More Powerful: Chapter 14:
Romantic Evening
The soft echoing of footsteps broke into his consciousness.
With nearly painful regret, he pulled away. "Someone's coming."
His eyes never left hers as he pulled the buttons of his shirt together and straightened his glasses.
Distance seemed such an obscene thing as they took back their posts, looking through newspapers.
The door groaned open as Gil knocked, and the room was flooded with light, making them both shield their eyes.
"The Chief sent me to see how the progress was going." He looked at the light fixture hanging above them. "I don't know how you guys can see anything at all in this light."
Clark's voice made Lois jump. "S-Sorry there, Gil. Please tell the Chief we shouldn't be much longer and we'll be sure to be at the event on time." His voice seemed high and ridiculous now – Lois covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.
"All right then, Kent, Just make sure to put everything back the way you found it. It took me forever to organize everything. You have about an hour until you have to be downstairs." The door clicked loudly behind him, leaving them alone again.
He cast a wide-eyed silly look at Lois. Her smile was light enough for him, as he settled back against the wall. Clark lowered his glasses to x-ray the papers, then remembering his company, he took the offending glasses off altogether, shooting her a toothy smile.
Lois sighed inwardly, watching him as she had a million times before, his eyes flew over the countless files. He took seconds to accomplish what had taken them hours.
She warmed at the thought that he had delayed what could have taken him minutes, into a day-long affair, choosing to spend time with her. Lois grinned as he plucked the issue from the shelf.
He leafed through the copy stopping on the picture. "I'm going to go run this name in the system."
"I am going to go and get changed, and unless you have a tux hidden under your cape, you'd best get to steppin' yourself."
He slid by her on his way to the door, his body pressed up against hers once again in the small space. With a gentle stroke of her cheek, he disappeared out into the hall.
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Lois smiled at her reflection as she gave herself one final look. She slid the second earring into place and exhaled. She could never put her finger on why she loved these earrings so much. She ran her fingers over the smooth surface, admiring how the clear crystal sent tiny points of light sparkling into her hair with every turn of her head. Now, she recalled a night in a shining palace in the North.
Her hair fell free and perfumed down her back. She loved the feel of the wind whipping through it during evening flights over the city. His words crept into her memory.
"I love your hair like this," he had murmured as they ascended through the evening sky coming to rest just above the clouds, "you look like an angel." He had held her close, breathing in the scent of her, keeping her warm despite the night's chill.
Lois sighed at the memory, dreaming of memories yet to be recorded in their future.
Her world sparkled with newness, with discovery, as her love for him bloomed and cast a hazy glow on everything she did.
Tonight she dressed for him. She ran her hand over the smooth fabric of her gown. It was long and flowing, the soft fabric twirled gracefully around her ankles as she moved. She had bought this dress because of the feel, the color. The deep crimson reminded her of the cape that not soon enough would be wrapped around her.
She stooped to fasten her shoes. They were delicate and fanciful with dainty golden accents lacing up her calves. Her smile spread across her face as she realized she was unconsciously dressing for flight, knowing the shoes would not come loose.
The evening's event faded in importance as she thought of a night dancing in his arms. Then they would soar across the sky and for once he would not flit away with a charming, "Goodnight, Lois." Tonight they would share a roof…
"Lois, are you ready?" Lois started as her coworker Polly looked at her questioningly. "My stars and garters! That was one far off look you had just then!" She ran a friendly hand over Lois' hair, smoothing a flyaway strand. "Time to wake up, lady. Let's get you downstairs to accept that award, shall we?"
Lois' heart fluttered within her as they made their way to the elevator to head to the ballroom.
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"So then I told her: 'I'll stay out as long as I darn well please!'"
Clark stood at the bar in the corner of the room next to what he imagined was an already tipsy Jimmy. Much as he tried to listen, his eyes and heart kept finding their way to the elevator doors.
"Clark! Are you listening to me?" Jimmy's voice broke through his thoughts. He nodded in appropriate seriousness. "You're right, Jimmy. You're old enough to not need a curfew. Just sit down and talk to your mother. I'm sure she'll be understanding."
"You're darn tootin!" Jimmy gestured, spilling a bit of his chardonnay.
Clark turned his head to speak when his ears zeroed in on the faint ding and mechanical slide of the elevator door.
His eyes combed impatiently through the exiting group of unfamiliar faces, then…
"My God." His voice hardly heard over the music, he stood entranced as she stepped off the elevator.
She was a vision. He could hold his breath for hours in space, but a moment spent looking at her took his breath away. He unconsciously loosened the collar of his tux .
"Excuse me for a moment, Jimmy," he murmured as he was irresistibly drawn across the room, barely feeling the floor under his feet.
Lois smiled in wonder as the room opened up before her. Perry had outdone himself. The lights were low and strands of white bulbs cast a warm glow over the room. Music filled the air, floating hauntingly over the crowd. Long gauze drapes billowed in the windows as the people milled about.
Her eyes searched the crowd for one face, and in the dark it was hard to distinguish one from the other.
Suddenly she felt a warmth on her cheek that traveled down her shoulder, over the length of her then finally rising again to rest on her lips.
She blushed as she realized the source. Mere yards away stood Clark, his eyes sparkling with affection and warmth that flickered in an otherworldly light.
Lois couldn't help but admire him as he strode across the floor toward her. He stood a head above most of the people around him. His stride was long and smooth. She had to admit his tux fit him perfectly, despite her preference to the form-hugging blue.
His eyes locked on hers as he drew near. "You look… there aren't words." His gaze devoured her, the heat radiating from his eyes as tangible as a caress.
She leaned in, lips brushing his ear, "Better turn down those burners Big Guy, before you melt my dress." His smile widened and she blew the hair from her eyes, squelching the urge to fan herself.
He extended his hand to her. "Want to see how our dance lessons paid off?" He slid his fingers between hers, already leading her out onto the dance floor. The music quieted and faded into a slower number as he folded her into his arms. The melody soared over them as she rested her head on his chest.
Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars
She smiled softly against the silk of his jacket, "Do you remember this song?"
"Of course. Why else would I have them play it?" He twirled her across the hardwood floor and smiled as he dipped her ever so slightly.
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, darling, kiss me
"This was our song," she whispered in wonderment as the memory of it washed over her. She recalled a summer night spent on her veranda in the city years ago. This song had echoed off the rooftops from the apartment below hers. It was the night she had kissed him for the first time, realizing she loved the man behind the god the rest of the world saw.
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
His breath tickled her ear, "It still is."
In other words, I love you
The song faded away as it ended and they stood still, wrapped in each other's arms with eyes only for each other.