#severnlight

“What do you mean?” What had Leia been saying about him? It wasn’t like her to insult him - aside from the occasional affectionate jab - and especially not to a stranger.

“Well, she started off sayin’ how I better not try and pull anything funny. That if I’m just in this for the money, she’d do unspeakable things to me. How I better not go breaking your heart...” That sounded like Leia. “As if I hadn’t got enough of that from your folks, already. Then she started goin’ on about how you’ve always had your head in the clouds, didn’t always know when you were in danger, and that she doesn’t wanna see you hurt because of it.”

“She means well, you know,” Luke said softly, shooting Han a knowing look. “It’s just because she cares.”

Han scowled in response. “Yeah, well she doesn’t have to go talking about you like you’re some kinda child. Like you’re some fragile thing that’ll crumble at the slightest sign of difficulty.” He paused, scrunching up his face as he seemed to be searching for the right words. “I donno what it is but... your whole family seems to think that you can’t make decisions for yourself.”

That... was not what he was expecting to hear. “They just want what’s best for me, is all.” Even if they didn’t always understand his side of things, even if their overbearing and overprotective nature had driven him to run away in the first place, even if they could be so damn stubborn about what was best for him... it came from a place of love. Luke had always known that.

“Nah,” said Han carefully. “They want what they think is best for you.”

Luke... was not prepared to consider the implications of that. After all that had happened in the last day, he would prefer to file that away for another time, when he was more equipped to handle something so heavy. So instead, he circled back. “You still haven’t told me what you said to Leia that made her so upset. She can be pretty quick to judge, sure, but she called you infuriating. That’s not nothing. So what else did you say to her?”

Han was looking a touch sheepish again. “Okay, fine, but before you say anything, keep in mind she did call me a ‘scruffy-looking nerf herder’ before I said any of this.”

“You are scruffy-looking,” Luke shot back, chuckling at the immediate offense that flashed across Han’s face. “It’s part of what attracted me to you in the first place.” He planted a quick peck on the smuggler’s cheek.

Trying to pretend he wasn’t blushing, Han pressed on. “Well, I mean, she insulted me a few more times. No good scoundrel was another one that stuck out. And, well, I kinda lashed out a bit. Suggested that maybe your family doesn’t know you quite as well as they think they do. That...” He winced. “Well I might’ve told her that they should all get their heads outta their asses and maybe actually listen to you once in a while.”

Luke blinked a few times, taken aback.

“She refused to talk to me, once I’d said that,” Han carried on, “except for a gruff ‘Here’ when we got to my room. Ended up kinda figuring I might’ve... kriffed up something.” He paused, seemingly examining Luke’s face for any hint of how he felt. “And hey. Maybe I did. But I mean... well. Like I said. Probably could’ve executed it a bit better. But I don’t regret what I said.”

“Han...” It was never going to be easy to introduce his boyfriend to his family, given just how different the worlds they occupied were, but Luke had been determined to make it work. So far, things had been... bumpy, to say the least, but one thing had become abundantly clear: he had people in his life who cared about him.

Sliding along the edge of his bed, he placed a hand on Han’s cheek, the other on the back of his head, and brought their foreheads together in a gentle embrace. Eyes fluttering closed, and they remained like this for a moment, then shifted and allowed their lips to brush -

“Ahem.”

Both men jerked away from each other, awkwardly, and Luke found himself scowling deeply in response to the interruption of their gentle moment. There was more to say, between the two of them, both about what had gone down and what was yet to come, but Leia’s stance in the doorway - feet shoulder width apart, hand planted firmly on hips, back stiff as a board - made it clear that she was not about to take no for an answer.

“If you two don’t mind,” she snapped, “can you save the kissing for later?” Luke rolled his eyes at her. “Mother and Father have insisted we spend the day showing...” The pause in her words was punctuated by the venomous look she shot towards Han. “Captain Solo around the capital. We are all to take the day off while they discuss certain matters.”

Luke knew what that meant. His parents were in disagreement after their conversation last night. When this happened, it was best for everyone to get out of the Palace while they figured out how they felt and what was to come next. Naturally, these nuances went over Han’s head, but while Luke wasn’t eager to explain them to him in front of Leia, he wasn’t about to let his guest be caught in the crossfire.

“Yeah, alright,” he conceded quickly, before either  of his room’s other occupants had the opportunity to interject. “I know some spots I think you’d like, Han.”

“Oh no,” Leia cut in, “the two of you aren’t getting away from me that easily. I’m supposed to keep an eye on you. I’m coming with you.”

Luke offered her his most winning smile. “I wouldn’t have expected anything less, sister dearest!”

She wrinkled her nose at him and, though she did not do so physically, he got the impression of her tongue being stuck out in his direction.”Let’s just get going. I’m dying for the opportunity to reconnect with you and... get to know Captain Solo better.”

“Alright!” Luke chirped. “It’s settled, then. Lead the way!”

Neither twin noticed the look of concern that washed over Han’s face.

