Fame and the Force

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

A day later,

Sitting on the sofa in his living room, Han was silently mouthing words as he listened to music that only he could hear as the small speakers were plugged directly into his ear canal. Therefore, when Luke pulled out one of the tiny earbuds Han gave a startled jump.

"What'ya doing, sneaking up on a guy like that?" Han grumbled, flipping the music off. "I could've shot you."

"I wasn't too worried," Luke said dryly. "What are you doing?"

"Memorizing words."

"Oh. Well, Leia's outside training so I thought maybe this would be a good time to start your first lesson, since you're not leaving for Coruscant for another three days."

Han rubbed his forehead. "You livin' under the assumption that I'm not doing anything important right now? I guess you think all those words to the songs I sing just pop right into my brain by osmosis?"

"Osmosis?"Luke repeated with a smile. "Good Force style word, Han. Oops. Evin." He looked around, a bit worried. "Corran's not around, is he?"

"No, he isn't. I gotta tell you that even after Leia explained to him why she called me Han, he's still lookin' at me funny. I don't think he believed her explanation."

"I didn't hear what she told him," Luke informed Han. "You'd better fill me in so we keep our stories straight."

"Leia told him when she saw me on the torture slab that she had a flashback to when Han Solo was being tortured on Bespin, so she just accidentally yelled out the wrong guy's name. She said it was lucky I was unconscious at the time, because otherwise my feelings might have been hurt." Han laughed and shook his head. "And then she asked Corran not to say anything to me about it, 'cuz she didn't want me to get all upset with her over her slip-up."

"Yeah," Luke muttered. "That sounds like a pretty weak excuse."

"So, can I have my earpiece back?" Han held out his hand, waiting for Luke to return the item.

"Come outside and start your first lesson," Luke cajoled, ignoring Solo's request. "Just for a few time-parts. I won't even make you meditate today. You can use a blast helmet and try to deflect the target orb's bolts with my practice lightsaber."

Han shook his head, remembering Luke's first lesson onboard the Falcon, all those years ago. "That sounds painful. Painful and dangerous. I'll pass."

"It's a training lightsaber, and it will be turned to the lowest setting. It won't even burn your skin if it touches you... it just stings a bit."

"Like the target drone stings a little bit?"

"Something like that," Luke said, trying not to grin. "It'll finally be my turn to laugh at you. I've been waiting so very long for this day."

"I can tell." Han sighed. "I'm not sure I've gotten over being zapped on Hapes, and now you want me to voluntarily do it all over again."

Luke grimaced at Han's comparison. "It's hardly the same thing."

"Fine, I'll make a fool outta myself. But I gotta warn you, the first lesson might be my last if everyone starts laughing at me." Han stood up and started heading toward his bedroom.

"Where are you going? We're practicing outside."

"I know. I've got something to show you first." He waved his hand for Luke to follow.

Luke shrugged and accompanied his friend into the bedroom, watching as Han pulled out a small, carved wooden box from his top dresser drawer.

"Do you have Mara's wedding ring yet?" Han questioned.