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Mace slipped in the ship through the corridors of the building, knowing exactly where to go so he wouldn't run into anyone, and quickly entered the cabin.
He didn't think the clones would suspect any unprofessional activity on his part, he just didn't want to worry them for nothing.
Especially for a reunion that Mace much preferred to keep private.
He didn't turn on any lights and remained still. The only breathing in the room was soft, peaceful and slow, but that didn't mean much with Eeth, he was as silent awake as he was asleep and he had incredible control over his body.
After a few seconds of silence, Mace deduced from the lack of words that his fellow Jedi was not awake and so slowly proceeded to undress and move into the room to reach the bed and the sleeping man under the sheets.
He didn't trip over the furniture, but he did bump into the edge of the bunk and almost fell on the mattress, causing the bed to shake. Mace froze, holding his breath before hurrying to lie down.
Eeth didn't wake up, but the Zabrak groaned nonetheless, clinging desperately to him in his sleep, a last-ditch instinct to keep Mace close.
Mace felt a sigh of relief leave him and his shoulders gradually relax. He was here, safe with him.
When Eeth had disappeared, captured by Grievous, Mace had lived every day like a living hell, not knowing what had happened until Grievous had taunted them and made fun of their helplessness.
Never in his life had Mace been so eager to leave everything behind and go kill someone. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so much hatred, rage and anger, maybe he'd just never felt those emotions with such intensity, because nothing deserved it.
It had been a horrible and heartbreaking choice to endure the absence of his companion and not go after him, abandoning his post and his men, but he had done his duty for the Republic, knowing that it was what the Zabrak would have wanted, and indeed it was. They were Jedi first, serving the people of the Republic before their feelings, they were servants before they were lovers, they knew that and respected it, that was all.
They had not even been able to display their happiness at their reunion, for they were in public, and a Jedi does not become emotional so easily, it would be dangerous, it would be a demonstration of a lack of control that neither of them could afford.
Waiting those few hours for the ship to be quiet so he could join him when the clones and Republic military couldn't see them was annoying, but alas, sometimes you had to accept some inconvenience to get what you wanted most in the world.
If he was honest with himself, Mace wasn't sure he understood how no one had guessed they were lovers. Yes, they were hiding it, and much better than Skywalker who couldn't keep his eyes off Senator Amidala, but still, they'd even completed a Concordance of Fealty, the longest in recent Jedi history, and the most pure and voluntary.
It was Eeth who had discovered this ancient tradition, and Mace had loved it. It was nothing like making their relationship official, but at the same time it was so close of it.
To exchange your lightsaber with another's was to offer your life to the other in a symbolic way, it was to offer yourself and all that you were to the other's judgment but also to their care, it was... the ultimate trust.
A sacred bond, as was their love.
He carefully settled down, took the man smaller than himself in his arms and pulled him closer until they were so close and so entangled that it would be hard to tell where one's body began and where it ended. Because they were one.
Mace carefully rested his chin against his lover's forehead, paying attention to the sturdy horns, and placed a hand on the back of the Zabrak's head, stroking his hair. He thought about how rarely they were together.
He wasn't sad about the rarity of these stolen moments, hidden from everyone. They were moments of joy and peace and love, and Mace asked nothing more of life and the Force than to have Eeth by his side, even if he was dozens of systems away.
It took him a long time to fall asleep, caught up in his thoughts, tormented by waking nightmares where the only thing he could find was the corpse of the Zabrak, horribly tortured and abused, the fear of losing Eeth had troubled him greatly, staying calm and focused had been a real ordeal.
As if he knew what Mace was thinking, Eeth moved a little further into the warmth of his embrace and pressed his face into his chest before purring peacefully.
Against his will, Korun's body stilled, muscle by muscle, and he fell asleep, his neck twisted so that his face was in the Zabrak's long hair. He would probably wake up with hair in his mouth, but no matter, Mace loved the smell and feel of Eeth's hair.
Mace couldn't for this war to end, he couldn't wait to have those stolen moments back home.