'Sup peoples? Specter7 here. So, I know I crossed my two weeks posting mark but this took a lot longer than I thought it would. Plus, I rewrote most of the chapter to capture their characters more fully. This is a Ezra-Sabine focused chapter and I name it "Dev's Identity," for good reason. There's a bit of playful banter between the two, which I like:) So, read and…

May the Force be with you.

"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things but their inward significance."

-Aristotle

Sabine Wren hurried to the dorm. She wanted to get there before the rest of her roommates did.

The girl got out a thin key card and put it in the slit. There was a beep and the door unlocked. Sabine rushed inside, closed the door behind her, and jumped to her bed. She took out her sketchpad under the mattress and opened to a new sheet. Sabine slowly relaxed and breathed an easy sigh. It was quiet. No noisy roommates to annoy her or make fun of her, no jealous cadets jeering as she walked down the hallway, and best of all, no instructors telling her what to do every minute of every day.

This is nice, Sabine thought. I wish every moment could be like this.

She looked down at her sketchpad and an idea formed in her head. There was a tug at the pit of her stomach, and Sabine stared at the paper. A hazy image was in her mind but not fully completed. I guess I'll have to draw to get it out, she thought.

Sabine readied her pencil and hesitantly started sketching. It was a person, showing only the head and shoulders. It was a boy, maybe a teenager and Sabine started smiling as she drew him. His hair was parted down the middle and sort of long. It swept across his face on both sides and Sabine colored it in heavily, her pencil making the hair a dark, dark, gray. The way she drew him, his eyes seemed to twinkle with laughter and his eyebrows were slightly arched. The boy in her picture had the faintest of smiles that looked more like a lopsided grin.

Sabine stared at her picture, shocked. This was some of her best work! And not only that, but she seemed to know that boy!

But where from? Sabine asked herself. I don't think I've ever seen him before in my life.

Before she had time to continue pondering this, the door to the dorm burst open. Three girls, several years older then her walked in.

"Well, well, well," one of them sneered. "Look who it is! Cadet Perfect getting an early start to her training."

Sabine swallowed. "No, I'm just-"

"Ah, save it, Wren," another said with disdain. "We all know you're hiding after getting a perfect score again in the assessment."

Sabine stiffened. "I am not hiding. I just-"

"Hey!" the third one exclaimed, snatching the sketchbook from her hands. "She's drawing someone." The girl tore the paper out of the rings and showed it to the two others.

"That's mine!" Sabine protested, standing up.

"He's kinda cute," the first one said, glancing at Sabine, a sneer on her face. "You don't know him do you?"

"No, I-"

"'Cause he's way out of your league."

Sabine swallowed, clenching her teeth. These girls were touching her art. Something she had made. "Give me the paper back," Sabine said, trying not to make her voice waver. "Please."

The leader glanced at the two other girls. All three smiled a not-so-nice smile. "I don't know, Wren," the leader said lazily. "You see... we don't like you. You're too perfect. You're in the Academy, finishing college... at only thirteen years old."

Sabine froze. She knew what they were about to do. "No, please-" she whispered.

"So," the leader continued, "I think we will not be giving your little paper back. What do you girls think?"

They smiled hatefully.

"That's mine!" Sabine yelled. "Don't-"

The leader crumpled the paper, holding it in front of Sabine's face. She smashed it and smashed it until it was a tiny little ball.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" the leader said, mocking an apology. "Did you want this?"

Sabine's jaw was clenched so tight, she half thought her teeth might crack. She felt her face get hot... hot with anger. Smoldering, burning, unquenchable anger.

That was mine, Sabine thought, her heart rapid with fury. They touched my stuff and ruined it.

They're bullies.

Sabine already knew this and the three girls had done similar, much worse things to her before. But this... this was different. That boy she'd drawn was not like any other work of art.

And Sabine was fed up with those three's attitudes.

"Grab her sketchpad," the leader ordered with a sneer. She glanced at Sabine. "Let's see what else she's been drawing."

Sabine froze. She was done playing Little Miss Perfect and Little Miss Innocent. Sabine had been trained in many fighting styles and had been the top of her class in all of them. Yet she had never used those skills in the academic part of the Academy because she didn't want the cadets to hate her even more.

