Hello, hello, hello! If you're wondering, this is the first official Super Bomb! :D Yay! Finally am I right? So on our list today is The Light in the Dark, To Mend the Bond and The Lost Chapters. That may sound small, but I've been really busy and working hard to make these chapters. Also I've had a ton of writer's block, so that's not helping. XD But I promise the next Super Bomb will update the other stories soon! :D

Also, I have some bad news.

I will no longer be doing Q/A's and Reactions-

Inner Fangirl: "WHAT?!" *Grabs a pitch fork and torch*

Whoa, whoa! Okay, let me explain! I just don't have the internet capacity or accessibility to do them anymore, but please know that I really do care about all of you! Each review makes me a thousand times happier, and even if I'm no longer talking back and forth to you guys, I want you to know that I do care. So for those who don't read that section, that's fine, a quicker trip to the actual story for you, but for those who do, I'm not ignoring you or anyone else. I really do care! :D

Anyways, I'll stop holding you up. Get to the chapter already! It's a good one. ;D

Zeb's POV

"'Kay Zeb, you're done for the day," my boss spoke with his gruff voice.

I smiled, pulling off my protective apron and rubber gloves. "Thanks Boss," I said as I washed my hands thoroughly. "The butchery sure did good today, huh?"

"Sure did Zeb," he smirked. "If we keep getting days like this, you might actually get that raise you've been begging for."

My eyes widened. "Really?!"

He bellowed in laughter, stating "Maybe Zeb. I said maybe."

I grinned mischievously, my shoulders raising in a half-hearted shrug. "I'll take that as a yes," I chuckled.

The large man smiled warmly, before his expression became one of curiosity as he stared out the glass window. "What is it?" I asked as I turned around and followed his gaze.

He grumbled for a moment, pointing to a cloaked figure standing across the street who was casually leaning against an alley wall. "That's a Spirit," the boss muttered.

I perked up slightly. "H-How do you know?" I quizzed.

He rolled his eyes lazily and folded his arms. "They come around every once and a while and buy food… but… they usually only drop by in night hours," he pondered aloud. Stroking his mess of a beard, he said "I wonder what's brought them 'ere at this time."

I frowned slightly as I tried to identify the figure. Ezra had been teaching me for the past few days everything about the Spirits. Ranks. Tactics. Signals. Everything an average Spectre was required to know by week one. He had explained to me their situation and financial crisis, and with each new piece of information my opinion of the Spirits and the police were changing dramatically. I was beginning to learn more about life on the streets, about poverty, about the ongoing injustice between the poor and the wealthy. It was amazing how blind I had been to the whole situation before, and how thousands of people were still blind to the truth.

Glancing up and down the figure, there didn't seem to be anything special about this Spectre. His brown cloak signified a field rank, and I couldn't see any symbol on their shoulder that showed a specific faction. But in the corner of my eye, I saw that their right arm was being cradled towards their chest, supported by some old cloth.

I frowned. "I'd better get goin'," I mumbled as I headed for the door.

"A'right," Boss replied. "I'll see ya tomorrow Zeb."

I nodded, but I wasn't really paying him much mind. My gaze was still focused on the Spectre, and when I exited the small butchery, it seemed their gaze was locked on me too. I continued to walk on for a little further until I was out of view of any witnesses, before trying to remember some of the signals Ezra had taught me. I fumbled for a second to gain my dignity, until pounding my fist against my chest twice, all the while hoping I had done the one meaning 'State rank'.

The Spectre just stood leaning casually against the wall, until tapping his head twice and finishing with a small, two fingered salute.

I thought deeply for a moment. What did that one mean?

I ran through the list that Ezra had strictly made me memorise, trying to match any faction to the signal, but with no avail.

Until suddenly, I remembered what Ezra had told me on the first day…

"Come on Zeb. You need to know this stuff or you'll never get the signals," Ezra groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Two stomps of the left foot mean the Wolf Pack faction, while the stomp and hand clap means the Fox Crew."

I rolled my eyes. "How'm I supposed to remember all this?" I exclaimed.

Ezra sighed in frustration, scrubbing at his eyes with clenched fists rapidly. After a moment, he went and collapsed onto his bed in an exhausted heap. "Maybe this won't work after all," he muttered into his pillow.

My expression softened, and a tense silence descended upon us. "I'm really trying Kid," I murmured as I bowed my head.

Ezra glanced up, his blue eyes glistening in the sunlight. He winced slightly, before replying "I know, Zeb… I know."

Sighing, I glanced up and suggested "Let's try this again."

The boy hesitated, before nodding and sitting up again. I pounded my fist twice against my chest, and Ezra interlocked his thumbs and spread his fingers like a fan. "Vulture Squad," I said.

He nodded, a spark igniting in his eyes again. "Okay, now this one."

He stomped his foot twice, but made sure it was soft so not to alert Kanan who was downstairs. "Wolf Pack," I said.

He smiled. "Good. Now this," he said as he tapped his head once with his index finger and then shot a casual two fingered salute.

My eyes widened, and I stated "That's not a faction."

He nodded sharply and explained "It means Phantom. One tap on the head means first in command, while the salute means I'm of the highest rank, meaning I'm the leader of the highest rank. AKA, Phantom."

"Oh, I got it."

