A/N My work schedule is really weird this week. So, since I have today off, I'm posting early!
The next day was more of the same only better. More food, more music, and a wonderful theatric production that had kept her enthralled for almost two hours. By mid-afternoon that second day, Rey wondered if she would have enough energy to do this again tomorrow. It was while she was snacking on a piece of rich Cavaellin Spiced Creamcake when a commotion over by one of the vendors caught her eye.
An older looking Vella female stumbled out from behind her booth, crying out in her own language and holding a hand to her temple where a stream of orangish blood flowed. Rey didn't understand what the woman was saying, but got the gist of it and looked quickly toward where the Vella was looking. Four human males were moving quickly away from the booth, carrying more goods than they had a right to. Thieves!
She dropped her cake and moved toward the men. "Hey, stop! Thief!" Some in the crowd looked at her, then at the Vella, who was still screaming. "Those men! They're thieves!" Rey continued, pointing toward the crooks. "Poe!" she called, looking back toward him. He was moving quickly toward her, his hand on his blaster. Though he had not seen what she had, he understood quickly what was going on.
Fortunately for the robbers in question, there was no one in authority anywhere near, and the majority of the people in the area did not want to involve themselves in any trouble. Rey looked at the Vella. "Call for security!" she told her, hoping the woman, who still hadn't said anything in Basic, understood her. With that, she followed Poe, who was now dodging through the crowd toward the thieves.
She saw him halt and draw his weapon. "Stop!" he shouted at them. The beings in the crowd gasped and dropped down upon seeing the blaster. Two of the men stopped and dropped their stolen booty, raising their hands, but the third kept running and the fourth was nowhere to be seen. Poe angled the blaster up a bit and shot it above the third man's head. It was enough to make him stop short and drop his loot, too. Poe made his way over toward the men, keeping his blaster trained on them. He turned his head quickly, looking back from where they had come. Looking for the authorities.
Rey, who had her hand in her sling bag, where she had kept her lightsaber for the duration of this vacation with Poe, caught sight of something out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head to see the fourth robber, who had his own blaster up and trained on Poe.
"Poe!" she called in warning, running forward to get between him and the shooter. She pulled out her lightsaber and ignited the golden blade. She came between them just as the man fired, blocking the bolts with ease. She saw the man's eyes widen, but he continued to fire. Rey had been deflecting the bolts up into the sky, where they dissipated harmlessly, but when she realized he wasn't about to give up easily, she changed the angle of her blade and sent one of the bolts back toward him, where is slammed into his gun hand, knocking the blaster out of it and taking a couple of fingers with it. He fell to his knees, cradling his hand.
Noise off to her left caused her to look over her shoulder. The Vella was running toward them, several security officers behind her. Rey was pleased to see that either she had started talking in Basic finally or the officers understood her language, because they immediately moved on the thieves with cuffs. One headed her way, passing her with a look of respect on his face as he went toward the injured crook. Rey began to hear the whispered word 'Jedi' all around her, as the onlookers began to stand from their crouched positions, staring at her. Rey deactivated her saber and hung it on her belt, where it normally stayed. No sense in hiding it now. She started walking toward Poe, who had holstered his blaster.
He looked around them at the people, who seemed to be getting more and more excited. "Well, I guess that secret's out," he said in amusement.
Rey sighed and looked at him apologetically. "Sorry."
Poe snorted. "Nothing to be sorry for. We both did what comes natural for us. It's what makes us a good team."
She smiled at him. "Yeah, we are, aren't we?"
The security officers had all the robbers in cuffs now, and a couple more Vella had showed up to help the vendor pick up her stolen goods, most of which looked to be metal jewelry. One of the officers looked at them. "We'd appreciate it if you could come to the security cubicle and make a statement about this incident," she said.
"Of course," Rey told her.
"Lead the way," Poe added, and they began to walk.
Rey glanced back at the Vella, and the older woman with the head injury looked back at her and said in heavily accented Basic, "Thank you, Jedi!"
The rest of their 'vacation' after that wasn't as pleasant, and it wasn't because the people had suddenly become rude or unwelcoming to them. It was the exact opposite. The city officials, now knowing who Rey was and also learning that her companion was the leader of the Resistance, turned themselves inside out trying to please them. They scheduled a tour of their ancient government building, which was more a museum, and they insisted on guides through the festival. There was no blending into the crowd, and because of that, they received a lot of attention from the other festival goers. Rey and Poe were being treated like celebrities, and they didn't like it.
By mid-afternoon, Poe asked that they return to the Sun and Shade, claiming exhaustion, and Rey didn't argue. Once alone at the resort, they retired to the small garden that sat in a central courtyard and managed to sit down for a couple of hours, grateful the other occupants of the facility were all still at the festival. They quietly talked and joked about their visit, happy they had come but more than ready to go home in the morning. When evening came, they went to the small restaurant that was located within the resort, content to not leave their accommodations until it was time to head home.
"Well, this wasn't what I was picturing when I made these plans," Poe told her as they ate.
"I know," Rey told him. "But this is our life now. We better get used to being recognized when we're out in public in most places. At least we had almost two full days of being anonymous."
Poe tilted his head and looked at her with wonder. "Do you ever not look on the bright side?"
Rey laughed. "I've actually been accused of the opposite more than once!" She looked down at her plate. "I guess it depends on my mood." She looked back at him with a small smile. "I happen to be in a good mood tonight."
"And why is that?" Poe asked with a smile of his own.
She shook her head. "I try not to analyze happiness," she told him. "I just enjoy it while I can, because you never know when something will change."
They talked more as they finished their meal, then he once again walked her to her door and kissed her goodnight. She grabbed his jacket this time and pushed for a little more than usual, and he didn't argue at first, but he eventually pulled back with a gasp. "You're not gonna make this easy, are you?"
She shook her head and smiled. "Goodnight, Poe." She turned and went through her door, closing it firmly behind her.
She could hear him sigh on the other side. "Goodnight, Rey."