"I'll take first watch." Din said stiffly, making his way over to the entrance of the tent.

Fett turned to look at him, his visor glinting in the firelight. "The Tuskens are on watch, aren't they?"

"Well. Yes." Din shifted his weight from one foot to the other, uncomfortable. "But - well. I should stand watch, anyway."

Fett sighed and took off his helmet, tucking it under his elbow. Din tried not to flinch at the sight of Fett's bare face, still unsettling even after knowing the other man for months. Judging from Fett's frown, he wasn't very successful.

"We're safe here, Djarin." Fett said, rubbing the back of his head wearily. "I know this tribe well. Come, sleep. There is no need to stand watch."

"I - there's no room for both of us." Din said awkwardly, motioning to the single bedroll that clearly wasn't meant to accompany two fully grown men sleeping side by side. He'd shared a tent with other warriors of his tribe before, of course, but sharing a single bed. If that was the case, they slept in shifts. Sharing a bed was reserved for one's spouse or child, and even then most warriors of the tribe chose to sleep alone, so they could remove the helmet and rest more comfortably. Sharing a bed with another warrior who wasn't clan just - wasn't done.

Fett sighed tiredly. "It's a tight fit, but we can manage. Besides, we'll need rest to track those sleemos tomorrow. When's the last time you slept?"

Din shrugged. "Two days ago? Three? I'm fine, Fett. I'll sleep after you've had some rest."

Fett rolled his eyes. "Don't be an idiot, Djarin. Just take off the armor and come to bed."

Din froze, panic thundering in his blood. "I - I don't -"

Fett's face softened, and he held up his hands. "I don't mean - I won't make you take off the helmet. Just - take the armor off, make yourself comfortable. We both need rest." He laid a hand on his chest, a sincere expression on his face. "You can trust me."

Din took a few shallow breaths, making himself relax a little. Fett had proven himself to be a trusted ally, in the past. He had always respected Din's Creed, and had only ever treated him with friendliness and respect. He likely wouldn't dishonor Din by removing his helmet while he slept, even if they were pressed together like a pair of massiff puppies.

And he can't dishonor me any more than I've already dishonored myself. Din thought, his chest aching at the thought of what his tribe would do when they found out he'd removed his helmet. I'm already an outcast, they just don't know it yet.

He looked back at Fett, who was waiting patiently for Din's answer.

"I -" Din took a deep breath and made himself uncurl his hands. "All right."

Fett slapped him on the shoulder and gave him a crooked smile. "Good." He moved over to one side of the bedroll and began removing his armor, setting his helmet on the floor. Din stood awkwardly by the entrance, watching Fett remove his chest plate and set it aside.

"Well?" Fett looked up at him, raising an eyebrow.

Din started a little and moved closer, awkwardly leaning down to remove his boots. Fett fixed his focus on removing his own armor, which made Din feel marginally better as he removed piece by piece of his armor and stacked it by the tent wall. It was easier to do this if Fett didn't look directly at him. It wasn't the same as someone asking to remove his helmet, of course. Warriors in the tribe removed their body armor on occasion, for the purposes of rest or medical care or a fitting in the forge, but it still felt unnatural to do so around someone who wasn't a warrior of his tribe. Din rarely took off his armor even among the covert, usually choosing to tend to his injuries in private, and he had no spouse to share that kind of intimacy with either, not like some of the other warriors did.

He removed piece by piece of his armor, followed by his flight suit, trying not to think about the last time he had removed it to sleep alongside another person. It'd been - years, really, since Din had even had sex, let alone slept beside someone with nothing but his helmet and underwear.

He stood there for a moment, shifting his weight from one foot to the other awkwardly, not sure what to do. He shivered at the feeling of cool air on his bare arms and legs, goosebumps rising on his skin.

Fett didn't seem bothered by Din's hesitancy, and just shucked off the rest of his armor and his Tusken robes, throwing them casually next to his armor. He seemed at ease in his body, unlike Din, and didn't seem to mind standing across from Din in only his underwear. Din tried not to stare at the other man's body, at his broad shoulders and muscled, powerful legs, but flushed anyway, his cheeks heating up.

At least he can't see my face, Din thought distantly, shaking his head a little to clear his thoughts. His heart thundered in his chest.

Thankfully, Fett seemed unaware of Din's inner struggle, and just stretched casually, the muscles in his arms flexing a little. Din swallowed and bit his lip, trying to ignore how his heart rate picked up.

Focus, Mando.

Fett groaned heavily and lay down on the bedroll, stretching his arms over his head. He turned to look at Din, raising a scarred eyebrow. "Well, you coming?"

Din blinked and nodded, stepping towards the bed hesitantly and awkwardly sitting down. He shuffled down a bit and lay next to Fett, shifting to get comfortable. His hesitant movements had none of the easy grace Fett had displayed. The other man didn't seem bothered by the sight of Din's body, his long, gangly limbs, his soft belly and ugly scars. Din forced himself to let out a breath, the sound a crackle through his helmet.

Fett didn't say anything, just pulled the blanket up over both of them. "Here. Fair warning, I've been told I tend to steal the blankets."

Din huffed out a laugh, surprised. "Steal?"

Fett grinned crookedly. "What can I say? I like to be comfortable." He shifted a little, turning on his side. "What about you? Any sleeping habits I should be aware of?"

Din started, blushing behind his helmet. "I - no. Not - not that I know of."

