#kanan would fix everything! he wants kanan!!!!!

[jedi-enthusiasm-blog]

"The Light Side being good and the Dark Side being evil has no nuance!"

Why though? Neither side is inherent, they're choices. Does a difficult choice between good and evil not sound nuanced to you? Does the choice between a painful path and the complete erasure of who you are no sound fucking nuanced to you?

The Dark and Light Sides are a binary choice between good and evil, and… that's great! The morals are simple, but the nuance is not in the basic and very simple morality (murder bad), it's in the circumstances that make adhering to your morals difficult.

Is Anakin Skywalker wanting to do good but not being able to because that would mean not having what he wants not nuanced to you?

Is Asajj Ventress —an assassin, a Sith Acolyte, a bounty hunter— letting a girl go because she doesn't want her to lose her family like Ventress did, even though that would cost her a lot of money she needs to survive not nuanced to you?

Is Dooku wanting to fix the corruption of the Republic and ending up being worse because he believes he knows best not nuanced to you?

Is Darth Vader choosing right for once in his life and becoming who his son needs him to be not nuanced to you?

Is Cal, Kanan, Obi-Wan and all other Order 66 survivors remaining good and kind when everything's against them not nuanced to you?

Is Luke seeing the good still left in Space Hitler and forgiving and loving his father the Sith Apprentice despite everything he's done not nuanced to you?

Is Finn choosing mercy and defiance of the First Order despite being kidnaped, indoctrinated and brainwashed by them not nuanced to you?

Is Rey being good and choosing not to let her bloodline define her not nuanced to you?

Is Ben Solo choosing evil despite everyone around him being good not nuanced to you?

Is Han Solo, a selfish man, choosing to go into a killzone to save his friends not nuanced to you?

Is Mace Windu commiting high treason to save the Republic regardless of what happens to him not nuanced to you?

Is Ezra Bridger being selfish and thinking of himself but choosing to be selfless when he realizes how much that means not nuanced to you?

If we go to Legends:

Is Jacen Solo becoming a monster because he wants to spare his daughter from a horrible fate not nuanced to you?

Is Jaina Solo killing her brother to save the galaxy not nuanced to you?

Is Cade Skywalker seeing the Force as a tool and being dragged into evil more and more not nuanced to you?

What does nuance mean to you anyways? Do you even know what that means or are you just trying to be edgy?

[engagemythrusters]

he doesn't even know kanan is coming and hes just calling for his dad bc he's scared :( i have no analysis to make. just :( to feel

[marvel-starwarsfangirl]

TBB S3- some thoughts that've been on my mind

Hello friends, I've had some thoughts on some plot elements on S3 for a while and some ideas on how they could've been tweaked to work better. There's already been so much discourse; I just wanted to add my own perspective because the potential was there. And again, I wanted to see if these ideas could've worked well within the rest of the story without significant rewrites. (This is my brain trying to make sense of everything I felt missed the mark).

I also have more Tech thoughts because man, I'll never get over how he was handled.

Edit: btw, NOTHING will ever stop me from loving this show or these characters. I still think TBB is amazing and has peak SW content. I just sometimes ponder certain choices made.

Crosshair's Hand: I concur with everyone that the infamous hand chop really didn't make any sense narratively. My perspective on Crosshair's important shot wouldn't have changed if he had his hand. Crosshair overcame because he had support from his family, not because he suddenly could shoot 100% accurately again. From a shock value POV (and just straight up whump angle), the hand chop works. But that adds nothing to the narrative or significance to the characters. Crosshair could've gotten hurt in any other number of ways and the story wouldn't really change. CX-2 and his comrades still had our favorite sniper at their mercy. Crosshair was in deep trouble no matter what.

Personally, I wouldn't have taken the hand. But if we HAD to keep that part in, the only way it really would've worked was if CX-2 was either Tech or had a stronger relationship to Crosshair in general. While I think everyone would still agree the hand chop really wasn't really needed, the scene would've had a stronger impact. Another thing would to have a stronger reaction to it in general. Crosshair might be high on adrenaline, but the fact that he barely reacts to it makes the whole thing feel like it was done for shock value only. Which I'm sure wasn't the writers' initial idea. This man just went through a traumatic amputation. The least they could've done was give him a scene where he says something about it to one of his brothers.

CX-2: The whole CX subplot needed some more substance in general, but for now let's focus on our main man, CX-2. I was more under the impression that he was Crosshair's shadow than Tech, but either way, they just needed to give him more to do. Technically, he did fulfill his purpose within the story: he successfully delivered Omega to Hemlock. Then, he just dips until the finale. I think had they built up more of rivalry between him and Crosshair, there would've been more emotional weight. He gets skewered by Hunter and that's it. He cuts off Crosshair's hand because... he's petty? But Hemlock would just replace Crosshair's hand anyway. (Again, the hand chop wasn't necessary).

I don't know if it would fix anything without doing major rewrites, but I think having Crosshair and CX-2 face off again in "Point of No Return" would've helped. For example, Crosshair tries to hold him off to let Omega escape. Omega, seeing her brother in peril (as well as everyone else), chooses to give herself up. Crosshair could still chase after them to fire the tracker. I don't know if this would've helped, I'm just throwing ideas out here. At the end of the day, having CX-2 as a more established character in terms of his relationship to Crosshair would've given the entire subplot a huge boost. He is the ghost of Crosshair's future. A ghost of a permanent future. Not only that, but he was a brother turned into a monster. They didn't need to go out of there way to give him an entire episode, but some more scenes dedicated to the CX program overall would've been nice.

Tech: I already talked about my frustrations enough so I won't rehash them. However, I will share what's been on my mind concerning him and that's the why. Why didn't we get proper closure that we got for Kanan? Heck, Maul got more closure than Tech did. I almost cried watching House of the Dragon S2 premiere when one of the main characters was shown still mourning a death from S1. Tech never got any of that. So, why didn't he? I've asked myself that question plenty of times. The reasons I came up with are: time jump, soldiers, and priorities. But let's be honest, they're not the strongest reasons and don't excuse the poor handling of a beloved character. Tech deserved better period.

5 months is a quite a bit of time. For some people, 5 months is enough time to grieve. For others, it's barely time at all. Given their upbringing, Echo, Hunter, and Wrecker tried to carry on. Omega, meanwhile, doesn't come from that perspective. She reacts strongly. And with her circumstances on Tantiss, she wouldn’t really have the time to grieve properly. Crosshair adds it to the list of things he feels guilty about (that's the implication I'm getting).

Because they're all soldiers except Omega, the hug it out and cry method wasn't something we were gonna get realistically.

Their priorities also have changed too in those 5 months. Hemlock became an even more terrifying threat. He had Omega. He had Crosshair. I think in Hunter's mind, he was so focused on getting Omega back and keeping her safe that it kept him from really acknowledging Tech's death. Wrecker kinda follows along with Hunter. Crosshair is the only person who really acknowledges the true pain of losing Tech but it's only when he's pushed to his most vulnerable. I honestly expected Omega to say something about it as well. Nope.

In conclusion: everyone got so tied up in escaping Hemlock and saving Omega that they refused to acknowledge Tech?

I mean, I guess that kinda makes sense. But it doesn't make the situation any better. To make it better (other than straight up reviving him), we'd need an episode or at least an entire scene in at least one episode to talk about it. Have the characters open up or have a moment to sit and just process that it's been that long. Crosshair going "CF99 died with Tech" doesn't count. Heck, Crosshair is the one really struggling here. He'd benefit most from having good cry and hugs. Problem is, when I look back, I don't know which episode could fit a "Tech closure" scene. The best options would be "The Return," "Bad Territory," or "The Harbinger." But other plot elements kinda take over and it would require significant rewrites in order to make the Tech stuff work without feeling shoehorned in.

Ok, rant over.

[itstimeforstarwars]

Oooooh so many good options. I'd like to hear anything you'd like to share about ANY of the following, just pick your fave Korkie and Adonai (gal) quin and ben (gal) ani rarepair stranded/trapped/single dad Korkie doesn't usually come to these (gal) TT ben and ashla b&e mace deager go brr kittens mandos and jetii sleeby deeby aug 27: children (korkie deage)

I did TT ben and ashla here!

I'll do a few of these ones for you!

Korkie and Adonai

This one takes place later in the Galidraan au. Korkie notices that Palpatine is taking a keen interest in the younger members of the Mandalorian delegation, most notably Ben. He doesn't know a whole lot about Palpatine other than he became an evil magic emperor after the end of the war--and that whenever Auntie Satine noticed that Anakin Skywalker was going to see Palpatine by himself, she'd always done everything she could to delay or redirect him. Korkie doesn't know what to do about him, and he's pretty sure that Myles and Jango would get themselves killed if he told them what he knows, so he goes to a Mandalorian that he knows won't immediately resort to violence--his grandfather. And if he has to tell Adonai the whole truth in order to get him to believe it, he will.

:) I'm so excited for this one tbh. It comes after Korkie's managed to get himself hired as one of Grandpa Kryze's bodyguards, after he's managed to meet the members of his family he'd never had a chance to and become a somewhat trusted friend to them--and now he's about to take the biggest risk and tell them everything he knows to protect the kids in their care. It also takes place shortly after baby Korkie is born, which I think adds an interesting flavor.

Ani rarepair single dad

Time travel fic! Anakin gets tossed into the future from the clone wars to shortly after A New Dawn. Ahsoka and Obi-Wan are there too, but they've been turned into little kids. Kanan and Hera are broke down in this city, and Kanan ends up inviting Anakin and the kids to stay with them while he helps Hera fix the ship. Eventual Kanerakin.

Kanan used the Force to hear whatever the little kid had to say.

"Me klop you," it muttered in Huttese. "Da do Jeedai."

Kanan's heart froze for a moment. That's a Jedi, the kid had said.

He grabbed his space beer and drained it. "I think I'll go talk to them," he said, with a grin at the bartender. "With genetics like that, the kid's parent has to be a real looker."

"If they slap you, I'll give you something to drown your sorrows in on the house," the bartender said dryly.

Korkie doesn't usually come to these

Myles gets Korkie to spend the holidays with the Tenaus. Some of Myles's older siblings have questions about why Myles is raising Korkie's younger siblings.

AKA when Myles meets the kids, they tell everyone that they have "no family that would recognize them" and when Korkie enters the picture, Ben introduces him as his brother. Now Derry and Throckmorton want to know why the fuck Korkie's younger siblings ended up abandoned in the snow on Galidraan and who the hell Korkie thinks he is, exactly, and what his plans concerning Myles and the kids are now. :)

aug 27: children (korkie deage)

Some Mandalorian archeologists find an abandoned Jedi Temple on Mandalore (post war, good ending). Korkie ends up interacting with one of the artifacts they found, and it turns him into a child. Satine calls Obi-Wan and Cody to come help. It was originally written for a Codywan week, but it immediately became codyobitine, so I've been working on it as its own thing. Korkie is Force-sensitive! So is Bo-Katan! No one is happy about this!

"Oh," Satine said, suddenly much less alarmed. "Yes, he did that sometimes as a child. But that's not Force-sensitivity, all children do that. He grew out of it by the time he was six."

"Wha--Satine!" Obi-Wan said. "All children most certainly do not do that!"

"Of course they do," Satine said. "My sister did the same thing when she was little, and you certainly wouldn't call her Force-sensitive."

Obi-Wan put his hand over his mouth, likely so he didn't say something that he would prefer six-year-olds did not repeat.

Finally, he said, "I cannot kriffing belive Bo-Katan is Force-sensitive!"

"Hey!" Korkie said judgementally. "Dush miit'e, t'ad waadas!" [bad words, two credits!]

There was silence for a moment.

Then, Satine and Cody burst out laughing.

This is one of my favorite wips and tbh I should work on it more often. It's just fun.

[illuminatedquill]

Well, that was certainly a finale.

Initial thoughts below (SPOILERS AHEAD):

Ahsoka 1x08:

THE JEDI, THE WITCH, AND THE WARLORD

I’m a bundle of many emotions but first -

Look, nothing’s over. Okay? Filoni is clearly playing a long game here with these characters. So let’s all calm down and wait for the next season.

There was simply too much to show in this final episode for it to be satisfying on every front. I think, for the most part, he succeeded in ending this first season and setting up What Comes Next.

But I do feel like some of the character stuff was resolved a little too neatly, in my opinion.

There’s such potential in these relationships and I feel like Filoni was laser focused on getting the groundwork laid down for the future. And it’s Big.

(THE MORTIS GODS ON PERIDEA. ANAKIN FORCE GHOST. I SCREAMED WHEN I SAW IT.)

I’m not 100% pleased with where Sabine ended up and the fact that she just irrevocably altered the fabric of her home galaxy due to her decision seemed to have been glossed over by Ahsoka and STILL not found out by Ezra.

I mean, there’s HUGE ramifications from what she did. And I’m worried that none of it will be played out to it’s proper devastating conclusion.

Yet, I’m willing to let it slide because it’s clear that there will be more. So, we just have to wait.

Also, the exploration of why Sabine made her choice was never addressed. At least, not in a way that was satisfactory to me. Again, I’m hoping that’s explored in the future . . . but I don’t know.

