*This chapter contains brief NSFW content. 18+ only.*
The night sky over the cool Nevarro desert was inky black, with every single star visible, twinkling overhead.
It was a stark contrast from the weather just a few hours prior, where a grumbling thunderstorm had belted down rain for over an hour.
The ground underfoot was still damp- the first thing Din noticed as he jumped from his N-1 Starfighter, and his boots hit the, normally, dusty earth just a little way from his small cabin.
Din and Grogu had been out since dawn. Having received a message on the wrist-comm from Carson Teva, who wanted to meet with them to discuss business in a quiet, back-street bar in Mos Eisley.
The meeting had been interesting, with Teva pretty much assuring Din that with the troubles the New Republic seemed to be having with bandits and outlaws on the Outer Rim, he would be kept well topped up with credits for the next Standard year at least!
On the long journey home, Grogu had fallen fast asleep against Din's shoulder. Snoring softly.
Leaving Din eager to get home, pushing his Starfighter to its limits on the return journey.
It had been Din's first trip off-planet since arriving back from Nar Shaddaa a little over a week ago. And the Mandalorian was keen to get home and see Lysa. Today having also been the first day that she had ventured into the city, since making her last delivery all those days prior.
Din had spent all of the previous evening showing Lysa how to properly use the speeder bike, which had been a fun couple of hours. At first Din had been rattled to see Lysa speed off, looking like she had little-to-no control over the vehicle in question. But he had been wrong to doubt her. And within just ten minutes she had mastered the precarious speeder easily, enjoying how exhilaratingly fast it moved compared to her sluggish and ancient old landspeeder.
They had made sure that the basket could easily hook onto the back, which it did, even providing Grogu with a fun place to sit, giggling and cooing happily as Lysa did laps of the cabin at a speed. As Din had chuckled beneath his helmet, watching them from the porch, muscular arms folded over his beskar plated chest.
But the basket had been unhooked for now, with Lysa informing Din that she didn't quite want to start back making deliveries yet. Instead wanting to take today to head into town and settle up with a few of the vendors she owed money to for their ingredients, and collect a few things she needed.
She had seemed to him over the last couple of days, a different person to that of a week ago, when she had first woken from her fever, upset and traumatised. Now it was as though that light had returned to her eyes. Her shoulders having untensed and that worried frown slipping slowly away as the days went on.
Din had savoured her closeness this past week, his chest constricting when he was near to her, unable to help the smile that slipped its way into his features when he looked her way. Knowing now that no matter what happened between them now, Din's heart would forever be hers.
The lights were on inside the cabin now, but they were dimmed, signalling to him that Lysa was likely already in bed. With her having left the lights on low, knowing that he would see them as his ship circled overhead, welcoming him home.
As Din arrived at the top step of his porch, he approached the front door watching as it slid open.
Quietly he went inside only to find Lysa half way across the room, having returned from using the Refresher. Dressed in just her usual short, this time- pale green slip, that ended at her smooth thighs, and bare feet. Looking like an angelic vision to Din.
She smiled happily at their sudden presence, tucking a long strand of mussed-up long blonde hair behind her ear.
He noted that she must have been sleeping, likely roused by the noise from the N-1 landing just outside. The next time he was to arrive back so late he would make sure to park up a little distance away, as not to disturb her. But in a selfish way, he now was glad that he had interrupted her sleep, to allow himself the chance to look at her now, smiling back at him in the twilight.
Lysa's eyes swiftly fell to the sleeping Grogu still nestled in Din's arms and her face softened to one of adoration.
"Has he been sleeping long?" she said with a whisper.
Din angled his gaze down to his son as best he could with his helmet half obscuring his view.
"An hour or two," he commented. "I'm going to put him down and then get freshened up. A Tatooine summer is no joke."
He watched as Lysa offered him a smile, wrinkling her nose affectionately as she did so. Before she approached, leaning in and pressing a gentle kiss to the very top of Grogu's head.
