Vader's Angel
By: wertman25
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Star Wars…. Or Anakin Skywalker… Which is a pity…
She hated him. She hated him more than anything else in the galaxy. She didn't care if people said Palpatine was the man behind it all. She knew the truth; Vader was the real monster. She could hear her mind screaming that fact, making sure she would remember it. Padme heard her mind loud and clear. Vader was a monster, just like everyone had said. He was a killer, a murderer, and he deserved to die for all his wrong doings.
He's a monster! He's a monster! He's a monster!
Padme was too wrapped up in her thoughts to comprehend what was happening around her. She could hear the clone troopers commanding her, but she couldn't understand them, her mind was too far gone. They pulled her roughly by her arms and she was forced to follow. She stumbled behind them awkwardly, looking like a drunken girl that had drank too much to release her sorrows; but Padme didn't care. Everything was just too much.
"Lord Vader has gone to see the Emperor, take the Senator back to his establishments."
She comprehended that… hardly. Everything was still just too much. She hoped Vader would suffer, just as he had made her suffer. She hoped Palpatine would do his worst, hopefully finishing the job this time. She regretted that she had ever felt pity for the beast. She wished that he had died that night. She wished that he had let her die the night he found her at the bar. She wished and dreaded so much. It was all too much.
As she was taken back to his establishments, again in the dark due to the blindfold, her mind still couldn't make sense of the situation. It was as a million sparks were traveling through her mind, exploding to cause more damage. She knew she was going insane. She could feel it, and as she was thrown into Vader's establishments, she couldn't help to feel broken, weak…. Gone. She hit the floor with a loud boom, but didn't feel a thing. She had nothing left. She was a child. She was weak. She might have been a Queen of a planet, but nothing had prepared her for this. She was done. She was giving up. She didn't care.
Padme ripped off the blindfold, but did not push herself off the ground. Her head snapped towards the noises coming down the hall, her insane mind screaming that it was Vader.
"Mistress Amidala," 3PO screamed in shock and concern as he frantically ran towards her, "Are you alright?"
Padme was too far gone. She had seen too much of Vader. She was losing her mind.
She let out a small cry, as she shoved herself away from the droid approaching her. "Get away from me!" She screamed, pushing herself even farther up against the wall.
"Mistress?" 3PO asked, obviously more concerned than before, "What's wrong?"
Padme shook her head frantically, as the tears continued to pour down her face. "This is all a trick!" She screamed angrily, "This is all a trick!"
"A trick?" Threepio asked confused, taking a step back from the crying senator to give her some obvious much needed space, "I'm afraid I don't understand."
"You're going to kill me," Padme spit, turning her face angrily towards the golden droid, "You're with him!"
"Who, Mistress?" 3PO pressed, trying to get sensible answers.
"Lord Vader!" Padme cried.
3PO's head fell to the side, his confusion only growing. "My Master?" He asked still obviously confused.
"Yes, your Master!" Padme spit, "I hate him. I hate him! I never want to see him again!"
She began hitting the wall and ground around her, needing desperately to release some of the anger that was inside of her. She didn't care that it hurt. She needed it. The "real" Padme wanting– needing, to wake up from the nightmare happening around her.
"Calm down, Mistress!" 3PO exclaimed as he stumbled forward, grabbing her hands within his own to secure her, "Stop, Mistress. You'll hurt yourself!"
Only then did the "real" Padme emerge, but only for a moment. She starred at the droid before her, the droid that obviously cared about her and her wellbeing. Even if Threepio was Lord Vader's droid, he was nothing like Lord Vader and would never hurt her. Padme knew that, at least in the right mindset.
"I'm sorry, Threepio." Padme cried, looking away in pure shame of her behavior.
But as fast as the mist cleared within Padme's mind, it returned; a weird sickness overtaking her as she began to breathe heavily.
3PO ignored her, his one hand moving toward her forehead, as the other remained locked around her wrist. He laid his fingers down gently, as if not to frighten the girl before him. "You are not well, Mistress." 3PO stated, feeling the heat rising from Padme's forehead, "You're burning up."
Padme ignored him. She laid her head back further, allowing it to rest against the coldness of the wall. "He scares me, Threepio." She whispered, "I don't want to die."
"No one is dying, Mistress." 3PO said quickly, "Calm down. We need to think of your h–"
"But they are! They are!" Padme wailed, her tears once again breaking through, "Everyone is dying! He killed them all! He's going to kill everyone!"
