Chapter 10: The Incursion

The pleasing scents of linen and forest greeted my senses as I woke with a long inhale. My muscles automatically stretched, content with the amount of uninterrupted rest they had received for once. Along with fluttering eyelids, the languid fog in my head slowly lifted, gradually being replaced by the memories of what had happened with Din the previous night and the realization of the position I was currently in. We had kissed, touched, and embraced in the most innocent, yet simultaneously primal, way. There was no keeping track of time; no need to think about anything else but each other at that moment. Truly, I had desired to do even more with Din, though the last thing that I remembered was kissing his soft, sweet lips before all had gone black and we fell asleep into each other's arms.

There was then a light pressure around my waist, coupled with a satisfying warmth that blanketed my entire form. Din had snaked his arm around my torso, holding onto me as though releasing me was never going to be an option. As though in kind, my arm laid on top of his, our fingers intertwined. His light breaths tickled my nape as his broad chest rhythmically grazed my back. I relished in his closeness as he continued to sleep soundly, not wanting to make any sudden movements for fear of waking him.

It was difficult to remember the last time I had been so warm. Safe. It was as though the incessant demons that plagued my brain had been silenced, vanquished. There was a stillness within that made everything clearer; my focus was sharp, unencumbered by worries and fears. The fortress that I had built within myself to keep everyone and everything out threatened to disappear entirely. All of the past failures in my professional and personal life really didn't matter anymore; they were no longer a factor, because why would they even matter now?

As though in subconscious reciprocation, Din tightened his grip around my body and pressed himself even closer with a light exhale, our legs now entirely entangled. His stubbled cheek rested on the crook of my neck, nuzzling it as though pleased with the state of his new pillow.

A flicker of light across the room garnered my attention. Our shadows danced upon the adjacent wall a few feet from the bed, joyful in their greeting. I could make out the contours of Din's mussed hair, infused with that of my own; the pleasing muscles of his arm, remaining coiled around my waist. I swallowed as the ever-gnawing temptation to turn around and look at him returned. Instead, through sheer will alone, I gripped his hand tightly and moved my body even closer to him, as though silently asking him to hold me in place.

The slight shift of his body and light rustling of bedsheets were the response. Without a word or warning, a fire was lit upon the skin of my back, igniting down my spine and to the other pleasant parts of my body. The delicate butterfly kisses continued, each one adding fuel to desire as they marked my nape, my shoulders, my upper back, and everything in between. Din released a light groan as his ministrations seemed to harden every inch of him. The heat upon his breaths made me shiver, the contradiction a wonder. Falling into the abyss, I held onto him even tighter, coaxing him to come closer with a twist of my hips. I bit my bottom lip, as though as a reminder to hold steadfast and be careful about not breaking the sanctity of his creed, even in the throes of longing. It wasn't difficult to oblige what he asked without words. I closed my eyes and permitted him to continue his incursion, moving so that he'd have more access to my body. The instinctive whimpers and mews of pleasure that escaped my lips seemed to encourage him to continue his barrage even more. Through his exploration, Din's touch was careful, curious, and thorough; as though he was committing every part of me to memory.

Eyes shut, I turned around slowly, taking his face in my hands. I traced the contours of his cheeks and angular jaw, the contrasting smoothness of his skin and the roughness of his short beard a wonder. His forehead rested upon mine as his lips hovered above my cheek and lips. The teasing quickly morphed into torture and, losing the battle, I kissed him wantonly, hungrily, nipping at his bottom lip and neck as he caressed my torso and threatened to go even lower. In a swift move, and supported by a burst of energy, Din hooked an arm around my upper thigh and flipped me onto my back, eliciting a sharp gasp of surprise from me. In an instant, he proceeded to nestle his lower body between my legs, my arms now suddenly pinned down above my head by the wrist. How did he manage to move so quickly? As one hand held me in place, the other locked itself upon my hip. Din deepened the kiss with a throaty growl, the weight of his body upon mine eliciting a tingling sensation at my lower belly. The world around us became a blur once more, my mind only focused on his touch, his scent.

