Vader's Angel
By: wertman25
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Star Wars…. Or Anakin Skywalker… Which is a pity…
2nd Disclaimer: Again, for the purpose of keeping close to the original storyline, I used "Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy – Revenge of the Sith, by Matthew Stover" as a source for a setup for Obi-Wan's memories.
"You mean we are running out of time?"
"Yes, Master Kenobi." Palo's blue holographic image flickered, although Obi-Wan could see the nod. "He seems to be rushing, I've been trying to slow down the process as much as I can, but it's only a matter of time before the Emperor pushes me out completely. He knows that the small issue I came with is taking too long to fix."
"So he is suspicious?" Obi-Wan pressed, knowing that if their plan failed this time it would be harder than ever to keep hope within the ranks of the Rebellion.
"He used to be," Palo responded slowly, his eyes turning away from the man standing before him. "But I wouldn't say he particularly is anymore."
Obi-Wan frowned, silently asking for more information.
Palo took a deep breath, his nerves obvious from half way across the galaxy. "I didn't plan on this to happen," he started slowly, his eyes moving up to meet Obi-Wan's. "Senator Amidala and I, I mean. We used to be in love a long time ago, before our ways of life forced us apart. I didn't tell you that before because I didn't think it would matter. This just started out as helping an old friend, but the moment we saw each other the flame rekindled."
Obi-Wan's frown hardened as he realized the turn this conversation was taking. "You've fallen in love with her?" The Jedi pressed, not understanding the entire amount of the emotion or the information being told to him. "What did you do?"
"What do old lovers do, Master Kenobi?" Palo laughed, his face truly happy, but also with another selfish emotion hidden within his eyes. "We have fallen back in love, but once again there are so many things against us. I– I regret and embarrassed to say that although we have been fighting the feelings since I have arrived, we could not escape the feelings any longer and we gave into lust. It started out as a harmless kiss, but–"
Obi-Wan's face visibly reddened as the man continued, but the Jedi used all his strength to remain unaffected by the story. He didn't want to know about Senator Amidala's love life. Not only did he feel it was inappropriate, but to him, he still envisioned her as a child that he had protected so many years ago. She was still young in his eyes, powerful and cunning, but young and still admirably innocent to the ways of men. The thought of this man, of her and this man, doing the things he was explaining made Obi-Wan practically break.
"– then we were caught by the Emperor," Palo continued. "And I believe that is what threw him off our trail. He believes that I am working slowly so that I may have time to be with her."
Although Obi-Wan was pleased to know that the Emperor seemed to be off their trail, he couldn't shake the feeling of the wrongness of the conversation. It sickened him to know that the man before him was doing these things with the senator while she was in a time of need. Obi-Wan may have had many codes in the Jedi Order that restricted him from such activities, but he doubted that she would want to do any of them during this dire situation. Something wasn't adding up.
"So," Obi-Wan paused, coughing awkwardly. "Senator Amidala has not given you any information while you two were… alone."
Palo shook his head, his eyes hardening as he looked toward the Jedi. "That thing–" he spit, "–that monster– that dark, sinister creature that walks around parading himself as if he is a man keeps us apart. He follows her like a shadow, and although she denies it, I dare say that I think he abuses her in more ways than one."
Obi-Wan's teeth clenched. Palo Campton's words were something that everyone assumed, but also not the only thing that many guessed had happened between the senator and the Sith. And although Obi-Wan had never had the displeasure of coming across the Sith, Vader's reputation proceeded him and Obi-Wan wouldn't put anything past him. The thought sickened him farther, the things that Vader could do to the senator.
"So she has said this?" Obi-Wan asked, his question coming out far more silent than he had meant, like he didn't want to know the answer. "Has she told you anything else about her whereabouts?"
"She has denied that Vader has done anything to her, but I, as many others, have witnessed that he is a violent monster. I say without a doubt that it is impossible that he hasn't done anything," Palo nearly growled. "I have my own suspicious, but I will not voice them until I have farther proof. I wish not to create more rumors for Padmé once she is rescued, but unfortunately her whereabouts are still unknown. I'm afraid we still have no idea where she is exactly located."
"Exactly?" Obi-Wan asked, raising an eyebrow. "What more have you figured out?"
"She is at Vader's personal establishments, wherever that is." Palo informed the Jedi Master, trying to sound as professional as possible. "Padmé has informed me that she has her own bedroom there, and that Vader has a protocol droid that keeps watch and takes care of her. It seems that although Vader keeps a close eye on her at the Senate, while they are in his establishments, she hardly sees him."
Obi-Wan nodded absentmindedly, lost in thought. So," he wondered, "Vader does not keep her well guarded.
"No, sir." Palo replied. "I don't think he finds escape or rescue a threat, being that his establishments are an unknown location underground."
"Underground?"
"Yes," Palo replied again. "Padmé said that his establishments are huge and underground, nearly impossible to escape or break into."
"Nearly," Obi-Wan pointed out quickly. "There is till a chance, there is still hope! We just have to–"
A sound radiated from somewhere behind Palo, causing the man to turn around in a panic. "I must go," he whispered. "Before someone realizes that I contacted you."
"Go," Obi-Wan agreed. "Contact me again when you have received more information."
The communication went dead before Palo could respond, the man switching it off in frenzy. The lack of light from the blue hologram made Obi-Wan's room dark, but for once he welcomed the darkness as he fell back onto his bed. Alone was the only time he could admit that he was exhausted– that he had no idea what he was doing. He told himself he had a plan, but it seemed as if he didn't. It seemed that no one did, like they were a group of rebellious teenagers that had fought against their parents without a plan to fight against the consequences.
