Can you please do boyfriend HCs for the jjk men that you write for? Thank you!
⌗︙・boyfriend hcs !! ⸜⸜・ ft. gojo, geto, and nanami
a/n: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS THANK YOU SO MUCH NONNIE. you all will witness my mental illness today !!!!!!!!!!
content: pure fluff. just me brainrotting, slightly modern au ?, nudity mentions in gojo's (shocker), gn!reader (there’s use of princess in satoru’s), pet names, just cuteness all around with a small sex joke here and there !!! nanami’s is VERY self-indulgent, sorry </3
⌗︙・SATORU GOJO ⸜⸜・
satoru didnt even ask you to be his boyfriend, honestly. the two of you just started holding hands, calling e/o cute names, hanging out at some point.
when suguru asked him about your guys' relationship status gojo's first thought was "well, we've been going out on lots of dates, so i guess i'm their boyfriend!"
he constantly texts you asking "how was class? did you get home safe? today's mission was tough, get some rest. i love you." even if he's right next to you he'll still message you and talk to you.
he's a tease. everyone knows this. sometimes he'll bring up how the first time you went over to his house, you walked in on his naked and just stared at him for a few seconds.
"hey do you want chinese or mexican fo-" your eyes widen at the sight of satoru's bare chest. he turns around at the sound of your voice and his eyes slightly widen. suddenly the white towel wrapped around his hips falls to the ground. your eyes bulge out of your head, staring at the name in front of you.
"you like the view?" he winked putting his hand on his hip as his towel was laying by his ankles. his voice brought you out of your trance.
"OH MY GOD, IM SO SORRY!" you quickly turned on your heal and slammed his door shut. he could hear your groaning in embarrassment from outside the door. satoru doesn't really mind honestly, he thinks it's funny, but he'll never stop teasing you about it.
he really really really likes you. he's the type of guy who will always bring you up in a conversation. geto and shoko are annoyed by it, but they're both glad he's found someone who makes him this happy.
common pet names with him are: princess, doll, baby, honey, and sugar bear (he says this to piss you off)
his favorite thing to do is just be in your presence. he likes to watch you study, cook, draw, talk with others, everything. anything he can do with you or see you do is his favorite activity.
he likes showing off his strength, so sometimes he'll pick you up and just hold you.
you were cutting the veggies for tonight's stir fry as you heard the front door open. "satoru? baby, is that you?" you turn your head around and are welcomed by his pretty face.
"hi princess. how was your day?" he drops his stuff off by the door, shedding his coat and strides over to you. because of his height, he only takes a few steps before getting to you. you set the knife down on the board.
"it was okay, pretty boring. nanami dropped by to give you your- woah!" his arms wrap around you waist and he picks you up. instinctively, you wrap your legs around his waist, and hold onto his shoulders.
"what's all this for?" you ask, nuzzling into his neck.
"mm nothing, just missed you, pretty thing,"
⌗︙・SUGURU GETO ⸜⸜・
im sorry he's such a loser. i think geto's more of a loser bf, than gojo honestly.
he's a big softie when it comes to you.
he's the type to ask "would you love me if i was a worm?"
you guys were close friends for the longest time. he would see you and shoko together talking, and satoru would casually walk up to you and say hello, with geto following in suit.
he's quite the eye candy and had lots of girls after him for a while, but he's only had eyes for you.
with encouragement (blackmail) from satoru, geto was forced to use a pickup line on you. he stole gojo's apple and walked over to you in the cafeteria line.
you see geto walking up towards you, so you raise your hand up to wave at him. a soft smile appears on your face and geto's heart melts. he's down bad for you. he feels his heart racing and his palms grow sweaty. before you can say hello, geto places the apple in your palm and says with a small voice,
"you're the apple of my eye," and he runs off. shoko and satoru are laughing hysterically as they watch their friend dash off, his cheeks and ears stained pink.
you're left standing there in confusion.
i think the way yall start dating is one day is pouring after school. kids are running onto the buses, jumping in their parents' cars, opening umbrellas, but you realize you dont have an umbrella.
"shit," you mutter. you scrounge through your bag, hoping, praying that an umbrella will spawn in your bag, but alas, the world does not work like that.
"everything okay?" geto asked, peaking over your shoulder. you turn around to see him holding an umbrella in his hands. the two of you are next door neighbors, it wouldn't hurt to ask, right?
"no, i didn't bring an umbrella. can we walk home together?" you ask him sweetly. he can't refuse you and your pretty eyes. geto thinks he's never seen someone so cute. he gives you a smile, one only reserved for you, and holds his arm out. you wrap your arms and his and smile brightly,
"thank you so much! i love you!" he giggle, pushing yourself against his bigger build. geto looks down at you and chuckles.
"i love you too," he leans down and places a kiss on your forehead. "so much," he mutters. he opens his umbrella and starts walking. your heart is racing. did he just kiss you...and say he loves you?! he looks back behind him, giving you a soft smile. you look into his eyes and you felt like your heart was glowing. suguru geto is the owner of your heart, he you are the owner to his.
hes a movie connoisseur and a home body, so lots of your dates include watching flims, tv shows, plays, etc
a little personal headcanon of mine, but i think suguru loves flowers. he absolutely adores them, so please give him flowers, or put them in his hair. he’ll give you the cutest smile ever.
common pet names with him would be: my love, star, darling, and baby
i also hc that hes a great cook ??? he’ll cook you anything. he’s not the best baker though, but he tries! and that’s all that matters
at the end of the day, suguru loves you more than anyone and he would go to hell and back if that meant he could see you smile.
