Second Chances Chapter 20
Mand'alor!Din x F!reader (oc)
See masterlist for all the specifics
Wordcount: 6767
Summary:A storm has rolled in over New Sundari. The Rook clan has landed and much is revealed in an impromptu meeting with them. You aren't present for it. You're in your room recouping from the exciting events at your swearing of the creed. You try to relax with a glass of wine, try, until you invite in two unwanted guests.
A/N- I highly suggest reading chapter 19 again if its been too long, as these events take off directly from there. To my beautiful readers, i'm so sorry this fic has taken so long to finish. I've been in bed after a surgery and hammered the rest of this chapter out in two days. I hope you like it as much as I do.🖤🖤🖤
chapter warnings include, shenanigans, tension, brief violence, a moment of disassociation and angst.
You and Din are both dripping wet as you exit the cave. The fabric of your garments are waterproof, to an extent. Your boots slosh and the dark clay mud of the cave sticks to whatever it touches. You're leaning into Din as you stuff a dry cloth Boba gave you into your pocket. He hands you your helmet back and pauses so you can put it back on.
Din is still worried, "You're really unharmed."
"Yes, my armor did its job and you got to me so quickly."
You're both in your own world after what just happened. It takes a moment for the noise to register. The hum and hammering has been replaced with more of a musical chime. The crew outside, the guards, everyone is clapping their Mandalorian armor and cheering "Oya Manda!" That gives you both pause. You and Din look at each other, he angles his helmet, he gestures towards the noise, "They're clapping for you Cyar'ika."
He can't see you squinting at him. "Mmmm it's for you…but I can pretend." You and Din both salute the crowd with a fist on your chest and a low nod.
As you walk amongst the workers and introduce yourself, shaking hands you haven't met. They tell you what it means to them to see someone taking the creed on Mandalore again and they can't believe it's real.
"You brought the Mythosaur back!" One man practically shouts at you in his enthusiasm.
"I was bait. But you may see it however you like." The man laughs heartily before he freezes stiff, straightening himself and saluting when Din approaches behind you. Din's hand finds yours, fingers lacing tightly. It’s odd not feeling the leather of his glove on your bare skin, as you now sport your own. This thing that is so meaningful, that’s bringing you together, is creating a barrier.
The man's jubilant tone settles, he bows his head before looking back up, "Regardless, what I've just seen… today feels like a true cin vhetin. Mandalore is alive again." A loud clap of thunder sounds from beyond the hallowed grounds and you jump back. Din squeezes your hand, the worker turns to you. “A storm is coming in, should be a big one, we’re due, it’s been months.”
Din nods to his team. You have to make your way back into the city. Since the fusion bombs dropped, atmospheric anomalies have been a major hurdle in rebuilding. Apparently large storms can affect all sorts of things, from comms to navigation, nevermind the stress it puts on the new city as it settles itself.
…
The short ride back for you is quiet as you find yourself tuning out the hushed chatter. Grogu has fallen asleep in his pram at your side as you gaze at the desolate landscape of Mandalore flashing by. You rest your head along the viewport and watch as huge ominous clouds move in on the horizon, green flashes of lightning light up the clouds. It's beautiful but unnerving. The surface was turned to shards of glass by the fusion bombs, the almost jewel-like tones trick you for a moment when you see them as something other than hideous. It's damp, and life fights to break free from beneath the destruction – any day now. You’re comfortable in your helmet, it reminds you of all the times you loved to sit around, buried under a blanket, safe. A truly ideal situation for anyone who struggles with being perceived and yet desires to reveal the facets of themselves that can’t be contained.
You’re entirely lost in your thoughts, not even realizing you’re cold, watching the vessel come in to land, Din gives your shoulder beside your pauldron a gentle pinch, “Are you awake under there?”
You nod and stand, Din gets called to the side by his guards. You feel a tickle in your flight suit and reach your hand over your shoulder trying to grasp it. Something…is in your flight suit, it tickles, it's cold and wet and you arch your back, twisting hoping whatever creature is trapped isn't poisonous and can make its way down your sleeve. You're now spinning, in circles, grasping at nothing, practically jumping up and down.
"What!? Are you doing!?" Tem laughs at you.
