Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Now, relax your stance…there you go.” Anakin said as he walked around Luke’s smaller form. “I know the arm still aches, but it will do better if you keep yourself from becoming stiff.” He smiled and touched the prosthetic. “Let go of some of that pressure.”

A hiss of air escaped Luke’s teeth as he did so and then the wooden training blade dropped to the sand.

“Fuck.”

“You held it a lot longer than yesterday.” Anakin beamed. “And language.”

“Y-You say worse.” Luke groaned as he rubbed at where the arm and metal met.

“Hey, no.” Anakin took his hand, “You tell me if it hurts. We’ll get something for it. But putting pressure on it like that isn’t going to help.”

Luke made a noise from his throat that sounded like an attempt of a scoff but it did not hit well. Anakin smiled to himself. His boy was trying so hard to appear tough. He was doing his best to make Din and Anakin work for him.

He continued to fail miserably and Anakin adored him for that.

There was for sure a brat buried in there. His baby claws peeked out there and there as more and more of his personality was unearthed from the decade of torture. Too bad for the bratty side, Luke was a sweetheart through and through who wanted to make people happy more than anything else. Just a darling who tried but couldn’t hold a grudge. He did his best but he was just too soft for his own good.

Din and Anakin made sure he could keep that softness.

“Just be careful, alright?” He urged. “Let me know if it hurts.”

Luke gave a curt nod and looked away; his face flushed as if embarrassed. “I will.”

“You did great today. Your use of the training saber is amazing. It is a skill that is coming naturally to you. You are going to be incredible at it in just a matter of a few months.” He smiled at the small hands. “You are putting so much time and effort into this.”

“I hope I can be better.” He looked down at his fake fingers. “I just want to be strong.”

“You already are, baby boy.” He smiled.

Luke didn’t say anything back and that was alright. Anakin already knew what the young one was feeling. How much doubt and uncertainty he had. How he felt he must be strong in order to protect himself, to survive, in case they betrayed him and he was alone. It would never happen. Din and Anakin would see to that, but there were no words or actions that could be done now or even within the next few years to calm that worry down so easily. Luke would for a long time coming hold a layer of fear and distrust for them and there was nothing they could do about that other than let the wound slowly heal.

If he wanted to train to be prepared for that day that would never come, they would train him. If there were nights he needed to be alone to cry and face his nightmares on his own, they would step back and protect him from a short distance. If he needed to hide under the covers and try to swallow his words because he never wanted to hurt them despite it being what they deserve, they would just sit back in quiet and let him scream into the pillow to get it out.

Anything Luke needs, anything he wants, and he would get.

And they would be there for him through every single moment of beauty and nastiness that may explode through him.

Every single human emotion he finally experienced, faced, and released…and they would hold it possessively to them. Luke may not enjoy all of them, may worry about being a terrible person, but they would hoard it tight and know each one was just another step for him as he finally saw what it meant to be a person.

Luke wiped his face, smudged with sweat and grime, as he looked at his hand again. He was still worried about it but both Anakin and Din have noticed it out in the open more and more. It was slowly becoming less of an it and more of just another part of who Luke is.

More of his scar of victory and survival and Din’s and Anakin’s reminder of what they should never, ever forget; their miserable and bitter failure.

With a smile, Anakin grasped the prosthetic and held it up, giving it a small kiss on the wrist.

Din really had some genius artists following him. The arm was far better than even his own. The intricate patterns and details added in just to make Luke happy and find beauty in it was a touch the father truly appreciated. He knew one day Luke’s flesh fingers would trace over them and manage a smile.

One day they will ensure it happens.

“We’ll take our time.” Anakin smiled. “You’re progressing incredibly. I see you being a master within just a few short years.”

“You…think?” Luke had to look up at him with hopeful eyes.

“Most assuredly. Your power, your dedication, how you have survived…you are on your way to an even greater greatness than you have already accomplished.” He gave a pet over his hair. “You just have to give yourself some time, ok? Be patient.”

Luke managed a tiny smile back, “Ok.”

“Now,” he touched Luke’s wrist again, “how about we get you cleaned up and some chilled drink? Maybe that lemonade. We can also get you some cookies. Would you like that?”

A timid nod was given back and Anakin had to beam.

“Come along--”

“Luke!”

The blond made a move between a perk up and a flinch. He blinked as Din rushed over and nearly tackled him, grabbing his face and smothering him with some kisses. It was if he was trying to count any freckle that was beginning to show as his color came back with his lips.

“H-Hello, D-Din--” Luke tried to great back but was given more kisses, this time to his mouth. He made a squeak and there was a wet noise as Luke’s surprise turned into a whine.

Anakin yanked Din away, “Stop shoving your tongue down his throat.”

“I was just,” Din licked his lips too sensually as he gave a heated stare to Luke, “greeting my husband.”

Luke blushed and Anakin growled.

Din just smirked and grasped at Luke, giving him a kiss on the nose, “Did you have fun, my heart?”

“I was training him, Din.” Anakin hissed and tried to claw them apart again. “And I am taking him to get a bath and then getting him snacks.”

“I think I should take him.” Din pulled him right back. “I think it makes more sense for his husband to bathe him.”

“Absolutely not!”

Din just gave Luke a tender expression, “Are you alright, starlight?”

The man just gave an embarrassed flushed and looked away before he nodded. Din smiled and nuzzled up close. Luke’s fingers grasped at Din’s robes and gave a timid clench against them. It was sometimes hard to breathe around Din. Something about him, how bright he felt to how good he smelled, made Luke dizzy.

It was still hard to open up to him, to try anything, but that no longer seemed to deter the man. As long as it was for Luke, it did not seem that he would ever stop. He was always ready to appear and wrap himself up around Luke, pull in close, give him soft words and light kisses, like he was thinking about Luke always.

For some reason it made Luke feel embarrassed and his heart jump to his throat. His skin would tingle and it would feel as if he was quickly losing strength and his head grow heavy.

Din, as if sensing this, gave Luke a smirk and leaned down so their noses were touching, and whispered out, “What is it, my heart?”

