The Man at the Bar

(AN: For KSWWSK, for old times sake.)

Mara Jade was sitting with the rest of the smugglers in the corner of the cantina. She was halfway through a drink she regretted ordering. Her head was a little fuzzy already. She could not even glower at her companions as it was her duty to know her environment.

She looked out over the tables and saw him. She'd met him on occasion before. The Jedi Luke Skywalker. He was leaning on the bar ordering drinks for himself and his companions, who looked like fighter pilots. She found herself watching the way he gestured for the drinks. He had an elegance she had only seen in dancers. Or martial artists. She rested her chin on her hand. He was that as a Jedi. He gathered up multiple drinks in his hands and walked carefully over to his friends. He handed the drinks out and as he sat, the other patrons obscured him from view. She sighed and went back to her drink. He would be very good with those hands. She sighed deeper and went back to her sipping and half awareness of the conversation around her.

An hour later a new band came on and she noticed the pilots stand up calling to each other as they moved to the beat. Luke got to his feet laughing and rather self consciously followed them. By the time they reached the crowded dance floor they had gathered partners from the crowd. She did not want to watch this. She got to her feet and fetched herself another drink.

"Mara Jade!"

She blinked at Luke as he grinned at her.

"I thought you were dancing." She almost bit her tongue. That was such a telling statement.

"I don't know this one." He muttered. She almost melted with relief. It went right over his head.

It must have been the drink talking as she held out her hand.

"I do. Care to try?"

"Ah..." He grabbed her hand lightly as if he wanted to be able to escape with ease.

It did not matter that he did not know the dance. The floor was too crowded. They found a little wriggle room and he seemed at a great loss as to what to do with those powerful hands of his. A few helpful placements later Mara Jade was happy.

.

"Who was that girl stuck to you last night?" Wedge asked with a grin.

Luke found himself grinning in return.

"An old acquaintance who knows the new dances."

"We're going again tonight, are you with us?"

Luke scowled as he realised he could not clear tonight's schedule.

"No." He said regretfully.

.

Wedge found Luke stuck in his engine the next afternoon.

"Her name is Mara Jade and she will be there every evening till eleven until her ship leaves at the end of the week."

Luke rolled his eyes at Wedge and grinned for the rest of the day.