I apologise for the lateness of this chapter, but here is why: I uploaded my Slytherin Code of Conduct fanfic over two years ago, and last week I was sent an email by this site telling me I had been locked down for it. I admit that it was a list-format fic, but it was certainly not a "recent infraction" as both the email and the lockdown message stated - I had literally forgotten it existed, until I was clapped in irons and carted away from my upload button. There is no law against having a lousy memory - if there were, my father would be serving a life sentence! Please, oh mighty moderators of this site, if you read this, take that off my permanent record - it was an honest mistake, and I apologise grovellingly.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled story...
Falling For You
Author's Notes: I had some difficulty thinking up what to put in this chapter... took me ages, I uploaded about four earlier chapters while I worked it out, I usually try to write one for every one I post. I had thought HK-47 would make its debut here, but I wasn't sure about anything else... funny how in the end I found enough to write here that HK got shunted into the next chapter, eh? There's a blatant Harry Potterism in this chapter, one that really annoys me: I used it here because it's on the SW databank not because of its Harry Potteryness... go find it if you want some chocolate.
Ozziegrl: Thanks. Glad you liked it.
snackfiend101: Snide, snarky, whatever - still Derrin's job :p ... yes, sucks to be him, indeed.
Dark Lord Daishi: Heh, glad you liked last chapter. No HK here... next chapter, though. Hey, you forgot to ask about Sam - he's the other Jedi who went with them, who you totally missed out of your list! And Cassie's still alive, I'll have you know - she's not the dead one - that title goes to a different Jedi, this chapter!
Firera: Glad you liked. I was proud of myself for how I turned the two of them.
RollingSkull: ::gives you a drool-catcher:: - glad you like to see me torture people - you'll be seeing plenty more of it, soon enough. I'm turning Malak into a masochist - that's why I had him think that... it's what I'd have thought in his position (after the profuse swearing, which I did make a point of getting over before he thought it :p .
Rascarin: Thank you ::bows:: glad I portrayed her evil-bitchyness well.
F-15 Eaglestrike: Yes, it is my intention. Problem is, Malak left it too late to get out, really... and now he has fallen, too, so he doesn't even want to turn back now. I broke my knee running down the stairs in pursuit of my cat, I slipped and hit the wall with my knee... hard. Much profuse swearing later, I spent a week in hospital only to end up with a cast and crutches - all better, now, though.
Libythese: Actually, that didn't make him hate her - he still loves her - it just blurred that fine line between love and hate, quite a bit. He didn't give up that easily - he was defeated that easily - big difference... though you are right about why he surrendered when he was defeated.
Erin aka Kiddo: Glad you liked it.
Darth Arachne: Well, can you really call it torture when he was practically willing? As for the Jaw Incident, the end of this chapter leaves me with a dillema - how do I get more abusive and evil from here? Don't worry, I'm sure I'll figure something out. Sorry, you don't get to see the Admiral's reaction.
Cantankerous 84: Hi, Tank. Heh, yeah, my knee twinged writing it, too (and I mean sympathy pain, not real). My own injury happened about 6 months ago - more details in F-15 Eaglestrike's review-response, above (couldn't be arsed typing it out again). It depends alot on personality type, too - a control-freak who's been raised to beat down her emotions is more likely to turn evil than a well-adjusted person - and even then, it took Genie being murdered right in front of her to make Revan snap... I think she resisted the DS pretty well, all things considered.
HK-48: ::bows:: thank you. I love making people feel sympathy for the "bad-guys.
ether-fanfic: thank you. Glad you liked it. Here's more, now.
"It won't be easy, you'll think it strange,
When I try to explain how I feel,
That I still need your love after all that I've done,
You won't believe me,
All you will see is a girl you once knew,
Although she's dressed up to the nines,
At sixes and sevens with you.
I had to let it happen, I had to change,
Couldn't stay all my life down at heel,
Looking out of the window, staying out of the sun,
So I chose freedom"
-Madonna, Don't Cry For Me Argentina.
x x x
Chapter 12 - Master
When Malak eventually hobbled into the medbay, he promptly collapsed on the floor. Very few military vessels have medical staff, preferring medbots for efficiency and replacability, but the Defiant was one of the three lead ships of the fleet, so they had a physician as well as their usual medbot.
