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Stay Gold Chapter 10: The Village

Words: 12.1k

Series rating: Explicit

Mando was always the kind of person who enjoyed his personal space. He didn't mind the peace and quiet solitude that came with living alone on the Razor Crest. Being a bounty hunter called for his guard to constantly be up, his conversations with others short, and his ship and what was on it, the only possessions he had to his name. He didn't have time for friendship, didn't have time to treat himself to luxuries in life, and he especially didn't have to worry about anyone else other than himself. The kid changed all that, and so did she.

The Child was the first thing to that Mando ever had to take on the responsibility of caring for. It taught him patience and proved that underneath all that cold, hard, beskar armor, there was something other than just a ruthless bounty hunter. Without The Child, he wouldn't know Aurelia. She succeeded in further chipping away at his tough exterior, and that scared him. No, it was more than that. She was the burning blue flame that melted straight through his beskar. A man that used to not have time for meals other than ration bars or bland bone broth was craving home cooked delicacies. The stoic hunter who rarely cracked a smile underneath his helmet was engaging in witty banter and grinning in amusement though no one else saw. The touch starved Mandalorian who had grown used to being so alone, craved the feather light touches of soft fingertips against his skin. So when Mando sat there in the cockpit, alone and staring mindlessly in the vast expanse of hyperspace while he tended to his own wounds, well, he felt...off. The usual relaxing hum of the engines and faint whirring of machinery throughout the Crest usually soothed his tired mind after each job he completed. This time, it only served as a painstaking reminder of how alone he used to be when he would come home to an empty ship, and how desolate the ship felt now even though his pilot was sleeping soundly down below.

He acted like he hadn't heard her crying in the shower when they returned from their disaster of a mission on Nevarro. Maker, it pained him to ignore her, but he did. He saw the look she gave him when he made her leave him to die. He saw it every time he closed his eyes. He didn't know why it bothered him the way it did. Maybe it was because no one usually gave a damn whenever he left them behind.

He cursed himself for even being conceited enough to think that might have been the reason why she was upset. They had just buried the closest thing to her father since her real one had passed when she was a child. Kuiil saved her life and gave her the opportunity for a new beginning. He understood Aurelia on a level that the Mandalorian knew he never could.

Mando flinched at the chilling sensation the bacta mist caused when it made contact with his bruised and battered skin. The life-threatening injury he sustained from the E-Web explosion had dulled to an annoying throb across the back of his head. He had a few minor lacerations on his face and he could feel one of his eyes swelling underneath, but it wasn't anything that wouldn't heal on its own. He did his best to apply some of the bacta they had left to his deeper wounds on his chest and back. It was after he had finished he felt annoyed with himself for using their medical supplies haphazardly. He had forgotten Aurelia gave Cara some to use when Karga was attacked by the reptivian. He made a mental note to himself that they would have to stock up on some later.

As the white noise coming from the electrical equipment became more deafening to the Mandalorian hunter, he absent-mindedly fidgeted with the navigation controls. Aurelia had set the course for Dantooine what felt like hours ago. They still had a ways to go before they reached the lush forest and grassland planet. In all truthfulness, Mando had never been there before. It was the first planet to pop into his mind under the pressure of Aurelia's heavy stare when she asked where to go to next. He had heard it was peaceful and quiet; that's what he said his reasoning was for wanting to settle there for a bit. This was true; Dantooine was a relatively laid back planet. It was also full of nature. He had heard of the vast acres of rolling hills and farmlands that stretched across the green expanse of land. There were many rivers and streams that etched themselves deep in the surface of Dantooine, something he knew his pilot enjoyed relaxing in. He saw how happy and tranquil she looked when she dipped her feet in the vibrant blue waters on Batuu, even if it was only because she was doing laundry. When they landed on Sorgan, he noticed then how lively she had become looking at the nature rich environment. It only made sense that Dantooine seemed like a good choice to settle down on for the time being. It would give Mando the chance to lay low for a bit with The Child during his recovery, and it would hopefully bring life back into Aurelia after all she had been through.

Mando sighed heavily, his eyes scanning over the list of numerical values on one of the control panel screens through the dark tint of his visor. In his fatigued state, he tried to make sense of the coordinates and hyperspace algorithms that would tell him how long it would be until they reached their destination. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and various unfamiliar emotions, his body more worn and weary that it had been in quite a long time. All of his muscles began to sink themselves into the subtle crevices and imprints that formed to his body after the many years spent piloting his ship. The swirling tunnel of blue and white space became rather hypnotizing to look at. It wasn't long after Mando nestled further into the pilot's seat, did sleep conquer the bounty hunter.

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It was an obnoxious, repetitive beeping noise that caused the Mandalorian to stir. Mando rocked his head to the side, trying to come to grips with what was going on in his delirious state. The non-stop whine coming from the hyperdrive controls continued to blast through his helmet's sound sensors, informing Mando that they were minutes away from touching down on Dantooine. He disabled the Crest's hyperspace settings and slowly maneuvered the ship's controls forward to avoid them lurching to a sudden stop. The Razor Crest's cockpit view suddenly filled with the black backdrop of space. Distant stars twinkled from a far off distance, peppering his view with a brilliant, endless display of the cosmos. The main sight to behold, however, was the incoming green and blue planet painted with occasional streaks of thick white clouds floating in its atmosphere.

Mando brought his ship down further towards the planet's surface. He cruised slowly over the endless sea of vegetation and trees, taking in the sight of where they would be living for the time being. The dense forest they flew over began to transition into sparse collections of trees more widely spaced out from one another. A few bodies of water seemed to branch out over the grassland, weaving trails in and out of nearby farms. Not too far off in the distance, Mando could easily make out what appeared to be a moderately sized village. He decided the location he was currently scouting out was more than ideal to suit their needs; the forest could provide them with whatever privacy they needed, yet at the same time, civilization didn't appear to be too far away.

He landed the ship in a break in the trees. The tripod landing gear legs of the Crest flattened down the taller waves of rolling grass once the vessel had finally touched down. Mando scoured over the forest and grassland through the view from the cockpit; all seemed still with no visible threats arounds. He activated the ramp using the control pad on his vambrace, the hiss and grind of the ship's machinery stirring both Aurelia and The Child from their deep sleep. Mando climbed down to the first floor of the ship to get the rest of his crew moving for the day.

"Hey," he knocked lightly on the interior walls of the Crest. The door to the cot slid back, revealing a swollen eyed pilot and a rather cranky child. "We just landed. I'm going to look around for a minute before heading into town. There's a village nearby where we can stock up on supplies, maybe even see if they have lodging available." Aurelia averted her gaze to side of the Mandalorian's boots. Judging by how puffy her eyelids looked, Mando knew she had been crying even long after he initially heard her the night before. "I think you'll like it here. You should come and see when you get a chance."

