I didn't expect to do this one so fast! This next chapter is gonna be the first of Ezra's flashbacks/stories, and I am so, so excited to write it! However, I get my wisdom teeth out tomorrow, so it may be a while before it is posted.
Also: this was originally posted in the crossover category for SWR & Star Wars, but I want it to get more attention in the future, so I'm posting it in the category with the most characters involved. Just pretend that Ezra's name comes up as a character here, too.
Hope y'all enjoy!
"Well," the man said. He stepped up beside Master Luke and shrugged. He patted him heavily on the back. "You knew this was gonna happen eventually."
Luke met the man's knowing gaze and sighed. He walked up to Rey and slowly took the lightsaber from her, running his biotic hand over the sleek silver. Rey had polished it on her way here, in the hopes of trying to impress the esteemed Master a little
bit.
"It's been a long time since I've held this," he said, eyebrows raised. "The last time I saw it I dropped it in a duel with my father. Where did you get it?"
"Maz Kanata gave it to my friend," Rey said. Luke smiled at the mention of Maz and mumbled something along the lines of 'I should've known.' She swallowed. "Finn - my friend - and I used it when we fought Kylo Ren. Maz said it's calling to me. I don't
want it; it's yours... you should have it."
Luke's face fell at the mention of his former student. The man cleared his throat and stepped up behind Luke, resting a hand on his shoulder.
"Maybe we should go sit down somewhere and talk about this more," he suggested. He turned to face Rey. "What's your name, kid?"
"Rey," she said in a small voice. Leia didn't tell her what to do in case Luke wasn't alone.
"Ezra Bridger, rebel extraordinaire, known for saving the Galaxy once or twice." He gave her a cocky grin and held out a hand; she shook it, immediately taking a liking to him. "Heard of me?"
Rey pursed her lips in mock-thought and shook her head. "The General didn't say anything about you being here," she said honestly. Then she narrowed her eyes. "And if you're a rebel, then why aren't you fighting with the Resistance?"
Ezra blinked at her in surprise and laughed. "Before your time." He turned to Luke. "I like her," he said. "Dibs on teaching." Luke rolled his eyes and waved a hand, gesturing for them to follow him.
As they turned to go down the stairs leading into the mountain, Ezra turned back to Rey. "You wouldn't happen to have any Caf on your ship back there, would ya?"
Several hours later, surrounded by several cold, empty cups of Caf, Rey finally finished telling Luke and Ezra her story. The sun had begun to set outside, showing off brilliant reds and oranges, and also showing how much time had passed. Rey had started
her story about her being left on Jakku and told all the way up to her getting to pilot the Falcon with Chewie.
When she got to the part where Kylo killed Han, Luke had to excuse himself to go outside for a few minutes, and she heard Chewbacca howl mournfully from outside on the steps.
When Chewie saw Luke for the first time, he rushed forward and hugged him, dangling his feet off the ground. Luke had laughed and patted his arm until he had set him down. It kind of surprised Rey; to her it seemed like the only emotions Luke felt were
of sorrow and regret.
But right now, Master Luke had gotten up and was crouched down in front of Artoo, gently rubbing the top of his dome and nodding occasionally as the droid whistled and beeped excitedly. Chewie had gone back down to the Falcon to sleep, leaving Rey and
Ezra sitting at the table alone. She was idly twirling her cup in small circles.
Ezra was looking over at the pair fondly. "I had an astromech once," he said.
Rey perked up. After she'd become friends with BB-8, it introduced her to every other droid the Resistance to continue to practice her binary. "Really? What model?"
"C1-10P." Rey racked her brain for any details she knew about this model and came up empty. When Ezra saw that she Rey looked confused, he continued. "He was old, even for my time. And he wasn't really mine; he belonged to my Captain." He looked down
in remembrance. "His name was Chopper. His logic circuits were totally blown out, because he would zap anyone who moved."
Rey wrinkled her nose. "He sounds... interesting," she said. Ezra hummed noncommittally, lost in thought, and the two sat in silence for a few moments watching Artoo and Luke. "What happened to him?" She suddenly asked. Ezra turned back towards her with
an eyebrow raised. "Chopper, I mean."
Ezra frowned a little bit, and Rey noticed she'd hit a touchy subject. She could sense his emotions darkening in the force and dropped it. She looked back down at the table and traced a scratch with her fingernail.
"You're a Jedi, too, aren't you?" Rey asked. "I think I can tell what you're feeling right now."
Ezra perked back up. "You can? I typically don't shield my emotions when it's just Luke and I." With that, all sense of his excitement and lingering sadness disappeared. "And yes, to answer your question, I am. Kanan Jarrus was my master. He was only
a Padawan when The Empire took over. He found me on Lothal when I was fourteen, and his crew took me in. Eventually he began to train me." Ezra said. "There were six of us: me, Kanan, a Mandalorian explosives expert named Sabine, a lasat warrior named
Zeb, Chopper, and then Hera, our Captain."
Recognition sparked in Rey's mind. "Hera Syndulla? The famous Twi'Leki pilot?"
Ezra furrowed his brow but grinned. "Yeah, that's her. How'd you know about her?"
"I overheard one of the Resistance pilots - Poe Dameron - talking about one of her missions; I think they were going to try one of her flying strategies against the First Order. He was talking about how she was one of the best pilots in the galaxy."
Ezra shook his head in amazement. "She was the best kriffing pilot I've ever seen," he said. "She's actually the one who taught me to fly."
"She did?!" Rey's eyes lit up. "I want to be a great pilot, too. Do you think you could teach me some tricks?" She looked up at him hopefully.
Ezra laughed. "Luke's definitely the one to help you with that. I know the basics; he's definitely the prodigy flier." He waved a hand in Luke's direction.
Rey bit her lip and nodded. She looked from Ezra to Luke and at the fond way Ezra was watching him. "So how did you end up here, too?"
Ezra snorted. "Alright, kid, I'll bite. I know you've been trying to get me to tell you my story for the last ten minutes." Rey's cheeks flamed; she thought she was being subtle. In truth, she really had been trying to learn more; don't get her wrong,
she still wanted to talk to Master Luke... she just wasn't sure if he was ready to talk to her just yet.
Ezra's eyes took on a faraway look. "It all started back on Alderaan..."
I had fun tying in little pieces of TFA in with Rebels in this! Personal Headcanon: everyone knows who Space Mom is & she gets the credit she deserves.
I hope everyone is largely in character. I really need a Beta and am trying to find one on Tumblr. If anyone is potentially interested, or know of anyone who could be, please let me know! && guys, I need to know your thoughts. Are you enjoying this so far? R&R!
