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elenaaadaniels · 1 year

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Chapter Twenty One: Menace Aura

Warnings: mentions of anxiety, fluff, nightmare

___________________________________ I'll take away the hurt. Tell me all your fears. And if you're feelin' scared, I'll be here. You don't have to be tough with me. I'll protect you from it all. I could be your safety net, if you'd let me. 'Cause when you're happy, I'm home.

- 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘺 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘯 ___________________________________

The wind moved through Nadia's hair as the Mythrol drove the cruiser towards the destination Greef had discussed. She was thankful for the wind needing some air to calm her down, the sick feeling in her stomach still around at their small little journey. She was smushed in the center console seat between Din and Greef trying her best to not look so worried, but each time she thought she succeeded, Din would turn towards her. By the fifth time he had done so, he placed his hand on her knee rubbing circles with his thumb.

The action shocked her. He wasn't one for PDA keeping a strict fearsome warrior status, but it seemed he didn't care right now. It was because of who they were around. Cara and Greef already suspected something between them long before Din and Nadia had even known themselves. The action wouldn't surprise them and they already knew how fearsome the Mandalorian was. Plus, the Mythrol was busy driving the cruiser to even notice the warriors soft gesture.

" The whole base is powered by a reactor." Greef spoke breaking the silence when they entered the canyon.

Cara turned slightly towards them," We sneak in, overload the reactor, and get the hell outta there."

" Let's be fast." Din ordered glancing at Nadia for the sixth time before to the Mythrol." And keep the speeder running."

Nadia wondered if he wanted to return to the kid and the kid as much as she did or if he was so worried about her that he just wanted to ease the anxiety that seemed to radiate off of her.

" There it is, right there." Greef gestured pointing to the large shuttle base." You see it?"

" Kind of hard not to." Nadia swallowed wondering how many stormtroopers were inside.

" How close you want me to drop you off?"

" How 'bout the front door?" Greef bargained causing the Mythrol to frown.

" It's a little close for a civilian, isn't it?"

" I got two choices for ya. You take us in and I knock a hundred years off your debt."

" Or?" The Mythrol stretched.

" Or I leave ya out here in the lava flats to walk home with whatever's left in your humidity vest." Greef snapped this time causing the Mythrol to grip the steering wheel out of nerves.

" It's not much of a choice, is it?"

Nadia stared at the fortress thinking of the positives that could come from this. The mission could run smoothly simply flooding the place from the inside and flushing all of the troopers out of Nevarro. They can get back on the cruiser, get the child, and leave heading to Corvus next without a hiccup. She shook her own head at the idea. She knew better. When has anything ever gone smoothly for them without a hiccup. The Mythrol pulled the cruiser all the way to the front of the doors parking with a gulp.

" All right. We can't go any further than this."

" Let's go." Greef coughed.

Nadia got up from her seat waiting for Din to get out before hopping out herself and taking her blaster out. So far from the bottom, no troopers stood around guarding the place from anywhere she could see.

" Controls are useless." Din announced stepping away from the controls." They're melted."

Greef huffed," Well, it's probably not rated for lava."

" Wow. The irony of that." Nadia snickered rolling her eyes on how the Imperial's made it this far in life.

" All right, I'm headed back." The Mythrol quivered waving his hands around," Hit me up on the comm, we could set up a rendezvous time."

Greef snapped his head over," You park your gills right there until I say otherwise." The man ordered.

" I'm startin' to dehydrate, boss."

" Okay, how does 30 more years off your debt sound?" He bargained next getting annoyed with the blue man.

The Mythrol huffed in defeat," Can you at least be quick about it?"

" You wanna be quick? Grab the flange cutter and help us out." Greef ordered harshly causing the Mythrol to mumble things between his teeth.

Nadia ignored the two bickering back and forth noticing Din study the place above them. She knew him long enough to know he was coming up with a plan, looking at the landscape around him as the gears turned in his head.

He turned towards the group, " Hold tight." he stated never waiting for an answer as he jet-packed up to the building.

Cara frowned looking to Nadia," Do you know what he's doing?"

" Honestly? No." She remarked turning to the Mythrol" How long is this gonna take?"

" Look, lady, this is rated for light plumbing and such." He sassed at Nadia causing her to smirk at his reaction." You're lucky I even packed it at all."

" Dank farrik." Cara cursed when the sound of fighting caught their ears.

Nadia's head shot up towards where Din went hoping her ears were deceiving her or he was at least winning the fight. Her question was answered when a storm trooper landed on the ground right next to them and the doors to the elevator opened right behind them.

Nadia nodded a bit proudly," I guess he was doing that." She said entering the elevator along with the others.

She balanced on the balls of her feet watching the elevator climb up until they opened to the sight of her Mandalorian unharmed surrounded by unconscious troopers.

" Empty base, huh?" Din qouted causing Nadia to smirk at his arrant comment.

" The reactor should be set in the heat shaft." Greef spoke." If we drain the cooling lines, this whole base will go up in a matter of minutes."

Nadia nodded," Where is it?"

Greef pointed to the doors to the right of the base causing the group to walk towards it.

" Look. It's a mint Trexler Marauder." The Mythrol commented in amazement." We can get a lot for this on the black market."

" And it's gonna get vaporized like the rest of this base. Now, let's go." Din demanded placing his hand on the small of Nadia's back for her to keep going.

Cara, Nadia, and Din took the right side while Greef and the Mythrol took the left side ready for any firepower that might come there way. Greef gave a nod and Din pressed the controls to the runway opening waiting for anything. When nothing came, they peeked carefully double checking before entering the cold complex. Static came from a single room and Cara checked before running in slowly seeing a Imperial officer looking at the security fottage.

" Shuttle bay, this is..."

Cara was quick with her actions grabbing the man into a tight headlock blocking any air from his airways. He gagged at the lack of oxygen grabbing at Cara's arm, but it was no use against her strength as he slowly fell to the ground losing consciousness. Din and Nadia ran right in afterwards, together turning off all of the security footage and comlinks from a 3 mile radius.

" I found the heat shaft." Din announced retracing the map in his head before turning towards the door." Let's go."

They made it to the hallway once again, Din and Cara guarding the front while Greef and Nadia kept an eye behind them making sure no one snuck up on them. A wave came over Nadia that she didn't recognize. She paused where she was feeling a dreadful aura come around her. Like someone bad had been in this building before. That something bad had happened here. She wanted to shake the feeling off, but it was almost like this aura was warning her.

" Nadia." Greef called out quietly causing Din to stop at her name being called." What's wrong?"

She turned back to the group, practically feeling through the beskar helmet, Din's eyes burned with worry on why she had stopped so far away.

" Nothing." She forced out walking forward again with the group.

" The access corridor should be right past this junction." Din continued, his gaze lingering on her before turning around to guide them again.

They made two turns through the hall, one almost bumping into some trooper guards before slipping into a narrow hallway that made sense to Din.

" There, Mythrol, slice that door." He ordered." Use the code cylinder."

The Mythrol placed the code cylinder into the target base causing two doors to open up to there destination. Upon opening, heat surrounded them. Nadia scrunched her face at how hot it was looking over the edge to see the lava down below.

" Whoa!" She said in amazement when Din placed a hand carefully on her chest for her to not fall over.

Greef nodded his head equally amazed," Yeah, whoa is right." He mocked looking around the room." That's it. Get on the reactor controls, drain the coolant lines. We'll watch the doors."

When the Mythrol noticed Greef was looking at him, his eyes widen as his legs wobbled in distress.

" Me?" He sputtered out.

Greef rolled his eyes at his cowardness," Yes, you!"

" I'm afraid o' heights. And heat. And lava."

" I'll do it." Nadia volunteered taking the code cylinder from the Mythol's hand.

Din shook his head," Nadia-"

" I can do it." She reassured staring into his visor.

From inside it, he bit his lip unsure. One wrong move and she could easily slip with the lack of guard rails, but he also knew he had to trust her like she trusted him.

" Careful." He practically begged

She nodded her head carefully placing her hand on the side of the wall before slowly moving against the small rail of the platform to the controls. She didn't need the heat of the lava to feel Din's eyes burn into her skin. She could practically feel the nerves coursing off of him. When getting to the controls, she gripped the side of it placing the code cylinder into the correct spot and placing in the key pass Cara had told her about. The controls made a sound of warning turning from its usual white to a dark reddish hue.

" I think I did it." She announced when the lava down below stared to erupt loudly building up." Oh, I definitely did it."

Din took in a sharp breath" Nadia, come on!"

She nodded her head this time quickening her steps before grabbing Din's hand and hopping to the regular platform. Unlike when they first entered, they sprinted down the halls of the fortress trying to remember the path they had taken backwards.

" How long do we have?" Cara questioned by Greef's side.

" Ten minutes at the most."

The alarms blared loudly in a warning. Red flashing through the halls in side lights trying to warn whoever was inside. Din heard the troopers before the others and wrapped his arms around Nadia yanking her body back behind the wall for cover. He peeked his head over, seeing the entrance they came through was not going to work from the reenforcement placed. He pointed the other surely knowing their had to me more exits. They made a right coming to a room where two of Imperial officers frantically moved around the datepad. At the sight of the group, one turned to the other.

" Destroy it!"

They all lifted their blasters sending it towards each other until Din and Greef had gotten them. The bad feeling came over Nadia again. She ignored it turning her head, but it was answered. Inside glass domes, were bodies submerged in water with evidence of being tested on over and over again. Some where human-like while other bodies were of other creatures that didn't deserve this treatment.

" What the..." Greef slowly spoke in shock.

Cara turned in his direction," I thought you said this was a forward operating base."

" I thought it was." He admitted.

" No, this isn't a military operation. This is a lab." She explained turning to the Mythol." We need to get into the system and figure out what's going on."

He looked at her thunderstucken," What about the reactor..."

" Do it!" She barked causing the man to shut up instantly and do as he was told.

" I don't like this." Din whispered, but Nadia still heard it glancing over at him.

" Replicated the results of the subsequent trials, which also resulted in catastrophic failure."

The voice sound familar as Din and Nadia turned to see a hologram of the scientist from long ago. She remembered him. Back when Din had traded the child, it was the same doctor that was doing test on him. Nadia couldn't forget a face like that.

" There were promising effects for an entire fortnight, but then, sadly, the body rejected the blood. I highly doubt we'll find a donor with a higher M-count, though. I recommend that we suspend all experimentation. I fear that the volunteer will meet the same regrettable fate if we proceed with the transfusion. Unfortunately, we have exhausted our initial supply of blood. The Child is small, and I was only able to harvest a limited amount without killing him. If these experiments are to continue as requested, we would again require access to the donor. I will not disappoint you again, Moff Gideon."

Nadia's heart sunk instantly at the transmission. She gripped the desk in front of her feeling dizzy. The child was in danger once again. Din was in danger once again. There safety was no longer on their side.

" This must be an old transmission." Din wavered in a state of panic." Moff Gideon is dead."

" No. This recording's three days old." The Mythol confirmed causing a shaken breath to leave Nadia's mouth.

" That's impossible." She breathed barely able to." We...we watched his ship go down. If Gideon's alive then..."

" Over there!" A trooper shouted firing into the room.

Din raised his blaster shielding his body in front of Nadia's knowing she wasn't in the right headspace to fire back, but she proved him wrong grabbing the blaster from her side and angrily firing at the troopers at the thought of the child being in danger once again. With the troopers down in seconds, Nadia turned to Din with determination.

" We need to get the kid."

" Jet back, you're faster that way." Cara suggested already knowing their group had to split up." We'll head to the speeder and meet you in town."

They nodded back to her breaking into full sprints down the halls of the fortress. Nadia's head was everywhere at the same time. Shooting troopers that went in front of them. Forcing herself not to cry at their new ordeal. Determination to get to the child.

" This can't be happening." She said shaking her head in defeat." If Moff Gideon is alive he's after the both of you."

" He's not going to get us." Din confirmed shooting one of the troopers that got in his way while Nadia got the other.

Much to her surprise, they came back to the Lava control room seeing that the Lava had risen higher than before bubbling up to a eruption point.

Nadia tilted her head," Question, why are we back here?"

" Fastest way."

She nodded her head when she noticed a white figure out of the corner of her eye," Mando!" She warned whipping her blaster up shooting down two of the troopers while two more ran from the hallway after them.

" Come on!" He stressed hugging her body to his own before taking off into the sky.

She watched from over his shoulder as it was just in time at the sight of the lava erupting in a big pool of molten rock taking down some troopers that were outside and melting their equipment. The victory wasn't given yet. It took a matter of six minutes before Din landed right by the razor crest nearly given the workers a heart attack.

" Is the razor crest ready?"

" Yes-"

" Good." He said throwing some credits to the workers and turning to Nadia." Get it started."

She nodded running up the ramp since it was fixed and up the ladder knowing they didn't have time to waste. Cara and Greef needed their help and all she wanted to do was get the hell off of the cursed planet. She turned on all of the controls watching the Razor Crest come to life without any shutter or damages like before.

" Cara, come in." She called through the coms hoping to hear her friends voice." Are you guys okay? Cara?"

The sound of someone coming up the ladder caused her to turn see Din with the child in his arms.

" They're not responding."

" Get us off the ground." He ordered placing the child in the seat and strapping him in.

Nadia nodded remembering how he taught her and slowly brought the Crest up off of the ground high enough before forcing the steering wheel forward to take off back towards the fortress. Din placed a hand on her shoulder and she switched places with him seeing the child's brown eyes on her. She wanted to cry. Wanted to hold him close to her, but that would only worry him, so she forced a smile onto her face rubbing his cheek.

" Hey, little guy. How was school?"

" Nadia, I need you to strap in." Din warned glancing over his shoulder and watching her do so." Time to kick some bucket head ass."

She smirked at his choice of words seeing in the distance a Trexler Marauder was being tailed by three tie fighters. Din squeezed his hands over the triggers sending multiple blast towards the first one erupting it in a ball of fire. He turned the thrusters on flying high in the sky after the second one causing the child to squeal loudly in excitment and throw his little arms in the air. Even in the heap of danger, Nadia couldn't help, but to join in his laughter. He shot the second one down before placing on his wing spoilers and having the ship literally flip around to get the third one.

" Holy shit!" Nadia shouted in both excitement and fear.

The razor crest spun in circles dodging each of the tie fighter until Din locked it in sending it into a third ball of fire. Din found a smirk onto his face turning over his shoulder.

" Not too bad, huh, kid?" He teased only for the child to throw up all of his blue little cookies.

" Oh, boy. I got you." Nadia cooed unbuckling his seatbelt and grabbing a rag.

" That was some pretty impressive flying, Mando." Greef spoke over the transmission that finally came through." What do I owe ya?"

" With the repairs, let's call it even."

" Can I at least buy you a drink?" Greef offered

" Sorry. I have some onboard maintenance I gotta take care of. Then we gotta hit the road before Gideon catches wise."

For a solid minute, Nadia had forgotten of their danger so engrossed on the small little happiness they had together laughing. She cleaned the throw up from the child staring into his brown eyes only to get a smile back from him.

" Well, good luck flying, my friend."

Nighttime came around fairly quickly, which wasn't exactly a difficult feat when driving through hyperspace. The rumbling and rhythmical clanking of the engines aided Nadia in lulling the child to sleep, his little cheek rested against her right shoulder and his little mouth letting out soft snores. Din carefully climbed down the ladder, so carefully Nadia did not hear or notice him. She was too engrossed with the child in her arms revealing in the moments that she knew he was safe and sound.

Once she was sure the child was out for good, she kissed his little hairy forehead and laid him down on the small hammock that previously belonged to her. She had to clean up a bit on the crest and wanted her eyes on the little one, but she was suddenly engulfed in a thick darkness and panic for a moment, when a pair of strong hands grab her by the waist and feel a strong and hard body rest against her back. Immediately she relax leaning her head back feeling Din's stubble against the side of her head.

"Did it take you that long to put the kid to sleep?"

She shook her head,"I was having a moment with him." She whispered sadly that it caught his attention.

" You okay?"

She turned in his arms placing her hands on his chest feeling no beskar armor," I don't know what it was, but I felt something on that base."

" Like what?"

" I don't know." She repeated because she truly didn't." Like I felt a presence, but it wasn't a good one. I don't know if it's just me, but sometimes I sense the child's presence like when he wakes up or when he's hungry. The one at the base...it felt bad. What are we going to do? It could be forever before we find a Jedi and he's in more danger almost every day."

" We'll find a Jedi and we'll save him."

" What are we going to do about Gideon?" She asked, a question that was eating her on the inside.

" Stay off his radar."

She laughed sarcastically," That's harder said than done."

" He's not a threat."

" Not a threat?" Nadia questioned bewildered that he had said it." Din, he shot an explosive and almost killed you. He's a big threat-"

" I was trying to calm you down. I realize that I did the opposite." He admitted shaking his head at his foolishness.

She took a deep breath," What if Gideon does find us? What if we can't run forever?"

" Then we fight together."

" And your okay with that?" She asked looking up to where she could guess his face was.

" Are you?"

She answered in a heartbeat," Of course." She said, confidence in her voice." I just didn't know if that's where you want to end up."

" Where you go, I go." He promised leaning down to capture her lip in a tender kiss.

It didn't take long for sleep to catch up to up to the Crest. The adrenaline and exhaustion creeping up on them once they were safe in their hull, but it wasn't a peaceful sleep for Nadia. She was back on Navarro. The small town was back to its original state with troopers surrounding them. The buildings surrounding her were on fire, but more importantly, Moff Gideon stood in front of her dangling the child by his tunic in one hand and a blaster to a beaten Mandalorian next to him. Din crotched over in pain, blood seeping through his woven garment while his beskar was stained the same way.

" Please!" She cried out in desperation." Please don't! You've hurt him enough!"

"You should be more worried about what I will do to him than what I already have done," Gideon stepped closer to Din, giving him a swift kick to the ribs that caused a horrible crunching sound reverberated through the air.

" Ah!"

"Stop! Don't hurt him!" She shouted tears flowed past her cheeks.

Gideon just smiled ruefully at her before turning to the masked man, "Did you hear that, Mando? Your girl is begging me to not hurt you. Should I listen to her?"

"Nadia, run..." Din begged barely having the strength to do so.

She shook her head," I'm not leaving you."

"Maybe she'd prefer if I hurt your child?" Gideon taunted grabbed the child by the back of his sack and gave him a shake.

"Hurt me instead!" Nadia screamed when hearing the child's cries." Just hurt me...n-not him."

"Why would I hurt you— physically, at least— when I can hurt my most hated adversary?" Gideon laughed moving his blaster from Din's head to his chest where he had no armor to protect him." I told you once you can't run. There is no where in the galaxy I wouldn't find you and for running...."

He pulled the trigger causing the Mandalorian to scream out loudly as a hole was burned into his chest sending him to the ground limp. Nadia let out a blood curled scream falling to her knees as his blood poured out of his body down the dirt until it reached her hands in sticky warmness.

" Din!"

Nadia woke up in a cold sweat, her heart pounding so hard that she couldn't hear anything. She desperately tried to school her labored breathing, but in her shaken state , her efforts weren't in the right place. Two warm hands are on her shoulders then, the touch light and cautious so as not to startle her. She knew it was Din and the minute she felt him, she let out a soft cry as, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to his chest and tucking her head under his chin. The kicking in her sleep and her gasp for air was enough to wake him from his own slumber worry about her.

"Shh. Come here. It's just a nightmare,"he murmurs running his hands through her hair.

It takes some time for her to come down from the panic induced by the nightmare, but slowly the sound of Din's voice becomes clearer and stronger. Nadia buried her face in his shoulder. His voice rumbles low in his chest as he speaks to her, and she could find it easier to focus on that than the words he's saying. Din can feel her muscles relaxing as he holds her, the tension slowly pooling out of them and allowing her to be calm again. Her heartbeat, once wild against his chest, has steadied and softened breathing easier again.

But his worry stays.

"Talk to me," He quietly encouraged.

"It's nothing-"

" Nadia," He pushed. "It's not nothing if it's enough to wake you up in a cold sweat."

A whimper leaves her lips at the memories. The soft pad of his thumb wiped away tears that she didn't even know she'd shed. Her heart breaks at the strain in his voice, something that he can't hide as easily without the helmet on.

"What can I do?" Din begged, his hand coming up to cup her cheek.

A sigh escapes her lips, "You're doing everything for me already, Din." She softly replied grabbing a hand fist of his shirt." Just hold me."

" What was it about?" He whispered into her hair.

The tears welled up in her eyes instantly," Nevarro." She cried failing in her attempt to not worry him." Moff Gideon...I couldn't...I couldn't save you."

He lowers his forehead to hers, noses barely brushing against each other. "I'm sorry I can't fix this," He apologizes knowing the events on Nevarro long ago would never leave her.

She sniffled while shaking her head,"Don't apologize for something that isn't your fault,"

"I should be able to help you but I–"

She pressed her lips to his, cutting him off before he can continue with his self deprecation.Din kissed back instantly placing a soft hand on her cheek kissing with passion and ending with his forehead leaning against her own.

"I'm not going anywhere Nadia," He breathed, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek, "I'm right here."

And she believes every word he spoke and looked up kissing his lips. He kissed back instantly, passionate with every second. When they broke apart, he moved his lips to her forehead pressing another small kiss shifting with her still in his arms. He leaning back against the wall of the ship and closing his eyes.

" There's no where else in the galaxy I rather be."

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elenaaadaniels · 1 year

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Chapter Twenty: Old Friends, Old Threats

Part 21

Warnings: Mentions of anxiety, Din being scolded by Nadia (lol) Cute little fluffs

___________________________________

These days, I'm way too lonely. I'm missing out, I know. These days, I'm way too alone. And I'm known for giving love away, but. I want someone who love me. I need someone who needs me. 'Cause it don't feel right when it's late at night. And it's just me in my dreams. So I want someone to love, that's what I fucking want.

- That's What I Want By Lil Nas X ___________________________________

Cyar'ika

Nadia couldn't get the word out of her head. Din had called her Cyar'ika, a word she knew nothing about except that it was a mando'a word. She just wondered what it meant. She tried to use her context clues to what the word could mean, but nothing broke down the mando'a word into human language. He called her Mesh'la before and she knew it meant beautiful. Din called her Mesh'la all the time. When she did something for him, when he passed by her on the tight spaced ship, even when getting on a speeder, but he whispered Cyar'ika at night when he thought she was sleeping.

A part of her wondered if it was something bad. Something he could only slip when he thought she was dreaming rather than when she was awake. Maybe it mean't idiot. " I won't let anything hurt you, idiot." It could of been the word, but Nadia knew it wasn't on brand for Din to say something like that towards her. He always used gentle words. Even towards the child when calling him ad'ika, to which Din explained to her it mean't kid or child in mando'a. She knew if she truly wanted to know, she could ask him, but the word was slipped in the darkness of the night like his face.

Kept secret.

If it was something he said when he thought she didn't hear, maybe it was something he didn't want to say out loud. Letting a groan from her thoughts, she kept working on the ship working on the panels of the main hull seeing the cooling of the ship was damaged. She screwed the bolt into the right place only for the other side to break off for the fourth time annoying her. She threw the tool onto the ground knowing it wasn't the right one, but it was all they had at the moment to attempt a fix. Needing to get away from the pipes before she breaks them far worse than they were, she climbed up the ladder seeing him trying to fix his panels.

" Okay, it's official. This hunk of junk is useless." She spoke taking a tired seat on her chair.

He grunted," Don't say that."

" Sorry, I forgot this meat locker was your precious little angel."

" Di'kut!" He cursed loudly slamming his hand against the panel.

" Okay, easy their punchy." She calmly spoke walking over and fixing a wire he missed." There, big guy. What does di'kut even mean?"

" Idiot in Mando'a." He answered.

Well, Cyar'ika doesn't mean idiot, I guess, She thought to herself nodding her head towards Din as to not show how surprised or off she was from his answer.

He turned in his chair smiling as he took her hand," How is it down there?" He asked rubbing circles on her hand with his thumb.

" Heating and cooling is not working. It's a miracle we're not floating in this ship." She admitted looking around the cockpit a bit confused," Where's the kid?"

" Somewhere." He slowly spoke getting suspicious.

Nadia frowned at his tone," Where's somewhere?"

" A place."

She opened her mouth to further interogate him only to hear a soft coo. Turning, she thought maybe he was at the door, but noticed the panel in the wall was open showing the green little child inside.

" Did you put him in there?" She scolded quickly walking over to the panel.

" He's helping."

" He's a child!" Nadia scolded again softly looking towards the child." Baby, are you okay in there?"

" He's fine." Din stated bending down to see the inside of the panel himself." Okay. Did you get the wire out? The red wire?"

The child picked up a wire showing Din with a soft coo.

" No, no, no. No, the red one."

" Little guy, show me the red wire." She said showing him a red rag to understand what color she mean't." The red one."

" Yes! Good. Now, you're going to plug that red wire where the blue wire goes in the board." Din explained watching the child look at both wires in his hand." Put the red wire where the blue wire goes in the board, okay? But don't let them touch."

Nadia froze at his words," What happens if they touch?"

" Nothing."

" Din, what happens if they touch?" She sternly questioned causing the Mandalorian to not make eye contact with him

" You see where you took the blue one off? Yes, now put the red one.." Din instructed only for the child to do the opposite and place the blue one in." No, don't put the blue one back. Put the red one where the blue one was. And put the blue one where the red one was."

" But be careful apparently." Nadia reminded turning to him." Seriously, Din. What happens if they touch?"

He huffed giving into her," They're oppositely charged, so keep he needs to keep them away from each other."

Her eyes grew wide," Din! That sounds dangerous."

" Make sure you hold them apart from..." Din warned noticing the child begin to play with the wires." No, hold them apart."

The child was still curious holding the wires apart causing the poor little guy to feel some pulses of electricity through his body. In terror, Nadia screamed loudly at the sight watching smoke arise around the panel and the ship short circuit around them. When the child began to cough, she slapped Din's shoulder glaring daggers at him.

"Tell him to come out right now Djarin, or I swear-"

"Kid, will you please get out here so that she can fuss over you and see that you're fine." He said causing the little green creature to crawl his way though the panel until Nadia grabbed him.

"He is not fine, he just got electrocuted." She complained, looking down to the child in her arms and rocking him lightly." Oh, baby come here. Look at your little hairs sticking up. Are you okay?"

" Well, it was worth a shot." Din muttered earning another slap to the chest from Nadia.

" Why don't we go eat?"

" Because the heater is broken." Dint pointed out causing Nadia to shrug.

" Cold Broth it is." She chimed walking with the kid on her hip down the stairs.

When louder feet came down the ladder, she looked up to see Din had followed right behind her ready to eat.

" I could of brought your soup up."

" How about we eat together?" He hinted at causing her to frown while preparing the plates.

" I don't know if you know, but eating requires your mouth and yours is under a helmet." She pointed out.

" We can eat back to back." He explained watching a smile come onto her face.

" I like that."

She grabbed the broth from the cabinet mixing all of its ingreidents together to make the broth before serving the child and Din their own and taking a seat right behind him. From the sounds behind her, the child slurped his broth eagerly never caring that it was cold. She couldn't fight the smile on her face feeling Din's back against her own, warm and slightly humming whenever he ate.

" There's no way we're making it to Corvus in this shape." Din spoke lifting up his helmet to sip on his broth.

Nadia nodded," So that means plan pit stop is in motion?"

" Yes, plan pit stop is in motion." He chuckled, his back vibrating yet again." So, how'd you like to go back to Nevarro?"

She tensed instantly. The idea of Nevarro always haunted the back of her mind and now she was going to be face to face with the place that held bad memories. Sure, she loved Greef and Cara and wanted to see them again, but a part of her always hoped that they would come to her versus the other way around. Din felt her tense behind him and peeked over his shoulder to see she was unmoving.

" Nadia?"

" W-what?" she stuttered blinking once again.

" You tensed up."

" I didn't." She lied looking down at her soup, but he placed his hands on her waist turning around to face him clearly unable to hide her expression anymore." Well, our last journey wasn't the best."

" Were any of our journey's?" He lightheartedly chuckled.

She didn't smile. She only looked down to the broth in her hands losing her appetite quickly.

" You almost died." She whispered looking at him with hurt eyes.

He moved the broth from her hands replacing it with his warm ones," You almost did too." He reminded.

" No, you almost died." She emphasised." Like hanging on a thread. Not the best memory."

" This one would be easy. Just there to get this hunk of junk fixed."

His words calmed her down a bit. It was different than last time. They weren't there to bring down Moff Gideon and save the child from a threat. They just wanted to see friends and get their ship fixed correctly in order to see the Jedi. She partly smiled up to the beskar man in front of her placing her hand on his cold helmet cheek.

" I trust you."

Those words seemed to always melt Din. Break every barrier he even thought he had. Just to know she trusted him each time made him a proud man more than wearing any Mandalorian armor.

" Can I ask you something?"

She nodded," Sure."

" Why do you trust me?"

A smile creeped on her face," I don't know." She admitted moving her hand from his cheek and holding his hand again." You're just so easy to trust."

" I shouldn't be."

" But you are to me" She answered honestly." Why do you trust me?"

" You're easy to trust too." He repeated causing them both to chuckle together.

" I think I'm just a mess."

" Be my mess."

" I rather be your significant annoyance."

" Okay. Be my significant annoyance." He rephrased causing a sweet laugh to come from her lips.

The beeping indicating they made it to Nevarro broke them apart, Din quickly going up the ladder to drive the ship to the planet while Nadia stayed down below cleaning up their mess the best she could. Greef was ecstatic for his friends to be back, going on to tell Din to land in his usual spot as he and Cara would greet him. Once Din landed the ship, he joined Nadia's side punching the ramp to lower only for it to stop mid-way creaking loudly.

" Well, it's no red carpet." Nadia teased elbowing his side.

Din grunted as a response hopping down first before turning ready to catch Nadia. She balanced the child on her hip before sitting on the edge of the ramp and hopping down, Din catching her by the waist and lowering her down properly.

" Looks like someone could use some repairs." Greef teased as well causing the Mandalorian to tilt his head in agreement.

"How's my credit around here?"

" I think something could be arranged. Isn't that right, Marshal?" Greef questioned turning to Cara who instantly smiled to the child in Nadia's arms.

" I'm sure we can work somethin' out."

" I'll get my best people on it. Hey, fellas! Let's fix this man's ship! I want it as good as new."

Nadia nodded her head," Believe me, we need it."

" And you, come here, little one!" Greef cooed down to the child taking him lightly from Nadia's arms." Has Mando and Nadia been taking good care of you, huh? Have you been takin' good care o' him? Yeah? Yeah! He said yeah! Oh, yeah."

Cara laughed nudging Nadia's side," How's my strong girl?"

" Better than ever."

" I can see that. Nice necklace." She pointed at causing the girl to become ecstatic.

" Isn't it?" She gushed showing Cara more clearly." Din got it for me on Tatooine."

Din couldn't hide his small chuckle knowing he was right when he first brought the necklace. She was going to show everyone. Greef lead the group through the town that had changed so much the last time Nadia and Din were there. For one, the troopers were all gone almost as if they were never there in the first place. This caused markets to boom with people trading and selling fruits, jewelry, and even clothing.

" Looks like you two have been busy." Din commented surprised at the sales going on.

" I myself have been steeped in clerical work. Marshal Dune here is to be thanked for cleaning up the town." Greef complimented.

Cara smiled turning to Din," Your ship's not lookin' too good."

" I had a run-in with the New Republic."

" They should leave the Outer Rim alone." Greef grumbled annoyed with them as much as Din was." If the Empire couldn't settle it, what makes them think they can? Here we are."

In seconds, Nadia was frozen in place at the building in front of her seeing it was the old cantina where Din had nearly lost his life. It was like the air was sucked out of her and she was choking. Her body couldn't move and she was sure the color drained from her face. Din didn't notice, admiring the buildings integrity.

" I'm surprised to see this place is still standing."

" Wait till you see inside." Cara hinted following Greef inside.

Din took a step forward expect Nadia to follow, but she didn't. He turned to her worried noticing the fear coat her eyes as she stared at the building with memories she didn't wish happened.

" Nadia." He called out breaking her attention." I'm okay. It's in the past."

And suddenly, the rope around her neck felt like it loosened, still there, but the man she was worried about in her memories was now healed standing in front of her with his hand out for her to take. She swallowed feeling her mouth had gone dry and took his hand walking into the cantina seeing it was in fact no longer a cantina. Children sat at their desk while a robot stood at the front teaching them about the space just outside their planet. It was remarkable to Nadia. A place that almost held a dead body and burning from within was now a place the children of Nevarro could learn in.

" Who can name one of the five major trade routes in the galaxy? Anyone? How about the Corellian Run?"

"The Hydian Way?" An eager child answered.

" Yes, the Hydian Way. That is correct."

"A school." Nadia softly spoke pleased with the new site.

Cara nodded her head," Things have changed a lot around here.

" We'll leave the little one here so we can talk business." Greef replied taking steps to the child's desk only for Din to shake his head.

" Wait. Wherever I go, he goes."

" Mando, please. Where we're going, you don't wanna take a child. Trust me." Greef hinted at that it caused a second pit to begin in Nadia's stomach.

" He'll be fine here. You have my word." Cara promised.

" We only came here to get our ship repaired and see you guys." Nadia explained hearing her own voice waver in nervousness." Nevarro isn't exactly happy memories for us."

" The thing is, we really need your help." Cara whispered eying the kids to make sure they didn't here." The two of you."

Still holding her hand, Din gave it a squeeze to assure her things would be okay and she truly wanted to believe him. She wish she could give her all in trusting him, but Nevarro was such an unknown planet every time they came. She turned to the child watching as Greef settled him into his seat and how it caused all the students to begin whispering and even some giggles.

" Wait." She spoke breaking away from Din and coming to the child's seeing his wide brown eyes look a little confused." Hey, I'll be back for you. We both will. Be good."

She held out her pinkie with a smile thrilled when the child wrapped his fingers around it already knowing what the signal had mean't. She kissed the top of his head before standing back up and rejoining the group as they exited the school.

" I don't like how everyone was whispering about him." She muttered turning back around nervously to the school

" He'll be fine."

" But what if they bully him?" She worried.

Din laughed," He knows how to handle himself."

She knew he was right. The child already proved on the ship enough times that he knew how to defend himself when it came to what he wanted. They moved through the town until reaching a second building with the name Marshall Court on the outside.

" There's no registration on the ship, but I'm pretty sure it belongs..."

" I believe you two have met." Greef interrupted.

A Mythrol looked up only expecting Greef or Cara, but his eyes widen in fear at the sight of the Mandalorian. So much with fear that smoke and mist of water came out of him exposing his deep fear.

" I'm surprised to see you here." Din taunted with a hint of a smirk from what Nadia could pick up

" Right back at ya." The Mythrol replied as stiff as a board.

Greef eyed the creature carefully." Mythrol here's taken care of my books since he was a pollywog. But then he disappeared one day after a bit of creative accounting."

" Magistrate Karga was generous enough to let me work off my debt. Thank you, by the way." The Mythrol added.

" Three hundred and fifty years, but who's counting?"

" Well, if he runs off on you again, let me know." Din taunted yet again causing the Mythrol to sweat a bit on his forehead.

" Let me assure you, I do not wanna spend any more time in carbonite. Still can't see outta my left eye."

" Can we talk business?" Cara questioned nudging her head towards her desk.

Din replied," I'm only here for repairs."

" Which'll take a while. Which means you'll have free time on your hands, right?" Greef pointed out taking a glance at Cara." And we could really use your help."

Nadia cleared her throat," What is it?"

" This is Nevarro." Cara explained turning on a digital map for them to see." We're here. This entire area's a green zone. Completely safe. But over on this side is the problem."

" It's an old Imperial base." Greef answered.

" It's where all those troops came from when we defeated Moff Gideon." Cara added and Nadia instantly knew that grabbed Din's attention, as he moved closer to see the digital map." This base has been here since the Imperial expansion. It's got a skeleton crew, but for some reason, it hasn't been abandoned."

" There's a lot o' heavy weaponry in that place the black market would love to dismantle and get their hands on." Greef explained, worry entangled in his words.

" And you wanna mop up the last of the Imperial force before they do."

" Mando, I just want them off my planet." Greef honestly spoke." If we could take out that one last base, Nevarro would be completely safe. We could be a trade anchor for the entire sector."

" And the planet would finally be free." Cara concluded.

Din instantly looked to Nadia. He knew what this planet meant to her and how badly she didn't even want to be here. She looked right back at them. Sure, she wanted to get off this planet as quickly as she could, but it was clear in both Cara and Greef's words that they needed there help. They had helped them once and now it was Nadia's and Din's turn to return the favor.

" What are we looking at?" Nadia answered looking over to Greef for information.

" Does that mean you're in?"

" We're in." Din spoke next turning his head from Nadia over to his friends." You two worked hard to make this place better."

