Chapter Text
A huge explosion.
The heavy thump of a body hitting the ground.
Shouting.
Flames licking the ground and under her palm is shiny metal curved around a familiar shoulder.
Quiet, pained words.
(Y/N) sits up in bed with a gasp, eyes flying open. Her hands grip the blanket, chest heaving with her frantic breaths.
Luke jerks awake where he lays by her side, either alerted to (Y/N)’s distress by her abrupt movements or the fear that taints the bond.
“(Y/N)?”
She doesn’t answer immediately, eyes darting around aimlessly.
“(Y/N)?” He asks again, touching her arm.
(Y/N) jumps, head snapping over to look at him.
“What’s wrong? You’re shaking.”
She swallows around the lump of fear in her throat, “I think Mando’s in trouble.”
“Mando?” Luke scoots closer, wrapping an arm around her, “Did he say anything the last time you spoke?”
“No,” (Y/N) shakes her head, leaning into his embrace. Her hands still grip the blanket tightly, “He didn’t say anything. But it felt so real.”
Luke rubs his hand up and down her arm, “What are you going to do?”
(Y/N) rests her head against his shoulder, “Try to make contact. And I think I’ll go to Nevarro.”
“Okay. Right now?”
“There’s no way I can go back to sleep. I’ll try to contact him now, and if I can’t reach him or I think something’s fishy, I’ll leave in the morning. My ear still hurts from Leia chewing me out last time when I left without saying goodbye,” she grumbles, “Your sister’s a pain in the ass.”
Luke hums, “You say that like the two of you aren’t thick as thieves.”
“Shut up. You can lay back down, I won’t be long.”
“Alright,” Luke moves from where he had been buried in her hair to kiss her cheek.
(Y/N) smiles, watching him lay back on the mattress. His gaze stays on her as she leaves the bedroom.
R2 beeps from where he’s charging.
“No, I’m alright. I just need to make a call.”
She sits on the couch and starts fiddling with her com.
***
(Y/N) enters Greef’s cantina, scanning the room. She spots a few new faces, which doesn’t surprise (Y/N) given how long she’s been away. There are many regulars there too, some offering nods or lazy hand movements in greeting. But the one person she’s really looking for, isn’t anywhere to be seen.
Mando hadn’t answered her call, and still hasn’t returned it. This usually wouldn’t be too concerning, considering (Y/N) has waited for over a month before to get a response from the Mandalorian. But her dream had lingered in her mind, making the silence seem more worry-worthy.
She isn’t sure if it was actually a vision or not. (Y/N) tries not to look into dreams like this too much because they tend to be so vague, she could drive herself crazy trying to make sense of them. But there is no doubt in (Y/N)’s mind that it was Mando’s weakened voice saying ‘Leave me’.
“(Y/N)?”
(Y/N) looks over by the bar, seeing Greef is looking at her with a funny look on his face.
“Greef,” she offers a winning smile, “do you really not recognize your favorite bounty hunter?”
“I wasn’t sure,” he replies, “I haven’t seen you around these parts recently.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Go take a seat,” he waves her off, “I’ll be over in a moment.”
(Y/N) walks over to her usual booth, frowning softly at the other side of the table where Mando should be sitting.
Greef soon joins her, placing a drink in front of her.
“It’s eight in the morning,” she informs him flatly.
“I figured you’d be on Coruscanti time,” Greef snarks back.
(Y/N) rolls her eyes, “Here we go.”
“What? It just seems like that’s how it should be, given how much time you’re spending there, rubbing elbows with the New Republic elite.”
“Oh, please,” (Y/N) scoffs, “I’m hardly running with that crowd. And in the past year I’ve barely spent any time in the capital anyway.”
“Where have you been? I only hear about you from Mando, and I think it’d be easier trying to take off his helmet than get information out of that one. And what’s going on with that boyfriend you’re crazy about?”
(Y/N) can’t help but smile, offering out her left hand, “He’s my husband now, actually. I’m officially off the market. Sorry to come into town just to break your heart.”
“Holy-” Greef snatches her hand into his, looking at the rings on her finger, “Be careful not to go flaunting these around here. People kill for less. Congratulations, by the way.”
“Thank you,” (Y/N) replies, “We got married on Naboo, so I was there to plan everything. And neither of us like Coruscant, he grew up on a farm and I hate crowds. So, we’ve been shopping around the galaxy for somewhere more fitting to our preferences.”
