Vader's Angel
By: wertman25
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Star Wars…. Or Anakin Skywalker… Which is a pity…
Vader didn't know what had come over him. He didn't know what had him acting so out of character. He wasn't himself – he didn't feel like himself. He was being foolish, reckless, and an overall idiot. Going by his own standards, he would have killed himself by now if he were one of his men. He would never tolerate his behavior… and again, he had no doubt that the senator had something to do with it. She always did. He knew that much, but he didn't know the true reason of why. What had he been thinking? That answer was simple: nothing… apparently. He had thought his actions the night before had been impulsive and uncharacteristic, but they were nothing compared to this morning. It was almost unexplainable, but he had almost felt like there had been a weight lifted from his shoulders. He had awoken and actually felt… relaxed.
It was a strange feeling, but one that he had foolishly welcomed. Relaxation was never something he was accustomed to. He was never allowed the ease as a child and he had never allowed himself the pleasure as an adult. It went against everything he was trained to do– trained to believe. He didn't need many things, and he certainly didn't need to relax. If anything, relaxation made him weak– made him too human– made him into something he was not. He couldn't afford to be acting so strangely, but that seemed to be written into agenda recently. He was always doing unusual things and acting out of the ordinary– always because of her. He hadn't just stayed in his bed since he was a very early child– since before Sidious, Maul, and Dooku. In fact, last night had been the most peaceful slumber he could ever remember. He couldn't ever remember feeling so at ease or at peace with himself. It had been an abnormal feeling and he allowed himself a moment of weakness simply because it felt – good.
Good?
"Good," Vader spit in angered disgust as if the word itself had a foul meaning. "What does that even mean?"
It should have never happened. He knew that. None of it should have. He wasn't just breaking rules anymore; he was pressing a far more dangerous line that he didn't fully understand. It wasn't just simply that he had stayed in bed or acted in a friendly and civilized manor toward the senator, but he had also allowed another dream to pass between them. This one was far unlike the one before, but even more dangerous than the previous visions of the future. Again, he couldn't explain the visions that continued to occur, the ones that seemed to be memories, but were anything but. They always shook the Force like no others... this dream being the most successful.
It hadn't just shaken the Force, but him as well– and her. The dream had bewitched him, being with her so freely. It was wrong – but it felt right. It felt like a memory, a memory he knew could never be. She felt it too. He knew that as well. She was having the same experiences, either recalling memories that did not exist or feeling the connection between them. They were very much alike in away, which was both a pleasing and outraging thought. Still, he felt something change within both of them… something he inwardly hoped would make their "relationship" easier, but seemed to just strain it beyond recognition. The senator was hiding something from him, that much was clear, and even more disturbing she wouldn't let him touch her. So even with these events happening, what had changed?
He let out another harsh breath and groan as he proceeded down the hallway, trying to regain himself, but it continued to be a hard task in his deranged state. He just couldn't press her out of his mind. She was always there, but this time fighting hard to not be forgotten or locked away. Force, he could still feel her wrapped in his arms. He could still feel the comfort she brought his body and the absolute need she caused to swirl within him. She didn't understand the frustration she caused– the insanity she brought to him. But he couldn't fully blame her because he didn't understand it himself. He never did. He never could. It wasn't something he ever wanted– that he would ever need, but then he had found himself curled around her and in that moment of weakness, he didn't want anything else.
It was a past decision that was effecting his present and future far too greatly. It didn't matter how much darkness he called upon or how many irate thoughts formed with inside his mind, all worthless attributes because she continued remain. The entire memory continued to whirl within his mind, playing itself out and allowing his body to feel the aftermath.
He had just been so relaxed, so at peace, and for the first time actually enjoying his existence. He would have done anything for the moment to last mere seconds more, but then 3PO had ruined it. It was an interruption that should have been a blessing and he had meant to end it there, but than that damn senator had vexed him again. He didn't know what it was, but he found himself wanting her right there. Of course she had denied him and it had frustrated him for the moment, but the second he had relieved himself of such need– although in a slightly less fulfilling manner– he had been calmed back to his nearly original state of waking before leaving to join her.
You fool! Vader growled to himself, realizing his ridiculous ways as the distance between himself and the senator increased. He knew his insanity had only grown from that moment and he had to restrain his storming inners before entering into a room with his master. The past and the current present were not his usual way of thinking, but he had to make-do. He had lost himself for a moment, but was regaining himself quickly as he finally felt the darkness begin to overtake him.
He only dared to enter the room when he was sure every inch of himself was covered by the dark and every thought was locked securely with inside his head. He wanted no repeats of the last time he was in his master's presence, already feeling the burn of his skin and the outrage of the previous knowledge. Pulling his hood into place, he stepped forward into the communications room with ease, not making eye contact with the giant blue hologram that shined above him, only moving obediently to its front as he took his rightful place on one knee before his master.
"Lord Vader," the Emperor stated displeased. "You seem… relaxed."
Sidious hissed the final word, making Vader know very well of his master's displeasure and suspicions. Vader decided to ignore it, calling upon his previous pain that his master had caused and bringing it to the forefront to play the part of blame. It would make only too much sense for Vader to block his master out while he recovered. It was something he had done before and it was a reason Vader knew his master would believe. The younger Sith opened his mind enough for the old man to see what he wanted, the fake reason for his relaxed state and almost instantly, he felt the Emperor somewhat unbend.
It was a step in the right direction, but not enough to ease his nerves. Not wanting the elder Sith to continue, Vader pressed the conversation forward as he finally rose his head. "What is thy bidding, my Master?"
The feeling continued to change around them, another anger spiking from his master but with a plot hidden underneath. "As you must be aware," the old man spoke, his lips moving dramatically as his tongue ran over his yellow teeth. "In your absence, Palo Campton has made an escape."
Vader frowned. Firstly, that wasn't the conversation he expected and secondly, it wasn't information he recalled, but even within his disgrace, something inside him soared. "His presence was useless," Vader replied his tone professional although his voice remained bitter. The element of 'escape' did not make him pleased, but he had no doubt that his master expected him to take the news neutrally. This situation was far different than the rest. He usually wouldn't tolerate such news or be able to deal with the outrage. Escape was not a solution that his troops or the Empire should have allowed, but in this situation, he was party grateful for such sloppiness. The mere mention of the fool's name was enough to spike his composed anger and it was no secret that the man bit at his nerves. He wanted to be rid of Campton, for more reasons than that alone and if the man had fled, so be it. It was better for his nerves and it hardly mattered in the grand scheme of things. Palo Campton would still find death in the end, and hopefully by his hand. "He was simply a scab and a nuisance," Vader finished confidently. "He is of no use to us."
A frown formed over Sidious's features, a deranged look passing over his face as his golden eyes began to burn with fire. "That may be," he snapped. "But it seems that Mr. Campton did not just leave, but escaped with vital Imperial information."
"About the Death Star?" Vader frowned, trying to piece together the bits of information with his master's reaction. The old man did not give much away and the Force was no help when it came to such a dilemma. There wasn't much information that Campton could get his filthy paws on anyways, but the secret weapon was one concern he always had. Still, that wasn't his doing if Campton had escaped with such information. That was the Emperor's decision. Sidious had called the man into the meeting. Sidious had the ridiculous plan. Whatever information had been leaked was by no means connected to Vader in any way.