He had spent hours trying to sooth the worries of the Rebellion members, but he had also been training for hours with Master Yoda. They needed the Rebellion to stick together, they needed to be trusted, they needed more information, and they needed to prepare. It was a war within itself. The Dark Side had blinded them before, and they could not afford for it to do it again. While training with Yoda, they were trying to not only open up his mind to receive more information, but also practice his technique in duel fighting if he was to defeat Vader. Obi-Wan never felt more like a padawan learner in his entire life, not even when he was one. It was overwhelming, the whole ordeal, and still, Obi-Wan couldn't believe it had all come to this. It was surreal, and still after all this time helped the other facts drain him of his energy. Not even bothering to undress, Obi-Wan closed his eyes and allowed sleep to over take him; all the while hoping to fins some peace during his usual restless slumber.
The shuttle that Obi-Wan stood within touched down outside the Senate building amongst the gathering crowd that stood outside. The doors to the shuttle opened, and Obi-Wan watched as the Emperor, although visibly the Chancellor of the Republic at the time; exited and was greeted by a worried crowd. It was a sight that made Obi-Wan's stomach turn, to see how Palpatine was treated and trusted by the senators– by everyone. He desperately wanted to warn them, to tell them the truth, but he couldn't move. He just waited inside the shuttle as a young, but much taller man, dressed in dark, brown Jedi robes exited the shuttle in front of him. The dark robes caught his eye because he could tell this man was a Jedi, but never before had he seen such dark robes on one.
As the man reached the bottom of ramp, he turned back around, looking back at Obi-Wan. "You coming?"
Obi-Wan knew who the man was the moment he turned to face him: The Chosen One. The boy had grown since he had last seen him; not only had his body matured, but the boy had become a man, and also a Jedi Knight. His figure had become large and broader, while his padawan braid had been replaced with long locks. A small amount of scars covered his face, including a large one that grazed by his eye. Yes, even by the look of him, Obi-Wan could tell he had become a strong and powerful Jedi.
"I haven't the courage for politics," Obi-Wan said automatically, again not choosing his own words, but speaking them as if he had before. "I'll brief the Council."
Something changed within the Chosen One's eyes, and a heavy feeling washed over Obi-Wan. "Shouldn't I be there, too?"
"No need. This isn't the formal report. Besides–" Obi-Wan nodded toward the clot of HoloNet crews clogging the pedestrian gangway. "–someone has to be the poster boy, and we all know you're their favorite."
The man looked pained again, before a large smile graced his features. "Poster man."
"Quite right, quite right," Obi-Wan said with a gentle chuckle. "Go meet your public, Poster Man."
"Wait a minute– this whole operation was your idea. You planned it. You led the rescue. It's your turn to take the bows."
Obi-Wan laughed, moving forward. "You won't get out of it that easily, my young friend. Without you, I wouldn't have even made it on the flagship. You killed Count Dooku, and single-handedly rescued the Chancellor… all while, I might be forgiven for adding, carrying some old broken-down Jedi Master unconscious on your back. Not to mention making a landing that will be the standard of Impossible in every flight manual for the next thousand years."
Obi-Wan could sense that the words he had spoken were true, and inside, he was extremely impressed , but the man that was truly speaking was proud. Proud of the boy that he had trained– proud of the man that he had become. He could feel the connection between them both, the Chosen One and himself. They were no longer a teacher and a student, but brothers in ever sense of the word.
The Chosen One smiled, "Only because of your training, Master–"
"That's just an excuse. You're the hero. Go spend your glorious day surround by –" Obi-Wan paused, a strange but unknown feeling washing over him. " –politicians."
"Come on, Master– you owe me. And not just for saving your skin for the tenth time–."
"Ninth time. Cato Neimoidia doesn't count; it was your fault in the first place." Obi-Wan waved him off. "See you at the Outer Rim briefing in the morning."
"Well… all right. Just this once." The Chosen One laughed and waved, before disappearing.
The vision changed, becoming a blur of nothing before focusing back into a familiar room. Obi-Wan looked around, seeing a familiar face that made his heart nearly break.
"Master Windu," Obi-Wan said, sitting before the Jedi Master that was deep in thought. "You wanted to speak with me?"
Mace Windu moved closer to Obi-Wan's position by the window, nodding to a presence that was not in the room. "It's Anakin. I don't like his relationship with Palpatine."
Obi-Wan's thoughts became frazzled, who was Mace Windu talking about? Who was Anakin and why did the man even have a relationship with Palpatine? Obi-Wan wanted to ask, but instead replied with, "We've had this conversation before."
"There is something between them. Something new. I could sense it in the Force." Mace's voice was flat and grim. "It felt powerful. And extremely dangerous."
Obi-Wan spread his hands. "I trust Anakin with my life."
It was a true statement. He could feel it. He trusted this Anakin with everything– Anakin wouldn't let him down, he never had.
"I know you do," Mace responded. "I only wish we could trust the Chancellor with Anakin's."
"Yes," Obi-Wan said frowning. "Palpatine's policies are… sometimes questionable. But he dotes on Anakin like a kindly old uncle on his favorite nephew."
Mace starred out the window. "The Chancellor loves power. If he has any other passion, I have not seen it."
Obi-Wan shook his head with a trace of disbelief. "I recall not so long ago, you were something of an admirer of his."
"Things," Mace Windu said grimly, "change."
It was another true statement. Something had changed, there was a darkness that Obi-Wan could feel was surrounding them– surrounding the Republic, it was because of Palpatine, because of Sidious.
"What would you have me do?" Obi-Wan asked, having a gut feeling that whatever the answer, this Anakin would not like it.
"I am not certain. You know my power; I cannot always interpret what I've seen. Be alert. Be mindful of Anakin, and be careful of Palpatine. He is not to be trusted, and his influence on Anakin is dangerous."
Obi-Wan frowned. "But Anakin is the Chosen One–"
Obi-Wan froze, as the words left his mouth, for a second not even believing that he had spoken them. But he had! He had given himself his own answer. The Chosen One! Anakin is the Chosen One! The Chosen One's name is Anakin!
"You have done well, my old padawan."
The voice of his old master brought Obi-Wan out of his daze, and like before, he realized that everything around him had vanished and only his master stood before him.
"Master," Obi-Wan stepped forward, still shocked. "Is it true? Is this Anakin the Chosen One?"
