Standard Disclaimer: These characters belong to G. Lucas and T. Zahn. In other words: not mine.
Dedication: To anyone who loves hot chocolate.
Rating: M (just to be on the safe side)
Spoilers/Timeline: After The Corellian Trilogy but before "Vision of the Future".
A/N: Do read and review.

Lightheaded
Chapter 9: Let Sleeping Krayts Lie

Luke noted that the reception was small and understated – probably a mere prelude to the larger celebration that would be held once the diplomats worked out the details of their trade agreement with the New Republic, he thought. When he and Leia arrived, she had pulled on his robe sleeve and hissed with amused consternation into his ear: "They were supposed to leave work at home tonight!" and left him to break up the informal trade talks which had developed thanks to a bunch of ten diplomats huddled in a corner over cocktail drinks.

Luke smiled, and watched her go. Bypassing the politically correct alcoholic cocktail, and opting instead for cold chocolate from a passing droid, he collected his drink and leaned against a pillar to scan the crowd. While his eyes moved from face to face, he also extended his Force senses and felt for the person's emotional state as a precaution. He scanned one diplomat after another, all with plenty of plans for revelry, but there was no sense of malice or discord within the room. He shifted his focus and regarded another section of the large function room, and was mildly surprised to see Talon Karrde at the gathering. Deciding that it was a good place to start mingling before Leia started on her usual round of boring introductions to stuffy politicians, Luke decided to say hi.

Karrde must have seen Luke making his way over, as he met the Jedi master halfway.

"Karrde."

"Skywalker."

Luke smiled. "Luke, please. What brings you to these parts tonight?"

Karrde returned the grin. "Business, what else?"

"Ah." They sipped at their drinks, both bodies half turned to each other, yet facing the room, as if both were only too aware what having your back turned to the main entrance could spell for one's safety.

"I suppose that Mara's here somewhere as well," Luke ventured, breaking the silence.

"Yes, she is. She brought a date, some kid." Karrde pursed his lips, as if he disapproved of the idea.

Luke felt a jolt of… something … when he heard that. "Oh really? Anyone I know?"

Karrde smiled, a sardonic gleam in his eye. "You should. You introduced them."

"What?" Luke's eyes grew round with surprise. "I introduced them?"

Karrde jerked his head towards the buffet table. "There. Young kid, fresh-faced as a day-old pitten?"

Not without some trepidation, Luke turned and saw… Isaar. A cold stab of… something … jabbed through his stomach. Mara and… Isaar? No, it couldn't be. He was too young for her, and she was…

Why not? The Sith on his shoulder whispered. It's not like you like her or anything. So why shouldn't she go out and have some fun? After all, that young nubile thing over there is with that white-haired diplomat, so why should Mara be any different?

Luke cleared his throat to get rid of the lump that had formed there, and also to break the rather lengthy silence that had ensued when he was woolgathering.

"So, have you met Isaar?" he asked Karrde.

"Yes, Mara introduced us just now." Taking a couple of finger foods off a serving droid, he continued talking as he ate. "You owe me, Skywalker. The kid has been interrogating me about the shadier side of my business, and is trying to worm the secrets of the information trade from me."

Luke smiled mischievously. "I would have imagined that the great Talon Karrde would have been able to withstand the cross-examination of a mere law school underclassman. Or have reports of your great oratory skills been overrated?"

Karrde raised his eyebrows. "Law underclassman huh? Mara didn't tell me. Now I know why she was looking a little smug when she introduced her date to me."

Another pang of… something … streaked through Luke as he heard the word "date". Her date…her date…her date… Karrde's offhand comment kept echoing through his mind as he struggled to control his composure.

"Speaking of Mara, where is she?" Luke turned around and looked around.

"Oh, she's around here somewhere. You know how she is – hypersensitive on Coruscant; even more paranoid than her usual self." Karrde gestured around airily, as if to indicate that Mara could be anywhere.

Luke made another effort at extracting information from Karrde. "I don't see her anywhere. What kind of dress is she wearing? Or what colour?"

Karrde raised his glass and toasted Luke. "That, my boy, is something you'll have to find out for yourself." And with an infuriating wink to Luke, he turned and walked away.

Luke frowned. What in stars name did Karrde mean by that last statement? Taking another sip from his drink, he turned to look for Leia, when he saw Isaar headed towards him.

"Master Luke! Master Luke!" Isaar hurried towards Luke with half a plate of food in his hand. "Master Luke!"

Luke forced a smile on his face as he turned to face Isaar. "Hello Isaar."

"I'm so glad to see you here! I wanted to express my thanks for introducing Mara to me." Isaar beamed with happiness to Luke, who was struggling with rather sudden, violent thoughts.

"I'm so glad that you're glad," Luke said lamely. "She's a wonderful person to know."

"At first, I thought that she would be rather cold, but after your introduction to us the other day, she called me up, and here I am!" Oblivious to the Jedi Master's discomfort, Isaar continued his enthusiastic prattle.

Luke had slammed down his mental shields once Isaar had started affecting his mood, for fear of alerting Leia, and other Force sensitives in the room to his distress. He was debating lifting his shields to call to Leia for help when he saw her drifting by with an empty glass in her hand, no doubt searching for a droid to refill her drink.

"Leia!" Interuppting Isaar in mid-sentence, but not giving a toss, Luke walked to Leia and almost dragged her to his corner with Isaar. "Leia, I do believe that you've met Isaar?"

Sending a puzzled glance at Luke, Leia greeted Isaar. "How have you been? Aren't Coruscant University's examinations on right at the moment?"

Looking very pleased that the former Princess recognised him, and remembered details about his life, Isaar beamed even more. "Yes, but I'm done with them for now. Thank you for remembering."

"Leia, I'm going to go off to use the 'fresher for a moment, I'll be right back. Isaar, excuse me." Luke found that Jedi patience or no patience, he could not tolerate a moment more of this… his…sham, and excused himself.

-----

Wanting only to get away, Luke hadn't paid attention to where he was going. Not wanting to lie, he found himself inside the 'fresher, washing his face. He stared into the reflective transparisteel, asking his reflection to explain his actions.

What is the matter with you? He questioned. So she dates. She's a woman. You're a man. She dates. You date. Or not. Does it matter? He felt his shields slip again, and pulled them up tightly again in exasperation. It's not like you like her or anything… although she is gorgeous.

Ahh, who am I kidding, Luke thought. She is beyond gorgeous. She's… just my Mara.

"My Mara," Luke whispered to his reflection. "My Mara."

He stared at himself. One small part of his mind once again admired the new cut and fabric of the new Jedi robes. The other significant portion of his brain was busy analysing his relationship with his friend.

He pushed, she pulled. Or, more often than not, she pushed back. The arguments made for spectacular sexual tension, but there was never any payoff because they were just friends.

That's right, just friends.

Luke snorted quietly as he wet his hands and messed up his hair, trying to make some noise to justify his long stay in the 'fresher. If "just friends" meant that an argument normally escalates into a screaming match, and then into a full-blown lightsaber duel, then sure, they would be "just friends".

Of course he was attracted to her – she had a body as wicked as sin, hair that tempted angels, and a mouth that just begged to be ravished.

But he knew where he stood and hell – men could control themselves, contrary to popular belief. He did occasionally let himself forget that they were just friends, but he never allowed himself to dwell on the 'what ifs' and 'maybes'.

He sighed, and smoothed down his hair again. Let sleeping krayts lie, Luke, let sleeping krayts lie.

And while you're at it, lie to yourself too.