The medic rushed to his side, totally taken by surprise, "Jedi Malak? What happened?"
Malak slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position. He couldn't walk, now... it would probably be physically impossible, until his knee was repaired. Must have looked pretty dramatic, collapsing into the medbay like that, though... and not the sort of dramatic entrance he would have liked, either. "Perhaps you shouldn't call me that, in future." he muttered, forcing himself to stand on his left leg, holding his right foot about an inch off the ground, "And it's really not that serious... just makes it difficult to walk."
The medic nodded, and helped Malak to the... he still thought it was a table, even if it was supposed to be a bed. Malak sat down on the table, putting his right leg up on it, out straight, so the medic could examine it. "How did this happen?"
"I got in a fight with the wrong person." Malak said bluntly, in a tone cold enough to make the medic decide it would be safer not to question any further.
After a few minutes, Malak was given an injection, which included kolto, and some other drugs. Malak wasn't particularly fond of this form of healing, but he didn't say anything - it was better than nothing. The pain completely disappeared, almost instantly, and also gave Malak a slightly surreal feeling, like he wasn't all there. "You should get some rest. When you wake up, the kolto should have done its job."
Malak nodded slightly... he wasn't really focusing on what the medic had said. He probably couldn't have forced himself to stay awake, even if he'd wanted to. There must have been some sort of sedative in with the kolto and pain relief.
x x x
He woke up to the last thing he wanted to see. Sitting on a chair next to the... it's a table, damnit!... was Derrin, staring intently at Malak, with the sort of vacant look of the mentally challenged and downright insane. But he could tell that Derrin was actually watching him, in spite of the fact his eyes were unfocused. This Padawan was just asking to be punched in the face.
Malak sat up slowly, with the intent of doing just that. He noticed, with relief, that his leg was healed. He hadn't been able to straighten it under its own power, before, but now he could... there was no pain, either, which was also a good thing.
"Good morning." Derrin cheered.
Malak looked at the chronometer on the wall, "It's 1900 hours." he said flatly.
"Yeah... but it's morning somewhere... and the view of the sunrise over the first planet, from the mess hall window, is pretty damned cool." Derrin replied cheerfully. Far too cheerfully.
"You're annoying me."
"So?"
"So... stop it, or you will regret it." Malak growled.
"What're you gonna do?" Derrin asked, grinning, "You've never really hurt anyone that wasn't a Mandalorian, before."
"There's a first time for everything, Derrin." Malak slowly turned to glare at the Zabrak, who cringed at the pure venom in that glare, "And you've been asking to be beaten to a bloody pulp for some time, now."
"Actually, I was asking to be punched in the face... and we did that at Manaan." Derrin replied... he clearly was trying to use his feeble sense of humour to lighten the ominous atmosphere. It didn't work.
"How about an encore?" Malak growled.
"No thanks. Really, that's not necessary."
Malak's glare intensified, and he focused through Derrin's eyes into his mind, finding his greatest fear - ironically enough, considering why Malak was even in the medbay, this fear was of paralysis, inability to move or do anything, even worse if something was approaching ominously with malicious intent - and bringing it to life inside his mind. Derrin screamed, and backed away from Malak, his hands covering his face, but he couldn't block the vision out.
Malak then raised his hand, holding it up towards Derrin, using the Force to lift him off the ground by the throat... not gripping enough to stop him breathing, though. Nice fear, Derrin... better than an illusion, let's try this... he let go of Derrin's throat, and used the Force to freeze him in place, in a sort of stasis field. Derrin's eyes were the only part of his body still able to move, and they now darted wildly, terrified.
"You really should learn not to piss people off, Derrin." Malak said, in a far too conversational tone, "One of these days, it might get you killed. Maybe even today."
The waves of fear radiating from Derrin were almost tangible... probably even visible to anyone with Force sight. Malak smirked, and slowly wandered over to one of the tables lining the wall of the medbay. He had considered, the last time he had been in here, that some of the instruments lying around could make good torture devices... he was going to test this theory, now.
