mando

her tongue stroking his finger elicited a soft groan from the bounty hunter, pulling his finger from her mouth and replacing it with his lips. he ran his fingers through her dark hair as he kissed her, hands slowly traveling from her long locks to her bare chest. he massaged her breasts, suppressing soft moans between kisses. 

the sound of her name made mando grin. it was different. much more gentle than the new persona she’d adopted. he caught her finger as she ran her hands along his face, nibbling at it playfully before gently guiding her towards the bed. he would not kiss her, not yet. he cautiously placed her saber on the nightstand, heeding her warning of violence if he were to try anything. 

rosaline nodded slowly, readjusting the child in her arms as she began drifting off into her thoughts of where they could potentially go. she did not much drift outside the palace as well, and given the amount of stormtroopers they had just escaped from, it was probably wise to keep it that way. plus, she was more than certain he had not seen most of her palace; most people were not permitted, but especially a mandalorian.

“if you would like, i could show you more of the palace. it is safe here, and the child could roam freely,” she offered, though she was sure she would not be letting go of the infant anytime soon. already she had fallen in love with him. she gently tugged the lock of her hair out of the child’s grasp and replaced it with a flower for him to play with instead, chuckling as she did so. she moved forward to give him back to the mandalorian, knowing he could better hold onto him as they traversed the grounds, but looked up at his helmet again once they were within a close proximity. it was clear they were both fascinated by each other, but rosaline was more curious about his own background.

she smiled warmly then asked, “might i know your name?” she knew of the secrecy behind mandalorian culture and doubted she would receive much information, but just had to try. perhaps it would make him more comfortable to know exactly who she was. she curtsied briefly before him, eyes not tearing from his, then greeted herself. “my name is rosaline durante. i am… the queen of naboo. this palace is mine.” it was a lot to take in, surely, so she just smiled kindly again and offered her arm to him. “if you would do me the honor, i would love to show you more of it.”

his eyes widened within his visor as the child in his arms continued to play with the flower. “oh, i see.” mando managed, his voice unsteady. he had no idea the woman he had his arm around was the ruler of an entire kingdom. would he have to kill some angry guards for touching their queen? 

The authority with which he ordered her around caused Morrigan to laugh softly, tilting back from his helmet, her lips teasing his helmet as she did so. She relished in the feel of his hand on her hip, and it took everything in her not to whine when he released her.

Huffing playfully, Morrigan took her sweet time crossing the room over to her bedside. “You know, it’s awfully presumptuous of you to give orders. Nobody said you were the one in charge here.” she chuckled, taking the scarf and weighing it in her hands.

Turning to face him, she strode confidently up to him and held out the scarf to him. “Put it on me. I want you to make it as tight as you want.” she whispered, though there was no hint of suggestion here. This was her command, as though he was the lucky one for getting to do this.

“Out of curiosity…” she pondered aloud, her eyes searching into his visor, “Are we going to use our real names here? It’s fine if not, I just…I’m not exactly quiet. I didn’t know if you’d want me just saying some variation of Mandalorian or…?”

When was the last time Morrigan had been to bed with anyone? She honestly couldn’t find an answer. It had been so long and the fact that someone immediately didn’t come to mind caused her entire body to be even more willing to succumb. Normally, she wouldn’t let a man lay a hand on her in a way that wouldn’t give her the upper hand. Yet, the audible gasp that came from his hand encasing the one of her that was pressed to his helmet and his arm around her waist was not a gasp of shock, but of delight. She pressed her face closer into his mask when he finally spoke again.

Of course. She’d entirely forgotten that she wouldn’t be able to see his face. The room would be dark, sure, but too much of the lights of Theed would flow in. Morrigan didn’t trust herself to be able to keep her eyes closed, either; she’d been starved for far too long.

She hadn’t even realized he’d asked her a question until he insisted on an answer. Then, something clicked in her brain. “Of course…Sorry, I was trying to figure out what to do in that regards. I…I don’t trust myself to keep my eyes closed, so…There’s a scarf, on my nightstand. That should provide enough coverage…over my eyes.”

There she was, willing to make herself completely vulnerable. Sure, she could tap into the Force if need be, but she didn’t want to. She wanted to trust this man, even if it was only for tonight.

mando suppressed a chuckle, letting go of her wrist. he tilted his head towards her face, the cool metal pressing against her forehead. “you have two minutes to put that on.” he whispered, the hand on her waist dropping to grab at her hip. he took in a deep breath, before releasing his grip. “get to it.” he smirked.

