Author's Note: The following contains manipulation and mental abuse.
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Din hauled ass to arrive on Mandalore's moon before Vissna and Paz. He walked around the ruins outside an old mine, once used to arm the Mandalorians who lived there. It wasn't long before a spice freighter landed near his ship.
Paz exited the ship first, followed by a very beaten looking Vissna. Her eye was black and swollen, her hand was red and puffy, her neck red and irritated. "Looks like you two got along well," Din joked.
Vissna ignored the joke and jumped on him, in an awkward embrace. She threw her arms around his neck but he didn't return the embrace. Even if he secretly wanted to, especially given her current state. "I didn't think you'd come," she whispered.
"I'm here," he said plainly.
She nodded, backing away from him, "so you are."
"Why are we here?" Din asked.
"She doesn't actually know where the mines under Mandalore are," Paz snickered.
"You look rough buddy," Din smirked.
"You left me alone with your dragon," Paz complained.
"Let's go see if there's any bacta spray in the freighter," he said.
"Yeah that's fine," Vissna called, "I'll just be over here working my ass off while you two play doctor." She started lifting away debris from the old mine using the force. She had enough power to excavate the whole thing, thanks to her little scuffle with Paz. If she didn't find the magical Mando water here, the least she'd hoped to find was salvageable beskar pieces.
/
Paz and Din sat together in an empty cabin. Din had the medical kit on his lap. Paz laid down on the bed, feeling like he could sleep for a day. "Your girlfriend's crazy," Paz smirked.
"She's not my girlfriend," Din said, uncapping the bakta spray and scooting his chair closer to the side of the bed. He took two fingers and gently lifted the fabric off the cut in his side, then he sprayed causing Paz to grunt.
"Fuck, I hate your beast," Paz winced.
Din swallowed. Maybe Paz would help him after all. "So, what happened?" He probed.
Paz chuckled, "nothing."
"No," he sighed, "not like that."
Paz took the can of bakta spray from Din and unloaded onto his arm, holding in a groan as he did. "Nothing. She's a bomb, she just goes off."
"She's unstable," Din agreed.
"It's fucking brilliant. If she beats the shit out of her allies, I can't wait to see her unleashed upon her enemies," Paz said sitting up in bed.
Dank Farrik, Din thought, he liked her. "She's dangerous," Din added. "She could have killed you."
"Why you Din?" He asked. Din shook his head, but didn't answer. "She's a weapon. Why did she pick you to wield her? What's so great about you?"
"Gee thanks Paz, you're a real friend," he mused.
"I want your beast Din. Let me know when you're finished breaking her in," Paz joked.
"I'm being serious," Din said sternly.
Paz stood up and so did Din, Paz still towered over him. "So was I," he sneered. Then he tossed the can back to Din. "She might need a spray, I got her pretty good."
Din shook his head, "she won't let me use it on her. She uses her pain to her advantage, it somehow… strengthens her."
Paz smiled to himself. "I like her, she's a warrior. Maybe I'll throw her into the living waters too, make her a Mandalorian." He joked, but Din didn't find it funny.
/
Vissna felt Din's presence as she continued to haul boulders away from the mine's entrance. She could tell Din's conversation with Paz didn't go as planned. All she had to do was gain Paz's confidence and admiration. What better way than to challenge him? Put up a good fight, and let him win, let him keep his pride. Let him believe he still had what it took to put her in her place. Din felt the same way an animal did when it was backed into a corner. Like it ran out of options and could either succumb to its predator or fight.
Vissna stopped moving around the earth when Din was directly behind her. She leaned back into him and sighed. "When did I lose your trust?" She asked. He took two fingers and rubbed her sore neck, she moaned.
"I'm not sure you ever had it," he confessed.
"What is the weapon on your back?" She asked, though she already knew the answer. "It's a disruptor rifle isn't it? Aren't those illegal for a reason? …remind me why?"
"I know what you're getting at. We aren't the same Vissna." Din cupped her neck possessively.
"What do you mean?" Vissna replied innocently, "I was only thinking, that's one of the most excruciatingly painful weapons in the galaxy on your back. And that's not how I'd want to die. Disintegration… so painful… Hmm.. The next time you use the rifle, can I stand next to you? I just want to feel your victims' pain."
"Stop," he ordered.
"Where did you even manage to find it? Did The Armorer make it for you? Can she make me a disruptor pistol? Of course, I prefer a saber, but for a disruptor pistol… I might just be swayed into guns." She mused.
Din squeezed her neck firmly, and she moaned, "Vissna, I said stop." He ordered again.
"Just promise me one thing Din." She said.
Din sighed, "what?"
"Promise that when you kill me, it won't be with your rifle," she said, smirking. Din's grip on her throat loosened. That was a bad joke considering the circumstances. But he would promise that to her anyway. He could never do that to her. "I'd rather die by your vibroblade or your Darksaber," she continued.
"Fine," Din sighed just to get her to change the subject.
"So, what can I do to earn your trust?" She asked. She reached her arm up and back, feeling for the piece of skin between his shirt and helmet. She ran a circle around it with her finger.
"You have to stop lying to me, hiding things from me," he wrapped his arms around her waist, Vissna winced as he squeezed her bruised ribs. He noticed and squeezed harder. She threw her head back and moaned, arching her back and pushing her ass into his crotch. "And you have to stay away from Grogu."
"Ahh, there it is. The whole truth from you at last. The reason why we can't be together. You think killing me will protect Grogu." she concluded. "You're wrong. I would never hurt Grogu. I only ever wanted to help him, protect him, just like you." Vissna turned around and put a hand on his neck. "You won't live forever," she said. She forced a new scene into his mind. A snippet into the future. His dead body, gunned down. Grogu standing above him, not moving. Grogu looks a bit older, but not by much.
"No!" Din shook his head and gripped his helmet, like it was becoming too tight on him. "No more lies Vissna!" But the image persisted.
"It's the future Din. Your future. It's a promise. It will happen unless we do something about it." She said coldly.
"No!" Din shouted, he dropped to his knees shaking his head, trying to fight off the image that Vissna maintained inside of him. Grogu cuddled into his lifeless body. Din felt the real need for Grogu to run. Someone was coming for him. "Leave!" Din screamed. "Run!" But Grogu didn't hear him, he stayed. Then he was joined by a group of what Din knew to be ex-imperialists…. In this vision the empire had returned. Grogu held his hand up but nothing happened, because he left the Jedi Order and his powers faded. He was helpless. Captured.
Vissna released her hold on Din just as Paz ran out of the ship, blaster drawn, to investigate the commotion. "Now you see what I see, Din." Vissna said softly.
"No!" He shouted.
"You now understand what I am troubled with. You saw what will happen if I don't help Grogu to master his abilities," she reached down and tilted his helmet up, forcing him to look up at her, "The Jedi abandoned him. I am the only one who can help him."
"Y-you're the only one who can help him," he repeated.
Vissna smiled, "Good." Vissna enjoyed seeing Din on his knees before her, as it should be. "Rise," she said and Din stood up. "Now go get ready. I'm almost done here." Vissna turned back around and finished clearing a path down into the mines. She reached a hand up and felt her face, her eye was no longer swollen, she palpated her ribs, they no longer felt sore.
Din passed Paz on the way back to the ship. "You … okay?" Paz asked. Din didn't answer.
/
