Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

"Messy. Very messy."

Din sighed as Colonel Ward scolded him just like every other time he took a job for the New Republic. Every bounty hunt was messy. That was just how bounty hunting worked. "You said warm or cold. I chose cold. I followed the terms of the agreement."

"So you did," the alpha woman put down the tablet and let out a small huff of amusement. "Good job. I would have preferred you would have brought her in warm, but one less war lord is one less war lord."

"Maybe next time don't give me an option, then," Din suggested.

Ward smiled and tapped the table. "There's someone I want you to meet."

"Oh?" Din tilted his head with interest.

The woman stood up and nodded at Grogu. "Actually, it's more like someone I want him to meet."

Grogu let out a curious coo.

"Come on," Ward motioned for them to follow her. "It'll be worth your time. Promise."

Din doubted that, but he followed behind her anyway. She led them through the Adelphi Base towards a large ship Din hadn't noticed until now. He frowned at it. "An S-161 luxury yacht. I don't imagine anyone flying in one of those is someone I'd care for Grogu to meet." Only the rich would fly something like this, and Din knew damn well never to trust anyone with money. Especially not with Grogu.

"I know it's a bit unorthodox, but I assure you it's not what you think," Ward told him before approaching the lowered ramp. "Cal! You in there? I brought Mando and his foundling."

Din turned his head so he could whisper to Grogu. "Be on your guard."

Grogu let out a gurgle of agreement as he sunk down beneath Din's shoulder.

"One sec!" A voice shouted out from within the ship.

Din waited, on guard. Colonel Ward seemed to trust this person - Cal - but Din was going to reserve judgment. Better to be wary. Too many people wanted Grogu and they'd lie any which way they could to get to him. His hand might have brushed against the pistol on his hip. Just in case.

A man descended the ramp, roughly Din's own age. He had bright orange hair and a pale face littered with freckles and a stubble. Green eyes lighting up, he smiled up at Din and waved. "Hey! It's nice to finally meet you! I've been wanting to -," he cut himself off and his eyes went wide as they locked onto the foundling attached to Din's shoulder. "Grogu!?"

Grogu let out a loud shriek of excitement and then he was flying off of Din's shoulder and into the arms of Cal.

"Holy kriff! Grogu!" Cal laughed, pulling him into a hug and pressing their cheeks together. "It really is you! I can't believe it! You're alive! You made it! How!?"

A BD droid pattered down the ramp and began letting out a series of happy beeps amongst all the excitement.

Din just stood there, lips parted beneath his helmet in total surprise. Of all things he thought might happen with this meeting, this was not on the list."You…know him?"

"Yeah!" Cal exclaimed happily, tucking Grogu into the crook of his arm and giving his head a little scratch which the child leaned into immediately. "Grogu and I trained at the Jedi Temple together before Order 66." Grogu let out a series of noises and then pointed at Din. Cal followed the gesture and looked straight at Din. "Yeah? Is that so? Wow. Well, can't wait to hear all about it."

A Jedi. This Cal was a Jedi. Like Ahsoka and Luke. He sucked in a breath and his heart gave a thump of warning against his chest. Would he try and take Grogu away from him like Luke? Even though it had been Grogu's choice at the time, and despite ultimately choosing Din, he couldn't forget the worst months of his life longing for Grogu. Months where he spent nights silently crying to himself buried in grief from the loss. He was an omega who had lost his pup. Grogu seemed happy about the reunion, though. Ecstatic, even. There was no need to panic just yet.

"Well, this is certainly a surprise," Ward crossed her arms and smiled. "I figured they'd enjoy meeting each other as fellow Jedi, but I had no idea it would be a reunion."

Grogu looked down at the BD droid and squealed. Cal chuckled and knelt down to set Grogu down for an introduction.

"This is BD-1," Cal introduced. "He's my best friend."

BD-1 tapped his feet excitedly and beeped at Grogu. Grogu mimicked his movements and then giggled.

Smiling down at them, Cal stood and then walked over to Din with an extended hand. He was now close enough that Din could catch his scent. He smelled like sunbaked earth and petrichor. An omega. Din was surprised, but instantly felt more comfortable around him. "Cal Kestis. Thank you. For taking care of Grogu. He said it's a long story to tell me, but that you are the most important thing in his life."

