Meli

The council chamber was already full by the time the session was called to order.

Clan leaders and representatives had taken their seats, while the New Republic inspectors occupied the front row as honored observers.

The moment Bo-Katan entered, accompanied by Koska, Din, and Grogu, every head in the chamber turned toward them.

A hush settled over the room.

Bo-Katan stepped to the center of the chamber with measured confidence.

"Before we begin today's proceedings," she said evenly, "there is something I would like everyone to see."

At her signal, Koska activated the data device.

A holographic display spread across the chamber above them, large enough for every delegate to read.

"First, I want to say how fortunate we were that no lives were lost in yesterday's explosion."

Her gaze swept briefly toward the New Republic delegation.

"I'm relieved our guests escaped unharmed, though I regret the inconvenience this incident has caused."

She paused.

"The investigation determined that the explosion originated from cargo unloaded from the inspectors' transport."

The chamber remained silent. No one interrupted. Every eye remained fixed on Bo-Katan.

"So we examined the cargo records."

The display shifted. Rows of shipping logs appeared in glowing blue text.

"As you can see..."

She indicated several missing entries.

"Parts of the log were deliberately erased."

A murmur rippled through the chamber.

"We traced the unauthorized access."

Her voice never rose.

"The records were altered from a terminal inside this very council building."

Another pause.

"And the individual responsible was..."

She spoke the aide's name.

The chamber erupted. Voices overlapped. Several representatives stood at once.

Din didn't know the man by sight. Instead, he followed the direction of the crowd's attention.

His gaze settled on two elderly men seated together. One was broad-shouldered despite his age. The other, thinner and more severe.

Both had gone perfectly still.

Bo-Katan slowly raised one hand. The room gradually fell silent again.

"There is something else."

Her voice carried effortlessly across the chamber.

"Many of you have also heard the rumor that I recently became engaged."

A few uncomfortable glances passed between the delegates.

"That rumor was no accident either."

She looked directly across the chamber.

"We investigated its origin. It led us to the very same individual."

Another wave of whispers spread through the hall.

"The false engagement rumor..."

"...and the bombing..."

She let the words hang.

"They were parts of the same operation."

Her blue-green eyes hardened.

"The objective was never the New Republic. It was me — someone intended to remove me from power."

This time the uproar was even louder.

Before Bo-Katan could continue, an older, lean man rose calmly from his seat.

Din recognized him. He had been present during yesterday's luncheon with the inspectors.

"With your permission..."

The councilor inclined his head with practiced courtesy.

"...Lady Kryze."

His voice was steady. Confident. The voice of someone who had spent decades navigating political chambers like this one.

Yet Din caught something almost no one else seemed to notice.

For the briefest instant, the councilor's eyes flicked toward his aide.

Only for a heartbeat.

Then they returned to Bo-Katan as though nothing had happened.

Din didn't miss it.

"The aide acted alone."

The councilor spoke with measured dignity.

"My clan had no involvement in his actions. To tarnish House Var'rotta's name without conclusive evidence would be —"

"We have more evidence."

Bo-Katan interrupted him calmly. She didn't raise her voice. She didn't need to.

At the slightest tilt of her head, Koska activated another projection.

A new series of holograms appeared above the chamber. Communication records. Transmission logs tracing the spread of the engagement rumor. The originating terminal's identification number.

And finally...

The authentication code used to access it.

Bo-Katan allowed the delegates a moment to absorb what they were seeing before she continued.

"The authorization code used to access that terminal matches Councilor Var'rotta's credentials."

Silence.

"If your aide acted alone..."

She looked directly at him.

"...how did he obtain your personal authorization code?"

Her voice remained perfectly even. The absence of anger made the accusation all the more devastating.

For the briefest instant, the councilor's composure cracked. The color drained from his face.

He recovered almost immediately —

— but everyone in the chamber had already seen it.

"And who conducted this investigation?"

His question came more sharply than before.

Bo-Katan answered without hesitation.

"Din Djarin. And Koska Reeves."

The councilor scoffed.

"I know of that man." He jabbed a finger toward Din. "A notorious bounty hunter. His word proves nothing."

Before anyone else could respond, another figure rose from the front row.

One of the New Republic inspectors.

"I disagree."

Every eye turned toward him.

"Din Djarin has worked alongside the New Republic on numerous occasions." His voice was calm, but carried unmistakable authority. "He has repeatedly demonstrated integrity. I see no reason to believe he would fabricate evidence."

The councilor opened his mouth.

"That —"

"You needn't say anything further, Councilor."

Bo-Katan's voice cut gently across the chamber.

Not hostile.

Final.

"If you wish to defend yourself, it would be far wiser to do so through the proper legal process."

She held his gaze.

"For your own sake. And for the honor of House Var'rotta."

From where he stood, Din watched every movement in the chamber.

Years as a bounty hunter had taught him one lesson above all others. Cornered people became unpredictable. They lied. They ran. Sometimes they reached for a weapon.

He remained ready for any of it.

But Bo-Katan had already done what he could not.

Without drawing a blaster, she had closed every avenue of escape.

The councilor slowly lowered himself back into his seat.

His silence spoke louder than any denial.

A veteran politician had conceded the battle.

That alone was enough.

At Bo-Katan's signal, the guards moved. Two of them stepped toward the aide, seized him by the arms, and escorted him from the chamber.

Just before disappearing through the doors, the aide looked back toward Councilor Var'rotta.

The councilor never returned the glance.

He simply looked away.

◆　◆　◆

"One more question, Lady Kryze," one of the inspectors said as the murmurs in the chamber gradually subsided. "If that's the case, then this engagement rumor was also part of the conspiracy. Which would mean... it wasn't true?"

Every eye in the chamber shifted to Bo-Katan and Din.

Bo-Katan parted her lips as if to answer, then closed them again, the words never coming.

Din stood with his arms folded, saying nothing.

The inspector looked from one to the other, clearly realizing neither intended to respond.

Only Koska let out a quiet sigh. She lifted Grogu into her arms and deliberately looked away. Unaware of the tension surrounding him, Grogu simply smiled, perfectly content.

◆　◆　◆

When the session finally adjourned, Din stepped into the corridor with Grogu and waited.

Bo-Katan emerged a few moments later. Though the long meeting had surely exhausted her, she carried herself with the same straight-backed confidence as always. When she spotted them waiting near one of the tall windows, she slowed to a stop.

"I suppose that ridiculous rumor will finally disappear now."

She kept her gaze on the city beyond the glass.

