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Chapter Text

Luke sighed as Grogu once again lost his focus, concentrating his efforts not on meditation as Luke had instructed but rather on attacking a cricket that had landed too close.

Luke's instructions fell on deaf ears even as he mused that they were big ones as Grogu tumbled with his short legs to follow the cricket's path.

He watched amused with the little one as Grogu jumped trying to catch the cricket in his hands.

Only when he peeked between his fingers he found the cricket gone, having leapt to a safer distance. Resulting in another futile attempt as the cricket, being small enough always managed to escape Grogu's grasp.

Luke followed after the child's path, figuring there was no harm in letting Grogu entertain himself with the chase, hopefully resulting in the child being tired enough to concentrate on meditating, their original task.

Luke sighed before running a hand through his hair letting the sun shine on his tan skin as he heard Grogu's pouts and annoyed chirps as the cricket once again managed to get away.

It landed on a rock in the middle of a small pool of water turning round as if to mock the small child for being unable to catch it.

Grogu's big ears drooped as he directed his gaze towards Luke and Makers, Luke knew what the child was doing using his big, brown eyes on him like that.

Grogu had still a lot to learn including the way of persuasion used by the Jedi but by the way he used his big, brown eyes Luke didn't think Grogu needed to learn that particular skill.

Luke couldn't help but cross his arms as Grogu proceeded to use more of his usual tricks. and Oh, he was playing dirty Luke thought as Grogu hit him with a string of Patu's to seal Luke's crumbling resolve not that he had any, to begin with when it came to the child.

"You win" Luke rolled his eyes as Grogu's chirps turned excited and his ears perked up again but still he couldn't let the Child get what he wanted just like that.

Luke crouched down to be level with Grogu's gaze before he pointed with his gloved hand causing Grogu to adorably look at the movement.

"But you have to work for it" Luke couldn't help but smile softly as Grogu tilted his head in confusion before sitting dramatically down on the ground to wait for Luke's instruction.

Having the child's attention once again Luke nodded before directing his gaze to the cricket still present on the small rock.

Luke simply took a deep breath in feeling the wind that had picked up on his face before emptying his mind to feel every connection beneath the heel of his boot to the tips of his fingers.

He opened his eyes and he barely needed to lift a finger before the cricket rose gently from the rock it perched on coming closer to his side.

The child chirped in cheer, and Grogu's hands were already reaching for the cricket in the air.

But Luke wasn't about to make this too easy, the cricket hovered in the air for a moment before it landed gently onto Luke's open hand.

He looked at Grogu as one of his ears dropped in confusion and his mouth opened as if to protest as Luke closed his hand and put it behind his back hiding it from Grogu's sight.

"Now Grogu" Luke said playfully, he tried not to make it obvious that he was taking small steps back to increase their distance, but the child quickly caught on, finally motivating him to stand up on his small legs again.

"You want the cricket don't you?" Luke asked, he didn't actually wait for a response, Grogu's tiny steps forward were an answer in themselves.

"Then come get it!", and with that Luke took off, not quite running at full speed but rather he set out in a light jog, wisps of his laughter echoing behind him.

Luke looked behind him only to find nothing but grass and small flowers looking at him.
He sighed about to stop were it not for the sound of Grogu's feet landing on a rock not far for him.

Luke smiled. The chase was on.

As Grogu kept leaping further and further coming close to jumping on Luke's back, the other figured that there was no harm in making Grogu work more as Luke jumped using the force backflipping to land just before the start of a small lake.

Luke turned round to find the child right in front of him and without thinking, Luke flipped landing in the middle of the lake holding his gloved hand out to tease Grogu to act.

Luke watched on proudly as Grogu closed his eyes, his tiny hand had reached forward and Luke couldn't help but smile as he found himself being lifted gently in the air as Grogu was floating him closer to land.

The way to get to the child was through food Luke mused, he watched as Grogu concentrated harder and Luke had almost made it to the other side.

Luke felt it before he saw it, as the force Grogu was using on him grew lax and flecked out and Luke only had time to see the Child's eyes open and wander to the side before water engulfed his vision.

Luke sputtered as he rose, disturbing the entire lake as he broke the surface, coughing up lake water that had lodged in his throat when he hadn't had time to close his mouth.

His wet fringe blocked his vision and Luke swam until he reached the bottom with his feet before he wiped the wet hair out of his face.

For a second he contemplated diving back down just to save face.

Another spurt of coughing escaped Luke's lungs seeming to be fuelled by no other but the sight of the Mandalorian as he held a happy Grogu in his arms who nestled comfortingly into his Father's chest.

Really would it be that bad to pretend that he was drowning so that he didn't have to look at the familiar shining Beskar of Grogu's father? Luke, Jedi master no less swam the few laps needed to reach the ground once more albeit he kept his gaze down and his grin was sheepish.

Luke felt like a wet fish and his entire being was drenched, his clothes were sticking to his skin and no doubt, the smell of lake water wasn't exactly pleasant right now.

Luke willed himself to look at Din's eyes or well where he thought the other's eyes were behind his helmet.

Grogu was already dozing off against his father's chest plate, his momentary lapse of concentration causing Luke to taste the Lake water forgotten as he snored lightly against Din's chest.

But Luke couldn't be mad at the child not at all not when Grogu had lost his concentration because his father had visited him again.