"Mistress –"
"No!" Padme screamed, not allowing the droid to finish as she pushed herself off the floor and stumbled away. 3PO tried to stop her, but Padme wouldn't let him. "I'm sorry, Threepio." She cried, backing away in the direction she knew was her room, "Tell Lord Vader he got his wish. I'm scared. I fear for my life. I'm petrified of him. I hate him. I hate so him. I wish he would have died, or that he would just kill me already. He's a monster, and I will never tell anyone anything else, because there is nothing human about him. No human could do what he has done. He's a monster."
With that, Padme stumbled away, leaving a very concerned golden droid alone to pick up the pieces.
Hours later, Vader returned to his establishments after his meeting with the Emperor, and the Sith was anything but happy. He was pissed –raging. He was too high on power to feel anything around him. The darkness was boiling through his blood. It had been hours since Vader has killed the pest of the Rebellion, but yet he skill craved the taste of blood. He craved more death, more destruction. It had been far too long since he had been on the battlefield, and the small counts of death weren't doing anything to fulfill his hunger.
Immediately after leaving the Senator with her horror, Vader had instructed a lone trooper to escort her back to his establishments, before he had gone to his Master. He knew the Emperor would be displeased, especially after just punishing him for forgetting his place. He had acted without the Emperor's orders, and that would cost him.
However, to Vader's surprise, when he arrived at his Master's office, Palpatine was beyond pleased, not because he had done it, but because the old man had expected it. He knew that Vader would need to do something to release his stress– do something to release his anger, and the old man know that would mean that someone would suffer. Again, anger surged inside Vader. When would he be free of being the old man's puppet? The answer… Not soon enough.
Vader knew it would be quite sometime before he could take the throne from his Master… before he could kill his Master and become his own Master for once in his life. The thought soothed Vader, but he knew he had much to accomplish till then. Skill, the old man's death could never come soon enough. He infuriated him almost as much as the senator, herself. The two were tired for the lead, but in incredibly different ways.
Senator.
Wondering how his plan had played out, he reached out into the Force searching for his answer. Across his establishment's, he could feel the senator's force signature, and he couldn't help but to feel pleased with the results of his plans. It was everything he wanted, and more. Not only had he reminded her, but also broken her. She was weak, both physically and mentally. He could feel her fear and torment. But still, part of him was…
"Master!"
Vader paused in the hallway, pushing down his annoyance at being found. He slowly turned around to face the golden droid that was now directly behind him. He noted that 3PO had a worried look on his face, but knew better than to react.
"Yes, Threepio." He said, "What is it?"
"It's the Senator."
"What of her?" Vader asked uncaringly, his annoyance and anger returning. Of course the problem would have to involve the senator, why wouldn't it? He didn't wait for 3PO to respond, hoping the droid would get the point that he didn't care. Instead, he turned forward and continued on his walk towards his room, hoping to be left alone. Unfortunately for Vader, 3PO followed.
"Something is wrong with her, Master." 3PO answered, his voice full of concern as he struggled to keep up with Vader.
"And?" Vader asked again, not seeing the significance of the conversation unfolding behind him.
"Well… She…." 3PO said stumbling over his words, not understanding why his Master didn't understand, "She just doesn't seem well."
"I would be surprised if she did." Vader said simply as he entered his room and made his way over towards his dresser.
"Master, I'm afraid I don't understand." The droid said in utter confusion, as he paused before his Master."
Vader took his time giving a response to his droid, hoping to give a further message of his lack of interest in the conversation. He doubted 3PO would understand, but still, the silence gave him time to pull off his boots and shed of his cloak before he turned his attention back to the droid that remained in the room. "She's in shock, Threepio" he said finally, "She'll get over." He paused considering his words for a moment before adding, "Hopefully not anytime soon, but she will."
"You're not going to help her?" 3PO asked, a small amount of hurt in his voice.
"That would be correct." Vader said, passing by the droid and crossing to the other side of his room. This time he hoped 3PO would get the message.
He didn't.
"Why?" Threepio pressed, following his Master instead of giving him any space.
Vader let out an annoyed sigh as he turned to face the droid, "Because unlike you, Threepio, I don't like her."
"I think you do like her," 3PO challenged, "and that's why you hate her so much."
"Remember your place, Threepio." Vader snapped, as he neared the droid. His height shadowing over the golden servant as he swung his finger in 3PO's face, "Your allegiance is to me, not her."
Unlike anyone else in his position, 3PO did not show fear. He remained in his place as he starred back at his angry Master. "What did you do to her, Master?" 3PO asked, knowing better than to continue on the way he had taken the subject.
"Let's just say," Vader said nonchalantly as he turned back to his room and away from 3PO, "I made her remember her place in the food chain."
