@angel-with-a-heart, I LOVE YOU SM... I hope you like it!!
PT.1 pt. 2
sum: Din is hired as your personal bodyguard because you are doing relief work as a princess throughout the galaxy
Being a princess of your home planet sounds like a dream... jewels, wealth, titles, beautiful places.
It was more like a prison.
From the day I was born I was groomed to be nothing but perfect royalty and a princess my planet could take pride in and eventually follow as Queen.
Endless hours of lessons that only ended in chastising comments from my parents were hell to me.
We were going to be traveling for the next few months around different systems on “relief work” that were really just a way for my parents to look good in front of the counsel. Bullshit.
I argued endlessly with them that I could take care of myself, that I was smart enough and aware enough of my surroundings to defend myself.
They weren’t having any of it.
The day the beskar clad man showed up in front of me, towering, unwavering... was the day I wasn’t even aware that my life would change completely.
“This is The Mandalorian that we’ve hired him to essentially be your body guard as we travel”
I scoffed, rolled my eyes, and folded my arms across my chest.
The man cocked his head to the side and my mother glared at my hostile nature.
I was sure to get a swift smack for that later.
I trudged to my room, now strewn with clothes and my belongings that I wanted to pack.
maybe ill lose them on some planet...run away
I wasn’t a brat... and I wasn’t ungrateful. I knew how good I had it. It just seemed like the pressure had been building ever since I was conceived.
I didn’t want this. I wanted to be a good daughter with loving parents, I wanted to be able to dress down just one day of my life, I didn’t want to be caught up in wars and politics... but I knew that would never happen for me. I’d just swallow it down and do my due diligence for my planet.
As I began packing again, I was suddenly snapped out of my own rambling thoughts by the feeling of a presence behind me.
“Are you serious... you have to follow me everywhere? Gonna watch me shower next?” I spat, my back turned to what I knew to be The Mandalorian.
I shouldn’t have been so rude... I was just angry.
“Just following orders, princess” his modulated voice rang back.
There was a slight pause and amused tone in the way he said princess...interesting.
I huffed and handed him my bag, letting him follow me out the door and onto my family’s ship where he proceeded to take the seat across from me. My parents sat up front in the cockpit like the control freaks they were, barking orders at our poor pilot.
“So... whats your name” I asked, trying to change to a softer tone, it wasn’t his fault I was mad after all.
“You can call me ‘Mando’ if you want, or just refer to me as ‘a Mandalorian’ ”
“You weren’t given a name?”
“It’s not important” he said with a matter of fact tone that ended the conversation completely.
fine.
“You don’t have to refer to me as princess, ‘ya know. Im sure my parents told you my name.”
“It would be disrespectful to not call you by your title since I only let to you refer to me as mine.”
“Oh....thats fair I guess.”
I couldn’t help but stare at the way his hands flexed or the way his thighs were spread wide, taking up almost three seats in his entirety and the way the hum and rattle of the ship made him shift with every bump... I needed to stop.
I stumbled a bit as I always did when exiting the ship, cursing myself in the process.
I reached for stability against the ships exterior, but was met with a gloved hand instead that radiated warmth through it.
I quickly pulled away after realizing my lingering and thanked him awkwardly which awarded me with a nod from the helmeted man.
When Din Djarin meets a beautiful cake seller from Nevarro, do you think he’s just going to stand back and let her suffer at the hands of her abusive boyfriend? After a lifetime of heartache and pain, Lysa Kane realises she’s not on her own any more and finds an unlikely friend in the Mandalorian. And Din Djarin does not like men who treat women like that, not one tiny bit. Friendship/comfort and maybe something more…
Masterlist
Chapter 48 - Upwards
----
All of the breath left Lysa’s body as she plummeted over the edge of the bridge….
…falling down…
…down…
…into the abyss.
Everything around her seemed to move in slow motion.
Her own heartbeat echoing through her ears.
She could feel death creeping closer and closer as she fell…
…with no way to stop it.
A sorry end for a sorry life filled with nothing but pain and hurt.
That was until she had met Din and Grogu of course
And it was their faces she wanted to picture now, before death took her away under its dark wing.
The two people who had filled her life with hope and warmth in the short time she had known them.
The two people she loved more than anything else.
Lysa’s eyes were squeezed shut.
Crix had taken her over the edge with him, but he had fallen first. And Lysa did not want to see where he had gone…where he ended up ahead of her.
She prayed now, that if she found an afterlife beyond this one, that Crix would not be there with her.
