Chapter Text
Leia’ren has been well behaved lately and finally stopped throwing tantrums and trying to hurt his prosthetics. And she’s less prone to indulging in profanities that would make a sailor blush.
Despite what she believes, Vader sees the progress she’s made during the last week and half since she returned to Mustafar. He is proud that his daughter finally started acting like the proper little girl he knows she can be, and he will ensure she does become good even if he needs to be more firm with discipline.
So like Luke, Vader thought he might be able to give her some affection without retaliation on her part.
That’s where he was wrong.
She was caught off guard when he came to sit down next to her, he seems to avoid her most days. Or he only gave her attention when she was in trouble or when she finally submitted to his relentless babying.
But she doesn’t try to get away from him as he sits next to her and their legs touch.
She’s been reading on the couch in what could be described as their “family room” on Mustafar. The fireplace is on, despite the planet’s lava fields, the fortress is set at a usually low temperature. Vader tends to prefer the cold rather than warmth, because of the lingering burning sensation he feels. But since he has his little ones with him, he does make sure it’s hot enough for their comfort.
It’s almost bedtime for the twins, but Vader also allows a bit of downtime before then, so the children are free to play or he simply can spend some last moments with them before they fall asleep and he works on his imperial duties.
“What are you reading, little one?” He asks as he leans down to see if she’s reading one of the holobooks he got for her, last time as he went on an imperial decree on one of the outer worlds, he found a lonely vendor selling some holonovels.
Credits were not an issue for Vader, he could afford whatever he or his little ones needed. So he got a bunch of youngling approved holonovels, stories with heroes and princesses, pod racers on a mission, stories with princes and princesses.
No politics, no cursing, age appropriate for his children. And he does check their datapads too and has parental control on every device.
He narrows his eyes when he sees the cover. It says “On democracy” in bold lettering.
Leia holds the holobook tighter in her hands, but he doesn’t take it from her and doesn’t lecture her on how good the Empire is. He simply sighs in disappointment and leans back into the black leather sofa.
“I got you and your brother more appropriate stories for you to read Leia’ren.” He gently reprimands.
“I’ll read these when I go to bed tonight.”
“You said the same last night.”
“Maybe I will tomorrow.” She rolls her eyes but doesn’t leave just yet.
“Leia’ren.”
“Father.” She snarks, rolling her eyes, but she stays polite.
The name makes him tilt slightly, she has yet to address him as such. Typically she’ll call him names that someone would deem very inappropriate for a Princess, or simply “Vader”.
Leia shakes her head and pretends to continue reading her book so she doesn’t have to look at him. She can feel his golden eyes on her, but this time, she doesn’t fear him. It’s a different emotion, one she has yet to feel for her biological father.
Longing.
They stay in silence for a little bit.
Until Vader decides he wants to try another approach since she’s been well behaved for the most part.
He wiggles a few fingers into her side as she pretends to read next to him. It’s easier to ignore him this way, although she knows by now that Vader doesn’t tolerate being ignored for long.
When there is no visible reaction from her, not even a smile, his hand falls back at his side in defeat.
For a second he starts thinking this is yet another thing Luke enjoys and Leia simply doesn’t…
The thought hurts him more than he’d admit out loud.
What he doesn’t see is the small shy smile she tries to hide as she keeps pretending to read the book in her hands.