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cryinginsidebecauseofbrutasha · 1 year

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Day 11: Brucenat on holiday with the Bartons

“Bruce!” Natasha called. She was tugging on her shoes, hair falling into her face, when she collided with her husband. She laughed as he steadied her. “Hey.”

Bruce smiled at her. “What did you call me for?” he asked.

“We are going to be late,” Nat reminded him. “Not that Clint or Laura cares, but the kids do, so–” she looked up and fastened her scarf around her neck. “It’s Christmas.”

“Yeah.” Bruce stood by the door. “I’ve got Bob and everything in the jet. It’s warmed up. We are going to the mountain house, where we’re meeting our proteges, the Barton family, and Clint’s protege, plus Yelena. Sounds like it?”

“Yes.” Natasha drew her scientist in for a kiss before leading them outside and locking the door. “Let’s go.”

The two (plus their dog, Bob) arrived at the house in the mountains that Tony gave them a few years ago. It was a huge log cabin-esque mansion complete with a frozen-over lake in the back, whether for swimming in the summer or skating in the winter.

Every time Natasha went there, she had to stop herself from pausing to marvel at the place before her. It really was a beautiful house, especially with the snow blanketing the building and the fairy lights twinkling in the early sunset.

Natasha grabbed her bags as she smiled at the Hulk’s short visit out to help haul in the presents. To think this would all have been impossible at some point… she shook her head and went inside.

“Natasha!” Laura smiled as she greeted her friend. “I missed you. Can I grab your bags?”

“Ha. No.” Nat rolled her eyes as she navigated her way up the stairs. “Our usual room?”

“Yep.” Laura followed her up. “You and Bruce are in the yellow room. Clint and I are taking the white one, Kate and Yelena are taking the purple one with Lila, Nate and Cooper are sharing the green room, and Peter and MJ are taking the blue room.”

Natasha glanced at Laura with a smile. “Those two are rooming now? A big step,” she commented.

“Yeah,” her friend agreed. “And to think they used to be squeamish about hugging each other.”

“Now they’re sharing a bed.” Nat sighed. “We are getting old.”

“Oh, come one, Nat,” Laura said. “I’m so much older than you. You’re what, 40? I’m 57! You’re not even the age I had Nate!”

Natasha sighed, toting her bags through the doorway. “Fine, Mom,” she muttered.

“Nat!”

She turned and grinned at her friend. “Yes, Mom?”

Laura threw up her hands. “I give up.” She walked out to the hallway as Natasha followed her. “You’re impossible.”

Natasha grinned and hooked her arm through her friend’s. Once she got downstairs, she was immediately ambushed by Nathaniel Barton, who was being pursued by his two siblings, Lila, and Cooper.

“Dad’s making cookies,” Lila informed Natasha. “Kate and Yelena are in there probably hogging all the good ones so we just came here to say hi. Now we have to go.” She tapped Nate, who was still hugging Nat, to get him to release his godmother and return to the cookies.

Nat watched them go. “Are our MIT students here yet?” she asked Laura as they went into the living room.

“Oh, no.” Laura shook her head. “They phoned ahead, said that they had to finish up their stuff. They’ll be here in an hour or so.”

Natasha shifted to face her friend on the couch. “Hey, thanks for inviting us.”

“It’s your house, Nat.” Laura laughed.

“Yeah, but still.”

Natasha’s gaze drifted to the huge tree in the foyer, where Bruce was lying on the floor next to a pile of presents. She went over to her husband and squatted down beside him. “Hey, doc,” she teased.

Bruce chuckled lightly. “Hi.” He sat up. “Back problems.”

She smiled and sat down next to him. “Peter and MJ aren’t here yet.”

“Sad, I was hoping to see them before the Hawkeye family demolishes all the cookies.”

An hour later, Natasha and Bruce were jolted awake by the students they were talking about.

“Hey, Ms. Romanoff,” MJ said with a smile. She looked over to Peter, who was in a rapid discussion with Nate about… something. “Peter, come back here.”

He finished his conversation with Nathaniel and walked over, slinging an arm around his girlfriend, the other hand holding a mug of hot chocolate. “Ms. Romanoff, Dr. Banner,” he greeted happily. “Nice nap?”

Natasha rolled her eyes and helped Bruce get up. “Are you two sleeping together?” she asked the couple.

Peter choked on his drink. “What– no–” he spluttered. “Of course not!”

MJ frowned at him. “You make it sound like a bad thing,” she said.

“MJ–”

“I meant sharing a room,” Natasha interjected. She saw the relief on Peter’s face. “Relax.”

He smiled nervously. “Right.”

Bruce took Nat’s hand gently and guided her to the living room. “Let’s sit down and catch up,” he suggested.

The four of them sat down on the couch.

“So how’s MIT treating the two of you?” the scientist asked. “Everything going well?”

Peter glanced at MJ, who nodded. “Yeah, yeah, everything’s been great.”

“Just…” MJ shrugged. “Exams.”

“Right,” Bruce replied.

Kate came running in. “Clint’s getting chased down by Yelena!” she yelled. She ran out the other way as Clint himself came rushing in.

He had a look of panic on his face as he addressed Natasha. “Nat, your sister’s crazy.”

“I know,” she replied.

Yelena jumped Clint out of nowhere. “More cookies,” she demanded. “Now.”

“They’re in the oven!” he yelped. “Just wait a bit!”

Kate stuck her head back in. “You were just going to put siracha on it anyways, ‘Lena.” She laughed.

Yelena frowned. “And?”

“Never mind.”

“Dad!” Lila’s voice came through from the kitchen. “Cooper stole my bow!”

“Coming!” Clint huffed as Yelena let go of him. He jogged slowly back into the kitchen.