Luke bit his lip and looked away.

“Stop seducing him!” Anakin snapped and slammed the side of his hand against the top of Din’s head. “He is my baby and you don’t need to be doing any of this shit!”

“Ow!” Din snarled and pulled back, glaring at his father. “Your violence is really unnecessary.”

Anakin glared, “It is very necessary if you keep trying to steal my Luke.”

“He’s my Luke.” Din hissed.

“He’s my baby.”

“He’s my husband.”

“I’m being squished.” Luke squeaked, trying to move his face from Din’s chest. “C-Can I move a little?”

Din looked down at his husband and smiled and helped maneuver his head, “There you go.” He stared at Luke who gave him a sweet blink back, still looking a little unsure what was happening. He grinned, feeling it was probably a mix of lovesick and hungry, and gave him a kiss.

“STOP DOING THAT TO MY BABY!”

The days passed interestingly.

Luke supposed he could say that. At least that’s what it felt like.

They were not slow or boring but they were not intense or feverish. Perhaps content would be a word for it. It was not a word he was really used to nor really knew how he understood the meaning.

There was a sort of monotonous to it; every day there was some sort of plan for him though he was allowed to change any of it on a whim. He could sleep as long as he wanted, eat whatever and whenever he wanted, ask to go to one place over another…Luke just wasn’t sure how to do any of that.

He was used to structure. He was used to being told what to do. Having options just made him feel sick and confused. And he had asked to be told what to do, so this was easier. It was still just odd in a sense.

He would wake up by Grogu’s excited calls in the Force, urging him to get up to play, and would meditate with Anakin and the toddler for an hour before breakfast, normally with the whole royal clan, and then things may drift slightly depending on what day it was. Three days a week, Luke would training for a few hours with his father and then with some Mandalorians, often times Din but when he was busy it would be someone like Rex, so he could learn the proper way of fighting according to the culture (Anakin would always scoff and then one of the Clones would throw a rock at his head). Other days he was provided a lot of additional teachings of anything he had questions on.

Luckily, Luke had a lot of questions. He had been filled with nothing but propaganda and some build-up of his education from Tatooine before Palpatine grew tired of him. He could read and understand things really quick but there was so much he never quite understood or knew about. Now, he only had to ask about the stars or how things worked or where to find certain plants and he was told. He was shown how to find these things out himself as well. His holotablet was given unlimited access so he could search through everything that popped into his head. He was shown how to control those questions and narrow in so he could research and study and not feel so overwhelmed.

There were walks around the palace with guards and others who worked and roamed stopping to give him bows of respect and warm smiles. That got a bit overwhelming and he always needed to hide behind his escort. It was taken that he was not quite ready to venture out of the palace yet if the few people around made him so nervous.

Food, baths, toys…really anything was given to him. Luke never had to ask. He never even knew what to ask for but something new would appear for him. Even with this odd sense of expectation, he was still surprised none the less.

It was still odd.

Luke just didn’t know how to handle it.

“That’s some sigh you made, baby boy.”

“Huh?” Luke startled from his thoughts to look up at his father who smiled down at him with his sunburst eyes.

“What’s on your mind?”

“I…I don’t know. A lot. And nothing.” Luke rubbed his head as he peeked down at the ground far beneath them. He could see the Mandalorians mulling about, doing their tasks, and enjoying their lives. It was different from the view in his room. He swung his feet and looked back up to the sky past the dome.

“Here.”

“Huh?”

“Very eloquent today, baby boy.” Anakin chuckled as he held his closed fist up. “Open your hand.”

Luke did as told and a few what appeared to be brightly colored and chilled small stones were placed into his palm. “Huh?”

“They’re candies. Small and sweet and good cold. Have some.”

“Where were you hiding these?” Luke wondered as he took one and popped one in his mouth. He was pleasantly surprised at the sweet taste and quickly had another.

“I can’t give you all my secrets.” Anakin grinned. “But I’ve had a habit of taking things like that with me whenever I go out. I have an insulated pocket on my belt that is probably meant to carry something like medicine but I was never very good at using it like that. Drove a few mad.”

“The 501st?”

“Luckily, I had plenty there who supported me and my ways. I picked up some tricks like this from them.” He took one himself and flipped it by his thumb, letting it spin for a second into the air, before he caught it with his mouth. “Rex was one of those who got frustrated I didn’t use my supplies correctly. Snips loved it. Obi-Wan, not so much.” He then huffed as he took another one. “Hypocrite. Not like he was any better. He would stuff teas or caf-packets or cream-colored cookies from his home world in different crevasse throughout his ship. Now that drove Cody mad. Almost as much as his tendency of dropping his saber.”

Luke nodded. These names were becoming more familiar. His father talked about them often.

“Uhm, d-daddy?”

Instantly, Anakin perked up. Although Luke had only seen the creatures a few times, the action reminded him of a pup. Something within the Force made him almost see a tail wagging. “Yes, baby boy?”

“D-Did I get liking sweets from you?”

“Me? Oh, I don’t think so. I have no preference. I’ll eat anything.” He hummed to himself. “When I was twelve I broke a tooth because I found a rock at the temple and tried to eat it.”

Now Luke had to laugh, “W-What? Really?”

“You never tried to eat a rock?” He asked with a grin.

“No! Even I knew not to do that!” Luke had to snicker, somehow imagining it. It was weirdly fitting to the man who was no longer Fallen but Anakin Skywalker, his father. “And twelve?”

“I was dumb as the rocks I tried to eat apparently.” His grin was wide and feral. “When I was in the Clone Wars I ate bugs in front of Obi-Wan. It nearly made him sick.”

Luke gave a moment to think, “I guess…I would eat bugs.”

“Well, you don’t have to eat bugs.” Now he sounded huffy. “I will not have my baby deal with that. I was desperate.”

Somehow, Luke got the feeling his father wasn't that desperate. “I would if I was desperate too.”

“You’re not desperate. You’re a consort. My little prince.” Anakin poked his nose. “And I know you don’t care much for meat though,” he pinched Luke’s side, “you still need the protein.”

