Chapter Text
Maul could hardly breathe. He huddled in the corner of his cell, barely caring about his pride anymore. His eyes widened as a shadowy figure entered through the doorway. Darth Sidious.
Maul pressed closer to the wall instinctively, earning him a disapproving look from Sidious.
“So. You have become weak.”
Maul couldn’t bear to look his Master in the eyes, couldn’t find the words to respond. Sidious stepped closer, and Maul flinched as he began speaking.
“At first I was impressed that you managed to survive. But you attempted to deceive me, to convince me that you had not, in fact, allied with another Sith and attempted to take my place, and the place of my apprentice.”
Sidious placed a hand under Maul’s chin, and he flinched again—why did he keep reacting like this? Didn’t he know how to control his emotions anymore?
Sidious lifted Maul’s head to look into his eyes, and Maul couldn’t help shivering as he looked into that icy gaze he’d hoped he’d never have to see again.
“You are weak.”
He shoved Maul’s face away roughly.
“Pathetic.”
Maul kept his gaze on the ground.
“I sensed it in you. Your fear has become your weakness.”
Maul didn’t react, knowing anything he did or said would only prove his Master right.
“And not only that,” snarled Sidious, “but you have allowed yourself to care for this apprentice of yours.”
“He… he is my brother. I felt he was… useful to me,” whispered Maul, wincing at his fearful tone. He didn’t even know why he’d said that, he’d only further earned Sidious’s wrath.
The Sith Lord scowled and raised his hands, and Maul lowered his head. He knew what was coming, he’d experienced it countless times before.
Desperately, he attempted to regain the stoicism he’d been known for during his apprenticeship, but he couldn’t. His body trembled despite all his efforts to remain calm, and his breaths were ragged and shaky. To his horror, a tear ran down his cheek.
He really was pathetic.
Savage’s eyes flickered open. He couldn’t quite tell what had woken him up, but as he became more aware, he began to reach out through the Force, searching for the source of that strange feeling that something was wrong.
At first he’d hated this extra sense he’d gained, finding it overwhelming and unpleasant, and being unable to separate it in his mind from the Nightsisters. It was their power, really, they’d just forced it into his mind, the same way they’d forced his body to grow and change, transforming him, painfully and violently, into a monster. Dooku’s training had at least given him some semblance of control over these strange new abilities, though his control was weak, and his Master’s training had been just as painful as what the Nightsisters had put him through.
When he’d found his brother, he’d felt the younger Zabrak’s pain and terror and confusion as if it was his own—just another way the Force had affected him negatively. But as Maul had recovered, and had begun traveling the galaxy alongside Savage, the Nightbrother had begun to see everything in a new light. If he’d never been taken from the village, he’d never have been sent to save Maul.
Maul had also begun providing guidance, helping his brother identify real emotions to draw his strength from, and showing him how to control the Force on his own terms instead of clumsily wielding his powers like a too-heavy weapon. He’d also shown Savage how to use the Force for connection and closeness—though he hadn’t used those words—communicating with others through their minds. Despite how cruel Maul could be at times, Savage had to admit, spending time with his brother made him feel like himself again. It made him feel like maybe he wasn’t a monster, at least not anymore.
Savage identified the cause of his strange feeling: something was wrong with Maul. Upon investigating, Savage felt a strong wave of terror and despair wash over him, just like when he’d looked into his brother’s eyes for the first time on Lotho Minor. In an instant Savage was out of his bed and rushing down the Mandalore palace’s hall to his brother’s room.
When Savage entered, Maul was still in bed, and he didn’t even react to Savage practically throwing the door open. Savage gingerly stepped closer. Maul was shivering, he realized, and Savage could hear him whimpering softly under his breath. He’d never seen his brother look so frightened before, not since Talzin had restored his mind. Looking closer, Savage noticed tears running down Maul’s face, and he swore he felt both his hearts breaking in half.
He truly loved his brother, he thought. At first he’d been attempting to make things right: if he couldn’t save Feral—no, “couldn’t save him” was putting it lightly, he’d killed Feral himself, a memory that would haunt him for the rest of his life—maybe he could save his other brother. Then, after he’d saved Maul, he’d been searching for any fragment of that strange but sweet boy that had visited Dathomir when he’d been a teenager, before that hooded man had come to take him back to wherever he’d come from. Savage had certainly been disappointed by his brother’s real personality, but that disappointment had lessened, and in that moment he realized he’d grown to love Maul for who he was now.
