Not all of the people reading your x reader fics have white skin
Just a gentle reminder before you write characteristics that assume whiteness and exclude your black/indigenous/poc supporters-specifically in 'x reader' works.
I love and appreciate writers, but this is a recurring avoidable issue (going on for decades now).
"your dusky pink nipples" "your face turned just as red as his" "he could see the blush on your face" âyour cheeks furiously blushedâ âyour ears burn bright redâ âThe look in your reddened faceâ âyour knuckles white with effortâ âbruised purple against your light skinâ
Describing the physical feeling instead of the visual change helps include your readers while also elevating your writing IMO.
Anyone can say "Your cheeks turned red with embarrassment" or "Your face flushed" but wouldn't you rather say "A burning heat rushed across your face, from your neck to the tip of your nose, prickling right underneath the surface. You look anywhere but him, hoping your newfound interest in the buildings ceiling tiles will ease the fire tightening beneath your skin" And instead of the other character pointing out that the readers face is red, they can point out the obvious flustered facial expression/body language.
If you want your reader insert to have white/fairskin, then just label them white!reader or put the mention in the warnings/summary.
âŞI have reached out to writers I favored/supported before and sometimes I have been met with severe hostility and defensiveness. I often wonder if people are doing this purposefully or for some reason think only white people read their fanfics (?)-if that's the case then be upfront and label your reader inserts as white!reader or something PLEASE. Itâs gotten to the point where I feel like black women and other POC arenât wanted or considered in these fandoms because it comes off like that in your writing. If you need a different motivation, just know you're missing out on more interactions, reblogs, and a bigger reader base. I donât know why white is the default for so many writers in unspecified x reader/reader insert fics-the people on your blog following, reading, and supporting you arenât all white and fair-skinned.
I am not talking about OC fics or fics where race/skintone is x specified in summary or warnings. This is specifically about unspecified "x reader" where whiteness is assumed as the default
Put in the comments good replacements for writers to use!
Things I learned about Qui-Gon after reading Master and Apprentice
I recently read this book and I'm so obsessed. Here are some specific, niche things I learned about Qui-Gons character, for those who write him or simply love him. I love the details. Spoiler warnings for the book!!
Qui has two hobbies, ancient languages and ancient prophecies (pg, 50). He was showed the archives by Rael, but Dooku helped foster this knowledge and interest in him, despite initially being wary of the dangers of propechies.
Qui constantly, and I mean constantly throughout the book, felt like he was failing Obi-Wan and that he wasn't doing enough for him. He rarely viewed Obi-Wans fault as his own, but rather a result of his failure to teach him. There's so many quotes of this but these kill me "As always during those moments, Qui-Gon felt a pang of guilt. Obi-Wan had such potential, such promise. He deserved a Master who could bring it out of him" (pg 21). "How do I fix this? Can I? Obi-Wan deserves no less" (pg 22). "How can I presume to do well on the council when I am failing as a Master?" (pg 69). "i've been feeling as though I were - not poison to Ibi-Wan, but completely incapable of helping him" (pg 159). "I have failed Obi-Wan" (167). AND THIS IS THE WORST ONE OH MY GOD. Obi-Wan tells Qui-Gon to save himself, essentially trying to sacrifice himself. Which Qui-Gon thinks to himself, " This is the boy who believed I found him unworthy as an apprentice. The one I failed to tell about the most significant change in my life, and maybe his. I don't deserve him. I never have" (pg 2312). Good FORCE my friends that quote made me cry.
He was frightened of losing Obi-Wan, having seen Masters lose their padawans before. "After four years of training Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon could understand that losing a padawan would be one of the most intensely painful things a Master could endure" (83.) He sort of blamed Rael for his padawan Nim's death, saying "Bad enough to be recklesss with your own life, but criminal to be reckless with anothers. Worst of all to be reckless with your padawans" (pg 88). This shows Qui-Gon had a strong sense of responsibility for life other than his own, particularly Obi-Wans life.
Most Jedi Masters rooms are bare, but Qui likes to collect a little trinket or item from each of his missions and put them on display in his room. His quarters were described as "individual in a way few things in the temple are" (pg 52). Which I think perfectly describes Qui as a character. I think part of this, is his own lil way of rebelling against councils notion of attachment. He says later in the novel, when asked why he holds onto physical things, that he likes to remember and that in the end memories are the only thing left (pg 299). However in the end, he gives a diamond given to him by a lost friend (maybe lover??) to Rahara, thinking that "he didn't need the diamond to preserve that within his heart. In the end, the memories were what mattered" (pg 422).
He was in love. When he caught Rael in bed with a woman, he waited until the woman left than basically scolded Rael, asking if he had forgotten himself. Rael began to say, as if you have never, then Qui said "There is a difference, between falling in love and simply giving oneself liscence to do as one pleases" (pg 156). Rael replies that thats actually worse, and brings up that what Qui did on Felucia was way more against the code. Then "Qui-Gon tensed. Those words cut deep- or at least the memories did" (pg 156). Rael notices the pain and doesn't bring up names, switching the subject. This implies he was in love on Felucia, and somehow this love ended or person may have passed.
Qui was practically an empath lol. "That was another thing Obi-Wan had always respected about Qui-Gon: his compassion. Obi-Wan wasn't uncaring, at least he hoped not, but sometimes it took him longer to see when someone was hurting, or what they might truly need. Qui-Gon seemed to instinctively know these things" (pg 111).
He admits his fault easily and this is something Obi-Wan admires. "Qui-Gon had always been quick to admit his own faults and errors, a kind of humility rarer among the jedi than it should have been" (pg 87).
His favourite place to meditate is the Jedi temple gardens. Oh this man loves his plants. "Qui-Gon, however, felt steadiest when anchored to life (as opposed to other masters who meditate in the meditation chambers or training rooms). So he'd gone to the Temple gardens" (pg 61). I love this because is shows how connected he is to the LIVING force
When he's frustrated with the council he thinks he should have been one of the jedi temple gardeners instead lol. "I ought to have been one of the temple gardeners" (pg 62).
He loves questions that are challenging, and he doesn't pretend to know all the answers. "There were few things Qui-Gon loved more than a good question. Sometimes Obi-Wan thought that if he just never stopped asking questions, his whole apprenticeship would've gone much more smoothly" (pg 52).
Putting his hands on his belt is a sort of defensive body language for him. "Qui-gon put his hands on his broad belt, the way he did when he was beginning to withdraw into himself" (pg 75).
He meditates while fighting. This is hinted at in this quote but discussed more in detail later as Obi-Wan finally succeeds at it, something Qui is very proud of. "His robe and hair spun with every move he made, and when Obi-Wan glimpsed his face, he saw only serenity. Complete calm" (pg 320).
He's an idealist, who sees the good in everyone. Rael says to him "You always had a weakness for seeing what you wanted to see, Qui-Gon. Always were a soft touch for a sad story" (pg 267). This is meant as in insult in the context, but there's likely truth to it.
Slavery especially troubled Qui-Gon and this is likely why he believed in Anakin so much. He'd encountered slavery before, but the mission on Pijal made him more passionate about this. He questioned why the Jedi didn't do more for the vulnerable, especially those enslaved. He argued with the council about the cruelty of the slavery on Pijal, saying " If we don't stand for the right , what do we do? Why do we exist?". "(on pijal) he first began arguing that the Jedi should push the Republic harder on combating slavery. Never had Qui-Gon stopped arguing this to anyone who would listen" (431).
The only time Qui-Gon ever slightly raised his voice in the whole book is when Obi-Wan accused or suggested that his strong belief in the prophecy might lead him to the dark side. "'I'm not turning to the dark side" Qui Gon snapped. "Not every disagreement with Jedi orthodoxy turns you into a Sith lord overnight" (pg 301).
The propechies weren't dangerous to him because he didn't seek to change fate, he just wanted to understand the force. When denying his offer to sit on the council, Qui-Gon states he wants further time to meditate and focus on the living force and prophecies. "That in the end was why the propechies weren't dangerous to him, not ion the same way they'd been to others who'd been led to darkness. The danger came in thinking that knowing the future became a form of control over it. Finally, Qui Gon knew it was the exact opposite. \knowing the future meant surrendering to fate. Surrendering to the ebb and flow of life. Only throw that surrender could the Force be truly known" (pg 426).
