Nothing But A Luthor On The Way By Cristina Rated: G Submitted: November 2003 First of all, I must warn you: this is the longest story I have ever written. When the idea hit me, more than a year ago, I thought I'd be able to deal with it in five to ten pages. Little did I know. It turned out to be a great challenge, one which would have never been completed without the help and support of a bunch of great FOLCS. The first on my list is my wonderful BR Tricia. I've really learnt a lot thanks to her, not to mention how much this story gained because of her input. I must also thank Jose, for his nagging and helpful comments, and Sas, because even though she joined in close to the end, she also offered great suggestions as well as some really nice comments. And before I move on, a big Thank You to Wendy, for GEing this for the archive. Last but not least, a big THANK YOU to all the wonderful FOLCS who read and commented on this story, both at Zoom's MBs and at lcficmbs: Labrat, Maria, Tank, Anna B., Ursi, Merry, Roger, Barb,Kathy M, Jen, Sunny, Gabriele... Guys, you're all great. Thanks for bearing with me. It meant a lot back when I posted this, and it still does. Cris Note: This story begins after the Planet's bombed. Perry has told them that he is retiring, but Lois never told Clark about Luthor's proposal. Disclaimer: As usual, I don't own any of the characters, I just use them for fun, with no other benefit than the feedback received from FOLCS. All rights property of DC Comics and December 3rd Productions. NOTHING BUT A LUTHOR ON THE WAY The early morning breeze made its way through the slightly open door of the balcony, causing the few papers that lay on the table to scatter onto the floor. As he puffed on his cigar, he watched the cloudless sky over Metropolis, feeling happier than usual. Not only was he rich and powerful, but he also had a beautiful woman about to accept his marriage proposal. <> Up to a year back, he'd somewhat started to take his wealth and power for granted, but the arrival in Metropolis of the Kryptonian hero had instantly become both a threat and a challenge, increasing the minute Lois Lane had entered the picture. Now, however, all that seemed to be coming to an end. Lois would soon be his wife and he'd make sure that her bonds with her previous life were as good as dead. With the Planet gone, only Superman and Kent stood in his way, and he had the feeling that bringing the man of steel down was only a matter of time. And then no one would stop him. As for Kent, his friendship with Lois was frail already; irreversible damage was not far either, of that he'd make sure. Life was good. Though his happiness was not yet complete, he felt strong. He would wait. Life was good indeed. *************************** Despite the clear morning sky and the warm temperature, to Clark, this day didn't have the faintest sign of light. He couldn't remember ever feeling this depressed. He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unwilling to move. <> His thoughts drifting back to his tenacious partner, he made a mental remark, <> He simply couldn't understand how Lois, award winning investigative reporter, was unable to see the real Luthor. <> Somehow the idea of Lois being so shallow as to fall for expensive gifts and fancy dates didn't fit with the person he'd come to know, and he knew, or thought at least, that she wore no disguise around him, at least not any longer. His life in Metropolis had never felt so empty and pointless. Losing Lois was bad enough on its own, but seeing his whole life fall apart in a matter of days was devastating. Not only had he lost his best friend, his partner, the woman who meant the world to him; he'd been separated from his friends at the Planet and he'd seen the place he worked at, doing a job he loved, burned to ashes. And the worst part of it was, not the emptiness he felt, but the fact that though he knew the course of events that had taken place before the fire at the Daily Planet were more than a little suspicious, he couldn't bring himself to investigate. His instincts told him that there was something fishy about them, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. But instead of working on it, all he seemed able to do was whine and feel self- pity. <> he thought. He wanted to talk to his parents, he knew they'd support him like they always had and they'd probably give him the strength he was lacking at the time, but he couldn't find the determination he needed. There just wasn't anything that felt right about his life any more. ******************* Trying to be objective, she admitted to herself that her new work place didn't really look that bad. It had the latest technology available and she'd been assigned a big office, unlike at the Planet, and also, there seemed to be a lot of qualified people around. <> she thought. But despite her efforts, despite how hard she was trying to picture herself in the new surroundings, there was a feeling she wasn't able to cast aside; the fact that she'd never thought of herself working at a place which wasn't the Daily Planet. It'd become somewhat of a second home for her. Actually, if she thought about it, she spent more time there than in her real home. She was definitely going to miss all the friends and colleagues she'd left behind, Perry, Jimmy... maybe even Ralph. But above all, she was going to miss Clark. She knew she'd been really hard on him at first and she hadn't exactly agreed on their partnership, but she'd gotten used to working with him, to having him by her side. He'd become her best friend and she just couldn't overlook that. Maybe there was a way she could talk him into being her partner again, now in LNN. At least she could try. She'd been sitting at her desk for a while now, holding the receiver, while her fingers had dialed, almost as if of their own volition, the all too familiar number. After it rung for the fourth time without an answer, she was about to hang up, when a cracked, toneless voice finally came from the other end. "Hello?" ******************************** That he was in low spirits was an understatement, but exactly how worrying the situation was became clear when it wasn't until the fourth ring that he realized it was the phone he could hear, which for a man with super-hearing was anything but encouraging. Picking the receiver up, he answered, "Hello?" "Hi... Clark, it's me." She was trying to sound casual but wasn't doing a good job at it, though she couldn't understand why talking to Clark felt so awkward. "Hi, Lois." Though an eager response wouldn't have been expected given the circumstances, the lack of emotion in his voice wasn't proper of him either, which his now ex-partner didn't fail to notice. "Clark, are you all right? I mean, I know things are a little messy, but you really sound..." She wondered how to say it in order to not disturb him further but all she came up with was "... awful. Look, there's something I need to talk to you about and also I..." She hesitated long enough for her partner to speak again, this time in a much softer voice, closer to the Clark she knew. "Lois, you what?" Finally deciding that it was safe to express what she was feeling, she proceeded, "I miss you. Terribly. I think we could both need to talk, so... do you think we could meet for lunch?" In an attempt to make the conversation less intense, he tried to tease her as he'd done so often ever since they'd met, but ended up sounding sarcastic rather than funny, "I don't know, let me check if I have any appointments for today. What time would that be? Oh, wait, I forgot, I'm unemployed." Taking his attempt at a joke as a yes, she said, "There's a little cafe real close to the LNN building. We could go there. I have a break at around one." "Sounds good to me. Shall I meet you there?" "Actually, I was thinking that, maybe, you could pick me up at work so I could show you around..." Maybe if she could get him to see the place, he'd realize working there wasn't such a bad idea and having her partner back would be closer to being a reality. "Look, I'm not sure that's such a good idea. It'd be better if we just met at the cafe." Disappointing Lois as he was, he simply wasn't able to even consider working for Luthor, even if that meant being away from her. If she could only understand. "Ok, I'll see you there, then." ******************************* As noon approached, Clark was still going over his conversation with Lois mentally. It hadn't been his intention to sound so careless, almost apathetic, for, after all, Lois wasn't to blame. But the fact that she was dating Luthor, the one person responsible for his present situation, didn't make things easy. He planned to improve his behavior during lunch, though. Furthermore, he had started considering dropping by LNN so they could walk together from there. After all, the last thing he wanted was to be farther from Lois. Deciding superspeed wasn't necessary, as it was still early, he went to the bathroom for a 'long', warm shower and a shave. Twenty minutes later he was walking out his front door, now convinced that stopping by at LNN was the right thing to do. When he arrived at the station and asked where he could find Lois Lane, he was surprised to hear that she had an office of her own, which turned out to be bigger than Perry's at the Planet. Knocking softly on her door when he arrived, knowing she wasn't expecting him there, he allowed a shy grin to show on his face. She was intently looking at her computer screen and, without raising her gaze, she simply said, "Come in." This time with a much more effective teasing tone than when they'd spoken on the phone, he replied, "Are you sure you want me in here?" In another time, another place, she would have suppressed her happiness at seeing him there, not letting her true feelings show, but she was just too glad to see her best friend, and all previous shyness and uneasiness faded away when she recognized Clark's voice, at which she rose from her chair and quickly made her way towards him before hugging him. Though surprised at such an affectionate response from Lois, he had no trouble returning the hug. It felt so great to have her that close that he forgot, even if for mere seconds, how unhappy he'd been feeling. When they finally pulled apart, Lois blushed slightly and, almost instinctively, lowered her head. Though she had been more than glad to see Clark, she hadn't planned to let it show, at least not in such an enthusiastic way. Regaining her composure, with her cheek color back to normal, she drove her gaze back to him. She was curious to know what had made Clark change his mind and come pick her up at work when he'd seemed so determined not to, but decided against asking, afraid she'd be pushing too far and making him uncomfortable. Instead, she decided to offer him a tour around her new work place. "Clark, would you like me to show you around? Because I know my office is nice, but there's not much to it; and there are plenty of other things that I'm sure you'd rather see. If that's ok with you, that is." She expectantly waited for an answer as he briefly hesitated. "Sure." **************************** He knew he'd intended to reject her offer. He had no interest whatsoever in seeing more of what Luthor's wealth could buy, because it would only lead him back to thinking about the means he'd made use of to become the so called successful man he was and how his own life had become more involved with it throughout the last year, especially in the past few weeks. But when he'd seen Lois's response to his visit and then heard her begin to ramble on, threatening to switch on her famous babble mode, he hadn't felt able to deceive her. If he was honest, he had to admit that the place did seem to be equipped with the latest technologies and the workers around appeared to be enjoying themselves, though, as it often happened with anything related to Luthor, there was a big chance that it was all just a facade. Once their tour was over, they'd returned to Lois's office so she could get her coat and her purse, and then walked over to the caf‚, sharing small talk on the way. Once there, they'd remained quiet for a while, allowing an awkward, yet not uncomfortable, silence to take over, only speaking to the waitress when she'd stopped by to take their orders. Not long after, Clark was the first to break the silence. "So, are you enjoying working at LNN?" He hadn't meant for his tone to bear the sarcasm it had, but hiding his disapproval kept on getting harder. He wasn't her owner nor did he have the right to make decisions for her, but he wished there was some way she could see how wrong the new paths she'd chosen were. Ignoring his tone, she tried to make her reply sound casual, knowing full well that, if she responded in kind, they'd end up wound in one of those arguments that had come to be so frequent between them. She wasn't willing to go there; she needed to talk to Clark, and that wouldn't make it any easier. "You know, Clark? If you try to see it from a positive perspective, it's an interesting job. Things are quite different compared to the way a newspaper works, but I guess it is nice, plus there are many things I can learn from it. Maybe y..." She was about to try talking him into being her partner there, but thought better of it. Instead she said, "If you don't stop me now, you know I'll go right into full babble mode..." Her last remark would have never made him laugh aloud, but she had expected more from him than the attempt at a grin that she received. Worried, she asked, "Clark, are you ok? I know that things aren't going too well for you right now, but it's just that... well, you look so... not you." She was right; there wasn't any better way to say it. He was far from being his usual self, high-spirited, hopelessly optimistic. But he couldn't help it. "I don't know, Lois. It's just that when I first arrived in Metropolis, working for the Daily Planet was the only thing on my mind. It's the reason I came. What's more, almost everything that's precious to me is related in one way or another to the Planet. I guess, in a way, I still expect to get my job back. That has to be the reason why I don't seem to be able to look for a new job." "Clark, you have to face the fact that