Chapter Text
Din came into the Jabbas hideout ready to collect his bounty. It was crowded and loud. He hated it. When he got to him he threw the bounty in front of Jabba.
The Hutt looked at it. "Good job. Stick around for tonight's festivities."
Din wanted to decline but knew it wasn't a good idea. So he stood and watched a Twi'lek girl perform. Nothing he hadn't seen before, she was pretty but not really his type. The evening went on like that multiple slaves trying their best to entertain Jabba, natural Hutt stuff.
Before the last person came out Jabba got even more excited than usual. Din wondered why but when he came out he knew why. It was a young man, probably about 20. His eyes were a piercing blue and he had soft-looking blonde hair. He stepped into the middle of the room where a twilek girl tied a black blindfold on him so he couldn't see anything.
Din looked confused until the man was handed two torches and people started shooting at him. The man evaded every blaster shot gracefully while spinning the torches. It looked like he was dancing.
Din couldn't look away. He moved as if he knew where the people would shoot as if he could see. It was weirdly beautiful and mesmerizing.
The man threw the torches in their respective holders and did a flip forwards pulling off the blindfold now only being a few meters away from the Mandalorian breathing heavily. There was this beautiful sadness running through him. But before he could look at him any longer the man was yanked away by the chain around his neck.
Jabba had pulled him towards himself. "Did you enjoy the show Mandalorian?" He pulled the man closer. "This one's my favorite, a real jetii."
The man tried to move away only to be yanked closer. He looked at the Mandalorian almost as if he was begging him to help him.
Din stepped closer to the Hutt. "What about my payment?"
"15,000." Jabba let the Jedi go who immediately moved away.
"I want the 50,000. I don't bargain you should know that."
"Hmm, how about I'll let you pick a slave on top of the 15,000, that's more than fair."
"I have no use for slaves, Jabba."
"Then sell it. Slaves go well here, you know that especially a pretty Twi'lek woman. You can get your pick."
"Any slave?"
"Yes," Jabba called all his slaves out and made them line up except for the man.
Din looked at them, all pretty generic and would bring him a pretty penny. But the man, if he was really a Jetii he would make him a lot more. "I want him." He pointed at the blue-eyed man.
The man looked at him surprised, his eyes full of emotions but nothing Din could pinpoint.
"Not him." Jabba yanked the man closer with the chain.
"A deal is a deal Jabba. You said any slave. Are you not a man of your word?" Din knew he could get what he wanted.
The Hutt got angry because he knew he had to give the bounty hunter what he wanted. "You don't want him. He's only good for circus tricks and a handful. He will escape."
"I can handle it. My payment, please." Din walked past the other slaves up to Jabba.
"You're not making friends." Jabba handed him the chains and the credits.
Din pulled the man closer holding his blaster to the side of his head to keep him from trying shit. "I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to make money." He left the hideout and kept walking to his ship all the while having his new slave stare at him.
When he got to the ship he tied the man up and threw a blanket over him, since he was barely dressed. "Don't try any funny business. We're only driving for 3 days then I'll resell you. I should get some good money for you."
The man didn't answer but looked around as if analyzing his surroundings before looking at Din. "Who are you gonna sell me to?"
"The highest bidder."
"There's no way I can convince you to let me go right?"
"Look it's nothing personal but I'm not a Saint that frees slaves."
"I understand." The man looked at his tied-up hands.
Din sighed and sat down on his chair starting the ship. They flew in quiet for a while until the slave spoke up again.
"I can be helpful, you know. I'm a good flyer and I can do housework or protect your ship-"
"I don't have a need for you. I like to travel alone and in silence."
"Please, you can beat me and hit and use me just don't sell me."
"Why do you want to stay here so badly?" Din turned around confused by the other's behavior.
"I'd rather stay in one place than keep changing hands. It's-" He paused for a second. "And you have a ship and seem nice. I don't want to end up being confined to one place again."
"How would you even know if I was nice?"
"Years of experience you learn how to read people."
"I won't keep you. So be quiet now, jetii."
"I'm not a Jedi. I've never been formally trained."
"But you can do that space magic stuff right?"
"You mean the force, yes."
"Okay, then you'll still get me a lot of credits. Now be quiet."
The man rolled his eyes. And leaned against the wall trying to get some sleep.
Din kept flying. Why should he care about some random guy? He was just gonna sell him and get his money. But when he was performing Din almost felt his pain, how alone he was. Eventually, he went to sleep.
When Din woke up the slave was already awake and looking at him. He went and got something to drink and a Ration bar, setting it down in front of him before getting back to flying.
"Aren't you gonna eat?"
"Mandalorian, we don't take off our helmet in front of other living sentient beings. Now eat and be quiet."
The man ate and there was silence for a while.
"I need to use the bathroom."
Din sighed and got up untying him and leading him to the restroom holding the chain while turning around. When he was done Din went to tie him up again.
"Could you tie me up in front of a window please?"
"Why?"
"I haven't seen the stars in ages. I promise I won't give you any trouble."
"Okay." Din tied him to the chair next to him.
"They're beautiful don't you think?"
"I don't know. They just don't really stand out to me."
"I guess when you see them more often they lose their flare." The man turned to Din. "You know I really thought you would be my ticket out of this life."
"Why?"
"You seemed like the type. You know morally grey, does what he needs to survive but has a good heart. Did I get you wrong?" Blue eyes piercing through him.
Din didn't answer.
"Well, maybe I get sold to some okay people. Maybe they have a farm. I miss our old farm."
