Chapter 9: Apologies and Embarrassment

Ezra was quite on the way to the police station.

"You okay kid?" Kanan asked, glancing over.

"I'm fine." Ezra said. "I guess I'm a little sore."

"What about what happened in the room?" Kanan asked.

"I'm better now. " Ezra replied. "I know you're here for me now."

"I wish you could have been there for you sooner." Kanan said as he pulled into the station.

"Yeah, well, I guess I better try to get used to watching movies in case there is a time I can't avoid it." Ezra said, climbing out of the car.

"Not only that," Kanan said, walking around the car to stand by his foster son. "I wish I could have found you sooner. You were on the streets for fat to long."

"Well, you're here now, that's all that matters." Ezra said.

Kanan smiled and put an arm around Ezra's shoulder as they walked towards the station.

"Hey, kid, there you are." Zeb said as the pair walked inside. "I was wondering where you were."

"I was at the hospital." Ezra explained.

"Why?" Sabine asked, Ezra just now noticed she was here.

Ezra blushed slightly. "I had an allergic reaction last night. But I'm better now." Trying maybe a little too hard to impress his crush.

"Great to hear that kid," Sabine said, either not taking notice of the kids attempts, or she clearly wasn't impressed. "Wacca allergic too?"

"Seafood apparently." Hera informed, walking in. "I didn't know, so when I invited them over for supper yesterday I made them my Cioppino."

"Oh, that's a shame you can't enjoy Hera's Cioppino." Sabine said, "It's my favorite."

Hera smiled, "I'll bring you leftovers sometime."

"Well, I'm out of here." Zeb said. "Got to go on patrol."

Zeb left the station, but Sabine stayed behind.

"Do you go on patrol now or?" Ezra asked.

"Nah, I was patrolling before Kanan and Hera. Chopper is gonna patrol tonight with Zeb. I'm waiting for my ride."

"Oh, so they have the car today?" Hera asked, taking her seat.

"Hey, they'll be here soon." Sabine said.

Kanan sat down at another chair, and Ezra took one next to him.

'So, Sabine has a boyfriend.' Ezra thought. 'Well, there's still hope for me, if she breaks up with him and in a few years when I'm older….' He was taken out of his thoughts when the door opened and in walked another woman.

She was about Sabine's age, maybe a little older, and a little talker. She had dark skin and her black hair was shaved on the side and had red tattoos on the side of her head.

'That must've hurt.' Ezra thought on the mysterious woman's tattoos.

"Ketsu, there you are." Sabine smiled. "We were just talking about you." She got up and started to walk over.

"All good things I hope." the woman, Ketsu, responded.

"Oh, just how you had the car." Sabine smiled.

'Wait, what?' Ezra thought.

Ezra's question however was answered a moment later, when Sabine kissed Ketsu.

"Ready to go?" Ketsu asked once they broke apart.

"Wait, I don't think you've meet Kanan and Ezra yet." Sabine said. "That is Kanan, he's pretty new to the force, and that's his foster son Ezra, who was Phantom before. Ya know, I've mentioned how he caused us a few problems a couple months ago."

"Yeah, I think he pickpocketed me once." Ketsu said.

"Possibly," Ezra muttered, still in shock.

"Kanan, Ezra, this is my girlfriend, Ketsu." Sabine introduced.

'Welp, there goes my chances.' Ezra thought.

"Well, see you guys later." Sabine said, walking out hand in hand with Ketsu.

"They sort of make a cute couple." Kanan commented after they left.

"Yeah, they've been dating for a couple of years." Hera said.

"What's that face?" Kanan asked, looking over at Ezra.

Ezra didn't respond.

Kanan smirked. "You liked Sabine didn't you?"

Ezra's silence was his answer.

"Was she you're first crush?" Hera asked sweetly, curious, and intent on embarrassing the teen.

"Kinda hard to meet girls on the street." Ezra muttered as he admitted.

"Aw, first crush and first heartbreak." Hera smiled.

Ezra's face started to grow hot.

"Aw, kid, we're only teasing." Kanan said. "Sorry,"

"Yeah, sorry." Hera apologized. "Sorry, 'bout that, and about last night."

"It's alright Hera. I'm better now." Ezra replied.

"Hey, it's your birthday soon right?" Hera asked.

"Two days." Ezra answered.

"Do you guys want to come over to celebrate?" Hera asked.

"As long as you don't give him seafood." Kanan joked.

"Oh, ha, ha." Hera sarcastically replied. "It was an accident and you know it. Plus it was partly your fault for not telling me."

