Title: Be Careful With What You Say
Author: Mistyfur
Rating: Pg-13
Category: Romance
Pairing: Lois/Clark
Spoilers: Committed
Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville or its characters.
Author's Note: Something that came into my mind while watching reruns of Season 8.

"What?" Clark exclaimed, his voice echoing in the large crystal-like fortress.

"You are betrothed, Kal-El," Jor-El repeated for the second time since his son had burst through the fortress doors. "You have met your destiny and the time for the next step has come."

Clark paced back and forth unable to believe this latest turn in his life.

Destiny.

How often had that word come into play since his discovery of his heritage. A destiny to protect, a destiny to achieve and now it seemed a destiny to marry some random stranger that caught Jor-El's attention.

"Why did you do this?" Clark demanded through clenched teeth, holding onto his seething emotions by a thin thread. He was tired of all the interference and this was the last straw.

"It was not I but you who has brought this about," Jor-El replied. "As per ancient Kryptonian Law, so mote it be. A betrothed was offered and willing accepted. It must be honoured least it bring shame to the house of El."

"You can't mean to make me honour this?" Clark asked in disbelief. "Krypton is long gone."

"As long as there is a Kryptonian alive, the laws of the land will be enforced. You cannot rescind this law, Kal-El." Jor-El said sternly. Kal-El had been stubborn for too long, it was time for him to assume the mantle of the House of El and guide this world to a new era. Joining with his soul mate would push him embrace all the good that he should be doing, instead of hiding away from it. "The soul mate that you have sought has at last arrived where she should have stood all along. She will bear your mark, the symbol of the House of El."

"How am I suppose to find her?" Clark demanded.

"Embrace your destiny and you will find her." Jor-El responded.

"How long do I have?" Clark asked, knowing that it couldn't be that easy.

"Two days but once you have found her, you will have time before you must wed. The date is not set in stone but you must find her before the two days have expired or there will be consequences."

Two days to find the soul mate that he had been looking for since he had been told about the legend in the caves. Just great. This day was turning out to be another one of those days.

Lois Lane snuggled into under her blankets, refusing to get up even as the sun's rays filtered through the window and slowly made its way up her body with each minute that passed. She clung to the last seconds of sleep and her fanciful dreams. Dreams filled with an unknown lover kissing and caressing her, of words of longing and love being shared between them. Laughter and peace that filled her soul with joy and taunted her waking moments with the perfection that were locked in her sub-conscious.

The alarm clock blared and was knocked down by a careless wave of an arm. It crashed to the floor and fell silent. With a weary grumble, Lois rolled over and slowly sat up, reluctant to leave the warmth of her bed. Lazily she stretched and yawned out loud before she slipped on her comfortable bunny slippers and shuffled into the bathroom. Eyes barely open, she turned on the water and let the steam fill the small room before she climbed into the tub to enjoy a relaxing shower. Water cascaded down her body, washing away the cobwebs of sleep that had clung to her and revitalizing her for the new day. Humming loudly to a Whitesnake song, she finished her shower and began to dry off when something caught her eye in the mirror.

'What the hell is that?' Lois thought, seeing an odd shape mark on her lower back that looked like an S in the middle of a crest. She scrubbed hard, trying to remove it but to no avail. Whatever it was, it looked like it was here to stay for the moment.

"This can't be good," Lois muttered, glaring down at the mark and wondering what else was going to happen today.

She still had to deal with Clark and the events of the crazy jeweler, she really didn't have time to add the appearance of crazy body art to the mix.

Clark walked into the Daily Planet needing to speak with Lois. Things last night had been uncomfortable for both of them. She hadn't been able to meet his eyes since she had responded to the jeweler's question about whether or not she loved Clark.

When she had answered yes, he had braced himself for the surge of electricity that would no doubt flood his body with her lie. To his surprise nothing happened. He looked at her in disbelief, unable to comprehend what had just happened. It was no surprise that she looked away, unable to face him after her revelation.

Lois had been silent since he released her for her chains. No bantering, no chatter to fill the uncomfortable silence, nothing said. It had thrown Clark off his stride to see her act so un-Lois like but decided to let it go until the morning.

Now that he was ready to speak with her, it looked like she was playing hide and seek. All the usual spots that she normally could be found were meet with defeat. Either she had never been there that morning or he had just missed her. For someone without super powers, she managed to keep ahead of him with no trouble.

Admitting defeat for the time being, Clark made his way to his desk and found her. Or least, saw her pony tail swinging as she scurried towards the elevator. So, she was avoiding him. He had seen her pause as she looked at his desk before scampering off to press repeatedly on the elevator button.

Clark picked up her relieved exhale just before he stepped up beside her. He smiled as Lois stiffened at his presence and couldn't resist teasing her, "You're not avoiding me, are you?"

TBC...