merging | happy father's day

happy father's day - blindrun

[Honestly? He's been here wayyy longer than he planned to be. He knew it'd be hard to escape, but it had to be possible. That's what he kept telling himself. Days turned into weeks turned into months and now? It's been over a year.

The other Inquisitors still don't completely treat him like one of them. Or maybe teasing is their way of doing so? He rolls his eyes whenever they call him "baby brother", thinking they could at least have some sense of professionalism. But everything's been going okay for the most part. As okay as it can be when you're an Inquisitor-in-training.

Except today was... well, it was something else. They were assigned to ambush a small rebel cell that was said to be working with a Jedi. It should've been easy, except for the part where it wasn't. The rebels got away and the Inquisitors had failed. Now Ezra's standing outside the Grand Inquisitor's office while the adults debrief. It's frustrating, being left out like this, but he also knows there isn't much he can do about it.]

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[Ezra slides back, surprised by the sudden movement but able to catch himself before he really went flying. He does back off, but he doesn't get it. What happened?]

What?! What's wrong?

[Still shining bright in the Force, whoops.]

[ in his right mind he would explain what was wrong. whenever ezra made an error of any sort, be it in training or in judgment, third brother would be quick to correct and explain why. he did it because he understood ezra, and how he works, would never just accept "no" for an answer without a reasonable explanation.

reason is absent from him now, mind clouded with blind hate as his body rejects the positive hum of energy enveloping the room. all coming from him.

it may be a good thing he has no weapon to reach for. ]

Get... out.

[ he breathes out slow, quiet, the very small amount of sanity he has in this moment pulling back his violent impulse to strike ezra down. ]

[Usually Third Brother wouldn't get angry at him. Or he would, because dark side, but not nearly as much as everyone else did. And just before this, he'd said it wasn't his fault. So then what had happened now? Did he sense something Ezra couldn't?]

You're hurt. [Unfortunately, he's still awful at following orders.] I'm not... not... leaving-

[Ezra falls to the ground, passing out and extinguishing the light he'd brought to the room. Although he hasn't realized what he's done, it's already took its toll on his body. Luckily, he's just really tired. It could be worse.]

Ezra?

[ ezra drops and third brother's demeanor shifts a third time, panic overwhelming the burst of anger he was just trying to control. he stands--

--no, he tries to stand. the moment he gets his feet over the bed and lifts up his legs buckle back down again. he's begun to heal, ezra saw to it unknowingly, but not enough. still he breathes in and crawls on the floor to the passed out boy. third brother's breathing, shallow, slowly relaxes when he sees ezra's chest rise and fall. for a moment he thought...

...he shuts his eyes and sits on his legs, terribly tired as well. he turns his head back to the bed, a mile away, and he settles for carefully settling himself down on the floor beside ezra. may as well since he's here and unbelievably spent. ]

What are you?

[ he questions quietly as he looks at ezra, truly stumped. does he even know what he was doing just now? unlikely. the boy's potential is so much stronger than he ever first imagined and a fear he's never had before grips him. could he be losing him to the light?

there are no answers as his eyes flutter shut against his will and he swiftly passes out beside his apprentice. ]

[Several hours pass before Ezra begins to stir. As his eyes open up, it takes him a few moments to realize where he is and what led to this situation. It all feels fuzzy, but he tries to add up what he does remember and what he can put together from context clues.

First, he's not in his room and he's fallen asleep on the floor. Third Brother is next to him, also asleep on the floor. He's injured, having been punished by the Grand Inquisitor after Ezra's misstep. Ezra had tried to take care of him, get him to bed, he'd gotten mad, and then... then they knocked out apparently.

He pokes at his master's back.]

Wake up.

Ngh.

[ the poke, even as light as it is, aches into his back. he stirs awake immediately, never being a deep sleeper anyway, and opens his mouth for an extended yawn. his body is sore all over, head throbbing with a dull pain, and - oh yeah he's on the floor. why the hell is he on the floor and not in a bed?

his eyes scrunches in before they open and he turns-- ]

Ugh!

[ --onto his back, which is as far he can get before giving up again. fantastic. he bobs his head to the side, the veins around his eyes last night gone, as he looks to ezra. ]

Bridger. [ he mumbled with a breath. ] What happened?

I don't know!

[The warmth from last night is completely gone, replaced by the familiar cold.]

I just woke up and we were here.

[But Third Brother's response does help him to remember something.]

... you called me Ezra. Last night, I mean.

Did I?

[ he sounds surprised and incredulous at that, as never once as he addressed his apprentice by first name. he closes his eyes and groans low again, body beaten to hell, and then starts to remember. the grand inquisitor, the plan, the chokehold--

do not discount my mercy, third brother. fail again, and it will be the death of your apprentice.

ah, right. now he remembers. he opens his eyes again, a solid yellow, and looks at the boy. stupid, stupid boy. ]

That stunt you pulled yesterday? Never again. Understand?

You did.

[And he's going to hold that over him. Maybe he's getting close to learning Third Brother's name finally.]

I know. I won't.

[Ezra snaps, quick to defend himself. He thinks about arguing that he didn't think anyone would notice, but that isn't true. He just didn't think things through in the first place.]

