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“We’ve been looking for Maul for thirteen years now,” Ahsoka gripes, swinging back and forth in the seat next to pilot’s seat. Even if she’s thirty now – yikes – Anakin can’t help seeing a child in how she acts sometimes.
Even if… a very mature one.
“Over,” Anakin points out. He’d prefer not to think about how ancient he is now, either. “If you’re going to count during the war. Let’s hope this report is valid.”
The Clone Wars ended thirteen years ago, and they were able to stop both Sith. The… constant ache in his chest of Palpatine’s absence is something he’s grown used to, along with the guilt of his own role in stopping him, but it’s still… Well, it’s not something you ever truly forget, he’s realized.
But as soon as the Clone Wars was over, a crime Syndicate war started, thriving on the chaos and death left behind from the Clone Wars. It took them years to confirm Maul was leading it and it’s taken even longer to manage to get any hint on his location.
“At least he shouldn’t see us coming this time,” Rex speaks up. He didn’t have to say on and serve the Republic but he wanted too and… it means he gets to work with Anakin and Ahsoka when they go on missions, so he could never complain.
“We can hope,” Ahsoka points out, “He’s always managed to get away every single time.”
There’s a sudden crash from the back of the ship and everyone freezes.
“What,” Rex says slowly, “Was that?”
Anakin’s hand reaches for his lightsaber as he stands, and they move towards the hold of the ship together.
Right on time to see one very suspicious figure attempting to duck behind the seat, and also an open vent grate lying on the table – the vent above it is open.
Anakin freezes, amusement and incredulity rushing through him. “Leia?”
“You didn’t see me,” his daughter’s voice pipes up from behind the seat.
“And a mind trick is not going to work.” He tries very hard to smother his desire to laugh, because this is actually serious. “Leia, there’s a reason I didn’t want you to come on this mission.”
She stands slowly, brushing strands of dark hair out of her face. “But you said it might be dangerous. Doesn’t that mean you need more backup, not less?”
Ahsoka just laughs. “Is this what it was like, raising me?”
“Worse.”
“Hey.”
Leia looks between them. “Can I stay?” she asks, hopefully.
Anakin sighs. “Since you’re here. But you need to stay on the ship. This… isn’t a place for teenagers, alright?”
“Okay,” Leia chirps, grinning brightly. For being thirteen, she still reminds him of how she did when she was ten sometimes – even if there’s also moments where she’s very mature. Mostly, Anakin’s just grateful that she hasn’t had to start growing up nearly as fast as Ahsoka did at this age.
“And remember,” Rex thankfully comes to the rescue for him, “Sometimes flying the ship away is probably going to be important. You’re still helping by staying on the ship.”
“So,” Leia says, smiling mischievously, “It looks like it’s a good thing I came.”
“Let’s hope backup isn’t something we need,” Anakin replies, instead of disputing that point.
It’s just… they’re on a crime world and Leia is thirteen. And she’s trained in the Force. He knows all about how much that could drive the price up for people who might want her.
Anakin left the Order to raise her and Ahsoka came to stay with him. They still take missions from the Republic sometime, which is why they’re out here hunting Maul.
He just hopes Leia being here isn’t going to end in disaster.
***
Anakin and Ahsoka go in first and they don’t make it far before they’re attacked by a hooded dark sider. The person is small – Anakin doesn’t know if the person is young or if they’re just a smaller species. But they fight deadly fast and… he hasn’t felt this kind of strength in the Force on… anyone before.
Other than Leia.
And himself.
It’s weird.
But still, with Ahsoka’s help, they’re able to take the Dark Sider down and get them in restraints before Ahsoka flicks out a hand, jerking the dark sider’s mask back.
The boy couldn’t be older than thirteen and there’s something about his face…
His hair is blonde in a way that looks eerily familiar. Same for his fiscal structure. It’s –
Anakin’s chest tightens instinctively, looking at him. But it’s not possible. It’s – not. It doesn’t make any sense.
“Who are you?” Anakin asks evenly. It’s not hard to guess that he’s an apprentice Maul picked up, but that in and of itself is what has him even more suspicious.
“Why would I tell you anything?” the boy hisses. He says the word with contempt, as though he could possibly have something personal against Anakin when he’s never met him in his life.
“Look, kid,” he says, crouching in front of him, “I don’t know who you are or why you’re with Maul, but I know how Sith are to their apprentices. I know they hurt them without restraint, because they believe it gives them power. Or simply to keep them under their own control.”
