#mauledit

"Right, Sarvek said he repaired the hyperdrive properly this time, so we should be good to go." You said, flicking a few buttons to prepare for the jump.

Maul and you were on yet another mission to deal with underworld trade. It had been a month since your run in with Dooku, and with no signs of the Separatists trailing you, Maul had decided it was safe enough to run business as usual.

Aside from business however, your time with The Shadow Collective had been only getting better. The mando's were really warming up to you, especially after that night out, after which, a few more followed. Rook had actually joined you for some sparring sessions, allowing you to both get to know each other better. She was still a little frostier than you would've hoped but to be honest, she was becoming your friend.

Your training with Maul was improving too, you had gotten to grips with the double bladed sabre, now he was teaching you the more aggressive side of juyo. Alongside that, you'd taught Maul how to meditate properly; casting his hate aside momentarily to achieve inner peace as he pondered. Your lessons fit together perfectly, two side of the force coming together in peace to teach one another their skills.

It was poetic really, you hadn't at all envisioned this was how joining Maul would be when you first accepted his offer. Now, you were laid back in his ship, sipping fresh cassius he had made for you as you both cruised through hyperspace for the fourth time this week.

"There's been a lot of disruption lately, any reason why?" You asked Maul, swivelling round in the pilots chair to face him.

"The war has continued longer than anticipated, prices across the galaxy keep rising, and people don't want to pay." He replied, clutching his mug of tea.

"So?"

"So, we make them." The words rolled off of Maul's tongue like it was such a natural response. It still didn't sit completely right with you, the killing, torture, criminal activity. You had yet to take the plunge to the dark side, while you weren't technically a Jedi, you still refused to use your anger in combat. You could tell Maul disapproved of your rectitude, trying to push you further with each mission you went on to use your hate - but you resisted.

"3 hours until we reach Zygerria, anything you want to do to fill the time?" You placed your mug down, looking up at Maul in the co-pilots chair suggestivley.

"I can think of a few things." He hummed, his husky voice sending shivers down your spine.

And off you went, down to the barracks. You'd come to know Maul's quarters on the ship quite well. The two of you were at it like rabbits, any chance you got when you were alone, you took it. You spent pretty much every other night in his chambers, it was an impressive feat that no one had noticed anything yet. At least that what you thought.

The pull in the force grew stronger with each encounter. As your bodies connected, you felt a release not only physically, but through the force itself. You had each tried to find more information on the topic of 'force bonds' like this, but nothing came of it. Maul had said himself, this was a bond in the force like no other - it wanted you two together, physically, emotionally, in every sense possible. You just had to figure out why.

Just as you both laid on the bed, tired but so very pleasured, you heard the navigation chime. Maul went to address it, pressing a hard kiss to your mouth, biting your lip ever so slightly as he left. You smiled to yourself, you enjoyed his affection, as rare as it was. You weren't in a relationship by any means, aside from the bedroom, Maul tried to keep his intimacy with you to a minimum.

He would occasionally find himself slipping up; checking on you after a battle, fetching things he knew you needed, buying ingredients specially for you so that you could make your favourite dishes. He found himself questioning his own actions, for no one else, he went to these lengths. His cold, oppressing demeanour didn't work on you like it used to. Once upon a time, you were scared of him - he was a Sith, an enemy to you, now most mornings he wakes to find you soundly asleep in his arms, clutching at his chest.

A dispute arose within his mind. He'd often find himself using the mind palace you showed him, debating his feelings. Whether he wanted to admit it or not - he had a soft spot for you, which had not been his intention when he had first recruited you. His connection to you strayed him from the path of the dark side, deep down he knew he had to do something.

He had to turn you. He had to make you join the dark side. That way, your hate would encourage his, and together, both of you would be stronger. Strong enough to finally defeat Darth Sidious.

As you stepped off the ship, the heat of the Zygerrian sun hit you. But you had come prepared, dressed in a practical two piece outfit consisting of shorts and a tank top for the weather. Nonetheless, Maul wore his same black robes. You had told him he was going to get too hot but, stubborn as ever, he refused to change.

A feline resembling man met you at the bottom of the ramp, introducing himself as Raney, the leader of the Zygerrian slaving industry after the death of Queen Miraj Scintel. His face was riddled with scars and one of his eyes had been replaced by a white prosthetic.

