Title: Remind Me to Forget You
Story by: k3josai
Written by: Deliverance Territory and k3josai
Pairing: Smallville Clark and Lois
Rating: T
Summary: A kiss… A smile… A letter… A pendant… A baby photo… These things are their connections. But how can they hold on together if someone is letting go?
Disclaimer: We own nothing. The characters are owned by CW/WB/DC. Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster
Authors' Notes: This chapter contains lyrics from Ordinary Song sang by Marc Velasco. Thanks again to athena606 for betareading this chapter.
k3josai – Maybe I should post a sticky note here, saying smile and don't kill us. Lol! This chapter is contains medium angst, so beware to those who are so allergic with angst. Anyway, some of your questions will be answered here. Enjoy!
Deliverance Territory – This is another emotional rollercoaster installment. *ducks* XD It reveals a lot more of their past, but in the present timeline. (Huh? You will see.) Inspiration for some of the scenes came from S8 and S9, especially Doomsday and Committed. I also dropped a few 'famous' Smallville quotes here and there. :P Hope you like the chapter and, as always, we are very thankful for your unconditional support and amazing comments. *hugs*
Remind Me to Forget You
CHAPTER 9 – Love Hurts
Metropolis – Year 2011
'We need to talk.' That was the message she received just a few hours ago. Clark was never that forward, so she figured it must be important. Lois waited for him at the Metro Café at the appointed hour, impatiently tapping her fingers on the table and sipping from the hot cup of coffee she had ordered. 'What's the matter with him?' She thought as she remembered the intimate turn their last conversation took, at least for her.
"Hi, sorry I'm late."
"Which constitutes a major offence in my book." She retorted. "You called –well, actually texted- me on a Saturday morning and show up late! Don't you know Saturday is the day of rest?"
"Lois, Sunday is the day of rest."
"No, Saturday is the day of pre-rest."
"Pre-rest?" Clark asked in surprise.
"Yes, so when you actually get to Sunday you are rested enough to enjoy your rest."
"Don't be such a crybaby I'm only 5 minutes late and besides it's almost midday."
She waved her hand. "Anyway, what's so important?"
Clark sat in front of her and swiftly grew serious. "Well, you know…"
"No, I don't. Thus here we are." Lois replied sarcastically.
"See? I can't even talk to you without some witty come back."
"Oh, please, I thought you were used to it by now." She smiled and winked which surprised him even more, forgetting for a second the reason behind the meeting.
"I wanted to talk about you… and me… and well, the B…" He looked down to his hands.
Lois interrupted, "You and me in the same sentence?" And feigning confusion she continued. "I don't see where this is going." She was really nervous; this might be another conversation which she didn't like to push through. Though thanks to her phone that moment might be pushed back or better yet might never happen. She heard a text message coming in. "Sorry."
"Yes, of course… Just go on." Clark fell in really deep thought, 'how am I supposed to tell you all about me?' He sighed. 'What will be your reaction if you find out that I am The Blur and I am your Clark from way back?'
"Clark," She exclaimed excited. "My informant says he wants to meet me now. Come on, this might be another lucky day for the front page news." Lois grabbed her things without looking back if Clark followed her. She breathed out, finally realizing that she was holding her breath while sitting at the table with Clark.
\S/
"Lois, stop pacing!" Clark pushed the thick rim of the glasses over the bridge of his nose. She walked back and forth since they arrived to the alley about ten minutes ago. The place was located on the slum of Metropolis. He couldn't afford to leave her alone waiting for her informant, not in this part of the city, so he stayed with her even if her pacing drove him crazy. Trashcans were scattered everywhere, who knew if there were drug dealers' -or worse murderers- around.
"I want, no, I need a story, and I need it now!" She read her phone with a disappointed look on her face. "My informant texted me again, it was false alarm?" She closed the phone and continued ranting. "Ugh! I thought for sure I would have something solid on The Wedding Destroyer. This must be another slow news day." Lois returned the phone inside her bag.
"The who?" Clark asked puzzled as he never heard such a thing.
"You know, the metal-rusting-meteor-freak." She stated as a matter of fact.
He stood baffled looking at her.
"Lance Brand, for goodness sake!"
"Oh."
"You are seriously clueless, Kent. Don't you read my notes on the police reports?"
"No, I mean yes, but you're giving him 'names' too?"
"Sure, why not? Don't you see, Clark? He always attacks on weddings, right before the I Do's and so the 'wedding' part. There were two cases reported officially and both of them had the same assault style: chapels were crumbled like there was an earthquake –therefore the 'destroyer' part." She explained.
"Besides, there was no record of major casualties, but lots of people got hurt from puncture wounds, most especially the grooms. The first one is in coma and the second one got both of his legs amputated. Tetanus being the common factor, hence the 'metal-rusting' nick. There is a pattern, Kent." She pointed.
