Forbidden

FORBIDDEN

By Raythe

DISCLAIMER: Not mine. No money made. Just for fun.

PAIRING: Luke x Vader

WARNING: Slash/Incest/AU

RATING: NC-17

HINTS AND STUFF: Guess what happens in this chapter? Ooooh, Luke and Vader’s first time together. Yum! I hope you guys enjoy it. Almost half of this chapter is pure smut and boy did I enjoy writing it. A bit too much probably … ahem! Oh, there’s a bit of talking between Qui-Gon and Vader in the beginning, but just push through that to the good stuff. There were certain plot thingies I had to put out there so the talking is necessary and interesting … but I know the smut is probably more interesting.

Please let me know what you think. It’s my life’s blood here and it makes me update far faster. See how quick this chapter came out!

Hugs and kisses,
Raythe:)

CHAPTER TWELVE: SACRED

Vader’s POV

Even with his eyes closed and his mind drifting between consciousness and unconsciousness, Vader was aware of his son’s sleep-warmed scent of vanilla and cinnamon surrounding him. He took in deep breaths of that smell, luxuriating in it.

Luke’s warm weight was pressed against his side. The boy’s silken hair tickled his bare chest where Luke’s head was pillowed. Vader twinned his Force presence with his son’s. He loved the way Luke yielded to him, yet was still so strong.

Luke was deeply asleep. His Force signature was drained as if he had fought a grave battle. Vader frowned. Something gnawed on the edges of his mind, something about … ‘fire and burning and a laser rifle pointed at Luke and …’ but all thoughts seemed to scatter from him when he tried to grab a hold of them.

Vader realized they were both lying down, cradled on a mattress … ‘on the Executor. We’re on the Executor in the quarters I had made up for Luke.’ Though the engines on the Executor ran almost silent, Vader could always pick up the slight vibration they made, like a cat purring contentedly in the sun. He would know those vibrations anywhere. From them he could tell whether the flagship was in fine working order or was about to malfunction. The techs had become used to him telling them about problems with the ship before they actually occurred. And Vader could tell at this moment that the ship was working perfectly and that it was still in orbit … ‘around Black Heart.’

Vader shifted uneasily at the thought of the planet though he was still uncertain why. The sensation of silk sliding over the tops of his bare thighs, knees and calves stilled his restless movements. The silk was cool and liquid against his skin. But more important than the fact he could feel the minute sensations of slickness and temperature of the silk far better than his sensors ever had before was the fact that his legs felt … ‘lighter and … shorter and … they are flesh!’

His shock at his restored limbs caused Vader’s eyes to fly open. Qui-Gon rose from a chair at his bedside. He was dressed in Jedi robes. They were Vader’s old robes; the only set he had kept. He had worn them the day Padme told him that she was pregnant. He was surprised he felt no anger at the presumption of the man for donning his old robes. But of course the robes would have been the only thing to fit Qui-Gon’s tall, broad frame in either his or Luke’s closet. He had not expected the man to remain clothed only in his cape. And in truth, the cream and dark brown robes looked right on Qui-Gon in a way that they had never looked right on him.

The Jedi Master saw where his eyes were fixated and Vader sensed he was about to apologize for wearing what was not his, but the Dark Lord stopped him with a brief wave of his arm. Instead of speaking, Qui-Gon placed a gentle hand on Vader’s forehead as if checking for a fever. Vader tolerated the touch for a moment then turned his head away. Qui-Gon showed no hurt at his distaste for a longer touch, merely felt … ‘relieved that I am conscious.’

Vader tested their training bond and confirmed that emotion. There were also deeper feelings for him there. The best way he could describe them were as paternal though that wasn’t quite accurate. A great sense of responsibility, affection, and sorrow for him. He closed down their bond, not wanting to know more at that moment when he was not optimal and would probably reveal too much of his own conflicted state towards the man.

The Jedi Master settled back into the chair he had pulled over from Luke’s desk and had obviously been using as a place to watch over them for some time. “It is good to see you awake, Anakin.”

“What … what time is it?” His voice sounded rusty.

Qui-Gon pressed a drinking straw to his lips. He took several long sips of cool water. His parched mouth and throat eased. The straw was taken away and Vader relaxed more into the pillows. Luke was so exhausted, his only reaction to their voices and Vader’s movements was a slight shifting to get back as close as possible to his side. The Dark Lord ran one hand protectively and possessively down Luke’s back.

The boy was dressed in a pair of thin sleep pants and shirt. Vader himself was only wearing a pair of form fitting shorts. The Dark Lord thought idly of what it would be like to have Luke’s nude body pressed against his, to sleep and to love skin against skin again. A shiver of desire ran through him. He smoothed the covers around both of them, fighting the urge to touch his son’s body more with Qui-Gon as an audience. That was when he noticed his right hand. Pale flesh against the black silk of the comforter.

He was whole again.

It was the first time since he was 18 years old and had his hand taken in the battle with Darth Tyrannus that he had all his limbs. He could feel the midichlorians coursing through his blood, multiplying in the new tissue. It was almost as if he had traveled back in time before all the bad decisions had been made. Was it a second chance? Not to reject the Darkness but to reject it ruling him and rule it instead? Again though that sense that something had happened … ‘lost control … was controlled …’ buzzed in his head. He was almost relieved when Qui-Gon spoke again and distracted him.

“It is about 1400 hours, but … I think you will be more interested in what day it is.”

Vader shut his eyes. His sense that something significant and probably terrible had happened was correct.

“How many days have I been unconscious?”

“Two.”

Vader gripped the comforter. He had been unconscious for two days. How? Why? What had happened while he was gone? What had exhausted Luke so deeply when he wasn’t there to help his son?

“Luke … why is he so tired?”

“He used only his own energy to regenerate your limbs. He refused to drain others. Even though many were willing to help,” Qui-Gon explained.

“You mean that you were willing to help?”

Vader knew instinctively that the Jedi Master would have offered to help without thought due to his giving nature, but Vader was having a hard time imagining anyone else offering their energy to Luke for him. His crew feared and respected him, but he believed they might fear the “sorcery” of the Force more and what Luke was capable of would look to non-Force sensitives to be magic pure and simple. Although there were always those willing to do anything, even debase themselves utterly, to gain his favor.

“The troopers who helped to rescue us on the planet also offered. They were very willing to contribute their energy.”

