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His muscled arm cleaved through the warm pool water, bringing that perfect headspace to his mind that chased away every thought. The gliding motion, the slick resistance-here he could quiet all the buzz in his brain and just be. Throwing it all up into the Force, not being the rebel pilot, the Senator’s brother, the last Jedi. The Hero of the Galaxy. Part of him was exultant. A swimming pool? On Tatooine? Which made the shadow at the edge all the more disagreeable. This was his time, his morning swim and he didn’t want to be disturbed. It became even worse when he raised his head and saw who it was.
“Fett.”
“Skywalker.”
Just to be a little shit, Luke dove back in and did two more laps before he came up, and maybe he tossed his head back a little violently, enough to splash water over Boba’s legs. It was childish, but these moments in the water were sacred. He was a Child of the Desert and treasured his water time.
He leaned toned arms against the pool lip.
“You wanted something?” It sounded petulant, he knew, but, hey. “Din’s still sleeping, if you’re looking for him.”
Boba’s sturdy body cast a shadow over Luke and he didn’t respond to the water now staining his robes.
“No, it’s you I wanted to speak to.”
When no more was forthcoming, Luke sighed and heaved himself over the edge. Toweling his hair, he motioned to a couple of chairs. He tied the towel loosely over his shorts, completely aware of the difference between their bodies. Where Luke was taut, all wiry muscle and sculpted biceps, Boba was thick and solid. If Boba’s skin wore the signs of acid from the sarlacc, Luke’s white lace of force lightning also spoke of a similar painful experience. It did give Luke a twinge to know that Boba’s scars were partially due to him and he could admit it bothered him. But still.
Popping a hydropod, Luke waved it at him lazily. “To what do I owe this honor?”
Boba’s face shuttered. “After you came for the child, Din’ika was in a bad place. A dark place.”
Luke winced, both at the diminutive and the memory that he had simply left with the child. Din’s child. In his defense, he was in thrall to the Force at that time, and only really saw the little one who had called to save him. A vigorous verbal lashing from his sister made him see the error of his ways and reach out to the father, assuring him that he was welcome to stay in his son’s life.
And so had begun a delicate dance of visits from the quiet Mandalorian, never staying long but delighting the child with his time. If those visits also delighted the teacher, well, for months that was his secret to know. Luke would be alerted by the Force that Grogu’s father was descending into the atmo and they would both race to greet him at the landing pad. Well, race as well as four inch legs could toddle and a Jedi master try and not leap out at a dead run but instead try and look disciplined and serene. Okay, maybe not, with his face flushed and hair all arrayed like a golden cloud.
And if over time of these visits had started to burn him with longing and throw him into a funk when they ended, that was also his burden to bear. Thank all the little gods his feelings were reciprocated and as the Mandalorian began bringing small gifts and do jobs around the school that Luke realized these were signs of affection.
So they had come here at the offer of rest, relaxing in the Palace of the new ruler of Tatooine, one time arch enemy of Luke -getting to know each other better in a so called neutral environment. Plenty of support to help manage Grogu and Luke bent on staying out of Boba’s radar. And yet here the man was.
“We’ve discussed it and I have apologized.”
Luke savagely disliked any butting into his personal life.
Boba, however, seemed to be immune to his irritable attitude and like a man with a death wish he forged ahead.
“As a concession to my fellow Mandalorian, I have decided to overlook his relationship,” Boba bared his teeth in a wolflike manner, “with a Jetii and also a man indirectly responsible for years of personal pain.”
He glanced down at his arms, pointedly looking at the scars where the sarlacc’s acid had made rivulets in his skin.
Luke could hardly believe what he was hearing. A shovel talk? From Boba Fett? Fett settled his robes around him, completely in his element.
“The new Mand’alor is strong. Ruthless to his enemies and loyal to his friends. His new path he will soon embrace will test him in ways he cannot imagine. Many, many challengers will come forward to try and wrest the Darksaber away from him. It is the worst possible time for his head to be distracted by…by a.” Boba hesitated.
“A fling.”
Luke instantly started to fend off that last word with a growl, but there was no stopping the ex-bounty hunter turned king. He held up a hand, stopping Luke's rebuttal.
“I do not know or want to know anything that is between you. However, if you are seeing this as merely a fun time, then I would request you step away from him, with your regrets and allow him to fulfill his destiny. And keep him alive.”
All this was said in a calm, controlled manner. Boba certainly had a way with words, even if they cut Luke to the quick. Everything in Luke wanted to yell at him, to throw out that this was too late and it was already something big between Din and himself. To deny him and say that it was none of his business.
He held himself back for once, allowing Boba’s concerns sink in. He could feel in the Force that Boba was utterly sincere in this and it was not some grudge against Luke per se.
Luke thought about the future of the Mandalorian people and how in the dead of night Din had anxiety attacks over inadvertently gaining the Darksaber. How he felt completely inadequate to lead a broken people together and find themselves again.
All this was music Luke knew by heart as the only living Jedi trying to reclaim an extinct culture, whose destruction was partly due to the efforts of his own father. He felt strongly that one reason he and Din merged so well was their joint tasks had been thrust upon them. And how neither had asked for it. Could he to explain this to Boba?
Luke took a deep breath. He hated his personal life was being discussed by Boba Fucking Fett, of all the people in the galaxy. He tried to stay courteous and in control.
“Fett-somehow our lives have intersected these ten years. As you are a respected ally for Din, I swear to you I support everything that he will need to face in the future, just as he supports me.”
He raised a hand against Boba’s interruption. “Wait, let me finish. I understand your concern.”
Luke spit out the word with distaste.
“We’ve discussed all these things many times and are as prepared as we can be for the challenges and the future of Mandalore. This is not a fling.”
Luke looked him straight in the eye.
“I will stand by him as long as he will have me.”
Boba watched him, noting the strength of his statement and how the Jedi refused to look away. Sighing, he ran a hand over his scarred head.
“Alright, I believe you. but I don’t regret asking, Din is an honorable man and his future will be difficult enough. Why he had to make it more so by choosing a Jetii…” He huffed. “There will be clans who will contest him simply because of you.”
Luke looked a little uncomfortable at that. “I know.”
The cavern where the pool was located suddenly seemed claustrophobic and Luke kissed goodby any more relaxing time there today. He flinched in his chair, the damp towel suddenly feeling clammy on his skin.
Boba had turned down the menace to a level five but was still sitting there motionless. What else was there to say? The silence was starting to get on Luke’s nerves. Boba was Din’s friend or was this coming from something else…That thought made Luke turn and look at Boba fully.
Was someone…jealous? Luke’s stare brought Boba back to himself, who flushed mysteriously. He got up, wincing at a pain. and straightened, pulling his dignified manner around like a cloak, hiding the endless aches his battered flesh still endured. He had done his duty, protected Din from whatever the Jetii was up to. It was possible Luke was being honest, but everything in Boba wished…of all people…why...
Luke watched him as he made for the rock carved stairs. He felt the need for one last word.
“I’ve got his back.”
Boba turned. “Good. He’ll need all the help he can get.”