How many times you reckon Din is gonna say this famous line in season 3. You know he doesnât want to be the Mandaâlore, and theyâre going to remind us constantly
Under the cut is a list of all the completed fic entries for the Mandoâa Mandalorian Writing Challenge. This will be updated with each new post, as they are reblogged.
If youâve tagged me in your entry, itâs been three days and it isnât here yet, send me a message! Tumblr may have eaten the notification
The Happily Ever After (Through the Years CH3/Epilogue)
Summary:Â This takes place around 5 years after the final events in CH2
Five Hargreeves x F!reader
Word count: 11k total across 3 chapters
Warnings: fluffy, some mild language, brief mentions of pregnancy
Banners and streamers littered the courtyard of the Umbrella Academy. Â The bright laughter of children echoed through the air, as the adults sat around the table sipping cocktails. Â (Y/n) was perched in Fiveâs lap, his head rested on her shoulder.
âI really donât know how you guys do it.â Â Allison laughed. Â âI am SO glad that Claire wasnât born with any powers. Â Must be a recessive gene or something.â Â Lutherâs huge hand rested on her knee.
âYeah, Claire is a handful without her being able to rumor us into getting literally everything she wants. Â I canât even imagine.â Â Klaus deposited another tray of drinks on the table, taking a seat amongst his siblings.
âYou guys havenât even had to babysit yet, consider yourself lucky. Â Last weekend, she reversed time FOUR times just so she could eat the pizza we ordered again. And again, and again.â Â Klaus laughed, glancing over at the young girl, playing with a group of her schoolmates. Â âSheâs probably going to rewind this whole party so she can do it again, you can tell sheâs loving all of the attention.â
âOh come on guys, we donât give her free reign over time travel. Â We canât help sheâs a prodigy.â (Y/n) rolled her eyes, sipping her drink. Â âShe hasnât even started doing time jumps yet, thank God. Â Iâll probably have a head full of grey hair when she does.â
Five squeezed his wife gently. Â âYou know Iâve got it under control when she does. Â Sheâs learning from the best.â Â She elbowed him playfully, pressing a quick kiss to his temple.
âWith my luck, youâre going to get her stuck as a five year old and weâll be dealing with THIS for the rest of our lives.â Â She gestures over at the child, who was now in a tug of war match with another child, screaming all the while. Â Vanya rose from her seat, making her way towards the children.
âAunt Vanyaâs got this, you guys stay put and enjoy the party.â Â The couple watched as Vanya crouched down, consoling the crying child. Â Scooping her up in her arms, she made her way back to the table. Â âI think it might be time for little D to take a nap, what do you think sweetheart?â
âBut itâs my party,â the dark haired girl hiccupped through her tears, outstretching her arms towards Five and (Y/n). Â âMommy I want more cake, can I have more cake?â Â (Y/n) stretched out her arms, cradling the child, and Five reached down to ruffle her hair.
âIn just a little while, I think youâre getting cranky because youâre tired.â Â Five murmured over (Y/n)âs shoulder. Â The little girl peered up at them.
âOkay, so if I take a nap, I can have more cake?â Â She yawned, snuggling further into her parentsâ embrace.
âOf course, you can even take your nap in the special hammock if you want. Youâre the birthday girl, after all!â Â (Y/n) carefully stood, carrying the weight of the child, placing her gently in the brightly colored hammock.
While (Y/n) tucked the child in, Five peered over at Diego. Â âSo, dear brother. Â How many more months til we meet your little one?â Â Diego grinned over at (Y/f/n) as she rubbed her swollen belly.
âWeâre in the last trimester. Â Probably three or four more weeks before our little asskicker is born.â Â He beamed. Â âI can only hope our kiddo gets the badass gene. Â Iâll have her throwing knives before she can even say her first words.â (Y/f/n) rolled her eyes, and peered down at her belly.
âYou better not.  Our little Grace can choose if she wants to use her powers or notâŚThat is, if sheâs born with them.  Seems like kind of a crapshoot, since weâre one for two with the Hargreeves spawns right now.â  Klaus and Vanya look at one another.
âWeâre both going to adopt. No freaking way are we trying to pass this down to anyone.â They share a laugh, as (Y/n) makes her way back to the table.
âWhatâd I miss?â Â She says, glancing at the family, sipping on her drink.
âOh, just discussing theâŚWhat did she call it? The Hargreeves spawns?â Five patted his lap and (Y/n) plopped back down comfortably.  âI wonder if our next one will have any abilities.â
âOh slow your roll, Five. Â Thereâs no way weâre having any more for a WHILE, maybe ever. Dolores is a handful enough. Can you even imagine?â
âI mean, I never imagined having kids at all. Now I have a beautiful wife, my daughter is the next head of the Commission, and the family is back together sharing cocktails in the courtyard of the home we hated. Â Of all the impossible things that could have happened, I think anything is possible now.â Â He placed his hand on her cheek, turning her head towards him. Â Placing a firm, loving kiss to her lips, she smiled warmly at her husband.
âWhen I was a 12 year old girl, this was just a big, impossible dream. Â Now that I have it, I wouldnât trade it for anything, in any timeline.â Â She kissed him again, more passionately, as a bright blue light and a pop resonated from the hammock. Â Five pressed his forehead against his wifeâs, exhaling exhaustedly.
âDamnit, Dolores.â
Summary:Â Five has returned, and no one expected the condition that he would be in. Can (Y/n) and Five navigate the major set backs, thwart the Apocalypse, and resume their happily ever after?
Five Hargreeves x F!reader
Word count: 11k total
Warnings: TUA typical violence, angst, awkward interactions, brief mention of spicy time, brief description of depression
Also posted on AO3!
She stared blankly at the young man that stood distressed on her porch. âFiveâŚIâŚ.Hurry up, get inside.â  Her hand darted out to grab the sleeve of his tailored blazer, and she quickly dragged him through the threshold.  He awkwardly stood in the foyer of their house, with his hands shoved in the pockets of his shorts.
â(Y/n) this is a nightmare. Â Iâm an old man trapped in this body. Â Ever had growing pains and indigestion at the same time?â Â He glowered up at her. Â A quiet snicker escaped from her lips. Â âYou think this is funny? Huh?â
The snicker sparked a roar of laughter that erupted deep from her belly, and Five could do nothing but stare blankly at her. Â He considered the last time he saw her looking genuinely this amused by something was the day of their wedding after they had tossed his Commission tracking device.
âI mean, no. Itâs not funny. Itâs justâŚridiculous.  I waited all this time. Counted all these days. And you show up hereâŚ.likeâŚ.â she gestures vaguely. âItâs absolutely absurd, and honestly, kind of unfair.  Here is was, expecting my 100% normal, thirty year old husband to poof into my house today.  And I get the awkward teenager slash old man version of you.  This is too much.â  She dramatically wiped tears from her eyes.
âOkay, are you done now?â Five stated frankly, with no hint of irritation. He opened his arms to her and she met his embrace, throwing her arms over his shoulders.
âItâs really hard to hug you like this. Â You lost a few inches in the fray, buddy.â Â She pressed a kiss onto the top of his head. He pulled away from her to protest, but she just pulled him back in tightly.
âCome on my grumpy little man. Â Letâs get you over to the Academy and see if your family can possibly help with this. Â Theyâre used to things outside of the ordinary.
The couple walked down the street, awkwardly meeting the glances of everyone around them. The uniform jacket was telling, and it was apparent that everyone was shocked to see the prodigal son of the Umbrella Academy, alive and in the flesh, looking exactly how he did nearly fifteen years ago. Â A man pushing a two seat baby stroller gave them a wide berth on the sidewalk, and gave (Y/n) a double take.
â(Y/n) (Y/L/M/N)?â Â He proclaimed, causing Y/n to screech to a halt. Â She turned to face the man, quickly glancing down at the stoller.
âUm, yes? Itâs actually (Y/n) Hargreeves now, but yes, thatâs me.â Â Realization dawned on her, and hit her in the face like a runaway freight train. Â âUh, how are you, (ex F/n)?â
âIâm great! So great, itâs really fantastic to see you! Iâm just on the way to surprise the wife at work, itâs her first week back after her maternity leave, and I know sheâs missing the kiddos.â (Y/n) glanced down at the pair of cooing babies in the stoller. Â âAnd whoâs this strapping young gentleman? Â I didnât know you had a little brother.â
Five took an immediate offensive stance. Â âIâm Five Hargreeves, and Iâm her HUSBAND.â
âOh, God Iâm sorry.  I guess you just looked a little different the last time I saw youâŚ.At our, uh, or rather, your, uh. Wedding.â  The young man stammered, and (Y/n) watched Five grow increasingly more irritated.
âYep, Five is a time traveler extraordinaire.  Just had a little mishap with his calculations.  Heâs not normally a teenager, or anything. Like, itâs not like that at all, I meanâŚGod that sounds so weird. Sorry.â  She was beginning to grow flustered, and no longer felt the need to explain herself.  âIt was nice seeing you, weâve got to be going now.â  Her arm linked around Fiveâs, as she began dragging him away.
âWell you couldnât have possibly made that any more awkward,â Five fretted at her. Â âBad enough you dumped him at the alter and now you had to explain how your husband, who I donât know if I mentioned it already, but you DUMPED HIM FOR, is stuck in a teenage body.â
She whipped around him in front of him, staring him down. Â âLook, you donât get to be angry at me for your mistake. Itâs not my fault that you arenât even old enough to DRIVE now.â
âWell you could have driven if you had ever taken the time to learn how to drive a stick shift.â Â Five puffed up his chest to look tougher, but it was futile in his current form.
âYouâre the one who was never around long enough to teach me how to do it.â  He flinched, and she instantly felt a wave of guilt wash over her.  âFive, Iâm sorry.  I didnât mean it.  Weâre both justâŚtense right now.  The world is ending, youâre hormonal and also crabby because you probably wonât get to take advantage of the senior citizen discount at Griddyâs today.â
He couldnât help but laugh at her. Â The moment he fell through the portal, and realizing his body was now in shambles due to his miscalculations, all he could think was how she would react. Â Would she faint? Â Would she promptly turn him away? Â Instead, she surpassed all of his expectations and was making jokes at his expense. Â He paused for a moment and grabbed her hand, rubbing his thumb across her knuckles. âYou know, now more than ever, Iâm so glad I married you. Â I canât imagine anyone else being able to handle this curveball.â
âWhat can I say, Mr. Hargreeves. Â You had me on the hook for a long time. Â A little hiccup like this isnât going to scare me off.â Â He smiled, lacing his fingers with hers as they continued down the street, the Umbrella Academy looming just a few blocks ahead.
The pair quietly entered the front door, only to be bombarded by all of the siblings at once. Â Five sulked behind his wife, as each of his family members warmly embraced her. Klaus picked her up and spun her around, quickly locking eyes with his brother.
âOh Jesus Christ, what do we have here?â  Klaus murmured, gently placing (Y/n) down on the ground.  âIf it isnât our dear little brother, alive and in the fleshâŚAnd perhaps a few inches shorter than last time we saw you, hm?â
Allison spoke next without giving Five a chance to respond, a look of shock on her face. âSo Iâm guessing something wasnât quite right with your math, was it?â
Five pulled on the sleeves of his blazer. âYou can say that again. I fucked up royally. Â Thatâs the least of our concerns now though. We only have a few days to stop the Apocalypse from happening, and I still have no idea how weâre going to do it.â
Days had passed, and the family was no closer to determining the catalyst of the Apocalypse than they were when Five and (Y/n) had returned to the Academy. Â They sat around the kitchen table on the day that Five had so loudly proclaimed would be the end of the world, all eyes sunken in from lack of sleep. Â Luther dragged his hands down his face, as he looked over at Five sulking over his late night cup of coffee. Â âMaybe itâs just inevitable. Â We should have had at least some clue by now.â
Allison scanned over the newspapers scattered along the table. Â âI mean, thereâs nothing in the news that indicates anything out of the ordinary. Â Nothing political, no threats of nuclear warfare, literally nothing.â
âOr maybe itâs just not going to happen at all? I mean, today is the day isnât it? Everything has been completely normal.â (Y/n) yawned, her forehead meeting the wooden table
âMaybe itâs you, little brother,â Klaus said, pausing to light the joint pressed between his lips. Â âI mean, think about it. Â Youâre the only one who experienced the end of the world. Did you ever think, maybe it has something to do with you?â Â Vanya nodded her head in agreement.
