Thank you guys for being so patient with my slow updates, and I'm sorry for making you wait so long for this chapter, anyhow, hope you enjoy!
Ezra's hands shook as he fumbled with the jacket of his suit, putting it on. Zeb, sitting on the edge of his mattress, looked up and noticed.
"Easy kid. Just stay calm, and things'll turn out alright, you'll see." He said gruffly. He didn't know what else to tell the boy. What else was there to say?
Ezra nodded as though he was accepting the advice. It was easier said then done. Nervousness was making his heart pound hard against his ribcage and left his legs feeling like they were made of jelly. He wiped his slick palms on the suit that Kanan and Hera had bought him, than almost immediately checked to make sure it didn't stain the fabric. He gave a sigh of relief when he found it hadn't.
It had been just a little over a week since his talk with Sabine. Since then he and the others had been kept busy, arranging meetings with their lawyer Morad Sumer and trying to figure out how to present their case. Now it all boiled down to this day.
The day of the trial.
Ezra had just finished buttoning his coat and was reaching for his tie when there was a knock on the door. It cracked open just enough for Kanan's head to poke through. The man exchanged a quick greeting with Zeb before turning his green eyes on the younger boy's pale face. He smiled gently, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Hey there kid." He stepped inside. Like Ezra and Zeb, he was dressed in a dark colored suit, his long hair greased back into a ponytail.
He came to a stop in front of Ezra. Taking the tie out of the youth's inexperienced hands, he started to fix it around the child's thin neck. Ezra squirmed nervously as the man worked.
"Hold still Ezra. I'm almost done." Once he finished Kanan straightened and looked over the teen's outfit. He gave another grin.
"Well, who knew you could clean up that nice." His voice became a mock whisper.
"Better than you-know-who over there." He motioned in Zeb's direction. The other man growled menacingly, though there was no true anger behind it.
Ezra grinned slightly at that before adding. "Even Chopper could dress up better than him."
"Hey!" Kanan and Ezra laughed at Zeb's mock protest. While it didn't completely eradicate the tension, it did lessen it down to a more manageable level.
"Did we miss something?" Hera stood in the open doorway. Chopper was winding his way around her ankles, leaving cat hairs all over the hem of her black skirt. She gently nudged him away with her high-heeled foot before adjusting the collar of her blouse. A small charm bracelet jingled on her wrist.
"Not much." Kanan smiled. "Just discussing fashion ideas."
She rolled her eyes at him playfully. It was then that Sabine appeared behind her mother. She was dressed in a purple sleeveless dress with a hem that ended at her knees. Her normally cheerful face was sober.
"I just spoke to Morad on the phone. He said that he'll meet us at the courthouse just before the trial begins."
Hera came over to where Ezra and Kanan stood. She rested a hand on the youth's shoulder, looking into his large blue eyes.
"How are you holding up, love?"
Ezra let his gaze drop down. His slender shoulders rose and fell in a half hearted shrug.
"Okay, I guess. Things could be worse." He tried to smile at her, but it came out as more of a grimace.
Hera's face was sympathetic. She squeezed his shoulder gently, then bent down slightly to plant a small kiss on his head. Ezra closed his eyes, savoring the feel of her lips against his skin. It reminded him of when he was small, when his mother would come in after a long day at work and hold him.
Kanan waited until Hera had released the teen before kneeling in front of him. He stared into the blue orbs that looked down on him.
"Are you ready to go?" His voice was soft.
No, Ezra wasn't ready. Then again, he never would be. Yet still he knew that he had to. So he stood straighter and gave a small, sharp nod.
"Yes."
…..
Like Morad had warned them, the trial was rough. And none of them were more emotionally wreaked than Ezra.
The boy was white from the moment they pulled into the parking lot of the courthouse. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, but not before Kanan noticed how they shook.
Together they had entered the building. Just outside the courtroom they had found Morad, waiting for them patiently. The lawyer had nodded to them, then squeezed Ezra's slender shoulder in a reassuring gesture. The boy simply looked at the ground, refusing to meet his eyes.
The trial itself was fused with emotion, anger and fear the most prominent of them all. And they had only grown stronger when Ezra had taken the stand.
