"Thanks for swinging by and picking me up." Sabine smiles in my passenger's seat as I continue navigating traffic.
"You're welcome."
"How'd it go this morning?"
I flick my eyes from the car in front of me over to Sabine. "Fine, uneventful."
"And you're fighting later this afternoon?"
"Fighting is such a bad way of putting it." I counter.
Sounds awful.
"What other word is there for it?" She asks as I refocus on the road. "Participate?"
Reflexively I laugh, inducing a laugh from Sabine before she straightens in her seat. "Hi!" Her voice pitches up. "I'm here to participate in this Jedi duel thing! Can you direct me to the nearest spelling bee? I'm here to participate!"
I continue laughing as we proceed through traffic. "I don't know how to word it."
"You're fighting." She answers dismissively. "Do you know who?"
"Yup."
"Can you tell me about him? Or her. Please tell me you're fighting a girl."
"No." I laugh. "It's a guy."
I don't see the harm in telling her a little bit. It'll get her off my back a bit about all of this.
"Damn."
"I can tell you a little bit." I flash my eyes over in her direction. "You just can't say anything."
"Yeah." Sabine instantly turns to me, suddenly sounding breathless. "Sure, yeah, I won't say anything."
I laugh again, then adjust my grip on the wheel. "Same guy I was supposed to fight the day you called. He got sick. From the UK."
"United Kingdom." Sabine gives me her best British accent. "What's his name? Aiden? Wayne? Dudley? Lester?"
Can you go more stereotypical?
"No." I smirk. "Davies."
"Oh." She says in mock surprise. "Davies. Drop the 'e' bro, just be Davis. Dumb name."
"Wow, harsh." I laugh and turn to her.
"What?" Sabine says defensively. "He's your opponent. I'm not gonna be nice. Especially not with a douchey name like that."
I'm going to let that one go…
"He's skilled. Supposed to be really talented. He might not be in the loser's bracket if not for the fact that he got sick."
That's a lie. I would have sent him there. He has a major disqualifier for fighting against me.
Way too small. He's like six inches shorter than me.
If it's a duel I could throw him all over the arena.
"Is he big? Husky guy? Davies? Sounds like a guy who keeps making trips to the buffet."
WOW SABINE!
Suppressing my laughter into a smile, I continue. "No, he's a small guy. Like 5'7, 150."
"That's smaller than me." Sabine's face turns dismissive. "You could stuff him in a locker."
This time I fail in my attempt not to laugh. "I'm not gonna stuff him in a locker."
"Please do. I'd pay you. Hell, I'd kiss you on the spot if you stuffed him in a locker."
"No no…" I shake my head while changing lanes. "Just gotta survive and advance."
Can't lose. Losing isn't an option.
"I think the place JJ mentioned is here on the left." I change the topic slightly.
"Beryl Garden…yeah this is it. I see the sign." Sabine leans forward in her seat, causing her necklace to swing forward.
She's wearing it again.
"What?" Sabine asks as I turn back to the road.
"Nothing, just glanced over." I answer, then glance down at my odometer.
Approaching 10,000—
My attention is pulled over to my hand, where it feels like Sabine's grabbed it.
Yup.
"It's your necklace…" She says softly, following up with a gentle squeeze of my hand. "Didn't I tell you how much I love it?"
"No."
"I love it." She immediately volunteers. "Haven't taken it off since I got home. I'm actually wearing both today." She points out, then looks down to her pants. "I love the leggings too."
"Good, I'm glad." I smile.
Change the subject.
"Where'd you get the necklace by the way?"
"I can't tell you that." I smile as the light ahead of us finally turns green, allowing us to turn left.
"Why not?"
"Maybe I want to buy you a birthday present from there." I hypothesize. "Isn't that coming up?"
"Yeah, in February." She replies. "You don't have to get me anything Ezra, you already did way more than you needed to."
Oh I'm not falling for that one.
I chuckle again, only for Sabine to ask "What?"
"I'm not falling for that one."
