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Hello ReRe00.

Are you getting my PMs in response to your kind reviews? Just checking. Carry on.

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Chapter 9

kark – a random Hutt curse word

Military ration pack – a disgusting looking green meat that you fry, and a powder you mix with water and it soaks up to make bread.

~X~

"Pressure makes gems. Ease makes decay."

~Mandalorian Proverb~

The next time Ravana woke, she was more than delighted to see that her little green savior was up and about as well, thankfully looking no worse for wear. He was sitting on the bed to her right, with a still concerned looking Zax at his side.

"He's all right?" she questioned, spotting the Mandalorian leaning against the door jamb of the room she occupied.

"Seems to be," he nodded. "He came to about half an hour ago."

Ravana sat up and reached out her hands for the little creature, anxious to express her gratitude for all he'd done for her.

"Thank you, String-bean," she whispered, giving him a gentle hug. "You saved my life."

He appeared pleased by her words, his ears raising as he gave her a toothy grin. Ravana was shocked at how happy she was to see the little guy, having resigned herself to never doing so again after he and the Mandalorian had taken off in their ship. But now they were once more thrown together, courtesy of the theft of her zaktan…and this Moff Gideon fellow showing up and destroying her home.

"How long have I been out?" was her next question, raising her head to look at Mando.

"Nearly twelve hours," he reported. "I'm sure by now you must be hungry."

"I am," she agreed, setting the kid down and easing herself into a sitting position. "And I could really use your facilities…if you don't mind."

Mando nodded, pushing himself off the wall and gesturing towards another spot in the hold of the ship, just outside the chamber she was occupying.

"Help yourself," he offered, though making no move to actually aid her in getting up.

Giving a slight roll of her eyes at his lack of chivalry, she swung her legs over the bed and attempted to stand. At first, she swayed a bit, her body struggling to adjust to all the damage, and then the healing, it had gone through over the past day. Her arm was still sore, the bones continuing to be repaired by the device she wore, but other than that, Ravana felt remarkably well. However, the fact that she was only dressed in a long shirt, which barely reached her knees, was a bit of a concern. Her state of attire, and how uncomfortable she appeared, apparently had not gone unnoticed by the Mandalorian.

"I don't have any female clothes on board," he informed her, apparently in place of an apology for destroying hers. "Nor do I believe any of my pants would fit you."

"I may not be the vain type," Ravana replied, taking a step or two towards the door. "But if I actually fit into your pants, I might never eat again." This earned a quiet snort from behind his helmet, the stoic man finding her comment somewhat amusing. "Now…which way to the facilities?"

Once more, the Mandalorian stepped aside and pointed her in right the direction, watching her carefully until she was safely inside and had shut the door. Once alone, she stood there, taking a few deep breaths as she attempted to calm her nerves. She knew she wasn't in danger - well, not exactly - yet everything about her situation was new and frightening.

She hadn't been off-world in a very long time, and now that her home was all but destroyed, Ravana wasn't sure what the future held for her. Where was she supposed to go? What was she supposed to do? And what help could she expect from the Mandalorian while she figured that out?

He had expressed his gratitude for the aid she had given him back on Pessue - would he now be willing to assist her in return? The fact that he had come back, even if it was only to return Zax, spoke well of his sense of honor. Would that now bleed over into helping her figure out what her next move would be?

Raising her eyes, she spotted her reflection in the mirror and cringed. Well, first things first, she was in desperate need of a good washing up and combing the tangles out of her hair. Looking around, she spotted a refresher, the idea of washing away the dirt and grime sounding delightful.

"May I use your refresher while I'm in here?" she called, hoping her voice would carry through the door.

"You may," came the Mandalorian's reply. "I'll work on getting some food for you when you get out."

His answer caused her to give a small smile. She might not know what her future held, but at that very moment, a nice shower and something to eat was just what she needed.

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Din had given the fate of his guests a lot of thought while waiting for Ravana and the kid to wake up. He knew she'd have a lot of questions and concerns, and he had attempted to anticipate most of them while she had been out. The fact that he had no appropriate clothing for her to wear had been high on his list of things to deal with, yet nothing could be done about that until they chose to land on a planet where some could be purchased.

He found himself grinning again at her flippant remark about being able to wear his pants. With her slim form, she would be swimming in anything of his, which was why his shirt fit her more like a dress. He'd of course lied when he told her he had turned his helmet on infrared when removing her clothes, yet it had made her feel better, so what was the harm. Besides, she would be gone soon, so there was hardly any reason to make her feel uncomfortable, or dwell on his memory of her fine figure. It really had been too long since he'd spent enough time in one place that might afford him the opportunity to seek out female companionship.

Yet, Ravana was his guest, and she'd risked her life to protect the kid, so the last thing he intended to do was take advantage of the trust she'd apparently placed in him. He would show her the honor she deserved, it was what he'd been taught by the creed. This is the way.

However, Din had to remind himself of such convictions when Ravana stepped out of the refresher room, still wearing his shirt, but her hair had been taken out of its pins and was now cascading over her shoulders and down her back.