She nodded and pulled her scarf tighter around her, still avoiding looking into Mando's visor. Her long black hair rolled down her back messily in every which way when she stood to pull The Child down from the hammock swinging overhead. "Let me dress and feed him first," she finally spoke up. Her voice was raspy and broken sounding, not the confident and lively tone Mando had grown used to hearing. He couldn't bring himself to say anything in response. The Child's incoherent babbling, probably about how hungry and tired it still was, filled the awkward silence between both adults. It was after Aurelia climbed up the ladder with the foundling clinging to her side, was Mando finally able to pry himself from where he stood to depart the Crest.

The surrounding area where the ship had landed seemed peaceful enough. A few creaking branches and rustling leaves startled Mando when he first started looking around. The on edge bounty hunter quickly learned it was nothing but some of the smaller creatures and birds that found solace around the nearby stream, and that he peaked their curiosity by invading their homeland. They scampered off once they took one look at the broad armored man, something he was rather used to. It was the reaction of the townspeople once they caught a glimpse of him, Aurelia, and The Child that truly caught him off guard.

The way these people looked on at the approaching newcomers traveling down the dirt road leading to their village was something that Mando hadn't experienced before. Typically, the strangers he encountered were the type scatter whenever he walked into a room. These civilians made eye contact, smiled, and nodded a greeting in his direction; they actually took a second to stop whatever work they were doing to do so.

"It's not very often we see a Mandalorian around these parts, and I don't recall ever meeting a Kage in person," a low but feminine voice spoke up. Mando halted in place, his body shifting to a more defensive stance when he heard he was being addressed. A tall, slender woman came into view; her arms were casually crossed in front of her chest, her tone slightly playful and the smile in her eyes matched. She extended the palm of one hand up as an offering of peace to the bounty hunter. "Most people who come here nowadays are looking for a place to get away or live out the rest of their lives serenely. I can't say you strike me as such."

"It just so happens that that's exactly what brought us here," Mando answered a little temperamentally.

The woman chuckled in amusement. "I hope you don't think of me as rude. We always welcome travelers here, so as long as they hold the peace. My name is Miria. If there is anything I can assist you in, it would be of no burden for me to do so. I know you must of traveled far to come here for relaxation, maybe even for healing. I can offer you lodging within our village, if you would like."

Mando's shifted his weight onto one foot and looked up at her curiously. "What do you charge?"

"You need not spend your credits for a roof over your head here. The only thing I ask for is for you to give back to the land and its people. If you see your neighbor working hard in the fields, render them aid. If the fish won't swim into their net, cast your own out for them. To aid one another, also brings peace to oneself."

"That's a rather odd exchange," he said bluntly.

"The people of this town are simple and hardworking. We pride ourselves in our ability to grow some of the best produce in all the galaxy. Because of this, we have bustling trade relationships throughout many sectors. Our soil is always fertile, our weather mild, and the rich foliage the Maker has blessed Dantooine with, allows the creatures we hunt to provide us with the best meats as well. This is how we make our income; not by profiting from someone wanting a roof over their head and a bed to sleep on each night."

"That's very kind of you," Aurelia answered for her partner. "It's not very common to find that level of generosity nowadays."

"It's what gives us the reputation we have," Miria smiled. "I would be correct in saying that's what made you know to come here, yes?"

"I suppose it is," Mando answered half-truthfully. "Thank you for your hospitality. We would like to take you up on your offer."

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Mando wasn't exactly sure how long the days were on Dantooine. He had lost track of time already between them landing and settling in town, which was about a 10 minute walk from the ship. All of their personal items and a few weapons had been brought along with them. The rest of their belongings, Mando had left behind on the Crest and was well protected under the ship's tight security measures. Miria had shown them around the village briefly before directing them to a small grouping of vacant cottages reserved for travelers. The guest homes were small but cozy and a little bare save for basic furniture and cookware. It was more than Mando, Aurelia, and The Child were used to having from living on the Crest. The modest living quarters they would temporarily call home for the time being seemed like a palace in comparison to how they had been living before. Mando had to admit he was a little thrilled about the idea of sleeping in a normal human sized bed rather than the small, broke down cot in the Crest or upright in the cockpit's chair. He had laid down in hopes of closing his eyes for a brief moment, his body still not back to normal after the events that transpired on Nevarro. It must of been a few hours that had passed in him doing so, for when he woke, the room was fairly dark save for a few dull rays of dying sunlight that shone through the edges of his bedroom curtains. All was silent except for the faint melodic humming that managed to slip under the door and flow through his helmet. The faint smell of seasoned bluefish grilling on a nearby stove top was enough to make the Mandalorian's empty stomach growl in protest over being withheld food for so long. He rose from the comfort of the luxurious mattress, ignoring how his still injured body begged him to sink back into the bedding for just a few more hours. He knew just because he was comfortable, didn't mean he was safe. Getting lazy and dropping his guard would only endanger those he was supposed to look after.

He couldn't deny how his throat suddenly became a little more dry and the temperature in his flight suit increased a bit more when he saw Aurelia in the kitchen with The Child. His eyes traced over her tanned bare arms, something he didn't see too often since they were constantly obscured by the jacket, gloves, and gauntlets she wore on their missions. She was still wearing her scarf, something that bothered him greatly. He already knew what she looked like under there but her unwillingness to show herself to him again confirmed her severance of trust with the hunter. Mando knew he was staring a little too long at her from afar. He stepped forward, the heaviness of his steps weighed down from his armor caused the floorboards to creaked underneath his boots, the squeak coming from the wooden panels jostling the nearby woman and child.

"Kriff, Mando," she cursed harshly under her breath. "You scared me."

Mando looked away, suddenly finding himself unable to tolerate the harsh stare she sent his way. He instead focused on the ecstatic little foundling seated besides her on the countertop. Its little arms and claws reached out happily towards its father. A few audible coos and giggles coming from the foundling thankfully began to lighten the tense mood in the small kitchenette.

"I'm sorry. I was just seeing if you needed anything. I can help, or I can take the kid."

Aurelia shook her head. "He's about to eat soon if you want to watch him then. It looks like he missed you."

Mando took a few more timid steps towards the pair. Aurelia tensed up a bit the closer he got. She shifted her weight uncomfortably from one foot to another. One hand reached out to grasp the side of the counter near the stove, the other stirring the contents in the pan a little more forcefully. She couldn't help but follow Mando's movements carefully from the corner of her eye when she noticed him affectionately rubbing his son's long pointed ears. "Sorry kid," Mando said gently. "You know I hate leaving you for too long." Though his words were seemingly focused towards The Child, Mando's eyes behind his visor were not. He watched Aurelia closely, noticing how each time his deep baritone swept past his modulator, she gripped the edge of the counter just a little bit harder. Feeling brave, he decided to push his luck. His next words weren't necessarily meant for the foundling. "You know I wouldn't leave you behind."

