brotherly bonding

                                    

                                          
Ezra lay awake on his ground. He couldn't sleep. Strangely enough, he didn't hear Zeb snoring for all it was worth beside him. Ezra, Zeb, Sabine, Kanan and Chopper were staying with Ryder at his camp. Sabine was asleep near them, Chopper was recharging and Kanan was outside mediating. Ezra lay quietly, he needed to talk to someone so he rolled over onto his side to face Zeb. The Lasat had his back to him and Ezra hesitated. 
                          
"Zeb?" Ezra asked after a few moments, but not really expecting an answer. 
                          
"What kid?" A tired voice replied. 
                          
"Can you sleep?"
                          
"Not really, don't know why though."
                          
"Same here."
                          
"What's on your mind?" Zeb inquired. 
                          
Ezra gazed at the ground, thin lipped. 
                          
"I'm worried about Hera" he admitted. 
                          
"I mean, the Empire has here. Who knows what they'll do to her. Hera means a lot to me so if I lose her..." Ezra's voice trailed off and he fell silent. 
                          
Zeb rolled over and Ezra saw he looked exhausted but still awake. 
                          
"Yeah, I'm worried too. I expect Kanan's feeling the same way." 
                          
A soft noise made the two look over to see Sabine curled up, clutching her arms. Fast asleep as she dreamed of blasting Stormtroopers and saving​ Hera 
                          
"How'd Sabine even fall asleep?" Ezra asked. 
                          
"She was crying outside and when Kanan found her, she said she wanted to sleep. He put her out with the Force and brought her in here. You were hanging out with the Lothcats when this happened" Zeb explained. 
                          
Ezra nodded, half wishing Kanan would do the same to him. He doubted he'd be able to sleep at all after what had happened that day. The white Lothcat suddenly trotted towards the camp and walked over Zeb like he was an obstacle. Ezra couldn't help but smile as the cat walked over to him and nuzzled his shoulder. 
                          
"Dam Lothcats. Can't escape them no matter what" Zeb growled. 
                          
Ezra exhaled a chuckle as the animal rolled onto its back and looked at Ezra expectantly. Rolling his eyes, the teen started to scratch the cat's belly. It meowed in pleasure and stretched its claws elegantly. Ezra sighed and Zeb noticed the flicker of sadness in the boy's eyes.
                          
"Hera will be fine" he tried to say even though he didn't believe it himself. 
                          
"How can you know that? We barely saved Kanan when he was captured, the Empire almost killed him" Ezra replied quietly. 
                          
Zeb fell silent and watched as Ezra stopped petting the Lothcat and it rolled back onto its feet. The teen rested his head on his arms and the cat climbed onto his chest, pressing hard on Ezra's stomach as it got comfortable. Ezra let out a small squeak and quickly stopped the cat from pawing him. The animal gave Ezra a very confused look and chose a different position. Lying down, the Lothcat's tail gently flicked Ezra's neck making him giggle.
                          
"Dohohont do that" he told the cat who simply did it again. 
                          
Ezra tried to control himself, but it was difficult. The Lothcat's tail was soft and fluffy, creating tickly sensations along Ezra's neck. Zeb watched with amusement before getting up and going over to Ezra. The boy managed to get the Lothcat off of him but gave a yelp of surprise when he felt something grab him from behind and yank him back. Zeb pulled Ezra onto his lap and started to scratch his claws around Ezra's midsections. 
                          
"Argh! Nohohohoho! Zeb!" Ezra whined as the Lasat tickled him. 
                          
"What? The Lothcat seemed to like it, considering you're from Lothal too if expect you'd enjoy it as well" Zeb grinned. 
                          
"There's a difference frohohohom petting and tihihickling" Ezra said through his giggles as he tried to get away. 
                          
"Is there? Never knew." 
                          
Zeb tickled Ezra from his sides up to his armpits then got to his ribs. The teen let out an embarrassing yell and covered his face with his hands. Trying to hide the blush that was showing up because of the sound. 
                          
"What in the name of Leassan was that Ezra?" Zeb grinned dragging his claws over Ezra's bottom right rib forcing out the noise again. 
                          
"Stohohohop doing thahahat!" Ezra cried out, still red in the face from the first noise. 
                          
It was like a squeal, giggle, gasp, yell and yelp all put into one sound. It was the strangest, most embarrassing noise Ezra had ever made. 
                          
"What's going on in here?" 
                          
The two looked up to see Kanan standing above them. Ezra scrambled from Zeb's grip while he was distracted  and strayed to the other side of the camp. 
                          
"Just bonding" Zeb shrugged. 
Kanan smiled and turned to Ezra who wad cowering in the corner, covering his midsections protectively. 
                          
"What are you two even doing awake?" The older Jedi asked. 
                          
"Ezra couldn't sleep" Zeb replied. 
                          
"I can fix that." 
                          
Kanan went over to Ezra and crouched in front of him. Waving a few fingers across the boy's forehead, Ezra slumped and fell forward. Kanan quickly caught the boy and lay him down. The white Lothcat trotted over and curled up on the sleeping boy. 
                          
"You watch him" Kanan told the cat who meowed in response. 
                          
"What'd it say?" Zeb asked as Kanan went to his side of the camp and lay down. 
                          
"No idea" Kanan shrugged rolling over and going to sleep.