|| So, to no one's surprise I'm sure, I might have gotten a little carried away with this one. I must admit, writing in Kanan's POV is fun but also a challenge. They all are, really, which was why I briefly stopped writing for this fandom. I am just super excited about the season two premier though so here we go.
Like always, I hope you enjoy my super long continuation of this story. All mistakes are mine, all hate will be burned. ||
The mission had never meant to end like it did.
The Empire wasn't involved in any way he could tell and there was no way he could've known that there were still people on the ship. He should've known, though, because that was his job. As leader, as master, it didn't matter. He should've just known.
He hadn't and that was where the problem lied.
He hadn't known and he wasn't the one who paid the price for it.
At the time, however, it seemed perfectly fine. There was a giant cargo ship floating out in the middle of space which was strange for sure but not exactly abnormal. What was abnormal was when Hera reached out towards them there was nothing. Not even static.
He met her green eyes as something almost telepathic passed through them. She seemed to catch on instantly as she started to tilt the GHOST towards the abandoned ship and, predictably enough, Zeb spoke up in protest behind them.
"I don't think so mate," he started and Kanan frowned slightly but he was mostly used to the older warrior fighting against every mission that didn't involve bashing Stormtrooper heads together.
Beside him, Sabine was smirking in that mischievous way of hers. At her sides her fingers started twitching as if she was anticipating all the destruction she was about to cause on that ship, which used to unnerve Kanan but after all the years he's spent living with her he's grown kind of amused by it.
She seemed to have a real knack for blowing stuff up, and once even tried to convince him that explosion was an art. In some twisted way, he supposed she was right. Done the right way, he's found that blowing stuff up could look almost mesmerizing.
"No," Ezra protested surprising Kanan as he shook his head stubbornly, "No, no, no."
And Kanan tried not to be offended by that. After all, most of his plans Ezra usually goes along with silently no matter how bad they seemed like they were. This time though there wasn't even any reason for Ezra to protest, except for the fact that they were headed straight towards an escapable danger.
Of course, Kanan hadn't known that at the time and some part of him will always wonder if Ezra had. Perhaps not consciously but deep down something must have clued him in that something was wrong. Something Kanan and the others missed completely.
"Come on Ezra," he chided instead, a slight smirk spreading across his features as he stared fondly down at his Padawan, "Don't you want to help them?"
"Help who?" Ezra demanded, voice rising slightly towards the end as he visibly forced himself not to glance over at the impending ship, "The ship looks abandoned, probably by space pirates."
Which was always a possibility, Kanan supposed, but he doubted it. Space pirates this far out was rare and they usually leave nothing of the ship they looted.
Ezra was stubborn, though, and he looked like he wasn't going on the ship and nothing anybody said could convince him otherwise. Kanan had not spent most of his time training the kid and not figure out how he ticks though, so he could come up with good enough responses that would probably get the kid to join them.
"No one's making you go," Kanan told him as he rose out of his chair to prep for docking, "You can always stay on the ship. Alone."
He emphasized the last word because in all his experiences with the youth, he's learned that in the face of fear he never wants to be alone. No one really does and Kanan felt his victory before he ever made it out of the room.
"Wait up for me!"
A triumphant grin spread across Kanan's face at his win as his Padawan scrambled to catch up with him. He still seemed frightened but less so the nearer he was to him.
Interesting.
Not that Kanan was going to protest all that much. Admittedly, he does feel better whenever the kid is close to him. That means he still has the power to protect him, keep him from harm, and that's the way Kanan thinks he'll always prefer it. Even before this mission turned sideways.
They entered the ship together, dressed in heavy space suits. Ezra still looked nervous as he hunched his shoulders and remained practically in Kanan's shadow where he probably convinced himself it was safe. It was so childlike Kanan almost felt bad about tricking him into coming.
Almost.
At the time, nothing could've convinced Kanan that the safest place for any of them was when they were all together. Safety in numbers and all that, but later he'll come to realize that he had been wrong about that- especially when the numbers are stacked upon each other.
"Stay close," Kanan commanded as they slowly made their way through the ship, searching for any signs of life.
Ezra seemed to take the words to heart, stepping impossibly closer so he was practically Kanan's shadow. Kanan resisted an eye roll at the boy's foolishness as he shared a glance with Hera. She was smiling brightly, obviously enjoying the way Ezra seemed to seek him out for comfort and protection.
Something crunched under their boots and a quick inspection ensured that it was nothing all that serious. Just millions of shards of broken glass, probably from the lights.
"Uh Kanan," Ezra spoke up as he hurried to catch up after his slight paused, "What are the odds that we deem this ship not worth out time and just bail? Because I seriously doubt anybody's here. You'd have to be insane to linger any longer."
Kanan snorted at the thought, idly wondering what had the kid so wound up. He reached out with the force and was met with nothing especially sinister.
"You can always head back to the GHOST kid," he reminded his Padawan who replied with the slightest of pouts.
"Yeah, kid, if you can't handle a little darkness," Zeb goaded from behind as Kanan continued forward.
At one time he would've been concerned at the way that came out but he's come to learn that the brashness Zeb uses whenever he treats Ezra is all out of his form of love. Kanan's no fool, he knows Zeb cares for the kid and would probably die for him in a heartbeat but there is a certain appearance he's convinced himself he needs to carry himself with.
Ezra must know that too because the kid is many things but a fool is not one of them. Still, he could be so dense whenever people show even the slightest bit of compassion towards.
"Kanan," Ezra protested as he seemed to ignore Zeb, "I really think we should leave."
There was the slightest traces of fear in his voice now, causing Kanan to frown. It was never his intention to frighten the proud boy enough that he started letting it show.
"What's the matter?" Sabine asked as she passed him bravely, "Is the kid frightened?"
"No," Ezra denied almost instantly, the slightest bit of red coloring his cheeks in all the darkness as he stuck closer to Kanan.
Kanan kind of wished they had ended it there. He didn't really see any need to continually goad Ezra, though he wasn't about to step in to stop it. After all, Ezra was never fond of people fighting his battles for him.
"Look, Sabine," Zeb whispered from behind them, loud enough for Ezra and Kanan to hear, "I think he's scared."
"I think you're right," Sabine agreed and Kanan could imagine her nod her head in that comically serious way of hers.
Ezra didn't speak again so he was either ignoring them or have come to the conclusion that they were right and that he was being silly. Not that Kanan thinks any less of his Padawan, knowing it wasn't how much people fear that makes them brave but how they face their fears.
That makes Ezra braver than most. Braver than him, even.
A chill crept down his spine, a warning sign as something very bad dawned on them. He froze as he slowly turned so he could see his crew, staring up at him expectantly but it was like he wasn't really seeing them. Not with the sudden urge to run was threatening to overcome him.
