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It was one of those days where everything was just too much.
Din found himself numbly walking along and startling at nothing. Every sound felt like it scraped through the inside of his skull as it went in one ear and out the other, making it hard for him to focus. The fluorescent lights seemed too harsh. The people milling about together were legion, all neatly paired off and strolling easily with purpose throughout the store.
Din was alone and he had no idea how anyone was supposed to find what they needed in a place this big.
Din felt the frustrated presence of a couple walking at his back.
He was walking too slow. He should speed up. The temptation to just bolt was strong but then what? He still had no idea where the children's beds were located. He'd just be an idiot running through IKEA with no clue where he was headed.
He stepped to the side pretending to examine some light bulbs and let the couple pass him. They were cute and didn't actually look annoyed at him on closer inspection. They walked along pointing at the different lamps with their pinkies curled together between them.
It was devastating. Din wanted to cry or throw up but mainly he just wanted someone to link their pinky in his and walk with him around IKEA.
Pathetic.
Din's feet slid along the floor, barely lifting up as he shambled away from the lightbulbs towards the living room setups.
He did not feel well.
He sank into a leather couch but then he felt too exposed. He leaned forward, elbows on knees and head bowed, as he just tried to catch his breath while wondering when he'd lost it in the first place.
For a moment the other noises of the store, which had seemed so substantial, faded away leaving nothing but the sound of his rasping breaths and pounding heart.
"Hey, partner. You know, if you had made it another 5 feet to the left you would've found my favorite spot."
That warm voice somehow cut its way through all of the noise in Din's head. He focused on it and replied.
"What?"
"My favorite spot. You know, the best couch in the store."
Din opened his eyes and turned to look at whoever was speaking, still struggling to decipher the nonsequitur. The individual who had the nice strangely calming southern drawl turned out to be an employee of the store because as Din's gaze trailed up he took in the standard-issue IKEA yellow and blue shirt and a nametag that read 'Cobb ❤️ (They/them)'
Great, Din thought. They were probably just coming to tell him to 'Please pull it together and if you cry on this couch you buy it,' but something about that calm voice made Din reconsider.
He found it in himself to look up at Cobb even if he was still hunched forward protecting himself slightly.
Cobb was all long legs in their tight skinny jeans and thick heeled boots. On closer inspection, Din realized their IKEA shirt was unbuttoned lower than was standard for an employee to the point that Din spied some salt and pepper chest hair peeking out and a long-chained necklace dangling tantalizingly over the revealed tan skin. Their silver facial hair was just the perfect amount of stubble, their hair effortlessly tousled and coiffed, and their hazel eyes were soft.
From there Din started to shift towards gay panic and away from actual panic. He knew he wasn’t going to be kicked out but it still wasn’t ideal to have an attractive queer person watching him have a mental breakdown.
“Don’t worry I’ve definitely been there before,” Cobb said kindly. “Sometimes this place just gets to be too much for me. If you’d like I can show you my spot I told you about.”
Cobb held out their hand towards Din and Din just studied it for a moment. Strong, with a light dusting of hair and freckles, multiple rings, chipped red and black nail polish.
Din inhaled a burning lungful of air before reaching out to grasp Cobb’s hand in his own. Cobb smiled down at him so brightly that their eyes squinted nearly shut, seemingly delighted that Din accepted the offered hand. Then Din felt himself being pulled up and the hand dropped from his to turn into a gentle arm circling his shoulders and leading him away.
He still felt like he was floating, the last dregs of anxiety keeping him from being fully present in his body, but he wanted to be because Cobb’s presence seemed so nice and warm at his side.
They walked a few feet and ducked around the false wall of the living room display into another. This one had warmer light, tapestries hanging from the walls, and a soft shag carpet underfoot. When Cobb guided Din down to sit on the grey display couch it was so plush it felt like it swallowed him up in an embrace.
“Nice right?” Cobb said, easing down to sit next to Din and leaving space between them.
Din’s brow furrowed and he foolishly wished that Cobb would come closer and press against him like the arm of the couch was on his other side. He then started to berate himself again mentally. He probably seemed so foolish. He was a grown man who couldn’t handle shopping on his own. Cobb was probably only being nice to him out of some sort of obligation. He should just go but getting up again and facing the rest of the store seemed like such an impossibility.
“Hey, It’s gonna be okay. Don’t focus on all of that out there, just breathe.”
Din hadn’t realized that he’d stopped breathing again. He sucked in a shaking breath and tried to hold it.
“That’s it, just breathe with me.”
Din’s eyes focused and he looked back at Cobb next to him. He blew out his breath and tried his best to sync it with their exhale. Each breath Din took with Cobb he felt reassured. He was still breathing, he was going to be okay. Din came back to himself and the details of the space started to filter into his senses. He didn’t feel as overwhelmed by all of the information and people and loud noises. He watched transfixed as Cobb’s chest rose and fell and how they exaggerated their head movements with the breath, causing their hoop earring to dangle back and forth.
