Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Then it is decided,” One of the older Senators says to the  crowded room of delegates, each of them waiting to hear the outcomes to the various matters that have been discussed during the day's session. Their too-small set of glasses are perched on the tip of their nose as they look over the datapad that is in their hands. “ Master Skywalker shall leave for the settlement of Aq-Vetina within the next day and shall provide his services as Jedi, caretaker and representative of the New Republic.”

There’s little information in regards to the people or culture of Aq-Vetina, which Luke only discovers on the journey to the planet itself; he hadn’t been surprised when he’d heard Leia had pushed for support for the small settlement of people, doing their best to survive after the destruction the droid wars had brought to their planet. The surprise came in the location of the settlement and the planet; located within the Mandalorian sector of the Outer Rim, Aq-Vetina is a planet of mysteries to Luke but one of great promise to Leia, who had made it abundantly clear to not mess this up. ‘This’ being his current assignment of living amongst those who call the planet home to offer them help in whatever it is they need for their rebuilding efforts, with the silent hope that by extending help towards the planet there will be a positive effect on the New Republic's relationship with Mandalore; Luke is still surprised his sister had been able to garner enough votes in favour of agreeing to providing the small settlement with aid but the promise of potential allyship - or at the very least, a less tense relationship - with Mandalore must have proved too tempting. All too aware that his being an outsider is not to be taken lightly, Luke hopes he can deliver on the promises the Senate has made on his behalf; to aid, guide and protect the settlement and its people.

“ We’re getting ready for landing .” Han’s voice comes over the intercom in Luke’s room aboard the cruiser; something a little nicer for when Han has to do piloting jobs on behalf of his wife. “ Best get yourself together kid, and make sure you look good for your first impression or we’ll never hear the end of it.”

Luke grins at Han’s advice, who has likely heard all of his wife’s worries over everything that could go wrong. He collects his single duffel bag of clothes and his other small bag of odds and ends before making his way to the cockpit, where Han is busy with following the correct landing procedure.

“Landing’d take half the time if I didn’t have to follow so many kriffing rules.” Han grumbles, flicking another switch on the control panel. “Right! That’s us landed, safe and sound as promised! You got everything?”

“Sure have.” Luke answers. “Will I see you for the pick up in a few months?”
“Well who else are you gonna see?!” Han huffs. “Like I’m gonna let any other pilot come get you! Krififng hell, get off my ship already!”

Laughing at the other man’s mock - well, mostly mock - offence, Luke leaves the cockpit and heads for the now open departure ramp, where he can see the long shadow of somebody approaching the ship. 

“Master Skywalker?” The voice is deep and thick with an accent Luke hasn’t heard before. He steps off of the ramp and onto the cracked surface of a once smooth concrete landing pad, where grass has grown in thick tufts through the cracks. There’s a smattering of dandelions that have pushed through the cracks as well as growing in thick patches around the edges of the landing pad, where somebody is standing and looking at him.

“I…” Luke swallows, suddenly feeling short of breath. “Yes, that’s me.”

The person in question is a man - from what Luke guesses based on appearances - wearing a set of fine robes dyed a shade of red he hasn’t seen before, with fingers adorned with golden rings and a pair of something similar to black gloves that come out as triangles and wrap around only the middle finger. Walking closer, Luke can make out more details about the man, such as how his fingernails are painted a pleasing light blue colour and the upper shell of his ears are adorned with more golden rings and the lobes are pierced with simple blue balls from which long tassels hang. The most striking part of the man’s appearance are his golden-brown eyes and the beautiful veil that covers half of his face. A fine netting, dyed the same red as his robes, hangs down over his nose and mouth, stopping at the midway point of the man’s chest. The upper portion of the veil - a red band that sits across the man’s forehead, leaving his eyes exposed - is decorated with fine golden beadwork and blue and green gems that shine in the early afternoon sunlight. His dark, curly brown hair has wisps of lighter brown, almost grey, throughout and the sight of it all…Luke swallows again when the man smiles at him.

“It is an honour to meet you.” He says, radiating warmth into the force. “My name is Din Djarin, I am to be your guide while you are here. Please, follow me to your accommodation.”

Luke can hear the ship start up in the background while he walks alongside Din, who is quick to take Luke’s bags.

“You don’t need to-”

“You are a guest, Master Skywalker.” Din is quick to say. “It would not be right of me to allow you to carry your things. You have travelled a ways as well. I will make you some tea once we are in your home.”

Home for Luke on the planet is a smaller building made of wood and stone; it’s exactly the sort of building Luke likes, homely and as close to the opposite from Coruscant as possible. It has some wear and tear from the elements and the scars left behind by weaponry, but it’s cosy and Luke feels right at home once he’s inside of it.

“I apologise for the condition of the building.” Din says, watching Luke turn into a small circle while he takes in the little details of the building.

“Hm?” Luke stops his circles to look at Din with a frown. “What would you need to apologise for?”

Din waves one hand in front of him to gesture at the room. “It is not what you would be used to, being so far from Coruscant.” Coruscant. The word sounds rich in Din’s thick accent. 

“I’ve lived in a number of places Mister Djarin.” Luke says. “I’ve always felt more…comfortable in places that are less…like Coruscant.”

“I am glad to hear this.” Din nods. “Please, you may call me Din, you do not need to use titles for me.”

“Nor you for me. My name is Luke, and if you are alright with it, I would prefer to be called it while I am here.”

“You do not like the title of Master?” Din crosses the room while he asks the question. There’s a small teapot that is apparently already full of water sitting next to the stove, which Din lights with a long handled match. “It does not feel proper, to address you with your title…but I will try. I admit I do not know much of the jedi and your ways, but I have heard many stories.”

“About the Jedi?”

“And yourself.” Din says. He places the wooden tray on the table in front of Luke, who looks up to say his thanks but loses the words when he sees Din’s eyes again; something about the brightness and the depth to the golden-brown has him floundering.

“I-” He manages finally. “I hate to think what stories you’ve heard about me.”

Din only chuckles, his eyes shining and the corners of them crinkling up. 

“Only good ones.” He sounds amused. “I will allow you to eat in peace. Your bed is made and there is fresh water in the warmer beside the bathtub, it has been there for a few hours already so it should be suitably hot. Please, rest after your travels and I shall introduce you to the council come the morning. Please, enjoy your evening.”

With a nod of his head, Din bids Luke a final goodnight and farewell before turning the leaving the home that has been set aside for Luke during his stay. The meal is simple but filling, a thick stew of vegetables with small pieces of meat throughout that is heavy with spice. It reminds Luke a little of meals with Owen and Beru, the unexpected memories catching him off guard. The rest of his evening is, for the lack of a better word, peaceful. There’s no late night calls for his advice on an important matter, no urgent calls for help or the background noise of Coruscant’s busy streets and skyway that, while he’s become used to it, tends to make it difficult for him to fall asleep. True to Din’s word there is a bathroom through a doorway and in it there is a small bathtub with a circular metal frame sat next to it, a metal bucket of water set on top of it with a large candle burning to warm the water. The sight of the bucket of steaming water makes Luke feel guilty, knowing how difficult it must be for a small settlement to gather clean water for their drinking, cooking and bathing needs. There’s a system of neat pipes in place to guide the hot water up and into the tub, which already has a small amount of cold water sitting in it to help balance out the temperature. Weeks of ongoing stress from his non-stop duties are alleviated by the almost too hot bath that he sits in, soaking in the water until it becomes too cold to be comfortable any longer. The small bar of soap that is set on the shelf beside the tub smells of something sweet but spicy, like the spiced breads Luke learnt to make as a child, a recipe known by the slaves and those who lived on Tatooine - something that could be made with the barest of ingredients, something that was made to celebrate the fleeting, happy moments in the lives of those living in harsh situations. Luke blinks back tears and shakes his head. 

How strange to feel such intense emotions out of nowhere, from nothing more than the thought of a bread he has made countless times in his life. He knows that Aq-Vetina is a part of the Mandalorian sector, and wonders if the people here have tastes similar to those of the Mandalorians; a people known for loving food rich in flavour and spice. If the stew is anything to go by, there’s no doubt that Luke will have plenty of delicious meals over the coming months and the thought has him smiling whilst drying himself off and getting dressed for bed. 

It’s while Luke is laying in his new bed, staring up at the ceiling, that he realises he’s heard the name Djarin before, but had been so swept up in the rush of strange emotions he’d felt upon meeting the man that it had completely slipped his mind that the Djarins are part of the original settlers who have been working to rebuild Aq-Vetina.

“Oh no.” He groans, dragging his hands down his face.

He’d let the man carry his bags and serve him dinner! No doubt the man thought Luke was exactly what he’d expected when they’d received word their New Republic representative was from Coruscant. Despite how much time he spent away from the planet, Luke couldn’t help how much living there shaped his accent and how he spoke to others, always slipping into his Jedi Master manner of speech as a way to keep himself composed; it also serves as a way to keep the Senators and other senatorial staff happy, many of them visibly uncomfortable when hearing Luke’s true voice. Not quite Tatooine farm boy, but not quite the ‘picture of perfection’ Jedi Master either, but rather a mixture of the two. Luke sighs in defeat and rolls onto his stomach, no longer feeling as content as he had moments before his realisation. He can only hope the man will accept his apologies tomorrow, because if not Leia will actually fly here and kill Luke herself. 

Don’t mess this up.

Not so much a warning as a plea from a woman desperate to prove that there is value in the Senate helping smaller planets and settlements rebuild, rather than focusing solely on the larger planets and cities. Sleep comes slowly and Luke is woken up by the sound of birdsong and people walking past, chatting as they go about the start of their day. Somebody is knocking at the door to the home Luke has been given and he rubs at his still bleary eyes.

“Good Morning, Master Skywalker.” Din greets him kindly when he opens the front door, gold-brown eyes sparkling in the early morning sun that is coming from behind Luke’s new - temporary - home. “I hope you slept well.”

“Ah.” Luke winces. He rubs awkwardly at his neck, wondering if he’s slept in later than he should have. “Maybe…a little too well, I hope you weren't waiting for me.”

“Not at all. I was wondering if you might like to meet the council?.” Din gestures towards the path leading further into the settlement. “We can take a walk through the town as well, if you’d like. It will make you feel more at home, knowing your surroundings.”

But I already feel so at home. Luke thinks while he nods and smiles at Din, who is waiting for an answer. “That would be lovely…uh, I hate to ask this but-”

“I do not mind waiting.” Din laughs. “Please, take your time in getting ready for the day.” 