"I'm serious Ezra! You don't have to get me anything for my birthday." She says as I pull into the parking lot and start looking for a spot to slide into.
"Not…falling for it." I say quietly as I slide in between a SUV and a tiny box looking car.
"Oh whatever, C'mon, I'm starving."
I am. But I have to eat light.
Not exactly my idea of a pre-fight meal.
Can't eat a whole bunch of rich Italian food then throw it all up.
"What?" Sabine demands of me as I slide out of the car.
How'd she beat me to my side of the car?
"I'm gonna get something small. Don't want to eat anything too heavy or I'll throw it up."
Sabine's expression turns to sympathy. "Yeah, I can feel that. Maybe just have salad and breadsticks. We can order in later after you win."
We.
"C'mon." She says, grabbing me by the hand and pulling me forward. "Let's find the others, and you can see my leggings."
I—
Dammit Sabine…
Sabine marches forward brazenly, holding my hand while leaving me no option but to trail behind.
No Ezra. Don't.
It'd be creepy and skeevy and—
…
I glance down for a split second, then cast my eyes back up.
They fit her well. Jaicey was right on about her size.
Sabine meanwhile continues walking, unaware as we approach the restaurant, which is busy enough to have people waiting outside.
I really should go wash my eyes out. That was gross Ezra.
She's your friend you jackass. Don't need to be checking her out behind her ba—
"Hey!" Jaicey's voice pops up, and I turn to see Matt, JJ and Jaicey near a bench close to the sidewalk. "It's busy, we're having to wait."
"They said it wouldn't be long." JJ adds with a smile.
"Is there no room inside?" Sabine asks.
There's nowhere else to sit other than a big rock opposite Matt. Hell, he's on a rock too.
He gave the bench to Jaicey and JJ.
"No." Jaicey says mournfully. "We hit the lunch hour rush. I love that necklace, where'd you get it."
Uh oh.
"Oh." Sabine glances down at the necklace. "Ezra got it for me for Christmas. Don't you like it?"
JJ's head snaps to me as Matt quickly tries to not look too pleased. "You got that for her?"
"Yeah." I shrug. "It's not much."
Suddenly I'm being placed onto the big rock before Sabine plops herself into my lap.
What the—
"I love it. I think it's beautiful."
My mind goes completely blank as Sabine smiles fondly at me.
"Where'd you get it?" Jaicey saves me. "I swear I've seen that somewhere."
Thank you Jaicey.
"Bought it online. I don't know where at exactly."
"Oh bullshit." Matt calls me out. "You know exactly where you bought it from."
YEAH BUT I'M NOT GONNA JUST SAY IT!
"Nah." I shake my head as Jaicey starts rapidly tapping away on her phone.
"I don't buy it, that's a nice necklace. Let's try a couple of old reliable sites…"
JJ glances at me, gives me a momentary from before turning back to his girlfriend. "Not Kendra Scott babe, I doubt Ezra knows what that is."
"Shut up. Is the chain silver?" Jaicey asks Sabine.
"Yeah. I think the pendant is blue lapis."
Oh shit.
"Oh?" Matt perks up. "Is it?"
"Blue something." I lie. All the names were ridiculous like—"
Before I can invent an insane name, Jaicey says "I think I—oh shit! Yeah!"
"That kind of looks like it…" Matt frowns.
"You spent $150 on a necklace for a Christmas present?!" Jaicey asks me, then looks back to her phone. "Yeah, that's it!"
I feel Sabine stiffen slightly as she takes the phone. "Yeah, that's it. Ezra!"
"Elisa 18k Gold Vermeil Pendant Necklace In Blue Lapis." Jaicey reads off her phone. "Ezra! What great taste!"
In the blink of an eye Sabine's spun around in my lap and plants a big kiss on my cheek. "That's why you didn't want to tell me!"
"Wait what?" JJ asks faintly as my attention is all on Sabine.
"He didn't want to tell me….Ezra! She says before pulling me into a tight hug.
I'm so dead.