Morrigan was ashamed of just how much her breath hitched in her throat when the Mandalorian came forward, his hands reaching her shoulders. His calloused fingers felt like heaven as he touched her lips, her neck and settling on her hair. It took everything in her not to nip at his fingers, but to stay still and marinate in the sensation of him and his attention. They were on the precipice of pleasure, she just had to say the word.

Taking a free hand, she moved it to the side of his helmet affectionately, the cool metal feeling almost divine against her warm palm. His question sent her heart racing, her eyes half-lidded in desire. She was absolutely okay with this. With all that had happened, she needed some sort of release. “Yes…Are you?” she asked breathlessly, her voice barely above a whisper as she used the Force to close the door behind him. The game was afoot. It had begun.

the mandalorian managed a single nod, hearing the door shut behind them. he had not been intimate with anyone since he had vowed to don the mandalorian helmet; and even then it was a clumsy, drunken moment with a fellow trainee the night before they pledged the creed. he was din djarin then, but that part of him had died, ceased to exist the moment he joined the tribe. 

“i would quite like that, actually,” she agreed, nodding her head. it was so rare that she was able to get out of the palace, and even then she was usually confined to exploring the palace plaza. but truly getting to witness her planet, with all its wondrous sights, would be such a dream. “the two of you would be the best companions i could imagine,” she laughed softly, moving forward again to take the little one into her arms after getting a wordless approval from the mandalorian. she cuddled him gently and brushed a flower petal off his ear, unable to keep the smile off her face. not just due to the child, but also due to the one watching over him.

rosaline had not dated a boy since her primary school years, when she was thirteen or so. training for her royal duties forbid it. even now she was forbidden to form any such relationships, but… something about this man, the way he protected both her and the child while also caring so deeply about the little foundling, made her heart swell. but he was a mandalorian; he probably had far more restrictions on personal relationships than she did. so she attempted to push away any thought of attraction instantly out of her mind.

“where shall we go?” she asked, not yet wanting to return to her duties, especially while she had time. free time was very valued, and she knew it would be rare now that people seemed to be coming back to life now. she readjusted the child in her arms, who now had finished the fruit and found interest in playing with a curl of her waist-length blonde hair. which rosaline found quite adorable, really. “have you had a chance to explore naboo much?”

a sense of relief washed over the mandalorian, his body no longer tense. the noblewoman’s kindness was refreshing; a stark contrast to those who would glare or run from him in fear. the child cooed contentedly as she stroked his ear, lifting its hands up as it wished to be carried.

mando looked at her again, eyes trying to focus on her words instead of her pretty features. “we stay in the confines of the palace. it’s safe for the child.” he nodded, “we go out to the town square sometimes, when the child needs food or fresh air.” he had been so preoccupied with the child that he had not been able to get answers on the circumstances that brought them here. sure, naboo was beautiful, but every day he spent there was a day lost from his goal to reunite the child with its kind. 

jaycha had finally been able to take a break from her storm trooper duties per the general’s request especially due to the fact that they were still sulking over losing the war and it was no surprise to find the young woman in the tavern, eating one of her favorite meals of the day. she couldn’t help but smile as the young creature poked her side.

“why, hello there, little one.” jaycha spoke to the young green creature as she pet his head, a small grin appearing on her rose colored lips. “is he yours?” she asked the man in the helmet as she was quick to glance over at him. “it’s alright, he’s a cute one.”

it wasn’t exactly easy to explain to him how she knew of the child’s force sensitivity, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to explain just yet either. after all, he was a mandalorian, and rey had not eased up on her suspicion towards him. she frowned and began to move forward when he enclosed the baby in the bassinet, but stopped in place directly before the man as she was addressed again. her blood ran cold; she’d certainly held similar thoughts such as that her whole life. after gazing aside sorrowfully for a moment, rey cleared her throat and looked up into his helmet again. “how do i know you aren’t trying to hurt him?” she muttered, quickly moving to stand between him and the bassinet as she grasped her lightsaber with her hand again. “i should take him from you right now.”