But there was a point, a breaking point and Sabine had just reached it. Her parents had wanted her to just do her studies and pass without making much a commotion.

But no more.

That wasn't Sabine and she would not stand for the bullying anymore.

As one of the girls reached for her sketchpad on the bed, Sabine slapped a hand on it.

"You're not touching this," Sabine said gravely.

"Oh-ho-ho!" the leader exclaimed. "Finally, someone found her guts!" She walked closer to Sabine. "So, watcha gonna do, Wren?"

Sabine looked up at her and didn't back away.

"I know you won't fight me," the leader boasted. "You don't want to ruin your perfect record, huh?"

"No," Sabine snarled, "But I'm not letting you mess with me anymore."

"Oh, really now?" she said exaggeratedly. "And how are you gonna do that, huh, Wren?" the leader stepped closer, dangling the crumpled up piece of paper which was the boy she'd drawn in front of her face. She slowly started to tear it. "Watcha gonna do if I rip this? Huh, Wren? Watcha gonna do?"

"I'm gonna apologize later," Sabine said and immediately reared back and swung hard.

Her fist hit the bridge of the girl's nose and she stumbled back.

Sabine looked at the three of the teens in front of her. All had been trained in some form of fighting style so they weren't necessarily the 'all bark, no bite' types of people.

But no one was a match for Sabine Wren.

As another girl rushed her, trying to tackle her, Sabine positioned one foot against the bed and kneed the girl, using the girl's momentum to throw her up against the mattress. The girl bounced and then slammed into the wall with a Thump!

The second girl threw a few well-aimed punches, all of which Sabine blocked before pulling the girl's wrist and elbowing her in the jaw. The girl stumbled around before her legs gave way and she collapsed.

Now, the only one who was left was the leader. The eighteen-year-old girl that had gotten Sabine into this mess in the first place.

She had one hand over her nose and the look she gave Sabine was pure hate. "You're going down, Wren," the teen snarled.

"I'd like to see you try," Sabine jeered.

The teen roared a battle cry and lunged for her. Sabine ducked under her flailing arms and delivered a quick uppercut to the girl's stomach.

The leader lurched, off balance, and issued a swift back kick aimed for Sabine's head. Sabine barely had time to block the leader's foot with her forearms before she landed a powerful side kick to Sabine's ribs.

Sabine wheezed and was momentarily off-kilter. The leader struck blow after blow, each one Sabine barely deflecting. Sabine finally kicked the girl in the stomach, back-handed her across the face, executed a perfect dropkick to the leader's head, and landed on her feet.

The eighteen-year-old dropped, instantly unconscious.

Sabine stood slowly, looking around. Her heart finally stopped racing as the adrenaline drained away. All three teens were out cold, strewn about the dorm room. One was on her bunkbed, one was in a heap on the floor, and the third was slouched up against the door.

Sabine closed her eyes. What just happened? she asked herself silently. Everything went so quick, her anger was so high...

But she'd done it. She'd finally stood up for her own rights and now, they wouldn't bully her anymore.

Yeah, Sabine thought. Because now their afraid of you.

She bit her lip and closed her eyes. Afraid... She didn't want to be feared! She just didn't want to be messed with anymore.

Sabine suddenly spotted the crumpled up piece of paper on the floor and picked it up. She unrolled it, revealing the sketch she had made just a few minutes before.

Sabine felt a deep pull at the pit of her stomach. Something indescribable about the drawing entranced her. And it wasn't just the boy's good looks, no, no... Sabine felt oddly connected to it.

To him.

She felt like she knew this boy better than she knew herself, yet she couldn't even remember his name.

Sabine took out her pencil and wrote in big, capital letters at the top...

'WHO ARE YOU?'

Sabine looked into the mirror. That incident had been three years ago. Now, she was sixteen and half a foot taller. Her hair was no longer down to her ribcage, but cut short, framing her face. It had a streak of color in it, which would have never been allowed at the Academy.