“I’m impressed,” Greef says, releasing her hand, “You sound like a real law-abiding citizen.”
(Y/N) laughs, “You know for a fact that isn’t true. My wedding was bought and paid for with bounty money.”
“And your house as well, I imagine, not much money to be found in farming. Is that what you’re here for? Have a down payment to make?”
“No. I’m here for Mando, actually. Have you heard from him?”
“Yes,” Greef nods, “not too long ago. He’s out hunting, I expect he’ll be back soon. Is something wrong?”
(Y/N)‘s foot taps, “I don’t know. I just had a bad feeling.”
“You flew all the way out here on a feeling?”
“My feelings tend to be pretty accurate.”
Greef shrugs, “I don’t know what to tell you. Nothing seemed wrong when he was here last.”
If she wasn’t able to sense that Greef is telling the truth, (Y/N) would be more suspicious of him. The problem with the bounty hunter lifestyle is that it’s hard to trust people. (Y/N) often has to rely on her own eyes to know things for certain.
She hasn’t heard from Mando since shortly after her wedding. He had left a message on her com saying he liked her dress. Which makes (Y/N) think that he must have stopped by to see at least a part of the ceremony, but he might just be messing with her. (Y/N) had certainly teased him about going to the covert before, even though she’d never actually come close to the entrance. Joke or not, it’s the last time she’s heard from him. Again, not usually concerning. One time his ship had broken down and it had taken two months to get the coms working for him to reach out to (Y/N) and ask that she bring some parts.
But those words. ‘Leave me’. They haunt her. She can’t stop hearing them. Falling back to sleep after leaving a message on the coms, sitting in hyperspace as she traveled here, the voice of her best friend in pain had followed her.
Her silence is noted and Greef leans forward, offering, “I think that husband of yours has made you soft. Your Mandalorian is fine, trust me. I’ll call you when he’s here again, if you’d like. I doubt he’ll stay around long enough for you to fly back, though, given I have fewer pucks these days and he still has the same high demands.”
(Y/N) nods, “I would appreciate it. Thank you. I’m sure you’re right and I’m worrying over nothing.”
Greef inclines his head.
“Do you have any fobs? I feel like I need to blow off some steam,” her hands fidget, “I only need one, I want to get back to Luke.”
“Of course, (Y/N). I always have fobs for you.”
She smiles.
Greef reaches into his pocket, pulling out three fobs, “Take your pick.”
She can sense a flair of something from the man. So (Y/N) only looks at the fobs resting on the table instead of taking one, waiting for him to say what’s on his mind.
“Or,” Greef says, quieter than usual, “...there is another job.”
(Y/N) glances up at him.
“No fob, direct commission. Pays far more than any of these.”
(Y/N) shakes her head, “I’m not here for money.”
“This isn’t an ordinary job. These people have deep pockets-”
“I’m not looking for a payday, Greef. I just want to go on a quick job, nice and easy, so I can rationalize having come all the way out here. Not that I don’t enjoy shooting the shit with you.”
“I understand, (Y/N). But this job is special. I can’t send just any Guild member on it, it requires a high skill set.”
There’s a part of (Y/N) that is tempted to take the job, she can admit that to herself. Greef just offered a nice little ego stroke, which (Y/N) knows was deliberate. It’s true that she’s a skilled hunter, but Greef’s only saying it because he’s working her. If (Y/N) was younger and stupider, she’d fall for it and get tangled up in this web. But she isn’t.
“Thanks, but no thanks. Give it to Mando.”
“Give it to-” Greef sighs, shaking his head.
“He’ll want the credits. And he’s a better hunter than I could ever be. If there’s anybody that could take on this special assignment and pull it off, it’s Mando.”
“The client is not a patient man. Why should I wait for Mando to get his ass back here when I have a perfectly good hunter in front of me right here, right now? And if not you, I’ve got other hunters chomping at the bit to prove themselves or get paid.”
(Y/N) sighs deeply, looking away from the man.
“No answer?”
She glares at him, “I didn’t come here to fight, Greef. You want a job done right? You know by now that you come to me or Mando. I’m passing on it, I don’t need the trouble. So, give it to Mando. You get a nice juicy cut and boost your reputation as the handler who gets jobs done. If you can’t understand it from a financial sense, do it as a favor for me. It can be a wedding present. There’s no one in the galaxy more deserving of a ‘high skill set’ job than Mando and no one I’d rather see receive a small fortune for honest work.”