Aurelia shoved the spoon down on the countertop, her shoulders tense as both hands lay flat on either side of her. "Go sit with him," she commanded disdainfully. Even The Child whined apprehensively due to her sudden change in demeanor.

Mando didn't say anything but instead scooped The Child off the ledge of the counter. He sat himself down at the small dining table nearby, drumming his fingers against his lap nervously with one hand and clutching The Child closely against him with the other. His nerves were on fire when the clattering of plates and pans behind him had settled. He could feel Aurelia making her way closer to the table.

Mando flinched when she walked behind him and reached over his shoulder to set a plate down, her long hair brushing up against his shoulders in the process. His posture stiffened and the memory of setting up camp for the night in Nevarro came flooding back to his mind. Once more could he feel the way her back felt pressed up against his, her small frame protectively tucked safely behind his much broader form. He remembered digging his elbows into her sides playfully to get her to stop her quips towards Karga, the faint grin under his helmet at her commentary deterring him from his serious conversation. He felt her twitch in response to his jabs, involuntarily pushing herself into him more in the process. It drove him mad. When he dove on top of her out of protection from the incoming reptivian attack that followed shortly after, he couldn't bring himself to pull away despite her arguing. Mando knew she could take care of herself. He knew she was capable of fighting them off, but he couldn't bring himself to let go. She was completely ruining him. This woman was undermining every belief he had of not developing relationships of any kind with someone. He hadn't noticed how he was changing until she began to pull herself away. It was like he was a spice addict, thriving and living normally until he had begun to run out. The withdrawals were setting in, and he didn't quite understand what he had until it was slipping through his fingers.

Mando immediately regretted turning around and reaching out for her as she passed by. She slapped his hand away at the contact with her free hand, something she hadn't done since they were practically strangers. The slight stinging sensation on his wrist was nothing compared to the shock of how caught off guard he was.

He wanted to apologize, to ask what he could to to make it better, to get her to finally look at him again and say more than a few words that didn't all relate to how The Child was doing. He wanted to see her face once more in all its beauty, to see her real smile and not just the way the corner of her eyes would crinkle when she did under her scarf. The bounty hunter desperately wanted her companionship and her forgives, but alas, apologizing is not his strong suit, nor was showing weakness. Mandalorians weren't meant to show such feelings.

"I was just going to ask if you wanted me to feed the kid," he lied defensively.

Aurelia placed a napkin around The Child who was still held tight in Mando's arms, struggling not to pull away when she felt her bare fingertips brush up against the smooth, worn leather of his gloves. She hastily set the foundling's plate next to the Mandalorian, muttering something under her breath about her cleaning the kitchen when they were finished eating. She turned on her heel and walked towards her room, shutting the door softly behind her before sinking onto the edge of the bed. A small defeated sigh slipped past her lips and she held back the stinging sensation of developing tears that threatened to fall. Her resolve was breaking and she despised herself for letting it. She didn't want to let the Mandalorian back in, not after Nevarro. He made himself clear that he wasn't someone meant to get close to. The way that they were, nothing could ever come of it. As much as it terrified her, the thought of leaving had crossed Aurelia's mind. She knew it would devastate The Child, and she couldn't bear to break its little heart. It still needed to be cared for until it was reunited with the Jedi, and she knew Mando couldn't do it alone.

Aurelia inhaled deeply, trying hard to steady her nerves. She exhaled slowly and rolled her shoulders back in an attempt to relieve any tension she was feeling. No matter times she had to tell herself it, she would stay for the kid, and only the kid. The entire time she was saying those words in her head, her fingertips absentmindedly traced over where the bounty hunter grabbed her moments ago.

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Unable to sleep and displeased with himself for acting out without thinking, Mando took The Child for a walk around the peaceful town. It felt safe enough to do so, even in the later hours of the evening. The sun had gone down completely by this point. A thin curtain of stars draped across the sky overhead along with the bright glow of Dantooine's two moons, cast a soft illuminating glow over the village. A few people wandered the dirt pathways chatting happily amongst themselves. The strangers once again dipped their heads down in acknowledgement and smiled happily at The Child when they passed by the Mandalorian and his foundling. The sense of actually being welcome somewhere was something Mando was still far from used to. The only time he was treated such a way as an outsider was back on Sorgan.

His footsteps began to draw to a slower pace when he picked up on loud chatter and boisterous laugher further down the street. Tucked away near a few storefronts appeared to be a public fire pit and seating area accompanied by a small handful of men, a couple of half drank bottles of spotchka at their feet. Mando came to a complete stop when he noticed their slightly intoxicated state and stooped down to protectively hold the kid who stared curiously at the group.

"Hey! Mando! Come over here!" One of the men called out. Mando locked onto a tall looking man with dirty blonde hair waving him over. The hunter hesitated for a moment, not exactly sure what to do or what these people were expecting from him. Was he going to be given another job to do? Were they going to ask him a favor? Was there someone they needed tracked down and returned for paymen-

"Come have a drink, will you?"

Oh.

"I'm going to have to pass, but thank you for the offer," Mando called back.

The man chuckled to himself and tapped his head in reference to the bounty hunter's helmet. "Right, I'm sorry. But hey, come and sit anyways. We haven't had time to introduce ourselves yet."

He let out another small laugh when Mando still refused to move. "You don't go out much, do you? Well, the names Tallis Karaay. Going down the row here is Aden, Ezrith, and Keldav. We do a lot of the hunting and fishing for the rest of the townspeople, if that's something you'd wanna join us in one day. Have you hunted before?"

Mando didn't reply but a slight tilt of his helmet in an unamused fashion said all he needed to. The group cackled amongst themselves once Tallis realized the stupidity of his question.

"Right. Maybe I should've been more specific. Have you hunted animals before?"

"A few times," Mando answered dryly.

"Good!" Tallis smiled. "We could use you on our next hunt, if you were interested that is."

Mando nodded stiffly and started to turn back towards the direction of the house. "We'll see. Thank you."

"Don't mention it! We'll catch you around!"

A collection of waves from the men further caught the Mandalorian off guard. The people here seemed so welcoming and nice that it almost made him almost uncomfortable. He nodded his head in response and started walking back the direction he came. The Child peeked out from over his side and returned the wave to the others, their laugher and continuation of their conversations fading away as they left their sight.

