found. | Din Djarin

Nineteen

Leia readies her ship for us to travel to Yavin-4 to attend the funeral while I pack my things knowing I'll likely be gone for at least a few days and considering it will be a family reunion as well I can never be too certain of what's in store.

"Shara was a good friend of mine," I explain to Din, the shock still having not worn off, I was a soldier, I'm no stranger to my friends dying, but for her to die so suddenly after all these years... "One of the best pilots we had, saved me more than once and it was mutual. After the war she helped Luke and I retrieve some Jedi artifacts before she and her husband went into an early retirement with their son-" that's when tears catch in my throat and I feel Din holding me as I held Leia not so long ago. "Their son's only eight Din, too young to lose his parents."

"I was the same age when I lost mine," Din tells me and tears slip down my cheeks as I feel the heartache, the trauma, the grief, but beneath it all, a little boy who had to grow up too fast. Another orphaned child of war, like so many of us.

"It's not fair," I breathe, and he cups the back of my head, running a soothing hand over my red hair.

"Nothing's fair," he reminds me and I nod, me off all people should know, but he calms me as if he's the one who can feel my thoughts. "I know it's hard for a Jedi to see it, you always hope for the best, see the light before all the darkness beneath it."

I laugh through my tears, surprised by his philosophical words. "Have you been reading my old Jedi scriptures to the kid while I've been asleep?"

"Maybe," he admits sheepishly and tells me "From the moment you met me you tried to understand my creed, now I want to understand yours, and our childs."

Our.

I truly am fighting a different sort of tears as my hands rest on his armoured chest, my heart warm. "I'm going to miss both of you, more than you could know."

He lets out a short laugh. "I thought you'd be wanting to get rid of me after being cooped up together for so long."

"Well it's not too bad," I say with a slight smile despite the tears that threaten to spill. "A Mandalorian warrior who would follow me to hell and back, sounds like a dream." And with those same tears again caught in my throat I swallow my pride. "I guess that makes me blind."

He stills at that and covers my hand with his, so many words stuck in both of our throats. "Cyar'ika-"

"We'll talk when I get back," I promise him, knowing I need the time to clear my head before making any more promises, able to feel his heart pounding even beneath the beskar.

"We will?"

I nod affirmatively, not just for him but for myself as well, and rest my forehead against his. "As hard as I try, you are a hard man to resist Din Djarin."

Not so long ago I stood on the sands of Tatooine swearing I wouldn't love him, yet here I am.

"Aren't Jedi meant to be strong-willed?" he teases to try to cover the tremble of hope in his voice and I laugh to ease him, knowing neither of us doubt my will after my little visit to the chancellor.

"Oh you know I am," I smile, then my voice becomes deeper. "Except for when it comes to you."

He pulls me closer, arm slipping around my waist to hold me as close as he can with the beskar between us and I dare to reach up to hold the sides of his helmet, my heart lighter than it has ever been as I tilt my head up to kiss the beskar, aching to feel the lips beneath.

He trembles beneath my touch. "Close your eyes Cyar'ika."

He reaches for his helmet but before either of us can do anything more I hear Leia's distinct voice. "Kyra, the ships ready, what are you - oh." She stops in the doorway speechless at the sight of Din and I like this and clears her throat. "I'll just wait in the ship."