summary- daddy!vader x little!reader vader has a bad pain day and little!reader just wants to help :(
without any hesitation, he told you no. that was just his thing, you guessed.
no, you can’t be that way. you’re too little.
no, you can’t do that. you’re too little.
no, you can’t help me. you’re too little.
all of these phrases usually brought you comfort. his acknowledgement of your headspace was validating and usually made you feel more secure. today was different. today, he was almost in too much pain. so much he could barely function. he tried to hide it, but you were regressed, not stupid. anyone could see the distress he was in.
“daddy, please let me help you.” you pleaded, not wanting him hurt. you didn’t mind helping, so why did he mind so much?
“no, it’s my job to take care of you, not the other way around.” he spoke through the mask, unable to take it off. he sat in his throne, and you stood beside him. you couldn’t even sit in his lap without hurting him. he tried to hide it, but again, you weren’t stupid.
“that’s not true. it’s both of our jobs to take care of each other.” you said, kneeling on the ground and resting your head very lightly on his knee. “i can help, too… i’m not helpless, daddy. let me help you.”
“i know you’re not helpless,” he sighed. “i would never think so little of you.”
“then let me do my part.”
“i’m supposed to be the one who cares for you-“
“no, i said we take care of each other. so sometimes that means i help you when you can’t help yourself. just let me, please.” you begged, giving him puppy dog eyes.
“this conversation is over, little one.” he told you, getting up. you could tell it hurt him but he refused to make a single sound. it broke your heart as he walked by you. he turned around and held his hand out. “please, come with me.”
“i can’t stand to see you hurt.” you said, crying. you stayed on the floor, kneeling, and looking at the now empty throne. he should be sitting. resting. taking it slow. he never gives himself the same grace he extends to you and it’s always upset you. but today, this was something fierce. you were angry. “stop hiding from me! at the end of the day, you’re not just my ‘daddy’. you’re my partner and i’m here to help you, so fucking let me help you!” you yelled. he looked down and sighed, turning his hands into fists.
“he says it’s weak.” was all daddy spoke. he didn’t need to name anyone, you knew it was the emperor.
“he’s the one who’s weak!” you shouted, earning an immediate “shush” from your daddy.
“quiet! do you want the entire empire thinking you’re against us?!” he questioned.
“i’m sorry,” you whispered. “but having the strength to recognize when your body needs a rest is anything but weak. he’s wrong.” you finished. “please let me help you. you’re in the dark right now and i can bring you back into the light.”
“you are the light.” he said.
“please rest.” you said, moved by his words and hoping you were getting close to convincing him. he turned to you and sighed again, accepting defeat. you already had convinced him.
“i don’t know how.” he admitted.
“you can use your bacta tank.” you suggested.
“i hate not being needed-“
“i need you more than ever. i know you need me as much as i need you. i’m not going anywhere, like you always say.” you reassured him. “daddy, please go to the tank. i don’t like seeing you in pain, if it were me, you’d demand i rest. why don’t you get the same grace?” you asked, speaking aloud your earlier thoughts.
“i don’t know.” he admitted. you’d expected a snide remark or maybe a quip about how he was your daddy and you were just a baby. but no, the truth was, he didn’t know.
“we can talk more about it later.” you said, picking up on the fact he did not want to speak now. you picked up the tablet and typed on it, sending in service droids to help him with the bath. “right now, you need rest.” you said as you set the tablet back down.
“will… you wait with me?”
“i’d love to, daddy.” you smiled. you walked back with him as the droids followed, hovering behind you.
as you entered the room where his tank was, you were reminded of the last time you were in here. when you had been taken and daddy came to rescue you. you had been seriously injured and he’d put you in his tank, waiting by you for seven hours as you healed. you’d happily do the same now for him.
in the distance, your daddy was already getting ready. you gasped in horror as the machines ripped off the limbs and tore off his suit and you finally heard him cry out in pain.
“stop! stop!!!” you cried out, the droids responding and shutting down.
“they have to finish.” he said, legs still attached and grunting in pain.
“like that?! make them more gentle!” you suggested and he shook his head, smiling sadly at you.
“the emperor has them locked. i can’t change anything.” he said. “resume.” the droids powered back up and began roughly taking off the legs, his pained noises continuing. you grunted and kicked the floor, this was so unfair. you heard his cries stop and just heavy breathing for a few moments. you turned around as they put an oxygen mask on him, lifting him to put him in the tank. as he entered, you felt something prodding around in your mind.
you nodded and sat on the floor, by where his feet would be, and sighed, pressing your head on the cool glass. the droids made their exit and you were left with the controls of the tank. you began crying, thinking unfair he always had to be in pain.
“i can’t not cry, daddy. i’m so sad.” you said, opting to speak. you sniffled and wiped at your tears, trying to toughen up, but it wasn’t working.
you’d sit here as long as he needed you to. you’d do anything for him. he gets to have his grand moments where he confesses his love for you and all the things he’d do to keep you safe and the truth was, you’d do the same and more for him. so, that’s why you felt so helpless that he was in pain, and his only option was a bacta tank, breathing through water with a mask like he was some kind of sea creature on display. it wasn’t fair.
calm your mind, little one.
“daddy, it’s hard. everything is so unfair!” you cried. you could feel his pain and sadness and it was overwhelming.
i don’t want to hide from you anymore. this is the reality. if you don’t want it, i’ll understand.
“i want it if it means i keep you, daddy.” you whined. “i’ll take whatever comes with you.” you said.
you are the only light in my life.
the words rang in your head and you knew the importance of them, especially coming from him.
“as you are in mine.” you whispered, calming down. “i’ll stay with you forever.”
