#YES make Din bby overwhelmed

[shirks-all-responsibilities]

These two just can't get enough of each other, the horny neeeed, the depth of feelings even deeper after the last couple of chapters, I love them...

But okkkk that dirty talk she softly says in his ear and against his lips, all that praise and admiration and want and need she's injecting straight into his lil heart, A+++, poor Din has no defenses strong enough for that, gahhhhh I love men shuddering and groaning from the bottom of their horny lil primal soul like that, gimmmmeeee ittttt.

I have not watched S3 at all but have learned everytttthing I need to know from the reactions I've read here...it kinna breaks my heart, just thinking of what coulda been...sigh!

The Fourth Step - Chapter Twenty-Nine

Part of The World Is Light, Embodied.

Pairing: Din Djarin x F!Reader

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 3800

Warnings, etc.: SMUHHTT like you knew this was happening based on the last chapter, there’s a pattern at this point in the series, let’s see we’ve got some classic p in the v action, oral sex (m!receiving;), I didn’t mean to make a smiley face there but it works so it’s staying, wall sex because these two are so horny for each other they can’t even make it to the bed at first, roughish sex, lil bit of squirting, okay other stuff like fluff so mushy it’s indistinguishable, disgusting amounts of banter, creative use of Mando’a but shhh just let it happen

Notes: I know I’m a week late on this update. AGAIN. I KNOW. But if we all close our eyes and cross our fingers and toes and just believe then we can pretend this chapter is on time, just like we can pretend Season 3 is full of beautifully poignant moments between Din and Grogu and lots of natural character development and logical plot points that progress our understanding of the SW universe as a whole.

Okay last thing if anyone likes to listen to music while reading, this song inspired this particular chapter and much of this series overall:

Mando’a translations at the end of the chapter.

Please check out the Series Masterlist page for more info.

There’s something else there, now. Something between the two of you - intangible, invisible, but there. Like the pull that had drawn you to him in the first place, brought you back together each time you had parted, but more. 

No longer a simple tie but a knot formed by a constant, inaudible refrain, a rhythm felt in the beating of your heart, mirroring the pace of those words spoken in the cockpit. 

I love you, Din Djarin. 

I love you, tionas. 

It tightens as you make your way through the hold, tugging you back to him every time you step too far away. His fingers seem to follow it, gliding around your waist, cupping your cheek to pull your lips to his. 

A trail of armour marks your path, helmet the first to go as soon as the dark of the hold enveloped the two of you. His warmth is revealed to your touch bit by bit, flightsuit peeling away until only his thin underlayer covers the flexing muscle under your palms.

You lose track of where you are in the ship, the night cycle erasing your sight and the way his lips trail down your throat emptying your thoughts until all that’s left is an ache so deep you can feel it everywhere, the urge to twist yourself up tight into him until you can can’t tell where you end and he begins because there is no longer an end and a beginning, only this connection that binds you together. 

A heartbeat - yours or his or both - skips a steadily growing rhythm, catching with anticipation. 

His hands skirt over your hips, pull them to his own - the motion is a little sharper, a little harder than the rest, knocking your balance off just enough that you stumble. He catches you easily, reversing momentum to push you back against the wall. 

Anticipation shifts into arousal, want.

Need. 

He’s so close - not enough - pressed against you, his heat a sharp contrast to the cold of the durasteel at your back. A shiver runs through your entire body and he hums low in his throat, slips a hand under the hem of your nightshirt to slide up your back and rest between your shoulderblades, warmth a cushion against the chill. 

Another tremor follows in the wake of his hand. Even though he’s touched your back like this countless times now, it still makes your head light, your lungs gasp for breath. 

You thread your fingers through his hair and pull, silently asking, pleading, demanding.

He kisses you deep, pulls a whimper from your chest that he echoes with a groan. 

More need more -

Teeth scrape over the hinge of your jaw and fingers dig into your thigh, haul it up to curl around his waist and your hips roll instinctively, searching for -

Crikking hells yes - 

The hard length of his cloth-covered cock grinds over your cunt, pressing your damp underwear against your clit and sparks of pleasure rapid fire through your veins.

Not enough -

Your hands grab at his shoulders, haul him impossibly tighter against you as his tongue flicks along your pulse, hot and wet over where a whimper buzzes low, reverberating with his answering groan.

Something cracks and swells deep in your gut and a flood of need rushes through your core, shoves desperate words past your lips. “Need you inside me.”

His groan vibrates through your own chest. “Want to feel you, kar’ta, but I should get you ready -“

He chokes off as your hand slips into his underlayer, curls around his cock and squeezes. 

For a brief moment your intent wavers, distracted - pfassk, he feels so good against your palm, hard length pulsing, velvet skin burning with arousal. A warm droplet slides over your knuckles and your tastebuds tingle with the memory of how it feels on your tongue, the sharp bite of his pleasure. 

A wave of fresh slick dampens your underwear, so much that you can feel it on your hand through his underlayer and your focus resharpens, the need to feel him blazing over your skin. 

You stroke along the length of his cock, your pussy throbbing at his subsequent groan, and your free hand finds one of his, pulls it to your hip, hooks his fingers over the waistband of your underwear and tugs. 

A silent command, reinforced by your desperate verbal plea. 

“Gedet’ye, Din.”

He doesn’t hesitate, grips the thin fabric and rips the seam with one sharp pull. 

It bites into the flesh of your opposite hip but it’s only a flash of pain, almost instantly soothed by the brush of his hand down your side, pushing the remnants of your underwear down your thigh and to the floor. 

Then he’s pulling his underlayer out of the way and cool air is flowing over your fingers as you stroke his cock, bitten-back moans catching in his throat to the rhythm of your hand, pausing for just a heartbeat when you guide the head of his cock to your bare cunt, tilt your hips to drag him through your folds to your entrance and -

Yes yes yes -

His cock pushes apart your inner walls, inch by inch, spreading you around the thick of him until you can’t breathe, the sudden stretch overwhelming and so good a rush of wet heat floods your core. 

He grunts behind clenched teeth as he sinks another inch of his cock into your cunt. “So tight I can’t -“

“Don’t stop don’t please -“ Your voice cracks with a moan as your head falls back against the wall. 

His hips roll, a sharp movement that feels involuntary, dragging his cock from your pussy with a wet sound that makes you dizzy with pleasure before shoving back so deep you cry out, lights bursting at the edge of your darkened vision. 

Not enough -

Your fingers clench into the meat of his shoulders and your hips arch to take more of him.

A slew of Mandalorian words rushes hot over your collarbone. He growls low, thrusts again and finally -

Breathless groans mingle in the space between you as he buries deep, your slick folds swallowing the base of his cock greedily.

The ache throbs, momentarily satisfied, the need for connection slaked by the way your cunt pulses around his length. The thing between you loosens enough that you can breathe again, frantic need smoothing into calm, basking in the warm pleasure that spirals out from your core.

