Brown Eyes (Wishes of Fire)

By Serena

A/N: You guys are the best! :D Thank you so much.

NOTE: I've drawn up a Vader/Padme piece - inspired by Jo's request. I'd love to get your feedback on the drawing. The address is: http://serena-kenobi(dot)deviantart(dot)com/art/A-Breath-Away-150951051

Background: The Empire has recently been put into place. Anakin/Vader and Padme have never met before. Vader is several years older than she is.

Disclaimer: Don't own, never will.


Chapter Seven: Disturbing Incident


Vader hit the play button, kept his eyes glued to the screen in front of him. After a moment, he hit the stop button, then rewind, then play again. The way the sunlight shone on her hair, making it glow brilliantly, and bringing out the dazzling shine to her brown eyes made his heart pound in his chest every single time he watched the clip. It was taken from the... discussion he'd had with her several days earlier.

He didn't know how many times he'd watched this. And it was only ten-thirty in the morning. But every time he did, he saw something new - whether it was in her expression, her movements, or her words themselves.

This was becoming a serious problem.

Vader sighed shortly, pressed the stop button. After a moment of hesitation, his hand hovered over the play button.

You must stop this. It's dangerous. She is dangerous.

Vader let out a long, frustrated breath through his nose. While his better judgment told him to turn it off, to destroy the holovid and never speak to Padme Amidala again... the innermost part of him screamed against it. She was different from anyone he'd ever met. She was strong, beautiful, and kind. Why she had... befriended him, if that's what it was, he didn't have a clue. He was the Dark Lord of the Sith.

No. He shook his head and turned off the holovid. This had gone on long enough. He let his sudden spark of anger at himself grow into a constant flow. Letting out a growl, he stood up, ran a hand through his hair, put on his helmet, and strode out of the room.

But all the while, a part of him longed to see her again. Ached to see her again.

However, Vader had to squash down all thoughts of Padme when he was contacted by his master, Lord Darth Sidious.

"Lord Vader." The Emperor's slithery tone came through Vader's private com. "Your presence is required in the throne room immediately."

Vader wanted to know why, but he knew better than to question his master. "Yes, my master," he said. The Emperor hung up without another word, but Vader expected that. He did the same thing. Grabbing his cape, he fastened it around his neck and went directly to his private hangar. Ignoring the stormtroopers and aides who stood faithfully at guard, he entered his personal cruiser and piloted it towards the Imperial palace.

He couldn't wait until he could kill the old wretch. Palpatine had been his master for too long. Soon enough, Vader would be ready to strike him down. The mere thought gave him a burst of dark pleasure. He flexed his hands on the controls as he landed in the Emperor's hangar and paced through the palace until he finally reached the throne room. Once he stood before the Emperor, he bowed.

"Master. What is your bidding?"

"Rise, my friend. We have a guest present." The Emperor sounded far too happy, Vader thought suspiciously. What was the old fool up to now?

When he saw a figure drawing closer out of the corner of his eye, he turned and tensed. Oh, just lovely.

"Prince Xizor," Vader all but growled.

The infamous Prince of Falleen graced Vader with a cunning, all too pleased smile. "Lord Vader. A pleasure, to be sure."

Vader's fists clenched. The Emperor was up to something. And if it involved Xizor, it couldn't be good. Hopefully, this meeting wouldn't take too long. He couldn't wait to get out of Xizor's slimy presence.


"Padme! Hey, it's Sola. Listen, Mom and Dad are gonna watch the kids for Darred and me so we can take a little vaca... how are you doing? Mind if we stop by? All right, I'll talk you to later. Bye!"

Padme hurried out of the 'fresher and scrambled to grab the com. But in her rush, she tripped on her dress and fell on her stomach with a grunt. "Ow." Grumbling under her breath, she picked herself up off the ground and shouted: "TEE-CEE! Thank you for getting the call for me like I've ASKED YOU TO MANY TIMES!"

"You're welcome!" Tee-cee shouted back from the kitchen.

Padme shook her head and pressed the "return call" button on the com call screen. A moment later, her sister's face appeared on the screen.

"Trickster! Why didn't you answer my call?"

Padme ignored her sister's favorite nickname for her and said, brushing her hair away from her face: "I couldn't reach the com in time."

"What about your droid? Don't tell me you still have that blasted mouthy droid."

Padme frowned. She'd had this conversation one too many times with her older sister. "I told you, Sola, I like her. I hate droids who have no personality. They're no fun."

"At least they get the job done." Sola sighed. "So, anyway. Did you get my message?"

"Yes. When were you planning on coming?"

"Within the next week or so - probably by next Tuesday."

