#and why wouldn't he he'd known cobb for like a week

[runawaymarbles]

god help me but i might have to write inception fic

[leiainhoth]

Work summary: For so long, Din fought the reality of giving the child up, giving him to the jetii and moving on. He had prepared for it, packed a bag and left it all behind, so his son could have the life he deserved. All until he didn't have to. Or the one where Luke rescues Grogu on Tython, and Din rescues Luke in return.

Chapter summary: Din, Luke and Vanth meet with the Marshal of Mos Espa; they meet unexpected allies and face unprecedented dangers.

...

Luke's eyes widened, his heart beating wildly in his chest. His companions' thoughts and feelings littered his surface consciousness, and Luke fought to push past them. The Mandalorian was frozen beside Luke, his thoughts shifting rapidly from one to another. Behind him, tucked in the cloth bag the baby travelled it, Grogu was afraid, confused by the sudden burst of anxiety from his father. Luke sent a wave of calm to the child, hoping beyond hope that he wouldn't raise a fuss and make his presence obvious.

Luke looked over at Vanth, his expression wide and afraid, his hand frozen on the butt of his blaster. Luke had suspected that the Marshal was frightened of Fett; his reaction to Luke's vision was telling of just how much havoc his reappearance could reap on Tatooine. What would become of places like Mos Pelgo with a front-loaded crime syndicate on their planet? What would become of the Tuskens should Fett grow tired of them?

Luke had heard of this and worse from the Alliance before Leia had killed Jabba all those years ago. He had seen for himself the way the Hutt's dealt with their enemies, how they were the go-between, the middlemen for crime syndicates spanning the galaxy. Tatooine was a quiet place, a backwater planet far out of scope for many. It was dangerous, but most places were this far into the Outer Rim. And despite what he felt, what he thought and the bad memories surrounding Tatooine, it was his home. This was where he was from, and now that he'd returned, he'd be damned if he didn't defend it.

Luke squeezed the Mandalorian's wrist and took a step forward, levelling his stance and holding his lightsaber hilt with a loose grip. "You're trespassing here,"

Fett scoffed, his voice achingly deep and familiar behind the helmet's modulator. "Skywalker,"

"Fett," Luke said, hoping his voice sounded more the Jedi master and less the Tatooine farmboy. "Where is the Marshal?" Luke continued, putting a mild influence through his voice.

"Just here," a voice sounded from behind Fett. Luke turned to look as a figure rose from the head of the table and removed their hood. "I'm well, there's no need for animosity,"

"Are you well?" Vanth asked, his voice entreating and careful. "Can you speak freely?"

"Yes," she said, dusting off her robes. She was tall, with a broad face. But her eyes were kind, and when Luke focused, she was calm, relaxed. She hadn't been forced or coerced. Whatever it was that she was doing with Fett, she had chosen to do it freely.

"You have nothing to fear from her, little  jetii,"  Fett said, crossing his arms over his chest, his body turned towards Luke. "The Marshal is not being held against her will," he continued, pressing a closed fist against his breastplate. "On my honour,"

From beside him and within, through their bond, his companion pushed towards Luke with intention. Their bond was so new, and even with physical touch to ground it, Luke felt a flush of resolve as the Mandalorian pressed his thoughts into Luke's mind.

Don't be afraid; let him speak.

" Su cuy'gar, vod,"  his companion said carefully, taking another step forward.

" Su cuy'gar,"  Fett replied companionably, taking the Mandalorian's forearm when it was offered.

"Skywalker had a vision of you retaking the syndicate on Tatooine," the Mandalorian said, his voice steady despite the rush of uncertainty Luke felt through their bond. "We have come to confirm your intentions."

Fett levelled his gaze towards the Mandalorians, and Luke felt the intensity of his glare behind the visor.

"I've retaken the syndicate; that much is true," Fett said, releasing his grip. "But the old way is gone. I am the king of an empire in my name. You have nothing to fear from me."

Luke shifted his feet, unsettled for reasons he had no explanation for.

"I meant what I said,  vod,"  Fett said, taking a step closer to the Mandalorian, and Luke struggled to stay still and not ignite his sabre, no matter how much he wanted to. "You returned my armour; I owe you a debt. You needn't have run from me; I could've helped you,"

"Skywalker is afraid of you," the Mandalorian said, the bite in his tone painfully apparent. And then, "You worked for the Empire,"

Fett nodded and then did something that Luke didn't expect and removed his helmet. The face beneath it was startling, mottled with scar tissue and burns. But his eyes were levelled and sincere. Beside him, he felt his companion tense and turn away, a burst of shock blinding Luke through their bond. Luke turned, but the Mandalorian averted his gaze, his body tight and unresponsive to Luke's touch.

"In regards to your  jetii ,  vod,  Solo sent me tumbling into a sarlaac pit. I was trapped for days, slowly digested and up to my neck in poison. I'd say our grievances are shared, but unnecessary. I hold no hard feelings for the boy,"

"Then why have you come?" Luke shot back.

Fett shifted his feet, holding his helm loosely under his arm. Three of his guard stood ready behind him, armed and ready, but the woman Luke had noticed on  Slave I  was curiously absent. "Because I wish to offer my assistance. Tatooine has nothing to fear now that the syndicate is under my hand."

"Have you occupied Mos Espa?" Vanth asked.

