Vader had no interest with staying with the senator, but he couldn't deny how pleasing the sound of silence would be. He hated to admit it, but exhaustion was finally affected him. He had been looking forward to a night of rest, rest he was not getting because of the Senator's screaming thoughts. Of course, he would never consider this under normal circumstances, but the circumstances being what they were, he would be crazy not to.
His Master had ordered him to stay with the Senator until he broke the first portion of her mental walls, obtaining whatever little information that lied within. Once he obtained even the slightest bit of information, he would be allowed to return to his normal duties. He would still have to complete his mission with the Senator, but at least he would not have to be cooped up with her all day, for weeks on end He had planned for the breaking of the first layer of her mental wall to take approximately two weeks, but that was if she was awake and he was at a distance. It would take half the time if she was asleep and he was near. She would never suspect a thing, or perhaps she would. Vader didn't care. He could tell that she was in distress, even if she questioned his intentions, she would not push him away. He was at the advantage, but could he really do what she asked?
"Lie down, Senator." He commanded and without a word, she obliged, doing as he commanded.
Padme brought the covers up to her chin, gripping them tightly in her grasp, and she waited for the sound of the door closing. She waited to be left alone with her thoughts, that she knew she must now keep silent. She felt like a fool, but she couldn't erase what had happened. Now, she had to deal with it. Padme waited and waited for Vader to leave, but the sound never came.
Then the mattress dropped, causing Padme to jump.
"I suggest you sleep now, Senator." Vader threatened from the other side of her bed, "Before I change my mind."
The young Senator could not believe it. It had to be a dream. Did Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith, the most powerful man in the universe, listen to her? Was he really in her bed? If he was, than Padme guessed that he had to have an alternative motive… but right now, she didn't care. She wasn't going to ruin this. Still she couldn't believe it. She had heard his voice, but besides the bed dropping, she could not feel any other evidence of his presence. She pulled slightly on the covers, which constricted around her, giving her evidence that someone was laying on them on the other side of the bed. The evidence wasn't enough. She wanted to see the proof. Even though she couldn't see in the darkness, she began to turn over, trying to see some true trace of his existence on her bed.
"Senator." Vader warned, using the Force to stop her from turning. "Do not turn around."
"I can't see anything." Padme whispered, hoping he would allow her to continue.
"Eventually, you will."
"I'll keep my eyes shut." She suggested quietly.
"Senator." Vader threatened again, his voice much harder than before. Padme knew it was his warning that he would leave if she continued her actions. She had no choice but to listen. Without another word, she turned back over and closed her eyes. A smile formed itself over her features as she inhaled deeply through her nose, feeling the relief that entered. His scent was all around her, stronger than ever before.
The next morning Padme woke up and before she even saw the evidence herself, she knew Vader was gone. Peeling her eyes open, she turned over to examine where Vader had been the night before; but there was nothing. He hadn't just left; he had vanished. There was absolutely no trace of him, almost as if he was never there. The bed was perfectly made as if it had never been touched. Lightness surrounded her body and the air felt warm. There was no evil, cold, or darkness. The room was completely free of any and every trace of Darth Vader.
Observing the lack of evidence, Padme questioned if Vader actually had stayed with her or if she had just imagined the whole thing. She wanted to believe it had all been a dream but her thoughts told her differently. No! Her mind screamed, reminding her of the truth. He was here. He had stayed… but how long had he stayed? When did he leave? What exactly happened?
Memories of the night before flooded Padme's mind and caused her to let out a long frustrated sigh, before she fell back into her pillow. How could she let any of the night before happen? She felt so foolish… so embarrassed… so irritated. What had she done? How could she allow simple nightmares to affect her so deeply? So deeply that it caused her to make such a rash decision? Why did she have to show such weakness to Vader; weakness that he could hold against her. This just gave him one more thing to hold over her head. Is that the reason he had stayed? Padme didn't know; of course she appreciated what Vader had done; but she wondered why he had done it. He had made it clear that he did not care about her and that he would more than willingly dispose of her. If that was true, why hadn't he let her alone instead of staying with her? Why hadn't he just allowed the nightmares to consume her, torture her, and bring her pain? If he hated her as much as she thought, wouldn't he find pleasure in her discomfort?
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