Vader's Angel
By: wertman25
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Star Wars…. Or Anakin Skywalker… Which is a pity…
Author's Note: Sorry guys, I had to break this chapter up again due to uploading issues. Here's the second part!
A woman stepped out from the brush before he could respond– a bounty hunter. "Hey, Daddy D," she said with a large smile, grabbing her gun from her holster. "Funny meetin' you here."
The woman aimed the blaster and pulled the trigger, the next few seconds happening in such a blur, that Padmé couldn't even distinguish the exact chain of events. The red blast moving towards them one second then sparks flying the next. She closed her eyes tight waiting for the pain of the burn as she placed her forehead against Vader's back. The equine released a large scream, his hooves slamming against the ground unsteadily as he tried to flee from the blast… and then… nothing.
Padmé waited a long moment before she pulled away from her protection of Vader's form and peeked over his shoulder, surprised to see the scene unchanged. The equine had moved to the opposite side of the path as a result of the blast, which spooked the poor creature but had somehow managed not to harm any of them at such a close range. The woman still stood before them, wearing a smirk while Vader remained as he had been, except for his right hand that was outstretched with the weapon now in his grasp.
At that moment, Padmé's fear exploded within her– her fate simply being an unharmed casualty in the coming war. She looked between the Sith Lord and bounty hunter with wide eyes, just as the two stared at one another unmoving. It seemed like the fight was inevitable, the only question remaining of who would make the next move first.
The woman answered Padmé's unspoken question, by taking a step forward, her hands moving to the brown utility belt that wrapped around her waist near the now empty holster and huge belt buckle. Her eyes were locked on Darth Vader, but surprisingly morphing to a less-predatory notion. "Oh, Daddy D," the bounty hunter pouted with a small smile. "You're no fun."
Vader reached down and unwrapped Padmé's arms from around his waist, a tight grasp she hadn't even realized she had taken. He threw his leg over the equine and slide down from the saddle. His boots hit the rough soil with a large thud before he stalked towards the other woman. "Aphra," he said, completely unfazed but obviously annoyed. "Don't call me that."
"Sorry, milord." She saluted, mocking the imperial troops as she came to a lame attempt of attention before him, her partly gloved hand coming to rest upon her helmet near the pushed back goggles. .
"What are you doing here?" he asked, and Padmé looked between the pair, yearning to understand the same thing.
"You called. I came." The young woman called Aphra shrugged, the tight leather jacket bunching as her small shoulders moved up and down. "Isn't that the ushe?"
"You know exactly what I mean," Vader grumbled, unamused with the woman's answer.
"You're calling a meeting, aren't ya'?" Aphra asked, twisting her arms just below her chest as she battered her dark eyes at the Sith and slid her hips to the side, even leaning forward to reveal more of her cleavage from the already tight white tank top. "Why can't I be in attendance, D?"
The stance made Padmé's jealousy flare, as much as she tried to deny it. The beautiful bounty hunter having no remorse as she shamelessly flirted with the Sith Lord in front of her. The nerve of it all making Padmé feel as if she were about to go insane, like her inner beast roared, wanting nothing more but to leap from the equine and scratch the opposing woman's eyes out. It seemed like such a brainless thing to think while there was obviously much more important matters at hand. Still, Padmé found comfort in the fact that Vader had just shared her bed that morning… and the fact that Vader didn't seem to notice the woman's advances.
With that comfort in her mind, she moved onto the more pressing matters. She continued to eye the pair in some sort of lame attempt to piece the puzzle together. This woman– Aphra– was obviously and annoyingly well acquainted with Vader to the point where she had simply appeared in the middle of the jungle, jokingly attacked them, and all because Vader had called upon her? Because of this meeting?
When did he have time to call upon her? Padmé wondered, her own selfish desires leaking into her professional-based mind. Why did he call upon her? What meeting?
"And you know the answer to that as well," Vader said simply, handing Aphra back her blaster before turning and returning to Padmé's side.
The woman's eyes followed his retreating form before moving to Padmé. Her eyes narrowing for a moment as they inspected the unusual company before she slipped back into her friendlier demeanor.
"Well. Well. You're not alone," Aphra mused, and Padmé tried not to visibly gloat. "How…uncharacteristic of you."
Vader made no move to get back on the equine, much to Padmé's displeasure. Instead, he remained silent as he paused beside the animal, not even glancing at Padmé as he grabbed the reins of the creature and turned back to the trail.
"Aren't ya gonna introduce me?" Aphra continued, skipping her way to his side and coming into far-too-close proximity of the Sith– or so Padmé believed it to be.
"No," Vader snapped. Ending the conversation as he pulled the creature forward.
He left Aphra behind in their wake, seemingly meaning to leave her behind altogether, but the bounty hunter simply shrugged before chasing after them. The woman seemed quite familiar with Vader's poor mannerisms and vile attitude– another fact that sat sourly in Padmé's stomach but nevertheless tried to remain neutral as Aphra came to walk beside her on the path.
"I'm Aphra," the bounty hunter said, smiling up at Padmé with a large white grin from the spot below the creature. "And you are?"
"None of your concern," Vader said, answering the question for her– and before she could even open her mouth.
Aphra turned her gaze towards Vader, her nose crinkling as she stuck out her tongue. Her attention never turned back to Padmé, instead just accepting the failed attempt and allowing her attention to remain on the Sith as she quickened her pace and fell into an uncomfortable line with him.
Vader didn't react to Aphra's presence, although Padmé knew he had to be aware of her, due to the close proximity and possibly due to the way the woman tossed her black hair in his direction. If that was not enough, Padmé couldn't deny the irritation she felt at how Vader seemed to slow his pace for the woman, not so much walking beside her, but allowing the small woman to walk a simple step behind him– conjuring all the images of the times Vader made Padmé nearly break an ankle trying to keep up with the Sith's rapid pace.
Why was this woman graced with such an honor? Why did this woman receive such special treatment? Why had Vader called upon her? What exactly was this meeting that Vader had called? Questions, Questions. Questions. It was always questions and hardly ever answers. And now there just seemed to be a never-ending stream of them… and even worse, due to something that was happening right under her nose.
Padmé gritted her teeth, her eyebrows crunching painfully together on her usually delicate face. A flood of personal and professional rage concurring her every thought… and seemingly causing a loud enough change in the Force to cause Vader to hesitate and look behind him.
"Senator," he warned, his voice cautious, yet firm– filled with authority… authority that she didn't care for.
She knew that he wanted her to stay on the equine, but in this moment, she didn't care what he wanted– she only cared about what she wanted… and she wanted to be noticed, to be respected, and to be in-the-know. She wasn't just some doll to be played with and controlled– she was Senator Amidala and she was going to make him remember that.
Acting as he had, she met his gaze, but just barely, throwing her nose up at him before she pushed off the saddle and slid down off the equine. Giving Vader a challenging glare of equal authority as she stepped forward. Surprisingly, he allowed her to disobey him, doing nothing as she walked past him and further down the road.