You try not to sound panicked, you squeak, "Something is in my flight suit, ah! Kriff!" You spasm, "No no…it's crawling!" The panic on your face is hidden by your helmet but your voice tells all. A boom of thunder from outside echoes in through the hanger and makes you jump even more.
Tem has her hands on you trying to find the fastenings to open it on the side, "Stop wiggling!"
You're both getting louder and don't notice that the ramp is open, everyone is off board. All your wiggling has put you front and center of the hangar, but you're oblivious.
"Got it, can you get your hand in?" Tem is still patting trying to find the thing.
You jam your hand in but your vambrace gets caught, you snap it open and it clunks to the floor as you reach in again, groping yourself trying to find the cave creature. "I can't…ah! Ugh! It's on my back!" There is a loud hum outside, it's heavy rain battering down on the outside of the city. From the hangar it’s noisy, between all the people shuffling about the closing of doors and all the mechanisms of the city itself switching on to take on the influx of water. You can barely hear Tem laughing.
Tem then shoves her whole arm up into your flight suit, she laughs, "Stop hold…hold on!" You're both tangled together, you want to laugh because she's laughing but mostly you want to strip naked and jump up and down because you officially have the heebie jeebies.
Din comes out of nowhere, and before he can speak you practically shout to fill him in, "Some-THING is in my flight suit…"
His tone is the opposite, completely collected, "Can this wait?"
"GOT IT!" Tem exclaims as she yanks her fist out from your suit and for the first time in an eternity you look up. On the other side of Din, down the ramp are the standard guards and crew you left with, in addition to Admiral Axe Woves and in the distance a small group of some of the most stunning Mandalorians you've ever seen.
Tem still grinning trails off as she announces, "It's a salamander! We should probably not…kill it…"
Nik pops up from somewhere behind Tem, completely oblivious to the intimidating welcome party, "Oh! Indigenous wildlife!" He takes it from his sister, clutching and cupping it carefully in his hands close to him, he heads past everyone with clumsy feet, almost shoving the admiral aside. He looks back enthusiastically to his clan, "I'm going to go log this!" Grogu, now awake, makes grabby hands before he steers himself after Nik. Nik Hollers back when he notices, "Grogu is coming with me!"
That's how it usually is, as long as someone has eyes on him, Grogu loves to watch anything he might find interesting, especially if it involves food or animals. Grogu likely wants to consume the poor creature whole.
“I’ll go keep an eye on them, go get cleaned up you two, you stink.” Tem waves her hand in front of her helmet before chasing after her brother and Grogu.
You nod, catching your breath. Din stands over you, close so all you see is him, he smells like the living waters and mud and so do you. He leans close, you almost think he's about to give you a Keldabe kiss but instead you hear him mutter and laugh to himself, "Kriffing Salamander." He reaches his hand over, fingers brushing your side as he closes the opening of your flight suit and attempts to straighten your cloak. He pauses and speaks only for you to hear, "You're cold, and wet and covered in mud. I'll see what they're doing here, you go get warm. This storm might put us in lockdown anyway." He looks back out towards the viewport, flashes of lightning cast shadows inside.
"Are you sure?"
He doesn’t respond as he bends down and picks up your vambrace, looking at it, he turns it over in his palm, then he takes your wrist and carefully places it back. You watch him as he runs a diagnostic on it. He hums.
Your tone is childlike,"I broke it?"
"No, I think that creature did though. That explains why you couldn't hear me a moment ago." He taps over your ear. “I’ll come help you recalibrate your armor when I get back to our room.”
A deep, posh voice, interjects into the moment, "I do hope everyone is in one piece. I apologize for interrupting the big day." It’s Admiral Axe Woves, handsome, intelligent, charming, is the one to have bridged the relationship between the palace and the group of Mandalorians standing nearby. Their armor is painted in a jewel purple, accented with yellow and grey, it has some sort of finish to it, lacquered, so it’s shiny like precious polished stone. Their signet is a serpent, a coiled vexis that is painted on their chest.
Axe continues, “Well, you both look worse for wear.”
Din responds, “We are I suppose. Could whatever this is, wait?”
