The hyperspace journey back to Tatooine seemed agonizingly long, the minutes creeping by as Din watched white stars rush past the viewport.
His whole body trembled, shaking with adrenaline. Staring blankly out of the viewport, Din drummed his fingers anxiously on the ship's console.
Focus. Din thought, inhaling deeply and closing his eyes, relaxing the tension in his jaw, the strain in his shoulders. He took a few more breaths, determinedly suppressing the phantom sensation of Vik's hands on his body.
As the rush of panic and fear subsided, shame and anger took its place.
Fuck. He thought, opening his eyes. I should've known.
Had Vik ever intended to help Din seek redemption? Or had he already cast Din aside and deemed him an outsider before even going to Mandalore?
Was all this just about an easy hookup?
Their entire relationship had been based on hookups, after all. Din had been lonely and even more inexperienced than he was now, and Vik had been older, attractive, and extremely confident. Din had been so desperate for companionship, for any kind of physical touch, that he'd convinced himself that furtive trysts in dark corners of the covert was what they both wanted. He'd accepted these encounters as his due, resigned to Vik's groping, impatient hands on his body and the vague sense of shame when they were finished.
Din swallowed, hurt and anger bubbling in his chest.
Did he ever care about me?
The console beeped suddenly, startling him back to the present as the ship came out of hyperspace. Din breathed a sigh of relief at the reassuringly familiar sight of Tatooine in the viewport. Steering the ship into the planet's atmosphere, he entered the coordinates for the palace. He flew over Mos Espa, the city streets bustling with activity, and landed in the palace's courtyard.
Din heaved himself out of the small ship with a tired groan, wincing as his knees cracked in protest. Acknowledging the nearby guard with a nod, he walked through the palace doors and headed for the throne room.
It was early evening by now, and most of the palace's visitors were on their way out, chatting amiably and giving Din curious looks as they walked past. Some lingered in the hallways, mostly smugglers and bounty hunters trading gossip and credits. Din entered the throne room to find it all but empty, a lone cleaning droid sweeping the far side of the room. He spotted Boba seated by the bar, helmet on the counter beside him, and made his way over to him.
Looking up from his drink, Boba saw him approaching and smiled. "Welcome back." He said warmly, reaching over to grab an empty glass from behind the bar. "Care for a drink?"
"All right." Din agreed, sitting down on a barstool next to Boba.
Boba uncorked the bottle next to him and poured a glass of deep red liquid, handing it to Din. Taking the glass, Din tipped back his helmet enough to take a small sip. The taste was mild and fruity, leaving a pleasant warmth in his belly as he drank. He hummed, happily surprised, and took another sip.
Boba watched him, his expression pleased. "Good, right?"
"Very good." Din agreed, adjusting his helmet and setting the glass carefully on the counter. "What is it?"
"Corellian wine." Boba replied. "I helped the deputy mayor of Anchorhead get out of some legal trouble, and he sent a crate of it over as a thank you."
Din whistled, impressed. A popular drink among wealthy senators and high-profile dignitaries, Corellian wine wasn't cheap.
"Must've been a pretty tight spot you got him out of."
"You have no idea." Boba groaned. "I've been at Anchorhead municipal administration all day."
Din snorted, reaching for his glass and taking another drink.
"What about you?" Boba asked. "How was your trip?"
Din swallowed, tensing. The wine in his belly seemed to curdle as a sudden wave of anxious nausea washed over him. He set the glass back down, trying to keep his hands steady. "It was fine."
Boba frowned, eyeing the sudden tension in Din's shoulders. "Are you all right?" He asked.
"I - yeah." Din forced the words out, his throat dry. "I'm fine."
"You don't look fine." Boba said bluntly, his brow furrowed in concern. "What happened? Did you find what you were looking for?"
"I found the mines." Din replied, doing his best to keep his voice steady.
"That's good, isn't it?" Boba asked, reaching out to take Din's hand. Din let him lace their fingers together, relaxing minutely at the gentle touch.
"I didn't stay long."
"Why not?" Boba asked, rubbing his thumb over Din's knuckles reassuringly, the feeling soothing even through the gloves they both wore.
"Vik - I had to leave." He said, shame bubbling in his stomach at the memory of Vik's insistent, groping hands.
"Okay." Boba said slowly, his gaze not leaving Din's visor. "Did something happen?"
