The absence of having to pretend they weren't attracted to each other allowed for Han and Leia to relax, laugh, and enjoy each other's company as they hadn't been able to before. Their banter was still a battle of their superior wits, and they remained in competition with each other for preeminence over everything in which they competed, but they both felt light – happy (as happy as two traumatized and complex beings fighting a war possibly could feel). Happier than either could recall being in distant memory. Rather than leaning away as they had for three years, they leaned into each other. They were, after all, in a fake relationship that was showing signs of turning the tide in the fight for good publicity for the rebellion.
The Strategy Session:
Leia, Han, Rieekan, and the Alliance's best propagandist, Janray Tessime, had just sat around a conference table strategizing on how best to capitalize on the fake relationship they wanted to publicize as a propaganda and recruitment tool.
"Princess, Solo, this is Janray Tessime. our best propagandist, who will help us strategize how to operationalize this fake relationship effort."
Han waved at Janray and sat back to watch Leia do her gracious, emotionally intelligent Princess thing with an amused, affectionate smile tugging at his lips.
"Janray, it's a pleasure to meet you – I am very familiar with your work. You're Alderaanean?"
"Yes, Highness. The pleasure is all mine. I jumped at the chance to serve the Organa family again."
"I'm glad to be able to work with you. My parents spoke very highly of you."
A heavy mood fell in the room, and not wishing to dwell, Leia looked for a quick way to pivot to something lighter.
Leia looked at Han with amusement. "Han, I just realized you are outnumbered three Alderaaneans to one Corellian. Good luck moving anything through committee with this crowd."
"For Alderaan!" Rieekan and Janray shouted in unison.
After responding to the customary cheer in kind, Leia took a deep breath, hoping her next words wouldn't derail this effort.
"Before we get started, I once again reviewed the holos last night in preparation for this meeting. While I still think this is a worthwhile effort, I do have some concerns about how and when we would potentially leak the holos. For one, on reflection, it would be highly inappropriate of me, specifically, to appear care-free and happy – vacationing even. I was anything but carefree while undercover, but it would probably feel insulting to the Alderaanean survivors and others, and in poor taste." Leia made eye contact with the other three to gauge reactions. They nodded their agreement.
"Second, the wedding bands we wore for our covers are clearly visible in a few of the holos and attempting to alter the footage would degrade the utility of those holos in the first place. I'm willing to do pretty much anything to take down the Empire, but I'm afraid I draw the line at a fake marriage. If I live long enough to get married someday, and it helps the cause, you are welcome to publicize it then, Janray." Leia gave a warm smile at this, trying to balance propriety with a sense of humor.
"That's where you draw the line, Worship? Fake marriage?" Han chuckled at Leia's boundless sense of duty to the Alliance.
"That's right, Solo." She raised her eyebrow challenging him, and he jokingly raised his hands in surrender.
Rieekan cleared his throat, "Princess Leia, I think your points are well made, and while this Alderaanean (he points at himself) never worries about you being care-free or having too much fun, your analysis appears astute.
All eyes turned to Janray.
"If I may, Highness, Captain Solo. I drew the same conclusions and wanted to pitch you on an altered rollout plan." She looked at Leia and Han for agreement before continuing.
"I understand that there are rumors spreading like sithfire across the base that you two have been seen flirting, spending time with each other, and are secretly dating. I suggest you two continue to stoke those rumors. If you can make it look as convincing as those holos, the rumors on base will spread off of it in no time." Han and Leia nodded their agreement.
"As for leaking the existing holos. We need to be prepared that someone will leak them for us – we know they were transmitted somewhere before you confiscated the comms that had the holos. If they do leak, we spin it as an undercover operation that you both undertook at great personal risk. This operation and your close working relationship sparked a romance upon the return to base. Ok so far?" Han and Leia nodded once again.
"Finally, I think after several more weeks of you two stoking the rumor mill, we should leak rumors directly to the tabloids and the best core world gossips and influencers. I'd say we should leak holos of you two together on base, but General Rieekan already warned that's an operational security violation, so that's out. However, if I could accompany you on a few operations and we stage some "candid" holos that we can leak as well, those would be exceptionally beneficial to this effort. Why don't I return to Echo Base in two weeks and then we can move to the off-base operations phase of this plan. Is that acceptable to you both?"
