Lullaby | The Mandalorian

Chapter Six: It's a cow farm. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE COWS OUTSIDE.

Warning: This chapter discusses stereotypical (i.e. open spaces) symptoms of agoraphobia. As well as panic and irrational decision-making.

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Annelise took to her new duties quickly, mostly because it was the only thing to do.

Being idle reminded her of being locked in her room and right now she was trapped on the ship with the Mandalorian with nowhere to go but around and around and around the metal contraption...keeping Grogu entertained when she could, and she did not think her duties completely extended to nannying, mostly watching him when the Mandalorian was away, but she did not question it. She just did it. Her hands could move, she could pretend that an escape would mean being recaptured, but who was to say if another bounty hunter came along and killed the Mandalorian or paid him off?

There were no loyalties.

The water was running again, which meant she could properly clean the baby, and feed him. He seemed to be a bottomless pit, but the Mandalorian was very firm about how much of their supplies the baby was allowed to have. He kept grumbling, about another mouth to feed – but truthfully, Annelise had only asked to work for him for protection. If he wanted to send her away he could, but he had not. And she did not question it. Hopefully it would work to her benefit, but then again – there was a chance it would not.

The Mandalorian did not seem to like the space she made for the baby to play, or the toys she had made by cutting pieces of the Mandalorian's clothing she had found. Truthfully, she was somewhat pleased that it angered him, but he could do nothing about it because the baby loved the new toys, along with the ones he already had. The Mandalorian was not a bad father by any means, but only huffed and shook his head when he saw the little dolls she had made with the fabric. Something she had learned from one of her books. A craft book, she thought – the cover had been orange. The writing blue.

Their space was in a corner in the belly of the ship, behind some of his many boxes of weapons. Annelise had looked in one that was full of blasters and had been tempted to take one, but she had not touched it as of yet. Despite the lingering thoughts, when she considered killing the Mandalorian as a means of escape, but she wondered if she could truly kill someone – and that someone being the baby's surrogate father. That in itself seemed evil, especially because the baby did truly seem to adore the man in the metal armor, the man that had become somewhat of a dark shadow in her existence.

She knew they had to be nearing the planet with the bounty, but she tried not to ask too many questions and she tried not to draw too much attention to herself besides the cutting of the clothes or making the baby laugh loud enough to make him look – as if he thought it was a scream. A part of her wanted to annoy him, and another part was frightened. It was like a mixture of anger and fear and she could not find a happy medium but instead stood at the edge of the cliff, waiting for him to snap like a branch. And then what? Well – being kicked off the ship was a possibility but she figured the tears of the child would protect her. If the child cried for her.

Annelise laid on the blanket she had set up in the corner, listening to the hum of the ship as the baby played with one of the cloth dolls. She stared at the ceiling, as he made happy grunting noises and she pretended she was in a safe box. Not locked in – that she could leave anytime she pleased. A cell with the door open. Four walls for protection, but an escape route simultaneously. She was lonely, it did not feel like there were two other beings on the ship – and as much as she had come to adore the baby, he did not speak. Only cooed, and smiled – which made her smile too. She figured she should have been adjusted to the lonely feelings from childhood, but maybe that lingered in a scar. Always there, and always threatening her with a villainous core.