A million thanks to TimelessFolly and PurelyLoved for beta-ing my work. And thanks to all of you for your reviews, they make my day!
Esio had flown through battlefields with nothing more than a few centimeters of Beskar shielding him from the vacuum of space. He had fought walkers, Jedi, gunships, and countless other enemies. The scars on his body were each an account of times he looked death in the face and said "is that all you've got?"
Yet, in all his seventeen years of fighting, this was the most scared he'd ever been. His stomach was churning, thoughts racing. He felt himself nervously sweating, and thanked the stars for stocking up on antiperspirant.
He stared at the door, raising a hand before lowering it again. "Come on, Landuur!" He took a deep breath, trying to relax. "You've got this. You've got this." Still, he felt so nervous to do something as simple as knock on Reina's door.
He'd gotten Rei's blessing at work a couple of weeks ago. That took him a lot of courage too, to confess to his only real "friend" that he and her daughter had been talking, and that they would like to go out for a date. "Uh, only if it's okay with you, of course, Rei-uh, Ms. Au'Manar."
Rei was a bit taken aback, but had handled it gracefully. She was strict about setting the rules and boundaries, but Esio was more than happy to respect them.
"Just knock on the damn door!"
"Aaaaaaggghhh!" Esio chided himself before straightening up and knocking.
It was only a few seconds (thought it felt like hours) before a voice from within said, "Hey gravity girl, your little booooyfrieeeeeend's here!"
"Shut up, footmuncher!"
Esio could recognize Rei's voice telling her daughters, "Enough, both of you."
A nicely-dressed Adi opened the door. "Holy moly," Esio blurted. "I mean, like in a good way. You, uh, you look great."
"Thanks." She smiled and played with her hair. "Uh, you too."
Alright, folks," Rei walked up behind Adi and put her hand on her shoulder. "Is everything going as discussed?"
"Yes, Rei. Just dinner and the javahouse. We'll be home by ten," Esio reassured.
"Any change of plans I should know? You know the rule."
"Let you know of a change of plan, mooooom. We know the rule." Adi wanted to just get going. "We're just doing what we already talked about."
"Don't choke on each other's tongues," Qadeen poked fun at her sister with a fodder-eating grin.
"I'll choke you with my fist, Q!"
"Both of you stop," Reina firmly cautioned. "Q, be respectful to your sister and her companion, please. And Adi, no threats of violence." She sighed and turned back to the couple. "Enjoy yourselves, ping me if you need anything."
"Thanks Rei, will do," Esio said.
"Love you, mom!" Adi shouted as she walked out, dragging Esio by his shirt.
As the door shut behind them, Esio fidgeted with his hands, feeling completely lost. "Do I hold her hand? No, that's way too soon, isn't it? Should I ask? Should I let her make the first move? But girls don't like making the first move - or do they? Do I smell okay? I've been sweating... are my hands clammy? Stop looking so forlorn! Smile, d'kuit! Maybe another compliment? This pause is getting awkward..." He was a warrior. dammit. Romance was not something the clans had taught him yet. Even if they did, who knows how Mandalorian courting would translate to a Rep girl.
"So, are we gonna actually go to dinner, or are we gonna spend all night standing here?" Adi smiled, hand extended, willing to lead this exchange.
Esio flinched and took Adi's hand. "I, I knew that, I, I just, uh, habadabadaba... uhhhhhh..." Another pause. "You smell nice."
She giggled at him. "Thanks, I guess? I am pretty enthusiastic about showers."
"No way, me too!" Esio chuckled with her. Daily showers were another aspect of Rep culture he was getting used to. It was part of the resol'nare to wear one's armor whenever possible, even sleeping in it. As such, most Mandalorians bathed once or twice a week, at most.
"So, we taking a shuttle?"
"Oh yeah! Was gonna rent a Bayern M3CSi, but I'd have to not buy food for a month." Esio had always fawned over the premium landspeeder. They talked as they walked to the transit station.
"Esio, you don't have to impress me with these kinds of things. I'm totally okay with a shuttle."
