I'm back again. Watched the Acolyte finally, very disappointed. What did y'all think about it? Anyways enjoy as always! :)
. . .
(Ezra POV)
Sabine and I had never defined our relationship. The quiet moments alone together, the kisses late at night.
And the sex. Force save me.
But to my knowledge there were no tells to anyone not named Sabine or Ezra.
"Outside. Now." Kanan's pony tail bobs slightly as he brushes past me and out the door of the Ghost. I throw a nervous smile to the rest of the crew, who were huddled around the holotable watching Chopper kick Zebs ass in Dejarik again.
Sabine eyes me with a sense of confusion, but relents and gives me a subtle wink. Smiling to myself, I follow Kanan's lead out the door and towards doors of the hanger bay.
If these old ruins are good for anything, it's providing space.
The rebel cell here on Yavin IV utilized the massive ground floor of the ruined temples as hangar bays for all of their fighter squadrons. But even then, the place felt dark and empty.
The bay doors were partially closed, signaling the 30 minute warning before they closed for good.
They were strict around here about locking the place down at night. Something about hostile wildlife.
Once we reached the edge of the hanger, Kanan pivoted to turn and face me. "You and Sabine." His face contorted slightly, seemingly choosing his words carefully.
"She told you." I close my eyes for a beat, and hang my head slightly.
"Not a word. But I'm not stupid." He cleared his throat briefly, an indication that a lecture was incoming.
Kriff. I blew it.
I feel Kanan's eyes on me and look up to meet them. "I've heard the comments of the rest of the crew after Coruscant."
I can feel my brow furrow as I put together the pieces.
If he's suspected for so long, why now?
"Are you telling me to stop?"
"No, I'm asking you where this is heading."
"Are you going to tell her to stop?"
"No." Kanan hesitated for a moment, he seemed to understand that there was a line to be crossed.
We aren't exactly "besties" anymore.
"Jedi can't love. No attachments. I've taught you this before." Kanan's tone didn't hint at disappointment or dissatisfaction. It was almost as if he wanted to warn me.
Maybe he should recite this in a mirror, because force knows his relationship with Hera is long beyond the title of crewmates.
"We're not supposed to. But we do sometimes." I gesture between us. "I do."
"You're serious about her then?"
"After Coruscant I can't afford to not be." I glance away from Kanan's stare to watch the maintenance finish up their repairs on a squadron of X-wings. "She picked me up at my lowest and brought me back. I was headed down a dark path, Kanan." I turn to face him once again. "You know that."
"I do." He seemed to contemplate my monologue for a moment. "Have you worked this out? Up here?" He motions to his head.
"Some." I nod
What's there to work out? The Jedi Order is long gone, and Force knows I don't belong anyways.
"Ezra, I didn't drag you out here to scold you about Sabine. These situations can be tricky for Force users. Emotions are hard to control, especially in a time of war."
War? More like a one sided beatdown in favor of the Empire.
"I understand. I'll keep it in check," This is how I figured a conversation would go with my father after he found a box of condoms in my dresser drawer.
"I'll see that you do." He gives me a nod and turns as the bay doors start to close.
Great.
. . .
Bow ties suck.
Grimacing slightly, I tug at the corners straightening the small black tie.
Kriff that's tight.
The suit fitting was off.
How did I manage to wear this thing to the ball on Alderaan?
Swinging my arms, I manage to get a little bit of leeway from the seams.
"Nice shirt."
Shifting my eyes to the corner of the mirror, I catch a glimpse of Sabine's silhouette lingering in the doorway.
The Ghost was on route for Canto Bight, where Casino dealers were suspected of trading illegal firearms and intel to the Empire for protection.
Hera's "Fulcrum" contact is worried for the rebel cells' safety. The plan is to wipe any information regarding rebellious activity from their servers. Or bribe them to cooperate.
I did my research for this one. Undercover makes me uneasy, not my style.
Apparently the Boss Man at the main casino complex has a daughter. Their entire family is treated like royalty planetside.
She's my best bet.
Sabine leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms. "You look decent." she nods with a smirk.
Turning to face her, I can't help but laugh. "What, you don't like the blue?" I smooth out the shirt with my palms.
"I do." her eyelids are low as she steps forward slowly. "Your color coordinated."
I feel my eyebrows raise. "Is that so?" I play her game in an attempt to see what she's getting at.
Her hands find my chest as she peers up at me, "Yours eyes, and your shirt. Coordinated."
I chuckle lightly, wrapping my hands around her waist. Sabine was clad in a tight black dress, lined in silver jewels. Her hair, silver with black roots to complete the look. "I didn't even notice."
"I did." her face is close, rich perfume floats stained with the familiar smell of fresh dye. "Blue is my favorite color." her voice is barely a whisper as she plants a quick kiss on my jaw then brushes my lips.
The moment doesn't last long as she presses her hands against my chest in order to create space. "Now hurry it up. We're dropping out of hyperspace in 10."
