Author Note:
Originally posted on A03 for the HanLeia Holiday Exchange 2023, using the prompt: 'Seeing you tonight…it's a bad idea, right?' (H/t Olivia Rodrigo)
I want to thank Walk Away Tall for being a fantastic beta reader. You're a gem and your comments helped improve this fic tremendously!
Hoth - 2.5 ABY
When Rogue pilot Samoc Farr rounded the corner and jogged into the spare parts storage room to find a replacement for a busted sensor jammer, she stopped short at what sounded like a man and a woman engaging in flirtatious banter. Samoc was not even among the top five of Rogues that liked to gossip, but information and credible rumors were as good as currency on this boring ice cube.
She peeked around a large crate and swallowed her gasp at the sight of Princess Leia and Captain Solo huddled closely together, less than four meters away from where she hid. Their mouths not even ten centims apart, the Princess was saying something to Solo in hushed tones, but she couldn't quite hear every word they said. Organa grinned in a way that could only be described as predatory, and she could swear the Princess' eyes gleamed flirtatiously.
Samoc strained to hear what they were saying.
"You got some (…) balls, asking me to (…) again, Sweetheart. "
"I'm a former princess of a core world. They wouldn't be made of brass, Sweetheart." She smiled as Leia's voice carried across the storage room, clearly this time - and at the taunt as she used Solo's nickname for her back at him.
Samoc watched Han Solo with interest, not only for a clue of what they were talking about, but because he was hot as fuck - all long legs, sensual lips, and big hands. She shook her head as she recalled his pass at her advances at a rowdy party a month before. How he'd spent all night gazing at the Princess like no one would notice. Samoc smirked with good humor - it wasn't like she was looking for anything but to blow off some steam - no harm, no foul - but she had failed to realize that maybe there was something to the rumor mill and bets about these two. She'd just assumed Solo had no shot with Organa.
Solo tossed back his head as his throat bobbed in a surprisingly attractive way, and let out a deep, loud laugh. It was a sound that seemed to warm Leia up, if she was any judge of the Princess' flushing neck.
"Leia…" Han Solo huffed out with exasperation. "You know this is a bad idea, right?" he asked in a low drawl as he worked his lower lip with his teeth. He looked pretty conflicted about whatever they were discussing.
Leia shrugged. "Undoubtedly. But that's not (…) last time, Captain."
Samoc's eyes opened wide in shock. Leia had practically purred that at Han while her hand toyed with the buttons on the chest of his shirt. Holy kriff, what is going on? And what's this information worth?
Han leaned in close to Leia again, his head tilted to the side mockingly as he cupped her shoulder, his finger grazing her collarbone.
"You said it was a (…), remember?"
Samoc was desperate for context and those missing words as she strained again to hear what Han was saying.
To her complete shock, Leia rose on tiptoes, eyes lingering on Solo's lips. She was going to kiss him!
As Samoc leaned too far forward to see and hear better, her hand slipped accidentally knocked a small container to the icy floor with a loud bang. She heard Han and Leia startle and knew it was time to bolt before she was caught.
Fuck yes! Samoc nearly witnessed what must have been the most juicy and lucrative kiss in the history of the Rebellion. She was gonna make a shipload of credits from this. She hustled to go find her sister Toryn in the Command Center. No reason they shouldn't both profit off this incredibly valuable gossip.
Chewie's Advice Booth the next day:
Chewie methodically set up his advice booth in a seldom-used overflow office at the end of a corridor off the South Passageway - setting out the insta-translator, a stuffed animal his clients liked to clutch desperately as they bared their deepest secrets to him, a large insulated cup of tea, a blanket for the delicate species that required such things on this planet, and a large basket to hold the bartered items when they didn't have credits to pay for his advice.
Once he was set up, he peeked outside the office and spotted many of the Command Center staff and Rogues lined up outside for 10 minutes of his time. He noted with disappointment that Little Princess was missing for the first time in weeks.
The humans always underestimated his acute hearing, and so he learned much valuable information from moving around the base. He had not yet identified the primary witness, but someone had allegedly seen Cub and Little Princess kissing the night before. The rumors and bets were flying better than the speeders, and Chewie was confident he'd get to the bottom of it before his advice booth closed for the day.
