A/N: Please note that the following chapter contains mature content.
(V)(V)(V)
Chapter 16: The Retribution
For the umpteenth time that afternoon, I collapsed to the ground on my back with a loud thud, my arms barely able to brace for the impact. With a frustrated grunt, I pushed myself onto my side and looked upwards, seeing Kriger's outstretched hand through the beaming sun above us.
"Again, Luna."
With a low grumble to myself, I took his hand and obliged.
In between his preparations for the impending attack, Kriger had agreed to train me in all things combat while informing me of the overall plans for our offensive. I had spent several days with him and my father, being briefed on the next move against Diabhal while exercising the combat abilities that I used to practice so long ago. Kriger, who now stood in front of me in a fighting stance, had no idea what had occurred between me and Din. Perhaps he had agreed to train me because he felt as though I needed some sort of release from whatever was bothering me; or, likewise, he himself needed a release from everything that had happened. Now that T'iana was gone, it wasn't difficult to see the hole that was left in Kriger's heart.
As though fueled by the maelstrom of emotions within me, I was still able to recall what my father had taught me about fighting, particularly hand-to-hand combat. Muscle memory alone had allowed me to get through the first few sparring sessions with Kriger; however, his life of being a hardened warrior eventually became too much to handle. Nevertheless, he had remained patient, always working with me so I could get better, clearly recognizing that I did have the strength and willpower to press on. During some of the sessions, my father had even come to watch, proud that I still remembered the precious time he had spent honing my skills when I was growing up.
I cooly cracked my neck to the side and stood in my own fighting stance, brows furrowed in determination. "I'm ready."
Kriger rushed towards me without warning, making me instinctively jump back. I raised first my left arm, then my right, blocking his consecutive strikes. Though Kriger was much stronger and larger than I was, I found myself slightly quicker, my legs quite agile while defending. When he attempted to press forward with an overhand right strike, I read his intent correctly and rolled low to the left. He swung and missed, sending him a few steps forward. With a twist of my body, I retaliated with a left hook, stopping the blow just as I made contact with his chin. A sly smirk formed on my lips. "Point for me." I blew some hair from my face. "Finally."
A curt, surprised laugh came from Kriger. "Well done, my apprentice!"
A few of the nearby Mandalorians even hooted and hollered their support as they walked past us. Beaming with pride, I clasped Kriger's arm in respect and gave him a nod. "You just kept hogging all the points!"
"What's going on?"
The familiar voice behind me made my back tense and my smile fade. I had not spoken with Din for days, barely even seeing him around the encampment.
Kriger, oblivious to what I was currently feeling, jogged towards Din with a wave. "Just a little point-based sparring session." The two Mandalorians shared an armshake. "Luna is getting much better. You up for a round or two with her?"
I slowly twisted my head back to see Din's reaction. His body stiffened as his stare fell upon me.
I pursed my lips and tilted my head to the side in challenge, my breaths still heavy from my previous exertion of energy. When he didn't reply, I sharply beckoned for him to step forward. "Come on, then. I don't have all day."
Kriger appeared puzzled at my steely remark, as though he couldn't quite tell whether I was jesting or not. His eyes landed on me, then Din. I didn't pay attention to his reaction and kept my stare locked on Din.
Hesitation emanated from Din's form. "Luna, I don't think…"
"I want you to spar with me. Full contact," I shot back without letting him finish, tightening the protective wraps around my hands. "You obviously don't think I'm capable of fighting, so I'd like to show you."
Kriger appeared even more confused.
Din remained steady, though the concern in his voice was noticeable. "I don't want to hurt you, Luna."
It took everything in my being to not roll my eyes at that moment. I thought about that statement and just how utterly laughable it sounded. Din had already hurt me emotionally; perhaps the least he could do now is just finish the job and hurt me physically. "Don't you worry about that."
Din took a few steps forward, determined. "I know you can take care of yourself, Luna." In a more hushed tone so that Kriger wouldn't hear, he said, "We don't need to do this."
"Are you sparring with Luna this round, Din?" Kriger called out, then took a gulp of his water. "I can sit this one out and go take care of some things if you are."
"He is!" I called out to him with a wave.
"Alright." Kriger nodded, although with a bit of hesitation. Perhaps he had finally caught on. "Just...try not to kill each other, alright?"
I briefly watched Kriger walk away, leaving Din and me alone on the makeshift training ground, then sneered at the Mandalorian in front of me. "Take the armour off and let's go."
To my surprise, Din finally acquiesced, removing the pieces of beskar that adorned him until he had nothing on but his tunic and trousers. I took my fighting stance as he finished, staring at him intently.
Din moved into his fighting stance, then beckoned for me to attack.
I wasn't stupid. I knew that, if Din and I were really fighting, I wouldn't last five seconds.
