𝖜𝖎𝖘𝖍𝖇𝖔𝖓𝖊, 𝔡𝔦𝔫 𝔡𝔧𝔞𝔯𝔦𝔫

𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

AS THEY TRAVELLED back towards the docking bay, Sevara's mind lingered on the dark gaze of Toro Calican. On his rich, tousled hair, the way the light shimmered across his silver adornments as he begged for Din's aid, and how a smile stretched across his lips as the bounty hunter said yes.

Gnawing at her own, Sevara was perplexed as vines of familiarity curled around her ankles, binding her to the wonder of just where the inkling was emerging from.

Din, who seemed to take note of her creased brows and blank expression, inclined his head and asked, "What're you thinking about?"

Meeting his gaze, Sevara admired how the beams streaming from the twin suns of the planet bounced off the curve of his helmet, bringing her back to the flecks of silver moonlight that danced across his visor that night in the barn.

Though they had cast their shaded silhouettes in a burst of bright supernovas as his true name tumbled from his soft lips, a conversation about what had happened or what they were, hadn't occurred in the weeks since.

Although, deep down Sevara was thankful it hadn't, for she was scared of the inevitable outcome if they did. Scattered shards of her past dug into her scarred skin as her heart longed for security and the promise that she would never suffer from the loss of a love again, and if that meant that not even a whisper of what they were passed between their lips, then Sevara would grow to be content with that.

Blowing a soft sigh through her nose, she refocused back on Din as they neared the docking bay, confessing, "Toro, he just. . . reminds me of someone is all."

Din's helmet tilted, "Who?"

"I'm not sure," she said, bringing her fingertips to her furrowed brows, "I just get the feeling like I've seen him somewhere before but. . . never mind, it's probably nothing." Shifting her gaze to him, Sevara prompted, "What do you think of him?"

"He reminds me a lot of you, actually."

Sevara stopped in her tracks, brows shooting up as she asked, "I'm sorry?"

"You know; short, dark hair, doesn't take no for an answer."

Her mouth twisted, "Oh, ha-ha, very funny."

A soft laugh escaped his lips, as he mumbled a soft, "Sorry."

Rounding a corner, they passed through the bronzed threshold of the docking bay. The whispers of a shiver trickled down Sevara's spine, narrowing her eyes as she scanned the seemingly abandoned lot. Flexing her frigid fingers, she shook her head and pushed forward, trailing Din towards the landing deck of the Razor Crest as they went to the check on their child.

No words were exchanged as the hefty weight of dread powered the thumping of Sevara's heart, eyes widening as they fell upon the empty cot were the child once laid.

He was gone.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

Without hesitation, Din stepped around her and darted from the belly of the ship, charging out of it as he yelled, "Hey!"

"I'm awake—! I'm awake— oh," replied the mechanic, whose tight curls bounced as she jolted from her seat.

Stepping forward, Sevara drew her brows as she spat, "Where is he?"

"Quiet!" She cried, drawing towards them from her windowed office, puckering her lips as she shushed the whinging child in her arms, "Oh, it's okay. You guys woke it up! Do you have any idea how long it took me to get it to sleep?"

Din extended his hand, "Give him to me."

The mechanic turned a fraction, pulling the child close to her chest as she warned, "Not so fast! You can't just leave a child all alone like that." Her disapproving gaze flicked between Sevara and Din, "You know, you two have an awful lot to learn about raisin' a young one."

Sevara's cheeks went flush, bowing her head as the woman's criticism crashed into her like a tidal wave. Not daring to raise her head, she zoned out as the mechanic stated to Din what repairs she had completed.

Vaguely registering Din's brief departure to the ship, Sevara glanced towards him as he returned with a back in hand and her ears perking up as the woman added, ". . . but I figured you were good for the money since you have a family to feed."

"Thank you," said Din, laying a light touch on Sevara's arm and beckoning her to follow him as the whirrs of a speeder echoed throughout the docking bay.

The mechanic gasped, "Oh, I guess I was right.
You got a job, didn't you?" She trailed the two of them from the bay as the child remained clutched in her arms, adding, "You know— it's costing me a lot of money to keep these droids even powered up."

"Hey, Mando," rung the voice of Toro Calican, lounging beside one of the speeders, "what do you think? Not too shabby, huh?"

Sevara watched as Din stepped forward, setting his bag against the back of the mechanism and extending out his palm as he toyed with the brakes of the speeder. He glanced to Toro with a tilted head, and the young man simply stated, "What'd you expect? This ain't Corellia." Toro's gaze shifted to the mechanic as he inclined his head, "Ma'am."

Stepping towards the speeder, Sevara ran a hand across the worn leather of the seat, raising a brow as she asked Din, "You think this'll fit us both?"

"I want you to stay here," he said, "it's too dangerous."

"I can handle myself."

"Believe me, Sev, I know you can. I just don't want you to get hurt."

A soft flame kindled within her heart, lips tugging at the corners as she said, "Hey, remember what I said? About how I know I'm safe as long as I'm with you?" Nodding, he heaved a soft sigh. "Exactly, so I'm coming."

Din's head shook he swung a leg across the seat of the speeder, inching towards the handles and leaving enough room for her to slide behind him. He beckoned for her to hop on as her name left his lips, "Sevara?"

"Yeah?" she asked, settling behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist as she pulled herself close to him.

A playful tone laced his words as he stated, "Your 'Toro' is showing."

Sevara's eyes narrowed, though a smile fluttered across her lips. There was no time for her to retort as Din fired up the engine, sending them flying through the dusted winds alongside Toro, the harsh breeze tearing through their hair as they set off on their mission to catch Fennec Shand.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾

hey! thank you all for reading, all your support means a lot!

i just wanted to let you all know that this might be the last update for a while because school has started and i don't know how much time i'll have to write.

but as always, thank you for reading and i hope the wait for the next chapter isn't too long for anyone who is still reading this fic!!