A/N - I'm stepping out of Chlex phase briefly to resurrect some of my old CLOIS fluff. Written a long time ago...I have tried to clean it up a little. Please r/r.

Title: City Woman...Country Boy

Rating: PG

Pairings: CLOIS; Lois/Superman

Time Frame: Future Fic of about 5 years out of Smallville

Synopsis: Clark doesn't get the job at the Daily Planet but still becomes Superman and a famous writer in his own right. What happens when he bumps heads with Lois Lane. There is a bit of OOC for Clark; let's just say he's grown up a little and Lana was nothing more than a crush in high school.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the rights to the characters from either Smallville or Lois and Clark – The New Adventures of Superman; Warner Bros and DC Comics have those rights, but I borrow them for entertainment.

First Day on the Job - Chapter 1

Leaning against the post on the front porch, he looked out on the waves of grasses that blew in the distance. 'The only home that I've ever known' he thought. He knew that he wasn't from Smallville, not even from Earth, but had enjoyed growing up there, in the safe hands of Martha and Jonathan.

"You ready son?" Martha put her hand on Clark's shoulder. Clark looked back behind him and smiled.

"I'm ready when you are." Clark walked down the porch steps and got into the truck. He usually didn't ride but wanted to spend the time with mother. He saw Martha put the last of his bags into the back and got in. They were off.

"Have you got a job offering yet?"

"No, mom, I'm hoping that when they see my work that they'll be banging down my door. Otherwise, this is going to be a short trip."

"Honey, you know the real reason you're going there is not for a paper. Besides, I am already proud of you." Martha turned around and smiled at her son, "You'll do well, I know."

"I know and I'll always have you to come home to." Knowing the day would be a long one, they rode the rest of the way in relative quiet.

"Here we are Mr. Kent. Hope it is to your liking." The apartment manager opened the door to the apartment and handed Clark the keys. The Kents entered the apartment and walked down the steps. Empty. Bare.

"I'll start unloading," Clark stated as he walked around the main room. Martha had brought her cleaning supplies with her the first trip so she already started cleaning. The beauty of it was that the kitchen was fully equipped and the place had built-in shelves. Besides Clark needed nothing fancy. The two worked through the weekend moving in and getting settled. At night, they would talk about his new identity and Superman. Deep inside, Clark cringed every time he glanced at the ridiculous Superman outfit that he would have to wear, but he figured it was the price he paid for helping the Earth.

"I hate to see you go," Clark hugged his mom and smiled.

"Son, you'll be fine - succeed at whatever you do. Come visit whenever you need to." Martha hugged her son again and walked out. Clark stood in the doorway of his apartment alone for the first time.


"Lois, where is that article on the computer hacker job? You said that you would have it hours ago." Lois ran across the newsroom into Perr's office and slammed the door.

"I got new information right before I finished - I had to change it or it would have been wrong. Anyway, you could get some more runners out here. I've lost I don't know how many pairs of shoes this week." She handed him the article.

"This is good. Point well taken." Lois shook her head at the work-a-holic editor and left the office.

"Who does he think he is?" Jimmy walked by and put something on Lois' desk. He patted her on the back and pointed at the elevator. "New recruit? Kind of old for a mail runner, huh?" Lois just waved at him and didn't look up.

"I'm looking for Perry White's office." She first noticed his aftershave. With pen in mouth, she pointed across the way from her. "Thanks," he said back coldly. Looking up finally, she thought, 'Good butt.' Clark Kent entered Perry's office.

"Mr. White, I'm Clark Kent and I have..."

"We have a runner and mail room openings - that's it."

"But I'm a reporter. I write - not run."

"Look son, that's nice but I have the reporters I want ...trained to be what I want. Now, we can start you out lower but that's the best I can do."

"Thanks anyway..." Clark proceeded out the door. He looked at the lady he had talked to earlier. She flashed him a 'Aaww, too bad' look, and he grimly smiled at her. She watched him go out the elevator and then out of the Planet below. Little did she know that they would meet again very soon. Clark continued his quest with a quick walk to the smaller city paper. Maybe he shot too high for his first job. He walked into a small office - Metropolis Herald - printed on the door. A lady in a short red dress sat at the large desk at the back of the room.

KNOCK

"Are you the editor?"

The lady stood up and walked over. She closed the door behind him. "Yes, Marilyn Jones, trying to keep this little paper afloat. Can I help you?"

