FREE FALLING ━━ p. dameron ✓

thirty one

The first thing Mom does is get Poe and I X-wings. Now, the two of us patrol Onderon as much as possible. The planet, though not very large, does have a lot of ground to cover for only two X-wings.

I sigh as I land my ship, my shift done for the day.

I take off my helmet and brush hair out of my eyes as BB-12 lowers himself to the ground.

As I jump out of the cockpit, I see Poe sitting by his X-wing, a paintbrush in hand.

"Are you...painting your X-wing?" I ask incredulously.

Poe turns to me with a grin and shrugs. "I miss the black and orange."

I roll my eyes. "I don't think you can just paint your X-wing."

"Why not?" Poe drops his paintbrush and walks over to me. "General gave me permission."

"Kinda sad I missed that one. Wonder how dumb you looked asking if you could paint your ship."

Poe leans down and kisses me softly. He reaches up to cup my cheek but I bat his hand away.

"You're covered in paint. It'll get in my hair." I scrunch my nose, pulling away. Poe sighs.

"You want to sit while I finish up?" He asks me, returning to the old bucket he's using as a stool.

I shrug. "If it doesn't take too long. I have to report to Mom."

Poe chuckles, picking up his paintbrush. "It's not like you saw anything. Nothing happens here. It's boring."

I cross my arms, and sit down on the grass. "At least we're not being chased by the First Order. No action is better than too much."

"I guess you're right. Hey BB, how does this look?" Poe asks, leaning down to his droid.

BB-8 tilts his head before beeping out a good job.

I stand up. "Let's go see my mom."

I offer Poe my hand and he takes it.

"You have the shift tomorrow."

"I know, I know." Poe sighs, running his hands through his hair. There's orange paint smudged on his cheek. "I hate this. Hate not doing anything."

"Dameron, we need to build up our ranks."

"Yes, I know. You're mother keeps telling me that. Over and over." He sighs. I glance up and realize I've arrived at moms makeshift office. It's small but it'll do.

The whole Resistance's base of operations is set in Wedge's old farm. There's Fathier stalls which count as rooms. The large open area in the middle is where a holotable is set up. Then there's the attic which serves as the lunch room.

I knock on my mother's door and she opens it.

"Ah! Wren. You're back. All right, let's hear what you saw." Mom says, returning to her desk.

"Hm. Let's see....Nothing." I say. My mom sighs.

"I'm sorry. I'm am, really. I just don't want anyone to feel like they're not doing anything."

"Honestly, that would be better at this point." I admit.

Poe steps forward. "General. Perhaps Wren and I could take a break tomorrow? We've been working non stop since we arrived on Onderon. We haven't spent any time with anybody else."

"It's not like you want to." My mother mumbles.

"What was that?" I ask, grinning.

"I-nothing. I suppose you and Wren do deserve a break. Oh alright. But one day only." My mother says.

"Thanks mom!" I blow her a sarcastic kiss and skip out the door.

Poe follows. "Finally. Some time off." He grins.

"It's only one day. Now go take a shower. You are forbidden to touch me with your paint stained hands." I order.

"Yes Birdy." Poe rolls his eyes and walks off, BB-8 trailing him.

BB-12 and I head down to Wedge's house, looking for Rey. She seems to spend a lot of time with the ex-pilot. Wedge does know a lot about Luke though.

The two were pilots together during the Empire times. Rey just seems to soak up all the stories.

Before I can enter Wedge's house, someone grabs my arm. I turn and see Finn.

"Wren. I need your help."

"Of course. Anything." I say worriedly.

"Follow me." Finn says. He leads me back to the barn and into one of the Fathier stalls. It's the medical room, and on the bed lays Rose.

"She looks fine to me. Well not 'fine' but you know what I mean." I say, letting out a breath. I thought maybe she had died.

"I know. Just help me change her bacta patches would you?" Finn asks.

I nod, and we hurriedly change her patches and bandages. Finn then sits by Rose again, holding her hand lightly,

"You know Finn...you need to sleep." I say, placing a hand on his back.

Finn shakes his head. "No. No, I can't sleep. This is my fault. If I had just backed off, and listened to Poe, then Rose wouldn't have had to crash into me-"

"Don't go down that path of thinking. Do you know how long it took me to get Poe out of that hole? And he's not even fully convinced this isn't his fault."

"I just wish Rey would talk to me. Then maybe this wouldn't be so hard." Finn hangs his head in his hands.

I sigh. Rey has been distant lately. She misses meals and is usually at Wedge's listening to stories of Luke, reading the stolen Jedi texts, or getting special training from my mom. She runs around the forest, cutting down trees and learning control or whatever.

It's not that I'm jealous, I just feel like a Rey doesn't do enough for the Resistance. Sure, we need a Jedi, but Rey doesn't do much practicing. And, she has a habit of doing what she wants when she wants.

But I'll never tell this to her face. I don't want to ruin the friendship we've built.

"I'm sorry Finn. Maybe she needs time? I don't know, I'm not a Jedi. I'm just a pilot."

Someone knocks on the stall door and I turn to see Poe. He's cleaned up, but his hair is still dripping wet.

"That's my que." I pat Finn on the back. "I'll see you later. Just give her time." I say as I walk out of the stall.

Finn nods and then turns his attention back to Rose.

"What was that all about?" Poe asks me, arching an eyebrow

"Nothing. Why? Are you jealous?" I tease him.

Poe lets out a short laugh. "Sure Birdy. Whatever you say."

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Okk BB-9E from tlj is such a snitch, i hate him 😡

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