Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Location: Coruscant – East Palace Entertainment District
Din slammed down another shot of whiskey with his men as they all let off some pent-up steam from their last deployment. Drinking with his men was always a fun experience.
"I shit you not, you should have seen it", Tycho said. "The Commander here, with his gigantic brass balls just ran up to the damned tank, climbed up and blew it open with an incendiary grenade then tossed a thermal detonator in it."
"That was not one of my finer moments", Din said as he rubbed his healing shoulder, "but it got the job done didn't it!" He yelled as he held up another shot to cheers of his men. There was a certain cockiness to his attitude that everyone picked up on him.
They all drank. The dizzying lights of the dance club adding to their inebriation. This wasn't one of Din's favorite places to drink at, he wasn't much of a fan of clubs, but his horny squadron members were able to find women for the evening with relative ease.
"I just remember Derek here disappointed he didn't get to give you mouth to mouth", Wedge said as he slapped the big Corellian on the back.
"The Commander just didn't want these lips", he said making a smacking sound towards Din. Derek was one of the more cocksure men in the squadron, even more so than Din.
"And I never will, Derek, no offense", Din said as he laughed.
Gaggles of scantily clad women passed the group of jolly men. The single officers' eyes tracked them like birds of prey.
Din and Wedge watched them, chuckling at the testosterone and liquor fueled men who still acted like teenagers when it came to women. Din had his fair share of one night stands with women but had uncharacteristically remained celibate over his last deployment. Sure, there were attractive female officers aboard the destroyer, but he didn't act on his impulses like he normally would.
Din, knowing when to unleash them said, "Alright you guys, go have fun, but if I have to come bail any of you out tonight, it'll be hell to pay. Don't forget, wings up at zero eight hundred hours so we can go school the candidates on the finer points of Interceptor piloting."
The men laughed at the prospect of that and went their separate ways in the target rich environment. They were all experienced enough in piloting, so putting even experienced interceptor pilots in their place was always a joyful occasion.
Wedge clapped Din on the shoulder. "Do you want to come sit with Dalia and I or are you going to go skulk at the bar like normal?" His wife enjoyed the company of Din and was determined to find him a wife to calm him down some.
Din laughed, "Wedge, I wouldn't dare intrude on you and Dalia. Besides, why change the tradition of skulking when I don't have to?"
Wedge shook his head. "Alright, Commander, I'll see you in the morning."
"Sounds good, Wedge. Give Dalia my best", Din said as he walked over to the bar. This club really wasn't his idea of a good time, but he might as well make the best of it. It sure beat drinking alone in his apartment.
He was about to take a seat when he noticed that Leia was sitting on the other side of the bar, idly stirring her drink with a straw, her thoughts anywhere but the present.
Well, why not, Din thought. He felt a wave of attraction build up as his brain released oxycontin into his body at the sight of the young woman.
He walked around the bar and tapped Leia on the shoulder. "Mind if I sit with you?" He asked.
She looked up, surprised, then upon recognizing him frowned. "I guess not, just don't bore me with any of your speeches on politicians or my title", she said. Her heart pounded at seeing him, but that didn't mean she was going to forgive him easily for their heated argument.
"I deserve that", Din said as he sat on the stool next to her. He knew he was going to have to work on her a bit.
"You most certainly do, Din", she replied. "What brings you out here anyway, I never took you for a club partygoer." He's probably trying to take home some tramp, she thought with venom.
"I'm not", he said. "Wedge and I go out with the men after deployments to boost morale and to supervise to make sure nothing gets out of hand." Din did get calls form the military police about his men from time to time after they had gone out drinking. He himself had been in trouble for getting too out of hand when he was in his early twenties.
She raised her eyebrows in response and continued to stir her drink, not still believing he had ulterior motives for being in a club with scantily clad women.
Din stared at the bar. She isn't going to let me off the hook easily, he thought.
"I didn't think a place like this would be your typical venue either, Leia", he said as he took in her short dress. It aroused him and he was flustered by the thought of running his hands down her petite frame.
