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1. Tumble
Tatooine
"So here's the plan," Cobb says as they head back to their speeders, "I'll do most of the talking and you look intimidating to stop 'em from rioting."
"You think they'll riot?" Mando asks.
"Small towns have long memories, friend." Cobb swings onto his seat. "I guarantee there'll be at least a shouting match."
"I've seen worse."
Cobb snorts. "What, like the kid has? Where is he, anyway?"
The little guy pokes his head out of his bag with a little "Patu." Cobb can't help smiling.
"Cute little fella, isn't he?"
Mando finishes checking the ties on the kid's bag. "He has his moments."
They start for Mos Pelgo. The ride is mostly quiet this time, Cobb trying to compose a speech to somehow convince his people to team up with Tuskens. Honesty's the best policy in their town, and he's got no problems being sincere here. No, the problem is how to keep it civil.
Maybe Mando can do more than just stand there. He's got a blunt way of speaking and he's a warrior besides. Battle strategy's probably something the Mandalorians learn before they can walk. He can lay it on the line in the likelihood Cobb can't get the people to quiet.
Cobb turns to make the suggestion. He's just in time to see Mando's hand shoot out behind him.
Cobb starts, eyes scanning the desert. He's usually got a good sense for trouble, but his new friend may have him beat. There's nothing, though. Is it a sniper?
Cobb looks back and realizes Mando had been grabbing the kid, who had fallen out of the bag, without batting an eye. At least, it didn't seem like he did.
"I told you not to move," Mando's muttering. The kid just coos at him.
Cobb snorts. Never underestimate a father.
2. Shiny
Nevarro
"Put it back."
Greef, who'd been in the middle of trying to convince Djarin to make a pit stop, raises an eyebrow. "I'm not holding anything."
Djarin shakes his head. "Wasn't talking to you."
Greef looks down. The kid blinks big innocent eyes at him, while his claws hold a stuffed bantha, snatched right from the vendor next to them.
"Put it back, kid," Djarin repeats firmly.
The kid whines.
Greef smiles. "Come on, Mando, have a heart! He's a child! He needs more toys."
He hands the credits to the vendor and laughs at the kid's cheers.
Djarin sighs. "Don't spoil him."
"I don't know what you're talking about. Now, as I was saying..."
They get about ten steps before Djarin says, "Put it back."
3. Nightmare
Somewhere in Hyperspace
Din shoots forwards, blinking rapidly. It takes an awful second to register his surroundings: newish ship, slightly less lumpy seat than the Crest's. His helmet is in his lap; he's alone and has been feeling ill for hours.
He's not ill now.
He's scared.
Not scared like he wants to hide in a corner. It's a warrior's fear: the sense of knowing a threat is close and that the odds are unfavorable. Din shoves his helmet back on, still coiled, running scan after scan of the ship. No life forms. No droids.
What is it?
Din counts a slow breath. Focuses on the tightness making gooseflesh of his shoulders.
He's going the wrong way.
Din drops out of hyperspace with startling recklessness. Quiet stars surround him by sheer luck, but he doesn't give it a thought. Whatever's going on, he has to face it.
The Razor Crest II is spurred to max speed for the unknown.
When the feeling abates, Din stops. He pulls up information on the sector.
Yavin 4. He's never been. Looks abandoned, which is a glaring red flag, but it's nighttime on the surface. Din can use that.
The fear is now a nervous tingling in his fingers, making them flex on the throttle. Din counts the seconds while he finds a place to land. He eventually finds a clearing in the trees and touches down without issue. It doesn't help his nerves.
Small insects buzz and chirp on intermittent breezes. The sky is clear. When Din turns on his helmet light, he finds what look like ruins nearby. He keeps his hand near his holster, turning on thermal vision.
He doesn't have to wait long.
The life form is small and not very fast, tripping its way through the underbrush. Din switches thermal off and plants his feet.
A familiar cry breaks his heart.
"...kid?"
Grogu pushes himself around a large trunk, claws outstretched. His eyes shine with unshed tears, sobs turning to half-shrieks when he sees Din. Din catches him before he falls.