Indirect facts about him
Obi-Wan was protective of Qui-Gon despite often disagreeing with him. He was offended that Yoda voted against Qui being on the council. "Yoda voted against my master? Obi-Wan felt the rejection as sharply as though he had been the one found wanting, not Qui-Gon. The divide between them had somehow made Obi-Wan treasure his Master more, not less" (pg 307). This also hurt Qui-Gon when he learned it, as he described it as a kick in the gut (pg 85).
Dooku used to invite Qui-Gon to formal dinners in his private quarters and wear his best robes. ;') "It had always been nice when he was invited to eat dinner with his Master. Dooku had made a formal occassion out of it.... As usual the table was set with good glasses and dishes, and Dooku wore one of his better robes" (pg 379).
Rael Aveross trusted him more than anyone, referring to him as the "sharpest jedi (he's) ever worked with" (pg 78).
I could make so many of these, half the book is covered in green highlighter.
your university roommate han solo finds a rival (and love interest) in student council president leia skywalker, but both of them are too stubborn to admit that they have feelings for each other. luckily, you and her twin brother, luke, devise a plan to get the two of them to spend more time together. challenges arise, however, when you start to develop a crush on him.
chapter warning: mentions of drugs and alcohol
a/n: part two as promised! more parts to come after this!
Things were not okay. For Han to supposedly hate this girl, he was up your ass about cleaning, freaking out about the slightest item being out of place or the smallest smudge being on the counter. He had vacuumed the floor twice already, remarking that he didnât want Leia to think she was better than him because his living room was messy. You had to fight the urge to roll your eyes, and he was really starting to get on your last nerve before a knock at the door interrupted the argument youâd been having. Eyes wide, he shoved the vacuum cleaner in the hall closet, concealing the evidence that heâd cared enough to clean in the first place, and took a deep breath, walking over to the door and opening it.
Leia was, to put it simply, one of the most breathtaking women youâd ever seen. Her hair was styled into a single braid that rested neatly on her shoulder, and she wore a beautiful white sundress that, despite being relaxed in appearance, was probably worth more than your entire closet. She wore a dainty necklace with matching earrings, and a little pink cardigan to fight off the evening chill. Her nails were perfectly manicured, and you could smell the soft, floral scent of her perfume from where you were standing. You supposed Leia Skywalker had to dress nicely no matter where she went, but in the back of your mind, a small suspicion lingered.
âHan,â she huffed, glaring at him as she stood in the doorway, âArenât you gonna let me in? Itâs cold out here.â
Evidently, something had distracted him, but he was pulled from his thoughts by Leiaâs voice.
âSorry, your highness,â he spat, moving to the side to let her in, âHope my shack is up to your standards.â
He shut the door behind her, and you had known Han Solo long enough to recognize that he was nervous. You brushed it off as him being uncomfortable with his sworn enemy seeing a vulnerable part of him such as his home, but again, you were growing suspicious.
âItâs nice,â she said, looking around, and when her eyes landed on you, her demeanor totally shifted, âOh! Iâm so sorry, I didnât realize you were here! Han told me he had roommates, but I didnât realizeâIâm sorry. Iâm Leia.â
Her smile was bright, and she held out her hand for you to shake. You stifled a giggle when you made eye contact with Han, but you greeted her warmly anyway, introducing yourself.
âDid you do the decorating?â she asked, looking intently at everything on your walls.
âHan and Chewie helped a little, but yeah, it was mostly me,â you explained.
âItâs really cute,â she told you, her tone sounding genuine, and you beamed at her. Han rolled his eyes.
The two of you talked some more, and you found yourself really liking Leia. She was sweet, and she seemed genuinely interested in what you had to say. You told her a little bit about your major, and when you mentioned being a transfer, she even asked if you had been adjusting well.
âGlad youâre getting along, but didnât you come here to do a project, Princess?â Han interrupted, his arms crossed. You mightâve been imagining things, but you thought you saw a faint blush on her cheeks in response to the nickname. You raised an eyebrow at Han, but said nothing.
âIt was nice meeting you,â Leia told you, walking back to the dining room table and putting her bag down.
Han pulled a beer from the fridge, sitting down across from her and taking out his notebooks.
âYouâre drinking already? We havenât even started,â Leia said, sounding annoyed.
âSorry, Princess. Didnât realize I needed your permission to drink in my own house,â he snapped, and no, you werenât imagining things. She was totally blushing.
Leaving them to bicker and research, you went back to your room, shooting Chewie a quick text:
you: i think this girl LIKES him and he is just too much of an asshole to see it
A minute later, your phone dinged.
chewie: bruh i thought thatâs what may have been going on. heâs so stupid
chewie: keep eavesdropping tho i want updates
You laughed quietly to yourself, deciding to give them as much privacy as you could for the next couple of hours.
chewie: do u still want pizza? heading home soon so i can pick some up
You had fallen asleep, and the house was quiet when you woke up to Chewieâs text message. Curious, you decided to make the journey back into the kitchen. When you arrived, you were surprised to see that Leia and Han were no longer sitting across from each other, but that he had moved his chair to be right next to hers. They were looking over some kind of document on his laptop, Leia typing notes on her own as he scrolled through the pages. They truly were just studying, but they were sitting so close to each other that you felt your suspicions had been confirmed. Feeling like you were interrupting something, you cleared your throat to announce your presence, the two of them startling at the noise and looking over at you.
âSorry to bother you guys while youâre studying,â you apologized, âBut I wanted to ask if you were staying for dinner, Leia. Our other roommate is gonna bring home some pizza on his way back from class. We were thinking of watching a movie and having some drinks, if youâre interested.â
You knew Han Solo, and you knew that he was too stupid to realize that Leia might actually not despise him, so you were hoping to wingman for him a bit.
Leia looked genuinely conflicted for a moment before signing sadly, offering you a polite smile as she spoke, âThat actually sounds really nice, but I promised my brother Iâd watch The Shining with him tonight.â
âThatâs what we were gonna watch! You could invite him, if you wanted!â you blurted, and Han shot you a mean look that you assumed meant to back off before you embarrassed him. You guys were not supposed to watch The Shining tonight, but you were worried that if Han and Leia couldnât spend some quality time together outside of homework, theyâd resort right back to their bickering come next week, and Han would never realize that the reason for their tension might be because she liked him.
âKid, she already saidââ he began, but Leia cut him off.
âReally?â she asked, grinning when you nodded, âThatâd be great! I think youâd like him a lot, actually.â
That comment made Han raise his eyebrows a little, but he just sighed and gave you a look that you couldnât quite decipher. Grinning at him, you texted Chewie back with an order for pizza and told him a little bit about your wingmanning in the process.
Chewie showed up with dinner shortly after, introducing himself to Leia with a quick word or two. She seemed to catch on to the fact that he was quiet, which you were grateful for, and the four of you started making plates for yourselves.
âThereâs uh, beer in the fridge,â Han mumbled to Leia, an attempt at being a good host.
Before you could snicker at his awkwardness, there was a knock at the door.
âOh, that must be my brother!â Leia said excitedly, heading over to the door.
When she opened it, you felt your breath catch in your throat. There stood Luke Skywalker, wearing a tan sweater that was slightly too large for him and a pair of beat up Converse that looked much too worn for someone of his tax bracket. His blond hair looked like it had been professionally styled to appear boyish and fluffy, but knowing the Skywalker genes, you guessed it was probably just naturally that perfect. His eyes were a vibrant blue and shone even in the poor lighting, and his nose was lightly dusted with freckles, likely due to practicing soccer outdoors. His smile was most captivating, though, and you felt the room light up as he beamed at you.
âHi!â he said excitedly, holding up a bag, âI brought donuts.â
The boyâs cheery disposition greatly contrasted Leiaâs professionalism, but she didnât seem to be bothered by it, pulling him into a side hug. Of course the Skywalker twins would be siblings who actually got along.
âYou must be Han,â he exclaimed, turning his attention to your roommate, and you briefly wondered how he knew who Han was, as Chewie was still hovering by the counter. Did Leia show him Hanâs social media? Did she describe him? Again, you were suspicious.
âUh, thatâs me,â the other man replied, awkwardly shaking Lukeâs hand.
âIâve heard a lot about you.â
Han sputtered, and immediately you made eye contact with Chewie, who was hiding a smile behind his hand.
âOh, um, only good things, I hope,â he replied, scratching the back of his neck.
