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stargazing together

Summary:

Maul captures the young Padawan Eleanor and wants to bring her to the Master, but complications arise along the way and both begin to understand that their bond is growing stronger and something more than the power of darkness or light is awakening.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Chapter 1: Mutual rescue

Chapter Text

They fell in their embrace for a long time. She clung to Darth Maul like a tick and was just afraid of what would happen next.
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Zabrak tried as hard as he could to slow his fall with his strength. He knew that the task was given by Master Sidious. He suspected that it would be bad. He hit the hard ground and the woman who was holding him fell on his chest. He groaned in pain in his mind, but he didn't show it on the surface. Darkness spread before his eyes.
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Eleanora woke up. She was lying on the Sith Lord's chest. His black, cotton clothes were like the most comfortable pillow. She raised her head, but a dull pain forced her to lie down. She couldn't see anything. Only darkness darkening everywhere. A small source of light came only from above. As she lay on Zabrak's chest, she could hear his irregular breathing. She realized that she had a large scar on her stomach, which her friend Obi-Wan had inflicted on him. Even though she realized he had killed their Master Qui-Gon Jinn, she also realized that he was still alive because she had landed on him. It was unwise, but she placed her hands on his chest and began to meditate.
Maul felt his breathing return to normal. The wound in his stomach hurt, but he was glad Obi-Wan hadn't cut him in half.
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The weight left his body. She... such a young Padawan was walking somewhere. He opened his eyes and quickly stood up. It was his only chance that Sidious wouldn't kill him the moment he saw him. The pain that was spreading through his body was almost unbearable. She sat up and focused only on his hatred for Obi-Wan and the Force. He tried to stand up again. This time, he managed it without a trace of pain.
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Eleanora continued to wander in the darkness. She was afraid that the cure she was trying to get was a mistake. Maul would definitely kill her. Suddenly she was on the ground. She tripped over something hard. She wanted to get up, but she felt arms wrap around her. She was angry. She didn't feel the power that was near. The Sith could easily kill her in a second.
"Where do you think you're going?" Maul growled.
Anger boiled in her.
" Away from you. As far as possible. You saved me and I you, but we're definitely not even. You killed my Master. You monster." she replied agitatedly.
Maul looked her over and knew that he was the only one who could see even in the dark.
"You will come with me now. I will take you to my Master and he will decide about your life." He said and grabbed her arm.
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They walked side by side for long minutes, maybe hours. She couldn't tell the time. They were silent the whole way. When they reached the dump. They both turned around at once. The stench was terrible. Suddenly he jerked away from her. He grabbed his stomach. The wound Obi-Wan had inflicted on him was starting to resound.
"I could help you, but then you have to let me go." Eleanora suggested.
He just shook his head and started pushing her in her direction. They slowed down. They walked for a long time until they came to a small opening through which fresh air and light were coming. The Sith stretched out his hand and suddenly the surroundings of the opening flew apart. They crawled out. Maul bent down. He grabbed his stomach, but he didn't want to look weak. He straightened up and they continued on.
Eleanora started to go crazy in her mind. 'He's taking me away and killing me and I don't want to die.' She began to contemplate life.
She used to be a poor farm helper. She had almost no credits, she was glad to have something to eat. The vegetables and fruits that the farmers grew and the meat they caught. She was everything. She went to check the traps in the forest. She shot small game or fished. On the evenings that were usually cold, she would dig up the vegetables. The sharp jerk she felt brought her out of her thoughts.
"I was asking something!" Maul growled.
Eleanora shrugged. She didn't know what he was asking, but she saw the old wreck of the ship.
He didn't say another word and pushed her towards the ship.

Chapter 2: Ztroskotání

Summary:

Hello, here's the sequel. Let's see how the situation between Eli and Maul will develop.

