#sometimes i write

tagging a few people @inell @moonlightbuck @prince-luffy @thirdwheelravi @buick118 @redrosydiaz

You and Bucky probably had the weirdest relationship of anyone you knew. Over the decades you had been together you had been separated by war accidents, evil organizations and helful allies, only to find a different version of Bucky each time your paths crossed once more.

Now, the most recent time of seeing Bucky again almost gave you whiplash as a wave of nostalgia hit you.

His hair was cut and styled short and he sported a gorgeous new arm. He didn't look like the tortured soul that came and took you to Romania but resembled his old boyish self once more.

He was Sergeant Barnes again.

Bucky still hesitated to touch you, his mind telling him he needed to make sure you hadn't stopped feeling for him romantically before he'd make a fool of himself.

Once he stepped into your apartment, though, that fear left him entirely.

On the wall sat a vintage Captain America propaganda poster that Steve himself signed. Next to it a small toy shield signed by Sam. A huge bookcase ran along the remainder of the wall and wherever he looked he saw memories.

Far off in the corner of his eye he spotted a familiar teddybear, now worn and clearly loved.

But what really caught his eye was all the different items of his she had scattered throughout the cabinet.

Books about the Howling Commandos, a small portrait picture he knew she had kept on her person during the war and even a little action figure of him and Steve stood ready for battle beside and old group photo.

Even--

..even his Winter Soldier mask sat proudly in a square along with a HYDRA file labeled with his name, and that small red book.

"Why did you keep this?" His voice was soft, his eyes focused on the items that represented his worst side, displayed so proudly in the open.

"Well, it shows I love all versions of you, even the one everyone else disliked." The way you said it so casually caught him off guard.

"But if you don't like having it here I can always put it in my nightstand.." You liked how that made a blush creep up his face. "I know you liked it last time you wore it around me."

You let out a full blown laugh at Bucky clearly remembering the events you mentioned. He picked up the item and turned it in his hand, inspecting all the intricate details on it.

Part of him was excited you loved the assassin and didn't cast him away or tried to pretend he didn't exsist, but part of him also felt extremely uncomfortable being around items that reminded him of a part of him he had tried to forget.

"If you put it on I'll sit on your face." You passed the ex-assassin with a wink as you stepped towards the hall connecting the livingroom to your bedroom, keeping him in your view as he stood, frozen and almost dropping the mask in shock.

By the time you reached the bedroom door he still hadn't moved. "Oh, Sergeant?"

"Y.. yes, peach." He quickly slipped past you into the room and sat down on the edge, mask still in hand.

Standing in front of him you toed off your shoes, crossing your arms as your eyes glanced at the mask for a second, signaling you were waiting.

You watched trembling hands lift the item to his face, his eyes focused on it as fear glinted in the blues.

"Hey, look at me." Your voice was soft and got his attention immediately. His eyes quickly lost the fear and clouded with something more primal as he took in your form only clad in simple but tasteful underwear.

A simple "Okay" was all he muttered before the mask went back up to his face and he secured it in place. "Happy now?" His hands moved to take it off again but you moved swiftly to stop him.

"Oh no, baby. I think you misunderstood." You placed his hands on your hips and yours on his shoulders, pushing him back onto the bed.

"I said," Crawling over him you sat yourself down on his chest. "Put on the mask and I'll sit on your face. Don't you want me to sit on your face, Bucky?"

God, you loved how expressive his eyes were. They told you everything you needed to know when his mouth couldn't cooperate with his brain. But you needed him to talk before you moved on, making sure he was still here with you.

"Buck, talk to me please. I need to know that you're okay with this." Your hand came up to rest against his temple and he nodded. "I'm okay. Still breathing."

You took his words in happily, smiling down at him and moving his hands again, motioning for him to take off your remaining clothes.

With you completely bare, Bucky's hands found your ass and kneaded the soft flesh making him hum in pleasure. "So soft.."

With each squeeze you maneuvered yourself further up his body until your core was hovering above his head. Bucky's was breathing hard in anticipation, his fingers drawing lazy circles on your clit to distract himself from the eery feeling of the mask over his face.

"Relax, Buck. Tap out when it becomes too much. Do whatever you want with your hands in the meantime." Your fingers found his hair and gently combed through it as you lowered yourself onto the mask. Your slick already coating the hard material from Bucky's touches.