Din swallowed hard, trying to fight back the jealousy he felt that Cal could communicate with Grogu in a way he never could. That he couldn't hear something as important as that directly from Grogu himself. It hurt. Pushing those feelings aside, he gripped Cal's hand. "Everyone around here calls me Mando."

"Just Mando, huh? What if I run into another Mandalorian? How will you know whose who?" Cal asked with an amused raise of his brow. "You aren't the first one I've met out in the galaxy."

Another Mandalorian? That caught Din's curiosity immediately. "You've met others? Who?"

"Know a Boba Fett?" Cal asked.

Din just laughed. Of course it had been Fett. "We've met a few times."

"He could have turned me in to the Empire, but he didn't," Cal remarked. "I'll never forget that."

That sounded like Boba. "He's a good man. He helped me get Grogu back from a Moff when he was stolen from me." Boba had also tried to court Din, but…he'd gotten scared. Boba wanted him to stay on Tatooine. Take the throne with him. Din should have said yes. He liked Boba, after all, but he had such little experience with relationships that he'd gotten cold feet and run. Din hadn't been to Tatooine since, too full of shame.

"I'm glad," Cal turned his head over his shoulder to look back at Grogu fondly. "Since you won't just tell me your name is Din Djarin, I guess Mando it is."

Din let out a huff. "Colonel Ward already tell you my name?"

Ward held up her hands and shook her head.

Cal just smirked, not giving out any further information. Din was usually frustrated by the secretive nature of the Jedi he'd met, but there was something about Cal that was…charming. It didn't annoyin him quite as much. "Would you mind? If I meditated with Grogu and talked with him? Catch up a bit? It doesn't have to be now. Whenever is convenient for you. I know you just got back."

"I don't mind, but it's up to the kid," Din answered. "Seems like he'd rather not wait."

"He's eager to tell his story, and I'm eager to hear it. " Cal agreed. "Just wanted to make sure. He's chosen the path of Mandalorian, so it's only right I check with his buir as he is still apprentice. Better not to give him too much power at his age. He'll abuse it."

Din couldn't help but be impressed. "You know our ways."

"Jedi were above all mediators. Keepers of the peace. To do that, we needed to know the customs of all peoples," Cal explained. "You can join us, if it makes you feel better. Wouldn't dream of taking him out of your sight."

"It would," Din said without hesitation. Trust but verify.

"I'll leave you all to it, then. Mando, I'll have payment transferred to you." Ward nodded at them and began to head back to the cantina.

Cal walked back to Grogu and knelt down. "Is there a favorite spot you have here to talk?"

Grogu climbed onto BD-1 and pointed with a few coos. The droid beeped in understanding and then scurried off with Grogu on his back towards the beach. Grogu loved the beach. Din would just watch for hours as he played in the sand with the various small creatures that roamed around. Cal took off after them and Din followed quietly behind. Grogu crawled up a rock formation that he liked to meditate on and Cal joined him, the BD droid crawling back onto his shoulder. Din kept a respectable distance and just watched.

It felt like Ahsoka all over again, spending hours silently watching while Grogu and Cal talked. It wasn't really hours. It had been thirty minutes at most, but anytime Grogu talked with someone else it felt like an eternity. It felt like that because Din couldn't do it. Of course they'd come up with their own way to communicate, but it wasn't the same as this. It especially stung when Cal and Grogu both laughed together in the middle of whatever story was being told.

Eventually, the sun beginning to set, Cal stood and nodded Grogu back towards Din. Grogu climbed down the rock formation and then happily waddled back with Cal behind him. "You're a special man, Mando."

"I'm just a man," Din argued.

Cal looked down at Grogu who then jumped up onto Din's back. "Not to him. You may not have given birth to him, but he considers you his mother nonetheless. He calls you that when he speaks about you. That is a very high honor for any omega."

Din's heart clenched. Mother. A title Din never thought he'd have. As much as he would have liked the idea of having younglings, it wasn't safe in his profession. Grogu could protect himself. A child by birth couldn't. Not for a long time. Grogu really thought of him that way? He had no idea.