The Emperor nearly roared, catching Vader's attention as another surge of anger passed over his pasty features before he looked at his apprentice with complete disgust. "About the Resistance, Lord Vader!" Sidious corrected, the room becoming cold and the very air becoming heavy even from miles away. "He knew where you had gone! He knew what you were doing! He knew our plans! He warned the Resistance and he is the reason that they have fled!"
"There's no way," Vader argued, suddenly becoming defensive as he rose to his feet upon the silent accusation. Again he figured that the move was impossible and there was no way the Resistance could flee. It had to be a false report, and even if the Resistance had truly moved, there was no way Palo Campton had anything to do with it. There was no way! Vader fought to control his emotions, but could feel them pressing against his skin, the heating beginning to rise and heighten the temperature of the room. "Campton is a fool," he continued. "He had no means of acquiring such knowledge."
"A fool that you have underestimated," the Emperor replied without delay, taking a swing at Vader's reputation and ego. "My sources have told me–"
But Darth Vader didn't want to hear it. "That's not possible," he argued before he could stop himself, something inside of him snapping as he felt everything change around him. The darkness surged through him like a great fire, engulfing his body and his senses. His hate was the next to break through, filling every nerve and his very soul. The monster inside of him scratched and howled at his chest, begging to be released. He was blinded by rage and anted to kill; the Sith Lord within awakening and wanting to do nothing more than what he was trained to do.
"It seems he was given information, Lord Vader," Sidious continued unfazed, raising his eyebrows as an amused grin tugged on his lips. "Enough information to piece our plan together."
Vader crossed his arms tightly over his chest, holding himself together and keeping the beast at bay. "How?" he asked, his teeth clenching upon the question as he promised death to whoever had stepped in his way.
The smile that his master had been fighting erupted across his face, his yellow teeth shining while his eyes glittered with dark amusement. "My sources state," he began slowly, "that our beloved senator was the last person Palo Campton spoke to."
The statement hit Vader like a swift kick to the gut, making his heart stop and his brain solidify. "What?" Vader snapped, ignoring the sudden jab to his stomach and only focusing on the explosion of rage that detonated soon after.
"The Naboo senator," the Emperor repeated with the same amusement and bitterness. "She is someone that knows enough information–"
Vader could feel his fingers digging into his arms practically drawing blood, trying to hold himself together and stay steady within the small room. "She doesn't," he argued with a quick shake of his head, not caring to hear the end of his master's statement. "She doesn't know anyth–"
"Silence," Sidious commanded with a growl. "She knows enough." He paused for a moment, lost within thought as one of his boney fingers came to rest below his chin. His sinister plans seemed to piece themselves together with each passing second, his gaze moving over his apprentice before the same amusement filled his eyes. "It seems," he stated slowly, always knowing exact how and what to say to flare Vader anger, leaning forward ever so slightly with a pressing glare. "Senator Amidala is the reason for your failure."
The sentence hit his ears like a hovertrain, Vader feeling something inside him snap, his eyes darkening as a new and profound darkness moved to overtake him.
"I'm very displeased," Sidious continued, forming back into his usual political self as he watched his apprentice take shape into the creature he so desired. "I do not appreciate when my plans do not go according to what I have foreseen." He folded his hands, a peculiar look of remorse forming over his face as he practically turned his head away. "It seems, regrettably once again, my plans must be placed upon hold. Taking you away from the battle has been a costly decision and one that I can no longer afford."
Through Vader's rage, he saw a light, the words traveling into his ears and igniting his spirit; a bright beam breaking through the darkness as the conversation finally seemed to be turning in his favor. "You mean?" Vader asked, almost hesitantly, too taken back to be truly sure and not wanting to ruin his chances for what he believed might be in his future.
"Yes, Lord Vader," the Emperor nodded darkly with a hidden threat on his lips, his words cutting the air like a knife as he spit each syllable. "You are returning to the frontlines and I have no doubt you will take control of the rebels that dare to threaten our peaceful society and the troops that have been furthering my displeasure."
Again, the light breamed, a dark light that shined with his need for battle– for blood. "Yes, Master." Vader said, bowing his head quickly, the anticipation already beginning to build. The thoughts of battle playing themselves within his mind and creating a great need within his belly. "My orders?"
"The frontlines can wait," his master immediately responded, knowing his apprentice's thoughts without even truly being in the room with him. "There is an issue that you must first attend to," he admitted, his voice filled with impatience. "I sense a great disturbance in the Force. Reports have told me of a man probing around on Tatooine and I have no doubt that the disturbance has resonated from him."
Vader gritted his teeth, irritated that he had not felt such a disturbance. "A Jedi?" he pressed, the irritation and fire swirling in his chest, his failure burning within his soul.
"Most likely."
The heat continued to rise, flaring Vader's anger and he was unable to stop the low growl that escaped his chest.
The noise amused the Emperor, the man finally smiling down upon Vader pleased. "We have received multiple reports," Sidious continued. "That there have been various areas flagged due to searches for confidential records. The direct on site reports validate this concerning issue." The elder man's eyes grew dark, a hard frown forming over his face that caused his white wrinkly skin to press even closer together. "Someone is digging," he breathed. "And I don't like where."
Vader nodded in agreement. "He is there for information," Vader concluded, realizing the fact quickly. "What was the search?"
His master's head slowly turned towards him as the elder Sith's eyes bore into a soul. The heavy weight that had since evaporated fell right back upon Vader's shoulders with devastating consequences, allowing him to immediately know the degree of the seriousness involving the issue. Still, Vader waited patiently, calling upon the Force as his ally as he stayed the obedient servant to his master and the energy field. The time continued to pass with torture, the Emperor only making an attempt to continue when Vader was sure the suspense was about to kill him.
"Anakin Skywalker," Sidious finally breathed, his eyes watching Vader closely and waiting for his response– receiving the exact retaliation that he wanted.
The forbidden name touched Vader's ears, immediately changing the atmosphere and the very composure of the Sith. It was as if the name was the key to releasing the beast, the fifteen letters unlatching the cage within and allowing the very most evil of the Dark Lord to break free. Vader felt nothing and everything at once, the two words freezing and then collapsing his world. He heard something beside him shatter as his fists tightened at his sides, his body feeling a mix of fire and ice. The darkness and pain soothed his contrasts, bringing him unhinged strength and focus. The monster roared in outrage, as the physical man remained strong, still, and determined. Secrets seemed to be threatened, and by a Jedi no less, something that Vader would never allow. Anakin Skywalker was someone who was dead and buried, and Vader wanted no one to find or even look for such a skeleton. The Jedi and Skywalker were extinct beings, and this lone survivor would soon join them.
"Good, good," Sidious praised although his voice remained dull, his eyes closing for a moment as he savored Vader's reaction– his anger and his darkness. "I would hope your reaction is as such."
