Chapter Text
Luke awoke to the sound of his father's respirator. He blinked, puzzled as to why the man was here. The Sith rarely entered his bedroom, preferring to speak to him in other environments like his office.
"Is everything alright, Father?" Luke asked, sitting up on his bed. His hand reached for his hair, hastily trying to neaten the blonde rat nest on his head.
His father looked at him for a long moment, his red lenses seeming to stare right into Luke's soul. The teen felt his skin crawl at Vader's gaze, genuinely uncomfortable but did not comment on it.
After what felt like a lifetime, Vader spoke. "Are you well?"
Confusion filled Luke instantly."What?" He asked.
"Are you well?" His father repeated.
"I am, but are you?" Luke said, raising an eyebrow.
Vader fell silent for a moment before seating himself on his bed. Then he did something Luke never expected him to do.
He pulled Luke into an embrace,the blonde's head meeting with the Sith's shoulder.
His father had never hugged him. Well, not in years.
Nonetheless, Luke allowed himself to relax into the man's arms, childish satisfaction blossoming inside him when Vader tightened his hold around him.
Then, his thoughts returned to reality.
"Father", he said awkwardly. "Are you really okay?"
"I am in excellent condition, young one", Vader rumbled.
"Then why are you so-", Luke's speech was cut off when he felt Vader gently stroking his hair soothingly, a gesture that made him feel as if he were a child again but he had to admit that it did feel nice, so calming and warm in the cocoon. He hadn't felt this safe since he was probably nine years old.
"Hush", Vader said softly. Luke let out a sigh and decided to just go with it. Well, it wasn't every day he got a hug from Darth Vader.
The next time it happened was when he was on his way to the palace hangar. His speeder was in dire need for a wash and Luke could not wait to get the chore done before he postponed it (again).
As he made his way through the hallways, a familliar control box filled his vision.
"Hi", Luke greeted as Vader studied him carefully.
"Where are you going, young one?"
"Just to clean my speeder", Luke explained. "You were complaining about it for weeks".
"Yes, I do recall that", Vader said, tucking his thumb into his belt. "You will be pleased to know I have already had someone clean the vehicle a few days prior".
This was too good to be true.
"Really?" Luke exclaimed. "Thank you so mu-"
"Luke", his father sighed. "What time is it?"
"Um", Luke checked his wrist-chrono and a sheepish smile appeared on his face. "It's almost midnight".
"Then it is wise for you to head to bed, young one", Vader stated, folding his arms.
"Okay", Luke sighed, relenting. It was late after all. "Whatever you say, Father".
He turned on his heel to leave when-
Strong arms reached for him and pulled him up. A shriek of shock escaped him at the action until Vader had his body firmly cradled against his chest. He felt too stunned to utter a single word.
He didn't notice Vader carry him all the way to bed. Luke closed his eyes, trying not to think of how many guards had seen the scene.
If he thought his father was going to set him down on his feet, boy was he damn wrong!"
Luke inhaled sharply when Vader lowered him onto the mattress, using the Force to pull the silken sheets down. Then, with a flick of a gloved finger, the black sheets covered his body until his neck.
It wasn't until his father finally left when his mortification intensified.
1. His father had made sure his speeder was cleaned.
2. His father had carried him all the way to his bedroom.
3. His karking father had kriffing tucked him into bed like he was a young child!
After an hour, Luke finally managed to find sleep, his cheeks stained a bright red the whole night.
The third time it happened was when he was on the way to school. He had arrived in the palace hangar, a backpack lazily resting on his back, about to hop into his speeder when-
He saw someone already in the driver's seat.
It was his father!
"I assume you are ready?" Vader asked, completely ignoring his look of disbelief.
"Yeah-"
"Then come in before you will be late, young one", Vader chided and Luke forced himself into the vehicle. He was nearly late, after all. Arguing with his father would only make the matter worse.
"I can drive myself, you know", Luke muttered under his breath, just loud enough for his father to hear.
"I am aware of that but recently the number of speeder accidents on Coruscant have rapidly increased", Vader explained. "What if some irresponsible fool had you injured?"
A lie.
"Then I guess we better get going", Luke replied through gritted teeth. "If not, I'll be late for the third time this week".
Two weeks later, it was Empire Day and also Luke's eighteenth birthday.
Luke had retired to his rooms that night, exhaustion painted on his body after listening to an enternity of speeches. The thought of taking a hot shower and going to bed seemed like heaven.
When he opened the door, he immediately spotted his father sitting on his bed, waiting for him.
Of course he was.
With all the lunacy that's already happened you should have known what to expect, a voice in his head taunted.
"Father", Luke said, calmly. "I thought you were with the Emperor".
"He did not require my presence for the entire celebration", Vader said. "He is currently occupied with a discussion with Grand Moff Tarkin".
"I see", Luke said slowly and then his eyes caught sight of something his Vader was holding.
It was a stuffed baby wampa, its soft fur as white as the snows on Hoth. The dim light in his room was reflected by its small black eyes, like dark diamonds.
He remembered this toy. His father had given it to him when he had been a toddler.
"Why do you have that?" Luke demanded, gesturing at the wampa.
Then it all sank in.
"Father", Luke said, keeping his voice firm and steady. "I am not a child anymore".
"You still are to me", Vader said, his tone caked with fondness the vocoder had failed to conceal.
"I've just come of age", Luke pointed out, almost frustrated.
"I know", Vader said and lifted the toy higher for Luke to see. It looked a bit worn but clearly well-loved. "I still remember you dragging this around like it was yesterday".
"Well I don't", Luke shot back.
"I still remember what you used to call it".
"Snowball", Luke answered automatically and then groaned at his response.
"Yes", Vader sighed. "And now you are a man".
Finally some acknowledgement, Luke thought to himself and then froze.
Wait, was this what this was all about?
"You can't seem to accept it", Luke whispered in realisation. He understood everything, from the hug until now.
"What?" Vader said, sounding perplexed.
"You can't seem to accept it", Luke repeated, this time louder. "I've grown but you..."
An uncomfortable silence fell in between them, only filled by Vader's infamous breathing cycles.
Luke's heart ran a marathon inside his chest. Stars, had he upset his father by figuring it all out?
Embarassment flowed through their bond, all from Vader's end. Luke didn't know what or how to feel. He had never seen his father like this.
"Yes", Vader said quietly and sighed. "I s-so sorry, Luke".
Without thinking, Luke crossed the distance between them, throwing himself into the man's arms. He felt Vader stiffen, evidently startled but was soon relieved when his father accepted the hug.
I did not want to lose my son, Vader sent.
You still have me, Luke sent back in assurance. And you always will.
I hope you are right, young one, Vader said, distantly, squeezing him tighter.