He feels a wild sharp of flare of emotion from the boy, who just glares at him even harder. He’s scared too – Anakin can sense it. His fear is smothering, though Anakin has no idea if it’s of Maul or of him. Or both.
“Telling us your name can’t hurt, can it?” Ahsoka interjects, arms crossed and eyes narrowed.
He doesn’t think the boy is going to answer at first, but then he suddenly speaks again. “Luke.”
His heart shudders in his chest and for a moment, it feels like all the air’s been knocked out of him. It – it’s the exact same name. The name Padme picked for their son, only hours before Maul attacked them on Coruscant that night. It was one of the darkest times of his life and not a time he ever wants to think about again. Maul had been after Obi-Wan and… when he couldn’t find him he’d gone after Anakin instead. He realized he was losing and he was trying to slow him down. He’d nearly killed Padme and he – he took Luke. They thought the child was dead, even if they never found the body. They mourned him for years. Maybe they never knew him and they still had Leia, but it didn’t change who was lost either.
There had been moments, short, fleeting moments, where Anakin questioned if their son was truly dead but he couldn’t hope. Not for how futile it could be.
And this boy –
And suddenly, this boy’s strength in the Force makes so much sense.
“Luke,” Anakin says, trying not to show just how much he’s crying on the inside. This is his son. He knows it. The familiarity of his face – he sees it all now. “Where did Maul get you from?”
The boy’s eyes flicker, at another rush of anger. “As though you have right to ask that?”
“I think,” Anakin replies slowly, “That we’re on different pages about something. You’re angry at me. Why?”
Luke glares at him again. “To start with, maybe that you don’t remember why.”
Did he do something to hurt him somehow? He doesn’t remember. He knows… being a Jedi and bringing criminals to justice does sometimes mean getting people hurt, a little unfairly. He always tries to make sure that never happens but he knows it could. But he doesn’t know how that could be true in this case.
Maybe, it would be easiest if he just… explains what he knows is true.
“Maul never told you what happened to your father, did he?” he asks.
Luke twitches sharply. “He told me enough,” he yells suddenly, sharply, “It was you who killed him.”
What?
In all the –
Of all lies Maul could’ve told him, and he told him that? What, was he hoping that Luke would kill Anakin and possibly the rest of his own family without ever knowing who they were?
“No,” Anakin replies levelly, “I am your father.”
Luke freezes.
He’s just staring at him and he can feel Ahsoka’s shock rolling into the Force – she must not’ve realized it either. “No,” he argues, shaking his head, denial and desperation bleeding into his voice, “That’s not true. That’s impossible.”
“Search your feelings,” Anakin tells him softly, because that’s the only way he can truly prove it, The Force will answer it if he asks, “You know it to be true.”
Luke shakes his head again, though his eyes are slowly going even wider. “No,” he protests again.
“I don’t know what Maul told you, but he lied to you,” Anakin presses, “He took you from me and your mother, when you were a baby. I – I thought you were dead.”
“No,” Luke repeats again, “He wouldn’t lie to me.”
“He’s a Sith. They always lie,” Ahsoka pipes up.
Luke jerks to his feet abruptly, a Force-wave flinging outwards. It sends Anakin skidding back form the unexpectedness of it and Luke is already yanking his lightsaber off Anakin’s belt, activating it midair, probably intending to cut the binders. Though – he could literally stab himself like that. Anakin makes a half step towards it, grabbing the lightsaber out of the air with the Force when a stunshot rings out.
It hits Luke and he drops.
Anakin spins around, to see Rex standing behind them.
Well, that… actually makes this easier.
“We need to get him to the ship,” Anakin says, going over to him. He pulls the cuffs off and gently lifts him into his arms.
“Without restraints?” Rex asks, looking completely lost.
“He’s my son,” Anakin replies quietly, “And… I know he may not remember us so he can be dangerous but we also need to give him a reason to trust us.”
***
“He’s my brother?” Leia repeats, eyes wide.
Anakin nods.
She stares and stares at him.
“I do not know how he’s going to… handle any of this,” Anakin starts to caution her.
“It’s okay,” Leia says quietly, “I’m just glad he’s alive.”
Anakin squeezes her shoulder reassuringly. For now, all they can do is wait.
But it turns out they don’t have to wait for very long, before Luke finally starts to stir. He opens his eyes slowly, blinking up at the ceiling. Anakin senses the way panic pulses through him when he realizes he’s not where he’s supposed to be and he jolts upright, reaching for his lightsaber – which Ahsoka has safely hidden in the cockpit.