Does this planet have toxic air? But no, Din's helmet would filter it, and scans don't indicate anything unsafe for humans. This is not a hallucination. This is the kid, solid, and crying.
Scared.
Din holds him tighter. "What happened?"
Luke is never wearing a cloak in a forest again. It snags on everything. It's very inconvenient, especially when his charge is small enough to avoid getting caught in branches.
He'd seen the ship, hard to miss it. He hopes it's who he thinks it is. Grogu had screamed loud enough in the Force for the whole galaxy to hear, sensitive or not, and Luke can't afford having his fledgling Order found so soon. He's barely cleaned the temple's common areas.
There's a light up ahead. Luke lunges for it, giving in and Force-pushing (shoving) the branches out of the way. There's the ship. And there's Grogu, in the arms of the Mandalorian.
The helmet snaps to him. The Mando's stance loosens when he recognizes Luke.
"What's going on?" he asks hoarsely.
Luke stops just out of arm's reach. "He had a nightmare. Well, it was more like a memory." He watches Grogu try to practically shove his ears under the Mando's helmet with a frown. "The old temple on Coruscant. He was hidden when the Empire came, but he could hear it. Feel it." He swallows. "His classmates falling one by one."
It's simple, horrifying fact: Luke's father slaughtered Younglings. Twisted by darkness, blind with rage, yes, but it had still been his hand. Anakin refuses to speak of it. Luke's not sure if he wants to himself. But he will, one day. And maybe, when Grogu is ready, he can too.
For now, though, Grogu's own father is trying to comfort him. After a bit of bouncing and petting, Mando removes his right pauldron and settles Grogu there in practiced ease. Grogu's sobs calm to hiccups and quiet whines almost immediately. The wave of lovecomfortfather nearly knocks Luke on his heels.
"You're okay, kid," Mando says. It's a platitude Luke's tried dozens of times tonight, but only now does Grogu accept it.
As Grogu falls asleep, Luke says, "I think we should talk."
4. Levitating
Two weeks into Mando's stay on Yavin 4, Grogu learns how to levitate. He's been trying harder with his father nearby, which is endlessly endearing, more so with Mando's copious praise for every small achievement.
Now, though, Mando's hovering almost as much as Grogu, laser-focused on every breath the child makes, every rotation of the stones around him. Luke has assured him multiple times that this is perfectly safe, but there's no convincing him.
Perhaps there was merit in that.
The jetpack's ignition startles Luke out of his own meditation. He opens his eyes to Mando shooting across the clearing, snatching Grogu from mid-air. It soon becomes apparent why: Grogu had lost control over the biggest stone, a boulder about the size of his body. It nearly crashed on Grogu's head.
Luke is still not used to teaching. He can sense Grogu perfectly well, but guiding someone in the Force isn't something his brief training prepared him for. He smothers the anxiety before Grogu can pick up on it.
Mando skids to a stop on the ground. He holds Grogu in front of him. "You okay?"
Grogu squeaks happily.
Mando tucks him into the crook of his arm. "Don't push yourself."
Straightforward, good advice. Maybe Luke should listen too.
He gestures to the temple. "Let's take a break."
5. Laser Sword
Luke is incredibly sensitive to his lightsaber. When someone tries to take it, he knows the instant the Force brushes its hilt. It's something he prides himself on.
Grogu has tried to take it many, many times. It's as big as him, but he seems to think he can wield it as well as Luke. It's almost funny how different he can be from Yoda, who, as far as Luke knows, hadn't kept a lightsaber. Yet here he is over first meal, trying to take it while Luke tries to make something edible.
"Grogu," Luke chides gently, "It is not a toy."
Grogu knows that. He knows how to respect a lightsaber. It's an argument he's used almost as much as his attempted theft. The other tactic can be translated to Because I'm cute, so I should have whatever I want.
Luke wonders how often the Mando has fallen for that. After all, he had brought Grogu a stuffed bantha from his ship yesterday.
"What's not a toy?"
Speak of the Mando.
"Grogu likes to see if he can take my lightsaber," Luke replies.
