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Who: Darth Maul (

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What: After some cat and mouse antics, Maul finally hunts Reaper down for a confrontation.
When: Mid/late April
Where: The Farther Shores

Content Warnings: Language, threats of bodily harm, potential violence, body horror due to corruption.

[Reaper knew there was a problem, knew he had a problem and knew he was a problem. In his deranged state of mind that was full of paranoia and corruption, he was convinced that he somehow had a handle on the addiction that raged throughout his body and mind. How did he convince himself? The household remained safe along with the occupants he had vowed to protect against all odds and for all costs. He hadn't attacked them, had even tried - and failed - to upkeep many duties that would be considered normal.

He was away from the house more, aware that his ever changing body was dangerous. He had also hit the point of always being on the lookout for an opportunity to steal from Sleepers. Never kill them, but he would take their blood without a moment's hesitation.

When he came to realize Maul was hunting him, it stirred a rabid anger all packed around a deep unforgiving hurt that had hit the point of both being completely unreasonable. The corruption made it even worse, so when Maul would catch up with him, he'd flee. The shadows, high buildings, a crowd of people all allowed him to slip away and he provided only a glimpse of his fleeing form with an unhinged laugh.

Sleepers who froze to stare at moths made easy prey. He took from them, then ran away before he could draw too much attention to himself. By attention, he had become a swell of black smoke, tentacles, eyes and mouths, allowing him complete awareness of his surroundings. His form ebbed and flowed like an angry body of water, stirred up easily, but it also provided him an easy way to haul off.

He was aware of Maul on his trail tonight, but he didn't care. He squirmed and teleported away, having drank well in the Boardwalk. While it might seem the worst place to be - and it was - Reaper moved along the Farther Shores where the wind was whipped up on the sand and the spray of the sea was close enough to feel. Reckless, uncaring and certainly bold, he moved along towards the cliffs where he could hide in rocky crevices to avoid Maul's questing.

Go away. Come on. Go away. Help me. Get lost. Kill me.]

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[There was the smallest ghost of a smile that flickered on his face before it disappeared again as Reaper called him an impulsive six-year-old. His mate wasn't wrong there, he really did have the emotional nature of a child much of the time. Perhaps it was the product of being raised by Sidious, left stunted in nature for a good long while, and unable to fully move onto a more healthy adult state of mind.]

You're not wrong. When I want something, I intend to have it no matter what, and rarely think of the consequences beyond getting what I desire at that moment.

[Which is how he ended up in this situation in the first place. Only now was he being forced to see where his short-sighted thinking had led him. He looked over towards Reaper.]

I stopped because I was afraid I would hurt someone else the way I'd hurt you by forming another one. When I went over to see you that day..... [He sighed and ran a hand over his right shoulder, rubbing it there.] .....I'd planned to eventually ask if you would form one with me. You were important to me, Reaper. You still are. Do you think I would have wasted all this time trying to bring you back from corruption if I didn't still love you?

[Typical child mentality, Reaper thought. He should know, given he'd had a hand in occasionally raising one or two of them. He had not been the best influence on children, but they had had fun with it up until a certain point where he had to be the 'tough serious' one, but he had seen the effects of short-sightedness full force.

It had been endearing in Maul at first, especially given the Zabrak's history with being left with nothing but pain, fear and anger. Even now with many other interactions, he would find it amusing. Bonds somehow crossed a line for him, feeding into his own insecurities of losing everything and having to remain the stoic one. Betrayal dug deep, and he was hard-pressed to let the notion go now that he had it.]

I know I'm not. It's landed you into plenty of trouble, but it is what you are. We all react in the ways we see will get us what we want or protect us.

[Ah, so it took his over-the-top reaction and their big fight to bring Maul's desires to slap a hand on many more people? Well, wasn't that just grand. All of Maul's little friends who ended up not being hurt would have to give him a good slap on the back in thanks. Taking one for the team, as he was used to doing so long ago.]

