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A heavy sigh rattled from Ezra’s lungs as he stepped up onto the ramp of the Ghost. Normally he would contact Hera to let him know he had arrived, but this time he was just too worn out from his mission.
And since the ramp was already lowered he decided to just invite himself in. Nothing much had changed since he left, but he wondered vaguely why the ship was open.
Hera was always very sternly reminding them to make sure to keep the ramp closed because-
“Ezzie!” The thrilled squeal rang in his ears and a small form shot towards him.
Small arms wrapped around his legs and he nearly toppled over. But despite how exhausted he was, he felt no annoyance. He looked down at his little attacker and grinned as Jacen smiled up at him.
For a second Ezra could see traces of Kanan in the boy’s face, especially the bright blue eyes that shone with excitement. At the same time he could see Hera’s softer facial features, and the green tinge on the boy’s ears.
The small boy was truly a wonder.
“Hey Jace,” Ezra said, reaching down and swinging the toddler up into his arms. “What’s up?”
“Out!” Jacen’s eyes lit up at the sight of the open ramp, tiny hands reaching for it.
“Nope,” Ezra shook his head, settling the toddler on his hip and flicking the controls with the force.
The ramp raised slowly and closed with a click, shutting out the bright sunshine. Jacen’s lower lip stuck out in a pout but Ezra quickly redirected his attention.
“Where’s mom?” He asked, already sensing Hera’s approaching presence.
“Mamama,” Jacen chanted, bouncing slightly.
Ezra couldn’t help but laugh a bit as he sensed Hera coming from the larger storage bay in the back, she was hurrying, probably running after Jacen.
“Jacen?” She called, appearing around the corner, a worried expression on her face.
The tension melted out of Ezra’s body as he met her eyes, her face immediately brightened both with relief at finding Jacen and joy at seeing Ezra.
“Ezra,” She smiled, “I didn’t know you were on your way back.”
“Yeah,” Ezra replied, shifting his hold on Jacen so Hera could more easily wrap them both in a hug.
For a second he relaxed into the comfort of his pseudo mother’s arms. Allowing the weight to slip from his shoulders as he let out a weary sigh.
Hera pulled back after a long moment, but her hands lingered on his arms, searching his face intently.
“How’d it go?” She asked, concern clear in her voice.
“Better, I think.” Ezra said, trying to sound optimistic.
Hera leveled him with an unconvinced look.
“I don’t want to talk about it right now.” He admitted.
“That’s fine,” Hera conceded, “But I’m here when you’re ready.”
“Thanks Hera.” He smiled genuinely and she returned it.
Jacen was growing tired of being ignored, one of his hands reached up and grabbed Ezra’s ear, making the young Jedi wince.
“Ezzie!” Jacen insisted, tugging his ear.
“Ow,” Ezra pulled away and looked at the toddler, slightly annoyed, “What?”
Hera chuckled and reached up, gently ruffling Jacen’s dark green hair. The toddler giggled, so bright and bubbly that Ezra couldn’t even be annoyed anymore.
“He’s been a handful all day,” Hera told him, “I’ve been trying to get a few upgrades done, but…”
Ezra easily caught her drift. A smirk crossed his face as he swung Jacen off his hip and lifted the toddler up over his head.
“Are you causing trouble?” He asked, voice taking on the light and playful tone that only came out around his baby brother.
Jacen laughed, thrilled by his new elevation. His hands waved in the air and his eyes sparkled with exhilaration.
“Okay,” Ezra decided, lowering Jacen back to his previous place, “I’ll keep an eye on him for you.”
Hera smiled, “That would be wonderful,” She said, “It should only take me a bit longer, and then we can eat, okay?”
“Sure,” Ezra nodded.
Hera turned to return to her work and Ezra headed to the ladder that led to the upper levels. The gate at the top which they had installed for safety once Jacen had started crawling was sitting open since the little boy was already at the lower level.
“You ready to climb?” Ezra asked, setting Jacen on a rung of the ladder and waited for the kid to grab on.
The toddler was still considered little, but he was big enough to climb up and down the ladder- as long as he had close supervision in case he got tired or simply let go for no reason.
It was a lot easier than trying to climb up any other way, and Hera understandably did not want him throwing Jacen with the force.