"Solo, can you live with all of this?" Leia asked him.
"Of course, Worship. All of my dreams are coming true." He winked at her, not using a voice appropriate for a work setting and she glared at him.
"Solo, try to not end up dead by a blaster bolt from the Princess in the process, won't you? Dodonna has a hefty wager on that bet taking over base, and it's on kill." Rieekan gave a hearty laugh as he clapped Han on the back.
"Yes, Sir, I'll try not to end up dead. If only to prevent Dodonna from winning the bet."
Janray raised her hand to get their attention. "One more thing. I understand that you are just friends, but I don't suppose you'd been willing to get caught kissing once or twice over the next two weeks? Obviously not in a place or manner that would harm your reputation, your Highness, but it would go a long way in ratcheting up interest in rumors of you two dating."
"Hey, what about my reputation?" Han looked offended
Leia rolled her eyes at him, "That ship entered hyperspace long ago, Laserbrain."
"Hey, this Laserbrain is going to send you to hyperspace with all that kissing, Highnessness."
"All right, that's enough Solo. You never know when to stop talking." Leia definitely looked displeased with how unprofessional he was acting.
Janray and Rieekan exchanged unreadable glances, and excused themselves from the room, as Leia and then Han followed them out.
"Leia, hold up!" Han called after her as she exited the briefing room. He put his hand warmly on her upper arm, leaning in.
"Come over for dinner tonight, I'm making nerf steaks. We have some planning and logistics to go through. And that thing Janray asked us to consider? We should practice."
"I'll be there for dinner, but don't let Dodonna win that bet by pushing your luck, Han. I'm late for my next meeting. See you tonight."
Wookie Wisdom
Leia, Han, and Chewie were lounging around the dejarik table after a wonderful dinner of smuggled nerf steaks and fresh vegetables.
When the conversation stalled over full bellies and a pleasant sleepiness from the deliciously robust red wine, Chewie provided updates on the bet.
[The kriff, kiss, kill bet is up to several thousand credits. Most beings on the base have changed their wager to either kissing or kriffing. Your desire to mate with each other will make us many credits. Malla will thank you for finally coupling and winning us this bet.]
"Not this again, Pal! How many times do we have to tell you? This is PRETEND! It's part of a secret operation. We are friends."
[You can call it what you wish, Cub. I call it bonding with your life mate and I am very pleased you are finally growing up. Soon I will require a new name for you, as you will be a fully grown man.] Han waved Chewie's comments off, annoyed.
"Chewie," Leia said kindly, with far more patience than she usually showed to Han. "Your wise council is one of your many wonderful traits that I cherish most about our friendship and your service to the Rebellion, but I'm afraid in this case you are simply off the mark. We are doing an operation – taking advantage of a natural chemistry between Han and I that play well for these bets and holos. But nothing is going on."
[It is as plain as a stars in the night sky how you two idiots feel about each other. The only two beings in the way of your own happiness and fulfillment are you and you]. Chewy pointed at each of them as he finished speaking, before stalking off with a frustrating growl."
"Han, why do I get the sense that this is a well-tred conversation between you two?"
"You know Chewie, once he gets an idea in his head, he just can't let the kriffing thing go. And his wife just adds to it. She knows of you from the holonet stories and is a huge fan for your anti-slavery efforts. She drips on him about you being my life mate, and he repeats it."
"How awkward for you," Leia laughed.
"Yeah, well he means well, and at least it's you and not someone ugly."
"At least you have your priorities straight."
"Speaking of priorities, Princess, we should talk about that kissing we are supposed to get up to. You wanna practice a bit tonight?"
"Yeah, that's a hard pass."
"Ouch! Ok, bet when and where should they happen? We need to coordinate with Chewie so he can win that bet."
"Look, as tempting as it is to win money from under these ton-ton asses' noses, I can't cheat like that. I'm sorry, I know I said I would. I think Chewie should have to win just like anyone else."