"Senator?" Aphra asked, sounding surprised. Although Padmé refused to look back to be certain, not wanting to shatter her façade. "She's not a cadet?"
"No," Vader said, the exasperation evident in his voice– or at least evident to her.
His boots crunched against the gravel, sounding that he was following her– a fact that made her smile, pleased with her small victory. He fell into line just beside her, for once the roles reversed as he matched her pace. His eyes were on her, that much she was certain, although she refused to give him the satisfaction of meeting them. She knew that if she did, he would be able to take back control in an instant.
Aphra, seemingly taking the hint or just possibly smarter than she looked, fell into line on the other side of Padmé, the equine trotting along behind them. Padmé took satisfaction in her new dominance of the group, if even just for the moment and even as false as the dominance was. In some ways, she felt even Vader was amused by it as well.
She slowed as they reached the top of the ridge, knowing that by Vader's directions, the hostile tribes would be close… and she was not a fool to lead anywhere that she was blind. She turned and looked back to Vader, a notion that she was handing the power back over to him although she doubted that she needed to. Still, Vader's amusement seemed to grow. His eyes remaining on her for a moment, before turning to the other woman and simultaneously turning back into the confident leader of the group.
"Aphra," Vader said, breaking the silence. "If you're going to be here, make yourself useful." He turned and pointed to the tips of a grouping of large trees on the connecting ridge. "Scope the area. If this deal goes south, we'll need a quick getaway."
"Cover?" Aphra nodded, following his fingers towards the grouping of trees and smiling. "You got it." She took a step forward, but paused and turned back. "Though I know you're Darth Vader and you won't need it."
With a small bow, Aphra turned and disappeared into the trees. Vader watching the spot for a long moment before turning back to Padmé.
"Shall we?" he asked, continuing down the ridge, before he looked back and added, "Keep close."
She nodded and did as he asked, knowing now was not the time to disobey him. She fell into line just behind him, more for protection than due to his fast pace. In fact, Vader seemed to be moving unnaturally slow, taking each step with caution, his eyes skimming back and forth.
He paused when he reached the second drop, the native village just in sight. She waited just behind him, placing herself between the Sith and equine for protection, her senses also on high alert. She looked around as Vader did, straining to hear whatever he did– unless possibly it was just through the Force– her findings unsuccessful to her less attuned senses.
"Vader," she whispered. "What is it?"
He hesitated, the muscles near his shoulders twitching as if for the first time remembering she was behind him. "I..." he began, his voice dying out as the equine's head lifted and ears turned towards the noise.
A foreign shriek escaped from the forest followed by the lash of a strange vine-like-whip. Vader reacted with inhuman speed, his weapon called into his hand and the red blade igniting to life just in time to destroy the oncoming threat. He rolled away from her just as a pair of two green reptilian like creatures dressed in strange animal hides sprinted out of the trees, their sights set on the Dark Lord.
Felucians, Padmé realized and was defenseless and helpless but to simply watch as the first Felucian collided with Vader, somehow managing to send the Sith backward despite their substantial mass difference, the seconding Felucian taking advantage of the small victory and using their whip to capture Vader's left leg.
The purple thorns that trailed the whip's edge embedding themselves like a wicked vine through Vader's clothes and into his skin. He released a loud gruff, his blood beginning to soak into the blankness of the fabric, but the grasp allowing him to pull the weapon away from the Felucian with a simple pull of his leg.
He fought against the pair in an outnumbered duel of hand to hand combat, surprisingly not using his blade even though it glowed like a monstrous beacon in the air. It took a few more of his motions for Padmé to realize that the Sith was not at all fighting them, but defending himself. The Sith even being absurdly careful to not use his weapon or even the Force against them.
Diplomatic solution, echoed in Padmé's head and she realized immediately that he was simply trying to defer the guards so that he could make peace with the village– something she never thought she would witness Vader do. She could only imagine how the negotiations would even start if Vader were to kill two of the village's guards or properly piss even one of the Felucians off.
The hood to his cloak fell as both he and the Felucians continued their duel. Vader, seemingly growing tired of their games and punching one of the Felucians in the mouth. The Felucian fell backward with a large hump, just as his friend pulled a dagger from his belt, Vader catching the native's wrist just as the dagger neared the Sith's throat.
Vader tried to speak to the native but his pleas or demands fell on empty ears. The Felucian in question not listening to whatever Vader had said and instead, trying harder to kill him, while the other one rose with a murderous look in his eye.
Padmé looked around, knowing that she had to do something. She held onto the reins of the equine that she hadn't realized were now in her hand, holding the ropes tightly as the equine shuffled from the nearby danger. His stamping hooves hit a smaller but thick branch just below them, giving Padmé a ridiculous but needed idea.
She grabbed the branch, just looking back to the fight as Vader twisted and brought the Felucian to his knees, the red blade pausing just under the native's neck. His capture resulting in the second Felucian taking a stance, grabbing a dagger from his belt, and readying himself for attack against the Sith Lord.
The Felucian screamed out a battle cry, just about to charge when Padmé swung the limb of the tree into his head. The poor native having no idea what hit him as his body collided with the forest floor.
Vader looked up, his astonishment evident as she stood over her victim with the makeshift weapon, holding it out as if it were some kind of blaster or sword. The Felucian rolled over and looked up at her, his animalistic eyes meeting her's, the native rubbing the back of his head where she had struck him with the branch which had already begun to swell.
"Tia'ka," Vader said, catching both of the natives' attentions with his natural foreign dialect before the Sith made another sort of demand which only sounded like ticks and clicks to Padmé's ears.
The Felucians looked at each other before the one on the ground answered him. Vader and the Felucians talked for mere minutes before it seemed they came to an accord, Vader deactivating his lightsaber and allowing the Felucian up before Vader motioned for Padmé to allow the Felucian to stand. She did as he asked, but kept her eyes on the native, receiving a glare before he joined his partner.
She joined Vader as the Sith leaned down to unravel the whip from around his leg, the Sith playing off his painful twitches as each barbed prick was pulled from his skin. The blood loss was significant, especially for the size of the thorns, but she figured Vader wouldn't be mindful of the injury.
"Are you okay?" she asked, already knowing the answer he'd give, despite the truth of the matter or not.
"Yes," he said, making her feel silly for even asking… but somehow making her wonder if he too bought the lie that he was invincible just as she once did.
"It looks deep," she argued, holding back her hands from reaching towards his wounds, but nevertheless wanting to tend to his injuries.
"I'm fine," he said, rising back to his true height and pulling his hood into place as he clipped his lightsaber to his belt. "We have to keep moving.
Vader followed behind the Felucians without another word and Padmé was forced to follow behind the group, pulling the equine along the way. The two guards led the pair into the village, their presence and especially Vader's– drawing attention to all the inhabitants. One by two, then two by two, and then dozens and dozens of Felucians fled the safety of their homes to catch a glimpse of the mighty Sith Lord.