âKlaus might actually have a point. Â Have you done anything you know of to alter the timeline at all?â
âYeah, you know like, in time travel movies where someone accidentally kills a bug and it causes the entire future to change? Killed any bugs lately, Five? Or like, Presidents, or whatever it was you had to do with the Commission?â Â Klaus coughed.
Five thought for a moment, taking a sip of his coffee.  âNot really, before I left the Commission, I only did one thingâŚ.â  (Y/n) jerked her head up from the table, eyes widening.  The family looked at him expectantly, then over to her.  âYou know, the whole crashing her wedding day thing.  The head of the Commission, the Handler warned me she would kill us, but I didnât really think much about it.â  The group collectively groaned.
Diego stabbed a blade into the table. âWell, these are the kinds of things you might want to tell us, Five. Your former boss literally threatening to murder you seems like a pretty good reason to be on high alert.â
A loud rap at the front door of the Academy put everyone on high alert. Â They all rose from their spots, quietly making their way towards the door.
âHey, maybe itâs the Apocalypse knocking. Â We can just ignore it, maybe theyâll think we arenât home.â Klaus whispered, throwing the remains of his spent joint into a potted plant. Â Diego peeked out a window near the door.
âItâs some blonde woman in a dress. Sound familiar?â Â He whispered, and Five immediately straightened his tie.
âYep, Iâll take this.â Â He moved towards the door to unlock it, coming face to face with the Handler.
âGood evening, FiveâŚAssorted Hargreeves.â She flourished her hand, shoving past Five into the living room, depositing a large briefcase by the door. âAnd Mrs. Hargreeves, a pleasure to see you once again.â  (Y/n) felt her heart tighten in her chest, recalling the last ill fated encounter with the woman, and the impossible choice she posed for the pair.
âWish I could say the same,â (Y/n) scoffed. Â âCare to tell us why youâre here? Youâre getting a bit too familiar with these unexpected housecalls.â Â The family gathered around her in a protective stance, and she felt the tightness in her chest dissipate.
âWell, I did advise you that Iâd be back at a date of MY choosing to dispose of the pair of you, didnât I?â Â The Handler towered over (Y/n) in her heels, frowning down at her.
Five shook his head. âThat wasnât part of the deal. Â I came back to the Commission, I did what you asked, and you sent me to that God-forsaken wasteland.â
She advanced towards Five. âAh, yes, that much is true. Â But what I didnât anticipate was you defying the odds. Â Do you know what the odds were that youâd be able to time travel back to any point in time to your wife?â Â She emphasized, venom dripping in her voice. Â âOne in thirty million. Â Now, wouldnât you say, the odds of that are simply astronomical?â Â Five looked over at (Y/n) and his family.
She paused, looking back at the family, then pointed her icy gaze to (Y/n). Â âYou two couldnât just leave well enough alone, could you?â The Handler smirked at the distressed boy, as she positioned herself in between him and his wife. Â âDid you really think I could allow you to take everything from me?â
âI didnât do anything to you. I did my job, I did my time. Â I just want to live the rest of my life with my wife.â Â He glowered at her, as she chuckled.
âFive, tell me, why do you think I had such a vested interest in you and your boring little wife here, in your holy union, hm?â Â She gestured behind her. He shrugged.
âI havenât the inkiest, enough with the damn riddles, why donât you fill us all in on why youâre so hell bent on killing us?â
The Handler nonchalantly looked at the gun in her hand, then turned towards (Y/n), cocking it in her direction.  âItâs really nothing personal, dear.  Itâs about your baby.  Specifically, the baby that youâre set to have inâŚohâŚâ She thought a beat, âfour years, give or take.  If I eliminate you now, the Apocalypse can resume right on schedule.â  The family exhaled a collective gasp.
Klaus laughed, âWell, congratulations to my dear brother and his wife on their non-existent baby. But I have to ask, when did you get in the business of murdering babies?â
âLet me break it down for you.  If Five had followed orders, he never would have married (Y/n). (Y/n) would have settled down withâŚ.that boring guy, whatâs his name?  Five would have continued working for the Commission, and everything would have been hunky dory. But the moment he defied his orders, the entire timeline changed.  He and (Y/n) had their happily ever after, and eventually, (Y/n) will give birth to a beautiful, bouncing baby girl.  Not just a girl though, the most powerful time traveler in history, in any timeline. With the inherited skills of her father, and with the complex ability of their mother to become a big flashing beacon in the space-time continuum, which might I add, didnât seem like much until we determined Five could find her in ANY timeline under any circumstance, you have a recipe for someone powerful enough to overthrow the entire Commission, namely me. Because this child was born, the entire scenario for the Apocalypse was avoided completely, no matter what variables we changed, infinitely into the future.  It just never happens.  The only variable that changed was me.  My entire lifeâs work, bypassed, like a bump in the road.  The Apocalypse that I deemed absolutely necessary, gone, thanks to a single choice.â
Allison stared at the Handler incredulously. Â âSo what youâre really saying, is youâre too selfish and drunk off power to give it up. Â Someone more suited to the job, who doesnât even exist yet, is so much of a threat to you, that youâll eliminate anyone involved?â
âWell, I was only going to eliminate (Y/n), I donât particularly enjoy getting my hands messy. Â There would have been no greater delight than seeing Five suffer for his indiscretions; however, since the whole family is here, I might as well make a day of it.â
Chaos erupted in the expanse of the Umbrella Academyâs living room. (Y/n) wasnât sure who cast the first stone, but a flurry of bullets began raining down on the Hargreeves family. Â Diego curved as many of the bullets as he could, as he ushered her towards the hallway. Â She craned her neck to peer over his shoulder, desperately trying to find Five in the fray, as she was shoved into a bedroom in the hallway, a gun being thrust into her hands by her brother-in-law. Â In defeat, she pressed herself against the wooden door, trying to hear anything at all, only to be met with the sounds of glass and furniture breaking, guns being fired, indiscernible shouts of her family fighting for their lives.
Gathering her resolve, she crept from the room, unable to stand not knowing what was occurring just beyond the walls. Â Gun outstretched in front of her, she quietly made her way down the hall, just as all of the fighting abruptly stopped.
âWhere the hell did she go?â Â Vanya hissed, as the family peered around, puzzled. Â âWe had her pinned down?â
Luther cautiously evaluated the rest of the family. Â âI donât like this one bit. She wouldnât just zap out of her, would she?â Â Allison looked towards the front door, noting the telltale briefcase that sat by the door.
âSheâs still here somewhere, she couldnât get out without the briefcase.â
 (Y/n) peeked around the corner glancing around at the scene before her.  All of the lightbulbs in the room had been mostly shattered and the room was awash with the little light that shone in through the innumerable windows. In the dim light, chairs and tables could be seen upturned and scattered around the room.
âFive?â Â She called out weakly, in a desperate bid to get his attention. Â His gaze quickly turned towards her, and a look of terror overtook his features. Â A loud pop resounded through the space, and a searing pain shot through the center of her chest. Â Slowly, (Y/n) peered down, noting the slow stream of dark red that stained the front her shirt. Â Everything started to go black, as Five rushed towards her.
âWhat did you do? WHAT DID YOU DO?â Â He screamed at the Handler who stood smugly behind where (Y/n) had collapsed on the floor. Â Five removed his blazer and pressed the fabric to her steadily bleeding chest.
âRestoring order, thatâs what, Five. Â Her being alive was a conflict of interest I suppose you could say. Â I think thereâs going to be a little change of plans though, seeing the anguish on your face, I think thatâs the best punishment I could ask for.â Â She glided past the family towards the briefcase, and no one moved.
â(Y/n) please stay with me, stay awake, youâre going to be fine.â Â Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes, as he desperately fumbled with the compress on her chest. Â Her breath began to slow, as she reached up and pressed a hand to Fiveâs cheek. Â Klaus crouched down beside the pair, and placed his hand over Fiveâs.
âFive, I can feel her leaving. Â She isnât going to make it.â Â Klaus whispered, remorseful. Â Five stood beside her, the space all around him glowing blue.
âI didnât come all this way through time just to lose her.â Â He tightly shut his eyes, and the room began moving slowly in reverse, the Handler moving slowly backwards towards the clandestine hallway. Â (Y/n)âs crumpled form rose from the spot on the ground, the dark blood receding back into her body, as Fiveâs nose began bleeding profusely from his efforts. Â He felt himself weaken, as the scene resumed before him.
âWhere the hell did she go?â Â Vanya hissed, looking towards Five who stood in his new spot near the hallway. Â âWe had her pinned down?â
âSheâs in the hallway,â he replied weakly.  âSheâs going to kill (Y/n).  I justâŚ.reversed time by just a few minutes.  We have to make sure she doesnât kill her this time.â  A moment later, (Y/n) peered around the corner.  Five rushed forward with the last bit of strength he had left, pulling her into the living room and shoving her aside as he collapsed on top of her.  The Handler revealed herself, looking thoroughly confused.  The gun fell to her side.
âWell, this is certainly odd. Â Did our boy just manipulate time here? Â So much power, so much wasted on a perfectly normal girl.â
Klaus strode forward, fists illuminated. Â âSheâs not perfectly normal, she loves Five and thatâs a feat all on its own. Â The kidâs hard to love, no doubt about that, but she does, and thatâs worth saving.â In a flash, a barrage of tentacles burst forth from his chest, and the ghostly figure of Ben could be seen just beyond Klausâs form. Â The Horror reached forth, grabbing onto the Handlerâs limbs, gruesomely tearing her apart bit by bit. Â The family looked on in shock at the grisly scene, until there was nothing left of the Handler but a puddle of blood and gore, spewed on the floor and walls.
And just like that, the Handler was gone, ripped apart by otherworldly forces that seeped from Klausâs body. Â The family stood, stark-still, covered in entrails, before erupting in fits of laughter. Â Luther swept Allison up in his arms, her shrieking delightedly. âI canât believe thatâs it. That it was just that easy. Â Klaus, I think dad might have been wrong about your powers being totally useless.â
Klausâs hands were still shaking, as he peered down at them in disbelief.  âThatâŚ.bitch.  I canât believe she would have just killed (Y/n) to intentionally cause the Apocalypse. And (Y/n)âŚâ he shot a glance over at her. âI canât believe you were the key it all along.â
She hadnât moved.  The ringing in her ears had barely subsided, when she pressed her hands into Fiveâs chest to meet him face to face.  His expression was barely readable, save for the telltale upturn of the corners of his mouth.  The words came out so soft, the family could barely make it out.  âOur baby?  The Handler couldnât handle the idea of being replacedâŚThatâs why.  Thatâs why they warned me we couldnât be together.  Why they tortured me, making me see you be with that asshole over and over again.  If we were together, the Apocalypse would never even happen.  I really ruined her timeline, didnât I?â He chuckled, rolling over onto the bloody floor, wiping his nose of his own blood.