Din shrugged awkwardly. "He - we used to be - well, you know." He stuttered, his face hot, the words caught behind his teeth. We used to fuck. Why were the words so difficult to say? "He wanted - he thought that I would -"
Boba's expression darkened. "He wanted sex." It wasn't a question, but Din nodded anyway.
"Yes. For - for helping him find the Living Waters. I - I said no."
"Did he listen?" Boba asked, carefully watching Din's visor.
Din shook his head. "I - not - not really."
Boba swore violently under his breath, the Huttese words harsh and guttural. "Are you sure you're all right?" He asked roughly, his eyes dark with anger.
Din nodded. "I left. He didn't actually - nothing happened, Boba."
"Even so. He should have taken no for an answer." Boba growled.
"Nothing happened." Din repeated, squeezing Boba's hand tightly.
"He tried to assault you." Boba said darkly.
"But he didn't." Din insisted, a little impatient now. The tips of his ears burned with embarrassment underneath his helmet. "I'm fine, Boba. Really."
Boba searched his visor, anger still carved into the lines of his face. "Are you sure? You're not hurt?"
"Yes." Din said emphatically. "I promise."
"Fine." Boba grunted, letting go of Din's hand to pull him into a crushing hug, his arms tight around Din's waist. "But if I see that sleemo come anywhere near here I'm taking him on a little trip to the Pit of Carkoon."
"Didn't you and Fennec destroy that thing?" Din asked, tucking his helmet into the crook of Boba's neck.
"I'm sure there's another sarlacc around here somewhere." Boba said darkly.
"Yeah?" Din huffed a laugh. "The rancor not enough for you?"
"Not nearly." Boba grumbled, but he seemed visibly cheered by the reminder of the other weapons he had at his disposal.
"Right." Din shook his head, pressing his helmet into Boba's shoulder and relaxing into Boba's grip. The pressure of Boba's arms around his waist was soothing, chasing away some of the tension in his shoulders. Din sighed contentedly and closed his eyes, burrowing closer even though he had to contort his body a little to press his visor into Boba's neck.
"I don't like that he hurt you." Boba murmured, rubbing Din's back gently with a gloved hand.
"He didn't." Din said, lifting his head to look down at Boba. "Not really."
"He ignored your boundaries." Boba scowled. "Your consent."
Din shrugged uncomfortably, letting go of Boba and taking a small step backwards. "That's not exactly new."
Boba's scowl deepened. "This is normal for you." He said flatly.
"Not - not normal, exactly." Din said. "But - Vik's always been, I don't know - persistent. Even when I - even when I didn't really -" He stopped, lifting one shoulder awkwardly.
Boba was silent for a moment, his eyes searching Din's visor. "Even when you didn't want sex?" He asked carefully.
Din nodded jerkily.
"Din, that's - that's wrong." Boba said seriously, looking at him so intently Din could feel the weight of his gaze through the helmet, as if he wore no beskar at all. "You deserve to have your boundaries respected."
"I - I know." Din said, pushing down the bubble of uncertainty, the shame that twisted in his stomach. He took Boba's face in his hands, Boba's stubble rough even through Din's thick gloves. "I'm okay, Boba. Really."
Boba's expression softened, though his eyes were still dark with worry, with anger. "Okay."
"Okay." Din repeated. They stood there in silence for a few moments, the only sound the soft whirring of the cleaning droid at the other end of the throne room. Clearing his throat, Din lowered his hands and reached over to nudge Boba softly with an elbow. "Have you eaten?"
Shaking his head, Boba huffed a laugh, but let him change the subject. "Hungry?"
"Starving." Din agreed, picking up his glass and downing the rest of his drink.
"Fennec made soup earlier. There should be some left." Boba replied, picking up his helmet and tucking it under his arm.
Din blanched, grimacing. "Fennec cooked?"
"Yeah." Boba snorted, taking Din's hand and pulling him towards the door. "Don't worry, I made her eat it first before subjecting it to anyone else."
"Is it any good?" Din asked, letting Boba lead him down the hallway to the kitchen.
"Edible, anyway." Boba said, grinning. "C'mon."
Din rolled his eyes and laced their fingers together. "If you say so."