"Remember her place?" 3PO exclaimed horrified, as the pieces of the puzzle finally seemed to be coming together, "I'm surprised she can remember anything at all. She's petrified. She has a fever and stood here ranting about how much she hated you and feared you. Talking about how you weren't human and a monster. "
"Good."
Threepio shook his head, as he took a step towards his Master, "Master Ana –"
"Don't use that name, Threepio!" Vader's voice boomed, as he made his way back to in front of his droid in a matter of seconds.
"And why not?" 3PO challenged, refusing to yield, "It's the name you were born with. It's the name of the boy that created me. It's–"
"It's a name that no longer has any meaning to me." Vader snapped.
"No," 3PO disagreed, shaking his head, "It's the name of your true self. A man that you have forgotten."
"That boy was never a man!" Vader growled, pushing himself forward as if challenging the droid in a duel, "He was weak. A coward. The only thing that remains of that boy is the shell in which he inhabited, and soon that will burn as well."
"That is not true." 3PO disagreed again.
"And why not?"
3PO was silent for a moment, allowing the anger that was coming off his Master to calm. He looked at the man standing in front of him, his Master, with affection in his mechanical eyes, before he said softly, "Because if there was nothing left of that boy inside of you, why am I still here?"
For once, Vader backed away, not accepted the challenge. "That means nothing." He hissed, turning his back on the droid as he put much needed space between them. The Dark Lord pulled off his tunic and shirt, before he threw it across the room in anger. He hoped that 3PO would back off, but as always, Vader knew better than to hope.
"Oh, but I'm afraid it does," 3PO said, refusing to be beaten, "And you know it."
"Don't push me, Threepio." Vader said harshly, his gaze not returning to the droid as he paused at the edge of the room.
"Why not, Master?" 3PO asked, crossing the room so that he was again near his Master, "Will you destroy me like the other droids? Will you throw me out and replace me?" 3PO paused, allowing his words to sink in before he continued, "Or do I hold too much sentimental value to you? Do I mean too much to you? To that boy that still lives inside of you."
"You are a droid that knows my needs well, Threepio." Vader snapped, as his gaze remained locked with the wall, "That proves nothing of my humanity."
"It does," 3PO disagreed, "but if you can't see it. I have other proof."
"Threepio." Vader warned, "Stop this."
"No," 3PO said, shaking his head, "because I know that name–that your name means something to you. "
"Threepio." Vader warned again, his voice colder than before.
"It is the name your mother gave you," 3PO said with all seriousness, "and if you want proof of your humanity, it is your love for her."
"Get out." Vader snapped, not caring to turn around to voice his threat. The threat was not in his words, but in his tone… the tone of ice and death.
3PO still didn't listen, but continued to push. "She carried you, birthed you, named you, and raised you before these beasts turned you into–
"Get out!" Vader screamed, turning to face the droid with a murderous look on his face.
3PO stood unfazed. "Not until you stop denying the fact!" 3PO screamed back, refusing to lose this battle.
"I was born human, Threepio," Vader hissed as he stalked towards the droid, "That doesn't mean I'll die human. It does nothing to prove that I still have my humanity."
"You d–"
"I said, get out!" Vader roared angrily, not allowing 3PO to defy him any longer.
"Yes…" 3PO said with a small bow, "My loyal Creator."
Vader snarled, pushing the droid out the door, and as soon as the door shut, his rampage began. Destroying whatever objects, clothing, or materials he could get his hands on. Vader, as well as 3PO knew that the Sith would never harm the droid. It gave 3PO an advantage; an advantage that no one else had, and today, 3PO had used it to his advantage.
Vader growled again, as he crossed the room, his anger exploding. If 3PO had been anyone else, the droid would have been dead; beaten and broken into smithereens. But he wasn't, he was 3PO, and Vader would never harm him. He couldn't… Yet.
Trying to calm his anger, Vader brushed his fingers through his hair, before he turned to the wall. He looked in the mirror before him and across the hundreds of scars that were engraved into his skin. He looked across each and every one of them until his eyes came across the place on his arm where a strange writing was placed. Below the strange script, was a small deep scar, compared to the rest, it looked like child's play, but Vader knew it was a wound that was cut deep below the rest. It was the place where his tracking device had been ripped out of his skin when he was a child. Above it was the writing that he dared not read; knowing the pain would hurt more than every scar on his body combined.
Turning his gaze away, Vader moved towards his bed, finally giving in to his exhaustion. Slowly, he eased himself onto his bed, wrapping himself in the cold sheets before closing his eyes; helpless but to think about the one thing – the one person even Darth Vader loved… his Mother.