the Planet is gone. I miss it too and it'd be great if there was a way to have it back, but the truth is that no one was able to do anything to save it, not even Lex. He tried and came close, but after the fire, there just wasn't much of an option..." He'd been controlling himself, trying not to bring Luthor's name up, and simply enjoying a nice meal with his best friend, but it hurt too much to remain quiet about it. Before he could stop it, the words were already leaving his mouth. "What makes you think that saving the Planet was ever Luthor's intention?" There, he'd said it, and taking it back would be no use. "Look, Clark, I'm starting to get a little tired of the way you refer to Lex. Why is it you can't accept that you might have misjudged him? Look at all the good things he has done, even at the Planet, trying to keep it publishing despite the crisis, assuming the risk. Be objective!" "Wait a second here. You're asking me to be objective? I'm not the one that Luthor's got fooled. The Planet's disappearance was simply too convenient and it didn't take him long to have you working on his side. You never even liked the idea of working in television, what made you change your mind? Or better: who?" He was a little taken aback by the extreme harshness in his voice and a little scared when he realized that he was losing control of his emotions. He'd been trying to get hold of them but hadn't succeeded. Through a mixture of anger and hurt, raising her voice more than she expected, she shouted back, "If I didn't know you better, I'd think you were jealous!" "That's ridiculous. Is it so hard to accept the fact that someone cares about your well-being?" "Yeah, right. That's exactly why you, my best friend, cannot share my happiness. Don't you think that I might just be happy with Lex?" As he didn't reply, she went on, a little calmer now, "That's one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you, though now I'm not so sure you're the right person. I... Lex asked me to marry him." ************************* Suddenly everything had become rather confusing. If he hadn't heard her wrong, Luthor had proposed to her, and by the sound of her voice, it seemed like she was actually considering saying yes. Though he knew she had a relationship with Luthor, he'd never thought things would move on this fast. Was she asking for his opinion? What was she expecting from him? A "Go head, marry him. And while you're at it, maybe you could give him a hand with his 'businesses'?" Seeing him hesitate, she spoke again, "I haven't said yes, yet. I wanted to know what you thought and... I needed to talk to someone else. I need to know..." In a matter of seconds, their conversation had turned from a heated argument to a confession. And it wasn't just any confession; it was a big issue they were dealing with, as big as the effect it was having on him. He hadn't had the time to cool off, quite the opposite in fact. But now, to add to his anger, he was appalled. He was losing her; if she married Luthor there was little hope for any kind of relationship between them, even as friends. Still trying to take it all in, he realized something else; she needed to talk to someone else, and chances were that that someone wore his underwear on the outside and could fly. "Clark, please, say something." "Something like what? Marry him? Or do you want me to say 'don't marry him' so you can yell at me some more while defending him?" His anger, though predictable, was affecting her deeply. She didn't think someone as kind and gentle as Clark could cause her so much hurt. And what was surfacing, despite her efforts against it, was the pain. Trying to control her emotions, she said, "Please, Clark. I really need you on my side for this." "I'm not sure that's something I can do, given the circumstances." "Clark, I really need your help here. I need to talk to Super..." Before she could finish her sentence, she heard him cutting her off. That was all she needed him for? Getting in touch with himself? Awfully ironic it was, and just as hurtful. What he was willing to give as Clark is what she wanted from Superman. But that wasn't him. Bitterly, he said, "If Superman's the only thing holding you back, you should accept Luthor's proposal." "What is that supposed to mean?" As her words came out of her mouth, she felt someone approaching their table, a feeling that was followed by the sound of a familiar, yet unwelcome, voice she knew, even before seeing Clark's reaction. "Hello, my dear. I stopped by your office, meaning to surprise you, and they told me you'd gone out for lunch. I thought I'd find you here." *********************** "Hi, Lex." Before either of the three could speak further, Lois's beeper went off. She stood up to head for the payphones, excusing herself before she left, "It's from work. Hopefully, it'll only take me a minute." As she walked away, Lex arrogantly turned to Clark. "I'm sorry about the interruption, Mr. Kent. Do you mind if I have a seat?" Without waiting for his answer, he pulled a chair back and sat down. Sure as he was about the response he'd get from Clark, he said, "Lois has told me that she has not been able to convince you of partnering up with her again. It would really be an honor if you decided to change your mind and start working for LNN." He knew perfectly well how provoking he was sounding; he intended to, anxious to see what comeback he'd get from the reporter. Sarcastically, Clark replied, "I'm sure you would, Mr. Luthor, but I'm afraid I'll have to reject your offer. I am quite certain that the fire at the Daily Planet was more than it's been told to be and I'm more determined than ever to work it out. Call me hopeless, if you may, but I have the feeling that the Planet is not gone for good." The response was definitely more amusing than he'd thought it would be, but then he knew of the fragility of Clark's situation at the time. "Well, if that's your last word, then so be it. But I'm sure Lois will be very disappointed." Despite knowing what Luthor's intentions were, Clark was unable to control himself and so responded forgetting all sense of composure, "Look, Luthor, I don't know what it is you're trying to do, but I'll figure it out sooner than you expect." Enjoying himself as he was, he decided to push him further, "A little cocky today, aren't we, Mr Kent? Do you think that's the way to treat someone who's offering you a rather fine job?" Feeling his anger build up, he answered, "If it implies working for you, even the best job in the world is not good enough. As to my supposed cockiness, let me just say that you haven't the faintest clue of what I can do. And you can trust me on that one." "I have the feeling that you're allowing jealousy to drive you, Kent." "Jealousy? You couldn't be more mistaken. I know you're far from being the great man Lois sees you as and I'll find the way to make her see that too. She deserves someone who really sees her for the amazing woman she is and not as a mere possession." It was rarely that one could see Clark allowing his emotions to drive him, to speak for him, without thinking twice, but at the moment, he didn't care; he was too tired of Luthor's games, which was clearly reflected in his following remark, "Let me tell you one more thing, Luthor. If you ever hurt Lois or make her suffer, in any way, I'll personally make sure you're never again close enough as to even breathe the same air she's breathing." Luthor, clearly relishing the effect he was having on Clark's behavior, was about to continue their little discussion when he saw Lois approaching, and chose to give her the best of his smiles, free now of the arrogance it'd been bearing during her absence. A little more relaxed than when she had left, she apologized, "Sorry I took so long, but there was this lady on the phone and she just wouldn't hang up!" "That's fine, dear. Clark and I have been enjoying each other's company." Standing up, Clark addressed both of them. "Unfortunately, you are going to have to finish the meal without my company. I'm sorry, but I'm late for an appointment." And with that, he started walking away. As she heard the end of his sentence, she said, "But Clark, we weren't finished..." But he was gone before she could speak further, which made her turn to Lex instead in search of an explanation, "Lex, what happened here?" Looking at her with an expression which would make her feel his concern, but determined to take advantage of Kent's behavior, he said, "Nothing, dear. I guess Kent's having a rough time. Either that... or his priorities have changed." Hesitating only long enough to let her doubts surface, he proceeded, "But you know you mean a lot to him, so that couldn't be. " ******************** He'd been a coward, he knew, but Lois's return had given him the opportunity to realize how Luthor was pushing him and leading him to a situation he didn't want to be in. And so he'd taken the easy way out, behaving like he would when a Superman emergency came up, and leaving without giving her the chance of holding him back. How long it'd been since that incident, he couldn't tell. As he'd walked out of the cafe, he'd turned into the first narrow street he'd found. There, he'd changed into the suit and taken off. He'd been flying since then, trying to cool off and put his thoughts in order. The fact that Superman hadn't been needed had made it easier to concentrate on his own problems. As much as he tried, he couldn't remember what exactly it was that he'd told Luthor, though he was sure that he'd warned him about the consequences he'd have to face if he ever hurt Lois. <> She had to be really mad at him right now, but there was no way he could have avoided it without lying to her. He couldn't change how he felt. He couldn't hide the hurt he was feeling, even more after he'd found out the only thing that kept her from marrying Luthor was Superman. Though she'd never finished her sentence, he knew it was her intention to ask him to let Superman know that there was something she needed to talk to him about. But, the way things between them were at the moment that was one talk he wasn't willing to face. If there was nothing he could say to help her make up her mind as Clark, then she'd have to find her answers without either of them. ************************* As she climbed the steps up to her apartment, she couldn't stop thinking about the way Clark had behaved during lunch. She hadn't been able to focus on anything else afterwards; even on the ride home, while Lex had been trying to hold a conversation with her, her mind had kept on drifting elsewhere. Fortunately, there hadn't been that much going on at work that evening, which had made her lack of concentration go unnoticed. She opened her purse to fish for her key and in a matter of seconds she was inside her apartment, heading to her bedroom. She changed into something more comfortable then walked over to the couch, trying to recall how her day had moved on after lunch. She remembered that Lex had tried to talk her into having dinner with him that night, but she'd rejected the offer saying she needed to rest. Instead, she'd suggested they'd meet for lunch the following day. She knew Lex was expecting an answer, yet she wasn't sure she was ready to give him one. There was still that someone she needed to talk to... As his image came to her mind, she felt ridiculous for the thousandth time. She believed her feelings for Superman to be true, yet, for some reason, and even though she was determined to speak with him as soon as she had the chance, it didn't seem like the smartest choice. <> As she continued trying to justify her future actions, her thoughts were somehow directed back to Clark, and again, the same questions started coming up. It was beyond her understanding why Clark could not support her in this. If it was what made her happy, and he was really her best friend, why couldn't he share her happiness? She had accused him of behaving as if he was jealous, but she didn't believe that, did she? Even if he was, Clark wouldn't allow those kinds of feelings to motivate him. There had to be something more, but what? The more she thought about it, the more her frustration grew. Somewhere along the way, the hurt and anger she was feeling built up to the point of tears beginning to roll down her cheeks. It was probably about time she let those out too, because with her proud attitude she hadn't allowed herself to truly express what all the recent events in her life were making her feel. Clark's last remark still echoed in her mind. What had he meant with it? He sounded so bitter as he said those words that, for a moment, Lois had felt she didn't know the person staring back at her. If he was trying to hurt her, as much as she hated to admit it, he'd done a good job. <> As she was having those thoughts, she knew she wasn't being fair and that there had to be an explanation, tough her tears didn't seem to agree and started flowing even harder than before. She pulled her knees up to her chest and, when she lowered her head, she felt the tears wetting her clothes, but she couldn't have cared less at that moment. By the time she brought her head back up, her sweater was more than a little damp. Her gaze still blurry, she stared at her window and, to her surprise, saw a familiar red and blue figure flying closely... Or had she? When she saw the figure a second time, she left her doubts behind, walked over to the window and called out his name, opening the window at the same time. "Superman!" ******************** He hadn't meant for her to see him. And, if he thought about it, he couldn't remember deciding to fly over to her place, but somehow he'd found himself hovering outside her window. He had to admit, though, that despite the way he was feeling and their earlier argument, he couldn't stop caring about her. He could only guess that, at some point, he'd felt the urge to see her, to find out if she was fine, and that that urge had lead him to where he was now. After observing her for a few minutes, he'd seen the first of her tears. It had made him feel miserable. He was afraid Luthor would hurt her and, in trying to avoid it, he'd been the one to cause her pain. He wondered what the use of superpowers was at times, if they didn't keep him