#maul fluff

Nights with Maul were rarely quiet. Most of the time, when the day is over, he struggled to relax. There must be something constantly hammering in his mind, you assume, because he's not trying to hide it. He fidgets, attempts to meditate but can't seem to concentrate properly, and keeps whispering inaudible words to himself. This sight of him pains you. You watched him, exhausted but unable to rest, and try to figure out a way of taking some of the weight off his shoulders.

"Maul?", you called softly, sitting by the bed.

He raised his gaze to meet yours. His eyes didn't lie, heavy, after another failed attempt to meditate.

"Come to bed", you said, "please."

Without a word, he sat beside you.

"You need rest", you whispered, your hands reaching up to cup his face.

"I can't."

"It's alright. Let me help you."

You sat behind him, having to kneel to be able to rest your hands on his shoulders. Gently, you pressed down in slow movements, massaging his back, hoping it would relieve some of the stress. He groaned, sighing and tilting his head to the side to give you better access to his neck, too. You worked your way up and down, and left light kisses after you were done.

Suddenly, you found yourself paying attention to the markings on his skin. You noticed them before, multiple times, but now, for some reason, you absentmindedly traced the shapes on his shoulders and back. They were unknown to you, and yet they covered the person you knew the best completely.

"Thank you, dear", Maul mumbled, his tone low, but honest.

You were so distracted, following the swirls of black ink with the tip of your fingers, mind elsewhere, that you forgot to say anything for a while.

"You seem to like them."

"Huh?"

"My tattoos."

"Oh", and so you were brought back to the present, "I guess I do."

You had a good guess as to why he had so many of them, but you knew better than to mention it. It wasn't a good time anyways, now that he finally felt relaxed enough to try to sleep, thanks to your massage. You kissed his shoulder, then his neck.

"That would make you the only one."

"I like all of you", you reassured him, "now, let's get some rest."

It had come to soon, nearly a week early in fact. Normally (Y/n) was prepared for it, and made sure to avoid Maul during this time. She'd heard stories about how these things can sometimes effect different species. And while she didn't know how he would react, she figured it would be best to avoid the Sith. However this time, she wasn't prepared, this time the cramps hurt bad enough to distract her from the fact that Maul was near. Groggily she trudged into the kitchen, hoping to get a nice cup of tea, and a snack to sate her growing appetite. Really she should have expected this to happen sooner or later, after all there was no way she could keep this hidden from Maul forever.

The instant she walked into the kitchen, she was cornered by Maul. The Zabrak could sense something was off about (Y/n). Instinctively he started sniffing at her, his black and crimson nose burying against her neck first. "What are you doing?" (Y/n) giggled softly, his nose tickling her skin as he trailed his nose down to her collarbones. He didn't respond, or even react as if he'd heard her. Instead he continued to sniff at her, trying to find the source of whatever had caught his attention. He knelt down as he trailed down her stomach, his nose burying harshly against her lower abdomen, where he continued to sniff deeply. (Y/n) was frozen in place, unable to form a single thought. Suddenly he dipped lower and sniffed deeply. (Y/n)'s hands shook with anxiety when he moved again, this time his nose pushed against her clothed sex. He inhaled deeply, his glowing eyes fluttering closed.

(Y/n) squeaked and jumped back, feeling extremely anxious now. "What are you doing!?" She hissed at him, her heart hamming in her chest. His eyes peeled open, as his hands moved to hold (Y/n)'s waist, leaving her at an arms length. "You're bleeding." Maul stated in a calm tone, his voice somehow deeper than normal. "Wha-? Y-yeah it's... Normal... I'm okay." She stammered in embarrassment, unsure if the Zabrak was familiar with periods. A growl rumbled in his chest and he suddenly rose to his feet, again making (Y/n) shudder with anxiety. "What are you-?" Maul cut her off and swiftly tossed her onto his shoulder. The sudden pressure on her abdomen made her cry out in pain. And in an instant the Zabrak hand pulled her off of his shoulder, and cradled her in his arms. "Forgive me little one." He said in a soft tone, walking out of the kitchen with large strides. (Y/n) couldn't form a single thought, unsure of what the Sith had in store for her.

Now inside his personal chambers, Maul sat (Y/n) down gently on the lounge against the far wall. "Stay." He grumbled before moving to his bed. Meticulously he began bunching up the blankets and pillows, then he moved to his wardrobe and pulled out all of his robes, which he dumped onto his bed. Adjusting and fluffing them until he was satisfied with what he'd made. (Y/n) watched him with curiosity, wondering why he appeared to be building a nest of sorts on his bed. Her eyes wide with curiosity and anxiety, she watched as Maul crossed the room once more. Wordlessly he scooped her into his arms, and carried her to his bed. Gently he laid her down in the center of the nest, his scent enveloping her and bringing her a sense of comfort. "Stay here, rest." Maul murmured as he nuzzled his nose into her hair, kissing her crown before leaving her to rest in his nest.

Maul left her without any explanation, and while she had been anxious, she found herself relaxing. He hadn't done anything to her, except offer her a comforting place to relax. A short while later Maul returned, bringing with him a soothing root tea, and a warm bowl of stew with fresh bread. "Eat." He instructed, spoon feeding her, as he sat beside her on the edge of his nest. "What are you doing?" (Y/n) asked after she swallowed her bite. "Helping you." He said before holding the bread out to her. She took a bite, humming at the taste. "I mean I get that, but why?" She asked before sipping the tea he offered her. "Is that not what a mate is supposed to do?" He asked casually as he continued to feed her. (Y/n) was stunned suddenly. Sure they were close, and sometimes shared rather intimate moments. But she never suspected that Maul saw her as a mate. "I-I suppose." She murmured, a warm feeling blooming in her chest. "Are you not satisfied?" Maul asked with an intense look in his eyes.

"N-no no of course I'm satisfied, this is really nice actually. I'm just surprised is all." She admitted with s small chuckle. "Why are you surprised?" Maul asked. "I just... I didn't realize that you saw me as your mate." (Y/n) felt herself blush, loving that Maul felt deeply enough for her to consider her a mate. Maul hummed in his throat. "Well now you know. You're mine." He smiled at her, his sharp teeth on display. (Y/n) mirrored his smile, feeling euphoric and fuzzy. "And I am yours." He added before moving to nuzzle his nose against her cheek. "Yes." (Y/n) hummed, forgetting about her cramping abdomen. Maul purred at her words, setting aside the now empty bowl, he joined her in the nest. Wordlessly he pulled her into his hold, the warmth of his body soothing. Still he continued to purr, his large hands rubbing soothingly along the length of her back. If (Y/n) had known that being around Maul during her period would result in this, she would have done so months ago. Having been pining for the Zabrak since they first met. "Rest now my mate, I will still be here when you wake." Maul said in a soft tone, making (Y/n) hum in content, as her eyes lulled closed.

