Chapter Text
It happened so fast that Luke had no time to react. He was asleep in the offered apartment on Hosnian Prime, acting as a delegate for Naboo to finish a trade agreement, when the Force niggled him awake. He probably would have been annoyed had he not been distracted by the tall armored humanoid at the side of his bed.
Luke reacted as best he could by jumping out of bed and launching at the intruder to fight. However, he didn’t even have time to summon his lightsaber to his hand when the humanoid grabbed Luke, threw him to the ground, and used their body to subdue him before knocking the prince out.
So it’s no surprise when he woke up and his arms and legs are shackled and his mouth gagged with a piece of cloth wrapped around his head. What he is surprised by is that his eyes aren’t covered, which allowed him to see- with the lights of hyperspace as the only source of illumination- that he was in a passenger seat of a cockpit with the armored humanoid driving.
The side of his head throbbed sharply but he bit into the gag to stop himself from whimpering. He instead focused on taking stock of his situation and, maybe, finding a way to escape.
The Force wasn’t with him though as the humanoid turned their helmeted head- revealing a black T-shaped that made Luke’s heart flutter which was at odds with his sinking stomach- and then did a double-take.
Luke stiffened until the man spoke. Then he thought he might have a concussion.
“Good, you’re awake,” came the dulcet rasp of his kidnapper.
Luke’s eyes narrowed as the human male- at least he thought that’s what they were based on his voice- turned back to the console and pressed a few buttons. He then turned his chair and gave Luke a chance to see his capture fully.
In short, two words came to mind: lethal and stunning. Over a worn brown flight suit, the man was decked head to toe in silver armor. The armor gleamed in the low light, the streamers reflecting off the pristine surface. On the right pauldron, there was a signet of some kind- an animal perhaps- with a large horn. Part of Luke wondered if it was Beskar- the nearly indestructible mineral only found on Mandalore that he only knew tales of.
The man was also armed to the teeth with weapons- a vibroknife in one of his boots with rifle ammo, a blaster on his hips, and an ammunition bandolier across his chest with explosive charges around his waist. And that was the only weapons Luke could see.
Luke knew he was staring but it wasn’t every day one got to see a Mandalorian up close.
He didn’t even have time to process the man- let alone how muted the man’s presence felt in the Force- when his capture announced, “The remnants of the Empire have a bounty out of you.”
Luke's insides went cold. The panic crawled up his spine and into his throat. Realizing this, he instantly released it into the Force to keep his mind clear.
He stared at the Mandalorian down, refusing to be intimidated and show any sign of weakness.
“It’s an unofficial one,” the man continued. “No puck, no sort of trail. Off the books. And they want you alive.”
Luke’s eyebrows furrowed, feeling off-kilter with the situation. The Mandalorian’s tone wasn’t goading so there shouldn’t be a reason why he would tell the prince all of this.
The Mandalorian took a slow, deep breath. When he released it, the sound crackled through his modulator, thick and almost wet sounding. When he spoke, it carried in his voice, “When I mean unofficially, I mean they’ll do anything to get the best on the job.” He paused and added steely, “Including forcing a bounty hunter to do it.”
Luke’s eyes widened as he finally understood why he was being told all this. And Luke believed him- the earnestness in his voice and the sudden and loud projection of anger in the Force (even if it was oddly muted) left little doubt of the truth in the man’s words.
Sensing that Luke got it, the Mandalorian stood. “I am going to remove the gag,” he announced as he reached out slowly toward Luke.
Luke nodded slowly and watched the bounty hunter wearily. The man’s movements were careful, telegraphing, as he reached around the prince’s head and undid the knot. When the cloth was removed, Luke stretched his jaw around and collected saliva to wet his dry mouth.
He raised his eyes to the Mandalorian expressional gaze as he stood over him but kept his distance. Testing, Luke raised his cuffed hands. “What about my arms and legs?”
The bounty hunter didn’t say anything but Luke could feel their gaze shift to give him a look that made the corners of the prince’s mouth twitch. “Was worth a shot,” he shrugged.
The Mandalorian dropped the cloth and sat down.
“So you’re being forced?” Luke asked, down to business.
The armored man nodded. “They took... something important to my Covert, and we can’t get them back by ourselves.
Luke titled his head. “‘Them?’”
The Mandalorian didn’t move or say anything. When Luke tried to reach out with the Force to sense what the man was feeling, he resisted the urge to press his lips together in frustration. He felt so little from the man, even with the small tendrils of the Force that connected to the bounty hunter.
Just when he thought that the armored man wasn’t going to say anything, his soft, hesitant voice echoed through the cabin. “Foundlings. The Imps stole a number of our foundlings.”
The weight of his words were heavy in the air. Still, Luke had to ask, “‘Foundlings?’”
The bounty hunter didn’t answer right away but when he did, his voice was rough with suppressed emotions. “Children.”
Luke sucked in a sharp breath, insides freezing. “Fark..,” he hissed
He scooted forward to sit on the edge of his seat. “What do you need me to do?”
The Mandalorian took a deep breath. “I’ll tell you the full plan when we join the others,” he nodded. “But your part is still to be a trader- even if it is a fake one.”
Luke raised an eyebrow. “Don’t trust the Imps word?” He meant it as a tease- to create a sense of ease between them- but the other man responded strongly, growling,
“I trust their word as much as I trust walking past a sleeping Sarlacc.”
The smirk that wanted to form on Luke’s lips died.
The Mandalorian continued to stare at Luke. Although he couldn’t see the other man's eyes, Luke couldn’t help the rigidness of his muscles tensing at the hard evaluating gaze. He wanted to snap at the bounty hunter but refrained and stared right back.
“There’ll be fighting,” the armored man finally announced. “Rumors of your fighting capabilities is that you’re very good-” Luke was torn between not preening and correcting the other man that he had been told (at least by his uncle and father) that his fighting was ‘excellent’- “but we’ll be dealing with a base full of Imps.” The Mandalorian’s gloved hands curled into fists before he released them- a tick perhaps but Luke couldn’t be sure. “Are you still okay with that?”
Luke’s heart fluttered warming in his chest at the man’s consideration. He grinned. “I asked what you needed me to do, and that hasn’t changed. If I need to fight, then I will fight.” He didn’t mention that didn’t have his lightsaber- his main weapon- but he could do it with other weapons too. He would pull his weight where it mattered.
