Twelve years ago

Kanan looked at the house burning to the ground. Ephraim and Mira Bridger laying dead on the ground. He was dumbfounded, the time had stopped, he could hear sirens in the distance but they were muffled. A loud cry snapped him out of whatever took over him. He laid eyes on the tiny infant screaming on his chest. He raised his free hand and placed it over the child's chest applying the smallest of pressure, just to let the boy know he was there. That he wasn't alone.

The child stopped crying. He wrapped his tiny fingers around Kanan's finger and looked up at him, his beautiful blue eyes shining from the tears.

"It's okay" Kanan said as the sirens grew louder but it didn't matter. It was just him and the baby. Just as it was supposed to be.

"I'm right here" Kanan said as the baby closed his

Ezra walked around the small shop. He looked at the corners, the ceilings and the walls to make sure there were no cameras around. Then he turned his look at the old man sleeping in the counter. He didn't look like he was going to wake up any time soon.

The boy smiled. He walked down the aisles and pulled his backpack off his shoulders and opened it. He checked for camera's one last time. Nothing. He grabbed one item after the other. From candy to beverages until his backpack was full.

He was at the door when he suddenly stopped on his tracks. He glanced back at the old man sleeping in the counter. He couldn't just leave without buying anything. He took a candy bar out of his backpack and walked up to the man. He touched his shoulders and he jerked awake.

"Um, I-I'd like to take this please, sir"

The man yawned, nodded took the dollar Ezra handed him, closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

Ezra frowned. Didn't the man care that he was practically robbing him? Or that he was supposed to be working? Ezra walked out. He couldn't believe he was actually angry at the man for not doing his job. It wasn't his problem or his responsibility. But his dad was working his butt off to get half as much as that market employee and- he forced himself to take a deep breath.

It didn't matter that this guy was a careless idiot, after all it worked out just fine for him. The guy got his slumber and Ezra didn't get caught (though he did regret paying for that candy bar).  

Ezra or at least a part of him knew that what he was doing was wrong. And he knew that if he ever git caught there would be consequences. And if Kanan ever found out...well... Ezra could already picture his step father's disappointed expression as he realised that his perfect kid was not so perfect after all.

He walked through the alley and all the way to the old block of flats they were living in. He took the elevator and unlocked the door. The moment he closed the door again he let out a breath he hadn't realised he was holding. He went to his room and crawled under the bed. He took the flashlight he had left there and pulled his backpack off. He picked the two board he had unscrewed yesterday and unloaded his supplies in.

It wasn't much, just a couple of candy bars, some chips and two beverages he had never heard of but still. He knew that Kanan could probably buy him all those things. They weren't expensive. But he already did so much for Ezra that the boy couldn't bring himself to ask him for something as stupid and meaningless as a candy bar. He took one, unwrapped it, the the wrapper in the hole and then put the boards back where they were. He crawled up and took his backpack out. He sat on the bed and ate the candy bar.

He thought about all the times he shoplifted before. The times he tried to stop this habit. And how he failed miserably to do so. It just felt so right. If other kids and other people got to have all those things, snacks, new clothes, games, parents that were there why should he be any different?

He knew he couldn't do anything about Kanan's constant absence but he could do something about all the things he wanted and could never have. Steal them. After all, so many people who never worked at all, like that market employee got to have all those things, if not more. Why should he be any different? Why should his dad be any different?

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An hour later Ezra was walking the crowded streets of Lothal to get to where Kanan said he was working. He kept the paper bug containing Kanan's lunch. He pushed and squeezed his way through the crowd and cursed under his breath for his height.

Kanan said it was normal and that he would get taller as he grew up but Ezra was beginning to doubt it. Actually every time he looked at the mirror he was wondering wether or not he would actually grow any taller than that. He certainly hoped he would.

He stopped right in front of the small coffee shop. Through the somewhat dirty glass he could see Kanan serving coffee. No one smiled at him. No one even looked up at him. Ezra sighed. At the very least Kanan deserved a smile.

Ezra walked in.

"Ezra! Hey" Kanan smiled the moment he saw him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"What's this?" He said noticing the paper bag safely secured in Ezra's arms.

"Your lunch" Ezra said smiling and handed him the bag.

Kanan frowned taking the bug.

"Where did you get it?"

"I bought it with the money you left back home"

Disappointment. It crossed Kanan's feature for a brief moment and then as quickly as it came, it was gone. Ezra almost didn't notice but he did. Kanan hadn't intended for Ezra to notice but he did.

"The money was for your lunch"

"I-I already ate. I bought you this with the change" Ezra lied with practiced ease still shaken.

Kanan was looking at him directly in the eyes and Ezra knew that in order to pull this though he had to do the same. After a moment Kanan nodded and took the bag.

"Thanks" he muttered and Ezra knew that he hadn't bought the story but decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Then he smiled as he walked behind the counter.

"Hey Hera" he called. The woman making coffee turned around. "That's my son, Ezra" Kanan said placing the paper bag on the small fridge.

Hera walked up to him taking a tray with cups of coffee with her.

"Hey, sweetie. Your dad has told me a lot about you. You hungry? I can get you a snack and some cocoa. On the house"

Hera had one arm around his shoulders as she led him to a table. A girl with multicoloured hair looked up.

"No, really, it's fine, I'm not hung-"

"I'll go bring you a snack"

Ezra sat down confused.

"Okay" he said to himself "Guess I'll have a snack after all"

"You don't really have a choice at this point. Trust me, I know" the girl sitting across the table responded without looking up. She turned a page in her sketch book, tossed the pencil she was holding on the table and grabbed a new one.

"You know her" Ezra asked laying back on his chair, getting comfortable.

"You can say that. I'm Sabine"

"Ezra"

The shook hands and Ezra couldn't help but notice the coloured stains in her hands and sleeves.

They sat in comfortable silence for a little while. Ezra laid back on his chair and observed Sabine. Her brows furrowed and her hand was making sudden and sharp moves.

Hera came back with their cocoa and two muffins.

"There you go sweeties!" She said placing a cup in front of each of them and the plate with the two muffins in the middle of the table.

"Thank you" Ezra said.

"Yeah, thanks" Sabine replies setting the sketch book aside and took a sip of her cocoa. Hera messed her hair and left.

Ezra took the muffin and eyed the sketch book. It was a very detailed sketch of him.

"Wow! That's so cool"

"Thanks" Sabine said taking her own muffin.

"I wish I could do stuff like that"

Ezra took a bite off his muffin and another sip of his cocoa.

"You can do other stuff. Stuff that you're good at"

"What do you mean?"

"You know, things you like to do. There has to be something you're good at"

"Does school count?"

"Sure, I guess. Anything else?"

Stealing. Ezra thought but that was a secret talent he didn't like to share. So instead he shook his head and took Sabine's sketch book. He liked the way she drew him. He wonder if that's how all people see him or if it were just Sabine's perspective. He was fine either way.

"You can keep it if you want"

"Hmm?"

"The portrait. Keep it"

"Oh, no. I shouldn't. You worked hard to do it"

Sabine chuckled. "Not really, it was actually quite easy. Trust me I've worked ten times harder for some of my other drawings"

Ezra looked at the drawing once more. Sabine took the sketch book off his hands and ripped the page handing it to Ezra.

"Thanks" Ezra said giving her his most grateful smile. This was one of the most amazing gifts anyone had ever given him.

"You're welcome" she said. "We're friends now aren't we?"

Ezra smiled more. Friends. That was nice.

Hey! Sorry it's been a while. Things have been crazy busy with school and homework and all that fun stuff. Anyway, as always, I hope you enjoyed and may the force be with you, always!