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Hate This And I'll Love You

pairing : suitless!darth vader x f!reader | wc : 6k | 18+MINORS DNI

summary : you weren't sure what was worse, to be vader's love or not to be. at least when he didnt love you, you felt safe

warnings : unsexy choking, fear and intimidation, unhealthy and controlling relationships, attention seeking vader, mentions of death, developing stockholm syndrome, dub-con, dry humping, public sex, light praise, public sex, mentioned size difference

a/n : this is a part two to unintended. i honestly didnt think of a part two when i wrote the first one, but now i am planning a third part. i also somehow squeezed in two smut scenes as an apology for not writing for most of the week.

Darth Vader sits on his throne in his Imperial Fortress on Mustafar, handling the tasks left to him by Emperor Palpatine. In the weeks that have passed, he doesn't let you out of his chambers unless it is to be brought to him. But there you stay, in a Nabooian outfit he picked for you this morning, aimlessly picking at the fruit he had sent to you. The chair you sit on was across from a a dark velvet chaise, softened by even darker pillows and a blanket thrown over the edge. The lights gave the room a slight blue hue and you let out a sigh, eating quietly, but happy to have a moment without Vader’s presence or your panicked handmaidens.

An Imperial droid enters the chamber, its head rotating to look at you from every angle before presenting you with a red box with a bow. "Lord Vader has a gift for your ongoing... courtship, as he puts it."

“Thank you.” You say softly, taking the box with a great hesitation. It has a bit of weight to it and you set it on your lap, watching as the droid retreats, disappearing behind the door. A few seconds pass before Vader appears, looking tired, in his black robes with his cape draped over his shoulder.

"Open it." he says in a slightly raspy whisper. His voice sounds strained, as if he's just been screaming. Vader’s glowing yellow eyes focused on your fingers as you carefully undo the bow. Inside is a small, intricately carved golden heart shaped necklace with a ruby in the middle. Vader’s steps are rushed as he walks to stand behind you. His nimble fingers take the necklace from your hands, seeing it fit to fasten it to your neck with a single movement of his glove, his lips parted ever so slightly.

“Thank you, my lord.” You murmur, before shutting the box again and setting it aside to return to the remaining meiloorun fruit in front of you. There was little enjoyment left in the sweet fruit now that he was here.

"I should like to spend the evening with you." He says, as though the matter is already settled, his face impassive, though his gaze is hard and he doesn't look away. "Be prepared. A dress will be sent to you, and hair and makeup will be done in the traditional Nabooian style."

“Yes, my lord.” He watches as you push the remaining fruit around the plate listlessly.

"I should like to see you dressed appropriately, but also... sensual." He says calmly, his gloved hand slowly moving to the chain around your neck, gently taking the pendant in his hand.

“Yes, my lord.” You repeat, and Vader sighs.

"Do you love me?" Vader asks, his tone flat, and his words carrying a dangerous weight to his voice.

“Love is a strong word.” You murmur. As you turn to look at him, you look away from him again, unable to look at him for longer than a few seconds at a time.

Vader looks at you intently, and your heart beats harder at his gaze and a blush begins to cover your face. He takes slow, deliberate steps to sit at your chaise. You watch as he settles in, and slowly begins to unbuttons the black robes he wears, exposing the skin over his rib cage. The muscles below it ripple with even slight movements, and despite his face never changing, it is clear to you that he is not happy when you don't look at him.

You stay still, eyes dropping to stare at the ground between both of you. And Vader watches you, then continues to remove his robes and sits in front of you in nothing but his black briefs and his boots, slowly untying the knot that keeps his hair out of his face. His gaze is cold and intense on you still.

"Look at me, look at me, look at me." he whispers sternly, his words dripping with command.

Slowly, you look up, holding the sides of your dress so your hands wont shake. You watch as he uses the force to move aside the small table holding your fruit so there will be nothing between you. After allowing you to gaze at him for a long moment, his breathing is heavy and fast. His face is still hard, with little change to the expression, but the eyes are on fire.

