I decided while looking at my dash that while it's LOVELY, it's filled with a lot of things. I know there are people out there who follow me for my fics, especially as I'm actually writing and updating them now. So here's a Blog dedicated more too that material. I'll do prompts and answer questions here and it'll probably have a thing here or there connected only to the main ships I have on here.
Thank you to Tessdebelle for the banner!
what she means: the division clearly knew that the song now and then was important to rachel, and presumably they knew why and therefore just how much it meant to her, so instead of ignoring it they co-opted it into their mind control so that if it popped up in elly's life then she might know it meant something to her but she was supposed to just think 'oh, it's my song from my music box', however even vogler's best efforts - both as the head of psy ops and in her capacity as mother figure - couldn't completely erase the full depth of feeling that rachel has for aidan so no matter how much ruth encouraged elly to try dating, deep down she *knew* she wasn't single, and her song reminded her heart of that every time she heard it, even though her head had completely forgotten who aidan was
Including more than 4,000 known archeological sites dating back to A.D. 550, this national treasure protects the cliff dwellings and mesa top sites of pit houses, pueblos, masonry towers, and farming structures of the Ancestral Pueblo peoples who lived here for more than 700 years.
I just finished watching Seven Psychopaths and OMG I didn't expect that! That movie is so super super weird. But at the same time, Sam is so amazing. His character can be a total freak and still end up being my favorite character in the movie.
My absolute favorite scene is when he's talking about his script idea and he's wearing that damn dog hat. This guy has charisma to the moon and back.
There are apparently people saying Argylle was terrible and did we watch the same movie?
This is the kind of cinema-experience people have been whining about missing for years? The 'they don't make movies like this anymore'???
Like it's got everything! The camp! The silly twists! The fun twists! The snappy fight choreography! The refreshingly sweet romance! All the fun spy movie callbacks and tropes! The dance scenes! The killing-people-to-fun-music! The cat in the backpack! Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell taking turns doing the whirly bird! Dua Lipa in a glittery gold dress―
Oh, yeah Henry Cavill in an iconically terrible haircut too and the implication that his character is in love with John Cena's.
ffs if you are in need of a good time just go watch it and come back and discuss Elly/Aidan with me
So this is Chapter 1 of a story I've been working on. It's currently 17 Chapters and counting but I'm hitting that point in my process where I want to delete everything and never touch a computer again so I figured I'd got some reasonable people to tell me I'm right! LOL I kid! Thank you to @soinspiredbyyou Who kindly encouraged me to post it
Summary: Raziel "Rae" Marsh is an anxious newly published author who moved to a mountain town to escape her loving but overbearing parents. Things get a little complicated when a Fantasy Writer meets a Forest Ranger who starts making her books seem a little more realistic than Fairy Stories ever should.
Chapter 1
“No. Mom, I'm fine. I promise, I’m doing great. You and dad do not need to come get me. I'm an adult. Yes, I’m eating, no I’m not dating anyone, yes the book tour went fine and the new house is beautiful. I even found a coffee shop to work in.” Raziel, who would not share her full name under penalty of death and instead preferred Rae, loved her mother. She really did.
Rae got a lot of things from her mother. Her red hair, her green eyes, her freckles, her talent for language, and most of all her overwhelming anxiety and worry for the slightest change to her life.
What she did not get from her mother was the woman’s constant insistence that she find a husband, settle down, and start pumping out children like she needed to single handedly re-populate the earth. That part she could do without.
It was part of the reason Rae had taken the money from her first successful fantasy book, touted to be the next “Chronicles of Narnia”, and moved to a secluded mountain town in Colorado where the population fluctuated between triple and quadruple digits depending on the season. She much preferred the quiet town life to anything else and she was finally able to live her dream of a quiet secluded life as a hermit writer.
“Mom, I gotta go! I’m walking into the cafe. I’ll call you when I get home. No, mom I’m going to write. I can't spend my whole time talking on the phone. Because, mother, it’s rude.” Rae rolled her eyes as her mother launched into another tangent that would take forever. “Goodbye Mom. I love you.” She sighed and hung up instantly feeling a surge of overwhelming guilt for hanging up.
She knew her mom meant well and she loved talking to her but right now Rae just needed some quiet. She needed to delve into the world of her imagination and ignore reality for a good three hours or so with a mug of cinnamon coffee so big people would confuse it for a bowl.
She took a deep breath of the silence and looked down the streets seeing the one or two off-season tourists that wandered through the town for hiking. Summer was about to end but kids were going back to school and this little town was nearly abandoned. Even most of the locals either lived off the land, or worked in larger cities just down the mountain. Somehow, without her mother’s voice in her ear, anxiety started to well up in her. Something else too.
For the past year, any time she was alone, she got this feeling but any time she tried to pin it down it ran away. She was sick of trying to chase a ghost but she couldn’t quite bring herself to give up on it either. Something in her soul said this feeling was important and that she had to solve the puzzle. She was pretty sick of the urgent feeling in her stomach and right now was not the time. Anxiety she could handle, the other thing could wait.
Rae walked into the door of the tiny, eclectic, coffee shop and looked around. She had found it the day before, relieved to find a place that wasn’t a chain. If anyone knew how anxious she always was they would have assumed she was the type to order everything on an app and use self checkout. Except there was a certain charm, in her opinion, about having the sort of social anonymity of having a place she was considered a quirky regular. A place where the barista knew her order and the check out guy knew how to bag her eggs just the way she liked. The sort of pseudo social bond that made it so someone would notice if you went missing but you were still a little bit of an enigma. It was part of why she'd picked such a small town. She wanted that place where everyone sort of knew each other.
Rae walked up to see the same woman from yesterday behind the counter wiping it down and humming to herself. “Hey! Welcome back! So I guess the coffee wasn’t too bad then?” The woman greeted, warmly. She had a sort of spirit about her that Rae hadn’t found at the cafe near her parent’s house in the giant suburb where nothing really felt local, even the local shops. She loved Burbank, but she was thrilled to be rid of it.
“I loved it, actually. Had to come back and try another one.” Her tone was friendly and she was proud of herself for being able to sound confident even if she didn’t feel it with ehr stomach bubbling and twisting and her heart beating a bit too fast.
“You want the Honey Nut latte again then?” The woman asked, turning to the computer.
“Actually I was looking at the Cinnamon vanilla cappuccino.” She admitted. Rae had a huge soft spot for cinnamon. She loved the sweet and spicy mix. It felt sort of fantastical, like the sort of thing a fairy should drink.
“Oh! Good choice! It’s one of my favorites. Biggest cup I can find?” the barista asked, quoting yesterday. Rae was surprised but she supposed in a small town like this new people always stuck out. Not to mention she was the crazy red head with the coffee addiction that spent half her day writing in the back corner and muttering to herself while she wobbled the table. That probably helped make her memorable.
“Please and thank you!” She said brightly as she pulled out her card to pay. The Barista was quick to process the purchase and say they’d call her name when it was ready and Rae nodded turning to the room to get to work when she was stopped short.
She looked at her table. Her table, she had quickly decided, was perfect.It had a slight wobble to fidget with when thinking and just enough light that she could see but not too much in the sun as to need to take off her sweater and she could angle her computer just so in order to not get glare. Yes, her perfect little table was another part of the charm and allure of this place. Except right now, her table had a man sitting at it.