Luke doesn’t even consider the idea of taking his time. He gets dressed as quickly as possible into a set of more relaxed clothes - a looser shirt and pants and his usual black boots - and brushes through his hair with his fingers, figuring it a lost cause to get it looking more presentable than it is. 

“Maker grant me some social prowess.” He whispers to himself before opening the front door again, finding Din waiting for him. He’s standing there and talking to somebody dressed in the same deep red robes, also wearing a veil but one decorated with pinks and light purples rather than the vibrant blues and greens, and glittering gold that Din wears. Whoever Din is speaking to pays no mind to being waved off, the conversation ending with Luke having opened the door, and they continue on their way into the village.

“You are looking more awake.” The man says brightly. “More rested. Did you sleep well?”

“Once I managed to fall asleep, yes.” Luke steps out of the house and shuts the door behind him. Din frowns at Luke’s answer, his force energy coloured with light blues of concern and murky oranges of confusion that swirl together. 

“You found it difficult to fall asleep?” Din and Luke are walking side by side, though Din is a step or two ahead as he leads Luke away from the home and towards what Luke thinks is the middle of the settlement, judging by the noise further ahead. Despite the early hour, the town is already full of life as people move about, all of them dressed in the same deep red robes but not all of them wearing the beautiful veils. 

“I’d had a…realisation while I was in bed. I spent most of the evening worrying about it.”

“May I ask what realisation has caused you so much trouble?” Din asks. “I would like to help.”

“I didn’t realise who you were, yesterday.” He admits with a sigh. “I’m normally a lot better when it comes to first impressions, but I was…I’m not sure what caused it, but it slipped my mind that I already knew your name and who you are, and I let you serve me-”

“Master Skywalker.” Din interrupts sternly but not unkindly, his steps coming to a halt near a fence that runs along the outer edge of a large field of dark, damp soil. “You are upset because…you believe I am someone of important and-”

“You are someone of importance!’ Luke is quick to say, which Din only shakes his head at with a soft chuckle.

“Master Skywalker, you are upset over nothing. Would you be upset had someone else served you?”

Luke blinks. “Well…I suppose so, yes…just, well…I’d be a little less worried over first impressions, I suppose. My sister was adamant I make a good impression, and I don’t like having others wait on me.”

“Having others wait on you is only bad if they are forced.” Din says , turning away to look at the fields they’ve stopped near, where multiple people are busy working the soil. “We are a small settlement. For our people to grow and thrive, we must each work. I serve people in many ways, Master Skywalker, not just because it is my duty but also because…I enjoy it.”

“...Still-”

“Come,” Din says, sharp but bright, turning back to Luke with a smile. “The other Governors are waiting to meet you. I promised them not to keep you occupied this morning.”

They set off again, with Luke staying a step behind Din as he leads Luke along the edges of the fields. The dirt path veers to the right and they follow it, leaving the fields behind them and bringing a number of buildings closer, where Luke can see people busy at work, some with children running around them, darting between the adults as they play. As the others Luke has seen, they are all dressed in red robes. A couple pass Luke and Din; the short of the two has their head resting against the other's shoulder, their hands holding onto their partner's arm as they walk. The sunlight catches the golden beadwork on their veils and the various gems gleam in the light.

“Master Skywalker?”

Luke has stopped walking without realising, having been so distracted by the beautiful veils that he’d lost track of Din and had turned his head and body to follow after the couple.

“Is everything alright?” Din asks.

“I-” Luke feels his cheek redden. “Yes, I’m sorry. I was distracted.”

“This I can see.” Din laughs. “What were you distracted by?”

“The veils.” Luke says, gesturing to his own face. “They’re beautiful and everyone’s is so unique…can I ask who makes them?”

Din waves for Luke to follow, so he does. 

“We each make our own.” Din tells Luke. “They are for courtship. We remove them once we are married.”

“And if you never marry?” Luke asks, curious.

“We tend to marry young, it is unusual for me to be unwed at being almost thirty.” Din explains. “With the…rebuilding, many things have had to be pushed back, forgotten. Should somebody not wed, they remove their veil on their thirtieth birthday and a party is had. The beads from their veil will be given to close friends and family.”

“The beads are passed on?”

“Always.” Din nods. “It would be frowned upon for somebody to hold onto their beads, unless they are ones of great value or sentimental to that person. We-”

“What would make a bead sentimental?” Luke asks, then adds a quick. “Sorry, sorry, go on.”

“It is alright. It is good you are eager to learn.” Din praises, the force glowing around him, or maybe it's the sun…Luke can’t tell. “A sentimental bead might be something that was made by hand for a partner, or maybe something that took a great deal of effort to find, something rare. After marriage a couple combines their beads and they are handed down to any children they have, for them to use to create their own veils.”

“What if they have no children?”

“Then they would be passed along to nieces and nephews, siblings if they aren’t married yet. The ceremony for taking apart the veils…” Din breathes in. “It is always done in private, it is meant to be very intimate.”

“If your partner gives you a bead…what do you do with it?” Luke asks. “Do you add it to your veil before you are officially married, like a part of the courtship”

“Yes, and with great care. Having your beadwork come undone is always upsetting. Are you curious about anything else?”
Am I that obvious? Luke thinks. “Your robes…and everybody elses, they’re lovely as well. Is it possible for me to-’
“No!” Din’s gasped shout has Luke coming to a sudden stop, startled by Din’s reaction to the question Luke hadn’t even finished. “I’m sorry Master Skywalker, that- I should not have reacted like that.”

“...I’m guessing the answer is ‘no’?” He offers with a nervous smile. “I didn’t mean to cause any upset.”

“Our robes are…” Din pauses to think. “They are everything to us; we grow the cotton that we weave the material they are made from, and we grow the flowers that are used to dye them. They don’t grow anywhere else in the galaxy, and because of that they…they are us. The colour is us, as a people, and… it is forbidden is a strong word-”

“But accurate?” Luke smiles when Din nods. “I understand, and I’m sorry for suggesting anything that would go against what you and your people believe. Thank you for telling me what you have, and I apologise for-”

“So many apologies, Master Skywalker.” Dins’ eyes crinkle in amusement. “No upset caused, I assure you.”

Apart from me almost giving you a heart attack, of course. Luke sighs inwardly, wondering what else he might say or do to further make himself, and the New Republic, look foolish.  

Finally they make it to where a group of men and women - none of which are wearing veils of their own - are seated around a table made of chunky blocks of weathered wood that is sitting on the grass at the other edge of the settlement. Heads turn with his and Din’s approach, and Luke notes how none of them are surprised to see him - meaning they are all aware of him coming to the planet - but many of them seem…not unimpressed, but perhaps doubtful.

“Sit, Master Skywalker.” Din prompts him, pushing him gently towards the table. “I will fetch you a drink.”

Luke sits between two of the other Governors, both of which are older and look familiar in the way that makes them feel the most approachable of the people at the table. He realises why when Din returns to the table with a drink in hand, having made a hot cup of tea for Luke at a small tea station set up nearby on another table - this one smaller than the one he’s currently sitting at - and also made of weathered looking wood.

“Please enjoy, Master Skywalker.” Din says, placing the cup in front of Luke. The cup is chipped along on the top rim, and the red flowers painted on the outside are scuffed and worn. Luke adores the cup and says as much to Din, who smiles warmly at him.

“I am glad.” He says before stepping away. The woman sitting on Luke’s right reaches out to take hold of Din’s hand and squeezes it. He returns the grasp and the force around them is flooded with the soft pinks of familial love. Luke watches Din while he sips at his tea, wondering why Din hasn’t sat down to drink or eat with them.

“You are staring.” The woman, who Luke is assuming is Din’s Mother, says pointedly, but not rudely. “He will have eaten before collecting you. We do not remove our veils in front of others.”

Luke ducks his head when Din look back in his direction, not wanting to be caught staring again.

“He explained your veils while we walked.” He tells her. “There isn’t much information about your culture available, so-”

“As there shouldn't be.” The Governor sitting directly across from Luke cuts in gruffly. “Our culture is not for some New Republic-”

“What my fellow Governor is trying to say,” The man to Luke’s left - who he thinks might be Din’s Father - says curtly, cutting in. “is that we are a private people, and we are a proud people. Asking for help has been…difficult. It is a marvel that your Senate agreed, we are still in shock.”

“I wouldn’t call it my Senate.” Luke says carefully. “I work with them where I can, but the majority of what I do is with the temple and the Jedi Order; we try to keep ourselves more separated but…it has proved difficult, with how many people need help following the war. On the topic of help…I wasn’t told in great detail exactly what you are hoping for in the form of help from me while I am here.”

“In all honesty, Master Skywalker.” Another Governor - an elderly woman with a headful of thick curls that are piled high on her head - joins the conversation, her voice soft but knowing. “Neither are we. What can a Jedi do for us, as a people?”
“Well, it depends on what sort of help you need.” Luke says, looking down when a plate of food is pushed towards him by Din’s Mother, the plate nudging his elbow. He picks up one of the fruits and sets to work peeling the skin away to reveal the fleshy inner fruit, which is a pale purple. “Some people simply want help with the heavy lifting, while some want help with mechanical work or even setting up services like hospitals and the like; it really depends on what each place has available in terms of resources.”

“Grass, dirt and water.” Din’s Father huffs, chuckling afterwards while Din’s Mother scoops another spoonful of a thick porridge onto Luke’s plate. “Some trees for wood but it is a trek for the more suitable ones.”

“You have fields, what do you grow?” Luke asks. “Or rather, what do you intend to grow?”

“Our flowers.” The older woman supplies. “Some grains for food, some cotton. Food for livestock, eventually. We have some seeds, though not many.”

“There is much that needs doing.” Din’s Father tells Luke. “We will discuss what you may help with and speak to you at a later time, tomorrow. For now, please eat and enjoy yourself. You are a guest, after all.”

Luke sits quietly while he eats, letting the others talk around him; he’s asked polite questions here and there which he answers, but nobody pressures him or pushes to learn more about him. It’s nice in a way; it’s worlds calmer than many first meetings he’s experienced before. 

“Explore as you wish, Master Skywalker.” He’s told. “There is not much to see, but it is yours to enjoy.”

Finished with his meal and a little unsure as to what to do now, Luke looks around for Din but can’t see the man anywhere. 

“He’s gone for a meal and tea of his own.” A voice tells Luke and he jumps, not having realised anybody else was still standing with him near the table. The handsome man laughs and he tilts his head forwards, dirty blond hair sitting in thick waves over his shoulders. “I apologise, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Didn’t realise anyone was still here. Who’s gone for a meal?”

