Chapter Text
Once upon, there was a galaxy where one man’s desire for revenge was one factor in a war that led to the near eradication of an entire group of people.
A galaxy where one man’s manipulated dreams forced him down a dark path.
A galaxy where there was no peace.
And then, there is another galaxy where peace lies just on the tips of everyone’s fingers, just out of reach but still tantalisingly there…waiting for the right person to grab it.
….
Luke didn’t remember first meeting the Mandalorian who would be his betrothed. He and his sister were too young, a mere couple of months old, unaware of the tension that was happening all around them.
They were unaware that these proposals had been going on for years, keeping the peace between the two factions.
Their own ‘Uncle’ Obi-Wan had been betrothed to the leader of section 212th, leading to their cousin Cobb-Van.
It was just one of those things.
The years passed, and Luke wished that it wasn’t ‘one of those things.’
…..
Palpatine cursed as he looked over everything in front of him.
No army.
No war.
Nothing was going to plan, and everything was nearly six years behind schedule.
He needed a new plan and he needed it quickly.
...
“Here they come.”
The Jedi all watched as the ship landed on the docks of the Temple, the engine noises dying down until there was nothing but silence. The doors opened and two helmeted figures exited the spacecraft.
One tall, wearing the familiar insignia of the Mandalor, the other a lot shorter, clearly fighting not to look around at this new place.
“Pleased to see you again, we are.” Jedi Master Yoda greeted the pair, “Din, this must be, hmm?”
“Yes.” Jango Fett, the current Mandalor gently pushed the child closer, removing his helmet as Din stubbornly kept his on, “Excuse him, he’s from a faction that don’t remove their helmets unless it’s to family.”
“Understand, we do.” Yoda looked behind him, were Luke was pressed up against his father’s leg, “Greet him, why don’t you, Young Skywalker.”
Pushed forwards by Leia, Luke moved to stand in front of Din, “Hello, it’s nice to meet you.”
Din just bowed, as Luke looked back at everyone, not sure when he should do in return.
His Uncle Obi-Wan mimed a Mandalorian bow, which Luke did his best to replicate, looking a little rushed as he moved to head back to his Mum.
Not a disaster, but not a total win either.
…..
It was clear that the pair were very different.
Luke kept trying to show Din his stances that he was learning as part of his training, but Din never seemed overly interested, preferring his blasters.
They were both quiet, but it meant that they could spend almost half an hour without speaking to each other, which was not the best way to get to know each other.
There was a hope that they would bond over flying…but it never seemed to happen.
“Luke is trying to use the Force to pull Din’s helmet off.” Leia reported, running up the stairs to her parents, as Padme muttered a soft curse under her breath, rushing off to try and prevent a diplomatic incident.
“I still think we should have waited for them to be older.” Anakin muttered.
“And have these meetings turn into actual fights?” Obi-Wan chuckled.
“You and Cody didn’t!”
“Not in public.”
“You fought?”
A sly look appeared on Obi-Wan’s face as Anakin made a sound of sheer disgust, the pair of them moving to one side as Din and Luke raced past them, Din chasing Luke.
…..4 years later….
“Don’t dawdle Din, we can’t keep the Jedi waiting.”
“…I haven’t packed yet.”
“Tough. You are bringing nothing then. Let this be a lesson in being prepared…or testing my patience.”
“What if we go missing on the way? Like- “
“- Enough!”
…….
“They’ll be arriving soon.” Anakin poked his head into his eight-year-old son’s room, “I thought you were wearing something a little more...Jedi?”
Luke looked down at the poncho that he was wearing, “What’s wrong with it?”
“...It’s a unique look.”
“Mama likes it.”
Who was Anakin to argue?
....
The visit came to an end when the pair decided to show off flying the little ships around the temple and ended up crashing into each other, leaving them bruised and slightly broken.
.....4 years later...
“She was flirting with you.” Din stated, “And you were flirting back.”
“I was being nice.”
Din said nothing, though his disapproval was evident.
Luke rolled his eyes, looking over at his Uncle Obi-Wan who was talking quietly with another Jedi, that had a line of yellow of his nose, both of them looking very serious.
Three Mandalorian had gone missing, that they knew of.
Tensions were building and suddenly, all the pressure was on Luke and Din to make this betrothal work.
Luke hated it.
Maybe he could get Cobb and Leia to help him win at Sabacc later.
.....6 years later...
“Young, eighteen is.” Yoda sighed, “Very little choice, we have.”
Luke felt like he was going to be sick as he stood in front of the Council. He had run out of time, and this was it.
“Is there some sort of tradition that Din’s faction would have for proposing marriage?” His Uncle Obi-Wan asked.
“Simple, we should keep it. Ask Jango, we will.”
Luke then looked to his side, seeing that his Father was refusing to look at him.
Ever since Leia had decided that some hot shot pilot was perfect for her, there had been no further attempts to link the Temple with the Mandalorians.
It was all up to him.
....
Luke was not going to admit it in front of everyone, taking care to shield his thoughts as best he could, but Din had filled out his armour quite nicely over the past year, prompting him to tug on his padawan braid a little self-consciously.
There was something about this meeting that was different.
Luke wondered if Din could feel it too.
It certainly seemed like he could as they moved closer to one another.
“Din.” Luke bowed, which Din returned.
“Luke Skywalker...it’s nice to see you again.”
Din actually sounded like he meant it, which took Luke a little by surprise, but it also made him feel more than a little hopeful over the entire situation.
Everyone was watching.
He had to do this now.
“Din Djarin...” He moved to one knee, fisted hand over his hand, head bowed, “...Would you do me the honour of joining your clan and the Skywalker Jedi Clan together in marriage.”
For a long moment, there was silence, before Din took a small step back.
“Din.” Jango hissed, but he was ignored.
“Are you asking, because you wish to marry me, or because everyone else wishes us to?”
Luke couldn’t stop his mouth from falling open a little, only just resisting the urge to look back at the Council for some sort of guidance.
“I....This HAS to happen.”
That was the wrong answer, as Din turned and left, Luke getting to his feet as he heard his mother groan something under her breath.
He didn’t need to know what she said.
14 years...wasted.
....
He didn’t watch them leave.
He wasn’t sure that he could deal with anymore of the pointed looks that he was getting from everyone, even though it was DIN who rejected the proposal.
...
“It did have to happen, he wasn’t wrong.”
Din ignored Jango, looking out of the window as they headed away from Coruscant.
...
The shadowy figure watched the ship leave.
“Execute Order 34.”
....
“...you were thinking?!”
“We were pushed together.” Din sighed, “I wanted to make sure that this was not something that he would come to resent.”
“As much as I hate to admit it, Mandalorians and Jedi are...compatible.” Jango sighed, “You could have given the Skywalker kid a chance and- “ He paused, as Din turned to him.
“Mand’alore?”
“GET DOWN!”
From there, Din saw only white.