The bounty hunter tilted his head. “Do I have your word?”
Luke raised his chin in defiance to the hint of dark warning in the other’s tone. “You have my word.”
After a second, the Mandalorian nodded. Luke’s muscles relaxed a little because it felt as if he passed some sort of test.
Self-congratulating himself, he almost missed when the armored man reached into a flight suit pocket and pulled out a key fob. He didn’t say anything but his movements were slow when he approached Luke. The prince didn’t need words to understand and he eagerly raised his cuffed arms.
When the leg restraints came off with a heavy clank, an alarm sounded. Luke tensed, releasing from where he was rubbing his cybernetic hand to make sure there was no damage, only to realize a second later it was noise to let them know they were approaching their destination. The Mandalorian remained calm as he tossed the cuffs to one side before he took his seat again.
He dropped the ship out of hyperspace and guided the ship to a small, rough-looking spaceport built into an asteroid. Luke had never seen it before which said something considering Luke’s childhood and teen years when he was on the run with his father and uncle from the Empire. And then those times were quickly followed by his time in the Rebellion. He thought he had seen all of the Underground ports there were.
Passing through an energy shield, the Mandalorian parked the craft in a designated spot. He powered down the ship before he turned and grunted, “Follow me.”
Luke scrambled to trail behind the Mandalorian out of the cockpit. He winced when his bare feet touched the cold metal and the cool air pierced his skin through the thin material of his night clothes. However, he refused to complain.
The Mandalorian led him through a corridor to an open common area, then to the left- past the ramp of the ship- to some crew quarters. They didn’t look like they were lived in much- except for one area with a little hammock hanging from the ceiling of the cot. Most other cots had trunks on them and the lockers were engaged. Luke wondered if they were full of weapons.
The armored man approached a cot near the refresher entrance. He rummaged through it until he withdrew a maroon shirt and a pair of socks. “Here,” he offered the items to Luke. “Might not be much but it should keep you warm.” He nodded to Luke’s feet. “Don’t have a pair of shoes that could fit you though.”
“That’s alright,” Luke nodded with a smile, taking the items. He ignored the warmth blooming in his chest at the gesture. “They’ll do just fine.”
The Mandalorian nodded before he moved around Luke. “I’ll see you back in the common area.”
Luke froze before he spun around. “You’re leaving me alone?” he called after the man.
The bounty hunter halted and turned his head to peer over his shoulder. “You need an escort to go into port because there isn’t any breathable air outside. I didn’t ask for one.”
Luke bit his bottom lip, realizing the Mandalorian hadn’t asked for an escort when they parked. Opening himself up to the Force, a bubble of annoyance formed under his ribs at feeling nothing from the man again. He was still a void in the Force, which only reinforced the hypothesis that Luke had formed that the man had formed pure Beskar. His uncle and Master Yoda warned him that it was one of the materials in the galaxy that could block force-sensitive individuals.
Luke had no choice but to trust the man’s word. He was on a spaceport he was unfamiliar with and a man he couldn’t read to tell if he was lying. On top of that, they had passed through a shield and that didn’t constitute it could make the area breathable, only safe from attacks. But he wasn’t a hostage- despite being kidnapped- and he could walk freely. He supposed he could put some trust in the other man.
When Luke nodded, the bounty hunter walked away and disappeared.
After a short sigh, Luke placed the clothes aside to take off his own. Putting on the new items, the socks weren’t so bad but the shirt was too wide on the shoulders and loose in the long sleeves and waist. He tucked the hem of the shirt into his sleep pants and rolled the sleeves to his elbows. The neckline hung so low it showed off part of his shoulder and clavicle along with his lightning scars. To take care of it, he gathered up one end of the fabric and tied it into a knot.
(And if anyone asked, he would deny it to his grave that he found the scent of the Mandalorian a little attractive. The smell of gunmetal and spices caused something to stir in Luke’s gut and made his heart beat fast- which he quickly released into the Force.)
Satisfied, he went to go look for the bounty hunter. There was a temptation to poke around the room but the other man had given him privacy and trust that he would return in kind.
Walking into the common room, he found the Mandalorian at a table with a full plate of food beside him. The man didn’t say anything when he lifted his head but nodded when Luke walked forward.
Taking that as a welcome, Luke sat in one of the seats around the table. Before he could say anything, the armored man passed him the plate. “Here.”
Luke stared at the food- mostly dried fruit and grains- before he looked at the man again.
“You’ll need your strength,” was all the man said.
As if to emphasize the point, Luke’s stomach growled- loud in the quiet. He ducked his face while the back of his neck and ears warmed.
Putting more faith in the other man, Luke moved the plate closer toward him. As he ate, he observed through his lashes as the Mandalorian leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest.
Neither of them spoke but Luke didn’t feel the other man’s eyes on him- not even on the visible scars on his arms-, which the prince was thankful for. Still, Luke was never good in silences- awkward or pleasant (as theirs was surprisingly was)- and grasped at a conservation starter.
Realizing he didn't know the man's name, he cleared his throat. "My name’s Luke, by the way," he gave, "Luke Skywalker." He decided just to use his father's last name rather than the combination with his mother's as he was known for. He was hoping to use it as bait, to see if the other man would question him.
Instead, the Mandalorian just turned his head slightly and said dully, "I know." He then turned away and didn't offer his name.
Fighting back a huff, Luke released his momentary frustration into the Force. After a few more bites of food, he decided to change his tactic. “Are we here to refuel?” he asked.
The Mandalorian turned his head again. “...No,” he replied. “We’re waiting for someone to trade ships with.”
Luke frowned and tilted his head.
“...To ensure I do what I am supposed to do,” the man explained, “they put a tracker on my ship. If I remove it, they’ll know and they’ll harm the foundlings.
Luke widened his eyes. “Oh,” he nodded.
The Mandalorian nodded. “We trade ships for now,” he went on. “Later, when I explain the plan I have to everyone, we will trade ships back.”
Luke frowned as he thought of something. “Won’t the Imps be impatient?” he pondered.
“They gave me a time frame,” the other man expounded.