That she could finally be free of him.
Lysa felt herself hurtling down at an astonishing speed, her stomach in her throat…
…waiting for the impact…
…bracing herself…
…ready…
But all of a sudden, Lysa felt a strong arm grasp her around her middle…
…slowing her descent almost instantly.
And that arm pull her flush into a firm body, with a hard crash of her limbs against theirs.
Lysa snapped her eyes open, hearing the sudden whoosh of a jetpack.
And gasping out a ragged breath, Lysa stared up into the beskar-covered face of Din Djarin.
This unbelievable man.
The man who she had thought had saved her already in so many ways. Doing so again, when she had lost all hope of rescue.
She scrabbled to grip onto him, her sweaty palms sliding against his beskar. As her hands finally wrapped themselves around his neck, suddenly taking in a breath for the first time since she had fallen.
Lysa wanted to cry, closing her green, tearful eyes again, as Din accelerated, fighting against gravity, and pulling the pair of them suddenly upwards…
…upwards…upwards…
Until they landed on the metal bridge they had come from with a thud…Lysa’s legs immediately giving way beneath her.
But lucky for her, Din’s grip on her was strong, and he held her in place, slowly lowering her down, until her bottom hit the floor beneath her.
And unable to control herself any longer, Lysa let out a hard sob, her entire body shaking with relief.
She looked up through shimmering eyes filled with tears, to see Din knelt on one knee before her, his gloved hands still holding onto both her forearms gently.
She could tell that behind his beskar visor, his eyes were searching hers, but Lysa couldn't control herself at this very second.
The sheer relief was overwhelming.
After all that had happened, she had been certain that this was the end. That there was no one who could save her. And perhaps that she didn't deserve to be saved.
The last words Crix had muttered into her ear as he had thrown her over the edge with him, still ringing in her ears over and over-
“Even more blood on your hands now, ‘ey, Lysa…”
She knew of course that Crix had had no rescue. And with the blaster shot she had put through him, that he was dead somewhere far below.
And yet despite all that, he still managed to haunt her, even now. The ghost of him still here.
His poisonous words, seeping into her mind. Never to leave again.
“Are you ok?” came Din’s voice, as one of his hands slipped down, grasping at her bound wrists, and cutting her free with a knife from his belt. While the other one of his gloved hands, he lifted to her cheek, swiping away at the tears as quickly as they fell.
But Lysa couldn't say a word, not even able to mumble out a thank you to the man who she owed her life to.
She gave another loud and painful sob, bowing her head and hitching in a sharp breath. Her tears, no longer tears of sorrow. But tears of gratitude and relief.
For she was safe.
She was really safe.
……………………..
Din stared at Lysa, a deep frown settled between his eyebrows, watching as she sobbed, her entire body trembling beneath his grasp.
He could see the pain coursing through her, almost visible now, as the seconds ticked by up on the windy platform.
For a moment there he was certain he had lost her. Watching as Crix had dragged her over the edge of the bridge with him.
And even now, despite her being safe here with him once more, Din’s heart seemed to be taking its time in resuming its normal pace within his ribs.
Lysa had been mere seconds from hitting the ground below by the time he had reached her. And the relief he had felt once he had her body firmly held against his, had been like nothing he had even experienced.
And so he understood now, Lysa’s tears and her upset. For the times that Din had been close to death, it had taken him a long time to recover.
And even now, there were moments from his childhood, that fateful day on Aq Vetina just one of them, that Din still found himself suffering nightmares about, from time to time.
For the pain and the fear he had experienced in those moments, had cut a fault line deep inside him, and buried itself there.
He watched as Lysa, almost doubled over before him now, sobbed, her tears falling fast. Knowing there was nothing he could do to stop them at this very moment. And nothing he wanted to do either.
These were Lysa’s tears to cry. And he would not deny her them.
But Din suddenly remembered that despite Crix falling over the edge and Xi’an far below, there was still Ran.
But lifting his head over to where the bearded man had fallen, he could see now that there was no body there. Ranzar Malk obviously having survived his injuries and dragged himself somewhere whilst Din had been distracted.
Din knew that this wasn't over.
He still wanted to taste revenge for what his old comrades had done today…
…but right now, that could wait. For his focus was now on one person and one person alone…
He waited until Lysa’s sobs became shallower, running his hand gently down the side of her head comfortingly, until she lifted her face to his.
Her green desperate eyes meeting with Din’s.
She looked exhausted beyond belief, and Din knew there was nothing in this world now that would keep him apart from her again. No force that strong.