The poverty-stricken village looked like nothing more than rocks, twigs, and brittle animal hide held together by spit and bones. The only protection being the few guards who held similar weapons to the ones that had harmed Vader and the small creatures that seemed to be near every other house. Besides that, it was nothing more than a farming community. The strange creatures seeming intimidating at first glance, but revealing to be nothing of the sort the second. Behind harsh scaled faces and animalistic eyes, their tired and dirty looking faces simply staring; their faces filled with fear– now knowing there was nowhere to hide and they were at the mercy of Darth Vader.
Once they were at the far opposite end of the village, the guards motioned for Vader and Padmé to wait outside before the two Felucians entered into a large hut-like shack. Vader taking his cue to rest against a nearby rock wall and giving away the fact that his injury was more painful than he had let on.
Padmé knew better than ask him again about the injury, instead just moving to sit beside the Sith, twirling the reins within her grasp to ease her jitters. She had to admit that she was nervous with the level of uncertainty of the air, however, Vader seemed completely at ease.
"So," she said, trying to keep herself calm, but also deciding to try to get some information. "What's your meeting about?"
"I'm the Commander of the Imperial Army," Vader said, not missing a beat. "I call lots of meetings."
Padmé nodded, trying to act as though she was uninterested. "I'm sure… but this one seemed different."
"It's not," he replied, standing up and moving towards the equine.
Padmé sighed, knowing she wasn't going to get anywhere with her line of questioning. She just wished that they could trust one another. She wished things were different. She wished…
"What are you doing?" Padmé asked, being pulled from her line of thoughts as the Sith began to undo the intricate weaves on the creature's bridle.
"He did his job," Vader replied. "He deserves some reward for it."
"You take that off of him and we'll never get him back," Padmé argued, unsure of Vader's reasoning as her nerves flared.
"He'll come back," Vader said simply, slipping the bridle off the creature and giving his hindquarters a small pat before the animal ran off toward the jungle.
Padmé's wide eyes watched as their only means for escape disappeared from her sight, the creature practically singing it's freedom before leaving their lives forever. She sighed, turning back to Vader about to speech him, but pausing when she realized the two guards had reemerged from the shack and were speaking to Vader.
They turned and entered back into the shack, Vader instead turning to Padmé. "Come," he said. "I need your assistance."
The comment surprised her and she couldn't help but be taken back. "You need me?" she asked, unable to hide her shock. Had the Sith really been serious back at the base?
Vader frowned, but he did not repeat himself.
"You need my help?" she repeated, still unsure if the Sith actually meant the comment.
Vader nodded. "Your assistance, yes."
"Why?"
"I told you," Vader answered. "This is your area of expertise, not mine. You're my consult."
The comment made her smile, still unable to believe it. "You're serious?"
Vader stepped to the side, his amusement evident as he motioned towards the door. "After you, Senator Amidala."
Padmé felt as though she might combust, the smile on her face growing even larger as she fought the urge to hug the Sith Lord– hug the Imperial Commander Darth Vader in front of all the Empire's subjects' prying eyes, consequences be damned.
"Don't even think about it," Vader's voice echoed in her mind, although the Sith Lord remained unchanged.
Mustering her strength and controlling her emotions, Padmé took a deep breath and formed into the regal and powerful Senator Amidala, once again taking control of the situation just like she had done on the path.
"Well, not a moment to lose," she said, taking a step past him. "Let's go, Lord Vader."
"As you wish, Senator Amidala," Vader said, following into step behind her.
The Felucian guard held open the thick hide that hung in the doorway, Padmé ducking under the remnants to enter fully inside the small room. The inside of the shack was as poverty-stricken as the outworks of the town, the flooring cracked and covered with dirt, and the only light within the room from a small fire in the center.
Four pairs of glowing eyes peered at Padmé from the center of the room, each of their owners sharing the same pained expression, their faces pale from stress, and their scaled skin sunken inwards from starvation. It was an appearance that Padmé had seen many times in her youth, during diplomatic missions or missionary trips to other primitive planets. She had never forgotten the look within their eyes, but she couldn't believe she had forgotten the feeling.
It was a miracle that their faces could pale any more, but their scales lost all color as the Sith Lord entered into the room. The Sith pausing right behind her and skimming the occupants of the room.
The leader, an elder orange-colored male with a woven-bone headdress, rose his hand from his spot beside the fire, speaking something to the guards behind the pair which resulted in the two closing the hide and leaving the group alone inside the shack. The leader turned his attention back towards Padmé, inspecting her for a long moment before his eyes turned towards the bantha in the room.
"Lord Vader," he said, his voice raspy from age and his accent thick. "I didn't think we'd have the pleasure."
Vader made his move and stepped beside Padmé, the Felucians shivering as he moved, but nevertheless holding their ground. "Chief Tia'ka," he said, not bowing his head, but his voice holding some respect as false as it may have been. "It's unfortunate I had to make this journey under these circumstances. I'm hoping that I can renegotiate our deal."
"Indeed," the chief agreed. "It has been some time and I wish we could have made this reunion under better circumstances as well."
Padmé looked between the pair, her eyes narrowing as she tried once again to understand the situation that she was missing. Reunion? So Vader had been to the village before? And just how acquainted was he and the chief? With the people?
"I did not come here to reminisce about the past," Vader said sternly. "I came to negotiate for our future."
The Felucian's face twisted sadly but nodded. "Indeed," he agreed again, motioning to the opposite side of the fire. "Let us talk…" he paused, his eyes moving back to Padmé. "And I see you brought a comrade?"
"Senator Amidala of Naboo," Vader corrected the chief, his eyes not leaving the elder man as he spoke. "A consult to offer a mutual perspective on our negotiations."
The chief smiled, his old eyes twinkling as he turned to her. "Then welcome."
Padmé returned the smile, taking a seat in front of the old man by the fire. "The pleasure is mine," she said, truly meaning the words.
Vader stepped to a spot behind her, not taking a seat by the fire but entering just in range of joining the group. The chief nodded, taking the hint to begin. He looked around at the others, mumbling a few words in his native tongue before returning his attention to the pair.
"We are unhappy, Lord Vader," the chief stated sternly. "It is not that we are ungracious to the mercy the Empire has shown us, but our deals are broken time and time again. Our people are suffering, our food has been taken, our village constantly destroy, and now they have begun to bomb us. "
"The report written by the Imperial officer was that your tribe attacked first," Vader replied. "That your people broke the deal first."
The chief shook his head. "We are farmers. Not warriors." He motioned to the hidden spot outside the door, the place where the two guards had exited. "The old guard is all that remains of our protection and they are of short supply. We cannot risk them. Not when your armies are never-ending."
"So you deny the claim?" Padmé asked, pressing for the facts.
"I deny it," the chief said with another nod. "We did not attack. The Empire attacked us."
Surprise, surprise, Padmé thought, crossing her arms over her chest as she turned to look at Vader.
"Anything to add?" Padmé pressed, raising an eye at Vader to make it clear who's side she was on.