Qui-Gon smiled, his hand coming to rest on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "I told you, Obi-Wan, you must do this alone. Use– trust your instincts. You tell me."
Obi-Wan was silent for a long moment, reaching out into the Force for answers. Surprisingly, he got one, and it amazed even himself.
"Anakin Skywalker," Obi-Wan whispered. "The Chosen One is Anakin Skywalker."
"And what else?" Qui-Gon pressed. "What else did your visions tell you?"
Obi-Wan closed his eyes, remembering his most recent vision– about the warning of Anakin and Palpatine. "Anakin is in danger," Obi-Wan said as he opened his eyes. "Palpatine– Sidious wants him for his power."
Qui-Gon nodded, but allowed Obi-Wan to think the rest of his thoughts through.
"I need to find him," Obi-Wan breathed. "He's not dead."
"Not yet," Qui-Gon agreed. "Not yet."
"Yet?" Obi-Wan frowned, before realizing the new enemy. "Vader! Vader could destroy him before we even have a chance!"
"True," Qui-Gon agreed. "He could."
"Then I must find him before he is destroyed!" Obi-Wan screamed frantically, for the first time having true hope. "Without the Chosen One we are doomed!"
Qui-Gon smiled, his eyes conveying that he was truly proud of the man he looked upon. "Then find him, Obi-Wan. Find him."
Obi-Wan's eyes flashed open and he was greeted with the sight of the ceiling of his room, where the dark circles played tricks with his eyes, making him believe he was still asleep. At first, his mind was completely frozen, unaware and unable to comprehend what had been laid out before him. That was until two words screamed out above all the rest: Anakin Skywalker.
Anakin Skywalker! Obi-Wan's mind practically screamed. The Chosen One!
The two words sent his heart and feet ablaze as he took off in a full on sprint out of his room and towards Master Yoda's chambers a short distance away. He wasted no time, entering the chamber instead of knocking, only to stop when he saw the little, green Jedi Master sitting alone in the corner. He took a step forward, his breathing the only sound audible within the room as he waited for Yoda to acknowledge his presence.
The Jedi Master did not open his eyes, but his ears moved in an up and down motion before he let out a deep sigh. "Something to tell me, you have, Obi-Wan?"
"Master," Obi-Wan breathed, unable to calm his racing heart and deep breath sounds. "I know who he is."
"Who?"
The Chosen One," Obi-Wan replied, hardly unable to hide his excitement. "I know who he is! I received another vision! His name is Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon Jinn himself told me this was true!"
The Jedi Master opened his eyes slowly, but the look on his face expressed no joy. "Take us to a grave place, this thought will." Yoda breathed, his long nails coming up to stroke his chin. "This thought, surrounded by darkness, it is."
Obi-Wan's excitement feel from his face, replaced by concern and confusion. "I'm sorry, Master." Obi-Wan frowned. "Is this not a good thing? Is this not what we have been searching for?"
"Been a disturbance in the Force, there has been." Yoda replied, looking up at the ceiling as if it was a doorway. "Caused by this, your vision was."
Obi-Wan closed his eyes, reaching out into the Force. There, he felt a disturbance. The Force was turning, spinning, and awakening in a way it had not done in a very long time.
"Feel the light?" Yoda continued, before his voice became grim. "And the darkness?"
Obi-Wan could feel it. It wasn't just the Force, but undeniably a mix of both darkness and the light. It was a strange feeling. Never before had he felt such a mix, such a strong connection to both sides of the Force.
"The vision!" Obi-Wan erupted, remembering what his vision had told him. "The Emperor, he wants Anakin. He wants the Chosen One."
Yoda frowned. "If true, the prophecy is," he continued, "an even graver place that thought takes us."
"He is in danger," Obi-Wan recalled. "I remember now. This Anakin is in danger… I must find him!"
Yoda's gaze turned back to him, and Obi-Wan could instantly tell that his master was still most displeased with him, about a great, many things.
"Yoda, I must go." Obi-Wan whispered, trying to make the Jedi Master understand.
"What of your mission, Obi-Wan?" Yoda pressed. "What of Senator Amidala?"
"I will return in a few days, Master." Obi-Wan replied, meaning every word. "I will be gone a few weeks at the longest."
Yoda slowly turned away from him, gazing out the window that showed only a strange bright light. "Failing Obi-Wan, the Rebellion is." Yoda said softly, his voice mournful and disembodied. "Like the Senate, just as Republic members became Separatists, separating themselves from the Rebellion, are they."
"What?" Obi-Wan exclaimed, truly shocked from the information. "They couldn't –"
"But they have," Yoda interrupted. "Only a few, it is, but grow, I fear the number will."
Obi-Wan shook his head, unable to find words. It felt as if it was happening all over again, and he could allow it to.
"Already reached the ears of the Emperor, word of this has," Yoda continued. "And only a matter of time before the Emperor informs his apprentice, it is. Then in search for us, I fear that Vader might be."
Obi-Wan knew as well as Yoda that if Vader were to find the Rebellion, this time they would never survive. Vader had grown too powerful, while the Rebellion had only weakened. They didn't have the strength, resources, or hope to fight against Vader's forces again and win, not until they regained themselves again. They needed time. They needed–
Obi-Wan's heart dropped as he looked back at his master. "What if this Anakin is out there?" Obi-Wan asked frantically. "What if Vader feels him as well?"
"Our last hope, the Chosen One is." Yoda replied, almost hesitantly. "The one that will bring balance to the Force, he is."
"Then I will find him!" Obi-Wan erupted, practically beginning to pace the room. "I will find him before the Emperor! I will find him before Vader destroys him!"
Yoda looked up at Obi-Wan, his eyes full of disapproval and hopelessness. "Obi-Wan," he stated quietly, "I fear that–"
"No!" Obi-Wan interjected. "I can find him, Master Yoda. I can. You were the one that told me to have hope, and I have it, and I believe this Anakin can bring the hope that we need back to the Rebellion. I know I have another mission, Master, but Palo Campton has not found where Vader is keeping Senator Amidala. I can't just wait here and do nothing while the Rebellion crumbles. I will search for this Anakin until I receive word of Senator Amidala, I will keep my word to Senator Organa."