"No, it's not that at all. I like the Bayern because I love that speed, the engineering, the design, you know? Not to show off or be a snob."
"I know you're not like that. I like how humble you are. Have you ever flown a Bayern? Like, before all this went down."
"No. Where I come from, having material possessions is not important. We have the things we need to survive, and we are proud of those. We take good care of our things. But to us, it's wasteful to desire fancy things." Esio was sure to word his phrases carefully. "Like a Bayern," he added, a bit miffed.
"That sounds like a great way to live. We try to stay humble too, but we had a lot of nice things before the war rolled in. It was so hard to adjust, being a Ref. Prolly would've been easier if we lived like you. I'm a bit jealous."
"Don't be. That life is not for everyone."
"But still." The two of them boarded the shuttle and sat next to each other. "So, do you know how to fly?"
"Been doing it for most of my life." All Mandalorians could fly basic speeders and transports. He, of course, did so in a more literal sense. "Do you?"
"I wish. My dad wouldn't let me fly 'till..." she trailed off as she thought. "Wow. He was teaching me just before the Mandos invaded. All that got put on hold, though. Because reasons." She smiled awkwardly.
"I'm sorry for what happened," Esio replied somberly. Adi didn't know how literally he meant it.
"Psh, for what? It's not your fault, right?"
"Nah, nah," he quickly backpedaled. "That's a shocker though. That you can't fly, I mean. Can't you put a speeder together with your eyes closed?"
"I dunno if I'm that skilled. I helped dad work on the speeder almost as far back as I could remember. Back then, the restaurant was just opened and we were really tight. We couldn't afford mechanics, so I helped. Didn't mean I could drive it, though. Dad was too much of a safety sally. I wanted to, back then. Now it's whatever."
"Maybe you'd be more into pods if he let you," Esio teased.
"Maybe!" She laughed with him. "Is that how you got into pods? Flying speeders since you were a baby, something like that?"
"Something like that. That rush, the air flowing over your- flowing over you. Seeing the scenery blur. It's the most exhilarating thing ever."
"It sounds pretty awesome. The way you say it, maybe I could get into it one day. But not tonight." She looked into his eyes. "Pleeeeease don't tell me we're gonna go catch a podrace at some sports bar or something."
"No no no! We agreed on dinner and java, that's what we're doing."
"Good." There was a bit of a pause, until she felt the need to explain herself. "Just, I say that 'cause the last guy I saw only took us to things he wanted to do. He rarely listened. Dropped him like a bad habit."
"No, I respect that. I hope you get into it one day, but yeah." Esio's nervousness returned. "So am I just the second option?"
Adi could read his forlorn expression, and smiled to ease his nerves. "That was way back, on Vanquo. I haven't had a date in ages."
"I've never even been on a date," he mused.
"Hahaha! Sure thing, tree nut." She paused and could see he was serious. "Wait, you what?"
"This is my first ever date."
"Liar!" She teased. "I call so much nerf. SO much nerf." Adi was too reserved to make the obvious compliment; Esio was a handsome, talented, stand-up person. She figured every girl on Alderaan and Eres III fawned over him.
"Swear!"
"That's prolly why you have no money. You blew it all picking up girls in the Bayern."
"Hoooooookay! No, I promise!" He paused a bit, deciding to just be honest with her. "I'm not a dating type. Growing up, dating was never very high on the priority list. All the things we did, we never had time to date. Or energy. I was more married to my, uh, my family."
"You must miss them. What were they like?"
Esio stared off, silent. Other than Warron and Elaina, he had never told anyone the truth of his past. He didn't plan on telling anyone. He trusted Adi and Reina, but still kept his past closely guarded, even to them. And the relationship would have to get very serious for him to even consider telling Adi, or Reina. It was fatal to be a Mandalorian expat on a Rep world.
"Nevermind, sorry," she interrupted his thoughts, feeling like a fool for bringing up something so sensitive. "We won't talk about that."
"That poor boy is probably here alone because his family was murdered! Or kidnapped or whatever! Come on now, where are your manners? Don't be an idiot."
"It's fine."
