Holos

A shiver shook through Leia's body as she sat down for lunch in the mess hall. Hoth had been experiencing abnormally warm weather for about a week, and Leia hadn't needed to wear her thermal vest around Echo Base. It was oddly freeing not to wear the vest. Leia wore it so often it practically felt like a second skin. Unfortunately, the temperatures had dropped again throughout the morning today, but not before Leia had left her quarters for the morning without the proper attire.

"Need me to warm you up, Sweetheart?"

Leia huffed and rolled her eyes at the voice behind her. Han Solo came around and plopped down across from Leia at the table.

"Did I say you could sit there? What if I'm meeting someone?" Leia snapped.

"I know you only have fifteen minutes for lunch today. Definitely not enough time for a proper meeting. You, Miss Perfect Protocol, should know that. Tsk, tsk..." Han crossed his leg and propped it against the table, folding his arms with a smirk on his face.

Leia's eyes turned into slits. "Shut up, Han. Did it ever cross your mind that I just don't want you to sit with me?"

To Leia's shock, a small reaction of hurt flickered across Han's smug expression. It came and went so quickly, Leia wondered if it even happened at all. Maybe she was imagining that Han actually cared about spending time with her.

"Well, Your Worship, maybe I don't want to sit here either. Perhaps I come over here because you look lonely, like you could use some company. I'd much rather join the pilots and talk about ship parts and whisky!"

Leia glanced down at her untouched food, biting her bottom lip. Do I really look that pathetic to people? I usually don't eat with the others because I don't have time. Everyone realizes that, right? I'm not lonely. Just alone.

Han noticed Leia's forlorn expression as she stared at her food. I hope I didn't hurt her feelings. I would much rather sit with her every day than listen to those Rogues blather on and on about hyperdrives and sublight engines.

The pair drew their gazes back up to meet each other's. Han opened his mouth to say something, but words failed him. In response, the side of Leia's mouth turned upwards in a halfhearted grin before she started to eat her food. As she began, an immense tremor coursed throughout her body.

"Seriously, Leia, you seem really cold," Han said. "Do you need a jacket? Why aren't you wearing your vest?"

"I thought our little heat wave would continue into today." Another shiver. "Now its too late for me to go back to my quarters and get my vest; I have meetings back to back today. It's fine though, I'll survive."

Han leaned forward in his seat, wishing he could rub her arms to warm them. "Do you want me to go get it for you?"

Leia's eyes snapped up, surprised by this sudden offer of kindness. Was he merely trying to make up for earlier?

"Han, it's fine. I've dealt with a lot worse than the cold," Leia replied tersely, hoping he'd drop it.

"I'm going to get it, you shouldn't have to suffer for another half of the day. Are your quarters unlocked?"

Leia brought her fingers to her temples and sighed. Two stubborn people...

"Yes, they are unlocked. I have a meeting in ten minutes though, so you have to hurry."

"Sweetheart, I made the Kessel Run in twelve parsecs. This is nothing," Han stated with his signature, lopsided grin as he turned away, walking briskly to her quarters.

Han easily knew where to go to find Leia's quarters. He remembered picking her up and carrying her there when she fell asleep at her desk one evening. Another time he was strolling by her quarters late at night, but backtracked because he heard crying on the other side. Turned out Leia had nightmares every night and it wasn't out of the ordinary. What was out of the ordinary was Han cradling Leia in his arms that night, whispering "It's going to be all right" into her soft, brunette hair.