A/N *Innocent* Yes? Welcome to my One Year FFN Anniversary fan fiction! It was one year ago I trepidatiously signed up for this wonderful site, so I decided to create a piece of writing that sums up my writing progress 😂 Thank you all in GWW for made my time here amazing, and especially thanks to Kara, who makes every day easier 3 So here it is! I destroyed canon, added some fluff, had some serious topics, and, best of all, BOBA FETT! So enjoy!

Boba Fett scowled as he looked down at the dusty planet below him. The planet Jakku. A remote desert planet located in the system of the same name, within the Western Reaches of the galaxy's Inner Rim. That was what his nav computer had told him. Another brief look into the history of Jakku only deepened his scowl more.

"Settle down," Someone scolded from behind him, and Boba glanced over his shoulder to see Fennec Shand hovering there.

In reply, Boba grunted, turning back to the scene again.

"It's another Tatooine."

His five years of near-solitude had been peaceful, sure, but Boba didn't want to return to that life, once again.

"You're the one who wanted to come here," Fennec shrugged, swinging her rifle off her shoulders and sitting down with it comfortably on her lap.

Luckily, this junkyard would only be a temporary destination. There was something that Boba required that had been lost a long, long time ago and rested in one of the many wrecks that littered the planet's surface. Found recently, to be sure.

"We won't be here long," Boba said simply, Leaning back over the dashboard. His hands didn't stop as he flicked the series of switches required to start the descent to the yellow planet's surface. He truly was made for the Slave I, and it reflected it just so as he gently pushed the yoke forwards and guided his ship towards the surface.

.../:\...

Yes, it was precisely like Tatooine.

Sand to the left… Sand to the right… Sand- Everywhere! And if it was possible, which Boba didn't think it was until now, Jakku was an even dingier place than Tatooine. Full of scavengers and scrappers, each fighting over the ghastly material remains of Star Destroyers.

Just like on Tatooine (Yet WORSE), his precious Slave I wasn't safe out in the open, especially when he had to leave it alone.

Luckily, there were many hollowed-out Star Destroyers, previously having been cleaned out, that could adequately hold his precious in.

Boba Fett sighed as he overlooked the sands and drew himself out of his own thoughts. At the moment, he was standing at the exit of one of the destroyers, a small cut out bit that was close enough to the Slave that he could see the tips of its wings to know it was safe.

"I'll stay here, then," Fennec said from somewhere out of view behind him. "Have fun."

At the very top of his vision, there was a tiny little dot right on the horizon, only about the size of a seed. That was his destination.

Nima Outpost.

"I'll be back before sunset," Boba replied, taking his signature helmet that was currently balanced on his hip and shoving it on his scarred skin.

There was a slight pause. "I won't come for you if you end up dead."

Boba withheld a smirk as he replied. "I know."

Then Boba took a knee, which he was pleased to see wasn't any harder than it was when he was a decade younger; Boba brought his vibrolance up and pressed one of the golden buttons. Instantly his Jetpack burst into action in a whirlwind of fire and flying sand, and Boba pushed off.

He had never gotten tired of this, that was for sure.

There were no clouds on Jakku, nor were there any specific air currents, and even with his armour, the relentless heat radiating from the single sun burned through his scarred skin, making it ache.

Keeping his gaze set on the destination to not get off course, Boba didn't miss how those below him looked up in surprise, then followed his trajectory back… Kriff- he probably should have started from another place.

Anyone who dared try and take something from the Slave would soon find out what the full wrath of a Mandalorian could look like. The vulture-like creatures that startled as he passed would have a glorious day.

It could have only been half an hour when his Jetpack started to blister his back, and it was good timing too because he was coming up on the town.

His old self would have made a glorious entrance, complete with landing right in the centre of town and storming, blaster hefted up high and demanded the artefact he wished to acquire… But Boba had an empire to run and could hardly afford to waste time on these scum. So, he cut the power to his Jetpack just on the outskirts of town.

The speed slowed rapidly, and Boba didn't stumble as his feet hit the ground, boots digging firmly into the grit. Straightening up, he scanned the area to gather a brief knowledge of the place.

His glance around in no way enlightened him to anything of importance. There were whispering low-life's, pointing at him, and stalls that scrap metal hung from, but nothing else really.

So Boba moved forwards, slowly enough that he could look out for the stall Ohe needed, but quick enough to show he was here for a purpose and not to be interrupted.

A steady stream of aliens of all sorts were bustling by, making it increasingly harder to head anywhere, so for convenience, Boba ducked under a dirty fabric cloth to come out the other side in the middle of another stall.

Shoving down frustration, Boba tried to sidle by the large rectangle basin in the centre of the tent. The basin seemed to be for shining material, so that would mean plenty of scavengers would be gathering shortly, and he didn't exactly wish to be cornered in.