"He loves you."

Din looked over at Cal who seemed to be looking out across the ocean with a bit of sadness and remorse. "Ahsoka told me that Jedi are not supposed to feel attachments, and that's why he could not be trained as one."

"Yeah," Cal agreed solemnly, still staring out into the distance.

"Do you feel the same?"

Cal clenched his jaw and then shook his head. "I think the Jedi Order got a lot right, but I also think they got a lot wrong. Attachments, friendships, love…they are the only reason I'm still here today."

There was definitely more to be said, but Din didn't like when people pried into his life so he didn't pry into theirs. Besides, they hardly knew each other. Such topics weren't appropriate. "Are you here to help the New Republic, then?" A better topic of conversation, he thought.

"I guess," he sighed as he placed his hands on his hips. "I've spent my entire life fighting the Empire, it feels like. I've tried to step away, but it seems I'm incapable of leaving it alone. There's still a threat out there, which means there is more work to be done. I can't rest until the galaxy is free from the Empire. For good."

Din didn't believe there would ever be a galaxy in which that were true. "That's a lot of weight to put on your shoulders. Especially as a fellow omega."

"Yeah," he agreed softly. "It's already hard out there for us, but we both chose a path that made it even harder. Guess we are gluttons for punishment, huh?"

It was in that moment Din could see the exhaustion in his green eyes. The bags beneath them. The hollows of his cheeks. How long had this man been running? Fighting? How long had the omega been without a place to call home? To nest? Din could relate. The Razorcrest hadn't been much, but it had been a home. One that he'd lost. He'd only just found a more permanent home on Nevarro.

"Guess so. What made you come to the New Republic now?" Din asked.

Cal huffed and smiled as he watched Grogu and BD-1 play among the edge of the water. "Guess I got tired of being on my own. For a long time I had a crew. Friends. But that all changed once the Empire fell. They went about their lives. Gave up the fight. Well, I guess they thought there was no more fight to be had, but I always knew the Empire was still out there. They wanted to let it go, and I didn't. Couldn't. So…here we are."

Din could understand. He'd had a family once. His covert. Paz and the Armorer. Paz was gone, now, and the Armorer had a new life on Mandalore with Bo-Katan. Grogu was his only family, now.

"What about you?" Cal asked. "Mandalore was reclaimed. Mandalorians aren't quite the rarity they once were. Why aren't you there with the rest of them?"

Din didn't belong on Mandalore. He couldn't explain it, but he just knew that staying there wasn't his path. "Grogu is my foundling. My apprentice. It is my job as his buir to teach him The Way. He can't learn if he stays on Mandalore. I also think I'm a bit like you where I couldn't just settle down. Not in my nature. Not when there's work to be done, as you say."

"Two omegas who can't settle down," Cal chuckled in amusement. "Isn't that something?"

"It's something," Din agreed, beginning to feel a sort of weird kinship with Cal. "Was it hard for you as an omega within the Jedi Order?"

Cal shrugged and shook his head. "No harder than it was for alphas or betas. Jedi come in many races, some whom don't have secondaries like humans do. It would be a little odd to separate us all in that way. The Order saw us all as equal. Me, Grogu, and all our peers were all just Padawans. It was once it fell that things got hard. On top of having to hide I was a Jedi, I did everything I could to pretend to be a beta anywhere I went."

So had Din. For the longest time very few people ever knew Din was an omega. That had only begun to change once he'd met Boba. Boba who had told him to be proud of being an omega warrior. He'd thought of himself differently since then. He'd been more proud of who he was. What he'd become, despite being an omega. All of that…was ultimately thanks to Paz. Paz who had trained and believed in him the moment he'd become a foundling despite being an omega though he'd given him hell the entire time. Din still regretted his death, even though it had been an honorable one. The kind of death Paz had always hoped for.

"I understand," Din said simply. "I did the same."

Cal smiled down at Grogu. "Not now."

"Not now," Din agreed. "You, either."

The redheaded omega sucked in a shuddered breath that held a hint of pain. "I had someone teach me the importance of listening to the fire inside." There was a silent pause between them before Cal continued put on a fake smile. "I'm sorry, you just got back from a mission. I'm sure you're tired. Grogu and I can spend more time together another day next time you're around. Don't think I'm going anywhere for a while."