Clark followed her as she stomped her feet in much disappointment. "You said Saturdays were pre-rest days, then why are you so bothered by the fact that it's a false alarm?"
"Whether it's a pre-rest day, actual rest day or holiday, news is still news. We have to do our job, don't we?" She walked away at her usual quick pace.
Clark sighed. This was Lois; you couldn't stop her when she wanted to do something. She was stubborn, too stubborn if you asked him. "Lois, can we just stop and talk for a second?"
Lois turned around, "We're already talking."
"I know, but not here…" He looked around in alarm. "Not in this kind of place."
Suddenly, a scream was heard on the street. "Lance, let me go!" They both got up and directed their looks to the rowdy scene. A man, as they heard called Lance, held a bride and practically dragged her across the street. Apparently, he had kidnapped her from the wedding ceremony being performed nearby.
"Michelle," The guy addressed her, still clasping her arms forcefully "I can't let you marry that guy. I love you and I know you love me."
"I did love you, Lance, but that was a long time ago. I had moved on and you should do the same."
'Was that The Wedding Destroyer?' Lois thought. She heard the girl calling him Lance and, according to one of her sources, the meteor freak's name was Lance. 'Right on target!' She laughed inwardly knowing her morning –almost afternoon now- was not a waste of time.
Lois and Clark witnessed the situation carefully measuring their plan of action, individually that is. While Lois only thought of going straight forward and kicking the guy's butt, Clark considered how to save the girl and defeat the man, without revealing his identity to Lois, or the world for that matter. Nope, the latter could not be done at the moment, Lois had launched towards the -now retreating- couple with her hands in fists ready to engage. Clark tried to stop her, but after a few unsuccessful attempts of getting her attention, he gave up and shouted.
"Lois, have you gone mad?"
"What? Don't tell me you are going to let such scumbag treat a girl like that!"
"No, I won't… I mean wouldn't. But just think for a moment. What do you plan on doing? Go in, punch him out?"
"Sounds like a good plan to me, the simpler the better." She shrugged.
"Why don't we call the police?"
"Please, Clark, she could be dead by the time cops get here. We need to act now."
He sighed. "Okay, okay, let's follow them for a moment; until we find out if he's armed or if he is working alone, this could be very dangerous."
"Okay, Mr. Smarty –but cautious– Pants, we'll do it your way." She surrendered reluctantly, but knowing her impulsive ways almost always ended in more trouble than the original situation.
They followed the kidnapper and his victim closely, so close that the kidnapper noticed them, but deviously he didn't let them know until they were trapped. At the end of a dank and long passage, Lance entered into some kind of storage room through a heavily corroded metal door.
Lois and Clark tried to peek from one of the holes on the door and then another, but it was useless; they were too small. "Sh*t!" Lois breathed, noticing a slight stream of blood flowing down her hand.
"Let me see." A concerned Clark whispered, not wanting to be seen or heard by the madman. He took her hand in his and inspected it briefly. His original intention was to scan with his x-ray and micro-vision for any deeper wound or chip of metal inside her skin, but he couldn't do it.
He raised her eyes and tried again, now through the door, but again it was fruitless. 'Kryptonite?' He questioned silently at first, searching the place for a hint of the green rock, but couldn't find any. Something strange was going on and he didn't like it. Normally, green kryptonite would make him feel weak or in pain, but no such symptoms were showing.
All of the sudden, the door opened and Lance appeared in front of them, gun in hand. He was excessively sweaty, his chest heaving rapidly and a stain of dried blood ran down his nose.
"What do we have here?" He wheezed wickedly.
Clark and Lois looked at each other almost in a panic; then looked back at their attacker.
"We are so sorry, sir. We will be going now…" Clark spoke first, trying to persuade or rather distract the man so he could find an opening to take down his gun. But the opportunity never materialized, for he received a hard hit on his forehead with the back of the gun.
"Clark!" Lois shrieked, moving quickly and taking his face into her hands. Then addressing Lance again, she growled. "You bastard!" And just like that, Lance gave Lois an equally solid hit, knocking her unconscious.
\S/
Lois woke up slowly finding her hands tied and her body back to back with Clark's, who was still groggy from the smack. They sat on the dirty floor while Michelle, the bride, also tied but unconscious and lying on an old soggy couch.
"Lois? Lois! Are you okay?" Clark gasped.
"As good as I can get in this situation, I guess." Her head pounded harshly and her vision was still a little cloudy, but she was glad to be alive –and secretly rejoiced to find out Clark was too.
He let out a sigh of relief at the sound of her voice and clever comment.
"You?" She asked, genuinely concerned.
"I am okay, though my head is killing me." That was a pretty rare statement for him. He almost never got hurt or felt pain. 'What is happening to me?'
