Fic: Fix Up 3/2 [Han/Luke]
[mood| 
artistic]
Later I'm going to rant and rave about classes and roomates. Well, not rant and rave. They're really nice and the classes aren't bad. Still, you get the point.
Right now I'm going to present fanfiction to the God of Slash, whomever he may be.
Please take this offer of Han/Luke, oh glorious and really well endowed one, and allow me to finish the Remus/Sirius I've been typing.
I remember promising this fic would only be three parts. I lied. I now have no idea what I'm doing with this fic, and I think the badness of this chapter reflects that.
Author: Stephanie
Title: Fix Up 3/? - Spaced Out
Fandom: Star Wars
Pairing: Luke/Han
Rating: Pg-13
Disclaimer: Not mind. Still.
Summary: Luke is trying not to think about Ben, Han, or the Rebellion and ends up thinking about all three. Plus, snogging in the corridor.
Part One
Part Two
For a while afterwards, Luke wasn't entirely sure what was happening except that he felt lost.
The Millennium Falcon gave a small shudder as it took off from the landing bay. Luke hardly noticed and certainly didn't think to celebrate the fact that Kenobi had been able to disable the force fields. Luke collapsed into the nearest seat, mind dizzy. If he'd just been more patient, if he'd persisted that Ben take him with him to find the fields, if he had bothered to think before calling his name across the loading bay then he wouldn't be alone right now.
There was nothing you could do to save them.
Or him, Luke added. Ben had told him there had been nothing he could do to save his aunt and uncle, and he had been right. Even if Luke had been home when the Storm Troopers had attacked they would have killed him without second thought. He would have been unarmed and unprepared. Just like he couldn't have dared to take on that group of Storm Troopers and, even with luck on his side, he would have been no match against a powerful man like Darth Vader. Rationally, he knew this, but all the logic in the world wouldn't make him feel any less guilty or make the loss hurt any less.
Luke didn't move when a blanket fell onto his shoulders, gentle hands holding him protectively. He looked up to see Leia offering him a somber smile as she sat down beside him. Beautiful, spirited Leia that he felt connected with the moment he saw her. Part of Luke felt sure that Ben would have wanted him to find her, to save her from what the empire had planned. He couldn't explain it, just like he couldn't explain his draw to the young dark haired girl.
"I can't believe he's gone," Luke said, somewhat surprised that his voice doesn't shake or break when he does. He had expected that Ben was immortal, that he had been around since the beginning of time and would be around long after Luke. It was a silly, naïve thing to believe and Han would probably laugh at him if he mentioned it around the older man, but even now Luke couldn't feel embarrassed about the idea.
Artoo-Deetoo beeped softly, bringing Luke out of his thoughts. "There wasn't anything you could have done," Leia said, her hands still resting on his shoulders. It was a comforting touch, a bit like a mother's might be, Luke imagined, trying to consol a lost child. He still felt alone, even with the Princess's warm touch and Han's curse words flying through the ship as they made their escape from the battle station. Plus there was something else, some familiar presences playing in the back of Luke's mind that made him feel safe and calm. Alone, maybe, but not abandoned.
Leia was just leaning in a breath closer when Han burst into the room, wild eyed and panting. Without thinking about it Luke jerked away from Leia, straightening himself up in the seat and letting the blanket she brought him fall off his shoulders.
"Come on, buddy, we're not out of this yet!" Solo said, motioning for Luke to follow him. Luke was out of his seat without a second's hesitation, following the captain to the gun ports as another tremor passes through the ship, this one feeling rougher like the ones from back on Tatooine. Despite the loss of Ben Kenobi and their dire situation, Luke can't hold back the shiver of excitement that settles in the pit of his stomach when Han leads him to the battle station.
He really hopes he can make Ben proud.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
"Did you see that?" Luke wasn't entirely sure why he was laughing, only that he couldn't stop. The second the last TIE was blasted away Luke was out of his chair, swinging his arms in the air in a rather silly victory cheer. At the other gun port he could hear Han's laughter, a cross between excitement and relief.
"Did you see that!" Luke repeated, motioned wildly with his hands as he tried to relive the feeling of rightness he got from sitting in the gunner seat. He was so caught up in his own dramatization of the fight that he didn't even blush when Solo started laughing at him.
"You sure that was your first space fight, junior?" Luke looked up to make sure Solo wasn't making fun of him, but the captain was still smiling as he gave Luke a clap on the back and ruffled the boy's already messy hair. Luke glowed at the honest praise, jumping to give Han a short, clumsy hug as he bound down the corridor. The adrenaline from the fight was still pumping through Luke, making him feel a little lightheaded and a lot like being drunk with victory. Everything he'd managed to do so far, things he would have thought impossible when he was stuck back on a simple moisture farm on Tatooine, were building up and bubbling to the surface. He was somewhat surprised he could stand while all he felt like doing was bouncing up and down, and even more surprised his face didn't split in two with the grin he was sporting.
While Luke was contemplating how utterly happy he was he didn't notice that Solo's hands hadn't fallen from his waist after their quick embrace. He might not have noticed it at all if the cold metal of the Falcon pressing against his back hadn't come as such a shock.
Luke stopped, his knees buckling against the wall he had been backed into. His eyes darted to Han's face, looking to find the same relieved expression of earlier. Instead he found a pair of dark eyes, sweat and hair covering his forehead and the corners of his lips twitching up into a lazy smile.