Padme sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Sola, I don't think that'll work. I have a very important vote that day, and I need to spend as much time as possible getting ready for it. I'm afraid you two will be stuck here without me - and there's really not much to do in this section of Coruscant. It's the political sector. How about we plan some other time?" She hoped she didn't sound too eager to refuse her sister's presence, but Sola, almost seven years older than Padme, acted like Padme's second mother, irritating Padme to no end. She knew Sola was only trying to help and be a good older sister, but Sola's constant berating and mothering grew old very quickly.

"Oh, you'll be fine. I'm sure we'll find something to do," Sola said. "You can make time for us."

"Sola," Padme said with a slight edge to her voice, "I really can't. I'm too busy. This vote is important."

Sola sniffed. "I don't see why. It doesn't even matter what you do. The Empire's in charge, and soon all of these Moffs are going to be running things. It's a matter of months before your job becomes obsolete."

OK, that's it, Padme thought, inwardly growling. "At least I'm trying to do something," she snapped. "I know you and Mom and Dad didn't want me to go into politics, but I like it. It's what I want to do, and I honestly don't care what you say. I'm here, this is my life, and you have your life. All right?"

Sola stared stonily back at her sister and finally said: "Well, at least I'm married."

Padme's lips parted, and she sucked in a breath. Oh, boy. She did not just say that. "That was low, Sola."

"Fine," her sister retorted sullenly. "But you threw away a perfectly good chance at a happy marriage. Palo was a good man."

"He wasn't right for me."

"Is anyone?"

Padme's eyes flashed. "I'm done talking to you. Don't bother coming by." Before her sister could reply, Padme disconnected the link. She stared down at the blank screen for a few minutes before shaking her head and storming back into her bedroom. She collapsed on her bed and made a noise of pure frustration. Some things never changed. Sola would always be ragging on her, putting her down. So what if she'd rejected Palo? He was nice enough, but there were no... sparks. No life. Plus, his idea of a good wife was one who would stay at home and take care of the kids. He never wanted to leave Naboo - he was content to stay painting in his little shop. That was fine... for him. But she wanted to travel, see the galaxy. She wanted to make a difference.

Sola would never understand. Married with two children, she was happy to be the typical stay at home mother and wife. Padme didn't begrudge her for that - what she did begrudge her was for Sola's lack of tact. Padme knew she was old enough to marry, to date.

But she hadn't wanted to date anyone.

Rising from her bed, Padme had a bad feeling that her sister might not listen to her and end up coming after all. "Ugh, I cannot deal with this right now," she grumbled. Not bothering to grab her cloak, she told Tee-Cee she'd be going for a walk to clear her head. Checking her chronometer, she realized that it was three twenty-seven, and she had a meeting with her fellow senators - namely Bail, Mothma, Far, and others - in roughly three hours.

I can't wait, she thought with a sigh. She made her way to the closest market and strolled around the vendors.

"Funny how we keep running into each other," said a deep voice from behind her.

Padme froze, knowing the voice instantly. She didn't turn to face him but replied: "Yes, funny. One might even think suspicious."

"Oh?"

A scowl fell across her face as she now turned to glare at him. "You're following me," she accused.

Anakin raised an eyebrow. "Indeed. What gives you that idea?"

"The fact that you're here when I'm here... and this is - what, the second time in a week?"

He smiled faintly, but it wasn't a real smile. Bringing his hands together behind his back, he leisurely moved towards her. "You're not looking at all the facts, Senator."

"Oh?" she parroted, placing her hands defiantly on her hips.

"No." He frowned. "For instance... it's been more than a week since our first encounter. You probably live close by if you walk here to this particular market... and for that matter, as I am on foot, so must I. Today is the day they bring out their new, fresh fruit because last night was when the shipments arrive. If you've lived near here for at least a month, you know that. So, here you are buying fresh food... and I might as well."

Padme gazed at him sullenly. Kriff. He had a point. "Fine. So what you want?"

"Want?"

She shivered at his dark tone. Everything about him - his clothing, his stance, his height... his eyes - was so intense. She got the feeling this was no ordinary man who just went to the market on Fridays. Not in the least.

"I simply want to become better acquainted. After all, we might be running into each other again."

Her eyes narrowed. "Really. You're assuming quite a bit, Mr. Starkiller."

"Perhaps, Senator," he conceded with a nod. He came up beside her and picked up a fruit. Padme noticed instantly that his hand was gloved up to his arm, but when he reached down to take the fruit, she saw a flash of metal peeping out from the glove.

"Your hand!" she exclaimed before she could stop herself.

