In the docking area of Garel and outside the Ghost, Ezra was sat down on the ground and watching Kanan spar with Ahsoka. The Togruta had offered to assist Kanan with expanding his knowledge of the Force and his abilities which in turn would allow the Human to train his own Padawan with more experience. Ezra however could only watch, as Ahsoka did not wish to interfere with Kanan's teachings by training Ezra herself, even if she would make a better teacher.
"I wouldn't mind having a babe like her as a teacher, though..." He thought humorously to himself.
Ezra just couldn't understand why both of them simply couldn't teach him...but apparently it forbade some nutty code in the Jedi codex...but it didn't seem either of them followed it to the book. Apparently, relationships were banned in the Jedi Order...Ezra thought that was absolutely stupid, and it seemed Kanan did too considering his all-but-official relationship with Hera.
"Keep focusing, Kanan" Ahsoka told him as he parried her blow.
Despite using a single lightsaber in a traditional fashion, Kanan had trouble keeping up with her. She wondered how he would've faired if she used both lightsabers in her favoured reverse-grip fashion.
"I am focusing!" He snapped back, keeping his eyes fixed on the single white blade that extended from the woman's lightsaber.
However, Ahsoka got the better of them and she kicked him in his stomach. She chuckled as she deactivated her lightsaber and extended her hand to help him on his feet, as he held his stomach in agony.
"I hope you're paying attention Ezra!" She called to him.
Ezra stood up and walked over to them, he found the scenario of Kanan being made a right noob of himself quite amusing.
"Hey, anything where Kanan gets his butt kicked is worth all my attention!" He said mockingly, and Kanan rolled his eyes.
"Now now, Ezra..." Ahsoka began. "Show some respect for your master, I never exceeded the rank of Padawan either in my Jedi days..."
"But you're clearly a lot better than he is..." Ezra argued in his head.
Ezra admired the Togruta. She was strong, she was kind and she was pleasant to the eyes. However, whenever he thought about her, he realised how much he missed Sabine's presence among the crew. Sure, she had only been gone a day and a half...and sure, she wasn't among them very often anyways...but knowing that she was far away to somewhere that Ezra didn't know the location of...it bugged him.
"She said that she'd come back..." He reminded himself. "She promised she'd come back".
He'd have to simply believe her...
"Can I spar with you, please?" The Padawan asked politely, placing his hands on his lightsaber.
Ahsoka clipped her lightsaber back to her belt, disappointing the boy.
"When you can keep with Kanan, sure" She said, nodding at the man and him nodding back.
Kanan ignited his blue blade and Ezra did the same. They began to spar together as Ahsoka backed away from them and watched. As she did so, Zeb left the Ghost and joined her at her side. He was looking for something to amuse himself with.
"Woah, this Jedi training looks interesting when you all use your flashy sticks" He remarked. "Much more interesting than you lot waving your hands like you're apart of some ritual".
Ahsoka smiled. Jedi training was quite frustrating, especially back in her Padawan days...but her master was quite laid back compared to the likes of Yoda or Windu.
"Say, where's Ezra's girlfriend?" The Togruta wondered, she hadn't seen the girl at all among the crew. "I bet he would like to have some of her support right now, get him a little more enthusiastic".
Zeb looked at her confused and crossed his arms. Girlfriend? Ezra? Never. That smelly street-boy couldn't get a Hutt to kiss him.
"The kid doesn't have a girlfriend, what makes you say that?"
Ahsoka looked at him and curled her lips, she returned his confused look.
"Oh? I could've sworn he did" She said. "Dyed hair, painted armour, tanned skin?"
Zeb than looked at her surprised then let out an expression of realisation.
"Ohhh..." He loudly realised. "You mean Sabine? Nah, they're just good friends...very touchy good friends..."
Ahsoka glared at him with a questioning look, and he sighed.
"Yeah, I guess you could say it was basically all but official...but they've been less weird around each other lately" He admitted. "But anyways, Sabine's not here...she was gone most of yesterday and it doesn't seem she'll back today either".
