It had been a long day for Lois Lane. A very long day.
And a very boring one.
She hadn't had a decent scoop since forever.
Well all right, since last week, but even so. No news may be good news for some, but not for her. Her whole life revolved around finding the next story, the next angle, the next moment. For a journalist to have nothing to write about, it was virtually comparable to a fish without water, or a storm without thunder. A bike without wheels. It just didn't work. It was uncomfortable. In fact, it was downright irritating.
Sitting on the porch swing of the Kent farm, a bottle of soda in hand and gazing at the sunset, she was just debating whether a piece on the various shades of pastel that the sky could turn would be a front page headline – or more to the point, could she MAKE it a front page headline? - when in the distance, a car came down the lane, stopped outside the farm entrance, then after a few seconds of hesitation – the driver clearly checking that this was the right place – the car swung in and began the long trip down the gravel track.
"Well, what have we here?" Lois muttered to herself before taking another swig from the bottle and setting it down, watching the car with keen eyes. It wasn't one she recognized. And anyone she did know, knew that she and Clark had taken a week off to return to the farm for a break from the busy city, so they wouldn't have bothered coming all the way out here to pester them. Not unless it was really important, anyway. But then a phone call first to warn them would have been appreciated.
The windows were completely blacked out of the SUV, and something about the whole thing screamed 'military' at her.
"Smallville, visitors," she spoke calmly, not bothering to raise her voice because she knew that Clark would have heard her anyway. He'd probably heard the car coming long before she'd even known it was there, after all.
"I know," he spoke suddenly into her ear as he appeared on the porch swing beside her - the only indication that he'd just arrived (other than his sudden appearance) being Lois' hair plastered across her face from the gust of wind he'd caused upon his rapid entrance.
Scraping the hair away from her face, she glared at him. "Was the 'whoosh' really necessary?"
"I was in the barn," he shrugged, by way of an explanation. "Some of the machinery's gone a little rusty."
He rubbed at one ear and Lois watched him for a moment, then sighed. "Your ear again?"
"The ringing came back about five minutes ago," he nodded. "It'll stop in a minute. It doesn't last very long each time."
"I told you not to get a building dumped on your head," Lois shrugged as she turned her attention back to the car. "So it's your own fault."
Clark frowned, about to protest that an entire city had been crumbling because of an earthquake, but sensing that she was perhaps not in her best mood today, he decided not to.
He knew why she was being like this, though. She had itchy fingers. She was desperate to get back to Metropolis and write. She was desperate to get out and investigate, and recently there hadn't actually been anything truly groundbreaking to write about, which was why she and Clark had decided now would be the best time for their 'vacation' whilst things were calm and Superman wouldn't be missed.
Besides, all the trivial stories had been covered already by the rookie journalists in the bullpen, and Lois Lane was above and beyond these stories now that she was Superman's official reporter. The fact that she and Clark also had their own office up on a higher floor also showed their status and the fact that they were on their way to the top, after years of hard work and dedication.
It was now her job to report on all the Man of Steel's activities, but considering the Man of Steel was also her fiancé, she knew there would be no stories from him in the immediate future.
Clark was enjoying the break, but Lois wasn't. She couldn't wait for him to don his 'iconic' outfit and do some 'hero' stuff again, just to give her something to write about.
"Am I really the only one who's finding it hard to believe that there's NOTHING going on right at this moment that requires Superman's attention?" She sighed, picking up her soda bottle again as finally the black SUV – still screaming military at her (Probably the General, come to check up on her again. He had a habit of dropping in at the most inconvenient times. Or maybe it was her kid sister and pain in the ass, Lucy?) – pulled up alongside the white picket fence that marked out the farm house's small grass lawn and flower garden.
"I'm sure Kara's got it covered, if there is anything going on," Clark replied. "You know she promised to keep an eye on Metropolis for us as well as National City. Besides, I'm surprised you're not more intrigued by our guest," Clark smirked as Lois took another swig from the bottle.
"It's just the General, probably," she shrugged.
"I don't think it is," Clark shook his head as the door opened and a pair of boots emerged from the car, stepping out onto the gravel. Who the boots belonged to, still remained to be seen as the owner of said feet was hidden behind the car door still.
"What makes you say that?" Lois frowned, still convinced it was her father.
"Because those boots belong to a woman," Clark replied.
"How do you -?" Lois started, staring at him for a few seconds before realising what he'd done and slapping him on the shoulder. "Oh, you cheat! Using X-ray vision does not count!"