“I’ve eaten more meat now. I just…don’t like that animals are hurting.”

His father smiled and pressed a hand on Luke’s head. “I know. You’re a sweet boy.”

Luke flushed and munched some more on the candies. “Then, did I get this like of sweets from mama?”

“Actually, I think you got it from your grandmother. My mother.” Anakin said with a soft, melancholy smile. “I remember how she enjoyed these little honeyed-cakes and the Bantha milk that were common from the streets of Tatooine. They were common and cheap enough that she could afford it from time to time.”

“Oh! I loved those too!” Luke gasped. “Aunt Beru would make me spiced honeyed-cakes and chilled Bantha-milk for snacks on occasion. I think she said she started to learn to make them so she could give them to grandma Shmi.”

Anakin’s head snapped to him, looking at him in surprise, “She…g-got to have those cakes?”

“Yes! Aunt Beru talked about grandma Shmi often. She said how she wished I could’ve met her.”

“I…I wish you could’ve too. I know my mother would’ve adored you.” He whispered and pressed a hand to the back of Luke’s head. “You two could’ve had those cakes together.”

Luke’s cheeks squished as he smiled brightly, “So, I got it from her.”

“Yeah, your mother had a very mild diet. The sweetest things she liked were fruits.” His sun-eyes softened. “I am sorry you were unable to meet either of them.”

“I know…but…” He stopped as he crunched a bit over his sweet snack. “I remember…when I was in the Dark Room and everything hurt and I was waiting for nothing…someone touched me and sang the lullaby.”

“The lullaby…” Anakin repeated in a soft tone.

“Oh, uhm,” Luke blushed, “Y-You are my starlight.”

“Little starlight.” Anakin pushed at Luke’s hair. “Din told me you knew that song…how?”

“I don’t know…it’s just something I’ve always seemed to know.”

“Your mother…” He trailed off for a moment, deep in his memories, before he gave a sigh. It wasn’t tired nor necessarily sad but almost lovingly. “She sang that to you multiple times a day when she was pregnant with you.” His hand stroked over his son’s hair some more. “You sang it to yourself?”

“Well, about three lines. It’s all I knew of it.”

“That’s about as much as your mother sang to you. She was a bit shy of her voice, surprisingly enough. She said that the rest sounded better in another language.” He gave a breathless laugh. “And…you heard her?”

“I don’t know. I remember being alone in the dark, ready to give up and…then there was someone else there and I could hear the song and…” He trailed off, “It sounds silly.”

“No, no it does not.” He laughed with complete happiness. “Your mama came to see you. Your mama came to save you.”

“I didn’t think she was Force-sensitive.”

“That doesn’t matter. That would never matter. Nothing would stop her to come and help you, our baby boy.” His eyes looked a bit wet. “She was there for you…you can feel that too.”

“Yeah…” He gave a slow nod. “Yeah. I…I can.”

“Buir, come in.” Din’s voice rang out from the comm.

“Hello, ad’ika.” Anakin hummed lazily back.

“Are you keeping Luke on a roof to try and hide him from me?” Din grumbled out.

“Hmm? Of course not.” Anakin purred. “I just happen to like this spot. Nothing devious about it.”

“Uh-huh.” There was a rush of air and then the man was hovering before them in his armor, arms crossed, as his jet-pack spat out controlled fire from behind him. “Did you forget I can fly myself?”

“It’s not flying. We just jump well.” Anakin pouted. “And you can’t fly either. It’s cheating when you use tech.”

Luke knew Din rolled his eyes behind his helmet. “I want my husband.”

“And I want my baby boy.”

Luke took another munch on his treat as he watched the two glare at each other. They had such a fun and silly relationship. They were clearly close with their funny arguments. It was a daily thing with them now. Although it made Luke still feel a little sad and jealous, it was far easier to enjoy now. He was happy the two found each other and were making each other so happy.

“Luke,” Din moved up closer, hands out as he grasped Luke’s waist. “We have some visitors that want to see you, love. They’ll play with you while buir and I are doing some business.”

Sometimes Luke could almost feel clear enough to think how Din and Anakin spoke to him didn’t quite fit his age but he wasn’t really sure what to compare it to, nor if it was really a bad thing. He did seem to get playmates more than…well…he wasn’t really sure. What did adults have?

There was really so much for him to learn about all of this living over surviving business.

“Hey,” Anakin made a move but there was a shift from Din as a rush of victory and excitement hit him and he grabbed Luke’s waist tighter and yanked him closer. “Hey!”

Din pushed back from the edge of the building, holding Luke close to him. “I’ll take Luke down to the ground. I think he deserves a rest.”

“I can carry him!”

“No.” His strong arm went under Luke’s hanging legs and pressed under the knees to bring him up closer.

“You’re a rotten, ungrateful brat, Djarin!” Anakin roared as Din just casually moved back.

“And you’re a greedy prick, Skywalker. See ya.” And then he just his jetpack off and he and Luke fell to the ground.

“DON’T DO THINGS LIKE THAT! HE’S DELICATE!”

“FUCK YOU.” Din called back as they fell. He caught them a few meters before the ground, igniting jetpack back up to bring them to a slow hover till their feet touched the ground. “Was that alright?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah.” Luke nodded. “It was fun actually.”

Once he was safe and steady on the floor, Din reached up to remove his helmet. Luke always found something attractive about the move. Din’s curly hair always seemed a bit wilder as it sprung free from the helmet’s confinements. His eyes always looked more serious, more dominating, as if he becomes someone slightly different whenever he put it on.

“You certainly are Jedi-like.” He said in his rumbling, warm voice. “All Force-users I know have this need to go fast.”

“I hear that is something very standard for us.” Luke cracked a smile as he felt his heart skip a beat.

“And I am already starting to grey because of that.” He ran his hand through his hair and Luke tried not to squeak. There was something very…heated about that movement. It made Luke’s heart and stomach swirl about. Seeing how beautiful the man was made Luke remember how lonely the large bedroom was. He swallowed at the odd thought.

He also couldn’t help but wonder why he thought silver sprinkled through the curls and scruff also sounded attractive.

