CHAPTER 9

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FLUSTERED BREATHS!

*:･ﾟ✧

Dozing away on a collapsible cot within the Razor Crest, Gaia is missing out on Mando repairing his ship outside. He's been doing some basic maintenance ever since they returned — and after he told Gaia they would leave as soon as the night bleeds out and dawn chafes the horizon. However, the hour of darkness is currently young, murmuring of serene tales while Gaia is settled inside with The Child snuggled against her. He was not there to begin with though, and had only found his way to her later in the evening.

As such, the conversing between Mando and the two arrived krill farmers goes unnoticed.

Gaia writhes a little when the dull voices slither to her ears. The echo hisses lowly, causing her eyes to flutter open and close again through exhaustion, her lucid blue skin a slightly paler variation of the usual. The talking ceases. Mando wanders inside and gazes wordlessly at Gaia in the following moment, prior to making his way over. He kneels by her side, watching her briefly until he extends a lone hand toward her jutting shoulder. His movement ceases, doubting.

Mando's uncertain fingertips remain an inch from caressing her eased limb. He eventually pulls back and softly voices to her, "Gaia. . ."

She does not stir the least bit.

Mando attempts once more: "Gaia."

No response. Mando heaves a nervous sigh and reaches for Gaia's shoulder entirely unlike before, feebly shaking her. She groans noisily in objection, squeezing her eyes as if that would bring Mando to unexpectedly leave her be. The Child gurgles questioningly and arches his head to observe him. "Leave me alone. Just five more minutes. . ."

"Come on," Mando coaxes, his palm still pressed to her shoulder. "I found us lodging. We're staying for a while longer — a nearby village needs our help. Desperately, in fact."

"Village? . . ." Gaia drones tiredly. "Lavendea, you make no sense sometimes, you know. . ."

Gaia starts to wrap her hand around Mando's own which — even now — is resting against her shoulder. She picks it carefully up while her eyes are still closed, as if it were made of polished glass, and hugs it protectively with an affectionate grasp that is swathed atop his knuckles. She alights their conjoined hands on top of the cot, parallel to a cherished amulet kept in one's hold for safekeeping.

Mando freezes in place. "Who's that?"

A frown decorates Gaia's brow by the sound of Mando's voice. She opens her eyes at last, kindly gandering up at him until realisation dawns harshly upon her and her dark eyes goes wide. She unclasps his hand from hers at once. Gaia adopts a flustered demeanor as she swings her legs over the edge, breath tangling in her throat:she wholeheartedly mistook Mando for someone else. She even said the wrong name. "I. . .I'm so sorry," Gaia blurts, her gaze turning to steel and regret. "It's no-one important. Forget you heard it."

Gaia doesn't wait for a reply as she slips from Mando's company, grabbing her sniper rifle and sword — headed for the ramp afterward. Mando tracks her retreating figure and almost doesn't dare breathe. The past occurrence was so peculiar and awkward, leaving his hand feeling cold and his heart rapidly beating. He forces his body to act suddenly;standing upright and moving out.

Who did Gaia think he was? Who is Lavendea? A friend? Her mother, maybe?

Mando's head hangs low for a short moment. That look Gaia just gave him — the one that rattled every single bone in his body — it was unlike anything he had ever seen before of her. The lethality she carried was greater than what she bore back on Arvala-7 even. During that time, it was definitely a nod towards her closed-up character and animosity when they first encountered each other, but the one just now — this one was ominous and alarming, like a threat made to an opponent standing no chance whatsoever against a superior foe.

Mando picks The Child up and proceeds to join the two krill farmers and Gaia on their speeder after securing the Razor Crest. They immediately set out into the night, and along the way, Mando informs "Caben" and "Stoke" rather timidly for them to make a certain detour on account of locating Cara Dune.

Gaia refuses to acknowledge Mando the whole way, even The Child, and Cara as well when she's discovered and persuaded to aid them, claiming a seat on the speeder across from her. The somber lullaby of Night is nowhere near soothing to her, and she silently mulls over the incident earlier while Cara and Mando exchange small-talk about the deal offered to them. Gaia is barely listening. Not only was it embarrassing regarding what happened, but also acting as a sharpened knife for her aging wounds which have never properly healed. In truth, it reopened a few of them, granting her no such thing as peace — exhausting and terrible.

Lowering her body to lie down on the cold bottom and rest for the remainder of the night, Gaia breathes a sigh. She feels sick.

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The speeder comes to an abrupt stop which shakes Mando, Cara, and The Child awake.

Gaia, on the other hand, simply strays deeper into her alluring, mellow dream of respite.

The village uncovered before them is the embodiment of peace. The water collected in ponds, lining the outskirts of the small settlement, are glistening and catching the sun's rays and presenting themselves worthy of bearing provision. There are huts spread out amid the inner circle, and a group of kids rush towards the speeder, prompting 'they're here' and 'come on' to their friends. They all settle their attention on The Child, in awe.

Mando is the first to speak up, observing, "Well, looks like they're happy to see us."

