Running Away- finnpoe

Chapter 24- end

Finn was leaning against an old tree, breathing hard. He had to get home. He didn't want this- any of this. But he was stuck here, around the bodies of innocent people, and it was entirely his fault. His, and Poe's. It was Poe's fault for tricking him, and it was Finn's fault for being so naive. They were like two sides of the same coin, one running, one chasing. Neither had any idea what they had done, Finn, with no experience of war, and Poe, with his mind completely out of his own control. Finn supposed Poe hadn't meant for any of this to happen, but it had. It had happened, and it had killed and destroyed the lives of many.

He saw a figure in the corner of his eye, and recognised him immediately.

"Finn?" Poe called, unsure. Finn nodded, remembering Poe had no idea who he was. "Can I sit here?" He asked.

"Yeah." Finn said, voice flat.

"Uh, I'm Poe." Poe introduced himself, "Poe Dameron. I.. uh, I've heard we didn't get off to the best start."

"No shit." Finn murmured, trying to stop his eyes from watering. "Look, save your sympathy. I just wanna go home."

Poe gave him a half-smile. "Where's home for ya?"

"Earth." Finn said, "I don't know if you know it."

"Yeah, I have." Poe told him, "You're from another galaxy, eh? Is that why you wear that mask?"

"Yep. For oxygen. I'd die if I took it off on a hostile planet."

Poe nodded. "You might wanna get inside soon. The smoke from the wreckage-" He pointed to the enclave, "Will reach us before long."

"Sounds like a plan."

Poe gently put a hand on one of Finn's. "What's up?" He asked. "It's all gonna be okay, buddy. Ren is dead, the Resistance is coming for us, it's gonna be fine. And then we can get you home, if you don't reconsider." He grinned at Finn, "You don't look half bad."

Finn rested his head on Poe's shoulder. He decided he liked the new Poe. The old one, to be accurate. He smiled. "That's not the worst idea I've ever heard. Gets kinda lonely out here sometimes."

Poe put an arm around Finn and gave his shoulder a squeeze. "I don't think you'll ever have a problem with finding people who care about you-" He breathed in suddenly, pained.

Finn frowned. "Are you okay?"

Poe removed a hand from the side of his chest, smothered in fresh blood. "Shit!" Finn swore. "Poe! You need help!"

Poe shook his head. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. We should worry about getting back up there." He pointed to the sky, where Resistance starcruisers had joined the First Order star destroyers, and the two sides had opened fire on each other. Expecting nobody to fight back, the First Order had not brought much of their fleet, and were clearly outnumbered. Both Finn and Poe got to their feet, Poe more shakily.

Finn thought for a moment, walking ahead. "Do you know where you left the starship you came here on? I reckon mine is long gone by now."

Poe didn't respond. Finn turned around, just in time to see Poe collapse to the ground, one hand on his wound.

"Poe!" Finn cried, dropping to his knees beside his friend. He put an arm around Poe's shoulders, holding him close. "Hey- can you hear me? You gotta stay with me man."

Poe smiled weakly, one hand clasping Finn's. "Go." He whispered. "Get outta here."

"No." Finn insisted, tears forming in his eyes. "I won't leave you." Poe said nothing. "Please.." Finn begged, holding Poe closer. "Please, Poe. Don't do this to me." His voice cracked. "I love you."

"I.." Poe murmured, eyes flickering. His other hand gently brushed against the side of Finn's mask. "I.." His hand fell to his side, the other one loosening its grip on Finn's. His eyes closed, and he lay still.

"No!" Finn pleaded. "No.. please!" He shook Poe gently. "Wake up! Don't do this to me, Poe." His breathing quickened. This was all his fault- the deaths of the Jedi, and he couldn't even help Poe.

Or maybe he could.

With tears streaming down his face, Finn reached to his mask, and gently pulled it away, the hostile air filling his lungs. He very carefully planted a kiss on Poe's forehead, before placing the mask on his friend's seemingly lifeless body.

Finn was scared. He didn't want to die, but there were so many people in the Resistance who just wanted Poe back. Finn knew he couldn't go home. There was nobody left in the entire galaxy who was waiting for him. But if he could save Poe, maybe that was good enough.

He wanted to tell Poe how much he loved him, cared about him, was thankful for getting to know him, but the air in his lungs prevented that.

Instead, Finn angled his lightsaber at his chest, and ignited it, the shock knocking all of the air from his lungs. It was quicker than he had thought, and he felt his body collapse as the world faded away.

He only hoped his sacrifice would mean something.

Poe was drifting in and out of consciousness. He was less dead than he had been a minute ago, and he didn't know why. Maybe Finn had gotten the both of them to the Resistance. New air flooded his lungs, but he knew it wouldn't last. His wound was still in agony, and he could feel himself slipping away from his life. He twitched his finger slightly, to feel a hand beside his own. Finn's. Maybe Finn was looking after him. Poe didn't understand why Finn was still beside him and not running to safety.

Poe's last thought was of Finn. He hoped so desperately that whatever decision the kid made, it would be a good one.

Both Finn and Poe laid still on the plains of Dantooine, hands interlocked, souls gone to a world we do not yet know.

They laid still, and did not get up.