"I should like you to stand," he whispers, the words making his chest expand with each syllable. "Come here."

Vader’s body is tense like a spring coiled to burst. As you walk towards him he begins unbuckling his belt, as if to remove it, or perhaps something else. Once you stand before him, you remain completely still. It was like he was a tiger and you were his prey, but its not like you could run, even if you wanted to

Vader finishes unbuckling the belt, and sets it and his gloves down on the ground beneath the chaise. He gently takes your hand and lays it on his chest, the muscles beneath rippling and the bare skin hot and damp from his body heat.

“My lord, what are you-” You start start but he cuts you off with a whisper.

"Shh." His breath is hot against your ear and his voice is low as he continues, his body tense with suppressed desire. "Touch me." Vader guides your hand across his chest, over the muscles rippling beneath the surface, over the soft skin around his neck, his Adam's apple, and down his stomach. His flesh is hot to the touch, his breath becoming heavier.

The longer it goes on, the more an uneasy calm settles over you and a desperation hits him. Vader seems to lose his control a little, his mind in a haze of lust. He looks up at you and his face starts to become contorted. He sits up then presses his head against yours and breathes heavily, his free hand wrapping around your neck.

"Do you love me?" He whispers hoarsely.

The seconds tick by as you try to think of how to word it. The constant need to appease him and his turbulent emotions, this necks snapped for staring at you for too long, and the fading face of your love in your memory. “I fear you.” You whisper quietly. Vader breathes heavily for a moment, his grip on your neck tightening, his free hand slipping beneath your dress.

"Then fear me more." He whispers before roughly grabbing you and pulling you towards him. His face is flushed red and he bites back a groan as he does so. A surge of desire washes over him as you gasp out. Once your free hand reaches up to scratch at the hand that choking you, Vader's hand moves to cup your chin, and he looks up at you, panting, the lust in his eyes gone now, replaced with anger. His face is contorted in rage as your hands lash out at him.

"Fear is what makes you worthy of my love." He whispers through gritted teeth, you can feel him using the force to tighten an invisible hand around your neck before his other hand moves from holding yours to his chest down to your thighs, his hand cupping them.

“Please.” You gasp, breathlessly and afraid.

"Please what, love?" Vader says mockingly, his voice dropping an octave. "Please as in, you beg for your life? I will take it from you as easily as I take your breath away. Do not beg for mercy from me, love."

You shut your eyes and a tear rushes from your eye as his grip on your throat through the force gets stronger, before you decide to give up and stop fighting or begging. A new low for hope, you think to yourself.

"Open your eyes." Vader commands, his voice still low and dangerous as his hand slides a little further up your thighs. "Do not think you get to give up." You slowly open your eyes, hoping this will end soon. Your vision is getting a bit fuzzy and you can hear a ringing in your ears. "Good girl." Vader's voice softens as he looks down at you once again, his hands now on your thighs instead of your neck, squeezing them as he lets go of his force grip on your throat.

"I should like you to get on your knees." You choke and sputter for air and Vader watches silently. His eyes focused on how the dark fabric of your gown pools over his forearms and the softness of your thighs as he touches them. As he continues to kneed and rub the soft skin of your legs, he subconsciously moves forward, almost missing your words as you speak.

“I need help, my lord” You rasp out, still recovering from his choking. “The dress makes it hard to do so.” This seems to calm Vader somewhat, and he chuckles quietly, before slowly and deliberately helping you down to your knees in front of him, and leaning over you, his lips slightly parted. His voice is a whisper at your ear, his words dripping with lust and passion.

"Beg for me."

“What do i beg for, my lord?”

"Beg that I love you, that I want you. Beg that I will never tire of you." His breath is on your skin, his fingers running through your hair as he tilts your head up to his. His gaze is all-knowing and all-seeing, and the hunger in his eyes is clear to see.

