𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 - DIN DJARIN

Chapter 51: The Quest

chapter 51: the quest •••

You tighten your grasp on Zora, clutching the giggling child to your chest. "You said this was going to be a calm and quick trip!"

Din's response comes through a focused breath. "That was before I knew they'd draw the attention of a giant sea creature." His helmet turns over his armored shoulder as he tries to steal a look at you and Zora. "Hang on back there."

You're too busy securing Zora in place to respond or to observe what else is outside the transparisteel that surrounds you. Zora's nearly one-year-old curiosity has started to get the best of her, but with her father currently flipping the ship over and preparing to fire, exploration isn't exactly ideal. At least Din has Grogu, you remind yourself with a soft sigh.

Din flips the ship again, and Zora lets out a hearty laugh, the kind that brings a smile to your face no matter how hard you try to resist it. "Is she laughing?" His own smile is evident in his tone.

"Are you surprised?" you retort. You earn a soft chuckle through the intercom, along with an excited squeal from the other Djarin child. The sound only makes Zora laugh louder. "All right, angel." You press a kiss upon the curly hair of Zora's head. "We have to hush. K'uur."

Zora obeys, though her curious brown eyes still widen at your surroundings. Her little fingers tighten around your own as you join your daughter in observing the atmosphere you've flown into. There's a sandy shore that's full of helmeted Mandalorians, a sight that would've made your heart fall even if the giant sea creature hadn't been there. You can see children lingering behind the front line of forces, and your chest inflames with panic on their behalf. You hold Zora closer.

The shot Din takes is calculated and simple, hitting its target with no mercy yet no harm done to those who watch. With the first obstacle cleared, you hold your breath and continue to look out at the group of stunned Mandalorians. They would become the very next obstacle, and given Din's supposed crime, you aren't sure which one would be more hostile.

Din lands the starfighter with ease on an empty spot along the shore. He slides open the transparisteel above your heads, earning a curious coo from Zora, and looks out at the group he used to call his tribe. You haven't seen so many of them since the day you entered their covert on Nevarro. You wonder if any of those Mandalorians are still here.

"Din Djarin." The Armorer's voice is calm, steady. You have no doubt that the favor Din just did for the tribe is the cause for her civility.

"We wish to speak with you," Din responds. His tone is just as composed and formal as the Armorer's. When the Armorer remains silent, Din goes on. "We won't be long."

The Armorer takes a visible breath while you hold your own. To not be directly by Din's side in the waiting is almost torturous; the tension that oozes from his beskar is palpable. When her golden helmet offers a firm nod, the air becomes lighter and cooler, and Din returns the gesture with a confident straightening of his armored shoulders. The Armorer begins to walk off while the other Mandalorians disperse and recover from the fight.

You've become no better at trying to get out of the starfighter while balancing Zora on your hip. She quickly outgrew her beskar-fused sling, which Din then made into clothing for her—though its absence is now strongly felt in struggles such as this.

"I've got her," Din says in a soft voice from alongside the ship. You hand Zora off to him and hear her loud screech of delight. Din chuckles and lets Zora clutch his bandolier. "Hello to you too, baby girl."

Din keeps a gloved hand extended to help you down, making your chest warm almost as much as your face does at your audience. You press a hand upon his cuirass and push yourself up to kiss his beskar cheek. "Ready?"