“Din.” The man says simply. “That’s who you were looking for, correct?”
“Oh…well, yes. I’m a little unsure what to do with myself now. I guess I could go and explore.”

“I could give you another tour, if you like.” The man offers. “I’m sure Din gave you a quick one earlier, but he was in a little bit of a rush to get you here. The village itself isn’t all that large, but it is quite beautiful…and very peaceful. Ah! Where are my manners? My name is Cadbren Marlek.”

“Luke Skywalker.” He accepts the man’s offered handshake. “I’m sorry to be rude but, you haven’t got an accent like everyone else I’ve met, are you also from off-planet?”

“Can’t escape it, can I?” Cadbren laughs. “Myself and my family are from Zilvurn Seven, I’ve been on planet for a couple of months now.”

“May I ask why?”

“You may. Walk with me and we can talk.”

They walk along the fields, where Luke can see people busy at work still and a few children running through the tilled soil while they chase one another, laughing as they go.

“Din is my fiance.” Cadbren reveals. Luke swallows down a lump and nods. “I’ve been staying here, as he isn’t ready to leave home yet. There is a festival coming up soon but they have struggled with preparing the grounds for it to take place. This is a…selfish request, but might you consider helping with the festival whilst you are here?”

“I can’t say whether or not I’d be welcome to help when it comes to a cultural event but I can always offer.” Luke answers. 

“That’s kind of you. It’s…it’s a big deal to the people here, something very important to them and I know Din is excited for it, but he’s incredibly worried he will miss it before we have to leave, and I’d hate for that to happen. He works so hard, sacrifices so much of himself and I want him to be able to enjoy the festival.”

“That’s kind of you. Where will you be leaving for? Zilvurn?”

“Indeed. We will leave together to settle down, make ourselves a home. The festival grounds themselves were destroyed in the initial droid attack and then the little bit of rebuilding they’d managed was undone by a pirate attack. All too eager to take what few things the people here had managed to recover, I imagine.”

“Have they had any trouble with the pirates since then?” Luke asks, curious and a little bit concerned. 

“No, no. Only the single attack, thank goodness.” In a change of topic, the man asks, “How long will you be staying for, Master Skywalker?”

“Six months at the longest, though likely between four to five.” He answers. “How soon are they hoping to hold the festival?”

“Oh, within the next month or two as far as I can gather, though it’s heavily dependent on when the preparations finish.”

“...And if they take too long?” 

The man’s expression is mournful and he looks to the ground, his hands clasped together behind him. After a pause he lifts his head again and meets Luke’s gaze.

“My parents have been…patient but I hold no delusion that that patience is neverending; there will come a time where they say enough is enough and myself and Din will have to leave.” He says to Luke. “I hope we don’t get to that point, really. I want Din to enjoy his time at home while he can, it’s easy to see how he loves this place and these people. We were supposed to have already left but there have been other minor crises that have required Din’s assistance to manage, and I hold no anger at him for it.” He chuckles. “Though, I suspect a couple of them were…ah, less urgent than Din made them out to be.”

“You think he was trying to delay his leaving?”

“Oh, Master Skywalker, I have no doubts about it.  I do not fault him though; he is frightened by the idea of leaving home, and I understand that, so I don’t dare push him on the matter. I just…perhaps it is unfair on my part to ask you for your help in ensuring the festival goes ahead in a timely manner but…well, I don’t think I could bear the guilt of making him leave before it is held.”

“Your parents have a timeline?”

“Not a strict one as such, but they do have their own ideas of when we should be home, as we have many of our own important holidays back home. It is also quite important to my family to follow the wedding traditions, and a very…ah, perhaps it is superstitious to yourself, a very important thing back home is to get married during our winter season, as we believe the winter moon promises good blessings on the marriage.”

Luke smiles. “I can hardly judge someone's culture based on what I might think to be ‘superstitious’, Mister Marlek. While The Force is a central part of my own life and beliefs, I am aware there are many that view it as nothing more than stories or its own form of witchcraft.

I can not promise you anything for the festival but, I will do what the Governors allow me and hopefully that will speed the preparations along enough.”

“Thank you, Master Skywalker…and might I say, thank you for your…rather surprising reaction to my and Din’s engagement.”

He tilts his head to the side just so and frowns, confused by the man’s thanks. “How do you mean?”

“Well, it’s no secret that the Jedi Order have a particular view on marriage and even outside of that, not many people smile upon the idea of an arranged marriage.” Cadwell shrugs his shoulders. “There are many who would accuse me of exploiting Din and his people-”

“Mister Marlek, please.” Luke holds up a hand to quieten the other man, lowering it again once the man has closed his mouth and nodded. “While the idea of an arranged marriage doesn’t sit all that well with me, I do understand that for many, they can be beneficial and at times, necessary. It is a tricky subject and one I will do my best to steer clear of discussing too much, as it is not my place. I do not view yourself or your family for making the arrangements with Din…trusting he is aware of the plan and has at least had some say in it.”

“...Ah, yes.” The man’s smile is lopsided and charming. “The Skywalkers aren’t famously known for a positive view on slavery, are they?”
“No, we aren’t.” Luke returns the grin, his own smile careful but friendly, with a slight duck of his head as he laughs. “I do wish you both the best.”

“And I wish yourself all the best, Master Skywalker, with whatever it is you are working towards. I ought to go and make sure Din has eaten, he’s awful for getting sidetracked during a meal. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

They nod heads in farewell and part ways, with Mister Marlek turning away and heading along a dirt path into the settlement, while Luke continues along the dirt path that follows alongside the fields that are being worked. He feels untethered with no real task or goal in mind yet, so he decides to follow the path and then go off and explore some of the fields of flowers he’d seen in his initial fly-over. The land closest to the small settlement is all rolling hills and the fields that are being worked but in the direction he’s walked today he finds that at the other side of the green hills are fields of wildflowers and grass as tall as his knees. There’s a pleasant hum in the force that Luke leans into and allows to guide him through the rest of his walk. He still feels somewhat untethered when he arrives back at his accommodation but the promise of some time spent reading over whatever Threepio has sent through to him to aid in his efforts in working with the people of Aq-Vetina, and perhaps some more tea, has him feeling a little less like he’s about to float away. 

His feelings of being untethered have only continued to grow; they’ve morphed into a restlessness that has him constantly dragging his hands through his hair, unable to keep himself still for longer than a few minutes at a time. He has a constant need to move that starts as soon as he’s woken by the early morning sun coming through the window in his bedroom. Rolling onto his side to face the window, Luke blinks at the sun in his eyes and groans under his breath; he’s been awake already for what feels like hours, ever since the sun had first come through his window, but he knows it’s barely been an hour since he first opened his eyes. Sitting up in the bed, Luke drags his hands down his face and sighs. It’s not unusual for him to be asked to visit settlements and smaller planets, offering a helping hand or to act as the middle-man between planets and the Republic Government. He had asked Leia about it once, why she always seemed to offer him up as a sacrificial presence and her explanation had been simple; people had a habit of meeting Luke and liking him. Their parents had too much of a reputation and Leia was obviously seen as a member of the government and while Luke was a member of the Jedi Temple, he was young enough to have an air of innocence and separation from what had almost happened with Palpatine and the clones. Still, he does get a little annoyed at being the person shipped out to help, not able to really settle down in one spot for too long because he knows he’ll only have to leave when he eventually becomes comfortable. 

He shakes his head. These thoughts aren’t fair to the people of Aq-Vetina, nor to any of the other people Luke has or will help; he’s simply tired and unsettled from being somewhere new and his discomfort is causing him to think rather selfishly. Not wanting to sit in bed and wallow in his frustrations any further, Luke slips out from under the covers and begins to get dressed for the day. The air on Aq-Vetina is already warm early in the day, but it’s a dry warmth that feels pleasant, so Luke opts for the looser clothes Leia had suggested he pack; they consists of the usual cream coloured outer robe, brown pants and belt but Luke wears a light blue shirt beneath it all, the collar of it barely visible near the neckline of his cream robes. Leia had explained to him years earlier that blue would make him seem more approachable and annoyingly, she had been right - as she often is. 

There’s a soft breeze when Luke steps out into the gentle light of the morning. It catches his hair and flutters the fabric of his robes. Luke walks through the town, following the path he’d taken the day previously, and finds himself walking alongside the fields, where people are already busy at work. He can’t help but to feel eyes on him, so he slows his pace and eventually comes to a stop in the dappled shade of a large tree that stands in the grass between the dirt path and the edge of the  closest field. There are four people in this particular field, and while they are all busy at work, one of them doesn’t hide the fact that they - an older gentleman, from what Luke can tell at a distance - are constantly looking over at Luke with an expression that can only be read as distrustful.

“You mustn't let it get to you.” 

Luke looks to his side to see Din Djarin approaching him, his hands clasped together at his front as he walks towards Luke with a smile hidden partly by the red mesh of his veil.

“Let what get to me?” Luke asks, turning his attention back to the fields. Din comes to stand beside him, close enough that the fabric of his sleeves brushes against Luke’s bare hand. He clenches his gloved hand but isn’t sure why.

“The faces they wear when they look at you.” Din says knowingly. “Many settlers were angry at the news of the council's decision. Allowing those from off-planet to visit was seen as a mistake, even if you are a jedi. They disagree with the decision and are unhappy with your presence but…there are not many options for us, so they bite their tongues when you are nearby.”

“They don’t need to.” Out of the corner of his eye, Luke can see how the dappled sunlight catches the various beads and gems of Din’s veil. He turns his head a little more so as to not be able to see it. “Plenty of beings in the universe are unhappy with the Jedi Order, I don’t take it personally. The Jedi fought a hopeless war in which…so, so many planets suffered, people suffered, and the Jedi didn’t figure out until it was almost too late that the whole thing was a farce.  If it helps to tell me what they think, they’re welcome to. Ah, yourself included, of course.”

Din’s chuckle is throaty. He radiates amusement into the force. “I have no ill-feelings for you, Master Skywalker.” He assures Luke. It is not only their feelings towards you affecting them. We are preparing for a festival soon. Per tradition it is held prior to the planting season, to bless our crops and ensure a bountiful harvest but…doing it so late, holding the celebrations after the planting has already begun…”

“They’re worried.”

“To their bones, Master Skywalker.” Din nods. “We all are.”

The breeze picks up. It flutters the fabric of Din’s draping sleeves until they brush against Luke’s bare hand again, which twitches at the contact. The leaves of the tree sway above them, leaves rustling together until the wind dies down again.

“Yesterday, the others mentioned you grow flowers as well as your other crops…are they the flowers you make your dye from?