‘Ah, so that explains it. They worship my son so they would do anything he asked. Fear or no.’ He was glad it wasn’t some sycophant like Captain Terellian who had offered up his energy to Luke as he had offered up his body for use in other ways to Vader many a time. The man polluted the very air with his cow-towing and slick smile. If his father hadn’t been a favorite of Palpatine’s the man’s throat would have been crushed long ago.

“My crew … what do they know of … my condition?”

“I believe Damon Trans … I think that is the young man’s name … has explained in detail to Admiral Piett what he witnessed on the planet.”

Vader tensed at Trans’ name. ‘I’m sure he did with great relish. And was he sniffing around Luke while I was unconscious?’

“I have also been keeping the Admiral apprised of your condition.” Qui-Gon smoothed the front of his robes. “He wished to return to Coruscant, to get you to better medical facilities, but I convinced him not to, that it was a Force matter and should be handled by Luke and myself.”

“Palpatine is on Coruscant.”

A grimace passed over Qui-Gon’s features at Palpatine’s name. “He was my main reason for convincing the Admiral not to go there.”

“I’m sure he knows now of my changed condition. He will be more than a little curious about what is happening and he will … take steps.”

Vader had hoped to keep everything from Palpatine for a little while longer, but too much had happened and too much time had passed for the spy not to have found out and reported all that had occurred. The Dark Lord wondered why Palpatine hadn’t ordered Admiral Piett to return him and Luke to Coruscant immediately. Had Qui-Gon used Force persuasion on him?

Qui-Gon said suddenly, “Will Palpatine turn on you once he discovers you are whole again and … that you have new abilities?”

“Undoubtedly. He has been overtly souring on me for some time now. I’m more a threat to him at this moment than I ever have been.”

Vader frowned. He had come to realize that Palpatine had been planning his downfall probably from the time he was six years old. Vader had come to believe that Palpatine had made him into his apprentice not to help him gain power, but to ensure he never reached his true potential. It was a bitter pill to realize the man he had thought of like a father had been the one orchestrating his failures for a long time or at least prodding him towards them. The only good that had come out of their relationship was Vader’s embrace of the Dark Side of the Force, but that was precious little compared to all he had lost. Such as Luke’s childhood.

Vader continued, “Like Obi-Wan, he has tried to pitting Luke and I against one another. He also has begun training another apprentice as a backup in case that fails. A young woman named Mara Jade.”

“Do you have any plans regarding him?” Qui-Gon asked.

Vader smiled. “Oh, yes. I most definitely do.”

Vader thought to himself, ‘Watching him burn and scream for a very, very long time. Perhaps putting him into a suit like he had for me. Helpless, crippled, fighting for every breath and then … crushing the life out of him.’ Such would be a fitting end to the Emperor.

When it became clear that Vader was not going to say what those plans were at that time there was a moment of companionable silence. Vader concentrated on the feel of Luke’s legs tangled with his own. He slid his thigh against Luke’s and the boy made a contented murmur. It was so strange to be able to do this: to feel the softness of Luke’s sleep pants against his inner thighs and calves, to feel the slight pull of the hair on his legs as it hooked the material, to know that he wasn’t crushing Luke’s tender limbs with his own. ‘How much easier will it be to run or fight or … make love in this bed with him? So long since I was this free.’

“Anakin … do you remember anything about what happened on the planet?” Qui-Gon’s voice was hesitant and too gentle for Vader’s liking.

“Being captured by the Rebels. Escaping and then …” Vader shrugged his shoulders. The loose gesture belied the anxiety that was rising in the Dark Lord. “What happened?”

“You used your new powers to … set the Rebels aflame and … apparently you were overwhelmed somehow,” Qui-Gon answered carefully.

Vader remembered: the wall of fire and the Song of the Dark Side that had risen up in him like some terrible wave, how it had stripped him of his will and used him to destroy. ‘It could have killed everyone. Luke could have been caught in the blaze. But he wasn’t. He’s safe here beside me.’ Vader gripped the boy tighter to him. His Force senses suddenly warned him that Qui-Gon was holding things back from him. Perhaps it was to shield him or perhaps there was a darker purpose. Either way, Vader was having none of it.

“Qui-Gon, tell me what is on your mind.”

“I have told all I know.”

When Vader’s amber eyes raked over him, Qui-Gon gave a sigh and a rueful smile.

“I just left out what I fear. That is all. I know almost nothing. I suspect much. Do you want my suppositions of what occurred?”

“I want to know what the dead know or at least suppose.”

“The dead,” Qui-Gon said, “know little more than the living and suppose just as much.”

“Why are the dead so limited? We were always told that after one died that endless power and knowledge would be available.”

“I … I don’t know. Many of the dead believe that so long as the Universe is out of balance that the spirits have no way to reach a higher plane of existence or be reborn here to learn more. But no one knows for sure.”

“The spirits must have a greater view than us mere mortals?”

“It is like the man who is midway up a mountain may see more than a man at the bottom, but not everything, and understanding is not necessarily enhanced by the fact that one may see more.”

“But it is still more. So tell me what you saw from your higher vantage point,” Vader said, fighting down his irritation with the typical Jedi opacity. “I assume it has something to do with the Voice you spoke to me about before.”

And there it was, like a scratching at the back of his mind: the Dark Side singing a deadly lullaby to him again. Vader blocked it out.

“I believe the Dark Side is seeking to directly control you.”

“And you think this is different from how the Force normally acts?” Vader felt a stirring of unease. He knew what Qui-Gon was hinting at, but he wanted the man to express it. He wanted no misunderstandings.

“While the Force normally suggests things to us … with you and these new powers it is more like a command, an overrunning of your own will.”

Vader’s shoulders tensed. “Are you suggesting that it is able to do this because I am weaker than others in some way?”

“No! Why by the Force you should still question your strength after everything …” Qui-Gon rose from the chair and began to pace, his movements still graceful even though the pacing indicated anxiety. “On the contrary, it is because of your strength of will, of mind, that it knows suggestions will not work as well with you. Especially after what happened … on Mustaphar, it is unlikely that you would … follow its suggestions so blindly again.”

Vader scowled. ‘Of course, Qui-Gon would know of all my missteps, just like Obi-Wan did.’

“I miscalculated. Lost my temper. The Dark Side … ” Vader broke off when Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow up at him.

“You think it had no role in that? It takes great joy in destroying those that seek to use its power.”

“And you know this how?”

Sadness flickered over the Jedi Master’s face. He brushed a loose hair off his shoulder. “I just know.”

