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As you wandered through the market place, your eyes landed on two people, hand in hand, who were pointing out some clothes. You wondered if they were soulmates, able to see the actual true color of the clothes they were buying. With the universe being as big as it was, it was rare for people to actually find their soulmates. Some people settled with others they met and fell for, other’s refused to marry or be with anyone unless it was their soulmate.
Looking down, you ran your fingers across the soft fabric of a blanket at a sellers stall. It appeared muddy and rusty, you wondered how bright it truly was. How bright everything was. You couldn’t imagine a brighter world, you couldn’t imagine what true color the sky was, being so used to the grey colorless sky it was to you.
During your travels you had come across the occasional couple who had been soulmates. They tried to explain to you the color of the sky, the sun, the flowers in the streets. You could imagine, but you never really knew. Your world was dull, and no matter how beautiful some places were, you knew you might never see their true beauty.
Your distracted thoughts became blank when your eyes caught on the figure walking through the crowd. Wearing dark armor over his entire body, people stared at him as he passed through the crowd. It had to be him. The Mandalorian Ahsoka told you about.
You returned to Corvus after Ahsoka defeated the magistrate and she told you about The Mandalorian and the child Grogu. You were curious to meet them, but did not expect to. Especially here, in an outlying planet far from anything else.
You watched the Mandalorian as he marched through the town, seeing no child with him, you wondered if he succeeded in taking him to the Jedi. Your eyes caught on another figure further behind the Mandalorian. Shrouded in a cloak, but obviously stalking the Mandalorian. He must still be being hunted by members of the remaining empire.
Quickly ducking behind a stall, you followed the Mandalorian and his hunter. He wandered through the town and stopped at a restaurant. You watched as The Mandalorian went in, the shrouded figure stopping at a stall nearby, closely watching the building.
Acting as casual as you could, but still hidden by your own hood, you made your way into the restaurant, your eyes catching on The Mandalorian as he sat at a table. You wondered what he was doing. He could not eat here with so many others around. Watching a little longer, you saw him talk to someone, before paying him. He must be trying to get information.
Walking across the room you sat in a chair behind The Mandalorian. You could sense that he stiffened up, aware of your closeness.
You whispered under your breath, just loud enough for him to hear “You are being followed Mandalorian.”
He remained silent before his head turned ever so slightly as he spoke “By you?”
“By another. In a dark cloak, standing outside watching this place. Waiting for you to come back out I suppose.”
“Why are you telling me this? Who are you?”
“I’m a friend of Ahsoka Tano. She told me about you, and the child.” You said simply.
The Mandalorian turned his head further, clearly surprised. He remained silent for a moment. “Why are you here?”
“I came seeking information from someone, seeing you here was entirely a coincidence.”
“Do you know anything of the Jedi? Are you a Jedi?”
“I am not. I am simply an ally to Ahsoka and others like the Jedi. Are you still trying to find the Jedi to take the child?”
He stayed silent for a moment “They have already taken him. I just…” He stopped, clearing his throat.
You could sense the apprehension in his voice, and the pain behind it. Ahsoka was right, he had a great bond with the child, like a father. “You want to know where he is, and if he is okay.” You said quietly, eyeing the side of his helmet from under your hood.
He simply nodded and you thought to yourself for a moment “I know where a powerful Jedi lives, where he trains a new order of Jedi, perhaps the child is there.”
The Mandalorian turned fully towards you now, you did not meet his gaze, but kept your eyes towards the doors. “Will you help me to find out about the child? I will pay you for your help.”
You thought to yourself for a moment. You already received the information you needed and got it to Ahsoka. You had no duties left to perform. You nodded your head “I will. But we must deal with the one hunting you.”
“They’re most likely trying to find out where the child is as well.” He paused again “I have no ship, I came here to get a new one, mine was destroyed.”
“I have a ship.” You said simply “It is on the Eastern side of town.”
“Lets go.”
“I will go first” you cut him off “Wait a few moments before you leave.”