I think you'll do whatever is necessary to suit your own self-interests, and if it served you to drag me back rather than kill me, you'd do it. You may still love me, but I imagine you're more afraid of losing what we had. It's not like people are lining up to put up with mine or your bullshit in an intimate capacity.

[Maul's tone sharpened and the expression in his eyes hardened for a moment.]

Of course I'm afraid of losing you. Love always produces fear because we want to hold onto the people that make us happy, those that care about us, the faces we want to wake up to each morning.

[Then the sharpness melted away again and he sighed, trying to be patient. Getting into another fight right now wouldn't be productive for either of them. He tried a different line of thought.]

Gabriel, I love you dearly, but you can be a stubborn old fool sometimes. I may not have as much experience with relationships as you-- [Or at all, but Reaper already knew that.] --but I do know a thing or two about love. And I know you can't love someone without running the risk they might eventually hurt you in some way, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Yet you act like the first time that has happened for us we should just give up and go our separate ways, that this was too great to overcome. That just because everyone has left you means I want to. Yet where am I? Did I run to someone else and cast you aside the first chance I had? I came back to you. I'm right here. I haven't gone anywhere.

Edited (Phone, don't hit enter before I'm ready, that's rude. ) 2022-05-10 03:47 (UTC)

[Reaper lifted his head again from where it had come to rest on his arm. Maybe he was spoiling for a fight, especially since he physically wasn't about to get up and run out.

But a fight wasn't really worth it, was it? He could roll off the side of the bed, but there was no way he was crawling fast enough. And he didn't have the energy, and honestly, if this was going to crash and burn as he thought it would, may as well just get it over with.]

They didn't leave me. [He murmured that into his arm.] I left them. Being too close to me ends in pain, so it's better I cut them loose before things get too deep for too long. [He'd been better about it when he was younger, far more committed to try to make it work.] And I expect that you'll find someone else eventually. That's how things work, and Trench won't be any different. Like the bonds, you'll find something new and shiny and grab it in your childish way without thinking. Though, you're far more stubbornly loyal than most.

Any pain you might cause me has always been worth it in my eyes. My life has been full of nothing but, so what's a little more added on top of it if being with you can also bring me such happiness?

[He growled a little when Reaper claimed he'd find someone else as easy as all that. That hit a nerve, that Reaper would think him so flighty as that.]

I've been here over two years and the only one I've ever found that I wanted was you. Sorry to say, you're not that easily replaceable.

[He leaned over, close now to Reaper's face. Time to lay all the cards out and see what came of that. He took a deep breath.]

Gabriel, do you still love me? Give me a yes or no answer. Because if it's 'no', I'll leave. I'll walk out of here and you never have to see me ever again. [Then his voice took on a much more earnest, fierce tone.] But if it's 'yes', you don't get to just take the easy way out because that's what you're used to. You're a fighter and always have been. So fight to keep what we have!

You're such a dramatic masochist. [Reaper didn't even bother to hide that he rolled his eyes and even blew a thick strand of white hair from his face.] Maybe you're at your best when being abused....

[No, he wasn't easily replaceable. He had engrained himself into many situations with skills, but relationships had been one of them before. There was something distinctly non-tactical when it came to throwing his cards in with Maul, which was why he thought it better to grip the betrayal tight and let the Zabrak go. Risking another personal loss was daunting no matter how cold and aloof he might come across.

He frowned and even curled a lip to show a threat of teeth when the younger man leaned in close. His eyes narrowed, and the easy most hurtful answer was 'no'. He could do it too, flip off everything they had with a single word. Maul was stubborn though and might call his bluff if he tried. He couldn't easily slip away with his current energy level, and he thought he might puke if he moved too quickly anyway.

So he glared and held his peace for the moment, drawing out the silence as he glared at the Zabrak leaning over him. White hair lifted to curl around Maul's throat and head, caressing shoulders despite the mental command being 'hold'. Apparently affection would slip in there despite his best intentions to keep neutral.]