She looked at him and obviously wanted to retort but didn't. "To be honest, you're right it isn't. A few of the girls from work wanted to take me out as a late birthday celebration, but if you'll look over there, they're the ones celebrating", she said as she pointed out her obviously intoxicated co-workers dancing with various men.
"I don't think I even know what kind of dancing to call that", Din remarked. On the rare occasion that he danced, it was more classical.
"I think they call it, cave dweller mating", Leia responded, somewhat jealous that the other young women were able to find men that were interested in them. Much to her dismay, her virginity was still intact, but there was only one man that she wanted to give that gift to, not some random man that she didn't have feelings for.
They looked at each other and laughed, feeling mirth for one another.
"So, can I buy you a drink to make up for the other day?" Din asked. It was a weak line, but he didn't know how else to talk to her.
She looked at him incredulously, "First you miss my birthday, second you bust your stitches open making me feel obligated to patch you up, then third you insult my profession and title." She did despise it when people addressed her status as royalty.
Din winced at the retort. "Okay, can I buy you a drink to set us off in the right direction at least?"
She studied him momentarily and then said, "Sure." She kept her emotions carefully guarded.
Din flagged down the bartender, a buxom blonde, and said "Give me a shot of Hapes Gin and whatever my friend wants."
Leia looked at the bartender and said, "I'll just have what he's having."
The bartender looked at her and said, "Are you sure, doll? That's like drinking hyperspace matter."
"I think I'll be fine, thanks", Leia said with thinly veiled annoyance. Sure, she had drank alcohol since she was fifteen, but she was still inexperienced with different types of liquor.
The bartender poured the drinks and set one in front of Leia and the other in front of Din. "Here you go handsome", she said as she batted her fake eyelashes.
Din just politely smiled in return. Again, another time and place he may have flirted back, but there was only one woman who captured his attention.
He picked up his shot and held it to Leia for a toast, "To a step in the right direction."
Leia gave a slight smile and clinked her shot glass against his. She remembered the time that she and Din had shared a drink right before he deployed.
Din downed the shot, enjoying the burning sensation down his throat and felt himself relax.
Leia took her shot and coughed. Din slapped her back a couple of times.
"You okay?" He asked as he chuckled.
"Yes… Yes, I'm okay", she responded, still reeling from the powerful drink. "You knew that would happen, didn't you?" She was embarrassed to no end.
"I had a suspicion but after you looked like you wanted to rip the bartender a new one, I just thought I'd let you find out yourself", he said.
Leia playfully jabbed him on the shoulder, his rock-hard shoulder. "That bartender looked pretty interested in you. Are you going to go for it?" She asked, carefully testing the waters.
"She is not even close to my type", Din responded.
"You have a type? I didn't think that was possible", Leia replied with sarcasm.
Din looked at her and said, "Neither did I." His eyes took her in.
Leia held his gaze momentarily and then looked away. Flustered at his long look.
Din said, "Since neither of us fit in here, why don't we go up another block. There's a quiet bar there so we can both hear each other talk." He knew he was going out on a limb, but when you're taking a risk you might as well jump in feet first.
She paused for a few seconds before responding, "As long as it's a place with clean glasses and not a complete dive bar."
He threw a handful of credits on the bar counter and said, "Hey, it's me."
They both quickly left the dance club and into the cold night.
"It's freezing out here", Leia said as she pulled her cardigan tightly over her dress.
Din took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. She smiled her thanks at him, touched at the gesture.
They both spent the next couple of minutes walking in comfortable silence.
"Here we go", Din said as he walked up to the doors and held one open for Leia. She smiled at him again as she handed him his coat.
"Welcome", said the bartender. "Sit anywhere you like, and I'll be by in a second to take your order."
Din led Leia to a cozy booth near the back and they both sat opposite of one another.
Leia asked, "What's good here? Anything aside from that Hapes Gin."
Din chuckled. "They have some pretty good Corellian ale, if you're interested."
"I love Corellian ale, much more than Corellian's", she said.
"You and I have something in common", Din quipped.
Leia smiled at that.
The bartender came over and took their drink order. A moment later he placed two frosty mugs of the beverages in front of Din and Leia.