The Mandalorian nodded as you rose from your seat and left the building. Exiting, you saw the figure in the same spot as before. Wandering over you stopped in front of him, catching his attention “Excuse me” you began. Hearing the doors behind you opening, surely as The Mandalorian was exiting. The figure straightened up and reached for his belt “Can you tell me which way the nearest ship port is?” You asked.
The figure grunted in frustration before muttering something in a language, something akin to “Get the hell away from me” as he pushed past you and after The Mandalorian.
“That was rude” you said before taking out your weapon and firing it at him, stunning him as he fell to the ground.
The Mandalorian turned and saw as you stepped over the man now unconscious on the ground. You saw more figures come out from various areas, the Mandalorian spotting them as well.
“There are more” He said as you approached him.
“Thought there might be.” you said before picking up the pace “This way.” You said as the Mandalorian hurried to follow you.
Slipping through allies and past buildings, you could hear the other hunters calling out as they ran after you. Suddenly two others ran out in front of you, immediately firing at the two of you. Both of you ducked down and hid, taking out your own weapons and firing.
As others ran into the alley, you began firing at them as well. A total of four were now firing at you as you and the Mandalorian ducked behind cover. As one of the hunters got closer, you ran towards him and began fighting him, unsheathing a stunning staff you had tucked away in your belt. After taking him out a moment later you spun around, seeing the Mandalorian taking on two of the hunters as the other ran towards him.
Following quickly, you grabbed the third hunter and took him out, just as the Mandalorian took the last two down. The Mandalorian turned towards you, quickly following as you ran past him.
Making it through the rest of the town, you made it to your ship. Quickly getting on, you turned the ship on as The Mandalorian stood and watched out the windows as more hunters began firing at your ship from the ground.
Quickly rising, you went into light-speed, escaping the planet. Putting in the coordinates of the planet you heard Jedi were being trained, you turned back towards the Mandalorian and stood up. “I’ve activated my cloaking shields, they won’t be able to track us now. It will take some time to get the planet of the Jedi.”
He nodded “Thank you.” He paused. “Uhm, I never got your name.”
**Dins POV**
He watched you carefully as you stood in front of him, still unsure of just how much he could trust you.
You seemed to chuckle under your breath “I never got yours either.”
He straightened up slightly. “Din Djarin” he said quietly.
“Din” you repeated his name back, he felt a weird feeling in his stomach when you did. He watched as you finally reached up and removed your hood, finally revealing your face. He would be lying if he didn’t react to how attractive he thought you were.
As you slowly looked up you smiled lightly and nodded “I am Y/n.”
It took Din a moment to realize something was changing. The color of your eyes was suddenly becoming richer as he stared into them. His eyes flicked to the console as the bright color of the lights changed, followed by the bright silver of the ship.
The realization of what just happened took over as he looked back into your eyes, the color something he had never seen. He wondered for a moment why you were not reacting, and instead watching him with a look of confusion.
It suddenly clicked in his mind that you could not see his eyes, hence you did not know that he- That the two of you-.
“Are you alright?” you asked, wondering why he was remaining so still.
“Uh, yes. Sorry.” he came back to himself, unsure of what to do. Should he tell you? Should he say something?
You smiled, clearly slightly amused at his awkwardness. “I am going to check on the damage of the ship. Feel free to look around.” You said as you brushed past him. He turned and watched as you descended into the ship.
His heart was hammering in his chest as he looked back around the ship, the colors brighter than they had been. Looking down at his own hands and body, the armor he was wearing was a brighter color than he was aware.
Looking back towards the direction you went, he thought back to your eyes. The color was new, a different shade than he had ever imagined. They were beautiful. And seeing them, seeing their true color meant that you were his soulmate. And that he was yours.
But since you could not see his eyes, you didn’t know. Should he tell you? Or should he wait? He could simply take off his helmet, he had already done it before. Broken his creed for the child. Surely doing it for his soulmate would bare no difference.
No. He would wait. He could not do this now. You had just met, it would complicate matters. He needed to think. He was not expecting something like this to happen. So he would wait.