Warily, he followed Boba into the kitchen, letting go of his hand to join Fennec, who was sprawled lazily at the table, idly scrolling through a file on her datapad. Nodding in her direction, Boba walked over to the stovetop and ladled some soup into a bowl.
"Good to see you again, Djarin." Fennec said warmly, prodding him in the ribs with a sharp elbow. "Boba said you had Mando business. Didn't think you'd be back for a while."
Din shrugged. "Trip was cut short."
"Well, welcome back." Fennec said, watching as Boba put a bowl of soup in front of Din before sinking into a seat on his other side with a groan. "We could use another hunter around."
Boba nodded, tucking into his own food with enthusiasm.
"I'll be here." Din replied.
Where else am I going to go? His life with the tribe was over, that much was clear. Maybe he could have returned to the covert, if he had been baptized in the mines, but now - now I'm an apostate for good. He pushed down the pang of grief the thought elicited, taking off his gloves and placing them on the table.
I can never go back to the covert. Din thought, watching Boba out of the corner of his eye. I have to find my own path.
Maybe - maybe that path could be here on Tatooine, with Boba, and Grogu, and Fennec. It wouldn't be a tribe in the same way, but maybe - maybe they could be a different kind of clan. Warmth settled in his chest at the thought. The thought of a future here, at Boba's side - I want that. And I think - I think that Boba wants that too.
He picked up his bowl and tipped back his helmet just enough to take a cautious sip. The soup tasted of vegetables and spices, with little cubes of seasoned meat that melted on his tongue. Din hummed happily at the taste and took another, significantly larger, sip.
Fennec watched him, grinning at his obvious surprise. "Not bad, right?"
Din shook his head. "Not bad at all." He agreed, chasing a bit of meat with his spoon.
"Shocking, isn't it?" Boba said, grinning. "To think Shand can make something that won't give us all food poisoning."
"That was one time." Fennec retorted, pointing her spoon in Boba's direction.
"The memories." Boba deadpanned. "They haunt my dreams."
"Ungrateful bastard." Fennec grumbled, reaching around Din to whack Boba on the arm. Boba just laughed, bumping his knee into Din's companionably.
Smiling to himself behind his helmet, Din ignored their bickering and continued to eat. He finished his soup and carried his bowl to the kitchen's small tap, washing it and setting it on the counter to dry.
"Has Grogu eaten?" He asked, eyeing the pot of soup on the stove and wondering whether Grogu could be convinced to try it.
"Not yet." Boba replied, standing up and carrying his own bowl over to the tap. "Unless Fennec has been giving him more treats."
"You're just jealous you're not the favorite any more." Fennec retorted.
Din rolled his eyes. "Are you bribing my son?"
"Of course." She smirked, pushing her bowl into Boba's hands and sauntering over to the door.
Watching her leave, Boba scoffed. "She wishes she was the favorite."
Din smiled, shifting to stand behind Boba and wrapping his arms around him. "Don't worry, Grogu still likes you."
"Hm." Boba set down Fennec's bowl and set his hands on top of Din's, twining their fingers together. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." Din rested his chin on Boba's shoulder. "You fed him frogs."
"That was once." Boba protested, laughing.
Din shrugged. "He's easy to impress."
"Guess I'll have to stock up on frogs then." Boba said, a hint of uncertainty buried in his voice.
"Guess so." Din agreed, squeezing Boba's hand.
"You're staying, then?" Boba asked, letting go of Din's hand and turning around to face him, his brow furrowed.
"Yes. I - if you'll have me, that is." Din said nervously.
"Always." Boba said sincerely, his eyes warm with affection. "I just thought - I thought you might want to return to your tribe."
"I can't." Din said, swallowing past the sudden lump in his throat. "I - maybe I could have, if I was baptized at the Living Waters, but - I'm still an apostate. And I - I want to stay here, with you."
"Okay." Boba said softly, leaning in to press his forehead to Din's helmet. "I'd like that."
"Good." Din smiled. "Because Grogu's gotten pretty attached to Tatooine."
"Has he?" Boba chuckled.
"He really likes banthas." Din said, his stomach swooping as Boba laughed. "He saw Tuskens riding banthas and now he wants one as a pet."
"Shouldn't be too difficult." Boba replied, a little smugly.
"You are not getting my son a pet bantha." Din replied, pulling back to look down at Boba.