He smiled, adding "The leader of a faction would tap their head once and then do their faction symbol. But someone like Ghoul on the other hand would tap their head twice and salute, showing they're second of the highest rank…"

I face palmed myself, surprised how I could forget such a simple signal. When I glanced up again, the figure, the Ghoul, was gone. I scanned the alley and surrounding buildings curiously, wondering where the male had disappeared to. And not a minute later, a voice from behind spoke "Hey Hotshot."

I jumped slightly, twisting around to be faced with the cocky second in command. He had pulled his hood down, allowing his wavy brown hair to fall down his tanned face. He smirked lightly, but his eyes were slightly red and he held his jaw in such a way that made me feel suspicious. "Why're you here Max?" I asked curiously.

His expression became serious, and he explained "I must see Phantom. It's urgent."

"What's goin' on?" I quizzed.

His lips drew into a thin line, and he replied "I can explain on the way. I just need to talk to him."

I hesitated, glancing down at my watch before murmuring "School doesn't let out for another 20 minutes. But… I could take you back to the Ghost to wait for him."

"The what now?" Max quizzed.

"It's just my house," I answered while shaking my head. "But you can't come with me lookin' like a criminal. That's rather obvious."

"Ah, I can solve that," he smiled as he unclipped his cloak and swung it off triumphantly. Underneath he wore a black, leather jacket that was slightly too big for his malnourished figure and a grey, what used to be white, shirt. His pants were a worn shade of black, and his brown, heavy duty boots had obviously seen better days. I scoffed lightly. "You still look like a street rat."

He smirked. "These are my good clothes mate," he stated sarcastically.

I smiled at that, but my gaze quickly flickered towards the old cloth that pinned his arm against his chest. "What happened to your arm?" I probed.

Darkness shrouded his expression, and his eyes seemed to go vacant. "I… It's a long story. I'll tell you on the way," he finally answered as he gestured for me to follow him.

With his good arm, he tried to fold his cloak with great difficulty, until I snatched it from his grasp and folded it for him. He nodded in appreciation, stuffing the compressed garment into his jacket and zipping up. Now anyone would just assume him an orphan, or at the most a scruffy commoner, instead of a dangerous Spirit.

We began walking, and I took the lead slightly to direct him towards my motorbike, which I always parked a few streets over in a safer part of town. There wasn't that many people along this street, but I could tell Max was uncomfortable being on the light side of town in general. His fingers twitched, and he pressed his good arm into his waist, as if providing a shield from the world. It reminded me slightly of Ezra's behaviour when he first came to us. "So, care to explain?" I urged.

Max sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Did you hear all the sirens? About half an hour ago?"

I nodded. "Yeah, what was that about?"

"Well," Max started drearily. "We were doing a raid on a truck of groceries and-"

"You hijacked a transport?!" I exclaimed in shock.

"Shh!" the male hissed, punching me harshly in the shoulder. "You tryin' ta get me caught?!"

"Sorry, sorry. I'm still getting used to all of… this," I sighed as we continued walking.

Max shook his head, his matted hair swaying as he did. "Hotshot, we had no other choice," he explained solemnly. "If there was another way, we would have done it. But it was three days since the Spirit's last ate and we… w-we…" He trailed off, his turquoise orbs glazing over. He didn't stop walking, but I could see his hand clamp onto his stomach tightly. After a tense silence, he murmured with a haunted tone "We… lost a few…"

My expression softened, and I placed my hand on his shoulder reassuringly. "I'm sorry to hear that," I said.

He didn't seem to notice my touch, his vacant gaze focused on up ahead. It was as if his conscience had checked out entirely. "I-I tried… but… I wasn't quick enough…" he whispered, his voice faint and strained.

Clenching his eyes shut and inhaling sharply, the young adult released a long sigh. He shrugged my hand away, muttering "But nothing can change that now…"

I felt a deep line of sympathy for the Ghoul as he trudged along. Ezra had retold the many times he and Max had lost close friends due to hunger, sickness, or weather. Each story was different, but all had a familiar trait: Death still had the same impact to them, no matter how many deaths they witnessed, no matter how many lives were lost. Sure, they were desensitised to violence and abuse, but death, was something that could not be taken lightly. Even from street orphans.

I kept my pace with Max as we continued our short journey. "So, as you were saying," I spoke.

Max's brows furrowed as he resumed "So we were getting the supplies when we were suddenly ambushed by the police. We had to drop a third of the crates and run, sadly. Byte and Hawk, the leaders of two of the factions, were the ones who ran with me. But we had to split up, and I ran into your little cop friend. What was his name again? Janus?"

"Jarrus," I corrected.

He snapped his fingers, replying "Yeah, that's the one. Well he and his partner caught me, and… let's just say his friend was a lot rougher with me then your foster dad."

The pieces seemed to click together, and I hissed through my teeth "Did Kallus break your arm?!"

"Dislocated my shoulder," he replied firmly. "There's a difference."

"My god! Did you go to the hospital?" I asked with concern.

Max scoffed, waving me away dismissively and snarking "Not the brightest one, are you? Did you forget I'm an orphan? The hospital would either refuse to help me or take me back to the orphanage, so I'll take my chances with a home remedy thanks."

"But you have no idea how to fix a dislocated shoulder!" I protested.

"Sure I do," he replied confidently. "I just got Byte to push it back into place, and then I don't use it for about a week or two to allow it to heal. I've seen it all the time."

I frowned. "That's dangerous though. What if something went, or goes wrong?"