The silence between the two of them was deafeaning. Morrigan was on pins and needles, itching to get back as quickly as possible. She wouldn’t dare wake the little one, but she couldn’t help herself. Her stomach was fluttering to life each time she stole a glance in his direction. She’d forgotten how much fun something like this could be.

She gave him a wordless smile as she watched him put the baby down, leaning against the doorframe. Curious to see his next mood, she arched a brow as he tugged on her robes, amused at the subtle boldness of the gesture. She complied and walked with him to her room, not saying a word, mostly due to being unsure what to say. The tension seemed to mount as they reached her room, and she brushed past the Mandalorian as she reached her door.

“This is me,” she started, signalling to the door before continuing, “Thank you…for tonight. I haven’t had a nice conversation like that in a long time. That Child is in excellent care. He’s lucky.” She wasn’t sure what to say or how to proceed, but she just couldn’t say goodbye. Not yet. This game was too much fun, and she eagerly awaited his next move, back to the door, hands clasped in front of her stomach.

the mandalorian hesitated, eyeing the girl in the dark robes. he didn’t know whether to step out the room and close the door, or to stay and give in to his carnal instincts that he has long suppressed. he stood still, watching her fold her hands over her stomach. his eyes traced her body, his heart beating faster. he didn’t dare speak. 

“I think it’s safe to say that most religions in this galaxy seem to revolve around weapons…” she teased gently, though the comment about his mask intrigued her. “I wore a mask…in my past life. I suppose we ran in the same circles, doing the same business. I rarely took my mask off, but now that I’m here…Well, there’s no use for it anymore.” She took off her mask far more than was technically allowed for the Knights, but she hated wearing it. It was stifling and she found that she was able to do more if people could see her face. She hated being cryptic with him, but she was disinclined to trust anyone right now.

His fingers around hers awakened something in her, though. Low in her stomach, a flame seemed to ignite, his touch seeming to stoke the flame. Her eyes lingered on his knuckles, wanting to kiss them in a gesture of kindness. She hadn’t been acquainted with such feelings before now; it was attraction, sure, but there was something deeper there than with anyone else. It was understanding. The more she thought about it, and in listening to him talk, she realized that they were very much alike. They had both killed in the name of causes. His was far more noble than hers, but something about him suggested that his kills weren’t always the most noble.

The Mandalorian’s devotion to the child elicited a hint of a smile from Morrigan, though her lips remained pursed. “Is there a cause more noble than protecting those you love?” she asked, her gaze uncharacteristically soft as she met his. She didn’t expect an answer, she just wanted to convey that she understood. It hadn’t mattered what he’d done. They were both guilty as sin.

His invitation to escort her back to her quarters was met with a smile and a reply seeping with an unspoken invitation. “I think that’s an excellent idea. Shall we?” she asked, standing up, her thumb grazing his knuckles once more before releasing her grasp. She’d hoped she hadn’t been reading him wrong, and if she was right…Something was finally about to go right for her.

the walk to the palace seemed like an eternity. the mandalorian tread carefully, the infant asleep in his arms, wrapped in a blanket. he kept his eyes on morrigan, making sure nobody would give her trouble. not that she needed it, she could probably beat him in a sparring match should they go toe to toe. 

Her gaze flickered back to their hands for far longer than she should have. Perhaps it was her drink, or her exhaustion, or some combination of the two, but it didn’t bother her. He was the first person who didn’t flinch around her in several years. His lack of effort to dissuade the contact suggested he didn’t mind either.

Her eyes, now fully returned to their usual honeyed color, went back to him when he spoke again. “The Way? What does that mean?” she questioned, hoping that she wouldn’t offend. Only having heard of Mandalorians  in legends and lore, it hadn’t occurred to her that there might be an entire religion that their people adhere to. She admonished herself for not looking into it while she still had the resources as a young one.

When his helmet raised to gaze back at her once more, something about the way he was looking at her sent shockwaves through her body. His words didn’t help, as they rendered her completely speechless. He was a bounty hunter, sure, but he couldn’t say that to her. Well, say it and truly mean it anyways. Still, it was the sentiment of it that mattered, and it turned her cheeks as red as the saber on her hip.