'Leave it.' Revan's voice chided in his mind. Malak glared at thin air... he hadn't even got to look at the various potential torture instruments... did she really have to spoil his fun? 'Yes, I do have to. While I know you loathe Derrin, perhaps you could bring yourself to let me deal with him?'
'Depends what you plan to do to him...' Malak thought, turning to glare at the Zabrak... he had wanted to torture this moronic fool for years, why was Revan trying to stop him, now?
'I wish to give all the... ahem, Jedi... who joined us in the Mandalorian war a chance to join us now. I doubt they will all accept, but if they refuse, then they will suffer. If you are so keen on tormenting Derrin, then just hope he refuses.'
'Right... thanks.' Malak thought irritably, before waving his hand, releasing Derrin from the Force bindings, "It's your lucky day, horn-face." he growled, "I think Revan wants to talk to you."
Derrin stared at Malak, with genuine fear, for a moment, "Wh-why did you just do that?" he asked.
"Because it was fun." Malak said coldly, "I've always wanted to teach you a lesson, you horn-brained little brat."
"Aww, come on... give me a break!" Derrin whined.
Malak eyed Derrin in a very calculating way, "How many 'breaks' do you want?"
"Um..."
"Because there are only so many bones in the Zabrak body, and you've said that phrase often enough to account for all of them twice over."
Derrin blinked a few times, and stared at Malak, "You're scaring me, now."
"Good... now get gone before I give you a real reason to be frightened." Malak snarled, "Revan wants to see you, and I would advise against keeping her waiting."
Derrin quickly departed from the medbay.
With his injury mended, Malak decided it would probably be best if he made an appearance at Revan's side... after all, if he was supposed to be a Sith, now, he didn't want to show weakness. Even though Revan knew all his weaknesses, and exactly how to exploit them, already. So Malak followed Derrin up to the briefing lounge on the docking level, where Revan waited for them.
x x x
"The Admiral has wisely conceded the fleet to me." Revan announced. The large briefing room was filled with the entire Jedi population of the fleet. There were at least a hundred Jedi in the room... at least. It was far more impressive than the seven they had begun with, though Malak had never seen them all in one place before, so he had never realised quite how many had leapt at the glory of following Revan into the Mandalorian wars.
How many would follow her into the abyss, now?
"I am your new commander." she continued, somehow managing to dominate the room, even though she was far from being the tallest person there, "I have chosen to take a stand against the corrupt and stale rule of the Galactic Republic. The Senate have abused their power for too long. If you will stand with me, we can take control from them, and rule the galaxy ourselves."
Murmurs of confusion and interest rippled through the room, and one Jedi spoke up, "Why would you want to do that?" he asked. He couldn't have been older than eighteen, a fresh-faced Padawan, strong in the Force, but even stronger was his radiating, innocent sense of optimism and hope. That such naiveté survived the war is a miracle, really.
Revan looked at the young man, "Because the Republic is a stagnant and decrepit institution, who only maintain power by brainwashing the children of its members into believing that their way is right, and every other way is wrong. The Jedi Masters do the same!"
"The Jedi Masters do no such thing!" the same young man who had talked back before snapped.
Revan's eyes narrowed under her mask, and Malak saw her clench and unclench her fist at her side, controlling the seething anger within her. It was fascinating to watch, actually... all that power and darkness, it should have overwhelmed her, but she could rein in the beast within her when she chose to... amazing. "The Jedi take us as children, separating us from our families, and teaching us to believe that only their way is right." she hissed coldly, "How could you describe such treatment as right?"
Sam stepped forward, giving Revan an icy look that would make Hoth look warm, "Emotional bonds can cloud judgement, and even lead to the dark side, that is why they are discouraged!" he said, clearly but without anger, "The Jedi Masters are not so malicious as you are making them sound!"
"You only believe that because it is what the Jedi Masters have told you all your life." Revan said, just as coldly, but with venom simmering under the ice.
