Its' a long one!
It was late afternoon by the time Din finally emerged from his sleeper.
He had slept far longer than he had intended, but couldn't deny that he felt refreshed after finally getting some much needed rest.
Stepping into the living area, helmet firmly back over his head, feeling more than a little disorientated. He drew the eyes of the two figures standing behind the counter of his little kitchen area.
"Patu!" came the sudden voice of Grogu, as he offered Din an excitable look.
And Din could only give a bemused frown, noticing now that the tip of his son's nose and the very tops of his ears, were covered in a white coating of flour.
"Afternoon," came Lysa's sudden warm and teasing voice, as Din's eyes slid to hers.
Lysa's green eyes seemed to sparkle in the late-afternoon sun. She looked so heavenly now, stood there in a long, pale lilac tunic, cleaning up the counter with a small white cloth. With Din so caught up in the sheer disappointment of his inability to track down Crix these past few days, and so worried that he had failed her. He had barely noticed what Lysa had been wearing when he had arrived back at the cabin this morning.
"Sorry," he uttered, in a voice far huskier now than he had expected. "I slept longer than I thought."
Lysa smiled up at him wrinkling her nose, but didn't say a word. Remaining utterly silent as she moved around the counter now and approached him.
Din felt his heart begin to hammer away inside his ribs, as she drew near.
And within a second or two she had come to stop just an inch from him. Smiling, oh-so deliciously, up at him. As though he was the only person to exist on this earth.
Din parted his lips, breathing hard, not quite sure what she was doing.
But within a moment she had raised her hand, as Din flushed profusely behind his beskar helmet, feeling her warm fingers accidentally graze his skin, as she did up the loose button on the tunic that covered his neck.
Din cursed himself for not checking that it was done up in its entirety before he had left the sleeper.
But Lysa didn't seem to mind, lowering her hand and grazing her palm over the armour plating that covered his chest as she did so.
He appreciated her discretion and subtlety now. A warm feeling growing inside the Mandalorian, at her proximity to him.
"We've been baking," she said with another gentle smile, turning and nodding towards the counter behind her, to where a veritable bounty of sweet-breads, pies and loaves now sat. "Haven't we, Grogu?"
Grogu from his position on the counter beside the goods, gave a chirp of happiness, as he waddled toward the edge of the edge of the kitchen island toward Din.
The tall Mandalorian strolled towards his son, before swiping a gloved finger over his nose and the flour that lingered there.
"Looks like I missed all the fun," Din uttered in a ragged voice, thick with sarcasm. Baking being something he was certain he would always prefer to leave to a professional like Lysa.
But Din quickly noticed Lysa shoot him a smirking look from the corner of his eye, coming to stand beside him now. Elbows resting on the counter behind her easily. Her body looking utterly perfect beneath her light tunic dress, as she posed there, Din noted. Giving a hard swallow.
"You know I'm liking this gravelly voice thing you've got going on," she retorted in a playful tone, pointing at his throat and narrowing her green eyes tauntingly. "Kinda reminds me of an Anzellan. Sorta…husky, y'know?"
Her voice was teasing now, as Din turned to her, tilting his head in a faux-look of annoyance.
"An Anzellan? Really?" he swiped back, not able to stop the smirk that seemed to twitch at his lips, moving around Lysa now, until she was pinned between him and the counter at her back.
Her smile seemed to widen at this. But she did not back down. Merely giving a nod and pursing her lips.
"Oh yeah, I can really see you with one of those little white goatees," she said sarcastically, swirling a delicate finger in the air between them.
Din couldn't help but let out a chuckle, as he looked down at her, their bodies a mere breath apart now.
From here, he could see the sweet rise and fall of her breasts beneath the bodice of her tunic, and smell the sweet heady scent that seemed to cling to her every pore. The sight and sound intoxicating him fully.
And yet, Din still was not ready to back down on their game.