from making the same mistakes as any other human being. At first, his guilt hadn't allowed him to fly away. Up until she'd caught him, finally about to leave, his thoughts had been drifting back to that morning. However, this time, he'd been contemplating things from a different perspective. Whether he liked it or not, he'd realized that, if she talked to him as Superman, his reaction was the key to her relationship with Luthor. A rejection would probably push her into the arms of his enemy, yet the thought of Lois wanting the man in the suit but not the regular guy was unbearable. For the last few minutes, his thoughts had been racing at such a speed that following them was more than hard. But in his confusion, he was sure of one thing; Luthor didn't deserve Lois. He was sure he was going to hurt her, and he had the chance to prevent that from happening, but did he like that option? <> *************************** He had been accusing her of being blind, but what about himself? He couldn't see what lay in front of him. If he wanted to keep Lois at a safe distance from Luthor, he knew exactly what he had to do. She had said it to him herself; all that separated Lois Lane from being Lois Lane-Luthor was Superman. HIM. This wasn't a one-way situation; he did have an option after all. Would it be that bad if he told her, Superman, returned her feelings? Somewhere in his head, a little voice, constant reminder of his traditional upbringing, broke in, <> Still trying to sort out his internal debate, he heard her call again. "Superman... Could you please come in for a second?" Even after a year, he was always taken aback by how differently she behaved when he wore the suit, how softly she addressed him, so unlike the Mad Dog Lane facade she still wore around him, Clark, sometimes. He somehow couldn't imagine her biting at the hero, at her dream. Once inside her apartment, he felt her close the window behind him. As she walked over to the couch, slowly turning to face him, he could she her cheek color brightening slightly. When she finally met his eyes, she started to speak after a slight hesitation. "Did Clark tell you I needed to talk to you? "I..." Without giving him time to answer, she went on, "There are some things I'm trying to sort out. Everything seems to be changing for me these past few weeks and I'm trying to make some important decisions, which could change my life. But I can't... not without first... not if I don't find out how you feel... about me." He tried to speak, but words wouldn't come. And no words could come out until he made up his mind. Though he was sure of his feelings, when he thought about a relationship with Lois as Superman, it felt... not right. <> As if she were sensing his doubts, she decided to explain herself further, "I... I love you, Superman. There's no way I can commit to another man without first being sure that there's no hope for us." <> Trying to buy sometime, he said, "Lois, there are too many things you don't know about me. Maybe you never will." "Then, please let me know you, truly know you. Because I want you to be sure that it's not the celebrity I love, not the superhero. If you had no powers, if you were just an ordinary man leading an ordinary life, I'd love you just the same. Can you believe that?" There, he had his answer now, and without having to say a single word. She'd said it all, because in trying to prove her love with her words, she'd lied with her actions. She had admitted to Clark that her decision about Lex's proposal depended on Superman; she hadn't said at any point that he, Clark, had a say in it, and now she was trying to convince him otherwise, though she couldn't know it, could she? It really didn't matter to him; the hurt was done. "As much as I'd love to be able to believe you, under the circumstances, I don't think that's something I can do." And with that, he turned away from her and flew out her window. Speechless, and with her gaze still fixed on the spot where he'd been standing, she began to cry, not for the first time that day. ********* He'd had to leave; he couldn't stand watching her cry and not give in to her pleas. And the situation became unbearable as soon as he realized he was the reason behind her tears. So he'd simply flown away, out of her window and, probably, out of her life. Try as he might to avoid it, his thoughts kept racing back to Lois; but he'd definitely had enough for one day. Too many emotions, too many disagreements... too much pain. Being alone would not help him tonight; it wouldn't take her off his mind, so he headed to the one place where he'd always find support, towards the two people who'd always been by his side. He needed to feel loved that night, nothing else but nothing less either. Maybe in the morning, when he'd had the time to compose himself, he could explain everything to his parents. If anyone knew what the best advice possible was, it had to be them. ********************************* Martha Kent was busying herself preparing an oversized dinner. Even though it had been some time since Clark had left to travel the world and then to settle down in Metropolis, she still couldn't adjust to cooking meals just for two again. Sometimes, she'd offer some to her neighbors; others, she'd save for days to come. On occasion, Clark would show up and take some back to Metropolis. For a few minutes, she relished all the joyful memories the arrival of her son had created. Despite never being much of a believer, the way Clark had come into their lives did have the makings of a miracle. She was still caught in her reverie when her husband crept slowly beside her. Hugging her from behind, he said, "Honey, you know I like my food spicy, but if you add anything further I might get close to spitting fire!" Turning slowly around to face him, she smiled. "Sorry, Jon. It's just... can you believe after almost thirty years I still remember that night at Shuster's Field as clearly as if it'd just taken place?" "Well, it's not every day that life changes in such an overwhelming way. All of a sudden we had what we'd always wanted but had basically given up on." He couldn't help it. Every time he spoke of his son, the same proud look grew on his face. His wife, knowingly, replied, "That boy really is something... We should probably plan another trip to Metropolis, even if..." Without giving her time to finish her sentence, a familiar whoosh made them both fix their gazes on the front door. "...short. It's a good thing we got used to your little surprise appearances, or else our hearts would definitely complain!" The sheepish grin Clark gave her as his only answer was enough to set her mother instincts off. There was obviously something troubling him, though probably ignoring it for the time being and allowing Clark to open up when he felt ready was the wisest choice. Clark's uncertain expression and his brief hesitation before he finally spoke told her all she needed to know. "Mom, you wouldn't happen to have some of that great apple pie of yours, would you? It might not lighten my day, but it's sure bound to make it sweeter." She was about to respond, but opted for a simple nod instead, just before covering the distance between her son and the spot where she stood. Like any mother would, she knew what he needed, and so she hugged him and made him hug her, and decided to leave all further words for the morning. ***************************** When the first rays of the sun broke through his bedroom window, he slowly opened his eyes and tried to find the determination he needed to start a brand new day. He was feeling slightly better, which proved the advantage of his trip to Smallville. He wondered if his mother would ever cease to amaze him. Despite not being his birth mother, and for reasons unknown to him, she always seemed to know what it was he needed. Last night, he'd found in her the comfort he'd been searching for, and, furthermore, she'd understood his silent request and given him time until he felt ready to fill them in on what was bothering him. Now he knew that talking about his problems couldn't be any worse than keeping them to himself, so he chose not to postpone it any longer. The smell of coffee and homemade waffles soon drew him to the kitchen. Once downstairs, his parents were nowhere to be seen but his breakfast, a still steaming cup of coffee and a couple of waffles, was neatly arranged for him at the kitchen table. Just as he was about to eat the last bite, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching the back door. After a quick glance, he stood and reached for the door just in time to hold it open for Jonathan and Martha to come inside. "Good morning, son," they said almost in unison. Approaching her son, Martha said, " How are you feeling this morning? You look better..." "Yeah, a little. I..." He paused. Deciding to tell them what he felt was one thing, but finding the appropriate way to do so was... complicated. "Have you ever wondered what you'd do if one day you lost almost everything that's precious to you? Well, now I know. Nothing! I don't seem to be able to do anything to keep my life from shattering. I know there's something not right about the way the Planet came down; I'm losing touch with Jimmy and Perry and... and I'm seeing Lois completely driven to the worst soul on earth. And what is it I do? I whine; I wallow. All I do is feel sorry for myself. What is wrong with me?" After patiently waiting for Clark to finish, Jonathan was the first to speak, "Son, you know you can't sit back and watch everything slip away. You can't give up on any of that, especially if you know things aren't right the way they are. We've taught you better than that." Before continuing, he gazed at his wife and waited for her approval. Then he went on, "What's more, son, we didn't bring you up to be a quitter." Desperation showing in his voice, Clark replied, "You don't have to remind me, Dad, but how do I solve this?" Martha, sensing the need for mother's advice, decided it was her turn to speak. " How about showing her she's got other options?" At his puzzled look, she continued, "Clark, tell her how you feel!" "But, mom, she'll probably reject me." Less patient and understanding than his wife at times, Jonathan raised his voice slightly. "Son, she loves you; she told you so!" "No, Dad, she loves Superman. You haven't seen the way she acts around him or her reactions when his name comes up. She always has a dreamy look in her eyes when she stares at him, which I can assure you is never there when it's just me she's looking at. I'm good old Clark, hack from Nowheresville, her partner...ex- partner, and probably her best friend; but Superman's the 'HERO' from Krypton." Upon hearing those last words, Martha felt she too had had enough of her son's nonsense. "Look, Clark, we've put up with the way you talk about yourself in the third person; it's fine with us as long as you don't start seeing yourself as two different people, which is exactly what you are beginning to suggest. You've been Superman for less than a year, but Clark Kent is who you've been all your life. We have heard you say that Superman is what you can do, but I feel you're starting to forget it. When you created Superman, you didn't create a new person, you only found a way to use your special abilities to help others without losing the possibility of leading a normal life. The only differences between Clark and Superman are external, simply a matter of appearance. The person rescuing people from fires and such is as much my son as the one standing right before me now." "Then how come Lois doesn't see that?" His mom was finally getting through to him, which she must have sensed, for when she spoke again, her voice came in a calmer tone. "Maybe you just have to help her acknowledge it. Deep down, she must see in you, in Clark, the same virtues she finds in Superman, but she's blinded by a fantasy, because she doesn't really know Superman; all she has done is idealize him so, in her eyes, he's the most perfect man. You have to make her realize she can truly find all that in you." At a loss for words, Clark realized there was no better way to let his mom know what he was thinking than just showing her, so he walked up to her and hugged her. At that, Jonathan approached them and joined in. It wasn't until a couple minutes later that Clark finally spoke again. "I don't know what I'd do without you guys. I love you." "And we love you, son." ************************************ <>, she thought. It was a new day in the life of Lois Lane, maybe even a new beginning, because she was about to leave behind many of things that had been important to her up to that moment; the Planet, Perry, Jimmy... Clark. A lot of the pain and hurt she'd experienced the day before still remained, but at least she had finally been able to make a decision. After an intense argument with that nosy voice in the back of her head, she'd come to realize that, from whichever perspective she looked at the situation, her options were extremely clear. She was being given an opportunity, and she had to seize it. Yes, she would become Mrs. Luthor. Lex had called early that morning and had, somehow, talked her into taking the day off. <>, she wryly remarked. He would come to her apartment and together they'd go for a walk in the park and then to lunch. Though she'd been reluctant at first, she soon convinced herself that her concentration wasn't going to be any better than the previous day, so it really wouldn't hurt; much the opposite. Besides, spending time with Lex would help her get to know her husband to be better. A soft knock on the door brought her back from her reverie. With one last look at her reflection in the mirror, she headed towards the door, ready to take the next step in her life. She didn't even need to look through her peephole to know whom the person standing behind her door was. She took a deep breath and opened to let him in. "Hello, Lex." Lex, always the flatterer, responded to her welcome with a compliment, "You look incredible, my darling," and followed it by a soft kiss on the cheek. Blushing slightly and with a shyness compared to that she showed around Superman, she answered, "Thank you. I want everything about today to be special." Inside, her words made him wonder if he could ever set a goal for himself that he wasn't able to achieve. He had her; if he waited a few minutes, he would hear her say the magic words 'Lex, I want to be your wife'. And it would have been easier than he would have expected. Maybe, after all, he would even have to thank Kent and Superman for the unrequested help. << Had I known it'd be this fast, I'd have gotten rid of the Planet sooner.