All Bets Are Off - Chapter Nine
The hangar was abuzz with activity preparing for the holo event. Droids were hanging a makeshift screen from the icy ceiling, and a mishmash of chairs, scrounged from all over the base, were being set up theatre-style. Cases of beverages—ranging from soft drinks to alien liquors strong enough to set a Gundark on its ass—had been dredged up from private stashes for donation to the cause.
Princess Leia was standing precariously atop a wobbly stool on the hangar floor, stretching to affix a 'Snacks & Drinks' sign on the wall above the table where she and Han would be doling out said treats. She turned upon hearing the beat of Han's boots striding toward her from behind.
"Whoa, Your Worship," he called to her. "Whatcha doin' up there?" He plunked two cases of geezer ale onto the table and gazed up at her. The stool provided her a few centimeters height advantage over him, and for once, she was peering down to view him.
"Your job," Leia teased. "You are late."
"Had to shift some stuff around the hold to dig out my personal contribution to this soiree," Han replied, indicating the bottle-filled boxes with a jab of his thumb. As Leia twisted to peek, the stool rocked beneath her and she began to tip, her footing lost. Han lunged, grabbed her by the waist and pulled her tight against him. Leia clutched at him in reflex, bringing their bodies flush, and for an instant she clung to his neck as she slid down his chest until her feet reached the floor.
Rattled by her potential fall, Leia stammered a quick thank you. Her arms remained draped around Han's neck as her nerves settled.
"Hey, Wedge," Hobbie sniggered as he set up chairs nearby, "Check out Solo and the Princess."
Wedge glanced over to the embraced pair. "Seems like Han has finally got her where he wants her."
"Yeah, but does she want to be there," Hobbie snorted.
"Scared yourself, Sweetheart?" Han asked. "Air's thinner up there," he quipped as his eyes flicked above her head, "Small things like you ain't used to the altitude."
"Ah, so that explains why your mind doesn't always function properly. Lack of oxygen," Leia shot back.
Han countered in her ear with a hushed, "Hard to catch my breath around you, Princess."
"You are so full of hot air," Leia responded, keeping her tone light. "Now, put me down and get to work."
"Uh, you ARE down." Han's eyes flicked down to her booted feet which were now planted on the tarmac.
"Oh!" Embarrassed, she pushed off him with her hands on his chest and stepped backward.
"Quit messing around, you two!" Luke's voice bellowed as he dragged another table to serve as the back bar of their slapped-together concession stand. "Holo starts in an hour."
"Take it easy, kid. It'll get done. Sheesh. Give a guy a commander title and he starts pullin' rank on his old pals."
Leia turned, and was placing the stool back in position to again work to affix the sign above the serving table when she felt Han's warm hands once again wrap around her waist. "Nope, Your Worship. Not again. You don't touch anything that's more than four feet off the ground." He gently pulled her away from the stool, and then released her and quickly finished the task. His long reach made easy work of the job, no assistance required.
He's doing it again, Leia mused. But instead of calling him out for his over-protective action, she scrunched her nose and gave him an exaggerated pout. "Show off!"
"Not showin' off, Sweetheart. Can't help that my incredible Corellian genes allow me to rise above the rest."
"What's that about Corellian genes?" Wedge queried, coming toward them, his arms filled with an enormous bag of popped oat snacks. "Of course, they are superior," he nodded proudly to Leia.
The Princess rolled her eyes. "And create such humility in their beings!"
"No bragging here. Just fact, Princess," Wedge chirped as he placed his burden on the serving table. "You two good here?" He didn't wait for their reply. "Gotta stock four more spots," he said as he moved on. "Remember, new volunteers take over when the flick ends to handle the second-shifters. You guys are free to join the audience then."
Leia wiped her hands on her trousers, giving their work station a quick once-over. "Everything seems set so I'm going to get cleaned up. See you when our shift starts, Flyboy."
"Later, Princess," Han facetiously bowed to her. She rolled her eyes, and then wound her way through the "holo theatre" toward her near-by quarters.