Chapter Text
“Why are you here, Jetii ?” The silver helmet tilts forward as if sizing him up.
Luke knows that he isn’t much to look at after one hears his reputation. The poster boy of the rebellion. The man who destroyed both Death Stars. The only living Jedi out there in the galaxy. Yet he is small by the standard of many sentients. Young too, he is in his twenties yet shows a handful of years younger than that. And most importantly, he is an Omega . That much is now public knowledge thanks to endless politician gossip. Luke Skywalker is a young Omega with a small waist and pretty eyes and he is a trophy for any Alpha looking for power and reputation.
“For my child, Alor .”
Yet Luke Skywalker is ruined goods, a disgrace even.
The Mand’alor stays still for a second, in shock and curiosity, no wonder. Everyone knows that Luke Skywalker is an unmated Omega. He has never been properly mated to an Alpha or else the galaxy would have been talking about it. Thus, Luke Skywalker cannot have a child. Unless –
“Are you– How-” The silver helmet tilts up and down this time having abandoned all pretense of not studying his entire frame completely. “-how far along are you?” The Mand’alor asks, his voice hoarse.
Luke steels himself under the no doubt sharp gaze behind the black visor. “Less than a month yet, Alor. I came to your planet because I have nowhere else to go to be safe. I asked for a private audience because I know of no other man who would give the child of a disgraced Omega a chance. They call you Mand’alor the Benevolent . You have won the Darksaber righteously, built Mandalore II from scratch, constructed the roads and the houses for your people with your bare hands and accepted anyone who came to you in desperation. When I learned of my child, I knew only your planet would offer them a life. If I go back to the Republic, if they learn, I will be stripped of all chances of rebuilding my people like you have done. My child will never be more than a bastard in a cruel galaxy where there will be some waiting claws out to get their hands on them. How or from where they come to be will decide their fate everywhere except here.”
The Mand’alor stays silent, seconds burning away one by one as they hold each other’s gazes.
“Does anyone know?” Again, the deeper voice of the older man takes over the throne room.
Luke shakes his head in answer. Had anyone else known–
Abruptly, the Mand’alor stands and turns on his heels, making his rich red cape flow.
Luke follows him with his eyes as the man walks over to a window, his back to the Jetii and stays there for some moments. Luke does understand. What he asked for is no easy deal, not even for the ruler of a planet of warriors. Mand’alor the Benevolent has no reason to accept him nor his child on this planet where Luke Skywalker’s very presence will put everything on thin ice with the Republic. Housing a disgraced Omega will maybe damage the mighty Alor’s own clan’s reputation. Luke has heard of the clan of two. He has heard of the Mand’alor’s son though he knows nothing about the child or maybe the young man depending on his father’s age. This, the foolishness of an Omega will affect his future life as well and why should it? Surely–
“I will offer you a way in which you and your ad may stay here. This way will keep your position in the Republic’s eye intact as well.”
Immediately, Luke understands what it means. The Mand’alor is… not making any sense. What sensible Alpha would take an Omega carrying the illegitimate child of a past lover? Even if they did, that doesn’t guarantee a life of safety for Luke’s child. Still, he nods his head to signal that he will be listening. Convincing this man somehow is the only way out he has except terminating the tiny life within him and for that, Luke himself would die first.
“You shall be mated to myself.” The Mand’alor turns around again as dramatically as the first time as if sensing that Luke would need a moment to get over his surprise. “Your child, my heir, shall be born ‘early’. Our marriage will give you a proper life again and the tentative peace we have with the Republic shall be strengthened.”
A hasty decision. Sounds too good to be true. Probably is not.
“If I may, you already have an heir, Alor.” Luke finds himself saying without being able to stop his mind immediately giving voice to the thought.
A metallic sigh echoes around him.
“My heir is of a species aging slower. He will be too young still when I am marching ahead with my ancestors. For what anyone will know, you will be carrying another heir of mine. And they will grow up as one.” The Mand’alor explains.
It doesn’t convince Luke. Why doesn’t the Mand’alor mate an honorable Omega, from the Republic if necessary, to rule by his side and give him many many heirs? Why would he settle to take in a Jetii and his bastard? If he is after disguising this matter and having a redeemed Luke Skywalker as his trophy, it still is too much work and still a matter of pride. Helping a disgraced Omega is one thing, accepting them into his own clan is another. How does Luke know that Mand’alor the Benevolent is truly an Alpha deserving of his title rather than a brute under the helmet?
“ Ade are precious according to The Way. Your ad will be loved in my clan.” The Mand’alor whispers softly, now standing only a foot away from Luke and holding his hand out.
The Force sings with the sincerity of the wayward promise and that ends up being what has Luke take the gloved hand in his.