"I think so." Din joined her at the window. "You handled yourself well in there. After today, there will be fewer people willing to challenge your authority."

A faint smile touched her lips.

"Maybe. But what means more to me... is that you and Koska worked together."

"...I see."

Silence settled comfortably between them.

Beyond the window, workers and droids continued rebuilding Mandalore beneath the afternoon sun.

Din searched for something more to say.

Nothing came.

"...I'm leaving tomorrow."

"I know."

Her answer came almost too evenly.

"I wish I had more time to thank you. But you have your own journey to continue."

She never looked away from the view outside.

Din lingered for another heartbeat before turning toward the corridor.

He walked away slowly.

Much more slowly than he normally would.

Bo-Katan noticed.

◆　◆　◆

That night, Grogu refused to settle down.

Normally, a full stomach at dinner was enough to make him drowsy within minutes. Tonight, though, he remained stubbornly awake, and Din couldn't figure out why.

With a quiet sigh, an idea came to him.

"Want to say goodbye to Bo-Katan before we leave tomorrow?"

Grogu's ears perked up immediately, followed by an eager chirp.

Well. Now there was no backing out.

Light still spilled from Bo-Katan's office when they arrived.

Din stopped outside the door, suddenly unsure of himself.

Grogu, however, had no such hesitation. Before Din could stop him, the little foundling toddled straight inside.

"Grogu — wait."

By the time Din caught up, Bo-Katan already had Grogu in her arms.

"I'm sorry."

"It's all right." A gentle smile crossed her face. "He's special."

She tipped her chin toward a cabinet built into the wall. Grogu immediately understood. With an excited squeal, he leapt toward the shelf where a stash of treats was hidden.

Bo-Katan watched him fondly before turning back to Din.

"Would you stay for a few minutes?"

She rose gracefully. After Din gave a small nod, she crossed the room, slid open the balcony doors, and stepped outside.

◆　◆　◆

The night air was cool against their armor.

Bo-Katan rested her forearms on the balcony railing, looking out over the city below.

She had always loved this view.

For now, only scattered lights shone across Mandalore. But months from now, years from now, she believed those lights would fill the horizon.

Standing beside her, Din found himself imagining the same future.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "You helped more than you know."

"...I'm glad I could."

She glanced toward the office behind them, where Grogu was happily occupied with his prize.

"You leave in the morning."

"I do."

"I'll miss him."

She held out her arms. Without hesitation, Grogu bounded into them as though that was exactly where he belonged.

Bo-Katan laughed softly, hugging him close.

"Take care of each other."

"...You too." Din hesitated. "And take care of yourself."

She looked over at him, amused.

"I never expected you to worry about my health."

A quiet laugh escaped her.

Then, after one last hug, she gently lowered Grogu back onto the floor.

His ears drooped in unmistakable disappointment.

Bo-Katan smiled.

"See you again. Good night."

"...Good night."

◆　◆　◆

The soft metallic cadence of beskar and worn gear faded with each step he took.

Farther away.

Soon swallowed by the night.

Bo-Katan didn't know when — or if — they would meet again.

"...Ni kar'ta gai gar, Cyar'ika."

The words left her lips as little more than a breath, offered to the darkness rather than to the man walking away.

But Din stopped.

His footsteps fell silent.

Grogu looked up at him, ears tilting in puzzled curiosity.

Bo-Katan had always believed Din Djarin to be a man shaped by only two things —

the Creed...

and war.

Until now.

◆　◆　◆

"My heart holds your name."

His voice was calm. Almost reverent.

"An ancient Mando'a vow."

He turned to face her.

"Spoken only to the one you choose to spend your life with."

This time, it was Bo-Katan who forgot how to breathe.

She watched as he slowly retraced his steps onto the balcony.

"The Children of the Watch keep the old ways," he said. "The language. The vows. The rites everyone else believed were lost."

He didn't look away.

"We're taught them from the time we're children."

A quiet pause.

"Did you really think I wouldn't know?"

Before she realized it, he had crossed the distance between them.

Bo-Katan caught her breath.

She had learned the ancient language as part of her education as the heir to House Kryze. She had never imagined that a bounty hunter — not even born on Mandalore — would know words so old.

◆　◆　◆

"Bo-Katan."

His voice was calm, but there was no mistaking the resolve behind it.

"Tell me the truth. Did you mean those words?"

He held her gaze.

"I won't be used as a political instrument. Not by anyone."

He took one slow step toward her.

"But if you truly want me…"

"My place is at your side."

Whenever Din Djarin spoke this much, every word came from the deepest part of his heart.

Bo-Katan knew that.

A long silence stretched between them.

"Do you want me at your side?"

She never looked away.

"…I do."

◆　◆　◆

As though he were entrusted with something infinitely precious, Din took her hand in both of his. Slowly. Reverently. He pressed it against the center of his beskar chestplate.

The metal was cool beneath her fingers.

Yet somehow, she could still feel the warmth of the man beneath it.

"The words you spoke..."

His voice softened still further.

"May I answer them with the same vow?"

A smile touched the corner of her mouth.

"I suppose..."

She looked up at him.

"...it won't be just a rumor anymore."

Din lowered his head.

The cool edge of his helmet came to rest gently against her forehead.

For those who still honored the oldest ways of Mandalore, there was no gesture more intimate than this — no vow more deeply spoken.

Bo-Katan closed her eyes and surrendered herself to a tradition older than the clans, older than any war they had ever fought.

A promise spoken without words.

And this time...

it was no rumor.

✦ ───────────── ✦

Thank you so much for reading! ❤️

✦ ───────────── ✦

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The following morning, Din returned to the council building with Grogu at his side.

He took up position near the entrance and began speaking to everyone he recognized from the previous day's luncheon.

Most became surprisingly cooperative the moment they saw the gleam of beskar and the unmistakable T-shaped visor.

He asked each of them the same question.

"Who told you about the engagement rumor?"

At first, the answers pointed in every direction.

"I heard it from him."

"No — from her."

"Someone in the administration mentioned it."

But Din kept digging.

"And who told them?"

That was when a pattern began to emerge.

The same name surfaced again.

And again.

One of the aides assigned to a member of the Council.

Naturally, being the subject of the rumor himself made the questioning awkward. More than once he caught knowing looks — or barely concealed curiosity — from the people he interviewed.

He ignored the stares and pressed on.

◆　◆　◆

"Not exactly glamorous work."

The sharp voice cut cleanly through the corridor.