"So", Leia began after taking a sip of her drink, "What exactly is your type?" If she was going to drink with the man, she felt compelled to push the boundaries, especially after the other night.
Din looked at her and chose his words carefully, "Well, she has to be strong willed, compassionate, a zeal for doing what she believes is right, and of course beautiful." He wanted to say it was her, but couldn't find the nerves to do so.
Leia sat back feeling a twinge of jealousy and cocked an eyebrow, "That sounds pretty specific. Anyone I know?" She wanted to find the woman and run her in with her lightsaber.
Din just grinned and simply replied, "Maybe." It's you and only you, he thought.
"Well, you'll have to introduce her to me", she said before she took a long pull of her ale. Her tone was a little more harsh than she intended it to be.
Having opened pandora's box, she decided to change the subject. "So, you've been back for several days now. How're you feeling?"
"It's surreal", he responded. "It's the same planet, same city, hell it's the same palace, but something just feels different."
"Maybe it's you whose changed", Leia offered. Her heart felt a pang that he seemed conflicted.
Din shrugged. "It probably is me. I'm still trying to figure it out."
He paused before asking, "You said the other night that life is still the same for you as a year ago… do you really mean that?"
Leia mulled her response before she said, "Yes, I guess I did." She looked at him intensely. "There's something that I have wanted for a long time and even though I'm a year older, I'm still not close to getting it."
"And what's that?" Din asked.
Leia just looked at him and shrugged. "It doesn't really matter if I'm not closer to getting it, now is it?"
Din shook his head. "Now that's not really fair… You asked me about my type, and I told you, the least you could do is tell me."
She took another drink and looked anywhere but at Din. She finally did look at him and said, "Love. I'm no closer to obtaining love." I want you so badly, she thought to herself. Her feelings for him hadn't changed, no matter how much she willed them to. She felt like she was cursed.
Now it was Din's turn to feel a twinge of jealousy. "Love, huh? Anyone that I know of?"
She grinned at him as she picked up his envious tone. "Maybe you do, maybe you don't." Could he really be attracted to her?
"Anyway, it doesn't matter", she continued. "If I'm not close to getting it, then it's just a dream."
Din nodded, understanding what she meant. "I know a few things about not being able to attain a dream", he confessed.
This piqued her curiosity, "Oh? What dream got away from you? You're living the life you always wanted." She didn't like his life choices but had learned to accept that it was just who he was.
Din looked at her intensely. "I had a dream that I would do good in the galaxy and I'm no closer to attaining that then I was when I first started."
Leia looked at him. "You've got to be kidding me, Din. You've freed countless slaves, liberated entire worlds, and you still think you haven't done any good?"
"It's not as simple as that, Leia. There's a lot of work that still has to be done." He said, wishing that he hadn't brought the heavy topic up.
"Yes, and there always will be, but at least take some pride in all you've done so far." She said. Her heart ached for him.
He nodded in response. "I suppose you're right."
She smiled at him. "Of course, I'm right, I usually am."
They both drained the rest of their ale and Din motioned for the bartender to bring another round.
"So", Din began as he sipped his new mug of the strong drink. "Are you still playing those practical jokes on your brother?"
"Me, play practical jokes on Luke?" She asked feigning innocence as she placed a hand on her chest.
"Yes, you." Din laughed. "I'll never forget the time you put pink dye in his shampoo bottle… Luke and your mom were so mad, but your dad and I couldn't stop laughing."
Leia joined him in laughter. "I can't believe you remember that; I was fourteen."
"Hey, I think I demonstrated the other night how far back my memory goes", he said flirtatiously.
She paused for a moment. "Yes, you did, didn't you", she said as she unconsciously twirled her fingers through her long hair in response to his tone. "Can I tell you something?" She asked.
"Of course, you can", he replied after he took a long drink.
Leia knew that the ale was lowering her inhibitions, but at this point she didn't care. "I wore that perfume just to see if you'd remember that you'd bought it for me."
Din gave her a long look. She had a pouty look on her face and was mesmerized by her parted lips. "There's not much about you that I'll ever forget. You're one of the most unique people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing."