It had been 3 days since you'd woken up after Skako. Thankfully, with a good amount of bacta, your injuries were healing very well. Though that was in most part to Mauls vigilance over you not straining yourself. You pondered, as he himself had undergone extensive damage to his own body, it would only be fitting for him to be so overbearing on how to best heal.

Maul himself however, had been aware of his own distance from you. Maybe not physically, but emotionally. Since his duel with Dooku he had been running through the events in his mind, thinking what he could've done differently to change the outcome. It's not that he wasn't glad you and the most of the syndicate survived - that was a bonus - but if had killed Dooku, then maybe Sidious' plans could've been foiled.

Another question plagued him; maybe you yourself could have defeated Dooku on Alderaan, if only you had tapped into your rage. The Count was right, in that moment, if you had given into the dark side then you could have, even just for a moment, overpowered him. Buying you enough time to escape or call for help.

Maul couldn't help but consider that, if you were to continue to refuse the dark side, then eventually you would end up getting yourself killed. Regardless of how much more powerful his attachment to you made him, if you couldn't defend yourself against another dark side user, how could he expect you to help defeat Palpatine?

He had to do something, convince you somehow to join the dark side with him.

Late one evening, the zabrak strolled into the palaces kitchen, hoping to find a ration bar or two. Instead, he was met with your chipper self, oven-gloves around your hands as you slid something into the cooker.

"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be resting." He said, his voice low and soft so as not to spook you.

You turned to see him, giving a small smile. "I've rested long enough. Besides, I wanted to make something good to eat. Thalen's been pestering me to make some roasted tip-yip so I thought it would."

You removed the oven-gloves, leaning your hip onto the kitchen island. Maul strolled up to you with his hands behind his back as he usually did, stopping beside the island and observing the ingredients you'd yet to tidy away.

"You don't have to do what he says." Maul picked up jar of marinade, reading the label briefly before setting it back down.

"I know that. But he's a friend. I'd make you something if you asked me." You replied, turning your back to him and opening a cupboard to begin placing ingredients back into it.

As you worked, you felt Mauls dark presence sneak up behind you. A shiver ran down your back when you felt his breath on the back of your neck. "I'm not Thalen."

You faced him, not realising how close he was. His shoulders towered over you as you met his gaze. "I know that also."

Mauls face remained unchanged. Usually in these infrequent, quiet moments in the palace, he'd say something devious and whisk you away to his chambers. But today he seemed... off. Almost angry. At least, angrier than normal.

"You're on edge, what's wrong?" You muttered softly. You knew Maul wasn't big on 'expressing his feelings' but after everything you had been through with him so far, you hoped that maybe he'd learned that it was worth it to be honest sometimes.

He sighed, frustrated. "I'm not on edge. But you're just supposed to be in bed, instead you're-"

"No, that's not what's bothering you." You said, placing a hand on your hip.

Despite the walls the man put up around his mind, you didn't have to be a force user to know when he was lying. His emotional distance was noticeable to you too, less chats, less comfortableness. It was obvious. "Whether you like it or not Maul, our minds are connected. I know you're conflicted, I sense it."

Looking to the ground, then back to you, he relented. "Count Dookus arrogance got the better of him. I could have defeated him. We would have been one step closer in the downfall of Darth Sidious. But..."

"But, instead, you saved me." You finished his sentence. In the hours after you had awoken, the notion had crossed your mind, and you knew if had crossed his too. You also felt compunction for how the events unfolded, but you knew it would hit Maul harder.

"Yes..." He took a long breath, his chest falling and tension relieving.

You thought for a moment. *Are his plans bigger than me now? Would he hesitate if it came to the moment of victory?* Feeling bold, you asked him directly. "Do you regret that?"

"I... do not regret that you are alive." Maul chose his words carefully.

"Hmm, why did you save me?" You asked him, sensing anxiety beginning to build back up in the mans head.

"On Serenno, you came back for me because you thought I would do the same. I merely returned the favour. Now we're even." He said, rather quickly, as if he'd rehearsed.

"No, it's not that simple. It never is with you." You walked past him, grabbing a few more ingredients to put back in the cupboard, hoping the feeling of domesticity would ease his mind.

"Alright. My... somewhat... attachment to you led me to tap into strength I had not yet achieved. It gave me the power to overwhelm Dooku. Without it, without you, I may not have walked away from that duel." Maul admitted, slower this time. He was telling the truth.

"So you weighed your options."

"I did. I used the technique you showed me. I saw my mother, she was useful." His eyes trailed downwards as he spoke of her, reminiscing on their conversation.

You leaned your rear back on the kitchen island and folded your arms. "And you came to the conclusion..."

"That losing you would be a greater loss than killing Dooku would be a victory. I have a plan in place and there was no reason to stray from it. We both know what is to come." Maul said, referencing your shared visions.

"I see. I make you stronger?" Saying the words out loud felt odd to say the least. You could now see clearly why connections like these were forbidden, how dangerous of a tightrope you were now walking.

"Yes, indeed." Maul still kept his eyes low, avoiding your gaze.

"Through your attachment to me." You tried to confirm with him, but he gave no response. He was deep in thought, a state of disquiet.

"Maul..." You pushed yourself off the counter and over to him. Gently, you reached for his face, turning it so he looked at you. "I know that's not the only reason you saved me."

Maul looked into your eyes for a brief second, then looked away once more. He couldn't bear to face this conversation or these feelings, not yet, he didn't want to. You could tell.

"Enjoy your food. I'll let Thalen know it's ready." With that, he made his exit. Leaving you alone with your thoughts.

You didn't go after him, or push to talk further. The time would come where he would have to face those emotions head on. It was a miracle by any standpoint that he'd managed to avoid them this long already. But you were growing tired. Tired of pushing away, tired of hiding your own feelings just because he wasn't ready yet. The time, would come.

The next day, you were in your chambers, peacefully grooming Bug. He was getting bigger each day, bigger than you realised loth cats could get. Now, he'd started to shed. Leaving your evenings consisting of brushing him until your entire room was practically covered in fur.

You heard a knock at your door, a short, simple one. A trademark of Mauls. Pressing a button by the doorway, you let him in. But he didn't enter, instead he looked you up and down, spotting the fur on your clothes.

You sighed. "If you're going to tell me to go back to bed, I swear I will-"

"Actually, rather the opposite. Would you care to join me on an outing, my dear?" Maul said, a hint of gentleness in his delivery.

"An outing?" You sounded surprised. Bug clambered off the bed and made his way over to where you stood in front of Maul, weaving himself between both of your legs and chirping softly.

"Well, there will be some business. But we will have ample time to explore." Maul glanced down at the feline, knitting his eyebrows.

"Bug says he would like to come." Hearing his name, the loth cat gazed up at the pair of you, his big black eyes beaming to you with not a lot going on behind them.

You scooped him up, cradling him in your arms as he attempted to sniff Maul. The zabrak leaned away, scowling. "You cannot talk to that thing."

"Hey! Show him some respect. He's been so well behaved after I came back." Bug purred in your grasp, still staring lovingly at the Sith.

