A/N WARNING: This may have a lot of drama. TT
Also, how does a Force-Sensitive Eli sound? I know being Force-Sensitive doesn't always goes through biology, but I wanted to try anyway XD
X
"Oh Force, is Rex alright?!" Hera cried out, running to the med-bay to see Kanan wrapping a bandage on an unconscious Rex.
"He'll be fine," Kanan tried to force give a small smile. "It's just a blaster shot, and he was shot on a… non-risky part of the body,"
But Hera was better at reading him than he thought. She sighed and set a hand on his shoulder.
"Kanan, Rex will be fine," she assured him. "He's survived worse,"
"Yeah, Ahsoka told me," Kanan let out a sigh.
"And you know that she would let you two be happy if either of you confess, despite what she feels for Rex," Hera grinned, catching the Jedi off-guard as she patted his shoulder. "Just… think about it, Kanan,"
With that, she left the med-bay and headed down to the hanger. She entered to see Sabine checking Kallus and Zare over while Zeb stood beside them, leaning against the wall and watching something, or someone.
Hera followed his gaze and saw the family of three, all bundled up. They were all fast asleep (most likely from exhaustion), with Eli and Thrawn wrapping Ezra in a warm, protective embrace. The sight made Hera smile, but when she turned back to the Zeb, she realized that his expression was bittersweet.
"Is everything alright, Zeb?" She asked as she neared him.
"Yeah, I guess," Zeb shrugged, replying in a whisper-like voice. "I mean, yeah, everything's great since Ezra's got his family back. He found the folks that were forced to give him up because of the Empire and their dumb rules, but… I don't know why it feels all so right but all so wrong…"
"What are you trying to say, Zeb?" Sabine questioned, turning to him with a raised eyebrow.
"Sabine, Ezra's found his FAMILY now," Zeb winced at his own words. "If that's his family then… what are we?"
Silence came after. Hera blinked at him in surprise, but she understood exactly what he meant.
Their Ghost Crew was a family that they formed when they had no other family to turn to. Now that Ezra had his REAL family back, Hera was certain that he wanted to go back with them, and by the way they were looking after the battle, Eli and Thrawn wanted him back in their lives too.
"Zeb…" the Twi'lek Captain set a hand on the Lasat's shoulder. "you know that no matter what happens, we would always be Ezra's family. Not his real one, but we're still family,"
"Just like when I reunited with my biological family," Sabine sent a smile to her Lasat big brother. "They ARE my family, but so are you guys. When you contacted me to tell me that Ezra got captured, I first helped Mom then I rushed here as fast as I could,"
"No matter what, THIS crew that we had formed is a FAMILY that is impossible to break," Hera finished, smiling. "And you're his boyfriend, Zeb. You'll be part of his life no matter what family he chooses,"
"That's not what I'm worried about," Zeb shuddered. "even if I AM afraid on facing his father. The grand admiral was already scary on holo-screen. What else in person?"
"Frightening and unpredictable, in my experience, anyway," Kallus chuckled, and Zare grinned in agreement.
"You'll be fine, Zeb," Hera snickered before her expression returned to concern. "How long have they been out?"
"How long have we been floating in hyperspace?" Sabine asked.
Hera's eyes widened. "They were out THAT long?"
"Yeah, Ezra was knocked out first," Zeb recalled. "He was so tired that he slumped back on the wall. I wanted to make sure he was okay, but Eli got a hold of him first and let Ezra lay on him. Thrawn joined them a while little later,"
"Alright, alright," Hera nodded. "We'll let them sleep a little more. Sabine, take Kallus and Leonis to the med-bay just in case they needs some bacta. Kanan's already there, so you can get him to help you. Zeb, stay here and wait for those three to wake up. I'll be at the cockpit to contact Ahsoka and Commander Sato,"
"Got it, Hera," Sabine gave a nod before dragging Kallus and Zare out of the hanger.
"And when they wake up, take Eli and Thrawn to the cockpit," Hera told the Lasat. "I want to talk to them. Take Ezra to your cabin, so he can rest more. Got it?"
"Got it," Zeb nodded.
"Good," Hera smiled then she turned to leave.
Zeb watched her go before his ears flickered in alert when he heard a small whimper. His head turned to see Ezra squirming in the embrace, prompting his parents to wake up.
Eli was the first of the two to stir, his grip on his son subconsciously tightening as he stared at the boy. "Mm… Ezra?"
"M-Mom…?" Ezra looked up at the other male with half-idled eyes.
"Yeah, baby, I'm here," Eli smiled and allowed the boy to lay his head on his shoulder just as his husband awoken.
"Is everything alright?" Thrawn glanced down at them worriedly.
"We're fine, I think," Eli replied with a nod.
"Thank goodness," Thrawn stood up and changed his position, so he could sit beside his husband. "Eli, we need to talk,"
"I know, I know," Eli sighed, leaning his head back on the Chiss's chest as he let Ezra drop back in slumber. "I'm sorry, Thrawn. I know you told me stay put, but I couldn't let you and Ezra put yourselves in danger,"
"YOU were putting yourself in danger by running ahead to face Pryce." Thrawn frowned.
"On the plus side, she won't be our problem anymore," Eli grinned.
Mischief twinkled brightly in the man's chocolate brown eyes, catching Thrawn off-guard. "… did you… you didn't…"
"I wanted to just stun her, honestly," Eli merely shrugged. "I forgot that my blaster was set to 'kill'. I realized a little too late, but on the bright side, she won't be bother to us anymore,"
Thrawn raised an eyebrow at this. Eli had been one of the nicest people working for the Empire. Killing was never one of his ways to get rid of an opponent or escape from one. Having an equally-reckless son and a husband endangered of getting executed must have been getting to him…
"M-Mom…? D-Dad…?"
The two turned to see Ezra staring up at them with tired eyes. Thrawn stood up and went back beside their son, placing a supportive hand on his shoulder.
"Are you alright, Ezra?" He asked gently.
"A little tired, honestly," Ezra admitted with a yawn. "I think I was close to using the Dark Side of the Force again…"
"I almost forgot that you were Force-Sensitive," Eli chuckled and ruffled the boy's already-messy hair. "Is it difficult to deal with the Force when it's so strong in you?"
"Not really," Ezra smiled up at him. "I just need to control my emotions and focus on what I'm doing,"
"I see…" Eli nodded in understanding before pulling him into another embrace. "I always knew you were special, my baby boy. Didn't expect Force-Sensitivity, though, but you're special nonetheless,"
Ezra felt his heart warm up at the gesture as he hesitantly hugged back. Tears were threatening to spill and roll down his cheeks, prompting him to break down as he began to choke on his own urge to cry.
