Chapter Text
The day was winding down and as Nari’s favorite movie, a rather old one called ‘Fire Falls’ she cries a little clutching on to the Hazel-rah plush Pinelok had given her wishing her sister was still with her.
Jon handed her one of the warm mugs and sat down next to her. The drink is obviously some type of tea but it smelled and tasted better than any she had ever had.
“This is really good. What’s it called,” Nari asked curiously.
“Tzai, I’ve been meaning to make it for you for a while now. It was just having trouble finding some of the ingredients,” Jon said smiling “Nari you up for a story?”
“Yeah,” Nari said happily.
“Okay, I think it’s about time I tell you about how Pinelok ended up adopting me. Like all the stories I’ve told you before there is little happiness until the end. So you do you want to hear it,” Jon asked, his smile faltering slightly.
“Yes,” Nari said quietly.
"Well as you've probably gathered by now Tatooine is a place where the worst demagolka live and danger is much more common than safety. I honestly probably shouldn't have survived there long enough to meet him. When I was around 4 my mom died and not knowing what else to do I ran out into the night.
I ended up in one the most popular cantina in Mos Eisley. I ended up trying to hide by going behind the bar and fortunately the bartender was a kind old lady who’s eyes I swear to this day sparkled like stars. Me running in there of course brought the attention of those in it who weren’t the best people but when they asked if she knew who I was she said ‘No but none of you are taking him out of here. As long as he is in this cantina he will be under my protection. Got it?’ No one messed with me for the rest that night and I soon found myself asleep.
She woke me back up just as the last patron was leaving the bar. She asked if I knew where my parents might be. All I said was gone. She told me her name was Ackmena and offered to take me home with her so I agreed. I was 4, she seemed like she cared, and I had nowhere else to go, so what else was I going to do?
Her home was nice. It was a ways away from the city on Delkin Ridge and though it was small the view more than made up for it. I would have loved to stay with her and her wife but despite all their efforts I never was really safe with them. Ackmena worked at a cantina after all.
I ended up sleeping during the day most of the time. I always followed Ackmena down to the catina and I guess Sorchi just got tired of trying to bring me back to their place all the time. Well all things considered I should probably have at least stayed in the catina but I never liked staying still. I often hung out by the slave quarters since one of the Grandmothers had known my mom and listened to the stories. Of course, being a kid with no parents in sight, people often tried to catch me to try to get some credits but I was always too quick for them.
Honestly if it wasn’t for the two pickpockets that lived below the cantina I would have been caught several times over. There are tunnels under Mos Eisley, and they knew nearly all of them by heart and they showed me where all the entrances were,” Jon said trying not to cry thinking of his extremely bittersweet memories.
“So when did you first meet him,” Nari asked softly.
“Well I met him the first time he came into the cantina. Now, many bounty hunters went through that cantina but I never saw a Mandalorian come in before then. To be completely honest with you I was scared of him at first,” Jon said, chuckling slightly.
“What but babuir’s not scary at all,” Nari said, slightly confused.
“To be honest I wouldn’t have been too scared of him if it wasn’t for how the other bounty hunters in the bar got extremely quiet when he came in. I mean the flower patterning on his armor may not make him look that intimidating but most of those bounty hunters didn’t scare easily and his hammer did nothing to calm my nerves,” Jon said quietly.
“Oh, that makes sense,” Nari said thoughtfully.
“He kept coming back to the cantina and my curiosity eventually overtook my fear. I wasn’t stupid about though I made sure the Ackmena was right next to me when I talked to him. You know how your babuir is, he happily answered every question I had and I soon found my fear of him slowly slipping away. Even though I didn’t fear him I was still not at the point of trusting him.
To be honest I still can not entirely pinpoint why I decided to go with him. Though my best guest is I was just tired of constantly running. I was heading back to the cantina when someone saw me and tried to catch me. Who it was, I don't know I couldn't even give you a vague description of them to you. Like every time before though I started running towards the nearest tunnel entrance. Unfortunately my luck had run out and I ended up tripping mere feet from it.
I thought that was going to be it that I would be caught, sold, and be most likely dead within the year. Fortunately that’s not what happened because as soon as the person came rounding the corner Pinelok jumped down from one of the buildings on top of them knocking them out. I know he must have seen that I was completely terrified because when he walked over to me his voice was softer than I’ve ever heard it then or since.
He helped me up and we walked over to the cantina. While we did he said he was heading out tomorrow morning. I remember giving both Pinelok and Ackmena a bit of a shock when I told them I wanted to leave Tatooine with him the next day. I did go with him though and the rest is history,” Jon finished.
“Buir, thanks for telling me,” Nari said sleepily.
“Of course. Let's get you to bed though it’s getting late,” Jon said happily.
“Okay,” Nari said, heading to her bedroom.