Title: How Lois Lane Grieved Clark Kent, And He Wasn't Even Dead
Author: Melissa
Characters: Lois Lane, Clark Kent, others
Spoilers: Power.
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She's back on a Thursday morning, and she doesn't meet his eyes.
"So I heard you're back with Lana." She doesn't really know why she asked because she already knew the answer. She remembers Chloe's hesitancy, how she looked at her older cousin from underneath her lashes, as if she didn't want to meet her questioning eyes.
She doesn't listen as Clark tells about the love of his life being blackmailed into leaving him. No, she doesn't listen to that as her heart shatters.
"I'm leaving," she suddenly says and the man before her falls silent. He blinks but his eyes never leave hers, confused and questioning and for a fleeting second, she sees the denial in his eyes.
"Why?" He looks as clueless as he's always been for these past months when it comes to her and she almost wants to laugh.
She puts the last piece of junk standing on her desk in a box, fingers her nameplate and she hates herself. How dared she imagine there could be Lois Lane Kent written instead, if just once?
She wants to tell him she spent too much time staying at the same place and that it was time to explore new options, somewhere else.
She doesn't because she doesn't trust her own voice.
"You're so stupid, Clark," she only says before she grabs the box and walks away.
She tried to say goodbye, had it going on and on in her head during all the time she's been standing in front of him. How can you say goodbye to something you never had?
She feels his eyes on her back the whole time, as if they were burning holes. She quickens the pace, her stiletto shoes clicking on the polished floor increasingly and she's almost running out the door when she reaches it.
She tries to smile at the familiar brown eyes and warm smile. It's been years since she last saw him (and since Clark Kent) but this man who appears to be the fun-loving and often drunk billionaire is so much more than the farmboy and wannabe reporter will ever be.
This man is still her best friend, even after so many years apart.
Alfred takes the box out of her hands and she's poised with one foot inside the limo and the other still on the sidewalk when she hears him.
"Lois!" Clark stands a few feet away, looking absolutely lost for words and she only thinks of how it could have been so much more, only this time it wasn't meant to be.
Maybe in another lifetime.
She accepts Bruce's outstretched hand. "Goodbye, Clark."
He's still standing there when Alfred drives them away. Lois doesn't cry but only feels relieved. After all, wasn't this just a moment of pure insanity?
She knows she shouldn't but she still turns around in her seat. He stands in the crowd but it's like he's fading away in the mass of people, almost becoming insignificant.
Maybe it's for the best, she thinks. She's never been good at being the second choice, anyway.
The End