I wonder how many of my re-readers are going to notice the major change in this chapter 🤭

2.7k words

(Y/n)'s POV
I opened my eyes, slowly. There was a blurry figure in the room sitting next to me. It was him, I knew it was, no one else where's that much black. One thing I noticed as well, there was no black covering over his face. Unfortunately, I still couldn't see his features due to my foggy vision.

"Vader?" I spoke weakly. I saw as his hand lifted up and he placed the black object over his face once he realized I was awake. The sound of his muffled breathing was the only thing I could hear now.

"I told you that you had nothing to worry about," He spoke softly as he stood up and got close to my face so I could see him more clearly.

I groaned from the headache I was currently suffering from, "Did they have to shave off any of my hair?"

He chuckled through his mask, "Is that really the first thing on your mind?" I slowly nodded as he rested a hand on my arm, "No, the chip was in your frontal lobe, so they did a lobotomy and went through your nose; your hair is fine." So that explains why my nose hurts worse than anywhere else.

He lifted his gloved hand up and lightly pulled on a few strands of my hair. I smiled, though it was weak and barely a smile,  "How long do I have to be in here?"

He shrugged as he sat back on the chair next to my bed, "Depends on how quickly you recover, but it shouldn't be more than a few days."

I nodded slowly as I closed my eyes,  "Were you a slave too?" I asked without opening my eyes, the lights in the room made my head hurt worse. If he thinks I forgot that vital piece of information, then he is sorely mistaken.

I dreamt of it. My mind didn't want me to forget.

I heard him sigh and the sound of the chair creaking due to a shift in his movement, "My whole life, up until I killed that sorry excuse of a man. Now I'm free."

"Is that why you treat me so well, because of the way he treated you?" I asked as my mind started to place things together like a puzzle piece. All I've ever tried to do since I've been here is figure him out.

"I know what suffering is like, as do you. So why would I make you suffer more; why would I make you suffer the way I did?" I heard the creak of the chair again and I felt a small amount of pressure on my cheek, as well as a slight brush of something soft against my ear, "You never have to fear me." He whispered low into my ear and I felt his breath hit the side of my neck, causing me to shiver. Is he not wearing his mask anymore? I opened my eyes and glanced to the side, but all I could see was his hair as he stayed with his cheek pressed against mine, "Close your eyes." He instructed me. I don't even know how he knew they were open, but I obeyed him and closed them. I felt his warmth leave me and I found myself missing it. Even though I shouldn't.. I need to get a grip on my emotions, the things I've been beginning to feel lately, can not be allowed, "Get some rest, I'll be back to check on your recovery." I heard his voice muffled again, meaning he has placed the mask back on.

Then, I heard the sound of his footsteps as he left the room.

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One week later

"I have to say," Vader stood over me with his boot to my neck while holding the end of his lightsaber to my face. He held an impressed look in his eyes, "You put up one hell of a fight. But you're still lacking in certain areas." He removed his foot and held his hand out for me to accept. He pulled me to my fight and I was breathing heavily from the sparring session, "Anymore headaches?" He asked as he walked forward and gently rubbed my temple with his thumb, a trick he taught me when I was suffering through headaches after the surgery.

His actions caused my heart to beat rapidly in my chest, and I had to mentally scold myself. I shook my head with a sigh, I'm so annoyed at myself for having a stupid crush on my Master, how unprofessional, "No, not anymore."

"You alright? You seem a little off today." He asked with concern, dropping his hand down.

"Yeah I'm fine, just tired." I lied. I can't exactly tell him the truth, that would just be awkward. Plus, I don't want to ruin any of this, it's only a small crush that will eventually go away on its own. This man saved my life and I'm grateful, it's normal to feel some kind of attraction after all he's done for me.

He narrowed his eyes like he didn't believe me, but he didn't press any further. He then retracted his blade, "That's enough of this for today, let's work on your Psychometry." He placed the weapon on his belt and I did the same with mine. He walked over to the table at the end of the room and brought over a box.

"What is all this?" I asked as he tilted the box to the side and I saw multiple objects inside.

"Pick whatever catches your eye and see if you can get something from it." I grabbed the box from his as he spoke and sat on the floor with my legs cross-crossed. He did the same and sat in-front of me.

I looked at all the different objects and one did catch my eye, did he take that from my room? I reached for it first, "Is this my Japor snipp-" I was cut off by an image once my fingertips brushed against it.

"Will I ever see you again?" A little blonde boy gazed sadly into Shmi's watery eyes.

"What does your heart tell you?" She asked with a small smile as she held his hands.

"I hope so. Yes, I guess." He sighed as a tears fell from his eyes.

She lifted her hand from his and wiped his tears away,"Then we will see each other again."

The little boy nodded and pulled the Japor out of his pocket and handed it to Shmi,"I made this for you, when you look at it; know that I'm thinking of you and I promise, I will come back for you."

The image ended and a tear fell from my eye. I could fell both of their pain, the pain they held for leaving each other. I don't even know if they ever got to see each other again, "What did you see?" Vader questioned when he lifted a hand up and wiped the tear away; just as Shmi did in the vision.

I blinked and tried to compose myself, "I think it was Anakin Skywalker," I told him and I saw his posture stiffen at the mention of the name, "I'm not sure, I've never seen him before, but I don't know who else it could be. He was just a child and he was giving this to Shmi." I held the necklace in my grasp, I don't know why she would give me something that held so much value, "I don't even know if they ever got to see each other again, I hope they did." I sighed, feeling pain for them both.

"That's enough for today." Vader stood up quickly as he snatched the box from my hand and I snapped my gaze up, confused by his sudden change in attitude.

"We barely started." I complained as I stood up with him.

