K3josai8 note: Two-thirds of Scene II was written by me (the intro and ending), the middle part was made by barb1808.
Scene II: One Last Look
CLARK's POV
Minutes had passed since Lois left. I was still here – all alone on the top of the Daily Planet roof – wearing my office clothes. I kept repeating in my head that I made the right choice but my heart was telling me that it was the worst decision that I ever did in my entire life. For The Blur – the hero of Metropolis and the one they looked up to – that was the wisest thing to do, to turn my back on the one constant person who made my imperfect life complete. For Clark Kent – the mild manner reporter of Daily Planet – I needed her more than anything in this universe did, Lois was my everything and she would always be. A few minutes ago, I broke her heart. I expected her to say all the hurtful things by not keeping my promise to her. I was just another proof of a man who made promises that were bound to be broken. I wanted her to hurt me physically - slap me, punch me, beat me – she needed to release all the pain that I brought her. I wanted her to get mad at me and make me feel guilty all the time. Looking at her, pleading helplessly, though I said few words I knew how things changed and our world crashed and burned. I thought she was going to break down but I realized it wasn't her style. Locking all her emotions, she just smiled at me and never asked for further explanation. This was Lois. She was the one who understood unspoken truths. The only woman I loved and I would love more than forever. Tonight, I let her go. That was the toughest thing to do – my sacrifice. I should live with that. We were going to be fine. Definitely, we were going to be fine, soon… But everything was just a lie.
I replaced my suit in a second. Here I was, The Blur in his monotonous black attire. I opened my super hearing and carefully listened to any screams of help. I stood on the ledge and watched the stars up above and the city lights below the skyscrapers. I couldn't tell the difference. Keeping the world safe meant to keep Lois safe too and let her live without knowing the truth about me. I closed my fists, I leapt up, ready to fight for Earth's safety. But then I landed on one of the tallest buildings of Metropolis- my favorite place. This was from where I could see Lois freely. Unbeknownst to her, every night I was here keeping an eye on her. Tonight, it was going to end. There she was standing on the balcony of her apartment, shedding tears – nobody could even witness this but me. I was torn apart watching her vulnerable and defenseless, this wasn't the Lois that I knew – full of life and hope. It wasn't going to be as easy as I thought. I opened my voice modifier as I dialed her number.
When her cell phone rang, I saw Lois jumping in her chair.
I need a hero! I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night...
She hesitated a moment. I wish I knew what was going on in her mind in that second.
"Hello?" Lois' voice sounded raspy like she hadn't been talking for a while.
"Good evening, Miss Lane! How are you?" My voice was deep and warped as usual and I saw Lois shivering a little.
She took a deep breath before she answered with the brightest fake-smile she could manage,
"I'm fine."
I paused a second. I knew it wasn't true. Should I just accept her lie? I couldn't so I asked, "Are you sure?"
I heard Lois breathing in sharply. She dropped her shoulders and sighed. With my X-ray, I saw her eyes beginning to sparkle from unshed tears and her voice had a hint of drowning: "No. I'm not fine."
A sad smile crossed my face. I knew Lois. She never hid something from me when I talked to her as the Blur.
"What's wrong?"
Down in the balcony of her apartment, Lois took all her courage and opened her heart to me,
"You know I was dating my colleague and one of my best friends. We knew each other for years. First, I couldn't stand him. Then I began slowly to fall for him. I even thought he could be you – for a moment." Lois' words fell from her lips like a waterfall and hit me right in my heart. "When we were together I felt stronger and – safe. He drove me crazy – still does – and he made me smile."
I shrunk in my black coat. It hurt to hear her wrapping up the story of our relation in such short words. They reminded me of all the good times we had spent together. But I had to ask the next question, the Blur would have to ask it although Clark Kent in me didn't want to, "What happened?"
I couldn't hide a little rasping in my voice. Lois hesitated for a second but then she went on slowly: "He broke up with me. He said he was still in love with his former girlfriend from high school who disappeared a while ago. A part of me tells me that he's lying but he's not the kind of guy who lies right to your face, you know. I never thought he could break my heart like that. I guess the reason why he never told me that he loved me was because no one could replace her in his heart. Of course, I don't blame him. It's my fault. I expected more than what he could give to me."
The last sentence was barely a whisper but for me on the roof it was loud enough to echo in my heart.
"I'm sorry." Was all I managed to say. My tongue felt like glued to my palatine.
With a sob, Lois replied, "It's not your fault. I am sorry that I lay all that on you. It's just – I don't want my friends to know how bad I feel since they're all his friends as well. I can't even tell my cousin because she is his best friend. You know I bury myself in work and as long as I do so, I get through the day. But when you asked – I just couldn't lie to you."
Her words felt like knives stabbed into my heart.
What have I done?
She added, "Before, I was wondering what would happen if she came back. Will he choose her or me?" She paused for so long. It was too heartbreaking, I had to force myself not to sit down and tears blurred my vision. I switched off the X-ray. I couldn't see anything now anyway. But my hearing still followed Lois' heartbeat and her breathing reminded me of her presence on the phone.
I cleared my throat and whispered, "Close your eyes." She did so without asking any questions. In a blur, I enveloped her in an embrace. She buried her face in my chest while sobbing earnestly. She whispered, "Now, I know the answer."
I cried too when she said those words. In a world full of wrong choices, I made another mistake in my life. It was so painful that we had to separate our ways like this. I rubbed her back trying to give her comfort and be here with her as The Blur, as her friend. When her sobs subsided, she said thank you without looking up. She might be afraid that I would disappear once she saw my face. With the last strength that I had, I loosened my hold on her. She hesitated for a while; I could sense it the way she held me. Later on, her hands fell on her sides. This was the time, the final letting go on my part. I kissed the top of her head, and then I disappeared before she could even open her eyes.