Instead, leaning into her now, so much so, that he saw Lysa hitch a breath in expectantly, as he reached over her shoulder…
…only to pluck a corner chunk from a fruity sweet bread that was sat on the counter behind her. Before pulling back and allowing Lysa breathing space once more.
He looked now to see her completely flushed, her breaths seemingly ragged in her throat, as she stared up at him with dewy, parted lips. Her eyes burning with a want, that had not been there a moment before.
Din lifted his helmet a little, at an angle he knew that Lysa would be unable to see any of him, before taking a bite of the cake, feeling his heart racing as he did so.
It felt like a wild gesture. Likely nothing to anyone else, but to Din it felt reckless and flirtatious. And as he lowered his helmet once again, he saw Lysa stare at him for a long moment. Her beautiful green eyes travelling over his face. Her expression laced with curiosity.
Before she suddenly narrowed her eyes once more, giving a smirk, and reaching an arm out. Suddenly pressing her hand against his chest, pushing him to an arm's length away.
"I should charge you for that, Din Djarin," she said, uttering his name with a vixen-like tone to her voice.
But Din could only chuckle now, as he took a step or two back from her, raising both hands to either side of his head, in a gesture of faux-innocence.
"You can add it to my tab," he said with a grin, as he sauntered casually towards the door to the Refresher. Knowing full well that Lysa's eyes were on him as he rounded the door to his washroom, the door sliding shut behind him.
Din, with the full intention of taking a very well-deserved, and very cold sonic-shower.
Twenty minutes later Din stepped out of the Refresher, feeling clean and well-rested finally for the first time in days.
He had changed into a fresh black tunic beneath his beskar, his mind still on the playful words shared between him and Lysa. The smirk having barely left his lips the entire time he had stood beneath his sonic shower.
With the hot jets of steam and water having soothed his burning skin and aching muscles, he entered into the living space once more, seeing Grogu helping Lysa with stirring a pan of vegetable broth ready for their supper.
Her green and twinkling eyes met with his as he strolled towards the pair of them.
"I was thinking," she said, her voice having returned to its normal tone now. "I probably need to start making deliveries again soon."
She smiled, wrinkling her nose as her gaze shifted to the stove in front of her.
"Otherwise someone will try and move in on my patch," she said in a warm voice. "That… and I need the credits."
Din noticed her cheeks turn the slightest shade of pink, as she avoided his eye, holding onto Grogu's arm gently as he stirred the broth with a large wooden spoon.
It was obvious that she had been contemplating this for a little while and Din understood the need for her to try and get back to some sort of normality. But that still didn't stop Din's stomach from dropping a little.
"Can you do it from here?" he asked suddenly, causing her to look up at him quickly, her cheeks turning even more scarlet than before. "The cooking part I mean?"
She was quiet for a moment, as she brushed a strand of hair from her face, mouthing at the air.
"I could…but this is your space. Yours and Grogu's," she said with a gentle smile, her eyes dropping one more to the broth. "I should probably go back to my apartment…now that Crix is off-planet."
But Din gave an instant frown taking a step closer to her now, his gaze roving across her beautiful features.
"Is that…what you want?" he asked questioningly, causing her to look his way once more.
"No..." she said almost instantly, looking like she was breathing hard now, staring up into Din's beskar-covered face.
Din gave a lick of his lips, not able to keep his eyes off her at this very moment in time.
"Then stay," he uttered finally, watching as a blushing smile appeared on Lysa's perfect face at his words.
She looked happy now, almost lighting up the room as she gazed back at him.
"Okay," she said in just a whisper.
Din felt his chest constrict. A feeling of utter warmth consuming him.
Din knew that he didn't want to be apart from Lysa again. Not now…or in fact, ever.
He knew that deep down the longer she was with him, the harder it would be to see her leave. Enjoying the moments they spent together amongst the chaos that the past week had thrown at the pair.
Grogu gave a sweet chirp now, as the broth bubbled a little in the pan, unaware of the conversation the two adults had been having. And Din watched as Lysa turned down the heat a little, glancing up at him once more, mouth open about to speak.
