He Hated Her
Title: He Hated Her
Author: Disco Shop Girl
Time: A New Hope
Summary: Darth Vader has developed a special hatred for Princess Leia because she exists where one he craves did not
Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine, the settings and events talked about aren't mine, and this is fiction.
He hated her. He truly hated her. Since he had first seen her addressing the senate on her father's behalf five years ago.
The young princess of Alderaan.
Who was not only roughly the same age as his own baby would have been by now. Not only had the brown hair and brown eyes he'd briefly imagined his own princess to have when Padmé had told him of their impending parenthood. Not only spoke with the passion Padmé had.
But dared to have his unborn daughter's name.
He hated her. And now he'd caught her on the ship carrying the death star plans. Even if she wasn't part of the rebel alliance, even if she had nothing to do with the plans, he was going to enjoy this.
He was going to torture the brat for all she was worth.
And it was at that moment that the first flickering of Anakin's true self reappeared. To be able to hate as much as he did, one must first love as much as he had. And the love he had for the family Padmé had never had the chance to bring to term had grown exponentially in the years of chaotic destruction he'd brought about.
For just that brief moment, he felt all of it. All the love that had always lived inside of him for Padmé. All the love that grew inside of him for the daughter he was sure they had created. All the agonising loss he felt every time he woke, no matter how briefly, and realised he was stuck here without them.
Now this princess would feel all his rage for living the life their child should have.
And, in his mind, Leia Skywalker would have her revenge for having never drawn breath while this arrogant aristocrat was allowed her life to flit around the galaxy threatening the peace and harmony that had been brought to so many.
But in a small part of his heart, he allowed the image of his Leia to run free for a moment, playing with him in a field above the lake as he hid from politics and rebels with Padmé by his side. Then he locked it up tight so the emperor wouldn't find it, and waved in the torture droid.