Under the Helmet ~ (The Mandalorian x Male OC)

Chapter 8: The Mission

Daedalus woke to sunlight coming in through the bay windows of the cockpit. He jolted awake, and ran throughout the ship to see if Din had returned. He saw no sign of his returned, and decided to check outside. Sprinting off the port boarding ramp, he saw the Mandalorian sitting near the fire.
Daedalus melted at the sight of his partner. "Din!" He exclaimed, running towards the hunter with arms wide. The two embraced each other for a few moments, before slightly pulled back. Daedalus laid his head against Din's chest plate. He knew the gesture was fairly suggestive compared to any previous interaction of there, but he didn't care.
"I'm glad you're back," he said, keeping his head against the cold Beskar.
Din loosened up, placing his hand farther up on Daedalus's back.
"Good to be back," he replied.
Daedalus pulled back, slightly hating himself for allowing himself to get caught up in the moment.
"So, umm, where to now?" He asked.
Din placed his hands on his hips. "Cerea is the head of a major trade route, I was thinking we could try and sell the spice and maybe pick up a puck or two."
Daedalus nodded. "Fun," he replied, walking back to the ship.

———

Din was ecstatic. He didn't quite understand his feelings for Daedalus, but he was pleased that they were somewhat mutual. He enjoyed having a partner. They worked well together, too.
They were now walking through the Cerea trading outpost, which was bustling with all species under the suns. Daedalus had smooth talked a swindler to buy the spice for a reasonable price, and now they were looking for some work.
"Do you think we'll find anything?" Daedalus asked.
"Probably not a bounty, but probably some sort of mission."
The wandered around the market a little longer, until a Twi'Lek male called them over.
"You two looking for work?" He asked.
"As a matter of fact we are, what's the mission?" Din responded.
"Ironically enough it's to Mandalore," the stranger said, looking at Din to get some sort of reaction.
Din took a step back. He didn't dare return to Mandalore. Bo Katan was still trying to locate him and the Darksaber since their team up three years ago. He looked over at Daedalus for his reaction. He still seemed sensitive about his mother's murder, and wondered how he would react to this development. His jaw was clenched, and Din could tell there was some pent up desire to make amends.
"We're in," Daedalus asserted, not even looking over at his partner for approval.
The Twi'Lek chucked, "Perfect, my ship's parked at the eastern end of the market. Meet up in an hour," he said, turning away from the pair and walking in the direction of his ship.
Daedalus continued looking straight ahead, jaw still clenched.
Din broke the silence, "Is this enough revenge for you?"
"For now," he said, breaking free from his trance. "Do you think we could find the people who killed my mother?"
The question caught Din of guard. "I mean...they were probably either killed or forced into hiding after the Purge, but we can look into it."

———

Daedalus wasn't sure how much to tell Din. He wanted to track down his mother's killer, but didn't necessarily want to accept his own Mandalorian roots.
About half an hour had passed, and the two were making their way to the Twi'Lek's ship.
"So who exactly was you mother?" Din asked.
Daedalus thought for a moment. He knew she was in some way involved in royal affairs, but his father mentioned nothing of any higher title. "Her name was Aderia. Aderia Vizsla."
Din stopped in his tracks. "Vizsla? As in Clan Vizsla?"
Daedalus knew he had made a mistake in opening up about his past.
"I suppose," he muttered.
"So...you're Mandalorian too?" Din asked, puzzled.
"I guess..." Daedalus responded, looking glum.
"Many members of my old covert on Nevarro were in some way related to Clan Vizsla. But if you're mother was a blood Vizsla...that means something."
Daedalus was frustrated. "I don't want it to mean anything," he grunted, "I want the people who killed my mother to pay."
Din nodded, "And I'll help you."
A smile tugged at Daedalus's lips. He appreciated Din's help and input.
They made their way through the market until they found the Twi'Lek's ship. It was some form of Corvette, Daedalus was uncertain of the exact model.
Their contact was waiting for them on the boarding ramp. "The name's Lug by the way, the rest of the crew is inside," he said, shaking both Din and Daedalus's hands.
The two followed him inside, where 3 other individuals waiting inside.
"This is my crew," Lug started, "This is Mave, Elix, and Jorge." Mave and Jorge were Twi'Leks, but Elix was an Echani. Elix looked the pair up and down as they approached.
"We'll be to Mandalore in a few hours, make yourselves at home," Lug said kindly. "Drinks and snacks are in the fridge, eat up."
The pair set down across from Elix in the galley.
They sat in silence for a while.
Elix broke the silence, "Revenge, huh?"
Daedalus was stunned. "What?"
Elix smiled, "You want revenge, why?"
"That's none of your business, leave him alone," Din interrupted.
Daedalus appreciated the gesture, but this stranger was getting on his nerves. "The Mandalorians murdered my mother in cold blood, is that enough for you?"
Elix shook her head. "So you go running around the galaxy with one? Makes sense."
Infuriated, Daedalus got up and walked away, leaving Din and Elix alone.
"I don't get what you see in him," she sighed.
Upon hearing this, Din got up and followed his partner into the other room.
He found Daedalus sitting on the floor of the hallway.
"You okay?", he asked.
"Yeah, that Echani is just getting on my nerves. How could she do that?" Daedalus queried.
"Echani's are gifted with reading body language. It's said their entire species was a lab experiment gone wrong."
"Gone wrong indeed," Daedalus said, holding his head in his hands.
At this moment, Mave, Jorge, and Elix joined their crew mates in the hallway.
Mave spoke up, "I'm not sure what Lug told you our mission was, but it's changed."
Din and Daedalus exchanged looks of confusion.
"Lug has been stealing a portion of our earnings since we joined his crew. He's been trying to steal the schematics of some super weapon from the Mandalorian for some time now, and we're sick of doing his bidding without getting our share," Jorge stated monotonously.
"Now I know you think it's pointless to help us, but if you do, we'll split Lug's credits with you," Elix added.
Din looked down in confusion. "So if we help you get rid of Lug, we get a portion of his credits?"
"We were hoping to turn him in to the Mandalorian authorities instead. He's a wanted criminal there and perhaps we could arrange some reward for capturing him," Mave answered.
Daedalus looked over at his partner, hoping to receive a nod of approval for something. Instead he saw Din shaking his head.
"There's nothing to discuss," Elix spat out, "You're either helping us or we'll leave you on Mandalore too."
Daedalus gulped. He didn't like where this was going. He wanted to steal something from the Mandalorians, do something to make them know his name.
Mave and Jorge left the hallways, but Elix stayed back.
"You'll have to get your revenge another day, punk," Elix said with a smirk as he followed the others into the galley.