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elenaaadaniels · 1 year

Text

Chapter Nineteen: My Girl

Part 20

Warning(s); Nothing too bad. Fluff, kissing, Din admitting he's a smol bean

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Hey. It's all me in my head. I'm the one who burned us down. But it's not what I meant. Sorry that I hurt you. I don't wanna do, I don't wanna do this to you. I don't wanna lose, I don't wanna lose this with you. I need to say, hey. It's all me, just don't go. Meet me in the afterglow.

- 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘉𝘺 𝘛𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘵 ___________________________________

Taking a swing of the shot Bo-Katan got for her, Nadia fought the chills and burning sensation in her throat. She was angry. Angry and hurt that the alcohol in front of her wasn't a good mix she should have, but she was taking it anyway. Din watched behind his visor, surprised when she placed down her fourth shot glass wondering if he should take away the glass now or later.

" How did you know where we were?" Nadia asked breaking the small silence around them.

Bo-katan faced her," It's not every day a Mandalorian other than us is in town."

" Or with two sidekicks." Koska Reeves mumbled.

Din cleared his voice taking charge," I gather your not here for just drinks." He hinted causing Bo-Katan to nod back at him.

" Trask is a black market port. They're staging weapons that have been bought and sold with the plunders of our planet." She explained turning to her comrades before continuing." We're seizing those weapons and using them to retake our home world. Once we've done that, we'll seat a new Mandalore on the throne."

" That planet is cursed. Anyone who goes there dies. Once the Empire knew they couldn't control it, they made sure no one else could either."

Bo-Katan laughed at Din's words," Don't believe everything you hear." She replied smugly." Our enemies wanna separate us. But Mandalorians are stronger together."

Din shook his head," That's not part of my plan. I've been quested with returning this Child to the Jedi."

" What do you know of the Jedi?" Bo-Katan questioned.

" Nothing." Nadia interjected." We never met one."

" I was hoping you would help me by Creed." Din added

" I can lead you to one of their kind. But first, we need your help on our mission."

Nadia frowned," Mission?"

" Not you. You don't share Mandalorian honor."

" If I go, she goes." Din defended and if it was any other time, Nadia would of blushed at his words, but all she could do was roll her eyes.

Bo-katan nodded at his words knowing she needed the help, only secretly hoping Nadia knew what she was doing. Paying for the drinks and food, Bo-Katan lead the way to the ports where it was clear in the distance, a freighter was loading up unaware of the five staring at it.

" You see that Imperial Gozanti freighter?" Bo-Katan questioned turning to Din." It's being loaded with weapons as we speak. According to the port's manifest, it's scheduled to depart at first light."

" So we stow away?"

" We've been hitting 'em pretty hard. They scan for life forms as a precaution before pushing back." Koska explained looking over to Nadia seeing she was nodding her head.

" If you wanna do this with five, you're gonna need the element of surprise."

" Exactly." Bo-Katan agreed cracking a smile to Nadia." The freighter will maintain trawling speed while inside the shipping lanes and then ascend in orbit. We'll jet up when they're cruising in atmosphere. The tower won't allow them to climb until they've left the port's airspace."

Din seemed uneasy," Troopers?"

" A squad at most." Bo-Katan admitted." And they couldn't hit the side of a bantha."

" Okay, we're in." Din agreed looking down to Nadia expecting her to nod, but she never faced him." but we need to drop the kiddo at someone's."

" You have someone to trust?" Axe questioned causing Nadia to turn towards him.

" I have a person in mind." She said standing up and carefully placing the child on her hip.

They carefully slid off of the broken razor crest agreeing on where to meet before Din and Nadia broke away to take the child somewhere safe. He wanted to question where she had in mind for the child to go, but during their walk, almost sped walk not wanting to be by his side or even look in his direction. It made his own stomach turn and he cursed at himself for screwing up so badly. She stopped by a small little hut knocking on the door three times before it opened to the frog lady they helped earlier in the day.

" Hi. Remember me?" She greeted causing the lady to joyfully greet them back." Something's come up. Can I leave him with you for a bit?"

The frog lady spoke to her and a part of Din wish he had learned their language as well to be in the mix.

" She said of course. Anything after bring her eggs." She interpreted for him.

Din nodded his head looking to the child while Nadia handed him over.

" You are gonna stay here, so I want you to be respectful. And mind your manners." He sternly warned." You know what I'm talking about. Thanks. I'll be back for him."

Nadia smiled bending down to the child," Pinkie promise me, you'll be on your best behavior." She said getting a coo out of the child while he wrapped his whole hand around her finger." That's my little guy."

She kissed the top of his head getting another coo out of the child before turning back and leaving the hut with Din. She completely ignored him once again checking her weapons as she walked making sure they were good enough for the mission.

" Nadia-"

" I really don't want to talk right now." She interrupted sharply." We should keep a clear head for the mission."

He shook his head," But Nadia-"

" Not now." She said the last word in a stern voice.

Din could feel the tension radiating from her body and knew she had small tears in her eyes from the way they shined, but she didn't want to admit it. Turning back around just as quickly and continued to walk.

" Haar'chak" He cursed at himself knowing he done much more than screw himself over.

When they got to the meeting point, Bo-Katan went over the plan one more time reminding everyone of their duties. The freighter started up with a loud roar slowly building up before lifting off of the platform and into the air. Bo-Katan nodded her heading giving the signal and soon they all flew up towards the ship. Din held Nadia tightly gaining closer and closer to the ship before they both landed to the sight of stormtroopers.

" Pirates." The one trooper spoke, but Koska grabbed them up throwing them over the edge.

Axe opened the main hull and Bo-Katan was the first to go in taking down three as easily as she could before nodding for them that the coast was safe. They entered the empty hull, but it only lasted seconds before more troopers entered firing at them. Din was quick. He grabbed Nadia by her waist pulling her to the corner and shielding her body with his from any fire power.

" Stop protecting me." She seethed glaring up at him.

He completely ignored her grabbing his arm and placing her behind him with the other Mandalorian's shot their way closer and closer to the hull until no other troopers stood. One trooper came from the corner and quickly, Nadia got her blaster out getting them square in the chest.

" Go, go, go!"

They were all jogging this time through the halls turning left and right until another group of troopers came from the elevator shooting at them. They all hid in the corner watching Din pull a detonator from his side and throw it towards the troopers blinding them all. Through their helmets, they saw the heat signature shooting them through the haze and getting in the elevator.

" Nice shot on that trooper." Bo-Katan complimented looking to Nadia.

She nodded," Thanks."

" I got fifteen reads on troopers where we're going." Axe warned looking onto his coms before back to Bo-Katan." Plan?"

" Flush them out."

When the doors opened, the troopers fired at them all at once until the doors had shut completely dividing them from each other.

" Okay, flush them out now." Bo-Katan ordered causing Axe to open the cargo hatch and rid of any troopers.

When the doors did open, the cargo area was completely empty of troopers and all packages that were inside were perfectly intact latched down ahead of time. Nadia could hear the pleased laugh come from Bo-Katan before she took her helmet off watching as Axe and Koska lifted the case off of each box showing each weapon inside.

" Do you copy?"

Everyone looked to the group where the Imperial solider's comlink was. Bo-Katam gave a satisfied smile before scooping it off the ground and pressing the audio.

" I copy. Thanks for packing up all this gear so nicely. Imagine what a division of us can do when we get our hands on what's inside these shiny little boxes."

" If you think you're going to escape with those weapons, you are sadly mistaken." The man threatened on the other end of the line." Even if you've managed to jettison a few of those crates, we will comb the entire area until you are hunted down and killed."

" Oh, we're not jettisoning anything. We're taking the entire ship."

That instantly caught up to Din and Nadia's ears causing them to turn in shock at the change in plans.

" What?"

Bo-Katan ignored them however," Put some tea on." She ordered." We'll be up in a minute."

With the coms off, Nadia didn't hesitate to march up to the sneaky woman.

" Excuse me, but this is more than I signed up for." She said eying the woman with a hint of a glare.

" There is something I need." She confessed turning to Din once he came over to them." if I am to rule Mandalore. Something that was once mine. They know where it is and soon, so will I. Regardless, we are taking the ship for the battles ahead."

Din shook his head," I got you your weapons. I have to return to my ship with the foundling."

" If you want my help finding the Jedi, you will help me take this ship." She bargained going over what Din had said.

Nadia accused harshly," You're changing the terms of the deal."

" This is the way." She echoed eying the Mandalorian down before placing her helmet on leaving.

Axe and Koska followed close behind leaving Din and Nadia in the empty hull unable to say a word because they needed to find the Jedi in order to help the child. Nadia could sense the anger from Din, and grabbed her blaster from her side nudging his side.

" Let's just do it."

Din knew she was right. Taking the ship would delay them, but they needed the information to help the child and they made it this far for nothing. He grabbed his blaster coming to Nadia's side following right behind the others until the entire ship dove forward.

" They're taking the ship down!" Bo-Katan shouted over the alarms." There's the bridge. Come on!"

The minute the words left her mouth, troopers rounded the corner of the bridge firing at them that it was a miracle they had time to hide.

" How many troopers?"

" Six to ten." Axe announced peering over the corner." Two with heavy repeating blasters."

" We're losing altitude fast."

" We need to move now."

" They have too much firepower!"

" Still dropping." Koska reminded." Ten thousand."

" Cover me." Din said abandoning Nadia's side before she could even grab him.

"Mando!" She shouted in horror, but did as he told, grabbing her blaster and covering him the best she could from the troopers firepower.

Din threw his detonators at the troopers causing it to explode on contact getting rid of all the troopers in a ball of fire. When the flames went down, Nadia left the others side touching Din's shoulder lightly burning herself from the beskar's warmth.

" Din, can you hear me?"

He nodded his head getting back up," Come on!"

She nodded hitting the control button and having the doors open to a single imperial solider forcing the controls down to plummet the ship. Din rushed over ripping the solider from the seat and taking his place while Nadia hopped over the second one grabbing the wheel.

" Easy. Easy." Din coaxed.

With all her mighty, she pulled on the wheel with a small fear it would break off and screw them all, but to the luck of the maker, the ship sloped up just in time heading back into the atmosphere. With less of a struggle, she released some of her hold turning to Din as the two couldn't suppress the small chuckle of relief.

" I'll let you live." Bo-Katan seethed breaking them from their laughter." But you will take me to him."

" You might let me live, but he won't." The man answered biting down and sending volts of electricity throughout his body firing his brain within seconds.

" No!" Bo-Katan shouted in anger letting the man fall to the ground.

" We have to go." Koska warned turning to her." He sent a distress signal."

" Clear the atmosphere and prepare to jump."

Din nudged Nadia's side immediately," Come on."

" Are you sure you won't join us?" Bo-Katan questioned facing the two helpers.

" There's something I need to do."

" The offer stands if you change your mind."

Din nodded back," Where can I find the Jedi?"

Bo-Katan nodded removing her helmet for them to hear her clearly," Take the foundling to the city of Calodan on the forest planet of Corvus." She instructed." There you will find Ahsoka Tano. Tell her you were sent by Bo-Katan. And thank you. Your bravery will not be forgotten. Yours too. This is the Way."

" This is the Way." Din repeated grabbing Nadia's hands as they raced through the ship once again getting to the main entrence.

Once on the balcony, Nadia gulped at the distance from here to the ground wrapping her arms around Din's neck who was already wrapping her in his arms. Jumping from the edge, she squeezed her eyes shut at the feeling of falling until he turned on his jetpack flying them over to the familiar hut the child was staying at. Once on the ground, she thanked her stars before slowly walking to the hut doors and knocking until it opened. A smile pasted on her face when seeing the child with the frog parents and a little tadpole in front of them already hatched.

" There's my little guy." She chuckled walking over.

" Thank you for watching him." He said shaking the parents hands before lightly taking the child." Okay, kid. Come on. It's time to go. Congratulations."

As they left however, the child wiggled in Din's arms trying to go back to the little tadpole determine written on his wrinkly little face.

" No, I have enough pets." Din muttered causing the child to let out of frustrated huff.

Nadia shook her head at the little guy feeling both sleep and exhaustion start to creep up on her after the last two days they endured. She knew it would continue however when they got to the port to see the horrible state their ship was still left in. Rope was literally holding the crest together with different sheets of metal in oddly placed areas.

" I gave you a thousand credits, this was the best you could do?" He questioned the worker only for them to place a pad in front of Din to be able to gain their credits.

Din was too tired to care sending the credits his way and boarded onto the Crest. To say the least, the outside was much nicer than the inside. Fishing net was what was holding up the inside with the salty smell of the ocean still lingering inside and some seaweed hanging on the side of the seats.

" Mon Calamari. Unbelievable."

" Do you think we're even safe to travel like this?" Nadia said taking a seat only to gag when she had slimy seaweed on it.

" I don't even think we have a choice." Din answered turning on the ship only for it to shake violently from the action." On second thought. I think we need to make a pit stop."

Nadia nodded her head touching her keypads with the tip of her fingers from how slimy it was placing in the planet Corvus. She could see it was A forested planet, but any living plant was burned away, plundering the natural resources of the planet. The child cooed in an odd manner that caused both Din and Nadia to see a creature about to attack him, but Din caught it in time seeing it was a sea animal.

" Eat it." Din groaned tossing it to the child who caught it with his small mouth and gobbled it up." I finally know where I'm taking you. But it's gonna be a bumpy ride."

" Is the main hull secured?" Nadia asked spinning in her seat.

" Yeah."

" Alright, little guy." She breathed standing up and holding him." Now that you ate, let's get you something to drink and off to bed."

The child let out a sound likely trying to argue with her, but it was too cute to take serious. Din heard them head down the ladder before the doors closed leaving him alone in the cockpit. He took a deep breath leaning against his seat as the nerves turned his stomach. He wanted to tell her everything. He wanted to tell her how scared he was when she fell into that river and how much he loved holding her while they slept. He wanted to tell her how he never felt this with anyone and it scared him, but that was the thing. He was scared.

Frightened. Terrified. Petrified. Intimated.

He never had something like this before. A lone solider his whole life and now he had the little green kid that replied on him and someone that made his heart soar all around the galaxy. When the going got tough, he shut himself off, but it was different now. He didn't just have himself anymore. It didn't take long before Nadia got the child to sleep. He must have gotten little sleep to likely placing with the tadpole all night and day with the parents. The minute she heard him snore loudly, she knew he was out for the night and placed him in his little bunk.

She wanted to join the little guy, but one glance at the main hull and she was off moving some things to clean the area seeing the Mon Calmari really did do such a terrible job. She was busy throwing away some seaweed into a trash bag to hear Din come down the ladder. He nervously took a deep breath hearing his voice already shaky.

" I don't regret saving you." He spoke causing her to glance over to him before turning back to what she was doing.

" You sure regret something."

" I don't regret anything." He repeated walking closer to her." You are always worth saving."

" Well, it didn't feel like that for the last two days." She snapped dropping the trash bag onto the floor and walking further away from him.

He nodded his head agreeing with her." It just keeps replaying in my head. What happened. What could of happened." He continued walking again towards her." I just never felt like this with someone like how I feel about you."

Nadia was shocked. She placed the rag down that she was using and turned over to him with wide eyes unable to focus on a single word.

" Oh."

Din nodded again taking her hands into his," Nadia...I'm not best at this. I don't know what I'm doing." He admitted getting a small chuckle out of her." I think for the first time ever, I don't know what to do and I don't want to screw it up. Until you, all I knew was a bad kind of love. You're different."

She smiled staring at the Mandalorian in front of her that could make her heart skip a beat and sometimes upset over the silliest of things. She leaned forward standing on her toes to be able to kiss him on his beskar forehead.

" You're different for me too." She admitted staring at his visor." You just need to remember, I'm not a stranger. You can tell me anything. I'm not going anywhere."

Those words buried into his brain so deep that part of his fears were healed. She wasn't just some stranger anymore. She was someone who knew who he truly was over these eight months. Someone that made him smile under the helmet and blush all at the same time.

" Close your eyes." He instructed and she smile instantly knowing what he mean't.

He smiled himself placing his hands at the edge of his helmet and slipping it off with a hiss of air. He trusted Nadia more than he trusted anyone. Knew he didn't have to tie something over her eyes cause she would never dare to see him. Even now in the empty main hull, she squeezed her eyes shut. With the helmet off, he could see her more clearer. The lamp dim gave her skin more of a bronze hue soft to the touch. He couldn't help, but to take his glove off and touch her cheek.

She leaned into his touch, a smile on her face as her cheeks flared pink. Din’s cuirass freezes as he holds a breath in his chest, his gloved hands brushing down her back and holding her waist as he silently urges her closer. Nadia kept her hands on the sides of his helmet, looking at him with all the affection and care she held in her heart for him. When he releases the breath he’s been holding, Din speaks, his modulated rasp nearly breaking with desperation as he says the two words that change everything.

" Be my girl."

She laughs a sweet one that it's music to his ears.

" Only if you'll be my Mandalorian."

He smiles leaning forward kissing her right on the lips.

He's overwhelmed with a wave of such warmth that for a moment he think he might be burning alive. But then every sense within him comes alive, bursting in a beautiful display of pure affection as he urges Nadia even closer. His hands cups the side of her face as they continue to kiss. Nadia can feel the way their hearts come together the same way their mouths have, each simultaneous beat matching the movements of lips. They don’t stop until they’re sweetly suffocated by everything, pulling away with heavy yet satisfied breaths. Nadia smiled at him—and he smiled right back at her.

" You make everything in my life just seem a bit brighter." He admitted leaning his forehead against hers.

" Is that a bad thing?" She asked worried.

" It's something I'm not use to." He clarifies moving some hair behind her ear." Something about you makes me feel a little more alive and less lost."

" You never thought you'd get this attached did you?" She chuckles causing him to nod against her.

" No, but I don't want it to stop." He admits kissing her forehead." Why...why don't you sleep in my bunk with me tonight?"

She's surprised," Really?"

" It's clear we both get a goodnights rest when we're together." He bargained, but she nodded wanting to be close as they were two nights ago.

Din guided her over to his bunk turning the lamps off in the main hull to plunge the ship into complete darkness. He carefully tried to take off the beskar only for it to fall onto the ground a bit loudly with a girlish laugh from Nadia.

" Din, are you okay?"

" Guess I failed in being quiet." He spoke causing another laugh from her.

With all the beskar gone, he used muscle memory to walk over to the bunk carefully slipping in to not both crush Nadia or accidentally hurt her. Once he was settled in, she curled up to his side resting her head on his chest while he placed his arm around her waist scooting her closer. She breathed in his scent seeing after there mission, he still smelled like men's soap a just a bit of cologne. She felt a pang of nervousness wondering if she smelled like seaweed from earlier cleaning, but when he buried his face into his hair, she knew either way he didn't care. Nadia could feel herself falling asleep. One moment in her mind and the next almost in a dream when he spoke softly into the night.

" I won't let anything hurt you, Cyar'ika."

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elenaaadaniels · 1 year

Text

Chapter Eighteen: Crossed Lines

part 19

___________________________________ Was I out of line? Did I say something way too honest, made you run and hide? Like a scared little boy. I looked into your eyes. Thought I knew you for a minute, now I'm not so sure.

- 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 & 𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘉𝘺 𝘛𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘵 ___________________________________

Nadia woke up with Din's face in her hair and his legs tangled with hers. His slow breathing tickled the nape of her neck and his arm is heavy around her middle, holding her close. It's amazed her how he manages to hold her so tight even when he's sleeping, but she wasn't going to complain. She felt protected. So protected in a long time that she never wanted to not feel like this again. The low hum of the ship threatened to lull her back to sleep, but she couldn't seem to want to now. Her brain was too active on the activities from the previous night.

He kissed her.

Din had kissed Nadia and Nadia had kissed Din. Butterflies grew in her stomach at the memories as she nestled further into Din's embrace, relishing in the sleepy way he shifted to press his face to her neck. Nadia couldn't help, but wonder how they ended up like this. Months ago, she thought her presence annoyed Din to his very core, but last night he saved her life and kissed her. Her hand slid down her body until it rested over Din's, the curves of his knuckles under her fingers, so warm and so strong and so familiar.

She had feelings for Din for what felt like forever now. Buried them deep in her heart knowing he would never feel the same and it bothered her that she still did not know. Sure, he kissed her and warmed her body, but did it mean something? For the past months they had been together did he dream about her like she did of him? Had he been wanting something to happen between them to get where they are now? The alarms outside of the ship caused both Nadia and Din to sit up in alarm. Nadia could feel the blanket tussle around them and squeezed her eyes shut.

" My eyes are closed."

" My helmets on." He called out already having the small hatch open for them to get out.

With the light of the main hull, she could see he truly did have his helmet on, but turned away to the child's quarters knowing the noise had to wake him up too. She pressed the small button smiling at the sight of the child rubbing the sleep out of his big brown eyes.

" Morning little guy." She greeted kissing the top of his head before balancing him on one hip and climbing the ladder with the other.

" Looks like we made it." Din spoke hearing the two of them come into the cockpit.

Nadia frowned in amazement," That soon?" She questioned.

" We...really slept in." He said in a monotone voice.

She caught it instantly, her stomach turning as he mind immediately thought of the worst.

" You should get ready."

" O-okay." She stumbled quickly turning around to deal with her emotions alone.

She gripped the ladder tightly noticing how shaky they were as she climbed down trying to think of everything she did wrong. Accidentally falling into an ice river was one thing, but now that she was in better health, was he upset with her? She shook her head going to her bag to get a change of clothes. There was no way he would be upset. She had saved his life before too. What if he regretted the kiss? The thought made her stop all together. Tears threatened to leave her eyes, but she couldn't let it out.

If he did regret it, there was nothing she could do. She knew what she signed up for when she met him. He was a Mandalorian. A lone ranger that simply followed his code and fellow people. They were just friends. She threw her bag to the corner going into the washroom to get change almost begging her mind to think of something else when louder alarms sounded.

" Nadia, come up!"

Already dressed, she sprinted out of the washroom and up the ladder feeling under her feet, the ship was rattling in noises that couldn't be good.

" What's wrong?"

" Dank farrik! The landing array isn't responding. Without the guidance system, it'll be a manual re-entry. It might get choppy. Once we're through the atmosphere, there should be enough fuel to slow down." He whispered towards the end quietly, however, she still heard it." If we don't burn to a crisp."

She frowned in fear," What?"

" Nothing." He quickly spoke.

She gulped at the danger they were getting themselves into turning towards the child and double checking he was buckled before doing the same to herself. The Razor Crest flew towards the planet entering it's atmosphere in a speed that made the whole ship glow in orange from the heat.

" Nadia, come up here." He ordered causing her to quickly unbuckle her seatbelt." I need your hands! This lever needs to stay back. Can you do that?"

" Yeah." She promised giving him a nod.

" I know you can." He mumbled looking back forward." Keep it steady. Here we go."

The Razor crest continued to plummet and right when Nadia thought it couldn't take any more of the heat, the dreary clouds of Trask came into view with it's ports and housing down below.

" Razor Crest, this is Trask flight control. Please reduce your speed to port protocol."

" I'm trying my best here. Engage reverse thrusters." He called back turning to Nadia for a brief second." Brace! Hold on."

" Razor Crest, do you copy? You have to reduce speed."

" Almost there, almost there."

" Razor Crest, do you copy? Razor Crest, you're coming in too fast. You have to re..."

Din had enough of it quickly turning off communication before using the brakers to slow the Crest down. Nadia winced waiting for the harsh crash only it never came given Din hovered just in time.

" Here we go. Nice and easy."

She laughed with a nod," That wasn't so-"

Her words were cut in seconds when the ship had crashed to the side causing all of them to fall over sinking down to the port. Nadia rubbed her shoulder before noticing half their windshield was under water.

" We're sinking."

Din nodded going on coms," Can I get a claw to take our ship out?"

" Copy that Razor Crest."

The crane slowly moved over to their ship before grabbing it from the back causing all three to yet again tumble around. Unlike Din and the child, Nadia was not buckled to a seat and tried to keep balance only to fall onto Din's lap. He held onto her waiting for the crane to finally place them on solid ground before turning back to her.

" Are you okay?"

" Yeah." She chuckled, but it was soon wiped from her face when he almost shoved her off his lap and already heading towards the ladder." Are you okay?"

He didn't answer and that kill her. She tried to place the pieces together, but nothing was making sense on why he was being this way towards her except one thing. He regretted everything that happened. The thought made her sick. If they weren't in the situation they were in right now, she could double over and throw up sick. She balled her fist to express some of the nerves she was feeling before following after him and grabbing the child.

Outside, Trask was a gloomy planet with blankets of clouds covering the sky and a grayish haze over the place. The only thing Nadia can make of it was how it was a trading planet. The ports were almost filled to the brim and those not trading on boats or ships were trading on little markets.

" So, how can I help you?"

" Can you fix it?" Din questioned the repairman.

" Fix it?" The Calmari asked baffled." Nah. But I can make it fly."

" Do what you can." Din spoke dropping some credits into his hands before leading the way to find the family.

Nadia looked more into the crowd of people that surrounded the ports remembering Peli saying the egg like family were to the frog species. She almost gave up until she seen from the corner of her eye a woman and man frog like creature glancing around the place like she was holding each other closely.

" I think I found them." She said waving at the couple with a smile.

The couple knew instantly, gasping in a cheer of happiness while racing towards her. She couldn't fight the smile from her face slowly walking over and handing over the egg container seeing the proud parents practically jump over their success.

" I know you're hungry." Din spoke causing her to turn seeing the child whine up at his father." We'll get you something to eat."

The father of the eggs quickly got up with a smile shaking Din's hand vigorously while going on in his language how much he appreciated him.

" He's thanking you."

Din frowned," You know what he's saying?"

" Had a couple of creatures like this in Arvala."

Din nodded turning back to the creature," You're welcome. I was told you could lead me to others of my kind."

The frog spoke again in his language while Nadia jogged it down getting the basics.

" He said in The inn over there, the workers know about the Mandalorian more than he does."

Din nodded again walking forward never thanking Nadia for the translation. The fear crawled at her body once again, but she pushed it away walking into the Inn. Inside the Inn was much warmer than outside or maybe Nadia was still warming her body up. The frog creature pointed to the owner, who waved back already expecting them to arrive.

"Thank you." Din bidded the creatures already heading to a empty table for the three of them.

" I'm starving." Nadia mumbled taking a seat next to the child and petting his little head.

" What can I get you?" The owner questioned.

" Nothing for me. A bowl of chowder for my friend." Din answered looking straight ahead never acknowledging Nadia.

She cleared her throat," I'll take the potato soup."

The owner nodded his head turning back to Din," These seats are scarce, buddy." He sassed." Everyone seated needs to eat."

" I can buy something else. Information." Din hinted." Have you seen others that look like me?"

The owner glanced around a bit seeing most people were eating to notice the conversation, but for extra measure, grabbed the hose and pour the chowder to make some noise.

" Others with beskar have been through here." He answered.

" Who can take me to them?"

" I know someone who might help." The owner spoke walking off to get that exact person.

With the owner gone, Nadia knew it was her time and turned to Din ready to fire out questions that were killing her inside.

" Did I do something wrong?" Nadia asked, her voice cracking a little at the end due to nerves.

" I need to focus." Din told her defensively.

She huffed at his short statement noticing octopus meant for the child's food was now stuck to his face while he wrestled with it.

" Don't play with your food." She ordered with hints of anger taking the octopus and placing it back into the soup.

" You seek others of your kind?" A man asked taking a seat by their table and only looking towards the Mandalorian.

Din, nodded," Have you seen them?"

" Aye. I can bring you to them."

" Where?"

" Only a few hours' sail. It'll cost you, though." The man warned, but Din quickly took some more credits from his pockets and handed it over to the man.

" Do we have a deal?"

The man took the deal leading them onto his ship with other crew members getting ready for a hunt. Nadia stood by the edge with the child watching the waves crash against the ship the faster they went and how the child giggled every once and a while when the water splashed his little face. Din slowly walked over to the two seeing the port in the distance slowly begin to fade away.

" Well, it's better than being on the razor crest. Am I right?" Nadia joked only to get a slight, very slight, nod from him as an answer." Seriously, just a nod?"

" What do you want me to say?" Din snarked back.

She rolled her eyes," Anything at this point." She mumbled.

" You ever see a mamacore eat?" The Captain questioned walking over to them." Quite a sight. Child might take an interest. You should take a look. Come on over here. Get a good view. Let the kid see."

" Wanna see it, little guy?" Nadia questioned not waiting for Din to answer since he wasn't even talking to her.

The two walked away from the edge of the boat seeing the middle gate of the ship begin to open while they strung fishes above ready to feed it. Nadia couldn't lie she was interested moving forward a bit only for Din to hold his arm out to stop her.

" All right, close enough." He warned.

She glanced at him rolling her eyes with a sarcastic laugh wondering if the planet Trask caused him to be so bi-polar. Once the gate was completely opened, the net opened up dropping a dozen fishes into the water that began to bubble up.

" There we go. She must be hungry. Oftentimes we'll feed her in the early morning, but we missed that 'cause we were goin' out of port!"

It happened in a flash, one minute the captain was speaking and the next minute, he swung his staff causing the child's pod to be flung into the water. As quickly as she realized it, the Captain did the same action again knocking her into the water and into the mouth of the mamacore.

" Nadia!"

It was the last thing she heard before darkness surrounded her and the tongue of the mamacore was trying to swallow her up. Inside the mouth was sharp, she mentally cursed when a tooth cut her leg, but pushed with her feet against it's throat to stop it. The child cried near her in it's pod, but from survival and darkness, she couldn't console him. Her lungs burned from lack of air and she dug her nails into the throat of the mamacore using her legs to stretch out on the other side hoping to burst it open.

Blaster sounds could be heard from the outside of the mamacore and soon it caused the monster itself to rawr in anger. For a brief moment, she could see what looked like a mandalorian enter ripping the creature from the inside. Whoever it was, grabbed the pod before grabbing her hand flying out of the water in no time. She gasped for air landing on the ground in pain, but it didn't matter to her when turning to the dented pod.

" The...child..."

" Stay down." Din ordered placing his hand over the bloody cut on her leg." You're hurt."

" Here you go, little one." One of the Mandalorian's spoke handing over the child to Nadia, who smiled seeing he was okay.

Din looked up to his coven," Thank you. I've been searching for more of our kind."

" Well, lucky we found you first."

" I've been quested to deliver this Child. I was hoping that..." Din explained only to stop when the three Mandalorian's in front of him removed their helmets revealing their faces." Where did you get that armor?"

" This armor has been in my family for three generations."

" You don't cover your face?" He said fiercely standing up." You are not Mandalorian."

" He's one of them."

" Dank farrik." The other cursed in annoyance.

" One of what?" Nadia questioned.

The one Mandalorian turned to Nadia, before bending down and spraying some bacta spray to heal her wound showing to both Din and her that she was no threat.

" I am Bo-Katan of Clan Kryze." She addressed looking up to Din when done." I was born on Mandalore and fought in the Purge. I am the last of my line. And you are a Child of the Watch."

" The Watch?"

Bo-Katan nodded with confidence," Children of the Watch are a cult of religious zealots that broke away from Mandalorian society. Their goal was to re-establish the ancient way."

" There is only one way. The Way of the Mandalore." Din corrected turning and helping Nadia off the floor." Come on."

She frowned at why Din would be so defensive when it came to them, but she couldn't ask once he flew the three of them off the ship without any other questions himself. The three of them walked in silence through the streets of Trask. Unlike morning, the ports were empty that not even a rat was around to scurry by. Nadia glanced over to Din, his stance so unreadable that she didn't know what he was even thinking behind that silver beskar.

" Wanna talk about it?" She asked breaking the silence.

He didn't say a word. Kept walking by her side with his face forward while holding the child in his arms. She didn't want her anger to flare up, but she could feel it the more he was giving the cold shoulder.

" Want to talk at all?" She questioned next.

Silence.

She laughed out loud," You regret it don't you."

" Regret what?" He questioned a bit curious.

" Clearly saving my life." She practically shouted turning sharply towards him." You know I didn't ask to fall into that frozen river and not be able to feel my fingers or my toes for the matter and for you to regret so badly for warming me up."

He looked at her like she was crazy," You think I regret saving you?"

" Clearly since you can't talk or even look at me!" She shouted glaring daggers at him if possible." If saving me was so damn hard for you, you could of let me drown! Better yet, not kiss me!"

She turned around ready to stomp away, anywhere that was away from him when a voice grabbed all of their attention.

" Hey!" The Tessek man shouted surrounding them with five others." You...You killed my brother."

Din slowly stood in front of Nadia," Let us pass."

" I don't you think you understand." The Tessek man threatened with the sounds of blasters charging up around them." You killed my brother and now I'm gonna kill your pet and little girlfriend."

Nadia slowly pulled the blaster from her side ready to fight if she had to, when the same Mandalorian coven from the ship flew down next to them quickly protecting the three.

" He didn't kill your brother." Bo-Katan clarified." I did."

With that, Bo-Katan and her people fired against the Tessek man and his people dropping them down before they even had the chance to process what was going on. Din glanced over to Nadia seeing she was unharmed by the action before turning to see Bo-Katan staring at him.

" Can we at least buy you a drink?"

" Sure." Nadia answered sparing a glare over to him." I need a couple of rounds."

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elenaaadaniels · 2 years

Text

Chapter Seventeen: Frozen Fingers

part 18

___________________________________ I used to think that I was made out of stone. I used to spend so many nights on my own. I never knew I had it in me to dance any more. But goddamn, you got me in love again.

- 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘈𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘺 𝘋𝘶𝘢 𝘓𝘪𝘱𝘢 ___________________________________

Warning: Near death, Hand holding, Spiders, Bed sharing, Kissing, SUPER FLUFF, some cursing

Din jolted from his seat staring wide eyed as he was met with the frosty windshield in front of him. It all quickly came to him. The X-fighters, the ice, the crash. The minute Nadia came to his mind, he turned to see her seat was still empty and only the maker knows how long it has been since they crashed.

" Dank Farrik. Nadia!" He shouted getting up on wobbly legs forcing the frozen door open.

He grabbed onto the ladder feeling the cold steel through his leather gloves. He slid down before coming face to face with a giant hole on the side of the Razor Crest that it made his heart drop thinking of the child and Lexie being sucked out of it.

" Nadia!" He shouted again throwing crates around." Nadia! Damn it. Where are you?"

A small laugh caught his attention as he turned to see the child playing with a couple of snow flurries that had come in. He scooped the child into his arms checking for wounds only to see none.

" Hey there, buddy. Have you seen Nadia?"

To Din's luck, the child understood pointing his small little finger. Covered by a large crate, stuck out an arm that he knew only belonged to Nadia, herself. He nearly threw a crate over his shoulder seeing the side of her head was bleeding while she unconsciously laid on the ground.

" Hey." He spoke pressing a cloth to the side of her head." Nadia, can you hear me?"

" Ow."

" Thank the maker." Din breathed helping her sit up carefully seeing she groaned from some growing bruises.

" What happened?"

" We crash landed and then crashed a second time." He explained when she moved her hand to her wound wincing at the new found pain.

" Ow."

" Easy there." He warned.

She turned her head for something, but when it wasn't there, she began to panic looking around frantically.

" I had the kid." She explained trying to get up." He was just-"

" He's okay. He's..." Din promised when he turned to see the child eating one of the frog peoples eggs again." No!"

The child was startled by his father's shouting, but even more so when Din scooped him up in his arms again and shut the egg jar.

" I told you not to do that." He scolded noticing there were less eggs than before." How many did you eat?"

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

Crashing into an ice planet is less comfortable than Nadia thought it would ever be. The RazorCrestdidn't shatter when entering that atmosphere, nor did it shatter into a million pieces when it hit the surface of Maldo Kreis. She was thankful for that, but on the other hand, despite Din's best efforts to crash on flat ice field, the ship skidded into a glacier.

She rubbed her arms seeing her breath every time she took one. If she had to be honest with herself, she was scared on where they would get though. The ship was no where near a repair shop and she didn't know how to adapt or even survive somewhere that was so cold. Din placed the last pin into the blanket he hung by the hole hoping it kept some of the cold out.

" If you hadn't guessed, we're in a tight spot."

" Not just a tight spot. A cold spot." She emphasized placing on her jacket, despite it being thin and no use.

" The main power drive is not responding, and the hull has lost its integrity. I suspect the temperature will drop significantly when night falls. I'll have a better idea of our prospects at that time."

With that, Din took a seat on the ground crossing his legs over themselves to get comfortable.

" So that's it?" Nadia questioned surprised by his stance." We're just going to...die here?"

" There's nothing else I can do right now and we're not going to die here."

" Speak for yourself." She muttered earning a small laugh from him." I can help you. I remember things from when we fixed the ship with Kuiil."

He looked to her jacket shaking his head," You'll freeze out there."

" I'll bundle up." She insisted grabbing a scarf they had near by and wrapping it around her neck.

He still looked uneasy," Are you sure you're up to it?" He pressed, but he knew her answer when she crossed her arms over her chest." Then let's go."