There were plenty of other tables, that wasn’t the problem. The thing was Rae was a creature of habit if nothing else. She liked normal and same and comfortable. She didn’t just want any table she wanted her table.
She was the kind of person that was one mental breakdown away from having the same outfit in 12 colors just because it was comfortable. Finding a new table once she picked one took time, it took effort. Yes, she’d only had that table once but it was her table! Now her choices were go find a new one: torture! Or talk to the man and ask if he could move: torture!
“Iced Cinnamon honey Latte for Liam!” was called next to her and the man stood up. She quickly averted her eyes to look at the menu pretending she was busy. As soon as he was engaged with the Barista she quickly slipped to the table into the same seat she had been in the day before, thankfully not the one the man had been in, and opened her computer.
“I suppose I don’t mind a little company.” A voice drawled over her. It was deep, and sounded like it was amused, and absolutely terrifying. She looked up to see warm chestnut eyes and a beard and shaggy brown hair and sun tanned skin. He was taller than her but not by much. Other than looking a bit ragged he was just a normal, average guy. So why did she get the instantaneous need to flee? Oh yeah, because she stole his table.
“Oh umm Sorry?” She asked, she tried her best to sound innocent and confused. Maybe if she could play it off well enough he’d just give up and move. It was her favorite table after all.
Mistakes were clearly made when he sat down in the same seat he had left. “My table.” The statement was simple and plain and was accompanied with a rather self satisfied looking smirk.
“No one was here when I sat down so–” Rae started powering up her laptop and pulling out notebooks hoping it would be enough to stake her claim and scare him off. That was until the man pointed to a black bag resting on the seat next to his. “Oh. I must have missed that. Sorry I can–” She started to get up with tense shoulders and probably too perfect posture.
“There’s plenty of space. I mean the table is meant for like seven people.” It was an exaggeration, but not by much. The big, round table had been useful because she had been able to spread out her notebooks and books and still had about half a table left for cups and plates. “Besides, looks like I won’t be here half as long as you will.” He mused.
He gave a slow look over her bag of books and papers and pens and highlighters, it always looked near to bursting at the seams. His look had her blushing from embarrassment. Then his eyes slowly moving over her face like he was drinking in her appearance. His look had her flicking her eyes shyly down to her keyboard and suddenly feeling very warm in her comfy knit sweater.
“Thank you. It’s just that this is the perfect table. It’s the right distance from the window to get light but not be too warm or reflect on my screen and it’s got a little wobble that I can play with when I’m thinking.” She explained in a rush. Why was she telling him this? Why did she want to tell this guy everything she’d ever thought?
She fought the urge to look back up to the chocolate eyes of the man in front of her. She did not do relationships. She had knocked aside every single person who had even looked her way for as long as she could remember. This guy wasn’t even her type! Sure he was handsome in his own way, and he had a great voice but she wanted something else. She just wasn’t really sure what that was.
“Good to know I have good taste.” He said with a tone that had her looking up in panic. It sounded so weighty. Was he complimenting her? That was very daring. “In tables.” He clarified like he could read her mind.
“Right.” She said, nodding and trying to remind herself to breathe. There was no way she was letting this guy get to her. She was just a nervous person. So why was this guy so disarming? Why was he terrifying in a totally different way from every other human she’d ever met? Why did she want to know more about him? “You do. So umm… do you–”
“Cinnamon Vanilla Cappuccino for Rae!” The barista called. Rae nearly tipped her chair over when she shot up like a bottle rocket.
“That’s me!” She called. The Barista, thankfully, just smiled warmly and motioned to her with the coffee. Right she had to go over and get it. “Be right back. Can you watch my stuff?” She asked the mystery man as she, much more carefully, picked her way around her bag and towards the counter.
She felt so stupid. Genuinely, she felt like an idiot. She had just made a total fool of herself and her anxiety was flaring like crazy. Her heart was pounding a thousand miles a second and her palms were sweating and her stomach was even a little nauseous. She took the coffee and the Barista smiled kindly.
“He’s the last new guy, moved in about a year ago. Nice guy but I’ve never seen him talk to the same person that long.” The barista commented. What was that supposed to mean? Was she special?
“Oh. Yeah well I tried to steal his table so...” Rae trailed off awkwardly. Maybe she should just go home and never leave her house again. She took a sip of her coffee and comfort washed over her body. “Wow.” She breathed for the first time in what seemed like forever. “This is great!” she complimented savoring the sweet and spicy flavor that made her feel magical.
“Told you! It’s my favorite. Enjoy.” The Barista turned in a way that clearly dismissed her.
Ok, so she couldn’t leave until she finished her coffee now. She looked around the empty cafe, empty except for her table that had the guy at it. She tried to pick another place to work but every single one just had too many glaring issues. That one really was her perfect table. So she just had to deal with the guy. Besides, something in her told her that if she moved the guy would just follow. A traitorous part of her loved the idea too.
She moved back to her seat and nodded a greeting to the guy sitting there. “Thanks.” She said putting her coffee down and moving to sit.
“That’ll be 20 dollars.” the guy said with an impish smile that made her stomach flip uncomfortably and had her flopping into the seat she had just been trying to sit gracefully in.
She was a scared wreck 99% of the time but the other 1% of her personality was all redhead. Instantly her face flared red and rage boiled in her blood. “Excuse me?!” She asked, her chin cocked down and teeth clenched almost as tight as her fists.
Instantly his hands raised in surrender but his face was entirely covered in a smug smile. “Joking.” He assured with a wave of his hands to draw attention to his surrender. “Good to know you’re a fighter though.” He commented, taking a self satisfied sip of his own drink.
A fighter? She was not a fighter! She was a runner and a hider or a freezer at best. His words soothed her somehow though. It was like he was seeing someone completely different than who she was but for some reason she really wanted to be that person. “I just couldn’t believe you thought your services were worth 20 bucks.” She countered. “Maybe Five…cents” Was she teasing him? She was pretty sure she was teasing him. Where had she learned to tease random men in coffee shops?
“Ouch.” He said covering his heart like he’d been wounded but his smile was impossible to miss. It lit his face with an impossibly enchanting glow. She couldn’t take her eyes off the way his eyes crinkled in the corners or the way his laugh lines framed his lips. She ripped her eyes forcefully to her coffee and took a long drink of the soothing cinnamon. She hoped the drink would bring some much needed reality to her boggled mind. “I’d be happy to show you just what my services are worth.” He offered and she caught sight of him wiggling his eyebrows up and down.
A laugh caught Rae by the throat and she nearly choked on her coffee as she snorted. Coffee assaulted the back of her throat and splashed all over her computer screen from her coughing. Oh God she looked like an idiot. “Sorry.” She choked out as she put down her cup and desperately tried to get her breathing and hacking under control.
She looked up to see an empty seat where he had been. He was gone. She tried to insist to herself that she wasn’t sad or upset or anything even remotely like it. She was glad that she had her table to herself. The problem was that inexplicable feeling was instantly back. It was like an itch inside of her ear so deep there was no way to scratch it. She hadn’t realized but for those brief moments talking to this strange man, it had been gone. Now that he was missing it was back. She didn’t know what to make of that. It was like her skin was crawling, looking for something. Her eyes darted around the shop, without her permission, to see where he went.