"We should head back," he quickly commanded, his instincts screeching at him to get out of there because he had just made perhaps the biggest mistake in his life.
"Why?" Hera inquired as she frowned, looking around them for the danger she can't see, "Is something wrong, love?"
Yes, he wanted to scream at her, something is very wrong and we need to leave immediately.
Instead he said, "Something feels… off," as he tried looking through the darkness and piece together what he couldn't see but feel.
That was when the world around them was suddenly lit with red flames followed quickly by Ezra's presence, pressing against his in sudden fear. Kanan latched onto it almost immediately, reassuring himself that everything was still under his control despite the fact that he just screwed up.
Badly.
"Lookie here boys!" a voice cawed from somewhere amongst all the swirling black and red, and Kanan was able to vaguely make out the source as the tall figure standing in front of the rest of them. The leader then.
Beside him, Hera sucked in a breath as she tensed and he realized she must have come to the same conclusion as he had.
"Pirates."
He hadn't even realized he had said that out loud until Ezra's thin frame went completely stiff with fear as he exclaimed, "Kanan, they're slave traders."
Something icy cold and sickening filled Kanan as he realized the kid was right, even before the leader spoke up again.
"Clever boy," the trader praised and something fierce and protective unraveled inside of Kanan as the attention seemed to draw to his Padawan, "The name's Scar and, unfortunately for you lovely folks, you just became my newest merchandise."
Which was never good and something Kanan would never ever agree to just lying down, especially not with the others with him. He knew enough to know that none of them would even stand a chance and he'd have to watch as his family was ripped before him.
His fingers twitched at his sides as something almost ferocious overcame him. It wasn't exactly animalistic but it wasn't humane either. Somewhere in between then.
"I don't think so," he growled stepping forward so the crew was behind him as he added almost too surely, "and if you want to leave this ship alive then I suggest turning around and leaving in whatever ship you came in."
It came out impressive but Scar just burst out in a rough laugh that scraped against Kanan's nerves and making him wince internally.
"That's perhaps the funniest thing I've heard all day," Scar chuckled and Kanan knew when he was being baited but the way it came out- almost too sure- had him wanting to leap into action before the trader reminded, "Unfortunately, you're outgunned and outnumbered so if you'd please just all come silent-"
Kanan's heard enough.
Quicker than his brain could process what he was doing, his gun was up and firing at the source of the voice. With luck, it'd meet its mark and the trader will be stunned enough for them to escape.
Scar wasn't even fazed.
"You shouldn't have done that," he tutted in a sad sort of tone as he muttered, "You see, now my people are going to have to teach you and your people some manners."
Kanan felt his stomach drop as he realized that it hadn't worked when behind him Ezra suddenly leapt forward as he shouted, "Kanan, duck!"
They went down together.
Ezra hissed in pain, indicating that he had been hit as he seemed to sway ever-so-slightly. They were close enough that Kanan was able to make out how the youth blinked, shaking his head as if he was trying to clear his thoughts.
Drugs, then.
Or something much, much worst.
Kanan forced the thought from his mind the second he came up with it as he realized one of the traders were reaching out to grab onto him.
"Kid, look alive!" he demanded and turned around to face his own attacker so he missed the way Ezra fought him off.
They were outnumbered and probably outgunned but Kanan refused to allow the encompassing sensation of despair to overwhelm him. After all, none of them had time to watch their leader fall and crumble.
He spun around as he sought out Hera- not because he believed she would need extra assistance but because he always felt unwell whenever he doesn't have physical confirmation that she's still fine. It's like that with all of them, really, which was one of the reasons it hit him so hard when missions like these end up like they do.
With them fighting to make it through together in one piece.
He managed to lock onto their pilot, banging an assailant unconscious with the butt of her gun, about the same time Scar suddenly breathed, "Jedi."
Fear unfurled quicker than it ever had before when he realized what had just happened. Hera must have realized it too because she locked eyes with him, awaiting for his lead.
He didn't even pause before unclipping his own lightsaber from his belt and igniting it, the slight hiss it made causing several traders to stumble back in fear and shock.
Of all the things they were looting, they were never expecting that.
Why would they?
Jedi's were but all extinct and the force-sensitive kids born wouldn't know the first thing about receiving their own lightsaber much less how to use it without chopping a limb off.
"Kanan, no," Hera protested as she moved over beside him, disagreeing with his decision to out himself in order to protect Ezra.
Not that he could blame her.
After all, it wasn't all that long ago when he had been captured by the Empire and tortured for information- something only Hera knows the true details about.
He held out his arm, pushing her behind him as he spoke in a voice that did not falter, "You know what I am. You let my companions go and I'll go with you quietly."
"Kanan. Don't," Hera repeated a little more assertively, grounding her molars as she resisted the urge to throttle him in front of all these people.
Kanan ignored her, keeping his gaze locked on where he was almost certain Scar was standing. It was a gamble, trusting the trader, but if there was even the slightest chance that it might work that he was willing to latch on with both hands and do whatever it took.
After all, this whole thing was his fault and it was his duty to protect the rest of the crew.
"Kanan," Ezra's small voice practically begged and Kanan felt his resolve falter only slightly at the utter despair in his tone.
He was doing this to protect him, though, so he kept his gaze glued on Scar. Waiting for a reply.
"I see," the trader muttered as he made a show of mulling it over before he nodded, "Alright Jedi. You have a deal. You come quietly and I'll let all your little friends go."
"Unharmed," Kanan added, not trusting the trader but had already come to the conclusion that he didn't have a choice.
As far as he could tell, this was the only way.
"Why, of course," Scar reassured in a deceptively innocent voice as he stuck out his hand, "What do you say, Jedi?"
Kanan would say that he didn't have a choice. The trader has his back pressed against the wall and the only way out was to allow himself to fall so the others could escape. Which was fine, he could survive whatever as long as he knew they were safe.
He switched his lightsaber as he shook the trader's hand, hard eyes focusing on those in front of him before he moved so he could focus back on Hera.
"Get everybody on board," he ordered and when no one moved to obey he snapped, "Now! That's an order!"
Hera still seemed reluctant but she didn't press any further.
She tapped on Ezra's shoulder, motioning for him to follow her so they could leave him behind again because he had been careless and nearly got all of them killed. Ezra seemed to swallow, blue eyes conflicted and Kanan mentally pleaded for the boy to not do something incredibly dumb.
He didn't.
His shoulders slumped slightly as he followed Hera back the way they had come.
"Wait. Grab the woman, the green one. She could be useful," Scar commanded when they made it to the end of the room and fear bubbled back up inside Kanan.
"That wasn't the deal," he snapped in protest, stepping forward to do something when Scar beamed back at him.
"Deals change," he shrugged and Kanan felt anger surge through him as he swung his lightsaber towards the trader's head.
