Mandalorian Menace

Chapter 12 - Goodbye

Author's Note: Enjoy Anakin facing the Council and the changes that are spiraling. :)

PS. There is Mando'a in here, and I put all the translations at the end. Let me know if I missed anything! ^-^

~ Amina Gila

It's not long after Din's private meeting with Queen Amidala when the Jetii return for Anakin. He had known, of course, that they would be back, but that doesn't make any easier for him. He doesn't want to let Anakin go, but it's for the boy's own good. This is what Anakin wants.

They're alone – the Jetii are waiting outside, giving them privacy to say goodbye to each other. Anakin reaches out to lift Grogu into his arms first, laying a gentle hand on the kid's head. "I promised," he whispers to him, and Grogu coos, a little sadly, but he doesn't protest or throw a fit when Anakin sets him down again. Din doesn't know what Anakin is talking about; it must be something private between the two of them, so he doesn't pry.

"Buir..." Anakin begins, and Din feels the familiar swell of emotions which accompany Anakin's use of that title. He seems to be at a loss for words though because he lunges forwards, wrapping his arms around Din and hugging him tightly, resting his face against Din's beskar'gam. Din holds him close, relishing in the feeling for what could well be the last time for years. It's easier, in this way, because Din knows that it's not a goodbye for forever.

He remembers how he took off his buy'ce when he gave Grogu to Luke and wonders if he should do it again. He wavers for a moment before deciding against it. Not here. Not in Senator Palpatine's home. The buy'ce gives him anonymity, and he doesn't want to lose that.

"If you want to stay, An'ika, you can," he reminds him softly, stepping back when Anakin lets go of him.

Anakin doesn't falter, though he looks as if he wants to. "I'll come back, Buir, I promise."

Din cards his fingers through Anakin's hair, a fond smile tugging at his lips. "I know you will."

He watches as Anakin goes to Shmi, hugging her as well. "I love you, Mom," he murmurs into her dress.

"And I love you, Ani," she assures him. "Now go, and don't look back."

Anakin turns, moving for the door, and Din's heart skips a beat. He can't let his foundling leave before saying one last thing. "Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum, ad'ika." The words slip out before he can stop them, not that he would have stopped them anyways.

Grogu coos, and Anakin pauses, glancing back, a smile lighting up his face, his eyes bright. "Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum, Buir," he echoes, and Din knows then, for sure, that he knows what the words mean. Anakin steps through the door, and it closes behind him, sealing him out of their lives for the indefinite future.

Din picks up Grogu, cradling him in his arms, suddenly feeling oddly empty. "It's okay," he promises, though he doesn't know who he's trying to comfort most: Shmi, Grogu, or himself. It will be okay though. Anakin will be back; Din knows it.

***

Anakin stops, once, to say goodbye to Padme, but to his disappointment, she's not there. He had hoped he could see her one last time. The Jedi take him to the Temple, and Anakin thinks he'd be able to appreciate and admire the beauty far more if he wasn't so nervous. Qui-Gon tries to calm him as they walk through the halls towards the Council chamber, telling him about the – the Jedi Masters on the Council. There are twelve of them in all, and they'll be testing him to decide if they will accept him for training. Which is strange because Anakin had thought that, by coming here, he would be trained, that it was a foregone conclusion.