"Lord Maul, please allow me to show you the progress of our operations." The man bowed to Maul, extending his arm in the direction of a great, beige building with guards scattered around its exterior.

"Very well." Maul spoke cooly. The three of you began towards the castle, you trailed behind, Raney speaking to Maul in a hushed tone, as if he didn't want you to overhear. You didn't think much of it, in reality you were here mostly as muscle, plus the topic of being involved in slavery unsettled you deeply.

You reached the gates, they slid open allowing Raney and Maul to enter. Following behind them, you went to proceed; but you were abruptly stopped by the two guards defending the entrance.

"No slaves allowed in the castle!" One of the thugs bellowed in your face.

"Slave?!" You shouted back at him, dumbfounded. Maul immedietly turned around, ignoring whatever Raney was saying to him at walking back towards you.

"She is not a slave, she is with me. And you will let her pass - if you value your life." He commanded, his calm carriage nearly breaking at the Zygerrian's words.

The guard growled, stepping aside reluctantly to allow you through. Maul placed his hand on the small of your back, leading you into a position between him and the Zygerrian leader, subtly suggesting to the man that you are of equal importance in this.

The Zygerrian's as a species were known for their slaving; men, women and children alike. But following Queen Miraj's passing, it seemed like their focus shifted mostly towards female slaves. At least that's what you had heard around the galactic underworld. Maybe it was because of your clothing, or maybe it was because of Maul's position as leader that the Zygerrian's assumed you must be owned.

You continued to tour around the castle where Raney showed you both the extent of their operations. It was mostly spice smuggling as opposed to slavery now, it seems that market had died down also after the queen's death. *Thank the maker.* Eventually, you were lead to an underground bunker which Raney stated had their payment to Maul inside.

Maul instructed you to keep guard as they entered, the other Zygerrian guards lined the corridor, watching you. Their faces twisted perversely when you turned to face them. You caught their glances, they snickered to each other from across the hallway. Hostility bubbled inside you as you scrunched your nose, debating whether or not to confront them, if you could take them on by yourself if things went sideways.

"Somethings funny, ugly?" You bellowed towards a hefty guardsman, who bore a grotesque smile as your sentence landed on his ears.

"Why would your master drag around a slave like you? You are merely property, why does he keep you so close?" The man looked you up and down suggestively, making you shrivel inside with repulsion.

"I can show you if you'd like?" You unclipped your lightsaber from your belt, igniting it.

"Oooh a fiesty one, I always like it when they fight back."

Overcome with revulsion, you force sped over to the Zygerrian, holding your burning sabre to his throat. "You dirty, slaver scum! I will rip those horns off your head and use them to disembowel you and the rest of your hideous friends!"

"Oh come now, we know you wouldn't do that. Your master would be so very disappointed in you." He laughed to himself, bearing his rotten fangs.

"He's not my master, and he certainly doesn't control me. So there's nothing he can do to stop me from doing this- gggraaa!" Your sabre made a swift impact with the mans neck, his head dropping to the floor.

The other guards reacted immediately, igniting their whips and snarling their teeth. You felt a surge of satisfaction tremble through your body at the thought that you would be the one to rid the galaxy of these slavers, the adrenaline rushing to your eyes. The force flowed into your movements as you leapt at an oncoming Zygerrian, his whip wrapped around your lightsaber, allowing you to twist your body and throw his shoulder downwards. In your anger, you stamped a foot on his neck, choking him before you slammed your boot down again, crushing his windpipe.

More guards appeared from behind the pillars decorating the hallway, around 13 of them. A challenge, but nothing you couldn't handle. Excitement tingled within you as you readied in the juyo stance, revelling in the chance to finally use the skills Maul had taught you. You yelled, bringing your sabre up and charging towards a guard, whip in his hand ready to strike.

"Y/n!" Maul's voice echoed through the corridor, making you freeze.

You faced him, dropping your sabre down by your side. You realised how this situation looked, so, you projected through the force the memory of moments prior to Maul's mind. He saw what they had said to you, a flicker of red formed in his eyes as he looked towards Raney, whom was now fast approaching you.

"You killed my guards! Insolent female, I shall have you whipped for your- hgrckhh!"

Maul's fist raised in the air, removing the oxygen from the leader's lungs "You dare disrespect my associate? Your contemptuous behaviour will not go unpunished." The zabrak's voice was laced with rage as he held the man.

