Tripping On Air

Title: Tripping on Air
Author: Kendra
Pairing: Obi/OFC
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Lucas owns the boy-we'd treat him better though.
Notes: This is an odd fic for me. It's taken months and seemingly months to finally find the Obi muse to finish it up, he's been quite snarky-think it might have something to do with the Elf. I just wanted to write something very lighthearted and silly romantic and just have fun with a crazy character that is not really that crazy, just clutzy.lol Hope you enjoy.


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Groaning lowly, Embeth Novara glanced once more from her monitor to the chrono on the far wall, and only managed another strangled noise at finding the time creeping along like a Bantha bogged down in a sea of mud.

When she joined Corsec, fresh out of Coruscant University-many, many moons ago, they had promised her a career that was both adventurous and exciting. They lied. All Embeth had managed to become was a slave to her cluttered little desk tucked neatly out of sight in the far corner.

The only adventure that could come to mind in regards to her Corsec career, came each evening as she fought her way to the public transport without being trampled and left for dead. As for exciting-yeah right. How exciting was it to stare day in and day out at a monitor constantly flooded with images of the galaxy's most wanted and hoping to make some sort of connection in finding them for the most ungrateful, egotistical, Corsec officers imaginable?

Glancing once again to the wall chrono, Embeth let out a long, loud sigh before slumping forward, elbows resting atop her desk, chin planted firmly in her palms while pretending to stare at the screen before her. If only she had the guts to quit, move as far away for this over crowded, over cluttered planet and start anew. But alas, keeping a roof over her head, food on the table, and the occasional credit to go shopping with, kept her chained to such a boring job.

If only she could find the courage to let go, embrace change. These were the same thoughts and wishes that plagued her daily of late. Well, between that and finding a man. Now that was a career all in itself with the males that had darkened her doorway over the past years.

It wasn't 'til recently, after a bitter and quite public breakup that Embeth Novara had called it quits in the world of dating and had sworn off men. She'd be quite content and happy living by herself, in the cramped little apartment she shared with her feline Dax. She'd grow old, become the spinster her mother warned her about when leaving Valeria and her family, and just enjoy it whether she liked it or not, damnit.

Guess it didn't help in the man hunting department that the brunette was a bit on the clumsy side. It didn't matter the situation, if all else failed, Embeth was known to make an ass out of herself. If it wasn't by her stammering and stuttering and saying completely the inappropriate. She would trip on air if given the chance. Grace was most definitely not her middle name or even remotely in her gene pool.

"Novara! You got some guy coming up to see you about locating one of your boyfriends!" Captain Istar shouted, chuckling as the dark-haired woman's chin nearly hit the desk, as she was startled.

"What? About what boyfriend?" She quizzed, completely confused and wondering if her daily musing about her life in general had now turned to babbling aloud and she was totally unaware of doing such.

Istar rolled his eyes and pointed to her monitor at the images streaming by. "Those boyfriends...the most eligible and notorious in the galaxy," the snot nosed Rodian chided in his annoyingly nasal tone.

Giving the annoying Captain a forced smile, then turning back to her desk to roll her eyes, Embeth swore softly under her breath. "This should be fun, another demanding little bug-eyed, weaselly type wanting to double cross the Republic and cash in on another most wanted," she snapped.

Hitting her elbow against the edge of her desk, Embeth grunted and only managed to knock her chocolate bar to the floor. If there was one thing anybody who had any sense knew, was that nobody came between this woman and her addiction.

Without thought, just running on gut reaction, the dark-haired woman with warm eyes the color of her favorite treat, slipped out of her chair and crawled under her desk to retrieve the half eaten bar.

While scurrying about the cramped space, the only thing visible was her backside; Embeth noticed her lost earring under the desk as well and uttered an enthusiastic cheer at the unexpected find.

"Pardon me?" A cultured, male voice quizzed from above, making the startled woman instantly try to stand, but only managing to nearly knock herself unconscious on the underside of her desk.

"Ohff!" Embeth winced as strong hands wrapped around her hips and helped her shimmy out from under the furniture in a most undignified manner.

"My apologies, I didn't mean to...are you all right?" He asked, watching with concern, but the twinkle in his azure eyes was most noticeable as he towered over the woman who was still sprawled upon the floor.

Slowly nodding her head in the affirmative, a hand rubbing gently upon the tender, abused crown, Embeth recovered just enough to focus on the pair of slightly scuffed, but highly polished brown boots within her eyeline.

Stupidly, the dark-haired woman perused her way from the boots, to the cream colored leggings, to the utility belt, up more to the tunic and then rested her gaze on the most alluring male face she'd seen in her life. It didn't help that he had plastered upon his face the cockiest grin ever imaginable. In all her haste of looking at this stranger, she mentally checked off his wonderful assets-and even from her position, there were some fine assets to admire. She knew from the brown robe he wore that unmistakably, he was Jedi. Yet, in some recess of her mind, the idea didn't quite fathom as denial set in. Damn what a waste if he was Jedi, she momentarily mused, figuring once again, her luck was a thing to be denied. "You're a Jedi..." she remarked dumbly.