Luke drew in a sharp breath. "Han?" Luke thought maybe the shaking in his breath could have been left over from the excitement of the battle and nothing to do with the fact that he was suddenly hyperaware of every inch of his skin Han was touching. Luke was finding it harder to breath with only so much air between the two. He tried backing up more only to find himself already flushed against the wall with nowhere to go.
The pleased feeling in the pit of his stomach had to do with the fact that he'd just shot down two TIEs in his first time behind a real laser canon.
Han leaned in closer so that Luke could see every line across his hard face. Luke was surprised Han's eyes could get so dark, almost black and a lot like space with a dangerous gleam lighting them up like stars. He wanted to swallow past the lump that had formed in his throat, but got the feeling that the slightest movement would mean him and Han would be touching and Luke didn't know what he'd do then. The predatory look in Han's eyes should have meant that he didn't want to find out.
"Say that calls for a celebration of sorts," Han whispered, and he really was only a breath away since Luke felt the words skin just as much as he heard them.
Luke wasn't nodding so much as he was still bouncing around because of their spectacular win. He would have pushed Han away if he actually tried anything; only the captain had height and experience on him. That was all.
Han's smile turned into what was most definitely a smirk. What little air Luke was managing to take in caught in his throat as the captain leaned close enough that Luke could feel his skin heat up before Han was even touching him. The shiver that passed through him had everything to do with the adrenaline from his day and nothing to do with the way Solo's lips were brushing against his ear.
Luke's hand came to rest on Han's shoulders, his fingers digging into the pirate's vest as Solo placed a line of kisses along his jaw. It wasn't that he was trying to pull him closer, but the Luke had the feeling that if he wasn't grabbing onto something he might collapse. It figured that Han Solo's lips would be rough and demanding, but also that he wouldn't simply kiss Luke because that would be too easy. He had to drag it on, nipping at Luke's earlobe or placing short licks along his neck until thoughts of laser canons and TIE fighters had become jumbled and all but vanished from Luke's mind.
Before he could bite down on his lip, a small moan was escaping. "You okay, kid?" Luke could feel Han smirk against his skin. Luke screwed up his face in concentration and opened his mouth to make some sort of retort to show Solo he wasn't completely gone, and if he had wanted to he could have been in control of this situation.
The comeback faded into a whimper as a strong thigh slipped between Luke's legs. Han pushed against Luke and the boy promptly forgot all about being embarrassed over his currant state and far more considered with ways to get Han to touch him more and what he was doing with his teeth and his lips that felt so go against Luke's shoulder.
"Han." The name fell from Luke's lips sounding somewhat like a whine and a plea. Solo was moving against him, sending waves of fire over Luke's skin so hot that the young man was sure he was going to combust. Now Han's arms had managed to snake around his waist, forcing Luke off the wall and pressing him against the taller man. Solo had finally made his way to Luke's mouth, sucking on the his lower lip, taking gentle nips at the soft skin and rocking his hips against the other until Luke was sure he was nothing but a ball of bottled up heat.
Luke's eyes flickered close with another long, low moan and he long ago gave up trying to explain any of this away. At that moment all he cared about was that Solo didn't stop and all the worries and logical thoughts could some later.
By the time Luke reopened his eyes he was already cold.
Before the haze had completely cleared from his vision a rough hand was ruffling his hair. "Good fight, kid," Han said, sounding only slightly breathless while Luke's own breathing was more than erratic, and it felt as though he had to take great gulps of air or else he'd pass out on the cold floor of the Falcon without a second's warning. "I better go check the cockpit. Make sure your Royal Highness hasn't destroy my ship with one of those brilliant plans of hers."
Luke leaned against the wall, the sensation of something so cold against his recently on-fire skin sending a shiver down his spin, and listened to the echoing sound of Solo's boots as he walked away, leaving behind a very confused farm boy.
He cheated. That was the first thought to cross Luke's mind. First with the apologizing, then the incident in the hold, then helping him save the princess (even if there had been some bribery involved in that one) and now this. It was almost as though the captain knew what Luke had been thinking about, or rather trying his best not to think about, and now he was using all that to his advantage. Luke snorted, shaking his head to try and clear away the feeling of Han pressed against him. He forced himself off the wall, walking with purpose out of the corridors and who knows where. Anywhere but there, and maybe Luke could actually try and sort a few things out without Han around to confuse him.
That was all Solo was doing, because Luke knew what he wanted as long as Han wasn't there to mess with his head. He wanted to make sure that Ben would have been proud of him and that he could get the droids and the princess into the Alliance's hands like he had promised. He wanted to be around Princess Leia more, because every time he saw her something around them just clicked into place. When Leia had been holding him Luke had felt comfortable and safe. Anything else would wear off eventually. It was all part of the novelty of being in space for the first time, and Luke would grow out of that.
Besides, they would reach the Alliance base soon enough, and then Han would collect the money Ben promised him and fly back to wherever smugglers like him spent their free time. Some how that thought was not as comforting as it once had been.
"Master Luke," Luke nearly bumped his head as he left the gun port corridor, swinging around to look for the mechanical voice that could only belong to See-threepio. "Master Luke, over here. Oh dear."
"See-threepio!" Luke hopped down onto the floor, hurrying over to the protocol droid that was tangled in a web of wires sticking out from one of the walls of the Millennium Falcon. "What happened?" He asked, reaching forward to tug the golden droid away from the wires. On of the metal bands gave him a slight shock. Luke jerked back, shaking his hand out and sucking on the finger until the slight burn to his skin stopped stinging. Beside him Artoo gave a concerned whistle. Luke waved his other hand to show he was fine.
