For You Alone

Training Daze

"Commander." Hunter stopped at the door to a random building. "I have two for the General."

The human male, who looked similar to the Rebellion's own troops, nodded, gesturing for Ezra and Sabine to head up the stairs. Taking Ezra's arm, she led him up, pausing at the door at the top. "How many do you sense?"

Ezra was silent for a moment. "One."

Nodding, Sabine opened the door, allowing Ezra to hesitatingly step into the room. "General Kota?" He called. "I need to speak with you."

"Go away!" The harsh yell came from the back of the room, and Ezra turned to Sabine, who took his arm and led him over.

"General," he began, "my name is-"

"I don't care." The 'General', an old man with shaggy grey hair and a musty bandage over his eyes, fumbled for the bottle on the table. "Go 'way, Kid."

Sabine narrowed her eyes in anger. "Do you remember me, General?" She folded her arms at the indifferent look on his face. "You saved me years ago. And I'm here now because someone else needs saving."

Kota scoffed, downing his drink. "Not saving people, Kid. Not anymore." He slammed his bottle onto the table. "Go find a Jedi to help save you. I'm done."

Ezra slammed his mask down on the table. "We have been hunting you all over Nar Shaddaa because I need your help. You saved Sabine while blind. She says you moved like you could still see. I need you to teach me how you did it."

Kota laughed. "The Force, Kid." He shook his head. "Didn't your Master teach you anything."

"Great." Pulling a chair over, Sabine put it down behind Ezra, helping him sit. "So you can teach him."

The smile fell off Kota's face. "Nope."

She could see Ezra's jaw clench. "Kota..."

"You got blinded by a lightsaber?" Kota, for the first time in this inane conversation, actually looked like he was paying attention. "Me too. You want my help, Kid? Walk away. Leave the war behind, find a new life. Otherwise you'll keep on losing." He gave off another laugh, this one far more bitter. "Fight the Empire, you'll lose everything."

"Maybe." Ezra stood, putting his mask back on. "But would you rather die on your feet? Or drown in some cantina?"

Shaking his head, Ezra moved ahead of her, keeping a hand out for obstacles. "Let's go."

. . . . . . . . . .

Leaving the cockpit of the Gauntlet as they dropped out of hyperspace, Sabine found Ezra in the crew quarters, sitting on the bed. "You okay?"

He shrugged. "Sure."

"I'm sorry." Sabine laid her hand over Ezra's clenched fist. "I know what this meant to you."

Ezra breathed out, shaking his head. "He just doesn't care," he murmured, "he's willing to let the Empire control everything." He turned his head towards hers. "I don't want to become that."

Sabine gave a small smile. "You won't."

Ezra frowned. "How do you know?"

Sabine shifted to fully face him. "Because you are the most selfless person I know. You don't have it in you to put your needs before someone else's, even when you should."

He was sporting a small smile now. "Thank-"

She grinned. "And if you did, I'd just have Chopper tase you until you snapped out of it."

This time he fully laughed, and her grin grew. A moment later, he threw his arms over her in a hug, and she gladly hugged him back, resting her head on the crook of his neck.