Note: i don't own anything but the story.

n/a: this story center around Lois and Clark. there are other characters. the only thing u should know and can't understood from the story is that Chloe doesn't know Clark secret.
read, enjoy (or not) and review. 10X

Lois stood in a neglected street in the even more neglected part of Hob's Bay and watch a dilapidated building. Skinny cat that its ribs were sticking out chewed a rotten rat on one of the garbage cans. Rude graffiti covered the walls and the door of the building. She looked in the note that Chloe gave her, checking the address again. Yeah, that's the street and that's the building although the number had long been stolen and the sign that declare that this building is going to be demolish swing on one nail. Children sat on the stairs leading to the building smoking cigarettes with eyes that saw too much.

Lois took a breath, squared her shoulders and marched with determination toward the building. The eyes of the children followed her. The lock on the door was broken and she had to use force to open the door. The elevator doors were open but the elevator was stuck in middle floor and full with garbage. Lois climbed carefully on the shaky stairs.

"After his parents died and Lexcorp bought the farm, he finished high school and disappeared for few years." Chloe told her, "And when he came back he just moved there. I run in to him when I went to Met-U. He gave me his address reluctantly."
"Was he ashamed?"
"No. He just didn't want to keep in touch. I really don't understand why it is so important for you to see him."

Lois got to the fifth floor, the top floor, of the building. Loud yelling came from one of the apartments; a kid cried from another one and from a third came noise from noisy TV. She found his door, the only one that wasn't locked, even open. Lois push the door and it opened with difficulty, with a squeak. It was very small very clean apartment. One room with a kitchenette and a narrow door to the restroom. There was only one narrow bed, one chair and a table with a few books. Lois tried to turn on the light but nothing happened, there wasn't power. The place was very cold.

"He gave up his scholarship. I never understood why." Lana told her while she put her baby in the car seat. "Pete tried to keep in touch with him but he just lost something that day. He wasn't himself anymore. After he yelled at me to leave him alone I decided to stop trying. He can ruin his life for all I care."

There was only one picture on the wall, without a frame, of his parents. There was a window and someone tried to clean it but the glass was damage from the elements and nothing could've changed that. There was barely any food in the cabinets. Lois opened the small closet. The few cloths in there were very neat, grey t-shirts and dark jeans. She close the closet and looked around. She could see him un this apartment, sitting on the chair, reading his books, passing days without talking to anyone.

The door hinges squeaked and Lois turn around. A tall bearded somber man stood in the door. She almost didn't recognize the young smiling man that saved her from drowning many years ago.

"Clark…" she whispered, voice choked with tears.

"Lois? What are you doing here?" His voice rough like he didn't use it for a long time.

"I came to take you for coffee."

"I don't drink coffee." He straightened, crossed his arms and looked down at her, all of him tells her 'go away and leave me alone' but Lois wasn't going to give up so easy.

"You don't have to drink but I'm taking you to a coffee."

"Lois, I…"

"Come on, let's go." She took his hand and pulled him outside, down the stairs and in to the street. "Grey was never your color."

"Lois, I don't want to reminisce."

"Maybe but I do so march on!"

They walked for fifteen minutes all the while Lois refuses to release his hand from hers and pulling him away from Hob's Bay. They were about to cross the 10th avenue and leaves Hob's Bay to the better parts of Metropolis when Clark planted his feet in the sidewalk and refused to move.

"Where are you taking me? We passed at least ten coffee shops already."

"Just over there, across the street, to 'Metro Café'."

Clark reluctantly agreed to be drug across the street. Lois sat him on one of the chair and ordered two cups of coffee.

"I don't drink coffee, Lois."

"How said it's for you?"

"Lois, what do you want from me? I'm not hurting anyone, I live my life." Lois raised an eyebrow.

"I need your help."

"The general's daughter needs my help. Yeah, right!"

"I need to go to Gotham City and I need back up."

"Since when do you need back up? And why me?"

"I want to work in the Daily Planet as a reporter and my story leads to Gotham City."

"Gotham is dangerous, Lois."

"That's why you're coming with me."

"Why me?"

"I was in Smallville for only short time and you mange to save my life a many times?"

"I'm no hero, Lois, I can hardly get up in the morning."

"I saw your apartment, I'm not surprise." He didn't respond. "For me you are a hero, Clark, no one else would've found me in those tunnels in time; no one else would've tried to prove my innocent so hard."

"They found another reason to expel you…"

"Yeah, well. And then the general sent me to find Lucy. That why I wasn't around when…" Clark stiffened. "When that happened. I'm sorry, Clark, it shouldn't happened."

"Well, it did happen and I don't want to think about that."

"Clark, please, come with me to Gotham."

"You're better off without me." He got up and turn to leave.

"They find some strange stone, from the caves." Clark froze, "They say that it cause a serious mess." He turned to her.

"They say?"

"Yea. It's a rumor. Patricia Swann, Dr. Swann, told me that her father studied those symbols all his life. She thinks that Lionel Luther killed him." Clark returned to his seat.

"How do you know Patricia Swann?" Lois sipped from her coffee and looked at him.

"My father introduced us. Patricia told me that about the stone, and how it surfaced in Gotham."

"What kind of mess one ancient stone can create?"

"She said that one criminal claimed that somehow he transferred to another body. He tried to used it as a defense and the judge sent him to observation. From what I gathered he is still in Arkham."

"It sounds like your kind of troubles. It's not for me, Lois." He stood up.

"Clark…"

"Good bye, Lois." He leaned suddenly and kissed her on her cheek and then he left. Lois stayed in the coffee shop her hand on her cheek.

sorry about the mess. i hope it's more readable now.

tbc