However, at that moment, that didn't matter to me.
I began with a jab-cross-hook combination, which he easily parried with lithe swings of his arms, moving a couple of paces back. With a growl, I planted my left foot and I shot up with my right knee, aiming straight for his abdomen. Reading the move, he deflected the blow with his elbow, knocking me slightly off-balance and exposing my back. With a hammer fist, he made a move to hit me upon my upper spine, though stopped just before he made contact with the fabric of my shirt. "Point for me," he breathed out.
I angrily knocked his arm from my back as we reset. Without wasting any time, I lunged forward with a front kick in an attempt to keep him at bay. Din jumped back and countered with his own jab-cross combination, which I was barely able to parry away. His fists were so close that I felt the air upon my face as he extended his arms. The speed of his strikes was akin to lightning, and I could only use my arms to defend myself from the barrage of punches and step back farther and farther from his advances. Then, before I could see him do so, Din swiftly moved to my right, slipping away from my oncoming onslaught in the stealthiest of fashions. Suddenly, he was behind me. Before I could move, he wrapped his arms around my body, pinning my arms firmly to my sides. "Yield, Luna," he said, tight-lipped.
I snapped my head back to look at him, eyes flashing with defiance.
With a twist of my body, I was able to make enough room between the two of us to pull my arm free. As Din began to lose his grip on me, I used my shoulder to push him back, then hooked my foot upon the back of his knee and kicked forward with all of my strength. The rapid counterattack caught him off-guard, and he instinctively loosened his hold in order to regain his balance. I used the small window of opportunity to push him away with both hands, which caused him to stumble back a few paces. Before he could stabilize his footing, I lunged low for his back leg, pulling at it as hard as I could. He released a grunt as he finally lost his balance and fell upon his back. Not wasting a second, I followed up the attack and mounted him, one leg on either side of his torso, and placed my arm at his neck. I gave him a smug look. "That's a point for -"
Before I could even finish my sentence, he grabbed the sides of my waist with both hands, bucked upwards, and rolled me over. In an instant, he now straddled me, holding on to my wrists with a hand as he pinned my arms above my head. His other arm was placed upon my neck. He tilted his head. "Actually, I think that's a point for me."
I released a cry of frustration as I found myself down on the ground, on my back, yet again. I attempted to free myself, desperately writhing beneath him. My only goal at that moment was to keep the fight going; besides, I hadn't lost yet. However, something appeared to have changed with Din, his focus on the fight fading.
"Luna, could you please not...move like...that?"
Din's question confused me at first. It was only then that I realized the close contact of our horizontal bodies and how my currently futile attempt at escaping his clutches...stirred things within him. Din seemed slightly embarrassed beneath the helmet as he cleared his throat, trying his hardest to pretend that everything was normal. He stayed as still as he could, as though fighting with himself.
I raised a brow in challenge and pressed onward. "You mean...like this?"
I dug my heels onto the ground and continued to shift beneath him, trying to push him off me with my hips. He remained firm, his grip tightening around my hands, his other arm now supporting him on the grass beside my head. Through the helmet, I could see his burning stare as he peered down at me, much like how a ravenous animal looked at its prey. Din's legs tightened around my body in another attempt to force me to remain still. Then, he gradually lifted his supporting arm, lowering his body closer to mine, and began to slowly trace my lips with his fingertips.
My breaths, already heavy from my efforts, became even more erratic as I began to realize what was happening.
Din's fingers slid from my bottom lip, down to my chin and neck, tracing my exposed flesh until he reached the crevice between my breasts.
"Beautiful," he whispered.
With gritted teeth, I freed my arms from his grip and used my right elbow to make contact with the side of his helmet. With the blow catching him wholly off-guard, I grabbed his collar and thrust my hips upwards, then sideways, managing to push him off of me and roll him to his side. He stared at me without a word as I pushed myself from him and stood, brushing off the dirt from my clothes. "I think we're done here."
(V)(V)(V)
I closed my eyes and revelled in the hot water that poured out of the showerhead above, eager to remove all of the dirt and grime from the day's worth of training. My aching body was finally able to relax, as though being reinvigorated by the water alone. After a few minutes of standing still, just allowing the liquid to run upon my back, I turned off the stream of water with a twist of the shower handle and began to dry off. As I wrapped a towel around my body, I wiped the steam from the mirror in front of me with my forearm, giving my reflection a good look.
My dark eyes had changed somehow, glazed over by simultaneous determination and...sadness. I still mourned for T'iana, constantly replaying the night we had scattered her ashes into a clear, night sky. The Mandalorians had chanted, "Nu kry'adyc, shi taab'echaaj'la", a phrase for the departed. T'iana, I was assured, was "not gone, merely marching away". I resolved that that's how she and her child must be remembered. The determination in my expression, however, was brought on by what I saw within myself during all of the physical training, during everything that I had gone through. Knowing that I was able to defend myself strengthened my resolve to keep fighting, despite the fact that I was not officially within the ranks of my father's army, or part of Kriger's clan.
