An amused yet sinister chuckle escaped the throat of the Sith beside her. "If we're taking votes," Vader remarked, his voice suddenly hollow. "I vote for your third idea."
"Was that a joke?" Padmé gasped, in a more playful manner that Vader didn't appreciate.
"No," he growled, bitterness lacing his voice as his head snapped toward her.
Padmé's step turned into a shuffle, echoing the fear she still harbored for the Sith beside her, but she quickly attempted to mask it. "Pity," she remarked. "I was worried you had a sense of humor."
"At times," he replied, his voice growing deeper as he slowly turned his head toward her. "Yet, I feel our idea of amusement differs greatly." "I have no doubt," Padmé agreed, her mind occupied by the cruel methods and gruesome tortures that Vader likely found amusingalong with sex. "So," she continued to press, "it's just sex, then. No love."
"Senator," he snapped. "Let it go."
"Answer my questions, and I will," she replied quickly, her mind swiftly crafting a negotiation due to her political background.
"You are foolish to believe in love," he finally hissed, giving his indirect response.
Padmé nodded nonetheless, processing his words. "No love," she mused with a nod. "Do you not feel any emotions?"
"No," he snapped, but Padmé arched an eyebrow.
"No, you do, or no, you don't?" she asked, aware that she was testing his limits. He did not respond to her, and his pace appeared to quicken.
She attempted to keep pace with him but found it challenging. "Do you experience any emotions?" "No."
"Ever?" "No."
"Are you not a human?" "No."
"Are you a machine?" "No."
Padmé sighed, nearly running to keep pace with Vader's long strides, yet feeling as though she was getting nowhere. "Are you going to answer all my questions with a no?" "Yes," Vader growled, turning his head back to face her. "Now, shut up and follow me."
Typically, Padmé wouldn't entertain such a demand, but something in his voice urged her to refrain from arguing. With little choice, she followed Darth Vader through the twists and turns of the city, surprised by his apparent familiarity with it. From what she could gather, Vader knew every nook and cranny of the Coruscant streets, never pausing or hesitating as he led the way. He steered them away from busy avenues, opting instead for darker alleys that Padmé had never known existed. Soon, she gave up trying to walk beside him, trailing instead as she struggled to keep pace with his long strides.
Walking behind Lord Vader, she seized the opportunity to examine him from the back. As mentioned earlier, unlike the robe that enveloped her body, the brown cloak clung to his and accentuated more defined lines than usual. The garment was far too small for him, yet somehow he managed to wear it well. It created a silhouette that hinted at humanity, although she felt he generally appeared more human than any other galactic species. It was his power and his actions that sparked debate, and at that moment, the blend she observed in Padmé left her deep in thought.
"Your friends are concerned," he said flatly, breaking the cold silence between them and bringing Padmé back to reality.
Initially, she felt confused about his meaning, regarding him with a frown before following the direction of his hood. To her surprise, her gaze landed on a familiar sight: the Senate Apartment Complex, her home. Reflecting on it, she realized that the last alley– again, one she had never noticed before– was the one connecting to her street, leading directly to the back of the building. Somehow, Vader had brought her home without even realizing it, and that alone amazed her.
Pausing at the edge of the shadows, Vader waited for her to approach. "Perhaps you should inform your peers of your presence," he stated flatly. "Your security is tearing apart Coruscant in search of you."
Padmé was taken aback by his comment but forced a small nod, never considering her security or her friends during her time with Vader. It had been her moment away, and now it was coming to an end. In that instant, Padmé sensed Vader's urge to leave, but even more shockingly, she realized she didn't want him to go.
"Can't you stay?" she whispered before she could stop herself, her gaze dropping to the ground as a whirlwind of emotions stirred within her, feeling his eyes move over her. That was when she sensed it again– a sort of spark she could not explain. It coursed through her body like lightning, becoming heavy but not oppressive. It felt strange yet... good. Slowly, as if compelled, she raised her head back to the Sith, meeting his gaze, which felt hot against her skin. They stared at each other for a long moment, no words exchanged, but something undeniably unfolded... Until–
"Oh Force! Call security! She's back!" a voice yelled, breaking the moment and capturing Padmé's attention as she turned toward the building.
Moments later, the door of the apartment building swung open, and a young woman dashed onto Coruscant Street, her face reflecting a mixture of relief and tears.
"There you are!" Dormé screamed as she barreled into Padmé, nearly knocking her over before tightly wrapping her arms around her best friend. " I've been so worried!" Padmé returned the hug after a moment's hesitation, caught in another daze.
Pulling away, Dormé smiled again and quickly wiped her tears. She took a few steps back, trying to calm herself, but her face seemed to pale, and she froze in the street. Initially oblivious to the creature lurking in the darkness, Dormé's expression revealed her utter shock as she noticed him beside the senator. She quickly mastered her reaction and bowed her head in fearful respect. "And, Lord Vader."
He stayed silent, and the three stood together for a brief moment before another joined them.
"Ah! Senator Amidala! You're home! What a relief!" Rush Clovis yelled as he opened the door to the apartment and walked over to join the two women. He seemed pleased enoughtoo pleased- at least until he noticed their company. Rush paused before them, a large frown overtaking his face as he eyed the Sith Lord with a sickening glare. "And what is he doing here?"
"And where are your clothes?" Dormé asked, noticing Padmé's condition. She then glanced with shock at her friend and then at the Sith, her terror escalating in her expression. "Did he…"
Padmé could see the idea forming in her friend's eyes, and her own widened at the thought. She practically ran toward Dormé to prevent the notion from taking hold.
"No!" Padmé nearly shouted, holding out her hands and shaking her head vigorously. "It's nothing like that! It's not like that at all!"
Rush stepped around the two women, positioning himself between them and Vader, while ignoring their conversation, which clearly angered him. His entire body tightened as he attempted to intimidate the Sith Lord, flashing Vader a mocking grin. "I'm surprised to see the Emperor's pet off his leash and so far from home," he remarked, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Not lost, are you?"
Vader remained still, while Padmé turned back to the other man with a stern frown.
"Rush," she growled. "You have no right."
He turned his head back to her, bewilderment etched on his face. "You're defending him again?" Rush laughed, though anger still flickered in his eyes. "Oh, this is just too good!"
"Rush–" Dormé attempted, but Padmé would not be insulted without a more substantial response.
"He saved me," she replied. "Therefore, I have the right to defend his presence here."
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