He clawed at his neck, the veins in his forehead bursting through his skin as he struggled. Maul lifted him higher as the guards stood staring, not wanting to receive the same fate. The room corridor fell silent as the squeaks of Raney's breaths grew fainter, the Sith's grip on his throat unrelenting.

Maul met your gaze, you looked to the floor, ashamed you'd caused such a scene. You knew the Zygerrian was wrong, but seeing the life draining from his eyes so slowly sent a chill down your spine, you couldn't bear to watch any longer. You shut your eyes, Maul noticed, sighing. He released the man from his grip, dropping him to the floor with a solid thud.

Raney gasped harshly, his hand stroking at his neck as his guards came rushing over to him. "My Lord, I'm so sorry for mine and my men's inappropriate manor, I did not mean for-"

"Silence." Maul cut him off, striding over to where you stood.

"Not to me. To her." He said, placing a hand on your shoulder. He spoke almost as if he were parenting the man, his arrogance and disgust littered in his tone.

"M- My Lady- I-... I apologise. I did not realise you were a warrior of- of such calibre." You gazed down at his whimpering figure with distain, dragging your eyes upwards to see the rest of his men. Your stare caused them to flinch, then, one bent down to a knee.

A few groaned between them, then they all followed. Each lowering to a knee in front of you and Maul. A small smile crept across your face, a sense of power and pride overwhelmed you, seeing these men kneel at your presence.

"See that your payment to my collective is doubled by the next quarter." Maul commanded down to Raney, who now scrambled to stand.

"B- but my Lord that's impossible-" He stuttered over his words, pure fear shaking the weak specimen to his bones.

Maul ignited his sabre. "I will not tolerate failure."

The red glow illuminated Maul's yellow eyes, which narrowed in hatred as they met the Zygerrian's. "Yes... my Lord."

Retracting his lightsaber, Maul extended an elbow out for you to take, a gesture he'd not yet done before. You knew what he was doing, so you linked your arm around his, allowing him to guide you out of the castle. The Sith showed every Zygerrian there how a real man treats a woman, with the upmost respect.

As you walked back to the ship, you questioned him. "Hmh, how come you doubled the payment? Are we low on supplies?"

"No. Those credits will go to you, as compensation for their insolence." Maul kept his eyes forward with a straight face. You could sense a feeling of frustration coursing through his body - he was genuinely enraged by how the Zygerrian's treated you. Being from a matriarchal society, he viewed it at fundamentally wrong either way, but it was you they were directing their disrespect towards.

He felt like an extension of himself was the one being affronted, feeling almost personally attacked by their actions. But of course, it wasn't him, it was you. The bond in the force causing him to receive your emotions and thoughts as they occurred - just like when you were training at the temple.

The two of you got back to the ship, Maul, with the datachip containing the credits from the Zygerrian's on it, inserted the device into his holotablet to upload the currency. You both sat in the cockpit, this time, you assumed the passenger seat and left the pilots seat to him.

"I appreciate your efforts Maul but... I am not yours to defend." You spoke as he began the flight procedure. He remained silent, clearly deep in thought.

"I could handle myself." You said after a pause, beginning to feel slighted by his disregard.

"I don't doubt that." He finally chimed in, lifting the ship off the ground and into the atmosphere.

"Then why did you intervene?"

"Well, I couldn't have you kill off all of the castle guards. There'd be none left to continue operations." He replied with a hint of sarcasm, getting the ship into hyperspace, then turning to face you.

"Hmm." You knew that wasn't the reason. "I wasn't going to kill all of them."

"I am aware."

His stunted sentences made you question whether or not it was wise to keep digging. You wanted more than anything to know how he was feeling, what he was thinking - and from his change in demeanour you could tell there was something going on inside his head.

"I sense... you're keeping something from me. Care to tell me what?"

Maul reflected on his actions, he too was going to kill the leader of the Zygerrian syndicate, all because he disrespected you. He couldn't look past that, his attachment to you was influencing his choices. This topic had arisen before, he was scared that he would fall too deep, stray too far. So, he did the only thing he knew how to - push his feelings away.

"I do not see the point in your efforts to understand my train of thought. I did what I did because that's what I deemed suitable. Does that answer your query?" He responded flatly, emotion building up inside his chest.