Every part of you screams how you don’t want any of that, how want nothing of everything he has given you, but you don’t have a choice. As you start to speak, your voice shakes. “My lord, please-”

Vader's fingers run through your hair as he moves closer to you, placing a finger against your lips and shutting it for you. His touch is almost electric to you, your fear giving way to something else that fills you, and it takes everything in you not to push yourself against him. "Try again." He says, his voice a growl.

“Please, my lord. I only ask for your love.” You start again, starting to tear up and the words burn at your throat. “Please.... I want to be the one you want most, the one you need, the one you cannot be without.”

"Good girl." He says quietly, running a gloved hand over your cheek. A flush starts to creep across his face, and he touches your chin and turns your head to face him once more. His breath is hot on your face as he looks directly at you.

"Tell me you love me again." He whispers.

Even though you know its a lie, you still say it. “I love you, my lord.”

"Again, my love." He says, his finger going to cover your mouth. You nod quickly, trying to not let the tears show, your breathing becoming ragged. "Again." His voice is stern now, as if he is commanding you to repeat it as a drill sergeant would command his troops to push-ups.

“I love you, my lord”

"Good girl." Vader whispers, his voice still stern. His gloved hand moves to your dress as he pulls you towards him. Your mind screams at you to turn away, but the force of his desire is overwhelming as he begins to slowly unbutton your dress, his breath harsh at your neck. "Tell me again." He whispers.

“I love you, my lord.”

"Again." Vader whispers, his head starting to tilt back as he loses control of his breathing. His hand slides across the edge of your dress as he looks to the buttons and begins to unbutton it, letting his hunger and need be heard in his voice and his eyes.

“I love you, my lord.” And you finally crack, a fast tear running down the side of your face. Vader pulls you towards him, as the dress falls off your shoulders and his hand slips over your skin.

He whispers once more, "Again." His words are harsh, hoarse as though he is out of breath. "Tell me again."

“I love you.”

Vader stands and takes your face in his hands. His lips are pressed to yours in a way that is violent, passionate, but the fire in his eyes tells you it's as much rage as it is lust as he takes what he wants. "Again." He whispers to you as though commanding you, his voice breaking with pain. "Tell me again."

You tire of having to repeat yourself, but you do. “Please my lord.” You whisper, “I love you.”

"Again." Vader says, his tone still hoarse, still desperate. He slides the dress entirely off, and takes you in his arms, pushing you backwards until you're pinned under him on the chaise as his mouth takes yours aggressively in a way that might hurt, but there's a strange satisfaction to his touch that you can't deny. Your words are lost in a haze of pleasure and want and fear as Vader pushes you back, his mouth still on yours. His tongue snakes out and searches for yours, and the heat in his touch is intense. He grinds his hips against your thighs, your crotch, wherever he can reach, groaning against you as he chases his own pleasure.

His lust is burning at him and everything in him needs to feel like you love him. Even if he knows you're lying through your teeth. He knows why you even entertain his neediness, to protect your moronic, weak, first love, Gracies Gras. Even if you don’t love him now, he needs you to get better at acting like you did for his own sake. Something for the good in him to hold onto. And he will continue to beg, and beg for you to love him, even though he isn’t perfect and he’s a monster. Under it all, he knows you cant, but if you could try, maybe he could be better.

"Again." His tone makes it hard to recognize the voice of the man you once knew, it's harsh, it's rough, and it's filled with a kind of agony you don't understand. He continues to grab at you, hard enough to bruise, humping at your legs, groaning against your skin. From where you lay, you can see the faint yellow glow around his yellow eyes, the way his lips stay open for breath even after he’s done talking, and the way his hair starts to stick to his face the longer he continues to hump helplessly at your body. You wanted to tell him how much you pitied him in this moment, loathed him.

“I love you, my lord.” You whisper, shutting your eyes. Vader's grip tightens gently around your body, holding you close to him. His kiss slows and he gently breaks the kiss, looking at you as he tries to catch his breath. He groans out as he slips his briefs down, jerking himself off onto your stomach with heavy pants and his eyes screwed shut. He rests his head against your shoulder as he catches his breath, and once he does, he turns his head to kiss your cheek, but you move away and he pauses. He looks at you for a moment, his heart heavier then lead in his chest.

