"Back to jail," Poe sings to Ben that night.
Ben glowers at him. Poe shrugs. "I don't make the rules."
"You did suggest it," Finn points out.
"Thanks a lot, Finn."
"No problem." Finn tosses a dinner roll between his hands, the grin that never fails to lift Poe's spirits parting his lips. "I'll be down in a few minutes, okay, Ben?" He imitates lightsaber noises, and Ben rolls his eyes.
BB-8 bobbles along behind them, singing the same song Finn and Poe had been singing over the food. With the help of ale.
"How's he doing? With the training?" Poe asks.
"Pretty good, actually."
"For someone who doesn't have the Force, that is," Poe muses.
Ben doesn't answer.
"Thanks for doing it. For him. I know he looks forward to it."
Ben turns to peer at Poe.
"What? Don't you try your creepy mind thing on me again. BB-8 will sting you. Won't you, BB-8?"
The droid nods, sticking out his fiery thumb to agree. Ben laughs. Poe joins.
"So..." Ben says as Poe punches the code. "Why don't you just tell him?"
"Tell who? Tell what?" Poe enters the cell before his prisoner. Not smart, Dameron.
Ben follows, though. Because, as much as Poe hates to admit it, the guy has changed. For the better. Who would've thought.
"Finn," Ben says.
"Finn what? Tell Finn what? I don't understand what you—what you're—you're not making any sense, buddy."
Ben's eyebrows fly up at Poe's term of endearment, and that's enough to make Poe want to kick himself. It just slipped out. Control yourself, Dameron. Don't let him set you on edge.
Ben sits on the cot and leans forward, resting his chin on his fist. "I think you know what I'm talking about perfectly well."
"Well, I know you have feelings for Rey." Poe has no idea, actually. But Finn says so.
The kind, curious expression on Ben's face tightens into a glare.
Oh my—he does. Finn was right. Poe doesn't like it. Not one bit. He glances to BB-8, who gazes at Ben with rapture as if that revelation's just wonderful. Not cool, droid.
"Why? Is it because of how beautiful she is? I mean, it's impressive that you have feelings for anyone, because quite frankly I thought that was impossible for years before I even met you. And, let me tell you, no matter how you've changed, I do not support—"
"Quit deflecting," Ben retorts, hands clenching. One fist traces his side.
"I'm not. Deflecting. I'm not deflecting. There's nothing to deflect."
Ben leans back, swinging his absurdly long legs. "Suit yourself. Be miserable for the rest of your life."
"Like you?" Poe's grasping at any darts he can and throwing them, hoping one of them will hit the right target and he can escape. But he also doesn't want to escape. Another part of him begs for Ben to tell him what he wants to hear, and Poe hates himself for it.
"Why don't you just tell him?" Ben asks again, so—kindly. He's being kind. Kylo Ren is the one being kind, and Poe is being mean.
Dammit.
The façade drips away. Poe doesn't have the energy to hold it up any longer. "Because I don't want risk it. Losing his respect. If I tell him, I could lose his respect, his friendship—and those mean so much to me."
"What if he reciprocates?" Ben questions.
"He doesn't. Why would he?" Poe paces.
"When I first met you—" Ben decides to be honest. "When I looked inside your mind, I saw an optimist."
"So?" Poe asks.
"You're not acting like an optimist right now. You're afraid."
Poe grips his head, fingers digging through his thick hair. "Are you in my head right now?"
"If I was, you would know."
"I'm here!" announces Finn as the door opens. Ben narrows his lips and drops his eyebrows as he stares at Poe.
"Great," Ben says finally, sighing, when Poe says nothing. "Here, take the lightsaber and—"
"Can I stay?" Poe interrupts, riding the Ben Solo wave of inspiration and stupidity. "And watch?"
"If you don't mind seeing me make a fool of myself." Finn laughs.
"He doesn't mind," Ben says slyly, and that's too much. That's too far. Poe's going to have to throttle the General's son.
Except as Poe moves towards him, Ben's jaw drops, and he clutches his head.
"Snoke," Poe breathes. "Finn—"
BB-8 spins and rolls towards the door.
"No!" Ben screams.
YOU ARE READING
•LEGACY - A Reylo Story•
Fanfiction*WRITTEN PRE-TROS, POST TLJ* When a ship crashes near the Resistance base, Finn and Poe are shocked to discover Kylo Ren. What does he want? And where is Rey? And as for Kylo, he must decide how much he can trust them with what he knows about Snoke...