God, what was this man doing to me?

He broke the kiss momentarily while I remained submerged in the moment. "That's one hell of a 'good morning'."

"Agreed," I nodded, wrapping my arms around his neck. "I just wish I could see you."

Din stilled, now akin to a statue. "Hmm."

My brows furrowed at the response, though noted that he continued to graze his thumb in tiny, haphazard circles over my bare skin. After a few heartbeats, Din adjusted himself on top of me, the weight of his body lessening. Then, there was a soft click.

He cupped my chin with steady fingers. "It's ok to open your eyes, Aurora."

To my disappointment, Din had adorned the helmet once more. Though the piece of beskar seemed like a wall between us, he remained close, sitting on the bed at my side. Breaking the comfortable silence after several moments, he began, "Thank you for what you said yesterday to the other Mandalorians."

I gave him a small smile, tracing his collarbone and the length of his rippled arm. "Of course. It was the honest truth." The pads of my fingers then found their way through the pleasing bumps of his abdomen. "Do you have a past with them?"

He simply nodded, but offered nothing further.

Hoping that the topic wasn't too uncomfortable, I couldn't help but ask, "Do you have any other family?"

"Other than Grogu, not any related by blood." Din shifted upon the bed, his gaze seeming to fall to somewhere across the room. "I was once a foundling - a child who was not born a Mandalorian raised to be one. To follow our creed." He paused for a few moments, the pain in his voice coming to the surface. "Separatist droids had attacked my home planet, Aq Vetina. My parents died while saving my life. The Mandalorians came and saved me. Took me in. Raised me as one of their own."

That explained his abilities. His loyalty. It explained many things about him. However, his reaction made me question whether bringing up his past was a smart thing to do.

Before I could speak further and offer my apologies, a polite knock sounded at the door.

"Yes?" Din called out, as though coming out of his reverie.

A deep, modulated voice came from the other side of the door. "I'm sorry to disturb you this early, Mand'alor, but you have a visitor."

"One second." With a sigh, Din traced my face with the backs of his fingers in an almost apologetic manner before standing from the bed and taking his warmth with him. The muscles upon his back rippled in waves as he placed on a simple tunic. He took one last look at me before opening the door. "Get some rest. I'll be back as soon as I can."

I didn't even realize that I had fallen back asleep until the light thrumming of engines woke me. The steady stirring of the ship roused vibrations throughout the metal walls, its hum soothing. I sat up just as the door opened once more, with Din walking through the threshold in steady strides.

Fearing that something had happened, I stood and met him at the foot of the bed, placing on my shirt. "Is everything okay?"

He nodded, body not tense for once, though his tone was careful. "I spoke with the female Mandalorian leader from last night." He released a long exhale as he placed a hand on my waist. "Bad news is, when I asked her about what happened to you, and how you've come to be here, she said she knew of such occurrences through old tales and hearsay, but nothing concrete. I'm sorry. I thought she would know something that could help."

The heaviness in my heart grew, as much as I wanted to control it.

Din attempted to meet my gaze. "You okay?"

My automatic wince betrayed my emotions. "Sort of. I have to admit, I was a little hopeful that we'd learn more. Even get a lead or something. Anything." I wiped away a tear that escaped from my eyes as quickly as I could with the back of my hand. "I just - I miss home, you know? I was separated from my family and friends for months even before coming here. I didn't really know when I'd see them again. Never really had the time to talk with them. Maybe I do feel a little bit of regret or shame for that."

"I know how you must feel. We will keep trying. I promise." The hope in his voice was enough for me to look back up at him. "At least there's also good news to share as well."

"What is it?"

"The Mandalorian tribe here has pledged to join our cause."

I rested my hands upon his chest, throwing him a genuine smile. Even though we couldn't uncover anything else about sending me home, at least our primary mission was a success. "Din, that's amazing!"

"It's a sensitive alliance at best, but an alliance it is. They'll need some time to prepare, but the fact that Mandalorians are not fighting against one another is a step in the right direction."