"Why not? Having a pet encourages responsibility, doesn't it?"
Din rolled his eyes. "He's too young to take care of a bantha."
"A massiff, then." Boba said, his eyes twinkling.
"No." Din repeated, resisting the urge to copy Fennec and poke Boba in the ribs.
"A womp rat?" Boba suggested, laughing as Din groaned and shoved him.
"You're impossible." Din grumbled.
Boba just grinned, taking his hand. "Sorry, Din'ika. Let's go feed the kid, yeah?"
Din shook his head, smiling despite himself. "Yeah." He agreed, letting Boba lead him down the hallway to the lift.
They took the lift up to Boba's rooms, hand in hand like lovesick teenagers. Din felt giddy with happiness as he leaned into Boba's side, his heart kicking in his chest. Boba wants me. He wants me to stay. The thought filled him with unbridled joy, bright and uncomplicated.
The lift stopped with a sudden chime, signaling that they had reached the top floor of the palace, and Din reluctantly let go of Boba's hand, stepping out into Boba's rooms.
Walking over to the large bed where Grogu lay dozing, Din reached out and stroked one of Grogu's ears gently. "Time for dinner, kid." He murmured, chuckling as Grogu opened his eyes with a whine.
"Ahhh." The kid said grumpily, reaching out with his little claws in a wordless request to be held.
Din obliged readily, scooping Grogu into his arms and rubbing his back.
"I know." He said soothingly. "But it's time to eat. You can go back to sleep soon, okay?"
"Patu." Grogu grumbled, tucking his little nose into Din's chest plate.
"I guess I'll have to eat all those frogs by myself, then." Din said, sighing theatrically.
Grogu made an indignant noise, frowning up at Din. "Aah!"
"All right, all right." Din laughed, ruffling the kid's small patch of hair. "Let's get you some food."
"Eee." Grogu agreed, decidedly less grumpy now that he had been promised frogs.
Carrying the kid in his arms, Din joined Boba in the lift. Boba smiled at Grogu, giving him a little wave.
"Have a good nap, kid?"
"Aah." Grogu agreed, pressing his face into Din's neck contentedly. Din smiled, rubbing the kid's back gently as the lift carried them down to the main floor.
The doors opened with a soft chime, and Din followed Boba towards the kitchen, bouncing Grogu in his arms. Giggling, the kid hung on to his chest plate, his little claws digging into Din's flight suit.
"Da!" He cried, giving Din a toothy smile. "Patu!"
"Again?" Din asked playfully.
"Ah!" Grogu agreed, waving a clawed hand imperiously.
Din obliged him, bouncing him up and down as the kid shrieked with laughter. He smiled, the sound reminding him of happy afternoons on Sorgan, of games of hide and seek on the Razor Crest.
It was good to see the kid laugh again, after the stress of the past few weeks.
He's my kid. Din thought selfishly, holding Grogu close. My clan. Not Skywalker's, not the Jedi's.
He could never go back to the covert, could never again be a Child of the Watch. But I can have this. He thought fiercely. This new clan on Tatooine, with his son and Boba, with his friends and allies. Din wasn't a Mandalorian of the covert anymore. But maybe - maybe I can be a different kind of Mandalorian, with a different clan. There seemed to be plenty of Mandalorians who didn't follow the Creed, after all.
It's time to make my own path.
They entered the kitchen, and Din set Grogu down at the table as Boba ladled soup in a small bowl. Grogu eyed the food suspiciously as Boba set the bowl down in front of him, his ears twitching.
"Try it." Din said encouragingly. "It's good."
"Aah." Grogu replied warily, but he picked up his spoon and took a tiny bite. His eyes widened in surprise, and he took a much larger bite, his ears perking up happily. "Patu!"
"See?" Din chuckled.
Assured that Fennec's soup was acceptable, Grogu ate quickly, holding his spoon with both hands. Once he finished, Din washed the dishes and set them on the counter to dry as Boba helped the kid wash his hands.
The suns were slowly setting, bathing the kitchen in soft orange light. Grogu yawned and held up his arms, snuffling contentedly as Din picked him up.
"Tired?" Din asked, smiling.
"Aah." Grogu agreed, tapping his little claws against Din's beskar with a soft clink.
"There's a room on the floor below mine." Boba offered. "I had the droids clean it and get it ready this morning."