>> In an effort to hide his pride, he assumed a sheepish expression, then asked, "Why would that be, dear?" What could he say, he was never one to doubt victory, but he always felt an overwhelming pleasure when it was others who informed him of his victories. She walked to the couch and made sure he followed and once they were both comfortably seated there, she spoke quietly, "I... I told you I needed time to think things over, to make a decision. I guess sometimes I can't see what's right in front of me... The answer is yes, Lex. I'll marry you." No further words were exchanged. Lex pulled out of his pocket the black velvet box and opening it slowly, he took the ring and slid it on her finger. He kissed it softly before letting go of her hand. As he raised his head, he searched for her eyes, and when their gazes met, he closed the distance between them and brushed her lips with his, waiting for her permission before deepening the kiss. Their walk would have to wait. ********************************* It was never a bad time for a trip to Smallville. That was something he should remind himself more often. True, nothing had been fixed, but at least now he knew what to do. His parents were right, though he couldn't say that there was anything surprising in it. Somehow, they were always aware of what was best for him. <> he thought. With a new found determination and a much more optimistic attitude, he landed in the alley next to his apartment and changed into his regular Clark Kent clothing before entering. Inside, he made his way to the living room, with the firm intention of turning on the laptop and doing some research. <> As he was about to push the on button, the blinking light of the answering machine caught his eye. For a fraction of a second, the possibility of having a message from Lois crossed his mind and managed to produce a half smile, which disappeared shortly after when the reminder of their last argument made him dismiss the thought. Curious as to who else might want to talk to him, he pressed play. "Hey, Clark! This is Perry. I was just calling to tell you about the joys of retirement and...well, I have to come to Metropolis to solve a couple of matters, and thought you might want to meet with your old boss, chat about things, share some Elvis stories... Anyway, I'll be there tomorrow morning. I'll let you know as soon as I get in. Take care.>> The message made Clark think back to the day Perry had told them about his retirement. As much of a shock as it had been, neither of them, not Lois, not Jimmy, and definitely not himself, had found an argument they could use against his decision. They couldn't picture him out of his editor's office, not barking out instructions, not advising them when they needed guidance, both in and out of work. His call today, however, proved their feelings had been justified. Whichever matters he pretended to be taking care of, Clark knew perfectly well that he had probably had enough retirement by now to last him a lifetime. Maybe his presence would help activate his reporter instincts and get him back on the investigative track. Before his mind could wander on, a loud shrilling noise made him wish his superhearing wasn't so super. There was something strangely familiar about that noise. It didn't take him long to figure out where he'd heard something alike before. <> he thought. In a second, he spun into his Superman costume and took off from the same spot where he had landed barely a few minutes earlier. Though his first suspicions were driven towards Jimmy, he had to change his mind as soon as he realized where following the noise was leading him. To the Lexcorp Towers; more precisely, to the penthouse a certain 'benefactor' of the city had on top of one of them. The mere though of his likely destination was enough to set off his anger, but he did his best to repress it. After all, what could be said of him if he wasn't able to respect the values he expected from society? With a soft landing, he found himself standing in front of Luthor, who was holding the object responsible for the annoying noise. With his voice bearing the usual deceitful polite tone and his arrogant smile, Luthor addressed him, "Sorry, Superman, for the bluntness of my manners. I intended to be more gentle, but realized I didn't have any other way to reach you..." <> "What do you want, Luthor?" There was simply no patience when it came to Luthor. Lex couldn't help but enjoy himself at the prospect of leaving the Man of Steel, the strongest man on earth, if only physically, dumbfounded. "My, you never relax, do you? Here I am, about to invite you to the biggest celebration this city has seen in years, even worrying about whether you'll be available or not, yet you cannot control your temper." <> he reminded himself. <>. "Look, Luthor; I don't have time for riddles." "I don't see the rush, Superman, but we can do this your way. I know you and Lois are good friends and even though she's more than a little resentful of you at the moment, I am sure she would regret it if you didn't share this day with her. So, are you available, Superman, a week from today?" He didn't feel like he could face what this was headed to and his only response to Luthor's insinuations seemed to be the classical nothing-can- hurt-me pose Superman had become known amongst criminals for. "Why would you want to know?" This was fun; without a doubt more than all the occasions in which he'd pictured the situation in his mind. With more irony in his voice, if that was possible, he continued, "So powerful, yet sometimes cannot take a simple hint." Pausing, he prepared himself for the flow of satisfaction he was about to experience as soon as the implications of his words sank in on that steel core. "Lois and I are to be wed next Friday. It was our intention to have sent out invitations, but with so short notice, we've had to rely on phones and such to accomplish the task. Which reminds me; you and Kent are also good friends, am I wrong? Given the fact that Lois is slightly disappointed in him at the time as well, I'm afraid her pride may not allow her to call him Could you please ask him, on our behalf, to join us that day?" He had had more than enough; still, he made an effort to keep his voice at a reasonable volume. By no means should he give in to Luthor's games. "You're not fooling me in any way here, Luthor. What's more, with this attempt at provoking me, you're only giving further proof of your unworthiness, which makes it harder to understand how it is that you have managed to deceive Lois." Dangerously allowing emotion to rule him for a few instants, he proceeded with his warning, "She deserves so much more than what you can give her. She is not an object for you to possess; and she is smart; she'll have you figured out soon. In the meantime, if you hurt her or make her suffer, in any way, I'll personally make sure you never again get close enough as to even breathe the same air she's breathing. And I believe you are well aware of what I'm capable of." Apparently listening, Lex hadn't been able to hear the last of his foe's words. At some point in his speech, he had a strange feeling of deja vu. He couldn't have dreamt this because in his dreams Superman never had the nerve to address him in such a cocky manner. <> He hadn't dreamt this; he'd heard it before. But it couldn't be, could it? It was a mere coincidence, or was it? He focussed his gaze back on the hero and spoke to him one last time, "Well, I'm certain that in seven days you'll have plenty to time to think things over and reconsider. After all, you wouldn't want to disappoint Lois further, would you?" Unwilling this time to allow his response to be as out of place as Luthor's behavior, all he said was, "Goodbye, Mr. Luthor." And with a quick gesture, he took off, fast enough to not hear the last of Luthor's remarks. "Sure you'll reconsider... " he muttered, "... Mr. Kent.>> ************************ Lex Luthor had barely been able to sleep. For the first time in months, maybe even years, something other than his affairs had kept him awake, though he didn't mind. If a year earlier someone had asked him if there was anything that could turn him into a more powerful man, he would have doubtless answered no. Later, however, after Superman's appearance, he had believed kryptonite was the only thing he needed. Just last night, he had realized how wrong he had been. He had seen Superman overcome all sorts of physical turmoil; traditional means had had no effect on him and, so far, not even kryptonite had led to the desired consequences. Who would have thought that the great hero's Achilles heel was not to be sought in the physical sense? During the hours that had followed his discovery, Lex had contemplated the different possibilities in which he could make use of the information. At first, he'd been driven to tell the world how untrustworthy their worshipped hero was; how he'd been deceiving them, hiding out as a regular guy right in Metropolis. The lack of proof, however, had prevented that happening. <> Luthor thought. After all, if the secret became general knowledge, what benefit would he obtain? He would have lost the power it gave him over Superman; that was something he wasn't willing to share with the world. Besides, what would the chances of Lois ever having any kind of relationship with Clark Kent after he, Lex, had revealed the secret to her? It would certainly make her see her beloved hero - <> he reminded himself - under a new perspective. A perspective he, Lex Luthor, found too tempting to avoid. Satisfaction flowing through every inch of his body, he softly whispered, "Today's definitely bound to be a brighter day." Lex was still lost in his musings when he heard the door of his office creak as someone pushed it open. "Good morning, Mr. Luthor," said Nigel, his voice bearing the usual politeness. Try as he may, it seemed nothing could keep a smile from showing on his face, nor a cheerful tone in his reply, "Good morning to you too, Nigel" "What is it I sense, sir? An extreme feeling of happiness, maybe? May I ask why that would be?" If there was one thing he'd learned in the time he had been in Lex Luthor's service was that he rarely wore smiles when business turned out successfully; for him, that was a given. A smile, coming from Luthor, always meant an especially relevant achievement, for it only was with challenges that his pride was fed. He'd behave like a hunter, smiling at the sight of his prey, gloating and enjoying, not the victory, but the adversary's defeat. "Why wouldn't I be, Nigel? Just yesterday Lois decided that she would marry me, though we both knew that was only a matter of time. It did, however, happen faster than expected." He stopped long enough for Nigel to give him a questioning look, expectant of what he knew was to come, and then continued. "What would you say a man in my position would need to have even more power? We both know I have the money and the means to reach whatever it is I require in order to achieve as many goals as I set for myself. And, to tell you the truth, life was getting a little boring. But a year ago I was finally faced with a new challenge; a power that, in many ways, has not leveled my own, yet in others it's proved stronger." Growing more curious by the minute as to where Luthor was heading with his verbosity, Nigel said, "Superman, I believe." "The name in itself is so powerful, arrogant, I dare say. He is the one thing that could make me more powerful." "May I remind you, sir, that we have unsuccessfully tried both bringing him to our side and, at his denial, defeating him?" "Nigel, Nigel, Nigel. You have to have faith! I actually couldn't have planned it better myself. But who would have thought? I've spent the last year of my life searching for an avenue, any, that could bring that goody-two-shoes down. I truly believed kryptonite would work; yet he found his way around it. But, as fate would have it, I stumbled on a solution where I least expected it. What I'm about to share with you, Nigel, is to be kept quiet, for if it were known, we'd lose all power over Superman." At that he stopped, expectantly waiting for a reaction from the other man. As little as the idea of letting him in on the secret appealed to him, he was certain he couldn't find the proof he needed without his cooperation. After all, Nigel was the best he knew when it came to undercover assignments. "I believe I have proved myself worthy of your trust, Mr. Luthor," responded an intrigued Nigel. Satisfied with the answer, Luthor proceeded with his explanation, "Stand by to be stunned then, Nigel. Last night, I managed to have the almighty Man of Steel pay me a visit. It turned out to be rather funny. You see, he tends to behave around me like the powerful man he believes himself to me, so high and mighty. He always chooses his words with great care, yet last night I'm sure he had a slight slip of the tongue. Though he didn't realize it, he addressed me in a way he had before." "I'm sorry, Mr. Luthor, but I'm not sure I'm following you. How is that supposed to make you more powerful?" "He HAD talked to me in that very same way, but in a totally different guise. Last night he was dressed in that flashy outfit of his, but he'd also done it the day before, in a charcoal suit... and a pair of glasses." After giving the other man a few seconds to take in all the information, he went on, "Superman leads an ordinary life as mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent." If Nigel was surprised by the revelation, he didn't let it show. He adopted his usual professional pose and eyed Luthor suspiciously. "I take it you haven't called me in just to share your new found knowledge, have you? " "You're right, Nigel. Look, I believe I've really hit on something here. If this piece of information is true, I have all I need