Sorry for the long wait, here's another as promised!
Hope you all have been doing well! Sorry for not updating fast enough.
I've been working a lot as of late while trying to find time to do this. It's hard to think what happens next, and after going to that Taylor Swift concert in Singapore, it was easier to think what happened next 😀
So, I was able to get back and write this again! Thank goodness!
I also wrote another DinBos story: 'Unravel' and "Your Symphony is Never-Ending". There needs to be more DinBos as we wait for the movie and Season 4!
That said, enjoy!
Din wasn't thinking much when he blurted those last words. It just came at the top of his head.
His gears finally turned when he saw Bo look up at him, and his words finally sank him.
Dank Farik, what were you thinking? But seeing how sad she was after hearing him say that he must leave again for Grogu's journeys ached his heart. He didn't want her to doubt his love for her, and he wanted her to be assured that he belonged to her. No one else.
And thanks to his talk with the Armorer, he knew he could have the confidence to ask Bo.
Except maybe the timing needs some work.
"Emm, I mean. If you want to…that is…" he suddenly turned shy for some reason, turning away from her. He could feel his cheeks burning and his ears feeling hot, he thought that they may have turned red. Din had never touched on anything personal for most of his life until Grogu came around. But his love for the child is completely different from his love with Bo, and it's something he hasn't explored yet.
Which made this a little too awkward.
"Din," She finally said, making him nervous if he was too upfront. He just hopes that she won't push him away or scare her, "Do you know what you are asking?"
He didn't turn back to look at her, "I'm sorry if I'm…."
"No, no, it's okay," she said, making his eyes look at her without turning his head. He could see that her cheeks suddenly turned bright red like her hair, but it was more of shyness than embarrassment when he saw a hint of a smile, "I mean…..do you…..do you really want to? With….me?" Her eyes searched for his, Din could see…..insecurities in them. Why would she be insecure with him? She's the leader of their home planet. If she doesn't want anything, she'd be honest about it.
Confused, he tilted his head and faced her, "You're unsure of us together?" His heart sank at the possible thought of rejection.
Her hand shifted nervously, just as he was, "I….My life is not as simple as yours, Din," she confessed, "It's a constant battle within your council, and problems here are a lot more complex, and you have a kid to train" she sighed, "I think bounty hunting would have been a lot simpler way of living."
Din tilted his head, she had dreamed of taking back Mandalore. And yet here he is as if wanting to throw away her dreams. "Bo-Katan Kryze," he began saying his full name, wanting to get her full attention, "I knew your life was and is never easy, and I have come to accept that a long time ago. That was also why I came to follow you on your journey to Ming Po."
"Well, if you plan to stay by my side to rule, you can expect more of those," she snorted. "My ideal life isn't something you'd want to avoid."
"That wasn't what I was asking, Bo," he said. "What I asked, was: Is if you will allow this foundling to be by your side."
Grogu squeaked on his lap, "Bui!" He gurgled as if not wanting to be left out of the conversation, making them both turn to him. Or even the discussion that they are in.
"Us," he clarified, "We…..would like to be by your side. Of course, if you will allow us?"
"Bui?" Grogu tilted his head the way Din does, making him a lot more like him than anyone.
Din never truly paid attention to how Mandalorian marriage works aside from saying the vows. He thought he would die alone, never to have a partner. Yet here he is, knowing that his heart belonged to his Mand'alor and a Jedi kid who is now a Mandalorian. Oh, the irony.
Bo looked down shyly, her fingers fidgeting, "I…" she stuttered.
Perhaps she is just as overwhelmed as he is when he blurted those three words. Dank Farik, he just confessed his love to her back in Ming Po, and it wasn't even over a week after that. And here he is asking her to marry him.
He didn't know why he said that, but in his heart, it felt right. The Armorer approved his decision, and Omera said the same thing, Bo's best friends seemed to be on board with him courting her, and Grogu was already seeing her as his own.
All the signs seem to be aligning itself whether he liked it or not. But perhaps the timing was wrong. It is, after all, right after they made peace with the Ming Po that Bo worked feverishly hard to bring peace.
"Sorry if I said it too soon," he scratched his back in embarrassment.
"It's okay," she said quietly but remained shy. Perhaps she's not as personal as he is. What a pair they are.