⌗︙・KENTO NANAMI ⸜⸜・
oh nanami...sweet sweet nanami
he’s the sweetest boyfriend ever. constantly has his arm around you, compliments you, drives you to work, packs your lunch, you name it, he does it
he’s the kindest man out there and he does anything you ask of him. all he wants in return is your love and loyalty.
he gives you the ultimate princess treatment. you want lemon in your water, you got it. you don’t wanna drive to the store? he can do it. you don’t wanna push the cart? nanami will push it. you’re too lazy to do you assignments? nanami will help, but he’ll explain it to you as well.
he’s so whipped for you too like. one time satoru caught him smiling at his phone and he was shocked.
“nanami!!! how are yo-” satoru abruptly stops in his tracks. he sees the soft smile painted on nanami’s face. he’s never seen this expression on nanami’s face before. sure nanami’s smiled in front of satoru before, but never like this. satoru feels his heart warm. he’s glad nanami has someone who makes him happy. will he use this to his advantage though? yes. oh yes he will.
“nanami!” satoru exclaims and wraps his arms around the blonde. he leans forward slightly, making eye contact with nanami. “sooo...who’s the lucky one?” satoru wiggles his eyebrows, smiling at nanami. nanami scoffs and tucks his phone back into his pocket.
“my partner...” nanami mutters. satoru’s eyes widen. he didn’t expect nanami to actually answer him. satoru’s smile grows even ore warmer. the fact nanami is outwardly expressing his love for you, even going as far to allow satoru to know, you must be really important to him.
“well im sure whoever it is, they’re lucky,” satoru pats nanami’s back and keeps walking. what he doesn’t hear tho is nanami saying,
“no it’s me, im the lucky one.” with his hand toying with the keychain in his pocket. it’s a tag with your name and anniversary date on it. nanami’s kept it on him since college and he intends to never take it off.
he does tremendous research on any interest you have so he can understand what you’re talking about. you’re one of the people he wants to engage in conversation with, so he’ll do anything to make sure you always feel heard.
he’s a gossip bf. he’ll always want to know the drama going on in your life and if he overhears any too, you’ll be the first to know, no doubt.
when he comes home after missions, he takes off his tie, jacket and harness and just lays on your thighs. sometimes he’ll ask if you can massage his shoulders or legs.
much like geto, nanami is a great cook. he’s well versed in breakfast as that’s usually the only meal he makes himself. often times he’s too tired to eat dinner, or he’s grabbed some takeaway. however, the moment you entered his life, he’s learning every cultural dish of yours, your favorite sweets, snacks, drinks, etc.
i think he’s a sucker for sweets, so he’s better at baking than cooking, but he’s still a star chef.
common pet names with him would be: love, honey, sweetheart, my [name], pretty
dates with nanami also tend to be pretty domestic. grocery and home decor seem to be your guys’ favorites.
“nanami, do we have any more detergent at home?” you ask him, browsing through all the different kinds of soaps.
“i think so, but we should stock up.” he replies, grabbing the bulky white bottle. you stop him abruptly by grabbing his wrist. his eyes dart from the bottle to your face, trying to see if anything is wrong. when he cannot figure it out, he raises his eyebrow.
“i don’t like that one. i want the pink one,” you point to the bright pink bottle behind you. nanami sighs, smiling internally and places the white bottle back. you hand him the pink detergent, smiling.
“oh yeah, can we get more snacks? i want more chips!”
“we have six bags at home.”
“so? i want more. ill kiss you if you buy me it.” you wink at him as a pink hues seem to conquer his cheeks. he clears his throat,
“fine. but only two more.”
“that’s two kisses for you then,” you cup his cheek in your hand, kissing him once on the nose, then peck him on the lips. nanami’s left awkwardly looking at the laundry supplies as you skip over to the food ailes looking for more chips to bring home.
nanami believes that nothing could even be considered okay without you. his whole life took a turn when he met you. he started to take care of himself more, he cared about coming home at reasonable times, he had a reason now. and that reason was you.
no matter what happens in the future to the both of you, nanami knows for sure, he’ll never regret you being his first love.
can you tell who’s my favorite jjk man..............?
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twin suns ; striding behind you
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part four of the Twin Suns series ; prologue ; part i ; part ii ; part iii
pairing: au (canon-divergent), western-inspired Din Djarin x fem!bounty!reader (afab, w use of woman, girl, etc)
rating: eventually explicit. slow slow burn. (18+. mdni.)
warnings: canon-typical violence, allusions to past abuse, fear, descriptions of reader's injuries (there are a lot of them), dehydration and hunger (mention of eating), temporary blindness still, mean!Mando but also soft!Mando???, insecure reader (scars, etc), allusions to past assault and past SA(nondescript), brief mentions of trauma, slightly possessive themes, partial nudity, hints of a size kink. reader hates men <3.
synopsis: “'aren't you used to danger, bounty hunter?' you spit, indignance sprouting from the rotting seed of your fear. his back is turned, but you still hear him. 'not the kind of danger that you are.'"
word count: 6.7k!
notes: im back from the graveyard to post this next part! my Din brainrot is returning and ive been finding time between my two jobs to write more :) pls lmk if you like this installation! yay things are kind of picking up now wahoo
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every step forward draws a heated exhale from your marred lips.
the harsh desert winds carry whispers of sand across the vast expanse of Tatooine as the hunter leads you towards the distant silhouette of Boba Fett's palace; it stands menacing as you squint against the faintness of your sight.
your throat aches, your head pounds - each step, a creaking of your aching, dehydrated bones. the dunes you don't have to see to understand - they stretch endlessly, a canvas of muted browns and grays beneath the suns that reflect rays sharper than needles.