âNah, mostly bad!â Luke said happily, placing his bag of donuts down on your kitchen counter, âThatâs alright, though. Thanks for inviting me.â
You couldnât stop yourself from laughing at that, Leia and Han both clearly embarrassed by the interaction, and you wondered if Luke had known that his sister might be interested in the senior or if he was just totally oblivious. When you caught his eye, though, there was a hint of mischief in his gaze, and his smile looked a bit too much like a smirk from this angle. The two of you were playing a similar game, then.
You all chatted a bit at the counter as you got your food, and after you grabbed a drink, you decided to investigate Lukeâs donuts. When you read the name on the box, your breath hitched, recognizing it as the fancy bakery located in the heart of the city. The Skywalkers probably lived in some sort of penthouse nearby, and Luke had picked up the donuts on the way here. You began to feel a little nervous, the fiscal barrier between you and the Skywalker twins starting to become more apparent.
Your surprise must have been obvious, because Luke strolled over to where you stood ogling the dessertâjust the box, actually, because youâd been so surprised by the logo on the lid that you hadnât even managed to look inside.
âHave you tried these before?â he asked you, and you briefly wondered if he was mocking you, because no, you didnât just have a hundred bucks to spend on a dozen donuts. When you looked at him, though, you realized he was serious.
âUm, I havenât, but Iâve passed this bakery in the city a few times. Iâve always wanted to try it,â you explained, hoping he couldnât sense your anxiety.
âTheyâre my favorite,â he told you, opening the box to reveal the most expensive looking donuts youâd ever seen, intricate designs and fresh toppings making your mouth water, âYou should try this one.â
He handed you a donut with rich chocolate sauce layered across the top in a marbled design, and when you took a bite, you were confident that this had to have been the best dessert youâd ever eaten.
âGood, right?â he asked hopefully.
âDelicious. Thank you, Luke.â
You licked some of the chocolate sauce from your finger, and when you glanced up again, you were surprised to see Luke following the motion with his eyes. When you locked gazes again, his cheeks were slightly pink, and you were beginning to wonder if the Skywalkers just had a blushing problem and there was nothing else to it.
He stood up a bit straighter, seemingly shaking off whatever he was thinking about, looking at you with the same joyful confidence as before.
âIâm glad you liked it,â he said sincerely, âI wanted to talk to you about something, actually. Is that okay?â
Surprised, you replied, âMe?â
âYes, you,â he confirmed, chuckling at your response, âMaybe privately, if thatâs okay.â
You were still puzzled by what he meant, but to avoid giving away your confusion, you nodded. On the other side of the living room, there was the door to the small screened in porch area that you made Han and Chewie utilize for their drug habits, not wanting the apartment to reek.
âWeâre gonna step outside for a second. Luke has a question about the movie. Itâs a spoiler,â you announced clumsily, your half-baked excuse making Han roll his eyes.
âNo one cares if you spoil it. Just say it here,â Han argued, he and Leia having moved to the couch. They sat on opposite ends, Chewie in a recliner in the corner. These two needed help.
âI care,â Leia told him seriously, crossing her arms, âWhy do you want a spoiler anyway, Luke? Youâre the one who wanted to watch this movie.â
It was Lukeâs turn to join in on your little white lie.
âI love scary movies, but you know how squeamish I am. Itâs just for a little peace of mind so I donât embarrass myself later,â he said, and his lie made yours much more believable. Apparently there was a little bit of truth in this, though, because Leia didnât press further after that. Han gave you a weird look as you stepped onto the screened in porch with Luke, shutting the door behind you softly.
âOkay,â he began, grabbing your shoulder and looking you in the eye. His touch startled you, but again, you didnât want to make a fool out of yourself, so you tried to be as casual about it as possible, âI think my sister is in love with your roommate.â
Your reaction was strong, to say the least. You let out a shocked laugh, shoving him lightly in disbelief.
âYouâre kidding,â you replied, unable to conceal your amusement, âIâd be so pissed if I were her. You just exposed her.â
âNot really. Sheâs in denial. She thinks she hates him,â he admitted, frowning for a moment before continuing, âBut she seems like sheâs having a good time. I mean, she even invited me so she could stay later. You donât invite your brother to the house of the guy you supposedly hate.â
âRight?â you exclaimed, excited to meet someone who understood your frustration, âThe house had to be spotless for her today. I thought Han was going to strangle me if I left any of my sweaters in the living room. He swears heâd rather drop out than do this project with her, but he vacuumed the entire apartment today. Twice.â
Lukeâs face lit up, and he gave you his most genuine smile yet. His expression then faltered slightly though, and his brow furrowed a little.
âIt sounds like theyâre both too stubborn to take initiative,â he mused, sounding a little sad, âIâm worried Leia will realize that she had a nice time tonight, freak out over what that could mean, and then say something snarky to him when they see each other in class again.â
âIâm worried Han will do that too! Thatâs why I lied and said we were planning to watch The Shining tonight. I was trying to get her to stay a little longer, and I was hoping that the switch to a more relaxed setting would break down some of their ice, butââ
âBut theyâre sitting on opposite ends of the couch with their arms crossed,â he finished for you, letting out a frustrated sigh, âThis is ridiculous. I do think the laidback atmosphere helps, though. She puts herself under a lot of pressure to act a certain way when weâre in class and stuff. It can kind of come off as standoffish, I think. Thatâs not how she means it though.â
âI understand,â you told him, âSo, do you have a plan? Is that why you wanted to talk to me?â
He nodded, something akin to pride in his features as he leaned in closer, his voice growing much quieter.
âI think we should make them think that theyâre wing-manning for us.â
You pulled back sharply, searching his face for some indication that he was just making fun of you. There was no way that his plan could even suggest that he, Luke Skywalker, would ever have an interest in you. It just wasnât believable. You were cut from totally different clothânot in the same way that Han was, but in a way that was much less interesting and much less attractive. Han had a rugged bad influence attitude to help in his circumstances, but you couldnât really think of any niche that you filled that would be equivalent to this.
âUs?â you asked, wondering if you had misunderstood, âIâm not sure I get what you mean. Like, me and you?â
Confused, he replied, âYes?â and cocked his head to the side a little, studying your features.
âDonât you think thatâs a littleâŚâ
âA little what?â he questioned, his expression difficult to read.
You realized then that you couldnât just say, Oh, itâs a little difficult to believe that Luke Skywalker would want to be with me, because then youâd have to confess that you did, in a lot of ways, see him as living in a somewhat separate world than you. Youâd probably just freak him out if you told him that you got major imposter syndrome from just being around him and his sister. Not really knowing what else to say, you hinted towards your concern as lightly as you could.
âNobody really knows who I am,â you decided to say, pausing to study his reaction, âWouldnât it seem kind of random?â
You were surprised to see Luke rolling his eyes, this slight attitude not a trait of his that youâd clocked yet. Heâd definitely caught on to the undertones of your worries, then.
âThat stuff doesnât matter,â he told you seriously, his expression unreadable to you now, âBut if the idea makes you uncomfortable, we can come up with something else.â
âIt doesnât make me uncomfortable!â you blurted, âItâs not a bad idea. If they have a common goal, they might actually learn how to get along. But what should I do? I mean, what if I mess up and they get suspicious of us?â
Luke grinned, clasping your shoulder again as if you were old friends.
âYou ever had a crush on anyone?â he asked, continuing when you nodded, âJust act like that, then. Donât worry about making it look super convincing.â
âWhy, because youâre the master manipulator here?â you teased, shoving him lightly again.
âOf course I am,â he replied smoothly, that mischievous look in his eye again, âMy momâs a senator, after all, right?â
You werenât sure, but he seemed to be throwing the fact that you were acutely aware of his reputation back in your face, daring you to comment on it further. So, naturally, you did.
âI figured,â you told him, happy to banter with him at his expense, âI knew it all along. Canât trust a politician or their kids, apparently.â
He chuckled, and you couldnât help but notice that his laughter was a little bit deeper when he seemed to be genuinely amused. The two of you continued talking for a little bit, Luke asking you lots of questions about your major and what the last year has been like for you as youâve been adjusting to school. He didnât say much about himself, though, taking care to keep the conversation focused on you. You filed that detail away in the back of your mind, telling yourself that you might need to be a little bit guarded around the Skywalkers despite their apparent good nature. Regardless, you found yourself really enjoying chatting with him. Maybe this wouldnât be so hard after all.