“Your majesty,“ Axes voice drops lower, “Vasoux would like a word. He claims it’s a matter of your security but wants to tell you directly. I’ve tried to arrange a better time or direct him to our security team…but he wants a sit down as well. His father will be here tomorrow. So, we’ll be hosting them.” He raises his brows to mock enthusiasm.
Din shifts, looking from the Admiral to the group in the distance, to you. Axe looks at you with a tight awkward smile, but a twinkle in his eye.
“Sir, I'm afraid time isn’t a luxury today, even with the excitement.” Axe is being patient.
“I’ll leave you all to it. I’ll see you back in our room as soon as you’re able to Din. This seems more important than some cave mud and a few scrapes. I'll be fine.” You don’t give him time to respond, you practically run away. You shove your helmet back on. Your feet are carrying you faster than you realize across the cold hanger with the chill rushing through your wet flight suit, you can feel your beautiful hooded cape billowing out behind you. Din has important duties, you can take care of yourself. This morning has been about you enough as is.
A guard pushes the button and opens the door that is a direct link to a lift to your secret hallway from the hanger. It's a long walk down one of the many secret corridors. It's secure and it’s quiet, you slow your pace. The boom of the loud thunder outside manages to find its way through the steel walls, they threaten to rattle, and you swear for a moment the lights flickered.
Boba Fett steps forward, “What could possibly be so urgent that he can’t tell anyone else. Din, go be with Malla…”
“She said she is fine,” Din says quietly to Boba, in a way he knows he doesn’t believe his own words. Din knows you're fine, but it’s something in his gut. He wants to laugh, thinking about Ezra saying you both flirt with the force. Is this what he meant?
Din tries to speak to you through the comm, “Mal, cyare, I’ll make this quick, keep the bath warm for me.” You don’t respond, he mutters, “Kriff, her comm is off.” He looks down and taps his foot, looking lost for a moment.
Axe looks at him, with a subtle impatience brewing, “Sir?”
Din heads down the ramp with brisk steps, beads of cave water drip down him inside his suit. “Let’s get this over with.”
…
Your body temp has dropped and your ears are hot and you know what is happening but you can’t stop it. You’re all out of whack now. You take in deep breaths slowly, struggling to ground yourself. Finally finding yourself in your room you feel a little better but you sit before you start to strip.
“I’m fine, I’m fine.” You sit there for a while, minutes, before you take off your helmet and set it on the table by the comfortable chair that has the little bar beside it. You like this spot in the room, it’s cozy and gives you a view of Din if he’s sitting at his desk, working. You only just learned that the mantel on the wall has a fireplace below it, you just have to push the button to open it and get it started, so you do. This is your home, it's practical, but Mandalorian taste has a luxury to it that doesn’t come from money or station but more from fine craftsmanship and skill. You love finer things and now they are all within your reach because you know the people that make them. You can hear the roar of the storm outside and try to settle into the sounds of it, and even count the time between the lightning and thunderclap.
You remove your cloak, cuirass and pauldrons. You decide to help yourself to a glass of whatever was in the pretty bottle you opened this morning. The fire is crackling and you think, maybe you’ll draw a bath and just stay in it until Din gets back. You’ve heard about these big storms that come through, but have yet to experience it. You smile thinking of cuddling with Din waiting for the storm to pass.
…
Din’s guards lead him and the Rooks into a meeting room. One of them breaks off, and starts to head down a hall, Din pauses, “And where are you going Zax?”
She turns and speaks cooly over her shoulder, “To locate my cousin your majesty, is that alright?”
Din nods. It’s odd living in a home that isn’t really a home, people roam about all day, basically anywhere that isn’t locked. Since the fight with Vizsla is over, the palace has been careful to keep people from feeling alienated or unwelcome.
Axe starts first as everyone settles down at a round dark stone table. “I’ve spoken ahead of time with Rook Elder and just to prepare everyone, he is open to our proposal of moving production of the fleet from Krownest to Mandalore and letting us have final say on the numbers.”
“What made him change his mind?” Bo-Katan asks, this is a huge step for Mandalore.
A thorough discussion is had amongst the group ahead of the wealthiest Mandalorians arrival. In fact the news is so good, it completely derailed the reason Din couldn’t wait to go be with you. There were lots of opinions and voices sharing, Din had a hard time bringing the conversation back around to the threat. The lights flicker and they draw everyone's attention back.