Thrawn noticed this and sighed. He had learned that their son was a little too prideful, just like him. Breaking down in front of Eli was something the boy didn't want to do, especially since the teen had broken down in front of him three times already (and made him break ONCE. Not even Eli knew that, and Thrawn wasn't going to ruin his pride and prideful reputation any time sooner).
Ezra was trying his hardest to hug the mother he had always wanted without tearing when he felt another pair of arms wrap around him. He turned and saw Thrawn embracing him just as warmly, feeling the warm love and protectiveness radiate off both of his parents through the Force. He couldn't hold the urge in any longer and began to cry, gritting his teeth as he pulled his legs together to hug his knees.
Eli and Thrawn both pulled away to see their son breaking down. Eli went into severe mother/panic mode.
"Ezra?!" He snatched the boy from his self-embrace and wrapped his hands around him. "Ezra, what's wrong?!"
"I…" Ezra sniffled his cries, trying to wipe off his tears. "I-It's just that… I… I've been wanting to find you guys for so long that I… I don't… I-I'm s-sorry if I…"
The rest of his words were drowned with tears. Eli and Thrawn exchanged looks before Thrawn reached over and stroked the boy's hair.
"Shh, it is alright, Ezra," he spoke in a gentle.
"If you're apologizing for all the danger then you don't need to," Eli reassured the boy. "It's all over now,"
"I…" Ezra's voice shook along with his trembling body. "…I never want to lose you guys again…"
"And you will not," Thrawn joined the embrace, an arm around Ezra and another around Eli. "We promise."
"We will always be here for you, Ezra." Eli finished with a smile, kissing his son's forehead. "No matter what,"
"I… I love you, guys," Ezra tearfully smiled.
"We love you too, Ezra," Thrawn and Eli tightened their hold on their boy as if he would fade away like a dream.
But it wasn't. It was real, very, VERY real, and they wouldn't change it any other way.
Zeb watched as the scene unfolded, a smile stretching on his face. He had never seen the kid feeling so happy and so safe at the same time. It made the Lasat himself feel happy for him, even if there was a possibility that Ezra might leave with them…
Soon, the family of three pulled away from their embrace. Ezra was able to wipe the last of his tears. He then turned to see Zeb, and his eyes lit up at the sight of him.
"Zebby!" In a flash, he dashed towards the Lasat and threw himself in his huge, furry arms. "I missed you!"
"I missed you too, Ez," Zeb smiled and pulled the other into a kiss.
Thrawn felt his eye subconsciously twitch at the scene. Eli had to hold in a giggle as he set a hand on his husband's shoulder.
"You're acting like my father, Thrawn~" he teased.
"I. Am. Not." Thrawn hissed, his bloody red eyes glaring daggers at the Lasat.
"Yeah, sure you aren't, Grand Admiral Prideful," Eli rolled his eyes as he took a step forward. "Now, if you don't mind, I would like to meet our possibly-future son-in-law,"
Thrawn cursed under his breath and crossed his arms, but he followed his husband anyway as they approached their son and their son's boyfriend.
Zeb pulled away just in time to see the parents of his lover advanced towards them. He swallowed and set Ezra down on the floor before straightening himself and clearing his throat.
"Um… h-hello," he greeted with a nervous grin.
"Hi there," Eli gave a friendly smile. "Zeb, is it?"
"Y-Yes, Sir," Zeb nodded tensely.
"Eli, Zeb," Eli snickered. "You can call me Eli. Don't need to be so nervous around me. I can already see that you care for Ezra deeply," He then pointed to his husband with a teasing grin. "It's Mr. Tactical and Prideful over here you need to worry about,"
"Eli…" Thrawn sent the man a slight glare.
"R-Right," Zeb slowly repeated a nod, placing a hand on Ezra's shoulder. "Uh, Hera's actually waiting to talk to both of you. She's just in the cockpit,"
"Oh, how nice," Eli sighed and wrapped an arm around the Chiss's arm. "Come on, Thrawn. We shouldn't keep Captain Syndulla waiting,"
"…what about Ezra?" Thrawn questioned sternly.
"Hera's told me to take him to our cabin, so he could rest more," Zeb replied, trying not to wince at the tone of the grand admiral. "Can't argue with the captain,"
"I'll be fine, Dad," Ezra let out an innocent smile, but he exchanged sneaky glances with his mother, causing Thrawn to narrow his eyes at them with slight irritation.
"Come on, Thrawn," Eli pulled on his husband with a chuckle and dragged him out of the hanger.
As soon as they were gone, Zeb let out a sigh of relief. Ezra snickered at this.
"Looks like Mom likes you," He teased cheekily.
"That's good," Zeb shuddered. "Man, I wish your father felt the same way,"
"I'm sure he will pretty soon," Ezra wrapped an arm around the Lasat's arm, snuggling the light fur. "For now, let's head to our cabin. I missed you…"
"I missed you too, kid," Zeb kissed his forehead as he dragged him out of the hanger.
X
"It is not that I do not trust him, but—"
"You really DON'T trust him, Thrawn," Eli shook his head in frustration. "Admit it,"
"Eli…" Thrawn sighed. "I DO trust him. Garazeb has proven himself quite trustworthy by staying loyal to Ezra even if they were apart, but I am just… worried…"
"Worried about what?" Eli raised an eyebrow at him as they stopped at the door leading to the cockpit.
"Worried about Ezra and his… brash decisions, a trait that he shouldn't have inherited from you,"
Eli glared at his husband. "Thrawn, I'm not THAT brash when it comes to deciding stuff."
"My apologies, love, but you know what I mean," Thrawn frowned.
"Thrawn, I know you're worried that he might choose Zeb and this family-like crew over us," Eli swallowed and placed a reassuring hand on the shoulder of his spouse. "Honestly, Thrawn, I'm worried about that too. Ezra's known these guys more than he knows us. Also, I'm afraid that he won't accept us that easily since we were technically Imperials, and he was naturally a Rebel,"
"I do hope that we may bring Ezra back home to Csilla with us," Thrawn released another sigh. "Even if it is only temporary. I would like you to get to know him, and for him to get to know a life without war,"
"How long has he been entangled with the Rebellion?" Eli questioned.
"Not long, but Mira Wren and her husband Ephraim Bridger had been involved in it all throughout his childhood." Thrawn hissed at the names he despised. "He has been forced into the streets by age 7, Eli, and—"
"HE'S BEEN AN ORPHAN SINCE 7?!" Eli's face twisted in horror.
