I normally quite like soul mate AUs. However this depressing little monster took hold and I had to write it out during lunch.
Warning: implied character death.
Once, when Boba was very young, he asked his father about the bluish green smudge that marred one of the tattoos that crisscrossed Jango's forearms. His father smiled sadly, and because he was a good father, explained quite simply that it was his soulmate's mark, but it was blurred now that they had died. And while he was sad from that loss, at least had memories of the time they had been happy together.
Boba with all the wisdom of a four year old asked if his father wanted to play starships to make Jango happy. With a laugh, Jango settled himself on the floor.
When he was slightly older, Boba asked if he had a soulmate's mark.
"It'll come in when you're older," Jango reassured him.
Jango didn't live to see that mark manifest.
It was probably for the best.
When Boba was nineteen, he met his soulmate.
Then shortly returned to Slave I to burn the visible mark from his skin. He wished he could burn it completely out of himself.
He had met his soulmate.
But he was not his soulmate's soulmate. Made worse that his soulmate's mark had the indicator of true love.
The sliver of hope he had held for some happiness in his life crumbled to dust.
Buy'ce olar, kar'ta ogir
He'd turned cold.
He'd survive.
He'd thrive.
Fett rarely removed his helmet.
Some forty years later and Fett's helping a remarkably stupid Jedi Master and his apprentice evading the First Order and get to the Resistance Base at the behest of the Maz Kanata.
The apprentice will not shut up about looking forward to being with her two soulmates again. Amazing how after so many years the subject still manages to tear Fett apart inside. There are advantages to wearing a helmet.
But with Jedi sometimes even a helmet isn't enough. He really doesn't need to concerned looks Skywalker's giving him. Doesn't need the underlying pity. Just wants this final mission over with so he can go back to his farm and finish out his days.
Stupid Jedi is all Fett can think as Master Skywalker tried to stop the bleeding.
Everything dies. Love. Hope. Dreams. Everything dies.
Fett had accepted that so long ago he barely remembers time it wasn't a core part of his being.
"Give up Skywalker," he wheezed, almost laughing, "There's nothing you can do."
The Jedi master sighed in defeat and turned his attention from trying to keep the life from flowing out of Fett's body to keeping the pain to minimum, as if he knew Fett would never forgive him if he took it away completely.
"Giving up isn't like you, Fett," Skywalker said as he settled himself beside the dying bounty hunter. They were safe enough for the moment.
"I'm tired, Jedi," Fett confessed, "and there's nothing to bind me to this life."
"Your soulmate is still alive," the Jedi tilted his head quizzically, "that much I can feel."
"Yes, and so is his true love. Some of us aren't as lucky as your apprentice, Jedi," but there really wasn't any bite in his words. Fett sighed and let his eyes close, "what is, is, Skywalker. Life's not fair. It'd be hell if it was."
"I don't believe that," Skywalker said quietly, taking hold of Fett's hand. Fett was fading fast
"Suit yourself, Jedi, but I'd hate to think I deserved all the crap that happened to me. Most it probably," he weakly chuckled, "but not all of it."
After that there was just silence.