Laura passed her husband as he left the room. “Anyone want more hot chocolate?” she asked with a smile, even as one of her children screamed and a fire erupted in the kitchen behind her. “We have cinnamon and nutmeg if you want to add stuff. No peppermint though,” she added.

“Clint Barton, the cookies are burning!” Yelena yelled.

“I don’t care anymore!” said the grown man.

“Care or I will make you care, you arrow-toting mudak!”

“You beat me up last year!”

“Take the cookies out or I will do it again, Barton!”

Natasha sighed. “Never a dull moment here, huh?” she said.

Laura smiled. “Nope.”

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dindjarriiin · 2 years

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din djarin || flyboy part i.

pairing: din djarin x reader I din djarin x fem!OC.

summary: it was supposed to be another bounty - his biggest yet. ten million credits secured - easy. what could possibly go wrong?

word count: 7.9k words.

{rewritten bc the first draft was shit xo}

Din silently entered the dilapidated room; calm, emotionless. The constant haze of Tatooine seeped in through the numerous holes and craters in the pale wall like scattered beams of starlight. The room itself was empty and barren, save for a bedroll and a small stone table.

One lone figure sat facing the wall, shrouded in a grey cloak - completely obscured.

“Let me guess...bounty hunter?” the figure asked - their voice was soft and calm, much to Din’s surprise. “Here to collect the price on my head?” Din remained silent. “Am I wrong?” The figure turned their head, face illuminated by a shaft of light which entered the room.

It was unmistakably her. If her striking beauty was not enough, her eyes gave it away. They were a murky grey, a long scar lashed right across them, now faded and pale pink in colour. Din had looked at her puck more often than he would like to admit.

“No. You’re not.” Din spoke after a moment, slowly stepping into the room. He did not seem to understand how such a gentle-looking female would be so sought after in the galaxy - especially by such villains like the Empire.

The woman hummed, and a sad smile graced her face as she thought for a moment. She bowed her head seemingly in defeat before she began to rise. “Very well. Let’s get this over with.” Din drew his blaster and aimed out of instinct and the woman calmly held up her hands. “I won’t fight you, Mandalorian.” Her words shocked him, halting him in place. “You are a Mandalorian, aren’t you?”

Din shuffled uncomfortably. Doubt filled his mind. Perhaps she wasn’t blind? The woman laughed.

“Your armour. It’s loud,” she explained simply. “There’s not many in the galaxy with armour that noisy.”

Din remained stoic as she slowly walked closer to him, hands still raised. His grip tightened on his blaster as she stood directly in front of him, forehead almost touching the tip of his blaster.

“Loosen up, Mando,” she said the nickname with a flicker of a smirk. “I’m no threat to you,” One of her hands reached up and gently pushed the blaster down, not stopping until Din relented and lowered it fully. “Shall we get on with it?” she asked with a sigh as she held up her wrists.

He frowned behind his mask, eyes darting from her raised wrists to her face where there was no sign of animosity or anger. She simply stared ahead, straight through him.

He holstered his blaster cautiously before he placed the metal brackets over her wrists somewhat reluctantly. It all felt too easy. The woman inhaled sharply as the metal pinched her skin as it tightened, but remained stoic as Din reached for her shoulder and guided her in front of him.

“Walk,” he finally uttered, withdrawing his blaster again so he could prod her with it. His hand remained on her shoulder as he guided her out. She didn’t resist.

The blaring heat of the desert hit them as they stepped out of the shady sanctuary. The two hot suns blasted heat even as they began to slip down in the sky.

“Asara?” Din whipped himself and the woman towards the sound, his blaster following suit. He immediately lowered it at the sight of a very startled old woman clutching a crate of blue milk.

“It’s okay, Claura,” the woman - Asara - reassured her with a calm smile. “It’s alright,”

Claura seemed puzzled but Asara’s calmness didn’t waver. She nodded at the old woman, sensing her doubt.

“Where are you taking her?” Claura asked with a slight tremble in her voice.

Din was silent. He couldn’t bring himself to say it - something which he hated himself for.

“This is goodbye, Claura,” Asara answered for him. “Take what you like - it’s yours. I won’t have much use for it now.” she jested weakly, though Din could hear the first hint of sadness in her voice.

“Asara, please-”

“I’m sorry, Claura,” she bowed her head. “Goodbye,”

Asara turned her head away from the old lady, signalling that she was finished. Din pulled her back in the direction of his ship, having watched the interaction intently. He pitied her. He pitied the old woman too. The two appeared close, and he couldn’t help but feel guilt as Asara sniffled as they walked away.

She kept her head raised high, however, even as a few tears slipped from her distant eyes. They walked in silence for at least half an hour as the suns finally began to kiss the horizon.

Asara broke the silence first. “Your ship…” she said. “How much further is it?”

“Not far,” Din replied after hesitating. “Why?” he readjusted the blaster against her back cautiously.

“It’s almost night,” she mused. “And you don’t want to be walking around this desert at night,” Din wasn’t phased by this. Her next words, however, did. “Not to mention the Jawa love to scavenge outside our settlement. Your ship would be easy pickings if it’s much further than this.”

Din halted, pulling Asara’s shoulder roughly. Her smirk unsettled him as he pulled out his gun and looked down his sights. A hollow carcass of his beloved ship sat dormant on the horizon where he had left it.

“Dank farrik.” Din hissed, fighting the urge to throw his gun to the ground in his fury. He stomped, letting out an angered growl instead. “Where are they?” Din grabbed her shoulder, forcing her to face him - fruitlessly. “Where do they go?”

“They’re Jawa. They go where they please,” Asara said with a shrug of her shoulders.

