It had only been an hour and I was already feeling antsy. My brain was telling me to flee to my little shabby apartment in the core underworld of this damned planet.

Break the ice I guess

"Trust me. With the kind of people who come in here, Imperial officers are sure to give this place a wide berth. No enemies of ours are likely to make an appearance." I let out a slow breath watching Sabine's face intently.

She's . . . quiet. Like she's contemplating contacting Hera, or just simply leaving.

We had the entire corner to ourselves. Most people here were regulars, they had their desired seats, or they were just simply crowded near the viewscreens catching the latest on whatever sports team was playing.

I've never seen her so unnerved from merely sitting in a run-down cantina.

"You can always come back." she finally spoke "I know you think Kanan and Hera are mad, well . . . they have every right to be. But we are here for a reason, to bring you home." she finished apprehensively peering at me.

She's worried, worried I'll say no. They must think I've gone mad.

"I don't want to come back." I say slowly but firmly. And not the first time.

I've told myself that for weeks, but some things I've just . . . missed.

"Ezra." she starts strongly turning fully towards me. I turn my head, giving her my full attention. "Do the past two years mean anything at all to you?" The hurt in her eyes was almost unbearable.

Since when did Sabine . . . care so much. She's strong willed, and force knows she's fiercely independent.

She's always been the type to think first for herself, then everyone else. Now some may call that narcissistic, but I think it's the trait that kept her alive so long.

"We're your family Ezra. Don't you understand that?" it almost sounded as if she was pleading.

I look her dead in the eye. She needs to understand where I'm coming from. "You think I'm happy with this?" gesturing around the room "I'm not Sabine. But after what they did to me. What they've done to our 'family'" I air quote sarcastically "The Empire needs to pay. I can't sit around awaiting random missions that barely put a dent into their schemes." I turn from her and cross my arms.

Ah, podracing. That's what's been drawing the crowds.

"Ezra . . . you can't do this alone. And I hate to say it but your strategy is blatantly flawed." she finishes grabbing her long forgotten ale and nursing it. "You're going to get yourself killed."

"The Empire has to see that they aren't indestructible Sabine. You have to hit them close to home in order to prove that." sticking a finger into my chest "I knew for a fact that Hera would never approve, so I left. If the fight against the Empire wasn't personal before, it is now." taking a sip of my water.

Alcoholic drinks on the Core worlds are too rich for my taste. Nothing like the sweet Lothalian nectar back home.

"You're too stubborn for your own good." she deadpans, shaking her head slowly "You can't just abandon us Ezra, abandon your people."

That struck a nerve.

"Sabine." I start slowly barely above a whisper "Leaving Lothal and the crew was close to the hardest things I've ever done. I . . . I just need to . . ."

"Prove a point." she cuts me off before I can finish the thought. "You're selfish Ezra. You think because the Empire hurt you that you can justify abandoning anyone and everyone that cares about your wellbeing." she takes a long swig of her drink before continuing "You dont think weve all been "hurt" by the kriffing Empire Ezra?" she starts to raise her voice, but pipes back down as people start to pay mind to our conversation.

Watch it Sabine.

"Ezra, Kanan lost everything to the Empire. Everything he ever knew. So did Hera. So did Zeb. And so did I. You've taken this too far Ezra." she finishes coarsely, seemingly adamant about her words.

I'm not offended, I just . . . it isn't easy being wrong.

"Are you going to tell Hera where I am?"

I showed her the shit-hole I've called home for the past few weeks. It is situated two floors above the cantina.

It was a cheap monthly fee. Nothing I couldn't handle.

"I dont know." she whispers, almost to herself.

"You don't know? Great." The last thing I needed was more people trying to interfere with my plans. Poorly thought out or not, I feel I need to see them through.

Not just for me. My parents too.

"Do you at least know if you're going to comm her tonight?" Sabine makes a face. Almost like she thought of something she didn't want to be let out.

"No." she says quickly, taking another sip.

Better watch her if this goes any further. That's her fourth tonight, and who knows what the alcohol percentage is on those things.

"It won't bother you to lie to Kanan and Hera?" I ask, trying my best to sound astonished.

"No, I can keep a secret for now." She smiles contently.

There she is. The Sabine I left behind.

Leaning in close, I look her in the eye. "Sabine, there's something Ive been meaning to tell you."

Sabine leans in close, fiddling with my black jacket zipper, eyes avoiding my gaze "Sabine." I lift her chin softly "This is important . . ."

. . .

. . .

That . . . was unexpected. Great, but unexpected.

"I know." she says softly "I know."

Sabine pressed her chest to mine, saddling my waist, and closed the gap once more.

. . .

Resting her forehead against mine she breathes out deeply. "Upstairs." she whispers softly.

Taking a couple of controlled breaths, I take in her deep amber eyes. "Are you sure?"

Sabine answers by leaning in again. "Yes." she says against my lips "Yes I'm sure."