Vader glared at the elder man, his jaw locking as his eyes burned beneath the hood. "The boy is dead," Vader growled, knowing exactly what his master had been looking for. It had been yet another test ... but also another success. "That name has no meaning to me– besides that it should be forgotten."
Sidious nodded uncaring, unaffected by his apprentice but pleased with Vader's answer. "Go there," he commanded with a wave of his hand. "Figure out what is happening and put an end to it."
Vader's eye grew hard, wanting nothing more to have the Jedi's blood on his blade and to bury whatever was left to find of his past. "When?"
"Leave immediately," Sidious replied with a long pause, his eyes again filling with torturous amusement. "It should be a sentimental trip."
"Yes, Master." Vader nodded, ignoring the bait, his mind focusing on other matters as his emotions took control. The darkness had a grip too tight for reason and his anger because of his failure with the addition to that forbidden search had him deranged. Campton. Amidala. Jedi. Skywalker. Campton. Amidala. Jedi. Skywalker. It was like a maddening never-ending list in his mind and every instinct called for all four of them to die… especially, Senator Amidala– that kriffing woman!
He needed to be rid of her, the sooner the better. It no longer matter what his master ordered, but what the beast inside needed. If he was returning to battle for good– or so he hoped, then there was no further use of her. She was nothing for their greater cause and therefore could be disposed of. She was merely an issue that continued to grow and every fiber of Darth Vader's being screamed of his need– the Sith Lord– the monster wanting to destroy her. "And what of the senator?" Vader pressed, as he made no attempt to hide his yearnings for her blood. "Is she to be disposed of?"
"Patience…" his master scolded, slightly displeased with a strange emotion within his eyes. "Her fate is undecided. Put an end to this and wait for my instructions."
It was a displeasing response, but Vader submitted, taking a step back. "Yes, Master."
Sidious made no effort to respond, staring at the younger Sith for a long moment and taking in the near mutiny that he had previously felt. "I expect you–" Sidious began before a knock sounded from behind him and he turned away from Vader. "What?" he snapped, turning towards the unfortunate soul who had interrupted their conversation. "What is it?"
"Doctor Hollinger is here to see you, sir," the voice replied, but Vader paid it no attention, his mind elsewhere.
"Ah, good. Send her in," his master nodded before looking back to Vader with a strict glare. "You have your orders," he snapped, making his threat known. "Don't fail me again."
The communication flickered off before Vader could respond, the blue light sinking into the ground with the fall of Vader's head. The Sith watched silently as the room fell into blackness, his own mind falling with it and entering into the dark eternity. For a moment, his master's most important words repeated once again in his mind: Amidala, Campton, Jedi, and Skywalker; all four beings that sat dangerously close to death and the cause of his madness. Calling upon his strength and the darkness once more, Vader allowed his anger to be his guide, allowing the darkness to take complete control and bringing on the final wave of insanity.
Without truly comprehending his actions, Darth Vader rose as the Force commanded him and stormed into the hallway. He had a great many things to deal with– quickly and efficiently. He was no longer preoccupied, his mind fully on the task at hand with every goal of success in his mind. Moving swiftly, he entered into the kitchen, taking note that senator's absent presence and the empty plate that sat in her previous location.
Lucky woman, he thought bitterly. She gets to live another few minutes.
"Master?" 3PO asked, catching his master's preoccupied attention as he turned, standing by the far counter.
Vader walked towards him as he moved. "Threepio," he replied, his voice professional and conveying the fact that he meant only business. "I need you to log into a secure server. Use one in my study."
The droid nodded, but of course couldn't do just as told. "What for, Master?" the golden droid asked, causing a spread of annoyance to pass over Vader's face. "Is there an issue?"
Vader ignored the question, only giving further instructions as his mind continued to turn. Usually he would figure that there should have been no information found by the Jedi's basic search, but he had to be safe. After all, why would someone be searching that name and while on Tatooine? That could hardly be a coincidence – and it made his stomach drop.
"No information should be blocked by my server," he continued, his thoughts racing and his pulse thumping painfully within his neck. "But it should show the files that are hidden from public access."
"Of course," 3PO nodded obediently, although still confused. "And what shall I do then?"
"Just a basic check," he stated, trying to sound cool despite the strenuous topic. "I need you to make sure that every and all information concerning Anakin Skywalker is blocked or deleted."
As Vader expected, the droid hesitated then, the name catching his complete attention. "I– I thought," he fumbled, "that we already did that Master?"
Of course they did, but Vader's nerves spiked as he felt his stomach drop once more. "Well, check again!" Vader growled, before his mind was unable to block the pure reason for his anger any further. "And where is the senator?"
The droid hesitated again, taking in his master's anger and perhaps knowing the event that was to come. "I believe," he replied. "That she is in her room, Master."
"Good," Vader hissed. "Then go." He would deal with her afterwards, after dealing with the more important matters at hand and figuring out the information that he had been denied. Grabbing his comlink, Vader made his first communication, a trooper squadron stationed at the Senate, determined to find answers.
"Lord Vader," a trooper responded almost immediately, not soothing Vader's anger but also not flaring it. "What can I do for you, sir?"
"Trooper," he acknowledged, not caring to hide his irritation. "Your investigation concerning the details of Senator Amidala's attack. Inform me of the results found."
The trooper hesitated audibly, taking a large breath that caught in his throat. "I believed you were already informed, my Lord?"
Vader bit his tongue, trying to keep the beat at bay and his composure together. "Inform me again," he snapped darkly, knowing the trooper was counting his blessings that his commander was not with him in person.
"Yes, sir," the trooper recovered, pausing for a moment to grab something that Vader could only guess was the report before speaking again. "We have collected and examined all debris and evidence that was found within Senator Amidala's office, my Lord. It is still within a holding facility within our main base. As reported, there was nothing out of the ordinary. The bomb that was used for detonation was standard, small powered weapon. The connections of the assassins were that of those connected to the Resistance. Everything else foun–"
"Did you check all communications before and after the attack?" Vader interrupted, unable to hear the rest of the report with the question pressing against his lips.
"Yes, sir," the trooper responded. "Our techs did."
"And?" he pressed, trying and failing not to sound apprehensive. "What were the results?"
"Nothing unordinary that we could identify, sir."
He expected as much, but still his mind continued to turn, trying to find the error. "Were there any communications to the planet of Skye?"
The trooper didn't give an immediate response, almost hesitating as a strange noise resonated on the communication that sounded like the clicking, or unclicking of armor. "I can pull up the file. Let me check, sir," the trooper responded, afterwards taking a moment too long and giving Vader his answer.
"Well?" Vader pressed, his voice dark and critical, conveying the fact that the silence had already given him the answer to his question but how he still expected the trooper to reply.
Another moment passed, but the trooper was not foolish enough to keep his commander waiting forever. "Y–Yes, Lord Vader," the trooper eventually mumbled, also realizing that somehow and in somewhat they– Darth Vader's forces– had made an error and a terrible mistake. "Palo Campton made an unprotected communication to Skye just before the senator's attack– perhaps, during."
He ignored that fact, staying as cool and collective as possible, although he felt anything but. "His communications were being monitored," he stated, remembering the fact well and focusing his energy of finding more information. "Check immediately to see if he has contacted the planet sometime within the last few days. Let me know your results."