Clark bit back his retort as the car door finally slammed shut and his theory was confirmed.
Their visitor was indeed a woman. About five six in height, she was slim but by no means thin. There was a good deal of muscle beneath the surface, giving her a more athletic look, rather than a supermodel one. Pale skin and short red hair that was cut into a messy bob, along with dark, inquisitive eyes that were currently surveying the surroundings with curious interest.
She wasn't wearing a uniform of any kind – just black cargo pants and a black polo shirt, but something about her did indeed scream 'military' to Clark. Lois was right about that theory, it would seem. Though he of course had the added advantage of knowing this woman. Lois – to his knowledge at least – didn't. Though she'd heard about her from her much more famous sister.
As she glanced towards the house and spotted the two occupants on the swing, the woman turned sharply on her heel and headed for them at a brisk walk, head carried high and proud, a very distinct posture with no slouching or sloppiness, that clearly displayed she meant business. She didn't march, as such, but Clark had no doubt in his mind that she could, if she desired, and it would be a very imposing thing indeed. Very regimental.
"Do you guys realise how damned impossible you both are to get hold of?!" She asked as they both stood from the swing, Lois setting her bottle down to one side once more.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lois retorted without thinking, earning a glare from Clark.
The woman stopped before them, glanced from one to the other and then looked back to Clark, deciding she'd get a better answer from him.
"Agent Danvers," he greeted her, walking down the steps and extending a hand. "What a pleasant surprise! What brings you here?"
"Wait, Danvers?" Lois frowned, also coming down the steps. "Any relation of Kara Danvers?"
"She's my sister," Agent Danvers replied with a tight smile. Then she glanced to Clark before amending. "Well, 'adoptive' sister, if you catch my meaning?"
"Lois, this is Alex. Alex this is Lois, my fiancée," Clark introduced them both to one another as they shook hands. Then he looked to Alex. "Is there something we can do for you, Alex? Why don't you come inside?"
"Actually," Alex was looking all around as if expecting to see someone. "I was hoping Kara might be here? I tried calling you both, but seeing as you decided to go 'off the grid' and turn your cells off, I ended up having to drive all the way out here instead."
"Here?" Lois frowned, even as Clark asked "Why would she be here?"
"Well, she hasn't checked in for at least eight hours now, and we're kind of starting to get worried," Alex admitted after a brief hesitation. Whilst Clark was Superman, Lois was still a civilian. And a reporter at that. A damned good one, if the Pulitzers and various other accolades were anything to go by. Still, she was worried about her sister and if that meant that a civilian got involved, then so be it. She'd accept the consequences – and the reprimand from J'onn later.
"She's probably just in Metropolis," Lois shrugged, not truly understanding the implications of Alex's words. "Clark asked her to keep an eye on both cities whilst we were gone, which shouldn't be too hard because… well, basically nothing has happened in Metropolis for the past two weeks now. It's been disappointingly boring, from a journalistic point of view."
"It's the same in National City," Alex agreed. "Something's not right."
"Kara doesn't just miss her check ins," Clark agreed. "It's not like her."
"We've checked with our Metropolis Field Agents," Alex sighed, deciding that Lois had just as much right to know as Clark. She did know his secret, after all. And Kara's. She wasn't just any random civilian. "Kara hasn't checked in with them either. No-one's seen her. It's like she's just vanished."
"Have you tried the Fortress of Solitude?" Clark asked, folding his arms across his broad chest, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper with concern.
Alex shook her head. "J'onn J'onzz is on his way there now, but since Cyborg Superman broke in and your new security measures have been put in place, he wasn't sure if he would even be able to get in."
"Ah," Clark looked suitably chagrined at that, even blushing a little as Lois turned to him. Alex wasn't sure why he was looking so embarrassed at first, until Lois spoke, one eyebrow rising.
"Someone broke into the Fortress? Clark, honey, are you still leaving your key under the doormat? I warned you that would only invite trouble."
"I know, I know," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I… found a new place for it now, though."
"And now J'onn won't be able to get in to see if Kara's there or not," Alex sighed.
"Look on the bright side?" Lois suggested. "If this J'onn can't get in, then it must mean the door's locked, right? Does Kara have a habit of locking herself in when she's there?"
"To be honest, I have no idea," Alex groaned, rubbing a hand across the back of her neck in agitation, though to be fair, Lois had made a valid point that she'd not even considered. Perhaps having a journalist's perspective on everything may not be such a bad thing?