Inside, Han kept a watchful eye on your silhouette. He saw Leiaâs brother touch your shoulder twice, and he narrowed his eyes when something the boy said had made you laugh particularly loudly, the sound able to be heard from the couch. He looked at his watch and moved to stand, only to be stopped by Leiaâs hand on his arm. He jerked away immediately, looking at her like she was crazy.
âWait,â she told him, her expression serious, âJust let them talk for a minute.â
Shocked by her audacity, Han scoffed at her.
âI donât think your royal jurisdiction extends to my place, your worshipfulness,â he hissed, rubbing his arm where sheâd touched him, âBesides, itâs been fifteen minutes. Are we watching this movie or not?â
âEasy, Captain,â she said with an eye roll, âI can see you run a tight ship here, but are we really on a time crunch? Itâs Friday night, after all.â
He sighed, not moving for the door like heâd intended to but not exactly relaxing back into his seat, either.
âI think Luke is getting along with your roommate really well,â she continued, âI donât want to interrupt.â
âMaybe a little too well,â Han murmured, your laughter piercing his ears once more, filling his chest with an anxiety he wasnât quite familiar with.
âOh,â she replied, as if she had realized something, âIâm sorry. I must have misunderstood your dynamic.â
âI must have misunderstood your dynamic,âhe sneered, mocking her, âWhy do you always have to phrase stuff like that? Canât you just say what youâre thinking? Clearly?â
âWell, I was trying to before you started making fun of me,â she snapped, but decided to go on anyway, âI wasnât trying to set my brother up with someone you have feelings for, you know.â
Han almost choked, and even Chewie chuckled lightly, shaking his head.
âItâs not like that,â Han explained, sighing, âItâs absolutely not like that. At all. Kidâs like a sibling to me.â
âOh,â she said again, and then, with a hint of understanding, added, âOh. An overprotective older brother thing, then. I see now.â
âWhatever,â he mumbled, crossing his arms.
âI feel that way about Luke.â
âWell, you guys are twins.â
âI still feel older sometimes. And I worry about him. Thatâs why I donât think we should bother them.â
Her tone made Han nervous as he stared at the outline of your frame standing next to Luke. Normally, he wouldnât inquire further about anything a Skywalker said to him, not believing that they were worth the energy. However, he was concerned that you might really get bright-eyed and bushy tailed over this kid, so he decided to humor Leia.
âWhatâs there to worry about? I mean, seems like he does just fine. Captain of one of the best college soccer teams in the country, always surrounded by people whenever I pass him.â
An emotion that he couldnât identify passed over Leiaâs face, her brow furrowed in deep thought. Finally, she met his eyes, looking at him nervously.
âHeâs had a hard year,â she said simply, and Han snorted.
âHavenât we all. What, he get into some trouble or somethinâ like that?â
âI donât feel comfortable revealing all of his personal matters to you,â she replied, regaining some of her composure, âBut no, itâs not like that. Sometimes Iâm just worried that heâs not surrounding himself with people who have his best interest in mind, and your roommate seems really genuine, and I want to encourage him to talk to people like that more, but if you think itâs a bad ideaââ
âItâs fine,â he assured her quickly, not looking at her, âI wasnât trying to say he was a troublemaker or anything. I guess a few more minutes wouldnât hurt.â
Leiaâs eyes lit up, and Han felt something strange in his chest. He decided not to think too much about it.
After scheming a little more, you and Luke entered the living room, your cheeks rosy from the cold air. Han and Leia were still sitting on opposite ends of the couch, but they seemed to have been talking a bit, at least. Still, they should at least sit together, you decided, and the next step of your plan commenced.
âLeia, I have a few seltzers in the fridge if you want one. I donât care for beer much, to be honest,â you offered, noticing her empty hand.
âThatâd be great,â she replied with a polite smile.
âCan you bring me one too while youâre up?â Luke asked sweetly, having caught on to your idea.
âWhat, are the Skywalker twins too good for beer?â Han scoffed, taking a swig of his own to make a point.
âIâll just bring some in here and we can put them on the coffee table for easy access,â you replied, making your way to the kitchen.
âThatâs too much to carry. Let me help,â Leia said, standing and following you into the other room.
When you came back, Luke had taken her spot, wrapped in a blanket and grinning up at her when she glared at him.
âYou took my seat,â she pointed out, feigning annoyance as she handed him a seltzer.
âItâs warm, and Iâm freezing. I was outside, after all.â
She rolled her eyes, and before she could sit next to her brother, you said, âIt was pretty cold out there.â
âOh! I shouldnât have taken your only blanket. Sorry,â Luke replied, moving to unravel the bundle heâd made for himself.
âItâs alright. We can always share.â
He nodded, glancing at the spot next to him and smiling at you. When you sat down, he placed the blanket over your lap. Leia, on the other hand, looked nervous, standing awkwardly with her hands on her hips. The only remaining seat was between you and Han, which meant that she would, of course, have to sit next to Han. The man seemed to pick up on her uneasiness, because he immediately started teasing her about it.
âI donât bite, Princess,â he quipped, gesturing to the seat next to him.
âYouâre manspreading,â she snapped.
Signing, Han sat up a little straighter and moved his legs closer together.
âIs this acceptable, your grace?â
She didnât dignify that with a response, and at last, she bit the bullet and sat down. Luke tapped your knee excitedly under the blanket. You guys were pretty good at this, you thought.
Youâd seen The Shining plenty of times, so when a particularly stressful scene came on, you glanced sideways to see whether or not Han and Leia would react. Normally, Han was a pretty smooth talker, and he extended that behavior to the women he liked. You didnât put it past him to pull some cheesy maneuver that would result in his arm being around her under the guise of providing comfort during a scary movie. If this were any other woman, you were willing to bet money that he would. However, those other women were not a Skywalker.
You were surprised to see that Han was already staring back at you, fixing you with a look that oozed suspicion. You mouthed a quick what to him as discreetly as possible, and he pointed to his phone, a silent demand that you check your own. When you did, you saw that he had texted you.
han: We have other blankets.
You only smiled, putting your phone away and focusing on the movie again. It had only been an hour, and Han was already buying into the facade you and Luke had only just begun fabricating.
Speaking of Luke, you were starting to wonder if the bit about being easily frightened by horror movies held some truth. His eyes were wide as he watched tensions between Wendy and Jack begin to worsen on screen. He had been nervously sipping his drink and had gone through two seltzers now, having just cracked open a third. They werenât strong, and it would take quite a few to feel anything at allâat least, that had been your experience. You were on your third as well, and you only felt a little bit buzzed.
When Luke leaned over to whisper something in your ear, however, you were wondering if he had gotten a little tipsy.
âYou know,â he said, voice low, âI actually am a little scared of horror movies.â
âI could tell,â you whispered back, âWhyâd you wanna watch it then?â
âSome of my friends want to watch it this weekend, and I donât want them thinking Iâm lame. I was gonna watch it with Leia first so Iâd be less visibly freaked out when I saw it with them,â he confessed, grinning as if he knew it were a little bit ridiculous.
âWell, now I just think youâre lame,â you teased, watching his smile widen from the corner of your eye. He leaned in to whisper to you again, his breath fanning across your neck as he did.
âYou canât think Iâm lame. Youâre supposed to like me, arenât you?â
You giggled a little, shuffling underneath the blanket a bit more. Maybe you were a little buzzed, too, but you didnât get to flirt with beautiful men oftenâespecially not men like Lukeâso you didnât really mind that you hardly knew him. It was just for fun, after all.
You brought your lips to his ear this time, whispering back, âI donât mind that youâre lame. Need me to hold your hand so you donât get too scared?â
Without a word, his hand immediately found yours underneath the blanket, lacing your fingers together with strength that you could only assume was retaliation for your teasing. You moved your intertwined hands to rest on your leg, making the gesture subtle but its outline still visible through the blanket. If Han or Leia noticed, then your facade would be further solidified.
The palm of your hand touching Lukeâs was not what you had planned when you first saw him walk through your door. His beauty was radiant and kind, and he carried himself with a confidence that you could never even pretend to have. Even though it was only a scheme, you couldnât help but feel flattered that he thought it was believable for you two to like each other.