Vader was silent for a moment then said, “And what do you believe it wants of me now?”

“It wants what it always wants, I imagine. Death. Destruction. To make the Universe a desert. That is its essence. And with your amazing abilities to channel Dark Side energy … it can cause more havoc, more directly, than ever before.”

“You said something like that on the planet.” Vader remembered the vision he’d had of endless sands and night skies even with the ysalamiri’s interference.

“I have come to understand … or to believe is perhaps a better word … that the Force is in a constant battle between creating life and destroying it. It is the Balance between those two states that the Universe seeks and needs. It has not had that Balance in a long time.”

“You believe that Luke and I will bring this Balance?”

“Yes. You are the Chosen One, Anakin, or one of the Chosen Ones is perhaps more accurate. I … I always knew you were.”

“But Obi-Wan fears … what? The Balance? Luke and my roles in creating it? What is he so terrified of? Or is it just his hatred of me that clouds his judgment?”

Qui-Gon studied the floor for long moments. “Simply put: Balance does not indicate an ascendancy of the Light.”

Vader thought on this, smoothing the silk sheets again. “I suppose you’re right. Balance would indicate equal power between the Light and the Dark. Both Jedis and Sith … living in some sort of harmony.” Vader almost snorted at the idea until he realized that his working with Luke and Qui-Gon was exactly that.

“It has been the Jedi’s mission for over two-thousand years to stamp out Dark Side use, to actively stop Force sensitives from choosing the Dark Side, but if the Balance means what we have just said it does, then the true mission of the Jedi … and the Sith … would be to have equal numbers or at least equal power bases for both types of Force users.”

“Not just one Sith Master and Sith Apprentice, but as many as there are Jedi? Hmmm, no wonder Obi-Wan is worried.” Vader couldn’t fully suppress the smirk that graced his lips. “I, myself, wouldn’t want any more Palapatine’s running around.”

“True. Yet, I believe that amazing things will happen once the Force is balanced. Things that would benefit the Sith and the Jedi equally. And such Balance is needed not just for the living but for the dead to go on as well.”

“So the benefits would outweigh the dangers, so to speak?”

“Yes.”

“Yet Obi-Wan does not think so,” Vader intuited.

“It is this aspect of not knowing, of something completely new happening that terrifies Obi-Wan. He has always wanted things to remain the same. It was a constant battle when he was my Padawan to introduce change.” Qui-Gon threw his arms up as if he was imagining a former fight with his erstwhile Padawan.

Vader made a soft noise of agreement. “Anytime he wished to make a point about why he was having me do a thing, he would lecture me on how it had been done for thousands of years. For him, it seemed that the amount of time something had been around meant it had value.”

“Such statements do not surprise me in many ways.”

“But things naturally change. In order to improve … to progress … they must. That was why it was so easy to …” Vader stopped himself from completing this sentence. The stasis the Jedi had willingly put themselves in had made it easy for them to be destroyed. He sensed that Qui-Gon already knew that to be true.

The Jedi Master ran a hand through his long hair, tightening a cord he used to keep it off his face as he said, “Obi-Wan desired to see things go back to the way they were … before the Purging. So he tried to orchestrate the future to make of it a utopian past of his choosing. But then you and Luke met and it was … explosive, but not in any way he ever saw or intended.”

Luke made a small little noise of distress at that moment, perhaps due to a bad dream or sensing the anxiety in the room. Vader petted his hair and spoke some nonsense love words into his ears. The boy settled back down with a sleepy sigh, his breathing evening out again.

Vader did not look at Qui-Gon as he asked, “I assume you know … what is between Luke and I?”

“That you are lovers as well as father and son? Yes … yes, I know. Obi-Wan was quite adamant that this was further proof that both of you were unfit to play such pivotal roles in restoring Balance to the Force.” Qui-Gon’s face was too neutral as he added, “He said it showed how corrupt you were that you would take your own blood to bed and it showed Luke’s overwhelming weakness to you.”

Vader narrowed his eyes. “But you don’t feel that way. Why?”

“I think the opposite.”

Vader snorted that time. “That is quite … open-minded of you. Why don’t I believe—”

“You think I say this to win you over? To assuage your fears that I am an enemy trying to get close to you?”

“I admit … I find it hard to believe that you would condone … or perhaps that is too strong a word for what you are doing. I find it hard to believe that you would or could understand what is between my son and me.”

Vader looked down at the top of Luke’s golden head, felt his boy’s breath and warmth, and knew that what they had was right no matter what anyone else thought.

“I wouldn’t approve if it was abusive. I wouldn’t approve if it was hurting either of you. But in this case … I think it might work in favor of creating the Balance.”

If Vader expected Qui-Gon to say anything, it certainly wasn’t this. “Why do you suppose that?”

“Because it binds you two together in every possible way. He is your son, your blood, and he is your lover, your heart. You have two reasons for keeping him safe and happy. It gives you strength to fight the Voice. It gives you something to hang onto when things are blackest,” Qui-Gon said softly, pausing by the side of the bed to stare down at Luke. “A reason not to destroy all life … if, for no other reason, than to give him joy.”

Vader felt Luke’s steady heartbeat against his side. He loved this boy beyond reason, beyond anything. He had not lost himself to the Voice entirely on the planet, because of his fear that Luke would be harmed. But the Voice had still overwhelmed him and he had lost consciousness. Those facts disturbed him greatly. He would have to work hard to achieve mastery over these new abilities and to inure himself to the Song.

“You surprise me again, Qui-Gon. As a Jedi, should you be advocating such attachment? Shouldn’t you be telling me to meditate to gain strength?” The bitter smile came out and Vader felt tired suddenly.

“I was never a very good Jedi,” Qui-Gon said with a rye smile. “Surely you understood, if not at the time I lived, but after, that I was a pariah in many ways?”

“People rarely speak ill of the dead and they certainly did not speak ill of you to me … or to Obi-Wan, of course.”

He felt a spike of happiness from Qui-Gon over their bond. It took a moment for him to realize why. He had all but admitted caring for the Jedi Master in the past. It was true that no one would speak ill of Qui-Gon to him if they didn’t want a pummeling. It was one of the reasons he had always distrusted the Council, because they had been so disparaging in some ways of Master Jinn. But that was long ago. It had nothing to do with the present. But still he couldn’t shake the warm feeling that Qui-Gon’s pleasure at his past loyalty brought him.

