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THE RUSHING WATER OF A CASCADE BREAKS THE HEAVY SILENCE. Small fairy lights hung from one wooden beam on the ceiling to the others. The walls were high and wide, the drywall replaced with a sort of screen that produced a mimic environment of Apollo itself. Faux bushes and flowers decorated the dimly lit room, matching the ones displayed on the screen.
The fragrance too was that of Astrid's home planet. The soft lingering scent of jasmine flowers and lily harmonized with the aroma of different delicious baked sweets. There was also a hint of a more wet and earthy scent as a result of the electronic waterfall that played in the corner of the room.
In the middle of the room, standing on mahogany colored legs, was a large gazebo. Thick green vines climb up the base and through the ceiling of the belvedere, wrapping the wood in its arms tightly. Sitting below it was a long frosted glass table, food towering on the fine china plates that patiently waited to be taken.
Vader waits patiently at his designated seat, sweaty palms pressing against his muscular thigh. His lips pursed as his amber rimmed irises scan over the room one more time. Everything needed to be perfect for Astrid. His stomach bubbled in anxiousness, it was a feeling he hadn't felt since the beginning of the Clone Wars when they had reunited after the Battle of Geonosis.
The doors finally open, and Vader rises to his feet. His heart pounds as he takes in Astrid's appearance. She wore a beautiful white sundress that ended just a few inches below her ass, the neckline dropping to a low 'U' showing a tiny bit of cleavage. Her hair was twisted out of her face with a claw clip, leaving two strands of her bangs out.
Her jaw drops as her eyes travel throughout the beautifully decorated room. The guard that escorted her had retreated back to his post, leaving just Astrid and Vader. Her green eyes twinkle in amazement as they skim across the room, eventually landing on the man who had decorated the room.
"You look breathtaking," Vader makes his way over to Astrid, his arm outstretched for Astrid to take. The light blue button-up shirt hugged his arms and shoulder perfectly, the material tightening every time he moved. He watches as Astrid internally weighs the options if she should take his hand or not, and in the end, her soft hand slips into his calloused one.
"Thank you, you look quite good without that suit," Astrid lightly smiles, and despite her body being calm and relaxed around him, her eyes swam in cautiousness. Vader understood why, but it still hurt. He elected to ignore it for the time being, gently pulling her closer by her hand and letting his gloved metal hand enclose around her waist.
"Do I?" Vader teases, his head dipping down to be eye-level with her. Since his leg had been chopped off in Mustafar, the prosthetic that had taken the limb's place was taller than his actual one due to Palpatine's want for Vader to be in some sort of discomfort. After extensive treatment, he had somehow grown a few more inches to meet his prosthetic's height.
Astrid tilts her head up, not used to his new height. Their eyes contact, and intense tension warping around the room like thick fog. Her heart begins to race as she watches Vader lean in closer. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she wanted this as much as he did.
The Sith watches as Astrid's eyes flicker to his lips. He took in the subtle hint that showed how affected she truly was by him. The way her body responded to his touch, the way she didn't push him away, the way she was just as entranced by him as he was her. His lips just brush against her when she abruptly pulls back.
She shakes her head, swallowing thickly. Her mind spun with a million thoughts as she shut her eyes and looked away. Despite how much she wanted this, she couldn't. Not when she was trying to leave. She didn't want to lead him on even though he had taken her against her will.
"I'm sorry, I can't," Astrid's voice wavered as she felt Vader's grip on her waist tighten. Her watery eyes meet Vader's, his face soft and, to her surprise, understanding. His flesh hand raises gently and cups her cheek, thumb gently caressing her soft skin.
"Why not?" His voice was tender. No sign of anger was present on his face or posture. He truly wasn't angry, he just wanted to know why.
"I just—" Astrid cuts herself off. She couldn't answer the question because she truly didn't know. It just felt wrong. And as much as she wanted to, she could hear the whispers that would spread like wildfire if it ever came out to the galaxy. 'Rebel general getting cozy with Lord Vader?' would be the title of the gossip article.
"I just can't," Astrid finally whispers, eyes falling to the table behind him. She could bear to look him in the eyes and tell him. She was aware how much it would hurt him. The lack of physical affection even though she was right in front of him would kill him.
Vader simply nods, his hands moving to the small of her back and guiding her to her seat across from him. His heart clenched at the lack of physical touch he was getting, but he won't force her to love him. But there was also a side of him that just wanted to claim her, make her his again, wash away any touch a man could've left.
"I won't do anything without your consent," Vader simply says, pulling out the seat for Astrid to sit on. The girl sits, body slightly going rigid as his leather bound hand gently runs along the exposed skin of her collarbone as he slowly leaves her side and to his seat. He takes a seat in front of Astrid, taking note that she was no longer teary-eyed, "I do have a question though."
Astrid hums in acknowledgment, watching him closely as he plates himself some food. She reluctantly copies him, her idea of not eating out of the window when she saw the delicacies in front of her.
"Have you been with any other guys after me?" Vader asks, his gaze predatory and possessive. Astrid felt the stare lock her in place, her body freezing at the question. There was no good way of answering this, he already knew she had so if she lied, Force knows what happens, and if she told the truth, she would have to give him their names.
"Why? So you can send me their hands too?" Astrid shoots as she takes a bite of her paneer butter masala and naan. Her comment definitely struck a nerve with Vader as she saw his fist tighten.
"I won't ask again, my love," Vader's voice was dark as he spoke. A bone chilling stare bores into her as her eyes connect with his. He proceeds to cock his head to the side, "unless you would like a punishment, I'd be more than happy to give it to you."
Astrid swallows thickly. His eyes told her that he was far from bluffing. And she was aware of the lengths he would go, especially after her first one. Her eyes fall to the dish in front of her then back to him. With a slight frown, she responds, "one, and you already got your revenge or whatever bullshit it was to you."
"Don't lie to me,," Vader chuckles, a haunting look passing over his eyes as he continued, "that's one punishment, I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself. You slept with three guys. Tell me their names and no more punishment, don't and you get one more."
"What the fuck is this?" Astrid glares angrily, "if you already knew, why ask? Also, punishment? What am I? Five?"
"Consider it a lesson," Vader's eyes twinkle in amusement as his arms cross on the table and he leans forward, "now tell me, what were their names?"
Astrid thought to herself, so much for 'what is Anakin going to do'. She couldn't tell him, that'd be signing their death warrant. But does she want the punishments? No, she was still traumatized by the hands. Who knows what he'll do this time.
"How about we make a deal?" Astrid suggests, an innocent smile passing over her face as she silently prays he listens. He merely hums in acknowledgement. "I tell you the names, and you just let it go. No hurting, killing, or torturing."
"No," Vader simply states, his amusement long gone, "it seems like you want to learn a lesson, sweetheart."
"Or maybe," Astrid's voice dripping with attitude, "I don't want some poor guy to get hurt because he had consensual sex with someone else."
"Fine," Vader leans back with a grin, "I guess you get taught two lessons, and I'll get to make sure Grayson, Zayn, and Eric never live to see tomorrow. A win-win for me."
Astrid's jaw drops as he name drops them. He was playing with her. He knew this whole time and was just trying to give her his stupid punishments. Her chest flared with anger as she spoke, "so what's my punishment? Going to spank me? Or maybe you'll chop up my hands too?"
"I like the spanking idea, but I think you'd like it too much," Vader grins brightly, "I'll leave it a surprise." His eyes fall to her almost full plate. "Eat up, your food's getting cold."
"You are insufferable," Astrid huffs, lifting up her fork again. However, her mind lingered on what her punishment would be.
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