to bring him down. But I want proof to back up my theory: the kind of proof that will lead to the definitive break-up between Lois and her past. I have waited too long for something like this and I want to avoid making any mistakes at all costs. And I trust no one but you for this task." ***************************************** Though not feeling his old optimistic self yet, Clark woke up the following morning with renewed determination. He had always known the kind of person Lex Luthor was, that hadn't changed, but now time wasn't on his side. If he wanted to uncover Luthor in order to prevent Lois from marrying him, he only had six days. If only he could have Lois by his side... This was the kind of story she would pursue without hesitation until she found the answers she'd been searching for. But he couldn't count on her for this, so if he was really going to get any work done, he had to get going. Perry had called again earlier and he should be at his place in a matter of minutes. Discussing everything with his old boss would surely get them both back on track. He looked around at the mess his apartment had become and decided to put in it some order. Despite Perry being a friend, he didn't want the older man to know how desperate he'd really been. He felt embarrassed at the mere thought of his behavior throughout the last few days. He rushed through the apartment at superspeed and, when he was done, he stepped in the shower. As he finished getting dressed, he heard the doorbell ring, announcing Perry's arrival. Climbing the steps to the entrance, he reached for the knob and opened the door to let his former boss in. After a brief moment of hesitation on both sides, they greeted each other with a hug. "Hey, son!" Perry said. "How are you doing?" Clark tried his best to look convincing, "I'm dong fine, Perry. How's retired life?" On his way to the couch, Perry stopped momentarily, considering his answer before he actually voiced it. "Well, it's fun. Yes, I have the time to do all the things I wasn't able to for the last thirty years. I fish, I read, I watch TV; I doze off whenever I feel like it..." His voice trailed off long enough for Clark to break in. "That bad, huh?" he said, with a grin. "Let's just say I've realized the joys of retirement weren't made for me. I miss the stress and the excitement of my newsroom; the smell of fresh ink as it's being splashed on the empty pages... What the hell! I miss my life!" Clark gave him an acknowledging smile. He knew exactly what his old boss was talking about because it was what he'd been feeling ever since the fire at the Planet. He, for one thing, had had too many changes in his life before he'd finally settled down in Metropolis; he didn't want things to change, not when he finally felt like he belonged. For the first time, he'd found a satisfying life, surrounded by people he appreciated, and he didn't want to give it up. << Which is what I've been about to do, >> he thought, finally realizing how silly he'd been behaving. "You're right, chief. I miss my life too. And..." Clark hesitated, unsure as to whether sharing his concerns about Luthor with Perry was the right thing to do. He knew he wasn't exactly fond of Luthor either, not after everything that had happened with the Planet, but he had been editor of one of the greatest newspapers in the world for nearly two decades; he would demand proof, a proof he couldn't offer... yet. Before he could give it further thought, he heard the old man demanding, "Come on, Kent; spill it. I know something's troubling you." "Well, it's kind of hard to explain," he began, indecisively. "I think... no, I know there is more to what happened at the Planet than what we've been told." "I knew it!" Perry exclaimed. "I know, Chief, I..." Suddenly, Perry's reaction sank in. "What?" Matter of factly, Perry spoke, "I've been bragging on about this over the last few weeks; Alice even threaten to have me sleeping on the couch if I didn't stop. She kept saying she couldn't believe even after it had fallen, the Planet was still the most important thing to me. But I was sure I wasn't the only one with these feelings." Excited as he hadn't been in months, he went on, "So, what have we got?" Clark paused briefly, considering what he should say first. If he started by telling Perry that he lacked proof to back up his suspicions, he might not even listen to what he had to say. He couldn't lose Perry's support too; he'd assumed he couldn't have Lois's help on this, but he wasn't willing to do without Perry as well. "I believe I know who's behind the mess our lives have become. It would take a lot of power to set the destruction of the Planet up and then incriminate an innocent person. There are few people who could have. I... nailed it down to one man." Perry had begun pacing Clark's living room nervously, staring at the younger man all the while. "If you keep going around in circles, son, you're going to dig yourself a hole. Just say it!" If he wanted the plain truth, that was what he'd give him. "Ok. You're right; I should go straight to the point. If the Planet is out of the picture, it's all due to the whim of Lex Luthor." The lack of surprise on Perry's face encouraged him to go on explaining his suspicions, even if there was little to explain. The look on the older man's face, however, changed slightly as Clark's speech reached its end. Clark knew exactly what his boss was about to say. The excitement he'd shown before gone, Perry addressed Clark in his understanding yet demanding boss pose, "Clark, son, you know I don't like that Luthor either but are you sure of all this? I mean, maybe you're letting a bit of... er... jealousy rule you." "Agh! Why does everybody keep saying that? Come on, chief. It's hard enough not being able to count on Lois for this; you can't doubt me, too!" He couldn't believe it. How unprofessional did they all think he was? First Lois, now Perry. Wasn't anybody going to trust him? He too was a reporter; he'd thought he'd proved his credibility throughout the last year. His reporter instincts weren't all that often mistaken. <> he thought as he remembered all his encounters with Luthor as Superman. Perry had to admit that, in all the years he'd worked as editor at the Daily Planet, he'd never seen two reporters with instincts as reliable as Lois and Clark's. Those insights had led them to cracking a great number of cases which had turned into front- page exclusives for the Planet. As hurt as Clark seemed to be, he was right; he deserved some confidence from his boss. <> he sadly reminded himself. "Ok, whatever you say. But we have to get going; we can't just speculate; we need facts." After a brief pause, he continued, "We'd better keep Lois out of this. We mustn't tell her anything until we're certain, understood? I don't want her hurt if I can't prove a thing." He turned to face Clark again and saw his embarrassed look. "What? Don't tell me you've..." Sheepishly, Clark replied, "It's a little late for that. I... When she told me she was considering marrying that... that... creep, I couldn't help myself. I didn't give her a detailed explanation, but I made my opinion about Luthor very clear. The truth is... we had quite an argument. But it's understandable, isn't it? I mean, she's my best friend. I swear hurting her is the last thing I want; I've tried to avoid it... She's too important for... to be treated like a mere possession. She deserves more..." Without realizing it, Clark had bared his soul. He hadn't used the L-word, but he knew there wasn't a need; that was Perry listening. A half grin appeared on Perry's face. "And you think she'd be better off with you?" "I didn't say that. It's just that..." He had actually hinted it, hadn't he? Now openly laughing, the older man spoke again, "Easy, boy. I know she'd be better with you. Maybe you just have to show her." Clark was smiling too. "Does it come with maturity? My mom said pretty much the same thing. I just wish I knew how to do that." "I'll tell you what. Why don't we go out for lunch, my treat, and try to figure out where we can start in order to bring Luthor down, all right?" Clark's only reply was a nod. ************************************* Not too far away on Clinton Street, a beggar watched the two reporters leaving the younger man's apartment. As hard as it'd be to tell, his ragged clothes and dirty looks hid a refined English man, a former spy. He felt like in the old days, running after the big state secrets. It brought back an excitement long forgotten. So far he'd found out that Perry White was in town, which was in itself an interesting fact, given his supposed retirement. What those two were up to, however, whether it was just a mere encounter between two friends or not, wasn't his business. Careful that no one was watching, he moved towards the alley besides Kent's house. This would be a piece of cake. **************************************** After sleeping little, Lois was still musing over her latest decisions, and somehow that drove her to thinking about her previous failures. She knew she had every reason to be happy; after all, not many women could claim to be engaged to a man whose power matched Lex's. Lex loved her and he had assured her he'd do everything he could to please her. Yes, it definitely should be one of the happiest days in her life... only it wasn't. There was no way she could feel happy and accepting it was irritating. She looked at the familiar surroundings, the empty apartment, staring at every corner of it, at every single detail that decorated it, until her eyes gazed down on a picture. A picture of her and Clark, taken a couple of months earlier. She would never dare admit it to anyone, but the truth was that Clark, despite her efforts against it, had been able to break through the defenses she'd built up. She had promised herself long ago that no one was ever going to have enough power over her as to hurt her; that she'd never trust again. Yet, somehow, Clark had made his way into her life, into her heart, and had become the most important person she had around, apart from Lex, that was. He'd been her confidant, her support, though she had never let him know that. He had been by her side since they'd met. <> she thought. When she'd been trying to make the most important decision up to the day, he had walked out on her; he'd told her he didn't share her views, that he didn't think she was making the right choices, and he had put Lex, the person she claimed to love, down. And all that infuriated her. As unsure as she was of most things nowadays, there was one she was certain of. She felt the need to prove him, and whoever else doubted her, the correctness of her choices; that she was old enough to see through people and to judge what was good for her and what wasn't. She was determined to carry this through; she wasn't going to back down. <> she thought. She'd made a firm commitment and though she only had six days to go before the wedding, Lois Lane had never been known to run from a challenge. She would have Clark's support before the wedding; she'd prove him wrong. At some point, she'd considered calling him; she had even picked up the receiver a couple of times intending to dial his number. She wanted him there that day; she needed him there, because that was what friends did, showed up when they were needed the most, offering their support. << And I'm going to be needing you, Clark. Why can't you see that? >> But she hadn't called, and she hadn't because she knew he would never attend the event. If she as much as mentioned it, even casually, they would end up arguing again, and it'd be an argument that would only hurt them more, that would only hurt her more. She didn't need that; she'd have to do this without him. Being honest with herself, she wasn't sure in what state that would leave their friendship or whatever their relationship had come to be. Instead of phoning Clark, she'd ended up talking to her mother. Never the enthusiastic kind, Ellen Lane had offered her support, a response far from any Lois could have imagined. She'd even offered to help her with all the arrangements. Of course, she had told her it wasn't necessary; somehow, Lex seemed to be pulling the required strings to have everything ready on time, even to the point of having the dressmaker come over to her apartment to start measuring and designing her wedding dress. She walked towards the couch before staring once again at her surroundings. It was enough to get her thoughts drifting again. This apartment had been a witness to most of her professional achievements; to the awards, the exclusives, the front-page bylines... But, also, to the mistakes and the loneliness that distinguished her social life. She couldn't really talk about a love life. Besides Paul and Claude, there hadn't been much more than a few casual dates, with little or no implication on her side. For years, she'd behaved dismissing the importance of having someone at her side, certain that she was all she really needed. Now, however, she had Lex. <> She wondered how married life would affect her. Surely, Lex's power, his influence, would have repercussions for her. In becoming Mrs. Luthor, she'd be entering the city's high society; she'd take part in circles where, because of her work in the reporting field, she'd gained a few enemies throughout the years. The prospect was slightly frightening, not for having to face those people, but because she felt that, if things got out of hand, she'd be confronting the risk of losing her independence. She couldn't let that happen. Silently, she vowed to herself that she'd never be turned into just a Mrs. Luthor; that she'd never stop being Lois Lane. All of her life, she'd only had one thing to hold on, and that was her own self, nothing more, yet nothing less. She had betrayed her beliefs before, but she would never do it again, not for a man, not for anyone. Lois Lane was who she was, who she'd always been. And any man that claimed to love her would have to either learn to accept that or step out of her way. With a wry smile, she mused, <> Suddenly, a noise startled her, breaking her chain of thought. It didn't take her long to realize what it was. Scooting herself to the other end of the couch, she reached for the phone and