On your first roll of your hips you felt Bucky's hands twitch beside you, laying against the bed. As you continued to gently move you took his hands and put them on you. One on your chest and one on the plush of your thigh.

"Feels good, Buck.." You sighed as he rolled a nipple between his vibranium fingers and kept pawing at your thigh and ass. He hummed beneath you, inhaling deep to take in your scent through the mask. Your arousal was starting to seep through the slits down the front, the holes making perfect bumps and valleys to pleasure yourself on. Bucky moaned at your scent invading his senses, your slick dtipping down from the slits. Beneath the mask he had his tongue out, lapping at the inside to drink up everything he could get to.

The groan he let out at your taste went straight trough you and you felt the hand on your ass leave you. The sound of him fumbling with his pants caught your ears and it only spurred you on, rutting against the mask with renewed energy. Your tired legs finding new strength to continue riding Bucky's face.

You felt his arm move beside you, peeking back to see him taking his cock in hand and jerking himself off as he squirmed under you. "Taste so good.."

As he jerked himself off to the taste of you, your hips kept rolling. The slits in the mask being perfect ridges for your clit to catch on and help you closer to the edge.

"Hah.. Buck, feels good.." You moaned as he toyed with your nipple, your hand on his vibranium wrist squeezing the metal. Your other hand still rested in his hair, tugging on the short strands with each ridge that caught on your folds. "Getting close.."

While you used Bucky's mask as a saddle, he stroked his cock and played with your tits. Moans and sighs filled the room as you both neared your end. Bucky wordlessly placed his hand on your hip, holding you down as you tugged at his hair, gripping the strands hard as your orgasm washed over you. With a few slow rolls of your hips you came down just as Bucky groaned into the mask, panting as he finished all over his hand and shirt.

With a lazy smile you laid down next to him. "So, how are you feeling about it now?" Next to you Bucky unclipped the mask and turned it in his hands.

"Yeah," he huffed, his smile widening as his gaze turned to you. "I think I can start liking this thing."

Bucky was sure you were still eyeing him, pulling the outside of the mask back to his lips and licking a broad stripe right over the middle, his eyes still focused on you in the process. Only when he noticed you squirming and rubbing your thighs together he stopped and tossed the mask aside.

Greef Karga was exactly what you expected when you were told you’d be meeting a politician. It was hard to believe that anyone had turned the lava fields of Nevarro into a place that someone could actually settle down, but it seemed prosperous and welcoming.

Even though there were no forests, it reminded you of how civilized Yavin 4 felt in comparison to some of the places you had already been around the galaxy. 

Din had sent a transmission with the bare bones of your situation, but Karga didn’t seem to listen much as he detailed it over a drink at the cantina. In fact, Karga had seemed excited at the idea of completing a favor for the Mandalorian.

It reminded you just how much you didn’t know about Din and his past. 

And how much you wanted to know.

You tried to listen as Karga explained the new identity you’d be taking up, safe from the Imperial eye. 

“I’m not looking for a free ride,” you interrupted. “I want to earn my keep.”

“There’s plenty of opportunities to do that here in Nevarro,” Karga assured you. “What skills do you have?”

You cringed. Wanting to fly as under the radar as you had for most of your life had left little in the way of apprenticeship. 

“She’s great with kids,” Din blurted. “Grogu took to her almost instantly.”

“That so?” Karga smiled. “He’s a good judge of character.”

You smiled at the child sitting in between you and Din. He smiled back, showing you all of his toofers.

“I do like children,” you admitted. “That’s what got me into this mess in the first place.”

Karga nodded and put a hand to his chin. “We’ve only just opened the schoolhouse,” he mused. “I think we could easily find a place for you there. I’m wanting to expand to include children who are too young for school, but their parents need to work.”

You shrugged. “That’s kind of what I was doing with Grogu anyway.”

Hearing his name, his ears perked up. “Batu omeh.”

“I could also help with anything you need in your office,” you offered. “I can read Basic and speak Huttese.”

Din’s helmet whipped to you. “You can?”

You shrugged. 

“That could be helpful,” Karga went on, “I’m always overflowed with paperwork. You’ll need a new identity, but that’s easily managed.”

“The Imperials would likely have a description of her,” Din added. 

Karga raised a hand to wave away the concern. “Yes, but let’s be frank, there’s lots of women in the galaxy that could fit your description.” He leaned in and dropped his voice an octave, “none quite so pretty, of course.”

