Leia POV
They were in Lord Vader's quarters again. He still had his arm around Leia's shoulders and she was almost grateful. At least it kept her from collapsing to the floor, though his long strides caused her weary body to stumble as she was forced to match his pace.
Lord Vader took her over to his bed, releasing her and guiding her backwards to sit upon it.
She did not look up. She felt like a marionette, limp and helpless and guided by his hands.
His hand was on her cheek again, and again he guided her to look up at him.
She didn't fight him. Willingly, she had promised, in exchange for her brother's life.
Lord Vader's thumb brushed against her cheek, his breathing almost in tune with the buzzing in Leia's ears.
"Lay down, Leia, and rest. I will see to your brother," Lord Vader said.
Leia's eyes widened.
"Th-thank you, my Lord," she managed.
Vader stepped back, waiting until she settled on top of the blankets, her eyes blinking heavily as her body's exhaustion overrode her fear.
Vader turned to go, but then looked back at her.
"What is your brother's name?"
Leia's face fluttered through emotions.
Willingly.
"Luke," she said softly.
Lord Vader inclined his helmet in acknowledgment and left.
-000-
Luke POV
There was something down his throat. He wanted to fight it, but he couldn't move. His body felt numb and far away.
Drugged. He was drugged.
Luke couldn't even open his eyes. He wasn't sure he wanted to. Flashes of memory brought a stabbing pain to his chest and right arm.
Ben.
Vader.
Leia. Leia had bargained for his life. On her knees. A princess on her knees for a moisture farmer. Leia had… sold herself to Vader.
Luke wanted to scream, but there were fingers on his neck, hands holding him down.
He couldn't breathe. He couldn't…
-000-
Luke opened his eyes with a gasp. He tried to move his hands to his chest, his neck, but something held him back.
He looked down, as far as he was able to. There were straps across his chest, across his forearms. Even around his ankles.
He writhed, hissing in pain as his right arm brushed against the mattress.
Luke fell back, gulping in air. His throat hurt. He licked his lips and then shut his eyes tightly. He had a layer of thick salty-sweetness in his mouth, down his throat, across his lips.
His clothes were gone. He was dressed in a thin, short tunic with an open back.
Luke shuddered, cold to his bones.
The room he was in was dimly lit, the walls a somber dull grey. There was a metal chair in one corner, but other than the bed he was strapped to it was empty.
The room seemed to grow colder and Luke roused from his spinning thoughts enough for his heart to sink into his stomach.
Vader was coming. Luke could feel him drawing closer; like the shadow of an oncoming storm.
The door slid open with a hiss and there he was. The Dark Lord.
His black cape fanned out around his broad shoulders, trailing around the edges of the doorframe. The haunting hoo-burr of his breathing making him even more wraith-like in the silence.
Luke froze, his eyes wide.
The figure drew closer, looming over Luke.
Luke was shaking. He knew it showed just how terrified he was, but he couldn't control it. Frankly, he was surprised he could control his bladder.
Vader raised his hand and Luke whimpered, once again pulling at his restraints if only to get a little more space between himself and that sinister black-gloved hand.
He couldn't take his eyes off the hand as it drew closer to his face, and as it settled on his cheek Luke's breath caught in his chest and his heart skipped erratically.
He stared up at the black mask, blood draining from his face.
"Luke," Darth Vader ground out, and Luke's remaining hand dug into the mattress as the black-gloved hand gently brushed aside a fringe of blond hair from his forehead.
No, no, no. Oh, Force, no.
"What," Luke's voice cracked, "What do you want from me?"
Vader's hand stopped its movement, resting on top of the boy's head.
"Just you, Luke," Vader said, "You… and your sister."
Luke shut his eyes, tears welling as he fought them back.
Force, no.