He spent much of the next few hours trading his wisdom from 203 years of life and a listening ear for 42 credits, a new lighter, a hand-knit scarf, four cans of blue milk, a flask of jet juice, six smokes, two jugs of ale, a box of sweets, and a hydrospanner - which he didn't need but could trade later.
Consulting his notes on his data-pad, he reviewed what he had learned about this alleged kiss between Cub and Little Princess. Little Jedi knew nothing about a rumored kiss - probably because he was too occupied pining over Wedge. Toryn Farr and Shara Bey had both confessed guilt over the opportunity to profit off of Leia's personal life should they bet on the Kriff or Kill pool. Wedge saw them depart the storage room "looking shifty as fuck."
Carlist and Wes Janson had both witnessed those two flirting in close proximity the past two months. Wes had no qualms about trying to profit from it, while Carlist was worried his Princess would chase away his best contractor. Jan Dodonna had hinted at killing Han and hiding the body upon hearing rumors of an "ill-advised affair." Chewie felt obligated to step in and back Jan off that idea. He'd left still muttering, but the red haze of murder feelings had evaporated.
Chewie had long had his suspicions about Cub and Little Princess. Humans had terrible olfactory senses - while Wookiees did not. He had smelled their mutual attraction to each other for months. And while Cub was not one to openly discuss his feelings, he could only brood around the ship listening to old Corellian ballads and sighing repeatedly so many times before it became quite clear that he was completely taken with the Little Princess. She however, was harder to read, beyond the obvious attraction. Whether there had been a kiss or more, Chewie could not say with certainty. They were being careful about it, if so. He would have smelled evidence of kissing and mating and had not.
As Chewie began to pack up his booth, he sighed in disappointment that Little Princess had skipped this week. He thought back to a conversation he'd had with her a month ago that now seemed significant to this matter of a possible affair.
One Month Ago
[Little Princess! I was hoping to see you today!] He picked up the insta-translator as he spoke slowly to her and waved it with a shrug of his shoulders as Little Princess entered his makeshift therapy room.
"No thank you, I can understand if you speak slowly. Sorry I'm late, I was held up by Jan again." She rolled her eyes and shrugged, since everyone knew Dodonna was an unrepentant blowhard.
[You are my favorite, so no hard feelings.] Chewie chuckled and sent her a humor-filled wink.
Little Princess let out an exaggerated sigh of relief before she placed a wood-carved tree figurine in the basket. "I found this on Ithor, it's carved from wroshyr wood." Little Princess sat in a scuffed chair on the other side of his desk, waiting patiently while Chewie examined the miniature wroshyr tree tenderly.
"I know you miss home," she added softly.
Chewie cleared his throat, wishing to maintain his professionalism, despite the full heart feelings he was experiencing from the thoughtfulness of his friend and an urge to let the water out of his eyes.
[The last time we had a session, you agreed to explore how you experience and process your feelings. Did you have a chance to think about that?]
"Yes. I was thinking, when I was younger I had such big feelings, Chewie. They completely ruled me. I don't do that anymore, of course. "
[You don't do big feelings anymore?]
"Precisely!"
[But where do your big feelings go? Doesn't that give you gas to hold them in?]
Little Princess laughed, gently touching his forearm before she ducked her head and said in a conspiratorial whisper. "I don't believe human anatomy works that way, and anyway, Princesses don't talk about gas." Chewie tilted his head back as he laughed. He made his face and tone serious again before he nodded for her to continue.
"To answer your question…my big feelings died with Alderaan. Now the only feelings are the.." She cupped her hand over her mouth to not be overheard from the hallway, "pantsfeelings. Occasionally." While Little Princess waited for him to react, Chewie just managed not to chuckle. Malla had been greatly amused to hear that the Shyriiwook word for all-consuming human horniness, awkwardly translated by Han to Basic as "pantsfeelings" had become common slang among the rebels to describe their poor mating decisions and constant liaisons with each other.
[Just pantsfeelings? Nothing with more emotional depth?] he asked in a gentle tone.
"I mostly try to go about my days and nights in a state of determined numbness. Otherwise I would just not get out of bed, or would go on a murderous rampage."
[Yes, I can see how numbness is preferred to murder feelings. Little Princess, it might be healthier to allow and notice some more big feelings occasionally, even in a controlled way like a steam valve. You walk around much of the time on the verge of explosion].