"Thank you." Din said, touched. He really does want both of us to stay.
Boba shrugged self-consciously. "I figured the kid could use his own room."
"What do you think, kid?" Din asked, looking down at Grogu. "Want to check out your new room?"
"Patu!" Grogu chirped sleepily, resting his cheek against Din's chest plate. Din smiled, stroking Grogu's ear gently.
"Lead the way." He told Boba.
Boba led them down the hallway to the lift, nodding to the palace guards as they passed by. Din followed, carrying Grogu, and watched as Boba pushed one of the buttons on the wall panel. The lift carried them up to the floor just below Boba's rooms, opening up into a small hallway with several separate doors.
"That room is Fennec's." Boba said, indicating one of the doors. "And this one is yours, kid."
Grogu lifted his head from Din's chest plate, making a curious sound. "Ah?"
Boba smiled, opening the door and stepping aside. Din carried Grogu inside, looking around in awe.
The room was bright and spacious, the walls painted a light green. The last rays of the day's sunlight filtered in through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room. A small hammock hung in one corner across from a green dresser, and someone had placed a basket of children's toys by the window. A soft gray rug covered most of the floor, matching the gray blanket that was folded neatly in the hammock.
"What do you think?" Boba asked, sounding uncharacteristically nervous.
"It's beautiful." Din said, looking around in disbelief. "How - when did you -"
"Like I said, I had it set up this morning." Boba said, shrugging.
"Thank you." Din said softly.
"It was nothing, really." Boba rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I appreciate it. We both do. Don't we, Grogu?" Din said.
"Tankoo!" Grogu agreed, waving a clawed hand in Boba's direction.
Boba smiled. "I'm glad you like it."
Grogu jumped out of Din's arms onto the floor, using the Force to slow his descent. He began to explore the room, toddling around with wide eyes to examine every inch of the space. Din watched him, smiling behind his helmet as the kid jumped up onto the windowsill and peered outside, his little nose pressed to the glass. His little claws clinked softly against the glass as he tapped the window, his eyes bright.
"Aah!" The kid chirped, turning to look up at Din with a toothy smile. "Patu?"
"I see." Din agreed, moving over to the window. Tatooine's suns were low on the horizon, casting a soft orange glow over the desert sands, Mos Espa a cluster of yellow light in the distance.
"Not a bad view, eh?" Boba said, joining Din at the window and playfully bumping his shoulder against Din's.
"It's beautiful." Din replied softly.
"Ahh." Grogu chirped in agreement.
The three of them stood silently for several moments, watching the suns slip beyond the horizon, mesmerized. Finally, Din cleared his throat and looked down at Grogu.
"It's really time for bed now, kid."
"Patu." Grogu said sulkily, but he let Din pick him up and carry him over to the hammock. Din tucked the blankets securely around Grogu and handed the kid his ball. Grogu clutched the ball to his chest, and pressed his face into the pillow, making a tired snuffling noise. Din smiled, stroking the kid's ear gently.
"I'll be right upstairs if you need me." He promised, suppressing the faint anxiety that twisted in his stomach at the thought of Grogu on his own, a whole floor separating him from Din.
He'll be fine. Din told himself firmly. "I'll see you in the morning." He said.
"Ah." Grogu chirped sleepily, closing his eyes.
"Good night." Din murmured, leaning down to gently press his helmet to Grogu's forehead, staying there for a long moment before pulling away.
"Good night, kid." Boba said softly, reaching out to pat Grogu on the top of the head.
"Naaa." Grogu agreed, wiggling a little until he was lying comfortably on his side, the ball held tightly in his little claws.
Din and Boba left the room, closing the door softly on their way out, and stepped into the lift. Boba turned to look at him, bumping his shoulder against Din's.
"Tired?" He asked.
Din shrugged. "Not really." He said honestly. Boba was standing so close that Din could count the scars on his face, could hear the soft sigh of his breath. The proximity of his body caused Din's heart rate to pick up, arousal stirring in his veins. Boba's armor was scuffed, the green paint faded, making him look confident, battle-hardened. His eyes were warm, conveying a depth of feeling that made heat bloom in Din's belly.
"Not really?" Boba repeated, a hint of a smirk on his lips. "There something else you'd rather do?"
Din shrugged again, his face warm behind his helmet. "There - there might be."