Chapter Text

Maul tied the young Jedi warrior to the seat. He tried to start the ship himself when he heard a noise. The ship jumped. Eleanora silently prayed that her death would be quick. Maul sat up, clutching his stomach. The wound opened and he knew that if anyone attacked her, they would not be able to overpower him. Pressing a few buttons made the ship take off. He engaged the autopilot and set a course. Coruscant, a country belonging to the Sith Lords.
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Maul noticed that the young Padawan was sleeping. He hoped that nothing was wrong. His eyes began to close. He tried to meditate and use the Force to heal the wound that weighed on him again. He wanted to sleep, but the knowledge that he had failed to complete the task that Sidious had given him played in his thoughts. He knew that by handing over the woman, he was not sure that he would stay alive. He looked at the Padawan, she had long black hair. The dirty suit typical of the Jedi was torn. He could feel small shards of darkness in her. She was not a pure warrior. The hatred that Sidious had nurtured in him could kill her. It would be great revenge to see the Padawan kill her fellow apprentice Qui-Gon Jinn. He knew that Obi-Wan must suffer for the action he had committed against him. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.

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"Maule....Maule fucking wake up! Maule!!!!" Eleanor screamed. All the lights were flashing red. The alarm rang out throughout the ship, which was heading towards the ground. Fortunately, the Sith didn't pull the shackles so hard. She jerked her hands twice and the rope loosened. She immediately moved to Maul, who was fast asleep. As she pushed into him, he woke up. His lava eyes pierced her. She couldn't control the ship. Maul started pressing various buttons. Nothing. The ship continued to fall.
The sea. They fall into the water on an unknown planet. Maul tried to at least level the ship. Nothing.
"Jump. We have to jump. This ship will explode." The Sith spoke. He tried to get up, but he fell back. He was exhausted. Eleanora grabbed his arm and gave him support.
"You are evil, but I will not let you die here." She whispered in his ear. She hoped to arouse sympathy or anything resembling emotion in the red-robed. They walked to the door, which Maul kicked open with one kick. Air filled the entire space and they jumped. They fell into the water. Eleanora wondered what kind of planet this was. There was a hard hit of the water surface. The water was icy, but she knew she had to swim. She was weighed down by the extra weight she was dragging. Maul fainted. She could have let him drown, but now she knew she could die without him. She was determined to cure him.

Chapter 3: fatigue

Chapter Text

Eleanora finally swam to shore. She coughed out the water in her mouth. Maula was dragging her. He was unconscious. As soon as she threw him on his back onto the white sand, she immediately began to compress the Sith's chest. She was afraid that he wouldn't breathe. She almost drowned and since he was helpless, it could have been fatal. She continued to compress his chest. Water came out of Maul's mouth. Eleanora was glad that he was alive. She began to blush at the thought that after so many chest compressions, breathing should come. She had never kissed anyone, let alone given artificial respiration, but what was worse, this was a Sith Lord. It was even Darth Maul, who had killed her Master Qui-Gon Jinn. No more water came out of his mouth. The blush on his face was turning tomato red. She lowered her head and placed her lips on his. Zabrak coughed. Eleanora quickly picked herself up and watched Maul as the last of the water he had inside him rolled out of his mouth.
His eyes watched her. Was he angry? She didn't know. But he was in shock. He could clearly feel what had happened.