Din tensed next to you. You could feel the tension radiating off of him, but you had to remind yourself that he’d given up all claim to you, just the night before. If Karga called you pretty, was that truly Din’s concern?

You smirked. “Well, I don’t care much for pretty, I care for safe.”

Karga sat back in the booth and sipped at his drink. “I think the paperwork for your new life would be easy enough. And as for the description or any identification, well, that can be handled as well. It would just be a matter of keeping your head down whenever we have stormtroopers.”

“What about any Imperial bounties?” Din asked. His hand was laid gracefully over the table, but you saw the twitch in his fingers. The tension from earlier was still there.

You raised an eyebrow. “Are you worried about them tracing me back to you?”

Karga’s eyebrows flew up as his eyes looked between the two of you. When Din didn’t speak, Karga scoffed. “Surely not, Mando. After all, you said no one had even seen her while she was on the Crest.”

“Just because I don’t see anyone watching doesn’t mean there aren’t eyes out there. And if she’s going to be working in your office… that’s even more eyes.”

You rolled your eyes. “I doubt anyone is going to remember a human girl walking along with a Mandalorian. Like Karga said, I don’t have the most individual description in the galaxy. I’m not the one walking around in beaker armor.”

Karga laughed and pointed a finger at Din. “She’s got ya there, Mando. I think if anyone were going to notice your trio, it would likely be you or the little guy. Besides, the droids handle most everything with bounties. If I even put her in my office, it would be more … shall we say, savory characters that she’d interact with.”

Din huffed but stayed silent. 

“And if they do come looking for her?” Din pressed instead. “You’re the Guild Master. You determine who gets what bounties. How do we know you won’t just turn her in yourself?”

His voice was so full of venom that you jerked your head to look at him. “Stop,” you hissed. “You are the one who said you trusted him.”

The visor never turned to look at you, but you could feel Din’s eyes on you anyway. 

“No,” Karga said your name gently. “He has a point. A lot of the Guild members would turn you over for the right price.” He then leaned in to look into your eyes, “but I am not in the habit of making an enemy of our Mandalorian friend.”

You cut your eyes to Din. You knew a very different side than Karga did, but you had to admit… he’d make a very dangerous enemy.

“And, if I were to see a puck with your picture on it, maybe I lose it,” he held up his hands and smiled that politician's smile.

“I would be grateful,” you replied. 

“Besides,” Karga added. “Running with this one for a few days, I think he might have already taught you a thing or two about handling yourself.” Then he winked.

You blushed, remembering the self-defense session on Endor. 

“She knows how to protect herself,” Din snapped. “I would just rather she didn’t have to.”

You looked down at the holster on your thigh and the blaster within it. You felt confident enough with it to protect yourself, that was true. But if what Karga said was true, you would be more in an office setting and you wouldn’t need to. 

Thinking this a more informal meeting, you took out the brown knee-high boots, thinner brown leggings, and a cream turtleneck tunic that came in a little at the waist to show your curves, but covered your butt. You topped it with a silver necklace and a belt around your waist.

Not exactly receptionist wear, but Nevarro was on its way to being more civilized - your functional clothes would work. 

“I’m in,” you said abruptly. “If you want, I’ll start work in your office and we can see how it pans out. If we don’t love working together, then I can try in the school or cantina or wherever else I’m needed.”

Karga clapped his hands together and smiled. He stood, ordering another round of drinks. Grogu clapped his hands together too, looking between you and Din.

“One condition,” his low modulated voice snapped.

“What’s that?”

“I know you need a marshal,” Din started. “Don’t even think about recruiting her.” He pointed a finger at Karga. “She is not to be in the line of fire here. Are we understood?”

Karga smiled that politician’s smile again. “Absolutely!”

“Well, let’s get you settled in!” Karga declared and outstretched his arms, rising from his seat.

Grogu squealed and held out his arms as well. 

When you and Karga stood, Din remained at the table with Grogu in his hands. You held out your hands to the waiting child and let out a grunt of surprise when Grogu launched himself from Din’s arms to yours.

You knew Din well enough to know he was uncomfortable, just by the tense set of his shoulders. 

Good. This was his doing, after all.

You turned toward the door and heard Karga call, “Mando, are you comin’?”

“Sure,” he replied.

