Arani Jakal was not ready to be stranded on an unfamiliar planet, causing her whole life to change. But in the chaos, a friend or two popped up - seemingly from nowhere - wishing to help. Ari gladly accepted and quickly became part of a small town...
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ARI'S BOOTS CRUNCHED AGAINST the mass of ash that covered the ground. So many things had made her world crumble within the last hour. She didn't have time to process it all. But, now, as she searched the remains of her home, it all came crashing down on her. Ari sunk to the ground, careful to not get any ash or dirt on her clothes. A new wave of tears brimmed and she hid behind her hands; nothing was untouched, even if something had survived if was scorched beyond use. If this was how she reacted after just a few weeks, she imagine how Din must have felt.
A shadow was cast over her. The person came to sit down next to her, wrapping her in a warm embrace and moving her onto their lap. They brought her head into their chest and she knew who it was. The cold metal of Din's armour seemed to ground her. He laced something in her palm and she looked down to find that the one thing that was saved was Grogu's orb. She huddled into him further and his heart broke even more.
The two took a minute to collect themselves before Din pocketed the sphere. He whispered something to Ari but she didn't hear it - she was deep within the darkness of her mind. Din continued to search through the ashes, finding the beskar spear which gleamed dimly from the mud and dust.
Din went back to the young woman, crouching in front of her and taking her hand. "Come on, cyar'ika, stand for me." Helping Arani up, he wiped a tear and led her out of the crater, keeping his hand in hers. Ari's grip was like nothing else, many times they had held hands but none had such an emotional undertone.
Not caring that Fennec and Boba could see him in such a vulnerable state, he came over to them with Ari in tow. "This is all that survived."
"Beskar. I want you to take a look at something." He clicked a button on his vambrace, now wearing his armour. A yellow hologram appeared that looked like a chain code. "My chain code had been encoded in this armour for 25 years. You see, this is me. Boba Fett. This is my father, Jango Fett."
"Your father was a foundling," Din realized.
"Yes. He even fought in the Mandalorian civil wars."
"Then that armour belongs to you."
"I appreciate its return."
Din turned to Fennec. "Then our deal is complete."
"Not quite."
"How so?"
"We agreed in exchange for the return of my armour, we will ensure the safety of the child."
"The child's gone," grief was etched in Din's response. Ari knew he was trying not to show how much it affected him.
"Until he is returned to you safely, we are in your debt."
Stepping closer to Fennec, Ari nodded, determination to get her son back boiled in her blood. "Then let's get him back. I wanna defeat Gideon's ass before he can start another uprising."
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ARANI SAT IN BOBA FETT'S SHIP waiting for the others. The moment Fett said they should leave, she rushed to the ship. And now she was back in her own world, replaying the pivotal moment where Grogu was taken from her - possibly forever.
How could this have happened? What had she done wrong? Was it when she first saw the dark troopers? She should have run. And even if they still stole away her baby, she should have put up a better fight.
Din crouched in front of Ari, his warm hand resting on her knee. "You're dissociating again."
"I - sorry."
Din reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. He kept his hand up but slid it down to her cheek. "There's no need to apologise. It's how you cope, I do the same thing."
A small smile sprouted upon her lips and she took the hand that held her face, placing it on her lap. She stared at his hand, thinking, before acting on her impulses. Slipping her thumb under Din's sleeve, she moved it up ever the slightest.
He was dark, not as dark as she was, but it was enough that if he were to stay in the sun, he wouldn't be burnt. Ari saw that Din had stiffened and when his other hand moved, she quickly removed her grasp from him.
The bounty hunter paused. "It's alright, Arani."
Full name. He was serious. But she did not move back.
It was his turn to act on impulses. He continued to reach for his arm, coming into contact with the gloves he wore. With slight hesitation, he slipped them off and cupped Ari's face once again.
The warmth that flowed between them was enough to make both parties hyperventilate. It had been years since Din had such contact. It had been years since Ari had lived with such passion.
"What is on your mind, cyar'ika?"
"You," Ari replied truthfully and quickly.
Din huffed out a laugh and brought his hands into her lap, tracing his thumbs across her knuckles. "I love the idea of that but I meant from earlier. What made you slip deep into your thoughts?"
"I wish I was in his stead. I wish I had done more. I know it's not my fault, nor is it yours, and the hatred I have towards Gideon is strong. But I can't help but feel like I should have done things differently."
"I wish I had gotten to you sooner, but we cannot stop the things that were meant to be. There was no way out. Just pray that we can get to Grogu before anything else happens. Have faith, Ari, you are the strongest of all of us."
"For a man of little words, you sure can talk with passion."
"Only for you."
Ari blushed. She was sure Din didn't mean it in that way, yet she couldn't help but wonder . . . "I. couldn't ask for a better . . . Din, what are we? What am I to you?"
"Ner oyay."
"In Basic, Din."
A moment passed and Ari was sure he wouldn't tell her. But he looked back up and uttered the most beautiful things anyone ever told her. "You are my reason for waking. You are the air I breathe and the sun on my skin. To me, you are the light in this darkening universe. You are my rock, a foundation which grounds me. You, my darling, are life itself. You are my life - Ner ouay."
"This is what I meant: passion." Leaning her forehead against his, she now cried tears of joy. "I wish I could truly see you. To see what you may look like." Then in a much softer tone: "I wish to kiss you one day."
"As so I. One day, cyar'ika, all will work out." Standing up, Din took his seat next to her, hearing Boba and Fennec finish their preparations.
They sat up front, and as soon as they were settled, Din told them where they needed to stop first: Nevarro.
