Star Wars - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Odd Bounty ❯ Making Sense of Things ( Chapter 12 )

It had been an unnaturally quiet trip back to Nevarro. 

Boba wouldn't admit it but he was worried. The kid came back to the ship and just immediately went to his cot, locking the door behind him, only saying one word to him.

"Nevarro."

Din had some things to sort out apparently.

And he knew it pertained to Telana. The girl had rubbed off on both of them...but it had hit Din the hardest due to his past.

Boba knew that whatever he was trying to make sense of was going to change him or change him even more than he already had been.

So he just nodded, climbing into the cockpit and punching in the coordinates for the small settlement.

'Well, kid, lets hope whoever you're going to talk to can help you.'

/   -  /   -   /   -   /

"You staying for a while, kid?" The sudden voice by his side startled him and he nearly unholstered his blaster pistol before Boba grabbed his shoulder and shook him.

"Hey, its me. You okay?"

Din nodded. "I'm just...thinking."

"About her?"

Another nod and Boba chuckled, "So she got under your skin? Good way or bad way?"

"Fett."

"I notice you've been more distracted since the rescue...what happened with the client?"

"That's why I'm here. There is one in the covert that all go to for advice. I will speak to her."

/  -  /  -  /  -  / 

The last time he was in the covert, he had been given two paths. Now there was a middle path that was opening before him and it was frightening as well as eye-opening.

"You have returned. I trust you have found your path?"

Din shook his head, "I have questions."

"Pertaining to this woman?"

"Yes."

"Ask them and I will advise the best I can."

"I will admit that I gave into my anger but while I did not lay a hand on her...I said things I should not have. Things that at the time of being said I did not regret them."

She put down her tools and motioned him to sit before taking a seat across from him.

"But you regret them now?"

"I do. I have found that I have forgiven her but I did not need to. She had no part in what happened in my youth."

"Then you have learned not only to forgive another but also forgive yourself. There is something else, is there? You would not have returned just to tell me what I already have known."

Din sighed heavily, "The woman was taken shortly after my hurtful words to her. I and one other rescued her...from an imperial outpost. The hunter that took her was killed by my partner at the time and the client was not."

"And why did you not kill him?"

"He was an important figure in the Empire. Killing him would have created more problems. But I said something during my discussion with him that was..."

He fell silent and the Armorer sat there, watching him just as silent. She waited, knowing that he needed to find his words.

Then he finally spoke, "I fear that I may unknowingly have claimed her as mine."

That wasn't what she had thought he was going to say. "You...claimed her? How? How exactly did you stake this claim?"

"It was a verbal claim."

She leaned over the small table, "How did you word it? This is important."

Din shifted in his seat, "The client in question was trying to purchase her back. He offered me 200,000 credits...I turned it down. He tried to tell me that she was important to the Empire and I cut him off. I told that she was mine. My clan. That no member of a Mandalorian clan is left unprotected."

The Armorer let out a long rush of air and then nodded, standing up and moving over to the tool chest.

"And you realized your words and came here to see if it was in fact a true claim?"

"Yes. If it is real, then I will do right by the woman. I will wish to dissolve it as soon as possible."

That made her hand pause over her tools. "You would sever your verbal bond with her? To keep her safe?"

"Yes. It was a claim made in a heated moment of anger and exhaustion."

"But it was a claim nonetheless. She is by our customs, your wife now."

She gave a soft laugh, "Every single moment you step into my forge you are given two paths again and again. Fate is a funny creature working under the guise of Destiny half the time. If she is as strong as you have mentioned then she would be added strength to the Watch. I know she is a droid but can she bear children?"

"Yes, but I want to dissolve the bond. She deserves freedom after being under the thumb of the Empire for so long."

"Is that the only reason?" She picked up a small firing cup and put a lump of beskar in it. Then she placed in on the plate, lowering it into the fire.

He stood and made his way closer, watching the beskar melt.

"Yes."