“Don’t go dying on me, now.” His voice pulled her instantly to look next to her. “I know I’m funny but even I’m not that funny.” He joked offering her a napkin. She tried not to feel relieved seeing his face there smiling like he was hilarious. She reached up taking the napkin and wiped her face as he sauntered back to his seat and dropped himself haphazardly into it.
“It just took me by surprise.” She insisted, not sure what to do with herself. Why was she so relaxed with this guy around? Why had it felt so cold when she had thought he left?
All this was a lot to think about and she was supposed to be writing. She winced as soon as she looked at her screen and saw it covered in drips of coffee. That was going to be gross to write through all day. She wiped the screen but it just wiped streaks of cream and sugar across the surface.
“Everything ok there, kid?” His voice called for her attention again. Somehow the nickname, which should have been demeaning, didn’t set her anger ablaze again. It seemed so casual, almost natural. Not that the man in front of her could possibly be too much older than she was. She was in her mid thirties and would probably pin him at around forty, maybe younger.
She sighed in frustration at the streaks on her screen needing to be careful of the LCD screen but there was no amount of wiping that would fix this mess. “Fine it just– my screen is a mess now. So it looks like I won’t get any writing done. My publisher will love that.” She sighed, closing her screen probably a touch harder than she should have.
“Publisher?” He asked with a tilted head. He didn’t really look surprised, which surprised her. She could say he looked vaguely curious, but even that was too strong a word for the expression he was portraying.
“Yeah I um,I guess you could say I’m a writer. Or at least I wrote a book and it got published so, write.” She said instantly, self conscious. This was the part that always felt awkward and wrong. Plus it got two reactions, half the people were so excited they instantly wanted to be her best friend and get a free copy, the other half were patronizing and passed the words off as her bragging. “Now I’m supposed to write the follow up.” She explained awkwardly. “It’s supposed to be a series.” She was babbling again. “About fairies.” She finished.
God why couldn’t she have written about something so much cooler? Why wasn’t she writing about dragons or werewolves or even bigfoot! Why was it fairies? He would think she was twelve. Why the hell did she care what he thought?
“Fairies are cool.” His voice was so casual she couldn’t stop herself from looking up with what she was sure was a stupid, hopeful face.
“Yeah. I mean, I’m not talking like two inches tall with butterfly wings or anything. They’re more like elemental forces. They’re mostly warriors and guardians. It’s not as dumb as it sounds, I swear.” She tried desperately to defend her book and let out an awkward laugh. She was trying not to give into the overwhelming shame and embarrassment she currently felt.
She never talked about her novels to anyone that wasn’t her mother or her publisher. Even her dad hadn’t actually heard much about her book. She’d given him a copy of the first round of printing but it was still sitting untouched next to his armchair in California. This stranger actually looked interested though. Not even complimentary, not amused and mocking. He was just passively curious.
“What’s it called? I’d love to read it.” He said, taking a slow sip of his iced drink. Why was he drinking an iced coffee? It may not be fall yet but the colder weather had already stolen into the mountains enough that she needed a sweater.
“I have a spare copy at home. Maybe I could bring it to you tomorrow?” She offered.
“I can’t be here tomorrow.” Why was she disappointed by that? She nodded, refusing to let her face fall but either she wasn’t as good at hiding her emotions as she wanted to be, or he was more perceptive than average. “I work on call in the ranger outpost up in the national park. I’m on three days off two. But I’ll be here Friday? Maybe I can pick it up then?” he offered. “Buy you lunch to pay you back for it?” He looked hopeful. That was a surprise. The look in his eyes made it seem like he was holding his breath as much as she was.
“Sounds good. I’ll be here.” She agreed with a shy smile. Had she just agreed to a date? Three days from now she had agreed to a date! Maybe it wasn’t a date. Maybe he was just being nice.
“It’s a date.” He commented with a smirk. Ok so definitely a date.
“Yeah!” She shouldn’t be this excited. She was never this excited. She hated dating. Ever since she got dumped at her ninth grade ball for the class siren by the local captain of the jousting team. ‘Real life terms Raziel!’ she chastised herself. She wrote too much. It was the ninth grade semi-formal and the head cheerleader and the captain of the football team, whom she’d had no business dating anyway.
Her mom always warned her about getting too stuck in her stories. They were always telling her if she wasn’t careful she’d never come out.
“You want me to see what I can do with that screen?” The man’s voice shocked her out of her self-reflection.
“Huh?” Rae shook her head blinking away the voices fighting behind her eyes and flashes of wings and gossamer.
The man nodded his head to her closed computer. “Your computer screen. I might be able to clean it off.” He offered. “Can’t let you get behind because of my attempted murder.” He joked.
She laughed even though it wasn’t a good joke and nodded. “Sure.” she said, opening the lid. “All yours.” He took a napkin and pulled a bottle of water out of his satchel pouring a bit onto the end and ran it lightly over the screen.
Rae watched in awe as the streaks cleared up and dried like he’d used one of her screen clothes instead of a napkin and water. “My hero!” She said with a smile looking over to see his brown eyes right next to her. He was close enough to her she could smell woods and smoke and see little lines decorating his face and disappearing into the thick hair of his beard. It was an alluring image to be sure. Almost made her forget to breathe.
“Liam.” His voice was deep and so sexy and horribly distracting. Clearly she was quiet long enough that he felt the need to clarify. “That's my name. Liam.” That woke her up.
“Right! Sorry! Rae.” She introduced in a rush.
“Short for…?” He prompted.
“Something horrible.” She informed flatly.
“It can't be that bad.” He insisted with a smile.
“It really is.”
“What Rachel? Rainbow? Ray of sunshine? Raymond?”
“Raziel.” She burst out if only to stop his insane guesses. She stopped short, her eyes going huge when she realized she had just said her most hated name to a total stranger.
“Hm interesting.” Was all he said. “See ya Friday, Raziel.” He said her name quietly with an impish smile. It was like he was keeping her name a little secret between them. Somehow it didn't sound quite so horrid coming from him which really was a magical thing for him to manage.
“See you Friday, Liam.” She couldn't fight the smile. Her phone started to buzz and she looked down seeing her mom's contact and huffed. Her mother could not know about this. That was not happening. She wasn’t sure if she would be able to stop thinking about it but just the image of her mother learning about the coffee shop forest ranger felt like a threat. A threat she didn’t have time to unpack right now. Those chocolate eyes and the feelings behind them would be unfolded at a later date. For now she had other beasts to battle.
A/N: I have no answers. I was at a block with my Soul Mates fic and mentioned an HC in the CaraDin Server.. this is the result.
Ao3 Link
Summary: Cara and Din are very competitive. And one time the game ends up a very different way. Thank you to @wolfy22bookie for the Beta
Cara raked her eyes over the unarmored wonder standing in front of her in her tiny apartment. She had almost no decoration in her house not counting a plastic plant Karga had gotten her to ‘liven up the place’. He said it was her employee of the month award. Din Djarin stood in casual clothes next to a basic table that usually had one chair. Tonight it had two as he’d pulled the chair from her desk in her bedroom. She’d taken off her armor and was walking around in a loose black shirt that went low enough you could barely see the shorts peeking out under it. He himself had chosen to remove his beskar leaving only his helmet and his casual under-armor clothes.
They’d been sitting at the table and pretending to drink for most of the night when the conversation had shifted to this.
“You’re playing a dangerous game Mandalorian.” She warned with a confident smirk.