He stills, and a thick and heady silence falls around the two of you, his nose brushing alongside yours as he presses a soft kiss to your lips. “You’re too good at that.”

“At what?” You roll your hips as much as you can, moaning at the slight friction. 

He presses his hips tight to yours, preventing you from repeating the motion, his voice slightly breathless. “At testing my restraint.”

That strange, giddy feeling is back, a subtle vibration behind your ribs that urges you to laugh mingling with the primal instinct to move making your head light.

You duck your head quick to nip at his neck, skin catching on your teeth. “Good. You have too much of it, sometimes.”

He clicks his tongue in admonishment. “I need all of it around you, or this is all we’d do.”

“And that’s a bad thing?” You squeeze around his cock - pfassk that feels good - and he shifts, grunting in surprise, but still doesn’t move. 

Fine. Just have to play dirty. 

Your lips find his ear, fingers curving over his shoulders to dig your nails into his skin. “I want this, all the time. Want you all the time, just like this, your cock filling me up so good.”

He shudders hard, and you can feel it, that exact restraint, running through his frame even as he rocks forward, unable to stop his body from seeking pleasure despite his ridiculous willpower.

Almost there. 

You lean back, hands cupping his face gently as your lips pull his into the sweetest kiss you can manage with the urge to laugh and grind on his cock until you come warring in your chest. He wavers, practically melting against you, hand sliding along your thigh to grasp your waist with an almost-desperation. 

Then you pull back just enough, let your words brush over his mouth. 

“I think about you all the time, how perfect you feel like this, how deep you get - exactly where I need you. Like your cock was made for me.” Another tender press of your lips. “Like you were made for me.”

The moan that buzzes against your mouth fills your senses, and suddenly you’re swept up in your own game, a tiny sound slipping past your tight throat as he rests his forehead against yours, tears stinging the corners of your eyes. 

He turns his face to press a kiss to your palm. “You make me believe in fate, tionas.”

A thousand emotions sweep through you, leave you on the verge of gasping for air. That deep-seated connection flares to the surface, burns away any thought of mischievous games and playful teases.

His hands slide around the small of your back, arms winding tight, tilting your hips at angle as he gently rocks into you. The push of his cock along your inner walls floods your core with white-hot pleasure, your mouth falling open in a moan that he chases with a sweep of his tongue. 

Again he slowly pulls back and again he gently pushes in, over and over as pleasure spirals up and up through your body, trembles through every muscle. Your legs shake with it, threaten to crumble under your weight, and you whimper with the strain. 

His arms loosen for a moment, a hand grabs your thigh, hitches it higher around his waist. “Hold on to me, cyar’ika. I’ve got you.”

He thrusts in again and you cry out -

The soft cloth of his underlayer grinds over your clit as the head of his cock pushes against some spot inside you that blasts pleasure through your core. 

Again - 

Crikking hells -

Your hands fly to grasp his shoulders, senses reeling, entire body trembling. 

His hips roll, a smooth glide away and a sharp snap -

Oh kriff -

His cock hits that spot again and wet heat floods your cunt, dampens his underlayer, ignites sparks as it presses to your clit again and -

Again -

So good so good -

Your orgasm grows bright, pulsing with each thrust of his cock along the slick walls of your pussy and another snap of his hips and it’s right there -

He grunts as another wave of slick seeps from your cunt, arms pulling tight to keep you in place when the first shudder of pleasure rolls through your body. “Yes, come for me, just like that -“

Bright wet heat -

Pleasure crashes through your senses and you frantically grasp at him as your legs give out. “Din -“

He thrusts in deep and pushes you tight to the wall, one hand gripping the back of your raised thigh to keep you up and at that angle. 

A sob tears from your chest as his cock presses hard to that spot and your core clenches around him over and over with each wave of pleasure until finally -

The drop -

You’re slumping against him, fine tremors running through your frame, ribs aching with the need for air.

He sways just slightly, bracing your weight, a hand sliding up your back under your nightshirt, soothing, his voice a low murmur in your ear. “Breathe, kar’ta.”

Your fingers hurt - you uncurl them from where they’ve fisted in the cloth of his underlayer over his shoulders. A few deep breaths, the weight of his hand on your back a steady reminder.

Senses dulled by pleasure blink back online and you smooth the wrinkles your had had made in his underlayer, pressing a kiss to the curve of his neck. “You’re too good at that.”

A vibration under your lips marks his silent laugh as he obviously picks up on your echo of his words earlier. “At what?”

You swallow thickly, mouth dry from trying to steady your breathing, voice cracking with spent pleasure. “Making me come so hard I can’t stand up anymore.”

His cock twitches inside you and a shiver runs down your thighs, tracked by his fingers still gripping you there. “Then let me take you to bed and lay you down. I’m not done with you yet.”

You both groan as he pulls out, your cunt clenching at the sudden emptiness. He gently guides you through the dark hold, hands never leaving you, holding firmly when you falter. 

It’s only a handful of steps to your shared blankets but it’s enough to clear your thoughts of the post-bliss haze and reignite your craving for him. 

Your feet barely brush the fabric of the blankets before you turn to face him, slide your hands down his chest to rest on his thighs as you drop to your knees. 

He groans long and low as you lean in to press a kiss to the space just above your thumb. “I said I’m not done with you.”

“And I haven’t even started with you, yet.” 

You nip at the rise of his hipbone through his underlayer then immediately press your tongue to the spot, and the hiss of pleasure from above you curls into your core, arousal swirling to life once again. 

He cups your cheek with one hand, thumb brushing the corner of your lips. “Feeling you come on my cock wasn’t enough? That perfect pussy squeezing me so tight I couldn’t breathe - fuck -“

You turn to capture his thumb, suck it into your mouth, swirl your tongue over it then release with a pop. “No. I’m gonna make you come until you can’t stand up anymore.”

Then you reach up and grasp the base of his cock and lave your tongue along his length to pull the head into your mouth. 

Pfassk yes -

His taste floods your senses, thick warmth of his cock deliciously heavy on your tongue. 

The stuttered groan that chokes from his chest shoots right to your core and you squeeze your thighs against the pulse of want.

You sink forward, pushing his length along your tongue, moaning as it pulses and a hint of that bitter tang you’d wished for earlier finally coats your tongue. 

His hand slides from your cheek to the back of your head, trembling slightly as you slowly drag the flat of your tongue along the underside. “So good, so good to me -“

Your grip on his cock tightens, strokes up as you sink forward again, letting saliva pool in your mouth before pulling back. 

He shudders hard at the twist of your hand along his slick length, whimpers when you purse your lips against the head, tip of your tongue dipping into the slit to lap up the moisture beading there. Groans when you pick up a steady rhythm with your hand, pushing saliva from your pursed lips to coat his cock and ease the friction of your grip. 