“Can we get back on track, before this storm gets worse?”
…
Jon saw his cousin's ship land and he took care to not draw attention to himself – going slowly through the palace like it was any other day.
“Many people have been looking for you, Jon Rook. Are you having trouble with your communicator?” one of the few protocol droids in the palace says as it steps out in front of Jon.
Jon doesn’t respond to the droid and keeps walking. Ignoring its utterances of dismay. Jon is focused, his window of time has shrunk and he took too long making his way to this wing.
He clenches his fists and bites his cheek as his thoughts race. The problem with the darksaber provided an opportunity for his clan but they didn’t take it. He has started to take things into his own hands but they fail to see what he sees. He regrets the interaction last night.
He slows down when he reaches your corridor. A loud clap of thunder makes him jump as he hesitates to press your call button, he reaches in and grabs his code cylinder instead. It’s taken him months to gain the access he has but he is slipping.
…
You take a sip of the liquor as you lean back into the cozy chair, you don’t care that the cave water is drying up on your suit, you have others, this one will wash clean. Your eyes focus on the blue in the flame of the fire, you watch it lick and flick, moving along to the soundtrack of the storm outside. The wine is a little bitter but not terrible, it's not good. Where is this from?
"Oh?” you say out loud as you look at the label, it’s the signet of the old House Kast, a vexis. You purse your lips and bobble your head, sarcastically, “Oh fancy.”
You hear murmuring voices right outside your door.
…
“Tisk tisk cousin.” Zax Rook approaches Jon who is about to insert his cylinder in your door and enter. He jumps, fumbling, practically dropping it. “Look at you Jon Jon in that pretty red armor…hate the paint but the color is nice.”
“What are you doing here? Don’t you all have a meeting or something.” He looks at his cousin, she’s tall with broad shoulders and wide hips. Her hair is pulled back tightly into an auburn braid that goes down the middle of her head. She has a blaster, it looks decorative, but she is deadly with it. Her belt and holster are beaded in tiny silver beads, she has piercings on both ears that decorate the whole length of them, the clear stones catch the light. She has a wide smile with bright teeth, her makeup is done up in bronze tones and it accentuates her strong even features. She crosses her arms and leans against the doorframe, “I’m here because Daddy is sick of your shit. Vazzy told him you lied. What are you playing at anyway?”
..
Vasoux has removed his helmet. Din is always distracted by his tattoos. Din knows there is something about him that if you ever meet him…he might just get jealous if he smiled at you. He has dark eyes and high cheekbones– like him. But his intensity is something unmeasured. His thick, dark hair is shaved close at the back and sides, kept short on top, that way you can see the tattoos of intricate Mandalorian sigils that wrap around his neck and crawl up the back of his head. Din sets his jaw just knowing how alluring you’d find him. He remembers a moment not long ago in bed:
You are straddled over his hips, fingers delicately playing over his chest. You bite your lip, hesitating before asking, “Do Mandalorians get tattoos? I haven’t seen anyone here with one yet.” “Many do, my tribe don’t.” " I was thinking of getting tattoos to cover my scars. Would that bother you?” you run your hand absentmindedly down the darksaber scar on your thigh. Din likes the way your eyes look when you're lost in your head, creating. Sometimes you can catch him watching you and it snaps you back into reality. Din takes your forearm and runs his lips gently along the deep scar, he hums, “Mmm, no, I wouldn’t stop you, if that is what you really wanted, I could get used to them.” " Do you find them unattractive?” “No…depending on the art, I find them interesting, sometimes they add appeal, I understand why people like them.” “I always loved tattoos, especially traditional ones. I was looking at Mandalorian art…You’d look good with one…” Din sits up to nip at your bare breast, “Yeah and where should I put it?” You hum at his touch, as your fingers caress the places you list, “Maybe your shoulder, you have beautiful shoulders, your back…your neck. I dated a guy who had a tattoo on his shaved head.” Din groans as he buries his face in your chest. You scrunch your nose as Din tickles your chest with his hair. You laugh and tug on his locks before you bury your tongue in his mouth to stifle both of your giggles.
Din realizes he is staring and immediately darts his eyes to take in each person around the table before landing back on Vasoux. Something he practices now even with the helmet on.
