Small Comfort [Han/Leia, PG]

[were-lemur.livejournal.com]

Title: Small Comfort
Author/Artist: were_lemur
Rating: PG (for offscreen planetary destruction)
Word count: 208
Summary: OT, Han/Leia: hurt/comfort after Alderaan's destruction--all alone in the night.


He found her staring out the viewpoint at the swirling clouds of hyperspace. She looked as if she was a thousand light-years away. Han watched her, wishing he could find something to say.

I'm sorry your world and everyone on it -- your whole family -- were reduced to component atoms.

But that was too harsh.

While he was contemplating, Leia finally noticed him. "Han, how long -- "

"I'm sorry," he blurted.

She nodded slowly.

"I mean, if there'd been anything that I could've done -- "

"But there wasn't." Her voice was hard, and cold as the space between stars.

"No. But I thought, maybe ... "

She pushed herself to her feet, brushed by him.

"Look, Leia, I -- " Now or never. "I wish I knew what to say. But I don't. I don't think there's anything I can say. But I just wanted to let you know -- I'm here for you."

She stopped. Turned around. Stared at him as if she'd never really seen him before. To his surprise, she fell into his arms, and let out a choked sob, and then another. He felt her tears soak his shirt, and rubbed her back.

It seemed he didn't need words after all.

Comments

[luminations.livejournal.com]

"Reduced to component atoms" made me snicker. Sounds a little better than "blown to bits," actually!

Nice sweet ficlet.

[were-lemur.livejournal.com]

Han's all about the turn of phrase. Fortunately he managed to keep his foot out of his mouth this time.

[ring34-ani.livejournal.com]

Wonderful story and so heart-tugging that even then she'd sensed Han was someone she could lean on in times of trouble.

[were-lemur.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[pronker]

They both sounded in character, lots of stiffness on both their parts but the sheer magnitude of the event would bring them both out of their comfort zones. Good!

[were-lemur.livejournal.com]

Thank you! (Nothing like planetary destruction to bring people together.)

[emavalexis.livejournal.com]

Lovely 'missing scene' here. As ever, you manage to pack so much emotion into so few words.

Excellent work.

[were-lemur.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad it worked for you; I was a bit afraid that it was a bit too much emotion. ;)

[suzotchka1.livejournal.com]

Loved it!

[were-lemur.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[saucysushi.livejournal.com]

Gah. I love Han's plain-spoken comfort. <3

[were-lemur.livejournal.com]

Thanks! (Han and Leia are a bit of a challenge to write, due to the banter. But sometimes fewer words are better.)

[seal-girl.livejournal.com]

Less is certainly more here - I really liked this little "moment" between them. What would you say to someone who is the sole survivor from a whole planet??

*enjoys for fish*
Sealgirl

[were-lemur.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm glad it worked for you.