As soon as they reached the top of the ladder Ezra shut the gate and made double sure it was secure. Jacen ran ahead of him and Ezra jumped after him, cautiously watching so the kid didn’t hit any of the controls in the cockpit.
But Jacen wasn’t interested in the buttons and knobs today. The toddler ran down the hall on his stubby little legs, making it easy for Ezra to keep up with him.
About halfway down the hall Jacen looked back at him, Ezra raised his arms and spread his fingers like claws, plastering a crazy grin on his face.
“Roooar!” He growled, taking exaggerated steps towards the kid.
Jacen squealed and took off down the hall faster- which still wasn’t very fast. Ezra stomped slowly after him, giving the toddler ample time to hide before he reached the lounge.
He instantly spotted the kid huddled under the dejarik table, but he took a moment to search in other places, pretending to be confused as to how his prey disappeared.
Muffled giggles drew his attention at last and he stomped over to the table. For a second he stood still, then suddenly he dropped to a crouch.
Jacen absolutely shrieked with laughter as Ezra pulled him out from under the checkered table and started tickling him.
After a minute Ezra stopped and sat back, letting out a ridiculous evil laugh, and pretending to revel in his victory.
But not a moment later Jacen tackled him, clumsily trying to tickle him back. Ezra toppled backwards into the floor, playing along. His hysterical laughter and pleas were almost sincere as the toddler continued trying to tickle him.
Ezra dropped his head to the floor, “Bleh.” He stuck out his tongue, pretending to die.
Jacen jumped upright, and Ezra opened one eye to see what the kid was up to. Of course the toddler had lost interest in the previous game and was now poking at the controls of the holotable.
With a fond sigh Ezra sat up and pulled himself to his feet. Jacen looked up at him and pointed at the table.
“Net net.”
That was how Jacen said he wanted to watch the holonet. It wasn’t very often the toddler was allowed to watch it, but on occasion it was fine.
A bit reluctantly, Ezra jabbed a button on the table. A holo sprang to life on top of it, already tuned into a frequency that played children’s entertainment.
Jacen stared at it, blue eyes wide, completely enraptured by the incredibly corny cartoon of a bantha that stampeded around.
A goofy tune started playing as the image quickly changed to a couple kids, a human, a twi-lek, and a mon calamari. Dread filled Ezra at the same time Jacen’s face lit up, both realizing what this was at the same time.
The theme song of the broadcasting station, complete with a wacky dance.
“Ezzie!” Jacen tugged at his hand, just like he did every time this song played.
“I dunno Jace,” Ezra said, “I’m kind of tired.”
Jacen looked up at him, eyes wide and pleading, his lower lip stuck out.
It was hopeless. Ezra huffed and turned to the holotable, where the kids on the show were spouting off instructions.
“Move your arms around!” Called the twi-lek child, waving her arms high in the air.
Ezra and Jacen copied her movements, stamping the floor with their feet. Jacen was clumsy about it but Ezra was sure he himself looked even more ridiculous.
“And stop!” Cried the calamari boy.
The two of them froze, Jacen shaking with exuberant giggles, and Ezra trying his best not to burst out laughing as well.
“Now shake!” The human kid demonstrated, wiggling head to foot.
Jacen wiggled so hard he almost fell over and Ezra had to scoot back a step to avoid bumping into the kid. Finally his laughter erupted and he joined Jacen in wild shaking.
“Now everybody spin!” The twi-lek instructed.
Ezra didn’t even hesitate to spin right alongside his little brother, but when he turned he caught sight of two people in the doorway.
His face flushed red with embarrassment and he pulled himself to an abrupt halt. The cheesy song kept playing behind him and he could see Jacen out of the corner of his eye carrying on with the dance unbothered.
But Ezra’s focus was glued to the two intruders.
Ahsoka and Sabine stood there, watching him.
“Oh, hey…” He greeted, rubbing the back of his neck, “Just uh… watching the kid.”
Ahsoka hid an amused smile, and Sabine pretended to cough into her fist, eyes dancing with laughter.
Humiliated, Ezra felt his flush intensifying. But Jacen tugged at his hand, pulling his attention back. Apparently the song was not yet over.
Now he had to flap his arms up and down. Jacen eagerly followed the instructions, but Ezra cast another look back at Ahsoka and Sabine before he complied.
And he wondered if it was possible to die of embarrassment.