“Don’t lie to me,” he warned, his hand still on her shoulder. “You know.”

Asara attempted to hold back her laughter. “And how is it I know, Mandalorian? Do you think I sit and watch the Jawa as a pass time?” she asked teasingly. Din felt his face flush in embarrassment. “That usually requires working eyes,”

He sighed deeply at her mocking, shoulders sagging in defeat. “I need my ship to get off this planet. To get-”

“Your payment, yes, I know,” Asara finished for him. “Instead of whining about it why don’t you go and look? Maybe there’s something salvageable?” she suggested, although she already knew the answer. “Lead the way,”

“Not a chance,” he grabbed her elbow and began to pull her along with him as he quickly trudged across the sand to what was left of his ship.

His blood boiled at he looked at the remains upon approaching. There was nothing but scraps of metal and the mere bones of the Razor Crest. “Kriff.” he hissed again.

Asara chuckled again, shaking her head at the Mandalorians foolishness. Her head tipped back as she did so, eyes closing in pure amusement. “Oh, and here I was thinking you were one of the smart ones,”

“Alright, enough,” Din growled, storming over to her. He gripped her shoulders again, this time rougher - her smirk didn’t disappear. “Where do they go? You said they liked to scavenge around here so where else do they go?”

“They will have gone far away from here, Mandalorian.” Asara drawled dramatically. “They’re nomads. They don’t stay in one place for too long.” Din yelled out in anger turning to kick one of the metal sheets left behind. Asara sighed, her shoulders sagging as she felt how angry he was. “I’m not lying to you,”

“Like kriff you aren’t-”

“Have I put up a fight so far?” she cut him off. “Last I remember I don’t think I tried to clobber you on our way down here?”

“Will you please just…be quiet?” Din asked in defeat as his shoulders sagged. He sat down on one of the empty crates they had left behind which once held his spare weapons.

Asara stopped her teasing immediately. She frowned as she realised how truly upset he seemed at the loss of his ship. She thought back to when she had her ship - years ago - and how much she loved it.

“It’s no use looking for them in the dark,” she said through a sigh as she kicked one of the metal chunks protruding with wires over to Din who looked down at it in confusion. “If you want your parts back we can look for them at sunrise.”

“Sunrise? But that’s-”

“If you want to look now, go ahead,” she waved her conjoined hands for emphasis. “But I’d rather die later in a hopefully more dignified way rather than be squashed by a bantha - or worse.”

Her words struck him.

“I need my ship back.” he pressed, this time less snappily.

“And you’ll get it,” she said, kicking over a ball of wires. “But not tonight. So why don’t you put that micro-probe in your pocket that keeps clinking around to good use and make us a fire?”

Din rolled his eyes but stood regardless and knelt beside the scrap Asara had kicked over and silently began to light it. Asara sat across from him and casually leaned against one of the dusty rocks as the fire flickered and began to emit heat.

Din allowed himself to relax only slightly as he rested against the carcass. Silence settled - apart from the spitting of the fire from time to time. It warmed them as the coldness of the night settled quickly and sharply.

Din watched her carefully, anticipating any move that she might make. But she proved to be like no other bounty. Asara was tranquil, calm - seemingly at peace - despite the situation she found herself in.

“Do you know why there is a bounty on my head?” Asara broke the silence, eyes facing the warm fire. The grey turned to light orange in the dim light, and she appeared radiant.

Din didn’t reply for a few moments, debating if he even should. He never conversed with his bounties if he didn’t have to. But Asara felt different.

“No,” he finally replied.

Asara hummed. “Interesting,” she said in genuine surprise. “Tell me, is that because you don’t really care about who you walk up to the executioner’s block or are you just not interested in current affairs?”

“I’m interested in my payment.” he cut with a harsh tone, not liking to dwell on his profession. Remorse in this line of work could get you killed or worse - not paid. He had to remind himself of this as she laughed.

“Typical bounty hunter.” she sighed deeply with a smile on her face. “Such questionable morals.”

“Might I remind you, your bounty is dead or alive,”

Asara laughed again - this time more raucous and mocking. “Is that supposed to scare me, Mandalorian?” she teased as she leaned forward. “Might I remind you that me being alive will result in a bigger payment? That is all you are interested in after all.” she quipped with her tongue between her teeth at Din’s silence. She settled back against the boulder when he didn’t bite back.

“You seem to know an awful lot about the price on your own head…” he finally replied.

“It would be odd if I didn’t, would it not?” she answered with a wince as a rock pinched her bottom. “No point in being ignorant - especially when there’s ten million credits on your head.” she grumbled to herself. “It’s all I’ve had to think about for the past two years.” Asara became distant for a moment as she seemingly was taken back to some point in time.

“Two years with ten million on your head?” Din couldn’t help but ask the question he had wanted to ask since Greef told him of the latest tip-off. “How?”

Asara huffed out a laugh but it lacked humour. “I’m just lucky, I guess.”

“I’ve been a bounty hunter for a long time,” Din shook his head. “No one’s ever lived that long with a bounty that high,”

Asara rolled her shoulders uncomfortably. “I never stayed in one place for too long,” she shrugged. “I never grew close to any one. I was…nobody.”

“So why settle here?” he asked before he could stop himself. “Why give it up?”

“I’m tired,” Asara smiled sadly. “And I don’t hate the idea of letting you get ten million because of me. There’s definitely been worse than you.” Din huffed at her words but took the compliment silently. “That is why. I’m done running…I’m done hiding.”

Din was intrigued to say the least - Asara’s puck had been floating around the Guild for two years. She was the most sought after bounty for a while until many gave up purely because finding her seemed impossible. Din had come back from time to time but never thought it’d get him anywhere. And yet here he was, sitting across from her - the woman who would make him rich. And yet, he had no idea why ten million credits was on her head.

