Although the cool water was doing wonders for clearing his head, Poe emerged from the shower quickly. And then he realized while toweling himself off that in his waning tipsiness (not to mention elated post-kiss distraction), he'd neglected to bring a change of clothes in with him. He briefly, shamelessly, considered walking out in the nude—Tali's reaction would no doubt be hilarious—before thinking better of it and tying the length of cloth around his waist with a mental shrug.

He blinked tiredly at his steam-blurred reflection for a moment, prodding gingerly at a lingering scrape on his cheek. Probably gonna scar a bit. The Resistance meds and serums worked wonders, but a few spots on his face and ribcage remained tender. He ran a hand through his damp, curling hair with a sigh. …Of course, the worst scars—the ones in my fucking head—were below the surface.

Poe shook off the morbid thought, determined to bury the recollections of mental torture that still occasionally haunted him under brighter ones. At least tonight's events had proven that something (or someone) was going well. He couldn't hold back the slow grin that spread across his face, stretching the scabbed-over skin of his scraped cheek. Guess you never know how a mission'll turn out. Sure, he'd crashed, gotten his head cracked open, and lost BB-8 for awhile on Jakku... not to mention the First Order had dealt some serious damage… but the Resistance had gained a scrappy, mechanically-inclined potential operative out of the clusterfuck. One that he really liked. And who was apparently attracted to him in return. He fought a sudden urge to cheer.

Entering the common area with a spring in his step despite his exhaustion, Poe barely suppressed a snort of laughter at the sight of Tali, clad once more in the soft sleeping clothes that made him want to squeeze her small frame, bent over to drink out of the sink.

She straightened awkwardly as he approached, and quickly shut off the stream of water. He noted the way her eyes lingered on his bare torso with masculine satisfaction, his smirk growing as color rose in her cheeks. Well hey there.

"Dunno what you do on Jakku, but we fancy Resistance folk have cups…" Poe sidled up to the counter, laughing, to lift one off of the shelf above her head. He offered it to her with a dramatic flourish, only slightly unsteady on his feet. "For future hydration needs. If you'd like."

Tali reached for it with thanks and a mumbled excuse about not wanting to search through cupboards, avoiding his eyes. He couldn't be sure if her deep blush was due to being caught or because of his minimally-clothed proximity, which only increased his amusement.

When she grasped the glass, Poe refused to release his grip on it for a long moment, ducking his head to force her to hold his gaze. Don't be creepy, keep it playful... His smirk grew as he leaned against the counter next to her. "You're fucking cute when you blush."

Tali raised an eyebrow and opened her mouth to reply, then closed it again, apparently at a loss. A laugh escaped him at her irked expression, but he let go of the glass suspended between them, raising his hand to briefly run his fingers along her cheekbone. Poe gently brushed her now-unbound hair away from her face before backing away with a sigh. Probably need some pants.

When he returned moments later, sleeping pants donned, Poe headed to grab a glass of water himself. Or several. Gotta hydrate. How many shots did I have? ...I'm too old for this.

Tali eyed him critically over the rim of her glass. "How's the head feeling?"

Other than mind-fucked? He brushed a hand through his hair reflexively. "Probably better now than it will in the morning…" This hangover's 'bout to be hell.

Her lips twitched into a wry smile as she held her glass out in a mock salute. "Bottoms up, tough guy."

Poe pulled a face in response, reaching a bare foot out to nudge Tali's. "Hey now, I'm tough. …But Flameout's a spicy bitch."

Tali's expression was amused, but he thought there was something guarded, and maybe unsure, lurking in her hazel eyes. Setting his now-empty glass down, he reached to take hers as well, setting it aside. Her lips parted in question as he brought his hands up to gently frame her face. "Hey. Not that anything I consumed affected how I feel. Zero regrets... even if you did nix my, admittedly sorta dumb, romantic plans." He schooled his wry smile. "But are you alright?" I'm so serious. But if you're sobering up and thinking that kiss was a mistake…

Her eyes drifted closed momentarily before she raised them to meet his, lips curved in a soft smile. "Are you kidding? I'm… great." She couldn't seem to find the adjective she wanted.

Poe released a pent-up breath. Thank god. He bent to capture her lips in a gentle kiss, and her hands crept up to rest on his bare chest. He grinned triumphantly against her lips, unreasonably glad that she was reciprocating the contact, and shifted his hands back to bury them in her wavy hair. Tali's touch was light, but Poe wouldn't mind if she sank claws into his chest. Somehow, it felt like she already had.

He broke off the kiss reluctantly to rest his forehead against hers. "I'm so glad to hear that. …But now, to bed with you." He slid his hands down to her waist to hoist her into his arms. She gave a small cry of surprise at the abrupt shift as her feet left the ground and brought her arms up around his neck automatically, bracing herself.

Tali shook her head in playful exasperation as he strode towards the bedroom with her in his arms, humming off-key. "You know I can walk just fine, right? …And I wasn't gonna fight you about sleeping arrangements…" Her dry voice lowered into a grumble. "…Much."

Suuure, this time. He raised a skeptical eyebrow as he deposited her on his bed, tumbling down to land half on top of her and bracing himself on his elbows. "I'm not taking any chances." He lowered his face to hers. "Goodnight." He breathed the words against her lips in a kiss. I'm absolutely going to keep kissing you as long as you keep letting me. ...Please accept my affection.