It was hot, blistering hot, too hot for a usual morning. The double suns shined down hard on the planet, burning all that stood below. Usually the small boy would be to work by now, but not today. Today he cried as his mother pulled him roughly through the streets, as blasters and screams sounded behind them. The sand was hot underneath his feet, his mother pulling him out of bed and put the door before he could even fully dress.
"Mommy!" The boy cried, not understanding what was going on around him, "We have to go back, we didn't bring Threepio!"
"Shhh, Anakin!" She hushed as she continued pulling him through the streets, "We must hurry! Be quiet! Threepio will be fine!"
They could both hear the sounds of the outsiders becoming closer and closer by the second. There was nowhere to run, there was nowhere to hide, but still they had to try. His mother pulled him through the nearest door and into a small room before locking the door behind them.
"Mom what is happening?" Anakin cried, as his mother fell to the ground beside him and wrapped her arms around him.
"Ani. Anakin listen to me." His mother soothed as she ran her hand through his bleach blonde hair, "They are coming. They are going to take you."
"Who's coming?" Anakin cried, grabbing onto his mother's hand and holding it close to his chest as he snuggled into her body, "What is happening?"
"Shh, Ani. There is no time." His mother said softly, her own tears beginning to fall as well, "I'm afraid this is goodbye for now."
"Don't say that, Mom." Anakin said, before tears began streaming down his face like a waterfall. He couldn't stop the tears. He was scared. He didn't understand. He was confused. He didn't want to leave. He didn't want to leave him mother. He didn't want them to take him.
"Don't cry, Anakin." His mother said again, putting a finger underneath his chest and lifting his chin up so that he would face her, "You must be strong."
Anakin shook his head frantically, "I can't Mom, I can't do it."
A loud bang echoed outside the door, signaling someone was trying to enter. They had found them. They were coming. Anakin dropped his gaze back towards his mother's chest and his arms snapped around her. He snuggled hard into her chest as his tears fell onto her shirt.
"I want to stay with you, don't let them take me." Anakin cried loudly, and instantly his mother latched onto him as well, pulling him tighter into her chest.
"I wish I could, my love" She cried into his blonde hair, "Be strong. I love you, Ani. I will always be with you."
Anakin did not respond; he didn't have time to. The door broke open behind him as a red skinned, black-clocked man entered. Anakin turned his gaze away, as he snuggled closer into his mother, frantically trying to keep his hold around her.
"You will fail." His mother spit at the man, "Whatever you want him for, he is not the man you want him to be."
"Oh, he will be." The red skinned man laughed, kneeling down as he rubbed his hand across the woman's face, "You should be proud. Your boy will be the most powerful –"
His mother kicked the man hard, knocking him backwards with a loud groan. She threw her son forward, "Run, Anakin!" She screamed, "Run! I'm right behind you!"
Anakin pushed himself from the ground stumbling forward as he tried to find his footing. But before he could make it through the doorway, a strange sound sounded from behind him. He couldn't help but to glance behind him, and froze instantly at the sight he saw.
"Mom!" He screamed… but it was already too late.
"Ani!" His mother screamed at the sight of seeing her son stop, unaware of her own fate. His name was his mother's last word before the red blade was pushed through her chest. Anakin saw the entire scene happen before him, and watched as his mother's body fell to the ground, lifeless.
"No!" Anakin screamed, running towards his mother's murderer, hitting him frantically, trying to cause some damage.
He did none, and the man threw him back onto the ground effortlessly.
"Come on, you little brat." The man hissed, grabbing onto Anakin's arm and pulling him up from the ground.
Anakin tried to resist, but couldn't. He was too small, too weak compared to his captor. Still, he refused to give up. He hit the man in the side repeatedly, all the while screaming, "You killed her! You killed her!"
The man threw him to the ground again, towering above him as an evil smiled played over his features. "If you're so powerful?" The man spit, "Why didn't you save her? You might as well have just murdered her yourself!"
"No!" Anakin screamed, "I'm not a monster!"
The man smiled, an evil sinful smile as he lowered himself to the boy on the ground. "Oh, you will be," he laughed, "You will be."
Vader threw himself forward, panting hard as the sweat rolled down his face. A nightmare. It had all been a nightmare.
If only.
Nightmares weren't real. This was. It had been a nightmare of a time long passed, but never forgotten. The time in which his mother had died before his eyes… and he had been taken from the only home he had ever known.
He had let his mother die. He could a very well killed him himself. He was just too young to do anything, or so he had told himself. The nightmare was a time when he was foolish, a time when he was weak, a time when he was just a poor child slave. It was when he was a mere human, … but not anymore. He wasn't that person anymore. He wasn't a person anymore.
The boy is dead. They boy is dead. Vader repeated to himself inside his head.