That incident with the drawing had been the start of a spiraling catastrophe. Instead of being punished for beating up her peers, Sabine had been rewarded and put in even more advanced classes. But after trusting the Academy and following its orders blindly, Sabine's eyes became opened. Soon, the Academy's walls became tagged with graffiti art after Sabine saw her school for what it really was:

An empire.

An empire where people were unable to express themselves in any way without being punished. An empire where orders were expected to be followed out without any questions. An empire where every burst of color on the dull and blank walls was a cry of freedom.

I'm never going back, Sabine swore. I'll never go back to the Academy. I'll never go back to my parents.

She gripped the sink tight. Her parents. No, her parents were a thing of the past. A distant memory of what Sabine once had. She would never come crawling back to them. No, Sabine had ran away for good.

"I'm never going back," she repeated aloud.

So, you're alone, she thought to herself. Alone again.

"Alone is who I am," she muttered. "I had to leave."

Sabine looked at the mirror one last time, and realized suddenly that her eyes were hard and piercing. They held a lifetime of sorrows and hardships. And not only that, but loneliness as well.

Her parents disowned her.

Her brother betrayed her.

Her only friend almost killed her.

I'll always be alone, she thought sadly.

Alone.

The word raced around her head.

Alone, alone, alone.

Ezra was outside the building next to Jay's Auto Shop.

He pressed his back against the bricks, closing his eyes tight. Remember, he thought. I'm just going to go in there to ask Sabine when she's gonna be done with the bike. I'm not flirting, I'm not getting into any long conversation with her, It's strictly business.

Ezra nodded. Right. No flirting.

"I can't get too comfortable trusting her," Ezra muttered aloud. "Whenever she's done, it'll be time for me to leave and I can't get too attached."

He nodded to himself again. It was around noon and Ezra had made it back over to Jay's Auto Shop from his... mentally-trying discussion with Kanan and Hera.

Now, Ezra was more sure than ever that he couldn't get close to anyone or bad things would happen. Either to him or to them.

Ezra sucked in a deep breath and turned the corner. He walked over to Panel Eight.

No flirting, no talking. No flirting, no talking. No flirting, no talking.

"Hey, Dev," Sabine said.

Ask how long until she's done with the bike. Ask how long.

"You doing anything tonight?" Ezra blurted.

Shoot.

Sabine looked at him strangely. "Oh, yeah," she said absently. "I'm super busy."

"You are?"

"Uh-huh," Sabine said, turning back to her work. "I've got a whole night of nothing to get to."

Ezra cocked an eyebrow. So she was being sarcastic with him again?

"Well," Ezra said, "that sounds boring."

"It is."

"Tell you what," he said, coming to stand in front of her hunched form. "I'll make your day exciting."

"Will you know?" Sabine muttered, gripping a bolt with her teeth as she used both hands to screw something in under a car's hood.

"Yeah," Ezra continued. "I'll stay with you all day. Give you some motivation to keep working."

"Sure you will, kid," she said and Ezra saw her roll her eyes as she took the bolt out her mouth and put it into the car.

Ezra paused, watching her work. "What're you fixing now?" he asked curiously.

"A 2015 Honda Civic engine," she mumbled.

"Really..." Ezra said, trying to sound interested. But cars really weren't his thing.

He wandered around the shop. It was pretty cool. Tools hung up on the wall and random equipment littered the floor.

Man, Ezra thought, kicking himself. Why do I have to be such a ladies' man? It was supposed to be strictly business!

He shrugged. Well, what was done was done. Besides, maybe it wouldn't be totally awful flirting and possibly befriending Sabine. Who knew? Maybe she would even be willing to go on the run with Ezra.

He snorted at the outrageous thought. Talk about cliche, he reflected. But Ezra still indulged the thought, if only for a moment.

He finally sighed. As much as he wished he wouldn't have to sever the connection he had with Sabine, however thin, Ezra couldn't stay with Sabine. Or leave with Sabine. It would teach him to be dependent on her, and eventually, Sabine would disappoint.

Ezra shook the thoughts away and looked around. "This place is a mess," he murmured. All sorts of mechanic-y things littered the floor with no pattern and oil was dripped and smeared in various places.

