Star Wars - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Odd Bounty ❯ Forgiveness Forged ( Chapter 11 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

When the ramp lowered, Beler was holding a rifle up ready to shoot but dropped it when he saw Din holding Telana. He rushed down to throw his arms around her and she fell into his arms with a sob.

"Father!"

"Oh my dear. You're safe. Oh you're safe."

He stepped back, holding her shoulders and grimaced at the state of her right arm before his gaze shifted to Din and he silently mouthed a 'thank you' at him. Mando knew what he was really thanking him for.

For not deactivating her failsafe...for giving her a chance to go on living.

"Come. Lets get you fixed up."

"Yes, father."

Din's helmet followed them up the ramp until a warm hand fell on his shoulder.

"You did good. We did good. Now they'll have a chance at a normal life. Lets get them back...they got a farmstead to look at."

"Yeah." But his thoughts were swirling...reeling by what he had done...what he had said to Hux.

'She is mine. My clan. My...'

Well shit.

/  -  /  -  /  -  /

Les had been milling about in his office, trying to make some sense of the papers strewn about his desk when a knock sounded on his door.

"Come in!"

He whooped in joy when Din walked into the room.

"Well I'll be a slimey space slug. You're back!"

Mando nodded.

Les looked behind him, giving him a look of confusion. "Where's the little lady?"

Din sighed, "She's safe...with her father. We need to talk, Les."

"Am I going to like this talk?"

"Depends."

"On what?"

"What are your thoughts on droids?"

And Les sat down hard in his chair, motioning the young man to sit also. "I don't hate them, if that's what you're asking. Now I know a lot of damage was done at droid hands during the war and it caused a lot of hatred to surface towards them. Namely for you."

Din nodded. "Yes. Droids ransacked my entire village. I lost my mother and father and ended up a Mandalorian foundling. But this isn't about me. It's about Telana. Her father doesn't want to take the farmstead under any false pretenses. Her father also defected from the Empire."

"Why did he send you to tell me this? Why didn't he come himself?"

"He's currently repairing Telana. She was taken by a bounty hunter shortly after our dinner with you and Lusli."

Les leaned over and pulled a drawer open, taking a half drank bottle of whiskey out and two cups, filling them both up before setting one in front of him.

"What do you mean repairs?"

"Well, you see...Telana's a droid."

The old man drained the whole cup and poured another glass. "She's a droid? And all me and Lusli's talk about children...I'm sorry. If I had known..."

"It's alright. She's not a full droid. According to her father she is still capable of having children. Her and her mother..."

/  -  /  -  /  -  /

Les had surprisingly taken the news quite well, although there was nothing left of the whiskey by the time he was done.

He slipped the deed across the desk to him and nodded.

"Well then, you all will fit in nicely here. Lusli and I will do our best to help your family get settled."

And there is was...the one thing he had yet to tell them but couldn't bring himself to. Something was keeping him from it.

He could only hold his hand out, shaking with Les.

"I appreciate it. I'll give this to Beler."

Les held up a hand, "Oh wait a minute...where is it? Ah ha! Here, this is for Telana."

He held out a flimsi and Din looked at it confused.

"The recipe for the citrus cream. Lusli was going to give it to her at breakfast but then you two just up and disappeared. All of you are coming to dinner tonight so she can see you for herself."

"There are four of us."

"Four?"

"My business partner helped me save Telana."

"Then bring him along. I'll tell Lusli. She'll be thrilled to make a meal for all of you."

/  -  /  -  /  -  /

Fett had been taken by surprise by the dinner invite.

"I'm not usually invited to eat at someone's home, kid."

"Well, its up to you."

"I'm not going to turn down a home-cooked meal."

Din chuckled, lightly punching his shoulder, groaning as pain flared in his own. He rubbed at the spot as he watched Beler finish up reattaching Telana's arm. 

"I know you're there. Come closer."

He took hesitant steps forward until he standing on her left side. Her eyes had snapped up to his and softened.

"So when you are repairing her what happens, does she feel it?"

"Well, yes and no. She has an internal switch that allows me to shut down her nervous system for a moment during repairs. That way it does not hurt her. She also cannot hear but she can still see. It has always been odd to me how the switch affects only a few systems and not the whole but she is unique...the first of her kind."

He grimaced at the bruises on her face and the split lip. "The marks on her face?"

"They will fade in time and her lip will have to heal on its own."

"Because its still real flesh, right?"

"Yes. You are finally catching on. Only her right arm and legs are covered with the bio-mat. The rest is still her original skin."

"I understand why you did it...why you fixed her like you did, but she needs to start learning how the galaxy works or she'll be taken advantage of once she's on her own. She needs to learn how to fight."

Beler chuckled, "She already knows the basics but they did not have time to teach her to use blasters and other weapons. Perhaps you..."

"No...I can't."

"Why ever not? You are quite skilled. You rescued her without having to use her trigger word. IF anyone could teach her, it would be you."

He hands the deed and the flimsi to him. "I'm leaving as soon as you two are settled into the farmstead." 

