#dinezra

It’s not even a decision really, to reach over and take Ezra’s face in his hands, thumbing his tears away and asking if Ezra has anywhere to go, if he needs a place to lay low for a bit. Ezra snarls that he’s not going to fall into an Imperial’s arms just from a little worldshaking tragedy, but he’s trembling at the gentle touch, the genuine anger in those yellow eyes, anger on his behalf. He knew that there was some sliver of good in Prince Skywalker, had seen it in the way he interacted with children and maintained a sense of honor, and it’s these things plus the pure honesty he senses in the Force that make him feel just safe enough to take Luke’s hand.

That and those fierce golden eyes that looked at him like he was worth a damn.

Time passes, they talk, they get to know each other, Ezra finds himself growing protective of Luke, finds himself naturally taking on the role of bodyguard and right hand, having a severe crisis of identity as he realizes that his feelings for Luke are becoming a problem. Likewise, what Luke first saw as an opportunity has swiftly become a turning point in his life because now he can no longer imagine a world without Ezra Bridger at his side, laughing and joking and lightening the heavy burdens that came with being the son of Darth Vader. It all comes to a head one day when Ezra kills a rebel or four to protect Luke, and as he stands there in horror realizing just how far he’s fallen, Luke cups his face with a big warm sincere smile and tells him he did good, that he saved his life, that’s he’s so proud of him, that Ezra is so so good and Luke is so lucky to have found him.

Luke asks Ezra to officially become his right hand, his personal Inquisitor, free to be whoever he wants, answering to no one but Luke. The only rule being to stay by his side forever.

Ezra accepts.

There’s no going back after that, not for Luke, and certainly not for Ezra. Kanan didn’t want him, his family chose Kanan over him, he didn’t really have any other friends, he’d never really fit the mold of a Jedi… might as well give himself over to the Dark. To Luke. At least he could have affection and love, even if unreciprocated. (It’s absolutely reciprocated, Luke is literally crazy about him, possessive and obsessed and completely adoring, but Ezra doesn’t know that)

Years later Luke is quickly gaining power and Ezra is an ever-present shadow at his side, always ready with an easy smile and a sly glint in his blue-yellow eyes, the only one who has the Imperial Prince’s complete and absolute trust. He lounges in the rafters and vents while Luke does important Empire business, he sits on the edge of Luke’s throne and sharpens knives when Luke is negotiating, he props his feet up in Luke’s lap and laughs at the shock and outrage it earns him, especially from Luke’s family. If Ezra isn’t there, Luke is always visibly more quiet and tetchy, to the point where petitioners will call ahead to ask if the Prince’s strange little shadow will be present before coming in.

Ezra takes a special sort of joy in disrupting the plans of the Ghost crew, taunting them and challenging them and getting really angry whenever they ‘pretend’ to have no idea why he suddenly turned to the Dark side, why he turned against them. They want Ezra back so badly, they think Luke did something to him, corrupted his mind or something, why else would he be so loyal? Why else would he say things like “Guess you shouldn’t have thrown me away” and “If I wasn’t enough for you, that’s your problem, not mine”.

Also a side plot where a near death experience has Luke paranoid about Ezra’s safety and he ends up hiring Din Djarin to guard him, much to Ezra’s annoyance. It starts off with Din being stoically silent and Ezra constantly needling him, but the relationship softens as Din takes his job seriously and starts to look after Ezra’s health and sanity instead of just his body, as Ezra starts to make a game out of getting any kind of reaction from Din (“Oooh, a slight exhale, that’s practically a guffaw from you, Din!”) and Luke starts taking a personal interest in keeping Din happy and loyal while also taking time to train his adorable kid, and maybe at first he’s jealous of Din for making Ezra so happy, for edging in on what they have, but then Ezra insists on them getting to know each other and Luke finds that Din is actually very pleasant company and they bond over their affection for Ezra, and Din finds out that the coldly beautiful prince has a kind heart and genuine desire to make the galaxy a better place, even with the Empire’s methods.

Ezra: January, June, July, Jaugust, Joctober

Luke: One of these is not like the others.

I've got two chapters left in Cin Vehtin. Looking back, I probably should have waited until I was done with it to get into Kotor and Kotor 2, because now I have a billion ideas for fics that could happen after Cin Vehtin. Anyway, here's the AU trio ten years after the Mandalorian Wars.

The problem child is under the cut.