She smirked that her stance worked bracing herself a bit as she followed him outside. Squeezing through the hole on the side of the Crest, they came outside seeing they had fallen into the ice caves of the planet with thick ice walls surrounding them. Nadia looked above them seeing through the gaping hole they made, snow flurries were falling above them.

" What planet is this?"

" Maldo Kreis." He answered." It's an ice planet. Nothing and I mean nothing lives here."

It wasn't hard for Nadia to believe it not liking how cold it was. They walked away from the Crest before turning to take in the damages seeing it was much more than just a gaping hole in the side of their ship.

" Okay. Dying seems like the easier way then fixing this thing." She said stressed.

Din chuckled at her comment," What happened to your big speech in the ship?"

" I lost it the minute I saw this." She admitted gesturing to the side of the ship that was leaking fuel.

" Here. Do you remember wiring?" He asked setting his toll box on the ground and getting the proper tools out.

" Yeah."

" Okay, I need you to open this part of the ship and see how the wires are." He explained marking the ship for her." If they're disconnected, I need you to reconnect it."

" Got it, teach."

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

It was two hours later when her confidence had plummet to the bottom of the ice planet. Nadia rubbed her hands together vigorously trying to get any source of heat seeing how much they had left to the crest. The main hull doors were still not working and the landing gear was torn too. While they got the heat in the ship to work, it wasn't worth turning on yet from the gaping hole still in the side.

"I know I complained about Arvala-7, but I've decided that hot is better than cold." She complained looking to Din next to her sealing the wires." I'd rather die in the desert than in a glacier."

He lightly chuckled,"You'd say the opposite if you were still on Arvala-7."

" And you're right." She mumbled with a smile.

With chattering teeth, all she had to do was move around Din to get to the next base board, when gravity and ice had other plans. She gasped loudly feeling the ground under her begin to slip and it was loud enough for Din to notice and quickly react grabbing her waist. Despite this, he himself lost his own balance falling on his back while Nadia fell on top of him hitting her head on his helmet.

" Ow. I'm sorry." She quickly apologized feeling her cheeks flare up." Are you okay?"

" You're the one that fell and bumped your head on my helmet." He pointed out with amusement helping her up." You can head inside to warm up. I should be good out here."

" I'm fine, Din."

" Your teeth are chattering like crazy." He said gesturing to her lips that were turning faint blue.

She rolled her eyes," They are not."

" You're cold, Nad."

" I am fine and workable." She argued, but he shook his head walking by her and heading inside." Where you going?"

" To get you warmer clothes." He called out going inside.

While it was a small gesture, Nadia couldn't help, but smile feeling the little butterflies in her stomach that he was doing so. He could of continued his work or ignore the signs that she was cold, but he chose to find something that would warm her up. With the same smile, she walked over and continued to work on the ship thinking about it some more.

Din always seemed to know how to take care of her. Knowing her reactions to certain things they got into and how to help her through it. There were no other bounty hunters, no other Mandalorian's that would treat her like how Din treated her and knowing this made her heart soar.

" Have you seen the kid?"

She immediately came out of her thoughts wiping the smile from her face and replacing it with a frown.

" I've been with you the whole time." She pointed out

" He's gone."

" What?" She questioned alarmed dropping the tools in seconds." How?"

" You said you were with me." He repeated walking around the ship for any sign of the child.

Nadia could feel the panic growing.

" Where could he have gone?"

" I got his heat signature." Din answered pointing in the direction and leading the way through the caves.

She didn't think it was possible, but inside the caves was much colder than it was at the opening. She could only imagine it was from the ice being so close together and not a signal hint of sunlight coming in. Din peered over his shoulders checking that Nadia was close and smirking to himself seeing she was nearly attached to him.

" This place is creepy. I feel like I'm going to see a frozen animal in here." Nadia said her words in a rush wanting to hear more of her surroundings than herself.

" If we do see an animal, maybe we can cook it." Din hinted.

They turned the corner to an opening only to see the child looking at some near by rocks and cooing at them with interest.

" There you are." Din breathed scolding the little guy." You can't leave the ship. It's not safe out here."

" He must be hungry too." Nadia groaned." I should of fed him earlier."

" We have dried rations in the kit. Don't beat yourself up."

She half-nodded when she noticed steam come up behind him. She walked around him seeing a pool of water and carefully placed her hand in smiling at the warmness that surrounded.

" It's warm." She gleefully announced hearing Din walk next to her.

" It must be a spring."

" Come on, warm your hands." She encouraged sticking her other hand in next." It'll help us work faster."

He smirked at her reaction," You think it will?"

" I won't look." She promised, but he shook his head while talking off his gloves.

" You can see my hands, Nadia." He informed sticking them into the water.

While it was just his hands, she couldn't help, but to look over at them since she was allowed to noticing he was a tan shade with clean cut nails and calloused hands from being the known bounty hunter.

" So you're not green?" She bantered earning a deep chuckle from the Mandalorian.

" You really thought I would be?"

" You do carry around with a little green son." She implied laughing along side him.

With the joy of finding some heat, both moved their hands around the water feeling the water's rhythm against their skin until they bumped into each other. They both pulled back from the shock, both even letting out a small little gasp from the feeling. Nadia was about seconds away from cursing herself out for making a mistake when he reached over grabbing her hand and interlocking fingers.

The nerves grew in her stomach instantly and if her cheeks didn't flare so bright red earlier, she knew they were definitely now. Din was just as shocked. It was one thing to accidentally bump hands, but he doesn't know what overcame him to interlock hands. The child cried behind them breaking their contact with the sight of him quickly racing over.

Next to him, the rocks started to vibrate before the realization came that they were no rocks. They were eggs and about a thousand laid in front of them all vibrating and hatching with white insect like creatures coming out. Din scooped the child quickly into his arms already pulling his blaster out the same time Nadia did.

" Din? What are those?" She asked in alarm.

Din was ready to explain how he didn't know, how he didn't know if they were even safe or not when a grumble over took the small cave. In horror, the two watched much large creatures come from the cove of the cave until a enormous creature, the mother, came out roaring at the awakening.

" Go! Back to the ship!"

He didn't have to repeat himself with Nadia already turning and running back in the direction they came from hearing the creatures footsteps quicken at their escape. Along with the mother came her spawns using any leverage the mother couldn't reach to get them. Nadia turned the corner seeing the creatures come around and used her blaster taking down the ones in front of her. The brief pause she made caused the mother to strike the spot near Nadia causing the icy ground to break. She screamed loudly falling for brief seconds before meeting the ice river that laid below.

" Nadia!" Din shouted watching the river quickly take her down stream faster than he could have grabbed her.

Nadia used her last breath to scream for help while her body frail around. She moved her arms around to swim to the surface only to be met by the ice surface. Din rushed as fast as he could using his heat signature to follow her while also shooting down any creature that came near him. The water was piercing cold against Nadia's skin instantly causing her bones to ache with terrible pain. Her head felt like it was about to burst while her lungs were on fire from lack of air.

When he got enough distance between him and the creatures, he used his fire to burn a hole into the ice big enough for Nadia to come through. Her head popped out first gasping for air and he quickly grabbed under her arms pulling her to safety.

" I got you! Can you breathe?!" He questioned seeing she nodded." Come on!"

Using the same flame thrower, he turned it to the creatures watching them hiss in pain being burned alive. Despite being chilled to the bone, Nadia grabbed the child from his arms and began running as fast as she could getting to the ship. She practically flung herself into the main hull getting the child up the ladder before noticing Din was still outside shooting the creatures.

" Din hurry!" She shouted.

He quickly came inside with the army of creatures hot on his tail causing Nadia to skid up the ladder squeamishly. She placed the child further in the cockpit grabbing her spare blaster shooting any creature that got pass the doors recognizing too many of them were coming too fast.

" Use your flames!" She suggested.

He quickly aimed his arm causing the flames to erupt towards the creatures causing another round of hissing to come around them until the cockpit doors finally closed breaking them off the creatures.

Din turned to Nadia placing his hand on her cheek," Are you okay?"

" Ask questions later." She said already beginning to turn things on in the ship.

" Strap yourselves in. This better work. I've got limited visibility. It's gonna be a bumpy ride." Din warned, but she could care less just wanting to get off of the miserable planet.

The Razor Crest started up with a strong roar. It's engines giving off perfect energy despite the hard fall it had taken. It gave them hope, even more so when the Crest was slowly rising off the floor until it came crashing down on them with the mother creature taking them down.

" Son of a bitch!" Nadia cursed loudly seeing the mother creature roar loudly trying to get to them.

They were seconds away from their cockpit being breeched when the blasters from outside flooded the cave and soon hit the mother creature bringing her down for good. The blasters continued taking out the rest of the creatures, but it left Din and Nadia confused who it came from. Din got up, grabbing his own blaster as he started to leave.

" Where are you going?"

" To see who saved us. Stay here." He instructed, but it was the last thing she was going to do.

She pointed at the child for him to stay before climbing down the ladder following after him. He groaned under his breath at her not listening, but didn't argue slowly moving through the cob webs to see their savior. Just outside, they saw to X-fighter jets with their men inside shooting down the creatures that were left behind until their were none left over.

" We ran the tabs on the Razor Crest. You have an arrest warrant for the abduction of prisoner X-Six-Nine-Eleven." One of the soliders spoke causing Nadia's stomach to turn at the memories." However, on board security records show that you apprehended three priority culprits from the Wanted Register. Security records also show that you put your own life in harm's way to try to protect that of Lieutenant Davan from the New Republic Correctional Corps. Is this true?"

" Am I under arrest?" Din questioned back.

The man tilted his head," Technically, you should be. But these are trying times."

" What say I forego the bounties on these three criminals, and you two help me fuse my hull so I can get off this frozen rock?"

" Given the lady looks like a frost princess, we can." The man pointed out causing Din to turn seeing Nadia was shivering with her hair frosty from the cold freezing her hair.

" Thanks?" She guessed causing the soldiers to laugh.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

The soldiers transferred half fuel from each of their ship before leaving warning Din to get his transponder working so something like this would never happen again. Nadia sat in the cockpit, a weary feeling over her that she couldn't shake. She felt dizziness despite sitting down while her muscles ached or cramped like she was running her whole life. Even her heart was running at a fast beat. The doors to the cockpit opened and she forced her eyes open seeing Din come back in.

" All right. We have enough for us to limp to Trask." He announced turning all the gears back on.

The Razor Crest started with a shake slowly getting off of the icy floor and making a few bumps along the way, but it wasn't long until they got out of the cave and reached surface seeing the sunshine in a long time. Din was thankful for it taking the Crest to the atmosphere finally breathing in relief when they were safe in space.

" Main hull is closed and locked. You can go down now to get changed."

She nodded slowly getting up on wobbly feet and heading down like he said. He felt bad in the state she was in. Cold as she ever been before on Arvala-7 and yet again in the heap of danger. Ten minutes had passed when he heard a large tumble and frowned wondering if something had fallen. He quickly placed the Crest on auto-pilot leaving the cockpit to make sure she was okay.

" Nadia?" He called only to get no answer.

He expects to find her in the fresher, changing into dry clothes, but she isn't there. His heart stops as he turned to see her passed out on the ground slumped. Her eyes are closed, and worst of all, she stopped shivering.

" Nadia!" He shuttered rushing to her side and kneeled in front of her reaching out to cup her chin.

She was ice cold as he tilted her head peering at her, and he is gifted when her eyes flutter open sleepily before shutting again.

"din?"

It was all she could whisper, so quiet that he's grateful for the amplifiers in his helmet.

" It's me, Nad. Stay with me."

" i don't feel so...good?" She mumbled.

He scoops her into his arms and carries her into his sleeping quarters. There's no second-guessing now. Nadia was dead weight in his arms, and he feels the pressure weight on his chest. Din quickly placed her in his bed and peeled off his gloves and tosses them aside, and he touches her face again. That pressure in his chest intensifies, she is icy to the touch. As cold as death some would say.

"Wake up," He growls, shaking her shoulders, but this time, her eyes did not flutter." Nadia, please wake up. I need to warm you up,"

Din rushed around his quarter grateful she was in some warm clothes and saved him the embarrassment. He grabbed every blanket in his room covering her body tucking her in, but he realized his mistake. Her body was ice and he was just trapping the coldness making it ten times more harder for her body to heat up. She needed a heated source and he was one. This is not at all like he imagined it either. She's freezing to death and he would have to hold her, cuddle her to warm her. He was scared about the act, but he was more scared he's about to lose her.

He killed the lights, plunging the room into darkness and covering anything that could bring light. Din knew she would never try to take a peek, but he almost knew when she woke up and found him with no helmet, she would freak out. With the room in darkness, he removes his helmet and beskar until he is just in his pants and shirt, he climbs into bed with her. She's so cold that it pulls a shiver out of him, but he knows he has to restart her internal heater and pulls Her as close as he can pressing every bit of himself against her icy skin.

Nadia's face is pressed into the space under his chin, and he rubs her back and arms. She was so cold and still, Din would think she was dead except for the shallow breaths he can feel tickling against his neck.

" Come on, Nadia. Warm up."

It takes a long time, far too long, but finally she shuddered in his arms and started shivering. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and took first her hands slowly rubbing life back into them too. He stayed awake for what felt like two hours listening to the hums of the razor crest and to her breathing making sure it never stopped. It wasn't until she cough that he jumped a bit surprised rubbing her back some more.

" Din?"

" I'm here." He breathed in relief.

There's a long moment of silence as Din realized she's sort of warm now, and stretches out beside her, not touching. Now that the danger has passed, the damage-control part of his brain is clicking off. The part of his brain that deals with feelings, barely formed, is clicking on instead. However, she reaches out almost smacking his face in the darkness before cupping his cheek.

" Where's...Where's your helmet?"

" I took it off." He answered feeling her sit up in the darkness.

" What happened?" She groggily questioned that it shocked him a bit.

" You don't remember?"

She frowned in the dark," I remember the New Republic officers saving us." She spoke." Everything after that is blurry."

" You passed out. Found you on the floor. I had to warm you up."

Embarrassment filled Nadia, as she quickly moved the covers from her body despite how much they warmed her.

"I should go to my hammock-"

"You can stay," Din urged her before giving a small lie, even though he has never lied to her before." You're still in danger of turning hypothermic."

As soon as it's out of his mouth, Din wanted to kick himself. It sounds stupid, and Nadia's smart. He knows she doesn't buy it, but he feels her nodding.

" You don't have to lie. I know what I did was stupid-"

" It was nothing." He interrupted.

" Yeah, but you didn't have to."

He frowned in the dark baffled," What makes you think I didn't have to?"

" I don't know." She chuckled shrugging her shoulders." To save me from a rushing river while being chased seems out of the way."

" Anything for you is not out of the way."

She chuckled unbelieving of his words," You say that so easily."

Nadia felt warm hands touch her face feeling butterflies in your stomach when his other hand went around her waist pulling her closer. Her mind wondering if she was still in her freezing coma until, his lips pressing down onto hers in a gentle but passionate kiss. She kissed back immediately, one of her hands found his face, caressing the slight stubble on his cheeks, it was exciting to explore without seeing. As soon as it started it was over. They both pulled away to breathe, Din resting his forehead against her.

" You just kissed me." She spoke in shock

" I know." He breathed a bit worried" Should I have not?"

" No...I mean yes...I mean." She stumbled before laughing at her self nerves." It was good."

In the dark, he smiled widely, but still in his happiness worried about her health.

" Rest. I'll be here when you wake up."

" Din-"

" Rest." He repeated moving the blanket up her her waist to keep her warm.

She knew she couldn't fight him and more importantly, she couldn't fight herself. She wanted to stay. She climbed under the covers unsure of what to do, but went with her gut curling up in his arms and burying her face in his chest for warmth and comfort.

" Is this okay?" She asked testing the waters only to get a positive remark.

" It's perfect."

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elenaaadaniels · 2 years

Text

Chapter Sixteen: Crashing Down On Us

Part 17

___________________________________ You don't have to say you love me. I just wanna tell you somethin'. Lately you've been on my mind.

- 𝘈𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘉𝘺 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘚𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘦𝘴 ___________________________________

If there was one word to describe the trip from Mos Pelgo to Mos Eisley, the word would be tense. It surrounded the three mostly around Din and Nadia. He peered over to the rearview mirror seeing over the course of an hour or so, she still looked upset with her hands still on his shoulder.

" Hey, you okay?" He questioned loudly over the roar of the bike.

She frowned, bothered that he asked," Yeah, why?"

" You've been quiet since we've been riding."

" I'm fine." She grumbled never looking in the mirror to face him.

" Are you sure?" Din pressed causing her to nod annoyed.

" Just focus on riding."

So he did. He gripped the handles to the speeder making it go a bit faster, but the silence only lasted around five seconds before he picked his next question.

" Did I do something?"

She huffed loudly," No."

" Then what is it?"

" It's nothing, Din."

" It's clearly something."

" I said it's-"

Her words were cut off when a rope sprung out of the ground catching the speeder and launching them forward into the air. The two gasped loudly at the surprise, Din using his jetpack to land on the ground as safety as he could while Nadia landed side first rolling against the harsh sand. As soon as she could make out her surroundings, she noticed four armed hunters come from their hiding spots all shooting at Din.

" Mando!"

" Get the Child!" One of the armed men ordered.

Nadia sprung into action crawling to the closest blaster she could before firing it at the attacking men getting one of them in the armor. The man turned in Nadia's direction shooting back before swatting away her blaster and landing a hard blow onto her cheek. She hissed falling back onto the ground, but as quickly as it happened, she swung her leg around knocking the man onto the floor before using the hilt of her blaster and jamming it into the man's skull knocking him out cold. She turned to find the child the same time Din did only to see the final man with a knife to his little chin.

" Hey!" Nadia shouted in anger aiming her gun at the attacker." He's just a Child!"

Din was quick to put his hand on the blaster forcing her to lower it knowing it wouldn't be much help and could put both the child and her life in danger. He turned back to the creature holding his hands up with a deep glare under her visor.

" If you put one mark on him, there's no place you will be able to hide from me." He coldly remarked." We can strike a bargain. There's a lot of value in this wreckage. Take your pick. But leave the Child."

The attacker looked at the wreckage around them before taking the knife away from the child's neck and pointing it to what he wanted around Din's shoulders.

" Okay." Din complied taking the jetpack off of his shoulders and placing it onto the ground" Here. It's yours. Take it."

Din backed away from the jetpack and slowly the attacker moved forward before placing the child on the floor and taking the jetpack as fast as he could. The child waddled as quickly as he could over to Nadia, who was quick to scoop him up into her arms checking his neck for any sign of injury.

" Come here, baby. You okay?" She comforted when the child buried his face into her chest clearly frightened.

Din pressed the buttons on his wrist and soon the attacker was flying in the air with the jetpack holding on for dear life. The child and Nadia watched as Din made the jetpack do a couple of loops before the attacker finally fell off onto the ground knocked out for good. When both looked at Din, all he could simply do was shrug his shoulders. When the jetpack returned, they watched it land on the floor slowly, but tip over with a hallow sound Nadia didn't like.

" What does that mean?"

" Ran out of juice." Din groaned grabbing it from the floor a placed it on his shoulders." We're going to have to walk the rest of the way."

Nadia's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets," Walk?" She gasped.

He nodded grabbing the net from the floor and tying it to a loose pole.

" Walk."

All her years on Arvala-7 never prepared her for the journey of hiking through the hot desert of Tatooine. Din carried majority of the heavy stuff that included the dragon meat still nearly preserved and the armor while she carried the child and their bag. She could feel the sweat pooling on her back and even with her hair tied back, she felt like she was on fire.

" Want me to hold him?" Din offered, but it made her laugh knowing he couldn't hold anything more.

" I got it."

As the minutes turned into hours, her throat ached for some water and she could only imagine that if she was miserable, how miserable Din must of been under the heavy armor of beskar. She watched him from the corner of her eyes for signs of dehydration and exhaustion, but it was almost like the man was trained for this walking a bit faster in pace and barely out of breath. When the sun had set, was the time they three had made it to Tatooine yearning for water or at least a place to rest their legs. They made their way to the Cantina spotting the brunette curly hair woman almost instantly.

" I don't know. Looks like someone's gonna be goin' home empty-handed."

" Oh maker." Nadia gasped grabbing a cup off the table instantly." Peli what is this?"

" Water." Peli frowned.

Nadia didn't care placing the cup to her mouth and downing almost the entire thing if she didn't quickly need to take a deep breath. She turned to the Ant placing cards and swatted her hand.

" Move over Ant-man." She ordered causing the big creature to scoot as best as it could.

She sat down feeling her feet ache, but it was the less of her worries and she sat the child comfortably in her lap and placed the cup on his mouth watching him nearly drink the water down like she did.

" You finally found a Mandalorian and ya killed him?" Peli commented while looking to the green and red beskar helmet.

" He wasn't Mandalorian. I bought this armor off of him, though."

Peli nodded," What'd that set you back?"

" Killed the krayt dragon for him." Nadia answered seeing how Peli rolled her eyes.

" Oh. Is that all?" She sarcastically remarked turning back to her playing cars." Telling ya. You two together are a scary match."

" He was my last lead on finding other Mandalorians." Din grunted when the Ant creature started chattering to Peli.

" Okay. Well, you might be in luck. Dr. Mandible says he can connect you with someone who can help you, if you cover his call this round." She explained shrugging his shoulders." It's what he said."

" What's the bet?" Din groaned under his helmet causing Lexie to chuckle.

" Five hundred."

" That's a high-stakes game." Nadia pointed out.

" Hey, he's on a hot streak." Peli commented while Din pulled the credits from his pocket and threw it on the table." Is the pot right? Ha! Idiot's Array! Pay up, thorax!"

" I thought you said he was on a hot streak?" Din spoke clearly irritated.

" Oh. stop your cryin'. You'll rust." Peli teased collecting the money the same time the creature spoke to her." All right. He says the contact will be delivered at the hanger. That's what you wanted, right?"

" Yes."

" All right, well, stop your mopin'. More importantly, did you bring back any of that dragon meat? Better not have any maggots on it. I don't like maggots." Peli spoke while the three followed behind her just thankful to have a lead.

Once back at Peli's, her workers were quick to start up a fire and cook up the meat which was good mostly for the child that was likely to be starving. Nadia laid in the hammock Peli had set up staring at the million of stars that littered the sky. Even being in space, she was amazed they never got near a star and amazed at how bright they were to be so far away. Her view was quickly changed when Din stood above her looking down.

" You're blocking my view, Tin can."

" What's bothering you?" He interrogated causing her to sit up while rolling her eyes.

She looked irritated," Nothing is bothering me."

" You've been quiet and distant all day." He reminded placing his hands on his hips telling her without words that he wasn't going to let this go so easily.

" I'm tired." She lied rubbing her neck.

" Then come sit with me and rest your head on my shoulder."

She smirked at his offer," Are you flirting with me or starting a fight?"

" Why don't you come and find out?" He pressed holding his hand out for her to take.

She couldn't help, but to smile at his gesture taking his hand and lightly hopping out of the hammock before they both walked over to the cooking meat seeing the child nearly salivate.

" Hey, step away." Nadia warned pulling the back of his robe lightly." You're working on more than just a tan."

" Hey, don't overcook it, Treadwell!" Peli remarked coming from her office." I like it medium rare! I'm not some Rodian, for crying out loud. All right, here's the deal. A Mandalorian covert is close. It's in this sector, one system trailing."

" Are they the ones that left Nevarro?" Din pressed.

" Don't know. All I know is that the contact will lead you to them."

Nadia nodded her head," How much will it cost us?"

" Well, that's the great news. It's free."

" What?" Din and Nadia questioned equally surprised.

" Aside from a finder's fee, of course." Peli added wiggling her eyebrows for a bit of a pay.

Nadia nodded with a groan," What's the not-great news?"

" There is one small skank in the scud pie." She warned." The contact wants passage to the system. And...no hyperdrive."

" You want me to travel sublight?" Din questioned shaking his head instantly." Deal's off."

Seeing his worry, Nadia held her hand up," Mando, wait-"

" Moving fast is the only thing keeping us safe."

" These are mitigating circumstances." Peli hinted at causing the two to frown.

" What do you mean mitigating?" Nadia questioned.

Peli held a finger up walking to the entrance she had came from and returning with a backpack tank filled with orange like eggs inside floating.

" These are a eggs from a frog creature." Peli explained placing the tank onto the ground lightly." They use to live here, but had to go off to Trask in an emergency. She needs her eggs fertilized by the equinox or her line will end. If you jump into hyperspace, they'll die. She said her husband has settled on the estuary moon of Trask in the system of the gas giant Kol Iben. You deliver this to her and she'll tell you where the Mandalorian hides."

Nadia knew something like this couldn't go unpassed. It was someone's eggs. Someone that wanted a family and this was there last chance to do it. Din already knew the answer. With Nadia, he had to say yes. He looked over to her and that was his mistake seeing her beady eyes plead for him to take it. He groaned to himself turning to Peli.

" Is she sure there are Mandalorians there?" He reminded causing Peli to nod her head.

" She said her husband has seen them."

" Cut us a slice and we should get going." Din ordered lightly smiling when he saw how happy it made Nadia.

Peli nodded cutting a good portion of the meat for the three before they were off back into space for their journey. Nadia smiled feeding the child the meat and lightly laughed at how quickly he was trying to eat it.

" Slow down, little one." She urged fearing he would choke on a piece.

" Can you tell me why you're so mad at me?" Din interrogated not even fully down the ladder once it was safe to put the Crest on auto-pilot.

She shook her head," I'm not mad at you." She insisted going to grab some more water for the child.

" Is it because I dived into the dragon?"

She froze instantly tensing up that it answered Din's question without her having to say anything. He had hit the hammer right on the nail.

" Can we just drop it?" She almost begged once she had come out of her haze.

“I’m sorry for-“

“Don’t.” She interrupted, harshly than she intended.

Din froze from her reaction swallowing," It is, isn't it?" He pressed and when she didn't answer, he lightly placed his hand on her waist turning her around." Nadia."

" I don't want to talk about it." She argued going to hand the water to the child when he had took the opportunity to go towards the tank and steal one of the eggs.

" No, no, no!" Din shouted watching the child slurp one of the eggs instantly." That is not food. Don't do that again. You need to go to sleep. Now."

With Din taking the child to bed, Nadia chuckled walking towards the ladder and heading to the cockpit. She sat on her usual seat looking up the planet of Trask seeing how the primary terrain was oceans. The doors to the ladder port opened again with Din walking in empty handed.

" How many do you think he had?"

" I didn't mean to make you upset." Din interrupted never answering her question.

She took a deep needed breath shaking her head as she tried to continue in her research.

“You…you should of said something.” She muttered out.

“I didn’t have time.” Din argued.

“Didn’t have time to tell me you were going to get swallowed by that thing?” Nadia snapped spinning in her chair and glaring at him.“I thought you died.”

“I didn’t though.” Din said, sounding confused.

“ So that's what I should hold onto.” She said back, shaking her head in disbelief. “That you didn't die. You could have. Hell, I don’t know how you didn’t. I mean, did you even think you were going to make it?”

The silence that followed answered her question

“You knew what I am." He spoke breaking the small silence." What I did. I am a bounty hunter. I am a Mandalorian. Putting my life at risk is part of the life. You can’t expect me to give that up.”

“You aren’t just a bounty hunter or a Mandalorian anymore! You are a father to this kid now, no matter how much you don’t want to admit it because it scares you.” She argued about to calm down when she laid all the cards on the ground." You almost died on Nevarro! I don't....I don't ever want to go down that road ever again. Seeing you...hurt."

Din finally understood everything in front of him. He lived his life still thinking he was a lone ranger forgetting he had the child and Nadia who needed him. She said it once on Nevarro. She needed him.

" I'm sorry." He quickly apologized." I didn't think it was going to affect you this much."

" I didn't either." She muttered turning back to the screen in front of her." Can we just drop it?"

" Will you talk to me?"

She cracked a smile," Of course."

" Then I'll drop it." He said giving his own smile under his helmet.

With the day they had endured, it wasn't surprising that while working on their own two things, sleep had caught up to them before they could even head to their quarters. Din didn't recognize this until hours later when the alarm started to go off signaling trouble. He bounced out of his seat looking around the cockpit seeing despite the alarms, Nadia was still sleeping. Safe, but still sleeping.

" Razor Crest, M-One-Eleven. Come in, Razor Crest. Do you copy?"

He turned on his coms quickly seeing two x-wings surround both sides of the Crest.

" This is Razor Crest. Is there a problem?"

" We noticed your transponder is not emitting."

" Yes, I'm pre-Empire surplus. I'm not required to run a beacon."

" That was before." The officer explained." This sector is under New Republic jurisdiction. All craft are required to run a beacon."

Din nodded his head," Thank you for letting me know. I'll get right on it."

" Not a problem. Safe travels. May the Force be with you."

" And also with you."

" Just one more thing."

Din could feel a curse words slipping through his mouth, but stopped himself not wanting to get shot down so quickly.

" Yes?"

" I'm gonna need you to send us a ping. We're out here sweeping for Imperial holdouts. I'm still gonna need you to send us that ping."

" Well, I'm not sure I have that hardware online." Din explaining faking some switches as proof." Yeah, I...Doesn't seem to be working."

" That's too bad. If we can't confirm you're not Imperial, you're gonna have to follow us to the outpost at Adelphi. They'll run your tabs."

" Oh, wait. There it is." Din gave in pressing the button." Transmitting now. The hypervac is drawing off the exhaust manifold."

" Carson, can you switch over to channel two?"

" Copy."

Din turned in his chair" Nadia!" He whisper shouted in order to not be heard on coms." Nadia, I need you to wake up."

" No thank you." She muttered in her sleep.

" Was your craft in the proximity of New Republic Correctional Transport, Bothan-Five?"

Din knew the danger they were in. The officers would take them all in and he couldn't afford to do so still needing to return the child and protect Nadia. He revered the ship sharply to the right jolting her awake in the process as the two officers followed right behind.

"What?" She questioned, her head still fuzzy with sleep seeing they were quickly diving down to a planet." Din, what's going on?"

" Strap in, now!"

"Are we being tailed?" She asked yanking her seatbelt and bulking in.

" Yes!"

" Razor Crest, stand down. We will fire. I repeat, we will fire."

Nadia gasped as the Razor Crest veered left and right, up and down that it left a hallow feeling in her stomach. Din moved the gears forward causing the ship to dive low causing her to yelp.

" We're going to crash! We're going to crash! We're going to crash!" She frantically declared, nails digging into the seat as proof.

" Come on, Razor Crest, don't make us do it."

" Hold on." Din warned temporarily turning off the jets causing the Crest to plummet to the ground below.

" What do you think I've been doing!?" She shouted.

Once the clouds had cleared around them, Din turned the jet's back on seeing an ice planet below that held a canyon. He moved full speed that it yet again left a hallow feeling that she could already imagine what the child felt.

The child.

She turned in her seat frantically for the child only to notice he was no where to be seen or heard.

" Where's the kid?"

" Downstairs!" Din yelled hearing the sound of seatbelt being unclipped." Nadia, what are you doing?"

" Making sure he's okay!" She shouted back already at the ladder.

" Nadia!"

She tried her best to carefully climb down, but it was no use when the ship veered again causing her to stumble onto the ground. She could care less quickly getting up and looking around the main hull.

" Kid! Where are you?!" She shouted throwing around blankets until she found the child under one with scared beady eyes." Hey, little guy. It's okay. I got you."

It didn't last long when the Razor Crest crashed onto the icy ground nearly knocking her to the ground if she didn't hold onto something.

" Shit!" She cursed bracing for the worst when the Crest crashed into something large enough to stop it.

Her head was still in a spinning motion from the events looking down to the child seeing he was concern, but glad to at least be in her arms.

" So much for a safe trip." She stated when the sound of cracking surrounded the ship as the floor rumbled under them." Din?!"

Her plead was drowned out as the ice under the ship had gave way sending them plummeting deep into the canyon. As the ship went down, Lexie and the child flew upwards being on the ceiling for a solid ten seconds. All Nadia could remember was nothing, but darkness.

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elenaaadaniels · 2 years

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Chapter Fifteen: Dragon Hunting

part 16

___________________________________ Common love isn't for us. We created something phenomenal. Don't you agree? Don't you agree?

- 𝘗𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘉𝘺 𝘋𝘶𝘢 𝘓𝘪𝘱𝘢

___________________________________

" We're here."

The words were music to Nadia's ears. Looking over Din's shoulder, since they had rode a bantha together, she could see a large cave big enough for the monster she had seen yesterday. It was hallow from the looks of it and she gulped at the thought of unknowingly people entering the cave not knowing what was inside. Din got off the Bantha first landing on his feet before turning to Nadia, holding her waist as she slid down the side and stood next to him.

" How do we know that thing isn't going to come out of the cave and attack us?"

Din laughed," If it does, I have a jetpack and I'm fast on my feet."

Hearing his words, she smiled feeling some of the worry roll off her shoulders knowing if it came down to the dragon and them, he would be fast on his feet to help them. She turned grabbing the child from his little pouch and crotched down against a small little cliff with the other seeing a lone tusken raider taking a bantha to the front of the cave.

" They say it lives in there." Din related once the tusken raider had talked." They say it sleeps. It lives in an abandoned sarlacc pit."

Cobb shook his head unconvinced," Lived on Tatooine my whole life. There's no such thing as an abandoned sarlacc pit."

" There is if you eat the sarlacc." Din hinted.

Nadia didn't know what a sarlac pit was or even a sarlac for the matter, but seeing Cobb's face drop at Din suggestion made her know enough that the dragon was not going to be easy to take down. She swallowed her worry squinting her eyes at the lone tusken raider down below.

" What are they doing down there?"

" They're laying out a bantha to protect the settlement." Din explained handing her the binocs to see for herself." They've studied its digestion cycle for generations. They feed the dragon to make it sleep longer. Watch, the dragon will appear."

Taking the binocs from her eyes, she watched the tusken raider hammer the stake into the ground to keep the bantha in place before cupping its hands around its mouth. The tusken began shouting in its language, its voice echoing around the cave, but growls came right back at it. The ground shook under them and when the raider noticed, it took of running tripping multiple times, but it wasn't enough when the dragon came up from the sand swallowing them.

" Shit." Nadia gasped while the child quickly buried his face into her arms to be protected.

Din slowly looked over to them," They might be open to some fresh ideas."

" Open? Or in dire need of one?" She corrected causing Din to chuckle.

" Come on." He nudged moving from the small cliff and over to the Tusken raiders mapping out the terrain.

She stood quietly next to Din watching the Tuscan's speak to one another in their language gesturing to the bones and little marbles they made on the floor. She tried to keep up with them guessing what the hell they were communicating, but her guess was no better than anything she came up with.

" What are the bones?" Cobb asked taking the words right from her mouth.

" That's the krayt dragon."

He frowned again," And those little rocks?"

" That's us." Din answered.

" It's not to scale."

Nadia shrugged her shoulders," I think it is." she spoke looking over to see Cobb shake his head.

" Can't be. That's too big."

Din nodded beginning to speak in Tusken again to get the answer. It caused Nadia to chuckle a bit thinking how funny the brave Mandalorian sounded with little to no words coming from his mouth.

" It's to scale." Din spoke in his normal voice causing her to swallow.

" That's not at all intimidating." She sarcastically remarked getting another nod from Cobb.

" I've only seen its head and neck. It's bigger'n I guessed." He warned rubbing his chin." Might be time to rethink our arrangement."

Din agreed with this turning to the tusken's and with a couple of gestures, the tusken planted more rocks on their side of the map agreeing to the reinforcements.

" That's more like it." Cobb smiled." Where are they getting the reinforcements?"

" I volunteered your village."

Cobb's smiled wiped right from his face in the matter of milliseconds.

" You did what now?" He questioned in horror.

" If your people want this dragon to be gone, then they're going to have to fight for it." Nadia interrupted causing both men to look in her direction." It wouldn't be fair if the Tusken's did all the hard work and all your people had to do was clean the towns bar."

Under the helmet, Din smiled at her words turning to Cobb with a simple nod.

" She's right."

Cobb rolled his eyes looking towards Nadia," You're lucky you're pretty."

" Thank you." She chuckled.

" Let's go warn my people." Cobb muttered that it was clear to Din and Nadia that he didn't want to, but at this time, he had no choice.

Din quickly spoke to the Tuscan's informing them of their plan and where to meet before walking by Nadia and the child's side to their own vehicle.

" Are you sure about this?" She blurted out holding onto the child tightly." I trust you. Believe me I do. I just don't trust a dragon to not eat one of us. You seen what it just did not so long ago."

" That dragon comes towards you, believe me, I'll stand in the way." He stated matter of factly, but she looked right up at his visor with a small smile.

" That's the part that scares me, Din." She teased noticing in the distance how grumpy Cobb had gotten." Let's just say these people don't want to help. Do we have a plan?"

" Do we?" Din questioned noticing she already had one.

She nodded her head," We rip the armor off of him and call it day."

Right then and there, Din knew he was a bad influence on Nadia, but he smiled at her response agreeing to it if things did turn for the worse.

" You're lucky you're pretty." He said repeating Cobb's words in a flirtatious manner.

