happy father's day - blindrun

[merging]

 [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.]

Comments

[merging]

[Duh, that's why he has a lightsaber and the Force. But...]

What do you mean?

[blindrun]

[ ah, now he has his attention. good. he thinks ezra will like what he has to say. ]

I didn't plan any of what just happened Bridger. I had an idea, talked to an officer, and got your parents on the line in a few minutes. That is the power of rank in the Empire - you can pull strings, get around the bureaucracy, and get results unhindered.

[ he crosses his arms, tsking lightly. ]

My siblings, and even you, often forget Inquisitors have more than just brute strength in power. We have rank and that matters just as much in this system. If I wanted to? I could arrange your parent's release in a matter of days.

[merging]

[He's zoned out a little. Sorry, Third Brother, but bureaucracy talk is boring. Ezra only focuses in on the important parts.]

Then why don't you?

[blindrun]

[ a smirk twitches up. ]

And steal your thunder?

[ besides, then ezra really would just run off and leave and he can't have that. no, he doesn't want to let him go. they're master and apprentice, brothers in arms, and he won't give him up to some weaklings he presumed to be dead for almost a decade. ]

You want to be an Inquisitor, but you lacked a good reason to commit. Here's your reason - you can safely arrange your parents out, put them back in society, and they can resume their lives. It won't be perfect, as nothing under the Empire ever is, but breaking them out makes them fugitives of the law. They'll be shot on sight, and you with them.

So see? Everyone wins.

[ including third brother. ]

[merging]

[It makes some sense logically, which he can process now that his anger's starting to die now. There's just one problem.]

What if I don't want to be an Inquisitor?

[blindrun]

Then your parents rot? [ duh? he shrugs. ] You saw how they looked. Most likely they're being forced into labor, barely eating, minimal sleep. I'm actually surprised they haven't died yet - they must have strong wills.

But strong will isn't enough. If the Empire deems them too weak to work, they'll be killed. Not for any treason or rebellion, but for becoming invalids. I doubt they'd be able to be on the run if you break them out.

[merging]

Even if they're free, my parents won't be happy living under the Empire. And... the way they looked at me. They were afraid.

[Not just for him either.]

[blindrun]

I can't imagine they're happy now either.

[ ezra hasn't seen them in nine years, and the reverse is true too. seeing their son, alive and healthy, is perhaps the only spark of hope they have had in years. ]

Ask yourself Ezra: what would you give to save them? If you could do it in a way that protected them after the immediate freedom as well, why wouldn't you? Isn't that what you want?

[merging]

I don't think that's what my parents would want.

[This whole time he's been fighting to survive, to just live another day. But this life has no meaning, not the way theirs did.]

They knew what they were risking and they still fought back. And then they gave up everything for me. And I... I need to think.

[He turns to leave, still not realizing how treasonous his words are. Despite everything, he's the type who speaks his mind no matter what.]

[blindrun]

[ third brother's eyes widen as he turns, not at all expecting this response. he had it all figured out in his head - show ezra his parents, give him a well-thought out plan to free them, and then he'd have him. ezra's barrier isn't his power but his commitment, and this way he could secure it. tether his parents to him with a chain and tether himself to him in the same way.

now ezra turns away and he feels like he's losing him as he walks. ]

Ezra! [ he calls out, slipping on using his real name again-- ] Think things through! You're not thinking logically.

[ his plans are never perfect, but they're near as much as it can be. it's why he's the tactician. how could he miscalculate? how could he be losing his apprentice to the light? ]

[merging]

[He doesn't even turn to look back.]

I said I was going to think about it. So I will.

[blindrun]

[ he wants to say something, say anything, but words fail him.

so instead he falls back on anger, as his desperation begins to turn to something colder. clawing inside him and furious at ezra's arrogance beneath the surface of his icy glare. ]

You don't need to think. I've done that part for you.

[ he made a plan for him to follow. what's the problem? ]

[merging]

Sorry. But I think for myself.

[And he walks out, closing the door with a small wave of his hand.]

[blindrun]

[ the door closes and third brother stares, fuming. he just spent an entire night being tortured and tormented to protect ezra from the grand inquisitor's wrath, made a plan for him to save his parents, and that's the thanks he gets? this is how he's treated, how he's disrespected? he's done nothing but train, care for, and protect ezra for over a year but no. no, the parents he thought were dead, whom he hasn't seen for nearly a decade, are somehow more important than him? what have they even done for ezra!?

The problem is you aren't loyal.
I'm loyal to you.

he blinks, breathes in and then turns around. the steel desk behind him has been crushed under an extreme force and though no one can see it, his eyes are blown out in a piercing yellow. ]