February 2009
It was times like this when Clark hated the word 'destiny'.
Because he wasn't sure exactly when it happened. He only knew he didn't think he could survive without it. Without her.
Oh sure, there had been moments along the way. Since the day they had met, there was a connection. Even though he hadn't known who he was. And when his, as she put it, 'synapses were all firing again', one of the only things he remembered?
Was her. A virtual stranger. And yet? More familiar to him than people he had known his whole life.
But for years they had danced around it. Using their affectionate brand of snark to hide their growing feelings for each other.
Not that they were fooling anyone. Anyone but themselves, that is.
He hid from the reality behind his far too long relationship with Lana. She hid behind various relationships over the years. And he grinned to himself as he remembered her accusing him of 'lobbing a grenade' at every guy she dated. At the time, he couldn't completely understand, or more to the point, wouldn't let himself admit why he did that.
After his showdown with Lex, he had wandered. Trying to figure out what was next.
But Metropolis was calling. She was calling.
And for the first time, in a long time, instead of overanalyzing it, Clark listened to what his heart was telling him.
It was time to go home.
He didn't think he'd ever forget walking into the Daily Planet that day. After dropping off his application, the application she had left him months ago, he went to find her. He could still see her sitting there, chewing on her pencil, her long hair a few shades darker than he remembered.
It seemed like hours, but it was actually only a few minutes that he stood there, watching that trademark concentration as she scribbled away. Her desk, as usual, looked like a hurricane had hit it. Which made sense, because she was a force of nature herself. Once Lois Lane stormed into your life? You were never the same.
And that wasn't a bad thing. Not a bad thing at all.
As if sensing someone was watching her, she looked up and noticed him standing there.
"Smallville?"
She looked shocked for a moment, then a smile lit up her face as she bolted out of her chair and ran to him, wrapping her arms around him.
The warmth of her hug hadn't lasted long though. Within seconds he felt her fist, as usual, whacking at his arm.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Do you know how worried I've...", she paused, catching herself, "we've been?"
She had been thrilled that he'd finally taken her up on her suggestion to work there, feeling of course, once again, that she had been right.
It had taken mere seconds for them to fall back into their normal pattern. A little snark here, some banter there. But underneath it all, there was a growing affection, not to mention a serious attraction, developing between them.
Which, of course, they ignored.
Ironically, it took a friend to open Clark's eyes.
He didn't think he'd ever forget that day. He had been at the Planet for about a month. Working on some research, he had headed over to see Lois and ask her a question when he was stopped dead in his tracks.
Oliver.
He hadn't expected to see his old friend back in Metropolis. And he certainly hadn't expected to see him buzzing around Lois.
Or to see Lois smiling at him.
It was at that moment, the moment he realized he wanted nothing more than to walk over to Oliver and throw him clear to Australia, that it hit him.
Clark Kent was in love with Lois Lane.