But Lysa did not get the chance to utter a word, as a sudden loud beeping filled the room.
Din gave a frown, turning to where his portable comms device sat on a storage unit beside the front door, beside his Z-6 pack. The light on top flashing red with every loud beep it made.
Din made his way across the room, reaching the device as Lysa and Grogu watched him with interest.
He pressed a small grey button, answering the transmission…
…to see the face of Bo Katan staring back at him, floating as a holo before his face.
"I need your help," she said starkly, her voice crisp and low. "Can you come to Mandalore?"
Din hovered for a moment, chancing a glance Lysa's way briefly, before turning back to the red-head.
"Is there something wrong?" he asked. He had only just returned from a trip off-planet, and didn't particularly relish the idea of leaving so soon again. His thoughts on Lysa and her having to spend yet more days alone here after all that had happened to her.
"Our scouts have seen what seems to be a rogue TIE-fighter in our airspace," she explained. "And we need someone with a ship, much faster than any of ours, to track it down for us."
Din let out a sigh. "Is there no one else that can track it? Grogu and I have only just gotten home-"
But Bo Katan gave a shake of her head. "No one with an N-1 Naboo Starfighter," she said with a smirk. "Besides, you told me that if there was ever anything we needed-"
"I know, I know. That I'd be there-" he said, looking again to Lysa and Grogu. The former who was now, wiping at the already sparkling countertop with a damp cloth, obviously pretending she couldn't hear every word of his conversation.
Would she be as disappointed as he was, that he and Grogu would be leaving again, so soon after getting home?
If this were a less risky task he would likely ask if she wanted to come with him. The memory of her so desperately wanting to travel and see the stars once again, flitting into his consciousness.
But what Bo Katan wanted from them sounded dangerous. So this was something he would have to do, just him and Grogu. Making his mind, somewhat reluctantly.
Din looked back to Bo and huffed. "We'll be there," he said lifting a hand to close the comms link.
Bo Katan smiled. "Good. I'll see you in a few hours."
And with that she closed the transmission before Din even got the chance to, causing her face to disappear from view.
Din let out another long sigh, strolling on over to other side of the counter where Lysa was stood.
"I'm guessing you won't be staying for dinner then," she said, offering him a kind smile. Yet Din sensed a hint of disappointment lingering within it now.
"I'm sorry," he replied meaningfully. "Bo Katan is the ruler of Mandalore. Our homeworld. I made her a promise that she will always receive my loyalty, and for that I'm bound to help her when she needs it."
Lysa blinked several times, her mouth opening as a sudden look of realisation appeared on her pretty features.
"So…a-are you and her…?"
Din's eyes suddenly widened behind his beskar helmet.
"No," he replied in an instant. Likely quicker than he should have.
But Din now wanted to make it clear now that there was nothing between him and Bo Katan.
His heart focused on someone far closer to home, despite her likely not even realising it.
"As leader of Mandalore, I would follow her to the ends of this Galaxy. But she's not….we're not…."
Lysa nodded hurriedly. "Of course…" she said, offering him a bright smile, a look of relief that matched Din's, now flitting onto her face. "I was just, y'know…" she gave a visible swallow, "...curious, is all."
Din felt his shoulders relax, his lips twitching up into a prideful grin behind his mask.
Grogu peered up at the two adults, chirping as he pointed towards the broth in the pan before him.
At this, Lysa chewed on her lip for a second. "Well if you're going to leave again, let me at least send you off with some food to take with you."
And with that she took a step back and bent her head, searching in a low cupboard. Before pulling out a metal flask, some cups and a tiered metal container and beginning to bustle about decanting bread, cake and portions of broth into the containers.
Din watched as she worked for a moment or two, before turning to gather a few items he needed to take with him and Grogu, while she was distracted.
Din had never been one for many possessions when he travelled, but knew that he would need to ensure his weapons were all present and he had enough ammo in case things got hairy.
