That man in Beskar [The Mandalorian x OC]

X. Din Djarin

I look at the Mandalorian, well... Din, who is staring at the ground. One of his secrets was revealed. I do the only thing that comes to my mind.
"Nice to meet you Din" I say with a smile that then disappears "I'm sorry it had to come out this way"

He sits on a chair near the crib.
"It doesn't matter now. We need to find out who is after me. After us"
I nod
"I don't know who he could be. There are only a few persons who know my name. And they are my friends" he puts his hands on his helmet.
I could help him, I could try searching the answers through Grogu's memories, but as I decided to go towards the child I see Mando freezing, then lowering his hands.
"Gideon" he says
"Gideon as in the Moff? The man that was cuffed in the room where we met?"
He nods.

"I tought he was locked in prison"
"He is, I can assure that. He can't lift a finger without me knowing. It is not him, the voice was similar, but not his"
"So what are we talking about? Some effect to mislead us?"
"There is no way of knowing"
"He's looking for vengeance. It must be an apprentice or relative"
"Can't you use your Jedi powers or somehing?"
"That's not how the Force works"

He sighs and rests his head on the wall behind him. He thought he found a moment of peace, but it lasted so little. The battle never stops.
I see him looking at the Child who is outside playing with the kids of the village. That is the life he should live, a normal happy life. Instead he is being dragged again into danger.

"He is not after him" I say moving a few steps closer "If the target is just you he could be safe"
"No, he knows my attachment to the kid. As long as he's with me he is in danger. You should go away with him, as far from me as possible"
"Not gonna happen, tin can" I put my hand on his shoulder, where the Mudhorn signet shines at the sunlight "I'm in this with you. You're not fighting alone"

We hear a wood stick braking, causing me to step back with my hand that reflexively lands on the hilt of my lightsaber, secured on my belt. I see that the sound is caused by the kind woman that offered us the place to stay. She's holding a tray of food.

"I'm sorry" Omera says "Did I interrupt something?"
"Not at all" I smile at her
"I brought something to eat. I know you don't eat in front of others" she says to the Mandalorian "I'm just going to put it here"
I interrupt her
"Well I don't mind eating while being watched, so" I grab one of the fruits "Thanks" 

As I eat Omera leaves, and right after Grogu comes in
"Piccolo! You heard talking about food and here you are"
He shyly stands still
"C'mere"
I cut him some pieces of food and feed him

"Dad" he looks at Mando
"I'll eat later, kid" he says back

"Hey Mando, can I call you Din?"
"If you want. At this point it is out in the open. Plus, it's been a long time since I heard my name"
"You know, Din, I always wonder why you never call Grogu by his name"
"Question of habit. It just comes naturally. Just like your... How do you call him?"
"Piccolo?"
"Yes, that's it"
"Fair point" I pause, before speaking again.

"I'm gonna lay a bit here, maybe I'm lucky enough to get some hours of sleep" I close my eyes.
"Kaira"
"You can call me Kai, I guess we know each other better now"
He nods.
"Kai, can I trust you?" Din asks me
"Uhh, sure?"
I hear a click and then the sound of a kiss and his voice, not muffled, as he speaks to Grogu. I realise he took off his helmet.
I see in the corner of my eye the kid exiting, then I hear his voice again as he mumbles to himself
"I'm so hungry"
This makes me smile, one second he is a tough quiet hunter, the other he is the sweetest dad alive.

"You do realise that I already saw your face when we first met, right?"
He sighs, like I already heard him doing a lot in the time I traveled with him.
"Okay, okay. I respect that you have your creed. I was kidding, I swear I will never look at you"
"I appreciate it"

Din smiles, thinking I can not see him. Little does he know that with the force I felt him being carefree and happy for a while.

I keep my eyes closed, I don't want to break my promise to Din. I take out of my pocket my lucky ball and play a bit with it, soon after I fall asleep.

A few hours later I open one eyes hearing someone speaking. I see right away the Child trying to reach for my ball.
"No, kid" the Mandalorian says "You'll wake her up"
The little one ignores his father
"Grogu" Mando calls firmly, making his son turn and whine
"Come here, you can take this" he says holding the silver sphere that was once on the lever of the Razor Crest.
Grogu seems happy and moves towards it.

I still feel tired, so I allow myself to sleep a little bit more.

*3rd person point of view*

As the Jedi rests, Din Djarin holds his kid in his arm, as he plays with the ball. The Mandalorian stares into space, thinking about the danger he and Grogu are. Again.
He was aware that he still had many battles, but he did not know that the child had to encounter more risks.
He stays like that, still.

If Din Djarin didn't have his helmet on, everyone could see that he isn't in fact staring blankly, his gaze is fixated on Kaira. Not even him is aware of that.
The fact is, since that innocent and reassuring shoulder touch, he started to see her as more than a random Jedi knight. She had become a friend, and maybe more. He will just need to figure it out.

-Haar'chak_Kaira