"Yeah?" Boba asked, placing a gloved hand on Din's hip. Din shivered, his breath catching in his throat as Boba leaned in closer, his eyes glittering. "And what would that be, Din'ika?"
"I - we were interrupted, before." Din managed, his throat dry, his heart beating unsteadily in his chest. "Before - before I left."
Boba watched him for a long moment, his eyes dark with desire, before reaching over to press a button on the wall panel. The doors closed, and the lift carried them up to Boba's rooms, opening a moment later with a soft chime.
Din stepped out of the lift, his heart hammering. He set his hands on his helmet, hesitating briefly before tugging his helmet off. He set the helmet on Boba's worktable, ignoring the stab of guilt that rushed through him at the sight of the expressionless visor staring back at him, and cleared his throat nervously. Suppressing that guilt, pushing away his tangled feelings about the Creed, Din began the process of removing his armor. He took it all off and piled it carefully beside Boba's worktable. Unclasping the buckles of his flight suit, he took that off too, now dressed only in a loose undershirt and pants. Folding his flight suit and placing it on top of the pile of beskar, he turned to look at Boba, nerves writhing in his stomach.
Boba frowned, reading the sudden tension in Din's body. "Din." Boba's eyes were serious as he set his own helmet down beside Din's. "We don't have to, if you don't want to."
"I - I do want to. I want this." Din said, nervous anticipation twisting in his stomach. "I just - it's just been a long time."
There had been plenty of opportunities over the years. A friendly bartender on Ord Mantell, sliding Din a free drink across the bar top with a suggestive smile. Xi'an dropping less than subtle hints about what she'd like to do to him. Omera, looking up at him through her lashes and inviting him into her bed.
But Din had never had any interest in sharing a stranger's bed, in having sex with someone who did not know him, who could not understand him. Some members of the covert had romances with outsiders before settling down with a spouse from the tribe, but Din had never been one of them. The thought of letting an outsider see him at his most vulnerable made his insides twist with anxiety. His limited sexual experience was with others in the covert, with Mandalorians who also kept the Creed, who understood the significance of intimacy. He'd rolled around with a few of his peers as a teenager, had shared his bed with Vik for a while until the pressure, the constant expectation of sex, had become too much for Din.
It's not that I didn't want sex. Din thought. But not - not like that.
Not when it had felt like Din had to have sex, had to be willing all the time. He hadn't wanted it as often as his partner, would have been perfectly happy with the occasional fuck and simple companionship the rest of the time. The pressure of being ready and willing, every single night, had made him feel anxious and stressed, and nothing he said seemed to make it clear that sometimes he simply wanted to be held at night.
But - but I do want to, with Boba. He thought, heart thumping nervously in his chest. I like him, and I - I want him.
The thought of bumping beskar with Boba sent a rush of arousal through his veins. He wanted Boba's hands on him, Boba's body touching his. I'm just nervous, that's all. He had wanted sex with Vik at first, too, until it became clear that he felt entitled to Din's body, Din's consent. But Boba - Boba won't be like that.
"I do want to." He repeated, trying to keep his voice even.
"Okay." Boba said softly. "We stop anytime you want, yeah? If anything makes you uncomfortable."
"Okay." Din agreed, swallowing nervously.
Boba gave him a reassuring smile, placing a hand on the hem of Din's shirt. "I'm going to take this off. That okay?"
"Y - yeah." Din stammered.
He lifted his arms up over his head as Boba pulled the shirt up, ducking his head to let Boba take it off completely. Boba hummed, touching Din's hip gently. His calloused thumb was warm against Din's belly, sending little sparks of heat up Din's spine.
Boba tossed the shirt aside and set his other hand on the waistband of Din's pants, looking up at Din questioningly. Din nodded wordlessly, his breath a little shaky. Boba patted his hip soothingly before taking them down, slowly enough that Din could stop him if he wanted to.
He didn't want to.
Boba tossed the pants aside too, leaving Din in just his underwear.
"Doing okay?" Boba checked.
"Yeah." Din said. Swallowing hard, he slipped off his underwear and kicked it aside, trying to ignore the stab of embarrassment that pulsed through him as he stood naked in front of Boba, now truly vulnerable.