Sam stared at her for a second, before answering that, "Well, I suppose you can forget about the fear of falling to the dark side... you've clearly fallen long ago!" the only emotion he showed was distain... but there was fear there, too, though well hidden. When Revan's only response to this was an icy stare, which somehow managed to be portrayed through the seemingly-eyeless mask, Sam backed up a few steps, "You have, haven't you?" he asked, his fear now evident in his tone.
"The dark side offers far more than the Jedi Masters would ever have us believe!" Revan said, while it was barely above a whisper, it did have the emphasis to make an impact that anyone else might not have been able to achieve even with screaming.
Malak probably shouldn't have been surprised that so many of the Jedi in the room were actually considering what Revan had to say. She always had been a very persuasive talker, and he had often theorised that she could even talk credits out of a Hutt if she felt so inclined. Only Sam, and a very small group who had quickly moved to cluster behind him, seemed to have doubts. "The dark side offers power, we all know that, Revan." Sam said quietly, "But power corrupts. Makes you lose sight of the difference between good and evil."
"There is no good and evil, only power... and those too weak to seek it." Revan hissed it return.
Sam shook his head slowly, and glanced around him, looking for a possible escape route. Then he frowned for a second, before coming to a decision. He threw a stasis field at Revan, which she took only a second to throw off... but it gave him the time he needed to turn and run, headed for the docking bay.
Malak followed him, and caught up to him a few feet from what appeared to be Sam's goal - one of the long-range shuttles, it would be able to make it to the nearest Republic system, if Sam could get to it - and he got between Sam and the shuttle.
"Malak, I don't want to fight you." the Padawan said warily... clearly he wasn't stupid, knowing when to run rather than fight. But he didn't really have anywhere to run now that Malak stood in his way.
"Then perhaps you should surrender." Malak said, smirking coldly.
"If there's one thing we've all learned from this war, it's that surrendering isn't going to get us anywhere good, with enemies as vicious as the Mandalorians... or the Sith."
Malak barely avoided wincing at the comparison... though it was probably accurate. "Have it your way." he replied blithely. If this man was fool enough to try to fight him, it would be his own stupid fault when he got killed... Malak did offer to let him surrender. Too late now, though... he drew his lightsaber - now red, when did that happen? - and tauntingly beckoned for Sam to make the first move.
Sam frowned, not really wanting to make the first move in such a fight. He didn't want to fight his friend... that was how he still saw Malak, it was obvious by the pained look in his eyes. Malak quickly got bored waiting, and lunged at Sam, before the Padawan had even drawn his lightsaber.
The Jedi drew his weapon so fast you'd swear it magically appeared in his hand, and he blocked Malak's attack. Red and gold blades clashed, for a moment, before Sam had to back up. Malak's superior strength could overwhelm almost anyone who relied on brute force in their fighting styles, and Sam hadn't accounted for that... if he had, he might have dodged rather than trying to win in a test of physical power.
Sam then closed his eyes, facing Malak, and beckoned him to make the next move. Malak wasn't about to give up an invitation like that in a hurry... he attacked. A powerful strike that should have cleaved the foolish Padawan in half, had it made contact... but Sam dodged, and the weight Malak had thrown behind his attack in order to breach any defence Sam might have put up, threw him off-balance.
Malak lost concentration on anything else, while he focused on not falling on his face. Sam used this opportunity to throw a wave of Force energy at him, sending him flying across the docking bay. Sam was now free to bolt onto the long-range shuttle, and leave the Defiant.
"Damn it!" Malak snarled out loud, 'He got away.' he informed Revan, through their bond. He then stood up, and watched the departing shuttle through the atmospheric shield that separated the docking bay from open space.
'Not for long.' Revan replied, in his mind. As Malak watched Sam's shuttle prepare to leap into hyperspace, he sensed a build-up of energy in its engines, as if the fuel coolant line had been blocked. The sense gave the mental impression - in spite of the inability of sound to travel in a vacuum - of a high-pitched whine building up to mind-splitting levels, until suddenly, the entire shuttle exploded in a brief flare of energy... there was no way Sam could have survived. Not even a miracle and the Force could conspire to save him from that fiery death.