He wanted to answer when he noticed a ship following him. It was Solo's ship. Shit. Quickly he started calculating a jump to hyperspace. "Strap in." He made the jump getting rid of the pursuer. What did he want?
"Well, looks like we're early." He landed.
"What? I thought we would need 3 days."
"Yeah but after that jump time got cut short. Let's get you out of here." Din took him on the chain and went outside the ship ignoring the other's demeanor.
He went to the market to find a slave trader. "I would like to sell this slave."
The trader walked over to inspect the slave. "Hmm, he's pretty. Good physique. Maybe 30.000?"
"He's a Jedi."
The trader immediately hushed him. "Don't be so loud about it. Wrong people could hear that. Can you prove it?"
"Yeah, do your thing." He nudged the man.
The slave took a deep breath and made some of the trader's merchandise float.
"Well, still 30.000. I don't have any more at the moment. I can trade you a nice Twi'lek girl for him." The trader grinned. "I could use him around here."
"30.000 isn't enough and I have no use for slaves. Who are the wrong people? They are bound to pay a good price for him."
"The empire. But don't, it would be a death sentence. They kill every Jedi they come across." The trader looked saddened at the slave who looked like all the color drained from his face.
"Thank you. I'll find someone who'll pay a good price." Din turned around heading to his ship. "Come on let's go." He nudged the slave forwards until the man stopped and looked up at the expressionless helmet.
"Please, I'll do anything. I'll cut out my tongue and won't bother you anymore but just don't-"
"I haven't decided on anything yet. Calm down. I'll need to think about it." Din led the man back to his ship and tied him up in front of the window before taking off again.
"I'm sorry."
"What?" Din turned around to see the man looking down at his hands.
"For being such a handful. I just- I could be helpful-"
"Stop it. I told you, I have no use for you."
"But-"
"No, now get some sleep."
They flew for hours in silence and Din felt a bit bad. That was until the man spoke up again.
"What is your name?" Blue eye's staring at him piercing his soul.
"Why does it matter?"
"It doesn't just felt like asking, I wanted to know what to address you as." He shrugged. "I could also call you master if you want to."
"Din."
"Din? I like that it sounds nice like it was picked with care and love."
"Do you have a name?"
"I had but it's not like it matters anymore." He smiled politely but Din could see the hurt behind it. "You know I wanted to be a pilot but then I got into the trade." He chuckled. "Sorry, I just talk a lot in awkward situations like this."
Surprisingly Din didn't tell him to be quiet but furthered their conversation even if he knew it was a bad idea the more he knew the more personal this whole thing would get. "How old were you?"
"12. I changed hands a lot but was mostly used for labor and babysitting. Well, that was until I turned 16. I- Let's just say sometimes people like to use their slaves for entertainment. Got to Jabba's place a few months ago."
"I'm sorry, that's-" He got interrupted when he noticed a ship on his radar. "Solo again? What does he want?"
Din's question got answered as he received a message.
"We want the kid." The man sounded calm. "We'll pay you."
Din prepared to jump to light speed not trusting the other. So he did. There was no way that man would pay him after boarding. 'Do you have any ties to Solo?"
"The smuggler?"
"Yeah."
"No, I mean I've seen him around at Jabba's but it's not like I was allowed to talk to other people. Why?"
Din looked at him for a bit wondering if he should tell him. "They've been tailing us. Probably want to bring you back to Jabba."
"Will you give me over again?"
"No."
"Good."
They went quiet again until the man spoke up again. "You know I am good at mechanics and electronics, worked for someone in that field before so-"
"Please stop talking. I don't like knowing too much about work-related stuff it makes the job complicated.'
"Okay, I'm sorry." After that, the slave didn't say anything again. Almost as if he had given up.
The next day Din had made up his mind. He found a buyer and as nice as the slave seemed he had no use for him and needed the money. So he kept flying to the meeting point. When his passenger woke up he broke the news to him.
"Look I found a buyer for you. We'll be arriving at the meeting point shortly." He somehow wanted to apologize but kept quiet.
"Okay." The man just looked out the window. He knew there was no point in changing his mind, even if he ended up at some rich asshole's place he would manage. He always does. It was just another disappointment. The two didn't talk the rest of the way until they arrived at the drop-off location.
Din went out with him seeing the other nervously pick at the skin around his nails. The slave's face dropped when he saw stormtroopers come out. He desperately grabbed onto the other's arm. "Please, Din. Not this please anything but this."
"I'm sorry."
The slave felt a storm trooper grab the chain around his neck ready to pull him away. He fought against it seeing the Mandalorian talk with the other storm trooper. He was panicking unable to breathe.
"My name is Luke Skywalker!" He screamed as loud as he could to make the other see him, see him as more than just a commodity. "I just turned 20 years old 2 weeks ago, 2 days after empire day!" He felt tears fall down his cheek as he pleaded with the other. "I grew up on Tatooine with my aunt and uncle, they- their names were Beru and Owen Lars. We- we were moisture Farmers before they got killed. Please I am begging you, I haven't lived yet." He felt the chain slowly choking him out. "I was stuck in a dungeon stuck in other people's houses for years! I haven't lived yet, I don't want to die. Nobody has loved me yet. Please Din! I am someone's child, someone's nephew-"
Din was staring at him throughout the whole ordeal but the other couldn't see what he was thinking through the helmet.
"I am a person! Please-" He was gasping for air. "I am not finished yet!" Tears rolled down his face as he fell to the floor. He could live with anything, the abuse, being overworked. He just wanted to live.
"Ah, kriff!" Din drew his blaster shooting the stormtroopers.