A/N: This chapter was a beast to write, so I hope you enjoy it!
Anakin sat alone in his room, terrified about what would happen to him next. He had a small pallet to sleep on and a bucket to use to relieve himself. He would be slipped food and water through a metal slot in the door, depriving him of any contact unless it was time to train again, although he wasn't certain what he was being trained in as every session hurt terribly. The cold durasteel walls and floor provided no way to escape and the only source of light in the room was from the ceiling, which was dim, casting wicked looking shadows in the room. The shadows were his of course, but they still shook him to his very core.
It had taken time, but he now had learned not to cry anymore. This was his new life, separated from his mother, separated from everyone except an old man who he only knew by the name of master. Being a slave on Tatooine had been wonderful compared to this life. On Tatooine he at least had the freedom to build things from spare parts, even building his own pod racer to fly around during the races, beating his opponents who were far older than him. Freedom.
But that life was over, and this new life was hell. Suddenly, he heard footsteps from outside of the door and he knew it was time to train again which filled him with fear. His new education hurt tremendously, and he didn't understand its purpose other than his master seemed to enjoy inflicting pain. He could hear the keys jingling before the lock was turned, a sickening noise that he had learned to fear, which was probably his master's intent. To be afraid of everything. Anything.
The door opened and his master entered the room, wearing his customary robes with a hood that obscured most of his face except his wrinkled chin and neck. Immediately the training began and lightning bolts shot from his master's fingertips, causing Anakin to yelp out in pain. But that was the only noise that he emitted. Screaming only inflicted more training, so he kept his mouth shut as long as possible, wheezing as his lungs were constricted by the lightning bolts. His master started laughing, a sickening laugh that echoed in the cold and dimly lit room. The training continued for what seemed like hours, days even. There was no lull, it was constant without mercy or a break.
Anakin wished for death…
…..
Vader woke and bolted upright in his bed from the nightmare of his youth. Those nightmares didn't come to him very often, but when they did, they were as lifelike as if he was reliving the experience all over again. He had long suspected that Sidious influenced his dreams but discarded the thought as he was certain that his mental barriers that he had carefully erected over the years prevented Sidious from influencing his mind in any way. Of course, he would still be punished from time to time when his master felt like he had failed, or if the old man was simply in the mood to inflict torment to remind Vader that he was the apprentice and Sidious was the master.
Shaking the thought off, he glanced at the chrono and saw it was four in the morning. Too early to get up and too late to fall back to sleep. Damn it would be a long day, especially since it was the day of the gala, but he had gone without sleep for days when he was on campaign, so he could withstand being a little groggy during the first half of the day.
Flopping back down on his plush bed he kicked the sweaty sheets off of him so his body could dry. He would need to take an extra long hot shower to wash the stench of fear from him, ensuring that he smelled like power throughout the day. His mind drifted to Padmé and the tender moment where she placed her hand on his face, both swearing that they had no reason to fear each other, praying that she would remember the promise once he unveiled himself as a Sith Lord.
Why was she so different from the other women he had encountered over the years? He had never been in a relationship before, so this was unchartered territory for him. Flirting was something that came to him naturally, a skill that he had learned to get what he wanted, but with her it was actually fun. Enjoyable. Right. Then there was the gala he was to attend tonight with his Angel. Of course, he had been to galas before when he spied for Sidious, but they were always missions to probe minds and report back on scandalous activities, so this one would be a completely different experience for him. It was certain that Padmé had been to dozens of them during her tenure as a senator, so he would follow her lead during most parts and when it would be time for him to show his confidence, he would have her follow his. Appearing completely lost and hopeless wasn't an option if he wanted to maintain his appearance of confidence. Confidence was everything, being bold was everything.
Sighing, he launched himself out of bed and went into his fresher, dropping his shorts and kicking them into the closet for Threepio to retrieve later to wash. Stepping into the shower he flicked it on with a waive of his hand and enjoyed the sensation of hot water beating down on him for several minutes with his eyes closed, clearing his mind of any errant thoughts so he could get on with his day. There was much to do today, including the torture of another treasonous senator. He would have to remember to bring a back of spare clothing with him in case things got messy, which was entirely probable. Picking up the soap, he began scrubbing the stench of terror from him quickly, enjoying the clean smell. Then he set to wash his long and wavey locks of hair, lathering up generously. He was not a vain person, but he did enjoy the sensation of being clean.
Once he was finished, he flicked the water off and dried himself quickly, shaking his hair and letting it dry in place. Dressing quickly, he jotted down the stairs and went in the kitchen to make a simple protein shake for his breakfast. While he could easily have Threepio prepare him a proper meal, most days he didn't have the stomach for a full course breakfast. Dinners maybe, but he wasn't a fucking morning person. After downing the shake, he leaned against the marbled countertop for a moment to collect his thoughts for the day, but they quickly shifted to the woman who was casting her spell over him. What had he been thinking when he confessed that he had pain? That was something he never alluded to with anyone, but with her it felt so gods damned right. Everything about her felt so right, every encounter, every conversation. It was like he was being compelled to let down his walls that he had built from many years of discipline, but for some reason, he didn't care about that. It was only about her, from her mind to her the soft skin on her body, her pouty lips that tasted divine.
