Travel Plans

By Matrix

Rated: PG

Submitted: August, 2006

Summary: It's time for a vacation. Finally. But just who is Lois going with?

All characters and settings are the property of DC Comics, Warner Bros., and whoever else can legally lay claim to them. No copyright infringement is intended. This story was written purely for fun, not for profit, but the story is an original idea and belongs to me. A thank you to the writers of Lois & Clark, without them we wouldn't have this wonderful world to play in.

Thank you, Sue, for your beta on this and for not thinking I was losing my mind.

***

I blink against the bright light that suddenly floods my vision. I must have fallen asleep. As I adjust to the light, I realize that Lois is standing here in front of me. Could it be true? Is it time? Are we finally going on that vacation she promised? Finally. How many days has it been? Not days…weeks, months probably.

She grabs me a little more roughly than I expect and hauls me down the hallway. We're headed towards the bedroom and my excitement grows. Yes, I love all the pre-vacation fun and excitement that we usually have before we leave. However, instead of continuing towards the bedroom, we turn and head in a different direction. Not the bedroom? I look longingly back towards it. What about her nice-smelling toiletries, her tantalizing clothing, the gadgets?

We continue walking until we walk right out of her apartment completely. No fun? No packing? What's going on? She takes me to her Jeep and puts me inside. She walks around to get in the driver's seat and we take off. Where are we going?

We ride in silence. Lois doesn't say one word the whole trip. She doesn't even turn on the radio to sing along with it. I watch as we turn down one street after another. I watch as houses, trees, cars, and apartment buildings go by. How can we go anywhere of significance without packing *something*?

After a few minutes we pull up in front of a small apartment building. I don't recognize the place. Lois gets out and comes around to get me. She seems really anxious, even more so than usual. We walk up the stairs to the front door of the apartment. She gets out a key and places it in the door. She has a key to this apartment? She's never lived here.

We walk in and I take in the sights. It's a cute place. Needs a woman's touch most definitely. Lois releases the grip she has on me to go into another room. I start to try and examine the room more thoroughly when I hear a man's voice. There's a man here? Who could it be? And why is Lois talking to him? Is she here to see him?

I listen more intently and realize that I recognize the voice. Yes, I've definitely heard it before at her apartment. In fact, I I've heard it more and more… recently. I frown to myself. I begin to look around the room again, waiting for Lois to come back for me.

"Hey there, big boy? Watcha doin' in my neck of the woods?" comes a sultry, feminine voice.

I glance across the room from me. There before me is the most exquisite female form I've ever known. Wow! That body! So well-formed, so… ample. Her coloring is unlike anything I've ever seen before. I find myself gaping at her when she speaks again.

"Um, did you hear me? I asked what you were doing here?" Oh, that voice. It was is so alluring, so… seductive. Gah, what is wrong with me? Get a grip!

"Actually, I'm not sure, exactly," I manage to spit out, somewhat coherently.

"Oh, well, I hope you plan to stay for a little while."

I can't believe it, but so do I; I'd really like to stay for a while. How can I be thinking this? I look around for Lois again. She hasn't come back. I can still hear her in there, talking with that guy. Probably the guy who lives here. Is this beautiful female, who's still watching me — by the way — here with him? Lucky guy.

"So, who's the guy?" I ask.

"What guy?"

Is she dense? Beautiful but empty-headed? Nothing inside? That would be disappointing. "The guy that the woman I came here with is in the other room talking to."

"Oh, him. He's great. Cute, too, don't ya think? I mean, I guess if you like that type. I've had a lot of fun with him. That woman you came with…"

"Lois," I interrupt her.

"Lois. She's been over here before to see him. Lots of times, actually. They seem to have a really good time together. I think they're planning a trip together."

A trip? How could I not know about this? How could this stranger know more than I do? What was going on here? "What is this guy's name?" I ask her.

"Clark. Clark Kent. Actually, he's got another identity, too. I prefer the other one, personally."

"He's got multiple personalities and Lois is going on a trip with him? Is she insane?"

"No, not like that. It's not like he's mental or anything. Can you keep a secret? I really shouldn't probably tell anyone else, but you seem like a pretty trustworthy individual."

A secret? What could it be? "Sure, I'm good at keeping secrets. You can trust me."

"Well, you see, Clark Kent is Superman."

"Superman? Really? So this is the guy I've heard Lois going on and on about. What's so special about him?"

"You're kidding! You really don't know? Wow! Where have you been the past couple of years?"

"Ugh. Locked away. Don't get me started," I tell her, hearing the frustration in my voice.

She's quiet for a few minutes. When she finally speaks again, her voice is soft, gentle. "I'm sorry. Was it bad?"

"Lonely. Horribly lonely."

"That's too bad. Really," she says genuinely.

"It's okay. But can I ask you something? Why do you like his other personality, this Superman, better than Clark?"

"Oh, well, see, when he's Superman, he can fly!"

"Fly?" I exclaim. "What do you mean, 'fly'? Like fly an airplane? Lots of people can fly planes."

"No, not fly a plane, or anything else for that matter. He actually flies. He himself. His body."

Wow! How was that possible? A man who could fly? This was amazing! "So has he ever taken you with him when he flies?"

"Oh, yeah. All the time. That's why I like him so much, I guess. It's a first-class way to travel, you know?"

No kidding. No lines, no waiting, no hassles, no bad airports… poor excuses for baggage handlers. "So, you think they are planning to go somewhere together?" I ask, still in disbelief. How could I have been left in the dark like this?

Before she has a chance to answer, Lois and this Clark guy come walking into the room where we are. I recoil in horror. They are lip-locked and their hands are all over one another.

"Thanks for letting me use your suitcase, Clark. It's so much roomier than mine. I'm sorry I have so much stuff," Lois tells this Clark guy.

"That's okay, honey, if the glimpses I got of some of the articles of clothing are any indication of what you packed, I don't think I'll be doing any complaining," Clark says to Lois.

"Are you sure you can fit all of your stuff into my bag? It's quite a bit smaller than yours," Lois tells him.

Smaller? She thinks I'm small? And "bag"? Who is she calling a bag? I feel my heart sink a little.

"Hey, it's okay. Don't look so glum. I think you're quite ample," my new friend tells me soothingly. "I like my guys compact. Besides, it's not the size that counts it's how you can be used," she says with a playfulness in her voice.

"So where are they going?" I ask her.

"I believe they're going on their honeymoon — in Hawaii! Can you believe it? Hawaii! And Clark will most likely fly us there as Superman. No dirty luggage carts to ride in. No being man-handled by dirty, sweaty airport workers. No being slammed and piled into the underbelly of a hot, dark airplane. No worry about what might get broken, either on us, or what we're carrying. Ah, it'll be first class all the way!"

I can't help but break out into a smile. What could be better? A trip, finally, and to Hawaii no less, and traveling in the company of a beautiful specimen such as her. Her. I hadn't gotten her name. "What's your name?"

"Me? Oh, how silly of me. My name's Ruby. What's yours?"

Ruby. I should have guessed I realize, admiring her color once again. "Indigo."

"Oooh, how exotic. I love your color. Well, Indigo, pleased to meet you. I think we're going to have a long and glorious future together."

I sincerely hope so.

THE END