Kanan stared at the instrument panel without actually seeing any of it. He breathed out, running a hand over his pulled back hair. Of all the things he had considered when deciding to take on Ezra as his student this was one he hadn't considered. If it was just a crush on Ezra's part it would have been awkward, but they could have managed. Instead the emotions had been a near mirror of his own deeply buried ones, to the point a few near-panicked minutes had been spent thinking back and trying to figure out if there had been some point he could have accidentally influenced Ezra. He'd decided, that no matter how sensitive Ezra might be, there wasn't any way he'd have been able to sense that without Kanan knowing about it.

So, it was time to go over the facts. First, Ezra's interest in him was more than just a friendly partnership. Second, he'd been trying not to admit his was the same ever since thinking Ezra had died had shaken him so badly. Losing people was a part of life, it hurt, you dealt with it, you kept going. Except he hadn't wanted to keep going without Ezra and that was a little terrifying. Part of him wanted to drop Ezra off somewhere and run before things got any more complicated, but the rest of him recognized what an awful thing that would be. That left him with two options, try to pretend the feelings didn't exist or to try and do something about them. Both options had their drawbacks, the first would be difficult. It wasn't as though he could reasonably close off the bond that had developed between them and still train him. If there were more like the armored darkside wielding Imperial out there Ezra would need to do more to defend himself than just keep his head down. Could they be that close and still pretend they didn't want more?

The second had just as many opportunities to go wrong. They'd only been working together for a couple months, Ezra hadn't even met Hera and Zeb, there wasn't even any guarantee that Hera would take him on as part of the crew. He'd already decided that if Hera wasn't willing to take Ezra on he'd stay with him, figure something out. They were both survivors, he didn't have to put his ship back into storage, and it wasn't like Hera would do anything to him for leaving. It might be a missed opportunity, but those were the breaks. He wasn't going to compromise doing what he was sure was right for whatever Hera had planned, no matter how important.

Of course all of those things depended heavily on Ezra's feelings on the matter, and Kanan blinked, then felt a wave of guilt. He'd just run out on him without explaining anything, he hadn't even stopped to think, he'd just panicked at finding out how Ezra felt and left. He had no clue what Ezra thought of that, but he doubted anyone would be too thrilled at that reaction. Kanan needed to talk with him, even if he wasn't exactly sure what he was going to say yet.

He pushed himself up from the chair, starting back towards the bedroom, and then pausing, feeling guilty again when he spotted Ezra's crutches out in the main area by the seat. It hadn't been that long, he didn't think, and if it had been an emergency surely Ezra would have used the com systems? Except he knew if he was the one supposed to stay off his foot to let the bones heal he'd probably be trying to limp on his own anyway, and he suspected Ezra would do the same.

Luckily, Ezra was right where he'd left him. For just a moment Kanan thought maybe he'd fallen asleep and possibly hadn't even realized he'd fled, but at the sound of the door Ezra opened his eyes, turning his head a little and dashed his half formed hopes at delaying the conversation.

"Hey," Ezra spoke a little cautiously, sounding unsure.

"Hey, I, ah, I brought you your crutches, in case you need to get up for anything," Kanan stalled, putting the crutches within reach of the bunk.

"Thanks. Sorry about before," Ezra sounded guilty and Kanan winced.

"You don't need to apologize for that," Kanan spoke up quickly. "You were being honest, and it just surprised me."

"I don't want you to think I'm some lovesick idiot running off with you just because you're attractive. I've been wanting new opportunities for a long time now. Yeah, I'm not getting legit work and I'm still going to be thieving, but I'm guessing the guidelines you gave Vizago are pretty standard? So you're not going to ask me to do anything that bad, and that might have happened if I stayed on Lothal and got desperate enough." Ezra started to push himself up into a sitting position, and then winced, giving up on the attempt.

"I don't think you're an idiot," Kanan said, still processing the rest. Ezra may have been impulsive, somewhat overconfident sometimes and insecure the rest of the time, but he didn't think he was stupid.

"So what do you think?" Ezra challenged.

"I think… when I thought you'd died down there it was one of the worst things I've felt, and I've been trying not to think too hard on that. You're important to me, Ezra, and I'm not sure what I'd do if you'd been hurt any worse. I don't want to lose you for any reason, but I don't want to be selfish about this." Kanan spoke awkwardly, trying to explain.