“Thank you. That…means a lot.” It did, far more than she ever say. “The feeling is mutual. If the legends are true, I’m sure your hands aren’t clean either. With that being said, the little one is very lucky to have you as a father. I can tell he cares deeply for you.” She needed something to take his attention away from her rosy cheeks and the fact that she couldn’t stop biting her lip. Morrigan hadn’t removed her hands from his and honestly? She had no intention to.

mando leaned in, a soft grin hiding behind his helmet. “the way of the mandalore. a creed i took when i was of age.” he explained. “weapons are our religion, we may never reveal our faces.” his smile slowly faded, looking at his hand in hers. it was probably the only piece of skin he could reveal to anyone. he gripped her hand, his scarred knuckles and calloused fingers wrapped around hers. 

the bounty hunter took a deep sigh, looking to the child and then back at her. “no, i’m not clean, i’ve killed.” he nodded, “i will kill and continue to kill for the sake of this child.” he admitted, eyes scanning her face for a reaction. 

What nerves had abated in her conversation immediately lit up with concern at the Mando’s question. “Yes, I was born with them. I am a conduit for the Force, which is the energy field that is created by all living things. There are those of us who are sensitive to it and go on to do great and horrible things with it.” she explained, trying her best to stay as calm as possible. Had he never encountered a Force-sensitive person before?

His explanation of the child expressing abilities caused her heart to skip a beat, then sink like a stone in a pond. She knew what she had to do. The child couldn’t stay with her, not if he was truly Force sensitive. It needed a teacher and that was something she could not be, not now or ever. She knew who would be right for him, though. Perhaps it would provide her some closure, some new purpose. Well, so long as she didn’t eviscerate him as she did her.

Her conflict at the right thing to do was settled as soon as he put his hand atop hers. His touch felt cool, no doubt because of the gloves. It almost surprised her how delicate the contact was from such masculine hands. Eyes flickering to their hands for a moment, her mind was made up. She knew what she had to do.

“He is indeed Force-sensitive and yes, that is no doubt why you are being hunted. Fortunately for you, you ended up here, no doubt throwing your pursuers for a loop. Furthermore, you happen to be in the same place as the greatest source of the Light Side of the Force the galaxy has ever seen.”

Turning her hand over under his, Morrigan ran her thumb gently over his knuckles, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. “I will lead you to the ship where she resides. There, you can make your case and explain. She is in mourning, however, so I advise you to be as delicate as possible. I assure you, she is the best possible future for this child.”

the feel of her fingers against his skin made him lose all cognisance of time. blood rushed to his cheeks as he watched her fingers stroke his scarred knuckles. he nodded wordlessly, glad that he could hide from the safety of his helmet. he had no idea what kind of power she possessed or what kind of destruction she was capable of, but he surprisingly didn’t care. 

for what seemed like an eternity, mando finally spoke. “i must return this child to his own kind, until then i am his father.” he said absentmindedly fiddling with his mudhorn crest. “this is the way.” 

”oh!” rosaline gasped in surprise as she felt an armored arm come around her shoulders. no one ever dared to touch her, since her guards would normally be instantly on anyone who tried. but here it was just her, and as she realized it was the mandalorian who was attempting to aide her, she became suddenly grateful for his help. in fact, she let out a slow, soft exhale when his hand tightened on her shoulder, and she stared up into his helmet, where she assumed his eyes were for a few moments before finally nodding. “this way.”he was right; the stormtroopers purposefully averted their gazes upon sight of the mandalorian, allowing them to escape the area swiftly. she led him towards the palace, but down a side route that instead led to her private gardens. once they were inside deep enough to a small courtyard with a fountain where no one would see them, rosaline slowed them to a stop, letting out a breath of relief. “…thank you, sir… i shall reimburse you for your services,” she promised, smiling kindly. however, she glanced around at both the gardens and the palace, realizing he would have questions. “this is… my home.”

mando slowly dropped his hand off her shoulder, heat rushing to his covered face. it had been so long since he actually touched someone without the intention of killing them. “no, i dont need anything in return.” he said silently, looking around the lush garden. he began to put two and two together. beautiful girl, elegant accent, the desire to remain hidden... was this a member of the court? mando took a step back, looking into her eyes, knowing she couldn’t see the nervousness on his face. “sorry if i was a little rough back there, i didn’t know you were a noble of some kind.” 

looking back at the palace, he let out a soft sigh. “if you feel the need to escape these walls, i can escort you.” he offered. “i can keep you safe, or at least keep prying eyes away.” he looked back at her, the child in his arms still noisily chomping on shuura fruit. “the kid seems to like you too.” 

when she feels a hand on her robes, she turns in interest. her lips pull up in a large grin at the sight of the child. satine looked up at the child’s father (or so she assumed), and she gave him an equally bright grin.