I hug Sabine back as behind her, JJ is giving me a deadly look and Matt is smiling from ear to ear.
Oh shut up.
"149.99 plus shipping and handling, which is a lot around the holidays…This is more than a Christmas gift!" Jaicey proclaims.
"No it's not…I just got a good deal on it. The money doesn't matter." I defend myself.
It really doesn't.
"You should talk to Ezra." Jaicey turns to JJ. "Get some tips. And he did know Kendra Scott! I bet he knows Ulta Beauty too!"
Nope. No clue what that is.
"I can't be throwing around—" JJ argues with Jaicey as matt smirks at me before Sabine gently gets my attention by shifting her hand.
"You really didn't have to spend that much." She says softly. "I wouldn't have cared if it was 50 bucks from the mall."
"I got it on sale." I avoid her eye contact. "It's not a big deal Sabine. I dunno why Jaicey's making so much out of it."
That's a lie.
"Anybody got a crowbar?" A pompous voice comes out of nowhere. "We're going to need it."
In a flash, I deposit Sabine on the rock then stand and turn—
Oh you've got to be shitting me.
"Excuse me?" Matt leaps to his feet.
"None of your business asshole." JJ adds, tone changing on a dime.
Davies.
"Hope you stop snogging your girlfriend long enough to lose to me today." He scowls at me. "Bridger."
He wants to burn my cover. He really wants to.
I can feel it.
"I think I can do both." I pop off. "Davies."
"Bridger."
Again.
Sabine leaps to her feet beside me. "Oh, so you're Davies. Shorter than I expected."
"Pardon?" He makes a disgusted face and moves to face Sabine. "What's your name?"
"Sabine." She bites back as I slide in front of Sabine and take a step closer.
Yeah. He's small. He can't hang. He doesn't qualify to give me a good fight.
He's too little.
Sabine slides right out from behind me, only to glare right at him, unafraid as she is indeed taller than him.
And I think she has more muscle too.
"Didn't know he had a girlfriend." Davies says while behind him, a few more Padawans file out of the restaurant.
Great.
"Not my girlfriend." I reply.
Sabine adds "Not yet." As behind him, JJ turns to say something to another Padawan.
Sabine!
Not helping!
"Oh wait. Bridger has a girlfriend?" One of the Padawans calls out.
"Hah! A secret girl! Who knew!"
I glare in their direction as Matt takes a step closer and responds to the taunt.
"Ezra was right. You are small. He should shove you in a locker." Sabine scowls at Davies.
Oh damn.
"Oh? What all did he say?" Davies asks. "You looking for a real man?"
For an instant all I see is red before I'm nose to nose with Davies.
"C'mon then. Let's settle this now. No need for a duel or the Council."
"Whoa! Hey! Whoa!" Another voice calls out.
Nope. Don't need them at all. I'll—
Cayle appears from nowhere and shoves the two of us apart, looks at Davies before turning to me. "I'm so sor—Ezra!"
Yeah. Hi.
"He started it." Sabine volunteers.
"He started it!" One of the Padawans mocks her before both JJ and Matt make a move on him.
"Boy I'll beat your ass." JJ proclaims.
He really would.
"Boy?"
"Hey!" A new voice calls out.
Oh hell that's Ahsoka.
"Don't waste your chance here." Cayle frowns at me. "Beat his ass here in a few hours. These your friends?"
"Of course."
He knows that.
"He'll beat his ass." Sabine chimes in, causing Davies to glare in her direction.
Before he can say anything however, Ahsoka's turned him around and towards the parking lot. "Car. Now."
You don't want to disobey that order.
"Sorry." I apologize to both of them. "Got under my skin."
"Nothing to apologize for." Cayle reassures me.
Sabine meanwhile, has tensed up. "Master Tano, I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Is everything alright over here?" Ahsoka asks.
Cayle answers. "Yeah. Looks like Davies started it."
"Shocker." Ahsoka rolls her eyes before turning her full attention to me. "You gonna make it on time?"
"Yes Master." I nod.
