Chapter 5: The Stranger
I languidly awoke to the sound of light wind whistling upon a makeshift window above me. Tiny beads of sand waved as they passed, their mirthful dance a beautiful contrast to the barren landscape in their background. The tension in my body seemed to have receded, my energy fully restored only after a few hours of deep slumber. What's more is that I felt so secure. Safe. For a few moments, it seemed as though I was in a vivid dream…
...until I felt a warm form lying peacefully at my side.
My body became rigid as I willed away the blurriness in my vision. I craned my neck upwards and felt Din's broad chest rhythmically rising and falling. His solid arm was securely fastened over my waist as I continued to rest my head upon his chest. As what had happened finally hit my central processing unit, my eyes widened. Now I was wide awake! I was of two minds about what to do in this particular predicament; verily, my body clearly enjoyed the comfort and closeness of Din's presence - and yet, my mind was screaming in panic. Clearing my throat, I waved my hand in front of Din's visor. My head tilted to the side in silent observation. No movement. Not wanting to wake him, I attempted to lift his arm as slowly as possible from my form. At the speed of an old tortoise, I shifted my body from his, carefully removing the blanket on top of me. I managed to sit upright without a hitch.
Or so I thought.
As I was about to stand from the bed, I heard:
"You don't have to be so quiet. You woke me up a while ago with your snoring."
My compunctious demeanour instantly shifted to playful annoyance. It was definitely too early for this! I pursed my lips and threw Din a tired look to underscore my statement. "I do not snore!"
"How would you know if you're asleep?"
I released an irritated grunt.
Ever so slowly, he pressed his index finger to what appeared to be his lips, then nudged a thumb towards the child's floating crib beside him. "You're going to wake the child with your Wookiee cries."
The nerve! Where does he get this much energy to annoy me this early in the morning? A puff of air escaped my lips as I tried my best to remain calm. However, this only worked for a few moments. In retaliation, I took my pillow and generously shoved it upon Din's helmeted face. "Shh, it's time to go back to sleep now."
A slightly muffled voice reverberated through the feather-filled torture device. "You know, this is an act of war for my people."
I took a moment to consider his response, then erupted into laughter.
At that moment, random babbles sounded. I (regretfully) retrieved the pillow from Din's face as we both turned our attention towards the child's crib. Din stood from the bed first, then opened the crib's cover with his vambrace. I followed closely behind.
The tiny creature was already sitting up when the cover whooshed open, its hands extended in front of it as it braced itself upon the crib's rim. It regarded the two of us with its large, curious eyes, then released a high-pitched sound that truly resembled "hi". My heart just about melted at the sight. I placed a hand on Din's arm. "May I hold him?"
He nodded calmly, taking a slight step to the side. I couldn't help but notice the almost imperceptible buoyancy in his steps as he proceeded to get dressed.
Ever so delicately, I carried the child in my arms, holding it closely to me. I playfully rubbed my nose upon its nose, eliciting a gleeful cry. "Good morning, little one." Its tiny hand tapped at the side of my face in greeting. "I think someone got some good sleep as well!"
It gurgled happily in response.
I gently lowered it onto the bed, then proceeded to fix its somewhat disheveled clothing. It gazed at me with a small, toothy grin, even extending its arms to its sides as I worked on the sleeves of its tan shirt. Though young, its eyes bore such wisdom beyond its years. I had never seen anything like it in my life - not that I was the most well-travelled individual, but, at the very least, I figured I would have heard some tales about or seen some images of a creature like this one.
How was Din supposed to find its people in this vast galaxy when it's difficult to even figure out where to start?
I could feel Din's eyes upon me even before he appeared at my side. With a light hand, he rested a palm on my shoulder and said, "You should get something to eat."
As I nodded, his hand remained still for a brief moment, then trailed down the exposed skin of my arm in a steady manner. My body erupted in trembles at the exploratory touch. "I'll get you and the child…" I swallowed the lump in my throat as he continued to run his calloused fingers upon me, "...something to eat."
"Thank you."
I felt lightheaded as I left the room and shut the door behind me. I could still feel Din's fingers on my body as though his touch burned me. It took a moment for me to steady myself, but I somehow managed to quell the desire to touch Din in return.
I perceived Kuiil, who was already preparing some food, standing in the common area. I smiled at him warmly, and he nodded amicably in return. With arm outstretched, he asked, "How did you sleep?"
"That was the best sleep I've had in a while, actually." I took his hand in mine in an exhibition of gratitude. "Thank you for your kindness, Kuiil."
He threw me a perceptive glance. "I was worried that you wouldn't be comfortable with the Mandalorian."
"It was," I gulped, mindlessly fidgeting with my trousers, "it was fine."
He paused for a moment, appraising me. "Not sure if you can see it yet, girl," he then threw me a knowing look, "but I can see that he cares for you."
"What?" I furrowed my brow and eyed him quizzically. "But we barely even know each other."
"That does not make it any less true." He gave me a curt nod as he opened the kiln door. "I have spoken."