Vader turned to meet her gaze, his head turning sideways to gaze at her fully.
Mutual, Senator, Vader's voice echoed within her mind before he spoke aloud. "You'll be pleased to know that I believe him, Senator."
"You do?" Padmé asked, not meaning to sound so partial.
"I do," Vader replied, before turning his attention towards the chief. "And you'll be pleased to know that the officer responsible has been dealt with."
The chief turned to the other men, relaying the information in his native tongue and the other men speaking in the same tongue, negotiating something that she couldn't understand… but she didn't need to understand their language to understand that whatever they were saying was less than pleasing to the chief and to Vader, both men becoming highly irritated and even angry.
Vader, suddenly joined into the argument, speaking in the same tongue as the Felucians. The argument growing more heated and heated by the moment, until Padmé was sure Vader was about to burst.
She stood up, separating Vader from the Felucians attempting to do the job that Vader had brought her along to do. "Gentlemen. Gentlemen," she said, trying to remain professional. "I understand the emotion given the circumstances, but I cannot help if I do not understand."
"They're making a mistake," Vader snapped, the outrage thick within his voice.
"The elders do not want to make another deal with the Empire," the chief spoke, his voice unsteady and filled with despair. "I cannot convince them to reconsider, but I also cannot blame them."
"You're sentencing your village to death," Vader snapped, beginning to pace in the small confinements before pointing his finger at the chief. "You know what will happen."
"We are already dying," the chief replied, his eyes filled with the same sadness.
Padmé watched the men, her mind reeling. It was like being stuck within a rock and a hard place, but it was a place she had been in many times before– it was a place she seemed to dwell in nowadays– and somehow she knew how to manage it.
"Chief Tia'ka," she said suddenly, all the eyes in the room turning to her with a wide range of emotions, but with all the same panic. She took a deep breath before continuing, hoping to please both parties. "Although Vader is the one that brought me here and I am meant to be a partial party, I wouldn't be doing my job if I did not confess to you that I am not partial. I do not blame you or your elders for this decision because I would not freely make a deal with the Empire…"
"Senator," Vader warned, his voice hot and his presence suddenly behind her.
She turned to him, her eyes pleading, willing him to understand. She didn't know if he did, but he took a step back, allowing her to continue and she made sure to make her final move towards the leader, nearing all the Felucian men who were obviously scared for their people– just as she had been so many years ago.
"I have no love for the Empire," she continued. "I've never hidden that fact, but I also believe there's a time to fight and a time to be wise…" She looked directly at the chief. "There's a time to do what's best for you people, and although I wouldn't freely make a deal with the Empire, I also believe that you don't have another choice. I think you need to reconsider."
"Thank you, my child. " The chief smiled sadly, before shaking his head. "But the elders will not reconsider. A sour taste is hard to forget and their mouths are filled with it." He turned towards Vader, his eyes grateful and filled with respect. "I'd like to thank you, Lord Vader, for coming all this way and I'd like to say now that whatever you need to do after leaving our village, I understand." He took a deep breath, eyeing the evidence of the wound on Vader's leg. "And thank you for not warming our guards. You know how important they are to our survival."
Vader was quiet for a long moment, a strange emotion resonating off the Sith before he finally turned to face the chief. "I care not for your survival," Vader growled, his voice filled with emotion– as much as the Sith tried to hide the fact. "If you wish to die like a fool, then so be it."
The chief smiled sadly, his arm twitching as though he was about to reach out to the Sith, but quickly decided against it. He mumbled a slang of native words that seemed like a blessing but did not say anymore.
Vader turned, taking his leave, but Padmé found her feet glued to the ground.
"Chief Tia'ka," Padmé said before she even realized that she was speaking. "You don't trust the Empire, but you trust Lord Vader, correct?"
Vader stopped in his tracks, pausing just before the exit and turning back towards the center of the room. The Felucians too, turned to her, the chief's eyes surveying her with an ejection of questions.
"I trust Lord Vader," the chief said, truly meaning the words, his eyes moving towards the Sith and back again.
"So perhaps," Padmé began cautiously, "this is just a matter of technicality."
Chief Tia'ka eyed her, interested in her words. Even Vader seeming interested as he returned to the center of the room.
"You won't make a deal with the Emperor again," Padmé continued. "But would you make a deal with Lord Vader?"
Chief Tia'ka turned to the elders, relaying her words to the men which resulted in a quick discussion before he turned back to her. "They will consider this," he said, his voice cautious as he looked between the Sith and the senator.
"Wonderful." Padmé smiled. "On what grounds? What are their stipulations?"
The chief's eyes moved to Vader, his eyes revealing the hidden answer that she did not understand. "The same stipulations as before," he whispered and she swore she heard Vader sigh maybe even swear.
"…And what are those?" she asked, not sure she wanted to hear the answer.
"He must prove his worthiness," the chief answered, and she knew Vader understood. "Senator Amidala," the chief continued. "Thank you for your assistance, but I believe the time has come for Lord Vader and I to speak alone."
There was an unspoken emotion in his words, a heaviness that had been brought to the air. Padmé nodded but felt as though the ground had fallen out from under her. She turned, passing Vader, who moved like a ghost beside her, her feet moving beneath her without her willing them to do so, and taking her outside the door before she even realized she was outside.
A moment later, she found herself sitting on the stone wall; the same stone wall she had been sitting with Vader on mere minutes before. Except now, it felt so different. It felt as though the doom she had feared was coming down upon them, like her fear had all but evaporated leaving sheer anticipation in its wake.
Through her haze, she felt a slight press against her back, like something or someone was poking into the middle of her spine. It was enough pressure to bring her back to reality and she turned to see a black nose in her face.
"Hey you," she smiled as she looked upon the equine and patted him. "You did come back." The equine nuzzled her side, his large nose falling into her hand as she began to scratch small circles along his muzzle. "I really want to call you something beside you," she mused aloud, standing to her full height as she moved to the quine's side.
She looked at the blotches on his back, the marks of a whip, and its cruelness. She was always outraged to hear that there was still slavery in the galaxy, even for animals such as him, the poor creatures who were overworked and abused. She understood that he was a working animal, but Vader didn't seem to see a difference. And seeing the physical state of the animal in question, Padmé had to admit the lines were blurring together in her mind as well.
On the animal's hip, she noticed a marking, a scar that cut deep, enough so that the black fur no longer grew. It was a mark that had been burned into his skin and it conjured an image within her mind. An imagine of deep cuts, of burns… of Vader's disfigured skin… of the deep cuts across his back… of his burn of the word Shmi. In fact, there were countless similarities between the equine's skin and Vader's… and the very thought made Padmé chill to the very core.
Vader's anger about slavery… it couldn't be because…?
"I told you he would come back," Vader's voice echoed, breaking through her thoughts and chasing the ideas away.
"What!?" Padmé jumped, hearing his voice and looking very much like a child that had just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
"The equine," Vader said, either not taking note of her reaction or not giving it much care. "I told you he'd come back."