"For a bounty hunter, you're doing an awful lot of interviewing."

Din turned before she finished speaking.

Koska Reeves stood a few paces away, her helmet tucked beneath one arm.

"...I'm tracing the source of the rumor."

"So I gathered."

She folded her arms.

"Yesterday Bo-Katan walked off with only you at her side. That's only going to convince people the rumor is true."

She didn't bother hiding her irritation. Her glare was direct enough to challenge him to argue.

For a brief moment, Din felt his own temper rise.

He hadn't done anything to deserve her hostility.

But arguing with one of Bo-Katan's closest allies would only make matters worse.

So he said nothing.

Koska studied him for a long moment before speaking again.

"You probably don't realize how many enemies Bo-Katan has."

Her voice had lost some of its edge.

"I intend to protect her."

She narrowed her eyes.

"I'm guessing you do too."

"...I do."

"Good."

She let out a quiet breath.

"We don't have time to worry about you. But the fact that she's relying on —"

Koska stopped herself abruptly. As though she'd said more than she'd intended.

Din understood.

Like him, she had sworn loyalty to Bo-Katan. Whatever their differences, they were standing on the same side.

Perhaps it was time to treat each other that way.

"I don't care what happens to me," Din said quietly. "But I won't stand by while someone targets her."

He paused.

"The rumor wasn't spontaneous. Someone spread it deliberately."

He gave her the name.

Koska's expression darkened immediately.

"...An aide to the representative of House Var'rotta."

She frowned.

"That clan held territory long before the Empire occupied Mandalore. When the reconstruction council redistributed land, House Var'rotta lost a significant portion of its former holdings."

She crossed her arms.

"They've never forgiven Bo-Katan for it."

A brief pause.

"And I've heard they still have friends in the New Republic."

Din gave a slow nod. "Then they'd have every reason to hold a grudge."

◆　◆　◆

Koska hesitated.

For the first time since the conversation had begun, uncertainty crept into her voice.

"...About the rumor."

She searched the dark visor for something she couldn't see.

"Bo-Katan won't deny it. You won't deny it either." A beat. "But neither of you will admit it's true."

She frowned.

"I don't understand. What is it you're trying to do?"

Din was silent for a long moment.

"...I don't know."

Koska stared at him.

That was the last answer she had expected.

Most of the men who tried to get close to Bo-Katan wanted something from her. Power. Influence. Or simply the prestige of standing beside the woman rebuilding Mandalore.

When she'd first met Din Djarin, she'd dismissed him as nothing more than another zealot from the Children of the Watch — a man who refused to remove his helmet under any circumstances.

Her opinion had changed.

She had come to recognize the quiet integrity beneath the beskar. And more importantly, she had realized he admired Bo-Katan for the same reason she did.

His answer — I don't know — didn't sound evasive.

If anything, it sounded honest.

The only thing Koska wasn't ready to admit was that someone else had earned Bo-Katan's trust. Someone capable of protecting her.

She let out a quiet sigh.

"...Fine. This once, we'll work together."

Din gave a single nod. "Agreed."

For a brief moment, her unguarded gaze met the impassive T-shaped visor.

No more needed to be said.

◆　◆　◆

They waited until nightfall before slipping back toward the spaceport.

The skeletal framework of half-finished domes rose against the stars, their curved ribs silhouetted beneath the moonlight. Mandalore had not regained the grandeur it had once possessed.

Not yet.

But it was unmistakably being reborn.

A cheerful coo sounded from Din's back.

Grogu's attention had drifted toward the underground agricultural district.

Din altered course without a word.

They descended a broad staircase into the levels below. The lighting was sparse, casting long shadows across rows of fresh soil. Agricultural droids worked silently through the night, turning the earth with tireless precision.

As Din stepped closer, the rich scent of soil filled the air.

Grogu chirped happily and hopped down to the ground. He padded through the soft earth with unmistakable delight, wandering between the growing beds while carefully avoiding the droids at work.

Din watched him with quiet amusement.

The child looked as though he'd found his natural element.

Bo-Katan saw this place every day.

This was what she had chosen. Not glory. Not conquest. But the slow, exhausting work of giving a dead world a future.

The reconstruction would take years. Perhaps decades.

And she had accepted that burden without hesitation.

Watching Grogu play among the first signs of new life, Din felt his resolve harden.

For her. For this child. For Mandalore.

He would find whoever was behind the attacks.

◆　◆　◆

"Be careful," Koska said quietly as the spaceport came into view. "Security droids patrol the docks at night."

They paused in the shadow of a cargo container.

"We split up here," Din murmured.

Koska gave a curt nod.

Keeping to the darkness, Din slipped between rows of stacked containers, his footsteps almost silent against the duracrete. The warehouse sat at the edge of the landing platforms, its blast door sealed for the night.

It took Koska only seconds to bypass the lock.

The door hissed open. She motioned him inside.

The warehouse held the remains of the cargo recovered after the previous day's explosion. Fragments of shattered containers. Scorched packing material. Evidence awaiting examination.

Koska barely spared them a glance before crossing to a data terminal mounted against the far wall.

"We can access the cargo manifests from here." Her fingers moved across the controls. "Let's see... yesterday's shipping log..."

The screen filled with lines of data.

Din stepped closer.

"...Wait."

He pointed to a gap in the timeline. "Look at this."

Koska leaned in.

"...That shouldn't be there."

"No." Din studied the timestamps. "There's no record of any cargo movement during this window."

Her expression sharpened. "Someone deleted part of the log."

She withdrew a small data chip from one of her pouches and slotted it into the terminal.

"I'll pull a copy. If the deletion can be recovered, we may be able to identify who accessed the system."

The download completed moments later. Koska pocketed the chip.

◆　◆　◆

One question still lingered.

"I don't understand something."

She looked toward Din.

"The bombing alone was enough to destabilize the government. So why bother spreading the engagement rumor?"

Din answered without hesitation.

"They serve the same purpose."

He folded his arms.

"Each incident chips away at confidence in Bo-Katan's leadership. The goal isn't simply to embarrass her. It's to isolate her politically — and make way for someone else to step in."

Silence settled between them.

Only Grogu broke it, glancing back and forth between the two adults with quiet curiosity.

◆　◆　◆

When they left the warehouse, the spaceport lay beneath a sky full of stars.

The reconstruction cranes stood motionless. The landing platforms were silent.

For a fleeting moment, Mandalore looked at peace. As though nothing had ever threatened it.

Din found himself hoping the stillness wasn't merely the calm before another storm.