Din hums in thought. “Come, I shall explain while you have breakfast.”

They walk in a comfortable silence back to Luke’s home, where Luke enters the kitchen to find that somebody has left a tray of food on the dining table in his absence. He realises Din must have come here first and found him missing, and had had to go in search of him.

“I’m sorry. I continue to disappear on you.” Luke says, nodding towards the tray when Din looks at him with his eyebrows pinched together in confusion.”I don’t mean to make you search for me. I hope you weren’t worried about me being gone.”

“At first, I worried.” Din collects the tray and moves to the counter, waving at Luke to sit at the table. He gets to work slicing various fruit and spread something thick and sweet onto slices of dark brown bread. “I went into town and the weavers told me they saw you on your walk. Said you looked troubled.”

Luke feels blush creep over his cheeks. “I…suppose, I might have been.”

“May I ask what is bothering you?” Din asks, setting the tray of food down in front of Luke. 

“I just feel a little…restless, I suppose. I was hoping to find somewhere to meditate.”

“Ah, I am sorry for interrupting you.”

“You didn’t, I got distracted by the man in the fields.” He admits. “Do you…I know you don’t eat in front of others, but would you be comfortable sitting with me?”

Din answers by sitting in the chair across the table from Luke.

“What does a Jedi need to meditate?” He asks, full of genuine interest. “I have never met a Jedi before you, I am very excited to learn.”

“I…well, technically you don’t need anything; you can meditate anywhere, but different environments are easier, and some people will find certain environments more distracting. Species sensitive to the cold might struggle in a cold environment, for example. I…I like somewhere quiet, peaceful; I find it easier when I’m somewhere with a lot of nature, it helps me feel…connected to something.”

“Do you feel unconnected otherwise?”

“...Yes.” He admits. “I move a lot for my duties as a Jedi and usually I don’t mind but…I’m not sure why, it’s bothering me more than normal today. It’ll get better, I just haven’t settled in completely yet. You said you’d explain the flowers to me, would you still…”

“Ah!” The man’s eyes widen and he nods. “Yes, of course. I will apologise again for my shortness when you enquired about our robes but…the flowers we grow, they do not grow elsewhere in the galaxy; they are the soul of our people. It is believed that if the flowers no longer bloom…it would predict disaster. The flowers, once harvested, are used for many things but the bulk will be used to create dye, of which we have very little in reserve now, after…everything that has happened.”

Luke notices how Din reaches up absentmindedly to touch a pendant that hangs from his neck, obscured by the mesh of his veil; it’s some sort of horned creature, cast in a silver metal that Luke has never seen or felt before. Rather, he’s never felt it because he can’t feel it - whatever the metal is, it is a blank spot in the force.

“We suffered under the droids, and then our rebuilding was…we were easy targets, we still are, and pirates saw an opportunity. If this harvest does not go well, if we can not rebuild our reserves of dye…I fear what it means for the future of my people. I do not know much about being a Governor, but I know that my people need help and…it seems the universe has decided you will be that help.”

“I’m…” Luke ducks his head and looks at his tray of food, all of it prepared with care. “I’m really nobody special, Mister Djarin. You’re a Governor, somebody of importance here and…it bothers me, to have you prepare and serve food for me when I’m capable of doing so myself.”

“Nobody special?” Din asks, looking at Luke with glimmering eyes and a lopsided grin behind the veil. “Master Skywalker, I do not know much about the Jedi or your order, but everything I have heard about you paints you to be a very good Jedi. I am excited to see what Jedi are capable of. You are…something of stories to us.”

Luke’s face feels hot. Din is so genuine in his curiosity and admiration that Luke finds it difficult to meet the other man's eyes, choosing instead to look back down at his tray of food. 

“Stories are often exaggerated.” He says softly.

“Are the stories of your power exaggerated?” 

More like the opposite. Luke thinks somewhat bitterly. It’s no secret amongst his fellow Jedi how powerful Luke is in the force, even at his relatively young age, but with his power comes a balance; he can not appear weak, otherwise many of the people he is tasked with helping will not take him seriously, but if he is seen as too powerful it could cause people to be wary of him. Sometimes Luke wishes he was one of the Jedi tasked with hunting down sith, at least then he’d get more chances to fully utilise his abilities. It would also be words easier to handle than trying to deal with…whatever it is that’s making his chest feel tight whenever he catches glimpses of Din’s smile behind his veil.

“I…yes, and no…it depends on the story, I suppose.”

“Well, I am excited to see what stories you write for yourself while you are here.” 

The food is perfectly fine, Luke knows it is, but why does it feel as if his meal is sitting wrong in his stomach? He feels oddly nauseous, unlike he has before. 

“I’m…I’m excited as well.” He feels strange and can’t for the life of him understand why. “I just wish the council would give me something to do.”

“Much of our work is physical labour, with the rebuilding, and they are…hesitant to ask you for your help, given that you are a guest. Our sense of hospitality and our need for help do not seem to mix well.” Din chuckles. “There is plenty of work, if you are not opposed to getting your hands dirty.”

Luke brightens. “I can do that.” He places a berry into his mouth, which bursts and coats his tongue in tart juice. “Whatever needs doing.”

“Enjoy your food, for now. Come and find me once you are finished.” Din tells him. “I will be at the weavers hut.”

“Of course! Of course, ah…if one were to maybe not know where the weavers hut would be…”

“It is at the very centre of town, where the path forks. It is not easy to miss, with all of the elders sitting out front. I will let them know to be on the lookout for you.”

“Thank you.” Luke nods his head. “Again I’m sorry for disappearing on you, this morning.”

“And again, Master Skywalker, you must stop apologising.” Din says, standing in the open front door, his body outlined by the morning sun. “Please, enjoy your breakfast.”

The promise of having something to do should help Luke to settle, but he feels just as restless as he had when he first woke. He leaves the tray on the dining table, but tidies up the scraps of fruit peel and the crusts of the bread he hadn't eaten; he hopes Din doesn’t ask about it, Luke doesn’t want to admit to the crust being  the slightest bit too hard and hurting his teeth. 

Stepping outside of the house has Luke stepping back into the sunlight, which is warm but not uncomfortably so; he blinks as his eyes adjust to the bright sunshine. He knows he will miss this sunshine, and how it warms him right through like a kind caress, once he’s back on Coruscant. 

Following the path away from the house, Luke heads towards the centre of the settlement where he recalls a fork in the road. It doesn’t take him long and before he knows it, he can see the building up ahead; there’s a group of what look to be elderly women sitting in various wooden chairs on a small area of grass between the dirt path and the building itself. He can see the familiar sight of Din walking amongst the women, a tray of cups in hand which he offers to each of them in turn. A group of children dart past Luke, weaving around him and paying him no mind as they run and shout after one another in their playful chase. He watches them go with a smile, until they rush to the right of the forked path, cutting the corner dangerously and knocking a stack of wood that is piled high near the crowd of elderly women that are sitting out front of the building.

Fear overcomes him when he sees the shadow begin to move. The whole stack is unsteady and swaying, neatly cut pieces of firewood already beginning to fall towards them. Din is across the group, too far to do anything to stop the wood from continuing its descent. He has no need to act however, because the wood seems to just… stop in mid-air and it hovers before slowly drifting back upwards and restacking itself.

Beyond the moving pieces of wood, Din can see a familiar figure approaching and his stomach twists uncomfortably.

“Is everyone alright?” Luke asks, approaching the group of elders and Din, who is staring at him with an empty wooden tray in hand, and a mess of broken ceramic and spilt tea at his feet. “You haven’t caught yourself with the tea, have you?”

“I-” Din blinks, staring at Luke. He looks down at his now damp robes. “Tea…what do you- oh! Oh no, I’m fine!”

“And everyone else?” Luke asks, hands clasped together behind his back. 

“Yes, everyone’s fine.” Din steps through the crowd of chairs and elderly women who are watching Luke with intense stares. He places the empty tray on a wooden table that has one leg propped up by a chunk of firewood. “Fine thanks to you! If you hadn’t…Master Skywalker-”

“Who is your young friend, Din?” One of the women asks, prodding at Din’s side with a walking stick carved from pale coloured wood. “You’ve too much to do, no time for chattering about!”

“I-” Din huffs and shakes his head, looking at Luke with a smile  that screams what can you do? clear as day. Luke returns the smile. “Elders, this is Master Skywalker, the Jedi that-”

The one who had prodded Din scoffs.

“Him?’ She grunts, pointing her cane towards Luke and holding it a few inches away from his chest. “He’s too young! What sort of help is this young pretty looker gonna be?”

Luke grins. He’s never been called a pretty looker before, Leia will think it’s hilarious. 

“I agree.” Another elder joins in, shaking her head. “Too young, too busy fussing with his hair by the looks of it! How much help could someone so young-”

“Oh for the love of…” Din steps to Luke’s side and grabs him by the forearm and shoulder. “As luck would have it, the council does have a good for you.”

“Something incredibly important, no doubt.” Luke grins, meeting Din’s gaze. Flecks of gold dot the brown of Din’s eyes and Luke thinks it’s one of the most beautiful things he’s ever seen.

“Incredibly important, and we must be going.” Din pulls Luke gently, guiding him away from the group. “ Now.”

Luke can only laugh and allow himself to be guided away and down the left of the fork, leaving the gossiping women behind them.

“My deepest apologies, Master Skywalker.” Din says with a breath. “That- they have no right to speak to you-”

“They’ve every right to speak to me as they wish.” Luke says evenly, pulling himself away from Din to walk alongside the other man without being pulled. “I’ve heard plenty worse, please don’t worry about it.”

Din huffs beside Luke, but seems to let the matter go. 

“Oh.” Luke says after they’ve walked  alongside the fields and to the other side of town, where they come to a stop at an open area near the pathway. “The festival grounds?”

Din nods. “We’re redoing the ground first, then we’ll build some booths for serving food and drinks, and with any luck we’ll be able to get a festival pole put into place for the celebration.”

Luke looks at the dirt and grass floor of the festival grounds, which have been recently dug up in places for pavers made of a textured but smooth rock to be placed down. 

“The rock is beautiful.” Luke says, admiring it as he walks carefully around the area that has been done so far. The stone is a mixture of a deep black that fades into greys and browns, thin slivers of a glittering stone running throughout the colours; not gold, but something darker like a copper.

“We collect it from near the settlement.” Din nods towards the fields beyond the festival grounds. “Perhaps this is a little…outside of what a Jedi does but, I am so frightfully desperate to get this finished before I leave.”