Asara smiled, as if reading his thoughts. “There’s a price for everything, Mandalorian, as I’m sure you - of all people - are aware.” she mused. “Vengeance, I’ve found out, is worth about ten million,”

Her jest ensnared him. He couldn’t help it. He wanted to know more. Two years of guessing and the answer was right there. Pride, however, is a funny thing. So the Mandalorian remained quiet.

“I forgot,” Asara slipped her back down the rock so she was laying flatter, beginning to settle in. “You’re not here for silly stories, are you?” Asara tutted at herself jokingly. “I’ll still be here in the morning, so please don’t watch me like a Loth-cat watching a mouse.”

Din rolled his eyes again at her words, but strangely, he felt as though he could trust her. So far, it had seemed as though she had told the truth.

He didn’t mean to fall asleep. The long journey and stress of losing his ships must have taken more out of him than he realised. His body awoke with a jolt when his brain finally comprehended that it had slipped into unconsciousness.

The first thing he noted was blaring heat of the suns. The second thing he noted was the lack of his bounty from across the dead hunk of metal and wires which had burnt out in the night.

He scrambled for his gun only to find that missing too. “Dank farrik!” he seethed, slamming his fist into the ground as he realised his stupidity. Never trust a bounty. He begrudgingly stood, mumbling to himself about how stupid he had been as he tried to find any trace of her. “Ten million gone and for what-”

“What are you doing?” A voice asked from behind him, causing him to stumble and draw his blaster out of instinct. Asara stood casually down his sights, gun slung over her shoulders and two Jakrabs in her still cuffed hands.

“You-Why-” Din stopped himself from saying anything else before he embarrassed himself even more. “You were gone.”

Asara chuckled, throwing him the two Jakrabs which he fumbled to catch with one hand. “I thought you might be hungry.” she said as she shrugged off his gun and leaned it against the boulder. “So I took the liberty of finding us food.” A smug grin found its way onto her face as she sat on top of the rock. “You’re welcome.”

Din was amazed at her spatial awareness. That and the fact that he had hunted and killed two Jakrabs blind and with her hands bound.

“It would’ve been much easier if I didn’t have these pinching me,” she held her wrists up as if reading his mind. “Quite the nuisance really,”

“I’m not taking them off,” he grumbled as he holstered his blaster and carefully inspected the Jakrabs.

Asara tipped her head as he did so, a smile on her face. “They aren’t poisoned,” she reassured with a sigh. “If I wanted to kill you I wouldn’t do it through Jakrabs.”

“How would you do it?” Din asked cautiously as he plucked out his knife and began to skin them.

Asara hummed in thought. “I suppose I could lead you to the Sarlaac pit near here - that would be fun. Although I know of a few Tuskan Raiders who would love to have you as shiny target practice.” Din was silent. “I’m kidding! Lighten up, Mando.” she teased and slid down off the rock so she could restart the fire. Din looked down at her opened palm unsuredly. “I need your micro-probe. Unless you want to eat raw Jakrab - then you probably will die.”

He sighed before placing the small device in her hand. She smiled victoriously before sparking a fire within seconds. Din fished out a few metal prods from the scraps and skewered the skinned Jakrabs on them before handing one to Asara. He was about to berate himself internally for how stupid that was but Asara reached for the skewer in front of her wordlessly and held it over the fire.

“How do you it?” he asked before he could stop himself.

“Do what?”

“That,” he said. “You act like-like-”

“Like I can see?” she finished for him with a knowing smile. “It took a while to get used to, trust me.”

“So you-” Din cleared his throat awkwardly. “You weren’t born-”

“Blind? Maker, no,” Asara shook her head with a sad smile “No, I wasn’t born this way. In fact, it has only been two years since,” she sighed deeply in thought. “Yes, I used to see the sun rise and sun set. The faces of my family. The ocean,” she hummed. “Now that I loved. It didn’t matter the planet. I saw the oceans of Quila once. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.”

Din remained quiet. It was the first time she had been so serious since he had captured her. He pitied her again and yet he didn’t know why. Her sad smile sparked something in his chest as her grey eyes stared emptily into the fire.

“Two years…” he trailed off. “Same time as your bounty.”

“Yeah, interesting timing, huh?” she said sarcastically and let out a puff of amusement.

Silence settled momentarily.

“How did it happen?”

Asara titled her head in surprise at his question and her brow furrowed. She hadn’t expected the stoic bounty hunter to be so…curious.

She contemplated her next words for a few moments before uttering; “The Empire.”

Din’s brow raised under his helmet. He watched as her brow remained furrowed as she held the skewer of meat closer to the fire. It sizzled and spat as it began to char but Asara didn’t pull it away.

“Why?”

Asara pushed the meat closer. The pink meat blackened.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” she didn’t look at him as she spoke, only continued to glare at the fire. “Besides…I thought you were only interested in payment, Mandalorian.”

Her grey eyes finally looked up at him and it felt as if she could see him through his visor. He shifted uncomfortably. The meat on the skewer was completely burnt now and beginning to catch fire. She didn’t relent.

“You’re right,” Din nodded. “I am.”

She pulled the skewer back as soon as he spoke and blew out the flame that had settled on the leg. “I’m not very hungry anymore,” she said, dropping the skewer on the floor. “Eat on the way. I’ve got some idea where they might be. But we need to hurry.”

Din rose at the same time as her, hand going to his blaster.

“I had my chance to flee and I didn’t,” she quipped with an unimpressed raised brow. “You don’t have to poke that thing in my back the whole way. At least make my last few hours alive somewhat enjoyable?” she smirked as she turned away and began to walk down one of the sandy gorges.