Gods dammit, he was falling in love.
…..
Padmé hustled into her office with Dormé in tow. They had a tremendous amount of work to accomplish before four in the afternoon so she could leave and prepare for the gala. She was determined to look as sultry as possible for Anakin, wanting to dazzle him in every way so he would be captivated by her beauty. Yes, he had said that she made dresses beautiful by wearing them, but still, it was best if she put forth her best effort to look even more alluring. She was determined to keep him, to possess him in every way possible. Was that greed? Maybe. But she had spent too many years dating men that were either too timid or too overbearing. With Anakin it was just the right blend of tenderness and boldness, making her feel wonderfully captivated whenever she was near him, whenever she thought about him.
Sitting down at her desk, she quickly made a mental checklist of the things she needed to accomplish, organizing her thoughts for the day. Without hesitation she began attacking her work as if she was driven by a motor, blitzing through reports and articles of legislation. Was it repetitive work? Yes, it was, but she didn't care it was her fucking job.
A message popped up on her terminal. It was Bail, he wanted to discuss something regarding the ethics subcommittee that she was a part of, and it was signed with only his last name, which was a code that he needed speak to her about the kriffing Rebellion. Groaning she stood and walked to the door.
"I'll be back in a little while, Dormé, I have to speak to Bail. If any angry constituents call, just handle it for me dear", she said over her shoulder.
"Of course, dear", her friend responded cheerfully. What a good friend, most other handmaidens would huff at such an arduous task, but she was different.
Making her way to Bail's office, she saw him standing by the door and he nodded his head indicating that they needed to find a secluded spot in the corridor. Walking as inconspicuously as possible, they strolled through the labyrinth and found an alcove that was as private as they could find.
"What is this about, Bail? What's wrong now?", Padmé asked worriedly. What fresh hell could possibly be wrong now? Nothing good by the way that things were going as of late.
"There's been a new development", Bail said in a hushed tone. "Senator Alexander's wife contacted me last night stating that her husband never made it home. I called her again this morning and she was nearly inconsolable, wailing that he still hadn't showed up. I firmly believe that he has been arrested."
Padmé blanched at the news. Of course, Bail was the only one who ever had direct contact with Senator Alexander about the Rebellion, Padmé knew that he was a part of it in case she ever needed to make a drop to him. Fortunately, Alexander didn't know that she was a part of the Rebellion, so if interrogated her name wouldn't pop up, but it was possible that Bail's name would. Fuck, this was getting out of hand quickly and there was no end in sight. Their ploy to conduct intelligence operations for the Rebellion was unraveling at a rapid pace, with few resources left to provide vital information for the organization to act on. If there were no remaining contacts in the Senate, how could they have an inside look into the government? They couldn't and that was terrifying if they wanted to eventually topple the regime.
"I don't know what to say, other than this is a poor development", she said in a shaky tone. "Senator Alexander is resilient, he served in the Clone Wars. He won't be easy to break, so there's that."
"I would normally agree with your assessment, but these are trying times. Whoever is interrogating the senators is damned good. There wouldn't be as many security issues if there wasn't a master behind the tortures of the senators that have been abducted without a record of an arrest", Bail said. "We have to think about pulling the plug on all operations immediately."
Padmé's stomach lurched. "Bail, we can't do that. The Rebellion needs us, they can't operate with us in an effective manner without us."
"It's better than being tortured and left to die in a cold dark cell, Padmé. We might even consider going off world for the time being" Damn that was a horrid but potentially good idea, but she couldn't just uproot her life in the Senate without attracting attention.
"I'll think about it, Bail, but I can't promise anything." It wasn't an option that Padmé wanted to consider at the moment, there was just too much going on.
Fuck this was all too real.
"Let's do a blitz over the next week and try and find some scraps of intelligence for the Rebellion before we make our decision, Bail. We can't leave our friends high and dry without it. They're putting their lives on the line and so should we", Padmé said defiantly.
Bail grimaced and looked away for a moment, obviously considering her words. She was fairly disappointed in her mentor and one of the leaders of the Rebellion, but she did understand his fear. She was afraid too.
"Fine", he said as he looked back towards her with a frown. His normally relaxed face was bunched up with stress and worry. "We'll give it one more shot, but if things continue to go south, I'm pulling the plug for my own protection. You can stay if you want, but after next week I'm gone."
What a weak bastard.
…..
Flipping his hood over his head and clipping his lightsaber to his belt, Vader entered the interrogation room. Senator Alexander was on the slab and was mute when Vader walked in, not showing an iota of fear. Vader sensed that this one had a strong mind and would be difficult to crack.
Stepping to the side of the slab, Vader folded his arms and stared down at the Senator who was stoically staring up at the ceiling.
"Do you know why you're here?", Vader grumbled.
Silence.
"You'll find that I'm a man with little patience in these matters, Senator. I'll ask again once more before things start to get messy. Do you know why you're here?", Vader snarled.
