Poe confronts his feelings, but will he be brave enough to let Rey in?
It was almost time for the mid-day meal when Poe started worrying about Rey.
He had been doing his best to not interfere with whatever she wanted to do during their forced vacation, but he had kept his eye on her. He knew she was getting frustrated with their lack of activity, and he wondered if he should just let it be until she found out how to relax or if he should volunteer to help find things to keep her busy. When she didn't show up at the house for the meal (she never missed a meal!), he started to panic. The last he had seen of her had been around mid-morning when she had wandered back from the direction of the Uneti tree.
When asked, his dad simply shrugged. "She's bored," he said. "Maybe she walked into town."
Poe ate in a rush, then jumped in the speeder, intent on finding her. He knew he had no reason to worry about her here, and that even if she were to run into trouble, she was more than capable of taking care of herself, but worry he did. This was his home and he was supposed to be her host.
He wasn't even off the property before he turned the speeder in another direction. He would check the Grand Temple first. Not only was it closer, but he knew Rey knew of the importance that the Temple and the surrounding area had in the previous war, and he bet she would be curious to know more.
It was quiet around the Temple as he pulled up, but an older woman walked out of the front area, where the entrance to the museum would be if and when they ever got it going. He recognized her as a long-time resident of the village, but he had never known her well. Fiona Joshen, he believed her name was. She smiled as she recognized him.
"Hello, Poe!" she called out as he exited the speeder. "Nice to have you back for a while. I bet your father is ecstatic!"
He gave her a tight smile. "Yeah, he's pretty happy about it."
"Not staying long, I'm assuming," the woman continued. "Much more important things to do, I'm sure." She gave him a soft smile. They all recognized he was wanted by the First Order here on Yavin IV. But he knew no one here would give him up. This whole area had been settled by Rebel survivors like his father; it's why Leia knew they would be safe and hidden here.
Poe nodded. "You haven't seen my friend, Rey, have you?"
"Oh, yes!" Fiona smiled. "Lovely girl. It's hard to believe she's a Jedi, but then I have only known one." Poe was pretty sure she was talking about Luke Skywalker. "Dar gave her a tour, let her see all the artifacts. She was fascinated."
Dar. "Are they still here?" he asked.
"Oh, no," she shook her head. "He took her into the village for lunch almost an hour ago."
"Thank you, Fiona," he told her with a smile. Then turned back toward the speeder. "Have a beautiful day!"
"And you!" she said, waving before heading back into the Temple.
Poe tried not to rush as he continued on to the village. He trusted Dar, and once more he reminded himself that Rey could take care of herself. It's not like she was in any danger. But something still made him hurry. He parked just behind the Plaza, which was one of the largest buildings in the colony and housed several different shops. Most of the traffic in the village was foot traffic, with the occasional draft animal, so most speeders were parked outside the center of town.
He walked quickly toward the square, knowing the most popular diners were in that area, and wondered which one Dar would take Rey. He reached the large open park-like area that was surrounded by eateries and specialty shops and decided to try the closest first. It was a popular bistro called Cotogna. The door was open as was common and Poe was able to look inside casually. It didn't take but a moment for him to find who he was looking for.
They were seated off to the side, mostly empty plates still in front of them, and they were talking animatedly to each other. Rey started laughing at something Dar said and the tall man laughed back, his voice booming over the sound of the dozen or so people chatting around them. Rey shook her head, said something in reply, and they both laughed again. Her eyes were bright and her face glowed.
He had never seen her so happy.
Feeling his chest get tight, Poe pulled back out of the room before either of them spotted him. He turned away and walked down the boardwalk a bit, trying to stifle the feeling that was growing inside him. He recognized it for what it was: jealousy. And he also recognized that he had no right to that feeling. Rey was a colleague, a fellow soldier, maybe even a friend of sorts. She had never given any indication that she thought of him in any other way, and in fact seemed to keep him at a distance more than others in the Resistance. There was absolutely no reason that she shouldn't be having a good time with a handsome, sexy man who was close to her own age and who was obviously attracted to her.
