While helping Grogu find a Jedi, an accident on Tython turned Din Djarin to a Force sensitive. Caught at a crossroads, he went back to Calodan to become the padawan of Ahsoka Tano but…Din's other life has caught up with him.
~(o.o)~
A/N: I love the story of Din Djarin and Grogu. Also I am writing this because of the force of my inspiration Pedro Pascal and not for monetary gain. I have spoken. This is the way!
1 : Yuno, Din's attendant would look like kid on the side of the road from Season 2 Episode 15-The Believer.
2: On Pinterest see Din Djarin's cute cottage in Calodan under the name Acer Wolfe at Silver Moon Inuyoukai board. You can also see the picture of the Mantis, Din's new vehicle.
Kindly leave a review to bolster my confidence and muse and tell me what you think. Thank you!
Music: The MANDALORIAN / Danish National Symphony Orchestra (LIVE)
WARNING:
ADULT EXPLICIT CONTENT
PADAWAN
CHAPTER 35
Din gave the vambrace a final tug until the gloves rest snugly. The soft pitch whine and the glowing pilot lights signals the device's 'ready mode' as soon as the clamps closed around Din's forearms. One of the appliances would need calibrating but the tool for it got lost along with his weapons, ammunition, and assorted gear when Razor Crest was destroyed. Now, his new ship the Mantis came full of supplies but it's still a mystery, if he could only have one day without any situation, event to do an inventory in the hold.
Damn it, here it is again. Things are getting out of hand. People are forcing his hand again. He escaped it once but the was found again.
He looks down at the Beskar helmet; it's part of his armor that protects him as a warrior and as a bounty hunter. It was the reason he survived many dangerous battles. It sets him apart from other people out there.
But meeting other Mandalorians who remove their helmets like it's a normal everyday thing shook his well-held beliefs to the core. Everything he knew was wrong. His clan was called a cult. Bo Katan was snide about it. She called it The Children of the Watch. Din Djarin realized that there were many things that he had not been told when he was a foundling and even after when he was a pledged clan member. Did his clan purposely omit this fact? Does everyone in his clan know the history?
Ahsoka mentioned one time how she and Bo Katan met but the Togruta quickly changed the subject when Din wanted to know more but he hasn't quite mastered mind reading that well then. She quickly shut him off before he could clumsily probe her thoughts.
He must do something about the removal of his helmet. It has been weighing heavily on him and then there was another issue about his kingship especially the dark saber. Jaw muscles rippling he gave the relic a baleful look.
Lacking the knowledge about this relic the Darksaber got him a burden that he could do without.
There has to be a way. There's always a way and he just has to find it.
-o0o-
Ahsoka is stunned.
Absentmindedly, she must have put Grogu down on some pile of books or something. On a table. That's much she's sure. As long as her padawan doesn't eat paper, she hopes, the books and scrolls are safe. Ahsoka's throat is as dry as the vast dessert on her planet, her heart beats like the drums the priests would use during worship day. Here, of all places, on Calodan she holds an unbelievable object!
The governor had taken a step forward noting that the Jedi picked up the object reverently. "You know what it is, isn't it?"
"Yes." Ahsoka's fingers quiver as she returns the square silver box back on the shelf. "It's called a holocron.'
"What is it?"
"A holocron is a receptacle of knowledge."
"Knowledge…" The elder murmurs and nods, "About what?"
"It depends on what it carries inside it." A soft coo and chortle made Ahsoka turn behind her. She couldn't help smile whenever she sees the boy. Grogu found a way to entertain himself; he propped a book against a stack of books and he's looking at some pictures.
"It's been with us for a long time as far as I can remember! It's been passed down from many generations." The governor gave a two shoulder shrug. "It's just a box! An empty one at that." The elder became wide-eyed when the Jedi shook her head.
"It's not an ordinary box, believe me, governor."
"Does it open? Is there a latch or button to open it?" Gov. Wing took the cube and inspects it from all angles. He's handled this object all his life. The governor before him had used it as a paper weight on his table but an elder had left instructions that this object should be kept in the stewardship of another elder or the incumbent leader whoever he or she would be.