He didn't wait for a response as he ended the communication and called the next officer, Piett answering the call immediately.
"Lord Vader," Piett greeted. "Good morning, my Lord."
He hated greetings with such formalities, but he ignored the protest that caught in his throat, pleased enough with the younger man to ignore the mistake. After all, it was a good morning, but now was nothing short of hell. "Piett," he responded, his voice lacking the same kindness. "Have my shuttle waiting and inform my Star Destroyer to be prepared for my arrival."
"Of course, Lord Vader, what do we owe the pleasure?"
The man continued to please and press him, being an obedient officer but being far too kind for his liking. "That is of no concern," he barked, his anger getting the best of him. "I will inform you of our destination when I arrive."
His tone hardly fazed the officer, the man not even hesitating to reply. "Yes, my Lord," he replied again with the same kindness. "We shall wait for your arrival."
Vader did not reply, instead he ended the communication as another came through, the previous trooper contacting him, hopefully with the information he desired.
"Trooper."
"Sir," the trooper responded, his voice confident, having regained whatever nerves he had lost during the previous conversation. "Palo Campton made a communication to Skye before and after visiting with Senator Amidala at Coruscant Medical. Afterwards, he disposed of the device. He disappeared from our scopes."
Lost from their scopes? "Are we blind?" Vader hissed, his anger erupting once more as he nearly broke the device in his hand with the sudden pressure. "Tap into every communication in the Senate, any word of treason– mention of Skye, arrest them!"
"Yes, sir."
Vader shook his head, the heat rising from his body in the most uncomfortable of ways as the darkness around him doubled and then quadrupled. "I cannot deal with any of you now," he warned, making his threat extremely known. "But I promise if this happens again I will not be as forgiving. Do not fail me again!"
He hung up without waiting for a reply, running his hand through his hair and staring at the device within his hand. This was madness– complete and utter madness. How could they– No, he. How could he allow this to happen? How could he be so blind? How could he fail himself? This wasn't the sort of thing he allowed to happen. This weren't the ranks that Vader commanded. The results he usually received. None of it was right anymore… and it was because of her! She was always his issue. She had caused him to return. She had caused the Rebellion to flee. She had caused his failure once more. Always her.
Pushing her again to the far reaches of his mind, Vader turned his attention to his final task before dealing with the senator. As if possible, he felt another surge of outrage rush through blood steam as he made the final communication. He had read a report on his datapad of his troops barricading Skye and their further plans to keep the Rebellion on radar. It seemed previously like a well-written report, but now seemed that his officers were just lying.
"Lord Vader," his commanding officer answered, his voice surprisingly calm.
"Commander," he acknowledged back, his voice laced with dark resentment. "Report."
The officer hesitated on the opposite line, keeping him waiting. "I– I thought," he replied, his voice breathless with uncertainty. "I thought that I sent it to you this morning, my Lord."
Vader nearly broke the device in his hand, hearing that same question from yet another on of his officers. This again? It was simply outrageous, to be questioned by his own forces. In fact, it was insulting. He expected far more and far better, but there seemed to be a severe lack of discipline in his ranks; an issue that he would soon deal with… in person.
"Yes," he breathed, his voice filled with his dark annoyance, "I received your report in writing, but now I would like to hear it personally."
The officer did not apologize, instead forming into the officer that Vader expected without delay. "We have spread out the fleet," he replied quickly, informing his commander as if it was the first time he had spoken the information. "We are just a few sectors away from Skye in all directions. There is no way they can detect us."
Vader frowned, not offering any information to the officer, as it seemed the man believed his own words. "But are you monitoring movement about the planet?"
"Of course, Lord Vader," the man replied confidently, not even a hint of uncertainty within his voice. "There has been slight movement in and out, but nothing too large."
Vader's frown hardened, the information clashing within his mind. Nothing too large? He would imagine the moving of an entire base would at least catch some reading on their scopes. "Then why was I just informed of the Rebel Alliance completely moving their base?" he asked, cutting directly to the chase, in need of some explanation for his master's discovery.
"What?" the officer gasped evidently shocked by the question. "That's impossible, my Lord," he continued with the same confidence as before, his voice filled with his outrage. "I have handled this procedure personally! There must be a mistake. We have eyes on them."
Vader didn't argue with the man, but merely offered the information that he knew from his own master. "I was just informed by the Emperor, that the entire planet has been evacuated," he said simply. "That the Rebellion has moved without a single trace."
"Impossible!" the man continued, and though Vader remained bitter, he hoped his officer was correct.
"If it's so impossible," he breathed, his voice thick and teeth clenched. "Than send a search party to the planet. See if they can detect any trace of the Rebellion and inform me of the results."
The officer seemed all too thrilled to do as Vader asked, the Sith practically feeling the man determination. "Yes, right away, sir," he replied certainly. "I'll be sure to send a small enough team so that they are not detected. I'm sure you will be plea–"
Vader ended the communication, his final task coming to a close and the predator within his mind stalking towards his final prey. He felt the Dark Side of the Force beckoning him on, leading and pulling him in the direction where he knew she dwelled. Every savage instinct inside his body begged for a release– a relief from her and the invasive feelings that she had caused within his body. His trained instincts knew that they did not belong– that the two could not live together in harmony and there was only one way to end the waging war. Usually he would need to be away from her– to clear his head to regain himself, but to be away was no longer good enough. Now he needed to rid himself of her completely. He needed her gone before he had a chance to change his mind. Darth Vader had promised death to whoever had stepped in his way… and that is what he would have to do. He would have to kill her– He was going to kill her. Now.
Padmé closed her eyes allowing the hot water to fall down upon her, pretending it was one of the waterfalls of Naboo on a hot summer's day. It was a pleasing vision, although she knew to imagine such a dream was ridiculous– not that she hadn't imagined worse. Thinking of home was a far more relaxing than thinking about Darth Vader, the complicated man that seemed to possess her body and soul.
Vader always seemed to be in her dreams recently, her dreams, her nightmares, and her thoughts, but she didn't know what they all meant. She knew that somehow it had to have something to do with their connection. She knew that something was pushing her towards his mysteries once again, but she didn't have a single idea of what to make of any of them. She couldn't help but to think of the dream of the night before, the perfect vision that felt like a memory: their love, the Hero without Fear, his piercing blue eyes, and somehow even the thought of the black mask that was to take his place.
It was all too much information that made no sense within her mind. It made her brain and her heart hurt, somehow knowing that whatever conclusion she found would be more painful than simply knowing his wounds. Taking a deep breath, she tried to push the memory and pain away. She didn't want to be bothered by her complicated soul and in some ways she wanted to be free of him– but not him as much as his baggage.
Trying to find some relaxation, Padmé envision her waterfall once again, embracing its warm water and her imaginary sunlight. It was almost a perfect moment, the spray of water and the warmth it brought her body… before she suddenly felt cold and surrounded by a seething darkness. The change clashed with the warm water, overpowering it, turning her relaxation into unsteadiness. All at once, her vision evaporated, Naboo fading into nothingness as she returned to reality.