Before it ever had the chance to reach its mark, something hard and solid connected with the back of his skull. Black dots danced across his vision as the shock caused his fingers to go lax, his lightsaber clattering uselessly on the ground in front of him.
"And here I thought we were finally getting along," Scar sighed in disappointment as he reared back to kick Kanan on the ground before jamming something cold and round against his thigh.
Pain unlike anything he's ever felt before entered through his entire frame as he arched his back and darkness claimed him.
"Zeb! Get Kanan out of here! Now!" Hera demanded as she forced herself to not look at the man's now too prone figure lying on the ground as she elbowed one of the trader's that had grabbed her in the mouth. The other went down with a solid kick to the knee.
"Don't let the Jedi escape!" Scar shouted, anger clouding his voice into something much more sinister then before.
Hera ignored him as she took stock of the crew members still standing.
"Ezra! Sabine! Let's go!" she commanded and Sabine followed behind Zeb without protest, guns still up as she shot anyone dumb enough to get near them.
Ezra lingered, body tense as he seemed conflicted.
"Kanan's lightsaber!" he objected as he turned towards it and Hera realized that he wasn't going to move unless physically pushed to do so.
She hurried over towards him as she snapped, "Leave it," which Kanan will be upset about later when he wakes up but she knows he'll understand.
One object wasn't worth the lives of any of them, no matter how valuable that object was.
Ezra just didn't see it that way.
He outstretched his hand, urging the object towards him and unraveling everything Kanan had just tried to piece together. Hera resisted the urge to groan in frustration as she jerked on Ezra's arm.
"Ezra," she growled channeling everything she was currently feeling- the anger, fear, regret- in that single word.
She must have managed to get through the stubborn boy too, as he spun to follow without another complaint.
It didn't matter.
They were all too slow.
Ezra was jerked back from her grasp as something long wound itself around the boy's wrist as Scar cooed maliciously, "Two Jedi."
"Hera," Ezra grunted fumbling with the lightsaber and she wondered if he knew how much like Kanan he was acting like right now.
She seriously doubted it.
"Save it," she protested as she clung onto his other arm equally as tightly, "We're not leaving Kanan; we're not leaving you."
Some things were just out of her control, though, and she prepared herself as the traders descended on them. It didn't matter. She wasn't leaving Ezra to fend for himself, not while he's still so young and inexperienced.
Ezra took that choice from her.
The next thing she knew, she was flying backwards- the door clicking closed behind her. Moving quicker than she ever had before, she scrambled to her feet so she could pound and jerk on the door where Ezra was yet screaming his name.
This couldn't be happening.
It just couldn't.
Ezra gasped from the other side, the sound of metal clanging against metal echoing in her ears as she changed tactics and started ramming her shoulder against the doorframe.
Kanan she knew could handle himself. He'd already been through the worst of it during Order 66, but Ezra was still so young and innocent and she'll never be able to forgive herself for this one.
"I would say that it's been a pleasure!" Scar goaded her from the other side of the door as they no doubt gathered Ezra and started to leave, "Except it hasn't really."
A frustrated cry escaped her throat as she called back in a tone cold enough to burn, "I don't care where you go or where you hide, we'll find you and when we do you better pray that you haven't hurt a single hair on his head. Do you hear me? I mean it!"
Scar just laughed, the sound echoing further and further away.
Behind her, Zeb and Sabine rejoined her expressions wild as they held their weapons out in front of them like they were preparing for a battle. Hera wasted no time in explaining the situation.
"Hurry and help me get this door open!" she commanded and neither one of them said anything as they realized Ezra wasn't with her.
After a slight struggle, one that took too much time in Hera's opinion, they managed to rip the door from the wall only to be greeted with an empty room.
"No," Sabine muttered in denial, choking on even that as golden eyes stared in wide-eyed shock.
Hera ignored her as she moved forward, picking up the lightsaber Ezra had risked his life to protect. He had succeeded but Hera wasn't entirely sure she liked the price it came as.
"Karabast," Zeb cursed, voice lethally angry as he slammed large fists against the metal wall. The sound vibrated around them as he hunched his shoulders at the suddenly soul-crushing thought of losing Ezra.
She curled her hand around the lightsaber as she focused on them, forcing herself to work through this one problem at a time as she commanded, "Both of you, get back on the ship. We're leaving."
Kanan woke up to an icy sensation unlike any that he's felt before. He also had the worst sort of headache, causing him to groan as he flipped over on his mattress.
Sabine blinked back at him, seemingly startled by his recovery as she rose to her feet in sudden excitement. Or worry. Or both.
"Kanan, thank goodness you're awake," she breathed as she fumbled for something at the side of his bed, "Hera's going to be so relieved that you've finally woken up."
"Right," Kanan agreed before asking curiously, "How long have I been out?"
"Only a couple of hours," she reassured, beaming at him but Kanan's been around her long enough to know that something about that smile was too tight, stressed even.
She was hiding something.
"Sabine?" he asked causing for the teen to blink bright owlish eyes at him as she seemingly prepared herself for something, "What happened?"
"I think that's something Hera needs to explain," Sabine replied a little too quickly as she crossed her hands in front of her and hunched her shoulders in a submissive pose, "and you're probably not going to like her take on it."
"Meaning?" Kanan pried as the creepy sensation of dread started to overcome him, his headache worsening as he tried and force himself to remember.
He knows he know he just can't bring himself to recall.
Sabine shielded her gaze, shoulders drooping, but she remained silent. It was odd and if Kanan didn't know any better than he would go so far as to say she was blaming herself for something. He's seen it enough times to recognize the signs, but there shouldn't be anything Sabine should be that upset over.
"Sabine. Kanan," Hera's voice called from the doorway, drawing them both from their thoughts as she stepped forward.
Her eyes were hard in a way Kanan hasn't really seen before. The only time that's ever come close happening a long time ago, back when it was just the two of them.
"Sabine, you can go. Thank you for watching him," Hera urged gently enough, contradicting the way her eyes practically burned and Kanan felt something in his chest loosen when he realized Sabine hadn't been blamed while he was unconscious.
It didn't matter what she did or didn't do.
Sabine looked startled, and for a second Kanan was sure she was going to argue but then she dipped her head and slipped out from the room. The door slid close behind her, the sound echoing in the silent room. Kanan half-expected for all of Hera's rage to suddenly turn on him.
Instead she sat down on the edge of his bed as she reached out to tenderly touch his chest, directly above his heart and her eyes seemed glued to the spot as she just sat there reassuring herself that he was still alive.
"Hera?" he asked, the suspense killing him as he reached up to take her hand in his.
"I'm glad you're alright, love," she told him, voice vulnerable and almost motherly tender and it made something in his chest ache as he realized something was very wrong.