◆　◆　◆

The next morning, Din arrived at the council building with Grogu — and, to everyone's surprise, Koska Reeves walking beside him.

Bo-Katan looked up from her desk as they entered.

For a heartbeat, genuine surprise crossed her face.

"Now that's an unexpected sight." A faint smile tugged at her lips. "I never imagined the two of you becoming allies."

"Neither did I," Koska admitted dryly. "But we've agreed to work together until this is over."

Without another word, she activated the portable projector she'd brought with her. A holographic display sprang to life above the desk.

"This is the cargo log from the day of the explosion."

She highlighted a section of the timeline.

"Someone deliberately erased this portion of the records. We traced the system access back to within the council building itself."

She zoomed in on another line of data.

"More specifically — to a secure network accessible only to members of the Council and their staff."

A brief silence followed.

Then Koska spoke the name.

"The user credentials belong to an aide serving the representative of House Var'rotta."

Bo-Katan listened with her arms folded, her expression giving nothing away.

Din couldn't stay silent.

"...You already knew."

A faint smile touched the corner of her mouth.

"I had my suspicions. I simply couldn't act without proof."

Her gaze shifted to the projected data.

"Now I have it."

She straightened.

"I'll confront them myself."

"That's dangerous." Din's voice was quiet but firm. "If they're cornered, there's no telling what they'll do."

"This is my responsibility," Bo-Katan said evenly. "My government. My problem."

A long silence settled between them.

Then Din spoke again — quieter this time.

"...You always carry everything alone."

There was no accusation in his voice.

Only concern.

Bo-Katan's expression shifted — just for a moment — before she drew herself back behind the familiar composure.

"This has nothing to do with you."

"...It does."

The words caught her completely off guard.

She stared at him.

Din offered no explanation. He simply held her gaze through the dark visor.

That alone was unusual. He rarely stated his own feelings so plainly.

For a long moment, Bo-Katan found herself unable to answer.

◆　◆　◆

Koska cleared her throat.

Loudly.

"All right, all right."

She spread her hands with theatrical exasperation.

"Leaving this to Bo-Katan alone is a bad idea." She jerked a thumb toward Din. "And sending the bounty hunter in by himself isn't much better."

A crooked smile tugged at her lips.

"The councilors should be arriving any minute. So let's confront them together."

Beside Din, Grogu gave an enthusiastic chirp and nodded in apparent agreement.

Only then did Din notice what the child was clutching.

"...What's that?"

Bo-Katan blinked. "Oh." She nodded toward a nearby table. "I left a basket of ration packs over there. He can have some."

Grogu wasted no time. With obvious delight, he tore open the packet and immediately began eating with great enthusiasm.

A quiet laugh escaped Koska.

"At least someone around here isn't worried."

For a moment, the tension in the room eased.

While Grogu happily occupied himself with his unexpected prize, the three adults gathered around the desk and quietly began planning how they would confront the senator and his aide.

Continue reading →

Chapter 5: The Vow

← Previous Chapter

The door slid open.

Din stepped aside, silently inviting her in.

Bo-Katan stood in the doorway, still dressed in the armor she had worn throughout the day. In both hands she carried large bags that looked oddly out of place against polished beskar.

"Sorry for showing up unannounced," she said quietly. "The little one is probably asleep by now."

"...It's fine." He closed the door behind her. "I just wasn't expecting you."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"If anyone saw me coming here at this hour, it would only make that ridiculous rumor seem more believable."

"That's not what I meant."

Din hesitated.

"I don't mind." He looked at her. "But are you sure this is wise?"

Bo-Katan answered with a small nod.

She knelt beside the table and opened one of the bags, carefully lifting out a thermal container.

"It's a soup children usually enjoy," she explained. "Since Grogu's already asleep, you can have it instead. Or save it for tomorrow morning."

"...Thank you."

"I thought you might appreciate something warm."

From the second bag she produced a bottle. "It was a gift from the ruler of a nearby system." She set two simple drinking glasses on the small table by the window.

The room's only sitting area consisted of two armchairs facing one another across the narrow table — hardly luxurious, but comfortable enough.

"I brought it," she said, resting one hand on the bottle. There was something in her voice that made it clear she wasn't asking. "So I'll open it."

The seal gave way with a soft pop.

A light, fruit-scented aroma drifted into the room.

Din watched her quietly.

Bo-Katan settled into one of the chairs and poured herself a glass. She began filling the second one as well —

then stopped halfway.

Looking up at him, she gave an almost embarrassed smile.

"Sit." A brief pause. "I was going to say, have a drink with me." Another pause. "But... I suppose that's not possible."

"...I'll join you."

For the first time that day, she looked genuinely caught off guard.

She blinked.

Din walked over and lowered himself into the chair opposite her. It was unexpectedly comfortable, broad enough even for his armored frame, with sturdy armrests that let him settle in without feeling confined.

Bo-Katan studied him for a long moment, as though wondering if he would change his mind. Then, with quiet deliberation, she filled the second glass to match her own.

◆　◆　◆

"May I propose a toast?"

The words came more softly than Bo-Katan had intended.

She hadn't taken a single sip, yet her pulse had already begun to quicken.

Din gave a slight nod and reached for his glass.

"To Mandalore."

She held his gaze.

"To Mandalore..."

A beat.

"...and to Lady Kryze."

For the briefest moment, something flickered in her expression.

Not surprise at the words themselves — she had heard that title countless times.

But the way he said it. Quiet. Unhesitating. As though it were simply the truth.

She lifted the glass to her lips before he could see what that had done to her composure.

Since stepping into this room, nothing had gone as she had expected. The quiet man sitting across from her had offered the toast as naturally as though he had rehearsed it long ago.

The space between them suddenly felt much smaller. Not just the few steps separating their chairs — but something less tangible. Something she wasn't ready to name.

Oblivious to the battle playing out behind her composed expression, Din raised a hand to the lower edge of his helmet. With the familiar hiss of the seal releasing, he lifted it just enough to drink. For the briefest instant, she caught sight of the shadow of stubble along his jaw.

Then the helmet settled back into place, hiding him once more.

After only a single sip, Din set his glass on the table.

"Can I ask you something?"

Bo-Katan lowered her eyes, absently tracing the rim of her glass with her thumb.

"Why did you come here tonight?"

She wasn't impulsive. He knew that much. And after the rumor spreading through the capital — coming alone to the room of the man everyone believed had proposed to her made very little sense.

"I wanted someone different to talk to."

A quiet silence followed.