"Good." She smiles, then motions for Cayle to follow. "See you there."
Without another word, Cayle and Master Tano walk down the sidewalk, back toward their vehicle.
"What the hell was his problem?" Jaicey asks everyone as a collective.
"Don't know." JJ responds.
"Lose what? Like a fight? And why'd you call her 'Master'?" Matt turns to me.
Sabine beats me to the punch. "Ezra's got something going on later today. Can't say much about it. That was his opponent."
"Why's she 'Master'?" Jaicey asks, before realization dawns on JJ.
"Wait…that was a Jedi?"
Yup.
"No way, she was normal looking. You're paranoid about the stupid Jedi…" Jaicey shakes her head. "Can you not be obsessed for five damn min—" Jaicey suddenly jumps out of her skin as the coaster that tells us our table is ready starts buzzing loudly. "Oh shit."
Guess it's time to go eat. Our table must be ready.
Matt takes point, leading the way inside before JJ leads Jaicey inside. I move to follow, before I'm spun back around to face Sabine.
"Hey."
"Hi." I smile, only for Sabine's smile to be even wider, revealing her dimples.
She's…really cute. Dammit.
"You're…great. I hope you know that." She says softly, then pulls me into a hug. "You'd better win and stuff his ass into a locker."
"I'll win." I smirk and hug her back. "We'll see about the rest of it."
Arm, arm, one, two, flip, done.
Setting my now folded shirt on top of my jeans, I add my tennis shoes to the pile in my locker and tuck my wallet and car keys inside my left shoe before closing the locker door.
Nice thing about being in the losers bracket later on in this tournament, not nearly as crowded. And since nobody wants to hang around me for too long, I get some privacy.
I run my hands over the leather and fabric of my robes, flattening it out from the creases due to my folding job before Cayle rounds the nearest locker.
"Hey, real quick question from Ahsoka and the Council: You good fighting him?"
"Yeah, we'll be fine." I answer while pulling my phone out of my pocket to give to him. "He just needs to keep Sabine's name out of his mouth."
"He wouldn't be that stupid. Everybody's kind of figured out how strong you are, and you've seen their different game plans."
Yeah, they've been trying to pull me down into the mud for the most part. They know they can't stick with me martially.
They have to even the playing field to make it a fair fight.
"I mean, he did just walk up and pop off. So" I point out and extend my phone.
"Is that what happened?"
"That's what happened." I confirm
Cayle slips my phone into his pocket. "Well at east we know a lot of them don't like social media and don't use it. So they won't go that route."
The Order doesn't like social media as a whole. Says it's a disinformation platform vulnerable to infiltration in many ways.
I see their point. Has its benefits as a news source since most news ends up their first.
At least out of the White House, things leak before official statements come out.
"You confident?"
I smile, then adjust my belt. "He's too little."
"What do you mean he's too little?"
"He's too little." I repeat myself. "Too small. Bad matchup. I've got leverage, I've got power, I've got gravity, a longer wingspan, I'm stronger, bigger…I'm a bad matchup for him."
Cayle just looks at me for a minute then laughs. "Man I wish I had your confidence sometimes."
"It's not confidence." I earnestly respond.
"Yeah. It is." He laughs again.
It's really not. I'm assessing it objectively.
He's too small.
"If you say so."
A sound comes from the tunnel, pulling Cayle's attention in that direction. "I think you're just about up."
Last duel must have ended early.
I pull my lightsaber off the bench into my hand and clip it to my belt before Cayle mutters. "Oh. Text from Sabine."
"What'd she say?" I ask, starting towards the tunnel.
"Gimme a sec…oh. She says good luck. Can I reply?"
No.
"Just that I'm about to go in." I instruct him, just before he raises my phone. "I didn't say take a picture!"
"Girl's love a guy in uniform." Cayle replies with a smirk. "Just look ahead for two seconds, then walk on in. Good luck. And beat his ass if he talks shit about Sabine."
Oh I will.