Vasoux glares at Din before he speaks, “My father isn’t here yet because…this isn’t his mess to clean up.”
Everyone waits for him to expand on what he means, Bo-Katan leans in. The panels on the wall dim briefly. The guards start communicating with someone outside the room through their comms.
Vasoux, clearly displaying a vulnerability that he is not used to, shifts in his seat, “It’s true, I had people go to Lothal to watch you. The reason being, I had been informed by someone in the palace that the plan was to tell everyone the darksaber was destroyed, but in fact would just be hidden there.”
Din asks first, “Who told you this?”
“My cousin Jon.”
Bo is quickest to react, “Jon?” as Din rolls his eyes.
“My cousin… I believe he was trying to provoke a duel.”
“A duel between you and I?” Din, in his armor and helmet, is so very still.
“Yes, and that is partly my fault. I will admit, I have been of small mind in these last few months. After a long discussion with your Admiral and learning that I can’t trust what my cousin has told me. I owe you an apology. Jon has always wanted to impress me and at one time…a duel is something I wanted but no more. I need that to be clear. My father is certain the rumors you all have discussed of the Empire growing a new head are true. Mandalorians must be united in preparation.”
Din nods. Mandalorians, from Mandalore or Krownest or Concordia, have their superstitions. The Rooks have taken in the signs, which were really just rejections by the palace, as a sign that their designs on holding a title in the palace won’t benefit them and Mandalore must keep an eye on the horizon, together.
“And what of this security risk, the risk is Jon?” Boba Fett chimes in. Vasoux can hardly look at Boba Fett but he does.
“How has Jon been for you here? He has told me things that conflict with what others say. That your, and I apologize Your Majesty, that your chosen partner is unwell, unstable, shouldn't be trusted with the creed or beskar?”
Din clenches the fist that sits on his lap but is still. His stoicism has failed to extend to everyone in the room, the air is dense today outside New Sundari but inside it’s thick enough to slice. Bo-Katan looks as if she could draw on anyone for any reason and Boba Fett has one leg so far off the chair he is practically stepping to the door.
Vasoux continues, “But it has been made clear, she is capable, I watched the ceremony, I believe in the tradition and of course the tale of the Mythosaur. What we saw today gives me –” He raises a thick brow and his eyes reflect the awe of the scene earlier, he looks back at Din directly “I’d like to apologize again for refusing to meet her sooner.”
That is at least two apologies from Vasoux and Din wishes he hadn’t dismissed you so soon, you should be sitting beside him.
…
The wine is too bitter. You‘ve only taken a few sips but despite it’s esteem…it's not good. “Blech.” You’re curious about the voices outside your door, so you walk over and open them. You’re immediately met with the surprised stares of Jon – and a beautiful Mandalorian woman who you look up and down at and it slips out, “Oh shit it’s you.” A massive clap of thunder echoes as if it hit the dome directly above you. The lights flicker again.
Zax erupts into laughter, it's an insanely confident laugh before she falls into a cheeky smile, “It’s me.”
…
“Where is Jon now, find him, please?” Din directs towards one of the guards who then asks, so others can’t hear, trying to get a location on Jon. A bright flash lights up the narrow window in the room, followed by a clap of thunder, and a buzz in the air. Everyone shifts in their seats.
“Jon, in recent weeks I’ve seen him…unravel, he is jealous of Miss Horne and I think it’s best you relinquish him to us.”
“Relinquish?” Bo-Katan raises her brow, “I offered him the job and for all intents and purposes he has done a fine job. Until recently, I had every reason to trust him.”
“Jon is projecting, his accusations are an admission – Lady Horne, while it is none of my business, might have a history of illness, that is, as I said none of my concern unless Mandalore is affected by it…Jon, is unwell. I worry he may be attempting something rash to separate you from your chosen, sir, or even cause a rift here in the palace.”
“This does explain some things.” Bo says, looking tired.
Brax approaches, “Sir, Jon was seen by security entering your chamber with his cousin Zax.” As if a massive switch has been pulled the room is thrust into darkness. “Kriff!” he turns, the panel to the door is dead. “It will take a moment for the auxiliary to turn on.”
“Unbelievable.” Vasoux shakes his head.