Throughout the rest of the movie, Luke would occasionally flinch, prompting you to squeeze his hand. When you did so, you could feel his pulse rushing through the veins of his long, delicate fingers, only a little bit calloused from his sports training. Youâd heard that as the captain, he was always optimistic and encouraging during soccer practice, even when the coach was intent on putting them through hell. Because of the prestige of the team, you imagined he had to do strength training in addition to regular practice, so to feel such a small amount of weathered skin was surprising. For Lukeâs hands to remain unscathed despite rigorous training seemed right, though, as normal standards did not apply to the Skywalkers in any regard.
âShe needs to shoot him,â Han said, his voice piercing the tense atmosphere. You and Luke turned to look at him. Han must have seen something in his expression, because he added, âGeez, kid. Thought you wanted to watch this movie?â
There was that familiar blush again. Subconsciously, you gave his hand another squeeze.
âI like scary movies because I like being scared. Itâs fun,â he countered, leaving out the part about his other friends wanting to watch it with him.
âNot some kind of adrenaline junkie or somethinâ are you?â
That made you glare at Han, because that was such a stretch that the only explanation could be that he was being overprotective of youâa trait youâd seen him carry out once or twice before. If he was going to start picking fights with Luke, the entire operation would be a bust. You hoped Luke wasnât as stubborn as Leia and Han were, or else heâd inevitably take the bait and worsen the relationship between his sister and your roommate.
If Luke sensed the underlying suspicion in Hanâs comment, he didnât show it, simply offering the other man lighthearted laughter in response. Han seemed taken aback by the lack of argument enough to let the whole thing go, opening another beer and stretching out. When he did so, his leg bumped against Leiaâs, causing the woman to jump slightly in her seat. She didnât move away, however, and you gave Luke an excited look.
The rest of the movie went on like that. Han and Leia making minimal and awkward physical contact while you and Luke pretended to be enthralled by each other, while also pretending like you were trying to be inconspicuous about it. Like his father, Luke was a pretty good actor, and now that youâd seen that he wasnât just going to pull back and laugh in your face like it was some big joke, you were able to follow his lead quite well. When the movie ended, Chewie was the only one who moved, flicking on the lamp on the nightstand and walking out onto the porch to smoke. When the room was once again illuminated by the lampâs soft glow, your entangled hands became more obvious underneath the blanket. You wondered if Han had noticed, but judging by the way he had turned to look at you, you were certain he had.
âWhatâd you guys think of the movie?â Luke asked, breaking the tension. You let out a sigh of relief.
âI really liked it. Psychological horror is one of my favorite genres. I also like that the film is more ambiguous than the book. And one of my favorite paintings is in the hotel,â you rambled, happy to be questioned about your opinion.
âKidâs a nutcase when it comes to films and art. Thatâs why we never watch movies unless none of us have seen them before,â Han murmured, emphasizing the last part, âI guess this was the exception, huh?â
His skepticism wasnât going to throw you off.
âThis is one of my favorite movies,â you retaliated, âAnd you havenât seen it yet. Neither has Chewie. And Luke and Leia wanted to watch it, and Leia was already here. It worked out perfectly.â
âAinât that convenient?â
Before you could defend yourself, Luke interrupted smoothly, asking you about the artwork in the film as you explained that the paintings hanging in the hotel were done by the popular landscape painting clique, the Group of Seven. He listened intently, eyes wide and sincere as he continued to hold your hand under the blanket.
âI canât believe you know all of that. Thatâs so cool,â he told you, and you wondered if he was being serious or if he was just continuing your public display of affection. Something about his expression made you believe he was being genuine, but he was too calculated to tell for certain.
âAnnoying is what it is,â Han scoffed before finally turning his attention back to Leia, âWell, Princess? Care to grace us with your opinion?â
âIt was fine,â she said simply, her arms crossed as she narrowed her eyes at him.
âOh? Thatâs it? Guess bureaucrats like yourself canât share their thoughts with us common folk.â
He was behaving as if he wanted her to dislike him, like he was daring her to invest any part of herself in him, ready to show her that no, he couldnât be bothered to be civil to her for more than a few minutes. You wanted to smack him. You watched as they argued for a few minutes, Hanâs insistence on bringing up Leiaâs status indirectly implicating Luke as well.
âIâm sorry that he keepsâI donât know, being himself. I promise heâs a good guy,â you whispered to him, the bickering of the couple next to you about to drive you up the wall.
âI know. He only started sitting next to her in class because one of the other guys was being creepy to her.â
Surprised, you replied, âWhat? He never told me that.â
âWell, thatâs what Leia told me. She was trying to be cordial about rejecting him, but it just didnât work. She was trying to decide if she was gonna give him a piece of her mind or not, worrying about her reputation and stuff. Then all of the sudden, she just stopped complaining about him. When I asked what happened, she told me that she wasnât sure, but sheâd heard from someone else that theyâd seen Han yelling at the guy in the hallway. That was all in the first week of the semester.â
âMan,â you mused, still shocked by this new piece of lore, âHe never told me and Chewie any of that. Just started ranting about how annoying Leia was all the time.â
âWell, she thought he was being possessive over her at first, so she was uneasy. But then he was an asshole, so now she just complains about him.â
You giggled quietly, appreciating that Luke was filling in some missing blanks for you.
âWhatâs so funny?â Han asked, his attention now back on the two of you.
âNothing. What did you think of the move, Han?â
âDidnât like it,â he spat, still eyeing you suspiciously.
âDo you like anything?â Leia exclaimed, now seemingly exasperated.
âSure I do. Beer, my van, cigarettes. Chewie, sometimes.â
âNot me?â you interjected.
âNot right now,â he grumbled, though there wasnât a whole lot of venom behind it.
Out of the corner of your eye, you saw a small smile forming on Leiaâs face, which only deepened when Han stood up and offered to throw her empty seltzers away. She then checked her watchâsterling silver with diamonds decorating the frameâand looked at Luke. Getting her meaning, he squeezed your hand a final time, standing and beginning to fold the blanket.
âWe should get going,â she announced, standing, âItâs getting late.â
âThanks for inviting us,â she said, and you were surprised when she offered you a small side hug again.
âWhat, no hug for me?â
Han was standing in the living room again, hands on his hips in that judgmental way of his. Your surprise only deepened when, with a roll of her eyes, Leia patted his shoulder fondly.
âMaybe next time,â she remarked slyly, and even Han faltered.
âThatâs ambitious,â he mumbled, though his expression had softened despite his best efforts.
âNot really. We have to finish our project.â
As the two of them planned their next study session, Luke appeared at your side, leaning to whisper in your ear for the final time that night.
âI had so much fun meeting you. Letâs do this again sometime,â he said, his voice low and just a touch teasing. Your face flushed, but you couldnât let him get the best of you now.
âIâm looking forward to it,â you told him, matching his tone.
When he stepped back, he beamed at you, mischief in his eye again. He nodded, and placed his hand on the small of your back to step by you. When you looked up, you saw Leia staring, and you hoped that the interaction had been enough to indicate to her that the two of you had some apparent chemistry.
âOh, donât forget your donuts!â you called out, stopping them as they approached the door.
âYou keep them. As a thanks for having us over,â Luke replied, his cheery disposition having returned.
Before you could protestâheâd only had one, and these were so expensiveâthey were out the door, Leia telling you thanks again for hosting.
As soon as the door shut, it was just you and Han. He stared at you expectingly.
âWhat?â you finally asked, growing irritated with his condescending glare.
âOh, please. Donât give me that shit. What the hell was that?â he hissed.
âWhat was what?â
âAre you crazy? Trying to fuck a Skywalker?â
âAm Iââ you stopped yourself from snapping at him and pointing out that heâs the one who was trying to make a show of not liking Leia, realizing that if he thought you were onto him, he might shut the whole thing down out of spite. Instead, you took a deep breath before continuing, calming yourself down, âHan, itâs not like that. Iâm not like you, yâknow. I donât get people throwing themselves at me every time I go out.â
âThatâs just âcause theyâre scared of me,â he said quietly, not meeting your eyes. Despite his tone, he was starting to feel bad already.
âMaybe, but thatâs not the point. He was just really interested in what I had to say, and it was really nice. Iâm not marrying him or anything. Itâs just flirting. Besides, you flirt with girls youâve just met all the time. Whyâs it matter when I do it?â you said, the truth behind your excuse making your heart clench a little. Luke had been really kind to you, and he had asked about your interests. You hadnât received male attention that earnest in a long time.
Han finally looked at you again, staring at you with a conflicted expression and furrowed brows.