But still Luke would rather not look like a wet wompa rat right now in front of his only student's guardian.

"Hi" Luke said, he tried not to wince at his awkwardness even more so as Din's visor turned to look down as Luke tried to dry the ends of his black robes as much as he could.

And damn his boots were squeaking with water too. There was no way this day was going to turn even worse.

“You’ve got something in your—” Luke didn’t hear the rest of what Din wanted to say, his voice was modulated by the helmet and towards the end, Din chose to explain instead with a gesture of his hand.

Confused, Luke patted his chest with his arms before looking down at his drenched robe sleeves and waist to try to see what Din was pointing at.

“Not there…just”, and would you look at that Luke internalised as he stood still in his squeaking boots at the first touch of Din’s hand on his face.

Luke couldn’t help but face the Mandalorian as Din’s gloved hand went through his hair and dammit if his eyes closed against his will, Luke seriously thought about jumping in the lake again.
His mind clouded, Luke’s eyes focused again in front of him as Din’s gentle touch left his face only to dangle a piece of lake weed In front of Luke’s eyes.

Oh.

So the day could turn even worse.

“Was the little womp rat giving you a difficult time?” Din mused, and even the modulator in his helmet couldn’t hide the hint of amusement in his tone.

Luke sighed before looking at the little sleeping gremlin in Din’s hands but really one look at that small, button nose and Luke would forgive Grogu for just about anything.

“No, this was part of his training” Luke answered.

“Does his training include you falling dramatically in the lake?” Din mused and nope, Luke’s blush definitely did not deepen even as he felt the tips of his ears and his neck give off literal heat.

“It wasn’t dramatic” Luke argued, his arms crossed, and his eyes narrowed as Din looked where water was starting to leak from his black glove before he tilted his helmet as if to say, really?

“I thought you were coming to visit next week,” Luke asked instead to change the subject, he had gotten used to their routine now of Din visiting at the end of the month, and no he absolutely was not complaining at an earlier visit.

But still, Luke could tell that there was more to Din’s visit as the latter hugged Grogu even closer to his chest before Luke heard the Mandalorian sigh beneath his helmet.

“Did something bad happen?” Luke encouraged when Din did not continue. He felt Din’s anxiety in the force. Well, it was not fear per se, but Luke always had a hard time trying to gauge what Din was transmitting and that was part of the problem in the first place.

“No not bad” Din finally let out, he inched closer still making sure not to jostle Grogu too much as he looked at Luke “Can I stay here for a month?”.

Luke’s eyes widened but he couldn’t help hiding his smile behind the palm of his hand even though he was sure that the crinkles of his eyes gave it away, “And you say I’m dramatic, of course you can stay here whenever you would like”.

Din nodded before he closed the remaining space between, his free arm came to rest on Luke’s shoulder before he whispered thanks. As soon as Din moved away from him, Luke could still feel the phantom warmth left by his hand on his shoulder.

And oh this is bad, this is really bad.

“Oh and Skywalker you might want to get rid of the lake water smell, I don’t think your little droid will appreciate it”, Din mused as he turned round to lead the way even as Luke felt his face get hotter as Din left him expecting him to follow.

Luke huffed and a part of him felt annoyed that Din wasn’t facing him to see him rolling his eyes before he pushed himself to follow the sight of Din’s tattered cape.

He just hoped the force would be willing to lend its help to him.

He desperately needed it.

Chapter Text

For a slight second, Luke had forgotten about Din’s presence the next morning, seeing as the other wasn’t present in the kitchen for breakfast. But not Grogu of course, the child would never intentionally miss an opportunity where he could stuff his face with food.

Luke couldn’t help but smile as he cut the last piece of juicemelon for the awaiting hands as Grogu slurped the last bits of the food before letting out a noiseless burp. Luke tsked playfully before picking the child up, smiling as Grogu let out the most satisfied of giggles at being bounced on Luke’s hip.

“Let’s go look for your dad”, Grogu’s giggles increased at the mention of his father, wisps of Buir, Buir leaving his lips at the mention of Din.

This wasn’t the first time Din stayed for more than a day, but usually, he wouldn’t last two weeks on Yavin before someone or another called out to him either for help or to settle something Luke did not exactly know the details of.

What he did know for certain was that each time, Din left Grogu with a heavy heart, sighing as he looked at the child before preparing to leave. Those were the moments that Luke hated but at the same time, there was a certain thrill he felt when Din always managed to linger on him the most before leaving on his ship.

Din didn’t say anything every single time, but Luke felt that the other was always just one step away from telling him something. And each time Luke’s heart raced even if he didn’t know what the force was telling him as it pushed him more whenever Din was leaving.

As Luke walked on to the clear meadow where they usually meditated, the clear landscape filled with bright green grass and beds of daisies was interrupted by the sight of Din’s armoured self.
And yet. Luke mused as he looked at the sight of Din’s tattered cape and his unpainted armour, he could picture him clearly amidst the daisies as the sun reflected off the Beskar.

Luke didn’t need to alert their presence not when Grogu’s chirps broke the silence of the morning as he jumped from Luke’s hold.

And really, the kid was too cute and one of these days Luke’s heart wasn’t going to survive the assault as Grogu’s tiny legs ran towards his father’s side. Din immediately turned round and for a second Luke felt that he was intruding as even if Din’s face was covered he knew the other’s expression was soft and tender as Din knelt down to hold Grogu against his chest.

