They remained silent, starring at each other, before Vader spoke, "Threepio!" He called viciously, turning his hooded face away from her gaze, Padme didn't care, she knew his answer because of his silence; he had healed her that night, just like she had suspected. He had helped her. "Master!" Threepio exclaimed happily as he shuffled into the room, "You're awake! I can't tell you how worry I was –"
"Take the Senator to her room." Vader's voice boomed as he pushed himself off of the couch, cutting of the happy droid.
"Oh, yes." 3PO said as he paused, noting Vader's mood, "I will do anything you desi–"
"Now!" Vader screamed as he stalked his way around the droid and out of the room.
Padme and C-3PO watched the Sith's retreating figure, still not entirely sure what had happened. But both were smart enough not to ask. Silently they both walked back to the Senator's room without another word for the rest of the day.
That night, Padme knew he wasn't coming and part of her rejoiced, while another part died. She hated him for what he had done, but thinking he had almost died himself… Don't think like that. It just the nightmares. He keeps away the nightmares. Vader is nothing. Your savior is something. That's it.
Looking for a little comfort, Padme walked into her closet and pulled out the large black cloak and wrapped it around herself. She knew that it no longer kept the nightmare away, but she still needed something if he would not come. She silently thanked the Force that it had reappeared back in her closet when it did, or else she would have nothing.
She laid in her bed for hours, tossing and turning. Too afraid to sleep, too exhausted to close her eyes. She hated to admit it, but she needed him. Just the thought of her nightmare returning scared her half to death. She needed him to chase them away. She needed him to protect her. She needed him so she could sleep.
But he wouldn't come. But I could make him come. The thought seemed to make itself known in Padme's mind, but it was true. How had she made him come the first time, by thinking too loudly, by annoying him? It sounded silly, but Padme would try anything. She closed her eyes tightly, keeping the same thought in her head, and thinking it louder each time.
Darth Vader.
Darth Vader.
Darth Vader.
Darth Vader.
Darth Vader.
Darth Vader.
Darth Vader.
Darth Vader.
And just when she was about to quit… the door to her room opened. "You called, Senator?" Vader's voice echoed into the room, filled with high amounts of bitterness and annoyance.
Padme quickly uncovered and pushed herself up as she looked towards the spot she thought he stood in the room. "I'm sorry, just listen." She began, "I know you're angry with me, and you know I'm angry with you. And I know neither of us is in the forgiving mood, but we are both tired."
"I don't–"
"Yeah. Yeah." Padme said, not caring if she interrupted him, she knew what he was going to say, but she also knew it was a lie. "I know, apparently you're never tired, but I am –"
"Perhaps because it is such an earlier hour of the morning," Vader growled annoyed, "and you have yet to go to sleep."
Padme ignored his interruption and continued on as if he had said nothing. "We are both tired. We are both pissed" She continued, "but can we just both have this night to rest?"
No reply.
"Look." Padme growled, becoming more serious. "I know you felt something too "
"I do not feel, Senator." Vader replied coldly, making sure to pronounce every word like a threat.
"Then let me feel," Padme responded quickly, "but I know if the Force is screaming to me then it is doing a whole hell of a lot worse to you. So in that way… the Force way… you do feel. "
Vader was silent for a long moment; so long that Padme believed she had lost him. That was until he sighed, "What do you want me to feel?"
Padme took in a deep breath, preparing herself. "Do you trust me?" She asked quietly.
"Not at all." Vader responded flatly. At his response, Padme groaned loudly and threw herself back into the mattress like a spoiled teenager. She didn't care how silly she looked, she was tired, and she knew he was lying. Or so she hoped. If she couldn't make a connection with him, then she just wanted him to stay for her sake. She needed some rest and it seemed he was the only way she was going to get it.
Without warning, the mattress dropped, signaling that Vader was now on his side or her bed. An action that both confused and excited her, still she tried not to move as she starred at the darkness of a ceiling.
"I didn't ask you to stay." Padme finally said, when she was unable to think of any thing else to say.
"You didn't have to." Vader replied with the same amount of annoyance and arrogance in this voice. Padme couldn't help but roll her eyes. Vader, arrogant as always, and even though it annoyed her, she was just glad he stayed, even if she planned on ignoring him. Without another word, she turned herself completely away from him and pulled the hood of the black cloak over her head in further ignorance.
It took a few minutes, but Padme finally found a comfortable position and began to drift off to sleep when she heard, "Why do you wear that?"
"W-What?" She asked confused.
"My cloak." Vader pointed out, "Why do you wear it?"
Sith.
Padme blushed and even though she was turned away from Vader, she knew he would know. She had completely forgotten that she had put the article of clothing on in the first place. "Oh… I didn't… I don't–" She tired to explain, tripping over her words as embarrassment overtook her.
"You want me to have some trust?" Vader said simply, "Tell me the truth."
"Couldn't you just read my mind or something?" Padme asked annoyed.
"Perhaps…" Vader replied quietly, "but I asked you."
Padme was silent, unsure of whether to ignore him or respond, to lie or tell the truth? But she knew if she wanted trust, she had to tell the truth. "It used to keep the nightmares away…" Padme admitted quietly, "but now it's just sort of comforting."
"The nightmares about the man from the club?" Vader asked, revealing another secret.
.
.
.
👓☕️Consider supporting me and enhance your reading experience with the ready-to-read PDFs I have on my Ko-fi.☕️👓
🎯https://ko-fi.com/cmrowling🎯