"Yes," Thrawn nodded. "Captain Syndulla and Jarrus had taken him in when he was at age 14 turning 15, which was merely a year ago. He is about to turn 16 in two weeks,"
"Empire Day…" Eli shuddered. "I'm sure he feels awful being born on the day the Empire has risen,"
"It's not that awful for him," the two jumped and turned to see Hera at the door with a small smile. "After all, without Empire Day, he wouldn't have found clues to his real parents,"
"Captain Syndulla!" Eli gave a bow of respect. "You called for us?"
"Yes, I did. Come in," Hera smiled and turned around, letting the two follow her into the cockpit.
She sat on her usual seat (the pilot's seat) and motioned the couple to seat. Eli took the seat behind her while Thrawn sat on the one behind the co-pilot.
"I'm glad you both are alright," Hera began. "The battle got a little rough out there in such little time. Thrawn," she shifted her position to face the Chiss. "can you tell me what happened and how did you get discovered?"
"A simple mistake, truly," Thrawn recalled with a solemn expression. "Leonis And Kallus we're caught working on Leonis's false report to Pryce by a junior trooper with the name Oleg. Oleg had reported them to Pryce, and Pryce found it as enough proof to arrest Kallus. Leonis rushed to the Chimera to warn us, and he and Ezra were able to hide before Pryce came to interrogate me with the guard trooper and with Oleg holding Kallus in restraints. The guard trooper found Kallus's Fulcrum device, and Pryce had suspected my treachery. I aimed to kill her but only succeeded on killing both Oleg and the guard. We had restraint Pryce and ran to escape,"
"That's when Vader came," Hera crossed her arms with furrowed eyebrows.
"Yes." Thrawn visibly flinched at the memory. "I had told Ezra to run to your ship for his safety, but apparently, when Vader had gotten his hold of me, Ezra forgot my words as much as Eli had,"
"It's because YOU are such a beacon for danger," Eli scowled.
Hera grinned as Thrawn winced at his husband's words and stuttered to find the right words to contradict. It was nice to see an inter-species couple to fight like this; fighting brings them closer, after all.
"We are all beacons of danger now," she spoke to catch their attention. "We need to get you two out of the Empire's reach,"
"Csilla would do," Thrawn suggested. "Even Emperor Palpatine does not have knowledge of where my home-planet could be,"
"That's true," Eli nodded in agreement to his spouse's words. "I live in Wild Space, and Thrawn lives in the Unknown Regions. Navigation will be difficult for the Empire,"
"That could work," Hera seemed to consider it with a nod. "You two are going to be two of the Emperor's MOST WANTED. It will be better if you both get out of Imperial Space, temporarily or permanently, depends on you. But just in case the Emperor gets a hold of your exact location, I need a way to contact you,"
"I'll give you my pad number," Eli offered, taking out his data-pad.
"So will I," Thrawn also took out his data-pad. "Either of our pad numbers will be useful in case one of us is captured,"
"Good note," Hera grabbed her pad with a smile. "Maybe I should also get Ezra's pad number. I want to keep him updated, and I want him to update us with whatever's happening to him in Csilla,"
Both Eli and Thrawn froze at her words, their eyes widening in surprise. They looked up at her with confusion and could see the sincerity in her eyes. Hera gave them a calm, warm smile, and when she noticed their bewildered expressions, she set her pad down for a while.
"Look, you have no idea how long Ezra had wanted his parents… his REAL parents," she sighed. "Every night, he would embrace the dolls you gave him like he could feel both of you in his arms, and I would assume that he does feel you when he hugs them… or at least feel your Force Signature. I can tell through his actions that he truly wants you both in his life, more so than now,"
A moment of silence dawned upon the two. They had always wanted to have their baby boy with them, safe in their arms and safe in their home. Away from the war, away from the Empire. Away from everything that had caused him pain and sorrow.
"But… what about you and your crew?" Eli finally found his voice, though it was a little shaky. "Ezra sees you as family too,"
"Yes, he does, but he still wants you two as parents," Hera chuckled. "And I'm sure you two want him back in your life,"
Eli's eyes widened before they started to become teary. "I… I haven't held my baby in such a long time…"
"But it is still Ezra's decision," Thrawn spoke up sternly. "We cannot make the decision for him. He may not want to return with us,"
"I'm pretty sure he would, but you're right, Thrawn," Hera gave a nod. "It is his decision. We'll meet in the common room later and discuss about this. For now, we should let him and Zeb catch up,"
"That's a good idea," Eli snickered at how his husband's eye twitched in irritation at the mention of their son with the Lasat.
Hera noticed this too and held in the urge to smirk.
Eli and Thrawn were already acting like great parents. Hera knew Ezra couldn't wait to live with them.
X
The common room was quiet when Ezra came in with Zeb. Kanan, Hera, Sabine, Eli, and Thrawn were already there, waiting for them. Mainly him.
"Ezra," Hera gave a smile to the blunette as Zeb sat beside her. "Welcome back to the Ghost,"
"It's good to be back," Ezra returned the grin. "How's Kallus and Zare?"
"We'll be taking Kallus to Ahsoka for further questioning, in case he learned something else that could be useful for us," Hera replied.
"And Zare's just resting up," Sabine added. "Found out from files that his parents are long gone already, so we decided to let Ahsoka decide on what to do with him and his search for his sister,"
"How about Rex?" Ezra questioned, aiming for Kanan to answer.
His Master didn't speak. In fact, he avoided eye contact and turned away, prompting Hera to speak for him.
"Rex is fine," she assured him. "He just… needs to rest up. He got shot on the shoulder,"
"Oh." Ezra nodded slowly. "I see…"
"But that's not the reason why I called you over to this meeting," Hera clarified. "Ezra, the attack and escape in the Chimera had been severely recorded by Vader and transmitted to Tarkin and the Emperor. Eli, Thrawn, Zare, and Kallus been exposed as traitors… rebels, even. Kallus and Zare can easily be hidden. We can take them to Phoenix Home and let Commander Sato and Ahsoka help them restart life as a Rebel. As for Thrawn and Eli… things are more… complicated,"
"Is it because Vader found out that I'm their son?" Ezra raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, unfortunately," Hera sighed. "So for their safety, Thrawn suggested that he and Eli return to Csilla, which I approve, so they will be safe and away from Imperial Space,"
"…oh, I see…" Ezra tried to suppress the fact that he was upset. He had JUST gotten his parents back. He hadn't even gotten to know his mother well yet, and they were already leaving? The thought made him feel like all his efforts to find them were all for nothing.
Kanan sensed his Padawan's emotions and couldn't help but chuckle, finally looking up at the boy. "Don't worry, Ezra. They aren't leaving for a couple of days. There's still time for you to say goodbye,"
"Say goodbye to US, at least," Hera grinned.