"It won't… we can't afford it to," he muttered. "Besides, my mother was a doctor, so she taught me all that kind of stuff."

"Mother?" I quizzed.

Max nodded, seeming quite casual talking about his former life, unlike Ezra, who was completely reclusive. "She was good and all. Nice, sweet, everything you could probably ask in a mother," he described.

"What happened then?" I pried.

Max shrugged, replying "My pa booked it when I was 4 and my mother hooked up with a teacher when I was 7."

"Was he abusive or something?" I asked.

"Naw, he was nice too," Max continued with a relaxed attitude. "He pretty much gave me whatever I wanted, and he made my Mum happy too, I guess."

My brows furrowed, and I quizzed "Then what was the problem?"

"Well," he started, a piece of his calm attitude peeling away. "The problem was me."

I shot him a puzzled look, and he continued "Well, I wasn't really needed anymore. They seemed pretty happy with just them two. I mean, they did everything together. They went to the movies, went to carnivals, they'd sit up late at night and just talk to each other. Even when I was in the room I was just… invisible."

My expression softened slightly, and he said nonchalantly "But it was okay. He made her happy, so I guess that's what really mattered. I figured whenever she wasn't happy she would get someone new in her life, and the old person would just leave abruptly. Like, my father obviously couldn't make her happy, so she moved onto me and Dad left. I kept her company for a few years, then she moved on to him… and then it was my turn to leave."

"…You ran away," I stated gently.

Max glanced at me, his turquoise eyes shadowed and unreadable. "Yeah," he murmured hesitantly. "I caught a bus and hitchhiked my way around the country, until finally ending up in Lothal."

"Did they look for you?"

Max shrugged. "If they did I didn't know about it. They were probably happier anyways. One less mouth to feed, one less child to entertain… one less problem to manage…"

I frowned, saying "Hey, don't say stuff like that. I'm sure they cared about you heaps."

"Hotshot, let me tell you something," he started sternly as we turned the corner. "Not everything in this world has a happy ending. Not every person has a good side. Not all parents care. Not all love is real. Not all police are fair. Sometimes life throws you a horrible hand of cards, and you can't do anything about it. You just have to deal with it."

"That's not what I was raised with," I grumbled.

"That's a shame then," Max replied bluntly. "Because it's the truth."

I grasped onto his good shoulder and twisted him around, saying "I learnt that there is always hope. Even if that does you no good, you still have the hope you possess."

He opened his mouth to retort when I cut him off "I know what it's like to have nothing, Max. I know what it feels like to not belong any more…" Taking a deep breath, I released my grip on his shoulder and finished "But we can still hope, that one day, things will be better."

Max seemed to be at a standstill, his expression as blank as slate and his eyes layered with a hazy fog. He stayed silent for a long time, his intense stare burning into my soul as I exchanged a firm gaze in return. Finally, he placed his hand on my shoulder and give it a harsh squeeze, saying "I see why Ezra didn't want to leave when he was first placed with you and your family." A faint ghost of a smile slithered onto his lips, and he added "You're just like him. Always hoping… Always believing that a better future is around the corner."

His grip released, and he slowly turned and continued walking, his pace a gentle stroll. "The world needs more people like you," he murmured softly, probably not expecting me to hear it as I walked by his side.

I smiled inwardly, but decided not to speak any further. A comfortable silence settled on the two of us, and for once, I didn't feel out of place when talking to the young man. I didn't feel the need to understand, the need to know what I had been sheltered from in the years I lived in Lothal, the feeling of being inferior to a leader with much more experience than I. I just felt like I was walking beside a friend, and to a stretch, a brother. We were equals, and I truly believed he thought we were too.

We finally made it to my motorcycle, and I grabbed the two helmets and threw one to him. "Come on, I'll take ya to our house until Ezra comes back," I said while slipping the sleek, black helmet over my head and starting the engine with a roar. Max wasn't far behind, and he obviously needed no instructions as he expertly vaulted onto the back seat and clipped the heel of his boots into the small handles. He glanced at me with his newly returned confident swagger, the reflective visor hiding what I assumed were bright, shining eyes. I blinked once, completely shocked.

"You surprised Hotshot?" he snickered. "Didn't think I knew about motorbikes, eh?"

"Uh, well… maybe," I replied while rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly. "Ezra was the last guest I had on my ride, and he was… um…"

Max folded his arms in not disapproval, but amusement. "I can only imagine," he said with a chuckle. "The kid knows his cars, I'll give him that. Been in all different types, especially police cars. But I, on the other hand, had hitchhiked the country for about… we'll say 4 months. So I know my vehicles, and I'll admit, you have one sweet bike."

I smiled, patting its leather seating with pride and saying "Yep. Fully paid off, with a little help from Kanan and Hera of course, and completely custom. Won't find another like her."

"True. And I like the modified handle bars, by the way," he commented. "But if you want better fuel efficiency, I recommend taking the metal brace from the passenger slot and replacing it with a lighter material, you get me?"

"Hm, that's a good idea," I nodded thoughtfully, hopping onto the bike and revving the engine for a moment. "So, you uh, you were travelling for 4 months?" I asked curiously while heading off at a reasonably steady speed.

"Yeah," Max replied. "I've hitchhiked cars, gypsy wagons, tractors, motorbikes, even a carnival once."

"How did that work?" I quizzed.

"Simple. As long I didn't get eaten from any of the animals in the pens, I was allowed to sleep on the leftover hay," he laughed as we continued our trip.