held it up to her ear. "Hello?" When no answer came, she called a second time, "Hello?" After a few second of nothing, she put the phone back in its place. <> ***************************************** From his favorite spot, almost able to grasp the Metropolitan sky, Lex intently stared at his cell phone. He'd been so tempted to tell her everything, yet he'd hung up. Patience wasn't a distinctive trait of his, but just for that one time it had better be. Nigel had assured him he'd deliver the information requested as briefly as possible and he, for some unknown reason, trusted him. He'd wait though, hopefully, it wouldn't have to be much longer. ****************************************** "'No! No! No! He was the King. So the cape with the white jumpsuit was kind of a royal outfit." Clark couldn't help but laugh. Though Perry hadn't realized it, in trying to emphasize his words, he'd raised his voice so that he'd become the target of many curious glances from the other tables. Not that Clark really cared. He was, after all, having fun. Had anyone told him months ago that he'd be truly amused by one of Perry's Elvis stories, he would have simply laughed and dismissed them. Yet now... <> "Son, it ain't no joke. Some even believe that Superman got the idea for his suit from Elvis. How else could he have come up with a cape?" At his last remark, Clark raised an eyebrow. <> Trying hard to suppress his laughter, he stared at the older man. "Ok, Chief, whatever you say..." Though he detected a slightly sarcastic tone in Clark's voice, Perry decided to leave it at that. There were more important things that required their attention. "Enough of that. Let's get down to business. You say you don't trust Luthor and I believe you have your reasons. But without proof, we are like ice cream without the topping. We need help. With Lois ruled out, we only have Jimmy and Jack left. Have you heard anything from them?" He shook his head. "Not really. I last saw Jack about a week ago. He's still in detention, waiting for his trial. No real changes in his situation; they're still pressing the charges for the bombing at the Planet. Other than that, I have assumed they're both fine, since neither of them has called and hasn't dropped by. If they had been in trouble or needed any kind of help, I'm sure they would have turned to me. I'll try to get in touch with them later. Jimmy's a computer whiz, which comes in very handy when there's research to be done. As for Jack, as long as he's still locked up, there's not much he can do, but I'll see if there's anything he needs or if he has heard anything that may help. The older man seemed lost in thought for a few minutes, as if considering their options. After a while, he glanced back at Clark, expectantly. "You sure we can't turn to Lois? It's not that I'm underestimating you, but... well, you two together make a hell of a news team!" For a moment, Clark looked defeated. Perry was probably right about that. As much as Lois would hate to admit it, they both brought out the best of themselves when they worked on the stories together. He was sure he did. But that didn't change reality. "Chief, as much as I'd like that, she is too busy planning her wedding, for one thing. And there's no way she is taking part in an investigation that has the sole purpose of framing Luthor. "It's so frustrating! She means so much to me! She's not only my partner; she's my best friend. And I'm losing her and it feels like I'm losing a part of myself. I've tried to talk to her about my suspicions... True, I might have not presented the facts as objectively as I could... Not that there were that many facts I could turn to... But still..." Perry smiled at him and chuckled, "Ok, son. No need to babble about it. I know how you're feeling; I miss her too. That's exactly why we have to solve this mess. And it's up to Jimmy, you and I; we'd better get going." He looked at the darkening sky then back at his watch. "We probably won't be able to get much done today. Well, here's what we're going to do. I have some Planet files at home. As editor, I always received reports of all sorts, including those related to the financial status of the paper. Now, I just kept them at home in a stack - which by the way, Alice would be glad to see go away - but never really looked at them. I'll browse through them tonight and, first thing tomorrow morning, I'll do some major digging on the Planet's finances. We were certainly experiencing some difficulties, but... A newspaper as old and prestigious as the Daily Planet can't just break down the way it did. Why ever did everybody turn their backs on it? And I'm not only talking about the bomb; that's just the tip of the iceberg. The big question is who could want the Planet out of the game? Someone must have felt it was a big threat to resort to something as drastic as blowing it up." A little defensive, Clark spoke up, "I thought we'd settled that Luthor was our man." Perry adopted his boss-like expression before answering. "Clark, you know as well as I do that we have to look into all the possibilities before ruling any out. Besides, if, and I say if, Lex Luthor is really the one behind this, we won't have an easy road ahead. If a man achieves the kind of goals he has using dubious means, he is bound to have his tracks covered." "Yeah. I guess you're right." "I know that this is going to be hard, but you have to try to keep a hold on your feelings. All right?" Without giving Clark the chance to answer, he added, "So, you are going to head home, get some rest and..." "... Then try to get in touch with Jimmy and Jack and find some names and reasons; who could want the Planet out of the picture and why," Clark finished for him. "That's my boy! If you come up with anything, I'll be at home." "Sure, Chief." ***************************************************** *** The sky was already dark and a full moon had replaced the earlier shinning sun. Still wearing his ragged clothes, Nigel approached a nearby phone booth. He slid a coin through the slot and held the receiver to his ear, slowly dialing a number. One ring, two... It had been one of Mr. Luthor's requests to be kept updated on the advances of their little investigation. He had insisted that whatever it was he knew, or didn't, was reported before the end of the day. Thus, Nigel was indeed going to deliver the information, though there was little to be said. Kent had never returned from his meeting with Perry White, which implied that he was still lacking the proof he needed and so, would have to stay around a little longer. That worried him. As much as Nigel trusted himself, and as sure as he was of his capability to carry the task through, if Clark Kent was really Superman, he couldn't afford to make any mistakes, which meant that the less time he spent hovering around his apartment, the better. The familiar voice at the other end made him put his thoughts aside. "Goodnight, Mr. L.," he said, his voice bearing an extreme calmness. "No, sir; not yet... He came out this morning a little after noon and hasn't returned yet... No, I don't know what he was supposed to be doing today; I have no knowledge of any appointments... Not that I know of, sir; he was alone as far as I can tell." << There was no one else... apart from White, that is.>> So far, he felt that was one detail Luthor didn't need to know. After all, it could be just a friendly encounter, even if he himself would likely rule out that option. "Yes, sir, everything is set; now we just need Mr. Kent's 'input'. I believe this little field trip should be over tomorrow around lunchtime... Well, I very much doubt that he won't be returning to his apartment before the day is functionally over... As soon as he leaves again, I'll gather the equipment... If he doesn't, I suppose there could always be a Superman emergency... Sure, sir, just trust me. If anything delays me, I'll let you know." He placed the phone back in the stand and walked back to one of the many hiding places he'd made use of throughout the day. He couldn't help a grin from forming on his lips. True, for the record, Lex was the powerful one; he was a mere servant, nothing more than an assistant. Yet he knew that, without his 'helping hand', Lex would have never become half the man he was. Facts? Who was dealing with the biggest secret ever? Luthor had not only shared it with him, but, also, he'd asked him to provide the evidence. And, despite Luthor's endless denial, it wasn't only a matter of keeping his hands clean. <> Nigel thought, amused. "It's a matter of incapability.>> ************************************************ Despite not needing to sleep much, Clark was always grateful for a good night's rest. That, for him, meant no more than six hours, but non-stop. It rarely happened; when it wasn't a Superman emergency, it was a stakeout, or simply his own obsessive musings, refusing to let him rest. Tonight, however, he had been undisturbed and it showed. Glancing at his watch, he realized it was a still a little before ten. So far, he'd done the laundry - a thirty-second task for a man with super-speed - ironed a couple of his capes and, most important, managed to get part of his research done. He'd had to stop, though, when the information he was coming across had begun to seem somewhat vague. He had determined that better databases than those he could access from his computer were needed; it was either that or his scarce computer knowledge had reached its limit - hardly unlikely. And, anyhow, waiting for Jimmy was probably the wisest choice. <> he mentally added. After a few phone calls, however, he still knew little about the young photographer's whereabouts. His line had been cut off and, as he'd later discovered, his landlord had thrown him out of the apartment when he'd stopped paying the rent. It appeared that Jimmy hadn't been able to find a new job and his bank account had soon gone into the red. Unfortunately, the 'good' news didn't come alone. He had also called the detention center, wanting to know if Jack was still there or if he'd actually been reassigned, only to find that he'd broken out a few days earlier. They had, of course, been searching for him, but all the efforts had, so far, proved unsuccessful. <> Clark thought, <> He considered, if only for a moment, the possibility of either of them having left the city, but soon dismissed the thought. Where would they go, anyway? No, he was likely to find them within the city limits and, given their situation and means, Suicide Slum was the best place to begin his search. He walked out of the apartment and into the alley, beginning to spin as he did. He became a blur of red and blue and, in a matter of seconds; Superman was soaring high above Metropolis. Not too far away, a familiar beggar stared at the flying hero, a look of extreme pleasure on his face. ***************************************************** **** A soft knock on the door drove Lex Luthor's attention away from the computer. He answered with an almost apathetic 'Come in'. Since he wasn't expecting anybody, the chances were that it was just one of his many assistants with another insignificant question. Sometimes he wondered why he'd even hired some of his employees in the first place. There were a few who were rather incompetent, unable to face the smallest of issues. They would just come to him, seemingly unaware that there were more important things for a man in his position to be spending his time on. <> And money was power... After a soft cough, a bearded man pushed the door ajar. "May I come in, sir?" As the man's familiar accent registered, the widest of smiles spread on Luthor's face. He had been eager to have Nigel back, his task completed, yet he hadn't expected him so early, at least not after their phone conversation the night before. "Yes, Nigel; please, do come in." His ragged clothes forgotten, Nigel walked in, wearing a dark suit and holding a middle-sized envelope in one hand and a videotape in the other. Lex eyed him, a mix of anxiety and demand in his gaze, a look that wasn't unknown to Nigel. Nevertheless, he drew the silence longer, before delivering the desired information. Sober as he seemed on the outside, inside his smile matched that of Lex's. It was a smile of satisfaction for a job well done, but, also, a smile born from the acknowledgement of the other man's dependence on him. He just loved to be in control of the situation, mostly if it implied having the third richest man in the world at his mercy. "I thought that you would like to see the results of our little investigation. Kent left early this morning. Actually, he never left his apartment... as Clark Kent, anyway. But you'll be able to see that for yourself." He handed him the envelope and walked towards the TV set. He took the tape out of its case and slid it in the VCR. "There are over ten hours of recording, but I allowed myself to make a selection of what I thought could be more useful. It brings it down to a little over an hour. You'll see our super- reporter doing some house chores amazingly fast." With a grin, he turned the TV on, pushing the play button on the remote as he did. During the minutes that followed, Nigel relaxed, enjoying the astounded look on Lex's face. It didn't matter that he'd known before hand what he was going to see. After all, one thing was believing that Kent was really Superman, and a different thing was actually seeing it for yourself. When the tape came to an end, Luthor was gloating. If he believed in luck, he'd have thought it was his lucky day. But he didn't, so, to him, this latest achievement only confirmed what he'd always known; that there was really nothing, nor no one, on Earth, <>, able to defy his power. For the first, Nigel felt curious. He had himself thought of different ways to make use of the information, but what his boss intended to do with it was a mystery to him. "May I ask what you plan to do with this, sir?" Lex, who'd been inspecting the contents of the envelope - scanned shots from the tape, raised his gaze from the pictures. As if the answer was obvious, he said, "You mean besides having Superman at my beck and call? Well, as much as I'd hate to hurt her, I really think Lois should see this. We can't let her go around believing in her partner's - ex-partner's- honesty, in her worshipped hero's integrity. Or can we? Personally, I think that would be too much of a burden for my poor conscience; she IS about to become my wife..." Nigel's only response was a half smile. A while later, after being reassured that his help was no longer needed, he exited the room, leaving a more than satisfied Lex Luthor inside, lost in his musings. Once he was gone, Lex seemed to return form his reverie, a crooked look on his face. It was really going to be a shame. "Good old Nigel. So efficient. It's too bad we're going to have to do without him." ***************************************************** **************** He landed softly in a deserted alley and spun back to his regular clothes. After a whole day's searching he still had not been able to locate Jimmy or Jack. However, he had found out that Jimmy hadn't been exactly unemployed. He'd been working for a few days at a dump in Suicide Slum. It was some sort of strip club, though he doubted its owner was familiar with terms like health or hygiene. Today had turned out to be Jimmy's free day and no one at the club had been able to give him an address where he could be found. Since he'd also been flying around the city, with no sign of them either, he had decided to call it a day. He'd go back to the club the tomorrow. Besides, there was something else he was determined to do; he'd put it off long enough; he couldn't keep running from it. Resolutely, he turned a corner and walked into Carter Avenue. Picking up his pace, as if afraid to change his mind, he went straight towards one of the apartment buildings. To her apartment building. His mom, as usual, had been right. He was Superman; or rather, Superman was he. If there was something Lois saw in the hero, she had to be able to see the same thing in Clark, didn't she? Maybe, instead of trying to convince her of Luthor's evildoings, he should have let her see she had other options. He just hoped that she chose to acknowledge those other options. At least, his other option... ********************************************* She was trying to put on her right shoe when she heard a knock. She covered the distance to her door on one foot, still holding the shoe in one hand, as she reached for the knob and turned it slightly with the other. She was surprised to find Clark standing in her doorway. For a few awkward moments, they just stood and stared at each other. Once she was able to react, Lois led Clark towards the couch, closing the door behind her before following him. When she met his eyes again, she found in them an amused look. Lowering her gaze to where his was aimed, she remembered she was still holding one of her shoes. She sat down on the couch and placed it on her right foot. "Lois, is this a bad time?" Clark said, his voice filled with hesitation. "You seem to be getting ready to go." It was funny how his soft words and caring looks could soften her; every time she looked at him, she felt at ease, everything else forgotten. That soothing effect had rarely appeared over the last few weeks, probably because their friendship wasn't going through its best stage. She realized she still hadn't answered his question. "No... Well, maybe... I'm... supposed to be meeting Lex in a while." She paused briefly, unsure as to whether she should go on. She knew how the sole mention of her fiance's name was enough to make Clark feel uneasy. She didn't want to argue again and she knew that Clark didn't either; he wouldn't have bothered to come to her apartment if all he intended to do was criticize Lex and her choices. "He wants us to go over some of the arrangements... for the wedding." She looked at him, afraid she'd find anger in his eyes, but if anything, he seemed discouraged. "Clark, is anything wrong?" "Not really. I just needed to talk to you, that's all." "You know, Lex is supposed to be sending a car to pick me up, but I could call him and we could walk together to his place or..." "No, that's ok, Lois. I guess it can wait." What was she doing? He was willing to talk things through, calmly, and she wasn't giving him much of a chance. She could call Lex and cancel; or... "Clark, I 'm not working tomorrow. I just have to drop by to pick up some files. Maybe you could meet me at the entrance, around twelve?" He smiled faintly. "That would be great." Getting up, he turned to the door, as the sound of a car's horn came from the street. Lois grabbed her purse and followed him. "Wait, I'm coming down with you." ***************************************************** * Hours later, in Lex Luthor's penthouse, Lois shyly smiled at her fiance under the soft glow of the candlelight. "Lex, dinner was wonderful. Thank you." "You don't have to thank me, dear," he said, as he reached for her hand and stroke it gently. "Any man would do the same if he was trying to please a woman as beautiful as you." He softly pulled her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. Lois blushed and tore her gaze away. "I mean it, Lex. And it wasn't only dinner. I still can't believe how many arrangements you've been able to organize so quickly. "I just want our wedding day to be the most special day of our lives, and if putting a little effort into it is going to help that be so, then I'm more than willing. After all, it's not every day that a man gets the chance to marry such an amazing woman." Without letting go of her hand, he stood and moved closer to her. He kneeled beside her and placed his free hand under her chin, gently pulling it up. When their eyes met, he brushed her lips with his, softly, undemandingly. Lex, of course, was more than willing to deepen their kiss, but he chose to restrain himself. There would be plenty of time to take things further once she'd become his wife; for the time being, he had to keep up the gentleman pretense. Lois pulled apart slowly, an apologetic look on her face. "It's getting late; I should really leave." "You know you don't have to go if you don't want to. You can sleep here." "We've talked about this, Lex. And you've been so understanding about my... wanting to wait until our wedding night... I... I just need time. I... want it to be perfect." Again, she avoided his eyes. "Hey, there's more than one bed in the house, you know that." The nervousness she felt about becoming intimate with him filled Lex with pride. She wanted to please him; it showed in her insecurity. She wanted him to wait a few more days? She was going to be his sooner or later; he would wait. "Still, I'd better go." "Ok, then let me get you a car." Laughing, she stared at him. "You don't give up, do you? Actually, I was planning on walking home. It's really not that far and we have such a beautiful night." "All the better. Is there anything more romantic than a walk underneath the moonlight?" Seeing that she wasn't about to reject his offer, he waited for her to stand up before heading towards the adjoining room. There, he grabbed the envelope that Nigel had given him earlier and a copy of the videotape and put both things in the inside pocket of his jacket. He returned to where she was and offered her his arm. " Ready. Shall we?" Arm in arm, they slowly walked the empty streets, some times sharing small talk, sometimes a comfortable silence. When they reached her building, Lex held the door open for her and walked her up. They seemed both ready to say goodnight, when Lex spoke, "Lois, could I come inside for a minute? There's something I've been meaning to tell you..." ************************ Lois simply stared at Lex, feeling slightly puzzled. They had spent most of the evening together, first at his place and later along the streets of Metropolis; why the sudden urge to share something with her? What was it he needed to say that he couldn't say before? It had to be important if it couldn't wait. She fully opened the door and let him in. Once inside, she settled herself on the couch and waited for him to join her. Trying with all his might to look utterly concerned, he made no effort to speak. He chose to wait for the reporter in her to surface. It wasn't long before she finally asked, "Lex, are you going to tell me what's bothering you?" Pleased, he said, "Well, it's complicated, Lois. I don't know how to say this..." His hesitation was beginning to upset her and, when she spoke again, her voice came out louder, "How about just saying it?" "It's about Clark," he said, looking as if it actually hurt him to bring the matter up. Now she was annoyed. "Come on, Lex; not you too. You're both behaving like school-kids, fighting to gain some attention. I'm not a trophy! You have to stop trying to discredit each other!" Though rather amused inside, he kept his serious pose. "Look, Lois, I'm not trying to discredit Clark; it really isn't my intention. But I feel he has betrayed the trust you've put in him. I doubt he even deserves that trust." "Lex, please, don't do this." "Lois, I know what I'm talking about. I'm not playing the jealous boyfriend act." Regaining some of her composure, she spoke, "Lex, you're my fiance and Clark is my friend... my best friend. There's room in my life for both of you; you don't need to fight for my attention." "To me, Lois, a friend is someone who you can trust," << Which is why I don't have any, >> he wryly mused. " And Kent is not that kind of person." He knew how Lois worked; you had to get her attention first and then explain. So far, he was definitely succeeding. It wasn't bad if he made her lose a little of her patience on the way. At least for now; he'd have plenty of time to tame her once she became his wife. "Look I'm to tired for this. If it's all you're going to say, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." She had had more than enough of their constant attacks. She wasn't sure she understood their reasons, but she wasn't willing to try any more. <> "Lex, I really think it would be better that you..." He cut her off, still attempting to look disturbed, "Lois..." "No, I mean it. Leave." Resigned, he stood to leave, as she held her door open for him. As he was about to exit, he stooped and turned slowly, reaching inside his jacket for the envelope and the tape. Handing both things to her, he softly told her, "Please, do take a look at this." He was gone when Lois closed the door two seconds later. ***************************************************** ********** It was late and she knew she should be asleep already, but she kept replaying her conversation with Lex. The behavior Clark and he were showing had begun to annoy her. She just couldn't understand it; the harder she tried to keep both of them at her side, the less possible it seemed. They kept accusing the other of being untrustworthy but neither said why. The thought drove her gaze to the small coffee table by the couch. There lay the tape and the envelope Lex had given her before leaving, which she'd forgotten about until now. Unable to restrain her curiosity - she was after all Lois Lane investigative reporter; curious by nature-, she decided to examine both things. Carefully opening the envelope, she brought out its contents. <> Before her mind could wonder further, she realized the subject of the pictures was none other than her ex-partner. Or was he? All she could see in some of the shots was some kind of blur. As she came closer to the end of the stack, three of the pictures caught her eye. In one, Clark seemed to be ironing... a spandex suit? A red and blue spandex suit? The other two seemed to have been taken one after the other. One showed Clark opening his backdoor and the next showed... She looked at her watch. <> Not satisfied with her own reasoning, she nervously grabbed the tape and fumbled with it for a few moments before she managed to pull it out of its case. She stood up and went towards her VCR, sliding the tape in it. She didn't move from where she was standing. Her eyes were fixed on the TV while her mind worked hard on processing all the information it was receiving. Despite the obviousness of the images, it was taking some time for it to sink in. As if she were hypnotized, she kept rewinding and fast-forwarding the tape, seeing every scene over and over. The reporter in her had to back down in the face of the evidence yet her heart refused to believe (as if it knew the feelings that would arise once she faced the truth). In full denial mode, Los turned off the TV and threw the remote carelessly on the floor. She couldn't deal with this now. Drowsily, she went to her bedroom and, after quickly changing, crawled inside her bed. *************************************************** "So, how did Miss Lane take the news?" Nigel asked, truly intrigued. His arrogant self back, he smiled. "I can only image that, Nigel." He paused briefly to make sure he had the other man's attention. "I didn't tell her. I hinted that there was something that made Kent untrustworthy, yet I didn't say what it was. She became deeply upset and asked me to leave. So I simply gave her the evidence." "Wouldn't you have rather to have told her yourself?" "Well, I just know her pride would be hurt if she had to admit that she'd been wrong in her strong defense of Kent's integrity. It'll be easier to have her come round about it this way. She might even thank me for opening her eyes." Nigel gave him a polite smile. "What if she calls off the engagement or at least asks you to postpone the wedding?" "I very much doubt that will happen." He opened one of his desk drawers and pulled out a cigar. He carefully unwrapped and lit it. " You know, Nigel, I sometimes amaze myself. I know that, despite not letting it show, she believed I was acting out of pure concern. And besides, it's not like I couldn't prove my accusations. By now, she is probably so mad at Kent for lying to her that she probably doesn't even care how she found out. A betrayal is always a betrayal." "I see your confidence is as strong as ever." He certainly wasn't surprised. He couldn't remember his 'boss' ever being insecure or doubting his power. Even when things didn't go as planned, he always seemed to obtain a positive reading out of everything he did. Though hardly as witty, Lex reminded him of his own self. Briefly puffing on his cigar, he answered, "I guess that's what bringing enemies down can do to you." Nigel saw the