Din felt a swell of pride as he gazed down at them both, realising then just how lucky he truly was.
Pulling back carefully so as not to disturb the sleeping child, Lysa gently passed the pair, heading into Din's bedroom, as he watched her go for a lingering moment. Before strolling silently into the Sleeper just beside that one.
Less than ten minutes later Din emerged back into the living space, having showered, dressed in just his tunic and pants and helmet now.
He rounded the corner into the sleeper to see Lysa sat facing him from her position on his bed, a smile on her face, her head propped up with a pillow.
And from behind his helmet, Din couldn't help but smile back.
"How was Tatooine?" she asked gently.
Din gave an easy shrug entering the room, beginning to re-unbutton his tunic at the collar.
Din was so used to covering up in front of others, he had not yet become accustomed to walking the length of the cabin without his tunic yet.
"Fine," he replied tiredly, not having found his day interesting enough to expand on. "How was the city?"
Din was far more eager to hear how Lysa had found her first trip into town since everything that had happened.
"It was good," she said brightly, her green eyes watching as his neck was revealed little by little. "Visited the market. Everyone was….sweet."
At her words Din glanced her way, earning a small, but happy sigh from Lysa's lips.
"Seems like news travels fast when the High-Magistrate comes to Nar Shaddaa to rescue you," she explained.
Din pursed his lips. "Karga shouldn't have-"
"It's fine," uttered Lysa in a soothing voice, giving a small smile. "I don't think any of them had even met Crix, so I think it was all just a surprise to them that I'd put up with someone like that for so long without doing anything about it."
She gave a small sniff now, her eyes drifting down to her knees for a moment, before she glanced up at him once more.
"And I can see now how stupid I was, of course I can," she said in a voice quieter now than before. "But…y'know…hindsight can be a funny thing. I think I'd accepted that that was my life. And that I had no choice."
Din stared back at her for a long moment, as the room fell quiet.
Lysa swallowed harshly before she spoke again.
"I…uh…I also went back to my old apartment today," she said with a nod, a soft smile gracing her lips once more. "Just to pick up a couple of things, and I…I bumped into my landlord."
Din stared up at her instantly, his fingers slipping against a button at his collar.
"...and I uh…I asked about the lease…it's under Crix's name…" she explained, her face flushing slightly as she spoke, her eyes instantly dropping from his and instead becoming fixed to a loose thread on the white sheet before her. "...and um, well, he asked if I wanted to take it over…"
Behind his beskar Din Djarin suddenly felt his throat go instantly dry and his heart seem to skip a beat.
"...and, well, I told him I'd think about it…" she said, her unsure eyes drifting back up to Din's, obscured behind his helmet. "...I just…"
Lysa swallowed hard again, offering Din a sweet smile, her wide green eyes full of uncertainty now.
"...I wasn't sure if I'd outstayed my welcome with you…here…" she explained, taking in a breath and seeming to hold it in place, waiting for Din's response.
A frown slipped between Din's brows, his brown eyes roving across her face, his breathing becoming suddenly shallow.
Din didn't want her to leave. Not now. Not ever. His heart aching at the idea of losing her.
"Stay," he said suddenly, his voice sounding stark in the quiet of the room. "I want you to stay. We want you to stay."
Lysa gazed at him, with eyes filled with a hopeful disbelief and she opened her mouth to speak, but Din did not give her the chance. Cutting across her now.
"After what happened in Nar Shaddaa," said Din in a serious voice through his modulator. "...I don't think I can bear to be apart from you again."
His gaze remaining fixed on hers throughout.
"And I know this place might not seem like much of a home," he continued, his voice earnest. "But to us…it is now that you're in it. If you want it to, it could be your home too…"
At Din's words, Lysa's face seemed to warm in front of his eyes. A blushing smile breaking onto her pretty features.
"Ok," she said with a beaming nod.
"Ok," replied Din firmly, finally letting go of his breath for the first time in what felt like an age, a relieved smile flitting its way onto his face. His chest swelling with pride.