"...Are you sure I was the right choice?" Din asked. "Conversation has never been one of my strengths."

"The best listeners usually make the best company."

A thoughtful hum escaped him. "I'm not entirely convinced that's a compliment."

That earned a small laugh from Bo-Katan.

One of the things she appreciated most about Din was that he never watched her the way everyone else did. He didn't weigh every word for political meaning. He didn't try to flatter her. He simply spoke with the same quiet honesty he offered everyone.

Steadfast.

Capable.

Uncomplicated in all the ways that mattered.

Lately, she had found herself wondering when, exactly, that had started to feel like something she didn't want to lose.

◆　◆　◆

"If you're willing to settle for me," Din said, "I'll listen to whatever you want to talk about."

"Whatever?"

A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes.

"Then tell me... are you seeing anyone?"

Din froze.

Not dramatically.

Not visibly.

But something about the way his shoulders stiffened inside the beskar made Bo-Katan laugh.

He turned his helmet toward her — slowly, deliberately — in a way that managed to convey profound offense without a single word.

"I'm joking."

She waved a hand dismissively, still smiling.

It struck her then how long it had been since she'd laughed like this. A real laugh. Not the dry amusement she reserved for politicians. Not the weary smile she wore for the people who depended on her.

This felt lighter.

Almost freeing.

"...I'm not used to conversations like that," Din admitted.

"You know," she said, tilting her head, "you're far more expressive than you think."

He said nothing.

"You wear a helmet," she continued, "but you're surprisingly easy to read."

Silence.

She couldn't see his face. Even so, she found herself imagining the faint flush that was probably spreading beneath the helmet.

The thought made the drink taste even better.

She took another slow sip.

It had been a long time since she'd actually enjoyed anything she ate or drank. Lately, meals had become little more than another obligation — fuel to keep moving, nothing more. She had almost forgotten that food was meant to have flavor.

◆　◆　◆

After a quiet moment, her expression sobered.

"What do you think?" she asked, her voice losing its teasing warmth. "You've seen enough today to know there are people who want me removed."

Across from her, Din seemed almost relieved that the conversation had returned to familiar ground. He settled back into his chair.

"I do."

A beat passed.

"Do you have any suspects?"

"I have my suspicions."

"You think today's bombing was their doing?"

"I can't prove it."

The words came little more than a whisper.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Din gave a small shrug. "I'm going to look into it tomorrow."

Bo-Katan's head snapped up.

"What are you planning?" Her tone sharpened immediately. "Don't do anything reckless."

Din offered no answer.

His silence lingered between them.

For the first time, Bo-Katan found that quietness genuinely frustrating. She had always admired the restraint that defined him.

Tonight, she wished — just once — that he would tell her what he was thinking.

◆　◆　◆

Bo-Katan turned toward the window, her voice little more than a quiet murmur.

"Perhaps I should put an end to the rumor after all."

The bottle she'd brought was already half empty.

"It's causing you trouble."

Din settled back into his chair. "Don't worry about me."

"But it isn't true." She kept her eyes on the lights outside. "And we aren't... that."

"No." He hesitated. "We're not."

"You've been worrying about what I said — the political fallout." She smiled faintly. "I'll deal with that. It may take time, but I'll convince them."

Din remained silent.

After a moment, he said quietly, "...I'm used to not being welcome."

Bo-Katan looked back at him.

"That's not true."

She leaned forward before she seemed to realize she was moving. Her fingertips came to rest against the beskar chest plate over his heart.

"Among all the Mandalorians I've known..." Her voice softened. "...there isn't anyone more worthy of wearing that armor than you."

The words escaped before she could stop them. Perhaps it was the wine. Perhaps it was exhaustion. Or perhaps she had simply grown too tired to keep every thought locked away.

Din felt warmth spread unexpectedly through his chest.

He looked down at the hand resting against his armor.

Then, almost without thinking, he leaned toward her — just a little. Close enough to search her expression through the T-shaped visor.

Before either of them could say another word —

"Guuuu..."

A sleepy little groan drifted across the room.

Both of them turned at once.

Grogu rolled over in his sleep, one tiny hand flopping across the blanket before settling again.

Bo-Katan laughed under her breath.

"We'd better not wake him."

She brushed an auburn strand of hair back behind her ear. "I've already stayed much too late."

Din found himself wishing, absurdly, that the night didn't have to end. He had never wanted a conversation to continue this badly.

Yet no words came. Nothing that could persuade her to stay.

◆　◆　◆

Bo-Katan drained the last of the wine from her glass and rose to her feet.

Then the room tilted.

She swayed.

Din was moving before he realized it. He caught her by the shoulders, steadying her before she could lose her balance.

For an instant she simply stared at him, startled to find herself held securely in his arms.

Then she hurriedly stepped back.

"...Well." A faint, embarrassed smile crossed her face. "That was hardly dignified." She smoothed a hand over her armor. "Thank you."

"You've barely been sleeping." His voice was low with concern. "And you drank more than I expected." He hesitated. "Can you stand on your own?"

"...I'll be fine."

Her answer came more quietly than she'd intended. She hoped he wouldn't notice how reluctant she suddenly felt to leave the warmth of his grasp.

Instead, Din mistook her subdued voice for lingering dizziness. He leaned closer, the black visor studying her face as though it could somehow judge whether she was truly well.

"If you need me to..." He paused. "I'll walk you home."

Heat rushed into Bo-Katan's cheeks, already flushed from the wine.

Was he serious?

Of course he was. Din Djarin wasn't the sort of man who teased people. Nor was he the sort who would invite himself into a woman's home without permission.

That simple sincerity caught her completely off guard.

She felt unexpectedly sober.

"The offer is enough." She smiled gently. "Stay here with Grogu. I'll be all right."

"...If you're sure."

She drew one slow breath, straightened her shoulders, and by the time she reached the door, the ruler of Mandalore had returned. Only moments earlier she'd seemed ready to collapse. Now there wasn't the slightest trace of it.

She had spent too many years learning how to wear composure like armor.

She rested one hand on the door controls and looked back.

"Din."

"I'm glad you came." A small smile touched her lips. "I'm sorry you've been dragged into all of this... but I'm grateful you're here."

The door slid shut behind her.

A moment later came the quiet hiss of the lock engaging.

◆　◆　◆

Only then did Din remove his helmet.

He set it carefully beside the rest of his armor and prepared for bed.

But sleep refused to come.

The room felt strangely empty now. Too quiet.