***

Despite the awkward air between them, Luke was thrilled to have both his sister and his boyfriend with him as he reacquainted himself with Coruscant and the area around the Palace. Neither of them said much to one another, but the occasional exchange Luke shared with them made him grin from ear to ear, feeling both aspects of his life draw together.

Han had been to Coruscant, before, but those occasions had been rare. Even then, he’d only seen the lowest levels. Luke delighted in the expression he wore at seeing just how spectacular the planet was, up close. Even Leia’s icy expression melted a touch at just how overjoyed Han and Luke were, and he swelled a bit at that. He’d bring Leia around, he was sure; it was only a matter of time.

After wandering the streets for nearly an hour, however, Leia was beginning to grow a bit aggravated. As restless as Luke could get, he’d be happy to just roam about with Han at his side as they’d done on Ord Mantell, and he was overjoyed to have Leia along for the ride. His sister, on the other hand...

“Hey, Lu-Lu,” she cooed in her sweetest voice. Han sniggered, but Luke ignored it and raised his eyebrows to encourage her to continue. She was purposely trying to get a rise out of him in some form of revenge for their situation, but he wouldn’t stoop to her level. Leia’s nostrils flared ever so slightly, but her voice maintained its saccharine tone. “You know, brother mine, we’re awfully close to that one little cafe you like...”

“Lemme guess,” Han cut in, before Luke had a chance to respond. “He doesn’t touch the caf there. Or if he does, it’s less caf and more cream and sugar. But he’ll take the hot chocolate if he doesn’t need the boost.” Grinning smugly, he gave Luke a gentle nudge with his arm, which was returned by a sunny smile.

Leia regarded the boys coolly. “Yes. Clearly you know my brother well.” She linked her elbow with Luke’s and pulled him along. “C’mon. Let’s see if we can snag our usual table.”

Lagging behind the twins, Han jogged to catch up while Luke allowed himself to be dragged along by Leia. There was no fighting her when she was on a mission like this. She was, somehow, ridiculously strong when she wanted to be, and he didn’t dare try to break free.

Not that he minded, necessarily, but he did feel guilty leaving Han - who was his responsibility, after all - to lag behind.

Fortunately, despite Leia’s determination and the twins’ combined agility, Han’s proportionally longer legs allowed him to keep up with the two of them. It wasn’t long before their little trio was seated in a quaint, private little booth overlooking some of the more picturesque buildings below. Luke was flanked by Han and Leia, with Han wedged up against the wall. Only Leia had free access in and out of the booth, and it was abundantly clear that she’d engineered it to be this way. She made no comment as she sipped her caf, but the satisfaction was rolling off her in waves.

“Well!” Leia’s expression as she glanced between the two of them was akin to a tooka who had finally snared the prey it had been stalking for hours on end. “This is pleasant, isn’t it? We have a view, some drinks, and plenty of time... let’s talk, shall we?”

Beside him, Han shifted in his seat. “This the place you were always raving about back on Ord Mantell, Luke?” This was his attempt, however clumsy, at breaking the tension. Luke made a mental note to thank him, later, for trying.

“Yeah, Han. Let me know what you think of the caf.” Luke scowled at Leia as he took his own pointed sip of his hot chocolate. Setting down his mug, he raised a brow at her. “Talking sounds like a great idea, though, sis. What did you, Mother and Father get up to while I was away? I’m dying to know what I missed.”

After faltering a bit, Leia recovered quickly enough that her hesitation would go unnoticed by the casual observer; but Luke spotted it instantly. Han remained oblivious, and truly it was better that way. The last thing he needed was for either of them to have more ammunition to throw at one another.

“Oh, you know,” Leia replied, nonchalant in a way she seemed to have mastered, “the usual. The odd formal event. Several meetings. Keeping the galaxy from falling to pieces...”

Jabs like this would be the norm for some time, Luke knew, given just how bitter his sister was feeling about the whole situation. Still, he met her words with folded arms and a furrowed brow. “You seemed to have managed just fine without me.”

“Well,” she said, drawing out the word as she leaned back in her seat and stretched herself out, “you never were much one for the political side of things. We all know that much. Like it or not, the galaxy will continue to turn without you.”

“And yet,” Luke drawled, adopting a tone Leia often weaponized herself, “you all seemed to fall apart in my absence.”

That had struck a nerve. In an instant, Leia was sitting bolt upright again, glaring at him viciously through the narrow slits her eyelids had become. “Yes, Luke,” she all but growled. It was moments like this that she reminded him of their father. “Funny how that works, isn’t it? Almost as though we, your family, might have some reason - any reason at all, really - to care about your wellbeing. Or did you forget about that? Did our feelings just... slip your mind when you chose to go gallivanting across the galaxy with this - this scoundrel!”

“Hey!” Han slammed down his own mug and moved to stand before Luke placed a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back down. “I resent that,” he huffed as he settled back into his seat.

A flare of triumph flickered across Leia’s face, but the venom did not leave her eyes. “I’m sure that you do, Captain, and I appreciate the sentiment.” Her expression frosted over. “However, that does not change the fact I went weeks without hearing from my own brother. Weeks he spent away from home. With you.”

