the curious happenstance of pedro pascal and din djarin [The Mandalorian]

Bedhead Or Helmet-Hair?

The Mandalorian was brooding.

It wasn't exactly a sight to behold. Din brooded in the show all the time. Pedro had acted out a brooding scene the day he got back and discovered the actual one seated at the dining table with his chin rested upon his closed fist.

He tried to give him personal space. When Din wore the helmet, it usually meant he didn't want to talk. But his distance only seemed to worsen the brooding.

As a result, Pedro came to work one day in a foul mood.

Jon approached him first, after they decided to take a break. Pedro couldn't seem to get down the lines. Not in the way that Jon wanted. "They're too angry," he'd say, and sigh. It only made Pedro more upset.

"Are you okay?" Jon sat opposite of him. "You haven't touched your sandwich."

"Fine."

"Is that guy giving you trouble?"

This was a question Jon would ask every day. Every day, Pedro would say, "No, he's fine." But today it was different.

"I guess you could call it that."

Jon leaned forward. "What did he do?"

"He's brooding."

"I see." He leaned back. "Why?"

Pedro shrugged. "He's had the helmet on for the past week. I don't want to bother him about it, but every day he just seems to be getting worse."

When Jon didn't respond, he looked up from the table and was met with a concerned expression.

"What?" he asked, poking at the sandwich.

"You really believe him, don't you?"

Pedro stared back down at the table. Did he? Did he believe him? He said as much, but...

The whole thing was ridiculous. It was impossible. It was stupid.

"Yeah," he said. "I do."

There was a beat of silence. The room steadily became louder as the crew began to filter in, having finished their lunch. Someone came over to Jon and muttered something to him.

"I'll be there in a minute," Jon said in return, then turned his attention back to Pedro. "You realise it's crazy, right?"

"Jon," he sighed. "Of course I do. I tell myself that every day. But... I just, I couldn't not. You would understand if you'd seen him, when he came to me. And then... and then a little while ago..." he lowered his voice to a whisper, leaning in so Jon could hear him. "He found the show and watched all of it. When I got back, he was crying. He was really crying. I can't not believe him."

Someone called Jon's name.

"Okay." Jon bit his lip. "Okay. If you believe it, then... I suppose I do as well." With that, he got up from his chair and got to work.

.~.-.~.

The negative atmosphere in the apartment was affecting Pedro's career. That was where he drew the line. As soon as he stepped through that door, he immediately beelined to Din's room. With newfound courage, he pounded on the door.

There was the sound of rustling sheets, a small thud, pattering footsteps, and before he knew it, the door swung open.

There Din stood, without any of his armour on. At all. Just the spare shirt Pedro had leant him and some shorts.

He looked way too casual.

"You," Pedro rested his index finger on Din's chest. "Will tell me what's wrong."

Din didn't respond. He only turned his gaze downwards, at the finger on his chest.

The bags under his eyes were all too prevalent. The bedhead (helmet hair?) was unruly and was all stuck to his forehead, which was caked in sweat. When was the last time this man had a shower?

When Din did not respond, Pedro pushed him back with his hand so he landed on the bed behind him. The Mandalorian then proceeded to cross his arms like a child, but he maintained eye-contact.

"You will tell me what's wrong," he repeated. "Your negative emotions are affecting me and I couldn't act properly today. I won't let the show suffer because of you. So talk to me."

In the new lighting, he noticed the puffy eyes. God. He's worse than I thought.

"I'm," Din shut his mouth as soon as he spoke because his voice truly sounded like utter horseshit. He tried again after clearing his throat, "I'm fine."

"Could have fuckin' fooled me." Pedro sighed. He gestured for Din to shuffle over, and he did. He sat down next to him, letting himself sink into the bed. "Please just tell me what's wrong. I don't want you to suffer."

There was silence. Din refused to meet his eyes, gaze cast downwards at the ground, arms crossed in such a way that he could be hugging himself.

"I want," his voice cracked. He took a deep breath. "I want the kid."

Oh. Oh. Of course. Of course. How could he be so stupid? Why would anything else be the issue? How had he not noticed the distinct lack of a green baby?

"I'm sorry," was all he could say in response. "I'm assuming he didn't come with you."

Din shook his head. "If he did," he took a stuttering breath, like the ones you get after crying, "he's long gone by now."

Pedro sensed a need in a change of subject. So he did.

"Have you noticed that your entire posture changes as soon as you take the helmet off?"

Immediately, Din's shoulders sagged in relief. "No, I haven't."

"It does. It's like your whole personality changes."

"Mm."

The silence that followed, unlike any other silence they've previously had, was comfortable. Content. Even Din seemed more relaxed. Tense, still, yes, but talking even a little bit had done him some good. That's all Pedro could ask for.

Still, something was bothering him.

"Were you crying?"

The abrupt question had Din recoiling.

"Sorry," Pedro quickly added, "It's okay if you were. I cry a lot. Well, not recently, I'm happy, really, but, I've cried, a lot. I do cry. I've had many crying sessions, um." He shut his mouth before he went on a tangent.

Din didn't seem to mind, though, and even seemed to relax. But he still didn't confirm or deny the question.

"It's fine if you don't want to answer. In fact, if I ever say or ask something that makes you uncomfortable, then, then you should tell me, and, and I'll-"

"I'm not a child," Din grumbled. "If I don't like what you're saying, you'll know."

"Yeah. Yeah, of course."

It seemed there was a lot more to deal with than just a lone, clueless Mandalorian.

There was PTSD mixed in there somewhere. Then, of course, having to adjust to a foreign world. Plus the pain of being separated from his child. It was a recipe for disaster. If they weren't careful, Din would fall into a spiral, and... and that's something they needed to avoid at all costs.

Pedro would not let it happen. Even if it cost him his entire livelihood.