The tip of his helmet touched Grogu’s forehead and Luke couldn’t help but turn his gaze to a bee that had settled on one of the daisies as the display of affection showed.

Luke was right, Din fit perfectly amidst the daisies and the soft grass especially when he hugged his son close, and Luke’s heart ached.

How could the Jedi of old ever think that something as precious as the bond between a parent and a child was detrimental to their training?

As Luke watched the bee jump from one daisy to another, he cleared his throat making his presence known but really he didn’t have to. Not when Din was already looking at him with Grogu huddled against his chest.

Luke’s chest ached again.

“You are welcome to join us for meditation” Luke quipped after a moment, he put his hands behind him as he inched closer to Din’s side already noting the other’s concealed tsk behind his helmet.

“I know you don’t have the patience for it but if you don’t sit then Grogu will never pay attention” Luke continued to tease as if Din was a particular stubborn student that needed some cajoling to soothe.

He had to stop himself from laughing outright as Din slumped dejectedly on the ground turning to look at Luke as if to say, there are you happy now?

And the answer was yes, very much so as Luke sat gracefully compared to the other he would add as he gave Din a sweet smile, teeth, and all. Din turned his visor away for a moment, but Luke was used to it as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath in to centre himself. Din always turned away from him whenever Luke smiled brightly at him and Luke could never make out what Din was projecting, his emotions muffled into the force.

Luke usually saw colours whenever he really focused on the force, each person projecting a certain colour that Luke associated them with.

Leia was a strong bright blue, beautiful, calm and sure while Grogu was a shining yellow, bright, and full of potential but Din, Din Luke couldn’t figure him out even though he tried, his colour muffled changing all the time as if Din’s emotions were in conflict.

As Luke settled, he felt Grogu’s answering him in the force as the child nudged him so they could meditate and centre their breaths together like Luke always instructed.

He couldn’t help but slyly poke one of his eyes open, if Grogu was breathing with him then Din was behaving himself he mused. He peeked to see Din crossed-legged in front of him with Grogu in his lap.

Luke couldn’t exactly see with Din’s helmet in the way but if he didn’t call out Luke’s peeking then Din must have had his eyes closed as well, joining in on their meditation in his own way.

And Luke felt centred more than ever, welcoming the morning wind on his face and the sun as it shined on his face, the force was pleased, and his heart felt warm.

This was by far the longest Din has sat still without moving or letting out a quiet huff as he tried to subtly change his position. But Luke realised being subtle wasn’t a Mandalorian trait or perhaps it wasn’t a Din trait he mused as he cleared his throat and finally opened his eyes.

This time he couldn’t help his small burst of laughter at the look of relief on Din’s face as soon as Luke had spoken that they were finished, his shoulders had relaxed, and Din’s helmet turned towards the sky making Luke laugh more.

“We’ll move on to more fun stuff now don’t you worry” Luke mused finally standing up, and he couldn’t have done that quick enough as Din quickly rose to his feet jostling Grogu in the midst.

“So meditating isn’t a Mandalorian trait?” Luke asked even though he knew the answer, Din’s scoff was an answer in itself as he looked at Grogu in his arms.

The child’s eyes started to droop as he was fighting to stay awake, his ears already lost the battle as they nestled down against Din’s chest.

“Mhm, the little one usually takes a nap around this time before we move on to more physical training,” Luke said, he inched closer smiling at Grogu as he became more and more sleepy by the second.

“But we could still do something if you want?” Luke asked, the words had left his lips before his mind had caught on as Din’s helmet tilted to look at Luke, his face got warm and dammit Luke needed to look away as he could feel the flush on his face.

He cleared his throat willing his blush to settle lest Din wanted to be mean and tease him “Training I mean, we could spar it’s been a while”. The words had barely left him as Grogu moved in Din’s arms at the mention of sparring, his ears perking up again and Luke couldn’t help but smile brightly.

“I got the kid’s vote, so it’s two against one” Luke teased “You have no choice but to accept the challenge Din Djarin unless you already yield defeat”. It was hard to keep the smile from forming on his face as Din straightened up before holding out his gloved hand, for Luke to take.

“It’s on Jedi”, and Luke couldn’t hold his smile now as he nodded.

Din walked back to put Grogu down amidst the daisies, the child sitting to watch them even though try as he might, Grogu was fighting his eyes to stay awake. Luke had no doubt that a few minutes in he would see Grogu napping amidst the flowers, the child never missed his after-meditation nap even if his father was here.

Luke walked back a few paces increasing the distance between them as Din stood waiting, hand already inching for his Beskar spear as Luke held his lightsaber in his hand.

“Don’t you there hold back” Din challenged, spear in hand as he waited for Luke’s first move.

The sound of his green lightsaber broke the tense silence between them as Luke twirled the hilt in his hand before putting it behind his back waiting for Din to charge first.

"I wasn't planning on it" Luke teased.

And charge he did, as the sound of Din’s jetpack, permeated the air bringing him in front of Luke in an instant as he brought the spear down holding nothing back as he met Luke’s lightsaber head-on, Beskar against green light.

Din was serious about this, and Luke smiled.

It was on.

The clearing soon become a whirl of green and metal as both Din and Luke took turns attacking, one using more brutal but slower strikes while Luke was faster and more precise weighing Din’s heavy armour slowly down.

