Chapter Text
Din watched through the light cruiser’s viewport as the X-wing zipped into hyperspace, and he knew it was over. All of it. He had thought, for a couple desperate seconds as Grogu clung to his boot even after being set down, that maybe—just maybe—the child would decide to stay with him. Even though it was Din himself who had told him that he would have to go with a jedi when they found a willing one. Even though this exact scenario had been his goal for months now.
But when it came down to it… Din had not known that the human heart could shatter in so many ways. Of course Grogu went with the jedi. Just as he was supposed to. Din knew it was coming from the moment the mysterious robed figure decimated the legion of dark troopers without breaking a sweat. This was the powerful, calm, patient force of wisdom the child needed all along. He would be far superior at raising and protecting a kid as special as Grogu.
Din knew all this, logically. But his head was having trouble connecting with the empty cavity in his chest. It was funny, he thought, that he could still feel his heart beating. He was fairly certain it had just left on an X-wing, never to be seen again.
He could hear the others talking behind them. Their voices sounded like they were underwater, and not because he had replaced his helmet. It was still held loosely in one hand. While he had not turned around to face any of them directly, he also had not put it back on. He was not sure yet if he even could. He broke his creed. The funny thing was, he would gladly do it all over again if it meant the kid’s safety. The kid who he barely got to see for a moment before he was whisked away again.
His hands began to shake. Din had been holding it together by a thread for days, but now he was utterly spent. Keeping his back to the others, he turned toward the door.
“Wait,” Bo-Katan commanded. “About the Darksaber—”
Without facing her, Din unhooked it from his belt and dropped it onto a nearby console. “I forfeit my right to saber. Do with it what you will.”
He stalked through the door without another word. Both Mandalorians tried to call out to him, but he heard Cara interrupt them. “Give him space. He just lost his kid.”
He let the elevator close behind him. He didn’t care where it took him. As long as he could be alone. It opened onto a now empty area that must have been barracks for the storm troopers. The hallway was long. Din paced into it as his fingers tingled with numbness. His breath felt short.
When? He wondered. When had Grogu become everything ? Was it when the Armorer had declared them a clan of two? Was it when the baby was swallowed by a sea creature and for a few terrifying minutes Din thought he was lost for good? Was it the first time the baby had run to him with arms held up because he knew the Mandalorian would protect him? Was it when Din thought he would be surrendering the child to Ahsoka, and found that he wanted to spend a few extra minutes to simply hold him? Was it when Din learned his name and Grogu started responding every time he heard it uttered? Or was it when the dark troopers had stolen his child, and all Din could do was watch?
The panic he had been putting off since that day clawed at him now. He felt the heat rising up his neck. His legs lost feeling and Din stumbled. He caught himself roughly on his hands and knees, taking in huge gulping breaths around a throat that was trying to close up. His face was wet. Maybe he wasn’t gulping. Maybe he was sobbing. It had been so many years since he had cried, he couldn’t tell.
He’s gone. My kid, my foundling is gone. Din pressed his bare forehead against the cool metal floor. He’s gone, he’s gone.
No more quests, no more stolen moments of peace on a ship that was now ashes on a distant world. His shaking hands somehow managed to find the little metal ball inside his pocket. The tiny thing looked so big in Grogu’s hand, but was swallowed up by Din’s palm. He leaned his back against the wall as he sat staring at it.
What did one call a man who had lost everything? The creed he lived by, his tribe, his home, his family. What was left but an empty shell clad in beskar?
****
The child let out a forlorn sound from where he sat on Luke’s lap. The X-wing was not roomy, but at least the child was small. Luke looked down to see that he had pulled a pendant of some sort from beneath his thick collar.
“What have you got there?” the jedi asked kindly.
The little one’s green ears drooped as his clawed fingers roamed over the shape of a creature’s skull. It took a few seconds for Luke to recognize it as the fabled mythosaur. Ah, he realized. The Mandalorian.
It had definitely been a surprise to find the Force-sensitive child that had called to him being protected by a Mandalorian in full beskar. But the bond between them had been palpable even without the help of the Force. “That’s a nice gift, little one,” he remarked, patting the child’s head.
“Grogu.” The thought came clearly into Luke’s mind.
The jedi smiled, impressed. “Grogu,” he corrected. “It’s nice to meet you. My name is Luke Skywalker. I heard your call from the Seeing Stone. I can help you learn to control your powers.”
Grogu’s ears twitched up politely, but then wilted again. Luke watched him clutch at the pendant and hum sadly for a few more minutes. “I know this must be hard,” he said gently. “I remember what it was like to leave everything behind to start my training too. Your caretaker did a brave thing by letting you come with me.”
“Papa.”
Luke paused. “Papa?”
Flashes of images flooded his mind. All of them were looking up at the Mandalorian, sometimes as he fought to protect Grogu, and sometimes as he held him in his arms or in a satchel. Each one was encompassed with a feeling of love and security. “Shiny metal man is Grogu’s papa.”
“I see,” Luke responded. That was...unexpected. When he heard the call through the Force, he could tell its source was a powerful youngling in need of training. He had assumed the child would be alone. Taking a toddler from its parent had never been his intention. He agreed with Han and Leia that his three-year-old nephew, though strong in the Force, was not old enough to leave home and begin his training yet.
However, Grogu was not a normal child. He was of Master Yoda’s species, which meant he most likely would have a long lifespan. Luke was not sure how old he already was. If he aged at the same decelerated rate as Yoda, he could be a few decades old. That was plenty of time for both the Light and the Dark to tempt the child’s young mind. He needed to learn to resist the Dark side or risk hurting others and himself. Luke would have to discern what Grogu could and could not understand yet if he was going to train him effectively.
But first things first. Sadness was rolling off of the child in waves. “Your father will be alright, Grogu,” Luke assured him. “He knew you belonged with a jedi. He made the right choice. He will find peace knowing you are safe.”
Grogu turned big, hopeful eyes up to him. He heard R2 whistle happily from his slot behind them. The child perked up as though listening. His fascination with the droid was interesting. R2 had seemed excited to see him as well. Perhaps it was because he was reminded of Yoda. Luke smiled as he watched the blue swirl of hyperspace rush past them. Hopefully, once they began their training, Grogu would be able to put thoughts of the Mandalorian behind him.