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Day 4:

The next few mornings consisted of Aurelia waking up early to venture out to the market place to look over what new foods she could treat the kid to. She enjoyed getting there right when the vendors were finishing setting up their displays. It allowed her to get first pick of whatever goods they were selling and make conversation with people before they got too busy. She wasn't a total extrovert by any means, but living with only a babbling child and closed off Mandalorian made her desperate for socialization at times. There were some days where Mando was more talkative than most. He would engage her with a few witty, dry remarks here and there or they would bicker about something wrong with the ship or the kid, but other days, they passed each other by in silence or said just a handful of sentences to each other. Most of Mando's affections were through actions and tasks he completed for other people such as how he looked after Aurelia and The Child. She was similar in the sense that words were not her specialty. It was hard for her to open up or feel like she was saying the right things while getting out everything that she felt. Kuiil had really been the only one she would verbally tell how much he meant to her.

The marketplace was a little but busier today than previously before. There were a few vendors that Aurelia hadn't seen before, one of which was run by a miraluka woman standing by a basket of vibrantly colored berries, a crate of plump fruit, and other beautiful grown vegetables. She smiled when she felt the pilot approach her stand.

"Good morning. You're the newcomer traveling with the Mandalorian and child, are you not?"

"I am," Aurelia answered, her golden gaze scouring over the woman's pale features, short white hair, and cloth covered eyes. She couldn't help but think how they were total opposites of each other.

"Well then, welcome to Dantooine. This is such a beautiful planet, full of life and many who appreciate it. I must say, you three stand out from many visitors I've come across before."

Aurelia cautiously set down the fruit name she was holding in her hand, eyeing the woman carefully.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it in a bad way," the woman said apologetically. "You just have a different aura about you, I suppose. It's much more...intense than most."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"A good thing, I suppose. It makes you more eye catching." She giggled at her own joke. "I'm sorry, my name's Shriva."

"Tajana."

Shriva looked at her sideways and hesitated a split second, sensing the dishonesty of being given an alias. She didn't question it, however. In fact, it only further intrigued her.

Aurelia opened up the coin bag nestled on her hip. She sighed when she realized her lack of funds. The truth was, Mando hadn't paid her yet for this month. She knew money was a bit tight because of him being cut off from the Guild. The jobs he had previously taken were barely enough for them to get by on as is. He paid her well even though they both knew it was taking a decent sized chunk out of what money he brought in; it was why she had declined payment previously for the sake of the living a bit more comfortably. It's not like she bought much of anything herself anyways.

"Tell you what," Shriva said thoughtfully, "grab a few things to take with you, but later this afternoon, come to my farm on the outskirts of town. I'd be happy to show you around. I have a few jybbuk fruit trees that need tending to, nothing super laborious. You can even take some home with you once we're finished."

Aurelia beamed with excitement. She had such a newfound love for nature after living on such desolate, dry land like Tattooine for a majority of her life. To try her hand at farming, even for a little bit, made her ecstatic. It also helps that she had heard about how sweet jybbuk fruit tasted. She knew The Child had a bit of a sweet tooth and it would be a delicacy to bring back home.

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Mando shuffled about the empty guest house looking for something that he could do. He knew Aurelia had ventured off on her own again with The Child to the market. The truth is, he had begun to miss her company. Even on the days around the ship where they didn't have much to say to each other or one was sleeping and the other was keeping busy around the Crest, they still had gotten used to the idea of someone else being around. Her dodging him made him rather lonely, as pathetic as it was for him to admit it. Mando was so used to being alone until she and The Child came into his life. Having a taste of having an actual "family" again had begun to make him not want to go back to being a desolate bounty hunter. It seemed that with her pulling away and him given the task of rehoming the kid, he had no choice in the matter.

It wasn't only solitude that was driving the Mandalorian into a depressed frame of mind. He was so constantly used to being on the go, having to repair this or that or go to one planet or another. Actually settling down was always a bit of a culture shock that he never could quite get used to. Part of his mind was instinctually on guard 24-7, and the other part wasn't fully accustomed to the idea of "taking it easy". On Sorgan, he had taken out the raiders that traumatized the village he and Cara were staying in. They spent their time training the civilians how to fight and kept themselves busy modifying the town's defenses. He would spar with the veteran shock trooper off and on and would watch over both the local children and his own son as they played. This time was a bit different.

Mando and Aurelia came to Dantooine for a bit of a break and recovery of some sort. The idea sounded nice initially, but now that they were actually there, Mando didn't know what to do with himself. There was no one to train with, no one to fight off, and no one he knew to watch over. He was just another...person. Domestic life was so incredibly foreign to him. Not wanting to lounge around all day but unsure of what jobs he could do around town, he decided to step out of his comfort zone a bit further and walk around the village.

"Mando, hold up a second!" A faintly familiar voice called out to him. Not particularly in the mood for awkward small talk, the hunter sighed deeply under his breath when he realized who was trying to get his attention: it was one of the men he stumbled upon a few nights before, Tallis, right?

"Hey!" The younger man greeted excitedly. "Sorry to bother you. It's just my wife and I both wanted to ask you something."

Mando looked up at him in confusion. "Your wife?"

Tallis scratched the back of his head nervously, letting out an amused snicker. "Hey don't sound so surprised. She always does her best to make sure visitors feel welcome here. She does a lot of the maintenance on the spare houses we rent out to travelers. When Miria told her you had moved in temporarily and you and your wife had a child, she was ecstatic. See, she loves kids-"

"My wife?" Mando interrupted loudly.

Tallis began to turn a bright shade of red. He muttered a quick apology yet stumbled over his words, trying to recover himself before he angered the intimidating hunter. "Okay, now you really do sound surprised. That woman you came here with? Oh Maker, I'm sorry. We all thought...oops."

"She just works for me."

"O-oh. Gotcha. Well my wife and I, we...we can't have any of our own. Kids, that is. Any time anyone in town needs a babysitter, they always come to us first because it makes her happy to do so. If you ever need someone to watch the kid other than yourself or your...friend..." he trailed off and shrugged.

Mando shuffled his feet a bit apprehensively, not quite sure how to continue with their conversation. "I'm sorry. Thank you for the offer. That's very kind of you both."

"Don't mention it. Anyways, the guys from last night and I are heading out in a few hours to go check out some of the traps we set out for the Iriaz that wander around here. It can get a little hairy at times if some bigger creatures get drawn to them too in hopes of an easy meal so we could use an extra set of eyes out there."

Mando looked at Tallis questionably. It wasn't exactly the type of hunting he was used to, but at least this way he would be able to keep himself busy. "I suppose I could for a while."

"Okay! Hey, anything we catch, we'll be sure to give you some as a thanks!"