Luke had managed to evade another swing of the Beskar spear as he leapt in the air flipping over to the other side just like how he had demonstrated for Grogu. He spun bringing his lightsaber with him and if it weren’t for Din’s quick reflexes Luke would have hit him.

Din managed at the last second to block Luke’s strike with the spear, holding it with both his hands as he tried to push against Luke’s lightsaber the force of it causing sparks to fly where the spear and the lightsaber made contact.

Din saw as Luke gave him just a small amount of space allowing him to push him further until they were again locked against each other.

Din tsked before pushing Luke more “I told you to not hold anything back”.

Luke’s eyes brightened like the glow of his lightsaber.

It happened way too fast for Din to comprehend, one second he was pushing Luke back and in the next second his spear flew forcefully from his grasp, the sound of clanking metal defiant in the air.

Luke’s hand came to rest by his side again before he brought his lightsaber closer to Din’s exposed left side in between the plates of armour, the teasing words “I win” already posed on the tip of his tongue.

And then Luke saw a glint of opposing white and black, Din’s helmet shone against the light of the darksaber in his hand, the tip of it dangerously close to touching the vulnerable skin of Luke’s neck.

Luke could feel the heat emanating from the darksaber as it was pointed at his neck while he kept his green lightsaber aimed at Din’s exposed left ribs.

The world seemed to stop around them before Luke sidestepped out of the darksaber’s way putting a bit of distance between him and Din even as he felt his breath being taken away from the sight of the black and white light reflecting off Din’s armour.

Luke looked on as Din held the darksaber, now in both his hands compared to the single-held grip he had, his curiosity peaking. There was only one way to find out if the theory taking form in his mind was right.

Luke charged, his steps light and quick as his boots barely left a dent in the soil as he swing his lightsaber to meet Din’s. The two weapons clanged against each other setting off sparks as Luke pushed before he dived from Din’s strike.

It was too slow, too heavy as Luke spun around to see Din struggling to lift the darksaber from the ground, its tip scorching the grass below it.

“You are fighting against the blade Din” Luke put in, he was about to put his lightsaber away to inch closer before he saw Din take a deep breath to swing the darksaber again.

It was slow but strong, and Luke felt the heat emanating from it as it just missed his side. He met Din in the middle, black light against green light as their sabers connected together and they pushed.

Din was strong but unlike Luke, his weapon was foreign and not an extension of his arm, Luke felt the moment Din’s arm gave away a little letting him push further.

The force caused Din to lose his balance, his boots not holding on as he fell but not before he grabbed at the front of Luke’s tunic bringing them both together on the ground.

Luke huffed out a laugh at Din’s exasperated sigh as soon as his helmet touched the ground but at least he still had the foresight to break Luke’s fall by holding his hands on his waist.
Both their weapons were ignored as they rolled to their sides before Luke shook his head, inching closer to Din’s visor.

“I win this round,” Luke said between them, he could almost see his reflection on Din’s helmet from how close he was. He felt Din’s hand as it grazed his waist finally bringing him back to the reality they were in.

Luke had won but he was also essentially sitting on Din’s lap with the other’s hands on his waist, he cleared his throat before he pushed himself off trying not to let his surprise show as he pushed off Din’s chest plate to stand.

He thought the Beskar armour would be cold to the touch. He was wrong, he could still feel the warmth of Din’s chest beneath his palm as he pushed himself to his feet, trying not to let the flush on his cheeks show as Din remained to lie on the ground.

“Your saber” Luke quickly changed the subject as he dusted himself off before helping Din get to his feet “You are fighting what it wants to do Din, you are not letting it guide you” he instructed.

“Are you telling me it’s sentient?” Din quipped, and Luke was that close to rolling his eyes before he picked up his own lightsaber and Din’s which had rolled to the other side.

The darksaber was heavier in his hand than his own Luke noted, and the feeling was completely different, almost the opposite of the force and yet the presence he felt wasn’t uncomfortable either.

“It doesn’t acknowledge you as its owner yet, you need to accept it first before you are able to wield it properly,” Luke said finally, he held the Darksaber for Din to take, their fingers touching momentarily causing Luke to feel the force thicken in its intensity around him.

“I don’t know how to do that” Din confessed “This thing is more a burden than anything else” he sighed before looking at Luke.

For once Luke could make out Din’s feelings, his lack of confidence leaking through the air as he looked away from Luke to look at Grogu, who true to Luke’s prediction was sound asleep on the bed of the flowers.

Luke’s mind stormed and yet as thousand of thoughts raced to fight and take precedence in his mind, he knew what he needed to do.

“I can teach you” Luke whispered, he felt Din still before him before he met his gaze. Luke waited with bated breath, time once again stalling just for the two of them before Din sighed and nodded.

Luke gave him a soft smile feeling the muffled colours surrounding Din through the force once more, but one thing was for sure, the force was preening with satisfaction even If Luke couldn’t even begin to explain why.

“We start tomorrow”.

Chapter Text

Din did not join Luke and Grogu the next morning for meditation preferring to as Luke liked to put it unnecessarily look over his ship making sure the N1 starfighter didn’t have any faults which of course it didn’t.

Still, Luke decided to take pity on Din and let him go and Grogu seemed to realise that his father wasn’t leaving for a while so for once the child was patient enough to concentrate as they meditated on the grass.

At least now, Luke knew for sure where Grogu got his impatience from, and he couldn’t help but smile as he picked up the child to see Din next to his ship.