"That must have been… interesting."

Max scoffed lightly. "Yeah. I mean, not to say you didn't get your snobs and brats ratting you out to the police, but it sure did expose me to the real world."

I decided to take the backstreets as a shortcut to get to the suburbs, asking Max "But weren't you scared? I mean, ya left everything!"

"Pfft, of course I was! No denying that," he replied calmly. "Trust me, I peed myself once or twice during my first week, but you just adapt in time."

I chuckled, asking curiously "Did you actually?"

"Ha! Never said I was proud about it Hotshot!" Max called with a warm, energetic tone.

I smirked under my helmet, before revving the engine and zooming down the now empty street. Hera would probably scowl at me for such juvenile behaviour, and Kanan would probably shake his head in disapproval, start to write me a ticket, then bail because he knew he'd end up paying it anyway.

After a few more turns and a relatively short journey, we began to slow as we approached the Ghost. But something was horribly wrong. My eyes widened, and Max's hand dug into my shoulder fiercely. The sight made both of us freeze.

It was Kanan's police car, sitting in the drive way of the Ghost, seeming out of place next to the suburban house.

I could feel Max instinctively tense at the sight, and he hissed "I thought you said it was safe here!"

"He's supposed to be at work till 5! I-I don't know what's going on," I muttered in shock.

Never the less, I continued on and slowly rode up towards the house, slipping in next to Kanan's car. Max didn't move. He seemed plastered to his seat. Hesitantly, I lifted the helmet from my head and watched the front porch with an intent gaze. If Kanan were to come out right now he'd certainly question who Max was, and I could tell the male was ready to bolt if necessary. But there was also no doubt in my mind that he'd be out of sight in the blink of an eye if given the chance.

Finally, after waiting for about a minute or so, I murmured "I think it's safe."

"How're you sure?" Max whispered, his face still concealed by the helmet.

Sliding off the seat and pulling the keys out of the ignition, I replied softly "I don't."

I couldn't quite tell if that encouraged, or discouraged him, but he still wound up following me towards the front door, a few steps behind and almost pressed against the wall, if not for his dislocated shoulder. His footsteps were light, and each stride was slow and deliberate as I jabbed the key as quietly as possible into the front door. The lock clicked, and I pushed the door open with a slight creak. The sunlight poured into the hallway, shining on the staircase which was our new target. But, I also heard voices up ahead in the kitchen. One I identified as Kanan, and the other I only assumed was his work partner Kallus.

"Max," I whispered.

He didn't murmur a word, but I felt his arm brush against mine as he stepped forward into the doorway. "Go up the stairs, then in ta the room with 'stay out' on it," I instructed, pushing him forward as I slipped into the hallway. He began to creep towards the staircase, taking care not to alert the two policemen conversing in just the other room. But Max continued on silently, and the others didn't seem to notice our presence.

I sighed in relief. We were in the clear.

Until, just as fate would have it, a gust of wind flooded in and caused the door to slam shut. I winced. Max froze. The talking abruptly finished. For one breath-taking moment, nothing happened. Even the gentle sound of Max's breathing had stopped. And then, footsteps. Coming from the kitchen. "Ezra? Is that you?" Kanan's voice called.

Everything seemed to go in fast forward, my heart rate accelerating rapidly and my eyes wide and searching for a solution. But Max was already on it. And as I'd predicted, he was gone in a millisecond, pouncing up the stairs and disappearing from view just as Kanan's figure started walking down the hall. "Oh, it's just you Zeb," Kanan sighed, his muscles relaxing. "Sorry. I didn't hear you pull up, so I just assumed-"

"N-No, no, it's all good," I stuttered as I faked a smile. "Wha-a-a-a-at's up?"

Kanan shot me a puzzled look, obviously realising my abnormal behaviour, but deciding not to question. "Fine. Just had to get Kallus some ice and do some brainstorming for a while," he replied nonchalantly.

"Oh," I spoke. "Why's that?"

"Well we got into a battle today with the Spirits, and Kallus got injured when we tried to apprehend one of them," Kanan explained as he turned around and headed back down the hall. I followed after him, both out of curiosity and the fact that an icepack could help with Max's own injury.

"Were you hurt?" I asked with concern.

"No, I'm fine. I honestly thought the Spirit we tried to catch would attack me but... I don't know. He just… froze," Kanan murmured, his eyes glazing over. "But, I saw his face for the slightest moment… and those eyes… they just watched me. But he wasn't angry, or afraid. He looked…" Kanan trailed off for a moment.

"Looked like what?" I pried.

Kanan hesitated, before finishing softly "He looked… shocked, and concerned, but also gentle… like he wanted me to know that he didn't want to fight. That he didn't want to hurt me."

I frowned slightly, knowing for myself that Max did in fact fit most of Kanan's description, but little did he know the richer side of the young male. This 17 year old that seemed to hold the worries of the world on his shoulders still manage to smirk, snark, and be unbelievably open to all those who were close to him. The experiences, the skills, the emotions that layered the Spirit Leader was incredible, and it took much more than a first glance to find.

"Maybe that was what he was doin'," I suggested.