"Hera," he repeated forcing himself upright so he could stare in her eyes as he all but demanded, "What happened?"
"I wasn't enough," she admitted, voice cracking the slightest as she slipped her hand from his and bowed her head as she repeated even more broken up than before, "I wasn't enough to stop him."
"Stop whom?" Kanan pried as something sickly churned in his stomach at the utter despair in her voice, "Hera, did Scar do something to you?"
"No," she reassured with a shake of her head before she snorted, hand coming up to rub at her eyes as she added, "but I swear if I ever get my hands on his lying treacherous neck I'm going to-"
"Whoa," Kanan interrupted reaching out to latch onto both her wrists, fingers curling tightly around them in a way that was almost familiar, "Hera, what happened?"
She turned her head then, green eyes locking onto his as she asked, "What do you remember?"
He blinked, thinking back.
They had been on that ship when they were suddenly surrounded and Kanan had given himself up for the sake of the rest of the crew but Scar had lied. He had tricked them and knocked him unconscious because he only cared about capturing a Jedi.
His eyes widened in sudden clarity as something terrifying and cold nearly overcame him at once.
"Ezra," he gasped, the word almost inaudible and Hera nodded her head as her expression changed from sadness to supportive.
Kanan didn't want support, though. He wanted his Padawan.
"Whoa love," Hera protested as he scrambled from the bed, bare feet connecting with the cold floor and it was the first time he realized he was dressed only in his pants.
"Where's my shirt?" he demanded looking around the room for any sign of his clothes, "and my lightsaber?"
Hera unclipped the familiar weapon from her belt, handing it over to him as she explained, "He didn't want to leave it. They caught him while he was retrieving it?"
He didn't need to ask of whom she was referring to.
"Why did you let him try something so stupid?" he demanded, voice harsh causing Hera to flinch.
His heart stopped when he realized he had struck a sudden nerve. He hadn't meant to throw the blame at her so suddenly, knowing it was solely his fault, but the sudden despair of realizing Ezra was truly gone seemed like almost too much.
"I'm sorry," he apologized, bowing his head and hunching his shoulders as he explained, "It's not your fault. I just- he should've just left it. It wasn't worth his life."
"I know," Hera agreed but she was still keeping her distance like she was afraid he would lash back out at her, "and I tried to stop him but he- he locked me out and they caught him."
Icy cold clarity suddenly filled him as he realized what had happened.
Ezra had ensured Hera and the others were safe once it became clear that they weren't all making it out in one piece. In his last moments he had choose to protect someone else over himself, a large leap over what he had been like when they first met him.
Zeb was right, Kanan had rubbed off of him.
"We'll get him back," Kanan promised her softly, reaching out so he could grab onto her arms tenderly; conveying that he wasn't angry at her but those who took his Padawan.
And himself.
He should've been able to do something, anything, and maybe if he hadn't been subdued as easily as he had then he would've been able to stop them. Protect Ezra like he should've.
"How?" Hera asked, voice cracking as she revealed her vulnerability in front of him- not really for the first time but something about this time seemed wrong, "They could literally be anywhere in the galaxy."
"Did you check for any signs of slave transaction of any sort? They wouldn't sell Ezra off so quickly but perhaps others-"
"There wasn't any others Kanan," Hera interrupted him, turned slightly away as she bowed her head and explained without looking, "Ezra was their only bounty."
"What? Are you sure?" Kanan demanded as something close to despair threatened to overcome him at once.
Hera nodded as she swallowed thickly, eyes glistening and though it was good news that no other innocents had been drawn in the line of fire it made finding Ezra that much harder. Impossible even.
No.
Kanan will rip apart the whole universe if he needs to until he found his Padawan and rescued him. He just had to trust that Ezra stayed alive until then.
"Kanan?" Hera's worried voice asked softly as she reached out towards him and he sighed, turning so he could stare back at her.
"We'll get him back," he repeated with sharper edge in his voice as he steeled his resolve to something unbreakable, "How are the others?"
Hera must have believed him this time around as she didn't bother questioning his change in topic. Surely she must know that to him they were all important and he knew he wouldn't be able to rescue the kid if they were all as bad as he expected.
"Sabine and Zeb are blaming themselves pretty harshly," she explained back to business as her eyes were bright with concern, "They fear that it's their fault. For not listening to him."
Kanan swallowed, remembering the way Ezra had practically begged for them to all leave and how no one bothered to listen to him. Teased him at the fact that he was showing any signs of fear to begin with.
"They know it's not their faults, right?" he demanded and Hera shrugged.
"I've told them it wasn't but they refuse to listen. I had to assign Sabine in watching you so she'll do something other than mope around helplessly," Hera explained before she crossed her arms and added in a sad tone, "Ezra getting caught is really striking them hard. All of us really."
"Hey, I know that you did your best and what happened happened," Kanan reassured as he took her in his arms and just held her there as he added, "Just like I know that no matter where they take him, we'll find them. Ezra's tough, believe in that."
"I know he is," Hera agreed as she nodded in his shoulder before she pulled away and added, "but he's still only a child. What if they sell him to the Empire?"
Kanan's heart stopped at the thought, realizing that if they did indeed do that then there would be no hope in a rescue. The Empire would have him executed before they ever had time to hear about it.
"They won't."
Startled green eyes turned to the conviction in his voice as she asked, "How can you be so sure?"
"I'm not," Kanan admitted with a shake of his head before he added, "but I know they won't because people like that fear the Empire. They'd never even stand a chance."
Hera backed off, keeping bright green eyes narrowed on him as she sighed, "I hope you're right."
Kanan sighed as he bowed his head and forced the thoughts of what would happen to his bright eyed Padawan if the Empire got a hold him. Of the pain they would inflict seconds before they ended him, leaving Ezra to believe that he had been abandoned by the people he thought he could trust.
"Me too."
As it turns out, what Hera had said was sort of an understatement- Zeb and Sabine were in a very bad way.
The first time Kanan realized that was seconds after he made it out from his room, wearing fresh clothes as he fought the itching urge to find Ezra. Searching for his signature had been a bust which either meant two things: it was being suppressed somehow or he was dead.
There was only one of those options he was willing to consider.
So had put on some fresh clothes at the insistence of Hera and exited his room in a little bit too much of a hurry before nearly colliding headfirst into Zeb. The large warrior had been hovering, he realized, which was odd in of itself. The anxious look he was also sporting caught Kanan momentarily off guard.
"Zeb, what's wrong?" Kanan asked in sudden concern as he feared that the Lasat had managed to get injured without anyone noticing.
"I was just wondering if you were able to uh… detect any signs of the kid?" the warrior asked as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck as he added quickly, "Since, you know, Hera told us you were using you two's connection to try and find him."