"But in all seriousness, Bo," he rubbed her arm, "I love you," He said, "I think I have since our days at the Covert when I began to care for you. I thought that it was just a short feeling, but over the rotations, weeks, and then months, you were always in my mind," he strokes her red hair, earning a content sigh from him, "You are passionate to fight for our home, you are selfless, and you help others without wanting anything in return. I wouldn't swear my vow to anyone who has those values, and believes them wholeheartedly."
And he truly meant it.
Gone were the days when he was a lone wolf, doing solo missions without needing a companion. Now, it feels strange to go on his journey without Grogu. And now, even stranger without Bo. That feeling of longing for a third person probably started back at the covert.
Again. It began in the covert. How the night changes fast.
Bo looked at him with glassy eyes, he could feel her shuddering under her breath. And without missing a beat, she snaked her hand onto his neck and brought his forehead to hers. Din was a little surprised that she would do this, for he thought that she'd say something. But Bo is never a word type of person, she's an action-speaker.
"I love you too, Din," she said, "And I was….not happy when you left. But I didn't have the right to tell you to stay because of me. I just…..I just didn't want to drag you into this messy world I'm in. It'd be selfish of me, not when you have Grogu to tend to. It's…" she sighed, "it was hard. Especially if you see what I had to face every day."
He chuckled, "Aren't all things are?" he said. Bounty Hunting, for him, is also hard. "If it were simple, I wouldn't change my job to training the kid."
"Iyak!" Grogu chirped.
Bo smiled genuinely before looking up at him, their forehead is still touched together, "There's no going back."
"I don't intend to, Cyare."
"If you're not, then neither am I," she said determinedly, "I love you too, Din. You and the kid. I was afraid that the life I am in will only scare you both off, it's not easy."
He gave her a sly smile, "We fought Imperials together, a few council members wouldn't scare us off."
"Well, it's more of holding the urge to point a gun on their faces," She frowned.
Din laughed, "Ahh, the more reason I must be by your side before you turned beastly in the council meetings."
She pulled away from him and slapped his arm, earning a frown. But soon, that frown turned a little more serious, "I mean it, Din. This life I have….it's another battle to face."
"Then we'll face it together," He said, "Mandalorians are stronger together. Right?"
She nodded, "Yeah, we are," her green eyes then looked at him slyly, which gave him a shudder, " Lord Djarin."
At the mention of his soon-to-be title, he shuddered. He never liked titles, it was one of the reasons why he never wanted to lead. "Kriff, I have forgotten all about that."
Bo gave out a laugh, "Start getting used to it. Once we are married, they will start calling you that."
Din grumbled, "Well…..the most annoying perks I suppose."
"So, what do you say, riduur?" she asked him again with a loving tone, "Are you sure you want to join clans with me?"
Din nodded, "It's going to happen sooner or later anyway, the Armorer is tired of waiting."
She snorted, "I knew she was behind our decisions."
"You spoke to her?"
She nodded, "She said that you and I are….well, meant to be? Something like that."
"That woman just knows stuff," the Armorer is like everyone's mother. She knew how to guide everyone well, no matter the different circumstances that each Mandalorian was facing, and she managed to guide Bo to her rightful place as Mand'alor. "Well, we better not keep her waiting then. Are you ready?"
She blinked at him, "Right here and now?"
"Or do you prefer a ceremony?" He knows how Mandalorians get married, but he's unsure about the royalties. Do they have their traditions?
"No, no," she said, "We can do it right here and now. Once we leave this room, we'll be riduurs."
He nodded, he knew that part. "Ready?"
"I am when you are," she said. This is why he loves her. She is willing to be patient with him, and he her. They somehow fit perfectly like two puzzles.
Once again, he didn't know who did it first, but their forehead touched again. Din gently pulled her closer, wanting her to be nearer, and Bo squeezed his arm.
"Mhi solus tome," he said it first, Bo's green eyes looked at him intensely before repeating after him.
And then, they said it in unison.
"Mhi solus dar'tome, mhi me'dinui an, mhi ba'juri verde."
And at that moment, their world has changed completely.
He is hers.
And she is his.
From this day, until the end of their days.
"We're married now," Bo let out a sigh of relief and joy, "You are my riduur."
Din couldn't help but smile, he couldn't believe the woman in his arms is now his wife. Someone amazing, passionate, and courageous is his riduur for life, and who would be the mother of his son. "Wife," he murmured as his mouth began inching closer to hers, wanting to make sure that she was not overwhelmed with all this.
"Husband," she muttered before she was the one who closed the gap.
Their kiss was like when they were at the lake in the Ming Po village. Soft, warm, and unrushed. And perhaps a little bit of wander too when the fireflies floated around them. But in the med bay, they had to make do with the slow beeping sounds from the monitors beside her bed.
