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English
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Published:
2021-07-24
Completed:
2021-07-24
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1,485
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3/3
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What The Lothcats Will

Summary:

Two times Ezra has bonded with his father figures over Lothcats.

And perhaps one time Ezra has bonded with his enemy over Lothcats.

Chapter 1: Ephraim

Chapter Text

It had been a long day, even for a rambunctious and energetic five year old Ezra Bridger. He was tired enough to sit at the window, watching the world outside.

 

Dusk was falling, painting the sky and the cityscape hues of purple and pink. His father was never home this late.

 

Especially on his birthday. Maybe he had gotten caught up with something on the way home.

 

And with that thought, the front door chimed, and Ezra shot through the house to meet him.

 

'Baba! Mama, Baba's home!'

 

As he reached the front door, his mother popped out of the cellar, big smile on her face, prompting him.

 

'Go on, Ezra, open the door.'

 

He could barely contain himself as he wiggled the door handle and leapt onto his father as soon as the door was swinging inward.

 

But his father stopped him before the child could wrap around him, chuckling.

 

'Whoa, whoa, easy now. There's something fragile in here!'

 

Ezra bounced up and down as he held onto his father's hand, excitement renewed.

 

'What is it, Baba, can I see?!'

 

Ephraim laughed at his son.

 

'Let me get in the house, son, then, yes, you can see.'

 

The boy didn't stop bouncing or holding his father's hand in both of his as his father stepped fully into the living room and closed the door. He knelt down in front of Ezra.

 

'You're five today, aren't you? I think that means you're old enough for this responsibility...'

 

The man booped his son on the nose as he spoke, the other hand inside his jacket.

 

And withdrawing it, there was a cream fluffball in his hand, that just fit.

 

Ezra's eyes went wide as he reached for it, then paused, hesitating, unsure how to actually grab it.

 

'A kitten?!'

 

His father moved Ezra's hands to make a small cup and placed the kitten in his son's hands. The kitten lifted it's little stubby face up towards Ezra and opened blue eyes, yawned, and blinked at him.

 

Ezra cradled it to his chest, running a hand through it's fur, longer than a feral Lothcat's and the cream points that of a domesticated tooka's as well.

 

At a scratch between the ears, the lothkitten started purring, settling in to sleep in the boy's arms.

 

'They like you.'

 

Ezra finally looked away from his new pet to see his father smiling down at them softly.

 

'Thank you, Baba.'

 

His father just ruffled his hair, and Ezra bounced along in the house, the kitten perking up and following behind.

Chapter 2: Kanan

Chapter Text

Really the last thing Kanan had expected was to walk onto the ramp of the ship and see Ezra surrounded by about...

 

Maybe ten Lothcats.

 

They were all curled, or flopped, or belly up, snuggled into Ezra's side and his back and his lap.

 

Under the hum of whatever insect life Lothal had hiding in the plains, there was the rumble of several tookas purring at once.

 

Ezra didn't seem to notice Kanan approaching, just kept looking up to the darkened sky, watching the stars glitter as he scritched the animal in his lap under the chin.

 

'I thought you didn't like Lothcats.'

 

There was teasing in it as Kanan flopped himself down beside his padawan. One of the Lothcats padded over to him and deposited itself directly in Kanan's lap. He gave it a stroke between the ears.

 

There wasn't surprise or bitterness in Ezra's answer.

 

'I never said I didn't like them, I said they were dumb animals.'

 

The one in the boy's lap trilled up at him, blinking.

 

Kanan scoffed, amused.

 

'Well, they sure seem to like you.'

 

The padawan just shrugged, continuing to hold the pale tabby as it rolled in search of better places for Ezra to scratch.

 

'Always kinda have. I was frustrated and bitter, when you first tried teaching me to connect to them.'

 

A hum.

 

'And what do you get from that connection now?'

 

Ezra was silent for a moment. There was a momentary lull in the chorus of purrs, but then it came back even stronger.

 

'...They help me remember my parents. When we were together. The times we were happy. So many times I would fall asleep between my parents, our pet Lothcat in my arms and purring away...'