"Not really. I just..." You paused for a moment, you too were experiencing a similar conflict. All you wanted was for him to admit it, that he was attached to you. "I just want to know... how you're feeling?"

"How I'm... feeling?" Maul seemed genuinely confused at your question. Never before had someone asked him how he was feeling inside. The unfamiliarity of it further forwarded his fear, his fear of his own emotion.

"Yes."

It seemed, in this moment, Maul reverted back to his past. His days with Sidious where he would respond to any affection with aversion. For him, it was the most natural response he could think of, but for you, it was devastating.

"You may have gotten the impression from my action of showing you my past that I would be willing to disclose my personal thoughts with you but... you're mistaken."

Your breath caught in your throat. *This whole time, he thought we weren't bonding?* You tried desperately to silence the thoughts racing through your mind as Maul continued.

"You asked me what I would have to do to gain your trust, and I did it. There was... nothing more beyond that."

"Nothing more... beyond that...?"

"...yes."

You tensed your fists as a crushing regret came down upon you. He was actively trying to back out of everything that had been building up between you these past months. You felt like a fool, you felt used.

"Your attempts to 'know me' are in vain, my dear. I am not a man who-"

"No. I get it. You don't need to say any more."

*Stars, maybe he really is who I thought he was.* The image of Maul you had in your head when you first met him was a cold, calculated, closed off man who felt emotion's purely to fuel his personal ambitions. But, over the months, as you grew closer, that image shifted. You saw a broken man, one who never learned the intricacies of human connection, and one who was willing to learn.

However, that's not what Maul wanted you to see, and he was starting to close up again. It pained him, truly, to say what he said to you - in reality, all he wanted was to pour his heart out and let you fill it back up again. A pang of regret pierced his chest, in his effort to remain powerful in the dark side, he had just tried to push away the one person who gave a damn about him, even if it was only a little.

You got up from your seat, retreating to the barracks for the remainder of the journey. Truthfully, you wanted to cry. You had given everything to help Maul and you thought that he was really beginning to settle into life with you. From what you now understood, he didn't want you to know him, he didn't want you close, he didn't want you to care. But you did. You did care. And you hated that you did.

When you landed, you left the ship in silence, heading straight to your chambers to meditate. Maul made no attempt to stop you, he realised he had to think longer on what he was going to say to you. A wise decision, considering his choice of words on the ship resonated so poorly with you.

A few days passed, neither you nor Maul had spoken a word to each other since that conversation on the ship. You had helped with tasks on Mandalore and trained by yourself. Occasionally passing him, you felt an agonising tug in your chest through the force, you knew he felt it too. The thought of leaving the syndicate crossed your mind, however, you were committed to stopping Sidious, and you knew the council wouldn't believe you if you told them who the chancellor really was. Staying was your best bet.

Compunction clouded Maul's head, after having days to reflect, he finally realised how he should've reacted. In all honesty, he found it hard to break away from his old ways, but the thought of upsetting you was too overwhelming. One way or another, he had to come to terms with his emotions, and you were the only one willing to listen. One evening, you were sat in your chambers, meditating, when you heard a timid knock at your door.

"Enter."

Maul's dejected figure stood in your doorway, holding that oh so recognisable pot of his.

"Tea?"

You gave him a nod and he joined you on the floor of your room, pouring you both a mug. The candle you had previously lighted flickered overhead, illuminating Maul's softened eyes as you each sipped your tea.

"This reminds me of that night, the one where you showed me your mind. I think about that night a lot. But I guess I shouldn't, seeing as it didn't mean anything."

Maul breathed deeply, gathering his thoughts. "That's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean, Maul?" You stated, placing the mug of tea down.

"It did mean something. You mean something." His eyes remained glued to the floor, almost as if he was frightened to make eye contact with you.

"Well I sure hope I do, because you have no problem disclosing your 'personal thoughts' with me in the bedroom!" Your anger was at a boiling point, that notion of being used kept ringing in your head no matter how hard you tried to push it away. You knew he wouldn't stoop so low as to treat you like that, but with his apprehension to tell you his cogitation, your mind filled in the blanks.

"That is not how I intend for you to feel."

"Well it is. And if you're too much of a coward to tell me how you feel then maybe I made a mistake trusting you." The words just fell out of your mouth. You felt a burning behind your eyes, the blood vessels in them creeping towards your pupils.