Vader’s eyes began to shut. Sleep beckoned and he didn’t want to resist even though he knew he should and contact Admiral Piett, deal with the traitor, interrogate the slavers, and find out more of Qui-Gon’s thoughts. Perhaps he should delegate at least one of these tasks, begin to work with a Jedi. He smiled internally at the thought of his new ally, a Jedi Knight and Obi-Wan’s beloved teacher. The irony ran deep. ‘He should have been my master … not Obi-Wan’s martyr.’ This thought also surprised him. He believed himself beyond such regrets, but apparently not. Well, he would take advantage of having the clever, powerful Jedi Master working for him now.

“Could you do something for me, Qui-Gon?”

The Jedi Master stood straighter and drew closer to him. “What is it?”

“There is a traitor aboard this ship. Someone working for Palpatine. I have tried and … failed to find him.”

“You wish me to look for him?”

“Yes. And when you find him … just watch. Unless he does something truly dangerous towards us or the crew.” Vader could no longer keep his eyes open.

“I will do as you ask.” A light as air brush of a hand across Vader’s forehead as Qui-Gon’s mellow voice whispered, “Rest now, I will take care of this matter.”

Vader tried to push away the sense of contentment and peace he felt as he heard those words, his tired mind unable to fight the relief that flowed through him that Qui-Gon was willing to take some of the burden from his and Luke’s shoulders and protect them. The Dark Lord slipped into the blackness of sleep as he felt the Jedi Master leave the room to begin his task.

Luke’s POV

Luke awoke before his father did. He spent the quiet time exploring the uncovered bits of his father’s body. He traced the line of Vader’s jaw, enjoying even the roughness of stubble that had begun to form. His father’s lush mouth pursed as the touch tickled him slightly. Luke let his fingers glide down Vader’s neck, feeling the Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. Luke only stopped his downward caress when his fingers reached the hollow at the base of Vader’s throat. His father’s skin was so soft there, so fragile. ‘Yet it and the rest of him survived fire hot enough to melt stone.’

Vader suddenly turned on his side and his arms slid around Luke’s body. Sleepy eyes looked down at Luke with warmth and affection. “Good morning, young one. At least I think it is morning … somewhere.”

Luke knew his smile was bright enough to light the room. His father was completely back with him and nothing had ever felt so right.

“How do you feel, Father?”

Vader grinned lazily and then hooked one of his new legs around Luke’s and pulled the boy’s lower body tight against him. “I feel … whole.”

Vader’s mouth was suddenly covering Luke’s. His father’s agile tongue stroked and teased his own. He sucked on Luke’s lower lip before releasing Luke’s mouth. Luke hummed softly in enjoyment, his eyes sliding to half-mast as Vader gently placed kisses and licks along his jaw.

“I have missed kissing you, my child, and … tasting you,” Vader said and licked his own lips as he stared hungrily down at Luke’s face.

Luke flushed and burrowed his head against Vader’s bare chest. The sensation of all that smooth muscled skin to press against made Luke feel weak inside. They were alone, practically nude and … in a bed. After everything that had happened to them, Leia’s betrayal, the near rape, Luke wondered at his own sexual hunger. But somehow coming so close to having his virginity taken by another, ripped from him as if it were nothing, made him more determined to give it to the one person he loved above all others. He wanted the experience to wipe away Nattan’s touch and Leia’s cold eyes. Did his father remember his promise from the cave to give him a lesson in lovemaking? ‘He may not be fully recovered yet. And much needs to be done. I should not be so needy.’

Vader’s sleepy grin magnified and Luke knew he had heard his thoughts.

“I do indeed remember my promise, Luke. And I feel quite up to fulfilling it. As for our duties … they can wait. Nothing is more important than being here with you right now. The only question that remains is if you feel up to being an obedient student?”

Luke couldn’t help but grin at his father’s allusion to his teasing in the cave. Vader’s hands slid to Luke’s hips. His thumbs rubbed gentle circles underneath the boy’s sleep shirt on the bare skin. The touch sent shivers up Luke’s spine. When his father’s hands glided underneath the waistband of Luke’s pants, the boy began to tremble. His father skimmed Luke’s sleep pants down to mid-thigh. The brush of the material as it skated over his erect sex made Luke moan.

“Will you obey me in the bedroom, my child?” Vader whispered the question against Luke’s lips, his tongue darted out as he tasted his son’s mouth.

“Yes … no … I … I don’t know,” Luke murmured as Vader began to massage the tender skin of his thighs. “Oh … Father … please …”

“You seem undecided. Let me demonstrate what some of the rewards will be … if you submit,” Vader hissed softly, his lush lips curving into a smile.

He flipped Luke onto his back and crawled up the slender body. Vader’s braced his forearms on either side of Luke’s head while his lower body straddled the boy’s hips. He ground his pelvis down onto Luke’s. The boy cried out as he felt his father’s cock like an iron bar rub against the soft tender skin of his belly and hard sex.

“Will you be my good boy, Luke?”

Luke’s breathing hitched and his eyes widened. ‘That shouldn’t excite me so much but it does.’ Wetness from his father’s leaking cock that had soaked through his sleep shorts brushed a trail of coolness across Luke’s skin. The boy’s own hands that had been scrabbling at the sheets, suddenly rose of their own accord and grabbed the waistband of his father’s shorts.

“I want to see what I’ll get if I’m your … your good boy.”

Luke didn’t even recognize his own voice, there was so much hunger and need in it. He’d never been so aroused in his life and Owen’s words about how wrong he was for what he felt for his father were only a whispery breeze in his mind, nothing more.

Vader’s cock twitched at Luke’s words. He nodded. “Go ahead … look at what’s yours,” Vader said.

Luke tugged the sleep shorts down. He had seen his father’s cock before, but seeing it now and knowing that it would be inside of him soon, made him look at it with far more appreciation.

“It’s so big!” The statement burst out of him before he could stop it and he blushed furiously.

Vader chuckled. His father’s cock was long, perhaps nine inches in length, flushed a dusky rose color. Heavy balls nestled at the base. His father’s pubic hair was dark, but it seemed to have golden aspects to it rather than pure black. Vader’s cock curved wantonly up towards his muscled, firm stomach. Luke slid the shorts down more and saw Vader’s powerful thighs. Luke imagined what it would feel like if his father used all that strength to thrust into his tight virgin opening with his huge cock.