Padmé opened her eyes to investigate, about to back away from her spot underneath the cascading water when was blindsided by a black mass. Somehow missing the noise of the shower door opening, she gasped as a hand wrapped around her neck, shoving her backwards against the wall, her head hitting the hard surface and her naked body pained from the sudden jolt. The grasp tightened around her neck, as she was pressed harder against the side of the shower, the feeling revealing the identity of her attacker immediately: Darth Vader.
He stood within the shower with her, his body pressed against her naked one, holding her by her throat against the side of the shower, not seeming to care as the hot water began to fall on him as well. Trying to see became a challenge, the water continuing to fall upon her head and the steam still rising from the ground, but Padmé didn't need her eyes to figure out her situation– to feel the change that had once again taken place within him.
"What did you tell Campton?" he snapped, his gloved hand tightening and pressing her even farther into the hard wall.
Instinctively, one of her hands moved to his gloved one, clinging on to his fingers around her neck in an attempt to relieve pressure while her other hand flew to his chest with the same goal. "What?" she rasped, bewildered and confused as she attempted to look at him in shock. What did he mean Campton?
"You warned him!" he continued with the same anger, his voice paining her ears as he head moved closer and his touch became agony.
She still didn't understand, but her predicament made it impossible to fight without harming herself. "I didn't!" she argued with the same confusion and panic, trying to shake her head, but finding the task impossible with his strong grip.
Her answer seemed to only anger him, a low growl resonating from his chest as his body smacked painfully against her again. "Then why has the Rebellion moved?" his voice roared over the sound of plummeting water. "Why was the Rebellion informed of the Resistance's fate by Palo Campton?"
Her mind was too much in a panic and deprived of oxygen to think straight, her only thoughts on the air her lungs were being denied. "I don't know!" she replied, trying to think but unable to find clear thoughts. "I didn't even know what the Resistance was before he showed up. I had no–"
"So you admit you have been lying!"
"What? No!" she screamed in bewilderment, shocked at his accusations. The fog forming within her mind was begging to black her vision, but through her haze she realized that his change had to do with something she had or had not said to Palo– Maybe. "I– I didn't say anything!"
He didn't seem to believe her, his grasp not lightening and his presence only continuing to overwhelm her. "Palo informed the Rebellion of where I was," he hissed, stating the sentence as a fact and not anything that was to be negotiable. "He informed them of the attack of the Resistance. Of their death by my hand!"
That was news enough to break Padmé from her spell, her eyes widening as her shock continued and a wave a pain filled her heart. "You wiped them out?" she breathed, the distressing question nearly a whisper. "The whole Resistance?"
He didn't answer her question, but then again, she didn't truly want to know. "Senator!" he snapped, not allowing the subject to change. "You were the only one that knew of my lack of presence here!"
Padmé shook her head, ignoring the pain that it caused her bones as she tried to make sense of the entire situation and drastic change. "But– But," she stumbled in an attempt to make sense, shaking her head and making her brain collide painfully with her skull. "I didn't know where you where! I didn't know what you were doing!"
"You knew enough," he growled, his voice barely above a whisper as he pressed harder, making the fact known that he did not believe her.
He was hurting her– intensely so, but she knew that he didn't care. This man was no longer her lover, but the dangerous Sith Lord that would murder her in cold blood… and something told her that he was going to. Darth Vader wanted to kill her and her heart broke because of it, wanting nothing more than to ease his anger and bring him back into the light of sanity. Again she fought against her haze to find answers, her mind recalling the visit from Palo Campton, but still unable to find the information that Vader wanted. "I– I told him to go," she admitted. "But I didn't know he was going to–"
"So you protected him?" Vader pressed, not allow her to finish, a newly developed anger in his voice that Padmé could not decipher.
"I didn't mean–"
"You care for him," he continued with the same anger– No. Astonishment. He was astonished, in a negative way, as if he had just realized a devastating fact. His hooded head turned away from her, his hidden gaze leaving her body as his train of thought became nearly audible. "That explains so much."
Padmé managed her strength to shake her head once more, her face filled with different amounts of pain as she fought against his harsh restraints. "It's not like that!" she nearly cried, her hands tightening around his hand and tunic. What did he not understand?
"You're pulling away from me," he continued, finally allowing Padmé to hear the roughness in his voice– the emotion she was sure not even he could distinguish. "You are hiding more information. You won't let me touch you–"
She didn't expect the conversation to take such a personal change, but her heart was glad that it had, more than willing to take the opportunity. "I don't care for him like that," she confessed, her hands pressing hard against him in an attempt to make a connection with the man that she was coming to love. "I don't care for him like I care for–"
But Vader didn't seem to be listening, his mind within his own thoughts and not presently with her. "That's why you went there in the first place," he concluded, almost within a state of comatose. "That's why you requested to betaken to the medical center, isn't it? This was all a trick. It was a meeting. You wanted to meet with him."
Padmé frowned, wishing more than anything he would release her and meet her gaze. "No!" she tried to argue, but seemed only to hit another nerve as his head snapped in her direction.
"Do not lie to me, Senator!" Vader roared, again pressing her painfully against the shower wall as his head neared her once more. "I can feel it," he hissed. "I can see it. I can sense it. You're hiding something."
She realized then that she had made a terrible mistake, a mistake that was costing her, her life and her relationship. Something had indeed set Vader off, but she had created the fuse for such an explosion. Vader may not have understood his fluctuating emotions, but she at least knew the root of his madness: her lies. "But it's not that," she tried to argue again. "It's not like that at all!"
He shook his head, another burst of anger surging through his fingertips and into her skin. "I've been nothing but truthful with you," he whispered, his voice complete ice and sending shivers down her spine. "And this is how you repay my honesty."
His pain was evident, fighting to be hidden, but already recognized by her senses. It was now or never and Padmé knew she could not afford to waste another second, his grip tightening and patience wearing thin. "I had to go to the hospital, because I was–"
"I healed you," he snapped, not caring for her excuse and cutting her statement short before her confession. "There was no point. You didn't ne–"
"I wanted birth control."
The statement rolled off her tongue before she could think of a more efficient way of saying it, but the admittance granted her the air she so desired. She took a deep breath, practically choking as the air filled her lungs, Vader's grip loosening as the rest of his body froze.
"What?" he breathed, the confession undoubtedly taking him off guard as his hooded gaze burned into her naked skin.
"I–" she hesitated, finally being able to breath because of the slightly less pressure. She returned his gaze, for the first time grateful for the hooded barrier that shielded his eyes. The fear rose within her chest, torn between what and how to tell him. "The doctor scheduled me for a follow-up appointment," she began slowly. "And wanted to set me up with a prescription for birth control."
Vader did not move, the atmosphere around them becoming slightly less dark, but nevertheless just as complicated. "What?" he repeated, the exact reaction as before, causing Padmé to frown.
She shrugged, her face conveying her irritation and confliction. "What do you mean, what?" she frowned, the statement seeming to make perfect sense to her ears.
But he seemed just as befuddled, pure shock present within his voice as he whispered, "That's what you've been hiding?"