"Bless me," See-threepio mourned. "I'm going to short circuit in here. I just know it."
"All right, calm down. Just calm down," Luke moved around the astrodriod, looking for a way to grab See-Threepio through the wires. "Just stop moving, okay? Han will have a fit if we ruin his ship."
"Very well, sir." The protocol droid stilled while Luke tried to get through the wiring without tearing anything important. Who knew what was keeping the old thing working in space, and Luke didn't want to risk destroying the last of the working controls.
After a few minutes and some help from Artoo he managed to pull See-threepio free of the exposed wiring. "Oh, thank you so much sir!" See-threepio said as Luke looked him over, making sure the droid was unharmed.
"Hey, has Leia come back here yet?" Luke asked once he was satisfied with See-threepio's condition.
Artoo gave a negative sounding whistle. "I'm afraid not, Master Luke," See-Threepio translated. "I believe she's sill in the bridge with Master Solo and-"
"I better go check on her, then." Luke didn't care where Han was at the moment. Even if the cockpit was where he had said he was going, that didn't mean Luke was looking for him. He needed to talk with Leia, anyway, about the rebellion and what he could do to help once they got to the base. Serious matters that did not involve following around off balance smugglers with bad celebration methods. "Make sure her and Han haven't killed each other, yet."
If it was possible, it almost looked as though the two droids exchanged a look. Artoo gave a long, low whistle. "Is everything quite all right, sir?" See-threepio asked, cocking his head to the side in an all to human gesture.
"Yeah, yeah. It's fine." Luke tried to sound convincing. Lies were always easier to tell when there was some truth behind them, and at the moment Luke couldn't summon to mind anything that could be described as fine. Nevertheless neither of the droids seemed to notice, or else they were content not to question their master. "Listen, you'll be okay, right?"
"Of course, Master Luke," The droid replied. "Artoo and I have been-"
"I'm going to the cockpit to make sure everything is all right, okay?" Luke turned on his heels, hurrying down the corridor before he could hear either droids replies.
Being with Leia would clear Luke's head. They could talk about the rebellion and what Luke could do to help when they arrived at Yavin Four, and maybe Leia had felt the same sort of connection he felt for her. He was going to the cockpit to see Leia and it had nothing to do with the fact that Han would be there, too.
Fate was against Luke. As he walked into the cockpit he was nearly pushed against the wall by a very upset looking princess. "Your friend is quite a mercenary." From the way Leia was fuming Luke doubt she meant that as any kind of complement. He looked passed her shoulder at Han, who was bent over a control panel trying to act like they weren't there. Luke was in slight amazement that a pair of people managed to get along so poorly after less than an hour together, yet Leia and Han seemed to be excelling at it. Of course, him and Han hadn't started out on the best of grounds either.
He wasn't entirely sure if things had gotten better or worse yet.
"I wonder if he really cares about anything," Leia looked over her shoulder and caught Han's eyes. "or anyone."
And with that Leia stormed out of the room. "I care!" Luke called back to her, but either she didn't hear him or didn't want to be bothered. Luke sighed, looking around the small cockpit like it was some sort of prison. He should have gone after Leia. That had been his plan, after all. Instead he found himself wondering over to stand next to Han, ignoring the inner voice that was screaming at the stupidity of that move.
"So..." Luke stumbled, trying to come up with something to say that wasn't What the hell were you doing back there? "What do you think of her, Han?"
"I'm trying not to, kid!" Han replied with a slight scoff.
Luke's shoulders sagged in relief and instantly tightened again. Should he be pleased because Han wasn't thinking about Leia? He didn't care what Han thought about anyone. That didn't change the fact that he was happy to hear Han wouldn't be trying to charm Leia.
Well, of course he was happy to hear that. Han could have anyone he wanted, and if he wanted Leia than what chance did Luke stand? "Good..." Luke muttered, distracting himself with a nearby control panel. He didn't think he could stand looking at Han right then. He didn't think he could stand looking at Han ever again.
"Still," Han said, and there was something in his voice that Luke didn't entirely trust. He looked up from the buttons he was dusting off to see Han was smirking again. Luke really hated that smirk. "She's got a lot of spirit. I don't know, what do you think? Do you think a princess and a guy like me..."
"No!" It was out of his mouth before he had time to think about it. Luke bite back on his lower lip. He really had to work on thinking things through before saying them. He looks back to the observation window and the control, basically anywhere but Han. He can feel his cheeks burning.
After a few minutes the silence managed to get to him. Luke gave a small cough, backing away from the control panel. "I better get some sleep before Yavin," He muttered, still refusing to meet Solo's eyes. Before he was even done with his sentence Luke had one foot out the door and it heading towards his cabin.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Luke collapses onto of the first bunker he came across; a small, torn looking cot that gave a protest under his weight. As a kid he'd always dreamed of going into space, of making something of himself. Now that he had the chance everything seemed so confusing and hard. Maybe he wasn't meant for this sort of life.
No, that wasn't it. Being in a ship felt right, and behind those laser canons Luke had been temporarily invincible. He'd managed to help plan an escape from an imperial cellblock, had escaped a battle station, and gotten the droids back to Princess Leia in less than a Tatooine day. It wasn't him in space that was the problem, after all if Ben had thought him good enough to take with him than this was where Luke belonged.