"If it's something we both want, how's that selfish?" Ezra asked, and Kanan smiled a little despite the seriousness of the moment.

"I'm not sure, I guess that comes in when something comes up where we want different things," Kanan said.

"Then when that happens we work something out, or we try to end things peacefully. I mean, if there's anything to end. I'd like there to be, but..." Ezra sounded so hopeful that Kanan didn't hesitate, reaching to take Ezra's still uncovered hand and squeezing gently.

"I think we can figure something out. If things… well, if you change your mind I'll still teach you," Kanan tried to reassure him.

"I didn't think you were the kind of person who would hold something like training hostage for good behavior, you're too good for that," Ezra said.

"I'm not perfect though," Kanan started, and Ezra's snort interrupted him.

"Of course you're not perfect, you're stubborn and you get ahead of yourself sometimes and you can be kind of oblivious," Ezra smiled at Kanan's wince.

"Point taken," Kanan said.

"But I'm not perfect either, and I like you. I'm happier working with you than I can remember being since, well, I'm not really sure." Ezra shrugged a little, then winced at the movement.

"Then we'll give this a try. Though, uh, I'm not sure exactly what we can do just yet. I don't know if there's anywhere I can touch you without it hurting." Kanan gave his hand another small squeeze and Ezra huffed a quiet laugh.

"Ow, yeah, even laughing's not really something I want to do right now." Ezra rubbed gingerly over the side of his chest. "But even just being able to be close to you without worrying you're going to sense how I feel is going to be nice. And we could kiss," Ezra added, his voice a mix of teasing and hopeful.

"We could do that," Kanan agreed, leaning in and pressing his lips to Ezra's.

"I think that's the last of it." Kanan pushed the second crate beside the first, eyeing it critically. He'd stripped out anything that would expire in the next month or so, and packed up the few important things. Ezra hadn't been able to help much, but at least his own stuff was still packed up. If this worked out like they hoped, it was better to be packed. If it didn't they could unpack the crates and make a new plan.

"Seems like it." Ezra leaned heavily on his crutches, trying to find a position that didn't make his ribs ache. "How long until your mysterious captain shows up?"

"Not long at all," a new voice spoke up and Ezra jerked in surprise, starting to twist to look in the direction of the voice before he winced. His ribs reminded him in no uncertain terms that twisting was still not something he should be doing. Ezra felt a faint hint of concern from their bond, though he couldn't tell if it was worry over the situation or worry because he hurt. He did his best to send back reassurance before he turned around more carefully to get a look at the captain.

She wasn't much like he was expecting, he'd been expecting someone a little more like Vizago maybe, scruffy and unsavory looking. Instead she looked like… a pilot. From a quilted flight cap that accommodated her long headtails to a dark gold jumpsuit she wouldn't have been that out of place in any shipyard. Any non-Imperial shipyard at least.

"You didn't mention you had company," she spoke, arching an eyebrow. If she noticed Ezra's assessment she didn't look worried by it, then again she seemed to be looking him over just as critically.

"It wasn't the sort of thing I wanted to talk about over the open com. Did you close things up behind you?" Kanan asked, waiting for her nod before taking a step closer to Ezra, putting a hand on his shoulder possessively. "He's my padawan."

Ezra felt a warm glow at the certain way Kanan said that, but he kept his attention on the twi'lek woman. She looked surprised at the declaration.

"I see." She glanced between them.

"I didn't really want to spring it on you, but it does mean that if Ezra can't come with me, I won't be moving back on board, not until he finishes his training." Kanan sounded certain.

"That won't be a problem. It's nice to meet you, Ezra, I'm Captain Hera Syndulla," Hera said, almost too quickly.

"Nice to meet you, captain," Ezra said, stepping forward a little awkwardly to offer his hand. She took it, shaking it and then glancing at the crutches.

"I'm guessing there's more you didn't want to report over the open com?" Hera asked.

"Didn't get your message not to investigate until after we'd already, uh, investigated," Kanan explained.

"Is that when you got hurt?" Hera asked, glancing to Ezra.

Ezra nodded. "There was someone there, an Imperial using the dark side. He attacked us, dropped some equipment on me, I think he thought he killed me." Ezra summed the rest of the encounter up quickly, trying not to embellish or leave anything out.

