Chapter 6: Feelings Shifting
The next year passed agonizingly slowly for Rey, Finn and the splintered remains of the Resistance. Rose Tico eventually awoke from a brief coma after the Battle of Crait, and as the months passed, Rey was relieved that - for the time Finn spent with the technician girl - it paled in comparison to all the time Finn spent with her.
Rey and Finn were back together again, and nearly inseparable. Her handsome Stormtrooper was a sturdy bulwark against Jedi training, and the churning tide of emotions in which Rey struggled. For far away, and at once seemingly right behind her, she still had to come to terms with the Force Bond between herself and Kylo that she still didn't understand. Still had to navigate the concerning bubble of... yearning for a man that she should hate, a yearning that she only ever again felt when she was with another man whom she had come to...
Love? Was that really a strong enough, apt enough word for what she had with Finn? Certainly, he was kind and brave. And she and he spent time together every day. With every conversation, Rey felt that only Finn could soothe and understand her, as she confided in him deep fears and insights into the Force that had chosen her. The only aspect of her soul that she refused to bare to him was the connection that remained with Ben.
"I have this great power... and not even Luke Skywalker could completely help me understand what to do with it," Rey confessed, as they sat together in a dimly-light corner of their new base. "It scares me, Finny."
Finn cocked his head, smirking, amused. "What did you just say?"
"I'm scared..."
"No, after that." Finn's grin broadened as he softly took her hand in his. "Finny?"
Catching herself and realizing what she said, Rey felt heat bloom nearly everywhere. She smiled weakly. "My pet name for you," she admitted.
To her relief, Finn thew back his head and laughed. "I like it," he gave her hand a squeeze. "And for you, Rey, you're the only one who's allowed to call me that."
She beamed at him tenderly, but the light in her eyes quickly faltered as all her worries came flooding back. Lacing her fingers even tighter through his, she glanced down and whispered, "I'm afraid that my powers will hurt other, innocent people. And that they'll then want to hurt me. Or leave me." The last was but a soft whisper.
Rey felt Finn's grip around her hand tighten, while his other reached out to cup her cheek, turning her face towards his. "Hear this now: Rey... nothing you could do would compel me... I would never, ever hurt you. Or leave you."
Her expression and heart melted. "And... I would never want to leave or hurt you. So... maybe we should stop ourselves before... we... kiss..." Her voice trailed off, rambling in a whisper as Finn brought his entrancing face quite close. Though her eyes had grown heavy and lidded, she could see the sheen of sweat on his face now. Somewhere along the line, her fingers had woven themselves into his long hair. A few more inches, and she would know what it felt like to have her lips pressed against his...
"FINN? REY? WHERE ARE YOU?" A voice suddenly called from a short distance, its owner nearly in view. Poe then rounded the corner a parsec later, his friends not fast enough in concealing the sight before him.
Rey huffed out a breath. "I'm over here," she sighed forlornly. For all his handsomeness and charm, Poe Dameron could be a nosy little piece of work - a conclusion bolstered by how he was now looking curiously between Rey and Finn, an almost hopeful grin making its way onto his face.
"Am I interrupting something?" he asked, as Finn and Rey leaned away from each other. Two pairs of faces turned red.
"N...no," Rey stammered, smiling weakly even though she wanted nothing more than to strangle the pilot. Giving Finn's hand a squeeze, she murmured, "I'll see you at evening meal." She hurriedly left.
Dazed by what had almost happened, Finn made to follow her, but a burly arm got in his way. Glancing to his comrade, Poe jerked his head in the direction Rey had fled.
"So... are you and she... you know... together?" Poe wraggled his eyebrows for emphasis. If it was possible, Finn turned even more pink.
"No, nothing like that. Just friends."
"Uh-huh." Poe clearly didn't accept that. "And what about Rosie?"
Here, Finn's voice seemed more assured. "We talked about it, and Crait... was a moment. But that's it. Friends, there, too."
Poe chortled, clapping Finn on the shoulder. "I can't keep up with your 'just friends', man." But his eyes told Finn that, at least where Rey was concerned, Poe wasn't buying it. Not for one parsec.