“How soon will that be, do you think?” Luke asks, walking back over to stand by Din. “I don’t mean to intrude on your personal-”

“The festival will be soon, likely in a month…it begins at sunrise and concludes at sunrise the following day. That day is traditionally a rest day, with the work on the fields beginning the day after. I will be leaving after rest day.”

“And where will you go?”

“To live with my future husband and his family.” Din answers with a smile, which is betrayed by the swirling emotions that surround him in the force; mixtures of blues and purples, signifying his reluctance to leave. “I apologise for the topic, not many people approve of marrying for benefits to oneself.”

“I had this same conversation with your fiancé.” Luke tells Din. “I do not like the thought of people doing things they do not like, but I understand the necessity for it.” Sensing Din’s apprehension at the topic, Luke decides to move away from it and nods towards the fields beyond. “What were you wanting my help with?”

“Is there a limit to how much you can move?” Din asks. “Ah, with your abilities, I mean.”

“Do you mean weight or size?” Luke asks, considering. “Nothing I’ve found so far, did you need something moved?”

“Follow me, Master Skywalker.”

Luke does, and Din leads him across the fields beyond the festival grounds and to the edge of a river. Looking up the river, Luke can see where the water comes down the side of a mountain, where a number of settlers are busy digging at the rock that has been exposed by grass and mud having been scraped aside.

“Huh...” Din makes a quizzical nose when they come to the edge of the river, where the water is sitting far below the top of the riverbed. “The water is low today…I wonder....”

The answer is found further up the river, where a large boulder has broken away from the side of the mountain and is blocking the water. 

“Must’ve happened in the night.” One of the miners says to Din, sparing a glance at Luke but finding him seemingly unimportant enough to comment on. “Breaking it down will take time.”

Luke looks from the boulder to the mountain; it’s the same sort of black and grey rock, with the slivers of dark copper amongst the colours.

“Is it suitable for the pavers?” He asks, looking at the miner. “This is the same as what you’ve been mining for the festival grounds, yes?”

“It is.” The man says gruffly, nodding. “S’big, good bit of rock.”

“Except it is blocking the river, and we haven’t set up the new irrigation channels yet…moving water from here to the fields until we can break the rock down…it will be-”

“I can move it.” 

Din stares at Luke in confusion, brown eyes wide and shimmering in the sun.

“You can’t.” Din says. “You…surely you can’t.”

“As in you don’t want me to or-”

“Something that big?” Din is in awe and Luke feels warm from it. “I…I don’t believe it.”

“I’ve moved larger.” Luke says. “How close to the festival grounds would you like it?”

“You can’t-”

“You are the jedi?” The miner asks, looking Luke over. “Hmm…young. You can move the rock?”

“Yessir.” Luke says with a nod. “Just tell me where-”

“No Sir.” The man shakes his head. “You call me Old Kai. Rock’s needed at festival grounds, close as is possible.”

“Easily done.” Luke says. “Uh, perhaps keep your distance a little bit, in case any breaks apart.” 

The boulder is solid at the centre but the rock of the outer layers is ready to break apart. Luke has to carefully keep each piece steady within the force as he slowly lifts it from the riverbed, not wanting to allow the water to rush past all at once. He can feel eyes watching him, the miners having forgotten what they were doing in favour of watching the odd man float a rock along the ground. The miners are a background thought, because Luke is quietly, selfishly, feeling a surge of pride over the awe he can feel from Din behind him, watching it unfold. 

Three quarters of the way to the festival ground is when Luke feels the rock begin to fight back, pieces of black, grey and brown stone trying to burst free from where he is holding it suspended in the air. Out of a desire not to have the stone explode out of his control on its own, Luke releases his hold and lets it drop. The boulder breaks apart upon hitting the field, sliding apart into sheets of stone that glitter in the sun.

“Ah, I’m sorr-” Luke says as turns to look at his audience, but his words are cut short by Din racing up to him. 

“Master Skywalker!” Din shouts excitedly. “That was incredible! I’ve never- never in my life have I seen…ah! You should be sitting down! You must be exhausted.”

“I’m fine, really.” Luke tries, but Din doesn’t pay heed to his assurances and ushers Luke over to sit beneath a tree near the field.

“Din, I’m-”

“Please stay here, Master Skywalker.” Din anxiously, helping Luke to sit in the grass. “I’ll find you something to eat, I won’t be long.”

“But I-” Luke watches as Din hurries away and feels guilty for causing the man to worry, even if Luke had tried to assure the man otherwise. 

Din doesn’t return, but his fiancé does. He finds Luke sitting in the grass with his legs crossed, eyes closed and breathing in and out at a steady rhyme. Slowly, Luke opens his eyes when he senses movement nearby and turns his head to look up at the man, who is placing a cup of something on the grass nearby, along with a bowl of dried fruits and nuts.

“Oh.” Luke blinks, looking at the offered items. The man jumps at Luke’s noise. 

“I wasn’t sure whether or not to wake you from your…whatever you were doing.” The man admits. “Din’s having some lunch of his own. I knew if he didn’t eat when he was back at the house he wouldn't think to have anything until late, so I offered to come and bring this to you.”

“Oh…thank you.” Luke says quietly, feeling numb as he lifts the glass of what turns out to be a tart juice to his mouth.

“I still find it strange.” The man says, lowering himself to sit on the grass with Luke. “Having someone seemingly endlessly happy to serve me. It’s all too easy to fear I’m exploiting him but…that’s just he is, always looking after others. It’s his nature.”

Luke is watching the man fidget while he talks; constantly moving his hands and legs.

“Are you uncomfortable?” He asks. “We don’t need to sit on the ground-”

‘No, no, it’s alright. I’m…admittedly, I’m quite a spoiled man. Used to fine things, fine places and…not sitting in the grass. Being on Aq-Vetina has been quite the change for me, but I’ve enjoyed it for the most part.”

“How did you come to end up here?” Luke asks. “You did mention you’ve been staying here but…how did you come to arrive here initially?”

“The pirates.” The man answers. “I was aboard my Father’s ship when the distress call was sounded from the planet; just a single beacon that somebody had managed to sound…and we were the only ones close enough to receive it. We had no contract at the time and were actually heading towards Zilum. Father gave the order to respond to the distress call and we arrived in time to counter the pirate’s; we destroyed one ship while the other escaped, though it was heavily damaged.”

“And your Father…I’m sorry, but what does he do-”

“We are military for hire, Master Skywalker.” Cadbren reveals. Luke’s hands tighten around the glass, his expression shifting to something less open, less friendly; it isn’t on purpose, yet he has no desire, and makes no effort to hide his distaste. Cadbren notices this, and doesn’t seem all that surprised.

“You do not approve of our work.” The man says knowingly. “If it makes you feel better, we helped first and foremost because if my Mother learnt we could have helped and did not, myself and My Father would not have survived her wrath.”

“And what did your Mother and Father think upon learning who you helped?” Luke asks. “A struggling settlement. I can’t imagine that many credits changed hands.”

“No, that is true.” Cadbren agrees. “Do you believe that the marriage is payment for our help?”

“Isn’t it?” Luke asks hotly. 

“No, it is not.” Cadbren says, then hums. “For our initial help, it is not. For continued protection…clients would pay for protection, where family would not-”

“So by making Din family, you can offer his people protection?” Luke asks in disbelief, shaking his head and dropping it to look at the grass he’s sitting on. 

“I have never claimed it to be fair, Master Skywalker.” Cadbren says. “I don’t feel pride in forcing him to leave with me, to leave his people and his culture behind. He wasn’t even here when we first landed, he arrived a few weeks later. He’d gotten separated after the initial droid attack and was rescued by Mandalorians; they heard word of the pirates and of our intervention and…and they realised there were people still alive, so they brought him back to his family.

I don’t want to pull him away from them, after he’s already suffered through separation once before, but I do not have the power to do all that much else to help him, Master Skywalker. By us being married, my family will provide protection and funding to Din’s people, far more funding than the Senate would ever agree to give. 

Neither of us are in love with the other, Master Skywalker, but we will do what needs to be done for the betterment of the people who need it.”

Luke thinks over what’s been said, and the small amount of funding that comes as part of his visit to the settlement; a pittance of credits, barely enough to cover food and accommodation for him whenever he stays on a planet. He wants - so badly does he want - for Cadbren to be wrong, for there to be something Luke can do to ensure Din would get to stay with his people…but there isn’t. At least, nothing he is able to give.

“Do you require anything else before I leave, Master Skywalker?” Cadbren asks. Luke shakes his head.

“No…no, thank you. I’ll be alright, thank you. I’ll finish my food and drink and go see if I can be of any help anywhere else.”

“Din will be with the children at the school, if you wanted to speak to him when you are ready.”

Luke’s interest is piqued by the mention of a school, but-

“I don’t want to bother him more than I already have, especially if he’s busy.” He says. 

“Don't be ridiculous, Master Skywalker, Din would welcome help with the children.” Cadbren says. “He’s always talking about wishing he had extra hands.”

“Do you ever give him those extra hands?”

Cadbren’s face goes red. Luke feels bad for it, but at the same time he feels a little pleased.

“I…well-” Cadbren starts and stops, trying to find his words. “It’s…while I have been here for as long as I have, and while I’m engaged to Din…I’m still rather a bit of an outsider, and I feel as if I’d be…overstepping by offering help with the children. I’m also very inexperienced when it comes to children…safe to say, I feel rather panicked at the thought of offering help with the school.”

Luke laughs. “Mister Marlek-’

“Cadbren.”

“....Cadbren.” Luke says, feeling wrong for it. “I’ve worked with the children at the temple for as long as I can remember, and I still find children absolutely nerve wracking, though mine are a little bit of a different situation.”

“How so?”

“All of the children I work with are force sensitive, to some degree.” 

Cadbren pales. “Mother above…” He whispers. “I’m glad I’ve only got regular children to worry about…force sensitive, I can’t even imagine.”

“If you’re that worried about being inexperienced with them, you won’t learn anything by avoiding it. You could simply sit by and watch how Din interacts with them, you needn’t jump into the deep end the first time. Just watch and copy, and eventually you’ll figure it out.”

The man shakes his head. “That sounds too easy to be true, Master Skywalker.” He chuckles, getting up to his feet. “I will at the very least visit the school to let Din know that you are well, and I shall leave you to your food. I’d advise you to find Din later as well, so he can see for himself that you are unharmed.”

Luke sighs. “I really did try to tell him I was alright.”

“I believe that, Master Skywalker, but Din is…well, it’s how he is.” He smiles and nods. “Enjoy your rest.”