'the journey is long, and the desert does not forgive hesitation.'
you grit your teeth, silently agreeing with the strange Rodian who had beckoned you towards the Diamyo's palace. it feels like your body is failing you under the intense heat; how the Mandalorian can stand it in so many layers is beyond you. but in your bitter moment of self-pity, you lose sight of the mounds of uneven terrain that billow below your boots, the heat beating down on your head so hard your eyes almost shut unwillingly as your feet meet resistance.
without warning, you find yourself falling forward - a billow of pain shoots through your wrist as your palms meet the abrasive sand.
your head pounds, dehydration and hunger taking its ravaging toll on you as you land. a soft gasp escapes your lips as the ground kisses you harshly, unforgivingly; a strike of panic over you as your twisted, marred hands are once again slammed against the weight of your body joined by the Hunter's binders.
you're delirious - fear grips you in a way nothing ever has in your dehydrated state. a screaming ache in your throat and the throbbing in your skull coaxes your lips into the next sentence, your voice hoarse and scratchy. "if I could just have some water, please-"
the footsteps in front of you halt in an almost menacing manner - wind echoes dauntingly in your ears as you brace for the expected harshness of a beskar-laden hand, your body tensing and ready for the impact of his hand.
all of the hunters reach their limit with you - he'd made it this far, without laying his hands on you; but they all do, at one point or another. you can only hope it doesn't go further.
his voice from days ago echo in your mind. there are far worse people in the galaxy that could have gotten to you.
"s-sorry." you stutter, pulling yourself to your knees and holding your marred hands out to protect your face should he lash out.
you yourself are surprised by the very real fear that is dousing your twisted spine in a wash of ice - but the Mandalorian is already furious by the interruption of returning you for bounty twice; one more step out of line like this and he may just kill you himself.
you really are delirious. you think, perhaps, you've been too outlandish in your capture. he's not the kind that will break by your snide comments or sly ploys for escape. perhaps submission - you grit your teeth at the mere thought, like a wild stallion bucking in fear of a stable - is the sole way for you to survive.
to escape.
there's a pause in the air, a moment of suspended anticipation - one in which you shield your face from him further for fear. yet the expected rebuke, the cold demand for resilience, does not materialize, and instead you bathe in a hot, heavy silence that sparks just enough fight in you to try again.
you slump back on your haunches, eyes shutting as you swallow through sandpaper. "I need water. just a sip, sir, please-"
"-stop." he orders suddenly, voice surprisingly strained and harsh. your eyes open and you're met with a burning glare, his armor deflecting the immediate rays as he stands over you and observes - a weak being, cuffed and on her knees to beg for water.
your heart thunders wildly as he pulls a moleskin pouch from the depths of his cape and holds it out for you. "-and call me Mando." he orders, voice still strange. nodding, your hands shoot up to grab at it, your throat singing and dust catching in the crooks of your eyes as you let out a sigh of thanks, a slight whimper that almost loses itself to the commotion of your shaking fingertips.
the pouch falls to the sand between your knees as you let out a breath of disbelief - in your weakness, you'd fumbled it.
"I'm sorry, I-"
"-it's okay." he says quickly, a gloved hand raising the pouch from the dust to hold up to your lips. the uncomfortableness of his voice is forgotten instantly as the liquid breaches your open lips.
the water is - by contrast to everything else around you - so pure and clean that you almost start to cry.
it trickles into your dry mouth and you greedily suck it down your esophagus, hands rising to cup the back of the pack and tilt it slightly, wary not to squeeze and take the whole of its contents.
the breath you take after several gulps of water is like waking up in a meadow of fresh fruits, flowers, a cold pond at your fingertips. you let out a shaky laugh, swallowing another sip offered to you by your captor. "thanks." you say, resigning to the realization that the only way he reacted was when you were desperate - on the verge of collapsing.
disdain coils in you.
slowly, you feel strong gloved hands encircle your shoulders, guiding you back to a standing position. the Mandalorian's touch was surprisingly gentle, a stark contrast to the ruthless reputation that preceded him - a stark contrast to the experience of the last days in captivity.
you're once again left with the bitter confusion of a rug being pulled from beneath you as the hunter pulls a few pieces of jerky from his utility belt, holding them out tersely.
your hands dart out to grab them quick as the lizards that skitter into their hideaways when your bootsteps near. you stay like that, eating the jerky like a rabid animal and taking a few sips of water that the Hunter offers you intermittently, avoiding the unyielding armor that can't mask the underlying patience in the Mandalorian's actions.
a few minutes of terse silence and your stomach less nauseated, the Mandalorian starts suddenly, making you jump back in habit. he doesn't strike you; instead, he removes the thick cowl off his own neck and reaches towards you.
he must see your confusion, apprehension - because he stops, sighing. "you need to cover these wounds up. the exposed sun is not good for them. we will get them mended at the palace." he explains, voice evenly as he starts to lay the thick fabric over your conjoined wrists, wrapping so your skin is no longer exposed.
you don't know what to say - but he gives you no time to think as he turns and starts off towards the palace in the distance once again. you follow him in shock, blinking down at the faint outlines of your arms, mimicking his stride though in much shorter steps.
as you trudge behind him, protected from direct sunlight through his bulking, massive frame, you grin bitterly - you've become the man's own shadow this time, striding behind him in the light of the afternoon.
the rest of the trek is plagued with silence. you'd expected cruelty, a reinforcement of a status as a captive - but instead, there was a curious patience, an unexpected kindness that left you questioning the man who strides in front of you, helmet occasionally craning to his right to check on the floating pod containing the child that floats by his hip.