You had to bite your lip to keep from groaning aloud. The last thing you wanted was him infecting the new, clean space that was to be yours. You’d already think of him every time you came to this Cantina, you didn’t want to think of him in your new home either.

But once Karga had given the invitation, you could think of no reason to protest - especially since you were taking every opportunity to hold Grogu closer. 

The home they gave you wasn’t far from the cantina and main markets at all. And it was simple enough, two bedroom spaces, kitchen and living space, closets. Karga had had several of his associates come to clean the home once he’d gotten Din’s transmission, so it was move-in ready.

He explained that a former marshal had lived there and when she’d joined Special Forces, she’d left most of her furniture and things, so you were free to have them. You were grateful, there was little to be done other than move in your bag of outfits Din had bought. 

You made a mental note to pay him back the credits for the clothing.

Din had stood in the living area as you were given the tour. Grogu, of course, explored everything, eventually landing in your arms as you carried him from room to room.

Once you circled back to the living room, Karga told you he’d check in the next day and show you around town and his office. He told Din to check in early before he left.

And then he was gone.

But Din lingered. He was still uncomfortable and you still felt like he deserved it. 

But then he lingered even longer.

Grogu grunted as you held him, clearly picking up on the tension radiating from his father’s body. You sat him down to explore a little more before crossing your arms and turning to where Din stood awkwardly in front of the window. “What?”

“I just wanted to make sure you liked it.”

“Doesn’t really matter if I do or don’t,” you snapped.

He exhaled loud enough you heard it through the modulator. “I suppose not.”

Grogu pulled at your pants leg. You looked down to see him extending you a rock. You sank into a crouch and smiled as you took it from him.

“Oh my gosh, kid. I love this!” 

He cooed and smiled. 

You leaned in and kissed his nose. “I have the perfect place for this.”

You put it up on the mantle of the fireplace, front and center. “Atep!” He exclaimed, reaching up for it. 

You picked him up and held him close to your chest, closing your eyes and inhaling the soft and warm baby scent. You felt Grogu’s hands on your face and he cooed questioningly.

“Take care of him,” you said to Din. “He always has a place here, with me.”

The helmet nodded. “I appreciate that.”

You held him out for Din to take, trying and failing to keep the tears out of your eyes. “I mean it, Din. Don’t take him into something dangerous if you don’t have to. He’s a kid. And you know I’ll keep him safe while you do something dangerous.”

“I know.”

He nodded again and tucked Grogu to his chest. The baby grabbed hold of one of his gloved fingers. 

You wiped away a tear and sniffed. 

Grogu whined, big eyes looking to Din before looking back to you. He reached out a tiny hand and you reached a finger out for him to grasp.

“I’ll miss you, Grogu.”

He whined again and you felt the hot tears run down your cheek as you leaned in to kiss his nose. 

Din reached out to touch your face and paused, as if thinking better of it. You looked up into the visor and sniffed again. You were so close to his chest and you so desperately wanted him to take you into his arms, to tell you that he’d changed his mind.

He wouldn’t, though. Din wasn’t that kind of man. He’d made a decision for the good of his child, and that was it.

Then you watched as he took off his glove and quietly reached back out to caress your face. You couldn’t help the way you leaned into the touch, into his touch. You sighed and the tears began to flow anew. 

You closed your eyes, you knew you wouldn’t be able to hide the want in them.

He pulled away too soon and you wobbled, finding your balance as he pulled away. 

His hand was still bare when it found yours, putting something hard and metal into your hand. You opened your eyes and looked at the ComLink in your palm. 

When you met the gaze of the visor, he pushed your fingers into a fist around the ComLink.

“Why?” Your voice was weak and soft. Broken.

“If you’re ever in trouble, use that and I will come for you.”

You just nodded and looked down into your closed hand. You heard Din put the glove back on and the tread of his heavy boots toward the door of your new home. 

He lingered, just for a moment, just long enough for you to look up.

When you did, his voice was just as broken, just as husky as if he himself were holding back tears.

“I will always come for you, ner dral kar.”

My bright star.

With a swish of his cape, he was gone. 

Two months later.

The carbonite chamber of the Crest held twelve bounties, which, in all honestly, was too many. Din normally only took 3-4 jobs at a time, then he and Grogu would get a nice rest for a week or so before getting the next. He hadn’t meant to go so long without collecting, but whenever he’d asked for more, Karga had kept sending him information.

So he just kept going.