Ben... Luke felt a twinge of guilt. He hadn't thought of the old man since the excitement with the TIEs. The emotion was quickly quelled with in him, like some else's serenity and calm was washing over him. Luke felt his stomach tie up in knots. He'd felt something like this before, something almost exactly like this. Luke let his eyes fall close, concentrating on the waves of peace the force was sending through him. Everything would be all right. The confusion and guilt and sadness would pass if he would allow it to, and how Luke knew this he wasn't sure. But he knew that Ben know it, too.
"Luke." Luke's eyes fluttered open. His muscles felt cramped and his vision was hazy. The lights in the cabin were far too bright. "Luke."
Rubbing at his eyes, Luke searched the room for the gentle calling voice. "Leia?" He asked, finally noticing the slender figure of white sitting at the edge of his bed. He blinked a few more times as the princess came into focus. Startled, Luke tried to sit up in the uncomfortable small cot and ended up hitting his head on the top bunk.
Luke winced, jerking away and glaring up at the metal bed. "What are you doing here?" He asked, rubbing the sore spot on his head.
From the face Leia was making she was either vaguely worried or highly amused with Luke's lack of gracefulness. "I came to wake you up," She said, her lips twitching into a smile. Luke felt his cheeks start to burn and he looked away rather quickly.
"How long have I been asleep?" Luke asked, looking around the tiny cabin for a chrono of some sort. He couldn't remember falling asleep at all.
"Around six hours," Leia informed him, reaching out to touch the lump forming on Luke's temple. Luke winced when he fingers brushed against the bruise and tried to hide the ache it had caused. It was too late. Leia was already giving him a sympathetic smile and pulling back. Great, now she thought he was clumsy and weak.
"Six hours!" Luke repeated, almost hitting his head on the top bunk again. He hadn't even felt that tired.
Leia nodded. "We'll be reaching Yavin in a short while and I though you might like to get cleaned up." She looked Luke up and down in a way that reminded him that earlier that day he had fallen into one of the most foul smelling garbage pits they could fin"All though Gods knows if the showers on this thing work or not." The princess shot a disdained look at the 'fresher.
Luke felt awkward as he climbed off the bed, stretching out as he did so. Leia remained on the edge of the bed simply watching him. Luke finally broke down and asked, "What?" He hadn't meant to sound as whiney as it turned out, but Leia didn't seem to notice. She cocked her head to the side, still staring at Luke like she was trying to figure something out.
"Why are you traveling around with someone like Solo?" She asked. "I mean, you're," She waved vaguely at look for a second before her hands dropped back into her lap. Luke didn't quite understand what she was trying to say, and with a sigh Leia tried again. This time she just sent Luke a look that made him want to stand up straight and salute. "Are you trying to help the rebellion?"
"Of course," Luke answered, as if there was no other way he could have. Helping the rebellion was something he had to do, no question about it.
"What I mean is, how can someone like you stand to be around... around him!" Leia pointed at the empty doorway. "He's so frustrating, always going on about himself and his ship and MONEY."
Luke grimaced. It sounded like Han and Leia had had some more time together while he was asleep, and if Leia's fuming was anything to go by Solo hadn't been on his best behavior.
"He's not that bad," Luke nearly whispered. Leia was just getting on a role, and he hated to stop her. After all, what she was saying about Han was exactly true. He was frustrating and self-centered and he probably didn't care half as much for Luke as he did getting his reward. Not that Luke expected Han to care for him at all, because he couldn't care less who or what Han cared for.
Luke could understand what Leia meant when she said Han was frustrating.
Still, Han was a good fighter and an excellent pilot. He had to be to keep something as old as the Millennium Falcon in flight. He had also been far more helpful to them then Luke would have imagined, and Luke felt that he should at least try and defend Han against Leia's insults.
"It's people like him, the ones that are indifferent to our efforts, that make our cause such a hard one to fight for." Luke had sat back down, watching as Leia almost paced in the tiny space of the cabin. He thought back to when Han had referred to her as having spirit. He hadn't been wrong. Leia's eyes were glowing as she spoke, and if Luke hadn't already been dedicated to helping the rebellion he would have been jumping at the chance now.
"-Dangerous." Leia was saying, and Luke looked away before he was caught staring. He could feel Leia looking at him, waiting for him to say something.
"I have to wash up," Luke said, standing up very carefully and rubbing the still sore spot on his head. Leia's eyes were still fixed on him, making Luke fidget uncomfortable as he tried to move past her to the 'fresher. Right before he expected from the small cabin Leia spoke up.
"You like him, don't you?" It was almost an accusation.
Luke turned a color he hadn't been since that time he was five and got lost outside all day underneath the two Tatooine suns. "No," He said as soon as he was able to stop gapping at Leia in shock. "No. Not at all. I don't like him-"
"It's all right, Luke," She said, her voice kind and understanding. She didn't seem to notice how viciously denying Luke was being. "I mean, he certainly isn't the type of low... person I would expect to have friends but..." Luke took in a deep breath, swallowing past the panic that had risen to his throat. Leia shook her head as she trailed off.
"Maybe he's not..." She paused again to consider her words, and then gave up. She moved to the door, still somewhat distracted by whatever she was thinking about. "We'll be at Yavin in a few hours," She repeated, looking over her shoulder at the still flushed Luke. "Meet me in the dinning room. We'll see if anything in this junk pile is editable or not."