Savage placed a hand on Maul’s shoulder. The Sith flinched but didn’t wake up, so Savage began gently shaking his brother’s shoulder. Maul’s eyes shot open, and Savage’s hearts ached yet again as he saw the terrified look in his brother’s eyes.
Maul shuddered softly as he glanced around at his surroundings. As soon as he’d come to his senses, he straightened up, the emotion dissipating from his face. Maul snarled under his breath and aggressively wiped the tears from his face.
“Brother,” whispered Savage. “I sensed you were frightened, are you alright?”
Maul didn’t respond for a moment. He probably didn’t want to be so vulnerable in front of anyone.
“Would you… prefer if I left you alone?”
Maul turned to face Savage abruptly, and Savage noticed his eyes were glassier than usual.
“N-no… stay here…”
The younger Zabrak’s voice sounded more distressed than Savage had ever heard. He placed his hand on his brother’s, and Maul blinked rapidly.
“I’m here,” whispered Savage. “You’re safe. Nothing’s going to happen.”
Maul sat very still, the only motion a tear trailing down his cheek. Savage wiped it away, and the Sith closed his eyes.
“I had a dream that my Master had returned and captured me,” he finally whispered. “He had found out about our plan to overthrow him, and I was punished for it…”
Savage immediately put an arm around Maul.
“It’s alright. It’s just a dream. You’re safe now.”
Maul leaned into Savage’s side after a moment. He’d appeared to stop trembling when he’d woken up, but Savage could still feel him shaking slightly.
“If he ever tried anything like that, I would never let him harm you. I promise.”
Once again, Maul began to cry, this time burying his face in Savage’s shoulder. Savage held his brother close, sending him soothing thoughts and images through their bond, as the younger Zabrak slowly began to relax. After a while, Savage felt Maul growing heavier in his arms, and couldn’t help smiling.
“Ready to go back to sleep?”
Maul blinked up at him, looking as if he’d already been sleeping. Savage’s smile grew—Maul no longer looked like a Sith, or anyone who could take over a planet. He just looked like the little boy Savage had met all those years ago. In fact, if Savage wasn’t mistaken, his golden eyes had faded to green.
Savage stood up, allowing Maul to lie on the bed. He went to leave, but Maul’s eyes flew open, glowing yellow once again. He didn’t say anything, but he had a similar expression to when he’d first woken up.
Savage thought back to when Feral had been a child and had woken up from nightmares, how he’d ask Savage to tell him a story, and how Savage would stay with him until he fell asleep again. He’d always told Feral he would protect him from his nightmares. Savage had never thought he would be the one Feral would need protecting from...
He shook his head. Don’t think about that now. Besides, Feral would want you to do the same for Maul.
“Would you… like me to stay?” Maul closed his eyes, looking almost ashamed, then nodded almost imperceptibly. Savage immediately lie beside his brother. Maul remained motionless, his back to Savage.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I have… allowed myself to become weak, to give into my fear.”
Savage put a hand on Maul’s shoulder supportively.
“You’re not weak. It’s natural to feel like this, especially when you’ve… been through hard times.”
Savage still didn’t know exactly what Maul’s Master had done to him, but he could tell whatever had happened had impacted the Sith more than he even realized himself. Maul moved closer slightly, and Savage closed his eyes once he was sure that his brother had relaxed as well.
Savage wasn’t sure when he’d fallen asleep, or what time it was now, but his eyes snapped open the instant he heard Maul stirring more than usual. Maul’s face was pinched, as if he was bracing himself for something, and he shuddered under his breath, pressing deeper into the mattress. Savage once again put an arm around his brother, gently rubbing his back in what he hoped was a soothing manner.
This time Maul didn’t wake up, but his expression softened, and his breathing evened out. His eyelids fluttered, taking in his surroundings without fully waking up, and he moved closer to Savage, curling up against the older Zabrak. Savage gently pulled Maul closer, gazing at him lovingly. Maul huddled deeper into Savage’s embrace, beginning to purr softly.
Savage closed his eyes, drifting off again. His last thought before he fell asleep was how grateful he was that Maul trusted him, even if he didn’t always show it. He’d broken his promise to protect Feral, even though the Nightsisters had forced his hand, but that night Savage promised himself he would always be there for Maul, and he would do whatever it took to keep him safe.