Din was so nervous when he first kissed Bo-Katan Kryze, having never done it before. But Bo was incredibly patient with him, letting him take it slow so that he could understand why people would fight to come home and be with their spouses. Kriff, he was missing out, but it's never too late.
Now, he knew how to kiss her.
The beeping noises began to pick up when it became clear that they were lost in their own world. Even Grogu was cooing beside them.
They pulled apart when the monitor beeped rapidly, indicating the race of her heart of their enthusiastic kiss. She giggled, "Well, that'll sound the alarm for our medics," the monitor then slowly began to slow down on their beepings, but it was still slow.
"I'm sure it did, " he turned back to check the doors, waiting to see if anyone would be coming in. "And whose fault is that, I wonder."
"It's not my fault I'm a great kisser," she laid back on her pillows with a smirk on her face, "And you got carried away," she pointed her finger to his chest playfully.
"And you liked it," at this point, he knew her sly little tricks.
"I did," She smiled slyly before it turned into a warm one, "You are my family now."
"Yes, we are," he said. After so many years of being alone, thinking that he would be the last of his kind, Bo-Katan Kryze just waltzed her way to his. He gently pushed a lone strand of hair to the back of her ear, taking in her beautiful face. If one could see her closely, you could see her tiny freckles that peppered her face. "You won't be alone anymore, and I'll always come back to you."
Bo looked at him with so much adoration that made his heart yearn to see more of her happiness. She blinked slowly and let a lone tear fall to her cheek, "Thank you, for always keeping me safe."
Din pulled his glove off and with his thumb, wiped away the tear before kissing her mouth slowly again. "You and Grogu will always be my only priority. No matter what."
She grinned, biting her lip before brushing her lips to his, savouring their moment together. Kissing Bo-Katan….no. Loving Bo-Katan Kryze is one of the highest honours he could ever earn. Being a foundling he is, what chances can a lowly warrior have to the ruler of Mandalore?
But the galaxy allowed him to love and care for her, as a man would for his woman. And he will cherish that gift until this song is written.
A knock then came at the door, breaking their kiss apart. Din also scrambled to take his helmet beside him, pressuring it properly before pulling away from Bo, much to his reluctance.
Bo composed herself like the leader she is, it's like her natural habit by now. "Come in."
The door hissed open and a medic appeared with his white gown and light beskar armour with feminine features, "Lady Kryze," she bowed politely, "I am to check your vitals."
"Of course, thank you," she nodded, "When can I be released though?"
"From the last update of your medical records," the medic brought up her datapad and tapped furiously, "You had low blood pressure, lack of nutrients, and high exhaustion. You managed to sleep for nearly 13 hours straight, enough for your body to replenish several of the needed energy. I would say by tomorrow, you may be able to leave."
Din nodded, "Thank you," the med bowed respectfully at him too before walking towards the monitors to scan Bo's health. Din then took that as his queue to leave, he reluctantly plucked Grogu from her lap, earning a squeal of protest, "Kid, behave yourself. Bo needs some rest," he said.
"Babuuu elak!" Grogu babbled furiously.
"None of that now," he scolded him, "we've talked about this."
"Buu," the kid frowned, his brows gave out more wrinkles, showing the kid's disappointment in leaving Bo.
But Bo only laughed, "I'll see you again later," she poked the kid's cheek, earning a delighted giggle from him, "I just need several things fixed up, and I'll be back to make more pog soup."
"Patu!" This got the kid's attention greatly and he nodded, "Buir!" The kid opened his arms to her as if wanting a hug.
Din sighed, unable to resist such a gesture for the woman he cared for. Perhaps she would even need it. He gently placed him back on her lap and immediately, the kid launched himself gently to her chest, snuggling like a newborn.
Bo smiled as she stroked the boy's back, "Be good to your dad, okay?"
"Iyak!" the kid pulled away and nodded, "Patu." The child placed his talon on her cheek for a while, a light buz began to flow around them.
Din had spent enough time with the kid to know what he was doing. Grogu wants her to be okay on her own, he is just as worried as Din. Bo is also part of his list of the people he cares for.
Reluctantly, he had to speak up, "C'mon, kid. The meds are going to check on Bo, we need to let her do the job."
"Buu," Grogu's ears drooped. He looked at Bo one last time before turning to Din, opening his arms to be picked up.
