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Chapter Text

The ramp on Slave I decended and Boba’s vision was filled with neon lights. He’d never seen anything like it before. Nar Shaddaa, nicknamed the “Smuggler’s Moon,” his father had told him. Moon to the planet Nal Hutta, home of the Hutts. This place was supposedly a hot spot for criminal activity and bounty hunters. The perfect sort of place for Seperatist loyalist to hide. Palpatine’s plan to destroy the Jedi Order and turn General Skywalker may have failed, but he hadn’t given up. With a small huff, Boba pressed the side of his helmet to scan the area. 

“Remember the mission,” Jango told him. “There will be many distractions here. Don’t let them get in your way.”

Boba wouldn’t be distracted. His father had trained him well. “Find any intel on Chancellor Palpatine’s whereabouts or any information on Seperatist hideouts. I know my mission, father.”

“Good,” Jango nodded before placing a hand on his son’s helmet and giving it a pat. “Keep comms open unless necessary to silence. Check in every hour.”

“Yes, yes, I know,” Boba grumbled. He wasn’t a kid anymore. He’d already had many of his own successful bounties. His name was already becoming known in its own right. All the training with his father, with Commander Cody, with Rex…it had prepared him for everything. This was no different than any other hunt.

Laughing, Jango began to walk off. “K’oyaci!”

“Same to you, old man!” Boba shouted. With the weight of his blaster providing comfort in his hands, Boba started off on his journey.

Much of Nar Shaddaa reminded Boba of Coruscant, but in all the wrong ways. Coruscant always felt welcoming and warm. This place felt cold. Dark. It didn’t take much looking around to notice the seedy dealings happening between exchanged hands. The Republic found this place so dangerous it was off limits. Except to those like him and his father. Bounty Hunters. The best in the galaxy. Maybe Boba hadn’t earned that title just yet, but he would. He’d make his father proud. 

While Jango was headed to the Palace of Grakkus the Hutt to check out the gladiator arenas, Boba was tasked to observe the various bars and cantinas. Boba would have rather been in the arena, but he knew better than to argue with his father when given an assignment. Maybe in a few more years he could pick a fight with his father on jobs, but not yet. Bars, at least, were a hot spot for information. It was amazing the sort of things people let loose on their tongues after a few drinks. 

Entering his first location, Boba ordered a drink but kept his helmet on as he leaned against the bar and began to listen in on the loud crowd. There were plenty of discussions involving illegal drugs and assassination plans that were itnersting to hear, but not relative to his mission. After an hour and a check in with his father, he moved on to the next location. There was nothing useful here. A second bar, a second hour, and the same result. A third - the same. By this time, Boba was starting to get annoyed enough he might actually need to drink what he ordered.

While the other bars had been horrible, the fourth one was by far the worst. Seconds after entering, he found himself surrounded by omegas of various races offering all sorts of services. Maybe any other night, he’d be interested, but after hours resulting in nothing he was too irritated and shrugged them off. One male omega, however, continued to press. Raising his hand, Boba tilted his chin up with two fingers. “Another time, sweet cheeks.” Reluctantly, the omega took the hint and walked away. 

“Not interested in our wares?” The bartender asked as Boba approached and removed his helmet. He’d deserved at least one drink.

“I’m looking for something else,” he told the Zabrak.

The Zabrak laughed as he didn’t wait for Boba to order a drink, placing one in front of him. “Work, then? Bounties? Careful, Mando. Didn’t work so well for your friend.”

Friend? “What are you talking about?” Surely he wasn’t talking about his father. He’d just spoken to him and he was still at the arena. 

“Not your friend, then? Probably for the best,” he shrugged. “Don’t think he’s going to make it. Last time I checked on him in the alley he was bleeding quite a bit. Not moving, either.”

Boba’s eyes narrowed. Another Mandalorian? It had to be, if the Zabrak was calling him a ‘friend’. Briefly, Boba wondered what another Mandalorian might be doing here, until he remembered where they were. Working bounties, of course. Failed bounties, apparently. “What was the bounty?” He had hoped it might be something of interest, something involving the Separatists, something to make his time worth it.  

“Couldn’t tell you. Just going to let your friend die, then?” The Zabrak asked curiously when Boba gave no signs of moving. “It sounded like some patrons were looking to have their way with him before he croaked.”

“He’s not my friend,” Boba told him, passing him credits and then throwing back the drink. Still, Boba was curious, but he couldn’t make that curiosity too well known. If he did, it could put the already injured Mandalorian at further risk. “No work around here, then?”

“There’s plenty of work, but we don’t tend to run bounties through this bar,” the Zabrak answered.

Returning his helmet to his head, Boba stood. “Then I have no business here. Thanks for the drink.” Leaving the bar, Boba looked for the closest alley. Several people were huddled around what looked like a pile of trash, speaking obscenities. Those must have been the ‘patrons’ the Zabrak had told him about.

“I get first go,” a Twi’lek licked his lips, reaching down to his pants. He didn’t seem to care that he was in public, because Boba watched in disgust as he pulled out his cock.

“I’ll take sloppy seconds,” an Ikotchi smirked, visibly grabbing his own crotch and stroking beneath the fabric. “Bet that omega pussy hasn’t seen an alpha cock like mine. It’ll be tight for sure.”

“I’m fine with his mouth,” a Trandoshan laughed.

Boba hadn’t even noticed the body, but sure enough, there was a lifeless looking Mandalorian propped up against the alley wall in front of the three. He wore unpainted beskar, the silver illuminated by the rainbow lights of the city. “You’ll leave him alone, if you know what’s good for you.”

The three turned their heads and gave him challenging looks.

“And what are you going to do about it?” The Trandoshan asked. “Take him for yourself? Don’t worry, we’ll save sloppy fourths for you. If he’s even still alive by then. But hey, as long as the body is still warm, I’m not picky if the hole is dead or alive.”

With no warning and expert speed, Boba drew his blaster and shot the three of them dead. Wrinkling his nose in annoyance at the deplorable alphas he approached the unmoving body. Now that he was close enough, he could smell the faint scent. Omega. What was an omega doing on a planet like this? Where the hell were his scent blockers? Mandalorian or not, it was extremely dangerous for an omega who wasn’t even trying to hide their scent! Kicking the dead bodies to the side and out of the way he looked the omega up and down, Boba noticed there was a brown blanket wrapped around something in the crook of his left arm. 

Holding his breath, Boba knelt down and raised his fingers to the Mandalorian’s neck. He had to rummage through various layers of clothing, but eventually he found a pulse. A very slow one. His fingers came away covered in blood, too. He really was on his last breath. “Mando?” Boba called out, using the common nickname among their people. “Copaani gaan?” He still remained silent and unmoving. 

What was he supposed to do? He couldn’t just leave him here to die. He was a Mandalorian. He was omega. Not only was he kin, but Boba’s alpha instincts were going wild. Yet, he had a mission he needed to complete. Clenching his jaw, he raised his arm to contact his father when the blanket in the Mandalorian’s arms began to move. Grabbing his blaster in one hand, Boba carefully began to pull back the blanket ready to fire. Boba wasn’t sure what he was expecting, but a tiny green child that looked a lot like Master Yoda wasn’t on his list. The child let out a terrified coo and pressed itself against the dying Mandalorian in fear. 

“It’s ok,” Boba whispered, lowering his blaster. “I’m not going to hurt you. Are you…are you his ad? ”

The child’s large brown eyes opened slightly and there was a hum of confirmation. 

Shit. Boba sucked in a breath and quickly looked around. The alley was still quiet, people passing by as if there weren’t three dead bodies. Or maybe they saw and it was so normal they didn’t care. He couldn’t leave them here. He couldn’t. A Foundling was now involved. Gritting his teeth, he raised his arm. “Buir. Change of mission.”

“What’s wrong?” Jango’s voice came through the transmitter full of worry.

“I found another Mandalorian. An omega. He’s injured. He’s…he’s dying, buir , and he has a Foundling with him.” Boba hadn’t expected his voice to crack at the last sentence, but it had. 

Jango was silent for several moments on the other end before responding, “Can you get them to the ship safely?”

Licking his lips, Boba looked the Mandalorian up and down. He was taller than Boba, but he looked thin. Boba was strong. He was an alpha. He could do it. He had to do it. “Yes.”

“Then get him there and do what you can,” Jango instructed. “Stay with the ship and I will continue the mission and return when I’m able.”

“Acknowledged,” Boba responded before closing the transmission. “Ok, ad’ika , hold on tight to your buir . I’m going to try and pick him up, ok? We’re headed somewhere safe.” Clearing away the various trash, Boba knelt down and placed a hand beneath the Mandalorian’s knees and his lower back. He had expected someone much heavier, but he found himself lifting the other Mandalorian and his child with relative ease. Now in his arms, he could see the blood staining the omega’s clothing. The child looked up at him with pleading and desperate eyes. “It’s alright, ad’ika. You’re safe, and I’m going to do everything I can to save your father.”

Pulling the Mandalorian tightly against his chest, Boba began to make the journey back to the ship. He knew that he would be vulnerable. Not only were his arms full with a seemingly dead companion, but he’d be unable to reach for any of his weapons. Any that chose to challenge him were met with an equally challenging gaze. Try me , his stance said. There were a few close calls, but no one attacked him and he made it to the Slave I safely. 

Carefully laying the Mandalorian down on the incredibly small bed he removed his helmet and started to work on the pieces of armor to find where the injuries were. Slave I offered very little additional space outside of the cockpit, but it would have to do. There were several deep lacerations to the omega’s side where most of the bleeding was coming from. Stabbing a few med stims in the omega’s skin to try and stabilize him, he continued his search. When he tried to remove his helmet, the child protested heavily, slamming his claws against the omega’s silver buy’ce . 

“I need to take it off,” Boba told him. “To make sure there are no injuries to his head.”

The child shook his head and kept his little hands firmly in place.

“He was bleeding when I checked his neck. He could have a head injury. I need to see,” Boba tried to explain. The child didn’t relent. Sighing, Boba removed his hand. “Fine.” They could wait until Jango returned for that. Ignoring the helmet for now, Boba continued removing the omega’s clothing to fully expose his wounds. The more he removed the more he realized how bad it all was. Very bad. Not only that, but he could see that this Mandalorian couldn’t have been older than him. He didn’t need to see a face to recognize a young body and still developing muscles. Seriously, what had he been doing on this planet? And by himself with his ad? Or…was he by himself? Had something happened and he’d been separated from his companions? Or were they killed?

A puck. If he was on a bounty, he’d have a puck. Boba began rummaging through the Mandalorian’s things until he found a puck and a tracker. Pressing the button the puck, the hologram came into view. Dank Farrik. It was the Zabrak! The bartender! Cursing again, Boba felt his grip on the puck tighten so much he heard the plastic crack. He’d kill him. He’d kill that bastard!

Calm yourself. Concentrate on saving the omega first.

Sucking in a deep breath to center himself, he placed the puck aside. The Zabrak would meet justice, but not now. Leaving the omega for a brief moment, he found the stash of medical supplies and grabbed a large jar of bacta ointment. Emptying the jar, he lathered the omega’s wounds in it. Hopefully, it would be enough. “This is all I can do for him,” he told the child. “My buir will return soon. Hopefully he can do more.” He draped a blanket over him to keep him warm.

With drooping ears, the child nuzzled itself against the omega’s shoulder. 

Boba had been around omegas before, but they had always been in a strong and capable state. General Kenobi, for instance, was an omega, but Boba had never felt protective instincts over him. This Mandalorian, however, had everything alpha inside of Boba screaming. Jango had talked him through these things, tried to prepare him, but it was overwhelming in reality. He wanted to drape himself across this omega’s body and protect him from time itself. 

Was this feeling…normal? Jango never took a mate, but had he had these feelings for an omega before? Other than the very necessary basics of heats and ruts, they hadn’t had many conversations about mating. Maybe Boba needed to learn more.

“Can I get you anything?” Boba eventually asked the child, needing to turn his attention elsewhere. His question went ignored. Sighing, he stood, not knowing what else to do. “Alright, well…let me know if that changes.” Grabbing his helmet he retreated to the cockpit. The wait for his father’s return was agonizingly long. Hours. He knew that the mission was the priority, but Boba couldn’t help but wish for Jango to abandon it and return as soon as possible. Occasionally, he checked in on the omega just to make sure there was still a rise and fall of his chest. 

When Jango finally returned, Boba was jumping to his feet. “Where is he?”

Boba nodded towards the bed. “I did what I could between med stims and bacta ointment, but it’s bad, father.”

“Why is his helmet still on?” Jango asked as he began to assess the situation.

“The child refused to let me remove it,” Boba told him. “I think he’s injured under there, though. I felt blood.”

Jango placed his fingers against the edge of the omega’s buy’ce and the child immediately woke and fired him the same glare. Retracting his hand, Jango sucked in a slow breath as he straightened. “A Child of the Watch.”

Boba’s lips parted in shock. He knew of them, but he never thought he’d actually encounter them. His father had spoken of them before, and never anything good.  They never removed their helmets. It was their creed. But…but what if that meant he would die? Boba was all for being prideful, but was hiding your face worth death?

“Do you have any idea what he was doing here?” Jango asked.

Anger flaring in Boba again, he reached for the puck. “A bounty. It was the bartender that told me there was a dying Mandalorian in the alley. I don’t really know why he told me that knowing he’d come for his life and that I could potentially find the puck. Maybe he thought his buddies that were trying to rape him might take care of me.”

“Did they-?” Jango asked, swallowing hard.

Boba shook his head. “I gave them what they deserved before they could try.”

Placing a hand to the back of Boba’s neck, Jango nodded with a relieved sigh. “Good.”

While Boba and Jango hadn’t gone into the deep details of mating and the rituals, Jango had instilled in Boba from a young age that omegas were to be protected and respected. They were precious, not meat to be abused and used. “ Buir , the bounty must be paid.”

“And it will, in time,” Jango promised. Reaching up, he took off his own helmet and looked the young green child in the eye. “I have never seen another like this, other than Masters Yoda and Yaddle. I wonder how the omega came about him.”

Hopefully, they could ask him when he woke. If he woke. “Father…what do we do about the helmet? If he’s injured…”

Sucking in a breath, Jango looked to his son. “I will let you make the decision, ad’ika. It was you that found him, so he is in your care. Think hard. It is not an easy choice. If the injury is severe, it could be what takes his life before we can get him to a tank. Even then, the helmet would need to be removed for him to be submerged. However, by his creed, if you remove his helmet, he is no longer Mandalorian.”

“That’s absurd!” Boba hissed. “Of course he’s still Mandalorian! Being a Mandalorian is about what’s in your heart, not what’s on your head.”

Jango smiled. “Yes, my son, that is true by our creed, but not his. He will react poorly. He may wish himself dead than be viewed as an outcast from his covert. Do not be surprised if he tries to kill you for it.”

“He’d rather be dead with his helmet on, leaving his ad behind?” Boba asked, not understanding the logic. “What if we hadn’t found him? He’d die and leave his ad alone. There’s no telling what would have happened to him on a planet like this!”

Jango hushed him and pressed a hand down to signal him to breathe and calm. “All fair and good points, but it is not me you will have to convince. It is him. It can be hard to think logically when you are brought up your entire life with a certain set of beliefs.”

Boba’s jaw tightened. “It’s like…it’s like a chip in your head, giving orders.” Like the chip in the clones that had executed Order 66. 

“Yes,” Jango nodded, “and like with the clones, you’d need to find an override. What is your choice?”

Licking his lips, Boba thought it over only briefly. It was an easy choice for him. He wanted this omega to live. “I can beg for forgiveness later, once I know he’s going to survive.” This time, when the child protested, Boba picked him up and handed him to Jango. Curling his fingers beneath the omega’s helmet, he released the valves and slowly began to lift it from the omega’s head. 

Boba gasped.

The omega was beautiful. The most beautiful thing Boba had ever seen. He’d been right about his age. He was young, maybe even a few years younger than Boba himself. Thick brown curls were matted with blood, but Boba could already imagine how beautiful they’d be when the sun hit them. His jaw was sharp and peppered with a poor attempt at a five o’clock shadow. Then there were those lips. Those pink plush lips. Boba had to resist the urge to touch them. Instead, he settled for feeling around the omega’s head where he found a still bleeding wound. 

“Go grab the gauze,” Jango instructed when he saw what Boba had found. “We need to stop the bleeding. I’m going to get us to the skies. We have to hurry and get him proper care.”

Swallowing hard, Boba nodded as they went their separate ways. Arms full of gauze and medical wrap, he began to tend to the omega’s head to stop the bleeding. He’d made the right call. He did. The omega would have bled out by the time they docked somewhere. Once he was finished, covered in blood, Boba fell to his knees by the bed and pressed his forehead against the omega’s side. “Gedet’ye …get better.”

After a silent prayer, Boba joined his father in the cockpit. “Where are we going?”

“Kamino,” Jango answered. “It’s where he can get the best care. General Kenobi will meet us there. I gathered some information on a Seperatist hideout on Ostor.”

Boba closed his eyes in relief. “So, it wasn’t a waste.”

“It wasn’t a waste either way,” Jango told him, placing a hand on his son’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you, ad’ika. You displayed true Mandalorian honor today. At the end of the day, we are kin. I wish we could all see things that way.”

“But you chose to walk away from all of that,” Boba argued. “From Mandalore. The other Mandalorians. The civil war.”

“Because I knew we were better than fighting with each other,” Jango told him. “It doesn’t change the fact that I would risk myself to save their lives. Even those belonging to the Watch.”

Clutching his helmet to his chest, he watched the stars go by them in hyperspace. The omega’s child was in Jango’s lap looking completely dejected. Boba wished he could speak. Maybe Master Yoda could converse with him. Eventually, the silence was too much for Boba and he asked, “Father? Has there ever been an omega? One that you liked? Like…really liked?”

Raising a curious eyebrow, Jango looked over at his son curiously. “Why do you ask?”

“I…,” Boba felt almost silly admitting it, and he could feel his cheeks starting to burn. “I don’t know how to explain it. What I felt carrying the omega in my arms. It was…I don’t even know his name. I barely even know his face, but I felt like I could die for him immediately.”

“You felt that pull,” Jango acknowledged softly. “Seeing an omega in distress like that can certainly cause that feeling. It awakens all your base instincts.”

Boba shook his head. “It was more than that. I…,” swallowing hard, he bit his lower lip and looked away in embarrassment. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so beautiful in my life.”

To his surprise, Jango chuckled. “There’s no shame in finding someone attractive. Stop hiding your face. I know very well you’ve bed a few omegas.”

Choking on the air he breathed, Boba went into a coughing fit. “N-no! W-what?!” He had. He definitely had, but he thought he’d been discrete! He’d been careful! Ruts alone sucked! Of course they were better spent with an omega!

Jango raised both his brows and blinked. “I’m your father. I’m not stupid, and I know very well how hormones and the body works.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” Boba huffed, still shielding his face from his father’s. Jango was silent long enough that Boba slowly began to lower the hand that was acting as a shield and spared his father a glance. He looked…sad.

“There was an omega once, that had my heart,” he finally answered. “If I’m honest, I suppose he still holds it.”

What? His father was still in love with someone? “Why haven’t you said something? Done something? Courted them?”

“Because like our injured omega, he has a creed of his own that forbids our mating,” Jango said simply. 

Stupid freaking creeds! “What is he? Is he Mandalorian? A Child of the Watch? Something else, maybe?” It had to be something else, right? Boba’s mind started to spin as he thought through all the races and their customs, trying to pinpoint something.

“What he is, is not for me,” Jango told him. “We’re still friends. That will never change.”

So it was someone Boba had to know! Well, maybe not. His father knew several people Boba hadn’t met, but there was a good chance Boba had at least seen them before, right? He needed to find out who. He’d change their mind. His father deserved someone. “Mandalorians don’t back away from a fight.”

Jango sucked in a breath. “Perhaps I’m just waiting for their next move.”

So he hadn’t given up. Not completely. It gave Boba hope. “I just want you to be happy, buir. ”

Reaching up, Jango ruffled a hand through his son’s wavy brown hair. “I am happy, my son. With you.”

Boba didn’t doubt that for a second, but…what if he could be happier? His father had been through so much. He deserved everything. 

Coming out of hyperspace, Kamino finally came into view. Boba retreated back out of the cockpit to the omega and made sure he was ready to be transported. The second they landed, droids entered with a bed. As carefully as he could, Boba lifted the omega into his arms and placed him onto the transport bed. 

“Take the child and go with the omega,” Jango told him, handing over the kid. “You should be with him. If he wakes, he’ll need to be around someone he knows. Waking without the helmet is enough, but to not have his ad’ika there would be more than traumatizing.”

Pressing the kid against his chest he nodded. “And you?”

“I will brief General Kenobi. I’ll come find you when I’m done,” Jango told him.

Leaving his father behind, Boba followed the droids to the medical bay. Thankfully, the droids didn’t waste time with medical bed scans, and headed straight for the tanks. The room was full of them, many of them occupied with bodies that looked just like Boba only older. Injured clones. Boba could do nothing but watch as the omega was entered into a tank and his body was submerged. Blood briefly tinted the bacta waters, but the filter system made quick work of it. 

“The healing process will be long, but the prognosis is good,” one of the droids told him. “You got him here just in time.”

Finally, Boba could let out a sigh of relief. “Hear that, kid? Your dad is going to be ok.”

With a small whimper, the child reached out and placed a tiny hand against the tank. 

Boba felt inclined to do the same, placing his palm right in front of where the omega’s face floated. Even within the tank, he was beautiful, his hair floating around his head like a halo. “Get well soon, burc’ya . There’s so much for me to know about you.”

Pressing away from the glass, Boba took a seat with the child in his lap and waited. 

Chapter Text

Boba woke with a start as he felt a nudge against his shoulder. Out of habit, he almost reached for his blaster before remembering he was safely on a Republic cruiser. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he smiled at the familiar white and orange armor. “Cody!”

“Hey, kid,” Cody greeted as he took a seat next to Boba on the bench in front of the bacta tanks. He handed over what looked like food in a paper wrapping.

“Not a kid,” Boba echoed their usual greeting as he happily took the food. He hadn’t been for some time, but he always would be in the eyes of the Clones that practically raised him. That, and he still looked much younger than them since he was unaltered. The longer hair he had decided to keep probably didn’t help that, but he’d grown attached to it. It set him apart in a sea of the same. “How long was I out?”

“Couple hours, I reckon. Not long,” Cody answered. “Your father is still with General Kenobi. I stuck around for a bit, but then got bored. You know how those two are.”

Boba huffed in agreement as he started to chow down. He did know how they got, and Boba had often found himself slipping away once they got going, too. “Thanks for the food.” He hadn’t realized how hungry he’d been. Ever since rescuing the omega, he hadn’t even thought about eating much.

“So this is him, eh? Your omega.” He nodded towards the tank with a small smile.

“Not my omega,” Boba firmly corrected. “An omega. An omega and his -,” wait, where was the green kid?! Boba sprung to his feet and started to look around frantically until he noticed the ball curled up at the base of the omega’s tank. Boba dropped his shoulders and sighed in relief, “His kid.” Sitting back down after the brief panic attack, he continued eating.

Cody couldn’t hold back the chuckle. “Yeah, your father mentioned the Foundling. Didn’t think he was serious about him looking like the Grand Master, but he sure does. The General certainly has an interest in him.”

“Do you think he’s Force sensitive?” Boba questioned softly, not having thought about it until now. Boba never really understood how that all worked. Did it run in the family? The species? Was it random? Sometimes it felt random, but other times it felt like there were patterns. 

Shrugging, Cody shook his head. “Don’t know. Could be. I know they’re going to want to find out.”

Boba had very mixed feelings about that. While his father had been able to stop Order 66 before it could be completed, there had still been severe casualties to the Jedi Order. Rebuilding had been slow. Force sensitive children were afraid with the Separatists still at large. Some Jedi had turned towards Palpatine, and they were hunting. Hunting any child that could be a Jedi. If the omega’s child was Force sensitive, they would press for him to join the Order. That would mean leaving his buir. “Can’t that wait until the omega is better? He just barely escaped death, and apparently, I’ve personally violated the biggest law of his creed by removing his helmet to save his life. Buir says he’s going to be angry when he wakes. I don’t think taking his child on top of all of that is going to help things.”

“Not really my call, but you know they aren’t just going to snatch him up without permission,” Cody reminded him. 

“Yeah, but they can be persuasive,” Boba challenged with a slight wrinkle of his nose. Boba personally had no reason to quarrel with the Jedi, but he knew of his peoples’ history with them, and he had never felt entirely comfortable around them, in truth. He trusted some more than others, but he was still cautious around them all. 

Cody hummed and stood, slowly approaching the tank to observe the floating Mandalorian. “Only you, kid.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Boba asked, joining him. He had to force himself not to stare at the omega who was almost entirely naked. He’d be damned if he let Cody catch even the slightest hint of him blushing. Which was ridiculous in itself. Him. Blushing. Jango had been right in his accusations of Boba having slept with many omegas. He had, and never before had he done a ridiculous thing such as blushing. Boba took his role as alpha seriously with those he had bed. Careful, respectful, but strong and firm. He always gave the omegas exactly what they were looking for - the need to be dominated. And yet, this omega hadn’t even spoken a word or opened his eyes at Boba and he’d had him blushing like a submissive.

Laughing, Cody reached over to ruffle Boba’s hair which was met with a firm slap. “It means, only you would find a young omega Mandalorian with a Foundling and bring him back home with you.”

“Buir would have done it,” Boba argued. He had expected Cody to agree with him, but the man pressed his lips together and his muscles tensed beneath the armor. “...you don’t think he would have?”

Sighing, Cody nodded down to the helmet in his own arms. “I’m saying I don’t think your father would have taken off the helmet. Doesn’t mean he wouldn’t have done his damnedest, though, and it’s possible the Mandalorian would have still lived.”

He wouldn’t have. The medical droid had said as much. When Jango had left the decision to him, Boba thought he’d been doing the right thing. He thought he chose the path his father would take. Was he…wrong? 

“Boba, you did what you thought was right,” Cody told him softly, trying to pull the alpha from the thoughts he was having. “Stick to your instincts. They rarely fail you. They’ve gotten you this far.”

Boba always had trusted his instincts, but now there was uncertainty. 

“No use stressing over it until he wakes up,” Cody said with a comforting squeeze to the young alpha’s shoulder. “Who knows? Maybe it’s not really that big of a deal.”

Boba doubted that. Growling, he started to pace but immediately tripped over something that let out a yelp. “Kriff! Sorry!” He steadied himself and knelt down to make sure he hadn’t hurt the kid that he’d tripped over. Picking him up, he checked him over. He seemed ok, though it was very clear he was depressed. “Hey…your buir is going to be fine. You still haven’t eaten anything. Can I get you something?” The kid lowered his ears and looked away. Boba sighed, frustrated. “How long do you think he can go without food or drink? He’s had nothing.”

“Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to have the General look at him,” Cody suggested. “He might be able to communicate with the kid in a way we can’t and help him. Poor thing watched his father almost die. He’s probably a little traumatized. Can’t imagine it was fun to look at.”

Boba hadn’t really thought of it that way. Well, it couldn’t hurt just to see, right? Kenobi was the one and only Jedi Boba trusted entirely, so he believed Cody when he said the kid wouldn’t just be snatched up in the moment. Biting the inside of his lip he looked back up at the omega. His wounds had visibly healed somewhat, but they had a long way to go. Sitting here and waiting would do no one any good. “Very well.”

“This way, then. Maybe the parents will be done by the time we arrive,” Cody joked. 

Cody guided them through the halls of the cruiser past other Clones, droids, and various Republic members until they reached the bridge. Any sense of calm Cody had tried to bring him was gone the moment he saw General Skywalker. That was one Jedi he didn’t trust with anything or anyone. Boba couldn’t help but press the child further against his chest protectively. He’d be damned if he let that Jedi speak with the Foundling. 

“Boba,” Jango greeted him, noticing him first. “How is the omega?”

“He’ll live,” Boba said with a little more force and anger than was intended. He was sure to stand opposite General Skywalker so that he could keep a firm eye on him. “There’s still quite a bit of healing to do.”

Stepping in, feeling the tension, Cody cleared his throat, “The kid doesn’t seem to be doing well. Not eating or drinking. Understandable, given the situation, but we thought maybe General Kenobi could help.”

“So this is the Foundling,” Obi-Wan looked on with bright and curious blue eyes. He kept his distance respectfully, smiling. “It really is a baby Grand Master Yoda. I can sense it already. The Force within him.”

Boba felt a small stab to his heart at that and he pressed the child as firmly to his chest as he could without hurting him. The child’s hand wrapped around his thumb in kind. How had the omega even come across a Force sensitive child? Saving him from the Inquisitors, possibly? “You can’t have him without his father’s approval.”

“Boba-,” Jango started to chastise, but Obi-Wan held up a peaceful hand to silence him. 

“No, no, he’s right,” Obi-Wan agreed, “and we don’t even know if the child wishes to be trained. May I speak with him?”

Swallowing, Boba looked down at the child who looked up at him with confusion and doubt. “What do you say? Will you let him hold you for a moment?” Letting out a small coo, he looked to Obi-Wan with uncertainty before leveling out his ears in quiet curiosity. Good enough, he guessed. He’d known this kid all of a couple of days, but it had brought out an instinct in him he didn’t even know existed. He wanted to protect it. Jango had proven that parenthood was just for omegas. Alphas could have those instincts, too. Handing him over to the General was harder than he thought it would be, but eventually he let go. Obi-Wan started to walk off into a corner with the child and Boba moved to follow until his father grabbed his shoulder.

“Ad, a moment,” Jango said. Boba tugged in the opposite direction, but his father pulled more firmly this time. He placed a strong hand against Boba’s neck to guide him, a clear indication he was not taking no for an answer. “He will be fine in General Kenobi’s care.” Holding back the angry growl that wanted to surface, Boba did as he was told and was guided to a secluded corner. “Something is very clearly on your mind.”

“It’s nothing,” Boba tried to lie.

Jango grabbed Boba’s jaw firmly but carefully to make the young alpha look at him. “Ad’ika.”

“Would you have let him die?” Boba asked directly, holding nothing back. Jango softened his hold, but didn’t completely let go. “Would you have left the helmet on? Did I make the wrong decision?”

Sighing, Jango finally let go. “I would not have just let him die, ad’ika , but I would have respected the Mandalorian’s creed.”

So that was a yes. He would have let him die. “And the Foundling?”

“Would have become ours had the Mandalorian succumbed to his wounds,” Jango told him. 

That, at least, was some comfort, but Boba still felt angry. He couldn’t hold back from looking over his shoulder bitterly at the Jedi who knelt around the child. “And them? You’ll just let them take away the Foundling? According to you, we’ve already taken everything away from the omega and yet - ,”

“Where is this coming from?” Jango interjected in a hot whisper. “You care much for an omega whose name you don’t even know.”

“Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do? Take care of omegas?” Boba argued. 

Sucking in a breath, Jango straightened and relaxed his shoulders. “Yes. It is, and there is no doubt you’re doing a fine job of it, but you need to gain control of your inner instincts, Boba. General Kenobi is not an enemy, but a friend. He will not just take the child away, Force sensitive or not. As for the omega, there was no right or wrong choice. There is only a choice and the consequences that follow. Consequences, we are not yet aware of. Remove your emotions from the situation.”

“Emotions are dangerous on the job,” Boba recited the same thing his father had told him over and over through the years. 

Jango pressed a soft hand to Boba’s cheek. “Yes. Good. Now, go check on the child with a clear mind and level intentions.”

“Yes, Buir.” Licking his lips, Boba calmed his emotions before turning around and carefully approaching the Jedi and the child. Cody had taken up against a wall far enough away he wasn’t a bother, but close enough he could still hear what was going on with both conversations. He’d always been good at that.

Sensing Boba, Obi-Wan looked over his shoulder. “His name is Grogu.”

Grogu. For some odd reason, he’d figured the child’s name would have started with a Y, but maybe there was no actual blood relation to Yoda and Yaddle. “And…his father?”

“He won’t say,” Obi-Wan lamented. “He won’t say much about his father. He’s trying to protect him. Grogu is shielding much from me, but I understand and will not pry. We are all new and foreign to him.” Pressing himself to his feet, Obi-Wan returned Grogu to Boba’s arms with care. “I told him we were communicating using the Force. He seems to have no knowledge of it or the Jedi. I have many questions, but they are better saved for when he is in a better state of mind. I did, however, convince him that he should remain strong in his father’s stead. I think you’ll find he’ll be more amenable to an offer of food and water, now.”

Well, at least there was that and he had a name. “Thank you, General.”

“Thank you for saving a child of the Force, my dear Boba,” Obi-Wan praised.

It was so damn hard to harbor any resentment when he addressed him like that. Obi-Wan had always been like that. He was extremely powerful, but still soft and kind in a way only an omega could be. 

“You’ve served the Order well,” Anakin added.

Boba flashed him a hard glare. The words he wanted to say stopped on the tip of his tongue. He was better than saying them in the presence of his father. Bowing his head respectfully he   turned on his heel and began to walk away. Republic cruisers were mostly the same, so he was able to find his way to the cafeteria after only a few wrong turns. Not knowing what Grogu ate, he took him down the line and waited for him to perk up at certain offerings. Once he had a plate full, Boba found a table and took a seat with Grogu. True to Obi-Wan’s word, he began to eat and Boba found himself sighing in relief.

“Long day, kid?”  

Boba was two seconds away from yelling at Cody again when he looked up to find it wasn’t Cody at all. “Rex? What are you doing here?”

“General Skywalker is here,” he said simply, taking a seat across from him.

Right. Skywalker. Rex was to Skywalker as Cody was to Kenobi. “Cody tell you to come looking for me?”

“Maybe,” Rex shrugged.

Sighing, Boba sank back against his chair. “Long day. You could say that.”

“Want to talk about it?” Rex offered.

Boba shook his head. “No.” Talking would do no good. There would be nothing but thousands of unanswered questions. All he could do was wait until the omega woke up. His mind wouldn’t be at ease until then. 

“Fair enough,” Rex nodded, leaning back in his own chair and folding his hands on top of the table. “A friendly presence, then? While this-,” he gestured towards the child, “eats.”

“Grogu,” Boba told him. “The Foundling that was with the omega we rescued on Nar Shaddaa .”

Rex nodded. “I heard a bit about it. You’re doing a good thing looking after him while the Mandalorian recovers.”

“Am I?” Boba sighed, immediately regretting voicing that concern. 

“Sure. Kids always need to be protected,” Rex told him. “Nothing more innocent than a child.”

Boba hadn’t exactly been raised as a true Mandalorian, but that had always been the creed Jango had taught. Did the creed of the omega feel the same? Surely, if he had a Foundling…

“Get some sleep, kid. You look like you could use it,” Rex said.

He could. The few hours he’d gotten in the medical ward certainly hadn’t been enough. “Yeah. Thanks, Rex.”

“Sure. Anything you need, come find me,” Rex told him.

After Grogu finished eating, Boba picked him up and found a droid that could lead him to an empty room in which he could rest. The child began to make uncertain and uncomfortable sounds. “Come on, sleeping on the cold hard floor of the medical ward won’t do you any good,” he tried to reason. “I promise a droid will come and get us when he’s awake.” Grabbing a blanket off the bed, Boba made a small nest on the floor for Grogu. “Here. I’ll watch over you.” Grogu’s small hand clenched around the fabric of Boba’s arm. Boba sucked in a breath, ready to argue, and then he let out as he succumbed. How in the galaxy did this kid soften him so much? “Fine. Ok. But I need to tend to my armor first.”

Setting Grogu down in the small nest he began to remove his armor. Once it was all off, he retrieved his polishing supplies and got to work. Occasionally, he would glance at Grogu who was watching him with focused interest. Once he was done, he set all the pieces aside and picked the child up to join him in bed. Boba turned on his side and watched as Grogu curled up against him. 

Why? Why did this child seem to trust him so? Boba didn’t feel like he’d done anything to earn it. Yes, he’d saved Grogu’s buir , but he’d also gone against the child’s wishes and removed the omega’s helmet. Shouldn’t that make Grogu hate him? Boba felt so many conflicting emotions he couldn’t keep them all straight. “Nuhoy,” Boba told him. Sleep. Grogu seemed to understand Mando’a, and began to close his eyes. 

/*/

“You seem troubled, my friend.”

Jango sighed as Obi-Wan joined him by the window that showed the stars in all their beautiful glory. Seeing them pass by had always brought Jango ease.“Aren’t I always?”

“More so than usual,” Obi-Wan smiled softly. When Jango’s mood didn’t seem to improve, he let out a sigh and shifted his gaze. “You don’t think Boba should have saved the Mandalorian.”

Closing his eyes, Jango swallowed. “You always could read right through me.”

“Well, the Force helps,” Obi-Wan told him. “But, also knowing you as well as I do, my friend, says much. Why does it bother you, so?”

“You know how the Watch is,” Jango growled, nostrils flaring. He could feel the anger building within him. “They are the reason for everything. For the destruction of Mandalore, for the divide, for the death of my father, for the death of Satine -,”

“Stop,” Obi-Wan ordered, though his voice was soft. The pain was as clear in his eyes as it was in Jango’s. They had both lost much in that particular conflict. “I will not deny the thing the Watch has done, but…if this omega is a Child, then he has been manipulated. Perhaps he doesn’t know the truth.”

Jango’s jaw clenched. “Do you really think knowing the truth will make any difference? Growing up a Child makes it even worse. He knows nothing of the truth, so he will not accept it. His truth is The Way.”

“And yet, Boba still chose to take the risk to save his life,” Obi-Wan challenged. “Perhaps he thinks he can help the Child see reason.”

Grunting, Jango crossed his arms. “I think Boba forgot all his training and thought with his base instincts which I’ve trained him not to do.”

“Yes,” Obi-Wan agreed, “You’ve taught Boba extremely well. Already, he has started to make a name for himself next to you as the greatest hunter in the galaxy. So, then, why do you think it is in this instance he went against your teachings?”

It was an insensitive comment, and one Jango wouldn’t have made if he was thinking clearly. “For the same reason your Padawan almost turned to the dark side and betrayed us all.” The same way he had changed his mind and betrayed Palpatine despite the Mandalorians having always hated the Jedi. Jango was in no position to make that accusation, and he regretted it immediately. 

Obi-Wan didn’t seem to take any offense to it. In fact, he seemed to agree. “It’s a thing of fairy tales…True Mates. I certainly never believed in it until I saw Anakin and Padme, but now I believe it does exist in some form. It could have been Anakin’s ruin, but it ended up being his salvation.”

“And yet, you turned a blind eye to it because you knew it was against Jedi Code,” Jango argued angrily. It had been alright for Obi-Wan to turn away from their relationship, but he himself couldn’t - Jango sucked in a breath and calmed himself. Obi-Wan had been the reason for everything, but it would never be.

“You’re right,” Obi-Wan admitted without hesitation. “I did turn a blind eye to it, and I find myself conflicted in the matter ever since. Our Order forbids such attachments, but I have found in my lifetime that attachments can do so much good. They can provide hope. Faith. A reason to continue. The problem is…the line is so very thin, Jango.”

Yes. It was. “So you understand my fear, then.”

“Yes,” Obi-Wan whispered as he turned to face Jango with sympathetic eyes. 

Jango so desperately wanted to place a comforting hand to the Jedi’s face. He wanted to console him, tell him everything would be alright for them both. Obi-Wan had been his hope. His faith. His reason to continue. When Jango was ready to betray them all, it was Obi-Wan that had made him change his mind. And yet, Jango could never confess those feelings. Jango felt cursed, and he’d do anything to shield his son from that feeling. 

“Perhaps this omega is the key to bringing the Mandalorians back together,” Obi-Wan suggested after some time of silence between them. “All it takes is one.”

Not feeling so confident, Jango huffed. “Bring us together for what? The Separatists turned Mandalore into even more ruin than it already was. Truthfully, they didn’t even need to lay waste to us. We would have done it to ourselves.”

 “You could have been Mandalore,” Obi-Wan reminded him. 

The insinuation made Jango burn with anger. That would be held over his head for eternity, it seemed. “And it would have made no difference.” Turning his back to Obi-Wan, Jango began to walk off, done with the conversation. Obi-Wan didn’t go after him. 

He wandered the halls aimlessly for some time, thinking. Thinking did no good, however, and he eventually found himself in the medical bay watching the omega. The Mandalorian was so young. Too young to be alone. Jango knew how the Watch operated. He’d have an alpha. Omegas didn’t go without an alpha in their clans. It went as early as infancy. The alpha would have been with him. Were they separated? Killed? Worse - abandoned? Young as he was, he was old enough to be mated, especially in the Watch’s eyes. But he wasn’t. The gland on his neck was unmarked. Why? 

“Droid,” Jango called out when he saw one passing by. “What is the omega’s status?”

“Healing well, sir,” the droid answered. “He will recover from his injuries. Full recovery should be within the next 15 hours at most.”

Jango nodded. “What about outside the obvious injuries? Is he in good health?”

“For the most part, sir,” the droid responded.

Narrowing his eyes, Jango looked away from the tank to the droid. “What do you mean, for the most part?”

“As an omega, sir, there were some concerns,” the droid started. “While there is no evidence of suppressants in the system, his natural estrogen levels are low. He would not be a good candidate for reproduction.”

Jango ground his teeth together angrily. Deemed infertile, this omega had been abandoned. As if he didn’t need even more reason to hate the Watch. There was no way to know for sure that was the reason, but he knew enough to know that was a likely cause. It certainly explained no mating mark at his age. “Droid. Tell no one of this.”

“Sir-,”

“No one,” he repeated. If the omega didn’t already know of his misfortune, there was no need to add that grief to everything he was about to go through. His son had enough of an uphill battle as it was in trying to gain this omega’s trust. Sighing, Jango placed a hand to the tank. “I hope you were worth it, omega.”

/*/

Boba didn’t know how long he slept, but he was deep enough in it that the ring signaling someone was at his door was enough to jolt him awake with a blaster fully ready to fire. Grogu awakened next to him with a questioning coo. Calming himself, Boba lowered his blaster. “What is it?”

“Sir,” a droid answered, “The Mandalorian has awakened. He appears to be in great distress.”

“We’ll be right there.” Quickly putting on his shoes and armor, Boba scooped up the child and grabbed the omega’s buy’ce before scurrying after the droid. He arrived to a battle ground with the Mandalorian screaming at anyone who tried to approach him as he cowered in a corner covering his head. Guilt smothered Boba as he approached with the helmet outstretched. Carefully, he tapped it against the omega’s bare shoulder. “Mando. Your helmet.”

Yanking the helmet from Boba’s hold, the omega scrambled to get it on his head. “They've seen. They’ve seen!”

“They are just droids,” Boba tried to argue, as if plenty of others hadn’t seen the poor omega’s face. Boba was a good liar. Now seemed a time for lying. “I don’t think droids count.”

“It doesn’t matter!” The omega argued, his voice surprisingly soft even in its anger behind the vocoder. “I have broken my creed!”

Sighing, Boba took a knee, hoping to seem less threatening. “No, I am the one who did that. I removed your helmet in order to save your life.”

“You-!” The omega spun around but then stopped suddenly. “Grogu!”

The child jumped from Boba’s arms into that of his buir’s . Child safely in his grasp, the omega seemed to calm for just a moment as he clung desperately. “Grogu. You’re safe! I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!” Grogu reached up to grab his father’s helmet and pressed his forehead against his in keldabe. 

Boba allowed them a moment of reunion before swallowing hard and starting, “Mando-,”

“You wear Mandalorian armor, but no helmet!” The omega hissed angrily as he pulled Grogu against his bare chest. “You’re one of them!”

He couldn’t help but get angry at the accusation, throwing it right back at the omega. “And you’re one of them! A Child of the Watch! I saved your life, and that of your ad! I would expect you to be more grateful!”

“Do you know what you’ve done!? I can never return to my people!” The omega cried, trying to hide his duress but unable to do so in the crack of his tone. 

Biting his lip, Boba tried to control his anger. Emotions were a weakness, he had to remember his training. “You are still Mandalorian, helmet or no. Can you really sit there and tell me you would be fine if I had let you die so your ad could die as well?”

“The others would have come for him!” The omega argued.

Others? “What others?” Boba asked. “Clearly, no one was coming for you. Were you with other Mandalorians?”

“Yes!” He hissed. “And they would have come!”

Boba didn’t believe it. The omega looked like he’d been lying in the alley way for quite some time. “Even if that were true, do you really believe they would have come in time to save you or your ad? There were several ready to rape your unconcious body before I came, and I have no doubt in my mind they would have killed the child in your care. You’re a fool to think-oof!” Dank Farrik! A fist landed straight to Boba’s face. Stumbling back in surprise, Boba covered his face where blood was dripping from his nose. The damn omega had punched him! 

“I don't need an alpha to come to my rescue,” the omega hissed. “I can protect myself!”

Wiping the blood from his nose, Boba scowled. “The situation said otherwise. Look straight at me and tell me you would have been perfectly fine dying and letting your ad die with you. And if that’s the case, then maybe you’re right - you are no Mandalorian.” He was ready for the second punch, grabbing hold of it in his palm. It surprised him how strong the omega was, especially still healing, but he didn’t allow it to let him lose focus. 

“You should have just let me die and saved my Foundling,” the omega told him in a broken voice as he lowered his fist and retreated back into the corner with Grogu. 

“Well, I didn’t, so here we are,” Boba scowled. “I removed your helmet, but you are alive, so what will you do?”

Breathing deeply, the omega sank down to his knees, cradling Grogu in his arms. “Kill me. Please. Kill me and raise my ad.”

Boba’s eyes widened in shock. He hadn’t expected this. Jango had. His father had warned him of this exact thing, but Boba had brushed it off as something crazy. This omega was actually asking for his death over his helmet. “Why? Why do you feel so strongly you should die?”

“I have nothing, now!” The omega responded, very distraught. “My clan will not take me back! My alpha will not take me back! ”

Flinching, Boba took a step back in surprise. An alpha. The omega had an alpha? Boba did a quick once over of the omega’s body. He wasn’t actually mated. Betrothed, then? He hadn’t even considered that the omega might be with someone. “I…if…if your alpha will not take you back, then he is not your alpha.”

“You know nothing!” The omega hissed violently before burying his head against his knees with Grogu against his chest. “If you will not kill me, then leave me and send someone who will.”

Boba’s lips parted ready to say something, but there was nothing to say. He had no idea what to do. It took several minutes for him to process everything that had happened and for him to formulate some kind of words. “I worked too hard to save you to just let you die. I will not kill you, and you will find no one on this ship that will.

Not knowing what else he could do or say, Boba walked away.

Immediately upon leaving the ward, Boba sought out his father. He needed his guidance. His direction. Boba had been trained to kill. It was in his blood. And yet, when someone had asked him for death, he had been unable to even consider it. Finding Jango in rooms not far from his own, he requested entry.

Jango could tell from the moment he entered that his son was distressed. Setting the book he’d had in his hands aside, he stood. “Boba. What’s wrong?”

Boba wasn’t even sure what to say. Heart beating fast, he began to pace swiftly in the room. “He asked me to kill him!” It hadn’t really been what he’d meant to say, but it had been the first thing that popped into his head. 

Sighing, Jango crossed his arms. “I told you-,”

“I know!” Boba growled as he came to a stop. “But why? Why are they like this?”

Slowly, Jango shook his head. “I did not grow up with the Death Watch, so I cannot speak to their creed and beliefs. Why do we believe what we do? Why do the Jedi have their beliefs? The daughters of Dathomir? The Serreno who worshiped seven gods? The Isopter who worship death itself? Our beliefs are simply a matter of where and how we are raised. So, does that make our own beliefs any more right or wrong than others? If the Mandalorian wants death, you should grant it.”

Boba couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Buir-,”

“Ad’ika,” Jango countered, “I warned you of the consequences, and now you are realizing them. I promise you that we will accept the Foundling into our care, but if death is what he wishes-,”

Closing his eyes, Boba shook his head. “Please! Buir, a few days! Give me a few days.” This couldn’t all be for nothing. The omega was still Mandalorian. He was still beroya. He was still buir . And he would just throw all of that away? No. Maybe he was crazy. Maybe he was out of his mind. It didn’t matter. Boba wasn’t going down without a fight. A literal fist fight, if needed. 

“Two days,” Jango promised, “and then I honor his wishes where you cannot.”

It stung to hear his father say that. To insinuate he could not carry out his duties, but…he was right. Boba could not do it. He would not place a blade or blaster to the omega. Maybe he wasn’t the next best bounty hunter in the galaxy, after all. “Vor entye.”

Sighing, Jango shook his head in disappointment, but his eyes were still as tender as they always were with Boba. “You will be hurt.”

Then, so be it. 

“Two days,” Boba echoed before leaving his father’s room and returning to his own. Picking his helmet up he sat on the edge of the bed staring at it between his hands. It was just a helmet to Boba, and yet it meant everything to the omega. It meant life or death. Boba felt so confused and conflicted. 

After over an hour of internal conflict, Boba eventually gripped the edges of his helmet and clenched his jaw in determination. 

The omega would live.

Chapter Text

Boba did nothing but toss and turn in his bed. There was no sleep, no rest. Two days was not enough time. It was not enough time to try and change a lifetime of perspective and belief, but he knew his father would not give him more. He didn’t need to change the entirety of the omega’s views, though, he just needed to convince him to keep going. What could he say or do that would convince the omega to live? Clearly, Grogu wasn’t the easy out that Boba thought he may be.The omega had already chosen to simply pass on his care to him and his father, but maybe that was a knee-jerk reaction. Maybe he needed to try and use Grogu a little more to appeal to the omega’s base instincts. How else could Boba make the omega value his own life?

After a fruitless time in bed, Boba rose the second it was a decent enough hour to head to the medical ward. He had no plan, but he hadn't had a plan for any of this at any point. Boba couldn’t predict what the omega would say or do, so there was no point in it. “How is he?” He asked the droid.

“The omega still has wounds that need to be treated, but they are minor. He has not consumed any sustenance,” the droid answered. “He refuses any further treatment from the staff.”

Boba sighed, but was not surprised. The omega really would just starve himself until death if he was not given what he wanted. “And the kid?”

“I have observed the child eating,” he responded, “but can provide no further assessment.”

At least the child had something worth fighting for. Two against one was at least better odds. “Let me in to see him.”

The droid hesitated. “I’m not sure that’s-,”

“Let me in,” Boba ordered. Reluctantly, the droid agreed and granted Boba access to the omega’s hospital room. Just as he had been the other day, he was curled up in the furthest corner. He wore a thin medical shirt that seemed to drown him. Although tall, the omega hadn’t had much meat to him in the tank. Grogu was clinging to his leg looking horribly sad. “Mando.”

The omega looked up briefly and immediately lowered his head. “Are you finally here to kill me?”

“No,” Boba responded, leaning against the closed door. “Though it sounds like you’re doing a good job of that yourself. I need you to help me understand, omega. Help me understand why you can so easily depart this galaxy. Help me understand why you can just abandon your ad to complete strangers without guilt. Help me understand even the smallest part of it.”

“I told you,” the omega began in a low and threatening voice, “I have gone against my creed.”

Boba shrugged, already tired of that excuse. “And? As beroya , we go against many rules. Why is it fine to break some rules but not others?”

“They aren’t just rules,” the omega countered. “They are my creed.”

“Creeds are just rules,” Boba fired back. “Why is it fine to follow your creed but ignore the laws of other planets and species you interact with for the sake of the bounty? And don’t try and tell me you haven’t broken laws to complete the job. It’s what we do.”

The omega straightened, but said nothing.

Sighing, Boba clenched his jaw trying his next approach. “You’re not helping me understand, Mando. My father is Mandalorian, but he has not raised me as such. I wear armor gifted to me by him. I speak Mando’a. But I am not raised in either creed. I am beroya and nothing more. So, tell me. Why is it so important to you to die?”

“We are not to remove our helmet or have our helmet removed from us,” the omega told him firmly.

“Ok,” Boba acknowledged, having very much understood that fact already. “And then? Should you do either of those things, does your creed specify death?”

The omega hesitated, shifting slightly in his corner. “Should our helmet be removed, we are no longer Mandalorian.”

Fine. So he was no longer considered Mandalorian. That didn’t mean he needed to die. “So death, specifically, isn’t mentioned. Why, then, do you wish to die?”

“If I am not Mandalorian, I am nothing,” he answered.

There were so many choice words Boba had for that statement, but reacting angrily would get him nowhere. All of this was getting him nowhere. Pressing his lips together with a sigh, he lowered himself to the floor so that he was at eye-level with the omega. Maybe shifting the conversation all together. “My name is Boba Fett. What is yours?”

The omega lifted his head and rolled back his shoulders in surprise. “Fett? As in Jango Fett?”

“Yes,” Boba responded, not surprised he had heard of his father. “Jango is my buir.”

“I don’t understand, then, why you didn’t kill me on sight.”

Well, Boba couldn’t deny his father’s reputation in that regard. “My father is certainly a skilled hunter and killer, but that doesn’t mean he just shoots everything in his sight. Neither do I. There was no way to know you were part of the Watch when we saved you. You were an injured Mandalorian and I was just trying to save you.” It hadn’t mattered, though. Even once Boba knew, he still made the choice. “I don’t regret my decision, Mando, despite knowing what you are. That is why I’m here talking to you. Your name?” The omega turned his head and didn’t answer. Fine. “I found your puck. You were after the Zabrak. You said you came with others of your clan. Where were they?”

“They had their own business on Nar Shaddaa,” he answered. 

Own business? So they just left an omega to complete a bounty on his own with a Foundling. “You aren’t on blockers. Why?” Smelling like an omega on a planet like Nar Shaddaa was even more dangerous than it already was. The beskar helped subdue his scent, but it was still noticeable.

“Blockers and suppressants are forbidden,” he told him.

Kriff. That was insanity. As a hunter, it was incredibly important to be able to control ruts and heats so that you weren’t found exposed during a hunt without access to a safe place to go through a cycle. It was for alphas as much as omegas. “Was your alpha one of the other Mandalorians to come with you?”

The omega hesitated briefly before answering, “Yes.”

Boba had to clench the fabric of his pants with his fists to keep himself from lashing out at something violently in the room. His alpha had been on the planet, but where were they?! Where were they while their omega was dying in a dark alley? Boba hadn’t expected the alpha to be hunting with him, necessarily. That would insinuate the omega could not complete a bounty on his own. Boba had felt first hand how strong the omega was, but something about all of this wasn’t sitting right with him. “Do you know who your alpha and the others were after?”

“Their bounty was not my concern,” he told him defensively.

Yeah, something definitely wasn’t right. “Have you been on bounties on your own before?”

“Plenty,” the omega growled, angry at the accusation he couldn’t fight.

“Sorry,” Boba apologized. “I wasn’t insinuating you were not capable. Do you always bring the kid with you? Hunting is no place for a child.”

“Where I go, he goes,” the omega said, finally reacting to Grogu at his legs and gently picking him up. “I had a protective pod for him. He knew when he needed to retreat and find a safe place. I…I don’t know what happened to it. I guess it’s on Nar Shaddaa somewhere being salvaged for parts.”

Which brought up the big question, “So what happened? What went wrong?”

The omega didn’t answer right away. His focus was on Grogu who was in his lap cuddling up against his chest. The hand holding Grogu was gently stroking the child’s back. After some time of continued silence, Boba was convinced he wouldn’t answer and was ready to move on when he finally spoke. “An ambush. I don’t know how the Zabrak knew we were there. We’d all been silent in our coming. Places like Nar Shaddaa don’t like hunters.”

An understatement, truly. Boba and Jango had been careful, too. But an ambush?

“There were 11 of them. I remember counting,” he went on. “They approached me in an alley close to the bar so I had nowhere to go. I was cornered. My whistling birds took out four immediately, but there were still so many of them. I don’t,” he drew in a shuddered breath, “I don’t remember clearly what happened after that. I just remember fighting and crawling myself to another alley before passing out. I don’t…I don’t even remember Grogu or how he found his way to me.”

Eleven. This omega Mandalorian had been able to fight off eleven attackers. On his own. How? How had he done it? He should have already been dead and then some, and yet he’d still been breathing by the end of it. “Before you passed out, did you send a distress signal to your alpha and the others?”

This time, the silence felt heavy and daunting.

“They would have come…” He sounded completely broken when he said it. Boba could tell quite clearly he didn’t actually believe it. “He would have come for me. The second he was able to, he would have come.”

Boba could feel his heart breaking. It didn’t matter if he was in the middle of a hunt. His bounty could be between the sights of his rifle, and he would have dropped everything to save his omega. All of this had led to more questions than answers. The omega had been sent on a bounty on his own. Ambushed. And then his alpha did not answer his call for help? 

“He would have come, but now he never will,” the omega continued his lament. 

He never was going to. Boba was quite sure of that, but he kept it to himself. “Is there…is there a ship you left behind? Things we need to go back for?”

“Ship?” The omega looked up, and Boba could read the confusion in his body. “Why would an omega have a ship? All that we are given is provided by our alphas. From the armor on my back to the weapons I carry.”

What?! What kind of crazy bull - he bit the inside of his mouth to stop himself. Emotions. Control your damn emotions, Boba.  This omega actually believed all of this was ok. That it was normal. He could hear his father’s voice in his head chastising him. This was his culture. No matter how much it disgusted Boba to his core, he couldn’t just outright attack this omega’s beliefs. It would not help his cause. “Does that go for your ad, too?”

Grogu looked up at his father and let out a coo. The omega brushed a thumb against the top of his head. “Children are the exception.”

“Did your alpha find him for you?” Boba wondered.

Bringing up his knees in a protective action around Grogu, he responded, “No.”

Boba waited for him to hopefully elaborate, but he did not. Keeping the silence, Boba just observed. It was very clear to him how much the omega loved Grogu. How much Grogu loved him. Surely, after a couple of days of thinking on it, the initial emotions having settled, he would reconsider? Boba knew how easy it was to get caught up in the moment. Sometimes even he needed a day or two to settle down. He’d change his mind…right? “Mando. Grogu has already lost one set of parents until he came across you. Would you put him through that again when there is another choice?”

“There is no other choice,” the omega told him once more. 

“That’s not true,” Boba argued.

“What would you have me do?” The omega asked angrily. “Become a beroya without a clan? Without a ship?”

“You said it yourself. You’ve been on plenty of hunts on your own, and we can get you a ship,” Boba told him. Those things seemed stupid and trivial.

Pressing his back straight against the wall, he added, “Omegas must have a clan.”

So omegas couldn’t even operate on their own under their creed? They had no autonomy? At all? Did the alpha give him direction in every aspect of his life? Where and when he could go? What bounties he could take? When he’d wake up? When he went to sleep? Just how far did this go? Boba didn’t have the right to offer, but he did. “You don’t have to be without a clan. You can join ours.”

“I will not become one of you,” the omega hissed, insulted at the very suggestion. “I would rather die.”

Boba had a strong will, but he felt the shield he had learned to put up around himself break just a little. Grogu looked back at him pleading for some kind of help, but Boba didn’t know what else to do. With a heavy sigh, Boba pushed himself to his feet. “I’m not going to kill someone whose name I do not know.”

The omega didn’t provide him with one, so Boba took his leave.

Boba wandered aimlessly with his thoughts, trying to make sense of everything, but nothing made sense at all. The omega’s creed made no sense. What happened on Nar Shaddaa made equally no sense. Boba felt frustrated, and he was starting to believe that maybe his father was right. Maybe this was pointless.

“This is the third time I've seen you down this hallway. What’s up, kid?”

Stoping, Boba blinked, having to take a minute to even realize where he was. He was still on the ship, but he had no idea where, exactly. Turning his head, he saw Cody leaning against the wall staring at him with a raised eyebrow. Sighing, Boba turned towards the window and stared out. 

Cody joined him. “Problems with your omega?”

“Not my omega,” Boba reminded, but with a lot less force and much more sadness. “He has an alpha. Not mated, but betrothed, I guess. Promised. Whatever they call it. Somewhere, anyway.”

“Not mated, doesn’t count,” Cody gave a shrug, trying to be playful and humorous, but Boba couldn’t find the humor in the Clone’s words the way he usually did. “You seem a little disappointed.”

“Not that he has an alpha,” Boba argued, but maybe just a little. “Nothing is adding up about all of this, Cody. He told me what happened on Nar Shaddaa. He was left to go on a bounty on his own while his alpha and other Mandalorians did their own thing. He was heavily ambushed, and then when he sent a distress signal out, it went unanswered. His own alpha didn’t respond.”

Cody hummed in thought. “Does seem a little strange, but we have no idea of the full picture. Maybe his alpha’s mission required radio silence. Maybe he and the other Mandalorians were not in a position to answer. Maybe it was just bad luck with the ambush. Maybe his alpha was dealing with an ambush himself. I’ve been in plenty. They're never fun. Sometimes, the enemy is just one step ahead of you and there’s nothing you can do but fight.”

Maybe, but Boba still had a bad feeling about it all. “He’s so intent on dying. I don’t understand it. I don’t understand his creed. Maybe if I knew more, I might be able to work out how to convince him. What do you know of the Death Watch?”

“Nothing, really,” Cody shrugged apologetically. “I’ve heard things. Heard how blood thirsty they can be. That they are true warriors. Other than that, though, I don’t know much. Your father is the person to ask.”

Boba shook his head, dreading the mere thought of it. “I can’t ask him. Father is ready to put a blaster to his head. I asked for two days. That’s all I have to try and convince him his life is worth living.”

“Let me ask you something,” Cody started, turning to face Boba. “Why do you think his life is worth living? He’s a stranger to you. Mandalorian, yes, but of a different breed. He, in many rights, is your enemy. Why are you trying so hard to save his life?”

Ready to argue, Boba opened his mouth but then realized…he didn’t really know. Everything he had done involving the omega had just been on instinct. It had been about what he’d felt in that moment. There had never been much reason or logic behind it at all. He’d seen an injured omega and his Foundling and had wanted to save them both. That was it. “It’s just…it’s a feeling. This desire I can’t explain. The second I realized he was an omega, I wanted to protect him. And then, when I saw his face I-,” His heart had stopped. Clenching his jaw, Boba kept that to himself.

Humming, Cody smiled softly. “Being betas, I suppose there are things involving alphas and omegas that we will never fully understand.”

Boba didn’t understand it himself, and he was one of them.

“Well, if you think knowing more about the Watch might help you, and you don’t want to speak with your father, you could always talk to General Kenobi,” Cody suggested. “He has plenty of dealings with the Mandalorians.”

Boba hadn’t considered speaking to the Jedi. It was an idea, but he himself felt a little uneasy approaching him about it. “Do you even think he’d speak with me?”

“Sure,” Cody nodded, “but if it makes you feel better, I’ll ask him for you.”

That settled his nervous heart somewhat. “Alright. Thank you.”

Bringing his arm up, Cody pressed his comlink. “Sir, I apologize for the disruption. No emergency, but if you have a moment of your time, young Fett here would like to pick your brain on the Death Watch.”

“Bring him to my quarters,” Obi-Wan answered. “I’m happy to help where I can.”

“See?” Cody smiled comfortingly. “Come on. This way.”

Despite Obi-Wan’s response, Boba still felt nervous. Yes, Obi-Wan was the one and only Jedi he fully trusted, but he had never exactly been alone with him. He didn’t think Cody was going to stick around for the conversation. Boba wasn’t sure he wanted him to, anyway. Even if his presence would be comforting, the topic of conversation was sensitive and personal, and Cody had been right about one thing - he was only a beta, and he could not speak to experiences of alphas and omegas.

“Please, come sit,” Obi-Wan gestured to the couch opposite of where he stood when they entered. “Thank you, Cody. I appreciate you bringing him to me.”

With a bow of his head Cody dismissed himself. 

“Wine?” Obi-Wan offered, gesturing to the bottle and glasses that were on the table.

Boba looked down curiously. “I thought Jedi did not drink.”

“My friend, if I did not drink, I do not think I could make it through the many things I have,” Obi-Wan smiled softly. “It is true that it is not recommended as it can interfere with our senses, but nothing directly prohibits it.”

Nodding to the wine, Boba took a seat. “Your rules seem to have many loopholes.”

“You speak of Anakin,” Obi-Wan easily noted as he poured the red liquid out into the other glass. “Your distrust does not go unnoticed, but it is also not invalid.”

Boba did not think much of Anakin, it was true, but he could hardly cast judgment on the loopholes given the reason he was here. “Yes, well, I need your help in finding a loophole in the Mandalorian’s creed.”

Sighing, Obi-Wan folded his hands together as he leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Your father told me that the Mandalorian is asking for death. I’m guessing you made no improvements in that regard today?”

“The things he told me…I don’t understand it, General,” Boba shook his head, still in disbelief from everything he had heard. “It was like he was a piece of property and not a person. I thought maybe if I had more knowledge about their creed and culture, I might be able to make him see reason, but I don’t even know if that’s possible.”

Sucking in a deep breath, Obi-Wan nodded in understanding. “You are right, in a sense. The Death Watch claim to worship omegas, but that term means something different to them than us. The surface of Mandalore being laid to waste during the Civil War brought consequences neither side thought. Female betas began to lose their ability to reproduce, and female alphas who already rarely could carry lost the ability completely. It fell, then, to the omegas.”

“So they keep them? For breeding stock and nothing more?” Boba asked, feeling his ears burn in anger. “But then why allow the omega to be beroya?”

“First and foremost, all Mandalorians are warriors,” Obi-Wan reminded him. “It doesn’t matter which creed they follow. Omegas are still trained to fight, though to be on a hunt without an alpha is unusual, I think.”

“Not alone,” Boba grumbled. “His alpha was on the planet. That’s one of the many things I didn’t understand about his story. His alpha and other Mandalorians were there on their own bounties, and yet they did not respond to his call for aid.”

Humming, Obi-Wan pressed his lips together and he began to stroke his beard. “So he is mated?”

“Not mated,” Boba shook his head. “They have not bonded.”

Obi-Wan’s brows shot up in surprise and he straightened. “Not bonded? How old is the omega?”

It was hard to say. Humans could age differently depending on where they came from. “About my age. Younger, but not severely.”

“Very strange indeed,” Obi-Wan muttered again thoughtfully. “I know that as soon as the omegas mature, there is a competition of alphas for their hand. Alphas fight one another to claim the omega. From that point, they should be mated and taken marriage vows.”

Alphas fought one another for an omega that they would simply keep to get pregnant? Boba was starting to wish he hadn’t asked. He only got more angry with every new thing he learned. “So what the omega said was true? They can’t own a ship or even their own weapons?”

“Yes,” Obi-Wan reluctantly confirmed. “This is the Way. What else did he say to you? Did he say how he came across Grogu?”

Boba shook his head and took a large sip of his wine. “No, just that it wasn’t his alpha who found him. What about their helmets? He said they are not allowed to remove them, but that nothing in the creed actually mandates death.”

“No. Not death, but they would be ex-communicated. No longer considered Mandalorian. An Apostate. For many, that is worse than death,” Obi-Wan told him. “The only way to repent is in the living waters beneath the mines of Mandalore, which no longer exist.”

“There’s no other way? No other way he could find redemption?” Boba didn’t like the immediate face the Jedi gave him.

“There are some older clans that had alternative methods for repentance. It is nothing short of torture, and likely death,” Obi-Wan spoke with soft caution. “Death by your hand would certainly be kinder than what he would face should that be his clan’s idea of redemption.”

Closing his eyes, Boba felt hopeless. What he was learning here only made matters worse. “Is there anything else I should know?”

“That depends how deep you want to dig,” Obi-Wan answered.

