into the chaos! → luke skywalker ✓

xvii. the guardian

⋆☆* ✧✰.✦

CAS LET LEIA HAVE THE SHOWER FIRST, and between the two of them the water was ice cold when Cas stepped out. She wasn't usually one to indulge in long showers, but spending a few days with a handsy bounty hunter was enough to make anyone crave one. Even as all warmth left the water she couldn't bring herself to step out straight away; it was refreshing, as if she was washing off everything that had happened over the past several days.

She was grateful to be wearing her own clothes again. Her boots had never left her, but the slacks and t-shirt she threw on made her feel instant comfort, as did the slight of her friends sitting in the Falcon's main hold as she went to meet them. They were talking quietly and Cad made no effort to interrupt them, electing to lean against the doorframe and watch on contentedly. Artoo was the first of the group to spot her; he beeped in welcome, and the others turned their attention to her. She chuckled at the astromech, who said she looked more like herself.

"Thanks, Artoo. I certainly feel more like myself."

"The kids were just detailing the finer details of that crazy rescue plan you all pulled off," Han began from the bench, where he sat with his arm draped around Leia's shoulders.
"I, uh...thanks. I owe you one."

"I'd say you owe me at least ten," teased Cas, and Han chuckled, too tired and content to throw back joking remark. The ship was still parked on Tatooine and while they knew their time there was coming to an end, no one was in a real hurry to leave just yet.

"I have to say, I had my doubts about you keeping your cover," said Lando, a smirk dancing across his lips as he thought about his next words.
"I really thought you would have knocked Granger's ass out long before we reached the pit." Cas donned a satisfied smirk of her own and sat down beside Luke.

"I think we all would have liked to," mumbled the Jedi Knight. Leia made direct eye contact with Cas and raised a brow, which contained a message the latter understood perfectly. Cas blatantly ignored her.

"The look on his face right before I knocked him out is one I won't be forgetting any time soon," she said smoothly as if no silent conversation had happened. Leia held back a chuckle and leaned further into Han's side. He, meanwhile, hesitated before addressing them all.

"Seriously, I really wanna thank you guys for coming to get me. I know it took a lot from each of you and I just...thanks."

"You would've done the same for us," Luke said humbly, smiling at his friend.

"Well, I don't know about that," Han teased, and Luke playfully rolled his eyes. Han let out a sigh and stood from the bench, stretching a little.
"All right, we'd better get moving. Luke, you have your X-Wing, right? Are you gonna meet us at the rendezvous?" The Jedi Knight hesitated. Cas raised a brow and Han and Leia both exchanged a glance.

"Luke..." Cas began, and he stood from his spot beside her.

"There's something I have to do before I go back." She didn't need to ask; he had that tone in his voice that he always did when referring to Jedi business or Force-related matters. The voice of knowing without knowing how; the calm voice of a true Jedi.

"We understand," said Leia, and Han gave her a look that said he did not understand, but she'd explain it to him later. The two siblings exchanged a hug and Leia went toward the cockpit, Han and Chewie following closely behind after giving him their own goodbyes (a handshake and a bone-crushing yet somehow gentle hug, respectively). Lando stood and the two men clasped hands, patting each other on the bicep.