"I'm not promising anything as noble as you when it comes to winning this bet. You always keep me guessing– how I never know if your ruthlessness or your conscience will come out in a given situation."
"You know I like to be unpredictable, makes it harder to kill me. For the kiss, would it be too weird if we just improvised after say, 5-7 days? Let the rumor mill get all spun up? It will be more realistic, and will I punch you or kiss you back? Who knows?"
"It'll be harder for you to blame it on the operation, acting, whatever you told yourself last time."
"I'll be just fine. Haven't you ever heard of improvisation, Solo? Perfectly legitimate form of acting."
"Whatever you have to tell yourself, Worship. Want a walk back to your quarters?"
"Thanks."
As they strolled back through the frigid hanger, Leia gave an involuntary shiver. They'd been on this base for months and she hadn't felt warm unless she could escape to the Falcon's sometimes functional heating system. Han, noticing Leia's discomfort wrapped his arm around her waste, pulling her close for warmth. These quiet moments with Han made Leia feel a bone deep sense of content and safety.
Unfortunately, the moment was ruined by some catcalling, and clearly drunk, mechanics.
"C'mon Solo, have you kriffed her yet? I gotta lotta credits riding on the innocent Princess giving it up to you."
She felt Han tighten his arm around her, saw him clench his jaw.
"Let me handle this, Han." Leia stepped in front of Han to hopefully prevent a brawl.
"Watch your fucking mouth, commander," Han warned with the coldest and most lethal voice she had heard from him.
"Ah c'mon Solo, we're just messing with you. Maybe I should see if the Princess wants me more? Waddya say, Leia?"
"It's General Organa or Princess Leia to you, Commander Golka. And I will be reporting your behavior to your CO tomorrow."
"Well well well, the Ice Princess strikes again. Not sure how your balls don't get frost-bite, Solo."
Leia sensed Han was going to lay Golka out or kill him the way his head snapped up at the comment, so she stepped quickly to the drunk commander and viciously sucker punched him. She leered over him as he lay sprawled on the hanger floor, gasping for breath.
"Don't talk to me or anyone else that way ever again or you will be detained and court-martialed. Or maybe we should just blast him, right Han? Have I made I myself clear Golka?
Golka made an indistinguishable groan.
"She can't hear you, asshole. Speak up!" Han growled menacingly.
"Yes, General Organa." The drunken Golka spit out.
Leia turned on her heel and continued through the hanger to get to her quarters. She shouldn't have done that. Damnit!, she had to get her temper under control.
Han was momentarily stunned before jogging to catch up with Leia.
"Leia, kriff are you ok?"
"No! I'm so angry right now I want to blast something."
"Wait, Leia stop. You're shaking like a leaf."
"I'm fine Han. It's adrenaline."
"Why didn't you let me go after him?"
"I'll get in less trouble than you, and while I shouldn't have hit him, it felt damn good. What an ass. Thanks for following my lead back there and having my back, I don't know too many men that would do that." She shook her head, trying to focus after the adrenaline surge.
"Look, I need to go blow off some steam in the gym. Goodnight., Han"
"Worship, I can think of a much better way to blow off steam. Invite me into your room," He whispered, an intense look on his face. Normally she knew without question that Han was just bantering when he came onto her this way, but she looked at him searchingly, uncertain if he was acting or not.
"I'm afraid good Alderaanian Princesses don't invite scoundrels into their quarters after 21:00, guess you'll just have to catch me earlier next time."
"I'll definitely be sure to do that. Get some ice on that hand, it was a helluva hit." Han picked up Leia's bruised hand, and lifted it gently to his warm lips.
She escaped through her door before she could change her mind about his invitation, unclear who was even acting at this point.
The Scar:
The following day, Leia and Han sat alone together at lunch in the mess, the charged air from the night before more or less dissipated to a tolerable level.
Han had made a dirty joke about Dodonna and Mon, and Leia was trying desperately to suck in air after laughing so hard. Goddess, did she just snort? At this point, half the rogues and the entire Med Center table were staring at her.
