For the record, Chewbacca is not matchmaking. He is merely trying to help Cub and Little Princess see what should be obvious to them. It doesn't quite go the way he'd planned. Or does it? Originally posted on Tumblr in response to "I wish you would write a fic where...Chewie tries and fails to play matchmaker for Han and Leia."
Plan Me No Plans
For the record, Chewbacca was not matchmaking. This was nothing like the Rogues' clumsy attempts to trap Cub and the Little Princess in a supply closet that mysteriously locked from the outside, or their crude innuendos every time the two were paired on a mission, or their almost embarrassingly obvious efforts to ask Cub his thoughts on the Little Princess in random conversation.
And matchmaking implied pushing together two beings who did not know each other, or who would not otherwise have thought of one another as potential mates. Given that he had been rather straightforward in his conviction that the Little Princess was meant to be Cub's mate, Chewbacca knew for a fact that Cub had at least considered the possibility, even if he'd deemed it an impossibility. And Chewbacca would be willing to bet credits that the Little Princess had considered it as well. High Command certainly had, given the number of times Cub had been warned to stay away.
No, Chewbacca was merely helping Cub and the Little Princess…see some things. They could not be convinced or coerced; given their stubborn natures, they had to see it for themselves or they would continue to dismiss it outright. And frankly, Cub was on borrowed time as it was. They didn't have another three years to get used to the idea and begin to move forward.
But how to help them see? The best strategy, Chewbacca reasoned, was to team them up on a mission. Despite occasionally disagreeing—loudly—on strategy, Cub and the Little Princess made an excellent team in the field. They had worked together enough to build trust, and their strengths complemented one another. Also, missions seemed to exhilarate them both, make them bond a bit more.
It would also be helpful, Chewbacca reasoned, if the mission could be one in which they would be inspired to see one another in a different light. Perhaps there could be an intimate dinner or simply some time holed up together in a bunker. While Cub was not fond of formal events, the Little Princess's formal attire on other missions had certainly caused him to see her differently (which he generally shrugged off by telling her something like, "You clean up pretty good, Your Worship"). Straightening his collar or brushing lint off his jacket also gave them the opportunity for tactile interaction, which Chewbacca had surmised was helpful for the human version of courtship.
Chewbacca waited for his opening, and it came a few weeks later, via a random comment the Little Princess made at one of their weekly dinners on the Falcon.
"The challenge," she said, "is finding a place and time to make the transfer."
[The yearly festival of the moons on Onderon will be occurring shortly, will it not?] Chewbacca asked.
The Little Princess smiled. "That's perfect." She began scrawling something on the datapad she had apparently been concealing on her lap. "Thank you, Chewie."
Chewbacca had managed to suggest key details to the Little Princess for the mission, enough to ensure that his own covert purpose for her and Cub went as planned and that the Little Princess still felt in control of her mission.
The one thing Chewbacca had neglected to account for—or, more to the point, the one person—was the Little Jedi.
It wasn't that Chewbacca was opposed to him coming. The Little Jedi was a wonderful friend, an able fighter, and an exceptional pilot, and Chewbacca was very fond of him. But his presence would throw the dynamic off, make it difficult for Cub and the Little Princess to make their discovery. Honestly, Chewbacca suspected that the Little Jedi's presence was a last-minute addition from certain members of High Command, to do just that.
The other problem was that it was a covert mission, and the Little Jedi was terrible at bluffing. Or answering to his own code name.
"When I say 'Avron,' you're supposed to respond, because I'm saying your name," the Little Princess gently corrected, for the third time.
"Sorry, Lei—I mean Amalia."
"That's all right. Let's try it again…"
[Little Jedi]? Chewbacca called.
"What is it, Chewie?" he asked, seeming eager for the distraction.
[One of the droids seems to be malfunctioning], Chewbacca told him. [Perhaps you have some advice]?
"Sure," he said, obviously very happy for the distraction. "I'll be right there."
The droid situation wasn't that serious—since Chewbacca himself had created it, he knew exactly how to fix it—but the Little Jedi gladly stayed behind to assist, meaning that Chewbacca's real mission was back on track.
Everything seemed to be proceeding as planned. Cub, forced to compete in politeness with the Little Jedi, gave the Little Princess a gracious compliment on her attire and even smiled while she adjusted his collar. She had returned his comments with a genuine compliment of her own, and they'd been all smiles on their way to the formal gathering.
But when they came back, they both were acting extremely strange. It was as if they'd become polite strangers, reporting back on the success of the data and intelligence transfer they'd done in a matter-of-fact sort of way before heading their separate ways to change into their regular clothes.
The Little Jedi had noticed it, too. "Are they both acting really weird, or is it just me?" he asked after they both went to change.
[It is not just you], Chewbacca said sadly. Something must have happened to make them more tentative around each other. Maybe a fight. Never mind, there will be other missions.
Leia took a deep breath before knocking on the door of Han's cabin. He broke out in a grin when he saw her.
"C'mon in," he greeted, and she did.
She'd tried to be less tense, but it was difficult given all the…distractions. Still, they still had a little time—"Do you think they suspect anything?" she asked.
"It a problem if they do?"
She smiled. "No, it's not. I just like to know where we stand."
"You and me both," he said. He took her hand. "So—mission's not over yet…"
She looked him in the eyes. "That's right," she agreed.