Even Thrawn was confused about her decision! He couldn’t understand it. And this is Thrawn we’re talking about.

How can you not interpret everything Sabine did in this season as being driven by something more than just friendship. Even the casual fans picked up on it.

(It’s me! I’m the casual fan. Didn’t ship it before and then I saw the first Ahsoka trailer and it suddenly clicked.)

She officially cemented her place in the Disaster Lineage when she made the choice to hand over the map to Baylan! Gambled the fate of an entire galaxy just for the chance to see Ezra again!

That’s peak romance! Literally have not seen a character’s choice forever alter the future on a galactic scale of this magnitude since the main man, Anakin Skywalker, himself!

All for love!

And, yeah, I know the Wolfwren fans are pleased with Shin also being on Peridea. I know Filoni is on the record being against an Ezra/Sabine romance (at least during Rebels, which made sense at the time to me) but I don’t see that pairing being a thing.

We’ve gotten prime examples of healthy, loving, supportive romance from him: Sabine’s parents, Kanan and Hera, Ezra’s parents.

Shin would need to mellow out her murderous nature by 100% to be friends with Sabine. If that happens, I would be cool with it.

Don’t see her doing that anytime soon with her last scene being that. She’s too power hungry.

Other thoughts:

Fantastic battle scenes - highlight being the final duel between Morgan and Ashoka. She went out like a fighter.

Thrawn was excellent, as always. Lars Mikkelsen was born to play this role. His cold, calculating menace is balanced perfectly by some flickers of emotion here and there; the regret when he asked Morgan to stay and his annoyance at Ahsoka escaping his hellfire.

Eman is Ezra. Fantastic casting.

As for Natasha as Sabine . . .

I want more from her. Just more of her as Sabine, forever and always. Still my favorite character on the show. I think there’s more emotional depths to be explored (LIKE HER FEELINGS FOR EZRA) but I’m putting that on Filoni.

(. . . This post is a mess. Sorry for rambling. I’m sure a lot of you feel the same.)

Just want to emphasize that it’ll probably be fine. Nothing’s been decided, one way or the other. And the success of this season should hopefully guarantee more of these beloved characters on our screens soon enough.

And, well, there’s nothing a good fanfic can’t fix. I expect we’ll be seeing plenty of those after this.

[userobiwan]

A few question and you can choose which one to answer….. What was your inspo for the Au? Pick a song or album that matches the vibe of your Au? What part do you like more…. Brainstorming or editing?

these are amazing questions!! ty!!!

inspo for the AU was half star wars rebels and half just playing through JFO and interacting with the fandom. I love seeing Kanan and Ahsoka's interactions, especially since in TOTJ we get confirmation that Kanan knew Ahsoka/watched her training in the temple!! also, so much of JFO revolves around rebuilding a new Jedi order, and I wanted to explore how that would go if Cal realized that he and Cere weren't the only Jedi left. Not only are there others, but other padawans specifically! I think Cal, Kanan, and Ahsoka each bring a different kind of child soldier trauma to the chat, and I wanted them to heal together and maybe fix everything also

also, while different AUs and timelines, major shoutout to @stealingpotatoes TL4J AU!!! it's so adorable and i love seeing what other people do with the padawan survivors!!!!

Song inspo will always be My Tears Ricochet by Taylor Swift specifically for the line "I can go anywhere I want, just not home."

And I am horrible at wanting to do editing, whether thats academic work or for fun. I much prefer brainstorming!! i have like ten million ideas for this fic and a few other ones kicking around in my brain rn

thank you!!

[m0chitown]

🕷 Redback Spider | EARTH-90605: Manila, Philippines, 1968.

It's a change of scenery, hm? Welcome to Manila. It's 1968, and it's as hot as you can imagine it to be in a tropical nation. Oh, yeah, no, don't expect yourself to be slick and sneaky with your arrival-Word can get around everywhere in a second! And within those seconds, you're already family.

"Anak, meron kang alikabok sa ulo mo, halika dito, aayusin ko lang your buhok mo."

(My child, you have dust on your head, come here, let me just fix your hair.)

"Ang ganda mo talaga!"

(You're so totally pretty!)

"Foreigner ka ba?"

(Are you a foreigner?)

"Gutom ka ba? Gusto mo ba ng Halo-halo?"

(Are you hungry? Would you like some Halo-halo?)

I love Halo-halo...Anyways, allow me to introduce myself! I am known as RB. I was bitten by an extraterrestrial Redback spider. His name is Kanan, and what makes him extraterrestrial is his Symbiote form he injected on the right side of my neck, hence his name. He bit me when I got caught in my own web, being cornered by my boss and his subordinates from a mafia I work for...

Let's rewind a bit...

I work as a sketch artist for the police department. Can't do much with the pay that I have, especially with my circumstances of being both a woman and of a lower class. my Tito(Uncle) Aaron, works as a bartender at a pretty okay saloon. Our pay is enough to allow us to sustain ourselves in this grand, lively city despite the state of our economy so, it works out. Thing is, my Papa, my grandfather, was KIA during WWII and left me and my uncle a large sum of money we keep for absolute emergencies. As far as we knew, we were the only ones who knew about his inheritance until a little later down the line when I'd get surrounded and pinned to a wall by men in suits in a dark alleyway. Cliche, I know, I told them that too. They introduced themselves as Papa's former subordinates who were left with distasteful lives because of Papa's business with them. Until this day, I have yet to find out what tainted my Papa from being someone other than a sweet military guy but they threatened to hit the nail on my own coffin and harm my Tito in addition if I declined their offer to not only provide my Papa's old documents but to become their hitman. Someone who could do their dirty work for them in order to take down other mafia rings and eventually rise to the top as millionaires.

...

So...I took the option to withdraw those threats. I joined the mafia as their new hitman, all while having to keep this all from my Tito. It was rough, I couldn't take anyone's life just like that, and that is where we left off. With Kanan, such a transformation as such into a Spider-Person was gorey and unsettling, to say the least.

Kanan told me not to worry about it. Not to worry about them.

And the next thing I remember was my vision blacking out and gaining my own conscious back to shaking my boss' hand surrounded by the pools of mixed blood around us.

I'm still a sketch artist, and I'm still a hitman. And I'm still the RB. Needless to say, I've grown desensitized to my double life. I've gotten to be a better hitman, but it's not something I'm proud of and it's never going to be something I will be proud of. And one day, I'm going to bring this entire mafia down with me.

I'm just glad I'm not alone.

And, well, you know the rest!

Thanks, Kanan.

AAAAA This was super fun to write! And I'm so excited now that my Spidersona is finished!! :,,] It was a tough process seeing as I had to do a lot of self-reflection within myself as I don't typically have a reason to study myself and how I'm structured. It was especially difficult before as I used to shy away from analyzing myself too much due to past insecurities so putting everything I have in a character and realizing how pretty she truly is makes me want to cry :,0 I can't change the way of how I look much, not like I can play Tetris with my bone structure LMAO but it feels really good to be able to put my insecurities off and make a character I now love a lot :,,]

Translations of Baybayin: "Kanan," "Grabe...," "RB"

[kanerallels]

Congratulations on 501 followers!! I chose 90 and 78 for the celebration!! I'm so excited!❤️

Thanks, friend!!

Okay, so someone else sent me 78 as an ask, and I only really have one concrete idea for that one. So I'm going to make an executive decision and give you #73 instead, which I think you'll like, too!

73: Time Travel Au. I shall post this on its own here. But have a quick summary-- Ezra gets stuck in a time loop, and tries to fix everything, Luckily, if he plays his cards right, he'll have backup

90. Pacific Rim Au. In this one, Kanan and Hera are both Jaeger pilots. Kanan's drifted with a couple different people, but Hera's far more selective, and has only had one other partner. Who is now retiring. And she and Kanan miiiiiiiiiiight be drift compatible, to her own great horror

“You ready to give this a shot?”

Taking a deep breath, Hera shot a glance at her partner. Kanan Jarrus, one of the better Jaeger pilots out there. And the last person she’d ever thought she would be about to drift with.

But they were compatible. And somehow, despite his flirting and cockiness, she’d wound up agreeing to giving this a shot. I must be insane.

“Let’s do this,” she told him calmly.

In her earpiece, she heard Kallus back in Loccent saying, “Commencing neural handshake.”

And then her mind was flooded with memories that weren’t her own— 

asking question after question about the Jaegers as a kid, pestering his mother. Depa had just laughed and answered them. “maybe someday you’ll be in one,” she said, although her eyes said she hoped it wasn’t true. little did she know— did either of them know— that she would be the first one to drift with him.

losing Depa hurt, and he wasn’t sure if he could keep drifting without her. but he knew better than to give up, after everything she’d taught him, so he kept going.

The snapshots grew briefer— cold metal under his hand as he patted the side of his destroyed Jaeger, being shipped off to be repurposed for parts. the taste of cold root beer as he and Cal and Merrin and Bode sat and joked together. a pair of green eyes and a melodic voice that took root and he hoped he’d never forget—

“Neural handshake successful and holding,” Kallus said through their helmets. “Phantom? How are we doing?”

Hera didn’t have to look at Kanan to know he was grinning, or to know what he wanted to say. “We’re ready,” she said firmly.

[voteformightyclocks]

The Road to Ahsoka Part 1

I'm back because go figure, I can't handle two jobs, so I have free time again! (And as if on cue, without me doing anything, my phone started sending me Tumblr notifications again...really weird)

So here we are, and today, I want to discuss Ahsoka's potential growth for the show.

I rewatched the trailer a moment ago and a few lines stood out to me:

A: "She's still just as stubborn as ever."

H: "I bet your master found you difficult at times.

A: "Anakin never got to finish my training. I walked away from him, just like I walked away from Sabine."

S: "You never made things easy for me...Master."

I love this so much because it expertly weaves Clone Wars storytelling with Rebels storytelling. From the Clone Wars, Ahsoka has taken on Anakin's role ("When I left you, I was but the learner...but now I am the master!" -Darth Vader to Obi-Wan), and Sabine has taken on Ahsoka's, complete with Ahsoka's original trademark stubbornness, attitude, and desire for the Easy Way Out

On the Rebels side of the story, Sabine is taking on both Kanan and Ezra's roles. She cuts her hair as a sign of resolve, similar to Kanan. She's got Ezra's flair, and I'm willing to bet she'll be highly unconventional with her approaches to situations. We also know she lacks the ability to see the Jedi from the perspective of the Jedi, just like Ezra lacked that ability

Now let's look at Ahsoka's story thus far, specifically the Temple Bombing arc from Clone Wars Season 5, the Twilight Of The Apprentice arc from Rebels Season 2, and Mandalorian Season 2 Episode 5: The Jedi

Temple Bombing Arc

Here we have Ahsoka's most defining moment ever. This was the moment that took everything Ahsoka had been and challenged her to question everything. The end result? Ahsoka became disillusioned by the Jedi Order and left it. The reason I point this out is it shows her dedication to truth and justice, but also highlights her tendency to throw things in her life away for her own good. She's justified, sure, but her actions here are indeed selfish, and we see this mirrored in the new trailer. "Anakin never got to finish my training. I walked away from him, just like I walked away from Sabine." She still doesn't understand how to put the needs of others and the galaxy above her own

Twilight Of The Apprentice

This is an arc that seemingly disproves my above point. Ahsoka sacrifices her life in order to save the Ghost crew...or does she? She certainly knows she's likely to die, but consider why she stopped to fight Vader. She fought him because she knew he was her old master, and she sought to save him. She was overcome with guilt for abandoning him and wanted to atone for her mistakes. She still acted out of her own desires and her own goals than that of the Ghost crew. She could save them while achieving her goals, but if Vader was any other Sith lord, I'm not sure she would have been so willing to give her own life away. And before anyone cites encounters with the Inquisitors, Ahsoka fully knew she could defeat any Inquisitor thrown at her. That's not courage, that's confidence

The Jedi

This episode needs very little explanation. Ahsoka refuses to train Grogu because he might turn out like Anakin. Grogu had too much attachment so Ahsoka said "No"

What Is My Point?

My point is that Ahsoka acts of her own accord. She'll help her allies if it suits her purposes, but she won't sacrifice herself for anything else. How does this tie into the first part of this post? Sabine is the key to fixing that

In Rebels Season 4, both Kanan and Ezra made the ultimate sacrifice: they gave up their lives for the sake of those they care about, and for the galaxy as a whole. While Ezra's confirmed to still be alive, he couldn't have known that he would survive his plan. He had to know that death was likely. Yet both of them were committed to their respective plans. And again, Sabine is mimicking their character arcs in the trailer...as well as Ahsoka's

So my theory, which I will explain better in a future post, is that Sabine will basically become a better version of Ahsoka, someone strong, ambitious, and balanced, who seeks truth and justice, who refuses to sacrifice human life when possible, but will be willing to go further to give up her own life for something far greater than herself

Thanks for being patient with me and this post, have a splendid day!

