Vibrant Eyes | Din Djarin

34: hope,

The change that befell them over the next couple of weeks wasn't grand or earth shaking. Din knew more about Venus than he ever had and she knew more of him. It didn't really change much drastically.

Instead change came about in the smallest ways.

~*'*'*~

Din slung the brown crossbody over his armor.

Lifting his gloves to his helmet, he wiped a small smudge of what must have been food from the visor. Then, wiping it away on the strap of the bag, he strode forward from the ship. His every step clanged against the ramp, and he began to walk away to the sound of Venus muttering somewhere within. Then he felt a small tug on his cape and paused at the bottom of the ramp, angling his body back the way he came.

Standing at the top, Grogu seemed even smaller than he usually did. Clothed in the light brown coat Venus often made for him, he babbled when he noticed he had gotten his attention. Din watched with thinly veiled amusement as he turned his whole body with each step to follow.

Then, suddenly, he stopped.

The kid gave a huff and babbled something verging on... complaining. Venus emerged at the ramp just a foot behind him, fingers lifted just so at her side. With the twitch of her pinkie, she tugged at one of his large green ears and the child giggled. 

Then he was floating into her arms.

As she tamed the restless child in her grasp, Venus looked up at Din and gave a grin. He watched with wonder and an infectious warmth filling his chest. She turned back around and disappeared into the ship.

~*'*'*~

Grogu babbled and chewed on a card. He was supposed to be asleep at least an hour ago. But he insisted on staying up with them and playing cards, which consisted of eating them on his part.

Din sighed, not even touching his.

Venus rested her cheek in her palm and watched the kid slobber over the piece of paper.

Then Grogu babbled something else around the card.

Venus huffed. "No, he won't."

A moment of silence.

"Really?"

Din sighed. "What's he saying?"

Venus glanced up at him, humor dancing in her eyes. "He wants you to take him on a walk."

Din stared at the kid. "We're in the middle of space."

The kid huffed something, and Venus laughed.

"He said, 'Then land'."

Din hummed, belatedly realizing Venus might be rubbing off on him, "That's bossy."

Grogu must have responded because Venus laughed again.

"Let me guess," he asked. "He added a please."

She nodded and gave the kid an affectionate scratch on the ear.

Later, fate saw the trio walking through the forest on the first planet they saw, luckily already cast in night. Din walked with Grogu toddling at his side, gaze fixed on the kid and any roots he may trip over. He watched and prayed for a yawn or something so they could just go to bed.

Venus followed at a distance, floating through the trees and keeping watch with a hand resting on her lightsaber.

~*'*'*~