(This short short chapter is dedicated to Cicatrick, because they're amazing and the only reason I got off my ass and wrote something today. I know this is barely 1,000 words , but that's because the next one is super super long so I decided to break them into two! I wanted to at least give y'all something. Don't forget to review, if ya feel like it!)
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Leia bounced her leg impatiently, arms folded as she sat outside of the principal's office. Just on the other side of the wall sat Han, who was sporting a freshly bloodied knuckle but was doing his best not to show that it hurt. Leia couldn't believe Han; who did he think he was? She didn't need saving, she could've won that fight easily if he hadn't stepped in. But no, he was Han Solo, mister has-to-be-the-hero. The fear of what her father was going to say when she got home had long ago settled into the pit of her stomach, yet somehow was being overridden by the pure frustration at Han's idiocy.
Next to her sat Luke, who was purely confused at the whole situation and didn't understand why they were still there. "Why are you still sitting here? The principal already said you weren't in trouble," he slumped into the small plastic chair.
"I have some words for Han." She shot back.
"Listen, I don't think you need to be mad at him, he was just trying to help-"
"I didn't need help!" Leia interrupted, her tone letting Luke know that that was the end of the conversation.
"No need to bite my head off." Luke mumbled, standing from his seat. "I'm just gonna walk home."
Immediately feeling bad for taking her frustration out on her brother, Leia moved to stop him, but decided against it. They didn't live too far from the school, she supposed, and more importantly, he didn't need to know that the reason she was staying was because she cared about Han.
The clicking of the opening door alerted Leia out of her thoughts. Out stepped Han, looking reasonably frustrated, but his face changed when he saw she was still sitting there.
"What are you doing here?" his tone was unreadable to Leia.
"I had to make sure you weren't getting expelled." She replied snappily, grabbing her bag and standing up.
Han scoffed and picked his own bag up. "No, I'm not getting expelled, I just have detention all next week."
Internally, Leia was happy the punishment wasn't too drastic. She would hate to see something happen to him this far into his senior year. "Well, that seems appropriate."
The taller boy stopped and squinted at Leia. "Are you pullin' my leg?" His hands sat on his hips as he leaned in closer. "I saved your ass, and I don't even get a thank you?"
"I didn't need you to save me!" Leia faced him, craning slightly to look him in the eye. "I had it perfectly under control!"
"Like hell you did! That creep was about to hurt you and you couldn't defend yourself against him," his voice rose, though he almost didn't believe what she was saying. Only a few months ago had she broken a student's nose- she was perfectly capable of self defense.
Leia's eyes seemed to set on fire as if she was trying to kill Han with a glare. "What precisely is that supposed to mean?"
"I think you already know, princess." He rolled his eyes and started down the darkened hallway. "You ignore me all day, then when I try to do something nice despite that, you go all crazy on me? I ain't about that, sweetheart!"
Leia moved quickly with him, her little legs struggling to keep up with his long ones. "Fine, thank you! Is that what you want to hear?"
Han stopped sharply again. "No, what I wanna hear is what your deal is. You pull me in, making me think we got somethin' goin', and then you just kick me out? I don't get it!" He was yelling now, but it was clear to see he regretting being so vulnerable with his feelings, and his face hardened again.
Leia huffed sharply. "So you think I'm just some damsel in distress, waiting for you to save me." She rolled her eyes. "Well guess what, buddy, I can take care of myself, I don't need anyone, especially you!"
The two turned aggressively away from each other, Leia heading in the actual direction of the parking lot while Han had to take the long way around, too stubborn to even consider the other option.
—
Luke arrived home shortly before Leia did, legs tired and mind even more so. He knew he was about to get it from Anakin as soon as he stepped in the front door- so he thought.
It was 4:18, well past when Anakin was normally home. Luke looked around in confusion; every day after school, their father sat in the living room and read the paper or worked on something from his office. Yet the house seemed to be empty. Glancing into the driveway, Luke's brow furrowed further- his car was there, so where was he?
Luke ventured further into the house upon noticing that the door to his dad's office was closed. He assumed that's where he was, but the teen was still concerned as to why the man was holed in there and not berating Luke with questions as to why he was late and where Leia was. Just as he raised his hand to knock on the white door, he stopped.
"God, Paddy... I wish you were here. I don't know how to parent these kids, they need their mom,"
Luke's heart dropped. Was Anakin... talking to his mom? He was always so uptight, he definitely didn't seem like the type to talk to a dead loved one.
"Luke came home drunk and I grounded him, but I used to do that all the time! And Leia... she needs you, she needs her mom." Anakin coughed quietly, and Luke swore he heard a sniff.
The blonde felt his own eyes tearing up and he decided the conversation was none of his business. He quickly rushed upstairs and waited for Leia to arrive, mentally deciding against sharing the private moment.