The Sweetest Taste

Chapter 18 - So you're in love?

"What's up with you?" came the smooth voice of Bo Katan.

Din was sat on a large rock with Grogu at his side.

The moment Din had returned home, tired and aching from Lysa's doorstep, he had found a communication from Bo Katan and the other Mandalorians, asking him to join them off planet and help with rounding up several more of the Creed than they had had word lived within the Outer Rim.

And almost immediately Din had jumped into his N-1 and flown away, that evening. Barely giving the planet of Nevarro a second look.

He was hurt.

Still in utter angry disbelief about what had happened.

After everything Crix had done, Lysa still stood there and defended him. Remaining loyal to him in spite of everything.

What more could Din do now?

He had pleaded with her to leave with him and be safe.

And for a moment Din had seen a flash of hope in her eyes. And yet somehow Crix had still snaked his way back into her head, blackmailing her, convincing her that there was and only ever could be him.

Din felt like giving up. For what more could he do?

And yet he still felt that tug at his heart when he thought of her. Yearning for her with every fibre of his being.

He prayed it would pass.

For Lysa had seemed certain in her choice.

A choice that did not include him.

For the last two days, Din had been notably subdued, listening to what Bo Katan needed, but providing little-to-no idle conversation.

His mood and his mind elsewhere...

Even Grogu had been aware that his father was not his usual self, sitting closer to Din that normal, providing a silent comfort, which Din appreciated.

For two days Din, Grogu, Bo-Katan and a small group of Mandalore natives, had tracked the rumour of the hidden Mandalorians, with no avail.

Now on the second night, tired and exhausted, the Mandalorains had decided to make camp for the night in the middle of a dusty desert. This was the fourth planet they had been to in two days and Din had already lost track of exactly where they were. His mind far from on top form.

The sky had grown dark and the planet colder than the group were used to, meant that a fire had been lit.

The majority of the Mandalorians had already taken off their helmets, deciding this was a good a time as any to eat.

But of course Din, still following the ancient ways to the letter, kept his helmet firmly on his head. Not feeling hungry, his stomach still twisted into knots as he stared into the fire.

At his side, Grogu had stared up at his father, giving a concerned croak, drawing the attention of Bo-Katan who was sitting on Din's other side, nursing a hot cup of broth between her cold hands.

Her sharp eyes had lingered on Din's beskar covered face and slumped shoulders for a long few seconds, before she had asked him the question.

"What's up with you?"

Din Djarin had never been the life and soul of a party, always far more quiet and reserved than your average.

But that didnt mean he didnt have a big heart and wear his emotions on his sleeve the same as everyone else.

He gave a heavy sigh.

"I've just had a few things going on in Nevarro," he uttered, the detail still feeling too raw for him to go into.