“Are you sure … sure it’ll fit?” Luke asked, his voice breaking slightly. He knew how much of an innocent and a virgin he sounded, but his father didn’t seem to mind.

Vader leaned down and devoured Luke’s mouth before answering. “Yes, child of my heart, it will fit inside of you. It will fill you though as you’ve never been filled before.”

The Dark Lord brushed his lips along Luke’s jaw and down on to his neck. Luke tilted his head back to give him more access. Vader’s sinful mouth began to nip, lick and kiss the tender flesh on this throat. He grabbed Luke’s right hand and guided the boy to grasp his sex. A tremor ran through his father as Luke’s hand gripped the base of Vader’s cock.

“Luke,” Vader breathed into his ear. “This cock gave you life … and now … its going to give you pleasure. I’m going to spill the seed that created you deep, deep inside your body.”

Luke shook at his father’s words. They offered him almost everything he’d ever wanted. To have his father’s essence inside of him, to be connected so fully with the man he’d longed for all his life. Vader licked the shell of his ear.

“Please … Father … I want that … want … oh, please! I’m your good boy, I am!”

Luke felt so wanton, so naughty, saying those words, but … ‘there’s no reason to be ashamed. He loves me. I’m completely safe with him. I can do, say or want anything and it’s all right.’ Luke felt muscles he didn’t know were tense relax as he realized this.

Vader’s warm smile, his eyes so full of emotion, told Luke before his words that his father had heard his realization. “You are safe with me, my beloved son. I swear it. Love you so.”

“Love you, too.” Another smile broke like the dawn across Luke’s face.

Vader sat up and Luke groaned at the loss of his father’s body heat. “Lift your arms above your head, Luke.”

Luke did and realized what his father wanted to do as Vader stripped him of his sleep shirt. Vader slipped out of his own sleep shorts before he moved to the bottom of the bed. He then grasped Luke’s already half-off sleep pants and pulled them down and tossed them to the floor.

For the first time, they were completely naked together.

“So beautiful, my child. Your golden skin against black silk … laid out for me like a feast,” Vader said, his deep voice rolling over Luke like honey, his eyes burning amber. “And I am … starving.”

Vader then began to devour him. His father kissed and nibbled at his ankles, licking the fragile skin over the delicate bones in each. He caressed Luke’s calves with almost delicate swipes of his fingertips as he moved up to suck on the soft flesh of Luke’s inner thighs. The boy moaned and thrashed as Vader got closer and closer, but still maddeningly far away, from his rigid, weeping cock and his tender pucker.

“Father … Father … please … gonna cum … can’t stop … need to!”

One of Vader’s hands wrapped around Luke’s cock and stroked it, running his thumb over the swollen sensitive head with each upward sweep.

“Then come for me, Luke.”

At those words, Luke arched his hips off the bed as he began to orgasm. Even through the bliss of release he was still slightly shocked by Vader kneeling over him and moving into the spray of cum, letting it hit his chest, neck and chin. The look on his father’s face as the pearly white streams showered his flesh nearly undid Luke. Vader’s golden eyes were heavy-lidded, his lush mouth was slightly open, and the flush of arousal stained his sculpted cheekbones a light pink. As the last spurt left Luke boneless on the bed, Vader dipped one finger into the cum that dribbled down his chest. He reached over and coated Luke’s lips with it. The boy moaned as he unconsciously licked his lips and his own flavor burst upon his tongue.

“Clean me, my beautiful boy,” Vader commanded.

So much of Vader’s alabaster skin was before him, dripping with his own essence, that Luke didn’t know where to begin. His father helped him decide by cradling the back of Luke’s head and lifting it up until Luke’s mouth was level with one of the brown buds of his father’s nipples. A drop of cum was poised at the end of that nub, just ready to fall. Luke opened his mouth and caught the drop. He whimpered and then like a child wanting to nurse, his mouth surged up and fastened onto his father’s nipple. Vader hissed in appreciation.

Luke began to lave the silky skin with his tongue, dragging it across Vader’s flesh in quick licks to consume every bit of semen. Underneath the musky, salty taste of his cum was Vader’s flavor: a hint of leather and honey and dark spice. The Dark Lord was panting and gripping his own thighs with white-knuckled hands by the time Luke had sucked off the last drops of cum on Vader’s chin. The Dark Lord’s huge, erect organ brushed against Luke’s belly as he had devoured his seed. The act of cleaning his father and being near that beautiful cock made Luke achingly hard again. He tried to rub his sex against his father’s thighs, but suddenly he felt a Force tendril curl around the base of his cock and tighten.

“Father?”

“Mustn’t exhaust yourself before the main event. You’ll orgasm again only with my cock inside of you, Luke.” Vader’s dark smile and words made Luke whimper. “Do you need me to restrain you,” there was a slight tightening of the Force tendril just above his balls, “or can you control yourself?”

“R-restrain me, please.” Luke knew there was no chance he could stop himself from cumming while Vader touched him since the man’s voice alone was throwing him over the edge.

“Whatever you need, Luke.”

Luke felt the Force tendril coil protectively and snugly around his cock, stopping his ability to release. Vader used the Force to draw over a plastiglas vial over from the bedside table. The vial was a dusky red. Vader placed it down at his side.

“Turn over on your belly, my son.”

Trembling, limbs feeling weak as water, Luke did as his father requested. Vader slid a thick pillow underneath his hips. Luke groaned as the cool cotton brushed against his sensitive flesh. He found himself humping the pillow a few times and Vader chuckled.

“You definitely need to be restrained my wanton boy.”

“Sorry.” Luke blushed though he wasn’t sure how since all his blood seemed to be in his cock at this moment.

“Don’t be. It makes me so … aroused … Luke, knowing how much you need it,” Vader breathed in his ear, tugging on the lobe with his teeth.

“Need … need you, Father. Like this for you.”

His father ran his hands lightly up and down Luke’s trembling flanks. When the boy felt the slide of his father’s heavy organ between his cheeks, he shook even more. Vader swept the head of his cock over Luke’s quivering anus as if familiarizing his sex with its destination.

“So small, pink, sweet,” Vader said and Luke was gratified to hear a slight shakiness to his father’s voice.

“Are you … are you restrained, too, Father?”

“Yes, otherwise … well, I wish to wait to have my release only when I’m balls deep inside of you, your tight passage clenched around my cock, your beautiful mouth screaming out for me.”