Luke stills, eyes narrowing on Anakin and Leia. But some of the anger edges off into fear and confusion, and a rush of other emotions that he can’t quite identify.
“Luke,” Anakin finally says, because he needs to say something.
“Where are you taking me?” he asks.
“Back to Coruscant.”
He tenses a little. “To the Jedi? To – to prison?”
The suspicion is fair even if it hurts. “No, no, of course not. Anything you’ve done is on Maul. And you’re still a child. And – and my son.”
Leia leans a little closer. Anakin can feel her desperation. She wants to actually explain who she is – he doesn’t want to dump everything on Luke’s head at once, though.
Luke looks down. “I don’t understand,” he replies, “Maul wouldn’t have lied to me.”
“Why do you trust him so much?” Leia pipes up.
He eyes her, as though half unsure what she’s doing here. “He raised me.”
Leia winces. “Ouch.”
He twitches a little, looking away. Still scared. This time, Anakin’s certain it’s not only because he’s technically a captive right now.
“You’re safe here,” Anakin promises, “Maul can’t hurt you for failing. I won’t let him.”
Luke looks up again, somewhere between guarded and maybe almost hopeful. “What happened?” he asks finally, “If what you’re saying is true, how did I end up with Maul? He said he rescued me.”
Force. What kind of lies has he told him? “I’m sure Maul’s mentioned Obi-Wan to you.”
Luke nods. “He never stops talking about him.”
Unsurprisingly. “He was on Coruscant, to kill him. And he found me instead.” Anakin breathes out sharply, trying not to get lost in the emotions of that night. His son is alive. For the first time in thirteen years, he can stop grieving him. Even if… he doesn’t even know him. Leia reaches out, hand touching Anakin’s arm and he reaches up to take her hand, lightly squeezing it. “He took you with him. I thought you were dead, all these years.”
“And did you know that I’m your twin sister?” Leia interjects out of literally nowhere.
Luke’s eyes go even wider. “You?”
“Yeah, who else did you think I was?” She grins brightly at him.
“I don’t know. His annoying padawan?”
“Dad’s not even a Jedi. He can’t have a padawan anymore. But I guess I’m close enough to that.”
Luke nods slowly. He doesn’t really seem sure what to say.
“My name is Leia, by the way,” she’s quick to add.
“Leia,” he repeats, swallowing hard as he studies her. He looks like he’s about to say something else but then his gaze darts to Anakin and he goes quiet. Like he’s scared. Anakin knows that look. After he first came to the Temple, he used to look at Obi-Wan with that same edgy wariness. It hurts.
What did Maul do to him?
“I don’t know what you want to do now,” Anakin tries for carefully, “But I was thinking that I could bring you home. Unless… you’re not ready for that yet.” Which he could understand because he lived an entire life apart from them.
Luke’s quiet for a long pause. “I always wanted to know my know my parents. Or – or any family I had. Maul told me I didn’t have any. That – that he was all I had.”
“He’s not your family,” Leia retorts, face scrunching.
Luke doesn’t say anything.
He cares about him. Of course, he does. Maul’s the one who raised him. It has Anakin thinking painfully of Palpatine again. He knows now what he really was and that most of their relationship was probably fake but he just – It doesn’t change that he’s the one who was always unfailingly kind when no one else was. And obviously, Maul wasn’t half that nice with Luke but he still raised him. It’s going to be complicated. It’s something they’ll have to be patient about. Maybe he can try talking to him about it later.
“I can start with taking you to meet Padme – your mother,” Anakin offers, “And… you can decide what you want after that?”
Luke nods tentatively. At least now, he doesn’t seem upset about being here anymore. It makes Anakin wonder how long he’s wanted a different life, but he’s never known another way.
***
Anakin ends up going to the cockpit to talk with Ahsoka and Rex, but mostly just to give Luke a little bit of space in case he needs it. He doesn’t want to be away from him for another moment, but this is about his son, not him. And… he thinks the twins deserve a little time alone, too.
“I knew someone was missing,” he can hear Luke’s muffled voice speaking and he doesn’t mean to eavesdrop but he can’t help overhearing some of it, “I thought it was just my parents at first. But now, I think it was you.”