Din's heart now ached for her. For the woman sat before him, looking like a vision in pale starlight.
And he knew now that he didn't want her questioning things between them again.
He never again wanted to see her uncertain about how much love for her he had.
Never wanted to see her doubt how much she meant to him and how much he wanted to hold her close and never let her go.
As she stared back at him now, Din could see the love pouring from her. Her beautiful face a shining light even in the darkness of the room.
And feeling a lump settle in his throat, and a frown settle itself between Din's brows, he gazed down at her knowing exactly how he felt about her now.
How he'd felt about her from that first moment he's laid eyes on her.
The ever-shining sunlight to his dark and pouring rain.
And without warning, Din, with that frown still there and chest rising and falling hard, unpinned his tunic and shucked it from his shoulders. Before reaching over and pressing a hand to the square button beneath the window.
And just before the room, plunged into darkness, he saw Lysa wet her lips gently with her tongue, a warm expectation set within her gaze.
A moment later the room became black, as Din dropped his knees onto the bed one by one, pulling off his beskar helmet as he did so. Throwing it onto the mattress beside them.
And almost instantly he felt Lysa's hand on his chest, knowing exactly where he was even in the dark. Her palms sliding over his shoulders, as she pulled him close, her lips meeting with his.
Her kiss was soft and sweet and Din felt his chest constrict with the adoration he felt for her in that moment.
Lysa lay back, tugging him on top of her, her fingers threading themselves through his dark hair. Just as Din's propped himself up with his arms either side of her, penning her in.
Wanting now to right every wrong that had ever befallen her.
Wanting to soothe every hurt.
Determined tonight, to kiss every part of her body that Crix had bruised her.
And moving his mouth from hers, he began to press gentle open-mouthed kisses to her neck, staring from the space just beneath her ear, and travelling down slowly to her collarbone.
Her heard Lysa let out a satisfied 'mmmmm', hearing now that she was smiling.
And how Din loved making her smile.
He dipped his head, dropping his lips next to her chest, inching lower, as his rough hands unbuttoned her pale slip slowly, revealing even more skin to him.
A moment later the fabric between them was gone, Lysa letting it slide from her shoulders, propping herself up onto her elbows for a second to toss it aside.
As her back hit the mattress once more, Din's hands skimmed down her sides, coming to stop on the small of her waist, as his kisses followed, one falling between her breasts before his lips grazed her ribs. Peppering each side with brief and open-mouthed laps.
He knew that Crix had broken and bruised more than a few of her rib-bones over the years. And despite not being able to take those hard memories away from Lysa. Din wanted to do what he could to let her know that the hurt was now gone.
The noise of his lips gently kissing her skin, caused Lysa to emit several soft little moans that were enough to make Din frown darkly, his breathing becoming shallower within his chest now. Enjoying the sounds he was able to ease from her mouth.
Her stomach was next to receive attention from him, followed by her hips, one-by-one, as he slowly moved to her thighs. Positioning himself between them and using his hands to hitch up both legs and press soft wet kisses to those smooth inner-thighs of hers.
He heard her gasp out expectantly, the noise sending waves of arousal coursing through his body.
But he was not done yet. Nor was he ready to finish in kissing away the ghosts of the bruises Crix had once given her. His entire chest constricting, as his thoughts lingered on all she had gone through, and all she had survived.
With Din Djarin knowing that there was nothing she could ever do, for him to consider ever inflicting those same bruises on her.
And so sliding his body up and over hers once again, and propping himself up with one arm taught against the mattress, his face found hers in the dark.
Din pressed a gentle kiss to one cheekbone now, and then the other, feeling her smile instantly at that. Before his lips grazed her temples, once, twice then three times…
…before finally, moving to the space between her brows…
…to that frown line…
…to that place he had once promised himself, long before Lysa had even been his, that he would one day press his lips to.
