Whiplash couldn't sleep.

Despite being covered by a mounation of soft blankets, he felt cold, as if there was a Sith nearby. His paranoia grew with each passing second. Whiplash's chest began to tighten, shivers tremoring through his body, eyes burning. He curled up into a ball and burrowed himself under the blanket as much as he could. Soon, he found himself sucking in breaths between his teeth as he desperately tried to avoid having a full blown panic attack.

The day before, Ezra was in the med-bay, fighting off the toxins of the mushrooms. He'd gone into cardic rest for a few terrifying minutes before Whiplash used his lightning to bring him back to life. Ezra was alive and toxin free and everything was alright.

It was supposed to be alright.

But Whiplash didn't feel alright. In the moment of Ezra coming back he'd felt nothing but relief, it crashed down on him making him laugh and his heart soar. He had saved his best friend.
When he came down from the adrenaline rush, he realised that while he did save Ezra, he had also been the one responsible for Ezra going into cardiac arrest in the first place. All because he wasn't damn strong enough to beat those blasted space cats. The toxins would've killed the boy if he hadn't used his lightning on him.

Now, Whiplash was in the cabin Ezra shared with Zeb. Fawn had moved him here after Whiplash first woke up next to his rider. She had promised to watch him then carried the teenage dragon to bed.
That had been three hours ago.
Whiplash had been left in a piercing silence, albeit Zeb's snoring, his thoughts going a mile a minute.

Sleep was obviously out of the question. Whiplash desperately wanted to talk to someone about everything burdening him, but it would be stupid. He was seventeen. This shouldn't have bothered him as much as it did.

With a soft sigh, Whiplash sat up and quietly climbed out of bed, careful not to disturb Zeb and Bludgeon who was sleeping on the bottom bunk. Whiplash was honestly surprised they allowed him to sleep in the same room.

Murderer said the tiny evil voice in the back of his mind. Murderer murderer murderer...

'Stop it' Whiplash pushed the thought away quickly before he could go into another panicked frenzy like he did in the med-bay earlier on.

Opening the door, Whiplash looked down the hall of the Ghost with a small gutteral purr. He knew no one would hear it, but it made him feel better to make a little noise in the silent ship. It was the Devils Hour, the silence unsettling Whiplash even further. His father had told him stories of the Devils Hour while Hurricane teased him about it. Whiplash didn't really believe them until now. It was so quiet, he could hear every tiny movement.

Whiplash paused in the cabin doorway, the soft light of the hall producing a glow along the corridor. He pondered on who he could go to without being shunned out. Surely no one on the Ghost Crew would want him near them after what he pulled today. Whiplash knew his mother would always have an open wing for him to nestle under at any time, but right now, he didn't want his mother's company.

He wanted the one person who never gave up on him.

He wanted...needed to see Ezra.

Slinking along the hall, Whiplash entered the cockpit, slid down the ladder and reached the cargo hold. Padding down the ramp, he drinked in the crisp night air, crickets chirping invitingly. Whiplash shook off his primal instinct to hunt the insects, instead moving towards the medical ship.
It took little time to remember which room was Ezra's, and once outside the door, Whiplash hesitated.

He was the reason why his friend was in the med-bay in the first place. If he'd been stronger then maybe Ezra would've been fine...

Shaking his head, Whiplash shoved the thought from his mind. Ezra was his best friend, he would understand...wouldn't he?

Whiplash reared onto his hind legs and pressed the button on the wall with his nose. The door slid open to reveal a bare room.

No one was inside.

Whiplash heart jolted before thudding against his ribcage double time. Ezra was gone... Ezra was gone... Ezra was gone!

Murderer! Murderer! You've killed Ezra Bridger! Murder! Murder!

The thoughts wouldn't stop, strength failing him, Whiplash buckled to the floor, paws pressed to his head to try and stop the pounding in his ears.

He was about to go completely under when he felt something gentle in his mind, an offering. His head shot up and he concentrated hard on the source. Wait...that came through the bond-

Ezra

Whiplash didn't even hesitate. He swung round on his claws and bolted through the halls. Back outside, he was fast to spread his wings and fly up to the top of the medical deck. Landing heavily on the roof, he looked round to see Ezra sitting close by, knees to his chest and arms around his legs. Bandages were wrapped over his bare arms and hands, hiding the burns and slashes the cats had created. The teen hadn't seem to have noticed his dragon, well, either that or he was ignoring him. Whiplash stood awkwardly behind Ezra, not knowing what to do.

"Nice night don't you think?" Ezra asked.

"What? Oh uh, yeah yeah, it's...it's okay" Whiplash replied after a moment of surprise, padding cautiously over to Ezra and sitting on his left a few feet away.

Silence fell between them, Whiplash kept his eyes anywhere but on Ezra. The bandages covering his body too much for him to bear looking at.

"S-Shouldn't you be in the med-bay?" Whiplash said nervously.

Ezra gave a one shouldered shrug.

"Got bored, plus I couldn't sleep. Not much point being in there if there's nothing to do. Besides it's been a while since I've seen the stars."

A new wave of guilt washed over Whiplash and he looked away. Ezra had been bed-ridden for days because of the lasting poison. He was in this situation to begin with, because of him...

"You're in there to heal!" Whiplash burst out before he could stop himself. "You can't just walk away from the medical attention and rest you need!"

