The Mandalorian's Bounties | Din Djarin

Chapter 5 | Return of the Mandalorian (Part 4)

Cordelia watches as Din and Paz both take off their jetpacks and set them to the side before facing off again. Din pulls the Darksaber from his belt and activates it as Paz pulls out a blade and activates the shield on his arm.

They move towards each other and start fighting, pretty evenly matched. After a while, Din shuts off the shield and cuts the blade from the hilt. Paz grabs the hilt of the Darksaber and they begin struggling over it.

Din gets Paz to his knees, but he's stronger and manages to push the Darksaber away from his armor, grabbing Din's helmet and headbutting him before tossing him onto the lower platform Cordelia stands on.

She moves towards him, but the Armorer comes out of nowhere and holds her back as they watch Paz jump down next to him. He grabs Din and slams him into the post before picking up the Darksaber from where Din dropped it.

"Fate has brought this blade back to my clan, and now fate will end yours." Paz says, struggling to lift the blade.

"No!" Cordelia cries, struggling against the Armorer as he lifts the Darksaber over his head. He swings, but Din lunges out of the way, stabbing Paz in the side. He swings again and he ducks, avoiding the blade.

The blade gets stuck in the post and Din lunges towards him, but Paz grabs him by the helmet and slams him into the post again. He pulls the Darksaber free and advances towards Din, who dodges again, slashing Paz's side then leg. He dodges as Paz swings again, moving around him to hold the blade to his neck.

"It is done." The Armorer announces, finally letting go of Cordelia. She moves towards Din, standing in the middle. "Paz Vizsla, have you ever removed your helmet?" She asks, making Cordelia's stomach drop. She looks at Din, silently telling him she's with him.

"No." Paz answers.

"Has it ever been removed by others?" She adds.

"Never." He says.

"This is the way." The Armorer tells him.

"This is the way." He responds.

"Din Djarin, have you ever removed your helmet?" She asks. He doesn't respond, so she repeats the question. He still doesn't answer her. "By Creed, you must vow." She tells him. Din lets go of Paz, pushing him to the ground and putting his blade away. He looks to Cordelia, knowing she'll love and support him no matter what happens next. She crosses the distance between them, standing next to him and slipping her hand into his.

"I have." He says.

"Then, you are a Mandalorian no more." She replies. Cordelia glares at her, tightening her grip on Din's hand.

"I beg you for your forgiveness. How can I atone?" Din asks.

"Leave, apostate." Paz says. Cordelia turns her glare on him, pulling her knife from her belt. 

"Shut your mouth." She growls, pointing the blade at him. Din squeezes her hand, and she sheathes the blade, turning her glare back to the Armorer.

"According to Creed, one may only be redeemed in the living waters beneath the mines of Mandalore." The Armorer tells him.

"But the mines have all been destroyed." He says. She nods.

"This is the way." She says. Din breathes heavily as he stares at her for a few more moments before grabbing the Darksaber from the ground. Paz grunts as he reaches for him one last time. Cordelia steps on his wrist, just enough to pin it to the ground.

"Touch my husband again and it'll be the last thing you ever do." She threatens before she turns and follows Din to their room to grab their few belongings. 

Once done, Din sits on the bed to process for a moment. Cordelia moves to stand between his legs, removing his helmet. She cups his face in her hands and tilts his head up to look at her.

"I want you to listen to me for a moment." She says. He nods, reaching up to cover her hand with his. "I don't care what she says. So what if you removed your helmet. You took it off to say goodbye to Grogu. To say goodbye to our son. There is nothing wrong with that. Don't you dare think for even a second that you aren't a Mandalorian. You are a Mandalorian, and you always will be." She tells him. 

Din pulls her onto his lap and wraps his arms around her, burying his face in her neck. Cordelia runs her fingers through his hair as he composes himself. He pulls away and kisses her, cupping her face.

"Thank you." He says. She shakes her head.

"Don't thank me. We're partners, there for the other whenever they need it. Plus, I only told you the truth." She replies. He chuckles, kissing her again before setting her on her feet and standing. Cordelia slings the backpack with their belongings over her shoulder as he puts his helmet back on.

"Let's get out of here." He tells her, holding his hand out towards her. She smiles and takes his hand, squeezing it before following him out the door.

***

An alarm begins beeping as Din and Cordelia walk towards the ship. They look around in confusion until a droid begins speaking.

"Excuse me. You're going to have to remove your weapons." The droid tells them.

"We're Mandalorians. Weapons are part of our religion." Din says. Cordelia smiles and squeezes his hand, happy that her words had gotten through to him.

"I'm sorry, you can't board a commercial flight with your weapons." They reply. Din sighs. "If you wish to discuss this with my supervisor, I will gladly book you on tomorrow's flight." Din takes the ticket.

"Fine." He says. He sighs as he opens the container and begins setting his weapons inside. Cordelia finishes before him and has to bite her lip to stop from laughing as she watches him put the rest of his weapons inside. "I know everything that's in there." He threatens the droid.

"Proceed." The droid tells him, gesturing towards the ship. Cordelia chuckles as they walk up the ramp.

"What's so funny?" He grumbles. She loops her arm through his.

"'I know everything that's in there.'" She teases, laughing again. 

"My weapons are important." He says. She pats his chest.

"I know they are, but the droid was just doing their job. You don't have to be so grumpy all the time." Cordelia tells him.

"Maybe I like being grumpy." He replies as they take their seats. She smiles, leaning into his side and wrapping her arms around him.

"I like your grumpiness too. It makes you the person you are, and I happen to love him very much." She says. He sighs, wrapping his arm around her.

"When you say things like that, it makes it hard to be grumpy." He tells her. She winks at him.

"I'm just being honest." She responds with a yawn. He chuckles, tightening his arm around her. 

Cordelia rests her head on his chest and falls asleep soon after. Din spends the rest of the flight with one arm around her, the other holding the two small bags with presents inside. He thinks about the contents of the bags and who they're for.