Poe jumped at the sudden roar of an engine going up thinking The Order had gotten a lock on their location, already knowing they were after him. Instead he saw Renegade-1 hooking a blaster to her belt as she continued walking south. "You gotta be kidding me," he muttered to himself realizing she wasn't chancing him leaving. As if it was even an option for him to wander the planet now that he had a target on his back, let alone leave her behind. At seeing her not even bothering to check that he was in fact following her he quickened his pace to catch up to her. "Where are we going?" he asked when he managed to meet her stride for stride.
"Niima Outpost."
He turned to her waiting for more, like what her plan was if she had one and how they'd get off the planet. "And then what?"
Without turning she replied, "that's need to know," making no effort to win him over. On the chance Rey wasn't there Eris would need a pilot, or at least she needed someone who knew how to get a ship running – she planned to get rid of him soon as his use ran out.
His steps faltered at that and he found himself looking at the back of her head as she outpaced him. "I'm pretty sure I need to know."
"Why, cause we're buddies now?" she asked with a cutting smirk curling half her mouth.
He jogged to catch back up and walked staring hard at the side of her face. "If you can't trust me enough to tell me where we're going why the hell would I ever trust you to keep your word?" he asked letting his hand brush against the blaster so he'd know where it was in case she pulled hers.
But she only scoffed and turned to him, surprising him again with the strangeness of her eyes especially when they glittered furiously. "I don't trust anyone," she told him firmly, "ever. And if you had any sense in that pretty head a yours you wouldn't either." She looked away from him seeing the outpost wasn't too far, another hour's walk and they'd be at the AT-AT and depending on what they found Eris would finish formulating a plan. "Least of all me."
He didn't doubt that for a second. "And yet you're putting me in a position where I have to trust you," he reminded her, showing her the hypocrisy of her own words. But even though he could see she agreed her only response was the roll of her eyes as she huffed and continued marching. "Is there someone where we're going?" he asked seeing her already straight spine stiffen further, still she said nothing and this time she didn't look at him. It left him drawing his own conclusions. "Your guy's either there or on that ship. That's why you won't tell me anything, because you don't have a plan," he said realizing he was following not only a murderer but one who didn't even know what the next step was.
"I have two plans," she replied quietly, calmly – the kind of calm that made Poe uncomfortable. "One of which ends in me killing you. Keep pushing," she turned to him then, seeing where either worry or alarm should've been only wondering, "and they both will."
He didn't doubt that either, what he did doubt was how much she meant it. By his calculations she'd had three chances to kill him and two chances to kill BB. She hadn't taken any of them, and she was no Finn too good to keep fighting for The Order. Which left only one other conclusion: she'd never been with The Order. Everything he, and The Resistance, thought of her might all be wrong and he didn't know how to feel about that. "I know you were there last night."
"And?" she asked, last night being part of the reason she made no effort to soften toward him. Whether it was his continued silence or that he hadn't sounded accusing, she finally caved and looked at him out of the corner of her eye, seeing just enough of his face to tell he was frowning. "If it means anything one of my plans involves your droid being on that ship too, and your stormtrooper if the other TIE fighters were anything to go by."
"How'd you guess that?" he asked not chancing hope yet.
She shrugged looking once more at the small, smoking, wrecked outpost as she walked. "They were centered on the outpost, your droid woulda made it there earlier today, the guy would've made it around the time the TIE fighters started shooting."
He nodded seeing how the two fit, three counting her. "How does your guy come into all this?" he asked having no idea what to expect, he couldn't even tell from her face if she cared for this unknown person.
"It was about the time," Eris paused remembering not to say she, "they would've been to the outpost. Besides of course they're just about the only person on this planet who'd actually help." And before he could ask more she said, "that's all I'm saying."
Closing his mouth Poe turned to the settlement they were approaching though still a ways from. He swallowed feeling his throat unsticking before folding back together, feeling sweat beading on his forehead and his back. "Got any water?" He faced her hard eyes and clenched jaw waiting for an answer, expecting her to tell him to wait because she was in no way generous. But with a growl she pulled a small pouch out of her bag and extended it irritably toward him. He drank happily, no more than a mouthful and as warm as the sun burning over their heads, but it was a relief none the less already the feeling of choking had subsided. "Thanks."
Her own throat was so dry it felt like it'd closed, her tongue swollen and parched, but she only snatched the empty canteen from him and shoved it back in her bag. She continued on their endless walk saying nothing hearing his breaths grow more ragged the hotter he got. He had a thin dirty shirt as his only means of cover, she had her jacket and scarf that not only covered her head but also her shoulders.
Poe flinched at a weight falling over his head almost thinking she'd decided he was useless to her, though the comfort of shade was immediate. His breaths seemed deeper, his head seemed to cool. Reaching a hand to it he found it was leather, and gray. He turned to her and squinted through the glare to see in place of her jacket the warm purplish skin of her arms; she'd pulled the end of the scarf draped over her head as far down her shoulders as she'd been able. It was a kind gesture, though her face was cross. Try as he might Poe just couldn't peg her, and he didn't know what to make of her. So he'd go with it until he figured her out.
