Prompt:
After Ahsoka refuses to train Grogu, the trio goes into hiding.
Not a Request ♥︎
Part 3! Trust is Earned
She/Her❥
1st POV
♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎
Grogu babbled and mumbled along as Mando silently drove throughout the endless blackness of space. I was silent too, but I was about to burst from keeping my comments in. I needed to speak to him about what just happened, and honestly, the Mandalorian probably needed to talk about it too. He wouldn't really be okay if Grogu was taken away from him. This may be a blessing in disguise,
"Are you okay?" I finally spoke up, gaining his attention. The Mandalorian just sighed and continued driving. I could tell he was upset, but honestly, it would all work out— it always does, "I know you were tasked with getting the Child back to his own kind, and we tried our hardest. You can't blame yourself for Ahsoka's fears."
"Can't I?" he asked, shaking his head, "She won't train him because his bond to me. He reminds her of someone who went bad, and that's because of me. I can't help but blame myself."
Shaking my head, I picked myself up from the chair and made my way to him; rubbing his back, "I know you're upset, but don't give me any self-pity. You couldn't have known, and you were doing what you knew was right when you took Grogu in. I understand why he looks to you as a father— it's because you are his father. You need to be there for him for now on despite what the Creed says. We are his kind. He is Mandalorian."
Mando didn't reply, but answered me simply by a head shake. If there was anyway I could help him during this time, I would bend over backwards to do so. Squeezing his shoulder lovingly, I pressed my Beskar helmet against his, and went to sit back down beside the young Child. Grogu was looking at me with nothing more than pure love; similar to how he looked at my Mandalorian accompaniment. This made me happy, and further fueled my confidence that Ahsoka denying Grogu's training was a good choice,
"Ahsoka isn't the only Jedi in the galaxy, Mando," I continued, stroking the green baby's ear as he continued to babble, "We don't need to give up here, but we don't need to make a decision now. If we want to, we could always find a secluded place and raise Grogu."
Yet again, Mando didn't reply, "Lothal is a good planet I think," I continued since obviously, he wasn't gonna give me any sort of reply, "I suggest we head there until we can pick ourselves up again. It's pretty desolate, and the Imperial presence there is slim compared to other places in the galaxy. Grogu would be out of harm's way."
Mando spun around in his chair, letting the Razorcrest fly on autopilot for the first time since we left the Jedi, "One more question. Why don't you want to go back to Tatooine? I can tell you're a loner for the most part, and on Tatooine, you had everything a rogue Mandalorian could ever want— power and freedom. Why leave it?"
I didn't know the appropriate way to reply. It was a legit question, but it felt like a jab to the side with a dull dagger. I felt at this moment, that the Mandalorian standing before me, didn't feel the same emotions I felt towards him despite his moves of affection on me only a moon before,
"I gave my life to you and the Child," I replied, softly, "The second you came to Mos Pelgo, I knew the stars had aligned for us. The odds I would run into another Mandalorian was already slim, but one on a mission as important as you was even slimmer. When I decided to leave my life as the half-assed Marshal from Tatooine behind, I knew my path laid wherever you lead me."
Mando nodded and continued staring at me, "Everyone in our creed is gone, (Y/N)," the mention of my name made my heart suddenly flutter, and I wondered how he knew it. Then I suddenly remembered. Young Ahsoka recognized me amongst my allies and spoke to me. I felt sad again at the memory of the siege— so many of my friends falling, all because of one Dathomirian's bad choices. "I met with some like us a while ago when I first found the kid. They were wiped out by Stormtroopers. You and I are the last ones I believe..."
"Just more reasons for why we need to go into hiding together," I replied, standing up and rubbing the Mandalorian's arm, "We could put the Creed behind us and raise Grogu. Be useful to Lothal and her people."
Mando didn't reply automatically, but I didn't expect him to. What I was proposing was so unorthodox, it surprised me too. I can only speak for myself, but all I've ever known was the Mandalorian and our ideals— to leave it would be astronomical.
Finally, the Mandalorian nodded and looked up, slipping his hand into mine, "Wouldn't hurt to try. And, there's nothing else we can do for the kid, so we might as well focus on making him safe and happy. Lothal is perfect."
I grinned from underneath my helmet, and quickly tapped our helmets together in an affectionate nature; a sign of love and respect from our people. I could feel Mando relax from my touch and I smirked yet again. I looked over at our accompaniment, and he was slowly drifting off, "I'm gonna put him to bed," I stated, slipping away from Mando's grip and scooping up the Child in my arms.
The male nodded in understanding and appreciation, and watched me leave with his kid in my arms. I could tell the man trusted me a lot to even let me near Grogu, but to carry him into a different room? I definitely earned his trust over our last few moons together.
