Pet Names

Dear

    The Mandalorian had told Imogen about Sorgan before, when he had recounted to her the story of how he had acquired his green gremlin of a son. She was slightly nervous to meet the village, specifically Cara Dune, who despite him not having verbally acknowledged it, was probably the Mandalorian's best friend. After the battle on Nevarro, apparently, she had stayed for a week before returning to Sorgan and immediately dropping to one knee in front of Omera when she got back to the village.
    Imogen thought it was sweet, and despite having never met the ex shock trooper, she was happy that she was finally able to settle down and be at peace with the woman she had grown to love.
    "Relax," the Mandalorian said, leaning down so his helmet was right next to her ear as he muttered to her. The two were walking towards the village, and Imogen could hear the sounds of life-children's laughter and the clanging of tools.
    "I am relaxed," she shot back, and could almost feel the Mandalorian roll his eyes.
    "Sure," he said, shrugging and moving away, and before Imogen could even think to miss his proximity, he was back with a heavy hand on her shoulder. Imogen shrieked and jumped back. "Completely relaxed," her eyes narrowed as she glared at him.
    "That wasn't ni-"
    "Mando!" a woman's voice cut her off, and the Mandalorian and Imogen turned to face the dark haired woman striding towards them. She had a large smile on her face, and Imogen's eyes glancing at her bicep confirmed her suspicion that the approaching woman was Cara Dune, or at least had her chain code.
    "Cara," The Mandalorian greeted, and though most who didn't know him would think his voice was monotone, both Imogen and Cara could hear the abundance of warmth in his voice. The two embraced, giving each other a friendly slap on the back before pulling away. Ruu'Eva cooed from his place in Imogen's arms, and Imogen set him down so he could waddle over.
    "Hey womp rat!" Cara beamed at the child, swooping him into her arms and giving his ears some soft strokes. It was then her eyes rose and she finally appraised Imogen, watching as the much shorter fidgeted under her analyzing gaze.
    "This is Imogen," the Mandalorian introduced, motioning for her to join them, and Imogen took slow steps towards them, at least until she was within arms reach and the Mandalorian's hand shot out to grab her arm, pulling her into his chest.
    "Oof," she stumbled into him, her forehead banging uncomfortably on his pauldron.
    "Sorry," he muttered, and Imogen snorted.
    "We both know you're not, Dear," she patted his bicep as she stood straight, hand drifting down his arm to grasp his as she turned to face Cara. "You're Cara, right?" she asked, and the woman nodded, a smirk on her face.
    "You call him Dear?" she asked, and the Mandalorian heaved a heavy sigh as he picked Ruu'Eva up.
    "I'm going to go greet everyone else," Cara snickered as he walked away, and Imogen enlightened her on the different things she had called the Mandalorian.

