(A/N I mean, mixed messages are confusing! lol

Enjoy!)

Din watched as Teena took the cylinder of Beskar with her right hand and turned it every direction to study it. She praised her kids and hid her injury. He allowed her a few precious moments to take in their obvious joy until he would force her to go to the med bay.

He wanted to take her the moment she was hurt, and felt particularly guilty about hurting her by accident, but she hadn't exactly allowed that. She fought with such purpose and passion that he was powerless to force her withdrawal. It was exhilarating. But her injury in what was supposed to be a simple sparring match showed his carelessness. He needed to be in more control if he was expected to lead.

Considering Teena, as she was, made him appreciate the captain and her leadership abilities. She did not try to sway him or force his hand, but held her ground and enforced the decisions she'd made of her own path. She saw things as a Mandalorian should; even sparring could be a fight for dominance in the right conditions. It took him longer than it should have to notice she was fighting for her freedom, rather than to just sharpen her skills.

He sighed and caught her attention.

"Your wrist," he said simply, earning a glare from her.

"What happened?" Dev asked as Na'sara reached for her hand. Teena dodged her grab and held the injured limb to her chest.

"We were sparring. I anticipated an opening for a counter-attack, and didn't see his follow-up. I should have been dodging or shielding, but instead I threw my wrist in the way of his foot." She chuckled and laughed, continuing to chatter with them as if it was no big deal. As if things hadn't really changed between them.

Had they?

He wanted to believe that she was staying. She'd called him Mand'alor. Her Mand'alor. Surely she was staying. It was too easy to imagine the dynamic that the Armorer had suggested where he could lean on her for guidance. She had the experience, surviving the underworld and captaining her ship.

She'd also made fun of him.

And caressed his cheek.

That he hadn't expected. She could be so strong and unyielding at times, but she chose to be gentle with him when he'd made himself vulnerable to her.

And she made fun of him.

Burk'yc dala, so difficult to understand and ready to chayaikir. [Dangerous woman; tease]

"Are you going to spar some?" she asked the kids. "I'd like to see what habits you pick up on if you-"

"You are going to the med-bay," he interrupted with no room for argument. She gave him a bit of a surprised look, glared for a second, and then nodded.

"I guess I'll see what you pick up on later," she smiled at the two. She gave Nala a nod of appreciation and let him lead her down the hall.

He enjoyed the moments of silence as they walked. It was a good time to reflect and observe. She held herself differently here, putting up a front. She stood tall and strong, a challenge to any who question her right to be there.

He chuckled a little, thinking that she did not need a facade to be strong.

.

"Mand'alor? Su cuy'gar!" the medic said at their entry. Teena made an effort to scowl, doing her best to make it clear she didn't think she needed to be here. Like the others, the medic eyed her curiously for a moment before turning back to Din. "Are you here for an inspection?" [hello]

"No, I can't work with more than a simple field-aide kit. Duchess Kenobi sprained her wrist while sparring," he answered.

"Copaani mirshmure'cye?" she bit out at him, incredulous. "I do not accept that title, and I don't even know if my clan has accepted me." [You want a smack in the face?]

He considered her for a moment before shrugging.

"Cuy ogir'olar. She needs her wrist checked." [doesn't matter]

The medic scrutinized them for a moment before bringing over the tools. And a bacta-needle.

Teena just glared at everything, trying not to react as he removed her bracer. He asked how the injury had happened when she'd been wearing Beskar, so she had to explain how her baton had been between Din's boot and her bracer, and her grip on it was what bent her wrist to such an awkward angle.

Din remained in the corner. Silent and watching.

"You can leave now." She didn't mean to snap at him, but she was a little annoyed that he felt she couldn't take care of this herself on her own ship and more than a little pissed that he'd thought to introduce her as the Duchess of Clan Kryze. If anyone took the title it would be Bo Katan, but she would never tie herself to her sister's leadership style like that.

"I know," he answered.

She stewed. Why couldn't they just get along?! They were stuck in a relatively small ship together for weeks and yet they still found ways to get on each others' nerves. Even when they were trying to be respectful!

Taking a breath, she acknowledged that that wasn't entirely fair. She had just been teasing him about his insecurities like, 15 minutes ago. He was just paying it back in full.

"All done," the medic announced.

She rolled her wrist, testing it, and nodded.

"Vor'e," she smiled at him. [Thanks]

He raised his eyebrows at her shift in demeanor but gave her a nod and headed to another corner of the room.

She left the room with Din at her heels.

"Where are my ade now, Djarin?" she asked without even looking at him.

"With Nala," he answered as they made it to a lift.

He pressed for the bottom floor before she could send it up to the sparring room.

Turning she jabbed her finger into his chestplate.

"Where-"

He grabbed her hand away gently.

"You will craft your armor."

She blinked at him then tore her hand from his grip.

"I will," she allowed, "after I speak to my children. Every decision I make affects them, even if they don't make the same one."

She glared at him, daring him to counter her argument.

"I will tell Nala to have Beskar ready for you tomorrow," he conceded.

"I don't need your express attention, Mand'alor," she told him with exasperation. "I'll talk to her when she drops the kids off at the ship."

"You won't sleep in the barracks?"

"Not tonight. Too much going on. Not even sure where they are or which bunks to claim."

He nodded along with her reasoning and when the lift stopped he redirected it to the floor with her hanger.

"You said Clan Kryze hasn't accepted you?"

She watched him, trying to figure out what he wanted to know. He had plainly seen the drama unfold between her and Aunt Bo. She even attempted to reach out with that extra awareness that she didn't actually know how to wield.

She just shrugged, trying to keep him from seeing how hurt she was to admit it. How her pain was manifesting as anger. How it was just one more question and confusion amid her weightless life.

"If you are not welcome among Clan Kryze, Clan Mudhorn could use the ranks."

Once again he managed to knock the breath out of her as she considered his offer.

"Thank you, Mand'alor," she smiled softly. "I need to talk to my family first."

He gave her one more nod before the lift opened and they made their way to the hanger.