by pebble/scifipony
Fandom: Superman x Star Wars (Fandom Fusion)
Characters: Lois Lane, Clark Kent
Words: 1,800
Tags: AU, Adventure, First Meeting
Warnings: None
Author's Notes: Written for the Fandom Empire monopoly challenge.
Lois was sure if she had to listen to one more speech she was going to throw herself off the nearest balcony.
Being a top reporter for the Republic’s HoloNet News, she was used to attending these sort of political gatherings. Not to mention all the similar events she’d been to as a child. Growing up as the daughter of Sam Lane — a respected leader in the Grand Army of the Republic — meant having to attend many stuffy banquets and political gatherings. That didn’t make them any less insufferable to sit through. And all the exposure in the world couldn’t lessen how mind-numbingly boring these affairs always were.
Seated in a plush chair that looked more expensive than her entire apartment, Lois sipped at her drink and put a valiant effort into not looking as apathetic as she felt about all of this. It didn’t help that there was no need to be here, really. Any office clerk could take notes of this meeting for the evening broadcast.
The problem was that she did need to be here tonight. Or, more specifically, she needed to be in close proximity to the chambers where the visiting dignitaries were housed. She had a lead on a possible Separatist spy working within the Senate — Senator Lann from the Outer Rim — and she was determined to break this story wide open before anyone else caught wind of it. Since the man in question was currently visiting Coruscant, and attending this very meeting, there would be no better opportunity than tonight to do a little digging. The problem was waiting for the right opportunity to slip away.
As yet another politician stood to begin delivering his prepared speech, Lois idly scanned over the rest of the gathering. Besides the senators and their aides, there were also the various other elected officials, the many bodyguards, and several reporters such as herself.
Hovering on the very peripheral of the meeting, keeping their presence as unobtrusive as possible, were a number of Jedi knights and padawans. The Council had sent them over to act as a special protection detail, considering how many important figures were in attendance. Lois knew it was born out of a show of solidarity more than any actual fear of danger. With tensions as high as they were between the Council and the Senate, the Jedi leaders no doubt intended this as a sort of olive branch.
Her gaze caught on one particular Jedi near the outer edge of the gathering. Standing close to one of the balconies, he was quietly chatting with another Jedi and looking almost as restless as she probably did. He was young, with firm features and dark hair that wasn’t quite long enough to be curly, but close to it. From his slightly faded cloak to the faint scars on his face, it was obvious he’d already seen more than a fair share of battles — something that was sadly commonplace even among the youngest knights and padawans since the war started.
Lois wasn’t sure what it was about this particular Jedi that caught her eye. Maybe it was the fact that he was a new face, and she generally knew everyone at these political meetings. Or maybe it was the fact that he was eyeing Senator Lann almost as much as she was throughout the evening. It might be nothing more than gut instinct. Whatever the reason, she found her curiosity piqued.
If nothing else, he was at least standing very near a balcony that lead down to the lower terraces. It would be the perfect way to slip out when the time came to begin her investigation.
Deciding that was a good enough reason to justify her actions, she stood and began working her way around the edges of the meeting towards him. He must have sensed her approach, because he nodded politely to his companion and turned her way before she even finished reaching his side of the room. Lois had never really understood how Jedi powers work, or even what those powers might entail, but her experience being around them had at least made her used to the weirdness of it.
“You must be Lois Lane,” he greeted softly, probably not wanting to disrupt the senator’s speech.
“Oh?” Lois raised an eyebrow questioningly, crossing her arms. “Should I be worried that I made it onto the Jedi Order’s radar?”
He smiled easily, eyes crinkling at the corners. “I wouldn’t be too concerned about it,” he said. “Anyone as tenacious at pursuing a story as you have been is bound to get noticed. I’ve seen your name on a lot of HoloNet broadcasts lately.”
“You’ve read my work?” she asked, not sure why the thought pleased her so much.
“Of course. Your stories dig into the deeper issues within the Republic, something not a lot of reporters are willing to do these days.”
“I didn’t realize Jedi knights even listen to the HoloNet,” she admitted. While she’d never been inside the Temple before, she’d always pictured it as a very simplistic old building with a bunch of people sitting around studying from ancient scrolls. Probably not a very realistic image of the Order, but they did always present themselves as minimalists after all.
“It’s important we keep updated on the state of things throughout the Republic,” he said. “It helps in our responsibility to protect the Republic and its citizens.”
