Chapter Text
Sunsets in Janix weren't particularly extraordinary. On the few occasions he'd had time to admire something life offered in such a naturally beautiful way, he took the opportunity to capture the scenes in his memory. Sometimes it served as an anchor, sometimes as a meditative focus. He simply allowed to relax with himself and what his eyes managed to capture, or what could also be called a moment of contemplation.
It reminded him a little of his time in Orsis, when orange and purple hues bathed the sky as he watched the sun disappear over the horizon behind the sea, with Kilindi and Daleen snacking and yapping about anything and everything beside him. Sometimes he felt as if nothing was right, as if he himself didn't belong anywhere; sometimes the pain in his body was numbing, and his brain begged for a break and a couple of extra hours of sleep, and he wished that moment could last forever, if any of that made sense.
These days he hated sunsets, but not for the reasons anyone would think.
His hands clenched into fists behind his back, a throbbing headache threatening to break his spirit. His mind was like a swarm of angry bees, like cobwebs he tried to untangle without success. He took a step back, intending to return to his private quarters. He wasn't prepared to deal with anything immediately.
A bark that sounded like a dry laugh caught his attention a few feet to his left. He immediately recognized Icarus and Sconrn, as close as ever, probably mocking something silly and insignificant. Maul allowed himself a second longer, while he wasn't being noticed. They both seemed relaxed, side by side. Not necessarily touching, but as if the other's proximity was the very warmth their bodies needed. Icarus pointed his knife at the ground, carefully sharpening the edge. His mouth moved occasionally, and his eyes flicked from the blade to Scorn's every now and then. Scorn had his back to Maul, his hip resting on a supply crate, his crossed arms on his chest. Maul couldn't see his face, but his shoulders moved in sync with the outline of his jaw; he was probably doing most of the talking. Maul was too far away to hear anything, he wasn't particularly interested in their conversation anyway.
Icarus raised his eyes, staring directly into Scorn's, his expression distinctly disgusted. This earned him a particularly loud laugh from Scorn, who raised his jaw, facing the ceiling, his body swaying with laughter. Icarus watched him cackling, shaking his head in disappointment, probably disgusted by whatever his brother had come up with.
An immense, unnerving tightness gripped Maul's chest, a thing that sometimes happened if he stared at the pair for too long. Not that anyone knew what was going through his mind then, but the mere thought of either of them feeling sorry for him made his insides twist. He turned his gaze back to the sunset, hearing Scorn's laughter pierce his ears like a death sentence announced by bells.
But he couldn't stop his mind from wandering, returning to that place in his mind that always brought him his worst nightmares. Images of Savage, two saber wounds piercing his body, holding his trembling hand as the magic of the Nightsisters drained from him, as if his will evaporated with it.
Bile went up through his throat, remembering Sidious's cruel words as he watched the life slip from the eyes of the only person who had ever given him unconditional loyalty.
Anger stained his vision red, and his blood began to boil. He needed to stop letting Sidious enter his mind and irritate him whenever he could.
With a snarl of irritation, he turned and walked away, not even glancing back at the pair of eyes that followed his retreat in dismay.