The N1 starfighter was in pristine condition not that Luke would have thought otherwise but still, he let Din take time to run his hand over his ship’s wing, and even from this distance, Luke could tell that Din’s touch was with care.

Luke felt Grogu rustle in his arms, the child turning round to face him with his big brown eyes as Grogu tilted his head at Luke sending a muffled message through the force.

“What?” Luke asked, but Grogu didn’t elaborate instead he chirped a Patu out loud before giggling at the sight of Din coming near.

“How did he do?” Din said, he picked up Grogu from Luke’s arms setting him against his chest before tilting his helmet at Luke.

Oh, so that’s where the child got it from Luke thought and he hoped that Din wasn’t near enough to hear the rapid beating of his heart at the revelation.

“Much better than someone else who didn’t join us” Luke quipped, and he couldn’t help but smile as Din’s visor tilted up to the sky, he didn’t need to see Din’s face to know that he had rolled his eyes.

“But now you can join us” Luke continued, he put his arms behind his back before he started to walk, knowing that Din was following close behind him. Luke’s steps were light and airy barely living a dent in the soil while Din’s boots and armour were heavier, but still, he kept his pace with Luke.

They walked on, the weather wasn’t as sunny as yesterday but still, it would do for what Luke had in mind as they stopped in the middle of a clearing containing large boulders that were scattered amidst the space.

The rocks were apart enough from each other, that one wouldn’t be able to jump from one boulder to another without anything aiding them to do so, hence why Luke chose it.
“Din, do you still have it?” Luke asked he didn’t want to name the object out loud not when Grogu was too smart for his own good, but Din immediately understood before patting a pocket on the inside of his flight suit.

Luke smiled before moving closer as soon as Din had put Grogu down on the ground. Luke tried his best to be unsuspicious as Din handed the metal sphere Grogu was attached to in his awaiting palm, their hands touching for a moment before Din stepped back.

Still, Grogu realised immediately what was going on as soon as Luke jumped onto the nearest boulder, his ears perking up as Luke held his gloved hand in front of him before showing Grogu the ball.

“If you want it, you have to come to get it” Luke teased playfully, he flipped to land on the boulder to his left before leaping through the others to land on the tallest one present in the centre.
Din crouched down as soon as Luke had sat down on the boulder, his legs crossed as he waved his gloved hand around, his smile soft but also challenging.

As soon as Grogu felt his father coming closer to his level, the child turned breaking his gaze away from Luke for a moment as Din put his hand gently on Grogu’s shoulder.
“You can do it Kid” Din encouraged before pointing at Luke “Show him how it’s done”.

That’s all the encouragement needed for Grogu to spurt into action leaping on the closest boulder surprising even Din with how quickly and effortlessly he did it.

Din looked over to Luke only to find him smiling softly as he waited for Grogu to join him, as he flipped and turned and climbed higher and higher before finally jumping onto Luke’s lap, triumphant as Luke immediately gave him the ball for Grogu to chew on.

Luke stood up taking Grogu in his arms as he looked down at Din, they were quite far up but still Luke was getting better at reading the other and when it came to his son, it wasn’t hard to see how proud Din was feeling as he emitted it in the force.

But perhaps it was time to have a little bit of fun Luke mused, he looked down at Grogu, the child’s interest immediately picking up as he stopped chewing the metal ball, Luke’s idea reaching him through the force.

The Patu Grogu chirped back was all Luke needed before he let Grogu climb up his arm to cling to his back.

“Are you coming down?” Din questioned, he watched as both Luke and the child did not say anything, but he noticed the slight flex in Luke’s legs as if he was ready to leap.

“Or do I have to come up there myself?” Din asked again, his tone playful.

“You’ll have to catch us first” Luke’s laugh was picked up by the wind, reaching Din as Luke backflipped to land on the other side before taking off in a run, Grogu’s giggles leaving a trail behind them.

Din smiled behind his visor.

It was on.

Luke had gotten quite far ahead as Din ran behind them, his armour was heavy and was no doubt weighing him down but still he was a Mandalorian first and foremost. And a good one at that so if there was one thing Din was great at, It was tracking down a bounty.

Or in this case a giggling, mischievous duo.

As Din ran, he turned the heat modulators of his helmet on, noting where Luke’s boots had left their marks even if they were sparse in between as he was no doubt using the force to create more distance between them.

But not matter, Din had picked up a trail of steps and marks against the trees, no doubt where Luke’s hand had touched to propel himself.

Din ran faster.

By chance he had turned around to spot black on his right side, that was Luke’s mistake.

He had slowed down thinking he had the upper hand and there was no way Din was going to catch them.

Now he had given him a chance as Din darted in that direction clearing away branches of trees as they blocked his path but now he had something more concrete to follow.

Grogu’s giggles seemed to increase in volume the more Din cut through the branches until finally, he found himself in a clearing and his targets right in front of him but gaining speed.
Now it was time for Din to have the upper hand.

There was no mistaking the sound of Din’s jetpack as it cut through the wind and Luke jumped further and further, the sound of the Jetpack’s power increased until Luke couldn’t help but yelp in surprise as he felt himself being lifted off.

Grogu’s chirps if possible turned louder, clearly he was used to jetpack rides but see, Luke wasn’t and even as Din held him strongly around his waist, still Luke had to close to his eyes as Din brought them higher and higher.

