SEE ME, SEE YOU: Series Two

C H A P T E R F O U R

REINA'S POV

After an unnecessary dispute between Vanth and the Tuskens that Din had to put a stop to, I called in for the night. With the suns set, the temperature dropped drastically, but the fire was warm enough. Din continued to discuss how to kill the krayt dragon with the Sand people. As I hugged my knees close to me, Vanth joined me.

In my vision, with the flames from the campfire flickering, I could see the half of Vanth's body facing the fire. The shadows danced on his handsome silvery face.

"I think your partner got sick of translatin' the plan back and forth." He joked, and I stiffled a small laugh. Vanth laughed, too, and then propped one arm on his knee. "How did you two meet anyway? You don't seem like the type of damsel who would settle down with someone who won't even show his face." He paused for a moment. "Have you seen his face?"

"No," I lied. "And it's a very long story on how Mando and I became partners."

"Mando, huh?" Vanth scoffed. "You tellin' me you don't even know his real name?"

This man was good, I thought. He was asking all the right questions.

"I respect Mando and his culture. I think you should, too." I said, and Vanth held his hands up in surrender. "I meant no offense towards him or you, Ms. Beckett."

"Mando has done so much for me already." I sighed. "It would be selfish of me to ask him for anymore than we already have."

"I hear you." Vanth took a swig from his canteen. "You know, I had a partner once. She was my everything." Before the Empire fell, he told me, he and his partner, after years of bounty jobs to make end's meet, finally settled down in Mos Pelgo. It wasn't the best life, but they had each other. They even spoke of starting a family. Then, when the news of the destruction of the second Death Star reached the town, they didn't have time to celebrate. Imperial bandits opened fire. Vanth and his partner narrowly escaped, but Vanth had to leave to find help. The last thing he ever said to her was "I will find you." He would later return, now dawned in the Mandalorian armor he bought off Jawas, only to find her missing. Some folks told him that the bandits took her and others away, and they've not been back since...

"I can't go searchin' for her until Mos Pelgo is safe." Vanth said through his gritted teeth. "It's been months now...I wouldn't be surprised to find out she's gone."

"I am sorry." I nodded, but then I looked into the campfire and back at Vanth, and I saw a new man. He had a backstory. He had a purpose. I suddenly found myself admiring him. "You shouldn't lose hope, though, Vanth." I hung my head a bit. "If you lose hope, then that means you've given up. And how would she feel if she knew you gave up on her?"

Vanth cracked a smile. "She'd shoot me to Hell." He took another swig of his drink. "Are you holding onto hope that maybe you and Mando there could be a thing? See his face? Maybe even give him a kiss? You already have a kid and everythin'."

At that moment, my mind went to when I saw Din's face for the first time...The moment I touched his face. I thought to myself, Was that the first time since he was a child someone has touched his face? And when I kissed him, the third time, that is, when I thought I would lose him. Din and I have not mentioned the memory since it happened—If he did have feelings for me, we were keeping it quiet. No need to make a mountain out of a womp rat's hole.

"It's complicated." I said finally, with a smile.

"Indeed." Vanth nodded, and then he gestured over to Din and the Sand people sitting around a separate fire. "So what do you think of teaming up with these..."