She didn't say anything, but she allowed Din’s hand, that was lingering at the back of her head, to pull her into him. Settling herself against him as she cried endless tears into the tunic at his neck. Din wrapping his strong arms around her. Letting her know wordlessly that she was safe here now, at last.
And like this they remained. Just the two of them. For how long Din wasn't sure.
Until a sudden voice broke through their well-needed silence.
“MANDO!”
And for a moment, Din was almost sure that it was Ran, back for more…
But as Din turned his head instantly to look. He was met with three figures stalking quickly across the far end of the bridge, furthest from the hangar, towards them.
Din’s frown deepened. But more from shock than anger…
…at the sight of Greef Karga pacing quickly towards him. Followed by Grogu in his hover pram and the Marshall of Nevarro- the IG-11 droid.
Karga was coming at them at a slight jog, looking mightily out of breath, his face a picture of concern.
“We saw what happened, we couldn't find a landing spot, and-” said the High-Magistrate, very much out of place in the cess-pit that was the moon known as Nar Shadda.
“How did you find us?” asked Din gazing first at Karga and then at IG-11 and, of course, Grogu who brought up the rear, coming to a harsh halt beside Din. At once cooing at his father and looking him up and down as if checking that all was well.
“What? You didn't think I wouldn't have a tracker put on that new ship of yours the moment it landed in Nevarro?” uttered Karga. His eyes at once falling to the visibly upset and trembling Lysa, still sobbing quietly in Din’s arms. “She- uh…she ok?”
Karga’s tone was serious and as far as Din could tell, full of genuine concern.
Din placed his hand to one of her shoulders, carefully peeling her from him, her weary gaze barely able to meet his own.
Din could feel a heat emanating from her now, he feared had nothing to do with the tears that were falling.
For he could see that Lysa’s pale forehead was now beaded with perspiration. And from here he could see that the blaster wound on her shoulder had started losing blood again.
“Did you bring a med-pack?” said Din quickly to Karga, ignoring his friend’s question.
But Karga pursed his lips together.
“Oh I can do you one better than that,” he replied, stepping aside as IG-11 stopped forward.
“Upon reprogramming, several of my previous protocols were put back as they were,” came the monotone voice of IG-11. “These protocols include medical care. Stand aside please.”
And with that, Din shuffled back as IG-11 crouched down beside them both on long metal legs, scanning Lysa immediately. A bright green light skimming quickly over her face and body.
“You have suffered blood loss and are at risk of infection to your shoulder wound,” came the voice of the droid again after a long couple of seconds. “We need to get you on board and start treatment with immediate effect.”
At the Marshal’s words, Din gave a frown, before he looked at Lysa, wanting nothing more than to fling off his helmet right now and provide her with the comfort of his expression. Of his eyes conveying so many things that words right now could not. But he refrained, moving a hand to Lysa’s waist and helping her to standing once more.
She leaned her weight onto him, feeling, to him, unsteady on her feet.
Grogu beside them gave a chirp, looking at Lysa hopefully. But right now, she seemed to be keeping her tearful gaze fixed firmly to the floor, focusing on walking straight.
“How did you all even get here? asked Din, staring around, before looking back to Karga who smiled knowingly.
“The Stinger. I told you…it’s a great ship,” he said simply, pointing to the ship that Din had agreed to borrow from Karga just a day prior, stood at the far end of the bridge, far beyond his N-1.
In all the commotion, he had not even noticed it land.
Karga gestured with his head. “Come on, let's leave this hole before we run into any more trouble.”
And with that, the High-Magistrate turned and headed back toward the ship they had arrived on.
Din, giving one last look towards the hangar behind them, scanning the area for any survivors one final time. Before he turned, pulling Lysa with him carefully as they walked down the bridge towards the awaiting ship.
Their pace was slow and after a moment or two Grogu, IG-11 and Karga were several feet ahead, leaving Lysa and Din walking quietly side by side bringing up the rear.
“I’m so sorry, Din,” came Lysa’s hoarse voice, in what was barely a whisper. She sounded tearful and distraught.
Din glanced her way, tears visibly slipping from her eyes as they walked.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” said Din with a deep frown, shaking his head.
Lysa turned her face, staring his way. Her sad, lost-looking eyes meeting with his, behind his beskar.
“Din…” she said, her green eyes desperately trying to search his, hidden behind his visor, a warmth filling her gaze now as she looked up at him. “I-”
But her expression suddenly changed to one of confusion in front of his very eyes.