I run a hand through my hair as I watch her leave. Here we go again.
. . .
(Sabine POV)
The casino was flowing. Hundreds of species alike, moving from table to table spending credits like there was no tomorrow.
You'd think a ball in a royal palace would prepare you for something like this.
It didn't. The air was filled with temptation. A current flaccid and unconfined, reaching every corner of every room. Gambling, drugs, sex, this place had it all.
Hera's heels clicked loudly as she led me through the masses, crossing and weaving until we landed at the bar.
Kanan.
The rogue jedi was slumped on a stool, right arm perched supporting his head.
"Darling?" Hera's voice was warm, but her demeanor was not.
She's pissed.
"Honey, how are we doing?" Hera's hand glided across the middle of Kanan's back. His eyes slowly drifted over, glancing once in my direction then locking with Hera's.
"I'm fine, just a long night." Downing the rest of his glass, Kanan spun around on his stool rubbing his eyes violently. "Heard from Ezra?" his words were slow, but calculated. He's still sharp despite the amount he's drunk tonight.
In the years I've spent with this man, I've never seen him like this. This twice in the span of what? A couple months?
"Nope not yet." Hera signals to the barkeep and receives a glass of water. "Drink this. I'll see if I can find him." Kanan reluctantly accepts the glass, peering up at Hera his face is laced with shame.
Without giving him a second glance, Hera turns on a dime and starts in the direction of the gambling tables. I hurry to catch up, throwing a last look over my shoulder towards the bar.
"What's his deal?" my question comes out angrier than I anticipated.
Hera shakes her head violently, diamond earring dancing in the light. "He's resorting to his old self." Hera finally slows down as we find ourselves by a collection of elaborate paintings spanning from floor to ceiling.
Not bad. But too bland.
I roll my eyes back over to Hera. She's mentioned once how they met. Something about a shady cantina and a mining depot in the outer rim. "Why's that? Why now?"
Hera scoops up a tall glass from a passing astromech. Sipping it quickly, she turns to eye me. "He's stressed. About this mission. About the . . . cell. About you and Ezra. About everything." She shakes her head again, lekku swaying as she downs the glass and trades it for another.
Hera makes a face at the apparent look on mine. "What? Zeb's flying."
"Yea but what about the . . . mission?" I say quietly. I give a quick look around and catch a group of Sullustans cheering at one of the tables.
"It's taken care of. Ezra's with the Casino Owner's daughter as we speak. I trust he's capable of following this thing through."
I feel my eyes go wide. "He's what?!" I step closer to Hera, grabbing her glass out of her hand. "That's where he's been this whole time?"
Hera nods, and snatches her glass back. "That was the deal I made with him. He sees this mission through, and I don't say a word about it to you or Kanan." Hera's expression is nonchalant, as if she hadn't gone behind our backs the entirety of the night.
The people I've had to smooch up to tonight in hopes of catching a whiff of what we came here for. Let alone finding out Ezra is with some rich bitch doing kriff knows what.
"Hera, you can't just do that!" a sense of betrayal and a flame of rage fill my chest. "Seriously?" I manage to keep my cool and plop on a nearby couch shimmied up next to the wall of paintings.
Hera rubs her forehead with her free hand. "It was a judgment call. I wanted to get through this quickly. This was our best bet for that outcome. I can't trust Kanan in the state he's been in these past few weeks." Hera sits next to me, placing her now empty glass on the floor. The soft leather creasing between us.
"So say something Hera." I grab her hand tightly in an attempt to get her to face me. "You're the only person that knows anything about Kanan's past. If he was struggling with something, I don't think any of us would know." I try to be rational, but part of my brain wants to grab her and shake her until she explains everything.
This isn't the time or place Sabine.
Hera lays her head back against the arm rest and meets my stare. "It's been tough. Nothing we can't handle though." she relents a small smile as I rub the back of her hand.
"Together."
"Deal." I lean over and plant a peck on Hera's forehead before standing upright.
"Then we need to finish this thing." I swivel my head in the direction of the bar, then across the room to the large staircase lined with red and gold carpet. "Think he's upstairs?"
Where else would Ezra be? He's a charmer. Somewhere quiet would be his go to.
"That's a good start." Hera gives a nod, which I return before brisking off in the direction of the stairwell.
The second floor is nothing like the first. Gold trimmed walls line several doorways along a long corridor that leads straight to a set of large circular double doors. Too easy.
I make for the end of the hall as quickly as my heels allow, checking every corner for a surveillance probe.
Alright Ezra, time to open up.
Making it to the set of doors, I rack my knuckles twice against the hardwood.
No answer.
I knock again.
Nope.
Glancing to my right I spot the door controls and smack it with an open hand.
Ha!
The door slides open slowly revealing dark floors, a beautiful view of the city down below, and a large bed featuring way too much skin on skin action for my liking.
"EZRA WHAT THE FUCK!"
. . .
AYO! Gave some more thought to the Acolyte show, Qimir was pretty badass. Just a note.