[im-no-jedi]

3, 6, 13, 15, 16, 24, 29, 33, 39 for the Star Wars ask meme! GIVE ME ALL OF THE INFORMATION~!

aaaaaaaah so many numbers!! but I will GLADLY answer everything! 😁

3. Favorite character from the prequels: ANAKIN OF COURSE. I had a HUGE crush on him (and both of his actors) when I was younger. he quite quickly became my favorite character of all time after watching the original trilogy, so I have to say him for this 💙

6. Do you have any ships?: a few, yes!! mainly the ones that are canon, like Han/Leia, Cut/Suu, and Anakin/Padme, or ones that were semi-canon like Obi-Wan/Satine and Rey/Finn (despite what anyone says otherwise!!). there's also some that I wouldn't be mad about like Fennec/Boba and Din/Bo-Katan. my OTP though? Kanan/Hera. by FAR. like legit, that is one of my top OTPs in general. I love them so much 🥺💙

13. Would you want to be a Force user?: YES. VERY MUCH SO. being an empathetic and neurodivergent person, I often feel like I have "special powers" like Force users do. and who wouldn't want to be able to make stuff float all the time? (also, just sayin', if anyone has read any recent MLWTBB stuff, then this answer shouldn't be any surprise 😜)

15. Did you play any Star Wars video games?: yes!! I've played all the LEGO games and still play the newest one to this day 😁 also, the Podracer game for N64, Rogue Squadron for Gamecube (didn't care for that one though 😝), Battlefront 1&2 (2 is better!! and I LOVE the story for that one!!), and Squadrons! we owned both of the Force Unleashed games at one point, but I never tried playing them cause my bro said they were bad LOL. also, we own Fallen Order, but my bro said it's basically unplayable due to loading times, even on our PS5 😩

16. Have you read any Star Wars books?: only a few. I've read Phasma (my longest sigh ever 😞), Before The Awakening (the Poe story is the best!!), and some of the Breakout Squad books! I also have the first Poe Dameron comic, and LOTS of visual guides 😌

24. Would you want to be human, or from another species?: well I kept myself as human in MLWTBB so 😬 my favorite species are Devaronians though, so if I could be anything else, it would be that 😋

29. Which character doesn't get enough credit or screentime?: there's honestly a lot of characters I could put here, but I'm going to be completely biased and say Phasma and Crosshair. as much as I had... feelings about the Phasma book, herself as a character was one of the only interesting things in that entire story. she absolutely fascinates me and is such an interesting villain; that story really drives home just how cruel and selfish she is. also I just adore her and want to see more of her 😩🙏🏻 and I shouldn't even have to explain myself for Crosshair. he's one of the most interesting characters EVER created for SW. I want an entire series about that man. GIVE ME MORE OF HIM DANG IT 😤

33. Which movie have you watched the most?: honestly? it's probably The Phantom Menace. I've watched the original trilogy several times, but overall I'd say TPM has all three of those movies beat. mainly cause my bro liked to watch it as a kid haha

39. If you wrote a 'fix-it fic', what would you write about?: funny you should ask! I actually already am writing a fix-it fic! 😌 this isn't spoilers cause I've already talked about it before, but I'm changing Plan 99 for MLWTBB. despite wanting to keep that series as close to the show as possible, I simply can't remove Tech from the story. despite whatever might happen in season 3, Tech is making it out of Plan 99 in one piece. I've actually already written several chapters in this far-off future fic and have most of the rest of it planned out. idc if I have to completely alter the events of season 3 because of this, I refuse to lose my favorite nerd tyvm 😤 honestly, at this point, it's not even so much me condemning the choices of the writers, it's me showing grace and love to the character. Tech literally changed my life in the absolute best way possible, and I can't let anything bad happen to him because of that 🥺💙

[gffa]

Last time I went about five months between doing a set of STAR WARS fic recs, this time it’s only been three months! Hurrah! It helps that, as always, this fandom puts out an incredible amount of excellent fic, so I feel like I’m never hurting for fics I want to yell about and shove at people, which is something I continue to appreciate as it often feels like so much of the world is such a huge tire fire. It helps to be able to find fics to retreat into, to have fun with, to express joy and creativity with, and so many of the authors in this fandom are just so good at this! To the point that these sets sometimes take awhile because there are always more fics I want to add, until the post starts threatening to be overly long instead of a decent length–in my defense, no seriously, you guys are just too good! Also, I forced myself to stop at 69 fic recs, because yes I do think it’s funny. (Nice.) STAR WARS FIC RECS: PREQUELS RECS: ✦ a comedy in four acts by jesuisdeux, obi-wan & dooku & yoda & qui-gon & cast, time travel, 4k    This was what time-travel is: staring at the dark sockets of skulls everywhere your gaze lands on. Being haunted by ghosts long gone. The apprehension of the slow yet sure approach of the inevitable which is sending chills down your spine. ✦ No Rest for the Weary by Peach_Bitters (peachybitters), obi-wan & anakin & jedi & ocs, 61k    Needing a break from life at the Jedi Temple, Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, visit a Jedi AgriCorps settlement on the Midrim planet of Helia. There they encounter new friends, new enemies and have new adventures, all while attempting to navigate their sometimes turbulent relationship as Master and Padawan. ✦ Stars of Tatooine by Be_Right_Back, ahsoka & kanan & mace & rex & obi-wan & cast, 10.5k    After the end of the world, Ahsoka more or less kidnaps a child, has to air some old grievances, and tries to find whatever peace the universe can still offer. All paths in the Force lead home, eventually. ✦ Festival of Light by dendral, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka & rex & cast, 8.7k    During his first year at the Jedi Temple, Anakin learns that even the Jedi celebrate holidays. ✦ the master, the padawan, the Force by skatzaa, depa & caleb, 1.4k    Caleb expects things to be different after Master Depa takes him as her padawan, but really, it feels like nothing really changes. ✦ desecrate my lungs by loosingletters, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka & padme & cast, 16k wip    Time-travel fix-it in which Mustafar haunts Anakin decades after it happened and years before it would. ✦ Grace by dismantlingsummer, obi-wan & anakin, 2.3k    Shortly after Mustafar, Anakin realizes what he has done. He finds Obi-Wan to beg for death. ✦ Fifth Migration by wrennette, yoda & mace & obi-wan & ki-adi & yarael & coleman & plo & palpatine & cast, 2k    How about an AU where the Sith’s Grand Plan accounted for everything -everything that is, except the fact that the Jedi temple is actually an very ancient spacecraft and the second word got to the Jedi about there being clones on Kamino, all Jedi are called back inside and they take off immediately? Just imagine the dear chancellor’s face… ✦ fill pages with scribbled ink by magneticwave, obi-wan/padme & sabe & mace & quinlan & cast, 9.8k    A year after the Invasion of Naboo, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi is invited by Queen Amidala to return to Naboo and participate in a rite known as the Night of Fireflies. Things kind of snowball from there. ✦ Mind Your Words by Peach_Bitters (peachybitters), obi-wan & anakin, spanking, 7k    Obi-Wan reminds Anakin that there are consequences for careless behavior for young Jedi on missions. ✦ (you taught me) the courage of stars by grumpyhedgehogs, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka & cast, 5.1k wip    Ahsoka Tano flees after a warrant for her arrest is issued, but not before receiving aid from an unexpected ally. (Ahsoka proceeds to go on a road trip filled with a bunch of strangers who all say the same thing: Obi-Wan Kenobi is much more than he has ever appeared to be.) ✦ they faked it (guess everything’s complicated) by katierosefun, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka, 4.5k    Ahsoka temporarily loses memories of the events of Obi-Wan’s fake death. To help with the healing process, Anakin and Obi-Wan have to pretend that they’re okay. ✦ programed to dream by ghostwriterofthemachine, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka, body horror, 1.3k    The spaceship Comet-rider is the fastest, most efficient vessel in the galaxy, and is crewed by Separatist-funded pirates. Anakin Skywalker is missing. Unfortunately, these two things are connected. ✦ Unpleasant Truths by hellowkatey, obi-wan & anakin, 2.1k    Obi-Wan and Anakin are stuck in a room with one another while waiting for truth serum to wear off. ✦ moment’s silence by skatzaa, obi-wan & owen & beru & luke & leia (pre-obi-wan/beru-owen), 2k    Owen had long since resigned himself to trouble, whenever Beru got that particularly stubborn set to her jaw. ✦ hold gently and let go by shatou, obi-wan & anakin (pre-slash?), 1.7k    A troubled Anakin comes to Obi-Wan to discuss attachments. ✦ sun child by Ro29, obi-wan & anakin, 2.1k    (or; sometimes being so tied to the Force causes problems, Obi-Wan helps his Padawan as best he can) ✦ A Dinner Out by Peach_Bitters (peachybitters), obi-wan & anakin & cast, 1.6k    Obi-Wan can’t get his young Padawan to eat much, so he tries something new. But trying something different has unintended consequences. ✦ Shades in the Desert by loosingletters, obi-wan & anakin & luke & owen/beru, 10.8k    Not even from a certain point of view did Darth Vader kill Anakin Skywalker. He wished he did, but the specter of the Jedi’s light escaped before he could finalize his fall to the dark. Meanwhile, Anakin is raising his son on Tatooine. ✦ somewhere along in the bitterness by CallToMuster, obi-wan & anakin, major character death, 3.8k    It was probably the twelfth day floating alone in space that Obi-Wan and Anakin realized no one was coming for them. ✦ Songs for Little Jedi by soft_but_gremlin, mace & younglings, ~1k    The initiates are having nightmares, so Mace sings a lullaby to comfort them. ✦ atmosphere level by softredscrunchie, obi-wan/satine & qui-gon, 1k    As a joke, Satine tells Obi-Wan she thinks Mandalore is flat. He doesn’t take it well. ✦ on sith holocrons and misunderstandings by billowypants, obi-wan & anakin & mace & yoda & cast, de-aged!obi-wan, 7.2k    or, de-aged!Obi-Wan has the same Force bonds as adult Obi-Wan, and he does not react well. ✦ Perseverance & Resilience by loosingletters, obi-wan & anakin, 1.1k    In the aftermath of Naboo, Obi-Wan realizes he needs strength to protect his new Padawan. Growing up, Anakin needs peace. ✦ A Delicate Balance by Peach_Bitters (peachybitters), obi-wan & anakin & yoda & jedi, spanking, 9.6k    As Anakin’s skills grow, so too does his penchant for getting into trouble. After a training mishap, Obi-Wan struggles with his role as Anakin’s master. ✦ mirror, mirror by CallToMuster, obi-wan & anakin, 5.4k    Obi-Wan has been rescued by Anakin after being rather embarrassingly kidnapped on the remote planet of Ilnuria during his investigation of rumored kyber crystals deep beneath the planet’s surface. …But is all as it seems? ✦ Mace Windu Appreciation Week by Redminibike1, mace & obi-wan & anakin & ponds & cody & jedi & cast, 12.5k    Set of unconnected ficlets for Mace Windu Appreciation Week, because he deserves it :) ✦ begin again as a quiet thought by skatzaa, obi-wan/quinlan, d/s, ~1k    Cool, smooth leather touched his jaw—gloves. Because of course Obi-Wan had thought of that as well. ✦ Drunken Lullabies by Siri_Kenobi12, obi-wan & anakin & siri & quinlan & aayla & garen & bant & ferus, 6.5k    “Do I really have to go to this thing?” Fourteen year old Anakin Skywalker dramatically sighed. “It’s sooo boring!” ✦ heaven knows how I love you by the_13th_battalion, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka, 1.2k    Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka are stranded on an unfamiliar planet overnight. They spend their time exploring the community- and maybe they get a little closer to each other along the way. ✦ A Reckless Padawan by Peach_Bitters (peachybitters), obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka, spanking, 3.9k    When Ahsoka upsets Anakin with an act of reckless disobedience, it falls to her grandmaster to help her see the error of her ways. OBI-WAN/ANAKIN RECS: ✦ Too Hot by secretsolarsystem, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, 4.8k    Too Hot: A game where two players kiss without stopping and without touching each other. If one player touches the other, that player loses. The winner gets to do whatever they want to the loser. ✦ Nostos by intermundia, obi-wan/anakin & padme, NSFW, 17k    Or, how Obi-Wan and Anakin discover that there are many ways to come home. ✦ to touch the light, darkest by treescape, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, 1.9k    Obi-Wan begins to fuck Vader back to the light ✦ encode by loosingletters, obi-wan/anakin & padme & handmaidens & cast, 26.3k wip    Instead of being accepted into the Jedi Order at the age of 9, Anakin Skywalker became a ward of Naboo. ✦ Hunting the Homeward Light by GreenQueenofClubs, obi-wan/anakin & mace & ahsoka & shmi & padme & cast, 31.9k wip    When Anakin Skywalker was nine, he left his whole life and mother behind to follow Qui-Gon Jinn to Coruscant and the Jedi Temple. When Anakin Skywalker was twelve, he left his whole life and Master behind to follow Mace Windu to the Outer Rim and away from the Jedi Order. When Anakin Skywalker was twenty… ✦ use my body to break your fall by tennessoui, obi-wan/anakin & cast, NSFW, sith!obi-wan, 44.7k wip    Obi-Wan Kenobi is too good at being a Sith Lord general of the Separatist army. The Jedi Council approaches Anakin with an offer he can’t refuse. These things are, actually, related. ✦ Over and Over by obiwanobi, obi-wan/anakin, 1.4k    “I love you,” he blurts out, loud and impossible to miss. Obi-Wan blinks once, twice. And freezes. The first time Anakin tells him is a mortifying experience. ✦ Exceptions by rinverse, obi-wan/anakin & ahsoka & mace & quinlan & cast, NSFW, modern au, 23.4k    Young and brilliant, Anakin is the mind behind JEDI Tech’s latest innovation. Obi-Wan is the company’s perfectly composed Director of PR & Marketing. And last night, they were just two strangers at a bar, looking for something quick and easy. But life had other plans when it crossed their paths again the very next day. ✦ Here There Be Dragons by Ghost_Owl, obi-wan/anakin & ahsoka, 10.1k    Anakin knows why he can’t shift into his animal form like every other Jedi. It’s because he doesn’t want to, it’s because he’s had a vision of what he would become, and he doesn’t want it. ✦ Waiting in a Sea of Stars by Peach_Bitters (peachybitters), obi-wan/anakin, ~1k    Stranded in deep space, Obi-Wan and Anakin wait for rescue. ✦ Tristitia by JSwander, obi-wan/anakin & cast, NSFW, sith!obi-wan, 5k    An alternate timeline where Palpatine focuses his attentions on Obi-Wan Kenobi instead of Anakin Skywalker after the attack on Naboo. ✦ Prompted - Chapter 11: Communication, What Communication? by intermundia, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, modern au, mobster au, 7k    a 7k obikin PWP that is somehow a prompt mashup of a mobster au, an accidental sugar daddy au, with a soupçon of an anakin never left tatooine au, and a pinch of qui-gon was anakin’s dad au ✦ who a person truly is cannot be seen with the eye by RexIsMyCopilot, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, d/s, spanking, 3.6k    Anakin purposely avoids doing what Obi-Wan tells him to do. ✦ Prompted - Chapter 12: Potidaea, 432BC, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, historical au, 4.3k    Here is a short smutty scene inspired by all those classics asks, Alcibiades praising Socrates in Plato’s Symposium, and this vase c.490-480 B.C. depicting standing, face-to-face intercrural intercourse between a bearded man and a youth, which as far as we can tell was the most common and accepted position for it in Ancient Greece. ✦ Prompted - Chapter 13: Minikin and Tiny-Wan by intermundia, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, 5.4k    Happy May the Fourth! In honor of this happy day, I have written the fluffiest, crackiest, vanilla-flavored smut imaginable. Based on long discussions on discord with tomicaleto about her adorable Tiny AU. ✦ to hold until brightness by treescape, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, 1.4k    Obi-Wan feared that it drew out the darkest in him, to bring Vader to these flashes of light, but it was a trade he would make again and again without hesitation. ✦ May Be Found, If Sought by ghostwriterofthemachine, obi-wan/anakin & mace & quinlan, magical academy au, 2.3k    In which Quinlan, Mace, and Obi-Wan teach Non-Traditional Magical Philosophy in an institution rampant with academic snobbery and discrimination, something dark is stirring in the nearby forest, and no one is ever prepared for Anakin Skywalker. A small story about first meetings in magical academia. ✦ infinitely varied by loosingletters, obi-wan/anakin & ahsoka, modern au, 2.2k    Also known as Obi-Wan and Anakin teach a tiny program called A.H.S.O.K.A. how to be something more than lines of code via the power of linguistics. ✦ recipe for disaster by tennessoui, obi-wan/anakin & ahsoka, modern au, 9.8k    When Ahsoka tells Anakin she doesn’t want to learn piano anymore, Anakin is heartbroken. He doesn’t care about the instrument, obviously, but he’s practically in love with her teacher. Obi-Wan offers up a solution to their impending separation, and it’s not dating like any normal person would suggest. Instead, he’s gonna teach Anakin how to cook. Except Anakin’s a pretty well-known chef, and Obi-Wan is absolutely awful in the kitchen. ✦ Pretty Kitty by GayCheerios, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, 2.2k    “Master, you always take such good care of me,” Anakin says, a little chirp coming after his sentence, as his thumb rests on Anakin’s plump bottom lip. ✦ As One, Into Eternity by Pseudonymoose, obi-wan/anakin, force ghosts, 3.1k    Death comes, but the man who was, and is, and will be Anakin Skywalker is not gone. And in the Force, he will never be alone again. ✦ does he make you laugh? by y0u_idjits, obi-wan/anakin & ahsoka & cast, fusion fic, 3.6k    “Tell me it’s not about screwing the guy who’s screwing your husband.” ✦ Rotten Work by secretsolarsystem, obi-wan/anakin, 2.8k    Obi-Wan: I’ll take care of you. Anakin, with bloodshot eyes and a broken back from hours of terrible posture: It’s rotten work. Obi-Wan, who needs to bathe this man for his own sanity and health: Not to me. Not if it’s you. ✦ afterimages by shatou, obi-wan/anakin, 1.3k    Mustafar is nothing but a bad dream. ✦ understanding is honoring the truth beneath the surface by RexIsMyCopilot, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, d/s, 7.3k    Anakin asks Obi-Wan to take control. ✦ The strongest stars… by Tomicaleto, obi-wan/anakin & beru & cast, NSFW, 7.4k    The war’s end seems to be close, with everyone looking forward to it. And when Anakin is doubting himself the most, an unexpected visit arrives at the Temple. ✦ home has a heartbeat by izazov, obi-wan/anakin, 5.6k    Or: Anakin and Obi-Wan are together, but there are still some things left unsaid between them. ✦ turn back now (i’m haunted) by tennessoui, obi-wan/anakin & padme & quinlan & ahsoka & cast, modern au, ghosts au, 25k wip    Anakin Skywalker’s house is haunted. Luckily for him, Padmé knows a ghost hunter. Unluckily for him, it’s the hottest, most english-professor ghost hunter he’s ever seen. And extremely unluckily for him, he’s starting to get the feeling he understands maybe ten percent of what’s actually going on here, not to mention what’s at stake. ✦ game plan by treescape, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, 11.2k    Or, Vader keeps capturing Obi-Wan during the Wars. Obi-Wan keeps escaping. It’s kind of a thing. ✦ Provocation by ToolMusicLover, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, 4.9k    Or: Obi-Wan and Anakin attempt to navigate their complicated relationship with barbed words and wilful ignorance. It wasn’t going well. ✦ Languages by Crowgirl, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, 6.5k    So Anakin pulls out a map and makes a list. REBELS RECS: ✦ The Scent of You by ambiguously, kanan/hera & cast, a smidge of nsfw, 2.9k    Everything changes after Malachor, and Kanan has trouble finding his balance. ✦ Heard It in a Love Song (Can’t Be Wrong) by ambiguously, zeb/kallus, 2.7k    Kallus can’t quite figure out what makes Zeb tick, but he keeps trying. ORIGINAL TRILOGY/MANDALORIAN RECS: ✦ A Discussion of Choices by Peppermint_Shamrock, luke & mace, 2k    Mace Windu has traveled the galaxy since the fall of the Republic, keeping out of the Empire’s sight and teaching where he can. Upon the request of a ghost of an old friend, Mace finds himself instructing Luke Skywalker, who is still reeling from the truth of Vader’s identity. ✦ staring down the barrel of the hot sun by magneticwave, luke/din & obi-wan & grogu & mace & cast, 25.7k    “Gone to a Child of the Watch, the Darksaber has,” Grand Master Yoda announces in his creaky little voice. “Peace, there is not, and yet peace, there must be.” ✦ Released by Peppermint_Shamrock, cody & rex & luke & cast, 6k    Nearly two and a half decades late, Cody’s chip is finally removed. Adjusting to having his mind returned to him after so long takes time, and Cody struggles with questions of his purpose of the past, present, and future. Fortunately, he does not have to struggle alone. ✦ A Tatooine Rainstorm by skatzaa, leia & luke & shmi, 1.7k    Leia meets a ghost. ✦ Dealing with the Darksaber by Peppermint_Shamrock, din & bo-katan & cara, 1.3k    After her recovery, Bo-Katan contacts Din to challenge him for the darksaber. Din is still very much not interested in the whole affair. FULL DETAILS + RECS HERE