“...I don't feel so good…” she managed to mumble out, blinking several times in quick succession and giving a hard swallow.
And before Din could do anything, he watched as Lysa’s eyes rolled back in her head and her feet gave way beneath her.
Din tightened his grip on her waist, but was barely able to keep her upright, as his eyes darted back and forth over her ghostly pale and clammy face.
Din’s heart began to pound faster and faster within his ribcage.
“Lysa?” he said quickly, rousing the attention of Karga and IG-11 up ahead.
“Get her on board…hurry,” said Karga to Din instantly, his expression full of worry.
And so manoeuvring her within his grasp, Din bent his knees a little, before hauling Lysa gingerly up into his arms.
He could feel that she was hot to the touch, burning up, looking far paler now than she had a moment ago. All colour drained from her face.
Din hitched in a sharp breath as he strode ahead, making hurriedly for the ship.
Knowing one thing for certain…
….he couldn't lose her. Not now.
…………………………………….
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The Caretaker Series: Part 2
| Part 1 |
Pairing: Din Djarin x Fem Reader
Warnings: Small mention of violence
Words: 1453
Tags: instinctual teamwork, protective Din, fluff, two idiots who dont know what pining is, we be calling Baby Yoda “Vert” up in here
Link to AO3 if you prefer to read there
Beta reader @princessbatears 😘
The planet that Mando brought us to was sketchy. Shady as kriff from what I could tell. The Mandalorian didn’t even want to leave me and the kid on the ship alone. He had some intel on his current bounty job that led to a local cantina in town.
The Mandalorian wasn’t afraid of the ship being stolen since he had decided to begrudgingly make use of an actual ship hanger. However, it didn’t seem like he was willing to trust the hanger staff with too much. He felt it more prudent to bring us along where he could protect us, which I supposed made sense.
I perhaps should ask him to show me how to use some of his weapons, though, if this was going to be a common occurrence.
As we went through, the main town was busy, but silence surrounded us. The sight of a beskar clad warrior was apparently not a usual one here. But when we passed by the chatter started back up again immediately even if it was a bit more subdued than before.
I looked up at the back of Mando’s helmet and wondered what it must have felt like to be looked at like that all the time. As if he was an agent of death come to claim souls, that or the devil incarnate. I would’ve hated it. I had a hard time when someone didn’t like me, much less if they looked like they wanted to stab me in the back as they did with him.
I made sure to stick close to him through the crowd. It was rather easy as well since most everyone parted like oil to his water.
I kept Vert and his ears tucked in the makeshift sling I had crafted. I didn’t want these dangerous people getting too curious about our little green boy any more than Mando wanted them to.
We shortly came to the entrance of a building and Mando instructed me to follow close behind him. We would be in just long enough to get intel.
The main room we walked into was smokey and smelled rank with booze and body odor.
I jumped at the sudden fight that broke out in the cantina and instinctively moved closer to Mando’s side. My left arm cradled Vert while my right hand found Mando’s free hand and held on for dear life.
~*~
Din felt himself go stiff for a second before his training, to adapt to new situations, kicked in.
The planet Gatis was a forested and lawless shithole, full of cutthroats and thieves. He had kept his right hand loose and perched on the butt of the blaster in his holster. He was, as always, alert to any issues that might pop up. So, when a run-of-the-mill bar fight broke out in one corner of the cantina, he had not been surprised. Honestly, it had been rather mundane for a bar fight, just a couple parties involved, and was quickly settled. He had anticipated his companion to be rather jumpy at the whole situation, she was out of her element, after all. The one thing he had not expected was when she moved closer to his side and grab his left hand tightly with her own.
He couldn’t remember the last time any creature, other than the kid, had held his hand like that, as if he was their lifeline. His hand tingled at the contact as the coolness of her skin seeped through the leather of his glove. His brain told him that she was just scared, needing to feel safe and protected, that was logical. But…he was unsure how to feel that he was the person she automatically gravitated to for that protection. All right, that was a lie, he wasn’t a complete idiot, he knew she saw him as a protective figure.
Din let her hand remain in his. He told himself it was only because the cantina seemed to be safe enough to be down one hand as he led them all to the bar, which was being held down by a droid, unfortunately.
“Do you want to rent a room for you, your wife and child, sir?” the droid asked in its programmed metallic tone. “We have rooms for rent by the night and by the hour.”
Kriffing hell, he hated droids.