"Yeah–Yeah," Padmé choked over her words, trying to recover from her epiphany, but unable to hide the ways it made her feel.
"What's wrong?" Vader frowned, taking note of her odd behavior and taking a step forward.
"Nothing," Padmé said, instinctively taking a step back as she shook her head to free herself of her thoughts.
"Yes, there is," he argued, seeming concerned. Something is bothering you. Tell me."
Padmé shook her head. "Nothing. I'm fine."
Vader stared at her, quiet for a moment before stating simply, "I've come to realize that usually means the opposite when it comes to you."
Padmé smiled, unable to keep from giggling at the statement and at him, practically, because for a man that seemed to know everything, he just had no idea. "I– I just think he should have a name," Padmé lied smoothly…well, partly a lie. "Seems only fair."
Vader sighed, either annoyed by her reasoning or because he knew she was lying, but surprisingly allowed her to get away with it. "Well," he asked. "And dare I ask what the great options are?"
Padmé paled, never giving the idea much thought and equally never thinking that Darth Vader would ask such a ridiculous question. "Well–I," Padmé began, stumbling over her words as she internally went over every name in her head. "I like Judro," Padmé commented, picking a name and stating it confidently.
"Interesting." Vader nodded, either not convinced or not caring.
He offered nothing more to the conversation. Simply allowing it to die as it were before he turned away from the pair and moved towards the village, Padmé joining him even though he never vocally made the request.
"So what now?" Padmé asked, practically at a run, struggling to keep us with his pace which seemed to be even more rapid than usual. "How do you prove yourself."
"Same way I did before," Vader said, stating the fact simply, although seeming internally preoccupied. She opened her mouth to ask him exactly what that meant, but Vader beat her to it, speaking first. "Make sure the equine is tied so he isn't spooked into the jungle," he said, his mind seeming to ramble and his voice sounding somewhat off. "We don't want him running off when this whole thing starts."
"What whole thing?" Padmé asked, wanting nothing more but to understand and soothe his nerves. "And he has a name," she reminded him on a more light-hearted note, hoping it would help.
Vader shook his head. "Not to me he doesn't," he stated flatly, the statement doing the exact opposite of what she hoped. "I'm not getting attached."
"Why?" she wondered, more to herself than to Vader, but the Sith answered anyways.
"Cause he will die," Vader snapped, his pace quickening in an attempt to leave her behind. "Now just do what I said," he called, suddenly disappearing into the jungle as he Force-sprinted away from her.
Padmé stilled on the path, watching the empty space for a moment, her brain trying to make sense of the hour's last events but unable to piece the puzzle together.
"Wow." Aphra sighed, appearing out of thin air and causing Padmé to jump at the sudden voice. "He has issues."
Padmé sighed a laugh, completely void of amusement. "Yeah," she agreed. "Yeah, he does."
It was nearly an hour later when Padmé and Aphra found themselves in the middle of the village at the center of a strange party without Vader. The festivities had begun moments after Vader left, leaving the women clueless but to mingle with the foreign locals. The Felucians celebrated with food, and colors, and music. A giant fire danced into the air as the loud drums echoed into the sky.
"Where is he?" Aphra wondered aloud, soothing some of Padmé's nerves by knowing that she was not the only one on edge due to Vader's disappearance.
As if on cue, the Sith Lord reemerged from the jungle, a few locals fleeing at the sight of him as the large, dark-dressed man pushed himself through the crowd.
"There he is!" Padmé yelled, poking Aphra in the side and pointing towards the incoming Sith, relief overtaking her with each step he moved closer.
"Where the fuck have you been?!" Aphra screamed when Vader reached their side.
The Sith simply leaning his weight back onto his heels as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Aphra, I didn't know you cared," he chimed sarcastically, for the first time the woman showing true anger at the Sith.
"Kriffing hell, Vader!" she screamed. "Is this some sort of game?!"
Vader rocked forward, barreling forwards her and stopping just short of colliding with the smaller woman. "You'll know better to know your place, Aphra," Vader growled, his voice like ice and instantly causing the bounty hunter to pale.
"Yes. I'm sorry, my lord," Aphra said quietly, her fear evident as she nearly melted into the ground.
Vader pulled away from her, his golden eyes moving to inspect Padmé before pulling away completely. He moved away from both of them, not out of reach, but enough to realize it was questionable space. Like he wanted to put space between him and them… or maybe just her. In truth, Padmé didn't know what to say to him her joy of seeing him suddenly overtaken by the remnants of fear. Fear of Darth Vader. She felt it when he looked at her, the coldness in his eyes, the bright and powerful Sith glow. It was enough to almost take Padmé's breath away… but not in a good way.
The sight of Aphra trying to contain herself caught Padmé's attention and she moved towards the woman in a way to preoccupy her mind than in actual concern. "Are you okay?" Padmé asked, reaching out and putting a hand on the woman's shoulder.
"Me? Yeah," Aphra laughed sadly, her lack of breath giving away her fear. "He would have done a lot worse if you weren't here."
"But but," Padmé stumbled. "Aren't you his friend?"
Aphra laughed, downplaying the hurt that she actually felt. "Vader doesn't have friends," she replied. "I'm expendable." She laughed again, wiping her eye as though something had flown into it, but Padmé had already seen the tear. "We have a deal though. If he kills me, he'll do it quick. Not torture or anything, just one and done."
The very thought of that very conversation made Padmé grow cold, but usually, she always did when she was reminded of the truth of who Vader actually was– who he was when they were out of their bubble. It's why she tried not to think about it. It's why she tried to forget.
Suddenly, the drums changed. The fast and cheerful beat becoming slow and deep, causing both women to turn their attention back to the party. The tribe screamed, hitting the ground– a new celebration. A type of ancient and primitive dance as the smoke of the fire rose into the air.
Moving cautiously, both women approached Vader, who hadn't moved from his spot, his back to the women, and his eyes on the celebration.
"What's going on?" Aphra asked, settling in beside the Sith and Padmé settling on the other.
"This is the agreement," Vader announced to both of them, just as a ginormous fire exploded into the air from the center of the camp, the fire taking shape into a creature and the creature clawing at the sky.
"I don't even want to ask…" Aphra whispered, her eyes on the fire and how it seemed to devour the sky.
Padmé watched it too. The fire seeming to howl and scratch at the clouds, signifying whatever was coming next… signifying what would happen to Vader next.
"You mean…" Padmé paled. "You have to fight a monster?"
"A jungle rancor," Vader correct. "But yes."
"A jungle rancor!" Aphra screamed. "Vader, you can't be serious."
"That's not even the best part," Vader added.
Aphra rolled her eyes, throwing her hands into the sky as she spun around. "Oh, please tell me more!" she screamed sarcastically, waiting for Vader to explain, but her request falling on deaf ears; his eyes gazing over her, cast out, skimming back and forth beneath the hood. "Vader," Aphra asked as Padmé thought the same question. "What are you looking for?"