But then why did the memories remain? Why did the pain remain? Why was he destined to be tortured? Why did the past still haunt him? He wanted to move on, but something wouldn't allow him to. Something was holding him back… but what?
He didn't know. He didn't want to know. He wanted to forget. He wanted to move on.
Vader groaned quietly, as he looked at the clock, noting the very, very early morning. He had only gotten a few hours of rest, but he knew that was all he would be given. The nightmare had made sure of that.
He dressed slowly, covering himself with his black garments that hid him from the galaxy. Walking to the kitchen, he found some kind of substance, not really caring what it was as long as it was edible. Survival and war had trained him to eat anything as long as it was edible. When you are staving, you can't afford to be picky. Still, Vader couldn't help but remember a time when he had been a picky eater.
As quickly has the thought started, it stopped. Vader pushed it away, far into the back of his mind, trying to forget the memory all together. Trying to ease his mind, Vader began working on various mechanical projects, just odds and ends; most of them just the droids that he had destroyed in his rage. Usually, fixing things brought Vader some relief. Life seemed so much easier when he was fixing things. It made it easier to forget, easier to move on, easier to live. But as usual, today was not the day for that. Today, Vader found no relief, and had to turn to something new.
He wondered his establishments for a little while, something he usually did not do. Usually, when at his establishments, he found himself working on military papers or fixing his fighters. He did not have the time, or the patience to just walk around his establishments for no reason. He still didn't have the patience. Soon the walk did nothing, but heighten his annoyance. However, before Vader halted his walk, he found himself being pulled to the Senator's room. He hadn't even noticed the pull until he had arrived at her door, but unlike usual his anger did not boil. As soon as he came upon her room, he could feel what was happening behind the door, he could hear her thoughts, and the man within the beast was sickened. It seemed that the senator had found sleep without his presence, but just like Vader's sleep had been, her slumber was anything but pleasant.
Padme panted loudly, trying to catch her breath. The walls seemed to be moving in around her. She tried to escape, but no matter how far or fast she ran, she could not move. She was trapped. Glued to the surface beneath her feet. She heard the footsteps of the predator behind her, ready to catch its prey. Slowly, she turned to face her fate. The black haired man smiled back at her as he pulled off his robe and threw it to the ground, getting ready for what was about to occur.
He started to advance upon her like a hungry wolf and immediately Padme backed into the wall, trying to create space between her and the man. She looked around, trying to find away to escape, but there was nothing. No doors. No exits. Just four walls around her. Padme ducked under the man's arms before he could grab her, but immediately was greeted by another wall. She looked up, hoping for a way to climb the barrier; but the wall seemed to rise forever.
"Help!" Padme screamed, hoping– praying someone would hear her. No one came.
"There is no escape." The man laughed from behind, "Remember I've had many women."
Padme turned around at the sound of the new voice, and was shocked to be faced with the black knight himself, Darth Vader.
"Vader?" Padme cried, "What are you doing?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Vader snapped, closing in on his prey, "I'm finishing you, just like I did your little friends."
Padme pressed herself harder against the wall in a useless attempt to hide from the Sith. This was not her savior. This was not the man that had saved her from the black haired man. This was not the man that stayed with her at night. This was Darth Vader, Lord of Sith, the murderer of millions, and he was there to kill her, just like he killed everyone else.
"What, Senator?" Vader laughed, his hooded figure now directly in front of her, "Did you think you were special? Did you think you were different than the rest? That you could find the human within the beast?" Vader paused, moving his hooded head down so that his lips were directly next to her ear. "You are nothing." He whispered roughly, "And me? I'm a monster."
Padme let out a loud cry as Vader quickly grabbed her, his gloved hands wrapping tightly around her arms as he used his weight to push her back, restraining her against the cold metal of the wall.
"Just kill me." Padme cried, "Just kill me."
"Now, now, Senator." Vader scowled hotly against her neck, "We are going to have some fun first. Remember, I give women the time of their lives before I kill them."
Padme let out another small cry, but it did nothing to faze Vader.
He pressed his mouth against her neck, kissing her roughly. His kiss was sour and dirty… and it burned her skin. She squirmed underneath his grip, but could not break free. Vader was bigger and stronger than the black haired man, and she could not overpower him. As she continued to squirm beneath his grasp, he moved one gloved hand to her neck, tightening his grip around her throat. It was a threat in more ways than one. He was warning her, telling her to stop. He was reminding her that he could kill her in a single flick of his wrist. He was enjoying the pain and pleasure he was causing her, knowing she was hurt and sickened by his touch.
