Chapter Text
“Ezra!” Kanan, once called Caleb, shouted, both a praise of thanks - Thank the Force you’re okay! - and a question - What happened? - at the same time.
His question was answered quickly, and Kanan felt his heart drop into his stomach as Ezra gestured to the slight figure behind him.
The figure was framed by the red and black outline of the Sith Temple’s doorway, a perfect complement to his matching skin. The horns on top of his head, and the gleaming, yellow eyes were impossible to miss.
Even the Inquisitors stopped their attack.
“I’ve brought help!” Ezra called.
No, Kanan thought. You’ve brought death.
Kanan knew he had to protect his Padawan from this being at all costs. From the way Maul stood just a little too close to the boy, and the way Ezra defended him, it seemed Maul was already back to his old ways.
Not my Padawan .
“Ezra. Step away from him!”
“Kanan, I swear, he’s on our side!”
The man once called Caleb Dume glanced uneasily at Ahsoka and saw the same thought he had reflected in her eyes. No, he’s not.
The Sith Temple’s version of an elevator slid into place and Maul immediately made to stand next to Ezra.
“Only two,” he said, holding two fingers up in Kanan’s face. “No more, no less.”
Kanan unsuccessfully fought down a flare of anger. “Oh, yeah? Well, these two come as a set.”
He took no small amount of pleasure in shoving the man out of the way. Did his old captor think he was that dumb?
Of course they were splitting up. Of course! And naturally he hadn’t been able to part Ezra from his new friend. He’d seen the gleam in Maul’s eye as he walked away with Ezra, saw the little smile he’d let slip when he thought the Jedi wasn’t looking.
He used to look at Kanan like that.
He’d tried to warn his Padawan, but once again, Ezra thought he was treating him like a kid.
“Ezra, listen to me. He’s using you! He’ll say anything to get what he wants!”
Oh, why hadn't he told Ezra about his past with the Sith? Why hadn’t he explained it better? Truth was… he never thought he’d have to. That was a mistake.
His Padawan’s voice was harsh as he answered, “Are you ever gonna trust me to think for myself? To follow my instincts?”
Like I said. A mistake.
Protect Ezra. Protect Ezra.
The litany ran through his head as he and Ahsoka once again clashed with the Inquisitors. They fought ferociously, but Maul even more so as he jumped into the fray, holding the two minions of the Empire off at once like some kind of saviour from above.
It did give him and Ahsoka a chance to breathe though.
The two Jedi and the ex-Sith finished them off together. Kanan didn’t even care though. There was only one thing on his mind.
“Where’s Ezra?” He demanded of the horned man.
Maul’s slippery soft reply sent fear straight down his spine. “You mean, my apprentice?”
No.
Turning to Ahsoka for help was his undoing. He never saw Maul coming.
And after the strike, he never saw anything again.
“Ezra will be mine!” Kanan heard as he blindly searched for his weapon. His sight may be gone, but he could still hear his old captor’s every shift upon the stone.
He stood tall, the old Temple Guard mask covering his scars as Maul practically laughed at him. “I… will make this quick.”
Kanan gripped his weapon tighter, thinking back to the moment his wrist had been crushed under those black and red hands, how he’d survived - despite Maul and Savage’s best efforts - to fight again.
“You had your chance.”
The fight began.
And in the end, he was victorious. How fitting that Maul had created his own downfall, putting too much into a swing that - with a little help from Kanan - sent him tumbling over the edge of the precipice.
The young boy - Caleb - inside him cheered in triumph, while the man - Kanan - fell to his knees at the edge.
The words in his mind beat in time to his ragged breathing. “ I did it. I did it.” It may have taken fifteen years, but Caleb Dume had finally vanquished his oldest foe.
And yet, as quickly as the boy inside him flared up, he disappeared again. For Kanan knew in his heart that he had let go of any feelings he’d had toward Maul a long time ago. He had too many other things to do to hold space and energy for someone like Maul.
Like protect his family.
There was no one left in his life who would understand what this moment meant, who could celebrate the ending of that chapter in his life. So, he whispered the words to himself.
“Rest in peace… Maul.”
The young boy Caleb listened in silence to the words, and knew…
They were true of himself as well.
The End