"It's fair to say most of the 'verge of explosion' feelings lately can be squarely blamed on Han aggravating me, but perhaps I should focus more on releasing the pantsfeelings. That would have the same effect, would it not?"
[That would be one way, yes, but not result in the long-term growth you told me you seek. What other big feelings do you experience that are greater than numbness and less than murder feelings?]
After a moment of consideration, Little Princess responded, as if she were thinking aloud.
"Well, I suppose I do experience some big feelings occasionally - irritation- again, usually at your captain. And yes, now that you mention it, I have very positive friend love that brings me joy and comfort for you, Luke, and sometimes even Han. When he is behaving himself."
[This is excellent. As you can see, you don't dampen all of your big feelings. They are there. Because Cub seems to be a source of big negative feelings, lately, it might be good to think of something positive. Do you have any positive big feelings you can think of for Cub?]
Brow furrowed in concentration, Little Princess considered for a moment before saying, "Yes, I thought of one thing. He is an incredibly talented pilot." She looked at Chewie triumphantly.
[Excellent! Can you think of anything else?]
"Now you're just getting greedy, like your friend," Leia teased, before she added, "Oh, I can think of another thing. He is a better than average mechanic."
[Well done!]
"Also, his military strategy and natural leadership are quite impressive - the man should be a general. He's good in a fight, and for such a loudmouth, he is a surprisingly effective negotiator. And he is really quite handsome."
At Chewie's raised brow and startled blink, Leia's eyes briefly widened, as if she had given away a secret.
"I am perfectly capable of giving credit where it's due, Chewie, even to Han. But if you tell him I said any of that I'll call you a scoundrel and a liar," Little Princess added with a dramatically arched brow and mock glare.
Chewie laughed at her criminally underrated sense of humor before reflecting on how remarkably rare it was for Little Princess to verbalize big positive feelings for Cub, even if her nonverbal communication had indicated deep respect and trust for him for the past few years. Chewie's relief and joy that Cub might still have an opportunity to make her his lifemate were great.
[It sounds like you admire many of Cub's positive attributes. I don't mean to intrude, but do you have pantsfeelings for him? It has not gone unnoticed that you two smell quite preoccupied with each other. Perhaps there is room to grow from pantsfeelings and friendship to something more…profound. As foolish as he can be, he is a great human. I just ask that you try your best not to trample his heart with your boots, yes?]
Leia's brows drew together in suspicion. "Did Han say something to you after our mission to Ithor?"
[No, he did not. Did something happen on that mission that you would like to discuss in confidence?]
"I'm sorry, I am late for a meeting and have to run. Thank you, as always Chewie. I don't know where I'd be without your wisdom and friendship.
[Little Princess, whatever you tell me is always between us. I never discuss advice sessions with Cub. I'm here if you want to talk, ok?]
"I know. Supper on the Falcon tomorrow?"
Chewie smiled and barked his agreement. Leia patted his paw fondly before getting up and exiting the office.
Present Day
Chewie sighed as he heaved his basket off the desk to head back to their ship. He'd need to carefully consider how to play this with Cub to get answers out of him about that rumored kiss.
He was about to exit when Cub stomped into the office, grabbed the blanket from the basket, and threw himself moodily onto the old couch some of his clients preferred to sit on.
[You're late, Cub. You can come back next week.]
"I need your advice now, Pal."
[Your tardiness will cost you double.]
"Double! You sleep on my ship and eat my food!"
[I have a legitimate, Command-sanctioned side hustle that keeps you well stocked in vices and snacks. You will pay me double, or you can tell your troubles to someone else. Little Jedi can't keep secrets, but I'm sure Little Princess would be happy to hear your problems.] He glared at Han. [Unless they are about her, of course.]
"Fine." Han pretended to fish through the pockets of his utility vest until he pulled out two extra large knitting needles. "I got these on Ithor and was gonna give them to you for your birthday, but now I ain't gonna give you nothin'. Stingy furball."
Han tossed the needles into the basket.
[Let me make sure I understand. You just happened to have Wookiee-sized knitting needles in your vest pocket that you bought on a mission a month ago, to gift to me for my birthday, which isn't for another four months? Cub, you could just pay me without the theatrics.]