Kanan glanced over his shoulder and arched a brow curiously, and I continued sheepishly "Well, whoever he is, he's still a person, right? Maybe… maybe that's what he's tryin' to tell you… Maybe he's trin' ta remind you that he still has morals, and feelings, and a heart…"

My voice faded when I realised Kanan had stopped walking, and his wide eyes were staring at me in awe. I turned my body to face my guardian more directly, and I could feel the sweat forming under his intense gaze. "W-What?" I stuttered nervously, tugging at the collar of my shirt.

"You were never interested in Spirit and police drama, let alone supporting the Spirits," he pointed out gently. "What's the sudden change of heart?"

I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly, saying "W-Well, I'm not supporting them, necessarily… just, tryin' to see things from their point of view. You know how, you uh, you always taught us to know the full story before making judgements, right?"

He nodded. "Well, I'm tryin' ta think like they do," I continued with more confidence. "I'm being… neutral in all of this."

Kanan cocked his head slightly. "But why are you suddenly interested?" he quizzed.

"Well… uh… b-because the kid, that's right!" I fibbed on the spot. "I mean, the kid was a street rat right? And he looks up to the Spirits, so there's obviously something they're doing that appeals to orphans and homeless. So I'm just curious to understand what, that's all."

Kanan seemed genuinely surprised at my answer. He stepped forward and patted my shoulder warmly, saying "Looks like you did pick up a thing or two about fair judgement over time." He smirked, adding slyly "Probably been around Hera too much."

I grinned, silently relieved as he gently led me into the kitchen. Once we stepped through the door, I saw a man sitting at the table, an icepack pressed to his chin. His amber eyes glanced up at me with little interest, and the feeling was neutral. "Kallus," I greeted sourly as I remembered what he'd done to Max.

"Zeb," the man murmured, before turning his attention back to the computer in front of him.

Though all of our family had been acquainted with Kanan's new work partner, the male held himself with such a sense of pride and selfishness that everyone immediately disliked him. Hera had forced a smile when meeting him the first time, I had stayed in the background, Sabine had reluctantly, but politely, shook his hand, and Ezra. Gee, that was interesting. I think the fact alone that he was a policeman had almost set him off, but when Kallus openly gloated about the time he'd captured a Spirit Ezra lost it completely. Kanan had to physically restrain the teen from lashing out, which in retrospect, was a horrible idea. After a punch to Kanan's gut, a flurry of motion, and Ezra being held captive in my arms, the boy was given a fierce talking to from Hera about his behaviour and actions.

Looking at it now, I really should have let Ezra give Kallus a taste of his own medicine.

But, turning to Kanan, I instead asked "What happened to 'im?"

"Oh, he got hit by the Spirit," Kanan explained nonchalantly. "Which he really did deserve."

"Hey!" Kallus protested. "That brat pulled a knife on me! How exactly am I in the wrong?"

Kanan seemed to speak the very words I were thinking. "I don't know, maybe if you hadn't provoked him and, well, broken his arm he wouldn't have attacked you!" Kanan barked, suddenly aggravated.

"He attacked me first!" Kallus argued.

"Oh shut it Kallus!" Kanan snapped. "You had no right to do that to him, and you know it."

"But he was a Spiri-"

"I don't care if he was a Spirit, Kallus," Kanan growled. "You still injured him, and when an orphan is injured on the streets, they never last long."

Kallus scoffed. "Good," he muttered.

I could see a fire flare within Kanan's teal eyes, an emotion I had never seen portrayed by the man surfacing. We didn't know much about Kanan's childhood. Just that he was dropped off at an orphanage and ran away multiple times before finally being adopted by a woman named Depa. He never spoke of his past. He never spoke of his time in the orphanage. He never talked about the incident with Depa. They were subjects forbidden, better left buried.

But something Kallus said had sparked Kanan's dark memories. I could see the man mentally warring over whether to argue further or restrain himself. And in the end, his better half won. "What's done is done," Kanan muttered, staring at the floor furiously with his arms crossed heavily over his chest. "The sooner this investigation is over the sooner we don't have to work together."

"Agreed," Kallus spat, choosing to be oblivious to Kanan's frustrated attitude.

Feeling the tension between the two, I instead walked over towards the fridge to get an icepack for Max. I wasn't sure if it would help, but maybe it could sooth the pain slightly. As I reached into the freezer and grabbed a spare pack, Kallus asked "So you're sure about this Jarrus? You really believe there's a second leader?"

I froze in place, my eyes widening. I was so glad my back was turned to the two right now, because my expression was one of pure shock.

"Well, I think it's possible," Kanan elaborated. "Surely it would be too hard for the Phantom to manage all of his Spirits, and the fact that he's only in the biggest raids makes me think he has others under him that take care of the smaller jobs."

"So, like a co-leader?" Kallus suggested as he rocked back on his seat.

Hesitantly, I closed the freezer door and inched my way against the wall to get a better view. Kanan took a seat next to Kallus and pulled the computer closer, typing in something and explaining "Here. So this is today's raid, right?"

A security recording of the Spirits leaping into the abandoned street played as they broke into a grocery truck. "Listen carefully," Kanan said as he turned up the volume.

And just as one of the Spirits, and more specifically to my eye Max, jumped up onto the edge of the platform, his faint voice yelled "Quickly! Vulture Squad on light-weight boxes while Wolf Pack takes the crates!"

Kallus seemed confused. "Vulture Squad? Wolf Pack?"

"Don't you get it? They're separate groups," Kanan continued. "These groups all work under the Spirits, like uh, like our police categories. You know how some of us are on patrol while others work on investigations, they must have sections like that."