“C-Can you come back?”

“Hmm?”

Luke blushed and looked down, “T-To the room. It’s your bedroom. C-Can you come back?”

“Back…oh.” There was something warm and spicy and sticky between them. It made him shudder. He wasn’t sure he could handle the sight of Din’s stare at the moment. Already his skin prickled and he could feel his stomach tighten. “Oh.”

“I-I…j-just…” It was hard to get his tongue to work and he wasn’t sure why.

“Just what, little star?” Din said in a tone that made Luke’s knees weak.

“J-Just…” He swallowed again. His face felt so red he worried he would actually start tearing up from the heat. “M-Miss you.”

“Yes?”

Luke nodded and kept his eyes to the ground.

“You miss me?”

“Y-Yes.”

“Well then,” His arm went back to snake around the small waist and pressed their bodies close. His breath was against Luke’s ear as he came closer, nuzzling, “You sure you want me back?”

Luke could only let out a tiny squeak of a “yes” in return.

Din chuckled and it made electric shocks shudder through his body. “Cute darling. Alright.”

Now his head snapped up, “Huh?”

“I said alright. I’ll come back to the room today.”

“R-Really?”

“Yes, starlight. I’ll be there.”

“Oh…oh!” He had to grin, “You’ve said no every time I’ve asked before.”

“Well, I am saying yes today.” He kissed the top of Luke’s head. “After you have fun and buir and I deal with some business.”

“What kind of business?”

“Boring stuff.” Anakin huffed as he landed beside them, standing tall to cross his arms and glare at Din. The king just stared back unimpressed. “You’ll have a lot more fun with the visitors today.”

“I can’t come?”

The two men smiled at him, “It’s not work you need to concern yourself with. And there is someone I want you to meet first, ok?”

Luke frowned, playing with Din’s sleeve, but nodded. He could sense they were going somewhere he wouldn’t understand. Some place where they could unleash the Dark side they have simmering behind some veil. They haven’t said no right out, but Luke had a feeling he was never to know where they went when they both turned in to swirls of thunderheads and a pit of vipers.

He made no arguments about it as he was led to through the palace. “Who is here?”

“A few very special people.” Din smiled warmly at him, wrapping him up close, as he walked snug between them. Luke didn’t really feel squished but he was snug as both were quite a bit larger than him.

“Yep. And, hey, baby boy, we were thinking soon in taking a visit to the valley to check in on it. Would you like that?”

Luke’s eyes brightened, “Really? I…y-yeah! I would!”

Both laughed, “I am happy to hear that. You have been asked for. Apparently, it is going well. Your powers made things grow.”

“Grow.” Luke repeated in awe as the words clicked. “I did?”

“Yes. You have a very special ability, it seems.” Anakin ruffled up his hair. “Maybe as you grow stronger you can join the Agricultural guild.”

His eyes sparkled, “I-I could?”

“Though you can live your life lazing about in luxury, as we would like, I know you like to do things. As consort, something like this would be good for you and the people.” Din gave him a warm stare. “I can have a personal greenhouse built for you along with making room for any ugly creature you want. You can have fun and grow things thing along with research items for the Agriculture team.”

“Yes!” He eagerly nodded his head. “I would love that!”

“Then you shall have it, love.” Din promised with another kiss. “I will have it put together immediately. Would you like to take part in its construction.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Then it’s done.” And Luke got another kiss. “Now, come along, little heart. I know they are excited to meet you.”

“The special people…” Luke repeated, wondering who they could be.

Luckily, he did not have to wait long as they entered into the hanger and there was a loud, “THERE!” echoing throughout.

There was no time to really think about anything before he was grabbed by another far larger body, this one even taller than his father and husband, and raised up high.

“He’s far cuter than you ever were, Skyguy!” A beautiful face with sharp teeth said as a greeting.

“Uh.”

“Snips! Don’t just grab my baby!” Anakin snapped.

“What are you gonna do about it, shorty?” She smirked, holding Luke up by one hand above her horns.

“Just because you hit a Torguta growth-spurt means nothing. You’re still my padawan and I order you to put him down.”

“I recall that I am not a Jedi….neither are you…sooooo, therefore you can’t tell me what to do. So shove it.” She tilted her head up and her blue eyes sparkled as she threw him a cocky grin. “Nice to finally meet my baby nephew. Neither of those idiots there have shut up about you.”

“Uh…n-nice to meet you too?” He had never seen a Torguta so close before. He knew they could get very tall and have strong muscle mass but it was even more impressive up close. “I’m Luke Skywalker.” He gave a polite bow to his head.

“And he’s polite! And super pretty!” She brought him closer, squinting at him before she turned to look at Anakin, “How the fuck did this come out of your balls, Skyguy?”

“Ahsoka. Really.” Din groaned. “I don’t want Luke around vulgar talk.”

“So, you invited someone who was raised in war, around Clones, and was trained under that dumbass…oh and then lived on the run and in the rebellion.” She drawled out. “He’s baby-face but that doesn’t mean he can’t handle some rough talk, eh, kid?”

Luke, still held above her head, blinked, “Uh, guess so?”

“See?” She then tilted her head and her long Lekku moved about with her. “Hey, Leia, you and him are both frightfully pretty but you don’t look too much alike.”

“Well, I am a test-tube baby. Could be a reason.” Another woman, far smaller, noted as she approached. She was tiny, maybe more so than Luke, but something about her screamed fierce and large. She was very pretty with a soft face, large brown eyes, and hair coiled into an intricate braid.

The two looked at each other and Luke found it felt as if he knew this woman for all of this life.

“Who…are you?”

She tilted her head in a similar fashion to the Torguta and Luke knew they must’ve spent a lot of time together.

“Apparently, we’re some weird Force-twins.” She hummed out as if this was the most usual thing. “Your father and mother gave their genetics to my father and mother so they could have me. We were also apparently born the same day…at the same time.”

The Torguta, Ahsoka Din had called her, rolled him about in the air as if he weighed nothing. Luke was used to being a bit manhandled at this point and the woman seemed to be having fun playing keep-a-way from Din and Anakin who were both sulking and making insults as they tried to reach for him.