The Lasat told her what he was told by Hera, Sabine had left the crew and assured them all that she was fine...but didn't want to come back for a while. It worried them all, but they had absolutely no idea where to look if she was in danger...they simply had to anxiously wait for her return.
"Ezra said he's got some strange connection to her through the Foooorce" He mocked the word, waving his fingertips as if he was casting a spell. "The kid said he didn't sense she was in danger...I dunno, we'll just have to hope he's right".
Ahsoka was told by Kanan that Ezra had an unusually strong connection to life through the Force, but it seemed that Ezra's powers were growing quicker than both she and Kanan realised. Ezra was quite vulnerable at his current age, he started his training even later than her Master...and he was already lucky enough to be accepted by the Jedi. Kanan had quite a responsibility on his hands, and Ahsoka was glad to offer the man assistance whenever he need it..either through some training or advice. Ahsoka didn't like to think of Kanan as her apprentice, however...and amusing as that would be, Ahsoka did not consider herself a Jedi anymore. She left that life behind, now she was a Rebel who just happened to be competent in the light side of the Force.
"Think we're done for today, kid?" Kanan supposed, deactivating his lightsaber after he was done sparing with Ezra. As they approached Ahsoka, he purposely raised his voice. "Good work, Ezra. Don't worry, you'll get to admire Ahsoka tommorow, hm?"
Ezra glared at him and violently jabbed his elbow into the mans stomach, making him hunch over and groan loudly at the attack. Ahsoka shook her head and laughed.
"I'll see you both tommorow" She told them both, then placed her hand on Ezra's head and scruffled his thick hair. "Bye, Ezra!"
She left them as she walked out the docking bay, taking her brown cloak with her and putting it on. The day was starting to get late, and so whatever hope of Sabine coming back seemed unlikely for today. Zeb, Kanan and Ezra headed into the Ghost and headed up the ladders for the upper level. As Zeb went into the Lounge, Kanan stopped Ezra and began to have a conversation with him. He could sense something was troubling Ezra, and he could guess what that was.
"Ezra, I'm worried about Sabine too" He told the boy. "She's been gone for a reason she won't explain...but I trust your judgement through the Force when you said she wasn't in danger".
Ezra closed his eyes and brought his focus to the attachment he felt for Sabine, he still couldn't sense any danger awaiting her...but he could sense conflict. He could sense doubt. He could sense...love. Ezra didn't know what to make of it, but he knew Sabine wasn't in danger...because otherwise he'd do all he could to find her and ensure she was safe.
"I think she's doubting if she wants to come back..." He said sadly. "Do...do you think we've been supportive enough? I mean, she's been through a lot..."
Kanan nodded in agreement. Sabine had gone through quite a bit these last few months...but he didn't believe that the crew hadn't offered enough support. The Mandalorian had often pushed them away, as she usually did when she wanted to be alone...but they were used to it, it's how she's been since the day she joined the crew.
"Have faith, Ezra" He told him. "Sabine's been apart of this crew for around two years now. She knows she has family here, and something tells me she'd definitely want to see you again".
He placed an assuring hand on his Padawans shoulder and smiled at him. Ezra then accepted his words and exchanged an equally warm smile. They both headed into the Lounge together to continue with their day.Zeb entered his cabin with a yawn. Hera was about to shut off the Ghosts lights and he was tired, but another busy day of Rebel assignments awaited him tomorrow. Sleeping was good for him, it gave him plenty of time to think about possibly Dejarik strategies against Kanan in the foreseeable future...he felt optimistic in his ability to one day defeat him.
He noticed Ezra was drawing with some coloured pencils and some paper on his bunk, it only told Zeb that Ezra had ransacked Sabine's room...but that wasn't his business, if Ezra wanted the artist to behead him, then it was his funeral.
"What ya drawing, kid?" He wondered as he snatched the paper from Ezra and turned his back to him as the boy jumped down from his bunk and desperately tried to get it back. On the paper was Ezra's own drawing of the Mandalorian herself...but it looked a little too good for it to have been drawn from his hands.
"Aw, you drawing a picture of your biggest crush?" The Lasat teased him, holding the paper above his head.