Elated, I gestured to the viewport with a tilt of my head. "So does that mean you've accomplished your mission here?"

"It does. It's time to go home."

(V)(V)(V)

Throughout the trip back to Kalevala, the mood was light and cheerful for once. As we landed on solid ground once more, even the little pinpricks of light that greeted us seemed to do so with revelry. Various Mandalorians from all of the tribes welcomed us around the extended ramp, the news of our success evident in their expressions and shouts. Din nodded to them in turn, shaking their hands as words of congratulations and thanks were exchanged. It was evident that this night was another one of celebration. After all, having this particular Mandalorian tribe join the cause was something that no one really expected. It was heartwarming to witness.

After Din reunited with Grogu, we headed back to his home to prepare for the night's events. Back in my room, I completed dressing myself in another set of Mandalorian clothing that Din had given me; it had waited patiently for me upon my bed. Rather form-fitting, it fit surprisingly well and, really, it was refreshing to not have to wear a combat uniform almost daily. The black leggings and long-sleeved, gray tunic were simple, yet adorned all along its seams with Mandalorian letters and iconography. The v-neck was cut low, its seams shining a brilliant silver. The fabric of the shirt seemed to be a mixture of cotton and silk, hugging my curves in a weightless fashion.

Finally content with my current state, I observed myself in front of the long mirror beside the bed. A low whistle came through my lips. "Well, well, well, Aurora." I even gave myself a wink, just for good measure. "Even after all this time, you've still got it!"

"What are you doing?"

My heart jumped to my throat at the unexpected company. Quelling the start after a few moments, I awkwardly placed my hands on my waist, willing some semblance of calm. I cleared my throat in the most authoritative manner I could muster and faced Din. "Nothing at all."

"Are you sure you're ready to go?" Din gave me his signature head tilt. This time, it was certain that he did not believe me. "Or do you need more time to pose in front of the mirror?"

I eyed him tiredly, though teasingly poked his chest with an index finger. "Look, I don't know about you, mister, but this outfit makes my butt look amazing."

"It does."

It only took him a step until he was mere inches from my form. He gripped the side of my shirt, as though conflicted as to whether he wanted to use it to pull me to him or to pull the piece of fabric off of me. I instinctively bit my bottom lip at the act, wanting him ever closer, the giggles that had formed within me quickly morphing into heated desire. Instead, I tugged at the loop of his pant belt, bringing him towards me. He released a pleased, rumbling sound from his throat as our hips collided, his hands now snaking beneath my shirt as he reveled in the instant intimacy.

"I like it when you touch me," I breathed out, meaning every word of the confession, as I kissed the slight sliver of flesh upon his neck that was bared between his helmet and cape.

His grip tightened around me in reply, hips now pressing upon mine as he looked down at me. The smoulder in his eyes was visible beneath the helmet. "If we don't go to the cantina now, that might be the only thing I'll be doing tonight."

A sly half smirk appeared on my lips. "I mean, that doesn't sound like such a bad thing to me."

His hand ventured down my hips, his voice almost a pained whisper. "You're impossible, Aurora."

It was then that I noticed a slight movement to my right.

Grogu's head popped out from behind Din's right leg.

"Holy Baby Jesus!" I shrieked, jumping from Din's embrace. "Where did you come from, little one?"

In response, Grogu merely looked up at me, then Din, then proceeded to barf.

All over the floor.

I burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.

Din's head slanted to the right as he sighed. "Okay. Let's clean you up. Then we can go to the cantina!"

After cleaning up the little tyke, Din and I - with Grogu tucked safely in Din's arm - walked to the cantina in the middle of the city, relishing the cool, crisp evening. It was just like Din to want to travel on his own two feet, unencumbered by pomp and circumstance. What was apparently non-negotiable, however, were the two Commandos that accompanied us for protection; yet, knowing their Mand'alor, they did so while giving him generous space, marching in a loose follow a few meters behind us, somewhat out of earshot. We moved mostly in comfortable silence, with Din and I stealing glances at each other, commenting on the beauty of the city and its landscape. When we reached the doors of the cantina - made evident by the cheers and cries of celebration within - a pang of nervousness kicked in my gut for some reason.