“Leia - ”

“No!” she barked. “Don’t you dare ‘Leia’ me. I’ve missed you, Luke! My heart has ached, missing you! And we’ve hardly had five minutes to reconnect since you’ve been home. I don’t blame you for leaving. I was upset about it, when it happened, but you said our birthday was the last straw, and I suspected as much. I even tried to explain that to Mother and Father - I tried talking to them, but they wouldn’t listen! And then, well - I was lonely. You left me behind. And I couldn’t sense you the way I have for the past twenty years. I felt lost. Then you came back with - with him, and you expect me to just... carry on as though nothing happened?”

Something within his sister had snapped. In the tense silence, neither of them dared to look at the third member of their party. They hadn’t wanted to subject him to this level of... familial intensity.

Closing her eyes, Leia sighed and rested her head in her hands. “I don’t want to lose you, Luke,” she mumbled, temper fizzling out as quickly as it had flared. “It feels like you’re pulling away, and...”

“I know.” His voice was barely above a whisper. He reached out to grasp her hand. “I’m sorry.”

“Hey.” Both twins snapped their heads, in unison, to meet the source of that voice. Han, who Luke was sure would rather be absorbed by the booth they were sitting in than endure this a minute longer, piped up. “Highness? Er, Miss Highness, that is.”

Luke had to clamp down on a smirk and a snigger while Leia’s expression grew icy as it turned to Han. “Yes?”

He’d grown familiar with the level of confidence that seemed to accompany a life of smuggling or piracy. He’d seen it in abundance on Ord Mantell. One especially audacious Weequay who’d tried to scam him sprung to mind. Even so, Luke was still in awe of the way Han held his ground against one of the most powerful women in the galaxy, in the face of one of the most awkward situations in history.

“Don’t mean to interrupt your little sibling spat here or anything,” the smuggler carried on, his voice remaining admirably steady, “but I think, again, you got your brother all wrong.”

The temperature dropped several degrees. “Go on.”

Despite his noticeable shudder, Han did. “He ain’t pulling away from you. Never was. Trust me. You feel distant? Maybe even like he’s trying to replace his family? Well, honestly, if that’s what he was doing, he might’ve actually shut up about them once in a while.” Luke shot him a sidelong glance, but didn’t interrupt. “Yeah, he never told me who you all were, but he went on at length about the fact that he had a sister, a twin, another half. Kept talking about how you do everything together, how he was enjoying freedom and being away, but hated being away from you. And y’know what? I don’t think he ever wanted to be so distant from you for so long.”

There was a moment of silence, which they all seemed to be struggling to fill, before Leia finally broke it. “How do you mean?”

“Well...” The word sounded as though it was being drawn from his mouth by force. “Thing is... the kid, uh... he talks in his sleep, sometimes.” Oh. That was news. “Not always, and not a whole lot, but it seemed to happen when he’d had a bad day, or been in a rough mood for one reason or another. And, every time, he’d say the same thing. Just one word... ‘Leia.’”

Both twins stared at him, speechless.

“For a while,” Han continued, “I worried I might have competition.” A wry smirk twisted his lips and a dry chuckle buzzed in his throat. “Then he finally told me his sister’s name and it all made sense.” The cheeky expression persisted for a moment longer, but it settled into sincerity as his eyes flickered between each sibling. “Listen. Princess. Your brother cares about you. And I ain’t lookin’ to change that. You aren’t exactly someone I’m hoping to get in the way of, anyhow. All I’m askin’ is that you trust he’s got enough room in that oversized heart of his for the both of us.”

Crimson heat spread across Luke’s cheeks, and though he avoided making eye contact with either of the people beside him, he reached for their hands and wove his fingers between theirs. To his right, he could sense his sister regarding his boyfriend carefully, picking through his words to examine their truth. When she was satisfied, her presence grew bright and she was grinning.

“Very well, Captain Solo. While I do not believe you know my own twin better than I do, I will concede that my own feelings may have clouded my judgement. I am not too proud to acknowledge my shortcomings.” She was admitting defeat. She only did that when she wanted something. “However, I do have a favour to ask, when we return to the Palace.” Here it was. “It isn’t much, really, I assure you. All I want is some time alone with my brother.” That was suspiciously innocent. Luke had a bad feeling about that. “Not an excessive amount of time, I assure you, but you must understand - the bond between twins is like no other. All I ask is the chance to rekindle that.”

Han glanced to Luke, clearly detecting a trap, and though he couldn’t shake the sense of foreboding hanging over him, Luke could only shrug in response.

“Okay. Sure. Fine by me.”

“Excellent! Let’s finish our drinks, handle whatever business we have left in the area, then return home. There’s still much to sort through, there, even if Mother and Father haven’t quite finished their conversation.”

He wasn’t sure what it was, but Luke could tell that something had shifted. It seemed he had brought Leia around after all, but there was still something else lurking beneath the surface. He was on the precipice of something significant between his family and his chosen companions, but time would be the main factor to determine what that meant.