he should be furious. you're nothing more than a burden - the sudden moment of patience a shock from the cold exterior that has you staring in disbelief at your boots. what had changed? the answer eludes you as you follow him, disoriented in more ways than one. The Mandalorian's actions, or lack thereof, became a puzzle; you can't see the expression on his face, but the absence of anger resonates through the silence between you.
until he decides to slow his pace, turning his helmet to the right. "it wasn't my intention to starve you." he says, voice stoic and almost awkward. "I often forget that others do not eat when they are concealed."
he looks away. "if it happens again, remind me."
you swallow, lifting your head. an odd request. you'd seen glimpses of this bizarre kindness within him - gently stroking the child's ear, bringing you in to his ship after the wreckage and ensuring you stayed upright and didn't let the blood swell in your brain. letting you rest in his cot.
most of these things, means to your end.
perhaps it's this moment that gives you the clarity to vie for an ounce of freedom.
"uncuff me." you say, voice sounding much less meek now that life has been breathed back into your sore lungs. if he has any emotions, your blindness renders you too incapacitated to notice them. he doesn't stop his stride, but he does turn his head.
"no." he says it as if you're stupid.
you sigh, straining to push your shorter legs faster in order to catch up to him and the floating pod. you're not fully discouraged, despite his demeanor.
"you know I'm too weak to do anything." you insist. "it'll do you good to uncuff me before we see the Diamyo." you warn, straightening your spine as he turns slightly, pace slowing until you're just a step behind him, still pushing to keep up.
"is that so?" he asks, sounding completely uninterested. your innards churn at his tone, your tongue running over your teeth before you nod. "I show no risk anymore. he'll find me if you don't find me first." and it's the honest truth.
silence for a moment.
"you're danger." he utters, as if the two words explain it all. you sneer at him behind his back. "aren't you used to danger, bounty hunter?" you spit, the indignance growing once again, sprouting from the rotting seed of your weakened fear only minutes ago.
his back is turned, but you still hear it. "not the kind of danger that you are."
you stare at the faint shadow of him, unsure of what to say. it's silent, the shifting sands beneath your feet echoing the enigma of your chains, the impending danger that awaits you once the Hunter has returned you for the bounty.
now on slightly more steady legs, you can't help but wonder what kind of man lurks behind the unyielding armor—a question that remains unanswered as the walls of the palace rise through the dune sea.
you reach the impending building as the suns cast your shadow and the Mandalorian's far behind you.
your footsteps echo through the halls of the palace, your body cooling slowly. The Mandalorian pushes past the droids who tried to guide you; he makes turns and walks down the stairs with too much confidence.
with an inkling of trepidation in your heart, you feel as though he's been here before - it does not bode well for you.
as you stumble after him, the burns upon your skin ache slightly and you fight to see with the dim lighting.
but soon, you're walking into a great space, the air of which you can feel upon your beaten shoulders as you let your arms, still swathed by the Hunter's cloak, fall to clasp against your restraints.
there's a large platform of slabbed cement before you in the faint light that leaks through cracks of the shades on the opposite of the throne room.
two figures shrouded in the darkness of your blind vision watch you and your captor enter. the one on the throne is bulky - bulkier than you remember the cloaked figure of Boba Fett to be, though as your gaze flickers to the more feminine figure perched on the arm of the throne, you know this is not him either.
your footsteps fall silent in front of them, and soon a droid is announcing the Diamyo of Mos Espa, Boba Fett.
you blink heavily - as if this would wipe the mugginess of your vision as the figure sits forward slightly and your heart drops.
the man in front of you, Boba Fett - fully clad in beskar armor and a helmet so similar to your captor's that you nearly consider turning and running.
you try to mask your shock. Fett's Mandalorian? confusion and fear shock up your spine.
panic strikes heavy in your heart as you and the Hunter stand completely silent and still, your heart thrashing frantically. Boba Fett - in Mandalorian armor... confusion must lace your features, because hands faintly rise up from the shadow of the Daimyo, and a moment later he removes his helmet with a soft hiss.
you suck in a breath as the scarred, familiar face comes into view just barely under the lighting and you're almost certain that his eyes land on you.
"it's been a while." he says.
his voice is the same as you remember, and the fear stuck in your throat quells only slightly at his greeting.
"yes." you agree, jumping in shock when the low, deep voice of the Hunter speaks at the same time as you - "it has."
bewildered, you shoot a sideways glance to the Mandalorian beside you.
your inkling was correct, Mando must know Boba Fett too.
you swallow shakily, knowing how terribly this seals your fate - of course they know each other. apparently, Boba Fett is a Mandalorian now - for all you know, they could have been raised together.
but the Hunter's helmet has shot a similarly shocked glance towards you and for a brief moment, you stare into the t-visor of your captor.
in a bout of fear and anger you turn, meeting the gaze of the man who had once been your savior. from what you can make out, the years had carved lines on his face more than when you'd last seen him, and you faintly wonder how different you look to him.
you had been, after all, just a child back then.
you speak again, a mixture of nerves and trepidation in your voice. "sir. I didn't think I'd see you again. even when I came on-planet."
Boba Fett's head inclined slightly, a nod that spoke of the gravity of the situation. "times change. I wouldn't have summoned you here if it weren't necessary."
you're sure your eyes held for a moment, the unspoken understanding passing between you. it had been a long time.
the Mandalorian crosses his arms from beside you. "what business do you have with us?" the hunter speaks up, clearly tired of the stiff small talk. "do you want the puck?"
this had been your fear, too. Fett could have easily summoned you to the palace to buy your bounty from the Mandalorian; he has good enough reason to buy you to his custody.
yet at the Hunter's words, you swear you see a twinge of confusion from the two: Fett shifts, as does the figure to his side - a silhouette which, with the grace of her helmet sitting below them in a ray of bright light, you finally recognize as the sharpshooter Fennec Shand. you'd heard of her in town during your time on the run.