...I do still love you. But that doesn't mean I've forgiven you.

[He growled a little when Reaper called him a masochist. Alright, so it was true, but that didn't mean he had to call him out on it.

Waiting for Reaper to speak, he almost flinched away as his mate's hair suddenly came to life.

Huh. So this was now a thing. He supposed this must have had something to do with Reaper's blood type.

The strands moving all in their own reminded him of the tentacles that had flailed around when his lover had been corrupted, but just like those tentacles had then, the hair didn't attempt to harm him. Instead, the locks just gently caressed his skin, tracing patterns over his tattoos, and it felt..... well, Maul was being turned on just a little bit.

He pushed those thoughts down. Now was not the time to be getting horny. Instead, he focused on what Reaper was saying. There was a look of relief on his face when Reaper affirmed he still loved Maul. One hand came up and he gently cupped Reaper's face with his left hand, his thumb tracing one of the scars there. His voice was soft and gentle.]

So don't. I know better than anyone about holding onto anger. Stay angry with me if you want. But let me stay by your side and try to regain your trust.

[The antics of his hair was one of the last remaining parts of corruption aside from the blacken arms and thickened nails. His tentacles had often acted with a mind and presence of its own, and this was no different. His white hair was far more passive, more seeking to provide a certain awareness through touch. It didn't have much to harm with, just entangle if he wanted.

He sighed when Maul touched his face, and he thought the admittance was a mistake he would regret. It had taken him a long time to admit to himself that he loved Maul when they had began dating, and it would take him just as long to let that love die without far more serious provocation. After all, Kenobi hadn't been a lover's bond, and that might have been the only reason he didn't shoot the pair dead.

He eyed Maul where he lay, then he nodded. He knew that there would be little chance of sending the Zabrak away after confirming what they had was real, even with anger and distrust boiling beneath the surface.]

It's not like I can throw you out. I don't think I can sit up right now...

[Which was never a position that he wanted to be in. Yet, here he was.]

And don't hover if you're going to stick around.

[He waited to see what Reaper would say as the strands of hair continued to caress his skin. There was a slight twitch as some of them hit a ticklish spot along his neck. That silent nod was all the confirmation Maul needed to take it as a sign they were back on track and together again. His other hand had come up now, one on either side of Reaper's face, and he leaned in to press his forehead gently to the other man's in a sign of affection and trust.

He'd never be able to admit out loud how much he'd missed Reaper, just the sight of his lover, having him close by where he could show physical signs of affection or just to talk about how things were going for him in his day-to-day life.

Then he pulled back and got out of bed.]

I won't. You rest now. I'll see if I can make you something to eat for when you get hungry.

[Maul wasn't really much of a cook but he could at least put on a can of soup or something simple for both of them. It would get him out of Reaper's hair for a bit and allow the older man to rest without having Maul around 24/7.]

[He closed his eyes when his face was completely captured, and he felt the press of Maul's forehead on his own. It felt nicer than it had any right to, and he savoured the brief contact because things were still not all forgiven. His want to be with Maul warred with his terribly vengeful nature.

He lay back when he was released, pillowing an arm under his chin as he watched the Zabrak spring up out of bed like there were a new lease on life. He sighed through his nose as he eyed Maul, looking skeptical of the idea of cooking. Maul could manage, but there were limits to those skills.]

Before you go. How is the boy?

[Luke, he meant. Reaper was aware enough even in his state of being that it had been Maul to find the kid and do something about him.]

[Maul's eyes narrowed and there was a flat, harsh tone to his voice as he answered.]

You hurt him badly with how much blood you took.

[Now it was his turn to be a little angry about something. He'd grown fond of the young Jedi and the amount of blood Reaper had taken had been enough to weaken Luke by a very unhealthy degree. He didn't want to think about what might have happened had he not been able to find his friend in time.]

I spent most of the month nursing him back to health in-between trying to track you down.

