𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 - DIN DJARIN

Chapter 2: The Princess

chapter 2: the princess •••

Din studies you curiously as your eyes observe the child playing with the silver sphere. He looks up at you and coos affectionately. You look at Din—and he sees it as a request for permission to hold the baby. He offers you a simple nod and continues to watch closely as you gingerly pick up the green bundle of joy. The child seems to rest easy in your arms, laughing as he shows the sphere to you. You giggle in return, poking the ball and then the tip of the child's nose. He lets out another laugh of pure joy.

Din's head is tilted to the side as he continues to watch the scene. He's helplessly curious about you. Now that he's thinking about it, he's seen you before, but he's trying to recall when. The gears of his mind continue to turn as he watches the child use his free hand to touch your cheek. Din tries not to let his attention wander to the wisps of hair that frame your face. He observes the long-sleeve, vest, and pants that cling tight to your body, and somehow that becomes his key: he remembers seeing you just earlier in the day. You'd left the cantina just after he'd walked in. He'd only gotten a quick glance at you then, but the outfit alone was enough to jog his memory. He had, deep down, been hoping that Greef's overdramatic greeting hadn't been the factor that drove you away.

Deciding he's been silent long enough, Din rises from his chair. You immediately draw your attention away from the child and look at him. Even the child seems to get the memo as he looks at his fatherly figure with curious eyes.

"I'll show you around," Din says, taking the child from your arms and climbing down from the cockpit. He sets the child onto the floor as you join them, finally taking the time to look around. Din is glad to see a type of admiration in your eyes as you observe the space; most would trash it.

"This is a lot of space for just one person," you comment absentmindedly, blinking a few times shortly after. "I suppose it's good, now that you have three."

"Two," Din corrects you. "The child is small. He won't need much room."

You nod and Din has no trouble seeing the way you're evidently trying to suppress some type of excitement. He doesn't understand: Why would someone ever be excited to venture around with me, especially while I'm on the run? His thoughts are interrupted by you gesturing towards a room just beside the ladder. "I'm assuming this is the vac-tube."

Din nods at you, holding back a chuckle at your comment. He presses a few buttons on his vambrace to make the doors to his armory creak open. Your face lights up at the massive number of weapons that sit there. Din feels oddly comfortable with the fact that you're so delighted at the sight of them.

"These ought to be handy," you say, stepping forward a bit to observe them further.

Din nods again, continuing to look at you. He's still curious about you; all he knows is your name. How did you find him? What did you do before you decided to venture out with him? Why the hell would you ever do something like this out of the blue? "You're a fighter?" Din's question comes out sounding more like a statement than a question.

"Yes, I was trained from a young age," you answer him. "That's why I have this—." You begin to reach for your holster and Din can't control his response. He instantly goes for his and starts to take the blaster out, but you put your hands up in surrender before he can even think of lifting it.

Din feels embarrassed immediately, putting the blaster away in a quick motion. "Sorry. Instinct."

"I understand," you remark with a small laugh. "That wasn't the best idea on my part. I would've done the same thing." You sigh. "You, evidently, now know that I have a blaster."

"What else have you used?"

You shrug. "Whatever I have to. I can use anything. But the only other thing I carry is a knife." This time, you've learned your lesson, and Din is pleased to see that you don't go for the knife.