Sabine stood holding the darksaber in her hand. Kanan, Ezra and Fenn Rau all knelt in a circle around her, pledging their help.

She had felt small, overwhelmed by the tremendous responsibility she was given, but looking in the eyes of her friends, she felt strangely optimistic and empowered. Reuniting with her family and rallying other Mandalorians to join the fight against the Empire would be a harrowing task, she had no doubt about it. She had yet to confront the worst of her fears and her past mistakes, but she was committed now. Sabine had just poured out her story a moment ago, venting out years of guilt, frustration and hurt, and her friends had been nothing but supportive. She at least owed it to them to see this through as best she could.

Her insecurities overcame, her demons exorcised, she felt good, better than she had felt in years. Yet years of running and hurt cannot be cured in a single night. Lingering traces of doubt remained with Sabine even now. Combined with fatigue from lightsaber training, Sabine felt tired and vulnerable as the moment of her friends' support passed.

Kanan, sensing her inner turmoil, spoke up. 'It's been a long day. Let's all get some rest. We'll run through those saber forms again tomorrow.'

Her friends got up. Sabine lowered her arm, processing her thoughts.

Kanan put on hand on her shoulder again. 'You did good,' he said. 'I'm sorry about the goading and mocking from earlier, but it was the best way to get through to you.' He sounded unapologetic, but his tone was full of deep care.

'I know, Kanan,' Sabine replied, smiling wearily. 'I know.'

She wanted to thank him, but somehow she couldn't bring herself to say it. She was never good with handling her emotions, choosing instead to immerse herself in painting or explosives, or just be alone for a while. Now with her emotions out in the open, she felt different: out of her element, and unsure if this is what she wanted. She knew she needed to confront all the bad things from her past for what comes next, but how Kanan handled it was not the way she wanted it to come out. Maybe someday in the future she would understand his methods, but now all she felt was uncertainty and discomfort.

Sensing she needed time and space to digest it all, Kanan patted her shoulder and went back to his tent. Fenn Rau, after casting one long meaningful look at her, also retired to his. Ezra nodded and smiled half-heartedly before leaving her to her thoughts. Alone and exhausted, Sabine wandered aimlessly, her heart a knot of jumbled emotions.

She found herself back at the spot where she had sulked earlier in the afternoon, after Kanan had lectured her about discipline. Sitting on the side of a coral outcrop, she heaved a big sigh. The day had been full of ups and downs. Sabine had been training with Ezra since morning, and with the new vambraces Fenn Rau had given her, she'd beaten Ezra during the next sparring session and gotten a thorough scolding from Kanan, which led to a heated discussion with Ezra. Then she spent the rest of the afternoon realizing her mistakes and putting away her stubborn pride. After she returned, Kanan had taken it upon himself to train her with the darksaber and help her come to terms with her past, which left her here. Still reeling from the moment, and from her friends' support as well as memories of loss and betrayal brought back by her outburst, she struggled to contain her emotions. Tears welled in her eyes.

'Hey,' a voice behind her called out.

Sabine registered the kind undertone of her crewmate's voice. She'd never heard Ezra speak as gently as he did now. She blinked away her tears, and was at first tempted to wave him off, but then thought better of it. She'd lashed out and let out her worries to him earlier, and she didn't want to do that again.

'Hey, Ezra,' she replied, turning to face him.

'You okay?' he asked tentatively.

'Never better,' she remarked. She meant for it to sound sarcastic, but it came out weary and half-hearted.

'You…want some company?' Ezra asked politely.

Her first thought was to shun him. She was not some angsty teenager who needed a person to share her troubles, yet her session with Kanan had shown her that it's okay to let out the darkness once in a while. Ezra had always been a close friend, and after all they'd been through: the bonding, the missions, and the training the past few days, she'd learned to trust and respect his instincts. He had seen Sabine at her most vulnerable and the truth of her past, and he had not judged her at all. He was as good a sympathetic ear for her as one could get.

'Whatever, Ezra…sure,' she found herself saying.

Ezra approached, joining to sit next to her. Sabine shifted to make room for him. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Sabine stared into the darkness. The night was silent and still. Except for light coming from Chopper Base afar, the landscape was dark and motionless. Even the spiders that roamed the wilderness were at the moment nowhere to be found. All was peaceful and quiet.

It was Ezra who spoke first. 'You know, back when I was on my own, I used to go up to my tower whenever things look down. I'd look out the balcony and see the plains and the city, to try to figure things out on my own. Being out there, surrounded by everything, I just felt…clearer. Here on Atollon, it's a bit different, but still…I'd feel the same.'

Sabine took her time responding. Deciding to jump straight at the issue, she said, 'I'm sorry, Ezra.'