You said it wasn't my fault.

[It's a reminder, and a bit of an accusation. Sure, he blames himself, but he also doesn't like getting scolded.]

Wow, I really was out of it.

[ he breathes out a light scoff, ezra's petulance tiresome. he knows he has to rein him in more, but it's also kind of funny? mostly a pain in his ass, but you get what kicks you can in this position. too bad he isn't laughing. ]

You realize I almost died right?

But you didn't.

[So yes, he does realize, but he's too busy repressing things at the moment.]

There was... something else too.

[Maybe he shouldn't bring this up. After all, Third Brother seemed really angry, almost like he could kill him. But it probably doesn't have anything to do with him! It's probably something else! And he's too curious to let it go.]

When I was helping you, you got mad all of a sudden and pushed me away. You wouldn't tell me what was wrong or if something had happened. That's the last thing I remember.

[ he listens, taking in what ezra says, and tries to recollect. nothing comes back to mind though. quietly he sucks in a breath and sighs it out, throat vibration. ]

I spent hours getting electrocuted yesterday, among other things. I don't remember.

[ he sees no reason in hiding what he went through. there is no mercy or spared feelings in their lot and he never treated him with kid gloves before so why start now? ]

[Well, that's no help. Ezra thinks for a moment, trying to retrace what happened and when. It all sorta blurred together when he woke up.]

I was cleaning your wounds, I started with your face since your eyes were- wait. [He looks at Third Brother, examining him closely.] How'd your eyes get better already?

[ his response, like about everything else so far, is a confused shrug. ]

Didn't even know my eyes were damaged.

[ it must have been... not the shocks no. the grand inquisitor had him strapped down and together they discussed ezra, the year since he took him in past, and... and caleb dume. he swallows, not quite remembering the conversations or the details, but remembering the feelings. the self-loathing he still carries and why he can't say that name. ]

They were! Your veins were like- and then your eyes were- you know!

[Ezra has a way with words.]

But now they're fine. [So how come neither of them can remember what happened? Third Brother's excuse makes sense, given the torture and everything. But Ezra was completely fine and then he passed out and couldn't remember a thing. Like... the holocron.] Did I...?

[ third brother looks at him, quiet, and breathing in slow and exhaling tense. he has no idea what to say or do, but he can't be on the floor all day. ]

Can you help me up?

Oh! Yeah! Right.

[He quickly moves to help Third Brother to stand up, and the good thing is they don't need Second Brother's help this time. He had been weird last night too...

As he helps him up, Ezra looks away, his voice quiet.]

I'm glad you're alright.

[And there's a glimmer, a spark of light in his presence leftover from yesterday.]

[ quietly he hisses as ezra helps him to his feet and once he gets up he carefully saunters to the bed to sit on it instead. he isn't ready to be mobile yet. the comment goes unanswered, but silently he thinks the same. he's glad ezra is alright and fears what could happen the next time. that fear is his power and so he does not shun it, but instead lets it consume him.

yet then he feels the light again, a warm glow, and straightens up. senses sharpen and something in him recoils again. ]

This Resistance is getting stronger. [ he decides to say, wanting to divert the conversation away from his wellbeing or lack of. ] The Grand Inquisitor is going to increase our time off base. They must be crushed.

I know. [he says casually with a hint of annoyance, like they're discussing homework he has yet to finish. Fighting Jedi is one thing, but he still doesn't care for fighting Rebels. Not that he can't do it, obviously.]

If we can actually separate them next time, it should be easy. Without that Jedi helping them, they're pretty weak on their own.

Yes. But the Jedi is the problem.

[ his hands fold in his lap, gaze steely as he looks to ezra. ]

Her name is Ahsoka Tano. For whatever reason, Darth Vader has taken an interest in her. He wants her brought in alive.

[ and that's the problem. no other jedi has been asked to be returned alive. it's always kill on sight. what gives? ]

If he wants her so bad, why doesn't he just find her himself?

[Not like he'd actually say that to Vader's face. Er, helmet.]

You think he wants to turn her?

It'd be the only thing that makes sense.

[ but even that is strange. padawans like him were turned in the wake of the purges. the survivors, deemed with the potential to surpass their masters, were exposed to the truth. a truth that broke and resurrected them into the warriors they are now. but that was after the purge, and ahsoka is about the same age he is. he doesn't think she can be turned. ]

The thing about her is she's more than just a Jedi. She's a symbol. If we take her down, the resistance will crumble without her. The rest of them are easy pickings without her protection. Without her to give them hope.

Yeah...

[It doesn't sound like he's listening, but he is. Just probably not in a way Third Brother would approve of. If she's gone, they'll be able to crush the Rebellion. He doesn't care for the Rebellion, considering it's what got his parents killed. But he still doesn't love the Empire either.]

When do you think my training will be complete? I'm tired of being called baby brother.

Bridger, they'll call you baby brother even after you get a title.

[ the mean girls gonna mean girl. he motions a hand to his side, inviting him to sit with him at the bed. ]

The thing you need to understand is in raw power, you're already at our level. It isn't about that. The problem is you aren't loyal.

[It fits, he sits.

But... he can't argue against that. He can try to talk his way out of it, though.]

I'm loyal to you.

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