Arousal builds steadily between your thighs, fed by every one of his sounds, every twitch of his cock, flex of his body as pleasure courses through him - pleasure you’re giving him. 

Pfassk, it’s all too much and not enough. 

Never enough. 

You duck down to mouth along the underside of his cock, tongue the thick vein that throbs with each pass of your hand. His fingers dig into your scalp, groan degenerating into desperate pants that fill your thoughts completely. 

Quickening the pace of your hand, you slide further down, nose along the base of his cock, swipe the flat of your tongue over the soft sac there. 

His cock throbs in your grip and his hand clenches on the back of your head. “Fuck - tionas -“

You moan in response, opening your mouth wide to let the vibrations ghost over the delicate skin and trace the tip of your tongue over the gentle swell before pulling it into the wet heat of your mouth. 

He chokes out a slew of unintelligible words and suddenly he’s grabbing your hand on his cock, squeezing to stop your movements, words shifting into something you understand. “Stop I want to come inside you please -“

Your pussy throbs at the desperation in his voice and you pull back, lean into the cup of his palm on the back of your head. “Yes, Din, come inside me. Fill me up with you.”

The flurry of movement is so disorienting you barely register the blankets at your back as he slots himself between your thighs and notches the head of his cock at your entrance, thrusts into your cunt with a single motion. 

Oh pfassk -

You’re so wet, slick from your previous orgasm and the feel of him coming apart on your tongue and his cock sinks deep with no resistance. A rough growl reverberates through his chest, makes your pussy squeeze him tight, and he sits back, hauls your thighs around his hips and grabs your waist firmly. 

There’s only a blink of a moment, a brief second when you register the sharp angle of your hips, resting on top of his thighs, bowing your back, and the hard press of the head of his cock against that spot deep inside that makes you fall apart so quickly. 

Then he’s thrusting hard and your awareness shatters until all you feel is his large hands holding you in place and his cock driving deep enough to shove the air from your lungs. 

Again again again -

The smack of skin and the squelch of slick as it floods your cunt matches the frantic rhythm of your heartbeat and the almost guttural groans punching through the air - his or yours, you can’t tell, everything is all too much and pleasure so white-hot it burns is coursing through your entire body and -

He shifts, thighs flexing underneath your ass, one hand sliding up under your shirt to cup a breast, grind his palm over your peaked nipple and the other diving down to swirl firm circles over your clit. 

Pfassk -

You’re floating and falling and your hands are everywhere, grabbing at the blankets, his forearms, the wall behind your head, desperate for something to hold on to.

His hand leaves your breast, grasps one of yours tight, and you cling to it, hold to your chest. 

His pace picks up and his cock is spearing into your core over and over and hitting that spot every time until something bursts and pleasure screams through your blood -

Everything is tight and wet and hot -

He cries out, pace faltering, slowing, fingers spasming on your skin, and your pleasure breaks just as the warmth of his fills your cunt.

A moment of calm, something soft and pure, thrumming along that connection between you. 

Your grasp on his hand loosens, pressing his palm to your skin, over the rapid beat of your heart. Letting him feel it. Feel what you feel for him. 

He sighs, a sound heavy with satiation, and slowly shifts away, pulling his softening cock from your pussy. A dip of disappointment curls in your stomach at the loss of him, until your hear the now-familiar rustle of fabric as he takes off his underlayer. 

You sit up enough to tug your nightshirt over your head, cool air of the hold swirling over your bare breasts for just a moment before he’s with you again, broad chest and warm skin pressing tight to yours, and you sink back down into the blankets, a sigh of your own filtering through the silence as his weight settles over you. 

His hand cups your cheek, thumb stroking over the curve as his lips find yours, kiss you softly. You breathe deep, release his hand to curl your arms around his neck and keep him close. 

The kiss grows, deepens, unhurried and thorough. You lose yourself in it, content to stay just like this for as long as you can. 

Forever, if possible. 

A thrill jumps along your heartbeat, pools in your chest. 

Maybe it is. 

Maybe you can have this, have him. Forever. 

You just have to let yourself have it. 

I love you, Din Djarin. 

I love you, tionas. 

Nudging your nose to his cheek, you break the kiss just enough to speak. “Din. I love you. Really.”

You’re still close enough to feel his smile against your lips. “I know. And I love you. Really.”

A teasing lilt seeps into his voice and you pull back further, imitating his own exasperated sigh perfectly. “Mir’sheb.”

He huffs his laugh and rolls onto his back, arms hooking around your waist to take you with him. “Of course that’s your favourite Mando’a word.”

You squirm into your usual position when you lay like this, one leg sprawled over his hips and a hand spread over his heartbeat, your nose tucked into the curve of his neck, revelling in the feel of his bare skin against yours for a moment. “Teach me more and I might find another.”

A pause, his fingertips tracing circles on the back of your hand. “How about ‘gar cuyir bid vercopa be ner kar’ta.’”

Your thoughts flicker, picking up on the last word. “You’ve called me that before. Kahrohta.”

He hums in agreement. “It means ‘heart.’ I’ve called you that in my head for a long time.” His fingers stop their pattern, gently grasp your hand to lift it to his lips and press a kiss to the centre of your palm. “‘Gar cuyir bid vercopa be ner kar’ta.’ You are the dream of my heart.”

Your breath catches in your throat, emotion swarming up your chest to sting behind your eyelids. “Pfassk. Is this how all Mando’a lessons start? I wasn’t emotionally prepared for kriffing poetry.”

His snort of laughter vibrates under your cheek. “Of course you would curse - twice - when told something like that.”

“I liked it.” You return your hand to his chest, push gently in protest. “I just wasn’t expecting it.”

He presses your hand tight to his chest, halting your attempt to push him again, and tucks you in closer to his side. “I will say that and more, for as long as you’ll let me.”

You still, his words echoing your own thoughts moments before. 

For as long as you’ll let me. 

Rising up on your elbow, you look down at him in the dark. “How do you say ‘forever?’”

A hand glides up your back and down again, thumb tracing the curve of your spine. “Darasuum.”

Slowly, you lean down, press a kiss to his lips. “Din Djarin, I will let you darasuum.”

When he kisses you again you can feel the rhythm of those words in the skittering of the heartbeat under your palm and in the pulse of your own in your chest, threaded through with that something else, that intangible knot pulling you together.