Raising an eyebrow, Luke asked, “Are we on schedule?”
“Ahead, actually,” was the matter-of-fact reply.
Luke hid his smile by eating a bite of fruit.
The trill of an incoming comm cut through the air. It made Luke jolt slightly at the rudeness but the Mandalorian remained calm as he pulled out his comlink. He answered without a greeting.
“We’re coming out of hyperspace,” a strong woman’s voice came through.
“We’ll be ready,” the bounty hunter replied curtly before he cut the link.
Standing up, he said, “Finish eating,” before he disappeared to where the quarters were.
Luke stared at where he had disappeared. The man’s order was light, barely even an order at all. Yet there was firmness in the undertone that brokered no argument. It reminded Luke very much of the way his parents and older family members ordered him to do something.
Shaking his head, he went back to his food- this time faster since he wasn’t sure when the other ship would arrive.
He had just taken the last bite when the Mandalorian returned with a bag over his shoulder. “They're here,” was all he said. Luke nodded.
Depositing the dishes in the sink, Luke joined the armored man at the edge of the ramp; he stopped with just a foot between them.
Lifting his face to the bounty hunter’s helmeted one, he was surprised at how calm he felt about the whole situation. Kidnapped and now involved in a plot to rescue children from former Imperials, he should be nervous enough to throw it into the Force. Yet for some reason, he wasn’t. He wondered if it had something to do with the man next to him; he stood as an undisturbed pillar in a whirlwind of chaos. Sure, he wasn’t the most friendly but perhaps that was due to the circumstances. As if to make up for it, he had taken care of Luke instead.
After a moment of staring at each other, the armored man reached behind his back. “Here,” he murmured as he offered the item he pulled to Luke.
Luke’s breath caught with his heart fluttering at the familiar hilt. Taking a steady breath, he nodded his thanks while he took his lightsaber. The weapon’s weight was welcoming in his hands and the Kyber Crystal inside of it resonated in greeting. It was slightly disconcerting he hadn't felt its familiar signature but perhaps the proximity of the Mandalorian’s Beskar armor interfered.
Without a belt to clip it to, he shoved it in between his borrowed shirt and the elastic of his pants. It wasn’t ideal but it would do for now.
Once secured, he faced the Mandalorian again. The man nodded before he pressed the buttons to open the ramp.
"Woah, hey!" Luke leapt forward and stopped the process. While the Mandalorian tensed, Luke couldn't stop his face from flushing at their close proximity. Even more so because he had no desire to create space again.
"What?" the other man growled.
Fighting back a shiver, Luke lifted his face to the black visor. "Is someone coming for us?" he asked.
The armored man tilted his head.
Luke frowned. "You said someone had to escort us," he reminded. "And I don't know about you, but I don't have Mandalorian armor that can help me breathe in space!"
The man righted his head and just stared at Luke. Then ever so softly, the prince saw his chest shake a little as a rumbling noise could be heard. It took Luke a moment to realize it was a chuckle. "My armor doesn't allow me to breathe in space," he murmured.
Luke narrowed his eyes. "Then will someone come get us?"
Instead of an answer, the Mandalorian reached up and pressed the button to open the door again. "No," he replied as it hissed.
Luke stepped back, feeling his jaw drop. There was no sudden suction, no loss of oxygen, or any other sign that he was going to die at any second. His face went hot down to his chest with a choking sensation in his lungs at the realization.
The Mandalorian chuckled as the ramp finished unfolding. He didn't say another word while he walked away, leaving Luke in his stunned embarrassment.
Luke stared after the man until the Mandalorian reached the end of the ramp. Only then did Luke break out of his stupor and run after the man.
Catching up, Luke hissed quietly. "It's not nice to lie ." His ears and cheeks still burned as they walked.
The armored man shrugged. "I'm not nice," he stated.
Luke begged to differ but before he could say anything, someone yelled, "Hey Mando!"
Snapping his gaze forward, Luke saw two people coming toward them- a bald man in what Luke called ‘smuggler fashion’ like Han wore and a dark-haired woman in blue armor with a small Rebel Starbird tattoo under her left eye.
Both of them wore huge smiles and picked up their paces.
“Mando!” the man then chortled. He raised his arms as if to hug the armored man but seemed to think better of it. After clearing his throat, he threw a thumb at the woman. “You couldn’t have warned me about sending her to hunt me down? I thought she was coming to turn me in!”
Luke glanced at the woman who rolled her eyes and took note of the odd cloth around her arm and a golden badge of the New Republic on her belt.
“Mayfield,” the Mandalorian- Mando- greeted back. He raised a hand. The bald man- Mayfield- reached out to take it but Mando moved further until he gripped the slight man’s forearm. After a second, Mayfield reciprocated. “Cara fill you in?”
Their arms dropping, Mayfield rolled his eyes. Meeting Luke’s gaze and he huffed. “No fun, this guy,” he jerked a thumb at the armored man.
Looking back at the bounty hunter, the man’s carefree attitude turned serious. “Yeah, she filled me in. All I have to do is fly around until I get the call we trade again?”
“That’s right,” Mando nodded. “She’s refueled and I was able to get out of Hosnian Prime without being detected."
Luke snapped his gaze to the Mandalorian both shocked and impressed. Besides staying away from the Core Worlds and Mid Rim for obvious reasons, Hosnian Prime was particularly avoided by most people on the run. It was known to be one of the most secured planets in the galaxy. Even his father stated he might have a hard time getting in and out without detection.
Mayfield echoed Luke’s sentiment with a low, impressed whistle. “Damn,” he smirked, tone full of awe. “I forget how impressive you can be, Mando.” His eyes flickered past them. “Even more so with the piece of junk you now drive.”
Frowning, Luke looked back and nearly choked. “You got in and out of Hosnian Prime in that hunk of junk!” he nearly yelled, voice strangled.
Mayfield cackled loudly and out of the corner of his eye, Luke saw Mando look at him with what might be a glare (or that was Luke’s assumption). But he wouldn’t take back his words.
With not much to do as a young child on the run, Luke had read about all sorts of starships including the discontinued ones. This particular model was ancient compared to others. The manufacturer- a subsidiary of Core Galaxy systems- stopped production when it was purchased by the Corellian Engineering Corporation. The design was then later used in the YT-series starships such as the Falcon Han so loved.