“We never did get to finish.” he volleyed back. This was the game. The serve and set. Every shot easily volleyed.
“Yeah, it didn’t go so well.”
“We won’t be interrupted this time.”
“Where is the little green guy?” She asked, pouring herself a glass of some local drink or another and one for him, with a straw of course.
“I asked Karga to watch him. Said I had some unfinished business.” He tilted his head in just that way that told her he had a smug, challenging smirk even if she’d never seen it
“I’m unfinished business now?” her teasing smirk pulled at her lips.
A low chuckle rumbled from the helmet that added a heat to places she wasn’t used to needing to ignore “You’re saying you don’t want another go?” He challenged.
Oh if that bucket head only knew how he made her heart flutter she’d never live it down. She paced back over to the table putting down the drinks and looking him over slowly taking in every inch of beskar looking for the man underneath. “Fine. You’re on.” she said and sat down. He took the chair opposite her pulling off his glove. She put her own hand on the table and clasped his looking pointedly into the visor.
“On the count of three?” She suggested.
“One….”
“Two…”
“Three..” and in an instant both of their strengths met in a perfect match. Just like before both strained at full strength aiming to make the other’s hand hit the table. His hand was warm in hers, calloused and strong like a soldier. She was sure hers was just as rough, though somehow his grip almost made her look almost dainty.
She pressed on eyes still locked onto him. Each time one made a small move forward the other rallied and pushed them back to center. Her body was tensed and both had immense amounts of competitive nature lacing every look and move. Just like the last time they’d done this unbidden images flooded her mind.
She pictured yanking him up and shoving him against a wall. Tearing off his under armor and having her way with him both panting for a very different reason than the current exertion. She imagined him all flushed under the armor and panting as she ran her tongue over his chest and bit into a bicep she knew had to be impressive under his pauldron.
She could hear the labored sound of his breathing and felt the trembling of her own arm. “Same place as before. I’m still gonna win.” She insisted pushing herself harder as her arm started to move.
“Not yet.” He insisted and pressed harder himself pushing her back to center. She shifted slightly and her foot brushed his calf causing him to tense in a whole new way. She took that in not letting up on the match and neither did he though he had faltered slightly. Suddenly her earlier thoughts didn’t seem so far fetched.
She narrowed her eyes and moved her foot to inch up his calf carefully to avoid the plates of armor and hit the softer fabric. “Cara.” He grit a grunt of warning, his hand once again falters. She nearly gets him to the table when he manages to push her back to center and a new game is suddenly set into motion.
“What’s wrong Mando?” She asked somehow, mixing innocent and flirting. She heard a grunt and suddenly his knee was on the inside of hers and she wobbled as her fluttering stomach went wild and her eyes flashed. She pulled her lower lip between her teeth to keep herself controlled which seemed to get him distracted for a moment. She heard a grunt and instantly went “Kriff this.”
She let go of his hand and pulled him up by the collar pressing him against the wall. “Tell me to stop.” she rasped and she could hear him swallow under his helmet.
“I---”
“Tell me to stop.” She rasped again at the long pause.
“Don’t stop.” He rasped and there it was. She pulled open the belt and pulled him in by it. In an instant his other glove flew to the floor and his hands were on her. She pulled off his belt and threw it to the side and the forehead of his visor gently pressed to hers. She’s heard of Mandalorians doing this as a greeting, the Keldabe kiss, and she hadn’t understood it then. Now it made perfect sense. She desperately wanted to kiss him, to taste his lips and feel his jaw, but that movement soothed her lust a little.
At least it had until his hands snuck from her hips to her ass and squeezed and suddenly there was a whole new life to the fire in her. She easily opened the pants he wore under his armor and pushed up his shirt running hands over his thin stomach and getting a flash of caramel skin and a little bit of dark curling hair. She subconsciously bit her lip as she ran her eyes over the skin and her fingers teased the thin layer of hair. She pulled the shirt up even more to see a tanned but hairless chest and the lips slowly pulled from her teeth as she smiled at the image. His hands seemed to be frozen in place and she could feel his eyes glued to her and taking her reactions in. She looked up at the visor and smiled. “You're wearing too many clothes.” she flirted and that seemed to start him.
In seconds his hands flew down on her thighs and she was being lifted to wrap her legs around his hips. Her arms circled around his shoulders and she pulled at the turtleneck type shirt just enough to get it free of his helmet and pull it down to get to skin. She kissed his neck feeling stubble under her tongue. So he had some kind of facial hair. Little hints and tidbits were starting to form in her mind of this man and she was piecing them together creating a very sexy image in her mind.
Her teeth skimmed the tiny patch of skin she had to work with and she heard a grunt as his grip on her tightened and she couldn’t fight a self satisfied smirk as he walked them with surprising grace into her bedroom and gently placed her on the bed. She pushed back so she was up against the pillows and quickly deposited her shirt to the floor which seemed to stop him for a moment. He just stood there still staring at her and she would have started to feel shy if she hadn’t seen a clear visible reaction tenting his opened pants.
“Close your eyes.” Din rasped and she arched a brow.
“Am I keeping them closed? Because if I’m doing the rest of this blindfolded, those pants are coming off first.” She insisted with a playful smile. She heard a frustrated groan come from the helmet and couldn’t help a laugh.
“You’re going to kill me.” He groused to her and she shrugged leaning back in a way that very clearly accentuated her cleavage in the thin bra she had on. The bra didn’t do much for shape and it wasn’t meant to be sexy, it was meant to work under armor and be sensible, but he didn’t seem to mind with the way she could see his head tilt just enough to tell her where his eyes were.
“Not yet, I have things I’d rather do first.” she assured and he laughed a sexy low laugh that sent shockwaves of heat all over her body, all seemingly aiming for the spot between her legs.
“Just close your eyes.” He said with a huff. She loved that, the frustration. They were never going to have a sweet or gentle first time. They met in a fight and they hadn’t stopped fighting since. She wouldn’t want them to either. That competition, that heat, that connection on the battlefield, that was real! That was far more real to her than flowers or candy or any of that other crap. This right here was the most honest they could get.
She stared at him challengingly for a moment, but finally sighed and closed her eyes leaning back on her elbows to wait. If he really expected her to keep her eyes closed this entire time she was going to kill him. She’d do it, but she had more she wanted to see first. She heard the disengage of the helmet and the clunk of it being put down. She heard the shuffle of fabric and the clink of him picking it up, but not putting it back on.
She was surprised at how much just the sounds and images in her mind were affecting her. The image of him completely trusting her as he walked around her apartment with his dark hair bared to the world. She could construct an image in her mind even as she was missing the features of his face only having the hints she’d learned from the flashes she’d gotten of skin she’d uncovered.
She heard his shirt flop to the floor right next to hers and a sigh right over her. He was looking down at her and she had to press her legs together to try and fight some of the pressure and need building between them at the anticipation. Suddenly his hand fell on her stomach. It was nearly scorchingly hot and she felt him smoothe his hand over the skin stroking gently at it. His other hand cupped her jaw and suddenly lips were on hers.
A moan ripped from her throat as her hand shot up and she was pleased with her assessment as she felt loose curls she could grab onto and run her hands in. She felt the slight rub of stubble against her chin and cheeks as she dragged him closer arching up for more. Her mouth was demanding on his as she pushed her tongue into his mouth, which he was happy to accept and return with equal demand.