“Din, you win please let me down” Luke let out even as the wind was fighting to take his voice away.

He could feel Din’s laugh against his neck, chills erupting through his arms to reach Luke’s waist before Din seemed to fly even faster just to spite him.

“I thought you liked floating things in the air” Din quipped, his voice the closest Luke felt.

“Not when I’m not the one in control” Luke answered back, he kept his eyes closed the entire time before finally he felt themselves diving lower and Luke only opened his eyes once he felt nice, solid ground beneath his boots.

Din’s hold around Luke’s waist seemed to tighten for a moment before he let Luke go, in the midst of everything Grogu had climbed from Luke’s back to go back to Din’s waiting arms, the traitor Luke mused.

Luke turned around still feeling the phantom touch of Din’s arms that were around his waist a moment ago but still he was more focused on the fact that Din was hurling them through the air to think about Din’s touch when they were still flying.

“Warn me next time before you decide to take us for a ride” Luke crossed his arms and as he heard Din’s laugh, even though it was sweet he couldn’t help but pout. But he couldn’t really keep it enough before his own smile erupted on his face and as Din laughed Luke couldn’t help but join in too.

Luke didn’t see the uneven give in the ground before he stumbled but Din was there to catch him by his arm. Steadying him as their laughter quietened down. Luke had to wipe the tears that had gathered at the corners of his eyes before his eyes caught on to Din’s visor.

He couldn’t see anything behind it, but he felt Din’s smile matching his own and not for the first time Luke wondered whether Din’s eyes also crinkled as he laughed, were there dimples that Luke didn’t know the location of?

“Luke….I..” Din’s voice broke the silence that had settled, and Luke’s mind immediately focused to look at Din.

Luke felt himself holding his breath as Din’s grip on his arm tightened but still, he let it out in a huff as Grogu’s stomach decided to make its presence known. The child’s chirps followed after the grumbling causing Din to sigh before he stepped away from Luke, taking his touch with him.

“Looks like it’s time for lunch,” Luke said after a moment, much to the child’s happiness as Grogu’s stomach grumbled again in answer causing Luke to let out a smile.

He looked at Din for a moment giving the other a smile and a nod before pushing slightly on his chest plate to move and head back.

Whatever Din wanted to say, had to wait at least till after Grogu had his lunch, even as Luke’s heart didn’t want to settle down.

“Feeling better little guy,” Luke asked, he held a very much satisfied Grogu against his chest patting him on his back as Grogu sneaked another cookie to eat after his lunch when Luke wasn’t looking.

Din was in fact looking at the act but chose not to comment not when Grogu used his big brown eyes to get away with everything.

Din was leaning back against the wall, his posture relaxed as he watched Luke slowly lull Grogu to sleep against his chest along with quiet hums underneath his breath, Luke wasn’t actually humming any particular song but still, the made-up melody was doing its job.

Luke’s back was turned to Din for a moment, but he immediately felt the moment Din pushed off the wall to move away, the force tingling around him as he turned to stop Din right in his tracks.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Luke whispered trying not to undo his hard work. His eyes narrowed as Din let out a sigh before crossing his arms. “I promised yesterday to train you, you can’t back out when you agreed” Luke finished.

“As far as I know I hadn’t actually agreed, you just roped me into it” Din let out, his tone was annoyed but still Luke could tell that he wasn’t actually mad at him.

“That’s practically the same thing as agreeing voluntarily” Luke whipped, he smiled as Din shook his head only this time when he tilted his helmet up, there was no clear sky present to vent his frustrations out on.

“Trust me I’m a great teacher”, Luke’s words had barely left his lips before Grogu grew agitated in his arms, both Luke and Din were too slow to see Grogu retch before the child ended up spurting blue cookie vomit all over Luke’s black robes.

Luke was stunned for a moment, having barely enough time to react before Din took Grogu for his arms apologising profusely for his behaviour. Luke only had time to blink before Din was once again before him using his own tattered cape to try to get the blue mess out of Luke’s robes.

But it was too late.

The absurdity of the situation finally caught on to Luke’s mind as he looked at an apologetic Grogu on the table, clearly his crime of stealing cookies out in the open. But what really caused Luke to laugh, was the fact that Din, in all his Mandalorian armour was currently using his own cape to wipe his son’s mess.

Luke couldn’t help it, he laughed.

“Din, it’s fine just let it go, I’ll just go change” Luke tried to reason, he pushed on Din’s chest plate feeling the cold armour beneath his palm but still Din wouldn’t budge.

At least he had stopped wiping profusely at Luke’s robes and instead he stopped to tilt his helmet down to look at Luke.

“Don’t worry about it, I’ll go change and in the meantime, you can clean Grogu and set him to bed, the kid will be knocked out now” he teased, as he directed a look towards a sheepish Grogu still sitting on the table.

Din sighed before giving Luke a nod, the space he left behind feeling colder than it was as he grabbed Grogu and walked towards he could change him.

“Oh and Din” Luke said, causing the Mandalorian to turn back one last time.

“I’ll meet you In the clearing, the deal isn’t off” Luke reminded, he tried to raise his brow in an effort to look sly but really having cookie vomit on your robes wasn’t really doing anything for him.
Still, the corner of Luke’s lips lifted into a smile at Din’s serious nod back “I didn’t think otherwise” Din called back and again Luke saw a mingle of colours trailing after Din in the force, but nothing concrete he could cling to.

