Din Djarin, former Mandalorian. Forsaken his creed… his way, the only life he's known. He should be happy. Moff Gideon is right where he belongs, in a cell. Though the Imperial Remnant is still out there, they lost a valuable piece in their long game. He completed his task and reunited Grogu with his people. The Jedi called Skywalker saved him and the others from the Dark Troopers. Din showed his face to the little guy; he owed the kid that much before sending him to be trained.
In every sense of the word, Din Djarin should be happy, not moping around in a bar on Nal Hutta drinking Trandoshan ale. "You seem troubled." Din paused and turned to the deep voice.
It belonged to a Kel Dor. Din's never seen one in person, but he's heard enough about them to recognize one on sight. And their orange-brown hide is so thick that rumors say they can withstand the pressure of a vacuum for a short amount of time. They can't breathe the same air he and most humanoids can, so they wear antitoxin breath masks and protective goggles. He had a cloak that covered his whole body.
Din guessed he probably had a bounty and was hiding. But even if he did entertain the thought, he didn't feel like it now. The alien looked at the chair next to Din. "May I?"
"It's an open bar," Din responded before turning away.
The Kel Dor sat next to him and the bartender, a Gungan woman, walked up to him. "Mesa haven' seen yousa 'round 'ere befo'. Can mesa ge' yousa anythin' to gup?" She asked.
"Thank you, but I will have to decline." The Kel Dor answered.
The Gungan turned to Din. "Yousa wan' 'nother?"
Din nodded, and the bartender took his glass to get it refilled. The Kel Dor turned to the man next to him. "I did not mean to disturb you." He said. "I merely sensed you seemed in need of company."
"Then you sensed wrong," Din answered as the bartender returned with his drink. She nodded, then left to serve the others.
"I will not press the matter. You may speak when ready."
Din went to take a sip of his drink but put the glass down. "And what do you expect to hear from me?"
"Whatever you wish to say. Talking about your troubles, even to a stranger, will bring peace of mind."
Din said nothing for a while, and the Kel Dor didn't mind. He looked at his amber ale, contemplating whether to drink it or not. He tried justifying that it would be a waste since it's so expensive. But that wouldn't change anything. Deep down, he knew this wasn't the way. "I lost someone important to me."
The Kel Dor looked at the man who tried to keep his composure, but glimpses of sadness leaked through. "I am sorry for your loss."
"No… I didn't mean it like that; I had to give him up for his own good. A son. He wasn't but, he kinda was like one... to me. I found him and took care of him for… months… yeah, months. But the life I led would always put him in danger. I had to reunite him with his people."
"And did you?"
Din nodded, and his lips tightened, trying to keep a straight face. "Yeah, I did."
"Do you regret your decision?"
"No. I don't."
"Letting someone go can be difficult. I understand that, well."
"How so?"
"I had someone in my life. She looked up to me like a father. And in a way, I saw her as a daughter. I always thought that her path would be laid out clearly. But she had to make her own, and I understood why."
"Do you know where she is now?"
"No. But I feel that she is continuing to do great things. Maybe our paths will cross one day."
Din looked back at his drink, he was about to take it, but he suddenly lost his interest in the amber alcohol. He then noticed the bartender coming around. "Excuse me." The Gungan turned to him. "You can give that to someone else." Din pointed at the drink. "I'll take water instead." The Gungan nodded and swapped out the beverages. Din raised his glass and turned to the Kel Dor. "To our kids. Hope we raised them right."
The Kel Dor nodded. "And to their best futures."
Din guzzled his water until the glass was empty. "I'd buy you one, but I don't think you would…"
"No worries." The Kel Dor stood up. "Helping someone in need is more than enough." He bowed. "May the Force be with you."
"And you." Din watched the tall alien exit the bar, and he felt it was time for him to go, too. Din Djarin may have lost his way for now, but that doesn't mean he won't find it again. All he needs is time and friends in places he'd never think there would be.