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He was looking at her. In sheer rage, he would have killed her. He was annoyed that he didn't have his lightsaber. He was furious and fascinated at the same time. She had saved him, even though she didn't have to. He tried to remember the last time he had felt a warm feeling on his home planet of Dathomir. He didn't have nice memories. He knew that the Jedi had given him loving touches that had completely thrown him off.
"f..go.." he wanted to send her away, but instead of words he started coughing. The young Padawan leaned over him and helped him sit up. She closed her eyes and placed both hands, fingers outstretched, on the wound on his stomach that was bothering him.
Maul frowned. She saw him as a weakling. He pushed her away.
"What are you doing? I just want to help you." She said seriously, looking into his eyes. Her emerald eyes followed him incomprehensibly. Maul ignored her question. He stood up and looked around. He felt the injury go away. He didn't want to show her the slightest gratitude. His throat burned unpleasantly, but he tried to keep his voice harsh and full of anger.
"The plan continues. As soon as we find civilization here on this planet, we will continue our journey. My master will want to see you and get information." he said. He took a few steps along the beach.
She followed him.
"I know that it will be my fate, obviously. Do you know where we are?" She asked. It was difficult for Maul to answer her. He felt something he couldn't name. He wanted to let her go, but he believed that Sidious would kill him, but what if his fate was death anyway? Maybe he should change his plans and hide. Maybe he should call for help...mother? He must never address her. It would destroy his incompetence. They turned to the woman.
"Name?" He growled evilly. He had always believed that hatred fueled his strength.
"Mine? I.. I don't know the name of this planet." She didn't know what name she wanted.
Anger surged through Maul's body. He didn't know if she was making fun of him or if she was really stupid.
"Your little girl." He snapped angrily.
"My name is Eleanora. My friends call me Eli. Don't call me that. We're not friends, we're just dependent on each other to survive here. Here on this planet we know nothing about." Her words were filled with anger towards him. He smiled, she would be a good disciple of the dark side if she was interested. He studied her. His breath always slowed as he ran his eyes over her body. The wet clothes accentuated her body more. She was slim, but not like a skeleton. Hair like darkness but eyes like rare crystals of bright green. Real emeralds he thought.
"Darth Maul. I don't know where we are. Let's go!" He ordered and nodded his head towards the forest, which was two hundred meters beyond the beach. They walked side by side in silence. He didn't want to talk and hoped that she wouldn't talk either.
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She was angrier than ever. On an unknown planet with a Sith who would rather see her dead. She had to keep thinking about their physical contact. His body was hot as fire. His eyes seemed to radiate gratitude for a nanosecond, but it disappeared immediately. He didn't want to look at her for long, but he still stared at her and watched her. He didn't want to touch her, as if the touch caused him pain.
She had no idea what training he had received, but it certainly wasn't pleasant. The silence was terrible.
"Maule, tell me something about yourself. What about the wound? Did it start?" she asked. She got no answer, only a growl. He continued on his way.
"Mr. Dark, who doesn't speak, come on...we have to talk. Communication will keep us alive and...and we could also get to know each other and maybe reconsider everything. You don't have to condemn me to certain death. After all, I saved you and you saved me and then I saved you. And..." he grabbed her by the arms and threw her into the sand.
"Don't try this crap the Jedi taught you on me anymore. You have a clear idea that Sidious will kill you. If not him, then I will, if he orders me to." He answered, towering over her.
"The sun is sinking towards the horizon and I am exhausted from it all. Could we stop in that forest?" she said sadly and walked past him. She stopped right next to him. "I am sorry I saved you, Maule. I had hoped you would repay me with mercy, but you are rotten through and through." She began to cry. They walked on and she tried to calm herself down.
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They walked for a long time until they reached a clearing covered in moss. Eleanora could no longer. The pain was leaving her faster than she expected. Her legs stopped working. She fell to the ground and smelled the pleasant scent of forest, moss and dirt.
"Get up!" Maul growled and kicked her in the leg.
"I really can't do it anymore. Let me die." She said lost. Maul stopped his next kick. He couldn't continue to torture her. He sat down next to her.
"We can't stop here. We have nothing. Weapons, food or water. Eli wake up." He spoke more quietly, as if he was afraid that someone would hear him.
"I can't. Please, by all living things, please don't do this, Maul. I'm going to die, I don't have the strength. I used it all up on your. .." her head fell into the moss. Eleanora was asleep. Zabrak didn't have the strength to wake her up. Something stopped him.