The only clean thing in all of Panel Eight was the desk near the back, which was free of clutter. And sitting on the desk was a freshly painted welding mask.

Ezra wandered closer, head tilted in curiosity. It used to be a standard welding mask, with rectangular tinted glass as the visor and a black leather strap to wrap around the back of the wearer's head. But instead of the usual dark gray color, the top-half of the mask was painted a dark magenta with two maroon swirls above the visor that seemed to mimic an owl's eyes or a butterfly's wings.

Ezra's hands hovered over the mask and he touched it gently. Once he was sure the paint wasn't wet, Ezra picked the welding mask up gingerly.

"Hey, Sabine," he called, "what's this?"

She looked over at him. "Art," the teen said simply. "Art."

Sabine watched as Dev turned her mask around and around in his hands.

"This is amazing," he said and Sabine smiled when she saw the genuine wonder in his eyes.

"Thanks," Sabine said, walking over to the kid. "Spray painted it myself the other day."

"So you're an artist," Dev said, peering at the mask before handing it over.

"Yup."

"And a mechanic."

"And a bunch of other things," Sabine said. "Just like you."

She watched as Dev narrowed his eyes at the hidden layer in her words.

"What'd you mean?" he asked cautiously.

Sabine flipped the mask in her hands. "You're not just a random kid who wants his dirt bike fixed. You're also a thief and a Loth-rat. Not that you'd know what the term means-"

"It's an insult," Dev interrupted. "Another word for street rat. A low life."

Sabine was surprised. "Yeah."

Dev looked at her cockily and gave her his lopsided grin. "I only knew it because I've been called it."

Sabine tilted her head. "So, Dev Morgan. You're a thief," she said and began listing the things off on her fingers. "A Loth-rat. A run-away, I'm guessing, and a punk playing hooky."

"'Punk playing hooky,'" Dev repeated slowly.

"Yeah," Sabine said. "Shouldn't you be in school right now?"

He arched an eyebrow. "I could be asking you the same question,"

"Ha," Sabine said with contempt and began spinning the welding mask on the tip of her forefinger. "I don't do school."

"So, really," Dev said, crossing his arms. "You're the one who's the punk playing hooky."

"No, I really don't do school," Sabine deadpanned. "I graduated college when I was fourteen."

The kid didn't seem to buy her saying even for a second. "Yeah, right," he snorted.

Sabine stopped spinning her mask and used it to point at an area of the wall to her right. "Diploma, right there."

She watched, smiling on the inside as Dev's mouth gaped open like a fish.

"Do you know," he sputtered, "how easy it would be to counterfeit one of those things-"

"Bachelors degree in Demolitions Engineering. Masters in Weapons and Systems Engineering."

Oh, Sabine was enjoying this. Dev was hilarious when he was flabbergasted. His brilliant blue eyes seemed to bug outwards and his jaw was completely slack.

After a full thirty seconds of silence, Dev finally threw his hands up in surrender. "Sabine Wren," he said, shaking his head. "You amaze me."

She slipped her welding mask over her face. "I tend to do that," she said, her voice coming out muffled. Sabine picked her blowtorch off the wall and fused together a little metal rod into a larger metal tube under the car hood. She probably shouldn't be welding things inside a car's hood where highly-flammable gasoline resided, but... Sabine wasn't the kind of person who took to warnings. She was the kind of person people were warned about.

Sabine watched out of her tinted peripheral vision as Dev leaned up against the car.

"So, what about you?" he asked slowly. "You said you're a bunch of other things besides an artist and a mechanic. What else?"

Sabine stiffened and her finger let up off the blowtorch trigger. What else? As in, what else was she besides her current occupation... What else?

A child prodigy.

A loner.

A run-away.

A hobo.

An ex-cadet.

An ex-rule-follower.

An ex-weapons designer.

An ex-murderer.

But was she really? Had she really left her dark Academy days behind?

Past or present?

Did Sabine grow out of the characteristics that used to be evident in her life... or were they still there?

Sabine clenched her jaw under her welding mask. She was relieved she had it on. The mask not only covered and protected her face, but covered her emotions and protected her feelings from getting stepped on. It really was a mask in the physical and metaphorical sense.