He made her laugh, Poe thought. She deserved to laugh. To have fun. To feel wanted and special and…
"Poe?"
He turned sharply at the sound of his name, the ache in his chest making him jumpy.
The woman who stood before him was familiar and at the moment very welcome.
"Saramia," he whispered. The woman smiled, her onyx-colored skin vibrant and beautiful.
Saramia had been the teenage love of his life. His friend. His confidant. His first lover. They had grown apart as their interests changed with maturity, but they had always remained friends. He had even come to her wedding, taking leave from the New Republic Navy to do so. After he joined the Resistance, he had left behind any regular contact with his father or friends, so the news that her husband had died had caught him off guard. Immediately, the mish-mash of feelings he had been fighting about Rey eased as his concern for his friend took over.
He stepped forward, opening his arms, and the woman slid right into them.
"I'm so sorry about Wil," he said softly, kissing her short, almost shaved hair.
He felt her nod in reply, then she slowly backed away, taking his hands in hers. "You've had your own losses lately, from what I understand."
More than a few, Poe thought, but he knew she meant Muran. He had mentioned his fellow pilot to her while visiting with her after her wedding, and he knew Muran's death near Suraz IV had made Intergalactic news. Saramia had made it known at her wedding that Poe shouldn't let the fact that he was Muran's superior prevent him from seeking more than friendship from the man, but Poe had chickened out. Muran had died never knowing Poe's true feelings, and that regret still haunted him.
"It's been a long war," Poe responded, his throat tight.
"That it has," Saramia agreed. "And somehow I don't think you're here hiding out from it." She raised her eyebrows, her chocolate eyes expressive.
Poe couldn't help but smile. "No, just laying low waiting for a special little storm to pass," he told her. "I hear you've been helping in your own way."
She tilted her head and gave him a humble, "I try."
Poe caught movement out of the corner of his eye and looked over to see Rey and Dar walking toward them. Rey was looking back and forth between him and Saramia, her expression curious. The jealousy he had been feeling earlier roared back as he noticed Dar's hand on Rey's lower back. He towered over the young Jedi, making her appear soft and vulnerable. Which Poe knew she was not.
"Hey, Rey," he started. He looked at Saramia, squeezing her fingers briefly. Then he looked back at Rey, his brain automatically comparing the two women. They were complete opposites, he thought. Skin tone, hair, eyes… However, there was one thing they had in common. They were both drop-dead gorgeous. "This is Saramia Fennden, an old friend." He glanced at Saramia, dropping one of her hands to gesture toward Rey. "And this is Rey, the Resistance's secret weapon."
Rey scoffed. "Oh, Kriff, Poe. Please don't call me that." She gave a nervous smile toward Saramia. "Hello."
Saramia smiled at her and nodded. "Hello, Rey." She glanced at Poe, then looked back at Rey and Dar, who still had his hand on the young woman. "How are you enjoying Yavin IV so far?"
Rey looked at Poe, then back at Dar, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. "Uh, it's been nice."
Dar spoke up. "I'm taking Rey to the KoyoFest dance tomorrow night."
It was then that Poe knew that any feelings he had for Rey other than friendship would need to remain undisclosed. She deserved to enjoy this time away from the war, and he wasn't the one she wanted to spend it with. The hurt that surged through him startled him and made him angry. Once more, he reminded himself: He had no right.
It didn't make him feel any better.
XXXXXX
Blessed Passover and Happy Easter to those who celebrate! As a Catholic, this is my favorite time of the year. The Easter Triduum begins today. I have mass tonight, the Good Friday service tomorrow afternoon, and then the Easter Vigil Saturday night, the most beautiful (and longest - it went 4 hours one year!) liturgy in the Church. Whether you celebrate or not, I wish you all an amazing spring weekend and I'll see you next week for the KoyoFest Dance!