"The best way to escape," Vader replied, causing both women to frown.
"Escape?" Padmé and Aphra said together, both women looking at each other before looking back at the Sith Lord.
"On the slightest chance this beast kills me," Vader answered. "You'll need to make a run for it."
Padmé paled, her heart sinking into her chest. The possibility always in her mind, but never taking full effect until hearing his voice say the words.
"What?" Aphra asked, saying the words that Padmé couldn't even think. "You die and our lives are taken as well?"
"Mhmm," Vader said, his eyes locked on the fire.
Aphra signed, laughing hysterically. "What? What?" she said, somewhat in a panic. "What are they going to do? Feast on us?"
Vader's head snapped towards her, his eyes filled with darkness. "Precisely," he said, his voice nearly a growl. "So map out an escape for you and the senator so I can think about this fight."
"Right," Aphra said, stepping away and inspecting the village, mumbling to herself at an inaudible level as she mapped out a possible escape route.
Being left somewhat alone, Padmé took the moment to step closer to Vader, watching him as he watched the fire. "What's the rules?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she tried not to think about any other outcome but Vader standing victorious.
"A fair fight," he said, his voice void of emotion.
"A what?" Aphra screamed, turning back to Vader with wide eyes. Once again saying the same words that Padmé was thinking. "You didn't say that!"
"An escape, Aphra!" Vader snapped, sending the woman back to her task and the woman instantly listening as she disappeared around a building.
Even though he remained confident, Padmé felt her own façade slip through her fingers. She looked down at the ground trying to grasp whatever self-dignity and strength she had left, only for her eyes to fall upon the blood soaking through Vader's leg. The blood that had begun to drip again, soaking through his already stained pants and tailing down his boot. They trailed like the tears that escaped her eyes, evidence of pain.
"Senator," Vader's voice said, forcing her to look up and meet his emotionless gaze. "Don't," he said simply, Padmé immediately wiping the tears and wanting to melt into the very ground in which she stood, even taking him with her to live forever untouched.
"I–I'm sorry," Padmé whispered, struggling to contain herself.
Vader took a step towards her, leaving a large space between them, and somehow, she knew that it was because if he closed the gap there would be no stopping their embrace. "Senator," he whispered, his emotion breaking through his voice despite his hardened core. "I–I wish I could kiss you," he whispered, his hands tightening on his belt as if fighting to reach out and hold her.
"I wish you could kiss me too," Padmé agreed, the tears again filling her eyes despite her best efforts.
"Perhaps, after…" he whispered, his voice unusually soft soft like when they were alone in the comforts of their bed, when it was just the two of them in the universe, when they were surrounded by sheets instead of wars and embraced as lovers instead of enemies. The memory was enough to kiss him right then and there, witnesses be damned.
"Exit scoped, Daddy D," Aphra said, breaking the moment as she rejoining the group.
"Good," Vader said, shifting back into himself and his eyes returning to the upcoming fight.
They all listened as the drums changed again, the beat picking up speed and the fire changing from color to color, dancing with the music as if it were alive. Chief Tia'ka stepped out from the shack to greet his people and the villagers erupted in a mighty cheer.
"You're sure you can do this?" Aphra asked, her voice low but concerned. "I mean you're Darth Vader and all, but…"
"Silence," Vader snapped, his head turning to silence her before turning back to the chief. "I've done it before."
"Yeah, but…"
Vader didn't wait for Aphra to finish, and he didn't look back as he took a step away from the women and moved towards the chief, moving slow, but purposely through the crowd.
Aphra sighed watching him go, falling into line beside Padmé, both their eyes watching him as the natives cheered.
"Do you think he can do it?" Padmé asked, unable to stop herself, needing some sort of reassurance.
Aphra hesitated, licking her lips. "Well," she breathed. "He is Darth Vader."
Padmé shook her head, hating that statement– hating what it meant. She had once believed the lie, believed what the galaxy had told her. She had once believed Darth Vader wasn't human, that he was invincible, but she had seen too much to believe that fact anymore. She knew he wasn't, and in this moment, she found herself wishing he was. "That's not what I asked," Padmé pressed. "Do you think he can do it?"
Aphra frowned, allowing her true emotions to be unleased. The anger and the pain written across every feature as she turned to Padmé. "No," she said, completely and utterly stricken. "I don't think he can do it. Not now, at least."
The pain shot through Padmé's heart like blaster fire, burning her chest from the inside out. "But…" she cried, fighting against the pain. "He said he did it before."
"Yeah, but how many years ago was that?" Aphra pressed, her anger overtaking her pain. "Now he's got a bummed leg that's going to give out the moment his focus is elsewhere and his focus is already all over the place because you're here."
"Me?" Padmé asked, unsure why the blame was being thrown in her direction. "What's this have to do with me?"
"Please," Aphra said, rolling her eyes at the question. "He didn't have to worry about losing last time because no one was with him or he didn't care about whoever was with him. You think he'd be having me scope out an exit if you weren't here."
Padmé bit at the inners of her cheeks, unable to come up with a response because she knew that Aphra was right. She knew that Vader knew it too, and as much as he had tried to remain confident, his nerves had been frazzled… all because she was there.
Oh, Sith! Padmé cried within her head, hating the feeling of guilt that overtook her. If Vader died, it would all be her fault. Every part of it. And she didn't know how she could go on knowing that…knowing that she was responsible.
The music stopped as Vader reached the center of the village, pausing before the chief and waiting for the speech to end.
"It's starting," Aphra whispered, taking Padmé's arm and tugging her towards a spot near the wall. "We'll stay here," she said before pointing to another ridge across the left side of the village. "But the moment things turn for the worse, we grab the equine, use those buildings for cover, and escape through those trees. Got it?"
Padmé nodded, unable to find words. Her eyes on Vader as he ignited his lightsaber, spinning it in the air with mastery skill before deactivating the blade. The red light disappeared back into its hilt and Vader laid the weapon before the chief. He removed his belt next, a series of other various weapons attached there, and some sort of liquid wound around the leather itself.
"Fool," Aphra whispered, watching as Vader placed the final piece on the ground.
"What is it?" Padmé asked, straining to see.
"He's going in completely unharmed," Aphra replied. "I would have used the poison."
Padmé was surprised to see Vader shed his robe, throwing it next to his weapons on the ground before turning his attention back to the chief. The Sith did not kneel before the highest member, but he did bow his head in respect and earn the same gesture back in return. The two men exchanging unheard words between each other before Vader turned and walked towards the empty circle of the village.
It was only then that Padmé realized Vader had begun walking with a slight limb, hardly noticeable, but enough to draw attention if you knew his usual gait. The Sith came to pause in the center of the vast circle, the moment he was set a giant electro field springing to life to lock the beast in, but also to condemn Vader of the same fate.
Vader took a deep breath as his boots settled into the mud, taking a stance that Padmé knew well, but by the Sith's arch enemy. Unlike either stance, however, Vader called no weapon to his grasp, the man standing defenseless against whatever beast waited behind the large rock door.
