A/N: Hey everyone (if there's anyone still reading this...) I'm SO SORRY it took me so damn long to post this new chapter. It's been a tough few weeks lately. I got dumped by the love of my life and I've been struggling to come to terms with it. Anyway, onwards and upward! Lots of fluff here. Fluff central! You have been warned...
Chapter 11
When the two reached the mess they found that it was practically deserted – they'd missed the evening meal and the crowds that came with it. All that remained were a few droids clearing the discarded food wrappers and trays that had been left behind. Poe walked over to the counter, grabbing a few items from the limited selection left behind. Nell followed suit. Walking over to a nearby table the two sat down and started to eat in companionable silence.
Every now and then one of them would glance up at the other, smiling, only to look away when they made eye contact. Nell couldn't believe how lucky she was that this man, this remarkable pilot, was interested in her.
"What is it?" Poe asked, the smile on his face evident in his voice, after Nell had avoided his gaze a third time.
"It's…nothing. Well, not nothing…it's just…I…well" Nell blushed, unsure of what to say, not wanting to sound like a total sap. Poe chuckled, reaching for her hand and running his thumb along the top of her knuckles.
"Do I make you nervous?" He asked jokingly, winking at her.
"Of course not! I just…well, I kinda like you. That's all." Nell feigned indifference, turning her face away from Poe's.
"Well that's good, 'cos I kinda like you too, kid." Poe drawled, leaning back in his chair, causing Nell to look back at him, a smile adorning her face. Poe thought she was beautiful at that moment. Getting out of his seat, he tugged on her hand.
"Come on, let's get out of here. I want to show you something." Intrigued, Nell stood and followed him out of the mess.
Poe led her through a seemingly never-ending series of hallways before stopping outside a non-descript door. Sliding his palm over the pad next to it, the door beeped before gliding open. The pair stepped through the door and Nell gasped, taking in the sight in front of her. She found herself looking out over a vast lake, surrounded by grassy banks, dotted with low hanging trees, their branches trailing in the water. The glassy surface of the lake reflected the sky which was glowing orange, streaked with clouds tinted pink and purple by the setting sun. Stars were starting to appear in the sky ahead. It was a truly breathtaking sight.
Silently, Poe walked Nell over to a patch of grass near the water's edge. Sitting down, he tugged Nell down next to him, placing his arm around her.
"I come out here sometimes to think. I've never brought anyone here before. But I guess that, seeing as you 'kinda like me' and I 'kinda like you'…" he trailed off, turning to smile at Nell who rolled her eyes at him, smiling back."
"It's beautiful, Poe." Nell breathed, gazing out at the lake, feeling peaceful and happy to be sharing this moment with the man beside her. Turning her head to look at him, she found herself staring back into his deep brown eyes. Silently, they drifted closer to each other, eventually sharing a soft kiss. Stopping for air, Nell leaned her forehead against Poe's, her eyes still closed. They both turned back to look out at the lake, noticing how much the sky had darkened.
Poe gently grasped Nell's chin, turning her face to his, kissing her again with more passion. Nell reciprocated, and sighed in to the kiss when she felt herself being enveloped in the pilot's warm embrace. Turning her face in to the crook of his neck, Nell inhaled sharply when Poe started trailing kisses along her neck and shoulder, sending delicious shivers down her spine and raising goosebumps on her skin. Nell breathed in his unique scent, a combination of engine grease and the clean tang of the citrus scented soap that was standard issue among members of the Resistance.
"Nell…" Poe moaned softly, pulling away. Nell looked up at his face, noticing his flushed appearance and dilated pupils that certainly matched her own. With a coy smile, she stood, turning to leave. After a few steps, she turned around, holding out her hand to Poe, who was still sitting, looking confused at her abrupt departure.
"Well?" She said, cocking a hip "Are you coming?"
A grin stole over Poe's face as he leapt to his feet, catching up with her. Grabbing hold of her hand, he led her back in to the base, heading towards his quarters.
After hurrying through another labyrinth of corridors, Poe eventually came to an abrupt stop outside another door. After glancing quickly at Nell, he opened the door, gesturing to Nell that she should go inside. Poe followed, closing the door after him. The lights blinked on and Nell let out a low whistle at the sight of the large room.
"Well, Commander – I guess your rank comes with certain privileges?" She joked, raising an eyebrow as she turned to face him.
Poe chuckled lowly, moving to clear some of the mess that adorned the large space. Every surface was covered in droid and ship schematics, as well as undistinguishable parts of machinery in various states of disarray. Nell watched him moving erratically around the room, shoving papers in to drawers and haphazardly clearing surfaces. She started to feel a little nervous.
"Ummm, Poe...?" She queried, causing the pilot to abruptly stop what he was doing. He turned around, looking a little abashed.
"I'm sorry, I just...I didn't count on this happening tonight. And, well..." Poe trailed off, looking unsure how to continue. He ran his hands through his hair, as Nell stood from the chair she was in, coming to stand in front of him.
"Neither did I" she admitted, smiling encouragingly at Poe.
"I just...I have kind of a – well, a reputation on this base. When you're out there, fighting to stay alive and risking your life and the lives of your friends, you need a way to cut loose when you get back. I may have...cut loose with a number of women on this base. A number I'm not really proud of. But you're different. I don't want you to just be another number." Poe sighed, moving to sit on the large bed at one side of the room. He looked up at Nell as she came and sat next to him on the bed.
" I feel the same way" she murmured, gazing down at her hands in her lap
" Back home.." Nell fought down the lump that rose in her throat as she thought of Hosnian Prime .
"Back home, I always felt that there was something missing. I realise now that I was in the wrong place. My job, my life...it was empty and meaningless. I was restless. I tried to fill that emptiness with the company of men. Again, it's not something I'm proud of and most of them meant nothing to me, but you're different too. I don't want to rush in to this." Nell blushed, ashamed at her admission, not wanting to look at Poe and see disappointment, or worse, disgust in his eyes.
After a beat, Poe took her hands, urging her to look up at him. He gazed searchingly at her face, before leaning in to press another warm, soft kiss to her lips. After a moment he drew back and paused before speaking.
"Nell, who would I be to judge you? Let's take this slow. It's probably not a bad idea anyway, especially since you'll be joining my squadron. Will you stay tonight , though?"
Nell breathed a sigh of relief, smiling at Poe, she nodded, before leaning in to kiss him again.
After a while, Poe went over to a drawer, taking out one of his shirts and a pair of shorts for Nell, who took them gratefully, before going in to the 'fresher to change. When she came out, Poe was already in bed, shuffling over to make room for her. She got in and curled up next to him, resting the side of her head on the hard, warm plane of his chest. Poe kissed the top of her head, wrapping his arms around her as they both sank in to a peaceful sleep.