His gaze drifted to the bottle Bo-Katan had left behind.

After a moment's hesitation, he poured himself another small glass.

The liquor was stronger than he'd realized. She had emptied hers surprisingly quickly — and he'd never heard anyone describe Bo-Katan as particularly fond of drink.

Maybe she had only wanted something to steady her nerves.

The thought lingered.

Why had she been so nervous?

Before lying down again, Din locked both the bottle and the glasses inside one of the storage cabinets, making certain Grogu couldn't accidentally get into them after waking.

Then he returned to bed.

Sleep still refused to come.

He told himself he didn't know.

✦ ───────────── ✦

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Chapter 2: Fault Lines

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The following morning, after breakfast, Din and Grogu made their way back to the council building.

They arrived just as Bo-Katan and several members of her council were leaving for the spaceport. The New Republic delegation was due to arrive.

Even from a distance, Din could tell something was off.

Bo-Katan carried herself with the same measured confidence as always, but there was a tension in her shoulders that hadn't been there the day before. Her expression was composed — almost unreadable — but beneath it lingered unmistakable irritation.

The New Republic shuttle descended onto the landing platform moments later. Its boarding ramp lowered with a mechanical hiss, and a group of officials stepped onto Mandalorian ground. Their neatly tailored uniforms and polished mannerisms marked them immediately as bureaucrats rather than soldiers.

After exchanging brief formal greetings with Bo-Katan, the delegation began its inspection of the capital.

Much of Mandalore still resembled the ghost of a once-great civilization.

Outside the spaceport district, entire blocks remained little more than shattered foundations and scorched duracrete. Before the Purge, elegant domed cities had stretched across the landscape — a testament to centuries of Mandalorian ingenuity.

Now, reconstruction had begun again from the ground up.

Building by building.

Street by street.

Still, there were signs of hope. At Bo-Katan's insistence, the subterranean habitats had begun to bloom once more. Greenery had returned beneath the surface, and new farmland spread a little farther each season.

As they walked across patches of fresh grass, Din found himself wondering if Mandalore would ever truly become the world it had once been.

Probably not.

Some things, once lost, could never be reclaimed.

But it could become something new. A world where people could live again. A world capable of feeding itself instead of relying entirely on imported supplies.

Bo-Katan would spend the rest of her life making sure of that.

◆　◆　◆

By the time the inspection concluded, it was well past midday.

Lunch had been prepared in the council building's largest reception hall. Several long tables had been arranged end to end, forming a single line down the center of the room. Bo-Katan and the New Republic delegation occupied the seats of honor, while Mandalore's officials and military advisors sat farther down the table.

As the meal began, every Mandalorian present — save one — removed their helmets.

Din guided Grogu into a seat near the end of the table before quietly taking the place beside him, his own helmet remaining firmly in place.

"The reconstruction has progressed farther than I expected."

One of the New Republic inspectors surveyed the room with polite approval. Across the table, Bo-Katan inclined her head, accepting the compliment with a restrained smile.

In truth, she wished the delegation would finish their visit and leave as quickly as possible. She was careful not to let that show.

"I imagine it's still some years before Mandalore is fully restored," the inspector continued. "Have you already chosen someone to succeed you?"

"...Fortunately," Bo-Katan replied evenly, "Mandalore is blessed with no shortage of capable leaders."

"I see." The man lifted his cup. "And you yourself remain unmarried, do you not?"

The question landed with all the subtlety of a thermal detonator.

Several of Bo-Katan's advisors visibly stiffened. Koska Reeves, in particular, looked ready to object.

Bo-Katan merely raised her glass and took an unhurried sip, allowing the silence to answer for her.

"We've also been hearing rather interesting rumors," the inspector continued, his gaze lingering on her. "That House Kryze may soon announce an engagement." A beat. "I imagine we're not the only ones curious whether there's any truth to it."

Koska leaned forward, clearly on the verge of speaking.

Bo-Katan stopped her with nothing more than a brief glance. Then she set down her glass.

"A rumor," she said calmly, "is still only a rumor."

The inspector chuckled. "Now you've only made me more curious."

A chill settled over the hall.

Din could feel the weight of countless eyes drifting toward him. Everyone here knew exactly which rumor the inspector meant.

He remained perfectly still. If he spoke now — if he drew attention to himself — it would only make matters worse.

The helplessness of it sat heavily beneath his armor.

Then —

A deafening explosion tore through the air.

The windows rattled violently. Someone screamed.

Din was already moving. He swept Grogu into his arms and rushed to the nearest window.

A thick column of black smoke billowed upward from the direction of the spaceport.

His eyes narrowed. The flames appeared to be coming from the New Republic shuttle.

No. Not an accident. Not with the inspectors here. Something about this felt deliberate.

"Nobody move!"

Bo-Katan's voice cut cleanly through the panic. Silence fell almost at once.

She rose from her chair and slowly surveyed the room before fixing her gaze on one of the inspectors, who had already begun edging toward the exit.

"Please remain seated."

The man's face paled.

"A New Republic vessel has just been destroyed." She let the words settle over the room. "At this moment, everyone in this room is both a potential victim — and a potential suspect."

No one spoke.

"We'll allow the droids to examine the scene first. Then we'll discuss what happened."

No one objected. Not even the inspectors.

Even Grogu had gone still in his arms — which, Din thought, said everything.

Within minutes, security droids arrived in force. The reception hall was sealed until further notice.

◆　◆　◆

"...Din."

Bo-Katan stood at the edge of the blast site, her gaze fixed on the smoldering wreckage. "What do you make of it?"

Only moments ago she had ordered everyone to remain where they were. Yet when she came to inspect the spaceport herself, she brought only Din and Grogu.

According to the port droids on scene, the explosion had occurred while cargo was being unloaded from the New Republic shuttle. One of the containers had detonated without warning. Fortunately, no one had been aboard at the time. As for who had loaded the shipment — or where it had originated — no one could yet say.

Those were the facts.

What troubled Din more was Bo-Katan herself. For the first time since he'd returned to Mandalore, she looked uncertain.

"If someone wanted to jump to conclusions," she said quietly, "they could call this an act of war. Or a terrorist attack against the New Republic delegation."

Din shook his head. "Who benefits from that? The New Republic can barely govern the territory it already controls. Why would it want to provoke Mandalore now?"

"It may not." Bo-Katan's eyes drifted back to the smoke rising over the spaceport. "But today it happened at the docks. What if next time it's the council building? Or the marketplace?"

Her voice remained calm, though the implications were anything but.