“Force-twins. I hadn’t heard about that.”

“Me either, but apparently the Force works in mysterious ways.” She then turned to look at Anakin and Din and sneered, “Stop being so pathetic. You invited us to see him and now we are seeing him. Get lost.”

Din gave a glare at the woman who, Luke realized, must be like a brother to her as well.

‘This is a weird family dynamic.’ Luke thought. He was quickly losing track of who was who. It didn’t help that he was married to a man who was, sort of technically, his brother. ‘Huh. Didn’t think about that till now.’

“A-Ah! G-General, uh, hi. Hello. Uh, nice to see you.” Paz said in an awkward rush as he stumbled in.

Luke blinked. It felt like the man had been running and hadn’t happened upon the scene.

The woman, Leia, seemed to feel the same and tilted her brow and smirked at the man. She looked a lot like Anakin when she did that. “Vizsla…cute way of greeting.”

“T-Thank you!” The massive man actually squeaked.

She chortled, “Cute.”

It sounded like Paz whimpered.

“And we’re called pathetic.” Din huffed, still trying to reach for Luke.

“You both are.” Leia snapped. “Vizsla’s act is cute. You both are just sad. Now get lost.”

The two sulked again. “Fine, we’ll be back soon, little heart. You have fun. And you all,” Din glared, “Be nice to him.”

“What are we, seven? Get lost.” Leia shooed them off.

“I’m not letting him down until you guys are gone anyway.” Ahsoka smirked down at them.

Both continued with their moping but after another fond look at the blond, they left.

“Tch, what morons.” Leia tsked and looked over at Paz who made another noise and stood to attention. “Well, since you are here, how about we all go get something to drink?”

“Anything for you!” He squawked out before it looked like his actual helmet burned red in embarrassment.

Leia laughed, “Cute.”

“Oh gods, Tano, kill me.” Paz groaned.

“Absolutely not. This is far too much fun.” She gave a little toss and Luke went up and was instantly caught in her hand once more. “Hey, little Skyguy, can you hold your alcohol?”

“Huh? Uh…I’ve never really had it. Din let me have some wine for dinner but just a little bit. It tastes a bit funny. And it makes me a little dizzy.”

“So, you don’t handle it. Well, then,” Ahsoka dropped him back to his feet. “You will get used to it with us. No worries. We’ll train you.”

“Train me?”

“Uh, I know I will have my ass kicked if we get him drunk.” Paz pointed out. “Maybe we wait until they can join?”

“Hmmm…” The women looked at each other and smirked before they got Luke between them. “No. Come on, Luke. We have a lot to catch up on, don’t we little Skyguy?”

“Uh. Yes?”

Paz groaned, “I’m going to die.”

“Then come get your desired drink with me before you do.” Leia gave him a look. “Hmm?”

“This is not fair.” The man groaned.

“As if you like me being fair.” Her smirk was sharp as she got closer and Paz made another weak noise. “Come on, big boy. Let’s have some fun while I am on planet.”

Luke watched as Paz seem to fall apart from her words and couldn’t help but feel sympathy for him. For some reason, it reminded him of what Din could do to him. Just a few words and he felt like he would do anything the man asked of him—even now. Maybe, weirdly, especially now.

He watched the two, Leia teasing and Paz suffering, and wondered what exactly it was. Love, perhaps, but also not quite.

‘Well…Din says he will come tonight. I want to ask him.’ It made him feel flushed and his body tingle. ‘I really want…Din.’

In the hall, Din paused a moment and looked behind him where they left.

“What?” Anakin drawled out.

“Ah,” a hungry smile grew on his face. “Just had a pleasant thought about my Luke.”

“My Luke.” Anakin flicked his ear. “And it better not be anything dirty.”

“It is.” Din yelped when Anakin’s fist cracked against his skull. “OW! Stop that!”

“Stop thinking filth about my baby.”

“No.” He yelped again when he was given another smack. “You’re going to need to get used to this one day soon. He is becoming more aware of what want is…and I know he wants me.”

Anakin’s ears colored and he went so far to puff his cheeks in his pout, “I don’t like it.”

“Too bad.” Din took another look behind him before he went back to walking. “How is our guest doing today?”

“Already losing his mind.” Anakin sighed. “Did this to our Luke for so many years…our Luke was so much stronger. He didn’t lose his mind at all like this.”

“He’s pathetic.” Din clicked his tongue. “Our starlight was so strong. He did so well and he can’t even function for a few weeks.” His eyes looked up, glazing and darkening. “He still hasn’t died enough, buir.”

“No,” Anakin’s dark smile grew on his face. “He hasn’t died near enough.” His teeth were wolfish as he gave the hungry stare to his son. “He can still feel enough…let’s have him die again, shall we?”

Luke rubbed his mouth, finding they were tickling after Din’s consistent kissing and dragging his scruff against Luke’s lips. It was odd how he could still feel so much of Din against him. It made his head feel woozy. More so than the little bit of wine he had with Ahsoka and Leia (and he supposed Paz who just stood stiffly to the side gazing at Leia).

He flinched, flushing, when he sensed Din finishing up in the shower connected to the room.

Their room.

He tried not to groan in misery.

He just didn’t understand this. He continued to urge Din to use the bedroom, which belonged to him as the Mand’alor, and up until recently the man refused. Today, Luke had expected the same answer when he begged Din to please move back into the location, that it belonged to Luke and he would not take over this safe space until it was time (whatever that meant), except Din just smiled at him in such a way and said ok.

Now Luke was sitting in the bed completely thrown for a loop.

But maybe this was normal and he, due to being an idiot (though his father said he needed to stop calling himself that) he missed something very obvious?

“Luke?”

“Huh?” He blinked, looking up to see Din at this side. He hadn’t even noticed him. He flushed seeing the man shirtless, still dripping with water from the shower, and had to look away. He was still gorgeous, beyond handsome, and it made Luke feel weird. His own body burned and felt super flushed.

Din chuckled, “You’re cute, love. Is it too much?”