She did have long hair.

Din gave an involuntary groan, shutting his eyes as he fought back the sudden desire to touch it. Why must she possess the one physical attribute that he found irresistible? It simply wasn't fair.

"Thanks, I feel a lot better," she announced, pulling him from his inappropriate thoughts. "However, if I could impose upon you yet again…I could really use a brush or a comb. My hair might now be clean, but no refresher is going to get these tangles out for me."

"A…comb?" Din heard himself repeat, wondering if she had somehow heard his inner thoughts.

"Yes. For my hair?" she stated, cocking her head to one side. "You do know what a comb is, don't you? Or are you perhaps bald under that bucket of yours?"

"No," was all he could think to say, shaking his head slightly to clear his mind. "And I know what a comb is." He then stomped past her and back into his room, pulling open a small drawer and taking out the item she sought. Handing it to her, he quickly exited the room, wanting to get as far away from her as possible, lest he be tempted further. Yet, he found he couldn't go far, and turned to watch her from a distance as she began to run the comb through her long, auburn hair. He could tell she was having a bit of trouble, what with her left arm still in the bone-knitter, but there was no way in the galaxy he was going to offer to help her.

"Oh, kark," Ravana muttered, the comb slipping from her fingers and falling onto the bed. "This is impossible." She then turned and looked over at him questioningly. "Hey, Mando…I know it's a lot to ask, but could you…"

She never got a chance to finish her sentence, for anticipating her question, Din spun around and headed in the opposite direction, calling back as he went.

"I'll get you some food!" He knew his voice had been strained, but he hoped she hadn't noticed. And suddenly, it became painfully clear that having Ravana on board the Razor Crest was going to be very, very difficult to say the least.

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By the time the food was ready, Ravana had managed to work some sort of magic on her hair, smoothing it out with the aid of his comb, until it cascaded down her back in soft waves. When she walked into the mess area, Din found himself torn between wanting her to pin it back up…and letting it remain free. The latter was a torturous temptation for him, but one he would happily force himself to live with.

"So, what's for dinner?" she asked, sitting down at the small booth obviously used for dining. She then reached down and scooped up the kid, placing him beside her on the bench. "I think the String-bean is hungry too."

"Military ration pack," he announced, having already heated the pre-packaged veg-meat and just then pouring the polystarch mixture into a bowl of water. Giving it a stir, he watched as it quickly combined with the liquid, swelling up into a loaf of bread like substance. "It's not the best tasting stuff, but it's nourishing and all we've got."

"Hey, I'll try anything once," she smiled. "Twice if I'm starving…which I am, by the way."

Din filled a plate for her and the kid, setting them on the table before them. He even saved a few scraps for the zaktan, putting down a little dish for it as well. Zax instantly ran over to the offering, sniffing it excitedly…yet pulled back once he got a whiff of the food inside. Looking up at Ravana he gave a plaintive whine, apparently not very happy with what he'd found.

"Now, don't be rude," Ravana scolded her pet. "It's dinner and you should be grateful to get it." Then looking back at her host, she made a show of taking a big bite of her bread and meat, not letting on in word or expression if she found it as distasteful as her zaktan had.

The kid however had already eaten most of his, never being one to fuss about what he ate. Of course, he'd been known to devour live frogs whole, so there really was no accounting for taste with that one. Din didn't mind the ration packs, but for him, eating was all about replenishing his energy levels, not something he took a lot of pleasure in. When one had to eat quickly, or else go without, food lost a lot of its appeal. It hadn't always been that way, he recalled, thinking back to when he was a child and his mother would make the most amazing meals, the whole house smelling of one fabulous confection or another. Still, that was a long time ago…another life in fact, and one he kept pushed to the back of his mind…and his heart.

"I know it's not as tasty as your danker meat, but until we find a planet where we can restock supplies, this is all I've got," Din once more explained, somewhat embarrassed by his offerings.

"This is fine, really," Ravana assured him, finishing off the last of it with an encouraging smile. "I appreciate you sharing what you have with Zax and me."

She was quiet for a moment as she sipped at the drink he'd placed on the table, but as he watched, Din could see her mind was turning and he geared himself up for whatever her next question might be. Yet when it came, it was not what he'd been expecting.

"Hey! Speaking of danker meat," she blurted out. "Did the kid here have anything to do with how the beast that chased him into the log was able to float? Was that him?"

Din chuckled, having wondered how long it would take for her to figure that out.

"Yes. I'm certain it was his doing," he told her. "I've seen him levitate things before, ones much larger than a danker."

"And all this time you let me believe that I might be eating some creature that had the ability to fly?" she scoffed, her tone accusing but her expression one of humor. "Oh, I bet you got a good laugh over that, didn't you?"

"I would never laugh at you," Din assured her in a solemn tone. "I saw the way you struck that Tannor guy. I wouldn't dare."

