A/N: Hey, here is chapter 2. Chapter 3 might take a while, but hey, what's 3 more months? Ha. JK. I will do my best. Thank you, Loyals.


Masquerade At High Noon – Chapter 2

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It started to seem so long, that Clark Kent had wondered exactly why they were there in the first place. Then he remembered that it was thanks to Oliver Queen. He frowned and vowed to someday return the favor.

Cars were agonizingly slow. At least, that's what Clark was thinking as he heaved a long, loud sigh. He didn't have to worry about Lois hearing him thanks to one of Whitesnake's many power ballads reverberating through the cab.

They were driving through the outskirts of Metropolis now, headed for Oliver's penthouse apartment, where the soiree was taking place. How he was going to fit all the people he was supposedly inviting into his apartment was beyond Lois. And how they could be expected to dance, she hardly knew. She shrugged. Whatever, I'm sure Ollie's got it covered. Not that I want to dance. I don't... not really. Lois bit her lip, a habit that she only broke out when she was under heavy stress, and stole a glance in Clark's direction. Well... maybe.

During the trip into Metropolis, Clark and Lois had barely said a word. There had been a few moments of pointless bickering when Lois had suggested Clark play some music. All he could find rummaging through the glove box were Whitesnake albums. He had argued that there were other existing bands out there and that Lois should try more variety, but she deflected his easy blow with an absurdly defiant look.

"Oh yeah, Smallville?" She jeered. "What about all your lame, farm-y tunes?"

"What are you talking about, Lois? I don't listen to farm-y music, whatever that make-believe genre may include," Clark laughed before putting one of her cd's into the car stereo.

She flashed a tight, annoyed smile, as though she had won the argument. "Thank you," she said tersely and flicked her hair out of her eyes before turning the volume dial up twenty percent.

Clark sat back in the cushioned upholstery and watched, amused, as Lois began moving her entire upper body to the beat of the song. Pretty soon, she was singing along to Here I Go Again with David Cloverdale.

This went on for the next half hour, Lois singing and Clark smirking and coming up with ways he could have gotten out of the situation before.

Now, the stereo was on the album's final track, and Lois was close to losing her voice. She turned the volume down slightly and focused on the road. The sign they'd recently passed by had indicated they were only eight miles out of the city.

The song ended and the silence that followed was hard to ignore. Clark shifted in his seat and Lois kept her eyes trained on the road, both realizing for the first time just how awkward the situation should be. Why were they going to a costume party? And why together? They weren't a couple. Were they?

Clark shook off those alarmingly confusing thoughts and turned to look at Lois. He wondered if it was difficult for her to work the peddles under all that flouncy fabric.

Lois shot another glance towards Clark and became aware that he was staring again. Finally, she subtly broke the silence by clearing her throat.

"So...," she began. "Talked to your Mom lately?" She inquired, still watching the asphalt whiz by under the car's high-beams. As close to Martha Kent as she was, Lois knew that Clark usually received more regular updates. And she was keen on learning when the next "big visit" would be.

"Yeah, uh..." Clark recalled the conversation he shared with his mother the day before last. "She's good. She's says hi. Being the state senator sure keeps her busy, but soon she'll have a week off to come visit me." He emphasized the last word with a cheeky smirk directed at Lois, who rolled her eyes.

"You're so full of it, Smallville," Lois shook her head. "I know for a fact that the Senator wants to see me just as much as she does you, as precious as you may be."

Clark chuckled. "Of course she does! You're like the daughter she never had."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?" Lois frowned jokingly.

The corners of Clark's mouth curled upwards. "You know what I mean, Lois." He saw his friend smile softly under the flashing lights that illuminated the car's interior in intervals. "Besides, I thought you and my mom talked to each other almost daily these days, huh?"

The army brat shrugged her shoulders, which strained her torso under the faux-corset she wore. "Well, you know. Sometimes you get busy... with work and stuff." Lois cursed silently as soon as she uttered the words. Work? That was a whole can of worms that she did not want to open... not right now. But it was too late, and she winced when Clark replied.

Clark cocked an eyebrow. Work? "What about work?"