"It can only be opened by someone who is strong with the force."
"Can you open it?"
"Apparently not." Ahsoka sighs deeply, somewhat disappointed as she steps back from the shelf.
"Why? What's supposed to happen?"
-o0o-
The other person in the room finished strapping her boots on. Din didn't realize that he would sometimes pause while putting on his own undergarments, his pants, the shirt and finally his main armor. The only thing left for the final touch is the helmet beside him. She assisted him in attaching the back panel of his armor but Kalon looks pensive as he is. The pale witch sends him a glance now and again but all he could gather from her thoughts was she was very much satisfied and kind of surprised at what happened in this room.
Din has the welts on the back to prove how she enjoyed this tryst. In the shower pale rivulets of blood from the thin cuts on his back roll off in the water. The scratches made by Kalon's nails made Din hiss and groan low urging him to slam between her legs harder. She always wanted it hard; she braced her leg against the narrow wall of the refresher from the onslaught of thrust. Well, she was sorry for 'branding' him but, anyway, the thin stripes will heal.
"You look disturbed, Din." Kalon sweeps her long hair behind her after she gave a final brush to it.
Din sighs; it's easier to end an episode like this when it involves paid women or females. Kalon's not in any of the category so he isn't sure how to go and say about the next stage of this 'encounter' so to speak. "Yeah?" Din sighs. "I've just been thinking about what to do today."
"You're not the only one who mind reads, Din." The woman shrugs, a lock of pale hair tumbles from her shoulder. "But sure, let's talk about what you want to do today."
"We're gonna take the day out there…."He points up-to space.
"Oh, but I came and ruined it." Kalon was quiet for a moment, picking the words to say. Luke Skywalker's advice was hard to follow. So she must now treat a man as her equal. This is new. Preposterous, "I don't want to mind read you. I'd like you to share what you think…what you feel. Like ordinary people." Kalon frowns at Din's soft snort laden with some sarcasm in it.
"Ordinary people." Din has a smirk as he leans on the wall beside the bed. "You're not just an ordinary woman, Kalon, and almost a year ago I was just an ordinary man but now…."
"Now you are a king." The man just smirks at the title. "What do you want, Din?" She surprised him with that question.
"What I want…." Din gave a shake of head. "can I have what I want?"
"Yes."
Din hung his head as if he finds it heavy. "My old life."
"As a bounty hunter?" The man gave her a little nod.
"I've lost my freedom."
"What are you talking about? You're the king of the Mandalorians!" There's the smirk again.
"That's what people always say and think but this kingship is full of restrictions."
"Restrictions on what?"
Din feels some heat creep up his chest at a glimpse of a pale thigh when Kalon crossed hers. It's just inches from his own. "On personal matters."
"Such as marriage?"
"So we are not being ordinary people anymore?" Din points to his head and hers and his eyes swivel away.
Kalon sighs, closing he eyes or maybe that's to hide another eye roll. This is hard. "I'm just trying to make our discussion easy!"
"Not used to talking to people below you?" Oh shit. Kalon narrowed those pale gray eyes at him and Din had a momentary thought that he'd gonna get a stinging zap or she'll turn him to ash at a flick of a finger.
"I don't 'talk' relationships with a man!"
"Relationships? Man? Why?"
"On Dathomir I don't talk to a man the way I talk to you." Kalon looks at Din squarely. "I command and they obey. No man living on the planet would ever speak against, talk back or defy any witch they belong to. That's it." She waited if Din would say something but the man beside her remained quiet.
"So does that mean you consider me as your property now?"
"No! I didn't buy you."
"But I'm part of your what, harem, now?"
"No!" Kalon avoids Din's eyes. "I don't have one."
"I find that hard to believe looking at you." He looks away quickly to avoid getting another 'great' idea in his head because that idea will soon be approved by his body.
"There are tons of things we don't know about each other."
"Why don't you have a harem?"
"I don't want one, I didn't need one. I just take in servants who would cook, clean and manage the house while I do my duty and training in the clan."