~*~
“I am sorry, sir, I am programmed to not share private information about our customers.” The droid responded again to Din’s line of questioning about the bounty he was after. The Mandalorian let out a frustrated growl. He was about ready to reach over the counter and slam the piece of scrap metal into the bar until the wires popped out of the horrible machine’s head.
Then, he felt a firm squeeze on his hand and turned to watch the other hand of his companion was placed on his upper arm, the touches instantly grounding him in the moment. He couldn’t just go around shooting droids in cantinas when the two people he was the most responsible for were standing right beside him. But he didn’t know what to do, the last bit of information he had been able to get on the bounty led right to this cantina. If he didn’t get some information out of the droid they were adrift with nothing.
She saw his hesitation and turned a bright smile to the droid.
“My apologies, we’ve had a rough day. Would it be possible to let my husband know any public information about the people he was asking about?” she asked in a polite and bubbly voice, which was not like her normal speaking voice.
It was like she had turned on some kind of switch to become instantly more outgoing, but he had almost missed that whole tonal shift because he had slightly malfunctioned when she said ‘my husband’. Why was he like that over just that word? It was a stupid feeling, she obviously was just going along with the droid’s assumptions to make the conversation flow easier.
“Public information is acceptable to my programming,” the droid said. “There was a soldier in here earlier asking about those you seek, they were asking all around town so it is public knowledge.”
“Thank you!” she effused. “Are they here right now?”
“Negative, but if they are still in town, they will be eating here. This cantina has the best food in town,” the droid said, his programing to sell cantinas’ products showing.
“That’s excellent! Oh! Could you get me a glass of blue milk if you have that available? For the baby.”
Din stared at her as the droid went to get her the milk she had asked for, his mouth was literally open behind the helmet in awe. How had she done that so easily?
She caught him staring, and her hand fell away from his upper arm. Din’s arm felt cold at the sudden lack of her touch. He couldn’t quite bring himself to let their intertwined fingers separate yet, keeping a firm but gentle hold on that hand. To upkeep the illusion for the droid, he told himself.
“What?”
He shook his head. “I…how did you do that?”
“Do what?”
She blinked up at him, confused by his question.
“How did you think of that? And you became…different.” He couldn’t think of a better way to phrase it.
“I dunno,” she shrugged. “I figured his programming might not be as specific as one might think, if that makes sense? And the voice?” She waved a hand to blow that question away, but she continued anyway.
“It’s just ‘customer service voice’. I used to work in sales, before going into childcare. The nasty customers tended to be less mean if they thought I was younger or an airhead. The easiest way to make them see me like that was usually using a higher-pitched tone. If they weren’t total assholes, it made it a little harder for them to get angry at me if they just assumed I was a newer employee.”
Din nodded at that explanation and paid for the milk the droid had returned with. He let her hand finally slip from his while she helped Vert drink from the cup. She couldn’t see it, but he was looking at her with awe. She was so…mirdala. Yes, that was it — clever.
Leaning one arm on the bar-top, Din found himself smiling softly as he watched them. Another mando'a word danced in the back of his mind. He wanted to shove it away, his heart and mind warring. He didn't think it was his place to think of her as part of his aliit…yet here he was.
~*~*~
Tags: @princessbatears @rzrcrst @youhavereachedtheendofpie @1-800-fandomtrashqueen @yellowbubblewrap
I’m alone at work again and was threatened by someone who came in and I’m so so uncomfortable right now even though they left. I really need some protective Din Djarin headcannons.
canon typical violence, swearing, mention of a needle
masterlist
His hand didn’t leave mine until it reached up to caress my face and I unabashedly leaned into it.
“Mesh’la...”
My eyes lit up in recognition, “You’ve said that to me before, what does it mean?”
“Beautiful. You're beautiful”
The blush that spread across my face deepened as I realized just how long he’d been looking at me the same way I looked at him.
I just smiled.
The moment shattered as the ship jolted to the side and Din’s hand stiffened, holding me around the waist with one arm as the other held us both up right against the wall.
“What was that?” I whispered, worried.
“Fuck” he swore under his breath and went to the control panels, “They followed us. The spice ring cronies must’ve been tipped off...dank farrik.”
“Come on out Mando” taunted a voice just outside the door.
He was nothing if not a fighter, he took a look at me, grabbed his blaster and I watched him walk out.
“Do not go out there...no matter what.” He ordered, but I knew I’d never listen.
My hand gripped around the trigger of my own weapon in case he needed cover.
My eyes never left his silver frame until a deep, sharp, pain shot through the side of my neck.