“Yeah,” Leia replies, almost dreamily, “I always knew I had a brother who died and I missed you all the time. I used to imagine what you would be like. I never thought I’d have the chance to know. Something about this mission felt important – that’s why I snuck along even though I wasn’t supposed to come.”
“You did?”
“Uhuh. It was a pretty good plan. Even if I got caught.”
Anakin doesn’t bother to hide his amusement. “I think she’s just like you in some ways, Ahsoka.”
“Or just like you,” Ahsoka teases, “Obi-Wan told me you snuck along on a mission with him once too.”
Anakin laughs.
Luke saying “And you didn’t get in trouble?” draws his attention back to the conversation happening in the next room.
“Not really,” Leia replies cheerfully, “Even if Mom’s probably going to chew my ear off when I get back.”
“What’s she like?” Luke asks.
“She’s… You know, I don’t know how to explain,” Leia admits, “But she’s nice. Even if she’s sticky about rules sometimes. But she’s busy most of the time so I’m usually with Dad.”
“What’s he like?”
“Best dad ever,” Leia promises lightly.
Anakin’s heart fills with a wild swell of warmth, even if he already knows that’s what Leia thinks. “Hear that, sir?” Rx asks dryly.
“Yes,” he admits, “And we should probably not keep listening to them.”
“What would I do to block it out?” Ahsoka asks seriously, “Cover my entire lekku with my hands?”
Anakin snorts. “Something like that.”
But that about drowns out whatever the rest of the twins’ conversation was and then Leia comes to the cockpit to ask when they’re going to get there.
***
Anakin’s taking Luke back to Padme’s apartment at 500 Republica – because she’s still managed to stay as Senator, even despite being Leia’s mother – when he suddenly senses a disturbance in the Force. Something’s wrong. It’s the Dark Side, and…
He knows it can only mean one thing.
Maul.
He’s here.
Luke freezes in his tracks too, looking around, eyes widening.
“Stay with Leia,” Anakin orders firmly, “Ahsoka and I will face him.”
Luke hesitates a moment but then nods.
Anakin and Ahsoka take off ahead, into the apartment. He knew Maul would act on this. He just didn’t expect it to happen this soon. They run into the apartment together, looking around. The security guards who’re supposed to be here are dead.
Maul’s not even trying to hide that he’s here. Either he’s being sloppy or he’s trying to throw them off-balance. Because the truth is, all Anakin can feel is a gnawing panic. He thought Luke was dead for years. And he could lose either of the twins right here and now.
“You thought you could take my apprentice?” He spins around, to see Maul stepping out of one of the doorways into the main room, lightsaber activating.
“You took my son.”
Maul just laughs. “I’m surprised you figured it out.”
Acting on anger is not going to help in this situation but that thought is still not enough to for him not to lash out blindly, Force-shoving the Sith into the wall. Ahsoka jumps at Maul before he can recover and the duel explodes in earnest.
Maul’s fighting viciously but with both of them against him, they’re pushing him onto the defensive quickly enough. It’s going well, all things considered, until Anakin hears footsteps approaching behind and then Maul Force-jumps away from them.
The twins skid into the room, both with their lightsabers about. It’s jarringly perfect to see them standing side by side, one with a blue blade the other red, but now’s really not the moment he would’ve liked to realize that. He doesn’t want them anywhere near Maul.
“Apprentice,” Maul greets, “You have found me.”
Luke’s grip tightens on his lightsaber.
“It’s time to come home,” he says, “Finish these Jedi, who ruined your life.”
“You lied to me,” Luke accuses, “You took me from them. My parents.”
Maul’s eyes flicker. He was undoubtedly expecting Luke knew the truth by now. “I gave you power. Power you would never have had if you weren’t here. Power that we both claimed together.’
“You lied to me,” Luke repeats, eyes darkening with anger, “I would have killed them and never known.”
“Your place is at my side. You must know what the Jedi do to Sith. They may claim it doesn’t matter to them but they will always see you as a threat.”
“All I see, actually,” Leia calls loudly, “Is my brother.” She flies at Maul.
Anakin’s heart nearly skips a beat and he’s quick to rejoin the fight. They don’t need to give Maul more time to talk. They need to be defeating him.
But now that Leia’s here too, Anakin can’t help noticing the way Maul’s deliberately trying to hurt her. His blade nearly hits her in the side and it’s Luke who jumps between them, eyes burning.
“So, you intend to betray me?” Maul asks. Anakin might actually feel a little sympathy over how he actually sounds hurt, if not for everything he’s done.