After a few minutes that seemed like an eternity Din finally started to feel more himself. His breathing returned to normal and he reluctantly tore his gaze away from Cobb, unsure of how to conduct himself after having been seen so vulnerable.
He cleared his throat and let his eyes follow the pattern of a tapestry on the opposite wall as he spoke.
“Thank you.”
“No thanks needed, friend,” Cobb said, giving Din a smile that was a little smaller, one that he felt like he could almost return when he flicked his eyes towards them and away again.
“Like I said I’ve been there before. This isn’t just my favorite spot because the couch is soft as hell, it's because no one ever comes back here. Well, that and it’s also out of sight from the floor manager's desk so I can hide here when I don’t feel like dealing with customers but that part can be our little secret.”
Din found himself chuckling at that despite himself, his own smile turning genuine when he saw the bit of mischief in Cobb’s eyes.
“Well then, thanks for sharing it with me.”
"No worries. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Din had heard dozens of employees at dozens of stores say this exact line to him but never had it sounded so genuine like Cobb would truly like nothing more than to continue to lend his assistance.
"I was looking for the kid's rooms section."
"Well, you're in the right place just on the wrong floor. You want the level below us."
That made more sense. Din must've been so stressed that he read the map wrong. Before he could dwell on it Cobb spoke up.
"Honest mistake, it could've happened to anyone."
Cobb stood from the couch and then looked back at Din expectantly.
"You can take as long as you need, but when you're ready I'd love to take you."
Din felt like he should've told Cobb it was fine and he could find it himself now that he knew where to look. Should've let them go back to work but the way they said 'I'd love to take you,' took hold of some small hopelessly enraptured part of Din that needed them at that moment.
So Din rose from the couch and nodded shyly then followed Cobb to the escalators.
Cobb got on a step ahead of Din and then turned around to face him. Din noticed that because of the few inches they had on him in their heeled boots this brought the two of them eye to eye as they descended.
"So, what's your name?"
Shit, Din hadn't even thought to introduce himself once he saw Cobb's nametag.
"Din and he/him/his pronouns are fine."
Cobb smiled brighter than all his previous ones.
"Nice to meet you, Din."
"Nice to meet you too."
"So what are you looking for in the kid's section."
"A bed. It's for my new son."
"Cute. First kid?"
"Yeah, he's five years old and I adopted him kind of unexpectedly, it's a long story."
Din realized as he was talking he was probably giving more information than was strictly necessary but his filter tended to disappear after his anxiety attacks, not that there was usually anyone around to notice.
Cobb took it in stride though, even taking it a step further and asking another question.
"Just you?"
"Hm?"
"No uh, no partner I mean? Sorry if that's a shitty thing to ask. I just noticed you said 'I' not 'we' and uh...sorry."
This time it was Cobb who was rambling. Din found that it humanized them a bit to see that even a gorgeous, confident person like Cobb could be awkward sometimes.
"No partner. Just me."
"Nothing wrong with that."
The pair exited the escalator and Cobb led them over to the children's beds pointing out the size that would be best suited for a five-year-old.
They stuck around helping Din decide which one he wanted and then went to snag him a cart to transport it. When they returned it was with a cart, a wide smile, and a couple of comforter and pillow sets.
"Figured your little one might want more than a frame and a mattress."
Cobb held up the sets that they chose and had Din pick his favorites. He ended up going for a green set with cartoon frogs on it and a dark blue set with an outer space theme.
Din expected Cobb to leave him now that they’ve more than fulfilled their duty both as an employee and a good samaritan but they surprised him once again by sticking around while he hunted down a mattress.
Din looked out at the sea of mattresses in the size they needed and took a deep breath. He didn’t want to work himself up again; he just had to focus, look at prices, materials, softness. He hoped Grogu wouldn’t have any allergies to down or cotton and that he would be okay with whichever one he picked. Sleep is important for a child. What if he chose the wrong mattress and stunted his growth or gave him back problems or-
“Hey, Din. You still with me?”
“Yeah, I… Yeah, sorry what were you saying?”
“No need to apologize, friend. I was just asking if you wanted to test some?”
“Right.” Test them. That seemed like a good way to start.
Din reached out a hand to the nearest mattress and pressed down feeling the give of it under his palm. It seemed nice enough, good quality, firm. Din grabbed his hand back and glared over his shoulder when he heard Cobb snort behind him.
“What?”
“I’m not laughing at you I promise. You’re really cute but that’s not how you test a mattress.”
Before Din could say anything back or even process the words ‘You’re really cute’ Cobb stepped past him, turned around and flopped back onto the mattress with a small bounce.