Boba wasn’t sure he wanted to dig any further. “What possible reasons would his alpha not mate him?”

“That, I’m not sure of,” Obi-Wan responded honestly, shifting and placing a thoughtful finger to his lips. “Maybe his clan goes beyond the tournament for an omega’s hand? Perhaps this bounty was some sort of test or rite of passage to prove he was a worthy mate. We can only speculate.”

If it were some sort of rite of passage, it certainly wasn’t a fair fight. “What do I do, General? Where can I go from here?”

“Tell me, Boba, what is it you feel?” He asked, leaning forward again. The way he asked, the way his eyes were so soft and sympathetic, calmed Boba in a way he didn’t understand. Was it the Force, or was it just the power of an omega to calm an alpha? “You must feel something around this omega to make you want to save him so much.”

Swallowing hard, he tried to put it into words better than he could with Cody. It was harder than he imagined, but Boba had also never been great with words. “I have been with many omegas before, General, but I have never felt the kind of pull I did when I saw that Mandalorian unmasked. It was almost like there was a literal string binding us together, tugging me towards him. Seeing him…I’d never seen someone so beautiful.” It felt so embarrassing to say to the Jedi, but it was the truth. 

Obi-Wan was smiling at him. “Don’t be embarrassed, Boba. You aren’t Jedi. You’re allowed to have those feelings. As alphas and omegas, we all wish to experience that exact pull you speak of. It is the world around us guiding us to a mate.”

Guiding him to his mate? Was Obi-Wan trying to tell him that this omega was his mate? But he already had a mate! Well, not technically. Not in a way that Boba’s internal alpha would recognize. Still. Even if - and it was a strong if - Boba could convince the omega to live, he couldn’t see them as mates. Boba would never treat him the way he expected to be treated according to his creed. Maybe if the omega thought he was being mistreated, but as far as Boba could tell, he thought all of this was normal. “Do you ever long to feel it? Even though you can’t be with anyone?”

“I have felt it,” Obi-Wan admitted, surprising Boba. “In fact, I feel it even now. Some might consider it a curse to be around that pull as often as I am, knowing I cannot act on it, but I am grateful. I would rather know the feeling and not be able to have it in its full, then never have felt it at all.”

What? There was an alpha, on this ship right now, that the Jedi loved? First his father, now Obi-Wan. It had his head spinning. Was it…Anakin? Obi-Wan had always had an extremely close relationship to the other Jedi, and his betrayal had hit him extremely hard. Boba was confused in every way. About everything. “This conversation has been most unhelpful.”

Obi-Wan actually laughed, though it was laced with sympathy. “I imagine so. I’m sorry I did not provide you with answers you were hoping for, but maybe I have a suggestion regarding your omega.”

“I’m listening,” Boba said. 

Sucking in a breath, Obi-Wan leaned an elbow against a knee. “I mention this only because I feel it is the only alternative and might have an effect. The Death Watch are a people of blood and battle. What they know best is fighting. Just as the alphas had to fight for the omega’s hand, perhaps you need to fight for his right to live.”

“You mean fight him?” Boba questioned in slight confusion.The thought had certainly already crossed his mind once after being punched in the face.

“Yes,” Obi-Wan answered. “If he wants to die so badly, make him earn it. Otherwise, he shall learn to live under a new creed should you win. Your creed. But know, Boba, that this would now make you his alpha in his eyes. If you fight for his life, you’re effectively fighting for him. You must ask yourself if you are prepared for that.”

Well, this just kept getting better and better, didn’t it? Boba was attracted physically to the omega, but he wasn’t ready to become someone’s alpha. That required proper courting and truly getting to know one another. Sparring was fun, but it wasn’t how Boba intended to find his mate. “I can’t just be his alpha.”

“I’m not saying you have to mate him, especially given the fact his current alpha has not done as such. I am just warning you that in his eyes, he may very well possibly view you as his new alpha. He will expect you to provide. Everything,” Obi-Wan warned. “With time, he may come to understand his own individuality and his place within a new life, but he may not. You have to be prepared for either outcome. If you cannot accept the possibility he may never get past his creed’s views on an omega’s place in society, then you should heed your father’s advice and end this. Know that I do not say that lightly at all. As for Grogu, depending on his wishes, he can train under you as Mandalorian, or us as Jedi. He will be taken care of.”

Dank Farrik. None of these options were what Boba would call good. Obi-Wan had technically given him the loophole he was looking for, but it wasn’t what he was hoping for. Running a frustrated hand through his dark hair, Boba stood. “Thank you, General. I appreciate your time and insight.”

Obi-Wan stood and sighed, folding his hands together. “I wish I could offer you a better solution.”

“You answered honestly,” Boba acknowledged. “I will sleep on it. I have to do something by tomorrow, one way or another.”

“May the Force guide your heart and mind,” Obi-Wan offered kindly. 

Boba returned to his room and simply stared at the ceiling through the night.

/*/

Jango watched as his son left Obi-Wan’s quarters with narrowed eyes. Allowing a few moments to pass, he approached the Jedi’s room himself and pressed the comms button. Obi-Wan appeared at the door seconds later. “What was my son doing here?”

“Asking me questions he was too afraid to ask you,” Obi-Wan answered, gesturing for the Mandalorian to come inside. “He wants the omega to live.”

Yes. Jango was well aware, and it was currently haunting his thoughts. He didn’t want to kill the omega, he also couldn’t see any other way this wouldn’t end in heartache for everyone involved. Boba would be sad for a time, but it would quickly pass. “It is not a good idea.”

“Why?” Obi-Wan challenged. “Are you afraid your son might bond with him? Or is it simply because he is a Child of the Watch? Does he not still deserve our sympathy?”

Jango’s nostrils flared, annoyed by the omega’s objection. Obi-Wan usually didn’t fight him like this, so why now? “You and I both know that even if he chooses to live, it is a long uphill battle.”

“Yes, one that we may find he is willing to fight,” Obi-Wan argued. “All we have to do is grant him that opportunity. He is still scared and turning to the only option he knows - death. Give him reason to live.”

Pressing his lips together, Jango turned his back to the Jedi and approached the room’s windows. “My son is already doing just that.”

“Yes, but your son is just as young as that omega,” Obi-Wan debated. “He needs to see someone like you tell him his life is worth living.” The omega joined him at the window and pressed a gentle hand to the small of his back.

Jangos’ eyes fluttered closed as he focused on the touch, small and gentle as it was. “What if I don’t think his life is worth living?”

“Then you aren’t the Jango I know,” Obi-Wan whispered.

The omega was close enough that Jango could smell him. Breathing in, he focused on that scent that brought a calmness in him nothing else could. Obi-Wan knew the truth. He knew everything, and yet for some reason he still found Jango worthy. Jango didn’t feel deserving. “I just don’t want my son to get hurt.”

“I know,” Obi-Wan acknowledged. “But we cannot protect our children forever. I tried so hard to protect Anakin, but in the end I think it is what almost cost us everything. We have to allow them to succeed and fail on their own.”

Sighing, Jango turned to face Obi-Wan. They were only inches apart. “I struggle with my own thoughts on the matter, Obi-Wan. I do not want a Child in our clan, but I cannot help but think he is a victim of circumstance. I…pity him.”

“Boba mentioned that the omega’s version of events didn’t seem to quite make sense,” Obi-Wan acknowledged. “His alpha was on Nar Shaddaa, but did not answer his call for help.”

Jango clenched his jaw at the information. It fit exactly into what he was thinking after hearing the droid’s comment. “The medical droid mentioned to me that the omega’s fertility rate was low.”

Lips parting, Obi-Wan lowered his gaze sadly as his shoulders dropped. “I see. With their aversion to certain medical treatments, then he may not be worth the trouble.”

“He was abandoned, Obi-Wan,” Jango said, a hiccup in his voice in anger at the very thought of it all. The injustice of it. 

“So then show compassion,” Obi-Wan pleaded. “Do not direct your anger in the wrong place. It is as you said, this omega is a victim of circumstance.”

Feeling frustrated, Jango began to pace. “You cannot speak to me of anger, when you are not allowed to feel it.”

“I do feel angry, Jango,” Obi-Wan whispered solemnly. “Just because we are not supposed to feel it, doesn’t mean I’m immune to doing so. I feel extremely angry for this omega who has very clearly been abused and thought it was simply commonplace. That is why I’m asking you to show compassion and understanding. He does not know any better.”

Jango stopped pacing and turned to face Obi-Wan with an aggressive stance. “And what if he never knows better?”

“Then you may carry out his future the way you deem fit, but he should be given the chance. It is possible to change our minds, Jango,” his blue eyes met Jango’s. “It is never too late. You showed me that.”

“And yet, we both still go to our beds alone,” Jango argued, closing the distance between them. Unable to hold back, he placed a hand to Obi-Wan’s face and rubbed a thumb against his lower lip.

Obi-Wan’s eyes fluttered closed for a brief moment. “Jango…”

“No,” Jango lowered his hand, blinking back the angry tears. “You are asking me to have this child - for he is nothing more than a child - go against his creed to live, when you will not do the same for us. You still serve your Order without deviation.”

Swallowing his own tears, Obi-Wan looked away heatedly, no longer able to keep himself calm trying to face down Jango’s own aggression. “I have gone against the Order many times, Jango, and you know that. More times than I should have been allowed.”

“But we are not worth it?” Jango shouted, pointing between them. 

Obi-Wan swallowed, eyes glossy as he stared at the alpha. “If I falter now, after everything -,”

Jango wanted to shout. He wanted to scream, but he could not lecture his own son about controlling his emotions if he could not do the same. This. This was exactly the thing Jango wanted to save Boba from. Jango desperately hoped that one day Boba might find love and a mate to share his life with, but nothing would pain him more to go down the same route he had. To fall for someone so deeply he could never have. “You’ve made your choice,” Jango said simply, lowering his voice. 

Closing his eyes, Obi-Wan sighed in defeat. “Jango-,”

Turning his back to the omega, Jango headed for the door. “I will do as you ask, because I always do what you ask.” Not giving the Jedi a chance to respond, he left. Grateful for the helmet in his arms, he put it on. He didn’t trust his face not to betray him. After wandering the halls of the ship for a while to gather his thoughts, he finally made it to the medical ward.

“Visiting hours are over,” a medical droid said as he approached the omega’s room. Jango turned and glowered. The droid didn’t need to see his face behind the helmet to understand him. “Ah, of course, you may enter.” Opening the door, Jango stepped into the dark room.

 He didn’t turn on a light, wanting the darkness for maximum effect. Leaving the door open, only the glow from the bacta tanks and medical equipment illuminated the room. The omega wasn’t even on the bed, instead curled up in the furthest corner with the child in his arms. He looked up and then immediately he was scrambling to his feet. Once standing, he pressed himself as far against the back wall as he could, a protective hand pressing against the child’s head.

“You are Jango Fett.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fear. The omega feared him.

Jango stayed where he was by the door, purposely standing in what little light there was to look even more menacing. It was a tactic he had learned as a hunter. Use of light and shadow could be extremely effective. “For an omega who has wished so desperately for death, you certainly seem scared of it now.”

“I do not fear death,” the omega argued, but there was a very clear hesitance in his words that the vocoder amplified.

Without warning, Jango closed the distance and wrapped a hand around the omega’s throat as he pinned him against the wall. The child let out a scream and Jango adjusted his body so that he wasn’t harming him. When Obi-Wan had asked for him to show him compassion, this certainly wasn’t it, but Jango knew what he was doing. The omega reached up and grabbed his wrist with his free hand, but his body gave him away. Jango could smell the terror on him. He didn’t want to die. “Can you still say that with my hand around your throat, ready to give you what you’ve been begging my son for? At the very least with me, you’d be killed by the great Jango Fett.” He tightened his grip, enough to induce real panic, but not enough it would actually kill the omega.

The omega started to struggle, and that was enough of an answer for him. 

Releasing him, Jango took a step back as the omega coughed and breathed heavily to recover. “Don’t ask so indifferently for things you really know nothing of. Death is very permanent, child, and it is certainly not painless. You’re afraid. I understand. You can no longer go back to the life you lived, and you don’t know the way forward. Many of us come to this crossroad in our lives. I too, was burdened with a choice in my life that would shape my future forever. Death was never an option. Not once.”

“There are no other options,” the omega told him with a hoarse and fearful voice. 

“There are infinite options, omega,” Jango countered. “A galaxy’s worth. But if you need a guiding hand, you’ve already had one presented to you. I suggest you take it.”

“And if I don’t?” The omega asked with shuddered breaths.

Jango leaned forward and placed two fingers against the omega’s buy’ce. “Then I will take your life and make your ad watch so that he remembers his buir as a coward.”

Alright, so maybe compassion was completely absent from Jango’s approach, but this was how it needed to be done. Jango knew how Mandalorians operated. Compassion in the way Jedi viewed it would get them nowhere. Giving the omega an ultimatum was his way of showing compassion. Live, or have your Foundling’s memories of you be forever tainted. “You have until tomorrow to think about it.”

Turning his back, Jango walked out and slammed the button to close the door. If this didn’t get the omega to change his tune, then nothing would and that would be the end of it. Before going in there, Jango had known he wanted the omega to choose death and end this when he entered, but after seeing him so frail and afraid…he let out a long sigh as he made the long trek back to his room. He really was a victim of circumstance, and deserved better.

Obi-Wan was right as he always was. If only Jango could truly pour his heart out.

/*/

Boba woke early, which was no surprise to him. He arrived at the mess hall as soon as it opened to eat, though he hardly touched his food. Was he really going to fight the omega today? Was that really his only option? He’d come up with nothing better. General Kenobi’s suggestion was all he had to go on.

“Loth-cat got your tongue?”

Boba blinked, not even realizing Cody and Rex had both taken a seat across from him. When had they gotten there? “What do you two want?”

“We were asking about your omega,” Rex told him. “Your head was lost somewhere in the clouds of Bespin. I’m guessing you’ve made no progress.”

“Time is ticking,” Cody reminded him.

Yes, he was very well aware. He didn’t need their constant reminder. “I have one last ace up my sleeve.”

“Good on you, kid,” Rex nodded with approval. “It’s not over till it’s over. What’s your plan of attack?”

Well. “Attack.”

Both Clones raised their eyebrows, though it was Cody who cleared his throat and leaned forward. “Fight?”

“General Kenobi - whom you suggested I talk to - said that the only language these Mandalorians understand is war and bloodshed. So, I will fight him. If he can pin me down, I will kill him. If I pin him down, then he lives whether he likes it or not.” If the omega needed him to be an alpha, then fine. He would be the alpha that he deserved. Boba would show him how he is meant to be treated, so that he could go out and find someone who could give him that. 

Cody and Rex exchanged glances.

“Well, somehow I’m equally shocked and not surprised,” Cody finally said. “If you’re going to win, though, you better eat up. No soldier is any good on an empty stomach.”

Rolling his eyes, Boba stabbed his fork into a piece of meat and shoved it into his mouth. “Happy?”

“It’s not about us, kiddo, it’s about you winning that omega’s life,” Rex told him. “We just want you to end up on the happy side of all of this.”

Boba wasn’t even sure there was a happy side, even if the omega chose to live. The omega would just be exchanging one alpha for another. That wasn’t happiness. That wasn’t freedom. Life was still better than death, he reckoned. “Well, I’ll let you know how it goes.” No matter what, at the end of the day, the omega would either be alive or dead. “I have to go.”

“Kid,” Cody stopped him as he stood from the table. With a stern look, the Clone nodded. “Do whatever you have to.”

Swallowing hard, Boba nodded. 

Putting on his helmet, he headed towards the medical ward. This was his last chance. The medical droid acknowledged his presence, but made no attempt to stop him like they had done in the past. Mustering up every bit of confidence he could, Boba entered the omega’s room for the last time. Unlike before, the omega was actually laying on the bed instead of in a corner when he entered. “Time is up, omega. What do you want?”

Sitting up, the omega gripped the edge of the bed. “If I were to live, that would mean serving you and your father.”

“Serving? You’d be serving no one,” Boba told him. “Omegas don’t serve us. You’d be our equal.”

“But I am no equal to Jango Fett,” he argued. 

Swallowing, Boba wondered if maybe this omega was actually considering life, even for a second. “Well, we could have that in common. I am not my father, but we still respect one another. I don’t serve him. We work together. If you joined us, it would be the same. We’d just be working together.”

“Omegas serve alphas,” the omega said, though there was a clear crack in his voice. 

He wanted to break. The omega wanted an excuse to turn, but he hadn’t yet found it. Fine. Fine. Boba would give him what he was looking for. “Then I challenge you. All you have to do is pin me down and I will take your life. But if I win - if I pin you down - then you become a member of our clan. You….you will serve us.” Like hell he would, but Boba would tell him what he needed to hear. They’d address that later. “And don’t think you can provoke me into beating you to death. I won’t fight you past winning.”

Boba received his answer with a fist to his stomach. 

It sent him back against the wall and he was paralyzed in shock, unprepared. The omega hit him again, reaching for his throat. By then, Boba had recovered, and he blocked the omega’s attack and placed a kick to his gut. It sent the omega tumbling back against the bed, startling Grogu. Boba hated that the child had to see this, but it was the only way. It was better than him witnessing his father’s execution. Boba made a move with a closed fist, but the omega recovered much quicker than he thought. He blocked each punch with his forearms and reached up to bang their helmets together. It dazed Boba, and he fell back.

The omega charged him, placing his hands to Boba’s shoulders and pinning him against the wall. Boba fought against him, and had to knee him to get him off. The omega was good. He was strong. Smart. Capable. Death would be a waste. Boba had to keep fighting. Finding the controls for the door, Boba opened it and grabbed the omega by the neck before throwing him out of the room to the floor of the medical ward. There was immediately an audience.

“Don’t interfere!” Boba growled, reaching down to grab the omega by the neck.

The omega swept Boba’s feet out from under him and rolled on top of him, almost pinning him down. Boba refused to be pinned, though, and quickly used his body weight to roll them. Just as Boba was about to slam the omega’s body down beneath him, he delivered a solid punch to the side of his head. Kriff! Even with his helmet, Boba’s head rang from the impact. His vision went white, and he heard a ringing in his ears. Then, suddenly, his helmet and face were pressed against the floor. 

No. Boba would not lose.

Boba launched a punch back towards the omega and knocked him off. Both of them found their way to their feet and started throwing punches. Each skilled as warriors, they were able to block each other and anticipate. Boba had thought this would be an easy fight. He had been incredibly wrong. In a moment of complacency, the omega was able to grab Boba’s helmet and threw him against a shelf of medical equipment. Boba winced in the immediate pain. Blast! 

Shoving his knee into Boba’s chest, the omega started to pin him down. No. No. 

With a loud cry, Boba elbowed the omega on top of him and reached for his neck. It was cheating, in a way. A part of Boba felt dishonorable for resulting to it. Boba reached beneath the omega’s medical gown and found his mating gland on his neck. He pressed his thumb against it as he pinned the omega to the ground. The omega had no choice but to gasp and let his body go completely still beneath him. 

“Tell me to my face you want to die,” Boba told him as he straddled the omega beneath him. “Tell me you want to die.”

The omega went incredibly still beneath him. Boba didn’t want to dare to hope, so he waited. He waited, but the omega made no further attempt to fight him. Making sure his thighs were strong on either side of the omega to hold him down, Boba reached up to release the seals on the omega’s helmet. Slowly, he lifted it. The omega had dark brown eyes, just like him. They were wide and afraid. “I win. You will live.”

The omega closed his eyes and tears fell down his cheeks. “I…am yours.”

“You are your own,” Boba told him as he released the omega. “You do not need an alpha, omega, as you said. You are a true warrior. You can fight for yourself.”

“Please,” the omega begged, lowering his head in defeat. “I am ashamed enough in defeat. Do not shame me further by denying me an alpha.”

Kriff! Obi-Wan had told him this was how it would turn out, but he had hoped he could somehow make it different. He had gotten what he wanted. The omega was willing to live. But he had to become his alpha. Dank Farrik. Sucking in a breath, he thought through all of his options. Ultimately, there was no other way. Boba wanted to save the omega. The omega was willing to be saved, but only if he became his alpha. Fine. Fine. Boba would become his alpha.

Boba softened his hold on the omega. “Very well. You are accepted into the Clan of Fett as my omega. Can I finally have your name?”

The omega swallowed hard and his dark eyes fluttered close in defeat. “Din. Din Djarin."

Chapter Text

Din looked dejected. Boba had retrieved his armor and the omega had gotten dressed while the droid finished its final assessment, but he did not wear the helmet. It remained untouched at his side. The more Boba stared at him, the more he was doubting his choice, but there was no turning back now. Both of them would have to find a way to move forward. Together. Because apparently, now, Boba had a mate. Sort of. They’d…need to discuss that. Had Boba wanted to mate this omega at first sight? Yes, but not like this. Not without proper courting, and certainly not without giving Din a choice in the matter. An actual choice. Not a choice by creed. 

“You can wear your helmet,” Boba finally said as the medical droid finished. “If it makes you feel better, wear it.”

Swallowing, Din turned to look at the helmet and sighed. “It isn’t about what I want.”

“It is now,” Boba told him, a little harsher than he’d meant. He was tired and annoyed and…hurting. There were many bruises beneath his clothes and armor. Bruises inflicted by the omega during their fight. For someone who hadn’t eaten in days and was still injured, the omega fought impressively. If he hadn’t been so worried about actually winning, getting his ass handed to him by an omega might have been something of a turn on. “You can do whatever you wish with your helmet, Din. Wear it. Don’t wear it. Wear it sometimes. Wear it always. Wear it never at all. The choice is entirely yours, now. There’s no consequence to you either way.”

Din’s fingers twitched towards the helmet, but he suddenly seemed unsure. Something was stopping him, but what? “How many…? How many have seen my face?”

Did the number really matter? It sounded to Boba that one was all it took to cast him aside by his creed. “Other than the droids - which I still don’t think even count? Myself and my father. Commander Cody, too, but that’s all.”

“Commander Cody?” Din asked, turning his head towards Boba.

“Commander of the 7th Sky Corps. Part of the Grand Army of the Republic,” Boba explained. “He’s a close family friend. You can trust him.”

With another drawn out sigh, Din nodded. “If my alpha says it.”

My alpha. It was the way Din said it that stirred up so much anger in the pit of Boba’s stomach, igniting it in an instant. It was vile. Din very clearly and seriously thought he was now owned by Boba and not his equal. “Don’t. Don’t ever call me that again. I do not own you, Din. Even mated, I wouldn’t control you or have any authority over you.”

Eyes going wide, Din’s mouth parted and then he bowed his head and rounded his shoulders. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

Boba’s jaw clenched. Din looked like he was expecting to be hit. The omega who had laid Boba on his back and would have won if he hadn’t cheated, looked afraid of being struck. Everytime Boba thought he knew how far the abuse went, it just went deeper. “I’m only offended on your behalf, Din.”

He received the opposite reaction, Din suddenly looking even more afraid and his hands wrapped around Grogu protectively in his lap. Boba then realized he wasn’t looking at him, but beyond him. Turning, he saw his father. Narrowing his eyes, Boba looked back to Din. He knew Din had heard of his father, but he hadn’t actually thought they’d met. Or…had they? Had Jango gone to talk to Din sometime while he was here? “Father.”

“So he lives,” Jango commented, his voice even showing no inflection to indicate his personal feelings on the matter. 

Boba could ask his father later. “This is Din Djarin. Now of Clan Fett.”

Jango hummed, lips pressed together in a thin line as he kept his eyes on the omega. His dark eyes held the omega’s for a long moment before the omega caved in submission and lowered his gaze. “A moment? While they finish clearing his health?”

“Of course,” Boba sighed, not sure he was mentally ready for this. Just how badly was his father about to tear into him?

Leading him to a secluded corner, Jango began his interrogation. “How did you convince him?”

“I fought him,” Boba answered. “I told him if he could pin me, then I would take his life.”

“You fought him? Knowing he was already weak from injury?” Jango raised an eyebrow, questioning the ethics of the confrontation. His voice was soft, which Boba felt was far worse than if he’d raised it.

Boba couldn’t hold back the low laugh. “I’ll have you know, he kicked my ass. I am feeling less than stellar beneath this armor right now. I only won on a technicality.”

“Technicality?” Jango’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“I won,” Boba said simply, ignoring the question. He was too ashamed to confess what he’d done to his father, and he knew Jango would have his hide for it. Not wanting his father to press any further, he changed the subject to something of equal concern. “I…I might have agreed to be his alpha in the heat of the fight.

Closing his eyes, Jango shook his head with a sigh. Boba really wished he’d just yell at this point. “So you will bond with him and take the vows?”

“Ah-n-no,” Boba held up a hand to stop his father’s train of thought. “I’m hoping after some time he’ll understand he can find a mate of his own choosing.” Would Boba like it if it was him? Well, thinking with his southern brain and not his north, yes. The omega was beautiful and could clearly beat him in a fight. But those were feelings of lust, not love. Boba had no idea if he could love the omega and vice versa. That’s why people courted. To find all of that out.

Jango leaned in with that look Boba knew all too well and absolutely dreaded. Here it came. “You have approached this entire situation from only an alpha’s perspective. You saw an injured omega so you saved him as any good alpha would. You found him beautiful, so you began to desire him. That desire kept you from viewing the situation logically.”

“I would think me not wanting to bond him shows that I am thinking logically-,”

“Quite the opposite,” Jango interjected with a bite. “This omega has been rejected by an alpha once already. To have an alpha but not be bonded is a disgrace by his creed. For whatever reason, he was deemed unworthy. He’s been taunted for years, forced to likely serve this alpha in and out of bed with no mark. And now, you too, wish to deny him a bond. Tell me, how do you think that will make him feel?”

Boba swallowed hard. He hadn’t thought of it that way. He’d thought that not being bonded would be a sigh of relief for Din.

“What you and I view as freedom is an insult to that omega,” Jango continued. “In his eyes, he is not abused or thinking unclearly. It is us that is wrong. That is a fact you seem to have failed to understand in all of this. May he in time come to change his views? Yes, these things are always possible, but it will not be because you’ve turned his life on its head in an instant. It will take time. A lot of time, Boba, and you will have to lengthen the leash slowly instead of just unclipping it. You are young, my son, but not young enough where you cannot reap what you’ve sown. “

Lowering his gaze, Boba bit his lip. Translation: I would have liked it if you were older before taking a mate, but you’re old enough that I won’t get you out of this. “Choice and consequence. Believe me, Dad, I am feeling the consequences.”

“I don’t think you’ve even begun to truly feel the consequences,” Jango warned before letting out another sigh and giving Boba space again. “Consider yourself lucky. You’re far older now than the poor omega was when he was mated. Or was supposed to be, rather. But that is their way, as it is of many other cultures besides his. I have come across others that operate much the same way. The Death Watch are not unique to this thinking, as much as we’d like them to be.”

It was very slowly starting to sink in through the veins beneath his skin that he was likely going to be mated soon. Mated. Every curse word he could think of started running in sentences in his mind. Boba had had an idea in his mind of what being an alpha to Din might mean at the time. Give him firm enough direction it might come off as orders. Go with him everywhere.  Give him things, since the omega could not claim things as his own. Help take care of Grogu. Sleep with him. Help him through heats. That had all seemed fine. But mating. That was…very permanent. “What if he decides he doesn’t want to be with me after he finds his own way?”

“Bonds can be broken, though I hear it is very painful. I think the better question is - what will you do if he wants to stay with you?” Jango asked. “If you decide he does not live up to what your eyes first saw, would you still stay with him if he wants you? After all, it was you that did this. It was at your insistence.”

Boba didn’t even need to think about it, surprising even himself. “I would stay. To do otherwise would be dishonorable.”

“Good,” Jango said softly, resting a hand on top of Boba's head for a moment. For the hundredth time, he sighed again and smiled as he moved his hand to gently caress his son’s face. “You’re bull headed and stubborn, just like I was at your age. Perhaps I should have requested just a few alterations when I asked for you.”

Huffing in amusement, Boba tilted his head in agreement. “Choice and consequence.”

“Indeed,” Jango agreed, smiling more sincerely.. “I am not telling you to go in there and claim him, Boba, but you should not dismiss the idea until you give it serious thought about what it might do to him. You may have to claim him, and soon.”

Sucking in a breath, Boba nodded. He’d be lying if he wasn’t terrified, but at least he felt like he was thinking about it a little more clearly. “Perhaps I should ask him more about his old alpha. See why he wasn’t bonded.”

“A good start,” Jango nodded in approval. “Now, I suppose I should go welcome my new son into the family.”

Boba started to follow his father until remembered how scared Din had looked. “Did you visit him? Before our fight? He looked scared of you. More than most people do.”

“I did speak with him briefly, yes,” Jango confirmed, though he offered up no further details. Boba didn’t haven’t time to pry further as they rejoined Din. “You have been cleared to be in full health?”

Din was wearing his helmet. “...I have.”

“Good,” Jango nodded before stepping towards Din and placing a hand to the side of his helmet. “ Aliit ori'shya tal'din. Welcome to our clan, Din Djarin. You are now under our care.”

“Vor entye,” Din answered. 

Jango shook his head. “There is no debt to be paid for this, Din. All we ask for is your allegiance. In our clan, we all watch out for each other. My son and I will look after you, but you are expected to do the same for us. I hear you are a very capable warrior, so I expect you to utilize those talents. We will equally look after your ad.”

There was a hesitance, Din shifting his weight and thumbing the hand of Grogu in his arms. He looked at Boba before eventually nodding. “You have my allegiance.”

“We’ll leave for Coruscant in twelve hours,” Jango told him. “I still have things to discuss with the Order. Until then, I trust I can leave Din and Grogu in your care.”

“Yes,” Boba nodded firmly, though his nerves were intensifying at the thought of being left alone with Din for the first time after everything. How long would he potentially be able to put off mating? Jango left, though, and he was suddenly very much forced to deal with this on his own. The silence was heavy in the room, Din waiting for “his alpha” to give instruction. “Are you…hungry? I don’t think you’ve eaten much since you arrived.”

“I…yes,” Din answered, his voice soft through the vocoder. Boba missed when that voice was strong and yelling at him. He hated how submissive he sounded. 

Boba nodded. There would be hundreds in the cafeteria at this time, though. Jango had warned that he couldn’t just flip things on his head. That meant he couldn’t expect Din to want to go around taking off his helmet. “There’s a cafeteria on board. We can get the food to go so you may eat somewhere without showing your face to the masses.

“Thank you.” It was honest, and Boba could tell he felt grateful. 

“Come on, then.” Boba nodded his head and started on his way.

Din kept close as they walked. Almost too close. It was like a dog heeling to his master. “Where are we, exactly?” 

“A Republic cruiser,” Boba answered. “Coruscant and Kamino were out of reach to get you care in time, and all cruisers have at least one bacta tank.”

“The Republic…you work for the Jedi? They are our enemy,” Din hissed.

Ah. There was that fire again, though not exactly in the way Boba hoped. “Were. Just like the Mandalorians were a united people once. Things change, but we do not work for the Jedi. With the Jedi, on occasion. My father and I are bounty hunters first and foremost, but are occasionally hired for Republic business. This way.” Rounding a corner, they entered the mess hall. Boba made it several feet in before he realized Din was no longer following him. Stopping, Boba turned around. “Din? What’s wrong?”

The omega’s head was swiveling, looking across the entirety of the large room. “They all…they all look just like you. Why do they look like you?”

Boba turned his head to look. The room was full, but it was just the clones - wait, the clones. Din didn’t know about the clones. “That would be because they are all clones of my father. Including me.”

“Clones? You’re a clone? So you’re not Jango Fett’s son?” Din asked, very much in a state of confusion.

Boba knew he didn’t mean it that way, but he had to swallow back the anger at the accusation. “Is Grogu not your son simply because he is not blood? I am Jango Fett’s son.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” Din quickly apologized, that fear and flinching returning again. 

Boba hated it. He wanted to grab Din by the shoulders and tell him not to be afraid. “No, you didn’t know, so don’t apologize. Stop staring and let’s get food.” The last thing he wanted was for anyone asking questions. After a quick scan, he didn’t see Cody or Rex, but he still recognized and had a friendly relationship with some of the clones in the room. He didn’t want any of them approaching, so the best thing to do was get in and out as quickly as possible. Grabbing a to-go container, he started down the line. “They are clones, but they all have their own personalities. Their own names. They are unique. So don’t treat them like they are all the same.”

“Why are they clones of your father?” Din asked.

Huffing, Boba flashed him a smirk. “Because he is the best. There is no greater warrior in the parsec, so if you’re going to make an army, might as well make them of him.”

“But why make clones at all?” Din continued his questioning.

“Well, that’s a very complicated question overall,” Boba started, knowing about their secret commission by the Sith from his father and their true purpose, “but let’s just say the Republic needed a way to gain an army quickly. The clones are enhanced so that they grow at an accelerated rate to become soldiers quickly. And no, I’m not the same. I was unaltered in that regard. I am more of a direct copy of my father. The clones were changed so that they are all betas having qualities more becoming of soldiers rather than hunters.” Submission, really, but Boba didn’t feel that was appropriate to mention, considering. “Do you not know of the conflict with the Separatists?”

“I know very little of the politics of the galaxy,” Din told him. “It was not worth knowing for an omega.”

And the list of things about Din’s covert that made him angry just continued. “Well, you’re about to be unwillingly thrust into all of that being around us, I’m afraid. I’ll try and give you a crash course later.”

Din didn’t comment further, and with containers of food in hand, Boba quickly ushered him out of the mess hall and down the halls towards his room. “You and Grogu can eat here. I’ll go see if the rooms next door are vacant for you.”

“You mean I won’t be here with you?” Din asked worriedly. 

Boba had thought the omega would like having his privacy and his own room, but Boba had thought many wrong things over the course of the last few days. The room Boba occupied was a temporary quarters. It was small, and the bed certainly wouldn’t accommodate them both. “You are free to have your own room, if you want. The bed here isn’t very big.” 

“I will sleep on the floor,” Din told him without hesitation. 

“No,” Boba immediately argued. “If anyone is sleeping on the floor, it’s me.” He’d be damned if an omega was going to sleep on the floor while he was on the bed.

“But-,”

“Din,” Boba started before remembering his father’s words. He had to let the leash loose slowly. “You are more than welcome to have your own room with Grogu where you can eat and sleep without your helmet and without the worries of anyone bothering or interrupting you. However,” he grit his teeth together, making sure he was wording this correctly, “if it makes you feel better to share a room, then we can do that, but I will not have an omega sleep on the floor while I take the bed. The bed will belong to you and Grogu.” Kriff, he’d hoped that had been the right way to address the situation. 

Din looked away as he began contemplating what it is he wanted to do. Boba could only imagine all the faces he was making beneath the helmet. The alpha had to wait quite some time before Din finally responded. “I…an alpha shouldn’t sleep on the floor.”

“That’s not an answer,” Boba told him with a slightly annoyed hiss. Maybe if he was a little more direct. “I gave you your two options. Pick one.” It felt a little too much like giving the omega an order, but at least there was a choice disguised within it. Boba didn’t ultimately care either way. Sleeping on the floor was no bother to him.

Slowly, Din walked over to the bed and sat on the edge of it with his carton of food in one hand and Grogu in the other. “I’d rather remain in here with you.”

“Ok, then,” Boba sighed, glad that a choice had been made without further argument. “Eat. I will go find additional linens for myself.” Honestly, Boba didn’t need anything, but it gave him an excuse to leave Din some privacy if he wanted it. Checking a few of the spare rooms, he finally found one that wasn’t occupied and raided the bed linen before returning. When he entered, Din’s helmet was off, and he immediately turned his back. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Din told him, though his voice didn’t exactly convey confidence. 

Boba kept his back turned. “Just because I’ve seen your face -,”

“Soon we will be mated, and you will be aliit,” Din said simply, no feeling at all behind his voice.

So family could see his face? That was the first thing to make sense in his creed. But uh, about that. Boba simply bypassed that conversation entirely and turned around. 

Din, however, wasn’t so ready to let that go. “You will mate me soon, won’t you?”

There was a desperation in his voice that Boba hated hearing. A pleading and longing in his eyes. Jango had been right. Din was feeling rejected by his previous alpha, and if Boba said no, it would make things worse. “We’ll discuss it when we get to Coruscant.” Not a no, not a yes.

“Coruscant. Is that where you live?” Din asked.

“Yes,” Boba answered as he pulled out the chair of the small table and opened up his container to begin to eat. “What about you? Where does your covert call home?” Din slowed his chewing. “You don’t have to answer. Just trying to get to know you.”

“Nevarro,” Din responded. “Have you been?”

“No,” Boba answered. “Have you been to Coruscant?”

“No,” Din said. “What’s it like?”

Boba huffed, shoving a mouthful of food into his mouth and swallowing. “Different. Busy. Vibrant. Amazing. The entire planet is covered in cities and skyscrapers. You’ll find every species imaginable. What is Nevarro like?”

“Volcanic and desolate,” Din told him solemnly. 

So the omega would be in for quite the shock as far as living conditions went.  At least his bed back home was far bigger than here. Kriff. Boba had no problems sharing a bed with the omega. It wasn’t that. It was the implication that they might be mated. Mated. He’d bought them some time on that discussion, thankfully. Boba watched as Din finished eating and began to feed Grogu. 

“How did you come about him?” Boba asked. There were a million different questions he had, but he thought perhaps Din would feel more comfortable answering about Grogu than himself. “You said it wasn’t through your alpha.”

Din licked his lips, tearing off pieces of meat and slowly giving them to Grogu. “He used to be my vod. ”

His sibling?

“He was found by members of our community, and my parents agreed to take him in,” Din continued. “I grew up with him, but after the purge I was scared he might be taken from me to be trained on his own. I claimed him as my Foundling. I was young, and many questioned how I could have a Foundling, but ultimately they let me keep him.”

So that’s why Din could claim him as his own. He had him before he’d even met his alpha. Grogu was all Din had as a reminder of his previous life. 

“You asked what I knew of the Separatists. I knew that they destroyed my home. My family.” Din clenched his jaw and looked at Boba. “I never found the reason why.”

Boba sighed. It was complicated. Everything was complicated. “The Mandalorians posed a threat to their cause, and they wanted the beskar.” It was the most stripped down version he could come up with. They could spend an entire day on the ‘why’ and still have details left over. 

“But how?” Din asked with genuine sadness and longing. “How were we a threat?”

“Politics beyond what either of us can hope to understand,” Boba told him, and it was an honest answer. “How did you both survive?”

Grogu stopped eating, sensing the overwhelming sadness emitting off of his father. Boba could feel it, too. 

Din placed a comforting hand to the top of the child’s head. “My parents hid us. A droid eventually found us, but then a covert of Mandalorians arrived to save us. Those you call the Death Watch.” He turned and glowered at Boba. “You may hate my people, but they are the only reason we live.”

“I can’t say I hate your people when I don’t even understand them,” Boba argued, but yes. Yes. Boba thought he had a very good reason to hate, and it was sitting right in front of him. Boba didn’t think there was any amount of understanding that could justify the trauma inflicted on the omega and possibly even his son. “But remember that, when you’re scowling at me. I’m the reason you live now. ”He could feel himself getting angry and he needed to remove himself from the situation. “I’m going to use the refresher. Make yourself comfortable.” He would have killed for his water shower back on Coruscant. Sonic showers were efficient, but they weren’t good for thinking, and he had a lot of thinking to do. 

How could they possibly be mates when they knew so very little of each other, and Din obviously detested him?

When Boba got out of the refresher, Din was curled up on his side on the bed with Grogu pressed up against him. The omega wasn’t asleep, but it was clear he didn’t want to speak anymore so Boba left him alone. Boba took a seat in the spare chair and worked on his armor. It didn’t need polishing, as he had done that since leaving Nar Shaddaa, but it kept his mind busy. It unfortunately didn’t keep him busy for long, and his mind was far from ready to become quiet. 

“Lights,” Boba instructed before leaving the room. He went first to Cody’s room, but there was no answer. Rex, thankfully, answered his call, and let him in without a word. Boba took a seat in the chair across the bed and immediately buried his face in his hands. 

“That bad?” Rex asked, giving the alpha’s back a pat before sitting on his bed. 

Sighing, Boba rubbed at his eyes before running his hands through his hair. “To be honest, I never envisioned myself with a mate or a family. I always just saw myself hunting and well -,” he made a gesture and Rex hummed and smiled in understanding. “But now I’m apparently about to have a mate who hates me.”

“So you won, then?” Rex inquired. “You got what you wanted, and yet now you’re whining about  it?”

Boba glared. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“I’m on no one’s side in this situation,” Rex absolved himself, raising his hands. “Just observing. You wanted to save his life, so you saved his life, but now you’re realizing there were consequences to doing so, and are now complaining about those consequences. That’s all I’m saying.”

Huffing, Boba crossed his arms and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. “You’re starting to sound like my dad.”

“Yeah, imagine that,” Rex laughed. “You told us you knew that becoming his alpha was a real possibility should you win. So what’s the problem?”

“The problem is my idea of what that would mean was very different from what it’s actually becoming,” Boba told him, lowering his head to look at him. “His previous alpha didn’t bond with him, so I thought I wouldn’t have to. I thought I’d just have to be an alpha in the way I treated him and interacted with him.”

Rex hummed. “Ah. So you thought you could just share his bed and that would be the end of it?”

“You act like fucking him was my only motivation,” Boba growled, feeling attacked and insulted by the insinuation.

“Wasn’t it, though?” Rex argued, though he was trying to hold back a smile. “What was it you said? You were enraptured by his beauty when you saw him without his helmet? That you felt a pull only mates could feel?”

“Have you been talking to Cody!?” Boba groaned in annoyance, because he certainly hadn’t said any of that to Rex. He hadn’t said it to Cody, either! At least…not exactly that. 

Rex shrugged innocently before feeling a little apologetic and sighing. “I can’t pretend to understand anything about the business of mating, but it sounds even more permanent than a common marriage, so I can imagine it is a little terrifying. Arranged marriages are pretty common in many cultures, though, and those work out sometimes.”

“Sometimes?” Boba groaned.

“Maybe a lot of the time,” Rex suggested. “I can’t give you a statistical frame of reference, because I don’t know, but I do know it’s a lot more common than actual love marriages. I know Cody told you to trust your instincts about all of this. You’ve done that up until now, haven’t you? Instincts are very rarely wrong in my experience. What’s wrong is the doubt we allow to manifest that makes us question those instincts. There was something about that omega that made your alpha want to save him at any costs. Trust that, whatever it may mean in the end.”

Everyone kept saying that, and it sounded so easy for them to say when they weren’t the ones dealing with the current situation. This was the rest of Boba’s life. He’d barely even lived as it was. And yet, at the same time, he’d already lived through more than many did in a lifetime. Still, that didn’t mean he was ready for a lifelong commitment. Boba wasn’t good at commitments. He’d never even slept with the same person twice. “I’m finding it very hard to find a light at the end of the tunnel.”

“Sure, but I think we all say that in hard times,” Rex said. “And yet, after it’s all said and done, you’ll look back and you’ll realize it was always there even if you didn’t recognize it.”

Boba rubbed his hands across the entirety of his face several times as he groaned. “I keep hoping I can talk my way out of this. That I can convince him that not bonding is in his best interest.”

“It’s in your best interest,” Rex argued. “That omega believes being mated is in his best interest.”

“I thought you weren’t taking sides,” Boba grumbled.

“I’m not,” Rex agreed, “I’m just stating the facts. You’ve got yourself a clash of cultures. Each of you believes the other is wrong and that they know best. Either you two learn to compromise, or it’s going to be a long life.” Seeing Boba’s continuing stressed state, Rex sighed softly. “Maybe after you two get somewhat settled, you take him to be among other Mandalorians. You know, the other kind. I’ve got a personal in with Bo-Katan Kryze herself.”

“Oh, yes, Bo-Katan. The princess that pissed everyone off and only fueled the Death Watch and their cause,” Boba grit his teeth and shook his head. 

Rex didn’t back down, nodding firmly. “Exactly. Maybe that’s what’s needed. A meeting of opposing sides.”

Yeah, no. Boba wasn’t Bo-Katan’s biggest fan as it was. He didn’t need to bring Din to see her. “Let’s deal with the immediate issue, first.”

“Alright, fair enough,” Rex nodded. “So, you’re going to mate him?”

Kriff. Boba didn’t know. “I’m going to try and talk him out of it tactfully, but if it really becomes so much of an issue it upsets him, then…Blast it! I have no other choice. Father is right. I was the one insistent on going down this path, so I can’t shy away now.”

Smiling, Rex nodded. “Sounds like you don’t need me, then. You know what you have to do.”

As much as Boba wanted to try and find a way around it, any means to justify otherwise, he did know. “Thank you.”

“Kid…at the end of the day, I am on your side. Always,” Rex assured him. “You’re family.”

Smiling, Boba nodded. “Thanks, Rex.”

“Good luck. I’m here for you anyway you need me.”

Boba knew that was true, and there were no words to describe his thanks for that. So many of the clones were his family. Not just Cody and Rex, but Echo and Fives. He could even call Wolffe a friend, though their meetings always ended up in a near fight. In a good way. A way of respect. “We’re returning to Coruscant. I suppose I’ll see you when I see you.”

“It’s always sooner rather than later these days,” Rex told him.

That it was. “Good night.” Rex nodded and Boba returned to his room. Din was actually asleep when he returned, and he let the light of the stars guide his way instead of turning on the lights in the room. Kicking off his boots, Boba got into his makeshift bed on the floor and sighed into the pillow. The upcoming days would be difficult. Maybe even almost impossible, but Boba would endure. He always endured.

/*/

Jango hadn’t had the stomach for food, but alcohol…he’d had quite the stomach for that. He’d just taken in an additional son. Of course he’d thought about a future in which there might be a son or daughter-in-law with grandchildren, but that was supposed to be years down the line. Years. Not days. Obi-Wan said that children needed to live out their mistakes on their own, but Jango couldn’t help but wonder if he shouldn’t have simply killed Din when he’d spoken with him and prevented all of this. He’d seen how horribly upset and scared the omega had looked in the medical ward. Would death not have been kinder than the road ahead?

A beep resonated in the room and he looked up at the door. Someone was there. Was it Boba, desperately looking for answers to everything? Jango actually debated answering, but eventually he rose and pressed the button to open the door. It was not Boba, but Obi-Wan.

“I could hear your thoughts on the other side of the ship,” Obi-Wan told him softly, offering a small smile of sympathy. He held up a bottle of Trandoshan Ale. Jango’s favorite. “Peace offering?”

As angry as Jango was at Obi-Wan, he could never stay angry. Obi-Wan was his greatest weakness. Sighing, Jango stepped aside to let him in. 

“The omega still lives.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement. Jango imagined he could feel that sort of thing with the Force. Life presence. “Boba convinced him that his life was worth living.”

Grabbing the two glasses from Obi-Wan, Jango huffed as he set them down. “I don’t think he believes that at all. He simply lost a challenge. A challenge suggested to my son by you.”

Obi-Wan didn’t back away from the accusation, simply pouring the ale into the glasses. “Boba asked me for a loophole, and I provided him with one. However, I will be honest, I was hoping it would not come to that. I fear the road ahead will be even more challenging, now.”

“You mean in the way that he expects my son to mate him?” Jango grit his teeth, though he couldn’t place all that blame on Obi-Wan. It was a matter of culture. 

The omega nodded, unsurprised. “I did warn him that may happen.”

“Yes, except he didn’t quite understand to what extent you meant,” Jango told him. As much as he wanted to put the blame on Obi-Wan, he couldn’t. It was no more the Jedi’s fault than it was anyone else’s. Obi-Wan had done the right thing. He’d presented the facts, options, and consequences. Boba hadn’t done his due diligence by asking the right questions. “Can I be honest with you?”

Obi-Wan looked up at him with soft and earnest blue eyes. “Always and forever, my dear Jango.”

“I am less afraid that this won’t work out as I am that it will,” Jango confessed. Of course Jango wanted his son’s happiness. He didn’t want Boba to experience heartbreak or any kind of sadness, but to find love with a member of the Death Watch…that could mean a whole slew of new things none of them were prepared for.

“You worry he will fall for the enemy, and you are not yet ready to handle that.”

Swallowing, Jango nodded. “In short.”

“I told you that all it takes is one.”

Yes. He had, but Jango had severe doubts that Din Djarin would be the one to change the tides of the civil war. “I love Boba, but children are frustrating. We are not wiser simply because we are older, but because we have actually experienced life. We’ve gone through these same things. We know the outcome.”

“Children never listen. Padawans or otherwise,” Obi-Wan smiled sympathetically. “You know, Anakin asked me to train Luke and Leia should they choose the path. I told him absolutely not. I’ve had enough of Skywalkers to last me a lifetime, thank you. Just as Anakin learned what a pain in my ass he was through Ahsoka, she must now do the same and take on that responsibility. I will have nothing to do with it.”

Jango couldn’t help but smile. “You can already tell? That they are Force sensitive? Like with the child Grogu?”

“Oh yes, though Luke much more than Leia,” Obi-Wan answered. “Not that she could not be trained, but Luke…Luke takes after his father in that regard, I think. A test has not been done since they are still so young, but I imagine his midi-chlorian counts would be off the charts just as Anakin’s were.”

Jango wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Honestly, he wasn’t even sure he cared. The Jedi had never been a concern of his….mostly. Other than Obi-Wan. What had almost happened with Anakin, how he’d almost joined Palpatine…Jango hadn’t cared about any of that. Order 66 could have succeeded and wiped out all of the Jedi and Jango would not have cared at all unless Obi-Wan fell, too. Jango was simply on the side that kept his family safe. For now, that remained with the Republic. “Are you sure you should even train him, then? The Order never wanted to train Anakin, and in the end many of their concerns turned out to be very valid.”

“I’d like to say we’ve learned the error of our ways, but the Council is made up of many old souls who do not like change,” Obi-Wan sighed. “It’s been easier for the younger knights and padawans to accept new ways of thinking. In fact, I think they quite welcome it. I have to hold on to the hope that they are our future and will shape it despite the Council’s reluctance. Ahsoka always did have a hard time truly controlling her emotions. She cared deeply for Anakin. Still cares. I think she is the type of balance that is ideal. What I hope others strive to be.”

Obi-Wan was right. The Jedi Council was made up of many very old souls who even still thought they should carry on as if nothing had happened. As if changes didn’t need to happen for their order to continue to survive. The Council was stuck in the past while the rest of the galaxy moved forward. Most of the galaxy, anyway. There were plenty of others stuck in their past ways. Jango took a large gulp of his ale. Obi-Wan’s plight wasn’t much different from his own. He was seeking change in a place that didn’t want it.

“Jango, I don’t want to fight,” Obi-Wan told him softly. “I don’t ever want to fight with you. We’ve seen enough fighting. Continue to see too much fighting. It’s like it will never end. This war feels eternal.”

“For being peacekeepers, you have seen very little peace,” Jango acknowledged sympathetically. Jango had chosen a lifetime of battle and death, but he knew that the omega’s heart was soft at its core. It wanted an end to all of this. “I am sorry I took my anger out on you.”

“It was justified,” Obi-Wan admitted, “and that’s why it hurt to hear. I still want you near me.”

They reached for the bottle of ale at the same time, and their fingers brushed. Obi-Wan caressed Jango’s hand just briefly before retracting. Jango wanted the same. “I know.” He refilled his glass before half emptying it again. 

“What will you do about Boba and the omega?” Obi-Wan asked, changing the subject.

Jango sucked in a breath and tilted his head. “You mean my new son-in-law to be? We’ll go to Coruscant and get him settled, I suppose. Din. Din Djarin is his name. Officially a member of Clan Fett.”

“I will join you. Someone from the Council will sense Grogu’s presence if he comes anywhere near. I’d like to interfere with that before it starts,” Obi-Wan told him. “You and Din both have enough to deal with without the Council breathing down your necks.”

“Would you train him?” Jango asked. “If the child decided it?” Frankly, Obi-Wan would be the only Jedi that he would trust with a member of his family. And Grogu was now a member of his family. 

Obi-Wan’s eyebrows raised in surprise at the question. “I…suppose if you asked me, I would consider taking on one last padawan. But he would be the last! I mean it!”

Huffing with a smile, Jango took another sip of his ale.

“Have you been able to learn anymore from Din?” Obi-Wan asked, taking a sip himself.

“I have not asked questions,” Jango told him. “I am leaving that up to Boba. I am only offering guidance with a less than gentle hand.”

“I know you to have no other kind,” Obi-Wan smirked. 

Jango hummed and held back his own smirk. If only Obi-Wan could know that in other…areas. “He naively thought just because his previous alpha did not claim him, that he could get away with not doing so. I was quick to tell him how devastating that might be. He did not like hearing that, but it at least got him to start thinking about the right questions to ask first. It will be interesting to see how long he’s able to dance around it.”

“I have a very strong curiosity to speak with Din myself, but I would rather that come a long organically than forced,” Obi-Wan said. “I’m sure he’ll be bombarded with nothing but questions for many weeks to come. I can reach out to some contacts and see what else I can find.”

Jango raised an eyebrow and his muscles tensed, knowing exactly who he meant. “Bo-Katan is not exactly who I would reach out to with questions involving the Death Watch.”

“She is much closer to that conflict than you or I,” Obi-Wan reminded him, “and she has suffered her fair share. Let’s not get into an argument again about that. You made your choices just as we all have.”

Indeed. “Well, at the very least, I don’t have to worry about any unplanned little ones anytime soon.”

Obi-Wan smiled and shook his head. “You may find yourself changing your mind on that. You never have seen yourself looking the way you do at Boba. You love him. You’ve always loved him, very much. You’d be a great ba’buir. ”

“In ten years maybe, not now,” Jango told him before sighing sadly. “It may not be an option anyways.”

“It can be,” Obi-Wan argued. “Depending on what exactly is the cause of Din’s fertility issues, it can be solved. What did the droid actually say regarding his condition?”

“Just that he was not a good candidate for reproduction,” Jango answered.

Obi-Wan shrugged, “That can mean many things, including something that really might be a simple fix by our own standards. The Death Watch are stubborn and rely on not much more than herbs and bacta spray to solve all of their ailments. But, you’re right. For the meantime, at least, you don’t have to have nightmares of Boba telling you you’re to be a ba’buir after Din’s first heat with him.”

The omega was smirking and if Jango had any less restraint, he would have wiped that right off his face with a kiss. “I’m trying very much not to think about my son and omega heats at all.”

“Nothing has happened yet,” Obi-Wan reminded him. “Let’s see how it plays out. We might both end up surprised.”

It would certainly be interesting and eventful, there was no doubt about that. “Will you accompany us on the Slave?”

“If you don’t mind the extra company,” Obi-Wan answered. “I’ll bring Cody as well. Anakin and Rex can deal with the lead you found on Nar Shaddaa.”

Jango wasn’t sure how having all of them on one ship would turn out, but it definitely wouldn’t be boring. “You are always welcome, and Boba will be glad to have Cody around.”

“Boba will be fine,” Obi-Wan promised him. “Whatever happens with Din. He is unaltered, which means he is all the best parts of you.”

“And the worst,” Jango added. As much as he had tried to raise Boba around his own faults, he couldn’t help but continue to see himself in his son. Too much so. 

“There are no worst parts,” Obi-Wan told him, giving Jango that look that he both loved and hated. Loved because it was the look of the only person in the entire galaxy that truly understood him, but hated because he could do nothing more than stare. With a smile, the omega refilled both their glasses. “How about a wager? Like old times. Will Boba and Din bond or not?”

Jango never could back down from a good wager with Obi-Wan. They had always ended up being some of the most fun events of Jango’s life. “What time frame are we talking?”

“You think it is rather immediate, while I think they may talk it out and buy some time. Let’s say three weeks? With the over-under.”

An easy win. Jango imagined they’d be mated in three days. Three weeks was far too generous a timeline. “Agreed. What’s the wager?”

“I get you for two month’s worth of Republic missions,” Obi-Wan told him, knowing very well that Jango really hated doing Republic work, but did it because of the omega only. “No questions, no arguments. But if you win, I’ll give you two months of peace. I won’t contact you for Republic business for any reason.”

Two months? Jango couldn’t even recall a full month going by of late without Obi-Wan calling on him. Two months would seem like an eternity. One Jango couldn’t wait to experience. “I agree to the terms.” Jango didn’t exactly want to win, because that would mean Boba and Din would have bonded, but he might as well get something out of it knowing it was going to happen. They clinked glasses and drank, sealing the deal. 

In the morning, they would make for Coruscant, and their futures. Whatever they may be. 

Chapter Text

Boba watched as Din did a 360 while they walked across the landing dock trying to take in everything. The omega wore his helmet, but Boba could tell he was in awe of his surroundings. Bounty hunting would take you to many places in the galaxy, but even Boba could admit that few planets were like Coruscant. Ships and speeders whizzed by as buildings towered over them even as high up as they already were. Even Grogu, who was tucked in the crook of Din’s arm, was looking on with wonder, ears twitching up and down from all the noise.

“There’s no doubt the Council has probably already sensed Grogu, so I will leave you here and do my best to hold them off,” Obi-Wan said mostly to Jango, but he looked back to acknowledge Boba as well. 

Cody patted Boba’s shoulder as he passed. “Good luck, kid.”

“Yeah, thanks,” Boba sighed, needing every bit of luck he could get. 

The silence as they followed Jango to their penthouse was overwhelming. Jango’s face was stoic, as it usually was, and Din was too stunned by his surroundings to offer any words. Not that he would even if he wasn’t otherwise occupied. It wasn’t until they finally reached the penthouse that his father finally spoke.

“It is your job to make them comfortable,” Jango said simply before retreating to his own room.

Sucking in a breath, Boba nodded Din in the direction of his own room. “Come on. This way.”

“You…live here?” Din asked in disbelief. He went straight for the window that took up most of the far wall and watched as speeders zoomed by. 

Setting down his helmet, Boba looked around and shrugged. “Yeah, well, Dad got a lot of credits for allowing the Jedi to use his face for cloning. We used to live on Kamino. I kind of hated it. Never kriffing stopped raining.” They still took frequent trips there, but at least he didn’t have to come back to it after every mission. 

“How will we sleep?” Din asked hesitantly, pressing his fingers against the glass before turning around.

How would they sleep? There wasn’t a spare room, but there was enough space to rearrange the furniture and put another small bed. Or…well…Boba’s bed was big enough they could sleep together and not really touch unless one of them sprawled out. The couch in the living room was long enough and Boba had taken his share of naps on it. He wouldn’t mind sleeping on it if needed. But Din had already rejected separate rooms back on the cruiser. Boba didn’t figure he’d be too happy about it here, either. “I’m sure we can get a smaller bed to fit in here if we move around some things, but if you want to share a bed we can. It’s big enough we won’t be on top of each other. And don’t say you’ll sleep on the ground. This is now as much your home as it is ours and no one is sleeping on the floor. We can figure out something for Grogu, too.”

Din took a moment, contemplating. Boba could see him surveying the room. “I am fine with whatever you want.”

Of for kriff’s sake. Boba was so tired of that constant redirect anytime he tried to offer Din a choice, but it wasn’t going away anytime soon. “Fine, well, we aren’t going to get a bed today, so I guess we can share and see how it works out. Can we agree to that?”

“I…yes.”

Good. That was a start. “Alright, well, refresher is over there. We have real water here, if you want it when you shower. I imagine even on Nevarro you probably didn’t have many clothes other than your armor, but we can change that. Until then, you can wear some of mine. They won’t fit exactly, but it’ll be good enough for a few days. We can get a stand for your armor, too. You can use mine for now.”

“You don’t wear your armor here?” Din asked in a tone of confusion.

Boba raised a brow as he began to remove his vambraces. “No? This is our home. Coruscant isn’t crime free by any means, but it’s no Tatooine. This is the Federal District and there’s far oo many Jedi and political figures walking around for anyone to do something stupid. The lower levels are another story, but if you venture down there, then that’s on you. It’s not called the underworld for nothing. Did you always wear your armor on Nevarro? Even around your covert?”

“Yes. Always,” Din answered without hesitation. 

Just another thing he found strange. “Well, you can wear it, if you want. Not going to stop you, but I just figured you might want to feel a little more comfortable when you’re not on a hunt. It’s nice to breathe.” Setting the vambraces down in the chair by the window, Boba unbuckled his chest plate and pulled it over his head. He let out a sigh of relief. How could anyone want to wear this all the time? Looking the armor over, he set it down with the rest. It could use a paint job soon. Speaking of. “Why is your armor unpainted? You stick out like the twin suns of Tatooine were both shining down on you anywhere you go.”

“Omegas do not paint their armor until mating. Then, they paint it to match their alpha,” Din explained as if it were common fact.

Armor painting was personal. It was individual and unique to the wearer. Din shouldn’t have to match Boba just because they were mated, but that wasn’t even an argument worth having at this point. 

“I suppose it’ll be like yours, soon,” Din continued on.

Well, apparently it was an argument worth having right now. Kriff, how could Boba continue to dance around this? “But what if it didn’t have to look like mine? What colors would you paint it?”

Din looked hesitant to respond, but eventually he said, “Green.”

Boba sighed in annoyance. Of course he’d say that, because that was the color of his arm-Boba noticed the omega was looking down at Grogu. Oh. The annoyance immediately dissipated, and Boba felt bad for jumping to the conclusion. “Is there anything specific you and Grogu like to eat?” Boba asked, wanting to switch topics as soon as possible. Anything that wasn’t centered around mating. 

“I’ll eat anything,” Din answered unsurprisingly. “Grogu…well. He prefers his meals moving, but newly dead works. He’s alright with meat heavy broths if nothing else is available.”

“Ok, well, we usually don’t keep much around that’s super fresh after hunts, but noted for the future,” Boba told him. “I’m going to see what’s available to eat. Take your time. Get comfortable.” It was really an excuse to just get out of the room and avoid any possible mating talk, but he did feel his stomach start to rumble. Food would be a good distraction. 

“When will we mate?” Din asked before Boba could escape from the room. There was a desperation to his voice.

Boba clenched his jaw. “Get comfortable here, first.” He thought retreating to the kitchens might be a welcomed distraction, but that was until he found his father already there.

It was too late to retreat back into his room, his father already noticing him with a slight glance over his shoulder. “Are they settling in?”

“I guess,” Boba shrugged, approaching his father at the counter reluctantly where he was gathering what supplies they did have for a meal. “I don’t think he’s ever been to a planet like Coruscant before. Added culture shock to what he’s already going through.”

Jango hummed. “What all have you been able to get from him?”

“Well, the basics are his covert is located on a planet called Nevarro, and Grogu used to be his vod back on Mandalore. He took the vows as Foundling to make sure he stayed in his care after he joined the Watch.”

Jango raised a brow. “Did he say how his family came across Grogu?”

“Just that he was found by other members of their clan, and that his parents took him in,” Boba answered, recognizing what meal his father was about to make and grabbing a handful of ingredients to prepare. ”Also, apparently the reason he wears unpainted beskar is because he is supposed to take the colors of his mate.”

“I do vaguely recall that,” Jango nodded. “And what happened on Nar Shadaa? Obi-Wan told me the story didn’t make sense.”

No. It didn’t. Boba recounted what Din had told him, and no matter how many times he said it, it never added up. There were so many questions that he still needed to be answered. “I think we should go back and complete the bounty. I feel like the Zabrak knows more than he let on.”

“Good instincts,” Jango praised. “When you are prepared, you may take the Slave and complete the bounty.”

Boba stopped what he was doing and looked up at his father in surprise. “You’ll let me go alone?”

“You won’t be alone,” Jango reminded him. “It was Din’s bounty, so let him see it through. But Boba, don’t expect answers to bring closure. They will likely only bring more questions and further pain. Whatever reasons his covert might have had, they cannot have been in Din’s interest.”

Yes, Boba pretty much expected whatever they found out to be bad, but Din deserved to know. He deserved to know why he was going through all of this. “Regardless of what we find, the Zabrak needs to be brought to justice.”

“Justice? There is rarely justice in bounties,” Jango started, before placing a hand on top of Boba’s head, “but this is one of the rare ones. There is certainly justice to be had. Give it a few days before you depart. We can’t keep thrusting Din from one location to the next. Omegas need more time to adapt to surroundings and feel comfortable than we do. It’s much harder for them to bounce from one planet to the next.”

Boba was itching for answers, but his father was right. He couldn’t uproot Din as soon as they had gotten here. “He has nothing and will need things of his own. We can spend time in the city.”

“Are you sleeping together?”

The question had Boba choking on his own breath and blushing furiously.

“I mean in the same bed,” Jango clarified, passing his son a glance. “Omegas like to have things of their own in their nest. I’m simply saying, if he is sharing with you, give him something of his own. It’ll make him feel more comfortable.”

Boba let out the breath he’d held in and closed his eyes, relieved his father wasn’t asking if he was already bedding the omega. He knew nothing of omega nesting habits. He’d never stayed with an omega long enough for that. “I feel like I need an omega handbook.”

“Texts on dynamics do exist. You could probably find some in the library,” Jango suggested. “It couldn’t hurt to broaden your education.” 

Visiting the library meant visiting the Senate which was probably further down on Boba’s list than visiting the underground of Coruscant, but if it might help his relationship with Din, he’d do it. Anything he could do to do this the right way. “I’ll consider it.”

They continued cooking, making idle chat, and it almost had Boba forgetting about everything until it was time to eat. Din had not come out of his room. Sucking in a deep breath, Boba cautiously opened the door. “Din? Food is ready.” At first, he didn’t even see the omega, but when he ventured further into the room he saw Din sitting on the floor at the window, just watching. He still wore the helmet, but he had taken off the rest of his armor. Grogu was in his lap. “Would you prefer if I brought the food in here?”

“If that’s alright,” Din answered.

Boba couldn’t blame him. He didn’t want to be around his father sometimes, either. Jango could be terrifying. Boba admired that terrifying energy, but he had far from mastered it. While he had started to make a name for himself, the Fett name still very much meant Jango. “It’s fine. I’ll be right back.” Jango had already set the table, but Boba simply shrugged and gathered the plates for Din and Grogu. He set the food down on the small desk in his room. “It’s not much, but it’s a hot meal. We can go into town tomorrow to refresh the kitchen and your supplies.”

“I’m sure it’s sufficient, thank you,” Din told him, though he made no effort to move from his place on the floor. 

Waiting a few moments to see if Din might move, Boba ended up leaving in disappointment and returning to the living room with his father. “He doesn’t want to come out.”

Jango hummed, unsurprised. “I told you it wouldn’t be overnight.”

Boba knew that, and yet, he still was surprised every time there wasn’t an immediate change. Boba was well aware he had a short temper and little patience, all of which was a horrible combination for what he was dealing with. This whole situation was really testing them all. “I know.” 

After dinner, Boba returned to his room. Din and Grogu had not moved, though the food tray was empty. A positive sign, at least. “Do you wish to take a shower? Change clothes?”

“No,” Din said simply as he finally stood. There was a hoarseness to his voice that made it sound like he’d been crying. He approached the bed with Grogu in his arms and stopped. “Do you…prefer a side?”

The question was so strange to Boba he had to blink twice to acknowledge he’d even heard it. “...No?”

Pulling back the covers on the left side of the bed, Din climbed into it with his helmet still on and curled into the smallest ball Boba thought possible with Grogu against his chest. Boba’s bed wasn’t the largest, certainly, but it still held plenty of room where the omega could have spread out.

“Din, you can relax,” Boba tried to tell him. “I don’t need that much of the bed.”

