Star Wars: Back to Bespin

Chapter 3

A/N: Thanks for reading this story. I hope you are enjoying it.

Chapter 3

After the coordinates were set and locked in, and the Millennium Falcon had safely jumped into hyperspace, the pilot and copilot sat silently in their chairs, looking out the as the stars zipped past them at dizzying speed. There had always been sexual tension between them, and now that the business of piloting the ship was done for the time being, that tension was an almost tangible thing in the small confines of the cockpit.

"I really am sorry about this," Han said at last, eyes sliding nervously toward his companion.

Leia sighed, then smiled ruefully. "It's not your fault, for once. We may as well make the best of it, and worry later about murdering them all in their sleep on Cloud City."

"Planning that could fill some time," he replied with equal dryness, though his heart skipped a beat at what she might mean by making the best of it.

Leia actually laughed, the husky sound of it soothing his nerves, warming him from within. They both relaxed somewhat, the awareness settling back to its usual background hum. She stood and stretched, the stiffness of annoyance and awkwardness having made her neck and joints sore. Han watched her lithe body move, his gaze skittering away self-consciously. It was going to be a long, long flight.

"Hey, you ever played Sabaac, Princess?" he asked, a little too brightly.

"I've never really had much time for games."

He recognized a hedge when he heard one. "That's not what I asked."

"Yes, Han, I've played Sabaac. But it's been awhile."

"Well, in the interest of killing time, I challenge you to a hand."

Her eyes flared. "What are the stakes?"

He thought a moment, reluctantly disregarding the more lascivious suggestions that came to mind.

"Loser cooks dinner."

"Hmmm. Okay. Deal."

His eyes narrowed at her bland expression, and he had the sneaking suspicion he was about to be had.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Leia laid down her final face card, The Idiot, and watched smugly as Han's jaw literally dropped.

This had been the tiebreaking hand, after they had each won one. Sabaac was normally played with more people, but Han had developed a modified game, so that he and Chewie could pass the time on long hauls. Leia's naturally competitive spirit had matched his, and they'd laughed and growled in equal measures when the game went their way, or a holographic face card suddenly changed without warning, ruining a good hand.

"You had to have cheated," he said in awe, rifling through her displayed cards on the blue and silver checked Dejarik table where they were playing. "Nobody gets a hand like that two games in a row."

Leia shrugged, sitting back against the booth seat in a very Wookie-like show of bravado. He looked up from the cards, meeting her eyes in grudging admiration. "I wish I'd known you back in my tournament days; we could have double teamed the dealer and cheated our way to victory."

She rolled her eyes. "I don't cheat. The cards just turned in my favor."

But he knew she was just trying to placate his ego. "I still wish I'd known you," he maintained softly, reaching across the table to hold her hand. She blushed.

"I was probably in the nursery when you were playing professionally, old man," she teased. He was nearly twice her age, after all.

He didn't miss a beat. "And I'm sure you were just as sassy back then, sweetheart." He massaged her knuckles absently with his thumb. "Sassy and beautiful—my two favorite characteristics in a woman."