"Return to your home for the night and think on what I asked you. Focus on your thoughts of her...how you feel when you are near her. Then return tomorrow and answer the question again."

Din nodded. "Thank you."

"This is the way."

/  -  /  -  /  -  /  

Once his door closed behind him, he locked it and pulled his helmet off, running his hand through his hair.

What did she mean by think of her? He was thinking of her...that's why he wanted the bond dissolved. He wanted her to choose for herself who she would marry.

His hands clenched tightly at that thought. It pained him to think of it. Of her with someone else. 

And there was the problem.

He had claimed her and he wanted her for himself but that life wasn't for him and his life wasn't one he would want her to live...to always be waiting for him to return and one day he wouldn't...he knew that. He didn't want to put her through that.

She was kind and gentle...and he knew the kid would absolutely adore her like he did. 

And then that damned saber threw even more complications into the situation as well. 

He was meant to rule an entire people...to lead them into a new era as their Mand'alor. Could he drag her into that?

But again the thought of her living her own life separate from his cut deep and he pressed his hand to his chest, feeling his heart thudding in his chest painfully. 

He didn't love her...no, but he did care for her...a depth of familial care he thought he only held for the kid...and now it extended to her.

She was family...his family, he realized. He might not love her right now, but with time his feelings would only get stronger.

So only one true question remained...

Did she care for him too?

He touched his fingers to the spot on his helmet where she had pressed her lips and softly smiled.

She did or at the least she was starting to.

But would she want to be his?

Even after all he put her through? All he would put her through in the future should she agree to this?

That was only a question that Telana herself could answer.

And as he carefully removed his armor to prepare for bed, he found he already had his answer for the Armorer.

/  -  /  -  /  -  /

When he entered the forge the next morning, he felt lighter than he had in some time. 

He noticed that the Armorer was still working on something at her workbench and so he decided to sit down and wait for her to be finished.

"So you have returned. Do you remember my question?"

"Yes?"

"Was it the only reason?"

"No. I do want her for my own. I...care for her but she deserves to have a choice. The empire has taken that away from her for so long."

"And she will. You will tell her of the claim and give her the choice to dissolve the bond or to keep it."

Din tilted his helmet at her, "What?"

The Armorer turned to him and as she walked closer to him, he noticed a small bag in her hands.

"What is that?"

She held it out to him, "This is a gift. In case she decides in favor of the bond."

He opened it and let the small object tumble into his palm. He gave a soft sound at the item.

"You knew?"

"I did."

"How?"

"You are usually not this confused by a woman."

He chuckled, "She is...a storm...a whirlwind that tore at my mind until only thoughts of her remained."

She lays a hand on his shoulder, "Then you must let her make this final choice. Honesty and trust are two key ingredients to a solid bond."

"I...thank you."

"Now go, speak to this Telana Veile and let Fate guide you both."

"This is the way."

"This is the way."

/  -  /  -  /  -  /

He found Fett where he usually is on Nevarro...at the cantina, drinking with Karga.

"So you get the answers you were looking for, kid?"

Din nodded. "I need to go back to the farmstead."

Boba grins widely, "So you finally grew a pair, huh? Going to tell her how you feel?"

"What?"

"I'm not stupid kid. Anyone with eyes can see you care for the woman. It just took you longer than hell to figure it out."

That made him bristle a bit, "It was complicated."

"Because you hate droids? Well, in case you forgot...she is a droid, well part droid but she's a good kid. She'll be good for you...hell she already has been good for you."

"Lets just go."

He stands and smacks his arm, "Alright. Lets get you back to your woman."

Karga shakes his head with a smile, "Something you need to tell me, Mando?"

A tilt of his visor was the only answer Karga got, so he raised his hands.

"My apologies. I'll see you around, okay Mando?"

He nodded his head to Fett who returned it.

/  -  /  -  /  -  /

The entire trip back Din kept turning the small object back and forth in his hands.

How strange that such a small thing could hold so much weight....it was either the start of something new...

Or the end.

He didn't know which one frightened him more.