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Day 10:

He figured he would humor the younger villager and go just this once to join him and his friends on their hunting trips. For the next several days, Mando had been spending almost every evening out checking the traps Tallis and the others had set up. They usually finish their inspections with a bottle of spotchka shared around a fire, something Mando still hadn't participated in yet. Though he was getting more comfortable around the others here, Mando was still naturally standoffish. Thankfully, the others didn't take it to heart. They knew not to push him and that he came from a different background other than their own. It was refreshing to see strangers not hounding the Mandalorian for a glimpse as to what he looked like under his helmet or him being pestered as to why he couldn't take it off. Tallis was respectful and someone Mando had deemed safe to call a friend. His wife, Anaeli, had gone so far as to gain the Mandalorian's trust as well. She tended to their own small patch of land that they had along the river and snuck freshly grown berries to The Child on the days her husband and Mando were busy inspecting their irrigation system. Her willingness to watch after other children in the town made it easy for The Child to bond with others and make friends. Though he know he should've been happy for his son, all it did was create more and more guilt for the Mandalorian. He knew he was once again setting the kid and himself up for a normal life only for them to have to leave it eventually. There was no such thing as stability in their lives, nor did it seem like there would ever be.

Aurelia herself had begun to socialize more around town. She was met with many delighted smiles and thoughtful conversations by various shopkeepers during her morning visits to the bazaar. The miraluka woman she had been working alongside with the past few days had begun to tear down her closed off exterior. Normally, Mando would've been grateful that his crew member had slowly begun to return to her normal self. He would walk into their shared living space each night to find her humming a small tune to The Child. Her demeanor seemed warmer and more inviting all around. She seemed so much happier being here, something that Mando found bittersweet. He wasn't the cause of her happiness. In fact, he saw himself as the thing that had taken it away in the first place.

He had been feeling a bit better since arriving on Dantooine. His wounds were healed, he was well rested each day, and most importantly, The Child seemed delighted to be living here. It was like Sorgan all over again, but this time neither were wanted and had a bounty attached to their names. Still, Mando was constantly reminded that they couldn't stay forever. They had an obligation to the kid that needed to be fulfilled. It wouldn't be much longer until they were on their way again, picking up bounties to cover their living expenses and searching for these Jedi the Armorer spoke of.

Speaking of the Armorer, now that Mando had fully recuperated, he took it upon himself to practice with the Phoenix. He woke early just in time for Aurelia to get back from browsing around the different shops and come home with new treats for The Child. Mando collected the still sleeping infant from its crib and stepped outside to meet her at their front door.

"Good morning," he greeted nervously. It was the first time he initiated a conversation with her since they arrived on Dantooine.

She eyed him rather cautiously, her fingers nervously picking at the burlap sack of produce she carried in her arms. "Morning."

"I'm...sorry to ask this. I know you've been watching him a lot but he enjoys going to the farm with you..."

"It's just because he gets to snack the whole time," she added half-heartedly. Her heart fluttered when she picked up on the light chuckle that passed through the hunter's modulator.

"Maybe. But do you mind watching him for a second? I need to go back to the ship for a bit. There's some stuff I need to work on."

"Isn't that my job?" Aurelia asked curiously.

"Not like that. The Rising Phoenix the Armorer gave me back on Nevarro...I haven't trained with it yet. I figured I should now that I've recovered."

"Oh," she said quietly. Mando winced when he saw whatever tiny bit of compassion she had when she was talking to him, disappear at the recollection of him nearly dying in her arms. "Yeah, that's fine Mando. Let me take him. We'll be near the river. I have laundry to catch up on while he's sleeping."

She quickly took The Child from his arms and pushed past him to grab the pram and dirty clothes from the inside of their cottage. Mando watched her for a moment until she disappeared from out of his view, then he ventured back towards the direction of the Crest to retrieve his newest beskar addition. Strapping on the rather heavyweight jetpack, he stepped back down the ramp and initiated the ship's security protocols once more.

Firing up the Phoenix, Mando slowly brought himself up to hover just over the top of the Crest, then over the tops of the nearby trees. Before, he piloted the jetpack out of pure adrenaline and lack of another option to take down Moff Gideon. Not feeling the pressure of having to use it caused his nerves to kick in. The last time he really practiced with one of these was decades ago.

He began to steady himself and ascended further above the forest. Going a bit higher up, he could make out the tops of some of the buildings in town along with a few farms surrounding it. He kept going higher into the atmosphere, looking for the stream where Aurelia and The Child would be.

Mando pushed himself forward, the sudden thrust of the engines making his heart lurch forward from excitement and a rush of adrenaline. Watching the other Mandalorian's use their own jetpacks back home always made him a little jealous. When they swooped in to provide him in aide from the other members of the Guild after he rescued The Child, he desperately wanted one of his own. His heart swelled with pride when the Armorer finally bestowed such a gift upon him. Now he was finally able to use it as he pleased.

Mando steadied himself and kept pushing forward, weaving in and out of the low level clouds and soaring past some of the balloon shaped Fabool that lazily fluttered about. His recollection of brief training with the Phoenix as a child had started to come back to him. Maneuvering the jetpack was almost pure muscle memory. His confidence in being able to control the device had gone up, but as he approached the Kage and The Child down below who watched on at the incoming bounty hunter, he remembered accomplishing a graceful landing was something he needed to work on.

He decelerated too quickly the engine cutting out almost completely behind him. When he tried to compensate for his mistake, the engine fired up too much, sending him forward towards the edge of the water. Mando put his feet down on the ground to try to drag himself to a stop but only succeeded in uprooting a trail of grass in his wake. He cut the engine completely as he met the edge of the river, opting to make a hard landing in the water rather than on land. The loud splash when he made contact with the crystal clear pool masked the loud amused cackling of The Child. Aurelia couldn't help but giggle to herself at the Mandalorian's ungraceful entry, but her entertainment quickly turned to worry when she remembered just how heavy all his attire would be soaking wet. Mando landed in deep portion of the riverbed, something Aurelia couldn't stand in without being submerged completely. When he was slow to breach the surface of the water, she ran to where he appeared to be. A few ripples in the water made it apparent he was trying to gather his footing and push himself upwards. Aurelia took a deep breath and dove down below. She hooked her arms underneath his armpits and used what strength she had to pull him up. Mando used her to steady himself and widen his stance to regain his balance. He pushed both of them to the surface and grasped the ledge to pull them both up to land. Water poured out from underneath his helmet and trickled down his armor, adding to its blinding shine under the sun. His cape and flight suit clung to his broad form, the weight of the water it absorbed threatening to bring him back down into the river as he pushed himself up onto the grass. Aurelia's scarf clung tightly around her nose and mouth, not allowing her to breathe and creating a suffocating hold around her. She unwound the confining fabric from her face, dropping it to the side with a wet plop. Her chest heaved from the debilitating effort it took to try to hoist up the much larger and heavier man. Her arms felt limp and shaky but she still managed to bring one hand up to lay upon one of Mando's pauldrons.