"All I know is she's not checked in, and it's not like her. I can't even reach her on her cell, she's not been to work – for either job – she's not in her apartment, she's not in Metropolis… something's not right."
Clark considered for a moment, and then he nodded. "I'll do a flyby of Metropolis then head to the Fortress, help J'onn. With any luck, she's just in there doing a bit of research on something." Then he turned back to Lois. "I'm sorry, Lo, but it looks like the vacation's over."
Rather than look upset, disappointed or even angry at this however, Lois beamed in delight. "Thank God! No offense, Clark, as lovely and relaxing as this place is, I was going stir crazy! Now my reporter's nose is itching, and I just need to scratch it!"
"I'm sorry?" Alex frowned, afraid she may have misheard.
"I'm coming with you," Lois nodded brightly.
Alex scoffed and shook her head. "I don't think so, Miss Lane."
"Well I do, Agent Danvers. We come as a pair, he and I. You don't get one without the other. So you want OUR help? I'm coming with you." She placed a hand over Clark's chest, roughly over where the large 's' symbol would be on his suit, just to make her point.
Alex turned to Clark, her mouth working furiously, but no words coming out. After a moment, they came tumbling out in a frantic, annoyed frenzy.
"Clark, she cannot come with me! You know she'll never get within a hundred feet of the… of where I work if J'onn has anything to say in the matter. Which he does, seeing that he's the Director and all."
"Clark, honey?" Lois smiled sweetly up at him. "I'm going. I'll see you in a few days, alright?"
"Alex," Clark sighed with a humorless smile. "Look how big I am. Do you know what that means?"
"That you can bench press a cruise liner?"
"That I don't fit on the couch. Take her with you. Believe me when I say that it's the lesser of two evils."
Alex raised an eyebrow at them both, unable to believe what she was hearing. She needed Superman. She didn't need the annoyance that was Lois Lane. But apparently she wouldn't get one without the other. The phrase "take it or leave it" sprung to mind and she knew she had no choice.
So, knowing that she would more than likely regret these next words, but feeling duty bound to say them anyway, she nodded. "I'll be in the car. Don't be too long, Miss Lane, or I WILL leave without you."
"Ouch," Lois grumbled as Alex stalked away, back to the SUV. "Who pissed on her pancakes this morning?"
"Lois," Clark attempted to sound stern, though he was fighting back a smirk. "Please play nice whilst I'm gone? Her sister's gone AWOL. Think how you'd feel if I just disappeared without a trace."
"I can't even imagine it, Clark," Lois replied, serious and sombre as his words hit home. "Promise you won't leave me?"
"Only for a short while," he smiled properly this time, kissing her lightly on the lips. "I'll be back before you know it."
Not satisfied with just this little peck from her future husband, Lois wrapped her arms about his neck and pulled him in for a proper kiss, full of passion and love and all the things they felt about one another. His hands wrapped about her, to hold her close, and Lois was pretty sure she could have stayed there for all eternity, lips locked with the man she loved, his strong arms protectively wrapped about her…
The illusion was shattered by a loud blast on a car horn. There was a moment's silence wherein the two of them jumped apart, startled, and then Alex pressed her hand on the horn again and held it there this time.
"Alright, alright!" Lois snapped, shooting an angry glare in Alex's direction as she threw one hand in the air. "Sheesh!"
"Remember, play nice. I'll see you soon," Clark grinned, ripping open his shirt to reveal the famous scarlet 'S' emblazoned against royal blue and gold. The blink of an eye later, his 'farm boy' clothes were fluttering to the floor as he streaked into the sky, nothing but a red and blue blur.
"Man, I love it when he does that," Lois grinned to herself as she once again brushed the hair back from her face before bending and scooping up his clothes, hurrying them back inside the farmhouse.
The trip back to National City was incredibly quiet. And incredibly tense.
And incredibly long.
Mainly because they had to drive the whole way. When Alex had told her that they would be flying back to National City, Lois had had to admit that she was on the 'no fly' list. Alex, not believing her, had had Winn check to see, and was furious when the he'd confirmed it to be the case.
"How the hell did you even get yourself on the 'no fly' list?!" She'd snapped, diverting the car away from the airport and seeing no other alternative, setting them on the highway out of town instead.
"Long story," Lois shrugged. "I mean, we've got the time, but I'm not sure you're in the mood to hear it."
"You're right, I'm not."