Luke nods in farewell and watches the man disappear back into the settlement, sticking out amongst the crowd of red robes as much as Luke. He drops his head and looks at the food he’s been brought. It does perk him up some to sit and nibble on nuts and berries, sipping on the juice between mouthfuls of food. Once his food is finished, Luke places the cup and bowl to the side and wonders what to do next; he feels lost, as if he’s completely adrift in the galaxy, and the sensation is deeply upsetting. He opts to stay where he is and meditate; he’ll find Din later and let the man know that he is alright, of course, but right….right now he doesn’t feel as if he could handle speaking to Din, which is another troubling thought.

With his legs crossed and his hands resting on his knees, Luke sits, and sits, and sits. Slipping into meditation takes longer than usual, and once he’s finally there….

Luke opens his eyes, feeling disappointed; he still feels adrift and the mess of swirling pinks and oranges he’d felt in the force haven’t done anything besides make him even more confused. He’d felt heat and flashes of something hopeful, but it was intermixed with something that felt almost as if it would flee if Luke dared to reach out for it. With a sigh, Luke gets to his feet and brushes the grass off his pants. He looks about the field and realises it’s gone quite dark, only the barest sliver of the sunset left on the horizon to light his way back to his temporary home. 

“Master Skywalker!” 

Lost in his thoughts, Luke hadn’t noticed Din standing near the door to the home. The man rushes over to him and pulls him close for a few seconds, just long enough for Luke to notice how Din smells of woodsmoke and spices. Din steps back, allowing Luke some space to breathe in air that doesn’t smell of him.

“Mister Djarin?” Luke asks. “What are you doing here?”

“Cadbren said he’d spoken to you, that you’d told him you would find me once you were finished with your food.” Din explains, his brows scrunched together at the centre. “That was hours ago and-”

“Oh, maker.” Luke sighs, dropping his head. “I’m sorry, I was meditating and lost track of time. I’m so sorry for worrying you…again.”

“All is forgiven, Master Skywalker.” Din says. “I was hoping to speak to you about…another matter.”

Luke’s stomach twists violently. “Of course.” He nods. “What about?”

“May we…ah, more privately?”

They head into the house; there’s no tray of food waiting for him this time and Luke dislikes how he finds himself disappointed by it. 

“What-”

“Did you speak to my fiance earlier?” Din asks, grabbing Luke’s hands in his own much larger ones. “About the school?”

He could lie. He could pretend the conversation had never happened, that Din’s fiance had never so much as even mentioned a school or children. 

“I’m sorry.” Leaves his mouth. “I wasn’t trying to overstep, I promise-”

“Thank you.” Din breathes out happily. “Thank you, Master Skywalker.”

Luke stares, confused. Finally he manages to ask, “W-what for?”

“Myself and Cadbren…we do not see eye to eye on the matter of children.” Din admits. “Only, he is not aware of this. When he told me that he does not see a future with children of our own, he assured me that if I desired it, we could…we could come to a compromise…but, I lied. I told him I felt the same.”

“Why?”

“I feared that if he knew…” Din averts his eyes, looking down in shame. “I feared he would end the engagement, and the engagement is the only thing we have that promises security for us as a people. I can’t take that risk.”

“But…you do want children?” 

“Many of them.” Din laughs nervously, his beaded veil jingling ever so slightly as he shakes his head. “Please, do not mention it to him.”

“I…” Luke is utterly lost. “I’m not quite sure what to say, right now, Mister Djarin. I- but of course, of course I wont say a word to him about it. Your secret is safe with me.”

“Thank you, Master Skywalker. I thought it would be. It is…seeing him with the children today, he was not comfortable, that was obvious but it was…wonderful to see him interacting with them. It is very important to us as a people to be kind to children. I had been worried he might be cold towards them but he was the opposite.

I’m sorry for coming to you about this, I just…wanted to thank you.”

“It’s nothing you need to thank me for.” 

Luke hadn’t noticed how grounded he’d felt until Din releases his hands, the now familiar feeling of being adrift coming flooding back. 

“Enjoy your evening, Master Skywalker.” Din says with a nod. “And again, thank you.”

Luke goes to bed feeling worse than he has since his arrival, feelings of uncertainty and being lost, of want and desire and a selfish need to keep Din close, to hold the other man’s hands, and to lift that red veil out of the way of his face so he can-

“Oh kark.” Luke groans under his breath, rolling onto his back to drag his hands down his face. It finally clicks; why he finds Din’s eyes so enchanting, why he’s so painfully against Din’s engagement for reasons far stronger than a simple distaste for arranged marriages and what these feelings of loneliness and untethered-ness and want have been all about. Luke, in his utter brilliance, has fallen in love with an engaged man; an engaged man who is getting married to protect his people.

Kark it!

It’s too easy to get comfortable on Aq-Vetina. Luke is still very much an outsider but the change in attitude towards him is noticeable. Less and less are the people distrustful towards him, less likely to turn away his offers of help, less doubtful of his abilities. He’s still very much ‘The Jedi’ and ‘The Pretty Blond From Coruscant’, but those are attitudes he’s dealt with before and ones that don’t bother him the way the distrust had bothered him; he’s been distrusted before, but he wants the people of Aq-vetina to trust him, like he’s never wanted to be trusted before. He wants - so badly does he want - for Din to trust him, for Din’s people to look at him and trust he can and will help them. It’s been a month since he first arrived on Aq-vetina. A month since he first met Din, since he first laid his eyes on glittering gems and gold flecked brown eyes, a month since his hopeful, foolish heart had decided that Din Djarin is the person for him, despite the impossibility of it all. No, Din isn’t Luke’s no more than the moon or the stars are his; truthfully, he thinks he has a better chance of taking hold of the moon and stars than he ever would have of convincing Din to forfeit his duties and his engagement. It’s all very pathetic really, Luke thinks, how his heart threatens to burst whenever Din happens to smile at him. He’s thankful for the distraction that is the ship he’s watching land on the cracked landing pad outside of the settlement, where tufts of grass and flowers have pushed even further through the broken concrete pad.

It had been Din’s suggestion, to invite Leia to Aq-Vetina, with the explanation that Luke must miss home and should invite someone to visit, perhaps the Senator who had been responsible for convincing the Senate to provide Aq-vetina with support. After a little probing, Din had admitted to Luke that yes, while he did want Luke to be able to see his family - or at least one member of it - Din had also hoped for her to come along to see the progress they’ve made in their rebuilding already. Din had cited fears that if the Senate were to believe they weren’t utilising the support efficiently enough, Luke would be pulled to another planet. Luke had been aghast, had tried to figure out what he’d done to give Din such fears but Din had blamed his own fears.

Din looks much less nervous today, brown eyes less tight at the corners and his brow no longer pinched together from worrisome thoughts. He’s standing beside Luke, watching the ship land and the ramp descend so that two figures can emerge, though one of them does emerge with a little more…energy than the other.

“Uncle Luke!”

Luke laughs in surprise and drops to his knees so that he can catch his Nephew in a tight hug. Leia had mentioned a surprise, which had Luke nervous; he’d thought perhaps she might bring another Senator along, or - shudder the thought - perhaps one of their parents.

“Ben!” He laughs, pulling back so he can hold Bens’ face in his hands. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m a surprise!” He cheers, throwing his arms in the air. “Surprise!”

“Well, consider me surprised.” He lifts a squirming Ben up and gives him a  final hug before placing him back on his feet in the grass, so that he can accept Leia into a hug. “It’s good to see you.” He says it quietly, and she nods; they’ve gotten better at it, as they’ve gotten older, being apart, but it’s still not easy. 

“Leia, This is Din Djarin.” Luke says when he and Leia finally separate. He places a hand on Din’s upper back and smiles. “He’s one of the Governors of Aq-Vetina, and has been my liaison since I arrived. He’s been wonderful.”

Leia smiles at first, then blinks in surprise when Din bows in greeting. He lifts his head and takes her hands in his. Luke marvels at how Din’s large hands cover Leia’s. 

“It is wonderful to meet you, Senator.” Din says, voice and the force both heavy with unhidden gratitude. “You have gifted my people with much. Thank you.”

“I-” She blinks. “All I did was send you my Brother.”

Din chuckles, letting go of her hands and clasping his own together, the fingers hidden by his billowing sleeves. “He is a gift, in a way. Come, I am excited to show you our city.”

“Uncle Luke?” Ben tugs at Luke’s sleeve. “ Are there any other kids for me to play with?”

“There are plenty of children.” Din answers when Luke looks at him. “They are at school right now, but they will have time to play after.”

“...Do I gotta go to school?” Ben asks, looking at his Mother. She shakes her head, her expression telling Luke that this conversation isn’t the first time they’ve discussed it. “Yay!”

“Please, follow me. You’ve had a long journey, I will prepare you some tea and something to eat.”

“You don’t need to-” Leia starts but stops when Luke shoots her a warning look. She puts on a kind expression and nods at Din, who returns the expression ten-fold. They walk along the dirt path from the landing pad, Ben talking excitedly as they go about all of the flowers and birds he can see. He tells Din how he has to write a report about an animal for school and can he pretty please write about something from Aq-Vetina; he has to ask because his Mum told him he can’t talk about the people too much, because of privacy ‘and stuff’. Din listens to Ben’s excited, breathless rambling with a patient smile.

“Of course.” He nods finally, when Ben has gone silent. “You are welcome to write about our wildlife, I just ask that you do not write about our flowers or our people. We are still rebuilding and we…we are a private people, even before what happened to our planet. There are plenty of creatures you can write about. Some of the other children may be able to tell you about them.”

“ Wizard.” Ben whispers happily, holding tight to his embarrassed Mother’s hand. 

“I’m sorry about him.” Leia says later, when Ben is fast asleep for an afternoon nap in Luke’s bedroom and Din is pouring tea for Luke and Leia. “He’s just…excited.”

Din chuckles. “There is no need to apologise. It is good to see children so full of life, so full of…interest. He is a child, Lady Senator, I do not hold his questions against him, or yourself. Please, enjoy your tea and food, I must go and eat my own meal.”

They bid him farewell, and after a quiet meal together Luke offers to take Leia for a walk, trusting that Ben will be safe in the home whilst they are out. Luke walks alongside Leia through the town, pointing out the various buildings he’s come to know and the people he’s come to - mostly - be friendly with. They visit the festival grounds last, where they find Din busy speaking with a number of people. 

“Ah!” He’s noticed them, his conversation with another robed settler coming to a stop. “Master Skywalker, Lady Senator. I apologise for leaving you to find me on your own.”

