Breakfast was a strange affair that morning to say the least. Both Lois and Clark were so caught up with their plans for the evening that they did not notice each others distraction.
Lois knew she had to pull out all the stops for tonight. Good planning was crucial. Should she go for slow torturous tease act or just jump him. Then she had an idea – she needed to go to the Talon to grab something out of her closet and then rang Paddy's Adult Party Supply shop in Metropolis to ask if they had what she needed. They did so she excused herself and said she had to head into town early to run some errands.
Clark did not inquire any further as he had his own things to sort. He had someone to see.
Luckily today Oliver was at work earlier than normal. He seemed to have calmed down after his latest manic party phase. Recently Oliver was lucky to see daylight with the all- nighters he had been pulling . Clark was unsure what sort of the welcome he would receive. He knew Oliver still held a torch for Lois and things had been a little strained between them.
Whatever was going on between them personally, things had been better on the superhero front. Oliver had taken up to putting on his Green Arrow costume, although not as much as before. The Blur and Green Arrow often ran into one another on roof tops and had an understanding to work together when needed.
As Clark entered the bright modern office, he noticed Oliver was on the phone. Oliver smiled and directed him to sit down on the sofa at the other side of the office. As soon as Oliver went up, he headed over to Clark.
"Can I get you a cocktail" he asked cordially, heading to the cabinet to get one for himself.
"No, thanks it is a bit early for me" Clark replied, disappointed that Oliver still felt the need to drink.
Oliver realized the misunderstanding. "Kiwi and strawberry cocktail, strictly of the non-alcoholic free variety"
Clark smiled, "I was worried for a minute then."
"To what do I owe this pleasure anyway Clark. I didn't think I was top of your Christmas card list any more"
"That is not how I want it to be. I wish we could be friends like we were before all this blew up..."
Oliver interrupted, "By 'all this' I assume you mean Lois. Man, I can't say I wasn't angry and rejected when Lois told me she was in love with you."
Clark gulped, "Lois told you that she was in love with me."
"Well not in those precise terms but she has implied that on more than one occasion. The first time being after Lana arrived at Chloe's wedding"
Clark said " Well we all know how that turned out."
Feeling a little guilty, Oliver admitted, "Well if it hadn't been for me, you and Lois would have been together long before now. I was the one who told Lana she should attend."
"What, how, why..." Clark looked shock.
"It is a long story I think we should save for another time, but if I could go back and change things I wouldn't have told her to come back."
"Ok, well getting back to the matter in hand. Lois and I are having problems" Clark admitted
"No way, not you two. Even I can see you two are made for each other. What is the problem?" Oilver inquired.
"It is the same old story that a relationship with Lois is incompatible with having a secret life as a superhero. You should know all about that"
"Sure do..." Oliver smiled
"Anyway to cut a long story short I have decided to tell her tonight about the whole caboodle." Clark told him, expecting to hear Oliver try to talk him out of it
"Good move" Oliver suggested "It was my insistence to hide my Green Arrow identity from Lois and when she finally found out, I realised she would have accepted it, but it was too late."
"So where do I come in?" he asked.
"The problem is whenever I try to talk to Lois or have some 'time ' with Lois" I get a distress call and have to run off. Lois is not stupid and is starting to get suspicious. I really need some time off tonight to talk to her, without distractions. Is there any chance you could do a nightshift tonight as your alter ego?"
Oliver laughed, " You want me to cover your shift, basically. Yes of course I will, and to make things a bit easier, Bart is in town so I will draft him in to."
"That's great Oliver, I owe you one"
"No you don't, you have done plenty for me already in the past few months including stealing my girlfriend." He said seriously, before breaking out into a laugh.
Lois took one look, and thought what the hell am I doing here. She turned round and was about to hightail it out of there, but then thought, 'drastic times call for drastic measures'
In front of her was the sleaziest looking store she had ever come across. Luckily she knew what it was called because half the letters were missing from the frontage and the neon lights were flickering on and off. She had never been to this part of town even for a story and based on what she was seeing would not come again.
Just as she was about to open the door, it opened and out came a man with dark glasses looking very shifty, carrying a paper bag. She wouldn't have give him a second look if he hadn't have muttered a few words.
"Commissioner Wilson, fancy seeing you here, didn't recognise you at first. You look different out of your police uniform", smirked Lois.
He muttered something else she couldn't quite make out and staggered off. Fancy the chief of police being a customer of Paddy's Store, she thought to herself. Anyway back to the matter in hand - her mission to seduce Clark
The contents of the shop was like nothing she had ever seen. She could not help but look, wondering what some of the things were for, especially the ones with spikes. She shuffled across to the desk, trying to keep her wig in place. She did not want to be seen in such a place under any circumstances.