The Sith nodded to a Felucian near the stone door on the outskirts fence, giving his signal that he was ready. The Felucian nodded back, before snapping a whip and moving a grouping of large grubs to pull the door open. The doorway opened at an antagonizing slow pace, one moment the Sith standing alone, and the next a large clawed hand reaching out of the empty doorway.
The jungle rancor, as Vader had called it, pulled himself through the small opening and threw his beaked mouth into the air. The creature releasing a loud and spine-chilling screech that seemed to shake the entire village. The natives cheered as the rancor rose onto his feet, tossing his head around as he crashed against the invisible barrier, the creature showing his massive size, having to be at least 19 feet tall and thirty tons.
Vader whistled, calling the beast's attention to him… and the moment the beast's head turned, Padmé immediately wished he hadn't. The creature roared at Vader, his saliva and mucus traveling through the air as the rancor set his sights on his target. It was almost impossible to watch, a usually massive and powerful man become nothing more than an insect to a larger carnivore.
The rancor advanced towards Vader, dragging his heavy body towards the unmoving Sith and raising his right claw about to strike when the Sith did the unthinkable… he smiled. Vader smiled, an absolutely evil grin, as the rancor's claw slashed towards him. The Sith using the Force to leap away from the hit just before the rancor could touch him.
He landed twelve feet to the right of his original spot, his leg giving out but only for a moment, Vader doing the same action twice again as the outraged rancor tried to crush him.
"Make a move. Make a move," Aphra chanted beside her. "Come on, Daddy D. Before your leg gives out."
Vader did as Aphra chanted, on the next jump not only fleeing the hit but landing an attack hit as well. The rancor screaming in pain as Vader used his body weight to crack on of the creature's massive claws. It was enough damage to make the creature hesitate, but not quit, the rancor looking back at the Sith with a new wave of vengeance.
"Great," Aphra sighed. "He pissed it off."
The rancor roared and charged Vader again, Vader leaping away but the rancor learning his tricks and striking at the new spot. Vader fell to the ground as the passive claw pinned him to the ground, the weight of the animal shoving him into the mud, but Vader using the Force to send pieces of the ground back at the rancor, making the creature retreat.
Vader, clad in mud, rose from the ground, his leg obviously bothering him as he was unable to stand to his full height. There was a large gash over his right eyebrow from where the creature had struck him and blood oozed down into his eye. The Sith rose out his hand, using the Force, and stepping towards the creature slowly, seemingly trying to take control of the animal's mind and succeeding to do so for a moment, until his leg gave out from beneath him.
Vader let out a muffled cry as he fell to the ground, trying to regain himself, but stuck within the deep mud. The rancor shook its head coming out of his gaze, eyeing the struggling Sith and taking advantage of the situation. The rancor clawed towards Vader, the Sith able to dodge the first few swats before the creature was able to land one.
Vader fell back in a daze, Padmé covering her eyes as she waiting for the following hits.
"Yeah, that's it!" Aphra cheered, and Padmé peaked through her fingers as Vader grabbed onto the rancor's fingers to pull him out of the mud, all while swinging his body weight to kick the creature in the nose.
The rancor screamed, shuffling backward due to the blow and allowing Vader to recollect himself near the edge of the pen. The Sith wobbled at the corner, his leg obviously reinjured with another wave of blood beginning to overtake the fabric near his boot. He shook his head, his long, mud-filled locks resting messily in every direction. Even his clothes looked as if they were brown now, the mud overtaking his usually black color. Vader rubbed at his eyes, trying to wipe away the blood, sweat, and mud that littered nearly every surface of his face.
He only looked back to the creature when the natives began to cheer, the rancor closing in again as Vader tried to quickly inspect the surroundings. Once again, the rancor and Sith continued their odd dance, Vader fleeing the vicious attacks while managing to land a few of his own. This continued for a few minutes minutes that seemed like hours in Padmé's mind until the rancor was able to land a blow to Vader's injured leg.
Padmé screamed as Vader did. The Sith releasing an undeniable howl as his legs were knocked out from under him. He hit the ground hard and made no motion to get up, not even when the rancor neared his body.
"Let's go," Aphra said suddenly, grabbing Padmé's arm and pulling her towards Judro.
"No, please," Padmé said, fighting out of the bounty hunter's grasp and turning back to the fight.
"Please, Vader," she begged through the Force to the Force. "Please, Force protect him."
The rancor reached down and wrapped his fingers around Vader's body. The Sith showing his first signs of life, struggling against the animal's grasp as he was lifted into the air towards the rancor's opened mouth. Vader battled against the creature's fingers, managing to free one of his hands, calling a large stick into his hand and slamming the wood into the creature's eye just before the animal bit down on him.
The rancor released a large shriek, not releasing Vader, but instead biting down hard on the Sith Lord's shoulder. Vader screamed too as the teeth of the beast broke through into his skin, but was able to twist and shove the stick into the remaining eye of the rancor, this time resulting in the rancor dropping Vader to the ground. Vader fell the nineteen feet to the ground, trying to catch himself through the Force, but unable to do anything but slow his descent by the slightest.
He laid on the ground for a long moment, before pushing himself onto his elbows and peaking up towards the rancor which continued to cry with its face cast away from the village. Vader sighed and collapsed back into the mud, whether from total exhaustion or just for needed rest, Padmé wasn't sure, but she knew that it felt like hours watching him lay there. Her eyes only glued to him for so long that she didn't even take notice to when the rancor turned around.
"He's blinded it," Aphra whispered in praise, causing Padmé's eyes to pull away from Vader and look towards the beast.
Sure enough, the creature stood at the edge of its cage, injured and very much blind. The stick that Vader had rammed into its eye, still penetrating out from the one eye socket while blood poured out from the other. The creature cried out in pain, reaching out and tapping its claws blindly against the ground. He sniffed the air, his head turning ever so slightly in Vader's direction before taking a hesitant step forward.
Vader raised his head again, slowly pushing himself up from the ground, and trying to stand confident. The mud had overtaken him again, but the mix of the red within the brown was unmistakable, parts of his ripped skin visible through the torn tunic. He walked slowly to the side of the cage, trying not to limb or slip on the mud.
He turned back to the creature when he reached a part of the pen that had not been torn by their fight, looking out over the scene with hard and zealous eyes. He watched as the rancor moved slowly and unconfidently towards him, with each step pausing to take a sniff and test the land with its massive paw.
Vader reached out his hand and a hard knock sounded at the opposite edge of the cage. The creature pausing and looking backward before hesitating on which way to go. Vader flicked his fingers and the knock sounded again. The creature this time believing the noise and releasing a large roar, before setting off in the opposite direction.
Vader took a step towards the creature, careful of his footing and the hazards of making any noise. He waited for the creature to collide with the fence across the cage, the rancor releasing a large cry as the fence zapped the creature, sending jolts of electricity through its veins. The creature stumbled backward, injured, confused, and angry.
