𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕦𝕤𝕥 | A Mandalorian Story

XV

Touch

Bryn

Her brain felt as though it was stuffed with cotton. Her ears rung and the world blurred. Her ankle pulsed with pain and her head pounded. The scenes around her seemed to blur together and all she could feel was Mando's protective arm around her waist. She would've blushed at the contact if she had been thinking straight.

She stumbled as Mando lead her towards his small cot and helped her sit down. She winced and carefully touched her head wound. She hissed at the contact and silently cursed Toro. 

Without a word, Mando knelt down before her and began untying her shoes. "What are you doing?" She rasped, her voice raw from the lack of water. 

He didn't even look up. "Fixing your foot." He grunted and slipped off her shoe. His gloved fingers grazed her hurt ankle and she yelped at the sudden jolt of pain and tried to pull away but he help her steady. 

"Hold on, it'll only hurt for a little while." He promised. His words echoed in Bryn's ears and she found herself relaxing into his grip. 

She watched as he gently dabbed her wound with a cloth and placed a bacta patch on her ankle. Her ankle was far more tolerable than the wound on her head. Once Mando moved up to take care of it she had to bite her lip to keep from crying out.

She hissed and shut her eyes; trying not to flinch. Her fists tightened on the sheet beneath her and her toes curled. Mando paused for a moment at her reaction and slowly pulled back. Bryn frowned in confusion; unsure of what he was doing. Before she had the chance to ask she felt the cool contact of skin brush across her forehead. 

Bryn tensed and her eyes fluttered open. Mando's helmet was a few inches from her own as he studied the wound. His touch was rough and calloused but she found that she didn't mind. In fact, she rather liked it. 

She couldn't take his eyes off his visor. It was times like these that she wished she would see through his helmet. She wished she could see him eyes, his face, anything really. 

Bryn was immediately washed with guilt. How could she possibly wish to see him? It was his culture and she had to respect that, but still, she couldn't help but wonder. 

Mando gently placed another bacta patch on her forehead. "Good thing it doesn't need stitches." He commented; his voice surprisingly soft. 

She could only give a tired hum in response. She felt exhaustion take over her but at the same time she didn't want the moment to end. She had never realized it before but somewhere along the line she found a sense of protection in the Mandalorian. Not only did he save her but he talked to her, he listened to her. Something no one had ever done before. 

Even though she couldn't see through his mask she felt his eyes on her and unconsciously shivered under his gaze. Mando's fingers slowly dropped from her forehead and it was only now she realized their position. His knee was beside her on the bed and he towered over her. Slowly, he lowered himself so they were leveled.  His hands dropped to her face. 

His fingers grazed her cheek for a moment. It was soft, almost ghost like. Before Bryn knew what she was doing, she pushed her cheek into his palm. 

Mando cupped her cheek tenderly, as though her action had been the green light he was looking for. His other hand took a strand of hair between his fingers and caressed it gently. He touched her as though he was afraid she would break. 

"I'm sorry." He whispered. 

"It's okay." She whispered back. "It wasn't your fault."

"I shouldn't have left you."

"And I should've been able to handle him." She admitted, wishing she was stronger.

"No." Mando's voice was rough, as though he had somehow read her mind and brought her chin up. "I should've protected you. It was my fault, not yours, understand?"

He held her still until she gave a gently nod. Satisfied his grip relaxed but he didn't release her. Instead his hands found a way to her own and he gently caressed them. 

"What happens now?" She asked. 

"Now you rest." He said and slowly began making his way up but Bryn stopped him. Her hand latched onto his and she looked up through her lashes. 

She squeezed his hand and her heart pounded faster when he didn't pull away. "I'll get stronger and one day I'll be deserving of being in your company." 

He squeezed her hand back. "One day?" He echoed. "How could you ever be deserving of my company?"

Bryn felt her heart dropped and she swallowed thickly. She tried to retract her hand but Mando didn't let her and continued. "When I am no where near worthy of yours?" His voice was a ghostly whisper. 

She gave a shy smile. No one had ever talked to her like that. Everyone she met had always talked down on her but here was the mandalorian, telling her he wasn't worthy of her. Her heart almost beat out of her chest. 

"Now go to sleep." His voice turned to the usual demanding but there was a softness to it. He gently pushed her down onto the cot. "You're exhausted. I'll be here when you wake up."

Before Bryn fell asleep she reach for Mando's helmet. She felt him tense under her touch as she guided her head down and gently touched their foreheads together. For a moment it almost seemed as though Mando had stopped breathing. 

Eventually she pulled away and gave a small smile. "Thank you."

Mando mumbled a quiet response. Had she been fully awake she would've found his stumble a bit odd, but at the moment she didn't mind it.

Bryn gave a tired smile and whispered another thank you as her eyes fluttered shut. She was so tired she immediately drifted into a dreamless state but not before feeling a soft hand brush against her face and a soft, broken whisper. 

"You deserve the galaxy."