"It-" Maul began.

"He." You promptly corrected him, raising a playful brow.

"He, is not coming with us." Maul held a pointed finger at Bug, which he of course sniffed, much to Mauls disgust.

"Fine. Can you at least hold him whilst I grab my bag and change?"

"No-" You didn't even have to hand Bug over, he just leapt into Mauls chest, forcing the man to hold him. "Thank you Maul." You said with a sarcastic smile as you entered your chambers again, the door whooshing shut behind you. Bug purred like a hyperspace drive against Mauls chest, a feeling he found extraordinarily odd. The man took the feline in his hands, holding him out in front of him. Bug happily dangled there, mewing at the sight of Mauls face. "Disgusting."

Suddenly, he squirmed. Maul released him onto the cold floor, letting him roam. But he didn't, instead, he started to claw at the door of your chambers, chirping faintly, then looking back up at the Sith.

"She'll be back in a moment. Have patience." He spoke commandingly at the loth cat. Part of him was ashamed he was even talking to a beast, but nevertheless, it was your beast.

Bug kept scratching, leading Maul to bend down on one knee and push his skinny claws off the door.

"You crave her presence this much?" Bug looked up into Mauls eyes, as if he knew what he had said, tilting his head.

An elusive smile came across Maul's lips. *Maybe this beast isn't as dense as I thought.*

"She is an admirable woman, I admit." Maul said, his voice just over a whisper as he lay a gentle hand atop Bugs head.

The door to your chambers whizzed open. Maul shot straight up and Bug proceeded inside the room. You gave him an inquisitive look before he took your bag and led you both to the ship dock.

Maul sat in the pilots seat, adamant that you weren't to see the nav computer. You assumed it was a training thing; go to a random planet, try and find your way off of it again. It was definitely something he would do. Still you would see if you could push your luck.

"Where are we going?" You asked him, peeking over the console to see you were about to come out of hyperspace.

"You'll see." He said, flicking a few buttons as the galaxy stopped whizzing past you.

The ship left hyperspace, coming to orbit a large, temperate looking planet. At first you thought that it was Alderaan, that you were going to get revenge on Haro for selling you out to Dooku, which would have been enjoyable. But then you looked closer.

Cities, lights, industry. This wasn't Alderaan.

"Oh my stars..." Your breath hitched. You hadn't been here since the moment you left either the Jedi all those years ago.

A warm feeling grew inside Mauls chest. It wasn't often he did something that made another person feel good, but on this occasion, it made him happy to know he had done well.

"There's a droid depot here I wanted to look at, I thought you might benefit from the visit." He said as he made the descent into the atmosphere.

"Corellia... Maul... oh wow." As the ship pulled closer to the surface you could make out all of the familiar shapes of your home world. But why had Maul taken you here?

As incredible as it was to be back, you had an inkling that he wouldn't do something like this unless there was a reason. Maybe he wanted something from you, but what could he want that you hadn't already given him?

Another part of you just wanted to accept that the man simply wanted to do something nice for you. Which wasn't entirely out of character for him. Your friendship was well established, perhaps he merely wanted to strengthen it? You still had your suspicions, but either way, you were grateful.

You directed Maul to land near where your former home was, practically leaping out of the ship as soon as it touched the ground.

"I remember this street! I used to walk down here when- OH! And this one too! Oh my goodness- it's just like when I was a girl!" You said excitedly as you scampered around the industrial streets.

Maul couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in himself. He'd made another person happy, specifically you. He wasn't used to the feeling, but it was a welcome one. The man watched as you bounced from one shop to another, reminiscing about a past only you really knew about.

This 'outing' was in truth, a very good way for Maul to get to know your past. Despite him opening up about his, you seemed to be a little more hesitant about your own. He'd tried to be gentler with you as a way to get you to feel more comfortable, but even then you still held a belief that he had some ulterior motive.

This frustrated him, but he couldn't let you know that. He did enjoy your time together, especially the more domestic moments. But Maul was playing the end game. And he had to know that he had you by his side for good. Completely loyal. Completely his.

"Come, this way." He beckoned you down a street leading into the city square.

The pair of you neared a quaint cafe, where Maul abruptly halted in his tracks. "Why are we-"

Then, your eyes finally caught up with his. A female figure, sat peacefully on one of the cafe chairs outside. Your heart felt like it stopped, then rebooted again. "Mother?"

The lady didn't hear. By now, her hair adorned steaks of grey as she sipped her caf, reading over the daily holo news. You looked to Maul, who only glanced down to you then back to the lady. A pleased expression plastered on his face.

"Did you..?" You went to ask if he had set this up, if he had called your mother here.

"I simply monitored her daily behaviour patterns and calculated she would be here at this time. Nothing more." He shrugged.

Your face twisted in suspicion. Was this another one of his schemes? "How..."

"Maybe I thought I didn't get to see my mother much before she passed, maybe I wanted to give you an opportunity I couldn't have. Is that so hard to believe?" Maul retorted defensively.

You backed down, glancing back over to the lady. You didn't want to argue with Maul right now, if that really was your mother, all you wanted was to go to her.

"Is that really her?" You asked him.

Maul tilted his head, speaking softly. "Go find out."

At first, you hurried over, then slowed your stride as you neared. Fear crept into you when you realised that this would be the first time you'd seen your mother since you were 8 years old. What if she didn't recognise you? What if she wasn't pleased?

Ultimately, you composed yourself. Taking a deep breath before tapping her on the shoulder. "Excuse me, are you M/n Y/l/n? I'm looking for..."

The lady turned around, her face matching the one you remembered from that time long ago. Her eyes lit up, first in disbelief, then in shock and finally in joy. "Y/n? My Y/n/n? Oh maker! I thought I'd never see you again!"

Before you could speak, your mother engulfed you in a tight embrace. Causing the rest of the cafe to stop and stare. You didn't care. You had your mother back.

You held each other firmly, grasping onto years of lost time in the other. Eventually, she pulled back, keeping her hands on your shoulders.

"What in the galaxy are you doing here?" She asked, laughing nervously as she brought her palm to your cheek, tears brimming in her eyes.

Maul decided now was a good time to introduce himself, striding up to the two of you with his hands clasped behind his back.

"Mother, this is Maul, my... friend. He brought me here." You gestured towards the man as he stood behind you.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, my Lady." Maul took your mother's palm, bowing subtly, placing a courteous peck on the back of her hand.

"Oh my-" Your mother blushed at his action.

The three of you stared for a moment, you and your mother just taking in each other's faces. It made you solemn to see the wrinkles decorating her face, all that time you had missed evident in the lines of her smile.

She drew a long breath, switching her attention to Maul. "I take it you are a Jedi master then, are you Y/n's master?"

The Sith's yellow eyes flinched at the title bestowed upon him. It was as if he'd been insulted. You placed a hand on his forearm reassuringly.

"Well, um. Mother, we have much to discuss."