"Are you mad?"
"No, I'm not mad. I'm fucking furious!"
"Yeah… I sensed that," Lois nodded, biting her lip for a moment. "Want me to drive for a—"
"Nope."
"Okay. Well if you get tired, let me know and I can—"
"No."
"... Okay."
Every time Lois had tried to engage in some sort of conversation with Alex after that, to pass the time, she'd been met with short, snappy, one or two word answers. Occasionally, three if she was lucky.
They drove through the night and on into the morning, and were still nowhere close to National City. Lois had slept, fidgeted, had one sided conversations, messaged Clark, checked her phone a dozen times for a reply, checked the news on her phone, checked the weather, rechecked the news, checked again another dozen times for a message from Clark, hunted all around the dashboard for a place to plug in her phone after she'd drained the battery, slept some more and was now sitting twiddling her thumbs – quite literally – as she waited for her phone to recharge so she could check it again.
"Aren't you tired?" She asked her stoically silent companion at last. "I could take over for a bit if you wanted to catch some shut eye? I promise I won't hit anything… well… I promise I won't 'try' to hit anything."
Alex just glared across at her, hands gripping firmly to the steering wheel. "You talk a lot."
This surprised Lois. It was the most she'd been able to get out of the other woman for hours. "Well, I'm just not comfortable with uncomfortable silences, and you're not exactly keeping up with your end of the conversation."
Alex glanced at her again, then sighed and her grip visibly relaxed on the steering wheel. "Sorry. I'm just worried."
"About your sister?" Lois asked, turning in her seat slightly, sensing that finally she might be about to engage in some conversation that wasn't entirely one sided.
"This isn't like Kara," Alex nodded through gritted teeth, doing her best to keep her emotions in check and failing miserably. "She doesn't do this. She's… she's the carefree, happy go lucky, 'sun is always shining, today is a good day' kind of person. Even when it's pissing cats and dogs, she'll always see the bright side of everything. She doesn't just drop off the radar. She doesn't just skip work for no reason – either her civilian job, or her superhero one. One of her best friends owns CatCo where she works, another works alongside her there… more of her friends and family work at her other job… what reason could she have for skipping out on the job and the people she loves? It just… it doesn't make sense!"
A fist pounded angrily off the steering wheel, making Lois jump. She bit her lip for a moment, trying to judge the other woman and her obviously foul mood, and then she did what Lois Lane does best. Charged right on in, no holds barred, no holding back. No cares for her own safety.
"Who does she work for?"
Alex gave her a sideways glance that clearly suggested she couldn't believe she'd just been asked that.
"CatCo. I just said—"
"No, no, no not her civilian job. Her 'other' job. The cape and tights getup gig."
"Oh. That's classified."
"Huh," Lois considered for a moment. Though she was in 'reporter' mode now, not to be perturbed or put off by anything. Lois Lane didn't take 'no' for an answer. "Alright then, who do YOU work for?"
"Also classified."
"Huh," Lois nodded again. Then she frowned. "Wait, is that actually the name of the company? Classified? Damn, that's a good name. Great for avoiding any unwanted questions. 'Where do you work?', 'Classified'. Bet it comes in handy a lot."
"I…" Alex hesitated, confused. "I can't work out if you're joking or actually being serious, right now."
"So Classified isn't the name of the company you work for?" Lois pouted. "Why not? It's a good name."
"I'll put in a suggestion with the boss when I get back," Alex replied, and the corner of her mouth quirked up a bit. It would have been optimistic to call it a smile, but it was a start. Lois didn't miss it, but she decided not to point it out for now in case Alex slammed her defences back up and shut the other woman out again. That would have been a shame, given the progress they were currently making, after all.
"Okay so… you and Kara work at a place that isn't called Classified, for some reason. What can you tell me about—"
"Classified."
"Will you let me finish! What can you tell me about the place that isn't the place that isn't called Classified."
"… What?" Alex frowned, totally confused.
"Oh come on, I work for their rival. Speaking the name of that place is like speaking the name of He Who Must Not Be Named."
"I never had you pegged as a Harry Potter nerd."
"Likewise," Lois smirked, and Alex realised the trap she'd just fallen into. She didn't bother to complain because as much as she hated to admit it, talking to Lois was providing a good distraction from the monotony of driving and the worries about Kara.
"Alright, fair point. Well CatCo—"
"Ah!" Lois held up one finger, fixing Alex with a stern glare of warning.
