Boarding the Razor Crest felt different than usual. The normal calm air that filled the old ship was replaced with tension. Even the Child seemed affected by the new revelations, his wide eyes looked up at Maleena sadly as she shrugged her robes away in her small room. The sling she had wrapped around her front took her a few moments to carefully remove. She placed the cloth on top of her robe, still holding Child close. She rubbed her finger lightly over his nose as his ears wobbled with the movement of the Razor Crest departing.

"You OK buddy? Don't be scared ok?" Maleena wasn't sure if her reassurances were for the Child or for herself. The Child seemed happier afterwards, his mouth opened as he clicked his fingers together.

"Hungry?" His happy chirping gave her his response, a small laugh slipped free at The Child's excitement. Carrying him out of her room she noticed Din was sat at their small table without his beskar armour decorating his body. Instead he wore his black protective undersuit as he sat with his arms crossed infront of him. He watched her as she walked into their shared space, setting the Child down in front of Din and moving to the cupboards. She put her hand on a small metal bowl and emptied the contents of the unmarked tub into it, the fowl smell of broth hitting her face. She didn't even know what was in the food she fed the Child, knowing only that he seemed to love it...

"Were you going to tell me about the hunters?" Din's voice seemed tired as Maleena handed the bowl to the Child who begun drinking immediately. She seemed to hesitate before she sat opposite Din. Both bounty hunters sat and watched the Child as he gulped down the food as if he would never eat again.

Sighing, she sunk into her chair. "I didn't think it would be this big of a problem. People take pot shots at us. It is what it is."

"This is bigger than some pot shot Mal..."

Her voice was defensive as she bristled. "You think I don't know that?"

"Next time tell me. Your problems are our problems." He gestured between himself and the Child who paused in his loud drinking to blink up at Maleena.

"I guess... I'm just not used to it. To this." Her voice wavered as Din raised his helmet to look at her.

"My people... they weren't exactly very open. I never had anyone to rely on... Independence was just as valuable as credits." Her hands had begun to shake as she shook her head, her vision becoming blurred. "I've grown to survive. To adapt. We've worked together for years and I still can't accept what we have. I expect it to be pulled from under me at any given moment... I didn't ask for the bounty. And I understand if you throw me out... Hell I would throw me out... The kid shouldn't be in danger again. It isn't worth it." A single tear tracked down her face as she blinked.

"I swore that day to protect you. To protect him. I knew what I was getting into. I don't regret it." The Mandalorian's words seemed to destroy a wall Maleena had carefully built, her eyes pouring of tears she couldn't stop.

"You don't?" She sniffed. He shook his head.

"This is the way."

She looked up at him, blinking. After a beat she nodded. The Child loudly set the bowl down onto the table and shuffled over to Maleena. His unstable steps created a small smile on her tear stained face. Once he reached her arms he stepped up, standing on her forearm as he reached out and set his tiny hand on her face. Her eyes drifted closed as she drank in the feeling. She wasn't even aware of when the Child sat back, enjoying the briefest moment of calm she had long since been deprived off.

She hadn't felt this calm since she was back at home, watching her aunties and uncles who sat together peacefully as one. They hardly spoke, preferring to spend the time relishing in each others company. The idea of silence and contemplation had led to her now being emotionally unstable, unable to convey her true feelings. She had been trying to slowly open up to Din, but she knew he understood her inability to do so.

He wasn't exactly the sharing type either.

But ever since they became a clan of three she noticed he had tried to become more open with her, as if encouraging her own developments. She knew it would be a long process... But she was excited to work through it with him. Her thoughts seemed to be confirmed when she opened her eyes, Din watched her closely. She liked to imagine what he would look like, to know what her best friend was like really.

Not that it really mattered.

It didn't change his personality or what he meant to her. His unwillingness to leave her behind showed that regardless of his face he was a good man really. Even now as her nerves had begun to eat away at her system again she found comfort in the soft tilt of his helmet as he lifted the Child up and into his side. The Child stretched his arms out as if reaching for Maleena. His tiny protests made Din shake him very lightly, just enough to make the Child watch him.

"Remember which one of us got you out of the compound." Maleena put her hand over her heart in mock hurt as the Mandalorian huffed down at the Child.

"You told me to watch the ship. Don't rewrite history." Maleena laughed as the Mandalorian shook his head.

She could tell he was smiling. He allowed the Child to grab his finger in a small embrace before he stood. He made his way over to the metal steps that lead up to the cockpit, squishing the child inbetween his arm and chest with as the Child nuzzled against his body, before he climbed upwards. Maleena rubbed her face when she was alone again, taking in her surroundings. A few moments passed before she smiled to herself, her right hand traced a thin scar on her left. A loud crash upstairs followed by a loud shriek drew her attention towards the small metal ball rolling across the ships floor. She grabbed a small food bar from the counter behind her, snatching the ball up from the floor before she made her way up stairs.

"Lost this?" Her hand outstretched once she got to the top of the stairs. The Child noticed the ball in her hand immediately, his tiny hands lifted towards her as he sat comfortably in the Mandalorian's lap. The ball had begun to wobble slightly as he tried to use his powers, Maleena closing her hand.

"Not going to work."

Maleena sat down in the co-pilot seat and had begun to unwrap the small protein bar she brought with her. The Child often refused to eat them, so she knew she had to change her tactics.

She had his favourite toy. And he knew he wouldn't be getting it back until he ate the small snack...

So every small chunk she snapped off for him he made a big show to study it carefully before taking micro bites. After every bite he would blink up at Maleena, both Maleena and the Mandalorian watched his dramatics. Once Maleena was satisfied that he had a few extra bites she sat the half finished bar in her lap before she gave the Child his small ball. A happy squeal brought a smile to Maleena's face as he waved the ball up at Din. His helmet tilted down to watch their small friend play happily without a care in the world...

Like they weren't on the run once again.

Maleena picked up the bar and snapped it in half. Taking the packaging off the bar she held out one half to the Mandalorian. "You want some?" He seemed to hesitate for a second before he adjusted the Child on his lap. His left hand reached up to the side of his helmet, his right hand took the bar from Maleena. He raised the helmet just centimetres off of his face and ate the bar in one bite. He immediately lowered his helmet again and nodded at Maleena.

Maleena nodded back as she crossed her arms. "You're welcome."

"Xravon doesn't have known heat signatures but there seems to be activity on the far side. That's where we strike first. Guild probably have droids guarding the console." The Mandalorian explained as he flicked different switches and buttons. Stars continued to whirr past them at an incredible speed.

"So what we go in, change my records and get out?"

"The bounty hub should let us remove everything from there. Shouldn't be a problem." His optimism made her feel lighter. His chair spun around as he faced her.

"Go and get some rest. I've got the kid." Maleena blinked at him as exhaustion filled her body at his kind words. She hadn't paid much attention to her tired body. Her arms and legs felt dead as she let go of a breath she wasn't even aware she was holding. Her head rolled to the side, The Mandalorian turning back to the console to observe the different screens. She stared out at the infinite space around them, not sure how long she had been staring until she felt her eyes close...

The Child stopped playing and tapped the Mandalorian's arm. The Mandalorian looked down at him and followed the Child's line of sight as he was looking behind Din's arm. Din spinned in his chair and looked at Maleena as she had fallen asleep in her chair. The Child began to shift in his lap as he puts his index finger across his small chest.

"Leave her be."