The Sleeping Guard

Kanan slept in a void of darkness, his subconscious hadn't allowed him fully under. The fear of night terrors and memories of the past kept him in a light doze. Here in this state he found himself to be peaceful, content that he could let his mind heal in this blank void. His body was still getting some rest maybe not as much as it should but he'd had worse.

As his thoughts drifted he felt himself slip.

The darkness melted into shapes, colours, sounds. He didn't want to be here, where had the peace gone? Panic set in, his masters voice called to him. No.

He jolted up, drawing himself past the memories and right into full consciousness; deep breathing for a few minutes and he was back. To calm himself he reached out with the force, it's safe feeling waving him to the senses of home, showed him the life forces of Hera, Zeb, Sabine, Ezra… Ezra? The Jedi mind stopped as he doubled back to where Zeb slumbered only to feel no life force of his padawn. Feeling slightly more anxious he spread out the force delving throughout the ship before… There!

Hang on… But that was right outside his door? Knowing the force was showing him the truth Kanan lifted himself out of bed and walked over to the door way. The doors slid open and Kanan stepped outside glancing both ways down the corridor before his eyes finally settled on a small someone sitting down right beside his door. Ezra was slumped against his wall, lightsabre clutched in his hand, eyes closed fast asleep. Kanan couldn't help the smile that overcame him, never had he really seen Ezra look so small, so innocent. Dropping down beside him Kanan brought his arms around the boy and lifted him carefully back into his room.

"Nmm Kanan?" Ezra's voice whispered out.

"Yeah kid, don't worry I gotcha."

"-id I wake you?"

"No, no" Kanan comforted "What you doing outside my room anyway?"

There was no reply from Ezra who normally being one to shy away from intimate contact instead burrowed further into Kanan.

"Ezra?" Kanan asked again, his worry growing.

"I- I um" Ezra's fists scrunched into Kanan's night shirt as he hid himself "It's pretty stupid."

"Stupid or not I'd still like to know" Kanan clarified putting Ezra down onto his bunk "That is if you don't mind talking about it."

Ezra sighed for a second, shuffling around on Kanan's bunk as the man came over and sat across from him. Kanan sat patiently allowing Ezra to gather up what he wanted to say, for which the padawan was grateful.

"Well you see it's pretty stupid…I had this dream, not a very good one and I couldn't sleep."

"So you sat outside my door…?" Kanan had to say he wasn't getting it. "Look Ezra I'm not thinking any less of you here. I want to know what's going on."

Ezra held Kanan's eye contact, judging for himself that the man wasn't lying before blowing out a breath "I had to be outside Kanan because then, then if anyone or anything tried to get to you then I could- they'd have to- then they'd have to get through me. I'm not letting them take you again, I won't. I can't-" Ezra cut off the lump in his throat growing too big. Kanan felt his heart tear as he watched Ezra struggle with tears, acting instinctively he moved closer and wrapped an arm around the boys shoulders.

"You don't have to worry I'm not going anywhere." Kanan tried to say but regretted it when Ezra shook his head and tears started to slip down his face.

"Please, please don't say that. You can't promise that"

"But Ezra really I'm not going-"

"Kanan. M-My parents- they, both of them said it and… No Kanan, you can't… that's why I have to be there."

"Oh Ezra" Kanan didn't hesitate in turning and pulling the boy into a proper hug, skinny arms wrapped around his frame and a face buried into his chest.

"Sorry" Ezra mumbled, as the tears caught on Kanan's shirt.

"No no, none of that now... I'm sorry Ezra I know I can't promise things like that but I'm here now ok? You have nothing to apologise for… after all you have just offered to be my full time body guard" Kanan quipped, gaining a chuckle from Ezra which Kanan counted as a win.

"Not many people would do what you did Ezra, you rescued me from the empire in the first place. So even though I can't promise that I or any of the crew will always be there, I know for a fact that you or me or any of us won't stop until that member is back among us if one is ever lost again, alright?"

"Yeah." Ezra replied, relaxing into the hug as though he needed more physical assurance of Kanan really being there "Try not to go anytime soon though"

"Of course" Kanan chuckled "Hang on, aren't I the one who gives the orders here?"

"Ohhh no, remember who did the rescuing here" Ezra demanded, as Kanan rolled his eyes, while smiling happy in feeling Ezra's force signature was lifted and much more balanced. He was at peace again and Kanan couldn't help the yawn that overcame him.

"Oh Kanan you're meant to be resting" Ezra chided noticing the yawn "I'm sorry- I'll be out of your way" Ezra started getting up of the bunk.

"Not so fast, you're almost asleep on your feet anyway and I'm not having you sleeping on the floor outside… Might I suggest the top bunk, gives you a great view of the doorway for any incoming threats?" Kanan suggested all seriousness in his tone but a playful smile on his lips.

"Well that's not the worst idea you've ever had …" Ezra considered for a moment before hoisting himself up to the top bunk.

As Kanan listened to the sounds of Ezra getting settled he knew things were not yet near being ok, Ezra couldn't spend every night trying to protect him otherwise he'd get no sleep, not to mention Kanan did like his privacy now and then. But for now he was content to drift back off, the small breaths of his padawan echoed above him and their force bond hummed happily. No things weren't yet back to normal but Kanan couldn't help but think they were getting there and that when they did they would be stronger than ever.

"Goodnight Kanan, and um thanks."

"Sleep well kid."

And with that master and padawan settled down, becoming at one with the peace of the night and watching over each other forever more.