A/N: Rated: T. Maybe T+ for brief mention of unsavory things like drug dealers and other types of sleemos. Nothing bad happens here to anyone though...at least not yet. Later chapters may change rating (I have 5 written currently), so you might want to sign up to be notified of new chapters if I have to banish this to the "M" rated fics...


"Orbits"

Chapter 1

The boy didn't notice he was being followed. The drifter first sensed him when he stepped out into the street from the bar.

Immediately, the man's attention was drawn toward the small figure in the orange flightsuit and it remained on him. Anxiety rolled off the kid like light from a neon sign; it beat in his Force signature like a heartbeat.

Kanan Jarrus wanted to ignore the Force and move on, but a sweep of his teal eyes showed him that the kid was in bad shape. The small boy was skinny and dirty, his worn flight suit a few sizes too big for him. Even the patches were patched on its faded surface. The kid's long hair fell into his eyes, hiding the keen, hungry presence that looked out, weighing and measuring each of the passersby with an appraising, predatory look.

Those eyes narrowed and focused. Apparently the boy had chosen a victim. An Aqualish. A very drunk Aqualish, at that. This was going to end well, or badly, depending on the point of view, Kanan thought with a frown. He slipped through the cool night, shadowing the pair, but staying far enough back to escape notice. The booze was an impediment he was used to, so he easily made adjustments.

They turned down a street, then made another turn into a part of town where the seedier hotels were located. Once they neared an alley, the kid made his move. Predictably, he reached out and picked the alien's pocket for his cred chip. It seemed like he was going to lift it smoothly, when his hand jerked at the last moment and the Aqualish noticed. It turned quickly, saying something Kanan wasn't close enough to hear, but when it grabbed the boy and threw him against the wall, Kanan got the point loud and clear.

He didn't reach the Aqualish until the kid had already been struck several times. There was a cut on the kid's lip and he was trying to fight back, but to no avail. The alien didn't let the boy go, but complained loudly as he turned toward Kanan. "Boy tried to steal my credits!" he bleated.

Kanan put a hand on the Aqualish's shoulder. "He's just a kid." He reached over and took the stolen credits from the bleeding would-be thief. "Here. Take them and count yourself lucky."

"I'm…I'm calling the troopers," the Aqualish looked around as if one would miraculously appear in this part of town. Tough luck, you ugly bastard, Kanan thought with a smirk. Many Aqualish were criminals and drug runners, so Kanan didn't have much sympathy for him. He felt a bit more for the kid, who was trying to make the best of whatever shitty life he was able to eke out on the street.

The Aqualish protested again, and Kanan snorted. He inclined his head and stared into the creature's eyes. "You don't need to call the troopers. You should go back to your hotel and go to sleep. It's been a long day."

"Kriff off!" The creature moved as if he were going to make a lunge for the kid and Kanan snatched at him, throwing him back against the wall.

Damn it, he had slurred his words and lost his hold on the creature's mind. He leaned in close, narrowed his eyes with concentration and tried again. "This is NOT a good side of town. You need to go back to your hotel or something bad's going to happen."

The creature shook his head slightly, then turned and wobbled away from them down the street.

Kanan turned to the kid, who had slumped down against the wall and was eyeing him intently. "Kriffin' kid. Not too good at this are you?" The drifter held a hand out for the boy so he could pull the kid to his feet.

"Whatever." The kid stared curiously at Kanan for a brief moment, then turned away to go.

Kanan could feel the hunger gnawing at the kid, along with desperation, so he caught the boy by the thin shoulder. "Come on. You're hungry and I need something to eat to soak up all this alcohol," he slurred in his Outer Rim drawl. Maybe with some food on his stomach, sobering up would be a little easier.

The kid didn't move, but watched him with his dark blue eyes. "Why?"

Kanan blinked for a moment, not understanding. "What?"

"What do you want?" The kid asked, still watching him warily.

Kanan shrugged, letting his hand fall. "Nothin'. You just looked like you needed a meal, if you don't mind my saying, but whatever."

The kid remained staring at him, saying nothing, so he turned and began walking down the street; well, he wouldn't call it walking, but it wasn't staggering either. Whatever state of drunk it was, he'd had a lot of practice at it. When his shoulder scraped against the wall, he righted himself, and kept walking, more or less going generally in the right direction back the way they had come. He kind of felt bad about the kid, but at least he'd stopped the Aqualish before any real damage was done, he told himself. The kid had survived this long, so he'd probably be okay.

There'd been a diner around here somewhere near the last bar he'd been at. The spaceport was nearby, though, so if he couldn't find the diner, there were surely some restaurants serving that brand of quick, greasy food that spaceports were famous for. As he neared the neon sign of a restaurant, he heard the sound of shoes behind him. Turning, he glanced over his shoulder and saw the kid was following, a few steps behind.

"You're pretty drunk," the kid said, not in an accusatory way-more like an observation. As if Kanan wasn't the first drunk he'd seen.

Kanan smirked. "You're pretty perceptive. Give the kid a prize," he replied, pulling on the door of the restaurant. When he saw the kid didn't follow him in, he raised an eyebrow questioningly, still holding the door open.

"Hey, uh…I…I don't have any money…" A furrow formed on the boy's brow as he stopped cold.

Kanan snorted. "Yeah? Tell me something I don't know, kid." But when he eyed the boy, his expression was not unkind. "I got you. C'mon."

They sat down at the diner, and food was ordered. The kid looked around him, blinking in the strong light like a loth-toad waking up from hibernation after the first rains of summer. "I used to come here…a long time ago. With…with my mom."