Din hesitated - hand hovering over his blaster. He watched as she continued to walk without a care in the world as if she could see right in front of her - every rock and dip easily avoided.

He followed after he with a defeated sigh. His armour clinked as he jogged over to her. “Wait,”

“C’mon, Mando, we haven’t got all day,” she teased. “Keep your eye on that horizon - you won’t be able to miss their big hunk of metal.”

They didn’t speak after that. They had trudged wordlessly next to each other for almost four hours. They had reached a particularly rocky ravine which Asara weaved her way through effortlessly. Din paused to admire her movement and had to rush to catch up with her.

He wondered how long she had been on Tatooine for her to know the land so well. Two years with this much spatial awareness seemed almost impossible. Maybe she wasn’t completely blind like everyone had thought. Maybe-

“Y’know, if you have something to say just say it.” she interrupted his train of thought, making him jump slightly. He was beginning to get unnerved at how easily she could read him.

"I don’t.”

Asara hummed with a shrug of her shoulders and a knowing smile. “I grew up here, y’know?” she began - not caring if Din was interested or not, although something told he very much was. “I haven’t been back here since…” she cleared her throat. “For a long time.”

“You seem to know it well,” Din commented as she avoided another rock. “Too well…” he mumbled under his breath.

Asara laughed. “I haven’t walked this way before,” she informed him much to his surprise. Din halted.

“I thought you knew where they were?”

“I have a good idea,” she shrugged nonchalantly. Din stared at her incredulously behind his helmet. “What?” she paused too, turning to face him. “I’ve got a feeling,”

“A feeling…” Din trailed off as he tried to hold back a hiss. His fists clenched in anger making the leather of his gloves groan. “You’ve got us walking through this heat…because of a feeling,”

“A pretty damn good feeling,” she reiterated. “Trust me, the Jawa are this way.” she began to walk away again but when Din didn’t follow she paused again with a huff. “Can you just trust me?”

“You’re my bounty and you’re asking me to trust you?” he asked incredulously.

“I brought you Jakrab,” she reasoned with a shrug. Din sighed. “Besides, it’s too late to turn to back now. They won’t be much further. They’re quick little shits on their feet but that hunk they travel in is as slow as a-” Asara’s breath caught in her throat as she froze.

Din looked at her in confusion before looking around him. Nothing was in sight. “What are you doing?”

“Shh,” she hissed, putting a finger over her lips. “Something’s coming.”

“It better be Jawa or I swear-”

“Shut up, crik-head!” Asara snapped, making Din start to take her seriously. His hand hovered his blaster cautiously as Asara listened intently to something Din couldn’t hear. “Shit…” she whispered with wide eyes. “Uncuff me.”

“What? No-”

“Mando, uncuff me,” she urged. Her cuffs clanged against his metal armour as she rested them against it. “Now.”

Din went to protest again but a low rumble made him pause. Asara stilled, body going rigid.

“What’s coming?”

“Don’t move.” she warned eerily. The ground trembled as whatever it was bounded closer. A horrific rasp echoed across the ravine walls they stood in and Din instinctively gripped her wrists.

“Asara,” he spoke her name for the first time. Neither wanted to dwell on how it made the other feel. “What is that thing?”

“Mando, if you want to live, kindly shut the kriff up,” she hissed, grey eyes pleading with him to stay quiet as whatever it was drew closer. Her hands pressed further into chest out of sheer anxiety.

A loud roar made them both flinch as it was magnified by the thick sand walls that surronded them. A shadow obscured the sunlight which beamed down onto them, smothering them in shade as the thing sniffed the air.

“It’s a Krayt dragon,” Asara whispered to him. Din watched out of the corer of his visor as the large mass peered down into the valley at the to of them. “It’s only a baby, but it’s the most dangerous thing on this blasted planet.” she informed him. “If we move, it will attack us.”

Din swallowed hard and squeezed her wrists lightly.

“What do we do now?”

“Uncuff me.” The seriousness in her tone almost made him comply, but he hesitated. “Can you just trust me? Please?” she pleaded.

Din looked down into her grey eyes and saw the desperation behind them. There was no malice, no malcontent - no ulterior motive. She simply willed for him to be able to trust her - after all this time they had spent together.

“C’mon, flyboy, just uncuff me and I’ll-” As if sensing the tension, the Krayt let out a piercing shriek. “Scrag.” Asara hissed as the Krayt dropped down to their level and began to prowl towards them. The two pulled apart and attempted to prepare themselves. Din hurried to pull his staff from his back. “That stick isn’t going to cut it,” Asara told him as he ignited it.

“Just…get behind me,” he hissed as he pulled her back over to him. Asara placed her hand on his shoulder as he stood his ground despite the fear that almost completely paralyzed him as the beast stalked closer. “You ever kill one of these things before?”

“No,” she said through a wince. “I don’t think I need to ask you, do I?”

“No,” he said through a deep exhale. “No, you don’t.”

The dragon snapped its jaws at Din, making him stumble back. Thankfully, Asara caught his weight and pushed him back up again. The sudden movement startled the beast and sent it sprinting towards them.

“Move!” Din yelled, pushing Asara away from him and the dragon and onto the ground. He ignited his taser and jabbed at the Krayt’s snapping jaws, taking it by surprise just before it could swallow him whole.

For a moment the beast was stunned until it gathered its senses and was taken with an even mightier rage. Din attempted to fight it, swiping with his staff relentlessly at its face and neck. Nothing seemed to work. He felt powerless as the Krayt knocked him onto his back. He stared up at its opening jaws as it slowly began to lean down, ready to consume him.