And this starship looked as if it had been through an asteroid field. The Dynamic- class freighter before him was a patchwork of brown and red metals, singed with cannon fire and scratched up to hell. The outside beguiled the interior that Luke knew was in fantastic condition but right now the ship looked as if it would fall apart at any moment.
Luke spun back to Mando. “How did you even get that thing to fly?”
Mando just stared at him. Meanwhile, Mayfield continued to cackle and there was a snort from the dark-haired woman.
“Mando is just that good,” she interjected, stepping forward to slap the armored man on the shoulder. Impressively, the man didn’t even flinch at her heavy-handedness.
Mayfield’s laughter died to giggles. He moved around Mando toward Luke. “You’re alright!” he complimented with a thump to Luke’s back. The prince couldn’t stop himself from jumping a little at the unexpected touch but the bald man ignored him as he pointed at Mando. “You should have seen the Razor Crest this guy used to have. Makes it look like a luxury liner compared to this junk.”
Luke grinned at the man but before he could say anything, the woman was suddenly beside him with a glare towards Mayfield. “Show some respect,” she hissed quietly. “Prince Skywalker-Naberrie-” Luke couldn’t help but wince at the title before calming his features- “isn’t like your usual crowd.”
“Cara,” Mando’s voice was even but there was a hint of warning. As he spoke, Mayfield raised his arms and took a step back.
“Hey, hey, no offense meant,” Mayfield shrugged. “Just not every day you meet an uppity bastard who knows his stuff, ya know?”
Cara’s glare sharpened and Luke could feel her rising annoyance and anger in the Force. Luke glanced at Mando, not sure if it was his place to diffuse the situation from escalating.
“Mayfield,” Mando warned in the same tone he used with Cara.
“Yeah, yeah,” Mayfield waved and started to walk backward to the Dynamic. “I hear you, Mando.”
The bald man spun around but before he could make his way to the ship, Mando called, “Mayfield.”
Mayfield turned with a frown and Luke felt a bunch of worry from him thanks to the Force.
Mando didn’t say anything at first, but then spoke, “If you run into trouble for any reason and are forced to land... there’s some weapons and grenades you can use in the crew quarters.”
Mayfield froze, face going slack with wide eyes and open mouth. It was only for a second, though, before it was replaced with a bright, feral grin, his delight screaming in the Force.
“You better have some good stuff, Mando!” the man threatened as he walked backward again. The effect of it however was lost by the excitement in his voice. “Better not hold out of me!”
Before anyone could say a word, he turned sharply and ran to the ship.
Cara huffed. “He’s going to be disappointed at your small collection,” she smirked while she crossed her arms.
Din shrugged. “It’s grown, but most weapons we need are with me-" to emphasize, he hefted the bag up further on his shoulder- "or hidden very well.”
Cara snorted. When she turned to Luke, the smirk on her lips died away when her face became more solemn. “Sorry about Mayfield, your Highness,” she nodded her head where the bald man ran off.
Luke smiled a little, though he wanted to grimace from her using the title. “No need to apologize,” he said earnestly, “he did nothing wrong.” When her face turned skeptical, he added, “I’m used to people like him. I promise.”
Cara eyed him but nodded.
“Come on,” she waved and started to walk in front of him. “I’ll lead you to the ship we are taking.”
The three of them meandered over to another designated landing pad where a KV-Jumper was. It was definitely more trustworthy than the deathtrap Mando flew. The Subpro Corporation wasn’t popular as others but they made reliable ships that were popular all over the Outer Rim. (Luke should know. He, Uncle Ben, and his dad flew a few but never stayed in one for too long.)
They entered the ship through the cargo hold which, based on the small kitchen along the back wall and the bolted table and booths, served as the common area.
Mando didn’t pause as he laid his bag on one of the booths before he climbed a narrow set of stairs next to the kitchen. Luke could only surmise it led to the cockpit because he was distracted when he heard Cara say, “If you want some better clothes, your Highness, I think Mayfield has some stuff that will fit you.”
Looking at the woman, he bit his bottom lip. “Would he be okay with that?”
Cara shrugged which didn’t help Luke’s feelings of being invasive at all.
At his frown, she waved a hand at his feet. “At least some boots.”
Luke peered down and, unable to stop himself, wiggled his sock-covered toes. The back of his neck warmed, he nodded as he peered at Cara through his lashes. “Y-Yeah, that would be good,” he conceded shyly.
Cara grinned and walked him to the other side of the kitchen where a door was.
The was a nice-sized bedroom with a connected refresher. Cara went to the closet and rummaged in the bottom half. “Here you are, your Highness,” she carried two pairs of chunky boots over to the bed- one black and the other brown. Luke had no choice but to follow and sit, laying his lightsaber next to him so he could be comfortable. “See if either of those work.”
She then moved back to the closet and, unlike what Luke thought she would do by getting more shoes, she started shifting through the hanging clothes.
Not bothering to hide his grimace, Luke untied the black pair. “You don’t have to keep up with ‘your Highness’ talk,” he stated casually. “You can just call me Luke. I’m not real royalty.”
Cara huffed. “No,” she agreed, analyzing a shirt before putting it back, unsatisfied. “But you are the son of Padmé Naberrie-Amidala- the former queen of Naboo- and current head of the New Republic Senate with Mon Mothma.”
Slipping a shoe on, Luke sighed, “Still doesn’t make me royal.”
With a sigh, Cara turned with a frown on her face. She folded her arms over her chest. “Your sister doesn’t mind whenever I see her on the Holonet. And besides,” she pulled off the cloth that covered her arm revealing a tattoo of an Alderaanian shock trooper. “I would be doing my planet a dishonor if I called you anything less.”
Having paused on working the shoe to face her, Luke’s mouth dropped as understanding filled his mind. Luke’s ears grew hot. “That was my father that saved Alderaan from the first Death Star,” he quickly said, ducking his face. “Not me.”
“And you are his son,” Cara challenged. “And I also have heard you helped him out in that endeavor. I wouldn’t feel comfortable calling you by your first name, considering what your family has done for my people.” Her conviction resounded in the Force like Phrik and Luke knew he was not going to change her mind.