———

This mission had gone from 0 to 100 far too quickly. Din had feared going to Mandalore as is, but throwing in a disgruntled crew and a run in with Mandalorian authority, he resented the outcome.
"We can't do this, you know that right?" Din said, looking over at his partner.
"We have to do something," Daedalus pleaded. "I took this mission to get pay back on the people who killed my mother."
Din shook his head. "Those people are gone, Dae. There's hardly any true Mandalorians here. The Purge scattered all of us across the galaxy."
Daedalus sighed. He smiled at the fact Din called him Dae, it was a nickname his father used.
"Promise me we'll try to find something. A missions log, maybe. Or at least something to put a name on the people who killed my mom."
Din looked over at his partner. He was deep into his visor, almost right into his eyes. He couldn't say no, but he also knew he couldn't get too involved with the Mandalorians.
"Here's the deal. I'll stay in the ship, I can't risk getting seen by the wrong people. You go with the others and do whatever you deem worthy," Din proposed, "And most importantly...stay safe."
Daedalus smiled. "I will."
Daedalus began to fumble with his pockets and pulled out the Darksaber.
Din's eyes widened under the helmet. "You brought that?!", he scolded.
Daedalus jumped at the sudden rage. "Umm yeah? I'm starting to get the hang of it."
Din shook his head and snatched the saber from his hands. "You can't take that."
"Why not?"
"It's too significant, you probably shouldn't use it in public."
Daedalus was confused. "Why not? It's pretty."
"It's a symbol of leadership to the Mandalorians. Technically whoever wields it is the rightful Mand'alor."
Daedalus was shocked. "So technically you're the ruler of Mandalore?!"
Din shrugged. "In a way. I won it in combat, but the rightful ruler of Mandalore is set on having a fight to the death to win the lightsaber back. Problem is, I don't want to die or have to kill her and rule Mandalore."
He didn't know why he was suddenly being so up front with Daedalus. He had spent years building his walls high enough, so no amount of persuasion would make him lose focus on who he truly was. It was different this time, though. Daedalus wasn't changing him, he was making him better. He smiled under his helmet, knowing his true feelings would most likely die with him.
"Makes a surprising amount of sense," Daedalus shrugged, unaware of the thoughts running through Din's head. "What are we going to do when we get there, though? Where could I find a possible record of the missions the Mandalorians who killed my mother were on? Does that even exist?"
Din laughed. "Mandalorians are killers, they're not secretaries. Do you think I keep a record of all the hunts I go on?"
"Can you be honest with me for a moment?" Daedalus asked.
Din nodded.
"Am I extremely selfish or something for wanting to get back at them? I mean, I hardly even remember my mother. Do I really go out of my way to make them pay?"
Din contemplated his answer for a second. "No. It's human to feel anger towards them. I think there's more to your anger than avenging your mother, though."
He wasn't sure why he said it, but it made sense. Why would Daedalus feel the need to make Mandalorian's pay for a murder he had no real emotional ties to.
"I think it's because of you," Daedalus blurted.
Din sat up, and looked over at his partner. "Excuse me?"
"My father, he HATES Mandalorians. I grew up hating and fearing them myself. To be honest there's part of me that still does, but..." he trailed off.
"What is it?" Din questioned.
"I can't seem to hate anything about you," he said shyly.
Din opened his mouth to speak, but Elix walked around the corner.
"I know I'm interrupting a tender moment, but we're almost there and Lug wants us ready to go," she ordered sassily.
Before Din could respond, Daedalus was up and already following Elix.
They regrouped in the cockpit as the ship was coming out of hyperspace. It had been a while since Din had been to Mandalore. He remembered very little from before the Purge. All he knew was the planet was cursed. No one who went there came out the same, if they came out at all.
"Everyone ready to go? Weapons loaded?" Lug inquired genuinely. "I was thinking someone should stay back on the ship, just in case."
The Mandalorian graciously volunteered.
Lug laughed, "Too scared you'll see some old friends?" He patted him on the shoulder. "Be sure to signal us if there's any problems."
The descended towards the capital city of Sundari.
"Isn't there usually clearance codes or something we have to transmit?" Jorge questioned.
"Not since the Empire left. Nothing's the same," Din replied, eyes fixed on the giant dome ahead of them.
The team landed on a landing platform and made their way out of the ship.
Daedalus was about to walk away, but Din stopped him. "Take this," he said, extending his spear for his partner.
Daedalus smiled. "Thanks."
"And stay alive, please."
Daedalus turned and walked away without responding.
Din hoped it wasn't the last time they saw each other.