When You Come Home

-44-

"Look who it is," a smooth voice made Anakin jump, hand flying to his gun ... which was inside the warehouse. Of course now had to be the one in a million time he had forgot it.

The tall man crouched beside Anakin, one hand relaxed on his knee, the other propped against the warehouse roof. Any weapons were concealed under his shiny black coat. His striking, almost yellow eyes glanced across Anakin before turning to admire the view. "The warehouses are a great place to watch the moon rise over Sundari. You've chosen a good spot." Maul settled himself next to Anakin, copying him by dangling his legs over the edge. His hands were splayed casually on either side.

"How did you find me?" Anakin asked warily, his heart pounding in his mouth. They were sitting right on top of Obi-Wan and Tala. If Maul had found him, he had surely found Obi-Wan. Anakin had blown his brother's cover, the one thing Obi-Wan had asked for him not to do. And he had no idea how.

But that didn't stop him from playing it cool. There was a chance Maul had happened across him, and Obi-Wan and Tala were still safe. It was a small chance, but Anakin would take anything at this point.

The spurs on Maul's boots clinked as they bumped against the corrugated iron wall. "It appears we have a common interest."

Obi-Wan. It had to be. He couldn't be referring to anything else. There wasn't anything else they had in common.

"I doubt that," Anakin said dryly, worried that his voice would crack under his nerves.

Maul raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't be so sure. It would seem we both need time to think, and where better than up here."

"Thinking is a trait shared by most people," Anakin commented wryly.

"You might be surprised," Maul murmured, then turned to the boy. His yellow eyes glinted in the moonlight. "I've been waiting for a time to catch you ... alone."

Anakin suppressed his shudder, desperately fighting his racing heartbeat. Maul was disturbing enough, but to know that this man had been watching him, waiting for an opportunity to "catch" him, was terrifying. He had found Obi-Wan, then. There was no doubt about it. Anakin had been too careless, had spent too much time around Obi-Wan, and now his brother would suffer for his mistakes. He wasn't allowed to catch a break. If he had only tightened his boots and reshouldered his pack, he and his troop would be in Coruscant by now, away from —

"Since you seem calmer this time, why don't we talk?" Maul suggested, but he twisted subtly, revealing a glimpse at the hilt hidden under his coat. Whether it was intentional, Anakin didn't know, but he took the hint. Also, he was defenseless, not that his gun would have helped against Maul's masterful katana.

"Sure, let's. Why don't we talk about the quickest route for you to leave?" Anakin quipped, a feigned confidence hopefully throwing off suspicion. Sweat dripped from his clenched knuckles. Maul must have realized by now. Anakin could only pray that no sounds from inside the warehouse would escape. Or that someone would exit the building. Or that someone would come back. It was all probably in vain, though. Maul was just toying with him, waiting for the right moment to spring up and burst into the warehouse.

"We could ... or we could talk about something more important," Maul responded evenly.

"And you leaving isn't?" Anakin muttered, then kicked the side of the warehouse as someone dropped something inside it. He rushed on, hoping to distract Maul from the sounds, "What do you want to talk about? The weather? It's nice tonight – warm with a slight breeze. Or maybe the streets? They're quiet: no one's out and about. That's probably because of the curfew —"

"Finally," Maul chuckled. "You've decided that I am important enough to talk with. Excellent," he turned to face Anakin, crossing his legs stiffly. His hands clasped easily in his lap. "Let's talk about politics."