Title: Hidden Talents
Rating: PG-14
Description: En route to Bespin, Han and Leia discover interesting secrets about one another.

Leia wandered through the lounge area of the Millenium Falcon. She was searching for that laser brained pilot that failed to notify her that he was shutting down the sonic shower. She had been right in the middle of her shower when the sonic rays simply disappeared. Given the fact that Han was constantly tinkering with one part of the ship or another, she suspected it was his fault. Of course, to him, nothing was ever his fault. 'Nerfherder,' she thought, storming toward the cockpit.

As she got closer, she could hear a voice. Obviously, it had to be Han's, but it sounded different. He wasn't yelling. Actually, he wasn't even talking.

He was singing. And he was damn good.

Hiding behind a corner, Leia decided to listed. She hated to admit it, but she was enjoying it. It was in a language she couldn't understand, but that didn't matter. It was beautiful, almost like a lullaby. His was a tenor, his voice flowed like liquid silk. She cocked her head to the side, let a small smile slip, and wondered if he would teach it to her. 'Yeah right,' she thought. 'He wouldn't be too happy if he knew I was listening.'

Even so, she suddenly yearned to see his face. To see what he looked like when he sang. Being the overly passionate man he was--Leia suddenly blushed, but chose to ignore it--he was probably very soulful about it. She tried to imagine his face, and what she saw all but made her melt. 'Oh, cut it out,' she berated herself. 'You're such a sap.'

He had finished the song, she realized, but she couldn't decide whether or not to approach him. 'Singer or not, he ruined your shower,' she reminded herself, and stepped forward into the cockpit.

He was still working on a panel and didn't see her. "Han," she called softly, announcing her presence. 'Softly?' she wondered. Wow, his voice really had her under a spell. She cleared her throat and tried again. "Han," she said louder, more firmly.

Han straightened from where he had been working. "Yes, Your Highnessness?" Although he used a nickname, his voice held no anger.

Leia rolled her eyes at him, then sighed when he started to chuckle. "Did you shut off the sonic systems?"

His brows wrinkled in confusion. "I don't think so. Why?" He turned more fully around so he was facing her. He grinned when he noticed that she was wearing one of his shirts. And no pants. "Ooh, looking good, princess," he said with a leer.

She shot him an angry glare, trying to ignore the fact that part of her enjoyed his compliment. "Yes, well...I was in the middle of a shower when the system shut down."

"Damn," he murmured. "Well, I'll get to that as soon as I'm done here."

"Thanks," she responded simply, wondering why it had been so easy to get him to cooperate. Shrugging it off she turned and headed out of the cockpit.

"Hey, you could thank me by letting me join you!"

Never mind.

***

When Han finished repairing the sonic systems, he set off to find the princess. She wasn't in the cockpit or the galley, so he headed down toward the lounge area. As he got closer, he could hear faint music drifting toward him. It was fast paced, sexy. 'No way,' he thought, an evil grin lighting his face. He hid behind a corner and peeked into the lounge area.

Han was floored. He watched the princess as she went through a series of stretches, stretches that required incredible flexibility. Although limited by the closed quarters, she didn't seem to have too much trouble. She stood on her toes and lifted one leg over her head, flush to her body. He was disappointed to find that she was now wearing pants. 'That woulda been interesting,' he thought, his eyes suddenly displaying hunger. 'Damn, shake it off, Solo,' he cautioned himself.

One thing he wasn't prepared for was her dancing. She began a series of moves, combined with a few more feats of flexibility, keeping in time with the music. Han couldn't believe what he was seeing. Leia was hot and, dare he think it, sexy beyond words. 'Leia?' he thought, stunned, but enjoying himself immensely. 'I mean, the princess? Damn!!' He yearned to just go over to her and start dancing with her. To feel her body move against his. Maybe even take her right there. 'Shit, Solo,' he berated himself again. 'Cool down!'

All too soon, the song ended. Leia performed a few cool-down stretches and shut off the stereo system. She had a towel on the couch nearby and she picked it up and wiped sweat from her face. 'You're killin' me, princess,' Han thought to himself. As she slung the towel over her shoulder, preparing to leave, he felt a sudden urge to go ahead and call her out. Why not? That's what he was best at. Well, one of the things he was best at, anyway.

His mind made up, he sauntered out of his hiding place and met her face to face. Surprised, Leia jumped and let out a little gasp. Composing herself, she stood straighter, demanding, "What do you want?"

'You, dammit,' he thought. "Just wanted to let you know the sonic systems are fixed."

Relaxing a little, she smiled. "Oh. Well, thanks."

"Y'know, you're a great dancer, princess," he blurted before she could run away.

Her eyes narrowed. "You were spying on me?" she inquired angrily, knowing full well that she was more embarrassed than anything else.

Han raised his hands in defense. "Hey, princess, you were the one dancing in the lounge area," he pointed out with a grin.

She had to smile at that. He was right, after all. "I was bored," she explained. "I had to do something."

"No problem with that," he responded, trying to keep from starting an argument, if only for a few minutes. "You were great."

She shook her head. "I just made that up," she explained shyly. "There isn't much room on this ship for any other dances I know."

'Oh, but there are a few I know, sweetheart,' he thought, trying very hard not to blurt it out. 'Man, being nice is hard!' "Well, I liked it," he offered.

She shifted uncomfortably. "Thanks," she responded quietly.

He flashed her a lopsided grin. "Well anyway, we're even now, sweetheart," he told her, knowing he'd blown his cover.

She looked up at him sharply, then smiled after a moment. "You knew I was listening, didn't you?"

"Of course," he explained. "I'm a scoundrel after all," she blushed again at that comment, "I have one ear open at all times."

She regarded him sheepishly. "Sorry for eavesdropping on you like that," she admitted, obviously enjoying the lack of arguments in their conversation.

Han shrugged it off. "Hey, don't worry about it." He leaned a little closer to her. "Did you like what you heard?"

She cleared her throat self consciously. "Y-yes. You were wonderful." He wasn't sure if it was his own proximity, or some naughty thought running through her mind, but she blushed again.

He chuckled softly. "Well, thanks, Leia. I'm glad you liked it," he rumbled, leaning even closer. "Think we should start a song and dance team?" His heart swelled at the sound of her soft laughter.

"I don't think so, flyboy," she answered on a laugh.

'Wow,' he thought. This was going good. But, he didn't want to push his luck. He leaned closer and kissed her cheek. He could hear her sudden intake of breath. Pulling back, he held out his hand to her. "You've gotta teach me some of those moves," he said with a smile.

Was that disappointment in her eyes? Nevertheless, she smiled back as she took his hand. "Only if you teach me that song you were singing," she countered.

"Deal," he said shaking her hand. Laughing together, they headed out of the lounge area.

"Now, about thanking me for fixing the sonic systems...."

"Ow!!"

End