During the boy's testimony, Kanan's hands had clutched into tight fists, fingernails biting into his palm as fury filled his chest. He didn't have to look at the others to know that the same expression was on their faces, most strongly in Hera's.
The abuse had went far beyond what any of them could have ever imagined. Ezra, in a pain lanced voice, described how Trevor would come home late every night drunk. He explained how the man would become furious for no apparent reason. How he would come into the boy's room at night. He would attack the boy, declaring that the youth was evil and deserved to suffer just like his parents had.
Hera had gasped when Ezra reached that part. Noticing the tears in her eyes, Kanan had taken her hand, squeezing it lightly.
Glancing over at the defendant's table, Kanan saw Trevor glaring at Ezra, hatred twisting his face into an ugly scowl. It had taken all of Kanan's self control not to go over and punch the man squarely in the jaw.
The rest of the trial was pure torture. Trevor's lawyer, a tall, blonde man by the name of Kallus, had come forward and questioned the youth. His questions were straightforward and personal. He demanded to know about Ezra's years on the streets and the incidents that happened then.
It was horrible for Kanan, watching the fear on his charge's face as his entire life, including the deaths of his parents, were waved in front of his face in the name of 'evidence'. He was little more than a child, yet these people were subjecting him to the most painful details of his life. Why, what did he ever do to deserve this?
When the pale faced Ezra was finally able to leave the stand, his first reaction was to run right up to the others and slam straight into Kanan, burying his face into his chest. Startled, the man had wrapped his arms around the small teen, holding him close. This was the first time that Ezra had actually went to any of them for comfort. It broke his heart, seeing how much this affected the youth.
Then Morad had come forward and presented their case. He had pointed out the evidence that had been discovered(Several sharp objects had been found with Ezra's blood, along with Trevor's fingerprints, on them.) He had called forth several witnesses. One, Trevor's neighbor, had admitted that she had noticed his late night outings and how Ezra had become even more jumpy over the course of time, but hadn't stopped to think what it could signify.
On and on the trial went, until Kanan thought that he would scream. What was there to talk about? It was painfully clear that Trevor was guilty, was the judge a idiot?
Finally, after hours of questioning, debating, and presenting of evidence, the conviction was made. The entire room was silent, breathless as they waited for the Judge's announcement.
Finally the decision was declared; Trevor was found guilty of child abuse and was sentenced to twenty years without parole.
Sabine whooped with delight and high fived a stunned Ezra. Zeb laughed with joy. Hera simply gathered Ezra into her hold, squeezing him tightly.
Once she had released Ezra from her grip, the boy looked over at Kanan with a sunny smile. His eyes were bright with his relief and gratefulness. Kanan returned the grin.
Trevor had become furious. He began struggling as the officers tried to lead him away. He began screaming at Ezra, spitting out curses and insults at him.
Seeing the expression on the teen's face fall, Zeb growled. He placed large hands over the younger males ears, trying to block out the sound of his former abuser's angry cries.
Finally, still screaming, Trevor was dragged out of the courtroom. Once he was gone, Kanan turned to Ezra.
"You alright?"
After a long moment, Ezra nodded. Slowly his expression lifted, if still subdued.
"Yeah. In fact, I'm better than okay." He gave a small smile just as Morad approached.
Kanan took hold of the lawyer's hand, shaking it heartily. He didn't know what to say, except to thank him over and over. Morad had simply smiled at that.
"My pleasure." He also shook the hand that Hera offered him. Then he bent over so that he was eye to eye with the boy next to her. He offered another smile.
"Guess the future's looking a bit brighter now, umm?"
Ezra giggled slightly. He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around the man's neck, giving him a quick hug. It was only a second before it was returned.
Ezra twisted his head so his mouth was near Morad's ear, whispering two words.
"Thank you." Finally he pulled back, wiping his face on his sleeve. He accidently bumped into Sabine. Before he could even apologize, she had her arms around him, holding him close. He turned in her grasp, hugging his 'sister' back. For the first time in eight years, he felt at peace.
A/N Sorry if the trial didn't seem accurate to a real one. I tried to do research and did my best, so I hope it seems alright.