[Darth Maul x Bookworm!Reader] Part 6 - All I ever wanted
Hello and welcome to my Darth Maul x Bookworm!Reader series ! If you’re new here, be sure to check the previous parts below :
- Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5
Words count : 3132 Warnings : Fight scenes (don’t worry, they’re very soft), slight angst I guess? And of course, my specialty. FLUFF.
This is the last part of my Darth Maul x Bookworm!Reader series. It has been a bit challenging, but I hope you’ll like it !
Days were getting shorter and shorter. It wasn't winter yet, though it definitely felt like so: temperatures dropped to a point where you couldn't go outside without your long, fluffy scarf, a sweater necessary in the morning before your house got warmer. It was time for hot drinks and homemade soups, soft plaids, and slow mornings spent reading. You would usually be grateful for such a setting, a comfortable solitude at arm's length; but this time, it was different.
Several months had passed since you first met Maul. He had told you how he temporarily settled on your home planet, seeking calm and peace for some time- away from the bustle of the Core Worlds; this was something you could understand, always making your trips to the busy city last no longer than necessary. Over the weeks, you grew closer to each other, getting to know the many differences between the two of you. These were moments you remembered fondly, bringing a soft smile to your face every time your mind wandered to each of your memories with the Dathomirian. You went from strangers to acquaintances, acquaintances to friends, friends to lovers. He understood you in a way no one did before. He knew your boundaries, your preferences, and respected them; which only made it harder when the time came for a much-dreaded farewell.
He had told you he was called for a job on another planet. Despite his promise of a fast return, you couldn't help but count the minutes, hours, days since his departure. You got accustomed to his presence, after all. His absence left an empty feeling within you, and your house was too quiet for your own taste; with him, the silence was comfortable, the mere knowledge of his proximity enough to reassure you. You weren't used to being alone anymore. You didn't want to be alone anymore.
The day was cold, and you decided to spend it taking care of your plants. You never had any, afraid of forgetting to water them or not being able to care for them properly; during the past year, however, you found yourself buying flowers, attracted to their vibrant colors. They brought life to your home, you thought, and you ended up getting more as time went by. Not once had you regretted it. But now, as you got to your bright red azalea, you felt a wave of sadness wash over you. Their color was precisely the one of Maul's skin, and every glance reminded you of him.
Wasn't it hard enough?
Your fingertips gently caressed the soft petals, gaze directed towards them yet not looking at anything as you were lost in thoughts. You happened to space out more and more lately, dreams of your loved one taking the better of you even in the middle of the day; and as a firm, loud knock on your front door resonated, you jumped, surprise confusing you for a second before you rushed to meet your unexpected visitor. Has he returned? Was your heartbreaking wait finally coming to an end?
The face you saw upon opening brought you great disappointment, and it must have shown on your face from how the stranger lifted an eyebrow questioningly. He didn't ask for any explanation, though; instead, he proceeded on greeting you politely, a small smile on his lips.
"Excuse me for showing up uninvited. I got lost on my way to the city, and I have been walking all morning... Could I ask you for some water?"
With a nod, you invited him in, closing the door carefully. This man was tall- taller than you, in fact, and he had an aura you couldn't quite describe. Letting your steps guide you to the kitchen area of your home, you couldn't help but notice something was off. It wasn't the fact that he was a stranger (you helped wanderers before, and it always unfolded nicely); there was something in him you didn't quite encounter before. It made you uneasy. Afraid.
"Who knew a Sith lord could be so weak as to fall for someone as insignificant as you? - Excuse me?"
You turned around, the puzzled look on your face contrasting with his scornful expression. What was he talking about? You didn't know any Sith. Was he one of them? Was this the reason why you felt so uncomfortable in his presence?
"Oh, then you are waiting for someone you know nothing about... how pathetic."
His low chuckle made you shiver. He did know about you waiting for someone- for Maul. Was he spying on you? You couldn't believe these words. You knew him. He gave you his hearts, and you gave him yours. How could this stranger pretend you barely knew anything about your lover, whom you met every day for several months?
"What do you want? - Don't you wish to see the real side of the one you love so desperately?"
You tensed.
"You're not living in a book, nor is he your fairytale prince. He's a killer. A murderer. His hands are stained with the filthy blood of entire organizations. From his most tender age, he has been trained to fight and kill, destined to serve the great purpose of the Sith."
You couldn't utter a single word. Part of you rejected these revelations, these lies you didn't want to believe; yet, doubt began to creep over you eventually. After all, he did hide his Force abilities from you. Could it be that he hid more? Could it be that the Maul you knew was nothing but a facade?
No. This couldn't be.
The sweet moments you shared, his words might have been made up. But you knew for sure he was sincere: his eyes couldn't lie.
"I can't believe you."
Before the stranger could say another word, the door burst open, revealing an enraged, red-skinned Dathomirian. Despite what you just heard, you let out a sigh of relief, and it took all of your willpower not to run and throw yourself at him. You never saw him so furious before. He barely even looked at you, his burning stare fixed on the other male who dared to enter your home; the latter didn't seem to care, though, a provoking smirk spreading on his face.
