By Creed

Grogu pokes at Buir through the Force as he carries him outside. He's radiating confusiondisbeliefuncertainty, but he's not angry. Grogu didn't expect him to be. It's not like he did anything to annoy him. And anyways, Buir never gets angry at him. Annoyed, yes. Rarely though. But not actually angry. Still, he coos and gives Buir an (adorable) look which he knows always makes him flare with affectionmushiness. It helps when Grogu is trying to convince him to do something.

Buir takes him around the corner before stopping, holding him in both hands as he looks down at him. "Were you asking me to adopt Anakin?" he asks seeming torn between amusement and disbelief right now.

Well, yes, Grogu was, and what's wrong with that? Really, Anakin needs someone to help him and protect him, and Buir is very good at that! He takes care of Grogu just fine, and he's the best Buir ever! Besides, Buir has been teaching him about what it means to be Mando'ade. Grogu knows some Mando'a now, even if he still can't speak it, and he knows about the Resol'nare, and about the Creed that Buir follows.

He coos in response to Buir's question, nodding his head. Buir's emotions become complicated for a moment before they shift to resignationsadness. "He has a mother though; he's not an orphan," Buir explains. "Normally, I would talk to Goran about this, but I can't. I don't know what to do."

Grogu points at the signet on Buir's shoulder again, insistently. He knows that Goran is Mando'a word for Armorer; he saw her once when they were… it was on Nevarro, he thinks. At least he thinks it was the name of the planet. And he doesn't like it when Buir says he doesn't know what to do. He always knows what to do. Maybe he knows what he should do, but… he just doesn't really want to do it. That makes sense.

Buir feels uncertain again. "It's not that easy, kid." There's curiosity now. "Did you know him?"

Well, Grogu has no reason not to try explaining what he can. He does remember Anakin, somewhat, but what he remembers is his presence. He's like a star, brilliant and overshadowing everything and everyone around him. Grogu has never felt anyone who feels so strong in the Force. He doesn't really remember too much of what it was like before the dark times – he really was a baby then – but he remembers that presence. And he also remembers the way it was later twisted and darkened with painfearanger. He doesn't want Anakin to have to feel like that again, and Buir knows how to make everything better.

Grogu nods to the question, feeling a momentary frustration at his inability to just tell Buir what he's thinking. It was easy with the Jedi because they could feel the Force. Buir isn't sensitive to it like them, and Grogu isn't skilled enough to transmit his thoughts to someone who isn't also reaching out to him. Well… he might actually be able to communicate with Anakin? Anakin isn't trained, he isn't a Jedi yet, but he's strong. That might be enough. Maybe. Grogu is suddenly excited to try, but he'll have to wait until Buir takes him back inside.

"Was he a Jedi?" Buir guesses, and Grogu nods again. Buir is radiating confusion again though. "But you don't want me to take him to the Jedi?"

He shakes his head. No. He doesn't want Anakin to become a Jedi right now – or maybe at all. He's so bright and light, and Grogu wants it to stay that way. He didn't know that Anakin knew his mother – it's strange, unusual, because all the younglings he knew were taken when they were babies, like him – but the Jedi will never let him stay with her or even see her because of attachments. Grogu thinks that's kind of stupid; now that he has Buir, he can't imagine being without him, and he certainly can't imagine going to the Temple and staying there, never seeing Buir again. The mere thought makes him shiver.

And – and Grogu thinks that Anakin will probably be happier with his mother. At least he won't be radiating the painfearanger that Grogu felt when he last sensed him when everything became dark. Anakin will be happy with Buir too! Grogu knows it! He needs to find a way to tell Buir that, so he'll understand.

"Why not?" Buir even sounds confused now. "Did… something happen to him?"

Grogu whines quietly, trying to say that yes, he felt that presence hurting when he was with the Jedi. He doesn't like it. He doesn't want to have to feel that anymore, and he doesn't want Anakin to have to feel that way either.

Buir seems to interpret that as a yes. "Did he die?"

That – Grogu doesn't actually know. When everything became dark, it all kind of began blurring together, and he doesn't like to think about it. It's too scary, so he doesn't answer the question, reaching out to cuddle closer to Buir's beskar'gam. Buir lays a hand on his head. "It's okay, ad'ika," he murmurs. There's a short pause of silence in which Grogu can feel Buir thinking. "I can free him and his mother," he says at last. "It's the least I can do for them. I can help them get off-world, but after that… it's up to them to take care of themselves. They're not Mando'ade."

Grogu makes a quiet noise. He's not sure if he likes that or not, but it definitely is better than leaving them here. No one should be slaves. It's wrong, and he's happy that Buir will try to help them. He lifts his head off the beskar'gam before pointing at the signet again with an inquisitive sound and a happy smile. Buir is feeling affectionamusement.

"I can't adopt him unless he wants me to, and unless his mother agrees," Buir tells him. It's not a yes, but it's not a no either. Progress! Now, Grogu needs to find a way to convince Anakin that Buir can make everything better, so he should stay with him. "Come on," Buir adds after a few more seconds, "We should go back inside."