Yoda was quiet for a long moment, taking in Obi-Wan's words, before he looked up at the Jedi with trust. "Go," Yoda finally whispered, "Find him, you must, Obi-Wan. Find Anakin Skywalker."
"Can– Can we do this?" the senator breathed roughly from below him, trying to think between each one of his overwhelming thrusts.
It had been sometime since they had returned back to his establishments, but each time they had tried to end their lust filled activity, they ended up within each other once more. Neither of them had cared, too addicted to the feeling of being connected that everything else in the world had hardly mattered– until now. Vader could feel her mind, as well as his own, beginning to turn, becoming conscious to the outside world, or in the senator's case, thinking of not only what was occurring, but also the future.
"We're already doing it," Vader panted, the stickiness and heat beneath his thick layers of clothes threatening to overtake him. "It's already done."
"This means we are living a lie," she continued, her mind elsewhere, finally comprehending the possible consequences of their action. "It– It could destroy us."
Vader didn't want to think about that, but he knew it was true. He couldn't deny that. "It will destroy us," he agreed slowly, pushing the thoughts away, before his voice regained its authority. "But it's our secret. No one will know."
He could feel her mind brewing more questions that he desperately wanted to stop. Acting quickly, he rolled them over together, wanting to feel her on top of him again, and hoping it would stop her from speaking; but of course it didn't.
"But–"
"Why do you have to negotiate while we are in this position?" Vader growled irritated. He found so much pleasure from their current position, but hated the repercussions that came with it. He wanted to relish in the moment that she was about to destroy– he didn't want it to end yet.
"Call it aggressive negotiations," she whispered, her body moving to straddle his member even more deeply.
She practically slid down on top of his hips, his clothing wet from the fluids of their actions. She was wet too, in more than just one area. Not only were the fluids of their actions mixing together sinfully, but their sweat was mixing together as well. Her skin was hot and her face was flushed, while his body remained almost completely covered, but also completely drenched. It was a feeling that made him feel as if he was back on his home planet of Tatooine and under the scorching double suns.
But despite his aching body and inhospitable temperature, he couldn't stop. He couldn't get enough of it– of her. She looked perfect above him– she felt perfect around his body, like she belonged there. The senator was truly the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, an angel before his eyes. His eyes moved over her body again, taking in her naked body that she had revealed for his eyes only. He cherished the way her body reacted to him, responded to his touch. He moved his flesh hand over her hip, sliding it up and down to savor the feeling of their skin touching– the most intoxicating feeling in the entire universe: his skin against hers.
"Aggressive negotiations?" he mused, not hiding the small smile that graced his features, knowing that she couldn't see him behind the blindfold. "Usually I preform aggressive negotiations with a lightsaber."
She shifted her weight, feeling his member inside of her in a way that brought them both jolts of pleasure. "In a round about way you could argue that you are," she stated with a small smile.
He laughed before he could stop himself, realizing she was using a metaphor for his member that was inside her. She laughed too, and her giggles above him bewitched him even more; but she seemed to have that effect on him, like no one else did, and only here with him inside of her would he ever admit it. Soon, they found relief together once more, and Vader fell down besides her, hoping that she wouldn't ruin the moment just yet, despite her raging mind.
"You're… You're not so grumpy anymore," she breathed from beside him, her breath hitching as her body trembled.
"Grumpy?" he repeated, as if testing the words on his lips. Never in his life had he had anyone describe him with a word such as grumpy; irritable and bad tempered were possible words that he had heard before, but never grumpy. In fact, if it would had been anyone else, it probably would have angered him that she had used such a childish word for a description of him, but on her lips, it amused him.
She nodded, and he tried desperately not to react at how her nod shook her body in all the perfect places. "You were quite grumpy earlier, Lord V–" she began before stopping. Her pause caught his attention, another problem looming within her mind. "I– I," she began, her mind telling him that she felt childish. "I don't want to say your name while I'm naked. It's just–"
"I understand," he replied quickly, not wanting her to finish her sentence. He truly did understand, but he had tortured her enough with the sleeping with the enemy, now it was torturing them both. He didn't want to hear it as much as she didn't want to say it. "When was I… grumpy?"
"Earlier," she replied, feeling for his flesh hand and grabbing it, before playing with his flesh between her thin, elegant fingers. "When I acknowledged you, but you wouldn't look at me. Palo said you were grumpy."
A low growl resonated from his chest before he could stop it, his anger flaring at the mention of the fool's name that had invaded his territory. "Don't mention that fool when you are laying naked beside me," he snapped.
"Then don't talk to Ellé Muun when you are inside of me," she snapped back, without missing a beat.
He ignored her anger, but not as much as he ignored his own wave of feelings. It was strange to him, and an entirely new feeling. He could promise her that that would never happen again, and also that he would never allow that imbecile to touch her like he had today.
"I did acknowledge you," he responded with instead, pushing away his thoughts.
"What?"
"When you acknowledged me in your office," he said again, unsure of why he was having this pointless conversation. "I looked right at you."
She frowned beneath the blindfold, holding his hand tighter as she disagreed. "You did not."
Vader didn't argue with her, he found it pointless. He didn't have to correct her in the first place, and if she didn't believe him than that was her issue. He knew, however, that he had looked right at her. He looked at her, and then at the closeness of that idiot, Campton. She had greeted him, and he had responded. Did she not understand that he was losing control? That if he would have looked at her any longer than what he already had that he would have lost control? That he would have pushed Campton away from her, before taking her for himself. He had hardly been able to keep himself in check after Sidious had released him; he had hardly made it to his establishments before he had erupted. Did she not understand the madness she caused him?