 

When he stopped petting the cat in his lap to furtively rub tears away with his sleeve, they chirruped at him consolingly, rising to headbutt into his arm.

 

And there was nothing Kanan could say. Seemed he was simply to stay silent this time.

 

Still, he stayed with Ezra and his entourage of Lothcats in silence for a while longer, just giving Ezra company and any opportunity if he wanted to say more.

 

The moons were high in the night sky by the time Kanan lifted a cat or two out of his lap and stood to go back inside the Ghost.

 

He paused, though, just to say one last thing to his padawan.

 

His son.

 

'C'mon, kid. You need to get some sleep.

 

'...And as long as they don't bother Zeb, your friends can come in, too.'

Chapter 3: Thrawn

Chapter Text

Lothal might have been fully occupied by the Empire, but Ezra still walked the streets in this small village openly. The wanted posters were outdated, and the locals didn't care one way or the other anyhow.

 

It was nice, he supposed, to be able to just walk through the market and gather supplies. It was bittersweet; on the one hand, it reminded him of how he had scrounged markets just like this in the capital, just to survive. On the other, he had come so far, with a family to support him and raise him, not having to worry about where his next meal was coming from.

 

A stall caught his eye, vibrant stones carved into various native animals, a few carved into recognizable creatures galaxy-wide.

 

There was a Lothcat, pointed ears and wide, toothy grin. The stone was orange, with grains of purple, teal, even milky white, and glittering flecks that reminded him of stars. Or shiny beskar.

 

Sabine , he thought immediately, heart swelling with fondness.

 

He did have a few extra credits.

 

But he'd been so transfixed on the carving, he hadn't noticed someone join him at the stall, until they had gently plucked that exact one up to examine.

 

'A beautiful piece, isn't it?'

 

Ezra could have swore he had heard that voice before, but the accent was wrong; still, it put him on edge.

 

And the figure himself didn't help matters. The bright yellow cloak and green tinted shades were almost laughable, and yet there was a poise underneath it that kept amusement from bubbling up in Ezra.

 

The little Lothcat carving was being proffered for Ezra to look at in a blue hand, manicured well enough to speak of some status.

 

Calloused enough and in the right places to tell Ezra they had training in combat.

 

His thoughts went to Thrawn.

 

But... if it was Thrawn, he would have recognized him, already tried capturing him, taking him into custody, interrogating him about the Rebel force trying to take back Lothal.

 

...Right?

 

He didn't seem to acknowledge Ezra having not answered, or not even processing the question.

 

'The cuts are precise, and yet there's still character in them. Reckless, but quick to make final decisions and take the lead, and able to command that position because of a strong personality.'

 

And that. Did sound like Thrawn. How he had read Hera from the mural of her family.

 

But there was a draw to some of the syllables, one Ezra placed in the Outer Rim, possibly Wild Space. Even through his own accent, Thrawn had leaned toward Core Basic.

 

The carving was proffered to him again by an almost lazy movement of their hand. This time, Ezra took it, in case he didn't get it back again.

 

The stranger wasn't done talking to him, it seemed.

 

'...It reminds you of someone.'

 

And Ezra finally answered, a bit defensively.

 

'Yeah. It does.'

 

There was a hint of a smile to their lips.

 

'I think she'll appreciate it.'

 

He took full defense at that.

 

'...What would you know about her.'

 

They weren't even ruffled. Ezra couldn't tell if they were glancing at him or continuing to admire the display.

 

He decided on the latter when the tone was conversational, easy.

 

'From an art enthusiast to an artist he follows doggedly close, I simply believe she will.'

 

And then they turned to leave, the hood shifting where they drew their arms up to clasp behind their back, the pose of someone in command.

 

There was a comment tossed over their shoulder, and from the angle, the shades were drawn just far enough away Ezra caught a red glow.

 

'I assure you, Miss Wren will appreciate it. Until next we meet, Ezra Bridger.'


And later, what would startle Ezra was that Thrawn had been right .