"That would give the New Republic every excuse to intervene. And people would begin questioning whether I'm capable of leading Mandalore at all."

She gave a small shrug.

In the bright daylight, Din noticed the shadows beneath her eyes for the first time. Dark circles. Mandalore's reconstruction was costing her more than sleep.

Watching her wear herself down like this stirred something painful in Din's chest.

"I don't know who's behind this," he said. "Whether it's someone inside Mandalore or an outsider looking to sow chaos." He glanced toward the destroyed shuttle. "But the rumor and this explosion — happening on the very day the inspectors arrived."

He met her eyes.

"They feel connected."

Bo-Katan lowered her gaze. "Do you think I've made a mistake somewhere?"

"No." His answer came without hesitation. "I don't."

She looked back up.

"Let me investigate."

For a moment, Bo-Katan simply stared at him. There were times she wished she could see through beskar. Times she wanted to know what lay hidden behind that helmet.

This was one of them.

"You said you were planning to take some time off," she said.

"I was." Din rested a hand lightly on Grogu's shoulder. "And for his sake... the future of this world matters to me."

The corner of Bo-Katan's mouth softened into a small smile. She felt a flicker of guilt for accepting his help. Din had a habit of offering more of himself than anyone had the right to ask.

Still — having him remain on Mandalore for a little longer would be a comfort she couldn't deny herself.

◆　◆　◆

When they returned to the reception hall, the initial examination by the droids had been completed.

A low murmur spread through the room as Bo-Katan addressed the delegation.

"Fortunately, no one was injured." She folded her hands behind her back. "Our forensic droids are examining the debris for trace materials — fibers, fragments, anything that might identify the source of the explosive. If any of you know something that could assist the investigation, now would be the time to tell us."

The inspectors exchanged uneasy glances. "We don't know everything that was loaded aboard the shuttle."

Bo-Katan regarded them coolly. "It was your vessel. Surely you're familiar with its cargo manifest."

"Only our personal belongings," one of them replied defensively. "The rest was handled elsewhere."

"I see." She nodded once. "Until we know more, I'm afraid I can't allow anyone to leave. The droids should have preliminary findings by tomorrow. Until then, accommodations have been prepared for you." Her expression never changed. "I must ask that you remain on Mandalore."

The inspectors continued protesting, demanding permission to contact the New Republic.

Leaning against the wall, Din watched them in silence. None of these officials had any personal history with Bo-Katan. The New Republic already struggled to govern the worlds under its own jurisdiction. There was little to gain from provoking Mandalore by bringing violence to its capital.

If that was true, then what was the attack really meant to accomplish?

◆　◆　◆

He returned alone to the spaceport.

Droids moved tirelessly through the blast site, scanning debris and cataloging every fragment they could recover. Weaving between them, Din made his way to the stacks of cargo that had already been unloaded from the shuttle.

After the explosion, every remaining container had been scanned for hazardous materials. Nothing. No explosives. No weapons. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Before approaching the cargo himself, Din instructed Grogu to stay well back. The child chirped in reluctant agreement.

Din crouched beside the nearest container and pulled up the cargo manifest on a nearby datapad. Personal luggage. Food supplies. Fuel cells. Nothing seemed unusual.

Next, he compared the manifest against the number of cargo containers listed aboard the shuttle.

He read the number twice.

The numbers matched perfectly.

That shouldn't have been possible. One container had exploded. The inventory should have been short by one.

Unless...

The destroyed container had never been part of the shipment in the first place. Someone had brought it aboard later.

◆　◆　◆

By the time Din returned to the council building, the inspectors and council members had already dispersed.

He made his way back to Bo-Katan's office. She was standing by the window, staring at nothing in particular. Her expression was troubled.

"I've been thinking about something," she said before he had a chance to speak. "The rumor." She folded her arms. "It spread too quickly. And it was... unusually precise. It almost feels as though everyone received the exact same report at the exact same time."

"So someone deliberately started it," Din said. "And it may be connected to today's bombing."

"Maybe." She let out a quiet breath. "I don't know yet."

He stepped closer. "Whoever's behind this — they may be trying to remove you from power."

Bo-Katan met his gaze.

"Be careful."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

"...Thank you," she said softly.

◆　◆　◆

Leaving her there didn't sit well with him. But her advisors were close at hand, and there was little more he could do tonight.

So Din returned to the guest lodgings with Grogu.

As always, Grogu ate first. Din would wait until the child had fallen asleep before removing his helmet and having his own meal.

The bed was already Grogu's favorite place on the planet. Within minutes, the child was asleep, his breathing slow and peaceful.

Only then did Din finally remove his helmet.

Standing by the window, he looked out across the city. The droids would be working through the night at the spaceport.

He wondered whether Bo-Katan had managed to get any rest at all.

He doubted it.

The thought lingered longer than he expected.

Then —

The door chime sounded.

Every instinct sharpened at once.

Careful not to wake Grogu, Din slipped his helmet back on and rested one hand on the blaster at his hip as he approached the door.

He checked the viewer.

The figure standing in the corridor froze him where he stood. He hadn't moved. Hadn't breathed.

It was the very person he'd been thinking about.

✦ ───────────── ✦

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Chapter 1: The Rumor

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A month had passed since the Razor Crest last returned to Mandalore.

By Din Djarin's standards, that was hardly any time at all.

Most of his days were spent moving between New Republic outposts, his home on Nevarro, and whatever bounty contracts came his way. Mandalore had never been part of that routine.

Yet lately, he kept coming back.

Even he couldn't quite explain why.

"We're almost there."

Grogu looked up from Din's lap with a delighted chirp, his ears perking as the familiar scarred world filled the cockpit canopy — grey and broken, but slowly, unmistakably coming back to life. Grogu loved this place.

The Razor Crest settled onto the landing platform with a low groan of straining engines.

As always, Din's first stop was Bo-Katan Kryze.

Mandalore remained a world under reconstruction. The scars of the Purge still stretched across its cities, broken skylines interrupted by towering cranes and half-finished buildings. The old council chambers had been rebuilt, though they bore little resemblance to the ones that had stood before the war. If Bo-Katan wasn't inspecting construction somewhere in the capital, she would almost certainly be there.

Grogu climbed onto Din's shoulder as they entered the council building.

The corridors buzzed with officials, engineers, and guards moving briskly from one meeting to the next. Conversations faltered as they passed.

People stared.

Din was used to that. Grogu attracted curious looks wherever they went.