She couldn't help but look away, her gaze falling to his belt and back again. "Partly," she breathed before shaking her head and looking directly into the darkness under the hood that was beginning to form to his wet outline. "I didn't mean to lie. I was just– just scared. I didn't know how you would react. I didn't know how to say it. I don't care for Palo. I care– I want–"
His lips were on hers within a second, the burning water falling and dripping between them, mixing with their kiss as their lips pressed together. She should have expected his uncontrollable kiss, but as always, she was taken completely off guard. He was fumingly angry, that much was clear, again unable to control his emotions. His anger was almost a flavor against her tongue, but even more overwhelmingly she could feel his relief within his kiss. She could feel his overall ease because of her confession– and that hurt… because she had done this to him.
He pulled away suddenly and all too soon, his face resting against her nose as the water continued to fall between them. "You want me, Senator?" he breathed, the relief, the need, and dare she say, the joy, present against his breath.
She opened her eyes, the water trickling down her eyelashes, but allowing her to make contact with the golden eyes that shined brightly before her. "I do," she nodded with a small smile and a whisper, not caring for anything but his love and his sanity.
His head pressed harder against hers, their foreheads touching as his hand moved from her neck to her hair in a possessive manner. His eyes closed as he let out a harsh breath, his face becoming less hard but still just as conflicted. "Say it again," he breathed, his voice commanding, but yet desperate. "Just say it."
The pain surged within her heart again, hearing his tone and his simple demand. She had been so foolish and she could hear it within his voice– the stress, the panic: her tortured soul. She could only assume that this reaction was not entirely from her, but she had undoubtedly made it worse for him. She had made it worse on both of them. She had hurt him and in return, hurt herself and each other.
"I want you," she breathed, and this time she leaned forward until her lips touched his beneath the hood.
She kissed him with the same passion; opening her mind enough so that she could pour and he could feel all the emotions that were rattling inside her mind– all the confusing and conflicting feelings that she felt for him. She wanted him to feel them all, but at most feel the need she still had for him– and only him. He moaned as she let him in, and their kiss became crazed, their lips painfully battling as their hands moved over the other's body– skin against fabric. She wasn't sure when– or even how, but the next thing she felt was his member released, rubbing against her side as they continued their crusade.
After a moment, his lips parted from hers, just enough to speak, his hands coming to rest on her hips. "Put your arms around me," he commanded, his voice rough with need as his member twitched against her skin.
Opening her eyes, she shook her head trying to find grounding. Did he hear nothing of what she said? Did either of them remember what had happened? "I just told you," she breathed, looking for some sense and finding only madness. "This is mindless. You just had your hand on my neck ready to kill me and now you want sex?"
A strange look passed over his eyes, but he moved closer before she could fully comprehend the emotion. "Please, Senator," he breathed, the statement a complete beg that conveyed his absolute need– need for her. "Please."
She stared at him wide eyed for a moment, her own body beginning to melt before she crashed her lips against his once more. Hearing Darth Vader beg made any sense that had been developing leave her body, leaving only need for him and the connection they shared. She did, as he wanted– as they both wanted, putting her arms around his hooded head and allowing him to lift her up as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He began to take her, right there against the shower, her back pressed against the shower wall as he continued to slam into her, their mouths mashing against once another.
Her naked body slid against the wet leather and cloth of his own body, the shower water coming to fall down upon them. It was a feeling that made Padmé feel completely exotic and somehow cherished, the monstrous man having formed completely back into her lover, his touch filling her with nothing but pleasure and comfort. In that moment, with him holding her and filling her with his body, she trusted him completely and wanted nothing else– almost ever fear evaporating as she gave into their moment. She held onto him as if her life depended on it, not ever wanting her lover to disappear again. She kissed his lips hard, harder than she ever had before and she was beyond thankful that the shower water fell upon her face, mixing with the few tears that had escaped her eyes as her emotions overwhelmed her. It was only when they both began to come close to their release that Padmé pulled away, but refused to move far.
"Please," she breathed against his teeth, her mind worried and her words breathless as her hips continued to move in rhythm with his thrusts. "Please, don't finish in me."
He didn't answer, but let out a deep growl as he captured her mouth within his. They both stayed together until their moans began to echo within the small room, and just before they found release, he pulled out of her violently, Padmé nearly crying as she felt a warm substance spread onto her belly. Vader hissed as he stumbled, dropping her onto the ground, his hand coming up beside her on the wall to support himself but Padmé didn't allow him to back away. She felt a new sense of pride– a new sense of need– a love that she couldn't admit. She was scared– but she wanted him. She didn't care about the Sith or what he had done, only focusing on her newly developed want for him.
She needed him again, and she found herself stumbling out of the shower as she pushed him back with her mouth on his again. Her hands fumbled with his belt, allowing it to fall to the floor as his hands held her naked body closer to his own. He allowed her to push back the hood and pull of the soaked cloak, before she rose the tunic over his head, separating all but a single second before their lips found one another again. He allowed her to remove his top layers, until she got to the final shirt. It was such a tease, being able to feel his body but not being able to see it or truly touch their bodies together skin to skin. Still, she managed. Her hands grasped the material, but he broke her hold before pushing her back onto the bed.
He was barely even on top of her when Padmé felt his presence within her body once more. She moaned in contentment as his member filled her, his lips moving over her skin as her head pushed into her pillow. As usual, it was perfect, but as he continued to thrust, a change occurred and she felt a deep pain, a burn, but decided to ignore it, wanting nothing to stop their moment. But then, another change occurred– a Vader change, not just his touch becoming rough, but also this presence becoming thick. He had been mad with desire before, but something was causing him to just become mad. Darth Vader was the only word Padmé could find to describe the change, and her arms weaved around him like ivy in attempt to keep him for transforming.
"Stay with me," she whispered, breathing against his ear and wet hair, holding her body tightly to him as if he would understand her strange plea.
He never had the chance to respond– if he was going to, a ring starting from beside the bed, one that immediately caught Padmé's attention but caused Vader just let out a growl as he simply quickened his pace. He delayed his own release until she found hers, her body beginning to shake as her grasp around him tightened. She let out a loud cry as he let out his own muffled moan, his release spilling out onto the bed and the warm substance once again on her belly. He made a low growl, not getting off of her but reaching out his hand and calling the ringing device into his palm.
"Vader," he snapped into the device, his voice seemingly hard although his hand began to run through her hair in a soothing motion while his other arm extended to relieve her of some pressure from his body.
"Lord Vader," the voice responded, "your shuttle is ready, sir."
It was a surprising comment; Padmé frowning as her arms unconsciously tightened their hold around the man before her. She hadn't expected for him to leave so soon. It always seemed just when she found him, he was taken away. She had no doubt that it was all Palpatine's doing, this and Vader's anger before. It all had to do with another scheme the corrupt politician had going, and soon she would be sure to talk to Vader about it. Soon– but not today...
"I'll be in the hanger bay momentarily."
"Sir."
Ending the communication, he threw the device back onto the floor, wasting no time placing his lips back upon hers. Padmé kissed him back, allowing herself a moment to savor the feeling of him against her before his lips moved to her neck and he foolishly gave her the opportunity to think– and talk.