"I would like to go home," Din agreed.

Cal tilted his head. "Yeah? Home? Thought you didn't settle down."

"Not sure I'd call it settling down. Don't spend much time there, but it's there when I want it," Din explained. "It's nice to have a place for the kid. Nothing more than just a hut, but it's got plenty of land for ships and a pond the kiddo likes."

Cal crossed his arms and put on a smug smile. "Oh, is that an invitation, Mando?"

"What?" Din questioned in confusion. An invitation for what?

Shaking his head, he laughed and tapped Din's shoulder. "I'm kidding. You said you had a lot of land for ships, so I just took the opportunity."

"I…," Din swallowed, not sure what to say as he stared down at where Cal had touched him. Why did his skin there feel so…warm? Clearing his throat he suddenly blurted out, "Nevarro. That's where I stay when not here or hunting a bounty. You…could join us."

Cal looked shocked by the actual invitation. "Oh, no, you don't have to, I was really just messing with you-,"

"Grogu would like it." And maybe…maybe Din would like it, too. He'd never had a guest. Sure, Greef occasionally stopped by, but it was just to drop something off or pick something up. Never to actually stay and visit.

The Jedi put his hands on his hips and tilted his head as his eyes looked Din up and down. Even though he was wearing a full suit of armor, the gaze made Din feel a bit self-concious for some strange reason. "You sure? It's not peer pressure, is it?"

"It wasn't originally the plan, but I wouldn't offer if I didn't want to," Din said honestly.

That seemed to be the right thing to say as he smiled warmly. "Ok. Sure. Nevarro. Never been. You ready to go now?"

"Sure."

Cal turned to shout, "BD! Grogu! Come on!"

BD-1 and Grogu acknowledged his call and began making their way back up the beach towards them. Grogu hopped back onto Din's back while BD-1 latched onto Cal's. The two omegas silently walked together towards the hangar bays. The N-1 was parked a few bays over from the Stinger.

"This is yours?" Cal asked with a raised brow and a low whistle as he pointed to the N-1. "Doesn't seem very conducive for bounty hunting."

"It's not," Din agreed, "but my other ship was blown up by the Empire. This is what I could find and afford. It's fine when most of the jobs require a cold target. She's fast and the kid likes it."

Cal chuckled as he walked around it, "Yeah, bet he does. Send me the coordinates and I'll follow you in."

"Got it." Din peeled away from Cal and began to climb into the N-1. While often times Grogu would settle into the astromech bay in the rear, he chose to stay in Din's lap for this trip. Din made sure to wrap the seatbelt around him as they took off towards the atmosphere. Making contact with the Mantis Stinger, Din sent Cal the coordinates.

"Received," Cal acknowledged over comms. "See you there!"

It was a strange feeling. Din felt..excited? Why? He couldn't explain it. He hadn't even actually invited Cal. Cal had mostly invited himself. And yet, Din was now happy at the prospect of having a visitor. Was it because this Jedi knew Grogu, or was it because he was an omega that seemed to share so many similarities with him? Din didn't know, but he weirdly began to think about how he had no food at home. Dank farrik. Fin was already failing as a host and they hadn't even landed yet.

"So. What do you think?" Din asked as they sat in hyperspace.

Grogu looked back at him and blinked his large eyes.

"About Cal," Din clarified. Grogu smiled immediately. Din huffed and smiled behind the helmet. "Glad to see an old friend, huh?"

Grogu looked at him with bright eyes and squealed happily in agreement.

Din placed a hand on his head. "I'm glad, kid. Really glad. It always feels good to rekindle old flames." He didn't feel like he had any of those left at this point.

A few hours later, they breached the atmosphere on Nevarro and Din led them to his small hut on the edge of the volcanic flats. Grogu hurried towards the Stinger, waiting for the ramp to lower in anticipation. As soon as it did, the little BD-1 droid joined Grogu and in an eager exchange the two headed towards the pond. Cal smiled as he popped his head out and leaned an arm against the frame.

"I realized I have no food," Din apologized. "Not used to having guests and I never know when I'll be around. I can head into town and get something or we could just eat there."

