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Din didn't even really know how it had happened. One evening he had gone to bed, leaving Luke to study some glowing Jedi triangle, “They're called holocrons, Din!”, only to find him slumped over the table in the morning.
At first, Din hadn't thought much of it. He was used to finding Luke asleep at the most random places. He had carefully lifted the Jedi from his chair and laid him in his bed. He had definitely not softly brushed Luke's hair out of face and tenderly covered him up with a blanket so he wouldn't get cold.
Din had made breakfast for him and Grogu and had left a plate for Luke on the counter for when he woke up. But Luke didn't wake up. For the entire day, Din and Grogu waited for Luke to appear, but he didn't.
When Din went back to Luke's room that same evening to check on him, Luke was still lying in the same position that Din put him in. Din hated to wake him up. With great reluctancy he had start to shrug Luke by the shoulders to wake him up.
“Come on, Jedi. Time to wake up.”
But Luke hadn't woken up. No matter how hard Din tried, he remained fast asleep and dead to the world. Only then Din could see how mortal the Jedi really was. Luke had always seemed larger than life, so untouchable. But when he was lying completely still like a corpse, it was like he was regular. And that had shaken Din to his very core.
He had immediately commed General Organa, explaining the situation as best as he could, without really understanding everything that was going on.
Grogu had not left Luke's side, since they both realized something was wrong. Every time Din had tried to move him, he would whine and fuss, until Din left him on the bed.
General Organa immediately had dropped everything to come to her brother's aide. While waiting for her arrival from Coruscant, Din had tried to keep Luke fed and hydrated by feeding him broth, but he could only do so much.
Din was relieved when General Organa and her husband finally landed on Yavin IV. He had gone out to greet him, but before he could even say one word, General Organa had already stormed past him and into the temple.
Solo had shot him a look and gone after her.
“He was looking at that Jedi thing.” Din gestured to the holocron on the table.
“The next time I saw him, he was fast asleep.”
General Organa moved closer to the holocron. For a while she just stared at it, until she just sighed and picked it up. Din and Han both tensed up.
“It's not the holocron.” General Organa concluded.
“How do you know?” Din asked carefully.
“It's hard to explain.” She said cryptically, “But it bowls down to this: it told me.”
Din knew better than to ask further.
“It's a bunch of Force bantha shit.” Solo grumbled annoyed. Din silently agreed with him, but he didn't want Solo to know that. He still resented the man for calling Grogu ‘an ugly gremlin’.
“You leave the kid alone for a couple weeks and suddenly he gets turned into the fair dreamer.”
“Who?” Leia asked.
“You know, the fair dreamer,” Han gestured vaguely, “Corellian folktale about a lord and a lady who fall in love, but their duties keep them apart. So, this mythical being curses the lord to sleep until the lady kisses him or something.”
Han frowned.
“Or was it the other way around?”
“I've never heard of this story.” Leia declared and narrowed her eyes.
“Yeah well, you don't know everything, do ya?” Han snapped. He looked back at the sleeping figure of his best friend and his face softened.
“Maybe that's what's really going on.”
Leia looked up, a frown on her face.
“Maybe the Force cursed him.”
Leia closed her eyes and shook her head.
“That's not how the Force works.”
She rubbed her eyes.
“We need to get him to a Medcenter.”
Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and Luke's condition remained the same. The healers were puzzled. According to them, Luke was perfectly healthy and there was no scientific explanation to why Luke was in a coma. All they really could do, was keep Luke alive by feeding him via an IV that was connected to his real hand.
Nobody that knew Luke took his conditions well, but nobody took it as bad as Grogu. The child hadn't left Luke's side, since they'd arrived at the medcenter and he would scream and cry every time somebody tried to move him away from Luke. It absolutely broke Din's heart. In such a short time, Grogu had become very attached to Luke. Luke had voiced some concerns about it to Din, who had brushed off Luke's worries. But when a nurse had tried to remove Grogu from Luke's room, he had used the Force to slam her against the wall. The nurse had broken three ribs. And Din had to admit, that maybe Luke had had point.
General Organa would sit by Luke's bedside as well, either holding his good hand or with her hand on his forehead, and remain there for the entire day. Solo would occasionally have to remind her to drink or to eat.
