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The first thing Vader noticed when he got up in the morning was that it was drizzling. He didn't take much notice, following his routine, there would be many documents and reports he needed to read and sign.
He ended up briefly bumping into Luke as he passed through the corridor, exchanging cordial 'good morning' which soon turned into a simple, random conversation, just passing the time before they resumed their duties.
Luke was due to go to class and, he was due to go to a meeting with General Veers.
In that short period, the rain increased, the water droplets clinging to the windows, blurring the view of Coruscant, the sky so grey it blended in with the huge dark buildings.
He particularly, didn't care. Vader would spend the day at the castle, working and then enjoying a moment with his son, whether it was fixing some ship or a friendly sparring match.
The noise from outside didn't bother him, it served only as a distant sound that filled the silence of the office.
As his papers were read and reviewed, the rain increased at the same rate. It stopped being something calm and quiet, and turned into windy and noisy, a sign of a possible storm approaching.
His son's class had long since ended, getting up, Vader left the office and set off after the boy.
To his misfortune, he found him neither in the library, in his room nor in the hangar.
The droid that approached Vader in the hallway, one of many cleaning droids, might know where the boy was.
"Droid." He calls, instantly the droid stops, waiting for his landlord to speak. "Have you seen my son?"
A pause, the white 'led' eyes turn grey, as, it searches the stored memory for the boy. "Prince Luke is in the palace garden, exactly 30 minutes ago and it's been 7 minutes since I saw him." The droid's eyes return to normal, Vader nods and dismisses him.
He quickly arrives in the palace garden, his steps wide and quick.
Standing near the small balcony, protected from the rain by the glass roof, is the small, slender figure of Luke. From here, he can see the boy's hand outstretched, as the droplets of rain fall heavily.
The winds are stronger and there is no doubt that there will be a storm. Vader slowly approaches, letting his presence be recognised by the boy. Luke is so still and distracted, not even moving when he stops beside him.
"You're going to catch a cold." Vader mutters, his hands clasped in his belt as they watch the landscape.
Luke stirs slightly, and looks away, a smile on his face. "Hi, Dad." He greets, less courteous and more warm. Vader likes this, it's nice to see the boy more relaxed like he is now.
Vader nods in response to the boy's length.
"I'm well warmed up, I'm not even cold I am." The boy wears his usual black clothes, with a long thick coat, but Vader doubts this.
The boy grew up in a desert, and even after years of living on Coruscant, Luke still tended to get colds when the weather got cooler. Vader has spent too many nights by the boy's bedside, helping him with whatever was needed, as well as, worried and nervous about the boy's health to know that Luke would catch a cold.
He just hoped it was nothing serious.
"You seem to cherish rainy days." Vader observes.
Luke lets out a chuckle, his wet hand returning to his side, but Vader sees small drops dripping from his hair and the boy's shirt was damp. Vader sighs, the boy has stood under the rain for who knows how long.
Luke doesn't seem to notice his father's exasperated sigh or has chosen to ignore it. "I like when it rains, it's cool to watch and... well the sound of rain to sleep is nice." He comments, bringing his left hand up to rain, a charm in his eyes and his smile widening.
One part of Vader, worried about him - the fatherly part - wants to remove Luke's hand from there, but the other part, the one that can never be erased, even after decades, - the desert child he once was - wants to let the boy enjoy the moment, rejoicing in the tiny droplets. He understands Luke perfectly, knows what it was like to be enchanted by the rain the first time he saw it.
He chooses to leave his hand, in the rain for now, let him feel the drops touching his palm, so cold and liquid, so different from the sandy, hot desert sand.
Vader puts his own gloved hand in the rain, imitating his son, not as amazed as the boy at the rain, but still a hidden part of him, at times like this, with Luke's presence, enjoyed watching the rain.
Even after years, away from the desert and the two hot suns, of the children of the Desert still found themselves fascinated with nature.
After all, the Skywalkers are still children of the Desert.