Disclaimer: I wouldn't bet my life that I own anything but the plot and neither should you.
Clark was waiting for Lois at his desk, making a poor attempt at looking like he had been working the whole time she was gone.
"Hi, did everything go okay?" he asked.
"Yes. I had a spot of trouble with this crazy copyboy who wanted the Blur's secret identity but it all worked out fine when the Blur saved me," she downplayed the danger as part of a game they played: she got into trouble and covered up how bad it was, he eventually found out and lectured her, she got to see him all worried and caring, he got her to promise to be more careful next time.
No, in reality it was more like she got into trouble, he rescued her, she said it was nothing, he knew exactly how bad it had been. I guess sometimes he's got a reason to be worried, what with all he sees. Crap! I've been staring at him. Deflect, deflect!
She finally averted her eyes and the corner of her mouth turned upwards in a smirk as an idea began to form.
"And after he saved me, the Blur gave me your jacket when my shirt was almost pulled down. Isn't he a gentleman? But why did he get your old jacket, not someone else's?"
"He, uh, probably thought it would, uh, be easier to return. If he got you anyone else's jacket you'd have to explain how you got it and why you had it and if it was mine, you could just tell me, and I'd understand and save you the trouble," Clark said with a pleased grin at his impromptu cover story.
"Okay, but why go all the way back to the Daily Planet and go through all that trouble for a spare jacket when mine is sitting on my chair in plain sight?"
"Maybe he didn't see it? Or maybe mine was the first one he found and he never even looked in here? I wouldn't know, Lois, I'm not the one with super powers. It's possible they're affecting his head in ways we don't even know."
Clark often tried to make it seem like the Blur was not as honorable and trustworthy as she thought he was. It puzzled Lois as to why he would say such things about himself, almost as if . . .
No, it can't be. He can't actually be jealous of himself! He's been spending too much time over-thinking his role as the Blur. Only Clark would brood himself into a jealous state over his own secret identity.
Lois was about ready to scream that she knew Clark was the Blur and that his costume must be cutting off the air supply to his brain if he really thought she was in love with anyone but him, but she managed to reduce her rant down to a few noncommittal noises and shrugs.
"Maybe he thought my jacket would be warmer because yours would need a lot more material to even qualify as a jacket," Clark continued after realizing she wasn't going to elaborate on her grunts. He was squirming now and Lois decided to give him a break and drop the issue.
"You're probably right about that, Smallville, which is why I'm taking yours home with me. Thanks!" she said cheerfully and started to pack up.
"Maybe next time you'll think twice before walking into an alleyway and not coming out again," Clark grumbled as they left the Daily Planet.
"Maybe," she agreed. Lois began walking to her car, turning back halfway down the street to throw one last comment at the man watching her leave.
"But probably not."
The next day, as per their usual post-kidnapping routine, Clark fussed over Lois and her safety. The photographer from upstairs who came down to talk about a shot for her article was 'shady.' The mailwoman was 'sketchy' and 'exactly what was in that package?' The pizza delivery boy definitely wanted 'more than just money.' No matter how much she cared for him, Lois was ready to knock some sense into him with a baseball bat if he said one more word. It was especially tempting now she knew it wouldn't actually hurt him. Now there was an idea. She could enjoy cracking him over the head a few times with no repercussions.
Thankfully Clark's phone rang and he excused himself to answer it, giving her a moment of peace. And as with all moments of peace, it was short-lived. Lois left her peace and her last few morals at her desk, hurrying as quietly as she could to the coffee maker and the vent for a little spying.
Clark took Oliver's call in the stairwell. He could have sped off to somewhere more private to avoid the surge of guilt that speaking in code in front of Lois gave him, but he liked to stay close and keep an eye on her and the Planet. She ran off enough with him present, there was no need to give her more opportunities to disappear. Besides, the stairwell was rarely used and he could leave easily if need be.
"Hi Oliver, what's up?"
"Hey Clark, you know that little project in Gotham I'm working on? It's not going so great."
"What's the matter?" Clark sighed.
"I found him all right, tailing the same mob lackey as I was, and I tried to start a friendly hero to hero conversation but he completely brushed me off. I went after him and we might have gotten into a bit of a disagreement."
"We're supposed to be trying to get him to join us, not make more enemies."
"He started it. He said my bow was second rate and it was the new one I just developed."
Clark was all too familiar with that bow. It was his new pride and joy, and the archer had recounted in detail the specifications to all the League members several times.
Oliver continued, "It may have escalated once I told him I got it in return for, to put it nicely, some favors from his mom. We argued for a while, he said my costume was underrated and I said his detective skills needed work, stuff like that, until his sidekick showed up and dragged him away for a drug bust."
Clark scrubbed his free hand over his face.
"How bad?"
"Honestly?"
"Oliver."
"There weren't any major injuries but I don't think he's going to want to join any time soon."
Clark sighed again.
"At least tell me you held your own against him."
"I got in more than a few good hits." Oliver's smug tone oozed out of the receiver.
"Maybe that's shown him we're serious. Since you're telling me all this do you need me to come help smooth things over?" Clark offered.
"You're the best negotiator apart from Carter and if you come then he won't tell everyone what happened and I'm saved a bunch of humiliation. You know if I asked him everyone would know by this time tomorrow even if they were on a stealth mission in the middle of Antarctica."
"Okay, let me wrap up a few things and I'll be in Gotham this evening."
"Thank you so much Clark. I owe you one. Or ten. Maybe thirty. You already have an unlimited budget so how does me covering some extra shifts for you so you can take Lois out for a date sound?"
Clark rolled his eyes and couldn't help smiling at his friend.
"Goodbye, Oliver."
Snapping his phone shut, Clark went back to work laughing.
