baby steps

Chapter 10

XLVI—Jetpack Joyride

Din had always wanted a jetpack. Well, everyone wants a jetpack but only a few, only the highest of the Mandalorians get to use them. So as he started the jetpack, even after all that happened, even the circumstances that lead to it being in his possession, he can't help but feel good.

The kid, feels very well; shaking with excitement in his arms and that's when Din's heart starts to hammer. His grip tightened around the wiggling baby in his care, which only makes the kid wiggle more, acting like he wants to climb on Din's back, away from his protective grip holding the kid against his shoulder.

"Stop," he said, raising his voice over the loud noise from the jetpack. The planet sprawled out under them, they were high enough that a fall would definitely be lethal and Din wasn't taking that chance. He adjusted his arms, holding the kid's back against his stomach, letting him get a good look at the ground.

The kid's jaw dropped, his hands (instead up holding onto to Din) were spread out, feeling the whip of the air as they headed back for the ship. He had the hang of this jetpack, being severely out of practice, well hang enough to have some fun.

Maybe if he did the kid would stop squirming.

He turned onto his side, the kid arched his head up to look at Din with a gleam in his eyes. Din kept his head down to watch the kid incase something odd happened, he needed to be sure, with both his eyes and his touch, that the kid was okay.

He weaved through imaginary obstacles. The kid grabbed at the air and Din spiced things up with a roll, he ended up on his back. The jetpack under him was hot and still going strong. He kept himself on his back and kept himself stiff as a board as he let the kid out of his grip.

He kept his hands near the kid, not wanting to take any chances but the kid got what he wanted ( shocker ) and spread his arms out, tilted his head and enjoyed the ride. Din started to curved to the side, he was getting off track but the kid was practically bouncing with joy and awe. A flock of birds flew over head, squawking and loudly flapping their wings as they flew on.

The kid walked lower on Din's stomach, right up against his hand serving as a safeguard.They kept flying at a steady pace, the thick clouds above them fading into spoty whips. He took back hold of the kid and turned over. He held the kid with his forearm and adjusted the jetpack controls on the screen on his vambrace. The jetpack picked up speed and he got his feet under him and shot up higher, he sumersalted, feeling like a kid, and deep down like a scared parent but that feeling almost never goes away.

He went from the flip to facing the ground, the jet and gravity working together to send them into the ground but Din knew what he was doing, he pulled up near the ground with a shout of joy. He used to cut it close, the extrillaration it gave was a high that carried him on as he reset his course for the Razor Crest.

His childhood self would have never guessed this would be the life he'd led.

XLVII—Cleaning

The truth was the Razor Crest was a mess. Din had been meaning to get to it but he kept getting interrupted but today was the day, he'd wipe down the ship and organize all his clutter.

He started with wiping down the controls, everything was turned off and the ship parked and safe enough for Din to give all the buttons and switches as wipe down, unsticking the grime and crums. The kid had, at first, been interested in the rags and wipes but has since moved on. Seeing Din play around with the controls must have seemed like an invitation to join because the kid was busying himself with flipping switches and tilting his head at the sounds it made.