"So you're from around here, huh?" Kanan asked.

"Yeah." There was a long pause, then the boy's next sentence came out in fits and starts. "So, okay...Uh…what's your angle? If you don't mind me asking…"

"What?" Kanan asked as the waitress brought him caf. The kid had ordered some type of spiced tea, which didn't seem to fit his grubby profile. In the bright light, he realized the kid was younger than he'd seemed on the street. Continuing to size up his dinner companion, he noticed there was something awkward about how the kid grasped his mug. He was clumsy with it, but trying to be careful, as if he was working with his off hand. His left hand was clenched tightly as he used it to steady the mug. The cut on the kid's lip had stopped bleeding, but maybe he was more injured in the earlier scuffle than he'd first seemed. He blinked as the kid watched him, then he realized the kid had said something. "Huh? Sorry."

"Like, if you're doing this because you need something. I can help work on your ship if you're looking for a mechanic, or if you're looking for a dealer, glitterstim, ryll, whatever…" here the boy lowered his voice, "I might know some people."

Kanan blinked again. Was the kid offering to score drugs for him? He didn't know if it was the alcohol or just the matter of fact way the kid spoke that made it hard to believe he was hearing what he was hearing. Not that it was the first time he'd been offered something like that, but the kid just looked so kriffin' young. About nine or ten by Kanan's best guess. "Uh no. No angle like that kid." The kid was obviously intimately familiar with the local underworld as well. Perhaps he was a lot older than he looked.

"Oh." The kid nodded, eyes dark and unreadable. "Okay. I just figured…" he shrugged, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

Kanan had to ask. "Figured what?" He took a sip of the strong Spiran caf. It was black and slightly sweet, the way he preferred it. Maybe it would clear out some of the fog in his brain.

"That you helped me 'cause you needed something. And I didn't peg you for a sleemo, so I figured it was something like you looking for someone to work for you, or hook you up or whatever."

"Sleemo?" Kanan knew he was missing something here.

"You know, a guy who gets into kids and stuff." Ezra looked up, and seeing the stricken expression on Kanan's face, he got up to go. "Oh. Okay," he said, misunderstanding. "Sorry, um…I'll just go…"

With a nauseous twist of his stomach, Kanan finally absorbed and reacted to what the kid had meant. "No. NO." He shook his head, his face a grimace. "I'm not…definitely not a sleemo." Ezra slowly sat back down. Kanan weighed his next question before asking it, because he really didn't want to know. "That…uh…that kind of thing happen a lot?"

The kid nodded casually, now more at ease as he took another sip of his tea. Again the odd, clumsy movement as he brought the cup to his mouth.

"You okay?" Kanan asked, motioning to the kid's left hand.

"Yeah. I kinda hurt it, but it'll be ok." The kid mumbled. They were interrupted by the waitress, who brought two plates of roasted nerf and herbed vegetables. The dish smelled amazing, so they dug in.

"What's your name, kid?"

"Ezra."

"I'm Kanan." They ate in silence for a while. "So, you originally from this planet?"

"Yep. You're not, though. I can tell that you've got an Inner Core accent…under the other."

Kanan measured the kid again with a keen stare. His Outer Rim drawl was usually enough to cover up any hint of where he'd grown up. Ezra was obviously sharp. "Good ear, kid. I was born on Coruscant, but that was a long time ago." Kanan watched as the kid polished off the serving of food quickly, despite working with his off-hand. He must have been starving. When he was done, the kid sat back, watching Kanan continue with his meal. The waitress had brought out a whole loaf of thick white bread and the drifter pushed his uneaten half to the kid, who devoured it.

"Want something else?" Kanan watched as Ezra shook his head, no.

"Look. There's nothing I can do to help you out?" Ezra asked around a mouthful of bread. Kanan could sense he seemed uncomfortable again. "I know my way around freighters and…"

Kanan shook his head, finishing his own meal. "No spaceship; I'm new in town."

"So you're here looking for a job?" Ezra asked.

"Maybe. Something for the short term. Not looking to settle down here or anything."

"Okay. Where are you staying?" Kanan gave him the location. It was actually just down the street, Ezra realized. "If I hear anything, I'll get back with you tomorrow." The kid got to his feet to go.

"Look. Here." The drifter handed Ezra a few credits. "An advance, in case you hear about a job. Appreciate you keeping an eye out for me." It was just an excuse to give the kid some money. Kanan hated to admit that he'd been affected, but the kid actually had a lot of charisma. In the short time they'd been together Kanan had seen something of his own younger days in Ezra-memories that were better pushed away.

Ezra's face was filled with confusion at the offer of money, but he wasn't stupid. He started to grasp the money with his left hand, but abruptly changed and took the money in his right. "I don't get you, but ok. Thanks," he looked up, trying to figure out this drifter who seemed so clueless. Maybe it was the alcohol and the guy was a lot drunker than he appeared. "I'll look around for you. If I can find something, I'll let you know." Then he turned and vanished through the door and into the night.


Hi all...Hope you've been doing well!

I have realized something recently about myself:

I'm a sucker for alternate universe reboot-type stories. Like really a sucker. I think I enjoy the chance to paint a new path for these characters that we love so well. A reboot has infinite possibilities for me, and that throws my writing muse into high gear.

The origin of this one is that #1: I got Scrivener and wanted to try out a new way of planning a story (thanks Okadiah!) and #2: I wanted to get out of my comfort zone a bit. I figured I'll throw it out there to the four winds and see what the response is. This whole story is an experiment for me in stretching my limits and I thought I'd let you guys in on the fun. Let me know what you think...