Tears started to stream down Padme's face as his lips continued to move across her skin. It sickened her that he was touching her… but what was worse was, part of her enjoyed it. She could feel it through her skin and through her belly… and it sickened her further… but regardless, she wanted it to stop. There was no love in his touch, only arrogance. She could feel it. He did not know her or love her. He did not want to please her, only himself, before he rid himself of her. He just wanted what she had. He wanted her body. He wanted her virginity. She was nothing but something that could give him pleasure.
His body pressed harder against hers, allowing her to feel a huge hardness dig into her belly, as he used his knee to separate her legs. His gloved hands grabbed onto the black fabric of her dress and without even a flinch he pulled it apart. The fabric tore to her underwear line, revealing the upper half of her body. But unlike the black haired man, Vader did not top there. He reached towards that fabric that covered her breasts, and ripped it clean off. Padme's nipples perked as the cold air hit her newly exposed skin.
Padme closed her eyes tightly, both embarrassed and not wanting to see what was about to happen to her. This was not the way she had planned to lose her virginity. This was not the way she wanted her first time to be. This was not the man – the monster she wanted to be her first… and her last.
It was all wrong.
She felt his gloved hand move ravenously over her body, grabbing onto her breast before he began playing with one of her nipples roughly. When Padme began letting out sinful light moans, Vader moved his position. Using the Force to keep her in place, he pushed away from her to rip away the rest of the dress. He threw the pieces of the dress behind him, as he dropped down lower. Padme cried out loudly as Vader's mouth took one nipple into his mouth and he began biting and twisting the pebble with his teeth. She felt his hands sliding downwards, down her breasts and then down her belly, making their way closer towards their final destination. She held her breath, not sure what else to do. She hoped for a miracle.
She got one.
Just as his hands made contact with her panties… his touch was gone. Padme opened her eyes and saw not just one, but two Vaders. The Vader that had been touching her moments before raised his hand at the second Vader, clenching his hand together in an attempt of a force chock. However, the second Vader did the same. He raised his hand too, mimicking the first Vader, the only difference between the two, was the second Vader's hand. Unlike the Vader nearest to Padme, the second Vader did not have a leathered hand, but a flesh and bone one.
Padme's eyes widened as she realized what it all meant, Darth Vader vs. her Savior, not Vader vs. Vader. They were two different beings that looked exactly the same, but they weren't the same. She knew it. She felt it.
"No." Her Savior commanded angrily, "Get away from her."
"You do not control me!" Vader snarled, reciprocating the same amount of anger, "I control you."
"Get away from her!" Her Savior repeated, taking a step closer towards the pair that stood before him.
Moments passed, the two black knights locked in a silent duel. Padme wasn't sure what was happening, but she knew to remain silent, and thankfully, to her relief, the duel did end.
It ended when Vader let out a deep growl and lowered his hand. "This isn't the end. You'll be gone soon enough." Vader said to the man in front of him, before turning and stalking into the night.
In an attempt to cover herself and in a moment of weakness, Padme ran to her Savior. She hugged him tightly, making sure to get her arms underneath his cloak to hide her naked body. She snuggled her face into his body and she breathed in his sweet scent, instantly feeling relief. It was him, her Savior. However, her Savior or not, Padme had expected him to push her away or scold her, but he did not push her away. Instead, he almost twisted his stance to allow her to come closer.
"Are you unharmed?" He asked caringly.
He cared. He cared. He cared. Padme heard it in his voice. He cared about her. She could hear it his voice, feel it in his touch, she had seen it in his actions. He cared about her!
"Senator?" Vader asked concerned.
Padme tried, but she could not respond. She couldn't move. She was stuck. Frozen. It was all fading. It was all becoming blackness.
"Senator." Her Savior repeated his voice higher than before, "Senator."
"Senator. Senator!" An annoyed voice snapped from beside her as she opened her eyes, "Wake up. Wake up!"
Utter confusion overtook Padme for a long moment before it all came flooding back. As soon as it did, Padme sat up with a jolt as she began to feel over her body. She was clothed and in her bed. Her cheeks were streaked with tears, but she was safe. She glanced around fearfully in confusion, quickly realizing that it had all been a dream.
"Senator?" Vader said again, his voice almost filled with concern. Almost.
Padme slowly looked towards the Sith that stood beside her bed as a small frown overtook her features. "Lord Vader?" She asked confused, "Why are you here?"
"You were screaming in your sleep." He said, backing away from the side of her bed to retreat into the further darkness, where it was hard for her eyes to follow, "I could hear you from clear across my establishments."
"Oh… " Padme said, her voice still confused, "What time it is?"
"It's very early morning." Vader responded, his voice holding all the authority of a parent scolding a child, "Too early for you to be awake. "
"Then why are you awake?" Padme challenged, before she could help herself.