After all, I didn't need those labels in order to fight for what I believed in.
Kriger's ship was quiet as the Mandalorians retreated to their own cabins to retire for the evening. As I opened the door to my dimly-lit cabin, a sharp movement within caused me to jump.
"I was looking for you," came Din's voice.
I placed a hand on my rapidly-beating heart and attempted to calm down. "And you found me." Like you always seem to be able to do…
"I spoke with Kriger."
I closed the door behind me. Remembering my clothing - or lack thereof - I wrapped the towel more firmly around my body, cheeks burning as he stepped towards me. "And?"
"He told me that this is where you're staying now," he stated, not seeming to even notice my current state of undress. His stare was firmly locked upon my face, arms stalk still on either side of him.
And it was true. I had been staying in Kriger's ship - more specifically, in T'iana's cabin - for the past couple of weeks. In truth, it brought me a sense of comfort, as though I could still be in T'iana's presence even though she was no longer with us. It also helped that it was, in general, more comfortable; I no longer had to sleep in a tent, a slave to the weather, and instead had a nice, warm bed. Moreover, it brought me closer to the life that I could have if I swore the Mandalorian creed and accepted Kriger's offer…
"Yes, that's correct." I said curtly, almost formally. Not willing to expand any further, I marched to the closet behind him to take out fresh clothes. My head twisted back to Din's form. "Do you mind?"
Din didn't back down or allow me to continue what I was doing. He grasped my arm at the elbow and pulled me towards him, then gestured to the armour laid out neatly upon my bed. "What's all of this?"
"Kriger gave me T'iana's armour," I informed him steadily, squaring my jaw.
Din's grip tightened on my arm as he tilted his head slightly to the side in question.
Why did I find it so difficult to tell him?
"He's offered me a place in his clan." My face remained stern despite the sinking feeling in my stomach. "After all of this is done, Clan Onóir will train me as a Mandalorian if I swear the creed."
Din released his grip on me, appearing uncomfortable as he shifted on his feet. "What about your family? Your planet?"
"I could help protect them and other planets if I swear the creed," I reasoned, my voice finding vigour as I continued. "Joining the Grádian Army under the leadership of my father would be fulfilling, but...I'd only be helping my own people. If I were part of Kriger's clan, we could help liberate the oppressed from other planets, be part of something greater…"
Din's chest visibly rose and fell, his body now emanating a deep-seated anger that I did not recognize. "Swearing the creed is not a way out, Luna."
Taken aback by the retort, I scowled, stepping forward. "Excuse me?"
"You swear the creed because you believe it is what is just. That it is what you swear to abide by your entire life - not for a few months, or even a few years. That oath is not to be taken lightly." He shook his head, as though in disbelief. "Would you have even thought about swearing the creed had none of this happened? Had I…" he trailed off for a few moments, "...had I not taken you as my bounty from Talamh?"
"Of course I wouldn't have!" I cried, scoffing at him. "But all of this happened. Look where I am now!"
He remained firm and unyielding. "I see a woman with a choice. With the freedom to live her life as she pleases, away from the pain and destruction of war."
There was something else behind the meaning of his words. Something that he wasn't telling me.
I gestured to his armour. "Is this the life that you want, Din?"
He paused for several moments, the silence growing thick between us.
"It's the only life I know," he finally said, turning his head away from me. "The Mandalorians saved my life and took me in. I am indebted to them."
My brows knitted as I felt the weight of his words. "So if they hadn't saved you, this wouldn't have been your life."
"It's not that simple."
"You and I, we're not so different." I frowned. "We were victims just caught in the crossfire. We have had to make difficult choices because of things that have happened to us. Things beyond our control." My voice softened, the realization dawning upon me at that very moment. "I'm not looking for a way out, Din. I'm looking for a future where I can rebuild my life into something worth living." I took a step back from him, my eyes drawn instead to the Mandalorian helmet upon my bed. "If that future isn't with you, then…"
"Dammit, Luna!" he growled, resting his hands upon the table beside us.
His outburst didn't phase me. "I'm going to make the decision based on what I want, whether you like what I decide or not. And I am going with you on the attack, whether you like it or not."
"No." His temper flared even more as he held out an index finger towards me. "You are not coming with us."
With a shake of my head, I took another step back from him, severing our connection even more. "You cannot tell me what I can and cannot do." I pursed my lips into a thin line and raised my chin. "Last I checked, my father is in charge of the Coalition, not you."