Not even five minutes later, having collected together everything he needed, including his jet pack and his blasters, by the front door to the cabin, beside the now-full cartons of food. Din moved back over to where Lysa was standing beside the long kitchen island in the centre of the room. Grogu, who was already at Din's feet now, waiting patiently, gave a gurle as he watched the adults with interest.
Lysa smiled at Din, as the tall Mandalorian came to stop just a foot or so away from her. A moment hanging in the air between them. Something warm and oh-so welcome.
Din knew he didn't want to leave, and also sensed that Lysa did not want him to go either.
She looked as lovely as ever now, her long wavy golden hair tied back from her face now by two thin golden braids. The smooth skin of her collarbone reflecting the sunlight that shone in from the viewport behind him.
To Din she looked like a mirage.
A dream.
And Din could only stare back at her, his heart constricting in his chest.
He worried that despite their conversation earlier, that by him flying off-planet once more, Lysa would choose to leave. To go back to her apartment, and leave his cabin once and for all, not wanting to spend another day here alone.
"We'll be home in a day or so with any luck," he said in a low, hushed voice through his modulator. "Just…stay. Don't leave."
But Lysa just smiled a beautiful smile, as she took another small step into Din now, closing the gap between them completely.
"Just come back as soon as you can," she whispered now, her words full of meaning as she spoke.
And with that, she pressed a hand to his beskar-covered chest, staring up at him, licking at her lips in a way that caused Din's eyes to linger at her mouth momentarily.
"It's getting harder and harder to be apart from you," she continued, blinking up at him through long lashes.
Dank farrik.
Din wanted to kiss her now. More than he had ever wanted something in his life.
And right now, Din knew that Lysa wanted that too.
He could see her now, breathing hard, eyes sultry and full of desperation.
But before he could say even another word, Lysa had leaned herself into him, her face suddenly lingering close to his beskar helmet.
"...I need you, Din," she uttered in what was barely a whisper, pulling back slightly as she slid her palm lower against his chest.
And Din felt his entire body react as her hand came to rest on the space just above his belt, her gaze never leaving his face.
Both adults knowing the true intention behind those words. A declaration of something far more than company and friendship now…
Din felt his entire body becoming hot, his breaths becoming hard and ragged in his throat…his body reacting to her touch.
Arousal flooding his veins like a drug.
And Lysa didn't look like she was faring much better, her pupils now dilated, her ample chest rising and falling hard with each needy breath she took.
Dank.
Din wanted her.
He wanted her badly. It taking all his effort not to fling off his helmet and take her right here, right now. Both his mind and his body practically urging him on to do just that.
But, as if on cue, as though trying to remind the two adults that he was still there, there came a sudden loud chirp from their feet. causing Lysa and Din to break from their moment.
Lysa retracted her hand suddenly from Din, taking a sudden step back as Din did the same, both sets of eyes travelling down… to see Grogu staring up at the pair of them.
Din gave a sudden heavy sigh.
"Kid…" he groaned meaningfully, shaking his head, as he glanced back up to see Lysa looking his way.
She was biting on her lip, a laughing smile painted onto her flushed face.
She seemed to stare at him for a long moment, her pretty green eyes roving across his obscured face.
Before she suddenly leaned in, placing her hands to either side of his beskar helmet, standing on her tip toes..
…pressing her lips to his visor in a gentle kiss- just for a moment. Before pulling away once more.
Immediately she turned from him, going back to clearing the spotless counter. A smile still lingering on her face.
And Din could only stare after her for a long few seconds, his heart thundering inside his puffed up chest, before he turned slowly on his heel and heading for the door wordlessly, as Grogu followed…
…unable to help the beaming smile that lingered on his own lips as he went.
Thanks to MsRose Petal, GraysonGirl13, Ashes2Dust18, hazkat, MakaylaCO, chipiam for reviewing the last chapter. I really appreciate the feedback.
What did you guys think of this chapter? I adore writing Din absolutely in love.
Please review! :)