Chapter 4: Cold

Chapter Text

Maul slept leaning against a tree. His clothes were dry, his stomach was healed. He ran his fingers under his black suit and felt the scar. It was clear that the scar would remain. He examined Eleanor carefully. She was shivering. She slept on the moss, which had become damp again as the night progressed. Her clothes were wet. He closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep for a few more hours. He tried to sleep, but a voice sounded in his head. It was an unfamiliar voice.

' and are you sure he survived?' It was a deep, male voice.
' yes. The result of a hunter. Contact Fett, have him come out and remember that we want him alive. He can die another time, but if he causes trouble, shoot him with that horned club.' it was his master who spoke.

Maul opened her eyes sharply. The voice of a young Padawan. She was literally shivering with cold.
"Cold." It was the only word she kept repeating.
Maul leaned toward her. He was embarrassed. He could hug her, warm her, share her warmth. Or there was the option of letting her freeze and hope she died quickly. That would give him the chance to torture and gather information. He went back to his thought. Were they talking about him? Were they going to send Boba Fett to bring him back alive? Were they going to kill him then? He played with the last sentence he had heard in his head.
He knew that if he fell into Boba Fett's clutches, he would die before he could speak. At that moment, he lay down next to the Jedi in the moss. He lay on his back and reached for the woman. He pulled her to his chest. Instinctively, she hugged him. She hugged him like the greatest source of warmth. Her clothes were still wet, as if she had just gotten out of the water. The Zabraki were always warm as stones, he knew they would warm her. He hugged her around the shoulders and closed his eyes.

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Eleanora woke up when the sun's rays began to warm her face. Her clothes were already dry, she felt that she had something heavy around her. She opened her eyes, it took a while for her to wake up. It was Maul's hands that hugged her. She tried to remember the night. Her only thought belonged to the cold that spread through her body. The wetness from the moss and clothes chilled her, but then it stopped, as if she had turned on the central heating underneath her. As she tried to get up, she woke the Sith as well. He quickly opened his eyes and was ready to attack.
Something was different. Wrong. She didn't know what had happened, but something had changed. Maul was aggressive. His gaze betrayed cruelty and anger. Was he angry that he had been inattentive? He stood up.
"We must leave immediately. Find civilization, steal a ship and disappear. Disappear. It is dangerous here." He spoke. His stomach growled in response. Eleanora did not know when he had last eaten, but she had had breakfast the day before.
Zabrak studied her with interest. Then his gaze moved to the treetops.
There was a fruit that resembled a mango in shape.
"There is your breakfast, take it off." He said. Eleanora frowned. She felt stupid admitting that she could not do it. She was a novice. Maul exhaled and rolled his eyes. He stretched out his hand and broke the top branch. The shock the tree had experienced caused the fruit to fall. On the ground in front of them was a long, strong branch, fruit, and more. A nest with eggs. He didn't care what kind of bird had lost its nest.
"Put those weak branches together. I'll get some rocks, Eleanora, put the nest under those sticks. The eggs will be laid on those rocks." He gave orders and walked back to the beach where he had seen the rocks.

Eleanora would have had a chance to escape, but She didn't know where to go, Instead she began to carry out the order. She prepared a mock fire and realized that the Sith knew far more about survival than she ever would.

