Chapter 9: Rescued.
Hahaha, I could just imagine the looks on your faces. But I decided not to be that mean and updated with this chapter partially right after.
But, nothing happened. There was no pain, no cold or warm feeling, he was still in pain from his beating.
Another gunshot, but again nothing.
And yet another gunshot, but once again there nothing happened.
He opened his eyes and saw three figures laying on the ground. Ezra realized that these were the Imperials, and that they were dead. But who killed them? He strained his eyes and he saw he was being slowly approached by a man. It took a moment to register that this man was the officer.
Kanan couldn't believe what he had just done. He had just killed not one but three people. But in his defense they were mob members about to murder a teenage boy. He knew who the boy was. One of the mob members said who it was right before he was about to shoot the kid.
Kanan had just save Phantom's life.
Kanan slowly approached Phantom, trying not to spook him. "Phantom, are you alright?"
Phantom stared up at him in confusion. "You saved me?"
"Well, yeah." Kanan said, bending down so he was one knee next to Phantom.
"Why?" Phantom asked.
"Would you have rather died?" Kanan asked.
"Maybe." Phantom said.
Kanan was silent. He was not expecting that answer. Kanan reached out to try to help, and Phantom flinched away.
"I'm trying to help you." Kanan said gently.
"Said the officer who chased me down for eight blocks three times." Phantom said.
"You're hurt. Let me help." Kanan said.
"I don't need your help." Phantom said. Kanan stood and saw Phantom pushing himself up. Phantom stood for a moment, before falling over, luckily Kanan caught him.
"You're coming with me." Kanan said. He picked Phantom up bridal style, which the boy was too weak to protest. He brought him back out to the squad car and placed him in the back seat. After carefully buckling him in he went around to the front and started to drive to the station. His patrol shift was nearly over anyway.
Ezra's thoughts were muddled from pain and confusion. The officer that seemed to hate him, just saved his life. He tried to help him, he carried him, but now he was in the cop car.
Ezra refused to talk to the officer as he drove. All too soon, the officer pulled into the police department. After the car was parked the officer walked out and let Ezra out.
"Come on." the officer said. He led Ezra into the building with a firm but gentle hand on the shoulder, which confused him even more.
As they were about to walk into the building a big buff man walked out. Ezra recognized him as another officer.
"Wait, Jarrus, you actually caught Phantom?" the buff officer said.
So the troublesome officer's name was Jarrus.
"It's complicated Zeb." Jarrus said.
"Well have with your interrogation," the officer, Zeb apparent, said.
'So even though I was the victim I was still being interrogated. That doesn't seem fair.' Ezra thought.
Jarrus brought him in and set him in a chair on one side of a desk, and sat in the other chair on the other side.
Ezra refused to make eye contact with Jarrus.
"Now what was that about in the alley?" Jarrus asked.
"What part?" Ezra asked, unsure when the nosey officer was talking about.
"Why were those mob member trying to kill you?" Jarrus asked.
"I refused to join them, one too many times." Ezra admitted.
"Why would they want a fourteen year old in the mob?" Jarrus asked.
"How should I know?" Ezra snapped.
"Okay, no need to get upset." Jarrus said.
There was an awkward silence until a female officer came inside. Ezra recognized her as Jarrus' girlfriend.
"You got Phantom?" she asked full of surprise.
"Yeah, Hera, I got him." Jarrus said. "I saved his life from the mob."
Ezra glared. "I have a name you know!"
"Would you care to share it then?" Jarrus asked.
"I don't even know your name." Ezra defended.
"True," Jarrus said. "My name is Officer Kanan Jarrus."
"Ezra Bridger." Ezra said after a pause.
"What?" Kanan asked.
"My name is Ezra Bridger." Ezra said.
"Okay, Ezra, how about you give us your phone number and we can get your parents down here." Kanan said.
"You can't." Ezra said.
"Your parents will be worried when they don't hear from you." Hera said.
"They won't be. They can't be." Ezra said.
"Why not?" Kanan asked.
"'Cause their dead." Ezra said.
Kanan's eyes widened at that statement.
"I'm sorry." Hera said.
"Nice to know someone cares." Ezra said sarcastically.
"Who do you live with?" Kanan asked.
"No one." Ezra said. "I live on the streets."
Kanan glanced at Hera, wondering what to do with this information.
"Can I leave now?" Ezra asked.
"Where will you go?" Kanan asked.
"I'm currently staying at the park." Ezra said.
Kanan didn't know what to say.
"Well, if we're done here. I'll be going." Ezra said and started to get up
"Sit!" Kanan ordered forcefully.
Ezra sat down without question.
"I want to know something else. When I asked you, 'would you have rather died,' you replied with 'maybe.' Why?" Kanan questioned.
"When you live on the streets, it's quite obvious no one likes you. Why would I want to live longer with everyone hating me, when I could die and be free from it all? No one would care if I died. No one cares about me." Ezra responded voice almost breaking.
Hera stared at him with sadness in her eyes.
Kanan thought about how he would respond. Then he figured it out.
"What if there was someone to care about you?" Kanan asked.
Ezra scoffed. "The cops didn't even care when my parents died right in front of me. They didn't care for me then, and who is going to care about a dirty street-rat orphan like me?"
"I will." Kanan said.
"Yeah right." Ezra said. "The only thing you want to do with me is find a way to pack me away in the slammer."
"That's not true. Not anymore," Kanan said.
Ezra stayed silent. 'What is he talking about.'
"I want to help you Ezra." Kanan said.
"You aren't messing with me?" Ezra asked for confirmation.
"No." Kanan said.
Ezra noticed Hera slipping away.
"How about to you tell me who you are." Kanan said.
Ezra remembered the song he sang a week ago, with the main lyric being, 'I just want you to know who I am.'
"What do you want to know?" Ezra asked.
Kanan gave him a smile. "How about we have this conversation when we get home."
"We? Home?" Ezra questioned. Kanan couldn't possibly be meaning what Ezra thought he said.
"I want you to stay with me from now on. I will feed you, keep you safe, and be there for you." Kanan said.
Ezra had tears glistening in his eyes. "Really?"
"I meant every word." Kanan said.
Ezra's throat welled up due to happiness. Kanan really cared, cared about him. He couldn't even speak. He nodded.
Kanan gave him a gentle and friendly smile. "Well I have to be here until seven, and then we can go home."
Ezra nodded that he understood, still unable to speak.
There was a silence, which Ezra was grateful for, it allowed him to gather his thoughts.
"Here, let me have a look at your injuries." Kanan said, grabbing a small med kit from the corner.
"Okay," Ezra said, he pulled off his dirty T-shirt to reveal his chest. Bruises and some scars could be seen under all the dirt.
"First things first when we get home. You need to shower." Kanan said with a smile.