“What the fuck” I said, instinctively reaching up to touch it.
Thats when something grabbed my wrist and a mans hands were over my mouth.
He held a needle in front of my face.
“You’ll be out in no time, gorgeous” mocked a vile sounding voice.
/////////////////////
The men I walked out to face didn’t seem like they had much to say and they seemed weak; big in numbers though. Maybe ten to fifteen.
They definitely sent their best, huh, I said to myself with a chuckle. I’d repeat that back to her.
I warned them to leave, and turned back to face the crest and give her a look of approval, and say that things were okay.
Thats the moment when a man walked out with her lifeless body in his arms.
“Got your little pet, Mando.” He held a blaster to her temple, “do some dirty work for us and we will forgive your little transgression on Tatooine. You can get her back after that... I might just have to use her while I have her though.”
The rage that coursed its way through my veins in this moment was unlike any other.
I couldn’t hear for the pounding in my ears was vicious and taunting.
Tears stung my eyes, and my body felt like it was burning from the inside.
I could burn fucking cities down with what was boiling inside of me.
The side of me I’d never shown, always repressed, was pushing its way to the surface.
I could be a monster, cruel and malicious. If she were another civilian I would of course be angry and do anything to save her... but for her...I’d go after these bastards families as revenge for taking her from me.
“Cmon, we’ve got you surrounded, big guy...guess you don’t want her back that bad, huh?” He mocked, taking his blaster off of safety, still pointed directly at her temple.
She looked like a sleeping angel in the arms of something that just crawled from the depths of of a Sarlacc pit.
I planted my feet and swung the top half of my body, taking out at least three of the men that were enclosing on me.
They charged messily, but I kept my eyes on her.
I pushed my way through blaster fire trying to chase down the man who was now ducking Into a smaller ship with her.
I was as cold and stoic as ever, shooting point blank.
I ran after the ship and cursed at the fact that I didn’t have a jet pack like the other Mandalorians.
There were only a few men left now and they were retreating to their own ships.
The utterly asinine crones didn’t even see me following them with the crest.
They took my girl and they’d pay for their fucking sins.
---
I landed a mile or two out from them, stalking them like prey.
We were back on godforsaken Tatooine and the men scrambled down the back entrance of the bar we were at earlier. It somehow looked worse under moonlight.
I took a breath before kicking in the door they had just retreated behind and began shooting blindly in rage.
When all I could see left was her skin and the man who had taken her, I stopped.
His finger toyed with the blaster at her head once more but she was awake now, eyes scanning wildly around her.
Her mouth was gagged and she was bound to a chair. Her body slumped awkwardly and was littered with bruises and fresh blood. Her eyes seemed to be the only part of her body that she could move.
“One step closer and it’s lights out for your pet.”
“You don’t want anything with her. You want me. Let her go and I’ll do anything you want.” I said cooly, holstering my blaster and raising my arms.
Through whatever she was fighting a small sound escaped her and her head shook only millimeters but I could tell it was a ‘no’.
I didn’t care if she approved and I didn’t care about what happened to me as long as she was safe.
His blaster never left my chest as he undid the knots holding her to the chair, then kicked her body to the floor.
I gritted my teeth, not wanting to blow this. I couldn’t afford it.
His blaster moved off of me and now was on her once more.
“Wait...what are you doing?”
“I need insurance, Mandalorian” he laughed, “Did you really think I’d just giver her back without you doing something for me?”
Nii kyr'tayl gai sa'ad (I know your name as my child)
Summary:Reader accidentally calls Din Dad
A/N: This was living rent-free in my head and I needed to get it out. Platonic and Dad Djarin & young adult relationship. Fluff and a liiiiitle bit of angst. You don't have to read "Ni cuy' olar ad'ika" but it may add a little bit of context.
Word count: 2166
Warnings: None
Ao3
Laying on your back under the control panels of the cockpit was not how you wanted to spend your afternoon. It was hot and cramped and-
"Kriff!"
The socket wrench you were holding had fallen out of your hand again. Huffing and mumbling under your breath you scooted yourself out from under the controls and sat up. Sitting in front of you was Grogu playing with the little metal ball Mando gave him. Pausing his movement he tilted his head and babbled at you.
"You think this is easy," you snarked. "You wanna give it a try womp rat?"
Tilting his head the other way his eyes widened.
"Oh, wait. That's right. You don't know-how. Last time you tried you fried the wires and then Din made me go fix it." Your tone was harsh and had a bite to it. You were frustrated and took it out on the kid. As soon as the words left your mouth you regretted them.
