (her legs were still a bit shaky, which filled him with pride) before turning down their bed. He was fighting to stay awake when she returned. "You didn't have to stay awake for me," she mumbled.
Poe slipped his arms around her as she snuggled into his chest. "Y-y-yeah, I did."
"It's been a long day."
"Filled with excitement and espionage and queens in disguise," he agreed. "Just another day for the leaders of the Resistance."
There were still so many questions. Who was Armas working for? Was Operation Python still active? Why did they want her dead? Was she the only target? Could Poe be a target? Finn? Leia had advised her to keep the people she cared about close to her, that they would help guide her. She hated the idea of them being in danger, but even she had to admit they were strongest together. She was so tired, but her mind took a long time to slow down. Long after Poe fell asleep, she ran the developments of the day through her mind, seeking some sort of clue. She was still thinking about it when she finally succumbed to exhaustion.
