Mandalorian Revived

Chapter 15

I pull my knees up to my chest and curl against the wall in the spacious guest room Vivi and Bombardier were kind enough to give me. Grogu sits by my feet cooing up at me with drooped ears. As spacious as the room is, I've found myself most drawn to this corner. We sit perched on a window seat overlooking the whole city. In the daylight, it's brilliantly light with white and gold gleaming back at us.

The night before...was horrible. I've felt a gnawing emptiness in my chest ever since. It's partially guilt from my harshness, but also pain from the way Din acted. He's never been so callous with me. Not even when we first met. And, once again, he ordered me around and gave me no say in anything.

Bo sent me a message through my commlink late in the night to tell me their latest lead. Something about a droid bar, apparently. She added a quick apology for the way things went at the end of her message. She also urged me to rejoin them.

I glance down at Grogu and run my thumb over the edge of his large ear. "Don't worry, Grogu, I won't leave you alone in the palace anymore."

I think the company is more for my benefit than his.

A gentle knock sounds at the door and I freeze. Grogu lets out a loud coo, reaching one hand in the direction of the bedroom door. I reach out with the force to make sure the door is locked. The lock clicks in place and Grogu's eyes fill with sadness again. I pull my knees closer to my chest.

"Tara?" Din's voice on the other side of the door is far softer than it was last night. He doesn't knock again. I know he heard the door lock. "I know you're in there. I can hear Grogu."

I frown at the kid and he coos loudly. Traitor.

"Tara..." my name comes out as a sigh through the modulator. "I just came to give you an update...on the droid situation. It's, uh, it's going okay. We found a lead at that bar last night. Some liquid called Nepenthe. We're going to the lab to check it out now."

I refuse to look at the door. If I do, I know I'll cave in and open it for him.

Grogu lets out a squeal toward the door. A soft breath releases through the modulator on the other side. "Hey, kid."

Grogu blinks up at me with his giant, pitiful eyes and I stubbornly look out the window again. That will make me cave in too.

"Okay, well, I have to go." Enough silence goes by that I think he's left already before his voice filters through once more. This time, it's much softer, as if it's a secret. "I love you."

I close my eyes and bury my face in the sleeve of my nightshirt I still haven't changed out of. Tears burn my eyes behind the lids. I can't bring myself to answer him. Another few moments of silence go by. This time, I'm sure he's gone. Grogu is too.

I quickly grab the child and hold him close to my chest, stroking the top of his head. He leans closer. I'm not sure how long we sit like that before his stomach rumbles loud enough for both of us to hear. I chuckle down at the little green child and set him back on the window seat before hopping to my feet.

"I get it, Grogu. Let's get some breakfast."

I quickly change into my clothes and pull on all my beskar. The lightsabers stay clipped to my sides as I carry Grogu out of the room. The hall is empty. The whole place still feels unnaturally sterile with its white walls and floors and ceilings.

Grogu and I wander until we start to hear bubbles of laughter and small talk. Vivi and Bombardier should be nearby, then. I turn a corner and it brings us out to a bright, spacious courtyard. The rich nobles mingle around the space while Bombardier and Vivi toss some hard-shelled creature around in what I assume is a game.