It had been two long months since Din had been in Nevarro.

He hated himself for being a coward.

Karga would have been accommodating for his normal 3 or 4 bodies, he was sure. Karga had even told him that you had offered to take a day or an afternoon whenever Din wanted to come in so that he could carry on his business without the threat of seeing you. 

Karga had even told him that he could’ve flown in by cover of night, dropped off his prizes, collected the credits, and been on his way.

But that would have raised questions. 

Not only for him, he could ignore any questions anyone posed to him, but he knew (through Karga) that you were excelling at your job in the Magistrate’s office. A random day off here and there for no apparent reason would raise questions for you. And there wasn’t a good answer you could give that wouldn’t give up your connection to him.

Which would, of course, raise more questions.

And Din did not want to answer them. 

But with twelve taking up space in the chamber… he had to go to Nevarro. 

With the sheer number of them… it needed to be in the day time. It would be hard for droids alone to handle this quantity.

And quality, too, he knew. Some of these bounties had been particularly rough customers.

No, there needed to be bodies there while the quarries were unloaded.

Meaning daytime.

He’d told Karga he’d be in today, and he hadn’t thought to confirm whether or not Karga would give you the day off or tell you not to come in. 

Dank ferrik. He should have asked. 

The autopilot beeped that they were entering the Nevarrian Atmosphere and Din settled into his seat, taking the controls. He stared at them for a few moments, remembering how he’d taught you to fly his ship. He still didn’t have a good reason why he’d done that.

Other than to feel her so close, his tired conscious screamed at him. 

He was tired.

Not only from the brutal one-after-the-other pace he’d set for the last two months. That was actually more helpful than he’d thought it’d be. He pushed his overworked body and brain for as long as he could stand it, planning and strategizing before executing and terrorizing, then crashing into his bed asleep before his head hit the pillow. 

That way, the job was the only thing he had the capacity to think about. 

Thinking about anything else was too hard.

He tried to time missions and planets so that he didn’t spend long in hyperspace. 

That was when there were no distractions. 

He would set the coordinates into the Navigation and flee out the cockpit door before he could see the stars melting into the waves and tunnels you’d loved. He’d put a cloth over the window in his alcove so he couldn’t see it there either. 

He knew what would happen if he were to sit and stare into the vast expanse of space. He didn’t want to do it again. He wasn’t sure if he could do it again. 

The first and only time Din had sat through and looked at hyperspace in the last two months was the day he’d left you on Nevarro. 

He’d put in the coordinates and sat there, miserable. 

Grogu had cooed at his leg and Din had picked him up. On the way back from your new home to the Crest, he’d tried to explain why you had to remain, but the child didn’t understand and just kept looking back and pointing to the direction of your home. 

They’d sat there in the pilot’s seat while hyperspace tunneled around them, and Din had just held his son while he’d cried and whined for hours before sleep took him. And as Grogu had slept, Din had looked up and around.

The ghost of your hands traced the skin of his chest, his arms, his hands, and his face. He’d laid his head back and stifled his sighs and sobs. 

He’d sat there for hours, wondering if he was doing the right thing. Wondering what you were doing. Wondering if you felt the ache in your chest the same way he felt it in his. 

With every parsec he put between you and him, the ache got louder, bigger, more jagged in its pieces. It would tear him apart if he’d let it.

So not only did he avoid hyperspace, but if he had to travel that way, he made sure he got the hell out of the cockpit as soon as possible.

Nevarro loomed ahead. Once it had been a welcome sight, a respite from the job and a chance to just let the kid be a kid for a little bit.

Now it was simply a reminder of what he had lost.

No. 

What he had denied himself.

He’d done it for good reasons, he knew, and he’d known you knew that too.

Didn’t make it hurt any less.

He prayed to the Maker and the Stars that Karga had had the sense to give you the day off. 

Din didn’t think he could leave Nevarro again. Not if you were staying there. He didn’t know how to leave you again. He could probably manage it if he avoided you.

But if you looked at him like you had whenever he’d caressed your face for the last time…

Din would fold. He would crumble. He would beg and plead and apologize for as long as it took.

Grogu recognized the planet and pointed. “Atu bekam?”

“Yeah, she’s still there, kiddo.”

His brow furrowed. “Metam un pato?”

Din closed his eyes and sighed. “No, I don’t think we’ll get to see her. Next time, okay?”

Grogu grumbled and settled in Din’s lap.