…
“I’m sorry, hello, Jon and you must be Zax Rook.” You feel a little heavy, a little tired, a little nauseous. But, you motion for the two of them to enter. “Please, I was just going to clean up…I’m sure you saw. Did you see?”
The door closes behind you three, “Oh goodness, I did, the mythosaur! How very exciting Miss. Horne… Mal, may I call you Mal, I find the name very sweet.” Zax looks around at your space, she mosies over to the chair you were sitting in and finds the bottle on the table that you had been drinking from.
Jon is much more shy than he was last night,, “Uh, yes, we saw, you were very brave Malla. I am sorry we are keeping you, we should go.”
There is a loud clunk just as the room is thrust into darkness, save for the fire going in the fireplace.
“Shit!” Jon mutters aloud.
Zax looks around cautiously, “Is this what I’ve heard about? This city falls apart when a storm comes through, I thought you all were joking.”
“It doesn’t fall apart, just give it a moment for it to switch over to the auxiliary. It’s a hiccup.” your throat is itchy, you clear it. “Unless you want to pry yourself out, you may as well have a seat.”
“I suppose I could do with a drink, but not this one, Tisk tisk…Jon, please, did you leave this here?” Zax holds up the bottle you had poured from, sniffing it again she scrunches her nose.
“No. I don’t know where that came from.” He doesn’t even step closer to look at what she is talking about.
Zax, losing her snobby composure, slams the bottle down, her beautiful face looks something sinister when she yells in the dim fire light, “Cut the shit you stupid little boy!”
You stumble back, you hate confrontation like this, “Whoa..hey…you guys can take this outside, no you can’t…”
…
“We’re all locked in until when?” Din stands with impatience, he has great respect for the engineers, but perhaps building a city under such unpredictable and volatile atmospheric changes was…not the best idea.
Brax is apologetic, “Moments sir. They’ve made improvements in dealing with the electromagnetic anomaly.”
Vasoux, focused on clearing his family's name, doesn't pause, “My sister, despite what transpired earlier in the year, finds the prospect of your union exciting. She is likely trying to bring Jon back with her right now, without…setting him off. No need to send your goon squad.”
Bo-Katan scoffs.
“Setting him off!?” Din stands straighter, “What are you getting at Rook?!” Din looks at his guard, “Brax, get us out of here now, please.”
Brax shrugs, “We’re off the grid throughout sir.” He sighs as he attempts to pry the door open.
Boba Fett stands so quickly the chair falls behind him. As if his epiphany pulled him from his seat, Boba asks with no formality, “Vasoux, did you give a bottle of your family's wine to Din and Malla at any time, or your sister or your father, or–” almost panicked he asks anyone in the signature purple armor “anyone here?!”
Everyone looks around and shakes their head no.
Vasoux answers, “No I gave Beskar, as is tradition, my sister did as well.”
Boba pulls his blade from his boot and shoves it in between the panels of the emergency exit at the back of the room, Brax joins and they force the door open enough, the broad, armored men can squeeze through. They disappear into the dark tunnel.
Bo-Katan is left in the room, with the strays. To no one she asks, “What just happened?” her hands with nowhere to land, “Did I miss something?”
…...
Jon starts yelling, almost frenzied, “You fucking bitch! I was coming in here to get it! Ahhh, I can’t do anything right for you people!” he pulls at his hair.
“YOU PEOPLE!? NO ONE ASKED YOU TO POISON THE MAND’ALORE AND HIS WIFE! WHAT? WHO WERE YOU GOING TO PIN IT ON? DID YOU EVEN HAVE A PLAN!?”
“IT’S NOT LIKE THAT! Literally no one would have known shit! Dammit Zax!”
You look at the bottle and to the two fuming Mandalorians locked in your room with you, your pulse is racing and you feel buzzed, “What? What are you talking about?”
Zax calms down, and faces you. “My cousin, he believes it should be one of us in this palace…but clearly–” she looks around, tossing the bottle into the fire, it briefly grows in size before almost being snuffed out by the liquid, “This shithole suits you all just fine and we’re good where we’re at.”