Ezra was confused and tried to figure out what she was talking about. Suddenly, a small, hopeful smile from his mother caught his attention, and his eyes widened in realization. His jaw nearly dropped, and his eyes looked like they were going to pop.
"W-Wait… d-do you mean…"
"Yes, Ezra," Hera nodded. "We decided to let you go with Thrawn and Eli to Csilla, for your safety and theirs,"
Ezra gasped. "R-Really?! B-But what about—"
"We all talked things through, Ezra," Kanan reassured him. "It's alright. We can handle things on your own. I can virtually train you to keep up with your Jedi Training, and all of us have the number to your pad, so we can all get in contact with you anytime,"
"B-But I—"
"We'll make sure that the Empire doesn't realize where you three are hiding," Sabine added with a smile.
"G-Guys…"
"We'll tabs on Vader and Tarkin to make sure neither of them try to track wheee you guys are," Hera went on. "And we can also—"
"Captain Syndulla." Thrawn raised a hand to silence the Twi'lek. "Please. Let Ezra speak. As I had said before, this is not our decision. It is HIS."
Hera blinked at him before turning to see Ezra shifting his position uncomfortably and nervously. She held her breath and nodded then she motioned for the boy to speak. Ezra saw this and smiled.
"T-Thanks, Dad," He first acknowledged his father's intervention then he turned back to the rest of them. "I… This is big, Kanan, Hera. Really, REALLY big. I mean… I want to stay with my parents, I really do, but… I don't want to leave you guys either. You're also my family. I just… I just need time to think about it,"
Eli held in the urge to release his disappointment, but Ezra could feel it in their Family Bond. It made his heart sink to know that he was not living up to his mother's expectation of his actions, but he spoke the truth, and judging by the look in Thrawn's eyes, his father knew this and patiently respected his decision.
Hera looked surprised by his decision, so was Sabine. Zeb gave his decision as much respect as Thrawn did while Kanan simply nodded and stood up from his seat.
"You have a week, Ezra," Kanan smiled and set a hand on his Padawan's shoulder. "As your Master, I suggest you use meditation to help you think things through, okay?"
"Okay. I got it, thanks," Ezra replied with a nod.
Kanan returned the gesture before exiting to head back to the med-bay. Hera and Sabine exchanged nods and stood up to head to the cockpit, with Sabine ruffling Ezra's hair and Hera patting Ezra's shoulder before taking their leave.
Zeb was the only one left, besides Eli and Thrawn. Ezra wanted to speak to his parents, but before he could, Eli was immediately wrapped around Thrawn's arms. This made the boy frown, especially when he could feel sadness, guilt and disappointment suddenly rippling through their bond. It made him step back from them, in fear of making it worse.
Zeb noticed this and immediately stood up. He went towards him and mildly grabbed him by his shoulders.
"You alright?" He whispered ever-so gently to the boy's small ears.
"I…" Ezra felt the negative emotions of his parents worsen, causing tears to prick his eyes. "I think… Z-Zeb…"
"Ez…" Zeb moved a hand to his hair, stroking it lightly. "It's okay…"
"No… IT'S NOT!" Ezra pried himself from his boyfriend's grasp and ran out of the common room.
"EZRA!" But the blunette didn't listen and continued to run.
He soon made it down to the gunner and, he entered it, sliding the door shut and locked before turning to sit down. He grabbed his legs and hugged his knees, leaning his face onto his thighs as he let the tears fall. He felt his body tremble as he cried, but he didn't let it bother him and continued to break.
'I'm a failure… nothing but garbage… I can't get anything right…'
The words pained so badly. It was harsh, it was cold, but it was true. To him, it IS the truth.
For years, he had LONGED for his parents' affection and acceptance. Even with Mira and Ephraim, he couldn't FEEL like he belonged. With the Ghost Crew, he STILL felt like something was out of place, but with Eli and Thrawn, everything felt GOOD and RIGHT. They cared for him deeply, and he felt like they will accept him no matter what.
Guess his feeling was wrong. It always was.
'They don't love me… Not anymore… I'm not the son they were expecting… They'll never love me… I'm unwanted…'
He could hear muffled yells echoing from outside, calling for him to come back, but he ignored it, feeling nothing but the darkness pressuring down on him through the Force. He couldn't feel anything else but hatred… disappointment… sadness… loss…
'They don't care about me… They thought I would go with them, and that's why they pretended to care… No one loves me… No one… wants… me…'
The thoughts spun around in his brain, echoing into his ears as he felt his own breathing uneven. His breath shivered with a gulp, the tears stinging his possibly-red eyes while he rubbed his cold, trembling shoulders.
'No one cares for me… No one accepts me… No one wants me… No one loves me…'
X
"Kanan! KANAN!"
"Zeb?" Kanan turned to see his friend run into the med-bay, fear present in his eyes. "Zeb, what's wrong?"
"It's Ezra! I can't find him!" Zeb's words were the voice of panic. "He ain't in our cabin, and he ain't in the hanger! Grand Admiral Thrawn (Zeb's never going to release the honorific until he knows that he had earned the Chiss's trust) and Eli are still in the common room, but Eli's crying like crazy! Grand Admiral Thrawn's trying to comfort him, but he kept blaming himself for Ezra's earlier outburst, and I have no idea what the hell is going on anymore! Kanan, HELP ME!"
"Okay, okay, calm down," Kanan got hold of the Lasat's shoulders and gave them a squeeze. "Calm down, Zeb. Can you find him through your bond?"
"What BOND?! I AIN'T FORCE-SENSITIVE, KANAN!"
"I know, I know, but even Eli and Thrawn are bonded with Ezra as a family. If Eli and Thrawn can't find him, or at least have no idea how to find him, then Ezra's blocking them out. As his boyfriend, he is attached to you, meaning you two are technically bonded. You don't need the Force to find him. Just use your mind and remember where any other place he might go whenever he's upset,"
"Okay, okay," Zeb took a deep breath and let out a shaky one. "O-KAY. I'm… I'm a bit calmer now, but do you really think that will work?"
"It's worth a try," Kanan shrugged as he let the other go. "I can also try to find him through our bond, but I'm afraid that he blocked me out too,"
"But what if had blocked ME out?"
"Won't know till you try it. If it doesn't work then I'll try,"
Zeb took another deep breath and slowly nodded. He shut his eyes and tried to think; if he was Ezra, where would he go to hide and ponder?
There was their cabin, but Ezra wasn't there. There was the common room, but Ezra ran away from there, so it wasn't an option. Hera and Sabine were at the cockpit, so definitely not there. Hanger's vacant, so not there either. There was also the Phantom or…
"…the gunner,"
"What about it?" Kanan tilted his head, confused.