Din responded only by making himself smaller. Boba sighed and shook his head, retreating to the bathroom to freshen up for the night. When Boba did turn off the lights and climb into bed, he initially turned away from Din, but that didn’t last long. Something was annoyingly pulling at him to turn around. It was subtle, almost not even there, but it was enough to irritate Boba and have him turning over. Reaching out a hand, Boba’ thought about touching the omega’s back and then stopped short. 

Boba’s heart ached for him. It was strange. Foreign. Unreal. He hardly knew this omega, but he wanted desperately to pull him into his arms and comfort him. Boba had bedded omegas. He’d even shared the same bed after fucking them, but he’d never felt like this. Ever. Boba’s heart hurt so much because he wanted an acceptance he was not receiving. An acceptance he didn’t yet deserve. 

With a disappointed sigh, Boba let his hand fall in the empty space between them. 

/*/

Obi-Wan wasn’t particularly dreading speaking to the Council in regards to Grogu because of Grogu, but because formulating excuses to keep him away from the temple for the time being all led back to one thing  - Jango. No, Jango wasn’t directly involved, but he was one degree of separation away and that always created a problem for Obi-Wan regarding the Council. They were not blind to his notable bias, and their trust of Jango did not run as deep as it did with him. The fact that Jango at one point was ready to betray them all still resided in the back of the Council’s minds despite the many battles Jango had now won for them. 

But it wasn’t only that. Obi-Wan was far too connected to the other Council members through the Force to effectively hide his feelings for the bounty hunter. They never mentioned it, at least not directly, but there were certainly passive aggressive jabs. Anakin knew, and his once padawan kept trying to convince him to take the leap, but he simply couldn’t. There was just too much going on. He wouldn’t be able to devote himself to Jango the way the alpha deserved. 

“Are you sure there isn’t something else you could have me doing, sir?” Cody asked as they got closer to the Council room. “Something more appropriate for a clone?”

Obi-Wan smiled. “Are you that eager to get away from me, Cody?”

“Not you, sir, just the Council,” Cody answered. “My brothers and I have greatly appreciated the greater freedoms you’ve allowed us, but this is not a freedom I particularly enjoy.”

“With freedom comes responsibility, my friend,” Obi-Wan told him. “Besides, I need some moral support going into this, and Anakin isn’t here.”

Cody sighed, but didn’t argue further.

They rounded the last corner and Obi-Wan stopped suddenly, Cody bumping into him in the process. Ahsoka was standing outside the Council room. While the Togruta had ultimately returned to the Order, relations still weren’t the same. They weren’t the same with Anakin, either, but he was doing everything he could do to repair the relationship. Ahsoka only cared about Anakin, and Obi-Wan couldn’t entirely fault her for it. “Ahsoka. A pleasant surprise to see you here.”

“Master,” she dipped her head and offered him a small smile. “Commander Cody. A surprise to me, too. Master Skywalker asked me to meet you here.”

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. “To meet with the Council? He told you about the child?”

“He did tell me about Grogu, but it’s more than that,” the smile fell and her crossed arms fell to her sides. “Master Skywalker and I shared a vision about the child. It seems a few members of the Council did as well.”

A Force vision? Why hadn’t Obi-Wan had it? He had been in direct contact with Grogu longer than anyone. He had felt an incredibly strong pull to the child, but nothing more. “Are they discussing it?”

“No. They told me to let them know when you were here and to not enter,” Ahsoka told him. “I don’t think they want this in front of the full Council.”

Not in front of the entire Council? Obi-Wan sucked in a breath. That could not be good for many reasons. 

“In trouble before it even begins,” Cody sighed. “Just another day at the office.”

Ahsoka smiled at him. “Some things never change, do they?”

“No, sir, they don’t,” he agreed.

“One moment, then,” Ahoska entered the Council chamber without them.

Cody pressed his lips together and leaned against the wall. “I don’t like this, sir. The Mandalorian has been through quite a lot. He doesn’t need the Council breathing down on him for the kid. What do you think the vision was about?”

“If only I knew,” Obi-Wan stroked his beard with equal concern. Who else shared this vision? They were not kept waiting long and his question was answered as Yoda and Mace Windu were the only ones to follow Ahoska out of the chamber.

“Return, you have, but without the child,” Yoda began, walking right past Obi-Wan and leading them down the hall.

“The child is with his father,” Obi-Wan answered, following after him. “They are on Coruscant.”

“The Mandalorian,” Mace commented. 

“Yes,” Obi-Wan confirmed.

Waving his hand, Mace opened the door to one of the meditation rooms. Cody did not enter. “You too, Commander. I’m afraid this has to do with you, as well.”

“Me, sir?” Cody blinked in surprise.

“Your presence in the vision, we sensed,” Yoda told him. 

If Cody wasn’t anxious about this before, he was now. Reluctantly, he joined them in the meditation room, and Mace sealed it off to unwanted visitors.

Sucking in a breath, Mace took a seat and folded his hands together. “We felt a disturbance in the Force when you made contact with the child. We could sense him even here on Coruscant through your connection.”

“His connection to the Force is strong, though he doesn’t seem to have tapped into his powers,” Obi-Wan acknowledged, not entirely surprised by the information. 

“Yes, there is no doubt the child has strong potential, but the vision was not about the child,” Mace Windu told him.

Not about the child? “I don’t understand. If it wasn’t about the child, then who?”

“Present, the child was, but about the child, it was not,” Yoda nodded in agreement. “Disconnected from the Force you become, when around Jango Fett you are.”

And there it was. The passive aggressive jab. Was that his explanation for why he saw nothing? Well, it was a good one, especially considering the arguments he’d had with Jango causing him to lose control of his emotions. He’d had nothing other than Jango on his mind since the rendezvous. Obi-Wan simply ignored the comment like he always did. “What, then, was the vision about?”

Mace and Yoda shared glances. Ahsoka had chosen not to sit, instead standing by Cody. Her face remained neutral. She had no side to take or stakes in this, only helping out because Anakin had clearly asked it of her. 

“The Mandalorian, does he wear armor that closely represents Boba Fett’s?” Mace instead asked.

“No,” Obi-Wan answered, “his armor is in fact unpainted.”

“Painted like Boba Fett, the Mandalorian in our vision was. Wore the sigil of Jaster Mereel, he did,” Yoda told him.

That was absurd. No one else wore the sigil other than Jango and Boba. Except…Obi-Wan’s lips parted in silent realization. No one wore it yet. In the Death Watch, it was customary for omegas to take on the armor paint of their alphas. The Mandalorian in their vision had to be Din. “If Grogu was there, then that was certainly his father, Din Djarin. In saving Din, Boba agreed to take him on as a mate. That must be why his armor matched. I don’t understand. Why would a vision of Din Djarin need to remain hidden from the Council? He’s just a lost young omega who has had his entire world shaken in the last week.”

“Wielded the Darksaber, this Din Djarin did,” Yoda answered firmly. 

Oh. Oh my. Obi-Wan felt his skin go cold. “Wielded it how? Against whom?”

“That is the question,” Mace Windu tilted his head. “That much was not shown to us. We could sense your presence there, along with Commander Cody. Skywalker and Commander Rex, too, were present.”

“So was Bo-Kotan,” Ahsoka added. 

Bo-Katan had lost the Darksaber, and its whereabouts were unknown. Had she found it and Din had challenged her? That seemed unlikely, but not unreasonable. The omega held strong to his current beliefs, but if he also knew that Jango would not give out his adoptive father’s sigil so easily. Jango would be the hardest person for Din to gain the trust of. If Jango had placed the seal on Din’s armor, then he had gained Jango’s utmost trust. Obi-Wan found it hard to believe Din would be fighting against Bo-Katan, in that case. He had so many questions, but the Force only showed so much for a reason. A partial truth, but not the whole truth. A potential future, but not the whole future. 

“A dark force, I sensed,” Yoda added, closing his eyes. “What it was, I know not. Set something important in motion, young Boba Fett has. Mmm.”

So Boba Fett had made the right decision. For better or for worse. Whatever the outcome may bring, Din was meant to have survived. In turn, Obi-Wan knew what this was leading to. “You wish me to keep a close eye on Din, Boba, and Grogu.”

“We would like it if the child would train, but we understand the current circumstances,” Mace told him. “Perhaps…this could be a test run of some of the changes you and Skywalker were asking for.”

Were his ears working correctly? Was Mace honestly suggesting that Din could still be involved in Grogu’s life while he trained? It would be a good candidate for testing, given that Din was already on Coruscant, but was the Council really allowing it? It was a step he and Anakin had been begging for the Council to make, but they hadn’t. Until now, it seemed. “I make no promises on Grogu’s willingness to train. I did, however, promise Din we would not take Grogu from him without his permission. They have clearly been through much together, and I don’t suppose he will grant the permission we are looking for unless we promise him visitation rights and then some. I will ask, but please give me some time. This has brought much to my attention that needs addressing.”

“The Council can count on your discretion?” Mace asked Cody.

“Won’t get a peep out of me, sir,” Cody promised.

“You’ll report to us any significant movements made by the Mandalorian Din Djarin,” Mace ordered.

Obi-Wan could only nod and dip his chin in agreement. 

Humming, Yoda used his cane to help him stand. “Stay here, you should, and connect with the Force.”

Yes, yes. Another passive aggressive comment. “As you wish, Master Yoda.”

Mace and Yoda left, but Ahsoka stayed behind. With a sigh, she pushed off the wall and took a seat on the red cushion across from Obi-Wan. “Would you like me to stay and help you, Master?”

“I would like that,” Obi-Wan answered. 

“Should I take my leave?” Cody asked.

“No,” both Jedi answered simultaneously. 

Cody sighed. 

Sucking in a deep breath, Obi-Wan placed his hands on his knees and closed his eyes. Letting out a long breath he concentrated on the feeling of the Force around him and surrendered both body and mind to it. A fog began to fill his mind and then it slowly cleared. Boba Fett was standing pointing a blaster at some invisible figure. He could feel Ahsoka’s presence next to him.

“Letting you live would be no mercy,” Boba Fett hissed at his opponent. “With every future breath you’d take, you would have to live with the fact that I took everything from you. That I took your omega from you because you did not deserve him. You did not earn him.  Every morning you would wake, and you would think of me. That is no mercy. That is torture, and I hope you’d suffer from it until your dying breath.”

“By the stars,” Cody breathed in shock and surprise.

Obi-Wan turned and felt Cody’s presence just as solidly as he did Ahsoka. “Cody? You can see this?”

“I don’t know what I’m seeing, sir, but it’s certainly something,” Cody responded in disbelief. 

“Master, I’m not sure what’s happening,” Ahsoka exclaimed. Neither did Obi-Wan, but he silenced them both and continued to watch.

Boba lowered his blaster, and apparently that was the wrong move. Whomever he was fighting suddenly stabbed his side with a vibroblade and the alpha was stumbling back clutching his bleeding side. Eventually he stumbled and fell to the ground.

“NO!”

Obi-Wan felt the rush of air as the Din Djarin ran past him and fell to his knees at Boba’s side. Din was throwing off his helmet and gently pulling Boba’s off. Grogu was there, but almost unnoticeable at Boba’s side against everything else going on. Grabbing Boba’s face with both hands, the omega pulled their foreheads together crying heavily. Obi-Wan felt tears fill his own eyes, the emotions of the vision filling him. 

“Boba, Boba, please!” Din begged through the tears. “Hold on! We’ll get you help! Bob’ika !!”

Boba slowly raised a hand to Din’s cheek. “Din… Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum .”

“No! Don’t you dare!” Din sobbed. He grabbed Boba’s hand and guided it to his belly. “You can’t leave us! You can’t! I can’t do this without you! Bob’ika , please!”

Obi-Wan felt a tear roll down his cheek as he pressed his own hand to his belly.

Boba still drew breath, one hand pressed firmly against his wound, but his breathing was labored and not a good sign. Obi-Wan could sense Jango’s fear and panic on top of his own tears, though he never appeared in a physical sense. Letting Boba’s hand fall from his face, Din reached for his belt as his lip trembled. Slowly, he began to stand, and then the Darksaber lit up in his hand. Din let out a primal scream full of pain, sorrow, and horror, and then he was charging at something - someone - with all that emotion. 

Obi-Wan felt a primal sense of range fill his body and then his eyes opened. 

Ahsoka shared his expression as she also came back from the vision, gasping. “Master…I don’t think that’s ever happened before. A non-Jedi seeing a vision.”

“No…I don’t think so,” Obi-Wan agreed, trying to slow his breaths. Cody somehow being pulled into the vision was the least of his concern, though. There was so much to digest, and little of it good.

“That omega is going to be the death of Boba!” Cody growled angrily. 

Obi-Wan held up a silencing hand and stood. He was still shaking from the emotions of the vision. Boba and Din had loved each other. They had loved each other so much that it had paralyzed Obi-Wan. Finding his own senses again, Obi-Wan swallowed and shook his head. “No. We don’t know that. Visions appeal to our own biased emotions and thoughts, which often causes us to misinterpret them. Nothing in that vision said Boba would end up dead. He might have gotten help in time.”

“We have to look at the facts, and the facts only,” Ahsoka nodded through her own emotions, blue eyes still wide. “No assumptions. Boba was injured by something, someone, but what?”

Obi-Wan began to pace, his heart racing. His hands were trembling still. Love. There had been so much love there it scared Obi-Wan. “Boba said he had taken the assailant’s omega from him. It had to have been Din’s former alpha, or at least someone from his covert.”

“Do we know anything about his former covert” Cody questioned.

“Not yet, but with time,” Obi-Wan told him, performing a slow meditation in his own head to slow and relax his breathing. It had become mostly normal now. “Why were they arguing? How did it come to that? More importantly, how did Din come upon the Darksaber?” Obi-Wan stopped pacing and ran his hands across his face. 

“I hear what you’re saying, sir, but all I saw was someone I care about very much dying,” Cody said, voice quivering. “If keeping him away from the omega is what I need to do-,”

“You cannot,” Ahsoka told him. “The more we try and fight against these visions, the more we realize we were simply playing into their hands.”

“Cody,” Obi-Wan spoke softly, understanding and appreciating the clone’s concern, but agreeing with Ahsoka. He’d learned the hard way with Anakin. “Boba wasn’t dead yet, and you saw how they reacted to each other. They cared for each other. Deeply. The Mando’a that Boba spoke were affirmations of love. Believe it or not, like it or not, Boba and Din will fall in love.”

Clenching his jaw, Cody looked away and shook his head. “Yeah, I saw it, sir. I…I think I even felt it. What they felt. There was this stab to my heart I didn’t even know I could feel. But Boba…”

“I know,” Obi-Wan told him. He had felt it all, too, which is why he knew his words to be true. In that vision, there was no doubt, Boba and Din sincerely loved one another. Din was a welcomed and loved member of the clan wearing the sigil of Jester Mareel. None of that could be dismissed. There was also the fact that Din and Boba were clearly older than they were now. Perhaps not my much, but enough that it gave them all time. “Cody, I know you want to protect Boba. I promise you that I do, too. But we cannot act irrationally. I need you to keep silent about what you’ve seen.”

Cody rolled his shoulders back and lifted his chin defiantly. “Is that an order, sir?”

“Yes,” Obi-Wan said with no hesitation. Cody closed his eyes and eventually resigned with a step back. “We will work together to try and put together the pieces of the puzzle. The more we can uncover, the clearer the vision will become. This vision was significant for many parties in the galaxy. The Republic. The Order. Mandalore. Maybe even more beyond that we could not see.”

“What would you have me do, sir?” Cody huffed in frustration.

Obi-Wan closed the distance and placed a hand on the clone’s shoulder. “Cody. Please. There is no one else in our armies that I trust more than you, so trust me now. Don’t treat Boba any differently. Don’t purposely try to dissuade him from Din Djarin. Things must play out as they are destined. I sincerely believe Din Djarin is not the enemy. Something else - someone else - is the enemy here and we have to work together to decipher it.”

“This Din Djarin is not an enemy…unless we make him one,” Ahsoka added, giving Cody a glance to further add to Obi-Wan’s point. “If you were to take what we saw to the extreme and force the omega out of Boba Fett’s life, it may change things for the worse.”

Shaking his head in disbelief, Cody ran his fingers through his short hair. “Alright, alright, I get it. Act like a fool, get fool results.  You all and your Jedi magic. I’ll follow your orders even if I don’t like them. Whatever you need, I’m in.”

“Just help us observe Boba and Din. Anything you might find of note, relay to us,” Obi-Wan told him. “Let’s keep this between us for now, and Anakin. Have Rex keep watch, but just under the notion that Din is from the Dark Watch and we still do not fully trust his intentions. We need to be aware of his movements, no matter how small.”

Ahsoka nodded. “I will let Master Skywalker know.”

“Cody, do not lose Boba’s trust over your desire to save him,” Obi-Wan warned. “That will be the end of it. Trust me. I know. Allow the trust you’ve always had in him to bring you the answers you seek.”

Closing his eyes, Cody finally softened to the point Obi-Wan believed he’d do what he was asked. “Alright, then. We’ve got some time, yeah? Din and Boba haven’t mated yet, and the omega’s armor is still unpainted.”

“Yes,” Obi-Wan agreed. “All of those details will be important.”

“I will reach out to Bo-Katan, see if there has been any news as to the Darksaber’s whereabouts,” Ahsoka said. 

Obi-Wan nodded. He had wanted Bo-Katan to speak to Boba, but maybe not yet. Not until they knew more of what they were dealing with. “Alright, then. We all have our marching orders.”

“I really hate this place, sir,” Cody sighed.

“Some days, so do I,” Obi-Wan told him, pressing the button for the door and stepping out. “Ahsoka. Thank you.”

“I’ll let you know what I find,” Ahsoka nodded before passing them by and taking her leave. 

With a heavy heart and mind, Obi-Wan eventually followed her towards the exit with Cody in tow. Having Cody involved complicated matters, but there was no one else other than Rex better qualified to keep an eye on the young Fett. He just needed the clone to try and remain impartial, which would be difficult. 

“Cody,” Obi-Wan started as they took their first steps outside. “The Council was right. I was distracted when we first met Din Djarin, but I am beginning to see it now. He is important to the future of the Mandalorians. To the future of our relationship with them. And Grogu…maybe he was not the focus of that vision, but I felt his importance, too. Everything is connected.”

Cody was silent for a long moment before finally asking, “Will you tell Jango Fett, sir?”

Obi-Wan swallowed hard and felt the sting in his chest. “No. As I said. Things must play out as the Force has intended until we can fully understand it.” Reaching up, Obi-Wan gently grabbed Cody’s arm. “We both have people we’re trying to protect, here. That makes it that much more important.”

“I know sir,” Cody acknowledged sympathetically

Obi-Wan looked up to the sky, the colors turning dark with night. 

Jango…I will figure this out. I promise you.

Chapter Text

Boba had told Din to stay close as they navigated the busy streets of the marketplace, but he hadn’t quite meant for the omega to plaster himself to his side. Din was nervous, so much so Boba could pick up the anxious scent even through the hundreds of smells from the various stalls. It was busy, and Din wore no armor other than his buy’ce leaving him feeling more vulnerable, but he did have his blaster just as Boba did. Grogu didn’t seem as bothered by the crowd, instead showing more curiosity and interest in the crook of Din’s arm.

Someone bumped into Din and the omega reached for Boba’s arm, hooking his own around it and pulling the alpha to his side. It shocked Boba and his brows raised as he looked over at Din. Once he realized what he’d done, Din immediately retracted his arm. It was strange to see someone who fought better than most soldiers Boba knew become so anxious just by being in a crowd. 

“If holding onto me helps, you can do it,” Boba told him, feeling a little bad about the situation.

Din hesitated, but then his hand reached back out and he gently curled his fingers around Boba’s bicep. Guiding him to various stalls, Boba tried to coax Din into giving his own input into things he might like, but other than the weight of his hand on him, it was like the omega wasn’t even there. Eventually giving up, Boba bought clothes that he liked just in the appropriate sizing. Boba was broader than the omega so his shirt fit Din fine, but the omega was taller and needed longer pants. If omegas in Din’s covert matched their alpha’s armor, then why not their clothing? At least, that was Boba’s thought process as he picked out items. If Din refused to talk, then this was the best he had to go on. 

Seeing various stalls set up with items stored in hammocks gave Boba the idea to set up a hammock bed for Grogu. That just left finding some sort of blankets for Din and Grogu’s nest per his father’s suggestion. Looking through a few stalls he didn’t see anything that particularly caught his interest until he saw an extremely large tauntaun hide hanging up. It would be extremely soft and very warm which was good because Boba kept his room cold. Din had seemed like he was cold the previous night, but hadn’t said if he was. Boba figured he’d simply suffer through it without saying a word, just as he seemed to do everything else. 

“How much?” Boba asked the merchant. 

“4500 credits,” the Yarkora answered.

A tauntaun fur as massive as this one wasn’t going to be cheap, but that was just ridiculous. Plus, Jango may have had millions of credits, but he didn’t just give Boba money. He made him work for his own things through bounties. “I’ll give you 2800.”

The Yarkora scowled, his large nostrils flaring. “You think just because you are a Fett and errand boy for the Republic that you can low ball me?”

“No, I think I can low ball you because you’re trying to rip me off,” Boba answered, “but remembering that I am a Fett would serve you well when you get a puck on your head for price gouging the wrong person.”

“4000. I won’t go any lower,” the Yarkora countered with an annoyed huff.

“3000 and you cut a small portion off for the child here,” Boba nodded to Grogu. “It’s that or I walk.”

The Yarkora let out a string of curses, but he began to take down the fur hide and did as he was requested, cutting it down into one large and one small. Boba handed over the credits with a smirk as the folded furs were pushed across the small table to him. Grabbing the small one first, he handed it to Grogu who took it with excited curiosity. He then handed the large one to Din, making the omega finally let go to accept it.

“I don’t understand,” Din started in disbelief, a small crack in his voice coming through the vocoder. “You spent that much money on us? Why?”

To think that the omega had never been given anything in his life. Nothing as simple as a blanket. Ok, maybe a tuantaun hide was a bit extravagant for a blanket, but it was still at the end of a day just a blanket. “Well, Grogu needs something for his bed, and I was told omegas like to have something personal for their nests. Also, you looked cold last night.” Boba gathered up the bags he’d put down and began to walk back through the crowds towards the front of the marketplace. They’d done enough damage for one day.

“These are…gifts?” Din asked, scrambling to catch back up. “Why?”

He’d already said why, but apparently that wasn’t a good enough answer. “Sometimes you don’t need a reason to give people nice things. You just do it because you want to. You said you’ve never owned anything before, and now you can say that you have. The blanket is all yours.”

Juggling the blanket and Grogu in his arms, Din caught back up and returned his hand to Boba’s arm as they had to actually push themselves through some people to get around. “Thank you.”

“And here I thought you incapable of saying that,” Boba teased. 

Din lowered his head. “I…haven’t had much cause to say it.”

Saving his life wasn’t cause for a thank you? Boba wasn’t even going to go down that path. This was a step forward, small as it was. “Are you hungry? There are some great food stalls near the entrance we can stop by before we return home.” Boba remembered seeing Din almost naked in the tank and noticing how thin he was. Was that because Din wasn’t much of an eater, or because he wasn’t given food?

Grogu’s reaction was enough, his ears perking up from behind the fur of the blanket that hid most of his face. 

“Kid is hungry, so that’s good enough for me,” Boba decided when Din didn’t say anything. 

Finding his favorite vendor, Boba ordered frog bites for Grogu and various meats and fruits for him and Din. He didn’t know if his father was home or not, but he got extra just in case. If Jango wasn’t there, then Din could eat it. He needed it. All arms full, Boba, Din, and Grogu returned to the tower and their home. 

“Dad?” Boba shouted as they made their way inside. There was no answer. “Guess we have the place to ourselves for now.

“Where is he?” Din asked curiously.

Boba shrugged as he set the bags down on the table. “Who knows? Not really my business. If he wanted me to know he would have told me.” Sorting through the bags, he left the one of food behind and took the others to the bedroom to place on the bed. “We can put everything away later. Let’s eat.”

Din carefully set the blanket down on the bed and then set Grogu and his own blanket down on top of it. There was a long pause where Din didn’t move, and then he slowly reached up and removed his helmet. Din seemed to be mostly alright with removing his helmet around Boba, but he noticed he had yet to do so around his father. Whatever Jango had done or said to Din had spooked him. Boba felt slightly annoyed, wondering if that had set them back further than they already were, but he wouldn’t dare confront his father about it. Whatever his father had done, he’d felt it necessary. 

“Are you alright?” Boba asked, now clearly able to see the uneasiness in his features. “I’m sorry if the Marketplace was overwhelming. I figured you’d been in crowded places like that before. I didn’t think it might upset you.”

“I don’t like crowds,” Din said, keeping his eyes lowered, “and without my armor…”

“I told you you could wear it if it makes you feel better,” Boba sighed. “Everywhere is crowded on Coruscant, so you better get used to it. The Marketplace is the worst of it, though. Mostly. The Entertainment District can get a bit wild. Definitely wear your armor if you decide to go down there.” Din’s apprehension and concern grew, Boba’s words only making things worse. Kriff, every direction he tried to go always seemed to be the wrong one. “But, don’t worry. I don’t really see a reason where you’d be alone. I’ll be with you.” Boba thought that might bring the omega some sort of comfort, but Din’s face twisted in a way he couldn’t quite read. Wrong turn again, apparently. Leave him alone, don’t leave him alone. Which was it? “Food is getting cold.”

It was interesting to Boba how easily Grogu seemed to be adjusting to his new surroundings where his buir did not. Was it because he was still a child, and it was easier for him to adapt? Or was it because somehow Din had been able to shield the kid from whatever horrors he faced himself to where he didn’t even see Boba as a threat in the first place? Both? Neither? So many questions. So many things Boba was dying to ask but felt like he couldn’t. Not all at once, at least. How did he even start the conversation without spooking the omega who already showed so many signs of flight? Everytime Boba thought he was being helpful, it upset Din. 

Successfully having gotten Din to sit down to eat, Boba thought it as good as time as any to pull out the puck he’d retrieved from the omega and set it on the table between them. “You have unfinished business. I’d like to help you take care of it.”

Din’s chewing slowed and he looked at the puck with uncertain eyes. All his muscles tensed. “The Zabrak.”

“Yes,” Boba nodded. “I think he might know what happened. When I talked to him before I found you, I could sense something was off. He knows something.”

Din’s jaw clenched and his nostrils flared as he sucked in a breath. A fire returned to his gaze. “I want answers.”

“Good,” Boba nodded, happy and satisfied. He had wondered briefly if Din might be too scared to return, but that certainly did not seem to be the case. “So do I. We’ll get them together. Dad already said we could take the Slave and return to Nar Shadaa.”

Rolling back his shoulders, Din looked at Boba with burning impatience. He was eager. Good. “When?”

“We can leave tomorrow,” Boba told him. “We’ll get answers, Din. I promise you. I want them just as much as you. Justice will be served.”

The fire died a little in Din’s eyes as he looked away with a sigh. “Justice does not exist for omegas.”

“It does in this clan,” Boba argued firmly. “What was done to you is inexcusable. Those responsible will pay.”

Din looked away, a spark of fear in his eyes and worry in his face. “You cannot face my alpha.”

“I can, and I would, should I ever meet him,” Boba promised, feeling quite strongly about the matter. Whether or not Boba and Din eventually mated was irrelevant. The things his old alpha had so clearly done was reason enough for Boba to enact vengeance. “I fear no one in battle. Not the Watch, not the Jedi, not the Sith, not your alpha. No one. I will meet anyone and everyone on the battlefield.”

The omega didn’t comment further, focusing his attention on Grogu who was happily finishing his frog bites. 

“I’m tired,” Din finally said. His plate was still half full. 

It was still rather early in the day. Early afternoon, Boba guessed, by the sun in the sky. The stimulation from the Marketplace must have just been too much for him. There was so much for Boba to learn about omegas. The desire to pressure him to eat further was squashed by his want to not further upset Din, so he let it go. “You’re welcome to rest. I think I may pay a visit to the Senate Library, so if you wake and I’m not here, that’s where I’ll be. Please, make yourself comfortable here and help yourself to whatever you need. You can help yourself to the rest of your food.” Well, a subtle mention wouldn’t hurt. 

Din looked hesitant, but he eventually nodded and picked Grogu up before retreating to Boba’s room. Their room. Boba cleaned up the table and put away the leftovers. Before leaving, he checked in on Din. The omega was fast asleep wrapped in the tauntaun blanket with Grogu. Boba couldn’t help but linger for a moment, just watching. Leaving a quick note for his father if he returned before he did, he left the apartment and made for the Senate. 

Boba loathed the Senate building as much as he hated the Jedi Temple. Politicians were no better than the Jedi, all having their own agenda that rarely actually benefited the people. Peacekeepers. Yeah right. He was met with quiet skepticism, even among the clones who kept guard and greeted him like they did each other. Like a brother. This was no place for a bounty hunter, especially not Boba. He was not turned away, however, and he finally made his way to the library. 

“Welcome,” an old woman greeted him warmly. “How may I assist you?”

Clearing his throat nervously, Boba asked, “I’m…looking for texts on omegas.”

“Of what race?” The woman asked, unbothered at all by his ask.

“Human,” Boba answered.

Smiling, she extended a hand towards the left. “This way. We have an extensive library on all secondary genders, including omegas. From biology to psychology. Is there something in particular you’re looking for?”

“Anything. Everything,” Boba sighed, suddenly feeling very overwhelmed as the aisles of books seemed to close in on them as they walked.

“Perhaps we’ll start with the basics, then,” the woman suggested, stopping at a shelf and pulling a thick book from it. She placed it in Boba’s hands. 

Boba grunted under the weight of the book. In gold letters on the bind it read “The Omega.”  He opened it and a digital page appeared before him. Kriff. There was so much. “Um, thanks.”

“Of course. Please let me know if I can assist you any further,” she smiled at him before leaving him alone.

With a sigh, he slid down to the floor and crossed his legs as he began to pass his fingers across the screen to change pages. Omegas were apparently anxious by nature, he learned. It was not unusual for them to shy away in most circumstances, and they were extremely sensitive to any sorts of change to their environment. That was why establishing a good nest in a new environment was important. Jango must have known that, apparently, given his suggestion. Even in cultures where omegas were treated exceptionally, it was in their nature to lower their gaze and keep quiet in the presence of alphas. Boba felt like this book must have been old, or maybe the galaxy wasn’t on the same page as he was. He’d been around plenty of omegas that had no problem looking him in the eye or being brash and bold. The book continued talking about submission and duty and Boba found himself getting so annoyed he slammed it shut.

“Interesting finding you here.”

Boba looked up and his mouth parted in surprise. “Senator Skywalker.” He scrambled to try and stand, but she motioned him back down. While Boba very outwardly held a grudge towards Anakin, he had a very hard time finding anything to dislike about the senator. She was the kind of omega Boba always pictured and thought he’d read about in the book. Strong. Capable. Fearless. She was a mother, even, and yet still kept her power in the Republic. The only downside to her was that she’d married a Jedi. Specifically Anakin.

“Looking into omegas?” Padme smiled softly, gathering her skirts and taking a seat on the floor next to Boba. “I find these texts to be a little outdated.”

Snorting, Boba closed gestured to the book in his lap. “I’m not particularly fond of what I’ve read.” 

“They do a decent enough job of laying a good foundation on some psychology and behaviors, but I think it’s pretty clear they must have been written by alphas or betas. Can I ask the reason behind your research?” Padme questioned. “Maybe I can help.”

Boba felt incredibly stupid asking the senator for any kind of help. She was a senator and had far more important things to do than answer his questions.“This sort of thing is beneath you, Senator.”

“I don’t think so,” Padme argued. “I have always fought for the betterment of omegas. I was lucky to grow up as I did, but I recognize other cultures don’t fare the same. Anakin told me about the omega you found. The Mandalorian. Is that why you’re here?”

Boba gritted his teeth in annoyance, but he wasn’t surprised that it was getting around. If it wasn’t Anakin, it would have been Rex. Rex was arguably Boba’s favorite brother, but he also loved to gossip and if it wasn’t him it certainly would have been Hawk or Fox. Hawk was the worst. The entirety of the 501st probably knew by now. “Yes. I want to help him, but I feel like I run into a wall at every turn. I took him to the Marketplace today and I thought he was going to have a panic attack.”

“Omegas don’t like too much stimulation,” Padme nodded sympathetically. “It took me a long time to get comfortable being around so many people. It was certainly a heavy part of my training back when I was still queen, and it really benefited me for my time now with the Senate. I mostly don’t have a problem now, but I do sometimes still get anxious. In those times, I have to lean on those I trust. Not just Anakin, but Jar Jar or 3PO or Artoo. We don’t particularly like being around strangers, but a downside is we trust too easily. I trusted many too easily.”

Boba could feel the regret in her voice. Padme has placed a great trust in Palpatine, as many had. They had all been betrayed by someone in the end. It was why trust was so hard to come by for all of them. Even though the Jedi continued to contract him and his father, they didn’t trust the bounty hunters any more than they trusted them. It didn’t exactly make for a great relationship, but it worked. For now. “I think Din placed too much trust in his previous alpha. I don’t know much, but from what I do know it sounds like he was fairly abusive.”

Padme sighed sadly. “If that is the case, then you have to do something bounty hunters aren’t particularly known for - be patient. We want a place that we can feel at home. A place to feel safe and protected. We want someone we can lean on when we do fall back into that anxiety and uncertainty. You have to give him that in order for him to open up to you.”

Boba let out an annoyed huff. “I’m trying. I’ve opened up my home to him. My own bed. I’ve provided him and his child with expensive furs and blankets and clothing.”

“Those things are nice, and they help build a nest, but they don’t build a home,” Padme told him. “Those are just things. He needs to feel safe around you, and buying expensive trinkets won’t do that.”

“But how do I do that?” Boba asked, growing more and more frustrated. “I constantly feel like I’m dancing around him! If I don’t upset him, I simply piss him off. I can’t figure him out!’

To his surprise, Padme laughed. “You know, we omegas feel the same way about you alphas! We just can’t figure you out. I’ve been married to Anakin for years, and I have two beautiful children with him, but there are still days where I just don’t understand him. I don’t know much about Mandalorian culture and where your omega came from, but what I do know is that we just want our alphas to be around and want us. We want to be wanted. Many alphas like to assume that means in the bedroom, but that’s rarely to do with it. Just be with us, even through the simple things. It’s as easy as holding hands in the Marketplace.” 

Boba thought back to Din grabbing his arm and clinging to it. “But aren’t you and General Skywalker often apart?”

Padme pressed her lips together and nodded unhappily. “Yes. We are, but I grew up knowing loneliness as queen. I was in a position most omegas don’t find themselves in, and I had to get used to it. I don’t like it, and I miss Anakin terribly when he’s gone, but I can handle it. I was trained to handle it, just like you’re trained to be a bounty hunter. Luke and Leia help. They help a ton.”

Boba could see the glow in her face as she spoke of her children. He sighed, feeling more confused than ever. “Din wants me to mate with him even though we know nothing about each other. His covert placed a heavy emphasis on mating, and his alpha chose to not bond with him which has left an empty hole in his heart, I think. Maybe he thinks I can satisfy it, but I don’t think I can. At least not the way things are now.”

“You are introducing an entirely different way of life. Of course it won’t be easy, and it will hurt him greatly, but he will never learn to find himself without that rejection. I think you’re right to deny him that out the gate.” Padme turned her head and tilted it in curiosity and shifted her weight. “I must ask since you are here researching so thoroughly…do you wish to be with him?”

Groaning, Boba rubbed his forehead and then the side of his face. He was so tired of this question. “I don’t know. When I first came across him there was this feeling in me that I had to save him. I didn’t care where he’d come from or what his beliefs were. I ignored all the advice from my own father and did it anyway. Even now, I can’t really explain why I did it. I just did. I wanted him to live. It seems stupid, especially since Din didn’t even want to live. Why did I fight so hard for someone that didn’t want it?”
 

Padme got to her knees and turned around, looking through the stack of books for something in particular. Eventually she found it and she pulled it from the stack and illuminated it in front of them. “Many people will call it a fairytale. They’ll laugh at you if you even mention it, but I believe in it.”

Boba read the text. “True mates. What is that?”

“It means two people that are perfect for one another. So perfect that no one else in the galaxy could compare. A love so powerful that nothing could interfere with it,” Padme explained. “Anakin and I faced everything, and yet we came out on the other side. Call me a dreamer, but I have to believe that it was for a specific reason. I’ve always felt that Anakin and I had a bond that was unexplainable. I even remember the first time I ever saw him. He was just a little boy at the time, and he didn’t even know who I truly was, but I never went a day without thinking about him. I didn’t know it then, but I had fallen in love with him at first sight. Your situation is different, but I can’t help but have this feeling about it. You were drawn to him just as I was drawn to Anakin.”

She was right. It did sound like a fairytale and something ridiculous, but Boba knew better than to actually laugh at her as much as he wanted to. “I’m not so sure about all that true mates druk, but I do know I made a choice I can’t turn back from. I saved him and in turn made him part of our family. I just want him to be a part of our family.” Even if the concept of true mates had any basis of truth, Boba found it hard to believe that his true mate was a member of the Watch. A member of the very group of people that had killed his ba’buir.  

“Give it time,” Padme told him, “especially if he came from an abusive situation. He’s going to be tentative and uncertain about you no matter what you do. Even though you are not his previous alpha, he’ll expect you to act like him. If there were times that alpha might used to hit or yell at him, he’ll expect you to hit or yell at him, too. That’s all he knows, and habits are hard to break, but they can be broken. After enough times of you not hitting or yelling, he’ll understand that you aren’t going to.”

Was that Din would sometimes flinch when Boba hadn’t even moved? Why he curled away in the bed looking like he was trying to protect himself? He’d expected to be hurt? Boba had been so blinded by his annoyance at everything he hadn’t stopped to actually see what was happening. A wave of guilt crashed into Boba and he bit his lower lip. “I’ve been too focused on just trying to get him to make his own decisions.”

“Mmm, don’t,” Padme instructed. “I know you think you’re helping him, but choice can be the most overwhelming thing we face in life. That was probably the hardest thing for me to get over as leader and a senator. The confidence to make that choice and stand by it. You alphas like to make choices without even thinking, but we think too much and struggle to make a choice at all. He’ll gain the confidence to do it, but he’ll let you know when that time comes.” She let out a small laugh and smiled. “You’ll regret it once he’s found his voice, because he’ll become unstoppable, and possibly a little annoying. I know I annoy the bantha fodder out of Anakin sometimes. It will take time and work, but nothing is more powerful and amazing than an omega who realizes they are unstoppable. It’ll make you love him even more.”

“I don’t love him,” Boba quickly told her, heart giving a powerful thud against his chest and his ears burning red. He was thankful for his longer hair that hid them. 

Padme smiled and hummed. “Well, one thing that probably doesn’t help is that he’s been surrounded by alphas and betas since coming here. The only omega he’s had contact with is Obi-Wan, and as much as I love him he doesn’t count. I would be happy to speak with him, if you think that might help.”

“You surely don’t have the time for that,” Boba tried to argue, but Padme immediately shot him down with a look he thought only an alpha could give. It actually made him feel uncomfortable.

“I always have time for the welfare of omegas,” Padme argued back, stopping any further argument. 

The senator was clearly passionate about it, and Boba could tell there would be no turning her away. “We’re headed back to Nar Shadaa tomorrow to finish his bounty and try to find out more about what happened. When we get back, I will ask him about speaking with you.”

“Good,” Padme nodded, satisfied. “Forget the books. They’re only helpful to a degree. Speaking to real omegas is the best way to get your information. I can sit here and read all the books I want on cultures and their laws, but the best way to learn about the people is to talk to the people.”

Yeah, except Boba knew all of two omegas. Padme and Obi-Wan. “Well. Any other advice you can give?”

Padme placed a finger against her lips and thought. “Oh! Anakin mentioned he had a Force sensitive child with him. It’s his child, isn’t it?”

“His Foundling,” Boba confirmed. 

“There’s nothing that makes me happier than seeing Anakin dote on our children,” Padme told him. “The child is the way to your omega’s heart.”

As oblivious as Boba had been about many things, the love Din had for Grogu was not one of them. “Thank you. You’ve been a lot of help.”

“Good luck, Boba Fett,” Padme smiled at him as she stood. “I hope you can help your omega find peace.”

Sucking in a breath, Boba watched as the beautiful senator walked away. Returning the books to the shelf, he decided he’d learned enough and made his way back out as quickly as he could. There was a wash of relief as he breathed the fresh air of Coruscant and walked away from the Senate. Running into Padme had been unexpected, but not exactly unwanted. Boba had learned more from her than he had those stupid books. So maybe Jango didn’t know everything, afterall.

When Boba returned home, Jango was on the couch reading through some sort of document. His father looked up and greeted him. “Did you find any helpful information?”

“Actually, yes,” Boba answered, though he didn’t mention Padme. “Is Din still asleep?”

“He has not come out of your room,” Jango responded simply. “Did you go to The Marketplace earlier? I saw the food.”

Boba nodded as he approached the couches but did not sit. “Yes. It was…overwhelming for him. I don’t think he particularly liked it, but I did as you suggested and found blankets for his nest. He liked them.”

“Good,” Jango nodded, changing the page of his report. 

He offered no other conversation, so Boba retreated to check in on Din. When he opened the door to his room, Din was still fast asleep. Grogu, however, looked up in curiosity at the intruder. “Hey. You hungry?” Grogu’s ears perked up and he cooed. Boba pressed a finger to his lips as he approached the bed and picked the child up. “There’s a few frog bites left for you. I’ll heat them up.” Jango raised a curious eyebrow as he came out of the bedroom with Grogu and not Din, but he said nothing. Boba set Grogu down at the table and pulled out the leftovers to reheat. The second he set the frog bites down in front of the child, he eagerly began to swallow them down hole. “You like frogs, huh?” Grogu let out a happy coo. “Noted.” Boba sat down and simply watched the child eat. He didn’t even realize he was smiling until the plate was emptied. Crazy how much cuter the kid was than Master Yoda. 

The door to his room opened and Din came flying out with horrified wide eyes. “Grogu!”

“He’s right here,” Boba told him, quickly standing, almost knocking the chair over. “Din. He’s right here.”

Din stopped short of the table, seeing that Grogu was there and closed his eyes, chest rising and falling rapidly in panic. “I’m sorry. I-,” He lifted his head and noticed Jango. Boba watched as Din began to retreat slowly in fear, turning his head away.

“Din. Come sit with Grogu,” Boba instructed. It felt horrible coming out of his mouth, but for whatever reason he trusted Padme’s suggestions to be more forceful for now. “Everything’s fine. You need to eat. You didn’t even finish your lunch.”

The omega hesitated, but he obeyed, keeping his head bowed and turned away from Jango. “I don’t require much food.”

“Are you serious?” Boba asked angrily. So, his suspicion that the omega simply hadn’t been offered food was the truth. “I can practically see your ribs. Eat.” This was something he had no problems being forceful about. Din had to eat, and he set down a serving and a half of food. The omega didn’t immediately reach for the food, and it left an opening for Grogu to reach out a hand. Boba swatted it away. “Hey! No! You’ve had your fill. This is your buir’s.” Grogu looked a little dejected, but he backed off. 

Din’s lips parted and he looked at Boba in surprise. Whether it was about the food or Grogu, Boba wasn’t sure. “If he’s still hungry, he should have it -,”

“He had an entire helping of frog bites left over from lunch,” Boba immediately argued. “He’s fine. You’re not. Eat.” It was reluctant, but Din eventually began to take slow bites. “Dad? There’s enough food.”

Jango raised a hand dismissing him. “I’m fine, thank you.” He kept one eye on the situation, even though he pretended to not be paying attention. 

Boba prepared a plate for himself and began to eat. It was so crazy to watch the omega eat as if it was painful. Had the omega been rationed? Had he been forced to share whatever he did get with Grogu? If that had been the case, Boba had no doubt that Din would have given everything he could to the child and eaten only the minimum required to survive. “I don’t know how it was on Nevarro, but there’s no shortage of food here. You don’t have to ration anything. You and Grogu have access to whatever nourishment you need.”

Din still seemed uncertain, but he began to look less pained as he ate, and eventually the entire plate was clean. That brought Boba relief, and he began to clear the table. Din shrunk in his seat looking extremely uncomfortable. It was clear he wanted to leave, but it looked like he was waiting for some sort of permission to do so.

“You can go back to the bedroom, if you want,” Boba finally told him. 

The omega didn’t even hesitate, grabbing Grogu and retreating. 

That was enough to force a reaction out of Boba he immediately regretted. “Buir, what did you do? He wasn’t like this earlier with me. He’s terrified of you.”

“What did I do?” Jango countered, swiping away the report and rolling back his shoulders. “You were the one to demand his survival when he didn’t want it. Don’t look to me to place your blame.”

Boba regretted it, but the door was open and he might as well deal with it. “Dad, you know I love you more than anything, and I know you do not approve of any of this, but this is what I have chosen. Din needs to feel loved and supported. What can I do to get that from you?”

“Is that what you found from your research?” Jango questioned. “That he needs to feel loved and supported?”

Jango was challenging him, but Boba was ready to stand his ground. “I have testimony from an actual omega on the matter.”

“Really?” Jango asked, curious and surprised. His face softened just a little. “What else did this mysterious omega tell you?”

Boba swallowed and sucked in a breath, licking his lips. He had one chance to prove his point with his father, and one chance only. “That Din will spend a good amount of time expecting me to be like his old alpha. Abusive. Cruel. That it will take time for him to realize I’m not out to punish him. That I’m doing the right thing denying him a bond, because rejection is the only way he’ll come to realize his own autonomy. That choices are hard for omegas, and that I cannot give him a choice in matters until he realizes it’s safe to think on his own. That once he recognizes his own independence, he will be unstoppable.”

“The omega you spoke with is very wise,” Jango smiled softly. 

Boba felt his chest swell with pride that he’d done it. He owed Padme a gift and a thank you, but his question still remained. “Buir …what can I do to get your help in all of this? I want your support.”

Sighing, Jango stood and approached Boba, placing a hand on his head and pulling him against his chest. “Believe it or not, it’s possible to trust someone’s actions without liking them. I will always trust your decisions because you are my son, even if I have my doubts. However, I cannot trust the omega until he proves himself to have our backs on the battlefield, Boba. I have to feel confident that he will defend both of us at any time, against all costs. That is what it means to be aliit.”  

It was a reasonable ask that Boba could not argue. Din hadn’t proven his trustworthiness. “Ok. You’re right.”

Jango kissed the top of Boba’s head. “I love you, son. More than anything. Know that I’m just trying to protect you. Us. I’m not purposely trying to reject Din, but I have to know he will be on our side when it matters most.”

Hugging his father back, Boba nodded against his chest. “I know. I understand, but being scared of you isn’t going to help that.”

Jango sighed. “Let me handle that, then. Worry about Nar Shadaa.”

“I’m going to get answers,” Boba promised. “One way or another. I know I may not like them, and you said they probably wouldn’t bring closure, but at least I’ll have them. Din deserves to know what happened.”

“Even if it brings him more pain?” Jango asked.

Clenching his jaw, Boba considered his answer. “I think…I think that healing can’t happen if there’s no injury. No pain.”

“Just be prepared,” Jango gave him a final squeeze before releasing him. “Leave tomorrow whenever you’re ready, but please keep your comms open and update me frequently.”

Boba nodded. “I will.”

“Who was it you spoke to?” Jango asked, just as Boba was about to open the door to his bedroom.

Boba paused, debating whether or not to say. It probably wouldn’t hurt anything to confess it was Padme, but Boba liked having something of a secret. “Sorry, can’t reveal my sources. Nuhoy pirusti.” Jango echoed the wish to sleep well and retreated to his room. Din was by the window again, just sitting and watching with Grogu in his lap. Maybe Boba should find a cushion or more blankets for him to place there. “I know my father can be overbearing, but you don’t need to fear him. We’re aliit . As long as you have his back, he’ll have yours.”

“I will support you in battle until I fall,” Din told him, a heavy hint of annoyance in his words. “This is the way.”

That was a rather rehearsed answer. “Great, but do it because you want to, not because your creed tells you that you have to.” Din said nothing. “How about you help me hang up Grogu’s new bed?” The wall where his bed was placed had an indention leaving a perfect spot to hang the hammock over the bed. 

“Grogu’s bed?” Din asked, finally actually twisting to look at Boba. 

Boba rummaged through the begs and pulled out the green handwoven hammock he’d gotten. “Yeah. That’s why I got this. Come on, I need another set of hands to make sure it’s even.”

There was a brief hesitation, but then Did actually got to his feet. Quickly gathering what tools he needed from the main living area, Boba returned and they got to work hanging the hammock. With two people, it was relatively quick and easy. Once hung, Boba retrieved Grogu’s blanket and lined the hammock before picking the green goblin up and setting him inside it.

“There. How’s that?” Boba asked.

Grogu cooed and his ears perked up.

“Thank you,” Din said softly, smiling briefly and rubbing a thumb against Grogu’s cheek.

Boba’s eyebrows shot up. “Wow, twice in one day. You’re welcome. I’m going to shower. Do you need anything?”

“No,” Din answered, keeping his focus on Grogu who was playing with Din’s fingers. 

Boba spent a longer time than normal in the shower just thinking. Thinking about everything and nothing at all. Pulling on his loose night clothes after he got out, he toweled his hair as he returned to the bedroom. Din had returned to his place by the window with Grogu, though Boba did notice he had also dressed down. They were the clothes Boba had bought him earlier in the day. Boba’s mouth twitched with a brief smile. Yeah, he’d get some things to make a secondary nest for Din there. Maybe having some place that wasn’t in the bed would help him to start to relax more. 

“I’m sure you’re not that tired since you napped, but I’ve had a day and am ready to call it,” Boba told him, tossing his towel onto the chair pulling back the covers to his side of the bed. Crazy to think that he had a side of his own bed now. “Stay up as long as you like, and help yourself to whatever.” He had a bookshelf of Mandalorian lore that Boba secretly hoped Din explored. How different would it be to what he’d learned? “Lights at 30 percent. Nuhoy pirusti.”

“You can turn them off,” Din told him.

“Lights off.” There was still plenty of light coming through the window to help Din find his way. Boba laid there on this side facing the window just watching Din for sometime, but then his eyelids grew heavy and he began to nod off. 

Boba was caught in that perfect space between sleep and awareness when he suddenly felt the bed dip. He had to work to keep his breath still to continue giving the illusion he was sleeping. Boba didn’t find it a coincidence Din had waited to get into the bed until Boba was asleep. Remaining still, Boba waited for the omega to settle. He didn’t need to look to see there was a wide gap between them, meaning Din was on the edge of the mattress like he had been the night before. He waited, and waited, wanting to make sure Din was finally asleep before he shifted. Carefully, he rolled over to look at the omega. While he was occupying a small space at the edge of the mattress, it wasn’t quite in the manner he’d done the night before. He wasn’t as curled in protectively. The tauntaun blanket was wrapped around his body. Rolling back over, Boba decided to keep his back to the omega. It was the least threatening position. Time. Padme had said it would take time. Boba was not a patient man, but with this he’d have to be. Complete silence filled the bedroom, and Boba fell asleep.

Sometime in the middle of the night, there was a shift in the bed that made Boba wake with a start. It took him a second to realize it was just Din. He certainly wasn’t used to sharing a bed with someone yet, but then his sleep-fogged mine processed it. Din had moved. Boba looked over his shoulder to see Din had completely rolled over and was facing Boba’s back. Only the top part of his face was peeking out from the blanket, so it was hard to really get a read on the omega. Carefully, Boba rolled over to face him. 

Din didn’t move, comfortable in his new position. Remaining still, Boba simply watched. The omega’s legs were still slightly curled up to protect his torso, and his head was bowed, but it wasn’t the tight ball from the night before. Omegas were so freaking hard to read. Having a separate bed would probably help Din feel safer, but he felt it was his duty to share a bed with his alpha. Break the habit. 

After some time, Boba reached out and gently brushed the curls from Din’s face. It was then he noticed the crease in the omega’s brow. There were no pleasant dreams, it seemed. As much as Boba wanted to reach for a hand, he didn’t want the touch to come off the wrong way. The turn towards Boba had probably been an involuntary action in his sleep, and the empty space between them was still just as vast, but being able to watch the omega’s chest rise and fall brought Boba some sort of peace. 

One foot in front of the other. Day by day.

Chapter Text

The difference with Din in and out of his full armor was staggering. Boba would have never known that Din didn’t like crowds or ever felt anxious the way he was walking next to him through the streets of Nar Shadaa. Putting on the armor had given him a layer of confidence that wasn’t present without it. The only thing at all that indicated he might still be feeling that anxiety beneath the safety of the armor were the fingers that brushed up against Boba’s every few strides. 

“Are you ready for this?” Boba asked as the bar came into view. 

“More than ready,” Din answered. His voice seemed to always be soft unless he was actively yelling, but Boba could hear the determination through the vocoder. 

Boba nodded. “It’s your bounty. I’ll let you take the lead. Whatever you do, I’ll follow.”

“Even if it's a fight?” Din asked with a tilt of his head.

“Especially if it’s a fight,” Boba told him, finger brushing up against the trigger of his rifle. “I’m very much hoping for a fight.” The Zabrak deserved a fate worse than death, that was for sure, but not before they got answers. He knew Din wanted them just as badly, so he hoped the omega kept his cool until they got all the information they could. Boba’s only worry about a fight was the kid. Grogu was in a sack at Din’s hip. Din had refused to leave him on the ship. If he was going to continue to insist on bringing him along, they should look into recreating whatever pod Din had for the kid before. Several of Boba’s brothers were good with that sort of thing. “Will Grogu be alright?”

Din looked down and placed a gentle palm against his head. “He knows when to hide.”

Boba was still worried, but he’d just have to do his best to help protect the kid if all hell broke loose. Which, it probably would. “Alright, then.”

Rolling back his shoulders and raising his head, Din walked ahead of Boba into the bar. Unlike most patrons who could walk in without drawing attention, Mandalorians always pulled eyes their way when they entered. Especially two of them. It didn’t take long for the Zabrak to pick up on a disturbance, and then his eyes were also on the Mandalorians. Boba immediately sensed the surprise that was likely for Din. It must have been like seeing a ghost. 

The surprise quickly turned to anger, and he was jabbing a finger in the direction of Boba. “You cost me tens of thousands of credits!”

Well, one question answered. Boba didn’t have a chance to comment as he saw the movement from various planted men in the crowd. Din saw it, too, and his pistol was drawn as quickly as Boba raising his rifle. Screams broke out as patrons ducked behind tables and chairs. Boba and Din pressed their backs together and began to fire back. Once Boba cleared his side he turned and pressed a palm to Din’s back to let him know he was there before kneeling down and helping the omega take out the rest. Din was hit in the shoulder knocking him back. The beskar protected him, but he had to grab Boba’s shoulder as another shot hit his chest. Grip tight on the alpha, Din fired the final shot and the bar went silent. Din looked down to check on Grogu who had retreated down into the sack and then removed his hold on Boba as he straightened. Boba hadn’t even stood up before Din was charging towards the bar.

“Who paid you?!” Din asked angrily. The Zabrak turned to run and Din was launching his grappling line, stopping him. “I asked you a question.”

The Zabrak began to laugh as he was brought to an abrupt halt from the line. “Well, I’d say your friends, but I guess they aren’t really your friends if they are paying someone to beat you within an inch of your life. Or maybe Mandalorians just have a vastly different definition of it.”

Boba clenched his jaw. All of his suspicions had been right. Dank farrik. “The other Mandalorians paid you to kill him?”

“Not kill,” the Zabrak corrected, able to hold out a hand against the bar just enough to keep him from falling over, “just very near death. Scar him, even. Physically. Mentally. I was allowed both in the instructions. Although, I did hear my employees got a little overzealous.”

“Yes, eleven attackers might have been a little bit of an overkill,” Boba hissed angrily. His first thought had been that eleven was certainly meant to kill, but perhaps they had known all along how strong Din was. Someone who claimed to be the omega’s alpha would know what he could handle. Din had killed them all and survived. Boba clenched a fist, blood pounding in his ears. Din’s alpha had paid someone to beat him so badly that it was alright if he was permanently incapacitated in someway? Including mentally? Those kriffing hutt-spawns really were going to rape him and be paid to do so!

Din pulled the Zabrak to him and grabbed him by the neck before slamming him down against the top of the bar. “Why?!” When the Zabrak didn’t answer, Din punched him in the face. 

“I heard you’d been a disobedient little omega,” the Zabrak smirked, seemingly not caring about the fact his face was turning color at the lack of air and the blood dripping from his lips. “I thought he was here to get you for them,” he shifted his gaze to Boba, “not take you and cost me my money!”

Boba could feel himself beginning to seethe. “Were you going to just beat the kid within an inch of his life, too?”

“We were given explicit instructions to leave the ugly thing alone,” he answered.

Din lifted the Zabrak by the throat and then slammed him back down before throwing another punch. “What happened when they came to collect me?” There was now a heavy shake to his voice. He was losing control. 

“They asked me where you were. I didn’t know, but I made the assumption your new alpha here had taken you for himself,” he replied before giving Din a bloody smile. “Don’t worry. I gave an apt description of who was now spreading your legs.”

It was Boba’s turn to land a punch. 

The Zabrak laughed right through it as he looked to Boba. “They’ll be looking for you now, Mando, and I’ll get to deliver you right to them and finally get paid!”

There was a split second where Din and Boba had to process, and then they were both turning around just in time to see the next attack. One arm still tied to the Zabrak through the line, Din used his flamethrower on his first attacker. Boba wasn’t able to react quick enough and was punched, lower back hitting the bar. He was quick to recover, grabbing the attacker’s head and headbutting him before firing and killing him. Din got his line free of the Zabrak and joined the fist fight. There were many of them, but at the end of the day they were just thugs. Thugs had nothing on trained Mandalorians. Two extremely angry trained Mandalorians with a heavy grudge. 

As the numbers began to quickly dwindle, Boba noticed the Zabrak making a run for it. Spinning on his heel he raised his wrist to launch his own grappling line but didn’t get the chance as a pistol was fired straight to his head killing him instantly. The shot came from Din. In a last desperate move with his boss now dead, the final thug made a run at Din, but the omega caught him and used the momentum to throw him over the bar into the wall of liquor bottles.

Panting heavily, Din turned and addressed the bar, “Is there anyone else?” Everyone remained silent. With clenched fists, Din stormed out of the bar. 

Giving the bar one last lookover to make sure no one was going to come at them from behind, Boba took off after him. The omega was moving so fast through the crowd that Boba had to run to catch up. “Din! Wait!” Din didn’t stop, but Boba finally fell a step behind him. “Din.” He didn’t answer and Boba stopped trying. What could he even possibly say? Din was angry, and why wouldn’t he be? So was Boba. As much as he had suspected, actually hearing the truth of the matter had been so much worse. Paying someone to outright kill Din would have been a better outcome than the truth. 

Boba didn’t speak again, but he stayed as close to Din as he could through the crowds back to Slave I. The second they were inside and Boba punched the door for the hatch, Din pulled Grogu from the satchel and set him on a chair before removing his helmet and throwing it as hard as could against a wall. Sparks flew and then the omega followed up with a fist and a scream. Approaching the wall that now had a dent in it, Din placed his palms against it and hunched over as he began to sob. Boba felt angry and helpless. Grogu hopped off the chair and waddled his way over, hands pressed against the omega’s leg with worry. 

What did he do? What did he say? What could he say? Removing his own helmet, Boba carefully approached the omega. “Din…why would your alpha do this? Why would your covert do this?” He was surprised at the crack in his own voice. The betrayal of his alpha was one thing, but for his entire covert to be involved enough to pay and encourage. How? Why? Weren’t omegas supposed to be ‘prized’ in the Watch?

Tears streamed down Din’s face, but his eyes were murderous. “Because-,” he hiccuped with a sob, “because I said no.”

“To what?” Boba asked. What could he have possibly said no to that would lead to this? From what he knew, a mating mark, maybe, but Din was the one that wanted it so badly. He wouldn’t have said no. So what else could it have been?

Din didn’t answer, closing his eyes and resting his head against the wall. 

Boba placed a hand on his pauldron. “Din, I’m sorry-”

With a quick spin, Din turned and shoved Boba away so hard it sent him flying back on his heels. “You alphas are all the same!” Din walked forward and pushed him back again. “You pretend to care about us! You pretend to love us! You whisper sweet nothings in our ear and use us for nothing but your own pleasure!” 

“Din-,” Boba gasped as Din closed his hands around his throat and slammed him up against the wall. Boba’s ears rang from the hit. Kriff, he’d seen first hand twice now how strong the omega was, but it still caught him by surprise every time. His first reaction was to fight back, but he clenched his fists at his side to keep himself from reacting. It would make it worse. 

“You told me your clan was different! That you were different!” Din sobbed angrily. “You told me I could make my own decisions, ask for my own things, but twice now I have asked something from you and you’ve denied me both!” Tightening his hold on Boba’s throat, he leaned in with a venomous glare. “You are just like him!”

Boba was not a perfect person. In fact, he was very imperfect, which is why he snapped. Boba was nothing like Din’s old alpha. Reaching up and grabbing Din’s throat, he rolled them over and slammed Din up against the wall and shoved his leg between the omega’s to pin him down. It was impossible to reach the omega’s mating glad through the armor and cape, but Boba reached up with one hand and pulled Din’s head roughly by the hair to the side to expose his neck. His point would still be made. Leaning in, Boba asked angrily, “Is this what you want? Huh? For me to mate you and bind yourself to an alpha that is supposedly just as cruel as the one who left you to be beaten and raped? I’m so horrible, despite saving your life and giving you and your ad a home, but you still want to be my mate?”

There were so many emotions in Din’s eyes that Boba couldn’t really read what he was thinking, but he could feel the omega’s hot breath against his neck. He was so close he could see the tears rolling down stubbled cheeks and plush pink lips. So close he could taste it. Brushing their noses together, Boba decided to taste it. He closed the distance and pressed their lips together. Din’s body went completely lax in surprise, hands slowly releasing Boba’s neck and falling to the alpha’s shoulders. Boba let go of Din’s hair and the hand against his neck softened until it was a gentle caress. Din tasted of salt, but oh his lips were soft. 

Needing air, Boba parted reluctantly and looked Din in the eyes. His dark brown eyes were full of shock. It dawned on Boba suddenly that Din would have never been kissed before. Kriff. He’d just made the omega’s first kiss on the damn Slave after finding out his last alpha had paid someone to cripple him and then accused Boba of being the very same. Boba was truly a horrible person. Maybe he really was no better than - Din interrupted his thoughts by grabbing the back of Boba’s cape and pulling him in for another kiss. It was sloppy and inexperienced, but eager. Omegas want to be wanted. Boba wrapped his hands around Din’s waist and pressed him back against the wall, far more gentle this time. 

Din wasn’t shying away, fingers gripping Boba’s cape and tugging as hard as they could. There was almost a sense of desperation in it as Boba guided him through each kiss. Maybe it was desperation. A desperate attempt to feel wanted and desired after having just been told his alpha had wanted the exact opposite of all of that. A desperate attempt to just feel anything at all. Boba had gone through those days once or twice. He’d always sought out a fuck, thinking it would make him feel better. It rarely did. Boba kept kissing Din, though, and he would until the omega told him to stop.

Cupping Din’s face in his hands he shoved his knee back between Din’s legs, though this time with a much different intent. Din gasped against Boba’s mouth and he used that opportunity to shove his tongue down the omega’s throat. Finally letting go of Boba’s cape with one hand, Din laced his finger’s in Boba’s hair and tugged. This time, it was him moaning. Yes, Boba recognized exactly what all this was and it was escalating far too quickly. Boba knew he should stop this, but he didn’t want to. He was entirely ready to bend Din over the console and fuck him right here and now. 

The communicator began to beep with an incoming transmission. 

“Dank farrik,” Boba cursed. They had needed to be stopped, to be interrupted, but he was still annoyed. Pulling away, Boba rested their forehead together without even thinking about what the gesture meant in Mandalorian culture. “S-sorry…one second.” Leaving a frozen Din standing there against the wall, Boba approached the comms and accepted the incoming transmission. 

Anakin appeared in the hologram. “Boba! Good! We need-,”

Boba slammed the button to end the transmission. Not no, but druk no. Noticing Grogu who had hid behind the chair during the fight, Boba leaned down and picked him up to set him back in the seat. He had totally forgotten all about the kid and had almost fucked his dad right in front of him. Kriff, Boba had really gone off the rails. The communicator went off again. Groaning, he reluctantly accepted. “What do you want?”

“I know I’m not your favorite person, but we really need your help,” Anakin told him. “You know we’ll pay you handsomely. We would have called your father, but you currently have his ship and we don’t have time to send someone for him. Time is a little of the essence.”

Boba frankly didn’t give a bantha’s ass about money right now, even though he might usually deal with even Anakin for credits. Looking over at Din, he shook his head. Din was in no state to be doing anything, especially not anything the Republic might be calling on them for. “Look, it really isn’t personal, but Din is in no state to fight right now. Sorry.” His fingers were ready to press the button to end the transmission when Din stopped him.

“I can fight,” Din told him, the stunned look from his eyes gone. The darkness instead returned, which Boba equally didn’t like. Either extreme wasn’t good on the battlefield. 

“I don’t think that’s a good idea-,”

Din took a determined step forward. “They need help against the Separatists, don’t they? They wiped out Mandalore and killed my family. I can fight.”

“Sounds like Din wants to help,” Anakin crossed his arms with a smirk knowing he’d won. 

Boba’s instincts were telling him this was a bad idea, but he was very much outnumbered. Maybe…maybe a chance to get out his rage would be good for Din. “Fine. What do you need us to do? And I want double the credits. There’s two of us.”

“Double the credits,” Anakin agreed. “I’ll send you our coordinates. I’ll brief you when you arrive. It’ll please you to know it involves me as bait.”

“That does please me,” Boba agreed before cutting him off and closing the transmission. A few seconds later a written transmission came through with the coordinates. Plugging them into the Slave he realized there was a whole ride over to try and deal with what had happened. There was silence for a long time where Din didn’t approach and Boba stayed extremely still, but in the end it was too much. Boba had to say something if Din wasn’t going to. 

Swallowing hard, Boba gripped the armrests of the chair and swiveled to face Din. Here went nothing. “I’m a lot of things, Din Djarin, and cruel can certainly sometimes be one of them, but I am not a monster. You can say no to absolutely anything with me, and I would never do what your alpha did to you. That’s the thing about choice, though. You can choose to want something, and others have the ability to say no back to you. So no, I wasn’t going to help you commit suicide and leave your ad fatherless, and no, I’m not going to just mate you without giving you the chance to experience love first.”

Din huffed, gritting his teeth. He looked away with those angry tears building in his eyes again. “And you know what love is?”

“No, but I know I’d like to know what it is before I mate someone,” Boba responded simply, turning back towards the front. 

There was a moment of silence, giving Boba hope that it might be the end of the conversation, but Din asked the question he was hoping not to hear. “Why did you kiss me?”

There were a million things he could have said, and all of them would have been better than what he ended up saying. “Because you’re cute.” He felt like an idiot the second the words left his mouth, but it was probably the truest thing he could have said. Not the best, but the most honest. Giving Din a side eye, Boba watched as color filled the omega’s cheeks. “Sit. We aren’t far from General Skywalker’s forces, so we’ll be docking after a short jump.”