Luke nodded, waiting until the door hissed shut behind Leia to fall back onto the cot. His head was starting to hurt, and it had nothing to do with the lump.
artistic]
Later I'm going to rant and rave about classes and roomates. Well, not rant and rave. They're really nice and the classes aren't bad. Still, you get the point.
Right now I'm going to present fanfiction to the God of Slash, whomever he may be.
Please take this offer of Han/Luke, oh glorious and really well endowed one, and allow me to finish the Remus/Sirius I've been typing.
I remember promising this fic would only be three parts. I lied. I now have no idea what I'm doing with this fic, and I think the badness of this chapter reflects that.
Author: Stephanie
Title: Fix Up 3/? - Spaced Out
Fandom: Star Wars
Pairing: Luke/Han
Rating: Pg-13
Disclaimer: Not mind. Still.
Summary: Luke is trying not to think about Ben, Han, or the Rebellion and ends up thinking about all three. Plus, snogging in the corridor.
Part One
Part Two
For a while afterwards, Luke wasn't entirely sure what was happening except that he felt lost.
The Millennium Falcon gave a small shudder as it took off from the landing bay. Luke hardly noticed and certainly didn't think to celebrate the fact that Kenobi had been able to disable the force fields. Luke collapsed into the nearest seat, mind dizzy. If he'd just been more patient, if he'd persisted that Ben take him with him to find the fields, if he had bothered to think before calling his name across the loading bay then he wouldn't be alone right now.
There was nothing you could do to save them.
Or him, Luke added. Ben had told him there had been nothing he could do to save his aunt and uncle, and he had been right. Even if Luke had been home when the Storm Troopers had attacked they would have killed him without second thought. He would have been unarmed and unprepared. Just like he couldn't have dared to take on that group of Storm Troopers and, even with luck on his side, he would have been no match against a powerful man like Darth Vader. Rationally, he knew this, but all the logic in the world wouldn't make him feel any less guilty or make the loss hurt any less.
Luke didn't move when a blanket fell onto his shoulders, gentle hands holding him protectively. He looked up to see Leia offering him a somber smile as she sat down beside him. Beautiful, spirited Leia that he felt connected with the moment he saw her. Part of Luke felt sure that Ben would have wanted him to find her, to save her from what the empire had planned. He couldn't explain it, just like he couldn't explain his draw to the young dark haired girl.
"I can't believe he's gone," Luke said, somewhat surprised that his voice doesn't shake or break when he does. He had expected that Ben was immortal, that he had been around since the beginning of time and would be around long after Luke. It was a silly, naïve thing to believe and Han would probably laugh at him if he mentioned it around the older man, but even now Luke couldn't feel embarrassed about the idea.
Artoo-Deetoo beeped softly, bringing Luke out of his thoughts. "There wasn't anything you could have done," Leia said, her hands still resting on his shoulders. It was a comforting touch, a bit like a mother's might be, Luke imagined, trying to consol a lost child. He still felt alone, even with the Princess's warm touch and Han's curse words flying through the ship as they made their escape from the battle station. Plus there was something else, some familiar presences playing in the back of Luke's mind that made him feel safe and calm. Alone, maybe, but not abandoned.
Leia was just leaning in a breath closer when Han burst into the room, wild eyed and panting. Without thinking about it Luke jerked away from Leia, straightening himself up in the seat and letting the blanket she brought him fall off his shoulders.
"Come on, buddy, we're not out of this yet!" Solo said, motioning for Luke to follow him. Luke was out of his seat without a second's hesitation, following the captain to the gun ports as another tremor passes through the ship, this one feeling rougher like the ones from back on Tatooine. Despite the loss of Ben Kenobi and their dire situation, Luke can't hold back the shiver of excitement that settles in the pit of his stomach when Han leads him to the battle station.
He really hopes he can make Ben proud.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
"Did you see that?" Luke wasn't entirely sure why he was laughing, only that he couldn't stop. The second the last TIE was blasted away Luke was out of his chair, swinging his arms in the air in a rather silly victory cheer. At the other gun port he could hear Han's laughter, a cross between excitement and relief.
"Did you see that!" Luke repeated, motioned wildly with his hands as he tried to relive the feeling of rightness he got from sitting in the gunner seat. He was so caught up in his own dramatization of the fight that he didn't even blush when Solo started laughing at him.
"You sure that was your first space fight, junior?" Luke looked up to make sure Solo wasn't making fun of him, but the captain was still smiling as he gave Luke a clap on the back and ruffled the boy's already messy hair. Luke glowed at the honest praise, jumping to give Han a short, clumsy hug as he bound down the corridor. The adrenaline from the fight was still pumping through Luke, making him feel a little lightheaded and a lot like being drunk with victory. Everything he'd managed to do so far, things he would have thought impossible when he was stuck back on a simple moisture farm on Tatooine, were building up and bubbling to the surface. He was somewhat surprised he could stand while all he felt like doing was bouncing up and down, and even more surprised his face didn't split in two with the grin he was sporting.
While Luke was contemplating how utterly happy he was he didn't notice that Solo's hands hadn't fallen from his waist after their quick embrace. He might not have noticed it at all if the cold metal of the Falcon pressing against his back hadn't come as such a shock.
Luke stopped, his knees buckling against the wall he had been backed into. His eyes darted to Han's face, looking to find the same relieved expression of earlier. Instead he found a pair of dark eyes, sweat and hair covering his forehead and the corners of his lips twitching up into a lazy smile.