All of you sat round the small caf table under the Corellian sunlight, talking back and forth. It felt odd being able to talk to your mother like an adult seeing as the last time you'd interacted with her was when you were just a girl. But it also felt freeing, getting to know her as a real person as opposed to just 'mother'.

As you conversed, she sipped her caf. "You left the order? But why?"

"The Jedi aren't what they used to be, mother. I couldn't stand idly by then I knew of the injustices in the galaxy that needed fixing and the Jedi wouldn't help. I had visions of... something dark. That's when I joined Maul."

Your mother's eyes trailed the zabrak, who sat politely at the end of the table, letting the two of you talk.

"You also left the order?" She asked him, obliviously.

"No. I was never associated with the Jedi." Maul replied, flatly as ever.

Your mother's expression morphed, confused. "Then how-"

"Look, mother, this is all new and complicated for you. How about we head home and discuss this over tea?" You interjected, desperately trying to launch Mauls 'past' a little softer to your poor mother.

She smiled warmly, standing up from her seat. "Of course honey."

You followed suit, looking to Maul. "Would you mind if I stayed with her for a little bit? I understand we have work to do..."

"Go. You needn't ask." He said without a beat.

You held his forearm once again, giving it a light squeeze of appreciation. "Thank you. Comm me when you need me."

Your mother and you made off in the direction of your childhood home, leaving Maul to explore Corellia and that droid depot he'd been talking about. You glanced back to see him leave down the high street as you walked, arm interlinked with your mother's.

Suddenly, she chuckled, nudging you. "Since when do you drink tea?"

You laughed back. Basking in the purity of this moment. Both of your worlds colliding, your past and your present. And honestly, it wasn't going too bad. You still had the question in your head; was Maul spying on your mother? And why?

Maybe he was telling the truth and genuinely wanted you to have a better opportunity than he did. But at the same time, this was Maul, nothing he did was without a reason. Still, you held out hope that this would all turn out idyllically.

Once you made it to your old home, nostalgia flooded your senses. Seeing everything you remembered gave you this sort of pleasant/sick feeling in your stomach you couldn't quite explain. It was so wonderful, but was also a harsh reminder of how much time had truly passed.

Your mother and you sat in the living room, tea's in hand. You caught her up to speed on pretty much everything in the simplest way you could. All of your friends at the temple, the clone, the war, and meeting Maul.

"So he isn't your master?" Your mother asked as she sipped her tea.

"No. Nor I his. We teach each other." You replied, leaning back on the sofa.

"Well where did he train, if his knowledge is so different?" She sounded genuinely intrigued.

You paused, knowing now you had to figure out how to explain the concept of the light and dark side of the force to her, without incriminating Maul in the fact that he was pretty much the opposite of a Jedi and everything the stand for.

"Jedi aren't the only force users in the galaxy mother. He trained with what's called a 'Sith'. They explore the force in other ways." You said, hoping your choice of wording was correct.

Your mother placed her tea back on the coaster. "Oh, how come I've never heard of them?"

"They're not well known. But, trust that he is skilled." You said, waiting for her reaction. But instead, your mother just stared. Her eyes examined every inch of your features, your face, your hair, your clothes - everything. A loving smile crept to her cheeks.

"What?" You asked her gently.

Suddenly, she rushed over from her seat, enwrapping you in a tight hug, cradling your head against her shoulder. "Oh my baby girl, you've grown to be so beautiful! That Maul is a lucky man!"

"Huh?" You mumbled against her, causing her to release you from her grip.

She held your perplexed face. "I see the way you look at each other. Don't think I don't know what that is. How did you think you were made-"

"OK, ok! Mother, I get it. But Maul and I are... not together." You confessed, rubbing your bicep awkwardly.

She thought for a moment, seeming shocked at your response. A silence befell the room as she shifted in her seat, brushing up against you.

"He's handsome." She said after a beat, nudging you with her elbow and craning her neck to face you.

"He is." You said quietly, meeting her gaze.

"You'd have wonderful children. An interesting mix." Your mother said out of the blue, catching you off guard.

You shook your head and pulled away, surprised by her bluntness. "I don't even know if I want children, mother."

"Well, either way, if you aren't with the Jedi anymore then why not have some fun? They did forbid attachment didn't they? That's why I couldn't see you." She said, putting an arm around you.

"Yes, they did." You replied, solemnly, stroking your bicep.

Your thoughts drifted to the temple, to your friends. Obi-Wan, Anakin, Padmé, Ahsoka - wherever she was. You hoped she was safe. You hoped they all were. But you knew they wouldn't be, that vision of Palpatine plagued you every time you heard the word 'Jedi'.

Your mother pulled you closer, you felt her warmth radiate on your skin. A feeling you recall from your childhood, though, it felt so different now. "Y/n? Are you alright, honey?"

A lone tear escaped from your eye as you rested your head on her shoulder. "Mother... something terrible is going to happen... I've seen it."

She sat you up straight, turning her body to completely face you. A look of concern swept across her face. "What? What's going to happen, what do you mean?"

You took a deep breath and explained what you saw. The nightmares, the visions. All the corruption you had witnessed in the war and how the Republic was doomed to fall, taking the Jedi along with it.

Your mother sat there, listening attentively. Her hand lay atop of yours, her thumb brushing your skin as you spoke.

"My friends... that's why I'm working with Maul. To try and prevent this." You explained.

"That's a lot of stress to handle. Are you coping?" She asked sincerely.

"I- yes. I'm coping. I have friends on Mandalore. Maul is good company too."

She gave your hand a squeeze, tensing her eyebrows. You sensed her feelings growing. "Why don't you stay here? Leave this behind. You can get a job at the farmers market?"

You chuckled slightly in sympathy, also a little in disbelief. "Mother I can't. I have a responsibility."

Finally, she reached her boiling point, her emotions spilled from her mouth like a burst dam. "Kriff responsibility! You can come back to me! You can come home."

She pleaded with you, holding your hands tight in hers. Her eyes filled with longing and... regret.

Your mouth parted slightly, trying to take everything in.

Could you go back, leave everything behind and just... start again? Theoretically you could, but would you? Knowing the fate of the Jedi could be in your hands was too much to throw away. It was your responsibility, and your duty.

On top of that - what about Maul? The truth was, you didn't want to leave him. He may be a difficult person, but he was a friend. Everything you'd done together, all that you'd been through. You looked into his mind and forgave him - he saved you when he could've gotten revenge. Your bond in the force was inescapable, for both of you.

And from the moment you met him, almost a year ago, you realised now - you loved him. You didn't want to leave because you had love for him. Regardless of the force, giving up on him would bee too high a price.

All of a sudden, your commlink began to flash. Maul was signalling you to meet him.

You looked up to your mother, who gazed at the commlink and sighed. "Please, just, think about it. All I want is to see my baby safe. You can even bring that Maul if you'd like?"

You closed your eyes, nodding. Silently, you made your way to the door, trying to keep the tears from brimming in your eyes.