"Okay." Boba smiled and quickly shed his own armor and clothes without ceremony, tossing his armor beside Din's and pushing the clothes aside with a foot. He took a step forward and placed his hands on Din's hips, petting his hip bone gently. Slowly, he leaned in and pressed a kiss to Din's cheek, gently pushing Din backwards to the bed. Din sat on the bed and shifted to lie down, squirming a little to get comfortable. Boba settled on top of him, bracing his knees on either side of Din's thighs, his hands still on Din's hips. He leaned down and kissed Din's shoulder blade, stroking Din's hips with his thumbs, the rough pads of his calluses rasping against the sensitive skin there.
Din's breath hitched in his throat, his cock hardening against Boba's belly. He whimpered a little as Boba's hands wandered lower, tracing soothing circles on the inside of Din's thighs, his thumbs brushing Din's balls. Pleasure and apprehension fizzled up Din's spine, making him squirm underneath Boba.
"Shh." Boba murmured, putting one hand on Din's cock. His eyes were dark with arousal but gentle, full of affection. "This okay?"
"Yeah." Din managed. His heart pounded in his chest, arousal and anxiety burning in his belly. "I - don't stop."
"All right." Boba said. Taking Din's hand, he pressed a gentle kiss to Din's palm, the light touch sending a shiver down Din's spine. "We'll take it slow, yeah? Tell me if you want to stop."
Din nodded, his mouth dry. Sweat gathered at the back of his neck, dripped down his chest. His cock twitched in Boba's grip. He felt wild, desperate, his legs trembling like he'd run miles under the hot desert suns.
Boba hummed softly, his voice vibrating against Din's skin. His calluses were rough against Din's cock, the pressure of his hand gentle. He placed his other hand on Din's hip, his thumb tracing gentle circles on Din's belly, stroking the thin patch of fine hair there. "Relax, sweetheart. Let me take care of you."
Din made a thin noise in the back of his throat, reaching up and clinging to Boba's biceps with both hands. He nodded, unable to speak. Heat smoldered in his belly, pleasure sparking at Boba's gentle touch, chasing away some of the nerves. He couldn't help but clutch Boba closer, leaning in closer towards him as if Boba was a bright sun, drinking in Boba's touch, his soft gaze.
"Let me take care of you." Boba repeated, pressing a gentle kiss to Din's shoulder, his lips ghosting over Din's skin. Boba pumped his hand up and down a few times, and Din's mouth fell open at the sweet friction. He panted a little, squirming and shifting his hips as Boba swiped a thumb over the head of his cock.
"Good." Boba said, still gentle despite his blown pupils. His breath was coming shorter too, his cock hard against Din's hip. He kept his grip firm but gentle, his strokes slow. Every shift of his palm sent pleasure skittering down Din's spine, arousal hot in his belly. "Very good. You're being so good for me, Din'ika."
The praise sent a hot jolt up Din's spine, and he let out a soft moan, curling his toes into the sheets.
"So good for me." Boba repeated, pressing fluttering kisses to Din's shoulder, his collarbone, the hollow of his throat. Din moaned again, tightening his grip on Boba's arms. Boba hummed approvingly, kissing Din's collarbone again, his nose tickling Din's neck. Din shuddered at the sensation, his cock jumping against Boba's belly.
"You're so good, sweetheart." Boba's voice was a gentle vibration against Din's collarbone.
"Boba -" Din panted, his legs trembling underneath Boba's solid weight. Boba's hips pressed into his own, anchoring him firmly into the bed. Boba's scarred skin was warm and surprisingly soft, the touch of his fingers achingly gentle. His leg hair tickled Din's calves, sending hot pleasure fizzling through his veins.
"Come on, sweetheart." Boba murmured, pressing a soft kiss against Din's neck. The light pressure of Boba's lips against the sensitive skin of his neck made him gasp a little, his cock twitching in Boba's hand. Din took a shuddering breath, shifting helplessly on the bed.
Boba kissed his neck again, a little harder this time, more like a gentle bite than a kiss. Din moaned at the feeling of Boba's teeth on his skin. Boba moved his hand a few more times, and Din moaned again, the sound high and breathy.
"Come on." Boba repeated against Din's neck, biting him a little harder, more of a gentle pressure than true pain.
"Come for me." Boba murmured, biting Din's neck softly again. "Come for me, sweetheart."