"Do you know how many rations your armour would buy?"

Boba whipped around, blaster rapidly pulled from the holster to look for the source of the noise. It was behind him, so Someone must have snuck-

Then he saw the speaker. A little girl, ten, perhaps, who was sitting cross-legged at the bottom of the basin, rubbing a sand-covered cloth over some hyperdrive component.

"A lot," Boba rasped, looking down at the youngling and easing his stance. This brunette wasn't going to give him any trouble, after all. "But my armour's not for sale."

The young girl looked disappointed and sighed, turning back to her work.

Boba looked at her for another moment, taking her in properly this time. Yes, she still seemed to be ten, but also the only child he had seen here. Her chestnut hair was pulled back in multiple buns that went in a line up her head; he could see that when she turned to work on a specifically difficult spot of grime. She was wearing what Boba had noted to be the clothes of Someone native, similar yet a bit different to the loose Tatooine garb.

Glancing both ways slowly after a pause and noting that there was no one in close proximity that would do something they regret, Boba lowered himself to the ground with a small grunt to sit opposite the youngling. Then he lifted his hand to his helmet and lifted it off to set it on his lap carefully. The girls stopped working again and looked up with both fascination and suspicion in her gaze. He watched as her gaze swept across all of his scars unashamedly.

"What's your name, child?" Boba asked, leaning back to show he wasn't a threat at the moment.

The girl considered him for a moment more in a way Boba would expect from a being double her age, then she gave a small smile. "I'm Rey."

"Boba," Boba nodded.

"So why are you here?" Rey leaned forwards in a way that was low-key eager. "With that's armour, you must have a lot of credits, and there's nothing much here."

Boba was almost tempted to smile at the glint in her eyes.

"I'm looking for something," Boba answered, nodding to the market, squinting against the now unbearable glare of the sun. "I have tracked it here."

From the corner of his eye, he saw Rey shake her head.

"If there was anything of value here, it would have been bought ages ago."

Boba turned back to look at the girl with a frown. "My information told me it had been brought here within the past day."

"Um…" Rey considered, then apparently decided something because she jumped up, placing the piece back in the basin. Then she stepped forward. "I can come ask Unkar with you if you want? He would know."

Not withholding his smile this time, Boba nodded and stood too, shoving on his helmet.

"Thank you, Rey."

Rey nodded, smiling.

They moved forwards, and both of them sifting through the knee-height sentients that seemed to swarm around everyone, they made their way to the building.

"He should be there." Rey pointed, tugging his hand gently in that direction.

Scanning the area, Boba started that way. Despite their size and their owners boisterously boasting of their cheap cost and new quality, large ships looked like they were falling apart and lined outside the building. Taking a shortcut over one of the ramps that no one seemed willing to protest about, Boba came to the back of the building where a fat, blobfish look-alike was waddling out of the booth.

Rey leaned back towards him, looking up with her brown eyes.

"That's Unkar plutt."

Inside of his helmet, Boba raised a single hairless brow. He knew this species. Crolutes. They lived in the saltwater oceans of their homeworld, specifically Aquatic in nature, yet fully capable of living life on the wetland. Whatever made this grotesque version of their species plan himself on an entirely desert planet must have been something special…

The sagging mesh of flesh had a deep scowl almost equivalent to his own, but that blob wasn't looking at him but was looking down at Rey, glaring.

"Girl!" Unkar scowled, waddling to a stop. "What are you doing? The hyperdrive part Won't clean itself, you brat!"

"I was trying to help-"Rey started, but the Crolute reached out one of his thick hands and yanked Rey, who let out a surprised yelp, towards him. Immediate senses flaring up, Boba shifted forwards, a blaster appearing at his fingertips, aiming directly at the beast's heart.

It was only then that Unkar noticed Boba, looking him up at down with the glance of a scavenger, then, of a prey.

"Let her go," Boba growled with a little bit of satisfaction, twitching the blaster slightly. He didn't miss how Rey was looking at him differently this time, despite still having Unkar's grip on her.

Unkar rapidly let go of Rey and looked to Boba with a barely hidden grin.

Kriffin scavenger. They're all the same.

"Welcome!" The beast grinned boisterously, spreading his eyes wide. "What can I get for you?"

Boba scowled under his helmet, lowering his blaster some. I am not here to pick fights, he reminded himself, I'm here for the Beskar. Even if the fights were against filthy poodoo.

"I'm looking for an armour chest plate. It was brought here today. Rey was helping me find it," Boba gestured to the girl who squinted her eyes suspiciously.

"Ooh!" Unkar boomed. "I think I know what you are looking for!"

If Boba was any less of a man, he would have shot this blob and put him out of his misery.

"Come with me," Unkar turned on heel, a jiggling gesture that made Boba's skin crawl and gesturing for him to follow. But Boba didn't miss the way Unkar shoved past Rey.