Silence.
"Then you choose pain." Vader waived his hand and cracked the ribs on the left side of the Senator's body.
Alexander groaned but didn't scream. He simply kept staring up at the ceiling as if nothing happened. Fuck, this one would be difficult.
"I know you're trying to be brave, but Senator Amala has already given you up as a conspirer with the Rebellion. There's no way out of this situation, Senator. I promise you that if you speak your mind and divulge the truth, things will be much more pleasant for you, and you'll escape this torture to live in a cell for the rest of your life, but you'll at least be alive." It was the best that Vader could offer but given that he had been locked up in a cell for years, he knew that the Senator would likely choose death over incarceration.
"Do your worst", Alexander said.
Vader chuckled darkly. This would be enjoyable. In a flash, he snatched his lightsaber and began slicing through the Senator's leg, cutting it in half until both sides flopped over exposing bone marrow and muscles. The bleeding was terrible, but Vader quickly staunched it with the Force so the man wouldn't bleed out. The Senator attempted to stifle his screams but was unable to do so, this was far to painful for him.
"Now that you know I'm not fucking around, I'm going to ask you again. Do you know why you're here?", Vader growled. Fuck this treasonous bastard to hell.
"I'm a gods damned Senator, Lord Vader. I am here because my political beliefs don't line up perfectly with the Empire's", Alexander choked out.
"That's good, you said something, but it was putting it mildly. I need to have specifics, not fucking generalized statements." The gall of this moron. Well, he was dedicated to his cause, which was somewhat admirable, but it was still infuriating. "I can keep this up all day, but we both know you won't last that long, no matter how stoic you wish to be."
"I can't tell you what I don't know", Alexander said hoarsely.
"Bullshit", Vader snarled. "You know far more than you're alluding to, which is a gods damned shame considering if you had just been a representative of your people, you wouldn't be in this predicament. Now, I'll ask you again before things get really ugly. Tell me about the specific details of your affiliation with the Rebellion."
"Fuck you!", Alexander screamed.
Vader didn't respond, he merely stabbed the Senator in his groin with his lightsaber, ending his manhood. Screams of pain erupted from the Senator, horrified screams. The physiological and psychological pain was too much as Vader had just made him a fucking eunuch.
"Don't fuck with me, Senator!", Vader roared. "I'm a gods damned Sith Lord, and right now you're nothing but an annoyance that I have to deal with!"
"You bastard", Alexander sobbed.
"Maybe so, but I'm a cruel bastard!", Vader screamed. "I don't give a gods damned bit of how much pain you're in, all I want is some fucking answers to my questions, but you have to be stubborn. This is your doing, repercussions for your actions!"
"My repercussions for being a patriot! All I'll tell you is that our fleet is amassing to the point where we'll soon be able to lay waste to your military's outposts. We'll crush them and end your soldier's lives without a second thought. Is that what you wanted to hear? Well, if it is then I hope you're happy with the warning I just gave you!", Alexander screamed.
"If you think your fleet is powerful enough to make more than a minor dent in the Empire's minor bases then you're mistaken", Vader said coldly. "Two hundred ships aren't enough to do shit to the Empire's might. We'll crush you like an insignificant insect, leaving you dead and catatonic."
"Be that as it may, we'll still fight you to the very last soldier if we have to. Entire systems will rebel, but you already know this. You know that the Emperor's rule over the galaxy is ineffective!", Alexander wailed. The pain becoming too much, too real.
Vader was silent for a moment. Of course, the Senator was right. Sidious was about as intelligent as a Hutt when it came to understanding what the fuck was going on with his Empire. He ruled over the fucking Senate and couldn't foresee how many traitors were within the ranks. What a complete cluster fuck this was.
"I've had enough of you", Vader said calmly as he amputated the ruined leg at the hip slowly. The Senator's screams echoing in the small durasteel room. "You'll be sent to a cold dark cell for the rest of your life as I know that you'd much prefer death. But first I'm going to reach into your mind and tear the secrets out of you."
Reaching out with the Force, he probed the Senator's mind. He saw documents of stolen data. Fuck, the man knew about plans for strategic bases throughout the outer rim. This was intolerable. Digging deeper, he saw faint images of different senators. Just outlines mainly, no faces. This wasn't good, it was terrible in fact. Pushing deeper he found a memory of Alexander speaking with none other than Bail Organa, the idiot that accepted the ships. Organa was fucked, he just didn't know how badly yet. Vader wouldn't arrest him just yet; he would keep him active so the cargo ships that were loaned could be traced to different ships and installations within the Rebellion.
"I have what I need now, Senator. I hope you enjoy your life as a prisoner in a hellish prison. Not even a gods damned dick to rub off to that precious wife of yours. She'll never know your fate, she'll simply think you've vanished for all time", Vader remarked.
"No! Please, just kill me!", Alexander begged. "Kill me!"
Vader turned and walked out of the room, turning to a Stormtrooper that was posted outside of the door. "Have the Senator's wounds treated and send him to the fucking prison in the lower levels."
"Right away, Milord!", the trooper acknowledged.