Her cheeks flared pink and she laughed getting on the back of his speeder as they took off back to Mos Pelgo. When they returned to the local bar, Din and Nadia could see the hope on the faces of Mos Pelgo's people that something had been done to protect their town. Other's noticed the face Cobb had and mirrored it worried that nothing would get done. She bounced the child on her lap distracting him with a fork in order to not interrupt the meeting.

" This here is a Mandalorian." Cobb announced once everyone had joined the bar." You know what that means?"

" We've heard the stories." The Weequay from before commented.

Cobb nodded," Then you know how good they are at killing. Now, this one's got a problem. I got a suit o' salvaged armor and the Mandalorian creed says it's his to take." Cobb explained only for people to roll their eyes or murmur at Din." But I've got a problem, too. A krayt dragon has been peeling off our pack animals, and sometimes, taking our mining haul with it. It's just a matter of time before it grows tired of banthas and goes after a couple of you townsfolk, or even, so help us, the school."

Another round of chattering grew, this time in fear for the future of their children that had to endure the sight of the krayt dragon almost every day.

" As much as I've grown fond of the armor, I'm even more fond of this town. The Mandalorian is willing to help us slay the leviathan in exchange for returning the armor to its ancestral owners."

The Weequay nodded his head," Well, that settles it."

" There's more." Cobb continued curling his fist at the response he might get." We can't take on the krayt alone. And the Sand People are willing to help."

Unlike the chattering from before, gasp and loud groans filled the bar first before the guess all threw questions and insults into the air, so much that the child whimpered at the loud noises sheltering himself into Nadia's chest.

" They raid our mines!"

" They're monsters!"

" I've seen the size of that thing!" Din interrupted loud enough to quiet the whole bar." It will swallow your entire town when the fancy hits it. You're lucky Mos Pelgo isn't a sand field already. I know these people. They are brutal. But so is the Dune Sea. They've survived for thousands of years in these sands and they know the krayt dragon better than anyone here. They are raiders, it's true. But they also keep their word. We have struck a deal. If we are willing to leave them the carcass and its ichor, they will stand by our side in battle and vow never to raise a blaster against this town until one of you breaks the peace."

The bar remained quiet until slowly each one nodded their head in agreement cause they couldn't let a deal like this go even if they hated the Tusken's. With the agreement in full swing, Cobb gave out orders on what they needed to get done and it wasn't hard for almost every person in the town to contribute to the work. Nadia watched from outside, the child in front of her making little sand piles and laughing at the feeling of it between his fingers.

" Think it'll work?" Cobb asked from inside.

" It better." Din suggested shrugging his shoulders." Joining forces is their only hope."

From the corner of her eye, Nadia noticed a large figure moving and turned her head to see the first Tusken Raider riding a bantha arrive to help with the task.

" Mando, Cobb." She called out causing the two men to see for themselves.

The Tusken's were true to their word coming in a large assembly line armed with enough weapons and rides for everyone. Nadia glanced at the faces of the people of Mos Pelgo seeing a mixture of disgust and worry surround them, but it didn't matter at the moment. Taking down the dragon did. She continued to watch the child while the tusken's and Mos Pelgo people worked together taking explosive from one vehicle to the other.

She just wanted this to be over with already. The last time the three of them had done something dangerous, they lost a friend, the child was almost taken, and Din almost died. The memory made her grow with anxiety and she shifted where she stood trying to get the memory of his blood out of her mind.

" You okay?" Din questioned by her side noticing.

" Hey!" A man yelled when a Tusken dropped one of the explosives." What are you doin'? That's an explosive. Are you trying to blow the whole place up?"

The Tusken equally grew with anger deeply speaking in their language and even stepping up to the man with anger.

" What? Is that what you want?"

" Take it easy." Cobb interrupted standing between them." It was an accident, okay?"

" What do you want to do?"

" It was an accident!" Cobb repeated more sternly glaring into the man's eyes to let it go.

The man wanted to argue, but he knew he couldn't with Cobb around and turned away from the fight to cool off while another person took his place to help the Tusken's. Cobb nodded to his people turning to Din and Nadia with a charming chuckle.

" It's gonna be great."

She couldn't help, but to mirror Cobb's chuckle. With all the explosives on the bantha's the large group moved through the desert in order to make it back to the krayt's hideout seeing that it was much more quieter than when they first arrived. A single Tusken volunteered to head down to the cave to check the surrounding for them to work. She focused on the cave when she frowned at a certain aura around her that the dragon was sleeping.

" I think it's sleeping." She announced while Cobb frowned next to her.

" How do you know?"

" A feeling?" She admitted knowing how stupid it sounded.

The tusken down below laid their palm on the ground for several seconds before standing up in excitement and signing over to Din and his people.

" What'd he say?"

" He says it's sleeping." Din answered." If we listen carefully, we can hear it breathing. Let's get to work."

Nadia nodded her head taking out a small elastic from her wrist and pulling her hair back into a ponytail knowing the last thing she needed in her way was her hair. She started first helping the group dig deep into the sand in a row big enough for the explosives to fit, but deep enough for the blast to have some impact.

" The Tuskens say the belly is the only weak spot, so we have to hit it from below. First, we bury the charges at the opening of the cave. Then, we wake it up. We have to get it angry enough to charge." Din explained to Cobb while he passed by, but in reality, he was keeping an eye on her." Once it's far enough out and the belly is above the explosives, you hit the detonator."

Cobb nodded his head liking how the plan was coming together and watched as the tusken's loaded up their spikes that would tangle the dragon and hold it out from the cave. Nadia took a deep breath, wiping back sweat that dripped down her forehead before returning to digging noticing she was close to being done since the explosives were getting near her.

" Nadia." She heard and turned to see Din hold out a canteen for her.

She shook her head," I'm fine." she protested, but he held out the canteen closer to her view.

" Fine looks like she was really thirsty."

" Wanna argue, Tin Can?" She gestured only for him to shrug his shoulders.

" We can after your drink some."

She playfully rolled her eyes taking the canteen from his hand and drinking from it amazed at how thirsty she actually was without realizing it. By the time she finished, the water was almost gone and she could practically see through his helmet that he was smirking at her.

" You're annoying."

" Hey, your the one that joined me and the space baby." He teased causing her to smile.

" Careful, Marshal." They heard turning to see one of the people of Mos Pelgo hand Cobb the detonator.

" Thank you, Jo. And you stay safe, huh."

Jo smiled at Cobb before heading closer to the field where the fight would be happening. Nadia glanced at Din, surprised that he was already looking at her and nodded slowly parting ways. She knew the plan and stuck with her guns, literally, walking with the tusken's and Mos pengo people ready to fight back. She heard the faint buzz of the comm in her ear and turned seeing Din in the distance adjust the sound.

" Nadia, can you hear me?"

" Loud and clear." She answered watching three Tusken raiders move forward to the cave.

When they got far enough, the cupped their hands around their mouths shouting into the cave and it didn't take long before the dragon was growling back. The ground beneath them shook as everyone grew nervous at what was about to come at them. The three Tusken raiders ran for their lives as the dragon emerged from the sand teeth baring.

" Now!" Nadia shouted at the Tusken's causing them to press the trigger on their spikes sending them deep into the skin of the dragon.

Despite the effort, the dragon started to retreat slowly back into the cave.

" Dank Farrik, it's retreating back into the cave."

" Hit it with what you got!" Nadia shouted causing everyone to grab the rocks they had gathered and taunt them at the dragon to keep it from going in.

Nadia, herself, grabbed her blaster from her side joining Weequay and his armed people in shooting at the dragon. It worked with the dragon slowly revealing itself from the cave angry by the way it was being treated, but it caused the hairs on Nadia's body to shiver. An unsettling feeling overcame her and she felt the sickening feeling that something bad was coming. Just as her suspicion was growing, the dragon started opening it's mouth preparing for something.

" Run!" Nadia screamed warning the people partially in time for green acid to litter where they once stood.

The acid burned through the san reaching some tusken raiders and burning at their armor into their clothes and poisoning from the inside out. Just as it had happened, the explosives have gone off sending blast after blast towards the dragon's surrounds causing it to shriek in pain swallowed by the surrounding dust cloud. The blast sent everyone to the ground squinting through the sand that passed by for the dragon.

" Nadia, are you okay?" Din said his words in a rush,

" Mando, you seeing anything from up there?"

" No, keep an eye out."

" Everyone! Have your eyes peeled." She warned standing up completely seeing nothing of the dragon laid anywhere or the lack of the ground shaking.

It was then, above the mountain, the dragon had emerged breaking through the rock, sand, and soil with a roar before emitting another round of acid like rain. Nadia grabbed the closest people around her to their feet and ran all of them to safety using some bantha to take cover while shooting. Right around the dragon, Cobb and Din flew over shooting from the sidelines causing Nadia to frown.

" Did he just leave the kid?!" She shrieked turning to see on the small hill was the child.

She abandoned her hiding spot racing across the field in a hurry scooping the child off of the ground and into her arms hearing his whimpers from the lack of knowing what was going on.

" It's okay, little guy." She comforted when the dragon used a second shortcut coming from behind another sand field to get at the people.

The people ran in a hurry and it was at that moment, Nadia noticed Din stood almost alone in the path of the dragon holding onto the bantha that rigged with explosive.

" Mando, what are you doing?" She said, voice shaking.

He never answered focusing on the dragon in front of him as its mouth opened widely swallowing him and the bantha whole.

" No!" She screamed at the top of her lungs in horror.

She didn't know what to think. She didn't know what to say. She was speechless at what she had just seen feeling the tears begin to come down her cheeks when the ground rumbled again. From out of the sand, the krayt dragon roared opening its mouth in pain as electricity flowed around it and Din flew out. Once he was high enough in the air, he pressed the detonator causing the belly of the dragon to erupt killing it from the inside out.

Mos Pelgo and the Tusken raiders cheered loudly in victory, some even hugging each other. It didn't matter to Nadia. She placed the child on the speeder running down towards the field as quickly as she could. The closer she got, she could see people helping wipe the acid from Din's suit and when he noticed her coming at him, he held his arms out in warning.

" Nadia, acid-"

" Thank the maker." She mumbled throwing her arms around his neck in an embrace.

He couldn't fight the smile from his face wrapping his arms around her seeing the fear leave her eyes when he did. Cobb chuckled making his way over and clapping Din on his back.

" I see you like giving your girl a heart attack." Cobb mocked causing the two to break from their hug.

" Sorry, I didn't have time to explain."

" No need." Cobb commented watching the Tusken's quickly open the dragon and cut a slice for everyone." Not everyone has time to go inside a dragon and warn people."

" Tell me about it." Nadia muttered.

Cobb smiled at the armor packed away," This was well-earned."

" Better have been for killing a dragon." She teased causing Cobb to nod his head while holding his hand out to Din.

" It was my pleasure. I hope our paths cross again."

" As do I."

" Oh, and you tell your people I wasn't the one that broke that." Cobb gestured to the air tank Din had popped earlier.

Din nodded his head to Cobb walking over to the speeder where the child was smiling at a chunk of meat one of the Tusken's had left for them. He covered it up with a blanket noticing Nadia had gone from someone who was once relieved to someone who was angry.

" Are you okay?"

She threw him a dark look," Can we just go?"

" What's wrong?"

" I just want to go." She repeated more sternly sitting on the back on the speeder waiting for him to do the same.

He nodded slowly confused by her new anger sitting on the speeder and getting it ready for their travel. He wanted to think nothing of it, but when she placed her hands on his shoulders and not around his waist, he knew her anger was towards him.

" Oh boy."

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elenaaadaniels · 2 years

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Chapter Fourteen: Mos Pelgo

Part 15

___________________________________ Time, curious time. Gave me no compasses, gave me no signs. Were there clues I didn't see? And isn't it just so pretty to think. All along there was some. Invisible string. Tying you to me?

- 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘺 𝘛𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘵 ___________________________________

If Nadia from six months ago saw herself from today, willingly following a Mandalorian and his magical green baby across galaxy running from Imps, she'd call herself an idiot and hit herself upside the head for good measure. But this was her life now, and, as much as she like to snark, she actually liked it. It had been four months since Nevarro and six months in total since she met Din and the child.

To say how much things had changed was an understatement. Despite having Moff Gideon gone, the imperials were still after them causing them to spend time on a planet for no more than one or two days and flying through space in hyperdrive. It was like a routine for them, but a good one. Cutting some carrots, she smiled making dinner for the three of them knowing when Din came back, he would be likely starving.

For about a month, they been going from planet to planet trying to find Mandalorian's since Din had a hunch that finding one would help them also find a Jedi. Cutting one more piece of the carrot, she paused feeling a weird energy around her. Somehow knowing it was the child, she reached out next to her stopping a piece of the biscuits she made from floating towards the child.

" Ah. Ah. Ah." She disciplined shaking her head," You know we wait for him to get back"

The child gave a confused look letting out a babble.

" I know you're hungry, but we have to wait."

" Patoo." He babbled pouting his cute little face.

" Don't give me that face. It's too cute to argue with." She said grabbing a piece of the carrot she cut and handing it to him." What am I going to do with you?"

" Call him adorable about five more times." A voice broke out.

She smiled at the voice turning to see Din walk up the ramp, a smile on his face too that she couldn't see.

" Hey, there's the man we've been waiting for."

" Sorry, took longer than expected." He apologized lightly rubbing the child's head as he passed by.

" So, how was it?" She questioned closing the ramp and walking to get dinner ready." Did you get any information?"

" Believe it or now, we're about to see an old friend."

She frowned excitedly," Really? Where?"

" Tatooine." He answered.

She briefly paused while pouring the soup into the bowl at the memory, but like a flash, she broke from her thoughts continuing her task. Yet, Din still noticed.

" Are you okay?"

" Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" She chuckled placing a bowl on the table for the child." You hear that little guy, you're going to see Peli again."

The child did not care what she said babbling as he reached forward grabbing the biscuit and taking a big bite with hunger in his eyes that didn't surprise the two.

" I was told this Mandalorian would be in Mos Pelgo."

" Mos Pelgo?" Nadia questioned pouring a bowl for Din next." I haven't seen that one on Tatooine's maps."

" Look who's been studying." He complimented nodding." I haven't seen it either but I'm thinking maybe Peli would have maps pre-empire."

Nadia nodded back," She most likely would."

" You can stay on the ship when we get there. I know how hard Tatooine is for you."

" Please." She chuckled rolling her eyes at his worry." I'm not a baby, Din. I can handle the ghost of my ex-boyfriend's death. Besides, can you handle being away from me for so long?"

" No." He honestly answered.

" That's what I thought." She said handing him a hot bowl of the soup." Eat up. We'll be down here."

With a smile, she turned heading to the small little table to eat with the child. Din stared at them before climbing up the ladder a bit sad he couldn't join them. Out everything they been through, he would like to at least have dinner with them, but with his creed, he was kept in the cockpit eating with himself. When they got to Tatooine only four hours later, Nadia felt the nerves in her stomach, but smiled walking down the ramp with Din seeing Peli already outside.

" Hey, hey, hey!" She called out to her droids already coming towards the Razor Crest." Sorry, gang. Come on. You know he doesn't like droids."

" May as well let them have at it. The Crest needs a good once-over." Din said looking over his ship from the outside.

" Oh! So he likes droids now." Peli sassed looking over to her cheerful droids." Well, you heard him. Give it a once-over."

Nadia smiled to the polite droids that passed by grabbing at their tools with excitement when heading towards the Razor Crest.

" I guess a lot has changed since you were last in Mos..." Peli spoke when the sight of the child made her face light up." Oh! Thank the Force! This little thing has had me worried sick. Come here, you little whomp rat. Looks like it remembers me. How much do you want for it? Just kidding. But not really. You know, if this thing ever divides or buds, I will gladly pay for the offspring."

" We just might make back all the credits we ever gave you." Nadia poked at getting Peli to laugh herself.

“She is funny.” She directed the statement towards Din who sighed. “Where did you find a funny woman who was willing to stick around with you?”

“Lots of credits.” Nadia sarcastically responded.

“She is kidding.” Din responded and Nadia couldn’t help but to laugh at the exasperation in his voice.

From behind them, a loud bang caused everyone to jump while the droids fought with a loose hose that was knocking them down like dominoes.

" Hey! Oh, jeez! Watch what you're doing up there." Peli scolded." He barely trusts your kind. You want to give all droids a bad name?"

The droids tried their best, one even grabbing the hose from flying around, but in the process got it stuck to its face.

" Oh maker." Nadia cringed.

" I'm here on business." Din spoke bringing the attention back to the task." I need your help."

Peli nodded her head," Oh, then, business, you shall have. Care for me to watch this wrinkled critter while you seek out adventure?" She cooed down to the child in her arms.

" He's been quested to bring this one back to its kind." Nadia explained causing Peli to wince.

" Oh, wow. I can't help you there. I've never seen any like it. And trust me, I've seen all shapes and sizes in this town."

" A Mandalorian Armorer has set me on my path. If I can locate another of my kind, I can chart a path through the network of coverts." Din further explained, but it didn't help his case with Peli.

" You've been the only Mando here for years from what I can tell."

" Where is Mos Pelgo?" Nadia questioned." He was told there's one there."

" Oh. Boy, I haven't heard that name in a while." She breathed scratching her head." It's not on any of the maps because it was wiped out by bandits. Once the Empire fell, it was a free-for-all. I didn't dare leave the city walls. Still don't."

Nadia nodded understanding," Can you tell us where it used to be?"

" Depends who's asking. You want to see it? R-five!" She yelled unexpectantly looking to a white droid." Bring the map of Tatooine. No, take your time. Seriously. You just can't get good help anymore. I don't even know who to complain to."

" Maybe the maker." Nadia joked watching the droid give a hologram of the planet.

" This is a map of Tatooine before the war. You got Mos Eisley, Mos Espa, and up around this region, Mos Pelgo."

Din shrugged his shoulders," I don't see anything."

" Well, it's there. Or at least, it used to be. Not much to speak of. It's an old mining settlement. They're going to see that big hunk o' metal long before you land." Peli warned, but Din had another idea on how to get there.

" You still have that speeder bike?"

" Sure do. It's a little rusty, but I got it." Peli informed guiding them over to the back of her shop.

Lifting up the tarp, Nadia smiled at the speeder bike she had left behind remembering how smooth it was to ride the desert. She ran her hands over the handles, however, a little disappointed when hers had lots of rust around it.

" Your bike looks really rusty." Din commented grabbing her attention.

" You think so?" She pressed.

He nodded his head," Yeah, maybe we should only take one." He hinted wanting her to be with him, but he wasn't going to admit that.

" Whatever you say, Mando." She chuckled lightly grabbing the child from Peli's hand and setting him up on the back of the bike.

" I'll never get your relationship." Peli commented throwing her hand in the air." You're too connected just to be friends."

Nadia's face flushed red that if someone pointed it out, she would lie saying it was the heat. As for Din, he paused for a moment clearing his throat to hide from Peli's comment.

Nadia looked over at Din with a grin. “Can I drive the speeder bike?”

He looked over at her. “Do you know how to ride one?”

She shrugged. “No, but it probably isn’t too hard.”

“It is harder than you’d think. I’ll drive it that way you don’t kill us.”

" ThAt WaY yOu DoN’t KiLl Us." Nadia mocked with a pout that made Din smirk behind his helmet.

" Hop on, Mesh'la." He smirked getting on the bike himself and starting it up.

She nodded smiling to Peli one last time before getting on the bike and taking off towards the desert. Just like their first journey, the deserts of Tatooine were empty with nothing, but sand for miles long. She tightened her hold on Din whenever they sped over a large hill. The feeling of the bike free falling for a bit made her nerves jump.

Din did in on purpose secretly liking how she clung to him whenever it happened. They rode the bike through the bike for hours until they came up on some tusken raiders that had information. Nadia glanced to the sunset before turning back seeing how skillful Din was when it came to speaking the Tusken language.

For the night, they slept against the bike, but by morning Din followed the Tusken's instructions only to come up to a town. Nadia now understood why they couldn’t find it on a map. It was a small town, though small sounded like the understatement of the year. The whole entire place seemed to stretch over the small portion of road Din was now slowly driving along, a few buildings on each side of it the sandy single street that passed through it, just as empty as the rest of it. It was barren except for a few curious eyes here and there, either from people stood on their porches or people peering out from their windows, eyes seeming to dig into Nadia and Din.

" Is this it?" Nadia questioned surprised by how small it was.

" I think it is. Just keep an eye out for me." Din ordered riding the bike into town.

" You know I will." She added.

Din slowly drifted down the street, seeming to look around for something that stood out. A place where he could find a Mandalorian. Nadia looked around as well, straightening her body up and removing her arms from around Dins waist to bring them up to her eyes, shielding them from the piercing rays of the suns. Her feet followed Dins path in and once they entered the establishment, Nadia's assumption that it was empty was confirmed. There were no day drinkers, nor people grabbing a bite to eat or conducting business. All that stood was a lone bartender, who seemed to be mindlessly stirring a drink mix together with not much care.

" Can I help you?"

" I'm looking for a Mandalorian." Din answered walking over to the bar.

" Well, we don't get many visitors in these parts." The Weequay admitted." Can you describe him?"

" Someone who looks like me."

The Weequay looked over Din's armor before humming lightly.

" Mmm...You mean the Marshal?"

Nadia frowned by the other side of the bar," Your Marshal wears Mandalorian armor?"

The Weequay nodded," See for yourself." He grunted and gestured his head to the door Nadia and Din had entered.

Both turned around to find a Mandalorian stood in front of them, with wholly the outfit on. The armor it self had been painted a green and red but Nadia had guessed that must of been many years ago due to how aged and worn it looked. The colors looked half cuffed off, the metal of it dusted with marks and dents that had shown it had seen much greater days. The helmet that the man worn was a bit unruly, not seeming quite right on his manly frame.

" What brings you here, stranger?" The Marshal questioned taking careful steps forward.

" I've been searching for you for many parsecs."

" Well, now, you found me." The man remarked walking towards the bar." Weequay, three snorts of spotchka."

The Weequay nodded his head taking out a blue liquid from under the table before taking out three cups. The Marshal grabbed all the items glancing to Nadia before to Din taking himself to a near by table.

" Why don't you join me for a drink?" He asked confusing Nadia that he would offer.

Her confusion only grew from there when the Marshal removed his helmet from his head revealing his face to the two of them, like it was nothing. He was a cleaned man with white hair on his head and a matching beard around his face that Nadia couldn't lie. He was attractive.

" I've never met a real Mandalorian. Heard stories. I know you're good at killing." The man chuckled beginning to pour the drink for his new guest." And probably none too happy to see me wearing this hardware. So...I figure only one of us walking out of here. But then I see the little guy...and the beautiful woman and I think, maybe I pegged you wrong."

The Marshal placed the two drinks at the edge of the table for them to take. Din stood like a statue still stunned by the Marshal removing his helmet, but Lexie took the drink needing one after the long day they had.

" Who are you?" Din finally spoke.

" I'm Cobb Vanth, Marshal of Mos Pelgo." He introduced with a charming smile.

" Where did you get the armor?"

" Bought it off some Jawas." Cobb answered taking a swing of his drink.

Din narrowed his eyes," Hand it over."

" Look, pal, I'm sure you call the shots where you come from, but 'round here, I'm the one tells folks what to do."

" We don't give two shits." Nadia replied lightly slamming her empty cup onto the table in front of her." Take it off. Or he will and it won't be pretty."

" We gonna do this in front o' the kid?" Cobb questioned pointing over in the direction o the child playing with a vase.

" He's seen worse." Din remarked.

Cobb looked impressed," Right here, then?"

" Right here."

Cobb sighed from where he was sitting slowly rising from his seat. Nadia backed away until she was at the bar knowing how ugly things were going to get and how she would have to dive to get the child so he didn't get hurt. Before either man had the chance to respond, a loud rumble tore through the atmosphere. The Marshal raised a finger, beginning to walk outside, Din following closely behind while Nadia followed quickly behind. She rushed out to where the Marshal and Din were, hearing an alarm start to blare. The sand in the center of the road was moving, seeming to shift from something coming below.

A huge array of scales role up from the sand, only showing a small portion of the creature below who tore through the town with reckless abandon. Reaching the edge of the town, the creature rose from the sand like a creature breaching out of the water. A gigantic head rose up, the skin scaled and gnarled with what appeared to be almost horn-like structures rising from the head as it crashed down, swallowing a bantha whole in the process as if it was nothing. The Marshal stepped forward, watching the people of his town slowly exit their homes and businesses, fearfully checking to see if the threat was truly gone before beginning to pick up the pieces of the damage.

" Maybe we can work something out." Cobb negotiated heading to make sure his people were okay.

Nadia was thunderstruck with her mouth wide open as she turned Cobb horrified.

" What the hell was that thing?"

" That creature's been terrorizing these parts since long before Mos Pelgo was established." Cobb answered stepping onto the sand once it was safe." Thanks to this armor, I've been able to protect this town from bandits and Sand People. They look to me to protect 'em. But a krayt dragon is too much for me to take on alone. Help me kill it, I'll give you the armor."

" Deal."

" Deal?" Nadia asked looking at him like he was insane." We did just see the same thing, right?"

" I'll ride back to the ship, blow it out of the sand from the sky, use the bantha as bait."

" Not so simple. The ship passes above, it senses the vibrations, stays underground. But I know where it lives."

Din nodded looking to the speeder," How far?"

" Not far."

" Then let's head there." Din said already heading back to the speeder.

Nadia felt nervous about being close to the creature, but knew how much Din needed the armor and went along. The child stuck his head out from the bar causing her to smile grabbing him lightly and placing him in the back of the speeder.

"Is it really a good idea to take the little one with us?" Cobb questioned

"Wherever I go, he goes." Din answered while Cobb rolled his eyes going to his speeder.

" Figured." He commented.

With Cobb gone, Nadia looked over to Din biting her lip as the memory of the krayt dragon came to her mind.

" That thing was big, Din." She said." Maybe we should keep the kid away."

"You think I can't protect the two of you?"

She rolled her eyes at his response,"I know you can." She assured." But it would actually be easier for you if you didn't have to look out for the two of us while fighting a deadly dragon with anchors for teeth."

He looked over to the kid," Wanna stay back, kid?" He asked when the child let out a coo." The kid said no."

" Did he now?" Nadia chuckled playfully shoving Din's shoulders.

She got onto the speeder watching Din start it up following Cobb through the desert going after a little journey once again. She couldn't imagine them taking down a krayt when they were simple people that only fought against troopers.

" You don't understand what it was like. The town was on its last legs." Cobb spoke over the ride." It started after we got news of the Death Star blowing up. The second one, that is. The Empire was pullin' outta Tatooine. There was blaster fire over Mos Eisley. The occupation was over. We didn't even have time to celebrate. That very night, the Mining Collective moved in. Power hates a vacuum and Mos Pelgo became a slave camp overnight."

" I lit out. Took what I could from the invaders. Grabbed a camtono. I had no idea it was full of silicax crystals. I guess every once in a while, both suns shine on a womp rat's tail. I wandered for days. No food, no water. And then...I was saved. The Jawas wanted the crystals. They offered their finest in exchange. And my treasure bought me more than a full waterskin. It bought my freedom.

Nadia could see Cobb wasn't a bad guy that stole Mandalorian armor. He was just a man that cared about his town and his people wanting to keep them safe from the people that weren't so good. They let out into a canyon with narrow walls and curves lightly paved out by the dragon itself. From the echoes of the walls came a growl loud over the engines that the two men instantly stopped their vehicles.

" Get down little guy." Nadia warned spinning off of the speeder and aiming her blaster.

From out of the corner, a massiff came out of hiding followed by others likely growling at the intrusion. Nadia gripped her blaster hoping it was enough to take them down when Din shouted in Tusken language. Cobb frowned along with her watching Din walk in front of the speeders and towards the massiffs.

" What the hell you doin'?" Cobb asked, but Din gestured to lower his blaster.

He turned back to the massiffs speaking Tusken to gain their trust and it worked when one of them prodded forward in order to get pets. Din smiled leaning down to pet the creature behind the ear causing the Tusken Raiders themselves to come out of hiding. He nodded his head to them speaking more of their language while Cobb watched dumbfounded.

" Hey, partner, you want to tell me what's going on?"

“Dont worry. He is good with Tuskens.” Nadia spoke glancing at Cobb before turning back to Din and the Tusken's.

" They want to kill the krayt dragon, too." Din answered nodding his head to follow.

The group moved out of the canyon making it to the other side where a small camp was made with other tusken's. They pointed by the fire and the four sat while Din spoke to the Tuscan's about the situation. Being in silence and out of the loop was killing Nadia. All she knew was after this little trip, she was going to make Din teach her Tusken. Cobb Vanth, who looked just as confused as he had earlier. He leaned into Nadia just a bit and she felt his shoulder brush against hers.

“Do you have any clue what they are saying?”

Nadia shook her head,“None.” She responded .

“They could be plotting to kill us for all we know.” He whispered back at her and she couldn’t help but to chuckle.

“Mando wouldn’t let anybody kill me or the kid. But you on the other hand…” She sarcastically trailed off, teasing the man who looked over at her with widened eyes." I'm joking, Cobb."

“You think you are real funny, don’t you?”

" Hey, you were the one that asked." Nadia laughed looking up to see while talking to the Tusken's, Din would glance at them.

One of the Tusken's cracked open a Black melon, the smell reaching Nadia's nose as she scrunched it up at how foul it's odor was. The Tusken handed it over to Cobb urging for him to take it, but the man had the same reaction like Nadia.

" What am I supposed to do with this?" He questioned hesitantly.

" You drink it." Din answered only for Cobb to cringe.

" It stinks."

" Do you want their help?"

" Not if I have to drink this." He answered honestly causing the Tusken to grow a bit irritated.

" He says your people steal their water and now you insult them by not drinking it." Din translated looking over to Cobb." They know about Mos Pelgo. They know how many Sand People you killed."

Cobb grew equally irritated," They raided our village.I defended the town."

" Lower your voice." Din warned, but Cobb did the exact opposite throwing the black melon into the fire.

" I knew this was a bad idea."

The Tusken people stood up in anger causing Nadia to grab the child from the floor under her not wanting him to get hurt if things turned south.

" You're agitating them."

" These monsters can't be reasoned with." Cobb stated standing up in anger while they yelled over each other." Sit back down before I put a hole through ya! I'm not going to say it..."

Din aimed his flame thrower in the air sending the flames to stop the fighting instantly by how scared everyone had gotten from it. Turning it off, he stood up between the two groups hearing the child coo and Nadia console him.

" It's okay." She promised while Din spoke to the Tusken's first.

" What are you telling them?" Cobb questioned.

" Same thing I'm telling you." Din stated fiercely." If we fight amongst ourselves, the monster will kill us all. Now, how do we kill it?"

The Tusken took a deep breath before speaking to Din carefully.

Cobb turned to Din," What did they say?"

" They'll show us in the morning when we set out for travel. For now, we camp with them."

" I'm not-" Cobb tried to argue, but Din held his hand up not wanting to hear it" Fine, but I'm sleeping out here."

Cobb turned in a fit walking over to his speeder to make night while Din turned to Nadia with an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. The fire-"

"Don't. I think the kid liked it." She stated while the child clapped his hands in happiness.

Din shook his head amused at the things the child liked before helping her up and walking over to the tent the Tusken's had given them. The tent was perfect with enough room for the three of them to move around and sleep. Nadia placed the child and her bag on the ground groaning at the gritty feeling in her shirt and bra.

" God, I think I have enough sand in my shirt to cover the desert." She said shaking her shirt to get it out, but even that wasn't working.

" Here." Din said reaching in his bag and handing her a black shirt.

" I didn't know you packed extra shirts."

" I hate sand." He stated handing the shirt over." I'll wait outside."

She shrugged her shoulders," You don't have to wait outside. I don't care." She said, but he wasn't that type of guy and turned facing the tent walls." Such a gentleman."

He nodded his head as his cheeks burned imagining if he didn't turn around. He knew it was wrong to think about, but he could imagine she looked beautiful. She had the curve and shape with the way he noticed her shirts hugged around her. He suspected it looked the same, maybe even better without one. The more he gone into his thinking, he blushed harder.

" I'm done." she announced and he practically thanked the maker.

When he turned around, he couldn't hide the smile on his face at the sight of her wearing his shirt. Unlike the shirt she owned, it didn't hug her body. It was big almost swallowing her whole, but it still made her look beautifully gorgeous. He knew deep down that she could wear a potato sack and still look like a million credits. His smile however slowly came down as his thoughts reminded him of her laughing with Cobb earlier by the firepit.

“Vanth and you seem to get along.”

She looked up with a small nod," A bit of a ego man, but he seems cool."

" I-I think he was...flirting with you." Din stuttered beginning to turn red from both jealousy and his openness to the situation.

Nadia looked up to the beskar man, a voice in her head asking if Din was jealous, but as quickly as it came, she shook her head knowing Din would never have those feelings towards her. Or so she thought.

" I think you are way off, Mando."

“ You are a very attractive person. Strong. Smart. Of course he wants you.” Din muttered half-heartedly that Nadia still heard it.

“I was being polite, Din. Treating him like I treated Peli.” Nadia explained hugging her knees to her chest." Not the guy I want anyway."

His head perked up for a second, but when he realized how eager he looked, he darted his eyes away from her nodding his head to try and think of anything to switch the subject.

" We'll probably leave late morning or early afternoon." He said clearing his throat.

" Are you sure you know how to take down this dragon?"

" It'll be a first, but it shouldn't be too hard." He said picking up on her worry." Why?"

She shrugged looking down," Nothing."

" It's obviously something."

" I just don't want anyone getting hurt." She said shrugging again.

" By anyone...you mean me?"

When she remained silent for a bit, he knew that he had hit the hammer right on the nail.

" You have a way or doing something reckless and scaring me shitless, Din Djarin." She softly spoke looking up to him.

" And I still come, right back to you, don't I?"

She smiled," You better." She said while the child climbed up on her lap.

" Patuu." He cooed causing her to laugh at him.

" Yeah, you can sleep with me." She said getting the message and laying down using her bag as a pillow." Night Din."

" Night, Nadia." He said watching the child yawn in her arms before turning down the lantern.

With the lantern off, the tent was engulfed in darkness except for the slow burning bonfire outside that peeked through the opening. Silence took over the night except the banthas snores from outside and one, maybe two, Tusken raiders taking watch. He was taking watch too, secretly going on his thermo radar to look at the distance making sure no one snuck up on them or even the krayt dragon itself.

A snore came from the child and he looked over to see Nadia and the child sleeping peacefully. The child found comfort in her curling up in a ball and even holding her finger with his tiny hand. Nadia in her sleep was protective of him as much as she would be if she was awake. Her arm wrapped around the child securely tight enough to make sure no danger came, but comfortable enough so he could move around.

He couldn't help, but stare at her seeing her beauty in the night. With the angle she slept in, the bonfire from outside glistened bringing a orange hue to her. She looked peacefully in her sleep, a slight smile on her face from dreaming. Her hair had grew over the months spread around in waves of brown. She was unreal to him. He couldn't believe someone could be so beautiful on the inside and out. Caring on a whole other level and beautiful like a angel sent from heaven.

It had Din constantly swoon, but he never told her his true feelings because of the fear. So what if she made his heart feel things that his mind couldn't explain? So what if she was always on his mind? So what if every hour he spent in the chill of hyperspace with her, he wanted to never leave or be disturbed? So what if he was a coward and couldn't stick around to tell her in person on the off chance she did not feel the same?

Nadia was like the bad habit Din had to break, except he didn't want to break it. He looked away from her taking a deep breath as the sorrow of it all overcame him. It was better to not say anything. What they had was perfect and to lose it all scared him more than any mission he had been on. It was better to go on this journey finding the child's people. It was better to just be friends, nothing more.

It was better this way.

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elenaaadaniels · 2 years

Text

Chapter Thirteen: Moff Gideon

part 14

___________________________________

I'll pick up these broken pieces 'til I'm bleeding. If that'll make it right. 'Cause there'll be no sunlight. If I lose you, baby. There'll be no clear skies. If I lose you, baby. And just like the clouds. My eyes will do the same, if you walk away. Everyday it'll rain, rain, ra-a-a-ain.

- 𝘐𝘵 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘙𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘺 𝘉𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘴 ___________________________________

Warning: Close Death, FLUFF, confessions, mentions of blood and injury.

Smart people don't travel half the galaxy with a faceless bounty hunter and his wrinkly green kid with every possible dangers coming at them from left to right. Nadia didn't consider herself smart people. Smart people would turn and walk in the other direction if they saw a Mandalorian approach, but she boarded his ship and now she was facing death.

Peering around the corner of the wall she was hiding behind, she studied the armed forced that were ready to fire on command and the man in the middle that waited to give it. There was no way she could think of getting out of it. Every corner of the broken down Cantina was guarded by troopers that it was almost impossible to sneak out.

