When Luke awoke, he felt a little bit too comforted to feel any inclination to move. He was wrapped in blankets and lying on a soft bed, luxuries he hadn't had in what felt like longer than forever. He could sense someone, his father, nearby. He rolled over within the warmth of the blankets.
He felt his father's hand on his cheek, and forced himself not to flinch, not wanting to give up his cover. The gentle touch didn't hurt, which was a wonderful change from prison. Then the unseen hand started to slip through his hair, silently combing it out.
Once Luke was aware of his hair, he realized that it was already combed, and cut back to the way he usually kept it. He hid a smile. His father had tried to put him back to just the way he was before prison. He suddenly remembered Vader's promise to return his eyes.
He rolled over again, wanting his father's face to be the first thing he saw. Then he cracked his eyelids opened, and the brightness leapt in.
"Ow," he mumbled, closing his eyes again.
His father laughed gently, "Would you like me to turn off the lights so it won't be so bright?"
"Yeah," Luke said, nodding.
He was vaguely aware of the world on the other side of his eyelids getting darker, and he tried again, blinking up into his father's face. Instantly, his eyes started to water, and he reached up to rub at them.
Vader grabbed his hand, "No, Luke. It's a good sign that they're watering. I'm afraid you'll have to let them continue for a while."
"Ugh," Luke mumbled, forcing himself not to try again, "Why is it still so bright in here?"
"The lights are off, and the curtains are closed. I'm sorry, but I can't make it much darker."
Luke dragged himself up against the headboard, continuing to blink, cursing his eyes for sending everything to his brain all blurry.
"How do you feel?" his father asked kindly.
"Much better," Luke yawned.
"You look much better too," Vader said with a smile.
Luke tipped his head to the side, asking.
Vader held out a mirror for him, and he smiled once more, "I look like me," he said happily.
Vader nodded, "Yes."
Feeling immensely comforted by the return of his vision, Luke tried to stumble to his feet. Instantly, the room swam. He grabbed the bed very tightly, and his father helped him to stand upright.
"Okay, that was a bit sudden," he said, trying to balance.
"I assume there will be a period you'll have to go through to remember what it feels like to have everything they've just returned."
Luke nodded and finally managed to stand straight. He tried to take a step, and nearly tripped again. He straightened, and managed to stumble towards his father.
"Help," he laughed, "Everything's still spinning."
Vader gently pushed him back down on to the bed.
"Hey! I wanna try walking!" Luke said in irritation.
Vader shrugged, and Luke squinted, trying to see him better, "They left you these."
Vader held up something Luke couldn't see properly. He tried to squint more, and found his eyes watering more than ever. Then the whatever-it-was was moving towards his face, and he thought he saw spikes extending from it.
"Get that away from my face!" he begged, crawling backwards.
"Luke, calm down. They're just glasses, they'll help you see. They told me that you'd be able to see properly soon, but that you could use these until then. Just hold still, I'll be careful."
Luke closed his eyes tightly, frightened by the prospect of the spikes nearing his face again. Then something cold and metal pressed against the top of his ears, and he yelped.
"That's cold!"
Vader laughed, "You can open your eyes now. I told you that you could trust me."
Slowly, Luke opened his eyes, and saw metal frames. Through the lenses, everything was wonderfully clear.
"Thanks," he said, "This is much better."
Vader took his arm and helped him to his feet. He stumbled at once, and his father caught him again.
"Seeing is kind of weird now," he apologized, "I'm sure I'll get better with this."
"You will," his father promised.
Luke closed his eyes again, allowing himself to plunge back into the darkness he had grown used to. He regained his balance, then slowly re-opened his eyes.
"Okay," he said to himself, "Now to take a step."
He cautiously put one foot in front of the other, glanced down to verify that he wouldn't trip over his own feet, his vision swam again and he pitched forward. Vader caught him again and put him back on his bed.
"They mess up my depth perception," Luke told his father, indicating the glasses.
Vader nodded, and Luke was glad to be able to see his face clearly.
"Whoa, you don't look so good," he said before he had a chance to think about his words.
Vader smiled affectionately, "I know I don't."
"And I thought," Luke faltered, "What about the life support suit?"
Vader smiled again, sitting down next to him, "It was worse. They just managed the technology to heal me to this extent since you've been in prison."
"I should've noticed that you were speaking differently. Breathing too," he added.
Vader nodded.
They sat in silence for a moment before Luke spoke, "Well, I'm glad they healed you."
Vader laughed, "So am I."
"We have the same eye colour," Luke observed happily.
"Did you think I was lying when I said I was your father?"
"No, I just didn't know if we'd look anything alike."
Vader touched his own face, a couple of disfiguring scars obvious, "We don't."
"Sure we do. I've got some scars too," Luke retorted, starting to run his fingers over them, suddenly noticing something, "Hey! Look, we've even got one here that matches almost perfectly!"
Vader nodded, finding his own with his fingers.
"Fortunately for you, technology has advanced. Your scars are probably going to heal. Mine were inflicted too long ago to be mended. This particular one, thanks to a lightsaber."
Luke grinned, "Mine's not fading either. A wampa did this to me. Then everything got chaotic and it didn't get an opportunity to heal before we had to fight again."
Vader rolled his eyes, "Not what most people would consider a family resemblance."
Luke nodded, "I guess not. But we're not most people, are we?"
Grabbing Luke as he attempted once more to stand, Vader shook his head, "That we certainly are not. Sit down before you do something that puts you back in the operating room."
Luke sat down and pouted, "At least if I do it's convenient."
"Luke?"
"Yes?"
"Go to sleep."
"I don't want to!" Luke protested, "I want to keep talking to you!"
"I'm sure that being sedated threw off your sense of when it's time to sleep, but it's nearly one in the morning. You need sleep, and we may as well start trying to get you back in sync with the rest of the galaxy as soon as possible."
"I'm not tired."
"I don't care. Lie down and let me tuck you in."
Luke considered protesting, but the offer of being cared for once again was too tantalizing to resist. He let his father fold back the blankets and crawled under them, smiling as his father gently tucked the blankets back around him.
"There, don't you feel better now?"
Much to his own frustration, Luke found himself beginning to feel drowsy. He nodded grudgingly.
Vader smiled and sat down beside him, "I knew you would. Sleep now, I'll stay with you."
"I wanna see Leia," Luke said.
"Give it a day?" Vader asked.
"I wanna see her now."
"You're already falling asleep. Listen to yourself."
"Can't you bring her here while I'm asleep? So she's here when I wake up?" he begged.
Vader sighed and nodded, then he reached towards his son, carefully taking the glasses from his face.
"You probably won't need these by the time you wake up."
Luke smiled, "Just one more good reason to sleep, huh?"
"Yes," Vader said.
Luke yawned and pressed against his father, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, I love you."
Luke closed his eyes once more and fell asleep with his father slowly rubbing his side comfortingly.
