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She laughed when she first saw him. A full-bodied, bending-over, stomach-holding howl of glee. Din Djarin wasn't as amused.
"What is this?" Bo-Katan had asked breathlessly.
Grogu sat happily nestled in the droid, his eyes wide as he pressed a button, a mechanical voice repeatedly sounding, "Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes."
"It's gets old quick," Din growled, and Bo-Katan grinned knowingly. She had learned much about Din Djarin during their weeks together, and whereas he was imposing to most, she could hear the affection in his voice when he spoke of his foundling son.
Grogu, for his part, was proud to show off his new abilities. "Yes. Yes," he said, extending a droid arm to Bo-Katan.
"Yes, indeed, little one," she said, taking his mechanical hand in hers. "You look very grown up in such a big machine."
"IG-12," Din supplied, sitting down outside his tent. Grogu held out his other droid arm to her and Bo-Katan smiled at him.
"Well, no matter what he says," Bo said, tilting her head in Din's direction, "I think you look wonderful." Grogu held out his little arms and Bo-Katan picked him up, carefully helping him out of the droid.
"Come on," she smiled. "Let's get you something to eat so your grumpy dad can have a break."
"I'm not grumpy," Din called, and Bo just grinned at him with a sly nod.
It was like that more and more lately. Teasing. Ease and comfort. Sitting close. Quips and sarcasm. Words that only meant anything to them. Meant everything to them. At least, she thought so. She hoped so.
He was still such a mystery. And she knew she shouldn't care. He was a zealot, a naive bounty hunter. She shouldn't care what he thought.
But she did care. Much more than she knew how to deal with. Somehow they were becoming a unit. Bo-Katan and Din Djarin. Din and Bo. Dank ferrick, she never let anyone call her Bo. But when he said it, it made sense. It felt right. And she really liked hearing it.
He pledged his loyalty to her. There, on the ship, on the surface, before everything went wrong. She didn't know how to respond, even as he turned and walked away. How could he? How could he become everything to her and not the one thing she needed the most?
And now?
Now he's gone.
And they are hiding. Hoping. Waiting. For the fleet, for the end. She knows they need to rest, to regroup. The other Mandalorians are looking to her for guidance. They need her to lead. And all she can see is Grogu, his eyes wide and sad as he stares in the direction where they left Din.
"No. No. No. No."
She clenches her eyes, takes a breath.
"We can't stay here forever," Axe says.
"And we won't," Bo-Katan reassures, turning to him. "We will head back to the surface soon. But we need to tend to the injured before we can all go. You take a few others, scout ahead. See if reinforcements are coming."
Axe turns to Grogu and pauses.
"We should go now," Axe says softly. "You can't save him and everyone else. You have to choose."
Bo-Katan's face darkens, her eyes cutting. "We are Mandalorians. We won't surrender again. I won't surrender again. And we don't leave anyone behind. Now are you going to scout ahead or not?"
Axe opens his mouth as if to respond, but then closes it again, nodding his head and walking away.
Bo-Katan takes a breath then turns and approaches Grogu.
He sees her and his eyes are pleading.
"No. No. No. No."
Her heart breaks, and she extends her arms. Grogu leaps into them, nestling against her armor.
"Shh, shh," she soothes. "I know. I know. We'll get him back. I promise."
His small body shakes against hers and Bo closes her eyes, holding him closer.
It's not fair. It's not fair that Din was taken and it's not fair that Grogu should have to suffer and it's her fault, it's her fault for not killing Gideon when she had the chance.
"I'm sorry," she breathes against Grogu's small head. "I'm so sorry." Her voice breaks, her eyes clenched.
She feels a small hand on her face and opens her eyes. Grogu is staring at her, his wide, sad eyes both pleading and comforting.
"We'll get him back," she repeats, more to herself. Grogu tilts his head, his eyes understanding.
"We'll get him back."
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The end