#unecrth

          he’s leaned over his desk,  one hand braced against stained wood as the other flips through the file displayed before him.  he’s lost track of how long he’s been in this position.  a quick glance turned into a question which led him down a rabbit hole of sifting through paperwork to piece together just what sort of mess his mother left behind.  it isn’t the first time it’s happened.  but it is the first time he’s let it distract him from other duties.  it isn’t until the door to his study is swept open and his fiancee walks into the room he’s reminded he has an appointment to keep.  head lifts and there’s a surprised and puzzled look in his eyes that turns into realization when he sets his sights on gaea standing there.  shit.   

i think it’s a good interpretation but not the WHOLE reason if that makes sense

BUT.

yes.

honestly, the last person to be able to look at and touch din’s face had been his buir, and while it’s not necessarily something he NEEDS... it’s less about the touch itself and more the fact that there is someone in his life that he loves enough, that loves HIM enough, that is his not in blood but in spirit, who is able to touch him like that

my personal headcanon is that once you’re Clan you’re allowed to remove the helm, because you’re joined in spirit and therefore not an “Other”, and after the scene in Ch.13 where din and grogu eat together, in my head that means din’s been allowed to be helmless around grogu since they became a clan of two

grogu taps the side of his helm and din knows immediately what he wants. grogu taps the side when he wants din to take it off. din takes it off for him whenever he wants, as long as they’re alone in private

the significance of the gesture is less “this is grogu’s first time looking at him” for me, but “this is the first time din and grogu do this in front of others”, emphasised by the fact that it’s the first time we as an audience get to see it happening on-screen

din shuts his eyes to memorise the feel of grogu’s little hand against his face. din shuts his eyes against the onset of tears that are forming. din shuts his eyes because he wants to focus on the touch-- he might be able to see grogu in holos, but he won’t be able to touch him, and grogu touches him so kindly.

for someone who he isn’t able to communicate with verbally, grogu shows EVERYTHING in his gestures and his touches and the touch of grogu’s hand against his face is a touch of love and assurance. din does not need his other senses for that. he only needs to feel, and he shuts his eyes to remember

his buir had touched him like that. his mother, his father, had touched him like that. all the people that din has ever loved and held close above all else show their love in the way that they touch him and the meaning of the gesture remains even as he says goodbye to his son (for now)

i feel like lying face down on the floor and not moving but emitting a low groan of feelings, the song of my people, for all of eternity, occasionally punctuated by sobs and IT RHYMES and SO BEAUTIFUL SHOULD HAVE SENT A POET.  

finley wasn’t necessarily considered a good guy, and definitely not a nice one. the façade he puts on for the crowds of night city gave little away about him. deep down, however, there seemed to be some humanity left, some that hadn’t been beaten out of him, or stolen at gun point. in one arm, fin carried a toddler, no older than two. his other hand is occupied by a six year old’s, who walks beside him. many strange looks penetrate his skin, but no one cares to stop. everyone is too busy minding their own damn business.

“I have a present for you.”

Stephen realises only a moment too late that that’s... horrifically corny to say aloud, but decides the mortification isn’t worth feeling. He’d promised to help the Asgardians resettle, after all (physically, politically, and magically-- God, they had an insane amount of artefacts with them), so this is a cause for celebration. Corny is fine.

From seemingly nowhere, he pulls a folder out of the air, its front marked by Norway’s coat of arms. Stephen’s lips are pressed together as he offers it Thor’s way, and he waits patiently for the man to take the folder from him and open it for perusal.

“It’s all been approved,” he says, “the re-naming of the town, your choice of government-- subject to the Norwegian government for any major changes that should affect the rest of the country-- all that fanfare. You’ll find a written request for a representative from New Asgard in there for Norway’s legislation branch. Make sure to pick wisely.”

Stephen’s hands slip into his pockets.