Authors Note: I love Leia and Vader and Bail interaction stories but their are only like 3 of them out there. This is my contribution. Vader is a bit OOC in this bc I made him think for 6 seconds
Big dumb parties taken form the EU, also vader is not unknown by the public in this
Bail Organa's only child is turning fourteen and it was common place to bring recently turned relatives to the Imperial Ball for Empire day. Some did it to show support for the Empire, others did it to help their child find a spouse of high status. Bail did it to introduce Leia to the regime she would one day fight against.
Although the official minimum age to attend the ball was fourteen, Leia would be turning it in only two days so she had been allowed to attend.
And of course, his daughter had been pestering him about it ever since she learned she would be able to leave planet to Coruscant, telling him that is all she had wanted for a birthday gift. He had complied.
Leia and her father spent hours having their outfits designed, sewn, and tailored to her for this ball. Even if Leia never liked having to spend a lot of time on fashion she did not complain once.
His daughter was smart for her age, loving to involve herself in politics, art and history. Of course at such a young age Bail has not told her of his involvement in the rebellion, but it was not as if he could not see the sparks of who would eventually become a rebel.
Her kindness towards others the Empire deemed useless warmed his heart.
Unfortunately this meant Leia had a tendency to say things that could come off as traitorous, even if she meant well and intended to help improve the Empire.
Because of this, Bail wanted to stay close to her during the party, and he had told her this explicitly before they entered the party.
"Leia, I know you are excited for this, but I must ask of you to stay by my side the entire time." Bail told her, hands folded neatly into his lap as they were chauffeured.
"But why? It's not like there is any danger at the party." She responded, confused by his protectiveness. "There will be guards all around, I've seen liveholos of the gala before."
"That is where you are wrong, there may be no physical danger, but you must not let anyone entrap you with their words. This is not like when you are on Alderaan. Many questions you ask people may come off as offensive or traitorous."
"I'll stay by your side then." His daughter said unhappily looking out the window as the city planet passed by.
He did not want to upset her, but he couldn't risk putting her in harms way because she has a loose tongue.
Bail and Leia Organa arrived at the Imperial gala arm in arm with the rest of the privileged invited, walking by news reporters as they announced the attendees, fashion, and theme of this year to the holo cameras at before they entered the building.
The party was made up of high ranking imperials, senators and their close family members. At a first glance Bail could see a few friendly faces and a few unfriendly ones. As usual the Emperor took his place sitting in the throne at the far end of the dance room surrounded by four motionless guards in bright red.
Darth Vader was currently absent from his usual place by the Emperor's side.
The hall was decorated in the theme of this year, flowers from the Emperor's homeplanet Naboo. Support beams of the hall were enwrapped in spiraling cut flowers of vivid color. While the walls were hung with large landscape paintings of wild fields of flowers. The partygoers wore gowns and suits with flower patterns embroidered onto the fabric, some supporting live flowers pinned into their clothes or hair.
Next to the Emperor there were massive bouquets of flowers in warm colors, in stone carved vases making the red draped guards near him appear to be a part of the scenery itself.
Bail and Leia were in matching outfits of white, embroidered with blue flowers fading into the bottom half. Leia was also wearing a crown of small four petaled light blue flowers she had picked out herself, twisted into her hair done up in the elaborate style of Alderaan.
They both walked together for the beginning of the party giving polite greetings to the other partygoers until one of the senators caught them in a longer conversation.
"Ah, Senator Organa." Greeted the senatorial man in green with his wife. "I see your daughter has finally become of age to join these parties."
"Yes, I believed it would be good for her too see the capital, and what better time to do so than Empire day itself?" Bail politely responded to the man.
"Where are you both from?" Leia asked the pair.
The adult couple ignored Leia completely.
"Have you heard of the upcoming vote on slavery in the inner rim and core worlds? What side do you think you are going to vote for?" The man asked, not even looking for a second in Leia's direction.
A subject Leia herself has asked Bail about many times before. Often showing sympathy for the non-human races often subject to subjection.
"I have not decided yet." Bail lied effortlessly. "It is very cost effective, but I do not want it on Alderaan."
"But papa-" Leia began to say before her father interrupted her.
"Hush now, remember what I told you on the ride here." Bail placed his hand on Leia's shoulder in a firm reassuring manner.
