I decided to re-post this story. I'm turning into a lighter one. Seeing as my other story is a little too sad, this is my way to balance my karma =). Really, there were a lot of things about this story that I didn't like, so I'm changing them. Spelling and grammar are a little better also. Thanks for reading!
The Space Between Us.
Chapter 1: The Daily Planet.
It was a normal day at the Planet. Of course Clark was fifteen minutes early, as usual. Metropolis' newest hero, the Red and Blue Blur started his patrols first time in the morning and there was no need to go back to the farm when it was almost time to start working. He was about to get to his desk, when he heard screams calling for help. In the blink of an eye, he was already doing his hero thing.
After rescuing the people from the burning building and putting the fire out with his super breath, Clark ran all the way back to the farm to change clothes. He didn't want to raise any kind of suspicion of why was he smelling just like he put out a fire, especially from Lois, who was dead set on finding out everything she could about the mysterious Red and Blue Blur. One mistake and she could put all the pieces together and find out who the blur really was.
He didn't like hiding his identity from her, but her safety could be compromised knowing his secrets and he couldn't bear if something happened to her because of him.
Before Lana came back for Chloe's wedding, Clark had the idea that he and Lois were getting closer each day, and in his mind, there were a few times when it seemed like they were finding common ground to start something.
Of course those thoughts were quickly dismissed; for him the mere thought of him and Lois were just ridiculous. If he asked her out, she would laugh to his face. He could imagine her curled up on the floor, with her hands covering her stomach. It was better not to ask her, at least by now.
He was absolutely sure Lois looked at him only as a dull farm boy; and any moment between them were just a couple moments when she felt a little confused, maybe she felt lonely just like him, but that wasn't a reason to start something.
But he wasn't blind, he knew that Lois was a gorgeo... attractive woman, and there was something about her attitude... Ok, he may have been a little attracted to her but that was it, she was a great friend and he loved her like a sister... yeah, just like a sister. After shaking his head back to reality, he looked at his watch and realized it was getting a late, so he super sped back to work.
Back at the Planet, Clark started walking towards his desk when he noticed Lois sitting on top of his desk, waiting for him with a folder in her hand and a deep frown on her face. "It was about time for you to show up, Smallville, I think you should leave the moping as an after work activity, or maybe you could go pro, you're wasting a lot of talent there. Anyway, Tess is waiting for you and she seemed kinda serious."
Clark was a little surprised "Lois, what is wrong with you? First of all, I'm still five minutes early and besides that, why are you treating me like this? Did I do something wrong?"
Lois just shrugged, looked away and quickly walked to her desk purposefully ignoring Clark's words and started acting like she was typing the most important thing on her computer and looked at him one more time. "Did you not hear me??? I told you already, Tess is waiting for you. Stop staring at me and go! Chop, chop."
It sounded a little harsher than she intended, but it seemed to work seeing as Clark started walking to the elevator without looking back. She sighed, thinking about the failed coffee date and she couldn't deny there were still some hard feelings, but she was hoping that in some point they could have some honest conversation and maybe start something... if the farmer would stop moping about his high school sweetheart.
He never said he would be there for the cup of coffee, so that meant technically she wasn't stood up. Lois Lane was the one who stood guys up, not the other way around.
She was sure they were reaching some common ground, until Chloe's wedding and the almost kiss. Everything was fine, she wanted to kiss Clark, she cared about him, and she was sure he was feeling the same way, but Lana had to show up stepping on the sand castle that she had built around them.
Lois knew that when she was in Star City playing nurse to Jimmy, Lana and Clark were busy playing house. Just thinking about the two of them sleeping together, having breakfast and kissing goodbye before going to work, made he want to puke her guts out.
God she hated that woman, she had the nerve to show up at the worst time and leave afterwards, just like she was never back. Like her only plan was to stop them from kissing. Clark didn't want to talk about it, but it seemed something really bad had happened between them and caused Lana to leave for good. This was calling for an investigative reporter.
Clark knocked on the door before entering Tess Mercer's office. "Tess, I'm here. I was told you needed to see me?"
Tess motioned him to close the door behind him and to take a seat. "In fact Mr. Kent, I did. Look what I'm about to tell you can't leave this room, at least not for now. Queen Industries is negotiating some business agreements with Wayne Enterprises, and until it's all ready to go, Oliver doesn't want this to hit the presses. But..."
She looked outside the window and took a breath before speaking again "Mr. Wayne will give the Daily Planet an interview and surprisingly, he asked for you to be the reporter".
Clark's eyes went wide and didn't know what to say. Of course he knew who Bruce Wayne was. He was one of the most important and richest men in the US, he ran a billion dollar corporation and he was just a few years older than him. But Bruce Wayne knowing who he was… that was weird. "I'm just a cub reporter, are you absolutely positive he asked for me to do the interview? I'm just saying I'm quite intrigued about this".