Din hesitated, but then he picked up Grogu and placed him in his lap as he sat next to Boba. He said nothing, and his body language was hard to read, so Boba simply gave up and concentrated on the journey. How far would they have gone if Anakin’s transmission hadn’t interrupted them? Would Boba actually have gone as far as fucking him if he’d allowed it? And why wouldn’t he have? Din had almost lost his life because he’d said no to an alpha. Why would he say no, now? Kriff, Boba wanted to bang his head against something. He was an idiot. 

They docked on the Republic attack cruiser and Din returned his helmet to his head while Boba tucked his beneath his arm. It was Rex and his squad who greeted them with salutes, but Boba punched their shoulders and gave them a hug. That earned him knuckles to the top of his head, each taking their own turn to greet their brother. 

“General Skywalker and Commander Tano are on the bridge,” Rex told him after greetings were exchanged. “This way.”

Boba followed Rex. He expected after the events on Slave I that Din might keep his distance, but instead the omega kept closer to him than on Nar Shadaa with an arm pressed against Boba’s. Boba was surprised to see Ahsoka. The Jedi didn’t seem to come around much anymore after she’d been accused of being a traitor. Despite being absolved, she had kept her distance. Boba didn’t blame her for that. What he did blame her for was her loyalty to Anakin of all Jedi. Boba would have turned on the entire Council and killed them if they’d put him through the same hell they had her. Good thing he wasn’t a Jedi, then. 

“Ah, you’re here,” Anakin nodded them over to the main console and pulled up a hologram of Kashyyk. “We’re going to help the Wookies. The Separatists have built a strong hold and enslaved the population. The Wookies will help us fight, but we need to be able to get in and free those that are imprisoned inside the keep. That’s where you two come in.” Anakin pressed a button and the planet disappeared to show a map. “The base commander has stated his terms. Me. It would be unbelievable if I just turned myself over, but if two Mandalorian bounty hunters did it…”

Yeah. Boba saw where this was going, and he wasn’t impressed. “That’s your plan? We walk in with you, and then what?”

“Refuse to turn me in until we get deep enough, and then free me and help me free the Wookies,” Anakin said as if that was just so easy.

Ahsoka smiled and shrugged. “Master has always been an ‘on the fly’ kind of Jedi. Also, this is hardly the first time he’s pretended to turn himself in.”

“It’s only the third time,” Anakin argued with a smile.

“If you’ve done this before, isn’t it going to be rather obvious it’s a trap?” Boba questioned. 

“That’s why we’re having you turn me over instead of doing it myself. From our intel, the Wookies are being held here,” Anakin highlighted the map. “You just need to get us close and we can fight our way through the rest of the way. Rex and his squad will be waiting for our signal to help us from the outside.”

Boba absolutely loathed this plan, but he had heard the many stories from Rex and the other 501st brothers about Anakin’s poorly planned missions always ending up going the right way. With a heavy sigh, Boba shook his head. Fine. They could play the bad hunters. Boba could certainly make it believable with his distrust of Anakin. Except, taking Grogu on this mission was out of the question. “The kid can’t come.”

“Where I go, he goes,” Din immediately argued.

“He’ll draw all the wrong attention,” Boba argued back. He knew that Grogu was important to Din, but as alpha it was his job to keep everyone safe. “He can’t come. It’s too dangerous for all of us, but him most of all.”

“I’m not leaving him here with some Jedi,” Din hissed, turning his head towards Anakin and Ahsoka.  

“Then he won’t stay with a Jedi.” Boba looked over at Rex who nodded and turned to Hawk.

“Hawk, I have an extremely important mission for you,” Rex said.

Hawk saluted. “Sir!”

“Watch over Din Djarin’s child like he were you very own,” Rex instructed. “Don’t let any harm come to him. On your life.”

Hawk nodded firmly. “Yes, sir! On my life!”

Din still didn’t hand Grogu over. Boba reached out and curled his fingers around Din’s arm gently. “Din. Please. Hawk will take good care of Grogu. Ori’haat.” Speaking Mando’a finally got the omega to reach into the pouch and pick the kid up. 

“I’ll take good care of him,” Hawk promised as he took Grogu into his arms. 

“I will make you suffer in the greatest of ways if anything happens to him,” Din threatened. 

Boba couldn’t entirely be upset at the threat, because he, too, would cause Hawk pain if anything happened to Grogu. Hawk saluted, taking it all in stride. Boba trusted him. Other than Rex himself, there was no one better to watch over the kid. 

“You know, if Grogu went through some training as a Jedi, he could protect himself on his hunts with you,” Anakin told Din. “He could also help protect you.”

“Grogu is Mandalorian, not Jedi,” Din spat. 

“Tarre Vizsla was both Mandalorian and Jedi,” Ahsoka pointed out. 

Boba watched as Din’s entire body tensed and locked up. It was hard to get a true scent on the omega with the beskar masking it, but Boba was sure he smelled fear. Tarre would have been far before his and Din’s time, but it was more than obvious the omega knew of the name at least. He knew of it, and he didn’t like it. Boba didn’t know anything of Tarre Vizsla, but he knew plenty of the name Vizsla. The clan that had murdered his ba’buir. Not exactly the clan he would want to use as an example for anything. It seemed, at the very least, he and Din shared a mutual dislike of the name. 

“Grogu will not be a Vizsla,” Din growled, the muscles in his body twitching in anger.

Boba made a mental note of it. He knew why he hated the Vizsla name, but why did Din? “This mission isn’t about Grogu. We can discuss all of that another time. For now, you’re our prisoner on the Slave.”

“Don’t act like that doesn’t make you happy,” Anakin said.

Boba couldn’t hold back the snort. They began to make their way back to the docking bay with Rex and several of his men at his side. No matter how much he tried to shake off what happened between Nar Shadaa and the cruiser, he couldn’t. Boba didn’t feel right about all of this, and he had to say something. “Rex. Could I talk to you for a moment in private?” Anakin raised an eyebrow and Din locked up in uncertain panic at the idea of being left alone with a Jedi. “General Skywalker, please continue to the ship with Din. Din, Jesse will take care of you. He’ll be an arm to guide you.”

Jesse jogged to the front and snapped to attention before saluting and extending out an arm to Din. The omega regarded him with careful regard. Boba nodded to give him reassurance, and Din took Jesse’s arm. They moved on, leaving him and Rex alone to talk. 

“You alright, kid?” Rex asked, already knowing the answer. “I know you were coming from Nar Shadaa.”

Biting his lip, Boba shook his head. “I didn’t think it could be worse than what I had thought, but it was. Din’s alpha didn’t want him dead. He wanted him beaten to an inch of his life to teach him some kind of lesson. He was supposed to collect, but I came first.”

“Stars,” Rex breathed in disbelief, a shake of his head. “That’s what you meant by Din not being in the right headspace, I reckon?”

Boba pressed his lips together and nodded. “He shouldn’t be doing this, but I’m not going to be able to stop him. I…I think some of your men should join us on the Slave as backup. Stay on the ship until the fighting starts, and then they’ll already be there in the midst of things to help us instead of trying to find us from the rear.”

Rex sucked in a breath and crossed his arms as he raised his chin before tilting his head. “You’re worried about him.”

“Yeah I’m worried about him,” Boba hissed. “The person he trusted the most was out to hurt him. How do you think he took it? Hint - not well.”

“And how are you taking it?” Rex asked. 

Boba let out an annoyed huff. “I’m pissed, Rex. I’m angry like I’ve never been before. How could a so called ‘mate’ ever do that? How could anyone who calls themselves a Mandalorian ever do that?”

“Because they aren’t your kind of Mandalorian,” Rex reminded him, “but I’m glad you’re angry. I’m glad you’re staying by his side after what you promised. And you did make a promise, Boba.”

Gritting his teeth, Boba ran his fingers through his hair. Did Rex really have to remind him of that right now? “About that…I think I kind of messed up.”

“Messed up? How?” Rex raised an eyebrow.

Turning, Boba began to pace. “He got angry with me when we returned to the ship, about not mating him. He accused me of being like his previous alpha. I sort of…I sort of snapped.”

Rex let out a heavy sigh. “Snapped how, exactly?”

“Snapped as in I got really angry at him for making the accusation and then…then…,” Boba winced, still hating himself for it. “I kind of kissed him.” 

Rex’s eyebrows shot up all the way to the front line of his blonde hair. He blinked several times, trying to figure out what to say, before shaking his head and rubbing his chin. “Well…that’s a new definition of ‘snapped', I’d say. And how exactly did Din react to that?”

“He…kissed back?” Boba shrugged, not having anything else to go on since Din had said nothing about it.

Rex started to laugh. “Well. You two sure are something. Acting like a bunch of shinies, you two are.”

Boba punched him in the chest. “Who are you calling shinies?! I have more dents in my armor than you!”

“You can be a shiny in more ways than just the battlefield,” Rex reminded him. “You’re definitely one when it comes to love.”

“And you aren’t!?” Boba argued with an annoyed puff of his cheeks.

“Certainly,” Rex agreed with a smile, “but I’m not the one chasing after an omega, am I? I may not know much about love, but I still have two eyes, little brother. You said it yourself you’ve had eyes on him since you rescued him. Sounds like maybe he might have eyes for you, too.”

It had certainly felt like that on Slave I when Din had kissed him back so fervently, but what if it wasn’t that? “Is it that, or is he just looking for someone to turn to after everything that’s happened to him?”

“Why can’t it be both?” Rex asked simply. “Personally, if it were me, I’d feel pretty honored if someone who had endured that much tragedy was looking to me to make them feel safe again. As a leader, there’s no better feeling than when a soldier can come to you with all their problems. That shows that you’re doing all the right things. You’ve gained their trust and support. If Din is turning to you for comfort, then he has to trust you in some capacity. I get that you’re the only one around, but he could have chosen to shut you out completely, and he hasn’t done that. For what it’s worth.”

Boba still had his doubts, but maybe Rex was right. Which meant it was that much more important to look after Din. “Well, then if Din has placed this trust in me, you understand why I have to protect him on Kashyyk.”

“I do,” Rex nodded, clasping Boba’s shoulder. “I understand your concerns, and you’re right to have them. I’ll join you with a small team on the Slave. Jesse can lead the support in the rear. Don’t worry. I know General Skywalker’s plan sounds crazy, but they usually are, and we’re still alive to tell the tales.”

Not everyone was alive to do so. Plenty of his brothers had lost their lives fighting under Skywalker, but Boba wasn’t ignorant to the fact this was war. Even a perfectly laid out plan would still result in death. “I don’t trust him, but I trust you, brother."

Rejoining everyone else on the Slave, Rex told Anakin of their slight change in plans. The Jedi seemed to have no issues with it. When they came out of hyperspace, Boba opened up transmissions with the Neimoidian leading the Seperatist group on Kashyyk so they wouldn’t be blasted out of the sky before they even had a chance to execute.

“Everyone ready?” Anakin asked as Slave touched down on the planet. 

Boba happily cuffed the Jedi’s hands together and turned to Din. “Stay close. I’ll do all the talking, but be ready. Negotiations aren’t exactly my forte. I’m a shoot first ask questions later kind of guy.”

“Just try and avoid a firefight until we get into the compound,” Anakin told him. “The closer we can get, the better, but I’ll settle for just getting inside if I have to.”

Boba could do better than just getting inside. He grabbed one of Anakin’s arms and Din grabbed the other. With the Jedi secured, Boba slammed his free hand against the button on the wall and the door latch began to lower. They were greeted by a slew of B1 droids, which they all more or less expected. Boba began to take note of the surroundings and where all the droids were posted. There were droidekas, too. Great. 

“So…the great Boba Fett captured General Skywalker?” The Neimoidian asked as he carefully approached, droids at the ready on either side. “Last I heard, the Fetts were fighting for the Republic.”

“We fight for whoever pays,” Boba told him. 

“Traitors,” Anakin hissed, getting into character.

Boba kicked the back of Anakin’s knees making him kneel and then hit the base of his neck with the butt of his rifle. He held back so it wouldn’t knock the Jedi out, but it certainly still hurt. Getting to hit Anakin was quite cathartic. “Bounty hunters are loyal to no one.”

“So it is credits you seek in exchange?” the Neimoidian asked. “That can be arranged.”

“Not just credits,” Boba told him. “You have something more valuable here. Wookies. They can be traded in the slave markets for items far more valuable than credits.”

The Neimoidian hummed. “And what is stopping me from having you killed right now and taking Skywalker myself?”

“I like my chances,” Boba told him without hesitation. It wouldn’t be a pretty fight, but knowing he had Rex protecting his back gave him confidence they could get out of this alive if they had to. 

The Neimoidian huffed. “Very well. I will have a few Wookies brought out to you.”

“No. I want my pick of the litter,” Boba told him. Come on…take the bait. 

“Traitors and pigs. I should have known never to trust you and your father,” Anakin growled.

Boba landed a kick to his stomach this time, making him double over. 

That made the Neimoidian laugh. “A good trader always likes to see the goods before purchasing. This way, then.”

They were in. Boba let out a small breath of relief as he and Din bent down to yank Anakin to his feet and pushed him forward to follow the Neimoidian into the compound. After walking down a few halls and taking an elevator, Boba could see the cells holding the Wookies. He started to look around in his peripherals for a control console. Ah - there. It was on Din’s side, though. 

Boba looked over at Din who looked back. The omega knew what he had to do. Boba gently elbowed Anakin’s side twice. Anakin suddenly elbowed Boba in the face and shoved Din directly into the console. A few blasters were fired by the droids before Boba was able to get a punch and a kick in to send Anakin to the ground. The Neimoidian was shouting angrily at the droids, reminding them that Anakin was wanted alive and not dead. 

“Try all you like, Jedi, but there’s no escaping for you,” Boba growled, yanking Anakin up by the hair. The alpha looked over at Din. Two bombs were missing from his belt. They had about thirty seconds. “Move.”

Boba kept count in his head as they approached the first Wookie cell. The Neimoidian began to talk, throwing out statistics about each one and which would be best suited for trade. It went in one ear and out the other. Three…two…one…

The facility shook with the explosion and the forcefields of the cells glitched before disappearing completely. Realizing they were free, the Wookies ran out in droves with battle cries and chaos ensued. Boba grabbed Anakin’s lightsaber and shoved it into the Jedi’s hands. Anakin freed himself and the battle began.

“Rex, time to move!” Boba shouted through his comms.

“We can hear you from out here! Already moving!” Rex answered back.

As Boba, Anakin, and Din began to take out droids, the Wookies grabbed the weapons and joined in the fight. With a wave of his arm, Anakin motioned for them to push forward to bring the fight back out where the clones could link up with them and increase their fighting strength. One thing Boba would never argue with was how handy a Jedi could come in a fight, especially when it came to droidekas. With the droid’s fast rate of fire, Anakin simply fired its own shots right back by deflecting them with his saber, taking them out. Every so often Boba would look over to Din to make sure the omega was still standing. The omega’s pistol didn’t seem to miss as he fired with focused and expert shots. Whatever emotions Din had about Nar Shadaa weren’t present now.

They began to cross the final bridge, Rex’s troops in sight. The path back to the entrance seemed clear until Boba caught sight of movement from up above. Four droidekas were spinning in a ball towards them. Anakin shouted the order to begin fire, but they were not taken down before they landed on the bridge and began to unfurl. One, however, remained in a ball as it charged straight for Din. Din fired, but it did no good against the protective armor. 

“Din, watch out!” Boba shouted, but it was too late. The droideka had knocked right into Din and the omega was sent flying right off the edge of the bridge. “DIN!” Boba dove off after him, activating his jetpack. The boost gave him what he needed to reach for Din. Wrapping his arms around the omega’s waist he held on tight as he changed their trajectory to slow them down. Din was too heavy, and Boba could only hold on long enough for them to touch down on a large turbine that hovered above some sort of strange liquid Boba would rather not touch. “You ok?”

Din nodded. “Yes, I’m - look out!” Din grabbed Boba and spun them around, taking several shots to the back.

“Din!” Boba wrapped an arm around Din’s shoulders as he fell forward and fired at the droids that had followed them down. Once clear, Boba set down his rifle and used both hands to steady Din and make sure he was alright. He could see the smoke rising from the omega’s skin between his chest armor and pauldron. It had only grazed him, but he knew from experience it was no less painful. “Why did you do that?” Boba asked as he reached for the bacta spray on his belt. Din had literally put himself between the droids and Boba. If the droids had been any better of a shot, they might have killed him instead of grazed him. 

Din hissed as Boba sprayed his wound. “I - I’m not sure.”

It was about as good of an answer as the one Boba gave him when asked about the kiss. “Come on, we need to find a way back up. My jetpack can’t carry us both.”

“Go,” Din told him simply, rolling out his shoulder to test its movement after the spray. 

“And what, leave you here? I don’t think so,” Boba said. There would have to be a way to and from the turbines. They’d need to be serviced at some point. “There, I think we can use those red beams as a ladder. It looks like they go all the way up. Can you climb?” There were enough large pipes and beams sticking out they could rest as they went if needed. It wouldn’t be fun and certainly not safe, but it was the only way out Boba could see. They needed to get back to the battle. 

“Yes,” Din answered before making his way across the turbine towards the beams. 

“You first,” Boba instructed. That way, if Din slipped and fell, he’d be there to catch him again.

Thankfully, the climb was much easier than Boba had been anticipating, and he began to wonder if it actually was meant to be a set of climbing ladders. Boba grew worried, though, as the sounds of battle began to die down instead of amplifying the closer to the top they got. Which side was winning? Or rather, who had won? He found his answer when Rex reached down to help Din up over the ledge.

“Now how in the hell did the two of you get all the way down there?” Rex asked as he let go of Din and reached down for Boba. “Running away from the fight and leaving it all to us poor clones?”

“Never,” Boba said, pulling Rex in for a hug. “Is it over?”

“A company of droids retreated into the forests, but Jesse is already in pursuit with Commander Tano,” Rex answered. “Won’t be long before they’re finished. The important thing is the Wookies are freed.”

“All thanks to you,” Anakin added. “Could have pulled back a bit on the punches, though.”

Boba snorted. “Then it wouldn’t have been believable. I think Din and I more than earned our credits.”

“That you did,” Anakin agreed. “Din, that was some fine shooting out there. Thank you for your help.”

Din’s fists clenched at his sides. “I hate droids.”

“Noted,” Anakin chuckled in amusement. Boba didn’t find it as funny, knowing why Din hated them. “Come on. Let’s return to the cruiser and get you paid so you can head home.”

Home. Stars, Boba was certainly ready for a shower and his bed. They returned to the cruiser, Grogu happy to be reunited with his father. Boba knew Hawk would have rather been out fighting, so he gave him extra thanks. Collecting their credits, they finally got to leave and set course for Coruscant. Din, however, did not join Boba in the passenger’s seat. Instead, he retreated to the rear of the bridge and sat on the floor with Grogu in his lap. The adrenaline of the battle must have been wearing off, meaning everything from Nar Shadaa was returning. Sighing, Boba said nothing because he had nothing to say. Or rather, he did not know the right thing to say. It wasn’t really a long flight back to Coruscant, but it felt like an eternity. 

Jango was there to greet them at the dock, and he pulled Boba into a hug. “I take it Kashyyk was successful? Obi-Wan told me you got roped into it by Skywalker.”

“Yes,” Boba answered, returning his father’s hug. 

“And Nar Shadaa?”

Boba swallowed and looked back. Din was keeping his distance. “I’ll…tell you later.” There were still questions that need to be answered to paint the full picture, and he hoped he could get some answers out of Din once they were back in their apartment. 

Din made a b-line for the bedroom, and Boba followed after him. Unsurprisingly, he went straight for his little corner by the windows. “Din…I…,” he let out a frustrated sigh. Why was this so difficult? “Can I do anything?”

“Just leave me alone,” Din answered softly. 

With another sigh, Boba set his helmet aside and retreated to the refresher to get cleaned up and changed. The shower had seemed to become a place of thinking of late for Boba, though it rarely harbored any answers. When Boba got out, Din was still sitting there, though he had removed his helmet. Boba approached and knelt behind the omega. With careful hands, he started to undo Din’s armor. Din looked back in surprise with tear-stained cheeks, but he didn’t stop Boba. “Din. You said you told your alpha no. No to what?”

Din was just as silent to the question a second time as he had been the first.

“You have to give me something, Din,” Boba said with frustration. “If what the Zabrak says is true, he now knows my description. A Mandalorian’s armor is unique to them. If he really wants to find me, he probably will. I need to be ready so I can keep you safe.”

Swallowing hard, the tears formed again in Din’s eyes. “You can’t keep me safe from him. No one can.”

“I can if you tell me what I need to know,” Boba argued. “You’re now kin to the two greatest hunters in the parsec. You are protected.”

“Kin…,” Din snorted sadly. “How can I be kin when you will not mate me?”

Boba grit his teeth together. “Aliit ori'shya tal'din. You of all people should know that after taking Grogu into your clan. I told you that you were now a Fett, and so did my father. Nothing changes that. At least give me a name. A description. Something.”

The tears fell down Din’s cheeks again and licked his lips. “Vizsla…my mate was Paz Vizsla.”

Boba’s entire body went cold. Vizsla. Din had been promised to a Vizsla. That was why he had reacted poorly to the name when Ahsoka spoke it. That was why…that was why everything Boba had discovered had been ten times worse than anything he could have thought. No one was crueler than those of clan Vizsla. It should have changed nothing, but to Boba it changed everything. Boba would never let Paz Vizsla lay claim to Din again. On his life.

“He will never touch you again. I swear it,” Boba promised, a shake in his own voice. He had to stop what he was doing with Din’s armor and stand. “I - I’m going to make us some food. Rest.” The cold disappeared and made way for burning rage and hatred. Even now, the Vizslas found some way to hurt his family. It couldn’t be coincidence Din had come into their lives. A tear fell from Boba’s eye and he wiped it away angrily. 

/*/

Jango looked up as Boba left his room. His son’s face said it all. “Sit, ad’ika. Tell me what happened.”

“You were right,” Boba started as he took a seat, folding his hands in front of him on the table and lowering his gaze. “It did end up being worse than I could have imagined. His alpha didn’t leave him for dead, Buir. He left him to be permanently incapacitated. He didn’t want him to be able to fight back anymore. At least, that’s what I think. Din told me he knew why this happened, that it was because he’d told his alpha no.”

Jango let out a sad sigh, unsurprised to hear any of this. He’d warned Boba. A good omega was an obedient omega in the Watch. Denying an alpha anything would certainly be cause for punishment. “What was it he said no to?”

“I don’t know,” Boba answered. “I’ve asked twice and he won’t tell me. But Dad…his alpha was a Vizsla. Paz Vizsla.”

Jango could feel his heart stopping in his chest. If Din’s mate had been a Vizsla, then there was certainly no limit to the amounts of cruelty he had likely endured. It had been a long time now since Jango had witnessed the death of his father by Tor Vizsla’s hand, but the name continued to haunt him. Suddenly, all of the doubts and reservations he had about Din Djarin turned to pity. Now the omega’s demand for death started to make sense. It hadn’t been about the helmet at all. It had been about what he knew he’d endure if returned to his covert. Death truly would have been a mercy. 

“Dad, the Zabrak gave them my description,” Boba said, clenching his fists. “He’ll come for Din.”

“Let him, then,” Jango challenged. “Din is a Fett now, and under our protection.” Boba looked up at him in surprise at the change of tune regarding the omega. “Let me speak with him. I have some amends to make.”

Boba nodded hesitantly. “You should know…on Kashyyk…he saved my life. He put himself between the fire and me. I believe in him, Dad. He will fight for us. For you.”

“Good,” Jango said with a satisfied nod. Pushing his chair back, Jango stood and headed for Boba’s room. Din was curled in on himself by the window, making himself as small as possible. Jango approached the bed and retrieved the tauntaun blanket. Carefully, he draped it across Din’s back. Din looked up, expecting Boba, but began to panic as he realized it was Jango. The alpha could smell the omega’s fear and held out his palms. “Easy, omega.” Placing one hand atop Din’s head, Jango released calming pheromones. Din had no choice but to melt beneath his touch. “I am not here to hurt you, Din.”

Din clutched Grogu to his chest and lowered his gaze in submission.

“Boba told me what happened on Nar Shaddaa. That your mate was a Vizsla.” Din nodded. Jango joined him on the floor and crossed his legs. “I am truly sorry for you, Din. I know first hand how cruel the Vizslas can be. One betrayed my buir and killed him in front of me.” Din looked up at Jango in surprise. “He hurt you, didn’t he?” Din didn’t answer, but the look he gave was enough. “You don’t have to tell my son what happened, but I need to know so that I can keep all of you safe. It is my duty as head of this clan. What exactly was it you said no to, Din?”

Din let out a shuddered breath as he pulled the blanket tighter around himself. “I…I was told after my first heat that my ability to have children was….not promising.”

So the omega already knew. 

“When it came time for my claiming tournament, only three alphas even entered,” Din went on. “Paz…,” he swallowed uncomfortably, “Paz was convinced he could ‘fix’ me, but no matter how many heats I had, I never conceived.”

It made Jango so angry. Din didn’t need to say it for him to read between the lines at the things Paz had done to him.

“At first it made me feel so worthless, but in the end I grew to become happy,” Din continued. “I didn’t want to have children. I liked being a hunter. I was good at it. It made me feel useful. It made me feel like I had worth.” Sucking in a shuddered breath, Din closed his eyes, tears falling. “Then one day they found a ‘cure’. A natural fertility remedy that would increase my estrogen levels. When they tried to give it to me, I said no. I didn’t want it. I didn’t want to bring life into the world knowing they might be an omega. Knowing they might go through everything I’d endured. I couldn’t do it.”

Jango clenched his fists angrily against his thighs. “So he thought he’d teach you a lesson and make it where you could never hunt again. So that your only choice was to be a breeder.”

Din’s lip trembled and he looked away. “Yes.”

Jango pulled Din against his chest and hugged him tightly as the omega cried. “Din, I know now why you wanted to throw away your life, and I understand why you felt the way you did, but do not give up now. Do not give him the satisfaction of seeing you quit. I’m sorry I scared you, but I’m sure you understand I was keeping my own family safe. Nothing is more important to me than my son, and I was not going to let you hurt him.” Jango had only been thinking of the Watch from an alpha’s perspective, though. He had failed to sit back and think about what an omega might be going through. If he had been of a clearer mind, he may not have reacted so violently. 

Din nodded with a sniff. “I do not want to hurt you or Boba.”

“I know,” Jango placed a hand to the back of the omega’s head and pulled him tighter. “You and Grogu are aliit, now. You are safe. I swear it. 

“I promise I will fight for you,” Din cried into his chest. “I will die for you. You have my allegiance.”

Jango lifted Din’s head and gently pressed their foreheads together. “Do not die for anyone, Din. Live. Choose life. For you and for your son.” Din cried into Jango’s chest, and the alpha held him tightly until the tears stopped and his breaths slowed. Curling his arms beneath his knees and back, Jango lifted the omega and set him carefully into the bed. Grogu looked worried, but the alpha also heard the growl come from his stomach. Picking the child up, Jango kissed his forehead. “Let’s get you some food while your buir sleeps, hmm?” Grogu hummed and pressed himself to Jango. 

Boba looked up curiously as Jango came back into the living room, but he simply shook his head. 

Let Paz Vizsla come. Jango would be waiting. 

Chapter Text

“He’ll come for him, Obi-Wan,” Jango said, his image transmitted on the hologram projector in his palm. “He will have taken Boba’s actions as a personal attack on himself and his covert. A Vizsla will not let this go lightly.”

It was not often that Obi-Wan saw emotion in Jango’s face like this. The heavy drop in the Jedi’s stomach only increased with every new detail the other man gave about the young Din’s life. So much now in his vision was starting to connect, and not in a good or hopeful way. It was all dread. “I will tell Bo-Katan not to come. I don’t believe she’d cause Din any harm, but the last thing we need is for more Mandalorians to have eyes on Din and Boba together.” There was far more to it than that, but Obi-Wan could not reveal what he’d seen to Jango. “I will put it out among all of the troops to be on the lookout for any Mandalorian activity. Did Din give you a description?”

“A tank type. Over six feet, very muscular build with blue armor,” Jango answered. 

Cody nodded to Obi-Wan when the Jedi glanced over. “Alright. We’ll stay ahead of this best we can. If we hear anything at all, I’ll contact you immediately. I’d say it might be best to lay low for now, but asking that of Boba is like asking Anakin to follow orders.”

“We’ll stick together,” Jango promised. 

“May the Force be with all of you, but Din most of all,” Obi-Wan said. Jango nodded and the transmission ended. Now was not the time to bring it up, and Obi-Wan couldn’t even believe he was beginning to sway this way, but perhaps putting Grogu into training was not such a bad idea after all. Grogu was as much at risk as Din in this situation, and if there was a way to protect himself, he should learn it. 

“I don’t like that look on your face, sir,” Cody commented somberly.

Obi-Wan sighed. “I don’t either, my friend. Stars are starting to align, and I’m not so sure I like what they have to say in this matter. There is a long history between the Fetts and Vizslas, and none of it is good. There is unfinished business between these clans that is going to come to a head. A very bloody, and perhaps deadly one.”

“What about the Darksaber? Does this explain any of that?” Cody asked.

Oh yes. Did it, indeed. “Tarre Vizsla was the creator of the Darksaber. The one and only Mandalorian to also be a Jedi.” For now. Perhaps Grogu was to be the next. “For Din, now a Fett, to become the wielder of the blade his once Vizsla mate’s ancestor created…I do not believe in coincidences, Cody. It’s why I also have to call Bo-Katan off. She has been looking for the Darksaber since it was lost, and if she learns of Din’s ties to a Vizsla, that could put him in more danger than he is already in.”

“But you told Jango Fett that you didn’t believe she’d hurt him,” Cody argued with a furrowed brow.

Pressing his lips together, Obi-Wan sucked in a breath and tucked his hands into his sleeves. “I don’t believe she would intentionally do so, but I also know that Bo-Katan is haunted by what happened on Mandalore when she was the Darksaber’s wielder. She is looking for redemption, and I don’t think she’d stop at much to obtain it. I know Ahsoka considers her a friend, but I am warry, Cody. Perhaps I am wrong, and I hope that I am, but if Din becomes the wielder, I believe Bo-Katan would challenge him to its claim.”

“Great, so now we don’t only have to worry about this Paz Vizsla, but Bo-Katan, too,” Cody sighed.”

Obi-Wan shook his head. “Don’t concern yourself so much with Bo-Katan. I will deal with that if and when it comes to it. I may be completely off base, but let’s keep it in consideration. The immediate need is for all our forces to be on the lookout for Paz and any information about him. If he figures out that Boba was the Mandalorian that took Din, the first place he will look is to the Republic. That could be to our benefit with as many eyes and ears as we have with the clones.”

Cody saluted. “I will pass the information on to everyone, sir. If we see Vizsla, or hear anyone asking about Boba or Din’s descriptions, we’ll pass it up immediately.”

Obi-Wan placed a hand on Cody’s pauldron. “I promised you that if we were patient, time would reveal all things. It’s starting to unfold. Remember to stay the course and not to act irrationally. Boba’s safety is important to you, but it’s important to me, too. Keep the faith in me, Cody.”

“I always have, sir,” Cody promised him, clasping the Jedi’s shoulder in return. 

As much as Obi-Wan placed his unwavering trust in Cody, he wished that the clone had never been privy to the vision. Anakin, Ahsoka, Yoda, and Mace all knew the importance of not reacting too strongly to visions. They knew how the Force never showed the bigger picture. Anakin knew that better than anyone with the visions Palpatine tried to put on him of Padme. Cody didn’t. Cody’s overwhelming desire to keep his brother safe might be the very thing that caused the vision to happen. The Force had its reasons, and it was not meant for him to question, but he still worried. Perhaps Cody was not ready for all of this. 

Anakin, ever connected to Obi-Wan by the Force, felt his unease so strongly he sought him out on the cruiser. “Master…something bothers you. Is it the mission?”

“No, no,” Obi-Wan sighed. The mission was simply another in the long list of many in this war. He gave a summary of what Jango had told him and spelled out his concerns more elaborate than he had with Cody, because he knew Anakin would better understand. 

“May I offer a suggestion?” Anakin asked with a stroke of his chin.

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, unsure if he wanted to hear it or not. “You’re going to offer it whether I like it or not, so go ahead.”

“Don’t just sit back and wait to find out information,” Anakin began. “Send a small squad out to actively pursue Vizsla.”

Anakin had always been proactive instead of reactive, so the suggestion wasn’t a huge surprise. “You and I both know we don’t have the resources for that. I also don’t want to draw attention to ourselves that way. A bunch of clones going around asking about Vizsla will immediately tie Din to the Republic and make him that much easier to find.” Obi-Wan felt a stab of guilt in his heart and he turned his back. “I ask too much of Jango and Boba, and now it’s put them at further risk.”

“Master,” Anakin placed a gentle hand on his bicep. “You know as well as I that Fett would never do anything he doesn’t want to do. He continues to come to your aid because he wants to.”

His aid. Not the Republic’s. Not the Order’s. His. Kriff, was he that transparent? “Perhaps, but it’s made them that much easier to find. If it weren’t for me, they’d be able to go into hiding and keep Din safe.”

“Maybe, but am I wrong in assuming the Fetts will have the Order at his back?” Anakin asked. “Many of us were there in the vision. I have to think that means we are fighting on their behalf, just as they have ours. We have strength in numbers, Obi-Wan. Din’s covert may be strong. They may be Mandalorian, but at the end of the day Boba and Din have several Jedi and all of the 501st and 212th at their back. Kriff, every clone I know would fight for Boba, because he is one of them. He’s a brother.”

It wasn’t numbers Obi-Wan was worried about. Mandalorians fought based on creed. From the vision, it looked like a challenge had been initiated. If that were the case, they would not be allowed to interfere. At least…they weren’t supposed to. As Jedi, they were supposed to respect cultures and customs, but what would he do if it came down to it? If Boba challenged Paz, would Obi-Wan break their creed and interfere to save the young alpha’s life? Boba would hate him if he did, even if had saved his life. Jango might resent him, too. “This isn’t the Separatists we are fighting, Anakin. It’s a much different type of war. Numbers won’t mean much.”

“Maybe not, but if I have learned anything after, well,” he gave a small shrug, but Obi-Wan knew what he was referring to, “it’s that all things are rooted in trust, hope and…love. The Council may continue to believe love as the path to the Dark Side, but I think it’s the very thing that keeps us in the light. If I had fallen and turned under Palpatine’s manipulation, it would have killed Padme, not save her.”

Obi-Wan’s gaze was lowered, too afraid to look at Anakin because he would see. He would see that he already loved. He had loved for a long time. Not just romantically, but platonically.

“Master, you keep yourself from happiness because you’re afraid of the Council, but the truth is that it’s already too late. You already love,” he told him. “You’re already attached. Keeping it a secret hurts no one but you and those you refuse to tell. Good thing for you, I already know you love me.”

Obi-Wan couldn’t help but let out a laugh as he tried to hide the tears before they fell. “Anakin.”

“What? Love doesn’t have to be romantic, Master,” Anakin smiled. “I love you the same way you love me, as Master and once Padawan. The same way Ahsoka and I love one another. The same way all the clones love each other. Family. Sure, sometimes that love has made me do some pretty crazy things, but it’s all worked out in the end, hasn’t it?”

Obi-Wan huffed, thinking about all the ‘crazy’ things Anakin had done for others. It was truly incredible how much Anakin could see right through him. Better than anyone ever could, even Qui-Gon. “Frankly, I think it’s nothing but dumb luck that will one day run out.”

“You call it luck, I call it skill,” Anakin smiled before sucking in a serious breath. “Either way, my point still stands. How long are you going to torture yourself?”

Forever, probably. There was just too much at risk. “There’s a war going on, Anakin, and too much going on with Din and Grogu.” 

“There will always be a war somewhere, and people that need us, Master,” Anakin argued. “That will never change. What also will never change is Jango coming at your beck and call when he will answer to no one else. He always comes for you, and you repay him how? With credits? You and I both know Jango needs no credits. He does it because he hopes to one day get the one thing he really wants - you.”

“Anakin-,”

Anakin stepped in front of him the moment he tried to turn away. “Give me one good reason that isn’t the Council.”

Obi-Wan finally looked up at Anakin, but he could not find an answer. 

Anakin let out a sympathetic sigh and to Obi-Wan’s surprise, smiled. “You’re afraid. That’s a good thing. That means it means something. Just…think about it. At the very least, I think you should tell Jango about the vision.”

“I can’t,” Obi-Wan shook his head. As conflicted as he felt about Anakin’s words, he felt very strongly about this. “Those that are not Jedi have a hard time understanding Force visions. They don’t understand that it’s a small piece of a whole, and that they can be forever changing. I already worry about Cody, Anakin. I worry because of that love thing you spoke about. Cody loves Boba, and he will do anything to save him. That may be the very thing that causes him to fall.”

“I don’t believe that,” Anakin argued. “You said it yourself that we don’t know the full story. Boba may have lived. Cody trying to interfere may be what saves him. We don’t know what will happen, or what will cause it, yet. I just think that if it involves his son, Jango should know.”

Obi-Wan had told no one of it yet. He had meditated again after the first vision, trying to get more details. “I only noticed it after the second time I opened myself to the vision, but Din was pregnant, Anakin. With Boba’s child. Knowing how much Jango loves Boba, I know that if he found out his grandchild might also be in danger, it would be too much. He’d lose all focus and rationale.”

“I thought the medical droid said Din could not bear children?” Anakin asked with a furrowed brow.

“No, the droid said it would be difficult,” Obi-Wan corrected. “I cannot answer the ‘how’ in the situation. I don’t know if it was something Boba and Din wanted, or if it was a surprise. I just know that I felt its presence inside of Din.” Sighing, Obi-Wan finally pulled away from Anakin to look out the window of the ship to the stars. “Even if I told Jango of the vision, he cannot feel the things we feel when we have them. No words would be able to describe the things I felt between Din and Boba in that moment. Jango is just now starting to accept Din. I’m afraid telling him he is to become pregnant with his grandchild would make him think he’s using Boba and we’ll be right back where we were. Jango wasn’t afraid to kill Din before, and if at any moment he thinks he may be a danger to Boba, he’ll make good on it. Maybe in the end I will have to tell him, but not now. Not until we know more.” Not until he could make sure Jango would fight for Din. Jango sympathized with Din after learning about Paz Vizsla. They had a shared experience, but Jango didn’t really trust him. Not yet. 

Anakin joined him at the window, crossing his arms. “Well…I suppose that is a good reason. But you should think about what I’ve said. Life is short, Master, more so for those that do not feel the Force.”

Obi-Wan didn’t need to be told to think about it, because he’d do nothing but. He was always thinking about Jango. Always.  

And therein lay the problem.

/*/

“What are we doing here?” Din asked as he looked around the empty room curiously. It looked vacant, only occupied by the large four metal walls.

Boba walked over to a small console. “It’s a combat simulator.”

Din may have been wearing his helmet, but the way he cocked his head at Boba spoke volumes. “I don’t need training.”

“Didn’t say you did,” Boba replied before turning back to Din. “But you’re still pissed. You have a lot of pent up anger over what happened. I know that when I’m pissed, the thing that makes me feel better is beating the kriff out of someone else. Now, knowing how you’ve almost beat the shit out of me twice, I’d rather you take it out on someone else.”

The omega huffed. “Afraid?”

“Would it make you feel better if I said yes?” Boba questioned with a roll of his eyes. Truthfully, he wanted a rematch, but he was distracted as much as Din was about everything. A Vizsla. Boba still couldn’t believe it. After all the stories his father had told him. How they had killed the ba’buir he’d never gotten to know. 

Din’s shoulders dropped and he looked away. “Are you?”

“Am I what?” Boba asked, having turned back to the screen.

“Afraid of me.” It was said with such softness Boba wasn’t even sure if he’d heard it correctly.

Fingers pausing above the screen, Boba pressed his lips together. “Isn’t that supposed to be my line?” Boba hadn’t been the one abused his entire life. He’d been raised by an incredibly loving father in an extremely comfortable setting. After hearing Din’s story, he’d realized how lucky he had been. Boba had always taken it for granted.

“You think I should be afraid of you.” It wasn’t a question. Din turned his back, clenching his fists. 

Boba grit his teeth. “Are you?” The omega was so conflicting in his actions. He looked for Boba’s support and presence anytime they were somewhere new, but in the safety of their own room, he waited until Boba was asleep before getting in bed. He turned his back and made himself as small as possible. Despite having come to a better understanding and acceptance, he still would flinch anytime Jango would touch him. 

“I don’t know,” Din whispered honestly, taking several steps away from Boba. 

Anger immediately bubbled beneath Boba’s skin. He wanted to shout about all the things he’d done to keep Din safe. How he’d risked his own relationship with his father to keep him breathing. Kriffing alpha instincts. What druking good would any of that do? Clenching his fists, Boba swallowed those feelings down. Dad always said he was too hot headed. Blowing out a long breath, he tried not to take Din’s words as seriously as he wanted to. Din had every right to not trust him and his father completely. Boba was horrible at being patient, but he’d have to be. “I get it,” he eventually said. “Not so sure I’d trust me either. But we’re going to have to get past it, Din. If we’re going to be aliit and fight by each other, we have to trust.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t trust you,” Din argued.

Frowning, Boba looked over his shoulder, but Din had his back to him. Trusting someone while being afraid was…that was how abuse started. If Din was afraid of him but looked to him for protection, he was no better than Vizsla. Just as Din had said. “To me, those things go hand-in-hand. You can’t be afraid of me and trust me, Din. That’s now how it’s supposed to work.” With a heavy sigh, he pulled up the Opponents screen. “Any species in particular you want to beat up on? Mandalorian isn’t an option. Sorry.”

Din looked down at Grogu who was safely in his pouch. “Can you keep him out of the simulation?”

“Yeah,” Boba answered, going back a few screens. The room picked up on all lifeforms. He negated Grogu from the simulation field. 

Taking off the sack, Din carefully set Grogu down against the wall. “Droids. I hate droids.”

Right. Battle droids it was, then. “What about the pain level? I can turn it off completely if you want.”

“Set it to maximum,” Dan answered.

Boba frowned, and set it to 50%. Even he wasn’t crazy enough to set it at maximum. Maximum was a punishment, not for training. Putting on his helmet, he started the simulation and the environment of the room changed to a type of desert and droids began to populate. Din didn’t even wait for them to finish before he was attacking. Boba had originally intended on participating, but he quickly found himself being too entranced by Din’s movements to fight. Boba had been either too busy defending himself from Din in the past, or too busy fighting his own battles to really watch the omega fight. 

Paz Vizsla was a fool. Din fought with a confidence and grace Boba rarely saw in the most expert of soldiers. Why would anyone try to contain that? Why would anyone view this incredible skill as something to be punished? Because he was afraid. Paz must have been afraid Din would no longer be compliant at any moment.

Boba could say for certain that he’d never want to be Din Djarin’s enemy.

Din finished the droids, but he didn’t seem happy. In fact, he seemed more enraged than he had been before the simulation. Returning his pistol to his holster, he turned and clenched his fists at Boba. “That was not maximum pain.”

“No,” Boba agreed, still confused as to why it was such a big deal. “Why are you so intent on hurting yourself?”

He was vastly ill prepared for Din to start attacking him. The surprise almost had him on his back again, but he refused to be pinned by the omega once more. Enough was enough. If Din wanted a fight, he’d get one. He was wearing full armor now, and he wasn’t going to hold back. Boba punched Din’s side right between the plates of armor. With a flat hand he went to knife Din’s neck, but the omega stopped him with a knee to the abdomen. Growling, Boba lowered and elbowed Din’s knee, bringing him down. Using the brief moment of advantage, he grabbed Din’s arm and twisted.

“Is this enough pain for you?” Boba asked.

Din flung the back of his head against Boba’s leg and then used his free hand to pull the entirety of the alpha’s body over him with a hard thud. Stars! How in the hell was the omega this strong?! Before Boba could get himself back up, Din kneed him hard in the head. The helmet didn’t keep his ears from ringing. With no time to get to his feet, he barely dodged another swing and reached for Din’s ankle. Leveraging his position low to the ground, he managed to pull the omega from his feet and land him on his back.

Boba stood and placed a boot against Din’s neck. It wasn’t enough to really hurt him, but enough to make his point. “Are you done, yet?” If Din answered, Boba didn’t hear it. All of the air was suddenly cut off and he felt an invisible force wrap its fingers around his throat. Boba began to claw at his skin, but there was nothing there. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t breathe!

Din sat up on his hands. “Boba? Boba what’s wrong?”

Desperately trying to suck in what little breaths he could, he turned his head. Grogu had his eyes shut and a hand extended. With what little strength he had, Boba raised a hand and pointed. His vision started going completely white and his head began to pound.

Din looked over and there was a delay as he tried to process what was happening, but then he was on his feet running. “Grogu! Hey, hey! Stop! Stop! Grogu!”

Suddenly, Boba was released and he was sucking in a huge gulp of air as he fell to his knees. Flinging his helmet off of his head he gasped, hand clutching his neck. Dank farrik! The kid wasn’t even trained, but he had figured out how to use his powers when he thought Din had been in danger. 

“Boba!” Din removed his own helmet and knelt down by Boba, a hand on his back. “What was that? How did he do that?”

Licking his lips, breaths still coming with harsh desperation, Boba looked over at Grogu whose ears were lowered and eyes cast down. “J-Jedi…the F-force.”

“Are you alright?” Din grabbed Boba’s face and forced the alpha to look at him.

Din’s eyes were wide with genuine concern. Boba tried to let out a scoff, but it came out more as a wheeze. “Kriff…it almost looks like you care.”

“I do care. I do.” Din’s voice cracked and Boba could see his eyes beginning to water.

“I don’t get you,” Boba breathed, finally finding his voice again. “What is it you want?”

Din leaned forward and pressed their lips together roughly. Boba grunted and his eyes went wide in surprise. Ok, now he was even more confused. Even though they were kissing, Boba felt like they were still fighting. He pressed against Din, but the omega grabbed his shoulders and shoved him onto his back before climbing into his lap. What in the actual fark? Boba tried to shove back, but Din was larger than him and had him pinned down. Grabbing Din’s hair, he tried another avenue, but that only made the omega kiss him harder and soon a tongue was being shoved down his throat. Boba gave up and gave in. The alpha returned the kisses, but then Din began to grind his hips down against Boba’s.

Boba sucked in a surprised breath and barely choked back the moan. “D-Din, what are you-,” Din ground down again. Oh fark. Boba could feel himself getting hard already. Spreading his legs, he gave the omega more room. He didn’t know how they had gotten here, dry humping one another in a simulation room after having previously been fighting. Boba wasn’t even sure he gave a damn until Din’s hand began to travel beneath his codpiece. “Din. Stop.” Din kept going. Boba grabbed his hand and shoved him off. “Stop!”

Din retracted his hand and pulled away with scared eyes. “S-sorry.” He frantically reached for his helmet and put it back on before retreating away from Boba. 

What in the fark had just happened? Boba looked over at Grogu, who had turned towards the wall and had hid back in his sack. That was causing all sorts of alarm bells in addition to Din’s behavior. Grabbing his own helmet, he stood. “Let’s…let’s just go back home, ok?” What else could he say? Boba rarely found himself in a state of shock, but this was one of those times. 

In silence, they returned to their apartment, and Din went straight for his corner as he always did, though he kept his helmet on. Jango wasn’t there, so Boba retreated to the living room and pulled out his holo puck. First it was Cody, and then Rex. No answer. Jesse then Hawks. Echo then Howzer. He even called Wolffe with no success. It was finally Fives that answered. “Fives, finally-!”

“Hey, kid, sorry, in a bit of a scuffle currently,” Fives said, and there were sounds of blaster fire. “Call you back!” The hologram ended.

Groaning, Boba lowered his head to the coffee table and banged it a few times. He desperately needed to talk to someone about all of this, but no one was here. Boba was in completely uncharted territory. Sex he understood. Sex was easy. But whatever it was Din was doing was…something else entirely. Din had practically confessed to being afraid of Boba, and yet he was kissing him and two seconds away from shoving his hand down Boba’s pants. This he didn’t understand at all.

“Boba?”

Boba shot up from the table and turned around. “D-Dad! You’re back!”

“I am,” Jango said, though he gave his son a raised eyebrow. “Everything alright? Where’s Din?”

“Where Din always is,” Boba grumbled, turning back around. 

“What’s wrong?” Jango immediately asked.

Boba huffed. “Who says anything is wrong?”

“Boba.”

Groaning, Boba buried his face in his hands. Yes, he wanted to talk about what happened, but not to his father. Least of all to his father. But who else was there? None of his brothers had answered his call. Rubbing a harsh palm against his face he crossed his legs on the floor and sucked in a deep breath. “Some things happened between Din and I.”

“What kind of things?” Jango asked after a brief pause.

“Um,” Boba shifted uncomfortably. “After Nar Shadaa, Din got angry me on the Slave . He accused me of being no better than Vizsla. Said I’d promised him a better life with choice, but then had denied him of the two things he’d asked of me. We, uh,” Boba closed one eye out of habit to keep himself from seeing his father’s reaction even though he was behind him and not even in his field of vision, “We sort of kissed. Then there was today. I took him to the simulator, and he got mad that I didn’t turn the pain sensors up to maximum. He suddenly started attacking me out of nowhere. His kriffing kid started Force choking me, and then he began acting all concerned about me.’

“Grogu used the Force?” Jango asked in surprise.

“Yeah, and it kriffing sucked!” Boba growled, still able to feel those invisible fingers so vividly against his throat. “Next thing I know, we’re kissing again and uh…well…” Stars, this was so embarrassing. “He wanted it to go further than I did.” Hopefully that said enough because he wasn’t about to elaborate any further. “I don’t get it, Dad. I don’t understand what he wants. I can tell a part of him is still scared of me, but then he acts like this? It feels like he’s baiting me. Like he wants me to hurt him.”

When the silence went on for more than a few seconds, Boba finally turned. Jango was retrieving two bottles of ale, and then he was joining Boba, taking a seat on the couch as he handed his son a drink. 

“A lot of becoming a successful hunter is studying the behaviors of others. It helps you to anticipate their next move. You know this, though you often ignore my advice to study.”

Boba clenched his jaw. “Yeah, yeah. So you constantly remind me.” He took a long swig of the ale.

“It’s not uncommon for those with abusive pasts to continue to seek out that abuse,” Jango began. “I’ve seen it before. Long gone are the gentle memories Din might have had of his real family. What he had with Paz Vizsla is what he knows. It’s familiar. Din might very well interpret anger as love.”

Padme’s words started to echo in Boba’s head . Din will treat you as if you were his alpha. “So…he does want me to hurt him?”

Jango let out a long sigh, contemplating his words. “Din has only implied and not confirmed anything either way, but I think we can all agree that the abuse Din took was not just physical in nature, but sexual. If abusive sex is the only sex Din ever had, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think that’s what he’s searching for. You said you think he’s baiting you, and I think he probably is.”

Boba clenched the glass so hard he was surprised it didn’t shatter in his palm. “What do I do?”

“I’d tell you to not react to it, but I can see that you already have,” Jango gave him that look. The one Boba hated the most. “Please tell me, at least, that you have not laid with him.”

“No!” Boba hissed, practically spitting out his ale. Had he definitely wanted to on the Slave? Yes. Just now in the simulator? No. Kriff, no. Boba had been…scared. Not for himself. Boba could handle himself. He’d been scared for Din. For the damn kid. The kid. “Grogu…Despite trying to choke me to death, when things started getting out of hand, I noticed how he turned away and hid.”

Jango blinked sadly and took a drink. “Because he recognizes the signs. Grogu doesn’t know the difference between consent and duty.”

“Duty,” Boba scowled. “It’s rape.”

“To you and I,” Jango agreed, “but if you ask Din if that’s what happened, I guarantee he’d disagree. To him, it was his duty.”

Boba didn’t have to ask Din to know his father was right. Din would spout duty. 

“You may not be his mate officially, but you unofficially agreed to it,” Jango told him. “He’s now carrying out his duty to you.”

“But I don’t want that!” Boba argued, feeling frustrated.

Jango hummed against the rim of his glass. “When he kissed you, did you kiss back?”

Wincing, Boba brought his knees to his chest and downed the rest of his ale. Druk. “Maybe.”

Setting down his own glass, Jango folded his hands in his lap and looked at Boba in a way that made him look back. “Then maybe it’s up to you to show him what a real relationship can be like.”

“But I don’t know,” Boba quickly objected. He’d never been in a relationship. He’d never wanted to be in one. At least…not until Din. Stars, it seemed so stupid, but Din made Boba go crazy.

Jango reached out with his free hand and grasped Boba’s shoulder. “Then I guess you’ll learn together. It starts with respect. One thing I know I have taught you. The second is kindness. Something perhaps I haven’t taught much of. Kindness is rarely needed as a hunter, but I hope I have taught you in the way I’ve treated you.”

“I’ve always felt your love, Buir,” Boba assured him, but he felt so unsure about all of this. “You hated Din, and now you’re telling me to love him. Why?”

“I’m telling you to do what’s right,” Jango corrected. “What’s right in your heart. Whatever that is. I never hated Din, Boba, I just knew what he was. I knew how hard this would be. No, I didn’t expect him to have ties with the Vizslas, but that doesn’t change how broken I knew he would be. But you made your choice, ad’ika. I told you from the start that the choice was yours. I didn’t believe he was worth the trouble. I still don’t, even though I’ve begun to understand him. I don’t like this, and I would have handled this differently, but you are your own person, Boba. You’ve decided your own path, and in doing so, you’ve decided Din’s. He’s part of this family now. The only thing still left to be decided, is in what capacity. Is he your brother, or is he your mate?”

Boba swallowed hard and he blinked rapidly as he stared into his empty glass. His intention was always for Din to simply be a brother. To give him a family and the space to find himself. Find a mate of his own choosing. But perhaps his father had known from the start that wouldn’t be what would happen. That the little crush he’d developed upon seeing Din’s face would be the end of him. “I don’t know what to do.”

“I cannot help you, Boba. The choice is for you to make, not me.”

With shaking legs, Boba stood and walked away from his father. He still had no idea what to do about all of this, but he knew what he had to say to Din right now. Barging into his room, he headed straight for Din and took a seat next to him. The omega tried to flee, but Boba put a firm hand on his thigh. Boba didn’t like giving Din orders, but this called for it. 

“Din. Take off your helmet and look at me.”

Din was slow to react, but eventually he took off his helmet. He refused to look at Boba.

“Why did you kiss me?” Boba asked. “And don’t give me any kind of duty bantha fodder.”

Din didn’t answer, fiddling with the edge of his torn cape. 

“I asked you a question,” Boba growled. Din flinched, and he immediately regretted it, but he had to know. He had to. 

The omega’s eyes became glossy with tears. “I thought you wanted me.” His words were barely above a whisper.

Boba felt his heart tearing into two. Kriff. Kriff! What was he supposed to say? What was the right thing to do? Do what’s right in your heart. Druk, his heart was a right mess and had no business making any decisions, but here they were. “I do want you, Din, but not like this. We don’t do things like that in my clan. You don’t kiss me because you feel you have to. You don’t touch me because you feel it’s your duty. Intimate touch is only done when both parties agree to it. It’s not a matter of duty, but a matter of desire. A matter of want. A matter of love. I meant what I said, Din. I kissed you because I found you attractive, but I will never ever let you give yourself to me because you feel it’s your duty as an omega to do so.” With nothing else to say, Boba got to his feet to walk away. He’d sleep on the couch.

“Please don’t leave me alone!”

Boba stopped and slowly turned. “Are you asking because you feel you need to, or because you want to?”

“Please,” Din was fully crying now. “I want you to stay.”

Clenching his jaw, Boba slowly returned to Din and knelt down. “Look at me, Din. Are you afraid of me?”

“No,” Din answered, lip trembling, “but that’s what scares me.”

Boba pulled Din against his chest, and the omega let out a sigh of relief as he hugged him back. 

Chapter Text

Boba couldn’t move, and he was getting too hot for comfort, but he would continue to endure it if it meant seeing Din be at the most peace he’d seen him since floating unconscious in the bacta tank. They had kissed again after Din had asked him to stay. Boba knew they shouldn’t have, but being so close to Din like that made it so hard to resist. At least this time there’d been no fighting. There’d been no urge to claim dominance over one another. It had been proper and left Boba wanting more.

Din had wrapped himself in his blanket and then asked - he’d actually asked - if it was ok to sleep close to Boba. The omega had still kept a small distance between them, but during the night the gap closed and Boba had even subconsciously wrapped his arms around him protectively. It had surprised Boba when he woke, but his arms were still there even though he’d been awake for a while now. His fingers were playing with the blue and white fibers of the tauntaun fur as he found himself deep in thought.

Is he your brother, or is he your mate?

They would never be brothers. Boba wasn’t dumb enough to think that. Too much had already happened between them for that. Too much would still happen. Din was even starting to creep into Boba’s dreams. He’d been just sitting there in a field of yellow flowers, body curled up on itself. The clouds were dark casting shadows over Din and only Din. Boba had called out to him, but there’d been no response. Try as he might, he couldn’t get close enough to touch him. Boba wasn’t a poet by any means, but even he could figure out the symbolism. Din wanted to find peace, but he was draped in too much darkness. As long as that darkness was around him, he’d never let anyone in. 

Boba had only visited Naboo once, and it had been extremely brief, but he’d remembered fields of yellow flowers. It was easy to remember. So few planets he visited had much vegetation, let alone vegetation that was actually beautiful and not trying to kill you. He’d had tentacles trying to eat him wrapped around him one too many times. Padme had told him he’d speak with Din. Maybe this was the sign he needed to take her up on it. Boba couldn’t help Din. Not in the way he needed. Boba had never considered him weak, but he was realizing how weak he really was when it came to Din. He’d give in. He’d already given in a little, and look where it had gotten them. 

Din let out a soft moan and stirred in Boba’s arms. There was that same crease in his brow that he had every night. Boba moved his hand to his shoulder and shook him. “Din. Hey. Din. Wake up.”

Din opened his eyes, that glaze of sleep still covering them. It took a few seconds, and then he realized the position he was in. The fog was gone and he was quickly pressing himself up and away. “I’m s-sorry!”

“N-no, it’s fine,” Boba told him, sitting up, too. “You asked. Remember? Last night?”

Scrunching up his face in thought, Din tried to remember. “Oh…I did.”

“Are you…alright?” Boba asked, unsure what else to say.

Pressing his lips together, Din pulled his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around his legs. “No.”

Of course he wasn’t. Why would he be? Crossing his legs, Boba placed his hands on his knees and raked his nails against the fabric of his sleep pants as he tried to find the right words to say. “I know it might seem like empty words coming from me, but Paz won’t hurt you again, Din. The Vizsla clan is a sworn enemy of the Fetts. You’re one of us now. He can’t have you.”

“You know of them? How? Why?” Din asked, pressing a cheek against his thigh and into the soft fibers of the blanket.

Boba may have never met one personally, but they had robbed him of a chance of knowing Jaster Mereel. “They killed my ba’buir. In cold blood. They were members of the Death Watch. Mandalorians killing Mandalorians. A Civil War.”

Biting his lip, Din began to fiddle with the blanket himself. “I’d always been told there was a group of Mandalorians that didn’t follow the creed. That they were rebels. Barbarians. Not true Mandalorians. They removed their helmets. Clung to the ways of Foundlings instead of filling our ranks through procreation. “

Oh, so they were the enemies? Boba couldn’t help but huff at the irony. That was how war was though, wasn’t it? Everyone always thought the other side was the bad guy. “Well. You’ve seen both sides now. What do you think?”

Din looked afraid to answer. Boba gave him some time, and there was a continued silence. Just when he thought he might not get anything at all, Din spoke. “For most of my life I never really thought I was treated poorly. I just thought it was how things were. I was grateful to have a home. Food. A roof over Grogu’s head. We were protected and provided for. It wasn’t until I was allowed to join my alpha on hunts that I began to see. I saw that there was more to life than what I was living. I suppose he didn’t need to see my eyes to know what I was thinking. I began to desire freedom. That’s when I started to realize everything. Perhaps if I’d been able to-,” he paused, and a great pain fell over his face. 

“Been able to what?” Boba asked, shifting slightly so that he turned more towards Din. 

Turning away, Din curled in on himself. “You’ll turn me away. Just like he did.”

Clenching his fists, Boba pressed his nails to his palms to keep himself from acting on his first reaction of being pissed. He really needed to get his bursts of anger under control. It was useful on the battlefield, but not here. “Listen. Din. I know we still don't know much about each other, but don’t make assumptions about me. Especially don’t compare me to a Vizsla. We are not the same even if you think we are.”

Din flinched slightly, but he returned to a neutral position, staring between his feet. “I know, I’m sorry. It’s just…I can’t…It’s not…It’s not likely I will ever bear children.”

“That’s it?” Boba exclaimed before even bothering to think before speaking. “I mean, um, so what? True Mandalorian culture is based on Foundlings like you said. Like Grogu. Who cares if you can’t have children of your own?”

Frowning, Din looked up at Boba with full confusion. “You…don’t care?”

It took him a minute to realize he was asking from a mate’s perspective and not just a general one. “No,” Boba answered, because the answer was the same either way. “I don’t really want kids anyway, to be honest. I mean, Grogu is fine. Clearly, the kid can fend for himself.”

“I’ve…never seen him do that before. I’m so sorry,” Din apologized. “I didn’t even know he could do that.”

Boba grunted, briefly feeling those phantom fingers again for a moment. “There are hundreds of Jedi here on Coruscant. There’s a kriffing temple. I imagine the Force is rather strong here. Grogu probably has never felt a connection to it until now. He thought you were in danger and he was just trying to protect you.” If only he’d been able to do those things against Paz. Maybe he had been capable, but he’d been too scared.

“They are going to take him, aren’t they?” Din asked solemnly. 

“No,” Boba promised. “Not unless you and Grogu both are ok with it. And even then, it’s not like how it used to be. Obi-Wan would make sure of it. Promise. But maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea for him to have some training. If he can choke me out on instinct alone, he could do a lot to keep himself and you safe.”

Biting his lip, Din lowered his chin to his knees again and hummed. “Maybe.” With a shuddered breath he looked over. “You…really don’t care? It doesn’t bother you if your mate can’t give you an heir?”

“I could literally not give a single bantha fodder,” Boba answered, much cruder than he should have, but it was to make a point. “I don’t care about kids, Din. Kids are literally the last thing on my mind.” Of course he would be eternally grateful for his father and his life, but Boba had no desire to live that life himself. It was a responsibility he didn’t want. Din blinked several times, perhaps surprised by Boba’s indifference to something that probably had meant a whole lot to him. Kriff. Boba didn’t even stop to think if Din had wanted it. “Uh…do you want kids?”

Din let out a sigh and let his shoulders drop. “I thought I did, because that’s what they wanted of me. But…no. I don’t. I just want to be a hunter.”

“You are a hunter,” Boba assured him. “One of the best I’ve ever seen. The only thing I care about, Din, is that you have my back. You've already proven to me that you do. Protect the family that you have. That’s all that matters.”

Sucking in a breath, Din straightened. “I can be just a hunter with you? Nothing more?”

“That’s all you need to be,” Boba promised.

There was a sigh of great relief. 

Even in exhaustion, Din’s face was so beautiful. Boba couldn’t help himself. He was weak. Din would never be a brother. His answers to Din’s questions were proof enough, answering in terms of a mate and not a friend or brother. He reached up and brushed his knuckles across Din’s cheek. The omega’s eyes fluttered closed. 

Boba was starting to realize that it was no longer a matter of if, it was when. It wasn’t just because he was starting to feel a flutter of something in his stomach, but because he’d given his word. Boba wore green armor because it represented Duty. Part of his duty was to be honorable, and there was no honor in breaking a promise he’d given. 

"Wait,” Boba’s eyes suddenly went wide in realization. “Is that why he wouldn't mate you? Because you couldn't get pregnant?"

Din lowered his gaze and licked his lips. “He…he told me he’d only mate once I bore him a child.”

That was so kriffing messed up, and Boba could feel his face burning with anger. So much for trying to keep that in check. Din’s desperation just started making more and more sense. He’d wanted to get mated before Boba found out his ‘secret’, fearing he’d just do the same thing. “Your worth isn’t tied to your ability to get pregnant, Din. Druk all of that.”

“You’re the first person to ever tell me that,” Din told him, a hesitant smile pulling at the edge of his lips. He straightened again with a little more confidence. “Thank you.”

It was the first time seeing Din smile, even if it was small, and it was like a blaster shot to his heart. “Din.”

Din looked up just as Boba started to lean in and their faces collided. 

“S-sorry!” Din apologized, throwing his hands to his face.

Grunting, Boba rubbed at his nose. So much for that moment. “It’s fine. No permanent damage done, I think.” It was so soft that Boba questioned if he’d even heard it, but he swore he heard Din let out a small laugh behind his hands. At the very least, there seemed to be a little more light in his eyes. “Um, I’ve kind of been meaning to ask you, but I know this omega that I think might be helpful for you to talk to. She’s a senator from Naboo. Even used to be queen before she gave up her title.”

“Why would she give up title as queen?” Din asked, finally lowering his hands.

Boba shrugged. “I guess she thought she could do more for the Republic as a senator. I know she’s involved a lot in omega rights.”

“You really think it might help?” Din questioned, not so sure.

“I think you need to talk to someone that isn’t an alpha,” Boba said honestly, “but yeah. I think she could help.”

Din nodded slowly. “Ok, then. Do we have to go to Naboo?”

“Maybe. She spends a lot of time here on Coruscant, but her kids are on Naboo. Not sure if she’s here now or not. Dad will know how to find her.” Boba got out of bed. “Hungry?”

With another nod, Din untangled himself from the blankets and retrieved Grogu from his hammock. Together they walked out into the common area. Jango was already up and rummaging around the kitchen. Boba went straight to the kitchen himself, but he noticed how Din lingered behind. 

Jango turned, raising an eyebrow between the two. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah,” Boba answered confidently. His eyes darted to the clock. “Sorry, didn’t realize it was this late.” It wasn’t late for normal people, but it was late for them.

Jango hummed, but his eyes remained on Din. “Din?”

Pulling Grogu further against his chest, Din sucked in a shuddered breath as he lowered his gaze in the presence of the clan alpha. “I…haven’t properly thanked you. For everything you have done for Grogu and I. I’m sorry. I’ve been…ungrateful.”

“You have been,” Jango told him as he fully turned to face him, crossing his arms. Boba started to glance between them with worry. Din clenched his jaw and further lowered his head. “But I understand why.” Din nodded, accepting the criticism, but Boba could see him buckling. Sighing, Jango approached Din and in a move that completely surprised Boba, he pulled Din’s forehead down to meet his in keldabe. The omega immediately melted and looked like he might completely fall to the floor if Jango moved away from him. “Aliit ori'shya tal'din.”

“I promise to serve you,” Din said, a hint of urgency and desperation. A want to be accepted.

Jango pulled away. “Look at me, omega.” Din obeyed. “We do not use the word serve here. Fetts serve no one, not even each other. We trust each other, and we are loyal. We love one another. So you can stop refusing to look at me because of submission. My status as alpha makes me no better than you here. I will not command anything of you unless it’s for your best interest. Disobey me, however, and I promise I’ll treat you no differently than I do Boba.”

Boba groaned. It had been some time since he’d felt his father’s wrath, but it was still so vivid in his memory. “It’s not great. Trust me.”

“I understand,” Din said. 

Jango pressed a palm to his cheek and then his shoulder. “Good.” Turning back towards the kitchen, he asked, “Do you have plans for the day?”