He held his staff up in a poor attempt to keep the beasts jaws away from him, but knew deep down it was useless. His mind wandered to Asara, his eyes turning away from the dragon and to where he had pushed her to the ground, only to find no trace of her.

He closed his eyes as he thought of her fleeing the valley, back to her small hut, back to Claura. For some strange reason, he felt almost at ease at the thought of her escaping.

Just as he was about to accept his doom - staring into the jaws of Death - the beast paused, eyes wide in fear and confusion as its body stilled. Its jaw was still wide open before Din’s helmet as it let out a fearful screech. Its body was suddenly lifted from the ground and up into the air.

Din, as confused as the Krayt, peered down between his legs only to see an unmistakable silhouette.

Asara stood poised behind the dragon, hands freely outstretched before her as she guided it up into the air. She glared at the beast as she raised it higher and higher away from Din’s helpless form.

The beast wriggled and squirmed as it attempted to break free from the invisible hold it was trapped in - but to no avail. Asara’s hands shook as she held it in place and blood began to drip down her nose. With a sharp twist of her wrist, the Krayt’s neck snapped. Its body sagged in mid-air before Asara maneuvered it back to the ground.

As soon as it dropped with a dull thud, she rushed over to Din who was still watching her in awe. She offered him her hand with heavy breaths and Din took it gratefully, allowing her to haul him up off the dusty floor.

“You- he tried to catch his breath. “How did you-”

“Long story,” Asara chuckles breathlessly as she wipes her bloody nose with her cloak. “And you probably wouldn’t believe me,” she smiled up at him and Din felt his cheeks flush.

She moved away from him after a moment of trying to process what the kriff just happened and made her way to the Krayt’s body. Her hands felt along its hide, ghosting over each ridge individually.

“What are you doing?” Din asked in confusion.

“These dragons are hunted for their pearls,” she said, plucking three fat circles from its back. They glimmered in the suns’ light as she held them up for Din to see. “They’re worth a helluva lot,” Din was still in a state of astonishment and disarray - even as she placed the three pearls in his gloved hand. “You fought well, by the way, flyboy,” she said, tapping the side of his helmet twice before she began to make her way back down their intended path.

Din lingered as he tried to process everything. “Wait, hang on a second-” Din rushed after her and grabbed her arm, halting her in place. “Am I supposed to just move on like that didn’t just happen? Like you didn’t just-just-”

“Just what?”

“Lift a dragon into the air with your bare hands,” Din emphasized as if it were obvious. “People don’t just do that where I come from.”

Asara shook her head with a smile. “You’re right. They don’t. Which is why explaining it to you is pointless.” she dismissed and tried to walk away only for Din to grab her arm again.

“You saved my life.” he said. “Why?”

“So many questions, Mandalorian, and yet so little time to answer them,” Asara tried to walk away again but Din held onto her arm.

“Why?” he asked, much softer this time.

Asara looked up at him and it felt as though she was staring straight into his soul. She sighed before answering. “You don’t deserve to die.” she said simply. “Besides, when it came down to it…you tried to save me.” Din’s breath hitched in his throat. “Awfully strange thing for a bounty hunter to do. I thought I’d return the favour.”

Din released her arm after that, allowing her to continue walking.

“Are you a Jedi?” his question made her pause. She didn’t turn to face him - not fully. “I don’t know much about them. But I know they had…magic of some kind. Magic like…that.”

Asara took a while to answer - so long that Din thought she wasn’t even going to.

“I’m not a Jedi,” she said with a hint of sadness that made Din all the more curious. She carried on walking after that, giving him only seconds to catch up with her as she walked briskly ahead.

“W-What else can you do?”

“What now, flyboy?” Asara drawled dramatically with a sigh. The nickname was already sticking and Din didn’t like it. It all felt too…friendly for a bounty.

“You can lift things in the air - so what else can you do?”

“That’s a pretty big question. I can brew grog, I can sing somewhat good if I’m pissed enough, crik, I can fly any ship you want me to if you ask nicely-”

“That’s not what I meant,” Din groaned at her antics - deep down, however, he could tell it was growing on him. “What else can you do like that?”

“Why the sudden interest?” she asked with a raised brow as she looked at him from the corner of her eye. The two walked in stride together now as Din finally caught up.

“I think my sudden interest is justified,”

“I think you’re contradicting your own philosophy,” she teased. “You’re not getting paid extra to know this.” she reminded him.

“I know,” he finally gave up his pride. After the near-death experience, he felt that he might as well. “But I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to know.”

Asara smiled to herself and shook her head. “Fine. What else can I do like that?” she repeated his words with a coy smile. “I can sense things - objects, things moving. It’s how I walk so easily.”

“I knew it…” Din mumbled under his breath. Asara chuckled. “Do you have super hearing too?”

“Now that’s just from being blind,” she wagged her finger at him jokingly. “I can also…” she hesitated, piquing Din’s intrigue.

“Also what?”

“You know about Jedi magic, right?” she used the word with a humoured smile. Din nodded. “Do you know about Jedi mind tricks then?”

“I’ve heard stories,”

“Hm,” Asara mused to herself. “Well, I can do that too,”

“You can control people’s minds?” Din asked incredulously. “Is that why the Empire want you?”

Asara stopped walking and paused, her brow furrowed. She looked over at Din with sad eyes as he paused too.

“Something like that,”

Her lack of explanation was beginning to irritate him. He wanted to know more before it was too late. The handover was beginning to appear more daunting than any other. He almost felt like he didn’t even want to anymore. He had to remind himself of the ten million credits that awaited him at the end of all this.

