Funny thing here first, I'm not sure if anyone noticed, but in the prequel to this story, I freaking gave September an extra day by mistake. I said the 27th was a Monday and the last day of the month was Friday, but for that to happen, September would have to have 31 days not 30 lie it does. -_- Then when I realized this trying to get timing and dates figured out, I freaking realized that in the prequel as well, Kanan ruled out that Ezra shouldn't watch the Big Hero 6 DVD, yet in the last chapter they watched it in theaters . -_- I guess I just have some small issues with continuity or something…I feel like an idiot.
Okay and another thing before you guys flip out about not updating, there is this thing I'm in called college. In which I have like 20 or so hours of classes and about 15 hours of work, per week, not counting homework. That and the stress of it all makes it hard to think about stories, because I can barely force myself to read fanfiction let alone write it, so just be patient please. Anyways here you go.
Chapter 3: A Great Reveal
(Contains mentions of drug and alcohol use, but hey, it's rated T)
When Kanan woke up and went into the main room he was surprised, but pleasantly, that Ezra did not wake up when he had entered the area. He figured the teen was finally feeling safe to let himself fall into a deeper sleep not caused by sickness, at least, he hoped his charge wasn't sick.
Kanan smiled and went on to make breakfast for the two of them. Once breakfast was done he went over to the pull-out and placed a hand gently on Ezra's sleeping form. Ezra's eyes shot open and he shot up.
"Whoa, it's okay kid." Kanan soothed. "It's time to wake up. Breakfast is ready."
Ezra rubbed his eyes, before he moved to get out of bed. "What's for breakfast?"
"French Toast." Kanan answered.
"Did you burn them again?" Ezra asked.
"Ha ha," Kanan said sarcastically, "No," before he gently pushed Ezra back onto the bed.
"Hey," Ezra mildly protested.
"Come on, before the food gets cold." Kanan said.
"I would still eat it cold." Ezra muttered.
Kanan flinched slightly at that; realizing that Ezra probably ate a lot of stuff that was barely edible while he was on the streets.
Kanan and Ezra sat at the table and ate their breakfast.
"So what are we going to do today?" Ezra asked.
"Ever been fishing?" Kanan asked.
Ezra stared at Kanan.
"What?" Kanan asked, momentarily forgetting.
"Fishing? Seriously?" Ezra asked.
"Oh," Kanan said once he remembered. "Yeah, that might not be a good idea."
"Ya' think?" Ezra asked.
"Alright." Kanan said. "Then maybe, oh, I don't know."
"Maybe see if Hera has a suggestion?" Ezra suggested.
"Good idea kid." Kanan agreed and sent a text to Hera.
By the end of breakfast they had gotten her reply, "How about you explore the town so I don't have to do this anymore."
"Oh alright," Kanan commented.
"What did she say?" Ezra asked.
"She said to explore the town; so she doesn't have to suggest anything anymore." Kanan said.
"Oh," Ezra said softly.
"What?" Kanan asked. "Is something wrong?"
"Is Hera mad?" Ezra asked. He wouldn't want Hera to be mad at Kanan because of him.
"What?" Kanan asked in shock. "No, of course not. I'm pretty sure she is just joking about that last part."
"Oh, okay." Ezra smiled. "Can I go change?"
"Go ahead," Kanan said. "But take your dishes to the sink first."
Ezra did as he was told before grabbing some clothes and going to the bathroom to change.
Kanan cleaned up before heading to the bedroom to get himself ready. After getting changed he saw the bathroom was free so he fixed his hair and finished getting ready. Ezra was waiting in the living room, with the bed back inside the couch, waiting for him.
"Ready?" Kanan asked.
"Yep." Ezra smiled, and the two left the apartment.
"Should we start North or South?" Kanan asked.
"Hm, North," Ezra said, pointing, unfortunately towards the South.
Kanan laughed, and gently grabbed Ezra's arm and bent it at the elbow so he would be pointing the right direction.
"Oh," Ezra said.
"Come along you broken compass." Kanan said.
"Hey, not broken, only backwards." Ezra protested.
The two started walking down the streets. The trouble started when they reached the West side of town.
"Phantom?" a voice asked.
Ezra flinched. He nearly forgot about him.
Kanan and Ezra turned to see the man, who was about four inches at six foot seven inches had skin rather dark for his Latino heritage. His black hair was close cut to his head, and an scar across his face that he had gotten in a knife face.