He picked up the pace a little, covering Din's neck in fluttering kisses, nipping gently at the soft skin of his throat. "You can do it."
"Boba -" Din tossed his head, pleasure building in his spine. "I need -"
"I know." Boba said, kissing Din's collarbone. He was panting too, his chest heaving, sweat trickling down his neck, down his belly. Din longed to reach up and touch, to trace the hair on Boba's belly, the line of Boba's hip bones, but couldn't make himself let go of the broad muscle of Boba's biceps.
"Come on." Boba murmured, kissing Din's collarbone again. "Come on, sweetheart."
He stroked Din's cock once more, and Din came with a cry, trembling all over.
Boba rolled over to lay beside him, pulling Din into his chest. Din went eagerly, pressing his face into Boba's shoulder, his hands still clutching Boba's arms tightly. He trembled faintly, feeling sweaty and vaguely overstimulated. Pressing closer to Boba's skin, he made a grumbling sound, wriggling his legs until they were comfortably tucked against Boba's. He curled his toes against Boba's calf, the scrape of his skin against Boba's soft leg hair sending lazy pleasure fizzling up his spine.
"Still okay?" Boba asked softly.
Din nodded into Boba's shoulder, his heart still thumping wildly. Cool sweat dripped down his neck, itching faintly. He took a few gulping breaths, tucking his face into Boba's neck.
"You were so good, sweetheart." Boba soothed, wrapping his strong arms around Din's shoulders. Din wriggled a little more until he was practically on top of Boba, their naked bodies pressed flush together.
"So good, Din'ika." Boba praised. "So good for me."
Din hummed contentedly, drinking in the feel of Boba's skin. He tried to lift his head but found the effort exhausting, and flopped back down on Boba's chest. "Do you want me to - I can -" He let go of one of Boba's biceps and placed a hand on Boba's cock.
"I'm fine." Boba said gently, taking Din's hand and lacing their fingers together. "This was about what you need."
Din huffed. "I want to return the favor." He said hoarsely. I want to touch him. He thought, arousal pooling in his stomach at the feel of Boba's half-hard cock pressing against his hip. "I - don't you want me to -"
Boba hummed, pressing a soft kiss to Din's shoulder. "Maybe another time. Yeah?"
"Yeah." Din agreed, sighing and resting his other hand on Boba's thick stomach, tracing the patchy hairs there. The scarring from the sarlacc was extensive, acid burns reaching Boba's hips, his belly button, his upper thighs. Still, the sarlacc hadn't burned away all of Boba's hair, leaving him with patchy dark curls on his belly, his chest, his forearms. Din wondered idly what Boba had looked like with a full head of hair. The thought of Boba tucking dark curls behind an ear made Din's cock twitch, interested.
Boba chuckled, stroking Din's thumb. "Up for round two so soon?"
Din blushed bright red, the tips of his ears burning. "I - I don't -"
"Maybe later." Boba said teasingly, kissing Din's palm. He shifted a little to grab something from the bedside table, letting go of Din's hand. Din made a faint grumbling sound, disgruntled by the loss of Boba's warmth, but Boba returned after a moment with a damp cloth. He cleaned them both up quickly before tossing the cloth on the ground and settling back down beside Din. Din immediately tucked his face back into Boba's chest, pressing his nose into Boba's collarbone. He hummed, pleased, nestling closer. Boba's body was reassuringly warm all around him, his chest rising and falling underneath Din's cheek.
Boba made a satisfied noise and pulled Din closer, his arm solid around Din's shoulders, pressing a soft kiss to Din's shoulder blade. He traced Din's palm with a calloused thumb, his touch gentle and soothing.
Din hummed again contentedly, curling his fingers tighter around Boba's hip. Boba smiled into his shoulder, his kiss a gentle press of his lips against Din's skin. He traced gentle circles on Din's bicep, his forearm, his wrist, the touch feather light. He pressed another gentle kiss to the curve of Din's shoulder, his neck, his collarbone.
Din let the soft pressure soothe him, coaxed into drowsiness by the reassuring warmth of Boba's body. Closing his eyes, he curled his fingers minutely around Boba's.
Boba squeezed his fingers gently, smiling into Din's neck.
"Good night, Din'ika." He whispered, his voice a gentle vibration against Din's collarbone.
Din would have replied, but he was already fast asleep.