Luke sighed before he was met with the sound of increasing beeping by his side. He smiled as he looked at Artoo, the droid had decided it best to not join when Din was around.

Luke didn’t know the full story of why Din hated droids so much but still, he could understand why Artoo didn’t want to be looked at with distrust all day long.

If anything Artoo’s beeping seemed to get louder as his dome spun around him causing Luke to let out a quiet laugh “Yes, Artoo I do in fact notice the vomit present on my robes right now, thank you for pointing it out”.

At Artoo’s answering your welcome, Luke rolled his eyes before patting gently Artoo’s dome. But the little droid was right, Luke needed to change.

Luke usually stuck to his black robes, preferring the darker colour and what it represented for him. But as he looked through the few stuff that he brought with him to Yavin, Luke thought that perhaps a change from usual Jedi robes would be ideal for lightsaber training.

Yes, that’s exactly it, Luke needed to be comfortable and not feel stuffy as he eventually worked up a sweat training. That’s the only reason why he chose to wear a light green tank top coupled with matching light cargo pants and brown boots.

Luke chose this outfit for its practicality and not because it made his arms look more defined and his waister more pronounced. Nope, not at all.

Having attached his lightsaber, Luke walked on the way to Grogu’s room finding Din absent and the child already sound asleep as Artoo watched over him.

Luke couldn’t help but feel endeared at the sight for a moment before Artoo decided to ruin it by turning around and letting out a low whistle.

He chose this outfit for its practicality, and he was going to die on that hill.

As Luke made his way outside, he didn’t need to look further to find Din waiting for him causing Luke to let out a soft smile. Din had removed his cape but still, he left the darksaber attached to his belt instead of holding it in his arm as Luke did.

They definitely had work to do Luke thought as he made his way closer to Din’s side.

“Follow me, I usually practice my lightsaber techniques further up where Grogu and I usually meditate” Luke let out, he didn’t stop and instead walked further ahead only this time he didn’t hear Din’s heavy steps following him like he usually did.

Turning round Luke found Din in the same spot as if the Mandalorian was glued to the ground and unable to move or speak.

“Din you’re coming or not?” Luke mused, he felt Din’s gaze on him even through his helmet sending a chill that he couldn’t hide through his exposed arms.

Again he had chosen the outfit for its function and nothing else he reasoned with himself before Din finally moved to follow him, the force preening with something like frustration in the air causing Luke to hide his smile behind the palm of his gloved hand.

They didn’t need to walk far, and Luke took a deep breath feeling the wind that usually picked up in the afternoon on Yavin over his face and exposed arms.

Din had settled in front of him but still, he hadn’t said a word since Luke had sent him to change and put Grogu to sleep.

Now Luke absolutely couldn’t have that.

“Come on let’s see what we are working with” Luke encouraged, he twirled his own lightsaber in his hand, the movement easy and all muscle memory right now. Luke couldn’t help but roll his eyes as Din looked confused in front of him before he tilted his chin towards Din’s belt.

“The darksaber Din” Luke teased “Let me see you wield it”.

As Din’s hand moved towards his belt, Luke could for the first time feel Din’s clear emotions through the force, rolls of reluctance and resistance waving off him as Din held the darksaber in his hand.

Luke saw Din take a deep breath before his vision was taken by the dark and white glow of the darksaber’s light. Its sight still piqued Luke’s curiosity to no end, its colour juxtaposing everything a lightsaber should but still Luke couldn’t feel malicious intent ever coming from the blade.

“Just hold it” he encouraged stepping closer, his eyes narrowed in curiosity as even though a short time had passed Din now needed to use both his hands to hold the darksaber up and still Luke could see the beginning of tremor as Din resisted against the pull of the darksaber.

Something was not adding up.

“There’s more to do this than just wielding it isn’t there?” Luke asked gently coming even closer to see the darksaber’s light reflecting off Din’s armour as his arms started to shake to hold the blade up.

“Din, why are you fighting it?” Luke encouraged again, slowly he set his gloved hand on tip of Din’s trembling ones hoping to still and calm Din’s nerves.

“Din I need you to breath” Luke followed, he decided to change tactics turning around instead as he gently touched Din’s back with his chest feeling the other’s intake of breath.

As Luke exaggerated his breathing, Din followed matching the way Luke’s chest breathed in and out slowly calming his breath down. Din didn’t object as Luke’s arms had come around Din’s waist joining his hands with Din’s to hold the darksaber up.

Din’s trembling stopped and his hands steadied with Luke’s own helping him and slowly he let Luke guide his hand to move the blade to the side and back.

The sound of the darksaber was deafening as neither Luke nor Din said anything for a moment, slowly Luke’s hands moved away but still he kept his touch at Din’s back.

“You aren’t fighting the blade now” Luke praised watching as Din switched his grip to a single hold once more “You are letting it connect and it will gain your trust”.

At his final words, Din dropped the darksaber, the strong black light shitting off immediately as the hilt hit the ground in a thud. Din’s frustration was evident as he moved away from Luke’s touch and instead paced away from the hilt of the darksaber as if its presence was burning him.

Luke sighed as he bent down to grab the darksaber himself, feeling its frustration through the force as he turned to look back at Din.