Mando looks at Grogu. Grogu slurps the rest of his frog legs.
Luke finishes a good approximation of Aunt Beru's soup (Yavin 4 edition) and heads to the table. "Don't worry. I win our tug-of-war."
Mando sits next to Grogu, having already eaten in the other room. "How often?"
"More, now that you're here," Luke says, "He wants to show off."
He and Grogu eat in companionable silence. Luke considers the lesson plan for the day. He thwarts two more attempts on his saber.
Suddenly, Mando asks, "Does it...hinder his studies? Having me here?"
Grogu makes a distraught cry as Luke hurriedly replies, "Not at all!"
Mando stares at him. Even through the Force-null beskar, Luke gets the feeling he's not convinced.
He leans forward. "His attachment to you encourages him to the Light. He's just acting like the child he is." Luke smiles. "It's not something he's been able to do for a long time."
Grogu pats Mando's gauntlet, humming agreement. At length, Mando says, "Good. That's. That's good." He stands. "I'll meet you out there."
He makes it halfway when a weapon flies from his belt.
He grabs it in a blur of movement that somehow blends seamlessly into pointing at Grogu with a sharp, "No! No!"
Luke gapes. "Is that a lightsaber?"
Mando sighs.
+1. The Hut
Yavin 4 has grown into a real Academy. Around the galaxy, parents and orphanages hear about it and contact "Master Skywalker" with questions and potential pupils. Some are adults, but they never stay for long, their lives usually too established or power too faded for them to fully commit to the training. That's alright. Whatever guidance Luke can provide, he gladly gives.
His academy, then, is full of Younglings. Every time Din visits Grogu, the class seems to have doubled. Luke's pride glows in his face, and Din thinks it's well-deserved.
This time, though, there's something. Off.
Luke is the same as ever, but Grogu puts up more of a fuss when Din tries to put him down. When he's back on his feet, he sticks close to Din's leg. Din tries to soothe him every way he knows how, to no avail. Grogu is eventually forced to attend his lessons, looking back at Din every few steps.
When Din goes to sleep that night, he heads for Grogu's hut instead.
"Where are you going?" Luke asks with an amused smile.
Din doesn't let himself think about it. "I don't think Grogu wants to sleep alone."
Luke tilts his head. "My nephew's roomed with him. I wouldn't call them friends, but they get along fine."
"If it's all the same to you, I'll be next to him tonight."
Luke's smile takes on a melancholy tint. "Well, I've learned not to question fathers who say their children need them. Good night."
"Good night."
"What're you doing here?" Ben mumbles from under his blankets.
Din's already stooping to pick Grogu up. "Do you mind if I stay the night?"
Ben watches him with an unreadable expression before rolling to face the wall. Din figures it's as good an answer as he's gonna get.
"Yeah, kid," he murmurs as Grogu babbles, happier than he's been since Din landed, "Just like the old days." He lies down with Grogu on his chest. "Bigger bed, though."
"What old days?"
Din shifts his head a bit. Ben's still facing away.
"Grogu and I used to travel on my ship. Wasn't meant for more than one." He flounders a second. He doesn't know how to talk to teenagers. "Heard your dad has a ship too."
Ben scoffs. "Piece 'a junk."
Whoops.
"Oh, am I making your daddy uncomfortable?" Ben drawls.
Grogu makes an irritated muh.
"Go back to his place, then. I'm not the one keeping him here."
"We can go, if that's what you want," Din says, "I don't. Want to make you uncomfortable. But Grogu wants to stay here."
"How would you know what he wants? You can't even use the Force."
Din shrugs. "My friend says it's because he's my kid."
There's a sudden, loaded silence.
Whoops. Again.
Din stares at the ceiling and hopes Grogu's species doesn't go through puberty. "It's just experience. You know someone long enough, you pick things up."
Ben seems to wait until Din is his most uncomfortable before saying, "Whatever."
Which is...good? Maybe?
Grogu makes some contented noises. Din rubs his back until he falls asleep. Ben doesn't say anything else.
Din's woken by whimpering. At first he thinks Grogu's having another nightmare, but his eyes are open.