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Grogu's insistence that Din adopt Anakin is adorable to say the least, and it really says a lot about what the kid thinks of him. His feelings about that are… complicated. On one hand, he's deeply touched that Grogu actually thinks Anakin staying with them would be a good idea – it's not for a whole long list of reasons, namely that he's a bounty hunter, and that's not really a life for a child; yes, he has his kid with him, but… he's still trying to figure out how to handle that – but on the other hand, Din is mildly horrified that Grogu really thinks of him so highly. He's doing his best, of course, and it probably says a lot about the kid's past experiences if he thinks Din is actually good at being a parent.

He'll take it one day at a time perhaps. When he was speaking to Grogu, he decided that he would try to free them, but he'll have to find out more about their owner first. Hopefully, it'll be as simple as going in and killing him. Maybe. He should probably talk to Shmi about it before he carries through. And then, he can get them off-world. He can't leave until he finds a suitable starship, although they can take a larger transport, but that wouldn't be preferable. Din would much rather have his own ship. It would make it easier to travel.

Once he's off Tatooine, he can probably set the duo up on some planet, get them enough credits to settle down, and he'll leave them there. Oh, he knows that isn't what Grogu wants, but it's the most realistic option. For so long, Din's been something of a loner. He had his covert, of course, but he was a bounty hunter. He enjoyed helping the foundlings and teaching them, though he never really expected to have his own. It was something he thought about doing in the future. His time was spent trying to find resources to help the covert, and the other Mandalorians took care of all the foundlings.

If he's managed all this time with Grogu, he can handle this too. It's… different, but then again, nothing about this situation is normal. Nothing could have prepared him for ending up in the past. He can only do his best, the way he always has, and continue living his life in the only way he knows how. He doesn't know the specifics of Mandalorian history during this time period, but he might be able to help his people as well, save them from the destruction he lived through. No. He doesn't want to think about that now. Grogu first. He'll deal with everything else after that.

When Din re-enters the home, Anakin is standing near Shmi in the kitchen area. He nearly hesitates, feeling awkward, but he still moves inside, the kid cradled in his arms. He'll need to talk to Shmi about their owner at some point, but he's not really sure when the best time would be. This isn't – he's not very good at dealing with people sometimes.

"Anakin, can you watch Grogu for a little bit?" Din finally forces himself to ask. His every instinct screams at him not to let the kid out of his sight, but it will only be for a short while. "I would like to speak with your mother."

Mother and son exchange a look, and Anakin comes over to him. "Sure," he agrees, taking Grogu. He disappears with him further into the home. Din looks after them for a moment before turning to Shmi. He only half-knows what he's planning to say to her. "Anakin told me that you're slaves," he says at last.

Shmi looks at him, expression betraying very little of her feelings on the matter, though he can see a flicker of sadness in her eyes. "We are," she concurs simply.

"Your master, is he… important to the Hutts?" Din questions. He automatically slips into the mindset he always has while collecting information, especially about a target. "Would he be missed if someone eliminated him?"

She stills entirely, and shock flits across her face. "You don't have to do that for us," she tells him. "You have your child to look after."

Din instinctively turns his head in the direction of where the children went. "I know how to protect him," he answers. "You and your son deserve better."

"So does every slave in Mos Espa," Shmi responds evenly.

"I cannot free them all. I can help you though, so I am offering."

She sighs lightly. "I know. I am grateful." And then, with a slightly bitter smile, she adds, "It's not like I would say no to such a thing. Watto has been a harsh master, but he has at least kept us together. He is a gambler, but no, he has no connections with the Hutts, if that's what you mean. I don't think anyone would think twice if he turned up dead. He has a lot of debts."

"Very well then. I'll handle it in the morning," Din decides.

"That is… generous of you," Shmi murmurs, something almost wary creeping into her voice. "What do you want from us?"

"Want?" Din echoes, startled. "I don't want anything from you. I am doing the right thing. This is the Way." He didn't expect that his offer of aid would be met with suspicion like this, but really, he should have. They're slaves, and they probably have been all their lives – at least in Anakin's case. Shmi has every reason to be protective of her son and worry about him, even if there's little which she can do to protect him. He thinks, for a moment, that if he had met Shmi instead of going to Sorgan, he wouldn't have hesitated to leave Grogu with her. He might even have stayed. She knows and understands violence and lawlessness. So does Anakin. It's the way of life on Tatooine.

"You said that before too," she muses. "Does it mean something?"

"I – I am a Mandalorian," he explains. "We follow a Creed. It is our duty to help people who ask us and are in need, especially children. Orphaned children are taken as foundlings and raised in the Mandalorian ways, unless or until they are returned to their own kind."

"So, you are willing to do this for Ani?"

Ani. The nickname fits him. "Yes, and because Grogu wanted me to." He doesn't add that what his kid wants is far more involved.

Shmi hums quietly, turning to stir the pot which is cooking. "What you said, about Mandalorians, it reminds me of the stories I've heard about the Jedi. Ani, he wants to become a Jedi, but… the Republic doesn't care about us. They don't care that slavery exists out here, even though it's technically illegal."