If the situation hadn't been so dire, if Kanan hadn't been so preoccupied with thoughts of Ezra, then he would've found it in himself to tease the warrior of the fact that he all but admitted that he was worried about Ezra, whom he spends more time tormenting than anything else.
The fact that Zeb was so open with his concern spoke volumes.
"No," Kanan swallowed as he realized the others were feeling the crushing despair he was currently battling.
Zeb blinked as his shoulders tensed.
"What does that mean?" he asked, concern at the idea of something terrible happening to Ezra coloring his voice.
"It could mean any number of things," Kanan explained with a shrug as he tried to convey any sort of ease he could, "but if I had to guess then I would say that they gave him something to help suppress the force. That way they won't have to worry so much about him escaping."
The words, it seemed, relaxed Zeb fractionally.
His back seemed less tense and face less hopeless anyways, though Kanan's willing to acknowledge the fact that he was more than a little preoccupied. Just the thought of something horrible happening to Ezra while under captivity was almost crippling and whatever comfort he could offer the crew was all staged anyways.
The truth was that he was terrified and had almost nothing to go off of.
He was still the leader, though, and it's his job to be strong.
"Why don't you find Sabine and see if you two can't dig something up," Kanan decided, focusing back on his friend, whose shoulders were now slumped in sad acceptance.
Ezra was gone and the only way they were going to get him back is if they pull together and find some sort of clue. A trail. Something. Anything. Then they can all crumble.
"Alright mate," Zeb agreed as he swallowed and nodded, forcing something back as he straightened himself back out so he could pass Kanan.
Kanan remained frozen in place as he felt the warrior pass him, something cold squeezing his heart before he pushed it all down. Deep down so it couldn't overwhelm him and convince him to do something incredibly stupid.
Don't worry Ezra, he called though he was aware the boy would be unable to hear him, wherever you are, we'll find you.
Their first lead was a bust.
It was almost sad by how desperate each of them had clung onto the faintest glimpse of hope only for it to turn out to be nothing, which wasn't abnormal. They've faced plenty of poor leads, followed plenty of poor trails and come out emptyhanded. This time was different, though. This time one of their owns life was at stake.
Kanan isn't even sure how they managed to come across it, only that they had and he had gripped onto too tightly. Too hopefully and everyone else just sort of followed.
They were in a bar near the outskirts of the galaxy Ezra had been nabbed in. It was dark and fairly sparse on people, the few patrons it held all being the type Kanan's spent his whole life avoiding because those were the types of people who had no qualms with killing an entire crew for a couple of spare parts.
Word had filtered in, though, of someone at the bar talking about his slave trade business and how his merchandise was the best.
Kanan had known before they had even arrived that he hadn't been Scar, the voice sounded different, but he figured all traders must know each other. Surely, they had to since the business was already cutthroat and dangerous and allies were just beneficial.
It doesn't take a genius to know that.
So they had devised a plan to go in the bar and force the trader to talk. At the moment, Kanan was sure even a whisper would be enough because he was still unable to get within contact with Ezra and the longer he went without speaking to the boy the lower the chances of ever speaking to him again became.
Kanan knew that. He knew that all too well and he's already lost enough in Order 66; he didn't need to lose anymore. He refused.
Which always seemed to draw problems for him.
"What do you mean you'll be going in alone?" Hera demanded, voice fierce as bright green eyes practically burned back at him as she stood tense; her hands were curled into fists at her sides like she was expecting physical confirmation but Kanan knew better than to get into a brawl with the woman.
Some fights, he knew, he would always be destined to loose.
"Exactly that," he explained as passively as he could though some part of him unhelpfully informed him that that wasn't going to last. Not with Sabine and Zeb glowering at him over Hera's shoulder, seconds away from rebelling against him.
"No Kanan," Hera protested, voice crackling slightly though that did nothing to lessen her resolve, "Absolutely not."
"Look Hera, those people in there are dangerous and I just can't-"
"Can't what?" Hera challenged, unrelenting as hard green eyes narrowed at him suspiciously though he knew he didn't have to worry about her ever believing he was accusing her of being weak. He wasn't that dumb.
"I can't risk anything else," Kanan concluded, slumping his shoulders in defeat and it was like a switch had been flipped in the room.
No longer was anybody staring at him with such hard accusing looks but they looked almost sympathetic. Like they knew out of all of them, losing Ezra hit Kanan the hardest. It had been the same back on Lothal, when the roles were reversed and Ezra seemed to be the only one who refused to give up on him.
You'd do the same for me. In fact, you have.
Kanan blinked, shoving away any thoughts of the youth as he focused back on the crew around him. His crew and his responsibility to keep safe.
"I'm not going to ask for you to risk your lives on this," he finally spoke after a long tense pause as he slumped his shoulders even further, refusing to meet any of their gazes.
A hand settled gently against his shoulder as Hera's soft voice reassured, "And no one expects you to but Ezra's one of us and we all want to get him back. You're not alone, Kanan. Neither is Ezra."
Kanan clenched his hands into tight fists before he sighed, forcing himself to relax, as he nodded and reassured, "I know. Let's do this."
Which was nice until they made it into the bar, found the trader with the big mouth and realized it was all for nothing.
"I swear," the trader pleaded like the hopeless coward he was as he withered on the table in fear as he added, "I have no idea of who you are speaking of."
"Scar. He's a trader just like you. Surely you've heard of him," Hera ground out as Kanan kept the trader pinned to the table by the collar of his shirt, Zeb and Sabine standing behind them with their weapons raised in preparation for any sort of attack.
There wasn't going to be any, though, not with the type sitting in the bar- none willing to step in for someone they vaguely know.
"If I really heard of him do you think I'd be sitting in this bar?" the trader challenged, green skin a sickly color as dark pupils were practically shot as they shifted nervously between Kanan and Hera, "Please. I'm begging you."
Kanan's heard enough.
With a single movement he hefted the trader up so their noses were practically touching as he growled, "If we find out that you're lying to us…"
"I swear I'm not!" the trader begged completely guileless as he continued to blubber for his life.
Kanan hated the moment he had to release the trader, wanting nothing more than to offer some sort of punishment for his choice in lifestyle but knew he couldn't. Not while Ezra was still out there, growing further and further away by the second.
"Kanan," Hera spoke, hard eyes going to focus on him as if to ask if he was sure.
"He doesn't know anything," Kanan explained as he continued to glower down at the sputtering trader on the table, "It's time to go."
"I don't think so!" the sudden booming voice of the bartender called as he slammed something hard against the table, "Who do you think you are? Coming in here and demanding information from my patrons. That's bad for business, don't you know?"
Kanan tensed as he refused to turn around and confront their newest obstacle.
"We're done here," Hera reassured kindly enough, "We'll just be taking our leave."
"Oh no," the bartender persisted, "You don't get to shake down my customers and just leave."