***** Mando’a translations

tionas - question

cyar’ika - sweetheart

gedet’ye - please

***** Previous Chapter

[thatonetimetraveller]

Chapter 2 - Cin Vhetin - T’ad

22 BBY - 7955

Din woke slowly this time, the beeping of medical equipment audible through the helmet’s audio sensors. He could sense movement just outside his peripheral vision so he sat slowly taking care not to pull at his back… the constant ache of the old wound was gone. Alertness coming back to him as he remembered the disjointed events of the day prior. His mind was sluggish but at least he could think clearly, the too big helmet helping him stay grounded. He was 30 years in the past, in the child version of his body. He flexed his hands and stretched his back, he groaned in satisfaction. He hasn't been able to do that since the injury, his back was always too stiff. Yes, he was definitely smaller. The weight of his red robes registered and he sucked in a breath, he hadn't seen those robes since his parents’ death. He lifted the edge of it under his helmet and gave it a good sniff. Ka’ra, it smelled like Aq-Vetina, the rich earthy scent of his first parents still strong, mixed with the distinct smell of spices on the market. There were other smells too like ash and blood but for once he ignored those, basking in the memory of his birth parents.

The door opened and Helix walked in, datapad in hand. He glanced up when he sensed Din looking at him and gave him a gentle smile

“Hey, kid” Helix pulled up a stool beside the bed and sat, keeping himself relaxed. Din nodded in greeting the helmet wobbling on his head.

“Do you know where you are?” Helix asked gently and Din tried not to let his irritation show since he did attack them yesterday and his mind was still hazy

“A Republic cruiser” He answered and Helix nodded

“Good. Can you tell me the year?” Din paused just to make sure he got the date right since it’s been decades since he last used CRC

“7955” Helix gave him a gentle smile and stood and began to fiddle with one of the medical equipment in the room. Din watched him like a hawk when a thought occurred to him in his still sluggish mind.

“Did you drug me?” he asked suspiciously and Helix stilled and turned back to Din

“Yes. Some weak sedatives and a mild Force suppressant” Din furrowed his eyebrows at that

“Force suppressant?” Why would he need that? He doesn’t have magic like Grogu or the jetii. Helix hummed

“The General suggested it since you weren’t sleeping well” he explained but Din was even more lost

“What do my dreams have to do with magic osik?” He asked incredulously and Helix froze as a scanner clattered on the floor

“Kark” He swore as he gathered the dropped item, shaken; though how Din knew since Helix appeared perfectly composed was a mystery. He turned to Din muttering some curse under his breath then leveling Din with a serious look

“You don’t know?” he asked and Din was starting to get nervous that something was wrong with him

“Know what?” He tilted his head to the side in confusion. Helix closed his eyes in pain and sighed

“Can I comm the General? He would be more suited for this conversation” Din looked at Helix in shock, the short time he knew the medic he was always confident knowing what to say, taking control of the situation with ease. Anxiety rolled in his stomach, but his instincts weren’t giving him any bad vibes so he reluctantly nodded

“Sure,” he said. Helix jumped into action and keyed in the General’s frequency, he picked up a tense minute later

“General, there’s a problem in room 27” Helix said voice level and the comm was silent for agonizingly long seconds

“Copy that” Kenobi’s voice was on edge as he disconnected from the comm. Helix sat back on the stool

“It’s nothing bad, Beroya” He tried to soothe. Din raised an eyebrow and tilted his bucket with a snort filled with disbelief

“I’m not a child, you don’t have to coddle me” Helix sucked in a breath his eyes filling with pain

“Oh, right”

The door hissed open and Kenobi rushed in followed by Kote, Din relaxed at the sight of them.

“Is everything alright vod?” Kote asked in a harsh and caring voice. Helix stood, gave Kote a nod with a small smile, and turned to Kenobi

“General he uh… doesn’t know” Both of them looked at Helix in shock the medic did not hesitate - ever. Kenobi blinked in confusion, then his eyes settled over Din while Kote eyed Helix. Din was so confused. What doesn’t he know? It was something fundamentally big he managed to miss in over 40 years. He watched warily as Obi-Wan pulled another chair from the corner and sat, Kote settled on the edge of his bed patting his leg comfortingly.

“What did Helix tell you?” Obi-Wan asked and Din’s attention snapped to him

“I was given sedatives and a Force suppressant?” he furrowed his eyebrows “I was told it helped me sleep better” Din was plagued with nightmares and dreams that came true since he was a child. Sometimes they remained in his head as an eerie echo or other times they were weird and cryptic but they always came true and left him more exhausted than he should be when he woke. Strangely though when the goran gave his beskar buy’ce the intensity of the dreams lessened, she said it would help him.

“Yes, visions are taxing on your body and mental wellbeing so in extreme cases or with an untrained Force user, mild Force suppressants are given to limit your exposure. Don’t worry it shouldn’t interfere with your connection to the Force too much” Kenobi gave him a reassuring smile and panic was rising violently in Din despite the sedatives.

“General, I think you went a bit too fast” Kote commented, his voice heavy with barely concealed sarcasm but Din could tell he was laughing on the inside. Din’s mind was blank, his hands were shaking

“I-I don’t understand. My dreams… I … have jetii magic? Neret’yc” he mumbled and grabbed the sides of his helmet with his shaking hands caught in his own feedback loop of panic and confusion

“Oh dear,” Obi-Wan mumbled while Kote scrambled off the bed and knelt in front of him gently prying his hands away from the bucket.

“Gar morut’yc” He whispered. Din slowly came down from the panic, his mind still an anxious mess but he could think again. He really should stop losing control like that. It was like his usual controls were gone and everything felt more powerful than usual, including his own emotions. It was exhausting and humiliating still, he thanked Kote and turned back to Obi-Wan who looked at him sheepishly.

“I’m sorry, Beroya. I shouldn’t have dumped it onto you like that. I assumed you knew” Discomfort weighed heavy on his heart at the apology but before he could say anything Helix whacked Kenobi on the back of his head. He let out a quiet oof. Terror spiked in Kote as he stared in shock

“Di’kut. That’s why I called you here” Helix snipped, then his face morphed into horror as his words registered and at Kenobi’s bewildered stare “Sir” he added as he straightened fearfully

“I deserved that one” Obi-Wan smiled and patted Helix on the arm. Once the General conceded, Kote burst into giggles, his lingering fear also disappearing from his shoulders. Helix glowered at him

“So… I have jetii magic?” Din asked before the vode could start a fight. Obi-Wan grimaced

“The Force but yes” Din hummed processing the information trying to put the two separate boxes of jetii osik and Mando’ade together without much success. There was something missing.

“What I want to know is how did Beroya miss this for over 30 odd years?” Kote interjected and he had a point. Obi-Wan stroked his beard in thought

“Many Force sensitive adults don’t know as the Force doesn’t always manifest with telekinesis, it could be good instincts, faster reaction time, better aim, visions of the future in dreams or just a heightened sense of empathy” Obi-Wan explained. Din looked down at his hand curiously

“I thought I always had good instincts” he mumbled “It feels different now though” Kote’s eyes snapped to his bucked in alarm, Helix’s hand tightening on his arm to keep him in place

“How?” Obi-Wan probed. Din, shrugged

“Clearer and louder. I… out of control” he said, words failing to convey the difference. Obi-Wan sucked in a breath

“Are you shielding, young one?” Din tilted his head in confusion

“I can protect my mind?” He asked innocently and Obi-Wan’s hand returned to his beard in thought then his eyes lit up in understanding

“Was your beskar’gam made of beskar?” he asked and Din bristled

“Of course it was,” he said with a little pride in his voice, his armor was his life after all. Obi-Wan tongue clicked

“Beskar blocks the Force. There are special alloys with a lower concentration of beskar made for Force sensitives”

“It does? But then why would…” It occurred to him that his dreams weren’t as severe when he slept with his buy’ce.