Vader held out his hand just like he had done before, the same knock echoing from another side of the cage and the creature reacting the same way. Then Vader did the action again. And again. The creature falling for the ploy until he hit every corner of the fence. Finally, Vader had the sound echo from inside the creature's pen, the creature following the noise until he reached the same doorway he had entered into the cage from.
The rancor paused just outside the doorway, sniffing the opening suspiciously before pulling back with a growl. Surprisingly, Vader whistled from his spot in the center of the cage, just as he had done at the start of the match and the rancor roared, turning back to him.
"What is he doing?" Aphra asked aloud, shaking her head unable to understand.
But then Vader did it again, he smiled. He smiled the same vile grin, one that lacked all the energy, but held all the amusement as before. Lifting both of his hands as he shoved the creature backward with the Force, the rancor screaming as it flew back into the doorway of its cage, about to charge towards the center when Vader's hands swiped down, using the Force to bring the door of the pen down with it.
The rancor screamed as it was crunched against the door. The sharp edges of the doorway breaking through into his back and shoving him painfully into the ground. The creature mumbling one final cry, before taking his last breath.
The lights of the fenced powered off as Vader stumbled to the ground, the signal of his victory as Chief Tia'ka cheered from his spot at the head of the village. The natives erupted with joviality, the music springing back to life as they began their praise of the winner's worthiness. Even fire flew into the sky, but none of that mattered to Padmé because Vader was alive.
He's alive. He's alive, her heart seemed to sing, her eyes never leaving the man that laid in the mud, watching as his chest rose up and down with each breath.
"Let's go," Aphra said, pulling Padmé from her daze and Padmé had to use every ounce of her strength to keep from running to him.
"Hey, Daddy D," Aphra said as they approached him, his body practically engulfed by the mud around him, and nearly making him look as if he had just been freed from a slab of carbonite. "You're still alive."
Vader opened his eyes and tried to rise from the mud, a second later falling back and breathing deeply, trying to catch his breath. "Am I?" Vader breathed out, not at all sounding like himself. "It doesn't feel like it."
Vader took another deep breath, mustering his strength before using his body weight to lift himself from the ground. He hazarded a step towards the pair, finding the steadier ground, despite the fact that both of his legs were not so steady. Padmé took the newly close space as an opportunity to inspect him, as much as it hurt her heart to do so. It gave her anything to do to keep from holding him in front of everyone to see.
Just like during the fight, his hair was plastered down in a thick layer of mud, the same layer of mud that overwhelmed his entire body. The red liquid mixed on the brown surface, giving way to just how serious his injuries were beneath the rocky covering. His left sleeve was ripped at the seam and various holes were overflowing with blood. The gash above on his forehead continued to bleed down into his eye but seemed to not be too deep like she had thought before. In fact, his leg still looked the worse out of all injuries, and she could only guess that he would make it worse by continuing to put weight on it.
As if knowing her inner annoyances, Vader stumbled as he took a step forward, putting more weight on his injured leg and fighting hard to not walk with a limp as he moved to meet the chief. The older man approached the Sith and the two exchanged words, seeming to be pleased with the way their deal had turned out.
It seemed like such a dream to watch Vader speak with the elders and then command Aphra around like nothing had even occurred before he made his way towards one of the largest shacks. She followed him in a haze, afraid that if she moved too fast, she may wake up and learn of his true fate.
He entered into the large empty shack, only away from prying eyes did he allow his limp to be fully seen. He hobbled over to a wooden table in the center of the room, taking a seat at one of the accompanying chairs with a sigh. Padmé watched him for a long moment, frozen in her spot just inside the door before she found herself unable to fight it any longer.
With tears in her eyes and her heart thumping painfully against her chest, she crossed the room and pressed her lips against his. Their kiss was like fire; hungry and passionate. She could taste the mud and his blood on her lips, just as she was sure he could taste her tears, but she didn't care because he was alive.
Their lips battled each other, tasting and memorizing everything about one another. The pure emotion, the relief, the comfort...and maybe something else, passing between them. She felt his hand press against her waist, pulling her closer, and she was all too willing to comply. She moved to straddle him, only stopping when his other hand grabbed onto her waist.
"Senator," he breathed, between their kisses. "The mud."
She knew what he meant and instantly her hands went to her pants, undoing the buttons, their lips not even parting as she shoved the pants onto the ground and kicked them off; moving back to straddle Vader's form by sitting on his lap. Before she could close the gap, however, another garment had to be removed and Vader was all too willing to undo the buttons of her Imperial cadet's shirt, careful to undo each and every one, before ripping the fabric off and throwing it the floor. Her lack of bra allowing the Sith's mouth to instantly take a nipple into his mouth, sucking hard, while his other hand fondled her breast.
With each suck and tug of her breast, Padmé's head fell back, her breasts pushing into Vader's mouth as her core pressed harder into his lap. She grinded against him, one of the Sith's hands leaving her breasts to rub the base of her core, and Padmé bit at her tongue to keep from screaming his name.
He lathered her chest with kisses, the mud, sweat, and literal blood sliding between them, but somehow seeming inconsequential, their emotions too thick to care about such trial things.
Vader grabbed her hair and pulled her lips back to his, this time their tongues joining the battle as his hands moved to his boxers that laid on her waist. She rose without halting their kisses, allowing Vader to pull the garments down before kicking them off and moving to his pants.
Padmé clawed at the mud, throwing it on the floor until she found the clasps of his pants. She undid the buttons and pulled them down carefully not wanting to harm Vader in any way. She left both garments in a lump at his knees, pulling them down just far enough to get to the part of him that she desired.
Giving him a quick pump, she straddled him again, wasting no time to bring them together, and they both released exasperated sighs. Due to his injuries, Padmé was left to do most of the work, her body rising and lowering while Vader edged her on, his lips moving between her lips, neck, and breasts.
Their actions were quick, hungry, and passionate. Every move setting every cell ablaze, as if this was their first and last time. Passionate lovers reunited before the galaxy tore them apart and how truthful it was. They both found their release all too soon, pulling each other close, climaxing together, both of them moaning into the other's shoulder to muffle out their cries of pleasure to the outside world. She collapsed into him as her orgasm finished, taking whatever strength she had left with it and Vader's arms weaved around her tight, placing another small kiss to her naked shoulder before his head settled into the crook of her neck.
They sat there for a long moment, time once again seeming to stand still when they were alone. She pulled away, all too soon, taking in her handsome, injured, and dirty lover. She rubbed her hand against his cheek and he smiled, the sweet smile that she was sure he only showed her. "You're covered in mud now," he said, his glove wiping against her nose and then trailing down her chest, causing a smile to overtake her features as well.
"I thought I lost you," Padmé admitted, failing to hold back her tears.
Author's Note: Hello, my lovelies! Thanks for bugging me about posting this chapter cause I wouldn't have gotten around to it without your messages. I hope you enjoyed and are looking forward to Pt. 3. I hope everyone is staying safe! Much love! Drop a review!