Sighing heavily, Luke rubbed his face. “Alright,” he yielded after a moment. He then kicked off the boot since it didn’t fit right and tried the brown one. “Since you feel so strongly about it, can you at least call me ‘Commander?’ I may have accepted the title of ‘prince’ but I don’t feel comfortable with people calling me that. Leia has lived with it her whole life; I haven’t.”
He looked up at Cara just as her shoulders relaxed. She nodded. “Commander it is then.” She turned back to the closet.
Finishing the first shoe and finding it acceptable, he started on the second one. “You’re very insistent,” Luke huffed.
Cara snorted softly. “I have been told I can be very stubborn.” She paused in her rummaging and looked at him over her shoulder. “And as someone who saved Alderaan, you deserve the best.”
Luke grinned, cheeks and chest growing warm in fondness, as he laced up the second boot. “I told you, that was Dad.”
“And by proxy,” Cara hummed as she went back to her business, “you also get the best treatment.”
Luke hummed non-committal. It didn’t feel right but there were times to pick and choose his battles.
Just as he finished tying up his second boot, he felt the ship start to vibrate and move. “Guess we’re heading out,” he noted.
Cara nodded. “The sooner we get out of this port anyway, the better.”
Luke tilted his head. “Why’s that?”
The Alderaanian paused again and turned to Luke. She pointed at her tattoo. “There’s a reason why I was hiding this. The port is not known to be welcoming to those of the Core Worlds.”
Raising an eyebrow, Luke continued, “But they’re okay with a New Republic Marshall in their port?”
With a shrug, Cara turned back to the closet. “The New Republic is everywhere now, Commander.”
Luke couldn’t argue with that.
Not a second later, the dark-haired woman threw up her hands. “Kriffing Mayfield has nothing!”
Luke snorted. “It’s fine,” he stood with his lightsaber in his hand. He grinned when she turned to face him and before she could raid anywhere else, he said, “Just a belt and, well, a pair of gloves will work.”
Cara narrowed her eyes. “Commander,” she waved a hand at him, “That shirt is way too big for you.”
Despite his best effort, his lips pulled into a pout. “Mando gave it to me to use,” he defended. “And I would feel bad if I don’t use it.”
Cara tilted her head, studying Luke. The prince met her gaze, throwing out his flustered feelings into the Force to stop any blushing. He didn’t want to reveal or talk about the feeling of unease that filled him at the thought of removing Mando’s shirt. How he had already gotten used to the smell and the feeling of the rough fabric on his skin. He didn’t think he could explain it, this feeling of safety it brought.
With a huff, Cara shrugged. “If you’re sure, Commander,” her tone held a bit of an offer about changing his mind.
Instead of taking it, Luke nodded. “I’m sure. Just a belt and gloves.”
Cara’s face pinched but she nodded. It wasn’t until she turned to the closet did Luke allow himself to relax with a silent sigh in victory.
When she turned back with a brown belt and black gloves, he held out his free hand. She glanced at it- his right hand- and he could sense the questions in her eyes and the Force. He smiled when her eyes snapped to him and handed the items over, but, internally, he flinched. He braced himself.
Yet instead, she just nodded without a word. “I’ll leave you to handle that, Commander,” she waved a hand at the accessories. “I should go check on Mando.”
Luke nodded, muscles relaxing. “Thank you.” And he meant it in more ways than just leaving him to get dressed.
She waved him off. “No bother, Commander.”
As she walked away, she called over her shoulder, “Feel free to use the ‘fresher if you need it!” He could hear the smirk in her voice when she added, “Or another shirt or pants!”
Before he could snip anything back, she disappeared.
Rolling his eyes he decided to take her up on the refresher offer. He didn’t use the sonic but at least cleaned his face and made his hair presentable.
He couldn’t help but stare at himself and nearly giggled. His appearance reminded him of when he was younger and constantly on the run, wearing whatever clothes that would fit. The only thing that threw the image off was the gold star-shaped earring and connected ear cuff on his right ear. The metal was too fine with the intricate star shining because of the small gem in the center, but Luke felt no desire to remove it. He swore he never would when his mother gifted it to him, through Aunt Beru, when he turned eighteen.
Once satisfied, he looped the belt around his waist so it would hang loose but not fall off him. He clipped his lightsaber before he slipped on the tight-fitting gloves.
Coming out of the room, he was startled when Cara came down the stairs, cursing under her breath.
“Fucking bastard,” she hissed, tossing the plate of food she carried onto the table. “Stupid, son of a mudscuffer!”
Anxiety crawled up Luke’s spine. “Everything alright?” he cautiously asked, walking toward her.
Cara growled, sitting heavily in the booth with Mando’s bag. “Fine,” she bit out. “Just a stubborn asshole of a Mandalorian!”
Taking a slow seat across from her, he glanced at the food. “Maybe he’s not hungry?” he offered uncertainly.
Cara snorted with an eye roll. “I would believe it if I hadn’t seen him when this happened last time-” Abruptly she snapped her jaw shut- hard enough that Luke heard the clanking of teeth- and stared at him with wide eyes full of dread.
Luke put on a placating smile, clearly knowing this wasn’t something he was supposed to hear, even without the use of the Force. Still, he had to poke for more- if nothing else just to perhaps have a baseline of how this was going to go (and if he was curious about Mando’s past, that was no one’s business but his). “This happened before?” he asked calmly.
Face pinching, Cara closed her eyes. “Shit,” she sighed before she laid her face on the table.
Luke pressed his lips together to stop laughing. He didn’t say another word but waited for Cara to get herself together.
It wasn’t until there was a shake of the ship (possibly to enter hyperspace), did she finally lift her head.
There was an underlying tiredness in her closed-off expression. Her eyes looked him up and down before she sighed. “Look, Commander,” she folded her arms on the table and leaned on them, “Mando has his reason for not saying anything about last time. That time and now are completely different.” Luke noted there was a bit of uncertainty at the end but decided not to probe, not with the hard look the Alderaanian gave him.
Cara briefly pressed her lips together. “...But both situations involve his son.”
Luke’s breath hitched, heart fluttering. The bounty hunter had a child?
