Saga - OT TEMPER, TEMPER (THE LEIA-PAYS-HAN-BACK-STORY)

Author: Hopefulwriter
Rating: G
Star Wars Trilogy
Characters: Han Solo, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca,
Genre: Humor





A low grunt escaped Han Solo's lips as he exerted more pressure on the handle of a long claw-wrench which was fitted around a seemingly immovable harness bolt. The tool slipped off the stubborn fitting with a metallic clang and, with Han's strength behind it, just barely missed his forehead. The Corellian's favorite, and much practiced expressions of anger and frustration, spilled from his mouth as he once again grabbed the tool with both hands and scooted closer to the offending bolt. Han hated working under the lowest part of the FALCON'S belly; it was cramped and uncomfortable, but somebody had to make maintenance inspections when they were needed, and Chewbacca was even less able than his Captain to work in such a tight spot. Taking a deep breath, Han once more settled the wrench around the bolt.

Elsewhere, oblivious to Han's discomfort beneath the ship, Chewbacca deftly maneuvered his large, hairy hands around the maze of connection wires and cables in the ship's main power box. Just one last hook-up and there would be light in the cockpit again....he hoped. the Wookiee closely inspected the wires he held, not quite certain what would happen when he joined them. He was a more than competent repairbeing, but Han had rewired these systems so many times..,.upgrading the output to certain 'modifications' or just plain jury-rigging in emergencies....that Chewbacca had been quite unable to keep up with all the changes, and was not sure of what precisely went where. If he was correct in his assumption, the connection would restore power; if he was wrong, there would be yet another power failure somewhere else in the ship.

Shrugging his massive shoulders in a 'let's see' attitude, the Wookiee finally threw caution to the wind and joined the wires.....Nothing happened. At least it SEEMED that nothing he had anticipated had happened. The power did not return to the cockpit lightning system, but neither was there an obvious blow-out.

Conducted by some system of which Chewie had been unaware, the new circuit sent power out to the FALCON'S hull, in search ouf an outlet, a path to ground. It quickly found one..in the tool surrounding the harness bolt and the conductive flesh holding it.

Electricity gripped the smuggler's hands......he instantly jerked free of the charged wrench with a loud yelp of pain and surprise. Regaining his wits, Han grabbed the now-discharged tool and scrambed out from under the freighter. Catching a glimpse of the Wookie through the cockpit windows peering at the wires in his hands, Han gave full vent to his anger.

"Chewie!!!!" You simple-minded son of a simian shat! What're you tryin' to do...KILL me?? I TOLD you to wait with that until I'm finished checking that vent!" In his anger and pain, the Corellian flung the almost meter-long wrench out onto the floor of the bay. It slid noisily across the cool makreet stone and very nearly over the feet of Princess Leia Organa herself.

"HEY!" She squalked, turning in the direction from which the 'attack' had come. She saw Solo pacing beside his ship, rubbing his hands. As she neared, she could hear Han's choice vocabulary getting a rousing workout. "What's wrong?" She demanded, becoming a bit angry herself. "I come out here looking for Luke, and you nearly knock me over with that wrench."

"That...that....Wookie nearly fried me!" Han spat. "He knew I was working under the ship and he ground out the power box,.,.,and guess who was the ground?" He held out his still tingling, red palms for her to see.

Leia studied them. "There aren't any burns." She confirmed. "I'm sure Chewbacca didn't intend to hurt you."

She looked up at the Wookiee, who was shaking his shaggy head most emphatically. He knew his friend didn't mean what he was saying and that the outburst would cease as quickly as it had begun.

"It's all right, Princess." Han told her.

Leia, however, was not so forgiving. "No, it's not all right. There's no reason for you to lose your temper and throw things!" She admonished Han. "How do you expect us to keep up morale and camraderie if you're always blowing up over everything? You're a grown man, Solo, surely there are other ways for you to express displeasure...something more constructive than throwing a childish tantrum!"

Han blinked at the profusion of words that came from the woman. "You've been spending too much time with that gold-plated imitation of a human being." He told her.

"Threepio?" Leia didn't understand the comparison.

"You're beginning to sound just like him....pompous."

She ignored the jibe. "You shouldn't have spoken to Chewbacca like that." She insisted.