Luke realized he loved when his father spoke so coarsely to him; those rich, liquid syllables saying wonderful, dirty things. Vader opened Luke’s cheeks and pressed a kiss right on the pucker.

“Oh, Father!”

He felt his father’s breath flood over his opening as he chuckled and Luke keened. What was Vader planning? His body felt tense as a bow, waiting for the next touch that would set off fireworks underneath his skin.

“Do you remember what else I promised you in the cave, Luke? That I wanted the most intimate taste of you?”

“Y-yes. Are you going to …”

Luke gasped as his father’s tongue probed his opening. Vader’s thumbs framed the tiny pucker and pulled slightly to give his tongue more access. His father’s tongue felt huge inside of Luke as it loosened the muscle that protected his inner passage. Vader gripped Luke’s hips to keep him from thrusting into the pillow as that agile tongue flicked in and out of him mimicking what Vader’s cock was going to do. Luke was thrashing his head from side to side as the pleasure mounted almost into pain. His cock was throbbing with the need for release. His opening was hungry for more than just Vader’s tongue. But when his father’s mouth was gone from him, he cried out in dismay. Vader rubbed comforting circles on his lower back, pressing a few kisses along his spine.

“I need to stretch you more, my beautiful boy, and I can’t do that with my mouth.”

Luke turned his head when he heard the stopper from the plastiglas vial being pulled. The scent of almonds and sessin berries wafted out. Vader tipped the vial over and let some of its contents run along the space between Luke’s butt cheeks. As the thick liquid covered Luke’s opening, Vader massaged it gently into the silky flesh. It began to warm as it was worked into Luke’s skin. When one of Vader’s fingers pushed forward into Luke’s pucker, the boy surprised himself by pushing back.

“So eager. So beautiful. So … mine,” Vader whispered and pushed further in.

Luke screamed into the sheets when his father’s finger passed over something inside of him that made electric shocks shoot up his spine and into his cock.

“W-what did you do?”

“Found your pleasure spot, my love. Your prostate. Imagine my cock hitting that with every thrust.”

“Oh, please … yes, that! Want that!”

When a second finger joined the first, Luke grunted softly, but didn’t want the sensation of being filled, of having something of his father inside of him, to stop. Suddenly, Vader was using his free hand to lift Luke up so that he was straddling his father’s thighs, with his back pressed to his father’s front. His father’s fingers slid deeper inside of him and at this angle they hit that wonderful spot inside of him more.

“Reach back and hold onto my neck, Luke, I’m going to need both hands now to stretch you,” Vader said into Luke’s ear.

The boy did as he said. He twisted his head to the side and Vader gave him a searing kiss. He could feel his father’s turgid organ sandwiched between them and he pushed back against it causing Vader to moan. He watched Vader pour more of the sweet smelling gel onto his hands from the plastiglas vial. Then slick fingers from both his father’s hands, four in all, snaked their way inside of him. Luke cried out and tightened his grip around his father’s neck. The stretch caused by four digits made the ring of muscle ache badly.

“I know it hurts a little, Luke, but it’ll become pleasure soon … I promise. You’re just so tight and … I need to be able to get inside of you without tearing you,” Vader whispered harshly against his lips.

“It’s okay even if it hurts. Just want you inside. Love you, Father,” Luke whimpered.

“My brave boy. Love you, too.”

Then Luke’s pleasure spot was scraped again. Luke’s cock jumped each time that spot was touched. If he had thought he needed release before it was nothing compared to now. His balls felt so full and heavy with his seed. His dick was bobbing up and down, swollen and red, as he began to skewer his ass down onto his father’s fingers, so hungry for them to touch that place inside of him again. Any pain or discomfort was drowned out by the intense pleasure.

“Oh, Father! Oh, please … need … need you in me … please … be part of me!”

“Yes … it’s time.”

Vader’s fingers slipped out of his passage and he unwound Luke’s arms from his neck, positioning the boy on all fours. Luke looked at Vader over his shoulder.

“Father … want to see you …”

“Yes, but this is easier …”

Luke turned himself over on his back. “I know we can be joined this way, too, can’t we?”

“Yes, my beautiful boy, but …”

Luke saw the war in his father’s eyes. The desire to take Luke facing each other versus causing him additional discomfort. When Luke extended one hand to him, the war was won. Vader against positioned a pillow under Luke’s hips then he gently pushed the boy’s legs against his chest and made Luke hold them there. Luke could feel the cool air of their quarters against his stretched pucker. He was so open, so vulnerable, but he was not afraid. He watched as Vader slicked up his cock with more of the gel from the bottle. His father’s eyes bored into him. Luke opened his mind and his Force presence as wide as he could for his father.

“Luke … what are you—”

“I want you with me … completely … when we do this,” Luke explained.

Vader shut his eyes for a long moment. When he opened them, all Luke could see was soul-devouring love in that burning gaze. ‘To feel so much … we both do … love him so … love him so …’

Then his father opened his Force presence and mind wide to Luke.

The boy knew his father withheld from him only those dark places that he feared would disgust Luke to see or be hurt by or turn away from him because of them. He would convince his father later that this wasn’t necessary. He loved him without restraint. But even with certain parts of his father shrouded, so much of the Dark Lord was exposed. Trust, love, devotion, obsession, possession … forever … flowed into him like a torrent over their bond. Luke sent all of what he felt and was back towards Vader. Their essences twisted and twirled around each other and Luke forgot about his aching cock, forgot about the sex altogether, because this was so perfect. Then Vader cupped his cheek, ran one thumb over Luke’s lips, and began to push his cock slowly inside Luke’s body.

Luke was snapped back to the moment and realized physical bliss was coming. He looked down at where they were beginning to physically connect, amazed as he saw the large, beautiful organ begin to disappear inside of him. The burn of the stretch made his muscles tense. He felt Vader try to take Luke’s pain into himself, shield him from it.

‘No, Father. I want it all. The pleasure … the pain … your seed gushing inside of me … please.’

‘Whatever you want, Luke. Whatever you need …’

His father paused every few millimeters in his inward thrust to allow Luke’s back passage to adjust. Vader’s handsome face was a mask of concentration. Beads of sweat trickled down his temples. Luke reached up and brushed them away then brought his fingers down to his mouth and sucked the salty water off. Vader’s eyes grew wide at that.

‘My little wanton, you’re so tight … so hot. Perfect fit.’

