Authors Note/Context
This takes place right after season 2 episode 8
I plan on making this tie into my other story called "Together We Are Stronger" and I just wanted to write more about what Mando was doing before the story started. I plan on having this have at least 5 chapters so this is not the only chapter that's going to be on this story even though it kinda closes as the end of a story. Hope ya'll enjoy! I am open to any constructive criticism and feel free to contact me if you see a spelling or grammar issue.
Mando watches as his foundling disappears behind the door.
The Mandalorian imagines Grogu's wide eyes as they make their first and last gaze upon each other's faces without a helmet between them. He's broken the creed but still feels that he did the right thing at the time. Tempted to turn around and let the others see his face, he can't bring himself to it.
The torn bounty hunter bends down and retrieves the helmet from the ground and places it on his head, but still faces towards where he last saw his son. The Mandalorian doesn't quite know what to do since his mission is fulfilled. He asks himself how he survived so many years before he met grogu because he feels has lost his purpose. The childless father wants to say something to the rest of the group but doesn't know what.
His warm tears are still flowing down his face, but not to be seen. Mando tries to stop this empty feeling within him by telling himself that this is what he set out to do. But the Mandalorian's attempts at taming his feelings fail, and his helmet picks up on his labored breathing and occasional hiccup and broadcasts it into the quiet room where the rest can hear.
"Mando…" Cara says empathetically as she walks over to the troubled Mandalorian. "We all know how much the little guy meant to you." She's on the verge of tears herself.
"I- " Mando's voice is shaky, and he tries to swallow all of his feelings at once but cannot.
His hand automatically goes to his belt, searching for the foundlings' favorite ball to comfort him but instead is met with a column of metal. The dark saber. This gives Mando something else to think about, something else to distract him. He's now Mand'alor, and crying about his safe and well-off foundling is not something he thinks a Mand'alor should be doing.
He lifts his head up as he tries to mimic his own meaningful strides, feeling alien to his own action. He steps into the same elevator that his son was just in and he fends off another wave of tears.
"This isn't healthy Mando," Cara reasons with him, "you and I both know it's not."
Everyone else in the room is still, also saddened by the turn of events. Mando still stays silent after a few moments.
Then with a loud hiss, the elevator door slams closed.