“Din why are you fighting this so much?” Luke asked again, for a second he expected to be met with silence again and he was ready to drop the subject altogether, regretting the idea of pressuring Din too far.

Perhaps it was Luke’s worried expression that finally pushed Din to speak even as his voice come out cracked and frustrated “I’m fighting it because I don’t want this burden on me” he let out.

Luke tilted his head his confusion evident as Din took a deep breath in to centre himself to continue “You are right, it isn’t just a weapon, it’s more than that. It’s a symbol of power” Din
explained, “With it, I have a right to the throne of Mandalore”, he finished.

Luke couldn’t help as his eyes widened, his mind racing a mile a minute as he tried to remember “So, wielding the blade makes you king” Luke realised.

“It makes me Manda’lor and Luke I… I can’t be” Din let out.

At this Luke moved closer, taking a tentative step forward “And why can’t you be?” he asked slowly hoping not to overstep now that Din was opening up.

Din’s scoff was an answer in itself as he shook his head for a moment “How could I be worthy of leading a scattered people on a planet with no hope? What could I possibly do?”, Luke could tell that Din wasn’t actually expecting an answer, his questions a deep reflection of what he had been holding inside for a while.

And now they were finally out in the open.

Luke finally inched the last few distance between them, he held his gloved hand up softly giving Din enough time to shrug him off if he wanted to.

But he didn’t.

Instead, Din seemed to be almost welcoming the touch of Luke’s hand on his shoulder, as Luke felt some of the tension dissipate beneath his palm as Din tilted his helmet down to be level with him.

Good, Luke thought, he wanted to make sure that Din understood and heard every single word that he wanted to say.

“The way I see it is that there is a very capable Mandalorian in front of me” Luke began, he squeezed Din’s shoulder as soon as the other had directed his gaze away bringing Din back to look at him.

“Din you are strong, your courage is great, and you are a warrior but at the same time you are diplomatic, you listen, and you care, a great father that would stop at no length to protect his son”. Time seemed to stop as they both looked at each other, the air getting heavier as Luke brought them even closer.

“You have all the qualities of a great leader, you are doing yourself a disservice by doubting your abilities” Luke finished.

“It feels like too much sometimes” Din confessed, and Luke couldn’t help but smile at that, Din’s words hitting close to home.

“Trust me I know a thing or two about destiny and the weight of everyone expecting you to be the saviour to make everything right” Luke finished.

“And what did you do?” Din asked.

“All I did was give myself the chance, I didn’t let the expectations of everyone else weigh me down or at least I tried,” Luke said wistfully before he continued “But I tried, sometimes all you can do is try” he finished.

“That does make sense” Din finally let out after a moment, the comment finally broke the standstill that they were locked in causing Luke to let out a soft laugh, “Told you I’m a good teacher” he teased breaking the serious air as he felt Din relaxed further beneath his hand.

“I never doubted your abilities” Din answered back and after everything that they had said, that was the thing that made Luke’s face flush slightly causing him to make some space between them even if he immediately missed Din’s touch.

Luke finally realised that he was still holding the darksaber in his bare hand, he gave Din a smile as he held the darksaber out letting Din make his choice.

“So what are you going to do?” Luke asked.

He felt the force tickling against his skin sending off the feeling of electricity along his skin as Din looked at him and for the first time Luke could feel the colours surrounding Din getting brighter and clearer for a moment as the latter made up his mind.

Din reached his hand forward grabbing the darksaber back, and even now Luke could feel that the hilt felt less heavy in Din’s palm as he turned to look at it for a moment before looking back at Luke.

“Luke…I…”

They both jumped at the sound of a beeping commlink coming from Din’s pocket causing them to step back even more from each other, Din seemed to look apologetic before he turned the beeping off turning the commlink on to answer it.

Luke would have sworn for missing what Din had to say to him not only once but twice now, not for the image of a Mandalorian before him on Din’s commlink.

“Paz, what’s going on?” Din’s voice was confused, as Luke looked at the Mandalorian he was talking to, even from the hologram Luke could tell that they were bulkier, and their armour was much more robust than Din’s.

Luke listened on as Paz spoke of trapped Mandalorians in a surprise attack, the word Coruscant immediately piquing his interest at the thought of a suspicious attack so close to where his sister was.

Paz’s request for help had barely lifted before Din had agreed, immediately asking for coordinates as Paz’s hologram disappeared leaving Din and Luke alone once more.

Din didn’t say anything, but he didn’t need to, Luke was beginning to understand this man more and one thing he knew for sure, was that there was no way Din would back away from helping his own kind in need.

“Din, I understand that you need to go” Luke answered for him, he could almost see the look of relief emanating from Din as his shoulders sagged but as soon as Din was going to move away from him he couldn’t help but stop his movement by grabbing his arm.

“Let me come with you” Luke let out, he didn’t let Din shrug him off, he couldn’t not when it felt so right to do this.

“Luke, no it might be dangerous” Din tried to reason which only spurred Luke more.

“All the more reason for me to come” Luke fought back, holding Din in his gaze, and making sure that he got his full attention “You saw what I could do against an army of dark troopers Din, let me help you”.

Luke’s tone was final, and he was sure that Din had realised too as his own hand had come to rest on Luke’s shoulder looking as if he was searching for something.

Whatever he was searching for he must have found it as he felt Din’s reassuring hand on his shoulder echoing his own as he held Din’s arm.

“I’ll go get the kid”.