By the time I reached Grogu's little hammock, the Child had fallen asleep comfortably in my arms. It was getting late, so I didn't blame him a bit— not like I would anyways. His small snores echoed through the bowels of the ship, causing me to smile from under my helmet. Placing him comfortably inside his hammock, I pulled his blankets over him and shut his door so he would fall out or wander through the ship if he prematurely woke.
Creeping back upstairs after leaving Grogu, I smirked at Mando who was now piloting the ship once more, "So, you know my name... you ever gonna tell me yours?"
Mando chuckled and shook his head, "Not a chance, doll."
"We've decided to abandon the Creed though," I commented, settling myself gently in his lap, which caught him by surprise, "This is a good start."
The male wrapped one arm around my waist, and one around my thigh to hold me on his lap securely, "I meant abandoning bounty hunting. I didn't think I'd have to give you my identity this fast."
"Shouldn't have made me fall for you so fast then," I chuckled in reply, leaning my helmet back on his again, "Who would've thought I could fall for someone who I don't know the name of, or what they even look like."
"Tis the curse of our people," he nodded, squeezing my thigh lovingly, "You're not like most people, (Y/N), and for that, you have my trust. Through thick and thin you've stood by my side these past few moons, and honestly, I couldn't have wished to spend them with anyone better. You can call me... Din. Din Djarin... Okay?"
I smiled from under my helmet at his name. Din. It had a nice ring to it. Din, the Mandalorian. Father to Grogu, the Jedi; and eye-catcher of (Y/N). Titles were rare these days, and I think I will keep that one to myself despite the accuracy. I didn't even recognize myself falling for Din Djarin before it was too late, and I doubt he did either. I mean, if he didn't feel the same, he wouldn't be allowing me to stay on his lap...
"Lothal inbound," the man commented, removing his hands from my waist and thigh, and slowly gaining the control of the ship once more, and beginning the landing process for the Razorcrest, "How's the Kid?"
I removed myself from his lap and strapped in the co-pilot seat, "He's fine. He fell asleep in my arms as I brought him to his quarters."
Din didn't reply after that. He was too focused; likely thinking about many things. Grogu, landing this ship, and possibly me. As a Mandalorian myself, I understand the inner turmoil he must be facing about us. I have never felt this way about another individual before, and I can almost guarantee Din hasn't either. Our old Creed made affection very difficult. Seeing into the souls was the only thing that built something more than a friendship for the Mandalorians. Physical looks weren't, and aren't an option...
The male Mandalorian expertly maneuvered the ship into a landing position away from any nearby civilization or source of life. I'm happy he did so. As we expressed before, Lothal is heavily influenced by the Empire, so being away from any city would only benefit us. Lothal however isn't the most influenced, so it would be safest for our precious cargo to stay here.
"Alright, since this is your special plan, what do you do now?" Din asked while powering down the ship, "There isn't much around, but I expect the industrious side of our lineage will soon come out."
"We could live out of the Razorcrest for a while," I suggested, getting a nod from him, "At least until we formulate a plan for ourselves. We could be hired protection on Lothal, or maybe completely go through with the abandonment of the Creed, and become simple merchants."
"If I could choose, I'd rather be hired protection," the male Mandalorian admitted, "It's all we've both ever known, and some time down on this planet won't change that."
"The Empire pays well," I commented back to my accompaniment, surprised the suggestion came from within myself, "We could get in with them. They have good benefits to their long-term soldiers as well. We could just keep young Grogu a secret for the time being."
Mando shook his head, "I don't know. That's fairly risky since it is the Empire that's hunting the Kid. We would be better off being merchants or farmers. I do not want to put him at risk in any shape, form, or fashion."
"Hired protection it is then," I nodded, not overly liking the idea of us settling down completely despite my earlier proposition. It sounded nice, but the idea of either of us settling down to be Puffer Pig farmers made me internally cringe. What a sad downfall the Mandalorian Creed has gone through, "But if you want to do something else, I'm by your side through it all. I don't care if we're dirt poor and putting all our recourses into Grogu, or the richest individuals on Lothal— I'm yours."
Din wrapped his fingers through mine, and I could feel his smile despite not being able to see it, thanks to his helmet. I was smiling too. Neither of us have had this loyalty from another individual before, and likely wouldn't have it again.
I rubbed the top of his hand with my thumb, and for one last time, laid my heavy, metal helmet against his; putting all my energy into the small touch we can share,
"You are my Creed," I whispered, my heart fluttering in my chest at even the sound of the words I just said, "A small Creed indeed, but without you, I am nothing."
"Name us the new and improved Mandalorian Creed then," Din commented, obviously happy at the comment I made, "This Creed won't experience the same fate as the old. We are eternal, through life or death, content with one cause.
"Protect and nurture the Child."
April 18th, 2021