Who: Leia and Poe When: Shortly after Leia’s arrival Where: Town What: Helping out a friend Rating/Warnings: Low/None Status: Completed gdoc
While Leia appreciated the information she had been given by the so called Welcoming Committee she was still rather stunned. The last thing she remembered was going to sleep on Endor after a very enjoyable party thrown by the Ewoks in celebration for their success in defeating the Empire. This place, Earth, was somewhere she had never heard of and was full of odd things very strange and new to her.
Still, she wasn’t the sort to panic so she had listened and taken in as much as she could. Deciding to familiarise herself with the area she was in she was walking in what she hoped was the right direction for the lodgings she had the key to, trying not to look or feel completely lost.
***
Poe was out for a walk with BB-8 when the droid suddenly lit up and started beeping incomprehensibly before taking off down the sidewalk. He followed, calling out for the droid to stop and trying to figure out what he was saying, when the droid came to a stop at the feet of a vaguely familiar young woman.
It took a moment for Poe to understand what was happening. This was Leia, but not the general he knew. BB-8 didn’t discern the difference and was chirping excitedly at the woman, leaving Poe at a loss for what to say.
“Um… hi,” he finally managed. “I’m Poe Dameron.” He wasn’t sure if he’d been born yet when she was from, but she probably at least knew his parents and might make the connection.
*** Hearing a beeping that felt almost familiar she turned and smiled when she saw a droid coming towards her, this felt much more comfortable than anything since she’d arrived, when he reached her she smiled and knelt down, “Hello” she said before looking up at the man who had followed behind, “Hi” she added, rising once again with a pat to the droid, “Leia Organa, forgive me but are you by any chance related to a Kes Dameron?” Naturally being here alone, as far as she knew ,Leia had latched onto the familiar name in the hope that she may not be alone after all.
***
It was easy to see the beginnings of the woman she would become, the woman that Poe regarded as a mother figure, even without the lines on her face that displayed her hard life for all to see. Of course, Poe was also a man and he noticed that she was rather attractive, though he pushed that thought aside as quickly as he had it. That was no way to think about Leia.
“I am,” he said, a faint smile crossing his lips. “Though you may not believe how. What have you learned about this town so far?”
***
Leia’s eyebrow rose, now that was an intriguing statement from an already very intriguing man. “You have me curious Mr Dameron” she told him with a small smirk twisting her lips, “I’ve been informed this is a town called Madison on a planet called Earth and was handed devices and keys with an address. It seemed even those who gave me these things were unsure how I arrived here and I admit I asked very little else. I’m still trying to work out if this is truly real” It felt real but also very strange.
***
“Earth is not in our galaxy,” Poe said. “And their measure of time keeping is very different, so I’m unsure of whether this is our past or future.” All he really knew was that things were not at all like home. “However, I can tell you that Kes Dameron is my father.”
He paused, giving her a moment to process that before continuing. “I believe you also knew my mother, Shara Bey.”
***
Leia had assumed as much but hearing it spoken had a finality to it, to be so far from home especially after she had just helped liberate the galaxy was a big thing to handle. But his next words completely threw her.
Leia stared at him for a moment, her hand rising to her mouth, “You’re Shara’s little baby...” Both Shara and Kes had given so much to the Rebel Alliance, including leaving their child in Shara’s fathers care, “How is that possible?”
***
Poe took a deep breath and let it out slowly. This was where it was going to get tricky, but he knew he needed to properly warn Leia about what she was going to be facing in town.
“Whatever brings us here pulls people from all different times and places,” he explained. “I know an older version of you, for example.” That was the easy part. “There are some other people here that know you as well.”
*** A part of Leia was surprised and pleased to hear about an older version of herself, hopefully she was continuing to help maintain peace they had fought so hard for. But mostly she was trying to understand what was being said.
“Other people? Luke? Han?” she asked, though she had a feeling were it so Poe wouldn’t be breaking it to her so gently, “No I imagine not. So who?” she asked him, spine straightening.
***
“Luke is here,” Poe said. That was the least traumatic of the options he needed to disclose. “However, he’s much older than you would remember him. There’s also some variation in our universes, so he may not precisely be your Luke.”
He recognized that straightened spine from his experiences with the General and knew that there was no need to sugar coat things. “Your parents are also here. Younger, obviously. Anakin has not gone to the dark side yet.” If she was aware of his birth, then she must have lived through the war already.
