HEAVY IN YOUR ARMS [A DIN DJARIN X READER STORY]

CHAPTER FIVE: THE NAME

The next few days went by without incident, and the Mandalorian kept his promise. He walked with you everywhere, he stood by your door every night, and he protected you. You grew more comfortable with him by the day. By the hour, even. He was a comforting presence. Someone you could talk to without fear getting punished for what you said. Someone you could trust wouldn't put marks on you. Someone you could rely on.

On the third night of him standing by your door, as you got ready for bed, running a brush through your hair, you paused by the door. You touched your hand to it and leaned in close. "Mandalorian?"

"Yes?" His voice was right there. You pictured him turning his head slightly towards the door. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes," you replied. "I just wanted to say goodnight."

"Oh." Surprise was in his voice. "Sweet dreams, Princess."

That made you smile as you turned around and walked towards the warmth of your bed.

For the next few nights, you found it difficult to have nightmares. Sleeping was easy when you knew he was on the other side. Sleeping was easy when you knew that he was down the hall. Sleeping was easy when you knew that you had him. For the first time in a long time, you trusted someone wholeheartedly. And it frightened you, but in a good way. It had been so long since you could rely on a person other than yourself.

And so when you slept, you did have sweet dreams. Sweet dreams of your mother and your brother, the two you trusted so much in your past. And after a while, the Mandalorian would join with them, and it would make you smile. It was good to have all of them together for a moment.

On the morning of the sixth day with the Mandalorian, you woke up, bathed, dressed, and opened the door to see him standing like he always was. You smiled when you saw him. "Good morning, Mandalorian. Did you sleep well?"

"I did," he said. "And you?"

"I slept very well," you said. "You already ate?"

"I did."

You sighed as the two of you started towards the dining room, where you'd be having another breakfast with your father. You hadn't seen Vinor Thiff since the incident four days ago, and for that you were grateful. Your father was difficult enough to be around. "I do envy you, Mandalorian."

"Envy me?" he asked. You nodded. "Why is that?"

"You get to eat in private," you said. "You get to do so many things in private, actually. It's not at all how my life is. Everything I do, everything I say... it's out in the open for my father. For the guards. For Vinor Thiff. For you." You looked over at him. "And while I am grateful for you being here, I am still being watched and you are still being paid for it."

He looked at you but he did not say anything as you approached the dining room doors, once again open with guards on either side of them. Your father sat at the table as always. You greeted him, you and the Mandalorian sat down, he conversed with the Mandalorian, and you ate silently until you were full. When you were ready to go, you asked to be dismissed because your father wasn't done yet. He sent you off with the wave of his hand and the Mandalorian followed you out the room, where you took him to the foyer again.