- - Three Days Later - -
The Mandalorian sat silently in the passenger seat behind you, unable to stop watching you as you skillfully piloted your ship through a small field of meteors. You were now descending to a small planet to refuel and buy supplies. The last three days had been torture for Din. Knowing that you were his soulmate, and knowing that you did not know. He was unsure of how to act around you, but tried his best to act normal. It became harder and harder the more he learned about you. In such a short time he learned how selfless, brave and strong you were. And he couldn’t help but think about how the Child would act around you. He would surely connect with you quickly.
You told him where you came from and what you did. You were akin to a bounty hunter, like he had been, but more often retrieved information for the Rebellion. And in turn, he told you about his journey with the child, even admitting that he had once removed his helmet.
You had already known about the original Mandalorian, as well as the group he had grown up in. But you were still surprised to learn he removed his helmet. You knew it must have been hard for him, and asked him about how it affected him, you seemed to care more than he would expect.
You also did not press him to remove his helmet for you. This did not surprise him, but Din had to admit, he was a bit disappointed. He wanted an excuse to take it off, for you to see his eyes. But he couldn’t get himself to do it, not on his own, not yet at least, it was still too foreign to him.
“Alright, we’re descending now.” Your voice broke through his thoughts as he sat up a bit straighter. You turned and looked at him “It shouldn’t take too long to refuel and get the supplies. We’ll be up and out of here quickly.”
Din simply nodded his head before standing and exiting the cockpit. You watched him leave with curiosity. Ahsoka had mentioned how quiet he was, and how courteous he could be. But he was much more awkward that you expected. Maybe it was you? You had a tendency to intimidate people. But the more you thought about what you had learned of Din, you couldn’t help but think him attractive. Not physically of course, you had not seen anything of him, but he was kind and clearly cared much about people and especially the child. His qualities were attractive to you, but you weren’t sure how to feel about it yet.
Something seemed to draw you to him. Back on Corvus, you could have let him be, or left him after telling him of the bounty hunter. But you agreed to help him, to take him to the Jedi. You didn’t do that for just anyone. And you couldn’t help but wonder why you so easily did it for him.
Shaking yourself from your thoughts as the ship finished docking at the loading bay, you rose and headed out of the cockpit.
As you exit the ship, you and Din head into town, side by side. And as people stared at the two of you, you chuckled “We must be quite the sight.” You said quietly.
Din looked around, noticing the people staring and smiled “I’m sure these people rarely get visitors to this planet, let alone people that look like us.” He said, with a bit of amusement in his voice.
After paying for a re-fuel on your ship you headed towards the market to pick up food and supplies. Din tried to focus on what he needed to do, but he was stunned at how bright the world was around him. the dark buddy fabrics at the market stalls where bright reds, oranges, and blues, colors he never thought existed. The sky was a beautiful shade of blue, and the various colors of buildings and ships were alarming. Oh he wished you knew what he was seeing, and why. Would you be as enamored as he was?
As you got further into the market, you separated from Din to split the list, and as you headed towards a shop, you noticed a man watching you and Din closely. He dressed differently than the locals. You felt a bad feeling rise in your gut.
As he turned and walked away from both of you, you tried to ignore it. When you were done gathering what you needed, you turned around and saw the man again. This time he was walking away from you. As you turned and followed his line of sight, you saw Din in the distance, walking down the market.
Quickly paying for your supplies, you followed behind the man, trying to catch up. Surely a bounty hunter could not have tracked you all the way out here? Unless it was a coincidence? Or they knew where you would stop and got here first. You felt frustrated at the idea that they outsmarted you, and that they were faster.
As you began to follow down the same street, you watched as the man got closer to Din. Quickening your pace you began to approach the man from behind. Watching as he pulled out a blade from his belt and moved to stab Din between his armor, you heard yourself suddenly yell out Din’s name.
Din, having heard your voice, spun around quickly in alarm. As he did, he was just in time to see the man about to stab him. The man had faltered a bit when you yelled out, allowing Din enough time to block the man’s attack, quickly hitting him and making him stagger backwards.