I smile to nobody in front of me, then wait patiently for Cayle to take his stupid picture then start out into the tunnel.
"—Calling Birmingham, England home, from London's Jedi Temple…Davies! Moynihan!" The PA booms out, followed by a roar from the crowd.
Breathe…
I place my focus in releasing all my tensions out into the Force, only for it to be jangly and uneasy in response.
Alright. I might actually have to focus a little bit.
"—Ezra! Brid—"
The boos from the Padawans and other, younger initiates ring out pointedly as I walk out into the arena.
Most of the crowd is continuing to be neutral observers. The worst of the booing has past.
"This match is an elimination match! And will be…A DUEL!"
Alright.
Smiling to myself, I look over to Davies, clad in brown Jedi robes that look a little too tight before the PA continues.
"This elimination duel will be—."
"WHERE'S SABINE?"
Huh?
I whip around to see the portion of the lower bowl occupied by the Padawans and initiates mostly, all of whom are chanting the same thing.
"WHERE'S SABINE?"
"WHERE'S SABINE?"
"WHERE'S SABINE?"
You…
Okay. I'm beating his ass now.
And I'll do it quick to make the point.
Suddenly, our official, a Master who I don't recognize hustles over to the Council's box as Kenobi and a few others are quickly taking the stairs up towards the halls of the Temple.
They're going to shut the Padawans up.
"You like it?" I barely hear Davies over the chanting. "Where is she?"
Ignore…he's trying to get under my skin.
"WHERE'S SABINE?"
"WHERE'S SABINE?"
"WHERE'S SABINE?"
"Oh wait!" He yells in a mocking tone. "She doesn't even know who you are! A fraud! A liar! None of them do!"
Breathe…don't visibly react. Pace, move…let it out.
"I'll make you a deal!" He continues calling after me. "Winner gets the girl. And if I win, I'll pull the curtain down on all the bullshit and lies you've fed her! See how much she loves you after that!"
I let out another breath and continue my slow, deliberate pace one step at a time.
His upper body is bigger than his lower body.
"WHERE'S SABINE?"
I am willing to bet my whole bank account he's going to try and assault me with lunches or kicks. Probably punches.
"WHERE'S SABINE?"
He'd be foolish to try that strategy though. Give me an excuse to beat him up.
"WHERE'S SABINE?"
I'm not losing this.
Finally our referee stops talking to Master Windu and motions for us to come together where he is. I cease my pacing and walk over.
"Okay!" She starts. "I don't know what you two's problem is with each other! But it's over! You fight in here, you fight to win. And when it's done, it's over. Got it?"
"Yes Master." I nod curtly.
"Of course." Davies smiles. "You ready to lose?"
I ignore the comment before the official says "Shake hands."
Alright.
I extend my hand to him diplomatically, only for him to take the pathetic power move and attempt to crush my hand, only for it to not give at all.
It's like he doesn't know I was genetically engineered. It's very hand to crush any part of me, hands included.
"Best of luck. Fight fair!"
I nod before we separate and start off to our respective sides. Letting out another breath, I glance up at the Padawans and the others in their makeshift student section, all standing and yelling at me.
Kenobi and another Master are guarding one staircase out into the halls. The other one close is being blocked too.
Huh.
"ARE WE READY?!" The PA booms out.
I nod in our official's direction, then close my eyes for a moment.
Focus.
"THREE—TWO—ONE— FIGHT!"
I throw my eyes back open, then summon my lightsaber into my hand and raise it up above my head with both hands.
I'm not respecting you by giving you a salute.
Davies doesn't immediately do the same, instead gesturing to somebody behind me before pulling his lightsaber out.
"WHERE'S SABINE?"
"WHERE'S SABINE?"
Oh come on now.
Finally, Davies lets out a mighty roar and charges me. Once close enough, he moves to slash me and I neutralize the attack with an easy bend of my wrists before directing him to my left.
Strong side. I'll wait a little longer before I throw him for a curveball by changing styles.