"I don't think you understand," Hera tried anyways and Kanan could feel her nervous gaze shifting back over to him like she was aware of how close he was to snapping. Knowing Hera, that was more probable than possible.
"It's you who I don't think understand," the bartender interrupted and he was on the other side of the counter, reaching out for Sabine.
"Enough!" Kanan shouted, shocking everyone as his now ignited lightsaber swung in front of him like the lethal weapon it was.
He felt calm, like he had when he was certain Ezra had just fallen to his death. That didn't mean he was any less dangerous. If anything, it made him increasingly more so as he knew exactly what he was doing and just stopped caring.
Ezra was out there somewhere and some idiot was keeping them from looking for him.
"We're leaving," Kanan repeated what Hera had said twice, voice unwavering as people gaped at him like the fools they were as he added almost harshly, "and anyone who tries stopping us will learn why they only give these to a select few."
As if to highlight his point, he lazily swung the lightsaber in front of him. Daring them to stop him.
No one spoke up as they turned to leave, Kanan making up the rear as he kept his icy glare directed towards the bartender who was eyeing the lightsaber nervously. Good. He should be nervous.
Hera didn't speak again until they were all safely back on board the GHOST, spinning on him and punching his arm without the lightsaber.
"Are you crazy?!" she demanded, voice raised in her anger as wild green eyes looked back at him, "Now everybody there knows you're a Jedi? What if they tell someone?"
"Tell who?" Kanan asked, voice calmer than it had been in the bar as he met her gaze unrelenting, "We didn't have time to deal with them the normal way. The longer we wasted our time the less likely we have of ever seeing Ezra again."
He hadn't been thinking before he had said it, the words just naturally flowing out because they were true. They didn't have time. He just hadn't been thinking about the consequences of reminding Hera of what happened what felt like months ago.
She flinched.
It wasn't very large but Kanan noticed it nevertheless and just the sight of it made his guilt rise exponentially.
"I'm sorry," he apologized as he stepped towards her to offer some sort of comfort.
She stepped back, wrapping a skinny arm over her chest defensively as she bowed her head and replied, "Don't. I get it. You didn't have a choice. I just- I can't lose you too. Not after everything."
"I know," Kanan reassured as he nodded, fingers curling around her shoulder as he whispered, "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."
That at least drew a short chuckle from her throat as she muttered teasingly, "You never think, love. It's one of your most enduring traits."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Kanan responded with a firm nod and slight smirk.
"I wouldn't," she told him as she shook off his hand to go to the pilot's seat, leaving him standing there for the longest time trying to get his thoughts in order.
He kept going back to a bright eyed boy who looked at everything he did in wonder, making his chest hurt and hands tighten around the hilt of his deactivated lightsaber. He sighed, turning to go back to his room.
Meditating suddenly seemed extremely appealing.
The thing about meditating that Kanan always found nothing short of amazing was the fact that there wasn't any good perception of time. He could do it for hours and finish thinking it had only been a couple of minutes. It was one of those things he had been taught, though and he remembered long boring hours of just sitting with his master on the floor of the temple.
It was also something he wished to share with Ezra but the kid was too much like a younger him for his own good. Restless and too curious but also protective. He cared about those around him and it was that reason he was even missing to begin with.
Despite neither one of them being willing to admit it, Ezra and Kanan weren't all that different. The boy just seemed rougher around the edges, having grown up on the streets whereas Kanan had a temple.
Kanan's learned sometime after the execution that meditating was a good way for him to just forget his troubles. It helped him realign his waning focus to something more precise and intense.
Now it was like he was a Padawan unable to focus on anything.
He sighed for what felt like the millionth time, opening his eyes as he furrowed his brow in agitation. It didn't matter, whatever he tried his brain just kept drifting back to his lost Padawan and how the longer they went without any idea of what happened to him the less likely they have of ever seeing him again.
Logically, Kanan knew this.
Emotionally, he refused to accept it.
"This is pointless," he finally growled not even an hour after he started, rising to his feet as he racked his brain for anything to keep him occupied.
He didn't have to search for very long.
Something nudged at the very edges of his brain and he didn't have to think much before his defenses were up, blocking out the violation. Yet they persisted, unyielding as they tried wiggling themselves past his defenses.
He blinked as a flush of recognition startled him.
"Ezra?" he asked as he dropped all his defenses, something he hadn't done in a while because of how vulnerable and weak it made him.
"Kanan," Ezra's small voice responded relief evident before he quickly added, "No time, Kanan. They're taking me to Geonosis."
Kanan blinked at the vaguely familiar name, more shocked by the sudden lead than anything else really as he locked onto his Padawan's signature stubbornly. Ezra welcomed his presence, probably without even knowing it.
From where Kanan was now crouched down on the floor of his room, he could make out that they were quite a distance away and it was impressive Ezra had managed to single him out. Especially considering how weak and tired he was as he bravely fought back the terror he probably hadn't been able to shake away since the ship.
Kanan swallowed back his guilt, focusing on his Padawan and nothing else.
"What? Ezra," he continued if nothing else than to just keep in contact with the boy.
There was a flash of pain from Ezra's side, making Kanan's stomach churn before the boy's weakening voice spoke, "Kanan… can't… drugs… Geonosis."
Then as quickly as he came, he was gone.
Kanan gasped, eyes wide and skin clammy as he racked his brain for anything he knew about Geonosis. Admittedly, it wasn't much.
He did know that that was where his Padawan was going, though, and that the boy had sounded so scared and weak that it pained his chest. He didn't really need any other incentive.
Rising to his feet, he bolted from his room to where Hera was piloting her ship. Chopper was the only other person with her, apparently keeping her company as she steered aimlessly until they received some sort of lead to go on.
"Hera," he gasped as calmly as he could, startling her.
"What are you doing love?" she asked as concern dripped from her voice and he could tell she was seconds from climbing from her chair, which he didn't find much need for.
"Geonosis," he replied disregarding her question as he tried willing her to understand through his eyes, "They're taking Ezra to Geonosis."
Her back tensed as green eyes sparkled with hope as she asked, "Are you sure?"
He just swallowed. Nodded. Knowing that if this turned out to be a bust then he'd probably sink so far down there would be no hopes for redemption for him.
He just can't lose anymore.
Hera, thankfully, didn't need much more convincing as she spun back around and set a course towards their newest destination. Her shoulders were taut as she focused on the location, on the hope that it brought.
It wasn't meant to last.
Sabine and Zeb rushed in, eyes wide in panic, as Zeb asked, "What's wrong? Did we get a hit on the kid?"
"Geonosis," Kanan explained as he took his seat beside Hera, stomach fluttering with the thought of finally finding a good solid lead. Behind him, Sabine tensed.
"Are you sure?" she ventured golden eyes wide and scared in a way Kanan couldn't make sense of.