"You're leaving?" she whispered, her gaze locked with the ceiling away from him, not wanting to truly hear his answer.
He didn't answer immediately, his lips and tongue moving across her neck in a delicious fashion before he eventually pulled away. "Yes," he breathed against her neck, uninterested by the fact as he placed a loud kiss upon her pulse.
"For how long?"
"I don't know," he breathed, not sparing her a glance as he remained uninterested and his lips began moving downward.
She frowned as her mind continued to overthink, thinking not only about her lover, but Darth Vader and his actions. She couldn't help but to recall the small amount of information that he had confessed to her : the fate and end of the Resistance. "You," she hesitated, finding her courage as she tried to ignore his lips traveling across her chest. "You aren't going to wipe out anymore of my friends are you?"
He paused instantly upon her question, his head raising as he looked upon her with a frown. "You'll be relieved to know that that is not my intention."
She nodded, unable to stop the pain in her heart, but surprised that she felt no anger. "But you really wiped them out, didn't you?" she asked quietly, her gaze moving from the ceiling to his face, watching his reaction. "The whole resistance."
He nodded slowly. "I did," he replied without delay, his face giving nothing anything– not a single emotion or clue.
He had answered, but it wasn't enough, her mind needing more. "Like…" she pressed. "No one left?"
"There were– no survivors," he replied, but she could tell there was something hidden within his voice, a memory playing across his eyes.
She couldn't tell if he was lying, but she knew he wasn't offering the entire truth. But then again, neither was she. They were both keeping secrets, both dealing with their own issues, and both making it worse for each other. It had to change. Now more than ever, before they found themselves in a situation where they couldn't find common ground.
Finally managing her strength, she shook her head, trying to push him away. "We– We need to talk," she finally managed as she pulled away from his body, planning on moving out from underneath him until she felt his hand latch onto her ankle.
"Sith, Senator!" he said with a small frown and wide eyes, his eyes on his hand that had just secured his member inside his pants and the space between her legs.
Following his gaze, Padmé paled as she realized the mess that had been caused between them. There was a mix of sinful fluids that laid on her skin and had begun to seep into the sheets, but the one most surprising of them all was the blood that lay between them. It was a shocking amount and upon further inspection, she realized that the pain she felt, was inside her body– cramps. To her absolute horror, the blood had come from her core, having been between her own legs and even more humiliating on the front of Vader's attire– and from what she could guess, his member.
"Oh moons of Naboo!" Padmé shrieked in embarrassment, the blood rising to her cheeks as she made some vain attempt to hide her indecency and the mess her body had made.
Vader seemed unaware of her actions, looking between the blood and her body with a large and concerning frown. "Are you hurt?"
"No," Padmé whispered, too caught up in her own embarrassment to really understand his question or reaction. "I'm so sorry," she shook her head, her hands moving other her face. "I didn't know. I usually don't get my cycle till–"
"There's no need for embarrassment," Vader replied, his voice recovered as his concern evaporated and was replaced with a small frown. "Blood doesn't affect me."
She didn't know if he was trying to help, but his comment only made it worse. "Stop," she breathed, again trying to hide herself from him. She couldn't believe that this was happening. She couldn't believe a day that had stated out so perfect had turned into such a disaster. She couldn't believe she had gotten her cycle in the middle of sex with– Wait. She choked; looking at the blood again as her embarrassment somewhat lifted and allowed her mind to fully think. Cycle! It was her cycle! She wasn't pregnant! She truly wasn't! And although again the mix of feelings stormed with inside her, her embarrassment was by far the outlier. She breathed a small cry, one that she didn't know she had been holding– a weight lifting off her chest as she bit her hand to keep any other emotions for exiting.
I'm not pregnant, she thought in relief. I'm not pregnant!
"WHAT?" Vader voice roared, immediately grabbing her attention as she was greeted with his deranged, livid, and shocked expression.
Shit.
She paled, her breath catching her throat as her heart stopped beating, realizing that he had heard her thoughts. "The doctor told me I wasn't pregnant," she explained quickly, unprepared and unsure of what else to say. "But I'm not sure if I believed her until now."
His features remained the same, Vader once again becoming a statue except for his eyes that grew hard. "Explain," he breathed, his voice dark and commanding. "Now."
Padmé nodded at his simple request, taking a moment to get her thoughts in order before she spoke again. "They made me take a pregnancy test before I could be treated and I freaked out," she replied with a small shrug, suddenly regretting not telling him as she admitted her story. "I wanted to have sex with you, but I don't want to get pregnant. She wanted me to be put on birth control, but I never got the prescription."
"Pregnancy test?" Vader frowned, an unknown emotion within his question.
"It was negative," she reassured him quickly, taking a guess for the reason of his panic. "But I wanted to take something to– to make sure it would always stay negative."
His frown hardened. "This went on record?"
Padmé frowned in return, her head falling to the side with slight confusion; the conversation being nothing that she imaged and completely taking her by surprise. "Confidential record," she corrected with a nod.
His next reaction was even more surprising, expecting anger, but his only receiving an annoyed groan that left his lips. He rolled his eyes at her, probably not even realizing he had done it before her stared at the ceiling. "Senator," he breathed, immediately sounding like a scolding parent.
"They thought I was pregnant," was all she could offer, but she could tell it wasn't enough to please him.
Anger remained present on his face, but his irritation seemed to skyrocket. "And you waited till now to tell me this?" he snapped, his eyes wide but his frown hard as his eyes moved towards her. "Do you realize how foolish that is?"
Padmé only shrugged, feeling small beneath him and ashamed of her naked state. "I– I was scared," she whispered.
"Scared? Force," he hissed, the words sounding like mockery on his lips as he looked around in bewilderment before his anger took its place. "How are you so fearless when it comes to politics and so –"
"I was afraid you would get mad," she snapped, not caring for his insults. What did he not understand? He wasn't the easiest man to deal with.
"You were afraid I'd get mad?" he questioned with complete sarcasm, leaning back onto his knees so that he towered over her even on the bed. "Well congratulations, I'm mad." He pulled off his shirt in one swift motion and threw it at her, giving her something to wear in her naked state. She quickly slipped the material on as his boots hit the floor, walking towards the fresher where the water continued to fall. "Confidential," he breathed, as if the word was a synonym for ridiculous before he knelt onto the ground. He pulled something off of his belt that lay on the floor, jamming it into his ear before picking up his comlink that was in the same pile. "Get me Senator Amidala's health files," he spoke into the device, speaking to someone Padmé could not hear on the other end.
She paled upon his request, leaning up on the bed as another feeling of horror rested in her chest. "You can't look at my files!" she shrieked, but the glare he gave her in return told a very different story: He could.
"Yes, Coruscant Medical," he continued to the silent voice, beginning to pace around the room as he answered questions and gave commands. "Off record."
There was a great pause on the other line before Vader's face darkened, whoever on the communication finally responding and not giving a report that was to his liking. "Well make them un-confidential," he snapped, eyeing her out of the corner of his eye before she gave him a small confident grin.