Alex stopped the car sharply with a screech of tires and glared at her in return, matching Lois' intensity and then dialling it up several notches, and Lois grew uncomfortable under the other woman's scrutinizing gaze. It was almost as if Alex was trying to peel back every layer of the protective shield Lois had spent years building up around herself using snark, wit, sarcasm and sass.
It made Lois feel suddenly vulnerable and exposed. There was only one person she would ever tolerate feeling this vulnerable and exposed around, and it certainly wasn't Alex Danvers.
"Eyes front soldier!" She snapped at last, pointing to her eyes, then to the road in front of them. Alex blinked, but surprisingly did as she was told – a good soldier following orders as she looked forwards once more and pulled away, thankful that the road they were on was pretty deserted. She'd stepped on the brakes without thought for other road users and was only now realising her stupidity at such an action. Her worries about Kara were seriously clouding her judgement.
Lois also blinked in surprise, amazed it had even worked. Perhaps being an army brat had it's advantages after all.
They travelled for another hour in silence, before finally Lois grew bored and began to fidget again. Her phone still wasn't charged – how long did it need?! - and she was getting restless.
"Are we nearly there yet?"
"You sound like a child."
"You sound like a child," Lois mimicked petulantly.
Alex had two choices open to her at that very moment. Three if she wanted to get violent. But seeing as Clark wouldn't take too kindly to her if he found out she'd punched his fiancée in the face, and she'd never hear the end of it if she pulled over and made Lois get out now and walk the rest of the way, she really didn't have any choice but to go with the third option.
"You wanted to know about the Media Company whose name I'm apparently not supposed to mention?"
"You can say the name," Lois grumbled sulkily. "I was just trying to have a joke, but apparently they're beyond you. Or beneath you, most likely."
Alex bit her tongue and silently vowed never to volunteer for any assignments that involved Lois Lane ever again. She counted to three, to calm herself down, then forced herself to speak calmly once more.
"Okay, you wanted to know about CatCo Worldwide Media? Why?"
"Just curious," Lois sighed as she sat up in the seat, realising that Alex was trying to offer a proverbial olive branch of sorts and knowing that their squabble had been petty. Plus she didn't like sitting in silence, so any excuse for a conversation was good enough for her. "Besides, I know the score. I'm a civilian. Which means I also know that when we get to National City, you're going to be off doing your Confidential Secret Agent stuff, and I'd rather not be sitting on the sidelines doing nothing. I'd have stayed at the farm if I'd wanted to do that. So I thought maybe I could check out Kara's day job. Her civilian life. See if I can find any clues there."
"And you're just going to walk into a rival media company and do what exactly?"
"What I do best," Lois smiled brightly, her sulk forgotten now. "Be a journalist."
"Lois, look," Alex sighed as she turned the car off the road they were on and finally the city came into view, at last. "I let you come to National City with me, but that doesn't mean I had to like it. I know it's a lot to ask, but please, can you try to stay out of trouble until I can work out what the hell to do with you?"
"What the hell to do with me? What the hell does that mean? Am I under house arrest?"
"You're overreacting. I think it would be best for everyone if we held you someplace safe and had someone watch you to—"
"Someone watch me?" Lois repeated, raising one eyebrow. "You're making me out to be some kind of prisoner. Or worse… a child! That's it, that's exactly what I feel like right now! A naughty child who is being punished by her uptight, 'doesn't know how to have fun' mother. All because I asked if I could go out to play."
"You're a journalist, and journalists are trouble," Alex was trying to keep calm and not snap again, but Lois sure knew how to press all the wrong buttons. "Especially you. I've heard the stories. The lengths you'll go to, to get the next scoop."
Rather than be annoyed by this particular comment though, Lois beamed with pride. "My reputation precedes me, it would seem."
"Exactly. Which is why I've been told to take no chances."
"By your top secret Government agency? Please tell me it at least has an acronym I can call it by?"
"FBI."
"Right," Lois scoffed. "As if I'm going to believe you work for the Feds."
"You don't have to, but it's the cover I use everywhere else, so I'd appreciate if you could go along with it and not screw up my day any more than it already is."
"Wait… if I've got to keep your cover intact, that means I'm actually going to speak to people! Have I been let out on early parole for good behaviour?"
Alex knew Lois was just winding her up on purpose now, so didn't even deign to reply. Instead she pulled the SUV into the parking lot of an apartment complex, killed the engine and sighed. "Come with me."