"I bet you can choose any prime candidate for your harem. No one's ever caught your eye?"
"They're all the same; subservient and in fear of their mistresses. They'd bore me after a month."
Kalon tilts her head at him and that heat begins to intensify. She knows how it affects him. She has that look in her eyes. Damn it. "So, what happens to the men on your planet?"
"The men were traded, sold and bartered either for slavery, for skilled work, or they're chosen be the consort for a Dathomir female or witch."
"Wow. Sex partner, you mean?"
"That's one way to put it. Yes."
"Do they stay forever a slave?"
"No. Of course men can be free he has rendered his indenture and his mistress decides to resell him…"
"Resell?"
"Yes…because he has grown old for her or she could grant him his freedom out of the largesse of her heart."
"'The largesse of her heart…'" Din made that snarky smirk again. "'Does that happen often? Being set free?" he wiggles his fingers.
"It's happened before." Kalon knows she's making Din a little uneasy but the emotion that flashes on his face is very fascinating and she had to stop biting her lips.
"Can a woman marry on your planet?"
"Marriage? No…"
"No?"
"Because there's no concept of marriage there…" Kalon leans back on the mattress further exposing her leg, further exposing her cleavage and the man stares at her which makes her feel powerful. "…although a man is considered lucky if his owner calls him her partner." Din avoids her gaze but she's sure he's intently listening to her when he's not staring. That's good.
"And you? Where do you fit in all that?"
"I was being groomed for the Matriarchal leadership."
"Nice. I guess that's all gone now?"
"Yes. I killed a clan sister so I was cast out."
"Why?"
"For Grogu." They look at each other meaningfully.
"So on the planet Dathormir witches were treated with equal portion of fear and adoration where women were the dominant authority, right?" Din gave her a smirk when Kalon withdrew her hand from his thigh.
"Correct. You know more than you let on."
Truth be told, he's liking that they're not spitting angry words at each other but that could quickly change. "Skywalker gave us a short lecture."
"You talked about me?" Kalon couldn't help smile at the thought but it didn't become a full-pledged one because the Mandalorian went quiet again after he shrugs. It's hard for Kalon to stop thinking about the two of them in this room. It's like Kalon could still feel him … She still couldn't get over that Din accepted her advances. He's been avoiding her, angry at her, keeping Grogu away from her. "Obviously what we did in here is part of what worries you." Kalon runs her hand on the rumpled bed behind her. "No mind reading necessary."
"I guess I'm thankful you didn't do that." Din averts his eyes at Kalon's eye roll.
"Why are you angry? Have you any regrets?" The pale witch faces him on the bed. "You have no obligation to me."
"That's not it!"
Kalon frowns again. "I have a feeling my feelings are going to get hurt…."
"No, they won't."
Kalon leans away from Din, a slight frown mars her smooth temple. "What does that mean?"
"The Mandalorian culture dictates people to convert when they choose a…."
"Choose a what, Din?" Kalon was surprised when Din picks up his helmet. She was sad he's hidden from her again.
Din suddenly stands up. "I must talk to Ahsoka."
-o0o-
Kalon couldn't pinpoint the state of Din Djarin's mind when the Mandalorian left the room.
He walked out of her!
He. Walked. Out!
Din did not even spare her a backward glance as if she's a paid harlot to be used and forgotten! No man has ever turned his back to her without a proper form of leave taking! Such disrespect would be punishable by getting shackled on the hot sands for two days. She's not some low level witch to be trifled with!
This is the very reason why she is picky to find a bedmate. She's heard many of her sisters talk about being unsatisfied with the men they chose because let's face it, men are men, slave or free. It's just like buying fruit. You never know if what you acquired is good or bad.
Besides she didn't think she's ready for that kind of relationship at that time since there were a lot of things to do, many things to learn. She has to become stronger, more skilled and more powerful. It's to prepare her to lead her clan.
Those who are happy were about less than half of the clan sisters so that made her decide not to focus on taking a servant who would have the comfort of her household but might not give Kalon her money's worth in bed.
But Din is not those men.
This is why! This. Is. why!