"Are..you...ok..ay?" She managed to gasp.

Mando nodded feverishly at her side, too busy taking in much needed breaths of fresh air. His head turned to look her over to make sure she was okay herself. The air was all but sucked from his lungs yet again when he caught sight of her in her uncovered state. Her scars were more noticeable in the natural lighting, but it still didn't take away from her beauty. He hadn't seen such emotions in her eyes when she looked his way in quite a while. There was a blend of amusement but also concern swimming in her bright honey gold stare. If their circumstance was any different, Mando was sure she would be cracking jokes about how much of a fool he was in between bursts of her sweet sounding laughter. Even though he had wished that was what was really happening, his heart still bounded in his chest at the way she seemed worried about him.

His eyes traced over her as long as they could, trying take in and memorize how she looked before she undoubtedly hid herself from him once more. He felt the heat rise into his cheeks when he saw how her tank top clung to her small form, and how the droplets of water that trailed from her hair also traveled down her cheeks, neck, and in between the curve of her breasts. He swallowed hard and reluctantly tore his eyes from her, cursing the Maker for tempting him with such woman he could never have.

"Yeah. Looks like I still have some practice to do before I take the kid up, huh?"

Right on cue, The Child waddled up eagerly to its father. It whimpered softly and threw itself onto Mando's lap, happy to see that the hunter was fine after a rather rough landing.

Mando's heart faltered when he heard a faint laugh besides him. He looked once more at his pilot, one gloved hand holding The Child close to him, the other fidgeting nervously as he contemplated reaching out to trace his fingertips over the deep, dark lines scattered across her features. His hand rose slowly, an action that didn't go unnoticed by Aurelia. She scooped her scarf off the ground and shot up to her feet before Mando could go any further.

"I'm going to finish up here, then I'll be going to farm," she said wringing out the scarf and looping it back over herself. "I told Shriva I would help her today. I'll take the kid with me. Like you said, he likes it over there."

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Once they changed and dried off, the pair went their separate ways for the rest of the day. Mando offered to help take over the laundry so Aurelia could go to see, but she declined. He knew it was a mixture of her stubbornness and also her love for being near the river that would make her turn down his offer. He himself settled for taking a much needed walk after his barrage of intrusive thoughts. All he wanted to do was clear his head and find something to distract himself with. It didn't take long before he got his wish.

"Mando! You have a second?" Tallis waved to the bounty hunter, his eyes crinkling in the corners out of joy in seeing the beskar covered man. Tallis's warm, outgoing personality had taken Mando quite a few days to get used to. He was extremely friendly but sometimes a little loud, the total opposite of Mando himself. Meeting someone with such a pure heart and good intentions was a rare find these days. It almost seemed fake, but Mando quickly learned that no, that was just how he was.

"Was that you flying around earlier? It looked awesome! You guys have the coolest gear!" The other hunter excitedly babbled on, not even bothering to stop to catch his breath. His face began to flush a bit underneath his subtle stubble when he felt Mando's exasperated gaze from the crack of his visor. "Oh, sorry, I'm sure you're busy. If you have a second, I just need help checking something on one of my fishing nets. I think there's a giant tear in it that needs reworking. You think you could help me?"

Mando nodded and followed the other man a few feet to where where a small dock was. Tallis grabbed one end of obscenely large net and directed Mando to grab the other side. They both hoisted it onto dock and sprawled it out onto the ground, carefully taking note of any evidently large enough holes that fish would easily be able to escape through.

"Have you fished before?" The blonde man asked, retying some of the smaller tears that had formed over the net's constant use.

Mando shook his head, his gloved fingertips brushing over a few frayed edges of netting. "No, not often."

"That'll probably change around here. There's lots of good stuff to be caught in these waters, even more in that big lake we typically hunt by. It's about a mile and a half aways. We're thinking about going out there this evening if you wanna come with. We could use your expertise. Show us what being a Mandalorian is all about." In the midst of their conversation, Mando's eyes began to venture off to the side. He caught sight of The Child had taken kindly to the delectable treats and stood besides her looking up and pointing excitedly towards the fruit. Mando smiled at the sight of the curious little foundling, happy it was living life just as a child should. His gaze continued on to follow who his foundling was trying to get the attention of; he noticed Aurelia crouched down in the fields of a nearby farm, busy inspecting some of the bushes that were producing the richly colored berries she had brought home a few mornings ago.

"She's pretty," Tallis grinned once he saw he had lost Mando's focus. "Well, at least what people get to see of her, that is."

Mando's head jerked back towards the fisherman. Tallis smiled and let out a nervous laugh, his green eyes looking up at Mando apologetically. "Sorry, hope I didn't offend. But from the looks of things, you're not the only one who has your eyes on her around here."

Mando had an idea who he was referring to. He was happy that Aurelia had someone she was spending time with. He had seen her wandering around town with Shriva quite often. He was hoping it was just a friendship developing between them, but Tallis' words made him feel suddenly uneasy. It was difficult enough trying to win back Aurelia's affections. He didn't want to have to fight someone else for them. "Is that a miraluka joke?" He said unamused.

Tallis burst out laughing, his long sandy blonde hair tipping back and brushing against the tops of his shoulders. "I assure you it wasn't an intentional one. But still, you didn't argue against me. What's stopping you from making your move?"

The bounty hunter tensed up and let the net fumble out from between the tips of his fingers. "There's no move to be made. I hired her to help for the kid and my ship and that's it."

For the first time ever, he saw a slight look of annoyance on the fisherman's face. "How long have you been telling yourself that because something else seems to be going on underneath that dense helmet of yours."

"You wouldn't be the first person for me to tell that you're wrong."

Tallis's expression relaxed and was replaced with a snarky grin. "Well Mando, if a lot of people are telling you otherwise, maybe you're the one that's wrong, you just refuse to see it. Now come over here, I'll show you how to tie up some of these holes."

___________________________________________

Stooping down at the edge of the river that ran alongside her patch of tilled soil and thriving vegetation, Shriva scooped a handful of water to cool herself down with. The weather was perfect today; not too hot, not too cold. Working in the sun the past hour with no cloud coverage would be enough to make anyone a little weary. She sighed heavily, but not due to her fatigue. Her mind was swimming with a few questions she had yet to ask her new friend. "So if you don't mind me asking, what brings you to Dantooine? And don't say relaxation."

"What do you mean?" Aurelia asked, inspecting a few berries before placing some in a basket and a handful to The Child.

"Well, there's a reason why you and the Mandalorian sought out a planet such as this."