"He could be at the gunner," Zeb opened his eyes and sighed. "Why didn't I think about it sooner…?"
"Well, now you did," Kanan smiled. "Go and check on him, Romeo,"
"Ha-Ha, funny," Zeb rolled his eyes at the man before turning to leave. "Thanks,"
"Make sure he's okay!" were the last words from the Jedi as the Lasat got into a sprint and ran to the gunner.
He went down to the bottom of the ship and stopped by the door leading to the gunner. He took a deep breath and knocked on it.
"Ez…?"
"Go away…" a weak, tearful voice came from the other side. "Please…"
"Ezra…" Zeb went to the control panel and fiddled around with it, trying to unlock the door. "Please, it's Zeb. I… I want to make sure you're okay…"
"M'fine…" Ezra's voice didn't convince the Lasat, causing him to try harder to open the door. "Leave me alone, Zeb… p-please…"
Zeb didn't respond. Instead, he focused on picking the lock on the panel. After a while, there was a small click, and the door slid open to reveal Ezra cuddled up behind it, his back facing the Lasat as his body trembled. The sight broke Zeb's heart, causing him to kneel down and reach out towards his boyfriend.
"Ezra…"
The next thing that happened was too fast for Zeb to grasp. Ezra had turned around, his eyes turning full-red with a hint of gold as he gritted his teeth, his hair waving in his rage.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Zeb was soon blasted to the wall and was knocked out in seconds.
X
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"
BOOM!
The sound of someone hitting the wall made both Eli and Thrawn jump to their feet.
"W-What was that?!" Eli cried out.
"The commotion came from the lower part of the ship," Thrawn grabbed his spouse's hand then they ran out of the common room and headed down.
They were going through the halls when they froze to see Zeb knocked out on the wall and Ezra standing over him with his arm out and his hand flat. His eyes were glowing red, more so than normal, as it hinted raging gold while his sapphire blue hair was waving in the air.
Eli was in shock, frozen on where he was standing as he felt anger, frustration, rejection, and plenty of negative emotions from their son. He then turned to Thrawn, whose calm demeanor masked the worry his trembling hands were already betraying.
Their worry might have been too obvious because a minute later, Ezra turned his head to them, and his eyes widened in alarm.
"M-Mom…? D-Dad…?" Eli held his breath and shuddered the moment he heard the fear present in his son's voice.
"E-Ezra—"
"Eli." Thrawn tightened his grin on husband's wrist, pulling the man back before he could do anything reckless.
Unfortunately, this gave a bad expression to Ezra, who assumed that his parents were now afraid of him, peaking his fear up to his throat. He turned to face them and had placed both his hands in front of him to distance himself.
"STAY BACK!" He roared out.
The Force reacted to his words, causing him to accidentally Force-push Eli and Thrawn away. Hera, Sabine and Kanan has arrived just in time to help the two before they could fall.
"Woah!" Sabine grabbed Eli while Hera got hold of Thrawn. "You two okay?!"
"No!" Eli shook his head. "It's Ezra! Something's wrong!"
"Could tell…" Kanan turned and winced when he saw Zeb out cold and when the feeling of darkness flowed through the Force Bond between him and his Padawan. "Ezra… Ezra, it's okay—"
"NO!" Ezra took a backed a bit. "STAY BACK!"
Another Force-Push came, stronger than earlier as it sent Kanan back. Ezra froze in panic, his eyes fading it's glow as it returned to it's normal state.
"I… I didn't mean to… I…"
His hands were trembling even more as his legs were starting to give way. Thrawn noticed this and quickly ran to catch the boy before he fall.
"Ezra!" Eli screamed as their son started to lose consciousness and was caught in his spouse's arms.
Thrawn tightened his grip on him, adjusting to Ezra's body weight as he stood up and used both arms to carry the child. He looked down at Ezra and frowned at how pale and tense the boy looked.
'What had caused him so much pain and rage…?' he thought as he let Eli come forward and snatch their boy from his arms.
"Sabine, Kanan, get Zeb to the med-bay," Hera ordered in her 'mother mode'.
"On It, Hera," Sabine dragged Kanan to his feet. "Come on, Kanan,"
"R-Right," Kanan stretched to ease his pain before he and the Mando grabbed Zeb and carried him to the med-bay.
Hera watched leave then she turned back to see Eli cradling Ezra in his arms while Thrawn seemed to be concerned, confused, and worried about the boy's state. Hera sighed and took a step forward.
"Thrawn, Eli, what happened?" she asked.
"Even we have no clue," Thrawn let out a sigh, shaking his head. "Eli had grown upset with Ezra's decision, so I came to comfort him. Ezra had misinterpreted Eli's actions and had run off,"
"This… This is all my fault…" Eli sniffled his tears, hugging Ezra closer.
"No, it isn't, Eli," Hera placed a hand on his shoulder and gave a warm smile. "It was a simple misinterpretation and an accident. He needs time, and so do you. A decision this big needs time,"
"I agree," Thrawn nodded in agreement as he set a hand on his husband's back. "Eli, we need to give him time, and we need to respect whatever he chooses,"
"I… o-okay…" Eli slowly stood up and nodded. "B-But… I want to carry Ezra to his bed and watch over him until he wakes up. Please?"
"Of course," Hera allowed the man to pass then she turned to the Chiss. "Thrawn, I need to have word with you,"
"Of course, Captain Syndulla," Thrawn let Eli take their child away then once his husband was gone, he turned to face the Twi'lek captain. "What do you wish to discuss?"
"Don't think I'm making decisions for Ezra, but I know that he will choose to live with you and Eli," Hera began. "I know Eli was disappointed by Ezra's words. I too was surprised, but I truly know why he's hesitant to reunite with you too,"
"He fears to lose you and your crew to us, and fears that we will keep him in Csilla by force because he will be forbidden to see any of you again," Thrawn hypothesized as if it was obvious.
Hera, however, was not impressed and thought the Chiss knew better. She shook her head and sighed.
"This is one of the reasons why he needs to stay with you, at least until you get to understand him better," she didn't hold in the scowl. "Thrawn, Ezra cares for us, yes, but deep down, he has feelings too. He knows you and Eli wouldn't try forbidding him from contacting us. Even if you do, he knows every strategy to escape,"
"Then what does he fear?" Thrawn's eyebrows furrowed in concern. "For the past few weeks, the only time he had reacted terribly is when he feared…"
Suddenly, his blood ran cold, the lump of discomfort that had disappeared weeks ago returning and clogging up his throat once more.
"…no… he does not… he does, does he?"