[engagemythrusters]

It would be nice if Star Wars actually treated their "good" disabled characters as actual disabled characters.

We see a lot of "bad" disabled characters have viewable disabling disabilities (ex: the latest The Bad Batch episode featured a cane-user with a prosthetic arm. This man was a hoarder of resources, and quite greedy and self-serving. Disability=hoarding resources is a TERRIBLE thing for Star Wars to highlight, but there they just went. That's a whole post I can make on its own, but I digress.)

But there are so few times that Star Wars truly acknowledges its disabled characters' disability in a positive light. It is always swept under the rug and forgotten about. This is what we have for our disabled "good" characters:

Anakin's hand only ever has problems twice--both of which aren't even true issues. His hand just gets caught by magnets. That's it. Sure, one time a little spark went through it durring the Zillo Beast arc, but despite all other mechanical appliances dying and short-circuting, Anakin's mechanical prosthetic does NOT. They didn't want to show Anakin without the use of his hand. Oh and he's turned into the "bad" character when his disability becomes actually acknowledged. Facisit disabled person... how charming (sarcasm).

Luke's prosthetic hand also does not cause him any true issues--again, minor inconveniences.

Echo's prosthetics are not acknowledged, ever. They act as if Echo has two hands, and he's constantly seen holding stuff as if he has two hands. Sorry, but he can't balance a giant ass box on a scomp like that. He would have to compensate--move his arm so that it balances differently.

Tech does not need to be more than autistic-coded. It's not a requirement to label everything. However, he has only had issues with his autism once. That's a good first step! But it's just a first step. Not to mention, he's a whitewashed savant. This is the most blatant, frustrating autism stereotype. I've already made a post about this.

Kanan and Chirrut's blindness is perhaps the most visibly disabling disability in any of the shows; however, said blindness is magically compensated for by the Force. They both still struggles with many things, which is a good change of pace, but ultimatley, it's not the representation it's meant to be. And, for Kanan, it is CURED at the end, before he DIES. Chirrut ALSO dies. I think that speaks for itself.

Yes, they are still disabled. That is not in question. But it's repackaged in a 'non-disabling' sense. Because why show disability when everything can be magically fixed? Why show disabled characters having realistic issues with their disability when it could be disabled characters made palatable for an abled audience?

Yes, a good number of disabled people would like to be, for lack of a truly appropriate term, ""fixed"" (a whole different topic, though--and a huge one at that). I don't doubt many amputees would probably like the a prosthetic like Anakin's. And yes, it would be nice to be so easily and readily accepted as disabled people like they are in Star Wars.

However.

The continued treatment of disabled people as if they aren't disabled is a massive problem in today's, real-life world. Because we don't have that luxury of being treated as nicely. So as great as it is to dream of a life where we're accepted as normal, IT IS IMPORTANT TO VIEW THEIR DISABILITY AS NORMAL IN THE FIRST PLACE.

It is necessary to see openly disabled people being clearly disabled, while still being viewed as equal, "normal" people. When disability is only shown openly as disabling when it is for the greedy or the facists... that is ableist writing.

All I want is for a main character to be openly disabled, in a disabling way, rather than just magically fixed and unacknowledged. Disability representation can only go so far when it is just "hey, here's a disabled character." We need them to be acknowledged as disabled, too.

[jessicas-pi]

so I am a bit of a sucker for the concept of Force-sensitive Sabine Wren. I just think it's sad that Tarre Vizsla (Viszla? I can never remember) is the only Jedilorian out there.

And I've done an Inquisitor!Sabine AU, and an AU where Sabine becomes a Jedi when she's in her 20s, but I've never done an AU where she was raised as a Jedi. Except now I have!

I can see this going one of two ways:

It follows the canon timeline

It begins right before the Siege of Mandalore main battle. Sabine is two-ish, and just starting to make things float.

Her parents know what this means. They also know that if they lose the coming battle, if Maul wins, there's a possibility he'll find Sabine.

They would rather send their daughter away than risk that.

Plus... Ursa can't help thinking about Tarre Vizsla.

So Ursa brings her daughter along when Bo-Katan and Ahsoka meet up with the Dream Team and gives her to Skywalker-and-Kenobi with instructions to bring her to the Jedi temple.

A few days later, when O66 goes down, Sabine is in the creche.

But Padawan Dume sprained his ankle just before the mission to Kaller. He had to stay behind. It's healed by the time the 501st marches on the temple.

That means that he's able to run away.

And if he happens to accidentally rescue a toddler on his way out, well, that's just a bonus.

When they're safe, hidden away, Caleb thinks to ask the kid for her name. She stops chewing on her hand long enough to say "Bean."

Thus Begin The Adventures Of Caleb And Bean

Since they meet a lot earlier, their dynamic is more like siblings instead of Space Dad and Space Daughter. Granted, siblings with a 12 year difference, but still siblings.