He nodded, narrowing his gaze as he asked, "You familiar with it?"
She snorted, bending her head awkwardly as she practically spat, "Yeah. I'm familiar with it. It's a terrible place, holding executions in the most terrible ways."
"What?" Hera demanded, turning back around after setting the GHOST on autopilot as she narrowed her gaze and asked, "Why haven't we heard anything about it?"
"Because it's mostly kept a secret," Sabine explained and she still refused to meet any of their eyes as she continued, "I heard about it before I joined you, and it's horrible what they do to those people. If that's where they're taking Ezra then-"
She broke off, bending her shoulders in towards herself defensively and Kanan didn't need the force to know that she was suddenly terrified for their youngest.
Something hard settled in the pit of his stomach as he shared a look with Hera. She didn't need any words as she shallowed and nodded, getting the message clear enough.
"Got it," she nodded, pushing the GHOST to go a little bit faster as Kanan prayed that they weren't too late.
They were really far away from Geonosis. Almost too far to offer any sort of comfort to Kanan because if what Sabine had said was true than so many terrible things could have already happen to Ezra. He could be dead before they even arrived.
That thought didn't come until much later, after everything happened, because Kanan just refused to acknowledge it. Ezra wasn't going to die because he'd never let him, simple as that.
The others agreed with him too, though none of them admitted that out loud.
It didn't matter the distance, they would always find Ezra wherever they took him. It just didn't help much that they took him to his own execution, almost as bad then if they had dropped him off to the Empire for a couple of credits.
They arrived after what felt like an eternity but wasn't more than several hours. Too long, Kanan was certain, and before Hera ever managed to land the GHOST everybody was on their feet and ready for a war.
The plan was simple enough- go in, stop the execution and rescue Ezra alive. That last part seemed to be what stayed with them as they hurried out of the ship less like a ragtag group of rebels and more like a highly trained team of warriors.
It was amazing how they all seemed to be just that and had just sort of found each other. Now that one of theirs was threatened it was like all the training rushing back to them as they focused all on a single thing: Ezra.
Hera had landed close enough to the arena that guards were waiting for them, the crowd on the inside cheering excitedly as whatever was happening came to an uproar. Kanan tried really hard not to focus on that, but the situation at hand.
"Sabine!" he called, fingers tightly clutching at his blaster as he resisted the urge to reach for his lightsaber.
She acknowledged his command by reaching behind her and flicking her wrist. Several silver round orbs shot out from her, spinning in graceful arcs, before hitting their marks and exploding. It blast seemed to shake the whole arena though the crowd didn't seem frightened as they continued to cheer.
Kanan bit the inside of his mouth, firing off two shots at one of the remaining guards while Zeb knocked the other on his back with his staff. Hera was beside Sabine, gun out as she met his eyes.
The crowd cheered louder this time.
"Go!" Hera called as several more guards arrived to investigate and he nodded as he rushed past them. One reached out to grab him but was stopped by Hera shooting several skilled shots to his chest.
Soon Kanan was in what appeared to be a long tunnel and he took a deep breath as he pushed with the force and focused on his surroundings. Several people currently stood not far from where he was and he adjusted his steps so that was where he was heading.
As long as Ezra was lost to him, he'd have to deal with the next best thing and anything who could help point him in that direction was good enough for him.
He reached stairs, not even slowing down as he took three at a time. Once he reached the top, he was greeted with two more guards. Thankfully, they were more surprised of his sudden appearance and were easily taken out by several skilled shots.
He hurried past their limp forms, rounding a corner and was nearly blinded by the sun as he found the balcony holding who he supposed where those in charge. He swallowed past the rage threatening to overcome him as he rushed forward.
The first guy dropped with a smack to the head; the next one went down with a single shot to the chest leaving the last one. The one with the long staff and wide eyes as recognition filtered in.
"I knew the boy was trouble," he spat, anger clouding his voice an angry shade.
Kanan narrowed his gaze at those words.
Ezra. He was talking about Ezra. He just had to be.
"Where's the boy?" Kanan demanded, taking a threatening step forward as his fingers twitched around the handle of his gun.
The other occupant just spat at the ground, face furious as he regarded Kanan a look with such immense hatred it almost unnerved him. Last time he checked, they never did anything to him to be regarded with such unadulterated burning hatred.
"All of you can go and rot," he spat at Kanan as long fingers clutched at the staff and Kanan figured that he wasn't getting anything out of him.
"You first," Kanan commanded, rushing forward and clanging the end of the gun against his skull; he fell limply to the sandy ground, long robes hanging from his body as he fell.
Kanan turned so he was facing the crowd, who no longer seemed as eager to cheer, as he gathered his voice and called, "This execution is canceled!"
It was also the first time he noticed the arena was missing a certain Padawan. Instead, several of the guards were regathering themselves as they clutched long prods. In the corner, a large cat-like beast was shaking itself off as it was poked by the prods as they tried regaining control of it.
Kanan ignored them as he tried finding his Padawan.
It was obvious of where he had been, probably tied to the pillars so the execution would've been quick and painless. Ezra must have caused quite a stir considering the chains were now broken off, one of them missing completely while the other laid limply in the dirt.
That didn't explain where the kid was at now though.
Something roared in one of the tunnels leading out to the arena, echoing out in the arena as the crowd seemed to blink in dumb shock. Kanan ignored them as he changed directions and headed back towards the stairs, towards the noise.
He figured, with Ezra, that was his best bet.
He was right, at least.
He hadn't even made it there before he heard Zeb call out from just around the corner, "Kanan, we found him! He's still alive."
He hurried his stride, taking the last corner and blinked as Ezra and the others finally came into view.
Ezra was unconscious in the dirt, wrists still chained while the others hovered over him worriedly. He hurried the last couple of feet, already speaking before his brain had a chance to catch up.
"Don't move him. We don't know how bad it is," he said earning a look from Hera that seemed to convey how dumb she thought that sentence was.
He just shrugged as he finally made it to his Padawan's side, bending over him as he yearned to reach out and touch after so long.
"Kid can you hear me?" he asked, voice surprisingly unshaking, "Kid?"
Ezra didn't respond verbally though his eyelids did flutter, causing something in Kanan's chest to finally relax in relief. He looked back up at Hera, who shared his relief.
"Everyone, back on the ship, now!" he commanded as he swooped over Ezra, knowing he needed to move him and prayed whatever damage had been inflicted wasn't in anyway fatal.
"On it," Hera nodded with a swallow as she turned to lead Zeb and Sabine away.
Kanan reached out then, fingers lightly dusting against the boy's pale skin as he called, "Can you hear me, kid?"
Ezra groaned, soft and the only sound that he was there at all. It was enough.