"It's just something he chose," the pilot shrugged. "We finished a mission up back on Nevarro. It...didn't go as smoothly as we would've liked. We knew it was going to be a risky one going in but we didn't imagine it would've been like this."

Shriva picked at a few blades of glass solemnly. "I'm sorry for your loss."

After a brief moment of silence, the miraluka brought herself back to her feet. "I can feel it, the Force in you. I mean, it's in all living things. It's what binds the universe together. Some of us are just more adapted to feeling it and using it. As a matter of fact, I can feel it strongly in that child of yours."

Aurelia's posture straightened and she habitually reached for the infant child who was lost in its own little world, busy trying to pluck more tasty snack off the bushes for itself. "Please know I mean no harm," Shriva continued in a little softer tone. "My kind is very Force sensitive. What we lack in eyesight, we excel in sensory perception. I can see everything around me, though not visually. I can see you, your child, the path of the winding river, and the fruits blossoming ready to be picked." She stopped and smiled to herself. "I can even see the Mandalorian way over there, watching us every now and then."

A sudden, abrupt heat traveled up Aurelia's neck and settled in her cheeks, causing the miraluka to giggle uncontrollably. "He's rather protective, is he not?" She asked once she gained her composure.

When Aurelia spoke, her voice sounded much more tender than she would have liked. "I suppose he is, especially with his son."

Shriva smiled to herself once more. "I have to confess to you it isn't his son he keeps stealing glances at."

Aurelia turned to look at Mando who hastily redirected his attention back to Tallis and repairing their fishing net.

"Such an odd pair you are. It doesn't take a force sensitive being to feel the disharmony between you two."

"You don't know what happened," Aurelia said bitterly.

The Force sensitive farmer's head cocked to the side curiously. "Do you trust me enough to enlighten me? You don't seem to be the type that would bare their soul to another easily. That's why you hide yourself isn't it?"

A few freshly picked berries intended to be given to The Child were suddenly crushed between the raven haired woman's fingers out of shock. Shriva grinned knowingly. "Yes, I noticed. I see many things that many people think I would miss."

Aurelia swallowed hard. "Are you a Jedi?" She asked over the grunts of hungry frustration coming from the foundling.

"That's far above my pay grade!" Shriva bemused. "But thank you for the compliment. No, I'm not. I might be in tune with the Force, but I'm no Jedi. I had a few friends who were. The Empire wiped a majority of them out years ago, my friends included."

"I'm sorry," Aurelia mourned quietly. The memory of her father, Kuiil, and the IG unit swept her mind. Too many people close to her were lost at the hands of the Empire. She knew she wasn't the only one affected and that only made it worse. The Empire took so much from people for what they thought was the "greater good".

"It's painful to think about some days, but I know I'm not alone. As I said before, all things in this galaxy are connected to one another. Though my loved ones are gone, they're still a part of me. Living here has helped me realize that. Dantooine can offer great solace to those who need it."

Shriva placed a gentle hand on Aurelia's head, eliciting a slight recoil from the Kage woman. Shriva frowned at the level of defensiveness from her friend. "You've suffered much loss, I can tell. As has the Mandalorian. I may not know what happened between you and you may not tell me, but I can't deny the feeling that you two still want to reach out to one another though you're both not letting yourselves do such a thing. You both have been alone in this world a majority of your lives. It's why your guard is constantly up. You hate attachments because you dread the eventual loss that follows them. By holding yourself back, you're missing out on so much and filling yourself with more pain and torment. I would much rather live a life of happiness with others and mourn their absence when the time comes for us to part ways, than live a life of constant sadness by yourself. That's just my opinion on the matter. You are your own person, Tajana, and you know yourself best."

A rush of guilt bombarded the pilot. She always was so on guard. She was used to hiding her real name from the public, but now there wasn't much a real point in doing so with Darro gone. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to open up, even just a little bit.

"Please, call me Aurelia."

___________________________________________

Day 18:

Following a successful hunt by the lake one day prior, Mando and Tallis returned to the latter's property to clean and inspect their firearms. Anaeli watched over The Child carefully from close by as it took small steps in and out from between the flowers in her garden. A few dragonflies and other tiny winged insects bounced from one colorful plant to another, causing the infant to chase after them excitedly. The kid gave up after a few good runs around Tallis and Anaeli's home, its little feet giving out from beneath him in a tiresome thump. With the late evening fast approaching, Aurelia made her way to pick up The Child and take him back home with her for the rest of the night. Anaeli picked up the worn out little one and gave it a small kiss on the forehead, earning a bright smile from all those watching. Aurelia said her thank you and goodbyes before turning to head back to her own living quarters. Noticing how Mando paused his assembling of his pulse rifle to watch them leave, Tallis threw down his cleaning rag in an exasperated manner, the heel of his boot nearly knocking over the chair his foot was resting lazily on. "Okay, I have to say something because I know you look like a pathetic porg underneath there every time you look her way."

"What are you trying to say?" Mando asked harshly, his brows furrowing heavily beneath his helmet.

"Stars give me strength...I mean did you two have a falling out or something?"

Tallis grimaced at Mando's silent response. "I suppose it's not my business to ask what happened, is it?"

The bounty hunter slowly picked up his firearm, polishing a spot that Tallis new the man had just cleaned to perfection a few minutes ago. He was nervous and got a bit fidgety when he felt uncomfortable. It's not that he was necessarily awkward with Tallis's questions, rather he didn't like revisiting the memories of what they were trying to get at.

"I...left her behind on our last mission together," Mando spoke up. "We also lost a few members of our crew, one of which she was very close with."

Tallis immediately felt guilty for bringing up what was surely a painful topic of conversation. "That's a bit heavier of an answer than I was expecting."

He knew such a thing wasn't easy to be brought up by any normal person, let alone Mando. He hadn't known him an extremely long period of time, but the two men knew they could count on one another. Tallis knew right off the bat Mando was an odd fellow. He was aware of the dangers of the world and how horrible people could be. Distrust was well known to the Mandalorian, but he was still pure-hearted enough to try to let some people in. Granted, they had to prove themselves first, but once they did, his more human-like side shone through, as did his emotions. Tallis was aware that Mando opening up to him, even if his answers were a little on the short side, was a pretty big deal. He decided to try to test his theory.

"You two don't trust outsiders very easily, do you?"

"Not exactly," Mando replied.

Tallis snorted darkly to himself. "Can't say I blame you in your field of work. I'm sure you've seen a lot, been through a lot too. From how she carries herself, I'm guessing the same thing. Maybe that's both of your problems: neither of you are letting each other in. Sounds like she might've been starting to and you dropped the ball when you left her behind. Are you making an effort to fix it?"

"Meaning?"

"I don't know...apologizing, sucking up to her, giving her something? Anything at all?"