"I'll see you later mother." You said softly, exiting the home and making your way to Maul's location.

----

You walked up to Maul who was leaned over a balcony on one of the public skyscrapers, binoculars in hand. As you approached down the walkway, he heard your footsteps, turning around to face you. The Correlian moonlight lit up his features under his hood beautifully, his gaze made you tingle.

Your mother had given you a dress that she had once owned, nothing special, just a looser fitting mini dress with a few embroidered flowers decorating the sides. It fit perfectly, hugging your curves in all the right places.

"Getting lonely already?" You asked Maul playfully. His eyes trailing you up and down, soaking in your features. A devious smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth, his mind no doubt flooding with impure thoughts.

"Very funny. Now, watch those crates." He composed himself, handing you the binoculars.

You zoomed in on where he gestured to, seeing several crates being loaded into an LA-AT surrounded by clone troopers in teal armour. "They're Republic. The Republic gets a lot of supplies from Corellia, what's the big deal?"

"Look closer, my dear." Maul stood behind you, his front pressing into your rear as he leaned over and guided the binoculars with his hand over top of yours.

If you weren't doing business, or had your mother around, you'd probably have him then and there. But much to both of your disappointment, you did spot something.

Even more troopers marched out of a nearby transport vehicle, readying another crate. It looked like almost an entire battalion. "Hmm, they are quite heavily guarded."

"Too heavily." Maul said as he pulled away.

"What are you suggesting?" You asked, turning to face him.

"There are weapons in there that the syndicate would find of use." He looked out into the direction of the crates. Only after your stunned silence dragged on, he looked to you.

"Maul that is the single worst idea you've ever had." You said, bluntly. His proud expression now dropped to an unamused frown.

You continued, gesturing towards the crates. "Steal directly from the Republic, are you crazy? Actually, don't answer that."

He looked at you quizzically. "It would be easy enough. You use a mind trick on the clone troopers to give you the crate, I will change the data with my scomplink to say that the crate never existed." Maul replied with a growl, folding his arms behind his back.

"But I-" You paused for a moment, thinking whether or not to challenge his 'plan'.

"I'm not good with mind tricks..." You admitted, remembering how poorly it went the last time you tried to use one.

"Well then you better think of something, because we need those weapons." Maul tucked the binoculars back into his cloak and headed back down the walkway with you in tow.

You had to come up with something, maybe not a mind trick. Perhaps, a distraction?

----

The night was busy, ships zooming and people bustling around the Correlian streets. You stepped out towards the path of the crates, Maul already taken position behind a large market stall nearby. You had told him to tweak the plan slightly; you'd distract the guards for long enough for him to both reprogram the database and take a crate.

That was enough for him to trust you on this, you just had to hope those clones weren't one that you served with.

"Trooper!" You called out to a lone clone who appeared to be wearing captains armour. He stood just outside of an awning with one other crate waiting to be put on a ship. The rest of the battalion were loading the crates and strapping them down in cargo ships, so now was a perfect time to strike.

"Good evening citizen, are you in need of assistance?" The clone spoke through his helmet. You hadn't realised how much you'd forgotten what their voices sounded like. And honestly, you'd missed it.

"I, uh..." As you swiped your hair behind your ear, you pressed a button on your in-ear comm, signalling for Maul to begin - also allowing him to listen in on what you were saying.

The troopers helmet tilted, in a confused way, waiting for you to talk. By this point, it was clear he didn't recognise you. You knew those boys, they were smart, and if he hadn't figured it out by now, then he didn't know. "I was just wondering, what do you look like under that helmet?"

The clone chuckled, surprised. "Me? Haha, the same as any other trooper. See?"

He removed his helmet, your mouth fell slightly open. "Oh, wow-"

The clone had a clean faded cut with black, spiky hair on top. A large scar adorned the side of his cheek, making him look rather battle hardened. His tanned skin and subtle wrinkles told you he was most likely a gen 1 or 2.

"Well, that's a reaction I haven't had before." The captain chuckled nervously, tucking his helmet under his arm.

From the corner of your eye, you could see Maul slip under the awning to the crate. Pulling out his scomplink, he started to reprogram the data. You felt his yellow, glowing eyes harden as he looked to you.

Turning your attention back to the clone, you shifted your weight on to one hip. "It's just that, you have great hair. And, if you don't mind me saying, you're rather handsome. More so than some other troopers I've come across."

"Uhhh..." The man was stunned, he couldn't really think of a response. You glanced at Maul again, he was still hacking the data. This was taking longer than expected, if you didn't wrap this up soon, someone was going to notice.

"What was your name? I don't think I caught it." You said, batting your eyelashes.

"Captain Howzer. S- sir." The clone stuttered, suddenly correcting his posture.

"Well, captain, how about we ditch this place and go downtown. There's a good bar over there where we can get to know each other a little better?" It made you cringe to say that. Not that Howzer was unattractive - he was very handsome. It was mostly the feeling of Mauls eyes borrowing ferociously into the back of your head as his silent anger rose.

"A- as much as I would love to do that, uhh, ma'am - I'm afraid I cannot leave my post. Though your offer is, very tempting." Howzer shifted in his armour, his lip quivering. You didn't doubt his words.

Through your connection in the force, you sensed Mauls resentment build. Finally, he pulled the scomplink out of the data point, unlocking the crate and manoeuvring it away from the awning.

"Hm, well that's a damn shame captain. I would've loved to have given that hair of yours a little ruffling." You gave the clone a smile before sauntering away, careful not to move to fast so as not to arouse suspicion.

Howzer watched as you left, still lost for words. "HhHhh-"

In an alleyway just past ship dock, you found Maul, leaning on the crate staring at you like a teacher who'd just caught his student skipping. You rolled your eyes.

"You got everything?" You asked, walking up to the crate.

"Yes." Mauls expression remained unchanged.

You glanced at him, puzzled. *What was he so mad about? We got the crate didn't we?*

Maul pushed the crate along as you walked to your ship under the cover of darkness. The two of you spoke lightly, but there was still an air of animosity surrounding the zabrak.

Then suddenly, he spoke. Saying something you would never in a million rotations would have guessed. "Are you disappointed with my lack of hair?"

You swung your head around immediately. He had been listening to your distraction with Howzer, was he jealous? And was that the part that he was focusing on? The hair?

"No! Is that what you took away from that conversation?" You stopped in your tracks, placing a hand to his chest to stop him too.

Suddenly, he looked flustered. Diverting his gaze to the floor. "I merely considered our sharing of the bed may be thrown off by it."

Stars, how was it that he always managed to speak so eloquently even when discussing your sex life? Really, you could only chuckle at his almost childish envy.

"I prefer your horns, they're... useful." You said, stroking a hand up the side of his head to caress his horn.

