There are surprisingly few Clark/Superman x Lois Lane stories, his original love I may remind readers, on this wonderful site. While I'm also a fan of the Superman/Wonder Woman pairing I have an admitted soft spot for Clark/Superman/Lois Lane having grown up with their relationship. Please read and review my humble offering, if there is enough interest in this concept I'll continue.
Disclaimer
All characters appearing in Superman and Justice League are copyright D.C Comics and Time Warner. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters are the property of Celgress.
Superman and Superwoman in Justice League Music of the Spheres – Prologue: Hinge of Destiny
By
Celgress
"There are moments which mark your life. Moments when you realize nothing will ever be the same and time is divided into two parts, before this, and after this... Sometimes you can feel such a moment coming. That's the test, or so I tell myself. I tell myself that at times like that, strong people keep moving forward anyway, no matter what they're going to find."
John Hobbes – Fallen (1998)
Metropolis, afternoon
It was a glorious spring day. The sun shone down from a mainly clear blue sky dotted with widely scattered white clouds. Flags and banners flapped in the gentle breeze. It was the kind of day that made people happy to be alive or at least in communities where things moved at a slower pace. Everywhere in Metropolis people milled about blissfully unaware of anything other than their own mundane concerns. On a building high above the bustling throng of humanity a potential life and death drama was unfolding. There two figures impatiently awaited a third.
Lois Lane wondered how she'd gotten herself into this latest mess. Sure she'd been held hostage multiple times by various deranged individuals for over a decade now, ever since Superman had first shown up in Metropolis. In many ways nano-suit clad Red X was least intimidating of the bunch. Still putting herself in danger on a regular basis had grown stale, unfulfilling. Perhaps a career change was in order. Lois loved being an ace reporter for the Daily Planet however she wasn't in her twenties anymore. As much as she might deny it in recent years Lois had grown increasingly dissatisfied with her life's status quo. She sensed something was missing. In truth Lois was painfully aware what exactly her existence was lacking. Her biological clock was ticking loudly. She wanted nothing more than to settle down and raise a family of her own, although she'd never freely admit it. Although superficially simple her desire was in truth incredibly problematic.
Her primary choices of potential husband had proven beyond reach each for different reasons. Follow reporter Clark Kent was aloof and distant. They'd tried dating several times, but the relationship had never gotten out of first gear. While a great guy on the surface Clark was also terribly unreliable. It seemed he always had somewhere else to be. Her second candidate Superman provided equally problematic, even more so if Lois was honest with herself. Early on Superman had expressed interest in the plucky, brunette journalist before circumstances had dashed any hope of a life together. Superman had made in clear to Lois in no uncertain terms he wouldn't put her wellbeing in danger by entering into a romantic relationship. She'd told Superman at the time she understood, in truth she was devastated by his decision.
Lois had not allowed Superman, or anyone else, to detect her disappointment. The daughter of General Sam Lane had learned well at his feet. She's been taught from a young age never to overtly express her sadness. Always maintain a hard exterior. Above all never let them see you cry, no matter if inside your heart is breaking.
"Your plot will fail. There is no way in hell you can defeat Superman, and you know it." Lois told Red X from her position tied to the base of an old smoke stack high atop the brownstone. "Why not give up now, make it easier for everyone involved."
"Please," Red X said waving his left hand dismissively, his voice smooth as silk. "I have a plan, an excellent one if I do say so myself."
"All the others also had plans, they failed. I highly doubt you'll prove the exception." Lois challenged.
"Silence or I'll be forced to physically shut your pretty mouth." Red X threatened.
"If your plan is so great why not tell me about it?" Lois said.
"Sure," Red X said following a brief pause. "It isn't like you can stop me." Red X picked a gun type device from his belt. Wedged in the middle of the contraption was a clear type filled with roiling liquid, pale yellow in color. "One shot of this experimental hypo-spray ol' blue boy is rendered powerless, for keeps."
Lois did her best to conceal her sense of growing horror. "You're bluffing." She declared a few moments later after regaining her composure.
"I assure you Ms. Lane. I must certainly am not." Red X said strapping the hypo-spray back on his belt.
"How did you come by such a, formula?" Lois asked her reporter's curiosity temporarily overcoming her revulsion. "I strongly doubt you made it yourself."
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Red X laughed. "Suffice to say my new boss is an individual of many diverse talents, truly a magnificent personage."
Lois strongly suspected she knew exactly who Red X's 'new boss' was, Superman's arch-nemesis and all around scumbag, billionaire Lex Luthor. Luthor had been usually quiet since his presidential debacle. How Luthor kept escaping justice time and again in spite of his many, many grievous crimes boggled Lois' mind. She often worded why Superman and his fellow superheroes put up with Luthor's continual schemes knowing by all rights the man should be buried six feet under Black Gate Prison, or some similar institution, by now.
"Ah my guest of honor at last arrives." Red X said noting the blur of red, blue & yellow that rocketed towards the rooftop.
"Wait," Lois yelled. "How do you plan on penetrating Superman's skin with that little thing?"
"Easy, by first weakening him with this little thing," Red X said briefly opening a compartment built into the middle of his belt. An eerie, green glow bathed Lois and Red X in sickly light. Realization instantly dawned on Lois, Kryptonite Red X possessed a small hunk of green kryptonite! "If you'll excuse me Ms. Lane I must take my leave, duty calls." Red X bowed at the waist then turned his attention towards Superman.
"I've got to get free." Lois thought struggling against her bounds. "I can't let this maniac bum-rush Superman armed with kryptonite and whatever else that stuff in the fancy syringe is."
"Hello Superman I was beginning to suspect you'd chickened out." Red X said stopping least than six feet in front of the man of steel, "which would have proved most unfortunate, especially for Ms. Lane's continued good health."