"That is none of your concern."
His response caused her to snap, all emotions flooding back into her mind. "It is my concern when every time you seem to leave your establishments someone I know dies!" Padme screamed, the fear and pain he caused finally overtaking her.
Somewhere from the darkness, Padme heard Vader groan, before he explained, "If you must know, Senator, I have not left my establishments since returning sometime after you. I was in my own room when I heard you."
The relief overwhelmed her. Still, the fear from before remained. She feared anything would set him off again. She feared he would lose his temper with her for her mental breakdown and keeping him awake, but as the tears continued to stroll down her face, he said nothing. She just continued to cry and he did absolutely nothing. He was not angry, he did not try to comfort her, he did not scold her; he simply let her be.
"I'm sorry." Padme finally managed to say between tears.
"Why are you apologizing?" Vader asked, his voice uncharacteristically confused.
"I just– just…" Padme wheezed, not sure what to say. She was freighted, scared of him. The memories of what he had done earlier to the five men still fresh in her mind, always replaying, never stopping.
"Senator, if I was planning on harming you," Vader groaned annoyed, "I would have done it by now."
"You have harmed me." Padme cried, chocking on her sobs, as her mind turned to the most recent event, ""You keep harming me. You were going to…"
"That was a dream, Senator." Vader snapped angrily, "I didn't try to rape you."
"It was so real." Padme whispered as she shook her head, desperately trying to clear her mind, "How do I –"
"If that was me," Vader pressed, "Why would I invade your mind to stop myself?"
Padme froze, slowly turning her head in his direction. "You… what?" She asked shocked, feeling her eyes widen at his confession.
Vader was silent, and Padme could tell that he had not meant to reveal his secret.
Still, Padme wasn't going to let it slide that easy.
"That was really you?" Padme pressed, trying to stare down from where she thought he stood in the darkness, "That saved me?"
Vader still remained silent, lost in the darkness.
Padme shook her head, bringing her knees up to her chest as she wrapped her arms around them for support. "Why do you keep doing this to me?" She cried in confusion, "Just pick if you're going to kill me or save me. Just stop torturing me! Just stop all this confusion. I can't take it." Padme paused allowing herself time to control her tears. When she was satisfied, she finally looked up and towards his direction in the dark, "I want to hate you so badly and I hate myself that I don't."
"You do hate me, Senator." Vader corrected, his voice telling her it was the truth.
But Padme knew the real truth.
"No." Padme said sternly, "No, I don't. Don't tell me how I feel Lord Vader because I know how I feel. You find it incredibly easy to hate me, but the feeling is not mutual."
Vader was silent again, choosing not to speak, so Padme decided to continue.
"I'm scared of you." She whispered, "I'm deathly scared of you."
"You are right to be scared." Vader agreed quickly, "Everyone is."
"I know, and I should be." Padme agreed, before shaking her head, "But that's just it. I'm not like everyone." She paused, looking away from the darkness to lay her head on top of her knees, "I'm scared of you. Scared of your power. Scared of what you're capable of. I hate the darkness inside of you. I hate the crimes you have committed, and everything you stand for." She paused again, almost laughing at herself, "But no matter how hard I try, something, won't let me hate you. Something tells me there is more to you; something won't let me give up on you, and I wish more than anything that I could. I wish more than anything that when I say that I hate you that I truly mean it. I wish…"
"You have a fever, Senator." Vader interrupted, his voice filled with an unreadable emotion, "You are confused."
Padme groaned as she fell back into her pillow. She felt sick and weak, mentally and physically. And from Vader's tone, there was no proving that her words, the words she had just spoken, held any truth, but Padme doubted he would listen to her even of she wasn't sick. He didn't want to hear what she had to say.
"Just thank you…." Padme said quietly, deciding to change the subject, "And I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for, Senator." Vader replied honestly, "I find you irritating regardless of your mental state."
Padme let out a small laugh, "You're such a gentleman."
"I could say nice things to you," Vader replied arrogantly from the darkness, "but I rather say the truth."
Again, at his statement, the tears began. He had told the truth, and she had done anything but listen. He had told her that he was a monster, but she continued to look for a man. He told her that he would be her murderer, but yet she tried to get closer to him. He told her that she meant nothing to him, but yet she still hoped. Why? What was wrong with her? After everything he had done… Why couldn't she stop?
She knew the answer, even if she wouldn't admit it to herself. Her dream, had even explained the answer. The man that was in the room with her now, although Vader, was not Darth Vader. She could feel it, and before she could stop herself, she acted upon it.
"Vader?" She asked quietly, as she gazed at the darkness of ceiling through her tears.