He pulled back way too soon and she tried to yank him back closer, her eyes staying closed tightly out of sheer force of will. She heard a groan from him, deep and needy and she laughed a little. “I got you now Mando.” she parroted her words from their last armwrestling match.
His laugh at that ran through her making her pull on his hair again wanting more, needing more of him. “I thought you wanted me to put my helmet back on.” He pointed out.
“Kriff the helmet.” she cursed. Did she want to see him, absolutely, but damn if kissing him wasn’t addicting. She could spend the whole damn night doing that, or at least she would if the promise of more weren’t right there.
His lips crashed into hers again and she moaned moving a hand to his hips and grabbing him by the slight gap in his pants making him fall forward his hands flying from their places on her body to catch himself and pulling a laugh from both of them. “Next time.” He whispered to her his mouth kissing down her neck making her moan and arch to give him room. His hand came up to hers, which was firmly threaded in his hair and not moving and he gently pulled himself free. “I promise.” A promise of next time.
That felt heavy on her mind, that meant this wasn’t just one time of the two of them lost in passion. That meant he’d thought about it too. That meant he wanted to do it again. She refused to let panic or fear chase away her excitement. She wasn’t sure what they could have but at least having a round two was something she wasn’t going to turn down.
She let her grip go with a huff and let him stand up and put his helmet back on. “You can open your eyes.” He offered and she did. There before her was a very disheveled mandalorian with a helmet that looked far too big with every other piece of his armor removed and his pants hanging open and barely able to contain his erection that was pushing hard at the gap. She couldn’t help but laugh at the image in front of her. He looked precious, sexy for certain, but somehow so open and bared to her and she was never good at dealing with emotions. “Great that’s exactly what every guy dreams of when a gorgeous woman sees him shirtless.” He grumbled sounding like he was pouting which just drove her deeper to giggles.
“No no, I’m sorry. That’s not it. Trust me you’re very sexy.” she attempted to assure him as she pushed herself to her knees and laced her arms around his shoulder pressing her forehead to his visor and pulling a gasp from him. “You just look…. Well it’s an image let me put it that way.” She explained her hand trailing lightly over his chest and she flicked his nipple making him groan as his hands fell to her hips drawing her closer.
“Not helping.” He grunted and she felt his hands clench on her hips.
“Here maybe this will help.” She offered and pulled back just enough to quickly and effectively pull off her bra over her head. “Better?” she asked.
He closely observed her movements and she could clearly see the downward tilt and her own breasts mirrored to her in the shiny beskar. She didn’t even have to guess as to where his eyes were and she smirked extremely confident at his reaction. “Much.” He added and she rolled her eyes.
“Get down here.” She used a quick combat move and flipped him onto the bed making him let out an oomph of air as his back hit the mattress and in seconds she was straddling his hips looming over him both shirtless. Her hands once again trailed over his shoulders and down his chest to his stomach and she lowered her lips to kiss down his neck then to his shoulder and she lightly bit at his bicep eliciting a few groans as he ground his hips up to her.
His hands had stayed pretty still through most of this. With a few notable exceptions, they had stayed firmly on her hips. That didn’t last long once he was on his back. As soon as he was looking up at her his hands trailed up her sides and one of his hands cupped her breast drawing a curse from her as his thumb lazily circled around her nipple. Her hips rocked against his and she knew she needed to get them both out of the remainder of her clothing because hers were already well into unsalvageable territory. Just as that thought entered her mind the hand that wasn’t on her breast snuck into her knickers and shorts. She felt his finger move up her slick opening and moaned arching her back.
“Phwoar” he hissed moving his finger up and down her slick folds again pressing ever so lightly over her clit working her up as her hips rocked against his hand making her bite down into his shoulder and suck to hold back the wonton noises that clawed at the back of her throat.
“It’s been a while.” She admitted to try and brush off just how wet she was. It wasn’t a lie, she hadn’t really been with anyone since she’d settled here. At first she’d told herself it was just that she didn’t find anyone here attractive but that had very clearly not been the case the more time she spent here. It was just that no one was quite as attractive to her as the man beneath her now.
His only response to her explanation was to slip two fingers deep inside of her and she moaned pushing herself up on his chest to get a better angle biting onto her lip as she rocked her hips against his hand and his fingers pumped a maddeningly slow rhythm in and out of her. “More.” She breathed an almost plea and he was happy to answer. She could feel his eyes drinking her like a man in a desert at an oasis. She tried to get a good place, but every time she moved her shorts seemed to get in the way and she cursed under her breath. She kissed his chest one last time, pleased to see a mark already forming on his shoulder before gently pulling his hand from her and lifting her leg to fully pull off her shorts. “That’s much better.” She smirked. “Now where were we?” She asked and in an instant he moved like a bullet. This time he was on top of her. Resting between her legs his hand instantly going back to her center sliding three fingers easily inside. “Din.” She moaned at the sudden rush of pleasure that hit her body with his movement.
He paused his movements hearing his name from her lips and she panicked for a moment, her hands clenched on his shoulders looking up at him, his fingers still buried deep. “Was that ok?”
“Yeah.” Was all he said for a moment that felt like forever as he looked at her. Normally she could read every emotion on him. They spoke without words or facial expressions so often Karga had accused her of being force sensitive enough to read minds. She wasn't; she just knew him. Right now he was unreadable though and just as she was about to open her mouth and tell him they could stop he started his slow rhythm of his fingers up his thumb going to circle and tease her clit bringing more pleasure as his fingers curled. “Say it again.” The request was surprisingly gentle. It wasn’t a demand, it was more of a plea that struck deep inside of her.
“Din.” She breathed. “Harder.” he was more than happy to oblige. He increased the speed his fingers went and he pressed the head of his helmet against her shoulder making her moan at the feel of cool metal against her hot skin. She hadn’t expected that to feel as good as it did. Her nails raked down his back clawing to bring him closer to her and she could feel the coil of a climax in her stomach. “So close. Please.” she panted.
“I wish I could rip off my helmet and taste you.” He muttered quietly. “I can smell you from here.” he added and damn if that didn’t do it. Those words mixing with everything else shoved her over the edge with a cry of his name. “You’re beautiful Cara.” he whispered to her and worked her through her climax. She fell back on the bed panting and sweaty and thoroughly pleased.
She coaxed him higher and kissed his shoulder and chest her hand slipping into his pants ready to return the favor. She wrapped her hand around his velvet length straining hard against the prison his pants created. She gently moved up and down over it eliciting a low guttural moan as his head once again fell to her shoulder. “Those are some talented hands you have there, Mandalorian.” She murmured to him. “Can’t wait to test that mouth of yours.” She added and flipped them over so she was again on top. Somehow she knew he was about to object but she stopped him with a gentle squeeze of her hand. “Nope my turn now.” She flirted pulling down his pants slowly.
He laid back watching her and if a helmet could look cocky he absolutely did. She could see smugness in his body language and he had good reason to be smug. He was not a small man that was clear from looking down and she was certain he was pleased with having made her cum already. She was competitive though, and that look made this a competition. She arched a brow at his look and leaned down gently trailing the tips of her hair over his stomach as she moved. “Cara what are you--” He was cut off by the loud groan that ripped through his throat as she wrapped her mouth around the very tip of his cock and gently sucked.