"Really?" He asked skeptically, leaning into your touch.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

You mean, his new appentice? This man doesn't know how to make friends nor how friendship works.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?) At first he didn't like how vulnerable he was. So he was the big spoon in the first months of your relationship. After being more and more close to him, you suggest one night to be the big spoon, after some bargain, he accepts. He felt so loved when he was the little spoon, especially when you caress his head or nuzzle your cheek against the side of his head. He purrs.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?) He keeps talking about his revenge plans but deep in his heart, he yearns for a home, to belong somewhere. But he buried this thoughts until you came. Now, he always keeps working hard on his revenge plans, so he can finally settle down with you.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?) It would be because of Sidious. He would be so terrified of him finding about you and killing you, so he ends the relationship. It's for your own good, he wouldn't dare to live in a galaxy without you.

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

Once you built trust between you, he is committed to you, devoted to you. You are the reason of why his life feels easier and lighter. He doesn't understand the concept of marriage but he is willing to do it, if you want it.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

The beginning of our relationship was rough, for both of you (emotionally). Although he never, I mean never would hurt you, he can be sometimes harsh and cruel. But it's not exactly towards you, it's because peace makes him feel so defensless. But he pulls himself together and apologizes to you properly.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

He doesn't like hugs, unless it's your hugs. At first he doesn't like hugs, but when he gets used to it, he can't help but hug you, nuzzle to your neck and purr.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

He first daid it, when he was having a nightmare, in which Sidious was killing you. You wake him up, he was in sweat and in tears. He hugged you tightly crushing you, and said "Please, don't leave me, please. I love you so much. I won't let him hurt you.". You felt tears dropping on your neck.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

He is jealous of the male fly flying too close to you. He is very jealous and would probably kill the person who made him jealous.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

He likes to be hold and kissed, please place kisses all over his face and tell him how much you love him.

He kisses your neck, there's something primal and romantic about it. (He inhales your scent)

L = Little ones (How are they around children?) He doesn't know what to do around them, so he ignores them.

Behind her was a demon— no, he only looked like one. If he was rich with evil, you would have been afraid when you looked upon him, though you could no longer meet his eyes. His back was to you. Staunch. Steadfast. You stared at him rather than the woman, even as she maneuvered your limbs so as to better scrub at your ridden skin. His arms were curled behind his back, seemingly lost in thought, albeit able to feel your eyes on him. You could feel him, sense him. Reaching through the haze to give his essence a little tug. It was an attempt to get his attention, to convince this demon to gaze upon your filthy, naked body. Even the woman seemed a little awkward when she scrubbed under your breasts.

This was all so odd. Were the purveyors of sin not slaves to their lustful urges?

“My lord,” The woman began as she lifted your limp arm above your head to scrub at the rot underneath. She could not meet your eyes, her face an embarrassed flush of red. “Forgive my… uh, impertinence — is that the right word? — but could you have not gotten anyone else to do this? Cassie is a medic, and I know he’s not busy…” Quieter, she added with a frustrated wrinkle of her nose, “And you know I have a weak stomach.”

“Casimir will have little free time tending to her health throughout the coming days.” The demon responded without turning around. His tone did not change with his next words, and you watched the woman’s lips twitch rather than cower. “I had believed that you would be more inclined to help him than most.”

The woman was gentle in spite of the furrow of her brow. With the tips of her fingers, she tilted your chin to the side so that she could remove the grime clinging to your neck. “Just because I have a bet with my brother doesn’t mean I’m at his beck and call.”

At first, you did not expect the demon to respond. Until he did, his voice was as smooth and unchanging as ever. “And yet you find yourself here.”

“As if I could say no to you, my lord,” she grumbled. In a softer voice, she addressed you for the first time in an eternity. Everytime she pushed your head back, you would straighten up when she turned away. “Ad’ika, I need you to lean back or you’ll get soap in your eyes.”

“Oh, the burn of Hellfire against my sockets, the Goddess’s wrath concentrated against my vision.” You could feel your lips move, even if it felt like your words were not your own. As you spoke, you cast your gaze skyward, toward the ceiling. It seemed that there was no sky in Hell. “Why does it not nip at my skin? My Lady’s vessel so hot, yet cold, burning ice in my veins. The fire, the flames, it—”

In the middle of your incoherent rambling, a bucket of water was dumped over your head, cutting you off with a gurgle. Distantly, you could hear the demon let out a displeased huff. The woman at least looked apologetic when you struggled to wipe your face dry, too weak to to much else than twitch. With a towel, she began to dab at your skin and you allowed yourself to go limp.

“Sorry.” An apology. One had not graced your ears since you walked with your flock. With more strength than you thought a woman capable, she draped your arm around her neck and hefted you from the tub. You could not stand, so you remained in her hold, soaking her to the bone. She placed your naked body upon a nearby chair and you watched the demon turn again so that his back continued to be toward you. No peeking. “Alright, let’s get you dressed. Something clean, of course. Can’t have all my hard work go to waste.”

“A gentleman of a demon, or perhaps not a demon at all. A savior, my savior. Deserved, or not. Cursed by the Goddess. She hates me, She loves me, why do you not look upon by frail body? My weakness, enticing, oh, the men with their teeth. Do you not touch me because I am how you are granted forgiveness? Your unsullied salvation with skin, and meat, and flesh, and bone, and—?” All you could do was murmur as the woman slowly draped you in soft fabric. She dressed your hair in a towel, a bit of nerves on her face as her eyes danced between you and the demon.

He did not deign to give you a response.

When you opened your eyes, away from the dream, you could not help your confusion. This was not somewhere to grow diseased, there was privacy. Again. Blessed and undeserving privacy. Curtains were drawn around you, shielding you from the places where voices carried overhead. Your head gave a dull throb as you asked the Goddess what had happened. It was all so fragmented, every part of your memory shattered and glued back together wrong.

It struck you all at once: you had been saved. Barely able to hear the curtain pull aside through the blood in your ears, you clasped your hands together and beamed.

“Thank you, Goddess, thank you! I have been deemed worthy! I have been deemed willing! A savior has come, he has come to carry my wilted, weeping limbs!” A laugh bubbled from your throat, joyous as the tears that flowed down your cheeks. You hiccuped when someone cleared their throat, snapping your wide eyes to gulp down in his visage.

He looked like the woman from your dreams with curled and sandy hair, his eyes such a deep, dark brown that you felt yourself stutter. Like her, his concern made his brows knit. Upon his frame, he was adorned in armor that you did not recognize. The woman in your dreams had been so gentle with you, perhaps this was the Goddess’ way of telling you to put your faith in this man. Surprise leaked into something warm, your expression loosening as he approached.

“Woman of my dreams, man of my fantasies, I have seen you. The depths of your soul. A kindness, a gentleness, I beseech thee to grant it to me.” You reached for him, the IV pulling along with your arm. Within your skin, the needle twinged. Carefully, he took your hand in his and folded it back onto your lap. There was a slight flush to his cheeks.