“I can't feel him.” She had confessed one morning, “It's like he's gone.”
Grogu had whined at that statement and buried himself deeper into Luke's side.
When Organa wouldn't be by Luke's side, it would be Solo. He didn't talk, he didn't touch Luke. He would just anxiously stare at Luke's chest, like he was expecting it to suddenly stop rising.
Other people came by too. People Din didn't immediately recognized, but had heard Luke mention once or twice. Lando Calrissian, Wedge Antilles and the other members of Luke's old squadron. And people Din did recognize such as Chewbacca and Ahsoka Tano.
“I didn't know you knew him?” Din had asked. Ahsoka had smiled sadly.
“I'm a friend of the family.” It had sounded weird and strained, but Din hadn't questioned it. He had been too busy looking at Luke, making sure Luke was still breathing, that his heart monitor was still beeping in a steady rhythm.
“What’s wrong with him?” Din had asked, a bit desperately. Ahsoka had looked at him with pity and sadness in her eyes.
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen it before.”
Din had sighed in annoyance, but hadn’t said anything. For weeks Luke laid in his medbed, without improvement. People slowly stopped visiting, but Din and Grogu never stopped coming. Din couldn’t stay away. He knew that it would be better if he and Grogu said their goodbyes and went on with their lives. But Din found that he couldn’t. He couldn’t, he wouldn’t, leave Luke.
He tried to tell himself that it was because he wasn’t sure what it would do to Grogu, but he knew he was lying. He knew he was being selfish and he didn’t really care.
Every morning Din would be woken up by Grogu and every morning they walked to the medcenter, where they would spend the day sitting next by Luke’s bedside. Later Solo and Organa would come by and take their own places at Luke’s side.
While Din and Grogu would be silent, Organa and Solo would talk. They would recite old memories or tell stories from their lives before they all met.
Din learned more about Luke’s life in those moments than he did in the entire six months that he had lived with Luke. And with every story, Din’s love for Luke only grew stronger. Luke had lived through so much pain and he had remained kind.
This routine went on for weeks, but without any positive prospects. Luke remained in his unresponsive state. The machines and healers kept him alive, but Luke started looking more like a corpse every day.
Another day went by and once again, Din was sitting on the uncomfortable chair next to Luke’s medbed, watching the steady rise and fall of Luke’s chest, listening to the beeping of the machines. Grogu had taken his usual place in Luke’s bed.
Din slowly moved one of his hands towards Luke’s limp ones. But as soon as he heard the door open, he quickly pulled away. General Organa walked into the room. She looked more tired than usual. Her eyes were red-rimmed, like she had been crying all night.
She cleared her throat, whether it was to conform that she had Din’s attention or to make sure she didn’t sound raspy, Din didn’t know.
“Mando, we need to talk, outside.” Din nodded. He stood up, stroked one of Grogu's ears with a finger and followed her outside. He felt slightly nauseous as carefully and softly closed the door behind him.
When he saw them standing in the hallway of the medcenter, right outside of Luke’s room, Din was reminded that the last couple of weeks had not been kind to Solo and Organa either. He knew the senate had been pressing Organa to leave her brother in the care of the medcenter and come back to work. Journalists had been flooding their home with invasive questions about the condition of the Last Jedi.
“We have looked at our options and come to a decision.”
General Organa took a very deep breath.
“We're going to give the healers permission to euthanize Luke.”
Just like that, Din's entire world shattered. He could feel his shoulders slump and his breath hitch. But somehow, he menaced to say in a reasonably steady voice:
“I see.”
“I know my brother, Mando.” General Organa continued, her voice shaking, “I know he wouldn't have wanted to live this way. Stuck in a bed, disconnected from everything and everybody with no change of waking up.”
Din looked at her. He could see dark circles under her eyes. Solo had his arm around her shoulder and was looking everywhere except in his direction.
As much as Din wanted to argue with them, he knew he couldn't. It wasn't his place, he was not Luke's family after all, and he also knew that they wouldn't have made this decision without thinking hard and long about it.