The loading dock was behind the magistrate’s building and it had been cleared for the Razor Crest, so he engaged the landing protocol and set her down neatly. Karga met him outside before the gang plank had even descended. 

He shook his hand and cooed over the baby before inviting Din inside to see his office and discuss his time away.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Din admitted. “Why not just stay in the loading bay?”

Karga shrugged and led the way, chattering on. Ever the politician, Karga carefully avoided the questions that Din knew he was dying to ask. He spoke of the growth of the town, carefully skirting around the topic of you. 

Din had grimaced whenever they walked around every corner, praying he would see you… while simultaneously praying he wouldn’t.

“You sure you don’t want to head into the Cantina?”

“No.” Din’s answer was firm, but he hoped it wasn’t harsh. He didn’t want to tempt fate.

“Well, how about you, big guy?” Karga asked Grogu. “You hungry?”

Grogu squealed and reached out for the Magistrate.

The loading bay was more like a warehouse with jail cells. there were three rows of cells with one large room for record-keeping and droids. There was one desk in front of that room and that was where Din planted himself. 

The first three of his bounties were thawed and off-loaded from the Crest. Their names and fobs were checked and validated before they were booked. There was mouthing from them, the same way they all mouthed that there was some mistake or something, but Din tuned them all out. 

When the door opened, Din expected the droids that were bringing in the next round, so he ignored them and sat leaned back in his chair, feet propped on the desk in front of him. 

Your voice called out into the warehouse. “Karga, why is the Crest here? You didn’t tell me it would be today! Hello? I need to know, is he here?”

Din was up and on his feet in a moment. 

“Karga isn’t here,” he answered, his gloved hands suddenly not knowing what the fuck to do. He settled with holding them in front of his belt.

Smooth.

Your eyes widened at his voice and you stopped, so suddenly he saw your hat and bag jerk with the momentum. 

“Din,” you breathed.

He whispered your name and his fingers twitched, eager to draw you to him.

Dank ferrik, you looked good. You had put on a little weight in the last two months, much needed weight, in Din’s opinion, and he could see the curves through the leggings and tunic. Your hair had grown a little and he saw the complicated braids that he knew meant you’d spent time on it. 

Your eyes though… Stars, you were so beautiful. He had thought about your smile and your eyes every single day since he’d left, and his memories didn’t hold a candle to the actual woman here before him. 

You opened your mouth to say something else and promptly closed it. Your mouth trembled.

Din moved from behind the desk, “What is it?”

He was just in front of you, less than a foot away. He fisted his hands to keep from touching you. He wondered if you could see his body practically vibrating with the need to touch you.

“I - I thought you’d be at the Cantina,” you admitted, brushing a stray lock of hair behind your ear.

He chuckled, but it was bitter. “I thought you would be,” he confessed.

“He didn’t tell me you were coming today,” you whispered. “I - I saw the Crest and…”

Your eyes roved over his form. You took a short step, your body almost touching his, but not quite. Did you notice the new scratches and dents in the armor? Could you see the tension of his shoulders or the way his hands flexed into fists? Surely you could. He felt transparent and exposed before you.

Din stopped breathing when you hesitantly raised your hand. You moved slowly, hand trembling with the effort of going slow, but Din knew it was so he could pull away if he wanted.

He didn’t. 

When your fingertips found the groove in the cheek of the helmet, he shakily exhaled, his eyes closing behind the visor.

Your other hand gripped into the place where the chest plate met the flight suit, just hard enough that Din could feel the grip of each finger. His knees nearly buckled.

“I -” you whispered.

When the door opened, you gasped and your head jerked toward the sound. Din’s eyes flew open and he moved without thinking, grasping both hands and holding them to himself, as if scared you would break the contact. But his eyes searched intently for the threat.

“It’s just the droids.” He looked back down at you.

You nodded and he felt your fingertips dig in to the beskar, pressing it hard to his skin. 

“What were you going to say?”

You blushed and Din could see a few freckles peeking out on your cheeks. Time in the sun of Nevarro had brought a glow to your skin.

“N-Nothing,” you stuttered, looking away from him. 

The droid had a good leash on the bounties, but it had neglected to put any kind of muzzle on them.

“Wow, would you look at that, boys!” One called out. “No wonder the Mandalorian keeps comin’ back to Nevarro, got nothin’ to do with the Guild! Turns out he’s got a sweet piece of ass tucked away!”