“I-Is what?”

“Me being undressed?”

“Oh, u-uh,” He blinked again, looking at Din’s chest, and went red as he quickly looked away. This was not something he was used to. He always knew Din was a larger man and he was good-looking, if beautiful, but now he felt more aware of everything about everyone…especially Din.

He was taller than Luke to the point it sometimes felt Luke really only reached his shoulders or pecs, which Luke always found himself surprised as he didn’t think he was that small, with a cut body of a warrior trained by a Sith. His shoulders were broad and his waist small. He was firm with muscles but wasn’t just tight with them as, from his unfortunate experience within the medical focus, that was not necessarily a sign of a healthy warrior. His chest, a darker tan than what Luke used to be under the Tatooine sun, had scars splattered here and there in a way that Luke knew those who gave them were no longer alive.

It was funny how the scars laid about his body perfectly. They looked like proud decorations, something tempting and dangerous, that just gave Din another layer of this odd attractiveness to him. There was even a dip of his hip bones into his pants and a trail of dark hair coming from it and went up from the hem to his chest.

Luke didn’t look like that. His own scars were brutal and ugly; a path of roots from a dying tree that started at his chest and met again at another trunk on his left shoulder. Some lines of the roots were pinker, fresher, than others. They overlapped in some dance that patterned throughout his whole form and managed about with the other scars left from the sessions in the White Room. To him, they all told a story of misery and weakness.

His own body was not nearly as big as Din’s. Din could feel up a whole space, he was wide and thick. Luke was small, too small, now just with extra pudge that he couldn’t really figure if he appreciated or not. There was so much in his head that screamed at him about his ugliness every time he caught himself in the mirror.

He was just so aware and he hated it.

“Oh, little heart.” Din purred and pressed a gentle kiss on his forehead. “It’s so loud in there, isn’t it?”

“I…d-don’t know. Maybe.”

Din kneeled down to smile at the man, “I can’t imagine.”

“Sorry, I don--”

“Luke.”

The blond grimaced, “I…can’t help but apologize.”

“I know you can’t, but you don’t have to. You’re not doing anything wrong. Your mind is just becoming hyper-focused. This happens more intensely after you train.” Din played with a clump of the gold hair. “I’ve noticed you get more confused and silent after the sessions.”

Luke sighed, “I hate it.”

“I know. But it is a good thing.” Din swore. “This is just you finding yourself. It is just a difficult time because you truly are becoming more aware of thoughts and yourself. You’ve never had this before.” He frowned and removed his attention from the hair to the slope of Luke’s face. “Seeing yourself, feeling yourself, for the first time at your age…I can only imagine it is odd to say the least.”

That managed to get a small laugh, “I don’t get how all of you live with thoughts like this.”

“Well, we’ve dealt with them longer. Most of us haven’t be in that weird fog as we’ve nicknamed it for over ten years. It’s just going to take time.”

Luke gave a sulk and curled up on the pillow, “I hate it. I want it to go faster.”

Din laughed, “Yeah, that is a Skywalker.” He kissed Luke’s nose. “You’re doing your best, my heart. That’s all any of us could ask for after all that has happened.”

Luke couldn’t help but feel his face burn up at the attention, “A-At least I’m not crying as much.”

“You are working on that, my little crybaby.”

Luke’s ears turned red at this point, “That’s not fair.”

Din grinned, “I’m not a fair person.” He kissed his face again. Once again, Luke was reminded of the woman who was his Force-twin. “I never have been. Nor have I been particularly good. You just always saw only the good in me.”

“I think you are incredibly good, Din.”

“I know you do. I still don’t see how.” He did not sound as sad or lacking confidence as before.

Luke reached up to touch at his face, “Why did you agree to come back today?”

Din took his hand and gave the palm a kiss, “I know you have been asking and, in your own way, waiting, but I could not return to this room and be with you until I knew we were both ready.”

“For what?”

Din gave a nip to a finger, “For us to take the next step.”

Luke gulped, “T-That sounds…ominous.”

“It’s not supposed to be.” Din picked himself up and, to Luke’s flustered surprised, moved to be on top of him, his hands next to Luke’s head, their legs close together, the small remaining droplets of water from Din’s body hitting against Luke’s own skin. “I am not talking about making love to you, not yet. I want that to come soon, but I know it’s not time yet.”

“I…don’t understand.” Luke muttered.

“I know you don’t. Hey,” He leaned down to give him a kiss. “Don’t pout about it. Remember, you need to be patient with yourself.”

“Sorry.”

“Luke.”

The man just gave a meek pout back.

“We’ll get there.” Din laughed. “Again, I know this is difficult. But you are trying so hard and it feel every day you were getting stronger.”

“So because I am…stronger you’re back in your room?”

“Our room, starlight.” Din quickly corrected. “Ours. Yours and mine.” His fingers trailed up Luke’s arm before finding the smaller hand resting against the pillow, pushing them apart and intertwining them. He gave Luke’s hand a squeeze of comfort, “I am back because you asked for me to come back.”

“I’ve asked you that before.”

“Did you mean it then?”

“I…yes?”

“No, you didn’t.” Din chuckled. “You were trying to mean it because you are kind and selfless. You were only thinking about me having what you thought was mine back. You were trying to give something up…not including me in it.”

“I…was?”

“Mhm.”

“Oh.” Luke frowned. “So, how was this different?”

Slowly, Din lowered himself to rest atop of him, being careful to not squish the smaller man nor make him uncomfortable. “I don’t know. Maybe it was simply Leia being on world and the promise of future adventures that you would love. Maybe even something smaller than that. But, there was something that clicked, I felt it, and knew you were ready to share this with me and not just hand it back.”

Luke pursed his lips, “And you felt that?”

“I love my Luke more than most anything.” He squeezed the hands again. “My love for my clan, the few people I consider important, vitally important, are people I can become obsessed with. I know what you want and think.”

“Obsessed.”

“I get it from buir. I know I am not Force-sensitive, but I believe, on some level, I have absorbed a lot from him. His teachings but his Darkness as well.” He nuzzled against the side of Luke’s face. “I know if I was like you, I’d be Sith as well.”