You took a beat, breathing heavily. You'd just insulted him to his face, over not sharing his emotions with you. "Maul, I'm sorry-"

"No... you're right. I am a coward. I haven't been forthcoming." His honesty surprised you, you leaned forward to hear what he was going to say.

"I... I am loosing my grip on the dark side of the force. My anger, my hate, I can feel it slipping away and... it's all I've had, for as long as I can remember." You daren't breathe whilst he spoke, all you did was listen.

"This bond between us, this connection, it's all so...new. The emotions I am experiencing are confusing and I- I don't know what to do." Maul's face scrunched as he turned his head away from you, you could swear you heard the slightest sniffle radiate from his direction.

"And I'm afraid that, if we are separated, I would not be there to aid you."

You thought long and hard, you'd been through this before, that inner turmoil. Maul wasn't by any means a good person, he couldn't regulate his emotions so his first response was to push you away, which is a red flag in itself. But you could tell he was bluffing before, and you were right. You did mean more to him, and he knew that - he had his emotions now in check, but it was his actions that mattered most.

"What can I do to help?" You asked gently, raising a hand softly to his chin and lifting his head to look at you. In the faint candlelight, you caught a glimmer of a sheen overtop his eyes.

"Y/n, my dear, I implore you... join me in the dark side. Your potential could be more than you've ever dreamed of. We can finally stop Sidious, save the galaxy! Is that not what you want?" His voice sounded desperate and pleading. As he gazed supplicatingly into your eyes and soul, you couldn't help but be stimulated by his words.

"I- I um." Now you were really conflicted. *Is this all just a ploy to get me to join the dark side? Has it been the whole time?* Doubt swam in your mind, it's not that you didn't trust Maul, it's just that the dark side itself often corrupts those who use it. It was that you didn't trust.

Falling to the dark would make you irredeemable, but on the other hand, Maul was right, it would make you stronger. You had already trained in the Sith form of combat, all that was left was to take the plunge and you would be ready - fully indoctrinated.

"I need to think. This is a lot to take in." Maul understood, nodding into your hand still on his face.

"But, thank you, for listening to me. I think, deep down, I know you have good intentions Maul." Your remarks meant much more to him than you realised. You were the only person to see through his hard outer shell and break through to his true frame of mind. His heart swelled with a rapturous sensation in the force. You were so perfect for him, he thought.

He let out a breath of relief, rising to his feet. You followed, placing the tea on top of your drawers and perusing him. Maul headed for the door to your chambers, sliding it open and standing in the doorway, relaxing his shoulders.

"What I wanted to say was... I'm sorry. I apologise for my earlier words, they didn't come out as I had intended. It's... my fault, you're only trying to help." He admitted. His vulnerability oozed through the force, tugging at you to walk closer to him until you were face to face.

"I think I just failed to see that as... I do not think of myself as a person one would want to 'know'. You're a good person, Y/n, a better one than you think you are." He peered at you through sorrowful eyes, in his mind, he'd let you down. Not getting a grip on his emotions in time to stop himself from saying something stupid.

"If you think you have made a mistake, I understand. And if it is any consolation, thank you." Maul's body slinked out into the corridor, but not before you laid a hand on his shoulder, prompting him to turn back around.

"No. No I haven't made a mistake trusting you. You said the wrong thing, apologised, and learned. That's more than any council member could say they did." Your hand remained on his chest as he smiled down to you tenderly.

"You're my friend, I'm not giving up on you that easily." You gave him a wide, affectionate smile. Your hand on his chest could feel his two hearts suddenly being thumping harder. That sheen returned to his eyes, but just as you noticed, Maul buried his head into your neck, careful not to prod you with his horns. Wrapping his arms around your shoulders, you felt his cool nose make contact with the skin of your collarbone.

After a pause, you hugged him back. Snaking your hand over his back and the other behind his head, you held him close. Maul felt his body tremble as he fiercely attempted to hold back the long overdue tears welling up in his eyes. The two of you stood like that for force knows how long, simply engulfed in each other's embraces, wholly and utterly one.

"May I stay here tonight, with you?" Maul muttered into your shoulder, sheepishly.

"Of course." You whispered back, placing a featherlight kiss to the side of his head.

