Broken Soul | Din Djarin

interlude ~ under the starlight

"You gotta aim the thing."

"Wow, thanks, cyare. That's really helpful," Din mutters sarcastically.

You snort and gently nudge his arm to the right, giving Din a straight shot for the deer in the distance. "You were aiming at a tree."

"I knew what I was doing," Din mutters, letting the arrow fly. It whistles off into the brush, missing the creature by a few feet and burrowing into the trunk of a tree. The deer freezes for a moment, turning its head to stare at you in shock. 

"Did you know what you were doing then?" you whisper into his ear, reaching over your shoulder to grab another arrow from its quiver. Knocking it into place and raising your weapon, you pull back the string. The feathers of the fletching brush against your cheek while you line up your shot. With an exhale of air, you release the arrow, watching as it finds its mark in the distance.

"Nice shot," Din breathes, turning from his stare into the woods to look at you.

"Thanks." You grin, rising from the bush you had been hiding behind and brushing the dirt from your clothes.

Din follows you down to where the deer had fallen. The poor thing would've looked like it was in a peaceful sleep if it wasn't for the arrow sticking out of its eye, and you grimace at the sight of it.

"I've never liked killing..."

"I know," Din says simply. "But you need to keep in mind that sometimes it's necessary."

"I know," you sigh, crouching to carefully remove the arrow. "Your arrow is still in the tree." You gesture towards it with your arm and Din walks over to it to yank it free.

You watch him as he walks away, smiling subconsciously at the mere sight of him. His body is still armor-clad, resulting from his paranoia that someone will still show up to try to cause you harm. But the days have been peaceful.

Din had taken you back to Endor after a couple of weeks of aimlessly floating through space. He had kept his intentions of returning to the moon a secret - not giving you a single hint as to where he was piloting the ship until the landscape of the forest-ridden moon had filled the window of the cockpit. The Ewoks had welcomed you back with open arms, and rather excitedly. The celebration of your return had lasted days, filled with bonfires and feasts. You've watched in amusement as Din earns the Ewoks' trust and love. They thought of him as their own now. But their initial reaction to him at your return still brought you amusement.

They had surrounded you like a wave of fur, piling onto a group hug like no other. You were forced to sit on the ground from the impact of it, laughing as the number of Ewoks around you grew with every second. Din was swarmed as well, but they had kept a wary distance - simply standing at his feet and staring up at him. Wicket had found you in the crowd, clambering onto your lap and grabbing your face lovingly. He'd rambled on with greetings and excitement before the shining Mandalorian standing behind you had captured his attention.

The Ewok had pulled your face closer to his, whispering only to you even though Din couldn't understand him. His chitters had roughly translated to, "You are happy? You are safe?"

"Mhm," you nod.

He'd glanced at Din before staring into your eyes, analyzing them.

"You are in love."

Your eyes widen at his chatter, glancing back at Din bashfully. Din tilted his helmet in questioning, wondering what the Ewok had said to you.

"Wicket-" you chuckle, unsure what had inspired this.

"No," he chittered. "You are in love. It's in your eyes." You watch the Ewok, unsure what to do or say. Your mouth hangs open stupidly and you blink like an idiot. "Is it him?" Your blush gave him a confirmation as you tried to look away, but the Ewok pulled you back to face him. "You love him."