Frustration lined his tone as he twisted his head to face me. "Luna, you are not a warrior. You weren't trained on what we are about to do!"
Be that as it may - and as much as I hated to admit it - coming from Din, that stung. "You think being a warrior just means taking down all of the enemy in front of you? You're wrong, Din. There's more to being a warrior than that. And you, out of all people, should know this." I wrapped my arms around my body, hoping to find some warmth and comfort as a chill ran down my spine. "And I don't need to be a 'warrior' to slit Diabhal's throat."
"You can define being a warrior however you want," he replied lightly, stepping forward, "but it still means putting yourself in danger and having to fight in a coordinated attack. That is not something that you can learn in just a matter of weeks."
I eyed him contemptuously, as though he had just offered me a challenge. "Watch me."
"Luna, stop." He lifted his hands as though in surrender. "I don't like...doing this with you."
I felt the same way. It never brought me any joy to be at odds with him. My tone softened as I looked up at him. "What do you want, Din?"
In two, swift steps, Din gripped the sides of my waist and pressed my back firmly against the steel wall behind me. "You, Luna. I want you."
My breath abruptly stopped as Din began to run his fingers up my thigh, eliciting a series of tremors throughout my form. His other hand rested on the side of my neck as he moved forward, pressing his body upon mine. I could feel all of him through the thin towel, his body hardened. Feverish. He looked at me, as though seeking permission, as his fingers continued to travel upwards, intent on reaching the apex of my thighs.
My head swirled.
I managed to nod.
As he continued to pin me to the wall, he moved his hand farther upwards until it reached its destination.
Ever so gingerly, his fingers slid inside me.
I released a cry and tilted my head back, the rush of instant pleasure almost too much to bear. My hips automatically bucked upwards as his fingers continued to move within me. Steadily. Eagerly. A guttural moan escaped my lips as Din began to find his rhythm, his pace gradually building as I became more and more engrossed in the act.
An act that I never thought could feel so good.
As he rested his helmet on my forehead, his fingers continued to roam my delicate, aching flesh, knowing precisely just how to touch me to make me squirm beneath him.
"That's it, Luna," he said hoarsely, his own breaths erratic beneath the helmet. "Keep going."
His arousal heightened my own. I wrapped my arms around his neck with a whimper, bringing my hips closer to him. Urging him to keep going. His movements quickened, invigorated by my sharp, staccato cries. The rising heat continued to build within me, the knot in my stomach burning as he continued his ministrations. I involuntarily trembled at his touch, my senses temporarily askew. Curses flew from my mouth, which only served to encourage him even more.
I couldn't control the budding feeling within me any longer.
"Din!" I cried out, holding onto him more tightly.
I pressed my face upon the crook of his neck and reached my peak with a moan, seeing nothing but stars.
Din made a low sound of satisfaction, wrapping an arm around my waist to pull me closer to him. I continued to pulse around his warm touch, the ecstasy still coursing through me.
As he retrieved his hand, I planted a slow kiss upon the side of his helmet. "Thank you."
Din cocked his head to the side, amused. "Thank you?" he questioned, chuckling.
"I don't know what to say after doing...that!" I burst out into laughter, playfully hitting his chest. The desire within me continued to grow as my eyes roamed down the length of Din's body.
I had wanted him for so long...wanted to touch every inch of him...
I peered upwards at him through hooded lids. "Perhaps I could...return the favour?"
It was Din's turn to stop breathing.
As I reached for his belt buckle, however, the ship's piercing alarms began to sound all around us. We both looked up in surprise, hearing the growing commotion outside of the cabin.
"Wait here," Din said, composing himself as best as he could as he slightly opened my cabin door. He waved down a passing Mandalorian who was busily pressing a series of codes upon her vambrace. "What's going on?"
"Marauder scout ships have been spotted just outside of Kalevala's atmosphere. General Láidir has put out a call to arms." She gestured in the direction of the ship's bridge. "All hands on deck. We need to go now!"
(V)(V)(V)
A/N: That chapter turned out better than I thought it would! I normally have a plan as to what each chapter will contain, but I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out. Again, it took me a bit longer to update with this chapter as I wanted to get it right. That, and work has been super busy. Fun fact: I used my own fighting experience to describe the fight scene. ;)
With regard to your reviews, I love how you loved the angst! :) I hope you all liked this chapter, too. By the way, if you guys aren't aware yet, Disney+ is releasing a documentary series on The Mandalorian starting May 4. It'll hold us over until Season 2, hopefully.
CM Cruz, I remember you! I can't believe it's been 14 years since I wrote "My Knight". Welcome back to the world of fanfiction. I'm so happy you're enjoying this story.
As always, all, thank you for reading / reviewing / following / favouriting. I'm super happy with the support this story has been getting. Hope you are all well. Cheers! xx IFHD