"Likewise, ugh!" She replied shaking her head, evidently in pain.
Clark took another quick survey to the room which revealed the source of his powerlessness, there was a pile of some sort of blue corrugated fiberboard. 'Blue Kryptonite'. Even if he wanted, he couldn't use his powers to aid the escape.
Lance entered the room and locked the door. Oblivious to his awakened 'guests', he moved towards the sleeping bride. Gently, but in a very creepy way, he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and whispered. "You will always be mine."
"Hey!" Lois yelled, attracting Lance's attention.
"Lois, what are you doing?" A helpless Clark murmured to her side.
"What do you think, Smallville?" She replied just as low, but quickly lifted her head to focus on their kidnapper. Clark was surprise to hear her calling him Smallville. There was only one person in the whole world who called him that way, his Lois Queen.
"Do you love her?" She asked directly to his face, hiding her fear with a tough expression.
"Of course I do. Why else would I do this?" He replied unsympathetically; heavy sweat beads ran down his forehead again.
At that moment, Lois was not that intimidated. Studying his face, all she could see was a very troubled man with a broken heart. And though she had the losing hand, she also had a plan. While she talked to Lance, her hands were busily trying to untie Clark's ropes.
At the first touch, Clark was puzzled regarding her objective, but he quickly caught on and let Lois work her magic. They were in a life-threatening situation –even for him– though he couldn't help the thrill at the stroke of her hands on his.
"If you really love her, you must set her free." She continued. "What you did to her is not proof that you love her. You are only proving how selfish you are."
Lance's chest started to heave rapidly once again, but this time it seemed out of control. Almost immediately, the door and some of the racks in the room started to shake furiously and all the metal objects started to oxidize by themselves.
Lois ducked her head, only to cover a part of it with her right shoulder as hundreds of rust particulates flew across the confined space. And here she thought Smallville was the one and only Land of the Weird, Home of the Strange.
"You don't understand." He shouted, calming just enough to let the pieces of corroded metal fall to the floor. "Three years ago, she left me at the altar on the day of our wedding. She never explained why. Maybe she was afraid of marrying a freak like me!"
'Three years ago, how ironic is that?' That explained to a degree why Lance hated weddings and why he was determined to ruin that special day for everyone around.
"Then today, she was going to marry another man, not me." He sobbed. "You DON'T understand! She broke my heart!"
"Yes, I do." She paused. Lois really understood his agony, but right there and then was Clark, the one who'd caused so much suffering to her not so long ago. "I set someone free a long time ago."
Clark was stunned by her statement. He could feel her pain. But how could that be possible? Was she talking about him? Did she remember what happened? He was overwhelmed to say the least. Was she lying when she failed to recognize him? Or did the pressure make her remember? Either way, it did not matter to him because he finally discovered how she really felt –and not as the Blur, but as Clark Kent. And to tell the truth, it was not a pleasant sensation. Years of training and traveling couldn't have prepared Clark from this moment. The sudden tremor inside his heart broke a dam of emotions he did not comprehend.
"How did you survive that?" Lance inquired slowly letting his guard down.
"It was really hard at first, but step by step, I managed to stand on my own feet again." A tear ran down her cheek. She was at least thankful that Clark couldn't see the liquid fall from her eyes.
"You… you're telling the truth. I can see it in your eyes." He felt defeated, but empathized with Lois' ache.
At the same time as he spoke that last word, Clark –now free from his ropes– moved quickly in front of Lois and punched Lance in the face, not with super-strength, but hard enough to throw him down.
While the man was down, Clark freed Lois from her ties as well. Hurriedly, he picked up the girl and ran outside the room as fast as he could, with Michelle in his arms and Lois following right behind him.
Lois called the police from her phone and, barely breathing, gave them the address where Lance was now locked in, along with all the details of his doings that day.
Just as Michelle woke up, they heard a strident noise, like an explosion, followed by a muffled but powerful clank. Michelle sobbed inconsolably, knowing that Lance was not able to fully control his 'special ability' under stress and she feared the worse. Clark embraced her to calm her down.
Lois observed them in complete silence. For the first time and before her very eyes, Clark Kent –not the Blur– had saved the day.
Clark felt proud and scared at the same time. For years he had been pointing his destiny to his powers and secluding them from the 'normal' part of his life, but today he demonstrated –more to himself than everyone else- that the real hero was embedded within his heart, not his abilities alone.
When the cops arrived, the three of them gave their statements and Michelle was taken in an ambulance to Metropolis General Hospital. The paramedics offered medical assistance to Clark and Lois, but they declined, stating that they were not seriously injured.
Lance Brand was nowhere to be found. At first they thought had died. No one could have survived an explosion like that, but after the cops searched the premises and a very wide perimeter, they concluded he had escaped once again.