Din complied, taking his son to his arms, and adjusting him by his chest. "We'll see you tomorrow," he said.
She nodded, her hair splayed on her big pillow behind her head, "See you, Cyare."
"See you too, Bo," he didn't know why he couldn't repeat the same words in front of a stranger. Somehow, it didn't feel right to tell someone else that they are now newlyweds. But he didn't want to leave her hanging. So, he decided to place Grogu down on the bed again and picked her hand up. Then quickly, he lifted his helmet until it was enough to reveal his lips and gave her hand a gentle kiss on the top.
He then placed her hand back on the bed, "Don't be here too long," he said to her before swiping Grogu up again.
"Wouldn't dream of it," she scoffed.
Din smiled under his helmet before heading towards the door.
Once the door closed, leaving Bo and the medic alone, it was then the healer commented, "He is a lovely man, isn't he?"
Bo turned immediately to the medic, it took her a while that even when Din and Grogu left, she was not alone.
You are not alone.
"I'm sorry, my Lady," the medic panicked and went back to her monitors, "I shouldn't be so direct."
"No, it's okay," she dismissed her formalities. Honestly, she's still trying to get used to all these formals when she had been living her life as a warrior rather than a princess or anything of that sort. "But yes, Din is quite lovely when he wants to."
"It's very brave of him to want to challenge the Ming Po warrior to fight for our peace," the medic commented again, "He must be very loyal to you to the end. Him and his son."
Bo-Katan smiled upon hearing her words. She is glad that more and more non-members of the Children of the Watch are accepting that she's been with Din a lot more as of late. They are beginning to see Children of the Watch as who they are and not what they are.
And just from this little conversation alone, she can tell that Mandalore is heading in the direction she hoped to see.
"Right, my Lady," she clapped her hand when the monitor beeped in approval, "Time to get your blood checked again."
She nodded and proceeded to sit up for the medic to examine her.
The first thing Din did after leaving the medical clinic was to visit the Armorer.
For some reason, she needs to be the first person to know. After all, she was the one who
Indirectly guided them to each other. She allowed this to happen.
Unlike before when he visited the Armorer, she wasn't in the Great Forge. One of the guards directed him to the Council room, and Din immediately went there.
Just as the guard said, the Armorer was there, reading several documents just as she did before allowing him and Bo to take a stroll after they visited Ming Po. Why she's still there when she knows that Bo is here is something he'd like to know, it is somewhat of a hidden rule to the councils that if Bo is present, she will solely take her role.
"Is there something urgent?" he asked as the door behind him hissed shut. "Do you require assistance?"
Her golden helmet remained still as water, "No," she said, "Merely preparing myself to be in one."
Din's body became alert, "Is there a problem?"
"No," she repeated, "But to see that you are still here, I believe our Duchess would want to spend her time off her role and be with you."
Din winced at her observation. She has indeed been off duty to be with him and Grogu, she wanted to spend as much time with him as he does. He suddenly felt incredibly guilty, "I'm sorry."
"On the contrary," she swiped the datapad screen in her hand as she slowly walked her way to him, "It does save us a lot of time for her to pick a spouse to rule alongside."
He tilted his head, and the gears in his brain began to click on what she just said, "You mean…..all this time I have been with her…"
"Ah, so you've noticed," She said with amusement, "When you volunteered to be her Champion and won, the message spread fast here in Mandalore. You may have noticed the way some people have treated you when you arrived."
Not that he mentioned it, but he did notice a couple of eyes looking at him in a rather….different way. It was no longer like a random stranger bypassing each other, they would stare at him and murmur something. At first, he thought they were talking about Bo's success in negotiating a good trade deal with another planet and that he was just another member who tagged along on her journey.
But it turns out, they were praising him!
"I…didn't know."
"Well, you did put quite a show on the battlefield. Ending the challenge with a swift of a blade," now, her helmet lifted to meet his eyes, "Now, you're going to want to get used to the new celebrity status you are having."
"I never wanted any fame," he said, Grogu's pram floated beside him. The kid looked at him curiously. "I…..I just want her to be okay. That's all."
"As we all do," she answered, placing the Datapad on the table, "And you have achieved more than that for our Mand'alor. Not only did you assist her task to bring peace from a terrible bad blood, but you eased her burden and heart when we were there."
He looked down in embarrassment, feeling like a teenager caught going out with a girl, "I….well….I thought…it might make her happy to see something….well…interesting."
