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

The world keeps spinning.

Heidi,

Abbi's resting. The baby is alive but barely. Ben said that if it had been any more premature it wouldn't have survived. He's got hope though and Abbi is going to pull through. Think she'd let me call him Ant?

Gabe

-

Peri greeted them at the door. His eyes widened to the size of saucepans; Din had lots of thoughts about this, but his mind was too fuzzy to properly think them, and the sight of Omera by the stairs made his entire body physically weak. Her arm outstretched to him, asking, begging him to come closer; he pushed past everyone, ignored all else, and then he was in her arms. Warm, and safe. Then, when she stepped back, all her attention fell to the child.

"I can't believe it," she breathed. "Can I—?"

Din was glad to hand the kid over. Even if his heart ached to never let go, everything hurt and he was too tired to object.

Omera bounced him in her arms. Smiled at his coos, his giggles. Peri was watching. Din could feel his gaze... and he ignored it. Something for later. After a nap.

"Omera," he said. "I'm tired."

"Of course. Yes, of course, do you want me to look after your boy while you rest?"

After everything, his mind screamed to hold the kid. But his body protested. His eyes.

"I don't wanna push him on you."

"It's quite alright. Winta will want to play with him, she's in our room— send her down, don't worry about a thing, alright?"

The thought of Winta's excited squeals, and the kid's adorable giggles, was enough to make him smile. Suddenly the idea of leaving the kid for a while wasn't so bad. He could rest.

"I'll tell her to come down. Thank you..."

"It's never any trouble. I can see you're tired. Rest, sleep if you can."

He willed his legs to move, but they didn't. He couldn't leave yet.

"I missed you," he confessed, quiet enough for her ears only. And maybe the kid's, but he was too busy sucking his fingers to care. "I really missed you."

"Me, too," she said quietly in return, in a sad sort of way, but also relieved. "I couldn't stop worrying. I can't lose you, I won't allow for it. But if something happened..."

"I'm here now."

He leaned in closer, now, knowing what he wanted but too scared to proceed. Unsure how to. She had been the instigator last time, how was he supposed to tell her?

Words, he thought. Words would work.

"Can I kiss you?"

Subtext was stupid. Hoping she'd understand, begging her to get the hint. Stupid. With words, he could be certain. With words, he could be sure that it was what she wanted, too. She nodded, of course, and though it was quick, and shy, the thought of everyone seeing and the realisation that he no longer cared that they saw was... exhilarating.

That small spike of adrenaline — his heart thumping wildly — was enough energy to allow him up the stairs.

"Winta?" He knocked on the door, lightly. It was already open, but of all the people in the world, he understood the need for privacy.

He heard a distinct thud, the sound of hurried feet against carpet, and the door flew open. Winta looked up at him with the widest grin he'd ever seen.