I take a step towards him, getting the same reaction on his end before I drop a quick slice to his right, then left, then right again, all of which he blocks before resetting us.
Okay.
Fast blade. He might actually be skilled with a lightsaber.
Breathing thru my nose, I take another step forward then feint and advance, only for him to fall for it and rush at me then duck down and move to clear some space.
Alright.
I set my feet and don't budge as he puts all he's got into a forearm shiver in my chest, which bounces off and sends him stumbling.
Nahhhh.
"That all you got?" I call after him. "Don't know if you've notice, I'm bigger than you are."
Rule number one of picking a fight: Don't pick a bigger guy.
Davies doesn't rise to my taunt, instead roaring, rushing at me and chopping down at my defenses. Blocking the move with both hands, I push his blade back towards—
OWW!
His foot collides with my right ankle, sending me back reflexively before I rise back up just in time to—
The crowd roars in surprise and excitement as my face throbs from the punch.
Okay…that's it.
As I rise back to my feet, Davies sees his advantage and presses it, only for me to snap off a push and sending him skittering away.
Nope.
I switch stances as he gets back on his feet, moving into a classical Makashi stance with my left hand and arm closest to him.
I'll still be nice. Weak hand, non-dominant side. Injured hand for that matter.
As I look on, I see Davies notice my change in styles, then the wrap on my hand before he leaps forward with a kick that I sidestep before cutting at his side only for him to get his blade on it and slip out of my reach.
He resets only for a moment and attacks my left side with a strong slice that I riposte into a cut at his shoulder which he weaves away from.
He can move too.
Reengaging him, I start working towards a combo for him to get spun around so I can cut him, slicing left, ducking right, backing off then slicing at his right side. Davies adeptly makes himself skinny and my slice finds the ground before he sizes me up once again.
C'mon then.
Right on cue, he chops down at me at a clear angle, not disguising it at all before I block it and—
I'm struck in the face from the left before Davies' foot gets planted into my chest and I'm sent tumbling down to the ground once again.
ENOUGH!
The crowd roars in approval before Davies reaches me, and I catch him off guard with a Force Push that sends him about eight to ten feet in the air before landing flat on his back.
Bad angle…and that should teach you.
I get back onto my feet and settle back into my stance as Davies picks himself off the ground and brushes himself off.
You're just going to fall back down, don't even bother.
Pointedly, I drop my blade to face the ground before Davies takes the bait and pokes out at me. I quickly turn the poke into a riposte and chop at his—
"AHHH!" I yell out as something collides with my left knee and I crumple to the ground, only for—
WHACK!
—
WHACK!
Davies pulls back from his consecutive sucker punches and smiles, allowing me the instant I need to shove him away.
That…really hurt. OW!
Gingerly, I get back onto my feet and alter my stance to protect my leg for a moment before slicing down at Davies.
Buy just a minute of time. The knee will be fine. Feels funny right now, but it'll settle itself.
Just win.
Davies spins around me and I move to catch—
"AHHH!"
My knee buckles back and in as I fall back down and grab at the knee.
AHHHH! That—
Davies moves to charge me and I bluntly shove him aside before moving to get back to my feet.
"You good?" The official steps in between Davies and I.
She thinks that I might have to quit.
"I'm fine!" I lie.
I can't move laterally. I moved left and then my knee just went on me.
The official eyes me suspiciously for just a moment before Davies chimes in "Anything I should tell Sabine? That you got a boo-boo and—"
"C'MERE!" I roar, then grab him with the Force and pull him right to me where I clothesline him and sending him careening, eventually landing roughly on his face.
MORON!
Asshole!
"Get up!" I bark out, then limp his direction as he gets to his feet. As he is getting to his feet, I take a page out of his book and catch him as he's standing up with a right hook to the jaw, sending him right back down onto the ground before I throw a Force Push away as a parting gift.
OWWW…
I let myself grab at my knee for a brief moment as Davies gathers himself and gets back onto his feet.
He's never been punched like that before in his life I bet. I actually meant that one.
That felt good.