"I have favors to call in." he says simply. your heart pounds twice as heavy at the mention of the favors- yes, he does. he is owed a lifetime of favors from you.
but the hunter is not so swayed.
"call them in later. I have problems to attend to." he sounds impatient, voice laced with the strain of a time crunch.
Boba stares at him, leaning elbows on his thickly armored thighs. "you and your lady friend here," he nods towards you sardonically, "are in a bind, am I correct?"
you gape in offense at his casual tone, addressing you as anything other than a captive - irritation floods your face but is soon replaced with a strike of fear fluttering down your spine, worried of the Hunter's reaction to such vocabulary.
"I don't play games with my bounties." his voice sounds equally irritated as you feel. it's final - deep as it exits his helmet. your stomach flips.
you almost snap back - that's a lie, Mando. you and I both know it - but, for fear of speaking out of turn, and for fear of the man before you, you stay silent.
"bounty?" the silhouette sits forward and a plaited length of dark hair swings into your faint vision.
the room is suddenly plagued with a pregnant silence that you don't dare break, your mind churning.
did they not know of the situation you've found yourself in?
"she has a bounty on her head." the hunter says finally, as if surprised that they were not privy to this information. you shift on your feet, your head still pounding, eyes sore from straining to see in such dim light. your whole body aches.
"she may be a bit worse for wear, but she doesn't look like a prisoner to me." Shand retorts, nodding to your figure.
at the woman's words, you huff a bitter laugh. worse for wear - you'd be surprised if you have more bones intact than dislocated right now - you're blind, you have a nasty hydraulic burn on your cheek..
you shake the cowl off your arms, revealing the cuffs which bound you as the fabric drops to a heap at your boots. you barely glance down at them before back up as Fett lets out a low hum. both heads upon the throne shift to the man beside you.
"you have nerve, Mando, bringing a bounty into my palace," Boba Fett remarked, his gravelly voice cutting through the silence. to your shock, Mando inclines his helmeted head in a nod. "she's more trouble than she's worth." you instinctively shoot Mando a withering look but before you can defend yourself, he continues. "when you summoned us, I assumed it was to pay her bounty."
Fennec Shand - ever observant - leans forward slightly, her sharp eyes finding yours somehow through the mist. she seems more interested in you than in the talk of the Daimyo's business.
"last we heard of you, you were supposedly walking free. stirring trouble." she tilts her head, revealing her eyes in a panel of light. the insinuation makes you chuckle bitterly. defiantly, you stare back. "then your people in town got it wrong. I was never free. I've been a captive since I set foot on this planet, even before him."
Fennec raised an eyebrow, exchanging a glance with Boba that even you don't miss. "our messenger mentioned he saw her just a few days ago with your speeder," Fennec remarks, her voice carrying a hint of skepticism as she focuses on Mando this time. "that doesn't sound like a well retained bounty."
you stifle a laugh at that, craning your head away from Mando to conceal your smirk as a feeling of triumph fleetingly passes over your body. you recall the anger that'd seeped through the Mandalorian when you'd tricked him, taken his speeder - then, found the child...
"ma'am, to be fair, it took him a long time to find me. I can be very slippery when I want to be." you say coyly, highly aware of the cold stare from beside you.
"-after all, the line between lawmen and the outlawed can be deceiving." you send a pointed look towards the wall of beskar on your side.
a sharp silence through the room; tension thick in the air as a strike of fear gloats among your abdomen. what kind of pendulum swing is your attitude on recently?
"Mando." Boba addresses the man, causing the aforementioned to nod, shifting his weight. the throbbing of your head is gradually increasing once again and you find yourself in desperate need of a sip of water, and maybe a few hours of rest.
"I didn't expect to have to cash in on the favors owed to me, but times have changed." he shrugs, "I hear the Crest's seen better days. I can help with the ship. in return, clean slate. functional vessel. and no more pirates."
in a swift moment of realization, your eyes widen. you aren't the only one with favors owed to Boba - this was about you and Mando, separately. he truly had no idea you were his bounty.
your surprise is short lived as he continues speaking, the pirates echoing in your mind. your eyes flicker at the mention and you can't help but shoot a glance sidelong at your captor, once again unable to read his helmet. uncertainty swirls in your gut; the Maracavanians are more than just one ship, and you know they will likely stop for very little to find you.
you are, after all, very valuable to them. the looming threat of their presence haunts you, bearing weight on your tired shoulders. your head pounds.
"-in return," Boba Fett continued, "I need your skills - both of you. when I sent for you, I was not aware of the bounty on your head, nor the hand that held the tracker. there's a settlement on the edge of the Outer Rim. they've found some trouble with some smugglers calling themselves the Ivory Cartel; they're pushing the spice trade back into the area, and the Marshall needs help bringing them back in line."
Din's helmet tilted slightly. "I don't do charity."
Boba Fett chuckles, the sound reverberating in the room as you shift on your feet. "we've been through this song and dance before, haven't we?"
the Mandalorian crosses his arms, but says nothing.
Boba continues, "I hear you're intimately familiar with the area, Mando. Freetown."
the irony of the settlement name is not lost on you, and you can't help the scoff you let out as you cross your arms. you hear the short exhale that escapes the helmet the same time as you, but cannot decipher what it means.
