Here's a short wrap-up chapter. Just a little bit of bonding time for the pair. Hope you enjoy!


Chapter 2

The Razor Crest shot through space, streaking stars flying past the window of the cockpit. But no one was there to see it. The bounty sat securely in carbonite, almost as if he wasn't even onboard. Meanwhile the mandalorian and the informant made use of the open storage space on the lower level.

Reina panted as she stood, hunched over her knees, barely getting a breath into her lungs. She wasn't sure if she was happy that she convinced him to train her a bit or if she deeply regretting that decision. Mando was a brutal teacher.

"Do it again." Stood before her, arms crossed and completely unbothered. He was infuriating.

Pushing herself further, she straightened back up and placed her feet back into position, arms up and ready. Moving forward, she swung her right arm, and as expected, blocked for the hundredth time by his arm. She was just grateful he had removed a good amount of his armor or she'd really be bruised. More than she was going to be in the morning.

"You give away the movement. Don't hesitate."

"Keep it up and I might not hesitate anymore," she muttered, imagining at what point she would want to actually hit him.

She exhaled and stepped back. Then he moved. Hand on her shoulder as he kicked her leg out from under her, she was on the ground in an instant. Coughing as she tried to breathe, she would have swore at him if she could speak at all. Eyes watering and back aching, she slammed her hand into his arm, palm pounding on his forearm in hopes of budging him. "Get off!" she finally managed to cry.

Mando removed his arm as he shifted back, still crouched over her, but giving her space. "Next time you hesitate and someone else has you pinned, what are you going to do then?"

Reina didn't respond immediately. She sat up, still trying to catch her breath as she wiped the tears from her eyes before she settled on glaring at him. "Well, kneeing you would be dangerous. I happen to like my knee not broken."

A silence settled between them as she rubbed her left shoulder that had unfortunately taken the brunt of his force.

"Sorry," he muttered suddenly and stood up, turning away from him.

"What?" She had barely heard what he said before he was gone from her space. Scrambling to follow him, she quickly pushed herself up. "What are you sorry for? I did ask you to train me. I've done my fair share of fighting before. It certainly won't be my first bruise."

Mando said nothing in reply, ignoring her as he walked over to the ladder. No way was she letting him just shut her out again. They had made so much progress! She at least knew he was a person under all that armor, a person that actually felt things, including guilt it seemed.

With a huff, Reina followed him up the ladder. "Come on! You don't get to sulk now. At least explain yourself if you're going to act like this."

Mando halted, hand clenched as he stared into the entryway to the cockpit. "I don't train others… I…"

When his words failed him, Reina realized just how difficult it was for him. She knew he really didn't interact with people very often. She just hadn't been able to see it past all the hard exterior. Seems he was full of surprises.

"Fine," she said simply, catching his attention. "Then you can make it up to me." It took her only a moment to think of how as she rolled her shoulders, noticing all her sore muscles. "You can rub my poor, abused shoulder," she finished with a pout in her voice, rubbing her shoulder and fluttering her eyes as if he could be tricked by such actions.

One moment… two… She should have expected the silence. Was he annoyed? Tempted? Stunned? Confused? What was behind that stupid helmet of his?

He sighed as he turned around and entered the cockpit. "Come on," he said reluctantly.

"Really?" She had to admit she was surprised if he was actually agreeing. Quickly following behind him, she paused just inside, not sure what he wanted to do now.

Without any instructions, Reina moved to her seat she had claimed for the trip, sitting backwards so Mando could actually reach her back.

Once she pulled her hair over her shoulder, she waited a moment, afraid if she spoke he'd change his mind. Finally, his hands fell onto both of her shoulders and she couldn't help but sigh in relief as soon as he applied pressure. Tentatively, he pressed his fingers into her muscles, testing what seemed to work and pausing if she tensed up.

With her eyes closed, Reina hummed as she felt him work through a stubborn knot, moving down as he went. The man was quite skilled with his hands. She hadn't felt this relaxed in ages. She couldn't help but wonder what else he could do.

Mando paused as he reached her lower back, pressure lightening as he withdrew his hand a bit.