"Jeez, you're beginning to sound like Fawn" Ezra rolled his eyes in a joking tone of voice.

Whiplash didn't say anything in reply.

Ezra's eyes stayed on the sky but his hand sub consciously reached out to the dragon. Whiplash shrunk back away from the hand like it was a threat, his eyes fearful. Ezra looked over in surprise.

"Whiplash-?"

"Don't touch me I'll...I'll only hurt you more" he growled, hating how much his voice was shaking.

"What are you talking about, bud?"

"I almost killed you Ezra! I don't...I don't want to risk that happening again."

"Whiplash, the toxins wasn't your fault. Your lightning was the only way to get rid of those cats-"

"No! Ezra the reason you're in the med-bay is because of me! I wasn't strong enough to fight those damn felines! I almost got you killed! Be angry at me! Yell at me! Don't just forgive me! I don't deserve to be forgiven! I was weak! I let my arrogance blind me!"

Whiplash didn't even realise he'd stood up and lifted his wings in defense.

"I don't deserve forgiveness! I derserve to be loathed! You should just get rid of me right now! Let our bond dissipate and make me go back to Kabera! I don't belong here Ezra!"

Tears were sliding down the dragon's long face, dropping onto the rooftop. His mental, and emotional barriers finally crumbling down.

"Do something Ezra! Punch me! Beat me! Do something! You can't just forgive me when I was responsible for almost murdering you! I deserve to be hurt!"

"No you don't."

The dragon's chin was lifted by gentle fingers, and a hand cupping his cheek. Ezra gazed into the midnight blue pupils of the dragon, leveling him with a hard stare. Whiplash's breathing was quick and uneven, coming out in short gasps and quick intakes. He couldn't focus, he couldn't think.

The dragon's legs failed him and he collapsed, his angry out burst leaving him weak. Ezra swept the dragon into his arms and held him close. Whiplash tried to fight against the warm arms encycling him. He didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve to be comforted. However, his strength was failing him and he could barely struggle. He collapsed in Ezra's embrace, fresh tears pooling in his eyes as he shoved his face into the crook of his rider's arm. He breathed quickly, unable to control himself. A soft whimper escaped his lips as he shivered.

"It's alright Whiplash" Ezra murmured softly. "I've got you, and I'm never letting you go again. Just breathe right now."

Whiplash choked on lack of air and tears. "A-Aren't you listening to me-?" He whimpered.

"Oh I am" fingers gently moved around his jawbone. "Whiplash, how long have you been bottling that up?"

Whiplash sniffed. "A."

A soft sigh made Whiplash wince.

"I'm sorry."

Startled, Whiplash pulled back, staring at Ezra in confused alarm. "You're sorry? What for? I'm the one who should be apologizing to you-"

"No" Ezra shook his head. "I'm the one who needs to apologize because I made you worry, it was my idea for you to use your lightning so that's on me. You tried to think of an alternate option, I should've listened. So again, almost dying is on me."

Whiplash swallowed, tried to disagree but couldn't. Instead he buried his face into Ezra's chest.

"Thank you Ezra" Whiplash exhaled shakily. "But I really do need to apologize for everything I ever said in the cave-"

"It's alright bud, you were distraught and agitated. You only snapped at me because you got anxious."

"That's no excuse for what I said-"

"Maybe not, but I forgive you," Ezra gently pulled the dragon away from him, keeping his gaze with Whiplash. "Now it's time to forgive yourself."

Whiplash's breath hitched eyes wide as Ezra brought up a hand as an offering.

"Whiplash, can we start over? Please?"

The dragon looked up at the boy, the boy who'd changed his whole life. The boy who never gave up on him, the boy who trusted him with his whole heart and then some.

Whiplash swallowed the lump in his throat before whispering.

"Yes...yes a thousand times yes."

White light broke out across the base as soon as Whiplash's face made contact with Ezra's palm. Their marks burning painfully before settling to a warm pulse like it always used to before Malacore.

Whiplash pulled away, fondly smiling at his friend, his rider, his family.

"Thank you."

Ezra gave a soft grin, tears brimming in his midnight eyes. "Same to you Whiplash."

Ezra enveloped the dragon in his arms, their tears falling free, the pain of Bonding Sickness easing, the burden lifting at last.

_______________________________

Fawn looked up from her Dragon Holocron, meeting eyes with Hurricane. They both felt the blast of a bond, once fractured now stabling.

"Finally" she breathed out.

"Finally" Hurricane echoed. "Definitely took them long enough."

Fawn's lips quirked up a little in response. "They needed time."

"Yeah but that was a bloody rollarcoaster."

Fawn chuckled softly, running a hand over Hurricane's head. "Life usually is bud, just how the world works sometimes."

______________

THE BOND HAS BEEN REPAIRED YAAAAY

So! First off I want to thank every single person who has waited for these updates, writing this was difficult but we got there in the end!
I needed to finish Ezra and Whiplash's arc before getting into the good stuff.
Oh yes, there's a LOT more to come ladies and gentleman.
Hope you're ready for it...

In the meantime, I hope your quarantine is going well, stay indoors, wash your hands and try not to worry.
Everything will work out 😊

Updates will hopefully be faster, though I can't make any promises
Have a good one!

- Star-Wars-Dragons out