Cara agrees. "Looks like."

The kids laugh as The Child babbles excitedly, seemingly as fascinated by them as they are of him. Gaia grumbles unhappily, lifting herself onto her belly so her head sticks above the brink of the vehicle. Her body feels heavy. A sudden round of collective gasps are heard. Gaia frowns — squinting against the sunlight — and elevates her fatigued gaze to the herd of kids in front of her. They're all staring, their mouths parted in noting astonishment.

"Wow," one of them whispers, "she's blue."

"Just like a Krill!" another adds.

One of the kids much closer to Gaia leans forward a bit. "Do you really look like that?"

Gaia's eyebrows knit together. "What?"

"I mean," he corrects, "were you born blue?"

"Oh, uhh. . ." Gaia hesitates, somewhat confused with their comments and exclaims. She spares a glance in Mando's direction and he merely shrugs, however, a joyful smile is plastered onto his lips underneath his helmet. Gaia faces the boy once more. His thrilled expression brings her to wonder what exactly it is that's so interesting to him. "Yes. . .?"

A flurry of chatter erupts and Gaia cuts a sceptical grimace. "Okay, that happened."

Mando cannot restrain himself: an honest chuckle escapes him, causing Gaia to falter. She whips her head to the side. A pricking sensation of warmth crawls up the back of her neck, spreading throughout her chest as well while the precious sound emits. Mando never laughs — not when Gaia is present at least. His reaction is very uncharacteristic, especially in the eyes of her since she basically thought him incapable of it. But that deep thrum. . . She can't help but love it. It's strange to think but she desires to hear it again, tumbling from his obscured lips and rattling her heart like a caged butterfly.

Casting her gaze down, Gaia urges her exhausted body to move, and she vacates the speeder alongside the others. She adjusts her sniper rifle, trudging after Mando like The Child, watching him transport a moderate box towards the barn they've been directed to. The kids are long gone now, instructed to leave the visitors alone. A few of them had been quite reluctant to do so, wishing to play with The Child and question Gaia some more.

In the meantime, Mando has taken the liberty of explaining their current task to her as a means of quelling the awkward tension.

The trio enters the threshold to the barn. Gaia nearly staggers when the sight of a lovely woman ready to greet them appears. Long flowing hair and a few braids tying her tresses away from her face cascades effortlessly down her back, followed by her fair countenance — friendly eyes and soft features, her body clad in a work dress and sturdy boots. An energy complete with a genuine sincerity resonates naturally from her; a warm smile on her lips.

"Please come in." The stranger encourages cheerfully while gesturing a reluctant Gaia and Mando forward into the passable room. "Sorry that all we have is the barn," she says.

"This will do fine," Mando assures, placing the box down in the back alongside Gaia.

"I stacked some blankets over here."

"Thank you," Mando appreciates, discarding his Amban sniper rifle. "That's very kind."

Gaia lingers on the side, glancing to The Child every now and then who observes the Mandalorian. The floorboards creak all of a sudden, and Mando whirls around in alarm — a hand ready on his blaster. Gaia jolts by the quick change in his mood, altogether surprised by his behaviour since her Spectre had not spoken out at all. A soft gasp leaks through the outside wall. The polite woman closes in on the hiding individual, pulling the smaller person gently forth to be introduced.

The woman embraces what appears to be a young girl. "This is my daughter; Winta. We don't get a lot of visitors around here," she informs dimly. "She's not used to strangers."

Mando — still tense — says nothing. Gaia is the exact same, she doesn't know what to say. A twitch roams ever so slightly over her fingers, tremors prowling her body as her skin begins to burn. The other woman continues, "This nice man and woman are going to help protect us from the bad ones."

"Thank you," she mumbles in a tiny voice.

Mando nods in confirmation. The woman can easily sense the restlessness in him, and she offers both Mando and Gaia a reassured look in return. "Come on, Winta," she voices to her daughter. "Let's give our guests some room."

The woman and Winta are headed for the doorway, leaving Mando and Gaia to be alone with The Child. Silence reigns for a long moment until Mando shifts. "I'll go and help the others. Please watch over the little one."

Gaia bobs her head in agreement, feeling a thin layer of sweat coat her forehead. "Hey." Mando turns to her and concern begins to nag at the back of her mind as nausea rises along the edges of her throat. "Are you okay?"

"Yes. Everything's fine."

Mando departs, and Gaia releases an aching breath. She almost wobbles on her own two legs, her stance crumbling as she bends forward, resting her hands atop her knees. An unexpected wave of vertigo struck her. It feels like her entire being is strapped to a pyre burning a million flames across her body and a stick of cobwebs has speared the length of her throat. Glaring at the floor, she glimpses a tear of sweat collide with the wood. She breathes sharply, groaning while forcing her body to lie down, hurrying to be close to the floor so as to not smack her face against it.

The Child shuffles closer, cooing dolefully at Gaia. She exhales leisurely in response, eyes sliding shut like a defeated beast. "Crap. . ."

— Author's Note —