Bobadin au where Din became Beroya and started taking bounties from Jabba... the same time as Boba Fett.
These bastards hated each other. always fighting for the highest bounties, Boba would always be able to get a rise outta Din via the insults and jabs he would throw around.
Din is young and new to the world outside the Covert, but he is not new to cruelty. He may be young (19-22) but he already has serious control over his emotions and actions, he had to to be chosen as Beroya, to hunt but not draw attention.
and yet, every time Boba fucking Fett opens his goddamn mouth Din can't help but to straight up tackle the other bounty hunter in a brawl (jabba started purposfully summoning them to the palace at the same time for the free entertainment). Then the Covert moves, and Din is able to join the Bounty Hunter's Guild and he forgets all about Fett.
Cut to like, 10-15 years later, and Din Djarin with sleek new armor, stumbles across a Marshall in familiar armor. faded and chipped but paint unmistakable. Din believes Fett must have died and his armor stolen from his body, no one deserves such a fate, even Boba Fett. He may have hated the man when he was younger, but that doesn't mean anyone can just disgrace a Mandalorian warrior's armor.
And then, Boba Fett is standing in front of him, demanding asking for his father's armor back. And Fett doesn't recognize Din, and maybe that's why he's so calm and negotiable? except no. Boba Fett has honor, and he is kind and he is still fierce and ragefull but now its honed and directed towards protecting instead of lashing out.
And Din... Sure he has experienced the galaxy a bit more, and met so many people and cultures, but he is still the same. He still hunts, he provided for the covert all the way up till he met his foundling, when he fights and protects for. His skill have changed, his knowledge has grown, but him? he has not changed. And Boba Fett has. He is a good man and Din is honored to fight along side him now, not against him.
and Fett can never fucking know that the shiny, loyal Mando at his side is the same man as the one who pushed him into the rancor pit... twice.
Then Boba confesses his feeling towards Din (cause Din certainly wont) and Din, who is so fucking in love with Boba it scares him, confesses his identity right then and there.
And Boba... honestly did not make the connection at all. cause Boba remembers Din alright, but as a brash, hot headed beroya that was out for himself and always looking for a fight. but what Boba doesn't know, is that he was the only one ever able to get that kind of reaction outta Din. Boba's perception of Din back in the day was one of a fucking kind and Boba doesn't believe Djarin at first .
Boba: I wish to court you Mando.
Din: you don't.
Boba: what? why no-
Din, feeling really guilty now: I- because I am the bounty hunter. the one that- um- with Jabba and the- y'know *cough* fighting-
Boba, knowing exactly who Din is referencing: No. no, there's no way you're the same person.
Din: I'm telling you, I am. I'm sorry I didn't tell you soo-
Boba: no, because the guy that used to punch my beskar helmet with his bare fists if I even so much as breathed in his direction wrong, can NOT be the guy standing in front of me, who gives out second chances and forgiveness and understanding like he made of fuckin sugar and flowers.
Din: I-
Boba: wait, if you really are the same, is this why you were always fighting me? was it some weird children of the watch courting ritual?
Din, coming to some realizations: oh-