And it was in that moment, that everything seemed to change. With Din pulling back, feeling his breathing become shallow and that frown that had graced his own brow, returning. As he stared down at Lysa, without being able to even see her in the darkness.
Knowing now that she completed him.
That his existence now felt utterly fulfilled now that she was in it. As though every moment of his life was leading to him meeting her.
And that was when Din Djarin made a decision. A decision which he knew now that he would not regret for the rest of his days.
And so breathing hard, he lifted his face back just an inch, staring down at Lysa…
…as his free hand moved to the window.
And in an instant, Din had flipped the switch…
… opening the shutters…
…with shining starlight illuminating the small room…
…revealing his face, at last, to the beautiful woman before him.
Din gave a harsh swallow, as he stared down at her. His heart thudding inside his chest, almost trembling with apprehension.
Unable to help the fear and worry that appeared in his brown eyes, as he stared wordlessly down at her.
Before him, he saw Lysa blink a couple of times, her green eyes wide, her lips parting gently.
Dank farrik.
What if she found him grotesque?
What if upon seeing his face after so long, she decided that he was not the man she thought he was?
Aside from Grogu and the Jedi, Din had not shown his face to another living being since he was a child, putting on the helmet for the first time.
To him now, this felt like standing naked in a room full of people, vulnerable, with nowhere to hide.
But before Din could worry further, Lysa had lifted her smooth hand to his face, her fingers lightly tracing over his cheekbones and down his jaw, grazing over his bottom lip. As her eyes followed the same path, taking in his every feature.
Before those marsh-green eyes of hers finally settled on his brown ones…
…for the very first time.
And awash in her eyes was a look that told him all he ever needed to know.
A look that told him just how utterly in love with him she was.
A feeling Din reciprocated now, so strongly in return, that he felt his heart might shatter in two if he were to ever lose her again.
A love so intense, he felt that no force in this galaxy could keep them apart any longer.
"Ni kar'tayli gar darasuum," he uttered aloud, before he could do a thing to stop himself. The words presenting themselves to her, as though she was always meant to have had them.
And for a moment, her eyes searched his…
But Din did not give her the chance to worry on their meaning. As he swallowed hard again, his gaze never leaving hers.
"It means- I will know you forever."
Din stared down at her as a look of shining awe appeared like morning dew over Lysa perfect features.
"It's what the people of Mandalore would say to those that they-" he paused, just for the very briefest of seconds, wetting his bottom lip gently with his tongue. "-that they love."
Din watched, as the frown line between Lysa's eyes deepended for a split second before her face softened completely.
"I love you," said Din, with a slight shake of his head, his words honest in the quiet of the night. "I think I loved you from that first time you showed up outside in your speeder."
A gentle smile slipped it's way over Lysa's face, her sparkling ocean green eyes still searching his in the starlight.
"I love you too," she said breathlessly, reaching up and cupping at his cheek with her hand, as she lifted her head from the pillow behind her head, her lips gently meeting with his.
To Din, her lips tasted like golden honey.
Like pure sunlight.
Her kiss sweet and delicious, and filled with love in its most truest form.
And like that they remained, kissing at one another languidly, hands sliding over skin.
Enjoying every inch of each other as the minutes slowly passed them by.
Until those kisses of theirs became far more heated, the swirling vortex of their need for one another getting bigger and more powerful until neither of them could bear it any longer.
Thighs sliding over hips…
Hands fumbling between them, as Din's dark pants were pushed from his waist and kicked to the floor.
They felt like magnets now, unable and unwilling to part, as they sought their pleasure, so wrapped in one another neither would have noticed if a StarCruiser had crashed into the planet right outside.
Their lips parted for a brief moment, huffing hot breaths into each other's mouths, as Lysa's hand found his erect length, hard and throbbing between his legs. Eager to seek its goal in that soaked aching slit between her thighs.
And a moment later, with mouths hanging open, both mirroring the other, eyes locked, Din was there, buried inside her.
