A Fork in the Road
Chapter 4: Time is Like a River
Ezra discovered the little loth-cat doll on the third day, his curiosity overwhelming his fear so that he explored the room. Zeb was confounded to see the way the boy clung to it, never putting it down and sometimes playing with its whiskers while he quietly considered it. Days passed and they stayed in the room or visited Lithali and her son often. Once in a while, Zeb would take Ezra out into the market and the boy would sit on his shoulder, staring in wonderment at everything. Zeb indulged him with little treats from vendors, pleased in the weight Ezra was gaining, he was by no means a healthy weight yet, but he didn't look like a little skeleton anymore.
They made good progress with his timidity, or at least when he was around Zeb. The boy was actually a chatterbox, filled with incessant questions with Zeb as his only outlet. However, whenever he was around other people he became very quiet and afraid. Zeb was working on it, but even with Lithali, who they visited daily for meals and sometimes just for social visits, Ezra was extremely timid.
Not everything was good, the nightmares continued and were only alleviated if Ezra slept with Zeb. Along with the nightmares, though not as frequent, were the episodes of floating objects. Zeb was pretty sure Ezra was causing it and he had a niggling worry that it had something to do with the Jedi, however he knew little of it except as myths and legends, what he did know was that the whole thing worried him. Ezra had also scarred, the gash along his chin was now a thin red-pinkish line cutting diagonally from the impression below his lip down to the underneath of his chin.
As over a month passed, followed by a second, the money from Omk was running out and Zeb knew that he would have to get some kind of job soon. It was harder now, not because he didn't trust Ezra on his own, but because he didn't trust Ezra on his own. Ezra listened and he didn't doubt that the boy would stay in the room and be good, but Zeb had quickly become attached and he worried constantly. Zeb didn't feel comfortable unless his little kit was right next to him, safe and sound. He knew he was turning into a mother hen, and though it challenged his sense of masculinity, Zeb wasn't sure he cared because the last time he'd felt this happy and satisfied had been back when Lothal was thriving.
So one day, the third month half way expended, Zeb stared at his remaining credits before pocketing them and turning to Ezra.
"Hey, Ezra, I gotta talk to you, just for a little bit, you can play after."
Ezra looked up from where he was sitting on the bed, his loth-cat doll in his lap, him humming happily as he brushed its fur. The boy looked up, a brilliant smile on his face.
"What is it?" The boy queried, curious.
"Well, I, uh," the Lasat scratched the back of his head, humiliation filling him.
The last thing he wanted to admit to the child was that their funds were rather nonexistent. In Zeb's experience, a child should never have to face or be worried over something that was their guardian's duty. It felt like failure.
Ezra was eyeing him, the cogs turning behind those bright blue eyes.
"It's credits, isn't it? We don't have enough."
Zeb wondered at how smart the boy was. Then again, when Zeb had originally met him on the street, the boy had been living on his own. Personal history wasn't a subject either had touched on and Zeb wasn't sure if either of them would get there.
"Yeah," Zeb huffed, eyes falling to the ground.
A little hand patted his forearm and he looked up to meet the determined and hopeful gaze of Ezra.
"Don't worry, I can pick pocket and do work, and you're so big and smart, you can get a job, we'll be okay," Ezra assured.
Zeb smiled, affection rising in him as he took in the earnest expression and stout little heart of the kid before him. He ruffled Ezra's hair and the boy shoved Zeb's arm up and ducked under it to seat himself on Zeb's lap. He wrapped the Lasat in the biggest hug his scrawny little arms could manage.
"You and me, we've got each other," Ezra said, peering up at Zeb.
Zeb hugged the kid back, hope filling him.
"Ya got that right," Zeb said.
Zeb ended up leaving Ezra at the way-place, heading out to find a job. His mind wandered to Meela Omk and her offer of work. He shrugged it away, the woman would have dangerous work and possibly long term work, he had no plans on leaving Ezra alone for longer than a day. The Lothal market didn't offer much and Zeb had to wander around for several hours asking about work before he got picked up.
He ended up scrubbing a large transport clear of carbon scouring, helping carry items for repairs and doing heavy lifting. It was exhausting and he didn't get paid much but it would be enough. They said that if he wanted to, he could come back the next three days and a job would be available for him, up until the transport left that is. It seemed better than nothing, so Zeb headed back towards the way-place, feeling tired but happy.
When he arrived he saw a squadron of soldiers outside, a flurry of activity taking place. Terror seized him and he came jogging over, a soldier stepped in front of him.
"What's happening?" Zeb asked.
"Merely a raid to check for rebellion activity, nothing to be concerned about, you should keep moving citizen," the soldier informed him.
Zeb ignored him, pushing past the soldier. Ezra was in there, probably scared out of his mind.
"Sir!"
"Blast it! My kid's in there, so I'm going to bloody well get him!" Zeb roared out.
Another couple troopers came trotting over.
"Sir, we'll get your son for you, but I have to repeat, we can't allow you on the premises until we have properly surveyed the area."