“Val ru’kar’taylir bal ru’ne’vaabir rejorhaa’ir ni'' They knew and did not tell me he murmured in disbelief. Why didn’t she tell him or make him a better beskar’gam? The stab of betrayal spread through his veins, his back aching in phantom pain. He wanted to throw something, anger bubbling up in him like lava, hot and dangerous. Kote placed a hand on his and the lava flowed into Kote leaving him empty

“It’s alright. I’m sure they had a reason” He said but the simmering outrage inside Kote remained. Grogu, the Empire wanted them for the same reason, maybe she was protecting him. The sting of lies and betrayal faded to a throb as he thought it over

“The Empire wanted Force sensitive children,” he said, his voice empty. It made sense now. Obi-Wan sucked in a sharp breath in pain.

“Are you alright?” Din asked and Obi-Wan nodded though he was still massaging his temple, his blue eyes found Din’s through the visor.

“How about I teach you how to shield? You might not feel as overwhelmed as much” he suggested and Din stared at him

“I can’t be a jetii, I’m a Mando’ad” He declared, his heart conflicted. The wrongness of becoming a jetii an enemy of Mandalore and his ingrained fear of his new and unknown powers conflicted with the instinct - that may or may not be the Force - telling him that it’s right, almost nudging towards that path. His thoughts flickered back to the confusing jetii’kad that Grogu gave him, the blade felt like a part of himself.

oOo

9 ABY - 7986

The Razor Crest was floating in empty space while Din tried to get his bearings and figure out potential allies after the mess on Nevarro. Rage boiled within him at the thought of that demagolka Gideon wanted his child. He sighed, lifted his helmet just enough to pinch the bridge of his nose when the cries of the child registered. They were their usual ‘I want attention’ cries but this time they were quite forceful and determined. Din set a course to a random backwater planet and jumped the Crest into hyperspace. The child was wailing now so Din climbed down the ladder to see what they wanted.

The child was sitting on a box, regarding him with intelligent eyes. Not a sign of their earlier distress

“What’s wrong adi’ka?” he asked as he stepped closer to examine them. Fierce determination radiated from their posture as their face adorably scrunched up in concentration

“Protect” Din sucked in a breath at the sudden thought that entered his mind, it was definitely not his. He sank down to the floor in shock and regarded the ad in wonder, his hands shook.

“That… that was you adi’ka?” he asked, his voice giddy with excitement. He finally had a way to communicate with the child to understand them, love swelled inside his chest. The child huffed in annoyance and concentrated some more

“PROTECT” They shouted in his head and Din’s mind almost ripped in half from the force of it. He took a steadying breath and held up a hand to stop the ad from doing it again but louder. A headache was beginning to form

“Alright, adi’ka. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to protect you” he said regret filling his voice. What kind of a Mandalorian can’t protect a child? The ad mewled in irritation cutting off Din’s destructive thoughts and pointed a shaky claw at him while glaring at him like it was his fault for not understanding. It was adorable and Din’s heart melted at the sight. Din furrowed his eyebrows in confusion once he puzzled out the message the child wanted to convey

“You want to protect me?” he asked in mild horror. The child smiled and nodded vigorously, ears flopping around like a dog as they began to shuffle around. Din’s heart ached in sorrow at their lost innocence

“Oh, cyar’ika” he breathed out, failing to keep his emotions out of his voice “I can protect myself. It’s not your responsibility,” he said as he gently reached out to lay a comforting hand on their shoulder. The ad’s big dark eyes gazed at him with confusion their ears down turning before scrunching up their nose in determination

“Promised” Din tightened his hand in worry and sighed

“Who?” The child gazed at him with sad yet knowing eyes as they pointed another shaky claw in his direction and Din recoiled in shock

“Me? I - I would never ask you to promise anything like that” he said incredulously he would never burden a child with such a promise. The ad’s eyes turned somber at that, their expression the most serious he’s ever seen and it disturbed him to his core. What has this child gone through?

“Too young” They declared their ears drooping with exhaustion and through the haze of confusion Din reached out to steady them. What did they mean he was too young? His mind was filled with more questions than answers from this strange conversation with the child. They finally pulled a cylindrical object out of the many folds of their robe and pressed it into Din’s hand

“Gift” they whispered weakly in his mind before collapsing in his arms. Din stared at the child, sleeping peacefully and then the object in his hand.

“Oh adi’ka what have you gotten yourself into?” he said voice laced with barely suppressed pain before leaning down and pressing his forehead to theirs

“Vor entye adi’ka” he murmured before tugging the snoring bundle into their hammock and shutting the door.

He studied the cylindrical object in his hand. It looked like a hilt of a weird sword, at the top four metal pieces were surrounding the inner part of the hilt like a crown. There was a band of shiny metal that appeared to be beskar curving around the middle of the hilt, two small buttons were nested on the side of the band. Below the dark leather grip at the bottom of the hilt was a cap painted vibrant orange. The leather was worn and fraying in some places and the beskar had some scorch marks on it.

He gripped the hilt and it slid into his hand perfectly, with a burning curiosity he thumbed one of the buttons. The sudden hum and light had him almost dropping the weapon. An orange blade materialized out of the hilt humming with glee and lighting up the interior of the hull with a soft orange glow. Din stared at the weapon with shock, he hadn’t seen anything like it in his life but strangely the weapon seemed to recognize him. It was singing to him Din realized, happiness pouring out of the weapon in waves, how he knew he had no clue. He gave it a slow experimental swing entranced by its joyful orange glow. It was strange the blade itself had no weight so his balance was off and he gave it another swing. The blade cut through the air fluidly humming with delight. Giddiness bubbled up inside him as he gave the weapon a good twirl. The blade hummed with the joy of long lost friends reuniting and Din laughed with the blade. Beeping broke Din out of his feedback loop of happiness barely loud enough over the humming of the blade. Din sighed, gifted the blade one last twirl and gave it a long longing look then thumbed the off switch. The blade died down leaving the room oddly dark and quiet. Emptiness he didn’t notice before registered for the first time in his life. He clipped the hilt to his belt and climbed up to the cockpit just as the Razor Crest lurched out of hyperspace.

oOo

22 BBY - 7955

Someone was talking through the haze that surrounded Din. His memory was clearing and he was in the medical bay of an unknown ship. He blinked in confusion

“Beroya?” The man at the end of the bed asked his brows drawn in concern. The ginger man placed a hand on his, Din jumped

“Did you have a vision?” He asked. His head cleared slowly; he was on a Republic ship, he was 44 in the body of his 12 year old self and he had the Force. Kote was at the end of his bed sat by his leg, Helix was standing behind Kenobi the jetii who just offered to train him. He sighed

“No, just a memory,” He thought back to the vivid memory he just remembered, he had a jetii’kad. Did he get one in the past? Did he give it to Gorgu? Why didn’t he keep it? He stared at his hands in confusion

“Beroya, teaching you how to shield doesn’t mean you have to become a Jedi,” Kenobi said reading his doubts, Helix hummed behind him. Din lifted his head and gazed at Obi-Wan

“But I have the Force?”