Din peered over the wall before looking down to Nadia. The fear in her eyes were clear as glass. He seen it once or twice with close calls, but he couldn't even call this a close call anymore. They were done. Goners. Cornered by troopers and a wall that could given in from how badly it was shot. Nadia felt the eyes on her and turned to him trying to mask her worry.

" Din."

" We'll get out of here." He promised gripping his blaster.

Nadia nodded," Is there another way out?" she asked looking over to Cara and Greef.

" No, that's it." Greef answered causing her to chew on her bottom lip.

" What about the sewers?" Din questioned earning a frown from Greef.

" Sewers?"

" The Mandalorians have a covert down in the sewers. If we can get down there, they can help us escape." Din furthered explained getting a satisfied nod from Cara.

" Yeah, sewers are good."

" Checking for access points." Din announced going on his helmet's radar and checking the entire perimeter.

Cara looked back," What the hell are they waiting for?"

" Do you want them to start shooting?" Nadia sassed noticing a group of troopers carry over containers and pull out some gear." They're opening something."

" Hold up." Cara called out before her eyes grew wide hiding back behind the wall." They're setting up an E-Web."

" It's over." Greef mumbled.

" I found the sewer vent."

" Let's get the hell out of here." Cara urged ducking down immediately to make her way over.

" Cover us." Din instructed to Nadia leaving her side to help Cara open the vent.

Nadia nodded grabbing a blaster from the ground and holding it close to her view seeing the troopers were working fast to assemble the E-web.

" The bad thingy is assembled!" She warned.

" How long until that thing's cleared?" Greef panicked turning to see no exit was made yet.

Cara turned to Din," Blow it."

" I'm out of charges." He said causing Cara to grab her automatic blaster.

" Get out of the way!"

Din did just that moving close to Nadia's side and taking her hand into his watching Cara fire away at the guard blocking them form their exit. Nadia squeezed his hand immediately seeing despite the firepower, not a single dent was made.

" Your astute panic suggests that you understand your situation." The man outside spoke causing everyone to grow silent." I would prefer to avoid any further violence, and encourage a moment of consideration. Members of my escort have completed assembly of an E-Web heavy repeating blaster. If you are unfamiliar with this weapon, I am sure that Republican Shock Trooper Carasynthia Dune of Alderaan will advise you that she has witnessed many of her ranks vaporize mid-descent facing the predecessor of this particular model."

Cara's face fell for a second before she narrowed her eyes at the man's words. Her hands gripping on her gun as anger circled around her like an aura.

" Or perhaps the decommissioned Mandalorian hunter, Din Djarin." The man spoke causing Din to tense up at the foreign name only heard to him by Nadia." has heard the songs of the Siege of Mandalore, when gunships outfitted with similar ordnance laid waste to fields of Mandalorian recruits in The Night of a Thousand Tears. I advise disgraced Magistrate Greef Karga to search the wisdom of his years. Not to mention, innocent young Nadia to come forward and urge you to lay down your arms and come outside. The structure you are trapped in will be razed in short order and your storied lives will come to an unceremonious end."

" What do you propose?" Greef shouted over the wall.

" Reasonable negotiation."

" What assurance do you offer?" Greef continued.

" If you're asking if you can trust me, you cannot." The man admitted sending a chill up Lexie's spine." Just as you betrayed our business arrangement, I would gladly break any promise and watch you die at my hand. The assurance I give is this: I will act in my own self-interest, which at this time involves your cooperation and benefit. I will give you until nightfall, and then I will have the E-Web cannon open fire."

Greef turned to the others worryingly," I say we hear him out."

" And that's why you'll be the first to die." Nadia protested.

" The minute we open that door, we're dead." Cara retorted crossing over to the ground and grabbing as much weapons as she could.

" We're dead if we don't." Greef reminded." At least out there, we've got a shot."

She coughed under her breath," That's easy for you to say. I'm a Rebel Shock Trooper. They'll upload me to a Mind Flayer."

" Those aren't real. That was just wartime propaganda."

" I don't care to find out." She concluded looking down to the weapons." I'm shooting my way out of here."

Greef turned to Din next," What about you, Mando?"

" I know who he is" He answered catching everyone attention." It's Moff Gideon."

Cara shook her head," No." She stated." Moff Gideon was executed for war crimes."

" It's him. He knew my name." Din pressed.

Nadia frowned shrugging her shoulders," So? What does that prove?"

" I haven't heard that name spoken since I was a child." He said looking up to her." since I told you."

" On Mandalore?" Greef questioned.

Din shook his head," I was not born on Mandalore." He answered getting a confused look from Greef.

" But you're a Mandalorian."

" Mandalorian isn't a race." Cara corrected.

" It's a Creed." Din confirmed letting go of Nadia's hands as the memories and emotions got to him." I was a foundling. They raised me in the Fighting Corps. I was treated as one of their own. When I came of age, I was sworn to the Creed. The only record of my family name was in the registers of Mandalore. Moff Gideon was an ISB Officer during the purge. That's how I know it's him."

" That's how he knows who we all are." Cara spoke rising to her feet.

" He says he needs us, which means the child got away safely. I was worried when the Ugnaught didn't respond, but if they'd captured the kid, we'd already be dead."

Nadia nodded her head," Try to get them again."

" Come in, Kuiil. Kuiil?" He spoke into the small com only to get static." Nothing."

" They might have jammed the link." Cara suggested only for the sound of the child's babbles to be heard through the coms.

" Kuiil has been terminated." IG-11 announced leaving everyone's heart to sink.

Nadia ripped the coms from Din's hands in anger.

" What did you do?" She demanded

" I am fulfilling my base function."

She narrowed her eyes," Which is?"

" To nurse and protect."

" Nurse and protect?" Greef questioned when they all heard the sound of distance blast.

Nadia and Din looked to each other. A million thoughts roaming their heads until the blast had gotten closer causing the troopers outside to look away from the Cantina and down the road.

" Look!" Cara pointed to wear a single motorbike came into view.

Through the blast, explosions, and troopers racing around, Nadia noticed IG-11 in the middle of it, but more importantly, the child strapped to his chest in the middle of the mess.

" The kid!" She shouted abandoning Din's side and running right out of the Cantina without a second thought.

" Nadia!"

" She is crazy!" Cara shouted next.

Din hopped over the counter running right after.

" Cover me!"

Cara nodded climbing onto the counter and sending fire shots right at the army of troopers outside clearing a path for the two. Nadia didn't realize the danger she was in until she was standing outside. Troopers turned to her, ready to fire, but she was quick kicking the first troopers blaster out of its hand and using its body to block the second troopers shots. With the body, she threw it at the alive trooper causing them to fall to the ground and to end it, she blasted its chest.

Din and Greef came right behind her a line of blasters flying by them or hitting beskar, but it never stopped them from fighting for freedom. Din shot the closest trooper to Nadia before focusing on the two troopers in front of him flipping one over and shooting at the next. Nadia's eyes darted around the field before she noticed IG-11 towards the edge fighting against the many troopers that came after them.

Without hesitation, she ran forward after him sliding under some troopers to get by and blasting others. Din knew she needed help. With eyes on the E-web, he ran forward grabbing it by its handles and sending rains of blast through the troopers. Nadia didn't know what got into her system. The girl that was having trouble fighting on Sorgan would have a heart attack if she knew what she would get into now.

She used every training she was ever given by both Din and Cara using anything at her disposal to fight including broken parts of debris from the cantina. She didn't know if she was just that strong or maybe the troopers were that weak, but she didn't care. As long as they kept dropping to the floor. Blasting the last trooper that came at her, she turned to Din seeing he continued to fire, but what caught her attention made her heart drop.

In the middle of the mess right out of Din's view, Moff Gideon watched him with a displeased look on his face. He took three careful steps forward and raised his blaster, but that wasn't what strike fear into her. It was what it was aimed at.

" Din!" She screamed at the top of her lungs only for it to be drowned out from the E-web explosion.

His body flew back. The force of it even knocked Nadia off her feet and to the ground as her ears ringed. Just as quickly as it happened, she blinked turning her head to see Din on the ground unmoving and it builded up enough energy for her to scramble off the ground and crawl towards him.

" Din?" She shrieked touching his chest before touching his cheeks hearing nothing." Please say something. Din, please!"

" Nadia!" Cara yelled racing over as fast as she could.

" Help me!" She begged getting off her knees and carrying at his shoulders while Cara grabbed at his feet.

The fire fight commenced around them. IG-11 and Greef covering the girls as they dragged Din's body right into the Cantina away from the possibility of getting hit.

" Din, can you hear me?" Nadia urged carefully placing him on the ground while she touched his helmet." It's me. Nadia."

" N...Nadia?" He croaked causing her to smile.

" Yeah! Hey, it's me."

" I'm not gonna make it."

She stared at him as the smile leisurely came off her face and the tears started to brim at the words he spoke.

" What?" She questioned shaking her head as she touched his chest." Don't you dare say that. You're going to be just fine."

" Leave me." He pressed.

" Din, no."

" Nadia-"

" No!" She shouted blinking away the tears so she could see him." I'm not going to leave you, so don't even think it."

Cara nodded touching the brim of his helmet," I'm gonna need to take this thing off."

" You can't." Nadia answered grabbing her wrist." He has a creed."

" He's bleeding!" Cara argued.

" We can't break his creed." She further explained sadly." Even now."

" N-Nadia."

She faced him again," I'm right here, Din." She promised holding his head only to feel something warm.

Moving her hand, it was coated in crimson red blood. Din's blood. Her hands were shaking as the tears ran down her cheeks like a flow. That much Din could make out from the pain and blurry vision.

" Make sure the child is safe. Here." He cracked pulling his pendant off of his neck." When you get to the Mandalorian covert, you show them that. You tell them it's from Din Djarin. You tell them the foundling was in my protection, and they'll help you."

Nadia shook her head vigorously," W-why...why are you telling me this?" she stuttered out," I'm not leaving you."

" I'm not gonna make it and you know it." Din spoke when flames came in through the cantina.

Nadia threw her body of Din's watching the flames catch anything that was flammable as Moff Gideon was trying to force them out.

" You...protect the child." Din continued." I can hold them back long enough for you to escape. Let me have a warriors death."

She grabbed her blaster," I'll help you."

" Nadia-"

" I need you." She confessed, voice breaking at the end as she squeezed his hand." Din...Din, I need you, you hear me. We didn't just make it this far just to make it this far. We made it this far together. Y-you promised me. You promised me that you'll never leave me."

" I won't." He smiled reaching forward and pointing to where her heart was." I'll be here. This is the Way."

The flamethrower entered the cantina again as a warning before at the entrance, a trooper stood holding the deathly weapon. No one knew what to do for a split second embracing for the painful death, but it never came. Nadia opened her eyes only to see the child stand in front of everyone with his arms raced stopping the fire with his powers. He concentrated balling up the fire only to send it back at the trooper and cause it to explode. The child lowered his hand lightly sleeping onto the floor while IG-11 kicked the gate causing it to break.

" Come on! It's open, let's go!" Greef announced causing Din to push Lexie away.

" Go."

Her voice cracked," no..."

" Go." He repeated more forcefully.

Cara nodded placing her hand on Nadia's shoulder," We have to move! Now!" She urged scooping the child into her arms.

" Nadia, go." Din implored, but she stared at him until she leaned forward kissing the top of his helmet before leaning her head against it.

" You'll always be my hero." She spoke letting him go as badly as it hurt.

" Escape and protect this child." IG-11 spoke kneeling down to Din." I will stay with the Mandalorian until his final moments."

Cara didn't want to, but she had no choice forcefully grabbing Nadia and pushing her towards the exit, because she knew it was the only way she would leave. She glanced one final time at the Mandalorian before leaving knowing she had to protect Nadia, The Child, and Greef. The Sewers were dark with the sound of leaks coming through the cracks as they shuffled as best sat they could.

Nadia moved her deaden legs forward while the tears streamed down her face at the last memories she would have of the Mandalorian. While she knew the job on Nevarro was dangerous, she would of never thought she would walk away while Din had to slowly die a painful death. She turned around while the others walked realizing they walked for such a long time that she only saw darkness at the other end of the tunnel.

" Nadia, we have to keep moving forward." Greef prodded causing her to nod turning back around to follow.

" This is my fault." She mumbled staring at the ground.

Cara shook her head," None of this is-"

" I was the one that ran out of the cantina!" She shouted glaring at Cara." I should of been by his side. I should of had his back-"

" If you were, you would of instantly died upon impact." Cara pointed out placing her hand on Nadia's shoulder." Without you or Din, this little guy would have no one."

Nadia looked down to Cara's arm seeing the child stare at her sadly obvious to Din's disappearance and feeling Nadia's sadly. She reached forward cupping his cheek hearing him let out a sad noise, but lean closer to her hand.

" Greef and I might have been able to care for him, but none of us would have the bond that you and Din have with him."

" She's right." Greef added nodding his head." We have to keep going."

They took five steps forward when the sound of something opened and the splash of water in the distance caught their attention. Nadia was about to ask what it was when she noticed Cara's eyes grow wide as she handed the child to her.

" We gotta go." She warned grabbing her rifle into her hand.

" Cara, what was that sound?"

" Troopers." She answered when blast nearly got them.

Cradling the child to her chest, she took off in full sprints hearing the others follow close behind. She already lost Din and she was sure as hell not going to lose the child too. Getting to the center of the sewer line, the troopers had found another hatch blocking the way and firing yet again. She raised her blast getting as much as she could knowing simple shooting wasn't going to cut it.

" Greef, take the child!" She yelled handing him into Greef's care before running into the action and fighting.

" Behind you!" He warned.

She turned around quickly shooting down the nearest trooper before finding a pipe on the ground and smacking it against the second troopers helmet causing it to crack. With the trooper stunned, she shot it before using the same pipe to stab a trooper where their shoulder was exposed. The fourth trooper punched her across the face causing her to stumble back and lose her blaster.

With the distraction, the trooper grabbed a knife about to stab her when she stopped it holding the troopers wrist, but it aided her to no help being pinned between the wall and a knife. She strained herself fighting against the troopers strength and her own when the trooper was shot in the side of the head. For a second, Nadia could only think it was Greef or Cara only to see her Mandalorian with his blaster smoking.

" Din." She breathed walking forward until she could throw her arms around him.

" I got you." He soothed running his hand through her hair.

" Don't ever scare me like that ever again." She ordered touching his helmet carefully." How are you...Are you okay?"

" I used batca spray. He should be fully healed soon." IG-11 answered nonchalantly." He had damage to his brain."

Her eyes grew," Damage?"

" I'm fine." Din promised easing her worry." It's healing."

Greef nodded with a pleased smile," Do you know which way to go?"

" No. I don't know these tunnels." He admitted looking down one and beginning to walk." I've only entered from the bazaar."

" Well, if we get the smell of sulfur and we follow it, it'll lead us up to the plains where the river flows."

" And the Imps will catch us before we make it to the ship." Din brought up shaking his head at Greef." We need the Mandalorians to escort us to safety."

Cara groaned loudly," Ugh, this place is a maze."

" We're close." He said pointing to the ground and looking up." Turn here."

They followed right after the Mandlorian following dark and light parts of the tunnel, but towards getting to one particular area, he stopped staring in horror. Mandalorian helmets piled the floor of fallen soldiers that had sacrificed themselves, died for their honor. Din lowered himself to his knees picking up on of the helmets as the memories of escaping Nevarro the first time haunted him.

" We should go." Cara protruded lightly.

" You go. Take the ship. I can't leave it this way." Din stated as he looked only to Greef." Did you know about this? Is this the work of your bounty hunters?"

" No. When you left the system and took the prize, the fighting ended and the hunters just melted away." Greef defended." You know how it is. They're mercenaries. They're not zealots."

Din stood up building with anger," Did you do this? Did you?!"

" No!"

" It was not his fault." A voice broke out.

Nadia jumped from the new voice seeing a female mandalorian with fur around her shoulders and gold, maybe rusted beskar covering her body. She didn't look over to anyone, but to the pile of armor laid on the floor.

" We revealed ourselves. We knew what could happen if we left the covert. The Imperials arrived shortly thereafter." She explained grabbing pieces from the pile and putting it on a table." This is what resulted."

" Did any survive?" Nadia asked placing the pieces together.

" I hope so. Some may have escaped off-world."

Din glanced around," Come with us."

" No." The Armorer replied." I will not abandon this place until I have salvaged what remains."

With that, she grabbed the handles to the table and moved it into one of the tunnels. Din lead the way with Nadia close behind seeing it was a room where the forging of metal was created. She watched as the Armorer placed a piece of beskar in watching how a solid metal soon turned liquid. It was ironic now that Nadia saw it. She once lied to Toro that she knew how to do it and right now, she kind of did.

" Show me the one whose safety deemed such destruction." The Armorer questioned as IG-11 walked forward with the child.

" This is the one." Din answered.

The Armorer tilted her head," This is the one that you hunted, then saved?"

" Yes. The one that saved me as well." Din corrected.

" From the mudhorn? It looks helpless."

" It's injured, but it is not helpless." Din assured glancing to Nadia." Its species can move objects with its mind."

" I know of such things." She admitted going back to crafting." The songs of eons past tell of battles between Mandalore The Great, and an order of sorcerers called Jedi that fought with such powers."

Din panicked with worry," It is an enemy?"

" No. Its kind were enemies, but this individual is not."

Din shrugged," What is it?"

" It is a foundling." The Armorer answered." By Creed, it is in your care."

" You wish me to train this thing?"

" It is too weak. It would die. You have no choice. You must reunite it with its own kind. This, you must determine."

" You expect me to search the galaxy for the home of this creature and deliver it to a race of enemy sorcerers?" Din questioned only for Nadia to speak up.

" You won't be alone." She interrupted causing Din to look over to her.

The Armorer nodded," This is the Way." She said hammering at her craft.

" Hey. These tunnels will be lousy with Imps in a matter of minutes." Cara reminded walking over to Din." We should at least discuss an escape plan."

" If you follow the descending tunnel, it will lead you to the underground river. It flows downstream toward the lava flats." The Armorer explained.

" Lava flats?" Nadia questioned while Greef nodded.

" I think we should go."

" I'm staying." Din stated." I need to help her and I need to heal."

" You must go. A foundling is in your care. By Creed, until it is of age or reunited with its own kind, you are as its father. This is the Way. You have earned your Signet." She spoke walking over and welding a mud horn onto his shoulder plate." You are a clan of two."

He stared down at it with a smile," Thank you." He rejoiced." I will wear this with honor."

The tunnels shook with a loud explosion that brought everyone back to the dangers they were enduring.

" We should go."

" IG, please guard the outer hallway. A scouting party draws near." The Armorer ordered while IG-11 handed the child over to Nadia." I have one more gift for your journey. Have you trained in the Rising Phoenix?"

" When I was a boy. Yes." Din answered confused why she was asking.

" Then this will make you complete."

In her hand laid a jetpack similar to those of the Mandlorian's that saved their lives. Nadia smiled at the object nudging Din's side.

" Hey, you've been wanting one."

Din smiled taking it into his hands," Thank you."

" When you have healed, you will begin your drills. Until you know it, it will not listen to your commands."

" I understand."

The fire fight outside grew louder with blasters and a small explosion going off closer than the others would like it to be. When it had stopped, everyone waited for the sight of troopers only to get IG-11 back.

" You are protected." He announced placing his blasters away.

" More will come." The Armorer continued." You must go."

" Come with us."

" My place is here. Restock your munitions." She ordered turning to the droids." IG, carry this for Din Djarin until he is well enough to wear it. Now, go. Down to the river and across the plains. Be safe on your journey."

" Thank you." Din bided grabbing his blaster as he followed the others out.

They followed the Armorer's instructions turning corners after corners in the maze until the air around them started to get hot. Turning the final corner, Greef pointed up ahead with relief.

" This is the lava river."

" I was hoping when she explained it back there that it was a metaphor." Nadia commented looking down to the hot liquid.

" The ferry droid is fried."

" Yeah, but if we push the boat out, we can get it to float downstream. Come on." Greef said walking over to the ferry while Din inspected it carefully.

" Looks old. Will it take the heat?"

" You got a better idea?" Greef sassed.

" Guess not." Din pressed helping Greef with the ferry.

" Push!" Greef encouraged when Din kicked the ferry." Come on! What're you doing?"

" Let's try this." He said picking up a rod and wedging it between the rock and ferry.

" Push!" Greef repeated causing the two to struggle some more while Cara and Nadia eyed each other seeing it was useless.

" You guys mind getting out of the way?" Cara questioned setting up her rifle and shooting at the rock causing the ferry to break free.

Greef tilted his head impressed," Good job."

" Watch your feet. It's molten lava." IG-11 warned causing Lexie to laugh loudly.

" Oh, I was thinking about taking a bath in it." She sassed being helped into the ferry by Din.

Electricity hummed behind them before the sound of rocks breaking had them all spinning around to see the droid came to life taking out a staff to steer the ferry.

" I don't suppose anybody here speaks droid?" Din questioned only for IG-11 to answer.

" I believe he is asking where we would like to go."

" Down river. To the lava flat." Greef Karga instructed.

With little danger in the way, Nadia looked down to the child in her arms seeing that despite everything that has happened so far, he was smiling up at her with beady brown eyes. She couldn't help, but to smile herself running her hands over the little hairs he had.

" You said you needed me." Din whispered while staring at them.

She looked up confused," What?"

" Back at the cantina." He elaborated." When I was dying. Did you mean it?"

" Did you think I didn't?" She questioned surprised that he didn't think it was.

" You know I need you too...right?" He asked shyly that it amused her.

" Yeah. You told me under the Sorgan stars." She reminded smiling." You sure your brain is okay in there, Tin Man?"

He smiled to himself under the helmet," Just don't ever forget that I need you, too." He pressed wondering if it was the lava's heat or his words that made her cheeks flare red.

" That's it." Greef announced with excitement pointing to the end of the sunlight tunnel." We're free!"

Din went on his thermo seeing the body signatures at the edge of the cave and the outline of multiple stormtroopers waiting to catch them.

" No. No, we're not." He informed." Stormtroopers. They're flanking the mouth of the tunnel. It looks like an entire platoon. They must know we're coming."

" Stop the boat." Cara ordered, but the droid continued to row down." Hey, Droid, I said stop the boat. Hey! I'm talking to you. I said stop!"

Pulling out her blaster she shot the head off of the droid out of anger, but it did not stop the ferry from moving down the lava river.

" Looks like we fight." Cara muttered.

Din shook his head," There are too many."

" Then what do you suggest? 'Cause I can't surrender."

" They will not be satisfied with anything less than the child. This is unacceptable. I will eliminate the enemy and you will escape." IG-11 declared earning everyone to be confused.

" You don't have that kind of firepower, pal." Din concluded turning to face the droid." You wouldn't even get to daylight."

" That is not my objective."

" We're getting close. Saddle up." Cara notified getting her rifle at the ready.

" I still have the security protocols from my manufacturer." IG-11 continued." If my designs are compromised, I must self-destruct. I am not permitted to be captured. I must be destroyed."

" Are we gonna keep talking, or get out of here?" Greef questioned while IG-11 handed Din the jetpack.

" I can no longer carry this for you. Nor can I watch over the child."

" Wait. You can't self-destruct. Your base command is to watch the child." Din objected." That supersedes your manufacturer's protocol, right? Now, grab a blaster and help us shoot our way out."

" Victory through combat is impossible." IG-11 calculated looking over to the edge of the tunnel." We will be captured. The child will be lost. Sadly, there is no scenario where the child is saved, in which I survive. Please tell me the child will be safe in your care. If you do so, I can default to my secondary command."

" But you'll be destroyed." Nadia pointed out.

" And you will live, and I will have served my purpose." IG-11 replied looking over to Din." There is nothing to be sad about. I have never been alive."

" I'm not sad." He lied.

" Yes, you are. I'm a nurse droid. I've analyzed your voice. It's just like when you told the girl goodbye." He revealed one last time before climbing out of the ferry and into the lava.

" IG? What're you doing?" Greef called out, but the droid never stopped walking through the lava to get to the entrance.

" Manufacturer's protocol dictates I cannot be captured. I must be destroyed."

In a ball of fire, IG-11 exploded with no trace and evidence that he was ever a droid to begin with. Even so, Nadia felt the sadness ache at her wishing it didn't have to happen. When the ferry came to the opening, stromtroopers laid on the ground injured, out cold, or dead from the blast, but none of them moved a muscle allowing them to roam free.

Or so they thought...

A single engine roared as a Tie-fighter flown in the sky and it would of been harmless or normal if it wasn't coming right at them.

" Moff Gideon!" Cara alerted as they all fired at the sky the same way he was firing at them missing by only a couple feet." Our blasters are useless against him."

" Let's make the baby do the magic hand thing." Greef suggested turning to the child sitting behind Nadia." Come on, baby! Do the magic hand thing."

Innocent as he could be, the child took Greef's gesture as a wave disappointing the man the very least.

" I'm out of ideas."

" I'm not." Din admitted strapping the jetpack to his back.

" Wait, what are you doing?" Nadia questioned.

" Here he comes!" Cara alerted, but Lexie couldn't focus seeing Din start up the jetpack.

" Din?" She called out again.

He didn't answer her, but simply jumped in the air the minute the tie-fighter got close enough and threw a lasso around it before being flown around like a rag-doll.

" Din!" She yelled in horror watching the Tie-fighter fly high in the sky.

He swirled in the sky while holding out retracting his lasso enough to be on top of Gideon's controls. He reached for his blaster to shoot when the tie-fighter swung again making him loose balance. Greef steered the ferry to the edge nudging Nadia to follow.

" Come on."

She nodded stepping off of the ferry quickly with her eyes glued to the tie-fighter nervously gasping when an explosion went off near the ship. Din grabbed a second explosive from his side holding it tightly before strapping two to the side and letting go. As he drifted, the Tie-fighter exploded hurdling down to the ground. Din watched as the ground came quickly at him rearranging his body and landed on the ground safely. He took a deep breath looking for the others only for Nadia to almost knock him down from her hug.

" I thought I said to not scare me again." She scolded looking at him with relief.

He smiled," Last time." He teased moving some hair from her face.

" That was impressive, Mando. Very impressive." Greef complimented walking over with Cara and the child." It looks like your Guild rates have just gone up."

" Any more stormtroopers?"

" I think we cleaned up the town." Cara said shifting from one foot to the other." I'm thinking of staying around just to be sure."

Nadia smiled," You're staying here?"

" Well, why not? Nevarro is a very fine planet." Greef spoke, but Nadia tilted her head a bit disagreeing." And now that the scum and villainy have been washed away, it's very respectable again."

" As a bounty hunter hive?" Din questioned.

" Some of my favorite people are bounty hunters. And perhaps, this specimen of soldier might consider joining our ranks." Greef replied causing Cara to chuckle.

" Yeah. I've got some clerical concerns regarding my chain code."

" And if you would agree to become my enforcer, clerical concerns would be the least of your worries." Greef remarked looking back to Din." But you, my friend, you will be welcome back into the Guild with open arms. So, go off, enjoy yourself. And when you're ready to return, you will have the pick of all quarries."

He looked over to Nadia before picking up the child from the floor with a smile.

" I'm afraid I have more pressing matters at hand." He stated getting another blush from Nadia.

" Take care of this little one." Cara instructed rubbing the child's ear lightly.

" Or maybe, it'll take care of you." Greef added.

Din nodded his head turning to Nadia seeing she clapped her hands a bit tiredly.

" It's going to be a long walk to the..." She said, but Din placed the child in her arms and wrapped his hands around her waist." What are you? Woah!"

Squeezing the child in-between them, she gasped being flown in the air feeling more scared than the child that was gurgling with excitement. Thanks to the jetpack, the ride was shorter landing in about five minutes compared to a days journey. When back on the ground, Nadia sadly looked to the body of Kuiil seeing he was still on the ground. She placed the child on the ground walking over and kissing his forehead in a sense knowing he was finally at peace.

" Rest Kuiil. You saved the child." She soothed.

Taking some time, they buried Kuiil for good marking his grave and always remembering the man from Arvala-7 that helped protect the child. Din started up the Razor Crest feeling like it's been forever when he noticed a certain gift poking out of his pocket. He pulled it out completely seeing the sapphire jewel.

Better late than never.

" Hey, um..." He spoke turning in his chair while Lexie strapped the child in.

She smiled waiting for him to continue, but he didn't sitting there with little movement as the fear overtook him.

" What? Did you rust?" She joked getting a soft chuckle from him.

" I got this for you back on Tatooine." He said presenting the necklace to her." You said you like sapphire."

She grinned," You remembered that?"

" Yeah."

She reached out taking the necklace softly," Din, it's beautiful." She complimented staring at the gem.

" Matches you." He flirted glad he finally got it right.

" Can you help me put it on?" She asked and he nodded carefully taking the necklace again and clasping it around her neck." All I wanted was to get off of Arvala-7 and now I'm in space with a Mandalorian and green baby."

He chuckled," Who knew?" He said when the Childs squelching caught both of them," What you got there?"

They both expected it to be something bad, but while lightly taking a look, Din smiled seeing the child was using his pendant as a teething ring.

" I thought I'll never see that again." He said tucking it into the child's tunic." Why don't you hang onto that?"

Nadia smiled at the exchanged taking a seat at her usual spot and smiling over to the Mandalorian.

" So where are we off to next, Din Djarin?" She questioned causing the man to smile behind the helmet.

" Where the galaxy takes us."

51 notes · View notes

elenaaadaniels · 2 years

Text

Chapter Twelve: Those We Can Trust

Part 13

Warning: Mention of death and injury

___________________________________ Baby, let the games begin.....

- ...𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘐𝘵? 𝘛𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘵

____________________________________

The mere second the Razor Crest had flown into Nevarro's atmosphere, Nadia had an unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach. She knew no one on the planet could be trusted and taking the little one to the planet of people that wanted him sad bad didn't go well with her, but it was for the better. Or that was at least what she told herself. When the razor crest landed safely onto the ground, Nadia watched Din climb down the ladder and make his way over to the blurgg they would take.

" Ready?"

" Ready as I'll ever be." She half smiled.

He noticed the worry on her face and reached over squeezing her hand before punching the ramp button and watching it drop so they all could exit. He hopped onto his blurgg before holding his hand out for Nadia, who gladly took it and took her seat behind him, hands wrapped securely around his waist. Kuiil was the first one to come down the ramp followed by Din and Cara right behind them. Nadia noticed Greef Karga instantly standing with three others of his men waiting for them.

" Sorry for the remote rendezvous, Mando, but things have gotten complicated since you were last here." He spoke looking over each one of them." It appears that introductions are in order. It seems we've both provided a security detail. I recommend the shock trooper guards the ship. These lava fields are lousy with Jawas."

" She's coming with me." He said in a stern voice.

" But the town is now run by ex-Empire." Greef continued." If a Rebel Dropper is with us, they'll all get their hackles up."

" She's coming." Din repeated more sternly than before.

" Fine." Greef said in anger before releasing his tone and calmed a bit." Fine. At least cover your tattoo. No need to flaunt it. Now, where is the little one?"

Din could feel Nadia tense behind him. He couldn't blame her. The safety of the little one meant everything, but they had no choice. They needed Greef to believe that they trusted him. Din looked down to his control panel on his wrist causing the pod holding the child to move forward towards Greef. Nadia tensed even more, the hand on Din's waist let him know that much.

Her other hand laid near her blaster ready if Greef moved an inch out of step. When close enough to Greef, the pod opened up to the child confused to what was going on and almost surprised to see he was not back on the razor crest. Greef stood in awe taking closer steps to the child.

" So, this little bogwing is what all the fuss was about." Greef questioned grabbing the child slowly from the pod.

Din's hands moved to his own blaster that it caused the two men guarding Greef to lift their weapons. Nadia didn't care. Her eyes remained on the child seeing he turned wondering where they were and she smiled trying to say without words that he was okay.

" What a precious little creature. I can see why you didn't want to harm a hair on its wrinkled little head." Greef commented placing the child back into his pod." Well, I'm glad this matter will be put to rest once and for all. The sun drops fast on Nevarro. We can walk for a spell, camp out at the riverbank, then make our way into town at first light."

Din didn't say a word, he simply nodded watching Greef Karga and his men turn leading the way to where they would camp out. Not being close to the city, Nadia could see more of Nevarro and the molten rock that made its planet. Every time she felt a breeze of heat, she would turn watching the lava cracks seeing the river it lead down.

" You okay back there?" Din asked after a while.

" I don't like this." She whispered turning to look at the side of his helmet.

He nodded in return," Me either."

" Good. Just making sure we're on the same page."

" We always are." He stated with a small smile." You still got that knife in your boot."

She nodded with a frown," Yeah. Why?"

" Just double checking." He confirmed.

Nadia couldn't blame him for wanting to double check everything. They were playing on Greef's field. He had the upper hand knowing much more about Nevarro and the plan than they might ever know. When the sun dropped, they had made it to the riverbank just in time to settle down. One of Greef's men shot an animal and quickly made a fire to cook it for dinner.

With a small bowl in her hand, Nadia smiled breaking up the meat with her hands and feeding small portions to the child. His big brown eyes lit up with each taste and it was beginning to be a little game between the two seeing how fast Nadia brought her fingers away before the child almost bit her. She held a piece of the meat in her hand and quickly gave it to the child before moving her hand back.

The child giggled loudly in amusement snacking on the meat while Nadia shook her head at his eagerness. Din sat next to her watching as she fed him, a smile on his face. Not eating due to his creed, he could of easily fed the child, but she refused leaving herself last to keep the child first.

" I guess the little bugger's a carnivore." Greef commented pointing to the child.

The smile on both Din and Nadia's face slowly went away. It was for a moment, they forgot about Greef's presents and the mess they were in the middle of.

" Never seen anything like it." He continued." They were ready to pay a king's ransom for that thing. Must be for some kind of highfalutin menagerie."

" Let's go over the plan again." Din coldly remarked.

Still feeding the child, Nadia listened in to the two wanting to know what she was getting herself, the child, and the others into and just how much she needed to fight for.

" We both enter the common house. We show the client the bait. We join him at the table. And you kill him."

" What about reinforcements?" Din pressed on.

" They're all ex-Empire." Greef answered." As soon as they lose their paycheck, poof, they'll all scatter."

Nadia swallowed slowly," And what if they don't?" She questioned.

" They will."

" That's not good enough." Din concluded turning to Greef in a stern manner.

Greef looked annoyed at their hesitation," If, for argument's sake, a few of them don't realize that I'm their best path to alternative employment and they elect to react impulsively, then." He spoke pointing to his men." these three fine Guild Hunters, along with that battle-hardened shock trooper, will cut down anyone who bucks."

Din spared a glance at Nadia and Cara," How many will there be?" He asked turning back to Greef.

" No more than four." Greef answered getting up off the ground and heading to the rotating animal still cooking." He travels with, at most, a Fire Team. Trust me. Nothing can go wrong."

In happened in a flash. All Nadia could make out of it was from the night sky a winged creature flew down with it's claws aimed at Greef and tried to grab him only to harm him in the process. In seconds, Nadia and the others were on their feet blaster in their hands as they fired at the sky. With every blast, they could make out more of the creatures in the sky circling around them.

" Lock the kid!" She shouted glancing down to see the fearful child.

Din turned himself to the child hitting one single button on his wrist coms and watching the pod close shielding the child from the dangers. Nadia couldn't make out half the things that were going on. She raised her arm in the air squeezing the trigger to her blaster into the sky in comes the Nevarro reptavians got hit by it. One of Greef's men screamed being picked up by the reptavian and carried away despite the shots thrown to save them. Din grunted next and Nadia turned in horror watching a reptavian tackle him to the ground.

" Mando!" She shouted grabbing the hot rod that was once holding their dinner and stabbed the reptavians in the leg causing it to let go of him.

Din was ready to thank her when he noticed another reptavians about to claw her. He quickly pulled her forward shielding her body under him before aiming his flame thrower at the reptavians causing it to scream loudly flying away while still on fire. The night grew quiet once again. Nadia out of breath stared at Din until he looked at her, did she nod her head to say she was okay.

Din nodded back before helping her up seeing as she did, she didn't get hurt or clawed. Nadia's eyes darted to the pod, a worried look on her face until it opened showing the child unharmed, curious, but not a scratch on his little head.

" Hey, you alright little guy?" She asked picking him up from the pod and inspecting him carefully.

" He's hurt badly." Kuiil announced causing everyone to turn at the sound of Greef groaning in pain.

" I'm fine. I'm fine." Greef said, but at the pain coursing his veins, he couldn't lie." Ow!"

" Hold still." Cara ordered taking out her med pack." They got you good."

Nadia held the child close to her while moving closer to Greef seeing the wound. He had three jagged claw marks to his arms that were deep enough to cause lots of bleeding. She gulped at the sight. Cara stuck a blood toxin needle into his arm quickly watching as the numbers counted up with poison.

" How bad?" Din questioned.

" Bad." She admitted grabbing some cloths to stop the wound from bleeding." The poison's spreading fast."

Greef bit his lip from the pain," So this... This is how it happens."