“It’s alright, Din.” Luke says kindly. “I offered to show Leia around, Ben is still asleep.”

“He’s barely slept since he found out he was coming along, too excited.” Leia explains with an amused grin. “Luke tells me that you’re rebuilding festival grounds?”

“Yes!” Din is bright and excited as he explains the festival to Leia, walking her and Luke through the almost complete space. “We are hoping to hold the festival in a week, it…it feels as if we’re so close to achieving something that felt impossible not that long ago,” He looks at Luke, who has to quickly plaster on a smile to hide his wistful expression. “Master Skywalker has made it possible for us.”

“It’s what I’m here for, Din.” Luke says simply. “Besides, you’ve done a great deal of it yourself. All of you have.”

Din smiles and Luke’s heart shatters.

“So, Governor Djarin…seems nice.” Leia says, walking side by side with Luke. It's late now, after dinner and Ben is sound asleep once again after an afternoon playing with the other children. Luke and Leia had shared the bottle of wine Leia had brought along with her and are now walking through the cool evening air, looking at the moonlit fields and the mountains past the settlement. 

“He is.” Luke sighs, leaning his forearms against a stone fence; it’s weathered by exposure to the elements and the damage that only comes from blaster cannon fire. “He cares for his people, he puts them before himself so much; he’s very kind, and wants the best for them. It’s…admirable.”

“Mmm…I noticed, but it's not what I’m talking about.”

Luke hangs his head. “He’s engaged.”

Leis stands beside him, a hand on his shoulder. Comforting. A hollow, empty comfort but Luke knows she’s doing what she can; what else is there to do?

“Oh, Luke. I’m so sorry.”

“He’s-” Luke’s breath shakes. “It’s for his people, like everything else he does. Political marriage, arranged for the protection of this planet and its people. He’ll be leaving soon, after the festival, with his fiance and- and I’ll be here, and I think that the distance…you know, it’ll be easier, I think. I just need some space, that’s all.

I’ve only been here a month, it’s silly to have such a…such a crush, like a child. Makes me feel like Im-”

“Like you’re our Father.” Leia finishes for him and Luke sighs. He watches the grass at his feet sway gently. “Do you really think that distance is going to help?”

“No.” Luke admits. “But there’s nothing else I can do.”

“Surely marrying into a family with political-”

“ Leia.” Luke groans. “I can’t! It’s just- it would just feel as if I’m offering him one form of arranged marriage for another, a marriage agreement plied out of him by the offer of things his people need to survive. I can’t…part of me wishes I could be that selfish, but I couldn’t ask that of him. It hurts, and it’s going to hurt for…a long time, I think, but-”

“I won’t push.” Leia promises him. “I won’t tell anyone, and I won’t push, but Luke? Whatever you choose to do, I’ll support it.”

He smiles sadly, watching a firefly land on the toe of his boot. 

“Thank you.”

Sleep comes late, after hours of laying in bed and staring at the ceiling; he can’t close his eyes for long, because every time he does he sees specks of gold and the shimmering glints of green and blue. Finally, long after midnight has come and gone, Luke falls into a restless sleep and wakes feeling worse than he had the night before. His farewells with Leia and Ben are bittersweet; he’s glad he got to see them and he’s glad Leia got to come and see everything that’s been achieved and he’s glad that he doesn't have to leave with them, but he knows that it won’t be long before he needs his sister’s company again.

Unable to lock away the feelings towards Din he’s now realised, Luke turns to keeping busy to keep himself distracted; days pass in a blur of physical labour that’s broken up by polite conversations with townspeople and breaks for food and tea. 

It’s been a week since Leia’s visit and Luke has found a grassy hill a little ways from the settlement; the town is still in sight, but the distance makes it a little easier to breathe, a little easier to ignore-

“Master Skywalker!”

Oh maker, grant him strength. 

Luke lifts his head to look towards the familiar voice and sees Din and Cadbren walk into view, coming up the side of the hill.

“Din.” The name feels wrong the way he says it; too formal, too robotic. He wants to whisper it, to moan it, to brand it on his skin. It makes his skin feel hot in guilt and shame. He continues on, nodding at the other man. “Cadbren. What are you both doing out there?”

“We were hoping to talk to you.” Cadbren says, looking at Din. He looks back at Luke, smiling and radiating kindness into the force. “About our wedding.”

“O-oh.” Hope sparks then fizzles. “What about it?”

“We were hoping you’d…that you might come.” Din is looking at Luke, his eyes dancing with golden flecks that catch the sunlight.

Luke feels ill.

“I-” The three of them look up when something shoots overhead, a sudden gust of wind sending the surrounding grass, flowers, and the trees into a flurry of movement. Luke gets to his feet, eyes locked onto the ship that is approaching the town.

“A New Republic ship?” Cadbren looks at Luke. “Are you expecting another visitor?”

Luke swallows down anger. “No, I’m not.” He says carefully, lowering his gaze to look at the two men. “You need to alert the town. Get people hidden, somewhere underground, somewhere safe.”

The weapons on the ship are primed, already moved into position; guns loaded and pilots ready to wreak havoc on an already struggling city.

“What?” Din’s voice is so soft, so frightened. It makes Luke’s chest twist painfully. “Wha- no! No, it can’t be…we have nothing for them to take!”

“Din-”

“No!” He shouts, slapping Cadbren’s hand away. “You’re wrong! You have to be wrong…we have nothing for them to take. Master Skywalker- Luke , please-”

“Din.” He steps close and places his hands on Din’s shaking shoulders. “You and Cadbren need to go, you have to alert people, you need to get them to safety. You need to get yourselves to safety.”

“No.” Din whispers. “I cant- I can’t go underground again, not into the bunker again, please-”

“Din.” Cadbren speaks, reaching out and placing his hands on Din’s cheeks to turn his head to look at him. “Din, you won’t be going in there alone, okay? I’ll be there, everyone else will be there but we need to go. Now.”

“But what about-”

“This is what I’m here for, Din.” Luke tells him. “I’m here to help the town, to protect it if I have to, and that’s what I’m going to do. I am prepared for this-”

“You aren’t here to sacrifice yourself for us!” Din argues.

“I know!” Luke shouts. “I know that, but I am prepared to do it! I am prepared to sacrifice myself for you. ”

I’m going to pluck them right out of the sky. Luke thinks viciously. I’m going to make them regret their decision to come here.

Cadbren has managed to pull Din a short distance away, but shouts in surprise when Din suddenly stops and wrenches himself free again.

“Master Skywalker, wait!” 

Luke looks back at Din, ready to tell him to run but his words fail him when he feels a chain drape around his neck and a weight land against his chest.

“It’s a symbol of good luck to me, that I was able to return home.” Din tells him. “May it bring you the luck to return home as well.”

Luke can only nod, his words caught in his throat. Cadbren manages to take hold of Din’s hand and pull, finally succeeding in urging the man down the side of the hill and towards the town.

The ship had flown overheard too fast and has had to circle back, giving Luke time to run down the hill and sprint across the field to close the gap between himself and the oncoming ship. He can see the damage on the ship, the signs of previous battles and the various flags that declare it no longer a New Republic vessel, but something belonging to pirates.

Anger rushes through Luke, cold and hot and invigorating. He slows his pace and comes to a stop when he sees something explode from one of the ship’s cannons; not a bolt, but some sort of torpedo. Luke lifts a hand and wraps the force around the projectile, pulling with all his might to yank it off course and send it careening back at the ship and slamming into its side, the following explosion rocking the large ship violently. Keeping his hand raised, Luke begins to close his hand into a fist, tightening it around the distant object; a hulk of metal floating in the sky, guns turning and aiming at the unexpected threat. 

Bolts fire from the ships guns, both at Luke and at the settlement and the force burns around him at the sight of dirt and brick and grass being sent flying into the air. The force envelopes the ship and under the intensity of Luke’s grip, it begins to plummet towards the ground. Luke aims it away from the settlement as much as he can, sending it crashing into the fields near the mountains where it cuts through the grass as it slides across the ground, breaking apart as it goes. The shockwave of the crash is intense and even with the distance between himself and the crash site Luke feels himself lose balance when the shockwave finally hits him. He stumbles in the grass but rights himself quickly and rushes towards the crash site, only slowing down to a walk again when he’s close enough to make out the few surviving pirates that are pulling themselves free of the destroyed ship.

“Jedi dog!” 

“Kill him!”

Basters bolts are easily deflected with his lightsaber, aimed back at their points of origin and taking out the pirates who are standing and staring in shock. 

The dust begins to settle and the adrenaline of the situation is starting to wane, and Luke feels himself starting to sway. He shakes his head. Walking through the wreckage reveals two more pirates that are hiding and waiting for a chance to attack; neither manage to hit their target. Both are killed. Once Luke is satisfied that there are no pirates left to worry about, he walks back towards the settlement to inspect the damage.

Only a few buildings seem to have been hit by the blaster cannons and the single torpedo had struck the ship rather than the town. It’s good news, until Luke reaches the festival grounds.

“ Oh no .” He whispers, horrified.

The festival grounds - so close to being ready - are in ruins. The force of the crash has caused more damage than Luke could have guessed; dirt and soil have been roughly shoved aside by large chunks of rock being forced up from underground, cutting into the air from the ground. The festival pole is laying on the ground broken in half, and the wreaths made of colourful flowers and long grasses are laying strewn across the torn up grass. After all of their work…Luke turns away, unable to look at the ruined grounds any longer, and is met by arms wrapping around his shoulders.

“Wha-”

“Master Skywalker!” Din Djarin gasps, the taller man holding Luke tight. “That-” He unwraps his arms from Luke’s neck so he can grab him by the shoulders. “You-”

“I’m sorry.” Luke says, dropping his head. “I didn’t mean to destroy your festival grounds again.”

He looks up again when Din laughs; it’s a sound that’s caught between disbelief and sorrow, his eyes brimming with tears. Luke wants to wipe them away. 

“You are a ridiculous man.” Din laughs. “You saved us and you are standing here apologising!”

Luke’s cheeks go hot. “Well…when you say it like that…”

“I-” There’s a redness on Din’s cheeks that Luke can just barely see where it’s creeped up close to his eyes. “I need to go-”

“I’ve got him.” Cadbren says, stepping up behind Din with a smile. “You go check on the others. I’ll get him sitting down.”

Luke watches Din rush off. There’s a rip near the hem of his robes. Luke hopes Din isn’t injured. He hopes that the robe can be mended. 

“Here we are.” Cadbren says, having guided Luke over to a wooden bench that’s still standing upright near the festival grounds. Din is gone now, out of sight somewhere in the settlement.