That had gotten the smug look off of him and she was very pleased with herself as she lowered down slightly taking more of him in her hand directly below her mouth to extend the feeling. She ran the tip of her tongue over the ridge at the bottom of his head drawing another low moan that went right to her already dripping core and sent goosebumps all over her body. She took more of him in sucking as she did, taking as much as she could before moving back up and swirling her tongue around the head of his cock. She drank in every grunt and moan as she moved. She flicked her eyes up to him seeing the reflection of what she was doing at locked eyes with him in the way only she could.
Keeping complete eye contact she once again slowly took his cock into her mouth as far as she could sucking and massaging with her tongue. Her hand slipped to her own center to tease her fingers over her dripping folds. She could feel the pressure of need building all over again and she needed some relief. She watched as his helmet moved enough to see her hand then back to her eyes and his head fell back with a string of mandalorian curses and some in another language she didn’t know. “Cara I need you.” He grunted out and she could hear how his teeth were clenched.
She let his erection fall out of her mouth with a pop and smirked “You have me.” She pointed out. “I’m right here.” She added lightly trailing the tips of her teeth over the edge of the head bringing out another grunt.
“You know what I mean.” he growled his hands going to her shoulders making her pause.
“Do I?” she flirted, taking him into her mouth again and sucking.
With a string of curse words she was yanked up by the shoulders and flipped to the bed with force, her hand ripped from her center and held firmly next to her head. He’d gotten the drop on her in her surprise and she tried to flip them again but he held firm his entire weight on her. “Tell me to stop.” he mirrored her words at the very start pulling a laugh from her as she looked up at him. She instantly wrapped her legs around him pulling him in by her heels on his ass.
“Not a Wampa’s chance on Tattooine.” She smirked up at him, eyes locked to his and somehow she just knew he was smiling under that helmet and a smile broke out on hers. He placed the forehead of his helmet to hers and she wrapped her hand around the back of his neck holding him there with her eyes closed just drinking in the gentle moment. While she held him in place he positioned himself at her entrance and slid inside of her with ease. Both tensed at the flood of pleasure that just being like that seemed to bring.
There was an exquisite stretch of feeling filled that had her clinging to him, her legs tightening their hold. One hand held the back of his neck the other rested on his biceps as he held himself over her muscles straining. She rocked her hips with a quiet barely breathed “Please.” and he started to move in earnest. There was no slow or gentle starting pace. He was plunging deep into her with abandon and she angled herself so it hit just the right place inside of her every time.
Their voices joined together in a string of moans and breathing as she coaxed him on every time with variations on “Yes, please, more yes.” The hand that wasn’t holding him up moved from her thigh down to her hip and up her side to massage her breast pulling out another long moan from her. She bucked up against him using her legs to angle them both.
All too soon his hand soon moved down her stomach to tease her clit and she could feel herself tightening again. “Close Cara please.” He growled in her ear so close she could hear his raw voice under the voice modulator.
It was enough to send her spiraling over the edge, her head thrown back and nails digging into his shoulder and arm as she shouted his name to her small, bare apartment. He tumbled over the cliff after her, spurting hot seed deep inside of her with a rasp of her name parading from his lips like a prayer. He managed to fall to the side as he collapsed under the exhaustion of his climax and she instantly turned to press close to him, her nose to his chest and her hand gently playing with the small line of hair she felt on his stomach.
“How long can you stay?” she asked her voice low. She didn’t expect him to stay the night. She was sure he would be gone as soon as he could regain his breath. Normally she would be fine with that, but for some reason with him she hated the thought of him leaving. She swallowed against the feeling in her throat. She hated that he made her so damn weak that she didn’t want him to go.
She felt his arms wrap around her and pull her closer. She heard a sigh and felt the tickle of his breath on her hair under the helmet that wasn’t quite as locked down without all the other parts of his armor. “Don’t know yet. It’s dangerous for the kid to stay in one place too long.” He admitted. She closed her eyes as a smile pulled at her lips unable to believe the man holding her in his arms. How did he know so much and still miss everything sometimes.
“I meant tonight.” she pointed out with a laugh and she pressed a light kiss to his chest nuzzling into his neck as her leg slipped between his. “How long can you stay tonight?” She explained.
“Oh.” He laughed a bit and pulled her even closer. “I think Karga can handle the kid for one night. I made sure he was sound asleep before I came.” He explained. “A few frogs and a bowl of warm soup and that kid can hibernate.” he added.
“Frogs?” She asked looking up at the helmet she knew as well as any face her hand going up to run along the line she saw.
“Yeah it’s weird I know but he loves them.” he said looking down at her and both laughed. She bit her lip looking up thinking the situation over and rolled away from him. She shivered as soon as the air hit her skin and he made a sort of grunting noise of displeasure as she moved but she opened the drawer of her bedside table and pulled out the sash she’d used to cover her tattoo the first time they’d come here before rolling back.
“Can you tie this for me?” She asked instantly, seeing confusion in his body language. Though a part of his looked a little excited and she had to laugh. “That too if you want but I was just thinking you shouldn’t have to sleep in your helmet.” She pointed out holding it out to him and turning her back. She heard him shift and crawl closer and press his chest to her back as he gently wrapped the black band around her eyes. He was careful and slow in his movements sure to get all of her hair out of the way. It was sweet, methodical and so terribly him. She hadn’t heard him take his helmet off, but he must have because she felt a pair of lips and a layer of stubble come into contact with her shoulder making her tilt her head to the side to give him space.
“Thank you.” he breathed into her ear kissing her neck. “No one has ever done that for me before.” He explained making a smile bloom on her lips and she turned around pressing a kiss to his lips.
“Careful or I might demand a round three.” she warned, making him laugh and pull her in flopping back so she was pressed to his chest as they shifted and wrapped around each other.
“Give me ten minutes and I’m all yours.” He said with a rumbling laugh, kissing her again deeply, his hand cupping her cheek.
“I like the sound of that.” she flirted nuzzling his neck and taking a deep breath of the smell of metal and leather and spice and him. Her entire body relaxed. He smelled like home. “We never did figure out who would win in an arm wrestle.”
Summary: The next morning Cara tries to figure out how to avoid any sort of incriminating conversations when things get more complicated.
A/N: Hi! So Here there is mentioned a background WLW Ship. It’s not going to be a huge part but it’s there and IDK if anyone but me in this world ships it but ya know.... it’s small. Also look more chapters. Let’s keep going right?
Prologue, Ch 1 , Ch2, AO3
It wasn’t much of a surprise to Cara when she woke up alone. She hadn’t expected to have him there wrapped around her when she woke up, though a small traitorous voice in her mind said she’d have liked that. Other than the bottles on the floor and a foggy dream of Din kissing her, there was no hint of the Mandalorian in the room. Her body, however, had a keen reminder of everything that had happened the night before. She sat up clutching a thin sheet over her chest -- a sheet she knew she hadn’t pulled up herself.
Images of the night before played in her head. She wasn’t some school girl still fumbling with boys behind trees on Alderaan. She’d had plenty of one night stands before and even a few instances of more drawn out but equally casual interactions. It was rare on Alderaan for people to ‘betray’ their soulmates by being with someone else; it happened here and there. None of those interactions had her replaying scenes from the night before quite like what she’d had with Din. She still felt his lips on hers in a bruising passion, still felt his hands roaming over her seeking places that would make the most impact on her. She could still hear his voice in her ear as his hot breath tickled her skin. Those memories alone would have her hitting the fresher if she wasn’t careful.