"I been carryin' them around for wampa protection, OK? Anyway, so about three months ago, I ran into a little problem. Bad judgment on my part, ya know?"
[I can't imagine] Chewie did not wish to give away his keen interest, so he stuck with his usual sarcasm. Perhaps Cub would tell him about the kiss with Little Princess and he wouldn't have to use trickery to get the information.
"Aw, fuck you. You gonna let me talk or what?"
[Please, tell me how you messed up this time. I can't wait.]
"Asshole. Anyway, I made a mistake with a…part for the Falcon. Yeah, see it looked like a good part when I was offered it. Real shiny and high-end and all. I could imagine the performance was great too. But I also knew this part was real…high maintenance, volatile even. High risk, high reward. If it worked well, it'd be amazing, but if my…ship ain't good enough, it'd go real bad."
Gripping the sides of his chair, Chewie did his best not to growl. Of all the patently ridiculous lies Cub had told, this one was even more preposterous than the knitting needles.
[A part? Why are you wasting my time talking about the ship? We could have discussed this while we made dinner.]
Han blinked, clearly trying to work out what to say.
"Well, you're the first mate. I just thought you should know and we could discuss what I should do, because I have flown …with the part a few times, and I don't know. I mean, it was real good the other times, but it kept starting then stopping…responding. Yeah. But the thing is, I took a real likin' to it, but I'm scared of gettin' my hopes up after it didn't work for a while, only to have it not work out…again, and for my ship not to be good enough for such a high-quality…part."
[I'm sorry, are we talking about a ship part or a girl?]
Han scowled indignantly as he spat out, "You need your ears cleaned? What part of that wasn't crystal clear?" Han growled.
[Ok, here's my advice - take it or leave it, I really don't care: Stop pining around base and tell Little Princess that you want to mate with her again, but you have feelings for her and you don't want your heart stomped on by her tiny little white boots. She is working through some heavy shit, but I think you have a good shot if you are patient and compassionate and don't fuck it all up like you usually do when you get too much in your own way. Are we done? I'm hungry.]
Han spluttered comically. "Who said anything about Her Worship? Did she say something to you?"
Chewie hung his head in his upturned paws, shaking it. These two idiots were killing him and yet, against his better judgment, he still loved them both fiercely.
"I was talking 'bout a part, not Leia. Where do you even get these ideas? C'mon, let's go home. You're acting hangry."
The Following Week
Chewie sipped his ale, observing the party as the level of sobriety dropped and inadvisable admissions increased while they played Truth or Dare. In a little under an hour, Samoc had admitted to hooking up with Dak, Janson confessed to accidentally walking in on Shara and Kes mating, and Little Princess told the group she had a massive crush on Wedge as a teenager and he had rejected her advances. He'd assured her it was because he "had an extremely single-minded preference for dick."
Samoc asked Cub what his "competence kink" was, and he admitted it was for quick thinking and bravery under fire. Chewie had not failed to notice the subtle glance towards Little Princess.
Luke confessed his attraction to Wedge, and they'd left, giggling arm in arm. During the Princess' second truth or dare, Hobbie asked her who on base she'd hooked up with and she took the dare to share the most attractive feature of everyone playing. When she got to Cub, after thinking, in a comically laborious manner, she glanced at him and mumbled, "Your brilliance is hot."
Cub made a face that Chewie had a hard time deciphering. He supposed it was a combination of re-awakened pantsfeelings and deeply emotional gratitude. If the exchanged glances around the table were any sort of indication, the others had caught it too. Except Little Princess, who was staring down at her glass to avoid Cub's eyes.
Cub got Chewie to admit he thought the galaxy would run better if Wookiees were in charge, at which everyone had nodded solemnly in agreement. Klivian had refused to answer the question of who'd he rather kriff - Mon Mothma or Rieekan, and was dared to run around the drafty hanger in his socks. Chewie thought he now better understood the Basic human slang term blue balls.
Cub and Little Princess sat next to each other cozily. As the night wore on and the drink filled their bodies, they leaned into each other more, until they were touching shoulders to knees. Little Princess was very particular about who she allowed in her personal space, and yet she looked exceedingly comfortable with Cub practically sitting in her lap, Chewie mused. If Chewie were a gambler (he was), he'd wager (he had) they'd become very comfortable, bodily, around each other.