Fett nodded easily. "All right." He looked at Din curiously, his gaze lingering on the helmet. "You don't do this often, do you?"

"Do - what?" Din asked warily, turning onto his side a little awkwardly. Fett had made it seem almost graceful, but Din shifted and resettled his limbs until they were in a comfortable position, feeling oddly scrutinized under Fett's calm gaze.

"Sleep with others." Fett said, shrugging.

Din colored. "No." He said shortly, looking up at the tent ceiling. This was a bad idea. "Do you?"

"Yeah, sure." Fett said easily, turning his gaze away from Din to look up at the ceiling himself. "Partners, friends, sometimes it's nice to have company."

He turned slightly and leaned closer to Din, his voice a conspiratorial whisper. "It might surprise you, but Fennec's a cuddler."

"I - she - you and her?" Din managed to say once he felt like he could speak with a steady voice. His heart raced in his chest, his mind stuck on the image of Shand and Fett together in bed. He felt oddly - not disappointed, it was Fett's business who he took to his bed, but something like it. An odd emotion washing over him at the thought of Fett, leaning over Shand, naked, his powerful thighs bracing hers, that crooked smile on his face.

Stop it. He told himself sternly. It's Fett's business.

Fett laughed, bringing Din out of his tangled thoughts. "No, no. We're not together in that way. We're friends, but no. But sometimes just companionship, comfort, is - nice." He laid a calloused hand on Din's arm, shifting a little closer.

"Ah." Din managed, his throat suddenly very dry. Relief flooded him, his heart rate picking up a little at Fett's touch.

"You have anyone like that?" Fett asked, his eyes suddenly serious. "A friend, someone who offers - comfort?"

Din swallowed, turning his head to look back at Fett. "No. Not - not anymore." He thought of Paz, of lying side by side as foundlings, holding hands so tightly his bones creaked. Of waking up from a nightmare as a teenager and wandering to the training room to punch the practice bag, of Paz's arms pulling him into an embrace as he sobbed.

Not anymore. Din was an apostate now, an outsider. Paz and the others, his brothers and sisters, none of them would have anything to do with him anymore. Grief washed over him at the thought, and he pushed that feeling down deeper, clearing his throat a little.

"Not anymore." He repeated.

Fett's expression didn't change, but he moved his hand a little higher, resting it on Din's bicep. "Pity."

What is happening? Din thought wildly, taking a few shallow breaths. He felt certain Fett could feel his pulse racing, the goosebumps on his skin. "Is it?" His voice cracked, and he cursed himself for his lack of control. "I'm fine, Fett."

"Of course." Fett said agreeably, nodding. He didn't take away his hand, and Din felt sweat gathering at the back of his neck, his cock twitching traitorously.

"Still, it's nice. You should try it."

"What, cuddling?" Din said, trying to put as much disdain in his voice as he could.

Fett just laughed. "Yeah, why not? You're so tense, Djarin. Could be good to relax a little."

Din pulled his shoulders up defensively. "What are you suggesting?"

Fett shrugged. "All I'm saying is, the offer's there if you want it. No strings attached."

Din took a few slow breaths, trying to ignore how good Fett's touch felt, how it might feel to have the other man's strong arms around him, holding him. "Just that? Nothing - nothing else?"

Not that I'd be against something else, he thought wildly. Maybe, eventually. The image of Fett, leaning over him, pinning him to the bed, raced through his mind. No. Not now. Din wasn't - the thought of bumping beskar with Boba Fett, of being so vulnerable with someone outside the tribe, with someone who didn't understand the Creed - it was too much. The idea was overwhelming, almost frightening, and yet Din wanted it. He felt dizzy with how much he wanted it, despite his confused fear, despite the hairs that rose up on his arm at Fett's gentle touch.

"Nothing else." Fett promised, his voice a rumble that made Din's heartbeat pick up wildly. He looked at Fett for a moment, trying to wrestle his breathing under control.

"I - all right." He said, his voice nearly a croak.

"All right." Fett agreed, smiling a little. "Come here, then." He tightened his grip on Din's arm and pulled him closer. Din shifted, allowing himself to be pulled into Fett's side. Fett let go of him and wrapped a sturdy arm around his shoulders, resting his other hand on Din's hip and pulling him almost on top of Fett. Din squirmed a little before resting his head on Fett's chest, allowing the other man to tuck a solid thigh between his legs and pull him in a little more. Fett didn't seem to mind the cold beskar of Din's helmet on his chest, and hummed softly.

"There, that's better." Fett said, running a hand up and down Din's shoulder blade. "Feels nice, right?"

"I - yes." Din admitted. It did feel nice, having Fett's arms around him, feeling his heartbeat thump steadily.

"Mmm." Fett hummed, sighing a little. "You better not kick in your sleep."

Din huffed out a laugh, curling his toes into the sheets. "Never."

He felt Fett chuckle, the sound reverberating in his chest. "Good."

His grip tightened marginally, as he squeezed Din's hip gently. "Good."

Din shifted closer despite himself, closing his eyes. His limbs felt heavy with exhaustion, as the day's events caught up to him. He let himself relax against Fett's chest, forcing his whirlwind of thoughts to the back of his head, to be dealt with tomorrow. "Good night, Fett."

Fett rested his cheek on the top of Din's helmet, the pressure comforting against Din's head. "Good night, Djarin."