You stammer, “I, I…I don’t understand, Jon?” You stumble backwards, initially you reach for your comm on your wrist to call Din, but you’re not wearing it, it sits on the side table next to Zax. You look at your helm, you fumble to put it on and drop it, your fingers tingle. “What is going on?” The incessant roar of the storm fills your ears and every hair on your body stands on end as it screams danger coming at you from every direction.
“Why don’t you have a seat, Malla.” Zax approaches you.
Your stomach twists into little knots and you feel almost high, maybe drunk. Your fight instincts kick in and you draw your saber swiftly, it’s no effort at all for you, as if it was made exactly for you…it was. You fight the pins and needles coursing through you and hold the handle with a firm grip.
Zax holds her hands out, “Okay, now just stay calm, how much of this did you drink? Hmmm? Not much, it seems, you’re still standing.”
The blade cuts through the air quickly, so quickly it takes a second for Zax to realize you sliced her palm.
“Hey now Mal–” He puts his hands up. Jon tries to approach you, but what you see is a guy in red coming at you. You lunge the blade. Much to the shock of all three of you, it sinks through Jon’s chestplate through his whole body, like soft butter. He lets out a puff as if he’d been punched. You draw the sword back out with ease and place it right back in its scabbard. In practice all those years ago…it never did that, it never pierced anyone.
Zax gasps and brings her hand up to cover her mouth, she pulls her palm away, blood is smeared over her mouth, she frowns, her voice flies up a full octave “You bitch! You cut me! I’m trying to help you!”
The lights all come on in the room as full power is restored. Your vision forms halos around anything illuminating.
Everything happens so fast. You hear a door open but don’t see it and before you can react a pair of strong arms are caging you, pulling you back, you scream. Boba Fett's voice is strong in your ear, as he has you pinned to him, “How much did you drink?”
“Half a glass…maybe.” you grunt as your muscles suddenly cramp and if Boba wasn't holding you, you’d be on the floor. In your peripheral a long arm with a beautiful purple gauntlet comes swinging towards your face with something, but it lands in your neck painfully.
Din’s voice comes through, “What the hell was that Rook!?”
With incredible confidence he answers, a little breathless, “A counter agent, good against most poisons. I always keep it on me.” Vasoux practically shoves Din aside.
In front of your face now is a really good looking guy you’ve never met, who helps himself to pull up on your eyebrow to look right into your eyes. “She’ll be okay.” Your muscles completely relax and you start to slip through Bobas arms, until he hoists you up again.
You snap back, slurry, “Oh, will I? Pretty boy.” You squirm and whine, “Boba…lemme go.” Boba Fett lets you go and you immediately fall forward into the arms of Vasoux Rook.
He grins, “Woah uhhh.”
You try pushing yourself off him but end up just leaning, slurring and sloppy, “I like tha’ purple armor. You guys have uh like uh trademark…” Din pulls you by the shoulders off him, keeping you upright on unsteady feet “on that color or…”
“Malla talk to me, you feel okay, does anything hurt?” Din maneuvers you to your bed.
You’re pitchy, the words almost come out sing song, “I stabbed Jon through the chest. He died.”
Jon stands struggling to get to his wound under his beskar, coughing and trying to catch his breath, “I’m not dead…you crazy bitch.” Din practically flies across the room and tackles him. His fists landing blows all over the stocky, shorter Mando. Brax and Daro allow it until Din grabs a fistfull of Jon’s hair, pulling his head back, ready to slam it into the floor. They grab Din by the shoulders, Din loses his grip as the two haul him off.
“Din Stop!” Bo-Katan yells, trying to organize the chaos. “We need medical in the Mand’alors chambers, now. Mal drank a poison, we have a laceration, a stab wound…what did she drink?”
Vasoux hovers nearby and answers for him, “He probably used a shishi root, isn’t that right?”
Jon doesn’t answer, Din has fought his way out of his guards arms and is hauling Jon up by his cowl, he growls through his helmet, “What did you do?”
Jon is smug, blood drips from his mouth as he wheezes, a laugh threatening to mix with his answer, “It wouldn’t have hurt, Your Majesty.”
Zax cuts in, “Shut up Jon before you get yourself in any more hot water!”
The strange fog that had fallen on you has lifted. The only thing you have to compare it to is a little bit like that liquor you shared with Din on Coruscant. Your mouth is suddenly very dry with thirst. You sit on the edge of your bed. A gloved hand holds yours, you look up and it's not Din, it's Boba Fett.