"Hey Vizago." Ezra said painfully. (Before you go hating on me, because what is about to be revealed about him. I just feel that the way Vizago seems, I feel like he would be Lantino if he was human)
"Gotten into any trouble?" Vizago asked.
"No not really." Ezra responded. He wanted more than anything for Kanan to drag him off, but Kanan was studying Vizago carefully.
"Well, you need money? 'Cause I got a shipment coming." Vizago said. "The good stuff hopefully."
"Vizago, I told you I don't want to do that anymore." Ezra said.
"Come on $25 no matter what, and an extra $15 if it's bad for your trouble." Vizago offered.
"No, last time it was bad I was in a coma for three days." Ezra argued. "And all you did to help was put the money in my pocket and put me in a back-way ally, not even sure if I would make it."
"I couldn't very well take you to the hospital with what you had in your system." Vizago said.
"What are you talking about?" Kanan asked, concerned now.
"Nothing that concerns you." Vizago said. "So what do you say?"
"It does concern me if it involves my foster son." Kanan spat.
"Ha, so you finally got someone to care." Vizago laughed.
"Come on Ezra." Kanan said, taking his arm and heading down the street from the man.
"You'll be coming running for it eventually." Vizago called after.
Kanan and Ezra walked down a few blocks before Kanan started his questions.
"What was that about?" Kanan asked.
"I needed money and Vizago offered some if I helped." Ezra explained.
"With what?" Kanan asked.
"Testing." Ezra said, feeling entirely uncomfortable.
"Testing what?" Kanan questioned, not sure if he wanted his answer.
Ezra took a deep breath. "Drugs and moon-shine."
"He made you test what!" Kanan yelled, stopping them both in their tracks.
"Can this wait till we get home?" Ezra asked. "I promise to tell you everything about what he made me do."
Kanan sighed, rubbing his hand down his face. "Fine."
The two made their way back to the apartment.
"Sit," Kanan ordered pointing to the couch.
Ezra complied, and Kanan sat next to him.
"Now, answer." Kanan commanded.
Ezra took a deep breath. "From the time when I was about eleven to about two months before you picked me up I would help Vizago out every so often. He works in the underground trade. You know with drugs and moonshine?"
"Continue." Kanan said.
"Whenever he would be delivering the stuff, he used me as his smuggler, since I can sneak around. I would get about 10% of the earnings when I did that." Ezra explained. "But when he received it, he needed to make sure it was good. So he paid me to test if it was real.
"Total I had moonshine with more than 20% alcohol content maybe 5 times." Ezra started. "Marijuana I had maybe 6, cocaine about 9 and."
"Keep going," Kanan said, not looking pleased.
"I had acid 3 times." Ezra admitted. "And all of those were only the real stuff. The fake cocaine and acid combined I had maybe 7 times."
"And what happened if it was fake?" Kanan asked.
"Depends, one time the fake cocaine damaged my airway so bad it's what probably caused me to get pneumonia. The fake acid usually ended up in me being passed out for at most three days." Ezra explained.
"Ezra, you any idea how badly this damages your body, even years after?" Kanan asked.
"I know!" Ezra said. "I hated it, but it gave free money basically."
"You risked your life every time, especially if the stuff was fake." Kanan said. "What if you got addicted?"
"I'm not going to get addicted." Ezra argued. "I get headaches I even think about the moonshine. The marijuana just feels weird and cocaine is too hard to do right. The acid never agreed with me even if it was real."
"What do you mean it never agreed?" Kanan asked, concerned.
"You know how it causes hallucinations?" Ezra asked.
"Yeah," Kanan said.
"I always saw my parents, over and over until the trip was over." Ezra said. "I could never go to the cops about it, because they would either arrest me for past crimes, or for having the drugs on person or in system." He sighed. "I never want to go near drugs again. That's why I was so surprised when you said you were going to drug me at the dentist."
Kanan studied his foster son. He could tell Ezra was being truthful. He sighed and brought him into a hug. "You shouldn't have had to do that just to get money."
"I know, but I did what I had to." Ezra said. "No matter how much I hated it."
Kanan released him. "How about we have some lunch then just watch a movie."
"Okay." Ezra said with a small smile. Kanan got up to make lunch so Ezra laid back down, hoping to catch a small nap before lunch.