He looked through the window of Luke's room. Luke had gotten so pale and lost so much weight and muscle in such a short time and Din knew Luke's condition would deteriorate over time. He looked at Grogu, who was till cuddled up against Luke's side. Grogu had already lost so much and now he would someone again.
He sighed.
“I understand.” Din said softly, looking away from General Organa's face.
“Can the kid and I say goodbye to him?”
General Organa nodded.
“We will give you some time alone with him.” She spoke. She looked through the windows at the sleeping form of her brother. After a moment she tore her gaze away and walked away.
Solo looked like he wanted to say something, but after a few seconds he walked away too, leaving Din alone in the white hallway. Din's legs carried him back to Luke's room. He sat down in the chair on Luke's left and left Grogu cuddled up against Luke's right.
He looked at the sleeping Jedi. He brushed a lock of Luke's hair out of his face.
He hadn't told Luke about his feelings for him. He hadn't told Luke that he wanted the other man to be a permanent addition of his life. That he wanted to help Luke raise the other younglings. He wanted to go to sleep next to Luke and wanted to wake up to his face in the morning. Din wanted to be Luke's and he wanted Luke to be his.
But he had never told Luke any of that and now it was too late.
He slowly lifted himself of the chair and moved his hand from Luke's forehead to his cheek. Din softly pressed his helmet against Luke's forehead. He stroked Luke's cheek with his thumb, softly and slowly.
“Ni ceta, mesh'la.” He whispered. He slowly retreated, keeping Luke's face in his vision as much as possible. He untangled his fingers from Luke's hand, but when he tried to pull his hand back, he was met with resistance.
“Luke?”
Luke's face remained smooth, but there had definitely been some faint pressure, right? He squeezed Luke's hand.
Grogu made a small sound. Din took his eyes of Luke to look at him. Grogu had placed a small claw on Luke's hand and was now looking at him with hope-filled eyes.
“Kid,” Din spoke as steadily as he could manage, “Tell me he's waking up.”
Grogu squealed again and Din let out a soft laugh of relieve. He tried to pull his hand back again and was met with more resistance. A small frown appeared on Luke's face, a face that hadn't shown any emotion in weeks.
Din squeezed Luke's hand again.
“I'm not going anywhere, mesh’la.” He promised and he meant. He was never going anywhere again that wasn't near Luke. He stroked a strand of hair out Luke’s face with a gloved finger. His finger trailed down to Luke’s cheekbone.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He repeated and stroked the pale skin. Organa marched into the room, her eyes tired and slightly red. Din looked up and turned away from Luke, but he didn’t let go of his hand.
“Mando,” She said, “It’s time.”
For a moment Din forgot how to speak. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. It wasn’t until a healer walked into the room with Solo.
“He’s waking up.” Din said with a raspy voice.
Organa’s eyes grew wide and Solo had to steady himself.
“H-how?” She stuttered.
Din didn’t answer, because he knew Organa wasn’t really asking him. Healers were called, Din and Grogu were pushed out of the way by nurses, who were trying to check Luke’s vitals. The healers confirmed that, yes Luke was waking up and no they didn’t know why.
All of them had anxiously taken their place beside Luke’s bed. Worried looks painted their faces. Grogu was sitting on Din’s knee, which he had tried to throw a tantrum about, when Din stopped him from cuddling against Luke’s side.
For a long time, they didn’t say a word to each other. They just stared at Luke, as he slowly woke up. Until the silence was broken by Organa.
“What happened?” She asked sharply. Din looked up, to see she was staring directly at him. When he didn’t reply, she continued:
“For weeks we’ve been sitting by Luke’s bedside without any improvement, but suddenly, he wakes up and nobody knows why and you so happen to be in the room at that exact moment.”
Organa’s eyes narrowed.
“So I ask you: what happened?”
Din didn’t see a point in lying. He swallowed.
“I kissed him.” He confessed uncomfortably. There was an awkward silence between them, before Solo broke it in a way only Solo could.
“So, I was right all along?” He asked with a snug look on his face, “He really was the fair dreamer.”
General Organa rolled her eyes, but didn't respond. Luke groaned and they all looked up. He made a small, destressed sound. Din moved towards Luke, but Organa beat him to it. She placed her hand on Luke’s forehead.