That night, you slept bundled together, neither one of you ever letting go of the other. At one point in the night, Maul found himself awake, simply staring, admiring you. You risked everything for him, you understood him, how could he not be completely and totally consumed by you. He was, you were all he could think about. But he didn't see that as a hinderance anymore, if you were to join him in the dark, his passion for you could push him further than ever before. He smiled to himself, stroking a gentle finger over your face as you slept.

Simultaneously, you were deep in a dream, the same dream, the one you had every night. Only tonight, it was so eerily vivid. You watched yourself as you walked through a whimsical house, decorated with all kinds of plants, artwork and artefact. You noticed a hefty lump on your belly protruding from your dress as you exited onto a beach. There, a small child came running to you from afar. As they got closer, you could clearly see something - the child bore horns atop their head and brown markings lay over their pink skin.

A zabrak-human hybrid. This was Maul's child. Then, you felt a large hand on your back, gliding around your waist. You craned your neck to see him, Maul, in civilian clothing, looking calmer and more healthy than you had ever known him. He gazed at you, his eyes full of unrelenting love as he lifted the child and placed them over his hip.

You were seeing a family, your family, with him. In your semi-lucid state, you pondered. You were not about to have a child with this man, nor with any man for that matter. If this was truly what you wanted, it was far, far in the future, but it did make you think.

*Do I want children? Do I want to settle down? Not for another decade at least, right?* The notions crossed your mind as you settled back into slumber, Maul's tattooed arms wrapped tightly around you, his warmth seeping into your body. For now, you were at peace. And peaceful you hoped it would stay.

You awoke from your fruitless slumber still as confused as ever. Last night was a whirlwind of emotions, for both you and Maul. Your head spun as you began to get ready for the training session Maul had arranged for you, at least that's what he had planned - to train you. In reality you were hoping to teach him a few lessons, mostly in meditation, as you presumed the Sith wouldn't teach inner peace too frequently.

The clothes you had brought with you consisted of your Jedi robes, training clothes and various other dresses including the ones you had purchased on Bespin.

You grabbed the training clothes, a pair of shorts and a vest top, and headed to the en suit bathroom. The chambers the mandalorians had set you up in was very much to your liking. It may not have been luxury by any standards, but it was certainly better than your quarters in the temple.

As you showered, you realised you hadn't eaten in a whole rotation. As much as you favoured the room, it was regrettable that it didn't include any kitchen area. You liked to cook, and having the option to make your own food would have made the whole situation feel a lot more homely. Still, you weren't one to complain, you'd just have to do some exploring of your own.

After getting ready, you headed out down the same corridors you had walked down initially to get to your room, but they only lead you so far. Once in the main lobby of the palace, you found that any signage was in Mando'a - an ancient language that you happened not to speak.

"Blaster-bolts!" You exclaimed in frustration.

"My apologies for not giving you a proper tour of the palace, would you like one now, Master Y/n?" Saxon appeared without his helmet, and only the bottom half of his armour. Today seemed to be a training day for all of the syndicate, with other mandalorians walking around in only half or no armour.

"That would be most appreciated commander Saxon, and again, you don't have to call me by my rank."

"Likewise, Y/n."

Saxon was more laid back than you had anticipated, his resolve on the field of battle was strong, but it seemed to be more of an alter ego for him. When he wasn't doing a job for Maul, he was like any other mandalorian citizen, just going about his day. Gar showed you round the palace, it was primarily made of glass with huge ceilings that dangled grand chandeliers overhead.

It was definitely a gorgeous building, you hadn't realised how complex mandalorian architecture really was. Eventually Saxon lead you to the training room and bid you adieu. It was a reasonably sized area with different pieces of equipment laid out around the edges. It was by no means a Jedi training room, that would require much more complex contraptions, but it was adequate enough.

Maul stood in the centre of the room with his back turned to you. As you approached him, you felt the strain in the force subside like elastic finally going slack.

"Good morning, Y/n. I trust you are well rested?" Maul turned to face you, his eyes as drowsy as yours. *Clearly he didn't sleep well either.*

"As rested as I can be. So what are we-" A force hit your shin, causing you to instinctively block as you buckled to one knee. You grabbed the wooden staff Maul had on a trajectory to your other leg, attempting to sweep it out from under you.

"Good, you're alert." He helped you up.

"Of course I'm alert, now how about we start with meditation. That's how my master always began training sessions."