As soon as Michelle left, Lois -unusually quiet- grabbed Clark and hugged him tightly. She let out an audible sigh from both relief and hurt. She couldn't believe they had escaped with only minor scratches, but over all she couldn't contain the river of emotions flowing from her heart. She had relived the pain and agony she once thought was over, but also the power of love deep inside her heart. She had loved and set free, believing herself incapable of completely loving again –again being the key word. 'Could it be that I never stopped loving him in the first place?'
\S/
Clark watched Lois carefully as she thanked the last police officer who interviewed them. His jacket was wrapped around her and he could feel that she was greatly affected by the whole incident. He worried deeply about how traumatic this could be for her – though he also knew how strong she was.
'Maybe Lois has a tiny soft spot, or maybe not, but she's still human', he thought. Clark wanted to convince himself that she was still the old fun and loving Lois he used to be with. Lately, she seemed so heartless towards him that it was almost unbearable. But he calmed himself, just as his friend Pete had told him, giving time to their situation because through 'her eyes' he really deserved such punishment.
Nevertheless, at this moment Lois was still uncommonly quiet. The embrace she gave him just hours ago made his heart melt again for her. If she remembered something tonight, he would do everything he could to win her heart back, or at least to make her believe in him again.
"I'm fine Clark." Lois rolled her eyes and answered Clark's unspoken question as she walked past him.
Clark quickly followed her. "Oh," He said and then continued, "Are you hungry?" He heard her sigh while she unlocked her car door.
"Are you?" He asked her again and blinked in surprise as she climbed to the passenger seat.
"Kent, you drive." She said using that normal tone he missed so much. Clark was flabbergasted at the quality of her voice. For a second, she sounded just like his beloved Lois Queen.
\S/
The drive was tranquil, same as their 'dinner'. They ate instant noodle soup at a 24-hour convenience store on the way to her apartment. Clark often glanced at Lois as she stared blankly to the darkness of the outside world. He wanted to speak, but decided to let the silence calm her.
Lois stepped out of the car as soon as they got in front of the building. It was five minutes before one in the morning when Clark looked on his wrist watch. How fast the day passed was almost unreal. One minute he was talking to her over coffee, then –after a day full of commotion, kidnappings and revelations- he was driving her back to her apartment.
He parked the car in its usual spot. There was this funny thing that it seemed like she 'owned' the area because her parking space was always reserved for her. One could only imagine how she managed to do so in downtown Metropolis. Just the thought of it made him laugh silently. He imagined how the proceedings would go: hand her the keys, say goodnight and go to his place -or maybe Smallville, since technically, it was already Sunday. He could pay his Mom a visit and talk to her about the latest events. Clark was very much surprise to see Lois sitting on top of the steps in front of her apartment's building.
She tapped on a space beside her, inviting him to sit as she returned his jacket. "Thanks, Clark."
He was slightly taken aback by her gestures. "You're welcome Lois."
Clark heard her sigh which made him gulp. 'Was this the right time to talk about their past?' He thought he was ready to even reveal his identity, but it was a lot harder than he thought.
Lois started to speak, breaking the tense silence between them. "Do you believe in luck?"
"Sometimes, I guess." He replied, very much nervous of what she would say next. Was she going to confess remembering him?
"I guess?" She smiled. "We're so lucky to be alive right now. We almost died back there." She slightly chuckled. "Even if I could remember, I couldn't count how many times I've encountered death, but this was different, this met a whole new level in my book." She paused and moved her bangs away from her eyes. Lois looked at the dark skies and sighed. "Lance was so willing to die and kill for that crazy little thing called love. Is it devotion or selfishness?"
Lois shifted her attention to the road faintly lighted by street lamps. "There's still life after that, you know?" The rhetorical question was directed more to herself than to Clark, but it hit a sensible spot on him as well. "You should not revolve your universe around one person, am I right?" There was another rhetorical question and she looked at him quickly, continuing to speak without waiting to hear his answer. "When you love, you must not give a hundred percent to one particular person. You must leave something for yourself, so when things fall apart, you still have a little bit of courage to move on." She punched Clark's shoulder as she stood up. "Remember that, Clark."
He nodded at Lois, but sat speechless. Clark could feel that she had spoken from the heart. It was one of the rarest moments when Lois opened up and let someone in, especially this new Lois. He only wished he had enough guts to do the same, it was his original plan, but something stopped him, something… perhaps what flashed in her eyes.
Truly their lives were so different now. They grew up, learned different things, landed jobs on their own, and it just hurt him that they grew up apart. This was what he really wanted her to see, that she was capable of doing greater things than if she had stayed in Smallville waiting for him. She turned into a stunningly, independent and intrepid woman, but Clark had to admit that he missed the old Lois, carefree and always smiling. He had been able to glance at that side of her again, but for how long?