You watched as Grogu's ears fell and tears started to fill his eyes. Quickly standing you rushed over to the kid and tried scooping him up to apologize. As you knelt a piercing wail fell from Grogu's mouth and he turned and ran from you.
"What is going on?" Din stood in the doorway of the cockpit, his booming voice filling the entire space.
Shrinking into yourself you looked down and studied your boots.
"Ad'ika." Din's voice was stern and rough as he talked to you.
Looking up you saw Grogu wipe the tears from his eyes as he snuggled into Mando.
You didn't respond. Instead just stared at Mando. This wasn't the first time he called you out for something you did wrong. He didn't do it to make you feel bad but because he cared. Just like any other parent, he watched out for you and the Child and that includes when the two of you fight.
"Y/N, I don't want to hear you snap at him again. Do you understand?"
Giving a curt nod you tried to avoid eye to helm contact. "Yes sir."
Sighing heavily Mando walked over to you and passed you the Child. "Go eat dinner. I'll finish this up so we can leave."
Nodding again you took the child into your arms and made your way down to the hull.
"I'm sorry little buddy. I didn't mean to snap. I shouldn't have taken out my frustration on you."
Cooing, Grogu looked up at you and leaned his head against your shoulder showing he understood and accepted.
***
The rest of the week was rough. You were tired and you could tell Din and Grogu were too. There had been multiple days after you snapping at Grogu that Din called you out on your behavior.
The morning after he has asked you to get up and take care of the Child so he could leave to hunt his bounty. You groaned and rolled over on your cot saying it was too early. Din told you he needed to leave in ten minutes and would be back when he finished putting the rear of his gear on.
Ten minutes later he has found you fast asleep and Grogu cooing in his arms. "Ad'ika."
You groaned again, waving your arm at him.
He repeated himself and stared down at you.
Nothing.
"I'm gonna take the blanket If you don't get up in three, two-"
Sitting up you glared at Din.
"I'm up."
"Finally." Din passed the child to you. "I'll be back by sundown."
Still glaring you rolled your eyes and mocked him.
Choosing to ignore you Din walked away, leaving you with Grogu sitting on your lap. As soon as the ramp door closed Grogu started to cry.
Growling, you flopped back on the bed and covered your head with the blanket.
***
The third time he called you out on your behavior had been the last straw and when you felt you really messed up.
Din sat in the pilot's chair with Grogu tucked into his unarmored chest. It has been yet another long day and you were glad to finally be in hyperspace and not in charge of the child. Staring blankly out the cockpit window you watched as the stars zipped by.
"Can you take Grogu and tuck him in?"
You didn't hear him and continued to stare outside.
Swiveling in his seat Din looked at you through the visor of his helmet.
"Ad'ika, can you please take Grogu?"
Turning to look at him you responded without thinking. "Why can't you?"
There was a long awkward pause as you two eyed each other down. You could feel the stress and tension rising between the two of you and for the second time that week, you regretted four words. Letting go of the air that you were holding you shifted in your seat to stand and grab Grogu. Before you could move from your seat though Din swiftly rose and made his way out of the cockpit.
"Dank Farrik," you cursed under your breath. Throwing your head back you smacked it into the passenger seat.
You sat for a couple of minutes staring at the ceiling wishing you could once again take back your words. You were tired but Din was exhausted. You knew better than to give him attitude and argue with him but sometimes your mouth was quicker than your brain. You also and most importantly knew that without him and the child you'd be alone and without a family and probably even possibly dead. You were thankful and didn't mind taking care of Grogu but there were times when exhaustion crept up on you making you irritable and moody.
The hissing of the cockpit door caught your attention and pulled you from your thoughts. Taking a deep breath you watched as Din - now fully unarmored besides his helmet- sat back down I'm his chair.
You'd seen Din without his helmet before. Many times. Most of the time it was just the three of you on the ship, his little clan, he opted not to wear it. But now as he sat in the chair looking out into hyperspace you knew he was annoyed. He kept the helmet on because he didn't want his face to give away his thoughts and emotions. Yes, he was comfortable showing himself but he wasn't quite. Comfortable with being an open book. He wasn't skilled at hiding his thoughts through his facial expressions and you felt as if this was cheating.
Wiggling in your seat you scooted towards the edge as you thought - and deeply thought before speaking- about your apology.
Inhaling deeply you started to speak. "I'm really-"
Before you could even start the next word Din cut you off.