"And hey, check it," Kallus murmured as he paused the video and zoomed in. "There's different marks on their cloaks. A paw print. A vulture head."

"And the guy giving the orders doesn't have one, see," Kanan added. "He must be the co-leader or something."

"Isn't that the one we got though?" Kallus asked.

Kanan inspected the recording further, before humming in agreement. "Is seems so."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! So you're telling me we had the Spirit co-leader in our hands, and we lost him?!" Kallus exclaimed. "Damnit Jarrus! If you weren't so soft we could have gotten that raise already!"

Kanan rolled his eyes, saying "If we can find more evidence to support this claim, then we'll get our share. We just need proof."

Kallus stretched his legs and arms out, replying with a groan "Then let's start digging already. The sooner we get this report done, the sooner we get paid."

With that, I decided it was best to leave the two to their business. With the icepack in hand I made my way to my room and stepped inside. Max was waiting patiently on the side of Ezra's bed, his eyes downcast and vacant. He snapped up though when I closed the door, and he smiled ever so lightly. "Took you long enough," he chuckled, being sure to keep his voice to a minimum.

"Yeah… um… I've got some bad news Max," I replied with a serious tone.

Concern crept into his aquamarine eyes. "What?"

I scratched the back of my head and explained "I was listening to Kanan and Kallus and… they're twigging on about you."

Max's eyes went wide, and his posture froze up. After a silent moment, he pried softly "Anything else? Our location? My identity?... The Phantom's identity?"

I shook my head rapidly. "No. Only that they're starting to suspect a Spirt co-leader," I replied.

Max sighed in relief, his muscles relaxing. "Okay, well… not the best thing that could happen right now, but I guess I can handle that. As long as they don't catch on about anything else, we should be fine," he murmured while running a hand through his scruffy hair.

I nodded in understand, before asking "So, what do you need to see Ezra for?"

"Oh…" Max trailed off, tapping his hand against his knee as he shifted his gaze to his scruffy boots. "Financial stuff… our… our land lord wants more money, and… I-I have no idea what to do about it…" His voice hitched near the end, and he looked completely and utterly exhausted.

It was silent for a long moment. I knew I shouldn't get involved. Their business was their business.

But I just couldn't stop myself.

"How much?" I asked hesitantly.

Max glanced up at me with hollow eyes, murmuring "We have enough for the original price, but, he wants an extra 200 bucks by tomorrow. I… I'm completely stumped…"

I inhaled sharply and straightened my back. Twisting on my heel, I marched over towards my cupboard and tugged the bottom draw open. There, I rummaged through layers of old and worn clothing, before my hand suddenly brushed against a metal case. Max stared at me curiously as I dragged the tin box from its tomb of pants and shirts, the words 'SAVINGS FOR AUSTRALIA' written on the top in faded ink. I punched in the combination and the lock clicked open, raising the lid along its rusty hinges.

"What's that?" Max asked curiously as he stood up to get a better view.

I took a deep breath, my eyes sliding shut. "If you manage to pay off this one, you'll find a way to pay off the future ones?" I inquired gently.

"Well, yea. I'll figure out a new plan to gather enough money for the next month, but there's not enough time to get 200 today," Max replied. "Why?"

I sighed deeply, pulling the roll of notes from its box and offering it out to the young male. "Here," I spoke, my voice a mere whisper. "$210."

His eyes widened at the sight, and he immediately shook his hand wildly and took a step backward. "No, no, no. That's way too much Zeb, I-I couldn't-"

"Max, take it," I ordered, stepping forward and trying to give it to him. "It'll pay for the rent and take the pressure off you and the kid."

"Zeb, no," Max objected. "W-We'll never be able to pay you back, and Ezra would never forgive me-"

"Max," I snapped. The boy shut up for a moment, his eyes still wide and his muscles tense. My expression softened, and I placed one hand on his shoulder and held the money up with the other. "I want you to take it. You don't have to pay me back. Okay?"

Max didn't respond, his eyes flickering from the cash and me repeatedly. "Are you sure?" he asked hesitantly.

"Yes, now take it already," I smiled.

Max sighed in defeat, reluctantly pulling the notes from my grasp and examining it in the light. I could see a vibrant light flood back into his cold eyes as he cradled the roll in his palm, staring at it as if were pure gold. Finally, after a minute or two, Max tucked the money safely in his jacket. He glanced at me with warm, gentle eyes, a weak smile lacing his lips. "Thank you, Zeb," he spoke. "The Spirits will appreciate this…" He hesitated, before adding "I, appreciate this greatly."

I nodded, and he returned the gesture gratefully. "We won't forget this," he smiled. "I'll make sure everyone knows it was you."

I smiled and glanced down at my watch. "Oh," I said, surprised. "Ezra will probably be home soon. Do you still wanna stay?"

Max shrugged. "It'll have to be a short visit," he smirked. "I'd rather not get smashed around by Sir Mutton-chops down there for the second time today."

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea," I chuckled, though I felt a hint of empathy for the injured teen. Then I remembered the icepack, and I quickly grabbed it and handed it to Max. "Here. Maybe this'll help."

Max took it willingly, slipping it into his makeshift sling with a grunt before releasing a relieved sigh. "Thanks mate. I owe you one," he said.

I nodded, until a new sound broke our silence. The sound of a door slamming shut.