"You didn't, and then you ignored me," she continued, trying to hide her frustration as she rubbed tiny circles across his palm. "You let me flirt with Palo and, you didn't even care–"
"Senator." Vader snapped, his tone threatening his warning.
He knew that she was smarter than to play this game with him. He had given her more than enough, and they both knew their time was ending. What she had done, she had done that to herself, and he had been forced to play along. He hadn't partially cared that she had done it, and he hadn't particularly liked the consequences of her actions, but he had dealt with them as best as he could. He wasn't allowed to care, but he had lost control, and punished her in the best way he saw fit. He had used her actions to their advantage, and–
"Va– Umm," she started again, "What about Palpatine?"
The mere mention of his master's name sent Vader into a blind rage. He felt his heart freeze and his sweat become ice. He could feel a great disturbance in the Force, it swirling and twisting in every direction, impossible to miss. He pulled his hand away from the senator's grasp roughly before tucking himself away and pushing himself up from the bed.
"Don't mention his name either when you're laying naked beside me!" he snapped, refusing to turn back to her, knowing that the image of her naked on the bed would cause him to stay.
Vader fled without another word, grabbing his belt and comlink as he exited her room. He didn't want to think about what had just occurred, the hours of taking each other. He was now as much hers, as she was his; and he didn't want to think about the consequences of that action, about what Sidious would do if he were to find out.
He won't find out, he told himself. He thinks it is Campton.
The thought brought him as much relief as it did anger, it seemed that everything seemed to set him off. Trying to find more relief, Vader shed of his heavy and reeking garments, throwing them to the corner of his room with a loud thud. The absence of his attire allowed his skin to finally breathe in some air, but the cold presence bit at his skin, at the sweaty and musty surface that burned his wounds. Next, he walked into the fresher, turning the shower on to as cold as it could go before jumping in. The coldness of the water burned his skin as well, bringing him pain, and in return some relief.
He breathed in painfully as the water continued to pour down upon him, his mind finally finding some sort of sanity, but it was only because he was away from her. It was her that drove him mad– who drove him to insanity. He was only acting this way because of her, and also because he was tired and exhausted. He hadn't slept in– he couldn't remember how long, and it was her fault. She had been the one to keep him up the night before, she had created the issues that made his life into a farther greater hell than he could imagine. She had started all of this, his madness.
She had pushed his limits to the fullest extremes today, and in front of his master no less. He thought he had been prepared for anything, that he had prepared himself, and had locked everything way. He had gone to the Senate early to prepare for the Emperor's arrival, to make sure the old man was and remained clueless to his actions. Vader was playing his part perfect, and he had been prepared for anything– anything besides Campton's genitalia pressed up against the senator's stomach.
The images that had poured out of Campton's mind still angered Vader, and his own, as well as the senator's actions, only made it worse. She had fueled the pest of a man on, while he had to let that fool touch her– but it was the only plan that came to his mind due to his master's suspicions. It was the perfect way to cover up his footprints, to hide his trail, and he knew the moment his master walked in on the two that it had worked. He had felt it within his master's mind, and visibly saw the results. The old man thought that the marks that Vader had left on her body had come from the fool, Campton. Now, the old man would believe that anything else he felt or saw concerning the senator would be Campton as well. Vader was in the clear– he was safe. The plan had worked perfectly, but the consequence of allowing it to happen did a number on Vader's mind.
He felt like another man had tried to take his territory. Another man had marked her. He had been the last man to touch her and then he wasn't. He had wanted– had needed to reclaim her. All thoughts from before were gone, than only she remained, because angels didn't belong among men, and she didn't deserve to be touched by any. But this wasn't just about her, it was also about him, because his need had been throbbing, his anger had been boiling, and his emotions had been running wild. He had used all his power to keep his master from sensing his inner confliction– his inner anger– his pulsating need. He had been safe before when he lost control because his master had not been in the Senate, but with the man back, he couldn't be too careful. So he had waited, his eyes glued to the back of the wall, unable to look at her, knowing that if he did, he wouldn't be unable to stop himself. Then exactly that happened the moment he had looked at her, he had taken her the second they had arrived back at his establishments, unable to control himself any longer.
Vader breathed a heavy sigh as he pushed his drenched hair out of his face. He had no idea what he was doing. He had never done, or felt this way before. No one before her made him this mad, in far more ways than one. He wanted to kill her– he wanted to have her– he wanted to keep her. It made no sense to him and he didn't understand it. When he acted upon his other mind, he was only doing what he saw in her dreams– what he felt she wanted. He didn't know how to do any of this. He had never done it before. His thoughts raged within his mind, not making sense to him– battling against him. He wasn't trained for this– he wasn't meant for this. Nothing seemed to make sense… but it felt so right… and yet, so wrong.
It seemed like an eternity had passed before Padmé exited her room to search for Vader, her nerves far to fragile to actually call out to him. It had taken her sometime to build up the courage to leave her bedroom, her embarrassment setting in after he had left her alone within her chambers. She hadn't been truly thinking about it in the act, but the thought of Darth Vader seeing her completely naked and moaning for him time, after time again, brought the brightest shade of red to her cheeks. He had seen her in a way no one ever had– and she couldn't deny that she had given him a part of her that she hasn't meant to give.
Nervously, she played with the black glove in her hand, the one that Vader had accidently left behind in his rush to leave her. It made her recall the feeling of his flesh hand against her skin: rubbing her body, holding her steady, and massaging her breasts. It was enough to make her moan, and that alone made Padmé's face grow hotter. She could feel the new profound ache between her legs that throbbed with every step, even worse than she had when she had showered. She had hoped the cold water would have helped soothe her need, but she knew from her thoughts that it had not.
As she entered into the main living area, Padmé was surprised to see Vader sitting at his normal spot on the couch, and as usual watching a barbaric race. Taking a deep breath, she practically tiptoed over to where he sat, afraid to upset him like she had in the bedroom.
"Vader?" Padmé whispered, her embarrassment flaring at the sight of him.