“This is how you test a mattress.”
Cobb cocked an eyebrow at Din and he couldn’t help but smile a bit before turning around and flopping down next to them.
Cobb was right. Once he was actually laying on it, Din could feel that the mattress was actually a touch too firm, especially since Grogu was much smaller and probably wouldn’t even make a dent in it if he were to lay down.
Din turned his head to tell Cobb as much and stopped short.
Oh.
Cobb was laying next to him, on their side. Their long hair flopped over into their eyes a bit making them blink, revealing kaleidoscopic hazel irises. Their shirt hung a little loose and Din had to fight the urge to let his eyes wander underneath where he caught a glimpse of more freckled skin and the hint of what might be a tattoo.
“What’s the verdict?” Cobb asked, their voice hushed as though they were also aware of the intimacy of the situation.
Din swallowed before he answered.
“Too firm.”
Cobb nodded seriously. “I thought so too.”
Cobb rolled away and hauled themself up out of the bed with a grunt before extending a hand which Din accepted with a mumbled thanks.
“No worries. On to the next one.”
And so they went, laying down on mattress after mattress until they found the one that was just right. Cobb checked the tag and led Din to the back where they kept the mattresses that weren’t for display, emerging with one still wrapped in plastic.
Between the bed frame and the comforters sets, there wasn’t enough room left in the cart for the mattress. Din was willing to try and balance it on top even though it would be a pain to maneuver but before he could even suggest it Cobb hefted the mattress up in strong capable hands and set off in the direction of the front of the store.
Cobb lingered nearby while the cashier rang Din up. Din noticed a few pointed looks pass between the two of them but Cobb only smiled and winked earning him an eye roll from the cashier as she gave Din his receipt.
Once they rolled a respectable distance away Cobb explained before Din even had a chance to ask.
"That was Jo. She's my best friend here but she was just pulling faces cause I'm never actually on the floor where I'm supposed to be."
"Oh," Din said dumbly.
"Don't worry, I'm here to make sure you get full service." Cobb declared.
They stayed true to their word, following Din and carrying the mattress all the way back to his car. The beat-up Silver Honda had certainly seen better days but Din tried to reign in his embarrassment. He'd be fine so long as Cobb didn't stay and watch him try to start it.
They helped him fold down the seats in the back and perform the complicated Tetris necessary to make all of his new purchases fit. Once the car was packed up and closed securely Cobb patted it twice and leaned back on it to face Din.
"Alrighty, looks like you're all set."
Din rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly unsure again in the awkward transitory moment.
"Yeah. Well thank you, you know for helping and everything."
Cobb shrugged it off easily and Din wanted to protest because it meant a lot that Cobb pulled him back before he could work himself up to a full panic and then stuck around after.
"It's what I'd want somebody to do for me."
Din nodded.
They both stood there a beat longer, Din fiddling with his car keys.
"Can I...can I give you my number?" Cobb asked, that slightly nervous energy they had earlier on the escalator making another appearance. "I just figured you know you could maybe call me if you need help putting that together" Cobb straightened up and gestured behind themselves towards the car where the bedframe was stored.
Din smiled for what felt like the first time all day as he ducked his head slightly to take out his phone.
"I may have to take you up on that."
Cobb took Din's phone to enter their number and looked down at the screen avoiding Din's eye with what they suggested next.
"And maybe I could bring some food over? Make a night of it."
"That sounds really nice," Din said, their fingers brushing and lingering as Cobb handed him back his phone. "I'd like that."
"Awesome." Cobb turned to walk back into the store.
Din watched them go and saw as they stopped mid-step, shoulders tensing up before they turned back with a nervous chuckle.
"I'm sorry just one more thing, can I give you a hug?"
Din could see a blush breaking out on Cobb's cheeks and how their fists were bunched up in anticipation of posible rejection but he also saw something shining in those bright eyes that was echoed in his own chest: hope.
"I'd like that a lot." Din said and watched as Cobb's shoulders dropped and they stepped forward and pulled him into a tight embrace.
The two of them stood there for a beat too long with twin sheepish smiles and giggles as they pulled away.
Cobb's face got serious for a second and they grasped Din’s shoulders.
"You're gonna be a great dad, Din."
Din gasped. That one sentence, even said to him by a virtual stranger, landed like a punch to the gut. It was exactly what he needed to hear.
Cobb didn't wait for Din to respond. They just smiled again, one more of those blinding eye-crinkling sunshine personified grins for the road, before turning around and walking back into the building. Din watched them go with a skip in their step and a mesmerizing swish to their hips.
When he got in his car to drive home he felt wrapped up in a cloud of residual warmth made up of reassurance, a smile, a tight lingering hug, and the promise of many more to come.