Chapter 7

Lois had a date tonight. She was nervous, and confused by it. On the one hand she didn't know what to do please a husband who she barely knew, on the other hand it was her first date in ages, and on top of that it was with the perfect guy.

She didn't even saw the guy all day. She woke up this morning and headed to the kitchen. He made breakfast and left a note letting her know that he'd be back on time for their date.

Lois spent the whole afternoon trying out clothes. Yellow, blue, red, green dresses, suits, even a female version of the Superman costume. It would help if Clark had told her where they would go. But nothing.

She decided to take a shower and then picking up a dress. After a long and relaxing shower, she left the bathroom and was surprised by what she found on bed. It was navy bodycon dress with lace applique shoulder and v-neckline, the fabric was smooth and the cut was perfect for her shaped legs.

Lois, still wrapped in a towel, headed to the living room. She stopped in her tracks at the sight before her. There was Clark in dapper suit and glasses, standing tall and handsome. She still had to understand the use of glasses as his disguise, but so far it hadn't diminished his superman-ness in her eyes.

Clark's eyes were still fixed on Lois. Her body wrapped in a towel reminded him of simple times when she'd just drop the towel and he'd take her to the bedroom - or just the nearest wall - and make love to her, time and time again. For now, the image of her body staying the same way he last saw it would be enough.

She cleared her throat. "What happened to the 'I will try to win Brenda's heart instead of Lois's?'"

Clark gulped. "You wanted to buy this dress before what happened to you. From what I saw of your clothes, your wardrobe didn't change that much. And I thought the dress was beautiful enough -"

"It is beautiful. The problem in it is the fact you know my size, buying stuffs for me. It's not exactly a first date thing."

"I crossed a line, I get it." He put his hands in his pockets. "You can pick any dress you want, I won't resent you, I swear."

"No need, I'll use the one you brought. Only because I really liked it."

He smiled.

-º-

Clark helped Lois to get out of the car. "Have I told you look stunning?"

"Third time already." The dress fit Lois's body perfectly, combined with a black high heel sandal. Her long loose waves hair over her right shoulder. "Not that I mind," she grinned.

They entered the restaurant, quickly being led to their table. It was the first time Lois realized how Clark softened around strangers.

"Wow. This place is gorgeous, how did you managed to reserve this table in such a short time?"

"The owner is a big fan of Superman since he saved this place from being stole a couple of times. Inviting a close friend of Superman, you, was a way of the owner to show gratitute. You accepted it, as long as we pay our own bill."

"You speak of yourself in third person. How this works?"

"It wasn't easy at first. I had to create this whole new Clark Kent in order to protect both my identities. Pretending to be someone I'm not isn't a easy thing, but it's one of those situations where the end justify the means."

"But how does it work, how people is fooled by it?"

"I work from the presumption that Superman hasn't a secret identity. Then, I downplay my Clark Kent persona, making him this forgettable and common dude who people might be aware of but isn't hugely excited about."

"How Lois... I took it? Like seriously, the star reporter married to the loser guy from the office?"

He smiled. "Being you. Bossing me around, making jokes of me, and at the same time very protective of me from the mean commentaries." He continued. "People like to say that you settled for me because you couldn't have Superman, but then you know better. It's actually one of the things that turned you on."

She blushed.

Clark called the waiter. While he ordered his usual meat and orange juice, Lois chose a vegan food accompanied by water. He was about to comment on her out of character choices but thought better.

"So 'Brenda,' tell me more about you. What you like, your hobbies, your job."

"Oh, there's not much to tell. I'm single -" She smirked.

"Not for long," he said calmly.

She ignored his remark. "Let me see. I was cheerleader in high school, and before I landed in my job I always dreamed of modeling. I like to hear jazz and R&B. And sometimes I play tennis."

"That's great," he lied. So different from Lois. Brenda's preferences were fine, something that could attract any guy, including him, it just didn't excite him anymore. Teasing Lois while she heard her hair metal or when she lost a game in Guitar Hero was two of his favorite things in their relationship.

"What about you? What do you like?"

"Seeing people smile knowing their lives are safe. The adrenaline rush from my job as reporter. Waking up next to you. Flying. Flying with you."

"Flying is good, from the little I got to experiment."

"It's great. I'm gonna fly you again some other time. You'll see."

She smiled and nodded.

-º-

Clark watched Lois as she ate her food. She caught him on it.

"So, do you see yourself ever loving another woman besides Lois?"

"Who's asking, Lois or Brenda?"

"Brenda."

"Why choose a bicycle when I have a Harley?"

Lois sighed. "Let me guess, another one of my weird analogues."

"Would it be okay if I quote another woman?"

"Touché." She paused. "Saying you're not gonna love other woman besides your deceased wife to your new date isn't a good thing, though."

"Same Harley, different model," he winked at her.

She leaned in. "Tell me about your former girlfriends."

"What?"