Glancing down at himself, nodding in agreement, the man with the auburn hair smiled as if he held a secret that no other was privileged to know. "Last time I looked," he shot back, amusement heavy in his tone.

"A Jedi...incredible...what a waste," Embeth muttered, then blushing furiously as she realized that once again, she'd made a complete and utter fool of herself in front of a handsome man-no less a revered and respected Jedi. What ever his name was, they were all revered and respected most assuredly she thought, finally taking in her very unlady like sprawl and quickly fighting to shimmy her skirt down to once again hide the extra amount of thigh she was so blatantly showing this man.

Cocking an eyebrow, the Jedi extended a hand to help her stand. "Waste? I've been called many things, however, that is a first," he mused, no anger in his voice but it still rang soundly with mirth.

"Oh, I didn't mean waste, waste. I mean waste as in it's too bad you're Jedi and celibate and what a loss you can't have sex and..." she blathered on in one breath as she nervously stood, trying to adjust her skirt and blouse.

Crossing his arms over his chest, storm-colored eyes glistened with a naughty gleam. "Really? No intimate relations? That's news to me...last time I checked, it wasn't against the Code," he casually said, making as if really thinking upon the Code to see what reaction the charming woman before him would come back with next.

"Oh...I am so sorry. I mean, I didn't know...I only heard...I mean, I'm just making an even bigger fool out of myself than first originally thought, aren't I?" Embeth groaned, blushing furiously before sitting down, nearly missing the chair in the process of being absolutely flustered.

"I find it quite charming. No apology needed. I take it, you are officer Novara, correct?"

"Afraid so," she groaned, looking back up to the Jedi as he now stood before her desk.

"I'm Jedi Kenobi...Obi-Wan," he introduced, bowing to the woman. "I've come seeking help and was directed to you."

"Oh, so you're the one," she remarked, her face lighting up. "What can I help you with?"

Obi-Wan reached to his utility belt and pulled out a datacard. "I'm looking for this man, Corbin Durra, he's Corellian and quite the thorn in Senator Aldo's side of late. I was told you were the best in Corsec at tracking a fugitive's trail," he explained, handing her the datacard which she instantly inserted into her computer station and watched as the man's image and info flashed on the monitor before her.

"I think you might have been slightly misinformed. I'm probably the only one left in the building willing to do this work, let alone help a Jedi."

An auburn brow raised in surprise. "How so? About the Jedi, I mean," he corrected.

"Mistrust, many think the Jedi are no more than an antiquated group of mind readers on a power trip to control the galaxy and ruin those who are...never mind," Embeth quickly halted, looking about the nearly empty office hoping the few stragglers had not overheard her remarks.

"And you, why do you help me then if others in Corsec think so, lowly of the Jedi?" Obi-Wan questioned, the annoyance of the information apparent in the way the line between his brows deepened.

Leaning back in her chair and looking the Jedi straight in the eyes, Embeth lowered her voice. "Because I think most of them who think that way are wrong. I may not know the sex life of a Jedi, but I do know that I've only seen good from the Order and nothing of what the low minded whisper behind your back. Though mostly those whispering..." she continued, leaning forward, lowering her voice even more, "...are the ones afraid that the Jedi will ruin their corrupt affairs."

Rocking back on his heel, Obi-Wan straightened and eyed the woman with a deeper respect. "My Master spoke of such before his death...I see," he pondered, wrapping his robe closer about him.

Embeth never spoke this openly about Corsec to anyone, not even her own family. So here she was blabbing like an idiot to someone she'd only met moments earlier. What was it with Jedi? Were they all so annoyingly trusting?

Clearing her throat awkwardly, Embeth turned back to the monitor. "I will look over the profile you gave me of Durra and get back to you as soon as I possibly can in finding his whereabouts or any additional information. May I ask what it is exactly that Durra has done to cause the Senator to ask for the Jedi's help?"

Obi-Wan's eyes grew dark as he frowned bitterly. "Durra is suspected in threatening to kidnap and torture the Senator's young daughter if a senatorial vote is not swayed."

Embeth's brown eyes widened. "Oh, I understand. I'll get to work on this immediately. Jedi Kenobi, dare I ask when this vote in the Senate will take place?"

"Eight standard days..."

"Doesn't give us much time, does it?"

"No, it does not," he agreed, before leaving his comlink code with her so that he could be reached directly. Bowing, the Jedi turned to leave then stopped abruptly, acting as if he wished to say something while looking back at the officer but instead, smirked to himself and quietly left.

"Well, that went well," Embeth groaned, slumping her shoulders and collapsing more bonelessly into her chair. "I bet nobody's ever asked a Jedi about his sex life. You've done it again, Novara, you've done it once again. Probably the most memorable of dumb things said so far," she admonished softly before being drawn to the information the Jedi had left for her.

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tbc