This had Ravana smiling, apparently enjoying his dry sense of humor – something that oddly pleased him. While traveling alone over the past years, he'd developed a habit of not talking much at all, and only when necessary. It was nice to have someone to converse with, even if doing so was a bit awkward at times. Still, at least she wasn't throwing things at him or yelling, so he must be doing something right.

"So, what else can the kid do?" Ravana asked, looking over at the child beside her. "I mean, I'd like to know what to expect. Will he start flying around the room or turning invisible on me?"

"If he has such talents, he hasn't demonstrated them to me yet," Din told her, leaning against the wall and resting his hands over his utility belt. "Every day with him is something new, however. I just hope his powers don't get out of control before I find someone who can help him deal with them. That's why I'm looking for his home planet."

"Yeah, taking on a foundling is one thing, but one with mysterious powers…that's a whole different story," Ravana agreed, reaching out and brushing away a few stray crumbs off the kid's face. "Still, he's awfully cute, so you really lucked out there."

"True," Din nodded. It had been the sight of those big eyes and floppy ears that had stopped him from allowing IG-11 to kill him in the first place. Yet it had been more than just his looks that touched Din, enough to risk everything in order to get him back from the client. And he could no longer deny that a bond had been forged between them, even before the incident with the mudhorn.

"So, you said something about needing to find a planet in order to restock supplies? Will that be soon?" she asked, picking up the kid with her one good arm and cuddling him close to her – something the child appeared to like a great deal.

"It will have to be," Din informed her. "I never did get the water I came after when I landed on Pessue. If I don't replenish the tanks, the engine will begin to overheat, not to mention we will run out of drinking water as well. So, as soon as I can find a decent, yet out of the way, planet to land on, we'll head there."

"I wish I had some credits to offer you, or anything at all really, to help with such things, but I fear I didn't have much time to pack before leaving Pessue," Ravana said apologetically.

"You cared for us out of your own pocket, it's the least I can do for you now," Din was quick to tell her, not wanting Ravana to think he expected anything from her. "We will get supplies, and I will find you something more suitable to wear. After all, you clothed me when mine were beyond repair."

"Yes, but I already had those, while you will have to spend money to get me something," she reminded him. "Money I'm not all together certain you can spare, being on the run and all."

"I'm able to take the odd job here and there," Din informed her. "I'm a bounty hunter, remember? There's always someone out there who needs a job done quickly and with no questions asked."

"Sounds kind of dangerous," she mused. "And what do you do with the kid when you're out on a job?"

"Hope he stays put and doesn't touch anything until I get back," Din confessed, it being the truth. "Which isn't the case, most of the time."

His words made her laugh a bit, giving the kid a little smile as if she now believed the tyke capable of great mischief.

"I should probably contact the magistrate on Pessue and let him know what happened to his brother," she suggested. "Tannor may have been a back-stabbing snake, but his family deserves to know how he died."

"Not yet," Din warned. "I don't want you contacting anyone for a bit. You never know who might intercept the message and follow it directly to us. It's best we lay low, keep our heads down and wait it out."

"For how long?" was her next question.

"A week, maybe two," he told her. "Time enough for your arm to heal and things to die down."

"All right," she agreed quietly, as if contemplating her choices. Of course she had none, or at least none he was offering. He didn't want her to think he was holding her against her will but letting her take off on her own right now would not be wise. "But I intend to earn my keep until then. I can help by doing the cooking, for starters. And maybe watch the kid if you need to leave the ship? Whatever you require."

"That's generous of you," Din replied. "And while I will take you up on your offer to watch the kid…was your suggestion to do the cooking your way of saying you don't like my food any more than your zaktan did?"

"Let's just say that while you might be a capable bounty hunter, your culinary skills leave a bit to be desired," she giggled, also noticing that Zax had still not touched what lay in his dish. Just then, the kid decided to voice his opinion on the matter, letting out a very loud belch.

Din just shook his head and gave another heavy sigh.

Well, Ravana's all better (except her arm, but it will heal) and the kid if fine too. And eating like a horse. ha ha.

Mando doesn't really have much in the way of cooking skills though. Maybe Ravana can help with that.

And it looks like they will be together for a little longer...which is not going to do much for Din's long hair fetish. Oh boy.

See you all again on Monday. Have a nice, safe, and socially distant weekend.

T.O.W.G.

Guest Reviews:

Phantom Guest: I thought so! But I like to be sure. Of course they were worried about her...even the kid until he passed out from healing her. WAS Mando a good boy? Was he? He IS a man after all. ha ha. I think Mando can trust her with the kid's secret...I don't' think she's going to rat them out any time soon, do you? Mando will get over the guilt in time, but he's an honorable man, so it will bug him for a while that he messed up her life. Maybe he should offer her a new one...as the love of his life!? I'd go for that. ha ha. Thanks for reviewing!

Pamella Guest: Awwww, thanks for saying so, and you may have more...you maybe have it all, in fact. It will just take me time to post it all. ha ha. Thanks for the kind review - they are very much appreciated.