Mind Tricks
by Corellian Blue
(first published 2003, revised 2016, 2020)
Warnings: mental health issues
XIII
Leia found herself humming as she put the finishing touches to her hair and couldn't help smirking at her reflection in the mirror. She didn't believe she had ever hummed before, not even as a young princess growing up in the peaceful grounds of the palace at Aldera.
She had every reason to be this content. She and Han had spent the last three days relaxing on the Endor moon, exploring the dells and streams around the Falcon, recovering from the horrors of the last ten months, and re-capturing the intimacy between them that they had discovered on the flight to Bespin.
Leia had also been providing Han with her version of therapy, healing him through the Force. At first, she attempted the process only when he was asleep, but as it appeared to be working for him, two days ago she had tried it on him when he was awake. They had been out for a stroll, enjoying the afternoon sunshine, when she had surreptitiously entered his mind and commenced the healing process. She knew the spice-derivative had eased her way in and made him more receptive to the Force, but she'd had second thoughts about what she was doing when his eyes had widened, and he had sharply looked at her.
Neither of them had said a word. Through silent encouragement and reassurances, she was able to convince him to let her stay.
With each therapy session that she gave him, his condition improved remarkably. He was still on a ten-hourly dosage of the drofic, and she suspected he probably should stay on the medication for the next few weeks. But she felt more far positive about his prognosis for recovery.
The princess secured the end of the single braid of her hair and straightened the collar of her shirt. It amazed her that she could start her ablutions before Han and yet he always finished at least a good twenty minutes before she did. Admittedly, he didn't worry about his hair the way Leia did about her own—he hardly combed it—or take time choosing which combination of shirt and trousers to wear, but he did have to shave. As it was, this morning he had already headed out of their cabin by the time Leia had finished in the 'fresher.
Leia looked at the state of the cabin. It was a mess. Clothes lay strewn across the desk and chair, mugs of forgotten caf rested on any available surface, the closet door was open, and the bunk unmade. It seemed they'd been relaxing just a little too much. As today was their last full day planet-side, she knew they would have to start getting back into some sort of routine, especially if they were going to share accommodation.
They had never discussed future living arrangements. During the flight to Bespin, his cabin had become their cabin, but following Han's rescue from Tatooine he had taken to sleeping with her in her room onboard the Mon Cal cruiser, Home One. It made sense to her that he should move in with her. Whether she would be able to secure a suite with a large bed needed to be seen.
Leia hoped Han would agree to move in with her, but she was uncertain how the Alliance hierarchy would take to the Princess of Alderaan sharing her bed with a former smuggler, even if he was now a field-commissioned general. Although she and Han had done nothing to hide their relationship, neither had they officially declared themselves as a couple. High Command may have appreciated Han's skill as a pilot and smuggler, but she knew most of its members had no regard for him as a person. She and Han were in for interesting times ahead as the Alliance came to terms with their relationship.
But first, she realised as she made a half-hearted attempt to collect the bed covers off the deck, they had some cleaning up issues to deal with.
Leia's stomach grumbled hungrily. She wasn't used to sleeping in so late and her body was having trouble adjusting to the pattern of late meals she and Han were keeping. She dropped the covers back on the bunk and decided tidying up could wait for later. They only had one day left of rest and relaxation, and she intended spending and enjoying every available minute with Han. She headed off toward the galley, hoping that Han would have breakfast ready for her when she arrived.
Neither breakfast nor Han were in the galley and she wondered where he'd gone. He hadn't even made their ritual mug of caf.
Leia attuned her senses to the Force to seek him out. Her instincts had her moving towards the Falcon's entrance hatch before she realised it was open.
Then she heard it. The horrifyingly familiar sound of a laser blast—Han's blaster. The blood froze in her veins. For one terrible moment she was unable to move. Her heart lurched sickeningly in her chest, the adrenaline propelling her forward and onwards.
She hit the ramp at a dead run.