Your eyes flashed as you turned, your hand leaving the hard metal of the helmet, and Din nearly groaned with the loss of contact. But his gaze trailed your hand as it found the blaster in its holster. The one he’d given you. You were still wearing it. 

The jagged pieces of his heart softened then. You hadn’t replaced it. 

But the asshole just would not shut the fuck up.

Ruining the moment.

“Should’a killed us all if you wanted her to stay a secret, Mando!” He called out as the droids led him past the desk. “Ass like that is hard to keep quiet!”

Din took a step, vision red with heat and fury, but you beat him to it. 

The blaster was shoved in the folds of the humanoid’s neck. “I don’t need him to make threats for me,” you hissed. “And I know a cold bounty keeps secrets better than a warm one.”

The humanoid’s eyes were large. So were Din’s.

Dank ferrik.

“We understand each other, handsome?” Your voice was dangerous.

He nodded.

It took Din a few moments to remember how to make his arms and legs move. It seemed that most of his blood was pumping south and his skin buzzed with a current of electricity.

He’d never been so turned on in his life.

You pulled the blaster back and smiled at the bounty as the droids led him away. By the time the blaster was back in the holster, Din had found his voice.

“You - uh, you’ve grown fiercer since I’ve been away,” he observed. 

You sat on the edge of the desk and crossed your arms. “Nevarro isn’t as peaceful as Karga makes it out to be. He keeps trying to recruit me as the new marshal.”

“What?”

You rolled your eyes. “I know. He hasn’t outright asked me yet, but he’s been dropping alot of hints.”

Din made a note to talk to Karga again. “That was the one condition I had.”

You observed the line of his bounties. “Got quite a few there.”

He exhaled. “Been avoiding Nevarro.”

“I figured,” you gave him a tight grin. “I’ll -” you stood. “I’ll go, Din. I just wanted to see Grogu.”

A lie. Din knew it was a lie and by the look on your face, you knew it too. You wouldn’t have touched him if you were just interested in seeing the kid. 

His hand reached out to grasp yours. “You don’t have to.”

You sighed and took his hand in both of yours. “Yeah, I do. I doubt your wishes have changed in two months.”

It wasn’t a question. You weren’t giving him the opportunity to tell you he’d changed his mind. He took that as confirmation that he shouldn’t. 

“Grogu’s at the Cantina with Karga,” he offered instead. “I’m sure he’d be happy to see you.”

You nodded. “Thank you. I’ll be quick.”

The door opened once more and you were gone. 

“Stupid bitch,” he heard the humanoid you’d threatened in his cell. 

“Enough,” Din called out. 

There was grumbling, as always, but Din thought he heard “I’ll make her pay,” but he ignored it. He got more credits if the asshole was alive, not dead. 

Hours later, Karga came back with Grogu fast asleep in his arms. The pace he’d set the last two months had been hard on the poor kid, he knew he needed a break as bad as Din himself did. 

As bad as he wanted to, Din couldn’t take that break on Nevarro.

Seeing you had been hard. You looked well-adjusted, and Karga said you’d been doing great work, and Din was glad. But he didn’t know if that made the ache in his heart better or worse. He still couldn’t bring you with him. You were fierce here, that was true, but Din couldn’t bear the distraction.

He thought about Tattooine. That wouldn’t be a bad place for a layover. Peli had enough land for the Crest to sit awhile and he knew there was enough to keep busy while they rested.

Yes, Tattooine would do nicely, he decided.

“You get the credits?” Karga asked, settling into another chair near the desk.

“Yes.”

He nodded. “Do you want the next round of fobs?”

Din shifted in his seat. “Thinking about taking a break,” he admitted. “Last two months have been hard on him.”

Karga looked down at Grogu and Din saw the familiar smile. It was the smile everyone gave Grogu once they truly looked at him. 

“Where will you go? We have plenty to do here —”

“Not here.” Din hated how short and clipped the words were, but he couldn’t help it. He grimaced, knowing Karga couldn’t see it.

Karga nodded with understanding. Din was glad. He wondered what all you had told him about your brief stint with him. Was Karga’s understanding the product of inference or of you pouring out your heart?

“Then where?” The older man asked.

“Tattooine.”

“Oh, that’s right, you have a friend there.”

“Just long enough to give him a break, then we’ll get back to it.”

