The Sweetest Taste

Chapter 4 - Something sweet and sticky

The next morning, Din had already been up for several hours by the time he heard the familiar noise of a landspeeder travelling down the dusty path towards his cabin.

He was busy fixing a loose panel on the side of his N-1 Starfighter, when the sound caught his attention.

It caught Grogu's too.

The small child was sat on the porch step, using his powers to lift one of Din's heavier tools up into the air and then back down again.

Din and Grogu had already had a bountiful breakfast, consisting of the fruit and sweet bread that Lysa had left for them the previous day.

It was indeed rare for them to have anything more than bone broth in the conservator. So having a bounty of fresh foods, all handpicked or home cooked, felt like a luxury.

Din took a step back from his ship and turned, to see the battered old landspeeder hovering down the makeshift road towards them.

He cleared his throat, causing Grogu to stare up at him for a moment, before the child's attention was drawn back by the speeder coming to a juddering stop.

Immediately Grogu gave a chirp and began to waddle over to the pilot on tiny legs.

"Grogu," scolded Din quickly.

But Lysa Kane, who had just stepped out of the landspeeder, gave a laugh.

Din gazed at her, today in a short navy tunic and matching navy breeches. She was just a little shorter than Din, but her outfit made her look tall and regal.

"Someone already hungry for more?" she said in a sing-song voice, as she pulled off her helmet, revealing her usual wavy length of honey-coloured hair.

Grogu almost instantly jumped up onto the back of the speeder, expecting her to present him with food like the last time she was here.

But Din hurriedly strode up to the pair of them, reaching under his son's arms and pulling him swiftly from the vehicle, as Grogu screeched in protest.

"Grogu, you ate like a half hour ago," Din said in a firm voice, as the green child made grabby hands for Lysa.

The Mandalorian's gaze met with hers through his beskar helmet. "Sorry," he uttered, internally wishing his son was more well-behaved. Especially in front of company like her.

But Lysa merely smiled up at the pair of them delightedly, before reaching into the basket, attached to the rear of her speeder, and pulling out a small handful of pink berries. Which she promptly handed over to Grogu.

Within half a second, Grogu's face was already covered in pink juice as he chowed down on the fruit.

"I don't think I've seen wasaka berries anywhere in the Outer Rim before," Din commented.

At his words Lysa smiled.

"Well in exchange for a constant supply of homemade cakes, some of the stallholders down at the Bazaar save me some of the rarer fruits that come in," she explained. "They're happy, I'm happy, and my customers are happy."

Din stared at her. All golden hair and a smile that could brighten even the darkest of skies. But there was something behind that. Something smart, and self-sufficient. And it still surprised him that a woman like her would keep a man like Crix around.

Din had pondered that on his long journey home just the previous evening. Of all the men out there, why would she choose someone like him?

Crix had been cold and brutish. A contrast to Lysa Kane, who to Din, exuded warmth and grace.