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The last conversation played on Poe’s head repeatedly, echoing between his ears with no signs of showing when it would ever stop: “So we do nothing? That’s the solution? An emerging threat, and we do nothing?” he had asked, and the answer, even though he expected it, felt like it punched him on the throat.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing the Republic Command could do against an emerging First Order menace, one he had seen with his own eyes and could do nothing about. Poe downed his drink at the memory of that, scared and nervous, and overall angry. “Another,” he signed to the bartender without even taking the time to consider that another drink would push him past that tipsy state he was in - or maybe knowing that’s exactly why he did it.
“Poe Dameron.” The sound of his name pulled his attention away from the glass and into the seat next to him, the one that was being pulled and occupied by someone he had no idea knew his name. He had his reputation, that he knew, but he didn’t assume he was that well-known. By the look on the woman’s face, as if she knew something he didn’t, with a smart smirk adorning her features, he could only assume…
“Yeah, hi, I’m not interested right now.”
You looked at him unamused as he turned his eyes back to his drink. “Wow- I’m flattered but that’s not the case at all.” The bartender reached you as you made yourself comfortable on the stool. “Whatever he’s having.” You requested with a smile signaling over to Poe.
“What do you want then?” He was there not to be bothered, to be consumed by his thoughts about war alone, the last thing he needed was some woman to approach him.
After a quick scan around your spot at the bar, you spoke. “I’m with the Resistance, I was sent here to find you.”
Poe turned to you with a little chuckle. “So the Resistance is sending eye-candy to recruit people? ‘Kay, thanks. I’ll consider it.” You could hear the sarcasm oozing out of his words. “What do you want? Money? I really can’t help you sweetheart-”
“Okay, I’m flattered, again, but you have to stop.” Poe sobered up in an instant after hearing your irony-filled voice, looking at your face that still held the same grin from before - you were amused at his drunken state, at how little he believed you were actually there for him. “General Organa heard about you, and so did all her advisors. They know about your work, about your skills, and your current position. We need that, and I think you know why better than anyone.”
You meant it, Poe realized then, with your unserious face and that spark behind your eyes; a spark he sometimes could see himself in the mirror too.
“If you people at the Resistance know everything about me that well, you probably know how my last mission went.” He was testing you, you could see it in the way he held your gaze. “My Commander Officer is probably a couple bars down the street if you want to ask him-”
“What for? So he can tell me how reckless and foolish you are? We know that.” Poe was, again, speechless. “We believe you know more about the First Order than the Republic says. We’ve seen people like you, Poe. There is something you can do to stop all this instead of drinking it away.” Your hand found his on top of the bar and your eyes were looking deep into his. The rush he felt running up and down his body felt like a bolt, like a wake-up call, and how you knew exactly what he was thinking didn’t even cross his mind. “We need your help.”
At his silence, you continued to talk. He followed your every movement as he processed what you were saying, about commanding his own squadron and making a difference in the galaxy. You stood up, pulled out your datapad, and typed something in it, all while his brain was still dazed.
“I sent you the coordinates. Think about it, and if you’re in, the only thing you have to do is get there and say you’re there for General Organa. The position is yours.” You sighed once all the information was said. “Any questions?”
“Will you be there?” He asked after a beat, making you smile shyly, and if he saw your neck turning pink he decided to ignore it.
“You have 72 hours.” Was your answer, which he took as a confirmation.
Poe licked his lips and nodded, starting to go through everything you said as you turned in your heel to head out of the noisy bar.
“And Poe,” You grabbed his shoulder reassuringly, trying to convince him in any way you could. “that so-called foolishness? We call it passion. And passion is something we desperately need.” A smile was shared between you, a silent understanding floating in the space between you two. “Think about it,” you repeated in a whisper, squeezing his shoulder and leaving him there, alone again, with your untouched and unpaid drink.
🚀🌟🚀🌟🚀
As soon as General Organa reached you, speaking the words “We have an incoming ship” with a proud smile on her face, you knew exactly what she meant. You joined her on her walk to the tarmac, reaching her side at the entrance of the base that overlooked all ships.
“13 hours.” She stated, commenting on how quickly the response had been. “That was an excellent job, I knew you could recruit him.”
“Thank you. It wasn’t hard, I just needed to remind him of what’s important in this fight. Everything else he already knew.” The General looked at you, all pride and smiles on her face.
The ship landed with a huff of the engine powering down. You stood in silence watching as the top of the ship opened revealing a messy-haired Poe; watching as he climbed down the stairs and reached the floor a wave of nerves went through your body, which only increased as he began walking towards you. If he looked good with the bad lighting of the bar where you met him you knew seeing him in broad daylight would let you get a clear sight of his already handsome features - still, it was something you were not prepared for. Leather jacket and a half-opened collared shirt, he walked towards you carrying nothing but trouble for you, you didn’t need the Force to know that.
“Commander Dameron,” The General spoke when he was close enough. “I hope you like your new title.”
“General Organa.” Poe greeted, stretching his hand to her. “I do, and it is a pleasure to meet you. My parents told me nothing but great things about you.”
“The pleasure is all mine.”
When the handshake stopped Poe’s attention went to you, standing a couple of steps behind Leia and watching the greeting with a small smile. “That was fast.” You spoke first when your eyes locked, something in between a taunt and a tease.
“Well, I couldn’t let my recruiter down.” The confidence he had drank down the night before at the bar had risen up again; that was the Poe Dameron you had heard about, all cocky smiles and flirty words. Poe stared into you, a charming grin on his lips reaching his deep eyes.
“Ah, right. Poe, I believe you’ve met my daughter.” Leia said moving to the side, letting you take a step beside her.
You introduced yourself then, reaching your hand out for him to shake as you, for once, told him your name - emphasizing your last name, of course. “I’m glad you decided to join us, Dameron.” You finished innocently.
The smile disappeared from Poe’s face gradually, and it took every power in you not to burst into laughter as he let out a shocked: “Huh?!”