She made an unpleasant face but otherwise remained silent as the adults spoke. Unhappy in being unable to speak about subjects she was passionate about, he eyes wandered around the room, looking at the different outfits and decorations.
The conversation continued Bail, letting the other man speak of his own opinion more so then giving his own, until the moment Darth Vader entered the ballroom. Bail knew it was him even though he could not see the man's entrance, and for a moment voices turned into hushed whispers before returning to normal volume. No one else could do that. No one else command that much power and fear. The common subject of small talk quickly moved from politics and fashion to the mysterious second in command.
It was not as if Vader's presence was uncommon in the Imperial Gala on Empire day. Darth Vader did however mostly stick to the Emperor's side the entire time. Bail was pretty sure he only showed up to these gatherings because the Emperor commanded him to. Even when he called himself Anakin he wasn't a fan of these types of things.
However, this time Darth Vader did not remain at the Emperor's side.
Instead Vader spent only a few minutes standing still by Emperor Palpatine's side before the man in charge spoke to him, the second in command then took to the crowd going from group to group around the edges of the room. He was too far away for Bail to hear what was being said, but he hoped it was just pleasantries. As anytime soon Vader would come into contact with his group.
More importantly, Vader would come into contact with Leia for the first time.
Not knowing that much about the force, Bail was unsure if the former Jedi would be able to sense if Leia was force sensitive. He worried if Vader would try to use her youth to have her say something traitorous just so he could have an excuse to kill them both.
What Bail did not see coming what Leia herself inviting Vader closer to her.
As usual Vader remained in his suit of layered black armor, and he was greeted before he could speak as he approached the small group.
"Milord, it is good to see you on this glorious day." The wife of the senator Bail had been making small talk to answered cheerily as she courtesy bowed. Excited to be making contact with the mysterious second in command, likely for the first time.
"It good to meet you as well, Lord Vader." Leia joined in the conversation again, and then quickly blurted out, "What do you think of the upcoming vote on slavery?"
"Leia, you shouldn't bother a man such as Vader with this." Surprised at Leia's sudden question to the person who would be the worst member of the Empire to ask about this subject, Bail tried to politely remind Leia to keep her question to herself and not irritate the Sith Lord who himself had been a former slave. Not that anyone but him in this group knew that.
"Nonsense. It is always good to see the youth interested in the Empire." Darth Vader responded giving Leia the attention she wanted from the moment she had stepped into the formal party.
This was not good. This was very dangerous for Leia and she did not even know why. This made Bail Organa very anxious for the events about to transpire.
"Would you like to talk about it to me more on the dance floor?" Leia gracefully landed herself into a conversation with Vader without her father's presence. Holding her white gloved hand out to him in invitation.
With that her father's fears were becoming true.
Bail hoped Darth Vader would rudely deny her request as he usually did at these parties. However, it appeared the force was not with him today as the Sith Lord accepted her request to dance by gently taking her hand and leading her to the center of the dancehall. If Bail didn't know of Vader any better he would think the second in command accepted the invite specifically to irritate the overprotective father further. Knowing Anakin, he probably did exactly that.
Even though he did not want his child to dance with him, Bail could not prevent Vader from doing so without some type of suspicion or scene.
After all, what Imperial citizen wouldn't feel safe in the Empires strongest, most powerful enforcer of the law's embrace?
He had to let his child be waltzed away by Vader.
The two of them quickly gained the attention of the Ballroom.
Darth Vader was not seen dancing often. Especially with someone who was not an Imperial of military background.
Dancing with him, Leia Organa felt dwarfed by his stature. Standing below average human height and weight she felt more of a child next to him then when she was being ignored by the other adults.
Unlike many of her other dance partners, including her teacher, the second in command had placed his hands at her arm and hand instead of her waist. It reminded her of how her parents danced with her. She supposed Lord Vader danced with people like this either because he was so massive, it was more impersonal and formal, or because she was still very young.
Although Lord Vader's grip on her was gentle she could feel his hands were made of metal, they were unforgiving, without any give in their touch. There was a thought in the back of her mind that if he tightened his grip he would easily break her arm in half.
As a member of the Empire, Leia Organa knew the second in command would not harm her, but she could not help but feel as if she was in danger. There was something dangerously burning and hot about his presence.
