An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapter 31 - the freedoms of truth
(This chapter has haunted my dreams like Padmé's labour haunted Anakin, but we move I guess. So here, take it, enjoy the fruits of my misery [jk I love this shit, I just like complaining and being unhappy with my work, yay])
By the time he arrived at the tomb, his clothes were thoroughly soaked. The door was half open and he slipped inside before the downpour could get any worse.
"Satine?" Maul asked, spotting her looking upon the marble carvings, blue light illuminating her features.
She jumped, and the device that she'd been using fell from her grip. It skittered across the floor, but it didn't switch off, leaving the room cast in a dimmed blue.
"What are you doing here?" She asked him, a fearful look in her eyes. "You're supposed to be asleep."
"I could say the same of you," Maul approached her with a worried frown.
He should have known from the moment he'd made her cry again that this wouldn't be the end of it. He supposed he'd pushed Savage away enough times by now to know that he was just like this. He was incapable of embracing anything that might offer him happiness. He didn't deserve it, he figured. And still, his refusal to embrace didn't come without casualties.
The only casualties he'd ever actually care about.
"I could have handled things better," Maul began, trying to correct his pattern of destruction as best he could. "I should have. I don't want to hurt you. I meant it when I said that. And seeing you cry is..." Maul cleared his throat. "I had a dream in the medbay after Draboon and- well, I suppose it doesn't matter. What matters is that I don't want to keep hurting you."
"No wait, just let me finish," He held up a hand to silence her, knowing that if he stopped now then he might never have the courage to speak again. "I have been badgering you all day about whether or not you are alright, when I know you aren't. You haven't been for some time now. And I know why that is."
All the colour drained from her face. "You do?"