#yes paz took up with her initially bc he didn't think he could be with the actual bounty hunter he wanted but he did fall in love with her

[bellsyafterdark]

If I ever get around to the next installment in the ball and chain AU, which focuses on Paz and Din, and starts with a time jump way, way back when--

"As promised, five doses."

Five steel vials settled on the barrel beneath the small glare of the spotlight from the monger's ship port array. Coils of frost wafted up from the vials, attesting their freshness.

Din looked from the offer to the monger, eyes narrowing beneath his helmet. "You promised seven."

"You ordered, I promised only what I could get. You don't like it, take your chances with an actual clinic."

…

Din takes the deal begrudgingly after the monger makes a joke about re-populating the greatest race of warriors in the galaxy

Din is seen injecting himself with the fertility hormones aboard the Crest, wincing

Din enjoys a heated welcome home with Paz who is glad to see him, Din informs him he's going into heat and he'd like to spend it together; they do and it's the best few days of Din's adult life

Paz takes note of Din's cycle for future reference so he can make himself scarce

Din asks Paz what they would do if they started a new clan (if they got pregnant); Paz responds coldly as he's still grieving the miscarriage of his child with Ketsu with whom he's not bonded but is on a break

Din leaves for his mission to retrieve "the asset" heartsore he's still considered Paz's temporary refuge and secret, not a long-term prospect with whom Paz could start a family; but Din WANTS a family and he wants it with Paz with whom he's been quietly in love for some time

When Din learns his asset is a child, the very thing he wants, and he goes into shock that cripples his performance and decision-making for the rest of the mission; this child is so small and beautiful, but not one to keep

Returning to Nevarro and handing over the child, Din goes to Paz in distress but Paz is horrified and confrontational that Din traded in a child; later learning that he dealt with imperials and was paid in their blood money is the final straw; they brawl before the entire covert and Din leaves, heartbroken (unbeknownst to him, so is Paz), understanding any hope for them is now dead

When the covert saves him and the child in the bazaar, it ignites the tiniest flicker of hope, but then he goes on the run and doesn't see them for several years

On Sorgan, when Omera offers him the chance to take off the helmet, settle and have a family, he nearly breaks down; it's all he wants; they would be kind to each other, but the child won't be safe there, so the dream must wait once more

On Tatooine, Din meets Fennec who he has only heard about in professional notoriety and leaves her in the desert, believing her dead

On Tython, Din meets Boba and Fennec (clearly alive) and is so shaken when his child is taken, he accepts Boba's offer for distraction

Din has grown to care for his child more and more; by the time he hands Grogu over to Luke, he subconsciously considers Grogu his in everything but name and it absolutely destroys him

Din separately finds his way to Cobb who is one of the few people who knew and enjoyed Grogu, who will surely absolve him of his shame (he tries but not in the harsh ways Din is craving); Krrsantan arrives with a job offer and it's the memory of Boba's comfort that seals the deal

When Paz arrives following word of a silver Mandalorian in the court of another on Tatooine, Din is so far in his subspace and wilful disassociation from his reality, he doesn't initially recognise Paz

When they later talk, Din is pained and frustrated: he can't go home because things have changed but he'll be okay because, here, people don't treat him like a guilty secret; he's front and centre, even if he's not family; he's not going to make the mistake of trying ever again (the secret that he took hormones to help him fall pregnant with Paz comes out and Paz is shocked, he had no idea and it's a little bit suss, Din had not discussed it with him; it feels like karma he was unsuccessful); Din declares their time has passed

Worried and guilty and still very much in love with Din himself (Ketsu ultimately left him), Paz makes the choice to stay-- for now

#ball and chain au #pazbobadinfennec #paz keeps extending his stay until he decides to stay forever #yes ketsu is from rebels #yes paz took up with her initially bc he didn't think he could be with the actual bounty hunter he wanted but he did fall in love with her