━━ CHAPTER EIGHT / gala

After the cuddling incident, Eliana had tried to stay as far away from Poe in bed as possible. But Poe had been relatively busy with military business while Eliana visited a few more known investors in the First Order so they hadn't seen each other for a few days. They both knew that they were going to Bream's soiree together but other than some interaction in the morning, they didn't talk.

Poe always got back late and sometimes, Eliana got back even later so they had gotten into a routine. But now, they were both back earlier and getting ready for the soiree. Eliana had picked one of the dresses from what Leia had packed. It was gorgeous. A red, satin, off the shoulder dress. The perfect statement piece for Hana's first official appearance at a Senate event.

Bream had informed her that it was less of a soiree and more of a formal ball so Eliana had to make sure she was dressed appropriately. Her dress was perfect and she left her hair down for the night. Poe had dressed in a suit and he looked gorgeous. She tried to keep her eyes off of him but as they sat in the hover-taxi, she couldn't help but comment.

"You do clean up nicely. Though I miss the scruff," Eliana said. Her words were half-teasing, half-serious. An element of keeping up their act but returning back to how they'd be back on base. They hadn't spoken about the cuddling incident but as far as Poe was aware, Eliana didn't know it had happened. And that's how she wanted to keep it.

"It makes me look more refined," He commented as he let his hands run over his freshly shaved cheeks. Eliana pouted and he chuckled, "You should have told me how much you liked it," He teased softly. Eliana rolled her eyes and glanced out the window. The hover-taxi came to a pause outside the venue and the two stepped out. The warm night air of Coruscant hit her and a shiver ran down her spine. It felt good to be out and about.

"Are you ready?" She asked. Poe nodded and then she grabbed his hand. They headed inside the venue and the elegance hit them instantly. It was decorated beautifully, a true ball. Senators and their partners walking around. Waiters ready to attend to the every need of the guests. It was exactly what Eliana had come to expect of an event like this.

It was a comfortable environment and Bream spotted them quickly. A smile appeared on the man's face and he walked over to them. He was quick to welcome them and introduce them to the people that could help them with their investments. It was perfect and Eliana started the night off on a high. It was easy enough to get meetings with them.

A pretty face, a massive sum of credits and the name of a recently-deceased but trustworthy Senator got her far. She had meetings with them all and so, she began to schmooze around the rest of the party. She eventually let Poe off of his leash and they went around separately. Poe also had his own military people to investigate and all the higher up Commanders and Generals wouldn't know him as Poe. They would know him as Bo, with connections to the Senate and it would be easy to get them to open up.

Eliana was happy the event could work for both of them and after an hour or so of schmoozing and snacking, she was beginning to feel tired. Usually, events like this would make her feel alive but then she saw her. Relya. Dressed in all her regality with a crooked smile and another woman on her arm. It was Eliana's last straw.

She turned away from her conversation, quickly excusing herself and rushed to the balcony on the other side of the room. She gently pushed the doors open and stepped out. Her heels clicked against the dura-concrete as she walked up to the railings. Her heart had jumped into her throat and the anxiety swallowed her whole. Her eyes fell closed as she put her head in her hands.

The night had been perfect. Everything had been perfect. It had been everything she needed it to be. The op was going well and even if she felt exhausted and the worry of people discovering her real identity weighed on her, it had been good. But Relya. She was a threat. A threat to the mission and a threat to Eliana's sanity which she felt was slowly slipping away.

Then she felt two arms around her waist and she straightened up instantly. She narrowly avoided smacking whoever it was in the face with the back of her head but when she crooked her head to the side, she could see that it was only Poe. Her body relaxed a little and her gaze turned back to the Coruscanti skyline.

The air was thick and humid but it felt better than being inside. It felt better than dealing with the presence of Relya. Eliana hadn't even thought that Relya was on planet. It was not her usual time to be on Coruscant and yet, here she was. Eliana's eyes squeezed shut and she felt Poe gently push some of her hair off her neck. His head then nuzzled down into the crook of it and she relaxed more into his arms.

"What's wrong?" He asked softly. Eliana let her eyes close. His breath against her skin made goosebumps spread up her arm but she tried to ignore it. Ignore how he was making her stomach flip and her heart thump against her ribcage. Though part of her was convinced that was the anxiety more than anything.

"It's so much," Eliana mumbled. Poe frowned and let his hands gently run patterns over her stomach. Hoping that they would give her something to focus on and they did but Maker was it distracting having him so close.

"This?" He asked, referencing the party in general. Eliana nodded and let her body lean into him, taking some of the weight off her feet.

"Yeah," She let out. Poe lifted his head slightly. His chin rested awkwardly on her shoulder but she didn't mind. She could feel her hair falling back but then Poe pushed it away again.

"Do you want to go to back to the hotel?" He asked before he dipped his head back into the crook of her neck. She let her hands rest over his, lacing her fingers with the ones rested against her stomach. It was so comfortable.