She looked at him, her eyes wide. "That's one of the sweetest things anyone has ever told me."
"That's a shame, a woman like you should hear those things a lot more", Din replied. His voice was low and he wanted to leap across the table at her.
The two shared another look at each other before they finished their drinks.
"Let's share a cab back to the palace, I want to make sure you get home safe." Din said.
"Sweet and chivalrous", Leia replied. "I might just have to keep you around." She said taking his hand as she stood up.
"You can keep me around as long as you want." He replied as he placed a hand at the small of her back. The touch sent a shiver up Leia's spine and she felt herself blush.
They hailed a cab and climbed in. It was a short ride, but Leia placed her head against Din's shoulder and closed her eyes, not wanting the moment to end.
Din smiled down at her and put his hand on her thigh; the lavender scent of her hair was just as intoxicating as the flowery perfume she wore the other night. He could've sworn that he felt a spark from his light touch.
The cab landed on the speeder pad that extended out of the upper most levels of the palace, where Leia's royal apartment was located.
They both laughed about additional pranks that Leia had pulled on her brother growing up until they got to her apartment. She keyed in the access code and opened the elegantly carved wooden door.
She paused. "I had a great time with you tonight, Din." She said, her voice was soft and her eyes were wide..
"I had a great time with you too, Leia." He replied.
"Here, give me your wrist", she said as she placed her com against his keying in a command on her own. "There, you have my private frequency. Any time you want to, give me a call", she said as she flicked her hair back."
"I just might do that", he said. During his deployment he'd always had to call her through her parents' hyperspace terminal.
He turned around to walk to the lift to his own apartment forty some odd floors down when he heard Leia say, "Din… Wait…"
He paused and turned around to look at her as she leaned against the doorframe. "What is it, Leia?" He asked as he walked towards her.
She mustered up her courage and asked, "I have to know… who is she? The woman from your description." Her voice wasn't as brave as she had intended it to be.
He stepped right up to her. "I'd hoped you would've already figured it out" he said as he grasped her hand. Din wasn't going to stop.
He felt her tremble. "You're trembling", he said in his low voice.
"No, I'm not", she breathed as she tried to smile off his comment.
He stepped closer to her, their faces mere inches apart. She sucked in a breath. "The woman in my description… was you." He said gently.
She went to respond, but he claimed her mouth with his. She moaned as he wrapped his arms around her waist. She wrapped hers around his neck.
They kissed each other passionately. Tension from the other night boiling over into the present.
They broke the kiss, both out of breath, but genuinely happy.
He held her in his arms as they gazed at one another as they breathed heavily.
"It looks like I'm closer to attaining what I want", she said as she looked into his eyes.
"It looks like you are", he replied.
"You'd better ask me out on a date", she playfully said.
He grinned at her. "Leia, would you go out on a date with me?"
"Gods yes", she replied and kissed him. Her hands shook as she felt his strong arms bring her close to him.
After another minute, they broke for air again.
"Okay, the night after tomorrow. You'll want to wear something nice. I'll pick you up close seven." Din said, hoping to cement the day so it wouldn't fly from his grasp.
"It's a date", she replied.
They both shared a tender kiss and broke apart. Both knowing that if they didn't stop now, they wouldn't be able to stop at all.
"Goodnight, Leia." Din said.
"Goodnight, Din", she replied.
He walked away and she closed the door and leaned up against it and smiled.
A girl can dream, she happily thought, and dreams do come true.
Din rode the lift down to his apartment, unable to believe what just happened. He felt more at peace than when he had left the Jedi Temple the day before.
He quickly showered and went to his kitchen to pour himself a finger of whiskey. He took it to his room and stared at the bottle of sedatives on his nightstand.
He contemplated not taking them tonight, but as he went to lay down, he swung his legs back over the side of the bed.
Din placed his face in his hands, torn about his nightly routine. He thought long and hard and eventually gave in.
He popped a sedative in his mouth and quickly washed it down with the whiskey.
I'll try again tomorrow, he thought as he drifted to sleep.