Tess turned around again with a calculating look on her face "I'm quite intrigued myself too, but there is only one way to find our answers. Here's the folder with everything there is to know about Bruce Wayne, I want you to be prepared. And I want to be the first to know what this guy has to say, so you come here right after you're done, but let me show you..." She opened the folder as they started discussing about the main points of the interview.
Back in the bullpen, Oliver walked out of the elevator looking for Clark. He was dressed in a charcoal suit and light blue shirt, he wasn't wearing a tie around his neck, but he looked great anyway.
His steps led him to Clark's empty desk and he frowned at the sight. In that moment a female voice called him from behind. Of course he knew who she was.
"Oliver! Long time no see, what are you doing here?" He smiled and took a couple steps forward to give her a light hug.
"As you know, Queen Industries made a move for a controlling share of Luthorcorp and now we own them, along with their other assets, including this great metropolitan newspaper. But besides all that, I came to see Clark; I need to talk to him."
Lois made a disgusted face and rolled her eyes. "The farmboy is upstairs with Tess Mercer. They have been behind closed doors for like an hour. And I can't possibly imagine why are they taking so long, I mean, there are no much topics a cub reporter like him could be talking to the Editor in Chief, right? And let me tell you I've seen that woman flirting with Clark and he can't be that dense, that woman wants him so bad and what does he do? He meets with her in her office and closes the door."
Oliver started laughing out loud, interrupting Lois. She looked at him with an angry look on her face "I don't see what you are laughing at!"
Oliver stopped and smirked instead "you know what Lois; jealousy doesn't suit you, not at all. I told you once before, Clark only has eyes for you." he said half joking.
Before Lois could say anything else, he quickly changed the subject "Anyway, I assume he told you the big news, right?" After no receiving any answer he continued "He is going to interview Mr. Bruce Wayne from Gotham City later today".
Lois jumped out of her chair almost knocking the desk "WHAT?!, are you trying to tell me that Clark landed an interview with one of the richest and most important guys in the world, besides being one of the hottest guys in America, why him? I know as a fact that Mr. Wayne is not the most open to public kind of guy, and getting to interview him is almost impossible!"
"Well Lois, I can imagine that's the reason Clark and Tess are locked upstairs in her office and they are not doing whatever NC-17 action you were thinking about. Look, I'm going up to see what's going on."
He smiled at her, "See you later, Ok?"
"OK, see you".
Oliver walked towards the elevator and found the doors were opening. Clark was stepping out when he saw the blonde billionaire.
"Hey Oliver, how are you doing?" they shook hands, smiling. They hadn't seen each other in a long time. Oliver had spent lots of time back in Star City.
"I'm fine thanks, how about you? I came here just to talk to you, man. Look, I know all about the big interview, in fact I'm the one who told Tess about it, and I know she told you everything about Bruce Wayne and our upcoming business deal. But I'll tell you what she doesn't know. Bruce is here not only for that kind of business, but for another kind also".
Oliver looked both ways before continuing. "Come with me, I don't want anyone to hear about this".
They arrived to the roof of the Daily Planet and Oliver was the first to speak. "Well, as I was saying, Bruce is in Metropolis for our kind of business... hero related".
Clark stared at him wide eyed. "Wha- what are you talking about??" Clark stuttered and his mind went into overdrive.
He knew about the Batman, Gotham's hero, and he also knew that he was being accused of horrible crimes. He did the math, and when he was about to speak, Ollie spoke first. "Yes Clark, Bruce is the Batman, and before you say anything, please hear what I have to say".
Oliver filled him in with all the details about the Batman's story, from how he lost his parents to Rachel's death and how he took the fault for Harvey Dent's crimes. After that, he continued telling about the Joker's escape and everything Bruce was doing to put him back behind bars.
Clark listened carefully and when Oliver finished he asked "I know that this must be a J.L thing, does he need help in taking down the Joker again? I'll do it. We can't let that maniac free."
Oliver looked to the horizon and answered "Well, this is something much bigger than that. This is a worldwide project that could start a new era of peace and safety in the world." He took a deep breath. "But I want to discuss all this during the interview this afternoon. I haven't told him much about you or your powers, but I think you will love what we have to say. I trust this guy with my life, Clark, and I know when you meet him, you will do the same. We'll meet at my apartment, 6 o'clock, ok? You can be a very important piece in this project, the question is, are you ready for this kind of responsibility, to really step up for justice?"
Oliver left a very confused Clark Kent standing alone on the rooftop thinking about his last words.
Please review. Like it? Hate it? I'd love to know.