In this universe, Sabine has no idea she's Mandalorian. She just thinks she was a completely normal crecheling, not The Next Tarre Viszla. Somehow she still gets her hands on armor. Not beskar, but still armor.

She also dual wields. She's weaponizing both of her hands. Why have one invincible plasma sword when you can have TWO

They still join the Ghost crew. They always join the Ghost crew. my space family is destined to vibe together.

I can't decide if this change means ezra has no crush on her, or an even bigger crush on her. (I guess it depends on if you ship them or not.) Because they could either be like Sabine: kanan was MY jedi master FIRST, get your OWN Ezra: well he said he'd train ME, TOO, so YOU'RE just gonna have to DEAL WITH IT

OR they could be like sabine: *does some sort of super cool jedi thing with her two laser swords and a spin kick in the middle of a fight* ezra: she could step on me and i would thank her

actually yknow what

Ahsoka gives her Jar'Kai lessons.

IDK how, but this turns into a fix-it eventually.

OR

It's an Everything Is Happy timeline.

Palpatine dies offscreen somewhere.

I think it starts the same, with the send-Sabine-to-the-temple-for-safety. Except then nothing goes wrong!

Ursa insists Sabine learn about her heritage as well as get Jedi Lessons and the council is like, ok, fine, Mirialans get to do that, I guess Mandalorians can, too.

At age thirteen, she becomes Ahsoka's Padawan. With her penchant for large explosions, it's only right that she become part of the Disaster Lineage.

Anakin: you're my favorite grandpadawan Sabine: I'm your only grandpadawan

anakin is definitely the grandpa who spoils her rotten

Plus, Cool Uncle Rex.

She still gloms onto Caleb but it's more of a dadfriend thing. She's definitely Ahsoka's padawan, through and through.

Also, during her time in the creche, she absolutely corrupted all the other younglings. There was a petition to change the clan name to mythosaur clan. a couple of the younglings decide they want armor, too, when they grow up.

The clones all think she's the best baby sister.

A while into Sabine's padawanship, Master Tano gets sent on a mission with Master Dume. They bring their respective padawans.

(ezra was definitely part of loth-wolf clan in the creche)

mace: so how did my great-grandpadawan do on his first mission? caleb: good, except for when he got distracted by master tano's apprentice and walked face first into a doorframe ezra: yknow you really don't need to keep telling people about that

but then ezra sees caleb's reaction to that pilot lady from ryloth that they end up running into on a different mission and gets his sweet sweet revenge

ezra: HAHA you're in LOVE caleb: i am not. ezra: YOU'RE caleb: padawan. ezra: IN LOVE caleb: padawan. ezra: YOU'REINLOVE

(Ezra says this while Hera is, like, three feet away.)

Imagine the headache Mace Windu gets when he realizes that his great-grandpadawan is best friends with someone who is (a) Anakin "walking dumpster fire" Skywalker's grandpadawan, (b) Ahsoka "I tear out the innards of a droid with my teeth" Tano's padawan, and (c) a crazy dual-wielding Mandalorian Jedi.

Please. Please picture Sabine, wearing a mix of traditional Jedi robes and Mandalorian armor (jetpack included of course,) Jar'Kai-ing her way through a base full of holdout separatist droids that have captured her family (a la The Last Battle from rebels s3).

Meanwhile, that family, tied up somewhere, watching: Anakin: YES THAT IS MY GRANDDAUGHTER LOOK AT HER GO LOOK AT HER KICK BUTT Cody: HAHA I TAUGHT HER THAT SPIN KICK Ahsoka: TEAR EM TO PIECES, KID Rex: *unintelligible whooping* Obi-Wan, feeling a strange kinship to Mace Windu: you're all terrible influences

oh my gosh. sabine and padme friendship. yes. this is good.

I think at some point something happens and Ahsoka, Sabine, Caleb, and Ezra are all stuck on this planet with Hera and Chopper and a Lasat who they don't know but who pays them to give him a ride, and their only ship is the Ghost, but the hyperdrive broke and they have to go on the galactic equivalent of a cross-country road trip that takes several days and has a lot of shenanigans along the way. I might elaborate more on that later.

oh darn it now i wanna write a modern AU where the ghost is a big old station wagon and it's a road trip buddy comedy thing

[kamino-blues]

Reunited at Last (Rebels!Gregor x Jedi!Reader)

Rating: Pg & Sfw

Warnings: Slight angst, the rest is fluff! Gregor is older due to this taking place during Rebels. Y/n is used (but only 4 times!!)

Word Count: 2,090

Summary: You thought that Gregor has been dead for over 15 years, how will you react when he suddenly comes back into your life?

Note: For the past week I have only been daydreaming about Gregor, so I had to write something about him! I feel like I've read every fic on here about him whoops 😅

You heard rumors of Gregor being alive, being found on Abafar and surviving an explosion from rhydonium barrels. There were mentions through different cantinas of commandos being gathered to work for the empire to continue training soldiers. Then it turned to rumors about how the clones were being phased out, how Kamino had been destroyed. It became too painful for you to bear.

It felt as if it was all a cruel joke being played on you, almost as if your past chose to haunt you until the end of your days. So you shut your emotions away. The once joyous person you were, full of life, was gone. You just went through the motions, trying to survive away from the hell of the Empire. That was, until you met the Ghost crew. They took you under their wing, and slowly helped you become who you used to be. You would never be completely the same, Gregor was a large part of you, but it was a start.

You couldn’t stop the small amount of jealousy from coming over you whenever you saw Hera and Kanan interact. The lingering touches, the loving glances, everything they did reminded you of how you were with him. The strong commando that had found a soft spot for you, who would fight side by side with you, who always had your back.

Gregor was your other half, but he was gone. So even if you caught yourself longingly looking at what you wished you still had, you knew you had to go on. So you worked for the rebellion, using your Jedi knowledge to try and help as much as you could. You couldn’t go out as Kanan could, you were too recognizable from the days you served with the Republic. So you were home base, staying back as the Ghost went out on missions. It was nice to hear the tales of what happened, and when Kanan found a new Padawan, it gave you a chance to practice with your saber again. Life was beginning to feel a little more normal.

As the search for a new rebel base started, you were put to work. They had you searching through countless manifests and artifacts, trying to find something that could be used. You were constantly on your datapad, scouring, searching for anything. But it was to no avail, you just didn’t have the resources to find what was needed. That was until Fulcrum came along.

You weren’t told much, but as the Ghost flew away, you had confidence that something would come out of it. It had been weeks, going on a month as you waited for a comm telling you if a new base had been found. So you kept yourself busy. Lightsaber training, studying, working out, meditation, anything to keep your mind from drifting.

It was midday during saber training when you felt your wrist buzz, and you quickly tapped on your comm, it fizzing to life.

“Y/n, come to the hangar, I think you want to see this.” You heard Hera’s voice crackle out, and you couldn’t help the confusion falling onto your face. The mission was to find a base, why would there be something to see in the hangar? Your mind was scouring the possibilities, trying to figure out what in the maker's name Hera could be talking about.

“I’m on my way Hera, I’ll be there in a few. Can I ask what you are going to show me?” You let out as you clipped your lightsaber to your belt, adjusting your outfit as you started to walk to the hangar.

“It’s better as a surprise, you better hurry!” You heard Hera click off the comm, and you shook your head. The walk seemed longer than normal, your curiosity consuming your brain as you quickened your step.

The doors to the hangar slid open, you carefully stepping through as you spotted Hera coming down the ramp of the Ghost. She gave you a small wave, walking towards you with a pleased smile on her face.

“I take it you found a base?” You let out as she got closer. Hera’s smile faltered, but she rested her hand on your shoulder.

“Not exactly, but we did find some people who have information to help us find one.” You couldn’t help but tilt your head in confusion, raising an eyebrow. Hera laughed at this, her squeezing your shoulder before letting go. “The rest of the crew is meeting with Commander Sato, along with the informants. I’m going to be heading there, but I want you to stay here ok?”

“I’m not needed at the meeting? Is there something wrong with the ship that needs to be fixed?” You couldn’t stop yourself from asking questions. This whole exchange was just, strange, that was the only way you could put it. Hera shook her head, a smile crawling onto her face.

“I need you to meet with one of the informants one on one, he’ll be leaving the meeting early to reconvene with you. Trust me,” There was a look in Hera’s eyes that you couldn’t place, and you couldn’t help but nod. She gave you one last smile before leaving the hangar, the door sliding shut behind her.

You climbed onto one of the many crates in the hangar, your legs dangling off the side of it. You were going over Hera’s words, trying to get a sense of what is even happening. You ended up closing your eyes, slipping into a light meditation. It was some time before you heard a door slide open across from where you were, hearing footsteps move into the room before stopping.

“Y/n?” Your body stiffened, eyes opening wide as you stared at the figure from across the hangar. That was the voice of those you had worked beside during the Clone Wars. The voice of those who had turned against the Republic, who killed countless of your friends. But the clone's voice was soft, and it almost sounded like- but it couldn’t be, he had died, there’s no way it was him.

You jumped down from the crate, your hand on your saber as you cautiously made your way towards the clone. You were still too far away to see his eyes, but as you moved closer you had to stop tears from filling your eyes. He saw your hand on your lightsaber, and he put his hands out. He was dressed in a tank top, with a logo that you had never seen before.

“Y/n, cyare, it's me, it's Gregor! It’s been a long time hasn’t it?” He let out a little giggle, yet his face was completely serious. You couldn’t help your hands from shaking.

“That can’t, that isn’t possible! Gregor died, how could he be here?” The tears slipped from your eyes, and you came to a stop right in front of him. Gregor reached out to you, hesitating, before bringing his hand down. You could see his eyes tearing up, and you couldn’t help but have deja vu to the evenings after long missions, missions filled with high fatality rates. He may be a commando, but he was still human, and he had trusted you to see the emotional side of him.

“I survived y/n.” There was so much about him that was different, but he was the same. You knew it was him, but you couldn't help but deny it.

But why was Hera determined to get you to stay behind at the hangar? She was the only one you confided in about Gregor, she knew how much he meant to you. Hera had seen pictures of him, she had heard how you described him. The doubt in your mind was slowly shrinking, the barriers falling down. You could feel in the force his energy, Gregor's energy, something you never thought that you would feel again.

Gregor's voice was different, and so were some of his mannerisms, but his eyes were the same, his smile was the same. It was your Gregor, who you could tell has gone through a lot since you both separated over 15 years ago.

15 years, the realization hit you like a ton of bricks. You felt your body shaking, legs giving out underneath you as it clicked in your brain that Gregor was alive. You felt his arms grab you quickly, wrapping around you as he slowly lowered both of you to the ground. The hug was softer, yet still had the same feel as it did all that time ago.

“Gregor, it’s you, makers above it’s really you,” You mumbled into his shoulder, and you felt his arms tighten around you. Gregor’s chest rumbled as a few stray giggles fell from his chest, his chin resting on the top of your head.

You slowly moved your arms around him, finally returning the hug that Gregor had you in. You felt his body relax slightly, holding you there.

“I have so many stories my sunshine, you couldn’t believe the things that have happened! I survived two explosions-“ Gregor started to go over all the events that you had missed, you curling against his body to rest the side of your head against his chest. He had one arm wrapped around your back, his other moving around as he talked. You ended up shifting your arms so that you could hold onto your legs, eyes focused on his face as you looked over every detail on his weathered skin. He looked so different, yet he was the same.

“I had lost my memory until a squad of droids, ha can you even believe that?, managed to stir up all my memories by showing me a holo of Rex! Cyare you couldn’t imagine my panic, the first thing I thought of was of you. I just, I wasn’t able to get back because I was knocked out by an explosion,” You felt him move his arm to rub the back of his neck, looking away sheepishly. “It’s kinda how I became the way I am now ya know?”

Reaching up with your hand, you let it hover a few centimeters from his face, looking for his reaction. Gregor leaned against it, his eyes on you with a large grin plastered on his face.

“I never stopped looking for you, even after the Republic fell, I kept searching. I was sent to train storm troopers as a commando again, I thought it would be my chance to find you. It was a dead end, and I was forced to stop,” Gregor let out a little giggle, “But you’re here now, I’ve found you.” You could see his eyes watering, and you lightly swept your thumb against his cheek. His eyes closed from the motion, relaxing into your embrace.

“I became a Rebel fighter.” You let out, a small smile falling onto your face. “I can’t go out, but I sure can type battle reports much better than I have before.” Gregor let out a laugh, one that reminded you of the laugh that would come out after the two of you drank a little too much at 79’s. You couldn’t help the small laugh that fell from your lips, tilting your head forward to lean your head against his.

Silence fell over the two of you, Gregor looking as though he was searching for words that he couldn’t find. After a few moments, he pulled back, creating space between the both of you. Immediately you realized how much colder it was without being in his arms, and it took all your willpower to not let out a whine of protest. He stood up, holding out his hand to pull you up. You quickly grabbed it, him lifting you but not letting go. You looked into his eyes, and you could just feel the anxiety radiating from him.