Diego walked across the room towards the phone, wiping his knives on his already bloodied pants. Vanya looked at him incredulously. âDiego what on earth are you doing? Is now really time to make a phone call?â
He picked up the phone and dialed quickly. âIt is. Iâm calling (Y/f/n). Â Knowing how close we were to the whole world ending, Iâm not taking anymore chances.â Â (Y/n) turned to him, shocked.
âYou know, sheâs been hung up on you for years, Diego. Â I think everyone deserves a chance at a happy ending, now.â Â Five stood and stretched his hand down to hers and pulled her up. He carefully snaked his arm around her waist, pressing a chaste kiss on her bare and bloodied shoulder. Â âEven us, Five.â
He smiled, peering up at her through his dark hair. Â âEspecially us, Mrs. Hargreeves. Especially us.â
Luther lurched over to the liquor cabinet, and sighed. âYou know, I know itâs usually Klaus that suggests we start drinking, but I propose we go ahead and pop one of these nice bottles and celebrate tonight.â Â And they did. Â Vanya pulled out her violin, creating lively, happy music for the group as they danced and laughed around the living room. Â Allison stole a not so secret kiss from Luther, and the family loudly teased them, secretly grateful that they were no longer hiding their affections after so many years. Â Klaus was able to manifest Ben once more, who although he couldnât drink, still engaged in the party just as much as any living person could. Â Diego had snuck out quietly sometime after his phone call, and (Y/n) hoped with all hope that he was finally going to apologize for being a such a jerk to her closest friend.
Five had pulled her into what she could only describe as an âawkward middle school style slow danceâ, with her arms clasped loosely around his shoulders as they swayed side to side. Â âYou knowâ, Five started, âmy father taught all of us how to ballroom dance as kids.â
(Y/n) laughed, pulling him in a bit closer. âIs there anything you canât do, Five? Youâre remarkable.â
âWell obviously Iâm not great at time travel, but I think those days might be behind me. Â At least, after I figure out how to get my normal body back.â Â He frowned. Â â(Y/n), have you considered what weâre going to do if Iâm stuck like this? Permanently?â
She considered him for a moment.  âTruthfully, no.  I hadnât really considered that to be a possibility.  I mean, it would be kind of nice, youâd be able to take care of me when I get old and senile.â  He pushed his foot forward and tripped her, easily causing her to lose her balance in her tipsy state . âHEY! Come on, Five, you know Iâm kidding.  I thinkâŚ..I think weâll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it, okay?  I love you. I love you no matter what.  Even if we canât reallyâŚ.do the thing normal married people do.  Itâll be okay.â  She yawned, slowing her movements.
âI admire your persistent optimism. But my wife appears to be growing weary. Â Want to go relax in the library while I go over some of my old notes?â Â She nodded, craning down to place her head on his shoulder. Â âAlright, letâs go.â Â He gently pulled her arm across the back of his shoulders, and they made their way towards the stairs, calling out their goodnights to the family as they went.
The math was right there all along, in one of his oldest, most worn down notebooks. Â In disbelief, he reread his notes over and over, and was sure he couldnât have possibly gotten it wrong. Â (Y/n) was dozing off in the plush arm chair, and he took a moment to admire her: Â all of the stress from the impending doom was gone. Â No tell-tale gunshot wound, no signs of excessive blood-loss. Â Her shoulders were no longer tense, the space between her eyes no longer creased. Â A peaceful expression had fallen over her, as though she would be perfectly content to live out her days in that chair with Fiveâs company, illuminated only by the small lamp in the middle of the table.
He drew a large red circle around the offending equation, and rose from his spot. Â He peered down at her snoozing form, and ran his hand through her hair. Â Careful not to wake her, he placed the notebook on the arm of the chair and strode quietly towards the door, knowing what he had to do.
He whispered something softly to himself, towards the empty hallways of the Academy.
The ocean waves were breaking softly along the shore, now littered with seashells after an afternoon rainstorm. The only chaos that remained was the wind that whipped through her hair, now unruly and wild from the rain. Â She turned around and saw him standing there, frozen in time with a grin on his face. Â Everything moved in slow motion as she ran towards him, crashing into his embrace. His palms rested on her cheeks, capturing her in a passionate kiss, until a small voice interrupted them.
âMommy? Daddy?â Â She turned to peer down at the source of the small voice, to be met by a tiny girl with dark hair and verdant green eyes. Â Five bent down, finding purchase under the childâs arms, hoisting her to his chest. Â (Y/n) gingerly kissed the childâs forehead, then pressed another dizzying kiss to Fiveâs lips. Â He whispered words against her flesh that she had read so long before, words that were so real, sheâs certain she couldnât have dreamed them. âIf something happens, just know Iâll find you eventually. I promise.â
(Y/n) woke with a start, knocking something off the arm of the chair. Â She slowly reached down, peering down at the foreign numbers and figures, outlined in bold red, then glanced across the room. Â Five was no longer situated at the table, and she began to panic. Â The woman leapt from her chair, sprinting down the hallway, shouting at the top of her lungs.
âFive? Five where are you?!â Â The pounding of her feet and the thundering of her pulse led her straight to his childhood roomâs door. Before she could connect with the doorknob, a flash of blue illuminated the space beneath the door, accompanied by the telltale âpopâ of her husband attempting some sort of jump. Â She flung the door open wide, only to be met once again with darkness. Â The room was empty: Five was gone. Again.
Weeks had passed, maybe even months at this point.  (Y/n) wasnât sure.  No longer having the list of dates to guide her now that the Apocalypse had been avoided, she had, for the most part, lost herself in time.  She could only assume it was midday, judging by the light that cascaded through the windows.  Padding down the halls of their still empty home, she stopped to stare at herself in the bathroom mirror:  her eyes had grown weary, and her hair was a matted mess, sticking up in all directions.  Gently, she prodded at her ribs, which protruded slightly more than usual, a testament to her terrible diet since Five hadâŚ..Disappeared? That didnât feel like the right word for it.  Someone canât disappear when this is their entire modus operandi.  The absences were something she had grown accustomed to, but this time felt entirely different. There was no carefully curated list of dates, handwritten by Five. Nothing to look forward to.  Nothing to expect.  Not even a âgoodbyeâ or âIâll see you soonâ to soothe her addled brain, only the words echoed in her dream from the note he wrote her as a child.
Starting the shower, she went through the motions. Â âThis is what he would want me to do, right?â Â She thought to herself. Â âHe would want me to try to be normal. Whatever that means.â Â Tears pricked at the corner of her eyes. Â âCome on, donât cry. Â You cried it all out the first week. Youâre too dehydrated to cry anymore.â Â Throwing her clothes haphazardly across the bathroom, she climbed into the shower.
And there she sat. Â She sat on the floor of the walk-in shower until the water ran cold. Â When she finally collected herself from the floor and wrapped herself in an oversized towel, she could have sworn she caught the wafting scent of coffee, but she waved it off as wishful thinking. Â (Y/n) glided towards the kitchen, a towel-clad phantom of a person haunting her home. Â Just beyond the threshold, she stopped dead in her tracks. Â A full pot of coffee sat brewed on the countertop, steam floating towards to ceiling. Â For a moment her breath left her lungs. Clutching her towel to her tightly, she raced towards the living room where Five Hargreeves, looking about fifteen years older than their last encounter, sat on the couch. Â The moment he laid eyes on her, he moved towards her as fast as his legs would carry him, stopping short as he saw her chest heaving in what he could only assume to be rage.
âI can explain. I can explain everything.â Â Five spoke calmly, as though he were trying to persuade an animal to not attack him. Â âI had the equations right years ago, I just didnât realize it before. I was such a cocky asshole kid back then. Â I knew I could make this jump, it had to be just the right moment in time to get it perfect, to get me back to my normal body. Back to you.â Â
âAre youâŚ.Are you really home? For good? Just like this?â  Her breathing was still erratic, knuckles turning with how tightly she squeezed the towel.
âFor good.â Â He nodded, taking a step closer.
âAnd no more big jumps? No more accidentally getting stuck in the wrong body?â
âNope. No more Commission. No more assassinations.  I think itâs time to grow oldâŚagain. The right way.â  He reached towards her, his palms resting on her shoulders.
âAnd whatâs the right way, Five?â Â She closed her eyes, relishing in the warmth of his hands.
âTogether. With you.â
She moved so quickly Five was afraid he may not be able to grab her in time. Â She darted forward, throwing her arms and legs around him, nearly knocking him to the ground. Â He supported her weight and held her flush against him. Â A sob erupted from her against the side of his neck.
âPromise me, Five. Promise you wonât ever leave me like that again. Â I was so scared you were gone. For good. That you would be lost and I would have no idea.â Â She grabbed his face, kissing him in earnest over and over, her lips salty from the broken dam of tears that ran down her face. âGod, I never want to stop kissing you. Â It feels like I havenât been able to in ages.â
Five felt his emotions getting the better of him, and thought for a moment that he may cry. Â âYou know I was always going to make it back to you. My lighthouse.â Â He smiled against her kiss, returning it with equal fervor.
âTake me to bed, Five. I think we need to make up for lost time, no pun intended.â
I have this posted on https://archiveofourown.org/works/23913232/chapters/57499045, but thought Iâd share here too! Finally finished this work yesterday.
Five Hargreeves x F!reader
Summary:Â
Number Five and the reader experience friendship and love that spans across the years and timelines.
Word Count: 11k+ across three chapters.
Warnings: Violence in chapter 2, brief mention of smut in chapter 1, some angst, some language, canon divergent content
Setting her steaming mug gently on the table, she thumbed over a copy of her favorite book. âThe Time Travelerâs Wifeâ emblazoned in large white letters across the front, the book was obviously well loved and well read. Her eyes flicked over to the calendar that hung on the wall: February 2nd 2019, circled in bright red marker. Today was one of the days, one of the final ones marked on her calendar. It was raining all day, but it would clear up by this afternoon, at least thatâs what he had told her. She trusted this strange omniscience, the knowledge of things that would happen, the absolute certainty and resolve. She retrieved a second mug from the cabinet and poured a cup of rich, black coffee from the French press. He had told her she made the best coffee of anyone in any timeline, and she was inclined to believe that. Where he came from, coffee was a sparse and sought after resource. The ticking of the clock counted down the seconds, and she found herself syncing up her breathing. âWhy am I so nervous?â she whispered out loud to no one in particular. A blue light flashed brightly on the opposite side of the room, and her breath hitched in her throat. The illuminated man composed himself, this time much older than she was used to.
âFive?â She stepped forward, voice wavering.
âFebruary 2nd, 2019?â His face stern and weathered. Her head nodded in confirmation. Face softening, he strode towards her, wrapping her in a warm embrace.
âFive, youâre filthy, is everything okay?â
âLet me take a shower and Iâll fill you in.â He glided past her towards the bathroom, knowing precisely where he was going. She no longer felt hurt at the lack of affection when he first arrives, but had rather come to expect it. They had done this countless times in different locations: her parentsâ home, her first apartment, once while she was on vacation. Five could seemingly always find his way to her, regardless of the time stamp. She sat quietly on the couch as the low hum of the shower started down the hall.
The first night he came in 2002 had been tumultuous. Her parents fought loudly in the living room, like they had done countless times since her sister had committed suicide. Those nights she found solace in lying on the roof of the house, staring at stars. The serenity was broken by a loud âpopâ from her bedroom. Wiping away her tears, she snuck back in through her window, to be greeted by the form of a boy around her age who appeared very shaken up. The girl began to scream, and the boy rushed over and placed a hand gently on her mouth.
âShhhhh. Please wait, listen. I need you to tell me the date.â He removed his hand, placing it on her shoulder.
âItâs January 3rd 2002.â His mouth curved into a sly smile.