    "Omera," Din called, walking up to the woman, who turned to face him with a beaming smile. "I haven't seen you since..." he trailed off, leaving the woman to fill in the blank. "Congratulations," his helmet tilted obviously at her hand, where a pretty but simple engagement ring rested.
    "Thank you," she said, hand going to fiddle with it. "Cara said you were bringing a companion, I can find a separ-" Din cut her off.
    "No!" he almost shouted, and Omera jumped. Din sighed awkwardly. "I... would prefer for her to be close," Omera's smile turned into a cheshire grin.
    "So you've brought a girl home," she teased, and Din rolled his eyes, not that she could see.
    "You're the second person to make that joke," he groaned, and Omera just raised her eyebrows at him.
    "Is it a joke, Mando?" she challenged, and Din's breath caught in his throat. Instead of answering her, he swung around and returned to Cara and Imogen, dropping Ruu'Eva off with the village children on the way. He immediately grew suspicious when the two women immediately stopped talking at his approach, turning to face him with matching grins.
    "You two seem to be getting along," he commented, voice filled with trepidation as he slowed his approach, steps cautious.
    "Swimmingly," Cara confirmed, sending a smirk in Imogen's direction before the two women burst into fits of giggles.
    "This is... strange," he said, beginning to feel very unnerved at their behavior. "What were you talking about?" he asked, and both Imogen and Cara shook their heads.
    "A lady never tells, Dear," Imogen giggled as she and Cara walked past him arm in arm.
    "What?" he muttered under his breath as they passed, quickly turning to trail them. "What is it?" he asked, voice louder as he came to be behind the two women.
    "Nothing," Imogen hummed, and Cara continued to snicker as they walked through the village.
    "I'll show you where you'll be staying," Cara said, but Din grabbed her forearm to stop her.
    "I got it," he said, and Cara furrowed her brows at him.
    "Do you even-"
    "I got it," he repeated, more forceful, and Cara's face broke into a smirk.
    "I see," she purred, turning and walking away. "I'm gonna find Omera," she winked at the pair as she strutted away, and Din and Imogen turned to awkwardly stare at each other for a tense moment before bursting out into laughter. The sound startled Cara enough that she turned around and almost ran back to them, but instead of commenting she just did a 180 and continued on her way, already seeing how smitten the Mandalorian was with Imogen. Though she had been informed by the armorer... not that either women would admit to keeping in contact to Din.
    "No really, what were you guys talking about?" Din pressed as he took Imogen's hand and led her to the barn where he had stayed during his last time on Sorgan. Imogen giggled, tugging on his hand to get him to stop walking and come towards her. Her hand reached up, and Din tensed as it went over his shoulder, but almost too soon she was pulling away with Ruu'Eva's stuffed bantha toy in her hand. "What?"
    "Your hood," Imogen said as an explanation, her giggles continuing, and Din's eyes narrowed into slits as he glared at her.
    "How long was it there?" he asked, and Imogen just smiled innocently at him.
    "Since we left the ship," she answered, and Din groaned. "Come on, Dear, where are we staying," Imogen nudged him, and Din shook his head with a chuckle, finding himself unable to even be frustrated with his companion at the practical joke. He led her the last bit of the way to the barn, and upon arriving Imogen let out a soft 'oh'.
    "You're okay with this?" she asked, and Din nodded, taking a deep breath.
    "I asked for this," he answered, and relished in the blush that was quick to spread on Imogen's cheeks. "It's..." he took another deep breath, trying to think of how to put his scrambled thoughts into words. "It's easier for me when you're close," he said finally, and Imogen's brows pinched together.
    "What is?"
    "Everything," Imogen's mouth formed an 'o' at that, and the blush went from a soft hue of pink to a fiery red. Din didn't even think when he raised a hand to cup her cheek, thumb stroking the skin softly. Imogen smiled shyly at him, leaning her head down in what had become their non verbal sign that she wanted cuddles. Din pulled her to his chest, this time more gentle than he had been outside with Cara, and tucked her face into his neck between the cuirass and helmet. "You make everything easier, cyar'ika," he breathed, and Imogen's breath hitched.

    The pair stood like that for a long while, and Imogen just basked in his scent, a heady combination of blaster powder and whatever polish he used for his armor and a tang that was just... him.
    "Where's Ruu'Eva?" Imogen mumbled against the Mandalorian's neck, reluctant to let go.
    "With the other children," he answered, and Imogen nodded slightly. They both jumped when a loud growl filled the tent, and Imogen blushed when she realized that the noise was her stomach. "We should get dinner, cyar'ika," he said softly, beginning to pull away, but Imogen tightened her hands where they had tangled in his cape.
    "Can't we stay like this a little longer?" she pleaded, voice small. The Mandalorian sighed, seeming like he was about to indulge her in a couple more precious moments of cuddles, but Imogen's stomach grumbled again, louder than before. He heaved out a heavy, tired sigh.
    "You need to eat," he said, pulling away and pulling her to the fire some villagers had started up, where more began to pour into the clearing for a communal meal.. Imogen was thankful for his hand remaining in hers, happy to keep some form of contact with him. Cara and Omera both teased the Mandalorian when they saw him holding her hand, but he didn't pull away, instead his grip just tightened as he continued on his quest to get Imogen some food.
    Soon enough the sun had set and the child was conked out on Imogen's lap, the woman beginning to doze herself in front of the fire. She jolted when a shoulder nudged hers.
    "Let's go to bed, cyar'ika," the Mandalorian suggested, and Imogen blushed at the double meaning it could hold. Cara and Omera were heard snickering at the other end of the fire, but the Mandalorian paid them no mind as he pulled Imogen up and to their tent.
    That night Imogen slept curled up against the Mandalorian's chest, their hands clasped together resting against Ruu'Eva's back, who was taking up the little space on his chest left from Imogen.

Mando'a Translations
Cyar'ika - Darling; Beloved