Her father for some reason had always told her to trust that instinct. She ignored it now.
"All of Alderaan is honored you would choose to dance with me tonight." Princess Leia said politely to him as they begin their formal waltz in the center of the room. The other pairs on the dancehall making way for them. "You are not seen dancing often."
"I was merly doing so because your father appeared to be silencing your words."
"He is... very overprotective of me, especially because I am not even fourteen yet." Looking from the masked man to her father she noticed they had the attention of the dancehall. Some of the other dancers sparring curious glances as they as the danced by.
Even the Moffs were looking on as they danced.
Leia wondered why Lord Vader only ever showed up to these parties in his uniform. All of the other military Imperials she could see were out of standard uniform. Most of them in outfits based off of the uniforms but they had a few differences and were often embroidered or painted with Nabooian flowers. In fact she wasn't even sure what Lord Vader looked like. She probably wouldn't recognize him out of uniform.
"Then you must be turning soon, otherwise you would not have been allowed to join the party." Vader spoke and gained her attention again.
"Yes, I'm turning in two days."
Vader seamed taken aback by this for some reason, almost misstepping in the formal dance, but correcting himself before he steeped on Leia's feet.
"Where does your name come from?" The massive man asked out of nowhere, both of his sentences sounding more like statements then questions. "It is not from Alderaan is it?"
Leia was confused as to why he would ask this.
"I'm not sure what you mean by that milord." She genuinely questioned.
"What planet of origin is your first name from."
"My parents did not name me, I don't know where it's from."
Even though Leia could not see the man's face, and did not give any body language suggesting it, she felt like Vader looked shocked and anxious from her answers to his questions.
"You were adopted then."
"Yes I am, I don't exactly look like either of my parents, it's not a secret either." Leia was getting uncomfortable with Vader's questions about her, so she changed the subject. "But enough about me why don't we get back to the upcoming vote."
The second in command took a few moments before he answered, his endless breathing filling her ears.
"It would be more economically viable for the Empire to allow slavery in the inner rim." He finally responded.
"Even if it is economically better I cannot endorse slavery of any species." Leia countered his point. "I believe all non-humans deserve to be treated as equals."
"It is not as if I have a vote in the matter." He began, his finger tapping on Leia's arm making Leia believe it was a sign he was actually thinking about her words. "However, I disagree with the Emperor on this."
"Really? I'm genuinely surprised. You always seem to support all of the Emperor's decisions."
"Just because I support him and follow his orders does not mean I am not entitled to my own opinion."
The princess spared a glance at her father who was watching her every move.
"Then I suppose we have that in common."
The Sith Lord's mask turned slightly toward the Emperor.
"Perhaps we do."
Darth Vader rarely, if ever, danced at these parties, and when he did it was only with high ranking Imperials or their children. So, many attendees were speechless when Vader and Leia began to dance together unprompted.
Surely Bail Organa would be hearing of their dance for months after this night. It would be gossip for a long time.
"How quaint." The senator he had been making small talk to said to him, the gossip beginning. "I've never seen Vader dance at these parties with anyone but Imperial Moffs. You must be proud of her."
"I have never seen him dance either." Bail said, not removing his eyes from their dancing. Leia's white and light blue, flowing dress contrasted heavily against Vader's shiny rigid black armor, as they both moved with others, who's outfits often matched to thier dance partner perfectly, to the waltz. Making them easy to pick out in the crowd. "And I am always proud of my daughter."
"Maybe this means Alderaan will be gaining more Imperial support."
Senator Organa hoped that would never happen.
"We are not a militarized planet, their support would be welcomed." He lied to them again. Continuing to keep his sight on his child and Vader, but sparring a glance twords the senator.
He could see Leia's mouth moving every so often but he could not hear what was being said between them.
At the very least he hoped Leia stayed away from politics.
As the dance ended his daughter returned to him with a smile on her face and Darth Vader returned to moving from one group to another. Returning to his place by the Emperor's side.
The couple that had been ignoring Leia was suddenly very interested in what she had to say. And every other person they spoke with that night congratulated her for being able to steal a dance with the mysterious second in command.
Darth Vader did not dance with another person that night.