'For what?'

'About earlier,' she replied. 'For shutting you out when you were just being nice. For being a jerk when you…when you don't even have a family to go back to.' She lowered her voice.

'It's okay, Sabine,' Ezra smiled. 'You're not the only one who acted different when things get rough. The last few months…well, I'd gotten myself worked up after Malachor and been a jerk to everyone. You handled it much better than I did.' He paused for a while, then added, 'Did you blame me?'

'Well…not really. We're just glad you are yourself again.'

'Then I don't blame you either.'

The two shared an easy smile before looking away. Sabine was glad she hadn't messed up their friendship. A moment of comfortable silence passed between them.

'Kanan means well, you know,' Ezra said suddenly. 'I know what it's like back there, believe me.' He patted the back of his neck, then continued, 'When we were getting Tseebo away from the Empire, Kanan took me to that abandoned base with those nasty creatures, remember? You were there before we left. I was so hurt by what Tseebo said and so afraid of learning the truth that I refused to forgive him. On the base, Kanan asked me to connect with the creatures, but because of all those fears in my mind, I just couldn't do it. Kanan had to let me go out there alone, so I'm forced to admit all those to myself in order to connect to them and survive.'

Sabine chuckled weakly. 'Well, that sounds fun.'

Ezra snorted. 'Yeah, almost got chomped up. But that's what I've been trying to tell you.' His tone turned serious. 'Kanan can be a difficult teacher, but he cares a lot, and knows what to do to best help us. You'll do fine, and together, we'll figure it out.'

Sabine gave him a warm look. 'Thank you, Ezra. I appreciate it.'

'Anytime, Sabine.' She could tell he meant it.

'Except…after you came back from the abandoned base, I gave you a present, remember? So, if you're saying your experience is like mine…' She stood to face him, crossing her arms. 'Do you have something for me now?'

Ezra was taken aback. Here she stood in front of him, eyes twinkling, a teasing smile across her face. He knew she was just messing with him, but he didn't want to just blow it off. After all, the holodisk she gave him did mean a lot. It was a genuine gift, a piece of his past brought to him at a time of hurt and distress.

He thought for a moment, then said, 'Only my upmost and undivided loyalty.' He stood, and doing his best imitation of the protector Fenn Rau, he remarked, 'For what it's worth, I would follow you.'

He started to kneel, but Sabine elbowed him playfully.

'You are ridiculous, Ezra Bridger,' she laughed.

'Hey, maybe now that you started training with Kanan, you might actually be a challenge.'

'Yeah, you better worry, Jedi. Next time, you're going down.'

'Can't wait for that.'

They smiled, eventually sitting back down. For long, Sabine and Ezra sat in silence, watching the skies and enjoying each other's company before returning to camp together. Neither of them noticed the subtle shifts of the mass of corals they had just sat on, nor the benevolent face watching the two of them go with a smile, content that they've sorted out their problems.

Sabine was feeling utterly relaxed as they entered camp. She and Ezra have connected in ways they haven't before just now, and going back to their respective tents now seemed a little unfulfilling. She briefly considered inviting Ezra in for the night. She could indulge herself for once and satisfy her urges, and Ezra was as good as anyone, given how he felt about her. But after a while, she decided against it. Doing so would change everything between them, and Sabine knew that Ezra would want a follow-up and some explanation, and she didn't want to play with his emotions. He definitely deserved a partner who loved him deeply and understood what he needed. Sabine wasn't sure if she could be that person for him yet.

Maybe someday, Sabine thought. And so it was that Sabine gave her friend another light jab in the shoulder and told him good night. Lying down on her tent, Sabine fell into a deep slumber, resting better than she could remember in years.

...

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Author's note: Having read so many Sabine/Ezra fanfiction over the years, I've decided to try my hand at one. As a first attempt at portraying these two characters, the dialogue was the most difficult part to get right. I wanted it to stay true to their dynamic and interactions in the show, especially at this stage of the story, where I think their bond takes on a whole new dimension, as Sabine and Ezra were both cured of their past wounds by Kanan. This brings them together more strongly, and I thought Ezra would like to share his experience with her, which is how this story came to be. There is a hint of romance in it, but the story is mainly focused on them finding their way and figuring things out.

I also decided not to have Sabine say thank you to Kanan yet, so that the ending scene in 'Legacy of Mandalore', when Sabine does finally thank him and give him a hug, carries more weight. It is common not to acknowledge tough love until later, when things turn out for the better and we recognize how much it has helped. One of the things I absolutely loved about Rebels is its ability to tackle real-life struggles and recast it in a Star Wars setting, giving it a fresh new look but also seamlessly remaining true what makes Star Wars special. Hopefully you will find this story fits nicely into the show.