With another sigh, Cara leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. “I won’t tell you details, but last time it was just his kid that got taken.” Her eyes widened with a frustrated frown. “And Mando was an absolute mess. Practically had to physically fight him just to get him to eat and sleep what he deemed was ‘necessary.’” She unfolded her arms and air quoted the last word. “So you can imagine how he is now that it’s not only his kid but others too.”
Luke glanced at the food again. “Maybe he already ate?” he shrugged. “He fed me when we were waiting at the port, so maybe he ate then.”
The back of his neck warmed when Cara’s eyebrows shot up. “He said it was to help keep my energy up,” he quickly explained. “So he could have done the same for himself.”
“If only,” the Alderaanian huffed. Her eyes then narrowed and gooseflesh popped up on Luke's skin at her penetrating gaze. It was as if she was really seeing him, or more specifically, Mando’s shirt.
Again, throwing out his uncomfortableness to the Force, Luke cleared his throat while turning his gaze to the food. He waved a hand at the plate, “Do you mind if I try?”
Feeling braver, he lifted his face to see the woman had one eyebrow raised in skepticism. “You think you can?” she challenged.
Luke grinned. “I have been told that I am very persuasive.”
She stared at him and, once more, goosebumps crawled along his skin. This time, however, he didn’t look away.
Finally, she shrugged. “Have at it,” she sighed, clearly having no faith.
Grin widening, Luke took the plate and made his way to the cockpit.
Passing through a smaller upper hold and cabin, when he passed through the door to the cockpit Luke noticed it was quite nice. Large enough for two chairs and a table between them with still enough room for three more people to stand.
It was almost surreal seeing the stream of hyperspace lights reflect off Mando’s armor. It reminded Luke that not so long ago how he was trussed up like his time on Endor and saw the same sight.
Mando didn’t acknowledge him, even when Luke took the other seat and put the place down between them.
He didn’t go in right away. Instead, he leaned back in his seat, bringing a foot up to rest on the edge of the seat.
Resting his wrists on his upward knee, he casually announced, “You know, you never told me where we are going.”
Mando had been still when he came in, but it felt as if he was moving, he would have frozen. With the barest movement, he turned his helmet to look at Luke before looking back at the console. “Tatooine,” he murmured.
Luke nearly threw his hands up in the air when he sighed heavily. “Why that planet? It’s a dustball that would give the lava of Mustafar a run for its money with how hot it gets!”
“You’ve been?” Mando asked with a tilt of his head towards Luke. The prince considered it a victory that his tone sounded lighter than before.
“Too many times,” Luke scrunched his face in disgust. “Dad is from Tatooine and we had family there when I was younger. Spent a lot of time there when we weren’t jumping around from planet to planet.”
Mando hummed. “Leia never mentioned that,” he muttered under his breath after a second.
“Well, yeah, she wouldn’t,” Luke sighed. “She stayed with Mom- hey! Wait a minute!” Luke jolted straight and stared at the Mandalorian. “You know Leia?”
Mando nodded. “I’ve done some bounties for her in the past.”
Luke continued to stare, mind barely processing the new information about his sister’s life. Something she kept from him even though they told each other everything. The hurt made his chest tight. “How did you two meet?” he asked, then immediately coughed to clear the thickness in his voice.
Undeterred, the bounty hunter answered, “By accident. I was hunting another bounty and we just happened to be in the same area. Ended up saving her.” he stopped and bowed his head. He then huffed softly. “Well more like we saved each other. She can pull her weight in a fight.”
The statement had the corners of Luke’s lips tilt up. “Can’t argue with that,” he chuckled; he didn’t even bother to hide the fondness in his tone. “‘She was born a fighter’ our mother likes to say.”
Mando chuckled with a nod.
Ignoring how the sound lit something in his whole body, Luke leaned back in his seat. “So after that, she hired you for bounties?”
“Mostly retrieval,” Mando shrugged. “No bodies. And off the books from the Guild.”
Luke tilted his head and he raised his foot again. “Guild?”
“Bounty Hunter’s Guild.” He then paused. “Or what was once the Bounty Hunter’s Guild.”
“Was?”
By the small glance of the T-shaped visor and Mando remaining silent, Luke knew he wasn’t going to get that story. He stored it away for later.
As he placed his wrists on his knee again, the bounty hunter stated, “When we get to Tatooine, I’ll let you use my comlink to contact your sister.”
A tension in Luke he hadn’t realized he had relaxed. “Thank you,” he murmured earnestly. “She’ll like to know I am okay.”
The Mandalorian hummed. “She will,” he agreed. “But more importantly we’ll need her help too.”
Luke raised an eyebrow. “For the plan?”
Mando’s helmet turned to him. “For the plan,” he nodded.
Luke knew this might be the time to ask the other man to eat. Yet something in his chest feared that if he did then this interaction wouldn’t end happily. And, surprising himself, he didn’t want it to end; he wanted to know more about the other man. So instead, he asked, “So why Tatooine?”
“Good meeting point,” Mando hummed. “I know it’s safe from former Empire and New Republic control. And it’s neutral ground.”
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Enemies coming together?" he asked, half teasing. "Should I be worried?"
"Not if the rumors of how well you fight are true." Mando turned his head to face the prince. "Though I haven't seen that yet.”
Luke's cheeks inflamed. "In my defense-" the bounty hunter bowed his head and Luke knew he was smiling despite not being able to see it. "- in my defense , I didn't think someone was crazy enough to sneak through the defenses of Hosnian Prime!"
Mando snorted and Luke swore he heard a bit of laughter in it.
The Mandalorian sighed with humor in his tone and something pulled in Luke’s chest- a mix of worry, sympathy, and delight. It sounded almost tired- as if this was the first time he laughed in a long time. Perhaps it was for all the prince knew.
Then Mando looked at him and Luke forgot how to breathe. Staring at the dark glass, it felt like he could see where the Mandalorian's eyes were. It was a surety he felt anchored in his bones that echoed in the Force. It left him burning; left him breathless; left him feeling like something had crawled into his chest, gripped his heart and lungs, and threatened to rip them out. Never in his life did his whole body ache with a want that swelled and nearly brought tears to his eyes to see something- to see what laid beyond that expressionless helmet.