Din doesn't know what to say to that. He doesn't know, really, what the Old Republic was like before it's fall. He was too young, and he heard even less after Aq Vetina was attacked by the CIS battle droids and he became a foundling. "What do you want for him?" he inquires. It feels so strange to be having a conversation like this with someone, with yet another parent, who worries about their child the way he does Grogu. Shmi would, he thinks, understand very well the pain of trying to send a child to a safer place. It's another way she's different than Omera.

"I want him to be happy," she admits, eyes flickering towards the doorway through which her son disappeared, "And I want him to be safe. He deserves a better life. He's a special child. He… he has abilities."

From the way she says it, Din gets the strong impression that she heard him telling Anakin about Grogu. He would be more surprised if Grogu hadn't already told him that Anakin was a Jetii in the past. "I'm not a Jetii," he points out. "I can't teach him to control them."

"Perhaps not," Shmi concedes, "But I think you were meant to help him."

Din is quiet at that, and he looks down at the rough flooring beneath his feet. "What do you want me to do?" He can't explain that his kid doesn't want Anakin to become a Jetii without also telling her about the time travel, and he refuses to do that. Not yet. It's too dangerous of a secret to be known. Many people would love to have the knowledge and information which is in Din's head. But if there's something he can do…

Shmi doesn't answer, and Din is beginning to wonder if she even will when she finally speaks up again, voice soft. "Tatooine is not a place for him to be. He likes roaming, travelling, but we never can. He doesn't want to stay in one place for long. He deserves a better life than what I can give him now."

"When I have the credits and means, I'll take you both off Tatooine if you want," Din offers. He's quite certain that isn't what Shmi is talking about, and he feels like she's deliberately taking a roundabout way to her real point, because she's trying to assess him first.

"He doesn't have a father," Shmi murmurs, her regret obvious.

Oh no. Din has a feeling that he knows where this is going. Grogu was trying to persuade him of the same thing, and he still doesn't understand why. He doesn't know what Grogu thinks is so special about him, though he can chalk that up to the kid's bad experiences and the fact that Din is actually nice to him. But Shmi? Who is obviously a good mother? It's unexpected, to say the least, and he really has no idea how to feel about it.

"What happened to him?" Din isn't sure if it's the right question but saying nothing doesn't seem like the answer either.

Shmi shakes her head. "There was none. I cannot explain it. It just… happened. I know it sounds strange, but that's how it is."

Din sighs, tilting his head back slightly. Jetii magic probably then. Why, why is it him who has to deal with it? Again? But at the same time, he doesn't understand how a child can simply not have a biological father. If that's what Shmi says though, he'll do her the honor of not objecting, even if he doubts it. She's a slave, and he is well aware of the things that can happen to slaves.

"Ani wants, needs really, a father figure in his life, and I saw how you are with your son. You're a good father to him, and I think you could help Ani, too," Shmi explains.

"You want me to adopt him," Din realizes numbly. He's struck by the urge to either laugh or scream at how surreal this is. Grogu's opinion he could chalk up to him being a child, but Shmi…? "Why would you trust me around your son?"

"There is no denying the bond you and your child have," Shmi answers resolutely, "And anyone who treats their own child with so much love and care is a good person. You told me Mandalorians take in orphaned children, and Anakin might not be an orphan, but he is fatherless."

This can't be happening. It's his first thought. His second is about how well Shmi has been able to read him. He knows that he acts differently towards Grogu, but to have a complete stranger realize the depths of their connection… it definitely unsettles him. It's okay though because he, in turn, trusts that Shmi won't use that knowledge against him. She cares about Anakin, and she… trusts him.

And the worst – or best? It's not a bad thing, per se, but the mere thought of taking another foundling is filling him with trepidation; he's apart from his covert, and he – he'll never be able to see them again, to talk to Goran and ask her advice. Besides, he is technically dar'manda now. He never got the chance or had the ability to redeem himself before he ended up here. Maybe he can correct that now… – part is that Din can't say no. He can't refuse a plea for help, not one like this. Taking in children, teaching them the Mandalorian way, that is all part of the Creed. Din might have removed his helmet for Grogu, but he isn't going to continue to violate the Creed.

But –

"What does your son say? Does he want that? Does he want to become a Mandalorian?"

"I'll talk to him about it," Shmi promises, pausing before adding with a knowing smile, "Unless he talks to me about it first."

Now Din really wonders what mother and son were talking about – at least it looked as if they had been talking – when he took Grogu outside to speak with him.

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Mando'a Translations:

Buir - father, mother

Mando'ade - Mandalorian (literally, sons/daughters of Mandalore)

Resol'nare - Six Actions, the tenets of Mando life

Goran - armorer

beskar'gam - armor

ad'ika - little one

jetii - Jedi

dar'manda - not Mandalorian (not an outsider, but one who has lost his heritage, and so his identity and his soul - regarded with absolute dread by most traditionally-minded Mando'ade)