"Marshall Vanth mentioned you know each other." silence spurs him on, "only a few days, then you can turn her in. I'll ensure you have safe passage - no one coming after you. we'll consider it a debt paid in full."
you expected this; for as long as you've known the man before you on the throne, you wouldn't exactly say he is your biggest ally; in fact, part of him would surely love to see you rot in a cell. and you can't blame him.
yet this seems like some sort of mercy - for him to not just take your bounty off of Mando's hands and immediately turn you in to the several other vying parties. indeed, that would benefit him well, and it'd likely satisfy the Mandalorian. they'd be rich beyond what they could imagine if they turned you in to the Maracavanya.
the thought itself makes you feel ill.
fear of your fate should you fall into the captivity of the Maracavanians grips you, far more deadly than when you will be taken by Mando to whoever casted your puck.
this fear, gripping your skull and breathing its evil thoughts into your mind, drives you to step forward slightly. "and what guarantee do we have that you'll uphold your end of the deal?"
the visor next to you stares in surprise at your words and you hold your gaze forward, steadfast. to an outsider, you imagine it is odd for a bounty to agree to be turned in after such desperation to escape; though knowing Fett as you once did - and after what you did back then - what the Macaravanya would do to you if you were their captive... you shiver, fear gripping your throat.
your life is owed to the man before you, no matter what your past says. and if your life is to end soon - and it very well may depending on who has cast your bounty - you'd like to have paid most of your debts out by the end.
Boba Fett's gaze shifts to you through the dim of your vision. "my word is my bond. you of all people should do well to remember this."
your face burns, chin dropping to your chest. the Mandalorian remains silent for a moment, contemplating the proposition - after all, you're his captive, and you'll have to go with whatever he decides. the weight of the favors owed hang in the air, memories of a young girl stranded on a desolate planet with a pack wrapped around her middle, her brother stumbling behind her, men in all grey following with whooping sounds as they stumbled over tumbleweeds to get away. a cloaked figure and blinding pain-
finally, the Hunter nods, speaking and pulling you from your thoughts. "fine. we do the job, our debts are settled."
Boba Fett inclined his head, acknowledging the agreement. "you'll leave in the morning."
you send a meek nod to him, feeling once again faint, as though the strenuous walk has caught up to the rest of your body, which is still reeling from the water and jerky after so long without it.
you're escorted, after a brief hesitance by your captor, away from the group; with a grumble of irritation from the armored giant and a rough few pokes on his vambrace by gloved fingers, your bound wrists fell free, the skin marred and blistering.
fear flares up in your stomach as a droid brings you down several twisted hallways and staircases. what are they speaking of without you?
were they talking about you?
surely there isn't much the Mandalorian doesn't know about you, depending on how much of your information was on your bounty profile, but Fett knows many things about you others don't. a darkness coils through your veins, lingering in the back of your mind; a steady reminder to trust no one. no friends but tumbleweeds.
perhaps you had overestimated the reach of Tatooine's rumor mill. or, perhaps, you really were that good at hiding. and the Hunter was that good at hunting.
the thought doesn't make you feel any better.
you enter a room where the droid gestures to the large glass in the center of the room; your eyes widen, taking in the large bacta tank, inviting and horrifying the same.
on the other side of the room, a refresher awaits, and the droid instructs you to use what you need and it will provide you the bacta process to ensure you have a restful healing.
you stare, shocked, between the droid and the tank; things like these cost an unimaginable amount of credits. you bite your lip.
"I'm sorry, I don't-" you start to flush, "I don't have enough credits, I-"
"nonsense," the droid speaks, its voice oddly comforting, maternal. "Master Fett has requested our guests are healed and take as much time as necessary. you will need your strength and health."
you blink, stomach flipping with nerves. "okay," you whisper, padding slowly across towards the fresher and sealing yourself inside.
your heart pounds, stress pulsing through you. it takes you forty-five seconds to even bring your eyes up to your reflection, your nails digging hard into your dusty, pained palms.
it's horrible. truly.
faintly, you wonder if it's just the residual blindness that makes you look so awful. maybe the shadows under your eyes aren't as prevalent in full vision - or the cuts and bruises that show evidence of the crash landing on your skin.
to be fair, you look still like yourself - same eyes, same skin, same scarf concealing most of your hair, save the sticky tendrils which glued themselves to your forehead and mouth on your trek. but your face; it's gaunt, absent of the life it used to have. your eyes look empty, your features splintered by a broken nose which holds a crusted bloody split across the center.
your cheekbone similarly has a cut that's swelled one eye socket, a bruise blossoming and singing of broken vessels of blood within your eye. your hands, as they rise to touch your aching face, are mangled and horrifying. dry, caked with dirt in the splits over your palm, your knuckles are sticking out in an unnatural pattern. the hydraulic burn you'd sustained on your cheek is raw and angry still, exposure to the suns making it rough and bloodied.
fuck, you will need this bacta is you're to help pay off your debt. you can't help the inkling of curiosity as to what it is that the Mandalorian owes Fett for - he doesn't seem the type to run off for secondary missions when he has his bounties. especially, you think with a smirk, bounties as irritating and conniving as you've been.
it is extremely odd, this new situation.
you're sure this has not once happened to the Mandalorian before, judging by his reaction: obligated to work alongside one of his bounties - who has willingly agreed - in order to earn ship repair to turn her in.
you squeeze your eyes shut, bewildered by the complexity of the situation; you're overcome once again with the urge to run, run, run.
run.
you snap your eyes open, staring into the mirror again.