As if on cue, there was a knock on the thick metal door. “Yeah?” she called out in a rasping voice. Somehow it was no surprise when the door opened, and he was standing there in his full armor.
He seemed to hesitate for a moment at the sight of her, but walked in and closed the door behind him. “I brought you some caf and breakfast,” he said, holding out a plate of indiscernible food matter and a steaming cup. She knew it was impossible but somehow she could have sworn she could feel his eyes roaming over her form under the thin sheet. Call her crazy, but she was pretty sure he was blushing too.
“Thanks.”
She reached out, taking the cup with one hand still holding the sheet over her chest. He set the plate aside and looked like he was about to sit on the bed for a second before he changed his mind.
“About--” he started, but she instantly cut him off. No way he was finishing that sentence.
“So what’s the plan?” she asked instead. That wasn’t a conversation she was willing to have right now. There were too many ways it could go, and she wasn’t ready for any of them.
“That--I?” His confusion was clear in his voice. Somewhere under that helmet was a wrinkled brow and a slight frown, along with an agape jawline surrounded by a scruff she still felt the marks of on some of the more sensitive places on her body. His dark eyes were probably searching her face for a clue of what she meant.
She tried not to laugh at the images she now had in her mind to match a face with the expressions she always read in his voice. “Bib Fortuna,” she supplied, and he seemed to register as she took a slow sip of her caf praying for the magical substance to work its marvels with her sleep deprived mind.
“Right. Fortuna. Fett and Shand wanted to go in the front door. Fett wanted to use the ship to give coverfire while you and Shand go in and take out the guards inside.”
Cara let out a scoff as she arched her brow. “Seriously? He wants to take out one of the worst crime lords in the galaxy with a loud frontal assault? Like he doesn’t have escape tunnels?”
Din let out a chuckle under his helmet and shrugged, “That’s what I said.”
She smiled a bit at him, holding back a laugh. He moved to sit on the foot of the rack giving them plenty of space between them, but still closer.
“Really?” she asked, not really believing him.
“I was a little less blunt, but the meaning was there.” he admitted, and she laughed.
“Sure,” she said, leaning back, allowing the sheet to slip down her chest a little as she placed both hands around her caf mug, “but it could still work with a smaller distraction. If it’s quiet or if we can scout how many guards he has, then you and I can go in first and Shand can snipe from farther back?”
As she took a long sip of her caf, she waited for his response. Din’s helmet didn’t move in the least, but she could somehow tell his eyes flicked from her face to the place where the sheet was barely keeping her modest. Was he even listening?
“We can talk about that upstairs.” he offered, but he sounded distracted. She knew she was attractive, and after last night, he was clearly attracted to her. Soulmate facts aside, he had made it very clear that he was physically attracted to her. Feeling his eyes and hearing his voice was still a boost to the ego, though. She casually picked up a piece of fruit from the breakfast plate and popped it into her mouth, licking her fingers and lips, but continued on like she wasn’t trying to all but torture him with her current movements. She’d always been a big fan of playing with fire.
“You’ve already been up there, right? What’s going on? Still fighting?” she asked, sucking the last of the fruit’s juice off her fingers. It was very good if a little sweet but she wasn’t in this for the fruit. She could nearly see the gears turning in his head. Was it mean to do this to the poor armored man in front of her? Absolutely yes. Was she also enjoying that cruelty immensely? Also very much yes.
After a pause, he finally cleared his throat and spoke, rasping, “They haven’t come out yet. It’s still early.”
“Did I steal your caf?” she asked, pointing to the now half-empty mug that had joined the plate on the rackside table.
He shook his head just slightly “No I umm… I locked them out of the kitchenette.” He admitted a bit sheepishly.
She tilted her head and arched an eyebrow at him. “You barricaded the door instead of just coming in here to eat?” she asked, a bit pointedly. If he was going to feel awkward about everything or if he was going to put himself or others into uncomfortable situations, then she’d have to talk to him. She’d still avoid the feelings thing, she didn’t do those, but other parts.
“They didn’t mind,” he assured her awkwardly, “I mentioned you were still sleeping.”
“And they just gave you free reign?” she asked, not believing him for a second. There had to be more to it.
“Well, Shand was going through fighting forms, and I think Fett is afraid of you,” he explained, making her laugh. “He said I could take my time.”
“You punch one wall,” she said, rolling her eyes jokingly at the memory of when she’d gotten a little too pissed off at how long everything was taking and needed to let out some steam.
“You dented his ship,” Din pointed out, and she could hear the laugh in his voice.
“Barely! It wasn’t even that hard of a punch,” she scoffed, but the smile on her face was unmistakable. They laughed and sat in silence for a moment as she ate more of her meal a little less sexually this time. She could sense him fighting with himself about what to say next, what to do. She knew she wouldn’t be able to face that conversation quite yet, so she diverted it. “You might wanna get upstairs. If I don’t get dressed, they might think I killed you and get a whole damn show.”
“Right,” he said, nodding “I’ll see you upstairs then.” As he turned, he paused at the door as though he wanted to say something, but stopped himself and walked out. She sighed into her knees and realized this was going to be so much harder now.
Cara managed her way upstairs leaving the plate to deal with later but taking the cup of caf with her. She walked into the main hull and took up her post, leaning comfortably on a wall watching Fett and Din chart a course. It didn’t take long before Bo-Katan and Koska walked in as well. “After talking it over, we’ve elected to stay and assist you with your mission.” Kryze announced to the room.
It certainly pulled everyone’s attention. Fett looked ready to start another fight, and Cara stood up straighter as Din walked closer to the two women. “What brought on the change of heart?” he asked, sounding more curious than anything. Something in Cara’s mind said he was suspicious though, and so was she if she was being honest.
“You have the dark saber. It’s our duty to protect you.” Koska said bluntly. Cara arched a brow at the woman and tried not to laugh as she walked up behind Din.
“He doesn’t need protecting. And even if he did, he has back-up,” she challenged, staring her down.
Koska looked ready to speak up, but Bo-Katan was the one who actually got the words out first. “The position of the Mand’alor is important to reclaiming our planet and people. As you’ve decided to work with Fett and his goals, it is in the best interest for our people to ensure that you have the best support in that endeavor.” Cara hated politicians. She found the people in charge of governments to be generally despicable people, and while she had no issues with Bo-Katan and actually respected the woman as a fighter, sometimes, when she opened her mouth, Cara wanted to punch her. It didn’t help that Kryze still looked like she was tempted to challenge Din for the saber, and Cara wasn’t entirely convinced the woman wouldn’t try and take it by force at an inopportune time.
“So you’re going to help without throwing a fit?” Fett shot back in a mocking tone, and Cara could see the anger flash in the two women’s eyes in front of her and had no doubt that it was matched in the eyes of the clone behind her.
“They would be helpful,” Din suggested, deflecting the rising tension in the room, “It couldn’t hurt to have more hands. They’ve already proved they can work well with Cara and Shand. The four of us could easily take out any forces on the ground, and you and Shand could use the distraction to get Fortuna.” Cara did not have enough caf for this. She just stood over his shoulder, letting the others make the decision. She was here for Din. She’d never pretended she had an ulterior motive. Sure, getting Gideon was great, she loved that little bit of revenge, but Din and the kid had been her first priorities, and now that the kid was gone, Din remained her reason for staying.
