So quintessential Han/Leia angst it hurts.

Friends

"We're not just friends and you fucking know it."

Sort of a routine at this point, most of Red Squadron and some other not-always-diligent recruits, Luke the most reluctant participant, squatting behind columns and slipping behind door frames to witness the latest, greatest spat between the princess and the smuggler. If the Rebellion's intel on the Empire was even half as good as the recruits' on the two of them, this fight would've been over ages ago.

And this one? Well, seeing as it was happening the day after one of the more raucous social gatherings they'd had on this base, a gathering that had featured a rare appearance by the icy princess and the even rarer appearance of a drink – more than one drink! – in her hand…. Plied by liquor and the not insignificant victory they'd had securing a major trade route, she'd been dancing too, very chastely and very old-fashionedly, like with steps and all, shit, but laughing and dancing nonetheless – with Kes Dameron, with Luke, with Han towards the end of the night.

Given all that, it was sure to be a doozy. And from what the small group – Wedge, Luke, Wes this time – assembled outside of Leia's cabin – he was in her cabin –could tell, a doozy it seemed to be.

"I don't know what you want me to say," Leia was snapping, her voice muffled with exhaustion. "I had a nice time yesterday and I don't know why you're insistent on spoiling it – although honestly, how typical––"

"Typical? Spoiling it? I'm the one who dragged you there––"

"Dragged me, hm? Were you the one handing me all those drinks as well then, captain?"

"Why are you always falling back on that crap? That – those insinuationsor whatever – Kriff, Leia, you make me out to be a real creep sometimes!"

"Stop that," she said, lowering her voice slightly, "you know I don't think you're a creep or anything like that––"

"I wasn't tryingto get you drunk! I would never––"

"Lower your voice, please––"

"Oh hell––"

"Lower your voice,Han––!"

"We're just two people in a room, sweetheart, it's not a damn scandal––"

"It's not even that! I mean – I mean I'm… ah, I'm a bit hungover," she mumbled, and they could hear Han exhale, laughing slightly.

"Mm, right. Princesses don't have a high alcohol tolerance, I forgot. 'Specially when they're child-sized."

"I'm not a child," she said indignantly.

"Didn't say child, said child-sized." His voice was lower, and the three listeners glanced at each other, eyebrows high.

"Because that's somuch better…"

"Well, you're short enough to spin, right? Makes your a great dance partner."

"I really – I did have a nice time yesterday. Thank you. For dragging me, I mean." She sounded like she was sighing, resolving herself. "But I really have no interest in talking about whatever you've gotten in your head about––"

"Damn, you just can't help closing off, can you?"

"I'm not closed off.I'm – closed off to you,on the subject of this––"

"'Cause of all the people here, I'm the one who deserves that most of all, right."

"Oh, so now you deserve––"

"Leia! I fucking – you take my cabin in the Falcon for missions and I – make you tea when you get up in the middle of the night, calm you down, I steer you when you sleepwalk – you can't act like I'm some random––!"

"And I've so appreciated that, but––"

"I mean no offense, sweetheart? But you really hurt my feelings! I mean what the hell––"

"I told you I had to use the restroom––"

"Yeah – right after we almost kissed and then you never came back– that sort of thing hurts, dammit, I'm not made of steel––"

"We did not almost kiss," she hissed. "We – were dancing, we were dancing and as a result were – very close––"

He snorted: "You were on your fucking tiptoes!"

"And I told you, I had to––"

"You fucking fled, sweetheart! You fled––"

"I did not flee! I do not flee!"

"You fled from me––!"

"Not everything is about you, captain––"

His voice dropped infinite octaves: "Did I – I didn't mean to freak you out, with everything – considered, I––"

"Han!" she practically shrieked, then steadied herself and spoke in a cold, clear, strict voice. "Han. It has nothing to do with that."

"You fled. Leia, I couldn't live with myself if I thought I––"

"Listen. I quite appreciate your concern – you're a kind friend – but I really am okay, I got distracted by something else, I felt ill, I did not flee––"

"Oh, screw that – we're not just friends and you fucking know it!"

"You're being absurd, you're––"

"I careabout you, I was worriedabout you, why is that so hard to under––"

Just then, Wedge, who had been leaning on Luke hear better, slipped, creating a rather large crashing sound – Leia immediately said, "Stop. Wait."

She swung the door open just after the three spies had lurched to their feet, and narrowed her eyes. "Captain," she said stiffly to Han, "thank you so much for meeting with me so early to discuss the––"

"Oh, fuck all that, Leia, seriously? Kriff." Han stalked out of the room, leaving Leia with her arms crossed in the doorway.

"There's nothing to see here," she said icily, and the door closed again.