Title: One Acquainted with the Night
Author: WildForce71
Rating: Um...16?
Any Warnings: Very mild spoilers; some characters exist, and there's some dialogue and actions that are as close as I could get them on one viewing. Nothing that will actually spoil the movie.
Summary: Lois POV.
Any Author's Notes: I watched this film last night, came home, sat down and knocked this out. There's a Clark POV which I will put up in a few days, depending on the response to this one. This has not been beta'd, so my apologies for any mistakes.
You'd forgotten, in the time he was gone.
"You know my, uh--Richard. He's a pilot. He takes me up all the time."
Quiet amusement glints in his eyes. "Not like this."
And he's right, damn him.
You're moving before you've even realized, drifting gently, so gently, up from the roof, and you gasp, clutching him automatically. He doesn't react, except to give you that same amused look, and you flush, loosening your grip as much as you can bear. "I forgot how warm you are," you murmur, and he smiles.
Five years ago, six, eight years ago, this was as natural as breathing. His hands on your arms, his heart beating steadily under your hand, wind in your hair and Metropolis spread out below you, a constellation beneath your feet.
You'd forgotten, in the time he was gone, or made yourself forget. To remember this was to remember it might never come again, and that you couldn't bear. So it was swept away, joining a host of other memories you swore would never see the light of day, and your energies went to Jason and Richard.
"Listen. What do you hear?"
His voice startles you, soft as it is, and you look around. Metropolis is only light-dark-light below you, seen briefly through the clouds. "Nothing."
"I hear everything." Pain on his face, in his voice, and suddenly you're lost all over again. "You wrote--the world doesn't need a saviour." He looks away and you snatch a breath. "But every day I hear people cry out out for one."
Too close, too intense. You can't think, can't breathe. Desperately you need to step back, to turn away, if only for a second to regain your composure. But even that is denied you, as his hand on your arm reminds you.
You shudder helplessly and his attention snaps back to you, concerned. "I'll take you back."
Something else you'd forgotten; the intensity of his gaze, how it could freeze you to the spot. You've seen hardened criminals break under that look, seen bullets melt and walls crumble...
And you've seen the way he looked at you, the way he still looks at you, and you know all he has to do is look at you long enough and you're lost.
The Daily Planet roof is cold under you feet, and instinctively you rise onto your toes to avoid it. But he hasn't stepped back, and you're so close, an inch and he can be yours again...
"Richard is a good man," you whisper, and you can feel him tense. Sinking back onto your heels, you watch him steadily; he deserves this much from you, if nothing else. "And you've been gone a long time."
Now he backs up a step, eyes still locked on yours. "I know."
When he steps back again you realize he's leaving. Panicking, you open your mouth to say "I..." and stop, realizing you have nothing you follow that.
He pauses, waiting for you as he always has, and you force a casual tone to ask, "Will we see you? Around?"
You can see him think about it, testing his responses, and it's a relief when he answers, with a hint of laughter, "I'm always around, Lois."
And he's gone, fading into the night sky. You glance at the lift; somewhere below you, your family is waiting.
And you're standing barefoot on a cold, wet roof, holding a recorder with the only interview he's given in five years...
And a memory that, this time, won't be forgotten.
No matter how hard you try.