" Don't be so dramatic. I need another medpac! Got any other medpacs? Anyone?" She questioned looking to everyone only for no one to move a muscle.

" I'm guessing that's a no." Greef groaned answering the silence.

Cara took out her scanner seeing his veins inflamed," It's still spreading. This isn't working."

From the corner of her eye, she noticed movement and frowned at the sight of the green little child shuffling his way through the sand to get closer to Greef.

" Get this thing outta here."

Nadia nodded her head about to grab him when Kuiil held his hand up stopping her.

" Wait."

Everyone was just as curious as Kuiil watching the child slowly extend his hand over Greef's wounds. Soon, his little hand started to shake and he slowly closed his eyes to concentrate some more on what he was doing. Nadia noticed Greef's face too. The man that was once in pain was coming down with relief as if he wasn't just dying seconds ago. The child tried harder this time his whole body beginning to shake while the wound on Greef's arm healed to the point of the claw marks coming together like there wasn't a wound ever made. The child slowly fell back and quickly Nadia caught him knowing his power had drained him.

" I got you." She soothed running her hand over his forehead.

Everyone exchanged looks that couldn't be read in the night's dark, but there was at least one thought that everyone had. What just happened was just the tip of the iceberg to what the child was capable of. No one spoke a word afterwards. Through the night, the fire was out so they wouldn't get attacked again, but everyone stood up still stunned by what they witnessed.

By morning, the hike to the small town of Nevarro commenced with Greef and his men leading the way while Din, Nadia, and Cara lingered behind them. It's only been two months on the road, but even Nadia could tell something was going on with Greef and his men. They spoke in whispered moving their hands around lightly to not be noticed and shook their heads in disagreement.

" Something's up." Nadia whispered looking over to Din and Cara, who nodded instantly.

" You're right." Cara agreed watching them carefully." You think they're having second thoughts?"

Din nodded lightly," Could be." He answered." I need your eyes."

" We're watching." Cara and Nadia spoke in unison.

Nadia noticed smoke in the distance that was different than the low clouds and soon just over the edge of a cliff, she could see the familiar town where Din, the child, and her had escaped at the beginning of their crazy adventure.

" I guess this is it." Greef spoke to himself only allowing seconds to pass by before turning and shooting right pass Nadia and Cara to get his men.

Even in the blur of it all, the three pulled out their blasters aiming it at Greef hearing the bodies of his men drop behind them.

" There's something you should know." Greef spoke holding his blasters in the air innocently." The plan was to kill you and take the kid. But after what happened last night, I couldn't go through with it. Go on. You can gun me down here and now and it wouldn't violate the Code. But if you do, this child will never be safe."

Nadia shook her head," We'll take our chances."

" The Imperial client is obsessed with obtaining this asset. You tried to run, but where did it get you?"

" This is ridiculous." Cara whispered over to Din.

Kuiil held his hand up for both sides," Perhaps you should let him speak."

" Listen, we both need the client to be eliminated." Greef continued looking only to Din when he spoke." Let me take the child to him and then you three-"

" No." Din sharply interrupted.

" Let's just kill him and get outta here." Cara advised moving her blaster more into aiming field, but Din did the opposite lowering his blaster.

" He's right."

Nadia frowned at his actions," What are you doing?"

" As long as the Imp lives, he'll send hunters after the child." Din answered, but it still did not convince Cara.

" It's a trap."

He ignored her turning to Greef," Bring me."

" Bring you?"

" No." Nadia said only for Din to ignore her too.

" Tell him you captured me. Get me close to him and I'll kill him."

" That's a good idea. Give me your blaster." Greef admitted while Din willingly handed over his blaster stunning Nadia and angering Cara.

" This is insane." Cara muttered.

" It's the only way."

" Well, I'm coming with you." Cara answer tucking her own blaster into her holster while Nadia nodded.

" Me too."

Greef shook his head with fear," No, no, no. That would make them suspicious."

"I don't care. I don't trust you and I'm not leaving him alone with you." Nadia defended curling her fist in a ball.

" Tell them she caught me." Din suggested pointing only to Cara.

Greef nodded his head liking the plan," Fine. Then she can bring the child-"

" No. The kid goes back in the ship."

" But without the child, none of this works!" Greef panicked.

" I have a plan." Din answered looking over to the Urganant first." Kuiil, Nadia, ride back to the Razor Crest with the child and seal yourself in. When you're inside, engage ground security protocols. Nothing on this planet will breach those doors."

Kuiil nodded handing over," Here's a comlink. I will keep the child safe." He promised beginning to settle the Blurrg for the child.

Nadia shook her head," I'm coming with you."

" Nadia-"

" I'm coming." Nadia repeated reaching forward and grabbing his arm." The kid will be safe with Kuiil."

Din could see the determination of her face and that scared him than anything he ever faced in the galaxy.

" I need you safe too."

" Safest place, remember?" She reminded smiling up at his visor.

Underneath the beskar helmet, he smiled, even blushed at her words that he couldn't held, but to wrap his hand around her waist and lean his forehead against hers almost feeling the warmth it gave them.

" Are you sure?"

She nodded her head still smiling," Always have been."

" She's coming with us." Din announced slowly taking his head away from hers more aware of the people around them staring.

Greef nodded taking out one of his cuffs and placed it around Din's hands while Cara helped Nadia into her own making sure it wasn't too tight for measures. Kuiil grabbed the child from the pod securing him tightly in his blanket while Din closed the pod for the stormtroopers to not see. The plan would work. That's at least what Nadia was telling themselves once they left and were upfront with Nevarro's town.

Everywhere she looked, stormtroopers littered with their guns in their hands ready to attack. They could barely take on some other bounty hunters, it made her gulp thinking of the possibility they could take on stormtroopers. By the front entrance, two stormtroopers stood against their bikes almost annoyed that they had to get off it to address them.

" Chain code?"

" I have a gift for the boss." Greef answered pointing over to the two.

" Chain code?" The stormtrooper repeated annoyingly.

Greef was equally annoyed taking out his card from inside his jacket and handing it over to the stormtrooper watching as he scanned it into the system for clearing.

" I'll give you 20 credits for the helmet." The stormtrooper offered causing Greef to chuckle in amusement.

" Ha-ha! Not a chance. That's going on my wall."

Din turned to him slowly," On your wall?" He softly remarked.

" Go with it." Greef whispered back being handed back his card.

" Go ahead."

Greef nodded lightly moving Din forward while Cara moved Nadia forward heading right into the heart of the town seeing even more troopers littered the place.

" You said four." Cara remarked through her teeth." There are more than four troopers."

" Four guarding the client." Greef corrected." Many more here in town. Things got really heated once Mando and Nadia crashed the safehouse."

Cara rolled her eyes," Slip him his blaster."

" Not yet." Greef urged turning the corner to a brown Catina." Here we are."

To make it seem real, Greef grabbed the back of Din's cape shoving him forward and having him sibling a bit. Everyone in the Catina turned at them and true to his word, they were only guarded by four troopers.

" You see? Four." Greef whispered.

Nadia rolled her eyes, but it soon was focused on the same old client she had met when she first came here. He was just as eager as before to get the child, standing from his seat proudly.

" Look what I brought you. As promised." Greef spoke to the client who never looked away from Din.

" What exquisite craftmanship. It is amazing how beautiful beskar can be when forged by its ancestral artisans." The client spoke running his hand over each beskar." Can I offer you a libation to celebrate the closing of our shared narrative?"

" I would be obliged." Greef hummed.

The client snapped his fingers at a droid to make it," Please sit." He urged back to Greef.

Greef nodded sharply pushing Nadia to take a seat before doing the same to Din.

" Ow!" She snapped a look to Greef who looked back to her with an apologizing look.

" It is a shame that your people suffered so. Just as in this situation, it was all avoidable. Why did Mandalore resist our expansion?" The Client antagonized while the floor noticed more troopers begin to come into the compound." The Empire improves every system it touches. Judge by any metric. Safety, prosperity, trade, opportunity, peace. Compare Imperial rule to what is happening now. Look outside. Is the world more peaceful since the revolution? I see nothing but death and chaos. I would like to see the baby."

Nadia was sure that if the client listened close enough, he could hear her heart skip a beat. If he didn't, it would be obvious with the way her cheeks flared pink and her eyes grew wide.

Greef smacked his lips," Uh...It is asleep."

" We all will be quiet. Open the pram." The client urged, but was interrupted by one trooper whispering something in his ear." Don't think me to be rude. I must take this call."

Nadia heard the sound of cuffs coming off and looked down to see Din had freed himself from his looking over to Greef.

" Give me the blaster."

Greef nodded handing it over and quietly unlocking Nadia's," You get one shot." He reminded cautiously.

Nadia looked over to the client seeing he was clearly distracted for Din to do it, but someone had beat him. A single blaster had flown into the Catina shooting the client right in the chest and knocking him to the ground out cold. More blaster shots came in causing Din to quickly flip the table over to the side and pull Nadia down to avoid them. Dust and debris filled their vision breaking everything in sight around them before everything went silent.

Din and Cara gave each other a look with Cara covering the left while Din grabbed Nadia's hand and moved the right seeing someone waited outside. Nadia couldn't tell until the dust had moved, but when it did, her heart dropped. Troopers wearing black guard stood at the ready aiming into the Catina while a train with white troopers came unloading like an army.

" Four stormtroopers?" Cara seethed at Greef." This is bad."

Din agreed, but turned to look at Nadia," Are you okay?"

" Yeah." She admitted looking down to his com." Get Kuiil now."

He nodded" Kuiil? Are you back to the ship yet? Are you there? Do you copy?"

" Yes!"

" Are you back to the ship yet?"

" Not yet."

" Get back to the ship and bail. Get the kid out of here. We're pinned down!"

The wind from outside started to pick up and squinting her eyes, Nadia could make out a single black tie fighter land in the distance of the stormtroopers.

" Din." She called out having the man turn back to see.

The top doors hissed to life with single man coming out. Nadia felt her mouth grow dry and her hands become sweaty at the mess they were all in. The man took this serious to get the child and if she didn't know what to expect when he walked smoothly out of the tie-fighter and towards them.

" You have something I want." He announced." You may think you have some idea of what you are in possession of, but you do not."

" Kuiil, are you back to the ship yet? They're onto us!" Din spoke right behind Nadia and when no answer was given, she felt the nervous pool up." Kuiil, come in!"

" In a few moments, it will be mine. It means more to me than you will ever know."

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elenaaadaniels · 2 years

Text

Chapter Eleven: Assembling A Team

Part 12

Warning: Mention of weapons, Cara being the best wing-man, Nothing but Fluff :)

___________________________________ Maybe it's 'cause I got a little bit older. Maybe it's all that I've been through. I'd like to think it's how you lean on my shoulder. And how I see myself with you.

-𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘖𝘯 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘉𝘺 𝘚𝘢𝘮 𝘚𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘩 ___________________________________

Nadia moved her hand around the condensation that had gathered around the mirror. With the child asleep, she had slipped to take a shower and now she was grateful for it given when she was feeding him earlier, he got his dinner on her. She grabbed the small comb and started detangling her hair smelling the raspberry scent from the hair products she had used.

It was better then smelling like chicken noodle soup. Once her hair was detangled, she grabbed her stuff and left the wash room letting her hair airdry and climbed up to the cockpit seeing the child sleeping in his pod while Din flew the Razor Crest.

" Shower is all yours." She announced taking a seat." Although, I should warn you, I probably used all the hot water."

He chuckled," You always do."

" I can't help it. I'm not use to a hot shower." She defended moving the child's pod closer to her and re-tucking him in.

Din placed the Razor Crest on autopilot and turned in his seat looking to her. Admitting to himself a week ago he had feelings for Nadia, every little moment they shared caused him to tense up, unsure of what to say or do. She would place her hand on his shoulder and it would cause his whole face to turn beet red or passing by each other with lingering touches would cause his whole body to grow with goosebumps. She would simply look at him and he would forget what he was about to say.

He cleared his voice," You... you, uh, you look—decent."

The one thing about Din, was he knew nothing about flirting. He had in mind all of the wonderful names and compliments he could give her, but when the words came out his mouth, they weren't the best. Nadia turned to him, a frown on her face at his words growing a bit self-conscious.

" What?"

Din froze," Decent." He repeated.

" Decent?" Nadia questioned sitting up in her seat." I look...Decent?"

" Yes?"

She nodded her head knowing she might have not looked her best right now, but decent just seemed more like an insult at the moment than any other word he could of used. She placed with the ends of her hair nervously.

" Do I not look decent other times?"

Her tone was clear as day and Din instantly knew that his attempt at flirting had backfired. The way he had spoke was like she didn't look beautiful like she did everyday.

" No!" He defended growing nervous." No, no, um...you do um..."

A message coming in started to beep loudly luckily distracting the two of them away from their awkward conversation.

" Hold that thought." Din replied allowing the transmission to come through.

" My friend, if you are receiving this transmission, that means you are alive." Greef Karga spoke causing the two of them to listen intently." You might be surprised to hear this, but I am alive too. I guess we can call it even. A lot has happened since we last saw each other. The man who hired you is still here, and his ranks of ex-Imperial guards have grown. They have imposed despotic rule over my city, which has impeded the livelihood of the Guild. We consider him an enemy, but we cannot get close enough to take him out."

Nadia moved from her seat to get a closer look at the transmission. Her arm brushing against Din's lightly distracted him before he shook it off to focus.

" If you would consider one last commission, I will very much make it worth your while. You have been successful so far in staving off their hunters, but they will not stop until they have their prize. So, here is my proposition. Return to Nevarro. Bring the child as bait. I will arrange an exchange, and provide loyal Guild members as protection. Once we get near the client, you kill him, and we both get what we want. If you succeed, you keep the child and I will have your name cleared with the Guild, for a man of honor should not be forced to live in exile. I await your arrival with optimism."

With the transmission over, Nadia leaned against the control panel looking over to Din, who was already looking at her.

" What do you think about this?"

She crossed her arms," It's risky, but if we take out the man who wants the child, we run free and he's safe." She admitted watching him shake his head.

" Last time we did something risky, you almost stabbed."

" And yet, I'm still here." She pointed out.

" It was my judgement that caused you to almost get stabbed." He pressed on, irritation in his voice at the memories." I'm the one that made the call. We nearly lost you-"

" I trust you." She interrupted.

If anything was going to let him do this, it would be the three words that shocked him each time he heard them. He stared into her eyes never seeing a single moment of doubt or lie. She trusted him even though this journey could be worse than a couple of criminals on their ship.

" Hold on tight." He answered placing the coordinates in to visit a friend first.

His plan was to gain back up before they reached Nevarro. No doubt Greef Karga would have his own backup and Din just having himself and Nadia didn't seem smart enough. It only took an hour before they came to the planet Sorgan. A bright smile found its place on Nadia's face at the nice memories on the planet and they peace they endure while here. Din landed in the same open space as before with Nadia carrying the child as they walked to the small diner hearing cheers from inside.

They walked through the small crowd seeing in the middle, Cara was fighting against someone while both tied together through an electric lasso. Nadia was impressed watching Cara willingly fight against someone and taking hits that surely would of had Nadia out for a couple of days. Cara flipped over the man before tying the lasso around his neck until he tapped out causing her to win in victory.

" Pay up, mudscuffers!" She cheered holding her hands out as people handed in their bet money." Come on. That's mine, thank you. All right, thank you."

" Looking for some work?" Din questioned coming into view.

She gave a small smile walking to a table," What you got, Mando?"

" The guy who gave Mando the job to capture the child recontacted him." Nadia spoke taking a seat and placing the child on her lap." The client that originally wanted the child has imposed despotic rule over Nevarro. Greef Karga wants us to return to Nevarro and bring the child as bait."

Cara frowned," What do you guys get out of this?"

" He will arrange an exchange, and provide loyal Guild members as protection. He wants Mando to get near the client and kill him further letting us keep the child and having his name cleared with the Guild."

" It seems like a straightforward operation." Din shrugged." They're providing the plan and firepower. I'm the snare."

" With the kid?" Cara questioned.

Din nodded his head," That's why I'm coming to you."

" I don't know. I've been advised to lay low." She admitted." If anybody runs my chain code, I'll rot in a cell for the rest of my life."

" I thought you were a veteran." Nadia questioned when the same man Cara was fighting gave her his part of the bet.

" Come back soon." She teased turning back to the two." I've been a lot of things since. Most of them carry a life sentence. If I so much as book passage on a ship registered to the New Republic, I'm..."

" I have a ship." Din interrupted." I can bring you there and back with a handsome reward. You can live free of worry."

" I'm already free of worry, and I'm not in the mood to play soldier anymore. Especially fighting some local warlord."

" He's not a local warlord. He's Imperial." Din said knowing the keyword was all he needed.

" I'm in." She toasted chugging down her drink before slamming it onto the table.

" That was easy." Nadia chuckled taking a sip of her own drink.

Throwing some credits onto the table, the four of them quickly returned back to the Crest taking off and back on their journey. Cara was impressed when seeing the ship and more so when inside seeing how tidy Nadia had kept the place. The child cooed loudly bouncing on Nadia's leg while Cara smiled looking away from the two and to Din, who was flying the ship.

" Does your contact need to vet me?"

" Doesn't know you're coming." He admitted causing Cara to cringe.

" Really? That could be a problem." She warned

" It won't. But if it is, that's his problem." Din corrected getting up from his seat and walking down the cockpit.

Cara joined him and Nadia wanted to as well placing the child in his small little pod bed and gave him a toy to distract him. The three climbed down the ladder watching Din's armory doors open with all the blasters gleaming to Cara.

" Pick one." He said and already Cara was looking the weapons over while he looked to Nadia next." You too."

She playfully rolled her eyes at him walking next to Cara and picking a blaster that was familiar to the one she already had.

" You trust the contact?"

Din shook his head," Not particularly."

" He and I had a run-in last time we were there on some Guild business." Nadia answered grabbing a small knife and stuffing it into his boot.

Cara frowned with a shrug," So then why are we going?"

" I don't have a choice."

" You saw what happened on Sorgan. They'll keep sending hunters." Nadia spoke looking over to Cara sadly at the memory." The kid will never be safe until the Imp is dead."

Cara nodded still confused," And you're okay with bringing him back there?"

" Not really. That's why I'm bringing you." Din admitted when the ship jerked to the side in an angle that caused them to almost loose their footing.

Nadia was jerked forward falling right into Din's arms while he held her tightly trying not to fall. When the ship jerked the other way, it gave them time to catch their steps grabbing onto the ladder and heading one by one up. Din and Nadia looked to the cockpit watching the child move the steering wheel round and round in amusement likely wanting to replicate the way Din drove. He dived forward grabbing onto the back of his seat before grabbing the child carefully.

" Take him!" He shouted while Nadia held her hands out for him.

He quickly noticed the buttons the child pressed and repressed them until the ship had stopped beeping and no longer jerking around like a mad car.

" Little guy, you have a couple of years before you learn how to fly one of these things." Nadia lightly scolded placing him back into the pod.

Cara nodded," We need someone to watch that thing." She suggested looking over to Din." You got anyone you can trust?"

Din nodded his head pointing to something up ahead. They all looked to see a planet. Nadia frowned until her eyes grew wide knowing what planet it was. She only saw it once when in space and it was because she was leaving. Entering the atmosphere, she took in Arvala-7 seeing the dry desert and the little too know life form.

" Can't believe I'm back here."

" This is your homeworld?" Cara asked, but she shook her head.

" No, but it was home." She answered.

Din flew down remembering the coordinates to Kuiil's farm and soon enough they also saw the small moisture farm down below with some bluggs and a windmill. Nadia smiled at her old friends home and walked down the ramp with the others to greet him. Kuiil lightly smiled at them before allowing them into his small home curious when staring at the child they had brought.

" It hasn't grown much." Kuiil studied.

" I think it might be a Strand-Cast." Din guessed, but Kuiil shook his head.

" I don't think it was engineered. I've worked in the gene farms. This one looks evolved. Too ugly." Kuiil spoke turning his attention over to Cara." This one, on the other hand, looks like she was farmed in the Cytocaves of Nora."

" This is Cara Dune." Nadia introduced." She was a shock trooper."

Kuiil lifted his head curious," You were a Dropper?"

" Did you serve?"

" On the other side, I'm afraid." Kuiil muttered taking a seat." But I'm proud to say that I paid out my clan's debt, and now I serve no one but myself."

Movement caught the corner of Lexie's eyes and she turned thinking it was a blurgg only to see a droid. In seconds, the three, who noticed also, stood up aiming their blasters and Nadia moved in front of the child to protect him if something went down.

" Would anyone care for some tea?" The droid questioned.

" Please lower your blasters." Kuiil advised holding his hands up to both sides." He will not harm you."

" That thing is programmed to kill the baby." Din huffed.

" Not anymore. It was left behind in the wake of your destruction. I found it laying where it fell. Devoid of all life. I recovered the flotsam and staked it as my own in accordance with the Charter of the New Republic. Little remained of its neural harness. Reconstruction was quite difficult...but not impossible. It had to learn everything from scratch. This is something that cannot be taught with the twist of a spanner. It requires patience and repetition. I spent day after day reinforcing its development with patience and affirmation. It developed a personality as its experiences grew."

" Is it still a hunter?" Din asked softer than before.

" No. But it will protect." Kuiil confirmed while IG-11 held its hand out with a cup.

" Tea?"

Even for a droid, Nadia felt bad that no one had taken the cup and quickly took it with a smile sparing IG-11's feelings. Kuiil nodded to them grabbing a pale from the corner and heading outside.

" I have to go feed my blurrgs." He explained nodding to them before making his way complete out followed by IG-11.

Din placed his blaster away," I'll be back."He spoke sparing a glance to the two before leaving as well.

Nadia looked down to the tea in her hand before taking a sip surprised at how good it tasted and more so how it tasted sweet rather than bitter.

" Are you a couple yet?"Cara asked taking her by surprise.

" What?"

" Come on." Cara chuckled elbowing her side." I'm not stupid."

Nadia blushed," We're not a couple. Just friends."

" No. Mando and I are friends." Cara elucidated." You two have...a connection."

" Fine, we're best friends." Nadia enhanced, but it wasn't enough for Cara.

" He's different from when you two were on Sorgan. He's more protective of you, Nadia. I saw the way he panicked back on Sorgan."

" Well, in all fairness, I was almost stabbed." Nadia muttered shrugging her shoulders.

" Do you like him?" Cara interrogated causing Nadia to blush even more as she couldn't saying anything." You do."

" It doesn't matter." She muttered shrugging her shoulders sadly." He's a Mandalorian and I'm just the human sidekick."

Cara shook her head," Not in his eyes."

Nadia coughed," You're way off."

" No, I'm not."

" I met his ex you know and I'm nothing like her." She insisted remembering everything Xi'an was." I'm not his type."

" She's an ex for a reason." Cara pointed out shrugging her shoulders again."Maybe she was his old type."

Nadia thought about it, but at the same time, she didn't want to. There would be nothing worse than her thinking one thing and getting shot down. Plus, she didn't know how she really felt about him. He was a warrior and she didn't match him. She knew not to get attached in that way because he wasn't looking to find someone in that way. She buried down in the back of her brain preparing for the travel yet again when Kuiil agreed to join them. With three Burgs in the back of the main hull. The razor crest was beginning to get cramped, but no one was complaining.

Kuiil checked on his blurgs making sure the travel wasn't stressing out while the child and Nadia watched Din and Cara arm wrestle. Nadia was impressed by both their strength noticing how they were eagerly holding onto each other never wanting to tap out.

" I got you, Mando." Cara taunted causing him to chuckle.

" Care to double the bet?"

" How do you guys do it?" Nadia questioned causing Cara to wink at her.

" Care to learn from the pro, Nad?"

" Yeah, I'll show her how to win." Din promised.

Cara opened her mouth about to throw another comment when she felt like she couldn't breath. Like a rope was around her throat to stop her from breathing. She released Din's hand grabbing at her neck in pain that wouldn't go away.

" Cara?" Nadia questioned beginning to panic.

Din worried looking over to the child only to see he was the one causing it using his powers.

" No! No, no!" He shouted grabbing the child and shaking him lightly to stop." Stop! We're friends, we're friends. Cara is my friend!"

" That is not okay!" Cara coughed out in horror.

Kuiil walked over looking at the child," Hmm. Very curious."

" Curious?" Cara questioned baffled." It almost killed me!"

Kuiil ignored her still looking to the Mandalorian," The story you told me of the mudhorn now makes more sense."

" What is it?"

" What it is, I don't know." Kuiil confessed looking down to the child." But what it does, this...This I've heard rumors of."

" What? When you worked for the Empire?" Cara interrogated with disgust in her voice.

" When I was sold to the Empire, in indentured servitude."

" Yet somehow, you walk free." Cara snapped back.

Kuiil stood tall in defending himself," I bought my freedom through the skill of my hands and the labor of three of your human lifetimes." He explained." Do not cast doubt upon that of what I am nor whom I shall serve."

" Tell you what. I could really use your craftwork right now." Din interrupted in order to stop the fighting." Can you pad this container so the child can sleep better?"

" I shall fabricate a better one." He promised looking to Cara." Then perhaps this Dropper can see how one can win their freedom with the skill of one's hands."

Cara rolled her eyes heading up to the cockpit to get away from everyone annoyed by what happened and the words Kuiil spoke. Din joined her glancing one last time to Nadia before heading up. He set the coordinates to Nevarro, almost feeling like he was alone from how quiet Cara was being. Down below, he could hear Kuiil getting to work to create the pod. When two hours passed, and the sounds of the pod being made were lower, he decided to check up on the main hull. He walked down the ladder first noticing Kuiil still perfecting the pod for the child. The sounds of screws and a wretch twirling could be heard.

The second thing he noticed was by the far corner, Nadia was sleeping on top of a crate given she took down her hammock in order for Kuiil's blurggs to have room. She leaned her head against the outside of the child's quarters who was likely inside sleeping too. Din felt bad. He had forgotten to tell her she could use his room and she was now balled up in the corner cold and most likely uncomfortable. He walked over unclipping his cape in the process. When he got to her, he placed the cape over her for warmth in the process waking her up.

" I didn't mean to wake you up." He apologized while she smiled holding the cape close to her.

" It's okay." She said half asleep and sat up to allow him to sit too." Don't you think you need your cape of mystery?"

" You looked cold. And you look like you're not giving it up anytime soon." He teased causing her to chuckle along with him.

Even with sleep in her eyes, Din admired her beauty and the way her cheeks tinted pink at his words. His eyes traveled to her arm that he could clearly see her past injury from Greef Karga. The last time they were on Nevarro, she was lucky to be just grazed with a blaster shot.

" I think you should stay back on the ship with the child and Kuiil."

She frowned," You're kidding, right?"

" I don't trust Greef and I don't know what he might pull." He admitted quietly looking away from her arm to see the confusion on her face.

" Is this about the stabbing?" She asked and after five seconds of him saying nothing, she knew it was." Mando-"

" I can't lose you." He blurted out.

For once, he wasn't embarrassed for the words that slipped out of his mouth or felt red to the face that it happened. The words he spoke, he wanted her to hear. She was stunned by his words. Her heart skipping nine, maybe ten, beats the more it grew.

" I can't lose you, either you know." She confessed reaching over and squeezing his hand." I'll be by your side the entire time. The safest place to be."

" You think that's the safest place to be?"

" Of course." She said squeezing his hand and getting one in return.

She didn't know what caused her to, but she placed her head on his shoulder feeling the cool beskar against her cheek. Din smiled leaning over and resting the side of his cheek on top of her head smelling even through the helmet, her raspberry scent. Two months ago, the old Mandalorian he was would curse at him for gaining connection to someone outside of his coven. Two months ago, after the mud horn, he would have thought Nadia would of ran away from him, but through guild attackers, ATST's, ex-lovers, and criminals, she was still here with him saying the safest place to be was with him.

" All you've been in is danger since you've met me." He pointed out, but she shook her head looking up to him.

" I've been alive since I've met you." She corrected.

In the two months since she met him, Nadia couldn't believe how much she had changed. She was just the bartender on Arvala-7 under minimum wage and getting harassed only to know be a training bounty hunter with a Mandalorian and a tiny green child. She seen planets like never before and fought against people she never seen. Din smiled a genuine smile, cause he knew she was speaking the truth. He leaned down resting his head against her forehead seeing she smiled placing her hand on the cheek of his helmet.

" Rest while you can, Mesh'la." He soothed squeezing her hand one last time before getting up and heading back to the cockpit.

Upon coming to the ladder to climb, he looked up to see Cara standing there, a bright smile on her face while she walked away to take her seat. Din knew she was going to tease him and groaned climbing up the ladder to take his place at his seat.

" So, we're going to Nevarro?" Cara asked stunning him that it was her first question.

" Have you ever been?" He questioned turning in his seat and checking the coordinates.

" No. We lost a lot of our forces there." She sadly admitted cleaning her gun." The city's dug in pretty deep. No cover when you drop in. It stayed in Empire control 'till the end of the war."

" The warlord we're taking out was an Imperial officer."

" What station?"

" Hard to tell." He answered turning to her." No insignia anymore. Nadia and I took out the safehouse when we snatched the kid. More Imps have reinforced since."

" There's something more going on." She hinted, but he nodded already knowing.

" Maybe. We'll find out more when we land."

" You love her, don't you?" She blurted out that Din physically choked on his own salvia from gasping so hard.

" W-what?" he coughed trying to recover.

" Nadia." Cara clarified." The girl sleeping downstairs with your cape."

He shook his head clearing his throat," We're just friends."

" I am tired of hearing that one." She dragged out sitting back in her seat and throwing her hands in the air." Come on. Admit it, you fell for the girl."

" I have prepared second meal." IG-11 interrupted coming into the room before Din could get a word out." Would you care to be served here or below?"

" I'm not hungry." Din snarked back, turning in his seat with a glare.

IG-11 got the message backing away until the doors to the cockpit closed tightly allowing Cara and Din to get privacy once again. He turned just to make sure they were alone and shook his head.

" Under no circumstances does that thing leave the ship." He ordered sternly.

Cara frowned," You got a real thing for droids, don't you?"

" I got a real thing for that droid." Din clarified.

" The Ugnaught said he rewired it."

" That droid was designed to kill things. I don't care how much wiring he replaced. It goes against its nature."

" Like your nature to admit you like someone." Cara teased smirking at her little comment.

Din took a deep breath defeated," She's too good for me."

" What?"

" She's too good for me." He repeated looking down." She's perfect. She finds goodness in others and when it's not there, she creates it. I think that's what she did to me. She makes me feel things...I didn't believe in anymore. I just can't have her. I'll ruin her."

Cara tilted her head," She might be into that."

" I almost got her killed." Din sternly spoke showing her how serious he was being." If I was a second too late, she would of gotten stabbed. She would of bled out. Nadia deserves someone who won't put her in danger which is why I don't get why she's still here. With me."

Cara placed her gun to the side slowing sitting up straight

" When someone makes you feel alive again, it's worth the risk." She answered shrugging her shoulders." I'll bet all my credits that's how Nadia thinks. I saw it on Sorgan. You two had a connection that was just more than being friends on this hunk of junk with a green string bean. Take it from me and don't run away from this. People like us don't get chances like this. We get it once and better not screw it up."

" What if I do screw it up?" Din nervously questioned.

Cara chuckled," I'll beat your ass."

Din couldn't help, but chuckle himself at her statement turning back around in his seat and flying the crest towards Nevarro. While the silence was peaceful, his mind still ran at the ideas of Nadia.

The girl sleeping downstairs with his cape.

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elenaaadaniels · 2 years

Text

Don't Blame Me: Series

Summary: " The noise level in the cantina, dropped to zero slowly. Nadia frowned at what had caused it when her eyes landed to the doorway. A Mandalorian. She heard the stories. The fiercest warriors that could kill in seconds and lived for the danger and one was now standing in front of her."

Don't Blame Me can also be found on Ao3 and Wattpad

SEASON ONE:

Chapter One: The Mandalorian

Chapter Two: Nevarro

Chapter Three: Warming Up

Chapter Four: Weakling

Chapter Five: Starry Night

Chapter Six: Prepare For Battle

Chapter Seven: Toro Calican

Chapter Eight: The Real Traitor

Chapter Nine: The Bad And The Ugly

Chapter Ten: Close Call

Chapter Eleven: Assembling A Team

Chapter Twelve: Those We Can Trust

Chapter Thirteen: Moff Gideon

SEASON TWO

Chapter Fourteen: Mos Pelgo

Chapter Fifteen: Dragon Hunting

Chapter Sixteen: Crashing Down On Us

Chapter Seventeen: Frozen Fingers

Chapter Eighteen: Crossed Lines

Chapter Nineteen: My Girl

Chapter Twenty: Old Friends, Old Threats

Chapter Twenty One: Menace Aura

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elenaaadaniels · 2 years

Text

Chapter Ten: Close Calls

part 11

Warning: FLUFF, toxic ex girlfriend, mention of death, close death, mention of injury, touch-starved Din, murder.

___________________________________ I don't deserve it. I know I don't deserve it. But stay with me a minute. I swear I'll make it worth it. Can't you forgive me? At least just temporarily. I know that this is my fault. I should have been more careful.

- 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘉𝘺 𝘈𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦 ___________________________________

Nadia didn't like it one bit. An entire prison ship and it was silent as a mouse. With each corner they turned, she prepared for a person to be patrolling or maybe even a droid, but all they were meant with was empty halls. Din remained by her side, keeping by her pace and blaster by his side ready to fire if needed to. They turned a narrow hallway this time seeing eye to eye with prisoners. Much to her surprise, the prisoners remained quiet seeing them jog by.

Maybe they just were hoping to be freed too.

" I don't like this." Din voiced out loud.

Xi'an smiled behind him," You always were paranoid." She purred in amusement.

" Is that true, Mando? Were you always paranoid?" Mayfield mocked in a annoyed voice.

A prisoner grunted loudly slamming their hands against the doors that held it confided. Nadia jumped raising her blaster the same time the others did when a warm feeling came around her. More like a warm being. She frowned looking down to see Din's arm around her pulling her back while he stood more in front in case of danger. It happened so quickly, but she felt the blush come to her cheeks at the feeling and stared up at him.

He stared back at her, grateful the beskar helmet was keeping how truthfully red his face had turned from his actions. He slowly released his hold and nodded his head, to which she nodded back as a thank you. Looking away, she met eyes with Xi'an, her eyes burning with such rage while her face remained motionless. She continued her stare until she turned slowly following after Mayfield and Burg.

She couldn't wait until they got this job. There was nothing more she wanted then to get away from these people and return to the Razor Crest and child. They made a left at the next juncture. Mayfield peeking his head around the corner before beaking Din to go to the other side of the wall. Din nodded holding his blaster high as he darted to the other side of the wall checking if the coast was clear. When it was, the others followed only to have a small vacuum droid come from the corner.

" What? It's just a little mousey." Burg chuckled." Come here, little mousey."

Mayfield rolled his eyes," Burg."

" Mousey, come here. Come here."

" Burg." Mayfield called again she Burg pulled his blaster out blasting the droid." No! Burg, what are you doin'?"

" What?" Burg grunted.

Nadia noticed movement from the corner of her eye and looked up just in time to see two armed droids come from the corner catching them.

" Look out!" She warned the minute two blast had passed right by them.

Din was quick with his actions shielding Nadia behind him while firing shot after shot to the droids. They hid behind a corner, Nadia kneeling down and shooting as close as she could to the droids. Two more droids joined their forces walking closer to the point they could no longer shoot without getting hurt.

" Stay here." Din whispered running down the opposite side of the hall they came from.

She wanted to ask what his plan was, but she had no time and also knew whatever he was going to do was going to get them out of this.

Xi'an groaned behind Mayfield," We're too exposed here."

" If they get a signal out, it's not gonna matter. Mando, let's go! You're supposed to be somethin' special!" Mayfield yelled looking for him only to see nothing." I knew it. I knew it!"

Nadia opened her mouth ready to defend him when the sound of one of the droids crashed loudly to the floor. She peeked her head over the side watching as Din fought against each of the droids flawlessly. When one of the droids backed him into the corner, Nadia didn't hesitate for a second running up the the second one that tried to pin him down and kicked its back leg. With it on its knees, she kicked at the right angle knocking its head right off.

She grabbed a piece of the droids leg from the floor turning and swinging it like a bat to knock the other one down. It was quick to dodge her swing, but she kicked at its chest knocking it backwards while Din landed the final blow with a blaster to the head. She looked down to her hands impressed by what she had done. The month in Sorgan was beginning to pay off and she felt proud she helped rather than standing around. The others weren't as impressed walking by with their own puffed up pride.

" Make sure you clean up your mess." Mayfield smugly commented as he passed by.

Nadia rolled her eyes at the comment while Din ignore it tapping her side so they could follow.

" It seems your presence has been detected. Redirecting security alert away from your position."

Mayfield ignored the warning," Z, open the door!"

" But I'm detecting an organic signature."

" Yeah, okay. All right. Just open the door!" Mayfield barked when the door had finally opened.

" Stop!" A security person yelled holding their blaster up.