"Goodnight," she answered, voice quiet and a bit amused in the darkness. She ran a hand lightly through his still-damp hair as he pushed himself away, and he wanted to sink into the soft touch. But he reluctantly rose to head into the other room.

When he reached the couch, Poe collapsed on it with a slight groan, hands scrubbing at his tired and still somewhat drunk face. What was it about this girl's combination of gritty snarkiness and awkward sweetness? He felt a smile curve over his lips of its own accord. She presented an odd mixture of toughness and vulnerability. Safe to say he liked it. I like her. Jesus, he felt about fifteen years old. Was it the alcohol? Or was this near-giddy excitement all naturally occurring? Keep it cool, goddamn. He'd just scare her off if he came on too strong...

A muffled, unsettled noise shook Poe out of the less uneasy than usual, alcohol-aided sleep he'd fallen into. Vigilance training half-assedly kicking in, he lifted his head to listen, running a hand through his mussed hair and squinting blearily in confused concentration.

Another small noise. Was that… a whimper? Tali? Shit. He swung his legs over the edge of the couch and rose to investigate, half asleep and stumbling slightly as he crept towards his room.

Reaching the doorway, he sucked in a breath. Tali was balled in a tiny, huddled mass on the far edge of his bed. The silvery glow of moonlight filtered through the window, highlighting her trembling form. She mumbled something between a whimper and a quiet sob, and his brows furrowed. Nightmare? He knew only too well how those could be.

Mouth set in a thin line, Poe crossed the room, climbing up to crawl across the bed towards her. Gingerly, he reached out a soothing hand to brush the tangled waves of hair away from her buried face. Now hopefully she doesn't pull a crashed asshole Dameron and start throwing punches… he thought distractedly. Not that he couldn't hold her down… he just didn't want to have to.

Tali flinched away from his light contact, and Poe's heart broke a little. Oh, no. Please come here. Murmuring calming words, he drew himself closer, pulling her gently into his chest in an attempt to wake her up calmly rather than abruptly. Her slight frame shook in his arms as she gasped into consciousness, clutching at him.

"Shh, hey, you're okay. I've got you." He spoke softly into her hair, voice slightly rough from sleep. His comforting words apparently working, Tali gradually stopped struggling. She heaved a few breaths, face pressed against his neck.

Poe stroked his hands through her hair as her trembling subsided. Then he leaned back to study her face, pale in the near-darkness. She swallowed convulsively, avoiding his concerned eyes.

"I…" her voice was barely a whisper, and she cleared her throat before continuing, finally meeting his gaze. But her stark eyes still seemed far away. "I burned… so many bodies."

He stared at her a moment before recognition hit. Wait… Tuanul? Oh, damn. Poe thought she might've been muttering something about fire… he tightened his arms around her, willing the warmth and comfort of his body to seep into hers. "Hey… oh, Tali. I'm sorry. It's okay. You're okay." It's not okay, but it's war.

He felt her throat work where it was pressed against his chest, and she shook her head as if to clear it. "…Did I wake you up? I'm sorry." Her words were a mumble.

Poe drew in a ragged breath, one hand soothingly stroking up her back to rest in her mussed hair. "Shh… don't be sorry." He swallowed. "…Tuanul?"

She nodded miserably, limp against him. "The Order killed the villagers. My father…" Her voice grew frustrated, helpless. "They hadn't done anything! But the troopers just… killed them all. There were so many bodies…" she trailed off, and Poe felt her eyelashes flutter closed against his neck. "And I could've been one of them. …Thank you."

His mouth tightened. Fuck the First Order. "I'm so sorry. And so glad I was there." He didn't want to think about how easily she could've been killed, could've ended up one more dead body in an unceremonious pile, like so many other innocent victims of the Order. A pang of horror sliced through his gut at the idea, and he unconsciously clutched her tighter, the squeeze forcing her breath out in a whoosh.

Poe apologetically loosened his hold before leaning down to settle her back in the bed, still cradled against him. He smoothed a hand over her hair with a sigh. She was so strangely… delicate, to be a militia fighter... to shoot as unflinchingly as she did. To have burned a pile of bodies. He leaned his forehead wearily against her own, eyes closed. "I wish I could say it'll get better." But I think, in war, nothing gets better. We all just get worse. And have to learn to live with ourselves somehow.

Tali's response was half sigh, half humorless laugh. Poe brushed his lips against her forehead before rising reluctantly, bracing himself on his arms. He cleared his throat. Well, this night got a little darker than anticipated. "You alright?"

She nodded hesitantly, before stopping him with a gentle hand on his elbow. He met her somber gaze. "You could…stay." She swallowed. "…If you want." Her lips quirked, but there was a bleakness in her eyes that Poe could see even in the dark. Of course I do. Just thought you wouldn't.

He nodded and leaned back down slowly, fighting to keep a neutral expression… he was slightly surprised but undeniably happy at her unanticipated show of trust. He released a breath, a slight smile forcing its way onto his lips. "Come here." Let me hold you.

Tali shivered slightly as Poe pulled her small frame against his chest, the initial awkward rigidness melting out of her body as he enfolded her in his arms. His eyes drifted closed.

He certainly had his own demons to deal with. But Poe felt sure, as their breathing eased into a natural rhythm together, that any comfort he could provide the confounding woman in his arms would prove just as soothing to his own troubled mind.

She fit too well and felt far too good against him for anything negative to make its way in.