DEFIANCE | The Mandalorian

XV

This place was the exact opposite of Tatooine. While Tatooine was unbearably hot, arid, and dry, this Maker-forsaken planet was void of all warmth. Usually, my armor can help trap some body heat in frigid conditions, but this place was just flat cold. I sat across the bay from the frog lady, huddled up on the floor with two heavy blankets wrapped around my shoulders, and the cold still seeped deep into my bones. The frost thickened in my eyelashes, and the weight was heavy enough that I had to consciously think about holding my eyelids open, otherwise I feared they might freeze shut.

Din tinkered with a panel just outside the hole in the ship, groaning loudly when the wires sparked and crackled with electricity. A small curse escaped his lips as he ducked away from the sparks, tossing his tools into the snow in frustration.

He stalked back inside the bay. "Well," He sighed, standing up straight as he placed his hands in his hips, "If you hadn't guessed, we're in a tight spot. The main power drive isn't responding, and the hull is... well, it's lost its integrity." He glanced over his shoulder to the huge hole in the wall. Then he added dejectedly, "The temperature is only going to drop once the sun sets. I might now more about our prospects at that time."

I sighed through my chattering teeth. Shit.

My whole body shivered violently, and I pulled the blankets around me tighter in an attempt to help keep me warm. Din noticed my shaking and wasted no time approaching, plopping down next to me and letting his delicious body heat settle over me. I involuntarily nestled closer to him, and he slung his arm behind my back.

"I'm sorry," He said in a low voice, one that wouldn't carry across the bay to our contact.

I couldn't feel my face as I arched my brow. Then I asked, "Why?"

He heaved a long breath. "I don't know how we're getting off of this planet," He confessed. "Unless we can somehow pressurize the cockpit, there's no way we're getting out of here intact."

I clenched my jaw in an attempt to keep my teeth from chattering together. "Then we find a way to pressurize the cockpit," I said firmly, not allowing an ounce of doubt seep into my mind.

He paused, leaning his head closer so his freezing helmet it rested on my own head. "I'll try," He breathed, tired. "Please don't freeze to death before then."

A breathy laugh escaped my purple, chapped lips. "I'll try," I said, repeating his words back to him.

The frog lady began croaking in her own, extremely difficult to understand language. Din and I both looked up to watch her speak as she gestured frantically to her eggs, a blanket draped over the canister.

Din lifted his head from mine as he said, "Look, I'm sorry, lady, but we don't understand Frog. Whatever it is, it can wait until morning."

The contact did not seem happy to hear that, but she reluctantly shut up, and I felt my eyes slowly droop closed.

"I suggest you get some sleep," Din continued to the frog lady. Then he looked down at me and whispered, "You too, riduur. Come here."

I didn't hesitate when he opened both of his arms wide, allowing me to snuggle up under his arm and use his body heat to lull me to sleep.

"I love you," Din muttered before leaning his forehead against my own. We stayed like that, pressed together, for a few moments before I felt a little creature snuggle up in my own lap. I opened my eyes and glanced down, watching as the child curled into a ball and closed his eyes between my legs.

I gently used my hand to pull him closer, letting him soak up my body heat as I soaked up his. He let out a soft coo, nestling his head into the dip of my hip.