"Goodnight Mr. Kent." She turned her back and entered the building's main door.
"Goodnight, Miss Lane." Clark whispered almost inaudibly.
Lois had left him stunned again with her words and actions that night. Clark opened his x-ray vision, wanting to see her as she rode the elevator. His heart clenched watching her dry her own tears with her hand.
"Lois, I'm sorry."
\S/
Instead of going to Smallville as he initially planned, Clark patrolled the city until sunrise. The accomplishment of saving a young girl on a dark alley, detaining a rogue carjacker, and putting a house fire soothed his troubled heart.
As soon as the sun shined upon the sky, he felt renewed and ready to give the situation another try. Clark took out his phone and texted 'Can you come over my place?' Only a few seconds later came the response. 'Be there in 15 minutes.'
After taking a quick shower slipping into his comfort clothes –white t-shirt and jeans, Clark heard someone knocking on his door.
"Hi!" He said and smiled at the sight of his dear friend.
"Hey, Clark" Chloe smiled back and gave him a quick hug.
"It's so nice to see you. I doubted if you were coming or not." He invited her in.
"Urghh, Clark, it's too early to start arguing, so I'll let it pass." She flashed another smile at him. "And obviously I had to stop for breakfast." Chloe offered a cup of coffee and a bag of pastry goods.
"Thanks." Clark took the coffee and the bag and sitting on the couch he continued. "I honestly thought you were still mad at me… you know… after your wedding and all."
"Oh I am, but not even that would keep me away from being your confidant."
"How did you know I had something to confess?"
"I know you too well, Kent. Besides, it was about time you called me to talk about Lois."
"Lois?"
"Don't act so surprised. That face, those puppy dog eyes, I know something is going on with her." She chuckled. "And also Jimmy is keeping me informed of your dealings."
"Oh." Clark looked down at his coffee. "I'm sorry I left your wedding just like that."
"No worries, I initially thought it was because I chose Lana to be my maid of honor, but I was wrong, wasn't I?"
Clark kept silent and timidly set aside the breakfast items.
"Oh come on, it was an honest oversight," She winked at him."But enough of that, what is that you wanted to tell me about Lois?"
"Well, yesterday I called Lois. Actually texted her so I…" He trailed.
Chloe gasped in surprise. "Did you finally tell her your secret?"
"Not exactly, she…" Clark trailed again.
"Did she remember you?"
"No… is not that… I…"
"Did you kiss her?"
"Chloe!"
"What? The suspense is killing me and you do nothing but stare at your coffee and mumble half sentences!"
Clark looked at Chloe intently; she was not upset but amused by his reaction. He took a deep breath and started his story once again.
"I planned to tell her, but then there was this thing with an informant and then we got kidnapped…"
"Wait! What?"
"It was nothing," He dismissed quickly and continued. "We managed to escape and it…"
"Escaped? Did you use your powers in front of Lois?"
"No, no, there was blue Kryptonite, so I went in and out as just me." He smiled at the memory, but it quickly faded as he recalled Lois speech afterwards.
"You got me worried for a moment there. Though thinking about it, it's not a bad idea after all. Don't you think it's about time you tell her the truth?"
"I know and wanted to tell her so badly, but…"
"But what, Kent? And don't start with your 'She deserves better' or 'I only want to protect her' stuff, because I might hit you in the face and hard." Chloe's determination showed in her eyes. She loved Clark very much, but hated the fact that he always chastised himself in the matters of love, first with Lana and later with Lois.
"She said some things that ultimately crushed my desire to tell her."
Chloe took his hand and gave him a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry, Clark."
"Lois talked about her past, about setting someone she loved free and moving on."
"So, she does remember you?"
"I'm not sure yet. She often hints that she's the Lois that does, then she transforms in this completely inaccessible Lois. I don't know what to think anymore."
"You know how girls are. We do everything not to get hurt." She kept holding Clark's hand and encouraging him to continue talking.
Clark sighed again. "Then when I drove her to her apartment, after such a stressful day, she calmly offered me advice on not giving myself completely to the one I love? She's created an impossibly hard shell over herself, over her feelings, and she wants me to do the same."
"Oh, boy!" Chloe released Clark's hand and shifted on the couch.
"What?"
She shook her head. "Clark, for someone with x-ray vision, you are pretty blind." Chloe sipped from her cup of coffee and placing it on the coffee table she addressed her friend one more time. "She does remember you and she is still in love with you, Clark. Don't you see?"
"Chloe, how can you say that? She doesn't know who I am, she…"
"All she knows now is that you left her, that you… well, and that you hurt her. Yes that is why you need to think about what you've done, but also on what you're going to do next."
"But all my responsibilities, my decisions back then… and now the consequences, I can't avoid those."