Nadia's heart skipped a beat. Only droids were meant to be on the ship and she knew with the three other criminals around them, the security guard was likely to be a goner.

" Just stop right there." The security guard ordered shaking in fear at how he was out numbered." You put down the blasters right now."

" Nice shoes." Mayfield taunted walking around the man." Matches his belt."

" There were only supposed to be droids on this ship." Nadia reminded, but the criminals had ignored her watching Mayfield get on the computers.

" Hang on, hang on. Let's see here. Uh... Cell two-two-one. All right, now for our well-dressed friend." Mayfield said when the security man grabbed an object from his side that caused even Mayfield to freeze up." Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, hey. Easy. Easy, egghead. Put that down. Put that down. Come on."

" Easy." Din whispered.

Mayfield wasn't having it pulling his blaster," Put it down now!"

" Easy." Din seethed to Mayfield." Nobody has to get hurt here. Just calm down."

Nadia glanced over to him," What is that thing?"

" It's a tracking beacon."

" He presses that thing, we're all done. A New Republic attack team will hone in on that signal and blow us all to hell." Mayfield further explained causing the other criminals to mirror his reaction.

" You didn't think we needed to know that tiny little detail?" Xi'an spat at him.

" I didn't think we'd get to this point." Mayfield admitted causing Xi'an to huff under her breath.

" Yet here we are."

" Are you questioning my managerial style, Xi'an?" He basically yelled at her.

Xi'an smirked at him with a salute," No, sir."

" Hey. Listen to me. Listen to me, okay? Look." Din spoke placing his blaster into his holster.

Nadia slightly panicked," Mando-"

" Hey. Put it down." He continued turning to Mayfield that still had his blaster aimed.

Mayfield narrowed his eyes," Are you crazy?"

" Put it down." Din repeated turning to the scared guard." What's your name?"

" It's Davan." He stammered.

" Davan. We're not here for you. We're here for a prisoner." Din bargained." If you let us go about our job, you can walk away with your life."

Mayfield coughed sarcastically," No, he won't." He said aiming his blaster again at Davan.

Din grabbed his blaster aiming this time at mayfield," Hey. You realize what you're gonna bring down on us?"

" You think I care about that?" Mayfield questioned glaring at him." Get that blaster out of my face, Mando."

" I can't do that."

" Get that blaster out of my face, Mando!" Mayfield screamed moving his blaster away from Davan and towards Din.

Nadia was quick to react aiming her blaster at Mayfield with sharpness to her tone.

" Don't."

The tension in the room was brought to nothing when a silver object flew by everyone and Davan had collapsed onto the floor. Nadia held her breath. The shock of it all slowly coming to her when Davan's blood started to seep onto the floor in a crimson puddle.

" Would you both just shut up?" Xi'an groaned standing from her seat.

Nadia's hearing started to grow fuzzy. Everyone started to echo away as she could only focus on Davan's dead body. He was just trying to do his job. Protect prisoners that most likely didn't deserve to be alive. Din looked away from Xi'an and Mayfield's bickering noticing Nadia's trained eyes the more Davan's blood covered the floor. He reached over lightly grabbing her forearm.

" Nadia-"

" Was that thing blinking before?" Mayfield questioned catching everyone's attention." Was it?"

" Zero to Mayfeld. Zero to Mayfeld. I've detected a New Republic distress signal homing in on your location. You have approximately 20 minutes."

Xi'an shrugged her shoulders," We only need five."

" Let's go, let's go. Move, move, move!"

Din turned ready to run when he noticed the absence next to him. Nadia still remained staring at Davan, her fist balled up while her lip quivered slightly.

" Come on." He urged, but when she didn't move, he grabbed her arm lightly." Nadia, come on."

Breaking from the body, she noticed how the lights in the building started to flash and knew the dangers with the way everyone ran. They turned the corner seeing a security droid, ready to fire at it when Burg ran right at it tackling it to the ground. Another droid came behind him ready to fire when he threw the first droid at the second one causing it to explode in a small ball of fire.

" You have 15 minutes remaining." Zero reminded over the comms causing everyone to run towards the cell.

" Open it up!" Mayfield yelled.

When the doors opened up, it was an understatement to say Din was shocked. He was thunderstruck to see the Twi'lek man right in front of him sickishly smirking at him.

" Qin."

" Funny, the man who left me behind is now my savior." Qin taunted." Mando."

Burg growled loudly causing Din to turn towards him only to forcefully get punched in the chest sending him into the cell. Nadia gasped when Burg grabbed both her arms lifting her up in the air roughly.

" Hey!" She screamed being thrown into the cell harshly as it closed behind her.

" Attack's on the way. He's already dead meat. Let's go!" Mayfield yelled running down the hall with the others following.

" You deserve this!" Xi'an laughed echoing the further they ran.

Din turned to Nadia," Are you okay?"

" Yeah." She said groaning at the bruises that were growing." You can not make fun of me dating Toro when you dated that bitch."

He frowned," Is that what's been bothering you?"

" No." She quickly denied causing Din to lightly smirk.

" You're lying."

" What are we going to do?" She said trying to take the conversation into a different direction.

Din stood up shrugging," I don't know." He said when he noticed a guard droid passing by." Or maybe I do."

He shot his string at the droid bringing it over to the cell and choking it to the point it couldn't escape. The droid still wanted to escape lifting the blaster and aiming it into the cell causing a blast to jump around the cell almost hitting Nadia in the process.

" Woah." She gasped when Din extending his arm quickly taking the shot.

Moving back to the droid, he ripped the arm clean off getting the blaster and shot the droid in the face. With the arm, he moved the end of it until a screw came out opening the cell open for them to escape.

" Come on." he said grabbing her hand and racing out of the cell.

They ran to the control room without being detected. Nadia glanced at Davan's body before forcing her eyes away knowing she couldn't loose focus when the child could be in danger. She turned to the computers seeing the criminals were close to getting to the ship. Quickly Din pressed a button causing all of the natural lights to turn red and shut certain doors to trap them.

" Head back to the razor crest."

She frowned," What?"

" If they get there before the child, he'll be in danger." He explained placing a knife into her holster." Take this. I made a path for you to get to the ship."

She shook her head," You're outnumbered if I leave."

" Don't worry about me." He said, but that was all she knew she would be doing.

Nodding, she turned running down the hall noticing the doors that were closed off and the ones that were not on purpose. When she saw the ladder leading to the ship, she couldn't help, but to smile knowing all she had to do was get the child. She climbed up quickly only to see Zero aim his gun at the child who weeped in fear at the possibility of death.

" No!" She screamed causing Zero to turn to her.

She kicked the blaster from his hand before flipping her body around Zero and bringing him to the ground. The child cried loudly causing her to look up to him seeing the fear in his eyes about what was going on.

" Kid, hide!" She yelled.

Zero took the opportunity to elbow her in the chest causing her to let go of his body. She grabbed the knife from her holster swiping at Zero only for him to kick at her wrist knocking it from her hand before pressing his foot to her wrist so she couldn't move. Din was moving fast through the halls. Taking out Burg and Mayfield already, he knew he had to be quick to find Mayfield, Qin, and Xi'an. He reached the end of a hallway seeing Xi'an standing at the end, but she was quick to throw a knife knocking his blaster from his hand.

" You chose her over me!" Xi'an screamed in anger throwing multiple knives at Din.

Din deflected each one, but the closer he got, one had stabbed his shoulder causing him to groan loudly in pain. He ignored it grabbing the knife out and aimed it at Xi'an's neck knowing he had one. She glared at him, but it was short lived as he threw her quickly into a cell and locked it up hearing her scream inside.

" Yeah. I did." He quipped moving down the halls.

He noticed he was getting close to the Razor Crest, a sick feeling in his stomach that Qin had gotten there before him, but it all disappeared when he caught Qin seconds from touching the ladder that led up to it.

" Qin."

He stopped slowly turning to Din," You killed the others."

" They got what they deserved."

The sound of something falling and breaking in the Razor crest caught both their attentions.

Qin looked up the ladder before he laughed sinisterly," I'll say the same for the pretty brunette that was with you."

Zero. Din had forgotten about Zero and he knew Nadia and the child was in the ship too. Din didn't hesitate for a second curling his finger around the blaster and killing Qin with a shot to the head. He ran forward up the ladder as fast as he could seeing a crate had tipped over with some gear coming out. He ignored it turning in horror to see Zero choking Nadia with one hand while the droid swung it's hand back with a knife ready to stab her.

" Nadia!" Din shouted aiming his blaster without a second thought.

He pulled the trigger just in time watching Zero's hand holding the knife being taken off and short circuiting. Zero was shocked, turning to the Mandalorian, but it was the last thing he saw before Din shot him again, this time in the chest. Nadia stood their holding her stomach where the knife would have gotten her. She feel faint. There's a nick in her shirt, but no blood. Din rushed to her side moving her hands to see the worse, but there was nothing.

" Did it get you? Are you hurt?"

Even with her heartbeat pounding in her ears, concern is clear in his voice.

" I-I think...." She mumbled through her shaken voice." I think I'm okay."

Din nodded noticing her state of shock," You're okay. It didn't get you."

" Yeah, you saved me." She managed to say.

He cupped her cheek in his hand," Are you okay?" He asked deeply.

" You said it didn't get me."

" I'm talking about mentally." He further explained.

The tears came to her eyes instantly. It broke him to think the thoughts that could of went through her head before she saved him. It might of happened quickly, but it was always enough for the brain to process and come up with hundred of questions.

" Come here." He said using his other hand to touch her waist and bring her in for a hug.

Nadia melted into his touch burying her face in his neck and wrapping her arms around him. He wasn't use to this kind of affection. Guarded off since he was a child. Some how, this felt normal to him. Complete. He didn't want to push her off or end their little embrace. He just wanted to stay there forever knowing she was safe in his arms and not harmed by the dangers the galaxy seemed to bring them.

" Just shocked." She said muffled by his tunic.

" I know." He said taking a deep breath.

As quickly as the embrace had happened, it had to end knowing guards would come to see the prison from the beaken and the last thing they needed was to be arrested. Din dragged Qin's body into the Razor Crest before heading back to Roost Space Station. He didn't know how Ran would take the news, but he didn't care. He was set up and he could of lost Nadia because of Ran's resentment. Once the Razor Crest had landed, Din and Nadia stood at the ramp watching it slowly lower.

Originally, Din has wanted her to stay on the Crest, but she was too stubborn to remain in it while Ran could pull anything on him behind his back. Once the ramp was fully out, Din and Nadia walked down with him dragging Qin's body. It was clear as day on Ran's face his anger towards seeing them alive and Qin dead.

" Where are the others?"

" No questions asked. That's the policy, right?" Din questioned throwing Qin's body at Ran.

Ran threw him a dark look," Yeah. That is the policy." He seethed back to Din

Nadia nodded," We did the job."

" I wanted him back alive."

" We did the job." Din repeated sternly.

" Yeah, you did." Ran coughed sarcastically grabbing the credits from his pocket and shoved it in Din's hands.

" Just like the good old days." Din remarked watching Ran's face turn red in further anger.

" Yeah, just like the good old days." Ran muttered under his breath sending glares to Din.

Turning away from Ran, he placed his hand on the small of Nadia's back guiding her back into the Razor Crest. The minute they were back inside, he punched the button closing the ramp and almost raced to get to the cockpit. Nadia noticed instantly double checking that the child was still asleep in his quarters before climbing up the ladder the minute the crest had taken flight. She didn't have to ask what was going on when she noticed X-wings appear out of hyperspace and head towards the space-station.

" How did you get them there?"

" Placed the tracker on Qin." He answered placing the ship in hyperspace, but when he moved, he grunted loudly that Nadia couldn't by pass it.

" What's wrong?" She questioned noticing how he clutched his side and moved his hand seeing a deep cut that was terribly bandaged." Why didn't you tell me?"

" It's nothing-"

" You're hurt. Stay here."

" Nadia-"

" I mean it." She argued turning around quickly and racing down the ladder.

She watched Din heal himself before. A couple of alcohol wipes, gauze, and bacta pads should do it luckily not having enough damage to need stitches. She placed them in a satchel and climbed back up seeing he was using the dirty rag to try and make the wound less gruesome.

" Am I allowed to help you?" She asked kneeling down and taking the aid out.

" I can do it-"

" Am I allowed?"

" Why do you want to help me?"

" You helped me." She sternly remarked, a hint of a glare and pout mixed." You saved me."

He couldn't say no. He knew that she was too damn stubborn. Even if he lied and said no, she would turn her back and guide him through cleaning his wound or after he was all patched up, she would double check the way he wrapped it up to make sure it was correct. No matter what, she would check on him and when it dawned on him, he felt the butterflies in his stomach. No one had ever helped him before. There's no one to dress his wounds, no one to see that he was hurting or cared enough to help. But now there was.

" You're allowed." He whispered, nervous about this new change in his life.

Nadia nodded taking a closer look to his wound. Through the tear in his clothing, she could see a small gash, but it is mostly hidden by fabric and beskar.

"I'll get this cleaned up and put a couple of bacta patches on it, and there's a gel for the bruising if it's bothering you," She explains softly, looking up into his visor." I got you, Din."

Right there Din swears he has never found such comfort in someone's eyes, never felt such peace at the sound of her voice. He can't bring himself to answer, so instead weakly nods. A lump has formed in his throat that he tries his best to swallow. Touching his wound, she's light as possible, not wanting to cause him any additional, unnecessary pain, but it fails when he hisses loudly.

" Fuck."

She freezes at his word choice. Even more at how deep and rugged it sounded.

" Language." She teases hearing another hiss that comes through the modulator of his helmet.

Din feels his whole body break out in goosebumps at the touch of her skin. Her fingers are soft and a tad bit cold at the tip that he worries slightly the Razor Crest is too cold for her at times. She doesn't notice it, but while reaching for something, she placed her hand on his thigh sending lightning through him. Once she placed the Bacta pad on, slowly the forced rigidity leaves him, and he relaxes fully despite his level of vulnerability.

" Your hands were trembling." She comments while lightly pressing the pad on.

He panicked instantly wondering if this whole time, she noticed his behavior when she touched him.

" What?"

" When we hugged earlier, your hands were trembling." She further explains looking up to his visor." Where you scared too?"

"I...."

Din trailed off, lost in his tangled thoughts. There was too much he wanted to say, too much he needed to tell her. He wanted to speak but the feelings he never felt before made him grow silent. It was only when she set her hand on top of his that he found a grip in reality for himself.

Din let out a shaking breath, "I was scared....I thought I lost you."

She smiled lightly," Xi'an was wrong about you."

He frowned," What did she say?" He asked curious.

" That you were unable to love or express it. You don't get scared of losing someone unless you care. It's clear you care about the child and I." She added." I didn't like the way she was looking at you,"

"Xi'an?"

" Was she the one you told me about? Your ex?" She asked watching him slowly nod his head." I hate to see you look scared. Unsure."

"I'm okay."

" And so am I." She reminded still growing some questions." Does she know you more than I know you?"

Din shook his head, a smile on his face that she will never know," No. You know my name.I trust you more than I have ever trusted anyone." He answered laughing to himself as he muttered," You mean more to me than you probably know."

And it was the truth. Din knew it now that it was right in front of him. He knew it now that he seen the love he had before and the love he had now. He liked Nadia. He liked Nadia more than just a friend. He liked the way he smiled when he saw her first thing in the morning and he liked the way he could get her to smile. He liked the way she looked to him when they were on little missions and he liked the way he craved her touch if it ranged from patching wounds or hugging. He liked Nadia. Nadia smiled at his words, butterflies grew in her stomach as her cheeks tinted pink.

" Good to know."

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elenaaadaniels · 2 years

Text

Chapter Nine: The Bad And The Ugly

part 10

Warning: Jealous Nadia, toxic ex girlfriend, some cursing, protective Din.

___________________________________ Copycat tryna cop my manner. Watch your back when you can't watch mine. Copycat tryna cop my glamor. Why so sad, bunny? Can't have mine.

- 𝘊𝘰𝘱𝘺𝘤𝘢𝘵 𝘉𝘺 𝘉𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘌𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 ___________________________________

" No."

It came out sharply. It came out almost as an order for Nadia's mouth. Hearing what Din said, it made her question why he would even ask her given how dangerous his proposition was. He must of thought she would agree or expected that kind of answer with the way he placed his hands on his hips and took a deep, needed breath.

" Nadia-"

" No. No. Did I mention? No!" She exclaimed pacing the room while shaking her head.

" It's a one time thing."

" Din, you said it yourself. These people are bad and not to be trusted." She softly explained." We shouldn't take this job."

It was Din's idea to recontact his old employer to find a job that he was sure would have enough credits to last them for a long time. The job on Tatooine hadn't given them much and they needed the credits fast. Knowing this, it still wasn't enough for Nadia to agree hearing the harsh stories of who they could run across.

" We need the credits." Din reminded leaning back in the cockpit." We're running low on food, fuel, and we need as much as we can if we're going to fly around the galaxy."

Nadia shook her head," These people can't be trusted." She argued." They could easily hurt you or the child to get their way and you said you cut them off for a reason."

He shrugged his shoulders,"This isn't up for negotiation," He didn't sound angry, but he sounded sure."I just want to discuss what to do with you. Let you know our next trip."

Nadia rolled her eyes,"It seems like you've already made up your mind," She shot at him turning to the ladder and climbing down to the main hull.

Din knew he screwed up instantly. He didn't mean to sound so harsh, yet it had caused her to get upset with him and leave. Cursing to himself, he followed after her seeing she was crouched down in front of the child waving one of his little toys around as he giggled.

"Are you mad at me?"

" Why do you ask for my opinion if you're just going to do what you want anyway?" She questioned handing the toy back to the child and facing Din.

"Hey," He softened walking closer to her."I care, but I'm the bounty hunter. I'm gonna do what I think is safest. But I still care how you feel about it."

Nadia placed a loose strand of her hair out of her face and behind her ear while thinking. If she had to be honest, she would rather head back to Tatooine and find them another bounty job to avoid this next job.

" Din, I don't like it." She admitted taking a nervous deep breath." A group of untrusted people are going to be around the child. Anything can happen. But we don't have much of an option, so, I'm in."

He shook his head," You don't have to be."

" But I am." She reasoned." I trust you."

No matter how many times she said it, it still surprised him each time hearing it. Trust wasn't something he heard a lot. Being a Mandalorian, no one was meant to trust him, but she did even when they were going to do something dangerous. He blushed behind the helmet, nodding his head a couple times before his thoughts started to make sense again.

" I'll call in."

Nadia nodded her head watching him climb up to the cockpit, a worried feeling in her stomach. She didn't know what to expect from these people. All she knew was that they couldn't be trusted. A tug on her pants caused her to look down seeing the child's sleepy eyes look up to her ready for his nap. She smiled at him lightly and picked him up feeling him instantly cradle his head into the crook of her neck.

She trusted Din. She knew that she trusted Din, perhaps more than he trusted her, so it wasn't hard for her nerves to die down. If he thought this was the best option, then maybe it was and she knew no matter what, she'll have him by her side. She rocked the child in her arms enough to fully be sure he was out for good before placing him in his small quarters and locking it feeling the Razor Crest land.

She doubled checked her gear instantly making sure her holster was tightly around her waist with her blaster close in hand and a spare knife in her back pocket like Din had taught her. At the sound of boots coming down the ladder, she nodded her head to him and he nodded back punching the button to open the back ramp.

" Stay by me." He ordered being the first one to walk down with Nadia close behind.

She took note of the place, a bunch of working people scraping away at metal and building weapons that were clearly for the black market. With every worker that passed by, they either glared or stared with curiousity at why a Mandalorian had come to their shop.

" Mando."

Nadia turned her head watching an older man with wild white hair and bread come over with a sheepish smirk.

" Is that you under that bucket?" The man teased holding his hand out to Din.

" Ran." Din greeted shaking his hand.

" I didn't really know if I'd ever see you in these parts again. Good to see you." Ran said looking over to Nadia next." Who's this pretty lady?"

Din turned to her slightly," This is my associate, Nadia."

Nadia could only hope he said associate out of protection. If anyone she knew asked about him, she would say friend at least. Maybe even best friend.

" I see you know how to pick em." Ran flirted eying her up and down before patting Din's back as they walked." You know, to be honest, I was a little surprised when you reached out to me. You know, 'cause I... I hear things. Like, maybe things between you and the Guild aren't workin' out."

" I'll be fine." Din pressed.

" Okay. Well, you know the policy." Ran reminded." No questions. And you, you're welcome back here anytime."

It left a sick feeling in the bottom of Nadia's stomach. Seeing what Din had done so far, she couldn't imagine him settling down here and making weapons for the black market. They walked through the scrap shop passing the same eyes that glared at them.

" So, what's the job?" Din questioned.

" Yeah, one of our associates ran afoul of some competitors and got himself caught. So, I'm puttin' together a crew to spring him. It's a five person job. I got four-"

" Six." Din corrected causing Ran to nod his head.

" All I need is the ride, and you brought it."

At his words, Din and Nadia's heart dropped thinking about the little green creature inside they were trying to keep safe.

Nadia threw Ran a dark look," The ship wasn't part of the deal."

" Well, the Crest is the only reason I let him back in here." Ran explained, Din putting the pieces together behind his helmet." What's the look? Is that gratitude? Uh-huh. I think it is."

Ran walked away, a fit of laughter as he did, while Nadia and Din eyed each other. Slowly her nerves were coming back in knowing not only were they going to be with some untrusted people, but now on their very own ship with the child. Din looked away from Nadia following after Ran. Now he wished he did fully listen to her as things were slowly taking a turn.

" Hey, Mayfeld." Ran called causing a bald man with goggles to turn.

" Yeah?"

" This is Mando, the guy I was tellin' you about. We used to do jobs way back when." Ran introduced causing Mayfield to smirk.

" This is the guy?"

" Yeah, we were all young, tryin' to make a name for ourselves. Yeah, but runnin' with a Mandalorian, that was...That brought us some reputation." Ran hinted at eying Nadia for a reaction.

" Oh, yeah?" Mayfield pressed." What did he get out of it?"

" I asked him that one time. You remember what you said, Mando? Target practice." Ran laughed causing Mayfield to shrug his shoulders." Target practice. We did some crazy stuff, didn't we?"

" That was a long time ago." Din interrupted noticing how Nadia frowned next to him.

" Well...Well, I don't go out anymore. You understand? So, uh, Mayfeld, he's gonna run point on this job. If he says it, it's like it's comin' from me. You good with that?"

" You tell me." Din replied smugly.

Ran laughed pointing his finger to Din," You haven't changed one bit."

" Yeah, well, things have changed around here." Mayfield snapped walking away with a glare in his eyes.

" Yeah, well, Mayfeld, he's...He's one of the best triggermen I've ever seen. Former Imperial sharpshooter."

Nadia coughed sarcastically," That's not saying much."

Mayfield's head snapped back in her direction," I wasn't a stormtrooper, wiseass."

" Call her that again and it'll be your throat." He said the last word in a stern voice slowly turning his head to face Mayfield in a cold manner.

Ran found this amusing patting Din's back," Don't take long, does it?"

Ran led the way once again, this time towards the Razor Crest where Mayfield stood shaking his head at the ship before him.

" Razor Crest? I can't believe that thing can fly. Looks like a Canto Bight slot machine." Mayfield insulted pointing to a red horned man." The good-lookin' fellow there with the horns, that's Burg. This may surprise you, but he's our muscle."

Burg harshly placed down a crate he was holding before getting close to Din. It took everything in Nadia to not reach over and hold Din's hand out of fear or at least show fear at all. Burg leaned forward sniffing Din before circling around him in a threatening manner.

" So, this is a Mandalorian? I thought they'd be bigger." Burg mocked

Mayfield rolled his eyes moving on to the next," Droid's name is Zero."

Din frowned counting the recruits," I thought you said you had four."

" He does." A voice called out.

Din swore his heart stopped all together. There was no way in his mind he had heard her voice and that she was standing in the same room as Nadia. He turned, the panic clear in is face as the sight of the purple woman.

" Hello, Mando."

" Xi'an."

" Tell me why I shouldn't cut you down where you stand?" She threatened before pulling her knife in a flash and holding it to his neck.

Just as quickly as it had happened, Nadia hand flew to her blaster ready if necessary only for Din to never flinch.

" Nice to see you, too."

She laughed amused," I missed you. This is shiny." She purred running her hands over his chest plate." You wear it well."

Mayfield lightly gagged," Do we need to leave the room or something?"

" Let's hope not." Nadia snapped sharply having all eyes on her.

She didn't know why, but jealousy burned at her seeing how close Xi'an was to Din. The way she was once something to Din. It burned her. Xi'an narrowed her eyes to Nadia pointing her knife in a threatening manner.

" Who's the other woman Mando?"

" Nadia. So you and Mando were a thing?" She asked, anger beginning to bubble in your veins.

" Are you two?" Xi'an questioned back fiercely.

" Well, Xi'an's been a little heartbroken since Mando left our group." Ran added taking a liking into the two women's bickering.

" Aw." Mayfield pouted." You gonna be okay, sweetheart?"

" Oh, I'm all business now." Xi'an spoke smirking at Din while pointing her knife." Learned from the best."

" All right, lovebirds." Ran snickered." Break it up till you get on the ship. Right now we don't have much time."

The Recruitments followed after Ran, Xi'an turning around with her devilish smirk sending a wink to Din that was enough for Nadia to ball up her fist. Jealousy was the only thing she could feel. Din could feel the anger radiate off of her and lightly tried to grab her hand.

" Nadia-"

" What's the plan?" She asked walking forward before Din could grab her hand and joined the recruitments.

" So, the package is being moved on a fortified transport ship." Mayfield instructed showing them all a holographic map." Now, we got a limited window to board, find our friend, get him out of there before they make their jump."

" That's a New Republic prison ship." Din pointed out seeing how they already knew." Your man wasn't taken by a rival syndicate. He was arrested."

Mayfield shrugged," So what?"

" A job is a job." Ran added.

" That's a max security transport and I'm not looking for that kinda heat." Din explained causing every recruitment around them to roll their eyes.

" Well, neither are we. So just don't mess up." Ran slightly threatened.

" The good news for you is the ship is manned by droids." Xi'an said running her hand over Din's helmet's chin." Still hate the machines, Mando?"

Nadia looked away instantly. There was no reason why she should feel such anger when Xi'an got near Din, but she did and she felt her heartache at the sight.

" Despite recent modifications, the ship is still quite a mess." Zero announced coming out of the Razor Crest." The power lines are leaking, the navigation is intermittent, and the hyperdrive is only operating at 67.3% efficiency. We have much better ships. Why are we using this one?"

Ran pointed up to the ship," Cause the Razor Crest is off the old Imperial and the New Republic grid. It's a ghost."

" Yeah, and we need a ship that can get close enough to jam New Republic code. So, when we drop out of hyperspace here, if we immediately bank into this kinda attitude, we should be right in their blind spot, which will give us just enough time for your ship to scramble our signal."

" It's not possible." Nadia spoke looking to Ran." Even for the Crest."

" That's why he's flyin'." Ran said causing Din's head to snap in his direction." Mando, I know you're a pretty good pilot, but we need you on the trigger. Not on the wheel."

" Don't worry, Mandalorian. My response time is quicker than organics. And I'm smarter, too." Zero insulted causing Ran to cringe.

" All right. I... Yeah. That's good." Ran said pushing Zero away.

Noticing Xi'an and Burg go inside the Crest, Nadia moved away from the table and up the ramp hearing Ran's last words run down her spine.

" Just like the good old days, Mando. Huh?"

Going against New Republic prison ship to free a prisoner that was most likely deserved to be in there being the good old days, didn't seem like Din. She couldn't see him doing this for a life running around against the law for fun, but it was. She ignored it heading inside and standing at the very end of the Crest while Zero and Din flew the ship out of the shop and to the prison ship. Xi'an opened a draw before smiling when picking up one of Nadia's shirts.

" Pretty shirt."

Nadia snatched it out of her hands," Don't touch my stuff." She snapped.

" Fiesty." She teased in amusement before Burg ruined it." Will you sit down?"

Burg walked towards her before slamming his hands on the roof to scare her, but Xi'an didn't back down giving him a hiss. Burg chuckled going back to looking at almost every corner of the ship. He found the weapons locker and gleamed with pride at all the weapons. Din walked down the ladder and seeing where Burgs face had ended up, he closed the hatch watching him grow with anger. Burg went next to open that hatch that kept the child when Din stopped him causing the red horned man to grow angry.

" Hey, hey, hey. Okay. Okay. Okay, I get it. I'm a little particular about my personal space, too." Mayfield interrupted settling down the two men." So, let's just do this job. We get in, we get out, and you don't have to see our faces anymore."

Burg clenched his teeth," Someone tell me why we even need a Mandalorian."

" Well, apparently they're the greatest warriors in the galaxy." Mayfield explained shrugging his shoulders." So they say."

" Then why are they all dead?" Burg challenged grinning at his words.

" Well, you flew with him, Xi'an." Mayfield pointed out bumping her side." Is he as good as they say?"

This caused her to smirk instantly," Ask him about the job on Alzoc III."

Din tensed up at the memories," I did what I had to."

" Oh, but you liked it." Xi'an reminded." See, I know who you really are. Not even the lushest beauty over there knows you like I do."

Nadia questioned it herself. They opened up a lot to each other when they placed their little card game, but there being a chance that Xi'an did know Din more than her maimed her mind in ways she didn't want it to. Xi'an could see the hurt on her face and leaned forward to add onto it.

"What does he have you do for him, huh?" Xi'an whispered biting her lip. "I have a few ideas..."

Nadia narrowed her eyes," I'm just a friend that helps him on jobs."

" Right, jobs." Xi'an hinted." He's quite the lover isn't he? Charming."

" We're just friends." Nadia repeated more forcibly.

" Is that why you're by his side like a lost puppy?" She questioned sternly turning her words." You can't be me. I was the first and I'll always be the last. I can see that he's using you. It's in his stance."

Nadia shook her head," I don't believe you."

" You won't get far, sweetheart. Mandalorian's don't fall in love. It's not in there nature." Xi'an threw in her face." He'll never fall in love with you and that's not even adding because you're a weak bitch."

Xi'an pushed on Nadia's shoulders which caused the small brunette to grow enough confidence to push Xi'an hard enough that her back hit the wall. Xi'an growled standing up the same time Nadia did getting in each other's face.

" Hey. Hey. Hey." Din interrupted pulling Nadia back while Mayfield did the same to Xi'an." What's going on?"

" Nothing." Nadia said pushing Din's arms away from her.

Xi'an smirked in victory," Just a little chat about the good old days."

Din sent a glare towards her, even though she wouldn't know. He knew how Xi'an was and he knew her words could easily manipulate someone into anger. He turned away from her walking over near the ladder where Nadia stood still fuming.

He leaned down in a whisper," Nadia, what did she say?"

" Does it matter?" She shot back at him.

" He never takes off the helmet?" Mayfield interrupted speaking out loud.

" This is the Way." Xi'an mocked in a deep voice.

Mayfield turned curious," Huh. I wonder what you look like under there. Maybe he's a Gungan." He guessed earning some laughter." Is that why yousa don't wanna show your face? You ever seen his face?"

" A lady never tells."

" That's because you ain't no lady." Nadia snapped getting a hiss in return.

" Aw. Come on, Mando. We all gotta trust each other here." Mayfield intimidated." You gotta show us somethin'."

Nadia grew with anger in his defense," He doesn't have to show you shit."

" Feisty. I see why he keeps you around." Mayfield flirted sending a wink to her." Come on. Just lift the helmet up. Come on. Let's all see your eyes."

" I'll do it." Burg said reaching forward.

Din was quick on his feet deflecting Burgs hands away from his helmet, but the red horned man still wanted all of the action. He reached out still wanting to take off his helmet when Din deflected it again by accident placing Burgs hand on the panel to the quarters. With the door opening, the child stood their brown eyes beading in confusion. Nadia's heart dropped at the sight that she was certain she turned pale.

" Whoa! What is that?" Mayfield asked standing up and walking towards him." You get lonely up here, buddy? Huh?"

" Don't touch him." Nadia threatened, but Mayfield rolled his eyes picking the child up.

" Wait a minute. Did you two make that?"

" Something like that." Din and Nadia had answered at the same time before looking to each other shocked at their answer.

" Me, I was never really into pets. Yeah, I didn't have the temperament. Patience, you know? I mean, I tried, but never worked out. But I'm thinkin' maybe I'll try again with this little fella. Huh?" Mayfield teased knowing every second he had the child left Nadia and Din on edge.

" Dropping out of hyperspace now."

Without a second warning, the ship was thrown forward causing everyone to hold onto the walls for dear life followed by multiple instructions from Zero that came too quickly to process. Nadia's eyes darted to the child and watching Mayfield drop him, she dived onto the ground and caught him in time. She waited until the rough landing had stopped before unwinding her arms seeing the child was safe.

" Useless droid didn't even give us a proper countdown." Xi'an barked with anger.

" All right, we got a job to do. Mando, you're up." Mayfield instructed while Nadia placed the child in his quarters.

He stared at her confused at everything that was going on, but she kissed the top of his head placing some more snacks for him in the corner of his quarters and shut the doors hoping not another accident would cause him to come out. By the time she turned back around Din, had opened the hatch and Mayfield was quick to check the close was clear for them all to go. Xi'an licked her lips with excitement jumping down while Burg did the same stomping his feet as he went. Din turned to Nadia, a sad feeling in his stomach that their whole bond had gone out the door.

" I'm sorry." He apologized.

Nadia looked up to him hearing the sincerity in his voice when he said it. In that moment, she knew Xi'an was wrong. Who ever he was before was not the person he was now. She nodded at him reaching over for his gloved hand and gave it a squeeze she knew he needed.

" I still trust you."

#din darjin #din djarin fluff #din dijarin fanfiction #din djarin imagine #din djarin x female oc #din djarin x original character #din djarin #din djarin series #fiction #mando and grogu #din and grogu #star wars grogu #grogu djarin #mando x original female character #the mandalorian #mando #baby yoda #the child #pedro pascal

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elenaaadaniels · 2 years

Text

Chapter Eight: The Real Traitor

Part 9

Warning: Jealous Din, some cursing, mention of death, abuse, protective Din. ___________________________________

Oh, I knew you were trouble when you walked in. So shame on me now. Flew me to places I'd never been. Now I'm lying on the cold hard ground. Oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble.

- 𝘐 𝘒𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘞𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘛𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘵 ___________________________________

Annoyance burned at Nadia every second of their journey. Despite their fast bikes and the sand in their faces, she knew Toro was staring at her. She could feel it burn more than the scorching sun that burned above them. She did her best to ignore it facing forward and matching Din's pace on the bike, but even then she could tell the tension. Every now in then, Nadia noticed the two were racing or attempting to get a head of the other. One minute, Din would be the leader causing Toro to thrust his bike faster being the lead and the same patterned repeated.

Men.

She thought to herself. The more they drove into the desert, the more she wanted to return to the child and back on the Razor Crest far from Tatooine. Need the less to say, she was crossing this planet off as one she would like to revisit. Din raised his arm quickly in a pause slowing down his bike the same time Nadia and Toro did.

" What's going on?" Nadia questioned.

Din pointed straight ahead," Look. Up ahead."

Squinting her eyes, Nadia could make out a bantha, maybe two of them out in the middle of nowhere. She was no hunter, but even she knew it was odd for one of the creatures to be there. Toro was the first to step off his bike taking out his binocs and looking closer to the Bantha with a huff.

" Tusken Raiders." He answered." I heard the locals talking about this filth."

Din nodded," Tuskens think they're the locals. Everyone else is just trespassing."

Toro scuffed at the comment," Whatever they call themselves, they best keep their distance." He spat.

Nadia noticed movement in the corner of her eye, and turned seeing two more Tusken raiders make their way up the small sand hill so far, unthreatening.

" Din." Nadia whispered causing Din to nod seeing the same thing.

" Yeah? Why don't you tell them yourself?" Din challenged watching Toro practically jump out of his skin when they started yelling." Relax."

Din was amused watching Toro's fear, even more amused when he heard Nadia laughed in a mocking manner. He stepped off his speeder walking over to the Tusken and speaking in their language using only his hands. It was enough to confuse Toro.

" What are you doing?"

" Negotiating." Din answered, but Toro wasn't done with his questions.

" What's going on?"

" We need passage across their land. Let me see the binocs."

" Why?"

" You ask too many questions." Nadia muttered snatching the binocs from Toro and throwing it over to the Tusken Raiders.

" Hey! What?" Toro shouted." Those were brand new."

" Yeah? They were." Din muttered walking back to the speeders with Nadia." You speak Tusken?"

She tilted her head side to side," Learned a little here and there." She answered getting on her own bike and taking off without Toro." You really don't like him!"

" I don't like what he did to you!"

Nadia couldn't help, but to smile at his comments liking how protective Din was being towards her. They moved through the desert, Toro taking some time before he matched their pace once again until Din raised his arm forcefully slowing down his speeder.

" Get down." He ordered.

