Chapter Text
Florrum is the perfect out-of-the-way garbage dump that no one would ever bother you in. So, it’s just your luck that there’s a Mandalorian here. It’s hard to tell what he’s looking at or who he’s looking for with that helmet of his. He walks in and takes in his surroundings succinctly and sits some distance away from you, but has his back to the wall so he can see everything.
He has to be a bounty hunter. There’s nothing else here. The air is sulphuric and that’s the best thing about it. Everyone here is either running from something or hiding from someone. And it makes you wonder how your chain code looking. You like to think it’s clear, but you never know what’ll come out of the past to spite you.
You’re uneasy and you’re staring. Maybe he’s staring back. You can’t tell with that helmet of his, gleaming and beautiful.
Now is a great time to leave. So you do. He glances over to one side of the room and you slip out, adjusting your makeshift bow staff on your back and tossing a few credits on the table. If he is a bounty hunter, you’re not sticking around to find out who he’s looking for.
You get about fifteen metres from the cantina before you feel a presence behind you. You wheel around and pull the staff from your back ready to fight him, but he spreads out his hands at hip level indicating that he’s unarmed.
“If I wanted to take you down, it would have happened already.” He says and you narrow your eyes at him suspiciously.
A small movement catches your eyes and you glance down towards his boots. A small, green...child is standing next to him, looking up at Mando with a small smile. It coos and your heart melts. But you’ve still got your guard up. “So, what? Because you’re a dad, I’m gonna listen to you?” The Mandalorian tilts his head to the side, but doesn’t say anything. He does sigh and stoop down to pick up the child. “Is that what you look like under there?”
“No. This is a foundling.” Mando says and there’s just a touch of affection under there.
“What do you want?”
“You don’t belong here.” He’s come for you. “I could use a crew mate of your abilities.” Oh, never mind.
You don’t need to ask where he’s heard of your reputation. “Sorry, Mando, but I work best alone. Besides, I already have a ship.”
“I can pay you well.” He says as you turn to go, but you pause.
You strap your staff to your back and place your hands on your hips. “Alright. Let’s weigh whether it’s worth it.” He watches you patiently and you wonder what he’s thinking about under that helmet. “Does your ship have more than one bunk?” He doesn’t answer and you sigh. “Three beings and one bed. You wanna sleep with me?”
“I don’t do sleep.” He sounds annoyed and you can’t help but smile.
“Fifty per cent.” You say and he takes a mildly threatening step forward and your breath catches.
“Thirty-five.”
“Forty and only because I imagine I’ll be taking care of your son and I’m abandoning my ship.”
Mando looks at this kid in his arm then reaches out his right hand. “It’s a deal. Forty per cent.” You shake on it.
“Alright, Shiny. You’re gonna have to help me move.” You turn and walk away from and you can hear him sigh and start to follow.
---
Mando’s ship is...kinda cozy. Minimalist and militaristic, but cozy. You don’t have a lot of stuff, some extra clothes, a few weapons, stuff like that. It fits snuggly amongst his things. You got about ten thousand credits for you ship, which is a joke. But what are you gonna do? This is a planet full of criminals and degenerates. But it was a safe place to hide.
You weren’t completely clear on why, but Mando felt...trustworthy. Like something was telling he’s safe to hang around. Maybe it’s his soft voice, or the way he walks. After spending a day with him, you’ve gotten used to his quiet demeanour and commanding air.
You get the feeling he doesn’t do anything unless he wants to and what he wants, he gets. And, Maker, you envy that. He got you, hardly without any pushback. Maybe it’s because you wanted to get off this outer rim skug hole or maybe because you’re attracted to the unknown. And he’s just a whole bunch of unknown wrapped up in shiny, rare armour.
That has to be it. No other reason.
As you load up the rest of your stuff, he nods and heads to the cockpit to take off.
“Wait, Mando.” He pauses mid-climb. “Where are we heading?”
“Attera Bravo.”
Your face drains of blood and you can feel it. “Are you out of your mind? Can you pilot through that?” You take a step forward and he drops off the ladder.
“Yes.”
“Yes, you’re out of your mind?” He tilts his head and you wish you could see his expression. Is it irritation? Is it amusement? Probably not amusement. “You’ve got a kid to think about.” And me, you want to add, but don’t. Day one as a crew mate and already heading into certain death.
“We’ll be fine.” His voice sounds clipped. Like maybe you should never use the child as a bargaining chip to save your own life again. It was a low move to begin with. “Get some rest. I’ll come get you when we get close.”
“What about you?” He stands in front of you, still and silent. “Fine. But I’m sleeping in your bed.” Saying it like that almost feels naughty. But for the last several weeks that you’ve been on Florrum, you haven’t gotten a single night of good sleep. Too worried about transients coming for you while you were vulnerable. He climbs up the ladder and you take that as an okay.
No need for modesty with a never-nude. You strip off your pants and drop them on one of your boxes for later. His bunk is small when you do find it and for a brief moment, you feel pity for him. You think of him all alone in his two-foot wide bunk. When you crawl in, you find it’s more comfortable than you’d been expecting.
It smells fresh, like maybe he had been expecting you to join him or like he never uses it. Which is probably more likely. He probably rests in his pilot’s chair all alone. As you cozy up in his bed, you think if he’s ever been with anyone. How lonely he must have been and what kind of a change of pace he has with a crew member.
You close your eyes as the ship jumps into hyperspace and you dream of mysterious masked men with beautiful voices.