"So, have you seen The Vacationers?" Adi changed the subject.
"What's that?"
"It's the new chick flick about the two women who switch homes for a couple weeks. I know it sounds so basic, but I love chick flicks."
"Honestly, I had no idea it was even out."
"What, do you live under a rock?"
"I don't watch a lot of movies," he shrugged.
"I love movies, a lot more now." Being home with the kids while Reina worked meant Adisia watched a lot of movies. "Okay, so, how about a deal; I'll try and get into pods if you try to get into movies?"
"That's fair. I did one time get to see that movie you liked, uh, what was it called. Three Hutts and a Wedding, something like that?"
They continued the conversation until arriving at their stop, where they got off and walked the rest of the way. Even when they arrived to the restaurant, they stayed outside and just talked. The conversation felt so natural between them, after that first period of awkwardness. The two of them clicked, so much so that they didn't notice they had been outside talking for so long that the restaurant was about to close. In fact, they were so deep in conversation that they were only interrupted when Esio stared into the sky with a bewildered expression.
"Hm?" Adi noticed the confusion on his face, turning to see what he was so focused on. "What's a Conductor gunship doing here?"
Out of the gunship stepped four figures, making a beeline straight to Esio and Adi. It was dark, and difficult to make out who they were.
"They seem quite interested in you," Adi said. Esio didn't respond. He started sweating and his breathing quickened. "I knew it! You have a harem of soldier girls, don't you?" She teased him, trying to ease the tension.
"No, I'm just a normal guy! Like anyone else," he told himself as much as he told her.
As the figures got closer, Esio recognized one of them. Warron.
"Hey, are those Jedis?"
"Yeah, I think that's the one that talked to me at work a while back."
"I remember you telling me. They wanted to know about some things you'd seen on Eres III, yeah?"
"Yeah. I don't get why they're back. I told them everything."
"Except about your harem."
"Hooookay!"
"Well, I trust them. My dad knows a Jed- hey, is that Meku?!"
Both of them walked out to confront their newfound guests. Esio recognized Warron and Elaina, Adi recognized Meku and Jimny.
"Meku! Oh my my, what a small galaxy!"
"Hi, Adi," Meku replied sheepishly, before turning her face stone-cold and staring intimidatingly at Esio.
"What's going on?" Esio couldn't stop the shaking in his voice. His mind was racing. This was not helped by the white-haired Jedi, Meku, who stared him down. Her eyes looked like they could cut him up into a million pieces. Her stance was like a fighter in the arena. She looked ready to kill him.
"Yeahhh, we just need to borrow you for a couple months or so," Warron said matter-of-factly. He turned to Adi. "Don't worry, we'll bring him right back. Fill up the tank and everything."
"What do you need me for," Esio asked, "I've already told you everything!"
"Plus, we are kinda busy!" Adi added.
"We do apologize for interrupting, but it is of utmost importance to Republic security. We appreciate your understanding," Elaina explained.
"Official Jedi business, y'know," Jimny continued.
Esio's stomach sank. He trusted these Jedi with his deepest, darkest secret. His mind ran with the possibilities. Exile, imprisonment, torture? Was the white-haired one an executioner? She sure acted like one.
"You're not in trouble," Elaina spoke softly. Esio kept forgetting those damn glowsticks could read minds! "If you come with us, it will be as a friend to the Republic. You will be helping us to stop this war. We need you."
Esio looked to Adi and back to the Jedi several times.
"I know, I know, couldn't have come at a worse time," Warron tried to ease his tension with a smile and a wisecrack. "But you'll return a war hero. In my experience, that's pretty sexy."
"S'why no one can resist me," Jimny boasted.
Esio and Adi turned red at being teased like this. As if it wasn't bad enough to be picked apart on their first date.
Both Meku and Elaina gave a sharp jab in the ribs to their male counterparts.
"We are so sorry. Our partners can be rather tactless," Elaina said.
"My tactics are-" Warron started before being interrupted by Elaina.
"-silence." She sighed. "But we do need you, young Esio. And we may continue this conversation in private if it makes you more comfortable," Elaina said.