“There are many sentients who have the Force and are not Jedi”

“Oh,” he was quickly realizing that knew so little about all of the Force osik stuff. Right now, despite his instincts insistence otherwise, he did not want to abandon his Mandalorian heritage but he needed training to understand his powers better and to be able to protect himself when push comes to shove. He looked at Kenobi his helmet wobbling on his head

“I’ll accept your offer” Kenobi sighed in relief and Kote patted his leg, pride radiating off of him. Kenobi turned to Kote

“Cody make sure everything is set up” Kote nodded, gave Din a smile, and left the room Helix leaving with him

Kenobi gestured for him to stand and sit opposite him on the floor

“So, have you meditated before, young one?” Obi-Wan asked once Din had settled into a comfortable position. He shook his head

“Close your eyes and feel the Force around you. Take a deep breath through your nose and let it out slowly” Din followed Obi-Wan’s instructions calming his mind and letting the familiar yet unfamiliar feeling of the Force into him and wash over him. He gasped, he could feel Obi-Wan sitting across from him, his mind similarly calm but he was the brightest presence on the ship. He could also feel Helix shuffling around with some medical equipment next door and the thousands of different yet similar beings on the ship all glowing in his mind’s eye and moving through their duties like a well-oiled machine. He could pick out Kote’s light from among the rest, he was a warm, strong and steadfast presence, the one he would associate with a good leader or parent.

“Good, now imagine laying a wall between yourself and the rest,” Obi-Wan murmured from the outside, barely audible. Din slowly began building the wall in his mind, brick by brick reinforcing it with beskar along the way. Gradually the lights dimmed and their emotions that he’s been picking up quieted to a hum. His own emotions, now easier to separate, were clearer and easier to control from the absence of thousands of other emotions. He felt Obi-Wan pull away so he slowly climbed his way to consciousness. He blinked his eyes open, his chest lighter since he woke up in the past. He breathed out a sigh of relief. And his stomach rumbled. Obi-Wan who was already on his feet smiled good naturedly at Din and held out a hand, Din grabbed it and let him pull him to his feet.

“Vor’e” He thanked Obi-Wan

The door swished open and Helix walked with Kote right behind him carrying a big bag in his hand. Din tilted his head in question, putting a hand on his helmet to stop it from banging against his skull. Obi-Wan smiled at Kote.

“Oh good, you’ve got it” Kote grinned with excitement, his presence enveloping Din. He looked at the bag curiously as he sat back on the bed, legs swinging in anticipation. Kote hefted the bag onto the bed with a low grunt.

“We did the best we could,” Kote said as Din peered into the bag. His heart stopped. There was a whole set of beskar’gam made out of plastoid in the bag. He picked up the buy’ce cradling it in his hands in wonder tracing the edge of the T-visor with his finger. The design was like the armor Kote and his brothers wore but smaller, tailored to his size. He placed the buy’ce aside then lifted each piece out with care and wonder, each piece was snow white - Cin Vhetin - the color of a new beginning, it was fitting he mused silently. He laid them out on the bed in the traditional way he was taught as a child, admiring the full set.

“You could paint it if you want to,'' Helix suggested as he stood behind him. Din tilted his head in thought he never felt the need to paint his armor, then when he got the full beskar set and it didn’t feel right to paint it, the unpainted beskar showing his penance for almost becoming dar’buir. Now though he could imagine the swirling patterns of various designs on the white surface.

“I’ll think about it” he murmured then he hesitated for a moment before turning to Kote. “Uh… could you leave?” He asked and embarrassment coated his voice, Kote nodded in understanding and they quietly left the room. Once the door was shut behind them Din unclipped his red robe, folded it neatly and set it aside, and pulled on the black flight suit that came with the armor. Then he clipped each piece on with familiar ease of weaning armor his entire life and tightened the belts where he felt the plastoid slack. It fit surprisingly well to his new thin lanky frame. The plastoid was lighter and more flexible than his beskar of his previous beskar’gam and he’ll have to adjust to that. He gripped the helmet in his hands and stared at his new face with an odd sense of disappointment, something wasn’t quite right with it but he couldn’t figure out what. Still, it would be better than Kote’s too big bucket that wobbled precariously every time he moved his head. He lifted the bucket off his face and glanced around expecting the room to transform into an Imperial cell but it stayed mostly the same. Not wanting to chance another episode he placed his new buy’ce on his head. The slight hiss as it connected was a comfort he forgot he needed, he sighed as he finally felt safe in his own skin. He knocked on the door harshly to signal Kote and the others that he was done. Kote and Helix walked in and Din tilted his head in confusion

“Where’s Kenobi?” Helix shrugged

“He had to go up to the bridge since we’ll be rendezvousing with the 501st soon” he explained and Kote mock glared at his brother. Din held out Kote’s bucket and he grabbed it his hands shaking slightly

“Vor entye, Kote,” He said gratefully as tears prickled in the corner of his eyes. The warmth from Kote grew as it enveloped him like a hug. He beamed at him while Helix looked between them with a confused frown.

“You’re welcome Beroya” He clapped him on the shoulder still grinning

“How about we grab some food,” he said as he dragged him out of the room he’s been in the past few days. Din’s heart sped up.

“I can leave?” he asked with confusion. He was under the impression that he was a prisoner even if he was a nicely treated one. Helix who was following behind them sucked in a breath

“Of course you can,” he said with some incredulity. Din shrugged half heartedly

“I thought since I attacked your men that I would be a prisoner” He had to keep a tight hold on his new and fragile shields so as to not get swept away by the violent flood of Kote’s and Helix’s emotions.

“Well, at first you were” Kote admitted scratching the back of his neck and Helix shot him a look

“Oh” Din sighed, Kote held up a dramatic hand

“But! You were hallucinating and you apologized and you haven’t given us reason to treat you a prisoner since” Kote explained hastily and warmth spread across Din, he hummed and examined the hallway to distract himself from the strange emotion. The hallways, while similar to an Imperial ship at a first glance, had enough of a different feel to them that Din could differentiate the two. Troopers were walking about hurrying to their destination, some gave Kote a salute and smile, while others did a double take at the sight of Din. Their stares did not affect him since he was used to them when he had the full beskar beskar’gam. There were a few who huddled together and whispered something to the others, no doubt the gossip train had started already. Din sighed, the gossip amongst the Covert was bad since most of them never left the sewers of Nevarro but it may reach a new level of horrible since he was the center of the latest gossip.