"Your master is no longer teaching you, I am. And we will begin with this" Maul twisted the wooden staff, unlocking a second section hidden within the weapon itself. Another half extended outwards, turning the staff into a double ended pole.

He offered you the weapon, you took it, inspecting the woodworking. It appeared handmade, and old, very old. *Did he train with this?*

"Have you ever fought with one of these before?" Maul's voice broke through your train of thought.

"I can't say I have. No one had seen one apart from in the books about the older republic, that is until..." You said, alluding to his duel with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.

"The Jedi did not train you to face varied opponents wielding different weapons?"

"They did, though mostly ones they knew we'd encounter of the battle field, droids etcetera, and they stressed the need for just the one sabre, two was pushing it." You giggled to yourself remembering when Ahsoka first got her shoto blade, Master Mundi was not pleased.

"How delightfully naive. With me, you will learn to face the true threats of the galaxy, and you'll do so with the ability to pick up any weapon and be able to use it as your own. Shall we begin?" Maul force pulled another staff to his hand and assumed the juyo stance, inviting you to make the first move.

At first, your technique with the staff was slow, trying to figure out how to manoeuvre it without stabbing yourself with the other end of the 'blade'. This allowed Maul to land multiple hits on you with his own staff, much to his dissatisfaction. Eventually he slowed down, adapting to your learning style and going through the motions step by step with you following along.

"I still don't see the point in the double blades, it takes more effort not to stab yourself than to stab your opponent." You admitted, frustrated.

"The point, my dear, is not for practicality. It is to bewilder your enemy, pulling their focus from how they're fighting to how you are fighting. In their rush to understand your unfamiliar technique, they allow for an opening to which you can land a strike."

"Deception, how very Sith." You smirked, earning a small smile back from Maul.

As you trained, you began to understand the form better. The trick was mostly just to be aware of where your blades are and to be confident in your own ability. Maul would periodically switch out what staff he was using, just to try to throw you off, but you countered fast. Your speed and quick thinking helped propel your learning, gaining you an impressed expression from the zabrak as you finished another round of sparring.

"I must admit, you're a good student, Y/n." He stated, slightly out of breath.

"You're not a bad teacher yourself, master." You said playfully, putting your fist in your hand and bowing to him, signalling the end of your lesson.

He returned the gesture, it was common practice between force users to treat training partners or opponents with respect. That was one thing you did like about The Sith, they were ever impolite.

Your words resonated with Maul. *Master.* The title sent a surge of pride through him, he felt powerful, he felt dominating. This was the first real training session he'd had with someone else since Savage, though your dynamic with him was very different. He knew that if he really wanted to, he could physically overpower you. He kept that knowledge to himself, it would come in handy if you ever did betray him, or if you two were to have rough se-

"So, is it my turn to teach you a few things?" You spoke, stretching out your sore muscles.

"I suppose, what do you have in mind? I must warn you, there isn't much I don't already know." Maul replied, a smug look shining across his face.

"Huh, arrogance. Attractive." You said sarcastically. Maul's smirk was wiped clean off his face and replaced with a puckish frown.

"What I have in mind, is something my master taught me many years ago. Using the force to ease my mind, allowing me to focus." You settled onto your knees, motioning for him to do the same.

"I know how to do that." He sat in front of you, his metal legs sinking into the spongey floor.

"Not in the way I will show you." Maul raised an eyebrow, now you had really intrigued him. He meant what he said, there was little about the force he didn't understand, if you could show him another path it would be a rare instance that someone had done so in years.

"Take my hands, close your eyes." He did just that, you removed his gloves, feeling the skin on his hands for the first time. His tattoos extended to the tips of his fingers, which you brushed tenderly.

"Focus on a happy memory, perhaps a memory from your childhood, or a fleeting moment of relaxation." You knew a happier memory would be harder to come by for Maul, but through your skin to skin contact, you would be able to give him a bit of assistance through the force.

"Picture the wind, feel it on your face, take yourself to that peaceful place in your memory. Now just listen to the silence." Your eyes fell shut too as you entered the meditative state.

"Slowly, build on it. Birds singing, waves crashing - build this universe within your mind using only sensations. And breathe in it." You felt Maul's heart rate slow with your own, the force flowing through your hands like a stream. The bond you shared allowed for the force to gush freely from one of your bodies to the other, sharing your emotions and physical feelings. It was so deeply personal.