âIâll be damned, I DID IT.â Her eyes traced the emblem on the front of his neat sport jacket. âI came from two days in the past!â
âYouâre from the Umbrella Academy, arenât you?â
âFive Hargreeves, spatial jumper and now, officially, TIME TRAVELLER. Oh, father dearest is going to love thisâŚâHe paused, holding out his hand. âIâm sorry, I really donât know why I showed up here of all places.â She reached out and shook his hand. âIâm (y/n),â she replied quietly, still attempting to mask the fact that she had been crying.
Their friendship soon became a constant in her otherwise bleak life. He began visiting in the normal timeline, for the better part of a year. He would occasionally pop up in her room, asking what the date was: she could tell he was practicing for a bigger jump. One night, when they sat on the roof, she broke down.
âIâm sorry Iâm so boring. We sit up here nearly every night, I know this has to drive you crazy. You could be honing your time jumps, or literally doing anything else, than sitting up here with me. Youâre extraordinary and Iâm justâŚordinary.â His hand brushed hers, so gently she thought she had imagined it.
âHey, youâre wrong. Youâre definitely not ordinary. Youâre like a beacon, or a lighthouse. If I ever get lost in the timeline, I think Iâll always be able to find you. That must be why I showed up here after the first jump!â He paused, staring at the sky. âYouâre my best friend, (Y/n).â That night, he had left in another loud âpopâ. At first light, she rolled over in her bed, noticing some items missing from her room. A picture frame that held a class photo, a necklace from her nightstand, small things that would seem mundane to an unknowing eye. Beside her head on the pillow, a letter was conspicuously placed.
â(Y/n),
Today I am going to attempt the furthest time jump that Iâve done yet. I know my father will protest, but I think Iâm ready.
If something happens, just know Iâll find you eventually. I promise.
Yours,
Fiveâ
She was fourteen the first time he came back, popping up in the kitchen of her house. She marveled at how he was all at once the same, but was somehow different, perhaps a bit older. Once the shock subsided, she threw her silverware at him, unleashing her pent up anger. âYou left me, Five. You left me,â she sobbed. He was unphased, standing with arms crossed.
âAre you done?â he stared at her from the place she had collapsed in the floor. âYou know the drill. Confirm date and time.â Five turned from her, rummaging around the cabinets.
âAugust 15, 2004.â She hiccupped quietly, collecting herself off of the linoleum.
âDo you know how to make coffee?â His facial expression didnât change, but she could detect a hint of a smile in his eyes.
Over a cup of French press coffee, he began telling her what he had been doing for the last two years. He had been recruited as a part of an organization that maintained appropriate timelines called the Commission. He dodged most of her questions, noting that his career was secretive. The question sat on the tip of her tongue, waiting for a lull in conversation.
âIn the future, do you see me?â He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, hands clasped around the mug.
âI do.â He answered curtly. âI canât speak to you though, it would alter the timeline. There are certain variables that have to be metâŚâ he trailed off, a barely detectable sadness settled into his expression. âOtherwise, certain things wonât happen. The Commission says things have to happen exactly in the right order or it ruins the whole thing.â His jaw clenched. His mind goes to a particular fall day in 2014 that the Commission insisted on him traveling to, over and over again. A day in which he would love nothing more than to forsake the timeline and the Commission.
âLike what?â cocking an eyebrow, her interest clearly piqued.
âYouâll have to wait. Just give me a few years and Iâll have this all figured out. Iâm not strong enough to jump too many times by myself. Iâm only able to jump now because the Commission has given me the tools to do it with ease.â The coffee cup in front of his was empty. His arm outstretched across the kitchen table, and he grasped her hand. âWhenever Iâm not on a job, Iâll come back as much as I can. I promise.â
She waited for four more unbearable years for her best friend to come back. She was on vacation in Mexico celebrating graduation, and a bright blue light illuminated her hotel room. As was the tradition, he requested the date first and foremost. She noted his height, he was several inches taller than her now, and he had the beginnings of unruly facial hair, and appeared to be in at least late 20s. His eyes remained the same. âHandsomeâ she thought outrageously to herself.
He closed distance, placing his hands firmly on her shoulders. â(Y/n), the world ended. I have to fix this.â His eyes were blown out, panicked. âI came from year 2032.â
âWell that explains the age gap. Five, youâve got to slow down. Do you know where you are right now?â He looked around the room, then rushed to the open doors leading to a balcony, overlooking a calm, deserted beach. Whipping around rapidly, his eyes ran over her from the bottom up. His pupils dilated: she had grown into a beautiful young adult. He couldnât have prepared himself for how she had gotten taller, her features slightly more pointed. âOh my God, I missed your graduation, didnât I?â He did his best to avert his gaze, she wore a baggy shirt and underwear, hair thrown in a messy bun. A flush crept over his cheeks.
Nervously, she strode over to the balcony. âFive, youâve been gone for a whileâŚYou missed everything.â There was no anger in her voice, just a hint of loneliness. She had rehearsed the moment he would return to her for years now, knowing exactly what she would say. âI canât believe youâre hereâŚâshe paused, noting his somber expression.
âItâs all going to be gone. The world ends and I have no idea how to stop it. Do you know how long Iâve been alone out there? Thereâs no one leftâŚâ he thought for a moment. âI didnât think I would ever find you again after getting kicked out of the Commission. I practiced, and worked, and slaved just to be able to jump again, but I couldnât. Then I thought of you. Just sat there, and thought about you, and I was here.â
âWait, you left the Commission? What are you talking about??â
âShit, Iâm screwing up. I canât talk about that anymore, otherwise Iâm going to muck things up even worse.â Unexpectedly, he wrapped his arms around her, burying his scruff in her neck. Whispering, he murmured, âI donât have much time. Any minute now Iâm going to revert back to where I was. I just had to see. Just had to seeâŚ.â He stopped himself, knowing if he poured his heart out, it would only make things harder. She didnât know what he knew. In a quick sleight of hand, he slipped a piece of paper into her palm. He gently pushed back from her, the cool touch of metal brushing her chest. Around his neck, he wore the necklace that he had stolen off of her nightstand, accompanied by a thin gold band. Her eyes widened.
âFive, is that my necklace? Whatâs that ring?â He placed his hands, clad in fingerless gloves, over her flushing cheeks.
âI had to take it. I needed something to keep me grounded to guide me back. My lighthouseâŚâ He began pulling her close once more, but just before the inevitable crashing of lips, a flash of blue light took him away from her again.
It felt wrong. Five laid on a filthy mattress in the middle of a wasteland now circa 2032, knowing she was back in 2008, feeling miserable and devastated. He wanted to tell her what he did in 2014, just a few years before the apocalypse, but he knew it could alter everything.
(Y/n) moved into her first apartment while attending college in 2009. She had not seen him since he came to her on the balmy night in Mexico. Unfolding a small piece of paper he had slipped in her palm that night, she noted that one of the days, scrawled in what appeared to be blue crayon, was today. Attending her classes like normal, she had a creeping sense of anxiety at the unknown nature of the significance of the date. (Y/n) chose to skip her afternoon classes, and made her way back to her apartment. Immediately upon opening the door, the scent of black coffee hit her. A sense of panic washed over her: she definitely had not brewed any coffee that day. She felt for the light switch on the wall beside her, to be greeted to the sight of Five sitting comfortably on her couch, a briefcase positioned on the floor near his feet.
âChrist, Five, what the hell? You couldnât turn a light on? Why are you just sitting in the dark?â He stood from his seated position: clean cut, with a button up shirt rolled above his elbows and dark dress pants, easily younger than he had been in Mexico.
âSorry,â he smoothed his hair back with his hands. âI didnât mean to scare you.â She stared at him quizzically, noting the dark circles under his eyes. There were unmistakable indicators that he had been crying.
âHey, are you alright?â Her feet were frozen just inside the threshold of the door. Seeing him in this state was completely new. Five had always been fairly level headed and logical: emotions werenât necessarily his strong suit, nor were words. His eyes darted around the room, unable to meet her gaze. âWhatâs wrong?â He shook his head and rushed towards her, wrapping his arms firmly around her. His chin rested atop her head, and his breathing steadied.
âI justâŚ.need you.â He pushed back slightly to look her in the eyes, his own wild with a flurry of emotions. Her mouth slightly ajar, he reached up and ran his thumb across her bottom lip, an inquiry. There were no words he could use to describe what was happening, he needed to show her. Tentatively, she leaned into him, placing a slow kiss onto his lips, the answer he had been searching for. As if the flood gates had opened, he swept her up against the wall, a flurry of hands and unsure lips.
It was nearing midnight, and the two laid tangled together on the couch. No words had been spoken in hours, only the praises of two human beings occupying a rare moment in time. Her fingers pressed idly on his chest, she felt his heart rate increase. She knew that time was up, and instinctively pushed herself away from him, granting him access to leave.
âI donât want to go.â He whispered as he sat up, placing his head in his hands. âBut if I donât make it back before midnight the CommissionâŚâ
âWill turn you into a pumpkin? Or worse?â He peered up at her and cringed.
âTheyâll send someone after me. Then it will probably be worse.â He dragged himself from the couch, collecting his clothes from the floor. âSorry I didnât have a whole lot to say tonight.â He looked at (Y/n) sympathetically, as she wrapped herself in a blanket.
âWell, I think you said plenty,â she blushed as she marveled at him, noting that he was a bit leaner and built, apparent in the ease with which he lifted her from the floor just hours before. He leaned down and kissed her, fighting back tears, and began unlatching the case beside the couch. âYouâre not angry that I have to leave?â she looked down at him, his somber expression breaking her heart. She knew that somehow this was hurting him more than it hurt her.
âOf course not. You have a job to do. I know youâll always come back to meâ
âOkayâŚ.Iâll see you soon, check the dates.â In a flash he was back at the Commission, back pressed to the wall. He wished he could have told her that his devastation was from watching her wedding, again, and how he wished that it was him instead: it would be selfish to ruin this for her. The knowledge that she could never be his made it even more painful. He wiped the tears from his eyes, and peeled himself from the floor.
The shower had stopped running, bringing a thick silence to their sometimes shared home. Five walked out of her bathroom wrapped in a towel, and found his way to the couch, collapsing in an exhausted heap. (Y/n) brought him his coffee and sat down beside him.
âSoâŚ.â She started, unsure of what to say. There usually wasnât a lull in conversation, but things had been mostly quiet for her, and she surmised, for him as well.
âIâve pinpointed the day when the world ends. All of my calculations appear to point at the same date. I just donât know the why or the what.â He frowned, rubbing his freshly shaved cheek.
âWhat year did you come from?â She stared down at the vortex she had created in her coffee.
âStill 2032. I think Iâve managed to sync everything back up. Weâre in the same timeline now, Iâm just coming fromâŚa little further ahead.â He frowned. Her hand reached out to clasp his slightly weathered hand, touch starved after months of waiting. âYou changed your hair?â Taken aback by his change of subject, she recoiled, running her fingers through her hair.
âOh, yeah. I dyed it a couple of weeks ago.â
âFascinatingâŚit suits you. I donât think Iâve ever seen it like this before.â He replaced her fingers with his own and she exhaled, reveling in his touch. âAll these numbers and figures, and I never even think about how you might be different when I see you.â
Eyes pressed firmly shut, âItâs all I ever think about. How someday, youâll come back, and decide Iâm not beautiful anymore. Or you think Iâve gained weight, or my hair isnât quite right orâŚâ Five cut her off, placing his finger over her lips.
âYou have nothing to worry about. I feel sorry for YOU,â he emphasized. âIâm getting old and haggard, and youâre even more beautiful than the day I married you.â His strong hand guided her towards him, placing a firm but loving kiss on her lips.
(Y/n) sat in front of a mirror as her best friend adjusted her veil. A frown plastered her face.