"Oh, and Rey comes," Boba suddenly decided.

The Crolute paused, glancing over his shoulder as Boba stepped forwards warningly.

"Rey comes with us," Boba repeated, more forcefully this time.

Force- why was he getting attached to this one?

"Of course," The displeasure in his voice was palpable, but Boba would never care. And he moved forwards, pistol still in hand, to follow after Unkar.

.../:\...

"It should be in here," Unkar gestured widely inside the light freighter's central area. "I keep all of my most precious pieces here."

That clearly wasn't saying much.

Sighing, his helmet mostly morphing the noise beyond any recognition, not that he could care otherwise, he scanned the visible piles and piles of scrap. A sharp and distinct smell of rust filled his nostrils, reminding him of blood. Vaguely, he wondered who this ship belonged to before the scavenger.

"We'll search the back portion on the ship," Boba informed the room, one hand gesturing to Rey. "You-"Boba stressed the syllable, jabbing his finger at Unkar. "Search here."

There was no room left for argument when Boba slid past a heap of scrap and out of view.

"You're making Unkar mad…" Boba heard Rey say from behind him as he came into the other room full of- more scrap. Really, metal hung from the ceiling with strings and well-placed nets; it was pressed into crevices… to dare say any of this was worth keeping was an abominable lie.

"He wants credits," Boba replied simply, scanning the top shelves briefly. "He'll sell me what I came here for."

"Maybe."

The clanging of metal from his left told him that Rey had moved to search an old locker full of tools. It probably wouldn't be in there- but he didn't bring her along to help, really.

"So who is Unkar to you?"

Kneeling down, Boba inspected the floor as he nonchalantly let the question drop.

Really, this was just a girl. I don't need to be so guarded.

"Um- he's my Master."

"What?" Boba blinked, lips thinning slightly where he hovered over a suspicious-looking grate.

Rey shrugged, glancing over her shoulder. "Master. Ya know- my owner? I'm his slave."

He didn't need it to be elaborated. He'd lived through two wars, most likely borderline three; he knew what a slave was. And at that moment, Boba dearly wished to see Unkar's body parts strewn on the floor in a bloody-

"What does this piece look like again?" The kid knew how to draw away from a conversation.

It took him a moment to recall what they were talking about before it clicked.

"Oh- it's about this big," Boba made the rough size with his fingers. "And the metal should look like mine but unpainted." Boba tapped his armour which made a cleaner clink than any other metal in the room would.

"Okay," Rey nodded, turning her back to him as she started to clamber over the closet to look behind it.

Looking back down at the grate he was crouching on with a deep frown, Boba dug his fingers through the holes, shifted his stance, then with clenched teeth and a growl, he jerked it from the ground, lifting it high over his head. It wasn't a small feat. But it got out his building anger.

Then Boba tossed the heavy thing into the corner with a ferocity that had the ship shaking.

Breathing slightly more than he would have liked, he turned when he felt two pairs of wide eyes looking at him.

Yes- why was he getting so attached again?

"Did you find it?" There was a bit more effort put in to keep out unwanted emotions than he would have liked.

"I… think I recall where I put it," Unkar rumbled, averting his gaze.

Good. Be afraid.

"In the back. The cargo hold, in the gold-lined crate."

How convenient he would have forgotten until now.

"Rey, would you mind going to get it?" Boba didn't take his eyes off the Crolute.

"Sure," Rey's eyes darted from him to her master and back before she practically sprinted out of the room. No out of fear, though. That was plain. This kid wasn't one to be frightened.

As soon as Rey had left, Boba shifted to a more threatening stance.

"So," He kept his voice laced with fake amiability." You're Rey's owner?"

Unkar kept his gaze on an extremely interesting alluvial damper.

"I am."

"Where are her parents?" It came out harshly, the question he had no intention of asking.

"I didn't steal her if that's what you're asking," Unkar mumbled, shifting under his tone. "Her parents sold her to me."

Boba felt his stomach drop despite himself, and a low growl escaped his lips.

"They told me," Unkar hurried on, licking his lips. "That it was to keep Rey safe. That it was the only way. And that they would come back- within the month." The Crolute perked up, finally meeting Boba's gaze. "I would sell her for a thousand credits-"

"Shut up," Boba snarled, cutting him off by stepping towards him. "Do you know where her parents are?!"

Unkar dropped his gaze again.

Good.

"No. They didn't tell me anything else. Only that if they didn't make it back, that I was to make sure the girl was safe. They aren't coming back. I haven't told her… Because-"

"They are coming back!"

Boba looked to his right, and his lips thinned as he saw Rey standing there, glaring hard at Unkar with the heat of Tatooine's two suns.

But she did have the part…

"Girl!" Unkar jerked towards her, fists clenched. Swiftly, Boba raised a hand to his chest, tilting his head slowly. And Unkar stood down.

