Chapter 2 : Nightmare

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Cara was startled in the middle of the night by a scream. This time, the noise was coming from the bedroom, not from the street. She didn't waste any time and walked into the bedroom.
The blade of light slipped through the half-open door, allowing her to see the bed and the outline of the body lying there in the darkness. She noted the agitation of Din's muscles, the rapidity of his breathing, and his scarcely audible and unintelligible words as soon as she sat down at his she placed her hand on his back, she noticed that it was just hidden by a thin fabric. She didn't know what to do because it was so sudden. She reasoned that it was now too late to give up. Her friend was jolted awake from her nightmare with just a few shakes.
He sat down after straightening up. He was perspiring, panting, and shivering slightly. Cara softly squeezed his wrist as she slipped her hand from his back to it. She said softly.

"Din, it's me. I came to see how you were after hearing you scream. I thought you were wearing your armor."

As he responded, his breathing was still ragged and his lips trembled.

"No, it's not a problem. I'm sorry... I'm sorry for waking you up... I'd been getting a..."

"It's a nightmare. Do you want to tell me something about it, Din? Do you want me to stay?" she inquired, her hand grasping his.

With a shake of his head, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation.

"No, you should return to your bed."

"Are you certain?"

"Sure".

"All right, I'm going," she said.
She was about to stand up when she noticed Din still had her hand in his. Obviously, without realizing it.

You'll have to return my hand if you want me to leave. The truth was that he was in desperate need of her. She was well aware that she couldn't leave him alone.

"I'm going to sit for a little longer. You don't have to speak with me, but I believe it would be helpful."

He sighed.

"Essie, my seventy-year-old neighbor, likes me," she said. "She couldn't bear the woman who had previously resided here. She was loud and still took new guys home, among other things.
She was afraid that something would happen again when I arrived. However, time passed. There was no man, and there was no noise. She was finally relieved. She likes me very much now.
Put yourself in her shoes: if the first man I bring home keeps her awake, I'm ready to say "Goodbye" to our relationship."

She became silent and heard a very light giggle. At the very least, she had amused her friend. She was so pleased that she dared to ask.

"What happened in your nightmare ?"

Din cleared his throat, then whispered back.

" I am an orphan."

" Yeah, I know."

" It came back to me... the day when... when my parents..."

" When you lost them?"

" Yes, when they attacked us."

" Make a move ! Give me back half of my bed !"

"We had to leave because the Empire was attacking our colony. I was in my mother's arms, hearing shootings, explosions and screams. I could see my parents' faces full of terror. I could see them bending over me as they hid me. As they hid me, I could see them leaning over me. I was nervous and scared as I waited in the dark. I was startled to see light and a droid looking back at me. Finally, a Mandalorian reached out to me as he fell from the sky, and I caught him as hard as I could."

"You did good. This day brought you a new family, but it also brought you the loss of the first. Din, I'm deeply sorry about that "Cara said softly as she reached for his hand and pressed it against hers. Then there was a brief period of silence. Cara's presence provided all of the warmth he needed. Din's breathing slowed, and she realized he was sleeping.
It was time to go, so she carefully got out of bed and returned to the living room, half-opening the door. She immediately fell asleep.

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Din blinked. He had woken up as soon as he felt the mattress shift slightly and the warm pressure on his hand and against his shoulder vanished. He had wanted to hold Cara back, but he felt too guilty to ask.
He could no longer relax now that he was alone. He straightened up and sat on the edge of the bed thinking about his situation, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and nervously crossing and uncrossing his fingers. Then he wanted to go out, to breath the night air. He looked down at his beskar helmet, which was illuminated by light from the half-open door. Beskar was not reassuring for the first time in his life. Wearing it would not provide him with the freedom he needed. He was convinced that no one would see his face on a moonless night in a desolate courtyard.

He only had his sleeping clothes on when he left. He crossed the living room and out onto the terrace, taking care not to wake Cara. The air was cold, and the dew had made it slightly damp.
A gentle breeze caressed his face, hands, and bare feet. The first signs of dawn above him reminded him that he wouldn't be able to stay here for long.
He began walking towards the pool. The rough slabs covering the ground gave him the comforting feeling of sticking to the stone under his feet. He sat at the pool's edge and dipped his hands into the cool water. He sprayed his face and hands, and tingled as droplets trickled down his shoulders and chest.
He felt better just by feeling water on his skin that was exposed to fresh air. He realized who his guest was without even facing her as light footsteps approached.
"Damn it, Din! We are in the middle of the night !"
"I know. Sorry if I woke you up."
"No need to excuse, it doesn't matter", she answered.
She then ordered him to go back to bed, placing an affectionate hand on his shoulder. She added that she would stay with him to console him.
Din decided to get up and join her without saying anything now that he knew he wouldn't be alone.

Later, he sat on the bed, staring out the open door, and carefully listened to the sounds from the living room. A liquid was pouring and footsteps were approaching, then Cara's silhouette appeared in the doorway. In one of her hands, she held a cup.

"Drink," she said as she sat on the edge of the bunk. "It will help you sleep."

Din cautiously took the cup in his hands but did not place it to his lips.

"Take a drink. There is no poison, I assure you "Cara was adamant.

No poison, just a large dose of sleeping pills to ensure a restful night's sleep.

"I'm sorry Cara "Din murmured to himself as they sat face to face.

" Don't be stupid !" She interrupted.

"You're not going to thank me for lying in my own bed. I'm your friend, Din. I'm helping you because you're clearly not fine. It's not surprising, given what's happened today.
Now put your thoughts aside and try to sleep."

She closed her eyes and hoped her friend did as well. Din's breathing began to deepen soon after.
He had nodded off. Despite her exhaustion, she was unable to sleep because her mind was preoccupied with the man lying beside her.
He had shown a complex personality today.
The once self-assured, dynamic, and charismatic Mandalorian warrior became a frail, highly sensitive, and hesitant man. She had to deal with her friend's dual personality from now on.
The first was Mando, who was wearing his helmet and armor, and the second was Din, who was without his beskar carapace.
As a friend, she had helped Mando numerous times. It was easy because she was used to action and fighting.
Helping Din was more complicated because she had never dealt with a situation like this before. She had expended more energy in just a few hours with her friend than she had in a full day of fighting.
She was dreading to the next two days. It was a sensation she hadn't felt in a long time.

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Dawn lights came through the blind slaps, which was half closed. As soon as the sun rose, the room would be fully lighted. Cara got up and shut the blind to restore the darkness. Soon after getting into bed, she fell asleep.