“Actually,” Boba motioned for Din to sit at the table as he began to work on pulling food. “Can you help track down Senator Skywalker?”

Jango raised both eyebrows this time. “Senator Skywalker? What business do you have with her?”

“Uh,” Boba realized he’d never actually named her as his source. “Remember that really helpful omega I spoke to?”

“Ah,” Jango nodded in understanding and little surprise. “You think she might help Din.”

“Don’t you?” Boba questioned back. He could put his distaste for Anakin aside for this. 

“Yes,” Jango surprisingly agreed without hesitation. Turning back away from the kitchen he retreated to his room for a few seconds before coming back out with a holo puck in his hands. A blue figure appeared. Boba shifted around to better see that it was Obi-Wan.

“Jango, a pleasant surprise. Is everything alright?” Obi-Wan asked. 

“Fine,” Jango assured him. “Boba was asking for a way to contact Senator Skywalker. Apparently they had a meeting and she offered to speak with Din. He’d like to make good on that offer.”

“Padme?” Obi-Wan’s eyebrows shot up in surprise and then he stroked his beard. “Actually, I think that’s a very good idea. We are actually waiting on one of our spy squadrons to retrieve some more intel before making a move, so Anakin was going to take a few days to visit the twins. I can tell him to take Cody and a squad and stop by Coruscant on the way to grab you all. I’d feel better if you had some back up, just in case.”

Boba perked up at the mention of Cody, though he loathed the idea of having to share a ride with Anakin. Again. He had a lot to say to his brother, especially after he didn’t answer his call when he’d needed him last night. Sure, he had probably been on a mission, but still! He was his brother! He’d needed him!

“Good, if you’re sending a squad then I feel more comfortable not going,” Jango said.

Obi-Wan shared much of the same expression Boba had at that. He wasn’t going?

“Jango, I don’t think it’s a good idea-,”

“I have some business, and I know Cody will take care of Boba, Din, and Grogu,” Jango interjected. 

Obi-Wan let out a sigh. “I don’t expect any issues on Naboo, but they will guard them with their lives. I don’t need to tell you that, though. Look after yourself, whatever it is you have to do.”

“I will,” Jango promised softly.

Boba suddenly felt strange being there. Like he wasn’t meant to be a bystander in the conversation. It was a weird feeling, but it quickly dissipated as the comm was ended. “Where are you going?”

“Nowhere,” Jango answered, “but I have some things to deal with here in the city. I can trust you to take care of Din and Grogu on your own, can’t I? Without causing issues with Skywalker?”

Boba snorted. “Well, I make no promises on the last part, but yes on the first.”

“I thought we were going to see Skywalker?” Din questioned quietly in confusion.

Groaning, Boba puffed out his cheeks in annoyance. “Padme Skywalker, the senator, is married to Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi. I like him considerably less than I like her.”

“I thought…Jedi couldn’t marry?” Din tilted his head in confusion.

“Yeah, well, add that to the list of things changing among the Jedi,” Boba said. “It’s still not exactly widely accepted, and Skywalker is the only one I know to have done it, but not as taboo as it used to be.” Din just frowned further as he tried to process it. “You’re sure you can’t come?”

“You’ll be fine,” Jango said without answering the question. “Just don’t let your guard down. I highly doubt you would have been tracked this quickly, and least of all to Naboo, but we can never underestimate the enemy.”

Swallowing, Boba nodded. He and his father were rarely separated when they went offworld, so it made him nervous, but he was an adult and Jango wouldn’t be around forever. They’d be fine. “Ok.”

Boba made breakfast, and although Din didn’t say much, Boba could see he was the most relaxed he’d been in front of Jango. After eating, they dressed in their armor. They made small talk as they waited, Din asking questions about Naboo and Padme. Boba truthfully couldn’t answer much, but he gave what insights he could. 

“Ah, Boba! We meet again!” Anakin beamed at him as they entered the ship.

Boba walked right past. “Don’t talk to me.”

“Always so delightful, you are,” Cody teased him, pulling him into a hug. 

“You should be a little nicer to me since you’re going to speak to my wife,” Anakin told him.

Boba turned around and scowled. “I’m sorry, do you speak for your wife?”

Anakin threw back his head and laughed. “As if I ever could.”

“Din, good to see you again,” Cody greeted. 

Boba could see Din was struggling to remember who he was. “This is Commander Cody. My least favorite brother.”

“Hey!” Cody grabbed him by the arm and ran his knuckles across Boba’s head. 

Growling, Boba fought his way free. “I’m mad at you! You didn’t answer my comm last night!”

“Oh, sorry, I was busy getting shot at,” Cody fakely apologized. “Did Rex answer your call?”

“No, but I still like him better than you,” Boba said, sticking out his tongue. “Ow!” Cody tapped him on the back of the head. 

Out of nowhere, Waxer suddenly appeared and joined in the headlock of Boba. “Hey now! I know I’m not hearing you say you like your 501st brothers more than the 212th!”

Boba let out another annoyed groan as his limbs were pulled in all different directions. He could see, though, how Din looked on fondly. He may have been wearing his helmet, but Boba had learned how to read his body. A head tilt could show so much. There was a longing there. “Hey, don’t just annoy me! You’ve got a new brother to irritate, too, you know!”

“Ah, right you are,” Waxer let go of Boba and after a look and a nod towards Cody, they had Din in their arms in a flash.

Din’s body locked up in surprise and shock, but Boba watched as he eventually melted against Cody and Waxer the same way he did with Jango. It was hard to resist his brothers. They were very convincing. It was also nice to not see Din so afraid and more accepting. Waxer, especially, took great interest in Grogu.

“Aw, look at ‘em!” Waxer held out a finger that Grogu reached for. “Adorable!”

Boba appreciated how kind Cody and Waxer were being. They were always kind, but they were going out of their way to be accepting of Din and Grogu. It made the trip to Naboo that much more bearable and enjoyable. Din was relaxed and not so on edge. Grogu was also having fun, taking great interest in all the things Waxer was showing him. 

“Boba, it’s so good to see you again,” Padme greeted him with a smile after she’d kissed and hugged her husband. “And you must be Din and Grogu. Welcome to Naboo. You are all most welcome here. Children, say hello to your guests.”

“It’s a pleasure!” Leia curtsied excitedly, a small droid buzzing over her shoulder.

Luke half-bowed with much less enthusiasm. “Hello.”

With a small roll of her eyes, Padme hugged her children to her. “Give us just a moment, and then I promise my full attention will be on you.

“That Leia will be trouble,” Waxer commented as the Skywalker family disappeared into another room.

Boba raised an eyebrow. “How would you know?”

“I just do,” Waxer shrugged. “I’ve been around enough kids.”

Padme returned quickly with a bright smile on her face. “Din! I’m so happy you agreed to speak with me. I was thinking a small picnic out in the fields, but please, don’t feel you have to remove your helmet. I’m sure Grogu could appreciate the food enough for all of us.”

Grogu made happy noises at the mention of food. 

“Alright,” Din agreed, looking down at a happy Grogu. “Will Boba be there?”

Boba was surprised at the question, especially how worried Din seemed about it. Padme seemed less so.

“Boba can certainly stay within sight, but I think it would be really beneficial if we spoke alone,” Padme told him. That didn’t seem to ease Din. Smiling, Padme placed a gentle hand against his bicep. “I promise Boba won’t be far, and if at any time you want to go to him, you can.” A little reluctantly, Din finally agreed.

Setting Waxer and the rest of the squad on guard duty, Cody went with Boba to the fields. Fields of yellow flowers. Certainly not a coincidence. Boba’s dreams had been speaking to him. He didn’t know much about the Force or the ways of the galaxy, but even he could admit sometimes there were some things that seemed to happen that made no sense in the normal scope of life. Per Padem’s request, they kept a far enough distance that they could see but not hear. It annoyed Boba a little. He wanted to know what they were saying, even if that defeated the whole purpose.

“You ever hear of anything called True Mates?” Boba eventually asked, watching as Padme and Din talked. 

Cody shook his head. “Never heard of it. What is it?”

“I don’t know. Some fantasy about alphas and omegas being destined for each other,” Boba told him, hating that he’d even asked, but maybe he’d been thinking about it more than he should have.

Huffing, Cody smiled at him. “I’m a beta, kid. I don’t worry myself with the problems of the other dynamics. That kind of thing is too distracting for foot soldiers like us. But it does sound like some fairytale. What, you think that’s you and Din?”

“No,” Boba quickly snapped, “but Senator Skywalker does. And be grateful you're just a beta. Sometimes I wish I was. It can be annoying.”

Cody hummed and smirked. “Annoying, like when it makes you fall madly in love with the pretty omega Mandalorian and his super adorable green kid?” Boba landed a swift kick to his knee, making him buckle. “Ouch! A bit salty, are we? Only get that angry if it’s a little bit true.”

Huffing, Boba clenched his jaw and looked away. Maybe it was true…a little. If he’d been a beta maybe he wouldn’t be in this mess. At the very least, he wouldn’t be having to worry about all the mate and bonding business. He’d still probably have kissed Din. “Fine. You’re right.”

“Knew it,” Cody beamed, hands on his hips as he raised his chin in victory. “So. What’s your plan, kid?”

“I don’t have one,” Boba answered, with a little bit of a hopeless shrug. “I think…I think I have to make good on my word. I’ve lied to the enemy before to complete a mission, but Din isn’t my enemy. What good is my word to friends and family if I don’t follow through?”

Cody wrapped an arm around Boba and then pulled him against his side. “I’m glad to hear you say that, kid. You’re growing up right before my eyes. It’s important to keep your promises, Boba. Like you said, words don’t matter to the enemy, but it’s everything to your troops. Your family.”

Boba pressed his hands against Cody’s side in an attempt to fight back, but he fell short of actually applying the pressure. How could he get that mad or upset when Cody was right? “I’m just trying to do the right thing. Whatever that is.”

“Good,” Cody said, releasing him. “What do you think he wants?”

Turning away from the ruffle of his head by Cody, Boba looked on at Din and Padme. He had no idea. The only thing he wanted to come from their conversation was for Din to feel better about himself. More confident. Independent. He wanted Din to be his own person separate from Boba entirely. But he knew Din had another story to tell. A darker one. “I guess I still don’t really know much about Din, but I think he wants to feel safe.”

“From what?” Cody asked.

Boba swallowed hard. “From his own kind.”

“Doesn’t that include you?” Cody questioned with an unsure raised eyebrow.

“Yes,” Boba answered without hesitation. “Mandalorians aren’t just Mandalorians. There’s more to us than that. More than even I realized. We may seem like we are the same, but we aren’t. He says he isn’t scared of me, but I don't know. I think he’s just confused and doesn’t know what to feel. I don’t even know what to feel.”

Cody hummed thoughtfully. “Maybe it’s not fear, then, but uncertainty. They can often seem the same. He isn’t scared of you as a person, but he doesn’t know what’s going to happen to him, and that’s the scary part.”

That made a little more sense to Boba. “Well, I guess we’ll see if Senator Skywalker can help him understand we’re only here to help.”

“If anyone can, it’s her,” Cody assured him.

With a sigh, Boba crossed his arms and watched what he couldn’t hear.

/*/

Padme liked to be able to see a person’s face. She relied heavily on reading someone’s body language because words often ended up being nothing but lies in her line of business. Din, however, had not removed his helmet and she knew better than to ask. If he wanted to show her his face, he would. But there was still much to read from Din. The way he wouldn’t sit down entirely and get comfortable, always in a position to get up and move quickly. To fight. The way he never would look at her directly, but at Grogu who alternated between eating and trying to catch the butterflies and other insects that gathered around the flowers. Occasionally, she’d catch the slightest tilt of his head over her shoulder. She didn’t need to look to know what was beyond her in his line of vision. He was looking for Boba. 

“What do you think of Coruscant?” Padme asked, trying to keep things simple at first after she’d given an introduction and answered Din’s questions about her own life. He’d grown a little more comfortable with her after she detailed so much about her work with omegas specifically, but he was still ready to jolt at any wrong move.

Din let out what sounded like an annoyed sigh. “Busy. Loud. Big. Overwhelming.”

“It is all of those things,” Padme smiled in agreement. “There aren’t many other planets out there quite like it. Alderaan, maybe. You get used to it, and might even come to love it. At the very least, you start to appreciate the quiet and joy of natural beauty like here on Naboo. What’s it like where you are from?”

“Nevarro is a volcanic planet with really only one city. Hot and dark most of the time. We lived in the sewers, hidden from everyone,” Din explained.

So. He’d been hiding literally all his life. Coruscant was so bright and open. The complete opposite of a dark and closed in space that never saw the light of what little day a planet like that must have. He’d gone from nothing to everything in one go. No wonder he was overwhelmed. “Is there anything you think of that could maybe make you feel more comfortable in your new space? Boba told me he helped you establish a nest, but is there anything else?”

“I…,” Din balled his hands into a fist, hesitant to even say at first. “Even at night, it’s so…bright.”

Padme couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, that’s easy to fix! Most windows have a dimmer, or you can get curtains. Boba is just probably so used to it he doesn’t think about it. Have you asked him about it?”

“It doesn’t -,” Din huffed, “...no.”

It doesn’t matter because he’s the alpha, I’m the omega. That was what he was going to say. “Your comfort is just as important as Boba’s, and I promise you he’d agree with me. He wants you to be comfortable and safe. You do understand that, don’t you?” It wasn’t a criticism, but an honest question. Boba’s intentions may not be getting across in the way they were intended, and that’s what she was here to find out.

“So he says,” Din replied, somewhat absently. “But he says a lot of things.”

So he didn’t understand, then. “What do you think Boba wants, then?”

“I…,” Din let out an exasperated sigh. “I don’t know.  He saved me for reasons I don’t understand. Upended everything I knew and thrust me into an entirely different way of life. Makes promises he doesn’t keep. Tells me he likes me and then pushes me away.” His voice kept getting more frustrated, and it was the most emotion Padme had seen from him. “Kisses me and then-,” he stopped. 

So Boba was just as terrible at communicating as Din was. A recipe for a disaster, but also so incredibly typical of their age. “Have you told any of that to Boba?”

“I can’t!” Din breathed with further frustration, bringing his hands to the sides of his helmet as almost as if to clutch it in anger. “That’s not...omegas don’t…”

The realization hit Padme with a horrifically somber force. Carefully, she reached out a hand and placed it on Din’s thigh. He wasn’t giving Boba the response he was looking for because he didn’t feel like things were any different. “You feel just as trapped on Coruscant as you did on Nevarro.”

“Boba and Jango have been kind to me and Grogu, I can’t deny that…but I am still an unmated omega living under the graces of an alpha,” Din explained, a crack in his voice, palms pressing flat against the sides of his helmet and elbows drawing in.

A prison that was larger and fancier was still a prison. “Jango and Boba aren’t keeping you on Coruscant, Din. If you want to leave, if you want to go somewhere else, any of us would be happy to take you.”

“And go where?” Din questioned, finally turning to look at Padme and lowering his hands. “Do what? I have nowhere else to go, and guilds will not give out work to unmated omegas.”

“They do on Coruscant,” Padme argued, knowing full well they did. In fact, “Din, most guilds will give work to any hunter wanting it. Secondary genders don’t matter. I’m sure you’ve been told otherwise, but it’s simply not the case. If you’re good, you’re good. Being an omega won’t matter. And if that is a concern, we could always use someone with your skills in the Republic. We could find you work. A home. You don’t have to live with Boba.” 

Padme stopped to observe again. Din looked at Grogu before once again looking over at Boba. The look lingered just a little longer this time. “Unless…you want to?” Din straightened. He did. Din wanted to be with Boba, but he just didn’t know how to separate it from the same situation he’d been in for the majority of his life. “You said he told you he liked you. That he kissed you. How do you feel about all of that? Do you like him, or do you feel it’s your duty to like him? Because it’s what he promised you?” She had to get him to separate Coruscant from Nevarro. Boba from Paz. Without that, he’d never find progress or peace of mind.

Finally, Din sat down in a vulnerable position and crossed his legs. “I…I wanted Paz to mate me every day for so many years, but he always scared me. I went to bed scared. I woke up scared. I just wanted to finally be the omega I was supposed to be within my covert. Even though he terrified me, learning that he wanted to see me almost killed-,”

Padme felt her heart breaking, and she shifted closer to Din, brushing their arms together. “You just wanted him to love you for you, but he never did.”

“My duty was to be a mated omega producing heirs,” Din continued sadly. “Something I could never do, despite trying. But I woke up for the first time since being around my parents feeling unafraid on Coruscant. I went to bed for the first time not worrying what would be asked of me. If I must still be in a prison, at least my captor makes me feel safe and desired, even if it isn’t real.

Padme moved so that Din had to look at her. “Why would you think it’s not real, Din?”

“Because…because why would an alpha really want me for me?” Din asked. “Boba says he doesn’t care that I want to be a hunter. That he doesn’t care that I can’t have children, but why would any alpha want a barren omega like me? Why would he save me, Senator?”

Padme felt a tear roll down her cheek and she pulled Din’s forehead against hers, having studied some of Mandalorian culture before this. “Because the rest of the galaxy isn’t what you know, Din. Because good people will save others in need because it’s the right thing to do. Because to Boba, you were a Mandalorian in trouble. Kin. Different sects didn’t matter at the time. He was just trying to save his own. Would you have left another Mandalorian and their Foundling to die? Would you not have done the same in his situation?”

“Yes,” Din whispered, barely audible. “I would have saved him.”

Pulling back, Padme smiled and rubbed a thumb against the smooth armor of Din’s helmet. “See? It’s not so crazy after all. And I fully believe the things Boba told you are true. A good alpha wants their omega to do what makes them happy. Hunting is what makes you happy. And not all alphas want a family. Not all omegas want a family. There’s nothing wrong with not having children. It doesn’t make you lesser. I don’t think those things matter, Din. What matters is if you want Boba to want you. You said he likes you. Do you like him?”

“He frustrates me,” Din answered honestly. “I don’t know what he wants or what he’s thinking, and when I think I do I don’t believe it. But…I always want to be around him. Even now, I hate that I can see him but can’t touch him. It’s like…I feel myself in an uncertain haze, sometimes lost to my past, but when I touch him I can breathe. I remember where I am. What I’m doing. That I’m…safe.”

It was extremely hard to swallow down the smile, knowing it was an inappropriate response, but she knew. She knew. Anakin frustrated her even after they were married. She still didn’t know what he wanted or what he was thinking sometimes…but she always wanted to be around him. It was the beginning of something blossoming, but there was so much from Din’s past weighing on his shoulders, keeping him from moving forward in the right and healthy ways. True Mates definitely felt like a fantasy, but Padme was a dreamer, and she certainly felt like dreaming with these two. “Take away what you think are the expectations of you as an omega and ask yourself honestly, Din. Do you want to be mated?”

“I want to feel safe,” Din answered without hesitation. “I want Grogu to be safe. I want him to be protected.”

“Being mated doesn’t guarantee any of that,” Padme told him. “Just in the same way you don’t have to actually be mated to feel any of that, Din.”

Din looked back up at her. “It would make sure I wouldn’t be mated by Paz. If it’s only the lesser of two evils, I will take it. I will take it if it means keeping Grogu safe. I will take the larger prison just to keep him safe.”

There was so much here to unpack. So much pain, but so much confusion. So many lies. So much misdirection. So much manipulation. She now understood Din’s position. Why he felt the way he did. Why he wanted the things he did. But understanding didn't make it hurt any less. “Jango and Boba are only a prison if you let them be, Din. They don’t have to be. They can be a home. You don’t have to mate Boba to be protected by him. They’ll look after you and Grogu regardless. But if it’s still what you want, you have to talk to Boba. You have to tell him what you’re feeling. Proper relationships are built by trust and open communication. You won’t always agree, but you have to talk.”

“I don’t know how,” Din said, frustration back in his voice.

“Well, it’s never too late to learn something new. If it helps,” she looked over her shoulder at Boba and Cody, and then turned back with a smirk. “Boba doesn’t know how, either. The great thing is, you two can learn together. Don’t be afraid, Din. You might just open yourself to something wondrous. And don’t be afraid to snap back at Boba. Alphas need humbling every once-in-a-while.”

Din stood up straight and proud. “I’m a better fighter than him.”

Padme smiled, teeth and all. If Din had put Boba on his back, she knew how angry that must have made the alpha. Good.“You see? Sometimes actions are far more powerful than words. But words still help. Do you feel better? After talking about it?”

“I…yes,” Din nodded firmly. “Thank you. Speaking with another omega…”

“Is much easier than talking to alphas, I know,” Padme assured him. “They rarely understand, and can never relate. I’m here for you, Din, whenever you need. I’ll give you a commlink so you can always reach me.” Din thanked her, and they both turned their attention to Grogu. He’d caught an insect and was happily swallowing it down whole, nevermind the food Padme had brought. The insect was far more interesting and tasty, apparently. It got Padme thinking. Grogu may not have been abused in the same ways as Din, but he had likely suffered something emotionally. “You know…I think talking might help Grogu, too.”

“I’m sure it would,” Din agreed, “but he doesn’t speak.”

“Not a language we can understand, but he can speak through the Force,” Padme told him. “Even though he has no training, a Jedi could still communicate with him. I think you should try it.”

Din’s shoulders slumped with a sigh. “I was told all my life that Jedi were evil, but now I’m surrounded by them. Though, I guess it’s no different than now living with Mandalorians I was told were also my enemy.”

“Sounds like you were told everyone was your enemy, and no one was your friend,” Padme pointed out.

“It’s…starting to feel that way,” Din agreed. “I can’t help but still feel a level of distrust, but everyone speaks so highly of them. Or at least, the one you call Obi-Wan.”

“Because you can trust Obi-Wan,” Padme promised. “I know it’s overwhelming, suddenly learning about all these new places and people. You don’t know you can trust, if you can trust anyone, but if I only had to trust one person in my life that wasn’t my family, it would be Obi-Wan Kenobi. He will do anything and everything he can to help Grogu. I’ll reach out to him for you, if you’d like?”

Reluctantly, Din eventually nodded. “Alright. If you think it’ll help him.”

She did. “Well, I think I’ve poked and prodded enough. I’m sure you’re exhausted, but is there anything else? Anything else you want to ask or that’s on your mind?”

“Does it ever get easier?” Din asked. “Learning how to trust? Learning how to speak for yourself?”

“Nothing ever gets easier Din,” Padme answered honestly, “You just get better. Stronger. Wiser. One day you will look back at your old life and realize how far you’ve come, no matter where your future decides to take you.” Pressing her palms to the ground she pushed herself off and brushed off the leaves and dirt from her dress. Din stood, too, and he gathered up Grogu.

“Well?” Boba asked as they rejoined them. “What did you talk about?” 

Cody immediately smacked the back of his head.

Padme chuckled. “I encourage Din to tell you what he told me, but that’s up for him to decide. However, Din, why don’t you walk ahead with Cody for a moment? Boba and I will be just a second.” Padme waited for Cody and Din to get far enough ahead they wouldn’t hear. She then looked at Boba as if she would her own children when she had a point to make. “Din trusts you, and he likes you. He likes you a lot. Don’t betray that. You’re all he has right now.”

“I-,”

She deepended her glare and he immediately snapped his mouth shut. “You’ll probably disagree with me, and I don’t care, but you are used to being a follower, not a leader. With Din, you need to be a leader until he can meet you where you are. And he will. One day, he’ll be a leader, too. Until then, be clear and direct. Don’t ever make assumptions that he knows what you’re asking for or what you’re wanting. Invite conversation. Even about the simple things. The weather. The food you're eating. Anything. It’ll help him gain confidence in speaking with you.” 

“So what, baby him?” Boba questioned with an annoyed huff.

“Listening and being attentive to other peoples’ needs is not babying, Boba,” Padme chastised. “It’s part of building a relationship. Any kind of relationship, not just romantic. Din isn’t just some omega you met at a bar and want to take home, so don’t treat him like one.”

Boba snarled, offended. “I’ve never once tried to treat him like that! He’s the one that tried coming on to me-,”

“And why do you think that is?” Padme questioned, leaning in to show she was unafraid of his alpha flaunting. 

Having lost the dominance battle, Boba looked away in submission despite being the alpha. “Because…because it’s like you said. He’ll treat me like I was his old alpha.”

“So stop acting like him and speaking empty words and promises,” Padme said. “If you like him, tell him you like him. Not just with words. Not just with kisses that lack intention. Tell him you like him with purpose and action. Do the one thing other than mating his last alpha never would have done.”

Boba frowned, trying to understand what she was saying. After a few seconds of deep thought, his brows shot up. “Like…courting?”

Padme raised her eyebrows. There. “Exactly like courting.”

“But I promised to mate him,” Boba argued, voice lowering in a sense of defeat. He didn’t know what to do. “As a leader, I can’t back out of my promises.”

Boba wasn’t her child, but she still felt a moment of pride in his ability to take responsibility. “So talk with him about it. See if it’s something he still wants. Don’t just let him tell you he wants it, make him tell you why. If after that, you both come to the agreement it’s what you should do, then do it if you have to. But still court him, Boba. He deserves it. You deserve it.”

“Well…it’s a little backwards…but…on par for the course with everything else, I guess. Ok,” Boba nodded slowly. “Ok.”

Padme took a few steps forward and reached up to run a hand through Boba’s hair before cradling his face. “Take care of each other. That’s all I’m trying to tell you to do.” Gently grabbing his arm, she started to guide him forward. “Stay the night.  It’s been a long day for Din. Take a walk around the city with him. Maybe even find something he likes. In the meantime, I have a Jedi to call.”

/*/

Obi-Wan felt a sense of relief and thrill when Padme called him requesting his presence on Naboo to help Grogu. That had meant she’d made progress with Din, but also…he finally got to speak with Grogu truly and properly. Of course he still wanted the child to go through some sort of training, but that wouldn’t be his intention out the gate. He wanted to get to know him. His past. His fears and desires. Create a bond. 

Anakin offered up his meditation room and Obi-Wan set up there. Din had wanted to enter, but with Padme’s help Obi-Wan convinced him it would be alright and that he could stand right outside the room. Reluctantly, Din crossed his arms in an attempt to be threatening and backed against the wall, but Obi-Wan was used to such mannerisms from Jango. It washed right over him. 

“Alright, youngling, just like last time, do you remember?” Obi-Wan asked as he placed his hands on his knees. “Just open yourself to me and the Force will do the rest.” Grogu cooed in understanding and closed his eyes. Obi-Wan followed suit. It took a few seconds to find Grogu in the fields of energy, but he caught hold of the youngling’s mind and connected to it. 

What are you feeling? About anything. Everything. 

Obi-Wan immediately sensed fear.

What are you afraid of?

Images of Din flashed. Grogu wasn’t scared of Din, but for Din.

Why are you scared for your father? 

Another Mandalorian filled his sights. One that matched the description of Paz Vizsla. He wanted to promise that Paz would never hurt Din again, but he couldn’t make that promise, especially knowing what he did. Especially having the vision that he’d had. 

Are you afraid of Boba and Jango?

There were no images, but feelings of uncertainty. Grogu wasn’t necessarily afraid, but he wasn’t sure if he could feel safe, either. Uncertainty was fine. It was the logical feeling, given everything. 

Why then did you Force choke Boba?

At first the images played out of what happened between Boba and Din. How they fought, how Boba finally got the upper hand and asked if he’d had enough. The images then switched, and it was Paz and Din. A similar fight played out, and Din was once more on his back. Paz had him pinned by the throat, and his words echoed Boba’s almost exactly. No wonder Grogu had been scared. The events had been playing out just as he’d seen before, where real harm had been done to Din. 

Why did you never hurt Paz in the same way you did Boba?

Grogu didn’t know he could, and he’d been too scared. 

“When he touches me, don’t look,” Din said, his voice an echo in Obi-Wan’s mind. “Look away, Grogu. Look away.”

Oh, the poor thing. Various images flashed, all of instances in which Paz would grab at Din and then Grogu would turn towards a wall or hide in a blanket. Obi-Wan never got to see the full thing, but even when he hid his face, Grogu could still hear. The noises were indicative enough. No one should ever have to go through this, let alone a child. 

If you wan’t, I can seal your memories. They’d still be there, and you could reach them if you thought hard enough, but otherwise they would be locked away. 

Grogu seemed to perk up at the idea. He wondered if he could do it for Din.

I’m afraid not. He is not sensitive to the Force and…well…Din is much older than you. The bad events are a part of him. To block those memories would be to completely seal away a part of him. He’d no longer be Din. 

It saddened Grogu, but he seemed to understand. He wanted Obi-Wan to do it. Reaching deeper into Grogu’s mind, his subconscious memories, Obi-Wan began to find each one that brought him pain and locked them away. There were so many. Too many, but eventually he found the last one and it was done. Overwhelming thanks and relief washed over Grogu. Obi-Wan opened his eyes and reached down to pick Grogu up. The child reached for him, and placed his small hands against his beard. Obi-Wan felt a connection to Grogu he hadn’t felt since Anakin. 

I can help you, if you let me, Grogu. I can teach you how to protect your buir. 

Grogu wanted to. He had a desire to learn, but there was fear. A fear he’d never see his father again. 

I won’t take you from Din, Grogu. I promise. You could go to school, learn, and return back to Din at the end of the day. Maybe you’d need to stay a few days, but never more than a week away. You’d be my Padawan, under my care. I promised someone very close to me I’d take care of you if you decided to train, and I always keep my word.  

Grogu let out a small noise of contemplation, but then a powerful surge flowed through to Obi-Wan. He wanted to train. He wanted to protect his father. Obi-Wan gently brought Grogu’s forehead to his in a gesture the youngling would know. “I still need your father’s permission. I’ll need your help with that.” Pressing his lips together, Gorgu hummed. 

Obi-Wan had said he’d never take another Padawan, but Jango had a habit of making him a liar. 

Chapter Text

Din was in a mood. Boba understood. He did. Obi-Wan had told the omega of Grogu’s desire to begin training and Din had been extremely resistant to it from the start. Today was Grogu’s first day at the temple, and Din had been pouting all morning. It was already difficult for Boba to find the right words to say when around Din, and this was just making things harder. Din needed a distraction to keep his mind off of things, and Boba needed to start courting him properly. 

What did one get a Mandalorian as a courting fit? Flowers and food were so meaningless in their culture and it was so boring. So typical and overdone. His father loved specialty ales and wines, but Boba didn’t think Din knew much about alcohol or cared. Of course, Grogu was the thing that made Din the happiest, but the point was to get his mind off the kid not on it. All through breakfast Boba painfully thought about it before eventually asking what would make him happy. Weapons. A new pistol or rifle. New scope attachments. Weapons were part of their religion, and Din was a very good fighter. Maybe he’d appreciate something new the same way Boba would. 

“Let’s go out,” Boba suggested as they finished cleaning, finally knowing what he’d get Din as a first gift.

“I don’t want to,” Din told him, still sulking.

Boba almost opened his mouth and told the omega too bad and that he was going, but he could hear Padme’s voice lecturing him in his head. “ Come on, don’t be like that. I have an errand to run, and I think you’ll like where we are going.”

“I said no,” Din repeated, growing further agitated.

Jango looked over from where he was swiping through news reports in the living room. He was waiting to see what Boba was going to do. Waiting to see Boba lose his temper like he wanted to do. Like he’d usually do. And boy did Boba want to. He wanted to tell Din to stop sitting there and sulking like a child, but that was as far from sensitive and understanding as he could possibly get. Sucking in a breath and counting to ten, he thought of something else to say.

“I know you’re upset about Grogu, but sitting here isn’t helping. Grogu is fine. He’ll be back tonight, and going out might help to get your mind off it,” Boba tried. “I know it’ll make time go faster than just moping around this place all day.”

Din lifted his head from where he’d had it lowered and narrowed his eyes in a glower. “I’m not moping.”

“You are,” Boba told him sharply. They locked eyes in a silent battle. Boba liked Din’s fire. When the omega wasn’t feeling down on himself and he met Boba toe-to-toe, he liked it. It was attractive. Desirable. He wanted Din to be like that all the time, but Boba had a fire, too. Fire and fire just made an explosion. Omega-omega pairings weren’t that uncommon, but alpha-alpha pairings were for just that reason. Alphas just wouldn’t back down and compromise. Thankfully, as spitfire as Din could be, he was not an alpha and there was no explosion. He backed down as he’d been trained to do. 

Sighing, Din lowered his gaze in defeat. “Fine. Where are we going?”

Boba couldn’t help but let out a small breath of relief. If Din had continued to fight him, he wasn’t so sure he’d be able to keep his composure. Some days, Boba might like an explosion. It would be interesting. Fun. Today was not that day. Jango would have no doubt had him by the ear before the end of it, and then Din wouldn’t be the only one moping. “Well, you like things that go boom and cause death and destruction, don’t you?”

Furrowing his brows, Din perked up just slightly.

“Yeah, thought you might. Suit up,” Boba instructed. “It’s in a kind of iffy part of town. Most days it’s fine, but you never know. Need anything, Dad?”

Jango’s attention turned back to what he had been doing now that he was sure a fight wasn’t about to break out. “We’re running low on fuel for the vambraces.”

Fuel for the flamethrowers. Got it. “Ok.” He followed Din back into his room and joined him in putting on his armor. 

Armor on, helmets included, Boba led the way to a lower level of Coruscant and one of his favorite shops. It was seedy, but for good reason. The best weapons dealers certainly weren’t operating within legal means, which meant they couldn’t be in the upper sections of Coruscant. Shops at the upper levels were inspected. Cryna’s Weaponry was definitely not inspected, and thank the stars for that. Boba had gotten many fun things from this place because of it.

“Boba Fett! Haven’t seen you in a minute!” A Sullustan greeted him. That was Cryna. The owner. “How’s your dad?”

Reaching up, Boba removed his helmet. “He’s fine. We’ve been a bit busy lately, but don’t worry. I’m definitely here to do business.” He turned back and looked at Din who was eagerly scanning the walls of weapons. “Check it out. See what you like.” Leaving Din to browse, he approached the desk and leaned in so that the conversation was just between him and Cryna. “I’m looking for something very specific.”

“Well, I’m in the business of finding very specific things,” Cryna told him.

Boba was well aware. Cryna had a reputation. One he was hoping would get him what he was looking for. “I need a jetpack. A beskar jetpack.”

Cryna let out a small laugh. “I’m good, kid, but I don’t know if I’m that good. Beskar is a little hard to find these days after Mandalore was wiped out.” He looked around Boba’s shoulder to see his jetpack perfectly intact. “I see yours is still there. What, did your dad lose his?”

“No, it’s for him,” Din nodded his head back in Din’s direction. “Come on, Cryna. You’re the best. If anyone can find one, it’s you. You know I’ll pay you.”

Cryna grumbled. “Yeah, well, you better pay extra if I can get a hold of one. I’ll put it out to my contacts, but I don’t make any promises.”

“Tell them whoever gets one, will get exclusive contracts with the Fetts for a year,” Boba said, incentivizing. He also slid some credits across. “Consider this an upfront deposit.”

Humming with interest, Cryna took the credits. “Haven’t seen you this determined to get something. Who is this new Mandalorian, anyway?”

“Family,” Boba told him. Boba wasn’t sure what else to call Din. They weren’t mates yet. Boba was attempting to court him, but what did that make them? Boyfriends? That would require Din knowing and acknowledging the courting, and Boba was pretty sure he had no idea what was happening here. Also, boyfriends just sounded so not right.

“Alright, well, I can see it’s important to you, and you and your dad are our best customers. If it’s possible to find one, we’ll find one,” Cryna promised. 

Boba knew it was a tall ask, but he felt confident Cryna would come through. If he could get a hold of a jetpack for Din, that would be the ultimate courting gift. Boba couldn’t think of anything better than that. 

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Boba kriffing Fett.”

With a hand at his hip hovering over his blaster, Boba turned around expecting a fight. He immediately dropped it as a grin filled his face. “Fennec Shand. You aren’t dead yet.”

“Neither are you,” the dark haired assassin smirked back before approaching Boba with wide arms and pulling him into a hug. “Good to see you, friend.”

“Who is this?” Din asked, lowering a weapon he had been looking at to square his shoulders towards Fennec. 

Boba had to blink in surprise at the reaction. Din usually kept quiet when other people entered the room. He never addressed others until he was addressed first, but he had addressed Fennec with purpose. Din’s voice was still soft beneath the vocoder, but it was firm. Challenging, almost. It was…jealous. Kriff, Din was jealous! Boba couldn’t help but feel prideful at that and he started to smirk as his gaze shifted between Din and Fennec. Din feeling jealous meant he felt some sort of ownership over Boba. Boba liked that. “Din, this is Fennec Shand. Fennec, this is Din Djarin. Fennec here was actually a bounty at one point.”

“A bounty?” Din tilted his head in confusion. “Then why is she alive and roaming free?”

Fennec snorted and flung her long braid over her shoulder. “Because I was more valuable to Fett alive than dead. We’ve had a lucrative partnership, you could say. And how do you two know each other?”

“He’s my mate,” Din hissed, positioning the weapon he was holding to be ready to fire.

Boba choked on the very air in which he breathed. Well this was turning south quickly. Of all the things that Boba expected him to say, that was not it. 

“You?!” Fennec exclaimed, looking at Boba with wide and curious eyes. “Mated?! Since when!?”

“Not mated!” Boba quickly corrected in a panic. “Not mated! Just courting!” He grabbed Fennec’s arm and pulled her towards the back of the shop away from the very jealous omega. “Look, a lot’s happened since I last saw you. It’s kriffing complicated, ok?”

“Obviously,” Fennec looked back at Din, a smirk filling her face again. “Never thought you’d be the type to settle down, especially not so young. He must be really cute under that armor.”

He was. Very cute. But they weren’t mates. Yet. “We’re taking it slow.”

“You. Courting. Druking hell, Fett. How did that happen?” Fennec asked in disbelief, still trying to process. 

Boba had been there through it all, and he still wasn’t even sure. “It’s…yeah. It’s complicated, like I said. How about a drink later? The usual spot? I’ll tell you more there.”

“Alright, fine,” Fennec agreed before looking back at Din. “Geez, looks like he’s about to put a blaster between my eyes. He’s serious about you, huh? Don’t know why, nothing interesting about you.”

Scowling, Boba fired her a look. “Can you just go? For five minutes while we finish up here?”

“Better be glad you saved my life and I feel like I owe you, Fett,” Fennec reminded him before agreeing and passing by Din with a look as she exited. 

Kriff. Boba felt like everything he’d been wanting to do had now been thrown out the door. “Sorry. She’s just a friend, Din. She’s saved my ass a time or two, and I’ve saved her.” Din clutched the rifle he was holding. Boba had noticed he’d been with that rifle for a while, even before Fennec had come in. “An Amban Rifle. Extremely useful in battle. Powerful long range, but just as good close range with the electrorods. A great multipurpose weapon. You want it?”

“Yes,” Din answered without hesitation, finally relaxing now that Fennec was gone. “But I have no credits.”

Boba took the rifle from Din. “I do.” He approached Cryna. “I’ll take this and some fuel for the flamethrowers.”

“You got it,” Cryna nodded, moving behind his desk to gather the fuel. 

Once the purchase was complete, Boba handed the rifle back to Din. “There. It’s yours, now.”

Din took it with an aura of disbelief. “Why…why did you buy this for me?”

“Well, I’d say it’s because I’m courting you, but I guess I’m just your mate now,” Boba responded with more irritation and sarcasm than he had meant. He’d known Din hadn’t been trying to be malicious. He hadn’t meant anything by it, but he still loathed that he now had to explain this all to Fennec.

Din clutched the rifle to his chest and dipped his chin. “I’m sorry. That was out of line. I know you’re not my mate.”

“It’s fine,” Boba sighed before tiling his head and looking Din up and down. “Not going to lie…it was kind of hot. You being possessive like that.”

Din’s face was covered, but the way he curled his shoulders in on himself even with a rifle was everything he needed to know that he was blushing red beneath the beskar. “Are you really courting me?”

Boba thought it was pretty blatantly obvious, but this was Din. Padme had said he’d need to be extremely clear and direct with his intentions. Never assume. “I don’t know, do alphas normally buy omegas expensive gifts like Amban rifles just because? And it is a gift Din,” Boba reiterated, remembering what Din had said about all his things belonging to his alpha. “The rifle is yours. Completely.”

“Thank you,” Din said, carefully slotting the rifle against his back. “I will take good care of it.”

“And yeah, Din, I’m courting you,” Boba added. “Or at least trying.” Fennec had kind of just gotten in the way and they needed to address the mating thing head on, but Boba was putting it off as long as possible. After confessing he was courting Din, he didn’t think he could avoid it much longer. But maybe just a little longer. “Anything else you need or want?”

“No,” Din answered, turning away and bowing his head. 

Boba loved Fennec, he did, but he was feeling a little salty that she had shown up in the shop. It had turned what was supposed to be a good moment between him and Din into something divisive. Kriff, Boba didn’t feel like he could win for anything. Even after returning to the apartment, Din was looking to him for some sort of answers, and Boba cut him off.

“I’m going out for some drinks,” Boba said after dinner before Din could ask him anything else about Fennec. “Do you want to come?” 

“No,” Din responded, angrily turning his back. 

Boba had asked, but he wasn’t going to let Din come regardless. Not just because he was meeting Fennec, but because it was in one of the worst parts of Coruscant. Boba had no problems going, but he didn’t want Din there. “Alright. Good night, if you’re in bed before I get back.” It was a horrible move. Grogu hadn’t even returned yet from school and Boba was leaving Din alone, but he just had to get away. He could feel his father’s eyes on him as he left, but he didn’t look back.

He felt a sense of relief as he stepped into the bar. It was full of people who were wanted by the Republic and had pucks for their heads scattered across guilds. Liars, thieves, murderers. All sorts of filthy people were here. Boba would likely hunt down half of the people here eventually, but now he felt a solace in being among them with a beer in his hand. 

“Oh come on, Fett, what’s that face for?” Fennec asked as she slid onto the seat next to him.

“You ruined a perfectly good outing is what,” Boba told her. “Now Din’s jealous and pissed off.”

Fennec let out a laugh as she waved down the bartender. “That’s not my fault and you know it. Sounds to me you don’t have his trust much if he’s jealous of me. I wouldn’t screw you if you paid me. But for real, what in druk’s name, Fett? An omega? Courting? I have to know everything.”

So Boba told her everything. Outside of the clones, Fennec was Boba’s closest friend. His only friend, really. Annoyingly but expectedly, Fennec questioned him about everything and had something to say about every little event. 

“So after all that, after all that work to try and better understand him and become more sympathetic, you just left him back at your place alone while you came here?” Fennec asked with a raised eyebrow. “Fett, you’re kriffing horrible at this, you know that, right? I bet he thinks we’re screwing right now. He definitely thinks we’re screwing.”

Boba groaned, knowing she was probably right. That might turn into some very unfun damage control later. “Kriff, you’re right..”

“Of course I am, I’m always right,” Fennec snorted into her drink. “Announcing your intentions to mate someone and then dropping them the first chance you get because you don’t know how to talk to people isn’t going to work out real well in the end, Fett. That tells me you don’t want to mate him.”

“I never said that,” Boba argued defensively. 

“Fine, then you aren’t ready for it,” Fennec countered. 

Boba sighed and threw back the entirety of his drink before raising the glass for another. “That’s literally what I’ve been trying to tell everyone. Din is ready for it. He’s good looking. Strong. Smart. Extremely capable. He’ll make a great mate for someone.”

“And then there’s you who has an extremely punchable face, makes questionable decisions on a regular basis, has a bad attitude, and thinks he can just shoot his way out of any problem.”

Boba growled. “And you’re none of those things?”

“HA!” Fennec laughed. “I’m all of those things except the punchable face. My face is cute.”  Taking a sip of her drink, she shifted in the seat so that she directly faced Boba. “Listen, Fett, you want to know what I think?”

“No, but you’re going to tell me anyway,” Boba answered her. 

Fennec smirked. “Yes I am. You’re the last person in the galaxy I think should be mated right now, but we have to do things in life we aren’t prepared for more often than not. Come on. How many bounties have you and I gone on where we went in vastly underprepared but somehow made our way out of it, anyway?”

More than he could count. “What’s your point?”

“My point is, we still got through it because we trusted each other and we made do with what we had,” Fennec said. “There are plenty of cultures out there that do arranged marriages that work out just fine. Want to know why? Because even though they weren’t ready, they went through it together with open lines of communication. I think you could use an omega that puts you on your ass. Might humble that big ego of yours. And it sounds like Din could use an alpha that challenges him mentally. That challenges his view of himself and the word. You know, in a weird way, I think you two sound kind of perfect for each other.”

“Mating is really permanent.”

“So is death, but you have no problem shooting people in the head on a regular basis,” Fennec argued. “And mating isn’t that permanent. From what I’ve heard a broken bond does suck, but it’s not the end of the galaxy. If things really don’t work out, you can move on.” Boba clenched his jaw and Fennec ordered a round of shots with a sigh. “Listen, I’ve had my tongue up my share of omegas, but I don’t know the first thing about courting them. That being said, I can tell you for certain Din must not be feeling real good right now. You bought him a nice gift and then immediately dumped him to come to a horribly seedy part of town to see your assassin best friend. Come on. Not a good look. Even someone as blind as you have to see that, Fett.”

Groaning, Boba knew she was right. He was avoiding Din because he was afraid. He needed to man up and be responsible for what he’d done. Live up to the promises he’d made to Cody. His father. Padme. To Din. “Yeah. I know. You’re right.”

“How many times are you going to have to say that tonight, huh?” Fennec teased with a smile. “So go home. I’ll be around and we can catch up later. Maybe actually bring your omega next time.”

“I’m not bringing him here,” Boba argued.

“He’s an omega, not a child,” Fennec scolded him. “Stop grouping them together. He’d be just fine here. Look around you. There’s plenty of omegas here who know how to handle themselves and if he can kick your ass then he’ll be just fine.”

Boba grunted, getting the point. “Alright, alright. I get it. I suck.”

“You do,” Fennec agreed, throwing down a wad of credits to cover their tab. “But you’ve always been a man of your word in the end. You promised to save my life when I didn’t believe you, and you came through. Do the same for Din.”

He’d come to the bar to try and forget his worries and feel better, but Boba only felt worse as he made his way back home. Boba’s intentions had been there, but everything had just fallen apart. How could he fix this? He had no idea. 

“Did you have fun?” Jango asked as Boba unsuccessfully tried to sneak his way back in.

Boba winced at his father’s voice. Dank farrik, this was not going to be pleasant, especially if Jango had specifically stayed up waiting on him. “Um, to be honest, not really.”

“Was it worth leaving Din behind for?” Jango continued on, voice turning to that tone Boba hated the most. Not angry, but extremely disappointed. “Leaving an omega who had been separated from his child alone, away from the only support they knew?”

Boba felt so guilty hearing his father’s words because it was true. “I just…needed some time to think.”

“And what did Din need?”

Boba bit his lip. He might have succeeded in keeping his cool talking to Din earlier in the day, but he’d ultimately failed in treating him the right way. Dammit. Fennec was right, he was horrible at this. “For…me to be here. With him.”

“Come here.”

Kriff. Boba reluctantly joined his father in the living room with hesitant and short steps.

“I admire you for what you told Cody,” Jango began. “You are willing to take responsibility for your actions and make good on your promises. But don’t do it if you’re going to do it poorly, Boba.”

Boba bowed his head. “Yes, Dad. I understand.”

“Do you?” Jango questioned harshly. “Din is not a luxury. He is not a convenience. He relies on you no matter how you’re feeling. You don’t get to just run away and leave him here. Thankfully, I was here, but it shouldn’t have fallen to me to make him feel better, Boba. I’m disappointed in you.”

And there it was. “I know. I’m sorry. I know what I did was wrong and Din deserves an apology. It won’t happen again, Dad.” Jango grunted and dismissed him with a wave of his hand. Turning on his heel, Boba started to walk away, but he stopped and turned back. “Dad? You said you liked an omega once. What happened?”

“Nothing happened,” Jango sighed. “The circumstances simply were never right.”

“So…you still like them?” Boba asked, wondering how far he could pry.

Jango’s lips twitched sadly. “I will always love him.”

Love. Not just like. Love. Boba’s lips parted in silent confusion. “I don’t…Who is it? We’re almost always together. Around the same people.”

“Believe it or not, Boba, I do have a life outside you,” Jango reminded him rather harshly. “It doesn’t matter who it is. As strong as our feelings are, it will never be. We’ve both had to accept that and move on.”

Boba knew that Jango had his own life. Did his own things. But Boba just couldn’t believe that he never realized his father was seeing someone. Seeing them enough he could look him in the face and say he loved them. Was Boba just completely oblivious, or was his father just good enough to have kept it all hidden? “But why? If you really love him, shouldn’t you try and make it work? What was stopping you?”

“Boba,” Jango hissed, a warning in his voice. “If and when I ever decide to tell you the details of that part of my life, then I will on my terms. Until then, cease the questions.”

“Sorry,” Boba apologized, dipping his chin and lowering his eyes. “Just…one thing. Was it because you were scared?”

Sighing, Jang turned so that he better faced Boba and leaned forward so that his elbows were on his knees. “No. I was not afraid to mate with him. Fear was never an issue, but if I had been scared, that would not have stopped me. Just like with bounties, fear should never keep you from completing the mission. It shouldn’t stop you from doing what you have to do.”

Boba had so many questions. So many thoughts that were going through his mind, but he couldn’t ask any of them. All he could do was nod. “Thanks.” Now he had to make it through Din. With a deep breath, he returned to his room. Part of him hoped Din would just be asleep, but he also knew that letting it go overnight wasn’t going to benefit anyone. Din was not asleep. He was where he always was with Grogu in his lap. Getting pillows and blankets in that corner really needed to be the next thing on Boba’s list. He was getting tired of just sitting on the floor, so surely Din was, too. “You’re still up.”

Din looked over his shoulder, clenching his jaw. He didn’t look pissed, but he didn’t look happy, either. Annoyed was the best way to describe it. “Buir said you should never go to bed angry.”

“You’re calling him buir now?” Boba asked with a surprised raised eyebrow as he set his helmet on the bet and carefully approached. 

“He is my father now, isn’t he? Whether you mate me or not?” Din asked. 

Boba kept some space between them, but sat. “Yeah. Yeah, he is, and he’s right. You shouldn’t go to bed angry.” He began to fiddle with his vambraces, removing them one at a time. “I’m sorry, Din. I freaked out when Fennec showed up and you called me your mate in front of her. I don’t know why. There was no reason for it. I especially shouldn’t have left you here while I went to go see her. I should have introduced you both properly instead of trying to hide you from each other.”

“Is she really just a friend?” Din asked hesitantly.

“Definitely,” Boba promised with a slightly amused scoff. “No way Fennec and I could ever be a thing. We’d kill each other. Kriff, we already have tried on multiple occasions.” Boba watched as Din seemed to relax, his fingers brushing against the back of Grogu’s head. “How was Grogu’s first day at school?”

Din shrugged. “Obi-Wan said it went well, I guess. That he was a good student.”

“That’s good. And hey, he brought him back, just like he promised.”

Din huffed. “Yeah, I guess.”

Boba watched as Din played with Grogu’s ears, and he couldn’t help but reach over and give the child’s head a scratch. Grogu looked at him and cooed. “Do you wanna know? About Fennec? It’s quite a story.” 

Din looked up with interest and nodded, so Boba told the story. How he’d picked up a puck with Fennec’s face on it. How she was one of the best assassins in the parsec, and how she’d given Boba quite the run for his money. How he’d had her cornered into a set of old ruins in the dunes of Tatooine, but then the Tuskens attacked. It was either work together, or likely be be killed. So he and Fennec had worked together to get out, but Fennec had ended up being hit. Boba’s speeder had been destroyed by Fennec, so he had no way to carry her out, but he promised he’d return after patching her up the best he could with a medpack. He returned to town, got a speeder, and then went back for Fennec. Ever since then, they’d been occasional partners in crime.They’d continued going tit-for-tat, saving each other from death.

“Why didn’t you just say all that instead of trying to hide her like she meant something to you?” Din eventually asked. 

“Because I was stupid and didn’t even think you might see her like that,” Boba answered honestly. “The idea of me and her together is too absurd for me to even consider. We can all go out sometime. You can meet her, and the two of you can make fun of me behind my back and we can call it all even, alright?”

“I wouldn’t make fun of you behind your back,” Din said. “I would do it to your face.”

Boba snorted. “Oh, well, good. You two will get along great. That’s horrible for me.” Giving Grogu a scratch behind the ear, Boba pressed himself up to his feet and put away his armor on the stand. “Hey. How about we go on a bounty tomorrow? We’ll go to the guild and you can take your pick. We can test out that new rifle of yours.”

“I’d like that,” Din nodded, also getting to his feet. “Um. You don’t need to buy me gifts. I know you said you want to court me, but I don’t need things. Just…talk to me. And listen. Please…you said you’d give me a choice. I didn’t want to go with you today and you still pressured me into it. It was a poor way of making me look like I had a choice but I didn’t. You seem to be very good at that.”

He was, wasn’t he? “Ok. I’ll try to be better.” He looked over at the rifle and then smiled softly back at Din. “So…should I take the rifle back, then?”

“No!” Din exclaimed with dark eyes. 

“I thought you said you didn’t want things?” Boba teased, reaching for the rifle.

Din grabbed it and pulled it away from the alpha. “I said you don’t have to buy me things, but you already bought this for me and it’s mine now, so hands off.”

“Oh, so I don’t have to buy you things, but you’ll gladly accept them if I do,” Boba went on.

With an annoyed growl, Din set the rifle aside. “You are so-!” 

Boba leaned in, eyes locked on Din’s lips. They were centimeters away. “So what?”

Din stayed still for a moment, and then his eyes drifted down, too. He leaned in so that their lips just grazed each other. “Annoying.” Without ever properly kissing, Din turned away. 

Boba let out an annoyed growl as he was left wanting. “That wasn’t nice.”

“It wasn’t meant to be,” Din said as he reached up to place Grogu in his hammock. Throwing back the covers, he shoved his feet beneath them. “Being ignored isn’t so fun, is it?”

Oh, ok. This was payback, was it? Unable to hide the smirk, Boba shook his head and started to kick off his boots. Well, he was the one that said he liked Din when he was a spitfire, and here he was. “Come on, not even a goodnight kiss?” 

Din shoved Boba away as the alpha joined him under the covers, but it was half-hearted. Rolling onto his side, he pulled his blanket up above his nose. “I may forgive you, but I’m still angry.”

“Fair,” Boba acknowledged, settling in on his side, “but I thought Dad said not to go to bed angry.”

Huffing, Din pulled the blanket down to his chin and rolled onto his back. “Fine, but just one.”

Boba made good use of their one kiss, making sure it lasted until neither of them had any air left. Even then, it was hard to pull away, and they kept their eyes on each other for several breaths after they’d parted. 

Eventually, Din kicked him with his foot and rolled away. “Stay on your side of the bed.”

Doing as asked, Boba put a foot between them, but he stayed facing Din’s back

“Boba?”

“Hmm?”

“...can you make it darker in here? The lights are so bright.”

Were they? Boba had never really noticed. Sitting up, he looked out to the windows. There were a lot of lights. “Yeah. Sure.” Getting up, he went to the windows and adjusted the settings to darken the film. “Better?”

“Yes. Thanks.”

Din fell asleep rather quickly, but Boba had too much lingering on his mind. Not just questions about what he was doing with Din, but his father. It was so hard to get past the fact his father had loved another omega and told Boba nothing at all about it. About who it was. 

Din stirred uncomfortably, and Boba heard soft whimpers from beneath the blankets. 

“Din?” Boba lifted his head. Din let out another set of whimpers. He was having another nightmare. They seemed to happen every night. Boba shook his shoulder. “Din. Hey.” The omega rolled over and pressed himself to Din, forehead beading with sweat. Boba wrapped his arms around him and tucked Din’s head beneath his chin. Immediately, the omega calmed. Boba found his mind clearly soon after and he fell asleep with Din in his arms.

“I told you to stay on your side,” Din groaned the next morning, immediately rolling away from Boba as he came to.

“I did,” Boba groaned back, feeling exhausted. He hadn’t slept much. With a sigh, he threw off the covers and sat up, wiping at his eyes. “You were having a nightmare. I was just trying to help. Do they happen often?”

Slowly, Din peeled off the layers and sat up, too. “Everynight for as long as I can remember.”

“What are they about?” Boba asked, knowing very well what they were likely about. 

Shaking his head, Din sat up on his knees and pulled Grogu from the hammock. “My past.” Din didn’t elaborate any further as he started to get ready for the day.

Obi-Wan came for Grogu, and then Boba let his father know they planned on going on a hunt. Jango, however, wasn’t going to let them go without him. Boba protested, wanting to make the hunt an outing of sorts. A courting outing. But Jango wasn’t letting up. It was too dangerous with no new information on Paz. Naboo had been one thing, but bounties were an entirely different game. Ultimately, Boba had no choice but to agree to it. 

Jango, at least, kept his distance. He was there, but not trying to intrude. He was still very much there, though, and Boba had to remember that the few times he felt the desire to flirt with Din. Boba never thought his father would be such a cock-block, but here they were. At least Din was very much having fun. Din had chosen the puck and their approach. He was calling all the shots. He lacked the confidence, though, and Boba made the mistake of telling him his plan was not at all how he would have taken the bounty. Luckily for him, Jango was there to fix it. Jango, always encouraging, told Din to choose a plan and stick to it. That every bounty hunter had their own strengths and that he should play to his and not Boba’s. 

Din didn’t like the close-up approach Boba favored. He liked to keep a distance and strike from afar. It’s why the Amban rifle had been such a draw to him. One didn’t have to have a perfect aim to vaporize someone with the rifle, but Din’s shot was still perfect. He and Fennec really would get along with how every shot hit the head before the bodies disintegrated. Having destroyed their bounties protection from afar, they finally moved to close quarter and Boba got to have a little hands-on action. He greatly enjoyed getting to drag the body back to Slave I and secure him in the lower decks.

Pulling his helmet off, Din was all smiles. His curly brown hair stuck to his forehead and the sides of his face, but Boba thought it made him look cuter than ever. Jango cupped his cheek and gave him a pat on the head of approval before taking his place at the controls. Din seemed to immediately sparkle from the silent praise. Boba knew that feeling. It had always felt incredible when his father praised him. He wanted to kiss that happy face, but he certainly wasn’t doing it in front of his dad. 

“This might be my new favorite weapon,” Din said as he pulled the rifle from his back and ran his hand along the length.

Boba took a seat next to his father and removed his own helmet. “Gotta say, I’m kind of jealous.”

“Get your own,” Din told him, slotting it back on his back. 

Boba snorted, and he saw his father smirk out of the corner of his eye. 

Once the Slave was on course, Jango swiveled his chair to where Din was sitting in the back. “You’re a natural hunter, Din. You have good instincts. Don’t ever doubt yourself.”

Blushing slightly, Din lowered his gaze and nodded. “Thank you.”

“Din, look at me.” Din swallowed and did as he was told. “I’m the clan alpha, but you do not need to be submissive to me. The only time you need to be looking down is if I’m yelling at you.”

It took a few seconds, but Din finally raised his eyes. “Yes, Buir. ”

“Good,” Jango nodded before turning the chair back around. 

Boba turned his chair around and stood, choosing to join Din in the back. “How are you feeling?”

“Good,” Din answered. “Happy. I would hunt with Paz, but I never got to make any decisions. I was at his mercy. At his command.” He paused and sucked in an uncertain breath. “I know I’m a good fighter, but to be honest, I wasn’t sure if I’d really make a good hunter. I…didn’t know if I could make my own decisions. I didn’t know if I could do it on my own. I guess I still don’t know if I can do it by myself, but at least I know I can make a good decision.”

“Din, you basically took out that bounty by yourself,” Boba told him. “I know I had some fun there at the end, but you didn’t need me. You could have done it on your own. Dad didn’t even lift a finger. He was just there for moral support. I have faith in you, so have faith in yourself.”

The omega first looked at him with surprise and then his face softened with genuine thanks. “I never really knew how much I needed to hear that until now.”

Stars, Boba wanted to kiss him so bad, but he settled with reaching across the omega’s lap and grabbing his hand. Din laced their fingers together and squeezed. His dark eyes looked at Boba in a way he didn’t quite understand. It was like he was searching for something inside of the alpha. 

Eventually, Boba had to look away, feeling someone uncomfortable. “What?”

“Sorry,” Din apologized, finally looking away. “I’m still not used to really looking at people. Everyone I was around always wore their buy’ce. It’s still kind of strange to see faces. I never realized how much I was missing. How much I couldn’t really see.”

Wearing the helmet had its benefits, but it had its challenges, too. Sight was one of them. Boba couldn’t imagine what it was like having to look out of it 100% of the time. “I can’t pretend to say I understand, just that I know what it’s like to wear the helmet and that I couldn’t imagine wearing it all the time.”

“I’ve spent so much of my life wearing it, but now that I’ve spent time with it off,” Din looked at his helmet in his hands, “it’s hard to believe I did it. It’s hard to believe,” he let out a heavy sigh and tossed the helmet to the ground. “It’s hard to believe it meant anything.”

Boba leaned over and retrieved Din’s helmet. “It did mean something, Din, but meanings can change. The helmet is still important to my father and I, but there’s more to us than the helmet and the armor. Beneath it, we’re humans with needs, wants, and desires.” Boba handed Din’s helmet back to him.

Din took it back and hugged it against his chest. He then leaned towards Boba and let his head rest against the alpha’s shoulder. Boba’s eyes widened in surprise, and he immediately looked to his father, but Jango wasn’t paying them any attention. He was probably listening, but his back was to them. Letting his head fall against Din’s, he wrapped an arm around the omega’s waist. They stayed like that until Slave landed back on Coruscant. 

After dropping the bounty off at the guild, they collected their payment and headed back to their tower. They showered and dressed in comfortable fresh clothing before making dinner. Din helped for the first time. He didn’t know his way around advanced appliances much, but he knew ingredients and how to cook. Far better than Boba did. They were just about ready to sit down when the chime went off for the door. 

Boba answered it and found Cody holding up Grogu. “I come bearing gifts.”

“Grogu!” Din exclaimed, pushing Boba aside to grab his son. 

“Where’s Obi-Wan?” Boba asked, watching as Din retreated back inside happily talking to his ad.  

Cody shrugged. “Super important Jedi stuff. I don’t ask questions, just follow orders.”

“Well, we’re just about to eat. Want to join us?” Boba offered. “There’s plenty.”

Leaning in, Cody took a sniff. “Smells great. Don’t mind if I do. Dining facility food isn’t the greatest. A real meal would be nice.”

Din looked a little uncertain as they sat down, but that just made Boba want him to spend more time with Cody. Cody and Rex were the most important people to Boba other than his father. He wanted Din to feel comfortable around them. To trust them. They were Boba’s brothers, and he wanted them to be Din’s brothers, too. They spent dinner sharing stories between their last hunt and Cody’s last mission. By the end, Din looked a little more relaxed, but still uncertain.

“Cody, let’s hit up our spot,” Boba said after they’d cleaned up. “I got more stories to tell.” After Cody nodded, Boba looked to Din. “I’d like you to come. To get to know Cody, but you don’t have to. It’s totally up to you.”

Din looked down at Grogu and contemplated. “He can come?”

“Of course the little guy can come,” Cody answered. 

“Ok,” Din nodded.

Their spot was an observation pier at the highest point in the tower. They could see all of Coruscant. All of the ships and speeders that flew through the city. The sun was setting, and the clouds looked incredible. They took a seat on the edge, legs swinging as their arms settled against the railing. Cody opened up about himself, happily answered any questions Din had. It somehow quickly turned to Cody telling embarrassing stories about Boba and he started to regret doing this. 

“We're kind of an unusual family, but we’re still glad to have you and the kid,” Cody told Din, reaching out a hand and poking Grogu’s nose. 

Din smiled gratefully. “It is kind of strange, seeing Boba and Buir’s face everywhere, but it’s also…comforting. There’s always someone familiar.”

“If you ever need anything, Din, the clones are here for you,” Cody promised. 

Cody and Din continued on their own conversations, leaving Boba to his thoughts again. Stars, he just couldn’t get past the mess with his father. Would Cody know something, maybe? Doubtful. The only time Cody was around Jango was when Boba was there. Who was this omega? The only omega that Jango was regularly around was Obi-Wan.

Holy kriffing stars. Boba was an idiot. He was a straight up idiot. “Dank. Farrik.”

“You alright, kid?” Cody asked with a raised eyebrow. 

“Dad is in love with Obi-Wan. Kriff, Dad is in love with Obi-Wan!” Boba couldn’t believe the words leaving his own mouth, his hand cupping the sides of his face.

Cody let out a low chuckle and rubbed the back of his head. “You uh…you just now getting that, little brother?”

“What do you mean am I just now getting that?” Boba asked, still in complete disbelief and shock.

The clone shrugged, “Well, I mean…doesn't everyone know that?”

What?! “No!”

“Well, you're dumber than I thought,” Cody huffed. “No offense. Pretty sure your dad and the General have had feelings for each other since you were a youngling.”

“I thought Obi-Wan was secretly in love with Skywalker!” Boba exclaimed.

Cody laughed. “Well, you’re not the only one. There were bets, for a while, but now it’s more obvious than the suns of Tatooine that the General and your father have wandering eyes for one another.”

“Jedi can’t love,” Din said solemnly, looking extremely sad about the situation. 

“Well, that depends who you ask,” Cody argued with a raised finger. “The Order is changing. Problem is, the General is part of the old world. Change can be hard.”

“But…isn’t me being able to see Grogu part of the changes?” Din asked in confusion. “Why would he support that but not allow himself to fall in love?”

Smiling softly, Cody shrugged. “Sometimes, it’s easier to fight for other’s happiness than our own. It’s less terrifying.”

“Holy kriff,” Boba buried his head in his hands. “What do I do?”

“Nothing,” Cody told him firmly. “What’s going on between your dad and the General is between them. Don’t you go getting in the middle of it.”

Boba growled in annoyance. “Don’t you want Obi-Wan to be happy!?”

“Of course I do,” Cody told him. “I love the General. I’d follow him to my death without hesitation. I want nothing more than for him to be happy, but it’s not my place.”

“Oh, just like me and Din’s relationship isn’t your place to comment, but you’ve had no problem sticking your nose up into that!” Boba hissed. 

Cody jabbed a finger against Boba’s chest. “You’re my brother! It’s different!” 

“Alright, you know-!”

“Stop!” Din interjected. Both Cody and Boba froze and then retreated from one another, surprised the omega had spoken up. “Stop. Please.” With both men looking at him, Din retreated and looked away and down at Grogu. “Obi-Wan…he’s spent most of his life living a certain way. That doesn’t just change because like someone. It’s not a switch you can turn on and off. I would know. I know what that’s like.”

Boba pressed his lips together. He’d never thought Obi-Wan and Din’s circumstances were similar, but maybe they were in a roundabout way. “I’m sorry…you’re right. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want it to change. I want my dad to be happy, and I like Obi-Wan. Do I particularly want a Jedi to be my father-in-law? No, but I guess there's worse Jedi, and he’s already taken Grogu as his Padawn. That’s basically family as it is. ”

“Kid, I get it, I do,” Cody assured him. “I’d like it to happen as much as you, but stay out of it. They’ll figure it out, or they won’t. That’s up to them.”

Done with the conversation, Boba got to his feet. “I’m tired.”

