That was important. It wasn't anything Poe had done, not a single thing. Finn had been content, he'd been happy with what they were. But he wasn't built to have it all. He couldn't have a family and be a soldier, that capacity had been drummed out. It might be the First Order's fault, but causes weren't the point here. Only the effects.
"You didn't- you can do it, Poe. I know you can. Find someone, have it work." Even if it would kill Finn to see it, it would be better than this. "It's just me that can't."
"No." The word was so instant, so firm, cutting off Finn before he could
finish his sentence. Finn was making it worse, and Poe could only deal with
one of their hearts at a time. He could work to make sure Finn wasn't
hurt, but not with that kind of assault. The last - the last thing
he wanted to think about right now was anyone else. It made his throat
tighten to even hear Finn say it. His eyes felt hot, and he felt like a
prize moron, so he smiled. Smiled a smile that didn't reach his eyes, that
was decades worth of practice.
"Nah, I think I'm good," He said, trying to make it sound easy. "You're
right. This kind of thing isn't for guys like us. Not when I'm more likely
to come back in a box than in a cockpit." The last was almost bitter, and
he did step back then. "So just - it's fine, Finn. It's alright. Don't
worry about it."
Finn was almost surprised by the fierceness in his tone, the steel, but this was important. Maybe the most important thing he'd ever do again for Poe. Important enough he stood, making a wild grab for Poe's wrist to stop him from just running from this.
"Do you hear me? You didn't- you don't know, Poe. You don't know what what it's like to have nothing that's yours. You never need to know that. You've got a family, you've got a chance. Don't be too stupid to take it."
Poe snapped his hand back so fast that the rest of his body went with it,
taking a full few steps back away from Finn, now.
"I got the message, Finn." He said, his voice tight. It hurt too much to
try to stop from hurting back, though he was trying. Fuck, but he was
trying. "Nothing like you, and stupid. I got the message."
"Word of advice? Leave it at 'I'm sorry', next time." It was bitter, and he
hated himself instantly for saying it, but he didn't take it back. The very
idea that he could just - find someone else, for the sake of it--
Finn looked down at his hand. He'd made a mess of even this. Not surprising. But he nodded to himself, and turned to gather his helmet back up. Maybe it was better he ruined everything. No chance for a second spring in a battle ground that's been burned and salted.
"Best damned pilot in the galaxy," He spat, unable to completely control
his tongue. It sounded more like a curse, the way he said it. Like bitter
mockery of himself.
Best pilot in the galaxy and he couldn't even keep his fighter flying when
Finn needed him to.
Couldn't fly well enough to keep the best thing he'd ever had in his life.
He didn't wait to hear a reply - didn't want to. He was too angry, which
surprised him, and hurt, which didn't. So he just backed right up to the
door that he had entered through, turned around, and left through it
without another word.
Before he could burn more bridges just for the sake of it.
no subject
That was important. It wasn't anything Poe had done, not a single thing. Finn had been content, he'd been happy with what they were. But he wasn't built to have it all. He couldn't have a family and be a soldier, that capacity had been drummed out. It might be the First Order's fault, but causes weren't the point here. Only the effects.
"You didn't- you can do it, Poe. I know you can. Find someone, have it work." Even if it would kill Finn to see it, it would be better than this. "It's just me that can't."
no subject
"No." The word was so instant, so firm, cutting off Finn before he could finish his sentence. Finn was making it worse, and Poe could only deal with one of their hearts at a time. He could work to make sure Finn wasn't hurt, but not with that kind of assault. The last - the last thing he wanted to think about right now was anyone else. It made his throat tighten to even hear Finn say it. His eyes felt hot, and he felt like a prize moron, so he smiled. Smiled a smile that didn't reach his eyes, that was decades worth of practice.
"Nah, I think I'm good," He said, trying to make it sound easy. "You're right. This kind of thing isn't for guys like us. Not when I'm more likely to come back in a box than in a cockpit." The last was almost bitter, and he did step back then. "So just - it's fine, Finn. It's alright. Don't worry about it."
no subject
Finn was almost surprised by the fierceness in his tone, the steel, but this was important. Maybe the most important thing he'd ever do again for Poe. Important enough he stood, making a wild grab for Poe's wrist to stop him from just running from this.
"Do you hear me? You didn't- you don't know, Poe. You don't know what what it's like to have nothing that's yours. You never need to know that. You've got a family, you've got a chance. Don't be too stupid to take it."
no subject
Poe snapped his hand back so fast that the rest of his body went with it, taking a full few steps back away from Finn, now.
"I got the message, Finn." He said, his voice tight. It hurt too much to try to stop from hurting back, though he was trying. Fuck, but he was trying. "Nothing like you, and stupid. I got the message."
"Word of advice? Leave it at 'I'm sorry', next time." It was bitter, and he hated himself instantly for saying it, but he didn't take it back. The very idea that he could just - find someone else, for the sake of it--
He felt ill.
no subject
Finn looked down at his hand. He'd made a mess of even this. Not surprising. But he nodded to himself, and turned to gather his helmet back up. Maybe it was better he ruined everything. No chance for a second spring in a battle ground that's been burned and salted.
"You're better."
no subject
"Best damned pilot in the galaxy," He spat, unable to completely control his tongue. It sounded more like a curse, the way he said it. Like bitter mockery of himself.
Best pilot in the galaxy and he couldn't even keep his fighter flying when Finn needed him to.
Couldn't fly well enough to keep the best thing he'd ever had in his life.
He didn't wait to hear a reply - didn't want to. He was too angry, which surprised him, and hurt, which didn't. So he just backed right up to the door that he had entered through, turned around, and left through it without another word.
Before he could burn more bridges just for the sake of it.