As though sensing my hesitation, Din moved towards me in light footsteps, using his free hand to grasp my right hand. He squeezed lightly, comfortingly. "Come with me."

The Commandos who we were with jogged up to the doors, and with a high bow, pushed it open in unison. The revelry hit us with full force, the heat, ale, and laughter invading our senses. The establishment seemed to be packed to capacity, not an inch spared. In long, calm strides, Din led me into the main area of the stone structure, the sea of people parting as we passed. All eyes were upon us in a single moment, as though the room had gone dark and a spotlight had suddenly been shone upon us. Unfazed by the attention - unlike me - Din gave the spectators polite nods and greetings, then led us down the stone steps of the entrance. He only released my hand as visitors gathered around us from all sides, and he began to shake their hands. It was difficult not to be a bit self-conscious given all of the attention. The innocent touch between us had only lasted for several moments, but the connection was clearly obvious to everyone else nonetheless. The attendees surrounding us exhibited mixed reactions. Some were smiling and giggling, while others showed concern and confusion. Case in point, Vera stood at the back of the room, arms crossed and nearly snarling.

There was a light pressure on my upper arm. "Glad to see you've made it back in one piece."

I twisted my head and met Ahsoka's warm smile. "You and I both. Is that what one can expect when travelling with Din?"

The female Togruta crossed her arms and cocked her head from side to side. Mirth was painted upon her pretty features. "Pretty much. You get used to it." She surveyed me in her iconic way once more, bright, sapphire eyes boring into my being. There was a focus that formed between us. Her voice was soft as velvet. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

The heat upon my cheeks rose at the innocent question; words stumbled. "The uh mission was a success, but, uh," I held my arms out at my sides with a shrug, "clearly, I'm still here, so the secondary mission wasn't."

Ahsoka remained quiet, observant, and a light sensation flitted through my body. Her orbs shifted to Din's form, which was now a few meters away, then landed back upon me. "I think the mission was more of a success than you think."

My eyes narrowed in curiosity. Before I could prod her for further information, a solid arm wrapped around my shoulder as splashes of ale sprinkled upon my cheek. Plikt came into view, a cheeky smile etched upon his angular face. "Each'trannach! Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" Adorned in full armour, save for their helmets, Grov and Modig were not far behind, both shaking their heads with a smile at Plikt's energy. Plikt's dark eyes then moved from me and Din, the mischievous smirk now prominent through the stubble on his face. Though I gave him a warning look, he continued in the most suggestive, inappropriate manner, "Soooo," his thick eyebrows playfully moved up and down, "did you and the Mand'alor…" his hips now began to gyrate, "...ya know…"

My eyes widened as I pressed my open palm on his ale-infused lips. "Oh, my God, Plikt! Where are your manners?"

Instant snickers came from Grov and Modig. Even Ahsoka couldn't help but smile and shake her head.

When I thought it was safe to do so, I retrieved my hand, albeit slowly and carefully, akin to releasing a rabid animal from its binds.

Plikt looked at me with twinkling eyes.

I stared daggers at him in return.

"I'll take that as a 'yes'?"

"Oh, you son of a…!" I shrugged him off, though remained playful. "It's none of your goddamn business!"

Laughter erupted around us, though none of it was meant to cause me even more embarrassment. The mood was light and jovial as we continued to enjoy the night's festivities, sharing stories of life, love, hopes and dreams. I learned snippets about Ahsoka's past, from her training to become a Jedi Knight, to the fall of her master, to how she, Din and Grogu had first crossed paths. Plikt admitted to his wishes of starting a family, of how his life of 'controlled debauchery' really didn't suit him any longer (perhaps after tonight's celebrations). Young Modig, with stars in his eyes, enthusiastically described his dream of becoming a Commando one day, his willingness to serve and lay down his life, if it came to that, to protect the Mand'alor. Through all of this, Mandalorians of all tribes intermixed, their camaraderie potent, seemingly unbreakable. As the celebrations continued, my self-consciousness dissipated, no longer embodying a pariah as I was included in the games and conversation. Even Grogu participated, showing off his adorable dance moves through encouraging whoops and cheers on a nearby table.

