Razor's Edge: Star Wars (Empire and Rebellion) by Martha Wells

Leia in the corridor outside the bridge, where they had a moment of temporary privacy. It had been hard enough keeping his mouth shut in front of Metara and the others. He said, “If you’re going to ask me if I think this is a good idea—”
    â€œI’m not asking you.” Leia appeared amused by the idea that she might. “I need you to look out for Sian and Kifar while I’m gone. Make sure they don’t get into any trouble, with the
Aegis
’s crew or the pirates.”
    Which meant she was entertaining the idea that she and Metara wouldn’t be back soon, that this might not be just a quick chat with the flightmaster. “We’re supposed to be looking out for you. That’s why we came. Remember, I’m your ‘bodyguard.’” With hooked fingers, Han supplied the air quotes to make the double meaning obvious.
    â€œI thought you said you were my ‘pilot,’” Leia air-quoted back at him. “Han, I don’t have time for this.” She looked at him with steely determination. “I have to help these people and I need you to … not try to stop me.”
    Yeah, yeah, he knew she needed to help these people. She needed to help
all
the people. “Then let me go help them with you.”
    â€œThey only asked for Metara. It’s going to be awkward enough when she brings
me
along. More people would just make it worse.”
    â€œAwkward?” Han lifted his brows at the choice of word. She was right, but he hated to send her out with no backup except Metara. The captain was a fanatic, and he would sooner trust a Hutt gang lord than a fanatic. “It’ll be
awkward
if they shoot you.”
    â€œIt’ll be just as awkward if they shoot all of us.” Leia folded her arms and gave him the I’m-the-Princess-and-you’re-not look. “I’m not going to argue about this.”
    Han still wanted to argue, just out of principle, but it wasn’t like he had a better idea. It was a little late to try seizing control of the bridge and taking over the ship by holding Metara hostage, which was his favorite of the bad ideas he had come up with while they were in hyperspace. He hadn’t brought it up at the time, because even then he could see that Leia was making subtle inroads to accomplish exactly the same end without needing to draw a blaster. She had somehow managed to make herself Metara’s partner in this whole disaster, and by going along to negotiate with the flightmaster, she was moving to become Metara’s boss. Watching her operate like this would have been daunting if he weren’t finding it quite so attractive.
    He threw his hands in the air, making up for giving in by doing it with as little grace as possible. “All right, fine!”
    â€œGood.” Leia handed him the comlink she had brought from the
Gamble.
“Hold on to this for me. If we’re searched or have to give up our weapons, I don’t want to have to answer questions about it. Metara is going to have one secured to the ship’s comm; the pirates should expect that. Please go update Sian and Kifar on the situation. And don’t sulk about it.”
    Han put the comlink in his pocket. “You’re the boss, Your Holiness.” He knew she really hated it when he called her that. Leia gave him her death glare in return and stomped away, heading back to the bridge. Han wondered again what strange turn his life had taken that he had ended up as friend and verbal sparring partner for the last Princess of Alderaan. He just didn’t want to be the guy who got her killed.
    On her own, Leia was pretty good at not getting herself killed, no matter how hard the Empire had tried. At least he was here with her this time to keep her out of trouble.. What worried him more was how far she might have to go to save these idiot Alderaanians from themselves. The kids who thought they could play pirate without getting