"Just because someone's life has great responsibility doesn't mean your life has to take second place, Clark. You deserve to be happy too."
"You sound like my mother" He smiled.
"Well, then it's about time you start to listen and DO something about it."
Clark hugged her. "Thanks, Chloe."
"No problem, Clark. You know you can always count on me, but next time coffee is on you." She winked and finished her cherry turnover.
\S/
"Lois? What are you doing here?" A shocked Oliver stood from his chair and quickly put away various medical reports.
"Well, it's the only way I can see my brother." She retorted sarcastically and eyed him quizzically as he grew nervous. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing, this… is… just… It's just some paperwork, something that if I recall correctly doesn't call your attention." He replied trying to sound nonchalantly, but creating even more suspicions on Lois' side.
"Yeah, right, anyways," she overlooked his uneasiness momentarily, focusing on the task at hand. "I just wanted to talk to you about something important."
"Hmmm, I wonder what that would be." He feigned confusion and to his surprise Lois went silent. "What? I thought you were going to brag about your open invitation to the Blur to meet you?"
"Oh, that, well, yeah…"
"What's going on Lois?"
"Well, you know… Clark…"
"Of course I know him, how could I ever forget."
"Ha ha very funny, that's not it."
"Then, what's up. You know you can tell me anything."
"Is that right? Cause I remember not being able to talk to you and being asked by your secretary to make an appointment? What is that all about?"
"Serves you right for changing your last name" he winked at her noting Lois' frowned face.
"Seriously, Ollie, I see my stylist more often than I see you. You are always running around the clock, disappearing on me, and oh God that damned cell phone of yours!"
"Lois, you know I have to take care of the family business. Don't you remember how dad used to be?"
"I do, and that's why I thought you were not going to do the same." It was Oliver's turn to keep silent. Their conversation took a direction she didn't want, so she tried to recover and stated what she wanted to say in the first place. "I'm here to talk about Clark."
"I'm listening." Oliver replied, still hurt by her previous words. 'If she only knew what is taking so much of my time' he thought but then recognized 'She is not ready yet and neither is he.'
"I might have told him a few things about our past." She started only to be quickly interrupted by Oliver.
"Ah, the amnesia plan is crumbling down."
"How did you know about that?"
"Tess told me and frankly I think you are insane."
"Tess? When did you talk to her?" She shrieked. "No, erase that, I am going to kill her!"
"Nah, you won't and you know it. She was worried about you and she called me to tell me what you were doing. And for your information, I talk to her every once in a while."
"I just don't believe it!"
"What? She cares about you, that's all."
"I know, I know." She sighed. In all honesty, she was more surprised to hear that they talk often than that Tess told Ollie about her little "evil" plan. Maybe there was hope for them to finally go into something serious. "And for your information I am not insane."
"This coming for the person who used to climb out the window of clock tower in the middle on the night to go to a party… hmmm I think I am right." He laughed. "So back to the topic, what did you tell him?"
"I'm not sure."
"Lois…"
"Listen, it was late, I was tired and all I wanted to do was to be alone and cry my heart out."
"I love you sis, but you are as stubborn as a mule some times." He walked towards her and embraced her. "I know you won't tell me what you said to him, but why are you so upset about it? How did he react?"
"He said nothing, that's the problem." She started to sob softly. "I know I brought this upon myself, but at the least I hoped he would have said something…anything… It's like he's the one that doesn't remember."
"I think is safe to say that you need to solve this as soon as possible. You can't continue denying your feelings, and for better or worse, you have to confront the situation with him."
"Ugh, I hate when you are right." She cleared her throat and wiped the tears that started to flow down her cheeks.
"Aren't I always?" He joked.
"Smart ass" she smiled and punched him lightly on the arm. Lois hugged him once again and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I have to go now, it's getting late and I have a million things to do before work tomorrow."
"See you later."
"You better and don't be a stranger. Oh, and please we need to talk more about these Tess conversations you are having behind my back." She winked at him.
"Sure, anytime, sis!" Oliver waved good bye to Lois as she walked towards the door.
"And hey, how did you know about the Blur's invitation?" She turned around only to see a toothy smile on her brother's face. "Never mind, I'm guessing it was the same red-headed birdie." She smile back at him and exited his office.
"I need to have 'a talk' with Tess about keeping secrets." Lois said to herself while waiting for the elevator.
\S/
Sunday night, some sort of chaos had taken over the streets of Metropolis and Lance was responsible for it. Right after the kidnapping incident, he hid underground until he was ready to counterattack. Who was to know that would be so soon?
Michelle had been securely transferred to Star City under a special protection program, since she was too scared to stay in Metropolis. She declined at first, but after a few 'weird' incidents reported down in the hospital, she gave up and left for good, something Lance was not too please with.