“So betrayed me first!” Luke yells back, hand lifting.
The Force wraps around Maul’s neck, jerking him off the ground.
It only lasts for a moment before Maul shatters the hold, a Force wave whipping through the room but it still slows him down. Long enough that when he’s still getting to his feet, Ahsoka jumps him again and he’s slow to block it. Her twin blades run through his chest. There’s a frozen moment of nothing and then he falls.
He’s dead.
Finally, the one who killed Qui-Gon, who took and hurt his son, who’s done so much to the galaxy is… gone.
His son is standing there, frozen.
For a moment, all Anakin can feel is a mirror of himself, and his own horror in the moment he saw Palpatine die.
Luke goes over to Maul slowly, crouching at his side. And then he just… sits there.
Would it help or just make it worse right now, if he tried to intervene?
Leia goes over to him first, kneeling next to Luke and wrapping her arms around him. He breathes out heavily, turning to hug her back.
Maybe it’s best he lets them have this moment together.
***
They try to get Luke settled in after that. It’s… complicated. They have to set up an entire bedroom for him next to Leia and he’s been mostly broody and silent. And Anakin would rather let him have a say in what his room looks like so they don’t get too fancy about it.
He can’t help the gnawing fear that Luke’s angry at them over Maul, even if he hasn’t said so. Anakin wouldn’t really blame him if he was. Because the truth is, there’s a tiny part of him that’s never fully forgiven the Jedi for killing Palpatine either. Even if…he can understand now that it had to be done.
He can’t find it in himself to sleep so he finally slips out of his room with Padme, going to the living room to consider checking out a machine project that he was working on with Leia before they left for that mission.
Instead, he finds Luke. The boy is leaning against the window, staring out at the passing traffic. He jerks a little, looking up when Anakin enters the room.
“Couldn’t sleep?” Anakin ventures, approaching slowly, just to make sure the boy’s alright with it.
He doesn’t twitch away which is at least one step in the right direction. “No.” The reply is quiet.
“You… miss him.”
Luke tenses a little, eyes wary and guarded. Still expecting to be hurt.
“It’s okay,” Anakin tells him quietly, “I… understand that. When I was young, I was raised by a Sith too. I didn’t know he was a Sith at the time but I always looked up to him. He was my mentor. The Jedi killed him to stop him from destroying the galaxy. But when I think about him, a Sith isn’t what I remember. I remember someone was always there for me when I needed it. Sometimes, I don’t understand how he could have been what they said.”
Luke looks down. “Maul wasn’t like that,” he mumbles, “Nice, I mean. I mean – he was. Sometimes. But he always demanded that I be stronger, fight harder. I… never could quite do enough. But he still wanted me. And I don’t ever want to see him again after how he lied to me but – but – ” He turns away.
Anakin steps closer slowly, laying a hand on his shoulder.
Luke twitches but doesn’t pull away.
“You’re safe here,” Anakin promises softly, “No one’s going to hurt you again. I won’t say that the fact that he hurt means he couldn’t have cared about you – ” Because his questions about whether or not Palpatine ever actually cared about him only made him feel much worse. “- but if someone cared for the child they were raising above all else, they would never hurt them.”
Luke nods a little, though Anakin’s not sure he fully understands. Probably, it’ll take him a while.
“I think Maul was jealous of you,” he blurts out.
Anakin frowns. “For what?”
“About Palpatine. He raised Maul too. And he was... awful to him. And then he just threw him away. Usually the only one he talked about was Obi-Wan but sometimes, when it came to you, I think it was more than that you were his apprentice. And supposedly the one who killed my father.”
It’s possible. Was Palpatine as awful to Maul as Maul was to Luke? Or worse? He doesn’t really want to think about it.
“I couldn’t blame him for that,” Anakin admits finally.
Luke nods, wordlessly but he doesn’t say anything more.
Maul is gone and Anakin’s frankly just relieved but that’s not really what his son needs to hear.
“Do you see me as a threat?” Luke asks, bluntly.
Anakin blinks. “Of course not. I know what Maul trained you to become and I know what you could do but you’re here now. If you were going to hurt someone, you would have done it already. And the truth is, even if you were still fighting me, it wouldn’t change that you’re my son and I love you.”
He hears the boy breathes out shakily, and he’s not quite expecting to suddenly get an armful of Luke, but he does.
Anakin hugs him back, tightly.
Maybe they have a long way to go at healing but he thinks they’ll finally be able to it together.