Presents/ce
Rey looked askance at the colorfully wrapped box sitting next to the bed. Though she had known about Life Day back on Jakku, she had never celebrated it, and just last week both she and Finn (who had also never celebrated it) had learned about the tradition of giving gifts. Leia had let her know that those who wanted to participate in the secret gift exchange needed to have their gift ready by today, but there had been no pressure to take part in it.
Finn had been excited by the prospect, and his enthusiasm had spread to Rey, so she had agreed to do it as well. However, after she drew the name of the person she was supposed to find a gift for, she had regretted her hasty decision.
What the heck was she supposed to get for Poe Dameron?
Almost immediately after drawing his name, Rey wanted to go to Finn and ask to switch. Finn knew Poe much better than she did, as they were the best of friends, but that almost felt like cheating. She could at least ask Finn for help, couldn't she? Or Snap. Or Karè. Someone who knew him better than she did. But something held her back. If she looked closely at herself, she knew it was just her stubborn independence that kept her from seeking help.
She spent three almost sleepless nights trying to come up with something. Something simple. It didn't have to be meaningful, did it? It was the thought that counts, after all. It was while she was eating dinner one evening, sitting with several of the others around the fire pit, that her eye caught on something that gave her the answer. The firelight was glinting off of something around Poe's neck.
She had noticed that he wore a chain around his neck, and had even asked Finn about it, wondering if he wore 'dog tags' or some other identification. Finn had told her that what Poe wore was much more important that an ID; he wore his late mother's wedding ring. He had been very close to his mother, Finn explained, and his father had given Poe the ring after her death.
Rey suddenly knew exactly what to get Poe for Life Day.
But now, as the dinner where everyone was to exchange gifts drew closer, she wondered if she had made a mistake. It was too personal, she thought. He would know she had asked about him. About the ring. She didn't want him thinking she was overly curious about him, possibly even fixated on him. Because she wasn't.
Was she?
He was handsome, she had to admit. He was funny. Smart. Confident but supportive of everyone around him. He was Leia's second in command for a reason. And sometimes she caught him looking at her with an intensity that would unsettle her if it had been anyone else. He would always look away quickly when he realized she had noticed him staring, as if he was embarrassed, and she found that rather interesting. She trusted him and she did want to know more about him, but she didn't know how to go about it without embarrassing herself.
So, maybe this was the way to open that door between them. Give him the gift and hope he didn't take it the wrong way.
The opening of presents began right after dinner. One by one, names were drawn, and that person would open their present. The person who had gifted it would then step forward and either receive sincere thanks or some joking would go one, depending on the gift and the people involved. Rey's name was called before Poe's, and she had a brief moment of panic. She had never even given a thought to her present. Cautiously, she opened the small box, pleased when she found a strip of beautiful, soft tanned leather. She had been telling Finn she wanted to make some new arm cuffs. Therefore, she wasn't at all surprised when Finn stepped forward.
"It's Runyip leather," he told her. "Just like the jacket." He grinned, adjusting the leather jacket Poe had given him on his shoulders.
Rey grinned back. Finn had loaned her that jacket more than once, joking that it was 'the family jacket.'
"Thank you, Finn," she said, genuinely touched he had remembered her comment about the cuffs. But her whole body stiffened as Poe's name was called next.
She watched the pilot accept the small wrapped package from C-3PO (who had insisted on MCing the event). He looked at it curiously, shook it softly, then started opening it. His eyes widened as he carefully removed the silver chain from its nest of onion-skin paper. He looked around the room, his expression confused.
Taking a deep breath, Rey stood. "I know how important that ring is, and I felt like the chain you are using is just too fragile to keep something so special safe." She shrugged as Poe's eyes focused on her. "I worry it will break." She gestured to the chain hanging from his fingers. "It has Beskar in it. I would wager it's almost unbreakable."
"Beskar?" Poe gasped. "How?"
Rey smiled softly. "A scavenger never gives up their most profitable site."
Poe laughed, then looked back down at the chain. He nodded his head and blinked rapidly before looking back at her, his eyes soft.
"Thank you, Rey. Thank you."