Deliberately, I reactivate my lightsaber and move to the Form IV guard. Davies, once he's in range swipes down at me, giving me an easy block before swinging at me again.
"NO!" I yell as I block the punch with my forearm, then shove my knee into his chest before I hear the air come out of him. "Get away!"
I toss him bodily about ten feet away, then look over to the Padawans and make the universal "too little" signal, holding my left hand near my thigh and motioning down. Instantly the crowd s6tarts jeering and booing.
It's true. Too little. He's having to rough it up!
Davies apparently has gotten back to his feet and blindly charges while letting out a roar before I catch him with a quick cut to the ankle and match it with a jab. Instantly, he stumbles back and collapses onto both hands.
"Get up!" I yell at him. "UP!"
Davies complies, grimacing as he gets to his feet and I move towards him. "You—" I silence him with a hook to the face, feeling something break under my fist before he cries out in pain.
Shut up.
Snapping my wrist, I pull him up then toss him back towards the Padawans. "C'MON!" I taunt him.
I will win. And I'll beat the shit out of you to do it. If that's how you want to do this.
"GET UP!"
Davies whimpers in response, remaining slightly crumpled on his knees while clutching his face. "FINE!" I say, then grab him by the back of his robes and push him closer to the Padawans.
They'll watch him lose. And I'll drive my point home clearly.
LEAVE. SABINE. ALONE.
Davies lands face down and doesn't offer any more resistance as I limp back over to him.
Coward. Talk all that shit and you won't face me when you lose.
Roughly I yank him up by the back of his robes again, then slash his back to end the duel, causing him to cry out in agony before I drop him heavily.
The chimes ring out, and the PA begins to come over the loudspeakers while Cayle isn't even waiting for me to reach the stairs, instead running over to me.
"Easy on that knee. That was the cheapest, worst shot. What'd you feel? He kept talking didn't he?"
"Of course." I wince as Cayle throws my arm over his shoulder to help support my weight. "I kind of felt it bend in, then it went bad when I tried moving laterally. That's why I ended it so quick."
"Well you proved your point. I liked it. Council's furious by the way—"
Great.
Suddenly my other arm gets grabbed by Kanan and I'm guided towards the stairs. "Don't put weight on that leg. Let's get you some ice and an MRI. You're going to need a few days."
"I'm fine." I grimace while accepting Kanan's help as I start up the stairs, where a path is being cleared for me.
"Don't buy it." Cayle immediately contradicts me. "He needs that MRI, he can't move laterally he said."
"I can move." I counter before Kanan lets out a weary breath and I catch a look of concern from Master Dooku in the Master's box.
"C'mon, to the Med Bay."
Ow. OW. OW!
Cayle gently deposits me at my front door, where I can hear music being played lightly underneath the door. "I'll leave you here. So she doesn't get mad at me."
"Thanks. Sorry."
"Not your fault. Happy to do it. The Council will adjust your schedule. And it wouldn't shock me if Davies gets sent home. You heard Dooku."
Yeah, he deliberately took a cheap shot at my exposed leg, which injured me. Injuries happen, but cheap shots don't.
Without another word, Cayle knocks on my door for me, then waves and rushes away.
CAYLE!
Damn it…
I snap open the door then move to hobble inside as—
"Ezra! How'd—What happened?!" She demands, seeing my knee wrapped in ice.
Had to borrow some shorts from the Temple. Jeans won't cut it.
"Davies took a cheap shot. I exposed my knee and he kicked it."
"C'mere…" She ushers me inside, grabbing my hand and looping her other arm around me. "What'd you feel? How'd he kick you?"
"Dead on. Felt it bend back a little bit. Couldn't really move laterally."
OW!
"That's…did you get it looked at?" Sabine answers, sounding very concerned.
She knows something.
"Yeah, they've got doctors and stuff. What? You know something."
Sabine doesn't answer right away as she guides me to my recliner and sits me down. "I've seen people mess up their knees Ezra. I'm not a doctor, but what you described sounds like a hyperextension. Maybe even something torn. Did you get an MRI?"