Cody left and Boba stormed through the apartment and headed straight for his room past a confused Jango. Din scurried after him. Obi-Wan. Of all the omegas, it was Obi-Wan. Boba felt so stupid. It had been there in front of him forever, and he’d never seen it.

“Boba.”

Boba ignored Din, continuing to change clothes angrily.

“Boba. Please.”

“What!?” Boba snapped. When Din flinched, he let out an apologetic sigh. “Sorry. I’m sorry. I just don't know what to do about all of this. I just want him to be happy, Din. He’s my dad.”

Din carefully closed the difference and shifted Grogu to one side of his arms before lifting his free hand to Boba’s face. “I know. But Buir has to decide he wants to find his own happiness, just like I had to decide for myself.” Licking his lips, Din pressed his forehead to Boba’s and looked him in the eyes. “And I did decide that I want happiness.”

Their noses nuzzled briefly before Din pressed his lips to Boba’s. They kissed long and hard for several moments before Din eventually pulled away to look at Grogu. He retreated to their bed and climbed up on it so that he could place Grogu into the hammock. 

“Close your ears, but don’t be afraid, ad’ika ,” Din told him. “I’m happy. I’m safe.” Grabbing his tauntaun blanket, he laid it down in his favorite corner and returned to Boba’s arms. “Show me I’m safe, Boba.” 

Boba kissed him again and they gently fell to the blanket below. The alpha ran his hands up the omega’s sides and caught his hands in his, lacing their fingers together above their heads. “Din. Are you sure?” He asked, kissing Din’s jaw between breaths. “Is this really what you want?”

“I want you to want me,” Din told him.

“I do,” Boba said earnestly against the skin of his neck. He felt more emotional than usual because of his father, but that didn’t mean his feelings weren’t genuine. Maybe they were as real as they’d ever been. Unlacing his fingers from one of Din’s hands, he brushed his knuckles against Din’s cheek. “I do, Din. I want you.”

Din spread his legs around Boba. “Then show me.”

Chapter Text

Boba’s heart was racing with excitement and desire, but after a few minutes of deep kissing, Din let out a moan that snapped Boba to reality. He wanted Din, and he’d have Din, but Boba felt the other presence in the room. Grogu. He may not be looking, but the kid had big ears. He’d hear every kriffing thing. With an unhappy and annoyed groan, Boba pulled away just as he was getting into it. “Din.”

“What?” Din asked with a worried look. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No,” Boba told him, but he still crawled off Din and stood. “Sorry, I just…the kid.”

Din sat up with a small and sad sigh. “He’s used to it, and he won’t watch.”

“Do you realize how messed up that sounds?” Boba asked. “That he’s used to it?”

Lowering his gaze, Din shrugged. “It wasn’t exactly my choice.”

“I know,” Boba acknowledged, “but we have a choice now. We’ll have to figure out a more permanent solution, but for now-,” Boba climbed up onto the bed and retrieved Grogu with careful arms, making sure to pick up his blankets with him. He then grabbed one of the extra pillows from the bed. Heading into the refresher, he set Grogu up in the furthest corner. “Hey buddy. I know this kind of sucks, but I’d rather save these ears of yours from further torment.” He gently brushed his fingers across the length of the kid’s ears. “I promise I’m not like him. It won’t be the way you used to know. I’ll take care of Din.” Grogu blinked and let out a small hum that Boba liked to think was a thank you. Boba dimmed the light in the refresher and then closed the door. 

Din had stood and was now by the bed, watching what Boba was doing. “...the refresher?”

“Well, you have another idea?” Boba asked. “I’m sure as hell not asking Dad to watch him.”

Din looked at him with curiosity and question for a few seconds, and then the next thing he knew Boba was being backed up against the bed by a forceful kiss. With a surprised grunt, the edge of the bed hit up against his legs and then he was falling with Din on top of him. After a long and deep kiss, the omega straddling Boba on the bed, Din pulled away and looked so deeply into Boba’s eyes that it almost made him feel uncomfortable. “You’re handsome, Boba Fett, but looks mean little to me. What means everything is that you care for my son. You got him a bed. Provided him with the same expensive blankets as you did me. And now you want to protect him even though I know in many ways he’s just as damaged as I am.”

“You’re not damaged, Din,” Boba told him. “You’ve just had a hard life. So has Grogu. And of course I care for him. He’s just as much family as you are, now, and he’s important to you. What’s important to you is important to me.” Boba was sure now that Din was searching into his soul. Maybe he was. Maybe that was the point. What did the omega see, he wondered? Probably not the same things Boba would have seen in himself.

“Thank you,” Din breathed before he pressed his lips to Boba’s once more. 

Din was an eager kisser. Boba wondered if that was because he’d spent the entirety of his life never having gotten to share one with someone else. He wasn’t the best kisser, still inexperienced, but Boba still enjoyed kissing him more than he had anyone else. Apparently, liking someone alot could make all the experience in the world irrelevant. Din’s hands reached for Boba’s pants, and this time, Boba didn’t stop him. He was already half hard, but when Din reached in and grabbed him that changed quickly. 

Boba moaned against Din’s mouth and reached up to grab his shoulders. Just as he did, Din pulled away and started to move down the length of Boba’s body. He positioned himself right over Boba’s hard length and the alpha began to realize what he was going to do. “Do you even know how to  -,” Boba was immediately silenced, words catching in his throat as Din swallowed him down. “Oh, kriff!” Burying his fingers in Din’s dark hair, Boba gasped. Dank farrik, how did the omega even know how to blow someone? Hadn’t he always worn a helmet? Din didn’t seem inexperienced at all as he sucked and licked Boba’s cock. Cursing out loud, Boba let his head fall back against the pillow as he encouraged Din with his hand. Wet and obscene noises filled Boba’s ears, and he was becoming more and more glad he’d hidden Grogu away in the refresher. No kid should ever hear these noises. Stars, Boba felt like he shouldn’t be hearing them. 

“D-Din,” Boba breathed, feeling himself getting close. “Din, you’ve gotta stop. I’m going to cum before we get to the good part.” The omega made no moves to let up, so Boba had to tug at his hair. “Din, please.” Finally, Din pulled off with a wet pop. “Stars, Din,” Boba breathed, trying to catch his breath. “You’ve done that before.”

Sitting back on his heels and wiping the spit and pre-cum from his lips, Din nodded with flushed and embarrassed cheeks. “Yes.”

“How?” Boba asked, propping himself up on his elbows. “The helmet?”

Biting his lip, Din looked away. “Um…the helmet…I could get it up enough…where I could take Paz and he still couldn't see my face.”

“Kriff, are you serious!?” Boba exclaimed in disbelief. Just when he thought he’d heard everything, he hears this. There was a grim part of Boba that wanted to know everything Din had been put through, but then the other side of him knew it would serve no purpose but to infuriate him. Knowing wouldn’t make things better for Din. “Let me guess, he never returned the favor.”

Din sucked in a breath and then closed his mouth before shaking his head.

“Well. Lay on your back, then,” Boba instructed. Confused, Din remained where he was and looked at Boba with uncertainty. Boba was starting to believe that was just a permanent face of Din’s. Helping him out, Boba pressed against his chest and began to move from beneath the omega. “I don’t receive and not give back. That’s just common courtesy. Lay back. I’ll take care of you. Promise.”

“You don’t have to,” Din tried to argue.

“Yeah, I know. Neither of us have to do anything,” Boba reminded him, “but I want to.”

Unsure, Din hesitated briefly until he was forced to move because of Boba’s movements. He eventually did as he was told and they flipped positions, Din on his back. Shoving his own pants down the rest of the way, he maneuvered out of them and tossed them aside before he reached for Din’s. The omega lifted his hips and Boba pulled them off. Stars, Din was beautiful. Running his hands up Din’s sides he bunched his shirt up around his chest and took in the beauty of his bare skin. There were several scars, but Boba didn’t find them ugly or unsightly. They were a part of Din. Proof of what he was. A hunter. Boba had plenty of his own. Pressing his lips to a few scars, Boba nudged Din’s legs apart and settled between them. Din’s scent was strong and almost overwhelming. Boba was so used to being around omegas that took suppressants and blockers. 

Swallowing hard and licking his lips, Boba pressed his nose to Din’s folds and then licked a long stripe from bottom to top. Din gasped and bucked his hips up into Boba’s mouth. Pressing a firm hand against his stomach, Boba shoved the omega back down to the bed as his tongue found his entrance and darted in. Boba could feel Din’s thighs quivering around him and he pulled back briefly to nibble at the sensitive skin covered in soft hairs. 

“B-Boba,” Din whined desperately.

“Shh,” Boba hushed him, sucking a bruise into his skin before returning to the omega’s cunt. It was glistening with slick and spit and a nice swollen shade of pink. Shoving his tongue back into Din’s hole, he reached up and curled his fingers around the omega’s small cock. Beginning to stroke his hand up and down he alternated between thrusting his tongue in and out and sucking and biting the lips of his folds. Din was letting out all sorts of beautiful noises, and Boba wished he could listen to them forever. Diving in as far as he could with his tongue he twirled it around as he thumbed the top of Din’s dick. It wasn’t long before Din was arching his back and screaming as he came. Boba could taste the cum on his lips as the omega pulsed around his tongue. 

With a satisfied sigh, Boba pressed a kiss to Din’s stomach before sitting up, cum and spit coating his lips. Din’s eyes were wide in surprise as he breathed heavily through his orgasm. Was it his first? Had Paz truly never once thought about Din’s pleasure? Ever? “Din? You alright?”

“Y-yes,” Din breathed, though he still looked as confused as he always did. This time, though, there was a pretty blush across his cheeks to accompany the creased brow.

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand he asked, “Do you want to keep going?”

“Yes,” Din responded, this time more confidently.

It would have been easy for Boba just to slot himself inside of Din from where he was, but this wasn’t about things being easy. It was about Din feeling comfortable. Feeling like he had a say in things. Like he had power. “Why don’t you get on top? So you can set the pace.”

“Are you-,”

“Yes, Din. I’m sure,” Boba cut him off, though he palmed Din’s face gently with his hand for reassurance. He then grabbed the edges of his shirt and pulled it up and over his head so he was fully naked. Reaching for the hem of Din’s shirt, he lifted up briefly waiting for permission. Din gave it by raising his hands over his head. Tossing it aside to join the rest of the pile of clothing, Boba laid on his back next to Din. “Go on.”

Din hesitated, but then he eventually rolled on top of Boba and straddled his hips. He stared down at Boba’s length for a few seconds before gently grabbing it with one hand and pressing his other palm to the alpha’s chest. Sucking in a breath, he raised his hips and positioned Boba beneath him. 

“I’m here,” Boba promised, placing a gentle hand on his hip and the other on his thigh.

Slowly, too damn slowly, Din lowered himself onto Boba. It was slow and methodical, but there was no pause as Din sunk all the way down onto Boba’s hips. Din felt the tip of his cock pressing up against the omega’s cervix and he couldn’t help but let out a loud moan. Kriff. Din felt perfect around him. Wet, hot, tight. His cock was twitching already against Din’s walls. Letting his dark lashes flutter closed with a pleasured sigh, Din settled in Boba’s lap. 

“Kriff, Din,” Boba breathed, “You’re so beautiful. Look at you.”

Din opened his eyes and scrunched his face in disbelief. “I’m not-,”

Boba had his fingers to Din’s lips before he could even say it. He had lain with many omegas, but none had been as exquisite as Din. As powerful. As determined. Din thought himself damaged, but Boba only saw him as resilient. He’d gone through hell and survived it. “You are, Din. You’re beautiful. Now move before I start going crazy.”

Letting out a small huff, Din placed his other palm on Boba’s chest and started to rise up and down with his powerful thighs. His muscles quivered with each movement, reminding Boba just how powerful the man atop him was. Reminding him that any moment, Din could kill him if he wanted. That thought went straight to his cock, and it was so hard for Boba to resist planting his feet against the mattress and pounding up into Din. He wanted to meet the omega thrust for thrust, but this wasn’t about him. He had to lay back and be patient. Excruciatingly so as Din slowly ground himself against the alpha beneath him. 

Boba ran his hands up Din’s spine. “What do you need, Din? Tell me what you need.”

With a trembling lip, Din lowered himself down so that his forehead pressed against Boba’s as he rocked his hips up and down. “Tell me…”

“Tell you what?” Boba whispered, brushing his knuckles against Din’s cheek. 

“Tell me you want me,” Din breathed, nuzzling his nose against Boba’s.

Boba ran his fingers up the sides of Din’s neck before cupping his face. “I want you Din. I want you just as you are. Just as you want to be.”

Squeezing his eyes shut, Din let out a shuddered breath as he pressed his lips against Boba’s and found a quicker and more regular pace. Boba’s hands began to find their way up and down Din’s skin, exploring every inch. Eventually, his hands found their way to Din’s ass and he was spreading the omega's cheeks as he bounced up and down on his cock while they kissed. 

“D-Din,” Boba breathed, feeling the fire in the pit of his stomach grow. “I’m gonna…” Din acknowledged him with a hum against his lips, but didn’t slow his pace. Boba bit down on Din’s lower lip and tugged at it as he thrust his hips up hard against him. It only took a few more thrusts before Boba felt his climax hit. He pulled Din off of him enough he wasn’t knotting him, but still came inside, painting the omega’s walls white. “K-kriff…Din…”

Din let out a satisfied sigh as he let himself rest against Boba’s chest entirely. “Boba…”

Boba couldn’t speak for several moments, breaths coming hard and beads of sweat trickling down his forehead as he came down from the high. “And to think,” Boba finally breathed before swallowing and chuckling, “You were going to ruin your blanket by having sex on it.”

Din let out a huff and smiled. “Sorry…I’m just not used to a bed. All we had were blankets.”

“Are you ok?” Boba asked as Din rose up off of him, cum dribbling out of his cunt and onto Boba’s stomach. 

Nodding, Din settled onto the mattress next to Boba and laid on his back with an exhausted sigh. “I’m fine.”

Boba rolled over onto his side and cupped Din’s face. “Din. Look at me. Are you alright?”

Din blinked up at him, confused, but nodded. “Yes…yes I’m fine.”

Paz had likely never asked him that after sex. Probably because he knew the answer would be no and didn’t care. Satisfied, Boba kissed him. “Stay here.” Rolling away from the omega he clambered out of bed and headed for the refresher. He was as quiet as he could be as he crept in, grabbed a washcloth, and ran it under water before returning to Din. Starting between the omega’s legs, Boba wiped the omega’s skin cleaning off the spit, cum, and slick. Once he was clean, Boba turned to himself and then found his pants in the clutter of clothes. Pulling them on, he returned to the refresher and discarded the cloth before finding Grogu. The kid was fast asleep in his cocoon of blankets. With a sigh of relief, Boba picked him up as carefully and quietly as he could and returned him to his hammock above the bed. 

Grabbing the edge of the comforter, Boba pulled it up and over him and Din as he settled down next to the omega in bed. Din immediately scooted next to him, wrapping an arm around the alpha’s torso and pressing himself tight against the alpha. Without hesitation, Boba curled an arm beneath him and pulled Din in close.

“Din…” Boba began, unsure if now was the right time to discuss it, but deciding no other time would be better. “If you still want me to mate you, I will. I made a promise to you, and I will keep it. All I ask is that you give me a good reason. I have to know that it means something to you.”

Sucking in a sharp breath, Din pressed himself closer to Boba. “When I first met you…I saw an opportunity. I had wanted to be mated so badly for years and there you were. I felt desperate, and desperation makes you do crazy things. But the thing is, I still want to be mated. It’s just the reasoning has changed. As long as Paz is out there, he could still reclaim me and take me. At one time, that’s what I had wanted. I thought that maybe if he claimed me and we were proper mates, things might be different between us. Maybe…maybe if I’d just gotten pregnant, things could have been ok. But after being with you…after tasting freedom…I don’t want him to claim me anymore. I’m scared he will find me and take what is his.”

“You want me to claim you so he can’t,” Boba said in understanding. 

“It’s wrong…I know…but yes,” Din answered, burying his face against Boba’s chest in shame. 

Boba reached up and pressed his hand to the back of Din’s head, fingers scratching against his scalp. It wasn’t so wrong. Not knowing now what he did. “You don’t have to be afraid, Din. Dad and I won’t let him have you. We’d die before we let that happen.”

“But I don’t want you to die!” Din exclaimed. “If I’m already mated, there will be nothing he can do!”

Well, he could still kill Boba. There was that. But yes, if Din were already mated it would make Paz’s job that much harder. He would have to kill Boba before taking Din back instead of just snatching him up. There would also be the risk Din didn’t survive a broken bond. It was fairly common for an alpha or omega to die not long after their mate because of the pain of a severed bond. Betas were able to push through a lot easier and move on. If Paz killed Boba and they were mated, he’d risk killing Din, too. The thing was, Boba figured that would be a risk Paz was willing to take. A bond likely wouldn’t stop him. “Din…even if I’m mated to you, I don’t think that would stop Paz. If he wants you, he’ll take you.”

Din buried his nose into Boba’s neck. “I’d rather die from a broken bond with you than go back to him.”

Din’s words shocked Boba, because he never thought himself worth such words. He never thought himself worth dying for. “Din…”

“It’s fine, Boba. It’s fine if you don’t want to. I know you promised me, but…I guess I’ve learned that you shouldn’t do anything you don’t want to. If you don’t want to, it’s alright. I understand. It won’t change anything between us.”

Clenching his teeth, Boba struggled. He was afraid of bonding with someone. He was afraid of being permanently attached. But Boba did things that scared him all the time. The question was if the risk was worth the reward. Just the feeling of Din against him was enough to have him saying yes.

Who would have ever thought Boba Fett was going to get mated? Hopefully, someone somewhere was losing a bet over this. Hopefully Fennec.

“I guess we’ll need some things from the marketplace, then,” Boba said, coming to the conclusion he knew he always would. 

Din lifted his head with hopeful eyes. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” Boba answered, looking down at him. Din had several inches on Boba, but somehow his body still slotted perfectly against his. Like they were made to fit together like this. Oh Stars, Boba, don’t start on that destiny and True Mates druk. Maybe the fact he was thinking it was proof enough he was making the right decision.

Settling back against Boba’s chest, Din whispered, “Thank you.”

Boba continued gently playing with Din’s hair as he stared up at the ceiling and listened as the omega’s breaths slowed. This was going to be his life every night, now. He’d never sleep in a bed alone again unless he and Din had to be separated for some reason. As his eyes started to grow heavy, he thought to himself that maybe falling asleep next to someone every night wouldn’t be so bad.

Din stirring next to him woke Boba up the next morning. Groaning, Boba rolled onto his side towards Din and opened his eyes. The omega was sitting up looking strangely surprised. Was he regretting last night? Sitting up next to him, Boba asked, “Are you ok?”

“I…didn’t have any nightmares,” Din told him. “I can’t remember the last time that’s happened.”

Here Din was having spent a good portion of his life feeling so scared nightmares were normal, and Boba was complaining about having to man up and mate him. It made Boba feel surprisingly selfish. “Well, that’s a good thing, right?”

“Yes, it’s just…I keep waking up next to you, but it still feels like it shouldn’t be real,” Din told him. “It’s been a couple weeks now since you saved me. I should be used to it, but I’m not. I still feel somewhat like a stranger in your home even though I share your bed and have been on a hunt with you and Buir.”

Boba leaned back on his hands. “I know it’s an entirely different situation, but when we moved here from Kamino, it took me a while before it felt like home. I was so used to it always being dark and stormy. It was lonely, too. Clones were made there. I was made there. But they never stayed. They only came back if they were injured. I don’t miss it, though. Not one bit.”

“Living on a world where it’s always raining…that sounds depressing,” Din said.

He snorted. “It was.”

“I guess I can’t speak,” Din sighed. “Nevarro was dark more than it was light, and we lived in tunnels. There was no light at all down there.”

“Now that sounds depressing,” Boba said.

Din huffed and smiled. “Yeah. It was.”

“Well,” Boba threw back the covers and stood, giving his body a stretch and letting out a pleased hum. “I’m starving. Time for breakfast.”

“I think I’ll take a shower first,” Din said. 

Bending down, Boba picked up his shirt and pulled it over his head. “Alright. You want me to take Grogu?”

“He probably would prefer not to wait on me to eat,” Din said, looking up at the hammock. Grogu appeared over the edge looking down at him. 

Reaching up, Boba grabbed Grogu and pulled him into his arms. “Ready for some food, kid?” Grogu’s ears perked up and he blinked with a hum. Jango was in the kitchen already up and watching news on the holonet. Boba noticed the made coffee and went straight for it. 

“Someone smells like they had a good night,” Jango commented flatly.

Boba dropped the mug he’d just grabbed from the cabinet and was lucky it didn’t break as he scrambled to grab it before it fell onto the floor with one hand. Kriff. Maybe he should have joined Din in the shower. He hadn’t even thought about how he might smell like Din. “Um…”

“I personally wouldn’t have slept with you the way you acted, but I guess we all respond to things differently.”

How could his father say something like that so casually? Jango looked and acted like this was just normal morning conversation. “Can we maybe not talk about it?”

“Just make sure you shower before you go anywhere,” Jango told him, taking a sip of his coffee. He then turned his head slightly to look at Boba. “You two are fine, then?”

“Yeah,” Boba said, finally pouring his coffee. “We’re fine. He’s doing what I should have done and showering.”

“Well, omegas are known to be smarter than alphas.”

Like Obi-Wan is smarter than you? That’s what Boba wanted to ask. He wanted to confront his father about his feelings for the Jedi, but Cody was right. It wasn’t their business. Boba just wanted his father to be happy, and if he was going to fall in love with any Jedi, Obi-Wan would be the only one Boba would accept. He’d even call Obi-Wan Buir. That was how much Boba respected him.

Tending to Grogu first, Boba made a bowl of raw meat and eggs and set it on the island next to Jango before setting the kid down next to it. Once he was happily munching down he cooked meat and eggs for him and Din with a small bowl of fruit. Din surfaced just as he was finishing up with fresh clothes and damp hair. He looked a little unsure, but approached the island and sat across from Grogu and Jango. 

“Good morning,” He greeted Jango.

“Morning,” Jango responded back with far more feeling than he had with Boba. “Sleep well?”

Din nodded, “Yes, thank you. This place is slowly starting to feel like a home.” He answered much calmer than Boba, acting much like nothing at all had happened between them last night. 

“Good,” Jango nodded. “Any plans for the day? Shall we pick up another bounty?”

Boba set down a plate in front of Din before sliding in next to his father. “Uh…we need to go into town for a few things, but yeah. Sure. We can go pick up some bounties. You up for that, Din?”

“Yes,” Din nodded before biting his lower lip. “Has…there been any news? About Paz?”

Jango shook his head. “No, but no news is good news on that front. I promise you I’ll let you know as soon as I hear something. Until then, try not to let it worry you. You’re safe here. Not just because of Boba and I, but because the Council is here and an entire army of clones protecting the city. All of them will look out for you.”

“I know,” Din said, “It’s not that. There’s just this…anxiety about it. Waiting around…”

“Is hard,” Jango acknowledged. “But let him make the first move. If we try to find him first, we might give ourselves and our position away. Defense is the best offense right now.”

Sucking in a deep breath, Din reluctantly accepted it. “Alright.” He glanced up at the clock and sighed. “Grogu needs to be at the temple soon.”

“We have time. Eat,” Boba instructed. He still thought the omega was too thin even though he’d been eating bigger meals. “If we’re late, we're late. What are they going to do?”

Jango let out an annoyed sigh. “Don’t piss off the Jedi just because you can, Boba.”

Boba grunted as he stabbed his fork into a big slab of meat. “Why not? They’re all about peace, aren’t they? Until they aren’t.”

His father simply sighed again and gave him a disapproving look.

Rolling his eyes, Boba conceded. “Fine. Ok. Yeah. We’ll go as soon as we finish eating.”

“Shower, Boba,” Jango reminded him.

Kriff. Yeah. There was that. Boba scarfed down the rest of his food quickly and headed to the refresher. He opted for a sonic shower instead of the nice and relaxing water shower. Din was already ready to go by the time he got out. He wasn’t wearing full armor, but enough to make him not feel naked. Boba went without the armor completely, not feeling the need. They weren’t going anywhere that called for it. Hopefully. A blaster on his hip would be enough.

Obi-Wan wasn’t at the temple, but that was to be expected. As a young Padawan, Grogu would join classes with other Padawans without the supervision of their Masters. It must have been difficult for Obi-Wan to juggle being a General and a Master to a Padawan that couldn’t join him out on the battlefield. No one else would have bothered with it, but Obi-Wan did. Now Boba had a greater understanding for why the Jedi had agreed to readily take on Grogu when he’d sworn off Padawans. 

“What exactly do we need to mate?” Din asked as they left the Temple and headed back into the city. “I thought we just…you know…mated.”

“I mean, yeah, we can do that, but there are things that make it a little easier,” Boba explained. “We’ll literally be biting into each other’s glands. Ever been bitten? It hurts. Bad. There are salves that local artisans make that help reduce pain and bruising without interfering with the bonding process. I also heard that it’s easier when you're in a heat or rut, but that there are candles and incense that release fake hormones can help put you in a kind of pseudo-state.”

“I’ve never heard of any of that,” Din said with awe. “I never knew such things existed. I guess that’s the benefit of living in such a big city such as this.”

Boba nodded. “It’s definitely one of the perks. I guess I can’t say for sure any of it works, but if merchants are making a living off of it it has to do something. Word of mouth works quickly around here, so if it was all druk we’d know about it, I think.” It did beg the question. “Do you even have regular heats? I mean…given your situation?”

“Kind of,” Din answered. “Most omegas can predict when their heats are coming. I can’t always. Sometimes my heats seem normal, other times it seems like they barely even happened. It’s not predictable.”

That sounded annoying and very inconvenient. “Do you want to go on suppressants? I know you said they were forbidden before, but you can go on them now, if you want.”

“Maybe,” Din contemplated. “It might make things easier, but if I’m mated, will it really matter?”

Of course it mattered. Being able to time your heat or your rut around jobs was crucial in their line of business. Suddenly going into cycle on a job could be a death sentence. “It’s your choice, Din, but I just thought it might be nice to have some control over your heats.”

“I’ll think about it,” Din promised.

They entered a shop that was full of all sorts of interesting smells. An omega human woman greeted them. “Welcome! How can I help you two?”

“Uh, we’re looking to mate soon,” Boba began. “Looking for supplies to make it easier. Neither of us are close to our cycle.”

The woman nodded and moved from behind the register to the shelves. “Congratulations! You’ll definitely need this honey milk salve. Great to put on your mating glands immediately after you bond. It’ll soothe the pain and lessen any bruising that would occur.” Boba took the jar from her and followed her to another shelf. “If you’re not in season, you’ll need some extra things to help you relax. Do you happen to have a true water shower or bath?”

“Shower,” Boba answered.

She grabbed a bag of tablets. “Place a few of these on the shower floor and let the aroma fill the shower while you bathe. It’ll help relax everything and kickstart your hormones. Finally,” She grabbed two candles. “Burn these in the bedroom, or wherever the mating is taking place. Artificial hormone smells. Of course, I would always advise that mating pairs that aren’t in season still copulate prior to mating. The natural hormones your body produces eases the process in conjunction with everything else.”

As little as Boba knew, he did at least know to have sex prior to. That was the first thing you always learned. “Thank you. We’ll take all of it.”

Smiling, the woman gathered all the items and took them to the register. “What about contraceptives? Are you trying to conceive?”

“Uh, no,” Boba coughed uncomfortably. “I’m on inhibitors.”

“Ah, ok, then,” she continued to smile casually. It was such a strange and personable conversation to Boba, but she probably talked about it all day long to everyone that came in. It probably was nothing to her. “That’ll be 135 credits.” 

Boba slipped her 150 and they went on their way. “Do you want to stop by the cantina?”

“Maybe not today after all,” Din said. “Without knowing how I’ll feel afterwards, I don’t want to take anything away from other hunters.”

That was fair, but Boba dreaded explaining to Jango why they didn’t pick up any bounties. Maybe he could just say they weren’t feeling up to it. Boba hated trying to pin it on Din, but if he said it was Din’s decision Jango wouldn’t question it. Then again, Jango would know exactly the reason the morning after. No amount of showering would hide that they had mated. Boba and Din’s scents would mix, and they’d smell unmistakably like each other.

“Are you scared?” Boba asked as they headed back to the apartment.

Din shook his head. “Surprisingly, no. I’m ready. I guess maybe I’m just a little unsure. I’ve never done it before. But I guess no one has ever done it before until they do.”

Boba silently prayed that his father wasn’t home when they returned, and by the Star’s mercy, he wasn’t. It was still far too early in the day to retreat to their room, have sex, and mate, though. And kriff, there was the matter of Grogu. Again. It wasn’t fair to keep shoving the kid into the bathroom while they had sex, but what else was he supposed to do? Announce to his father they were having sex, mating, and hand him over? Sounded like a horrible idea. 

At the end of the day, though, Jango returned. Even as Boba made dinner, he knew the best option was simply to confess to his father what was about to happen. There would be no hiding it the morning after, so why lie? Why try and hide it when Jango could make the process a little easier? Din was antsy. He’d set everything up in their room, but he was restless at the table. Jango surely knew something was up.

After dinner, Din retreated to their room. There was no other option. Boba needed to man up in more ways than one. “Dad. I need you to look after Grogu tonight.”

“I’m not here to babysit so you and Din can sleep with one another,” Jango immediately argued. “That’s for the two of you to figure out.”

It was a valid point, but this went beyond that. “Yeah, I get it, but I’m going to make good on a promise tonight.”

Now that had Jango straightening to attention. “You’re going to mate him.”

“Yes,” Boba answered. Sucking in a shuddered breath, he went on, “I know you this isn’t what you wanted. I know you’ve had doubts since the beginning. But I want to protect Din, Dad. I want to keep him and Grogu safe, and that means mating him so that Paz never can.’

“So you’d give up everything?” Jango questioned, challenging him. “You’d give up all your freedoms just to keep Din and Grogu safe?”

Licking his lips, Boba nodded. “Yeah. I would.”

“Good,” Jango whispered as he reached out a hand and brushed his fingertips across Boba’s cheek. “You’re right that I don’t like it. I still think the both of you are too young for this, but already I can see that perhaps it won’t be such a bad thing. You’ve made a lot of mistakes with Din, but I can also see you growing up. So while I never would have wanted this for either of you, every couple is different. Maybe it’s what you both need. I will watch Grogu.”

Letting out a huge sigh of relief, Boba nodded and retreated to his room with Din. Grogu was still at the temple, but they could ease their mind of him. Whomever returned him to their apartment would simply hand him over to Jango and that would be it for the night. 

Placing the salve on the nightstand and lighting the candle on the dresser, Boba turned to a nervous Din. “We can shower together, if you want.”

“Please,” Din nodded. 

Boba took several tabs out of the bag and set them in the corners of the shower before turning on the water. Almost immediately he could smell the calming aroma. It was nice and relaxing, just as it was supposed to be. He and Din left their clothes on the floor of the bathroom before stepping in together underneath the warm water. Boba held the omega close, already feeling a desire to protect him. Was the scent supposed to do that? Probably.  They kissed as their muscles relaxed under the spray, the scent wrapping its way around them like a blanket. 

By the time they dried off and headed to the bedroom, Boba felt a little like he was an in a rut high. The intended purpose, yes, but Boba hadn’t expected it to work so well. He could feel the possessiveness bubbling inside of him, and he had Din pinned down beneath him not long after they laid down on the bed. Their kisses were deep and heated as their limbs started to tangle with one another.

“Alpha,” Din moaned against his lips.

Oh kriff. Kriff. Boba was gone. That was it. It was all over. “Stars, Din, you can’t just say that.” Din ground his hips up against Boba in response. Dammit, he was done. Boba spread Din’s legs and shoved two fingers inside his sopping cunt, thumb pressed against the underside of his cock. “So beautiful, Din.” He worked two more fingers inside of Din, waiting until he was plenty loose and dripping around his hand before he lined up and sheathed himself inside. 

Din moaned loudly and wrapped his legs around Boba’s hips. His brown eyes were lost to black, affected by the scents as much as Boba was. Boba could have easily lost himself to the false-rut, but he remained in control and kept his thrusts steady. Trailing his kisses down the side of Din’s neck he reached the gland and breathed in. “Din.”

“Take me,” Din said, stretching his neck in offering. 

Boba was tempted, but he didn’t want to do it like this. Wrapping his arms around Din’s torso, he lifted the omega back as he sat up. Pulling Din into his lap, he looked up at the omega. “We do this together. At the same time.”

Din looked down at Boba with that same look he always seemed to have. Confusion. “But-,”

“No buts, Din,” Boba immediately hushed him with a palm to his cheek. “As mates, we’ll be equal. I won’t have power over you, and you will not have power over me. Whatever we do, we do together. Always. That includes this.

The omega’s eyes were looking into Boba’s soul again as he mimicked Boba with a hand to the alpha’s face. “Alright. Ok. Together.”

“On three,” Boba whispered, leaning forward until his nose brushed Din’s gland. He tightened his hold on the omega’s waist. Din followed suit. “One…two…three.”

Their teeth sank into flesh together. It hurt, but not as badly as he had expected. But it wasn’t the pain that caught him off guard. It was the sudden feeling of fullness. Fullness everywhere. Body and mind. He could feel Din. Around him. In him. There was now a second presence sitting in the back of him, a heavy but welcomed weight. An overwhelming sense of relief filled him, but it took him a second to realize it wasn’t his own relief. It was Din’s. 

“Thank you,” Din breathed, hot tears falling onto Boba’s skin. 

Blood coated both their lips, but Boba didn’t hesitate to kiss Din again as he fell back and grabbed the omega’s hips. While Din was on top of him like last night, this time, Boba was very much in control as he thrust up into him. It was an insane feeling. Boba could tell when he was hitting right and when he was hitting wrong. He could feel Din’s feelings. Kriff, was being mated really like this? A perfect insight into everything the omega was feeling and thinking at all times? Adjusting to the place Din liked best, Boba thrust up hard and Din shouted so loud he was sure his father must have heard. 

“B-Boba. A-alpha,” Din whined, tears falling faster down his cheeks. His head fell back and his chest glistened in the lights from the city with sweat. 

Digging his fingers into Din’s hips, Boba quickened and deepened his thrusts up into the omega. Lewd sounds left Din’s lips and before long Boba felt the contractions of muscles around him. With a strangled cry, Din’s cunt clamped down hard on his cock as he came with a tremble. Boba cursed at the tightness and bucked up a few more times before he, too, was cumming. He barely pulled out in time to keep his knot from locking. 

Din collapsed on top of Boba, and the alpha wrapped his arms around him. “Boba…I can feel you. I can feel you everywhere.”

“Yeah,” Boba acknowledged, feeling very much the same. “You alright?”

The omega nodded against his shoulder. “Better than I’ve ever been.”

They stayed that way for a long while, before the high from the shower and the waning candles started to wear off. Both of them were bleeding and covered in sweat and cum from the sex. Boba still couldn’t believe it felt like this. It almost made him wonder why he’d been so scared in the first place, but he knew that shared feelings wouldn’t always be like this. Shared feelings wouldn’t just be during sex, but when they were angry. When they were upset with each other. Boba wasn’t naive enough to think they wouldn’t have fights. They would. There would be times when sharing these feelings wouldn’t be so enjoyable. But that was part of being mates. The good and the bad.

“Think we need another shower,” Boba said as they rolled onto their sides and separated. “And we need to dress the bites.”

Din let out a few heavy breaths before nodding. “Yes.”

In the light of the refresher beneath the warm water, Boba could see how red and angry both their necks were. With everything wearing off, Boba was starting to feel the pain in full force, too. The skin started to throb uncomfortably. As soon as they dried off, Boba retrieved the salve and spread a healthy amount onto his and Din’s mating glands. The relief was thankfully instant. Dressing in just their pants, they settled onto the bed facing one another, foreheads gently pressed together as they got used to their new bond. Boba had felt terrified of this moment ever since he’d met Din, but now all he felt was peace.

“You’ve given me the one thing I’ve been wanting for years,” Din said, his voice barely above a whisper. “How can I ever repay you for all you and Buir have done?”

“You don’t, Din, because you aren’t in debt to us,” Boba replied. “Families are never in debt to each other.”

With a shuddered breath, Din melted against Boba. With reassuring words, Boba guided Din back onto the bed and curled against him. With the candles extinguished, the scent and sounds of the room returned to normal and the intense feeling of the bond began to settle into a hum. Once Din was soundly asleep, Boba carefully pulled away from the omega and stood. He stared for a good while at Din before eventually walking away out of the room to get a desperate drink of water. Boba didn’t even think about what time it was, figuring it was late enough it would be quiet. By the time his brain processed the glowing lights of an active holonet, it was too late. Jango had noticed him. 

Grogu was in his father’s lap fast asleep in a bundle of blankets. Janbo acknowledged him with a glance, but stayed silent. Pressing his lips together, Boba headed for the kitchen to pour a full glass of water that he gulped down in one go. He thought maybe, just maybe, Jango would let him return without a word, but that was too much to ask.

“How does it feel?” Jango asked softly to not disturb Grogu.

Sighing, Boba approached the couch so he could keep his voice soft. “Strange. New. It’s like that feeling you get when you know someone is watching you, except it’s now always there. But at the same time, I can feel what Din’s feeling. I don’t have to guess anymore. Hopefully, that means I don’t screw up again.”

“You’ll still screw up, Boba,” Jango told him. “Just because you can feel what he feels doesn’t mean you’ll understand it. But that’s normal. Couples aren’t perfect. There will be fights. Misunderstandings. The important part is how you react to it. You’ve shown me the last two nights that you can learn from your mistakes and do the right thing.”

Boba felt a sense of relief at the praise from his father, but it felt different knowing his father was in love with Obi-Wan. It felt hypocritical. “Dad…I just want you to know that if you ever found someone you want to love, I’d want that for you.”

Jango’s lips parted in surprise. “Boba…”

“I mean it, Dad,” Boba went on. “It doesn’t matter who they are. What they are. If you’re happy, I’m happy.”

Sucking in a breath, Jango looked away. “Thank you, ad’ika , but I don’t think that’s in the cards for me.”

Boba wanted to scream. He wanted to shout Obi-Wan’s names to the stars, but now was probably the worst time possible and what would it do? What would it accomplish? “Good night, Dad.”

“Good night, Boba.”

With a heavy heart, Boba returned to Din. Seeing the omega again almost immediately calmed him, and as upset as he was with his father, he relaxed and found peace pressed against Din. As upset as he was with his father, it was a realization and choice Jango would have to make. Just as Boba had realized he needed to be an alpha and follow through with his actions. Boba could do nothing more but be there as support. 

Losing himself to the feeling of Din again, Boba pressed a kiss to the omega’s temple and let out a satisfied sigh. Boba was now mated, and this was his life. Maybe it wasn’t so bad.

/*/

“There was no reason for you to come all the way here.”

“Oh I know,” Obi-Wan said as he and Jango watched Boba, Din, and Grogu from a distance. The young Padawan was showing off his new skills, floating a rock above him. “But I had to witness it for myself. Afterall, there is a wager at hand. Which, I’ve won, by the way.”

Jango raised an eyebrow. “It hasn’t been three weeks.”

“Actually, it has,” Obi-Wan argued with a small smile. “Three weeks and one day exactly.”

With a heavy frown, Jango pulled up the date on his vambrace. Three weeks and one day exactly, two days ago, when Boba and Din had mated. Stars. “Dank farrik, Obi-Wan. You used your Jedi powers on me, you sly silver-tongued womp rat.”

“I would never do such a thing,” Obi-Wan argued. “I may have seen the future through the Force in some instances, but this was not one of them, I swear to you. Lucky guess, is all. But now I have you for two months all to myself.”

With a heavy sigh, Jango had to acknowledge his defeat. He’d wanted to lose to Obi-Wan, but losing by a single day felt like a horrible loss. He’d wanted to lose by months. Years. Eternity, even. “A wager is a wager.”

“Why do you look so upset? They look fine.” Obi-Wan’s face then fell as he realized. “That’s why you’re upset, though, isn’t it? That they are fine. You didn’t expect them to be.”

“It’s been two days, Obi-Wan. Everyone is fine after just two days,” Jango argued firmly, though he could never remain angry at Obi-Wan for long, even if he was now two months in servitude to the Jedi. “Maybe I can admit that mating has been somewhat good for Boba. He’s started to take more responsibility for his actions.”

“You always did shelter him a little too much,” Obi-Wan said. 

Jango pressed his lips together, wanting to argue that fact, but it was true. He had sheltered Boba through the years. Boba could kill his way through an army, but when it came to life and relationships and surviving on his own, Jango had simply always been there. There’d been no need for Boba to find independence. Maybe Jango had done his son a disservice. “Well, you got what you wanted.”

“Jango,” Obi-Wan said sadly, folding his arms. “If it’ll make you that unhappy, please-,”

“Serving you has never made me unhappy,” Jango whispered. They locked eyes, and so many words went unspoken between them.

With a sigh, Obi-Wan nodded and looked back to the newly mated pair and their child. “I worry for them, Jango. Not for their happiness, but their safety.”

“So do I,” Jango agreed, the worry of a father growing ten-fold within him. “Din will know no peace until Paz is dealt with.”

“We’ve heard nothing yet,” Obi-Wan told him. “Anakin suggested sending a small squad to Nevarro to try and find him and monitor his actions, but I don't want to draw attention to ourselves. Clones will immediately tie Din to the Republic.”

“No, that was the right call,” Jango acknowledged. “Let him come to us.” They fell into a comfortable silence as they watched Grogu continue to display his skills. Boba’s face was full of light, and although Din wore his helmet, Jango could tell how proud Grogu’s father was of him. They looked like a real family despite being so young. “You won’t take Grogu from them.”

“I’ve told you time and time again that I wouldn’t,” Obi-Wan said. “Nothing’s changed, Jango. You know me to keep my word.”

He did, but he also knew the Jedi. “I just want to protect them.”

“I know,” Obi-Wan nodded, carefully placing a hand to the back of Jango’s arm out of sight. “And we will. I promise you. They’ve gone through a lot of changes in such a short time. Let’s let them get used to one another without the two of us looming over them, hmm?”

The last thing Jango wanted to do was leave his family alone, but Obi-Wan was right. Din and Boba needed to learn how to rely on and trust each other without the influence of him or other adults. That included the clones. Jango knew how close Boba was with Cody and Rex, but he needed to do this without them, too. “Alright, then. I’m at your beck and call.”

Obi-Wan smiled at him in a way only he could. “Well, since you’ve mentioned it. There’s a mission on Caryult where your talents could come in quite handy.”

Jango looked back at his family one last time. “I can’t just leave them alone, Obi-Wan. What if Vizsla…?”

“Don’t worry, Jango. I’ll have a few of Boba’s brothers at his side, always,” Obi-Wan promised. “They’ll never be alone. They’ll never be unprotected.”

That would simply have to be enough. “Alright then. Off to Caryult and a long two months.”

“It’s only long if you make it long,” Obi-Wan said, starting to walk off but looking over his shoulder slyly. 

Jango's heart thumped against his chest, and he followed Obi-Wan, even though it was likely to his doom. 

Chapter Text

They’d returned from Carylut after almost two weeks. What had been long back and forth negotiations failed, as Jango knew they would, and it had ended up in all out battle. Obi-Wan, despite all his efforts, must have known it would fail. Why else bring Jango along on a diplomatic mission? Because it wasn’t going to end up being diplomatic. Jango would have rather not wasted their time in the first place and just pulled out the guns, but that was far from the Jedi way. If there was one thing Jango and Obi-Wan disagreed on the most, it was how to approach conflict. Jango didn’t have the patience for negotiations. A trait he had unfortunately passed down to Boba tenfold. 

Jango had left behind the Slave on Coruscant for Boba and Din. He’d areed they could go on bounties, but only if they informed him all the details with frequent status updates. Once he had the details, Obi-Wan contacted Echo and Fives. The two had volunteered to be the young couple’s secret chaperones, keeping an eye and ear out for any Mandalorian activity. Jango knew his son would be furious if he found out, but if Echo and Fives accidentally revealed themselves, Boba would be a lot less likely to take it out on them then if it had been him or a younger Jedi like Obi-Wan had originally suggested. 

With a brief amount of downtime, Obi-Wan had returned to the temple and to Grogu to give him some one-on-one training. Jango had chosen to join him under the guise of wanting to spend more time with his new bu’ad . The truth was, it was so he could spend more time with Obi-Wan. As if he hadn’t been doing that enough the past two weeks…but this was more private. Alone. They were passing the rock between each other, but Obi-Wan was making Grogu hold various positions while doing it. The child didn’t always succeed - mostly he didn’t - but Obi-Wan was always encouraging and patient.

Boba’s questions loomed in the back of Jango’s mind as he watched Obi-Wan work with Grogu. While he had silenced Boba that night, Jango knew his son. He knew that he’d come back to it eventually, and he’d press. Boba was terrible at letting things go. The thing was, Jango didn’t really have any answers. Not good ones, anyway. Things between him and Obi-Wan were…unspoken, as it were. Spoken very loudly with emotions and looks, but never with straight words. How would that make him look, when he’d lectured his own son about speaking honestly and openly with Din? 

Once it seemed Grogu and Obi-Wan had gotten to a resting point, his bu’ad needing many of them with such a small body and mind, Jango dared to bring up the subject. It would likely go horribly, but he’d backed himself into a corner about it. “Tell me something. How is it you can be in such support of Anakin’s mission to change the Order’s ways, but you will not partake in the changes yourself?

“I don’t know what you mean,” Obi-Wan answered, keeping his attention on Grogu, though there was a change in his posture. 

He knew damn well what he meant. Two of them could play that game. He’d start small, then. “You told me once you thought you had a brother, though you make no attempt to contact your family at all. Even other Jedi that have been around nearly as long as you have gone back. Re-established contact. They’re happier, you know. Even I can see that.”

Rolling his shoulders up and down Obi-Wan sucked in a breath. “Yes. They are.” He avoided the point Jango was trying to make.

Jango just went on. “Many have even picked up romantic partners. A much harder pill for the Council to swallow, I’ve noticed, but the objections are quiet. I think perhaps they hope it’ll produce Force-sensitive children. I heard the last few attempts at finding others had resulted in the parents turning the Jedi down. No one wants to turn their children over in a time of war and after Order 66. It could have been so much worse, but it was still bad. They are too fearful.”

“Yes,” Obi-Wan agreed sadly. “Two in the last six months. That’s it. One of them is Grogu, who I’m not even sure really counts. It’ll be beyond our lifetime before he is capable of becoming a true Jedi Knight. Someone else will have to become his Master after I die, because I will not be able to see it through. Not for lack of want or desire, but I simply will not live to see it. Master Yoda is approaching 900 years old. Although you, Din, and Boba will always be an important part of Grogu’s life, we are all just a blip in it.”

“Then doesn’t it make you want to enjoy what little time we have left in this galaxy?” Jango asked, feeling his heart rate increase. Were his palms getting sweaty? Him? Honestly. “We think we have plenty of time, but watching my son already mate so early in his life made me realize there isn’t enough time. Many days I still wish he was young as the day he was placed in my arms on Kamino. But they grow up. Quicker than we’d like. If we aren’t careful, Obi-Wan, everything will pass us by.”

Pressing his lips together, Obi-Wan kept his eyes on Grogu as he picked up the rock again. Sucking in a deep breath, he blew it out with a quiver. “You have spent your life knowing love. You had your birth parents, then Jaster. Then you were given Boba. Now you have Din and Grogu. You know how to love, Jango. I do not.”

“That’s not true,” Jango argued softly. “Try as you might to deny it, you’ve always loved Anakin more than a Jedi of the old Order should. You, like Plo Koon, always promoted treating the clones as important individuals rather than expendable troopers. That is a type of love, Obi-Wan.”

Swallowing hard, Obi-Wan lowered his gaze and shook his head. “Those types of love are different, and I am old, Jango.”

“Are you saying old dogs can’t learn new tricks?” Jango asked with a small smile. “I beg to differ. Grogu is quite old by Jedi standards, isn’t he? In terms of starting training?”

“Well, yes, but-,”

“And he’s doing just fine,” Jango cut him off. “What’s the real reason, Obi-Wan? Don’t lie to me. You know you can’t.”

With a reluctant sigh, Obi-Wan returned the rock to Grogu’s hands and stood. With glossy blue eyes he turned and looked at Jango. “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

“You’re afraid,” Jango whispered. He always knew it to be the case, but at least now Obi-Wan admitted it openly. “You’re afraid of the dark side.”

Obi-Wan shook his head slowly. “We almost lost Anakin to it because of his fear of losing Padme.”

“But you didn’t,” Jango reminded him. “You didn’t. Love is painful, Obi-Wan. It always is and always will be. I loved my birth parents and siblings and lost them. I loved Jaster and lost him. Although Boba is still alive I’ve lost him, too. Mating Din means I am no longer the most important person in Boba’s life. That person is now Din. It has to be. But nothing worth feeling is without risk or sacrifice. Love is not without loss. You just come to realize the joy you feel when love is at its best is worth it all in the end. I would not give up any of the love I’ve felt even knowing I’d lose it all. You know that some of the clones in your service will die, but you care for them no less. ”

“Is it really all that simple?” Obi-Wan questioned, blinking away tears. 

Jango had always been a courageous man. He felt no fear in the face of death. It’s what made him the best bounty hunter in the parsec. A recognized name in the galaxy. But Jango had always feared his love for Obi-Wan, too, so he understood. But Jango had no fear of the dark side. He was already there in many regards. There was no Council to criticize or enact punishment for love. No. No longer. He couldn’t be afraid anymore. If he was going to lecture his children, he had to lead by example. Closing the distance between them, he reached up and placed a palm to the Jedi’s cheek. “Would it hurt any less, losing me, if you continued to stay away? Because you aren’t really staying away, Obi-Wan. An arm’s distance is only self-torture. For both of us.”

“It would not hurt any less,” Obi-Wan confessed with a quiver. 

Reaching up, Jango pulled Obi-Wan’s forehead down to his. “So then why are we doing this? Why are we continuing to dance around each other like there’s nothing here?”

“The Council will not like it,” Obi-Wan tried to object, though it was extremely half-hearted.

“Since when have you done anything the Council approves of?” Jango countered. “They never wanted you to take on Anakin, and yet you did. I doubt they wanted you to take on Grogu, and yet you did. And I was always supposed to betray you. They knew that, and they’ve never liked your involvement with me, but you keep me around, anyway.”

Obi-Wan squeezed his eyes shut. “What if it doesn’t work?”

“Then at least we can say we tried,” Jango said, rubbing his thumb against the course hairs of Obi-Wan’s beard. It was the closest they’d ever been. Would his words be enough? 

The Jedi shivered against his touch. “I…I don’t know anything.”

“I don’t care,” Jango told him earnestly. “I’ll help teach you. I don’t mind being patient with you, Obi-Wan. You’re so patient with everyone else, allow others to be with you.”

Obi-Wan tilted his head up slightly, nose brushing up against Jango’s. “Jango, I want to but-,”

“But what?” Jango argued, brushing their lips just barely together. “Give me one good reason, Obi-Wan.”

He let out a shaky breath. “The Council…”

Jango kissed his right cheek. “Stop mentioning the Council, Obi-Wan. Not a good answer.”

“The other Jedi, the clones-,” 

Jango kissed his left cheek. “Probably don’t care. Not a good answer.”

“...Fear leads to the dark side…”

“So then don’t be afraid. Not a good answer,” Jango went in for the lips, but he kept it soft and gentle, fingers just barely touching beneath the Jedi’s chin. He could back away easily if he wanted. Obi-Wan didn’t kiss back, but he didn’t back away, either. It wasn’t much for a first kiss, but Jango never bought into the whole idea of the first needing to be something grandiose. The best was always after you got to know one another. Once you figured out what each other liked and didn’t like. Jango pulled away, but kept his fingers on Obi-Wan’s face. 

Obi-Wan opened his eyes, and there was more spoken in those blue irises as they looked down at Jango than had ever come from the omega’s lips. “Jango, I-,”

Grogu let out a coo, reminding them both that he was still there.

With an amused scoff, Obi-Wan carefully backed away and made his way back to the kid and kneeled down. “He’s asking if we’re like Din and Boba.”

“A couple?” Jango questioned for clarification.

“Yes,” Obi-Wan confirmed.

Jango could feel his heart in his throat. “What did you tell him?”

There was a long pause of silence, and then Obi-Wan picked Grogu up in his arms and turned around. “I told him…we’re seeing how it goes.”

Jango let out the breath he’d been holding and closed his eyes with a relieved smile.  “Hopefully, he approves.”

“He’s just happy to have a family,” Obi-Wan told him, looking down at the small child in his arms and rubbing a thumb against his tiny green hand. “He feels safe here. With you. With Boba. At the temple. He’s also grateful for Din’s safety. I remember how scared he was for Din when we first spoke, unsure if we were friend or foe. There was so much fear and desperation.” Licking his lips, he looked back at Jango. “I have seen glimpses of the future, Jango. It is still very unclear to me, but I know that Din was brought here to us for a reason. Everything that has happened has set things in motion. There are still roles to be played. Big ones, perhaps.”

Jango didn’t need to have Force visions to know there was a reason for all of this. The fact that Din’s previous keeper - because that’s what he had been, a keeper of a prisoner - had been a Vizsla was enough to know this was fated. “Is it to do with the Mandalorians? The division?” Perhaps Din and Boba mating might be the first step in uniting the divided peoples. 

“I’m not sure,” Obi-Wan said softly with a shake of his head. “As I said…it is still very much a fog. We should get going. I’m sure Din and Boba are waiting on Grogu, and I imagine they’d like to spend some time with you before you’re off again.”

“They’re doing just fine on their own,” Jango argued. “It’s like you said…they need time to themselves. Send Grogu back with Cody. Boba would rather see him, anyways. I’d like to spend more time with you.”

With a huff, Obi-Wan smiled. “Don’t you think you’ll get sick of me, since you still have another six weeks of devoted service to the Republic?”

“We have over ten years to make up for, Obi-Wan,” Jango reminded him. “Six weeks would not do that time justice.”

“I suppose when you put it that way,” Obi-Wan agreed. “Alright. I’ll call up Cody.”

Cody gave them both a look, but he didn’t question his orders as he took Grogu from them. They then headed for Obi-Wan’s apartment. In all their years of knowing one another, and all the times Obi-Wan had visited Jango, Jango had never been to the Jedi’s place. It was rather impersonal, and almost like no one even lived there at all. 

“Not fond of decorating?” Jango asked as he looked around.

Obi-Wan shrugged. “Never had the time or desire, I suppose. I’m not home very often, and when I am, it’s for nothing more than to sleep. Sometimes I feel the beds on the cruisers are more home than this place. I do have this, though.” Obi-Wan opened a shelf and pulled out a bottle of red liquid. 

“Trandoshan ale,” Jango smiled. 

“I suppose I’ve always been saving it for a certain day,” Obi-Wan said, pulling out two glasses. He poured them and then extended a hand to the sofa. “How…will this work?”

“You speak like it’s a transaction,” Jango smirked, taking a sip and getting comfortable.

Obi-Wan fired him a glare. “You mock my ignorance.”

“Never. But you think too much about it. We aren’t Boba and Din. The feelings are already there. They’ve been there for a long time. We’re just finally allowing ourselves to feel them,” Jango explained. “This works by us continuing our lives just as they are, but now I can kiss you. You can kiss me. I can touch you and comfort you when you’re having a bad day. I’d like to say that it means I don’t have to hide my feelings for you any longer, but I know you won’t be comfortable with that right away.”

Expectedly, Obi-Wan let out a long and uncomfortable sigh. Jango could practically hear his thoughts. “I…will need time.”

“I know,” Jango told him, placing a hand against the omega’s knee. “And I will give it to you, but I will not wait in the shadows forever, Obi. I would be proud to call you my partner, if you let me. I expect the same from you one day.”

Obi-Wan placed a hand on top of Jango’s. “And you shouldn’t have to stay in the shadows, Jango. I know this. Truthfully, there are some that already suspect my feelings for you.”

“You aren’t nearly as good at hiding your feelings as you like to think you are,” Jango pointed out, not surprised there were people that saw it. “Cody?”

“Maybe,” Obi-Wan shrugged, “Though he has not said as much if he does suspect something. He never would, at least not to me. I am his superior, at the end of the day. No, it was Anakin. Though suspect is probably not the right word. He knew quite well it was you.”

No one was closer to Obi-Wan than Anakin. If anyone knew, it would be him. “And what did he say to you about it?”

“That fearing the Council wasn’t a good enough reason,” Obi-Wan mumbled, knowing how very familiar that sounded. “I know, I know, you don’t need to tell me.”

Huffing, Jango put down his glass and raised his free hand to the omega’s cheek, gently tilting his head to look at the alpha. “If you knew, then you wouldn’t constantly have to be told. What is the worst they will do, Obi? They can’t afford to remove you from your seat. There is no one to replace you. And even if they did, does that really hurt you? Would it change anything?”

“I suppose not,” Obi-Wan confessed. 

Jango brushed his knuckles against his cheek and then lowered his hand. “I have to admit, I never thought I’d convince you to give this a try with words. I thought I’d have to be lying in a pool of my own blood close to death for you to finally say something.”

“Do not joke about that,” Obi-Wan scolded him with harsh eyes, squeezing the alpha’s hand on his thigh.

Humming, Jango picked back up his beer and took a sip. “If I had not approached you tonight, would you have said anything, then? Or would we have continued to play this game?” 

Obi-Wan let out an annoyed sigh. “Well…I don’t think it would have taken you on your deathbed for me to say something. Perhaps just a bad injury or a particularly dicey situation where I did not think we’d make it out alive.”

They both looked at each other and then laughed.

“At least that’s honest,” Jango smiled into his glass. “Thank you, then, for taking a chance on us.”

The Jedi hummed and finally picked up his own glass. He stared at the liquid, swirling it around for a moment before finally taking a sip. “I suppose it’s as you said. Seeing what’s happening with Boba and Din has made everyone begin to rethink their priorities.’

“What was it you saw?” Jango asked carefully. “About Din and Boba?”

Obi-Wan tensed beneath Jango’s touch. “Jango…”

Sighing, Jango let it go. He knew how poorly the last Force visions had gone. “Right. Sorry.”

Obi-Wan pressed his lips together and clenched his jaw. “Force visions are bits and pieces that sometimes aren’t even in the right order or in a way that makes any sense at all,” he began.  “They are easy to misinterpret, and it’s easy to get so wrapped up in trying to change it that you become the cause. What I can say, without a doubt, is that Din and Boba were happy together. Other than that…I can’t say much. There’s still so much I don’t understand from it. I just know that Din is important, Jango. Beyond just being with Boba. I can’t say how or why. I just know it.”

The omega wasn’t lying, but Jango knew how to read people, and he knew how to read Obi-Wan. He wasn’t giving all the details, but Jango had to trust there was a reason. If he knew his sons were in danger - more than they already were - he’d say something. “You’ll tell me if there’s anything I need to do? Anything I need to know?”

“As soon as I see something I think you can help with, I will tell you,” Obi-Wan promised. “For now, I need to wait until I can put more pieces together. I know you want more, but please be patient, Jango. I’m asking this of you.” He laced his fingers with Jango’s. 

“I trust you,” Jango assured him. 

They shifted topics to less serious things. Trivial, really meaningless things, but they were important to Jango. They knew so much about each other, but knew none of the simple things. They stayed up past midnight just speaking. Smiling. Sometimes laughing. Jango had never heard Obi-Wan say so much. There was truly no turning back now. Jango wouldn’t be able to stay away. He loved this man. This omega. This Jedi. It would take some great act of betrayal for his feelings to change, and he didn’t believe it was even possible. 

“It’s getting late,” Jango finally commented, noticing Obi-Wan beginning to fade. “I should go.”

Obi-Wan watched as the alpha stood and bit his lower lip. “I know you are hoping that I’ll ask you to stay-”

“Obi, you’ve already given me more than I could have hoped for today,” Jango cut him off. “I know that would be too much too soon for you. Thank you for having me over.”

Smiling softly with thanks, Obi-Wan nodded. “Of course. Spend tomorrow with your family. I’ll let you know as soon as we are given our next assignment.”

“Do I at least get a goodnight kiss?” Jango dared to ask.

Obi-Wan stood and placed a hand to Jango’s cheek. “It won’t be good.”

“It’s good if it comes from you,” Jango argued, and leaned in. Obi-Wan wasn’t sure want to do or how to maneuver much, but Jango was there to help guide him and give him some confidence. “Good night, Obi.”

“Good night, Jango,” Obi-Wan whispered back against his lips.

Jango left, but he did not want to return home. He knew he’d smell of Obi-Wan and although Din and Boba were likely asleep at this hour, he wasn’t going to chance it. Plus, he didn’t want to interrupt things with them by being there in the morning unannounced. Jango didn’t think he’d sleep much anyway, the feeling of excitement still pulsing strong within his veins. Many places in Coruscant were open until the morning light. Putting down a few more drinks, he eventually rented a small room for a few hours. It wasn’t much, but Jango finally fell asleep with a smile on his face and warmth in his heart.

/*/

“You know, the thing about being mated, I can tell when something’s up whether you want me to know or not,” Boba started as he joined Din on the blankets and seating pillows that now made up the area by the window. After earning credits of their own on some bounties, they’d finally created a proper space for Din to enjoy. The blankets were a lot cheaper than the tauntaun blanket. Easier to clean. You know…just in case. They might have already tested them out a time or two. Din was holding his helmet between his hands staring at it. “This is like the fifth time I’ve caught you like this. What’s wrong? Something is on your mind. Talk to me.”

Din pulled his helmet to his chest. “Sorry. I just…I’ve felt like I’ve asked so much of you lately that I can’t ask anything else.”

“Din, come on,” Boba sighed. “I know Padme lectured you about this. Don’t make me do it, too. You’ve got to say what’s on your mind. If it’s too much, then I’ll tell you it’s too much. Let me make that choice.”

“Well,” Din looked down at his helmet, placing it in his lap. “I want to paint my armor.”

“Ok, so paint it,” Boba shrugged.

Din bit his lip nervously. “I want to paint it like yours. As is tradition.”

Oh, yeah. Now Boba was remembering that little part. Sucking in a breath, he thought hard about his response, avoiding the knee jerk reaction he usually gave. It wasn’t that Boba didn’t want Din painting his armor to match his, it was that he wanted the omega to paint his armor whatever he wanted. Not based on what some druk filled creed had told him he had to. “Armor colors are really personal to Mandalorians. They are part of who we are. The colors have to mean something to us.”

“Why did you choose the colors that you did?” Din asked.

Boba leaned back on his hands. “I chose green for duty because I felt it was my duty to follow in my father’s footsteps. To become just as good as him. To be a good Mandalorian. I chose red to honor my father, because he’s always been the most important person in my life. Yellow is for vengeance. At one time it meant vengeance against those that took the lives of my brothers, but it doesn’t only mean that, now. It’s vengeance for you. For Grogu.”

Placing his helmet on the blankets, Din slowly stood and walked over to the stand where Boba’s armor stood. His fingers gently grazed over the green breastplate. “Green for duty. I have lived my entire life around this word. Everything I have ever done in my life has been about my duty to the creed. I want to take the word back. I want my duty to be to myself. To my family.” His fingers then moved to the red vambraces. “Red, to honor a leader or parent. Jango is both to me, now. Both leader and parent. Despite not wanting me originally, he still took me in and has provided for Grogu and I. I will never forget what he has done for us.” Finally, he touched the yellow pauldrons. “Yellow for vengeance. Vengeance for me. For Grogu. For all the other omegas still within my covert that suffer. I think these colors mean something very personal to me, Boba.”

How was he supposed to argue against that? “Ok, then. I’ve got plenty of paint here, if those are the colors you want. There’s enough room out on the living room patio to do it. Don’t think the winds are bad today if we want to try.”

“Thank you,” Din let out a relieved breath and smiled. 

Getting to his feet, he passed by Din, placing a comforting hand to his shoulder as he walked by. “Come on. Grab your armor.” Going to the storage closet in the living room, Boba began sifting through the various weapons and ammo to the armor paint and grabbed what was needed. Honestly, his own armor could use a touch up. They could paint their armor together. Fresh colors. A fresh start for a fresh couple.

They started with their helmets, taping off the areas they wanted red while they painted green. It had honestly been a while for Boba. More of the natural beskar was showing through than paint at this point, it felt like. His father so rarely needed to paint his own armor, leaving most of it natural like Din’s had once been.

“Why does buir not paint all of his armor?” Din asked, as if reading Boba’s mind.

“To your clan, leaving armor unpainted simply is a status symbol of an omega that is unmated. In our culture, it is a symbol of mourning. Mourning a loved one or a family member. My father still mourns the murder of my ba’buir to this day. He feels himself responsible.”

“That’s a lot to put on yourself,” Din lamented.

Boba agreed. He wished he had known Jaster Mareel. The way his father spoke about him was so positive, and Boba knew he would have liked his grandfather, but it was not meant to be. “The blue is for reliability. I don’t need to tell you that you can always rely on my father.”

“I know,” Din nodded. “I feel like he should paint everything blue.”

Grunting, Boba smiled. “Listen, my dad is great, but let’s not go that far. He has his downsides.”

“Everyone does,” Din said. “No one is perfect. But I’m starting to realize that’s what makes us beautiful.”

Boba looked up from where he was painting and locked his eyes on Din. His soft curls were blowing in the gentle breeze and his brown was glowing. He looked happy. Nothing seemed more beautiful than a happy omega. They finished up the final layers of yellow, and then Boba pulled out the mythosaur stencil for his pauldrons. He was about to place it against his armor but then pulled back and handed it to Din. “Here. For your left pauldron. To match mine.”

“Really?” Din asked, hesitantly taking the stencil. 

“Of course I am. That symbol is for all Mandalorians,” Boba argued. “Doesn’t matter if you’re the Watch or a True Mandalorian. It belongs to all of us.”

Accepting that logic, Din placed the stencil against the pauldron and grabbed the red paint. “There. All done.” He set the paint down and stepped back to admire both their sets of armor. After a long moment of admiration, he stepped forward again and touched the sigil on the breast of Boba’s armor. “What is this? Both Buir and you wear it. Is it your clan sigil?”

“Kind of,” Boba began. “It was the sigil of my ba’buir. I guess that kind of makes it ours, now. I’d like to let you put on your armor, but it’s not mine to give.”

Din nodded. “I have to earn it from Buir. I understand. I’d like to learn more about him. About Jaster Mareel.”

“Well, Dad is the best person to ask about that,” Boba told him. “I’m sure he’d be really happy if you asked.”

Letting out a pleasant sigh, Din reached his hands up and stretched. He had started wearing his helmet off in more places, and his cheeks were getting sun-touched. Din smiled, closing his eyes as he tilted his face up to the sun. The omega had realized there was more to enjoy with the helmet off than on. “Do you think Buir is alright? Two months with General Kenobi. Someone he has feelings for. How do you think that’s going?”

“Man, if I could be a fly on the wall,” Boba laughed as he started to clean things up. “I don’t know, to be honest. I don’t really expect them to come clean and announce their love for one another, if that’s what you mean. I don’t even know how long it’s been going on. Obi-Wan has been in my life since I was a kid. Was it from the beginning? Or was it more recent? I feel kind of stupid for not knowing.”

“Buir seems quite private in that regard,” Din told him. “And he is the best beroya. Beroya are experts at hiding their feelings. At least, they are supposed to be.”

It was a subtle dig at Boba. “I never claimed to be good at hiding my feelings.”