Vader shook his head at the foolish Senator and stalked to his office, needing a moment to collect his thoughts before he did anything else for the day and to wash the blood and stink off himself.
…..
The day was halfway over already and Padmé was trying her best to concentrate on her work. There was a tremendous number of things to do still, but she had a hard stop to her day, knowing that she had to prepare for the gala. She had completely cast aside Bail's warnings for the moment. The Rebellion would have to wait until tomorrow, there was nothing more important to her than to have a good evening with Anakin. It was the only thing she wished for, the only thing that mattered at the moment.
Seriously, she couldn't get him out of her mind. He was always present, always there. Some would call that unhealthy, others would call that falling in love. She believed it to be that she was falling in love. Every time she thought about the prior evening, she felt flushed to the point where she would have to fan herself, it was that intense. Anakin had been so assertive in what he wanted, what they both wanted, yet so restrained. It made her feel safe to be around him, safe to let him do more when the time was right, which she hoped would be soon.
Then there was her new nickname of Angel. She found it to be incredibly endearing to the point where it made her feel like an angel, ready to spread her wings and soar. But what was the most tender thing, the thing that she admired the most was their pledge to one another that they were safe with each other. That was special, especially that he felt safe with her. When he admitted that he was in pain, it nearly broke her heart, but the fact that he trusted her with that vulnerability was incredibly special. Wonderful even.
But she reminded herself to take it one step at a time, not putting things too far in advance. She was still getting to know this wonderful man, and he was still getting to know her. There were things of course that she would never be able to share with him, and that was her role in the Rebellion. It made her sad that she would have to keep such a secret from him, but lives depended on it. Her life depended on it.
"So, Padmé, are you excited about this evening?", Dormé asked.
Of course, her friend would want details.
"Yes, Dormé, I don't believe I've been so excited about a gala before in my life, and I've been to plenty of them", Padmé replied. More than plenty, she'd been to at the very least five a year since she was eighteen. That was more than enough, so she meant what she said about being excited about going to this particular one.
"That's wonderful to hear, especially after what you told me about last night", her friend giggled, causing Padmé to blush red.
"Stop it, you silly woman, I'm blushing now!", Padmé chided.
"Oh, that's just because you're falling for him. If you weren't, you wouldn't be blushing", Dormé said.
"I suppose that's true. He's nearly out of my league, I've never had a man be so bold to kiss me like that bent over my desk before. Not that any of the men I've ever dated have kissed me in my office, but you get the point", Padmé remarked.
"I don't know about that, about him being out of your league that is. You've got a lot to offer him. Obviously if he's that interested, he has to feel like you're on a similar level", Dormé pointed out. "Trust me, he's got it bad for you. Now knock his socks off at the gala."
…..
Padmé was wrapped in a towel after taking a quick shower. Dormé had laid out her dress and some sensual undergarments for her to get dressed in, but first was the makeup and her hair. Sitting down at her vanity, her handmaiden began working on her makeup, applying a toner and blush that would go well with her fair skin before moving to her eye shadow and eye liner. This was an important evening to Padmé, so she wanted to look absolutely breathtaking. Choosing a red ruby lipstick, Dormé applied it artfully giving her the pop she needed to draw attention to her pouty lips.
After the makeup was done, Dormé moved onto her hair, combing it out before skillfully pining it up high atop her head, polishing off the glamorous look. Damn, Dormé was good at this, Padmé thought. It was classy and flashy, just the combination that she needed.
She stood and unabashedly dropped her towel in front of her handmaiden and slipped on her thong and lacey bra, both black and sultry. Now was the time to don the dress. It was a silky light colored red dress that exposed and ample amount of cleavage and had a long slit down her left leg with matching elbow length gloves. Choosing a pair of low hanging diamond earrings, she stepped back and looked at herself in the mirror.
"Anakin is going to go absolutely wild with you looking like that", Dormé said, satisfied with the work that she put in to make her lady look that good.
"You think so? It isn't too much?", Padmé asked. The last thing she wanted to do was appear over the top for Anakin.
"Darling, this is the right choice. You look like a fucking princess dolled up like that. Anakin is going to appreciate the hell out of it", Dormé replied as she put a hand on Padmé's shoulder as a sign of support. "In fact, you'll probably be the center of attention at the gala. Men will look at you and be jealous of Anakin, making their dates pissed off while they wear their stuffy dresses."
Padmé laughed at that, partly hoping that her handmaiden was correct. It wasn't that she wanted to be the center of attention, but damn, sometimes a girl wanted to knock the socks off everyone. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled, sincerely hoping that Anakin would be stunned by her looks. This dress was for him and him alone. Hell, she was for him, no one else.
"Alright, it's about time, my friend. Go out to the Veranda and wait for your lover boy", Dormé instructed. "Don't forget to smile beautifully when you first see him. Those white teeth of yours will only make the lipstick pop even more."
With a giggle, Padmé nodded. "Thanks for your help, my friend. I'm hoping that Anakin will be a little bold when I invite him in for a drink afterwards."