“It’s alright. We’re here.” She said softly. Luke groaned again, louder this time.
Solo was bouncing his knee nervously. The movement and sound annoyed Din. Solo was probably not even aware he was doing it. He was too busy stroking Luke’s hair and studying his face for any sign of improvement.
Din watched it all, feeling like an outsider. Suddenly, he felt like he had to get out of there.
“I’m gonna wait outside.” Din said. He thought he spotted gratefulness in Organa’s face and relieve in Solo’s. He couldn’t blame them. Luke was their family and he was just the father of his student.
What was Luke going to say when he found out how Din felt, what he did? Would Luke be disgusted by him? Repulsed? Angry? Would Luke push him away? He hoped that Luke would at least allow Grogu to return to school, even if he never wanted to see Din again.
All these thoughts shot through Din’s head as he collected Grogu, who only protested a little, and walked outside. Grogu curled up on the seat behind him. Din watched as his eyes fell shut and his breathing evened out. Anxiety was racing through him as he watched the door of Luke’s room. He watched and waited. He waited and watched. He waited for what felt like hours, until the door to Luke’s room opened.
Organa and Solo walked through, looking better than they had the last weeks. Din straightened his posture.
“Mando, Luke is asking for you.” Organa said, her voice sounded harsh.
Din, very carefully, lifted himself out of his seat. Partially because he didn’t want to disturb a sleeping Grogu next to him and partially because he didn’t really trust his on feet.
He breathed in deeply, trying to control to thumping of his heart.
Luke still looked horrible, but that was to expected since the man just woke up from a weekslong coma. He was still horribly pale and looked brittle, but when he smiled, it made the room instantly look brighter and Din’s heart fluttered.
“Din.” Luke’s voice sounded raspy. “Please sit.”
Almost automatically, Din walked to the chair where he had spend so many hours over the last couple weeks. He hadn’t even properly sat down before he blurted out:
“I’m sorry.” Luke tiled his head slightly.
“What for?”
Din felt his cheeks heat up and not for the first time in his life, he was grateful for the helmet that was hiding his face.
“Kissing you.” He paused. “Without, y’know, asking.”
He looked away, suddenly losing the ability to Luke look into the eyes.
“Din,” Luke said in the same tone when he was reprimanding Grogu for eating frogs, while he should have been meditating, “How where you supposed to ask me?”
Din shrugged. Luke sighed.
“Din, look at me please.”
Din did and he stared into Luke’s eyes. He knew they were blue, but sometimes he wished he could see their color again without the helmet. Luke played with the fingers of his prosthetic, something he often did when he was nervous and trying to hide it.
“I don’t mind that you kissed me.” Luke said slowly and serene. “I’m quite happy that you did actually. Not just because of the coma, but” Luke took a deep breath, “because I had hoped you would.”
A thousand thoughts raced through Din’s head, but all that he could say was:
“What?”
Luke bit his lip.
“What I’m trying to say is,” Luke took a deep breath, “I’m in love with you. Have been for a while now and I think this whole fair dreamer fiasco was the Force trying to push us together.”
“Oh.” Was all Din could say.
“Oh.” Luke repeated. He looked down at the white sheets and looked at Din through his eyelashes.
“Would you, maybe, kiss me again?”
Din nearly stumbled over his own feet on his way to Luke’s bed, but he managed to keep his posture. He sat down next to Luke. The bed croaked, but Din didn’t mind. He was too focused on Luke.
Din pressed his helmet-covered forehead against Luke’s naked one. Din closed his eyes and Luke brought up his hand cupping the helmet where Din’s cheek would have been. Din breathed through his nose, trying to silence his fast-beating heart.
“I always wondered how Mandalorians kissed with their helmets on.” Luke said when they broke apart. Din chuckled.
“We call it a kov'nyn or a Keldabe kiss.”
“A kov'nyn.” Luke repeated, absolutely butchering the pronunciation. But, Din reconned, they would have enough time to practice. Luke squeezed Din’s hand and moved towards him to give him another Keldabe kiss.
Yes, Din thought as their forehead connected once again, they had all the time in the galaxy.