“it’s not a problem at all. the little one is precious. might i know their name?” she shifts to sit across from the mandalorian, gently offering her hand to the child. she was comfortable with men in mandalorian armor. she was mandalorian, after all.

“su cuy'gar, ad'ika,” she coos at the child.

the mandalorian smiled, nudging the child towards them. “go on, say you’re sorry for bothering them.” he urged, as the child took a tentative step towards the stranger. “he doesn’t have a name, he’s a foundling. i am his guardian until we find those of his kind.” he explained. “this is the way.”

Morrigan blinked blankly for a moment, taking her drink from the tavern keeper as she kept her eyes on him. She could feel his eyes appraising her, yet it was his words that caught her off guard. Was that…a compliment? From a Mandalorian? “Thanks…” was all she could muster, her eyes going to her drink as she took a sip, the coolness of the ice working wonders on her now flushed cheeks.

She heard him mutter something similar that had left most everyone’s lips about their situation, though her eyes were fully trained on the child as the broth bowl was laid in front of him. Even with the Mandalorian’s warning,  Morrigan used the Force to remove a couple of ice cubes out of her drink and place them in the broth bowl. Smiling a little, she redirected her attention back to the bounty hunter.

“I am. I, too, also just woke up here. Like many, I’m supposed to be deceased, yet instead of death, I was greeted with all of this.” she motioned to the room with a vague gesture, flecks of just how troubled she was glinting in her eyes.

“Morrigan.” she replied to his query, unsure as to his intentions. Considering everyone was in the same spot she’d decided, she didn’t think he bore any ill will.

the bounty hunter’s eyes widened, trying his best to remain calm. he took a deep breath, steadying himself. “morrigan, were you born with that ability?” he asked. his eyes drifting to that of the child’s. was he one of them? he set the child on the stool next to him as it sipped its soup nonchalantly. 

“this kid... he has abilities too. he can’t control it yet, but i think that’s why people are after him.” he admitted, exhaling sharply. “we were on the run from them on my ship and the next thing we knew, we woke up here.” 

A soft smirk found its way to Morrigan’s features, the youngling’s antics chipping away at the black heart that beat feverishly under her chest. Something in her heart panged at the sight, particularly when the child looked back up at her with those wide eyes. He was absolutely the most precious thing she’d ever seen, made all the more fascinating by the man who held it. What was a Mandalorian doing with such a small child?

Her train of thought was halted when he spoke, credits clacking on the table between them. She could feel him staring at her, studying her, yet she wasn’t afraid. It wasn’t the sort of gazes she was used to by those who were looking to kill or use her. This was something else entirely, like he was merely trying to figure her out. It was rather refreshing in light of recent events. It didn’t matter who she was or what she’d done. He’d probably done the same. She nodded her thanks before her eyes sparkled with amusement at his observation.

“I could say the same about you.” she replied in kind, her gaze even as she searched into the darkness of his mask, knowing she’d find nothing, but still searching all the same. “But is it that obvious? I mean, I know I’m in all black, but I feel as though if I were to change my hair and slip into something more floral, I could fit right in.” she teased lightly, motioning to her black robed dress. “Everything here is so beautiful, but in an organic way that I’ve never seen before. It’s so lush, so soothing. It’s a wonder anybody would ever want to leave.”

the mandalorian’s eyes traveled down her body, observing her dark hair and black robes. “well whatever you choose to wear, it’ll suit you.” he nodded, stroking the child’s large ears. watching the woman speak of the planet with such awe made him smile. it was beautiful here, the perfect place to settle down. but not for him; not since he uttered the creed. 

“so you’re staying at the palace with everyone else that woke up here, huh?” he said leaning over the table. “funny, never saw you around.” a girl like that, he would have remembered her. the tavern keeper came round with a cup of bone broth setting it down on the table. the mandalorian took it in his hands, feeling the heat on his fingers. “okay, now be careful. it’s hot.” he said, handing it to the infant. “i can’t blow on it for you, so you have to do it yourself.”