"Yes, Thrawn," Hera frowned, but she nodded in approval. "He… He fears rejection… you and Eli's rejection, more specifically,"
"We would never… but I suppose it explains his outburst back in the common room…" Thrawn turned to avoid eye contact. "His fear and emotions affect his grasp on the Force, correct?"
"From what Kanan had told me, yes, his emotions affect his use of the Force," Hera gave another nod.
"He is strong, too strong," Thrawn pointed out. "Not that I fear him and his abilities. I fear that I am no help at that department, and if there is something to happen regarding the Force, I will be clueless, as Eli would be as well,"
"His EMOTIONS, Thrawn." Hera snarled. "You can help him control the Force by helping him with his emotions." She then took a deep breath and let out a sigh, her tone softening. "Kanan had told me that ever since Ezra got into your care, Ezra felt lighter, better, happier than he had ever been in years. Ezra needs you and Eli, Thrawn. He needs you to help him,"
"His ability on the Force is powerful, too powerful for my liking," Thrawn visibly winced. "His ability rivals that of Vader's… but slightly more unpredictable due to lack of control and possibly a little more powerful. I wish to help as much as I could, and I am sure Eli wishes to do the same, but we fear that we can only do so much,"
"Don't fear, Thrawn," Hera gently set a hand on his shoulder. "Ezra can sense your fear as much as Eli's. That's what caused the Dark Side to tamper with his abilities,"
"I… krayt spit, I wish I knew more about the Force to help Ezra," Thrawn hissed. He really needed to get that curse out of his mind before either he or Eli accidentally teaches it to their son. "I have only met and worked with one Jedi—"
"Anakin Skywalker," Hera flinched. "I know. Ahsoka told me that you had met and worked with him in the past before he was proclaimed dead at the end of the Clone Wars,"
"…he did not die,"
"I know. Kanan and I learned that the hard way," Hera dryly humored. "Plus Ahsoka recognized him quite easily from his first encounter with Ezra. Not the best one, I would say,"
"Does Ezra know of this knowledge?"
"No, at least I don't think so," Hera shook her head. "Why?"
"I wish to tell it to him myself… at the right time," Thrawn sighed. "For now, his control over his abilities is our main concern,"
"I agree," Hera took back her hand and nodded. "Let's continue this discussion in the common room. I'll comm Kanan to help us out," She then turned around. "If you like, you can go and check on Eli and Ezra before we meet up again. I need to check on Zeb and Rex anyway,"
"Of course," Thrawn spoke shortly and watched the Twi'lek leave before turning to leave himself.
He went through the halls and up to the Crew's Quarters and somehow found his son's cabin. He opened the door and found Ezra on the lower bunk, still unconscious. Eli kneeling beside him and resting his head and arms by the boy's side, also out cold by possible exhaustion.
'It is strange yet amusing to see them so similar yet so different…' Thrawn chuckled to himself as he watched the only two people he cared about in the galaxy slumber in peace with a smile.
X
"He's getting stronger," Kanan stated as he and Hera made their way to the cockpit. "I don't know how much I can teach him until he outmatches me and surpasses my teachings and own studies,"
"Thrawn noticed that too," Hera spoke up with a frown. "He admitted that he worked with General Skywalker in the past, and he feared that Ezra is a little stronger than Vader's, out of control and unpredictable, even,"
"Ezra's ability is more powerful than Vader's? Oh, that IS a problem," Kanan shuddered, sitting down on the co-pilot's seat the moment they entered the cockpit. "It would also explain why the Emperor wants him so badly,"
"To turn him into another Sith," Hera let out a hiss as she sat on the pilot's seat and crossed her arms.
"So that is the Emperor's plan for Ezra," the two turned to see Thrawn entering with a scowl on his face. "I had been instructed by Emperor Palpatine to dispose of you, Jarrus, but keep Ezra alive. I was quite confused by his orders, but now that I have seen my son's abilities, I understand why he is to be kept alive,"
"Ezra is stronger than Vader then," Kanan concluded. "He's also more emotional and compassionate. He can connect with those around him quite easily just by focusing into their eyes and soul,"
"Like his connection to the Purrgils," Hera winced at the memory. "He connected with one of them and was able to communicate with all of them to help us,"
"I fear that his abilities are too much for him to control," Thrawn admitted as he took a seat behind the Twi'lek.
"You and Eli can help him control his emotions, which could help him control his ability with the Force," Kanan pointed out.
"I'm sure you and your people are an expert at keeping your emotions steady, Thrawn," Hera grinned. "I've seen you attempt to hold in your panic, fear and rage,"
"Indeed, I have," Thrawn confirmed with nod. "At a young age, we were taught to not be dazed by war or let any emotions be betrayed through facial expressions or through reckless actions. Even those sensitive to the Force are taught these things,"
"So there ARE Force-Sensitive Chiss," Kanan's face grew solemn. "Is there any in your family?"
"None directly, but my cousin is, yet she is needed to work for the Empire as a Jedi Assassin now for her survival," Thrawn suppressed a growl in his throat. "That is one of the reasons Eli and I had to give Ezra away. Like my cousin, Ezra is a technical hybrid, who happens to also be Force-Sensitive. A combination like that would be risky. Very, VERY risky,"
Kanan grew stiff. "Your cousin is a JEDI ASSASSIN? As in… Boleena Rash, THE Jedi Assassin of the Empire?"
"I take it that you know her?" Thrawn raised an eyebrow at the Jedi.
"We've met Boleena once, when she tried to kill Kanan and Ahsoka," Hera sighed, shaking her head until a small smile stretched across her face. "Ezra knows her. In fact, your cousin and your son are actually very close. Ezra grew up with Boleena and their other friend, Zeb's niece; Gia,"
"I suppose I would have to question Ezra about this when time comes," Thrawn did not react, but Kanan could sense his surprise and amusement.
"At least we know that Ezra's not alone this," Hera then frowned. "Thrawn, I had spoken to Ahsoka about your transport to Csilla. Since Ezra stared that you had been redeemed from exile for quite some time now, we will have to return to Lothal and use the ship Eli arrived in to escape. Before we can, however, we would need a signal from Ahsoka to ensure us that the Chimera had been taken back to Coruscant for questioning and investigation, so we'll be danger-free when we arrive back in Lothal. Is that clear?"
"Crystal clear, Captain Syndulla," Thrawn nodded. "But before we leave, I request a word with Ezra,"
"He's YOUR son, Thrawn," Kanan chuckled. "You don't need to request anything. He might have had a breakdown earlier, but he still enjoys your company. Eli's company too,"
"Talk to him, Thrawn," Hera encouraged with a smile. "He needs you and Eli to ensure him that he's fine, he's accepted, he's loved, he's cared for. Those are all he's been wanting,"
"And those are all we will give him, for as long as we live," Thrawn stood up and turned to leave. "I will make sure of it,"
X
A couple of days had passed. Ezra had awoken, but he preferred to stay in his cabin to be alone and meditate.
