Hello! Sorry for the wait… Haha I've been doing spring cleaning. And painting...

Enjoy the chapter!

CH-4 Escape Plan

Ezra thought the day couldn't get any worse.

The girl with painted hair wouldn't stop antagonizing him and the older teenager kept shoving him.

He hated it.

Ezra sat outside against the support beam of the wooden porch. He felt the cool breeze and dried leaves crackling under squirrels' tiny footsteps,it's cheeks bulging with acorns and grain. This was the only peace and quiet he could earn. He would escape soon. Ezra never trusted anyone… Because if you did they'd stab you in the back. And leave you to rot in your own knew that Zeb and Sabine were probably joking, but joking or not, Ezra couldn't take the feeling of doubt flowing from Zeb and curiosity from Sabine. Ezra thought for a few minutes before deciding… Just to disappear and never return. He was about to make a break for it when-

"Ezra! Dinner's ready." He heard the g- Sabine call. He nodded silently, Ezra wanted to keep quiet, not say anything to anger this family. So he just technically 'obeyed orders' by keeping on their bright side. Ezra knew that if you met people and they were nice to you, you'd try to stay on their good side before suddenly leaving them forever.

He walked into house and entered the kitchen, taking a seat at the end of the could feel Sabine watch as he hunched his shoulders and his mop of navy hair covered his face from the side she could see him on. Kanan sat down next to him as Hera settled next to Sabine. Zeb sat on the other side of Sabine as they started to eat. Chicken, mashed potatoes and corn. Pretty much the simplest thing Hera could cook up in an hour, Ezra figured she'd had a lot of time to herself to be able to do many things. He poked the chicken around with his fork and took small bites. He felt sick to his stomach.

Ever since Ezra had met this family he had no stomach for food. Mostly because it was the raw feeling of skepticism and distrust settling in his gut. He gave a small sigh as he stared out the window, tugging the hoodie tighter around himself. He felt a few partial stares and heard clicks of silverware stop for at least five minutes before going back to their meal. He looked back to the half-empty plate in front of him before pushing it away, his throat raising with bile before forcing it down.

Control yourself. Don't do anything.

He stood slowly and walked down the hallway, which felt like it took hours. His skin felt clammy as he twisted the doorknob to the entrance.

Okay… Time to disappear.

An calloused hand grabbed his forearm and pulled him back, roughly. He looked behind him, it was Zeb. "Where d'ya think yer' goin', kid?" He asked heavily before pulling him inside and shoving him back into the kitchen. "Caught im' trying to escape." He said before pushing him forward. Ezra almost lost his balance if it weren't for Kanan standing right in front of him. "What?" Kanan looked at him sternly, he tried to look anywhere around the room and spotted Hera ushering Sabine out of the kitchen. Ezra fumbled with words, trying to form an explanation but the only thing that came out was a whimper as he shrunk, waiting for the slap. "Kid, why would you run? They gave you a second chance." Kanan reasoned, sighing as he looked away. "I'm sorry." He mumbled, Kanan let his hands fall limp against his sides. "Just… I don't know, go to your room." He heard Zeb grumble. "Still don't know why I have to share a room with the streetrat."

STREETRAT? That's it!

Ezra turned sharply, he marched forward, and did something incredibly stupid. He punched the taller man in the stomach, hard. "Not everyone can have a home! At least we have respect!" He snapped before stepping back, fury swimming around his mind like a frog and it's prey and watching as Zeb regained his posture, the smaller boy realized what he did before Zeb charged at him, his footsteps pounded the floor, like an earthquake. "Zeb!" Kanan nearly shouted, grasping for his arm but only grabbing air.

Zeb successfully tackled Ezra to the ground, raising his fist to punch before he was pulled off the frigid body underneath his weight, rather roughly. "Zeb, that's enough!" Kanan pulled him back, he walked over to the boy, grabbing his arm to help him stand.

He didn't expect the kid to shove him away.

"No! Don't touch me!" He backed into the wall.

Kanan didn't like how the kid was trembling just at the sight of him.

He was curled up against the wall, breathing heavily. Hera had walked in earlier, but Kanan assured her that he would handle it once he saw the worried expression on her face.

Kanan felt a tinge of wrongness, the kid was hyperventilating and he was worried it was turning into a full-blown panic attack. He knew the kid might have PTSD but they hadn't gone to a doctor yet so he wasn't sure. He knelt down to the kid's level, and gave a quick glare to the guilty man behind him. "Ezra?" He put a hand gently on his shoulder, hesitating before turning him around, bringing the young teen to his chest. "Breath, kid." He ran his hand through the kid's hair and felt him calm slowly, his breathing matching his own before Ezra turned to face him. The kid glanced nervously over at Zeb before turning away. Kanan looked over to him, asking a silent question. Zeb took the message and left the room.

"Kid?"

No response.

"Ezra?"

Ezra finally turned to face him, eyes glazed over with tears he refused to unshed.

"I'm sorry." He croaked, standing. "I-I need air." He stuttered before walking out the back door, sighing his relief as he closed the door and shrunk down before he was sitting on the porch.

He stood slowly, staring up into the starry sky. He stared at the blackness before him,

And ran.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. No just kidding. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Partial fluff in here with Blueberry and Spacedad. I was happy when I wrote this. Again, I apologize if the chapter seems a little short but I hope you enjoyed nonetheless.

May the Force be with you,

~Space