In the past week, Chewie had not learned anything new about the rumored kiss. Tonight was an opportunity to test his suspicions with a carefully prepared and vague question to find out if they'd kissed before. He had waited patiently for Cub and Little Princess to become quite loose-tongued and only had to wait for Janson to ask a truth or dare before he could at last lay his trap.
"Truth or Dare, Princess. Did Solo kiss you in the spare parts room one week ago?"
Chewie growled in outrage at the poorly worded, entirely too specific question.
Little Princess ran her finger around the top of her glass, playfully, toying with him. She tilted her head up to Cub and they exchanged a look Chewie couldn't quite read in time before it vanished from both of their faces.
"He did not kiss me in the spare parts storage room last week, no."
"Bantha shit!" Samoc shouted. "I saw it!"
"Ah, so that was you spying on us? Did you know that we installed a security camera in that room two weeks ago, after some parts went missing. Shall we go watch it?"
"Yes!" chorused the cheerfully wasted Rogues.
They all crowded behind Little Princess as she keyed into the Command Center and loaded the security footage. Glancing at the others, she said, "Are we ready?"
"Do it," Cub said with a nod.
A grainy feed came on the screen of Cub and Little Princess standing very close together. Not in a friends way, Chewie again noted suspiciously.
"You got some brass balls, asking me to do this again, Sweetheart."
"I'm a former princess of a core world. They wouldn't be made of brass, Sweetheart."
"Leia…You know this is a bad idea, right?"
"Undoubtedly. But that's not what you said last time, Captain."
Chewie made a mental note of the comfortable way Cub so casually touched little Princess on the shoulder, his thumb grazing her collarbone without her brushing him off. The intimacy of their close proximity and Cub's touch set off more alarm bells. They were all being conned, Chewie was convinced, he just had to figure out how.
"You said it was a mistake, remember?"
Little Princess leaned in close to Cub, reaching for something over his shoulder when a bang startled them apart, and Samoc's escape crossed the corner of the screen.
"Han, just use the fucking part again. It did make us faster on that mission to Ithor."
Han spun around and snatched a box behind him before jamming a pointed finger at her.
"Fine, but when we blow up and die a painful and meaningless death when it stops responding again, it'll be your fault."
"I'll note that for committee," She said dryly, her eyes clearly rolling, even in the grainy footage.
Little Princess cut the feed after they had walked out of camera view.
"So you two didn't…?" Samoc asked in a state of drunken shock.
"He wishes, don't you, Sweetheart?" Little Princess teased. "But no. You didn't miss a kiss when you ran away like a snooping coward, Farr."
The Rogues all groaned, visions of riches from their bets shattered.
"I'm going to bed. Let's all leave the Command Center, please."
Little Princess waved as she sauntered very cockily towards her quarters.
Chewie chuffed out an amused chuckle and shook his head. They almost had him fooled, almost. Little Princess and Cub made a formative pair. While they were both stunningly cunning for humans, they were no match for a 203 year old Wookie like him. He followed Cub back to the ship as a plan formed in his mind.
Later that Night
Han appeared in the inner doorway of the vault door of the climate controlled high-value storage room within the parts storage room looking harried.
Leia paused her impatient pacing of the narrow room long enough to accost him, "Where have you been? I gave the code word an hour ago!"
"I know, I know! Got tied up with Chewie. I swear he's gettin' suspicious,'' Han complained. "He was grillin' me about whether I think using the 'part' was a good idea, when I know he could give a fuck about that."
"Do you think it's a good idea?" Leia questioned as she slowly approached Han.
"Prob'ly not," he admitted in a low rumble. "Wait, are we talkin' about the part or the other thing?"
Leia placed her hands on his chest, "I'm not talking about the part, Han."
"Ah," Han said simply, his eyes bright with understanding, then desire.
Leia slowly glided a finger up his neck to rest on his pulse point, a dare.
As Leia reached to grasp his neck and bring his mouth closer to her, Han blurted, "You really think I'm brilliant?" He bit back a smile when she shivered at the tickle of his breath on her ear, her hands frozen on his shoulder.
