Inconsistent Truths

Maul was on her doorstep. Great. After racing to get back from infiltrating the home of the guy only known as the General, she did not have the patience for the Crime Boss' bullshit right now.

He looked angry but it was still a better option than being blown up.

Tentatively, she opened the door and peered at him through the chain lock.

"What are you doing here?" she asked bluntly.

"Open the door, I need to talk to you." His voice was almost a growl. Zaiya stared at him for a few long seconds, unimpressed, but finally acquiesced and opened the door. Maul pushed his way in and spun to face her. He seemed to take a minute to take a breath.

"Why were you at Fantasie?" he asked.

"What?" she blurted.

"The club! Don't bullshit me, woman! You were seen leaving in the company of a man with dark hair…!" Maul snarled.

How the fuck-?!

"Seen? By who?" she scoffed. Maul's eyes raked over her face, the evidence of the scuffle still visible.

"Who did it?" He asked, his voice dropping low. "Who did that to you?" he pointed at her visible injuries. "Was it the one you were with?!" Zaiya held up her hands and spoke in a low tone, she didn't particularly want to start a screaming match.

"Slow down, Maul," she huffed. "What makes you think it was even me?"

"Saxon saw you!"

Ah, fuck.

Zaiya took a deep breath and ran a hand over her face, wincing as she touched the tender bruises.

"Alright, fine. I was working," she admitted.

"Working?" Maul glared at her and she saw the accusing expression.

"On a case! For-" she cut off in a soft curse. "The guy is a friend and he was my look out, he's the one that tried to jump in when-" she cut off but gestured at her face. "But I handled it, then we got out."

"I had a report that a client left all battered, was that you?" he asked gravely.

"How do you even get reports of-"

"I own the place!" he said loudly, seemingly tired of her vague responses. "Who was he?" Zaiya groaned, this was not a conversation she had anticipated having.

"I suppose you'll find out anyway. He was the DA, part of my investigation, that's all I can say." She folded her arms.

"You let that slimy filth Nute Gunray touch you?!" he hissed, stepping in close, "and this friend of yours, I suppose it was his idea?"

"What business is it of yours?" she snapped back and suddenly his hand was at her throat.

"You're mine. Zaiya, and I will not have any other-"

SLAP!

Zaiya smacked his hand away, and though he hadn't grabbed her hard, in fact he was surprisingly gentle, the sudden touch had just startled her.

"Yours?!" she spat. "Oh no, no, no. You do not get to call me that, Maul. You pointed a gun at me! You are barely in my life as it is, not to mention the frequent rotation of arm candy you have." Zaiya side-stepped him and around to the far side of the kitchen, so he was now closer to the door and she could nudge him back toward it.

"What are you talking about?" he blinked.

"We're both adults, Maul, and I heard about your parade of paramours from some of your people." He opened his mouth to protest and she held up an accusatory finger to silence him. All the anger and tiredness and paranoia of the last few days came rushing out all at once. "I don't care who you sleep with or how many, but I don't have the time or patience to be a notch on your bedpost."

Maul let out a low growl, but he seemed confused at her accusations. Likely he was wondering who had told her the truth and how to salvage the situation.

"You don't know what you're talking about, I have been nothing but honest-"

"Honest?! Oh that's a laugh!" she accused, her tone rising with her anger. "What about the fact that you claim to hate your father? Is that because you killed an innocent girl for him?!"

This time Maul took a step back.

"What are you-?"

"Lola Organa," she sneered. Maul just stared at her. "She was killed near your club and that ring-" she pointed at his hand. "Was found at the scene. Only to disappear from evidence later on." She took a step forward. "Is that why he still keeps tabs on you? Does he wire you money too? Or maybe he doesn't need to because you still work for him?! Like father like so-"

"Don't you dare!" Maul roared. "I am nothing like him!" He stepped forward this time, getting in her face. "I don't know where you came up with this, but it is nothing but insanity!"

"Oh! I'm a liar too, am I?" she retorted hotly. The woman turned to grab the file that was sitting on her desk and grabbed up the photos she needed. The one of the blood-covered ring, and the other one of Deputy Mayor Ruodo in the car beside one of the bouncers. Maul stared at them, and cursed under his breath.

"You've been investigating-" he stopped and his gaze lifted and hardened. "You're investigating my father." He said, putting it together. "You know who he is."

"I know who he is," she replied with a glare, "and I know who you are."

"You know nothing-"

"Then what is this?!" she gestured with the photos in hand, "look at-" she waved another with with a hooded man and an envelope in his hand, "this guy gets out of a car belonging to your father and drops the envelope to your guy, who later hands it to you-" she showed another photograph of the scene she described. "What was in it? Your allowance?!"

"I do not take money from him!" Maul cried and slapped the pictures away. Suddenly her helmet was in his hand and he threw it, full force into the wall behind her. "I am not my father!"

The helmet hit with a loud BANG and Zaiya was still. She was frozen for a moment, her face blank as she stared at the floor. For a man screaming to be nothing like his father… he sure sounded like him at that moment.

