Hello! So this fic will deviate a bit from cannon, and it will be a bit darker than my other fics. It takes place after Ezra gets his lightsaber, but before the new Inquisitors are introduced in season 2 (who, by the way, look totally badass). Just a heads up! But anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

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Kanan stood still, his blaster trained on the man in front of him. He kept his face stone cold, despite his emotions going haywire.

"Don't take another step," the man said, pressing the gun against Ezra's forehead. The kid's struggling froze and his eyes closed, feeling the cold barrel pressed up against his skin. His arms still tugged at the arm wrapped around his neck, holding him in a death choke. Ezra's legs dangled as the man, now as Kanan realized was a bounty hunter, held him up. "Or the kid dies."

The bounty hunter wore black clothing with belts and gadgets attached all over his chest, waist, and legs. His face was hidden behind a bleak mask, the only feature a slim dark shield hiding his eyes, and a small mouth vent.

A gasp escaped from Ezra, sending a chill through his body. Kanan let his guard down for a moment, his eyes darting to his padawan. He struggled against the arm holding him, but his blue eyes were looking away in defiance. Kanan could sense through their bond that he was rather unpleased at the situation at hand.

But his momentary drop in his façade was recognizable by the bounty hunter. He held his arm tighter to his body, pressing harder on Ezra's neck. Ezra gasped again, his body starting to shake from the lack of air, legs kicking the air.

Kanan focused back on the man, his weapon raised. He tuned out Ezra's struggling and his pain, telling himself that the only way he could help his student was by remaining emotionless.

"You kill him, I kill you," Kanan threatened. His extended arm remained still, the gun in his hand steady. The bounty hunters grasp tightened, as if refusing to let go. Kanan felt his stomach flip as his heart raced. Ezra let out another gasp, craning his neck up towards the ceiling of the warehouse, trying to get air to his lungs. His arms clawed at the man's muscular arm, but the man did not seem to notice.

"Are you really willing to risk his life?" the man asked, his modulated voice taunting Kanan. He already knew the answer.

It was his greatest fear when he began training Ezra. He was, after all, still a teenager. Kanan knew what world he was bringing him into; a world filled with danger and destruction. But his fears had subsided once he had begun. Ezra was a quick learner, making progress considerably fast, given the circumstances.

Hera risked taking a step closer to the bounty hunter. "Are you?" she asked, her gun raised and armed. Kanan had momentarily forgotten her presence, his mind too focused on Ezra's labored gasps.

The bounty hunter flinched, his grasp lessening ever so slightly. That was one thing he had learned when he was on his own; every man for himself. It was an instinct to bounty hunters. But Kanan was living proof that people could change. He had a team now, and despite everything, he truly liked it. He focused back on the bounty hunter as his gun moved away from Ezra's forehead.

Ezra sucked in a deep breath, his eyes closing as fresh air filled his lungs. He opened them again, and his breathing had steadied. It was still shallow, and a bit uneven, but it was better than having no air.

Kanan kept his attention on the bounty hunter, but used the force to watch over Ezra. The bounty hunter, now knowing he was defeated, grew nervous. His head turned slightly, looking for some type of way out. Kanan spoke up again, hoping to defuse the situation.

"There's no escape. Lower your weapon, and we'll let you walk out of here alive." He sensed Hera taking another step closer, and they were standing side by side.

"I think you're mistaken," the bounty hunter said, his nervousness washing away. His grip tightened as Kanan heard Ezra try and fail to take in air.

The man raised his blaster at Kanan, pointed right at his chest. A chill was sent through him, knowing that the man would take the shot.

And he did.

But when the sound of the blaster shot exploded through the warehouse, there was no pain. Only worry.

His padawan, at the last second and while still in the man's choke hold, kicked the man's gun to the right. The shot had fired, but it did not hit its intended target. Instead, the lights flashed and darkness took over. Kanan, in a state of panic, could not reach out through the force.

Three shots went off, the red light illuminating the warehouse for a split second before it returned to black. None of them were fired by Kanan or Hera. He holstered his gun, his fumbling fingers detaching the parts of his blade from his belt.

He heard struggling, a loud clang, and Ezra grunting in pain before something dropped to the ground.

The two parts of his blade clicked together, and upon rotating them, the blue light illuminated the room.

"Ezra!" Hera shouted, drawing closer to Kanan. A small light was illuminated from the far side of the warehouse, a silhouette running out.

"Over here!" a pained voice answered, and they rushed to the sound, leaving the man to escape.

"Ezra, are you alright?" Hera asked. Kanan's blade dimly illuminated the two of them. Hera kneeled next to the kid, who was lying on the sticky pavement.