Karga, careful not to jostle the sleeping child, opened one of the drawers on his desk and pulled out a file. He tossed it across the desk to Din.

“What’s this?” Din asked, taking his feet off the desk and scooting closer so he could view the file.

There was a mugshot clipped to the inside along with several reports like the droids had typed up today on his bounties. Din skimmed through them all, stopping cold when he read AFFILIATIONS: PYKE SYNDICATE. He looked back to the photograph and saw the humanoid he’d turned in today - the one who had spoken to (and been threatened by) you. 

“What. Is. This?” Each word was its own statement.

Karga avoided his eyes. “Spice trade is kicking up. Pyke has made a home on Tattooine, I thought you’d want to know if you were bound there. Those are some of the more familiar faces.”

“This guy,” he pointed to the mugshot, “was brought in today, by me.”

And he had seen you with him, touching him. He had been threatened by you. He wouldn’t forget that, Din knew.

“That’s good.”

“Why didn’t you give me this information sooner?”

Karga shrugged. “You wanted everything virtually. I couldn’t hand over this file and risk the transmission being intercepted. You know that.”

“You should have told me. I could have come in for this.”

“You wouldn’t have,” Karga argued, raising an eyebrow at him. “And you know it.”

Din’s gloved hands made fists. Karga was either ignorant of his rising blood pressure or chose to ignore it.

“I don’t know what happened with you and her —”

“Nothing,” Din spat.

“But I do know you’ve been avoiding her.” Karga stared into his visor. “You need to talk to her.”

“I did.”

“Not what I meant. Talk to her.”

“No.” 

Karga sighed. 

“You said she’s been fine.”

“And she has,” Karga reiterated. “She’s doing well, my office has never run smoother, honestly.”

“That’s good.”

“I wasn’t done,” he said. “Just because she’s been putting herself to work doesn’t mean I don’t see it, Mando.”

“See what?”

Karga gave him a tired smile. “She misses you.”

Din scoffed.

“You don’t see the way her eyes light up when she checks the schedules for drop offs, hoping your name is there. Or how she lingers whenever she knows I’m in with someone from the Guild, hoping it’s you. Or,” he sighed, “the way her face falls when she realizes it’s not you.”

“What did she tell you?”

“I told you, she hasn’t said anything. She doesn’t have to.”

Din took a heavy breath. “She can’t come with me,” he told Karga. “Grogu is my priority, my son. I can’t take on anything that takes away from keeping him safe. That is what’s best for him.”

Karga raised an eyebrow. “Is that what the last two months have been about? Do you think this regimen you’re undertaking is what’s best for him?”

Din glared even though he knew Karga couldn’t see it. “We’re doing our best.”

Karga shrugged and leaned back. “I’m just saying. You don’t have to torture yourself, Mando. If you’ve found something that makes you happy, it can’t be all bad, can it?”

Tattooine was too fucking bright. It reminded him too damn much of Nevarro.

They’d taken a week with Peli and her droids before Din became too restless. Once he’d set the coordinates for the Mid Rim planet he knew the first bounty was on, he called Karga to inform him the break was over and he was heading back out.

Karga’s face on the holoprojector was more serious than he’d been when Din had visited the week before.

“What is it?”

“I have to add one to your list,” Karga informed him. 

“Who is it?”

“Jido Tanau.”

Din rolled his eyes. “That name… I brought him in last week.”

Karga bit his lip and nodded. “I know. But somewhere between my facility and the New Republic prison, he escaped.”

“When?”

“We found out today, I’d have to look to see when he actually escaped custody.”

Din pulled out the file Karga had given him and rifled through the papers until he found Tanau’s. Oh yeah, he remembered this guy.

His hands began to shake. This was the one you’d threatened. The one who was affiliated with the Pyke Syndicate.

“Dank ferrick,” he whispered, just barely audible through the helmet.

He looked back up. “What do you know about his whereabouts now?”

Karga shrugged. “Nothing. Completely disappeared. That’s why I’m putting you on it. You’re my best.”

Din didn’t like this. He practically shouted your name at the magistrate. “When’s the last time you spoke to her?”

Karga’s brow furrowed. “Today, when she left the office.”

“Send people to her place, now,” he commanded. “That’s the guy she threatened. He told her he’d make her pay. Send someone there to keep her safe.”

Karga looked alarmed as he nodded. 

“Find him, Mando.”