Chapter 5: supplies

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Maul was returning from the beach. He carried rocks in his hands to the place where he had left Eleanor. He had expected her to run away, but she was there. He watched her build a fire. She was skilled, but not fully trained. He glanced into the distance behind the woman. He saw a shadow. He didn't know who or what it was. He took quick steps and dropped the rocks a few inches from the woman. He started running. He ran through the forest and heard footsteps behind him. He felt that it was Ela. She was following him. That pleased and annoyed him at the same time.
He jumped to the place where he had seen the shadow. He ended up on a forest path lined with trees. He was breathing heavily. He looked around, and then he saw a piece of cloth behind a tree. He stretched out his hand and concentrated. He called forth a bolt of lightning that split the tree in half. The figure jumped out with a scream. It was a man. His face could not be seen. His hood covered his face. He was smaller, stocky, and quite frightened, judging by the screams that kept coming out of his mouth.
Maul ran towards him. He grabbed him and put his hand over his mouth to silence him. Screaming would attract unwanted attention, and now that he didn't know what he was doing. Does the Master want him dead or not? Who was the dream about, those voices.
The man whimpered into the glove hiding his hand. Maul decided to pull him out of the way. They retreated from the path into the forest from where Maul had come. Eleanora watched him, shocked at what she was seeing.
"Be quiet and you might survive. Tell me where we are!" Maul whispered and he released the man's mouth. She immediately began to call for help. Maul silenced him again.
"I'm asking you one last time. Where the fuck are we and what are you doing?" He shouted in his ear in irritation and threw him to the ground. The man stopped screaming. He just watched them.
I.....I..... Po....Help. Sith!!!" She started screaming and at that moment Maul's patience ran out. Anger filled him and he started to strangle the man.
"Oh no.... you can't do that. That's evil..." Eleanora spoke and rushed towards Maul. She grabbed his hand and tried to get him to put his hand down. She failed, but Maul eased up on strangling him.
"We have to do it. Take it, he won't tell us anything, on the contrary he'll give us away and we need supplies and look at that backpack he's carrying. " Maul said and clenched his hand into a fist. At that moment the man stopped breathing. He died.
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Eleanora stepped back from her. She couldn't believe that the Zabrak who had warmed her with his body at night was still here and now? Now he had killed an innocent person. She sat down on the ground and started crying.
"You shouldn't do this. Everyone has the right to live, and you killed him now...just because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. " She said and felt bile rise up her throat. She opened her mouth and threw out stomach juices.
"We must survive!" He said decisively, bent down and began to search the man. He revealed his face. He was an old man, his best years were behind him. He found a small knife, which he immediately hid behind his belt, some credits that ended up in a pouch at his belt. He continued searching while Eleanora was still fighting nausea. Sith threw his backpack at her.
"Search him" he ordered and began to remove the man's cloak.
Eleanora didn't know why she was doing this. After all, he himself had a cloak, a black long shirt and trousers. As soon as he untied it, he threw it to her.
"We'll use that. " He said to explain the situation to her. Eleanora nodded and sent the backpack. It was clearly a traveler. Three stainless steel bottles, when she picked them up, she could feel them being full. She felt an immense thirst as she realized she hadn't drunk anything. She kept searching, but Maul had already helped her. They pulled out several packages of dried food, dried meat, a lighter, bandages, and whiskey from the bar in Nar-Shadda.
"Maybe we'll survive." Maul said and grabbed a bottle of alcohol. He opened it and took a deep drink.
"Could you please tell me what's in these bottles? I'm thirsty, but really thirsty. " Eleanora whispered and Maul handed her the whiskey. She held the bottle as far away from her as she could with disgust and waited. The Sith opened the first bottle. He sniffed at it and immediately pulled away. His stomach turned.
"This is fuel oil, we have to label it somehow." He said and opened the second. Eleanora took the first and placed it against a tree.
"Yuzu juice" he said and drank. Maul spat out the water immediately.
"The rotten one" turned the bottle and poured the juice out.
The last bottle came next. He opened it to smile at Eleanora as soon as he sniffed. He tasted it and offered her the bottle.
She grabbed it furiously and drank it immediately. It was ordinary water and yet she was grateful for the drink, but only until she looked at the dead body. She threw the bottle at Maul with disgust. She stepped back and realized that there was cold-blooded killer.
She refused to look him in the eye.
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She looked at him, but it was a look that expressed disgust. He ignored it. He began to continue with his plan. He gathered the stones he had thrown on the ground earlier and began to stack them around the fire. Eleanora took the cloak. What had previously belonged to the man and wrapped herself in it. She was cold. The hunger was so strong that she could not even have a conversation with Maul.
He built a fire and the heat began to fill the surroundings. On the stones, he placed eggs and a few pieces of dried meat. Maul was happy that he had find something that he knew would fill him.