'What just happened?'
'I overloaded his engine. Same trick I liked to use on the Mandalorian warbirds... more devastating to small shuttles than larger vessels, too.' Revan replied, amusement clear in her mind.
Malak locked off his mind from her, and watched the dissipating debris from the shuttlecraft Sam had stolen. He knew he should feel some sort of regret for the death of the Padawan... but he felt nothing. Sam was older than Malak, by a few years, and he may not have been a Jedi Knight, but his foresight abilities made up for the so-called shortcomings that had prevented him from becoming a Jedi Knight. If only he hadn't tried to argue... a Seer would have been useful, especially since Cassie had abandoned them.
"Weird, that." Malak looked up to see Derrin hovering in the doorway, also watching the shuttle-dust floating away from the ship. The Zabrak seemed perfectly relaxed, considering he was now talking to someone who had tried to kill him less than an hour ago... and would have succeeded if it weren't for Revan, too.
"What do you mean?" Malak growled.
"The two Seers bail on us." Derrin said flatly, "What's that say about what we're doing?"
"That they don't understand what Revan is trying to do."
"Or that they understand it too well..." Derrin suggested. At Malak's glare, he quickly held his hands up, "I'm not arguing with either you or Revan. I'm with the both of you one hundred percent. I'm not stupid enough to pick a fight with you... not a real fight, anyway."
"I wish you would. Revan won't let me kill you without some provocation."
"So I've been told. That's why I'm not trying to provoke you."
"Breathing could be counted as 'provocation', Derrin."
The Zabrak laughed nervously... it might have been funny to him if Malak hadn't been serious, "All right, I'll leave you alone, then. I just thought it was odd, Sam and Cassie both doing that, is all."
"It just proves the inferiority of the Jedi Sentinel class." Malak said flatly.
"Heh, I always believed that was the case..." Derrin said, his tone weak... like he wasn't so sure about that belief, now.
"Get lost, unless you want to lose a limb." Malak said flatly. Derrin made himself scarce, and Malak found himself wishing the Zabrak had given him another excuse to torture and mutilate him.
x x x
That evening, when Malak thought he might actually get to escape to his private quarters for the night... Revan caught him before he could disappear. "Malak..." her voice was much softer than it had been the last few times she had spoken to him... she almost sounded like her old self again.
He found himself smiling, in spite of the fact he knew he should be terrified of her, as he turned to face her, "Yes, Revan?" he asked.
"Firstly, I am now Lord Revan." she said, in a tone that sounded almost dismissive... almost. Malak wasn't fool enough to miss the total lack of humour in her words... she was still serious about it. "Secondly... perhaps you would like to come with me..." she turned and walked down the corridor... projecting a thought to him, a faint insinuation of a double-entendre there.
He wasn't sure it would be a good idea to refuse her. Even if he hadn't liked the sound of her offer - which really he did - he was afraid of what she might do if he refused her.
She stopped the instant he so much as thought that, however, and whirled around to face him, "I did not mean that as an order." she said quickly. The hurt in her tone... she seemed deeply offended that he could even think such a thing, "Only an offer."
"I... I'm sorry, Revan." he said quietly, "But after your display on the Star Forge, I really didn't know what to expect from you."
She eyed him carefully for a moment, "There are many things I may force you to do... but that is not one of them." she turned sharply, and continued walking down the corridor.
Malak frowned for a second, but then followed her. It really did take a lot to convince him to do anything against her wishes... and an offer like that almost made up for all the pain she caused him on the Star Forge.
When they reached Revan's private chambers, there was something different about them. Malak had been here many times, almost always for the same reason as he was here now. He hadn't been invited to Revan's private rooms in the last few weeks, however (mostly because she had chosen much less private locations, such as various shuttlecraft, or the Rakatan beaches, instead)... and in that time it had changed drastically.
The decor - not that Malak had ever cared about such things, but Revan was obviously much more discerning about aesthetics - was a great deal darker. Just as neat and ordered as always, but something in the air felt just as dark as the furnishings looked. The thing that probably would have worried Malak if he hadn't already chosen the darker path was that this didn't scare him. He knew it should have.