"If you've harmed one hair on her head I'll…." Superman said only to be cut off by Red X.
"She's fine. In all honesty I have no real interest in her. Your friend is merely bait. Once I finish with you, I'll release her. You have my word." Red X gestured at a point a dozen feet behind him where Lois remained imprisoned.
"What little that is worth." Superman snorted with distain. "I've talked with the Teen Titans. I know your MO you lack any concept of honor."
"It seems my reputation precedes me I'd be offended, if their allegations weren't true." Red X said closing the distance between himself and Superman. "Tell me Superman, mightiest of heroes, now do you want to die? Would you rather your demise be slow and painful or quick and dignified, or should I decide?"
"You're delusional." Superman scoffed. "I know full well what you're capable. You won't be taking me down today or any other day."
"Wrong," Red X said opening the secret compartment on his belt. "Like you, I always come prepared."
Winching under the green glow Superman fell to one knee. Red X took the opportunity delivering a vicious spin kick to Superman's head. In a blur of motion Red X followed up with a knee to Superman's stomach and twin chops to his shoulders. Superman was now on his hands and knees breathing heavily. Red X dropped a series of elbows into the small of Superman's back and one on his neck then delivered a punishing, flying right uppercut to Superman's jaw which cracked loudly. Blood flew from Superman's battered mouth. Red X hoisted Superman overhead slamming him down back first, breaking the stone roof while doing so.
"I'm disappointed," Red X said kneeling over the fallen, barely conscious superhero. "I was sincerely hoping the legendary Superman would provide a far greater challenge, live and learn." Red X shrugged removing the hypo-spray from his belt. "Soon you'll be just another puny mortal blue boy. How the mighty have fallen, bye bye Sups." Red X grabbed Superman's right arm roughly readying the hypo-spray. However before Red X could complete his nefarious plan something jumped on his back staggering the unsuspecting villain.
It was Lois Lane! She had escaped while Red X had been delivering his arrogant victory speech. Using his free, left hand Red X finally managed to shake Lois off him. Turning to face his latest, unexpected adversary Red X was shocked when Lois lunged forward. Lois gripped the hypo-spray tightly with both her hands refusing to let go.
"Release my hypo-spray stupid woman!" Red X demanded raising his voice for the first time that day.
"Never," Lois said defiantly. She then delivered a swift kick, her brown boot's thick heel cracking Red X's kryptonite fragment. The fragile crystalline substance pulsed erratically then shattered into a million pieces which soon crumbled into dust.
"Noooooooooooo!" Red X roared. "Damn you bitch!"
With his left hand Red X prepared to backhand Lois hard as her possibly could across her face. The force behind such a below would all but certainly kill your average human. Lois cringed knowing what was coming.
Four things occurred seemingly in slow motion. Superman, having recovered somewhat from kryptonite poisoning, intercepted Red X's outgoing left hand with his own right one. Red X turned towards Superman only to receive a left cross across his masked face. This caused Red X to stumble loosening his grip on the hypo-spray. Lois fell backwards landing on the roof's surface the glass tube within the hypo-spray breaking in her hands. Glass shards and sticky, yellow liquid covered her hands and drenched the front of her blouse.
"Yuck," Lois said sniffing her hands. She crinkled her nose in disgust the yellow liquid smelled awful. Lois struggled back to her feet wiping most of the strange yellow gunk off on her jeans. She absently noted her hands were cut in several places. Luckily the cuts appeared to be minor.
"Are you alright Ms. Lane?" Superman asked rubbing his rapidly healing jaw. He reached out offering a hand to help steady Lois. Taking his larger hand in her daintier one neither Lois nor Superman noticed a remaining splitter of glass which pricked Superman's palm. Drops of Superman's blood mingled with the substance still remaining on Lois' injured hand.
"I'm fine, thank you very much." Lois said somewhat bitterly. Superman had been calling her "Ms. Lane" for several months now, ever since she'd told him her feelings hadn't changed. Superman once gain made it clear he supposedly couldn't 'risk' having a normal relationship with anyone, best they remain friends. "What about Red X?"
"He'll be taken care of." Superman said thumbing at the incapacitated villain. "A nice warm cell in Arkham has his name on it."
"You should be aware he has a boss." Lois said.
"Really, why am I not surprised." Superman said rhetorically.
"That's where he got his kryptonite and hypo-spray." Lois explained. "Red X claimed the hypo-spray contained a serum which would permanently supress your powers."
"Interesting, where is the hypo-spray now?" Superman asked.
"It got broken during our struggled." Lois replied with a weak smiling. She pointed at the ruined device near her feet. Superman bent over gingerly picking up the pieces. "Be careful, it could be dangerous to you if Red X was being truthful." Lois advised.
"I'm sure Batman and Cyborg will have a field day analysing these remnants." Superman said carefully placing the demolished unit in a collection pouch on his yellow belt, his more functional belt being a recent gift from Batman. "Can I drop you anywhere Ms. Lane on my way to Gotham and then the Watch Tower?"
"Leave me at street level I'll be happy." Lois said wearily. Superman nodded.
Lois Lane's apartment, an hour later
Lois practically collapsed on her bed upon getting home. What a day it had been. She was exhausted. Usually Lois scanned Social Media for headlines while preparing supper, then ate, stream some TV then go to sleep late. Today however she could hardly keep her eyes open. All the way home should had felt out of sorts. Maybe she was getting sick? Great the last thing she needed was a case of the flu. Other than washing her hands, brushing her teeth and changing into pajamas Lois hadn't done a darn thing since stepping through her doorway. Screw it she thought. Considering what I've been through I deserve a little, scratch make that a lot of beauty sleep. Without another thought Lois slipped away into the peaceful embrace of slumber.
To Be Continued