"I wouldn't mind going into town, but that would a be a bit hard for you."

Din tilted his head. "Hard for me?"

"The helmet," Cal explained. "Or are you one of the ones that actually takes it off?"

"I'm not," Din answered. He would have just taken the food to go and eaten back here. It was something he did rather frequently and was used to it.

Cal smirked knowingly. "Didn't think so. Lucky for you, I've got enough food for all of us on board the Mantis here. Her previous owner was a cook. Not a great one, though he'd argue otherwise. Still, I learned a thing or two from him. Come on. I'll give you the grand tour and then cook us up a meal. There's enough space we can eat without looking at each other."

How quickly Din became the stranger in his own home. Stars, he was really bad at this whole hosting thing.

Din followed Cal up the ramp and into the Stinger and followed Cal around as he pointed out the different areas. It was small, but everything in it was of the highest of quality from the leather seats to the appliances. Din's eye caught glimpse of something off to the right. As he approached, he saw a terrarium. "You like plants?"

"No," Cal answered bluntly, "but Greez did. This was his ship. He asked me to bring him seeds from across the galaxy to grow in there. He owns a cantina on Koboh, now. Really turned it around. Never had the heart to get rid of the terrarium even after I took the ship. Makes it feel a little more like home, I guess.I also know if Greez ever asks for the ship back and finds those plants dead he'll tear me a new one."

Cal began to work around the kitchen, and Din watched for a while until his eyes began to wander. Din became the hunter that he was as he searched for every bit of detail he could find to learn more about this Jedi. His sleeping quarters were in the back. A simple cot with a few bunched up blankets despite there being an actual room with a bed. It was right across from a workbench with tools littered across it. Where Cal slept and worked was messy, but everywhere else on the ship was clean and tidy.

Looking at the caf table around the built in seats just below the kitchen he noticed a photo. Making sure Cal's back was turned, Din reached down and picked it up. Cal was much younger than he was now and he was surrounded by several other people taken right here in the Mantis. All of them were smiling. These must have been those that he had lost whether to death or life. Din didn't ask any questions. It wasn't his place.

"Go ahead and ask."

Din turned his head in surprise like he was a child caught in the act. Cal's back was still to him as he cooked, but it seemed he knew exactly that Din had been looking at. Damn Jedi. "You said they no longer wanted to fight."

"Yeah," Cal said as he took a knife to some vegetables. "Well, most of them. The dark-skinned woman in the photo is dead. She was my mentor. Died fighting Lord Vader himself. She's one of the strongest Jedi that I've ever known. Greez is the Lateron. Then there's me and BD."

"And the other woman?" Din didn't quite recognize what she was, though her markings did remind him a bit of Zabrak though without the horns.

Cal went rigid and his eyes lowered in sadness as he paused his movements. "Merrin. She…found a different path."

There was very clearly more to tell to that story, but it was still fresh and painful. Din could read that much. "You miss them."

"I do," Cal agreed as he turned back to cooking. "Just as I'm sure you have people you miss."

Din's thoughts went to Paz again. Even Boba. "Yes. I do." Not wanting to snoop any more, he chose to climb the few steps back up to the kitchen and lean against the railing to watch. "What's it like? Communicating with Grogu?"

Cal paused and looked over with a raised eyebrow. "It's…like a voice in your head. Grogu can't speak Basic through words, but he can speak it through mind."

"I see." Din bit his lip, trying to contain his bitter jealousy.

Cal still picked up on it regardless. "He understands you. I promise. He may not be able to communicate with you the same way we do, but he knows what you say. He knows what you ask. Well, as much as any kid his age could."

"But I do not know what he says. What he asks," Din argued sadly, full of frustration. There were times where he and Grogu understood each other, yes, but there were many times they didn't. Times that Din had to just scoop Grogu up despite the protests and move on because he just didn't understand.

Cal turned over some meat and dumped a bowl of vegetables into another hot pan. "I think you're being too hard on yourself. Honestly, I don't think it'll be much longer before Grogu is able to speak a few words. I think he already knows a few, but he's scared to say them. He chooses to be quiet."

