Vulnerable to the Force [Star Wars Rebels]{Wattys 2015}

The Ambush on Hoth

"Ezra, what do you remember?" Hera asked.

Ezra quickly analyzed the crowd of strangers. He didn't know whether to trust them or not. He got a feeling they were alright and wanted to care for him, but, from his prior experience, no one cared. Everyone felt sorry for what had happened to him, so he could be cared for. Everyone pitied him. Ezra hated the word "pity".

"Look, I don't remember you all, but I remember everything before...," Ezra said.
"Tell us," Hera said.
"No!" Ezra shouted impulsively, then calmed down. "It's personal."

Ezra saw Sabine, but unlike the first time he saw her without her helmet on, he didn't show any signs of excitement. He walked out of the room and found the exit of The Ghost. He could see his tower to his left, and the imperial-controlled city to his right. Kanan followed him and saw him stare at his tower.

"Ezra, can I show you something?" Kanan asked.

Ezra turned his head to see who was talking to him. He let out a sad sigh.

"Ezra, let's go to your home," Kanan suggested.
"I don't have a home," Ezra said.
"I mean your old home," Kanan corrected himself.
"Why?" Ezra asked.
"I want to show you something," Kanan replied as he began to leave The Ghost. "Come on!"

Ezra remained standing on the ship with crossed arms. A few steps later, Kanan turned around and looked at his stubborn padawan.

"Come on, don't you trust me?" Kanan asked.
"I don't trust anyone," Ezra curtly replied.
"You can trust me," Kanan assured Ezra.
"You get one chance, and if anything goes wrong, I'm leaving," Ezra said.

Ezra followed Kanan and they walked into the city.

****

Sabine was trespassing in Ezra and Zeb's bedroom. Nothing belonged to Ezra except old imperial helmets. Then there was the picture she painted of Ezra and Zeb. The only other thing that belonged to Ezra were a series of old parts from TIE fighters and imperial crates. Hera found her looking at Ezra's collection through the doorway.

"What are you doing?" Hera asked. "Are you painting another picture of Ezra and Zeb?"
"No...I'm not feeling inspired," Sabine replied.
"Look, you've been acting strange...and as the only other female on this ship, maybe you could...," Hera said.
"I like Ezra," Sabine blurted.
"You like who?" Hera shouted loudly.
"Sh!" Sabine said as she brought her index finger to her mouth. "It's embarrassing!"

Sabine plopped down on a chair in the kitchen.

"Sabine, you shouldn't be embarrassed to love someone," Hera kneeled down.
"It's just...I don't think he likes me the way I like him," Sabine said. "This is just too personal for me to talk about."

Sabine fled from Hera into the comfort of her room. She lain curled up on her bed, knees to her chest, staring at her paint bottles when she saw the electric blue color of Ezra's eyes.

****

"Where are you taking me?" Ezra asked as they entered the city.
"Some place to bring back old memories," Kanan vaguely answered.

They finally arrived at Ezra's old home, the one with the imperial caution tape on it. Kanan forced the doors to open and Ezra stepped into the old place.

"Why did you bring me here?" Ezra asked.
"Like I said, to bring back some memories," Kanan replied as he removed the round table, revealing the ladder to downstairs. "Let's go down here."

Ezra climbed down the ladder rungs and saw his old bedroom. He didn't seem that...happy, though. He walked over to a desk filled with papers and two pens. He sat down on his bed and looked at Kanan, who was staring right back at him.