Clark approached the place where most of the screaming was discharging. He couldn't see the source of it yet, but the wrecked outlook made sure something or someone dangerous was around, somewhere near. Suddenly, he spotted a phone booth. "Lois" His mind flooded with the memory of the letter she had written. She offered The Blur, his so-called alter ego, that when he was ready to pose for the front page they would meet there. He shivered at the thought, to finally 'see' each other face to face, with no more secrets. Clark chuckled at the will of the woman to meet him, that is, his other side. He thought puzzled by the effects of the Blur on her, but longed to have the same effects on her with his Clark side as well. And judging by flow of events in the recent days it was an unreachable goal at the moment.
"Clark? What the hell are you doing here?" He stood lost in thought for a moment and, even in the obviously menacing surroundings, she was there. Lois was not easily intimidated, the danger menacing the street was worth it to finally meet her Superhero –that is if he had accepted his invitation.
That issue had occupied her mind for weeks. She would give everything to meet him, though she understood his reasons for staying hidden so far. But ever since Perry had given her this assignment, she had broken every crime scene in hopes to take a peek of his face. Ever since he had saved her in the alley, she had welcomed every opportunity to open to him, to feel close to him. And though he always spoke so reserved and measured, 'To keep you safe' as he had said so many times, he poured his soul to her as well. Wasn't the obvious next step a face to face meeting?
The truth was plain and simple. Clark loved talking to her as the Blur, but knew sometimes that she placed her life in danger, a task for which she needed no help at all, just to get near to him. Though he rather had her love him as Clark Kent, the reality was hard for good reasons and he needed to atone for what he had done. He had thought about saying goodbye as the Blur, with the hope to continue seeing and talking to her as Clark Kent and regaining her trust that way, but then she managed to convince him otherwise.
Lois had shown a completely different dynamic with the both sides of him. While Clark was still obviously head over heels for her, it was Lois who seemed to lose all her control around the Blur, but then with no memory of their past whatsoever, until lately. It was hard to know if she was pretending or if she really didn't remember. On the other hand, she perceived his confusion as if he didn't mind her not remembering. Both of them needed to step out of their own way and take action. But when?
Clark turned to her surprised, but greatly worried. Not even he knew fully the danger threatening Metropolis and he needed a plan to stop whoever was behind it, a task that was only complicated by her presence.
"Lois, what are you doing here?" Though he knew exactly what she was doing and he wanted to tell her that he was him, that she was looking right in the Blur's eyes. The more he thought about it the more he knew the danger it would bring into her life, at least in the present situation.
Chloe's words were direct and without recourse: DO something about it. And she was right. Even if he wasn't to tell her his secret at that very moment, he needed to define what he wanted and go for it. He wanted her back, he was sure of that and enough had happened in the past few weeks to at least hint that she wanted him as well.
Lois exited the alley and walked to meet Clark in the middle of the street. "I think, I asked you first." She replied and placed her hands firmly over her hips. He never got the chance to answer. The moment he opened his mouth, she interrupted and warned almost yelling "Clark, look out!" Pointing out with her finger, some sort of explosion had occurred and clanging debris flew all over the place. A big chunk of metal, like a warehouse door, was literally soaring in their direction. The door's corners corroded while traveling in their direction. 'Lance' he thought rapidly.
"Lois, quickly duck!" Surprisingly, she did. Without hesitation she bent down and covered her head with her hands almost touching the damp floor with her elbows. Lois was no fool, she knew exactly when to rely on Clark, and now it one of those moments. Dozens of other times he's been right, why not now? Not that she ever admitted it to his face.
Clark grabbed the metal piece almost effortlessly. Pushing it, he placed it on the street, just a couple of inches behind them. Immediately, ducked to cover Lois with his chest and arms pretending he did nothing. 'I hope she didn't see anything or I'm so going to regret this', he dreaded. But she didn't, she was still covering her head.
"What the hell happened?" Lois asked rising slowly, noticing the half-smashed object on sight.
"It just missed us." He supplied calmly. 'Please, don't ask more questions, please.' He released the embrace that almost unconsciously he had given her, and saw her face pale and confused.
Then he spotted him: Lance Brand. He had a young woman strapped to a steel chair with some sort of explosive device.
"Lance?" Lois exclaimed. "Haven't we gone through this already?"
"I will not quit until I have Michelle back with me. Do you understand? I will do ANYTHING for her, kill even. I want her back!" The madman ran away, not before he wiped his tears away.
Clark needed to think fast. Lois didn't know his secret and he didn't want to tell her in such a hurried and deranged scenario. He wanted it to be special, so telling her here and now was unthinkable.
"Lois, do you trust me?" The infamous question emerged.
"What?"
"Please, Lois, this is no time to start…" He pleaded.