proud look on the younger man's face and wondered if there was anyone on earth whose ego could match Lex's. After a few moments, he gazed at him, silently requesting his permission to speak again. "Unless you need me, sir, I should leave. There are some things I have to attend to this morning." "Sure, Nigel. But I'll be needing you again sometime this evening. I'm going to be busy with the wedding preparations but I'll arrange everything and have Mrs. Cox fill you in on the details. I'll have her call you and tell you when and where to meet." "Ok, sir." As soon as he was sure Nigel was gone, he picked up the phone. "Mrs. Cox? Yes, about tonight. Here's how I want things done..." ************************************************** Lois woke up feeling a little confused. She'd had the weirdest dream. Though she couldn't remember the details, she knew it involved Clark, an iron and... a Superman suit? <> she thought. As she entered the living room, however, the pictures, which lay scattered on the table, reminded her of the realization she'd been faced with the night before. She had to fight the sudden urge to crawl back in bed like she'd done yesterday, in an attempt to block out all trace of reality. She was afraid that if she allowed herself to think about the situation, her world would simply tumble down. She had worked too hard over the last year, convincing herself that, maybe, she had been wrong about humanity; that there were some people who actually believed in values and virtues who others dismissed as old-fashioned. First, she'd believed in a hero who dedicated his life to protecting others; she'd loved him and admired him in a way she never thought she could feel towards anyone, let alone a man. And worst of all, she'd let him know that. But that hadn't been enough for good old Lois, had it? She'd had to let Clark see through her. No disguise, no defenses. She paced her living room, her agitation growing with every passing minute. Slowly, the two men that she'd learned to trust and love, even if in different ways, were fusing into one. But as hard as she tried, she couldn't determine who the real man was. How could she? They both had tried to show her that the world was not only selfishness and lies; hurt and betrayal. How could they? How could he, 'Mr. I fight for truth and justice'? She could have expected it from Clark; he was a man. But Superman... Wasn't he supposed to be so much more than that? <> How could she think that either of them was really different from the other men in her life? What hurt the most, though, wasn't that they... he had lied to her. She was angry and hurt beyond words, there was no denying it, but, above all, she was disappointed in herself. Hadn't she learned her lesson? How could she have forgotten? About Claude, about Paul... about her dad... When was she going to realize there wasn't such a thing as a decent man? In an attempt to calm down, she sat on the couch, nervously fidgeting with her engagement ring. She soon found herself thinking about Lex. << My fiance...>> So far, her relationship with him hadn't been disappointing. It had taken her a long time to make up her mind, yet she didn't regret the choices she had made. Lex could never hurt her this way. She wasn't sure that he wasn't capable of it, but she wouldn't allow it; she'd never give him that kind of power over her. No, Lex was a safe choice; a wise choice. <> She had been mad at him, at first, for his constant attempts at making Clark look bad. That was why she'd asked him to leave; she wasn't about to take anymore of all that nonsense. Except it had turned out to be anything but nonsense. He had been right about Clark. Weren't best friends supposed to share everything? He'd hidden a whole side of him; or rather, he made her think it was two completely different men. But were they really so different? Because, now, apart from feeling galactically stupid, she realized maybe, just maybe, she had worked to make them different. Yet why ever would she do that? Just then a growl interrupted her. It was her stomach, complaining, probably asking for a breakfast she'd been too busy to get. What time was it? She looked at her watch. 11:30. <> she thought. <> He was going to meet her at LNN in half an hour. Well, having lunch with that... that... liar was definitely not among her plans for the day. He could wait. He should wait on her. It was the least he could do. And when she didn't show up, he should worry. Not that it would make up for his deceit, but at least it would make her feel better; serve as part of her well-earned revenge. ***************************************** Perry had fallen asleep on top of the stack of papers and by the time he'd woken up, the sun was already out. The previous day had been long, spent browsing through the files, lost in the midst of numbers, names, dates... <>But it hadn't all been boring data; he'd made a few phone calls as well.>>The information obtained was little, but sufficient to keep him going. Though the board members hadn't been exactly keen on talking to him, their attitudes had been enough to arise his suspicions. He would only have to ask for some of the favors he was still owed. After all, over thirty years in the reporting field had resulted in a long list of enemies, but it had also earned him respect and admiration. He probably had just as many friends. But who wanted to keep track of their foes anyway? When the phone rang, Perry rose to his feet, and walked over to the night stand to pick it up, expecting Clark's voice - or Alice's, loud, demanding tone, wondering where it was he'd spent the night. But he found neither, and it surprised him. "Mr. White? Perry White?" "Yeah, who wants to know?" It was few who actually knew that he was back in town; to the world, he was still Perry White, retired reporter and former editor of the Daily Planet, supposedly enjoying the wonders of warm and sunny Florida. "You could say I'm a friend." There was something strange in the voice at the other end. It belonged to a man and Perry could sense the trace of an accent, even if slight. The stranger seemed to be trying to hide it (as if it could give him away). "Look, I don't know who you are, or what it is you what, but I don't have time for games." Harshly, the man replied, "I thought I had some information that would be rather valuable to you. I guess I was wrong." He stopped, giving the reporter time to react. It might be just another weirdo; there were plenty of those in a city as big as Metropolis, but he wouldn't lose much if he listened to the stranger. Besides, he could hang up anytime. <> "Information? What kind of information?" "I see I got your attention. First know that there are some rules that you'll adhere to. That is..." "Rules? what rules?" The stranger didn't hear him. "... if you want to know what really happened to the Daily Planet." ************************************************* It was still a few minutes before twelve, but Clark was already standing by the entrance of the LNN building. Or rather, he was nervously pacing, stopping every few seconds to take a glance inside. The same over-rehearsed speech kept playing in his head, the way it had for weeks, maybe even months. He'd be lying if he said that he hadn't thought about Lois in a romantic way almost from the beginning, even if he hadn't admitted it to himself until recently. The feelings had been there from the day he met her, hard to ignore, even harder to face. But he had finally plucked up the courage he needed to bare his soul to her. Ironically, it had taken an engagement, to none other than Lex Luthor, the person he most disliked - hate was too a strong a word for a Superman - for him to make up his mind. He felt a mixture of anticipation and insecurity; as hard as he was trying, he simply couldn't ignore the shadow of rejection. He looked down at his watch. 12:03. He searched for Lois again. 12:07. He was becoming impatient; the longer he had to wait; the easier it'd be for him to back down. 12:12. Determinedly, he stepped inside and approached the front desk. "Excuse me, I'm Clark Kent, I'm supposed to be meeting Ms. Lane here. Do you know where I can find her?" The young woman checked the sign on book before staring at Clark. "I'm sorry, Mr. Kent. Ms. Lane won't be coming in today. She took the day off." "I know, but she told me she had to drop by to pick up some files." "Give me a minute." She spoke on the phone for brief seconds and then looked back at Clark, apologetically. "I'm sorry, she called earlier and said she wasn't going to be able to come." He tried to hide his disappointment as he thanked the woman and exited the building. Why Lois had decided to stand him up, if that was what she had done, was a mystery to him. If she didn't intend to show up, she would at least have told him, wouldn't she? And it wasn't likely that she was chasing down a story. The reporting she did now was different form the one they did back at the Planet. Maybe she hadn't stood him up. Maybe it was the wedding arrangements. As little as he liked the prospect, she was getting married in four days. He pondered stopping by at her apartment, just to make sure that everything was fine. Then he realized he hadn't been home all morning; what if she'd tried to talk to him and had left him a message instead? Deciding going home was probably the wisest choice, he walked into a nearby alley and spun into his Superman suit. Once at his apartment, he went straight towards the answer machine. The light wasn't even blinking. So she hadn't called. He sunk into the couch, running his right hand through his hair. She'd dumped him. Well, not exactly, since it wasn't a real date. At least, he doubted she expected the direction their conversation was going to take. But he still felt like he'd been dumped. After all, he was going to offer her so much more than he'd ever offered any woman he'd actually gone on a date with. He didn't intend to be too blunt. 'Hey, Lois! Good Morning! I'm in love with you. How are the wedding arrangements coming?' He would have chosen a friendly start, to ease the tension, make him comfortable - or as close as it could get. Then he would have explained what he felt, gently, though probably avoiding her gaze. Waiting for her reaction would have been the worst part; the look on her face; rejection if it came. And... "Hey! Great to know I'm not the only one who's a mess these days!" A little startled, Clark shifted his gaze to where the voice had come from. "Jimmy, what...? The younger man cut him off. "Sorry, CK. I meant to knock, but since the door was open..." "We thought that you wouldn't mind." Agitatedly, Clark responded, "Jack?" Where the heck have you been? They've been searching for you. I've been searching for you. Both of you." He stopped momentarily, staring at both of them, reproachfully. "I can't believe you two have been together these past few days and didn't let me know. What, you thought I wouldn't find out?" "It's not exactly like that. Jack came to see me only a couple of nights ago. And what do you mean find out? Find what out?" "Well, for one thing, that Jack broke out, that you've been kicked out of your apartment and are currently working at a rather disgusting strip club..." "Not anymore... I quit last night." "You quit?" came Clark's surprised replied. Shrugging, he shyly looked away. "Well, it helped that I wasn't doing my job all that well." "Now, that's an understatement," said Jack, amused. This time, Clark turned to his young friend. " Don't think I've let you off the hook. You have a lot of explaining to do. But better close the door and come down before you give me the details of your fieldtrip." "Ok, I'll explain, but... we have eaten little this past few days. Could we save the talking for later, after we've had some food?" ***************************************************** * As Jack ate the last bite of the Chinese takeout, Clark stared at him, demandingly. "Well?" Jack mumbled his response, his mouth still full. "I just couldn't stay there." "Gee," replied Clark, a sarcastic tone in his voice, "I was worried you'd give me an explicit explanation." Before Jack could give Clark an answer, Jimmy, who'd moved to the couch to watch TV while he ate, called them, "Hey guys! Come see this!" A special news report was showing footage form a burning factory in the outskirts of Philadelphia. Firemen and police officers where already on the scene, but it seemed like they were having no luck in keeping the fire under control. "Listen, Jimmy, Jack. I have to go out. I'm not sure when I'll be back, but it shouldn't take too long." Emphasizing every word, he added, "Please, don't leave the apartment, ok? And if the phone rings, just let the machine get it, all right?" As they nodded their response, Clark headed up the stairs and out of the apartment. ************************************************ Hours later, in a deserted alley not far from Hobb's Bay, a man stood patiently waiting. Hopefully she would be there anytime. Examining the surroundings in detail, at least with as much precision as the darkness allowed, he became aware of why exactly she'd chosen that particular place. Not that it mattered, though. He was still inspecting the location when he felt her footsteps. Slowly, he turned to greet her. ********************************************** It was over before it had actually begun. Two shots. She hadn't even bothered to use a silencer. Given the part of town they were at, the sound of gunfire was unlikely to attract any attention, added to which, the late hour would have helped. As fast as she'd come, she turned away, moving swiftly for a few blocks, until a dark car drove up to her. Pulling the back door open, she climbed in. The driver handed her a cell phone. "He said to call as soon as you were back." Slowly, she pressed the keys. Soon, a voice came from the other end. "Hello?" "Sir?" "Good night, Mrs. Cox. I've been expecting your call. Good news, I hope." "Everything went as planned. Two shots. I left him lying flat on his back." "Well, done. Expect a generous reward for your services." ***************************************************** * After entering through the terrace door and straight into his room, he checked the alarm clock. It was almost 3 a.m. <