"Leia why did you do that?" Bail asked the moment they entered his apartment in the senatorial building.
"It wasn't as if I was in any danger, you worry about me far too much. It was just a dance." Leia said, irritated with his constant supervision.
That Bail knows is false. He also knows he can not tell her all the reasons why, at least not now. Not when she is still so young.
"Could you please tell me why you went against my directions?"
Leia appeared to consider his words for a few seconds, looking at her hands before she made eye contact with him.
"You never tell me anything, and you want me to tell you everything."
Bail was surprised and saddened from hearing this. He could not tell her everything. Risking anyone finding out about her biological parents or that he was a major member of the Rebellion would be catastrophic. Darth Vader would surely burn Alderaan to the ground if he knew of either. They were lucky the Sith Lord found nothing out of the ordinary from Leia simply meeting him.
Sometimes Leia's stubbornness and determination reminded him of Anakin's.
Looking at her now he could tell her face was beginning to favor Vader's. She had his longer chubbier face, thickly lashed eyes and dimpled chin. He had hoped with her dark hair and eyes she would favor Padmé more, but it isn't like her physical appearance mattered that much. He just hoped these were the only traits Leia had gotten from him.
"Leia, there are many things I cannot tell you because they are dangerous. But I can promise you that the moment the danger passes I will tell you everything." Bail said in a calm understanding tone. He wishes he could tell her in this moment. "Now please, would you tell me what you and Lord Vader spoke about?"
"Fine, he was not what I expected. He was interested in random things about me, and he had shared a similar opinion to mine about the upcoming vote."
Both of these things were worrying for different reasons.
"What exactly about you was he interested in?"
"My birthday and name." Leia said almost questioningly, beginning to pull the small flowers from her hair, as if she herself didn't believe Vader would have asked about that.
This wasn't the subject he thought Vader would be interested in but it was just as worrying. Leia was not a name Bail and Breha choose for their child. Padmé had given the names to her children moments before her death. Before this moment he had assumed Anakin did not know the names of his biological children, now he thought himself a fool for believing they would have never at least disused it. And her birthdate, the Sith Lord would never forget the day he killed his wife and believed to have killed his child.
"Papa, what's wrong?" His daughter looked concerned. Perhaps she unknowingly sensed his stress in the force. "Do you know why he asked this?"
"Yes, I do." Bail answered as he brought a hand to run through his hair, messing up his previously perfectly parted hair.
"Is this another think you can't tell me because it's too dangerous." His daughter made air quotes around the last word. "I doubt Vader would do anything to harm me, I'm a princess after all."
Although Leia knew of some atrocities the Empire had committed she falsely believed Vader would not harm royalty, or at least not in public.
"It's not that I think he will intentionally harm you, I-" Bail searched for words that would let him tell Leia of her biological relationship to him without actually telling her. "It's you biological parents, if he found out who they were, it would not be good."
Leia turned away from him and crossed her arms as she began to speak. "I've... overheard you speak of them before. They way you and mama speak of them, were they bad people. Would Lord Vader kill me if he knew who they were? Is that why you were so afraid for me to meet him?"
Bail didn't know the truthful answer to that, he couldn't say if Anakin was a good person if he had killed Padmé, and he certainly wasn't a good person after he put on that armor. Lying to his daughter about his also was not a viable option by any means.
"I do not know what Lord Vader would do if he knew, but I do know it would not end well for anyone involved."
"About the upcoming vote," Leia said making it seam like they were quickly moving away from the subject of Vader, turning to partly face him. "Lord Vader said he was against it."
"Excuse me? I suppose he would not be for it, but why would he tell you?" He asked, surprised by Leia's statement.
"What do you mean, you knew the he doesn't support slavery? Did he speak to to you about this before?"
Bail recognized his mistake too late and tripped over his words to correct himself.
"I- no. An- Vader has not spoken to me about it. I can't tell you why I know this."
"Of course." Leia huffed. Obviously not pleased that her father would not tell her how he knew, even if she knew why he couldn't tell her.
"Leia I want you to avoid Lord Vader, if you can."
"What?"
"Please Leia, I will tell you when the danger passes." Bail was not lying as he said this, he would tell her everything when Darth Vader is dead.
When whatever was left of Anakin Skywalker could no longer harm his only child.