[Reaper knew that it was easy to tell who Maul cared for by the level of anger the Zabrak had when those individuals were hurt. So, it affirmed to him immediately that this boy was important. Maul liking another space wizard with a laser sword, huh? Now he was far more interested in Luke than ever.

On his face, he just looked completely unrepentant, even propping his head up on a hand for a brief time so he could even look a little bored with the scolding.]

Oh, I know you took him in. [Maul wasn't the only one tracking after all. He might have been avoiding a direct confrontation with Maul for a long time, and that meant tracking the Zabrak to keep out of Maul's space.] I didn't kill him. But he's made quite the caretaker out of you, hasn't he?

[Maul knew Reaper wouldn't feel bad about what he did. Much like Maul himself, it was difficult for him to feel bad about doing things that got him what he wanted in that moment. He'd needed blood and Luke was a handy target at the time. Still, Maul would hold onto his anger and resentment over the actions. It helped to balance out Reaper still being mad at him if he could have something he was a little upset about too.]

Apparently, I am quite good at taking care of people when I put my mind to it. Lucky for you.

[It turned out when Maul wasn't full of aggression, those intense instincts towards people got channeled into a caretaker role instead.]

Apparently you're a man of many skills when you bother to set your mind to it. I already knew that, but it's good that you expose others to your softer side.

[He could tell that Maul was annoyed with him, but he expected it was little more than a baseline because he hadn't forgiven the Zabrak completely yet. That would be a splinter in their relationship repair that would have to be removed if they had any hope of pulling back together.

He tipped his head slightly against his hand to watch Maul for a quite moment.]

Lucky me...

Is it? Vulnerability so often feels like a weakness.

[That was old rhetoric Sidious had fed him time and again, but after being vulnerable had just helped to bring Reaper back to him from the edge he'd been teetering on, the words and meaning behind them sounded much more feeble than they did even usually.

He stared back at Reaper for a moment, almost on the verge of smiling despite having been mad with him just a moment before.]

You take care of people all the time but letting someone take care of you is hard for you to swallow.

Vulnerability is a weakness. [On that, they were likely on sharp agreement.] But it is required in certain situations and with certain people who have pried you open. Otherwise, you'll just end up bitter and alone.

[He wanted to think he avoided vulnerabilities, but he knew it wasn't true. He wasn't so delusional. Maul had pulled him back when both of them were keenly aware that killing him would have done the trick faster and potentially with similar results. Or killing him would have left them with the same distance as had been a rift between them for weeks.

He waved a hand dismissively and rather flippantly in the air at the comment. He kicked his legs a bit, but already, he felt himself growing tired. What a waste he was right now. At least as a squid he could be adorable for a few hours.]

I don't have the benefit of memory loss for death anymore, so I'm just stuck recalling that I should be stronger but can't be right now.

You'd do well to listen to your own advice.

[Granted, Reaper wasn't quite as aloof and solitary as he'd been when Maul had first met him. They'd both found themselves people to care about amongst the Sleepers. Being able to open up to his mate and be vulnerable there had been beneficial in allowing Maul to trust others.

He smiled a little at Reaper waving his hand, fondness laced through his tone.]

Just sleep. I'll make a stew for you to eat when you feel ready and rested.

[Then he left, off to order the followers he knew were likely hanging around outside to go grocery shopping and gather some supplies he would need for the stay here with Reaper.]

You aren't the first to tell me that, nor will you be the last.

[He had gotten better, and perhaps Moira leaving had been the best thing for him as he was alone to have to put effort in rather than let her deal with his flaws so directly. He had been forced to stick around and grow back up again, especially with his revenge stolen from him at first and now leaving it behind consciously.

He certainly hadn't expected this stupid angry vicious Zabrak to tear a path into his life. It had supposed to just be trolling.

He hummed when Maul mentioned food, and he turned and lay back on his side. Stupid corruption robbing him of energy. Fine, he'd stay for now. He was back asleep within minutes.]

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