Anakin paused, gripped the fruit tighter. His jaw tightened, and his eyes grew stormy. Padme had a feeling she probably shouldn't have said that.

"I... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that."

"No. Forget it," he answered tersely. He still didn't look at her, but kept his gaze locked on the fruit, as if he wanted to burn it up just by staring at it.

"Can I ask what happened?" she asked.

"Long story. You wouldn't be interested." Now he glanced up at her. "Trust me."

Padme, sensing he didn't want to enter into this conversation, nodded uncertainly and glanced away. "All right." She turned away and picked up a shurra fruit, sniffing it. She stumbled into Anakin when someone else abruptly bumped into her, causing Anakin to grab her to keep her steady. Padme pulled back away from him and looked at the person who'd crashed into her. It was a boy about eighteen or nineteen, a raggedly dressed boy, who was filthy and missing several teeth.

"Oh, I - I'm so sorry, my lady," the boy stammered.

Padme smiled. "It's all right. Don't worry about it." She stepped away from Anakin's hold and cleared her throat. But, glancing at Anakin, she saw his face was dark.

"Watch where you're going, boy," Anakin snapped.

The boy nodded hastily and darted off down the street. Padme shot a dirty look to Anakin.

"He's just a boy. You didn't have to be so harsh." When he didn't reply, she frowned, confused. "What's wrong?"

"That boy," he all but growled. "He just stole from you."

Padme's eyes widened. "What?"

But Anakin brushed past her without another word, heading directly for the boy who'd just bumped into her. Bewildered, Padme started after him.

"Anakin, what are you doing?" she called.

The boy who'd apparently stolen from her heard her voice, turned around, and saw the two following him. Knowing he'd been caught, he whirled around and broke into a run. Anakin, anticipating his movements, matched the boy's pace easily, but Padme, wearing a dress, let out a growl and picked up her skirt, jogging after them.

"Kriffing dresses!" she muttered, brushing past the crowds of people. She strained to keep her eyes on Anakin, but as he was taller than most of the pedestrians and dressed in black, he wasn't hard to miss in broad daylight. But Force, was he fast! He rounded a corner into an alley after the man and disappeared. Padme hauled her skirts up to her knees and dashed after him. "Anakin!" She took the corner sharply and slowed to a stop when she saw the scene before her. "Anakin, what are you doing?" she cried in horror.

Anakin's gloved hand was wrapped around the thief's neck, clutching it tightly, and his face was twisted into a dark snarl, his eyes a dark, wild blue. The thief choked, clawed at Anakin's hand, but it didn't work. But after Padme's first cry, Anakin loosened his grip.

"Anakin." Padme strode up to them. "Anakin, what the kriff are you doing?"

"He stole from you," snarled Anakin.

"I don't care!" she snapped, grabbing his gloved arm. Anakin's head turned to her, his expression melting into one of surprise. But she wasn't finished, not by a long shot. Breathing heavily, she continued angrily: "Look at him!" She motioned to the thief. "He has nothing! He's dirt poor! I know he stole from me, and it wasn't right - but that does not give you the right to attack him!"

Anakin growled at the thief who coughed violently. Padme's eyes widened, and her grip tightened on Anakin's arm. "And he's sick! Can't you hear it in his cough!"

"He could be faking," Anakin argued.

"He's not," Padme hissed. "Let him go."

Anakin hesitated.

"Now," she ordered, tugging on his arm.

Anakin didn't move for another minute. But when he released the boy and stepped back, he grabbed the boy's shoulder and leaned forward, growling: "Don't ever let me catch you stealing again." And he shoved the boy back. Letting out a whimper, the boy scrambled away down the alley. Anakin then turned to face Padme and glanced down at her hand still on his arm. "There. Satisfied?"

Padme jerked her hand off his arm, inwardly seething. She wouldn't admit it, but Anakin's disturbing behavior left her frightened. He'd been only intimidating before, but now... she honestly didn't know whether or not he was a safe man. Now, he didn't appear that way. "No," she said, shaking her head. "Not at all." She backed away, ignoring his curiously questioning gaze. "You almost killed that boy."

Anakin folded his arms over his chest. "He deserved it. He stole from you."

"I said I don't care!" she yelled. "That doesn't give you the right to kill him!" She felt like killing him right now. Only her second encounter with him - and both times he scared her. "Don't talk to me again," she added coldly. Straightening, she turned her back on him and strode out of the alley. She completely missed the look of surprise, confusion, and disappointment on his face.


TBC...


So yes... this is getting a lot more complicated. Who knew Padme would prefer masked, scary Vader to Anakin? Well, yes, Anakin DID try to strangle someone...

Let me know if I should continue! :)

- Serena