His wide-eyed and grinning face reflected back at him from the helmet as they continued to stare at each other. Then the Mandalorian said quietly, “Sneaking into Hosnian Prime isn’t the craziest thing I’ve done.”
His image’s grin grew. “Yeah?” Luke asked, not missing the slight breathlessness in his voice. “And what beats that?”
Mando chuckled and it sent a zap of electricity up and down Luke’s spine. “The time I intentionally let myself get eaten by a Krayt Dragon.”
Luke’s mind came to a screeching halt. He jerked, nearly falling out of his chair, to sit up straight as he demanded, voice high and reedy, “You what? ”
Mando only chuckled as he sat back in his seat and looked out the window.
Luke tried not to pout, feeling jerked around. “You’re lying,” he accused with some heat.
Mando turned his head slightly toward him. “I’m really not,” the bounty hunter countered.
Luke lifted his chin. “Prove it.”
And then Mando did. A spectacular tale of a village on no map (but one Luke knew of), retrieving Mandalorian armor, Tuskens, a treaty, bombs, and a fight between the two groups of once enemies and the Krayt Dragon. All accumulating with Mando holding a Bantha laden with bombs and getting eaten to kill the Dragon from the inside. The only thing to save him from certain death was his old Amban rifle and a jetpack.
It was too fantastical to believe. But the seriousness and certainty that Mando spoke with, how he would sometimes pause before adding a detail he forgot, and the sort of shyness in the Mandalorian’s voice- as if he was embarrassed- whenever he spoke of his part in the fiasco and earnestly tried to play it off like he wasn’t an integral part, made it all real. It made Luke certain it was all true.
When Mando finished, he didn’t turn to Luke. Yet the prince was fine with that because he probably looked like a wailing Porg- mouth dropped open and staring, he was sure, with wide eyes.
When he managed to find his voice again, he wheezed, “Kriff...”
Mando chuckled. “I suppose that’s one way to sum up the experience.”
“I don’t know where to even begin,” Luke fell back into his seat. “The fact you know Tuskens and can speak with them without getting killed or where you got eaten by a Krayt Dragon.”
Mando ducked his head. Luke wondered if he was smiling or blushing- maybe both!- under his helmet.
Perking up in his seat, he asked, “Are all your adventures that insane?”
Mando lifted his head but then froze with his whole body tensing a second later. He then reached out to adjust something on the console and didn’t respond to Luke’s question, resolutely staring ahead.
Luke bit his bottom lip, sending the shift of the mood in the air. He didn’t speak, waiting for Mando to say something, but when it became apparent that the other man wouldn’t, Luke took a quiet, deep breath.
Licking his lips, he took a shot in the dark. “Was... was your son a part of your adventures?”
He had never seen a person act so fast. Mando snapped his head at Luke as a hand unclasped the leather cover on his blaster holder. He then rested it there, ready to pull it out.
Luke immediately raised his hands in the air. “Cara accidentally told me,” he offered calmly before Mando asked. “Not any details, just that our son was taken before and this time.”
Mando didn’t take his hand off his weapon.
Luke’s heart pounded like a sledgehammer against his ribs. It was all he could hear in the quiet of the room.
He had his fair share of terrifying situations. Flying with his father into the heart of the first Death Star, nearly dying in the snow on Hoth, facing his fears in that stupid cave on Dagobah, the events in Cloud City that cost his right hand and his father, saving his sister and friend from Jabba, finally facing down Darth Sidious and rescuing Dad on the second Death Star with Uncle Ben as his sister, mother, and friends fought on Endor, and so many other moments than he could count.
Yet none of them compared to staring down a deadly bounty hunter, not even when he fought Boba Fett. It felt as if he even twitched then Mando would kill him on the spot- plan be damned. The man he first met was only a fraction of the predator before him now. Deadly that it would have sent Luke’s blood ablaze with desire if it was under friendlier circumstances. In this case, however, he was dealing with a father who was scared for his child.
Then, slowly, Mando pulled his hand away from his blaster.
Luke didn’t breathe a sigh of relief or even relax. He knew he wasn't out of the asteroid field yet.
“I’m sorry,” Luke offered softly. “The feeling I got from Cara is that you didn’t want me to know.”
Mando didn’t say anything. Just turned back to stare out the window.
Luke bit his bottom lip. “Wouldn't it be better for you though to eat something?” he continued. “To have energy?”
Slowly, Mando turned his head. He tiled it down briefly at the plate. “That’s what all this is about?” he asked gruffly.
Luke smiled a little. “I did offer Cara that I would try to get you to eat,” he confessed. He sat up straighter. “But also I really wanted to talk to you more,” he added honestly.
Mando huffed with a shake of his head and looked back at the console. “Can’t figure out why,” he said flatly, pressing a few buttons.
“Don’t be like that,” Luke frowned. “Our talk has been very fun!”
The bounty hunter didn’t say anything.
Taking a deep, steeling breath, Luke pressed on. “Cara is just worried because of last time. She said they had to fight you just to eat and sleep. Do you think your son would be okay with that?”
Mando tensed.
Luke scooted to the edge of his seat. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through. But I do know the fear of being afraid of losing a person you love. The guilt that is so crushing, you can’t do anything but constantly worry about how to get them back.”
Not a word from Mando.
Luke pushed the plate towards the Mandalorian with his fingers. “Your son won’t be mad for taking care of yourself, Mando. Beyond the bare minimum. It would even help him because you won’t be exhausted when your reserved energy is gone.”
As he spoke, Mando slowly turned his head toward him. He still didn’t say anything and it was unnerving to sense the predator simmering under that expressionless face, but Luke was never one to back down. “If you won’t eat for Cara or me,” he murmured softly, “do it for your son and what he needs.”
Mando stared at him. When the silence stretched, Luke resisted the urge to bite his bottom lip and shift in his seat, his chest tight in worry, and wondered if he should try something else. Then the Mandalorian asked, “Why would I eat for you?”
Luke’s heart tightened. Mando attempted to keep his tone angrily rough, but it was thick with choked emotions (and perhaps a tad wet).
Luke grinned gently. “Because I care,” he answered frankly. Then he added teasingly, “And also because you owe me for lying to me about the air situation back on the spaceport.”
