Chapter Text
It was a stupid mission.
Some civilians had notified the Jedi Council that they saw Count Dooku of all people, lurking in the Lower Levels. Anakin very much doubted that Dooku was in the Lower Levels, let alone Coruscant- the Count was a pompous cocky bastard sure, but he wasn’t stupid, there was absolutely no way he would walk right on into Coruscant and just start gallivanting about the nightlife.
But, the Jedi Council had deemed the tip worthy of concern and thus; Anakin was currently walking around the general area that the tip had said they spotted the leader of the Separatists lurking in.
He was getting really bored- for all the energy and bass boosted music that the Lower Levels had to offer, it was actually incredibly boring and dull to be there while sober. Much like every other part of Coruscant, the Lower Levels were gray, maybe a little darker and dingier than the more polished gray of the buildings near the Senate, but still gray. The streets were dirty, Anakin didn’t want to think about the amount of unidentified fluids he was treading in as he walked around the same block for the tenth time. As he passed the establishment playing music that shook the ground he was walking on once more he was considering simply whistling and calling ‘ here Dooku, c’mon boy’ when a loud scream echoed off the walls.
Finally, some action Anakin grinned as he ran towards the scream, maybe the last half an hour of walking around in the sad gloomy streets would be worth something.
To his minor disappointment, the scream appeared to be coming from what looked to be a mugging. Two tall Weequay men were looming over a short cowering figure wearing a long black cloak, a hood obscuring their face. Both men seemed to be armed with only knives as far as Anakin could see, it would be an almost laughable rescue. He ignited his glowing blue blade and stalked confidently towards the fighters who promptly turned and ran. A little bit confused, Anakin put his lightsaber away and turned to observe the hooded figure. With the absence of their attackers, they slumped against the wall and let themselves slide down until they were sitting with their knees drawn to their chest.
“Hey, hey, it’s alright” Anakin said, keeping his voice as soothing as possible as he carefully approached the cowering figure swathed in a long black hooded cloak.
The person in the cloak seemed dead set on disappearing into the fabric. They hunched further in on themselves as Anakin’s footsteps got closer, oh no that wouldn’t do at all. Kriff, why did it have to be him, he sucks at comforting people.
“It’s alright, you’re okay, I’ll protect you. I’m gonna sit right here and make sure nobody comes back.” Anakin called out softly, stepping carefully closer making sure to keep his voice quiet. If nothing else, Tatooine had taught him how to approach victims of abuse or harassment.
He settled himself down a couple of feet away from the cloaked figure, propping himself up on one leg. A pair of blue eyes hesitantly met his own around the hood, and the figure hunched a little further into his cloak.
“I’m a Jedi, I’m going to help you.” Anakin was trying his best to keep his body language open and relaxed, but kriff his leg was going to start cramping. “Why don’t you tell me your name?”
After a couple of beats, a hesitant hand reached up and slowly pulled the hood back. The absence of the hood revealed an attractive face, all sharp angles, oranges and golds with those expressive blue eyes to break up the warm tones. His ginger hair had clearly been carefully styled to frame his young clean shaven face, but with the events of the day a loose strand of hair had fallen out of place and now dusted the top of the man’s nose, a determined curl at the base of the strand. He was exactly the kind of beautiful that Padmé would’ve loved to style in elegant Nubian garments. Maybe he should introduce them, it would be a nice excuse to see his wife and watch her as she rambled about the latest fashions.
Handsome Redhead was giving him a look, confusion and distrust staining his features, his lips quirked into a pout as he appeared to be studying Anakin’s appearance and looking for visible weapons.
“Hey,” Anakin said quietly, raising his hands with palms open for the man to see.
“...Hello,” so Handsome Redhead had a cute, albeit timid, posh accented voice to match his pretty appearance.
Oh Padmé would love him. Maybe they could adopt him, he looked young? No, no, the man had to be around Anakin’s age.
Handsome Redhead seemed to struggle for a second, a light flush rising to his high cheekbones, lips pouted and Anakin tried not to coo at him. He would probably find that insulting.
“Lumis…” The small voice interrupted Anakin’s reverie. Wide shiny blue eyes met his own. “You are… a jedi?”
“Yes, my name is Anakin Skywalker.” Anakin smiled. “Jedi Knight.”
“Anakin Skywalker,” Lumis echoed, eyes widening even more. “You’re the hero with no fear.”
Anakin grimaced then corrected his expression into something more genuine. “Yes, the media gave me that nickname just after the Clone Wars began.”
There was a flash of something in Lumis’s eyes, then he was standing up and dusting himself off. Anakin rose to stand as well and held a hand out to Lumis.
“I’ll walk you home.” He offered.
Lumis looked at his outstretched hand for a moment before giving Anakin a dazzling smile and stepping forward to link their arms. “Thank you, Master Skywalker.”
“Oh, just Anakin is fine, Lumis.” Anakin laughed awkwardly.
Lumis hummed as he fell into step with Anakin.
Should he ask? Anakin felt like he should ask. “Are you injured?”
“Hmm?” Lumis looked up at him, then chuckled a little. “Oh, no you showed up before anything happened.”
“That’s good,” Anakin said, relieved. “So, how did you find yourself in trouble anyway?”
Lumis frowned, his grip on Anakin’s arm tightened ever so slightly. “They were looking for money… But, I don’t make any pay so when I couldn’t give them anything they pulled out their knives.”
“Oh?” Anakin fumbled, confused. “Do you work?”
“You could say that.” Lumis said cryptically, looking down at their feet as they walked.
With Anakin’s mental slavery warning bells going off in his mind as he tried to come up with a way to ask Lumis if he was a slave, he almost missed the suddenly appearance of Dooku who elected to announce himself with the ignition of the telltale scarlet lightsaber of the Sith.
“Dooku.” Anakin growled. “Lumis, stay behind me!”
The old Sith walked unhurried down the ramp of the ship and came to a halt a few paces away from Anakin, robes swishing dramatically.
“Skywalker,” he greeted with his trademark air of disdain. “Why am I unsurprised to see you here.”
“What do you want, Dooku?” Anakin spat, carefully shielding Lumis behind his back.
Dooku straightened his posture, sneering. “Simply enjoying the lovely Coruscant scenery. I was so hoping to visit the Temple for nostalgia’s sake.”
“Enough,” Anakin spat, lightsaber drawn and humming in his hand. “I am going to take you to the Council.”
Anakin leapt forward, aiming to level a powerful strike to the Count’s side. As he was pushed unexpectedly to the side by an invisible force. He fell, landing heavily on his back as the breath was knocked from his lungs. Anakin gasped and scrambled against the dirty ground, ignoring the pain in his chest as he desperately tried to get to his feet. He had to protect Lumis, he had to capture the Count-
A bright red blade was thrust in his face, held under his chin. “Forgive me, Anakin, you have been most kind this evening.”
Anakin gaped at the redhead holding blade to his neck, were his eyes always gold? “Lumis?”
Gone was the sweet timid boy Anakin rescued as Lumis gave him a devilish smile as he leaned in, “It’s Darth Lumis, my dear.”
“You’re a Sith ?” Anakin gasped. “Wh-”
“Save your breath, Anakin.” Darth Lumis took a step back and raised his free hand in a little mocking salute. “I really must be going now, we’ll talk later.”
Anakin could only watch in utter shock as the redhead sauntered over to Dooku and both Sith boarded the ship. Their ship shot up into the sky and he lay back on the grimy floor of the Lower Levels and tried to catch his breath as he watched them disappear.