"I see." The doctor takes both and sets them down next to Telana's leg and holds his hand out.

Din takes it and Beler's other hand lays down on top of it. "Thank you."

He stands there a moment before nodding and stepping back, letting his hand drop to his side limply. A strange feeling washed over him as his eyes trailed back over to Telana. Her blue eyes were shining and soft.

He swallowed thickly, "We, uh, were invited to dinner by Les and Lusli. Their good people who will help you and Telana get settled in."

And he left without another word.

/  -  /  -  /  -   /

Lusli was slightly shocked to see two Mandalorians but brightened when she saw Telana. She rushed forward and wrapped her arms tightly around the girl.

"Oh sweet girl, you're safe! I was so worried about you...about the both of you!" She turned to Din and poked him in the chest.

"How dare you two leave without saying something! I was nearly worried sick. Next time...say something first!"

Din chuckled, "Yes ma'am."

"Now these other fellows, who are they?"

Beler steps forward and gives a slight bow, "Beler Veile. I am Telana's father."

Fett nods his head once, pulling his helmet off. "Boba Fett."

Les stumbled over his words. "F-Fett?"

"I'm only here for the food. I heard that Mrs. Marents was an excellent cook. Its been some time since I had a homecooked meal."

Lusli smiled wide, "Then come on in. Oh and Telana, dear...I made more citrus cream."

Telana clapped her hands excitedly and grabbing Din's arm, pulled him into the house behind her and he chuckled again.

"Easy there, Tel. Its not going anywhere."

"Faster we eat, faster we get citrus creams."

He gently touched her hand, "You need to learn patience."

She giggles back, "Like you?"

He softly laughs, "I have a deal more than you."

Fett watches all this with an odd look on his face and nudges the doctor in the side, "Are they?" 

Beler nods.

"I had thought so."

Lusli sighs off to the side. "Its so sweet, seeing them like this. At first I thought there was something wrong when they first came to dinner."

"And why is that?" Beler asked her.

"He wouldn't even go near her, let alone touch her. I had been worried that they had been arguing about something. I thought it was rather odd especially for a newly married couple to not be touching every so often, but he seemed so protective of her, so I just brushed it off."

The doctor looked over to Din whole-heartedly confused. 'They still think that the two are married? Why didn't Din tell them?'

"Excuse me, madam. I must talk to my...son-in-law for a moment. I forgot to discuss something with him."

"Oh of course, you can use the spare room."

"Thank you." 

He quickly walked over and tapped Din on the shoulder. When the visor faced him he jerked his head towards the spare room.

"We need to talk now."

Telana smiled up at her father, "Oh wait until you try the creams, father...they are delicious."

"Yes, my dear but right now I need to talk to Din."

"Okay."

/  -  /  -  /  -  /

Once in the room, Beler turns on him angrily.

"Why didn't you tell them that you two were not in fact married?"

Din didn't answer, he just turned away.

He pressed, "Why? It had been a necessary ploy at first...in order to get the deed but now that Telana and I are freed, we no longer need to keep up false pretenses. I want to start off on the right foot here and I cannot do that when you are still lying."

"Its not a lie...not anymore."

That shocked the doctor, "What?"

Din sighs, "When I confronted the commandant...I said some things to him...things I shouldn't have said but I was angry and exhausted at the moment."

"What did you say?"

"I told him that she was mine...one of my clan."

"And what does that exactly mean?"

"I pretty much acknowledged her as my...my wife."

Beler stumbled back, sitting down hard on the couch behind him not speaking.

He continued, "Mandalorian custom is...skewed at best. There are many different ways to marry. One is officially saying vows to one another in the presence of others in an actual wedding. Then there is just agreeing to be married and then there is publicly acknowledging that they are yours in front of strangers."

"Which you did."

Din nodded.

"What does that mean for Telana?"

"Nothing."

"You will step away?"

"I will. I made the claim in a heated moment but..."

"But she isn't Mandalorian. Would she be exempted from such a claim?"

"She could be, but Mandalorians are not a race, Beler, but a culture. Anyone can become Mandalorian. When I return to my covert I will speak with a member of the Watch. I trust this person, she is wise and knowledgeable about many different Mandalorian customs. If anyone would know what to do, it is her. If it is revealed that she is not exempt, I will of course do right by her as my code demands but for now she is free to live how she wants to."

"This is...a lot to take in but I will keep this to myself for now, as you have asked. I only hope for both your sakes that she is exempt from this custom."

That strange feeling flooded through his limbs again and he could only nod, his throat too tight to speak.

Why did his chest ache so much?

/  -  /  -  /   -  /

The dinner was surprisingly cheerful full of laughter and camaraderie.

Boba took the time to regale them with tales of some of his less...violent bounties and Les and Lusli listened intently. Until it was time for dessert.

When the citrus cream was placed in front of Telana, her eyes widened and the biggest, brightest smile adorned her face that even Fett was affected, rubbing his neck at the protective feeling that flashed through him.