“We did make a good team and six heads are better than four.” Fennec spoke up for the first time from her corner of the room. “They’re talented fighters,” she added, sounding more like she was reminding Boba than anything else.
“It never hurts to have a few more Mandalorians around,” Boba relented, eventually nodding at them, though something in the tone felt sarcastic. “It’ll be quite the asset to have you both.”
“Great, we have a whole team. I’m getting more caf.” Cara deadpanned, walking past Din as he made eye contact with her. She could feel the question in his eyes, but she smirked and held up the mug as her only answer. No amount of military training could stop the fact that she was not a morning person.
Cara walked down towards the kitchen area and was nearly to the door when she heard the armor behind her. She turned expecting to see Din and was instead met with Koska and Bo-Katan. “Marshal Dune.” Bo-Katan greeted with that appeasing look that reminded her of one too many political missions.
“Yes?” she asked, glancing between the two. It was strange being face-to-face and alone with them. That wasn’t something she’d experienced yet and somewhere in her gut, she braced for a fight.
“What are your intentions with the Mandalorian?” Bo asked, to Cara’s annoyance.
“Which one?” she asked, trying to evade the question because that was a whole can of worms she didn’t want to deal with.
“Funny.” Koska scoffed sarcastically, but both kept a calm facade.
“Look, I don’t see why it’s any of your business, but he and I are friends, and I’ve got his back,” she said flatly, staring the two of them down, threatening them to say something about it.
Bo Katan nodded, “Very admirable to be certain, but he is the Mand’alor now whether he likes it or not. That Saber comes with power and responsibility. As such we, as Mandalorians, serve at the pleasure of the Mand’alor.”
Cara scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“Right. Ok. I’m sure he’ll love hearing that,” she said as she bit back a laugh.
“It's our job to keep him safe. That includes keeping him away from enemies in friends' clothing,” Bo explained smoothly, leading Cara to straighten at the implications. She felt the overwhelming urge to punch the woman in front of her for even thinking that she would ever hurt Din. Even so, she refused to acknowledge the small voice whispering, ‘Aren’t you hurting him by not saying you’re his soulmate?’
“And you came to talk to me?” she challenged.
“You are the one closest to him, are you not?” Koska pointed out. Cara raised her jaw and lifted her eyebrows looking for the reason that would matter. She supposed it would be a threat, someone close to Din could be the one to hurt him. She wasn’t going to do that, and she wasn’t going to let someone else do it either.
“Interesting you have such strong loyalty to him.” Bo probed lightly.
“What can I say, I’m a sucker for a man in armor,” she quipped, trying to steer them away from digging deeper. Without thinking, she swept some of her hair out of her face, tucking it to the side, before realizing her slip. Koska was close enough to get a flash of her mark, which wouldn’t have been a problem before last night.
“You’re his soulmate.” Koska said simply, making Bo Katan’s eyes light up.
Cara approached Bo with just this side of threatening, even as Koska stood between them. She couldn’t help but notice the two seemed to have black marks just poking out over their armor in the same place. “Does he know?” Bo asked, pulling Cara's attention, “Surely even a Child of the Watch would find it impossible to hold their vows fighting beside their soulmate.”
“No, he doesn’t. What vows?”
Bo Katan sighed, looking at her with a mix of pity and sympathy that made Cara want to lash out.
“He is a member of a … specific group of Mandalorians. They call themselves the Children of the Watch. They are a group of religious zealots who broke off from Mandalore just after the Purge. They believe in an ancient Way and wish to bring it back to all Mandalorians. They believe a warrior is the tribe and the tribe the warrior. As such they renounce their face, their names, and their soulmates.”
Cara wasn’t entirely sure why she felt like she’d just been punched in the gut.
Had Din renounced her? Had he sworn her away the same way he had his name or face? Was what they did last night the same as taking off his helmet? Why had he let her then? Did he know?
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course it matters,” Bo insisted, aiming for gentleness and missing horribly.
“No, it doesn’t!” she hotly reiterated, as her insides raged against the news of Din’s vows to reject his soulmate.
“You’re a liability to him,” Koska observed. Cara was about ready to fight her when she saw the look in both Koska and Bo’s eyes.
“Whether he knows or not, he is connected to you. The bond that connects soulmates starts far before skin-to-skin contact. He is already connected to you even if neither of you knows it, and the possibility of losing you is a vulnerability in him. He is a leader and a warrior, you know this. As such you have a responsibility to him and to everyone he leads to protect him.”
This time, it wasn’t the flowery language of a politician Cara had thought earlier of Bo. It was from the heart. Once again, Cara’s eyes flicked between the women as Bo seemed to forget herself and put a hand on Koska’s arm.
In that moment, Cara felt a connection to Koska, recognizing a kinship built on two people in the same position. She nodded shortly. “You two?” Koska nodded, pulling down her shirt enough to see the small black marks entangling in a way only Bo and Koska would understand, nearly reminiscent of the owl painted on Bo’s helmet.
“What are you suggesting?”
“We want to help you keep him safe and ensure he makes the best decisions for himself and Mandalore,” Bo explained, “His connection with Boba Fett is fine for now, but finding other Mandalorians and reclaiming our home needs to be a priority.”
Cara had to fight the urge to roll her eyes.
“And you think I’m going to help him go along with whatever you want? If you want the saber so badly, you can take it. He offered it. You can go reclaim your planet on your own.”
“It’s a fight to the death,” Koska grit out, “to regain the honor of the saber after losing it to an enemy would mean proving beyond a doubt that the other is unworthy of the might of Mand’alore. It would either end in banishment or death.”
If the missive had come from Bo-Katan, Cara would have heard it as a threat. Coming from Koska, she understood what it really was. This was a warning for her and a sign of respect that Cara deserved the whole story of what she was getting into. If Din and Bo were to fight, Koska and Cara would be in the same position where having a dead soulmate was the best case scenario.
Cara nodded her understanding. “I’m not going to push him to do anything he doesn’t want to do. He’s his own person; he can make his own decisions.”
“Of course!” Bo Katan said in an airy tone that made Cara want to hit her again. “We would never suggest you push him into anything. He clearly already has a heart for people and Mandalore. Marshal Dune, I am certain you only wish to protect him, but part of protecting him is making sure he does what’s right. Keeping him from doing what he’ll regret. I just hope your Republic ties don’t end up causing friction between the two of you. You clearly care for him very much.”
Cara scoffed. “Great. Can I get my caf now?”
“Of course. Please, enjoy.” Bo said airily, but Cara could tell she'd gotten just a bit under the woman's skin. She felt a small rush of pride as Bo started towards the ladder.
Koska took an extra second, just looking at the woman. The two met eyes in a solid look that felt oddly even. If Koska’s soulmate weren’t so tough to handle, Cara was pretty sure she and Koska would have a blast together.
“You should tell him,” Koska said, “before it’s too late. It’s better to have a little bit in the hard times than to stand there waiting to have everything in the easy ones.”
Cara didn’t respond as the woman walked away and up the stairs. She swallowed, turning away, suddenly wanting something a hell of a lot stronger than caf. Not even a few seconds passed as she heard the sound of lightly grazing armor behind her before a tingling sensation hit her back. She felt more than heard him settle as he waited.
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