"That is enough." He says quietly. Vader reaches for his robe and clothes, getting back to his feet and cleaning your stomach with a blanket and rebuttoning your dress. He seems unfazed by his own actions, and then, as if nothing has happened that was out of the ordinary, his face is still and impassive, and he walks back to the door.

"Be ready in the morning to leave for Naboo."

“Naboo?” You repeat, looking over at him.

"Yes, Naboo." He says, staring out the window. His tone of voice suggests you should already know what he means.

"Lord Palpatine has asked for my attendance and I intend to take you as well. There will be... duties for you to perform whilst we are there." He says, as if the idea repels him, but also intrigues him greatly.

“I will have my handmaidens begin to pack.”

"Yes, have them do that." Vader's voice is absent, as if his mind is far away now, thinking about something that troubles him. "Be ready by morning." He says, his face still turned toward the window.

He lets another silence hang for a moment before turning to look at you again, his expression impossible to read. He looks at you for a long moment, before finally saying, "Go to bed, my love."

The next morning, your handmaidens are quick and efficient, dressing you in an outfit that might be considered a little risqué in comparison to your usual attire, but Vader has been asking for it for months. They also do your hair and makeup in a way that is intended to be as appealing to Vader as possible and soon enough you are sat up in bed, fully dressed. Vader enters the room in his formal clothes, his face impassive. You can see the faint shadows of rage in his eyes, though, and they are watching you.

"Come." Vader says quietly, and you feel a strange mixture of fear and desire as you get up from the bed and follow him downstairs to the shuttle that will take you back to Naboo. Both on the shuttle, as during many of your days together on Mustafar, he does not say a word to you.

Eventually, the shuttle lands on Naboo a couple hours early and Vader escorts you out of the ship, his arm sliding down your shoulder as he slowly directs you through the lush gardens of Theed and into a market. As soon as you both are seen, it takes mere seconds for all of the shoppers to leave, leaving you and Vader in a near empty market.

Darth Vader walks through the bazaar, ignoring the silent stares of the merchants and the hushed, scared whispers of the shoppers as they hide in alleys and abandoned buildings. In the presence of Vader, everyone feels uneasy, yet fascinated by him at the same time. Your heart was pounding as if you were a prisoner about to be led to their execution. Vader held your hand to keep you close to him and you couldn't help but be reminded of his sheer physical superiority and power.

Though you had never been in Theed before now, you were reminded of life on Karlinus. The colored stands and the smells of foods and teas. The last one hitting too close to home and you miss home all at once. “I want tea.” You murmur gently.

At your mention of tea, Darth Vader pauses and looks at you with a raised eyebrow. "Tea?" he asks, an edge of disapproval on his face.

“Tea.” You repeat and Vader looks at you disapprovingly but signals a merchant to come over. The merchant bows low before Vader, and then offers you a sampling of some of his best teas. You take your pick and Vader pours your chosen brew into two small cups. Vader watches you sip your tea with an expressionless face.

“It’s good.” You murmur, smiling down into the tea. Vader watches you sip your tea for several moments, his expression still neutral and unreadable.

Finally, Vader speaks up. "It is indeed good tea," he says, a small hint of approval in his voice.

“You haven’t tried it.”

Vader's face remains stony. "I do not drink tea."

“I see.” You say softly and Vader does not reply, but his hand tightens around yours as the two of you continue walking through the market. As you look into the shops and stalls, Vader remains close at your side, watching you closely out of the corner of his eye. Everyone around you has an expression of fear on their face as they give way to Darth Vader.

Vader continues walking through the main part of the bazaar with you, not saying anything but staying close to your side. He doesn't even speak up when a couple of shopkeepers try to stop you and talk to him, instead just allowing you to keep walking without acknowledging them. Suddenly, Vader tugs you into an alley away from the crowds and you walk in silence for a few moments until he stops by a doorway. Vader looks around the alley, seeming to make sure you two are alone.