But these weren't the usual smiles or puzzled glances.

Their eyes lingered.

Curiosity was there, certainly—but so was something colder.

Disapproval.

A knot of unease settled beneath Din's beskar.

Ahead, Koska Reeves rounded the corner.

She had never made much effort to hide her opinion of him, and today was no exception. The moment their eyes met, her expression hardened.

She said nothing.

She merely watched him pass with a look sharp enough to cut through beskar before continuing on her way.

By the time Din reached Bo-Katan's office, his confusion had only deepened.

He raised a fist and knocked.

"Back already?" Bo-Katan said, looking up from the datapad on her desk. A faint smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Or perhaps it hasn't been that long after all."

She looked much as she always did—composed, self-assured, entirely at ease behind her desk. Tilting her head in greeting, she motioned for him to come in.

Grogu wasted no time. With an excited chirp, he launched himself from Din's shoulder onto her lap.

Bo-Katan caught him without so much as looking surprised. She only smiled, absently scratching behind one of his ears as if he'd done this a hundred times before.

"Sorry for dropping in unannounced," Din said. "I happened to be nearby."

"I don't mind." Her fingers continued to stroke Grogu's head. "Though your timing could have been better."

Something in her voice made Din pause.

The words were calm enough, but there was a glint in her green eyes that hadn't been there a moment ago—a spark of amusement... and unmistakable provocation.

"What happened?"

"To be more precise," she said, "you're the one who's happened."

Din frowned behind his helmet.

"The capital has been buzzing with a rather entertaining rumor."

"...About me?"

"About you and me."

She let the silence hang for a heartbeat before continuing.

"Before you left last time, you renewed your oath of allegiance."

Din nodded.

"You knelt before me."

Another nod.

"Apparently," she said with the faintest hint of a smirk, "someone mistook that for a marriage proposal."

For a moment, Din forgot how to breathe.

A proposal.

Of all the things he had expected to hear, that had never crossed his mind.

"As you know," Bo-Katan went on, "Mandalorians have always had a talent for politics."

Her tone carried the dry irony he had long since come to recognize.

"And rumors travel much faster than facts."

Mandalore was still rebuilding—not only its cities, but its government.

After the Purge, there had been too few survivors to restore the old political order. The provisional government now relied, however reluctantly, on advisors and officials sent by the New Republic. Every decision was delicate. Every alliance was scrutinized.

The entire administration was balancing on a knife's edge.

Grogu looked up at Din, tilting his head in innocent confusion, clearly unable to understand why the adults had suddenly fallen so quiet.

"You could simply deny it," Din said at last. "If the words come from you, the rumor won't survive the day."

Bo-Katan gave a small, knowing smile.

"Perhaps."

She let the word linger.

"But it isn't that simple."

"Why?" Din asked. "Because whoever marries you is expected to have the right political standing?"

A quiet laugh escaped her.

"No."

She shook her head.

"Everyone already knows you're one of the Children of the Watch. They also know many people still haven't let go of their prejudice against them."

Her expression grew more thoughtful.

"If I acknowledge any close ties to the Watch, it will provoke one side. If I deny them too strongly, it will provoke the other."

She gave a faint shrug.

"Either way, someone will see it as a political statement."

Din released a long sigh through the vocoder.

Politics.

He had never understood how people could turn something as simple as a rumor into a weapon.

The whole situation felt like an unnecessary headache.

Still... the last thing he wanted was to make life more difficult for the woman sitting across from him.

"What can I do?"

Bo-Katan rested her chin against one hand, studying him for a moment before answering.

"There may be something."

"I'm listening."

"A delegation from the New Republic is arriving tomorrow."

She reached for a datapad, though her eyes never quite left him.

"They're here to inspect the reconstruction effort. Since you've worked with the New Republic fleet before, your presence would be... politically convenient."

She offered the faintest smile.

"But I know you didn't come here for that. If you'd rather leave, I won't ask."

Din considered it for all of a second.

"...I'll stay."

One of Bo-Katan's brows lifted.

"That was a quick decision."

"I just finished a long contract," he replied. "I was planning to take some time off anyway."

A pause.

"Stopping here was part of that."

For the first time since he'd entered the room, Bo-Katan's smile became genuine.

"Then you'd be doing me a great service."

Bo-Katan lowered her gaze to the datapad in front of her, signaling that the conversation was over.

Din inclined his head and turned to leave.

He kept his stride steady.

His breathing even.

Outwardly, there was nothing to betray him.

Inside was another matter entirely.

A proposal.

The word refused to leave him alone.

He had never truly thought of Bo-Katan Kryze in a romantic light.

She belonged to no creed that required a helmet, and unlike most of the people he had grown up among, her face had never been a mystery. He had seen the sharp lines of her features, the way her auburn hair caught the light, the quiet confidence with which she carried herself. He had always known she was beautiful.

But beauty had never been what drew him to her.

It was her resolve.

Her unwavering determination to reclaim Mandalore.

The way she never allowed herself to bend, even when the galaxy seemed determined to break her.

That admiration had never crossed into something else.

Or so he had believed.

Yet hearing his own name spoken as the man who might stand beside her...

And realizing she had no intention of denying the rumor outright...

Left him feeling strangely untethered, as though gravity itself had quietly slipped away.

"For now," Bo-Katan had said before he left, "we'll neither deny it nor confirm it. There's no reason to provoke either side."

Din still wasn't convinced it was the right decision.

But he had nodded all the same.

◆　◆　◆

Thanks to Bo-Katan's arrangements, he and Grogu were given a room in one of Mandalore's temporary guest lodgings.

The building was plain, more like an apartment block than an inn. Eventually, it was meant to become a proper hotel, once reconstruction reached this district.

After giving his name to the receptionist droid, Din was directed to a room on the third floor.

The access code unlocked a space larger than he had expected.

There was a small kitchenette along one wall, and a bed wide enough that even he could stretch out comfortably.

Grogu immediately claimed it.

The child could sleep almost anywhere, but solid ground still seemed to be a novelty after weeks aboard the Razor Crest. He bounced happily across the mattress, laughing to himself.

"Easy," Din said automatically.

Grogu ignored him.

Ordinarily, Din would have insisted.

Tonight, he didn't have the energy.

One by one, he removed each piece of beskar armor, setting it carefully on the desk beside the bed.

Only when the last piece had been laid aside did he allow himself to sink onto the mattress.

The room fell quiet.

But no matter how exhausted he was...

One thought kept circling back.

A proposal.

✦ ───────────── ✦