You hadn't planned on this being so intimate, in an emotional sense. After all, you had only done this with you master, Maul was someone who was strong in the force and had a connection with you unlike any you've ever had, that much was clear now. The difference in the way this felt with him was astronomical, it was so... real.

"Now, reach out with the force, don't constrict it or try to control it, just let it find you."

You both took a deep breath out.

"Open your eyes."

Maul did as you instructed. He was speechless. The orange hue of Dathomir was all too familiar. He was back on his home world, physically. The smells, the sounds, everything was just as he remembered it. Men and boys from his village strolled around, carrying out their day to day tasks like nothing ever happened.

"How... how is this possible..?" Maul finally managed to squeeze the words from his throat.

"You let go, Maul. Your anger, your hate, its somewhere else in your mind. Here, you are truly at peace. No dark, no light. Just this memory." Your faceless voice echoed through the scene as he observed more of what he was picturing. The younger zabraks ran around, chasing a womp rat, the elders sharpened spears, a group of men were hard at work crafting a new homestead.

A traitorous tear welled up in his eye. He had never known the force could be used in this way, to truly control his emotions. This was invaluable to him, not just for the ability in the force, but because.. you cared. You cared enough about what he had shown you the night before to show you this Jedi secret. You'd revealed something to him he felt he could never repay you for.

"Do you want to stay here?" Your voice rang through again, his tears retreating back into his eyes.

"No, we can go now." His voice trembled slightly as he spoke.

You were both pulled from the vision, back to the training room. Maul's hands gripped your own, tightly, as if he were slipping away. He seemed to notice this, releasing his grip on you and looking down.

"What was that?" He asked flatly.

"Shaak Ti called it a 'mind palace'. Somewhere you could go inside your head to block out any distractions. Once you get good at it you can go there almost instantly."

"I... would like more training on this, if that's not too much bother?" He gave the impression that he was genuinely startled. Both by the events he had just relived and the fact there was something he didn't know about the force.

"Of course it isn't." You smiled warmly at him. You were finally cracking open that cold, hard outer shell Maul had worked so desperately to shield himself with.

You felt not just proud of yourself, but proud of him, for opening up. Granted you did slightly blackmail him into doing so, but that's besides the point. Maul trusted you enough with this, whether that was him following the will of the force or forming an honest connection with you was still left up in the air at this moment.

"Come, you need to refuel if we are to train more." He took your hand, helping you to your feet.

"More? we've been at this for hours!" You exclaimed, your bones aching from the combat you had previously exerted yourself performing.

"The mandalorians dedicate the entire day to training, they are true warriors, I suggest we take after them." Maul began out of the raining room and down the hallway, you followed in tow.

Suddenly, you sensed a presence rushing up behind you both. "My Lord, Jabba wishes to have a face to face meeting-"

"Not now Rook, I'm busy." Maul dismissed her, raising his hand.

"But My Lord, he's scheduled it on Serenno."

"Serenno, that's a separatist planet. The separatist planet." You added.

"Hmm... Dooku?" Maul pondered. "When is this meeting?"

"2 rotations, would you like me to rally a team?" Rook asked, her finger hovering over her comm link. *These mandalorians sure do love their action.*

"No. I have all the firepower I need." Maul made a faint shrug with his shoulder in your direction. He was referring to you, you didn't know whether or not to feel objectified or gratified.

Rook nodded, shooting you a quick glance of dissatisfaction. You paid it no mind, instead, you turned your body in the direction of your quarters.

"I'll prepare my-"

"No, eat, rest. We have time. I will make the necessary preparations. Refuel." Maul assured you.

"Have you refuelled, Maul?" You returned at him, crossing your arms.

"Not yet. I am not hungry."

*Lair.* You could practically hear his stomach rumbling from where you stood. You knew a trick. One that always worked on the clones, and sometimes even Anakin.

"Oh, well that's a shame, I was going to make that pasta dish again. The one from Naboo? But I guess I'll just have to make one batch..."

Maul cocked his head, relaxing his shoulders and shooting you a jocular smile. "Well, I mean if you're already making it-"

"I'll save you some."

And with that, you went in your separate directions. This meeting was almost certainly a set up, but you just had to figure out what for. And to do that, you had to spring the trap.