"And it did, your night with her was more than interesting," She hummed, "To be precise, our whole trip there was rather interesting. Since before your match, to the day we returned. Our leader's mood has significantly improved, and we obtained the negotiations that we hoped to obtain," She continued, "And speaking of her well-being, how's fare our Lady Kryze? Is she well? I heard about her sudden collapse."
He nodded, "She is in the clinic, a medic is checking on her vitals, and she will require more rest."
"Good, then in the meantime, I shall take over while she is absent," she said. Din is amazed at how she took her responsibility quickly in the absence of Bo. And I'm afraid I'm going to have to be in this station for a little while longer when you both decide for your little getaway trip."
"Thank you," he genuinely said, "We appreciate it very much."
She nodded, "And you are here for another reason. Tell me, what are you seeking that you'd come here to find me."
There it is. Nothing seems to escape this lady. He squared his shoulders and straightened his back, preparing to deliver the good news…at least….he hoped that it was, "Bo-Katan and I were married."
"Did you both?"
"Yes, we said our vows after she woke up," he answered.
"Well, I was expecting that you'd say your vows sooner in the lands of snow. The view is a lot better there, you know."
He chuckled, "It certainly is."
"Yet it took you a lady to collapse that you'd finally have the courage to ask for her hand," she shot at him, making him cringe in embarrassment, "No matter, congratulations are in order."
"Thank you."
"And is that what you're here to tell me about?"
"Yes, and no," He said, "I'm unfamiliar with how marriage works in royals. If Bo isn't from a royal family, then our vows are enough. But because she is our Mand'alor, must there be a ceremony?"
"According to our Way, you are right. If one is not of royalty, then vows are enough. However, for our Mand'alor, and especially now that we have obtained our home back, I believe a ceremony would do us all good. After all the destructions and deaths that our people have faced, a ceremony of something uplifting such as a joining of clan will ease everyone's heart."
"But will they accept me to be by her side?" His insecurities are back again. He was used to being alone and not being deemed as important. But now, there is no doubt that this ceremony of their unison will create quite an attention. Clan Mudhorn is young, House Kryze, on the other hand, has been around since the ancient days. Even worse, he's not a Mandalorian by blood. Will they accept him?
"Why ever not? You helped fight for peace in Mand'alor, that event shall be part of a verse of your song, together with Lady Kryze," She answered as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
He looked down a little, "I don't know how to lead."
"Then you will learn by her side," she said, "Since the course of our negotiations, you have proven to be able to build bridges, no matter who they are. Lady Krzye, due to her history that most planets know her of, may struggle in this territory. You, on the other hand, new and skilled in communication to cast any shadow of doubt, may fill in that gap for her. Together, you two can bring Mandalore back to its former glory."
Din took a while to take it all in. It felt like yesterday when he found Grogu, that he was still just another foundling. Another Mandalorian. And now, suddenly, he's thrust into a role where he must lead Mandalore together with his riduur. It certainly is a lot to take in.
"As I said before, Din Djarin," she continued, "You are a silent chosen one from the side of the Children of the Watch. Uniting the Ways of the Old and Ways of the New will certainly help the image of Mandalore, that we can all co-exist without starting another civil war."
That he can agree, "Yes."
"Now, Din Djarin. Do you accept this new quest?" she asked as she stepped closer to him, her visors looked like they could stare him down and see through his and to his soul, "To stand by our Mand'alor and lead with her for the rest of her life?"
And without a shadow of doubt in the Mandalorian's mind, he placed his hand on the heart of his chest armour, "I will serve my Lady Kryze as her riduur, lead Mandalore with her until her song is written."
Satisfied, the Armorer nodded, "Then complete your quest, carry that honour with pride." She then turned to the surprisingly quiet child, "And that includes you too, Din Grogu. For you are going to be the new prince of this planet under your new mother's clan one Clan Mudhorn and Clan Kryze become one."
The kid nodded determinedly, "Buir!"
Hope it's not too long! We're nearing the end soon as well :/ I never thought I could expand their story from that dance, yet here we are.
I think listening to Taylor Swift gave me a lot of good pictures of how the story will go ahaha!
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter :)
And in case you want some more DinBos, you can check out my profile! I made 2 more DinBos: 1 is a little dark with a more solid plot called "Unravel", and the other is a One-Shot, "Your Symphony is Never-Ending". I enjoyed writing them all, and I really kinda have to get back to my GOT fics hahhaha!
But for now, DinBos are taking over my mind.
That said, hope you enjoyed it! Leave me your thoughts :D
And see you!
Claire