“What is happening?” You whisper, shocked from the sudden act. “Why have you brought me here?”

Vader puts a finger to his lips, indicating you to be quiet. He stares at you for a moment with that same expressionless stare, then finally says in a low voice, "Come here."

You scrunch up your face and shake your head before you whisper back, “We’re in this alley together.”

Vader's eyes narrow. "Come here. Closer." His voice is firm, yet still gentle and quiet.

He watches as you start to lean in, too slow for his liking. Vader pulls you close to him by your hands. He looks at you with an intense stare, his eyes almost searing in their ferocity. He pulls you in closer than ever, until you are pressed tightly against his huge, imposing frame. You feel his breath on your neck as his eyes bore into you.

“My lord, not here, not now.” You whisper carefully.

Vader's eyes narrow and he brings his face close to your ear. "Yes, here. Yes, now." He speaks in a soft, gentle whisper, making it seem even more sinister than his usual tone. Darth Vader grabs hold of you and holds your arms at your sides so you are trapped against him. You suddenly feel his hand slip under the back of your dress, his fingers sliding along your skin. You cannot resist him.

“My lord, please.” You whisper, struggling against him but he just runs a hand over your hair, smoothing it. “Someone could see.”

Vader ignores your pleas, his hand moving farther up your body. His other hand slides down to your thigh, squeezing it. He leans down to your ear and speaks in a whisper. "You will be quiet. You will not leave."

You nod and turn to look and see if anyone can see you both. No one can see the two of you, you are hidden by the shadows of the alley, Vader's imposing figure blocking you off from all other angles. Vader holds you tightly to his body, his face close to your ears as he speaks.

"You see," he whispers, "we are alone."

You nod slowly, heart racing, unsure if its from your fear of the situation or from how close he is in the moment. Vader leans in closer still. His breath is hot on your neck.

"Does this please you, my love?" he asks in a whisper that sounds like the softest of caresses. Vader stares at you intently, waiting for your answer. You feel his hand sliding farther up your body. Your heart beats more quickly now, your breath becoming faster and shallower.

“I- It-” You whisper, feeling conflicted. You knew he had some kind of twisted love for you and he seemed to believe in it so fully. He took you from the life you knew and up-ended it, but it wasn’t entirely his choice. Vader didn't love you at first but he loves you now. He still spoiled you, he doted on you, it was like you were his whole world. Maybe it wouldn't be bad to enjoy it, to let him love you and feel loved.

Vader smiles when you speak. His hand slides to your bare shoulder and he moves in even closer, looking down at you with those piercing, burning eyes. His words are a soft whisper that seems to burn itself into your ears and your brain. "Good," he says. "It should please you, my love."

You shut your eyes and lean back against the wall. As you do, Darth Vader pushes you slightly against it. His body presses close to yours, his hand on your waist. "Open your eyes," he whispers, "and look at me."

But the shame is too immense, the idea of being on a foreign planet for the first time, one of such importance, and taken in the streets is overwhelming. Dirty, foolish, embarrassed. Vader pauses for a moment before speaking again. "Open your eyes, and stop being so foolish," he says, his voice still quiet. His free hand slides up your body a bit, to cup your face.

You open your eyes but still cant look at him. He watches your eyes dart away, looking down the alley, to the quiet marketplace, and even at his chest but not at him. Vader frowns and his hand moves to hold your chin. He slowly turns your face to look directly at him. Your heart beats quickly as you come face to face with him, looking into his cold, yellow eyes... and yet, you cannot help but feel your face flush as he looks at you.

“If we are doing this here, lets hurry. We have to meet the Emperor soon.” You murmur and Vader smiles at you, his face looking almost warm for the first time in your memory.