I immediately ran to the door and opened it just a crack, getting there just in time to see Ezra trudging up the stairs. But another pair of footsteps weren't far behind, and I had the feeling Ezra was purposefully walking fast to avoid his pursuer. "Ezra!" Kanan's voice rang as he sped to the top of the staircase.

Ezra halted, his gaze downcast. "Corporal," the boy greeted sharply, still not facing the man.

But Kanan seemed genuinely shocked. Interaction between the two had been little to none in the past few days, and whenever they were forced to be in each other's presence a tense silence surrounded them in a storm. Whenever they walked past each other in the halls, Kanan's greeting was never returned, and dinner was just the sound of cutlery scraping against plates and the occasional slurp of water. Kanan had tried sparking conversations multiple times, but he was always rewarded with a half-hearted shrug or uninterested 'hm'. The fact that Ezra was acknowledging his guardian at all was quite a surprise.

"Uh… How… How was school?" Kanan started awkwardly, tapping his hand against the wooden bar of the stairs.

"Fine," Ezra muttered. "Made some friends, as Sabine would call it."

"Oh," Kanan replied. "How'd that go?"

"Well one went to the nurse's office 'cause he got hit in the face during dodgeball, and the other I probably would have smashed anyway if the game had continued. You know. The usual," Ezra scoffed, a smirk lining his lips. Not that Kanan could see it.

"Well that sounds like an interesting game of dodgeball," Kanan mused. "I'm glad to hear you had a good day."

Ezra's expression darkened, and the light drained from his electric blue eyes, replaced by that fearful, hateful gaze he so often wore these days. "Yeah, let's keep it that way," he growled as he began walking for our door again.

"Wait, Ezra!" Kanan called, reaching out for the boy. His voice seemed to fade though when Ezra shot a sharp glare over his shoulder, sending them both into another tense silence. "I… I'm sorry," the older male murmured, his eyes gentle and apologetic.

Ezra's gaze shifted back to the floor, but then I saw something that Kanan could not. Ezra was tearing up. His wide eyes were wet with tears, filling with fear, and a deep seeded pain. From Kanan's position, it probably looked like the boy was still furious with him, but I could see the teen crumbling in front of my very eyes. Maybe, just maybe, we had been looking at his attitude from the wrong angle.

Ezra inhaled sharply, clenching his eyes shut and continuing forward until finally making it to our room. Kanan sighed in defeat, his shoulders slumping as he obviously expected no more conversation from the teen anytime soon.

I stepped back as Ezra entered the room, and just before he went to close the door, the teen caught sight of Max, his body freezing in complete shock. His piercing stare didn't waver from the second in command, until he blankly shut the door and whispered "Max?"

Max smiled softly, greeting "That's my name, don't wear it out."

A spark ignited within the hollow boy, and his expression turned to one of pure joy and relief. "I can't believe you're here!" Ezra exclaimed under his breath as he bolted forward. "I-I didn't think I was going to see you until I got back to Safe Haven but-"

The teen trailed off, his skin going pale. "Wait… you, came to me," Ezra murmured, the pieces finally clicking together. Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes at Max and said sternly "What happened? What's wrong?"

"Why do you immediately assume something's wrong?" Max taunted innocently, a sleek smirk lining his lips.

"Because the second in command always comes bearing bad news," Ezra retorted. "Now spill. What's wrong, and what do you need?"

Max sighed in defeated, and partial amusement, running a hand through his hair and saying "Okay, okay, you got me. Lando's raised the rent."

"How much?"

Max winced. "Uh… 200?"

"What?!" Ezra exploded.

Max clamped a hand over the teen's mouth, his muscles going rigid and his aquamarine eyes fixing on the door. After a tense moment, Max pulled away and hissed "Calm down loudmouth, I got it all sorted out."

"May I ask how exactly?" Ezra quizzed suspiciously.

"No, you may not ask," Max grinned, causing Ezra to glare at him furiously. "Chill out little bro. I've got a… "outside source" to help with this payment, and I'll figure out the rest from there," he assured gently. "We also did a raid today."

"Yeah, I heard the sirens," Ezra sighed, rolling his eyes exasperatedly. "So, successful?"

Max rubbed the back of his neck with a bashful chuckle, replying "Ha… partly."

Ezra arched a brow and folded his arms heavily. "Care to elaborate?"

"We-e-ell," Max drawled, adverting his eyes to the corners of the room nervously. "We… kinda, got all the supplies… and we kinda got away with it… And your police friend kinda… maybe, sorta…"

"Holy crud! Your arm!" Ezra suddenly blurted, his wide eyes fixed on Max's sling and his stern exterior melting away. "What the hell happened?!"

"Oh, yeah, 'bout that," Max started with a light-hearted smirk. "I got caught by your police friend and his partner, and his partner kinda dislocated my shoulder."

Anger boiled through Ezra's bones, and the teen cracked his knuckles and spat "That tuft-sucker! I'll give 'im a taste of his own medicine next time we cross paths!"

"Take a chill pill Ezra. These things happen, but I'm fine, I swear," Max assured.

Concern replaced Ezra's hatred, and the care and warmth began beaming through his keen eyes as he inspected his friend carefully, first glancing over him, and then proceeding to make sure he held no other injuries. "Are you okay? No broken bones? Did that idiot hurt you?" Ezra quizzed persistently.

"Well he dislocated my arm, if that counts," Max pointed out jokingly.