"Okay, yes I admit I should've mentioned it when you invited us for supper. But this is till new to me, being a parent is hard." Kanan defended.

Ezra glanced down at his bag, trying to think of something to do. He had finished his book at the hospital, so he grabbed his cards and started to play solitaire, while Kanan and Hera continued to talk about random things.

"Hey Kanan, I need to ask you something." Hera saiad.

"Okay,"

"In private." Hera clarified.

'What?' Ezra thought.

"Okay," Kanan said but followed Hera off to the other side of the room where Ezra couldn't hear.

"What could they possibly be talking about?" Ezra muttered to himself.

Finally the young couple came back over. Ezra raised an eyebrow at Kanan, silently asking what that was about. Kanan waved it off, making Ezra even more confused.

Eventually, it was time to go home. Ezra walked closely beside Kanan as they headed back towards the apartment.

"Are you glad to be heading home?" Kanan asked.

"Yeah, the hospital was pretty boring." Ezra admitted.

Kanan smirked before asking. "What do you want for supper?"

Ezra shrugged, "I don't know."

"Does the Asteroid Belt sound good?" Kanan asked.

"Yeah, sure." Ezra smiled.

They reached the diner and were greeted by a new waitress. This waitress, was certainly younger than the one that hated Ezra before. In fact, she couldn't be much older than Ezra herself, probably a high school student working a part time job for some extra cash. She was only slightly taller than Ezra, had mid back length light brown hair pulled back, and had hazel eyes beneath glasses. She wore a pair of jeans, a white t-shirt and a denim jacket.

"Hey, table for two?" she asked with a real smile.

"Yup," Kanan replied, liking her better than the other waitress already.

"Right this way," the waitress requested leading them to a table. "My name is Rae, I'll be you're server. Can I start you off with something to drink?"

"I'll take a Coke." Kanan said.

"Same," Ezra replied.

"All righty then," Rae said handing them their menus. "I'll be right back with your drinks."

"She seems much nicer than the other one." Ezra commented, looking at his menu.

"Yeah, a lot younger too." Kanan smiled.

"What's that got to do with anything?" Ezra asked.

"Oh, nothing." Kanan smirked.

"You better not try to set me up." Ezra glared.

"Oh alright." Kanan relented.

"Here are your drinks." Rae said, placing the drink gently on the table in front of them. "We have a special today, would you like to hear it?"

"Sure," Kanan replied.

"Our special today, and actually for the week, Okadiah's trying to decide if he wants it on the menu or not," she added with a slight eye roll. "Is popcorn shrimp."

"No thanks," Ezra said immediately. "I'd rather not go back to the hospital again."

Rae raised an eyebrow. "Seafood allergy?"

"Yes," Kanan confirmed.

"I'll be sure to let Okdiah know so he can special prep you're food." Rae replied. "Do you know what you want?"

"I'll just take the burger." Ezra ordered.

"And for you sir?" Rae asked.

"I'll take the Philly cheese steak." Kanan replied.

"Okay, I'll put your orders in right away." Rae said.

"She does seem really nice." Kanan smiled.

"Kanan you already promised." Ezra said.

It took a few minutes, but soon enough, Rae had returned with their food. "There you go, enjoy fellas."

The two ate their food and as Rae came back with their check Kanan had to open his mouth.

"Are you available?" Kanan asked.

"Kanan!" Ezra shouted, hiding his face in his hands to hide his embarrassment.

Rae let out a small laugh. "I'm actually seeing someone at the moment."

"Okay, sorry." Kanan said.

"I don't think it's me you should be apologizing to." Rae said, handing the check to Kanan before heading over the only other table that was occupied.

Kanan glanced at Ezra, his blush had reached even the tips of his ears and the base of his neck. Kanan rubbed his hand on the back of his head.

"Hey, kid, I'm sorry," Kanan apologized. "I didn't mean to embarrass you like that."

"I told you twice not to say anything." Ezra muttered from behind his hands.

"I know, and I am deeply sorry." Kanan said.

Ezra lowered his hands, "Let's just get out of here before she comes back."

"Alright." Kanan said, setting enough cash on the table under the check for the bill and a nice tip.

The two made their way home, and Ezra quietly pulled out his bed and collapsed on it.

Kanan sighed, deciding it was probably best to leave the teen alone for now, after all, he's embarrassed him far too much today.

(Note this waitress was not Rae Sloane from A New Dawn, but an OC of mine.., you'll be getter a lot of those soon.)