Series: Star Wars ("The Empire Strikes Back")
Disclaimer: no own, no sue, no touchie
Notes: Morgan D. asked some of us to write SW slash in exchange for goodies. I haven't watched SW in years, nor have I ever been even remotely near the fandom, and yet, here is my contribution.
(You can see slash if you really want to.)

Sub-Zero
by Mina Lightstar

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The halls were quiet, almost unusually so. Even during the night hours, some activity was underway. After a moment's contemplation, he shrugged and attributed the silence to some sort of meeting going on in another area. He was on his way to bed, actually, but had been sidetracked by the harsh winds and billowing snow.

"Cold, isn't it?"

Luke Skywalker started, his attention shifting from the monitor to the one who had spoken. "It is," he replied, unsure of what else he could say. The weather couldn't be elaborated upon; it was cold, and that was all there was to it.

Han Solo took a step forward so that he was at Luke's side. "I take it you've never seen Hoth before?" he asked, peering up at the screen. The monitor was one of many strewn about the halls in the Rebellion's new headquarters, Echo Base. A select few more important locations — control rooms and the like — had larger, more detailed versions. The miniature models were useful all the same, just to see what was happening outside on the frozen planet.

"I've never been anywhere with snow before." Luke thought it must have been obvious, considering the expression that had been on his face when they had first landed on Hoth.

"Figured as much," Han quipped. He had his hands in his pockets, so he leaned over to give Luke a brush with his shoulder. "How's it feel to have to wear jackets, kid?"

Luke shrugged. Truthfully, he'd had more important things to consider. He'd done many things since leaving Tatooine, and wearing clothing designed for harsh temperatures was hardly the uncanniest of them. "Tomorrow we're going scouting."

"Oh?" Han gave him a sidelong glance. "So it is you going with me. Think you can ride a tauntaun?"

Luke permitted himself a grin. "I think I can get used to them." He glanced up at the monitor again and suppressed a shudder. "I hope no one is ever stuck out there at night."

"You and me both, kid." Han cleared his throat. "Desert planet or not, you at least know about hypothermia, right?"

Luke nodded. "I know, but...."

"But...? Hey, here." Han turned to face him and Luke did the same. "Now, I'm not sure if we'll be scouting together. We might be with other partners, or even alone." He took a hand out of his pocket and raised a finger, as though he was going to lecture. "So make sure you're dressed warm and your tauntaun can handle the trip."

Luke cocked his head. "Well, we're not going any farther than just beyond the perimeter, right?"

"You never know," Han stated firmly. "Just do as I say and look out for yourself. Keep moving, all that stuff. I don't wanna have to go out looking for you in that weather."

Luke briefly made a face before asking, "Well, what if something happens to my partner? Maybe I'll have to haul you back to base."

"Not likely. Now listen," Han waggled his raised finger, "if you have a partner and he is hypothermic, it... well, it depends what's going on.

"If you can, just get back here as fast as you can with him. If that's not possible, either find or build a shelter. It doesn't have to be big, just something that will shield the winds until help arrives."

"Build a shelter while he shivers?" Luke asked wryly. Surely there was--

"Ha, ha. No, kid, see, the thing about tauntauns is that, well-equipped for this weather as they are, they'll probably drop dead before you will. When that happens, you cut the thing open and make use of it."

"For a shelter, you mean?"

Han nodded. "But mostly for its insides. They'll still be warm, y'see, and so it's likely they'll tide your partner over while you keep busy making a shelter. As soon as it's complete, you get him in there."

"And then what?" Luke wondered. "It will take a while for him to warm up, won't it?"

"Obviously. Once you're inside, that's when you share body heat."

Luke shook his head. "Taking your clothes off in that weather? Sheltered or not, that's crazy!"

Han waved a hand. "Well, not all of them. Not even all the way off; you just really need to be chest-to-chest, like this." Han demonstrated by closing the distance between them, pressing his body against Luke's.

In turn, Luke had to push back lest he lose his footing. Then, as Han was the taller of them, Luke turned his head so he wouldn't be talking into the other man's collarbone. "And I don't let him fall asleep, right?"

"That's right. You just hold onto him — here, just like this — and keep talking to him. Here, look up."

Luke complied, though it was a little difficult to move without breaking the embrace Han had him in. He almost bumped noses with his taller friend, and suddenly realized how close they were. "What?"

"You breathe on him," Han said, and then did just that.

Luke closed his eyes almost unwillingly as Han's warm exhalation washed over his nose and then his mouth. He chose not to smell Han's breath — who knew what the other had eaten, or if he'd brushed his teeth, yet? "Because your breath is warm?" Luke questioned, though he knew the answer.

"Yeah," came with another exhalation, and then Han's head was moving, lips coming to rest against Luke's neck. "Like the chest, the neck is a good place, too. To warm, I mean."

"Mm," Luke managed, and found his head had moved, ever so slightly, as though making room for.... His eyes snapped open. What are we...?

Han seemed to be having similar thoughts. The next moment he had pulled away, giving Luke a grin and a slap on the shoulders. "So keep all that in mind tomorrow, eh? And be careful."

"I will." He wanted to ask what had just happened, but bit his tongue. "You be careful, too."

Han nodded, already moving away. "See you tomorrow!"

"Yeah." Luke watched him turn a corner, and then looked up at the monitor again. The cold looked even more uninviting after Han's warmth.

Luke shivered, and then returned to his own room.

+end+

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