Fighting mind goblins with whimsy

the cat fluffs up, but does let Maul approach, and comes to sniff his hand when Maul offers.

he's confused by his own actions when he scoops the thing under his arm, not really knowing how to hold this tiny fluff.

getting back to his home hideout he fills the sink with water, and he wrestles this hairball into a bath, the little thing eventually accepting its fate. it does ruin a pair of his gloves, though.

Maul gets the thing food and supplies at a pet store, and the saleperson recommends a small toy as well. He glares at the salesperson.

but he gets the stupid toy.

the first little while is strained. the cat is timid, skittering around in the shadows, knocking shit over as it tries to find new places to hide.

Maul spends far too much time chasing after it, snapping at it to just please stop trying to get into the vents in the walls.

one day, Maul sits on the floor to meditate.

and a tiny little fuzzy head bumps into his knee.

he ignores it because he's meditating.

then the cat pads into his folded lap, nuzzling down without a care in the galaxy.

Maul sighs, but continues his meditation, finishing a while later, but now faced with a problem.

how is he going to get up with this creature in his lap?

so he stays there for a looong time, until it wakes up and stretches, turning its face towards him, mewling in satisfaction.

from there, anytime Maul meditates, the cat takes a nap in his lap. eventually, he learns that he can, in fact, meditate while scratching the soft ears of his cat.

it starts looking healthy and its fur is fluffy and dark, his one eye bright gold, like his own.

Maul begins to train the cat with treats to follow simple commands, working up to his favourite trick.

making the cat jump up his chest to perch on his shoulder.

the cat starts following Maul everywhere, nuzzling with him when Maul goes to bed. He sleeps well for the first time in months when this happens the first time.

Maul will sit on the floor, playing fetch with the little hunter, using the Force to hover and bob the toys in a greater challenge for his tiny friend.

it takes about a year for Maul to finally come up with a name for the cat. he just called it 'cat' or 'nuisance' until then.

but after he had gotten into Maul's closet and decided a pair of his gloves were excellent prey, he called him a little menace.

and that became his name, Little Menace.

~*~*~*~