𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 - DIN DJARIN

Chapter 64: The Darksaber

chapter 64: the darksaber •••

It's only when the hyperloop pod steers you away from Plazir's domed city that Din can fully relax again, his armored shoulders rising and falling in a breath of relief. He's aware of you moving closer to his side, something that only adds to his new sense of calm. His daughter babbles to you all about her and Grogu's adventures while they were gone in another layer of sweet content.

But Din can't ignore the way your ally sits across from you with her gaze stuck on the outside world. Bo-Katan's eyes are glazed over with an anxiety Din's familiar with, the announcement of your approach to landing field three bringing not a single change to her expression. It brings Din back to the day he first returned to his covert as an apostate, the turning of helmets and tightening of weapons. He can't help himself from trying to bring her some amount of the same relief he's just gained.

"They're Mandalorians," Din says. The only gaze he earns when he speaks is yours, which burns through the side of his helmet as he goes on. "You're their leader." He adds a nod of reassurance. "They're going to follow you."

Bo-Katan's gaze falls before it returns to the transparisteel. "I'm not their leader anymore," she insists. She peels her gaze from the view of Plazir to look between you and Din. "Axe Woves is."

Din shares a quick glance with you and tilts his helmet. "Then what's your play?"

Grogu coos from the pod at your side, as if he's asking her the very same thing. Bo focuses on the little one with her brow furrowed in evident distress. She waits a long moment before she answers. "I'll know when I get there."

Din sees you nod at Bo-Katan out of the corner of his eye. "We'll be right there with you," you remind your ally. "You don't have to do this alone."

Bo-Katan looks between both of you with a small smile of gratitude. She returns your nod. "Thank you."

The tension of the serious moment is broken by Zora as she points towards the transparisteel. "Luh'!" Zora exclaims, tapping both Din's and your pauldrons to make sure you're paying attention. She points outside again. "Boo!"

"Do you like the blue sky, Zo?" you say, your voice soft as you speak to your daughter.

Zora's little finger lowers towards the green grass and she furrows her brow as she looks at Din. "Bah?"

"That's grass," Din tells her. He keeps his voice low and gentle as he also points to the long stretch of green grass. "There was a lot of it on Sorgan, where you were born." Din's visor glances at you, who's beaming at him in the way he adores most. His mind rewinds him to that difficult yet calming time on the agrarian planet. "The grass there was very soft."

"Gr..." Zora tries to say. "Guh..." She looks over at Grogu in the pod. "Gogu!"

Grogu coos with delight when his sister says his name. "Yes!" you say and give Zora's head a kiss. "Grogu is the same color as the grass! Green."

Zora furrows her brow in focus. "Gr... gruh..."

She babbles on and on until the hyperloop pod comes to a stop. Din watches as you set Zora into the pod with her brother for safekeeping before he offers his hand to you to help you stand. You make your way out and down to the landing zone, a long stretch of green grass sitting between you and the area that houses the entire Mandalorian encampment.

Din's so focused on the sight far ahead that he almost misses you calling for him. "Din," your voice remains hushed. Din's helmet turns your way, his visor meeting your gaze before you flicker yours to the metal hilt that hangs from his belt. "He's gonna want that."