Chapter 6: Forest

Chapter Text

Maul didn't hear a word from the Jedi, as if she had begun to ignore him, even as he found supplies and tried to keep them both alive. He still clung to the idea that he wanted to take her to his master, even though he didn't know if his dream was just a dream or a premonition.
He waited for Eleanora to eat her portion, which consisted of a piece of dried meat, an egg, and some water. He ate it immediately. He was hungry.
It must have been noon when they set off. Eleanora was spending her last moments, kneeling beside the dead man. He had to literally lift her and drag her before she began to follow him on her own. They walked along the path where they had seen the man before.
They walked for long hours. There was only forest around them. It was starting to get dark, Maul looked up at the sky. Through the treetops he could see a dark, gray sky. Clouds, black as darkness itself, were chasing each other. He knew that it would start to rain any moment.
"What is this?" Eleanora asked dryly. She pointed to a hut built in the bushes that were below the path. It was a cliff. Maul had gone off the path. Needles and leaves with small stones began to fall down. He knew that a fall was very likely if he was not careful.
He went down even lower and extended his hand to the Jedi. She did not take it. She tried to go down herself. But her foot began to sink into the needles and she lost her balance. She would have ended up on the ground if Maul had not caught her. He held her under his arm and tried to keep them both from falling off the cliff.
Eleanora regained her balance and continued with Maul to the hut, looking forward to a rest. Her legs were starting to hurt like hell. The last few steps, she was already dragging. Maul readied his knife and was determined to go inside.

Chapter 7: First kiss

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Maul stepped into the hut. It was empty. The only thing there was were things scattered almost everywhere. Eleanora was on his heels. She was looking around herself, when suddenly she reached for something. It was the ship's log. Maul stood closer to her. He waited for what he would hear when he opened it. As soon as she opened it, she heard a voice. It was an old log that was only capable of capturing voices.

"Today I saw hunters. They are not Mandalorians, but people in bone suits. Their helmets are made of the skull of a creature that I cannot identify. I would like to get out of here, as long as there is no working ship..."

Eleanora turned to the next page.

"Today I am depressed. I don't know what day it is. I can't count how many days I have been here. I am trying to hunt the creatures living here, but it is not working. I don't have my blaster. I found a sword yesterday. I almost lost my arm."

Maul immediately began to search. And he found one. He held the hilt of the sword in his hand. He pressed the activation button and a stream of pure energy erupted, sizzling and crackling purple. He pressed the activation button again and the light emanating from the sword disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. He tucked it into his belt and hissed softly. His stomach ached where Obi-Wan had touched him with his lightsaber.
Eleanora turned to the other side.

" I'm done. They discovered me and I got a wound from them and even bandages won't save me. I'm bleeding and I can hear them. I'm determined. I'll eat the poison I found. It should be a mixture of mushrooms and herbs according to the pictures on the bottle. Goodbye.

A few last sentences for those who find my journal. I was a smuggler and I was shipwrecked on one of the five moons of the planet Makeb. According to my calculations, it should be Ihnos. Watch out for creatures that look like wolves. It's a creature from ancient myths. Graegus. Don't try to defeat him. I saw Shaclaws trying to kill him and he killed them. Also, watch out for "skull hunters" as I call them. And finally, a piece of advice. If you see a ship that's anything but pure black with a white skull on the side, get in. Otherwise, you'll never get out of here. "