"Yeah." I nod weakly as my stomach flips. "That's why I'm so late."
I wanted to be back almost an hour and a half ago.
"And?"
"Don't know yet. Came back inconclusive. Too much swelling."
Sabine hisses then closes her eyes wearily. "Ezra…I'm sorry. That sucks."
"I'll be fine." I reassure her while shifting around, sending another spasm thru my knee which causes me to wince. "How are you?"
"I'm good. You didn't even change did you?"
"Nope." I laugh, then look down at my top, which is still my Jedi attire. "I'll change in a bit."
"I got it." She immediately volunteers.
I start "Sabine—" before she rushes from the room. In response, I collapse in my chair and close my eyes.
Dammit!
Angrily I swat the arm of my recliner before Sabine reappears, looking nervous. "That's…not towards me is it?"
"No no." I dismiss the idea. "I'm just mad."
Stupid Davies. Shouldn't have let the fight go that far. Should have beaten him faster. Instead I played with my food and…now this.
"I'm sorry you lost." Sabine says mournfully as she extends one of my graphic t-shirts to me. I can't help but laugh as I pull off my vest and set it aside. "What?"
"I didn't lose." I turn and smirk at her. "Cracked his nose too, which made me feel a little better."
I only get a glimpse of Sabine's reaction before I grab my shirt and pull it over my head. When I emerge, Sabine's slightly pink and is glancing down at my shirt. "You won? Seriously? On a bad leg?"
"Yeah." I smile and chuckle.
Of course I did.
Quickly Sabine moves off the arm of the recliner, plops herself into my lap and—
Before I register it, Sabine is already kissing me gently and my eyes reflexively close.
…
"Shhh…" She whispers, still in my lap. "Still a good kisser."
She kissed me.
Again.
"Ezra."
"Hmm?" I turn back to Sabine as her face is right next to mine.
She's wearing makeup.
"You there? Earth to Planet Ezra?" She smirks while jokingly knocking on my head.
"I'm here, I'm here. Why'd you put makeup on?"
It's just us. She doesn't have to wear makeup if it's just us. Maybe she ran out to grab something.
"I had it on when we went to go eat silly." Sabine answers softly. "You noticed though. Do you like it?"
"Yeah." I cover for myself. "I like you with and without makeup. You don't have to wear it if it's just us."
Sabine, who is already smiling seems to melt a little before curling right up into my lap, leaving no room between us. "You're too sweet. And good to me. You probably gave him a punch for me, didn't you?"
"Who?" I blurt out.
Immediately Sabine laughs, which reverberates around in my chest. "Davies. I'm gonna need you to come down off Cloud Nine, Lover Boy."
"I'm here, I'm here. I'm fine Sabine."
No I'm not. I can't believe she kissed me again.
"Sure you are." She says, then pokes her head up and is smiling from ear to ear.
"Just took me by surprise is all."
That's true.
Sabine keeps on smiling, then puts her index finger on my lips before going "Shhh…" again and pulling me under once more.
She's kissing me. AGAIN.
I follow Sabine's lead, kissing her back gently before she lets out a breath thru her nose, adjusts her lips on mine, then deepens the kiss as I get a better grip on her.
…
…
…
After I don't know how long, we separate and she lays her head down on my shoulder. "You just…keep that between us. Okay? That's our secret."
"Okay."
Our secret.
Sabine smiles at my response. "You kiss like you've kissed a lot of girls. You lying to me Ezra Bridger?"
"Only a few."
"Good. A few's good. Can't have you kissing every girl in Southern California…" She whispers as she adjusts her position on my lap. "We're going to have to get you a girlfriend this semester."
"No…" I laugh and modify my grip on Sabine's waist to try and move her a little bit. "I don't really want a girlfriend."
Her—is right by my—that's gotta change—
"If you say so…" She shakes her head while looking away from me, then grabbing her phone. "You hungry? Want some actual food instead of salad and breadsticks?"