âI donât think I should do this, I mean, weâve only been together for six months. Itâs kind of a whirlwind, donât you think?â Fingers busied themselves nervously with the delicate beading of her dress, arguably one that wasnât even remotely her style. (Y/f/n) swiveled her chair to meet her eyes. âThis is supposed to be the happiest day of your life, you have to stop trying to talk yourself out of it. You finally have a man that wonât go disappearing on you, itâs literally the best thing thatâs ever happened to you.â (Y/n)âs eyes welled up with tears.
âBut what if he comes back? What if he comes back and Iâm married to someone else? I donât know if I could live with myself.â
âFive isnât coming back. The Umbrella Academy assholes are all maladjusted, miserable people. You know this just as well as I do.â She shot back bitterly.
âJust because you and Diego didnât get a happy ending, that doesnât mean I canât.â Her friend passed her a tissue, expression softening.
âIâm sorry, (Y/n). Iâm not trying to be hard on you, I know this is a stressful day. But this is what it is. This is your happily ever after! Letâs celebrate!â She handed her a champagne flute, and toasted the bride and her bridesmaids.
As she sipped her champagne, she began to wonder if Five had ever loved her at all, considering he had never said those words in any exact capacity. Maybe he simply felt comfort in her presence. Her fiancĂŠ never missed an opportunity for those words to pour from his lips, like a slow, miserable drip from a leaky pipe. He was even accepting of the fact that she did not want to sleep with him before the wedding, completely oblivious that the only reason was that the thought of another man touching her made her feel sick.
Pachelbelâs Cannon in D began playing throughout the garden, and she felt her chest tighten. This wasnât the song she wanted, but her fiancĂŠ was incredibly traditional. She chose to have no one give her away, so she would take this long walk to the altar completely alone and exposed. Her fiancĂŠ wasnât particularly pleased with that either. Plastering on some semblance of a smile, she strode slowly, taking in all of the faces in the crowd, doing her best to not look up at the groom. She knew it wouldnât be the absentee man of her dreams, the one she had loved since she was 12. No, that man was lost in the aether of time, with an important job of maintaining order in a world made of entirely chaos. This would be as good as it could possibly get. There was nothing wrong with her fiancĂŠ per say: he was handsome, had an excellent job and most importantly, was there all the time. Unlike Five, who could only offer middle of the night trysts where fevered hands did the talking, those fleeting moments he could break away from the Commission without being caught. Nights where he couldnât utter a single word to her, since any moment speaking would be a moment his lips werenât on hers. The moments that she knew he was a ship without an anchor, the only thing holding him to those hours in time were his desperate hands clinging to her. None of those stolen moments mattered anymore. Her feet planted firmly in front of the man with whom she had every intention of spending her life, she took a deep breath. The string quartet stopped. Cicadas began singing as the sun set.
âDoes anyone with us today have a reason why these two should not be joined in marriage? Speak now or forever hold your peace.â
A bright blue light illuminated the middle of the aisle.
âI do.â Five stood there in a slick black suit, looking as though he had just come from a day of work at the Commission. His jaw tense, he stood for a moment as the realization dawned on everyone in the audience.
âOh hell no,â her maid of honor stepped in front of her, âwho the FUCK do you think you are? Showing up today of all days, after MONTHS of radio silence. You have DESTROYED her, give her this chance to make it right.â He closed distance, and couldnât help but laugh to himself at the dumbfounded look on the groomâs face. He probably didnât even know about them.
âDonât speak for her. (Y/n), please hear me outâŚI love you. Iâve loved you since we were kids. I should have said it sooner. I couldnât stand by and watch the love of my life marry someone else, not without telling you my piece first.â Her expression was blank underneath her veil: there was no reading the myriad of emotions she was feeling. She stepped in front of (Y/f/n), placing her hand gently on her shoulder, giving her a knowing nod. Gently, she swept the veil away from her face, and crossed her arms, as if wordlessly telling him to continue. Five swallowed hard.
âThe Commission was testing meâŚTheyâve sent me to this moment in time over and over again. Iâve watched you be with someone else no less than a dozen times now, and I canât do this anymore. The first night we-â he paused, deciding better than to bring up the events of that particular eveningââŚthis is where I came from. I had just watched you marry him, and it broke me.â
âBut the timelineâŚ.the variables, the rules?â She gestured vaguely.
âFuck the timeline, and fuck the Commission. I quit. Nothing in this world is worth it to watch you end up with someone else. Maybe thatâs selfish, maybe Iâm an ass.â He shrugged, and she did not respond. Peering around the room at the attendants, they all seemed to be weighing what was going to happen next. Five stood in front of her, placing his hands on the sides of her face. âIâm a terrible romantic, always have been, but here it goes. I canât promise you that things will be stable. Hell, I canât promise that theyâll even be good. But I promise you, there is no one in any timeline, in any reality, anywhere, that will love you more than I do.â In a swift motion, he dropped to his knee. âLetâs get married instead, (Y/n). You and I.â Gasps and murmurs erupted from the crowd, as she turned her back on him and walked up to her groom, still dumbfounded at the altar.
âSorryâŚâ she said in almost a whisper, removing the ring that she never particularly liked from her finger and placing it gently in his palm. From this vantage point, Five could not make out what was happening, but watched the groomâs expression change from shock to defeat. He found that he couldnât move, frozen in time, with baited breath. (Y/n) turned on her heels, looking at the man kneeling on the floor.
âFiveâŚstand up.â She put her hands out, helping him up. âAre you ready?â
His confusion was apparent. âReady for what?â
âTo marry me, dumbass. This is all already paid for, if weâre going to do it, letâs do it right now.â She threw her arms around his neck. âThis is all Iâve ever wanted. Marry me, Five?â
Nodding, he nervously fumbled around in the pocket of his dress pants. âYouâre going to think Iâm crazy, but I bought this ring in 1921 in Paris on one of my first jobs with the CommissionâŚIâve had this for yearsâŚâHe placed in on her finger, their hands steadying one another. âIâve always known that it had to be you.â
The ceremony was filled with laughter and tears, despite the grand exit of nearly half the attendants when the bride dumped the groom at the altar. The event was postponed for an hour, so Five could contact his family to attend. The reception roared into early evening marked by jovial alcohol consumption. âI know Iâve been asking a lot of big questions today, but I have one more thing I need of you, Mrs. Hargreeves.â Five murmured in her ear, surrounded by people on the dance floor.
âAnything, for you. What do you need?â She replied back as seductive as she could.
âI need youâŚâ he nipped at her neck âŚâtoâŚ.â He peppered kisses along her jaw. âcut the Commission tracking device out of my arm.â
âThe ACTUAL fuck, Five???â She screeched, slightly tipsy.
âYep, then we throw it in the river. After that Iâm completely yours. Iâll finally be able to wake up next to you.â Weighing her options, she nodded.
âLetâs do it.â
The pair snuck into the bathroom of the reception hall, stumbling and giggling. He removed his dress shirt and flung it over the top of the bathroom stall door, removing a small thin blade from a holster around his ankle. Kneeling near the sink, he draped his arm over the drain, placing the blade in her hand.
âYou know how much I love you, right, Five?â She eyed him nervously.
âIâve always known. I love you, too. Now letâs get on with this, Iâm going to need another drink after this.â He pointed at the spot on his arm, indicating the location of the tracking device. (Y/n) gently pressed the tip of the blade into his arm, creating a small incision. A sudden, sharp breath escaped his lips as he took the blade from her, digging out a small pill shaped device from his forearm. He applied a butterfly bandage, and pulled his button up back on.
âLetâs start our happily ever after.â
âSo Iâve been making all of these calculations, right?â (Y/n) pulled his clothing out of the dryer and tossed it on the couch. He began getting dressed, since he knew he reasonably only had a few more minutes until he had to go back. âAnd since I know the exact date, my plan is to travel to just a week before, and see if I can nail down the cataclysm that causes the apocalypse. Iâll have to connect with my brothers and sistersâŚâ
She stared at him with exhausted eyes. âSo if you can prevent it, maybe we can actually go back to having a normal life?â
âI think so. We can finally settle down, I can assemble the bookshelves for all the books Iâve been stealing from the Academy and stashing over here, breakfast, lunch, and dinner together every nightâŚand maybeâŚâ
âMaybe what, Five?â He turned towards her, smirking.
âWe can finally start a family?â a guffaw escaped her mouth, as her hands flew up to cover it.
âFive Hargreeves, wanting to be a family man? I thought you ânever wanted to bring kids into this worldâ and âdidnât want to risk them having powers and ruin their livesâ.â He shrugged.
âI donât know. I guess living through the apocalypse has given me some perspective.â His hands rubbed together rapidly, as he prepared to travel back, knowing this version of himself couldnât remain here permanently. âIâll see you the week before the Apocalypse, okay?â He disappeared in a haze of blue once again, and (Y/n) collapsed on the couch.
Just a few blissful years: that was all they were able to squeeze out of their marriage, before the Commission inevitably caught wind of their location. The tall blonde woman, the Handler, had appeared in their front yard, ready to strike up a deal with Five. He had two options: stay in the present, and himself and (Y/n) would be killed at a date of the Commissionâs choosing. Be sent to the future and continue work for the Commission, and they would allow them both to live. Little did he know that his punishment would be far worse: they provided him a faulty briefcase, their particular method for time travel, which led to him being stuck in time. The years he spent in the Apocalyptic wasteland allowed him to regain some of his strength, and he began the time leaps that brought him back to (Y/n) in various parts of the timeline.
The final date marked on her calendar in bright red marker had arrived. âThis is the last one,â she murmured to herself. âNow if the world could just not end in a week, that would be greatâŚâ Nervously, she adjusted the delicate ring that Five had gotten from Paris technically nearly a century ago. A tingling in her scalp alerted her to an intense feeling of dread that had suddenly taken root: something bad was about to happen. Maybe just the impending doom of the apocalypse, maybe something else. She was started by a knock at the door. âWell at least I know itâs not Five, since heâd just poof into the room.â She swung the door open, âCan I helpâŚ.youâŚ.?â
âThis is bad, (Y/n). This is really bad.â Five stood before her in his school uniform: the very same he had worn when they had first met. She peered down at the young teenager before her. By all appearances, it was just some gangly fifteen year old kid, certainly not her husband; unfortunately, she knew better. Some things about him stayed exactly the same: his eyes, the timbre of his voice, the way he stared at her when he was panicking. âSomething was wrong in my calculationsâŚIâm stuck like this and I canât jump.â
âOhâŚ..Oh, GodâŚ.â
Thanks @thegildedquill for the prompt for the Mandoâa Challenge! Had a blast writing this one, obviously, since it almost hit 7k LOL.
Mando x reader
Summary: The Mandalorian meets a ruthless failed Jedi, who somehow manages to navigate the intricacies of the man beneath the beskar. He whisks her away on vacation to pose a very important question thatâs been weighing heavy on him.
Prompt: Gettâse (nuts, or brave)
Word count: 6.9K
Warnings:Â Mandalorian typical violence, minor description of injuries, some season 1 spoilers.
Thanks @thegildedquillâ for the Mandoâa Challenge!
Summary: Â The Mandalorian meets a ruthless failed Jedi, who somehow navigates through the intricacies of the man beneath the beskar.
Prompt: âgettâseâ, Mandoâa word for âcourageâ, ânerveâ or ânutsâ (generic)
Word count: 6.9K
Warnings: Mandalorian typical violence, light mentions of injuries, season 1 spoilers
âWhatâs wrong?â
The deep voice from the captainâs chair jarred her from her thoughts: not only from the sudden, almost deafening onset of sound in the otherwise silent cockpit, but his sporadic initiation of conversation.