"Why should I trust you?" Her voice was cold and sarcastic, not what he needed to hear at all.
Aggravated, Clark grabbed her arm firmly and guided her behind the chunk of metal he caught before. "Just stay down here. I'll be back in a moment. And whatever you do, don't move. Ok?"
"Wha…but…" Lois shrugged for a second, but saw the intense look on Clark's eyes. "This better be good, Kent." Why did he have to look at her like that? 'Thank God you don't realize that you have the ability to win me over with just one look, no matter how ridiculous you sound, right?' Then after much interior deliberation, 'I'll give him one minute' she decided.
Clark changed to The Blur costume and super-sped in Lance's direction and rescued the girl, but Lance was running away and fast. He placed the girl on the sidewalk and, when he saw a couple of police cars and ambulances show, he leaped and vanished from their sight.
He landed just in front of Lance, who tripped and almost fell at his sudden appearance. "Lance, it's time to get over this."
"What do you know?" He was out of breath. "I won't give up on her. NEVER!" And with that all metal parts of the buildings, cars and every other pole and traffic light went flying and rusting their way to Clark.
He avoided, punched and caught some of them, but the ones that hit him, never did any damage to his body. Clark lifted his look and observed a perplexed Lance, nowhere near calm and another batch of objects rode his way.
Clark stepped closer to Lance, act that only ignited Lance's temper and caused more metal to tremble, depart and corrode. By the time Clark got to him, he fell unconscious to the floor, blood gushing from his nose. Clark took him to the hospital, but alerted the police first about his 'special' condition.
There was a lesson for him to learn, never give up on love. Although that was not the proper way to demonstrate it, Lance had loved Michelle without reservations nonetheless. Something he had failed to do as Clark Kent, at least on the outside. He loved her that way, if not more, but he let the circumstances win at that moment. And it seemed that life itself was determined to never let him fully amend for what he did, even if it wasn't on purpose.
'Lois' he suddenly remembered about her waiting by the phone booth. He returned and looked for her, but she was gone.
\S/
Metropolis – Year 2008
Time had passed… Autumn came, Winter… Spring would be replaced by Summer soon. Who cared anyway? Time was time, nobody could stop it.
Graduation Day. That was one of the happiest times in Clark and Lois's lives. They posed for their graduation photos with Martha, Pete and Chloe. It was also the same night when Clark proposed to Lois, which she accepted without hesitation.
"Come on Clark, let's go! It's raining!" She exclaimed as she grabbed Clark's hand. They ran towards the front door of a closed bakery shop. Tonight might be a signal that summer was approaching. The heat expedited the water cycle from evaporation to precipitation.
"Lois?"
"Hmmm." She buried her face into his chest as Clark put his arms around her protectively. She could hear the fast beating of his heart beneath his solid chest. How comforting it was to have him by her side.
"Lois?" Clark repeated, feeling her warm body entangled with his.
"Do you know how much I love you?"
"I do." She raised her left hand with a ring on one of her fingers.
He sighed before he spoke from his heart. "It's just that you complete me."
"Like I'm a puzzle piece for your heart. Geez, Clark you're so corny." With that Clark's laugh blended with the thunder storm.
"I planned to give you an iPod first, and I already bought it as my graduation present for you."
"Thank you Clark!" Her jaw dropped looking at the white iPod she usually looked at whenever they went to the department store. She never told Clark about the gadget because it was a little expensive for their liking, but how did he know about it?
"Our song is there." He smiled sheepishly. Wishing Lois would not kill him for not putting Whitesnake songs in it.
"Our song?" Lois raised one of her eyebrows, she couldn't stop her smirking knowing he could be that sentimental.
"Yeah! In the meantime, that's the only song on it."
"So that means, I'll be the one to download the Whitesnake songs here?" She slightly made eyes at him tantalizing while looking under her lashes, which earned Clark a huge grin on his face. 'There you go, that Whitesnake again.' He thought.
"Who sings it?" Lois excitedly asked her fiancé.
"It's a surprise!"
Lois rolled her eyes as the taxi came to pick them up. Clark opened the car's door for her. She put her new iPod's earphone on her ears as Clark put his arms on her shoulders.
Just an ordinary song
To a special girl like you
From the simple guy
Who's so in love with you
I may not have much to show
No diamonds that glow
No limousines
To take you where you go.
But if you ever find yourself
Tired of all the games you play
When the world seems so unfair
You can count on me to stay
Just take some time
To lend an ear
To this ordinary song
She put her head underneath his chin and secretly wiped her tears of joy. How lucky she was to have Clark by her side? She couldn't put a word to it, but she was too thankful that God allowed her to meet someone like him. Clark had fallen asleep when she looked up at him. She decided to get her phone and texted him – I love you too.
\S/
TBC
Reviews are welcome! ^_^