Closed Quarters

Chapter 1

Leia knew something was wrong due to a few things. One, the perturbed look on Han's face. Two, the lack of excitement following Han's exciting buildup. And three, the subtle moaning of some part of the computers in the cockpit.

"It's not my fault!"

Leia cautiously let go of the back of Han's chair, falling back into her own. "No lightspeed?" she mocked.

"It's not my fault!"

The Imperial ship took quick notice that something with the enemy had gone awry and the moment to mock was interrupted, cut through by the sudden attack from the Star Destroyer. The Falcon rocked back and forth from the impact of the Star Destroyer's laserfire clashing against her hull and Han cursed. Leia's vision flashed with the quick explosions. She could watch most of them outside the viewport as Han and Chewie kept the Falcon dancing and weaving through the blaze.

"Sir!" C-3PO cried from his seat behind Chewbacca. "We just lost the main rear deflector shield. One more direct hit on the back port and we're done for!"

Han scurried out of his seat, shouting, "Turn her around!" as he pointed toward starboard.

Chewie growled a protest, throwing out his arms, but Han only yelled louder again, "I said, turn her around! I'm gonna' throw all power to the front shield."

Leia gaped, finally turning in her seat to stare wide-eyed and unbelieving at Han. "You're going to attack them?!"

"Sir, the odds of surviving a direct assault on an Imperial Star Destroyer-!"

Leia was losing both her patience and sanity as Han continued hurrying about the small cockpit and giving everyone orders. She came nowhere close to understanding his method. As much as she would love to have faith in Han's idiocy, her patience was running low. First, from their fight in the South Passage to his manhandling of her as they had rushed to leave Echo base, then this. Threepio was only adding to her annoyance and frustration. Rolling her eyes, she shouted at the droid to be heard over the chaos, "Shut up!"

Han sent the Millennium Falcon flying back around on her side. Leia's stomach rolled and she threw out her hands to once again grasp a chair. This time, she clamped her hands around her own, her back pressing fiercely against it. She closed her eyes and took in a quiet, short breath. Easy, she chastised herself. You can kill him later. If the Empire doesn't kill us first.

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They were now hidden away. Safely, Leia hoped. Han had found a rock big enough with craters to hide the Falcon away in. Leia hoped they wouldn't have to hide here long; her patience was wearing thin with Han already.

Really, Leia found herself simply confused by Han. She couldn't make herself understand the man nor his way about life. For three years, he'd been on the brink of leaving the Rebellion and Leia had spent those three years restlessly chasing him, pulling him back in, begging him to stay. And for a while, Leia had been convinced he really would stay. Now, she felt foolish for letting herself believe that. Han had really been going to leave. He'd been walking out the door when Fate, with its impeccable timing, had brought the Empire to the Rebellion's front doorstep and sent them hurrying off. And Han had come back for her.

Leia didn't let herself consider that for long. It was ridiculous. Now, she was stuck with Han Solo until they found the rest of the Rebellion fleet and Han raced off.
Where did he even think he was going, Leia wondered? What did he have in plan? Was there somewhere he wanted to go? Somewhere he wanted to stay? Somewhere Han Solo could call home and maybe he would stay there, go his own way. And Leia would go her way. And the two would never see each other again.
That thought provoked an uncomfortable, sour feeling in her gut and Leia shook it off quickly.