"No," Fett said, his buckles on his armour jangling as he shifted his weight. He stopped, the t of his visor turning towards Vanth with something peculiar in his stance. "Cobb Vanth— you had my armour,"

The air of the room cooled in an instant, becoming tense and still. Luke pressed a finger into the Mandalorian's pulse point, sending waves of calm and peace to both of his companions. He felt their fear and let it roll over him like the wind, flitting through his thoughts and emotions before releasing it. Fear wouldn't serve them, not here.

"Bought it off some Jawas," Vanth said, standing tall and strong. There was a touch of something in his tone, not quite… not embarrassed, sheepish? Boba Fett's armour was legendary; Luke would've known it the moment he saw it. But someone like Vanth, how could he have known? The Mandalorians were almost extinct; armour and a jetpack to Vanth were just that, tools he could use to survive. And he had treated it well from what his companion had told him, relinquishing it with honour when their deal was complete. Fett's armour had been repainted, the  beskar  olive green, maroon, and golden, the majority of the scuff marks and blaster residue wiped away. His vision had been startlingly accurate, down to the last detail.

"It was my father's armour before it was mine," Fett said, his words firm but not unkind. "I'm grateful to see it returned. You have my thanks."

The air lifted as if sucked through an airlock, leaving Luke feeling unsteady and breathless. Was this what he had been so afraid of?

Fett worked for the Empire,  Luke thought, fighting to steady his increasingly unsettled thoughts.  He worked for Vader, he's a king, the leader of the syndicate…  Luke tried to steady his heart rate, to not confuse kindness with morality.

And despite what I feel, Fett's no friend of mine.

"We've come to warn the Marshal," Luke said, his voice steady and calm. He sent another wave of resolve to the Mandalorian before turning towards Fett. "We came to warn her about you retaking the syndicate."

Fett levelled his gaze on Luke, but he held his gaze, refusing to back down first.

"Have you ill intentions for the Marshal or its inhabitants?"

"If you want to know my business, you will," Fett replied. "But I have matters to take care of, signing a treaty and securing peace in Mos Espa. I hold no animosity towards you or your companions. I keep my word,"

"And what word is that?" the Mandalorian asked, and Fett chuckled, his face steady.

"Been following you,  vod ," he said, crossing his arms. "You're a tough man to find,"

Luke stopped short, his breath heavy in the air. This whole time, their entire journey… Fett had been looking for them this  whole time?

"I had people looking, of course," Fett continued, looking over at the Mandalorian with a blank expression. "Mercenaries and hired guns, but mostly Fennec. She's been tailing you since you left Mos Pelgo,"

"Our deal was complete," the Mandalorian said. "You protected the child and reclaimed your armour. Our business is our own; you could have left with honour,"

"Fennec was discreet, as you remember," Fett continued. "I've heard whispers since returning to Tatooine, rumours. I wanted to discover for myself if they were true."

"What is your business in Mos Espa?" Luke said sharply.

"Same as you, I'd expect," Fett said. "Supplies and a stiff drink. There has been talk of Imps, I came to investigate,"

The Mandalorian tensed, drawing the cloth bag behind him almost if by instinct. The child had been silent and still, but Luke could see the curve of a green ear before he was tucked behind his father's cape.

"And I've since heard rumours that the Imps are after a baby," Fett said, and Luke's eyes snapped up to meet his companions, who froze, one hand clutching the strap of Grogu's carrier. "A child who escaped capture on Tython a week ago on my ship, which has since been discovered on Tatooine."

Fett let his helmet fall to the table with a thump, his expression heavy. "I swore to protect the child in exchange for my armour. I mean you no ill will. But the imperials are coming, and it's past time that you were gone,"

"I have no transport," the Mandalorian said, enunciating carefully as if he was frustrated, irate. "We can't leave,"

"Behind the arena, there is a maintenance bay," the Marshal said quickly, rising from her seat and making steps towards Luke and the Mandalorian. "It is old; I cannot guarantee that it will start— it's a relic, a transport from the Clone Wars. But if it does, take it and leave with my thanks. Your cause in coming here was noble," her eyes caught the satchel, and Luke stepped in front of the Mandalorian, shielding the child from view. "And it won't be forgotten,"

Luke turned to face his companions, realizing with a grim sort of satisfaction that many matched his own. He was fearful, apprehensive. Would Fett keep his word? Surely, his coming to Mos Espa and his appearance on Tatooine was not the ill omen they thought it was. His intentions were noble, intentional. Careful, even. Luke took a step towards the table and moved the loose flimsi aside; there were bills of trade, receipts, lists of known contacts. Fett may have been a bounty hunter, a criminal, an imperial sympathizer. Surely he had been on Vader's payroll. But now? Perhaps he wasn't any of those things.

"I misjudged you," Luke said finally, clipping his sabre on his belt with an air of finality. For the first time in his adult life, maybe for the first time  ever,  Luke felt tall in his stance, sure in his footing. Fett wasn't here for the child; he was here to protect him. He was here to reforge Tatooine in his image, and whoever Boba Fett was now, he was an ally and no enemy of theirs.

Luke felt a hand, gentle and entreating, grip his wrist. The Mandalorian's stance was open, but his grip tightened as Luke turned. "It's time to leave,"

"Fennec is outside," Fett said, turning to Luke with his helmet re-donned. "She has your supplies. We'd better get moving,"

continued