Author's notes:

Well, here's the second chapter! I didn't think I would actually write it, but I have. Thanks to those who have viewed it so far, its very much appreciated! If have time to drop a little comment, that would be fabulous also!

The pair were silent for a few moments. It was almost as though Y/N couldn't believe she had said it; it felt like a lie. Did she really want to go back to the place that haunted her memories? Not particularly. However, it was the only thing she could say to allude to the crushing weight of her feelings. She allowed her eyes to meet Han's, a look of astonishment washing over his face. As she took a deep breath, she choked on another sob, which made him flinch and finally formulate a response.

"But…home? Riosa?" he breathed, just as confused over her statement as she was. He had been part of the liberation operation of her home, Riosa. A small temperate planet in the Inner Rim which had housed large factories which the Empire had subsequently taken over, forcing the largely human population to labour within them. They had been fortunate enough to bump into each other during the operation, Y/N helping the Rebels navigate the factories and volunteering to make vital repairs on their ship. It was the least she could do after years of helping build the parts for the Death Star. She hopped aboard the Falcon and vowed not to turn back. "What's happened? What have I done?" he asked, rubbing his temple with concern.

"The young mechanic by his side opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out. She was afraid that once she expressed her concerns about her failings, he might start to see them too. She had endangered them countless of times, and she was surprised he had never seriously sat down and told her that she was making life difficult. It was like Y/N was constantly on edge, waiting to be told her time was up, as though it was all just blip in her otherwise bleak life.

"You haven't done anything" she answered, wincing at the sound of her shaky voice. She wanted to put him at ease about that. While Han was set on an almost constant mode of sarcasm, he was never cruel. He, alongside Chewie of course, had made her laugh, made her feel part of something; and had obviously saved her life numerous times now.

"Well, there must've been something" he stressed, unconvinced by her statement. Normally he'd have a good idea of what it might be, he often had moments of idiocy where he pushed friends away. Y/N shook her head, sniffing to prevent her nose from running as the tears still forced their way out of her eyes. "You can tell me if I've been an idiot, it's not out of the ordinary for me" he compelled, reaching out a tentative hand to place on her uninjured leg. They weren't often affectionate with each other, there was a hug here and a lean on the shoulder there; but it was impossible not to reach out and be affectionate in the face of someone he had grown to care about being distressed.

"The show of warmth from Han encouraged Y/N somewhat, not because it made her more comfortable to speak, but because she didn't want him to waste any more time on her. She wiped away the tears, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

"I'm…" she started, watching as Han's attention was so purely focused on what she was going to say next. "I'm a liability, Han" she confessed, not able to look at him directly. "A liability" she repeated, now that she had said it out loud, it felt like nothing but the truth. "We're always getting fucked because of me" she said, spitting the word me as though it was burning at the back of her throat. "That whole deal back there, that was going to mean something. Something huge. I made a mistake, I got shot. Then, I almost got you hurt, and Chewie hurt, hell, the Falcon hurt" she explained, the anger commanding her voice in a way Han had never heard before. The hand on her leg slipped away as he tried to formulate a response. "I don't want to be responsible for getting Han Solo, hero of the Rebel Alliance, killed" she added, a moment of tension occurring between the two. Hero of the Rebel Alliance; Han didn't want to be reduced to that, but now was not the time to argue about his identity.

"Listen, Y/N, unless you're pointing a blaster at me and pull the trigger, you're not going to be responsible for my death" he claimed. "What happened back there, that wasn't your fault. What counts as a mistake is changing all the time, the unwritten rulebook is just that, unwritten. Nothing is ever completely certain" he explained, sounding far more sophisticated than he could've hoped to.

""Yeah, but-" she interrupted, feeling the sting of tears again. "But these mistakes are adding up, they're weighing you down" she insisted.

"I've made so many mistakes, even while you've been aboard" he strained, unsure about how to tackle her insistence.

"It's your ship, you're allowed to make mistakes. I'm just a freeloader at the end of the day, Han" she fought back. "I can repair stuff and I can identify parts for trading, basically just tinkering about. That's something you could have anyone do, someone who's not going to be a lia-"

"You are not a liability" Han snapped, which made Y/N flinch in shock. "We both know that you don't want to go back to Riosa, and you are most certainly wanted and needed here" he explained, his firm tone softening the longer he spoke. The lines of his frown still in place, he stood up from the bed and went back to his original position, kneeling in front of her. He picked up the bandages and motioned with them towards her leg, the argument and upset having distracted from the task at hand. "May I?" he asked.

"Y/N still had his words echoing around in her chaotic mess of a brain. She nodded, a little senselessly, as he offered to dress the wound. She wiped her eyes again, looking down at the older man. Wanted and needed? To hear him say that had truly lifted her spirits. She still had doubts, but the sincerity in his voice told her that he emmeant/em it, and with Han, the lines were usually blurred.

""Am I being gentle enough?" he asked, focused on the task at hand, but not focused enough to ignore Y/N. She cleared her throat, finally stabilising her voice.

"Yeah" she replied gently, watching as he delicately wrapped the wound. She had seen him do it to himself before, tying it up like a lunatic; this was a stark contrast. When he had finished, Y/N examined the finished creation and summoned a smile. "Thank you" she acknowledged gratefully, wiping the bottom of her nose with her hand.

"Don't mention it" he replied, a little more chipper now that the seemingly gloomy energy was passing. "Now, lie back and we'll get some proper medical attention in no time" he said, helping her as she tried to pull off her other boot. Y/N heeded his advice and led back into the comfortable foam-like bed, moving her braid to the side and she shifted towards the centre. Han looked around for a moment, running a hand through his hair. "Will you be alright in here, sweetheart?" he asked, though his pronoun for her catching them both off-guard. He had used it when they first met, thinking it would be a fleeting acquaintanceship and because she was noticeably attractive. Getting to know her as a crew mate changed that initial bravado, but he had to admit to himself the attraction was still there; more deep-rooted than hoping for a one-night stand on Riosa, at least.

"I'll be alright" she confirmed, staring at him curiously. He quickly acted upon her comment and made himself scarce, presumably going back to the cockpit to be with Chewbacca. Y/N was left to reflect on the exchange that had just passed. She realised than Han never really gave her the opportunity to respond to his undeniable desire to keep her around; even if she had the opportunity she still didn't know what she would say, other than to be in a perpetual state of gratitude that she can stick around. Regardless, she had felt as though something just happened between them, and Han's actions and words were testament to that.