Kanan swooped him up, holding him close to his chest as he marveled how small the boy actually seemed. He pushed that thought back as he followed in the directions the others had disappeared to.
"Kanan?" a small voice asked weakly and it was like sudden relief shot through Kanan suddenly as he looked down at tired blue eyes foggy with exhaustion.
"Hang on, kid," Kanan whispered down at the boy as he smiled brightly at him, "You're going to be okay."
And for the first time since waking up in a world without Ezra, Kanan found himself believing it himself. Ezra must have too, as his entire body went limp a split second later.
36 hours.
Ezra had been asleep for 36 hours, which he figured made some sort of sense considering everything he had been through. That didn't mean Kanan had to like it, of course.
Hera had been in and out; Zeb more out than in as Kanan's usually found him hovering outside the doorframe with a worried expression etched across his features despite the fact that it was technically also his room. Sabine for the most part came and went, not even hiding the fact that she was checking up on the youth.
Kanan, though, Kanan hadn't been in at all.
He's walked by, of course, but he hasn't gone inside. He'd just ask Hera whenever she came out and she'd look at him exasperatedly as she told him the same exact thing each time.
"He's recovering, love. He needs time."
Kanan knew that. Just like he knew how close they had come to losing him completely and that thought alone was enough to nearly cripple him.
36 hours later and he's had enough as he finally entered the room holding his Padawan. He just hadn't been expecting for the kid to be awake.
He blinked as they stared at each other, Kanan not sure if he should leave or stay. Ezra might not even want company, much rather being by himself which was fine with Kanan. At this point, anything the boy wanted he would give it to him.
Instead the kid grinned as he teased, "You sure took your sweet time coming for me, huh? What? Did you stop to go sightseeing?"
Kanan chuckled as something fuzzy settled in his stomach as he realized the boy was fine, all things considered. And whatever bumps he'd face in the future they would be able to handle together.
"You scared the crap out of us kid," Kanan spoke as he shook his head, "Whenever you told us where they were taking you."
"Yeah…" Ezra agreed slowly as he adverted his gaze suddenly and Kanan almost feared he had misspoken, "That won't be my choice for a vacation place any time soon."
Kanan chuckled again as he was nearly giddy with relief, finally closing the distance between them and settled himself at the edge of the bed. Ezra stared back at him, blue eyes bright in anticipation and relief. He must have felt it too.
Slowly, just to be sure, Kanan reached out and brushed gentle fingers across the boy's forehead. Ezra closed his eyes in acceptance and the fact that he didn't suddenly disappear was a pleasantly good sign.
"Kanan," Ezra whispered suddenly, "Thank you. For coming for me."
Kanan retracted his hand so he could touch the boy's arm, keeping his grip gentle as he just reassured himself that the boy was really there and mostly fine all the while he whispered, "Of course."
His fingers stopped at Ezra's wrists, still tightly bound by bandages. Just the sight of them caused him to swallow as he remembered how bad they had been. The cuffs having cut deeply in the skin, and it was a miracle they weren't bad enough to scar.
"How's your wrists?" he asked because he really wanted to know. He needed to be sure.
"Fine," Ezra reassured blinking back at him all wide-eyed and filled with childlike affection, "I'm fine. You came, and I'm fine."
"Ezra. We both know that it's not that simple," Kanan reprimanded knowing that the worst had yet to come. Not that it mattered. Kanan figured he'd always come for Ezra- no matter what.
"I know," Ezra admitted after a slight pause as he bowed his head so it was closer to Kanan, "but, at the moment, I think it is. I feel fine, at least.
Kanan chuckled again as he explained without much thought, "That's the drugs we gave you talking."
Ezra shuffled then, restless, as he asked, "Drugs? What kind of drugs?"
And Kanan knew better. After all, there was a reason he hadn't been able to contact Ezra at all the entire time.
"Whoa. Calm down," he reassured softly as he set his hands against too bony shoulders, "They're just a couple of drugs to help with the pain."
Ezra deflated under his hold, shoulders slumping as his head bowed even further forward and he couldn't resist asking, "What did they give you?"
"I'm not sure," Ezra admitted voice small, "Some sort of suppressor. I was unable to focus on the force at all."
"I was afraid of something like that," Kanan admitted as he kept his gaze focused on Ezra as he continued, "After you managed to contact me and tell us where you were going before suddenly disappearing again. I'm sorry- that you had to endure that."
Ezra shrugged, rolling his head on his neck as he asked, "It's over now, at least. No more suppressors for me. Right?"
"Right."
And Kanan's meant it more than he ever has anything before in the past.
Ezra breathed again in relief, Kanan eyeing him carefully as he seemed to search out any signs of weakness. Any cracks left after what he had just been through. Ezra must have felt it too, the kid always more perceptive than he liked to let on.
"Kanan?" he asked, "Did I do the right thing back in the arena?"
"Of course," Kanan agreed as the question unnerved him slightly and he asked worried, "Why would you think otherwise?"
"Cause I let Scar loose," Ezra explained like it was obvious and a chill crept down Kanan's spine at the mention of the trader's name, "I lost him when he knocked me out and he's probably off selling people like items."
The thought of the trader hurting Ezra sent something cold and bitter through Kanan as he pushed back the thought. It didn't really matter. They got Ezra back.
"Listen to me," Kanan demanded as he jabbed Ezra's forehead to ensure the boy was paying attention to him, "There was nothing you could do about that. Do you understand? Nothing, and I'm just thankful that we found you in once piece."
Because they were so close to not doing just that.
Ezra furrowed his brow in though as a pregnant pause settled between them before he asked again, "Kanan?"
Kanan hummed, awaiting for another question. Another insecurity. Whatever it was he'd battle them all off as long as that meant that Ezra remained at his side where he belonged.
Ezra didn't ask anything, though. He just leapt forward, wrapping skinny little arms around his waist and squeezing. Kanan only hesitated slightly, the boy catching him off-guard, before he returned the gesture and it was like the last weight was lifted off from his chest as he realized he could breath because they had done it. They found Ezra and brought him back to their little group of wayward rebels, battling against a bigger fight.
They were complete.
|| And that's the end of that... Sort of. Just to give a little heads up, the chances of me adding (much) smaller stuff to this is high. I suppose it all really depends on my future moods and how badly school kicks my butt.
On a much more positive note, thanks for all those who reviewed, favorite, followed, and pretty much just read the first part of this story and I'm super glad you all liked it enough to want a second part. Furthermore, it also pleases me to see that most of you enjoy my OC Scar which was kind of a concern of mine. OCs, I found, can be almost obnoxious sometimes overcoming the story though if done right then they can be extremely effective. I could only hope Scar was effective, though I must admit he's a joy to write.
Reviews are always enjoyed and they help me see how I'm doing as a writer. Thanks to all those who's made it this far and I hope you a wonderful night. ||