What else?

Who am I?

Which part of me is the real me?

"What else am I?" Sabine repeated Dev's question hollowly. "I'm no one, kid. No one important. Not anymore."

Just alone, Sabine added mentally. Alone with only my thoughts and my regrets. The teen went back to welding the metal together.

"Well then," Dev said, scooting closer. "You're in good company 'cause you can't be more unimportant than me! I'm a nobody."

Sabine rolled her eyes under the welding mask. "Great, kid. Makes me feel so much better."

"It should," Dev replied. "Guess me in you have more in common then you think."

Sabine abruptly slammed the car hood down. "You're nothing like me," she said in a low voice.

She watched as Dev reared back, offended. "What?" he said angrily. "You think you're too good for me? Too high and mighty?"

The teen gave an aggravated sigh. "No, kid-"

"Or maybe because I'm homeless? An orphan? A Loth-rat?"

Sabine's hands clenched into fists. "No! I-"

"I've got no one, Sabine! I'm a total nobody. Sorry I can't have a nice, warm, bed to sleep in or a roomy home to live in, or parents who love me-"

"I don't have any of those things!" Sabine yelled, breathing heavily.

The kid froze.

She rubbed her face under her mask in aggravation. "That's not what I meant, Dev. You're nothing like me. And trust me, you don't want to be."

The teen turned away from Dev and put her blowtorch up.

"Who are you?" the kid suddenly asked, raising his voice. "Ketsu warned me. She said you were dangerous. That you've done terrible things."

Sabine clenched her hands into fists and leaned heavily on the desk in front of her. Ketsu... Sabine thought bitterly. She told Dev about me. About what I've done...

"How long did you listen?" Sabine asked solemnly, her back to Dev and the welding mask still firmly on her face.

"Long enough," the kid shot back. "I'm just wondering if it's all true..."

Sabine narrowed her eyes and froze as she heard his next words.

"...And whether or not I should trust you."

Sabine whirled around. Oh, how she wanted to smack that smug little smirk off the kid's face! "You don't know anything about me, kid," she spat, coming up to Dev. "Don't act like you do."

"I know you did awful things," the kid said, not backing down. "And I know you did stuff people would only have nightmares about. So why should I trust you, huh? I'm starting to think you're not who you say you are."

"Oh, that's just perfect coming from you!" Sabine shot back, her rage building. "You think I'm supposed to buy your sad little story, Dev Morgan?"

She got right in his face and downright spat the last two words.

"Don't turn this around on me," the kid shouted, "you're the one hiding something!"

"I'm not-"

"For crying out loud, you're wearing a mask, Sabine!"

She froze as Dev walked right up to her, their faces only inches apart yet the welding mask's metal separated them.

"If you think," Dev said, his voice dangerously low. "That hiding from your problems and protecting what you don't want me to see is going to ease your conscience... then the only person you're fooling is yourself."

Oh, boy.

The tension was so think, Sabine half-thought she could cut it with a knife. They were both silent for several long moments, and she was totally speechless.

Hiding from my problems? Sabine reflected, frowning under the welding mask. Protecting what I don't want Dev to see?

...And what don't I want him to see?

The answer came immediately and sadly, Sabine knew it was true.

She didn't want him to see herself.

If Dev knew who Sabine was and what she had done, he would surely leave her. Just like everyone else had. So? Sabine thought to herself. Why do I care if he leaves? He's just some punk kid trying to flirt with me.

She hesitated. That was what Dev seemed like... but the way he talked and the way he acted hinted at something else, something behind the facade of him flirting with her. Like his awkward attempts to make a move on her were actually just cover-ups for what he really thought. Like they were just distractions to relieve Dev from the daily toll of life.

He's more than he lets on, she reflected. But still, I don't think "Dev Morgan" really is Dev Morgan.

She slowly took the welding mask off her face and saw the kid clearly. He still hadn't said anything, but was looking at her piercingly, his head tilted.

"You can trust me," Sabine said finally. "Whether or not you believe that is all up to you."

She turned and set the welding mask down on the desk.