Then the head of Vader’s cock brushed up against Luke’s prostrate and the boy practically jumped with the blinding pleasure that skittered across all his nerves. He lifted his hips up further to try and draw more of his father’s cock into himself. Forget the pain, he could only imagine what it would feel like to have that cock rubbing up against that spot again and again as his was pinioned to the bed by it.

“In me, Father, in me!”

“Yeeeessssss…” Vader hissed and thrust fully inside.

Luke bit his lower lip to stop the shriek that wanted to burst from him. He could feel his father’s balls and the fronts of his thighs pressed against his buttocks. Vader held himself still on shaky arms above him. Luke was stretched beyond anything he imagined he could be. He could feel his father’s heartbeat through his cock and Luke’s seemed to pick up the rhythm. Suddenly, there was no pain, just the feeling of them physically a part of one another.

“I … I need to move … Luke. Can you … you bear me to …”

“Yes, please … need you”

Vader pulled out just a few inches then rocked back in, but that was enough to make Luke see stars of pleasure.

“More … more, Father!”

“Definitely,” Vader grunted and with a quirked smile began to thrust inside Luke in earnest.

The boy raised his hips to meet the inward thrusts. The slap of skin against skin and their cries of passion were the only sounds in the room. Vader pulled back almost until he was outside of the boy then slammed back deep inside. Luke’s cock was weeping copious amounts of semen even with the Force tendril around it.

Pleasure was scorching Luke’s body, his nerves were on fire, his skin felt like flames were running all along it. Suddenly, he felt his father release the Force tendril from around his straining sex. He gasped and arched up. Vader angled his thrusts to hit Luke’s prostate fully and the boy orgasmed without his cock being touched. The semen sprayed both their bellies.

“FATHER!”

With hardly a stop, Vader pulled all the way out of his boy and bodily turned Luke so that he was on all fours before sliding back in. If Luke thought he had been thoroughly breached before he realized his error as Vader’s powerful body sent his dick farther and faster into Luke’s spasming interior.

His father continued to hit his prostate even after his second orgasm had drained every last bit of semen from him. Luke was keening and thrusting back. Finally, Vader rocketed his hips forward, driving his cock deep inside Luke and orgasmed. Luke could feel his father’s hot seed pouring into him. Vader yelled his name as he came.

Trembling, black spots dancing before his eyes, Luke collapsed forward. Somehow Vader managed to keep his cock inside as he followed Luke down onto the bed. The Dark Lord gathered Luke against him, so that they were spooned back to front. Luke felt his father’s chest rising and falling quickly. The Dark Lord’s body was shaking slightly with the exertion of their joining. Luke linked their fingers together, drawing Vader’s arms tighter around him.

The musky scent of their lovemaking surrounded them. Their sweat and cum stained the black silk sheets, but neither had the strength nor desire to move. Luke brought one of his father’s hands to his mouth and began to gently kiss every finger, the palm and delicate wrist. Vader tightened his hold on Luke. The boy could still feel his father’s Force presence protectively surrounding his own.

“That was … sacred,” Vader said softly into Luke’s damp hair.

Luke couldn’t help the smile that flitted across his lips. “Yes … I feel that way, too.”

Whatever Luke had imagined sex to be, nothing came close to what they had experienced. ‘Owen was so wrong. There’s nothing bad about this. This is perfect. So good, so warm, so much light. This can’t be evil.’ Vader placed loving kisses on the back of Luke’s shoulders and neck. The boy made murmured happy sounds. His eyelids were starting to droop shut.

“Sleep for awhile, my child.”

“You’ll still be here when I wake?” Luke asked, his voice suddenly sounding so young and fearful.

“Of course. I’ll be with you forever, Luke.”

Vader kissed his temple, and the strange worry that his father could suddenly disappear from him like smoke, went away. Luke drifted into warm dreams, safe in his father’s embrace.

Vader’s POV

Vader listened to the happy sounds Luke was making in the bathroom as he prepared a bath for the two of them. When they’d woken from their post-coital nap, they had exchanged hungry kisses, but both felt the more pressing need to get less sticky and sweaty before they continued their lovemaking. Vader looked forward to introducing his son to sex in the bath. His cock twitched eagerly.

He adjusted his silk robe to hide his arousal. Though he knew the protocol droid wouldn’t be offended by him sporting an erection as it zipped around him taking his new measurements for clothes, he felt very protective of his and Luke’s new intimacy. He had only reluctantly chosen to be measured before joining the boy in the bath, so that the droids could immediately begin making him clothing so he might have something to wear as soon as possible.

Over their bond, Luke said, ‘Oh, I don’t know, Father, I’ve grown rather fond of you without clothes.’

“My little wanton,’ Vader sent back with a smile and heard Luke laugh at his new pet name.

Vader had worried that after the glow of their lovemaking had faded that Luke would allow Owen’s censure to dampen his enthusiasm and close up like he had in the elevator. Or even that the thoughts of Nattan’s hands on him would affect his beloved child. But the boy’s happiness seemed secure and was infectious. Vader couldn’t remember being this happy or feeling this complete before. And he’d never experienced anything like their joining. His body still sparked with the pleasure. Vader distracted himself by glancing at the rich materials for his new clothes that were laid out on the daybed.

‘Father, have a coat made of the red material.’

The bond between them was so open now that Luke could see through his eyes unless Vader restricted him from doing so and he saw no reason to pull back quite yet. It felt so warm having Luke fully connected to him like this. Vader’s eyes roved over to the blood red Stansare velvet. It was beautiful and as a long coat, perhaps down to his knees with a fitted top, it would look quite stunning. Vader laughed at his own vanity. He had worn one suit and style of armor for so long that he was surprised he had any opinion on clothes, but he found he was greatly enjoying the process nonetheless.

‘Anything else you want me to have made specifically, Luke?’

‘No, everything else you’ve chosen looks great. What about Qui-Gon though?’

‘I’ve already taken care of him.’

Vader had pulled out some nice sandstone, tan and other earth-colored cloth he believed would be appropriate to be used for Jedi Master robes. Qui-Gon would be fitted later after he came back with a report on the spy.

“All the measurements are done, Lord Vader,” C-704 said and began to gather up the material to have cut and sewn. “Your garments should be ready in an hour.”

Vader nodded and for one moment felt a vague regret that he had left Threepio behind with the Rebels. He believed the droid had made it off planet in the Millenium Falcon. Luke had told him of seeing the ship … ‘more like a hunk of flying junk’ … vanish into hyperspace as they had made their way to the Executor. He hoped to have a communication from the golden droid soon.

