𝐉𝐄𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐑𝐘 || Din Djarin, The Mandalorian

00

PROLOGUE

JUNIE and Din sat on a pair of cracking steps, both slouched and huddled together, whispering.

Junie wasn't sure the stairs would hold up much longer, they looked as old as space, but she wasn't worried either. Din would never let anything bad happen to her. If he was there, she knew he'd do everything he could to make sure she was okay.

"I, uh- I have something for you." He told her, nervously gazing into her brown eyes, searching for any hints of unkindness, disgust or hesitation. His eyes trailed down the scar that ran the length of her face, calming him slightly.

"Funny, so do I." She grinned, watching his own brown eyes brighten up slightly.

"You do?" He straightened eagerly, and then cleared his throat. "I mean, that's cool."

He glanced to the side, trying to show her he didn't care as much as he did. Din could see other foundlings sitting around, and he noted that they all kept staring at him and Junie every few seconds.

He couldn't help but wonder how the rest of them had got here. Had they also been attacked, their parents running and hiding them away, sacrificing themselves for their children-

Din pushed the memory back with force, although it was so fresh in his mind that it was hard to. It hadn't happened too long ago, just over a month, but it still hurt more than he'd like to admit.

He looked back at her, a new air, now nervousness, engulfing him as he shakily reached into his pocket, withdrawing a tiny piece of cloth from his pocket.

It contained the gift he made for her, a sort of cushioning to make sure nothing happened. He took her palm, placing it inside and closing her fingers over it. "Don't open it just yet, wait till you're alone."

"Okay," She looked down at it, before settling it carefully in her lap, as if it was a piece of delicate glass, which to her, was even more than that.

She turned away from him slightly, digging into her own pocket. She grasped the tiny bracelet she had made for him, suddenly wondering if he would even like it.

She had come across the tiny charm in her parents bedroom, in her mothers 'secret box.' Well, that's what Junie named it, because she was told she couldn't go through it.

She didn't want it anymore, because she found the memories would get painful sometimes, so very painful that she wanted to let go, forget. Her gift wasn't very boyish, in fact, it wasn't boyish at all.

Junie didn't feel like giving it to him anymore, but Din urged her on with a slight nod. She opened her palm, the bracelet revealing itself.

It was pretty to look at atleast, a flower charm with purple petals and a yellow center. The charm was attached to a string, with only one blue bead.

She didn't have anymore to put on it, and she secretly had found the bead on the ground, so finding more was unlikely.

"I-I know its not that good, but the flower belonged to my mother and it was really pretty so I thought you would think it was pretty too but on second thought it's hideous and I understand if you don't want it- I mean I honestly don't think I'd want it either so maybe I should just throw it out or feed it to a Massiff-"

"-No, Junie," Din cut her off with a small giggle, "don't feed it to a Massiff. I like it. It's pretty, like you. Perfect." He told her, and she smiled, the scar on her face stretching around her uplifted cheeks.

"You really think so?" She pushed, her knees brushing against his.

"Yeah." He smiled, his hair falling into his eyes as he said so. "Help me wear it?"

She nodded as she tied the string tightly around his wrist, making sure to knot it securely.

As she finished tying it, a Mandalorian appeared in front of the two. "Time to leave." He stared at Junie through his visor. She looked at Din for a moment before standing up, brushing anything off her trousers out of habit.

She turned to him, wanting to say something like goodbye, or see you as soon as possible, but he was already hugging her the moment she turned. "Do you need to be moved?" He mumbled into her shoulder.

"This is the way." The Mandalorian placed a hand on Din's shoulder, but not unkindly. He seemed sympathetic, but Din didn't care, brushing his hand off and then releasing Junie slowly.

"I-" Din wasn't sure if he should say this incase she thought it was weird, but he plunged onwards anyway, "I'm going to miss you."

He was rewarded by a tiny though bright smile. "I'm going to miss you too, Din." Her smile faded slowly, and an air of melancholy hung above them as The Mandalorian placed a hand on Junie's back, leading her away from Din and towards a ship.

Her legs felt numb as she forced her body to turn and walk. All she wanted to do was go back and sit with him again, everyday, forever. He was the only friend she had ever made and she didn't trust anyone but him.

She knew she could trust him from the moment she saw his gentle brown eyes, and she knew that this was the person she wanted to keep by her side.

Her steps made clanks as she stepped into the ship, craning her head back to see him staring after her while fiddling with the new bracelet on his wrist.

Din was sad to see her go, all he wanted to do was run after her and beg that Mandalorian to let her stay with him, everyday, forever. She was the only friend he had ever made and he didn't trust anyone but her.

Deep down, Din knew she would find him again somehow. He knew she would from the moment he saw her determined brown eyes, and he knew that this was the person he needed to keep by his side.

Junie sat down in the ship while The Mandalorian walked into the cockpit. She took the cloth out of her pocket, running her thumb over the soft material a few times before unfolding it.

Inside, there was a bronze chain, and attached to it was a carved block of wood. She turned it over in her palm, reading what Din had carved into it.

D + J

She could feel the heat of surprise rising from the pit of her stomach, but she pushed it down, mentally pulling a strand of her hair. It was wrong to assume things, especially fantasies as he likes her more than a friend.

She gave him something to show her she valued their friendship, and he had done the same, that was all.

Wasn't it?