"Don't. Unless you are going to apologize I don't want to hear another word out of your mouth until we land."
You snapped. You felt as if a rubber band inside of you has been stretching and stretching and finally reached it's limit and gave out.
"Well maybe if you had let me finished speaking you would have heard me apologizing."
Turning to look at you Din lowered his head. You may not have been able to see his face but you could see his body tense with anger.
"Ad'ika. What is your problem?"
Your eyes narrowed and you spoke as you jabbed a finger into your chest. "My problem? I'm tired and I'm feeling cramped on this ship. Grogu is driving me mad. He cries for you all the time and getting into trouble. Do you know how many boxes of tools I've had to pick up cause he's decided to play around with his magic hand thing?" You felt your face getting heated and your voice rising as you spoke. "I want a break! I want just one day to sleep in and adjust to everything that is going on!"
"You want a day off? Then why didn't you just say so?" His voice was clipped as he responded to you; his rubber band now snapping. "And I thought you'd be more grateful to be here! So you want me to turn this ship around and take you home? Because I can. I could have just left you."
Tears filled your eyes. His words stung. You knew he didn't mean them but they still hurt. "This. This is why I don't bring these things up." You stood and backed towards the cockpit door. "Because you snap at me and tell me I'm not grateful. I am. But you're never there to see it."
Growling Din reached up and grabbed the sides of his helmet, quickly removing it and throwing it on the floor. How jaw was visibly clenched and his nostrils flared.
"I work hard because I'm taking care of you and Grogu. You don't think I want a day off? I'm trying to make sure the two of you can survive, especially if Maker forbids something happens to me or they come for Grogu again and have to go into hiding. I don't want to see the two of you have a repeat of what's happened to any of us. Now if you just lose the attitude I can finish this bounty and we can talk about taking a break. Just lose the attitude."
You glared at him through pierced eyes and snapped back with the first thing that fell onto the tip of your tongue. Again, your mouth quicker than your brain.
"Ok, dad."
The tension that filled the cockpit quickly vaporized and became chilly. Goosebumps covered your arms and you felt as if your heart dropped into your gut. Din on the other hand stared at you like an animal caught in floodlight. You stood there for a moment in silence looking at each other.
When Din finally opened his mouth to say something you bolted out the door and down the ladder, leaving him there in utter astonishment.
"Haar'chak."
***
The rest of the flight was spent in silence. You didn't see Din until he came down to put his armor on and left to talk to Karga. Grogu still slept in his hammock, leaving you nothing but silence and your overwhelming thoughts of dread.
Din was sure to take you back home now or even just kick you off here. You had for sure crossed a line making everything awkward. Mando doesn't do deep connections and relationships and your slip up probably made him panic.
You had seen him as a father figure for a while but never dare say anything. There was no need to and you didn't want to jeopardize your arrangement you had with him. He reminded you so much of your father though and Grogu your brother that sometimes it was hard to forget that you were just here to take care of The Child.
Giving a heavy sigh you wiped the frustrated tears from your face started to pack your bags, ready for Din to kick you out. As you packed your last item into your bag - a blanket that used to belong to your parents- you heard heavy footsteps come up the ramp.
Feeling your heartbeat rapidly in your chest, you sat on the edge of the cot waiting for him to approach you.
"Ad'ika…" his voice was gentle and just above a whisper; the modulator barely catching it.
When you didn't respond right away Din shuffled closer to you and squatted down.
"Did you mean it?"
Taking a shaky breath you nodded your head; more got tears rolling down the face.
You saw Din shift again. Squeezing your eyes shut you turned your head away, preparing you for whatever came next. You held your breath as you waited for him to ask you to leave. Listening you heard him remove his helmet and set it on the ground along with a soft thud of something else following suit.
"Gar cuyir ner adiik jii." You felt calloused thumbs come up and brush the tears from your face. opening your eyes you found Din's brown ones staring at you, shedding tears of his own. "Nii kyr'tayl gai sa'ad." Sighing Din continued. "You are my child now. I know your name as my child."
Shaking you let the flood gate open and sobbed. Smiling at you Din pulled you into a hug and held you.
"Ad'ika, I do everything I do because I care. You a part of this family now. My clan. Ner aliit. I will protect you and give you a home. The same I do with Grogu, gar vod. Your brother. And I will be your father but we will never forget your parents and how they loved you. We will celebrate them and how they protected you and hope it brought you to me."
You continued to sob into his shoulder as he held you. You had found a home. A place you felt safe and welcomed by Din. Your father. Your protector.