"Of course, and don't worry, I'll make myself scarce. There's a good book I want to catch up on anyway and I'll listen to some music to block out the noise from your bedroom", Dormé said with a wink.
Padmé opened her mouth in surprise and then smirked. Giving her friend a final nod, she went out to the Veranda to wait for Anakin to show up in that fast speeder of his. The night was peaceful, and the temperature was perfect. Just the type of weather for a gala.
Then, right at seven thirty, Anakin pulled up and got out of his speeder. He was wearing a black tunic with slacks. The tunic was lined with gold on the cuffs and down the fasteners and he had an interesting looking military insignia on his chest. It was a gold falcon with its wings spread out, making him look a little fierce.
"Padmé, you look absolutely gorgeous", he said after his mouth dropped to the floor.
She blushed a little and stepped towards him, the sounds of her six inch heals clacking against the stone of the veranda. "You look pretty stunning yourself, Anakin, she said in a husky voice. I might just have to keep you."
"No, I'm going to keep you", Vader chuckled. He met her halfway and Padmé tingled as he took her into his arms and gave her a breathtaking kiss. After he pulled away, he smirked a bit. "Everyone is going to be looking at you, Angel, but you'll be all mine."
"I certainly don't have a problem with that", Padmé replied, unable to keep herself from smiling widely. "In fact, the ladies will be looking at you, which is fine, but I'm going to be the only one touching you."
"That I can live with that. Maybe we can do some extra touching afterwards", he whispered boldly into her ear.
Padmé's heartbeat throbbed at the remark, and as he pulled his head back, she kissed him passionately, signaling that he said the right thing. Damn they hadn't even gotten to the gala yet and she was already getting horny.
After they broke, Padmé smirked at him. "Well, we better be off so we can get to the touching later." She didn't know where that came from, she wasn't used to being that bold, but damn he was influencing her in the best ways.
"Alright, Milady", Vader said as he gently took her hand and led her to his speeder. Opening the door for her, he continued to hold her hand until she was seated. After closing it, he all but marched to his side and got in, engaging the engine and letting it roar to life. He quickly backed out and plunged down towards the palace.
Padmé giggled, again enjoying Anakin's superb piloting skills as he dodged traffic and wove in and out of different lanes. Swooping his craft and banking where he needed to. He was a kriffing thrill seeker and Padmé loved it. She had never dated a man so bold with a lust for heart racing activities before, but again, that probably came from his military experience.
"You are such a damn good pilot", Padmé said.
Vader laughed. "You should see me pilot a starfighter, then you'd really see how good I am."
"I'd call you boastful, but something tells me that I'd be in awe watching that", she replied. "Do you still fly starfighters?"
"Every chance I can get, which isn't too much lately", he admitted. "But when I do, I push it to the limit and piss off the other pilots."
"What makes you so good at it?", Padmé asked.
"A lot of practice and some natural born talent", Vader replied. "Anyone can learn to pilot a starfighter, even you, you just have to put the work into it."
"That sounds so thrilling, I can't even imagine", Padmé said. "During the Clone Wars I did my fair share of piloting, but never a starfighter. I did get to seek out some thrills when a diplomatic mission went south, which I thoroughly miss. It sure does beat going through an endless pile of legislative matters every day."
"I can relate to that. I'm stuck behind a desk most of the day with this new assignment. I've never been landlocked for this long, but do you want to know the benefit of it?", he inquired.
"Sure, please tell me", Padmé said, hoping he would say what she was thinking.
"I got to meet you", Vader said as he looked over at her with a smile.
"Anakin, you always know what to say to make a girl want to faint", Padmé said, feeling her body tingle all over.
"I just tell it the way I see it", Vader said. "You're the highlight of my life."
Padmé beamed a smile at him, not knowing how to respond to such a declaration. Here they were on their second date, and he was being such a sweet flirt, telling her all of the right things. She certainly was in uncharted territory, but she was enjoying the hell out of it.
After a few more minutes, they arrived at the Palace where there was a valet and a red carpet for the guests laid out all of the way to the entrance. Vader parked the speeder and hopped out, opening the door for Padmé and holding her hand while she got out.
After the valet handed him a ticket, he pocketed it and offered Padmé her arm which she gladly graciously accepted.
"Alright, let's go knock them out", Vader said.
"That sounds like a wonderful plan, Anakin", Padmé giggled. Seriously, the man was bold to his purpose. She could only imagine his prowess in bed. It made her heart pound in her chest just thinking about it.
Anakin led them up the red carpet while reports flashed their holocameras at them. They always were at the events like galas, hoping to catch glamourous couples upon their appearance to the grand events.
Padmé held her head up with poise as she clutched Anakin's arm. She noticed that Anakin had his back ramrod straight and his eyes looking forward like he was marching in a formation. His discipline was remarkable when faced with the vulture reporters.
Finally, they made their entrance to the gala. It was already jam packed with senators, military officials, and other dignitaries; promising that there would be plenty of interesting company. As Padmé had predicted, there were a plethora of women in stuffy dresses that made them look uncomfortable as hell. She on the other hand felt like she was able to glide around the floor with her silky dress.