Looking up at his green helm, you quietly croak out, “I’m thirsty.”
Din holding onto the shorter Mando shoves him backward into the wall, “Tell me now! Or I will kill you SLOWER!”
Jon almost giggles, before his face and voice falls flat, “She should have stayed on Coruscant.”
You see Din in your peripheral at the other end of the room and it takes a moment for the shouting to fully register. You start to stand, “Din…” But before you can even get involved Boba Fett takes your arm and a leg and flings you over his shoulders. You spy Bo-Katan in a shouting match with Zax Rook as Vasoux fruitlessly pleads for calm. Suddenly weightless and trying to get your bearings you are carried from the room. As you cross the threshold the last thing you see is Din with his hand around Jon’s throat as his helmet collides with Jon’s forehead in the true definition of a kedalbe kiss. Daro and Brax let it happen. Jons head bounces as Din strikes him again with the kov'nyn, you lose sight of the scene.
Your deep heavy breaths grow quicker and as the distance between you and the commotion grows,your breaths grow shallower. You recognize this door by its green hue, Fetts chamber. You hear him muttering something but it's not to you. He is careful as he sets you down in a chair. You look around his room, he has a balcony, a rainwater leak from the dome is hitting it.. “Why…why are we…” you stammer, almost hyperventilating.
He removes his helmet and kneels down, calmly, he says nothing, as he watches your eyes dart from his to back around the room. His palms come up and cup both cheeks and he holds you long enough your breathing slows, yet your hands don’t pull his away. Your mouth floods with saliva, “I’m going to be sick.” Boba reaches over and grabs an empty goblet and holds it out and you throw up into it. It’s bile mixed with foul wine and a bit of cave water. Boba holds the back of your neck as he gives you something to wipe your mouth with. He still hasn’t said a word.
“Jon…he wanted me dead?”
Boba nods yes as he quickly retrieves something.
“Because I'm not Mandalorian and because I'm from the core?”
Boba hands you a glass of water.
“Am I in trouble?” You look around, finding it's still just you and Boba.
“Did you do something wrong?” Boba finally speaks.
You look at the sword at your side. Boba retrieves it, the blade almost silently glides out. Blood still on it. You ask, “Is he dead?”
“If he is, you didn’t kill him, is that what you want to hear?”
You start looking at your hands as you feel yourself becoming distant from your own body, ready to run away while going nowhere. You turn them over several times, a compulsive action.
A gloved hand takes your jaw, “Malla, stay right here.” You look up at Boba as he leans in. Forcing your eye contact. “That’s right, little star. Where is your home?”
Tears sting your eyes now, “The palace in New Sundari on Mandalore.” You breathe deep.
He nods, “Did Jon try and kill me?”
“No.” You shake your head.
Boba kneels in front of you – you never saw him as a knight until this moment. “It wasn’t because you’re not from here or not Mandalorian. His clan came here to get him, they just didn’t do it soon enough. He's a broken man with a broken agenda. You’re standing alongside one of the most powerful symbols in the galaxy.”
“Yes. I’m marrying him. Are you trying to talk me out of it?”
“A man showed up in your room, poisoned you and you stabbed him through the chest. That alone is enough. I brought you to my chamber because I didn’t want you to see…”
You nod as Boba cuts himself off. “I’m not afraid of him. I know what Din is capable of. I’ve never seen it but somehow I’ve always been ready to see it.”
“Mandalorians are, at their core, ferociously tenacious, there is no illusion about what they are, you knew this about Din before knowing Din. Are you Mandalorian?”
You swallow heavily, “Are you?” You watch Boba’s brown eyes.
“My armor is, I am not, I have sworn no creed and I have no home. I have earned my own title. I am loyal to the Mand’alor and because of that, praetorian to him and his people, but he does not hold me to his creed or the tenants of the Resol’nare and our mutual respect is not constrained by any dogma. But that doesn't mean I won’t admit to any correlation. Are you Mandalorian?”
“I am.”
Chapter 21
A\n: Did you catch the throw away line from Boba in the last chapter?...I worry I'm too obvious or too subtle in all my foreshadowing. I have no beta on this fic.
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