"There's still some people I need to talk to." There was a huff to her tone like she wasn't happy with even the thought of talking to those people. But Poe knew better than to question it. She was dedicated to her mission and she wouldn't leave until it was done to her satisfaction.

"Okay," He mumbled against her skin. She then felt him press soft kisses against the skin of her neck and her stomach was flipping. Her body was lit on fire by those soft kisses, those soft touches. She tilted her head back slightly, letting her eyes close. Revelling in his touch and the night air of Coruscant. She was home and it was in that moment, she really felt it.

"I just want to stay here for a minute," She mumbled. Poe hummed against her skin and then lifted his head up completely. He let his forehead rest against the back of her head but didn't move his hands from her body yet.

"Do you want me to let go and leave?" He asked. Every part of Eliana was screaming at her to shout 'No' to pull him closer but she couldn't just say 'No'. That would look suspicious but she didn't want him to leave. His arms were keeping her sane and she couldn't let him step away from her.

"It would look suspicious if you left," She responded. It was such a weak excuse and Poe knew that but he didn't care. He wanted to stay with her. He wanted to feel how it felt to hold her in his arms and so he didn't step away.

"I'll stay then." The relief ran through Eliana's body at his words. She was glad. She needed him right now. The silence stretched out between them and Eliana just felt his touch on her. Her hand still tangled with his as she stared off at the skyline. Lights as far as the eye could see. This district was classier and gorgeous. No sign of the poverty that the lower levels were diseased with. Just an overabundance of wealth powered by selfishness and greed. Eliana could never see the beauty in such greed even if Coruscant was her home.

The lower levels were where she had spent much of her life. It was rare that she came up to the top but when she did, she only ever went for the sunrises. She would sit with her friends on those few days she made it to the top and they'd find some roof to loiter on as the sun slowly rose on the busy surface. They'd watch as the city came to life and then, they'd spend the day at the market before returning back to that same rooftop and watching the sun set.

Eliana sometimes found herself missing the simplicity of those days. There was something so calming about watching the first few rays of sun scatter across the metropolis. It was never a feeling she had gotten anywhere else. She had seen so many sunsets but it was nothing like Coruscant. She had travelled so far across the galaxy to try and find love, inspiration, adoration but nothing was ever the same as home.

But Coruscant wasn't really her home anymore. The Resistance was and Coruscant had long failed her. The Senate had long failed her.

"You've been doing so well tonight," Poe said suddenly. Eliana felt a smile appear on her face. The night had been exhausting but it was worth it, "Leia would be proud." Eliana chuckled but shrugged a little. She turned her face a little to meet Poe's gaze and he looked so gorgeous in the nightlight. His face was half in shadow but his eyes always looked so gorgeous.

"This used to be my job." She retorted as she let her gaze move away from him. She hoped that she hadn't lost all her diplomatic talent since she had last stepped on Coruscant. It seemed like she was doing well though. The lies slipped off her tongue so easily when she was on Coruscant. It was jarring.

"Seen any familiar faces?" He asked curiously. Eliana let go of his hand that was rested against her stomach and let them hang by her waist.

"One or two but I was insignificant back then and scrawny." Poe nodded as he moved his forehead to rest against the back of her head again. He then swayed gently. The music from the ball making its way out to them. Eliana didn't really notice it but swayed along with him.

"No issues?" He questioned.

"Not really." There was a little shrug to her words as she followed his lead, letting herself sway with him, "Any on your end?" She felt him shake his head.

"I'm a smooth talker." She chuckled softly at that and he could feel her move with the laughter. He couldn't help the way his lips turned up into a grin. There was something about her that was so addictive and her joy was so contagious.

"You always have been," She responded. He hummed softly in response. She gently took a hold of one of his hands again and pulled it up to her face, pressing a kiss to his palm. She felt his sharp intake of breath. That is the first time she'd initiated a kiss and he could feel his heart thump.

"I should probably turn you around and kiss you," He mumbled. At first, it was a jarring thing but she knew where they were. They were meant to be in the honeymoon phase. Newly married, unable to keep their hands off each other. It was only right.

"Are people looking?"

"Yeah."

"Then do it," She said. He moved his hands to her hips and gently turned her around. Her hands rested gently against his chest as he pressed his forehead against hers. The two staring into each other's eyes and the whole party seemed to melt away but she was still aware of the eyes. There were eyes on them so she mumbled, "Kiss me, Poe." It was a soft plea and that was all Poe needed to cup her cheeks and connect their lips.

It was such a gentle kiss but it seemed real. But Eliana didn't want to think about that and instead focused on kissing him back. Her hands took a hold of his jacket and pulled him a little closer. But the kiss didn't last long. He pulled back and she stared into his eyes, tilting her head ever so slightly. Her gaze looked over every one of his features and she memorised them before he stepped back.

"Let's go back inside." She nodded and the two headed back into the party to finish what they had started. Eliana just hoped to avoid Relya.

-

NOTE
this is the scene that i have been waiting to publish, this was the first scene that i ever was desperate to write for eliana and poe and here it is :)) i hope enjoyed <3