She wasnât entirely sure how long sheâd been staring out into the black void of space that laid before the ship. Ten minutes? Maybe twenty?
âUh, yeah. Iâm fine. Just thinking, is all.â She relaxed back into the seat, fingers blindly trained on the edges of the domed crib beside her.
A sharp intake of air. Was that a laugh? âDonât hurt yourself.â Â She cocked her head towards him, incredulously. Â âWhat are you thinking about?â Â He continued, not turning his helmeted head.
âOh, you know. Just everything, I guess. Weâve been on the run forâŚHow many years now?â  Pressing the autopilot button, his chair swiveled to face her, expressionless as always. He slumped down, placing his elbows on his beskar clad legs.
âFive years? Six?â Â The subtle tilt of his helmet told her that he hadnât really considered it until she brought it up. Â He peered at her through his visor, suddenly glad that she was unable to see his eyes, trained on her petite form.
She was a far cry from the drunken brawler he had met all those years ago, and his lips, hidden behind beskar, tugged into a semblance of a smile at the vivid memory.
The newly failed Jedi stood in a darkened back alley of Canto Bight, chest heaving after escaping from a mob of angry gamblers. Â Her gift with the Force allowed her to cheat her way through a game, winning her a substantial amount of money. Â Giddy, and moderately tipsy from the free drinks, she shoved credits into the pockets of her long, satin dress, fingers brushing against the lightsaber strapped to her leg. Â As the young woman navigated her way through the slimy underbelly of the city, blaster shots rang out: her keen senses knew it was only a couple of blocks away, and she stealthily navigated towards the sound. Â The moment she turned the corner, her heart lurched. Â Momentary flashes of silver were illuminated in the firefight, and she could see all of the shots were trained on one individual. Â âI always have to root for the underdog, donât I,â she whispered under her breath, hiking the skirt of her dress up to remove her lightsaber. Â With a running start, and a drunken stumble, (Y/n) activated her lightsaber, illuminating the alley in a sunset gold hue, and sized up no less than 8 people nearly surrounding the figure. Slashing through the one that stood directly between her and the figure under attack, she turned, pressing her back towards the cold feeling of what she quickly recognized as beskar.
âWhoâŚâ the voice called to her, before she quickly cut him off.
âWe can discuss formalities later, Mandalorian. For now, Iâve got you.â Â Another round of shots flew directly towards the pair, and she deflected them with ease with the saber.
For a moment, the Mandalorian paused and watched the woman in the long dress, admiring the way she fought: Â she clearly had training, but there was a chaotic element, something unrefined, about the way she took out her enemies. Singlehandedly, the woman took out all but one of them, with the Mandalorian vaporizing the assailant in one swift motion.
She sheathed her lightsaber, hiking up her now filthy dress to replace it in its holster. Â A cocky grin plastered her face, as she reached out towards him. âIâm (Y/n). Iâd love to chat more, but seeing as how youâve clearly made some enemies, we should probably get this show on the road. Â You got a ship?â
The helmet tipped forward, a subtle nod of affirmation. Â The motion would be the only invitation the woman would receive from him. Â The Mandalorian turned mumbling quietly to himself about the womanâs apparent mental state, a deathwish, and she followed.
âDefinitely closer to six.â The woman hummed, propping her feet on the side of his captainâs chair, wiggling her bare toes.  âIâm getting a littleâŚ.antsy.â
âAntsy? About what?â His voice held no indication of what he was feeling. Â Fear, perhaps? The Mandalorian knew the day would probably come that his traveling companion would grow weary and branch off on her own, leaving him and the Child for good. Â He could never tell her how badly he wanted her to stay. Â She had become his best friend, his closest confidante, and a mother figure to the child. Â
âYou knowâŚ.Like maybe we could make a stop for a couple of days.  Like a vacation or something. Take the kid and visit Cara or something.â  It wasnât completely lost on her that he exhaled a breath he didnât realize he was holding.  âI donât know, Din. I feel like Iâve been staring at the inside of this ship forever.  I want to see a sunset, put my feet on solid ground.â  She frowned when he didnât immediately respond.  The captainâs chair swiveled back to its original position. âDiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin,â her whine drawled, awakening a slew of butterflies in his stomach.
âIâll see what I can do.â He answered succinctly.
The sound of the docking ramp woke her from a peaceful slumber. Â Stumbling from her cot, she slipped on a loose, knee length dress and boots, scrambling to see where the Mandalorian had taken her. Â The hulking figure stood poised at the edge of the ramp, cradling the small bundle.
âNavarro? This really your idea of a vacation?â She glided to his side. Â The child cooed at the sight of her, making grabby hands in her direction. Din slid the child into her arms, silently admiring the care with which she held him. She is the perfect dichotomy of deadly and nurturing, he thought to himself as he continued peering down at her out of the corner of his visor.
âNo, quick pit stop,â he placed his hand behind her elbow, guiding her off the ship, towards the center of the city. The small gesture of physical contact caused a flame in her cheeks, as she quickly adjusted the baby to sit on the swell of her hip.
âCARA,â (Y/n) screeched, passing the child to Din to fully engulf her dear friend in a tight embrace. Â âItâs been so long!â Â Din joined the pair, and the child gurgled and cooed excitedly. Cara reached down and stroked the childâs long green ear.
âHello there, little one! What do you think about staying with Aunt Cara for a few days while your mom and dad go have some fun?â Â She peered pointedly at the Mandalorian, knowing full well that he was blushing under his helmet at the implication of their partnership. Â (Y/n) glanced quickly at Din, mouth fully agape, then back to Cara.
âWe couldnât possibly inconvenience you like that!â she protested, âI mean, this guy is getting to be quite a handful, with hisâŚ.thing. You know. *the Force*â she mouthed silently, knowing that Force users are generally unfavored, sought after by Imps.  Cara found purchase under the childâs arms and pulled him gently away from (Y/n).
âLook, if I can handle all the weird shit his mom does, I can handle whatever he can do. Â You two havenât had any time to yourself in years now. Stay the night here tonight, weâll catch up, and you can get an early start in the morning after a night of good sleep and a full belly!â
(Y/n) was one of the few women Cara knew that could drink her under the table. Â Cara narrowed her eyes as the woman giggled, leaning into the shoulder of the heavily armored man. Â Through heavy wheezing and laughter, she continued her story. âYou should have seen the look on Dinâs face when I sabered the guy clear through the chest right before the guy pulled the trigger on him. Â I have saved your ass SO many times.â Â Cara doubled over in laughter.
âReally? âThe look on his faceâ??â Â She tipped the flagon of alcohol towards her mouth, spewing a bit in her fit of laughter. âSo youâre telling me youâve seen his face?â Â (Y/n) bristled a bit at the comment.
âWell, no, of course not.  But I know what heâs thinking sometimes, I can feel it. So I canâŚ.imagine, I guess?â  She peered up at him with big, glossy eyes.
âRight, right. So is that part of the âForceâ, or the fact that you two are clearly hopelessly in love with each other?â (Y/n) shot her gaze towards Cara, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion, mind reeling. Â Would that really be that far beyond the realm of possibility? Â She knew she would be lying if she tried to deny it, instead opting to lean forward, away from Din, and grab her drink off the table. Â Certainly, their relationship held a peculiar degree of intimacy: what some would consider a simple gesture, such as revealing their real name, was a huge step in her friendship with the Mandalorian.
They sat in the hull of the ship in silence after acquiring a particularly difficult asset, the pair both bleeding from fresh injuries. Through heavy, altered breaths, he finally spoke. âYou really donât have to stick around. Bounty hunting is a dangerous business.â Thuds of beskar hitting the cold floor punctuated his sentences, as he peered over at the woman through his visor. She had hastily stripped out of her minimal armor, revealing a startling amount of bruised and bloodied flesh underneath, a large gaping wound staining red the pale flesh of her upper arm. The Mandalorian quickly averted his gaze down to his own wounds, barely visible through the cloth of his underclothes. âIâm not made of glass, Mando.  I was one night away from becoming a Jedi MasterâŚyou know. Before I ran.â A hiss escaped her lips as she staunched the bleeding from a deep vibroblade cut.  His curiosity was piqued.
âSeems like a lot of effort to go through just to run off at the last second.â Â He slid a medkit across the floor over to her, as she busied herself with the next most severe wound.
âDo you know anything about what it means to become a Jedi, Mando?â she asked, no hostility in her voice.
âHm. I imagine itâs similar to my Creed.â Bacta spray coated his split knuckles, his gloves discarded to his side.
âWell.  Because of myâŚskillsâŚI was taken away from my family as a child. Told to surrender my entire past, my entire self.  And for what?  To come of age and be told I can never get married or have a family, can never pursue anything that would fulfill me. I couldnât have anything.  So the night before I swore my oath, I took my lightsaber and ran.  I didnât stop running for what felt like an eternity.  Hopping from planet to planet, swindling, fighting, killing if I absolutely had to.â  Her wounds tended to, she laid back on the cold floor of the Razor Crest.  She exhaled. âHonestly, itâs for the best. Iâm having too much fun now. And now, all of my choices are my own.â Turning her head to peer at him.  âWhat about you? Whatâs your story?â
âMy uhâŚparents. Got killed.  I became the Mandaloriansâ foundling.  They raised me, and I adopted their Creed as mine.  I owe them everything.  Itâs why I kept the Child as my own.â  Suddenly, she reached across the space between them, taking his bare hand in her own.  He was taken aback at first:  this marked the first non-violent physical contact he had had with anyone in a long time, especially skin to skin.  It felt foreign, but something else. Pleasant. Â
âMandoâŚ.Iâm so sorry.â  He laced his fingers through hers, earning a quiet gasp.
âDinâŚDin Djarin.â  His voice through the modulator was breathy, as if the words escaped from him on their own volition.  She quickly rolled onto her side and pulled her hand away, much to his chagrin.  More confidently, he spoke again. âI would like for you to call me Din.â  In one swift motion, he reached towards her, initiating the contact again.
âOh my gods, (Y/n), are you EMBARASSED?â Cara continued laughing, sloshing her drink. Â âYour eyebrows are about to disappear into your hairline.â She stumbled to her feet.
âIâm going to go check on the baby.â Â She navigated through Caraâs small lodging towards the room that held the childâs crib.
âReally, Din? REALLY? You havenât told her yet?â Cara leaned forward, chastising him. Â His helmet tilted slightly as he stretched his arms across the back length of the seat.
âI have no idea what youâre talking about, Cara.â
âSo youâre telling me. That youâve been traveling together for five-â
âSix,â he interrupted.
âSIX years, and you havenât told her that you love her?â
He cleared his throat beneath his helmet. âShe is the bravest warrior I know. I show her that I appreciate her service every day. Thatâs why Iâm taking her on a vacation. Â She fights beside me well, and cares for the child as if heâs her own.â Â Shifting his weight, he glanced down the hallway she had gone down.
âDin Djarin, you are staring down that hallway waiting for her to come back. You love her.â
âShe left the Jedi order so she could have some sense of normalcy. Â Marriage. A family. I cannot give that to her.â He husked angrily. Â Cara paused, blinking at him for a moment.
âBut you already did. Do you think itâs normal for two people to gallivant around the galaxy together, raising an adopted child together? Â Honestly, when you told me you were coming to visit, Greef and I made a bet: Â he said you two would already be married by the time you got here. Â I said you would announce it when you arrived.â
âIt is not the Way,â he replied simply.
âI happen to know that Mandalorians can get married. Â The Armorer loaned me some books on the Creed. Maybe you should go talk to her.â
âShe still here in Navarro?â His interest was piqued.