Hera made a thoughtful sound when he finished. "I would have preferred you both avoided causing that sort of incident, but it's over and you did what you could to cover your tracks. Nothing more we can do about it now, and having a threat like that removed is better than having them still working for the Empire."

Ezra wasn't entirely sure he was comfortable with the phrasing. For all that he didn't exactly mourn their death, he'd still have rather avoiding killing them if it had been possible. Then again, he'd spent enough time with the criminal element on Lothal to accept that sometimes it couldn't be avoided and if Hera had been working even longer then she likely had the same pragmatic approach.

"We're ready to move in whenever." Kanan shrugged, obviously done with the incident for the moment.

"On that, there is one slight problem," Hera sounded guilty, and Kanan arched an eyebrow.

"You said there wasn't a problem with both of us coming together," Kanan pointed out.

"I want you both on board, but I picked up a new crewmember a couple of weeks ago and she claimed the last empty bedroom," Hera explained.

"That's not a problem at all, he can stay with me," Kanan said far too casually and Ezra had to control himself not to react to that.

"Then there's not a problem. Will you be able to keep his training quiet with two other people? I know before you wanted to avoid anyone else knowing," Hera asked.

"We should. And if not, it happens. It's a risk we're taking by not staying on our own, but I know you wouldn't let anyone on board your ship if they weren't trustworthy," Kanan shrugged, but Ezra could sense the slight tension. Kanan clearly didn't want anyone else to know, but he'd made the decision that the risk was worth it and he didn't want to be questioned on it. "Sharing a room helps with that, I was going to suggest it anyway."

"Since we've got the important details hashed out, can we get going?" Ezra tried not to sound too impatient, but he was more than ready to lay down again and try to meditate the discomfort away.

Hera smiled at that. "I think we can manage that, let me give you a hand here," she offered.

Ezra really only had the energy for a quick tour of the main parts of the ship and cursory introductions to the other three members of Hera's crew. He wasn't yet sure what he thought of them, but he was fairly certain they weren't impressed with him yet. It rankled a little, but once he healed up he'd prove that he could pull his own weight and more. For the moment though he was grateful for Kanan's support as he sank down onto the bottom bunk.

"Did you know laying down uses your chest muscles? Because that's a thing I could have gone without learning," Ezra grumbled, taking a slow breath and trying to relax.

"Unfortunately yeah," Kanan sat down on the bunk with him, he seemed to have figured out the knack for sitting down and getting up without jostling him too much.

"I'm guessing you have a good reason for wanting to keep us being together a secret as well as the other thing?" Ezra asked. He had tried not to think too hard about it, but there hadn't really been time to question Kanan's request before. Now though he'd had plenty of time to come up with a lot of reasons, both good and bad.

"That's… Have you ever spent a lot of time working in close quarters with other people?" Kanan answered his question with a question.

"Not really?" Ezra admitted.

"I have, and people gossip and stick their nose in where it doesn't belong. I want some time to do this on our own without anyone else interfering. I mean I can't know for sure if Sabine and Zeb would, but I know Chopper can be rude. I'd rather not invite public commentary until I have to," Kanan shrugged a little.

"Oh, good. I mean it's not that I thought you were embarrassed about this, but… Ok, maybe I worried a little," Ezra said, already feeling a little better. He hadn't really thought about it, but thinking back he did remember that rudely speculating on other people's sexual affairs was far from an uncommon topic of conversation. He just had never been that interested in it, so he hadn't paid much attention. Being the center for that sort of speculation wasn't really that pleasant an idea, though.

"You don't need to worry. Either they'll find out eventually, or we'll tell them." Kanan stood up to grab a spare pillow, fussing with getting Ezra's ankle propped up before he sat back down.

"Sounds like a good plan to me," Ezra smiled, reaching to see if he could tug Kanan into leaning down. Kanan went with it eagerly and Ezra kissed him as thoroughly as he could manage without pressing up into it and making his ribs twinge. A lot had changed since he'd tried to pick one Kanan Jarrus' pocket and despite a few setbacks he found he was looking forward to finding out exactly how far they could run with everything. It was bound to be an interesting ride.

Author Note: Thank you for reading this fic through to the end! I have plans to work on a sequel dealing with Ezra and Kanan's developing romantic relationship and them settling in and finding their place within the Ghost Crew. Until then though, I hope you enjoyed reading this!