He didn't respond, and hesitantly, Padmé took a step back, moving her gaze away from him as she rose up the glove. "Y– You... Umm, left this–"
Vader moved towards her, but Padmé didn't comprehend what happened until she was looking up at the endless blackness underneath Vader's hood with her head on his lap and her body sprawled out across the couch beside him. He looked down at her for a long moment, while she looked back up at him stunned.
"And where is that confidence that I've become so accustomed to?" Vader wondered, his voice hard but teasing as he took the glove from her grasp, revealing his flesh hand still exposed.
Padmé was almost too transfixed to notice while she stared up at the darkness that stared back at her. A small frown graced her features as their stare down continued, her eyes full of curiosity. "Do you even have a face under that hood?" she wondered aloud, causing Vader to release a chuckle.
"No," he replied, turning back to face the race in front of him.
Padmé rolled her eyes, at herself and at his comment. "Not what I meant," she nearly growled, trying to push herself up from her new pillow that was in the form of Vader's lap.
He pushed her back down effortlessly, "What did you mean?"
She didn't try to fight him, her whole body freezing as she felt his flesh hand begin to run through her long, wet locks. She watched him for a long while, his gaze obviously on the race, as he seemed to not even be noticing his small movement.
"How come no one has seen your face?" she nearly whispered, afraid that if she asked too loud he would look down at her and notice his action.
"What makes you think I even have a face?" Vader retorted, his hood turning down to look at her.
Padmé did not answer, but decided to glare at him until he gave her a real response.
He chuckled again, but Padmé wasn't sure of the reason, although she felt that he was laughing at her gaze instead of being intimidated by it. "People have seen it," he replied as he turned back to the explosion that flashed across the screen. "Not many, but a selected few; mostly who are now dead."
"Like who?" Padmé snapped, before she could stop herself. "Like the other women you have had?"
He turned back to her slowly, making her instantly regret her outburst. "Why… Senator…" he responded, his voice returning to a hardened tease. "Is that jealousy that I hear? Not seeing me may be the only thing keeping you alive."
She fought back the hurt and sickness his last comment brought to her innards. "Can you just answer my question?" Padmé asked, crossing her arms tightly over her chest as she turned her gaze towards the holoscreen.
She could feel his mood change as well, as though he responded sounding nearly as nonchalantly as possible. "As you know," he began, "the women I have had as you put it, are all dead because I kill them after we–"
"Not that!" Padmé screamed, "About your face. Why hasn't anyone seen it?" She paused frustrated, "I don't know how to explain it, like accidently. It seems like that hood is like a black hole. It's impossible."
Vader was silent, his gaze looked onto the screen, but Padmé knew he had heard her.
"Come on," she pressed, snuggling deeper into his leg. "Who could I tell besides, Threepio?"
He stayed silent for another long moment, before Padmé heard him breathe in deeply. "It's a black hole because I made it take way," he said lowly. "I use the Force to influence others, but also to call upon the darkness; it works so well because normal eyes are not so well adapted to the dark, nor do people truly want to see behind the darkness."
Padmé frowned, "I want to see."
He turned down to her, his hand moving to her scalp. "Which is why I also keep it dark," he stated. "So preying eyes like yours have an even harder time seeing. Your eyes– normal eyes are not adjusted to this darkness."
"Then maybe you should turn on a light." Padmé nearly growled, turning away from him to look back at the holoscreen.
"I said normal eyes, Senator." Vader replied. "My eyes are adjusted. They are very highly adapted to the dark."
"Still," Padmé protested, not caring if she looked like a child having a tantrum as she turned away from him. "A light wouldn't hurt."
Vader laughed again, his hand returning to stroking her hair. "I like the dark."
Padmé laughed, a cold humorless laugh. "You don't say?"
"I do," he said. "I lived in it for most of my life."
Padmé paused, turning towards him to inspect him from below. "Most?" she asked, hoping for more information.
Vader froze, his hand in mid stroke and his gaze half way between the holoscreen and herself. "Stop prying, Senator." Vader growled, realizing his mistake.
"I'm not prying," Padmé said defensively, as she grabbed his flesh hand and brought it to her chest, where she played with his fingers. "I'm just curious about the mystery of the man under the hood."
"Why so curious?" he nearly spit, his voice becoming hard and the darkness tangibly beginning to surround him.
"I don't know," Padmé shrugged, trying to ignore the way he was changing beneath her. "You won't show anyone your face, so I thought maybe details about your life would be easier. I can go back to your face if you want me to."
"Actually," he growled. "I would like you to go back to your room."
"Come on," Padmé exclaimed, rolling her body to look up at him again. "Can't I be curious about what you look like underneath the hood? You've seen me. What's the big secret?"
"There is not point, Senator." Vader replied, his voice void and angry. "Because soon you'll wonder who is the man underneath the mask."
Padmé frowned, not understand his words. "What exactly does that mean?" Padmé asked, but he remained silent; his hidden eyes back to being glued to the screen before him. Padmé turned her head too, allowing for a few minutes of silence to pass between them. She wanted answers, and she wasn't going to stop until she got them… but perhaps, she was going about getting them the wrong way?
"You know," she said, breaking the silence when she felt Vader's anger nearly disperse. "I wanted to be a princess when I was very little. What did you–"
"Jeejee doth tee aduesolea," Vader growled, again using a language that Padmé didn't understand.
"What?"
"We are not bonding, Senator." Vader growled again as he pulled his hand out of her grasp.
"Why not?" Padmé asked, pushing herself up from his lap before turning to look at him. "You're in a good mood."
"And you're ruining it."
"I don't think I am." Padmé retorted grabbing his hand again as she looked towards the screen. "Did you want to be a racer… or whatever that is?"
"It's called a pod racer," he correct, his voice flat. "And no, it was just my favorite pastime a long, long time ago."
Padmé smiled, moving closer towards him. "If you're still watching it," she pressed. "Isn't it still your favorite past time?"