As you approached the man, you grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back even further, before unsheathing your staff weapon and swiping his legs, bringing him to the ground. As he landed, you quickly struck him in the head, knocking him out.
Turning to look at Din, you halted when you heard the sound of a gun firing, followed by a sharp and hot pain through your side. You groaned as you looked down, seeing the front of your clothes burned through. You staggered a bit as you looked up, your eyes locked on Din’s helmeted face before you fell to your knees.
“No!” Din yelled, as he ran and grabbed your arm, keeping you up. Pulling out his own gun he fired in the direction the shot came from as he pulled you behind a market stall. The market shop owners and people standing around were running off in fear. Din peered around the stall, seeing another man peeking from behind the wall.
Firing his gun, the man ducked back. Din grabbed your arm and pulled you up “Come on! We need to get out of here.”
Doing you best, you followed behind Din as you ducked down behind another stall. You hissed in pain from the wound on your side feeling your vision go spotty for a moment, you shook your head as you tried to stay focused. Pulling out your own gun, you turned and looked out, seeing the man peak out again, both you and Din fired. One of the shots hit the man in the shoulder, making him stagger back. Din took that moment to fire again, killing the man.
As he fell down, you felt relief rush over you, but as you moved to stand, your vision blurred and you fell back down. Din quickly looped his arm under your and around you back as he pulled you to your feet. You tried your best to move your feet as you ran down the alley, but before you knew it, your vision had gone black.
- - - - -
Din let out a breath as he continued to stare at you. He managed to get you back to your ship, having to carry you most of the way. But he didn’t have the skills necessary for your wound. So doing the only thing he could think of, he took you off your set course and to Nevarro. He knew this would take you days off your course to the Jedi, but he didn’t care right now. He knew the Child was safe, but you were in danger. He could not lose you, his soulmate, before ever even being with you.
He managed to get you to Nevarro, having done what he could with your injury. Karga brought in a medic, who was able to stabilize you and save your life, using what tools he had to help heal your wound. But the wound had been too bad and he was only able to heal you enough to keep you alive. You had now been unconscious for a few days and Din was going stir crazy. He wouldn’t feel better until you opened your eyes, until you spoke to him, until he was finally brave enough to tell you that you were his soulmate.
He told Karga, and Cara, who had pestered him with questions about you and why he was so worried. They were unsurprisingly shocked, but supportive, and excited for him. Though, when Cara had found out he had not told you, she was angry with him, having gone so far as to threaten him if he didn’t tell you soon.
But he didn’t need her to threaten him to know that. He had almost lost you before ever getting to tell you. Before ever knowing what it would be like, to truly be with your soulmate. He knew he couldn’t risk losing that chance again.
Din had gotten so lost in his thoughts that he did not see you open your eyes. You were now watching him curiously as he stared at the ground. After a few moments you wondered if he had fallen asleep. It wasn’t until he let out a soft sigh and shook his head lightly that you knew he wasn’t.
“A lot on your mind Din?” You asked, your voice soft.
Din’s head snapped up at the sound of your voice. When he saw you gazing at him softly he felt a grin spread across his face, though he knew you clearly could not see it, not yet. He saw you raise your brow inquisitively and realized he had not spoken. He stood and walked over to your bed, peering down at you.
“I’m glad you’re okay, I was worried.”
You were a bit surprised by the sincerity in his voice, but touched nonetheless. You smiled softly up at him “I honestly thought I was dead.” He shook his head and you looked around “Where are we?”
“Nevarro.” He answered quickly.
“Nevarro? Why here? That would have put us back on our course.”
“I know, but I have friends here, remember, Greef Karga and Cara Dune.” You remembered the names, connecting them to the stories he had told you “I brought you here ‘cause I knew you’d have a better chance at surviving.”
You let out a soft chuckle “Didn’t realize you had grown that fond of me.” You joked.
