Chapter Text
Finn heaved a sigh and finished buttoning his red jacket. He knew it wasn’t a very charitable thought but some days—days like today—he wished something would happen. He smoothed his hands down the jacket front, erasing imaginary creases, before he turned away from the dingy mirror and took the three steps necessary to take him from his small closet of a bedroom to the rickety kitchen table where he’d left his glass of milk and the newspaper, opened to the weather. Clear skies and upper seventies, no chance of rain. He exhaled heavily; how boring before the day even started.
“Morning,” his roommate said softly as he entered the apartment, closing the door behind him with a soft click. “Did you have a nice night?”
“I had the same night I always do,” Finn grumbled back but cracked a small smile at his roommate’s frown. “How was yours?”
Shrugging, Bastian slipped his navy suit jacket off, noting the fraying around the cuffs and wondering how much longer he could wear it. “Not too bad. Only got four propositions. My looks must be slipping. Pretty soon Iolo won’t recognize his fiancé,” Bastian joked, unbuckling his sleeve garters and tossing them and his jacket through his open bedroom door.
“That’s not true,” Finn scowled, gathering his friend into a hug as Bastian moved towards the table. “He’s lucky to have you. He’s always been lucky to have you.”
Bastian snorted against Finn’s neck and patted him on the back. “Well. It’s nice someone thinks so.”
“Are you working all night? If you get off early we could go out. Anywhere you want,” Finn offered. Bastian pulled back with a soft smile.
“I think a nightclub would catch fire if you tried to enter it. I won’t have the corruption of your soul on my tab,” Bastian teased, taking a seat in the chair that wobbled. Finn sighed again and Bastian reached over for Finn’s half-full glass of milk. “Besides, it’s my anniversary. Fourteen years today.”
“Bastian,” Finn started, folding the newspaper carefully, “do you ever think--,”
“That fourteen years is too long for an engagement?” Finn nodded and Bastian took a large gulp of milk. “It’s crossed my mind. Do you ever think preaching to drunks and gamblers in Time Square might not be best idea?”
That was all Finn had been thinking about for the past couple of weeks. “If I can help just one person…”
“Happy hunting, then,” Bastian said, winking before knocking back the rest of the milk. “I’m going to bed. Did you make me a list? I’ll head to the grocer before work.”
Finn bit his lip and took out the neatly folded page from his pocket. “You sure? Because I don’t mind--,”
“I’m going out anyway. I need to pick up Iolo’s present.”
“Well, alright,” Finn allowed, handing over his list and Bastian took it, making a show of sliding it into his pants pocket. “See you in the morning. I hope you have a good anniversary.”
“That makes two of us,” Bastian answered cheerfully over his shoulder as he moseyed into his room, falling face first onto the mattress with a groan, the springs squeaking in response.
Finn shook his head fondly and made his way out, locking the door behind him and double-checking the knob to be sure. He shuffled down the stairs, humming quietly to himself the song he had heard on the radio the night before. It hadn’t been spiritual or wholesome but as long as he didn’t condone the lyrics, there couldn’t be any harm in humming the tune. Deciding that was sufficient justification, he exited the apartment building into the bright sunlight of an early summer morning. At the foot of the stoop he saw Rey and Jess, their heads close together and their backs to him. Finn softly approached them.
“—Paul Revere. There’s a guy who says if the weather’s clear, this horse can do,” Rey informed Jess, pointing at the racetrack report in her hand.
Jess scoffed and shook her head. “I’m picking Valentine. The morning line has him at five to nine.”
“Or you can quit betting on horses,” Finn interjected and the two women jumped in surprise, “and devote your time to real fulfillment.”
“Why, good morning, Mr. Finn,” Rey greeted, slipping her paper into the inside pocket of her jacket as she turned to smile up at the man. “How are you on the beautiful morning?”
“I have no complaints,” Finn replied regally, noting the exasperated look Rey and Jess exchanged. “Did you follow Bastian home again?”
The two women exchanged another loaded look before Jess answered, “We were asked to assure Mr. Bastian made it home safe from molestation.”
“Sure,” Finn drawled, crossing his arms. “And why can’t Iolo assure that himself?”
“Iolo had obligations--,”
“He promised that he gave up the stupid floating crap game,” Finn interrupted, eyes narrowing as Rey’ and Jess’s faces went carefully neutral. “And for his sake, he had better keep that promise. He would also be wise to make himself available tonight at the Hot Box because he wouldn’t want to miss his fourteenth anniversary.”
“Fourteenth--,” Jess started incredulously before Rey stamped down on her foot.
“Iolo has the date marked in his calendar,” Rey replied loudly, “and would not miss it for the world.”
“That’s good to hear,” Finn said suspiciously. “And I’m sure he has a present for his fiancé as well.”
“What would an anniversary be without a little token,” Jess simpered, answering but not answering, and Finn rolled his eyes.
“I’m glad Iolo has everything taken care of,” Finn muttered, stepping off the final step. “Have a good day. Don’t trifle away all your money.”
“And a very good day to you, Mr. Finn,” Rey called after the man brightly before frowning and putting her hands on her hips. “Well, that is a fine mess.”
“Iolo can’t miss tonight,” Jess hissed. “After last night’s fiasco--,”
“Maybe he’s already found a new spot,” Rey offered as she and Jess fell into step after Finn, out of earshot but still visible. “After all, as long as he arranges the location, the game runs itself.”
“But Lieutenant Hux is breathing down everyone’s neck,” Jess pressed, watching Finn turn the corner and their pace increased to keep the man in sight. “All the regulars are scared.”
“Iolo will pull through,” Rey nodded, trying to convince both of them. “He always does. And with all the high rollers in town, he cannot miss the opportunity. I heard Poe Dameron is back from Vegas.”
“Poe’s back,” Jess gaped, pausing beside a newsstand and watching Finn unlock and enter the Save a Soul Mission storefront. “Iolo needs to get the game going.”
“And he will,” Rey said definitively. “You head up east and reassure our friends.”
“And where will you be going,” Jess asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Someone needs to inform Iolo he has a date he cannot forget,” Rey rolled her eyes, holding out her hand. Jess took it and they shook formally before parting.
“Finn, why are you lurking at the window,” Slip asked, his arms full of prayer books.
“Just preparing for the day,” Finn responded mindless, watching the two women take off in opposite directions. He had half a mind to follow Rey, figuring if anyone knew where Iolo was lying low it was her. But he had a job to do. A job he enjoyed, even if it didn’t feel like it some days. “Here, let me help you,” he said, taking some of the red leather-bound tomes from his friend.