This was the kind of peace that I wished for the Mandalorians.

This was freedom.

Sirens suddenly pierced through the air, overtaking and devouring the upbeat music. Conversations halted in an instant, the festivities slaughtered. Each Mandalorian in the room was now alert, with many placing a hand on their weapons. Through the rather orderly commotion, Bo-Katan and her Nite Owls came into view, hurriedly stalking towards Din, intent on their purpose. With a respectful audience surrounding him, Din shared some quick words with Bo-Katan, his body immediately tensing as they conversed. A tremor shook the cantina in its entirety, hard enough that dirt and sand billowed from the ceilings and floated upon us.

Cries of surprise and roars of anger exploded throughout the room. The Commandos moved into action, attempting to retain control of the crowd, then led those who wished to do so to an exit. I was lightly jostled around as the crowd shifted, with people moving around me in every direction.

"Aurora!" Din zigzagged through the stream of people with haste, a concerned Grogu in arm. "Come! We need to go!"

I took his outstretched hand, entwining my fingers with his, then followed with quick footsteps as he led us to a back exit. "W-wait, what's going on, Din?"

"We're under attack."

As though to underline his statement, another explosion rocked the establishment, closer this time.

Crisp air embraced us as Din led us down the dimly-lit residential street. In the distant horizon, several troop transport vehicles emerged, skidding to a stop in formed lines. It appeared as though those who were not called to fight were being coaxed on, mainly the children and elderly. Opposite that scene, a couple of blocks away, Mandalorians of all tribes gathered and suited up, all intent on defending their homes. Commandos barked firm orders on either side; the crowd was surprisingly orderly, perhaps given their training from childhood.

I caught sight of Ahsoka, ushering the non-combatants into the lead transport vehicle. Grogu released a pain-filled cry as Din carefully handed him to her, his movements full of regret and sorrow. The little one held onto Din's arm for a few moments, then finally released him. Ahsoka gave Din a nod; a silent understanding between the two of them.

Din faced me and placed his hands on my shoulders, squeezing.

His voice was faint in the midst of the violent symphony of shouts, blasts, and explosions. "Aurora, I need you to go with Ahsoka. She'll protect you."

I grasped his forearm in malcontent, shaking my head. "I can fight."

"No." Though his tone was firm, Din placed his helmeted forehead upon my own. "It's not safe for you out there."

"Din, I can't just stay here and do nothing. You and your people are out there, and…"

"...you need to be safe," he finished, resting his hand upon the side of my waist. His gaze darted from side to side, assessing the bustle that surrounded us. "Please. Go with the others."

It was the last thing he said before Commandos garnered his attention and they disappeared into the fray.

It was only then that I noticed blazing fires around us, the heat assaulting my skin as the orange and yellow flames and smoke raged against the darkened sky. There was feverish alarm everywhere, with some Mandalorians tending to the flames, while others provided cover. More missiles and explosions flashed and rumbled in the distance, the ground quivering in its wake. The familiar sound of distant thrusters became evident then. As though appearing from behind a curtain of clouds and concrete, Mandalorians in various armour flew in a v-formation, heading directly for our location.

Relief was shortlived.

The incoming Mandalorians began to open fire at us.

A yelp escaped my lips as I staggered back, completely unarmed and unprotected. Fully-armoured Mandalorians around me surged forward, quickly returning fire. A barrage of red and blue bolts sprayed upwards from their blasters; moving targets were damned difficult to hit. Some of them activated their jetpacks, joining the incoming attackers in flight. Only after a few heartbeats, bodies fell from both beside and above us, crashing with harsh thuds on uneven ground.

