Chapter Text
It was a little while before class was due to start for the day and Corin was as usual setting up his classroom. He had showered and dressed, choosing something comfortable but presentable from the small supply of second hand clothes that Paz had managed to find in his size. Loose cargo pants and a dark blue long-sleeved t shirt, previous owner unknown, was his choice for the day. Several of the garments had bullet holes or repaired knife marks in the fabric. Mandalorians tended to pool their resources he had once been told. He wondered if any of the clothing had belonged to his Mandalorian.
In a break with routine Corin skipped his morning workout. He had gotten some unexpected exercise the night before and his muscles felt strained in ways his standard drill of push ups and sit ups never caused. He had merely done some deep stretches to ease the soreness in his arms and thighs. The endorphins he got from training each morning helped him to make it through another day without losing his sanity but on this particular morning he felt utterly, blissfully calm.
It had long been his habit to go through his old academy exercises at the start of each day and, when good luck allowed, to pay for some time in a public training room, the only luxury he allowed himself. Corin generally took the cheapest accommodation he could find in whatever town he ended up in. Most of the credits he earned seemed to go on funding his numerous escapes from being hunted by those who learned of his family name or connections. His father had told him long ago that life was unfair but it had always felt like an extreme demonstration of the principle to be cut off and disowned from the only family he had while still retaining the price on his head that came with the Valentis name.
The covert was the most secure place he had stayed since leaving the academy. The fear of being identified and killed had retreated from the front of his mind. There were too many heavily armed, extremely lethal warriors keeping a close watch on him. Objectively he knew this was because he was an outsider and not because the Mandalorians were fond of him but it still made him feel safe. He was like a heavily guarded but relatively well treated prisoner. He was technically free to leave the base and depart for another job on another planet whenever he wished but he would once again be hunted. He would be alone.
Loneliness had always been the background of his existence. It was so ever present that he had never thought about it, it was simply a fact. He would teach wherever he could, enjoying the work and being generally fond of children. He would then go back to his empty room and the silence, push a heavy piece of furniture against the door and read or do pushups till he was tired enough to sleep. He never went to Cantinas and only ever visited the training rooms at the quietest times of the day. He would head into the shopping spaces only when he needed supplies and listened and watched for trouble. Every day the solitude was the same.
The covert should have been more of the same. To begin with it was.
Corin had learned he was safe, didn’t need to barricade his door or have an escape bag packed. Silence and lack of company didn’t faze him. His Mandalorian had been something wholly unexpected. Neither of them had been looking for a friend, certainly not for anything deeper. It had happened anyway. Corin had found he actually enjoyed talking to him and found himself opening up, sharing stories and just generally commenting on any little thing that came to mind. It may only have been a short part of each day but he felt the gentle warmth of their connection and it gave him something to look forward to during the long evenings by himself.
Last night he had finally not been alone. He had had a couple of brief trysts back at the academy but had never actually spent the night in bed with anyone, had never wanted to. Now he wanted nothing else. The lazy sleepy come down from an unimaginable high, lying in the man’s arms was addictive. Corin could imagine it with no one else.
Anytime now he would bring the kid along for his lessons, the adorable, maddening, scheming little kid who had seen before either man what was brewing and given them the final push. That kid was getting extra dessert today.
That same kid had to duck his little head as he came through the classroom door, riding high on the shoulder of Paz, the giant towering Mandalorian who had rescued Corin from the mercenaries.
Paz, who was not his Mandalorian. Where was he this morning? The child sat on the harness that usually held a shoulder mounted blaster cannon in place. If aimed in the right direction he was probably just as lethal. He looked to be having the time of his life, ears waggling crazily but when he saw Corin he started cooing and reaching for him.
Paz got within a foot of Corin and stopped dead, visor tilted down towards him. He didn’t speak. Corin fought back hard against the urge to cower, he had done nothing to be ashamed of. He stood still, shoulders back, head tilted up looking straight at where the man’s eyes should be.
Paz took a half step forward, now mere inches from Corin’s chest. The kid still chirped and cooed, seeming frustrated now to be up so high, reaching for Corin.
Corin had gotten very good over the years at reading body language, at being able to tell when he was being threatened. This felt different, it felt like a test. If Paz had really meant him harm Corin would now be in pieces on the floor and Paz would not have brought the kid along to watch.
Corin took a half step forward, eyes still locked on the helmet. He held out a hand for the child.
‘You test me but I test you’ he thought.
The silence stretched out, a tight band of tension that pulled on the nerves.
Paz broke first, he laughed as he handed the now squirming child over to Corin who tucked him into the crook of his arm and finally let out the breath he had been holding. The kid immediately calmed down and started chewing contentedly on the shoulder of Corin’s t shirt.
“You must have a spine of Beskar, I can see why he likes you.” The giant tousled Corin’s hair affectionately and then stood back to give him some space.
“Was that necessary?”
“Totally, I had to.”
“Is it a Mandalorian thing?”
“No, just funny, and I promised him I’d only mess with you a tiny bit. No offense intended. You did really well though, even most of the tribe wouldn’t try to face me down.”
“What would’ve happened if I had backed down?” Corin managed to keep his voice level, unsure of exactly how serious the test had been, for all that Paz now claimed it as a bit of light hazing.
“Nothing!” Paz protested, realising finally that this was exactly why Din had asked him to go easy. He would’ve’ kicked my ass later if I had actually upset you.” He held his hands up in a gesture of apology. “If it makes you feel better, I treat most all of the tribe this way, never considered my brother joining with anyone not of the Creed so I just did what I would’ve done if his man had been Mandalorian.”
“You know then?”
“Course I do, my little Bro comes limping back in the morning looking like a Hutt sat on him and it’s pretty hard not to notice. Plus, the kid showed me the picture after school yesterday, I may not be a genius but I’m not that dumb.” The kid had the nerve to look slightly ashamed but spoiled the effect by blowing a spit bubble and trying to wipe it on Corin’s cheek.
“Is he ok?” Corin sounded concerned, maybe it had been a bit much too soon? He was usually pretty hesitant and on the rare occasion he had found a partner for a few hours he was always the more cautious of the pairing. Last night had been like an explosion, he had made the man limp!
Paz laughed again.
“Nothing that a shower and sleep won’t fix. I just wanted to come say hi and make a nuisance of myself.” He sounded suddenly serious.
“I think you will be good for him, he’s been different lately, lighter. Less ground down. It’s been a long time since my brother had any joy in his life. Now he has the kid. He has you. I know I can be a giant asshole but I want him to be happy.”
Corin nodded, he hadn’t expected this, he’d assumed their relationship would have to be as discrete as possible. No chance of that now, Paz was a walking exclamation. “Thankyou, it means a lot. I really do care for him.”
“Don’t think I won’t tease you though, my support comes along with the rest of me and this is going to be all kinds of fun.” Paz laughed again and clapped Corin on the shoulder, rocking him back slightly. The kid giggled.
“I’ll see you later Womp Rat, be good for your new Daddy, other Daddy will pick you up later.” He gently stroked the child’s ears and was gone, his laughter echoing down the corridor before Corin could finish spluttering.