Luke shifted a bit so he could look at him and speak without the dark curls trying to get into his mouth, “You think so?”

“It’s impossible for me to be anything else. Not with all this rage and hatred in me.” He kissed Luke’s cheek. “I’m a cruel man, love. I have to be to get to my position. To hold this power.” His teeth came into place and he gave the face a tiny bite, earning a squeak. “I saw my parents die. I was in a brutal training camp by the Mandalorian’s feared terrorist group. Then a fallen Jedi, a Sith, came and swept me away where I trained and was taught to love by him. I had no chance the moment those droids slaughtered my family.”

“I-I’m sorry.” Luke noticed Din did not seem angry but it felt like a proper thing to say anyway.

“I know you are, my little star.” He trailed his mouth to Luke’s ear, nibbling against it. He smiled when Luke jerked in surprise. “But this is just the way things are. Who I am. I’m obsessive. I’m possessive. I have a temper. I also get confused and worried about how I should appear and present myself. How to balance my position with who I am and I can spiral.” He sighed when he moved slightly and found Luke’s heartbeat; one of the most beautiful sounds in the galaxy. “My confidence and thoughts get clouded. It’s something buir has tried to get me to focus better with but I didn’t really get it until I nearly lost you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean,” Din moved to hover back over Luke’s lips, “when you arrived, I was worried. I wasn’t confident I was doing the right thing. I was scared I was doing something wrong that would hurt my people and I took it out on you.” He kissed him again. “I saw you and knew something was off but I was just only focused on myself and my own troubles. Even as I saw more about you it just made me more confused and fearful and I took it out on you.”

“I was an Imperial.”

“You weren’t. I just told myself that. But it was hard to believe in anything else.” He pushed his tongue over against the seam of the lips. “I was angry, Luke. And that weakness took my clarity. Not even my clarity…I was just a childish moron who took things to such an extreme.”

Luke reached up, his fingers touching Din’s cheek, “I forgave you, Din.”

Din moved to kiss the fingertips, “I know you did. How, is beyond me. But You did. But I am explaining it to you. How things happened…how I was…”

“Oh.” Luke blinked. “Oh. So…you…reacted like Sith.”

“I feel like I reacted more like an idiot.”

“Hmm…” Luke then gave him a grin, “Guess that too.”

“Oh, you teasing me?”

“Maybe.” Luke laughed and reached up and kissed Din. “I know what you were thinking, Din. I understood it. I never blamed you for any of that. It was still nicer than how others treated me. And, yes, looking at it from your perspective…I was really suspicious.”

“I know, love.”

“And, in a way, I am a bit…relieved?” Luke began to caress his nails against Din’s jaw and the brunette groaned.

“Relieved?”

“It’s how I knew you were good. You were honest.” His fingers trailed up from his jawline to the curls of his hair, petting through it. “You hated me and you showed that. You could’ve pretended that you loved me from the beginning. You could’ve lied. You didn’t.”

“That wasn’t better.”

“It was.” Luke gave a tiny tug to Din’s hair and blinked when another noise was made. It sounded positive so Luke continued. “It may not have been the best or the healthiest…but it was truth and warmth. All I got in the rooms were cold, lonely dies and so many lies. I knew I was hated, I felt it, but they tried to…slither lies in to try and get me to do things.”

“I’ve lied as well.”

“I know.” Luke smiled. “But it was different. I haven’t forgiven you just because of my feelings, even if they can get jumbled now, or because you think I am too soft. But because I could feel goodness in you. And even when he was Fallen, I felt it in him too. I could feel you both changing in how you felt about me, even though I couldn’t understand it at the time. I knew you both were good people.”

Din closed his eyes, sighing against the attention, “We didn’t choose you.”

“You didn’t. It broke me. But just because you did wrong to me does not mean you are terrible people. Even in your Darkness, I felt it. I can still feel it. Maybe that’s how I am willing to try and trust you…because you promised you would try. You would do your best to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“I will never let it happen again. It’s you, Luke. It’s just you.”

“And Grogu.”

Now Din laughed, “Yes, both of you. Differently…but yes, my darlings.”

“I…I…” Luke could feel his throat close up as the doubt and fear and confusion began to spread within him, “I would…j-just like times…like this. Too. I mean. Us. But with Grogu and An—fa—daddy?” He blushed, feeling sheepish on how he should speak about Anakin.

“Oh, sweetheart. You never have to ask for such a thing. It’ll be given to you.” He pushed his head against Luke’s hand, urging for more contact. “And just call buir whatever feels comfortable, love.”

“I don’t know what does.”

“You have all the time to think about it. No one is going to rush you.”

“I know. You all are too good to me for that.” He brushed his fingers against the curls, watching as they got tangled in. “Din…Din…I, uhm, this made me happy.”

“What did?”

“You being back with me. Here. It’s made me happy.”

“It made me happy you asked.” Din pressed their foreheads together. “You make me so happy, Luke.”

“Uhm…D-Din…you…mentioned, uhm, making…e-erm--”

“Love.” Din purred out. “Making love.”

“Y-Yeah, that…uhm…w-when…c-can we do that?” Luke squeaked out.

“When?” Din licked his lips and pressed his lower body closer to Luke’s, “When do you want to do that?”

Luke went red to the roots of his hair. “U-Uhm….s-soon?”

“Mhmm? How soon?” Din purred.

Luke shuddered, remembering what Paz went through the whole day with Leia. This was something to truly feel pity for. He whined and quickly covered his face with hands and made a miserable noise.

“Oh, love, when you look like that, how can I ever resist you?” He began to pry the hands away. “My love, we haven’t done anything yet…how can you be acting like this?”

“I-I d-don’t k-know!” Luke whimpered.

“You’re so cute.” His lips came next to Luke’s ear and gave a bite. “I am going to ruin you.”

“D-Don’t!” Luke gasped out and Din just laughed.

“No? No ruining today?” His teeth found Luke’s mouth and gave a bite as his hands trailed from the pillow to behind Luke’s back, dipping into the hem and over the soft flesh of a cheek and grabbed it. “Do you want me stop, Luke?”