Sitting down, "I'm looking to write...serious news. I wrote for little papers back home. Here's a copy ..." Clark put the yellow envelope on the desk.

"You're hired - if you will join me for dinner." She sat on the corner of her desk with her legs crossed seductively.

Clark was put aback by being put through such a thing.

"I guess I could. When can I start?"

"Get out there now...goodness knows that we could use a real writer..." She pushed him out the door. Yelling out the door, "Instead of these college ingrates." She grabbed his collar, "See you here - at 7."

Clark found an empty desk and settled in. He heard a cry for help and slipped out the door. The small office was easy to get away from. He went into the alley and flew off as Superman for the first time.

He flew by and saw the burning building. 'People first' he thought as he x-rayed the building. He went and pulled the three people out of the building. When he got back to the ground and put out the fire, reporters were everywhere. He was on TV. 'Now understand the disguise, not much of one.'

"Who are you?"

"Call me - Superman. I have come from another world." Getting nervous about saying too much, he tried to excuse himself. But what he saw made him stop - that lady - was here. He couldn't forget her.

"Excuse me, but you can't say anymore than that. Will you stay here or move on? Are you the only one? What powers do you have?" She kept pressing him - 'who does this lady think she is' he thought.

"I really need to go now miss. I have another obligation." And Superman flew off, leaving her in his wind.

"Lois, did you get it?" Jimmy ran over after shooting pictures of his leaving.

"No, nothing - he's Superman - that's it." They rode back to the Planet where she wrote up what she could for the paper. 'Pathetic little story - need to get an interview,' she thought as she readied herself to leave for the day.

"Ms. Jones, I got an exclusive with Superman. The Planet doesn't even have it." Clark handed her the piece that he had written on the fire. He felt bad for the lady there but really wanted to impress his boss.

"Its Marilyn and this is good. I'll read it right now and turn it in to be printed into tomorrow's edition. Shall we be going?" Clark went and got his coat, thinking of it as a business dinner. Instead, Marilyn had them booked at a fancy restaurant where each table was at least 10 feet apart.

"So, Clark how did you get this story on Superman."

"Sort of knew him from before..."

"Well, Perry will knocking on our door tomorrow. What will you tell him?"

"I'm staying with you - he did everything but slam the door in my face. And that woman reporter - she was real smug." Clark felt that adding that would impress Marilyn but he really wanted to get to know that lady.

"Well, I'm glad you're staying with me. It will help the paper a lot." They continued to talk about the paper through dinner. Clark walked Marilyn home.

"Clark, you're a nice guy. You know, I've never really dated a nice man before. Do you want to come up for a night cap?" Clark looked at her and then at his watch.

"Better not...It's real late," He actually was thinking of the accident across town.

"I'll see you tomorrow then." and Marilyn went inside. Clark went into the alley and arrived as Superman seconds later. He pulled the door off of the car and pulled the person trapped out. He could tell the person would be alright and emergency crews were there by then. Superman started taking off and heard, "Wait!" Superman looked down at the street where the lady stood in a tiny blue dress. He floated back down.

"Superman. We need to talk. I'm Lois Lane from the Daily Planet. I've been waiting for an interview from you. Could you spare a few moments?"

"I have some time - where did you want to go?"

"Where?" Lois looked puzzled.

"How about your place?" He picked her up and started to her apartment. They landed softly in front of her building.

"Why did you want to come here?"

"I thought you would want to come home. You didn't disagree." He smiled at her as she opened her door. She smelled so good, but why did she have to be so coarse to her.

"Come in, you want something to..." She stopped, wondering if he even needed to eat or drink.

"Water would be fine," He walked into the kitchen behind her. She poured some in a glass and turned around right into him. Blushing, she apologized. Superman just smiled. "Could you open the window, just in case - you know." He went to sit down.

Lois caught herself staring at him, "Oh yeah - sure - have a seat - you're already sitting. So what can you tell me about yourself?" They sat and talked for several hours minus some interruptions. Even during his duties, he never got her out of his mind. Lois too- thought about how wonderful he was - Superman was with her - how good could it get?

Returning after a long pause, "I really need to get going Lois. This has been nice. I'd like to do this again." He touched her face.

"Me too - anytime." Lois started to melt. She couldn't remember much after that but swore he kissed her.