“But you claim to be the second best beroya ,” Din argued with a smirk.

Boba huffed and smirked back. “Fair. I’m working on it. Better at it since you came around.”

“Are you?” Din questioned, raising a hand and pressing his palm to Boba’s face. He scratched the alpha’s nose. “You have paint on you.”

Boba nipped his fingers with his teeth. Stars, he loved this omega. Yes. He loved him. With every passing day he spent with Din, he couldn’t imagine a day without. “Come on. Let’s have lunch while our armor dries.”

They made lunch together. Boba had started to learn that Din knew his way around food, though getting used to more modern appliances had taken some getting used to. Without Jango around, Din had started to come out of his shell, feeling more comfortable just around Boba. Preparing a meal that had been traditional in his covert, Din set out plates and they ate. 

“I wonder if both of us having the same color armor hurts us or helps us,” Boba pondered as he ate. “Paz is on the hunt for someone in green, red, and yellow armor. But now there are two.”

“I would think it helps us,” Din said. “Paz would have been specific. A Mandalorian of green, red, and yellow armor with another Mandalorian whose armor is unpainted. They won’t be looking for two of us like this. It might throw them off. I also don’t have Grogu with me all the time, anymore.”

Boba hadn’t considered that. “They won’t be looking for a mated omega without a child.”

“Exactly,” Din nodded, though he started to poke at his food a little more tentatively. “Boba…you aren’t upset, are you? With me taking your colors?”

Laying down his fork, Boba lifted his eyes with a soft huff. “No, Din. I’m not upset. I’m happy that you’re happy. Stop doubting yourself.”

“I will always doubt myself,” Din sighed. 

“Not true. You don’t doubt yourself on the battlefield.”

“I do,” Din argued, “it’s just less so. No time to have self doubt when people are trying to kill you.”

Boba hummed as finished chewing. “I don’t know why you doubt yourself. You’re better than me out there.”

“So then that would make me the second best beroya ,” Din said with a completely straight face. 

Grunting, Boba shoved another large bite of food into his mouth, locking eyes with the omega in a challenge. “We’re mated. We share the title.”

“Well, I suppose if I have to share such an honorable title, I guess there are worse people to share it with,” Din said, full of deadpanned sass. He briefly returned to his food, and then glanced up with those dark eyes and those long lashes that would always flutter against Boba’s cheek when they kissed.

Boba couldn’t help himself. He was weak, remember? Dropping his silverware, he stood and rounded the island. Smashing his lips against Din’s he spun him around in his chair and lifted him up on top of the island, wedging himself between the omega’s legs. Din slid the food out of the way before grabbing Boba’s face and deepening their kiss. The omega had been a quick learner. He kissed better than anyone else Boba had ever been with, now, and it hadn’t taken long for him to start asking for things in the bedroom. Things that were more about him than Boba. Boba liked to think his expert mouth and fingers had a little something to do with that. 

“Boba,” Din whined, wrapping his heels together around the alpha’s waist.

Reaching for Din’s pants, Boba popped the button and shoved his hand down. Finding Din’s wet folds, he shoved two fingers in earning him an immediate moan against his lips. Moving his kisses off of Din’s mouth, he bit at the omega’s earlobe before sticking his tongue inside. Din let out a loud scream and his whole body shivered. Chuckling, Boba bit his lobe once more before kissing his way down Din’s neck to the healed mating gland. It was now permanently a darker color patch than the rest of Din’s skin and there were scars in the shape of Boba’s teeth. Boba carefully nipped at the skin, but even his gentle touches had the omega quivering against him. 

“Boba,” Din moaned again as he leaned back, bracing himself with one hand against the island top and another on the alpha’s shoulder. “Hurry up.”

“So impatient and needy,” Boba growled, though he caved without fuss, pulling Din’s pants down to his knees. Still kissing Din, Boba worked his hard length free from his own trousers and grabbed the underside of Din’s thighs to pull him to the edge of the island. Boba briefly cursed his lack of height - his father’s lack of height. A single inch shorter and he wouldn’t have been able to comfortably do this. Grabbing Din’s ass, Boba pressed his lips to the omega’s once more and sunk inside of him. Din’s heels dug into his lower back encouragingly as he groaned loudly and Boba started to move. 

Din buried his fingers in Boba’s black waves and pulled hard as he bit at the alpha’s lower lip. “More.”

“More what?” Boba breathed against his neck. “Use your words, Din.” With an annoyed growl, Din squeezed his thighs around Boba. Kriff, how was that so hot? Din could kill him. He could literally kill him right here in the kitchen with his thighs and Boba wouldn’t even be angry about it. “T-that’s…that’s not using your words, though I think the message is clear.” Digging his fingers into crevices of Din’s hips, Boba gave a rough and powerful thrust up into the omega. 

Crying out, Din’s hand connected with one of the plates and slid it across the island before it eventually fell over the edge and onto the floor. Oops. Thank the stars the plates were made of metal, and it just made a mess of food. Finding a pulsing vein in Din’s neck, Boba sucked hard with purpose, wanting to leave a mark. Letting out a pleased sigh, Din’s hand finally loosened and dropped to Boba’s neck, nails grazing against his skin. It was Boba’s turn to shiver. Kriff, how could Din make him feel this way in the freaking kitchen of all places? 

Boba bit at the edges of Din’s jaw as his thrusts quickened in pace. “Din…my Din.” Din grabbed one of Boba’s hands and shoved it between his thighs to his small cock. Chuckling, Boba wrapped his fingers around it. “Really not a fan of using words, are you?” Boba came before Din, but he was a good alpha. He didn’t stop until Din was satisfied. “Din…you alright?”

“Yes,” Din breathed, eyes closed as let his head fall back. 

Boba couldn’t help but bite at the exposed neck. Several dark bruises were already forming. “Good.” Carefully pulling out, Boba stuffed himself back inside his pants and untangled his limbs from Din. Picking up the plate as he worked his way back to the sink, he threw the dish to one side and turned the water on as he reached for a kitchen towel. Soaking it and ringing it out, he returned to Din and cleaned between his legs and the insides of his thighs. “Do you know how many times I’ve fucked someone in my kitchen?” Boba leaned up and kissed Din.

“Never?” Din answered. 

“Never,” Boba echoed. “You make me do crazy things, Din Djarin.”

“Mm, like rescue a near dead omega and his kid from a planet without knowing the first thing about them? Like promising to mate said omega without even knowing their name? Like - oof!”

Boba threw the rag at Din’s face. “Yes, like all of that.”

Smiling, Din pulled it off. “I’m glad I make you crazy, Boba Fett.” He hopped off the counter and pulled up his pants before tending to the mess on the floor with the rag. 

They worked on cleaning the kitchen from both food and bodily fluids, exchanging kisses along the way. Boba wondered how he could have ever been afraid of this. Maybe it was only because it was still new, but being alone for the last few weeks without his father hadn’t felt scary. It felt natural. Boba secretly wondered when it would all begin to change, but he tried not to think too much about it. Enjoy the good while they had it.

After another few hours had passed, they retrieved their armor from the porch, now dry, and set them back on their stands. It seemed a little surreal seeing Din’s painted armor next to his. They were now the same colors, but Din’s armor was still uniquely his. It wasn’t an exact copy, like Boba felt it might seem like. Man, Fennec was going to give him so much kriff next time they saw each other. 

Jango showed up unannounced at twilight when Boba and Din were settled in on the couch watching holonets. He brought Grogu. “I’m only here for a couple of days. Anything exciting happen?”

Boba watched as Din happily took Grogu, the two exchanging silent words with one another through smiles. “Not really. Took some bounties. Got some credits. Painted our armor.”

“Painted your armor?” Jango lifted an eyebrow. “Din painted his armor?”

“Yes,” Din answered, pulling Grogu against his chest and brushing his knuckles across the child’s head. He looked nervous suddenly. 

Boba placed a hand on his thigh. “Din painted his armor the colors he thought meant the most to him personally. Just so happens, it matches mine.”

“Imagine that,” Jango commented, completely unsurprised. “Have you all eaten?”

“Not yet,” Boba answered. “We kind of need to go to the market, but we can probably scrounge something up.”

“Actually, I was thinking we go to Highcloud,” Jango told him.

Boba’s eyes lit up. He loved Highcloud, but it was more on the fancy side. Not as fancy as Skysitter, but Jango and Boba could actually go to Highcloud without earning several unwanted stares. Anyone that wasn’t a high ranking official was unwelcome at Skysitter. “Really? You paying?” Boba had spent most of what he’d had on Din lately. Not that he regretted it one bit, but it didn’t leave much for a meal at Highcloud.

“What, low on credits?” Jango teased. “I thought the two of you had completed three bounties since I was gone.”

“Yeah, well, two of us means more food and more…stuff,” Boba shrugged, purposely being dismissive. He didn’t need to go into details on the additions to their room or the big deposit he’d put on the jetpack he still didn’t have for Din. Yet. He’d be damned if he didn’t get that thing. “Grogu also eats a lot.”

Jango hummed, not buying it, but also not asking further questions. “Yes, I’m buying. Din? Would you be alright going out?”

Din had been wearing his helmet less, but he still hadn’t spent much time in public without it. A quick trip here and there to the Marketplace only because it had started to become familiar and safe. The omega looked hesitant, but he eventually sucked in a confident breath and nodded. “Yes. I think I can do it. Grogu can come, right?”

“Of course Grogu can come,” Jango answered. “They actually have wonderful squid and fish. They’ll serve it live if you ask. Plenty of other species like to eat it like that.”

Dressing in the nicest clothes they had - which was really nothing more than clean shirts and pants - they left the apartment and headed to the nicest part of the district. Din kept close to Boba, wrapping an arm around his and pressing their sides together. It was busy, and a lot of people were out. He could feel how uneasy Din was, and he tried to comfort him through their bond. It helped, until they actually made it to the restaurant and were seated. The menu and atmosphere was obviously overwhelming.

Boba already had one hand laced with Din’s in their laps, but he reached across with his free hand and lifted Din’s chin with his fingers. “Hey. You don’t need to hide, here. You’re alright.”

“Sorry,” Din apologized, but he kept his chin and his gaze up.

Whild Din was able to pick something out to eat, he’d never really had much to drink in the way of alcohol. Boba picked out a nice red wine, taking a guess. Din didn’t seem the ale type like his father. Initially, Din seemed unsure, but it wasn’t long before the glass was emptied. Grogu loved his live food, perhaps a little too much. Din had to scold him when the food began to fight back. 

Boba and Jango spent almost every moment with each other, but this was the first time he’d really felt like they were a true family in a long time. They traded stories of their recent adventures, Din loosening up enough after a couple of glasses to join in the conversation with that dry sense of humor of his. Boba’s cheeks hurt from smiling so much. He wondered when this would all end.

“What’s wrong?” Din asked after he settled Grogu into his hammock. “You were happy, but now you’re not. You’re worried about something.” 

Boba let out a long sigh. “I’m still happy, Din, but I’m just wondering how long it’ll last. Paz is still out there. Your covert is still searching for you.”

“Maybe,” Din sucked in a breath and placed his head on Boba’s shoulder, “maybe they won’t find us. Maybe Paz will give up.”

The alpha let his head rest against the omega’s. “You don’t believe that.”

“No,” Din confessed sadly, “but you taught me to hope. We hide as long as we can, and when the time comes, we face Paz together. Right?”

Boba kissed Din’s nose. “Well, we’re mates now, which means we share everything. That includes titles and problems, apparently.”

“Jerk,” Din playfully shoved him away, but Boba pulled him back against him.

Looking at their armor displayed next to each other, now matching colors, Boba realized just how important all of this was to him, now. “Din…I don’t know why you did, but thank you for trusting me with you.”

“Well…I’m not sure I did, to be honest,” Din confessed, pulling away from Boba slightly. “I mean, I do now, but when I put all of that on you, I was just desperate. Scared and desperate.”

“Yeah, but do you think you would have asked any alpha to do what you asked me?” Boba countered. It was an honest question he wanted an answer to. “I mean, if it had been my dad, or some other alpha…would you have asked them to mate you?”

Din was surprised at the question, lips parting. “I…don’t know. I guess it’s hard to say without having actually been in the situation, but I feel very strongly I would not have asked your father to mate me. He scared me. I certainly didn’t feel safe with him.’

“But you felt safe with me?”

Licking his lips, Din captured Boba’s gaze. “Safe? No. But you were the first alpha I’d ever met that seemed to care anything at all about an omega in distress. I took a chance. A blind leap of faith. Boba, why are you asking all of this?”

Because maybe, he was starting to buy into Padme’s fairytale a little too much these days. “Don’t worry about it,” he pulled Din in to kiss him and began to settle beneath the covers. “Just thinking too much. Did you have fun tonight?”

“Yes,” Din answered, pressing himself to Boba’s side as the lights began to dim. “Thank you.” Now comfortable in bed, they both fell into a silence until Din randomly said, “I wouldn’t have mated your father.”

Boba choked on a cough. “Yeah, well, good. I’m glad. That would have been weird.”

“Ok, well…just making sure you know.”

Shaking his head with a smile, Boba squeezed Din to him. “Good night, Din.”

Din hummed against Boba’s skin and buried his face into his chest. 

Chapter Text

Boba picked up the tracking fob and bounced it a few times in his hand. “This the one you want?”

“Yes,” Din nodded as he grabbed the puck and pocketed it. 

Alright, then. This was the bounty they were going for. “Great. Let’s get going.”

“Fantastic!” The guild master beamed. “I look forward to your return!”

Grunting, Boba ignored him and walked off with Din. “Sarafur, huh? That place is a desolate desert. I guess a good spot for someone who is on the run.”

“Probably thought they might be safe in a sea of sand and ruins,” Din commented. “But a tracking fob doesn’t care about desolation.”

No, it sure didn’t. “Well, hopefully that means it’s quick and easy. Not many places to hide, there.”

“No, but it’ll be easy for them to get the high ground on us,” Din pointed out. “I wouldn’t expect it to be as easy as you think.”

Maybe not, but then again, Boba was always up for a little fun. They could handle anything together. Loading up Slave I , they set course to Sarafur. Boba sent his mandatory transmission to his father letting him know where they were going as well as the puck information just in case. “First bounty out with you looking like me.”

“There’s enough differences,” Din argued, though his eyes began to dart between their armor and Boba could feel the doubt and sudden worry.

“I’m just playing with you,” Boba told him, placing a hand on the omega’s knee. “Doesn’t matter even if it was the exact same. As long as it makes you happy.”

Din placed his hand on Boba’s and sat back in his seat, looking over at the alpha curiously. “You spend so much time asking about what makes me happy, but what makes you happy?”

“I’m honestly a pretty simple guy, Din,” Boba shrugged. “Good food, good drink, good bounties. That makes me happy. Having a pretty hot mate isn’t so bad, though.”

Kicking Boba with his foot, Din shot him a glare, but he kept his hand on top of Boba’s.

“Ow! What?! Am I not allowed to call you hot?”

“You aren’t taking my question seriously!” Din huffed.

“I was!” Boba argued. “I mean it. I don’t need much, Din. I’m pretty content with very little.”

“You’re content, but that’s not the same thing as happy,” Din said.

Sighing, Boba looked at the stars through the glass as he really thought about what made him happy. He was plenty happier, but what could make it better? “I do like good food and drink. I think that’s pretty essential in one’s happiness. My brothers make me happy. I like spending whatever time I can with them. You make me happy. But as far as things go that I don’t already have? I dunno. I’m free, Din, and I guess at the heart of it that’s what makes me happy. Freedom. An apartment I don’t share with my dad?” Boba had always lived with his father. Always. He’d never given any thought to not living with his father until Din. Now, maybe, it was a little inconvenient.

Din smiled. “Your own ship? So you could always be free?”

“That too,” Boba nodded with a small smile of his own. “I love the hell out of this ship. We’ve been through a lot, but it belongs to my dad and something of my own would be nice. Something of our own.”

Din laced their fingers together. “I’d like a ship. I don’t know about our own apartment, though. Maybe not yet. I’ve always lived with other people. Paz and I had our own room, but everything else was shared by the covert. Somedays I already feel like it’s too quiet. I know it might be kind of weird to hear, but I don’t like silence very much. It doesn’t have to be much, even just the hum of a ship, but complete silence scares me. At first I was so overwhelmed with the busyness and noise of Coruscant, but I like it now.”

“Well, if the noise ever gets boring or you just want something different, they make white noise machines for that kind of thing,” Boba told him.

“It wouldn’t bother you?” Din asked.

Boba shrugged. “I can both simultaneously sleep through anything and wake up at everything. It’s a very special talent.” Din huffed and smiled in a way that made Boba unlace their fingers so he could reach up and thumb the corner of the omega’s mouth fondly. “Just whatever you do, don’t choose the sound of rain.”

“I like the rain,” Din whined softly. “The type of rain we got on Nevarro was usually just volcanic ash, and I never got to hear anything underground with the covert. But you said Kamino was always raining, right? I guess maybe if I’d grown up with the constant sound I wouldn’t like it, either.”

Pressing his lips together, Boba clenched his jaw and contemplated voicing something he’d never even confessed to his father. “It’s not that I just hated living on Kamino, it’s that it’s a reminder of a dark time. A lot of druking kriff happened back then. Things that if had gone differently could have been so bad. Very bad. Everything would have changed. I don’t even know if I would still be here, and if I was, I’d be a very different person.”

“What kind of things?” Din asked, leaning in towards Boba to show his full attention.

Boba let out a low laugh. “Where to even begin? Well, turns out, the clones were all an undercover Seperatist plan all along. When they were made, they all had a chip put into them that would make them turn on the Jedi and kill them. Order 66, they called it.”

“Did it…happen?” Din asked, the furrow of his brown deepening in thought.

“Oh yeah,” Boba answered. “But, somehow Dad found some kind of override and told Obi-Wan about it right before it happened. They weren’t able to stop it completely, but it was before everything went to full kriff. A lot of Jedi were still killed before the override could be implemented and the chips removed. And that’s not even all of it. General Skywalker was almost manipulated by Senator Palpatine who turned out to be a Sith Lord - a bad Jedi - into also turning against the Order.”

“Is that why you don’t like him?” Din questioned, putting everything together in his head.

Boba grunted. “I just don’t like Jedi in general, but yeah, I dislike him even more because of it. I don’t think Jedi are bad, but I think they are fake. They parade around the galaxy fighting wars in the name of peace, but they aren’t any better than any other politician trying to get a leg up out there.” Sighing, he leaned forward against the control panel. “I’ve never talked to Dad about it before because it always seemed like something he didn’t want to talk about, but I’ve always kind of felt like he was a part of it all. That the reason he got the codes was because he was in the middle of it.  I mean, yeah, Dad is the best of the best of bounty hunters, but why him specifically to use as the blueprint for clones? Why would the Separatists use him if he wasn’t working for them all along?”

“It would make sense, given what you’ve told me,” Din reluctantly agreed. “But if that were the case, in the end, he chose to side with the Jedi.”

“And that’s the piece of the puzzle I was always missing, until now,” Boba sighed and folded his hands together. “He changed sides for Obi-Wan. Stars, Dad has had feelings for Obi-Wan for a decade.”

Din leaned forward and placed a hand on Boba’s back. “Do you think Obi-Wan knows?”

“He has to, right?” Boba asked, feeling like it wouldn’t make sense otherwise. Jango had criticized Boba for falling in love in such a short amount of time, but Boba found it equally as ridiculous that he’d be in love with someone for ten years and say or do nothing. “Can you imagine? If things had gone differently? If Dad was working for the Separatists and General Skywalker would have turned, who knows? I could have been working for him. What a freaking thought, huh?”

Din sucked in a sad and shuddered breath. “Well…I know that I’d be dead in a ditch on Nar Shaddaa if that were the case.”

“I would have still found you,” Boba told him softly, looking at Din with eyes full of promise. “I would have found you. Our stories would have been different, but we’d still be together somehow.”

Closing his eyes, Din’s lower lip trembled slightly before he swallowed and opened his eyes again. “I thought you didn’t believe in all of that?”

“Druk off,” Boba told him, giving his shoulder a hard shove.

Din allowed himself to be shoved, but he was smiling warmly. “I like to think we’d find each other somehow, too.”

Landing just outside what small town they could find on the planet, they loaded up their gear and began following the tracking fob. The town wasn’t even that. Just a centralized place for treasure hunters and likely fugitives hiding away. The negative way so many reacted to his and Din’s presence gave way to the fact many here were criminals. 

“Oh, look. Sand, sand, and more sand,” Boba sighed as he began scanning the horizon with his binos. “Got three sets of ruins that I can make out. What’s the fob saying?”

Din held it up and waved it around slowly. “Looks like it’s pointing southwest.”

“That would be,” Boba held up the binos once more and then pointed, “that one. I think.” He pocketed the binos and stood up, brushing off the sand. “Alright. Let’s go see if we can find some speeders in this crap hole.”

Boba led them back into the small town - or whatever it was - and they began to ask around. The alpha couldn’t help but get this feeling the more they began to question the locals. There was this itch at the back of his neck. A bad kind of itch. “Something feel off to you?”

“This whole place feels off to me,” Din answered.

He couldn’t argue that. “Yeah, but…I don’t know. Be careful. I don’t have a good feeling all of a sudden.”

“Alright,” Din nodded. 

Eventually, they found a lead to speedbikes. Boba handed over the credits and started to feel a little less suspicious, even though that tingling was still there. They were just about to mount the bikes when that tingle turned into a full on burning sensation and Boba was reaching for his pistol and firing. His shot was deflected, and Boba was suddenly facing down six men. One was a Duros he knew very well. Too well. Cad Bane.

“Boba Fett,” Cad hummed before giving a sharp-toothed grin. “You know,” he kept his hands by his sides and his weapons as he took a few steps forward, his clothing jingling with each step. “When I heard about a bounty for a Mandalorian, I wasn’t too interested. Mandalorians are troublesome. Too troublesome. But then…but then! I overheard the description. Mostly green armor with red and yellow. Oh, I knew that armor. I knew.”

Boba clenched his jaw and tightened his hold on his pistol. Din had drawn his, too, but they were very outnumbered and trapped in an alley. 

“The only problem was, by the time I tracked you back to Coruscant, you were with an omega that didn’t fit the description. I was told they’d have unpainted pure beskar, but that wasn’t the case. I thought maybe I was wrong, but then I thought, then I thought,” Cad grinned. “Little Boba Fett had gone and mated someone else’s omega.”

“He was never anyone else’s omega!” Boba hissed. 

Cad laughed. “I waited around a few days, but once I saw the little gremlin the Jedi have claimed, I knew I was in the right place all along.” Cad clucked his tongue in a tsk. “You shouldn’t take things that don’t belong to you, Fett.”

“Well, if you’ve been watching us as long as you claim, then you should have realized that Din and I are mated, which makes him mine,” Boba growled. “Paz Vizsla’s claims are false.”

The Duros shrugged. “He still pays. I imagine he’ll pay even more after he learns of that little fact. If not, I’ll charge extra for turning over the alpha that stole an omega and made him his own. If he doesn’t pay, I’ll still have fun enough torturing you myself.”

Boba began to analyze how they could take them and come out alive. Kriff, he wished they could actually communicate words through their bond. Din was ten steps ahead of him, however, and he fired off his whistling birds taking out four of Cad’s men. Boba quickly shot the other two leaving only Cad himself. Cad turned on his heel and began to run. Din sprinted after him.

“Din, wait!” Boba called after him. Boba knew what Cad was capable of. Din didn’t. “Din! Stop!”

“He knows us! We can’t let him leave alive!” Din shouted back, continuing his pursuit. 

Kriff! Boba quickened his pace after the omega. Several of the villagers tried to stop them, but he and Din made quick work of them as they continued on. Boba knew Cad. He wouldn’t have just come with six men against them like that. He’d have something else prepared. There’d be more. “Din! Wait!”

They followed Cad just outside of the town into a valley between several sand dunes. Cad suddenly turned around with a smirk. Something was wrong. This was a trap. It was a trap! “DIN!” 

Cad threw down a bomb and everything went white around them. Boba cursed loudly as he reached for his head and his ears even though his helmet was already there trying to protect them. All of Boba’s senses seemed out of sorts and he felt himself start to stumble. Growling in frustration, Boba tried to gather himself, but then a blanket of something engulfed him. Within seconds, a surge of horrific pain overtook him. Screaming, Boba collapsed to the ground, a net of electricity bound him to the earth. It was a horrific pain, and he quickly realized they were trapped. They’d lost. Boba tried to reach out a desperate hand to Din, but Din was on the ground blanketed in the same electric net. He could feel his mate’s distress through the bond and it was horrifyingly painful. Boba had never felt such pain and fear in his life. 

“I’ve got you now, Boba Fett,” Cad Bane laughed as he gave Boba’s body a kick through the net. “You’ve gotten real easy since finding yourself an omega.”

Suddenly, the sounds of blasters filled Boba’s ears. Cad cursed, but Boba could hear him retreat. Some sort of battle was going on around them, but who? 

“Fives! Hurry!”

“Hold on, I’m on it!” As electricity wrecked through Boba’s body, he felt a comforting presence near him. “Hold on, little brother. We’ve got you.”

The pain was the worst thing he’d ever felt, and he reached out a desperate hand towards Din. Din wasn’t moving and Boba began to get frantic despite the pain he was feeling. He couldn’t feel him through the bond anymore. “Din! Din!”

“Shh, baby brother. Din’s alright. You’re alright. Easy. Echo!”

“Give me a minute! These things are complicated!”

Boba was still frantic despite the comforting words, but the pain was too great. He felt sick, and then he felt his vision begin to go black. Boba remembered reaching out for Din one last time before he completely passed out. 

/*/

Boba woke up with a horrible headache and an uncomfortable tingle still running through his veins. Groaning, he ran a hand down his face and carefully sat up. Blinking his eyes open, he saw Fives first and then Echo. Stars, he was safe. He was with his brothers. But, “Din-!”

“Easy, brother. Right there,” Fives nodded his head to the right.

Looking over, Boba saw Din laid out on a bed resting. Letting out a long and relieved sigh, Boba ran a hand through his hair. They’d almost been captured. They’d almost found themselves in the arms of the enemy. Din would have woken up on Nevarro with his previous mate, and Boba would have likely been tortured to death. Kriff. How had this happened? Boba was better than this. “I almost got us captured.”

“Don’t beat yourself up, kid,” Fives told him. “Bane has caused trouble for plenty of us.”

Of course Boba was going to beat himself up, though. It was his responsibility to keep Din safe, and he’d failed. He should have expected Cad Bane to come for them. He was the best next to him and his father, and it shouldn’t have been a surprise Paz had hired him. “What were you even doing there?”

“Looking out for you,” Echo answered. “Fives and I have been following the two of you on your bounties since your dad went off with General Kenobi.”

Boba let out a small string of curses, but he couldn't be too angry about it. They’d saved them. He’d get pissed off at his father over it later. “Thank you…”

“Cad Bane is bad business, Boba,” Echo sighed. “You’ve been found.”

Yes, Boba was well aware. Kriff. Kriff! With a shuddered breath, Boba really realized how bad this all could have been. He could have lost Din to his previous mate. Forget the pain and suffering Boba would have gone through, Din would have been a prisoner once again. Boba felt sick. 

“Hey,” Fives knelt down so that he was on Boba’s level and placed a hand to his shoulder. “Sitting here feeling sorry for yourself won’t solve anything. Everyone in this room has made a mistake out there. Important thing is, we’ve always had someone watching our backs. Thank your lucky stars, figure out how to not let it happen again, and move on. Din’s counting on you, so don’t let this haunt you. Get past it.”

Sighing, Boba nodded, knowing his brother was right. Grunting, he got to his feet and stumbled over to Din’s bed through the pain. Kneeling down, he pressed a palm to the omega’s face. That familiar press of Din in the back of his mind had returned through the bond, and he let out a relieved sigh. That brief moment where he’d lost it had been one of the most frightening things he’d ever experienced. “Din…hey. Hey. Wake up.”

Din’s face scrunched up and he moaned. It took a little more coaxing from Boba, but he finally sprung awake with wide and fearful eyes. Boba immediately went into reaction mode, hushing him and caressing his face in his hands. 

“Hey, hey, hey!” Boba tried to get in front of Din’s vision so that he was all the omega saw. “You’re alright! You’re on a Republic cruiser! We’re safe! Din, you’re safe!”

The omega’s eyes began to fill with tears. “I thought- I thought he had us.”

“I know,” Boba pulled him into his chest. “I know, but you’re alright. My brothers came to the rescue. We’re fine.”

Din still felt afraid. Boba could feel it through their bond. He was just glad he could feel anything through their bond again. A few seconds later their situation could have been very different. “Thank you,” Din whispered with a shuddered breath and a nod towards Echo and Fives as he clung to Boba.

“Hey. You’re family, now,” Echo told him. “We’ll always be looking out for you.”

Boba was eternally grateful for his brothers, but he couldn’t help but focus on his mate’s fears. His terror. “Din,” he pressed their foreheads together and brushed a thumb against the omega’s lower lip. “I’m right here.”

“I know,” Din acknowledged, but Boba could see a few tears fall. Boba wiped them away.

“Thank you,” Boba said again to his brothers. Both of them looked a little uncomfortable, like they didn’t belong in here witnessing such affections between a mated pair.

“We should give you two a moment, but you should know your dad is here,” Echo told him. “General Kenobi and Skwyalker, too. Some Mandalroians showed up as well.”

Boba frowned, and Din pulled away slightly. “Mandalorians?”

“Bo-Katan,” Fives told him, not beating around the bush like his brother was. Echo glared at him, and he just shrugged. “We’ll be outside when you’re ready.”

Echo and Fives left, and Boba fully climbed into the bed with Din. Adjusting his legs, he threw Din’s over his thighs and tugged him in by his waist so they could sit facing each other. Boba reached up and brushed away a curl. “It’s ok to really cry now, if you want.”

“I feel like I’ve done enough of that since meeting you,” Din huffed.

“So? I wanted to cry after waking up,” Boba confessed. “Thinking about what could have happened if Fives and Echo hadn’t been there. If they hadn’t been in the room, I would have.”

Din leaned in and pressed his forehead to Boba’s. “What do we do now?”

“I don’t know,” Boba admitted. “So much for painting your armor being a help.”

“It was only a matter of time,” Din whispered sadly. “I told you that Paz would not let me go.”

Boba clenched his jaw. “I don’t get it. All of this to try and get back someone he didn’t even want. Say he got you back, then what? It doesn’t change anything.”

“It’s not about wanting me, it’s about me being his property,” Din said. “You stole something that was his. Paz has always been prideful. The tribe would see it that way, too. That you took me from them. It doesn’t matter if I can't provide children or be a proper mate.”

The whole thing was so messed up. “Well, there’s always one person I can count on to know what to do when I don’t - Dad. Let’s go see what he thinks and why the hell Bo-Katan showed up.”

“Can we just sit here for a few more minutes?” Din asked hesitantly.

Boba nodded. “Yeah. As long as you need.”

Lowering his head, Din pressed his cheek to Boba’s shoulder. They stayed like that and held onto each other, eyes closed just listening to each other breathe. Boba wasn’t sure how much time ultimately passed. It didn’t even matter. He would have stayed there all day if he’d needed to to make Din feel better, but ultimately Din did pull away from Boba and untangled their legs so he could stand. 

Din grabbed his helmet but didn’t move to put it on. Instead, he simply pulled it to his chest. “I’m ready.”

“Alright,” Boba got off the bed and grabbed his own helmet. Fives and Echo were waiting outside the room as promised, and they started their way down the hall towards the bridge. “Is it just me, or do you still feel a tingle from those kriffing nets?”

Din flexed his hands around his helmet. “I definitely still feel it.”

“They were a pain and a half to disable,” Echo grunted. “Haven’t seen something like that used much, but it was clearly effective.”

“Yeah, well, like hell he’ll get the jump on us like that again,” Boba growled, grabbing Din’s hand. Echo and Fives exchanged amused glances. Boba glared, “What?”

“It’s just kind of nice seeing you like this,” Fives answered.

“Like what?”

“Vulnerable,” Echo answered. “You always were one to wear your emotions on your sleeve, but those emotions were always just rage, impatience, and annoyance.”

Boba huffed, but felt his cheeks grow hot. “That just makes me sound like an asshole.”

“Well-,” both clones echoed simultaneously.

“That was rhetorical!” Boba quickly snapped. 

Both clones laughed.

“It’s not a bad thing you’ve softened up a little,” Fives told him. “Means you're happier. But you keep him in check, Din, and don’t be afraid to tattle on him to any one of us.”

Din smiled softly and squeezed Boba’s hand. 

The bridge was full of people. Jango, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Ahsoka, Cody, Rex, Bo-Katan, some other clones, and a handful of other Mandalorians Boba didn’t know. The princess’s entourage he guessed. All eyes turned towards them, interrupting the conversation at hand. 

“Boba! Din!” Jango sprinted towards them and pulled each of them into an arm. With a relieved sigh, he hugged them close. “I’m so glad you’re both alright.”

Bo-Katan sucked in a breath and looked Din and Boba over. “So this is him. I see you forced him to take your colors like a member of the Watch.”

“I didn’t force him to do anything!” Boba growled defensively, ready to start a fight if it weren’t for his father’s firm hand on him holding him back.

“Stop,” Jango hissed into his ear. 

“I chose to take his colors,” Din said, lowering his gaze among so many alphas and other Mandalorians in the room, but his tone was firm. “No one forced me to do anything. It was out of honor and respect for my mate.”

“Listen, I recognize there are many Mandalorian issues here that could be discussed, but let’s stick to the one that’s the immediate threat,” Obi-Wan interjected, trying to keep the peace.

Bo-Katan reluctantly nodded and looked to Boba. “My clan has been running into all sorts of bounty hunters lately looking for a Mandalorian of your description. Of…Din’s description. I don’t think Din’s covert expected him to find an alpha and take his colors, but it didn’t seem to fool Cad Bane any.”

“Boba and I have a long history with Cad Bane,” Jango growled unhappily. “It’s of no surprise he was able to find us. I knew he would not give up on Din, but sending out a bounty to other hunters is cowardly and weak. If he is any bit a hunter, he should be able to do it himself.”

Bo-Katan snorted. “I think that part is less to do with Din and more about Boba. Your son has personally offended a Vizsla, and I don’t need to tell you what they are capable of. Your clans are making it a habit of pissing each other off.”

“I don’t understand why you are making my family’s problem your problem,” Boba said. “Vizsla isn’t looking for you.”

“Because all of this just goes back to the greater problem,” Bo-Katan told him. “The fact that our people are still in a civil war. Din is a Child of the Watch and has chosen to switch sides.”

“We aren’t on your side,” Jango argued. 

One of the other Mandalorians stepped forward, “So your actions have made very clear. The two of you shouldn’t even call yourselves Mandalorians.”

“Alright, please,” Ahsoka immediately stepped between the two sides as everyone in the room tensed, ready to step in and fight. “I know this is not what anyone here would have wanted and we have all certainly had our differences, but like it or not, we are all now involved in this.” 

“Ahsoka is right,” Anakin said. “I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again - take the fight to them. We know they are on Nevarro.”

“That’s a great way to start an all out war, sir,” Rex chimed in.

“The war never ended,” Bo-Katan said, “but with Mandalore laid to waste, there wasn’t much worth fighting over.”

Fives grunted and pushed a fist into Boba’s back.  “Guess that’s changed now, hasn’t it? Look at you, little brother, out there rekindling wars.”

“Maybe Master is right,” Ahsoka said. “Cad Bane knows Jango and Boba live on Coruscant. We no longer have the upper hand.”

“They don’t have the strength or numbers to start a battle on Coruscant,” Cody argued. “We’ll put Fox and the Coruscant guard on high alert.”

“They don’t need numbers,” Ahsoka argued. “I was there when Cad Bane managed to infiltrate the Jedi library.”

Obi-Wan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I do not like it, but the time of trying to hide Boba and Din is over and sitting back and waiting for them to come no longer benefits us. I suppose we were lucky to have gone two months as it is unnoticed.”

“What would the True Mandalore do?” Bo-Katan asked, giving Jango a hard look.

Jango gave her an equal glare back. “I don’t want a fight here anymore than you do. I just want to protect my clan. With that being said, we have enough people here that can go and be a show of force without the intent to attack.”

“You want to negotiate?” Obi-Wan asked in surprise.

“No. I want to threaten them,” Jango responded.

“Oh, well, that at least sounds more like you,” Obi-Wan sighed. “And if that goes south and it turns into a fight?”

Jango raised an eyebrow at the omega. “Then we fight.”

“Our covert didn’t allow many Mandalorians to leave the covert at once, to minimize being discovered,” Din spoke up. “If we fight, we’ll be fighting everyone.”

“You will not be fighting,” Jango told him. “You and Boba will stay here. Bringing you would be the exact thing that would start a fight.”

Boba let out an unhappy huff and clenched his free hand into a fist. Din squeezed his other hand, and he knew the omega was just as unhappy about being left out of the fight. “So what, we just stay here?”

“Yes,” Jango answered simply. “Din, how many Mandalorians are there in your covert?”

Din shrugged and shook his head. “Forty, give or take, but that includes Foundlings and the omegas who do not hunt, though they can and will still fight. We also lived in a series of tunnels. It’ll be easy to get cornered. You’ll need me to help you.”

“Could you draw a map from memory?” Jango asked.

“I think so,” Din nodded.

“Then we’ll manage.”

Anakin couldn’t help but smile. “Sounds like a good time, then.”

“Oh, yes, this has you written all over it,” Obi-Wan sighed once more. “Alright then, I suppose we’re setting course for Nevarro. We’ll get close to orbit and then take the Slave. Cody, Rex, you two will be in charge here and back us up if everything goes south. Taking clones would only stir up trouble. More trouble, I should say.”

“Sir,” they both nodded.

Bo-Katan sucked in a breath. “I hope you all know what you’re doing.”

“And what would you do, Princess?” Jango questioned. “Wait until you find the Darksaber so you can try your hand at uniting our peoples and restoring Mandalore again? It worked out so well for you the first time.”

The female alpha stepped forward with harsh green eyes. “If you hadn’t given up your claim in the first place -,”

“Enough!” Obi-Wan bellowed, using the Force to separate them. “Enough…please. We need to work together for this work. Go prepare yourselves.”

With one final glare, Bo-Katan turned and she and her Mandalorians left the bridge.

“Well, that was fun!” Fives piped up, trying to ease the overwhelming tension in the room.

Obi-Wan began to mess around with the control panel in front of him. “Quite. Din, here. You can use this to draw out the tunnels. Is there a way to find the covert?”

“Yes,” Din nodded as he approved the panel screen and started to draw on it with a finger. “There are markings only a Mandalorian helmet can see.”

“Dad-,” Boba began, but Jango immediately cut him off.

“You aren’t coming, Boba. It’s not up for negotiation. But be on your guard, even here on the ship. We never know who is watching.”

“But-,”

Sighing, Jango turned to face his son and grabbed his shoulders. “Your job is to protect Din, Boba. Going to Nevarro would be the exact opposite of that. You both have already put your lives on the line in the last 24 hours, don’t do it again.”

Boba knew his father well enough to recognize the subtle jab in his words. He’d messed up on Sarafur and put him and his mate in danger. Accept it, realize your mistakes, move on. That’s what Fives had said, and that’s what he had to do. “Alright. Ok.”

“There,” Din said as he finished. “I think that’s it. If you follow the markings, that should bring you to this entrance. There’s an emergency exit over here.”

Jango placed a pleased hand on his back. “Thank you, Din. Are you alright?”

“Not really,” Din confessed, leaning into Jango’s touch instinctively. “I just want all of this to be over, but it may never be over.”

Jango gave Din’s arm a comforting squeeze. “It will end. One way or another. But you’re alright after Sarafur? No injuries we couldn’t see?”

“I’m alright, thank you,” Din nodded. ”Just…tired. Mentally.”

“Why don’t we get something to eat,” Boba suggested. “We haven’t had anything since Coruscant. Might make you feel better.” Din nodded and Boba grabbed his hand. “Come on, babysitters. No need to hide in the shadows this time.”

All of the clones followed.

/*/

Obi-Wan was a mix of all sorts of emotions. He was worried for Din and Boba. Fearful for Jango and Anakin and Ahsoka on this endeavor. Stressed over the tensions mounting between Mandalorian factions. Anxious over the parts of his vision becoming true. Cody was in a frenzy about Din’s armor, and Obi-Wan had to remind him they still had time. Din’s armor still lacked Jaster Mareel’s sigil, and there was no Darksaber. Din was also very much not pregnant. He would have been able to sense that. But things were progressing, there was no doubt about that.

“You are a menace, you know that?” Obi-Wan said as Jango entered the room. “You and Anakin have aged me thirty years, honestly.”

Jango leaned up against the wall opposite Obi-Wan and smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to cause trouble.”

“Oh, I know,” Obi-Wan sighed, pushing himself off the wall and closing the distance between them. “It was inevitable with everyone together like that.”

Reaching up, Jango tucked a piece of hair behind the Jedi’s ear. “You aren’t happy about my decision.”

“No,” Obi-Wan confessed, “but I do not see another option. You know I would choose peace and talk above all else.”

Jango ran a thumb across the omega’s lower lip. “And that is part of why I love you, though I don’t know why. I don’t think negotiations work and I don’t believe that peace is truly obtainable, yet you still fight for it.”

Obi-Wan allowed himself to be kissed. Each one was getting a little longer. A little deeper. He was becoming more comfortable. “Without hope, what is there?”

“I suppose I’ve never thought about it honestly,” Jango admitted. “But I guess I was always secretly clinging to hope that you would take a chance on me.”

The Jedi huffed in amusement and blushed slightly. It was still so hard for him to be open with his emotions like this. “Remind me never to get you and Anakin in a room together again after that.”

“You have a type, that much is clear,” Jango said with amusement. “Chaotic. Impulsive.”

“You’ve grown less impulsive through the years, but chaotic certainly describes you both,” Obi-Wan smiled. “You did pass that on to Boba, however. I see so much of you in him.”

Jango laughed, “Well, he is my clone.”

“Beyond that,” Obi-Wan chastised. “The clones all are still their own, with their own personalities. They only took on your physical traits. Boba, however, is really a clone of you. The real you.” They kissed again. It became a little too much for him, and he had to change direction. “How are they? After everything?”

Jango allowed him to pull away, though they remained just barely touching. “I can tell Boba is angry at himself. Letting Bane get to them will be on his mind for some time. I know he’s also mad at me for sending a watch party, but he’s wisely saving that discussion for another day. Din is scared, and I don’t blame him. This rattled him, but he’s grown stronger. More confident. With each passing day he’s speaking up a little more about what he needs. What he wants.”

“Boba was good for him, and him for Boba,” Obi-Wan said, knowing very well Jango wouldn’t readily agree.

And he didn’t. Jango sighed and took a few steps away from the Jedi. “They are very much still in the honeymoon phase. What happens when that ends?”

“What if it doesn’t?” Obi-Wan argued. “It’s been well over ten years since Anakin and Padme began seeing each other beneath my nose and they are very much just as in love as they were the first day. Have a little faith, Jango. A little hope. It would do you some good.”

Jango kept his back turned for several moments before eventually turning back to Obi-Wan. “Do you have faith this will work out on Nevarro?”

“You were born to lead, Jango. Even if you don’t want to accept it,” Obi-Wan told him honestly. “I am behind you. I will follow you to whatever end through this.”

Swallowing hard Jango closed the distance between them and nuzzled their noses together. “Hopefully I don’t disappoint.”

“Jaster taught you well, Jango. You know what you’re doing. Trust in it.”

“As long as you trust in me,” Jango said, caressing the side of Obi-Wan’s neck.

“I do,” Obi-Wan breathed against his lips. “So are you ready for this?”

“As ready as I always am,” Jango answered. “Let’s go then.”

Obi-Wan nodded. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Text

“This has to be by far the craziest thing I’ve ever done, Jango,” Obi-Wan sighed as they made their way into town. 

Anakin raised his hood next to him and placed his hands in his sleeves. “Nonsense, Master. Remember the time-,”

“I said the craziest thing I’ve done, not that you’ve done,” Obi-Wan cut him off. “We all know you like to live on the edge of death, Anakin.”

This was probably the craziest thing Jango had ever done himself. Jango wasn’t a talker, but this entire idea was predicated on talking. The whole point was to avoid fighting, which was the only thing Jango was good at. Three Mandalorians were certainly already drawing attention. Jango had only allowed Bo-Katan one of her entourage, as they were already pushing it with their current party. But it was night, and the people that walked the streets at night knew better than to question the things they saw. It often landed them in trouble they’d rather not be in. It was like an unspoken rule in the shadows. Especially because they would know Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and Anakin were Jedi. They thought they were hiding something by simply raising a hood, but people weren’t dumb. Jedi robes were always recognizable. 

Approaching the buildings Din had described, Jango activated the scanners on his helmet and began searching for the hidden mythosaur logos on the walls that would lead them to the tunnels. “There, the alley on the left.” As discreetly as six people could, they rounded the corner into the alley as Jango led them to the tunnel entrance. 

“I should lead,” Obi-Wan suggested, stepping in front, a hand gently brushing against the back of Jango’s arm. “I can wave them off if they are few in number. At least until we find who we are looking for.”

“I’ll pick up the rear and catch anyone who tries to hit us from behind,” Anakin said. 

Jango nodded. It made the most sense, and he trusted Obi-Wan to guide the way. “Everyone ready?”

“Ready to go straight into the lair of our enemy?” Bo-Katan huffed. “How bad could it be?”

“Well, we’re about to find out,” Ahsoka said, smiling slightly at Anakin who returned it in kind.

Obi-Wan let out a shuddered sigh as he prepared himself, and Jango pressed a small hand of encouragement to the small of his back. The Jedi tilted his head to the side in acknowledgement of his touch. The door slid open, and they began their descent into the darkness. Jango didn’t turn on his light, not wanting to draw greater attention to themselves. There were lowlights that lit the tunnels. It wasn’t much, but it would have to be enough. The first junction they came to, a Mandalorian came from the left. Jango watched as Obi-Wan waved his fingers.

“Keep going,” Obi-Wan instructed. The Mandalorian obeyed. Once he was past, Obi-Wan turned down the left tunnel according to Din’s instructions. 

They continued to pass Mandalorians, but it was usually just one or two and no more. The Jedi took turns either instructing them to ignore them or walk in another direction. Jango was under no illusion that he could do this without them. Obi-Wan was the only reason - the only - that he could march into the enemy’s lair like this and hope to come out the other side. But the closer they got to their mark, the place Din indicated Paz would most likely be, the more Mandalorians they ran into. It became four, and Obi-Wan and Ahsoka’s dismissals didn’t work. Jango was ready to pull out a weapon, but Anakin brushed past him and he felt the power of the Force in the air as Anakin used it. Anakin froze all four as they moved past and then with a powerful wave of his hand sent them back.

“That was close,” Bo-Katan breathed.

“A little too close,” Ahsoka agreed. 

“We better hurry. They didn’t want to be influenced, so it won’t be long before it wears off and they’ll come running,” Anakin said.

They were close to where they needed to go. Jango could see a bright light coming from a room and the sounds of a forge. Din said the armorer’s room would be the best place to go. That had to be it. “Come on. This way.” Jango gently pressed past Obi-Wan to take the lead.

The room ahead was indeed the forge, a female Mandalorian clad in gold armor at work. There was another Mandalorian standing against a wall, but neither made any move to attack Jango and the others despite very much knowing they were there. Jango tilted his head and watched for a moment as the armorer worked. 

“Jango Fett,” she eventually said as she placed a piece of armor into the forge. “Once Mand’alor of the True Mandalorians. Now servant of the Jedi and the Republic.”

Jango clenched his jaw together, but tried to remain relaxed. Neither the armorer nor the other Mandalorian present had reached for any weapons, so he had to do the same in kind. “I am a servant to no one. I am paid for services and follow the code my father before me created.”

“Paid for services rendered to the Jedi,” the armorer reminded him. “Enemies of the Mandalorians.”

Obi-Wan took a step forward. “That conflict is of the past. We are not here to be anyone’s enemy. We want peace among everyone.”

“And yet, you walk into our home uninvited and harbor a stolen omega from us,” the armorer argued, though she kept her eyes on her work and her muscles never tensed with aggression. She didn’t seem bothered at all by their presence. “The Jedi speak of peace and respecting the traditions of other cultures, but you show no respect for ours with what you have done. An omega is property within our tribe.”

“We do respect other cultures,” Obi-Wan argued, “and we are here in an attempt to make peace, but you almost had Din Djarin killed. His alpha wouldn’t even mate him and was the one to have him attacked on Nar Shaddaa. To me, that is very much a forfeit of said property. If Din had wished to be returned to you after we healed his injuries, we would have made sure he’d been brought back to Nevarro. But Din did not want to return. In fact, he willingly accepted the protection of another alpha to avoid having to return here.”

That caused the armorer to finally pause. She pulled the melted armor piece from the forge and turned her head. “Din Djarin has taken a mate?”

“Yes,” Jango answered without hesitation. “My son, Boba Fett, has bonded with Din. A true bond shared by them both. That puts him under the protection of Clan Fett. The Foundling Grogu is included in that protection.”

Slowly, the armorer turned her attention to the melted metal and set it atop the anvil. With her hammer, she began to shape it. After a few turns, she paused. “Din is happy?”

Jango was caught off guard by the sincerity of the question. Her voice had gone soft as she asked it. It was as if she actually cared. She had made no attempt to attack or call reinforcements. Did she care? Maybe she could help Paz Vizsla see reason. “He is respected as a Mandalorian in our clan. His secondary gender doesn't matter to us. He is allowed to hunt alongside us, and even lead should he choose. The bond between him and my son is a mutual one, where neither has power over the other. It is equal. I have not directly asked Din the question if he is happy, but he openly calls me buir and has thanked me for the kindness I have shown him as well as the protection I’ve provided. Can you say the same for those within your tribe?”

“I received thanks from Din Djarin because I was the only one who ever tried to protect him.” She turned the piece of armor and continued hammering it. 

The group exchanged looks and Jango waited for her to come to a pause in her work. So she did genuinely care. “Who are you?”

“I am the armorer,” she answered simply, “but I am also the mother of this tribe.”

Mother!? She was but a beta! That title typically went to the head omega. She must have been very powerful and respected to earn that title as a beta. “What relationship did you have with Din?”

“I had hoped to be able to take him under my wing as my apprentice,” the armorer answered. “His condition was known prior to his claiming tournament. I assumed - and wished - that no one would show up to his tournament and that I might take him unclaimed. Unfortunately, that is not what happened. Does your son know of this condition?”

“He knows,” Jango answered, “and he does not care. Din’s inability to have children does not reduce his value as a Mandalorian. As an omega.”

The armorer went on shaping her current piece for several more seconds before speaking again. “He is safe with you.” It wasn’t a question. Jango wasn’t sure what to make of her. “But I wonder if Din has revealed all of his secrets to you and your son.”

At that moment, the four Mandalorians Anakin had barely managed to wave off came storming in with weapons raised behind them. Bo-Katan and her guard raised their weapons. The Jedi remained poised, but they were ready to act. Jango didn’t care about them, he was too focused on what the armorer had just said.

“What secrets are you talking about?” Jango asked.

“Ones that could greatly affect his health and the bond between him and your son,” She answered vaguely. “The Foundling. He is safe?”

“What secrets-,”

Obi-Wan cut him off with a squeeze to his bicep. “He is safe. We discovered he was Force-sensitive, and he is now a Padawan under the Jedi Order. My Padawan.”

“Then he has been returned to his people. This is the Way.” 

Jango wanted to know about Din. What else was wrong with Din?! But he knew he would get no more answer out of this woman. He’d simply have to address them with Din when they returned. “Where is Paz Vizsla?”

“On his way, I have no doubt,” she answered him. “Jedi will not protect you from his wrath, Jango Fett. You and your son have stolen what belongs to him. What belongs to this tribe. The fact that he is now mated makes things worse. Far worse.”

“Din no longer belongs to Vizsla,” Obi-Wan argued, “if you can even say he ever did considering there was never a mating mark. He is now mated to someone else. What good would reclaiming him do? Just leave Din and Boba alone and lay this to rest. Please. No blood needs to be shed over this. We can all walk away with our lives.”

“This is the Way,” she answered simply before returning back to her task at hand. She did not want bloodshed, but her opinion didn’t matter and she knew it. 

Moments later a group of Mandalorians came marching in with weapons raised led by a large man clad in blue armor that matched the description Din had given of Paz Vizsla. Bo-Katan and her guard no longer knew where to point their weapons as they became fully surrounded. The Jedi tensed up on guard, hands lowering to their sides ready to act, but no lightsabers were drawn yet.

“I would hope, Jango Fett, that if you had the gaul to march yourself into my home, that you would have brought your son and my omega with you as offering,” Paz hissed. 

Jango opened his mouth ready to respond, but Obi-Wan stopped him with a hand to his elbow. “We do come with an offering, Paz Vizsla. One of peace, but it does not include Boba or Din. We want to negotiate -”

“Silence, Jedi!” Paz spat. “There is nothing to negotiate! Return my omega to me and surrender Boba Fett for the crimes he’s committed, or there will be war!”

Feeling the anger build within him, Jango stepped past Obi-Wan and went toe-to-toe with Paz despite the severe height difference. “Listen to me closely, Paz Vizsla. Din stopped being your omega the moment you had him beaten almost to death in an attempt to bring him to submission. Din is now not only under my protection, but the protection of the Republic and the Jedi Order. As is the Foundling, and now Jedi Padawan, Grogu. The moment you sent Cad Bane after my son and Din, you became an active enemy to all of us. Call off the bounties and leave my sons alone, and we can all go our separate ways without any more unnecessary bloodshed.”

Paz took the last step forward to completely close the distance between them. He was a towering presence over Jango, but the alpha did not flinch or step away. “We have always been enemies to the Jedi, and we have always been enemies to your Mandalorians. Nothing has changed.”

“We don’t have to continue down this path,” Bo-Katan interjected. “We don’t have to be enemies. Please. We want to come to an agreement here.”

Paz grunted. “You are nothing, princess, without the Darksaber. Your words are meaningless.”

“You would be going against the entire army of the Republic,” Anakin spoke up. “Hundreds of thousands of clones would be against you. The Jedi Order would be against you. All over one omega that doesn’t even wish to be with you? Rethink this, please. All you have to do is let Din go, and all of this will be behind us. It’s a simple request.”

“Your army does not scare us!” Paz exclaimed, refusing to back down. “You do not scare us!”

Enough of this. Negotiation would get them nowhere. “Din is mated to my son, Vizsla. It was a willing and mutual bond. You can no longer stake any claim to him, and I am no longer asking you to let this go. I am telling you. We know you and your tribe are here on Nevarro. We know how to get to you. Are you prepared to relocate your entire covert and likely lose many lives in the process? The lives of Foundlings? Just let this go. I’m sure there are plenty of other omegas that would be more than willing to mate with the tribe alpha. Call. Off. The Bounties.”

“I could crush you right here and right now,” Paz growled, pressing himself against Jango. “I could kill all of you.”

“With a Republic fleet just waiting to come down on you in orbit?” Jango questioned. “I suppose you could, sure, but you would not make it out alive, either. Not a single one of you would survive. Not the Mandalorians or your Foundlings. Is that what you want?

Paz raised a hand and pressed his index finger to Jango’s chest. “I want my omega and your son. That is the only thing that will make this right.”

“How will that make things right?” Bo-Katan asked. “Din is mated to another alpha.”

Grunting, Paz lifted his chin and sucked in a breath to make himself seem larger. “A superior alpha can override the mark of another.”

Dank farrik. Paz thought he could null and void Boba’s mark! Over Jango’s dead body. Other than death, nothing was more painful for a bonded pair than another alpha trying to override a bond. “I will personally kill you if you so much as look at Din again, let alone try and override his bond with my son.”

Paz reached for Jango’s throat which finally did lead to lightsabers being drawn. “I look forward to it.”

“Our people have suffered enough. A war is the last thing we need,” the armorer finally spoke out. “Perhaps it would be wise to accept the loss of Din and move on. There is nothing to gain from his return.”

“I will not accept it!” Paz growled, silencing the woman. “I have named my terms, and we are prepared for war! Mandalorians are always prepared to fight!”

“Are your people willing to fight this war for you?” Bo-Katan countered, nodding her head towards the armorer. “Because it doesn’t seem like it.”

Paz squeezed Jangos’ throat harder. “Din. Is. Mine.”

“He’s not,” Jango countered, remaining calm despite the hand around his throat. “But I am more than happy to fight this battle with an army of thousands at my back. I will protect my sons with my life. If you want a war, Vizsla, I am happy to provide. Our clans can settle our differences once and for all.”

“Bring me Din and Boba, or I will have them brought to me,” Paz ordered one last time before releasing Jango with a shove.

“No,” Jango told him firmly. “We will never give them up. Understand that, before you decide to follow through with your pursuit and put the lives of your tribe at risk. You’ve been warned. Next time, we will not come peacefully.” Turning his back, Jango began walking away.

“I am begging you to reconsider this foolishness,” Obi-Wan pleaded, still trying so desperately to find peace and resolution in all of this. 

Jango looked over his shoulder at the omega. “Obi…”

Squeezing his eyes shut and swallowing his sadness and disappointment, Obi-Wan gave up and turned to join them. The Mandalorians let them go, but they followed behind them to make sure they left. 

“Well, I won’t say that went well, but we all made it out alive,” Anakin commented with the tunnels and covert behind them.

Ahsoka sighed sadly. “The other Mandalorians do not want this fight, but they will follow him into it.”

“It’s suicide, I don’t understand it,” Bo-Katan huffed. 

“The Watch has always been about pride and war. Sense was never part of their creed.” Jango said as he marched forward, but he noticed out of the side of his eye how Obi-Wan began to fall further behind. Stopping, he turned. “Obi-Wan?”

The omega looked distraught. “They’ll die. All of them. There’s now way they can win this. Paz is putting all their lives on the line for his selfishness.”

Sighing, Jango walked up to the Jedi. “We will not launch an all out assault on the covert, Obi-Wan, and even if we did, we would protect and save the Foundlings as best as we could.”

“We would rehome them,” Bo-Katan promised. “They’d be safe.”

“This fight is with Paz, and I will try and keep it as contained as I can,” Jango continued, “but if his Mandalorians do choose to follow him into battle over this, then I will act accordingly.”

Obi-Wan lowered his gaze, and Jango so desperately wanted to openly comfort him. To take off his helmet and press his lips to his while whispering that everything would be alright. But people were watching, and he knew Obi-Wanted still wanted their secrecy. “I’m just so tired of fighting, Jango. Why must everything result in fighting?”

Kriff, his protective instincts were going insane, but he had to fight the urge to display them. “We’ll figure this out. Din and Boba can join me helping you for a while. It’s best if they don’t stay on Coruscant. We try to wait them out by sending their hunters on a chase, defeat them as they come, and maybe in the end there will be no one left willing to come but Paz. Then, we can end this once and for all.”

“And how long will all that last?” Obi-Wan asked.

“Probably a while,” Jango admitted sadly, “but it’s better than the alternative.” He didn’t like this any more than Obi-Wan. He and his family were about to be uprooted from their home for months. A year. Who knew? Din had just started getting comfortable, and now he had to leave. So many sudden changes in a homestead in such a short period of time wasn’t good for an omega. Jango wondered sometimes if that added to Obi-Wan’s own stress. A ship could be a home, Jango knew that well enough with Slave , but it wasn’t the same. Both Din and Obi-Wan deserved to have a place of comfort they could always come back to. 

“We should hurry…,” Anakin interrupted them, but it was with reluctance. 

Swallowing hard, Obi-Wan nodded and brushed past Jango. Little was said on the ride back. Jango could smell Obi-Wan’s distress, and he had to keep his hands on the controls to distract himself. The omega seemed somewjat better once they stepped off onto the Republic cruiser, but Jango knew he was just putting on a front in front of his troops. He didn’t want them to see a weakness. 

“Dad!” Boba exclaimed, jumping to his feet the moment he saw Jango. “Everyone looks in one piece. What happened?”

Jango hated how hopeful Din looked. He was about to crush his spirit. “Unfortunately, Paz would not relent.”

Din’s shoulders dropped, but he looked like he expected it. “I told you he wouldn’t give up.”

“What?” Boba exclaimed in disbelief. “Did you tell him we had the Republic army at our back? The Jedi Order!? The-,”

Jango silenced him with a gentle hand to his shoulder. “We did, but it didn’t seem to make much difference. Paz did not care. However,” he looked over at Din. “There was someone that did seem to care. The armorer. Your covert’s mother.”

Din perked up slightly. “You spoke with her?”

“She asked after you,” Obi-Wan told him. “She seemed concerned, but she also seemed happy when we told her you were taken care of. It sounded like she cared for you.”

Din nodded and smiled slightly. “She was the only one that ever treated me with respect.”

“She did not want war, but she also would not stand up to Paz,” Jango said.

Sighing, Din shook his head. “She wouldn’t. No one would, no matter how much they disagreed with him. What do we do now?”

“We go to Coruscant so you can gather your things,” Jango told them sadly. “We can’t stay there as long as hunters are after you both. They know that’s where we live.”

Boba blinked a few times in disbelief and then huffed. “Are you serious? So we’re running?”

“No, we’re playing the game strategically,” Jango countered. “Make them come to you where you’ll always be protected. We take them out one by one until hunters refuse to take the bounty any longer.”

His son let out a string of unhappy curses. “This is druk!”

“It’s not a bad idea, kid,” Rex told him, though he looked sympathetic. “If you and Din are on a cruiser, that means you’ll always have either myself or Cody looking after you. Sometimes maybe both. It’s not ideal, but it is the best way to keep you two safe.”

Din brought his hands to his elbows and hugged himself. “What about Grogu? Will I not see him anymore?”

“I’m sorry, Din,” Obi-Wan apologized, “but the temple is the safest place for Grogu right now. Perhaps after he’s learned a bit more, he might be able to join me - us - on the ship.

At that, Din finally started to lose his guard and Boba had to step in to comfort him. He was losing his new home and now his son. They could drop a bomb on the covert and end all of this. At one point, Jango would have done just that, but that was the problem with having morals and growing a conscience. Nothing could ever be done the easy way. Jango gave Boba and Din their moment, but there was a lingering question he needed answers to.

“Din. Could I have a moment?” Jango requested. 

Din and Boba exchanged looks, but Din eventually nodded and pulled himself from Boba to step aside with Jango. “Yes?”

“When speaking with your covert’s mother, she asked if Boba knew of your infertility issues,” Jango began. “I said yes, and that he did not care. But then she said something else. That you had other secrets that could affect your health. What did she mean?”

Din didn’t shrink away with fear or tense up the way Jango expected. Instead, he looked up with full confusion. “I…I don’t know. There’s nothing else wrong with me. At least, that I know of.”

“Are you sure?” Jango gently pressed. “There’s nothing else you can think of? Have you been injured any other time? Something that could have a lasting effect?”

The omega shook his head. “I mean, I’ve been injured, but I have never been told anything would affect me in the future. It was always just…regular injuries. Hunting injuries. And some-,” he paused and tightened his jaw. “Other…injuries.”

Sexual injuries. Jango could read well enough between the lines. “You have no idea, then, what she could have been talking about?”

“No,” Din answered honestly. Lies gave off a certain smell that only very experienced alphas and omegas could hide. Din was being truthful, but that worried Jango more than if he was lying. That meant there was something he didn’t know. “Buir …should I be worried? What if there is something serious? What if-,”

Jango placed a hand to the side of his neck and hushed him. “Shh. We can have a medical droid do a full work up on you. Nothing came up before, but we’ll do a more thorough examination to make sure.”

Din was fighting so hard not to lose control of his emotions. 

“Din, it will be alright,” Jango promised. “All of it. Boba and I will be here through everything. We’ll get through it together.”

The omega didn’t look so certain, but he nodded anyway. 

Normally, releasing calming pheromones on a mated omega would be extremely immoral, but he was Din’s father. Din relaxed beneath his fingers and he finally let him go back to his mate. “Boba. Go with Din to the infirmary.”

“Wait, why? Is something wrong?” Boba began frantically looking Din over.

Din grabbed his alpha’s hand and tugged him along without a word.

“Cody, go with them,” Obi-Wan instructed the clone commander. “And tell the medical droid not to release any information to Din until they speak to us first.”

Cody blinked in confusion and uncertainty. “Uh…sir? Is everything alright?”

“Cody, please,” Obi-Wan pressed. It was nice, but firm. Not a request even though it was disguised as one. 

With a sigh, Cody nodded, bowed his head, and followed after Boba and Din. 

“Is everything alright?” Rex asked uncertainty, looking between everyone there in the room. 

“Not sure,” Anakin answered his second-in-command. “Some comments were made that have us a little worried about Din’s health.”

“Do you think she said those things just to make us question him?” Ahsoka suggested. “To build distrust between Boba and Din?”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Bo-Katan said, raising an eyebrow at Jango.

It was extremely possible, and it was the best course of offense they had at the moment. They couldn’t win with a direct attack, but they could attack from within. “Maybe, but that’s why I’m having him go through a full medical workup.”

“And what if it isn’t physical?” Bo-Katan argued. “Just because the armorer said it could affect his health doesn’t mean it’s a problem with his body. He could be keeping secrets from us about his covert.”

Jango highly doubted that. If there was something Din could tell them that would give them an edge up, he would. “I asked Din if he knew what the armorer was talking about, and he didn’t. I believed him.”

“It is possible he doesn’t realize some knowledge about himself or the covert he has is harmful,” Obi-Wan argued worriedly, scratching his beard.

“All we can do is take it step by step,” Anakin said. “Let’s wait and see what the medical droid says and go from there.”

Rex didn’t look particularly thrilled by it, but he nodded. “Orders, sir?”

“Let’s head for Coruscant,” Anakin told him. “Din and Boba can grab their things and say goodbye to Grogu.”

The clone saluted. “Sir.”

“We’ll let you know if we encounter any other hunters,” Bo-Katan told Jango. “If you need help, call on us. We’ll come.”

Jango dipped his chin in thanks. “What will you do now?”

“Continue my search for a way to unite us,” Bo-Katan answered. “I want this to end, Jango.”

“So do I,” he agreed. 

Giving him a small smile, she nodded. “Good luck. We’ll be in touch.”

The group dispersed leaving Jango alone with Obi-Wan. The Jedi finally stepped up into Jango’s space. “Din knew nothing?”

“No,” Jango answered. “He seemed confused by the questions. I worry that maybe Bo-Katan is right and that he knows something he doesn’t realize is a danger. But not to his covert, to himself.” Sighing, he turned to Obi-Wan, finally able to touch him. He reached up and pressed a palm to the omega’s cheek. “Talk to me, Obi. You’re overwhelmed and distraught.”

Pressing into the touch, Obi-Wan let his eyes flutter closed. “I just wish that the galaxy didn’t have to see so much war. So much death. I don’t understand why more cannot be solved through talk.”

Jango didn’t have a good answer for him, because he had always solved his problems with the barrel of a blaster. “What can I do?”

“Nothing,” Obi-Wan sighed. “Let’s worry about Din right now.”

Obi-Wan started to walk off until Jango stopped him by grabbing his arm. “Obi. You’re not alright. Please talk to me. Your health is just as important as Din’s.”

“Perhaps, but it is also my duty as a Jedi Master and a General to put others before myself,” Obi-Wan argued.

Jango brushed the back of his knuckles along the length of the Jedi’s jaw. “I understand that. As clan leader and father, it is my duty to put my children first, but that doesn’t make my feelings any less valid. Let’s go see what the medical droid has to say, but then…talk to me, Obi. Tell me what you’re feeling.”