âThose girls arenât Skywalkers,â he snapped, sighing, âAnd you ainât like me, kidââ
âThanks. Rubbing salt in the wound, I see.â
âThatâs not what I meant. Youâve got a good heart. Iâd just hate it if some pretty brat fluttered his eyelashes at you a few times, got you interested, and then screwed you over. I donât wanna have to kill the senatorâs kid for breaking your heart.â
You exhaled slowly, this rare display of sincerity from him melting you a bit.
âHan,â you said seriously, placing a hand on his arm, âI know you think Iâm naive, but Iâm really not. I can take care of myself. I promise.â
He nodded, and for a second you thought he might hug you. Instead, he just ruffled your hair and slapped you on the back in his typical fashion.
âHey,â he began, voice quiet, âWanna get drunk and eat the rest of these high class donuts?â
âSure. We can watch another movie, and you can pretend to hate it when I over-explain it to you while you write it down as a Christmas gift idea in your notes app.â
He shoved you forward lightly, scoffing and grabbing the box of donuts.
âThanks for trying to look out for me, by the way,â you told him, grabbing a few more drinks before settling in.
âSure, whatever,â was his dismissive reply, but under it all, you knew he was in your corner.
You put on another movie and Chewie reentered the room, silently taking his seat in his recliner. Everything was back to normal, it seemed, until Han checked a notification on his phone and nearly choked.
âWhat?â you asked, leaning forward to read his screen.
1 new message
From Leia: thanks again. iâll host next time.
From Leia: you can bring your roommates btw
Both of you swallowed hard, not quite sure what youâd gotten yourselves into.
your university roommate han solo finds a rival (and love interest) in student council president leia skywalker, but both of them are too stubborn to admit that they have feelings for each other. luckily, you and her twin brother, luke, devise a plan to get the two of them to spend more time together. challenges arise, however, when you start to develop a crush on him.
chapter warnings: mentions of drugs and alcohol
a/n: hiiiii hereâs my university!au mini series with roommate han solo and love interest luke skywalker! this chapter isnt super juicy but i wanted to set up a foundation before getting crazy with the plot. iâm gonna go ahead and publish the next part where luke arrives so you guys donât have to wait to meet him hehe hope u enjoy!
You and Han Solo had a lot in common.
For starters, you both transferred into your university at the beginning of your sophomore year. In your case, youâd been getting through your gen-ed requirements at community college for a year to save money on tuition. You had worked hard, and now you had been accepted to transfer into your dream school. You showed up to the mandatory transfer student orientation feeling more hopeful than ever, excited to meet new people and make life long friends. Your only anxiety was that it was a pretty preppy school, and the student body was known to be quite affluent. You had thrifted a pretty cute outfit, though, so you prayed that your lack of frivolous spending wouldnât be obvious to your new peers. You tried to pay attention to the speaker who was delivering the opening remarks, but your ambitions surrounding the new adventure you were embarking on were too loud, and you found yourself imagining what the next three years would entail.
Completely engrossed in your thoughts, you barely registered the sound of the auditorium door creaking open to grant entrance to a latecomer. For this reason, you nearly fell out of your chair when a gruff voice pulled you from your daydreaming:
âMind if I sit?â
Startled, you looked up to see a slightly disheveled man staring down at you, his brown hair tousled and arms folded over his chest. He sported a pair of worn-out jeans, a flannel, and a heavy duty Carhartt coat that looked like it had seen better days. His combat boots had scratches all over the toe, and he smelled faintly of cigarettes and pot. Compared to everyone else in the room, he looked incredibly out of place, his casual attire and rugged disposition setting him apart. Despite being late, he still exuded confidenceâor was it arrogance, a voice in the back of your head chimed inâand hold on, did this guy have his ear pierced?
âWell?â he prompted, looking annoyed, âCan you move your shit?â
You jumped a bit, having forgotten that heâd asked if he could sit next to you. Nodding, you moved your bag, clearing the chair out for him. Only after he sat down did his impoliteness begin to register. Should you say something to him about his attitude? You had been staring, but not long enough for him to get hateful with you.
After stewing in silent anger for a few minutes, you whispered, âYâknow, I only put my stuff in that chair because I didnât think anyone would show up fifteen minutes late to orientation.â
Slowly, the man turned his head. When his eyes met yours, you realized that you might have made a mistake. Within your first few minutes of being on campus, you had probably just confronted the only person at this entire university who looked like heâd have no problem smacking you across the face for looking at him the wrong way.
âYou better pay attention instead of talking to me, sweetheart. I heard that theyâre gonna be going over how to mind your own business soon, and you could use a lesson or two in that.â
âWell, you were a little rude to me when you came in, or else I wouldnât have said anything about it,â you replied quietly.
He just rolled his eyes, and you both turned your attention back towards the front of the room. The speaker went on and on about how this was such a prestigious school, telling you all that you were very lucky to be getting an education there. The comment struck you as a little strange, but you didnât think much of it until the man beside of you spoke again.
âLuckâs hardly got anything to do with it,â he scoffed, looking very unimpressed.
His voice was quiet enough that you werenât sure if he was talking to you or just mumbling under his breath. You decided to reply anyway.
âThat was kind of a weird thing to say,â you agreed, hoping this would patch up whatever ill will youâd ignited in the stranger. In your defense, he had been rude to you first, but youâd only been on campus for under an hour and you werenât trying to make enemies on your first day.
He nodded, at least acknowledging you, and listened to the rest of the orientation with an incredibly sour look on his face. As soon as the assembly concluded, he shot straight out of his chair, zipping up his coat and pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.
âWaste of time,â he muttered, walking towards the door. When you didnât follow him, he turned and looked at you like you were stupid. Confused, but getting the idea, you scurried after him, offering a small smile to him when he held the door for you. The two of you stood outside, and you watched as he leaned up against the brick building and pulled a cigarette from the box. This guy was cool, you thought; definitely an asshole, but cool. Not at all the type of person you were expecting to meet at this school, that was for sure.
âWhatâs your name?â he asked you, flicking his Zippo lighter open with a small clink.
You told him your name and that you were an incoming sophomore, explaining that you had gone to community college first to save some money. That made him look at you, and he seemed to regard you with something other than contempt for the first time since youâd met him.
âHuh,â he muttered softly to himself, âYou got a job?â
âI did before transferring here. I worked all year. Iâm here on a scholarship, so I only have to pay for room and board, but thatâs still expensive, yâknow?â
âNot here on daddyâs money, then,â he mused, exhaling smoke, âYou want a cigarette?â
âNo thanks,â you declined politely, âWhat about you, though?â
âSuit yourself,â he replied, taking another drag, âHan. Iâm a junior. Transferred from community college like you, but I also had to raise my GPA a little bit before theyâd look twice at my application. Snotty bastards.â
âYou seem to hate rich people a whole lot for someone whoâs gonna be sitting in class full of them in a few days,â you teased.
âWell Iâm not an idiot, kid. If you wanna make money, youâre gonna have to put up with people who already have it. I can deal with a bunch of wealthy brats if it means getting an education good enough to land me a six figure job as soon as I graduate.â
âWeâll see. If transfer orientation pissed you off, I can only imagine how exciting trying to make friends with all of these wealthy brats will be for you.â
âWhat, you prayinâ on my downfall or something?â he snapped, though his voice lacked malice, âIâm not making friends with any of them, anyway.â
âWell, youâre trying to make friends with me, arenât you?â you challenged, crossing your arms. He rolled his eyes.
âYouâre not rich. You had to work to afford going here. And who said I wanna be friends with you?â
âYou didnât know that before inviting me out here to smoke with you.â
âFirst of all, youâre not smoking. Youâre just standing there like a dumbass while I smoke. Secondly, I didnât need to know that to see that you ainât got a trust fund, kid, âcause I almost bought the jacket youâre wearing at the thrift store down the road last week.â
Your surprise must have shown on your face, because he cut you off before you could even begin speaking, âAnd I know itâs the same one, âcause thereâs a tiny stain on the sleeve. I only sat next to you because I was gonna point it out to you and then offer you ten bucks for it.â
You just laughed, shaking your head at him.
âI bought it for twelve, so the answer is no,â you replied, picking at the stain on the sleeve that heâd pointed out.