Ezra's brows furrowed, and he replied "Not that idiot. The other one."

"Kanan?" I stated numbly, both defensive and shocked at the same time.

The teen sent an icy glare in my direction. "Yeah, that one," he spat.

"I thought you liked this foster parent?" Max questioned unknowingly.

"No! I want nothing to do with him anymore!" Ezra snapped, that fire flaring up again. "I want out Max! I want out right now!"

"Out? Just'a week ago you told me he was tha best foster parent you'd ever had," Max reasoned.

"Well things change!" Ezra snarled. He stared up at Max with large eyes and pleaded "Please take me back to Safe Haven! I can't stay here any longer!"

I stepped forward to protest, remind him of our deal, but Max held his hand up and shot me a reassuring nod. And in that one gesture, I knew Max things under control. Turning to his younger friend, Max stared at him with a gentle gaze. "Now, I'm gettin' some mixed signals here," he started. "First all you can do is rave about this new family of yours, an' then you're telling me you want to leave and that you hate it here. Explain?"

Ezra growled, running a hand through his hair and stuttering "H-He… Kanan, he was the one that took me to the adoption agency, which then took me to my first foster home! It's all his fault!"

Max's expression softened, and he placed his hand on Ezra's shoulder encouragingly. "Is that what happened?" he asked. "You found out he did that?"

"Yes! Now will you take me back with you?!" Ezra urged.

"Of course not," Max smirked.

"Wait, what?! Why-"

"Ezra," Max sighed. He shook his head slowly, his mess of hair swaying as he did so. "Take a deep breath, and think for a moment."

"I am-"

"No you're not," Max stated, squeezing his shoulder tightly. "Just think. If this guy really didn't want to care for you, would he have taken you in at all? Would he have cared enough to get you a doctor's check-up and pay to feed and shelter you? Would he have gotten you your favourite chocolate ice-cream, or taken the time to notice your triggers?"

"What trigg-"

"The belt? Does that ring a bell?" Max pried sharply. "If I'm not mistaken, these're all things you told me were what made 'im different."

Ezra stuttered "But h-he gave me up!"

"What? 15 years ago?" Max eyed him fiercely. "People change, Ezra. This guy might not have been in the right position to take care of ya back then. But look at 'em now. A big house, with a… reasonable job, that'll provide for all of ya. He can now take care of you properly."

"B-But," Ezra murmured, his eyes wide and welling with tears.

Max sighed, dragged his hand down his face and quizzing abruptly "Look, are they abusive?"

"W-What? No."

"Are they neglectful?"

"No."

"Are they not feeding you, sheltering you, or caring for you?"

"No! But-"

"Then there's no reason for you to leave," Max stated firmly.

Ezra didn't reply, his expression blank. It was obvious that even though the teen was the superior rank wise, Max was still Ezra's true guardian, through and through. Max's expression softened as the silence dragged on, and he said with a gentle tone "Ezra, I want what's best for you. And I heard all the stories. I saw, for myself, how amazing this family is… And I saw how happy they made you."

A sob got caught in Ezra's throat, and Max reached up and wiped away a stray tear from his cheek with his thumb. "Please, little brother," Max urged. "Don't waste this chance. I refuse to watch you throw away everything you want and need because of this lil' pothole in the road."

"But how Max? How can I move on?" Ezra rasped.

Max smiled, giving his shoulder a final squeeze before releasing his grip. "That's the fun part, I guess," he smirked. "It's figuring it out for yourself."

Ezra bowed his head, hiding his face as he began to break down. Max was quick to step forward and pull him into a loose embrace, resting his head against Ezra's. "Things'll work out," he whispered confidently. "…they always do…"

Ezra buried his face into Max's good shoulder, the two of them, though completely different in appearance, really did seem just like brothers. The two stayed like that for a moment or two longer, until Max finally pulled away once Ezra had collected himself. "So," Ezra sniffled. "You're leaving again?"

"Mm. It'd be unwise to stay any longer," he replied. "But, drop by, yeah? The Spirits are startin' to miss you." Max chuckled, adding "Especially the kids. They miss their Phantom."

This caused Ezra to smile weakly in return, answering "Yeah. Maybe Zeb and I can drop by soon."

"Sounds like a plan," Max smiled. "Welp, I'd better hit the road."

"How will you get out? Kanan and Kallus are still downstairs," I pointed out.

Max turned and strolled over towards the window, unlocking it and lifting it up triumphantly. "Doors are overrated anyway," he quipped as he stepped through the opening. "I'll see ya soon, 'kay?"

"Yeah. Soon," Ezra replied, offering a gentle wave. "You be careful Max."

Max grinned, saying "'Careful' is not in my vocabulary. You should know that by now."

Ezra shook his head disapprovingly, but laughed never the less. "I shouldn't expect anything else," he smirked. "I'll see you later Max."

Max grinned, until he shifted his attention to me and called "And thanks for the tip off Hotshot. I hope to see you around Safe Haven more often?"

"Ha. We'll see Max. We'll see."

With that, the male shot one final salute and disappeared out of view, leaving Ezra and I in complete silence. It felt like forever until one of us finally moved, and Ezra turned to face me very slowly, his eyes large and still slightly dazed. "Well," I started sheepishly. "If your day was anything like mine, then we've got a lot to talk about, am I right?"

Ezra rolled his eyes lazily, smiling ever so lightly. "Yeah, I'd rather not know in that case."