(V)(V)(V)
A few days passed. Kuiil, our ever so gracious host, kindly permitted us to stay in his home without want of payment. However, my rising guilt would not allow me to occupy another being's home - particularly someone who had been a complete stranger to begin with - without an exhibition of gratitude. So, on a daily basis, Din and I - and sometimes even the sweet child - helped Kuiil tend to his daily duties, especially for the farm. Din, in particular, really took a liking to caring for the blurrgs. To my surprise, the majestic beasts appeared to enjoy his company in return. I don't think Din really appreciated the blurrg slobber whenever they licked him, but I also don't think that he minded their exhibition of affection too much! The routine, and even mundane, nature of our days was strange at first; however, it was not long before I craved such a life. A life without the worries of war, loss, and death.
Is there a galaxy where that was even possible?
Though the days were long, I never really found the time to think about the moment Din and I shared, or about what Kuiil had said to me. Perhaps I didn't want to think about either of those things, and I purposely buried them in some compartment in my brain.
What am I so afraid of?
Din, as usual, never really said much, and I did not desire to press the matter. He felt indebted to me somehow - that, I understand. However, what I did not understand was why he would also remain on this planet if he had a quest to complete. Though, after seeing how he interacted with the child, I began to think that perhaps he did not want to part with it at all.
What I did appreciate, however, was the growing comfort that Din displayed with me - and the growing comfort that I felt with him - as each night passed. Though he remained guarded with me in some respects, he didn't appear to be too worried whenever I played with or cared for the child. He also stopped becoming too rigid every time I was close. He even woke me up a few times with his snoring (though he refuses to believe me). Though he was a man of little words, the kindness that he had given Kuiil in return, the caring that he exhibited for the child, and his atonement for any wrongdoing against me illustrated that the man who bore the mask, in my eyes, was more than just a bounty hunter.
After another hearty breakfast made by the master cook Kuiil, the Ugnaught motioned for us to meet him outside. Din and I shared a look and both shrugged, unaware of what Kuiil had in mind. With the child enthusiastically waddling in between us, Din and I exited the main shelter and strode into the mid-morning sun.
"I have procured something from the desert and have been working on restoring it." Kuiil slowly made his way towards us, the contraption held firmly in his hands. He offered it almost reverently to Din, who inspected it thoroughly. "You are a Mandalorian. I suspected it would be better suited in your possession."
"Thank you." Gratitude lined Din's posture, and he bowed his head to the Ugnaught. "It has been a while since I have trained in the Rising Phoenix."
Kuiil raised his brows in surprise, then threw me a smirk. "Then perhaps you should try it."
I nodded excitedly and gave Din an expectant look. He let out a sharp sigh and shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, what the hell. Alright."
Din strapped the contraption on his back. He fidgeted around with it for a few moments, then programmed his vambrace.
I gave him two thumbs up in encouragement as he steadied his stance.
He cocked his head to the side. "Here goes nothing."
He pressed a button on his vambrace and hardened his posture.
Flames burst from the engines of the gadget…
...propelling him promptly towards the ground, face first.
I jumped slightly at the impact and watched Din struggle to roll over like a wounded tortoise. A sharp snort came out of Kuiil's nose as he put a fist over his mouth to quell his laughter. I, on the other hand, couldn't control the tickling sensation in my stomach and accidentally burst out laughing.
"Alright, you two, that's enough!" Din grunted as he finally managed to push himself off the ground. "This thing is faulty!"
"Sorry!" I called out, waving to him in apology. He flitted his hand dismissively at me, shaking his head and grumbling to himself.
His next try was a tad bit better. This time, he made it a few meters off the ground, flying steadily. He guided his movements with his arms outstretched at his sides, the propulsion fierce, yet manageable. I shielded my face from the beating sun with a hand as I attempted to follow his flight path. He encircled us above, then flew farther into the distance. For a brief moment, he looked downward and fiddled with the controls on his vambrace.
My eyes widened as he continued at the same speed of flight…
...right towards a blinking vaporator.
"Din!" I yelled, pointing frantically at the obstacle before him. "Vaporator!"
He peered down at me, shaking his head. "What?"
"Vaporator!"
He looked up and saw it just in time. He banked to his right abruptly, just narrowly missing it. The manoeuvre, however, caused one of the engines to sputter momentarily, which sent him haphazardly downward towards our direction.
"Oh, for the love of…" I began exasperatedly, spinning on my heels to run away. "Turn! Damn it, Din, turn!"
Din flew upward, straightening his body vertically, in order to lessen his speed. Though I clearly moved out of the way and attempted to evade the flying missile, he still somehow managed to land a few meters from me, kicking up a lot of sand and dirt in the process towards my direction. As he made it to his feet and started to walk towards me, the literal dust settled all over my body, covering my once olive-coloured face with yellow and brown sand, peppered with highlights of clumps of dirt.
Kuiil's voice sounded. "Oh dear."