As soon as the door closed behind him, he heard the lock click. He glanced behind him. That was just creepy... Revan was several feet further into the room, but he knew perfectly well that she was the one who had locked the door.
Theoretically, he really shouldn't be so afraid of a woman nine months younger than him, almost two feet shorter than him, and just slightly over half his weight. But he was. Utterly terrified of her. She could have killed him with a look, if she wanted to... and he knew it.
"Don't be so pessimistic, Malak." Revan said quietly, her back to him, "I would never truly want to."
"Have I told you how much I hate when you read my thoughts like that?" he muttered.
Revan smirked, and turned to face him. "Once or twice." she said snidely. She had removed her mask, and he could see her face now. She slowly pushed back the hood of her cloak, and took a couple of slow steps towards him, "But your mind is like an open book. It would take so little effort to read it even without our bond. It almost feels like I'm hearing my own thoughts, when we are connected in this way."
Malak bowed his head slightly, afraid to look her in the eye, "Then why can I only read what thoughts you project to me?"
"Don't be afraid, Malak." she said softly. Then she flinched slightly at the wave of anger those words evoked in him, because she had again responded to his thoughts as if they were spoken aloud, "You never were the best at telepathic skills." she said softly, "I can teach you how to understand my mind better, but I cannot teach you an ability your mind was never designed to use."
"And yet your delicate body picked up the skills of heavy vibroblades within weeks." Malak snarled.
"My mind learned the skills... there is a difference. I have always been a quick study." Revan said calmly, "I admit, I am not suited to heavy blades. The amount of kolto I took after each of our training sessions... and after the duel itself... it's not even funny."
Malak looked up at her, mouth agape in horror, "You could have done yourself serious injury, training and fighting like that!" he snapped, "To call that dangerous would be like saying mooning a werekath is bad for your health!"
Revan chuckled darkly, "I know. But I was determined to achieve a difficult goal... and at that stage, I could no longer use the Force to heal myself."
A brief and incoherent thought involving athletes and stims flitted through Malak's mind, as he shook his head in utter disbelief that this woman could be so bloody reckless. Then after a moment, he managed to contain his anger... he was angry at her for being so irreverent of her own well-being... there's no way to take that sort of anger out on anyone or anything rationally. There was a more interesting way to relieve the stress this woman could cause in him, though.
"Oh, I like the way your mind works, Malak." Revan said, grinning, "And that is why you are here, after all."
Malak smirked slightly, "I'll admit, sometimes I like it when you read my mind."
Revan's eyes lit up... almost literally, "All right, then. I want to play."
"Should I be afraid?" Malak asked warily.
"At least act it... but I won't hurt you... much." with a wave of her hand, Malak was sent flying across the room. He landed on the bed, quite violently, and quickly sat up, staring at Revan with a gizka-in-headlights look.
Revan smirked evilly as she approached the bed slowly. She loomed over him in a very ominous way. Malak swallowed, more than a little nervous. He couldn't read her intentions well enough to know what she was planning to do to him... besides the obvious, that is. She leaned over him, and kissed his lips lightly, "I'm going to make you scream, Malak." she whispered.
If she'd said it any time before they found the Star Forge, he would have liked the sound of that. But this time... hearing those words seemed more like hearing a threat.
'How observant of you, lover.'
Now he really was scared. Revan feigned an innocent expression, which couldn't fool a blind tach. Then she reached a hand to his chest, and started systematically shredding the clothing he wore. "Revan." he said, almost a whining tone, "Is that a Sith thing?"
She laughed evilly, "No, I just thought it would be fun. Any other Sith women try tearing up your clothing again, and I'll deal with them as we did Stheno and her sisters."
"I figured as much." Malak muttered, watching what she was doing. It didn't take her long to remove all his clothing... in very small pieces (with the exception of the armour plate, which was the only thing she really couldn't shred). He was actually afraid to try to touch her. The last Sith woman to try shredding his clothing had utterly freaked out when he tried to reciprocate.