There was silence between them both as perhaps Maul realised the same thing. She didn't look at him, her eyes downcast in an almost habitual fashion. It was how she managed to avoid Father Sidious' temper tantrums when she was young.

All she could hear was Maul's heavy breathing, and the blood rushing in her ears. Her hands trembled and suddenly she was a little girl again who had displeased their leader. She waited. Waited for him to grow angrier with her, to lash out. To strike her down. To attack her or something. Maybe this time he would shoot her to protect his father.

Zaiya only looked up when she heard the door close gently.

Maul was gone.

It was then she realised her hands were shaking. Emotion rose like bile in her throat and the strength in her legs gave out. She collapsed, half on her bed, sinking to the floor as uncontrollable sobs wracked her body.

Deep in her mind, logic told her it was just a panic response, brought on by the emotional trigger reminding her of a time when she felt powerless.

But she could not hear that voice. All she could think of were the memoires, the fear, the helplessness. She buried her head in her hands and screamed. She screamed out her fear, her rage and her sense of utter betrayal. She screamed until she had no voice. Her lip split back open and her bruising only added to her reasons to roar at the universe.

It wasn't fair.

It wasn't fair!

This was all his fault! That fucking man… Her mother, her father, her childhood ruined… her best friend turned into… everything she had ever cared about stolen away because of him! She wished he was here so she could dig her fingers into his eyes and hear him scream in pain for once.

She wailed and sobbed and raged… until she couldn't anymore. Until her voice left her and the sobs that shattered her body and made her unable to breathe eventually subsided. Until they became whimpers and she was left with nothing but emptiness. She was left a husk with nothing but a numbing cold inside her. She eventually grew silent, her blue eyes seemingly faded to grey as she stared at nothing.

She was so utterly drained, so when she finally dragged herself up to habitually lock the door and bolt it. She forced herself to stand under the searingly hot water of the shower, her movements were slow and sluggish. She had no strength in her hands and turning the water on was an effort.

She didn't want to eat, or think, or do anything. Maybe the water of the shower would drown her? She could only hope.

When she finally dragged herself out of there, the water had long turned cold. Her skin was raw and Zaiya could not bring herself to care. That night she threw herself into bed… hoping her exhaustion would at least stave off the nightmares this time.

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What had he done?

The moment after that helmet hit the wall he had been frozen in horror. Not for the violence, throwing a stupid helmet was a far cry from the worst thing he'd done. But he'd heard it. That same tone. The way he'd screamed at her.

He'd lost his temper in a way he swore he'd never do. Working and letting some anger out was one thing but this? This was ugly.

He'd been struck by the look on her face. The way she stared, wide-eyed at the ground. It brought back his own memories. He'd done the same thing once. He'd sworn to himself that he'd never be this man. That he'd never take it out on those that had done nothing to deserve it. He was supposed to be better!

Maul had stayed on the other side of the door. He listened to her scream. He hated it, he wanted to tear his own ears off to hear it. He wanted to go back in there and drop to his knees, begging for forgiveness. He had never wanted to become that man.

But he didn't leave, and he didn't go back in. Not until she was silent and he heard her lock the door. At least it was locked and no one could come in. Though, even he had to admit, as he went back down to his own bike, that it was not the only reason he stayed.

It was his punishment. To listen. To hear how much damage he had done in that single moment. He deserved to hear it, and feel like scum.

Part of him argued that he shouldn't care. That she was a liar, she had been spying on him! That he should just get rid of her and then- but he couldn't. He couldn't even finish the thought.

Despite everything. He could not bring himself to hurt her.

She knew who he was. She also seemed to know about his father. Anger bubbled up in his chest. His father. A man he wished he never had to think about again. But her investigation had opened up things for him. It had put questions in his mind, and now he needed answers.

He needed to find out what the old man had been doing, whether those envelopes had indeed been his dirty money. Surely Zaiya was mistaken. Though deep in his mind, he knew better. First, however, he needed to find out for himself. He needed to know the truth.

Maul kicked the bike to life and sped out of there, heading back to a place he'd sworn to never return to.

Home.

Notes:

Hey guys, this was a late post today, I had a full on day yesterday and by the time I got back home I had no energy to proofread and post. So I did it today.

That being said, if any of you read the notes last week in APOD, I am going on a short break for a while starting next week. I will post one more APOD chapter and then take a break to get ahead with some of the chapters and some of my other works. I have been trying to make stickers and make a few bucks on the side. (if you wanna see anything about that, I have links: linktr dot ee forward slash kimageddon)

So it is a little bit of a cliffhanger that Maul is going to see his papa... let's hope that goes well 😬😬😬

As always I appreciate all the feedback, comments and messages, it's been super helpful to keep me motivated and I really really appreciate it. I have been writing APOD for over two years, and it will be a year for Sins as of the end of May. How exciting! I look forward to getting back into this when I get back, I really love you guys, thank you so much for the support.
Stay safe! 3