Chapter 4
A/N Happy Belated Star Wars day! It is Revenge of the...Seventh? I am terribly sorry for my slow updates, but even if it was a very small update I knew I had to give one this week. It is a bit vignette-esque of the early growing up years. Also, after further research I have come to the realization that canon Maul is only 12 years older than Anakin. For this AU we are going to keep him at approximately 18 years older. I have not abandoned this story. Expect updates in the future, sooner than later! Enjoy!
Transitioning from top ranking warrior to stay at home dad was no easy task, trading late night training sessions for late night feeding sessions. Force, he loved Anakin, but the days blurred to the point Maul thought he might go insane from the mediocrity. The times when the Dark Council assigned him a mission were both appreciated and dreaded, to feel the adrenaline pumping through his hearts again, pushing every fiber of his being to succeed and excel at the task at hand. Being away also made his hearts feel a little more empty.
At the peak of the Andoan wars, Maul was sent to end the conflict. Trench's tactics nearly cost him his life. He vowed not to go in the field again until Anakin would begin classes with the other younglings and apprentices.
The Dark Council did not appreciate this sentiment.
Maul would forever be grateful of this decision. Missing first steps, first words, first everything was not an option.
4 Years Later
Nightmares plagued the youngling's sleep regularly, a small furnace of fluff and pajamas slipped under Maul's covers more often than not. This was one of those nights.
Anakin stared intently at his dad's face, "So, why do you have stripes, but I don't?" Over the years Maul had become accustomed to curious younglings asking such questions, though they did not usually have this level of reverence. It was often a level of fear held behind the curiousity. He never told the same story twice because of this, but with Anakin, it was different. He deserved the truth. At least part of it for now. "On my home world, we receive tattoos as a sign of becoming a man."
"Oh...Will I get them when I become a man?"
Maul took a shuddering breath, mind caught between the trace of tiny fingers along his his forehead, around his horns, and the sting of needles over near every inch of him. Both held feelings of pride and whispers of fear.
Anakin was just a boy, and a human one, but those clear blue eyes looking up with such hope, he could only say one thing.
"We'll see."
"What's this green stuff on my plate?"
The chime from Maul's wrist-comm was growing increasingly annoying. He found a day to take for himself, even gotten his former Master to watch Anakin for him, and he had every intention of completely ignoring the call. After several minutes, he gave in.
"What have you been feeding your apprentice?!" Sheev Palpatine's voice screeched through the comlink.
Of all things to bother him about on today of all days. "Do you not understand what 'taking the day off' means? I specifically told you to only call me in situations of life or death."
"And I specifically heard Skywalker say the he has never seen a vegetable! This is most definitely a situation of life and death! I know you are a carnivore but Anakin is human, his liver..." Maul covered the comlink with his hand, drowning out the lecture. He heaved a sigh a glanced down at the empty dram on the bar before him.
With a nod to the bartender, "Double this time, no ice."