Zeb was feeling better and was allowed to visit him, no matter how much the boy protested because of guilt. At least it only took one day for those two sort things out, despite the incident.
Kanan visited Ezra too, just to help him with his meditation. As he did, however, he felt the blunette's frustration and guilt over what had happened in front of Eli and Thrawn.
Eli and Thrawn both tried to visit their son, but Ezra would always be gone before they could reach him. It was obvious that he was trying to avoid him, and the reason was also obvious, but Eli tried anyway, and when their son was sleeping, he made a move, despite Thrawn's warnings.
It was mid-afternoon. Kanan was still keeping an eye on Rex, who had woken up with a sudden fever (Side-affect of the medicine he had to take to ease the pain in his shoulder), Zeb was napping with Ezra in their cabin (separate bunks, of course), Sabine was having a chat with Zare and Kallus in her room (and showing them her art while she was it), and Hera was in the cockpit, getting in contact with both Ahsoka and Commander Sato.
Eli was looking through the holo-photos of the Ghost Crew in the common room while Thrawn sat beside him, checking on the Imperial updates about the treachery in the Chimera. Eli soon glanced over at his spouse and noticed that he was busy, so he turned off the holo-photos and slowly made his way out of the booth to make a discreet escape.
"Where you going?"
Eli stiffened. 'Krayt spit, I need to be more discreet.' He took a deep breath and straightened himself before turning back to see the Chiss staring up at him with a quirked eyebrow. "Thrawn…"
"Ezra needs his rest," Thrawn spoke, not bothering to put down his pad.
"Ezra needs ME," Eli insisted. "I'm his mother, Thrawn. I can't just sit down and do NOTHING. He's OUR son. How can YOU just sit down and do nothing?!"
"I am not doing nothing," Thrawn defended. "I am giving him time, love. And so should you,"
"Thrawn, it's been nearly a week! It's been so long since I've hugged my baby!"
"Four days is not long, Eli," Thrawn shook his head. "Do not be impatient and stubborn,"
"Do NOT use those words on me, Thrawn." Eli snarled. "Don't piss off the guy who just stormed your Star Destroyer and killed Pryce in a minute."
Thrawn flinched before looking back down on his pad. If he knew his husband well then it was safer for him to just let the man do his thing. And the fact that the brunette male killed Pryce with no hesitation made him more dangerous than he had first met him.
Seeing that his spouse wasn't making another attempt to stop him, Eli smiled and turned to leave. He went through the halls that he had grown familiar of and found himself standing in front of his son's room. He gently placed a hand on the door and took a deep breath.
He wasn't going to admit it, but he had sensitivity on the Force. He knew that Thrawn theorized that their son was strong in the Force because of Thrawn's Aunt Thrina and his cousin Boleena, but it wasn't true. His medi-chlorian count wasn't that large (as he remembered from his father, his count was about 11 thousand or less. Higher than 8 thousand, if he remembered correctly). He was the only one in his family who had the ability of the Force, so he was a little surprised to know that his son was not only Force-Sensitive but also very, VERY powerful.
'Ezra…' He was no expert on the Force, no matter how sensitive he was, but he knew that as a family, they had a bond that either could flow naturally or be blocked.
He felt the boy stir at his attempt, making him sigh before opening the door.
The cabin was dark, with only Zeb's loud snoring from the bottom bunk echoing through the walls. Ezra was on the top bunk, stirring more but still sleeping.
Eli smiled and tiptoed towards the ladder of the bunk, the door automatically sliding shut behind him. He went up the ladder and sat on the top bunk. He watched his son tense at the sudden weight on the bunk before the boy groaned and forced himself up, rubbing his eyes.
"M-Mom…?"
Eli frowned at the blunette's hesitation and set down his mental shields.
He always had them up, and it would always work since his sensitivity wasn't all that powerful. He never dropped them unless there was a reason to. The last time he did was before he joined the Empire. Even at his 'retirement' to Csilla, he kept his shields up to stay hidden and to not be tempted to use them. He was used to it so much that it felt like he was just an ordinary being.
Ezra must have felt a slight shove of the Force the moment he dropped his mental shields. The boy had suddenly frozen in surprise, but Eli internally waved it off and gave a small smile.
"Hey, Ezra, feeling better?" He asked, moving a bit closer.
"I… M-Mom…?" Ezra grasped his head, and it was obvious that he was confused by the sudden realization. "I… I think I need to lay down again…"
"You're not dreaming or hallucinating, Ezra," Eli chuckled as he pulled his son into an embrace. "This is real. THAT feeling is real,"
"B-But… h-how come I—"
"My ability isn't as strong as yours, so it's easy to mask," Eli shrugged. "It makes me blend in almost invisible to the Vader,"
"D-Does Dad know…?"
"Ezra, there are many things your father doesn't know," Eli shook his head and stroked his son's hair. "Honestly, I can't control my abilities as much as you,"
"B-But… mine is too powerful…" Ezra began to tear.
"I know, I know," Eli sighed. "My father, your grandfather, never wanted me to learn the Force since I was the only one in the family that had it, so I don't know if I'm much help,"
Ezra didn't respond and only nuzzled closer. Eli took it as a sign and left the silence as it is.
"Mom…" Of course, Ezra broke the silence a little too quickly. "I'm sorry…"
"It's not your fault. It's mine," Eli hissed. "I'm the one who should be sorry, Ezra. I should have respected your decision…"
"I… I'm afraid, Mom," Ezra sniffled. "A… Afraid that you… you and Dad won't accept me… and love me…"
"Ezra, why would you think that?" Eli looked at him in disbelief.
"I… I don't know," Ezra sighed. "I guess… I was used to Mira and Ephraim changing my appearance and the Empire making bias laws…"
"Oh, my baby boy," Eli pressed a kiss on his son's forehead. "No matter what you choose, your father and I will always love you. You shouldn't doubt us so much,"
"I… I know…" Ezra chuckled. "I… I want to go with you and Dad so badly… but…"
"…but… what?"
Ezra turned away. "…I don't know how to be a perfect son…"
"Is that all?" Eli grinned and hugged the boy closer. "No one's perfect, Ezra. Look at me; I'm not the perfect husband. I worry, I do reckless stuff and I keep things from my husband. Though you already know why I act reckless…"
"So your negative thoughts and emotions don't affect your light grasp on the Force…" Ezra's eyes lit up in realization.
"Like I always say; why overthink when you can overact?" Eli sniggered.