âWhatever,â he mumbled, rolling his eyes for the third time that night, âIâll find one without a stain.â
âYou can barely see it!â you exclaimed, and then, before you could stop yourself, added, âBut if you want, we can always go thrifting tomorrow to see if we can find one.â
You had said it before considering the possibility that Han would reject you in the most offensive way possible, which, based on what you knew so far, didnât seem wildly out of character for him. He was silent for a moment, looking at you as if he had caught you trying to do something sneaky. He seemed like he was about to make fun of you, but to your surprise, he didnât say anything mean.
âSure,â was his simple reply.
And the rest was history.
From that moment on, Han had become your closest friend on campus. He was abrasive and rude, but he was real, and he didnât care that you couldnât afford to go to Cancun over spring break. He had introduced you to his friend Chewie, a silent stoner type with long, brown hair and a well trimmed goatee. The three of you had formed a little group, and while you didnât fit in super well with most of your peers, youâd still been having a great time. Even Han, for all of his distaste towards them, had never had any real altercations, and generally seemed pretty happy.
Before you knew it, your second year of college had come to an end, and you at least had two pretty good friends and a solid GPA to show for it, despite the academic rigor of your classes. You celebrated the end of the year at a dive bar, excited for what was to come.
It was only a week into your third year and Hanâs fourth when trouble began. You had moved into a shitty apartment with Han and Chewie, the rent not so bad if split three ways, and you had managed to decorate it in a way that made it feel sort of charming. You had just finished hanging a fall wreath when the door flew open, the force behind it causing your new addition to fall. Irritated, you turned to scold Han, but one glance at his face and you knew that youâd have to yell at him for the wreath later, because he looked pissed.
âI canât take this. I canât do an entire semester with her. I hate her,â he seethed, throwing his bag on the ground.
Han was an engineering major, which allowed him to be relatively independent and not interact with his classmates too much. Last semester, however, heâd declared a minor in linguistics, realizing that he had quite an affinity for languages. He was already going to have to stay for a fifth year since he had transferred so late and still needed a few more classes for his major, so heâd decided to pursue another interest to make the most of it. The only problem was that one of his linguistics classes was also a popular elective for politics majors, and apparently, Han was starting to develop real issues with one of them.
âPolitics major?â you asked, grabbing a beer out of the fridge and offering it to him.
His expression softened for a second and he muttered a silent thanks before launching into his rant again.
âNot just a politics major,â he began, a look of pure contempt in his eyes, âYou know the Skywalker twins?â
You nodded. Of course youâd heard of the Skywalker twins. They were the epitome of everything youâd expect a prestigious private university to beârich, multi talented, and incredibly popular. The girl, Leia, was the student council president, and the boy, Luke, was a star soccer player who had scored the winning point against the schoolâs number one rival last season and landed them a national championship title. Their reputation transcended the school, though, as their mother was a widely respected senator whose views made her incredibly popular nationwide. Their father was the youngest Air Force pilot in history to receive some kind of honor. He climbed the ranks of the military quickly, but retired from his position and became an outspoken critic of the military several years ago. Heâd published a memoir, and then starred in the film remake of said memoir, and his acting was so surprisingly skillful that he now had a career in it. It was as if the Skywalkers succeeded in everything they tried, no matter how unexpected or different the routes they chose were.
You didnât have any strong feelings about the Skywalkers, and aside from seeing them trend on Twitter every now and then, you hardly thought about them. Han, on the other hand, hated them, and every time he saw one of the twins in passing heâd make some remark about how rich people always wanted to stick their noses where they didnât belong, ranting about how he thought their motherâs platform was just a campaign strategy and nothing more.
âItâs her. Itâs the Skywalker girl. Leia,â he hissed out her name like it was poison, taking a swig of the beer youâd given him to wash it away.
âAh. Your worst nightmare,â you replied, trying to be sympathetic.
âI know! I donât think I can do this. Sheâs got it out for me. Told me to stop smoking cigarettes before class because the smell gives her a headache. Can you believe it?â
Han did need to stop smoking so much, but now probably wasnât the time to say that.
âAnd I assume you handled that comment with grace?â you teased.
âTold her she should stop coming to class altogether because her voice gives me a headache. Think her parents are gonna get me kicked out if this keeps going on,â he mumbled.
You sighed, clasping his shoulder and shaking your head.
âJust let it go, Han. You donât need to start a rivalry with the most distinguished family in the state.â
âYouâre right. Iâm gonna let it go,â he promised, and you let out a sigh of relief.
Han did not, in fact, let it go. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening, he stormed into the apartment, complaining about something Leia had said to him or something sheâd done that just grated on his nerves. He talked about her so much that you and Chewie made a drinking game out of it one day.
This particular Thursday was different. Instead of slamming the door wide open and swearing, he entered the apartment quietly, a slouch in his posture that screamed defeat. You and Chewie had been studying in your living room, appreciating the quiet atmosphere that was sure to be disturbed when Han came home from going to war with Leia again. Only, this time, Han didnât say a word.
âPenny for your thoughts?â you asked, sitting up a little straighter to take a good look at him.
He sighed, long and dramatic, and slowly took off his shoes.
âProfessor got tired of her royal pain in the ass and I arguing,â he confessed, a pained expression overtaking his features.
âWhat happened? Did you get in trouble?â
âWorse,â he grimaced, looking at you sadly, âWe got assigned to work together on the upcoming project.â
You winced, because although you were amused by his dramatic behavior, you really did feel bad for him. This semester had been stretching his patience thin, and this was sure to be the final straw.
âIâm sorry, man,â you told him, Chewie nodding sympathetically, âWhenâs it due? Does it have to be good?â
âItâs due in three weeks, but itâs worth a big portion of our grade, so she wants to work on it tomorrow. Can you believe that? Friday night, and Iâll be cooped up with the Princess doing research on linguistics. Iâd rather drop out. We werenât even supposed to do this as partners until today. Why would he just drop that on us out of nowhere?â
Probably because you and Leia are at each otherâs throats so much that heâs losing his mind and this is his last attempt to force you guys to get along, you thought, but you said nothing.
âMaybe you guys could do it here,â you offered, âIâll be around for moral support, and we can order a pizza and have some beer so it feels less like a horrible study session and more like the weekend. And if things escalate, Iâll help diffuse the situation.â
A look of relief passed over his face, and he exhaled slowly, nodding.
âThat ainât such a bad idea,â he said, âAnd if sheâs gonna be uptight about it, Iâll tell her we can work on it Sunday night instead, âcause Iâm not gonna be miserable on a Friday. No way.â
âPerfect,â you told him, smiling, âChewie and I will make sure the apartment is clean.â
He offered you a small smileâa rarity from Han Solo, and you thought that maybe, things would be okay after all.
i really really really love the idea of eridians hearing absolutely everything in a human body and being able to predict an episode of something, similarly to how medical alert service dogs can
you've been wounded, your face is all bruised up, your enemy puts a finger under your chin, bringing your eyes to theirs, asking: ''who did this to you?'' when you don't answer, they ask again ''who did this to you?''
- can i get this prompt with our favorite tin can man, din djarin?
STARDUST CHORDS | LIES THAT BIND US
a/n: this has been in my inbox for quite some time, but tonight inspiration struck and finally i was able to figure out what i wanted to do with it. left it with an open kind of ending so there may be a continuation if you want! it's been awhile since i did anything canon din and actually posted it so i hope it sounds like him! thank you for sending in such a good request and for helping with the title as well! enjoy!
summary: hatred is quite a thing to speculate from a man who doesn't know how to yet determine his feelings.
word count: 2.2k+
pairing: din djarin x reader (i don't specify gender)
warnings: not explicit, angst, blood, a knife wound, sprinkling of violence and cussing.
Going to him for this shouldnât be an option. Not after what you went through to actually get the information when it would have taken him five minutes of walking into a room. People feared him far more than they feared you. That was a clear fact. So, you went alone and made the stupidest choices a person could make when handling situations such as this one.
Find the bounty who had taken off in the streets of Coruscant. Not hard when you think about it, but then came the chase. About halfway in, Mando flew off, claiming he could track them easier if the two of you split up and so you were left wandering the streets. Attempting to search for this person on your own. Itâs in one of the bars that you figured out the bounty you were hunting was a part of a line of Empire generals.