Zeb glared at the soldier who dared keep him from his kid, then he sized up the other soldiers. He wouldn't be any good to Ezra if he was shot up by a bunch of soldiers. He held his hands up to help diffuse the tension he'd created.
"Fine, fine, I'm backing off," Zeb said, taking a few steps back.
The group of soldiers lowered their blasters and Zeb edged back. He would get in another way, and then he would find Ezra, Imperial soldiers be damned. Circling around, Zeb saw that the back alley of the way-place was empty of soldiers and he started to make his way down it. A little voice said his name and he turned, recognizing it as Ezra.
The boy popped out from behind a few old crates. Zeb rushed forward, noting how Ezra was pale and shaking, but that he held a little knife in his hand.
"Did they hurt you?" Zeb whispered, kneeling down and grabbing Ezra's shoulders, looking the boy up and down.
Ezra shook his head no, but tears were welling in his eyes and he looked sick. The boy flung himself at Zeb, clinging to him with shaking limbs.
"I took everything, I heard them coming, and I took everything and hid," Ezra whispered.
Zeb was holding the boy tight, running a soothing hand up and down his back. Ezra pulled back and pointed to behind the crate where all of their items were neatly bundled up, even Zeb's bo-staff was carefully wrapped in sheets and tucked back there.
"You did good, kid," Zeb said, pulling Ezra in for another hug.
He stood up, Ezra clinging to his hand.
"We better get out of here before those bucket heads show up," Zeb muttered, quickly gathering the items Ezra had saved and sweeping the boy up with one arm.
Ezra clutched at Zeb, small arms slinging around his neck. With his other arm, Zeb slung the items onto his back and headed away from the way-place, hoping that Lithali was okay.
They walked for a while, coming to another way-place where Zeb payed for a room and headed in. After the stress of the day the two ate a simple meal and tried to get some sleep.
Ezra was screaming and Zeb woke knowing that it was another nightmare. Items were floating again in the room, but they were doing more than that. Some were spinning, circling the room in orbits that were gaining speed. Zeb shook Ezra's shoulders, flinching as a bucket slammed into the back of his head.
"Ezra!" He bellowed, hoping it would wake the crying child.
It did the trick and the boy's eyes snapped open, blinking a few times before seeing Zeb. The boy launched himself forward, sobbing, and Zeb cradled him. After ten or so minutes, Ezra fell asleep leaving Zeb awake, arms cradling the boy. The levitating was getting worse. Letting out a sigh, Zeb knew that he needed to do something about it. If someone found out or saw the boy's abilities, who knew what would happen.
He remembered stories, had seen with his own eyes, people wrenched from their homes in the dead of night, whispers that they had had some strange ability which had caused the terrifying extraction. Zeb pulled Ezra a little closer. He had every intention of protecting Ezra from that fate.
Zeb never left Ezra alone after that, each day taking the boy out with him to jobs. It made it a little harder finding work, but his strength often made employers overlook the quiet child he carted around with him. Another month passed this way and Zeb found that this method of surviving wasn't quite cutting it, they just weren't making enough credits to support the both of them.
Ezra kept volunteering to go pick pocket or even take up his own work, but Zeb refused. Ezra was pretty persistent about it, telling Zeb about his range of abilities and even being a little more bold than usual. Zeb however argued that he would be happier and work easier if Ezra was within eye sight. The boy had condescended, but just barely. It made Zeb happy, the only good thing about all of it was that Ezra was getting a little more outgoing. Still terrified around most, he would sometimes speak up to a few people or friends Zeb made on the job. Not exactly amazing progress, but progress all the same.
Today Zeb was out scouting for jobs, the last one he'd done had finished yesterday and he needed work. Ezra was perched on his shoulder, making smart comments about the people they passed or something he saw. Zeb had been initially surprised by the boy's cutting wit, but he had quickly learned to enjoy chortling alongside the boy as they made their way through the market. Now was no different.
They were passing the docking area, where Zeb would pause and ask the various captains if they needed a job done. They'd gone through most of them with a series of negative replies and Zeb was starting to feel that today they wouldn't find anything.
The next ship was an old freighter, not much to look at, but Zeb only cared about getting a job. A green female Twi'lek was standing outside it, the bay door lowered and a young female standing next to her. Zeb approached, Ezra nervously moving to Zeb's back. Zeb didn't mind, the kid would hang there pretty much on his own, little head peeping up over Zeb's shoulder.
"'Scuse me," Zeb said, clearing his throat.
The woman turned, revealing a pretty face with sharp green eyes. The other female turned as well, a teenager wearing Mandalorian armor with hair a vibrant green and purple.
"Hello," the woman said, eyes combing over Zeb and landing on the little bit of Ezra which was showing.
"Just wondering if we could give you a hand with anything, just for a few credits, I'm good for moving stuff and I know a little about mechanics, enough to help with repairs," Zeb said, keeping his voice friendly.
The woman blinked, frowning.
"I'm afraid we don't have anything," she hesitated, glancing from Zeb to Ezra.
