I can't decide if I hate Mon Mothma, let's see what she has to say for herself, shall we?
"This, I was not expecting."
If the media had been hungry for the princess and the ex-smuggler before, they were nothing short of ravenous now.
In the span of two days, public interest had spiked to an all-time unprecedented high. Photos of the pair now littered the media waves in hundreds of languages across thousands of networks. Viewer submitted pictures, public event captures, private shots of the pair together with friends and family - Gods knew how those had leaked. They were everywhere.
Her companion nodded mutely in agreement, standing before the main holo projector on the presidential floor of the senate building.
"She looks like a common prostitute." He hissed, fist connecting with the console, freezing the image of Leia on the holoscreen - or rather a series of images taken two nights ago by a surveillance camera far too many levels down to be considered socially acceptable. It featured the princess, clad in a tight, short dress, being pushed hungrily up against the back of the lift, Solo's body pressed tight against hers - his hands wound in her hair. The photos were powerful and seductive; voyeuristic in character. They were something Mon was certain Leia should be ashamed of but was also equally certain she wouldn't be. Not anymore. Public opinion had stayed overwhelmingly on the lovers side - and if this building hysteria was anything to go off of, it was guaranteed to stay there for quite some time.
Thankfully, the news had stayed fairly light on the Hapen end, the less focus there was on that, the better. They were still 'negotiating' with the Cluster, but everyone on Council had to admit the unpleasantness between the Hapen Prince and the galaxy's favourite power couple had soured the potential deal considerably. The altercation itself hadn't been leaked yet - but one look at Isolder's face and everyone would be able to guess at what had happened.
Leia's office had issued one statement the day of her departure. Solo had publicly said nothing. Normally, Mon sighed to herself, interest would die off quickly, but it seemed the opposite to be true in this case. No news seemed to ignite more news.
"They certainly do love her," she watched the numerous smiling candid photos slide across the screen. "Them." She corrected herself.
Madine made a noncommittal noise.
"She looks happy." Mon whispered, almost to herself.
Madine turned to her, shocked.
"Happy?" He repeated, "You think that is happy? Behaving that way with him? Exposing herself to all of this." He waved an angry hand at the frozen image. "He will leave her. A man like Solo cannot be pegged down. This will all blow over - I give it three months. And then what? Her reputation will not survive this charade. She'll be ruined."
"She's so young, I forget sometimes."
"She's impressionable and he's," Madine had an exasperated gesture with his hand. "We tolerated this dalliance with Solo as best we could, a wartime romance which has - I think we can all agree - run it's course."
Mon nodded, still watching the images in front of her, the young, happy, carefree couple
"I will not deny that he has been… helpful to us. He's a natural leader, a good military mind. Reckless and brave - good qualities in a soldier. Not, however, suited to be the consort a high ranking senatorial candidate - much less the last of a noble, old Royal House. Her father - her entire family - would not approve." Madine contunied.
"Leia was right, Crix." She interrupted. "Bail would have only ever wanted her to be happy. He loved her and," she paused gently unfreezing the screen in front of them again, eyes tracing the smile on the young princess's face - taken the last time Solo was back on leave - her head tilted towards him. Eyes shining. "It's true. She doesn't have a family anymore. Not a traditional one. She has General - Captain - Solo," She corrected herself quickly, sensing her companion stiffen beside her at the incorrect title. " and Luke. That's her family." Mon turned toward General Madine, watched him stare daggers at the newscast for another moment before continuing quietly. "I don't know anymore. Maybe we were wrong. Maybe this is what's best for her. In any case, we've lost them both. This isn't our concern anymore." Truth was, Mon felt horrid. Blinded as she was to 'what was best' for everyone, she had been willing to toss away and trample on what might actually be best for her young friend.
"This is not the first time he has come between us and what is best for her. There has to be a way to separate them, make her see sense. Make him realize what this will cost her."
"Do you truly believe it's worth it, to attempt to separate them, after all of this?"
"Do you not?"
"He loves her, Crix. It's done."
"Is it." It wasn't a question, yet it hung, suspended between them as they turned their attention back to the screen.
xXx
"I haven't been to a party like that in..." Leia sat curled up on one of Lando's large kitchen chairs, cradling a cup of caf between her hands. "Well, actually... I don't think I've ever been to a party like that."
"The Liberation was quite the party." Han leaned back against the counter, relishing in the look of her relaxed for the first time in days, dressed comfortably in his old sweatshirt - one she had taken possession of years ago, before they were together - and a pair of light leggings. She looked so young. He often forgot just how young she was. Luke had always been young, idealistic. Leia was different. Determined, stubborn and guarded. She had carefully constructed barriers which wrapped and tangled around herself. Permanent and opposing, they had been there, taunting him for years until he finally managed to figure out how to unwind them. Leia had rules she lived by and expected other to do the same - even now. Luke didn't. He had a fresh-faced, hopeful, happy way of looking at life. Leia's walls protected her.
Han had always know that they were the same age. But Luke was, and likely always would be, a kid compared to his sister.
Leia had never been a 'kid'. And for that, Han was entirely grateful.
