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

the calm

3rd April, 2020

Peri had his glasses back, now. It was almost strange to see him in them again. No longer squinting at his own writing. Din would hate to need glasses, he decided. Too much of a bother.

"You can just heat up the-"

"I know."

"I know you know," Pedro huffed, though he couldn't hide his smile. "Humour an old man. You can heat up the packaged food, make sure you take it out of the packaging first! Uh, if there's any issues with the house, like plumbing, electricity, whatever, call Jon. You have Jon's number?"

"Yes." He had done so for a while, and Pedro knew this, too.

"Good. Okay, good. And if there's an emergency-"

"Nine-one-one, yes."

"Okay. And-"

"Feed Edgar and Butterscotch at eight, one, and six."

"...Yes. Okay."

Pedro grabbed the handle on his suitcase, but didn't move anywhere toward the door. In fact, he seemed rather reluctant.

"Pedro," Din stepped forward. "We'll be fine."

The nervous excitement he'd been radiating only moments before dissipated, and it was replaced with a sad pout.

"But you might not be."

He could almost see it, every moment leading up to this flashing across his face. Pain. Grief. Far too much. Too much.

"If... something happens," Pedro mumbled. "No matter how small it is, call me. I'm willing to talk. I know you're getting better now, but-... you are, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"Getting better. You are getting better, right? You say you are. But you always used to- you used to say you were fine when you weren't. I can see that you're getting better but, but I don't know anything about this sort of thing. I just want you to tell me the truth. You are getting better?"

Din bit his lip. He averted his gaze to the floor, crossed his arms over his chest.

"I feel fine," he finally decided out loud. "But Robert said that this would be slow. I think..." he lowered his voice, "Omera distracts me. So does Winta, and Butterscotch. I feel fine, but I don't think it means anything for right now."

He brought up his gaze, and they lingered on Pedro's nose, before finally, he mustered the strength to meet his eyes.

It only lasted a moment. But it meant something, at least.

"Okay," Pedro murmured. "I believe you. Can I-"

He held out his arms, didn't finish his sentence, but he didn't need to. Din stepped forward and allowed himself to be engulfed in the hug. If Pedro noticed the tears, he didn't mention them.

"Make sure you eat," Pedro said after they stepped back from the hug. "And make sure everyone else eats. I don't want to hear about- about any more fainting."

As if on cue, Peri could be heard descending down the stairway, with Omera and Winta not far behind him.

"No more fainting," Peri said, with a strangely monotone voice. "Promise."

"Better bloody not." Pedro once again abandoned his suitcase and extended his arms. Unlike Din, Peri hesitated, but finally stepped into it.

"Take care of yourself," Pedro said. "I'm serious."

"I'll try."

"I believe in you."

He said his goodbyes to Omera, hugged Winta tightly upon request, gave Edgar one last pet, then finally turned to leave.