Taking in Zeb's downcast look she shared a look with the girl before looking back to Zeb with a smile on her face.
"Actually, now that I think of it, we could use some help doing some repairs on our ship, none of us can fit in the vents," she offered.
Zeb stiffened, he didn't like Ezra working jobs, especially ones where the boy went out of his sight. Zeb was about to shake his head no but he felt Ezra poking him in the back and nodding emphatically.
"Guess this little bogan fits that bill," Zeb said.
He smiled as Ezra prodded him in the back again before dropping from Zeb's back and edging around him to peek out at the two girls. Hera smiled kindly while the girl raised a brow at the boy.
"Good, why don't you two come on in, we were about to have dinner and we wouldn't mind the company," she offered.
Zeb exchanged a look with Ezra. The boy looked hopeful. Zeb shrugged.
"Why not?" He replied.
The woman smiled.
"I'm Hera by the way, this is Sabine," she gestured to the girl who smirked at the two of them.
"Garazeb Orrelios," Zeb said with a nod.
Hera looked to Ezra who wilted a little but managed a small smile.
"And this is Ezra," Zeb supplied, ruffling Ezra's hair.
They followed the woman inside, Ezra clinging to Zeb's side and the Mandalorian girl taking up the rear. Zeb was glad they'd found work, and he knew the woman was being kind, charitable. Usually charity rubbed him the wrong way, but now that charity spelled the difference between Ezra going to sleep on an empty stomach or a full one, Zeb was more than willing to take what he could.
He still felt uncomfortable with it all though, people weren't often kind out of the goodness of their hearts, at least his experience pointed to it being otherwise. So he kept Ezra close, not quite trusting the Twi'lek captain and her Mandalorian friend.
They came into a common area, where Hera gestured for them to sit and then went to the tiny kitchen. Zeb sprawled back on the rounded booth, making himself at home and peering around the place to take stock. Ezra meanwhile cuddled up to him, drawing out his loth-cat doll and holding it close. The Mandalorian girl was watching them out of the corner of her eye as she took a seat away from them, cleaning a weapon.
After a few minutes, Hera came back over, meals in hand.
"They aren't much, but it is food and it has everything you need to keep going," Hera said, setting the bowls down in front of them.
"Thanks," Zeb replied, tucking into the food.
Ezra mimicked him with gusto.
"So, what are you two doing on Lothal?"
Zeb glanced up at the question. It wasn't rude, just a harmless question of curiosity.
"Working, living, not much, 'bout what everybody else does I suppose," Zeb replied.
Hera gave a nod.
"What about yourself?" Zeb shot back.
"We're here making a delivery," Hera replied, she paused as the Mandalorian girl, Sabine, shot her a look.
Zeb narrowed his eyes and said nothing.
"We don't spend too much time on Lothal, but we hang around the sector," Hera finished.
"Must be nice having a ship," Zeb commented.
He glanced about, wishing that he had somewhere more permanent for Ezra and him to stay. A way-place wasn't exactly ideal. A ship was private, made for a quick getaway and opened up the work field.
"It is," Hera replied.
She eyed Ezra's and Zeb's bowls, noting that they were both pretty much empty.
"We have seconds, if you'd like," Hera offered.
Zeb blushed, feeling a little uncomfortable at the offer. He looked down at Ezra. They hadn't had lunch today and breakfast had been a meager thing. Hera smiled, grabbing the bowls and bringing them back to the kitchen.
"Thanks," Zeb called.
As Hera started preparing the food, the girl, Sabine, looked up at them.
"I've never seen a hairless Lasat," she said, looking pointedly at Ezra.
Zeb glared at her.
"That's 'cause he's not," he growled.
"Strange seeing a nearly extinct species with a little kid of a different one," Sabine said, eyeing them suspiciously.
It seemed that even if the Twi'lek deemed them safe enough, the Mandalorian teenager did not.
"Strange seeing a Twi'lek and Mandalorian together as well, in fact, you see a lot of strange things these days," Zeb answered.
Ezra was peering anxiously between the two.
Hera came back in, breaking the tension. She set the bowls down before sitting down and leaning back with her own meal.
"I've never seen a bo-rifle before," Hera commented.
Zeb barely remembered he had it on him. Ever since the incident at the way-place, he'd taken to carrying it with him everywhere, akin to how Ezra went everywhere with him.
"Yeah," Zeb said gruffly, not expounding.
"I thought only the Lasat Honor Guard used them," the Mandalorian girl said.
Zeb glared at her, prickling at the way this girl seemed to know so much about his kind. It didn't sit well with him. Ezra leaned into him, distraught over Zeb's obvious distress.
"Yeah, you're looking at one," Zeb spat out.
The girl looked surprised.
"That's wonderful, you must be a good fighter," Hera intervened, obviously sensing the tension.
Zeb gave a nod.
"Actually, if you're interested, we could use your help with something else, we'd pay good," Hera said.
Zeb looked to her, curious.
"I'm listening."