“Ten million credits seems pretty pricey for a Jedi,”

“I’m not a Jedi,” she coolly corrected him. “Never have been, never will,”

“But you said-”

“I didn’t say I was one. I just said I could do what they do.” Din could sense that it was a touchy subject for her, but he craved to know more. He couldn’t help himself.

“Your bounty…” he trailed off. “What is it really for?”

The softness of his tone surprised Asara who forced herself to keep walking and focus on the path ahead. She was surprised the reason for her bounty hadn’t been released on her puck. But then again, she realised if people knew who she was - even after what she had done to rectify it - then there were plenty who would kill her themselves rather than the Empire.

“I pissed them off,” she dismissed. “Simple as,”

“Simple?” Din scoffed. “You’re anything but simple,”

Asara smiled briefly at his words, and Din couldn’t help a small smile of his own find its way onto his face. “They took everything from me. The Empire. I got my own back and then some. What I did…” she sighed deeply.

“Are you with the Resistance?” he asked, trying to help her get it out.

“I’m not with anyone,” she shook her head. “I told you, remember? I’m nobody. That’s not gonna change.”

Din felt pity fill his chest as the suns’ light caught her saddened features. He could almost feel her sorrow and her pain.

As the two climbed up a steep ridge leading them out of the gorge the Jawas large vehicle finally came into their sights. Din let out a breath of relief.

“I suggest you let me do the talking, flyboy,” Asara’s smirk finally returned. “If you want your parts back, that is.”

“Lead the way,” he said, motioning to the small decline ahead of them. He felt less ridiculous knowing Asara could sense his movements. Asara began to slip down towards the large mass and Din followed close behind.

“Hold up,” she said, sticking her arm out so Din wouldn’t walk past her. “Jawa!” she shouted loudly up at the vehicle. Her voice echoed across the expanse of the desert and Din almost had to cover his ears.

A small scuffle could be heard inside the vehicle before multiple Jawa poked their heads out of the windows on the side.

“Eyeta,” she called up, motioning to her and Din. “Etee uwanna waa.”

The Jawa began to argue with each other for a few moments before a hatch opened near the bottom of the vehicle. A group of the small creatures waddled out and over to the two cautiously with their weapons raised.

“Eyeta,” Asara repeated calmy. “Ny shootgawa.” The Jawa replied in their tongue but Din couldn’t fully pick up what they were saying to each other. “Yukusu kenza keena,” she proposed. “Uwanna reve.”

The Jawa replied once more and Asara sighed with a roll of her eyes.

“What is it? What are they saying?” Din asked - desperate to be involved. Asara held her hand up as she listened to the other Jawa intently. “What?”

“They want payment for the ship parts.”

“But it’s my ship, dank farrik!” Din protested, reaching for his blaster. The Jawa immediately raised their own, making Asara grit her teeth as she turned to grip his arm. She shoved the blaster back into his holster harshly as she she stood chest to chest with him.

“They’re traders. They aren’t just going to give it back. Now keep your blaster in your pants, bounty hunter,” she warned, pushing the blaster even further into the holster. Din grunted at the sensation. “And let me do my thing,”

She spun back around to face the Jawa who began to ramble about how unprofessional Din was. She waved them off with a nod of agreement.

“Mob un loo?” she asked them, only to scoff at their reply. “M’gasha.”

The Jawa began to argue with Asara but her cool demeanour didn’t waver.

“Hey, flyboy, give me one of those pearls I gave you,” she said, extending her arm behind her. Din complied, fishing it out of his pocket and into her hand. She threw the small pearl expertly into one of their small hands causing the group to flood around it to inspect it. “Uwanna?” The Jawa frantically nodded. “Umka.” she ordered, motioning for them to follow her as she began to lead them back the way they came.

“Now what are we doing?” Din asked in confusion as the vehicle finally started to move behind them. “Did you make the deal?”

“I’m working on it,” she reassured. “Calm your exhaust port, would’ya? You’re making me nervous.” If the stakes werent so high, Din would have laughed. “The Jawa avoid conflict wherever possible. Killing a Krayt is something they would never even dream of. But we just so happen to know the whereabouts of a fresh one,” she winked at Din who was - by all means - impressed. “Sabioto!” she shouted as they approached the corpse.

The Jawa filed out of the hatch one by one and huddled together again.

“Etee uwanna waa.” she pointed to the krayt which lay on the ground and then back to the vehicle. “Reve, tandi kwa.”

The Jawa considered her offer, mumbling to each other inaudibly before one let out a shrill ‘Keena!’. Asara clapped her hands with a proud smile on her face.

“Did it work?” Din asked hopefully. Asara nodded her head, patting Din’s metal shoulder.

“It worked. You’re welcome, by the way. They’re usually more stubborn than that,”

“You’ve traded with them before?” he asked quizzically.

“Once or twice.” she shrugged nonchalantly. “But blue milk doesn’t compare to that beast,” she smiled over at the Krayt dragon which was being picked apart by little hands. “They’ll fix your ship too, by the way. Out of pity more than anything.”

“What makes you say that?”

“They were talking about whether the shiny man cries steel,” she informed him with a smirk. “Most of them didn’t want to find out.”

Din scoffed and rolled his eyes at her words, but couldn’t help smile in relief at the information.

“C’mon, we can get on the back so we don’t have to walk,” she said reaching for his shoulder so she could lead him. “We’ll be off this planet sooner than you know,”

Her words were meant to comfort him, but strangely they only invoked a sense of dread.

“The Empire…they really want you dead, huh?” Asara chuckled sadly at Din’s words. Her head drooped as she thought of her fate.

“I don’t think they want me dead. Not yet, at least. They’re gonna make me pay first.” she lamented sadly. Din felt a twinge in his heart at the thought of her being tortured, and found himself hoping her death was - at the very least - short. “I’ve been running too long. It’s not like I have anything to live for anyway.”