Tallis slapped the side of his head when Mando shook his head no. For being the one of the greatest bounty hunters in the galaxy, his friend really could be dense at times. "Oh Maker maybe she is better off with Shriva. There's your problem, Mando! You're not putting in any work to make things better."

"We haven't spoken much since everything happened," Mando argued.

Tallis groaned and picked up the cleaning cloth he was using on his rifle. He furiously scrubbed away at his firearm in an attempt to distract himself from physically trying to shake some sense into the Mandalorian. He should've known Mando wasn't the apologetic or romantic type. "She's the one who got hurt. It's her decision to make if she wants to move forward or not. Trust is a two way street. I'm sure you're well aware of that. You gotta give her something to work with, maybe then she'll come around."

But Mando wasn't sure when she would "come around". The truth of the matter is, she had begun to slowly go back to the old Aurelia he was used to seeing each day. The strangest thing had seemed to be helping too; it all started when, earlier in the week, she brought home a small potted Blumfruit plant courtesy of Shriva.

"It won't get very big unless you plant it somewhere where it can really branch out, but hopefully it'll bless you with some fruit in the future," Shriva told Aurelia, passing her a small ceramic pot. Aurelia took it in both hands and inspected the little tuffs of green leaves poking out of the dark, rich soil.

"Thank you, but I can't accept this. You've done so much for me and The Child already. This is a beautiful gift, but it's one I'm not qualified to care for," the Kage woman said sadly. She extended her hands holding the pot back out to Shriva, who pushed the plant back towards its new caretaker.

"What makes you think that you can't care for such a thing? Do you not have the time? Do you not want to put in the effort?"

Aurelia flinched at her harsh words. "It's not that. I just...don't think I'll do a good job of caring for it. It deserves someone better, someone who will be there for it."

"How many times have you used that excuse?" The miraluka huffed.

"We aren't talking about the plant anymore, are we?" Aurelia said quietly. Her fingers tightened their grip around the edges of the pot and she suddenly felt small at the intense focus directed on her.

"You think you're not good enough. You think lowly of yourself when you have no reason to. I see you for who you are, and it's a shame that it's all hidden under that scarf of yours. Take a risk by taking on the responsibility of caring for something. You do for The Child, why not for a plant? Why not for anyone else? The effort you put into nurturing something, looking after it, loving it...you will be rewarded with the most plentiful fruits life has to offer."

Yes, she had begun to go back to her old self. Mando was both relieved and a tad bit grief stricken. The fact that she was still indifferent to him but normal in every other aspect, bothered him in a way he resented himself for.

___________________________________________

Day 20:

The sun on Dantooine appeared to be getting ready to set. Ever since the his hard landing in the river, Mando made learning to control the Phoenix one of his main priorities. He practiced around sundown each night, flying high above all the dense forests surrounding the village and scouting out the vast grasslands in other territories. He had even seen several mountain ranges from afar. Overall, they picked a beautiful planet to settle down on for the time being. They knew they wouldn't be able to live off the generosity of the townspeople for much longer. Both Mando's and Aurelia's pockets were pretty empty. He felt guilty for not keeping up with her payments as he originally promised, even though part of him knew she didn't care enough to vocalize her concerns. Being back in the Guild meant more money would be coming in, but it also meant that they would have to pack up and head out soon. He hadn't forgotten about the task of taking The Child back to the Jedi. Not only that, but Mando wanted to find out what happened to the rest of his covert following the rise of Troopers that took over Nevarro. He wasn't sure where to start looking to begin either task, but he knew they couldn't stay stagnant for much longer.

As much as it pained him to consider the idea, he had been thinking about speaking with Aurelia on her status of continuing her employment with him. He had seen the way she changed since they arrived here. The townspeople gave her what he never could; happiness and a normal life. Even when she lived on Tattooine, she never truly settled down. She lived on edge, worried but also ready if one day Darro would come back into her life. Now that he was permanently out of the picture, she could live carefree the way she deserved. Mando knew these people would accept her for whoever he was. He had, but she couldn't allow herself to let her guard down around him. He blew his chance. At least with these people, she would have a fresh start.

Knowing very well that this might be the last ride he took in the skies of Dantooine, Mando decided to take The Child along. Aurelia was off with Shriva and would be returning soon. He settled on the idea of helping her prepare dinner when they both returned. Afterwards, he would sit her down for a long conversation. It was definitely one he wasn't looking forward to. Mando was used to confrontation when it came to engaging in physical altercations or interrogating someone for information about a bounty. Friendships and compassion was so uncomfortably foreign to him. He was so used to up and leaving people behind. It's what he did on Sorgan, yet he couldn't bring himself to do it this time.

He made sure this ride was longer than the rest. The Child's loud giggles and excited shrieks over being flown in and out of the clouds, helped ease some of Mando's growing anxieties over confronting Aurelia later in the night. The sun's orange and yellow rays bounced radiantly off the hunter's beskar armor, giving him the appearance of a bright comet shooting past to anyone that watched on down below. The vibrant golden hues mixed in with the pink and purple skyline made Mando's heart heavier, serving as a reminder of the woman he was thinking about leaving behind yet again. As the sun began to set more and the bright sunset became a bit more diluted by the impending night sky taking over, Mando lowered himself down the the edge of a nearby stream not far from the rest of the town. They kept walking forward, The Child still cooing excitedly to itself from the adrenaline of the flight not quite yet having settled down.

"You like flying around, don't you kid?" He nudged the happy infant in his arms. The high pitched coo and toothy grin that followed served as plenty of confirmation for the Mandalorian.

"Yeah? Well maybe we can go up one last time. You'd like that a lot, wouldn't yo-"

Mando's slow walk back to the town came to a complete stop. The Child's bottom lip sucked into a deep frown, its ears picking straight up at the sound of blaster fire close by. Several bright red streaks of light coming from the nearby farmlands and in between the homes situated on the outside of the village, immediately sent the Mandalorian into fight or flight mode. He fired up the jetpack and protectively shielded The Child from any incoming fire. A sudden unbearably hot, sticky sensation erupted in between the vulnerable gaps of his armor. The pain quickly became close to unbearable, causing Mando to drop back down on the grass right outside of the town. He landed rather hard on his feet, the blistering agony in his side not allowing him to think or see straight. He suddenly felt feverishly warm, his breathing fast and shallow, his rapidly beating heart almost palpable though his chest plate. Mando glanced down and ripped the source of his discomfort from his side: a single arrow doused in a thick, black substance.

"Kinrath poison," an approaching female voice echoed in Mando's buzzing ears. "I suggest you stay still, Mandalorian." She crouched besides his writhing form, smirking down at him when a few pained groans passed through his modulator. "The more you move, the faster it'll kill you."

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Tags: @geannad

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