They arrived at the mess hall quicker than he expected. Clones were in large groups around the tables, their chatter and the clatter of utensils echoed throughout the entire room. The tables were long white and organized into neat rows though some of the benches were askew and the shouts of rowdy bunch cut through the background noise. Din’s mind tried to puzzle out a way to escape eating but Kote grabbed his arm and dragged him towards the cue, once he realized Din was lingering in the doorway. Din sighed. He stared at the small selection of food, mostly ration bars and some instant meals that were even less appetizing.

“Don’t tell me you’re just as bad at eating regularly as the General,” Helix joked from next to him. Din did eat less than he should. The fact that he couldn’t remove his helmet in most establishments and that he was reluctant to spend more than the bare minimum on food since most of the money went to the Covert and the foundlings - all of that meant that he skipped a few meals here or there. Helix raised an eyebrow at him, a mean scowl on his face at Din’s silence.

“Well, I-” he began to explain himself when Helix held up a hand

“The Force and meditation are not adequate replacements for food and sleep damn it!” Helix ranted as stacked 5 ration bars and some goop onto the tray, Kote snickered

“General Kenobi would argue,” he said with a smile

“The General can kiss my shebs” Helix grumbled with some ire and Din blushed then he remembered Helix’s earlier words

“The Force can be used that way?” he asked in wonder, wishing he knew a better way to stay awake at the countless long sleepless nights he had while hunting. Helix whirled around pointing a finger in his face with a glare, scowl still present

“Forget I said anything” He declared dramatically with a long sigh. Kote was snickering in the background while Helix kept grumbling to himself. Din followed after them knowing that he won’t lose them since he could pick out Kote’s warm presence in the crowd but it felt better to keep them in sight

“I only ate enough to sustain myself because the Covert needed the rest of the credits,” He said the urge to explain himself to Kote and Helix was strong. They reached a relatively empty table and Helix pushed the tray of food towards him as soon as they sat down. He stared at the food with trepidation and Helix sighed

“There is no shortage of food here Beroya” Helix gestured to the food, chewing on a ration bar himself “So eat” Din sighed

“I can’t” He bit out after a moment of hesitation. Helix and Kote exchanged a concerned look and he got the distinct impression of Kote wanting to hug him

“Why not?” Kote asked. Din looked down shamefully at his hands, he already broke the Creed several times first to save Grogu but that was fine since foundlings came above all else. But now so many people had seen him, not just without his buy’ce but without his beskar’gam so can he even be called a Mando’ad? Who was he if not a Mandalorian? His thoughts circled around that question so he clung to the traditions that would reject him in a vain attempt to define himself

“I can’t remove the helmet,” He said, eyes still locked on his hands. He felt the spike of concern, irritation, and shock from Kote

“Who told you that?” his voice was low and angry though not directed at him still he flinched slightly

“No one. This is the Way” he echoed, the once comforting words felt wrong and hollow coming from his mouth.

“The Way?” Helix asked his voice returning to the gentle prod he used earlier when he thought he was dreaming

“The Way of the Mandalore. I can’t remove my helmet in front of any living being or I become dar’manda”

“But you didn’t have a helmet before Cody gave you his” Helix’s voice was gentle and he could feel Kote stewing next to him

“Exactly, I already broke the Creed” He couldn’t say it out loud that would make it real and he was already hollow and directionless. The Covert would certainly not accept him back now if he could even find them

“That’s bantha shit!” Kote exploded and Din’s head snapped up to him

“What?” He whispered and his voice shook in bewilderment

“You just didn’t have a helmet when you got here! What if someone removed your helmet if you got captured? What are you supposed to do then?” Kote ranted “Besides, having a helmet does not make you Mandalorian. Then the vode wouldn’t be Mando’ade” His face was red from anger, Helix nodded along a similar expression of outrage on his face and Din stared at them in shock. Anger not directed at him radiated off of the both of them. Din’s heart swelled with an unknown emotion as he looked back at his food

“I…” he was at a loss for words as Kote deflated

“I’m still not comfortable removing the helmet,” he declared after a moment of silence. His mind whirling with shock. Both of them nodded in understanding

“We understand Beroya” Helix said

“But if you ever feel comfortable enough know that we won’t judge you” Kote finished. His heart squeezed in gratitude and warmth filled him, Din ducked his head.

Kote and Helix returned to their bland meal and Din glanced around the noisy mess hall. Troopers were talking boisterously, some slapping each other on the shoulder or arm as a show of comredradie. He spotted a few not so subtly ogling him but he ignored them. They felt happy and unrestrained. So when the back of his neck prickled with the usual sense of danger Din was taken aback and whirled around a second too late. The punch landed squarely on his bucket, rattling his head for a moment. The trooper had no paint on their armor and sported a mean scowl on his face, Kote sprang up from his seat growling at the trooper

“Slick, what the hell do you think you are doing?” Slick ignored his commanding officer and only sneered at the stunned Din anger rolling off of him in waves.

“You attack our men and then you have the audacity to wear our armor!” He said with disgust. The easy going chatter around them died down to a hushed whisper as everyone stared at them. Kote walked up to Slick with a furious expression and his voice was barely restrained, hard with the promise of violence

“Stand down Sergeant” He ordered. The order fell on deaf ears as Slick glared at Kote with no fear besides the tide of righteous anger

“No sir” he ground out “Don’t you see that he’s just another nat-born pretending to like us, to be one of us” He gestured to the rest of the clones

“Ni ceta” Din apologized as he stood, wobbling slightly on his legs. Slick sneered

“Oh, now he speaks our language too.” His voice was heavy with sarcasm “What’s next? You gonna paint your armor like us too? Is stealing our language and freedom not enough for you?” Slick accused loudly venom filling his voice and being

“Stand down Sargeant! That’s an order!” Kote bellowed his voice echoing throughout the silent mess hall. Din straightened feeling the anger rise in him at the unwarranted accusations

“I am a Mando’ad and I do not steal anyone’s freedom” He declared his voice steady and sure, his earlier doubts gone for the moment.

“Yeah, right” Slick huffed and raised his hand for another punch. Kote had enough and with a swift move restrained Slick bending his arm around his back painfully. He gestured for two clones their armor painted orange and handed the seething Slick over to them

“Maybe a few hours in the brig will teach you a lesson” He nodded to the two clones who dragged Slick away who was still glowering at Din with hatred.