Han looked at his sullen partner, who was finishing his job on the power box, obviously trying to stay clear of the entire argument. He would apologize to Chewie later...he was secure enough in their friendship to know that his partner/friend had understood his outburst and had not taken the harsh words to heart. The Princess however....

"How are your hands?" Leia asked, suddenlty...solicitiously..changing the subject.

Han flexed his fingers freely. "They don't hurt as much now."

"How about something to drink then? The commissary's still open." She was obviously coaxing, for no reason could he see...especially considering the lecture she had just given him...but, he was not about to argue on those rare occasions when she decided to treat him pleasantly.

"All right." He agreed.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

The make-shift commissary was nearly empty. There were only a few orange-suited rebel pilots there, lingering over cups and conversation.

"It's good for you and Chewbacca to get away from one another, once in a while." Leia told Han as they filled their mugs and moved through the shadowy room to a table. "In close quarters, tempers can be short even between the most patientf people."

Han made no issue of her inference; he was just the opposite. "Chewie knows I don't mean it,." He replied, sipping at the steaming liquid in his cup. It was hot...too hot. It burned his mouth and tongue; he reacted with a few scalding profanities.."Sham! That stuff's hotter'n the Blue Flames of Nehra's four Hells!"

"Han!" Leia wasn't particularly embarrassed, but she was acutely aware of the attention he had drawn toward them. Several rebels at one table turned in their direction. Upon seeing who was responsible for the ruckus, one pilot nudged the fellow beside him...a moment later, they all laughed, then quiety returned to their talk.

"See?" The Princess began. "You always lose your temper and spout some of the worst language ever heard!"

"I don't always lose my temper. Han defended himself. "I'm just....outspoken."

"Ha. You couldn't go one standard day without some kind of outburst. It's second nature to you."

Han's hazel eyes narrowed mischeviously. "You wanna make that a bet? I'll take you up on it if the stakes are high enough."

Leia thought for a moment, drawing a pensive finger across her chin. She wasn't going to be outsmarted by this cocky, self-assured, freelance pilot, by refusing to accept his challenge.

"All right." She agreed, leaning back in her chair. She took a sip from her mug, breathed deeply and cleared her throat before speaking. "If you can keep from losing your temper for one standard day...until this time tomorrow, I'll see to it that your ship is completely reworked, repaired and updated with any new equipment you want....free of charge."

Solo arched his brows in surprise at the generosity of her offer. Tempting as it was, there was only one thing he liked better than the thought of refurbishing the FALCON...and Leia had unwittingly placed herself in the position of giving it to him, if she was SERIOUS about the bet.

"That's a very tempting offer, your Regalness." He admitted, leaning his arm on the table and smiling. "But since the bet involves something I have to do PERSONALLY, how about making the stakes something I'd benefit from personally if I can pull it off?"

She considered it for a moment, wary of the unnerving look in the pirate's eyes. "You have something else in mind?" She questioned.

He straightened in his chair and waited until a couple of exiting rebels had passed their table before speaking......"An entire evening with you....alone."

The Princess' eyes widened, then protested immediately. "That's out of the question!" She was angry with herself for allowing this matter to get out of hand. "I couldn't possibly allow that."

"Why not." Han taunted. "After all, if you're so convinced that I can't keep from losing my temper for one day, you've got nothing to worry about, right?"

She fidgited uneasily. Finally, she surrendered. "All right...I'll take you up on that. You keep from getting angry, and I'll spend tomorrow night with you......alone."

Han smiled. He'd won and lost many, many bets in his adventurous life, but never one with so sweet an ante.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Dawn came quickly the next day. Han was still in his bunk in his quaarters on the base, pondering the next hours and his collection of a well-deserved reward, when he was interrupted.

"Captain Solo...Captain Solo.." The muffled summons was accompanied by a sharp rap on the door.

"Yeah." He rose, wrapping the lightweight blanket around him. He opened the door......and there stood C3PO with a bundle of clean clothes.

"Mistress Leia told me to deliver these to you promptly, as you had a busy day ahead of you,."

Han smiled. So, Leia was up and ready to cover his every waking moment, just waiting for him to slip. He took the clothes with a nodded thanks.

He dressed quickly, but carefully, making sure there were no hidden tricks in the the clothes.
The long walk down the corridor to the mess hall was uneventful.....until....