The boy jumped up and grabbed the paper, and Zeb let go to prevent the work from being torn in two. Ezra huffed and lied back down on his bunk.
"Shut up, Zeb" He mumbled.
Zeb laughed and lay down on his bed, and began to proceed to sleep.
"Since when did you know how to draw?" He asked.
Ezra placed his hand over his drawing and brought it across the paper. Whenever Sabine was bored, she'd teach Ezra on how to draw to occupy herself...he mostly just humbled her, but eventually he did actually learn to improve.
"Sabine taught me" He told his older comrade. "I'm no where near as good as her, though..."
Zeb acknowledged him, but didn't give a response. There was a silence as Zeb rested and Ezra stared blankly at his drawing. Ezra eventually broke the silence.
"I hope she comes back..." He said for Zeb to hear. "I wouldn't stand it if she left for good..."
Zeb chuckled.
"Don't worry, kid" He assured her. "Sabine'll definitely be back, you two will get to be very touchy once again, eh?"
Ezra scoffed. Chopper revealing to the crew that he and Sabine had sex still annoyed him to this day, even if he wasn't exactly fuelled with a desire to dismantle the droid. It certainly annoyed him that Zeb apparently thought that was all he missed about his Mandalorian friend.
"It's not that, Zeb..." He defended himself. "I miss her already, I care about her...and she cares about me. Besides, you heard what she said...it was just pleasure".
"Something you don't ever get" He insulted in his head.
So it seemed. Sabine didn't seem happy about the idea that she was in a romantic relationship with Ezra...but Ezra also didn't like idea of merely being used for personal satisfaction.
"Eh, not surprising to be honest..." The Lasat replied. "Sabine thinks you're an annoying twerp, you might be setting the bar too high when you try to charm her. Trust me kid, I've known her longer than you...you're not her style, hehe..."
There was a pause, and his words dug deep into Ezra's emotions. The boy just looked blankly at his drawing.
"But hey, you could always do her more favours and be her little pleasure-buddy" He said with a chuckle. "There aren't any other teenagers around here, anyways".
Zeb rested comfortably, not realising the hurtful impact his words had on Ezra. The boy looked hard at his drawing of Sabine, and couldn't help but accept the truth in Zeb's words. His emotional stress took its toll on him, and he wiped his eyes.
"He's right..." He thought miserably. "I never had a chance..."
When Zeb heard a soft crying above his bunk, his eyes shots open and he suddenly noticed how mean he sounded when he played back his words in his head. The large man stood up from his bed and looked at Ezra, who was clutching his art tightly as he quietly cried.
"Aw, kid..." He reached out to him, but hesitated. "Look...I didn't mean it. I was just pulling yer leg, Sabine does care about you...like I said, trust me...I would know".
He patted the boys back and waited until the Human had ceased his gentle sobbing. Ezra then nodded without making eye contact with Zeb and lied down, turning his back to him.
"Good night, Ezra" He muttered.
Zeb felt bad. It was clear that Ezra had very strong feelings for Sabine, and couldn't cope with the thought of her not sharing his affection...not when he had came so close to gaining her love in the past. It was not like how it was when he first joined the crew, when Sabine really did think he was irritating...but now, he liked her even more and knew that he was so close to getting her heart...but yet so far.
Eventually Zeb laid back down and hoped Ezra would forgive him for crushing whatever confidence he may have had in advancing his relationship with Sabine. He truly did feel like a villain.
"I'm sorry" He apologised in his head.
It was hard for Zeb to sleep that night, now. He regretted saying what he did, and figured Ezra wouldn't speak with him again anytime soon. Perhaps he shouldn't have spoken for Sabine, especially when he knew that she and Ezra were indeed close...closer than they were before...before Sabine was raped.
"Karabast" he cursed.
YOU ARE READING
Star Wars Rebels: Teenage Response
Teen FictionAs a defiant teenager, Sabine has embraced the point in her life where she just wants to do what she wants, when she wants. This attitude has a negative effect on the crew and ultimately leads to an experience Sabine will never forget. In the afterm...