What an extravagant party it was. Tapestries hung from the ceiling, rows of tables with the finest of delicacies were against the back wall, and the most wonderful orchestra was playing a wonderful melody. It was one of the nicer galas that Padmé had ever attended.
Men were looking at her direction, taking in her beauty, but she didn't care. She had the only man that she needed.
"You're going to have to guide me around this event", Vader remarked.
Padmé looked up at him, expecting to see him nervous, but no. He still maintained an aura of complete confidence and control of the situation. "I'll certainly do that, Anakin. You'll see, this will be fun."
"Of that I have no doubt", Vader replied.
A waiter came by with a tray full of champagne glasses and Anakin snatched two for himself and Padmé.
"A toast to a wonderful evening", he said.
Padmé smiled and clinked her glass against his admiring his chivalry.
Then came the part where they would have to put some work in. Mingling.
"Senator Amidala, it's good to see you here", Senator Elania said as she walked up to Padmé.
"Likewise, Senator Elania", Padmé responded coolly. Senator Elania was a royal bitch and a thorn in Padmé's side for a variety of reasons.
"Well, don't you have a dashing man tonight", Elania said as she sipped her own champagne.
"Yes, and I have the most beautiful date at this entire gala", Vader responded, causing Elania to look at him sharply. Elania was always a vain bitch, who thrived on attention from others.
Padmé looked up at Anakin with a raised eyebrow and saw him smirking. The man had read Elania like a book and responded in kind. What a perceptive man.
"Yes, I suppose she is", Elania said as she walked off.
"Well played, Anakin", Padmé chuckled.
"I could sense that she wanted to drag you down in a pathetic conversation, so I merely ended it", Vader said with a shrug.
"My knight in shinning armor", she giggled. "Come on, let's go socialize."
She led Anakin through various groups of dignitaries, trying to find one that Anakin would actually like, and to be honest, one that she would like as well. Finding one in particular that she knew she would be comfortable with, she darted to it.
"Bail, it's nice to see you were able to make it", she said to her friend.
"Padmé, you look as beautiful as ever. And Anakin, I'm glad to see you were able to make it. I imagine being in the Republic's navy and now a military contractor, you've been to plenty of these social gatherings", Bail said.
"Actually, this is my first one, Bail", Anakin said. "My time in the service and now as a contractor usually don't grant me the time to attend these social functions. But now that I'm with Padmé, I figured that I might as well seize the opportunity to learn a bit more about the higher class lifestyle."
"That's an interesting take. I'm certain that living in the barracks can be rather dull", Bail said.
"Oh, I haven't lived in a barracks in a long time. I have a custom built establishment not too far from here. It's a little over the top, but when you're getting a salary as a military contractor, things tend to get a little excessive in spending", Vader said as he took a sip of his champagne. "What about you, Bail? Where do you live?"
"Me? Oh, I live in an apartment not too far from Five Hundred Republica", Bail said.
"Well, it is fairly difficult to get in, I'm grateful that I was able to secure an apartment there" Padmé said.
"Padmé, you're pure class, of course you were able to get in", Vader said.
"I'm not sure about that, but I guess having the family name of Naberrie helped", Padmé chuckled. She was nearly done with her champagne and needed a little more to loosen her nerves. Not that she was completely nervous, she just tended to like to let go a little bit during these social gatherings. She noticed that Anakin was finished with his, so she thought that it might be a good idea to ask him to get her another glass while she chatted with Bail.
"Anakin, could you please get us something else to drink? Maybe something a little stronger", Padmé requested.
"Of course, Angel. I'll be right back", Vader said as he took her glass and went to find something else for them to drink.
"Bail let's go by that wall over there and have a quick chat", Padmé suggested.
"A wonderful idea", Bail said.
The two of them wondered over to a fairly secluded spot against the wall.
"So, he calls you Angel?", Bail asked.
"Oh, it's just a pet name. I enjoy it. But really, I just wanted to check in on the status of our operations", Padmé said.
"I may have something in the works regarding some information on a shipyard that's building a fleet of destroyers. It should be a prime target for the fleet, I just need to figure out how to get it to them", Bail said in a hushed tone.
An attack on a shipyard? That would be a tremendous success for the Rebellion. If they could pull it off, then they would show the Empire that they really mean business and aren't some petty organization that is to be trifled with.
"I'll think of something", Padmé said quickly. "I know a frequency, it's older but it may still be in use. Get me a secured comms and I can do it."
Bail nodded and adverted his eyes signaling that Anakin was coming back with their drinks.
"I almost couldn't find you two, but then I saw Padmé in that wonderful dress", Vader said as he handed Padmé a whiskey with soda water.
"I figured it would be easy to spot", Padmé said as she slipped her arm around Anakin affectionately.
"What were the two of you chatting about?", Vader asked.
"Just a friendly chat about your pet name for Padmé. It really is endearing, don't you think?", Bail said smoothly.
"That's why I thought of it", Vader replied.
