Bounty hunting is a complicated profession

Laughter

Although you were more than happy to be back on the Crest and away from Concord Dawn - and Paz Vizsla -, you were unable to get over the bad mood that stupid Mandalorian had put you in.

"That went better than expected." Din said after making the jump to hyperspace. You looked at him with a bewildered expression on your face and he chuckled softly.

"It could have been worse?" You asked him puzzled and still annoyed. "That jerk tried to take off your helmet!"

He gave a long sigh as he lowered his head.

"Paz... he is proud and hot-headed. Once something gets into his head it is hard to make him change his mind and he just acts accordingly..." He looked at you. "Yes, he can be a jerk." He snickered.

You had a lot of questions for Din about all that had happened. At the moment, when he had attacked Paz, it had given you the impression that the latter was accusing Din of something. Now, you were quite sure it had been of him removing his helmet. Yet, you couldn't understand why he thought Din would have done so.

"Why did he try to do it? Take your helmet off. Isn't it against your Creed?"

You could feel the indecisiveness from him as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat and that only sparked your curiosity even more. He seemed to notice and chucked softly.

"He was convinced I had already broken my Creed and removed my helmet. In his mind I... wasn't worth wearing it anymore." He said with a slight shrug, but that wasn't a good enough explanation for you.

"Why? Why did he think that?"

He looked at you silently for a moment as he was still wavering about it although you couldn't understand why he was feeling that way. Finally, he talked but you weren't expecting the answer he gave you.

"Because of you."

Wait.

That made no sense.

You looked at him frowning in confusion and he tilted his head as if he couldn't get what you weren't understanding.

Ok, it was true Paz had accused you of trying to get a look at Din when he was without the helmet but that only meant he believed you to be untrustworthy. That didn't mean Din would have willingly taken off his helmet in front of you. Why in the universe would he do that?

The answer suddenly formed in your head and you let go a small gasp of surprise at the revelation.

So Paz thought you and Din had a closer relationship than you did. Best case scenario, he believed you were a couple; worst one, that you were having sex. You averted your gaze from his visor as you felt your cheeks getting hot at the idea of having sex with Din. He seemed to notice your blushing as he shifted his weight uncomfortably again.

"Someone should tell Paz you don't have to take your helmet off for that." You signed with a playful smile in an attempt to lighten up the mood.

He laughed. A hearty, loud laugh that seemed to fill the cockpit and release all the built-up tension from his body. You smiled warmly at the sound as a small bubble of pure joy seemed to swell in your chest, instantly chasing away your bad mood. Gosh, you loved the sound of his laughter, even when you knew it was slightly distorted by the modulator in his helmet.

What would it sound like without the helmet, you wondered, unable to stop yourself from imagining it and wanting to hear it.

"Yes, someone should." He said with a smile in his voice as he took a deep breath and chucked again.

Well, so what if you never got to hear the unfiltered sound of his laughter. Even that thought wasn't enough to puncture the bubble of joy that had formed in your chest - although it was enough to make it deflate a bit.