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Cloud City was breathtakingly gorgeous. Tacky, but still gorgeous. Luke had never thought that the Rebel Alliance would lead him here, but he wasn’t complaining. It wasn’t the original plan, obviously. The original plan was to evacuate Hoth without the Empire discovering their location. That quickly went down the drain when the Imperials attacked. Han, Leia, Chewie, the droids, and Luke packed in the Falcon in a scramble. The Rebellion took a blow for sure. But all Luke was concerned about in the moment was where the galaxy would take them. There weren’t many places that could be considered safe for a group of rebels. (Especially a Jedi in-training, a smuggler with Jabba breathing down his neck, his equally as dangerous copilot, a wanted princess, and a few rebellion droids.) Han reassured him. He claimed to have a friend—Lando— who would help them out. Keep them safe. Luke was skeptical for good reason. He’d never heard Han talk about Lando or seen him anywhere. Then again, the galaxy is vast. And Luke is only one person. But still, he was worried. He knew he would end up folding, though. Luke trusted Han with his life. He didn’t need the Force to tell him Han genuinely believed Lando was a reliable option. ( Leia was the most skeptical.
She had asked Luke what he thought of Han’s proposal one quiet day on the Falcon.
“My gut tells me to trust him,” he said.
His sister sighed heavily and yanked at her braids. A habit she recently developed was stress braiding, which wasn’t all that bad.
“Mine does to,” she concluded after a few moments, “even if we’re walking into a trap blindly.”
Luke closed his eyes and blew air from his nose. If he could focus, he would be able to catch a glimpse of the future. A part of him didn’t want to, though.
Probably his heart.)
So, they ended up in Cloud City. Han and Lando clicked immediately which was a relief. Chewie told Luke about the story of the Falcon , and how it came to be in Han’s possession. The wookie was rightfully concerned for Han. It was fine though. Luke tried to ignore the uneasy feeling in his stomach from the moment they landed. Lando was warm and welcoming. He offered them clean clothes, fresh meals (not as good as Chewie’s, but still good), and their own rooms. Lando even hosted a party in some posh and expensive-looking bar. And Luke wanted to be grateful. It was just his better judgment and the Force that told him something wasn’t right. He had tried to tell Han, but the smuggler was swept up in the moment. Cloud City seemed like a second home to him and Lando his long-lost brother. The night dragged on with drinks and small talk. Leia was practically on top of Lando the entire time. Luke caught her gaze from across the party and rolled his eyes. You are unbelievable, he teased. Don’t Force-talk me now, I’m in the middle of something , she pouted. Luke laughed and his sister smiled from the bar cheekily, then turned away. Leia and Lando were obviously flirting, but drinking with moderation. Han, however, was utterly wasted. He was stumbling around, waving his drink in the air. Lando’s guests gathered around him and ate his drunken charisma up. Luke found it almost amusing. The young Jedi found himself walking towards the bar. Not that he could remember what happened next.
—
Luke’s head was aching and his stomach churned uncomfortably. He knew the feeling of a hangover, but this one was the worst of them all. Expensive liquor does more damage — something Luke forgot. After a few more moments of self-loathing, he focused on his surroundings with closed eyes. Luke quickly became aware of the breathing on his neck and the unfamiliar feel of the room. He cracked his eyes open tiredly. A soft light poured from the windows and flooded onto the floor. Luke noticed clothes thrown across the room carelessly and felt his chest tighten. “This is not my room,” Luke groaned under his breath. Of course. Only he would have gotten so drunk as to end up in a bed with a total stranger — “And that’s not your shirt either,” a voice rasped behind him. Luke knew who the voice belonged to in an instant. He just didn’t believe his ears. Looking down at his chest, he saw he was wearing a long sleeve white shirt. It seemed torn down the middle in a sharp “V” shape. It was Han’s shirt. “Don’t act so surprised, kid,” Han said. Luke could almost hear the smile in his voice. He hesitantly flipped over on his side to look at the other. Han’s hair was sticking upward wildly and his eyes were closed. He still had a fond smile on his face. “I’m not all that surprised really,” Luke replied, reaching up to card his hand through the brown unruly hair. Han opened his eyes slowly and yawned. Eyes the color of sweet milk chocolate peered at Luke with a hint of confusion. The smuggler had an eyebrow arched waiting for an explanation. The corner of Luke’s mouth pulled upward slightly. “Who can resist Han Solo?” The Jedi teased. After an amused snort, Han brushed his thumb over Luke’s cheek. He leaned in close and placed a kiss on the other’s nose. It was nothing more than a light peck, but it still made Luke feel like he was on top of the galaxy. “We’re takin this slow, Luke,” Han said with a sleepy slir. “So, this isn’t a one time thing?” Luke asked hesitantly. Han smiled and the corners of his eyes crinkled as he did so. He leaned forward slightly again and rested his forehead on Luke’s. “No, it’s not.”