"Yes, let us hurry," he says, moving one hand to your back and the other to his pants. As he unties the string of his pants and slides them down, you lift the skirt of your dress for him. Vader looks at you, his eyes burning brightly despite the dimness of the alleyway. "Good girl," he says softly and it makes your heart race even more as you hold your skirts tightly in your hands.

“Hurry.” You whisper, “I feel like someone might catch us.”

Darth Vader looks at you, his face almost looking thoughtful for a moment. "They would be wise not to," he says softly, pulling your dress up above your hips. He is careful to keep you covered by the fabric in his hands in front of you, almost as if he doesn't want the sight of you to be spoiled. He speaks again, his voice almost a whisper but still clear enough to be heard. "No one will catch us."

He pulls down your panties and slides out his cock, giving it a few strokes as he comes closer to you. “I need you, it may not be a good time, but I need you,” Vader whispers making quick work of prepping you on his fingers. His fingers are nimble as he starts with two fingers and moves quickly, impatiently. “If we had enough time, I would take my time with you. To show you that I love you.”

And your eyes almost close, but you fight to keep them open for him. He notices your struggle and shuts his own eyes, kissing at your eyelids as he adds in another finger. “You have to be quiet, okay? No noises. Be good for me and hold your pretty little dress and help us both feel good.” He murmurs against your forehead.

As your breathing picks up, he moves his fingers gently in you and drags his slightly parted lips across your face. Once you start to shift anxiously against him, he pulls his fingers out and starts to slide his cock into you, his hands holding your waist gently.

“Say you love me again.” Vader whispers as he bottoms out, looking in your eyes, his words sound could but theres a desperation in his voice.

“Why must I say it so much?”

"So I may hear it over and over again." Vader responds quietly, his voice almost gentle again. "Tell me again, my love."

“I love you.” You whisper and he kisses you, and is desperate. His hands tangling in your hair as he holds your face still, his hips beginning to thrust in and out of you, your moans muffled by his mouth. Slowly, your hands come to rest on his waist and timidly you kiss back.

If you give Vader an inch, he will take a mile and his kiss deepens, his tongue exploring your mouth and one of his hands moving to your hip for leverage as he picks up speed. “I love you.” He murmurs, before he focuses on thrusting into you, holding one of your legs on his waist so he can push you into the wall. Each time you gasp, he taps your lips with one finger as if to silence you, as the pressure continues to build, your gasps become moans and whines and Vader quickly cups a hand over your mouth.

“Be quiet. I can’t believe you’re so scared if you’re not listening to me and being so loud.” He whispers, before he kisses your forehead and continues to thrust into you. His eyes focused on yours, silently urging you to look at him, to keep your eyes on him. To let him be the center of your universe for even a moment. “Rub yourself,” He murmurs, “You deserve it, my love.”

Your hands slips under your dress and he can feel it from how close he is to you. Your hand is so small, delicate, and lost in the mess of fabrics that protect your true for from the world. As you rub circles on your clit, he groans as you start to clench around him, so Vader leans close, whispering in your ear.

“Are you close?”

You hesitate for a moment before you give him what he wants, a small nod.

“Do you really need to come?”

Another nod, this time without hesitation and he watches as your eyes focus on him again.

“Come on them.” He murmurs, continuing to thrust into you and once you release, the hand on your mouth holds on a bit tighter and the other moves from your leg to slip behind your head to keep you from hitting the wall. And he follows you, coming against your cervix as he takes a moment to breathe, his head hanging for a moment.

As you both come down, he slides out and tucks himself away before he smooths your hair and dress. His eyes comb over your appearance to make sure not even a hair is out of line. Once he is sure all is good, he leans forward and kisses your lips again, this time gentle. He moves your hair aside to whisper in your ear. “I have one last thing to ask of you.”

“What is it?”

“Do you know the Hero With No Fear?”

His question strikes you as odd, you know who he was before he fell to the dark side. Everyone knew it, every one can see it when they look at him. “Anakin Skywalker?”