Mando let out an aborted snort that was more like a cough, which made Luke’s grin grow. “Not my fault you believed it.” His voice was less thick but no less full of suppressed emotions.
“I only have you to trust!” Luke defended.
This time Mando huffed with a shake of his head. “That was your first mistake.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “Says the man that clothed and fed me,” he snarked back.
Mando shrugged.
His helmet tilted down to the plate of food. Luke’s heart skipped a few beats in excitement.
When the bounty hunter looked at Luke again, he spoke hesitantly, “I... can’t eat with you here.”
Frowning, Luke tilted his head.
“It’s my Creed,” Mando explained. “I can’t remove my helmet around anyone who isn’t a part of my clan.”
“It’s a Mandalorian thing?” Luke asked for elaboration.
Mando nodded.
Luke didn’t fully understand but smiled and nodded. He waved a hand toward the door. “I can wait outside while you eat.”
The bounty hunter leaned away and Luke could feel his assessing gaze. “I will eat. A Mandalorian is true to their word.”
“I believe you,” Luke soothed with a nod. “But I will feel better just being able to hear you are eating.”
Mando stared at him a moment before he huffed softly, “Fine.”
Grinning, Luke got up and made his way out of the cabin. When he crossed the threshold, he took up a position to his right, using his back to lean against the wall. Being close to the door, it didn’t shut but his position was behind Mando’s chair, so even if Luke turned his head to look inside he couldn’t see the other man.
There was quiet. “You were being serious.”
Luke’s grin widened at the awed flatness in the Mandalorian’s tone. “I was.”
There was more silence before he heard a huff. Then there was a soft hiss.
Luke inhaled sharply and quietly. He turned his head to the side, away from the door, so he wouldn’t be tempted to peek.
Mando must have removed his helmet because he finally could feel the man in the Force. The fact was unremarkable in and of itself but it felt remarkable to Luke. To feel how the Force glided through the revealed part. Strong emotions of guilt and self-loathing threatened to down the prince but also the desperate hope and confidence buoyed him.
Mando’s signature in the Force didn’t feel any different than anyone else Luke had felt before. Yet it was still so special to him. Bright and warm like a campfire. A harbor of safety in space. The Force whispered to the prince: a protector, a guardian, a man of duty and honor. That’s what Mando was. But there was also an underlying sadness in his signature, something that the bounty hunter constantly carried with him as if it were his burden alone.
Closing his eyes to fight against the sting and the forming wetness, Luke bit his lip and curled his hands into tight fists. It hurt to breathe with the same deep ache he felt before when he thought their eyes met. But now it was much worse. It left him wanting to rush into the room and hold the other man and whisper words of reassurance. That they would get Mando’s son- and the other children- back and he didn’t have to feel so alone. To be able to look into the bounty hunter’s eyes and feel the Mandalorian’s touch on his skin.
He called upon his Jedi training to keep himself calm, releasing this new sensation into the Force just as fast as it came. It was a cruel cycle because the Force took it and then fed it right back to Luke, which only confused him. His mind felt too overwhelmed to try and meditate on why but it was almost as if the Force was encouraging him to approach Mando.
He wasn’t sure how long he struggled but then the barrier returned. Luke gasped softly with his eyes snapping open. The room spun slightly but with a gentle shake of his head, it righted once more. It didn’t stop his breathlessness or how hard and frantic his heart beat.
Taking a few silent, deep breaths he almost missed when Mando called, “You can come back.”
After a few more breaths, Luke pushed himself off the wall and immediately had to call on the Force to steady his shaky limbs. Stepping back into the cabin, he couldn’t help but stare at the other man, who was now focusing on the console- having no idea how he left Luke so shaken.
Something about that thought had Luke biting his bottom lip to stop from giggling hysterically. He wasn’t sure why, but the idea was hilarious.
Taking the copilot seat, Luke noticed the plate of food was empty. He grinned, warmth seeping through his chest at his victory. However, he didn’t rag Mando about it.
Instead, he started, “You said something about a ‘Creed?’”
He waited until Mando turned his head and the bounty hunter nodded.
Luke’s grin widened. “Can you tell me about it?”
Mando stared and Luke didn’t have to use the Force to know he was surprised.
“You... want to know?” he asked hesitantly, sounding cautious.
“Yeah!” Luke nodded. “It seems very important to you and, being honest, I never had the chance to study Mandalorian culture.”
Mando tilted his head. “Aruetiise- outsiders-” he quickly explained as Luke’s eyebrows furrowed at the unfamiliar word, “aren’t to know the details of the Resol’nare unless they decide to learn the Creed. The way of the Mandalorians.”
“Then just teach me the basics,” Luke offered with a shrug. “I’ve never met another Mandalorian to be able to ask.” He paused and frowned in thought. “Or at least not one who didn’t try and capture or kill me.”
Mando stared until he softly huffed. “Alright.”
Like grinned. “Great!” He then stood and grabbed the empty plate. “Let me just take this down to the kitchen,” he announced, “and I’ll be right back. And once you tell me about your Creed, I’ll share some crazy stories of my own. We can even compare!”
Mando shook his head. “Have you been eaten by a Krayt Dragon?”
Pouting at the other man’s flat but goading tone, Luke huffed. “I’ll have you know I have plenty of crazy stories- from times I was a kid with Dad and Uncle Ben to my time in the Rebellion.”
The bounty hunter hummed while he turned back to the console.
Childishly, Luke stuck his tongue out to Mando’s back. “Just you wait,” he promised as he left.
He swore as the door closed, he heard the Mandalorian’s faint chuckle.
Rushing to deposit the plate, he almost missed Cara, who was still at the table but now with a datapad.
When their eyes met, her eyes went wide and her mouth dropped. A second later she asked, “You didn’t have to fight him?”
Luke grinned. “Nope,” playfully popping the ‘p.’
The dark-haired woman continued to stare at him before her expression turned serious, as if in deep thought, with a mix of curiosity. Before Luke could ask what was on her mind, she grinned.
“Think you can get him to actually sleep, too?” she asked giddily.
Luke shrugged as he started to walk back to the cockpit. “We’ll just have to see later!” he called over his shoulder as he took the steps. He ignored the sound of her laughter because his thoughts were more focused on getting to know the armored man better.