Work Text:
Ahsoka saw Ezra sitting in the cargo bay of the Ghost fidgeting with something. She knew something was up since he'd been pretty distant with Kanan.
"You got something on your mind buddy?" she asked, sitting down beside him.
In his hands was a picture of what looked like his parents.
"I miss my mom. She was my beacon of hope no matter how dark the world outside was."
"What about Hera?"
"She's not my mom!" he said, holding the picture close to his chest as he fought hard to keep the tears back.
Ahsoka gently laid her hand on the base of his neck and slowly rubbed her thumb across it. While it had been a couple years since she met him and heard what had happened to his family, she realized that deep down he'd never gotten over it even after telling everyone he had.
"Why not? It's obvious she loves you just as much."
"She just... isn't. There's something that's missing. I.. I don't know what... It's just like there's a barrier from..." he stuttered as his arms flailed between them to make the point.
"The age difference?"
Ezra blushed bright red.
"Did something happen between you two?"
Ezra got even redder, his thoughts and emotions rolling off him in strong waves.
"Not... exactly..." he whispered.
Something about "tickling the pickle" came to her mind and she rolled her eyes.
"I see.." she whispered before that same nagging feeling from a minute ago returned. "What about Sabine?"
"We're the same age! Heck no!" he said quickly before pausing. "Wait... did you just read my thoughts?"
"No. Your emotions were rolling off you like a flood. You don't have to be a jedi to feel them."
Ezra shifted around uncomfrotably before she continued.
"You didn't know. I don't think any less of you for it. I've been your age before. I understand."
Before either of them could fully comprehend what went through his mind, Ezra quickly wrapped his arms around her stomach and had this urge to never let her go as he reveled in her warmth. A couple tears rolled down his cheeks and his body relaxed when she laid one hand on his back and softly rubbed the other through his hair.
Unable to ignore the emotional rollercoaster she felt him going through any longer, Ahsoka laid down where they were and knew she would be that comforting presence he was desperately craving. She didn't want to admit it for a while and had been running from the bond they formed over the past year, but now she didn't want to fight it any more. She finally had what she'd been looking for all these years as lyrics from one of her favorite songs came to mind.
Yeah, I know, I'm far from home
But I'll survive, I'm jumping right in
To the depths, just hold my breath
Not going without a fight
I'm diving in too deep
An ocean in my hand
It's getting hard to see
I might be lost, but I'm gonna find who I am
Diving in too deep
Don't have a master plan
It's getting hard to breathe
I might be lost, but I'm gonna find who I am
Diving in to deep
"I may not be ready for this, but I will give it everything I have through whatever we do, I promise. I love you Ezra. I only wish I'd told you sooner." she whispered as she kissed his head before falling asleep herself.