"I think this situation is way too easy for you. See, I have no other potential boyfriend in sight, and you so far seem to be the perfect husband that every woman dreams. My work requires me that I hire people, examine them, their potential and what they have to offer to my company." She showed a confident smile. "So here's the thing. We made a deal that I'd let you to conquer me. Now I offer you a challenge, I want to know if we're indeed perfect for each other as you say. Your flaws, what's missing in our relationship."

Clark rolled his eyes. "There was Alicia, who I dated briefly two times. She died during the second time."

"I'm sorry," she said sincerely.

"That's okay." He continued. "There was also Lana who I had an on and off relationship for years."

"Sound serious. What happened?"

"She implemented on her a suit that gave her powers. It ended up backfiring our relationship."

"How?"

Clark sighed. "I'm weakened by a green rock originated from my home planet named Kryptonite. Her power suit absorved the radiation generated by it."

"Ahh, star-crossed lovers."

"She doesn't have it anymore."

"Then there's still a chance for you two."

Clark angered. "What's your point, again?"

"Well, that's the advantage of not being in love with someone. I can hear you talking about your ex girlfriends and point out someone who might suit you better than me. I'm being practical."

"Sounds to me you're scared." He took his cellphone from his pocket and offered it to her. "Look, if you want a third opinion on this matter, here is Lana's number. I'm sure she'll tell you how amazing we are." She shook her head. "The rings you're wearing on your left hand is proof enough who I chose, who I love. And for the record, your denial is something Lois would do, which makes me want you even more."

Lois still showed confidence. "I was just getting started. The big guns are about to come."

"I'm bulletproof. Shoot it."

"Tell me about my ex boyfriends."

Clark sighed as Lois grinned. "There was Wes, A -"

"Nooo. I want details, face and body. I want to know what I lost."

"Seriously?"

She nodded.

"Wes Keenan was an raven-haired army soldier. He was your first kiss, your first crush, but nothing really serious out of that. He died years ago. Steve Trevor was also an army soldier, he... hmm, is blonde and is dating Diana a.k.a. Wonder Woman for a few years now. AC... erm... hmm... I'm not really comfortable with it."

"C'mon, I need to fill the blank. Looks like I had a type, strong and heroic men."

He grunted. "You dated Aquaman for like a day. You can search his pictures all you want on the internet. You already know Oliver. And there was Grant -"

"I dated my cousin's husband?"

"More like she married your ex boyfriend."

"And I was okay with it?"

"You had me. You were happy, you wanted your cousin and your friend happy, too."

"Hmm." She made a gesture for him to continue.

"Your last boyfriend before me was Grant Gabriel, he was the editor of the Daily Planet that hired you. He had brown hair and was kind of skinny, as far as I remember. He died a few days later after you two broke up."

"Wow. We had so many loss in our lives."

He put his hand over hers. "None compared to when I lost you." He looked deeply in her eyes. "I won't press you to be with me. You can take all the time you need. Seeing you again, hearing your voice, touching you even if it's just your hand is already miles better than the hellish three months I lived without you."

She thought about pulling back her hand from his hold, but stayed that way with him until he pulled his hand back.

-º-

They spent the rest of the night chatting. Lucky for Clark, Lois gave up on her challenge and just enjoyed the dinner and his stories.

Clark alterned between his stories as Superman and their adventures as a couple. She was enchanted to hear about the white rose petals proposal, their traveling to space and multiverse. She laughed when he told her about the time they went to a fantasy party as Batman and Nightwing. She felt proud when he told her about the help he gave to homeless families to find new homes and jobs.

The night ended with both of them smiling from ear to ear. They soon reached their apartment.

"This was fun," Lois said.

"Uh-hu," he agreed.

They reached the door of her bedroom. "Thanks... 'Smallville.'"

He smiled at the use of the nickname and leaned in for a kiss. She stepped back. When he was turning to leave, she took his face and landed a kiss on his lips. He quickly responded to it, pressing her body tightly to his with one of his hand, while the other one grabbed her head, his fingers through her hair. His tongue found hers and his warm lips brushed hers. It was sweetand at the same time passionate. Clark tried to express how much he missed her in these three months with this action.

Lois wanted more, needed more, but she hadn't the courage to do it yet. So she pulled back.

She gulped. "Uhm... err... Good night."

Clark was still in awe. "Good night." With that she entered her room and locked the door.

He headed to his room, former guest room. His mind was still on the kiss, his lips didn't stop the smile he was showing not for a second. He was a happy man tonight, confident in the brighter future in sight.

-º-

Tess had spent all day searching for the mysterious voice. She managed to fix the audio in the recorder but was unable to identify it via Clark's records.

She tried to connect Brenda's brother with Lois's "killer." However, turned out her brother was a ghost. No sign of him anywhere, no cellphone to track him, nothing.

Tess was about to gave up the search for the day when a new lead showed up on the Watchtower's archives. She got him.

She thought about letting Clark know she found out who the mysterious guy was, but she didn't want to interrupt his date with Lois. She decided to wait until tomorrow for them to start to chase him.