baby steps

Chapter Three

XI—Saving

The thing is the kid has saved his life before. But when that happened he'd been trying very had to not feel something for the kid. He'd been saved by his enemy who believed him to be a savior. Now, he was saved by his son.

It all started with a kidnapping. He was a bounty and so was the kid. His priceless armor was removed but thankfully the kidnapers, a masked group of hungry hunters, kept it on. Like it was a favor. Unfortunately, it was. But it didn't make them kind.

"They did say it was some sort of baby," one of them mused, twirling a shooter loaded with a tranquilizer.

The other hunter shrugged, a repluser in his hand. "And you got attached," he eyed The Mandalorian's protective arm around the kid with disgust.

They were in a cell on a large ship. He was cuffed but the kid was too small for anything else and nuzzled under his arm. The Mandalorian said nothing.

"It is cute," a woman entered the room, wearing his armor. "But I have a team to feed."

"I can pay you," The Mandalorian was trying to buy time.

"We took all your credits from your ship and your pocket," the woman said, sliding her hands into her coat pockets.

"I hid more."

"I am not naive, do not mistake for some rookie bounty hunter, Mando," she walked to the side of the bars. The Mandalorian tried to get away but the chains attached to the cuffs held. She stuck a finger through the bars and tapped the kid on his forehead. The kid was shaking and his eyes were searching for something.

He wanted so badly to give words of comfort but couldn't bring himself to show how close they were. They were still guessing. But he silently held his finger up. The kid wrapped a hand around it. And to The Mandalorian's slight horror held up his other hand. The bars around the cell stretched, the lock pulled apart.

The hunters all froze, invisible ice holing them still. The kid looked up at him and disarmed the hunters before breaking apart the cuffs.

The Child slumped down against him The Mandalorian gently, but quickly, set his down the kid and jumped to his feet. The repluser landed near the broken bars of the cell and The Mandalorian picked it up as the hunters, disoriented, scrambled for their bearings. One found a weapon but it was crushed. All the weapons but the one in The Mandalorian's hand was crushed.

He didn't hesitate to turn the bounty hunters into dust.

He picked back up the kid, holding him close. He took back his stolen armor and put it back on, slowed down because he couldn't bear to set down the kid for even a moment. He expected the rest of the team to come and shot them down before they could fully open the doors to the cell room.

He found the stashed credits and left the ship cradling his son.

The kid doesn't wake up for three days. It's all terrible. Awful. A twist in fate that The Mandalorian hates: his son having to save him.

He's supposed to be the protector, the parent. The first job of a parent is to protect your kid from the harsh world. But the kid protected him. Saved them.

When the kid finally woke, making little sounds and reaching for The Mandalorian, he was still in awe of the kid's abilities. "Thank you," he said. "Thank you. I never—you didn't have too. You shouldn't have too. I'll do better, I promise."

The kid didn't care about his vow just pressed closer, happy to be safe and together.