It was her turn to flinch at the feel of his knuckles brushing against her arm. It'd been a long time since she'd felt the intimacy of another skin against her own – she was used to every touch being a threat. Following his gaze she saw the dark scabbed cut on her arm, framed by dark irritated skin from being infected only the day before. Her next step went wide gaining distance forcing him to withdraw his hand.
"What's your name?" he asked knowing no amount of charming words would loosen her tongue if she didn't want it.
He was right, she preferred blunt over allure – she'd been traveling the galaxy longer than any stay in a 'home,' seen as many species as there were to find, stayed with them delighted in their cultures for a short time. Nothing surprised her anymore, nothing enchanted her. "You really think I'm gonna answer that?" she asked instead of answered.
He gave a short laugh having expected as much. "Fraid it'll make it easier to track you after you've come quietly?"
He was grinning when she looked over at him, proud of himself for using her own promise against her leaving her with nothing else to do but answer. He was sure of himself, not overly so nor boastingly, but he knew when he'd won. "I'll give you that," she reluctantly said, her voice just slightly rising in octave so that she didn't sound completely like a monotonous cyborg.
"I'd rather your name."
From his point of view he saw nothing more than the muscles of her jaw as she grit her teeth. He thought she was annoyed by him, but in truth she was fighting a grin. "Eris."
Eris - curt, precise, gave no leaning toward femininity. It suited her. Though he preferred Renegade-1, it sounded more exciting more worthy of caution. "There a last name to go with it?"
Eris turned in the direction of him without taking her eyes off the speeder heading their way having just left the outpost. "That's crossing the line," she said knowing her surname might give her away. Or at least who she used to be, and who she used to be with.
As joking at that statement might've sounded, and with her bland tone it didn't sound all that humorous, Poe knew there was a seriousness to it. "Alright," he said letting it go for the time being. He watched her lengthen her strides until she'd gotten a few steps ahead of him, and then he nearly stumbled as she stepped in front of him and came to an abrupt stop. Left with little else to do but walk into her sun-warmed back he wrapped his hands around her waist to catch himself. He half expected her to turn and demand he release her, he'd already seen she didn't like to be touched, but she made no movement – she hadn't even jolted as he ran into her, she stood still. Immoveable.
For the moment she didn't mind the feel of him, his chest expanding rapidly against her back, his hands on her hips – she knew where he was and she knew other than his head she shielded him entirely. More than that he was close enough she could easily move him should the need arise. And as she thought the loud hum of the speeder began winding down as it came to a stop. She had her blaster in hand pointing it at the driver before they'd even reached her. "Keep moving."
Her voice was low, firm, her face unyielding. With her blaster already drawn there was no chance for the driver to pull his own before she got a shot off – and with the man so close behind her it was clear she wasn't letting anyone near.
Poe turned his head as the landspeeder shot passed them watching it disappear, impressed with her tact. She'd offered no threat, no words to entice fear – but her calmness, her assuredness that she didn't need an idle threat, made her something to be feared. Turning back to her he saw her eyes on his face waiting for him to let her go now that the immediate danger had passed. "Poe Daemeron," he greeted extending a hand.
With a roll of her eyes she slapped his hand away before walking again. "Considering you tried to kill me not too long ago, I'm not gonna pretend I care to know you."
He stared at her back unable to help the few chuckles that escaped him. "You're a piece of work," he said to himself shaking his head. But she wasn't half bad, very guarded and entirely untrusting to the point of rude, but she wasn't at all what he expected. He quickly caught up to her, her pace was greatly slowed as she scanned the area around them as more people moved in and out of the town they were fast approaching. "So are you not as bad as you make yourself out to be, or is it my usefulness?"
With a sigh she looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "You seem like a clever guy, I'm sure you can figure it out," she said by way of answer. It was true, he knew it was because she didn't know if she needed him. And she was quick to shoot him down as he tried to say something else ready for his incessant talking to end. "Stop trying to know me that way, you don't ever want to know me that way."
His steps faltered at how sure she sounded of that and he watched her disappear around a tent as they entered the torn through outpost. "Why not?" If he was right, in the way he thought BB-8 might've been, then he was gonna end this not wanting to arrest her.
"I'm not good company."
Throwing back the torn flap he quickly searched for her, finding her pale-clothed back easily amidst the darker clothed people around her. He didn't say much else as he followed her, feeling her hand every now and then reaching back to grab any part of him to pull him closer as they moved around someone eyeballing them. And then he was wrapping an arm around her catching himself as she suddenly stopped. Though a bright smile quickly formed on his mouth at the sight of water. His mouth grew dryer at the realization of his thirst nearing its end and he quickly snatched a cup off the table and helped himself to the stream that flowed from a crudely made fountain.
Eris watched him take cup after cup, watched it trickle from the corners of his mouth as he gulped. Leaning against the counter she set down a credit chip to go with each cup he filled wondering how he hadn't puked yet. Until finally he slowed down and breathed. Raising her eyes to the scorched tarp above them she turned to the owner and set down two more before grabbing her own cup.