“Alright,” Obi-Wan whispered in response.

Jango wanted to grab the Jedi’s hand, but he settled for their shoulders brushing together as they walked down the halls to the infirmary. Boba was pacing irritably and began asking all sorts of questions the second his father arrived. Jango tried to convince him it was just routine, but how could it be routine when it was out of the blue like this? 

“Go sit with Din, Boba,” Jango instructed the moment he saw the droid coming their way.

“But-,”

“Go!” Jango hissed. Boba clenched his jaw, but he walked away and joined Din who was nervously sitting on a medical bed waiting. 

“I have completed a full body analysis of Din Djarin,” the droid announced. “His low estrogen levels have already been notated in his chart. I did not find anything else overly alarming among his results. In all, he is a mostly healthy male omega.”

“Mostly?” Jango questioned. “There was nothing at all that might raise concern?”

“Well,” the droid moved towards a screen and pressed a button to bring up some images. They looked like brain scans. “I’m not sure I’d be too concerned about it, but there were some small abnormalities in brain activity.”

Obi-Wan’s brows shot up. “Abnormalities? Meaning?”

“Such abnormalities can be caused by trauma to the head, which in Din Djarin’s profession, would not be uncommon,” the droid explained. “There is evidence to suggest brain injuries in this case. Scans did not find any indication of tumors or brain diseases that would cause the abnormalities. There are some mental health disorders that cause the irregularities, but that would take a different type of droid to assess.”

It made sense that Din would show some signs of brain injury. Even with a beskar helmet, hunters fell to all sorts of injuries. None of what the droid said was alarming to Jango. Even if the irregularities were due to mental health, that would not be surprising given Din’s past. 

“What else could potentially cause this?” Obi-Wan asked, unconvinced by what they’d heard.

“Well, there is one thing, given his secondary gender as an omega,” the droid answered. “When an omega goes into a drop, it shuts down everything. Mind and body. When an omega wakes again, typically all functions recover within a short period of time. However, multiple drops can lead to a decrease in functionality. It is possible that over time, if an omega experiences too many drops, it can lead to permanent damage of brain cells. It is possible that some brain cells would die and lead to parts of the brain dying along with them. This could permanently affect the omega’s ability to speak and even move.”

Jango sucked in a breath. “Do the abnormalities in Din’s brain support this?”

“It is very possible,” the droid answered. “However, it is incredibly difficult to tell at this stage the differences between damage from injuries and that done of drops, unfortunately. I would suggest asking the omega himself about that matter. Then, we can notate in his charts and monitor appropriately.”

Obi-Wan looked down at Jango with worried blue eyes. “I would say that if Din has had one too many drops, that would be something of great concern.”

Perhaps the armorer was trying to warn them of something. “I guess the only way to find out is to talk to Din. Thank you.”

“Of course, sir,” the droid beeped and went along his way. 

Sharing a look with Obi-Wan, Jango began his way over to his son and Din when suddenly the entire ship shook. Sirens began to blare, signaling an attack. “I guess speaking with Din will have to wait.”

“Cody!” Obi-Wan shouted.

“Sir!”

“Back to it then,” Obi-Wan sighed before taking off at a sprint.

/*/

“Stay here!” Jango shouted at Din and Boba before sprinting off.

The ship shook again, and Boba tightened his grip on Din to keep him steady. “You alright?”

“I don’t know,” Din answered. The droid started to pass by and Din jumped off the bed. “Hey! Am I alright?!”

The droid stopped and faced him. “All tests came back within normal limits.”

“Hey, see? You’re alright,” Boba calmed him, wrapping an arm around his waist. “Nothing to worry about. Maybe your covert’s mother was just trying to scare you. Nothing is wrong with you.”

Din pressed his lips together, not looking convinced. “No…she wouldn’t do that.”

Boba didn’t want to sound like a pessimist but, “Din…”

“She meant something by what she said!” Din argued. “Maybe it didn’t have anything to do with my body, but it has to do with something. Boba, please! She is the only one in my covert I ever trusted with anything! Her words would have been said to try and help me!”

Boba raised his hands, “Ok, alright. I’m with you, but right now we have nothing to go off of. Your scans came back fine other than what we already knew.” Feeling the ship shake again he let out an annoyed huff and encouraged Din back onto the medical bed as he joined him. “Wonder what’s going on out there. Your guys?”

“No,” Din shook his head, “they don’t have ships powerful enough to come after a cruiser. Should we do something?”

“Nah,” Boba sighed, rubbing a comforting hand up and down Din’s arm. “Nothing for us to do. Rex and Cody’s guys will take care of whatever is out there. Let’s just stay here for a minute, ok?” Lacing his fingers with Din’s, Boba sat there on the medical bed with Din as they waited to hear something from the deck as to what was happening. Eventually they were given the OK as they entered into hyperspace. “Come on, then. Let’s go find our new home.” Grabbing Din’s hand, Boba led the omega down the halls of the cruiser to the barracks wing.

Barracks weren’t designed for couples. They were designed for troops, so the best that Boba could find was a room with two small beds. Kriff, this sucked. This was their home for the foreseeable future. He could see Din’s look of sadness. Letting Din’s hand go, he placed his hands on his hips as he thought for a moment. There’s no way the two of them would fit in one bed. But…Who said they had to sleep in the beds? Boba grabbed the mattress of the nearest bed and pulled it off. He then moved to the other bed and repeated the action, setting the mattresses side-by-side. “It’s nothing luxurious, but if we get our blankets from back home, it might be bearable.”

“It’ll do,” Din agreed, smiling softly at Boba. 

Grabbing all the blankets and pillows in the room, Boba created as good of a nest as he could in a military barracks room. “Come on. Let’s get some rest. It’s been a long day.”

Looking hesitant, Din rubbed his arm. “Something is wrong with me.”

“Hey, no,” Boba argued. “You’re fine. Nothing is wrong with you. The droid said so. Come on, you’ll feel better after you sleep.” After a few moments of contemplation, Din eventually nodded and started to remove his armor. “I know it’s not much, but we’ll make it a home. Somehow.”

Din bit his lower lip as he sat down onto the mattress on the floor. “As long as you’re here.”

“Not going anywhere,” Boba promised him, pulling the omega down into his arms.

Rolling over to face Boba, Din pressed their foreheads together. “She wouldn’t have said what she said without a reason, Boba…I didn’t trust anyone in my covert, but I trusted her.”

“Ok, well, we’ll figure out whatever coded messages she was trying to send us, but for now, don’t worry about it. Let’s get some sleep, get our stuff from home, and go see Grogu.” Boba didn’t get warm and fuzzy about what his dad had said either, but nothing else could be done about it now. 

Reluctantly, Din nodded and they settled against each other to sleep.

The next morning they woke and had breakfast with the other clones in the mess hall before finding his father on the bridge. Boba could see just based on the stars they were closing in on Coruscant. He was still having a hard time processing everything. Leaving home to live here on the Republic cruiser full time. No more hunting on a voluntary basis. They would be following the Republic’s orders. They were protecting them, sure, but they’d also become their master. Boba had very mixed feelings about that. Serving the Republic meant fighting side-by-side with his brothers, which Boba had no problem with but…

“Grab what you both need from home, and then we’ll go visit Grogu at the temple,” Jango told them as they walked down the ramp of Slave on Coruscant. 

Boba hated how sad Din looked, but he nodded. “Alright.” He grabbed Din’s hand and started their way up to their apartment.

“When do you think we’ll come back?” Din asked as they entered the elevator.

“I don’t know,” Boba answered softly, giving Din’s hand a squeeze. “Sooner rather than later, I hope, but I don’t know.”

They entered their apartment, and everything seemed just as they left it. Boba looked around the kitchen and living room sadly. Who knew when they’d get to see this again? Giving Din’s hand a tug, he pulled them towards their room and pressed the button for the door. “Alright, let’s-,”

Din’s eyes went wide. “Boba!” He wrapped himself around Boba just before an explosion sent them flying. 

Boba landed on his back with a hard thud, the weight of Din on top of him. Pain rippled through his body and he groaned and blinked his eyes open. There was nothing but a white and gray haze in the air, and then suddenly Boba found it horribly hard to breathe. “D-D-Din!”

“B-Boba!” Din breathed in equal panic on top of him.

As hard as he tried to fight it, Boba felt his body starting to fall asleep. Gas. They’d been gassed. No, no, no! “D-Din! G-get out of…” His body went completely numb and he could no longer move. Din’s body went still on top of him.

“Only a fool would have come back here, but I knew you’d be a fool, Boba Fett.” Fighting against the effects of the gas as hard as he could, Boba saw Cad Bane’s face break through the cloud. The hunter grinned and laughed. “Second time’s the charm.” He gave Boba’s cheek a few pats. “Can’t wait to see what the Mandalorian has in store for you.”

Boba tried as hard as he could, but his eyes were growing heavy. A tear rolled down his cheek as he found himself completely at Cad Bane’s mercy. 

/*/

“I don’t know what else to do,” Jango sighed as he started to pace across the landing pad. 

“Neither do I,” Obi-Wan confessed. “But we still have questions to ask Din. Let’s wait until we can get them settled on the cruiser and then address it. Din will be stressed enough leaving Coruscant and then Grogu-,”

An explosion rocked all of Coruscant. Both Jango and Obi-Wan looked up and towards the smoke.

“Obi!” Jango exclaimed, dark eyes going wide. “That’s our apartment!”

Obi-Wan felt his heart drop and his skin go cold. “Go. Go!”

Jango put on his helmet and his jetpack ignited as he flew off towards the apartment. Obi-Wan started to frantically map out the path up to the apartment to see how he could maneuver with the Force. Finding a way up he began to jump with the power of the Force behind him. This couldn’t be happening. They couldn’t lose Boba and Din, now! After everything! It took far longer than he wanted, but he eventually made it through the shattered window of the living room of the Fett residence. 

“Jango!” He ran towards the smoke into Din and Boba’s bedroom. Cad Bane had Boba over his shoulder and Din was in the arms of another person on a transport. Cad grinned and the transport began to take off. “No!” Obi-Wan extended his hand and tried to use the Force to keep the transport from going. Jango went flying after them, but he was hit by something hard that sent him flying back to the ground hard enough his helmet rolled off his head on impact. 

Obi-Wan screamed as he tried to hold on, but the cruiser had already gained enough distance that he couldn’t keep it. It broke his hold. Obi-Wan fell forward onto his knees, and he felt all life leave his body. No…no, no, no! This couldn’t be happening!

Jango scrambled to his feet and stood where there had once been a large glass window. “No! Boba! Din! N-no!” The alpha slowly fell to his knees and then let out a cry of despair. 

Already crying, Obi-Wan crawled to Jango and immediately pulled the alpha into his arms. “We’ll get them back, Jango. We’ll get them back! I swear to you!” Jango wailed against his chest and all Obi-Wan could do was stare through the broken window with wet eyes. He’d promised to keep Din and Boba safe and he had failed. 

Obi-Wan had experienced many failures, but this one broke his heart the most. 

Chapter Text

Boba groaned as he came to. Everything hurt. Kriff, everything hurt bad. Sucking in a sharp breath, he blinked his eyes open and tried to get his vision to clear. Just as it did, he was hit with a fist to the face that sent his world spinning again. A wad of blood pooled in Boba’s mouth and he spit it out. 

“There he is,” Cad Bane purred, grabbing Boba’s jaw. 

Grunting, Boba snarled. “Druk you.”

Laughing with all teeth, Cad patted Boba’s jaw. “Can’t wait to see what Vizsla has in store for you. You’ve been a real thorn in my side for a long time, Fett.”

“My Dad and the Republic will come for me!” Boba gave his hands that were bound above his head and chained to the wall a yank. 

He laughed again. “That would require them knowing where we are going, boy. I already scrubbed the ship for trackers, and there’s none. We aren’t headed to Nevarro. Vizsla isn’t as stupid as you and that pretty little omega of yours. What did you think would happen if you returned to Coruscant?”

At the mention of Din, Boba lunged forward as far as the chains would let him and snapped at the Duros angrily with his teeth. “If you do anything to hurt Din, I swear I’ll kill you!”

“You aren’t in any position to threaten me,” Cad reminded him. “Besides, I promised I wouldn’t hurt a hair on the omega’s head. That’s for Vizsla to take care of. What do you imagine he’ll do, hmm? Things would have been a lot easier if you hadn’t gone and mated someone else’s omega, but now this is going to be just as painful for him as it will be for you. I hear overriding an existing mark is an extremely unpleasant experience. I’ll do you a favor and not mention his helmet was off when I found you. Might cause additional angst.” He turned his back and stepped forward. “In my opinion, no omega is worth this mess, even ones as pretty as yours, but I just do what I’m paid to do, and he’s paying me very handsomely..”

Even though he knew it was useless, Boba frantically pulled on his restraints. “Please…please! My dad will pay you more! You can turn me over to Vizsla, but take Din back to Coruscant!”

Cad slowly turned around and narrowed his red eyes as he approached Boba again. “Never thought I’d hear you beg, Fett. You must really care for him, don’t you?” Reaching up a hand, Cad brushed a single finger down Boba’s cheek. “How sweet. And pathetic.” Huffing, Cad turned his back and began to walk out.

Boba screamed, tugging over and over as hard as he could. He could feel the metal of the restraints painfully digging into his skin, but he didn’t care. The alpha kept trying until he was too exhausted to go on. A few tears of frustration fell down his cheeks. Slumping against the wall, he let out a small sob as he hit the back of his head a few times against the cold metal. What a druking failure he was. He swore he wouldn’t let Cad get the jump on them again, but he’d fallen right into the hunter’s trap. He’d failed Din. Boba had sworn to protect Din and he’d failed. 

Feeling like the failure he was wasn’t going to help them, though. Boba had to swallow down those feelings and think clearly. With a shuddered breath he let everything go and focused on what he could do now. He hadn’t even looked around the room yet. If he had, he would have noticed Din bound to the wall to his right. The omega was unconscious, and the weight of his body pulling on his shoulders the way they were wasn’t going to make him feel great. His restraints tied directly into the wall without chains, and his hands were mounted higher so that his feet barely even touched the floor. If he stayed like that too long the joints could dislocate. “Din. Din, wake up. Please. Din, wake up!” Boba cursed. He had never been a fan of the idea of Alpha Commands, but desperate times called for desperate measures. “Din, wake up!”  

Din jerked awake with a gasp. He immediately scrambled to his feet to alleviate the pressure on his limbs and then his head began to swivel trying to figure out where he was until he stopped on Boba. “Boba! You’re alright!”

“Alright is relative,” Boba sighed. He could feel caked blood on his face, and he was more or less headed towards his death with wherever Cad was taking them. “You ok?”

With his helmet on, Boba couldn’t see Din’s face and his emotions, but he could certainly feel them through their bond. He was terrified. “I can’t go back, Boba. I won’t go back. I’d rather die than go back.”

“Well, good news, we aren’t going to Nevarro. Bad news, that means Dad and Obi-Wan won’t know how to find us,” Boba said. He began to scope the room out for anything at all that he could use to try and get them out of this situation. If they could get out of the restraints then maybe they could take over the ship and find a Republic cruiser nearby. “Alright, first thing we have to do is -,” He was cut off by the sudden noise Din began making. The omega was trying to hoist himself up but he was struggling. “What are you doing?”

“Trying to get to my vambrace,” Din grunted. “Stupid gas is still in my system. Kriff.” He paused to catch his breath. 

Boba frowned. “Why are you trying to reach your vambrace?” Fire or a grappling line wouldn’t do them much good here. Not until they could get their hands free.

“Because, I got to talking to one of your brothers while we were waiting on Buir and General Kenobi on Nevarro,” Din started. “Tracker.”

The alpha nodded. He was one of Cody’s. “And?”

“He’s good at tracking things,” Din went on. 

“Yeah, hence the name. Din, what’s your point?”

“After the close call on Sarafur, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to be prepared if Cad Bane tried again,” Din continued. “I asked him to install a tracker in my vambrace. It links with Buir’s.”

Boba’s eyes went wide and his heart gave a jolt of hope. “Kriff, Din, that’s druking genius. I love you.”

“I know,” Din huffed before trying to hoist himself up again. He couldn’t turn around and use the wall to help his way up without the chains that Boba had. “But I still need to get to it.”

Heart racing in excitement, Boba’s priorities shifted, and he started looking for something that could help Din press that button. “How’s your flexibility? Can you reach it with your foot?”

“Not flexible,” Din answered. “Not that much. But maybe,” he bent his legs and pressed his boots to the wall before pushing off and swinging his legs out and up. Din let out a cry of pain, the restraints cutting into his skin, but managed to turn himself upside down. Frantically, he started jamming the bottom of his helmet against his vambrace trying to trigger the tracking device. After a few tries, the light finally turned blue. “Got it!” With an exhausted sigh, he collapsed back down. 

Boba would never not be in awe of his omega’s strength. Not just physical, but mentally. Din could have given up. He could have felt just as helpless as Boba was feeling, but he was still fighting. “I guess all we can do now is wait and hope we can survive whatever we’re put through until then.”

“I can survive anything knowing that Buir is coming for us,” Din said, though there was a shake to his voice. Despite the strong front, he was still very much afraid for what was to come. 

All Boba could do was be his anchor. Be the strength he needed to go on. He’d been tortured before. Knowing that Jango was coming would give him the strength he needed to endure, just like it would for Din. Hopefully, together, they could buy themselves enough time for the rescue party to come.

/*/

“I’m sorry, Obi-Wan, truly, but Boba Fett and Din Djarin simply aren’t important enough to waste our resources on a rescue mission,” Mace Windu said firmly.

Obi-Wan couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Din and Boba were human beings, not cattle! Not only that, but all of the Fetts had been instrumental in so many battles! How could the Council just abandon them now just because they were Senators or Generals? “Was it not you that warned me of the vision!? Of Din’s important future!?”

“The last thing we need right now is to stir up an old war with the Mandalorians,” Mace argued. “And besides, Din Djarin’s future is now shrouded in darkness. There may no longer be an importance.”

“Because he’s been captured and his life is in danger!” Obi-Wan practically screamed in anger. To hear that the visions had completely gone dark scared the omega even more than he already was. “What about the Darksaber!?”

Yoda let out a hum and folded his hands around his cane. “Remain lost, it will be. Better, this way. As Master Windu said, a war with the Mandalorians, afford we cannot.”

Obi-Wan’s lips parted in silent realization. “You only cared about the visions because you viewed Din’s retrieval of the Darksaber as a threat to the Order!”

“The Mandalorians and the Jedi have always been at odds. If Djarin were to recover the Darksaber, it could reignite that,” Mace said. “We are too close to ending this war with the Separatists to be sidetracked!”

Huffing, Obi-Wan shook his head in disbelief. “We aren’t close at all, and you know that as well as I. And here I thought we’d put all of that aside and we were here to help them. To help Din and Boba. To maybe finally create a union between their peoples and start anew. Start a friendship. Become allies!”

“I understand your frustrations,” Mace sighed, “but the Council has discussed the matter and we are in agreement. It is best for Din to be returned to his tribe and for us to go on our way.”

Obi-Wan’s eyes began to water and he lowered his gaze. For so long he’d made sacrifices because it was in the best interest of the Council. For so long he’d given up his own happiness because it was in the best interest of the Council. But the Council never had anyone else’s best interests in mind other than their own, and even that was limited. Obi-Wan was a part of the Council, but he had not been consulted. He had not been asked his opinion. He’d been conveniently left out because his opinion did not suit the Council’s agenda. Obi-Wan had only ever been a member of the Council as long as he agreed with them. 

“We are supposed to protect people,” Obi-Wan started softly. “We are supposed to be the beacons of peace and order in the galaxy. Din came to us needing our help. He trusted us with his Foundling! A Youngling! What will you tell Grogu when his father is gone?! That you were the very reasons for it? If you want to know what leads a Jedi towards the darkness, that is precisely it!”

Mace leaned back in his chair and folded his hands. “If the child hadn’t had any attachments in the first place, then it would not be an issue.”

“People have feelings!” Obi-Wan screamed. “No matter how much you think you can throw all of that away, you can’t! Feelings just don’t disappear because you find them inconvenient!” 

“Throw away your attachments, and the feelings fade,” Mace argued. “But perhaps you have become too weak to understand that.”

Yoda hummed sadly and shook his head in agreement with Mace. “Feelings for Jango Fett, weakened you they have.”

“No,” Obi-Wan argued firmly, clenching his fists. “No, my feelings for Jango have finally given me the strength I need to see that my unwavering faith in the Council has been nothing more than a lie. Master Qui-Gon was right. Anakin was right. Ahsoka. I should have listened to them all sooner.”

Mace pressed his lips together in a thin line and raised his chin. “Obi-Wan, tread carefully with your next set of words. You do not have the Council’s support in the rescue of Fett and Djarin. If you go through with this, then you will face trial and your seat on the Council will be in jeopardy.”

“No need,” Obi-Wan said proudly with all the confidence and courage in the galaxy. “I relinquish my seat on the Council henceforth.” Turning his back on Yoda and Mace, Obi-Wan walked out of the room. Mace called after him, but he did not turn back.

It had been years coming. Decades, really. Obi-Wan had never exactly fit in on the Council. Master Qui-Gon hadn’t, either. They’d always been at odds over everything, even before Anakin. Qui-Gon would have been happy to see the changes they were making. To allow Younglings to maintain connections with their parents and their family. To not stifle emotion completely, but learn to control it. Obi-Wan liked to think that Qui-Gon would have been proud of him for telling the Council to druk off, too. Try as he might to speak with his deceased Master, however, he had yet to gain a response. 

“What did they say?” Anakin asked, the first to speak as Obi-Wan briskly walked down the hall.

“They will not help us,” Obi-Wan answered. He stopped and clenched his jaw as he looked sadly at Jango. “Boba and Din are expendable. Just like the clones are to them.”

Jango’s nostrils flared, but he did not look surprised by the answer. “Then I am on my own.”

“No,” Obi-Wan quickly countered. “You are not. I am with you, Jango. I cannot order Cody and the other clones to help us, but I can go with you. I will go with you. We’ll find them.”

Anakin glanced between the two, a soft smile on his lips. “And the Council? You’ll probably lose your seat.”

“I won’t lose it because I already relinquished it,” Obi-Wan told him. 

“Obi-,” Jango began to argue, but the Jedi cut him off.

“It’s my choice, Jango,” Obi-Wan told him with sincere blue eyes. “One I would make all over again.”

“Well, sounds like it’s just a bunch of us delinquents on the mission, then,” Anakin huffed proudly, sharing a look with Ahsoka. 

Sighing, Obi-Wan shook his head. “Anakin, I can’t ask you-,”

“You aren’t asking. I’m volunteering,” Anakin told him before looking over at Ahsoka. “Snips?”

Ahsoka smiled and nodded. “Right behind you, Master. Besides, I promised Bo-Katan I’d help in any way I could. This is bigger than just Din and Boba, no matter how much the Council wants to deny it.”

“Where do we even begin?” Jango asked with a sorrowful face. “We have no idea where Cad Bane is taking them.”

No, they didn’t, and that was certainly a problem. “They won’t be going back to Nevarro, that much I am sure, but someone there will know where they have gone. There’s no way they could have relocated the entire covert already. We start there.”

“Alright,” Jango nodded. “Let’s go. There’s no time to waste.”

Obi-Wan no longer cared that there was an audience. He reached for Jango’s hand and laced their fingers together. Tomorrow, he’d probably regret it and wish he hadn’t for all the questions he’d receive from Anakin, but right now…he just wanted to be close to the alpha. He wanted to let him know he was with him. Until the end. No one said anything, and Jango squeezed the omega’s hand in thanks as they quickly made their way to Slave I. 

To Obi-Wan’s surprise, there was a small group of clones there waiting for them. Cody and Rex were among them, along with Waxer and Boil from his own battalion. “Cody, what is this?”

“We’re here to join you on the rescue mission, sir,” Cody saluted.

Sadly, Obi-Wan shook his head. “The Council rejected my plea for help. I no longer hold a seat. You can’t come with us.”

“You can’t order us to come, sir, but we can volunteer,” Rex argued. 

Normally, Obi-Wan had a lot of control over his emotions, but he felt himself tearing up at the clones’ display of loyalty. “You’re all sure? There…there could be consequences for this. I can’t protect you.”

“Everyone here is willing to accept the consequences for going,” Cody told him. “Boba is our brother, sir, and we don’t leave family behind. And you…you will always be my General, sir. I’d follow you anywhere.”

It took everything for Obi-Wan not to let a tear fall. “Thank you, Cody. That’s Jesse, Hawks, and..?”

“Stitches, sir!” The unidentified clone in blue and white saluted. “A medic. Captain Rex figured you might need one on this particular mission.”

Obi-Wan hoped they wouldn’t, but he knew the reality of the situation is they would. “Good thinking, Captain. Glad to have you along. Alright, then. Let’s load up and make our way to -,”

A beeping sound suddenly came from Jango’s vambrace and the lights were flickering. Frowning, the alpha raised his arm and pressed a button. A set of coordinates suddenly flashed above the beskar. “What is this?”

Grabbing Jango’s arm, Obi-Wan looked at the hologram with wide eyes. He could feel it. The brief presence of Boba and Din inside the message through the Force. “They found a way. They found a way to send us a message. Jango, this is them!”

“Then we have to hurry!” Jango jerked his arm away and was sprinting up the ramp of Slave.

The Jedi and the clones followed, and as soon as Jango had input the coordinates the ship was shooting to the stars. Obi-Wan didn’t know how they’d done it, but he was breathing sighs of relief that they had. There was hope, now. Anakin and Ahsoka were talking strategy with the clones behind him, but Obi-Wan had to do something. He needed to see for himself.

“Give me a moment,” Obi-Wan told Jango softly. “I need to meditate. Gather my thoughts and the Force around me.”

Jango nodded. “You’re alright, though? With everything?”

“I’m not alright, but I do not regret my decision. I can lament what was later. Now is not the time.” Obi-Wan dipped his head and placed a gentle hand on the alpha’s thigh. “I’m in this with you.” Standing from the passenger’s seat, he descended to the deck below to find silence. With a shuddered breath, he knelt down onto his knees and closed his eyes. Tugging on the Force, he attempted to find Din’s future. 

At first there was nothing but darkness. A long, vast, swirling cloud of darkness just as Master Yoda and Mace must have seen. Such a thing was usually a clear sign of death, but Obi-Wan refused to accept it. Furrowing his brow, he dug deeper. This couldn’t be Din’s fate. The omega had come too far to fall now. Sweat started to bead on his brow with concentration, and the shadows began to give way to faint images. Din was lying in the arms of someone. He was convulsing horribly, and there was blood on his neck and cape. The clone Stitches. Din was in Stitches’ arms. 

“We are about to lose him!” Stitches shouted. 

Gasping, Obi-Wan was thrown from the vision and the ship took form again around him. No! No, they couldn’t lose him! Burying his fingernails into the top of his thighs, Obi-Wan bent forward and allowed himself to shed the tears he’d been holding back since the Council chamber. In the matter of a few hours he’d seemed to have lost everything. He’d lost his seat on the Council, and he was about to lose Din and Boba. If he lost them, then he’d certainly lose Jango. 

No. Obi-Wan refused to lose all that he’d worked for. He had to keep fighting, even though he felt like he had no fight left within him. He’d been fighting for so long. He was so tired, but he had to keep going. Too many people were depending on him. With a shuddered breath he wiped away his tears and stood. Visions were never absolute. They weren’t always what they seemed, and they could be changed. Obi-Wan had to believe that. 

“Master?” Anakin asked as Obi-Wan ascended back into the main hull. Obi-Wan didn’t know what to say, but he was sure his face betrayed him. “Only Sith deal in absolutes.”

Obi-Wan huffed slightly at the reminder. “Don’t use my words against me, Anakin.”

“Sometimes, we just need a reminder,” Anakin told him. 

He was right, though Obi-Wan wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of telling him so. Joining Jango at the helm, he took his seat to the alpha's left. Focusing his gaze on the navigation system, he watched as they moved closer and closer to the coordinates. They’d make it in time. They had to. Everything depended on it.

/*/

Everytime Boba found purchase in his feet, he was knocked down by Cad and dragged along the sand by the chains that bound his wrists. They had landed on some planet Boba didn’t know, and they were currently being dragged inside a series of tunnels. Well, Boba was being dragged. Din was being tugged because he was to be untouched. When they finally came to a clearing, Cad threw him forward and tossed his helmet next to him. 

Grunting, Boba pressed himself up but immediately had a hand violently grabbing his hair and pulling him up. A Mandalorian clad in all blue was staring him down, and it could only be Paz Vizsla. He was everything Din had described, including incredibly large. Stars, he dwarfed Boba, but the alpha refused to show fear. 

“Puny,” Paz huffed, unimpressed. “But then again, who else would willingly mate a disgrace of an omega such as Din Djarin?”

Boba spit on the other alpha’s visor. “You don’t deserve him!”

Paz landed a hard blow to Boba’s head, sending him to the dirt. Boba groaned, blood filling his mouth. Pressing himself back up with one hand he spit out the blood. “You don’t even want him! You can have me, but let him go!” He got Paz’s boot to his head this time. Kriff, that hurt! 

Kneeling down, Paz grabbed Boba’s throat. “There is no bigger disgrace of an omega as Din, but that does not mean he gets to go unpunished for his deeds. Did you not know that while an omega can only be claimed by one alpha, an alpha can claim many omegas?”

Boba clenched his jaw. He was going to claim Din just to punish him! “You’re disgusting. You’re the one that’s a disgrace! A disgrace of an alpha. A disgrace of a Mandalorian.”

Paz backhanded him so hard Boba felt a few of his teeth loosen. “Do not speak to me of being a Mandalorian, clone!”

“Stop!” Din shouted. 

Leaving Boba behind, Paz made a b-line towards Din and grabbed the omega by the throat, lifting him from his knees. “Tell me, omega. Are you still Mandalorian after you chose to lay with this clone? Have you removed your helmet?”

Din reached up and grabbed hold of Paz’s hands. “As per our Creed, once the vows of riduurok have been exchanged, my mate and husband may see my face.”

With an angry growl, Paz threw Din to the ground and returned to Boba. He began landing swift kicks and punches to Boba in his fury. It took a few swings before Boba was able to pull himself together and begin to fight back. His wrists were still bound, but the chains gave him more movement then what Din had. He stopped one of Paz’s punches with his palm and gave the alpha’s arm a twist. It had little effect, Paz far too large. Pulling his fist free he grabbed Boba’s hair again and punched him straight on. Boba writhed and gasped on the ground, blood pouring from a very likely broken nose and his mouth. He could already feel his eyes beginning to swell shut. Paz motioned to another Mandalorian who handed him a stick, and the next thing Boba knew, electricity was coursing through his veins and he was screaming in more pain. 

“Stop! Please stop!” Din begged.

Boba gasped as the pain finally ceased. With shuddered breaths he lifted his head and glowered. This sucked, yes, but this was nothing. Boba had endured far worse pain. “Fight me. Fight me properly, alpha to alpha. If you want Din so bad, fight for him.”

“I don’t need to fight for what is already mine,” Paz growled before hitting Boba again with the shock rod. 

Boba grit his teeth through the pain until it stopped again. “Coward! You know you would lose!” He wasn’t sure what hit him in the head this time, but it had his ears ringing and his vision turning white. Between the surges of pain he felt his right arm being grabbed and then twisted hard. Boba heard the crack before he felt it, but then the pain shot through him like lightning. No matter how hard he bit his lower lip, he couldn’t stop the screams. 

“Stop! Paz, stop! I’ll go back with you! I’ll be your mate! Just stop!” Din cried. 

“You are going back with me regardless!” Paz hissed. “This is just the beginning of your punishment, and just the beginning of his torment. You will both suffer!”

Barely able to even breath or see at this point, Boba scowled, refusing to give in. “You had the most perfect omega at your fingertips…and you threw it away.”

“An omega who cannot breed is useless,” Paz argued.

“Mandalorians have never been about blood children,” Boba countered. “We’ve always been about Foundlings, and Din brought a Foundling to the tribe. But you aren’t real Mandalorians, are you? The Watch were never Mandalorians!” A well placed kick landed right against his throat and fell to his back gasping desperately for air. 

“It’s time for you to feel real pain,” Paz growled. 

Boba could no longer see anything that was happening around him, but he could hear Din’s desperate pleas. His horrified cries that turned to screams as he tried to fight back against something. Someone. Then there was an unbearable pain shooting through their bond. It felt like Boba’s entire soul was being ripped from his body by an invasive force. Paz had bitten Din. He was trying to override the bond! Boba screamed, but it wasn’t just from the pain. It was him trying desperately to fight back. He couldn’t let Paz have Din! He wouldn’t! Boba had never experienced anything as horrific and painful as this, but he threw every inch of himself against the alien force inside his mind. 

“...happening!?”

“...rejecting…”

“How?!”

Din’s presence and the alien inside him began to tug and pull in opposite directions. Boba thought he was being ripped apart from the inside. He wrapped himself around the warmth that was Din’s soul inside him, desperately clinging to it, but the white hot pain burning from within was too much. Boba couldn’t fight it any longer. His eyes rolled back into the back of his head and then his body went limp. In his mind, he reached out a hand to a Din that was getting further and further away from him.

Din. 

/*/

“That’s Bane’s ship,” Jango commented as they landed on the planet. “They’re still here.”

Obi-Wan let out a small breath of relief but also anxiousness. They’d found Din and Boba, but what state would they be in? “Alright, everyone ready?”

“Ready as ever, sir,” Cody nodded, finger hovering over the trigger of his blaster. 

“Bo-Katan just sent a transmission,” Ahsoka announced. “She’s right behind us.”

Jango placed his helmet on his head and raised his arm. “We’re so close.”

“After you,” Obi-Wan nodded. 

Obi-Wan wasn’t surprised to see the signal leading them to a series of caves. Vizsla’s tribe seemed to be fond of them, and it made it harder for anyone to catch them by surprise. It was a good move against anyone that wasn’t a Jedi, but they had three with them, and Obi-Wan was angry. He was very angry. Everything he’d ever been taught was that these emotions would lead him down the path of the darkside, but Obi-Wan felt everything but that. He felt a complete resentment for the darkness. He just wanted everyone to see the light. It was his greatest weakness. He always wanted to believe there was good in everyone, but the fact of the matter was, there wasn’t. 

The clearing came quicker than they anticipated, and there wasn’t a second for any of them to think as they came into an opening  full of Mandalorians, Cad Bane, and Boba and Din. It took both sides completely by surprise. The clones opened fire and lightsabers were raised. Obi-Wan drowned out everything except Din and Paz. Full of determination, he made a mad dash towards the large alpha. Paz threw an unconscious Din over his shoulder and started to run.

Obi-Wan sprinted after him and when he was close enough he extended a hand and stopped Paz with the Force. Gritting his teeth, he pulled Paz and Din back towards him until he had to release. Launching into the air, he brought his lightsaber down upon Paz. The Mandalorian dropped Din and blocked Obi-Wan’s assault with a shield. 

“Stay out of our business, Jedi!” Paz hissed.

“You made it my business when you took Din!” Obi-Wan exclaimed, pulling back and striking again. He was countered once more, but then he used the Force to push Paz back and away from Din. “You can’t have him!”

Paz kept his distance, but raised his blade and pointed it at the Jedi. “You bring war!”

“And I welcome it,” Obi-Wan challenged. “We will finish this, once and for all.” Paz lunged forward once more and they engaged in full battle. Obi-Wan’s lightsaber was mostly useless against Paz’s armor, but it wasn’t about defeating Paz. It was about getting him to leave Din. The two countered and parried each other’s attacks, neither ever gaining an advantage over the other. But Paz had a very set pattern of moves. One that Obi-Wan learned quickly. After a few more strikes, Obi-Wan changed direction and spun around on one knee slicing at the alpha’s lower leg. Paz wasn’t quick enough, and the lightsaber cut through his thigh. 

Growling, Paz grabbed at the injury and took several steps back. “Fine! Have him!” His shield disappeared, and he lowered his weapon. “He’s as good as dead, now, anyway.”

“Go!” Obi-Wan felt the growl come from the very core of his belly, and the Force sent Paz flying back. Once he got to his feet, the alpha finally turned and retreated. Lowering his lightsaber with a pant of relief, Obi-Wan fell to his knees next to Din. “Din, Din!” He grabbed the omega’s helmet and carefully pulled it from his head. The omega was incredibly pale and his whole body was shaking. His neck was covered in blood just like in his vision. Turning his head back down the tunnel he shouted, “Stitches! STITCHES!!”

“Coming, sir!” The sounds of battle could still be heard, but the clone sprinted towards them and fell to his knees to start assessing the omega. “It looks like he’s going into shock!” Reaching for the omega’s cape, he pulled it free from his neck to see the source of the blood. The omega’s mating gland was dark, bruised, and still actively bleeding. “Stars…he’s been bitten.”

Obi-Wan’s heart sank to the bottom of his stomach. It was coming true. Everything in the vision was coming true. “What do we do? How do we stop it!?”

“I don’t think we have to,” Stitches answered. “Look at him. He’s rejecting it. Druk, I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve never seen a rejection happen this fast.” 

“What do you mean?” Obi-Wan asked. Din’s entire body was shaking, and when the Jedi gently touched his cheek he was horribly cold. 

“Well, sir, I’m certainly no expert in alpha and beta physiology, but he was just bitten. Rejections take hours. Days,” Stitches told him. “It’s been minutes.”

Obi-Wan didn’t know what that ultimately meant. “Is that…good?”

“I don’t know if it’s good or bad, to be honest, but what I do know is that this isn't going to be a fun ride,” Stitches told him. He whistled loudly and shouted, “I need a cape, a blanket, something!”

After a few moments Jesse came flying towards them with a torn off cape that had likely been taken off a dead Mandalorian and helped Stitches wrap it around the omega. “The remaining Mandalorians are fleeing, sir, and we’ve got Cad Bane in custody.”

Well, that was something, at least. “And Boba!?”

“Pretty badly beat up, but he’s breathing,” Jesse answered.

Obi-Wan let out a small sigh of relief, but Din didn’t seem to be getting better. The cape wasn’t enough. The omega’s body still shook, and his eyes started to roll back into his head. “What’s happening!?”

“We are about to lose him!” Stitches exclaimed. 

Obi-Wan’s entire body went cold as the vision became a reality down to the very words of the clone. 

“He’s going to drop,” Stitches went on. 

Drop. He was going to drop. That wasn’t death. Din wasn’t dying. He was just dropping. Closing his eyes, Obi-Wan sucked in a breath to pull himself out of his own head. He was letting the vision and reality cross and it was affecting his judgment. Grounding himself in the Force around him he opened his eyes again. “An alpha. He needs an alpha, then. Boba, or even Jango if he can’t-,”

“I’m not so sure, sir,” Stitches cut him off respectfully. “A drop is an omega’s way of protecting themselves. His body is rejecting an attempted bond, and that’s a whole lot on the body and mind. It might be better if he deals with it while dropped.”

The droid had warned them that Din might have already experienced too many drops, but what was Obi-Wan to do? They didn’t know it for sure, and the omega was literally convulsing in front of him. They had to act. Even though Obi-Wan was an omega, he had never in his life dropped. He couldn’t even recall seeing it happen before, but maybe he had and he was simply clueless. There was so much Obi-Wan didn’t know because of the Order. So much about himself and his own body. He’d never been allowed to actually be a real omega as a Jedi. “Ok…if you really think that’s best. So what do we do?”

“Nothing,” Stitches told him. “He’ll do it himself.”

Clenching his teeth, Obi-Wan sat back on his heels and watched as Din’s body continued to shake violently. He gave it all twenty seconds before he’d had enough. Reaching up, he placed a gentle hand against the omega’s forehead. Using the Force, he gently persuaded Din. Drop, Din…you’re safe. Din’s eyes fluttered closed and the shaking stopped for a few seconds before resuming as quiet shivers. It still worried Obi-Wan, but it was less worrisome than the violent shaking from before.

“Obi-Wan!” Bo-Katan approached from behind and knelt down next to the Jedi. “Is he alright?”

Licking his lips, Obi-Wan nodded. “He will be. Thank you for coming.”

“Of course,” she nodded. “Vizsla?”

“Gone,” Obi-Wan answered. “We need to get Din to an infirmary as quickly as possible.”

“Do you want me to chase after Vizsla?” Bo-Katan offered.

He shook his head. “No. Let him go. Stitches, can he be moved?”

“Carefully,” the clone responded. “Jesse, can you help? I’ll take the head.”

“Right,” Jessie nodded and moved towards Din’s feet.

Together, the clones hoisted Din up into their arms and started moving back out of the tunnel. There were two dead Mandalorians and thankfully no dead Clones, though Rex was helping bandage up Hawks who had sustained an injury and one of Bo-Katan’s Mandalorians was limping. Jango had Boba draped across his shoulders and Obi-Wan sprinted forward.

“Jango!”

“Obi!” Jango exclaimed with equal fever. His eyes went to the clones carrying the omega. “Din?!”

“He was bitten,” Obi-Wan told him, though he quickly placed a hand on the alpha’s arm, “but his body is rejecting it. Vizsla didn’t win, but Din has gone into a drop. We need to get him to a medical bay.”

“Go,” Bo-Katan told them. “We’ll clean up here.”

They hurried back to Slave , and with Jango not wanting to leave his son’s side, Obi-Wan took the helm. Sending out an emergency frequency, he waited for a Republic cruiser to respond. Would any of them? How fast would word have gotten out that Obi-Wan was no longer on the Council? That he’d gone against orders? That no one else should help him. Should help Din and Boba. After a minute of nothing, Obi-Wan started to lose hope, and then there was an answer. 

Plo Koon’s face suddenly appeared on the comms. “Master Kenobi. The Council has sent out communications not to aid you.”

Obi-Wan lowered his head and cursed. 

Ahsoka quickly joined him at the helm. “Master Plo! Please! We have injured clones and an omega who has gone into a drop. I know what the Council must have told you, but I also know what they told you then about me.”

“Soka…I always believed in you, and I still believe in Master Kenobi,” Plo said. “Of course we will help. Sending coordinates now. I will have a medical team waiting for you.”

“Thank you, Ahsoka,” Obi-Wan said as the transmission ended.

The Togruta placed a sad hand on the omega’s shoulder. “I know what it’s like. To be shunned. To become an outcast. I stand with you.”

“I should have trusted Anakin and stood with you,” Obi-Wan told her, placing a hand over hers.

“It’s in the past,” she said. “Din and Boba need our help. Let’s focus on that.”

Turning the autopilot on, Obi-Wan got out of his seat and headed back to where Jango and Stitches were crouched around Boba. He hadn’t had a chance to get a good look at the young alpha, but goodness he was in a bad way. The clone was working on setting his broken bones. “Boba is just as strong as his father. He’ll be alright.”

“I don’t feel very strong right now, Obi,” Jango confessed sadly, words barely above a whisper. He held his son’s hand between his own. 

Obi-Wan wanted to pull the alpha close and press their skin together, but he’d already shown his hand too much. He had to settle with a hand to his shoulder as they watched and waited together. Stitches finished setting broken bones and stopping the bleeding of any open wounds with bacta spray. Once Jango felt satisfied Boba was as well off as he was going to be, he stood and walked over to the small area of the ship that served as his sleeping bunk. He pulled the tauntaun blanket they’d recovered from the apartment. It had somehow survived the explosion, covered in a layer of dust that had been brushed off. Taking it over to Din who was being watched by Cody and Rex, he draped the blanket over him. The shivering almost immediately ceased as Jango tucked the edges in around the omega. 

“I’ve never heard of a drop before,” Rex commented softly as he watched Din’s breaths. They’d finally become steady. “What exactly is it?”

“A reaction to severe stress,” Jango told him. “A defense mechanism. Omegas are far more sensitive than alphas and betas, and it can become overwhelming. When they encounter too much stress, anxiety, or pain, their body reacts.  They play dead, in a sense, to protect themselves. The body and mind shut down until they feel safe again. In some ways it is helpful, as healing is accelerated in this state.”

“But?” Cody pressed. “I’m sensing a heavy but, here.”

“But,” Jango continued, “going into a drop does something to the mind. It’s like a stroke. Short-circuits it. Too much of it, and it can cause permanent damage.”

“What helps you hurts you,” Rex sighed. “He will wake up, won’t he?”

Jango did not answer right away, looking sadly down at Din. “Probably.”

They docked on Plo Koon’s ship, and as promised, there was a full medical team waiting for them on arrival. The clones helped place their brother’s body on a stretcher and then did the same with Din. A medic who had another blanket with him draped it over Din’s body on top of what was already there as Jango hurriedly told them of his sons’ conditions. Obi-Wan wanted to go with them, but he knew he owed Plo many answers. 

“I voted against them, Obi-Wan,” Plo said before Obi-Wan could say anything. “I did not agree with the rest of the Council.”

Through all the grief he’d felt in the last 24 hours, this was the warmth he needed in his heart. “Thank you.”

“Masters Ti and Fisto also disagreed, but ultimately we were outnumbered,” he went on. “Many of the Council fear the clones, Obi-Wan. Even after the chips were overridden and removed, they fear them.”

“You never feared them,” Obi-Wan argued. Plo had always been the clones’ biggest advocate.

The Kel Dor dipped his head in acknowledgement. “The clones, while my soldiers, have always been my friends. What happened with Senator Palpatine and Order 66 was not their fault. They were victims, not the enemy. But Obi-Wan, you have an even greater connection to them than I, and the Council fears that. They fear how close you’ve become with their creator. With Jango Fett.”

“What do they fear!?” Obi-Wan asked harshly, frustrated by the knowledge. “That I will turn against them!? That I will somehow turn back time and carry out the Order as intended?”

Plo and Ahsoka shared a look, and then the Kel Dor stepped forward. “The Council has always feared what they do not understand, and they do not understand love. It’s why they purge the emotion. They never understood my love of my clones, and they don’t understand your love of Jango Fett.”

“Have I really been so obvious?” Obi-Wan asked, half laughing with the sad huff he let out.

“People who love recognize love,” Ahsoka told him. “Master…Anakin…I believe in him. He always believed in me. Love doesn’t make us weak. It makes us strong. Follow your heart, Master. We’re with you.”

Plo placed a hand on Obi-Wan’s shoulder. “I don’t know what will come from all of this, Obi-Wan, but I’m with you, as Ahsoka said. The Jedi Order that exists now is not the one I joined. Go. Be with your alpha. He needs you, now. I will hold off any inquiries from the Council.”

Togruta and Kel Dor did not have secondary dynamics, but Obi-Wan was grateful for their understanding and knowledge. “Thank you.” With a bow of his head, he retreated and hurried off to the medical ward. Din was laid out on a medical bed with his blankets, a medical droid hovering over him. Jango wasn’t here, probably with Boba. “Droid. What’s his diagnosis?”

“The omega is in a dropped state, but he is successfully warding off the mating attempt,” the droid began. “An override of a mating bond is like a virus on the body. He is counteracting it, but it will take 24-48 hours before it is purged entirely from his system. For now, it’s like a bad flu. Fever, chills, and shakes.”

Two days suddenly felt like forever. “Can you do a brain scan? A previous diagnosis showed abnormalities in his brain that might be due to excessive drops.”

“Yes, sir. I can complete the scan and will make an attempt to pull previous medical records,” the droid confirmed. “Since he is actively in a dropped state, I can make comparisons between his current scans and previous ones to see if the drops are the reason for the abnormalities.”

Obi-Wan nodded. At least they’d have an answer to that. “Thank you. Where is Boba Fett? The alpha?”

“In the bacta tanks, sir, to the left,” the droid pointed.

Following the droid’s direction, Obi-Wan rounded a corner and was met with the glow of several bacta tanks. Most were full of clones needing repairs, and then there was Boba. Jango was standing in front of his tank. His helmet had dropped at some point and was laying at his feet. Free of any eyes, Obi-Wan placed his cheek to the alpha’s shoulder and pressed his chest to his back. “Jango…it’s going to be alright. Everything is going to be ok.”

Jango leaned into Obi-Wan, pressing a hand to the glass of the tank in front of him. “Will it? Vizsla is still out there.”

“And Cad Bane is in our custody,” Obi-Wan reminded him. Cad would not remain a prisoner forever. He was not too ignorant to realize the hunter would eventually free himself, but for now they did not need to worry about him. As for Paz, “I don’t think he’ll continue his pursuit, Jango. I think it’s over.” Paz’s attempt at mating him had failed, and he thought Din would die from it. The visions had changed. They were different. Paz had given up. He…had to. He had to. 

After a few long minutes of silence, Jango’s eyes began to fill with tears and he broke down. Obi-Wan held him tightly all the way to their knees, pressing the alpha’s head to his chest and kissing his forehead as he whispered soft words of comfort. He’d known Jango for a very long time, and he’d never ever seen him break like this. He never trusted himself with anyone enough to break down like this. “I’m here, Jango. I’m right here. Boba and Din are safe. They’ll be alright. I swear to you.” Jango said nothing, simply burying his face into the omega’s shoulder and crying as he accepted the comfort. Obi-Wan found himself crying, too.

Minutes passed. Hours, probably. Obi-Wan was leaning against Boba’s tank with Jango in his arms. The alpha had finally found rest, perhaps with a little encouragement from Obi-Wan. The Jedi, however, could find no rest. Far too much was on his mind. “I wish you were still here, Master…I need your guidance now more than ever.”

“I’ve always been here, Obi-Wan, you were just such an array of emotions and Force energy it was hard to find me.”

With wide eyes, Obi-Wan sat up straight and carefully maneuvered Jango out of his arms. “Master Qui-Gon! Is it really you?”

The ghost of his master turned around with his hands on his hips. “Your connection to the Force has been all over the place, Obi-Wan. You haven’t quite known where to go. I suppose I can’t blame you, but…took you long enough!”

“Quite,” Obi-Wan agreed with tearful eyes and a smile. “Better late than never, I suppose.”

Qui-Gon hummed. “It won’t be easy having the Council against you, but at the very least, I can see it’s brought you balance again. Your attention is no longer divided. You know your course.”

“I disagree. I don’t know what to do, Master,” Obi-Wan said. “I feel myself being torn in so many directions.”

“You know what to do, Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon argued. “You may not realize it quite yet, but you’ve already made your choice.” He nodded towards Jango. “Follow it, Obi-Wan. Follow your instincts. Your heart. You believed in Anakin as I did. Believe in this.”

Obi-wan pulled Jango back into his arms and squeezed. “I fear for the Council, Master. I fear for the Order. There is so much divide and disarray after what happened with the clones. The Council speaks of change on the outside, but inside they are as against it as ever. If they continue in this direction, there will be no one left to follow them. They refuse to change.”

“Then let them fall,” Qui-Gon told him simply.  “Perhaps it is time for a new Order. One that you could lead.”

Obi-Wan shook his head. “I’m not a leader, Master.”

“You are,” Qui-Gon said firmly. “You always have been. You just have to trust yourself.”

But that was the problem. He didn’t trust himself. “I couldn’t even protect Din and Boba. How could I protect all the Younglings? All the Padawans?”

“You’ll protect them because you’ll learn from your mistakes, as you always have,” Qui-Gon said. “I believe in you, Obi-Wan. Believe in yourself.”

“Master-,”

Qui-Gon smiled. “You’ll be fine. Start a revolution, my Padawan. Make me proud.”

“But Master-!” Qui-Gon disappeared, and Obi-Wan was left alone with Jango. Sighing, he couldn’t help but smile just a little, and then he started to laugh. Stars, how had this become his life? At least his doubts had been quelled. Qui-Gon still believed in him and in the end, that was what mattered most. Nuzzling his face against Jangos’ head, he leaned back against the tank. “I don’t know what our futures may bring anymore, Jango, but I know that we’ll handle it together.”

With the comfort of his alpha in his arms, Obi-Wan allowed himself to find peace and quiet. 

Chapter Text

Boba’s eyes snapped open as he jolted awake. Immediately his eyes stung, and he had to blink them several times before he realized why they kept stinging. Bacta tank. He was in a bacta tank. That meant his father had made it in time. At least for him. Din. Oh Stars, where was Din?! Boba pressed his palms to the glass and looked around at the other tanks. They were either empty or occupied by one of his injured brothers. Looking up, he began to frantically look for the release valve. The top popped with a hiss and a series of bubbles and Boba threw it open so he could climb out. 

“Boba! Hey, hey, Boba! Calm down!” Jango ran up the small set of stairs that led to the top and grabbed his son’s arms to steady him. He was wet, and Boba wondered if he’d been at the base of the tank when he started splashing around. “Boba. You’re alright.”

“Din? Where’s Din!?” Boba asked frantically. He couldn’t feel it. He couldn’t feel that buzzing in the back of his mind that was the omega’s presence. 

Jango hushed him and ran a soothing hand through his wet hair. “Din is here with us. We got you both out.”

“I can’t feel him,” Boba breathed, feeling his eyes water with tears. “Paz bit him.”

“It didn’t take,” Jango assured him, “but Din is having to fight it off. The droid said it’s like a bad infection. It’s taken a bit of toll on him, but he’s finally resting peacefully. Or so it seems. The tremors have stopped, and the fever broke.”

Gripping the edge of the tank, Boba hung his head in relief and let himself partly sink back down into the water. So close. Paz had gotten too kriffing close to succeeding in everything. In taking Din and killing Boba. “I’ve…I’ve never felt something more painful in my life. It happened so fast, but it felt like a part of my soul was being torn from my body. I’d rather have every bone in my body broken than feel that again.”

“Hopefully, you never have to go through either ever again,” Jango told him sympathetically, running his knuckles down his son’s cheek. “Vizsla knows he’s lost. He knows he can’t bind Din to him.”

Boba shook his head, “But what if because of that he wants him dead?”

“Maybe, but I think after what he’s already lost, he’ll back down,” Jango said. “We know where their covert is, and we took out his own when we recovered you. Continuing to suffer losses just to kill Din…well, it would be foolish. More foolish than he’s already been.”

He wasn’t sure he entirely believed it. Paz seemed foolish enough to try it at this point. “So what now? What do we do now?”

“Rebuild,” Jango answered. “I don’t think we should return to Coruscant just yet, though, just in case.”

Clenching his jaw tightly, Boba considered what that would mean. “So, what? We live on a cruiser for a few months? On Slave ? Bouncing from place to place keeping Din from Grogu?”

“It’s only for a while,” Jango sighed, “and Grogu is completely safe where he is. It’s in Din’s best interest, Boba, and I know that’s what you want. It’s imperative he is able to feel safe for a time. I think we both know he couldn’t feel that on Coruscant right now.”

Jango was using Din against Boba, and it was working entirely, as much as Boba hated the idea. “Fine. You’re right.”

“Go back down. Your face could use a few more hours,” Jango told him. “It took quite a beating.”

“Druk my face,” Boba huffed, not caring. He just wanted to be with Din. “I hear omegas dig scars, anyway.” Gripping the edge he pushed himself up and out of the tank, but Jango pushed him back down.

“Let me go get a towel before you make a mess,” he stopped him.

“I’ve got one.” Boba looked over the edge of the tank to see Obi-Wan there extending an arm with a towel. “And some clothes down here from one of the clones.”

Jango took it. “Thank you, Obi.”

With help from his father, Boba got out of the tank and was dried off and wrapped in the towel. Obi-Wan nodded his head to the pile of clothes that had come from one of his brothers. His flight suit had likely gotten covered in blood after everything. “Where’s Din?” He asked as he got dressed.

“He’s just through there in the infirmary,” Obi-Wan told him, extending a hand. “Don’t worry, someone has been at his side the entire time.”

Once dressed, Obi-Wan led the way and Boba and Jango followed. Once Boba saw the familiar sight of the tauntaun blanket, he ran. Din looked pale, and although he was buried in a mound of blankets, his face was still cool when he pressed a palm to it. Even though there was relief at seeing him there alive, Boba still felt his heart clench with a sense of dread. 

“Good to see you’re alright, little brother,” Rex placed a comforting hand on the alpha’s shoulder.

“Thank you,” Boba swallowed hard, trying not to get emotional. “Thank you for saving us.”

“You’re family. That’s what family does,” Cody chimed in.

“Tracker. It was Tracker who put the device in Din’s vambrace,” Boba told Cody. “He’s the reason you were able to find us.”

Smiling, Cody nodded. “Good ol’ Tracker. I’ll make sure he’s rewarded.”

“Cody, Rex, could you please leave us alone for a while?” Obi-Wan requested. Both clones nodded and once they were gone, Obi-Wan crossed his arms and turned his attention back to Boba. “Boba, Din isn’t just unconscious. He’s in a drop.”

Boba swallowed and looked back at Din. “He dropped?” While the alpha knew of drops, he wasn’t very well versed in them. “What’s that mean for Din?”

“Allowing him to drop was the best way for his body and mind to protect itself from Paz’s mark,” Obi-Wan began. “It’ll allow Din to recover quicker from it. Normally, once an omega feels the threat has passed, they would wake and recover completely.”

Boba could hear the but. There was a but. “But?”

“Well,” Obi-Wan sucked in a breath and exchanged looks with Jango. “The reason Din’s tribe mother had concerns about his health….I think we’ve figured it out.”

Swallowing hard, Jango took over the conversation. “The droid found some abnormal activity in Din’s brain in his last scans. It wasn’t anything overly alarming, but it did draw some concern. However, new scans after the drop have shown significant changes for the worse. Drops cause fluctuations in the brain. They can be like mini-strokes. If an omega goes through too many, it can cause permanent damage.”

“What are you trying to say?” Boba asked as he attempted to put it all together. 

“Too many drops, and an omega may never wake up again,” Obi-Wan clarified sadly. “Or if they do wake, they could have permanent disabilities; speech impediments, paralysis, loss of vision, memory loss.”

Boba’s heart sank to the bottom of his stomach and he felt his skin go cold. “Are you saying Din isn’t going to wake up?”

“In the last few hours, the droid said his brain was showing signs of activity,” Jango said, giving him hope. “All signs point to him waking up, though it is likely he will have temporary symptoms. But, Boba. If Din drops again, he probably won’t wake up. The damaging effects of this drop were amplified because of the attempted bond.”

Removing his hands from Din, Boba propped his elbows on the edge of the medical bed and buried his face in his palms. Din had dropped so many times before that just once more could put him in an eternal coma. Or if it didn't do that, it would be permanent crippling. He might not ever be able to be a hunter again. “How many drops would he have had to come to this? What could make him do that?”

“There’s an infinite list of things that could make an omega drop,” Jango told him, “but we can’t know anything for sure until Din tells us himself.”

Boba grit his teeth angrily as he curled his fingers into a fist. “The armorer knew about this. She knew he’d done this before. Paz had to be the reason. Paz made him feel scared enough he felt he had to drop.” If Paz didn’t come to finish the job, then Boba would go to him. It was a promise. Boba would end his life one way or another.

“Probably,” Jango agreed with a sad press of his lips.“The best way to help an omega out of a drop is with an alpha. Their alpha. Stay by his side, and I know he’ll pull through.”

Boba wasn’t going anywhere. He didn’t need to eat, sleep, drink, use the refresher, or anything else until Din woke up. Finding Din’s hand beneath all the blankets, he laced their fingers together. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“I’ll bring you some food,” Jango told him, giving his shoulder a squeeze.

He didn’t need it. He didn’t care. All he wanted was Din to wake up and be healthy. After a moment of hushed conversation, Jango and Obi-Wan left the couple alone. The infirmary suddenly became silent. Uncomfortably so. The only sound was the steady beeps of medical equipment reminding Boba that Din was still alive and the normal sounds of a ship in space. Closing his eyes, Boba tried as hard as he could to find Din again through their bond. It required complete concentration, but eventually he found a faint buzz. So faint. Almost not there at all. Their bond felt weak. Mentally reaching out, Boba tried to pull Din back to him. After a few minutes, he could feel Din’s soul trying to wrap itself around Boba, but it was sluggish and fragile. It felt like the slightest thing could break through their bond if it tried.

Boba just clung to the fact that something was there at all. 

“Hey, little brother, brought you some food.”

Looking up, Boba saw Cody who came with a tray of food and drink. Boba shook his head. “Not hungry.”

“You were in the tank for two days, Boba,” Cody told him. “You need food. Come on. You have to keep your strength up for Din.”

As if answering for him, Boba’s stomach growled. Giving in, he took the proffered food. “Two days? I didn’t realize I was out that long.”

“Your injuries were pretty severe,” Cody said with a furrowed brow of concern. “So many broken bones. You even had some internal bleeding. Still got a few scars on your face.”

Boba could hardly remember it. All he could remember was the pain from Paz’s bite. Reaching up, he finally felt around his face. There was a divet above his left eyebrow and on his right cheek. Boba couldn't help but start to laugh. “As if I already didn’t look like my dad, now I share his scars.”

“Well, they did say unaltered,” Cody teased. 

“At least I still have my hair,” Boba smiled briefly, running his free hand through his thick waves. Jango wasn’t balding, yet, but he had a receding hairline that was surely in Boba’s future. Slowly, he began to eat. Despite his reluctance, he did start to feel better with food in his belly. “Do you really think Paz won’t come back for us? For Din?”

“I can’t pretend to know,” Cody answered honestly. “But I do know that General Kenobi gave up everything to save you both.”

Boba frowned as he chewed. “What do you mean?”

“The General didn’t have the support of the Council to go after you and Din,” Cody began. “He gave up his seat to save you. There’s no telling what punishments may come down on us following him, but at least at the end of the day we’re just clones. We follow orders, and how were we to know about the Council’s decision? We can feign ignorance.”

Kriff, was that really all true? Obi-Wan had abandoned the Order for them? He knew now that Obi-Wan and his father had something going on, but he never thought the Jedi would go to that extreme. The Order had meant everything to Obi-Wan. “Druk the Council,” Boba eventually huffed. He’d never been a fan, anyways. “After everything my father has done for them, they were going to just leave us for dead. Sounds about right.”

“Not gonna lie, sounds like there’s a lot of discourse going on with the Order,” Cody mentioned. “There were those that supported Obi-Wan, and it caused a division. No telling what this means going forward.”

Frankly, Boba didn’t give a kriff. Of course he wanted his father and Obi-Wan to be happy with whatever was going on in their relationship, but the Jedi could go druk themselves. Boba only went along with their orders to protect his brothers. To protect his family. But what problems would this cause for the clones? Boba did worry about that. “So what will you do?”

“Follow General Kenobi to my dying breath,” Cody said without hesitation. “And protect you and Din in every way that we can.”

Boba shook his head. “I don’t feel like I deserve that. I don’t deserve all of you risking your lives. Going against the Order. Stick to your mission.”

“Boba,” Cody let out a sigh before sucking in a breath and rolling back his shoulders. “It could have been so easy for you to ignore us. You drew the long stick. You got to be unaltered. Grow up like a regular kid. But you always have treated us like your real siblings. You’ve cared for us. I’ve always been lucky to be a clone under General Kenobi who cares for us, but not all Jedi do. Most Jedi view us as expendable. We’re just clones, afterall. But you love us, and we love you in return. Honestly, you’d be the easiest for all of us to hate because of your situation. The easiest to be so jealous of, but somehow you’re the one we all love the most. You’re the baby brother we want to protect. Din is now a part of that because he’s bonded to you. We’re here for you, because we know you’d be here for us.”

So often Boba was harsh and cruel in his emotions and actions, but he had always been soft around his brothers. While he’d grown up with a very loving father, he’d been lonely. Opening himself to the hundreds of thousands of brothers out there was his way to combat that. “Family first.”

“Family first,” Cody echoed. 

“So the Council knows? About my father and Obi-Wan?” Boba asked.

Cody tilted his head and shrugged. “I can’t say entirely, but I have to suspect at this point. The General wouldn’t have just abandoned everything for Jango unless it was more than just business associates, if you get my drift.”

“Guess my father and I have something to talk about,” Boba sighed. He’d wanted to leave it alone. Leave it between them, but now it affected all of them. Of course he was supportive. He wanted his father happy, but Obi-Wan leaving the Council was huge. This was going to turn into something big, and while Boba had always been a fan of not taking sides, he felt like it was inevitable now. “Thanks for always being there.”

“I hope I always can be.”

Boba finished eating and then placed his head against the blanket and Din’s chest. His fingers were still laced with the omega’s, and every so often he squeezed trying to get some sort of reaction from his mate. There was nothing. After some time, Boba found himself slipping off to sleep. In his dreams, Boba just kept sprinting towards a Din that seemed to move further and further away. In the end, Boba got angry and desperate enough he refused to watch his mate slip away. Moving as fast as his legs could go, as fast as his heart would allow, Boba finally caught up to Din and wrapped himself around the omega. Holding on as tightly as he could, Boba pulled Din towards the light.

“He’s waking up!”

Jolting awake, Boba looked at Din. The omega's eyelids were fluttering with life, trying to open. Grabbing Din’s hand with both of his hands and squeezing, Boba did everything he could to try and pull Din back to the waking world. Din’s fingers showed no signs of squeezing back, but Din’s face started to show expression. His famous brow furrow started to take form. “Din! Come on, Din, wake up!”

Din let out a small moan of discomfort and his eyes slowly fluttered open. Boba called his name, but the omega made no effort to look over at him. He didn’t squeeze the alpha’s hand back. There was no reaction to Boba at all. Instead, fear suddenly washed over Din’s face and the heart monitor began to beep in alarm as it increased rapidly with the sudden panicked gasps. “My helmet…my armor…where is it!? You took off my helmet!”

Wait, what? Boba blinked in confusion. “Din, what are you talking about?” They were past that…weren’t they? 

“He doesn’t remember,” Jango told him, gripping his son’s shoulder. “Boba, maybe you should-,”

Boba shrugged his father off as he began to match Din’s panic which probably just made it all worse. “Din, it’s me, Boba! Your mate! Come on, look at me!” But Din didn’t. Din didn’t look at him. He didn’t look at anyone. His eyes remained unfocused, staring at something in the distance. Boba could feel his entire body fill with dread. Letting go of Din’s hand, Boba waved a palm in front of his eyes. Nothing. There was nothing. Din couldn’t see. There was no holding back the tears in Boba’s eyes. Cupping Din’s face in his hands, he pressed their foreheads together. Din’s heart rate increased, and Boba could smell his fear, but he kept his tight hold on the omega. “Din. Come on. Please. It’s Boba. Boba Fett. Your mate. Your alpha. At least remember that. If you don’t remember anything else, remember me.”

“Boba, maybe we should let him rest and have the droid look at him,” Obi-Wan suggested softly, approaching and gently placing a palm to his back. “The symptoms should be temporary.”

Should. Should! That didn’t mean they were! “Din, please!” Boba’s voice cracked and he could feel himself dying inside. Concentrating on their bond he did everything he could to send positive emotions through it. Comfort. Safety. Peace. Assurance. Anything to get it to spark a memory. After everything they’d been through, Din couldn’t have just forgotten.

There was silence from everyone in the room. Everyone was waiting on pins and needles to see what would happen. Din was motionless and silent other than his raging heartbeat that Boba could hear, feel, and even taste through their bond. All the happy memories of them together started to fill his head, and he hoped that somehow Din could see them, too. 

Slowly, so slowly it almost seemed painful, Din’s right arm found its way out from the layers of blankets and reached for Boba. His fingers tried to grip his bicep, but it was too weak. His hand started to slide off, but Boba grabbed it and held it tight. “Boba….” Din pressed back where their foreheads touched. “Ni kar'taylir gar.” 

Boba let out a small sob of relief.