"Well, enough of that talk, I'm going to blush horribly", Padmé said feeling a little embarrassed. She wasn't used to men talking about her like that in front of her, not that she minded Anakin's response at all. But she was also glad that Bail thought quickly on his feet in choosing a half truth to say to Anakin.
She began sipping on her strong drink and was thankful for it. It was helping her loosen up a bit more.
"It's a shame that Mon Mothma wasn't able to attend this gala, although I haven't heard from her in several days", Bail said.
Padmé winced at that. Bail was testing Anakin even though she said that he couldn't be the spy in the Senate. Why was he making this so complicated? They were just having a friendly chat and he didn't need to be adding drama to the mix.
Anakin shrugged his shoulders. "I only ran into her a couple of times. Maybe she just decided she needed a vacation. Force knows that I haven't taken one in ages given my line of work."
"That's entirely possible", Padmé chimed in, hoping to steer the subject away from Mothma. "I haven't taken one since the end of the Clone Wars, so that's completely relatable."
"Yes, I suppose that is a possibility", Bail said with a frown, staring Anakin in his golden eyes.
Padmé had enough. "Anakin, darling. Why don't we step out on the veranda, I could use a bit of fresh air."
"Certainly, Padmé", Vader said as he slipped a hand at the small of her back. "Good chatting with you, Bail."
"Likewise", Bail said.
The couple walked away and Padmé forced herself to think of anything but Bail for the moment. She was here to have fun, not have Bail pester her date. The conversation about the strategic target was a simple one that didn't need to be escalated into Mothma's disappearance.
They made it out to the veranda and leaned against the stone railing, sipping their drinks.
"Something tells me that your friend has an axe to grind with me", Vader said.
"I apologize about that, Anakin. Bail is just weary of strangers. It wasn't right for him to do that", Padmé said softly.
"It's alright, Padmé, you don't need to apologize", Vader said as he slipped an arm around her.
She leaned into his side as she continued to sip her drink. "Wow, this is a strong drink. I like it though, it's simple but powerful."
"Sort of like me?", Vader teased.
"No", Padmé said as she bumped him slightly. "You're complex and powerful."
"Complex, huh?", Vader asked. "What makes you think that?"
Padmé smiled and rolled her eyes. "You know why", she said softly. "You're this man that is mysterious, bold, kind, gentle, and strong. That's not a usual combination for a man."
"I agree with that to a certain extent. But you're pretty complex yourself. You're beautiful, headstrong, shy, but also bold when you want to be", Vader said.
"I'm usually not that bold, unless you get me in the mood for it", Padmé remarked.
"Really", Vader said in a sensual tone. "And how often do you get in the mood for it?"
Padmé looked up at him with her lips parted. "Every day since I met you", she whispered.
Anakin didn't say anything. He just bent down and planted a gentle kiss on her lips, causing Padmé to whimper in need. The kiss lasted for at least a minute, with every second making Padmé more and more flushed.
When they finally pulled apart, Anakin looked like he was about to say something, but all of the sudden they were interrupted.
"So, Padmé, I see this is your date for the evening."
Oh shit, not him, not now.
Padmé and Anakin turned to face the interloper. It was none other than Rush Clovis.
"Rush, we were just having a private moment", Padmé seethed.
"I saw", Rush slurred. The bastard was drunk. "I can't believe you're dating a fucking Imperial."
"May I ask what business that of yours is?", Vader inquired, setting his drink down on the wide stone railing.
"It's my business because Padmé and I were once lovers", Rush said angrily.
"Rush, we were not lovers", Padmé said angrily. "We had a one night stand and that was years ago. Now you're embarrassing me, and I would prefer it if you left."
"No, this conversation isn't over", Rush said as he wobbled back and forth.
"The lady said it was", Vader said in an eerily calm voice. An almost deadly voice. Padmé placed a hand on his arm and noticed that his muscles were incredibly tensed up, like he was ready to spring into combat.
"Okay, mister Imperial contractor. You go fuck her and watch her leave you", Rush slurred again.
A low growl immitted from Anakin's throat. Padmé had no doubt that Anakin could kill Rush without much of a thought, so she had to intervene before thing got too out of control.
"Rush! Leave us alone, now!", she commanded. "Go drown yourself in whatever misery you have and just leave."
The man sneered at her and then turned and walked away. Thank the Force, that could have ended horrendously.
"Anakin, I'm very sorry about that", Padmé said. She immediately felt the tension in his arm slacken and he turned to her with a gentle smile on his face.
"No, it's alright. Jealousy is common in men, but he was a little out of control", he said.
Then he stepped closer to her and wrapped his wonderfully strong arms around her, gently pressing her against his frame. Immediately, she calmed down and felt immeasurably safe. What a kind and gentle man he was to be able to have that affect on her. Never in her life had she felt this way with a man before.
After a few minutes, she pulled back and looked up at him. "Let's go back to my place", she whispered.
Anakin looked at her with a sly grin and pecked her on her lips, filling her with even more warmth. More security. He was the one, she just knew it.
Offering her his arm, he led them out of the posh celebration and back to the valet where he handed the ticket over. It didn't take long for the speeder to show up, but when it did as usual, he opened the door for her and helped her step inside.