It wasn't until Poe turned to see her head back and her throat bobbing as she drank heavily that he realized she'd been walking since the night before – and all she'd had left was a sip of water. Which she'd given to him. He saw the gleam of the chips on the table realizing this water hadn't been free and she'd silently paid for him to have his fill. There it was again, that faint hint of kindness. "Thank you," he found himself telling her once more. This ruthless bounty hunter, this First Order hired gun, a person he had in fact just recently tried to kill for the second time. Something was wrong with the picture he had of her, and Poe was realizing it might be him.
"You want another?" she asked sounding more sardonic than benevolent. His answer came in a quick shake of his head as he waited for what came next, and she took a swig before handing him the rest of her water and moving passed him.
Seeing she'd left him half of her second cup he eagerly downed it before setting the cups back on the table. Giving the small owner a quick smile and an earnest thank you he turned and hurried after her as she never cared to wait for him. Only this time he was moving around overturned tables and chairs, excusing himself past the cluster of people still gathering their things after the attack. He turned at the sound of a commotion, grunts and hollers, hard blows being landed – seeing her nowhere in sight he was left walking around what used to be a trading post but had been hit by a passing ship.
Blaster in hand Eris looked down at the crolute not liking his ugly blobby face anymore than when she'd first met him. "Two food portions," she demanded dryly.
Unkar Plutt sneered up at the arrogant woman who'd just knocked out the last of his guards. "Yeah, what're ya sellin?" he demanded in return.
Without any show of care she raised the gun level with his beady eyes. "How bout your life?" At her arm being lowered she turned to see Poe at her side staring at her exasperated.
"Or," he said turning to the rather mean looking crolute, "we could help you get your affairs in order in exchange for two food portions," he offered reasonably thinking it was a fair trade.
Both Eris and Plutt turned to the well meaning man incredulous at his simple suggestion before they turned back at each other momentarily sharing the same dumbfounded look. And then she was holding the blaster under Plutt's wobbly chin. "Two food portions," she demanded again. But then she turned to where Poe still stood beside her and added a snarky, "please."
As Unkar Plutt held up two packs Eris lowered the gun and plucked them from his meaty hands before holding them against Poe's chest so he'd take them. "I'm gonna find a bowl, why don't you find somewhere to sit. Make yourself useful," she added more to make him frown than to be mean.
Poe watched her walk around the trade post finding with her slender waist and wide hips she had a swanky gait. "You could try asking me nicely," he called after her, half grinning at her short no. With the food portions in hand he cast the hateful crolute a last look and followed in her general direction. He didn't get far before a large hand clamped down on his shoulder and pulled him behind a crumbling structure.
He found himself looking up at a heavily tattooed Rattataki, sneering and grey-fleshed. "I'll ask you nicely," he told Poe, finding him small and handsome.
"I don't want any trouble," Poe said slowly reaching for the gun on his belt, knowing he could pull it and shoot before the other guy could stop him. But he was stilled by the sharp end of a dagger digging into the place between his ribs.
The Rattatki's sneer grew wider. "Why'd you have to reach for your gun? I thought we were gonna be friends." His pale colorless eyes moved to look behind Poe and his lips pulled back baring his teeth.
"Hands off my pilot."
He released a breath at the sound of her level voice, not consciously realizing how much he'd counted on her being there. But the Rattataki shoved him against the wall of the building holding him there with a thick muscled arm and pointed the knife at the unwelcome woman. "I suggest you find another."
She'd never been much of a talker, and so her response was to charge forward blocking the arm that held the knife as she brought her leg up and kicked him hard in the chest sending him flying against the wall. His legs caved beneath him and while he crumbled she grabbed the side of his face and slammed his head against the stone hearing the sick crack of his skull.
He slumped lifelessly to the ground and Eris straightened turning to where Poe had moved to pick up the bowls she'd dropped at seeing the Rattataki with his hands on him. She was supposed to ask if he was okay but he wore an unreadable look as he held the bowls out to her. She didn't know what he thought of her. Taking a moment to breathe she grabbed the edge of the bowl, but he didn't let go.
They stood each holding an edge and he reached one finger to run along her knuckles, finding himself again needing to thank her. He wasn't surprised by her pulling away, he was surprised by how easily she was able to pull the bowls out of his hand. "So I'm your pilot," he said raising a brow.
"Shut up," she demanded pushing past him making for one of the tables.
He followed after her letting what just happened, what could've happened, slip away. "It was very sweet." He slid onto a bench across from her meeting her unamused stare as she dumped the food portion into one of the water-filled bowls. "Come on," he goaded, "not even a little smile?"
She mixed it with a nimble finger and slid the bowl toward him watching him lick his lips as it took the shape of a biscuit. He eagerly brought the whole thing to his mouth taking a generous bite and sat for a second chewing before his face screwed up and he set the sticky gelatinous mass back in the bowl. "Well that shut you up."
It was his turn to glare, though not as severely. But he caught the faint curling to the corner of her mouth before she ripped a chuck off the bread and ate it. He watched her eat and occasionally took a bite of his portion, wondering what he was supposed to do with her now.