Star Wars: A dyad in the Force 「A Reylo FanFiction」

Act 28: A shared moment

Ajan Kloss, 36 ABY

The forest around Ajan Kloss grew silent as the night aged. Not a single hint of wind rustled the boughs of the sturdy branches above. No birds sang to fill the void with their song. No animals called to each other or rustled through the undergrowth. It was as if none wished to break the night peace that had fallen.

On the edge of the Resistance's base, a man rested, staring into the fire pit. He still wasn't used to taking big steps and commanding his friends. But today, Poe Dameron used his title fully, and as the Acting General had ordered his underlings to allow Ben Solo to remain in Ajan Kloss.

Poe believed he could trust Ben Solo, and he knew the Resistance would need him. Since they had decrypted the data that Solo had sent them from the Analyzer, Poe was dead sure that the following mission would not be easy. The Resistance had fought many times with low odds and managed to win. But now, he was not certain what they were dealing with. The few remaining fleets belonging to the First Order weren't a problem. Even with a smaller group of people, they could take them down. But the new shadow that was rising—looming—was worrying Poe.

Earlier, he had visited Ben's room and found him sleeping with Rey. Poe didn't know much about the Force, but he could understand that those two shared something special. He hadn't bothered to wake up Ben or Rey. However, when he noted Solo's handcuffed to a metallic bar, he had been irritated. He had grabbed the key, freed Ben, and then taken the cuffs with him.

Poe wouldn't allow Ben Solo to be treated like a prisoner. The Resistance had no such power; they couldn't imprison people or judge them. They were there to fight against evil for the Galaxy.

Poe turned around and walked towards the door only to find Finn standing there. His close friend had looked worried. It wasn't only because Poe had insisted on bringing Ben Solo back; it was because Finn had just found Rey sleeping on top of Ben Solo. Finn had been confused and hadn't been able to understand why Rey would sleep in the same room with Solo, and he didn't like it one bit.

He had started complaining to Poe, wanting them to analyze what it meant. From there, it had taken Poe an hour to convince Finn that there was no special meaning behind their mutual friends sharing a room. He had said that he was sure Rey was busy with saving the world and becoming a Jedi, and emotions like love were alien to her.

As for Ben Solo, he was already dealing with his past and trying to find a way to comprehend his wrongdoings. Falling in love was the least of his worries. Yet Finn hadn't been able to understand; he had been jealous of the connection Ben and Rey shared.

Poe ended up reminding him that the unstable one was Finn and finally exploded with, "You should be more worried about yourself than Rey and Ben. First, you're in love with Rey, then in love with Rose, then with Jannah!" Poe had sometimes felt that Finn was into him as well, but he hadn't mentioned it. Surely Finn was still young enough to be allowed to be confused, but he had said, "You have to eventually make up your mind and decide if you are in love at all and with whom. You can't go around being in love with everyone." He had started to turn away but thought had struck him, and he had whirled around again, "And don't you dare add Zorii to your list!"

Poe suddenly felt the pressure of a blaster against his skull; he had been so pulled into his thoughts; that he had never seen Zorii approach him. "I could pull the trigger right now!" she challenged.

Poe turned and faced her, "I've seen you do worse." he responded as he shared the joke with her.

"For a lot less!" Zorii added as she holstered her blaster and sat beside him.

Poe nodded. "Can we try talking this out?" he asked her, "You wouldn't want me to be dead. I haven't given you that kiss yet!" He teased, though there was some truth in his words.

"Nope, I wanna see your brains in the sand," Zorii smirked, tapping the blaster butt at her hip.

Poe lifted an eyebrow. "You are still mad?" he wondered, but he immediately changed his tone and teased, "I knew I should have given you that kiss earlier."

"I hoped I would never see you again, Poe Dameron, General of the Resistance, your kiss means nothing," she spoke the word kiss as though it tasted rotten in her mouth. Years ago, she might have been tricked into thinking about Poe's kiss, but no longer.

Once in a while, it was best to lead with the truth. Poe had been getting used to only telling the truth lately. He had changed a lot. He was no longer the same man; he was no longer the spice runner.

Here goes nothing, Poe thought. "Zorii, I will need help," he told her, sounding more serious now, "When we take off for the new mission, I'll need you."

"You're outta luck," Zorri said decidedly, "I aided you in the battle with the Final Order, but Poe, I am not part of the Resistance. I can't live the way you do."

Poe's shoulders deflated. There it was. Now there was an end to all of it. Zorii being part of the Resistance, he knew, sounded like a joke. Who had known her would have thought that anyone would ever ask her to join an organized movement. But Poe needed more people around he could trust. And he knew he could trust Zorii. "Listen, we could do this all night. You can't go back to Kijimi, as the planet isn't anymore...the gang is gone as well." Poe's eyes met hers, "Stay here. You know you are welcome, and Babu Frik as well."

"You don't have all night," Zorii spat at him dangerously, "You don't have now. You know, you're talking about kisses, and I'm still digging myself out of the hole you put me in when you left to join the 'cause.' And now you want me to join it as well."

"Back then..." Poe sighed, "I cared, Zorii. But I found something bigger than us, the Galaxy needed me, and it still does. The First Order and the Final Order and no more, but the Galaxy isn't safe yet. I can't rest if we haven't taken out any evil that could arise. We can't let more die; we are the only ones left to fight."

"It troubled me most nights," she admitted. "Watching what the First Order did, and then it only became worse. But Poe, I am not a rebel. I was leading The Spice Runners. I only know life as a smuggler. I want to go to the Colonies and rest. Leave everything behind. I am too tired."

"How can you?" Poe asked her, "Zorii if another darkness rises, there will be no safe place in the Galaxy for any of us to rest. They will block the trade lanes and take down everything. And even if that doesn't happen now, it will happen eventually."

Out of his line of sight, her mask opened. She tilted her head back to take a swig of her drink. "Maybe you are right, but I will take my chances."

"Who'd you bribe? And what'd you pay?" Poe asked, his voice low and caring, "Stay here, I don't need you to fight. Just stay in Ajan Kloss; it's safe here. Once you told me to come with you. I am now giving you the same offer: Stay here."

Zorii swallowed hard and looked Poe in the eyes, "Why and for whom?" she said, "For that kiss and you?"

Poe took a deep breath; her eyes had always affected him strangely, "For me!" he admitted. "To aid me! Because I need you..." he paused and stared at the ground, "Because I'll know you're safe."

Zorii smirked and looked straight ahead, "Maybe I will!" she said, "If you had offered that kiss, I would surely stay." she teased him.

Poe smiled and leaned against her. They rested there for an hour or two. It had been years since those two had managed to share a long moment. And honestly, Poe needed a break from being in command all the time. He still was worried that he couldn't be as good as General Organa.

After her death, everything happened so fast; he had no time to cope with the idea that he would be leading the Resistance. Poe had always been confident in himself and his decisions, but lately, he has not been.

「 Upcoming Chapter: Act Twenty-Nine 」