Bittersweet Devotion [Star Wars x Anakin Skywalker]

25.

"But I was going into Tosche Station to pick up some power converters!" -Luke Skywalker

As the door to the cell slid open with a quiet hiss, Luke and Leia stepped into the corridor, the dim lights casting long shadows that stretched across the floor. The tension in the air was almost palpable, a stark contrast to the loud, chaotic atmosphere of the detention area they had just left.

Han and Chewbacca were waiting just outside, their expressions a mix of impatience and concern. Han's hand hovered near his blaster, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of Leia for the first time.

"What took you so long?" Han barked, his voice echoing off the metal walls. There was a sharp edge to his tone, a mix of frustration and the stress of the situation.

Leia's gaze shifted to Han, her eyes narrowing slightly as she appraised him. There was something in her posture, a regal defiance that made her seem entirely unfazed by the danger around them. "Who the hell are you?" she asked, her tone cool, with just a hint of disdain, as if she was evaluating whether he was worth her time.

Han blinked, clearly taken aback by her directness. "Who the hell am I?" he repeated, his voice rising slightly in disbelief. He gestured to himself, his irritation bubbling to the surface. "I'm the guy who's risking his neck to save your royal behind!"

Leia's eyes flicked over him, unimpressed. "Well, you're certainly not making the best impression," she retorted, her words sharp but delivered with a calm that only seemed to irritate Han more.

Before Han could retort, Luke quickly stepped in, sensing the need to de-escalate the tension. "Look, there's no time for introductions or arguments. We need to get out of here, now," he urged, his voice carrying an urgency that brought the focus back to the task at hand.

Leia glanced at Luke, her expression softening slightly. Despite the chaos, there was something about his earnestness that resonated with her. "I like you already, Luke," she said, a small, almost amused smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Her tone was warmer now, a stark contrast to her earlier confrontation with Han.

Han, still stung by Leia's earlier dismissal, crossed his arms and muttered under his breath, "Great, just great. The farm boy gets the credit."

Leia arched an eyebrow at him, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips. "Jealousy doesn't suit you," she quipped, clearly enjoying getting under his skin.

"Jealous?" Han scoffed, but there was a faint grin tugging at his lips now. "Of what? A princess who probably wouldn't last a day out here on her own?"

Leia's eyes flashed with challenge. "Is that so? I think you're underestimating me, Captain," she shot back, emphasizing his title with a mocking lilt.

Luke, sensing that the banter was spiraling back into tension, quickly intervened again. "We can debate who's better at surviving later. Right now, we need to get out of here before reinforcements show up," he said firmly.

Leia nodded, her expression returning to seriousness. "He's right. Let's move."

Han, still slightly ruffled but unable to resist a final quip, muttered as they hurried down the corridor, "So, we're saving a princess. What next, slaying a dragon?"

Chewbacca growled softly, as if in agreement, and Han gave him a wry grin. "Yeah, yeah, Chewy, just keep an eye out. This rescue mission's turning into a real fairytale."

Leia shot Han a look over her shoulder, her eyes twinkling with just a hint of amusement. "Don't worry, Captain. I'll be sure to save you if things get too rough."