“My sunshine, do you.. Do you still love me? I know it's been many years and I’m a lot older now, plus I’ve been told by Wolffe a few times that I have a few screws-“ You cut him off with a kiss, Gregor's eyes widening into a shocked expression as you pull away.

“I will always love you, forever and always, no matter what.” A large smile broke over Gregor’s face, lifting you into a spinning hug. You both couldn’t contain your laughter, grateful to be reunited with someone you both never thought would ever see again.

Taglist: @sitherin-mxschief , @kirinpl , @m-o-o-n-s-g-o-o-n-s , @monako-jinn-stories , @os274 ,

If you want to be added to my taglist please let me know!💖💖

[laughingphoenixleader]

Here’s another full-fledged fic, friends!

Pairing: Kanan Jarrus/Hera Syndulla

Rating: G

A/N: This one’s set the night of Season 3, Episode 3: The Holocrons of Fate. This is my vision of how Kanera dealt with the whole K-disappearing-for-six-kriffing-months thing. Enjoy and feel free to leave feedback if the Force calls you to!

@kanerallels <3

Hera Syndulla can’t wield the Force.

Not even a little bit.

But even so, she’s been told that she has a real talent for sensing other people’s emotions.

It started when she was a little girl—a knot in her stomach or some tension in her lekku would appear out of nowhere. She’d suddenly feel frustrated, sad, or afraid without understanding why. Except for times during puberty and her time of month—unfortunately, Hera wasn’t exempt from actual mood swings—those feelings that came out of the blue were never hers at all. When these unexplained emotions appeared within her, Hera would come to find out that someone close to her was struggling with something that had induced the exact feeling that Hera had experienced. So, she was often able to figure out what the people around her were feeling before they understood it themselves. It even, on occasion, happened with complete strangers.

Over time, she even became capable of knowing whose wave of emotions she was being hit by. Everyone’s felt slightly different. Emotional intensity varied from person to person, as did how they felt their emotions. Some beings felt their emotions pounding in their temples, others carried their stress in their shoulders, while others’ feelings made knots in their stomachs materialize. Hera became such an expert on discovering how each person was feeling that she’d often greet a friend or family member by asking why they were feeling so angry, sad, or afraid. The closer she was to a person, the more sensitive she was to their emotions, and the stronger they felt to her.

Hera has never been as in touch with anyone’s emotions as she is with those of Kanan Jarrus.

During the six months when he distanced himself from Hera and the rest of his family, she had always known when the nightmares had come. But he had never come to find her like he used to when the terrors struck. Hera could feel the pull to him—it was always present, no matter how she denied it—growing inside of her until it was almost unbearable, but she had steeled herself and remained where she was (usually the pilot’s seat). She spent plenty of nights staring off into the stars like she and Kanan used to do together, feeling the pain of doing nothing gnawing at her soul. But her respect for Kanan’s desires and needs outweighed it all. She knew him better than anyone else, so she could tell that he didn’t want her help right then. If he had, he would have come and found her. He had to come to her on his own time.

For six months, Kanan hadn’t wanted her help. He hadn’t wanted her.

Hera had to keep telling herself that this hadn’t broken her heart.

When she feels the sickening wrench of panic in her chest while sitting in the pilot’s chair on Atollon, though, she knows in her core that this time is different. This time, he needs her.

In an instant, she’s jumped to her feet, placed her datapad on the floor of the cockpit, and is slamming the button on the Ghost’s controls that opens the door to Kanan’s cabin. No one but her knows that any of the cabin door locks can be overridden from the cockpit, and she plans on keeping it that way.

She’s in his cabin in a flash, heart racing and Kanan’s fear coursing through her veins. She can hear him tossing and turning in the dark as she presses the button to turn on the lights. The dark-haired Jedi in the bottom bunk is drenched in sweat, the sheets twisted around his thrashing form. His scarred eyes are shut tightly. Hera realizes that, though he returned from his self-imposed exile several days ago and lost his sight six months ago, she hasn’t seen him without some sort of blindfold or mask covering his eyes since the incident. His face is twisted into an agonized expression.

Hera runs to his side. “Kanan,” she tries to call him from whatever world of horrors he’s trapped in. “Kanan, wake up!”

The Jedi’s whole body immediately responds to her voice, turning towards her and stilling slightly. Kanan’s always told her that he loves the sound of her voice. So she keeps talking.

“Don’t worry, everything’s fine.”

Kanan’s face twists again, and he seems to look around searchingly, though his eyes are still closed. His body is shaking, his fear palpable.

“It’s me, Kanan, I’m right beside you; you’re safe.”

His eyes fly open.

Kanan’s eyes, eyes that Hera could have stared into forever (though she had usually done her best not to think about that), eyes full of beautiful, vibrant aquamarine, are now pale and colorless.

Hera scolds herself for the lump in her throat that forms. It doesn’t matter. This shouldn’t upset me. Am I really that shallow?

She shakes off the sudden wave of sorrow and focuses on Kanan.

“Hera?” he calls for her, still searching. His face fills with panic again. “Where are you?”

“Look at me—“

Hera stops short.

That was how she had always drawn him from his nightmares before. Look at me, she’d tell him. I’m here. She’d turned the light on for this exact purpose when she’d entered, forgetting for a moment that everything had changed.

She’ll have to get creative this time.

“I can’t!” Kanan cried. “I can’t anymore, Hera, it’s gone—“

“I know, I know—“

“You’re so far away,” his voice breaks as he speaks.

Hera moves closer. “No. I’m right here, Kanan.”

“No,” he says miserably. “You’re gone—you left me—everyone left me—I’m useless, I’m broken, no one needs me anymore—it’s too late—“

His voice, full of anguish, breaks again and his body shakes with tears that he is no longer able to shed. Hera forgets that he broke her heart, that he left them all, that the deepening relationship between them had suddenly become nonexistent. The man she loves is hurting, and she’s going to fix that. Or, at least, help him through it.

She goes back to the door, turning off the lights so she’s forced to see how he sees. Then she climbs into the bunk beside him.

His body is racked with sobs as she places a hand on his cheek. He gasps at her touch.

“Kanan,” she says in her most soothing, reassuring tone—the one that has never failed to calm him before—“do you feel me?”

“Hera,” he whispers, filled with relief, and sounding…awestruck, for some reason.

“It’s me,” she tells him comfortingly, emphasizing her next words. “I never left you, and I never will.”

Kanan begins to mumble her name, one of his hands finding its way on top of hers, the other holding onto her forearm for dear life. The way he says her name always makes her heart race, though she’s never really understood why. No one else pronounces it like that…the way he speaks out the two syllables somehow sounds and feels like a caress. He begins to speak hastily; desperately.

“I can still fight for the Rebellion—I have the Force, it’ll help me see—I’m not truly blind because I can see myself.”

“I believe you, Kanan,” Hera presses her forehead against his. “You’re not useless. We’re never giving up on you.”

Kanan feels her arm, touches her shoulders, his hands seeming to be on a mission to make sure she’s really there. When they near her lekku, Hera moves them away. He’s touched them before, with her permission. That first time he did was the best nights she’d ever had…and so was every other night he’d done it again. Now that he’s been gone for so long, and he clearly doesn’t want her…

Focus on your mission. He needs you—right here; right now.

Hera slips out of her thoughts and feels Kanan place his hand on the side of her face for a moment, then take her in his arms and hold her close. He presses his forehead to hers. Their closeness makes Hera’s heart attempt to catch up to Kanan’s pounding one.

Slowly, his body relaxes. His heavy breathing evens.

Hera relaxes, too. More than she has in six months.

She hasn’t let herself realize how much she’s missed the complete safety she always feels in his arms. She lets him hold her, tucking her head underneath his. Kanan makes a noise of discomfort, and she smiles softly, placing her forehead against his again. This has always been the position they’ve used when comforting each other. Kanan sighs contentedly.

Eventually, he stirs, and she knows he’s emerged from the nightmare.

“Hey,” Kanan greets her, the panic gone from his voice, gentleness and awkwardness taking its place.

There has never been awkwardness between them. Not like this.

Hera lifts her head from his. “Better now?” she asks him.

He shudders. “That’s an understatement.”

Hera strokes his cheek in reply. The last six months had seemed to fade into oblivion during the last few minutes, but now she feels the shards of pain return.

Will he ask me to leave?

“Hera…” he says her name for the thousandth time that night. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” she responds quietly.

They don’t move from their positions.

After a moment, he continues tentatively. “You don’t have to stay.”

Hera can still feel the remains of her anger towards him from several days before cutting into her, but the image of his tortured face and voice from earlier are seared into her mind.

“Do you want me to leave?” she asks gently.

His arms involuntarily tighten around her.

She laughs softly in spite of it all. Though her hurt and anger is returning, she’s delighted that he wants her beside him.

“I’m staying.”

Hera realizes that he’s been holding his breath when he resumes breathing again. His pulse speeds up, though it isn’t pounding frantically like it was earlier.

The night he’d come back, they’d had their worst fight to date. Once they were alone in his room, she’d tried—Kanan would chastise her for using that word—to hold her emotions back, to be understanding, but her hurt had led to anger, and it had burst out of her, as it often did. Words had spilled out of her, words she’d bottled up inside her for the last six months. She’d said things she knew she’d regret, things that she could see cutting through him. But her own pain had blinded her in that moment. She’d kept going for those six months, never stopping long enough to deal with her hurt, so it had only festered. Kanan had been defensive, stony-faced, his arms crossed, and that had only enraged her further.

Then, today, after several days of avoiding each other, Maul had attacked the Ghost. Throughout the experience, Hera’s lekku had burned with the knowledge that her last interaction with Kanan, besides a short phrase here and there, had been full of biting words and simmering hurt.

She’d spent the hours after Kanan had rescued her and the others contemplating out what to say and how to apologize. She’d been in the middle of doing so when the wrench of terror sent her straight to his room.

The fight had ended with her snapping, “Don’t pretend you still want me. You proved that that wasn’t true when you abandoned me—abandoned us for half a year.” Her voice had broken against her will. “You didn’t even say you were leaving. Or when you’d be back.” Then she’d slammed on the button to close her door in his face, blinking furiously to hide the scorching tears in her eyes. Hera had slid down the wall, then spent the rest of that night finally letting the tears she’d held back spill out of her.

“You…you want to stay?” Kanan now asks her uncertainly. “Everything you said several nights ago—it all makes sense, and I’m so sorry.” His earnestness and guilt rolls off of him as he continues. “I understand if you don’t forgive me; I know I hurt you—I was gone for so long—“

Hera interrupts softly. “I forgive you.”

He stops his uncomfortable, awkward squirming.

“You do?”

His tone is so full of uncertainty and hope that Hera’s heart melts.

“I do,” she tells him gently. “For everything.”

Kanan begins to protest, torture and regret emanating from his voice, even as Hera can feel some of the tension begin to drain out of him. “No, Hera, you shouldn’t forgive me so easily. I don’t deserve that. After all these years, I just left. The way I made you feel…” Kanan’s voice wavers before he continues. “I thought that the Force was telling me to spend time alone—that was my excuse. But I distanced myself from the Force, from you, from everyone—and I don’t even know why.” He shakes his head, incredulous at himself, then desperately starts to explain. “I couldn’t handle any responsibilities or obligations. My feelings took over—I thought I was useless, that I was a failure because of my blindness—my depression overwhelmed me. I was lost—lost again, like I was when you found me on Gorse.” Kanan’s still holding her, but his embrace feels almost fragile, like he’s afraid that she’ll rip herself away from him at any second. “I thought I had grown since then, that it would never happen again. It wasn’t just that I lost my vision—it was that Ahsoka is gone, that we lost against that Sith Lord—” Kanan heaves a sigh, one heavy with self-hatred. “And now I’m making it about me again.”

Hera listens intently. He’s clearly been carrying this within him for too long. “It’s all right,” she reassures him quietly. “Talk to me.”

“I never stopped wanting you,” he says in a rough voice, one filled with sincerity and raw emotion, and Hera’s broken heart skips a beat. “And I know that that doesn’t seem true, because I still stayed away.” He’s quiet for a moment. Hera can practically hear the gears in his mind turning as he works to verbalize and explain. “I couldn’t face you. Not when I felt so lacking, and you’re so…so capable, so impactful, so successful.“

Hera nearly protests at this, but she stays silent for his sake, knowing that her interruption won’t be helpful to him right now.

“I was ashamed. Ashamed of my weakness. Ashamed that I didn’t sense Maul coming, that I didn’t stop him somehow. And…I couldn’t face the pain of not being able to see you. I didn’t want to hold you back or burden you, or make you feel like you had to let me tag along on missions. I thought that you were better off without me in your way.”

Hera’s heart is reeling and rejoicing at the fact that she is still wanted, that he never really rejected her, but she also knows that he’ll only keep spiraling downward if she doesn’t interject at the right time—which is now.

“You don’t have to explain it all to me,” she tells him sincerely, though the still-angry side of her screams that that isn’t true.

“I’m just trying—I just want you to know that…that I still love you, Hera.”

The earnestness in his voice and the admission of “I love you” does it. Hera can feel her shattered, rejected heart begin to heal. What he says next only soothes it further.