I opened my eyes slowly and released a cough, liberating a puff of sand from my lips.
I stared daggers at the Mandalorian before me.
"Sorry," Din said simply, shrugging his shoulders.
"You did that on purpose!" I retaliated in a scathing tone, shaking a finger in his direction.
"You're not...entirely wrong."
"Oh!" I used the sleeve of my tunic to frantically wipe my face. "You are incorrigible!"
He gave me a thorough once-over, then crossed his arms. "You'll live."
"Well," Kuiil called out, just as I was raising my arms in an exhibition to strangle Din, "Perhaps you could try again, Mando!" He gestured to the other side of his home. "But perhaps you can do so over there instead."
The child giggled, as though in agreement.
Before I could even lay a finger on him, Din's contraption lifted him off the ground, out of my reach. With a chuckle at my annoyance, he gave me a salute. "Duty calls."
(V)(V)(V)
Though Arvala-7's landscape left much to be desired, the scenery at nightfall was indeed beautiful. It would be difficult to grow tired of how the multitude of twinkling lights above us blanketed the velvet skies, of how quiet everything was. I learned to welcome the planet's peace and tranquility, and it wasn't difficult to realize just why Kuiil chose to stay here after his years of servitude.
In the distance, the Ugnaught switched on a portable work light and examined the state of Din's ship as he prepared to make repairs. I couldn't help but shake my head in awe at the consistent work ethic that he displayed. "Din, does Kuiil ever stop working?"
"I don't think so." Din walked to my side, replacing the rifle he had been cleaning upon his back.
I gave him a sideways glance, studying him. "I'm assuming that the Mandalorians also endeavour to perfect their respective skills?"
He gave a curt nod, then took a seat beside me on the log. "This is the way." He knocked a fist upon his breastplate, then motioned to his rifle. "I was raised in the Fighting Corps as a Foundling. The armour, the weapons...this is part of my religion."
I smiled in understanding, then gave him a light nudge on his arm. "Well, I will need to thank the Mandalorians for training you so well. I would most likely have met my end if it weren't for you."
"Although…" he shifted in his seat, "...had I not taken the bounty, you would not have been in danger."
"No, Din." I shook my head, then took his hand in mine. "If not you, it would have been someone else. Diabhal will not rest until she has me and the others."
His gaze lowered to where we touched as his thumb began to caress the back of my hand. "Then we'll just have to make sure she doesn't find you."
Without a thought, I moved closer to him, instinctively seeking the warmth of his body. Then, ever so slowly, I rested my head on his shoulder. He made no protest against my actions. "What should we do now?"
"We can't go back to Talamh. They'll be searching for you there." He paused for a moment, then looked down to regard me with fixed attention. "We should stay here for a while longer. I just don't know for how long."
Before I could reply, Din suddenly stood up, swiveled around, and drew his blaster. I shot up with a gasp and looked back. My heart violently drummed in my chest as a shadow steadily advanced towards us. In a swift movement, Din pushed me behind him, shielding me.
A cloaked man appeared, his hands held up across his chest. His blonde hair tousled in the wind as he came closer, inch by inch. The faint moonlight revealed the shine of the armour that he donned beneath the cloak. His square, taut face was calm, his green eyes focused entirely on our forms. "I'm not here to fight." He continued to advance with firm footsteps. "We just want the girl."
"No." Din gripped his blaster more tightly, his aim becoming a little more threatening.
Light footsteps sounded behind the blonde man.
A familiar face then appeared.
"T'iana?" I breathed out, my racing heart slowing down to normal rhythm. I stood stalk still, unable to believe the sight of the apparition before me. Her round face brightened as our eyes met. My eyes then shot up to Din as I held his arm. "Wait," I said quickly, "this...this is a misunderstanding."
Still aiming his blaster at the man, Din twisted his head towards me. "What?"
"This is my friend, T'iana," I stated, my hand gesturing to her. "You found me in her home in Talamh."
With a nod, Din slowly lowered his blaster. I furrowed my brows in confusion as I noticed that he remained tense. I threw him a questioning glance. His stare, however, remained fixed upon the man.
"This is Kriger Onóir," Tiana began, "he's…"
Din finished her sentence with:
"...a Mandalorian."
(V)(V)(V)
A/N: Fun fact: some of the dialogues between Din and Luna were exactly the same as those between me and my husband. (Yes, he makes fun of my snoring!) Art imitating life, truly. Also, I listen to songs for inspiration, and this chapter was certainly influenced by "In Her Eyes" by Josh Groban and "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls (oldies but goodies!).
As always, thank you, thank you, thank you to those who reviewed, favourited, and followed this story. You all push me to keep going! Now that the holidays are over, however, work is getting a bit hectic, but I will endeavour to update as much as possible without posting complete garbage. (I'm definitely my biggest critic, so it sometimes takes 3-4 rewrites or edits of a chapter before I post.) Hope to keep hearing from you all and that you'll stick around to see this story evolve! Cheers. xx IFHD
