sparks to ashes- (finnpoe) PAUSED

Chapter 3- confrontation

Finn didn't know what he had been expecting when he stepped off the landing ramp, but it wasn't to be completely ignored. He got little more than a few glances, people wondering who the newcomer was, as Poe led him through the base.

The base was in the middle of a thick jungle, and admittedly made for a good place to hide your rebellion. Finn looked around, remembering Poe's stories of how he had grown up on this planet, how his parents were dead.

He's like me, Finn thought to himself. Poe seemed more alone, more isolated than he presented himself to be. Finn could sense the emotions in the pilot- the hatred for the First Order, the anger and the guilt he carried with him. He wondered what exactly the First Order had done to make Poe so angry.

Poe would have made a good sith, Finn decided, if only he were Force Sensitive. Instead he was fighting for the Resistance, the 'greater good', a cause he seemed to believe in.

Poe was telling Finn about General Organa, and how he didn't need to worry about meeting her.

"Just try to be confident." Poe told him, "Tell her something along the lines of you're so grateful for being rescued you want to pay back the Resistance. And no Force-tricks or whatever. She's the daughter of Vader- she will know if you try anything. Also, don't call her Princess- not to her face at least."

Finn nodded, trying to take all of this in. Poe seemed to idolise his General- maybe a position he wanted to take over someday. Another thing that would have made Poe a good sith- he was power hungry, you could hear it in his voice. 'Commander' just wasn't good enough for him, or so it appeared.

Poe took Finn to a woman who wasn't quite elderly yet but sure not young. She had greying hair tied up neatly behind her head, and a long, reddish robe. Her eyes looked tired, she had seen some things, Finn could tell. "Finn, this is General Organa. General, this is Finn. He was a guard on the train when it was attacked."

The General's gaze softened upon seeing Finn. "Hello, Finn." she greeted him, "I assure you that you'll be very welcome in the Resistance, however long you choose to stay."

Finn bowed his head slightly. "I appreciate that." he hoped it was convincing. However, Leia was one step ahead.

"If you don't mind me saying, it's a curious uniform you have there." she noticed. "I must say, it looks a lot like clothes I believed Commander Dameron owned."

Shit, Finn thought. They were busted. "I uh.." he struggled to think of a response. It was Poe who came to his rescue.

"It was raining pretty heavily, and he was more comfortable getting changed out of his wet clothes." Poe explained. "I told him he could borrow mine."

"I see." Leia said, "Commander, I'm afraid you can't fool me that easily. I know what your new friend is."

Finn took a defensive step backwards, reaching inside his jacket for his lightsaber. Poe put an arm out, warning him off. "What do you mean?"

"You're a sith." General Organa said bluntly to Finn, "Your little disguise isn't getting past me, not with your eyes. But no need to worry, I don't mean you any harm." she looked into Finn's eyes, "my father was Darth Vader. Do you expect me to judge you for what you are? If you're really willing to help us, I see no problem in you being here."

Finn breathed a little sigh of relief, but he was still uncertain. "Are you going to tell everyone?"

Leia shook her head, "No, that's up to you. But whatever you do, don't make me regret this decision."

Poe grinned, "I told you it would be fine." he whispered.

"Thank you, General." Finn said. "I won't let you down." He himself did not believe that being accepted into the Resistance would result in anything good, but he tried not to think about it. Leia smiled in response. "Of course. Commander, if we could have one moment?"

Finn tensed slightly as Poe nodded. He wasn't sure if he was ready to be left alone with people he didn't trust yet, but he made no objections. Both Finn and Leia were quiet as Poe left the room.

"I need to ask you something." Leia said, "Are you not with the First Order?"

Finn smiled at her stupidity. "Do you really think if I was a spy, I'd tell you the truth?" Leia did not seem impressed.

"You're running from something. You're scared of being found out as a sith. What do you really want?"

Finn raised his eyebrows, surprised at her comment. He looked off to the side awkwardly. "Listen, I just need a place to lay low for a bit. I can help you guys out here and there if I have to, but I don't want any part in this war."

Leia seemed to understand, something Finn had not imagined. "You're not a sith anymore, are you?"

Again, an awkward question. Finn supposed if he expected to be given a place to stay he had to be slightly honest at least. "They're coming after me." he admitted, "the others. I'm a traitor."

"Do they know where you are?" Leia asked. Finn shook his head.

"No, but your war is disturbing them. They'll come here eventually if it doesn't stop. The sith are drawn to war, because it brings pain. Now that they're hunting me, they'll only show up faster."

Leia breathed out a long sigh as she thought for a moment. "Then we need your help in the fight."

Finn was taken aback, "I can't. I-"

Leia looked deep into Finn's eyes. "If what you say is true, you have no choice."

-

After being asked to leave, Poe had gone to find Rey. She looked at him, puzzled, seeing his concerned expression. "What now?"

"Leia knows." Poe told her. "She knows about Finn. We didn't even say anything, but-"

"I told you it would never work." Rey crossed her arms across her chest. "So what happens now?"

Poe shrugged. "I don't know. I think she's willing to trust him."

"Do you trust him?" Rey asked.

Poe frowned. Did he trust Finn? They had only just met, yet Finn carried a lot of hurt with him, and he was willing to open up slightly to his new friends. "I do." he decided. "I think he can help us. What about you?"

Rey gave him a sceptical look. "No. He can't earn my trust that easily. Unlike you, who just goes by looks." she joked. Poe sighed.

"I do not- nevermind. Not like you would ever understand."

Rey's mouth opened slightly in a mix of surprise and amusement. "You do, don't you? You think he's cute."

"I never said that!" Poe insisted, putting his hands on his hips. "Just because you don't know what love is doesn't mean that-"

"Love??" Rey grinned widely at him. "Really?"

Poe put a hand to his face. Rey would never let this go.