You heard a small amused scoff from under his helmet before he shook his head a bit “You have no idea.” He said, almost under his breath.
But you caught them, and grew curious “What do you mean?”
Even from under his helmet you could feel his staring intently at you, a few moments passed before he spoke. His voice was soft, but determined “I care about you more than you’d expect.”
Your heart was now hammering in your chest at the idea that Din might have developed feeling for you, the same that you felt yourself developing for him. But even with the nervous excitement pulsing through you, you could only think of one thing. “Why?”
The genuine confusion and doubt behind your voice, and in your eyes could have broken Din’s heart. Even if he did not know you were his soulmate, even if you weren’t his soulmate, he doubted he would not have fallen for you anyways.
Din took a step closer to your bed in silence, and you sat up a bit more, ignoring the twinge in your side. He took another step, stopping as he was now directly at your side, peering down at you.
You watched him closely, curiously as he slowly reached up and grabbed the side of his helmet. ‘What is he doing?’ You thought as you grew even more nervous ‘He can’t be-’
As he pulled the helmet off of his head, revealing his face, you were stunned. Though you were curious, you hadn’t really tried to picture what he looked like under his helmet, part of you thought it rude to imagine him as solely what you wanted him to be. But as his face was revealed, you realized you could not have pictured anyone better. Your eyes locked on to his, and just as you noticed the almost panic in his eyes, you realized something was changing.
The dull dark color of his eyes became a bit richer, the color seeming to become warm and nurturing. The colors of the room around you brightened, almost hurting your eyes, his armor became shiny and bright. As you met his eyes again, you finally realized everything you had been wondering about.
On the ship, when he suddenly became nervous and distant, how he began to act around you, why he seemed so awkward. It all made sense now. You sat up a bit more in your bed and stared at him closely, he was still, and clearly nervous “Why didn’t you tell me?” You asked, your voice soft and kind.
He shrugged his shoulder lightly “I wasn’t sure how. I- I’ve only taken off my helmet once…” He trailed off, but you understood, it must have been hard for him to do it again. Din sat down on the edge of the bed, still staring at you “I wanted to tell you, for you to see what I was seeing, but I was too unsure of what you would do. And then at the market, you almost died, and I…almost lost the chance entirely. I’m sorry.” He spoke with clear guilt in his voice as he looked down at his hands.
Leaning forward, you gently took his gloved hands in your own. He looked up at you with surprise, but it faded when he saw the smile on your face “I knew there was something about you. I never feel as comfortable around anyone as I did you, and I certainly never trust them so easily. But now it makes sense.” Din smiled, and had you been less in control of yourself, you might have swooned.
Din looked down at your hands, gently holding his. Taking them away from yours, he pulled at his gloves, taking them off and revealing his bare hands. Reaching back over, this time he took your hands i his, relishing at the touch, and how soft your hands were.
You smiled at him as he did so, knowing how intimate this must be for him, and you felt so grateful for it. He began to gently run his thumb over your hand, and felt his own heart beating rapidly in his chest before he looked back up at you “I feel like I’ve known you forever.”
A soft chuckle left your mouth as you smiled widely at him “I know what you mean.” Taking one of your hands away, you slowly reached up and placed your palm on the side of his face, once again admiring his rich dark eyes.
Din closed his eyes as he leaned into your touch, the feeling knew and almost alarming, but something he hoped he would experience again and again. Opening his eyes again, he met your gaze, and though he felt a bit exposed and nervous, the adoring smile on your face and gleam in your eyes chased it away.
And as an almost overwhelming urge took over, he felt himself seemingly moving without much thought. He quickly leaned towards you, bringing one hand up to your face, matching your own previous action, and pressed his lips fervently against your own.
You were a bit surprised at this, but welcomed it wholeheartedly as you leaned into the kiss as well, your heart swelling with excitement and glee at the knowledge you finally found your soulmate, that you found Din.
Din, feeling and thinking the same thing continued to kiss you, finally allowing himself to be with someone unapologetically, and knowing that they were meant for him and no one else.