"I prefer different things now." Vader said taking a long pause, "Massacre. Torturing. Mur–"
"Come on!" Padmé urged, holding his hand even tighter. "You can't tell me you always wanted to be a big, bad Sith Lord."
"No, I didn't." Vader snapped, his voice far more angry than Padmé had expected. He pulled his hand out of her grip, pushing her backwards to put space between them. "But then again, not everyone can be so lucky to skip their dream of becoming a princess and just become a queen… at the age of what? Twelve was it?"
Padmé froze, her eyes becoming wide. "How… How do you know that?"
"Hardly state secret," Vader breathed.
"Actually it is," Padmé countered her eyes unable to hide her concern.
"Well, part of it." Vader agreed, shrugging his shoulders as if there was nothing wrong.
Padme's heart and mind snapped as she realized the only explanation – the only way that Vader would know that classified information about her. "You've been looking into me," she said slowly. "You've read–"
"You are my mission, Senator." Vader retorted angrily. "Of course, I've done my homework."
Padme frowned, her mind ablaze, "What else do you know about me?"
Vader laughed, a cold devilish laugh. "Oh," he breathed, shaking his head with arrogance. "You don't want me to answer that."
"Tell me!" Padmé yelled, her own anger beginning to flare.
"You mean," Vader began, closing in on her. "Like that you blame herself for being a main benefactor in bringing Sheev Palpatine to power?"
Padmé felt as if she was paralyzed. "That was in the file?"
Vader paused, his voice proud. "That was an observation."
His comment made her anger snap as she made an effort to slap him hard across his face. He caught the blow effortlessly, only adding to his arrogance.
"You didn't think," he mused. "That I would let you do that again?"
She pulled her hand out of his grasp, not hiding the pain that shot through her eyes. "Why do you do this?" Padmé exclaimed. "Why do you push me out every time–"
"Why do you continue to try to get back into the good graces of your rebellious friends?" Vader interrupted, not allowing her to take the conversation down a different path. "You did the Republic a favor, you helped save the galaxy."
"I helped ruin the galaxy!" Padmé screamed, standing from her spot and forgetting about her previous statement. "I sentenced the galaxy to this fate."
Vader stood as well, his voice hard, but also confused. "The fate of being stronger?"
"The fate of being enslaved!" Padmé cried. "Palpatine only cares about power, and you?" She added, pointing to the Sith before her. "You … you take innocent lives."
"I take lives that threaten peace and justice," Vader snapped, taking a step towards her in an act of intimidation.
"How?" Padmé growled, taking a step forward to meet him halfway. "People aren't even living anymore! They are being controlled in a dictatorship! You're making people live in fear – making them be ruled by fear."
"I believe we already had this conversation," Vader retorted. "The system works, less bickering and more action."
"Which again leads to the deaths of countless innocent lives."
"So be it," Vader snapped. "Death doesn't stop time. It does not stop planets from revolving. It does not stop the galaxy from–"
"How can you just kill with no remorse?" Padmé cried, hearing his words but not understanding them. "How can you just take a life? Take away someone's father, mother, or child? Just make humans– species into wild animals?"
Vader stepped closer to her, looking down on her with a hard gaze that she felt burning through her skin. "How is that so different than what the galaxy has done to me?"
Padmé took a step back, not expecting Vader's comment. "You…" She began, trying to find the correct words that were lost within in her disarrayed mind. "You want them– the galaxy to look at you like that."
"Perhaps," he stated, "but I didn't ask to become a monster."
Padmé shook her head, "I didn't make you a monster."
"No," Vader agreed. "But you have made others monsters."
Padmé frowned at Vader's comment, taken back again. "I honor human life," she spit. "Unlike yourself."
He nearly laughed, taking another step forward and this time intimidating her as he did. "Lucian Tardino," he stated. "Thirty-three of Serenno, a honorable man, by most terms, turned corrupted after finding himself working job to job on the planet of Coruscant."
"What?" Padmé frowned, utterly confused. "Who's that? What does that matter?"
"You say that you honor human life, but yet, you have made a man that acted on his manly instinct into a monster. A man that acted upon his need because he saw a beautiful woman, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in that filth of an establishment, alone at a table. You were an angel among men; one that was asking for sex, and he did what many of those men were thinking..."
"The black-haired man," Padmé breathed, the image of the man and the dreadful night flashing before her eyes– her almost rapist.
"You have turned a man into a monster," Vader continued. "Just because he wanted sex."
"Why are you defending him?" Padmé cried, her mind unable to wrap itself around it all. "You saw what he did! You saved me!"
"I'm not, condoning it, Senator." Vader breathed, his voice dropping its dark tone as he took a step back. "But I was thinking about what I did to you, and wondering how it is any different than what he did?"
Wait, Padmé thought, her eyes coming up to meet the Sith's hidden gaze for the first time since they had begun this fight as she realized what she thought was the true meaning of this fight.
"Vader," she breathed, almost not believing it herself. "Do you think you raped me?"
He was silent, motionless as he stared back at her.
"Vader." Padmé repeated, her voice harder than before. "Do you think you raped me?"
His head turned away from her, looking towards the ground. "Did I?"
Padmé gazed at him in disbelief, her mouth practically hanging open from Vader's question. Why did he think such a thing? Where had this started? Where had this come from? His voice was filled with sorrow– pain that she hadn't heard before, like he was afraid she would say yes. He was afraid that he had raped her.
"Vader," she breathed, walking up to him and grabbing his hands as she looked up at him. "Vader, please look at me."
He turned his hooded head back to her, almost hesitantly.
"You didn't rape me," Padmé whispered squeezing his hands. "Everything you did, you know–" She paused, sucking in a deep breath of air, forcing herself to finish the sentence that she had never admitted to herself out loud. "You know that I wanted you to do it. Our first time, I begged you. The second time, I teased you because I wanted to have you, so you did what I wanted, regardless of what you think. Every single time, I wanted you. I never tried to stop you, and you haven't taken me against my will." She paused, a small smile appearing across her face. "We… We are in this together."