âYeah, maybe you should go see her before you guys head out.â She stood, stretching her arms above her head. âAnd on that note, Iâm going to bed.â
Din crept down the hallway towards the room with the crib, noting the door was slightly ajar. Peeking inside, he saw the child nestled against (Y/n), both fast asleep. Â Sighing heavily, he exited the building, in search of the Armorer.
The new covert wasnât far from the old one. Â A handful of Mandalorians in their armor spread out in the comfortable common area, a handful of children toddling about. Â He couldnât contain the swell of pride in his chest, seeing how the tribe was starting anew, with a fresh generation of foundlings.
âAh, Din. Â Itâs been a long time.â A voice called from behind him. He turned, regarding her warmly. âHow is the child? Where is the foundling?â
âHeâs with his moth-âŚUh, with my traveling companion.â  He barely caught himself.
âAh, a companion? The woman from the siege of Nevarro?â Â Her voice lilted in what could only be described as amusement, his near slip up wholly noticed.
âYes,â he replied in short. âA failed Jedi Master.â
âA darâjetti. Interesting. She understands the Force, then. Did you choose her companionship for her to teach the Foundling?â Â She busies herself with a gauntlet from the forge, not looking in his direction.
His shoulders slumped, âShe put her life on the line for me. She fiercely protected the child and I. More than once. First time on Canto Bight.â
âHow long ago was that?â Placing the gauntlet on the armory shelf, she turned, as if to urge the truth out of him.
âSix years,â his voice was nearly a whisper.
âSo you have been traveling together for six years. Â Has she seen you without your helmet? Â Have you made her your riduur?â Â Tilting her helmet inquisitively. Â âYou are raising a foundling together. It is a practical decision; we can extend the protection of the Covert to her. Aliit oriâshya talâdin.â
He struggled for words, finally resigning to silently hooking his thumbs into his utility belt, shaking his head ânoâ. The Armorer walked over to him, placing a gloved hand on his shoulder.
âIf you take her has your riduur it is still within the Resolânare. To remove your helmet in front of your family...It is the Way. Â It is right, and just, a clan of three.â Â With that, he turned on his heels without a word, finding his way back to Caraâs homestead.
Din arguably never slept. Between the Child, piloting duties, and watching over (Y/n), he had learned to rely on as little rest as possible. It was no surprise when Cara rose that morning that the Mandalorian was comfortably reclining in the common space.
âMorning, Mando! You find the Armorer?â she plopped down on a tufted cushion beside him.
âMhmâ he answered flatly. Â A silence hung thick over the air, as if Cara was waiting for something more.
âIâm taking her to Canto Bight. Called in a couple of favors.â Â She clapped her gloved hands together.
âYouâre taking her to the place you first met because youâre going to ask her to marry you. I KNEW it.â
âKeep your voice down,â he husked. âI need you to take some of these credits from the last bounty, go with her to buy some clothing before we leave.â
The creaking of a door startled the pair. (Y/n) dragged into the room, the Child toddling behind her. Â âGood morning, Cara, Din.â Â She stretched, and Din regarded her clothing. Â Her shoulder was exposed from the loose linen top she wore, her black jodhpurs torn and frayed from numerous falls. Â Since joining him, her style had become simple and practical, but all he could think about was the long dress she wore when they first met.
âUm, good morning.â Â Din stood awkwardly. Â âCara is going to take you shopping before we head out. Â Is that alright with you?â (Y/n) leaned down and picked up the Child, eyeing Din suspiciously. Â Glancing over at Cara who by now had a shit eating grin plastered across her face, she nodded slowly. âSure, that sounds like it could be fun.â
âI will take care of the baby until you two get back, cyarâika.â Â The Mandalorian closed distance and collected the child from her. Â Before she could react, he leaned his helmet down, pressing it gently to her forehead. Â âI will see you soon.â
The two women meandered towards the market, (Y/n)âs face still flushed.
âYou know what that was, right?â Â Cara asked when they were out of earshot of her dwelling. âThat was like, the equivalent of kissing by Mandalorian standard.â
She dragged her hands down her face, âI KNOW what it was, Cara. Â I just donât know WHY. What the HELL was that?! Was that MANDOâA? WHAT DOES CYARâIKA MEAN?â Â He had only ever spoken to her in his native tongue once before, and the low growl of his words always sent a fire straight to the flesh of her neck and face.
Everything had gone to hell in a handbasket. Â They were cornered, bruised, and broken, under heavy fire from just beyond the cantina doors. Â A booming voice had just called the Mandalorian by his name, and the woman clutched her saber so tightly that the skin of her palms began to crack. Â Despite the debris from the ammunition and explosions digging into her knees from where she crouched behind the bar, his name being revealed to everyone wounded her somewhere deep behind her ribcage. Something sacred that he had gifted to her out of trust and mutual respect, shouted with indifference to the seemingly infinite number of troops as they pinned the group down. Â
The rag-tag group desperately clamored for some promise of an exit, a path to safety. Â The medical droid turned child protector had uncovered a small opening that could potentially lead the group to safety, but there wasnât much time. Â Cara, Karga, and IG-11 crouched towards the small opening and began moving forward. (Y/n) scrambled towards the hole, turning to make sure Din was close behind, only to see him collapsed on the ground, unmoving. Â She scrambled over to him, tapping the side of his helmet. âDin! DIN? You have to get up, we have to go NOW.â Â As she slid her hand behind him to try to assist getting him up, she found that he was covered in something dark and slick. Â Blood, and lots of it, was seeping from a wound that was concealed by his helmet.
His breath came through the vocorder in slow pants. â(Y/n) Iâm not going to make it. You take this, take the child, and get to safety.â  He pressed a necklace with the emblem of a Mythosaur into her palm, then reached up to press his gloved hand to her cheek. âThe covert. Theyâll knowâŚ..know I sent you.â
Years of Jedi training had taught her about stoicism. Â It had taught her about loss, and death, but nothing had prepared her to say goodbye to the Mandalorian. Â Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, as she violently shook her head in protest. âNo, Din. Â Iâm not leaving you. Â I will slaughter every Storm Trooper that comes through this door. Â I will slay Moff Gideon myself and watch the light leave his eyes. I swear this to you.â Â She looped the necklace around her neck, and slowly stood up, flicking her golden lightsaber and taking a fighting stance.
âCuyir gar gettâse?!â Â The Mandalorian wheezed through his vocoder, struggling to catch his breath. âDonât do this, the child needs you, youâre his mot-.â Â He stopped speaking abruptly, and she screamed for IG-11 to assist he Mandalorian.
Several Storm Troopers pressed their way inside, and the only thing she could focus on was holding them off for long enough for IG-11 to get Din to safety. Â As they fell one by one, a much larger Storm Trooper entered with a flamethrower and began spraying his flames towards her. Â Her palm pressed forward, as she used everything in the Force to keep the flames at bay. Â Her strength began to falter, as she peered down to her side. Â The child had waddled up beside her, and she quietly pleaded for him to get back. âBaby, please. Please, youâre going to get hurt. Youâve got to go back.â Â He raised his tiny three fingered hand and mirrored her position, and the flames began quickly receding. Â They soon engulfed the Trooper, and she clamored to scoop the now unconscious baby from the ground, running past IG-11 and the body of the Mandalorian.
Cara chuckled to herself, âSo now that itâs just the two of us, be honest. Youâve got it bad for him, donât you?â
âNo shit, Cara. You can only be stuck with someone on a floating chunk of metal for so long before you start to think they look pretty appealing,â she rolled her eyes.
âHow long?â Cara guided her into a vendor stall, lined with dresses and garments. Â (Y/n) traced her fingers absentmindedly over the lush fabrics, deep in thought.
âUh, remember the story when he was getting jumped by the eight dudes in Canto Bight?â Â She picked up a long black dress with an open back.
ââŚ.You mean the night you met? Are you insane?â Cara looked at her incredulously. âYouâve kept your shit together for six years, without even giving him a hint that you were feeling something?â
Her skin flushed. âNO. I was just gonna say this dress is very similar to what I wore that night. GEEZ, Cara, I didnât even know him yet.â  Cara huffed in frustration. (Y/n) draped the dress over her arm, and placed her hand on Caraâs shoulder. âI canât describe it. Let me justâŚ.show you, okay?â
It all came at once as a flood: everything was suddenly warm, like the heat of the sun on a perfect day, or the way spotchka burned just a little on the way down. Â It was a small, smoldering pile of cinders, giving way to an unquenchable blaze. Â The feeling of being surrounded by cool, blue water, and a fearless feeling of sinking all the way to the bottom of the sea. The undeniable sensation of falling from some high distance, unsure of when youâll reach the bottom.
Caraâs eyes opened. âDamn, (Y/n) could you warn me before putting me through the ringer? I didnât know that was a thing you could do.â Â (Y/n) turned towards the dark dress, and shrugged her shoulders.
âThis is the one.â She gestured to this shopkeep, shoving a handful of credits into their hands. âLetâs get out of here. I need a vacation.â
The Razor Crest docked in Canto Bight, and (Y/n) could barely contain her excitement, a stark contrast to the man behind the beskar. Â
âif you would like to get dressed, Iâm going to run an errand. Will you be ready in half an hour?â
(Y/n) peered at herself in the small mirror as she dabbed a deep rouge color to her lips. Â The dress glided behind her as she strode towards the weapons cabinet and pulled out her lightsaber, still in pristine condition. Â The high slit of the dress allowed her easy access to strap the weapon to her leg. Â The loud hissing of the ramp to the Razor Crest alerted her to Dinâs arrival, and she stood expectantly awaiting the moment he got to lay eyes on her. Â
The man in the shiny beskar paused in front of her, his helmet tilting downward to take her all in. âYou lookâŚ.â He paused, seemingly choking, noticing the Mythosaur necklace he had given her during the siege situated on her chest. âReally nice, (Y/n).â
She smirked, enjoying how flustered he seemed to be. Â âYou look pretty nice yourself, Din. Â Did you shine your beskar up just for me?â Â He quickly nodded.
âI uhâŚ.wanted to look as nice as I could for this.  Are you ready to depart?â He gestured towards a speeder at the bottom of the ramp.  âI got a speeder with a sidecar so you wouldnât have toâŚumâŚ.straddle it in a dress.â  She broke into a giggle, which swelled into a belly laugh.
âThatâs surprisingly thoughtful of you. I really canât believe you pulled all this together for me. Thank you so much.â
âDonât thank me until you see the rest. Thereâs a lot more to see tonight.â He held out his arm, chivalrously as they walked towards the speeder. Â âDo you trust me?â Â She thought for a moment.
âWell, that depends. Â Are you making this nice for me so itâs an easy let down? Youâre dumping me back off here or something?â
He scoffed. âNo, never. Iâm not sure what I would do without you.â Â The sincerity in his voice caused her to falter a bit. He regained his stoic composure quickly. âKeep your eyes closed, Iâll tell you when to open them.â
The speeder ride felt painfully long, and a bit disorienting. Â She had absolutely no concept of space, nor any idea where he might be taking her. The whirring of the speeder engine slowed to a halt, and she could vaguely make out the sounds of waves crashing somewhere nearby. Â The Mandalorian disembarked, and strode around to gently lift her from her seat. Â
âOkay, you can open your eyes now.â Â His voice through the vocorder gravelly beside her ear.
