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[There was a wheeze from Maul as the breath was crushed from him. Becoming needy when they'd experienced something horrible mentally was a trait he and Savage shared in common, so he could understand why his brother needed reassurance at the moment. He rubbed Savage's head with gentle affection.]
He already tried to do that my whole life. And he failed.
[Maul said the words with great satisfaction. He would always be able to say that Sidious had not broken him completely. He'd come close when he broke Maul down into pieces and built him back up by turning him into a weapon but he'd never been able to eliminate Maul as he was his core entirely. Maul had still been a person underneath the warped loyalty and devotion that had caused him to act as his master's faithful lightsaber.]
He'll never be able to do that to me again. I've beaten him now and know I can do it again.
He already tried to do that my whole life. And he failed.
[Maul said the words with great satisfaction. He would always be able to say that Sidious had not broken him completely. He'd come close when he broke Maul down into pieces and built him back up by turning him into a weapon but he'd never been able to eliminate Maul as he was his core entirely. Maul had still been a person underneath the warped loyalty and devotion that had caused him to act as his master's faithful lightsaber.]
He'll never be able to do that to me again. I've beaten him now and know I can do it again.
[He burned his face against Maul's shoulder, letting the stroking to the back of his head comfort him. The elder Zabrak was extremely protective of him, and he appreciated that he could find safety with Maul as he slowly recovered himself from the experience that had shaken him to his core. His brother's master was a terrible force to feel so close, worse than when he and Maul had simply fought Sidious.]
I hate that Mother waited until we were adults to send me to find you. I should have been sent when I was old enough to explore on my own.
[Would he have stood a chance? Maybe. He had limited knowledge of how well his brother was guarded, but he knew that being bloodkin would have meant a lot to Maul who had been denied so much as a kit under Sidious' care. He knew there was nothing that could be done about it, that they had lived their lives as Talzin had determined until she was ready to seize the opportunity.
She could hardly be considered a selfish woman. She had the clans to consider, though perhaps she didn't trust that he had the skills to seek Maul out successfully.]
Good. You're the best defense against him.
I hate that Mother waited until we were adults to send me to find you. I should have been sent when I was old enough to explore on my own.
[Would he have stood a chance? Maybe. He had limited knowledge of how well his brother was guarded, but he knew that being bloodkin would have meant a lot to Maul who had been denied so much as a kit under Sidious' care. He knew there was nothing that could be done about it, that they had lived their lives as Talzin had determined until she was ready to seize the opportunity.
She could hardly be considered a selfish woman. She had the clans to consider, though perhaps she didn't trust that he had the skills to seek Maul out successfully.]
Good. You're the best defense against him.
I'm not sure I would have been able to accept what you offered had you come for me at that time. He had me thoroughly brainwashed to me completely loyal to him and serve him as a faithful weapon.
[Maul would have been in his late teens or early twenties when Savage had come of age. At that point, his loyalty to Sidious was absolute. There was no thoughts of betraying him in his mind whatsoever. Had his brother come for him, there was every possibility Maul would have been too scared and confused to accept what he had to offer.
In the worst case, he might have even been angry enough to try to kill Savage, a thought that didn't bear thinking about, but which he was honest enough to know was a distinct possibility. If Sidious had known he was being contacted by his family, he would have told him to kill his brother as test of loyalty to his master. There was no doubt about it.
He pulled Savage close to him, continuing to stroke his head gently. He murmured softly to him.]
I'll never allow him to touch you again. Never.
[Maul would have been in his late teens or early twenties when Savage had come of age. At that point, his loyalty to Sidious was absolute. There was no thoughts of betraying him in his mind whatsoever. Had his brother come for him, there was every possibility Maul would have been too scared and confused to accept what he had to offer.
In the worst case, he might have even been angry enough to try to kill Savage, a thought that didn't bear thinking about, but which he was honest enough to know was a distinct possibility. If Sidious had known he was being contacted by his family, he would have told him to kill his brother as test of loyalty to his master. There was no doubt about it.
He pulled Savage close to him, continuing to stroke his head gently. He murmured softly to him.]
I'll never allow him to touch you again. Never.
I know. I would do whatever I had to for my family, even if you potentially attacked me.
[It wouldn't have mattered to him, just to see his brother in the element of being a Sith. He would always be loyal to his kin, and Feral might have even been safer without him. It didn't matter, of course, because there was no way to go back in time to try to find his elder brother.
He had Maul now, and that was important even if it had required a significant amount of suffering and neglect at the hands of that master. And if those experiences hadn't happened they wouldn't be where they were today.]
I know nothing could change if we were to be here as we are now, but I wished you had been given a longer opportunity to be a Nightbrother with us.
[He shuddered and nodded, rocking his brother side to side with his grip. He dispelled as much of his residual fear for the moment knowing that his brother would stand in the way of Sidious.]
Thank you, brother. I believe you.
[It wouldn't have mattered to him, just to see his brother in the element of being a Sith. He would always be loyal to his kin, and Feral might have even been safer without him. It didn't matter, of course, because there was no way to go back in time to try to find his elder brother.
He had Maul now, and that was important even if it had required a significant amount of suffering and neglect at the hands of that master. And if those experiences hadn't happened they wouldn't be where they were today.]
I know nothing could change if we were to be here as we are now, but I wished you had been given a longer opportunity to be a Nightbrother with us.
[He shuddered and nodded, rocking his brother side to side with his grip. He dispelled as much of his residual fear for the moment knowing that his brother would stand in the way of Sidious.]
Thank you, brother. I believe you.
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