When C-704 had cleared the daybed, Vader saw that the remains of the armor he had worn on Black Heart. The ruined armor had been hidden underneath the loose cloth. He picked the armor up with a vague sense of distaste. Never again would he have to wear it even if it had been in any condition to put on. There was a hard bulk in one of the pouches that ringed the garment’s waist. He snagged whatever it was and pulled it out. It was the recorder that he had downloaded the Archive into.

“The Archive,” Vader breathed softly. ‘How did I forget about this?’

‘What, Father?’

‘Nothing, child, get that bath ready for us. I’m very … sticky. And I ache for you.’

Luke hummed his agreement. Vader brought the recorder over to the holonet station in the corner and plugged it into one of the ports to download its contents. The machine began to flash and beep softly as it extracted the data. Vader was distracted for a moment as he felt a pulse of pleasure over their bond. He saw through Luke’s eyes as the boy pinched his own pert, pink nipples and stroked his silken cock while sitting on the edge of the sunken tub. Vader shivered at the sight.

‘Are you touching what’s mine, little boy?’

He felt Luke’s mischievous grin. ‘Maybe.’

Another pinch to the sensitive nubs and a muffled groan. Luke’s sweet sex began to harden. The child felt like he was doing something so naughty when he was only doing what was natural. Vader understood what it was like to just discover one’s sexuality, though in truth, with Luke he felt he was discovering it all over again. All he could think of was sliding back into Luke’s tight passage and drinking from his son’s body again. He could almost taste the boy’s sweet essence on his tongue. A steady moan was reaching his ears over the rushing water of the bath.

‘Must I come in there and punish you, child, for continuing to touch my property?’

He felt Luke’s breathing quicken at the thought of gentle punishment, meant to give pleasure not pain. A smile graced Vader’s lips. Oh, Luke was truly made for him. He was about to go and join his son in the bathroom when the holonet made a strange sound. He turned to look and saw that the hologram of Black Heart was playing.

The Empire’s technology was not as advanced as the unknown civilization that had created the Archive, so the image was fuzzy, choppy and blue-tinged. He stroked one of the symbols by the side of the spinning world almost without thought. A grainy image appeared. It showed a vast expanse of sand at sunset.

Then the image began to move.

He got the impression that he was speeding over the ground towards a figure on the horizon. The golden sand abruptly changed. It was covered with a dark liquid. Vader frowned. Due to the inability of the holonet to show colors accurately, the liquid looked black, but he feared it was a far different color. He felt a further trickle of unease as the image continued to advance over this eerily empty landscape until the figure of a man in form fitting armor with a light saber ignited at his side was the dominant image. He could only see the outline of the figure, none of his features, as the dying suns were behind his back. The figure was standing in the midst of this viscous liquid. It apparently was only a few inches deep, but that did not mean there was only a small amount of it. Sand is highly porous, which meant it must have been thoroughly soaked with the liquid to have any of it pooling on top.

The figure spoke one word that Vader didn’t catch. He couldn’t tell if it was the same voice he had heard on the hologram earlier. He leaned forwards, towards the image, hoping to hear it better that way. There was a slight exhale of breath and Vader knew the figure would speak again …

‘Father? What … what is that?’ The distress in Luke’s voice was unmistakable. He had seen and heard the hologram over their bond.

Vader remembered his son’s violent reaction to the Archive before and uncharacteristically fumbled about before he was able to shut it down. He breathed a sigh of relief when the image of the figure winked out. He wiped his suddenly clammy brow with the back of one hand. There was the sound of soft footsteps behind him and he looked over his shoulder at Luke, standing with a towel around his slim hips, his blue eyes too wide, and his open mouth slightly trembling, in the doorway of the bathroom.

“I’m sorry, Luke. I was downloading the Archive and it … just turned on and I … touched one of the symbols,” Vader explained.

“It’s okay.” The boy hugged himself. “You need … we need to know what’s on it.”

“But not now and … I can study it when you aren’t … so near,” Vader said apologetically.

He crossed the room swiftly and gathered the precious child in his arms. Luke burrowed against him, his arms tightening around Vader’s middle, as the Dark Lord stroked the boy’s bare back. When the tension had left his child’s shoulders, Vader began to nudge him towards the steamy bathroom. He could think of no better way to make Luke forget about the Archive then bring him to a screaming orgasm again. Just then the Com switched on and Vader felt a flare of anger and annoyance at being disturbed.

“What is it Admiral?” he barked out.

“Lord Vader … forgive this intrusion but—”

The Admiral was suddenly cut off and Palpatine’s unmistakable voice filled the room.

“Lord Vader.”

Both Luke and Vader tensed.

“Palpatine.”

“I see you are finally answering my summonses.”

“I was ill … incapacitated after a fight with some Rebels,” Vader answered semi-honestly.

“Yes, I have heard of your … battle,” the old man ground out. “And I have also heard of the unique way you dealt with them … setting the very air on fire? Just exactly when did you develop such a power?”

“It … it is a recent acquisition.”

“You are not the only one to acquire new abilities, are you, my apprentice? I have heard quite a few tales of the dead being brought back to life and your own grievously wounded body being healed, limbs and all, by your son. Is that true?”

Vader weighed whether lying would be useful or prudent at that moment and realized he lost nothing by confirming what the Emperor already knew.

“You have heard the truth, Palaptine.”

There was silence over the line.

“You will return to Coruscant, Lord Vader, and you will bring young Skywalker with you. Immediately.”

Luke twisted in Vader’s arms to look up at him. The boy’s concern was written in the furrowed brow and deep frown. Vader smoothed out the wrinkles in his son’s flesh with gentle caresses.

Palpatine snarled, “If you do not return, my apprentice, I will have the entire Fleet looking for you—”

With his eyes still fixed on Luke’s face, Vader answered, “There is no need to threaten, Palaptine. I have every intention of making Coruscant my next stop.”

“We have much to discuss, Vader. The hiding of your new powers is only the beginning.”

Vader’s eyes were drawn to the viewport where Black Heart spun in the darkness of space. He could see the scar on the planet’s surface where the Temple and forest had been. The fire he had begun against the Rebels still burned and was likely to destroy everything unless a large body of water cut it off.

With the sight of the destructive power he was now capable of, Vader smiled, a frigid twitch of his lips, as he replied to his former master, “I look forward to our discussion.”