(Y/N) snatches up the puck that calls out to her the strongest and stands, “I’ll be back soon.”
***
Luke frowns, sensing frustration across the bond, “Love?”
Yeah?
“What’s troubling you?”
Oh, nothing to worry about. Just trying to find my target.
His eyebrows raise, “Your target?”
(Y/N) hums softly.
Luke slips over, settling into his place in (Y/N)’s mind and taking in her surroundings, “Why are you on a hunt? Grown tired of me?”
Never, (Y/N) replies, I just had a frustrating conversation with Greef and needed to blow off some steam. And I don’t want to get rusty anyways.
Luke taps his fingers on the table, choosing not to say anything about the latter. The argument of (Y/N)’s career choice is one they are very familiar with. Their most recent compromise over it was that (Y/N) take time off for them to get married and find somewhere to live. She had kept on that aside from this instance, so Luke doesn’t want to give her a hard time. The fear that had flooded the bond and startled him awake has Luke very worried for the Mandalorian, he can only imagine how much worse it is for her. (Y/N) returning to something she knows while trying to navigate this uncertainty is understandable, even if Luke doesn’t like how it puts her in danger.
“What did Greef say?”
That I was worrying over nothing. He actually said you’ve made me too soft.
(Y/N) bodily tackles the man that she had been chasing after. Luke watches her roll on the ground briefly, showing off her hidden strength by overpowering the muscle-bound man. (Y/N) punches him square in the face and his eyes roll back as he’s knocked out cold. She remarks, I don’t see it, though.
Luke laughs.
Mando was on Nevarro not too long ago and Greef said nothing seemed off. But how well does he actually know him? (Y/N) sighs, I don’t know. Maybe I’m going crazy.
“I don’t think so,” he offers, “Not that I want Mando to be in trouble, but I think you should trust your feelings.”
(Y/N) boards the Callisto, dumping the man’s body in a cell. She walks to the cockpit and Luke can taste trepidation coloring the bond.
“Are you okay? You’re quiet.”
“I’m alright, just worried. And my stomach hurts. And I miss you,” she laughs, “I’m a bit of a mess. I can’t wait to be back home.”
“Home?” Luke teases, “I never thought I’d hear you call Coruscant that.”
(Y/N) sighs tiredly in that special way she has reserved just for him, “I mean you, Luke. You’re my home.”
Luke swallows, feeling how his heart beats faster at that. Even after all this time, (Y/N) can still get such reactions out of him with just a few words. “Oh.”
“And Coruscant is my home, for now. It’s where you are, so it’s where my heart is. It’s where I should be. And when we move to Yavin IV, that will be my home.”
Luke rolls his eyes fondly, “We’re moving to Naboo.”
(Y/N) just laughs.
“Where are you going? Nevarro?”
“Yes,” (Y/N) lifts the Callisto off of the ground, “I only took the one fob. Something for my troubles, coming all the way out here on this dumb wild bantha chase. I imagine Mando will be back on Nevarro soon, but I’m not going to sit around waiting for him. I left a message, I made an effort, he has my contact, he can call me.”
“Alright, love,” Luke soothes, “I’ll let you go.”
“I’ll see you soon.” A surge of warmth and love is sent across the bond, which Luke reciprocates.
***
(Y/N) tosses the fob onto the bar in front of Greef and shoves the gagged and cuffed humanoid named Drent into a seat, “I’ll take my payment now.”
The two people sitting nearby send her annoyed glances, but quickly return to their conversation when she meets their glances with a glare.
Greef nods, “Of course, go take a seat, I’ll be over in a moment.”
(Y/N) resists the urge to roll her eyes and walks over to the usual booth. She sits with her back to the door, as she always does, and lifts a boot to touch the other side. Her thoughts drift to Mando again, wondering where in the galaxy he might be. And if he’s alright. The dream, maybe a vision, hadn’t told her when the events would occur. If they’re real, Mando might already be dead. Or they might occur twenty years from now. Or anywhere in between. (Y/N) swallows, looking at the stain on the table like if she glares at it hard enough, it might give her some answers.
She sighs, glancing up at Greef as he approaches. He places a drink on the table in front of her, possibly a peace offering. She’ll have to wait and see how the conversation goes.