Kalon slowly rose from the bed but her tattoos begin glowing dangerously bright reflecting the state of her own emotion.
The glow subsides after she some deep breaths, she flexes her hands to will the power back inside her; to try and wrestle the rage down. She couldn't very well blow things up now, right? She'll find something to destroy later on but for now…
Kalon went back to the bed. She bunched the sheet that smells strongly of their bodies and wraps her arms around it.
-o0o-
As Din approaches the locked door of the Mantis he slows down when he felt there were people a few meters outside the ship. He could sense they were Mandalorians and it came back to him that he could hear their thoughts.
An eyebrow pops up at a name. What the hell? He quietly turns on a few appliances on his helmet so he could see and hear better. There were three of them, all men. And he was right; they're Mandalorians. He still has to learn how to trust his new 'instincts'.
"You saw the witch?"
"Yeah, oh man, she's fine." Deep meaningful chuckles came from the three. "What's her business here?"
"I heard she's been after the Mand'alor."
"Of course she is." The other voice sniggers. "Don't you know witches go after the strong and powerful men? They need them to keep their race goin'."
"Shit! That real? I thought that was just tavern talk."
"Guys, what do we do when she takes the Mand'alor?"
"Well, truth is the Mand'alor has taken her already."
"Whoa…seriously?"
"Man, you should've been here an hour ago!" The voice slightly lowers. On infrared the two leans forward. "This place was rockin' an' rollin'! Um Um! Um!" the man added some suggestive hip movements. It got the other two sniggering and snorting in glee.
"What the fuck! Seriously? Sheeeet!"
"Fuckin'A!" The men bumps fists, armored shoulders shaking in amusement.
"That's our Mand'alor! Yeeehaaa!"
"Keep it down, dikuut! You know what, I had my infra on…oh man. Did you know that the Mand'alor's pretty well hu…"The men laugh low then their voices fade as they move away.
Oh fuck.
-o0o-
Kalon wakes up with a jolt and for a few seconds the woman forgot where she was as one does after a nap. With a smile and gave the rolled up sheet a long sniff; she likes the smell of Din's essence.
If there's one thing right that happened today is the realization that the Mandalorian wants her just as she wants him. Maybe what they have in common is just physical but that could be a right step in whatever it is that they're trying to establish between the two of them. Kalon has no complaints about what they shared in this bed. The witch was surprised as she noticed the time on the panel by the wall. It got late. With some reluctance Kalon places the sheet back on the bed. If they will have a repeat on this bed then the covers should be fresh. Using her power she restored order in the room. Gracefully moving her hand one of the folded sheets floated from the cabinet, unfolded and placed it perfectly on the mattress. She reluctantly dropped the soiled sheets in the cleaner. Hoping Din would appreciate the help Kalon left the cabin.
She walks through a dark and quiet ship, the echo of her boots bounce at each step up the stairs. Din was nowhere to be found when Kalon stops for a moment by the mouth of the Mantis. Full lips purse at the Mandalorians walking the surrounding area as she takes the folds of her cape forward to cover her fully and for some reason she felt better covering herself up. What a terrible influence that prude Jedi Skywalker for her!
As she walks near the gate of the fort Kalon gave a big sigh of guilt because she had totally forgotten about Muk. The rancor needs his wounds attended to but she couldn't find any kind of herb anywhere to make some kind of poultice. Everything around is burned. There was only moss but it's unusable.
"Oh, Muk….you poor thing. Once I get you healed we'll go. I'm sorry I took you here. " Eyes closed Kalon places a hand on Muk's head and embraced her steed. Their psychic connection is still strong even when the animal is under sedation, thank the Matriarch. In some way she has the Mandalorians to tank for that so her mount is pain free at the moment. "I'll be back, Muk. Promise." she whispers. To her surprise someone put a large clay basin nearby the beast and filled it with water. Kalon looks around. It's the first form of 'welcome' she and Muk have experienced.