Quick, Nadia hopped off crouching down as low as she could get while Toro stumbled by her side clueless and crawling through the sand. Din scoped the area already seeing the Dewback, but turned towardsNadia wanting her to learn the ways of hunting.

" All right, tell me what you see."

" Dewback." Nadia answered." Looks like the rider is still attached."

Toro grew excited by her side," Is that her? Is that the target?"

" I don't know. I'll go." Din answered pulling out his blaster and looking more towards Lexie than he did to Toro." You cover me. Stay down."

She nodded back grabbing her own blaster from her side and watched him jog down the small sand hill to see what the Dewback was carrying.

" I missed you, you know." Toro spoke staring at the side of Nadia's face." Constantly on my mind."

She rolled her eyes instantly," Now is really not the time, Toro."She mumbled focused on Din.

" I should of never let you. I was just...upset."

" Over something so stupid." She snapped at him briefly before looking back to the Dewback" Is it her? Is she dead?"

Din shook his head," It's another bounty hunter."

" Hey, I hope you don't plan on keeping all that stuff for yourself." Toro shouted earning a huff from Nadia over his priorities." Can I at least have that blaster?"

In seconds, Din stood up in away Nadia knew something was wrong. She opened her mouth to ask when he turned around quickly making two steps forward.

" Get down!" He warned when the sound of a blaster hitting his beskar echoed for all the desert to hear.

" Mando!" Nadia shouted doing the exact opposite and sitting up in alarm.

" Nadia, get down!" Mando shouted and she did watching him racing up the hill and ducking the minute a second blast had hit his beskar shoulder.

Toro frowned," What happened?"

" Sniper bolt." Din answered out of breath." Only an MK-modified rifle could make that shot."

" Are you all right? Are you hurt?" She asked stressed that he was hurt.

He shook his head," Hit me in the beskar, and at that range beskar held up."

Toro's mouth was a black abyss," Wait, I don't wear any beskar."

" Nope. And let me tell you, I'll protect her before I protect you." Din commented causing Nadia's cheeks to flush red as her heart swooned.

" Well, so what do we do?" She coughed trying to not think about it.

" You see where that shot came from?

She nodded her head pointing," That ridge right there."

" Okay, we're gonna wait until dark."

" Well, what if she escapes?" Toro asked, but Din shook his head.

" She's got the high ground. She'll wait for us to make the first move." He explained sliding down the hill towards the speeders." I'm gonna rest. You take the first watch. Stay low."

Nadia turned for a brief second to Din before getting up and walking over, a bit of nervousness from the answer she might get.

" Hey, did you get hurt?" She asked quietly looking over the places his beskar didn't cover.

He shook his head," No. I'm fine."

" Just making sure cause the last thing I need is to be stuck out here with him." She said getting a small chuckle out of him." I'll take watch with him."

" You should rest."

She elbowed his side lightly," I got this." She declared walking back to the small sand hill.

If she had to be honest, she would have rather sat next to Din and rest until maker knows what their plan was, but she didn't trust Toro. She remembered the times on Alvera-7 when he would con his employers or decent people in order to get his way. It didn't take much longer before she realize she would get manipulated too. The sun was beginning to set leaving the desert to be darker than usual.

Her eyes trained in the dark staring at the ridge waiting for a signal that Fennec was on the move. The feeling of being watched burned at her skin, and she frowned slightly turning to see the pair of eyes came from Toro, who smirked at her while running his hands through his hair.

" I forgot how hot you are."

Nadia rolled her eyes annoyed," Focus on the task, Toro."

" All hot and sexy." He continued to say annoying her further with each catcall.

Her face turned deadly serious," Stop."

Her tone was sharp and it ended the conversation. Or at least she thought it had for at least one solid minute.

" I can't when you're right next to me looking all hot under this moonlight." He continued to flirt causing her to let out a big deep breath knowing it would never end.

" Seriously. We have a job."

" Come on, Nadia." Toro whined." Let's make out like the good old days."

Nadia couldn't help, but to laugh out loud. The horrible kissing memories coming up in her head were enough to never secrete the hint of humor.

" I'm good."

Toro reached over moving a piece of hair from her face," I've thought about you a lot since I left Alvera-7." He whispered slightly." You should come live here with me."

Nadia frowned," Why?"

" We can pick up where we left. When I become a bounty hunter, I'll get enough credits to take you anywhere in the galaxy. I heard Naboo is really pretty place." Toro listed knowing it was one of the places she always wanted to go to." Just me and you."

If she was back on Alvera-7, Nadia would of gleamed at his words, but to her now, they were empty. She wanted to go to Naboo, but not with Toro. She wanted to go with Din and the child. She wanted to go everywhere with them and it was at that moment, Nadia knew she broke free of Toro's toxic ways.

" You done?" Din snapped from his spot getting up with annoyance." The sun's down."

" What's the plan?" Toro asked equality annoyed.

" Get on your bike. Ride as fast as you can towards those rocks." Din explained while Nadia and Toro got on their bikes preparing for the plan.

" That's your plan? She'll snipe us right off the bikes."

Din pulled out two silver containers," It's a flash charge." He explained tossing the other to Toro." We alternate shots, it'll blind any scope temporarily. Combine that with our speed and we got a chance."

Toro swallowed nervously," A chance?"

" Hey, you wanted this." He huffed turning to look at Nadia next," You should head back to Peli's."

" What? Why-"

" I don't want you here." Din said icily, the anger spilling out of his mouth faster than he could control it.

Nadia frowned defensively," What's that suppose too mean?"

" Just go."

" Mando-"

" Go." He ordered with hints of anger.

Nadia couldn't think what had gotten him so angry so sudden. When it came to mission's, they were in it together. She was the one that warned him to not trust Toro, yet he wanted her out of the picture. She narrowed her eyes starting her bike and leaving them making sure sand kicked back on Din as she went. Just by Din being mad at her, it made her mad. She did nothing wrong.

Now that she thought of it, she didn't mind leaving because of just how upset she was with him. The only thing that bothered her, was that she couldn't pinpoint why he was upset with her. It didn't matter when Peli's shop came into view. She allowed her mind to go towards the child and felt a smile come onto her face at the little green creature inside. She parked the bike and headed inside seeing Peli playing cards with her droid while the child sat on her lap watching.

" Hey, back so soon? Where's your iron friend?"

" With his boyfriend. Let me see the baby." Nadia harshly ordered extending her hands.

" Someone's in a grumpy mood." Peli commented handing over the child, who was happy to see her.

" You have no idea." She muttered balancing the child on her hip and walking up the ramp to the razor crest.

The child babbled in excitement reaching for her hair and pulling on it lightly with a smile that melted Nadia's heart all together.

" Hey, little guy." She greeted tickling him under his chin while he climbed up a bit to look over her shoulder." He's not with me. He kicked me from his little boyband."

The child not understanding gave a giggle and babbled some more in excitement. Nadia realized this and placed him on the crate with a small side frown.

" You don't understand really when I talk right? I mean, you won't tell Mando anything if I rant to you?" She asked seeing not a single thought behind his brown eyes." Why do you think he kicked me from the mission? I mean, did I screw up? I was more help than Toro who seemed more confused and dazed. He was flirting with me the whole time, kid."

The child let out a confused noise and Nadia tilted her head in understanding.

" Sorry off track." She muttered pacing the room." I mean, it made me so uncomfortable. I never realized how much of a sleeze he was until now. With all the stupid pet names and gestures. He doesn't make me feel the way that Din does."

She gasped loudly, her cheeks turning bright red as if she was caught by a crowd of a hundred.

" Did I just say that out loud?" She asked looking to the child." I mean...it's obvious right? I mean Toro calls me pretty face, but...Din calls me Mesh'la. It's cute and its more meaningful. Plus...I don't know he seems...protective. I kinda like it. Plus, before we got attacked in space...I don't know. I think...I think he was going to kiss me."

The sound of slobber echoed lightly and she turned to see the child had found a can trying to eat it in hopes to get the content that was inside. She shook her head at the sight knowing better.

" You're not even listening, are you? Just hungry?" She asked causing the child to nod his head adding to her sentence.

With time to kill, she cooked the child what was in the can and watched him almost devour every last drop of food until there was nothing left in the bowl. She wanted to question Peli if she had even fed him, but she knew the answer already. Peli did, the child just loved to eat. It didn't take long before the child had grown sleepy and with him out for the night, Nadia decided to clean the Razor Crest to the best of her ability.

It was to get her mind away from her small argument with Din, but the cleaning, and being in his ship, did the exact opposite. She planned to corner him when he came back and once they were off Tatooine. Maybe she had done something wrong and not realize it. Maybe he didn't like how she broke focus from the ridge to talk to Toro. Whatever it was, she just wanted to know. A month of the ship and all she knew was she didn't like when Din was mad at her.

Hours had passed. Nadia found herself folding the child's small blankets giving a small laugh here and there when she would find a toy hidden inside probably for him to play with later. Metal clattering just outside the ship caught her attention, and she frowned climbing down from the cockpit not hearing anything afterwards.

" Peli? You alright out there?" She asked landing in the hull and seeing the child was still sleeping meaning it wasn't him." Peli?"

" Hey there, Pretty face." Toro spoke walking up the ramp with a smirk.

" Toro." Nadia replied when she noticed the absence of a particular Mandalorian." Where's Mando?"

" You're not going to see him for a while." Toro threatened coldly.

It didn't take a genius to notice the danger that surrounded her. She slowly moved her hand to her hip cursing at the absents of her blaster. She had cleaned it earlier. Nadia's eyes diverted to the table where she left it the same time Toro realized it two. Nadia dived for the blaster first only for Toro's arms to come around her body stopping her. She threw her head back, hearing him groan and elbowed him in the nose missing. He ducked out of the way before landing a harsh blow to the side of her face knocking her to the ground and pointing his own blaster.

" No. No. No. I don't think so." He warned with a sick laugh." Fennec told me how much bounty is on You, the Mandalorian, and the kid here."

The child was no longer asleep from the commotion. His brown eyes were scared waking up to Nadia being punched and the new strange man standing over her with a blaster. Toro turned to the green creature picking it up by its foot and dangling it upside down causing the child to cry out.

" Stop!" She shouted causing Toro's blaster to be aimed at her head.

" Easy, Nadia. Might get blasted over here."

She glared at him," I swear, if you hurt the child or Mando-"

" You'll what?" He challenged." Last time I check, you can't even hold your own. You will always be like that."

Nadia couldn't lie, the words burned at her, but she didn't have time to process it when the sound of Peli's back doors opening could be heard.

" Well, look who's here. Up now." Toro threatened correcting the child by his side and pointing his blaster to the back of Nadia." Took you long enough, Mando."

Slowly emerging from the main hull, Nadia's eyes quickly went to her surroundings seeing first in her office, Peli was taped in her mouth and hands unable to do anything. Next, she looked to Din's helmet seeing him stand with his blaster aimed high and tense shoulders. Din's eyes focused on the red fresh bruise on her cheeks and how the child had tears in his eyes out of fear. It was enough for him to want to kill Toro in that moment.

" Looks like I'm calling the shots now. Huh, partner?" Toro chuckled nudging his head to Din's hands."Drop your blaster and raise 'em."

Din hesitated for a moment. His blaster could be the one thing to truly save the child and Nadia, but it was also the one thing that could get them hurt. He lowered his blaster much to Nadia's shock and threw it into the sand.

" No." She whispered.

" You're a Guild traitor, Mando. And I'm willing to bet that this here is the target you helped escape." Toro said looking to the teary eye green creature in his arms." Fennec was right. Bringing you in won't just make me a member of the Guild, it'll make me legendary."

" In your dreams." She blurted out.

Toro didn't like it harshly butting the front of his blaster to the back of her head.

" Quiet!"

" Hey!" Din shouted in anger.

That was his mistake. Toro questioned it back at the desert. He wondered if the bounty hunter, Mandalorian cared for her. His simple anger had proved that he did and Toro knew he had the advantage.

" So what do you say Mando?" Toro questioned." The kid...or the girl?"

Nadia didn't know what Din would say. He didn't know what would happen next, but hearing the child's life was in danger, she spoke in action protecting his life and Din's.

" Don't hurt them." She begged nervously." I'll do it. I leave with you, just don't hurt them."

Din shook his head," Nadia-"

" I can help you, Toro." She continued." I know where to get Mandalorian armor. I can make you some myself. He thought me how to make it. Just don't hurt them."

Din knew she was lying. She never came with him to the armor or watched how armor was made, but she was doing this to get Toro away from the Child. She was risking her life and he didn't like it one bit. Even more when Toro shook his head leaning forward to Nadia's ear.

" You've never been a good liar."

Din saw everything in a flash. He saw the murder in Toro's eyes. How his finger curled around the trigger of his blaster ready to take the life of Lexie.

" No!"

Din was quick pressing the flash charge in his hand and blinding everyone around them. With this, he slipped from his spot quickly hearing a blaster shot go off. His heart skipped a beat, but he never lost focus grabbing his own blaster and hiding to the sidelines. When the flash faded, Toro looked around in fear until he was shot square in the chest dead. It was no victory yet when Din realized Nadia was on the ground unmoving.

" Nadia." He panicked racing and flipping her over relieved when she blinked a couple times.

" Blanked out there for a bit." She admitted looking directly at his helmet." Am I alive?"

He had relief in his voice," Thank the maker." He said leaning his helmet against her forehead.

She let out a small chuckle squeezing his arm and sat up seeing Toro's body on the ground still smoking from the shot he received. Nadia didn't know what she was suppose to feel in the moment, but there was not once ounce of grief. Toro was a snake. A person that almost killed the three of them and she was just glad he was gone.

" Where's the kid?" Din questioned causing Peli to turn around newly freed.

" He's all good. That was really loud for your big old ears, wasn't it?" She cooed to the child that smiled up at her." Be careful with him. So, I take it you didn't get paid?"

Din pulled out a pouch before pouring the credits into her hand slightly amused when her eyes lit up at the sight of how many.

" That cover me?"

" Yeah. Yes, this is gonna cover you." She said chokingly handing the child to Nadia so she could fully grasp the credits.

Din nodded his head to Peli walking up the ramp to start up the ship while Nadia lingered seeing the child wave to Peli while she waved back.

" Hey, I didn't know you dated a Mandalorian." Peli brought up causing Nadia's cheeks to tint pink.

" Date? We're just friends."

" Honey, in Mandalorian culture, placing their helmet forehead on another person's head, it means a kiss." Peli chuckled finding it amusing that Nadia didn't know.

Her face turned pink to red at Peli's words. It made sense. Nadia knew Din had never had an actual kiss, and knowing his culture, a little head tilt did seem right for them.

" Oh." She breathed out hearing the engine of the Razor Crest start.

She didn't utter another word to Peli, simply turned on the balls of her heels and up the ramp a blushing mess that she hoped Din didn't notice. Truly, he never did. The hours passed in space. The child was back to his previous sleep while Din flew the Crest double checking at everything was safe. When he deemed it was, he placed the ship on autopilot and climbed down to the main hull seeing the small lamp light on while Nadia laid in her hammock of a bed.

" Hey."

" Hey." She greeted placing her book down." I thought you would of been sleeping."

" I'm sorry about your ex-boyfriend." He spoke having it lightly haunt his mind knowing Toro once meant something to her.

She shrugged her shoulder," He was a loser anyway." She said sitting up so they could talk." Can I ask you a question?"

" We're not playing a card game." He joked before nodding his head." Go ahead."

" Why did you send me back for the mission?"

This caused Din to grow with embarrassment. He shouldn't have let Toro get to his mind and take that anger out on Nadia, but he had and now had to face the truth that loomed in front of him.

" I didn't like how Toro was trying to take you away. I just wanted you away from him. I don't know-"

" Thanks." She interrupted much to his relief.

" Can I ask a question?" He asked seeing she nodded." What argument caused you and Toro to break up?"

" He wanted to have sex with me and I said no." She answered shrugging her shoulders." He got so mad about it, cheated on me, and he left."

" Glad I blasted him."

" Me too." She laughed." I'm going to get some sleep. You should do the same."

He nodded his head feeling a burning in his leg. The necklace. At the realization of the gift he had yet to give, he shifted from one leg to the other feeling the nervous bubble in the pit of his stomach.

" Nadia."

She paused," Yeah?"

His brain screamed for him to say something if anything at the moment. It was just a necklace. Just a present he got her because she knew he would love it. Despite the positive thoughts, he lightly shook his head giving her a small smile.

" Have a good night."

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elenaaadaniels · 2 years

Text

Chapter Seven: Toro Calican

part 8

Warning: FLUFF, Close Kissing Scene, toxic ex boyfriend, mention of death, some cursing.

___________________________________ I could be a better boyfriend than him. I could do the shit that he never did. Up all night, I won't quit. Thinking I'm gonna steal you from him. I could be such a gentleman. Plus all my clothes would fit.

- 𝘉𝘰𝘺𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘺 𝘋𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘯 ___________________________________

Was it selfish to be glad the hunter was on Sorgan?

It remained in Nadia's head for a while. She felt guilty for somewhat being happy there was a hunter on Sorgan. After all, no one got hurt and she was back on the Razor Crest, but it haunted her to be glad about something when something else, something terrible, could of happened. She stared down at the child sleeping, his little cheek rested against her shoulder and his little mouth letting out soft snores. While she wasn't sure about much, she was just glad they were still all together.

If her entire life now revolved around living with the silver beskar bounty hunter and little green child in a floating hunk of junk, she would be satisfied to say the very least. Kissing the top of the child's had, she carefully placed him into the little compartment Din kept him in tucking him all around with a blanket and smiling when he let out a small yawn. Closing the compartment, she climbed up the ladder to the cockpit and knocked before entering seeing Din was still flying the ship while looking at some gears.

"He is down and asleep."

He turned to her with a nod,"Thank you"

" He was stubborn." She chuckled taking a seat behind him." Kept playing with my hair until he eventually knocked out."

Din chuckled as well," Sounds about right." He said placing the crest on autopilot and turning around to face her." Wanna play Gin?"

" Din, do you like our little card game?" She teased getting up and grabbing the crate they used before to be their table.

He mirrored the same smile," Maybe." He said grabbing the cards to shuffle." Can we ask questions at the same time?"

" Sure." She chuckled amused that he liked the game so much." You go first?"

" Who was your first crush, and where are they now?"

" Oh, going into detail." She said thinking back as her memory would go." Um, my first crush was Aletta. I met her while running in the streets. She was adopted by some Naboo family."

Din blushed," So you like girls?"

" I go both ways, Din." Nadia corrected grabbing her deck of cards." Do you like the kid more or me?"

" That's not fair."

" How's that not fair?" She asked curiously and without even seeing his face, she could tell her was smirking." It's the kid isn't it?"

" Maybe."

Nadia tilted her head smiling," He is adorable."

" And more likable." He teased causing her to gasp.

" Shut up!" She laughed punching his arm lightly.

Din liked the sound of her laugh. How it filled the room like a symphony and held every key note of amusement. He liked how when she laughed her dimples started to show and her eyes crinkled. He liked that even after she was done laughing, she still smiled with the lingering amusement.

" What's the craziest thing you've ever done?" He asked placing a card down and flipping the next one.

Nadia pointed around her," This."

" Playing Gin?" Din questioned getting a small laugh from her.

" No. I mean this journey." She explained looking around the cockpit." It's so unlike me to just get up from Arvala-7 and join a person let alone a Mandalorian."

Din tapped his finger on the crate nervously," Do you regret it?"

" No. Not even the slightest." She admitted noticing his tone." Did you think I would?"

" You've been with me for a month and you almost been killed by a mudhorn, bounty hunters, and a AT-ST." He pointed out all the dangers.

" Hey, life has to have some spice." She chuckled like it was nothing." Your turn to ask."

He nodded his head flipping his cards once again," What are three words you would use to describe yourself?"

" Three words." She repeated while thinking." Kind, I guess. Um, clumsy. You have clearly seen that and maybe adventurous."

How she described herself shocked Din. She wasn't just kind. She was compassionate, thoughtful, and courteous. She was a force that surprised him each time with her quick words and trust that never seemed to stop trusting. There were many words Din would call Nadia that had the most positive meanings.

" Your turn to ask a question."

Nadia chewed on her bottom lip trying to think of a questioned when she looked up to his helmet. Her brain had no control speaking out loud before she could even process to keep the words in.

"Din, what do you look like?" Nadia questioned nonchalantly.

Her questioned echoed in her brain as her face, cheeks, ears, beamed red in embarrassment the more she realized she spoke out loud. Din was close to her emotions, nervousness setting in from not expecting the question. Nadia's heart beat was faster and the small amount of sweat collects in the palm of her hands stepping over the line once again.

" I am so sorry." She apologized instantly." Was that breaking your creed? Was that crossing a line? Nevermind, you don't have to tell me-"

" I'll show you."

A second wave of nerves washed over the two stunned by their words and actions that were beginning to hint.

" What?" Nadia questioned shaking her head." Y-you can't show me. Just forget that I-"

Din shook his head back," Give me that bandana." He said pointing next to her.

" Din-"

" Trust me." He softly replied.

She let out a nervous breath reaching over and grabbing the bandana next to her handing it over to him. He got up standing behind her while carefully tying the bandana around her eyes like he had done when she heard his voice. When he was done, he walked back to his spot, a new set of nerves with what he was about to do. The sound of the air hissing out of the helmet caused Nadia to gasp, but she quickly closed her mouth not wanting to make him just as nervous. Din carefully grabbed both her hands and brought it up to his face.

He kept his hands loosely around her wrists as her finger-tips grazed the new surface. Nadia could tell her had a bread, spiky around his chin and up his cheeks. She moved her hands up, feeling less rough and more like skin, brushing fingers across his cheekbones. It was hard to tell whether they were more sharp or more round. It didn't feel like there was a dip in his cheeks. Din, the entire time, has been holding his breath. He was stiff and tensed by her touch never having someone other than himself touch him.

It dawned on her why he was like this and cupped his cheeks, using her thumbs to stroke them and just like that, tension seemed to melt out the touch. Satisfied with this, Nadia move onto the middle of the face. Touching his nose, feeling it carve round instead of being straight, she followed it down to where she touched feeling tiny hairs.

"You have a mustache?" She chuckled feel the movement of him nodding his head.

His lips seem to tremble with her fingers being so close to his lips. Instead of touching them, her hands go up, grazing his eyelids, trying to find every tiny detail. She could tell for one he had long eyelashes.

" What color are your eyes?"

" Brown." He answered causing her to smile that they were the same shade range.

" What shade of brown?"

Din smiled," Darker than yours."

Up, Nadia moved her hands up to find his hair and that is what she found it wasn't long, but short curls that was the softest thing she ever touched.

"Also brown." He interrupted knowing she was going to ask.

She smiled," I like how soft your hair is."

Nadia moved her hands down cupping his cheek again getting a picture of what Din looked like knowing it wasn't perfect, but it was the closest thing she would get to. Brown curly hair with dark brown eyes. A mustache just under his nose and a bread that went around his cheeks and chin.

" You're handsome, Din."

This gets a small laugh out of him.

" You can't see me."

" Doesn't mean you're not handsome." She softly spoke feeling him smile.

And there he was amazed again. She was simply pulling down his barriers, touching his face and he melted in every bit of it. Here he was a Mandalorian, one of the fiercest warriors in the galaxy, head over a fool for Nadia. He reached over cupping her own face seeing a smile instantly plaster onto her face.

" You know what I look like Din."

He nodded," I know, mesh'la."

The word was foreign to her and she frowned," What does that mean?"

" Beautiful." He answered running his thumb over her cheekbone.

" Oh." She breathed out.

It was different to hear him call her beautiful, but that was how he saw her. Beautiful to the look and touch. Beautiful when she smiled and laughed. Beautiful when she was determined and afraid. Beautiful beauty and heart. He looked down to her lips as he couldn't help, but to wonder how they would feel against his own. He knew they would be soft, but how soft? He didn't notice himself leaning forward drawn by her rose lips. Nadia could feel him lean in and moved forward just a bit when a blast had rocked the ship injuring some vessels.

" Get the child!" Din shouted grabbing his helmet quickly getting to the pilot seat.

" Din! I can't see!" Nadia warned struggling with the bandana around her head while more blast were thrown almost knocking her down.

" Haar'chak!" He cursed helping her stand straight and untying the bandana." Are you okay?"

" Yeah."

" Go."

With her eyes open, she quickly opened the hatch and carefully climbed down the ladder feeling the moment Din took the plane off of autopilot. The ship dipped down and she got on all fours to steady herself out. When the ship came back up, she crawled to the child's cabin and opened it seeing his concern eyes.

" It's okay, little guy." She said standing up and cradling him to her chest." Come on."

The child whimpered in concern hearing the Razor Crest get blasted again knocking down some crates that were below. With one hand, Nadia carefully climbed up the ladder while holding the child and opened the hatch again seeing Din veering the ship around.

" What's going on?"

" We're being chased." He answered briefly turning his head to look at them." Strap in, now!"

Nadia nodded her head noticing the child's crib and quickly placed him inside making sure everything was secure for him to be safe.

" Hand over the child, Mando. I might let you live."

" He's secured."

" Hold on." Din answered twisting the ship to the right before Nadia could even get into her seat.

She yelped loudly going from the floor, to the walls, to the roof, to the other wall, and back on the floor in the matter of seconds that she questioned where she was for a moment.

" Shit! I said he was secured!" She shouted holding onto her seat and strapping herself in.

Din briefly turned towards her," Sorry." He apologized turning to see his trick has still not shaken their attacker.

" I can bring you in warm or I can bring you in cold."

Din stopped the ship jolting them all forward while their attacker flew right over them merely missing by some inches. With the attacker in front, Din set the guns in range locking him in place.

" That's my line." He muttered pressing the trigger and destroying the ship.

It was no smooth victory with all the alarms bleeping in warning and half the power beginning to shut down despite Din flickering at them.

" What does that mean?" Nadia questioned.

" Losing fuel." Din answered when the power had gone off completely causing the child to giggle.

" Did you just giggle?" Nadia questioned seeing the child smile over to her." This isn't so funny, cutie pie."

Din turned in his seat, a small smile on his face when hearing the child and Nadia, and made his way to the panel right behind her seat.

" Going to have to go on emergency power." He said pressing some buttons until the power had turned back on through the whole ship.

" This is Mos Eisley Tower. We are tracking you. Head for bay three-five, over."

" Copy that." Din answered sitting back in his seat." Locked in for three-five."

Nadia turned back to the child seeing he yawned as his eyes were getting droopy once again. She smiled unstrapping him from the cradle and made her way down the hatch and to his quarters. By the time she opened his quarters, she heard him snore and shook her head while tucking him in. Nothing could get in the way of the child's naps. Din climbed down the ladder while the ship auto-landed.

" He went back to sleep." She said kissing the top of the child's head.

" He really is a weird little thing." Din commented." We should leave him in here and scope the place."

She worried," Would he be fine alone?"

" This chamber can only be open from the outside."

Nadia nodded grabbing some tarts and placed it next to him," Just in case he gets hungry." She said with a smile and closed the hatch.

Din nodded back to her handing a blaster before punching the ramp button. Nadia winced as her eyes adjusted to the light of outside noticing they were at a landing bay with some droids coming at them. Din noticed the same thing quickly firing a shot near their feet to scare them.

" Hey! Hey!" A woman yelled from inside struggling to get off her chair to yell at him." You damage one of my droids, you'll pay for it."

" Just keep them away from my ship." Din smugly remarked.

" Yeah? You think that's a good idea, do ya? Let's look at your ship." She fired back at him with a glare walking to look at the Razor Crest.

" Oof! Look at that. Ugh, you got a lot of carbon scorin' building up top." The woman commented looking through her thermometer." Yeah. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were in a shootout."

" You could say that again." Nadia mumbled rubbing her head where she accidentally got hurt.

" Special tool for that one. I am gonna have to rotate that. You got a fuel leak. Look at that, this is a mess. How did you even land? That's gonna set you back."

" We've got 500 Imperial Credits." Nadia offered noticing the name Peli Motto on the woman's jumper.

" That's all you got?" Peli questioned snatching it from Nadia's hand." Well, what do you guys think? That should at least cover the hangar."

" I'll get you your money." Din promised causing Peli to roll her eyes.

" Hmm. I've heard that before."

" Just remember-"

" Yeah, no droids." Peli interrupted." I heard ya. You don't have to say it twice."

Din nodded his head bumping Nadia's side lightly," Come on."

She followed after him to the main exit coming to a small community with houses made out of sand built in perfect conditions. Matter of fact, she made note that almost everywhere looked like it was sand.

" So what planet is this?"

" Tatooine." Din answered turning to her." It was the native planet to Jawas and Tusken raiders."

" What's the plan for today? Save another village." Nadia teased.

" I'm going to find some work for us to do."

She frowned," Like bounty hunting?"

" Yes."

" Din, I don't think I should go with you." She quietly protested." I could screw it up for you."

" You're learning." He corrected bumping her arm lightly." I trust you."

" I don't." She mumbled, but Din still heard it giving a small laugh.

They turned the corner noticing on sharp spikes, were the helmets of stormtroopers with hints of crimson that had been dried out. Nadia knew they weren't the good guys, but it still left a lump in her throat knowing how gruesome the death could of been. They walked into a small little sand bar hearing inside music playing and the occasional chatter. It felt odd for Nadia after so long. She had been with Din so long, she forgot that this atmosphere was once her whole life.

" Hey, droid, I'm a hunter." Din spoke once he got to the bar." I'm lookin' for some work."

" Unfortunately, the Bounty Guild no longer operates from Tatooine."

Din shook his head," I'm not looking for Guild work."

" I am afraid that does not improve your situation, at least by my calculation." The robot answered turning away from them both to continue working.

" Do my eyes deceive me?"

Instantly, Nadia's nerves jolted at the voice and turned getting a second round of shock when coming face to face with the person speaking.

" Look who got off of Alvera-7."

" Toro?" Nadia questioned, her voice cracking a little at the end due to nerves.

Din made note of it frowning at the two's exchange. Toro held a charming smile getting up smugly from his position of his feet on the table and sat up winking at her.

" In the flesh, pretty face."

" You know this guy?" Din asked defensively.

Nadia's cheeks flared pink," Um, yeah. Mando, this is Toro Calican." She introduced almost like she didn't want to." My ex-boyfriend from Alvera-7."

The pieces were falling together for Din. The way she turned nervous. Toro's smug smile. The way she almost didn't want to introduce him. Toro was the story Nadia had told him on the ship. Din stood up a bit taller, even with the helmet, Nadia could tell her was glaring and quickly wanted to change the subject.

" Toro, what have you-"

" How can you help me with some work?" Din sharply interrupted wanting to leave the bar as quickly as they could.

" Picked up this Bounty Puck before I left the Mid Rim." Toro spoke putting down the punk for an image of a woman to appear.

She frowned," You're a bounty hunter, now?"

" Yeah, pretty face." Toro flirted before turning back to Din." Fennec Shand, an Assassin. Heard she's been on the run ever since the New Republic put all her employers in lockdown."

Din nodded," I know the name."

" I followed this tracking fob here. Now the positional data suggests she's headed out beyond the Dune Sea. Should be an easy job."

" Well, good luck with that." Din answered already ready to leave when Toro stopped them.

" Wait, hey. I thought you needed work?"

" Fennec Shand is an elite mercenary." Din explained burning with annoyance." She made her name killing for all the top crime syndicates, including the Hutts. If you go after her, you won't make it past sunrise."

" This is my first job. You can keep the money, all of it. I just need this job to get into the Guild. I can't do it alone." Toro begged turning to Nadia." Come on, tell him pretty face."

Din clenched his teeth," Her name is Nadia." He growled.

" I know her name." Toro said back irritated.

Nadia could sense the tension radiating off of Din. It was clear as the day that he didn't like Toro and would rather deal with any other member of the guild than him. She knew another thing. They wouldn't get away from him. Toro was stubborn and determined enough to follow them all about Tatooine to get what he wanted.

" We do need the credits for Peli." Nadia bargained looking over to Din.

He groaned loudly," Meet me at Hangar three-five in half an hour." He said causing Toro to smirk." Bring three speeder bikes and give me the tracking fob."

Toro looked down at the fob and Nadia held her hand out to take it when he slammed it onto the wall crushing it into pieces.

" Toro!"

" Don't worry, got it all memorized." He said tapping the side of his head.

Din rolled his eyes," Half an hour." He said turning around and leaving with her.

" Looks like you're stuck with me now, pretty face." Toro shouted causing her to roll her eyes.

Unlike when they came to Tatooine, Din walked faster causing her every now and then to lightly jog in order to be by his side. By the third time she did it, she groaned jogging forward and grabbing his arm.

" Hey, what's up?"

" That's the guy you dated?" He basically yelled at her.

" Just for three months." She answered frowning at his behavior." Why are you so upset?"

" I'm not..." He shouted, but realized his tone calming down." I'm not upset."

" Well, it seems like it to me."

" You told me the story. He's an asshole." Din defensed his actions placing his hand on his hip.

Nadia nodded knowing it was more, but dropped it for the moment.

" Listen, we need to be careful." She warned." Toro can be sneaky sometimes and thing he's a hotshot when he's really not. I'll accompany you during the hunt."

" You don't have to-"

" I wanna watch your back." She said lightly punching his arm.

" We're going to need some stuff before we go. Here." Din said spilling some extra credits into her hand and pointed behind her." We should split in the market."

Nadia nodded walking into the market and splitting from him to see what they could find for their small journey. Din went the opposite way seeing some stands with knives, blasters, spices, and food, but one caught his attention the most. The stand had several crystal necklaces dangling in its front and sides of it. There was some sort of fun from watching such a threatening-looking armored man run his gloved fingers so delicately across the crystals. Din's attention was grabbed by a sapphire gem necklace. It was perfect. The way he could see the excited smile on Nadia's face when he gave her a jewel that was her favorite color.

"How much for this?" He asked the man sitting behind the stand.

"That one? 30 credits."

Din immediately reaches for his belt where the bag of credits was attached to. He would've never opened his hand so easily for 30 credits, but this was Nadia. His rational side was out the window when it came to her. The vendor reached for the sapphire necklace as Din placed the credits down on the wooden surface taking the necklace. Behind the helmet, he was smiling like a goof. He knew how much Nadia would love it and how she would probably show those who were nice to them like Cara if they saw her again or Omera.

" Hey." He heard and jumped in surprise that she had came back." You okay?"

" Yeah." He said quickly hiding the necklace in her pocket." You?"

She nodded showing her hands," Figured since we're going to be out on the desert to get some food and knives." She said handing over the things she got.

" These should work." He commented leaving the market with her.

They made their way back to Peli's noticing it was quiet despite the need for their ship to be repaired. Nadia found it odd, but continued inside thinking perhaps Peli went to get some tools or parts for them. Walking up the ramp, she smiled to see the child and opened his quarters only to see it was already opened.

" He's gone." She announced turning to Din in fear.

He was quick himself turning around and stomping down the ramp.

" Hey!" He shouted causing Peli to spring to life in horror.

" I'm awake! I'm awake!"

" Where is he?"

" Quiet!" Peli begged coming out with the child crying in her arms." Oh. It's okay. You woke it up. Do you have any idea how long it took me to get it to sleep?"

Nadia sighed in relief holding her arms out," Give him to me."

" Not so fast!"

" Why the hell not?" She questioned defensively.

" You can't just leave a child all alone like that. You know, you have an awful lot to learn about raisin' a young one." Peli scolded causing Nadia to feel worse than when she noticed the child was missing.

Din noticed coming to her defense," It was my idea."

" I bet it was." Peli commented turning to the ship." Anyway, I started the repair on the fuel leak. There you go. I had a couple setbacks I want to talk to you about. You know, I didn't use any droids, as requested, so it took me a lot longer than I expected. But I figured you were good for the money since you have an extra mouth to feed."

" Thank you." Din quietly spoke grabbing a bag from the Razor Crest and handing one to Nadia.

" Oh, I guess I was right. You got a job, didn't you?" Peli chuckled following them." You know, it's costing me a lot of money to keep these droids even powered up."

" Hey, Mando, Nadia, what do you think?"

At the sound of Toro's voice once outside, Nadia and Din looked up seeing three speeder bikes rusting a bit around the engines, but enough motor engine to speed through the desert like nothing.

" Not too shabby, huh?" Toro asked when Din shrugged his shoulders." What'd you expect? This ain't Corellia."

Nadia frowned," What's that?"

" A planet." Toro laughed like it was obvious.

Nadia glared hurt by this," Well, how would I know. You did abandon me." She said snatching a goggle from his hand."

" Pretty face, you still bitter?"

" Keep calling me pretty face and you won't be after I beat you to a pulp." She threatened only to get a smirk from him.

" So you're calling me pretty."

Nadia rolled her eyes at his comment giving him the middle finger before setting her goggles onto her face strapping them to the right position. Din couldn't help, but to proudly smirk while turning on the speeder hoping Toro got the message.

___________________________________

Mesh'la= Beautiful

Haar'chak= Dammit

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