"Senator." He responded, his voice void of all emotion.
"Do you still trust me?" She asked sheepishly.
Vader was silent for a moment, before he spoke, "I believe that time has come and passed."
Padme closed her eyes tightly, "Can you trust me again?"
Vader was silent again for a long moment, before she heard him take a step closer to the bed. "I believe the correct question, Senator," He corrected, "Is do you trust me?
Every alarm inside Padme's body went off, telling her to stop before she started. Vader was warning her, making her aware of a small threat, but still she felt herself being pulled. Something wouldn't let her stop. Something was encouraging her on.
"It– It's different…" Padme said, stumbling over her words, hoping that Vader felt the same, "At night… It's different at night. Isn't it?"
"Indeed." Vader agreed softly, and Padme couldn't believe her ears.
"So, trust?" She asked quietly, hoping that was his answer.
"What do you want, Senator?" He asked, his tone obviously warning her, telling her he was looking for a motive.
"For you to stay." She answered quickly, knowing he probably already knew her request, "Please, stay."
Vader didn't reply, but she soon knew his answer. A small smile formed itself on Padme's face as she heard him walk around the bed. As the mattress dropped, signaling that Vader was now on his side, she turned to her side. Padme didn't put on the blindfold, but remained facing away from him with closed eyes as the tears continued to pour.
She tried for sometime to fall asleep, but sleep seemed like the farthest thing from her mind. She felt sick, cold, and clueless. The tears refused to stop running down her face, and her mind was too active to allow her to rest.
"Why did you save me?" Padme asked, breaking the silence, trying to find at least one answer to the millions of questions that her brain was forming, "It was only a dream."
"It wasn't a dream to me." Vader said simply, and the response instantly caused a thousand more questions to form within Padme's head.
"But–"
"Senator." Vader snapped, voicing his annoyance, "Shut up."
"Please." She breathed, tasting her own salty tears on her lips as the sickness overcame her again, "If I do have a fever, I won't remember by tomorrow anyways."
Vader sighed, a long annoyed sigh as he turned onto his side, "You're the most stubborn, annoying, and infuriating woman I have ever had the displeasure of meeting."
Padme paused at his words, hearing not just the words, but how he said them. She felt her something telling her to look deeper into the words… feel deeper into the words. It wasn't Darth Vader. It wasn't mean or harsh in anyway, but the words were still supposed to be unkind. What did that mean?
She didn't know, but she felt the pull again, and couldn't help but listen.
Acting quickly before her courage evaporated, Padme did the unthinkable. Keeping her eyes shut, she flipped over and snatched onto Vader. Somehow finding him in the darkness. . Closing the gap further, she pressed her face against his chest, squeezing her eyes completely shut. She weaved her hands under his cloak and around his waist. It was a bit awkward due to them both laying on the mattress, but Padme made it work. She grasped her hands onto the back of his tunic beneath the cloak, afraid that he would push her away.
But to Padme's amazement, he didn't. At first, he flinched at her touch, but then said nothing; he just let her hold him and cry.
When she was exhausted, chocking on sobs, and running out of tears, Padme felt his hands begin working behind her back. For a second, she wondered what he was doing, but before she could ask, she felt his flesh hand move around his own waist and up her arm. There, his hand paused on top of her skin, in the place that he had harmed her earlier; in the place the Captain had wrapped. Just like before, after a few seconds, Padme felt no pain. He had healed her again. He had tried to fix something that he had done wrong. He had regretted harming her.
Padme couldn't help but snuggle into him tighter as the tears began to fall again, "How can you do that and then say you don't feel?"
"I didn't say I didn't feel, Senator." Vader whispered, his voice unusually soft, "I said I didn't care."
"Sometimes, I think you do," Padme whispered in return, "Just a little. A very, very, tiny little."
It was then that sleep overtook the exhausted senator and when she woke up the next morning, as always, Vader was gone... and she couldn't remember a thing.
Author's Note: Again, thank you guys for the wonderful reviews and messages, they gave me so much inspiration! Love you all! As always, please write a review! I would love to hear your thoughts! And please know even though you can't, I can see them at least on my email. So please do!
Author's Second Note: I know a few of you asked me questions in your reviews and because of this glitch, please message me if you want any answers to your questions or if you just have any new questions!
Author's Third Note: On another quick note, many of you messaged me on Time Travel Redemption, and I do eventually plan on updating the story, but due to the writing being pretty shitty in that story because I didn't anyone would notice it, I want to ho back and rewrite parts of it! So sorry for the slow updates, but I'm really trying! As always, more messages & reviews, equal more inspiration, and in return more updates!