Disclaimer: nothing is mine.

In Silence, All Is Spoken

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She's never been so unsettled by a closed mouth before.

Since the moment they met, he has talked nonstop; with humor, with anger, with excitement, or with fear, rambling on like a broken record. At first it was immensely annoying, what with the sudden war and destruction going on. And then, one day she turned around and found it comforting. She began encouraging him to talk more, to her. And he would always oblige. When all seemed lost, he would talk. When danger loomed near, he would talk. When everyone reached a dead end, he would talk, until he learned or realized something that could change their fate. Even in his most anguished, he would keep talking, if perhaps less. His voice has been a lifeline for her, in the midst of the galaxy crumbling around them, and now-

Now the silence is all she is greeted with, as she sits and watches him sleep.

She calls it sleep, because "passed out" and "coma" is too hopeless. She's had enough loss to think about; drawing attention to the possible death of the first friend she's ever had will leave her unfit to embark on her journey.

The journey that she'll be leaving for in a few minutes. The journey to Luke Skywalker.

"It should be you coming with me," she blurts out, her fingers digging into her thighs. "You should be giving him his lightsaber back. You deserve it more than I do."

She wants him to laugh and tell her she's being too dramatic.

"You saved my life. You risked everything to find me. You fought him for me. . ."

His beautiful face is still as stone. She can feel her own face contorting with grief.

"How can I ever repay you?"

The cold quiet is a heart-wrenching answer. One she will not accept.

"You can't die," she whispers roughly, leaning in, "because I will come back for you. Once I find Luke Skywalker, I will come back for you. I promise. We will see the end of this war together."

A solitary tear drops from her eye to the brown canvas of his cheek. She hurriedly wipes it away, ashamed of marring his face with her emotions. His skin is soft and warm against her fingers, so they linger there, with a sense of longing she isn't used to.

"Thank you, Finn," she whimpers, watching his closed eyes. "For everything."

His lips, closed as they shouldn't be, twitch slightly. She jumps and stares, willing them to part, to reveal his straight white teeth and smile. But the moment was a fluke, a tease, and nothing changes.

Pressing her own lips together to keep from screaming, she rakes her eyes over every inch of his face, memorizing the features. She is struck so suddenly by how beautiful he is. How unfair is this world that a face so handsome, with a heart so good, is left to an uncertain future?

Seized by a foreign boldness, she stands up, bends over and presses her trembling lips to the corner of his mouth. The contact sends a thrill through her bones, spreading warmth to the pit of her stomach, and she forgets where she's been and where she's going. She is right here, with him, pleading herself to another in a way she didn't think possible for herself.

All too soon, the moment is past. Ever so slowly, she straightens up, gazing tenderly at the boy who she has vowed to return to. It could be a trick of the light or her blurry vision, but she could swear the tiniest of smiles is curving his lips upward, like his body understands what has happened and embraces it.

For the last time, she humors her wishful imagination: if he were awake, he'd wipe her tears and tell her everything will be alright. And then he'd turn her around and guide her out the door. So she follows his unspoken advice, wiping her tears and walking out to her ship, telling herself in no uncertain terms that everything will be alright.

Her new destiny remains silent in her wake.

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A/N: Thoughts? Reviews? Yes? No? Maybe so? I can't help but feel like something could happen there. . .yes, I am now a Finn/Rey shipper. And I loved the movie. There was enough of the old story that supported the new story. Everything made sense to me, the acting was superb, the dialogue was great, and the effects were outstanding: i couldn't quite tell the CGI from the real. Props to JJ Abrams for a job well done! Thanks for reading!