He turned a corner. A maintenance worker was cleaning the floor and had left a bucket of hot, soapy water just around the turn, precisely where someone rounding the corner would collide with it. Han did just that, tripping over it soundly. Suds and water splashed over his freshly-cleaned pants as he struggled to regain his footing. "Why don't you watch where...." He caught himself in mid-sentence as Leia turned the corner behind him. The Corellian smile sheepishly.

"Having trouble?" She asked with exaggerated sweetness.

"No...." Han slapped the foam from his slacks. "No trouble." He assured her and wisely bit his tongue to keep from saying any more.

"Good." She answered curtly and continued down the hall.

The smuggler grimaced and began mumbling to himself as he resumed his walk to the commissary. This 'new' Solo would definnately take a little more conscious effort.

"Hey, Solo!" Wedge Antilles called once he had reached the mess hall. "Luke wants you to meet him in the docking bay when you're finished."

He was being quite friendly; Han had no reason to suspect him, so he thanked Wedge for the message and went to eat his breakfast alone. He was keenly aware, however, that Leia was watching him from where she sat with several female officers, just a few tables away.

When he was done, Han consulted the military clock on the commissary wall. Then, with a sly smile, he flashed eight fingers at the Princess, signifying the number of hours left to go before the end of their wager.

As he took his tray to the cleaning area, Leia turned her head away quickly, not wanted Han to see the undignified blush that crept across her cheeks.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Hey, Luke...did you want to see me about something?" Han approached the young Jedi, who was sitting on a large cargo crate near the FALCON.

"Sure did. The guys in supply want you to check out this part as soon as possible. They couldn't get what you'd asked for, so they wanted to know if this could subtitute for it." He patted the crate, rising.

Together, the two men tore away the top and one side of the box. They scarcely had it open when Han shook his head. "There's no way I can use this on the FALCON." He sighed. "They'll just have to send it back and get the part I requested."

Luke held out the reject slip for Han to sign. "That'll take about a solar month." He pointed out.

"A month!" Han yelled. "I can't wait that long. I've got to have that part right now. I can't keep my ship shut down for that long. What if the base is hit by Imperials? I wouldn't even be able to get her off this dust ball, and I sure as......." He stopped mid-sentence, nearly choking on the rest of the unsaid words, when he saw Leia casually strolling along the bay crosswalk, a devious smile on her pretty face. Han smelled a set up. He continued as if the conversation had never been interupted...
"Of course it'll be all right. What's a month's wait to get the part you need? Tell them that'll be just fine...so long as they get the right one." He gritted his teeth in an effort to control his rising annoyance. Leave it to her Worshipfulness to play dirty.

Luke was confused by Solo's abrupt change of behavior...until he saw Leia approach them.

"That was close, Han." She said, passing them both on her way out of the bay.

When she was gone, Luke grinned. "You almost blew it then."

"Almost?" You know about the bet?

"Leia told me." Luke confessed. There's a lot of interest. Some of the guys are even making side-bets."

"Side-bets?" Han could hardly believe that something private had gotten to be so public, but he had to ask...."In who's favor?"

Luke laughed shortly. "Leia's."

You mean nobody around here believes I can keep from losing my temper for a day?"

"Not at the rate you're going now, pal." Luke had to admit, with a friendly slap on Han's back.



Just then, Chewbacca ambled out of the FALCON, carrying a small box of docu-tapes he was taking back to the media-room. Han saw his shaggy friend and remembered some unfinished business he needed to clear up between them.

"I'll take this slip to the Acquisitions Officer for you." Luke offered as he headed out of the area. Han let him go with a nod, then headed after Chewbacca, stopping him.

"Uh...Chewie.." He began, avoiding the Wookiee's questioning gaze as he spoke. "About yesterday....I didn't mean any of those things I said." He raise his eyes. "I'm sorry, pal,."

Chewbacca barked a reply and gave Han's arm a reassuring shake.

"I know I didn't HAVE to apologize." He replied. "But, just knowing I didn't have to made me WANT to." It was well-meant, and Chewie let it go at that.

"Did you hear what Luke said?" Han asked as they started walking toward the media-room. The Wookie shook his head. "Some of the people on base are betting against my being able to keep my temper for a day." Chewbacca nodded acknowledgment and barked a comment.