The journal ended and Maul looked around and didn't see a nothing skeleton. As if everything had been lying there for quite a few years. Eleanora bent down and began searching. Suddenly she glowed with happiness. She found a sterile bandage with bacta. It was sealed in a vacuum package. She grabbed it and turned to Maul.
"You need this." she pulled him out. The Sith Lord followed her without protest. They stopped in front of the hut. There was a fire pit and he knew that the smuggler had inhabited this area for a long time.
"Take off your top clothes, I'll bandage your wound." She said seriously. Maul kept looking into her eyes. He couldn't believe that she wanted help. He began to undress until only half of his body was left.
Eleanora studied him. His body was worked out. But then her eyes stayed on the scar on his chest. It was an old scar, long healed. She quickly looked away. She looked around and finally went with Maul under a large pine tree. The Sith sat down on one of the tree roots that undulated around him. Eleanora sat down next to him. She took off her bandage and sat right next to Maul. She started to tie it to the recent scar on his stomach. She almost had to hug him as she continued to his back.

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Maul had been watching her the whole time. He could slowly let his eyes rest on her. That warm touch, it was almost tender. That worry. And he... he wanted to give her to Sidious. He still had the idea of ​​giving her to his master, to forgive him for his failure.

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Eleanora was already done. She attached the bandage to his left hip. She straightened up a little and suddenly stopped. Their faces were almost next to each other. She could feel his breath. His eyes glowed like real lava. Maul could feel his pulse was much higher than normal.
Eleanora was looking straight into his eyes now, she didn't even know how, but she sat on his lap. She was almost hugging him with one arm and then it happened. She pressed her lips to his. They were hot. Maul kissed her back. Eleanora opened her mouth and deepened the kiss even more. Maul grabbed her buttocks, but with this movement Eleanora pulled away and stood up.
"This...we can't do this" she muttered quickly and ran away from Maul into the hut.

Chapter 8: warm touch

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Eleanora wanted to hide from the whole world. She was ashamed, although for a moment she didn't know why. She suspected that as a Jedi she shouldn't kiss a Sith, but something led her to do it. Something far stronger than the Force or anything else. She lay down on the ground, on a pile of papers that covered the entire ground. Tears were streaming down her face. It was her first kiss and she gave it to the Sith Lord, the slave who had killed her Master Qui-Gon Jinn. Although her survival now depended on cooperating with him, she didn't know if it was right. Maybe she should find out what he really intended to do with her. She closed her eyes and tried to stop hurting like a little girl.

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Maul getting dressed. He was completely out of the picture. He had never treated him like this. He had never experienced his Master complimenting him or helping him get up when he lost in training. Her touch was gentle. And the way her lips touched his. It was as if the ice around his heart was melting. He knew he had to give her to Sidious, but he didn't want to. He wanted to keep her, even if only as apprentices. He suspected Sidious wouldn't let her distract him like a woman.
He half wished his dream was actually a vision. A vision of his near future, when he would have the opportunity to leave Sidious and his party. He suddenly wished he could decide whether to fight or not. He would be willing to join the side of the light if he had a reason. But they wouldn't accept him, and so he would choose neutrality. He suddenly pushed the thought away and buttoned his black robes up to his neck.
He couldn't let her get under his skin like this. This was the last time he would let her spark conflict in him.
He sat back under the pine tree and watched the clouds drift across the sky. He guessed it must be three or four in the afternoon. He was tired, but he refused to go to bed in the hut. She was there and he didn't want to be near her any longer than necessary.
The weather wasn't kind to him. It had gotten so cold that he had to go inside the hut. As soon as he closed the makeshift door, consisting of nothing but blankets and rags. He looked around. He saw the Padawan lying in the left corner of the hut. He sat down in the right corner directly across from her. He noticed that she was shivering. He wondered if she was sad or cold.