“I-I…n-no.” Luke’s face felt so hot.

“No? No stopping?”

Luke shook his head, “W-Want…uhm…”

“What, love? I need your words.”

“I don’t know.” Luke gasped, his body feeling out of control and hot. “D-Din.”

“Cute.” Din’s hand quickly removed itself and rested against his hip. “Not yet.”

“B-But--”

“Your big blue eyes can get you a lot, darling, but you’re not getting this until we are more sure you are ready.”

“Aren’t I?”

Din’s face melted back into a familiar one of lovesick and kissed Luke’s brow. “Another time, my heart. We’ll get you used to it…maybe after you train with daddy,” Din licked his lips and something unholy went in his eyes and Luke gulped feeling like he was under a predator, one he woke up without really understanding the consequences of such. “You can train with me?”

“U-Uhm…y-yes.”

“Yes?” He grinned and those teeth looked so sharp.

“I-I…w-want--”

The door burst open making the two jump. Din glared, feeling his face twitch as he glared at Anakin who just stood there with Grogu in his arms, grinning brightly, “Well, what do you know kiddo? It is time to cuddle. We should join in.”

“BA!” Grogu squealed in happiness.

“Oh, is there a time for that?” Luke asked.

‘I am going to fucking kill you.’ Din hissed internally, knowing his powerful father would understand.

“Love you both soooo much. Grogu does too. Doesn’t he?” Anakin held up his grandchild giving him smooches, earning happy giggles. “Surely his own daddy won’t deny him cuddle time, would he?”

Din swore he could almost feel a vein popping in his temple. ‘I’m going to blow Luke’s back out and make sure you hear every single noise.’

Now Anakin glared back, “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Huh? Dare what?” Luke asked as he tried to pick himself up.

“Oh, nothing baby boy. Just thinking out loud.” He beamed again and let Grogu down on the bed who squealed and crawled over to the two, trying to push himself in between their bodies to snuggle.

“Hello Grogu.” Luke greeted with a smile.

“Ba!” Grogu gave a nuzzle up against Luke’s chin. “Ma!”

“Everyone is against me.” Din sighed.

“As it should be.” Anakin hopped into bed, cradling his head as he made himself at home in the space right next to where Din had been seconds away from grinding Luke into oblivion.

“Why do you ack!” He slid back, quickly grabbing his pants before they were yanked off of him. Looking back, he hissed, “Fuck off.”

Artoo, grabbing at Din to yank him off, just hissed back.

“Oh, isn’t this nice…the gang is almost all here…almost. Reeeex, you should come join us and call Kix! The more the merrier to keep Din’s perverted hands off my baby!”

“No offense, sir,” Rex called from the door as he poked it, hands up to the control panel. “And I can speak for Kix as well…I’d rather get suplexed by Tano.” And then closed the door on them.

“We’ll get him here one day.” Anakin grinned.

“Will I have to listen to you get your back blown out?” Din teased lowly, smirking at his father who went red.

“Don’t even start.”

The king couldn’t help but laugh. Anakin has never been able to joke about that before. Even when he tried to make believe he was the superior flirt in any room, there was always something heavy about him and romance; as if he were afraid he was betraying his wife.

Din looked down at Luke who had Grogu plastered to his face.

‘He did that. He did all of this.’ He moved a bit to get comfortable on the blond and gave another kick to Artoo who whistled out some curses and spun around to Anakin’s side to tattle. His father gave the droid some comfort and gave gentle pats to him who glared dangerously at Din. Din just smiled back. ‘This is nice.’

“Oh, can Artoo be up here?”

“No, my heart. He can just stay put there.” Din smiled, pleased when the droid gave a huff.

“Well…c-can we go to the garden later? After, uhm, this cuddle time?”

Din and Anakin laughed again.

“Of course, baby boy. Anything you want.” Anakin reached up and stroked over his hair. “How about you rest first. We can take a night stroll through the garden later. I am sure you’re tired after playing with those girls.”

“Mhm.” That was true.

“Just close your eyes. We’ll be here when you wake.” He continued. “And in a few days, Obi-Wan will come to visit too. Things are going well enough that he and Leia both can be away from the mess.”

“I wanna meet him.” Luke sighed.

“He wants to meet you too…officially.” Anakin continued as he got himself comfortable, taking Luke’s hand to grip it. “Just don’t let go of me, ok?”

“O-Ok, daddy.”

Like so many times before, Anakin could feel tears gather in his eyes. “What else do you want, Luke?”

“Can’t think of anything.” Luke closed his eyes, now realizing he was actually quite tired. But, maybe, happy. He wasn’t sure. It certainly was nothing like what he felt back in the rooms. In fact, under Din, close to Grogu, holding onto his father…Luke could barely remember what those were like at the moment.

Strange.

Instead, briefly, he remembered what it was like right before Palpatine sent him off; how he had stared at the stars and had some childish notion to count them, how desperately he wanted to see flowers at that moment, and how he told himself it wouldn’t happen. Now, it was like he could count each of them without ever worrying, and he could be buried in blooms, and not feel suffocated.

‘Hope.’ Something told him. It wasn’t just his voice. It felt like so many, Plo, Yaddle, Mace, Yaddle, even Yoda…mama…

Luke smiled as he relaxed under Din, one hand holding tight to his father and the other caressing over Din’s bare arm.

He didn’t feel much yearning for anything anymore. Funny.

He buried his face against Din’s shoulder, letting Grogu play with his hair, before he sleepily managed, “I-I have something I want.”

“Anything.”

Luke wasn’t sure which one said it but it warmed him plenty.

“Can you sing me to sleep?”

It started as another rumble, another wave of multiple voices, that melted into Din, Anakin, and a woman’s voice that he knew, now, he could never forget.

‘Be good, Luke.’ Beru’s memory didn’t sound so sad this time. ‘Are you good?’

‘I am.’ He smiled some more as tears began to drop down his face. ‘I am good now. I am good.’

“You are my starlight, little starlight…”