Lando's party had in fact been a great one; loud and crowded enough to be intimate. A few old friends he had lost touch with over the years he had been with the Rebellion, it had all seemed slightly surreal to tuck Leia under his arm and mingle. She fit as though she was designed to belong there. No carefully detailed approach to the evening. Just them. It was refreshing. Leia, for her part, had felt a slab of guilt at the beginning of the night, from her happy vantage point tucked in beside Han, these were friends of his - good friends - which he had given up for her and her life. She had unknowingly pulled him away from people he had cared about. The feeling had subsided halfway through the night as she mingled with him, working the crowd. It had been nice, she smiled into her glass as she watched him watch her, to simply be 'Leia'. She could get use to it - and by the look of things, she might be able to.
"And as I remember - you had quite the time." he smirked at her. Yes, yes she did. She had been hungover the entire next day, skin marked up so badly by his nips and love-bites that she had been forced to use up her entire personal supply of bacta gel before venturing out at all.
"Yes. Although," she took a sip of her drink, "I don't remember it being quite so.."
"No. Different crowd." Han laughed, he didn't need her finish that sentence, he knew exactly what she meant.
"I like them."
"You sure? They're a little rough." He half warned.
"I can handle myself. And you. But I mean it; I like your friends." She added.
"Good. I think we should nose around a bit more - maybe take a couple weeks 'off' and see what we can dig up on this Karrde guy."
"Where are you thinking we should start? There seems to be a lot of different opinions out there."
"Not sure, I have a few places in mind - depends how long you want to disappear for."
Leia shrugged and handed him her mug to refill. "I have no where else to be."
"We need a hub."
"Ord Mantel?" She asked when he handed it back to her, noting the hesitation in her own voice. The last time they had been there had ended badly. Very badly. But, she took a breath inhaling the hot steam, that was another lifetime ago, a different lifetime. Just because something bad had happened there the last time - she shuddered inwardly against the memory of that horrible botched mission - didn't mean history was bound to repeat itself. Bounty hunter days were behind them - at least for the moment. Leia shuddered again.
"To start, maybe." Han had moved to the chair beside her.
"Ithor is good for intel."
"very political right now though - something you will have to learn to what to avoid." He smirked at her, and she shot him a faux irritated glare.
"But it's a good place to learn about what's going on." she countered.
"So is Nar Shaddaa, but..." He trailed off, worry clouding his eyes.
"I've never been there. Sounds like fun. Could run into a few ex-girlfriends of yours, I'm sure they have all kinds of stories to share." She teased lightly trying to sway the quickly darkening mood.
"Could be." he replied softly as she lightly traced the scar on his chin with her thumb.
"Leia-"
"It'll be fine. Trust me." Her quiet words pounded against the inside of his mind. Haunting him. Damn.
"Well. If it isn't the most popular couple in the galaxy. Good morning, Leia. You look lovely."
Han scowled at his friend and straightened up. Scowling - or any form of annoyance typically just encouraged a triumphant grin and more flirting, but Han couldn't help it.
"Thank you, good morning. I made caf - I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all. You do look lovely in my kitchen in the morning - I could get use to this."
"You should try the caf before you make statements like that." She pointed out.
"Did you happen to talk to Wyn last night?" Lando turned to Han, who was still scowling at him.
"I did."
"And?"
"What did you say to him?"
"Nothing."
"What did you say!" Han repeated, anger creeping into his voice.
"Here, sit down." Leia intervened, offering their host her seat and sliding around the back of Han's chair, hands winding down his shoulders and across his chest. He glanced quickly back to her and smiled knowingly. Arguing was apparently back on the no-no list. Han looked across to Lando, jaw set.
"I may have mentioned you were bored and looking for something to take the edge off."
"I'm not bored. And" he pointed an accusatory finger at his friend. "I don't need to 'take the edge off' anything. Work, Lando. That's what I - we," he caught himself, "want. I am not interesting is dragging Leia all over the galaxy chasing laser brained deals for that idiot."
"You asked for my help."
"No. I asked you if you needed any help - that's different."
"Now, I'm still rather new to this 'mercenary' thing," Leia said, effectively taking command of the conversation before it led to something stronger. "But chasing some random lead from a random man to an unknown destination for an indeterminable amount of time doesn't really seem like the best way to start out."
"Well. Look who isn't just ornamental." A high pitched voice startled them all from the galley entrance. The blond woman who had been hanging on Lando during that party - And apparently during the night, Leia thought ungraciously before she could stop herself - strutted into the kitchen, clad in nothing except a long shelve tshirt of Lando's which grazed her mid-thigh. She made a show of kissing Lando first and then tossed Han a slutty smile and rolled her hips a little more than was necessary while passing the table. She spun and crossed one ankle seductively over the over, leaning against the counter. Smugly grinning at Leia - obviously empowered by the comfortable quietness of the princess's appearance; sitting in stark contrast to her own current state of near-undress.
Shut it down. Leia's darkness bloomed and retracted. Stupid bitch. Ornamental? Ironic.
"Oh," Leia laughed, once. A short targeted laugh. It made her slightly nervous, the edge behind it. But there was power in it as well, and she let that roll across her instead. "I've never been ornamental." There it was. A threat. Everyone heard it - the galley stilled. The blond swallowed and tugged at the bottom hem of her shirt, suddenly uncomfortable . Lando's smile widen fractionally - was Han though who had caught her entire attention. Eyes narrowed and darkened slightly, stance changed. He was turned on. He was hers.
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Yes, she could handle herself. And him.
It was time to move. Things were about to get interesting again.