Their pace started slow, with Lysa's hand moving to his muscular bicep, now flexed taught beside her shoulder. Fingernails from her other hand raking through his dark hair.
And Din could only breathe out raggedly, as their hips began to move in sync with one another.
Moving faster and ever faster.
Lips grazing.
Tongue's lapping.
Both intoxicated on each other.
Lysa moaned into Din's mouth, her eyes closing blissfully, as her back arched against the sheets beneath her.
Din's hands skimmed up the bare skin of Lysa's warm outer thigh, huffing a grunt into her parted lips, as he buried himself inside her time and time again. The wet, sinful noises between them, truly something to behold.
A moment later, her hand moved to his neck and she lifted her face to his again. Her green eyes seeking his in the pale light.
And their eye contact remained as Lysa fell apart first, gasping out, clenching around his hard cock, which now sodden with her juices.
The sensation enough to trigger Din's own climax, a dark frown gracing his sweat beaded brow, as he came hard, groaning out as Lysa watched him from her own comedown.
"Dank farrik…" he murmured, as Lysa gave a hazy nod in response, her thumb grazing over Din's bottom lip, as she leaned her lips in close to his.
"Yeah…" she responded breathlessly, as Din eased himself from her now, his trembling arm almost giving out on him. Settling himself down onto his back, onto the mattress beside her.
The two of them breathing hard, their chests both rising and falling hard in the pale light of the stars.
A few seconds later, Din felt Lysa turn towards him, shifting onto her side to gaze at his profile, feeling her eyes on him.
And shifting his own body, he came to face her.
The pair were silent for a long moment, with Lysa's hand drifting up to Din's face, her thumb drifting over the hollow beneath Din's eye gently, where he bore the small marks of more than a few fights he had both won and lost over the years.
Din closed his eyes, even after weeks of removing his helmet in the dark and feeling her contact, he still cherished the feeling of her warm fingers touching a place he had not had touched by another since he was a small child.
"Won't you get in trouble for removing your helmet?" he heard Lysa ask now, amidst the quiet. "Isn't it against the Creed?"
Her words were caring and soft. And as Din opened his eyes, he looked upon her face, full of concern and love for him, and only him.
Din's hand moved to her middle, his fingers reaching the small of her waist as he caressed her smooth skin.
"You are part of my family now," he said, leaning in and nudging his nose with hers gently. "My clan."
He saw her green eyes seek his lips in the darkness, watching every word as they spilled from his lips.
"I have abided by the rules for so long. Sacrificing so much along the way," he continued in earnest, knowing that every word was true.
Being a Mandalorian, he had missed out on so very much.
Missed out on what others sought so often.
On that intimacy, with not only lovers but family too.
But now, Din Djarin was no longer on the outside looking in. For the galaxy had provided him with his own family. His own clan.
"These moments with you-" he uttered now, pulling her hips into his and pressing his hand to the dipped small of her back, holding her so very close. "-we are bonded. And I-"
Din gave a hard swallow now, gazing into the eyes of the woman he loved so dearly.
"I just….I don't ever want to let you go," he said, letting out a huff of air through his nose, as he reached down, his hand grasping hers.
"You are my kar'ta…" he said, pressing her palm flat to his bare chest, as he translated in a low and firm voice. "...my heart."
He saw Lysa tilt her head, and tears glint in her eyes in the pale starlight. But she did not let any fall now.
A smile gracing her perfect face as she shifted closer to Din now and tucked her head beneath his chin. Her hand finding his once more, their fingers entwining neatly.
Both listening to the rain as it began to pitter-patter on the roof of the cabin, but neither allowing sleep to take them just yet.
The two of them, Din and Lysa, basking now in the glow, of both the rain…
…and the sunlight.
Thanks to HandSpunYarns, Freya2Xana, MsRosePetal and hazkat for reviewing.
Phew that was a long one. Took me an age to write so I'd love to hear any comments or feedback you have. I hope it was ok...
Please review! :)
