I'll Do The Same { Din Djarin x OC}

Chapter Fourteen: Renewal

Thell was fuming, pacing back and forth in the cargo bay of the Razor Crest.

They had narrowly escaped with their lives yet again, and the anger was boiling in her blood. She hadn't gotten angry over it before, but having spent such a short amount of time on a haven like Naboo, and to be run off the planet by their enemies, it was bringing everything to a new light.

She wasn't one to get angry. She had endured many things in her life, ones that were worth being mad over. But she had never been that way. She knew others had suffered like her, so why did she have any reason in pursuing those same feelings?

But they were stronger this time because she had an actual reason behind it: Din and Grogu. She cared for them deeply, deeper than anyone since her mother. And after everything that had happened between them on the planet... the hand holding, the playful dancing and teasing, the nights spent talking into the early morning about anything and everything. She had something more than herself to care about now, and they just happened to be two of the most wanted beings in the galaxy.

Amidst her anger, she could see Grogu watching her pace back and forth from the sleeping pod. She could hear Din approaching too, stepping down the ladder into the hold.

"Thell," he said. "What are you doing?"

She didn't stop moving except to glance at him momentarily. "I'm just thinking. I needed to walk around."

But he seemed to know her better, because he took her arm gently the next time she stopped in front of him. Thell paused, realizing the tears she had been holding in were threatening to break loose. She knew he could probably see her red rimmed irises; she had broken down as soon as they left the planet and hidden away in the sleeping pod.

"What's going on?" he asked concernedly.

"This is what it's like, isn't it?" Thell sniffled. "Constantly on the run. Not being able to stay anywhere for long. Never feeling safe? I mean... we weren't even there for three full days, and someone knew we were there. Kriff, they really won't let us catch a break, will they?"

Anger was surging through her veins, provoked and fiery. Her eyes darted around the hull for something to kick, and she chose a cup sitting on the floor. It collided with the wall with a small clang and clattered to the floor, leaving Thell standing with her hands in fists.

Din hadn't spoken a word, and she peeked at him from the corner of her eye.

"I'm sorry," she muttered, rocking her leg. "I don't usually get angry."

But his response was warm. "You have every right to be."

Her initial anger was gone, and it was starting to turn into tears instead again.

"I just..." she sniffed. "I thought we were going to be okay there. For once, I thought we were going to be okay! ... It was really nice there."

Her back trembled as she inhaled, the sobs threatening to pour over, and Din noticed. She pushed her hand onto her forehead as he took a few steps forward, until Thell saw that his arms were open.

"Come here, kar'ta."

He had never hugged her before, not properly, and she wouldn't count the one time when he nearly died as one. He didn't seem like someone who had endured much physical affection in his life, because ever since he had grabbed her hand, he had always been close to her. Like he needed to physically touch her to make sure she was really there.

Nearly stumbling over her own feet, she collapsed against him, securing her hands around his waist. He was incredibly warm and gentle as he hugged her back, fastening his own arms over her shoulders. She could feel his hand caress the bottom of her hair, smoothing it back when she cried against him.