Throughout the firefight, I was completely frozen, feet firmly in place, finding it difficult to breathe. The surroundings became blurry, as though they were mere apparitions, threatening to disappear. My hearing became strained, the sounds around me becoming faint, muted. I shrunk back to some semblance of cover, hand jutting out to the side of an empty building, attempting to keep myself up. The trembling throughout my body was uncontrollable.

Faint calls of my name finally reached me; I gradually recognized Ahsoka's distressed voice. It took every ounce of willpower to put one foot in front of the other in order to move in her direction. Her form finally came into view, just as other troop transport vehicles sped off towards safety.

Another distinct form to my left caught my eye.

Din.

Surrounded by his Commandos, he had also taken flight, meeting the intruders in battle first in the air, then upon rooftops, then back on the ground. He moved swiftly and adeptly, making use of his glowing saber more in defense than anything; his movements seemed pulled, as though he didn't intend on inflicting mortal damage. His Commandos, however, were less merciful, protecting their Mand'alor from deathly shots and blows with savage maneuvers.

It was as though everything fast forwarded to reality once more, sights and sounds skipping to normal speed. Without a thought, I moved towards his form, picking up weapons from fallen Mandalorians in my path, not heeding the heat of battle that swallowed me whole.

"Wait!" Ahsoka called out, her tone a mixture of surprise and concern. "Where are you going?"

"I need to help," I wheezed out at first, my throat as dry as sand dunes. With a gulp, I repeated more firmly, "I need to help!"

My intent was to join the Mandalorians at the end of the road huddled upon the ground, using vehicles, buildings, and other structures for cover. My legs began to move faster, picking up speed when even more aggressors charged at Din, now on solid ground. I had made it several meters when I was yanked by the arm, causing me to lose my balance and fall roughly upon my side. I was just about to retaliate upon my assaulter when a grenade blew close to where I had been moving.

"Jesus fuckin'..." my eyes shot up, recognizing Plikt, who was covered with a mixture of dirt, sand, and blood.

He tilted his helmeted head to the side, then shook it. "Aurora! What are you doing here?"

Before I could reply, I pulled him down, just as a barrage of shots were sent his way. "Helping."

"Thanks for the assist," he breathed out, emerging from cover for a split second before returning fire. He spoke into his comlink. "Commando One, we have civilians south of the cantina, over."

I quickly repositioned myself behind an armoured vehicle, crouching on a knee. Mandalorian armour glinted in the periodic moonlight, but the blanket of darkness made it difficult to see anything through the gaps in the metal. "Who do I shoot?"

"The ones shooting at you!"

I grunted at the smartass response. I still couldn't tell who was friend from foe. "Why are Mandalorians attacking us?"

"Because apparently," Plikt replied between volleys, "that's what we do to one another."

As I rose from cover, finally identifying an assaulter, a missile embedded itself into the five-storey, stone building above us. All in the vicinity braced for the explosion and its aftermath, scattering at all sides, cover be damned. The ghastly blast was deafening, earth-shaking, sending shockwaves throughout my entire body.

"Aurora!"

Through the falling debris, I faintly saw the glint of Mandalorian armour at my side.

Then there was nothing but darkness.

(V)(V)(V)

A/N: Hello, my lovely readers! Thanks for reading and continuing to support me. Special thanks to all of those who reviewed, followed, and favourited this story. It's definitely nice to be back home, safe and sound, and to have more time to work on this passion project. While writing this chapter, I listened to "I See You" by Tyler Shaw and "In Her Eyes" by Josh Groban over and over again, and I think these two songs - and many others - will continue to help shape Din x Aurora's love story. (Give those songs a listen, if you haven't heard them yet!)

Overall, the story is truly shaping up to my expectations, and I am super excited to bring you even more. The chapters are just longer than my normal chapters, so it takes more time to work on them, but never fear - Din and Aurora's journey is far from over. Can't wait for you all to see what I have in store! Let me know what you think of this installment. Love y'all! xx IFHD