“The depression drowned everything out—but sometimes I would hear your voice, or see your face in my mind, and that kept me from losing all hope. From giving up on everything.”

Hera’s heart swells, and tears spring up in her own fully whole eyes. She places her forehead against his again. His breath catches, but he finishes speaking. “I understand if you don’t feel the same way. I don’t know why you would, after how much I hurt you. I…I can tell you’re heartbroken, Hera.” His body starts shaking again, as if he’s living inside of another nightmare. “And knowing I did that to you—just because all I could think about was myself and what I needed, rather than what you and the rest of the crew needed—“ Hera can feel the unshed tears again as he begins to apologize, again and again, until he loses the ability to speak. She gently cradles his head, stroking his disheveled hair, her own healing heart throbbing at his anguish. She brushes her thumbs over where the tears would be, if everything were different.

“I’m too full of mistakes,” he sobs. “You deserve much better than someone like me.”

Hera decides that now she’s on a mission—a mission to stop her Jedi’s spiral of self-hatred.

“Listen to me, Kanan Jarrus,” she tells him in a firm but kind tone, as she continues to stroke his hair. “You’re no worse than anyone else. We all make mistakes. We’re all selfish at times. Even those of us who devote our lives to helping others sometimes hurt them instead. Caring about someone means helping them move on from their mistakes and make it right. What kind of people would we be if we never gave others a second chance?”

His dry shaking begins to stop, and Hera can feel him listening in rapt attention.

“You know I don’t give up—and I never gave up on you. I never will. Yes, you’ve hurt me, but I care enough about you to forgive you. Who you are right now is worth forgiving. You’re worthy of forgiveness, of my choosing you, even though you aren’t perfect.” Hera’s words seem to hit hard, since Kanan’s breath catches again. She continues genuinely and tenderly, “Even if I met the most perfect person in the galaxy, I’d still choose you instead. You’re truly good, Kanan.”

After a moment of silence, Kanan whispers, “You really mean that?”

Hera lifts his face and presses a kiss to his forehead. “Of course I do. And I really do forgive you. If you’ll forgive me for hurting you instead of listening to you over the last few days.” Now her own voice is colored with remorse. “I should have been there for you, helping you readjust.”

“But, Hera, I understand why you were angry. I deserved it.”

“That doesn’t make it right,” Hera points out. “Will you forgive me?”

Immediately, he replies, “Yeah. I forgive you.”

Then his hands move for the first time since his nightmare. He places one on her cheek, while the other moves to the small of her back. Hera’s heart begins to pick up speed as his face nears hers. “Is it all right if I…?” he asks in a whisper, ever respectful of her boundaries. In answer, Hera moves her own face closer to his, and their lips meet.

Six months is a long time.

But the longer you’re deprived of something, the sweeter it is when you finally get to experience it again.

The first thing Hera feels is the warmth. It spreads throughout her whole body, especially her lekku, chasing away the emptiness and loneliness that became the new normal in Kanan’s absence. One of his hands caresses her cheek, while the other pulls her close, resting on the small of her back. She pulls the band from his now-destroyed ponytail, slipping it expertly onto her wrist (she’s had plenty of practice) and threading her fingers into his hair. She can feel him smile into her lips when she does so, which makes her smile in return. Kanan seems to get a burst of excitement, a delighted gasp escaping him. Hera pulls away just enough to ask, “what is it?”

He responds, his voice charged with enthusiasm and love,

“I got to feel you smile again.”

A wave of emotion sweeps over Hera, her heart squeezing at the overwhelming amount of sweetness infused into that small sentence. She presses her lips to his again, beaming just for him. Kanan laughs giddily, a sound of pure joy.

Hera hasn’t heard him laugh in so long.

So she can’t help but laugh with him. A moment later, his thumb begins stroking her cheek more urgently. She gently breaks the kiss to ask, “What is it, love?”She can feel his giddiness rise at the term of endearment, which makes her beam again. He murmurs in a voice filled to the brim with gratitude, “Thank you, Hera. For forgiving me. I thought that I’d lost this. I thought that I’d messed up too badly to ever earn your affection again.” Misery seems to overwhelm him at the thought.

“There’s no need to earn it,” she assures him, placing her other hand, the one not entwined in his hair, on his chest. “Honestly, I couldn’t take it from you if I tried,” she confesses.

“Are you saying that you’re hopeless, Hera Syndulla?” The cocky slyness, which had made up the Kanan Jarrus that she first met all those years ago on Gorse, fills his voice.

She rolls her eyes, then remembers that the lights are out, and that he can’t see her anyway. And yet—

“You just rolled your eyes, didn’t you?”

“You earned it,” she deadpans.

He laughs again and somehow pulls her closer, so that their foreheads are touching again.

“There’s the Hera I remember,” he declares, tenderness and the classic mischievousness returning.

She showcases her own mischievous streak in her reply. “Missed me, love?”

“Every second,” he answers tenderly.

“I missed you, too,” she tells him, warmth filling her tone and her soul.

That sly mischievousness again. “Especially my sense of humor, right?”

“Actually, that’s what I missed the least,” she switches back into deadpanning.

“Hey!” he protests, his tone a convincing one of feigned offense, but then it makes way for the trademark slyness. “But you did miss it.”

Hera groans. “That is not what I said.”

“You’re not denying it,” Kanan teases.

After a moment, he declares, “I’ve finally found the one benefit that comes with being blind.”

“What’s that?” she asks, resigning herself to whatever nonsense he’s about to spill.

She can hear the grin in his voice. “Now I can’t see it when you glare at me.”

Hera rolls her eyes, then says in a playful tone, “But you can feel my anger in the Force, right?”

Kanan’s silent for a moment. “It’s impossible not to.” He shudders, mortified at the thought of it.

“Kanan Jarrus, you’re a Jedi Knight and a veteran of the Clone Wars, and you’re afraid of me?”

He lets out a huff of laughter, like the answer is obvious. “You bet.”

Hera’s voice is devious. “You should be.”

“Everybody should be. You’re terrifying, Hera.”

She chuckles, shaking her head slightly, her forehead still pressed to his. “You’re exaggerating.”

“Come on, I never exaggerate.”

After a moment of silence on Hera’s part, he amends reluctantly, “okay, I usually don’t exaggerate. You’ve seen how the kids and I look at you when you’re furious with us.”

Hera considers this. She always knows that when she gives members of her crew that glare, they’ll do whatever she says. Usually. “Maybe I should use it on whoever’s trying to attack us sometime.”

“You should. Just to see what would happen.”

She laughs. “I don’t even need a blaster. No armor can protect those stormtroopers from my death glare.”

“You better believe it,” Kanan murmurs, stroking the small of her back.

“I sure am glad you’re not angry with me anymore,” he adds after a bit of comfortable silence.

“Me too, love.”

Chills ripple over him at the term of endearment, and she chuckles lightly, a bubble of joy rising inside of her at how much he treasures her little ways of showing him how much she loves him.

Hera has no clue how long they stay like this, stealing kisses, sharing little touches, slipping in and out of conversation (complete with plenty of smiles and eyerolls). What she does know is that the distance between her and Kanan has disappeared. The emptiness and feelings of being incomplete have been replaced by fullness and completeness. No, they aren’t as close as they were before Malachor, but Hera has faith that that will change over time. What matters most is that she knows that Kanan is happier than he’s been in a long time. Eventually, they drift off into sleep, still holding each other close. Their dreams are peaceful, for there’s no room for nightmares when nothing but long-awaited contentment fills them both to overflowing.

When morning comes, the members of the Ghost Crew don’t need to be able to sense each others’ emotions to know that things have finally changed for the better.

The family is whole again.

[kanerallels]

All I Need Is The One I Love

For Kanera Week day two: "Celebration." Dedicated to @laughingphoenixleader because this happens to be set in an au she really likes! (which this does require a little context for, I talk about it more on AO3 but basically read "This Is The Story Of How I Died")

Rating/Warnings: G (mentions of kidnapping/slavery)

Taglist: @laughingphoenixleader @accidental-spice @heckin-music-dork @auroramagpie @firefoxtessa @day-to-day-thots @opalknight @kaneraweek

Read on AO3!!

After every couple missions, Hera always liked to run a system check on the Ghost, to make sure everything was running smoothly and see what needed fixing. And after a mission like their most recent one, she definitely needed to. They’d tangled with a group of slavers who’d been plaguing the planet Thabeska for months. When Kanan and Hera had finally found a way onto their main ship, they’d discovered hundreds of children, snatched from this planet and so many others. They’d taken out the slavers, stolen the ship, and brought the children to the local authorities on Thabeska before heading out again.

(Hera knew that, strictly speaking, the work she and the others did wasn’t always legal. Sometimes, laws were bent to keep people safe— which was kind of the trademark of her employer— and she was just fine with that.)

They’d wound up on an out of the way planet in the Outer Rim called Rejwan. It didn’t have much going for it, especially what with the canyons of lava carving across the planet’s surface— the place was a literal hotbed of volcanic activity. But it had fueling depots, and somewhere they could stock up on the basic necessities. So to Hera, it was heavenly.

She’d sent Kanan, Zeb and Ezra out shopping for the rest of the supplies they needed, while Chopper helped her finish up system checks and diagnostics and Sabine did the same with the Phantom. After an hour, they were almost done.

“Looks like it’s almost time to give the air filters a good cleaning again,” she remarked to Chopper. “It can probably wait until we get back to Coruscant, but not by much.”

“Count me out,” Chopper said immediately, and Hera gave him a stern look. 

“You’re helping whether you like it or not, Chopper.”

“I don’t even use the air! It’s for you meatsacks, not me”

“That’s not the point. Now, have you finished checking the coolant?”

Chopper grumbled something, returning to his work, and Hera shook her head in exasperation as the door to the cockpit hissed open.

“Sabine’s wondering if she can borrow you for a minute, Chopper.” Hera glanced up in surprise at the sound of Kanan’s voice, following it to where he stood in the doorway. “She needs some help with the Phantom.”

“I’ll handle the coolant check,” Hera said, waving to the droid. “Go ahead and help Sabine.”

“This ship would come to pieces without me here to help,” he declared loftily, rolling out of the cockpit. Hera rolled her eyes and turned her attention to Kanan.

“I didn’t know you’d already gotten back.”

“Well, Ezra and Zeb were getting on each other’s nerves,” Kanan said, crossing the cockpit to drop into his usual seat. “So we finished as quickly as we could. Got everything on your list, too.”

“Thank you, dear,” Hera said, sending him a grateful smile.

Kanan returned it as he rose from his chair, and Hera turned back to her work, expecting him to leave. Instead, he lingered, hands resting on the back of his seat. Glancing back at him, Hera raised an eyebrow. “Something up?”

“No— well, kind of, but not really. Um…” Kanan seemed to hesitate for a moment, then asked, “Are you busy tonight?”

“Always,” Hera said wryly. “I’ve still got to finish typing up the report for Fulcrum, and there are a few other chores around the ship that need doing. Why do you ask?”

Leaning his forearms against the back of the chair, Kanan said, “Any chance you can make some time?”

“Probably,” Hera said, frowning. “Why? Is something wrong?”

Kanan shook his head. “Not at all— the opposite, really. I want to take you out for dinner.”

Hera’s eyes went wide. “You— what?” This was far from what she’d expected.

“Dinner,” Kanan repeated. “Despite my best efforts, you still don’t take breaks as often as I’d like—”

“Well, some of us have work to get done, dear,” Hera pointed out, recovering her equilibrium and firmly pushing the questions about what he meant by asking her to dinner with him to the back of her head. 

“I know that, and I understand,” Kanan said. “But that doesn’t mean you should work yourself to death— and you deserve some time off from the kids every now and then. We both do.”

“Point taken,” Hera admitted. “But why tonight?”

The grin Kanan wore held a hint of his old cockiness, and anticipation. “Let’s just say it’s a special occasion. You’ll see. ”

“I’ll admit to being intrigued,” Hera said, feeling a matching grin crossing her face. “But you knew that would work, didn’t you?”

“What, using that curiosity of yours against you?” Kanan shrugged, his grin widening. “I had a feeling that it might. How does around six sound? It won’t be anything fancy, but it might be nice to have some time to ourselves.”

“Yes,” Hera agreed, her breath catching as she met Kanan’s gaze and saw that gentle warmth in his eyes. The look she’d seen so many times now, and was finally wondering what it meant, what he meant to her.

They’d been working together for almost a year now— after an incident on Ord Mantell, Kanan’s probation had been extended several months longer— and Hera would be lying if she said that she hadn’t loved it. Loved being around Kanan, working with him, fighting by his side. She’d never been a part of something that felt like this; like they understood the other’s move before it was even made, like he had her back no matter what.

It was an amazing friendship, she’d never deny that. But there was something more. Something that Hera would never have expected when they first met. The way her heart would speed up at the simplest touch, the way she would catch herself watching him. It was ridiculous, really— how much she wanted to be around him, and how she’d blush like a little girl at the slightest teasing.

