The sound of a pained grunt jarred Savage to consciousness. He had agreed with Feral to take watch in shifts, his hours coming first. Maul would be allowed to sleep all night. There was always an unmistakable exhaustion upon his brother; Savage couldn’t say if it was because of what Talzin had done to heal his mind… or if it was just how he was. Either way, Maul needed rest.
Feral’s foot came down into Savage’s line of vision, bare and slightly dusty. He crouched down beside Maul’s sleeping form, face contorted with concern. Savage started to warn him not to touch Maul while he slept; he’d learned the hard way. But Feral didn’t. He simply watched Maul curl further in on himself, groaning as if in pain.
“… Maul? Maul, it… it is alright,” Feral whispered softly, leaning down a bit to speak into their brother’s ear. “It is alright… I’m… so sorry.”
Maul’s eyes opened with what, to Savage, was an audible click. His body reacted on instinct, cringing away from the nearness of another before he could even register who the other was. “What…” Maul’s chest heaved, working for breath, and Savage was sure he could see a sheen of sweat on the sunken cheeks.
“You were having a terror… a bad dream.” Feral could always sound so very kind. Gentle. It came from keeping the little ones, especially those who had been recently cut from their mothers. They would never see them again in all likelihood and many were more discarded than separated… but there were always a few. A few who, fortunately or unfortunately, had been treasured by their dams. Nurtured. Made strong by kisses and soft touches. And then… forced to be without.
Maul’s fiery eyes flickered around the camp, and Savage shut his own before Maul could see that he was awake. He didn’t speak. But Savage heard his metal foot scrape across the rocky ground. “A… apologies. If. I woke you.”
“Oh, you didn’t; it’s fine. I was on watch.”
“… you have been unmolested all this time. Why perform a watch now?”
Feral made a soft sound. A chuckle. “You’re… well, right. But-” He paused, coughing harshly into a hand. “Something of a habit. When we’re together.”
Savage opened his eyes again. Feral was looking shyly, but gently, upon Maul, his features relaxed. But Maul was a tense, hunched shape, back out of the fire’s light far enough that his face was shrouded in gloom. Save his eyes.
“Savage told me of…” Maul gestured at his throat. “Does it pain you?”
Feral’s horns glinted as he angled his head. “It can become irritated. But. I would rather this than death.”
Maul didn’t reply to that.
There was a nervous stirring around Feral’s brow line. And then he ventured: “Your legs… they are not just armored boots are they?”
“No. I was bisected in a duel with a Jedi.” A curl of malice crept into Maul’s voice. The rage Savage knew too well… but then it bled free. Or was cut free. Again. “Vengeance may be mine someday but… I am… am…” The way his words trailed off was so… weak. Not to be disdained, not that weakness, no. They were drained. Nearly lifeless.
Maul frowned, snapping out of his horizon-distant stare. “Oh… you would not know… apologies. Jedi are…” There was a moment’s flash of white in the dark. Teeth. A little smile. “Oh… it would bore you I imagine. Explaining what they are… then the Sith.” The lighter tone vanished. “I. I was a Sith.”
“Did they harm you? The Sith?”
But Maul didn’t reply to the question. He just looked at Feral. “I am tired now,” he said.
“Here. Have my blanket. I am awake for some time yet. Shall I… stay near?”
“What for?” The puzzlement in Maul’s voice was real. Savage couldn’t tell much from his brother’s expressions; Maul was a staunch stoic. But his voice always showed his feelings.
Feral tilted his head again. This time, Feral wasn’t gauging his own words. He was confused too. “Nightbrothers sleep together often. Warmth. Security.”
“I am not a Nightbrother.”
“… No. I… don’t suppose you are.” But Feral held out his ratty blanket anyway. “Come back nearer the fire. Rest.” And when Maul did, Feral stood to move back to his watch post.
“Remain warm. Your presence will not… bother me.” Maul’s tone was flippant now. Controlled. But Savage could hear the quiet, ever present hunger for… for something.
Feral glances at Maul, halfway to his feet. “Alright.” And he sat back down again.
Arm’s length away, Maul turned his back to the fire, Feral and Savage, curling into himself again. And Feral finally looked at Savage. Savage winked. That… was good. Shockingly so.
And then Savage closed his eyes again. He breathed a quiet prayer to Dīn Cē Bān’sk. For himself, but also for Maul. Especially him. Though to even imagine what Mauk would consider a good dream, Savage knew was beyond him. Instead, he turned his thoughts to the last time he had been chosen by a Sister. Not Ventress, as she actually was his sister. That egg-headed, flesh-less old crone. No. Another sister. One with dark braids and crystal blue eyes. She’d smiled on him, and their time alone had been full of softness. As she had wished. He smiled a little, thinking of her. A pleasant surprise, that one. Wondering what their offspring looked like… And on that thought, Savage fell almost immediately back to sleep.
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