"Why?" Din asked, not understanding why Grogu would choose not to speak.

The other omega didn't answer right away, stirring the vegetables in the pan. "Trauma sometimes does that to you. I was on a ship when Order 66 happened. When every clone I ever trusted suddenly turned on me and killed my Master. Tried to kill me. Grogu was at the Temple when it all went down. He saw his friends, other children - practically babies - be murdered. Even though it was a long time ago, he hasn't exactly had anyone to speak to until you. No one he trusted enough to say hello to. He trusts you, but a part of him is still scared."

"I always thought that it would just be like this forever," Din remarked. "Or at least, my forever. I know that he will long outlive me."

"He will," Cal agreed, "but there's still a lot of time left. Time for you to still see him grow. For him to learn how to take care of himself when you are gone. You're doing all the right things."

Din hadn't realized how badly he needed to hear someone tell him that. "I never really know most days if I am or not. I thought as an omega I'd just know how to be a parent, but I don't."

"No manual for it, is there?" Cal huffed with a smile. "Your instincts are serving you just fine, Din - Mando. Almost done. Care for a drink? Something stiff?"

Definitely something stiff. "Actually, I was given a bottle of wine from Coruscant from a friend. I've never had reason to open it. Seems like now is as good of a time as any."

"I'd love that, thanks," Cal said. "Grab Grogu and BD on your way back."

Nodding, Din pushed himself away from the railing and walked to his house. The wine took him a minute to find, the bottle having gathered dust as it had been left forgotten. Grabbing it, he headed back to the ship. Stopping by the pond he whistled for Grogu who was splashing around the pond with BD-1. "Hey. Kid. Come on. Time for food."

Grogu was tucking tail to run towards the Mantis at full speed at the mention of food.

"Found it," Din said as he set the wine down on the table. He searched around for a bottle opener and glasses, quickly finding them to the right of Cal. He helped himself and poured two glasses.

"Hey! Grogu!"

Din whipped around to see a piece of meat floating across the room. Cal held out a hand and the same piece of meat came souring back to the frying pan. "Kid! You can wait five more minutes."

"Not even," Cal grumbled. "You know, Grogu, one day you're not going to be cute anymore and you're not going to get away with that."

Grogu's eyes narrowed and he gurgled unhappily.

"What? It's true! We all grow up, even you, and we're no longer adorable and innocent kids. Not that you were ever that." Cal pointed a spatula towards him. "I remember what you used to do at the Temple."

Grogu let yet out another unhappily grumble.

"Don't let him fool you, he was a menace," Cal told Din as he began to plate the meal. "Trouble everywhere we went."

Din let out a small snort. "I'm not fooled. I already knew he was trouble. Always has been. Haven't you, kid?"

Grogu turned his back, clearly unhappy with both Din and Cal at the accusations and wanting no further part in it. Din couldnt help but shake his head and roll his eyes. Kids.

"Here," Cal set a plate down at the table. "You can eat here. I'll eat down there with Grogu."

Din didn't know why he said it. There was no reason to. No reason for Cal to know, but he said, "Grogu can see my face. He is my foundling now by Creed."

"Oh. So family are allowed to remove their helmets around each other. That makes sense. Well, then I'll eat with Grogu down there so that you can have a moment of peace, if nothing else. Thanks for the wine!" Cal grabbed a glass and then with a few motions of his hands a plate and a bowl began to float into the air in front of him as he headed down to the built-in couch and caf table.

Making sure his back was fully to Cal, Din reached up and removed his helmet. It shocked him how easily he did it. There was nothing separating him and Cal other than their turned backs. The Jedi could take any opportunity to look at his face and then he'd have to fly back to Mandalore and take another unfortunate dip. The mere thought of doing all of that all over again exasperated his mind, and yet Din felt fully comfortable here in someone else's home. Stars, how had he grown so soft? He shouldn't have been trusting the other omega so easily. And yet.

Grabbing the knife and fork, Din dug into the hot meal. It took everything in him not to let out a pleasured moan. Din rarely ever got home cooked meals, mostly because Din didn't cook. He'd pick up food from stalls and bring home, or he'd simply live off of rations. Any good food was always reserved for Grogu. Din was used to crap food and it didn't really bother him much. Cal may have insisted this wasn't good cooking, but Din would have said quite differently.