"The local folks left that there. Whoa!" One of the Mandalorians took a step back hands out. Kalon quickly dials back her power to the relief of the big burly man in blue armor. "Didn't mean to scare you. Your beast is going to sleep long. I've been watching over him." He nods to the animal. "He'll be safe. Do you look for the Mand'alor?" The man with a deep voice points at Kalon's nod. "He's back in the fort."
Kalon turns back after a few steps, "Thank you." She gave the man the briefest of nod and for a short moment her stoic expression softens.
-o0o-
"Governor, I wonder, do you know how your people came to keep this box?'
"That's a mystery to all of us too. All we know is that one of the elders, about 500 years ago, instructed his successors to not let it leave Calodan."
"That's kind of cryptic." The female Jedi was perplexed. "There were no explanations?"
"None. He said to keep it here." The elder coughed again. "We thought the box was taken by Elsbeth when she conquered us. It turns out the children were sneaking items from our library down at the catacombs. Thank the mother Elsbeth never went there."
"Most of these devices have been lost from the Jedi library during Order 66."
"Order 66? What is that?"
"It's the purge of all Jedi."
"Dear mother…" The fit of intense and bone-wracking cough came back again. The holocron cube fell from the elder's hands but someone caught it. "Oh thank you…oh, master Djarin…"
"Governor, are you okay?" Din crouches before the elder giving the older man's shaking shoulder comforting rubs. "Could you get some water for the governor?" The ever present aide of the elder runs out but that was after he picked up his jaw up from the floor tiles. Many of Yuno's colleagues seemed to always be in hero-worship of the warrior. "That doesn't sound good."
"Ah, do not worry yourself, master Djarin. I'm an old man and this is normal…" the next coughing episode was so bad that the official was almost bent double. The aide quickly came back with a cup.
"Fetch a healer or a doctor!"
"No…I'm okay…" Gov. Wing weakly waves a hand when the aide did Din's bidding. The boy dashed out again. "It's not necessary."
"Your health is important, elder. I'll take you back to your house and we'll take it from there. Please."
"Have it your way, master Djarin." The elder conceded gracefully. In reality Gov. Wing was very much touched by the care and concern of the warrior.
"Ahsoka, could you come with us? I have something to ask you. Is that okay?"
"It's okay." Ahsoka took the holocron cube from Din and placed it back on the shelf. "How about Grogu?"
"Jem will look after him, right Jem?" Grogu seems happy reading or looking at the pictures and he trusts the Calodan that nothing will happen to the kid.
"No problem, master!" Jem goes near to Grogu as the other boy stops reading when the commotion happened. With the elder in his arms Din effortlessly carried the old man out closely followed by the aide and mistress Ahsoka.
'Where they go?'
"To the elder's house. The elder is sick." Jem took a seat from the opposite side of the table and also opens a book. "He'll be okay."
Grogu remain looking at the door then he turned his attention back to the mouthwatering book of amphibians he took from the top pile. He would look at the door and back to his book. He mumbles to himself whenever he would see something familiar in the book. He would sit so still because something would flash, like a memory, but it was so fast that he got frustrated trying to remember whatever it was! The other page was all about the different kinds of amphibian eggs….It made the boy coo.
Buir scolded him a lot when he ate those huge frog eggs. 'Kid, that wasn't nice. We never eat our client's food, things or eggs. Understand? Are you listening to me? Kid? Kid!'
He just couldn't have one! There's that clear gooey liquid that burst in his mouth when his teeth breaks the filmy cover. That was so refreshing! And there's that chewy sticky middle…too bad that was the last time Frog lady would have them.
Jem looks up when Grogu sighed. His charge has been left alone again. His father has been very busy doing all sorts of things. Maybe when Yuno's free after the evening meal they can play in the garden….or lay down the grass looking up the stars with Grogu between them until Grogu's father comes and brings him inside and he and Yuno sleepily shuffle to their barracks. Maybe….
The two boys were deep into reading until Jem suddenly stops. Grogu tilts his head wondering why Jem suddenly lay his head on his book. 'Eh?' he scoots towards his friend. Jem looks like he's….he looks at the door when he hears a sound.
"Hello, Grogu."