"Kid?" he mutters, glancing at Ben.
Grogu scrambles from his chest and grips Din's index finger.
"You want to...go?" Din asks.
Grogu whimpers again.
"Okay, okay. I can help with that." Din gets up.
Luke appears in the doorway. Din wonders if he somehow heard Grogu in the Force or something. Then he sees the lightsaber in his hand.
"Skywalker," he says slowly, "What are you doing?"
Luke looks different. Manic. Frightened.
Din puts a hand up, taking careful steps forward. He repeats the question with more force.
"He's too dangerous," Luke whispers.
"Who?"
But Luke doesn't look at Grogu. He looks at his own nephew, who's starting to stir.
Din shoves Luke out of the hut. He points to Ben and Grogu and orders, "Don't move."
He's barely a step outside before he's blocking Luke's swing. The contact between lightsaber and beskar crackles blindingly in the still night. Objectively, it should look the same as it did with Ahsoka, but somehow it's...more. Maybe because Din considers Luke a friend, where Ahsoka had been an unknown. Maybe because Luke had sworn to protect Grogu.
The rage sharpens Din's vision.
"What the hell?" he hisses, shoving Luke back. "You were going to attack one of your own? Your nephew?"
"The darkness," Luke replies, "I saw it. He will bring nothing but ruin."
"Did the Force tell you that," Din snaps, "or Vader?"
Luke stops.
Din fixes his stance and presses the advantage. "I thought you were a Jedi, like your father before you. Or does the resemblance not stop there?"
"Muh."
Din immediately steps to the left, blocking Grogu from Luke's sight. But Grogu's peeking out, and Luke sees him. The one surviving Youngling of Coruscant.
Luke's face crumples. His lightsaber falls, a deactivated void. He soon follows.
"What have I done?" he breathes.
"What you almost did," Din growls. "He is your family. You do not give up on him because you had a nightmare, Jedi." He snatches the lightsaber. "Comm your sister. That kid isn't going anywhere near you." He pulls Grogu close to his chest. "None of them are."
"He's right."
Din considers Ben. The kid's trying his best not to look like he's huddling under his cloak. The distance in his eyes is unnerving.
"I've been...having dreams," Ben says. "A new Master, calling me. Everyone here is afraid of how powerful I am." His voice becomes more passionate with every word, but his eyes are still so far away. "Skywalker's holding me back. Holding all of us back. I could become so much greater."
"How?"
Ben starts. There's a snarl on his lips. "What?"
Din waits for his answer. Grogu keeps quiet where he's wrapped himself in Din's cape.
Ben clenches his teeth. "I could rule the galaxy."
"And then?"
"And then what?" Ben roars, shooting to his feet, "I'd have absolute power!"
Din carefully cups Grogu in his arm behind him as he stands. "You would have nothing."
Ben thrusts out his hand and is propelled against the wall. Din whips his head down, and sure enough, Grogu's claws are there. Din gently puts them down.
"I don't know much about Core politics," he says.
Ben is panting like a broken engine.
"You seem to know even less. And kid, that's saying something."
"How am I supposed to know anything?" Ben snaps, "No one talks about my grandfather! They're too afraid!"
Din sits back down. "I'm not."
Ben's mouth shuts.
"Skywalker told me some things. Other friends told me stories." Din shrugs. "From what I hear, Vader's the one who killed the Emperor. Not for glory or power. For his son." Ben's breath catches. "From Skywalker's actions tonight, I'd say hold off on believing everything you see in your Force dreams."
Din carefully extricates Grogu from his cape. Grogu latches onto his fingers like before.
Din smiles proudly. "I think Grogu wanted me to stay with you as much as him. He knew I'd protect you."
Ben's expression twists bitterly. "And now?"
Din tilts his head.
"I'm falling to the Dark," Ben spits, "Will you protect a Sith?"
"I will protect a child. This is the Way."
Ben doesn't speak again until his mother rushes into the room. His rage melts into silent tears as she holds him tight. Leia puts her chin on her son's head and looks at Din.
Thank you, she mouths.
Din nods.