She sure as hell didn't look like the Ice Princess now. Hah! Although judging by the uncertain stares, word of her assault of the drunken commander seems to have spread overnight.
In the process of cracking up, she had grabbed Han's forearm, which was rested on the table in front of her. Han caught her eye in surprise at the unfaked contact. He felt exceptionally pleased with himself for getting Leia to laugh, especially after the ugly scene in the hanger last night. Han's usual cocky smirk was absent, and replaced with a genuine smile. Leia smiled back shyly (was she shy about anything?) and stared at his chin.
"What? Do I have something in my teeth"
"No, lean forward," She commanded.
Han leaned his face forward over the table and she reached out to cup his chin in her hands and ran her thumb slowly across his scar. Han and Leia were both astonished at the erotic intimacy of the touch.
"You had a crumb…" Leia's face heated at her daring caress of his mark, thinking she would have rather run her tongue over it instead.
"I've always wondered how you got it?" She whispered to him, lowering her eyes in embarrassment. Or was it lust? Probably both.
"Well…" He pretends to consider as he strokes his hand over the scar.
"There was this Princess…we'll call her Slaya Snorgana, she was like you but less smart and definitely not as beautiful. She needed my help one day, and unlike you, she didn't try to take over her own rescue. Which was unfortunate, because we got into some trouble with an evil bounty hunter named Soba Bett. In my haste to rescue her from his evil clutches, he back handed me with his Mandalorian armor, slicing open my chin. Poor Slaya wasn't worth the trouble, so I left her with Bett and made my escape, but not before she told me the wound was sexy."
Leia laughed. "Charming, as ever. What's the real story?"
"That's a tail for another time, Worship." Leia read sadness, possibly regret in Han's eyes and decided to drop it…for now. Try as they were, there remained some barriers unpenetrated.
"As much as I love hearing dirty jokes about High Command members, Princess Slaya, and sexy chin scars, I need to get back. High Command is demanding an account of last night…I'll tell them I was defending your honor. I'm sure they'll understand." Leia took off her Princess/High Command/General etc etc mask entirely, and gave Han a smile that radiated affectionate warmth. It was easy to pretend when she didn't have to pretend at all.
"You think my scar is sexy?" Han fixed smoldering eyes on Leia.
"I didn't say that, Slaya did, Hotshot. Try to stay out of trouble until dinner."
"Roger that, General."
Kiss, Kriff, or Kill
Six days after returning from Pamarthe, Han and Leia were pleased with the frenzied state of the rumor mill about the status of their "relationship." No one was talking about anything else and Janray had commed Leia to let her know she was starting to track the rumors in communications off-base from rebels, which leadership had instructed the censorship team to not redact or intercept. Unfortunately, they did have to intercept dozens of holos showing Han and Leia looking cozy together and High Command had to issue a stern warning not to take and transmit any holos while on base.
Winning the bet required witnessing them in the act of one of those things (well for the kriffing bet, it had to be strong circumstantial evidence). As a result, they were being tailed by what appeared to be most of the base, including Dodonna himself, who was in on the fake relationship and had still maintained his hefty bet on kill.
Han decided to have some fun with it, so he would walk as if going to Leia's quarters only to go right past and grab a cup of kaffe in the mess. Yesterday, after he was walking Leia back to her office from the mess, he dipped his head down and five heads poked out from around the bend to try to witness a kiss, only to see him cover his mouth in a yawn. After running into Han in a corridor after dinner, Leia stood up on tip toes and pulled Han's face towards hers, only to announce right when they got close that he had something in his teeth.
But as the days passed, they both became focused on the kiss that had yet to take place. Maybe she would have to take matters into her own hands and just get it over with? She had spent enough time fantasizing about it at night in her bunk. Her ability to focus on her work was prodigious, but she had serious concerns about staying on mission this time.
Han had given himself a pep talk in the 'fresher mirror that night. He had never had a problem making a move before. What was wrong with him? Somewhere deep down, he knew the princess rejecting him or chalking it up to work again might crush him.
Were they even pretending anymore?