Chapter 18:
Once Han collected his wits and dressed, he set about looking for Leia. She had a good ten-to-twenty-minute head start, and she could've been anywhere. Han wandered the bright streets, entering some establishments. They were smoky, crowded, interchangeable, and Leia-free. He huffed each time he found that she wasn't there and continued down the street. He reached a corner and stopped. Would she have gone straight or turn? He glanced down the street to the right before looking to the left. An old-fashioned neon sign blinked with the words Sabaac under the name "Constance's Casino". Han smiled and turned down the corner.
He sauntered into the casino, stood akimbo, and scanned the crowd. A haze in the air dimmed the light, and its patrons crowded around tables and loitered at the bar which stuck out like an island in a room of exotic beings. Han's hazel eyes stopped on a girl with a brown pony tail facing away from him. He walked deeper into the establishment, headed over to the bar, picked a spot nearest the table where the girl sat, and ordered a Corellian ale. From his vantage point, he could see the expressions of most of them beings' faces and Leia's profile. She held her cards near her face just as she always did when he and she played together.
Han pressed his lips together as he saw the nine shot glasses sitting in front of her. This could be bad. Her fellow players were employing the get-'em-drunk-and-clean-'em-out strategy. Little did they know that Leia's skills increased in proportion to the amount she drank. It was as if she could read not only the cards of her opponents but their minds as well. She did that with Han when he tried that strategy on her; he ended up owing her—or rather, the rebellion—a few favors. Last time he played for favors, and the last time he tried to get her drunk.
The bartender placed the ale next to Han, and Han threw a few credits onto the bar before turning in Leia's direction. From the pile of credits in front of her, Han inferred that she was quite intoxicated. He shook his head and took another sip. Leia's hooded eyes scanned her cards. She grabbed a handful of credits from the carefully-organized pile—five carefully organized stacks—and tossed them onto the center of the table. The man to her right mimicked her actions. Han watched the rest of the players dole out their bets, raise, and call.
The smuggler tipped the bottle back as he watched Leia. She bit her lip, passed several cards to her left, and picked up those passed to her. She arranged them in her hand before looking up. There was that innocent, naïve look in those large brown eyes; that look was always Han's downfall. Another round of bets, raises, and calls took place before the players spread their cards out in front of them. Leia smiled as she collected her winnings. The Twi'lik next to Leia wasn't smiling as he stared at her. Han's jaw clenched.
When no trouble transpired, Solo relaxed and tried to enjoy his ale. The players played another round, and Leia won again. That was another problem of hers; she always took hand after hand once she was intoxicated. She had no sense to lose every now and then. Han rubbed his chin and held his breath. Leia collected her winnings and carefully arranged them into five more piles. The Twi'lik bared his teeth.
He opened his mouth, but Leia cut him off.
"I'm not a cheat!"
"Sure, looks that way from where I'm sitting."
"Yeah," the Vorline across from her chimed in. "The odds of you winnin' that many hands in a row are astronomical."
"I can't help it if you're skills at Sabaac lack. In fact," Leia said, "I'm getting quite bored of winnin'."
"Are you questionin' my abilities?"
"San's the best player on this planet, Missy," the Wislan next to her said.
"That's not saying much!"
"That's it!"
The Twi'lik stood up, knocked against the table, and caused Leia's stacks of credits to fall. Leia simultaneously slammed her hands on the table and rose to her feet. Han rolled his eyes, put down his ale, and stalked over to the table.
He took Leia's arm. "Ok, your done here."
"So, you have a partner!"
Leia tried to shake off Han's hand. "He's not my partner and," she asserted before turning her fiery eyes on the smuggler, "I'm not finished here."
"Yes, you are. We'll be on our way."
"He insulted my honor!"
Leia brandished her blaster; the bar fell silent as everyone drew their blasters and pointed them at Han. Han put his hand up but refused to release Leia.
"We don't want any trouble…"
No one lowered their weapons. Han wiggled his fingers and then placed his hand on the barrel of Leia's blaster. He curled his fingers around it, and took it from her hand. "See? No trouble." He reached around Leia's hips and returned her weapon to her holster.
"Why don't we just go on our way."
The princess narrowed her large brown eyes at the Twi'lik and started to reach for her winnings. Han grabbed her wrist.
"Why don't you keep 'er winnings."
Leia's brow furrowed and her mouth opened. Han clamped a hand over it and backed her out of the establishment. Once they reached the outside, Leia pulled his hand off her mouth and shook herself out of his hold. She stumbled back, and Han caught her arm before she tumbled to the ground.
"All right, Your Worshipfulness. Time for bed."
"Nuh-uh. I'm having too much fun."
"Having a room full of blasters pointed at you is fun?"
"He insulted my honor! I don't cheat!"
"I know you don't, but when you win as often as you do, it looks suspicious."
"What should I do, throw a hand now and then?"
"That wouldn't hurt."
Leia huffed. "That's cheating!"
"I don't see your logic."
"Throwing a hand is like cheating to win! That would be dishonest!"
"It's Sabaac. Dishonesty is part of the game."
"Would you throw a hand?"
"Well, no."
"But I should. Is it because I'm a princess? Or a woman?" Leia air-quoted her words.
"Neither. It's because the more you drink the worse you should play. You tend to get better when you're drunk. Looks suspicious."
"I can't help that."
Han shook his head, and laughed. However, his merriment ceased when she started to walk away with unsteady steps.
"Where you goin'?" Han caught her arm again, pulling her to a sudden stop.
"I'm goin' to go have more fun."
"You've had enough fun for tonight."
"And who are you to decide that?"
"You're in no condition for any more fun."
"Yes, I am. I want to go dancing."
"You remember what happened the last time we went dancing?"
Han started to lead her back to the hotel, but she dug her heels into the ground and leaned back.
"Leia. I'm losin' my patience."
She refused to move.
"I'll throw you over my shoulder if I have to."
She narrowed her eyes on him. "You wouldn't dare."
"Try me."
Han expected her to give in. Usually when he threatened physical contact she relented, but this time she held her ground.
"That's it!"
Leia yelped as Han pulled her to him, wrapped his arms around her legs and hefted her over his shoulder.
"Put me down, you goriam mynock!"
Leia wiggled and kicked her feet. Han readjusted her weight and carried her through the streets of Ord Mantell.