Luke drew in a sharp breath. "Han?" Luke thought maybe the shaking in his breath could have been left over from the excitement of the battle and nothing to do with the fact that he was suddenly hyperaware of every inch of his skin Han was touching. Luke was finding it harder to breath with only so much air between the two. He tried backing up more only to find himself already flushed against the wall with nowhere to go.
The pleased feeling in the pit of his stomach had to do with the fact that he'd just shot down two TIEs in his first time behind a real laser canon.
Han leaned in closer so that Luke could see every line across his hard face. Luke was surprised Han's eyes could get so dark, almost black and a lot like space with a dangerous gleam lighting them up like stars. He wanted to swallow past the lump that had formed in his throat, but got the feeling that the slightest movement would mean him and Han would be touching and Luke didn't know what he'd do then. The predatory look in Han's eyes should have meant that he didn't want to find out.
"Say that calls for a celebration of sorts," Han whispered, and he really was only a breath away since Luke felt the words skin just as much as he heard them.
Luke wasn't nodding so much as he was still bouncing around because of their spectacular win. He would have pushed Han away if he actually tried anything; only the captain had height and experience on him. That was all.
Han's smile turned into what was most definitely a smirk. What little air Luke was managing to take in caught in his throat as the captain leaned close enough that Luke could feel his skin heat up before Han was even touching him. The shiver that passed through him had everything to do with the adrenaline from his day and nothing to do with the way Solo's lips were brushing against his ear.
Luke's hand came to rest on Han's shoulders, his fingers digging into the pirate's vest as Solo placed a line of kisses along his jaw. It wasn't that he was trying to pull him closer, but the Luke had the feeling that if he wasn't grabbing onto something he might collapse. It figured that Han Solo's lips would be rough and demanding, but also that he wouldn't simply kiss Luke because that would be too easy. He had to drag it on, nipping at Luke's earlobe or placing short licks along his neck until thoughts of laser canons and TIE fighters had become jumbled and all but vanished from Luke's mind.
Before he could bite down on his lip, a small moan was escaping. "You okay, kid?" Luke could feel Han smirk against his skin. Luke screwed up his face in concentration and opened his mouth to make some sort of retort to show Solo he wasn't completely gone, and if he had wanted to he could have been in control of this situation.
The comeback faded into a whimper as a strong thigh slipped between Luke's legs. Han pushed against Luke and the boy promptly forgot all about being embarrassed over his currant state and far more considered with ways to get Han to touch him more and what he was doing with his teeth and his lips that felt so go against Luke's shoulder.
"Han." The name fell from Luke's lips sounding somewhat like a whine and a plea. Solo was moving against him, sending waves of fire over Luke's skin so hot that the young man was sure he was going to combust. Now Han's arms had managed to snake around his waist, forcing Luke off the wall and pressing him against the taller man. Solo had finally made his way to Luke's mouth, sucking on the his lower lip, taking gentle nips at the soft skin and rocking his hips against the other until Luke was sure he was nothing but a ball of bottled up heat.
Luke's eyes flickered close with another long, low moan and he long ago gave up trying to explain any of this away. At that moment all he cared about was that Solo didn't stop and all the worries and logical thoughts could some later.
By the time Luke reopened his eyes he was already cold.
Before the haze had completely cleared from his vision a rough hand was ruffling his hair. "Good fight, kid," Han said, sounding only slightly breathless while Luke's own breathing was more than erratic, and it felt as though he had to take great gulps of air or else he'd pass out on the cold floor of the Falcon without a second's warning. "I better go check the cockpit. Make sure your Royal Highness hasn't destroy my ship with one of those brilliant plans of hers."
Luke leaned against the wall, the sensation of something so cold against his recently on-fire skin sending a shiver down his spin, and listened to the echoing sound of Solo's boots as he walked away, leaving behind a very confused farm boy.
He cheated. That was the first thought to cross Luke's mind. First with the apologizing, then the incident in the hold, then helping him save the princess (even if there had been some bribery involved in that one) and now this. It was almost as though the captain knew what Luke had been thinking about, or rather trying his best not to think about, and now he was using all that to his advantage. Luke snorted, shaking his head to try and clear away the feeling of Han pressed against him. He forced himself off the wall, walking with purpose out of the corridors and who knows where. Anywhere but there, and maybe Luke could actually try and sort a few things out without Han around to confuse him.
That was all Solo was doing, because Luke knew what he wanted as long as Han wasn't there to mess with his head. He wanted to make sure that Ben would have been proud of him and that he could get the droids and the princess into the Alliance's hands like he had promised. He wanted to be around Princess Leia more, because every time he saw her something around them just clicked into place. When Leia had been holding him Luke had felt comfortable and safe. Anything else would wear off eventually. It was all part of the novelty of being in space for the first time, and Luke would grow out of that.
Besides, they would reach the Alliance base soon enough, and then Han would collect the money Ben promised him and fly back to wherever smugglers like him spent their free time. Some how that thought was not as comforting as it once had been.
"Master Luke," Luke nearly bumped his head as he left the gun port corridor, swinging around to look for the mechanical voice that could only belong to See-threepio. "Master Luke, over here. Oh dear."
"See-threepio!" Luke hopped down onto the floor, hurrying over to the protocol droid that was tangled in a web of wires sticking out from one of the walls of the Millennium Falcon. "What happened?" He asked, reaching forward to tug the golden droid away from the wires. On of the metal bands gave him a slight shock. Luke jerked back, shaking his hand out and sucking on the finger until the slight burn to his skin stopped stinging. Beside him Artoo gave a concerned whistle. Luke waved his other hand to show he was fine.