When you say his old name, his eyes shut for a moment. His ears savor the way it sounds coming from you, so different from how others said it then and even now “Yes… That is all.” Vader murmurs, and a silence falls over you both as you stand still.

“Are we going now to see the emperor?”

"Yes, love." He replies coldly, moving in front of you now to guide you towards the palace, his steps measured and his stride even. "Palpatine has something he wants to discuss with us both." He says, as if this is nothing out of the ordinary. You follow behind him quietly before you take his arm in yours so you wont get lost, but also to just be close enough to him.

Vader looks down at you as you hold his arm and he seems to pause for a split second before turning his stare forward again. He holds your arm still, his fingers gently brushing over your hand and wrist, and his hand squeezing yours once more.

A few minutes later, you are escorted into Palpatine's office, a snakelike smile on Palpatine's face as he looks to greet you both only to be met by a shared silence. Palpatine gestures to some comfortable chairs on the other side of the office, and Vader leads you to them, still holding your arm tightly. He makes no movement to sit down, though, and his eyes remain on you, his breathing coming fast and hot as he watches you.

Your gaze returns to the Emperor and Palpatine seems perfectly calm and at ease, as if he has been expecting this visit all along, the smile still on his face. Vader's eyes lock with yours again, and he tilts his head slightly, as if puzzled by your glance at Palpatine.

"Do you know why we are here today." Palpatine asks you directly, his voice warm and friendly.

“No, your highness.” You say, not letting him see any fear and next to you, Vader straightens up in support, looking on at Palpatine.

Palpatine looks to Vader as he answers, but Vader's cold expression never changes, and you cannot see what he is thinking. "I had a feeling." Palpatine continues, his voice as warm as it was a moment ago. He motions over a protocol droid to record the conversation, and once the droid is ready, he turns back to face you. "It has come to my attention that Lord Vader has developed... feelings..." He pauses, as if the word he is looking for is something entirely foreign. "For you."

Palpatine's smile grows wider as he seems to find a word more suitable to what he is saying. "Lord Vader has developed... affections... for you." He says, and now Vader's shoulders drop slightly. Palpatine continues. "He has been so devoted to the Empire, and yet I cannot help but wonder if this feeling... this affection... might not... compromise his loyalty."

“Oh.” You say softly, before you hold your tongue. You knew better than to give any thoughts or feelings to the Emperor, but you feel a creeping sense of dread.

Palpatine's smile fades slightly at your response, and he turns to look at Vader. Your breath catches in your throat at the look on Palpatine's face: it's not a look of anger or even surprise. It's almost... a look of... envy.

Vader's hand grips your shoulder tighter in response, and he glances at Palpatine as he says in an almost pleading tone, "My lord."

Palpatine ignores Vader, continuing to look at you. "Lord Vader's... affection... for you..." Once again the words seem strange to him. "Could prove... unsettling." Palpatine gives a smile to Vader, before looking back at you, his lips curling into a grin as he watches you.

"If you did... something that forced Lord Vader to abandon you..." He pauses, and you wonder what he's talking about. "Would he stay loyal to me... or you?"

Vader's grip on your shoulder tightens again, as if he's telling you to remain silent and not respond to this. His voice comes out a hoarse whisper now. "Do not answer him." He says quietly.

Palpatine looks as if he's about to ask you another question, but decides against it. His face seems to light up as he realizes something.

"Yes... this is perfect." Palpatine says quietly. "Lord Vader?" Vader turns slowly to face him, and you can tell Vader knows what is coming. Vader slowly nods, an expression that seems like resignation on his face.

"Lord Vader... I believe it is time." Palpatine says, and your heart sinks as he continues. "We must put this attachment to the test." Palpatine stares at the both of you now, the expression he wears now almost entirely different than it has ever been. His face is almost... angry?... as looks between the two of you.

Vader meets your eyes, and you see that he seems resigned, as if this is not the first time Palpatine has done something like this to him.

"Lord Vader... I want you to kill her." Palpatine says quietly, leaving a long pause between his sentence.

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