-o0o-
"Master Djarin…no need to worry…I'm…" Gov. Wing pulled at his robe to cover his face as the cough torments him again. The Calodan were open-mouthed as the Elder Wing, Din, Ahsoka and the aide walk the street. The governor wave a hand to tell them it's alright. The people give them way and bow as they walk past.
The rattling breath worries Din and he walks faster to reach the elder's cottage. "Governor, you need to rest. Has anyone called a healer?"
"Yes, master. One of the boys has been sent to the apothecary. She will be here." The aide walks ahead and stops at a cottage that is slightly similar to Din's. He quickly opens the door and led them into the bedroom. The aide turned the bed out and Din gently lay the still protesting official in it.
"Oh dear…master Djarin. This is nothing! You must not worry too much about…"
Din helped the old man sit up when another coughing fit happened. He took more pillows from the couch to prop the elder up so he could lean back comfortably. He nods his approval that the aide gave him warm water instead of cold. Din helps the elder sip after Gov. Wing got a little rest from all that heavy coughing.
"Master Din!"
Yuno's familiar patter made Din turn around and he knew its bad news. "She's not here, right?"
The boy grimaces an apology, Yuno's used to his master knowing things ahead of time by now. "Uh, that's right master. She's in another province…"
"Does the apothecary have some medicine we can give the governor?" Ahsoka spoke as she helps the aide light up the candles and lamps in the cottage.
"Oh no. Don't enter her hut. She doesn't want people touching her things." The elder said with an eye roll. "She gets angry."
"Besides we don't know what medicine she gives him." Din turns towards the door. "Yuno, where's the province?" Din nods after the boy mentions a name which is due to the east of Calodan. "Do you know where it is? Good. You're coming with me."
"Wait." Ahsoka steps around the bed. "You're going there now?"
"I'll fetch the apothecary and fly her back here. Could you stay with the elder, Ahsoka?"
"Sure but we need to talk. Do you have a communicator?"
"Yeah. Here." Din takes a black earpiece from one of the pockets of his gun belt. "It's long range." The earpiece beeps after he adjusts the setting on his helmet.
"Good. I'll ask one of the kids to find Luke. Maybe he has some medicine on his ship. I haven't seen him for many hours now." Ahsoka shrugs.
"He must be fixing his ship. He took the X-wing farther up west of the fort."
"I didn't know it could still fly."
"He used his power mistress Ahsoka! He lifted the ship with just one hand!" Yuno gushed. "I wish I could do that." He blushed when Din and Ahsoka chuckled at his enthusiasm.
Din kneels on one knee by the governor's bed. "I'll get Grogu and we'll be off to fetch the apothecary back here, governor."
"She's usually at the herb market. We had to trade to get herbs since Elsbeth burned our forest."
"We hope we won't be long. Just stay and rest."
"Perhaps we can do some breathing exercise to help you, governor?" Ahsoka takes a candle from a shelf to illuminate the room further as the long day on Corvus comes to an end.
"That sounds good." To Din, "Have a safe voyage, master Din."
-o0o-
"Hi Grogu." Kalon smiles as she takes a seat on the bench near Grogu. The boy stares at her and she was glad he turned to her from his seat on the table. "Don't worry about your friend. I just made him sleep. What is that? Oh, pictures of frogs." Kalon giggles when the boy chirps in response. "You love to eat tadpoles, remember? You wanted to eat it every day. You ate it too much you had a stomachache. Do you remember that?" Kalon chuckles softly as she slowly reaches for the boy's toes and softly run the back of her forefinger on it until Grogu coos. "Yes, remember this? You also liked that when I put you to sleep. You would drink your milk until you fall asleep…in my arms…" Kalon's throat feels so tight it got painful that it was so hard to speak. "I've missed you, son. Don't you remember me? I looked everywhere for you. Do you remember your playmate Muk? He wanted to see you. Do you remember the mud statue you made for me?" The boy crawled to her and wiped away her tears. She cannot continue, what he did broke her control and her sobs overtook her…"I missed you Grogu. I'm your mother. Do you remember me? Please say you remember me, my love…"
"Kalon!"
-o0o-