The doctor had been right, she was delicate and innocent. Both traits that he knew would make any man want to protect her fiercely. His eyes fell on Din and how his visor never left her, his body turned slightly towards her seemingly at the ready.

He shook his head, grinning inwardly. 'Kid, you have no idea how much trouble you are in.'

/   -  /  -  /  -  /

Telana was happy. The happiest she's thinks she's been in a long time.

She had her father, her citrus cream and her friends. She took another bite of the cream and hummed happily...her gaze drifting over to the shiny visor of the man next to her out of the corner of her eye. 

Din.

Her heart fluttered.

He had said that he hated her...called her a thing.

But then he came for her...saved her...protected her.

'She's not a droid.'

He saw her as her...as Telana, not a thing.

She quickly looked away when his visor turned towards her and her face suddenly felt hot. That confused her. She hadn't even seen his face and he was making her blush. What did he look like? What color was his hair? His eyes? Was he scarred? How old was he?

Her mind whirled with all the possible answers to those questions but knew it wouldn't make a difference. He was her friend now, he was....more...she stilled, another bite of the cream pausing mid-air as she came to a heart-warming realization. 

He was important to her.

She cared for him.

She took the bite of the citrus cream and let it melt on her tongue as her mind tried to work this new feeling out. She knew he didn't like droids but he tolerated her....he saved her.

And she knew that whenever he was close to her, her chest would feel all fluttery, like her heart wanted to escape. She had the urge to hug him more and whenever she thought about hugging him her stomach would flip and warmth would spread through her limbs.

"How is it dear?"

Telana turned to Lusli and smiled brightly, "Amazing, just like last time! Thank you."

She patted the young woman's arm, "I'm glad you like it so much."

"Of course she does...no one makes citrus cream better than you, Lusli."

 "Oh you!" She smacked Les's arm and dropped a quick kiss to his cheek.

Telana was struck still as the confusing feeling suddenly made sense and she looked over to Din.

That's what she wanted...more than anything.

She wanted to take his helmet off...

And no matter what he looked like...

She wanted to kiss him.

/  -  /  -  /   -  /

Les and Lusli had extended an invitation to Beler and Telana to stay in the spare room when Din mentioned having to take a trip somewhere as he had forgotten something.

Telana was worried as he walked out of the house following Fett and she didn't think...she just moved, running out the door after him. She grabbed his arm and brought him to a stop.

"Din!"

He turned towards her with a confused tilt of his visor.

"What?"

"You're coming back right?"

He sighed, "Fett go on ahead. I'll catch up."

"Alright kid. See ya around Telana."

She nodded, "Keep safe, Boba."

He chuckled, "Thanks."

When he turned the corner out of eyesight, Din took hold of her shoulders.

"I have some things to take care of. You and your father will be safe here. These are good people. Its a chance for a good life...a normal life for you."

"You are coming back right?"

"I don't know."

Her eyes filled with tears and she shook her head. "I don't want you to go."

"Telana, I'm a bounty hunter...this is the normal for me. Constantly coming and going out the door. It doesn't mean that goodbyes aren't...easy for me."

She touched his visor, hiccupping, "But I like you."

He gently grabbed her hands and held them in between their chests with one hand. His other brushed a stray lock of hair from her cheek.

"Telana...I...I like you too but I can't be what you want...what you need. You need an easy life after all you've been through. I can't give you that. Try to be happy here...not for me but for you. You deserve it."

He dropped her hands and clutched her head in his hands, gently touching his visor to her forehead.

"I'm sorry."

She sniffled, nodding then she grabs his helmet and presses a kiss over where his mouth is before stepping away with a sad smile.

"Be safe, Din."

And she returned back the house, leaving him behind stunned and shaken to the core. His hand came up to where she had just kissed him and just lightly touched the spot.

'Telana...'

He wouldn't admit that his hands were shaking and his heart was hammering in his chest. This was a strange situation he found himself in.

'Attraction for the woman and hatred for the droid are warring inside you.'

'...learn to forgive and let your heart guide your actions...'

He didn't know when it had happened but he had forgiven her...somewhere along the way he had stopped seeing her as a monster but as her...as Telana.

'Breathe. You are okay.' The feel of her arms wrapped around his middle as she brought him gently out of his panic attack. Or the feel of her lips against his hands when they shook from rage. Slowly, little by little she had changed everything.

She had changed him.

Once he had been a big part of tearing her down when he had been consumed by his hate and rage. He had been an ass to her...only seeing her as a droid and not as the kind, gentle soul she actually is.

He wanted...

He shook his head. This wasn't about him and what he wanted though...this was about her....what she needed. 

No matter what it could have become...her happiness came first.

And she'd be happier without him.

'She is mine. My clan. My...'

Some part of him deep down though wanted her for himself, wanted to give her everything he could. Telana was special...someone who once represented an enemy that tore so much from him and now she represented something new and delicate to him...something wonderful and frightening all the same. 

He had to speak to the Armorer.

Hopefully she could help him make sense of this.