Chapter Text
***
Poe was sprawled in the dim reactor room of the Tantive IV. The ship had received so much damage during the Battle of Exegol, it had been a miracle that the entire ship hadn’t just been completely destroyed.
And even now, almost a year later, Poe was still trying to fix it. He didn’t know why really. Why he kept coming back to try fix the damn ship. It really was a helpless case. There was too much to fix. But it was Leia’s ship. Maybe that was why he kept coming back. It was a place he could be alone. Mull anything over.
Exegol kept replaying in his head. Over and over, like some broken holo.
He could be making a pot of caf or in the shower or talking with Finn, and out of nowhere, it would switch itself on. All those cries floating through the comms, all directed at him because he was their general, he was supposed to lead them, to keep them safe.
Leia had picked him, Maker knows why. The first thought that had slipped through his mind was why not Finn?
It made more sense to promote Finn than him, surely. Finn was level, steady. Everyone couldn’t help but trust and like him, despite his origin. Unlike Poe, who rubbed most people up the wrong way and was brash and abrasive and, let’s be honest, sometimes insubordinate. Crait still stung.
Finn had something special, that earnestness, or maybe it was the gentle kindness. He was more suited for General than Poe. So, it was the first thing he did.
“I need you in command with me…”
Because Poe couldn’t have done it alone. He’d known that even before Lando had said it. Maybe Leia hadn’t promoted Finn because she knew Poe would just do it himself. She had probably known.
So, now Poe sat next to the warm reactor core of the damaged, scarred ship, drinking an old, lukewarm cup of caf.
The Resistance was technically over. The New Republic was officially back in power, though there were talks of changing the name of the government to the Second Republic, due to their failure to manage the First Order the first time around.
Speaking of the First/Final Order, they were still a work in progress.
They’d all been a bit stupid to assume that after Exegol, the work would be done. It wasn’t. Both Chewie and Lando had been quick to gently remind them. The Empire had caused trouble long after the second Death Star had been destroyed by the Rebels. And the First/Final Maker, just pick one Order would do exactly the same.
But most were done with the war. Most had gone home. Gone to be with their families or to start new ones. Not many were still on Ajan Kloss. Just a few stragglers. People who had no family to go back to, or people who felt like their purpose disappeared with the war.
They continued to try and manage the remains of the First Order, even though the Republic’s new Security Bureau had been established.
The Republic had offered anyone in the Resistance jobs and rolls in their government and military. It had been the least they could do after the Resistance had done their job for them.
But Poe knew the Republic. After all, it was where he had started.
Protocol, procedure, hell, even uniforms. He’d grown out of that. He didn’t want to go back to taking orders, and he wasn’t great at doing so anyway, so it was probably best for everyone that he kindly decline the offer of rejoining the Republic Navy.
Plus, they’d offered him rank of lieutenant. Lieutenant.
Sure, he knew he’d be able to rise through the ranks easily enough, but honestly...
He still scoffed whenever he thought back to it.
Karé had taken the offer. He still thought about it.
She’d been smiling gently when she told him, a couple weeks after Exegol. Smiling, but he could still see the grief glimmering behind her eyes as her wedding ring glinted at him from her hand as he’d squeezed it with promises to keep in touch.
Promises they both didn’t keep because Poe knew they both thought of Snap when they looked at each other. And it hurt. So Karé had slipped out of his life. For now, at least.
Jess had taken the offer too, but she’d still comm him every few weeks to complain about someone or something.
And Iolo... Iolo had never commed in after a Resistance mission he took one and a half years ago.
Poe had been the one to write the message to his family. He’d written so many since then. Sure, it was old fashioned to write messages, but he’d learned it from Leia. Some things needed a personal touch.
The door in front of him swished open smoothly and Poe looked up from the unsteady surface of his brown caf to watch D-O roll in. He raised his eyebrows, almost amused at the determined beeline the small droid made for him.
“Hey, Coneface.”
“Dee-Oh,” the droid almost snapped.
Poe smirked.
The droid had slowly grown a sharp personality during the past year. Nervous and skittish was now boisterous and self-assured. Maybe because of Artoo. He was quite good company when Beebs was off on Tatooine with Rey.
“So, what’s up Coney?”
“G- General Finn is wondering where you are.”
“Oh? And what did you tell him?” asked Poe as he stood and stretched out his stiff legs.
“That I would find you.”
“He wants me? Where is he?”