Vader roared the engine to life and took off, speeding back to Padmé's apartment. But he wasn't as daring as he normally was because he took her hand in his, making her smile at the sign of affection. This was something out of a holofilm, the finest romance that anyone would ever be able to see.
When they pulled up to the veranda at the apartment, Anakin helped her out of the speeder. She smiled at him with a glimmer in her eye and took his hand, pulling him inside. Taking him straight back to her bedroom, she closed the door, and they began the most intense make out session they ever had.
Padmé squeaked in surprise when Anakin pined her to the wall, smothering her with kisses. His lips and tongue expertly moved with hers and his hot breath on her cheek was driving her wild. There was no question about it, it was simply erotic.
After a few minutes, Padmé gently pushed him back and began undoing the fasteners to his tunic. When she was finished, she pulled it off his shoulders and it fell on the ground. She paused for a moment to take him in. He had certainly told the truth about having scars all over his body. What in the hell kind of combat had he faced to become so injured? Regardless, she gently traced them with her hands, taking in his defined muscles as well. He was so ripped that she knew he was a formable warrior, one that would be difficult to be killed, even though it was obvious that many had tried to kill him before.
She listened to his breathing become labored as she traced his scars and looked up at him. "It's alright", she said soothingly. "I'm just getting to know all of you."
He tilted his head to the side. "Alright", he murmured. "I'm here for that very reason."
Padmé smiled and planted a soothing kiss on one of his larger scars lovingly, as if she was comforting him the moment that he received the wound.
After a while she pressed her body up against him and looked up at him with longingness in her eyes. "Unzip me", she breathed.
Almost immediately she felt his hand at the back of her dress, pulling the zipper down slowly. Taking his time with her as she did with him. That was pleasure, that was love. Once the zipper was all of the way down, he eased the dress off her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. She kicked it away from her feet and slowly pealed off her silk gloves, enjoying the sight of his eyes roaming her body.
Anakin reached behind her and unsnapped her bra, letting her breasts sway free. He kicked out of his shoes and was about to undo the buckle of his pants, but she reached it first and took her time undoing it, letting his pants fall to the floor. He placed his hands on her hips and slid her thong down and she did the same to his shorts.
Now they were both totally exposed to one another, nothing holding them back. She took his hand and led him to her bed where she sat down and swung her feet over. She gave him a come hither look and he gently eased over her, pushing her down on the bed.
Bending down, he captured her lips in a throbbing kiss, both of the moaning as their hands roamed each other's bodies. Padmé instinctively spread her legs, allowing him to take the position that she craved from the moment that she met him.
He stared right into her eyes as he eased himself inside of her causing her to cry out at his size. After a few moments, she nodded her head and he slowly began to thrust into her, hitting her every spot. She whimpered and ran her hands up and down her back, feeling his muscles tighten as he continued to work himself in and out of her.
She groaned as he bent down and gently sucked on her neck, just below her ear. Then, she felt him gradually quicken the pace of his thrusts, causing her breathing to become labored. She continued to stare into his eyes as his thrusts became quicker and quicker, and she cried out loudly, totally lost in the pleasure he was inflicting upon her.
Padmé felt her most sensitive area grind against his pubic bone, and she began to buck her hips, matching his thrusts, needing to feel the release that was sure to come soon. She bit her lip and moaned sensually, as the pleasure continued to increase, to build up into something that was truly special.
What was surprising to her was how gentle he was with her. Part of her had expected him to be rough and wild with her, but instead he was truly making love to her, and she couldn't get enough of it. It was the perfect way to consummate their relationship, to take it to the next level that would surely mean love. Anakin, this man of all men, was going to be hers.
The tempo of his thrusts increased again, and she matched it with the bucking of her hips until she knew that they were both close to their peak.
"Oh gods, Anakin", she yelled. "I can't take much more, darling."
"Me neither, Angel", he said as his breathing began to match the quickness of his penetration.
Suddenly, it happened. Padmé felt herself begin to quiver all over in the most wonderful of ways, her very core spasming and tightening around him. Anakin let out a loud groan and she felt him pulse deep inside of her.
Completely spent, she felt him fall on top of her, crushing her into the mattress with his weight of solid muscle. She lovingly caressed the back of his head, running her fingers through his long locks of dark blonde hair.
"That was amazing", Padmé whispered.
When she felt him finally come to his senses, he rolled off of her and took her with him to where they were both on their sides, staring at one another.
"It was beyond amazing", Vader said, his breathing finally slowing down to a gentle breeze.
She felt Anakin grab the back of her head gently and pulled her into a deep kiss, both of them enjoying the sensuality in the aftermath of their experience with one another.
"Will you stay with me and hold me?", Padmé asked, hoping he would say yes. Praying he would say yes.
"There's nothing better that I would like to do", Vader said.
Padmé reached over and switched off her lamp, then they both got under the covers. Anakin wrapped his arms around her, and she buried her face into his brawny chest, listing to his gentle breathing.
It didn't take long for her to be lulled into a peaceful slumber.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you did, please consider dropping a review and following the story!