Han's eyes brightened, encouraged. "You made a bet, too? Thanks for the vote of confidence, pal."

Chewbacca added another short comment, one Han couldn't believe. "You bet AGAINST me?! Aw.....Chewie."

The Wookiee laughed and sauntered on down the hallway, leaving a gaping Solo alone.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

'Just two more hours.' Han muttered to himself with a sigh. He had kept himself busy and away from anyone or anything that might upset or make him angry. Soon, he would have completed an almost impossible...for him, at any rate...feat. He decided to search for Leia and begin to make plans for the evening.

That was his mistake......,.

He found Leia in the rec-center. Luke and Chewbacca were engaged in an intense game of Das-el as Threepio watched from the side, giving silent clues. Confident, the Corellian slipped beside Leia, who was seated at the beverage counter and was mixing herself a mineral shake.

"Well....your Highness....Looks like I've kept my temper, doesn't it?"

Leia sipped her sweet/sour orange drink. "You sure have." She agreed. "..so far."
"There's still about a hour to go."

"What could happen in that short time? Besides, I've learned to handle things that come up unexpectedly without flying off the handle." He smile cockily as he reached for a bottle of ale.

For a while, nothing was said. They sipped their drinks and watched Luke and Chewie finish their game. When it was over, Han spoke again. "Have you made any plans for our evening together?"

"I'm glad you brought that up." She began, swivelling around to face him. "I'm afraid you'll have to wait to collect your bet. Something important has come up and I have to leave immediately on a diplomatic trip. I'll be gone at least a week."

Luke and Chewbacca joined them at the counter. "What's wrong, Han,." Luke asked. "You look
kinda sick."

Han gestured for Luke to be quiet. "Wait a minute!" He said, turning on Leia. "Let me get this straight, you mean I've been behaving like a saint all day long for nothing?" His face redded with anger....feelings he had been keeping bottle up all through this very miserable day were ready to explode. "You knew all along that you'd be going on that trip?"

"Of course." She answered coolly. "All's fair in love and war.....and bets."

"Why you conniving little,.,.," Han abandoned his attempts to control himself. "That's why you agreed to the bet? You weren't going to pay off anyway?"

Leia and the others watched as Han reverted to his 'normal' self right before their eyes. "When I make a wager, I expect it to be honored!." He spouted.

"I whole-heartedly agree." She said. "I do believe a bet should be paid when it's won. But, Han."
She patted his arm. "You just lost."

"That's right." Luke pointed out with amusement. "There's still forty five minutes left to go on the bet....and you just lost your temper."

"Lost it!" Han raged. "Was cheated out of it, you mean.,.."

The Princess casually slipped from the stool and headed for the door.

"Where are you going!?" Han demanded.

"I have some bets to collect." She told him with a wink. That only caused Han to fume and curse even more than before.

Chewbacca shook his shaggy mane, making comments about the 'sore loser' sputterings of his friend. He had to admit that Han had a right to get at least a bit angry...it hadn't quite been a fair bet. He was sure the Corellian would see the joke of it by morining, or by the time the Princess returned. In the meantime, however, he needed a bit of calming down. As the others watched, the Wookiee grasped a pitcher of ice water from the bar and proceeded to pour every last drop of it over Han's head.

Breathless from the biting cold, Han fell silent immediately. Luke and Chewbacca laughed at Leia's last comment as she went out the door.

"I KNEW there had to be ONE sure way to cool off a Corellian!"

 

Han should have known better than to make the impossible bet!

Great job on this

 

Hopefulwriter - I absolutely adore these great H/L vigs! The tone between them and the characterization is right on the mark! The two of them in the OT is just too fun not to play with!

 

That was hilarious

Leia played dirty to get out of the bet.

 

Thanks for the laughs! This was absolutely crazy, in a good way! Leia set up the bet and had everybody who was usually a trigger for Han, more or less, work against him...solely to deliver him the final blow herself. Ahahahahahahaahaha! And he obviously can't stand Threepio, doesn't like it when things are not working and does not like the idea of Luke controlling the situation.

How do you expect us to keep up morale and camraderie if you're always blowing up over everything?

Now, THAT made me laugh out loud. BWAHAHAHAHA!

And wow, Chewie sure has nerves! I would have lost it by then.