"I'm okay," he said, rubbing the back of his head as he forced himself into a sitting position. Kanan bent down on the opposite side of Hera, and with his free hand, helped him the rest of the way up. Ezra's back was sticky, and Kanan retracted it, wiping the unknown substance off on his grey pants. "Really, I am. Come on, he's getting away!" Kanan looked at Hera, their eyes locking. He knew that his padawan would not admit to being injured easily, and with the dim light, there was no way of telling. Kanan decided it was best to let it go for now.

"He's already gone. Besides, we should get out of here before-"

"Blast them!" The three rebels whipped their gaze to the left. The large hangar door was opening, the light from the Lothal street flooding in. Kanan jumped up, deflecting the shots that came too close for comfort. Hera began firing back, pushing Ezra behind her. For once, he complied.

"Quick – out that door!" Kanan shouted, and they sprinted away. Kanan ran to the front, pushing through the door and into the street. Hera followed, and behind her Ezra. The door closed behind them, but the troopers were not that far behind. Kanan scanned the busy street, surprised by the people going on with their daily lives, oblivious to what they were running from. The bounty hunter was nowhere to be seen.

"Come on!" he turned to face his padawan, who was now sitting in a landspeeder, the engine roaring. Exchanging a glance with Hera, Kanan did not have time to question how Ezra had gotten it running. They jumped in, Hera sliding in next to Ezra and Kanan in the back. The teen pushed the handles forward, steering expertly around pedestrians and narrowly avoiding the edges of buildings.

It reminded Kanan of the first time he had meet the boy. When he had maneuvered through the crowd of people, it seemed almost effortless, and Kanan was intrigued. He thought that no one would be able to do that on their own without the force.

Ezra turned sharply, and they were out of the city. The wind blew the stay strands of his hair out of his face, his messy ponytail whipping behind him. He closed his eyes, focusing on his breathing, as he stretched his mind and connected with the force.

He sensed two speeders following them, about to turn the corner they had just passed. And once they escaped into the fields, there would no doubt be TIE fighters.

He drew back, his senses retracting, when a flash of fire shot through his veins. He opened his eyes, gasping as the feeling subsided.

"Kanan?" Hera asked, her eyes on him and her voice etched in concern. Her headtails wavered in the wind.

"We have company," he answered, brushing off the moment of pain. He would figure out what that was later.

The landspeeder jostled as the speeders came into range. Ezra grunted as he tried to remain in control.

"This piece of junk can't handle another shot like that!" he shouted, the wind muffling his already hoarse voice.

"Ezra!" Hera shouted, and the vehicle swerved to the right, narrowly avoiding a collision. Kanan mentally rolled his eyes. The next lesson would definitely be about focus. Apparently the other ten lessons before had still not stuck.

Kanan stood on the backseat, facing the perusing speeders. His blade ignited, deflecting the shots that would have burned a hole through the stolen landspeeder they were escaping in. They were directed back at the speeders, and one of them got lucky. He felt the heated blast push the landspeeder forward as the explosion sparked.

This seemed to make the other trooper determined. He fired again, and one shot slipped by his lightsaber. They jerked forward as the warning bells and flashing lights started blaring.

"It's gonna blow!" Ezra shouted, his knuckles turning white as he clung to the steering handles. He looked up at Kanan, blue eyes seeking the reassurance that Kanan had some type of plan.

But for once, Kanan did not.

He continued deflecting the trooper's shots, hoping for some type of miracle. The pavement ended, and the tall yellow grass took over, the wind from the landspeeder whipping the blades to the side. Kanan's heart pounded in his chest, his mind focused.

The warning bells from the speeder dimmed as the sound of a ship filled the air. Risking a glance at the sky, the miracle that they needed had arrived.

The Ghost's ramp was lowered, Zeb standing as far out as possible without falling off. Holding on to a handle with one hand, he stretched out his other, calling to them.

"Come on!"

Hera was the first to get up. Ezra attempted to keep the landspeeder steady, but he could not avoid a few jerks and bumps. She jumped, landing on her knees before Zeb helped her up. She ran past him, no doubt to relieve Sabine from piloting.

"Ezra, go!" Kanan shouted, deflecting another shot back at the speeder. It went slightly to the left, stray dirt exploding upon impact. The trooper easily dodged it, still not giving up.

"No!" Kanan whipped around to his padawan.

"What?" he shouted. Ezra was sitting up straight in the driver's seat, his hands shaking slightly as he remained looking ahead.

"You go first!" he shouted. Ezra stole a glance back at his teacher, and knowing what he was thinking, continued speaking. "If I go, the speeder will get off track. Kanan, go!"

The sound of TIE fighters coming only decreased his patience. He knew Ezra was right, but it did not sit well with him. Kanan nodded to his padawan, looking him straight in the eyes, before retracting his lightsaber.

Hoping it was not the last time he saw the electric blue color, he jumped onto the Ghost.

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R & R

~ Kavella ~