He sits down, offering a small pouch, “Here’s your payment.”
(Y/N) goes through the motions, taking it from the table and checking the contents, even though she knows there’s nothing to worry about, and nods her approval while tucking it into her pocket.
“I still haven’t heard from your Mandalorian,” he says, “not that he’s one to call in when he’s on his way back.”
“That’s fine,” (Y/N) waves him off, “I’m sure I’m just worrying over nothing. I’ve been away for a while, out of practice.”
“Not too out of practice,” Greef protests, “One of your quickest hunts.”
“I miss Luke,” (Y/N) supplies, heart aching as she says the words, “I want to get back to him, so I worked fast.”
“I take it you don’t want another fob?”
(Y/N) shakes her head, offering a small smile, “Another time.”
Greef nods in understanding, “I’ll let Mando know you were here.”
“I appreciate it,” (Y/N) chugs the drink, letting him know they’re back on good terms, and stands. She shakes his hand briefly.
“You need to bring that husband of yours here one day.”
“Do I?”
“Of course!” Greef exclaims, “I have to meet the fella that managed to capture the heart of a bounty hunter. And I’m sure your Mandalorian will want to meet him too.”
“Alright,” (Y/N) laughs, “I’m sure Luke will be onboard, I’ve certainly told him enough stories to get him interested in all of this.” Luke’s been curious about her life from the beginning, he’ll jump at the invitation to finally see Nevarro with his own eyes. He probably would have come with her on this journey, if the purpose hadn’t been so personal.
“Wonderful,” Greef drapes an arm over her shoulders, which (Y/N) allows, and leads her to the door. She exits the cantina with his parting “Don’t be a stranger” following her.
***
(Y/N) turns, muscles tensing to push herself up from the chair, but pauses.
“Fuck.”
She presses the flashing button on the control board that she somehow hadn’t noticed until now.
“(Y/N).”
All of the air rushes from her lungs at the sound of Mando’s voice. Her hand flies to her mouth and she leans forward like being closer to the speaker that his voice comes from will bring her closer to the man himself.
The message continues, “Greef said you were on Nevarro looking for me, I’m sorry to have missed you. I got your message, call me again if you still need to speak with me. I’ve taken the job Greef spoke to you about.”
(Y/N) buries her face in her hands, feeling a huge weight lift from her shoulders. He’s alright. She can hear it in his voice. He’s alright.
“(Y/N)?”
She jumps at Luke’s unexpected voice.
Her fingers brush over the button that is no longer lit, never having loved an inanimate object more, and then exits the cockpit, “Luke?”
Footsteps approach her and (Y/N) watches Luke turn the corner. He quickly closes the distance between them, “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” (Y/N) frowns at him, “What’re you doing here?”
“I came down to meet you when I felt you arrive,” Luke stops talking in favor of pulling her into a kiss. (Y/N) hums against his lips, feeling the Force flair around them like it always does when they reunite. She leans back, frowning at the stubble on Luke’s face and her hand comes up to trace over the scratchy hair.
Luke smiles at her expression, “Don’t like it?”
(Y/N) tilts her head to kiss his cheek, “Maybe if you get it to a full beard. Because right now,” she wrinkles her nose, “you just look like a bum.”
“I am a bum,” he says, “unemployed and just laying around waiting for you to come back home.”
“Cut yourself some slack,” (Y/N) bites at the air in front of his nose, “You have the very important job of being my trophy husband.”
He laughs, “Trophy husband?”
(Y/N) hums, hands resting on the arms tucked around her waist, “Yup. I hunt down the baddies and bring in the credits, and you sit at home and look pretty.”
Luke grins and asks, “What was taking you so long? I came onboard when you didn’t get off right away.”
“Oh, I got a call from Mando,” (Y/N) explains, leaning closer to rest her head against Luke’s shoulder, “I slept during the journey so I’d be on Coruscanti time, and I missed it. He left a message, he sounded fine. It was a huge relief to hear his voice.”
“I’m glad,” Luke’s lips brush against her hairline.
“How is everyone?”
“All good. Leia wants to have dinner tonight since you’re back.”
(Y/N) winds her fingers through Luke’s and they start walking, “Theirs or ours? Or out?”
“I think she was leaving it up to you.”
“That’s nice of her.”