"Bless me," See-threepio mourned. "I'm going to short circuit in here. I just know it."
"All right, calm down. Just calm down," Luke moved around the astrodriod, looking for a way to grab See-Threepio through the wires. "Just stop moving, okay? Han will have a fit if we ruin his ship."
"Very well, sir." The protocol droid stilled while Luke tried to get through the wiring without tearing anything important. Who knew what was keeping the old thing working in space, and Luke didn't want to risk destroying the last of the working controls.
After a few minutes and some help from Artoo he managed to pull See-threepio free of the exposed wiring. "Oh, thank you so much sir!" See-threepio said as Luke looked him over, making sure the droid was unharmed.
"Hey, has Leia come back here yet?" Luke asked once he was satisfied with See-threepio's condition.
Artoo gave a negative sounding whistle. "I'm afraid not, Master Luke," See-Threepio translated. "I believe she's sill in the bridge with Master Solo and-"
"I better go check on her, then." Luke didn't care where Han was at the moment. Even if the cockpit was where he had said he was going, that didn't mean Luke was looking for him. He needed to talk with Leia, anyway, about the rebellion and what he could do to help once they got to the base. Serious matters that did not involve following around off balance smugglers with bad celebration methods. "Make sure her and Han haven't killed each other, yet."
If it was possible, it almost looked as though the two droids exchanged a look. Artoo gave a long, low whistle. "Is everything quite all right, sir?" See-threepio asked, cocking his head to the side in an all to human gesture.
"Yeah, yeah. It's fine." Luke tried to sound convincing. Lies were always easier to tell when there was some truth behind them, and at the moment Luke couldn't summon to mind anything that could be described as fine. Nevertheless neither of the droids seemed to notice, or else they were content not to question their master. "Listen, you'll be okay, right?"
"Of course, Master Luke," The droid replied. "Artoo and I have been-"
"I'm going to the cockpit to make sure everything is all right, okay?" Luke turned on his heels, hurrying down the corridor before he could hear either droids replies.
Being with Leia would clear Luke's head. They could talk about the rebellion and what Luke could do to help when they arrived at Yavin Four, and maybe Leia had felt the same sort of connection he felt for her. He was going to the cockpit to see Leia and it had nothing to do with the fact that Han would be there, too.
Fate was against Luke. As he walked into the cockpit he was nearly pushed against the wall by a very upset looking princess. "Your friend is quite a mercenary." From the way Leia was fuming Luke doubt she meant that as any kind of complement. He looked passed her shoulder at Han, who was bent over a control panel trying to act like they weren't there. Luke was in slight amazement that a pair of people managed to get along so poorly after less than an hour together, yet Leia and Han seemed to be excelling at it. Of course, him and Han hadn't started out on the best of grounds either.
He wasn't entirely sure if things had gotten better or worse yet.
"I wonder if he really cares about anything," Leia looked over her shoulder and caught Han's eyes. "or anyone."
And with that Leia stormed out of the room. "I care!" Luke called back to her, but either she didn't hear him or didn't want to be bothered. Luke sighed, looking around the small cockpit like it was some sort of prison. He should have gone after Leia. That had been his plan, after all. Instead he found himself wondering over to stand next to Han, ignoring the inner voice that was screaming at the stupidity of that move.
"So..." Luke stumbled, trying to come up with something to say that wasn't What the hell were you doing back there? "What do you think of her, Han?"
"I'm trying not to, kid!" Han replied with a slight scoff.
Luke's shoulders sagged in relief and instantly tightened again. Should he be pleased because Han wasn't thinking about Leia? He didn't care what Han thought about anyone. That didn't change the fact that he was happy to hear Han wouldn't be trying to charm Leia.
Well, of course he was happy to hear that. Han could have anyone he wanted, and if he wanted Leia than what chance did Luke stand? "Good..." Luke muttered, distracting himself with a nearby control panel. He didn't think he could stand looking at Han right then. He didn't think he could stand looking at Han ever again.
"Still," Han said, and there was something in his voice that Luke didn't entirely trust. He looked up from the buttons he was dusting off to see Han was smirking again. Luke really hated that smirk. "She's got a lot of spirit. I don't know, what do you think? Do you think a princess and a guy like me..."
"No!" It was out of his mouth before he had time to think about it. Luke bite back on his lower lip. He really had to work on thinking things through before saying them. He looks back to the observation window and the control, basically anywhere but Han. He can feel his cheeks burning.
After a few minutes the silence managed to get to him. Luke gave a small cough, backing away from the control panel. "I better get some sleep before Yavin," He muttered, still refusing to meet Solo's eyes. Before he was even done with his sentence Luke had one foot out the door and it heading towards his cabin.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Luke collapses onto of the first bunker he came across; a small, torn looking cot that gave a protest under his weight. As a kid he'd always dreamed of going into space, of making something of himself. Now that he had the chance everything seemed so confusing and hard. Maybe he wasn't meant for this sort of life.
No, that wasn't it. Being in a ship felt right, and behind those laser canons Luke had been temporarily invincible. He'd managed to help plan an escape from an imperial cellblock, had escaped a battle station, and gotten the droids back to Princess Leia in less than a Tatooine day. It wasn't him in space that was the problem, after all if Ben had thought him good enough to take with him than this was where Luke belonged.