"But… I'm afraid that I'll make mistakes… a LOT of mistakes…"
"We all do, Ezra," Eli reassured him. "I know Thrawn and I did a LOT of mistakes too. One of them was… giving you up,"
Ezra fell silent after that. He knew that his mother was right. They all made mistakes, but what if he made too many? What if he couldn't fit in right?
Eli held him so close that he could faintly hear his son's thoughts. He shook his head and raised his mental shields again as he normally does.
He really hates hearing the negative thoughts of others he was bonded to.
"You'll fit in fine, Ezra," he spoke. "even if you choose to stay here. You'll always be my baby boy,"
And for the first time in those past few days, Ezra felt warmth. Warmth with those words he had always wanted to hear.
He gripped tightly to his mother and held his breath, as if he would suddenly disappear from his grasp. Eli felt this and smiled, returning the tight yet gentle grip but saying nothing as they sat in each other's company.
Unbeknownst to them, Thrawn was standing outside the cabin, just by the door. He couldn't hear them clearly since they were practically whispering, and he unfortunately couldn't sense them since he was not sensitive to the Force, but when he heard no screams or anything that would signify another mental breakdown from either of them, he let himself relax. He pried himself from the door and returned to the common room with a small smile.
He knew that the tension between them was finally broken.
X
"I… I made a choice,"
Hera, Kanan, Sabine, and Zeb exchanged looks before smiling and motioning back to Ezra to continue. Eli and Thrawn did the same, giving the boy a little boost of confidence. Ezra returned the smile and sighed in relief.
"I… I want to go and stay with Mom and Dad to Csilla,"
All was silent for a while, with Ezra feeling Eli's happiness and excitement through their bond. He could feel Thrawn's joy as well, but it was more reserved and hidden with the neutral expression that was usually pasted on his face. Ezra waited for a reaction from his friends and his boyfriend, holding his breath.
Finally, after a while, Hera stood up and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, smiling. "Are you sure about this decision, Ezra? We don't want you to think that we're forcing you or anything,"
"Yes, Hera," Ezra nodded. "I'm sure about this. Vader and the Emperor would be after me to break me. If I stay with them, I would be safer. For everyone,"
"Wise decision, Ezra," Kanan spoke with a smile.
"Yeah, I agree," Sabine gave a nod of agreement. "And it would be nice for you to get to know your home-planet,"
"Temporary or Permanent?" Zeb asked, turning towards their captain to answer.
"Depends on the status of Vader," Hera replied then she turned to Ezra. "We can contact you once things are clear, but it's still up to you if you want to return or stay in Csilla,"
"I'll keep that in mind," Ezra chuckled before looking over at his parents. "Mom… Dad…"
Of course, Eli didn't give him the chance to finish. He ran to his son and squeezed him tightly into a warm embrace.
"I never thought you'd choose to leave them and stay with us…" he whispered, almost to a sob.
"I want to be there with you and Dad, Mom," Ezra answered just as quiet as the hug loosened a bit. "You both can protect me, and I can protect both of you. We'll have each other,"
"For all time and forever more," Thrawn joined them, wrapping his arms around them.
Ezra looked up and smiled. He felt a bit claustrophobic with his parents squishing him in a sandwich-like hug, but at the same time, it was warm, it was tender, it was love. It was home.
And this was the only place he wanted to be.
X
The week had ended quite quickly, and Ezra found himself standing between the Ghost's ramp and his mother's ship. Eli and Thrawn were loading his things (or at least the stuff he had in his and Zeb's cabin, anyway). He was suppose to say goodbye to his crew, but at the moment, he was too frozen up and worried to move.
"Ezra?"
A hand on his shoulder made him jump, and he turned to see Hera, Kanan, Sabine, and Zeb looking down at him, each of them with warm smiles. He blinked at them for a second before returning the smile.
"Hey, guys," he said. "Where's Kallus and Zare?"
"Having a talk with Ahsoka and Rex," Kanan replied with a shrug. "They're fine,"
"Yes, they are, but are you?" Here asked, concerned. "You've been acting nervous since you left the ship,"
"I… I know that Mom and Dad both accept me and love me as I am, but…" Ezra bit his bottom lip. "…I'm going to miss you guys…"
"We're going to miss you too, kid," Sabine ruffled his hair playfully.
"Really miss you, Ez," Zeb pressed a kiss on the boy's cheek. "But I'll always love you, no matter where you are,"
"Aww, I love you too~" Ezra giggled.
"We'll update you in any way we can," Hera reassured him.
"And we'll always be in contact with you, whenever you need it," Kanan patted his back with a grin. "Also, this doesn't mean you'll escape Jedi Training. We're going to holo-train; train via holo-call,"
"D'aww…" Ezra pouted. "And I thought I could escape training…"
"Nice try, kid," Kanan snickered.
"We'll miss you, Ezra," Hera pulled the boy into a hug.
The rest of them nodded and joined in, wrapping the blunette in a farewell embrace. Ezra felt squashed with love as he grinned and returned the hug.
"I'll miss you guys too," he sighed before they pulled away. "But I know that I'm where I'm supposed to go, right?"
"Yes, you are," Hera pushed the boy's bangs to the side. "You be good to them, won't you, Ezra?"
"I'll try," Ezra grinned. "but knowing Mom's recklessness, 'good' may have different definitions,"
"Ezra!"
They turned to see Eli waving over at them with an enthusiastic smile. Ezra himself couldn't help but smile back just as wide before running over to them. He was met by his parents' brief embrace then he turned back to see his crew, his other family, his friends, waving at him. He felt the tears pricking his eyes as he felt the ship rumble and hover from Lothal's surface.
Ezra felt tightness in his chest as the ramp of his mother's ship slowly closed. The figures of his old crew went smaller and smaller until they were too high, and the ramp completely closed. He soon felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked up to see Thrawn holding it while Eli smiled down at him.
The smile made his stomach feel warm while his heart thumped in excitement, causing him to return the expression.
He knew things were going to be okay. He was going to be fine. Fine with his family, his REAL family. In his REAL home.
X
A/N Well, this took longer than I expected. Imma rest from this for a while and try to proceed with my other Star Wars Rebels fanfics (I have 288 stories to write. The Zezra One-shots included.) Don't worry, though. This has a lot more chapters to go, and there's going to be a one-shots book on Thrawn, Eli and Ezra's bonding time in Csilla. It's going to be called Family Bonding
Also, does anyone know any Star Wars Time Travel fanfic that does NOT involve HanLeia or LukeMira? I'd be more interested if it weren't either of them (HanLeia And LukeMira doesn't settle in for me. I honestly prefer Skysolo better )
Comments are pretty much appreciated! :)