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Eleanora felt a creeping cold spreading throughout the place. Her stomach rumbled, but she didn't have the courage to get up and tell the famous Sith Darth Maul about food. She was afraid to even look at him. She lay on her side, covered only by her cloak.
"Did you eat anything?" Maul asked suddenly. He stood over her. Eleanora couldn't even turn around. She was ashamed of the tears that were streaming down her face. She just shook her head.
"Padawan, look at me." he commanded.
She didn't listen.
"Look at me!" He said harshly this time and leaned towards her. She didn't want to look at his face, but his movement made her turn as he grabbed her arms and was about to turn her around. This time they both remained frozen. They stared at each other. She wondered what to do and decided to let Maul make the first move.
He watched her as if he were fighting with himself. She could feel his breath on her face, his scent and his strength. He leaned even lower. This time he was almost touching her skin. She felt his lips, but then suddenly it was as if he had been hit and he pulled away very quickly. Eleanora wanted to kiss him again, but instead he started looking for something. After a while he returned holding something like an ordinary bag in his hand. She noticed that it was a package of dried meat. She accepted it with relish. She opened it and started eating. After a while she handed the bag to Maul.
He sat down next to her and took a bite.
"Eat your fill." The Sith said as soon as he finished his bite. Eleanora began to shiver again. Zabrak approached her and hugged her around the shoulders. She pressed against him and her body began to absorb the warmth that came from him. She put down the bag and snuggled up to Maul. He warmed her with his own body and the only thing that scared her was that the cold evening was approaching.

Chapter 9: Time

Summary:

14 days later. Some time has passed here.

Notes:

Uplyne pár dní od ztroskotání na planetě.

Chapter Text

Time flew by, Eleanora even lost count of the nights she had slept under the same blanket with Maul, ashamed.
They both realized that this planet was unpredictable. Sometimes the sun shines all day and it is as hot as an oven, the wind does not move a single twig, and at night comes the cold, freezing and intrusive, which Eleanora has never experienced. Thanks to Maul, she has not yet frozen on this planet. Other days it was cold even during the day and the wind raged and broke branches, which they then collected to make the hut more habitable.
Maul often walked through the forest, looking for opportunities to move. He never came back empty-handed. Although he did not bring news that they could move or that he had found a ship, he always brought food, whether fruit or some dead creature, which they then prepared on a fire and ate. It was incredible to him that Eleanora praised him. But she was really excited when she saw him carrying something. But she didn't idle either. All the mess disappeared from the wooden floor. She even made such an effort that she prepared rainwater in several bowls and wiped it. It felt like they lived in a tiny house in solitude. She even found moments when she forgave the prisoner for murdering Master Qui-Gon Jinn. She prayed that they would all leave them alone. She believed that Maul would change.

♡♡♡♡♡♡

Maul quietly crept up behind Eleanor, who was cutting a fruit resembling a mango into small pieces on a makeshift table. He wanted to surprise her with the fish he had caught today in the water where he had almost drowned. His anger and hatred in her presence subsided until he almost felt nothing bad. He was afraid that he wouldn't be able to say out loud how he felt about Ela, but almost every time she touched him, he thought only of hugging her to warm her. Her touches, words, and thoughts that got under his skin. He just silently wished that everyone would forget about him.
"I have a catch." he said and stood close behind Eleanor. He could smell her scent. He threw the fish on the table and fought himself not to do what he wanted. They stood so close to each other,
"That's great, Maul, you're really clever, you have to teach me." she said and turned to him. She stood there, stunned, not expecting Maul to be standing so close. She looked into his eyes and he looked back at her.
Everything in Maul broke the moment Eleanor hugged him. He was determined that he would never return to his master. He decided that wherever this woman went, he wanted to go too.
She hugged her and he hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead at the same time.

♡♡♡♡♡♡
Eleanora herself was in shock. The feared Darth Maul was standing there now, hugging her and even kissing her. She didn't know what to think, but she was afraid of the pain that might come after she admitted what she felt. Suddenly she felt his hand touch her cheek and he kissed her on the other cheek.
"Maule, this is..." she couldn't say the words no, we can't or any others like it.

Notes:

Hi guys, sorry for any translation errors.
I hope you enjoyed the story ♡ and thank you very much for your comments.