The son of someone particularly famous. Which only meant one thing...he had connections. Possibly all over the galaxy. Finding information on him was one small task; finding him was another one entirely and somehow that had been left up to you. So, you continued to search, using every tactic available to you until you managed to find a particular club that still held the Empirical symbol in high regard. It wasnât the best plan, but it got you somewhere. Not exactly right where you needed to be, only it was a close second, because you were sharing drinks with a former general for the Empire within minutes.
One simple talent you learned while staying alive in the galaxy as a former bounty hunter was that lying got you everywhere as long as you didnât get caught. Well...tonight happened to be the very night you got caught. On three different accounts. Before you could take your last sip of whatever smooth drink they had bought you, they were leading you outside. A blaster pressed to your waist and a fake smile on their face and eyes teeming with mirth.
âYouâd make for a good bounty hunter.â
Their words rang in your mind as you stumbled down the street. It probably wasnât a good idea to laugh afterwards, but how could they know you had found what probably was the most ridiculous statement hilarious? How could they know that you had been a hunter before? You left the life behind for a reason and yet there you were, shoved back into it without so much as a warning from Mando himself.
Two others had noticed you in the club and decided a blaster to your waist wasnât enough. No, of course not. You needed to be properly punished for lying to the Empire - which no longer existed - and so you found yourself with a vibroblade sticking out of your side. It wasnât too bad. One bacta shot and youâd be brand new, but the task of getting to the ship is what nearly killed you.
Oh how you wished you could see Mandoâs reaction to finding you bleeding out on the streets of Coruscant. Heâd most likely say he was right all along. The person who he reluctantly takes around the galaxy with him all because he owed them, wasnât strong enough to even make it back. Heâd suffered far worse and survived. So why...why couldnât you?
Gasping for breath you shoved past people, your blood warm and sticky on your palm as you clutched the sizable wound they left you with. Still you had no bounty, barely any information, and knew that if you didnât make it back in time you wouldnât have any life left in your body. Why you were so adamant on proving him wrong, you didnât know. Perhaps itâs because heâs done nothing but chastise you this whole trip.
Or was it more?
You refused to think of the other feelings that were shoved so far down they would need to call to you like a kyber crystal in order to be found again. You couldnât. Not when this was the last planet you would be on with him. The next was Nevarro - your destination - and from there heâd leave to go find yet another bounty. This agreement only lasted for a short amount of time and you dying hadnât been in the contract.
That is...if you had one.
The sight of the silver colored rust bucket sent your heart into overdrive as your feet moved faster. You would make it and from there youâd have to start all over again in order to find the bounty. That was a matter for a different time though. Grunting in pain you nearly fell to the ground a few feet away from the shipâs hull, but to your relief the door opened right as he started to step out.
âMando,â you called in a raspy voice. The breath, completely gone from your lungs as you struggled to even stand upright. You felt your vision begin to blur and knew that youâd be on the ground in seconds, but his gloved hands clutching your arms kept you stable.
He must have seen the red stain soaking into your jacket, because you were being led into the ship and set on a box. The rest was a blur. You couldnât make out anything more than shapes and a few sounds here and there. He said something to you, that you were sure of, but you didnât catch in time to hear exactly what it was. Something about being reckless? Yeah...that sounds about right.
ââM not reckless,â you mumbled, sliding off the box and to the ground where you could lay down fully. âI was finding your fuckinâ bounty.â
Shutting your eyes, you didnât catch the way he froze at the sight of your now sliced open shirt. The wound was far larger than you actually realized and yet somehow you had made it back. Somehow in the back of your pain induced mind, you knew that there was only one person who could help you. The warmth of someoneâs palms against your skin kept you stable as the fire from your wound threatened to pull you under completely.
You could sleep like this. With him tending to your wound, the sounds of the city outside dulled by the metal of his ship. It made for a nice white noise. That is until he decided sleep would not be an option, and spoke.
âI found him already.â
Within seconds your eyes were open and you were shoving him away from you. âWhat do you mean you found him?â
Fuck the pain. You had spent an entire night on Coruscant, risking your life to help him and all of a sudden the bounty was found. Just like that? Rage was the emotion that took over, dulling the pain drastically, until you were able to sit up and fix him with a glare you hoped he felt through the beskar. It seemed to have worked, because he was plopping himself onto the ground across from you. The slight clang of metal hitting metal sounded far funnier than it should have, but that didnât do much to lighten the mood.
Even if it was odd to see a large Mandalorian shrink before your very eyes as he realized what exactly youâd been through.
âHe was asking for help outside of a club teeming with former Empire soldiers and leaders.â
Everything in your brain clicked within a few milliseconds. Just like that⌠Heâd found the bounty so easily, because you had done his job for him.
âWere you tailing me?â you asked, grabbing the bandage heâd dropped on the floor between the two of you. The modulated sigh told you all that you needed to know. âI thought you said-â
âI watched you go into the club and tried to follow, but then he arrived. Minutes after you.â
Scoffing you dragged yourself upright, still pressing the bandage into your wound, as you tried to get away from him. So, youâd been on the right path the whole night and hours of work had been wasted, because you arrived somewhere too early. Fantastic. You heard him get up to follow you, but stayed quiet due to the steam that was practically coming out of your ears.
How had you gone from being a competent and good bounty hunter, to this? Someone who made so many mistakes in the span of a few hours.
âI canât believe-â No actually you could believe that he left you there. He didnât like you after all so what was there to do but collect his credits from a bounty he hadnât found and leave you on a planet alone? If you were still the heartless person from years ago, you would do the same thing too.
âI wouldnât have left you here.â The words were mumbled - well as mumbled through a modulator as words could get - and you barely heard them. Yet there they were, hanging in midair as both of you tried to grasp onto a response. He wouldnât haveâŚ
âWhy?â you asked, blurting the question out as a twinge of pain began to spread from your side to your leg.
You didnât receive an answer, but at this point you were used to his silent responses. The way he shifted was enough to tell you that this hadnât been planned; that maybe he didnât know you were still inside when he had found the bounty. Except how could that be possible? When he was there...when he saw you enter the building. He wouldnât have left you there on purpose, because...perhaps the man who refused to show any semblance of emotion actually had grown fond of you.
That made you want to laugh even harder.
There was no possibility in the entire galaxy that he cared even remotely for you. Only then he stepped closer, hand now recovered by his leather glove, coming to rest on yours. Helping to press the bandage down on the wound as he reached behind you to grab something off the crate. You knew it was a bacta kit, and recognized the familiar shot. Thatâs not what shocked you so much that you could barely move.
It was this. His act of kindness towards you - the tenderness behind his touch.
âWho did this to you?â he asked, voice teeming with something you couldnât identify at a time like this. Not when your brain was going haywire from the sheer pain alone, let alone with him and his surprising actions.
âIt doesnât matter,â you mumbled, glancing down as he pressed the needle into your skin and relieved some of the pain.
He finished, tossing it back into the crate before he was grabbing your chin just as lightly and turning your face to look up at him. To hopefully catch his gaze through the helmet he wore. You must have started hallucinating from the wound, because never did you think youâd get this close to him. Never did you believe that he cared for you this much, and somehowâŚyou still didnât.
Why would he care about who was the source of your pain? Why would he need to know?
That is until you realized. You almost died in the streets without him knowing about it, and it was then you saw the rage come off of him in waves. The understanding that those people would not be living to see another day, because they had nearly killed someone. Not just someone. They had nearly put an end to the life of someone a Mandalorian cared for.
âWho did this to you?â The question wasnât a suggestion. You would be spilling your secrets to him by the end of the night and so without any further prompting you opened your mouth and told him everything.
How they had laughed when they watched the blade slice open your skin. How you spent so long fighting to get back to this ship - back to him. His grip on your chin tightened slightly before he was bringing your head closer, pressing his forehead to yours for a quick minute. The cold of the beskar contrasted the warmth that seeped from his glove and you found that you couldnât get enough of it.
Of the simple gesture he offered you. This was him proving to you that he actually did care.
Ten minutes later you had a silent agreement that youâd remain on the ship to heal while he dealt with business. The people who harmed you - they would not live to see the sun rise, let alone get to harm another innocent person. But you...you would survive. You would live and remain there with him.
Nevarro wouldnât be your last stop, that much you knew. It was merely the beginning.
I decided to do something a little bit insane. I sat down and typed every word spoken in revenge of the Sith so I could then hand write every word to create this scene redraw. I am very pleased with the final result Iâm not gonna lie.
theartofmadeline
areudirty
blakekathryn