Esio exhaled before looking up at the sky. Adi gave him an encouraging expression. This was nerfcrap! He left the war, and the war followed him.
"Let's talk in private, then," Esio grumbled.
Elaina and Warron escorted Esio to the gunship, Meku followed very closely, making it very clear she was trying to intimidate him. Elaina had to stop and make a subtle gesture. Meku nodded and went back to Adi. He could hear Adi, Meku, and Jimny catching up.
"Why are you here?" Esio was firm in tone.
"We weren't lying when we said we needed you," Warron answered.
"For what! What could I possibly give you? I laid down my Beskar a long time ago!"
"You don't need Beskar to help us. We need your mind, your experience," Elaina explained. "We are conducting a mission behind enemy lines. We may need to blend in with them, and will need your guidance. We will need you to teach us the ways of your people."
"They're not my people anymore. The Republic is."
"Okay smartie, you know what we mean," Warron said.
"I'm sick of war. I'm sick of fighting. I'd rather just be here, please. I want to be normal. Please don't drag me back to the Mandalorians. Please, I beg you. Let me be normal."
"Esio, let's put it this way," Elaina said. "You live a good life, don't you?"
"Yeah..."
"Look at how wonderful your life is. You have a job, you have your constitutional rights, your freedoms. You can walk nearly any path you want. And you are adjusting well. You even have a romantic interest."
"If you-"
"-Nothing will happen to Adisia Au'Manar. But tell me; to what do you owe this beautifully normal life you now live?"
"To Feena. She rescued me. I wouldn't be here if not for her."
"And Feena is a servant of this Republic. You owe everything to this great Republic. Otherwise you would be dead, or rotting in a POW cell. The Republic has given you life, given you freedom, given you a second chance! The Republic has helped you with all of your needs. And now, when the Republic calls on you for help, you turn your back on her? Is this what you are meaning to tell me, young Esio?"
He said nothing. His heart smoldered. He was uncomfortable going back to war, but a big part of him agreed with Elaina. He was taught to strictly adhere to duty all his life. He felt an indomitable sense of duty telling him to support his Republic, his savior. Elaina knew this, of course, and was very consciously playing on it.
"Well? Will you step up and do the right thing? Will you have the Republic's back, like she has yours?"
He raised his eyes from the floor and met Elaina's. "Yes, ma'am." He spoke with resolve.
"Good. Let's go, then. Time is of the essence."
"Can I say bye to Adi?"
"Be quick."
"Man, I was hoping for some take-out before they closed," Warron whined.
Meku, Adi, and Jimny were still chatting when Esio exited the gunship. He looked sullenly purposeful.
"He's coming with us." Meku could sense his thoughts long before he even left the ship.
Adi sighed. "Alright, I guess. Not like I have any choice, right?" Meku could sense the hurt in her. Her dad left for the military, and now Esio was going too.
"Y'dont," Jimny said bluntly. "Not gonna sugar-coat it. It sucks. War be like that. But you ain't alone. Just embrace the suck. We promise, we promise, we'll do our best to bring him back in one piece. And your dad."
"Thank you Jimny." She looked at Meku with hope in her eyes, the way one looks at a prophet. "I trust you."
Meku was taken aback, still completely unused to the idea of working with someone she viewed as an insect. "Th-thank you, Adi."
"I know you'll bring them both back."
At this time, Esio approached. He stopped, stiff. "I'm sorry Adi..."
"I understand. Go be a hero. Just don't stand me up again."
"Yeah... uh, I won't." He wasn't really in the mood for jokes, and it took a while for him to even get it. He felt numb.
"Plus, I'll decapitate him if he tries to date anyone else on our mission," Meku smiled evilly as she spoke.
"No no no! That won't be necessary, I uh, I won't."
Elaina then cut in, "We don't have much time. Let's move out."
Adi hugged Esio, Jimny, and Meku before they all left. Warron patted Esio on the shoulder, saying "Thank you. You did the right thing."
Esio felt a little bit better about this. He would have the Republic's back, like She had his.