But oh, she was enjoying it. Maybe for now, it was just dancing around their feelings, not taking that next step because there were still things to figure out— Kanan’s probation, pieces of their past, things they hadn’t talked about— but she was still around Kanan. And, silly though she felt admitting it, that was where she was happiest.

Maybe it was silly. But for the rest of the day, Hera felt a little more light-hearted.

The time until that evening slipped by faster than Hera had expected, and before she knew it she was following Kanan out of the Ghost. Sabine, Ezra, and Zeb had come to see them off. “Make sure you have her back before midnight,” the Lasat told Kanan with a smirk.

“She’s the one driving,” Kanan said with a grin. “So you’ll have to talk to her about that.”

“Have a good time,” Ezra chimed in, bouncing on his heels.

Hera shot a stern look at the three standing on the ramp. “Try not to cause too much trouble, or you’ll be scrubbing air filters until your fingers fall off. Understood?”

She was met by a chorus of “yes, Hera”. Satisfied, Hera turned to Kanan. “Ready to go?”

“Ready when you are, Captain Hera,” he replied.

They took a speeder bike down the side of the mountain their landing and refueling platform was on— to avoid lava flows, most fuel depots, cities, and space ports were on the higher peaks— and followed the main road for a while before Kanan directed her to take an exit. 

The exit led them into a heavily forested patch that, according to a sign they passed on the way in, was a national forest of some kind. As they zipped down the winding road, Hera admired the massive trees looming above them. “I wonder how trees could grow this big here, what with the volcanic season,” she called over her shoulder to Kanan, who had his arms around her waist as she drove. Which was only a little distracting.

“Life keeps going, I suppose,” Kanan said, his chin brushing her head as he turned to look around. “Nothing can really stop that. Nature will always find a way around it. Stop up here, please.”

Pulling to a stop, Hera turned and raised an eyebrow at Kanan. “Where exactly are we going?”

“It’s a surprise,” Kanan said, hopping off the bike.

“Do you know where we’re going?”

“Of course,” Kanan said, offering her his hand. “Trust me, Hera.” He gave her a pleading look, and Hera felt herself relenting before she’d even fully decided to.

“Fine,” she said, putting her hand in his. “But there had better be food at the end of this.”

“I promised dinner, and I always deliver,” Kanan said as he helped her off the bike. He released her hand, striding towards a side path that had been tucked out of view from the road. Pushing aside a slight pang of disappointment, Hera followed him.

The path wound through the trees, leading them forward for a while then down a gentle slope. As they reached a sharp curve in the path, Kanan stopped. “Wait here a minute,” he told her, and hurried onwards, disappearing around the corner. 

Hera reluctantly remained where she was, drumming her fingers against her hip as she waited. She wouldn’t admit it out loud— not that she had to with Kanan— but she was getting more and more curious about where they were going. Where exactly was he planning to find dinner out in the middle of nowhere?

Seconds later, he reappeared, his grin wide. “Come on,” he called, waving to her.

“You’re testing my patience,” Hera warned him as she made her way down the path. “You should know better than to keep me in suspense for this long—”

Her voice trailed off, and she stared in shock at the view around the corner. The forest around them opened up to a lake, shining vibrant orange under the sinking sun. Hauled halfway onto the shore was a boat, its metal hull glinting proudly.

“I thought it would be nice to get away,” Kanan said from next to her. “Literally and figuratively. Not many places are more isolated than the middle of a lake, and it seemed… nicer than a mountain top. Is— is it okay?”

He sounded almost nervous, and Hera would have laughed if she hadn’t seen his face— so hopeful and just the littlest bit on edge. “It’s amazing, dear,” she said, giving him a warm smile. “I’m driving the boat.”

Kanan laughed, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Of course. I wouldn’t expect anything else— we should probably get it into the water first.”

The two of them shed their boots and, working together, managed to get the boat out into deeper water. Hera hopped in first, with Kanan’s help, and he scrambled in after her, landing with a thump on the bottom of the boat. 

Hera, who’d already made her way to the front of the boat and was studying the controls, sent him an amused look. “You alright there?”

“Just fine,” Kanan said, pushing himself up and dropping onto one of the benches that lined the boat with a grunt. “That’s a lot easier when you’re at a dock, though.”

Hera frowned at him. “Where exactly did you get this boat? Tell me you didn’t—”

“Steal it? Give me some credit, Captain Hera.” Not looking offended in the slightest, Kanan made himself comfortable as he explained, “There’s a rental place near the market we were at, so I rented it for the day. Zeb helped me get it out here.”

“You were certainly committed to this,” Hera commented, frowning at the controls. It was similar enough to a speeder. Keying one button, she grinned at the sound of the motor coming to life. Glancing back at Kanan, she said, “You might want to hold on.”

Kanan immediately grabbed the side of the boat— just in time, as Hera gunned the engine and the boat shot forward, slicing through the water smoothly. It picked up speed faster than Hera had expected, and they zipped out towards the middle of the lake, water churning up behind them.  The wind whipped back Hera’s lekku, and spray splattered her face. She let out an exhilarated laugh, throwing her head back and taking in a deep breath. Flying was the best feeling she could imagine in the galaxy. But this… this was close.

She cut a corner, bringing the speed down a little bit as they swerved to avoid a patch of weeds.  For a few minutes longer, they cruised across the lake, enjoying the breeze and the view of the mountain to their north. Finally, Hera slowed down and cut the motor, leaving them to drift.

Looking back at where Kanan had settled back again, she said, “I assume you didn’t bring me out here to play with the boat.”

“As much fun as I have watching you, no. Well, mostly no,” Kanan said with a grin. Bending down, he reached under one of the benches and pulled out a preservation container. “I believe I promised you dinner,” he said, setting it on the bench between them. 

“Well played,” Hera said, dropping down across from him. “I’m starving.”

Dinner turned out to be deliciously seasoned chicken with chopped vegetables and a garlicky sauce, all stuffed inside a pita bread sandwich. The two of them attacked their sandwiches ravenously, chatting between bites. Kanan was so incredibly easy to talk to, or to just sit with in silence. He knew how to let a moment just be quiet, which was something Hera valued about him. 

There was no one she’d rather spend an evening like this with.

For dessert, Kanan produced slices of meiloorun and pieces of dark chocolate infused with dried orange peel. “You’re pretty good at this picnic planning thing,” Hera observed as she munched on her third piece of meiloorun. “You could have a career here if the whole Jedi thing doesn’t work out.”

Kanan laughed, and Hera couldn’t hold back her grin. There was something so incredibly satisfying about making Kanan, someone who always had a snarky quip, laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said.

Finishing off her meiloorun, Hera sat back against the side of the boat with a satisfied sigh. The two of them were sitting side by side, Hera’s shoulder brushing his as they ate and chatted and watched the sun disappear behind the trees. The first stars were appearing, and the air held the cool, crisp night time feeling.

“Cold?” Kanan asked, his deep voice sending a shiver down Hera’s spine. 

“A little,” she admitted. “Nothing I can’t handle though.”

“I might have something that can help.” Bending over, Kanan pulled a thermos out from under the bench and presented it to her. “Spiran caf, like we had on Rion two months ago. This should have kept it hot enough.”

Accepting the thermos, Hera gave him a smile. “Thank you, dear. I have to admit, I’m pretty impressed that you were this prepared.”

As she took a sip from the thermos, Kanan shrugged. “Well, I thought about bringing champagne, but I didn’t think that was your style.”

“Champagne? Are we celebrating something?” Hera asked, surprised.

A half smile crossed Kanan’s face. “Actually, yeah. I may have had a few motives other than convincing you to relax when I brought you out here.”

Hera’s heart skipped a beat. Fighting to keep her voice steady, she set down the thermos and quipped, “Well now I’m worried.”

“Nothing to be worried about,” Kanan assured her. “The first thing is— well, I might have the date wrong, considering we’ve been in hyperspace for a while, but I did the math and checked some calendars, and I’m about ninety-five percent certain that it’s our anniversary.”

“Our— our what?” Hera stared at him, now utterly confused.

“One year ago today, you signed some paperwork or something— I wasn’t there for that part— and offered me a job on your crew while I was on probation,” Kanan explained. “And as of this morning, my probation period has officially expired.”

“What— really?” Hera gasped, trying to remember. She knew that it had been coming closer, but the last week or two had been so hectic, she’d lost track of which day it was. How did I forget this? “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely,” Kanan said. “I’m a free man. Free to follow… whatever path comes next.”

“Congratulations, Kanan,” Hera said, smiling at him. “I’m proud of you.” She paused, old fears flashing through her— and then, a hint of hope. Maybe, just maybe… “What are your plans, then? Now that you’re free to go wherever you want?”

A slow smile grew on Kanan’s face as he studied her, his gaze so intense that Hera could feel herself starting to blush. “I have a few plans,” he murmured, his voice teasing. “There’s this captain who offered me a job— something about a ship’s cook, maybe?”

“Really,” Hera said, feeling her heartbeat quickening. He was so close to her, those vivid blue-green eyes drawing her in and holding her. “I happen to think your talents would be wasted as a cook.”

“Hmm. Do you have any better ideas, then?”

“I might,” Hera managed, finding herself suddenly breathless as Kanan looked at her, and she looked back, and for a moment, she thought that maybe he was going to—

And then his gaze shifted to something over her shoulder, and the tension between them dissipated as a smile touched his face. “And there’s the other reason I brought you out here,” he said, sitting back a little. “Look.”

Squelching her disappointment firmly, Hera turned in her seat— and gasped, all other thoughts swept away. Coming from the mountain to the north were hundreds of small, golden lights, floating through the sky like a wave of tiny suns filling the night sky. It was captivating as they spilled down towards the lake, and as they drew closer, Hera realized they were lanterns.

“Once a year, they release all these lanterns in some of the cities to mark the beginning of the volcanic season,” Kanan explained from next to Hera. “It’s celebrating the end of a long year of planting and harvesting, and the beginning of renewal, and a long winter.”

“It’s beautiful,” Hera breathed, unable to tear her eyes away as the lanterns drifted downwards, filling the valley and the air around the lake. It was like flying, being up among the stars, but now they had come down to visit her. 

“Thank you, Kanan,” she said softly. “For showing me this.”

“There’s no one else I’d want to be here with,” Kanan replied, and his voice was so gentle and warm that Hera felt herself flush with pleasure. 

“I feel the same way,” she told him.

For a moment, they were both silent, watching the lanterns drift across the lake. Hera felt Kanan’s hand brush hers, then slip around it, his fingers lacing through hers. Her eyes snapped up to his, surprise flashing through her.

“Is this okay?” he asked quietly. “I don’t want to—”

“Yes,” Hera answered firmly, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “It’s just fine.”

He smiled, his gaze softening, and Hera took a quick breath, her heart rate speeding up again. The way he was looking at her… it was warmer than the glow from the lanterns. It felt like coming home and starting a new adventure all at once, and she wanted to stay in it forever.

“Hera,” he said softly. “I— you’re incredible. I never would have gotten this far without you. If you weren’t here, I would still be running from my problems, turning my back on who I am. You changed my life.”

“Kanan,” Hera said, flushing. “I—”

“I mean it,” Kanan said. Taking her other hand, he said, “I don’t want to leave you. Ever. You’re so brave and kind and determined—”

“Kanan,” Hera cut in. “Can I get a word in edgewise?”

“Well… yeah, if you must,” Kanan said wryly, looking slightly confused.

“I love you.”

The words slipped out before Hera could stop to think— but she didn’t regret it. Having Kanan with her had changed her life. He was an amazing person, and she didn’t care what society or her father or anyone thought. She loved him, and Hera knew that down to her very core.

And it was also pretty satisfying to shock Kanan for once. He gaped at her, clearly stunned, and Hera felt a flash of concern. Was I wrong? Does he not feel the same way? Oh, Force, did I just—

Leaning down, Kanan cupped her face in his hand and kissed her.

He was gentle, clearly leaving her the option to pull away, but Hera had no intentions of going anywhere. Throwing her arms around his neck, she kissed him back, pulling him close.

It felt far too soon when they broke apart, and when they did, it was slow and gradual, neither one willing to completely pull away from the other. Hera’s face felt like it was on fire— she’d never exactly been one for public displays of affection.

But they were out on a lake in the middle of nowhere, and she couldn’t honestly say she regretted it, anyways. The smile on Kanan’s face was radiant as he said, “I love you, too.”

“It’s about time,” Hera said, and she felt him chuckle.

“I didn’t want to say anything until I was sure you felt the same way. But you beat me to it.” Gently, he brushed a thumb along her cheekbone, his touch almost reverent. “Can I kiss you again?”

Hera responded by grabbing the front of his shirt and pulling him into a kiss that took her breath away and sent her head spinning. When she finally pulled away, Hera leaned into his touch, and Kanan willingly pulled her closer. “Stay,” she whispered. “Stay with the crew, stay with me.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Kanan promised. “I’m yours, Hera. For as long as you’ll have me.”

Hera felt a joyful smile crossing her face as Kanan settled next to her, and she rested her head on his shoulder. There, sitting with his arm around her while they watched the lanterns, she knew there was no place she’d rather be.