“You’re doing better physically, at least,” he muttered under his breath. With a slow breath, his lips stretched into a tired smile. “It’s good that you’re able to move and speak clearly, I was worried that the fever had damaged your brain beyond that point.” There was a datapad at the side of your cot and he began to scroll through it, his face pinched. Distractedly, he introduced himself. “I’m Casimir Wayside, a Mandalorian medic. Were you talking about my sister? Ailyn?” When you blinked, slow and confused, his pupils flickered back to your face. “That’s her name. Ailyn. My sister. The woman who bathed you.”

A breath left you, the best you could manage of a laugh. “I had dreamt of a woman. A basin, not of blood, but of water. She did not hold me under, but kept me aloft. I did not drown, I did not die.”

Casimir began to tap his foot and pull the small, stubbly hairs on his chin. A nervous tic? Your smile remained fixed, for a smiling Daughter was a good Daughter. Being good was imperative, especially now that you had been saved. She could take just as quickly as She could give.

“I don’t have the proper equipment to check for brain damage, but it is… glaring.” It was spoken quietly enough for you to not be meant to hear, but the Goddess had blessed you with sharp ears.

Both so you did not startle him, and because you could not move quickly, you touched him with the tips of your fingers. “I am as I am. The way that that I am willed. I have been saved, I cannot ask for more.”

Relief leaked into his expression as he made notes in the datapad. “So you are aware to some degree, that’s good, I— I apologize, I know the body, but not the mind. Do you have a name?”

“All we are is what we are: slaves to our limitations. I am not perfect, my weakness too grand, so I shall not hold against you what you do not hold against me. The Goddess made us imperfect for reasons beyond comprehension.” Reassurance came easily. What happened next made your skull ache. You reached to pick at your wound to find that your hair was soft, and clean, and tied into a pretty braid. A dream— memory — of the woman, of Ailyn, at your bedside, humming as she dressed up your hair, played at the back of your addled mind. “I am undeserving of a reminder, both of virtue and of sin.”

Casimir shifted from foot to foot. “Undeserving or not… there must be something that we can call you.”

You thought of many things. Of your Brothers and Sisters, their playful, sinful nicknames. How your Fathers had reacted. Punishments in physicality, Mother led prayers in spirituality. To bastardize your name, it was rotten and wrong, though the name that you had been gifted as a babe was not one that you wished to be defined by. In your lap, your fingers twitched with your lips, upward and uncomfortable. “The Goddess does not grant our names, that is a Father’s duty, for it is he who will raise us and guide us. Who is to guide me, reborn and impure me?”

It took a moment for him to parse what you were saying. Casimir scratched at his nose before he let out a huff. “Alright. My lord will be… I guess he will pick a name for you?”

“The demon? The savior?”

“The Zabrak.” When all you did was tilt your head, Casimir pointed to his head. “He’s got horns, yellow eyes. Red skin and black markings. Really serious.”

That got recognition to flicker, a soft spark in your mind. “… Maul…?”

“It seems that our guest has awoken.”

Speak of the Devil and he shall appear.

Maul’s eyes met your own, a slight notch in his posture, betraying the fact that a bright smile was not what he had expected when you saw him again. “My savior! False-Devil! I have opened my eyes to the world once more! My debt to you cannot be paid. The Goddess brought you to me despite my transgressions. Sufferance at last brought to a swift end!”

“My lord, she wants you to choose her name for her,” Casimir said. You watched the corner of Maul’s mouth pull back, and then saw Casimir swallow his relief that this was not his duty to attend.

“This is a discomfort to request of you. I see that now!” You exclaimed, sitting up straighter despite the pain that followed. While Casimir flinched, all Maul did was tilt his chin in your direction. “No, no, do not allow me to commit such an act. All I have known is for those who guide to be those who name.” With a deep breath, you squeezed your hands together in prayer. “Forgive me, my Lady, but to confess is to be absolved. Those who I grew alongside had gifted playful and affectionate titles, once, though it was forbidden by the Fathers.” Turning to Maul, your eyes were bright. Imploring. “My savior, you speak to Her too, would She frown upon my indulgence?”

Maul hummed and studied you before he spoke, “No, I cannot say that she would.”

With that assurance, you told your savior and the handsome medic what you had once been called by your fellow children. When all you were met with was a nod of recognition, you felt yourself relax. The Goddess had led you to safety, that was a fact you would have to remember.

Harm only came to the unworthy.

The rest of the examination went smoothly. Casimir went over the numbers on his datapad, occasionally moving and prodding at you while discussing his findings with your savior. Throughout it all, you smiled, a bit of dullness to the color of your skin. It was not yet time for you to stand, let alone walk, your body was much too weak for that. You had been a hair's breadth away from death, Casimir had informed you. It would take a few more days for you to find your bearings.

Over the course of the next few cycles, much happened. Not even an hour after you had first awoken, you had been helped into a mobility aid and wheeled into the depths of a ship. There was a clinic on board, small, but more private than the curtains from before. You missed the ambient sound of soft voices more than you dared to admit. At least Ailyn was content to keep you company, her brother joining her on the occasion. Maul, your savior, your guide, did not visit often. When he did, he simply watched the siblings with his arms crossed, the reverence in your gaze making him draw a little taller. That was good, at least your gratitude was appreciated with the weight that you carried it with.

Ailyn’s visits were not without purpose. As she spoke to you, she combed your hair and kept your mind from slipping back from out of your hands. Her touch was gentle despite her frame, more muscles than you had ever seen on a woman in your life. You wondered if the Goddess frowned upon such a physique. The truth was that you hoped not because you found that it suited her well, the barest hint of envy slithering through your entrails that you prayed would be forgiven.

Despite your ever growing hold on reality, your meandering and strange manner of speech never changed, nor did your predisposition of falling into what could only be described as a fit. Hysterics would wrack your body as you cried and begged. More often than not, these moments slipped out when you were alone. No one knew quite how to help you. Honestly, you weren’t sure how to help yourself.

Hanging from your neck was your anchor, a vial of blood, a symbol of the Goddess. In times of weakness you would clutch it and pray.

“Grab my arm, ad’ika.” In her armor now, Ailyn hooked her arm in front of you for you to steady yourself against her vambrace. Your legs shook, barely able to hold yourself upright. For a moment, you worried that you would never be strong enough to walk again, let alone without assistance. With bare feet against the cold floor, you took a breath, filling your lungs with Her. You took your first step.

To her credit, Ailyn was patient with you as she guided you around the small clinic, each step stronger than the last.

“My thanks is necessary, dearest nurse.” The airy quality of your voice was forced into sincerity as much as you could. It was hard to look anywhere but forward. “Where strength is taken, it is a cumbersome path trod, walking toward normalcy once more. I could not have gotten so far without the brightness of your virtue.”

Ailyn blinked, more than a little surprise. It took her a little while to respond, her words adopting a certain dryness. “‘The brightness of my virtue?’ Never heard that one before.”

“I may be blind to much, though foolishness does not make a vessel of me.” Licking your dry lips, you removed one hand braced upon her armor to clutch the vial around your neck. For strength. “To coddle and aid, it is no easy task to take up. We are strangers to one another, I know that well, and yet you attend to me with patience I knew not was in the possession of warriors.”