"Only when you don't talk," she murmured, grazing her fingers down his neck to undo his top button. She looked up with a smirk before placing an open mouthed kiss on his exposed chest. Han's eyes closed as the pantsfeelings seemed to swamp him.
Hesitation danced across his face briefly, while his hands balled at his sides.
Leia's hands stilled on his chest, eyes not meeting his. "You said this was a bad idea. Do you want to stop?" she asked in a throaty voice, her face serious. Finally making eye contact again with questioning eyes, she leaned back slightly to better gauge his reaction.
"I should stop," he returned, his face inscrutable.
Leia started to remove her hands entirely, a look of disappointment flashing briefly before she quickly concealed it. Han caught one of her hands and grasped it. "But every time I try to talk myself outta it, all I hear is 'blah blah blah.'"
Leia smiled wide as she looked up, her large brown eyes roaming his face before lingering on his scar. She licked her lips before adding, "What are you saying?"
"I'm sayin', fuck it, it's fine," Han decided, glancing down at Leia's surprised smile before he kissed her wrist and nipped playfully. Pulling her close, he leaned down. "You're a hard woman to deny, Princess, even if you're an easy one to please," he said softly, his breath hitting her mouth, making her pulse hammer so hard her cheeks flushed.
"So I've been told," she whispered before she rose onto her toes to wrap her arms around his neck. She gazed into his eyes, searching for something. After a breathless pause where their lips hovered, not quite touching, Leia lightly kissed Han, tasting the smoky sting of whiskey on his lips from drinks earlier in the night before pulling back to look at his reaction.
They gazed at each other intensely, almost frozen with desire. After long moments with their mouths a breath apart, Leia broke the intense standoff with a smile. Han sprang out of his trance and wrapped his arms around her back tightly, swallowing Leia's smile with a starved kiss.
As his lips became more insistent and he pulled her so tight against his chest, she almost couldn't breathe, Leia weaved her hand through Han's hair and pulled his lower lip between hers.
Groaning, Han bunched the back of Leia's vest in his hand as his other arm snaked tightly around her waist. With a yank, he drew her off her feet and tight against his chest before walking them to the vault door. Han smoothly hoisted Leia's legs around his waist and pressed hard against her as her back hit the door. Leia gasped, the sound sticking in the back of her throat with weeks of pent up want. They tried to work off her many layers of cold-weather gear without breaking the frantic exploration of mouths and hands.
Just as Han had managed to remove both their vests, the closed vault door whooshed open. Han just managed to twist and pull Leia on top of him so he wouldn't crush her as they fell with a loud thud into the main storage space. Chewie towered over them with a toothy, menacing grin.
Little Princess was sprawled on top of Cub and they both looked at Chewie gape-mouthed, stunned completely into silence, probably for the first time ever.
In the few moments before they came to their senses, Chewie glanced into the room, seeing two neat packages of clothing and toothbrushes sealed in air-tight containers and two towels hanging next to the decontamination shower. Now that he'd figured out how they kept their affair from his superior senses, he felt very satisfied with his mystery-solving prowess.
"How did you figure it out?" Little Princess finally asked, her cheek resting high on Han's chest.
[You should have picked a better codeword, Sweethearts.]
The two groaned in unison.
"I told you that wouldn't work, Sweetheart"
Little Princess snippily retorted, "No, actually, you insisted it be the codeword after I said it during…."
"Say it again," he interrupted softly, seemingly forgetting Chewie was standing right over them. Cub's self-satisfied smile lingered when his arms went around her back.
Chewie thought he might vomit, but then Cub brushed a few strands of hair from Little Princess' face and they shared a tender smile and gaze filled undeniably with as many good big feelings as pantsfeelings.
Not desiring to hear them mate, he padded away without another word.
The price for his silence and complicity would be the backstory of what happened on Ithor and whether the ship part was real or metaphor, but that could wait until tomorrow. For now, he had some bets to place and a few hours of solitude to enjoy on the Falcon with his new knitting needles.
End Notes:Prompt lyrics:
bad idea right? By Olivia Rodrigo -
My brain goes, "Ah"
Can't hear my thoughts (I cannot hear my thoughts)
Like blah-blah-blah (blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah)
Should probably not
I should probably, probably not
Seein' you tonight, it's a bad idea, right?
Seein' you tonight, fuck it, it's fine
