Ahsoka leapt up to bow or curtsy, the only thing she could think of, and instantly regretted it. Excruciating pain shot up her lame foot, and she fell again, forward onto her face this time.
Pushing herself up onto her elbows, she stared at Vader in terror, expecting punishment for not only her tardiness, but also her clumsiness. Instead he held out his hand, grinned and said, "Do you ever walk?"
She took his hand and struggled to stand, "Yes sir, I try sir," the second she was fully on her feet and stable she took two quick steps back and curtised, staying low, with her knees bent and eyes to the ground.
Vader didn't say any thing and she risked a glance up, he was grinning, "I don't know what you think, but I most certainly am not going to hurt you." he paused thoughtfully. "Why are you calling me sir all of a sudden?"
"You're the master, I'm the slave, it's a tradition kind of thing."
"Sir makes me feel old, Snips, my name works just fine." He shrugged.
"Which name would you prefer?"
"My name," he sounded confused.
"Anakin, or Vader?"
His eyes narrowed, becoming yellow. "That name has no meaning to me anymore," he snarled, "Master or Vader works just fine."
"Yes master," she said automatically, and his eyes reverted to blue.
He turned, and robes flowing out around him, swished into the dense jungle. Ahsoka took the initiative and followed, albeit hesitantly. Finally she was able to take in the sheer size of the garden, taking up all but six or seven feet of the tower on each side for the corridor. Vader led her straight to the center where a small bench sat in the middle of a plant free circle. He sat on the bench, and motioned for Ahsoka join him.
"So," he said softly, "You were late." those four words were enough to strike fear into Ahsoka's heart. He frowned, seeming to consider that, "There is a turbo-lift." he pointed out, as Ahsoka opened her mouth to point out that she was a slave, which wasn't the usual audience for that sort of thing, he interrupted. "You are allowed to use it when guests are not present."
"Oh," Ahsoka mused, "That makes sense master." still nervous, Ahsoka sat on the far side of the bench.
Vader sat silently for a moment, and Ahsoka began to get really scared. "Where have you been," he asked after a while, "How could someone hide you from me for six months?"
"After the bridge collapsed, I was buried under a ton of debris," she responded, "Its a miracle I didn't die." A very sad look crossed her face, and Vader had to strain to hear her. "Sometimes I wish I did die."
"Why..." his voice carried uncertainty.
"You didn't meet my old master," she sniffed, fighting the urge to cry, staring at her hands, that she was wringing nervously in her lap.
"How bad could he be?" Vader asked, a threatening note in his voice.
"He snapped my ankle himself." she blinked back more tears, "Because I was the last to line up to go to the auction," he could tell by he face she was completely terrified. "I was late because it hadn't healed fully from the last time he broke it."
Vader muttered a few choice swear words, "I swear to the force I will never do anything like that to you," he managed finally. Ahsoka looked up, still not meeting his eyes.
"Thank you," she managed.
"Look at me," he requested, she didn't move, terrified. "Ahsoka, look at me." This time there was more weight to his voice, as if there was a hidden threat there. She met his eyes nervously, fidgeting. "Did he touch you in any inappropriate manner?"
Ahsoka smiled at the way he said it, "No!"
Vader visibly relaxed, "Good, he obviously valued his life," the Togruta grinned, and Vader stood, then grabbed her and helped her to do the same.
"We should get your foot looked at." He said, she nearly asked how he knew it hurt, then remembered that he always knew when she was hurt and smiled.