the forgotten- finnpoe

chapter 1

Poe Dameron let out a long frustrated sigh as the artificial lights of the Millennium Falcon filtered through his eyelids, forcing him awake. The war was over, and there really was no need for him to wake up so early anymore, but it gave him something to do.

Poe eased himself out of bed, and out of Finn's arms, rubbing his eyes. Finn murmured something in his sleep, but did not awake.

That was fine. Poe loved Finn, but he was used to being on his own, and he liked having a moment or two of quiet. Being a war hero, you never heard the end of flashy lights and the constant stream of fans that flooded into your life.

Poe almost resented being known. He had spent his whole time in the Resistance readying himself for leadership, but a small part of him missed having someone who could tell him what he was supposed to be doing. He sighed again, careful not to disturb Finn. He missed Leia. She wasn't just his General, she had been a mentor to him. Someone who had stepped into his life as a parental figure. And now she was long gone.

Poe paced the corridors of the Falcon, lost in thought. At least she was at peace now, he supposed. He arrived at the little makeshift kitchen he had thrown together and began to make himself a hot drink, the whirr of the water as it became hotter bringing him more to his senses. He hoped that eventually the fame would wear off. All he wanted at the moment was to settle down on some distant habitable planet where no-one would know him.

Just himself, BB-8, Finn, and the Falcon.

Poe had managed to take the ship from his old friend Rey after she had left the Resistance to rebuild the Jedi order. He had claimed that he would find a better use for it, and she struggled to argue with him.

Poe and Rey had never really been the best of friends, but he had always respected her. She had been a pretty good pilot, and a damn brave girl. With a small ping, the water finished boiling, and Poe poured it into a flask, adding a scoop of a dark powder and giving it a shake. He made his way to the cockpit and leaned back in the all-so-familiar pilot's seat.

Poe looked up to the stars disappearing into the early morning sky and wondered if he would ever see Rey again, the slightest feeling of regret building up in his chest.

If he closed his eyes, he could pretend that he was sitting in the Falcon, but all those years ago, when Leia would send him, Finn, and Rey on insane missions.

Poe wondered if he had finally had enough of his soldier's life or not. He wanted to settle down with Finn, but a small place in his heart knew that he still had more to do.

"The fight never ends, does it?" Poe murmured to himself. It never had for Leia, and it felt like it never would for him, either. He sat silently for a while afterwards, watching as the stars faded away into the grey sky.

His thoughts were disturbed by quiet footsteps behind him, but he pretended not to notice. Finn leaned over Poe's shoulder and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Good morning."

"Morning." Poe answered, forcing a yawn away. "Sleep well?"

Finn sat down in the co-pilot's seat beside Poe, taking one of his hands. "I did. You never seem to, though." he frowned, seeing the dark circles under Poe's eyes.

"I'm fine." Poe insisted. "I don't need to sleep as much as you do. Must be tough having to do a whole day of nothing."

"Funny." Finn said, but he looked concerned. "Poe, I don't feel good."

"Me neither." Poe admitted, "probably food poisoning or something."

"I guess so." Finn wasn't convinced, but he didn't want to worry Poe. "Just so you know." he said, "I love you."

Poe smiled and squeezed Finn's hand. "I know. And I love you too."

Finn nodded. "I'm glad." he joked, before standing up and turning around. "I should go get changed."

Poe stood up after him, trying not to smile at Finn's outfit of beige pyjama shorts and an oversized t-shirt. "Hey," he called softly, widening his arms. "Come here." Finn turned around and smiled, embracing Poe and holding him tighter than he did usually. "I don't know what's going on," Poe told him, "but if you wanna talk about it-"

"I know, I can always talk to you." Finn finished. 'I wish I could..' he thought. He patted Poe's shoulder lightly. "Anyway, are you okay?"

"Yeah." Poe told him, as they left the cockpit together. "I'm just thinking about what happens next. You know, when this whole fame thing dies down."

"Hm?" Finn said, "Go on, I'm listening."

Poe sighed deeply. He knew Finn would never agree. "I was just kinda hoping we could settle down somewhere together," he admitted.

"And leave the Resistance?"

"I guess so."

Finn cocked his head to the side. "We're Generals now, Poe. It's our duty to protect the Resistance."

"From what?" Poe interrupted. The silence that followed was uneasy.

"But you know I love you." Finn told Poe gently, not wanting to agitate him further. "Generals or not, we'll always have each other, right?"

"Right. Yeah, whatever." Poe said, looking away from Finn.

Finn carefully lifted Poe's chin upwards with the tips of his fingers, leaned in and kissed him, taking his hands at the same time. Poe's shoulders relaxed slightly, and when they pulled away from each other, he was trying his best not to smile.

"Talking about the Resistance, I should get ready. Got more negotiations in the afternoon." Finn nodded, and Poe walked back to their quarters, leaving his lover alone. Out of sight, he smiled to himself, cheeks ever so slightly pinker. Poe could never stay frustrated for long, not with Finn.

Never with Finn.