She eventually heard Dev sigh. "Sorry, Sabine," the kid said softly. "I... I do trust you. It's just, after what Ketsu said, making you out to sound like a bad person, I-I didn't know what to believe."

"Well," Sabine sighed regretfully, "whatever she said was true. I'm assuming she didn't tell you much?"

Dev shook his head. "Just warned me. Told me you're a dangerous person."

Sabine gave a quiet laugh. "Guess so. But, uh, don't worry Dev," she said playfully. "I won't kill you just yet." She turned and got some tools off her wall. "I'm still waiting for my money."

"And then you'll kill me?" Dev inquired.

"Mmm. Maybe. Still debating. You're not terrible company to have around."

Dev faked an exaggerated shocked look. "Was that a compliment?"

"Hah. Don't read too much into it, kid," Sabine shot down, half smiling.

Dev moved closer to her and leaned up against the wall flirtatiously. "Maybe I will," he shrugged. "So, you doing anything tonight?"

Sabine blew a strand of hair from her face. Wow, this guy was really pouring on the charm he didn't have. "You already asked me that."

He threw up his hands in surrender. "Hey! I was just wondering if you're totally sure in your answer!"

"I am, thanks for asking."

"Well, you're welcome. I know, don't say anything, I'm just considerate like that."

Sabine stared hard at Dev. Was he serious? ...Naw, he couldn't be. The kid practically sweat charisma but now... now, he was just being cocky.

"I hate to break off this smooth talk thing you've got going on," Sabine said finally, "but, it's lunch break. So... peace out."

She started walking off and Dev chased after her. "Hey!" he said. "What if I buy you lunch?"

"Hah. With stolen money? No thanks, kid. And speaking of, you owe me twenty-five dollars for today's fee. Pay up."

Dev stopped and crossed his arms. "Have you even started fixing my dirt bike?"

"You know," she said, dodging the question, "it's only been three days."

"Which is three days longer then I meant to stay," the kid muttered.

Sabine pretended like she hadn't heard his comment and continued, "I need a little more time."

Dev grumbled something and pulled out his wallet and a few bills. "Outrageous," he mumbled and gave her the money.

Oh, how she was going to enjoy the look on his face when he realized it was all a prank and she was swindling him out of his money. She needed only a quarter of the money he was giving her to fix his dirt bike.

"So," Sabine said, "nice doing business with you, but I'm hungry so I'll catch you later."

"Well," Dev interrupted, "I'm not doing anything now, so I could just hang out with you for awhile-"

"You're saying you wanna tag along?" she asked bluntly.

"Hey, whatever floats your boat!"

Dev looked at her expectantly and Sabine pursed her lips.

"Ugh, Come on!" she said finally.

"Yes!" the kid exclaimed and punched the air as he jogged after the teenager and they both walked to lunch.

A few hours and two hamburgers later, Dev had somehow managed to convince Sabine to going over to her house. Really, though... Sabine had just gotten bored of rebuffing him over and over again and finally gave into his insistence.

And… well… Blast it, she didn't want to admit it, even to herself, but… Dev was pretty good company and she hadn't talked—really talked—to anyone like she had to him in ages.

Plus, Sabine was sure that Dev wasn't who he said he was. ...Maybe he was going under a fake name?

Anyhow, she would find out tonight who the kid really was and why he looked so familiar.

Sabine glanced over at the broad-jawed, black-haired, blue-eyed teen in front of her.

Tonight, the kid would come over to her home, if it could even be called that, and she would find out who he really was.

She would find out Dev's true identity.

You excited for the next chap, guys? I am!

On a side note, who's for the Sabine/Ezra romance dealio? Just wondering. As for my personal opinion… I'm kinda in and out. No matter how bad you want it to happen, it's kind of cliche to have the two youngest members get together early on as teens. Not the best storytelling. Everyone could see it coming for miles.

But I DO want them to end up together eventually, maybe realizing that they don't just "like" each other, but after years and years of depending on the other they realize they need one another? Like they're two halves of the same thing and inseparable? Just my guesses.

But what about you guys? If you want to, tell me what/how/if you ship Sabezra in comments:)

Bye everyone!

Specter7 out.