Chapter Eight

AN: I'm on time for once ;) All this setup will lead somewhere, I promise. And the next chapter will have more Rey/Kylo. So stick around

xx

An armada of ships descend over Ajan Kloss, breaking through the planet's atmosphere, coming in for a landing.

Cheers pour forth from the crowd eagerly gathered. Rey, Rose, and Leia stand at the front of those assembled, glowing with beaming smiles. Relief ripples through the group as they prepare to greet their returning friends.

Poe and Finn descend together from the main ship, but they couldn't be further apart. There seems to be a world between them.

Rey remains oblivious to it as she rushes forward, sweeping them each up in an embrace of true companionship.

Finn is first. His arms wrap around her, just as tight, just as grateful to see her there safe. He's missed her the most during this long time away, the girl who changed his life for the better, who brought him purpose. She never turned her back on him. It's good to know you can count on some people. "Missed you too, Rey," he murmurs into her shoulder. Glancing up, he catches sight of Rose.

She waves at him. "Hey, Finn."

Finn slips away from Rey to pull Rose into a hug.

Poe steps up to take Finn's place, falling gratefully into Rey's offer of friendship. It's good to not be hated by everyone.

"You look tired," Rey says, taking in his haggard appearance and unattended scruff.

Poe shrugs. "You don't look so amazing yourself."

She punches him gently in the shoulder. He chuckles, but it's only half-hearted as his eyes slip past her, towards Finn who's amicably chatting with Rose.

"You must be glad to be home," Rey says.

"Yeah. Glad," he mumbles absentmindedly.

Rey narrows her eyes, throwing a look behind her, following Poe's regard. Before she can ask what's going on, Leia surges forward from the crowd, arms outstretched.

Poe smiles a bit wider as he falls into her easy embrace.

"It's good to see you home safe," Leia says.

The initial relief at seeing Leia, his mentor, his General, slips away. He hangs his head.

Leia and Rey share a quick, quizzical glance.

"Something to share, Poe?" Leia asks.

Poe glances up, but then past her again. It's like Finn is a magnet, ever drawing his gaze.

Finn's staring at him too, throwing daggers his way.

Poe clenches his jaw and averts his gaze. "Not me, but Finn wants a word with you."

Leia's eyes glow with understanding and resignation. Sighing heavily, she pats Poe's shoulder affectionately. "I'll see to him first, then. Are you sure you shouldn't be present for this?"

"I think it's best I'm not."

"Then, you'll debrief me later." She gives his cheek a gentle pat, before slipping away. Even in her older age, she is a graceful figure, full of poise and power.

Poe forces himself not to watch as she reaches Finn, his face scrunching up as if in pain.

Rey steps forward again, concern now swirling through her. If she focuses, she can sense the depth of his despair echoing in the Force, an unbalance of spirt and heart that she's never associated with him before. "What happened?"

Poe gives her a defeated shrug. "I made a mistake."

Rey smiles slyly. "That doesn't surprise me. You want to be a bit more specific?"

Poe actually laughs at that, but even this sounds wrong, wretched with misgiving. "I chose a side."

"The wrong one, I'm guessing."

"It didn't seem wrong at the time."

"It never does," Rey muses. She's not really talking about Poe anymore. Not just him, anyway. She stops her thoughts from focusing too much on the boy in the mask lest she draw him here.

There will be time for that later.

#

In the caves that Leia has made her personal base, Finn paces anxiously. He's made his plea to her, laid out his heart, his fears. She's sitting, pensively thoughtful, watching him in his agitated state, annoyingly imperceptible in expression and mood.

At last, she straightens. And Finn pauses. Her face is no longer a mask, somehow able to display at once severity and compassion.

"It is not a matter of trust, Finn," she says. "I trust you, as Poe does. But I simply cannot risk bringing in people if I cannot be absolutely certain of their intentions."

"But I am absolutely certain," Finn insists. He's careful not to let the ripple of anger in his chest come through in his words or demeanour. "I know they can be trusted. It's more than just a feeling. It's... I can't explain it... But, I think it's the Force. It brought me to that place as it did them. It brought us together for a purpose."

Leia takes one deep, shaky breath. "The Force is not always easy to understand—"

"Maybe not for you, but I got it loud and clear." He balks at once, realizing that he's stepped out of line. Biting his lip, he starts to apologize, but she silences him with a raised hand.

"I understand your frustration, Finn, but we don't have time to argue about this. Let us agree to disagree for now. Meanwhile, I have requested that the Troopers be treated with respect. I will reach out to those in charge of the facility and ask that your former companions be given a chance to prove their intentions. If they are found to be trustworthy, I will see them released and sent here to join our forces. Will you accept this compromise?"

Irritation and defeat mingle in Finn. On one hand, he cannot get past Leia's stubborn headedness—Poe certainly must have learned it from her. The Resistance is in need of bodies, of people to join the fight against the First Order. He also knows that Leia, General Organa, doesn't have to compromise with him. She has given him time to speak, has heard him out, has proposed a plan. He should accept it. Be grateful for it.

"Fine," he says, his tone unashamedly cold. He can be grateful and still show his true heart. "Yes. Thank you."

Leia rises slowly. She steps towards him and lays a hand on his shoulder. "I hope it works out in your favour, Finn. Truly I do. But in the meantime, don't hold it against him."

Finn blinks at the knowing twinkle in her eyes. "I'll try not to," he says, but his heart isn't in it. It's not that he likes holding a grudge, but he's not ready to forgive Poe entirely. Not yet.

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