"You found the part," Boba dipped his head, holding out his palm for the beskar. Gently, it was placed in his hand.

It was heavy. Comfortably so. Boba's father's chest plate. Not the same as the one he wore now, unfortunately. The one he had now he had gotten forged... He wouldn't tell the Crolute exactly what it was worth, which was near the millions. He slowly put it under his cape to click on his back piece.

"Thank you, Rey."

There was a brief and taut silence until Unkar shifted, clearing his throat.

"I will give this to you," Unkar started slowly. "For 1500 credits."

Shoving the bag of credits into the Crolutes chest, Boba pressed firmly. He knew it was unnecessary, but he did it anyway.

"... I'll show you the way out," Rey offered, speaking in the silence.

Boba glanced at her, then finally stepped away from Unkar. "Thank you."

Rey stepped in front of him and beckoned for him to follow. It wasn't a long trip through the seemingly never ending scrap, and soon they made it out from the cool ship and back into the sweltering suns.

If it was possible, Nima outpost seemed even busier.

"Teedo and his henchmen would have just come back," Rey informed him, and Boba followed her gaze to a squat tiny humanoid in a rectangle helmet.

"They seem harmless," Boba commented, gaze trailing one of them who was currently getting trampled on by his steed.

Rey let out a low snort, shaking her head. "Until they corner you and overrun you."

Boba only hummed in acknowledgement, side-stepping one of the said beings. The traffic flow seemed to only increase the closer they came to the edge of the tents, even as the exit was within view. A long, straight path that opened to the vast desert, and in the same distance, a star destroyer sat, with the Slave I waiting for him. It was only then that he noticed how quiet Rey had been for the last ten minutes and turned to ask her about it. She beat him to talking.

"You were asking about me?"

Of course, she would ask this.

"Yes," Boba said simply.

"Why?"

"I was curious."

There was a brief pause where Boba had to pull Rey out of the way of a ginormous being with metal shoulders and arms.

Then they continued walking, but Boba kept watching her as she bit her lip, looking down in consideration. He was tempted to ask her what she was thinking, but he had long since learned the art of waiting. Even if it was on a ten-year-old.

Finally, Rey looked up, a new sort of firmness in her eyes that would have been near frightening had she been an adult.

"They are coming back, you know. You don't need to worry about me."

"I know," Boba rasped, scanning the horizon. It was true. He bet that she could take care of herself. But she shouldn't have to.

NO child should.

Finally, after unashamedly kicking some of the filthy teedo out of the way, they made it to the edge of the town. And they turned to face each other.

"Thank you," Boba dipped his head at Rey. Hesitation laced his mental actions, as he knew what he wanted to do…

Force- Finnic was gonna kill him.

Rey gave him a small, and if he wasn't looking too far into it, sad smile.

"Thank you too."

Boba turned to face the desert, took three steps forward, then stopped and turned back to face the little girl.

"If… you had the chance to search for them," Boba said slowly. "Your parents. Would you take it?"

"W-what?"

"Would you take it?"

Rey blinked, then looked down at her feet. There was a moment of silence.

Then she looked up.

"Yes."

Instantly, Boba turned back to face the town and marched through the crowd, ignoring all the other sentients. Taking his long rifle off of his back as he moved, he stalked right back to the ship they had come off of. He ignored Rey's calls that came from behind him. Unkar was standing on the ramp, hands on hips, his scowl back, talking to a Rodian. But the Crolute looked up, scowling before his expression melted into one of fear.

"What-"

BANG!

A single hole sat in his chest, right above his heart. Unkar stared at it, jaw loose as if he could never have fathomed a day that this could have occurred.

"Rey isn't yours anymore," BOba growled at the creature. Then he pivoted on heel and stalked back to where Rey was staring, eyes wide. The heavy thunk of a body in no way hindered his pace.

This time, though, all beings scrambled to get out of his path. There was one of the mountable creatures to the side, and without pause, Boba grabbed its reigns and pulled it along with him.

No one argued.

Then he came up in front where Rey was still staring up at him. And once again, he raised his free hand up to his helmet and pulled it off, leaving the bucket hanging at his side.

Then Boba let the edges of his mouth quirk into a smile and offered her his hand.

"Should we go find your parents?"

It looked like it took Rey a moment to catch up before she beamed the brightest smile he had ever seen. Almost running forwards, and to Boba's surprise, she wrapped her arms around his waist tightly.

"Yes. Yes yes yes!"

Boba chuckled, lifting her up and onto the front mount. Then he himself hooked his foot into the strap and pulled himself to the back, taking the reins in his hands.

"Then let's go."

A/N2 Further editing will be done ;) This was around the time I joined though... *Nostalgic sniff* Hope you enjoyed it! Please R&R! (Also, I might make this a series, so look out ;)