Din nodded in understanding, allowing a rather morbid silence fall over them both. The motor rumbled loudly and jiggled their bodies as it started to move. Nothing more was said on the journey back as they grew closer to the inevitable.

Eventually, they arrived at the empty ship, and watched as the Jawa began to methodically put each part they had stolen back in its place. Din had let Asara have some time alone, perched on top of a boulder staring blankly out at the night sky.

He watched her from the ship, battling with himself on what to do next. So much had changed in such little time. This bounty had saved his life. This bounty who had numerous chances to flee, stayed.

A Jawa tugged on his sleeve, pointing at the now complete ship. He stuck his thumbs up at the Jawa who waved him off, muttering something offensive about Din before he returned to his own vehicle.

Din looked at Asara’s peaceful form for another minute before forcing himself to go over. “Asara,” he said softly. “They’re done.”

Asara breathed in deeply - taking in the cool night air of Tatooine one last time - before she jumped down off of the rock and made her way back to the Razor Crest.

“Taa baa.” she said to one of the Jawa who waddled out of the ship. The creature let out a noise in response before shuffling away. Asara waited for it to disappear. “That’s one thing I won’t miss…” she jested, chuckling to herself. Din couldn’t bring himself to laugh.

He led her inside with his hand on the small of her back. He could almost feel her warmth through his gloves, but he shook his head at the thought.

“Quite a nice ship you’ve got here, when it’s not completely dismembered,” she joked as she turned her head as if to look around. “Spacious.”

Din scoffed with a smile. “You could say that,” he said as he guided her to the chair beside his own. He settled in slowly - not wanting to rush - and flicked numerous switches until the ship blinked awake. It purred as it slowly began to ascend into the dark sky, reaching the stratosphere within seconds.

Asara didn’t have any quick quips or jokes as the starry sheet of black engulfed them. Morbid silence befell them instead. She sat upright, staring blankly ahead of her as reality began to kick in.

Before she had seemed fearless, accepting - now, she felt fear slowly begin to consume her.

Din cast his gaze back to her - looking at her forlorn expression as they travelled further and further away from Tatooine and into the inky void.

He didn’t know what to say - didn’t know what he could say. For the first time in his life, he began to doubt himself. He thought back to when she had killed the Krayt - stood poised and fearless as she lifted it up into the air. He thought back to when she had brought him food despite the fact that his only purpose was to capture her. He looked back at her sad face once more before made up his mind.

“The Imps…” Asara broke the silence with a weak voice. “Where are they hiding?”

“Corellia.”

Asara couldn’t help but laugh at his answer. “All the places in the Galaxy and they pick the shittiest,” she shook her head - humoured. “Suits ‘em.”

Din hummed in agreement but couldn’t bring himself to say much more.

“What’s your name, flyboy?” she broke the silence again, taking Din by surprise.

“My-My name?”

“Yes, your name.” she repeated. “You’ve got one, surely?” she asked with a smile.

“I…” Din faltered. “I can’t tell you,”

Asara frowned. “How come?”

“I…” he struggled to find the words. “I just can’t.”

“Oh…” Asara said with such genuine sadness it almost made Din blurt it out. He wanted to apologise, but he forced himself to stay quiet. “Guess flyboy will have to do then.”

His grip tightened on the sticks as he punched in the coordinates silently. The ship jolted as it was sent into hyperdrive.

The journey felt too short as Din entered the atmosphere of the planet, landing his ship in one of the landing bays. The door opened with a hiss shortly thereafter. “This isn’t Corellia…” Asara said in a confused tone, brow furrowed. “It stinks like Coruscant.”

“Go…” he muttered lowly - almost completely inaudible through his helmet. Asara didn’t respond. She was too much in shock to even comprehend an answer.

“Mando…”

“Go.” he said with more force, finally turning to face her. She looked perplexed, and strangely forlorn. “I’m letting you go, now get out.”

“W-Why?” she asked with a furrowed brow. “I’m worth ten million, you could-”

“Just leave. Please.” he pleaded - almost as if he didn’t trust himself, as if he would do something he would regret. Asara could sense this, and stood. Din followed suit.

Asara moved closer to him, staring straight through his visor with sorrowful eyes.

“If they find out what you’ve done…” she trailed off, worry etched on her face. “You’d risk that? For me?”

Part of her feared that this might be some cruel trick - that he would pull his blaster on her as soon as she turned her back. But part of her knew that this Mandalorian wasn’t like that. There was honour there - honour which no other bounty hunter she had encountered had.

“Yes…” he replied weakly, looking down at the ground. He didn’t understand why this was so hard. He didn’t understand why he didn’t want her to even leave. “Now go.”

Asara inhaled deeply before she placed her hand on the cool metal of his chest. Din looked down at her hand in surprise. She seemed conflicted as she tried to find the right words. Din expected a quip or a joke, but found nothing but sincerity.

“Thank you…” she whispered, leaning her head forward so her forehead touched the cool metal of his helmet. The two remained still for a few moments as they tried to process what was happening.

Before Asara could turn fully away, Din grasped her hand. “Asara,” he said before he could comprehend anything else to follow up with. “They won’t stop.”

“I know,” she nodded with a sad smile. “But that’s part of the fun, flyboy.” She sent him a sad smile as she pulled away from him and made her way to the ladder. She paused just before she was out of his view. “Y’know…it’s funny. With you…” Din clung to her next words desperately. “I almost felt like I could be somebody.”

Din’s shoulders sagged as she slipped from his sights and out into the populated streets of Coruscant.

Din stood alone for what felt like an eternity before he forced himself to sit back down in his chair, and set the coordinates for his next bounty.

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