Lois rolled her eyes. “Let me guess, they make you guys rehearse that line at the Jedi Academy.”
Instead of taking offense, he chuckled lightly at the jab. “Not exactly. Believe it or not, some of us do genuinely care about the Jedi Code to protect and preserve.”
Somehow, she had a feeling he really did mean it. There was something very genuine in his eyes that she wasn’t sure she’d ever seen before. Certainly not in the eyes of the politicians and Jedi Masters she’d interviewed over the years.
“I imagine you must have a similar drive,” he continued, “considering how much effort you’ve put into your investigative reporting.”
“Maybe,” Lois hummed softly, his comment forcing her mind to jump back onto her current mission.
In the center of the meeting room, the Senator she was trying to investigate stood to begin his own speech. This was her best chance. As long as she could get into his chambers and back before Lann finished his address, no one should ever find out. At least, not until she blasted the truth in the headlines of tomorrow’s HoloNet broadcast.
“Sorry,” she said to her new companion, “I wish I could stay and chat, but I really should get a statement from Bespin’s newest senator.” She was surprised how much she genuinely did regret having to cut their conversation short. With how the war was going, there was no doubt he wouldn’t be on Coruscant for long. “It was nice meeting you.”
She started to slip past him towards the balcony entrance when his hand caught her wrist, gently halting her progress.
Before she could protest, he leaned in and lowered his tone to a murmur. “Not that way,” he warned. “Senator Lann has several guards stationed at the main entrance to his chambers.”
Breath catching in surprise, Lois whipped her head around to lock eyes with him. Her brain did a split-second calculation on whether to play dumb or give up the pretense. One look at the seriousness in his steely blue eyes — and, up close like this, she was now realizing how bright and clear they actually were — told her that he wasn’t messing around.
She pierced him with her best ‘talk fast or else’ gaze as she pulled her wrist out of his grasp. “You’ve got thirty seconds.”
“You suspect Senator Lann is a Separatist spy,” he said, tone hushed but quick. “But you’re not investigating with your superiors’ approval, so you can’t afford to get caught. There’s a way to get to his chambers without passing any guards. You have to be fast, though.”
“Fine,” she said. “Lead the way.”
He responded immediately, by making his way across to the opposite side of the room and quietly slipping out into a side hallway. Lois followed close behind, being careful not to draw any attention as she did so.
Once they were in the hall, he lead the way down a few narrow corridors and up a back staircase. She kept up easily enough, but felt a twinge of annoyance at how he didn’t look even slightly winded after their hurried climb. Stupid Jedi endurance.
“I was joking earlier when I said about the Jedi Order keeping tabs on me,” she commented as they turned down another hallway. “But now it feels less like a joke. How did you know about my investigation? I never even told my editor about it.”
He slowed to a stop beside an open balcony. “I didn’t,” he said calmly. “But the Order has suspected Lann for a while. Seeing the way you were side-eyeing him all night, it wasn’t hard to guess the rest.”
Lois stared at him in disbelief for a moment. “You tricked me!”
“I stopped you from walking into a mess with his guards,” he reminded her with an almost sheepish shrug. “And we can get this done even quicker with two of us checking for evidence.”
She tapped a foot impatiently as she turned that over in her mind. He had a point. As much as she hated to admit it, they probably could get the job done much faster together. “Okay, fine,” she ceded. “But I get full credit on the story when it breaks.”
His amused grin lit up his eyes in a way that almost made Lois’s anger melt away. Almost.
“Sounds like a deal.”
“Where is this secret back entrance anyway?” she asked, glancing around. “There’s nothing here.”
“Oh yeah,” he said, stepping out onto the balcony. “We’re going in the window.” He glanced at her in concern as he asked, “It’s a narrow ledge to get there. You’ll be okay up there?”
She sighed as she slipped off her heels. “I can guarantee I’ve done this more times than you have,” she informed him, joining him on the balcony. “Just don’t get in my way and I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll do my best,” he said, the smile never leaving his eyes.
“Well,” she said, as he climbed onto the ledge, “I should probably know your name if we’re going to be risking our lives together tonight. What should I call you?”
He reached a hand down to grab hers, helping pull her up. “Oh, sorry. My name is Kal-El.”
“Kal,” she repeated, rolling the name through her mind carefully. “Alright then,” she said after a moment, “let’s go stop a spy.”
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