Ben... Luke felt a twinge of guilt. He hadn't thought of the old man since the excitement with the TIEs. The emotion was quickly quelled with in him, like some else's serenity and calm was washing over him. Luke felt his stomach tie up in knots. He'd felt something like this before, something almost exactly like this. Luke let his eyes fall close, concentrating on the waves of peace the force was sending through him. Everything would be all right. The confusion and guilt and sadness would pass if he would allow it to, and how Luke knew this he wasn't sure. But he knew that Ben know it, too.
"Luke." Luke's eyes fluttered open. His muscles felt cramped and his vision was hazy. The lights in the cabin were far too bright. "Luke."
Rubbing at his eyes, Luke searched the room for the gentle calling voice. "Leia?" He asked, finally noticing the slender figure of white sitting at the edge of his bed. He blinked a few more times as the princess came into focus. Startled, Luke tried to sit up in the uncomfortable small cot and ended up hitting his head on the top bunk.
Luke winced, jerking away and glaring up at the metal bed. "What are you doing here?" He asked, rubbing the sore spot on his head.
From the face Leia was making she was either vaguely worried or highly amused with Luke's lack of gracefulness. "I came to wake you up," She said, her lips twitching into a smile. Luke felt his cheeks start to burn and he looked away rather quickly.
"How long have I been asleep?" Luke asked, looking around the tiny cabin for a chrono of some sort. He couldn't remember falling asleep at all.
"Around six hours," Leia informed him, reaching out to touch the lump forming on Luke's temple. Luke winced when he fingers brushed against the bruise and tried to hide the ache it had caused. It was too late. Leia was already giving him a sympathetic smile and pulling back. Great, now she thought he was clumsy and weak.
"Six hours!" Luke repeated, almost hitting his head on the top bunk again. He hadn't even felt that tired.
Leia nodded. "We'll be reaching Yavin in a short while and I though you might like to get cleaned up." She looked Luke up and down in a way that reminded him that earlier that day he had fallen into one of the most foul smelling garbage pits they could fin"All though Gods knows if the showers on this thing work or not." The princess shot a disdained look at the 'fresher.
Luke felt awkward as he climbed off the bed, stretching out as he did so. Leia remained on the edge of the bed simply watching him. Luke finally broke down and asked, "What?" He hadn't meant to sound as whiney as it turned out, but Leia didn't seem to notice. She cocked her head to the side, still staring at Luke like she was trying to figure something out.
"Why are you traveling around with someone like Solo?" She asked. "I mean, you're," She waved vaguely at look for a second before her hands dropped back into her lap. Luke didn't quite understand what she was trying to say, and with a sigh Leia tried again. This time she just sent Luke a look that made him want to stand up straight and salute. "Are you trying to help the rebellion?"
"Of course," Luke answered, as if there was no other way he could have. Helping the rebellion was something he had to do, no question about it.
"What I mean is, how can someone like you stand to be around... around him!" Leia pointed at the empty doorway. "He's so frustrating, always going on about himself and his ship and MONEY."
Luke grimaced. It sounded like Han and Leia had had some more time together while he was asleep, and if Leia's fuming was anything to go by Solo hadn't been on his best behavior.
"He's not that bad," Luke nearly whispered. Leia was just getting on a role, and he hated to stop her. After all, what she was saying about Han was exactly true. He was frustrating and self-centered and he probably didn't care half as much for Luke as he did getting his reward. Not that Luke expected Han to care for him at all, because he couldn't care less who or what Han cared for.
Luke could understand what Leia meant when she said Han was frustrating.
Still, Han was a good fighter and an excellent pilot. He had to be to keep something as old as the Millennium Falcon in flight. He had also been far more helpful to them then Luke would have imagined, and Luke felt that he should at least try and defend Han against Leia's insults.
"It's people like him, the ones that are indifferent to our efforts, that make our cause such a hard one to fight for." Luke had sat back down, watching as Leia almost paced in the tiny space of the cabin. He thought back to when Han had referred to her as having spirit. He hadn't been wrong. Leia's eyes were glowing as she spoke, and if Luke hadn't already been dedicated to helping the rebellion he would have been jumping at the chance now.
"-Dangerous." Leia was saying, and Luke looked away before he was caught staring. He could feel Leia looking at him, waiting for him to say something.
"I have to wash up," Luke said, standing up very carefully and rubbing the still sore spot on his head. Leia's eyes were still fixed on him, making Luke fidget uncomfortable as he tried to move past her to the 'fresher. Right before he expected from the small cabin Leia spoke up.
"You like him, don't you?" It was almost an accusation.
Luke turned a color he hadn't been since that time he was five and got lost outside all day underneath the two Tatooine suns. "No," He said as soon as he was able to stop gapping at Leia in shock. "No. Not at all. I don't like him-"
"It's all right, Luke," She said, her voice kind and understanding. She didn't seem to notice how viciously denying Luke was being. "I mean, he certainly isn't the type of low... person I would expect to have friends but..." Luke took in a deep breath, swallowing past the panic that had risen to his throat. Leia shook her head as she trailed off.
"Maybe he's not..." She paused again to consider her words, and then gave up. She moved to the door, still somewhat distracted by whatever she was thinking about. "We'll be at Yavin in a few hours," She repeated, looking over her shoulder at the still flushed Luke. "Meet me in the dinning room. We'll see if anything in this junk pile is editable or not."
Luke nodded, waiting until the door hissed shut behind Leia to fall back onto the cot. His head was starting to hurt, and it had nothing to do with the lump.