your body screams of exhaustion, lack of sleep, hunger, pain. a surge of sadness floods over you at the realization that you've looked like this far before crossing paths with the Mandalorian.
this cycle is nothing new. it may be the oldest thing in the book.
in fact, considering how the last few stints went with other hunters went - horrifyingly, though you always ended up the one holding the smoldering blaster - the Mandalorian has been uncharacteristically considerate.
so unimbued by your teasing. irritated constantly, serious - but admirably capable. dangerous. your eyes again find the ugly scar that cuts jaggedly across your cheek, towards your jaw. it was an injury done to you just to do so, by the last hunter who tried to take you. he'd done worse afterwards; all the injuries will last with you forever.
cruelty for the sake of it.
despite who he is, you can't find it in yourself to believe your current captor would ever do such a thing.
imposing, intimidating, gruff - yes, but he never threatened you more than empty words; even though you know how easily he could snap your arm (or neck). he didn't seem to want to inflict pain.
you think of his little green companion, with its kind eyes and soft babbles. the way he runs his gloved fingers over the wiry hair atop its head, soothing its ears.
then, when he'd left you alone on his ship; sure, it was wrecked and you were in the middle of nowhere, but he'd still left you. given you privacy.
you glare at the ground - no.
the memory of his hand slamming against the carbonite freezer echoes in your mind, your words - "you're a bad man." you whisper mirthlessly. "I don't deserve this."
no man is kind. no bounty hunter is fair.
with a growl of irritation, you slide the door open, peering out into the room before you. it's quiet, the afternoon sun streaming through the curtains of the open stone windows, flickering over the tank in the center. a set of towels your size sit next to the tank. the droid is gently preparing tubes and a small breathing mechanism as the bacta moves in the glass.
the liquid, viscous and beckoning you like a mirage in the dead heat of the plains outside.
you haven't been in water in months - years, maybe. sonic showers got the job done, removed dirt and grime and oil, but you haven't felt really clean in so long it almost brings tears to your eyes. before you can think again, your voice cracks out, shy and meek.
"I'm ready."
when you wake up, the suns are nearly setting.
your body glows a hue of orange from the dying light, dripping with the liquid you'd just emerged from. the droid towels you off and you note the sweet, small markings alongside her collar, small paintings of flowers.
it's because of this that you realize with a sharp inhale - "I can see!" you gasp, flexing your fingers instinctively and feeling a wash of freedom when no shooting pain or stiffness prevents the action.
you feel as though you've been reborn.
the droid pulls a chest band over your flush, healthy skin. nothing but pinking scars and a few light colored bruises. "how do you feel, ma'am?" she asks you. you smile at her just as she hands you a pair of underwear, folded tunic, and trousers. "I feel wonderful. thank you." you respond, tugging on the underwear.
you stare down at the dark gray color of your tunic, tilting your head- but before you can ask, the droid assures you your own clothes are being cleansed and repaired for you to have back.
you nod, feeling naked still without any concealment of your hair or face - it seems, after so long on the run, you've forgotten that the items were not sewn to your skin, a part of you.
the droid leaves you to collect yourself, telling you it will prepare you supper to eat in the palace hall. slowly, you let your joints stretch, taking in a deep, long breath for the first time in ages without feeling the stabbing pain of broken ribs.
gone are the dizzy spells, the fogginess that had plagued you since hitting your head.
with a small laugh of disbelief, you pull the tunic over your head with no pain - your hair drips down your spine as you comb through it, padding with a sudden shock of clear vision towards the mirror.
closing yourself halfway into the fresher, you stare at your reflection; a healthy glow on your cheeks, clean, a hint of a smile. you nearly tear up, feeling fresh, free from physical pain. there are no blisters or bruises from the binders.
with a smile, you take a step out of the bathroom in search of the trousers you'd left, discarded on table you'd woken from. you let yourself hum a short tune, something from your childhood that your brother had loved.
but a hulking figure across the room makes you stop short.
your eyes widen as a rush of shock floods through you.
to his credit, the Mandalorian looks just as caught off guard as you feel, if his body language is anything to tell.
he stands, alarmed, with one hand holding the trousers you'd left, one holding a removed blaster and his lasso. with a quick glance over to the tank, there is larger preparations, a large microfiber towel, much larger than the one used for you, folded next to it.
oh.
a beat passes.
then another. you start to feel warm, cheeks flaring in heat as your gaze flickers from the visor, cold and staring, down to the trousers in his hand. you are suddenly aware of your exposed skin.
"um," you say brilliantly.
but before you can say anything else equally as riveting, the droid rolls into the room and nearly shrieks. "oh, ma'am, I'm terribly sorry- thought you'd already gone downstairs-"
you swallow so thickly you're surprised you don't choke, the warm breeze in the dying evening sunlight sending cascades of goosebumps over your exposed legs. you ignore the rolling heat that tumbles down your body as the helmet moves ever so slightly down your frame. excitement sends the sensation even deeper - but you shake the thoughts away. that's an emotion you'll deal with probably never.
the Mandalorian snaps alive, taking two lumbering strides towards you, holding the trousers to you stiffly. "I assume these are yours." his voice sounds almost pained.
you swallow dryly, nodding, "y-yes." you squeak, feeling hot under his stare.
"-so sorry, sir, I apologize-" the droid was still panicking - you think it odd until you get a feeling Mandalorians wouldn't like even droids to see them without helmet. let alone, their annoying bounties who now have to work with them against a cartel in some forgettable dust town.
you wonder if the same goes for armor.
but he waves the droid off, "I can take it from here, thank you." his voice is terse; disdain leaking through the baritone.
you awkwardly take the moment to slide the trousers over your legs, bending quickly to save at least a bit of dignity as you do the clasps and zipper, eyes avoiding the tall statue before you.
the droid, still wailing apologies, wheels from the chamber, bathing the two of you in a strikingly thick air as you stare down at your boots. you watch as his own boots shift their weight just a few steps from you.