"Slow down," Cal laughed. Din immediately thought he was talking about him and stopped his chewing until he realized it was Grogu he was talking to. "You're going to choke, and I'm not going to help you. It can't be that good, seriously. You act like your mother doesn't ever feed you, and I know that's a lie. BD, tell him."

Din smiled, resisting the urge to turn around and look. Mother. Din still couldn't get over that. Grogu called him mother. Most of the people who ever used any sort of parental term between them always called him father, knowing that Din couldn't have given birth to him and most assuming he wasn't even an omega. Taking a sip of wine, the smooth alcohol coating his throat with a sweet taste, he just listened and appreciated the easy banter.

"Where have I been? All over the galaxy, just as you have….why didn't I answer your call? I didn't hear it, or else I would have, I swear. But there is no one better to have answered you than Master Luke…yeah of course I know him. We've met. He asked me to help restore the Order…I didn't want to…Don't scold me like that. You didn't want to stay, either…Yeah I know you had your mom, but I had my reasons, too…Well, I guess because I'd honestly had enough of the Order. I saw the how it failed, and I honestly didn't want any part of restoring it…Maybe, but that's for Master Skywalker to figure out, not us."

Din swallowed, a million questions burning to be asked as he listened in. "You met Luke? You really don't want to help see your Order restored?"

"…no. Not really." Cal sucked in a shuddered breath and even though Din wasn't looking he could feel the Jedi's shoulders quiver. "Besides, I'm not really qualified to be a part of something like that anymore, anyway."

"Why do you say that?"

Cal went silent. He didn't answer.

"Thank you for the meal," Din tried changing subjects. "You sold yourself short. It also paired strangely well with the wine."

"Or maybe you're just complimenting me so I feel good," Cal said. Din could feel his smile against his back. "Either way, thanks. Greez would be happy to know I actually cooked something edible for a guest. Grogu seems to have no complaints."

Din huffed. "He never does. Never met a meal he didn't like."

"The wine is really good, you're right. Haven't had something this smooth in a long time. Usually only get the kriff that burns. Think I'll have another glass after this."

"It's all yours," Din offered as he cleared the food from his plate. Even though he'd caught a nap on the way back, exhaustion was beginning to set into his bones. He needed sleep. "I hate to cut the conversation short, but I need to rest."

"Yeah, of course. I'm sorry, I've kept you up. Catch you in the morning?"

"Sure," Din agreed, grabbing his helmet and returning it to his head before standing. "Kid, you want to stay here for the night?"

Grogu shook his head and hurried towards Din, wrapping his arms around his leg before making grabby hands to be picked up. With a sigh, Din reached down to pick him up despite knowing damn well Grogu could have jumped his way into the omega's arms on his own.

"Goodnight, Mando. Thanks for the invite."

"You invited yourself."

Cal smirked, a glimmer in his eye. "Did I?"

"I'm glad," Din found himself saying unexpectedly. "Thanks for dinner. Goodnight."

BD-1 bid them farewell with a series of beeps, and then Din headed down the ramp to his house with Grogu in tow. Once inside, Din locked the door as he always did out of have and removed his helmet again and the rest of his armor. It was a great relief to get it all off his sore muscles. He wanted a shower, but that could wait until the morning. He was too damn tired. Kicking off his boots, he stepped out of his flight suit and into a pair of linen sleep pants before settling into his bed. Grogu climbed up and curled himself against Din's side.

"What a day, huh kid?" Din asked, rubbing the pat of his thum across Grogu's forehead.

Grogu purred against the touch and closed his eyes with a small nod of agreement before he let out a loud yawn.

"Guess you're tired, too huh?" Din smiled before letting his head fall against the pillow and his eyes close. "Goodnight, kid. Love you."

Grogu let out a happy noise of agreement before everything went pleasantly quiet and Din easily and quickly fell into a deep sleep. All throughout his dreams he felt this warm presence. One of peace and safety. There was a moment he thought he saw a shadow that reminded him of Cal, but as quickly as it came it was gone again and the rest of his sleep was dreamless.