FLYING SOLO ➳ luke skywalker

TEN! REGULAR SIBLING ANTICS

AS they packed the boxes full of their handsome reward onto a cart to bring to the Millennium Falcon, Analia refused to speak to Han. She didn't so much as glance his way, and she was more than glad that he had taken to ignoring her too. Every few minutes, Chewbacca would pause, look between the two, and then groan quietly. He didn't like the fact that they were fighting.

"So, you got your reward and you're just leaving, then?" Luke's voice made Analia wince. She hadn't seen him approaching.

When she turned to face him, Analia started to find him dressed in the orange pilot's uniform. She had expected nothing less, of course, but it was still odd to see him wearing anything but his tattered old farmer's wrap. His hair was as disheveled as ever, although the backwards sweeping of the locks told Analia that he had at least attempted to brush it away from his face.

"That's right, yeah," Han responded, picking up another box. "I got some old debts I gotta pay off with this stuff. Even if I didn't, you don't think I'd be fool enough to stick around here, do you?"

Luke's face was contorted with rage. Analia tried to meet his eyes; she had to let him know that abandoning him and the rebels was entirely Han's idea and she truly had no say in the matter. Luke, however, was solely focused on Han.

Han tossed the box onto the cart then turned to Luke again. "Why don't you come with us? You're pretty good in a fight. We could use you."

As much as Analia had grown to (usually) enjoy Luke's company, the idea of a little farm boy being dragged into the world of crime was one that made a shiver race down her spine. For the most part, Analia liked working with Han, but if someone had laid out a selection of lives before her and told her to choose one, this certainly wouldn't have been the one she picked.

"Come on." Luke looked just as disappointed as Analia felt. "Why don't you take a look around? You know what's about to happen, what they're up against. They could use a good pilot like you. You're turning your back on them."

"What good's a reward if you ain't around to use it?" Han said. "Besides, attacking that battle station ain't my idea of courage. It's more like suicide."

Analia knew that Han was right. Attacking the Death Star was absolutely a suicide mission, and only a small fraction of the pilots would return. But she also knew that she and Han had done things throughout the years that were just as dangerous, if not more dangerous than the Rebellion's plot.

Luke nodded slowly. Clearly, he was done arguing. "Alright. Well, you take care of yourself, Han," he said, and then bitterly added, "I guess that's what you're best at, isn't it?"

At long last, Luke's shifted his attention to Analia. Her heart gave a little trill as their eyes met, if only momentarily, and she just about managed to flash him an apologetic smile before he nodded a quick goodbye and turned, storming away.

"Hey, Luke!" Han called after him. Luke turned, his enraged expression unwavering. "May the Force be with you."

Luke considered Han's words for a few short moments and then, wordlessly, continued on his way.

Inside her chest, Analia's heart clenched painfully. She glanced between Han, the box of goods that was clutched in her hands, and Luke, who was already halfway across the hangar. Making a hasty decision, Analia placed the box on the cart and hurried after Luke.

She ignored Han's shouts of her name as she called out to Luke. He couldn't hear her, so she gave up, but she still raced along behind him. He was almost at his fighter when she reached him and she took his arm, turning him around. Immediately, his hard expression softened, though he couldn't seem to thaw the icy bitterness in his eyes.