Darth Vader Goes to Therapy

The First Lesson

"What happened to your office?" Vader demanded upon entering Luke's lobby fifteen minutes before his appointment time to find Luke putting up more of those infernal posters. Except they weren't posters, he realized upon a second glance--they appeared to be hand-done.

Luke glanced over his shoulder. "Oh. Hey. Do you think this looks straight?" He motioned to the...was that a painting?

Vader didn't answer the question. He simply approached his son, crossed his arms, and looked at the avalanche of positivity that had appeared on the walls.

"YOU are UNIQUE, YOU are SMART, YOU are TALENTED, YOU are WORTH IT, YOU are VALUED, YOU are AMAZING, YOU are LOVED, YOU MATTER!"

Vader felt like that one was stabbing into his brain with every other word.

"Your mental health is a priority!"

Was it though? He could think of multiple things he cared about more than so called mental health.

The painting Luke was currently hanging said: "The best way to predict the future is to create it!" The words were painted over a duck pointing its wing at him. It was admittedly a well-done duck, but nauseating, all the same.

He scowled at that one and pointed to it. "I can say from personal experience that is not true whatsoever."

Luke inclined his head. "I feel like it needs some additional clarification, I agree, but this is going to be my wall of donated therapy art."

"A wall of therapy art?" Vader hated it already.

"Yeah. People keep giving me therapy-themed art. I figured it might be nice to show off the talents of the people who work here. I mean the rest of the ship is so drab--"

"Because it's a military ship! It's meant to be efficient, not...not whatever this is."

Luke lifted a brow. "Would you like to create something for the wall?"

Vader sputtered. "That is the opposite of what I want!" He tried to think of what he'd even put on a ridiculous poster...a Sith mantra? One of the lessons Palpatine had given him over the years?

Somehow, he doubted Luke would find it inspirational.

"It doesn't have to be therapy themed. Maybe something you make that calms you down?"

"If you have not noticed, I am not in the habit of creating anything."

Luke shrugged. "It could be something like schematics for...for something cool, I don't know. I bet you'd like making that?"

Vader opened his mouth to vehemently deny it...but he actually did enjoy making or modifying schematics. Not that he ever had time.

He wouldn't admit that, though.

"This decor style had better not infiltrate other parts of my ship," he warned instead, pointing a warning finger in Luke's face. "Now will we get on with this session or not?"

Though Luke didn't seem pleased to have a finger shoved into his face, he gestured towards the open office door. "After you."

He needed no further encouragement. He swept into the office, heading immediately for the window, staring out into the endless stars. As soon as he heard the doors swish shut, he added, "I trust that you remember that your first lesson is today?"

Luke's response was not immediate, and he turned, ready to push destiny and duty, but he finally spoke before he could. "I remember."

He was sitting down at the desk, using that opportunity to hide his expression. Vader didn't need to see it, though. A simple glance into their bond told him all he needed to know.