There was a big, burly man at the desk who looked like he had not seen a bath in a year. He was sweating profusely , leaving marks on his already stained tee. The smell was rank and almost made Lois wretch the contents of her stomach. She composed herself took a deep breath and stepped up
to the counter.
She whispered "Hi, I'm Mandy. I called this morning about the ..."
Before she had a chance the man interrupted "you're the one that called about one of our special numbers. You forgot to tell me if you needed a small, medium or large one"
She had never been so embarrassed but managed to squeak "a large one please".
He went out the back and got one. It looked a bit complicated to use. The man could tell she was confused so he took the contents out of the box and said "You just attach this bit, and turn the screws till it tightens."
"Oh, I see" She said even though she did not have a clue what he was talking about. She just wanted to get out asap.
"Do you need lubrication with that, makes for a much better experience or so I've been told" the man asked
"Ok then" said Lois
She paid cash and hurried out the shop. Clark had no idea of what was in store for him tonight...
Clark was running late for work even with his superspeed. He never expected to be spending that much time chatting to Oliver. He was so glad that his friendship with Ollie was getting back on track.
He arrived at the Daily Planet building thirty minutes late, not that he was worried about getting wrong off Tess. She seemed to give him a wide berth these days, preoccupied with other matters.
The worry he had was the Spanish Inquisition he would no doubted face from his girlfriend about why he was late. All of a sudden a flash of him tied to a chair with Lois dressed in some very questionable leather gear interrogating him leapt into his mind. Control yourself Clark, he told himself.
Lois got lost on her way back from Paddy's, showing how rarely she was in that part of town. The object she had bought was raising some questionable stares from people. She decided she would have to leave it at Oliver's office otherwise Clark would ask what it was.
"Ollie" She said, marching into his office.
"Good morning to you to Lois"
"Ollie, I need a favour today, just a small one"
He replied. "What have I got on my head today – a sign saying 'get favours here.'"
Lois retorted "What is that supposed to mean Ollie. I just want to leave this package here"
Ollie was intrigued by her edginess and decided to delve a little deeper. "I will Lois, but on one condition, you tell me what it is"
Lois replied "That is none of your business"
Oliver smiled " Well I happen to think otherwise. After not seeing you for weeks, you storm in here looking as though you are hiding something, then ask me to keep a package for you. I want to know what is in the package. That is the deal, either take it or leave it"
She gave one of her mega Lois sighs, and said "Look Ollie, I haven't got time to argue. Just a quick peek, and if you breathe a word of this to Clark I swear I will take you down"
Oliver smirked "Well if I didn't want to see it before I do now."
Lois opened the end of the parcel and showed him the contents. Unfortunately Oliver was having a drink just as he saw the contents and ended up spitting his coffee halfway across the room.
"What the hell is that for... Never pegged you for that type of girl, or Clark liking that type of funny business"
Lois repeated. "Just keep the package and your mouth closed. I will be back at four ish to pick it up."
"Whatever you say. All I can say is that you obviously love Clark, if he gets this kind of treatment."
Lois rushed out of Olivers and ran back to the Planet. She was 45 mins late when she took her seat opposite Clark. He barely looked up, just saying hi and giving her a brief loving glimpse.
Clark took a relieved breath. Thank god she has not questioned me.
For the rest of the day, they seemed to avoid each other. Lois had a press briefing down town whilst Clark had a one on one interview with the curator of the new exhibition at Metropolis Natural History Museum.
By 3.30pm, Lois was getting wormy in her chair. Clark looked up and asked her what was wrong.
"Clark, the thing is I want to get the flat ready for Chloe getting back tomorrow. Would you mind if I head off early."
"Good plan Lois, give me a few mins to finish up here and I will come back and help you."
Lois had to do some quick thinking. "Clark would you mind going to the Dry Cleaners to pick my suit up. It won't ready til after 5pm."
"Anything for you, sweetie." He said with a laugh.
"Thanks Clark, will repay you later" She said with a naughty smile.
"Hope so"
'Oh Clarkie boy, you have no idea...' she thought to herself
Clark could not work out what was going on. He had gone to Dry Cleaners to pick up the suit, but there was no suit to pick up, in fact they had no record of a visit from Lois for over a month.
What the hell is going on, he asked himself, why had Lois lied
He pulled up the Farm's driveway in his truck. That's odd, he thought, there were no lights on in the Farmhouse. He would have thought Lois would be back by now. It was only a small flat at the Talon
His thoughts were interrupted by a text message alert on his cell. It was from Lois, no doubt telling him where she was. He always liked to know where she was, as she seemed to be attracted to dangerous and perilous situations. He opened the message and read it:
Clark, please get out of the car, come in the farmhouse, some of the furniture has been moved, so take care. There will be a chair as you come in the sitting room, sit in it, shut up and enjoy...
PS Do not even attempt to switch the lights on
As Clark read the message he thought ' What the hell..."