***
That was a meeting Leia was actually anticipating, seeing her brother no matter what universe he was from would be welcome. Finding out they were siblings had happened so quickly and so recently that she hadn’t yet had much of a chance to talk to him.
“I...” she shook her head, that had not been something she had expected. Bail and Breha had been the most amazing parents, she’d never needed anybody else and learning Vader was her father had made that choice even easier. But to find he was here, along with her biological mother...it was conflicting. “Thank you” she said to Poe, “I appreciate you telling me”
***
BB-8 was tired of being ignored and let out a series of indignant beeps. “You’re welcome,” Poe said. “I wouldn’t want you to find that out accidentally. Also, this is BB-8. He also knows you.” And was a persistent and annoying droid sometimes.
“If you’d like, I can show you were the apartments are and how to use your phone,” he offered.
***
“You're very kind and I am very grateful. I must be lucky to have you as a friend” it was strange to think he knew her as an older woman but if she thought about it too much she'd end up giving herself a headache.
“My apologies BB-8, I would never wish to be rude” She addressed him directly, after all she knew a little something about occasionally annoying droids, thought C3PO was more than occasionally annoying in truth.
“I would appreciate that a lot if you're sure I wouldn't be imposing too much”
***
“Not at all,” Poe assured her. He considered it his duty to take care of any version of Leia, even one who was much younger and more attractive than he was used to. “Though it’s probably fair to tell you that you’re kind of my boss.”
He didn’t really want to tell her that her hard won war didn’t guarantee long term peace in the galaxy and that he fought under her in the resistance.
***
“Really?” Leia said with a smile, “Do I have a lot of handsome men at my command or is it just you?” she asked, teasing him a little. There was no denying Poe Dameron was a very attractive man, there was definitely a rogue-ish edge to him which was very appealing. And since it seemed like she was stuck here for the foreseeable future it would be good to have at least one good friend and ally around.
***
Poe couldn’t help blushing at the compliment. “I’m your favorite,” he said. There was a light, joking edge to his tone, but he was also kind of serious. Even though he didn’t realize that his Leia was grooming him to take over, he did know that she let him get away with a lot more than any of the others did.
“I’m a pilot,” he added. “Like my mom.”
***
“That is not a surprise” Leia told him, her smile growing at his blush as well as his words. They obviously had a bond, she could appreciate that even if she wasn’t entirely the version of herself that he knew.
“Ah, well if you have inherited Shara’s talent you are no doubt my best pilot. No wonder you’re my favourite”
Oh Leia, she thought to herself, it’s always the flyboys you’re drawn to. Apparently that didn’t change much in the future.
***
No, it really didn’t. Poe shared quite a few similarities with her estranged husband. He wasn’t going to mention Han or Ben though. Those were things this Leia didn’t need to worry about.
“I don’t know how much I should tell you about the future though,” he said. “People say that we don’t remember being here when we go back, but I don’t want to risk changing anything.” Assuming she was even from the same universe he was. It was a good sign that she knew his parents though.
***
Leia nodded, “As curious as I am that probably makes sense. I wouldn’t want to risk changing anything either” she admitted, which was very hard to say because Leia was incredibly eager to know about what the future held.
“Tell me more about this place instead and yourself, how is the hot shot pilot dealing with being grounded?”
***
“Not well,” Poe admitted, not the last bit surprised that she pegged him as a hot shot within minutes of meeting him. “A couple people have ships, but we can’t get out of atmosphere, so it’s not quite the same.”
He started in the direction of the apartment building. “I’ve been here for about nine months now,” he said. “It’s… not anything like home. At all. I’m honestly not even sure how to begin describing it.”
*** The way he carried himself, the fact he was a pilot and her favourite all led her to conclude the hot shot title was deserved. “I imagine not” she said with honest sympathy.
She laughed a little, “Well then I’ll simply have to view it as an adventure and see what I can find out myself while I’m here” Leia didn’t mind, after all she’d visited many planets before, even if this one was more unusual than most.
***
It didn’t take long for them to get to the apartment building with Poe pointing out various important or interesting things as they walked. “Here we are,” he said, delivering her to her door. “I’m in apartment [#]. And you can always call or message me if you need anything.”
***
“Thank you Poe, you’ve been so kind. I am sure it would have taken me awhile to work out how to get here without you” Leia said, she’d have done it but this was far easier and much more pleasant. “I look forward to seeing you again soon” she smiled, “Once I’m settled I insist on taking you for a drink to say thank you properly” And hopefully get to know him better, after all he was her first and currently only friend here.