“Alright boy fun’s over” Kote declared to the spectators and the rest of the troopers slowly returned to their meals though the chatter was more subdued than before

Kote sank back into his seat with a tired sigh and Din followed soon after. His mind still reeling at the pure hatred Slick directed his way like he was the cause of all of his problems. But before he could ask Kote why Slick hated him so much, two clones sat at their table, one next to Kote and one next to Din. Kote sighed in irritation and glared at the two clones while Helix snickered

“Waxer, Boil, what are you doing here?” Kote asked, his voice and posture tired with all the bantha shit that happened since Din left his room. Waxer was looking at him wearily from across the table and Din tilted his head in question. Boil, appearing to not have the same hesitation looped an arm around Din’s shoulder and grinned at him. Both Din and Waxer tensed.

“So you’re the verdi’ka who beat up Waxer,” he said with a good humored smile, Din tensed his shoulders. Kote gave a long suffering sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose, and Din opened his mouth to apologize again

“If you’re here to cause trouble...” Kote began

“Oh, we’re not assholes like Slick” Waxer chuckled relaxing slightly, Boil grinned and nudged Din

“Waxer was just too scared to ask the verd’ika for a rematch,” Boil said with a sly smile. Waxer rose and hit Boil across the table his face red with embarrassment

“I’m not!” he squeaked out, Kote tried to wrangle the two brothers to calm down and Helix was outright cackling now while Din stared at the chaotic scene in confusion.

“Why?” he blurted out and the chaos around the table as they stared at him. Waxer seeming to overcome his fear looked at him

“Because you’re good and it’s nice to spar with someone new,” He said earnestly

“Hear, hear” Boil chanted as he lifted his drink. Din looked at them both finding his instincts or the Force were telling him that they weren’t lying so Din agreed with a nod

“Sweet, sparring room 5 after the mission?” Waxer said vibrating in his seat with excitement

“Calm down vod’ika” Helix chastised and Din shrugged his heart soaring at the thought of a good spar since all his recent fights had been life or death situations, it’ll be nice to let out some steam.

“Sure” he agreed with a hidden smile. Waxer cheered, Boil rolled his eyes in fondness and then they soon left after that whispering amongst themselves in excitement. Kote turned to Helix with a raised eyebrow

“You were batchmates with them right?” Helix grinned mischief entering his eyes

“Yeah Waxer and Boil were always a chaotic duo”

“Batchmates?” Din asked curiously both of them tensed and stilled, fear spiking in them for a second but then it was replaced by humor again

“Batchmates grew up together, they were usually decanted in the same batch of 5” Helix explained, Kote was still tense though

“Like brothers,” Din said

“All the clones are vode but yes in a way batchmates are closer” There was a smile in Helix’s voice and Kote seemed to shrink in on himself a haunted look crossing his eyes but before Din could ask if he was alright his comm beeped with a message. Kote grinned and stood all, his fear disappearing instantly, Din tilted his head curiously

“Come on Rex’ika will be here soon,” He said with mirth, Helix stood and Din followed. Helix tossed him a ration bar with a scowl, Din fumbled to catch it

“Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you haven’t eaten today” he grumbled and Din gulped. Instead of answering he redirected the conversation away from himself

“Rex’ika?” he asked as he followed Kote since he wasn’t told to go back to the medical room

“My vod’ika” Kote grinned “He’d love to meet you”

“Really?”

“The 501st and General Skywalker are a rowdy bunch so I’m sure you’ll fit right in,” Helix said with a grin. Din paused, stunned the jetii who took Grogu away was younger than him so he shouldn’t be here unless he was near human and aged slower. Din snapped out of his musings when he felt the presence of Kote and Helix move away, he jogged to catch up with them.

“General Skywalker?” He asked a bit winded, Helix chuckled at that

“He is one of the best Generals in the GAR besides Kenobi” he added at Kote’s mock glare

“His plans may seem reckless but he has the fewest losses in the entire army. Rex is certainly not bored under him” Kote said with a proud smile

“At least he doesn’t lose his lightsaber every other battle” Helix teased, Kote sighed in exasperation

“Don’t remind me” he grumbled, Din watched in fascination. Helix left for the medbay about halfway to the hangar. They arrived at the hangar soon after that. It was busy, the engines of the landing LAATs and shuttles deafening, hundreds of troopers all decked out in blue armor were milling about the place, chattering amongst each other and greeting the troopers with orange paint enthusiastically. Kenobi was in the middle of the action directing the troopers and the landing crafts. But before they could reach him a clone with a blue pauldron and jaig eyes painted on his helmet approached them. Kote grinned

“Rex’ika” he exclaimed and enveloped the clone in a hug, relief flowing through him, the blue clone returned the hug just as enthusiastically. Once they finished greeting each other Rex glanced behind Kote where Din was standing suspicion in his frame

“Cody who’s this?” He gestured to Din, Kote grinned

“This is Beroya. We picked him up on Aq-Vetina” Kote introduced him proudly and Rex did a double take

“Beroya? I thought you took a shiny under your wing, not a cadet” Rex said his voice filled with incredulity, and Din bristled

“He’s nat-born Rex’ika,” Cody said with a glare to challenge Rex’s protest. Alas Rex was too oblivious to notice

“Why is he here and why is he wearing our armor?” There was no disgust or contempt in his voice instead he radiated confusion as he stared at Din, Kote shrugged

“Because he needed one and General Kenobi wanted him here” Din stared at Kote with a raised eyebrow as he sensed Kenobi approaching with a man behind him. The man was so bright, like a supernova it took him a second of squinting under the helmet’s sensors to really make out his features. He was tall and imposing, growing messy brown hair and wearing black battle armor and robes.

Din staggered back as the image of the man was replayed in his head. Suddenly he wasn’t in the hangar. He was in a large temple, tall spires casting long shadows in the dark night. Everything was dark and muddy even the air was suffocating, heavy with death and tragedy. Terror sliced through him as the screams of the ade tore through the peaceful setting. Blue flashed across the dark sky before another life joined the thousands screaming in agony. The dark robed demon cut through the children with ease, his golden eyes flashing with hatred and fury.

The temple morphed around him with sickening ripples. He was clutching something important to his chest running as fast as he could. Run away. Protect. Hide. He kept chanting. The shadows around him grew, eating up the low light of the moon leaving behind nothing but cold dead darkness. Out of the darkness, the demon materialized, golden eyes dead to the world yet filled with bottomless hatred. Blue flashed across the hall and orange rose just barely to meet it. The colors clashed, their usual magnificent harmony tainted just out of tune. Blue left and with vicious force came down on the weakening orange again and again like a rabid dog. Another violent clash, the orange now sluggish waning in the darkness that surrounded them. Still, it rose to meet every single violent strike with determination. Then the blue cut through the orange with a brutal strike. It fell into two on the ground. The orange light died out with last pathetic sparks. The darkness eating it alive

Din cried out in terror.