"you look..." he seems to lose his words as you look up at him, stomach flipping. "-healthy." his fingers twitch by his sides. you feel shockingly flustered as you clear your throat, "I need to take better care of myself." you joke, the words falling flat and sounding more pathetic than humorous in delivery, "just glad I can recognize myself again. well- I can see, too, which is even better." your voice squeaks as you trail off, butting off your anxious ramble.
he doesn't respond to that, but he does clear his own throat. "have you eaten?" he asks, voice strained. you clear your head, "no- no, that's where I was about to go..." you trail off, cheeks aflame as you look up at the helmet. he makes a noncommittal noise, turning away. "well, if you don't mind-"
you shake your head, "not at all." you say quickly, taking great strides towards the exit, not turning back as you scramble away.
the Mandalorian doesn't look at you the rest of the evening.
you can't tell if it's out of embarrassment, shame, or anger at the prospect of having to work with you; no matter, you're relieved at the absence of that piercing, emotionless stare.
you eat much too fast, due to the crawling hunger in your stomach, and have to later fight to keep it down; though the rest of the night is spent relaying plans for transportation and communication with Fett and Shand, you standing awkwardly in a corner and being referenced as the bounty by your captor.
you wonder if he can feel the glare you shoot at the back of his helmet.
by morning, you feel more refreshed than you have in years, despite your captivity. the more you think of it, and the more that clock ticks in the back of your mind, the more willing you are to stay on-planet, to waste time.
perhaps you could miss the trial all together, if nobody finds you first. you let yourself wonder, as you stand to the side and observe Mando strapping supplies to the back of the speeder, what would happen if you missed the trial.
surely, you'd still be wanted. an outlaw is an outlaw, no matter the date on the galactic calendar.
but would it be safer for you? depending on the verdict. there are plenty on both sides who would pay heavily to see your body buried in the Wasteland, no doubt.
"hey." Mando's voice is terse and vexed. your eyes snap up to meet the helmet, which glints harshly under the morning suns. "let's go." he orders, gesturing behind him where a space remains for you.
you think back to that first night; your desperate attempt at escape, feigning sleep and then sprinting off into the dark desert.
you slide onto the back, leaving as much space as possible between you and the Hunter, his jetpack hard against your chest. you opt to hold it instead of his torso as he kicks up the speeder, the child tucked into the bag at his hip.
"did you get enough to eat?" he asks, voice louder over the noise of the speeder. you swallow, unease leaking into you at the tone of his voice - it's alarmingly like the tone he used when he'd fed you back in the desert. like he was making sure you wouldn't have to nearly pass out again for him to remember to feed you.
it makes you wonder how often he eats or drinks himself.
it makes you wonder why you even care.
you nod, "I did."
he sends you a terse nod in response and as he starts to speed off, the wind whips over your scarf. you tie it under your jaw, the long bandana secured. heat finds you like an old, unwanted friend and you already feel tired; you rest your hot cheek against the metal of the beskar jetpack, hoping he cannot feel it. you're instantly cooled down, relief flooding through you.
the speeder hums beneath you, kicking up plumes of sand - your eyes, alight with the fresh relief of unfiltered sight, scan the horizon, taking in the harsh beauty of Tatooine's desolate expanse. rocky outcrops jutting from the sandy dunes, casting short shadows in the midday suns. the sky above is painted with hues of blue, a stark contrast to the unforgiving landscape below.
you steal another glance at the Mandalorian's back. thankfully, he has resumed his tense, stoic silence behind his helmet, his focus fixed on the path ahead. there's a quiet determination, a silent strength - the same one that had initially inclined you to play such luring games with your Hunter in the first place.
a determination that makes you want to do it again, despite everything.
you think of how naive you were just days ago - had you ever really expected to get away from him? or, the whole time, have you just been waiting for him to finally get to you?
the thought leaves a bitter taste in your mouth.
hours pass on the speeder with intermittent stops to stretch your legs or sip water. the baby insists on babbling to you any chance he gets - an endearing sight, as he waddles over the mounds of sand to climb up onto your boot.
the gentle smile that graces your lips after asking permission silently from the Hunter to hold the little goblin.
the child's endless eyes stare up at you from the bag at the hunter's side when you're back on the speeder, and you supply him with a finger to hold on to.
you can't shake the whirlwind of confusion swirling within you - what had started as a fateful capture in the wake of your euphoric game had morphed into a nightmare capture, which has now evolved into a reluctant alliance - a ceasefire of sorts forged by circumstances beyond your control.
whatever Mando had for Boba to cash in on must have been just as serious as what he'd done for you - or, rather, what you'd done to him. regret and guilt snake through your veins, black and greedy and painful.
you stare down in regret, trying to map out a way to escape the clutches of the man before you as the lines between captor and collaborator blur in the shifting sands of fate.
you had been running for so long - elusive and cunning, the closest to free you'd been in years - until you got too egotistical. all those weeks ago, why did you have to taunt him so?
happy hunting, Mando.
you're a fool. a fated, heartless fool with too large an ego.
as the speeder surges onward, you lean back, letting the rush of the wind and the rhythmic hum of the engine drown your thoughts. the heat bears down on you.
in the distance, a bundle of buildings emerge, wavy through heat - at first, you thought it a mirage.
Freetown.
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