“You are truly something else, Master Skywalker.” Cadbren chuckles. He sits down next to Luke, his elbows on his knee and his hands clasped together. “You are…so much more than me, it’s no wonder Din looks at you the way he does.”

Luke’s heart skips a beat. 

“I’m sorry?”

“I’m no fool, Master Skywalker,” Cadbren laughs, shaking his head. “And I’m not blind. Din looks at you the way you look at him, like you’ve both hung the stars in the sky. I was out for a walk, overheard you and Senator Organa…I shouldn’t have listened in, I know that, but I-”

“I never intended to-”

“I know, Master Skwyalker. I know. Din was horrified when I told him I was aware of how he felt for you. How could I not? I tried…I tried to convince him it was alright, that he should do what his heart wants, but he wouldn’t hear it. He was adamant he follow through with the marriage, as is his duty to his people. My parents won’t wait much longer Master Skywalker, and I regret to say that-”

“Din won’t get to see the festival.” Luke sighs knowingly. “After everything he did…”

“I’ll speak to them.” Cadbren tells Luke firmly, an intensity to his words that has Luke lifting his head to look at the other man. “I will talk to them, get them to agree to another week; Din will need time to help his people begin what repairs are needed. In a week, Din will leave Aq-vetina, leave his home and his chance of having a traditional wedding, leave his home and his people behind.”

Cadbren stands, looking at the festival grounds around them.

“You have a week to make your feelings known, Master Skywalker.”

“I have no intention of inserting myself where I’m not wanted, Mister Marlek.” Luke says hotly. “I am not going to try and convince Din to go against what he believes is right, even if it…even if it is exactly what I want to do.”

Cadbren hums. “One week, Master Skywalker.”

Cadbren leaves Luke to sit on the wooden bench, splinters digging into his back through the fabric of his shirt. He stares at the destroyed festival grounds; the ruined pavers, the tattered wreaths, the snapped festival pole. It isn’t fair. Din has done so much…everything he’s done has been for this place and these people, people that Luke has become to care for himself, and a place that he so badly wants to call home.

One voice holocall later and Leia is on her way to the planet to investigate the pirate attack, with Anakin and Padme in tow, as well as Ben. Luke knows it isn’t just a visit to check on the crash, but he nods along and says he’ll see them all soon. Han must break at least a few laws to reach the planet as soon as they do, but Luke has no interest in bothering him about it; he wants to see his family. He wants to be allowed to wallow in his own misery in familiar company.

“There you are.” Anakin says. He stands beside Luke, who is leaning against the same fence he’d stood at with Leia during her visit. It’s evening now, the sun gone and the sky lit up by stars and one of the brightest moons Luke has ever seen. 

“I wasn’t hiding.” Luke says, not quite true but not quite a lie.

Anakin rests his own forearms next to Luke’s and stands there in silence, the two of them watching the settlement.

“Was it worth it?”

“Was what worth it?” Anakin asks. 

“Everything. The war, Palpatine, going against the order…almost falling.” He watches a glowing insect do loops in the air. Another one flies over and joins in, the two of them looping together in the moonlight. “Was it worth it to have us?”

Anakin drapes an arm over Luke’s shoulders and pulls him close. 

“If I went back and I was told it all had to happen the way it did, I would do it in a heartbeat, Luke.” 

Luke groans. “I was afraid you’d say that.”

Anakin chuckles next to him, his chin resting against the top of Luke’s head.

“What’s this about, Luke?”

“Din Djarin, the man who met you all at the landing pad…” Luke swallows. “I love him, I think I loved him when I first saw him, but he’s engaged to be married to someone who can provide for the planet, for his people, and I…I- I’m struggling not to give in and just beg him to choose me instead, but I hate the thought of asking him to potentially ruin-”

“Luke.” Anakin cuts him. “Have you forgotten who your family is?”

“Difficult thing to forget.” Luke mumbles. 

Anakin laughs. He pulls his head away so he can look down at Luke, placing a hand on his son’s cheek to tilt his head up.

“Luke,” Anakin says softly. “Your family has resources people would dream of. You’d have our support, and the support of Obi-Wan, and the support of the small army of clones who view you and Leia as their Niece and Nephew.

 Luke, if Din came into our family he would also have those resources and that support. You wouldn’t be dooming him, you-”

“What if he says no?” Luke whispers. His eyes feel hot and wet at the edges. “What if I…what if he doesn’t-”

“Do or do not. There is no try.” Anakin says sagely. The act falls apart when he cracks a grin at Luke’s unimpressed expression. “You have to at least talk to him, Luke. If it doesn’t go the way you hope, we’ll be here for you, and if it does go the way you hope, I get another Son-in-Law.”

“Okay, that’s- you are just-” Luke waves his Father’s hands away, stepping back while his Father laughs, crossing his arms over his chest and watching his son stalk off, cheeks hot in embarrassment.

“Good luck!” Anakin calls after him.

“ Go away!”

Finding Din isn’t difficult, which is…actually a little worse than having to spend some time looking for him; it means Luke has little time to prepare for what he’s about to do.

“Din?”

Din is sitting on the same wooden bench Luke had been sitting on the last time he’d been in the festival grounds, and he’s sitting with the same person Luke had been sitting with.

“Master Skywalker?” Din looks at him, taking his eyes away from the stars he’d been looking at. “Is everything alright?”

“Yes…ye- well, I’m not…actually sure. Would you have a moment to talk?” 

Cadbren squeezes Din’s hand and smiles. “I’ll give you both some privacy.” He gets up from the bench and leaves a confused Din sitting there. Luke nods his head at Cadbren, the two men walking past one another. Luke comes to stand in front of Din. Wordlessly, Luke removes his lightsaber hilt from his belt and opens the small compartment at the base of it, where he keeps a handful of shards of dull blue crystal. He clips the hilt back onto his belt. Turning the crystal shards over in his hand, Luke speaks without looking up at Din.

“A Jedi’s lightsaber is powered by something called a kyber crystal.” He explains. “Each crystal is special, unique to its Jedi…these are pieces of a broken kyber crystal I found in a temple when I was younger. The whole place was destroyed, this beautiful temple in ruins…it’s been rebuilt since then, by members of the Order. 

I keep these on me as a reminder that just because something has been broken or destroyed, it doesn’t mean it can’t be rebuilt into something just as beautiful. They can’t focus the force anymore, can’t power a lightsaber…but they can be polished, and cut and carved into something beautiful…something like a bead, for a veil.”

“ No.” Din whispers, brown eyes wide and watching Luke lower himself down onto one knee. “No, you- you said you understood!” Din’s voice wobbles. “ You said you understood. I can’t-”

“Din.” Din shoots up at the sound of Cadbren’s voice and Luke has to quickly stand up to take a step back and avoid getting knocked over. 

“Cadbren! I promise, I-”

“Din, relax.” Cadbren looks at Luke with a smile. “I’ll admit, Master Skywalker, I’m actually surprised you did it.”

Luke sighs and puts on his best ‘not a sore loser’ smile. It’s the outcome he expected, though not the one he’d hoped for.

“Cadbren….you…” Din looks over his fiance’s face, eyebrowed furrowed and eyes crinkled at the corners. “You knew he was going to ask?”

“Well…I did encourage it, quite heavily.” Cadbren chuckles at the stunned Din standing in front of him. “Din, we get along, we’re friendly but we’re not…there’s no love between us, we both know that-”

“I-”

“Din you can tell me as many times as you want that you don’t need it, but you want it and you deserve it, more than anyone else. If marrying Luke Skywalker makes you happy, then you should do it.”

“...But your family…”

“They’ll be a little disappointed, but they won’t be angry.” Cadbren promises. “Din, do something to make you happy. Just this once.”

Luke’s heart flutters when Din turns his head away from Cadbren, then his body and and steps over to stand in front of him. Luke’s hand shakes when Din lifts his own hand, palm up, and he places the crystal shards into it.

“You call Coruscanr home…” Din says quietly, lifting his head to look at Luke with a face that is hopeful but cautious. “Is…is that where I would go.”

“Well, right now I have an apartment on Corucant, so we could go there…” Luke says, noticing how Din’s gaze drops with the answer. “But I lived on Tatooine for a time, and a planet called Ossus and…this nice place called Aq-Vetina, and I really…really prefer quiter planets. I think it suits me, being here…I think I could stay.”

“F-for…for how long?”

“As long as you want to be here.” Luke answers, placing his hand over the crystals in Din’s palm. “Wherever we are, it’ll be home, Din.”

“I-” Din swallows. “I have to talk to the council.”

Sheepishly, Luke smiles at Din. “...About me leaving the planet forever because I've horribly insulted you by asking you to marry me or because you-” 

“You mean it then?” The force sings around Din, coloured in vivid pinks and reds. “You really mean it?”

“Of course I mean it, Din.” 

Din’s excitement comes as a wave, crashing over Luke. He’s smiling behind his veil, his brown and gold eyes as bright as ever in the moonlight.

“I need to speak to the Governors.” He tells Luke. “Please…you must know that I want to say yes, but-”

“I can wait, Din.” Luke tells him, his voice soft in the quiet of the evening. “Speak to your people, I understand how important it is to you. I can wait for an answer.”

Luke expects to wait a few days, maybe even a week. He hopes for a yes but is doubtful that the people of Aq-Vetina will be agreeable to the marriage; marrying the son of a wealthy family is one thing, marrying the son of someone with heavy ties to the Senate is another thing entirely. 

He’s in the fields the next morning, helping to clear out chunks of ship wreckage that have scattered across the area. 

“Luke!” 

He’s crouched over when he hears his name and bolts upright, because hearing his name in Din’s voice is nothing short of magical. 

Din is suddenly on top of him, lifting him up around the waist and spinning him. 

“Din!” Luke shouts, laughing. “What-”

“They said yes.” Din whispers, his voice shaking and his forehead pressed against Luke’s. He’s placed Luke back on the ground but is holding him close, his hands resting on Luke’s waist. “As long as your family will offer support until Aq-Vetina has grown self-sufficient again…they’ve said yes.”

Luke’s face hurts from smiling when he makes it to his family, who are sitting in his home enjoying their breakfast.

“Luke!” Leia starts when the front door flies open, thrown open by the force. Luke and Din step into the home, hand in hand, and with a face sore from smiling wider than he has before, Luke tells them the news.

“There’s going to be a wedding.”

Leia’s chair flies back when she stands upright.

“Whose?”

Luke’s smile is the widest he’s ever worn, his happiness almost blinding in the force.

“Mine.”