It was quiet for a moment, broken only by a small snort. “Uh. No problem. Anytime.”

Not done, you turned to her as best you could, even as the world swung on its axis. “To obey an order is a higher calling, but to enact another’s will with kindness rather than fury is one that shall not go unnoticed.”

“Come on, ad’ika, you have someone who does not like waiting anticipating your presence.” There was an awkward fondness to her tone and a slight dusting of pink to her cheeks. She did not get praised often. That, or she did not know how to take it. You preened, pleased that your words came through despite your manner of speech. While you disliked many of the changes that you had undergone these past years, it was nice to know that you could still be understood.

The ship you were aboard was in hyperspace, the planet that your savior intended to travel to seemingly far away. Though, not outside of the Goddess’ reach, of course. As Ailyn led you through the halls, you recognized no one, save for Casimir, each individual caught up in their own tasks. Some played a game of dice, while others discussed topics not meant for your ears in low murmurs. The one aspect they all shared was that, as you passed with slow and stumbling steps, you were being watched. Closely. Intently. A judging study of your worth.

It was not long before you found yourself in front of a door. Behind it, you could feel your savior’s presence pulsing and a bit of giddy excitement welled in your chest. You took care to temper it. Maul did not seem one to indulge such whimsy.

Ailyn knocked on the door, the only word exchanged being, “Enter.”

She opened the door and you released her, taking your first wobbling steps into your own hands. It was a childish desire; to impress him. Maul watched you with interest as you shambled to the table he sat at, a bit of sweat dampening your brow. You reached for the chair before you were even close, inhaling a shuddering breath of Her before you quickly danced into its arms. Like a good Daughter, you stared at him, waiting for permission to sit.

“You need it, don’t you? To rest your weary body?” Maul did not gesture, all he did was sit back and stare at you with the same burning study as his compatriots. “Do not hesitate to take what you need.”

The order confused you, clashing with the teachings of which you had grown accustomed. One did not take, they asked, and if it was not granted, then they were unworthy. Still, your body throbbed so you sat anyway, your back straight, knees crossed, and hands in your lap.

“My savior, my savior, my savior,” You spoke in that slight and dreamy way, unable to swallow back the overflow of gratitude. “My debt is enough to drown me. Please, I must return to you what you have gifted me one thousand fold.”

“Once, some time ago, I was cast aside as you were. Left with the filth and refuse with only a broken mind to aid me.” Maul was soft-spoken in a different way that you were. Each word was smooth, chosen carefully, not an indelicate spill. Though your thoughts were slow now, you took care to dissect and memorize his words, feel the anger pulsing underneath. This was another sermon and deserving of respect. “Until I was whole again. Without the aid of another, I would have been left to rot forever.” His voice got harder as he grit his teeth. “Forgotten.”

“The Goddess guides us, though She has blessed us with the free will to make our own choices and decisions. I was lain at your feet and you could have sent me away,” The more you spoke, the brighter you became, sheer sincerity leaking from your pores. Maul watched you, almost wary this time, appearing unused to being the recipient of such emotion. “To see yourself in another, it is a skill that many lack, yet you have honed that blade, bringing it down upon me when I needed it most. Selfish or selfless, the why, I do not care. My thankfulness will never wane.”

“Your goddess, who is she?” Maul asked after digesting what you had said.

“She is everywhere and She is all! We were to worship Her Light and Her Shadow until a savior arose, touched by Her hand to lead the congregation to Paradise!” Zealotry made you straighten more than you already had, your eyes alight with purpose. “For when you die, there are two places where your soul may rest. Eternal suffering or eternal peace! She will burn you if you do not heed her teachings! To burn is to writhe. It is pain white hot and unholy! Until The Lamb has been Washed, all are damned to fire.”

Digesting, Maul cocked his head to the side. “I see. A goddess who is a Force that connects us all. Have you always been capable of great power?”

“I— I… Yes, my savior.” Uncomfortable now, you began to tap your foot. “Her hand, just as you are. I can feel Her inside of you. Her Shadow.”

“Have you ever sought to control this power?”

You shook your head. “I only ask, and if I am deemed worthy, it is given.”

“You have already been given it. I believe that it is your right to use this power as you see fit.” Now Maul was sweet and cloying, his hand extended for you to take. “There is much that I can teach you.”

“My Lady… You would not have been gifted to me if it were not meant.” Slowly, you placed your hand in his, his grip rougher than you had expected. Tight, as if you would slip away. “What else am I to do, if not this?”

“Yes,” He parroted. “What else are you to do.”

That night, as you slept, you dreamed again. Saw the world through the eyes of another. Together in a small room, with only your ghost as an audience, was your savior and a warrior-woman that you did not recognize.

“Rook. You do not approve?” Maul began slowly.

With a purse of her lips, Rook crossed her arms, mirroring his stance. “My lord, your last attempt at an apprentice went… poorly.”

“Devon left.” Frustration slithered from between his teeth. With a steadying breath, his shoulders slackened. “This one will not.”

Rook did not seem convinced. “She is… broken, my lord. How can you expect her to fight when she can barely walk.”

His response was to shrug. “As was I.”

“Is she Jedi?” She seemed to consider that to be the safest question that she could ask. Not too prying and still pertinent.

“No. She lacks any formal teaching, brainwashed by a cult that worships the Force as a goddess.” Decision made, and more to himself, Maul added, “This will make her more malleable.”

Flattered, you gave his energy a little tug. Surprise made his eyebrows twitch, his gaze flickered to where your dreaming self stood. His lips gave an impressed quirk.

“How interesting. Do you never rest?”

Your vision went dark after that.

A/N: Smell that? Oh, yeah baby, that’s two people becoming codependent in real time. I think the dynamic here is particularly insane because Maul is being met with like… earnest gratitude and need for guidance, which is going to Get to him in Twisted ways. Which is to say that the most insane situationship is being cooked.

Full disclosure but I haven’t seen the Mandalorian arc in the Clone Wars yet, it’s on my docket, though. So if I miss anything lore wise and Maul’s isms, that’s why. Forgiiiiive meeeeee.

I really like Y/N’s way of speaking, it’s really fun to write! Plus I think they are a very cutie patootie. If you’re familiar with anything else I’ve written, I have a fondness for OC side characters. So expect any named character to return on a semi-regular basis. I try to make everything have some sort of meaning. I’d also like to say that I’ve noticed that in Maul Shadowlord, at least, Maul at the VERY LEAST is fond of his subordinates. I think theres a huge degre of separation there, he’s still a boss, but he’s a boss you can talk to. A reasonable boss.

Before I forget, I do want to point out for thise who missed it. When Maul speaks of Y/N’s goddess, there is no capitalization like there is in Y/N’s internal monologue. That is on purpose yay!

Okay, that’s really it gamers! If you liked this chapter, please comment, it totally makes my day. I love yooooouuuuu :D