"Ah, there you are. Your Master has sent me to bring you back to his side for further training. I hoped to get rid of the problem first, but since you're here..."
Maul didn't take time to answer nor to let him finish, instead dashing forward with incredible speed. The next thing you saw was a flash of red light. This was your first time seeing lightsabers, and you were struck by the intensity of their glow, the intruder's single blade clashing against your lover's double one; you were in awe at how easily he wielded it, circles precise and perfectly controlled. This was something you were now forced to admit: he did receive training, for no one could improvise such skill. He had the agility of an acrobat, even in the small space of your home, and an uncanny intuition allowing him to predict the other's every move before he could hit. His feet were light and he moved with ease, but his arms seemed to have gained a strength you couldn't even imagine, pushing the opponent farther away each time. Given the apparent difficulty with which the stranger kept up with Maul, you guessed he underestimated him (which wouldn't be too surprising), his assumption and overflowing confidence putting him at a disadvantage. With a quick stab of the Dathomirian's lightsaber, he fell to the ground with a loud scream; and as you watched the scene unfold, you suddenly felt lifted from the floor, a gasp escaping you. Maul's hand was directed towards you the same way it was when he protected you from falling books, the day you discovered he was a Force user. This time, you were the one being held in the air, only to be put down behind the counter separating your kitchen from the rest of the room. A simple glance between the two of you was enough for you to understand. Stay hidden.
You disappeared from view, kneeling behind the piece of furniture. You could only hear what was happening now: the unusual sound of the lightsabers slicing the air, feet running on the floor to dodge and get the best angle to attack, the violent clash of the blades... until you heard a small gasp, metal hitting the ground, followed by a body falling with a loud thump.
Oh, how you hoped it wasn't him.
The uncertainty was already killing you; against your lover's silent demand, you peeked from the side of the counter, only to smile with relief. There he was, breathing heavily, but alive and standing. Some of his clothes were torn here and there, exposing his tattooed skin to the eye; fortunately, no blood was to be found, and you would've run to him if it wasn't for the terrifying silhouette in the door frame.
Only the lower part of his face was visible, his large, black hood hiding most of it. You didn't have to see his eyes to know he was a threat; much more than the previous one, he emitted an unsettling aura, and you weren't sure if the room darkening was one of his doings or an illusion of your mind out of fear. You soon found out that the worst wasn't even his appearance or his aura, as you previously thought. It was his voice.
"Very well, my apprentice. It is time, time for us to reveal ourselves at last. I am convinced you will not fail me on your next mission... Darth Maul."
You were speechless. If the first stranger's words weren't enough, now you had to accept the truth. Like many, you have read stories about Force users, about legends of the Jedi and the Sith. Fascinated, you had searched for more, gathering every piece of information you could find- even looking into hidden, sometimes forbidden resources. This was some time ago, but several things came back to you as you heard this stern, frightening voice. A Master. An apprentice. A title... Darth. The Dathomirian didn't seem surprised by these words, only confirming what you feared.
He was a Sith.
But wasn't he also the sweetest man you've ever met? Wasn't he the one to go the extra mile just to make you smile? To understand and meet every one of your needs, even if you didn't voice them? His gentle kisses, the way he held your hand so tenderly, his gaze softening whenever he looked at you... It was all too genuine not to be true. It was not just in acts but in both your hearts; it was a connection you two shared, which left you with no doubt. You loved him, and he loved you. You trusted him. This time was no exception.
A discreet side glance from him made your eyes meet; the tenderness and love he found in yours were all he needed.
"You will-
- I'm not taking orders from you anymore."
He turned around to face the old man, his double-bladed lightsaber firmly held in his grasp. The determination on his features made the stranger cackle.
"You are such a fool... Giving up a life of training and a promising future, just for the sake of a pathetic human."
This was the last straw. His eyes flaming with passion and fury, almost glowing in the dim light of the room, the red-skinned zabrak rushed to the man. His red blade clashed against his former master's two lightsabers relentlessly. He had one in each hand, both glowing with a bright red light; although it gave him more flexibility than having them joined like your lover's, it didn't seem to bother Maul, who kept on hitting with a speed you couldn’t follow.
The fight was impressive, to say the least. Your home wasn't big, but it was enough for them to move and engage in violent exchanges, the control they both had over their weapons revealing they had way more than a few years of training. The Dathomirian undoubtedly was an expert in martial arts: using his entire body to get strength and momentum as he swung his lightsaber left and right, he fought with aggressivity you never witnessed before, the look on his face enough to scare anyone away.
He looked almost bestial, his dark tattoos emphasizing the outline of his facial muscles distorted by rage. His teeth were bared, and he snarled at the other; he was a panther in the skin of a man, agile and inhabited with an untamed soul. His emotions were allowed to run free, giving him more and more power as they took over him: anger, hate, and lust for revenge were driving him wild.