“Cave- Cave-mouth.”
Poe sighed. Finn wanted to train.
As they began to walk for the Tantive’s ramp, he realised D-O ‘s wheel was squeaking. Again.
“Hey Dee, when was the last time I oiled your wheel?”
“A month ago.”
“If it’s already squeaking after just one month, maybe we should get you a replacement wheel.”
“No- No thank you. No replacement,” came the quivery reply as the droid zoomed ahead.
“If you say so, buddy.”
“I do say so.”
***
Poe landed heavily on his ass and glared up at Finn who was clearly trying to keep a smile off his face.
“You’re not listening, you keep doing it wrong.”
“Am not,” Poe huffed.
“You need to step back.”
“You never should’ve gone to Tatooine with Rey. You’re gone for one month and your entire fighting style is off. It’s unfair,” Poe grumbled as he stood up again.
“It’s not off, it’s just a bit different. It didn’t change that much.”
“I used to be able to beat you! Now, I don’t know. You’re probably using your Force-y tricks to beat me. Unfair,” he repeated sullenly as they squared up again.
Finn was grinning now.
“You’re just out of practice. I told you to practice while I was away.”
They tried the same move again and Poe stumbled back. Again.
“You need to step back!” came a yell from across the clearing. Rose.
Poe groaned, glaring up at the vines that streaked the trees’ branches.
“See?” Finn snapped. “You keep trying to hold your ground against my attack. Don’t do that. You need to move in step with me.”
“I’m done for today. I’m tired,” Poe sighed. “I am,” he added defensively as Finn raised his eyebrows.
“Since when do you want to go back to doing desk work?”
“Since now,” he muttered, swiping his flask off the soft ground. “Don’t we have files to look through?”
He knew he was being grouchy. Sometimes he felt like he was being a grumpy old man.
There was a high pitched shrill from the direction of the Tantive and they turned to watch BB-8 rumbling towards them. D-O was right behind him. Poe sighed again.
“I’ll fix it now buddy, I’m sorry. Dee, you come too, I’ll oil your wheel up again.”
“We do have a couple thousand more officer files to look through. I think Rose and Kaydel said they’ll join us,” said Finn, wiping his brow as they headed back to the ship.
“The more the merrier.”
There was a time where Poe would’ve said that with full sarcasm, but he’d actually grown to enjoy Kaydel’s company over the last couple years. Sometime after she helped him stage a mutiny. Perfect bonding activity, right?
“You want any caf? I’m going to go to the mess and get some.”
“You drink too much of that stuff Poe,” sighed Finn.
“You want some?” he repeated flatly, ignoring the statement.
Finn sighed. “Yeah. Thanks, Poe.”
It might’ve been the slightly dejected look on his face that made Poe lean in and give Finn a gentle kiss. Some sort of apology, because he knew he was being frustrating.
When he pulled away, there was a tiny smile on his boyfriend’s face.
“I’ll see you in a couple minutes.”
“Don’t forget my sugar!”
“I never forget your sugar!”
***
Poe was sitting on the floor in a corner of the General’s workroom as he fiddled with BB-8’s broken antenna. D-O was happily zooming around the room with his now un-squeaky wheel.
“Hey, have we got those files on the Azumel resettlements?”
“I have if you come over here and get them,” Rose responded dryly.
“No, I don’t want them right now. I was just wondering,” he replied distractedly as he detached the faulty antenna.
“Hey, Poe?”
“Yeah?”
“What did you put in my caf?”
He glanced over to see Finn holding his cup with a bemused expression. Rose and Kaydel were smirking, looking between them.
“Uh, just your usual. Three spoons of sugar.” He blinked. “What else would I put in?”
In response, Finn turned to Rose.
“Here, try this and tell me what you taste.”
Rose took the cup, grinning, and took a sip as Poe straightened up indignantly. She instantly made a face and Kaydel laughed.
“Poe, that’s not sugar.”
“I put sugar.”
“You put salt,” came the instant reply from Finn and Rose in unison.
“I- no, I couldn’t have.”
“Ok, you taste it then,” countered Finn as Rose and Kaydel cracked up again.
“No, I’m not gonna drink your caf. You know I hate how sweet you have it.”
“See, that’s the thing Poe. It’s not sweet. At all.”
“Shut up,” he muttered, turning back to BB-8 who chirped at him teasingly.
It would’ve been about four minutes later when Kaydel spoke again.
He never saw it coming.
***