He avoided eye contact with me. Why is he being so weird? "Yeah, but I forgot I have a-" He paused for a moment, "I have a guest waiting for me." I felt a sudden knot of jealousy in my stomach at the mention of his guest, "So I should get to that," He turned away from me and walked towards the door, "The rest of the day is yours, so do whatever you want, just please don't leave the property." He shouted across the room as he pushed the button for the door to open and he quickly left.

"What the actual fuck."

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I sighed as I walked along the halls, completely avoiding the hall where mine and Vader's bedroom is at, for obvious reasons. I needed to get it all off of my mind and the best way to do that is to find a distraction, "Hey Rex." I smiled at the familiar clone, even though he couldn't see it.

He turned away from his conversation with some other clones and smiled back, "We'll discuss this later men," He nodded towards them and they each saluted him; then me, "What can I do for you miss?" He faced me to give me his full attention.

"Well Vader is busy for the rest of the day it seems," I tried to hold my annoyance the best I could, "So I was wondering if you want to spar with me for a bit? I could use the extra practice." He did say I could do whatever I wanted.

Rex raised a brow, "Not that I wouldn't mind helping you out, but he seems awfully weird about you having any physical contact with people. Will this get me killed?"

I shook my head, he only gets upset because he knows I don't like being touched without permission, well I'm giving Rex permission. Besides I'm sure he's having plenty of physical contact right now.. "No, you'll be fine." I let out a sad sigh, "Please, I could really use the distraction." I gave him my best pleading eyes and I watched as he gave in.

He nodded, "Alright, let's go."

💚

"I'm nervous about this." He stood in a stance reluctantly as he waited for my move.

I chuckled, "Don't be, just watch the mask." I gestured  for him to come at me first. He breathed out his nerves and stepped forward; he went in for a right hook, slowly. He was going easy on me. I grabbed his wrist and spun him around to hold it behind his back, "Don't go easy, I'm not as weak as I look." I mumbled into his ear and released my grip on him.

He turned around with a smile on his face, "Okay, let's see what you got then little girl." This time he didn't go as easy and we went on for almost half an hour. I have to say, it was pretty fun and exactly what I needed. I continued to block all of his advances, just as Vader taught me and I ducked quickly; giving him a jab to the gut. He backed away from me, completely out of breath, "He's taught you very well these past week." He praised with an impressed look.

"Yes I have."

We both jumped at the voice and faced the doorway to see Vader. He walked over to us, keeping his eyes on me, "Finished with your guest?" I sounded a lot more snippy than I meant to.

I saw an amused look in his eye, "Is that jealousy I hear?" He asked with a head tilt.

I jumped to my defense, "No not at all, it's just frustrating to me that something like that is more important than my training to you."

He chuckled, "Rex, give me a minute with my apprentice here." He told him without breaking his eye contact with me.

"Of course, Emperor." He left the room without a second to spare.

My Master shook his head at me once Rex was gone, "What were you doing (y/n)?"

I shrugged innocently, "Just practicing."

He stepped closer and I backed away, "Really? Because that looked like flirting to me."

"And why does it matter if I was or not?" I asked, snapping at him for what may be the first time.

He pushed me back further until I was up against a wall, "You can't be doing that."

I narrowed my eyes at him, "Why not? It's innocent, it's not like I'm having sex with multiple people. Which is more than I can say for you." I eyed him up and down; realizing just how bold I was being and I was also letting my real feelings show.

"Does it bother you?" He asked in a softer tone, he was watching my eyes for any indication of what my answer will be.

I sighed, yes, "No."

"I think you're lying." He brought his face closer to me and his eyes bore intently into mine.

"I'm not." I inhaled and exhaled sharply.

He trailed his fingertips along my neckline, "I wasn't with anyone earlier, I may have lied to you. Don't ask why, it's confidential." He spoke without removing his eyes from my neck. I got a sense of relief when he told he wasn't with a woman and I swallowed nervously from his touch, "Do you feel uncomfortable right now?" He asked with sincerity.

I shook my head, never taking my eyes off of him. I was mesmerized by him, as I always have been, since day one, "Not at all."

He seemed satisfied with my response, "Let me know if you start to and I'll stop." His eyes flickered to meet mine as he gripped the zipper on the front of my jumpsuit and he slowly brought it down. His eyes trailed back down to my exposed skin. My heart was pounding and I reached my hand forward and gripped his mask; wanting to remove it. But he grabbed my hand and shook his head, "I'll only take it off for one reason and one reason alone." He pushed himself up against me and my back hit the wall. I felt his hard erection rub against me and a soft moan escapedmy lips even though I tried to hold it in, "Do you really want this?" He whispered into my ear.

I nodded; I wasn't scared, not with him, "Yes." I breathed.

"You know I would love nothing more (y/n). Really I wouldn't, I think about it and you every chance I get." He backed away and eyed me up and down before grabbing my zipper and pulling it back up to my neck, "But you are not ready."

"What? Yes I am." I protested, eyes widening at the sudden switch.

He shook his head, "Here maybe," He placed his fingertips on my stomach before slowly trailing down the fabric until he reached—I moaned when his grip tightened below, "But not up here." He removed his hand as quickly as he put it there and brushed my hair out of my face. Then, he tapped my my temple with his thumb, "Let's work through some demons you have here first, then we can talk about it again."

I couldn't believe this.

Was this humorous for him? To invoke such a strong response from my body, just so he could turn around and basically say just kidding?

"Since we're here, why don't we continue with training."

As frustrated as I was, I couldn't argue, not with this, but I also wasn't going to give him what he wanted.

I was feeling bold today, "No, I'm tired and going to bed. I'll see you in the morning Master." I spun on my heels and left the room, and to my surprise, he let me.

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