But you were there.
The simple fact of meeting your eyes had helped him gain control over himself, and the love you both felt for each other saved him from sinking into madness. This was something he learned over those few months spent with you. Love wasn't pitiful or a sign of weakness: it led to greater passion, his need to protect you only making him even more powerful than he ever was. The stranger, whose overconfidence was made clear by his wide, creepy grin, didn't seem to realize this change; and in the move of a hand, he brought Maul's attacks to a halt, forcing him to stay down on one knee with a strike of lightning. You could tell he was in intense pain despite him trying to hold back screams, yet what could you do? You were no match for the old man. You weren't Force-sensitive, you didn't even know how to fight.
"I won't kill you... But I will take this life you failed to end."
The hood covering his face made the direction of his gaze unknown to you; his free hand, however, slowly lifted to point towards you, giving out an obvious clue as to what was to come. You held your breath, eyes wide as you prepared to suffer the same fate as your lover. This was the end. You didn't expect to die so young, to die like this. Glancing one last time at the Dathomirian, you addressed him by thoughts, even though he wouldn't be able to hear it.
'Goodbye, my only one... I love you.'
You weren't sure if you murmured those words or thought them, as you had planned; yet, their meaning appeared to have reached your lover, as he seemed to suddenly gain strength and willpower despite the intense lightning still torturing his body and mind. He straightened his posture, rising to his feet before his double blade returned with a burning red light. It caught his former master off guard, for no one had ever resisted such power before, not even Maul who he trained himself; and before he could react, the zabrak was already right in front of him, his lightsaber piercing him from front to back.
The lightning disappeared, the man's body falling to the floor like a rag doll after his former apprentice deactivated his weapon. His death wasn't enough for the Dathomirian to let go of the resentment he felt towards him just yet, more strokes of his deadly blade tearing the lifeless body apart in mere seconds. It was over.
There he stood, in the middle of the room, the forms of the two men he killed lying still at his feet; only then could you see his clothes being completely ripped, the wounds and bruises visible through the cuts clear evidence of his fierce fights. The silence seemed to amplify his breath, which he tried to steady the best he could.
A solid minute passed. His lightsaber deactivated once more, he kept it in his hand, barely daring to look at you as reality fell on him. He murdered them in front of you. He fought like a beast. His identity as a Sith was revealed to you. How could you not see him as anything but a monster now? A liar? Would you ever believe any of his words again, no matter how true they were? Wouldn't you be afraid of him?
These neverending questions brought a slight change on his face, which made him look almost vulnerable to you. If you were waiting for a sign to move, this was it; standing up again, you walked out of your hiding spot, feet speeding up your steps before letting you run to the zabrak. You threw your arms around him, holding him closer than you ever had- which surprised him; but soon, you found yourself in a stronger embrace, your body held right against his as you began to sob. It was too much in too short an amount of time for your quiet life.
"P-Please... Please don't leave again...
- I won't."
This request reassured him. He wouldn't be forced to leave your side or to leave you at all, and he was definitely grateful for this.
"He... He said- He called you Darth..."
This still shocked you; although you knew he wasn't anything like them (or at least, not anymore), you wanted to hear it from him. You needed reassurance just as much as him, after all.
A gentle nudge calmed you, his fingers caressing your head gently in an attempt to soothe your heart and stop your tears.
"I'm Maul. Formerly Darth, now just Maul. I've chosen my path..."
You looked up at him, his lips catching every drop falling from your eyes. The familiar intimacy comforted you. Maybe you weren't aware of this side of him before, but he was the same man you always knew, the one who claimed your heart his. His hand slowly caressed your face before he pulled you into a kiss you longed for, making up for the too many days you've spent waiting for his return; as you parted, you gifted each other with a tender smile.
"... and it's by your side, angel."
You couldn't help but let out a light, content chuckle at his words. Him staying with you was the greatest present you could ever ask for, and as you moved your arms to wrap around his neck, you came up with a request of your own- one you wanted to ask but never dared to.
"Maul... Let's leave. We can start anew, you and me... Let me run away with you. Forever."
You missed having your forehead against his like this, faces so close you could feel each other's warmth...
But this wasn't something you would ever have to worry about missing anymore.
"Of course. That's all I ever wanted."
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Am I emotional after finishing this series? YES I AM ;_; Thank you all for your support and your patience. I hope you enjoyed this last part ! I’m planning to continue writing, mostly for Maul, Savage and Feral. Maybe a bit of other characters if I have ideas. I have a reader insert project I might work on, but it might take quite a lot of time, so I’m keeping it secret for now haha !
This series is finished, but I might post some extras later. If you want to be tagged when they are out, or if you’re interested in being tagged in any future work about Maul, Savage, Feral or all three, please let me know !
Thank you again for your support and kindness. I love you all. xo
Tags : @maulieber, @gooseyhouse, @gczanetti1, @noiralei, @catsnkooks, @brilliantbutbatty, @mother-0f-monsters, @farmelcarmel, @raviolixxx