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Too Soft

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Princess Leia looked at Han Solo intensely. He seemed tired. His hair was unruly and he had deep, dark circles under his eyes.

"Are you okay?", she asked before she could stop herself.

"Yes," he answered quickly. Too quickly. He took a deep breath and rubbed at his temples, his gaze wandering over the thin form of his friend in a bacta tank. He really hoped Luke will be alright. The Tauntaun's body gave him enough protection from cold but he was still beaten up pretty badly.

"Han... I can see you're not okay," Leia said.

"I'm just worried about the kid, that's all. If I were any faster or smarter... Or if I joined him yesterday when he went to check that meteor... He wouldn't have to suffer now," Han said quietly.

Leia eyed him closely. He really was worried. But apart from worry, there was something else etched on his face, and it was tiredness and soreness. Leia also couldn't miss the fact that he kept his hands close to his body, hugging himself as if to keep warm, despite wearing a thick blanket around his back.

"Are you cold?"

"Nah, I'm not," Han answered, but then sighed and looked away. "It just got pretty rough during the night, you know? Pretty cold. Good I managed to keep the kid warm, though."

Leia frowned. "And what about you? Did you keep yourself warm?"

Han snorted. "I survived. I still have my nose and all of me fingers and toes. Also the most important thing of the body hadn't suffered," he smiled mischeviously. "So it's not that bad."

"Why don't you let the doctors treat you? I'm sure an hour in bacta tank would do you good."

"I know other ways to do me good, sweetheart," Han winked to her.

"Sponge-brain," she gritted her teeth. "I try to care about you and as always you have to ruin everything," she turned around, intending to walk away but he grabbed her arm. Even through the layer of her clothes she felt his fingers were freezing cold.

"Sorry, Princess," he said sincerely. "I think I'll just let myself rest for a couple of minutes, you know? I'm afraid I might be a little tired. Didn't get too much sleep."

She just smiled. "I'll wake you up before they take Luke out of bacta tank," she promised.

"Thanks," he said and look at her intensely. Before he could convince himself to kiss her, he turned and headed towards Falcon.

He was getting so soft.

-- The End.