'Don't be afraid of that.' Revan replied, 'Just don't damage the robes.' After a second, she added, 'You should be afraid, if you compare me to that blonde harlot ever again, however.'
Malak rolled his eyes, and reached up to unfasten her robes carefully. Very carefully.
Malak gasped when he felt Revan sink her fingernails into his shoulders... he wouldn't be surprised if she had drawn blood. He bit his lip, and looked at her, confused. Her only response was to sink her nails that little bit deeper, before leaning over and kissing him again. Slowly moving to kiss... and bite... his neck, Revan sat astride him, dragging her nails down to his chest.
'If this is just the foreplay, you really are going to make me scream.' Malak thought, deliberately trying to force his breathing to slow down to a normal rate.
He could feel her lips curl into a dark smirk, against his throat, and she sank her teeth in sharply, making him yelp in surprise. At this point he actually tried to push her off him, but she didn't move - she used the Force to resist his physical attempt to fight her off, "Revan... what are you doing?"
"You chose to enter my chambers of your own free will... knowing damned well what I wanted from you." she said coldly.
"I didn't know you were going to try to maul me!" he snarled.
"Too bad." Revan said cheerfully, "You can't stop me from 'mauling' you, as you put it. And you consented to other activities simply by being here."
Malak sighed. He was sure he wouldn't like this... but she did have a point. He couldn't back out of it now.
x x x
He woke up to find Revan lying on top of him, her arms wrapped possessively around him, her head resting on his chest. She looked so serene and peaceful like this... it didn't seem right, when he could sense the powerful darkness emanating from her. He sighed, and ran his fingers through her hair gently. That had certainly been an... interesting experience.
Revan's eyes slowly flickered open and she looked up at him, "Did you enjoy it?"
"Yes." he answered honestly. He probably shouldn't have enjoyed it... it certainly had been very violent, and his whole body ached with exhaustion. His left shoulder still hurt, and he couldn't quite remember exactly what she did to it.
"I broke it. You might want to go to the medbay." Revan said blithely.
"Am I going to start spending a lot of time in that place, in the future?"
"Probably."
"Is there some sort of regular-customer discount?" he asked snidely.
"No." Revan answered, smirking as she looked up at him, "For a start, you don't pay for your treatments there. Secondly, we're neither in Hutt Space, nor a Czerka facility... and did you see any Squibs in the medbay? No you didn't. Therefore we're not in a financially obsessed scenario."
"I was making a joke, damnit!" Malak snapped.
"I know." Revan replied, still smirking. She shifted her position slightly, not taking her eyes off him, "Do you think I've made the right choice?"
"Finding the Star Forge, turning to the Dark Side, betraying the Jedi and the Republic?" Malak asked. It was a rhetorical question - he knew what she was thinking well enough to know he was right. "Yes, I think you did. I was a fool not to see it, before."
Revan's dark smirk turned into a genuine smile, and she reached a hand up to trail her fingers down the side of his face, "I'm glad you did see sense, Malak." she whispered, "I didn't want to kill you in that fight... but if you hadn't realised I was right, I wouldn't have had a choice."
Malak closed his eyes at her light touch, savouring the sensation of her cool fingertips on his skin. Her words cut him much more deeply than any blade could have done, however. "Would you really have killed me?"
"I didn't want to." she said quietly, "I'm glad you made the right choice."
Malak sighed, "I'm not a big fan of broken bones, Revan."
"Learn to like it." she said coldly, poking the injured shoulder with her index finger.
Malak bit back his yelp of pain so it only came out as a low hiss, "Are you going to make a habit of that, angel?"
Revan sank her nails into his shoulder when he said that, "Don't... call me that." she growled.
Malak didn't flinch, this time... he looked her in the eyes, and asked, "Why not?"
"I'm not an angel." she said, a cruel smirk forming on her lips, "I'm probably the exact opposite, now. And you should call me 'Master'."
Malak closed his eyes, letting himself feel the physical pain for a moment. The psychological pain of that order was too much, right now. So he didn't let himself feel it... yet. Instead, he sighed slightly, and answered almost mechanically, "Yes... Master."
x x x