Feeling his flesh hand slightly tighten around her own, she couldn't help but smile wider, a new feeling passing over her– passing between them. She could feel it, and she knew he could feel it too; but she could also tell that he didn't fully believe her, like something was bothering him. So moving slowly, she released his hands from her grasp, before taking a step forward and wrapping her arms tightly around his torso. She snuggled her head into his chest as she wrapped her fingers around his belt, breathing in his sweet scent.
"You said it yourself. It's our secret," she whispered, closing her eyes. "So please, stop trying to push me out. It's already hard enough, and we've fought this for too long. I don't like this as much as you do, but –" She stopped midsentence, deciding just to snuggle farther into his chest. "Just stop trying to fight it , not here."
Vader breathed in deeply, still remaining silent, but moved just enough that Padmé could feel his weight being pushed against her in an abnormal returned hug. The weight was comforting and it soothed Padmé's nerves, giving her all the answers that she needed.
"You aren't ignoring me because you hate me," Padmé breathed, it was a statement not a question, as she realized the true meaning of his previous words.
"I will also ignore you when we are out of these establishments, and you will not act as if I cannot hear you. If you try that again, I might just have you on your desk without having the decency of kicking that fool out first."
He was ignoring her because he wanted her– because the mere sight of her caused him to lose control. He had taken her the first time because of her raging thoughts. He had been forced the second time to wait in her office with no release until he had exploded. He had been afraid that he had taken her without her consent, because being with her caused him not to think straight – caused his need to grow too strong until he had no choice but to act upon it. He didn't hate her when he ignored her, he wanted her so greatly that he couldn't even bare to be with her if he couldn't have her. He didn't hate her. He wanted her.
Padmé smiled, pulling back away from him, feeling her confidence renewed as she looked up at him. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed onto the bottom of her short sleep dress and pulled it over her head, revealing only the panties that she worse underneath.
She watched Vader intently, waiting for him to make his move as she stood there before him, feeling his gaze upon her skin.
"Senator," he asked, his voice reverted back to his teasing ways. "Are you trying to seduce me?"
"That depends," Padmé asked with a smile. "Is it working?"
She felt Vader's gaze move over her body once again, a slight nod visible underneath the hood. "Yes," he replied simply, not attempting to hide his arousal.
"Well then," she breathed, grabbing onto his hands and bringing them to her hips. "I believe someone is going to take me to my bedroom, and take me, quite willingly, into the night."
"Yes, milady." Vader nodded, an amused tone in his voice.
"Then," Padmé continued, deciding to push her luck as he lifted her into his arms and began to move towards her bedroom. "Someone that is quite grumpy is also going to stay with me through the night, since I rudely stole his rest away ye–."
Vader's lips were on hers before she could finish her sentence, and once the blindfold was perfectly in place, Vader took her once more, again, and again, and again. They continued their activities until both of them were too exhausted to do anymore; then as Vader promised, instead of leaving, he stayed. While he was still fully dress, and Padmé naked beside him, he untied the blindfold and wrapped his arms around her waist. She willingly snuggled her bottom and back into him, while he pulled her closer and kissed her neck.
"You're ruining me, Senator." Vader whispered, but his voice was anything like she had ever heard– it was sweet and tired, too human to be Vader.
With that, sleep overtook him, his exhaustion finally catching up to his act of invisibility. Padmé could hear his deep breaths behind her ear, as she snuggled closer against his leather-clad body and tightened her grasp around his arms. She knew that it would be the perfect opportunity to see the man beneath the hood, but despite her wants, she didn't want to ruin the moment. Tonight had been their time away from it all, before they had to deal with the consequences and day of tomorrow.
"You're ruining me, Senator." Vader's voice echoed within her mind, causing her to frown.
I'm ruining him?
The thought left Padmé puzzled, but also triggered something within her mind. Darth Vader was a mystery to the galaxy because he had always been the Empire's ghost. He had been the secret weapon that was only used when absolutely necessary. No one had ever been able to solve the mysteries resolving around the Dark Lord because they hadn't seen him like she had. She had been with him for weeks, in countless different situations. For weeks she had been trying to pry for answers, try to figure out the mysteries of the Sith by herself… but Vader had already given her so many.
Vader may be a monster, but he was a man. She had seen his skin– felt his hair and lips on her body. In the sexual way, they were compatible, and he was able to be hurt. He wasn't invincible because she had seen him bleed– she had seen him grow tired. She had seen him weak and in pain. Vader was powerful– more powerful than any Jedi she had ever seen, but he was arrogant. He believed he was invincible, and that was a weakness that could be used against him. He had an interpret droid to understand human behavior, because he lacked that particular skill, and for what Vader lacked in social skills, he made up in silence. He liked to talk in another language. He liked the dark– to be in the shadows. He didn't like to feel overpowered. He liked to be feared, but also liked to be loved.
She had learned so much about Vader over the past few weeks, even the past few hours that she never realized before. There was definitely more to the story than anyone knew, and she wanted to desperately find out more than ever. Padmé closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of the man that surrounded her, feeling how safe she felt within his arms. It didn't make sense for such a murderous man to have such a soft side. It didn't make sense for him to understand battle plans, but not simple emotions. It didn't make sense for him to just appear out of thin air after the creation of the Empire. He didn't make sense, because someone had done this to him– Vader didn't even know who he was. It was a constant battle for him; and she could see it. He constantly struggled, having to put on an act or build up a wall– just like she had. Lord Vader was a monster, but deep within him, there was a man that she had chosen as her lover, a man who was caring and strong– who was her savior. The two were stuck within the same man– fighting a constant battle for control– against humanity and training. It seemed so clear to Padmé now, because the Sith Lord was her savior, but a savior that couldn't even save himself.
Author's Note: It's 5 am for me, if there are any issues, I'll fix them later. Damn this fanfiction breaking down on me again. Review please! Give me strength! Pretty smashing chapter coming up next! *Cough Cough* Her Handsome Hero