Reina wasn't going to let this opportunity go. Taking a breath for confidence, she slow stood up in order to turn back around. Just as Mando went to give her more space, she caught his hand, keeping him close.

"There's still more of me that needs attention if you're willing," she said as she gently rubbed the muscles in his hand. She was surprised to see he had taken his gloves off, but she didn't say anything about it. "I could return the favor even." She couldn't keep the cheeky tone out of her voice as she looked up at him, blindly hoping this wasn't going to end horribly.

Instead of saying anything, Mando stepped forward silently. Reina had no choice but to match his steps, moving backwards. Despite how little space was in the cockpit, she was still surprised as her back hit the wall behind her seat. She couldn't help the racing of her heart, chest rising and falling with each beat in anticipation. "Well?"

"What needs attention?" She swore his voice was husky even though the helmet.

Feeling shy, unable to read his face, she hesitantly grabbed his hand again, tracing her thumb gently of his skin, savoring the feeling of his skin. A mix of smoothness from wearing gloves but still rough from all the fighting and labor.

"All of me needs attention… but you can start wherever you want. Do whatever you want."

At first, she wasn't what he would do. The hesitation was clear, yet when Mando rose to the offer, Reina was pleasantly surprised. And that surprise continued into their unexpected tryst in the cockpit. Every touch, every sensation, every overwhelming feeling. She undoubtedly enjoyed it and she had no doubt he did too in his own silent way. It was certainly nothing she would be regretting any time soon. Perhaps she might even luck out one day and feel that skin of his under her. Dreams for a future day she supposed.

The two stood in silence, their breathing was the only sounds filling the cockpit. The stars still streaked by them, the ship surprisingly on course. Reina had honestly forgotten that they were even moving through space. True to his word, he had certainly made use of his arms. She was sure she would have ended up on the ground long before now if he hadn't been holding her the entire time. Maker, she would never get over how strong he was now.

Fumbling as she snatched her discarded clothes from the floor, she slipped her pants back on. By the time she looked back at Mando, he was already tucked away. If it weren't for a few extra wrinkles in his clothes, she would have thought nothing had happened between them. She could only imagine what kind of a mess she looked like.

As Mando sat down in his seat, checking over the controls, Reina followed after, looking over his shoulder. "Shame our trip couldn't be longer," she teased as she saw how close they were.

Mando hummed in reply, turning his head to glance at her before he looked ahead again. "Not sure the ship could survive you on here any longer."

"Look at that," she laughed as she leaned around his seat. "I didn't know you could make jokes." While an inappropriate joke of her own crossed her mind, she held back for now. No need to scare off the guy. She wouldn't mind that lovely experience to happen again the next time he showed up.

She barely heard what he said next, muttered under his breath. "Nuh'la." The dry note of it however was unmistakable.

"And what exactly doesn't that mean?" she asked, not sure if she should be amused or insulted, before she continued, teasing him regardless of what it meant. "And don't you roll your eyes at me behind that helmet of yours. I've heard that tone plenty."

"Funny," he said yet again in that same dry tone before he shook his head at her. "Now go sit down. We're landing soon."

Reina sighed but did as instructed, not ready to be back but also grateful to not be on a bounty hunt anymore. As the conversation fell away, Mando focused on getting them back to the ground while she watched her home get closer and closer.

It was almost too soon when she found herself standing on Velmor again. She looked up at the Razor Crest reflectively as she realized that despite its junky appearance, it wasn't a bad ship. Mando stopped beside her as he watched her, waiting. It was only after she looked back at him that he held his hand out, dropping the promised credits into her hand.

Blinking at the pile, she almost forgot that he still needed to pay.

"I'll get you the rest once I cash in the bounty."

"That's fine." She stepped back then, glancing towards town. "Guess it's time to go. Feel free to stop in next time you need a little information… Or some company," she added on with a wink before she spun around and walked off, not waiting for a reply. "See you around, Mando."


A/N: I hope you enjoyed this little story. For those interested, there is an alternate version on my AO3 account that contains the entire explicit scene. It is under the same username and title. Hopefully I will be able to come back to this world soon. If so, I will definitely post an update so follow this story if you would be interested or leave a review. Thanks!