How to Take an Empire

Chapter Eighty-Four: Proposal

"Vader. Remember—"

"Act like I don't know you, like we haven't raised two kids together the last ten years, and like the baby you're holding in your lap during this conference isn't reaching out to me in the Force because she wants me to hold her."

Predictably, Ahsoka scowled at him.

"That's not what I've been telling you the last few days. Or what Sabé has been telling you the last few days," Ahsoka reminded.

Vader shrugged. "It accurately sums it up. And you've reminded me every day for the past week, and I haven't slipped up once."

"Slipped up once? Vader, you've already threatened to kill someone at least half a dozen times."

"They were very thinly veiled threats of severe physical injury. Not death."

"Vader."

"You know I don't have the patience for pointless squabbling by people who just want to hear themselves talk over things that have an obvious solution. Besides, I have a reputation to uphold, especially now that the suit isn't constantly doing half the job for me. I'm still not sure I can trust some of these Moffs and Imperial loyalist senators. If they think I'm getting soft, they'll think about trying to challenge my hold on the Empire."

That was part of it anyway. The other part was tactics for getting what he really wanted out of all these peace talks. An opening to introduce his plan to make Ahsoka the empress. He and Sabé had extensively gone over what he should do and say to secure that ultimate end. The goal was to make them think that he was just barely holding any restraint. Barely keeping his powers under control. Make them afraid that one day, he'd lose his sanity again and lay ruin to the galaxy. However, he also showed just enough reason, just enough political savvy, just enough hinting that he actually cared about what happened to the galaxy beyond his own selfish purposes. Enough to show that he could be reasoned with. When he wanted to anyway. That maybe with something legally binding him and his word, they might be able to control him. Or maybe convince him he was ill-suited to the some of the duties of Emperor.

"Vader."

"I didn't agree not to threaten anyone. I agreed to act like I didn't know you for the sake of," Vader paused to roll his eyes, "easing the galaxy into our relationship."

"Which you've also failed at spectacularly," Ahsoka pointed out.

Vader didn't need to see the recollection of the memory between them to know when she was talking about. That first day of the peace talks when both sides came face to face outside the battlefield after a decade had been tense. People on both sides of the room having pointed blasters and arranged attacks on the opposite side during the war. Vader and Ahsoka, though she would never admit it, found it amusing. Then, because they needed an icebreaker, Vader commented that it had been a while. It took a tremendous amount of restraint to keep a straight face, and he'd been pleased to note that Ahsoka was having the same trouble. In response, she'd agreed and then suggested they catch up later.

"You know. Once we settle this whole civil war thing, and I'm officially not a fugitive that your government is supposed to hunt down."

"Right. Nothing personal, by the way."

They both knew that was a lie.

"It felt personal."

Vader crossed his arms and shrugged. "We'll talk it out later."

They lasted another five seconds before a smirk broke Vader's face, and Ahsoka covered her mouth with her hand to hide her smile and muffle her chuckle. Both ignored Sabé and Obi-wan pinching the bridge of their noses and Mon and Bail both looking like they wanted to sigh and roll their eyes.