The woman wasnât prepared for what sight was in front of her. Â A large dock surrounded by blue ocean stretched out before them, leading towards a large yacht. Â The sky was beginning to display a twinge of orange and pink, reflecting off of the gently rolling waves. Â (Y/n) looked over at the Mandalorian, speechless for the first time since they had met. Â âDin, this is really too much. Â It must have cost a fortune in credits to get this boat. Â And if I recall correctly, you HATE the water.â
He shook his head. Â âI had a few favors to call in from some associates here. Â This is yours to enjoy while weâre here.â Â She jumped up and down gleefully, and began running towards the boat. Â It never ceased to amaze him her ability to run in high heeled shoes. Â
The pair embarked on the yacht, and she watched puzzled as Din entered coordinates into the GPS system. The boat began moving towards some undisclosed location, and she ran towards the front of the boat. Â She perched herself against the railing, staring down as the waves passed quickly as the boat sped along. Â Innumerable fish passed by, many species she had never seen before. Â Din stood back and watched her, arms crossed, an immense amount of hidden enjoyment spreading across his features. Â The young woman quickly turned back towards him.
âSo where are we even heading? I saw you input some coordinates.â Â She kicked off her shoes to the side unceremoniously, enjoying the freedom to move about.
âI know a spot.â Â He answered plainly.
âHmmmm, a place where you dump the bodies?â She chided, eyeing him suspiciously.
âNo. Just a place I thought you might like to see. I donât imagine you got to enjoy many spots in Canto Bight during your time here.â Â She thought for a moment.
âYouâre right. Â Most of the time I was just ducking out in alleyways. Â I think I only even got to see the coastline twice during the time I was here. Â And never like this.â Â The setting sun caused her to squint her eyes a bit as she peered out, and the Mandalorian took that time to really take her in: Â she was truly beautiful, all pointed features and sharp angles. Â He very seldom had the luxury to see her this way, without lines of worry across her forehead, or thinking deeply about how they were going to capture the next quarry. She consistently held a brave face for him and the child, so much that it was often easy to forget that she was a living being. Â For a moment he tried to imagine her other life, one where she was a hardened Jedi master: fierce and unrelenting, but also quiet and solitary. Â He thought, that life would have never suited her, she was like a wildfire, wild and unquenchable. Â Her smile when she held the child, or the attitude she so quickly gave the Mandalorian when he agitated her. Â No, she felt far too much to be confined by the life of a Jedi. Â She looked back over to him, smiling.
âYou know, sometimes I actually can feel what youâre thinking. Â You try to keep your thoughts quiet, but sometimes youâre so loud in there.â She shook her head, almost embarrassed. âYouâre right, though. Â That was never the life for me. Â Iâm a little bit too erratic for the discipline they expected from me.â Â He moved towards her, placing his hand tentatively on her shoulder.
âThereâs nothing shameful about that. Youâre impulsive at times, wild even. But you know, sometimes Iâm not sure this is the life I want to live either.â Â She gazed at his hand for a moment, before turning her attention to the T shaped visor, confused at his confession. Â He continued, âThere are many days when I think maybe itâs time to take off the armor, to give all of this up. Maybe settle down with the kid somewhere and try to have some normalcy.â
âDin, where is this coming from?  The Creed is your entire lifeâŚ.â  The boat sputtered to a halt, and he gently guided her to turn back around:  all that could be seen around them was a beautiful sunset undisturbed and untouched by the Canto Bight skyline. Her mouth hung open in shock.  âDin, Iâve never seen anything like this before.  Every planet Iâve seen, in all my travels. Nothing this beautiful.â
âNeither have I.â Â He spoke softly, and she smiled back towards him. She immediately noticed his visor didnât face the sunset, he was looking down at her. Â â(Y/n), I want you to do something for me.â Â He clasped both her hands in his, shocking her at his blatant display of affection.
âAfter you put all of this together for me? Iâll do literally anything you ask of me.â She winked at him.
He slowly lifted her hands to the edge of the beskar helmet on his head, exhaling shakily. Â Her fingers traced the cool metal that shielded his face from the world, as he let go of her hands. Â She felt herself starting to tremble at the immense amount of trust her placed in her, allowing her to touch his helmet. Â His hands now found purchase at her waist, another action so intimate she felt her heart swell.
âI wantâI want you to take it off.â His voice was uneven and gentle, as though he couldnât believe the words had slipped out to her so easily.
âDin, NO,â she quickly removed her hands and tried to pull herself from his grasp. Â âYour Creed. I canât see you without it. Why the kriff would you want to give that up now, after all this time?â Â His grasp on her waist didnât falter, instead pulling her in closer to him. Â She slapped her hands on his cuirass, agitated. Â âI wonât let you throw away your entire life for me.â Â
âI donât have to âthrow awayâ anything for you, cyaârika.  All these years youâve traveled with meâŚYouâve followed me to the ends of the earth to protect the childâŚOUR child.  You have never betrayed my trust, despite your absolute ruthless nature.  I want to give this to you.â
Tears began welling up in her eyes. âYou canât, Din. As much as I wish I could say yes, we canât. Â I know what it means to throw away everything you worked for, but I made that choice. Â Your Creed is everything to you.â
âI donât have to give up my Creed to show you my faceâŚâ  He spoke barely above a whisper.  âWeâre a clan of three. Aliit oriâshya talâdin: Family is more than blood.â  He echoed the phrase the Armorer had told him.
âIâm familiar with Mandalorian customs, Din: You can remove your helmet in front of your child.â She grew increasingly more agitated and anxious.
âOrâŚmy riduur.â  She shifted her weight nervously. Â
âDin, Iâm familiar with customs, not the language. Â I donât even know what that means.â
His hands moved to grasp hers again, placing them on his helmet with more conviction. Â âWife. Â It means, my wife.â
âAre youâŚ.are you asking me toâŚ?â  He nodded.  âYouâre not just messing with me right now?â  He shook his head in response, and she began a combination of laughing and crying all at the same time.
âSo will you do it?â He whispered softly, and she squeezed her eyes shut tightly as she lifted the helmet. Â A quiet hiss echoed around them, as the sun began to dip just beyond the horizon. Â Din took the helmet from her, and placed it to the side. Â âOpen your eyes, (Y/n).â
She slowly opened her eyes to the man before her.  The rays from the finally setting sun settled upon his golden tan skin, framed by loose brown curls.  Her hands shot up to her mouth in shock.  âDin, youâreâŚ..hot? Like, I knew you had swagger, but youâreâŚ.youâre a vision.â  He looked at her shyly, and began to laugh. âStars, and your smile? I canât believe you never told me how beautiful you were underneath that tin can.â
He wrapped his arms around her waist, and leaned towards her so dangerously close that their lips were almost touching. âI mean, I figured all this time you thought I looked like the child.â Â She reached up to touch his face with nothing but reverence and adoration.
âYou could have been a Mon Calamari under there and I would love youâŚâ She paused, her cheeks flushed with her confession.  His gloved hand cupped the side of her face, and she leaned into him, never breaking eye contact.  âI love you, (Y/n).â She released his face and threw her arms around his still armor-clad shoulders, pressing into a tentative kiss.
âI will marry you, Din. Under one condition.â She murmured, lips still hovering close to his.
âAnything you want, cyarâika.â
âYou gotta start teaching me Mandoâa.â Â She felt his chest move, as laughter began bubbling up from deep within him. âHey, itâs not funny! You keep slipping in words and phrases and Iâve been in the dark this whole time!â
He brushed his lips against her forehead. âOkay, anything you want to know.â
âWhen we were on Nevarro, and you wereâŚ.umâŚdying.  You said something. What was it?â  He pulled back and thought about it for a moment.
âIâm pretty sure I told you that you were nuts.â Â Her fist connected with his shoulder. âOW, what was that for?â
âAll this time, Iâve been sitting here, thinking that you were professing your love with your dying breath. And you were just telling me that I was CRAZY?â Â
He gently thumbed over the necklace he had given her. âIn a way, I was. Gar cuyir gettâse. Youâre the bravest, most fearless, insane woman I have ever met. Cyarâika, my beloved.â Â
The pair had spent their travel time back to Nevarro, with Din patiently teaching her phrases of Mandoâa, particularly phrases for their wedding vows. Â They had made the decision to have the ceremony performed on Nevarro, with the child, Cara, Greef Karga and the Armorer present, even though Mandalorian weddings were a simple exchanging of words. Â As they approached the docking bay, (Y/n) seemed to vibrate with excitement. Â The hatch opened, and the pair could see Cara laughing with the baby settled on her hip, and Greef Karga gesticulating animatedly. Â
(Y/n) practically skipped off towards the group, Din following slowly behind. Â He was still tentative; he didnât know what to expect with their news. As (Y/n) approached, the baby wiggled and writhed away from Cara, and she plopped him down watching him waddle over and clasp onto (Y/n)âs leg.
Cara eyed the pair carefully, cutting between the two of them. âSomethingâs different, isnât it? Youâve got an awful lot of spring in your step to just have some vacation afterglow.â Â (Y/n) turned, smiling at the Mandalorian.
He nervously cleared his throat, and moved to stand by her side, dwarfing her in his height. Â âI have asked (Y/n) to be my riduur.â
She proudly bounced on the heels of her feet. âWife. Â That means wife, everyone. Heâs been teaching me Mandoâa on the trip back.â Â Everyone gaped at the pair, the baby cooing and sputtering excitedly. Â âWhatâs everyone staring at?â Â For a brief moment, seemingly suspended in time, everyone was too shocked to speak. Greef Karga broke the silence by stepping forward and clapping the Mandalorian on his pauldron covered shoulder.
âI knew you had it in you, Mando. Â Iâm glad youâre keeping her around. Sheâs always been crazy enough to get things done.â He shot a quick wink over to the woman, who beamed up at the expressionless helmet.
âShe certainly is, which is why she wants to go ahead and do it today.â Â As if the baby knew what Mando was saying, he began cooing and gurgling excitedly. Â He reached down and stroked the childâs slightly furry head. Â âWe would like all of you to attend as our witnesses. Â Mandalorian wedding vows are a simple exchanging of words, but we would like for all of you to be a part of it.â
Later in the day, as the blazing sun hung above the city, the group found themselves in the Mandalorian covert. Â The Armorer greeted the group warmly and led them to a common space with comfortable seating. Â Din and (Y/n) stood before them, hand in hand, as they began to recite the vows he had taught her on the flight back to Nevarro.
âMhi solus tome. Â Mhi solus dharâtome. Mhi meâdinui an. Â Mhi baâjuri verde.â Â Din clasped his gloves hands on her cheeks, pulling her towards him. Â Gently, he pressed the forehead of his helmet to her, and she beamed back at him.
âSo thatâs it? Youâre married now?â Â Karga slapped his hands to his knees. Â The Armorer nodded.
âYes. Â Mandalorian custom dictates a simple exchange of words as a binding marital contact. Â This is the Way.â
(Y/n) strode towards Cara, collecting the baby. Â âWell thatâs it little guy, I guess Iâm officially your mom now.â
The Armorer nodded her head in agreement. Â âA clan of three. Â Go forth and raise warriors.â Â (Y/n) chuckled.
âI think warrior, singular, is about all we can handle right now. Â I think our little clan is finally complete.â Â She gazed at his visor adoringly. Â âNow, we better get back to work. Â I blew a bunch of our credits at the casino on Canto Bight. Karga, got any pucks for us?â Â The group stared at her incredulously, as Din wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
âI told ner cyarâika no using the Force to cheat. Â We didnât need their security ruining her vacation.â Â She shrugged under his weight.
Karga grumbled. âNuttiest bounty hunters in the entire Guild. Â I swear, they were made for each other.â
The baby cooed happily between them, and (Y/n) felt her chest swell with pride. Â After all those solitary years, the brutal Jedi training, she finally felt as though she had the entire galaxy within her reach. Â The things she so outrageously dreamed of, prematurely stolen from her in her youth, restored by a fifty something year old child, and a man clad in armor as impenetrable as his heart: a family all her own. A clan of three.
A friendly reminder that Pedro Pascal worked so hard that I sort of got his face tattooed on my person permantly. As a life long Star Wars fan, Iâm in love with this piece