Told you, she couldn't help to mock silently knowing he would hear, but could instantly tell he was un-amused with her joke as his eyes shot like daggers towards her.
He shook his head as he walked, his anger and frustration becoming tangible. "Then hack into our own server," he hissed into the comlink. "I don't care. Use whatever means are necessary. Get them!" He didn't wait for a reply before he pulled the device out of his ear. "I don't like being blindsided," he growled as he approached her. "I respected your privacy and this is what I get. I don't have time to deal with this."
Padmé couldn't help but to roll her eyes, her irritation and own anger growing. It seemed like Vader thought he was the only one with issues in the galaxy… but didn't he understand the toll that this had taken on her as well? "Then we shouldn't have had sex," Padmé offered, trying to hide her annoyance, but failing to sound any less bitter.
She could tell that Vader was aware of her mood, his own face hardening with irritation upon her comment. "We've established this," he replied, his tone surprisingly lighter although his crossness remained. "But you shouldn't have dealt with this alone."
She shook her head, realizing that he would never understand her reasoning. "What choice did I have?" she shrugged, truly meaning the words and the pain behind them. "If I was, you would have just killed me– Don't act like you wouldn't have."
He remained silent, his jaw locking before his eyes moved away from her, giving her the silent answer she desired.
It pained her to know that even he realized it was true– that he would kill her… and how he also had. "See," she pointed out, her hands motioning out towards him.
He simply shook his head, a harsh breath leaving his nose before he looked back at her. "There were correct times that I would have–"
"What?" she asked, frowning at him as she shrugged, trying to make him realize the entire situation and his own way of thinking. "Handled the situation without murdering me? That's exactly why I was nervous."
He shook his head, his white teeth glistening even as he bared his teeth. "Nervous?" he breathed, his face mocking and tone heated. "Stop acting so kriffing childish."
His comment surprised her, her mouth dropping for a moment before her anger took control. "Oh," she pressed bitterly, her eyebrows rising in a challenge. "So now I'm a child in your eyes too."
His eyes glared back at her, his head turning to one side as he stuck a finger out in her direction. "I said you were acting childish," he corrected. "There's a difference."
But she didn't see one. It was the same insult within her mind, and not one that she would tolerate from him. "You're calling me childish," she snapped, not letting his comment slide and biting back with a similar insult. "Yet you are the one always acting like a horny teenager."
"Me!" Vader howled in response, a sarcastic chuckle leaving his lips. "I think you're quite experienced with acting as such."
Padmé released the same chuckle, not believing his nerve. Did he forget that she was inexperienced before him? That he was the one that had taken her virtue and corrupted her? How dare he! "That's rich coming from someone like you," she bit back.
"Rich!" he hissed, his eyes going wide before he rolled them towards the ceiling, another wave of anger forming across his face as he bowed mockingly and shook his head. "Well excuse me your highness. Not all of us can grow up in a fucking palace. Some of us had to grow up a lot faster."
She ignored the jab he took at her, only taking in the last sentence and accepting the differences between them. "I'd know if you'd let me in," she said, pulling his shirt farther down as she leaned onto her knees at the corner of the bed.
"Let you in…" he breathed, repeating her words as his entire face became shocked and then irritated. "Choy doe echu ta!"
She sighed dramatically as he spoke in some primitive language– the language he usually resorted to, her irritation growing as she quickly rubbed her face and threw her hands into the air. "What does that mean?"
He didn't seem to care for her question, his arms twisting over his chest as he stood to his full height. "You have a huge brain," he replied. "And believe me, I've looked through most of it. It's quite large and half the force-damn time you act like you don't have it."
She shook her head, partly understanding his frustration but wishing he understood hers as well. "I'm not saying you haven't showed me," she corrected, trying to change his words and phrase them in a way that he could understand. "You have. I realize this once I'm able to think, but then I get around you and I want–"
"I've given you all that I can!" he cried, his face pained and his voice frantic. "I've given you more than what I can! I've given you nearly everything!" He paused, controlling his emotion and shaking his head as the thoughts inside seemed to take control. "Force," he breathed as he began to back away. "Will anything be enough for you?"
He attempted to make his escape, but Padmé jumped up from the bed before he could exit. "So once again," she questioned. "We are going to fight and you're going to storm off?"
He paused at the doorway, turning around to look at her with a dark glare. "Last time I left, you said you were done," he breathed, his words almost ice. "Now it's my turn. I'm done."
The words collided with her soul, breaking a part of her chest. "So," she breathed, holding in every emotion that dared to try to make an escape. "You don't want me?"
His eyes seemed to soften upon her question, his lips pressing into a thin line before his eyes moved to the floor. "I don't know," he breathed, his statement filled with emptiness and not at all convincing.
"You don't know," Padmé repeated, her heart growing heavy as she read into his words. "If you want me?"
He didn't answer, simply releasing a sigh and shaking his head before turning back towards the doorway.
His action might have been a physical no, but she needed to hear him– needed him to talk. "Vader," Padmé pressed, crossing the room in attempt to stop his exit. "You can't just walk away from prob–"
"Don't you dare finish that statement," he snarled, his fiery eyes meeting her gaze as he twisted around and made her pause in center of the room. "I have much more bigger issues than you, Senator. Though if you're so keen on me conversing in this particular moment, if you would like, I can deal with this problem in my usual fashion… but I have a feeling that is not what you want."
His threat meant nothing to her ears, her eyes locked upon his and looking for some sort of clue. He hadn't yet said that he didn't want her, but she needed to know if she– they even had a chance. "So…" she pressed, afraid to hear his answer as her eyes fell to the floor. "You might want me."
"Senator," he approached her, making her head rise before he pushed himself into her. His hands held onto his shirt that laid over her body, the budge of his pants resting against her naked thigh, pressing his shirt upward and allowing her to feel his need. She hissed as she felt the contact, her heart rapidly thumping in her chest and her face growing hot. "Does that answer your question," he breathed, his voice fuming but filled with some lust– still as mad as ever.
His need did wonderfully awful things to her body, even in her indecent and unappealing state making her feel like a goddess. He still wanted her– he still needed her, and she needed him too. She nearly moaned feeling the energy move between them, her own hand gripping his bare arm to hold her stead.
"So," Vader whispered, visibly looking professional although his tone and lower body betrayed him. "I'd say you have the advantage."
Her teeth clenched together, her body becoming hot while something inside of her beamed, a joyful hallelujah. He still wanted her!
"Now," he breathed, slowly backing away from her grasp and nearly begging to make his escape. "Let me think this through… or I will break your neck."
Author's Note: Say what? Don't worry the next few chapters is literally the best progress with no going back. Butttt... Sorry guys! As always, school comes first and is still kicking my butt. And a second as always, fanfiction hates me. Luckily, we don't have much longer to go, so yay and just pray for working updates! Either way, I hoped you enjoyed. Hopefully the next chapter will be upload ready soon. As many of you have seen, I did meet Hayden Christensen… and yes, I am dead. We hugged and I wished him a 'happy birthday.' Still not over it yet… And if it is possible, I'm more in love than ever. Anyways, please leave a review! Much love!