Chp 27 – Upshot
-- Daily Planet, Metropolis – October 2010 --
Perry walked over to the group of journalists that were crowded around the TV bay, watching yet another report about the flying man. The TV networks were all using recycled footage, and none had any additional information about where he came from. The "a friend," sound bite was played over and over, as the panelists from "Metropolis Minute," attempted to analyze his voice for any traces of an accent.
"Great shades of Elvis!" Perry yelled, getting everyone's attention. "A man goes flying around the city in his underwear, and the reporters from the World's Greatest are standing around watching it happen! I don't need standing! I need investigating! Who's going to get me a story?"
As his reporters started scattering, Perry noticed a couple of them exiting the elevator. "And what in Sam Hill are you two doing here?"
"I've got the exclusive," Lois remarked, holding her notebook up.
Perry was torn. The girl had been thrown from a helicopter in mid-flight, so he should be ordering her out of his sight… but then again, she had just claimed to have what was going to be the article of the century. Hell, scratch that- of the millennium.
"See, now that's what I'm talking about!" Perry announced. "Jimmy- Stop the presses!"
He walked over to Lois and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I've always wanted to say that," he confided under his breath. "Now, honey, you go ahead and get that interview typed up, but after that, you hightail it out of here. I don't want to see you until the next full moon, got that?I think there's a little boy who's in need of some pure grade, quality time, if you know what I mean."
He turned to Clark. "You make sure that happens."
Clark smiled and nodded. "Absolutely."
"Good." Perry released Lois and turned to walk away.
"But what about my other articles?"
Perry turned to face his favorite reporter. "Intergang will be here when you get back. And for the other stuff… I've got two words for ya: Tele. Commute. Now scat."
Lois and Clark holed up in a conference room as they worked to finish up a write-up on Lois's interaction with Bill Church Sr. She couldn't release many of the details, but the public would be enthralled by the basic story. It had been a long day.
After meeting with the Feds, they had been grilled by the police. The Planet's insurance company had required that a physician check Lois over again, and the exclusive interview with the new superhero had made it just in time for the Late Edition. Lois had been adamant about finishing as many articles as possible before they left for Smallville, saying she planned on spending at least a few days without touching her laptop.
Clark didn't have much hope for that plan succeeding, but went along with it anyway.
"Let's wait to head to the farm in the morning," Clark said, glancing across the table where Lois was massaging the back of her neck with one hand, while typing with the other.
She looked up at from her laptop and smiled. "Good idea."
Clark pulled a copy of the Late Edition from the pile on the table. "Superman?"
The front page was dominated by a 42-point headline declaring 'My Interview with Superman. An exclusive by Lois Lane.'
"I like the sound of it," she explained, smirking.
"Isn't it a little… egotistical?"
"Oh, don't tell me you're embarrassed!" She could see that he was.
She saved her current document and walked to stand behind his chair. Leaning down, she placed her chin on his shoulder and crossed her arms on his chest. Together they looked at the paper.
"The name is the last thing you should be worried about," she offered, lightly.
Clark gazed at the picture. In it, Superman was launching himself into the sky, one arm pointing upward, and the other bent at his side.
"I knew those underwear things were a bit much. It's the yellow belt. Too many colors."
Lois laughed, her breath tickling his ear. "This coming from the King of Plaid. Maybe we should ask Perry to move you to Fashion and Style."
Clark set the paper on the table and swiveled his chair around to face her. "But then you'd miss me."
Lois arched an eyebrow. "I might."
A knock rapped on the door right before it swung open. "Lois, you've got a call on Line One."
Lois straightened and faced Jimmy. "Who is it?"
"Your father."
Her eyes narrowed and she moved back to her seat. "Take a message."
"Lois," Clark began.
She held up a hand to stop him. "I'm not in the mood for him today, Clark. We'll have to postpone the whole olive branch ceremony for a while, okay? I don't need anymore drama right now."
"I'm sure he's seen the news and just wants to make sure you're okay," Clark said.
"Tell him I'm okay, and then take a message," she instructed Jimmy, who was silently watching the dynamics in the room.
Lois turned to Clark. "Look, I'll talk to him eventually, and when I do, you can mediate. Better yet, we'll get this guy to do it," she said, pointing to the picture of Superman.
Clark eyed her for a minute. "Take a message, Jim."
"Got it." Jimmy gave each of them a final look and left, pulling the door shut behind him.
Lois sat down and started typing again. "There. Finished," she announced, clenching and unclenching her hands to stretch her fingers. "Can we go home now?"
"About that interview…"
Lois finished brushing her teeth and spat into the sink. While rinsing her toothbrush, she turned to face Clark, where he was standing in the doorframe of the bathroom.
"Yeah, what about it?" she asked.
"I did mention that it was going to cost you, didn't I?"
Lois turned off the water and put her toothbrush into its holder. "I think I remember you saying something like that. How much?"
Clark smiled and moved to the side so she could exit. "You're in luck. I'm running a special."
"Which is?"
"Me not sleeping on the couch." He fixed her with his best puppy-dog look.
Lois tried to hold off a grin. "You could fly," she offered.
Clark pouted, and she released a laugh. The truth was, after the intense action of the day, they both wanted the comfort from being near each other. They both wanted it, but neither knew how to approach it.
Lois had almost died. Yes, it wasn't the first time, but it was the first time she hadn't seen any way out of it. Not until a pair of arms snatched her out of the way.
For Clark, his world had been turned upside down. It had been busted apart, and rebuilt in ice around him. He now understood how he could finally be himself, and be who he was always meant to be. The one thing that had remained constant through it all was the importance of the woman standing before him.
They stared at one another for a prolonged moment. Lois had been shocked to the core when he had told her what he remembered about the events that had taken place after she touched the stone.
It seemed that the destiny both sought for themselves had been intertwined from the start.
"Okay," she said, turning to walk to her room. "But see if you can stay on your side this time."
Clark blushed and followed her.
Lois sighed. She couldn't sleep. "Clark," she whispered. "You awake?"
"Yeah."
She rolled over onto her stomach and turned her head in his direction.
"So what are you going to do? Start patrols like a police officer or something like that?"
"I guess so. I'm not really sure. Doing patrols sounds like a good idea."
Lois rose to her elbows and gazed down at him. "I couldn't remember if I thanked you earlier."
Clark shrugged. "You don't have to."
"Maybe not," she said. She was silent for a few moments. "I love you."
Clark's breath caught in his throat at the words. He was momentarily stunned, but refocused when he realized that she was still talking.
"I want to tell you that now- not because you can fly, or because you're about to become Metropolis's biggest celebrity … I don't want you to think that I want you for your money," Lois explained.
Clark couldn't control the grin that took over his face. "No?"
"But I do want you for your body," she teased, running a finger over his t-shirt clad chest.
Unlike the night before, Clark couldn't control the groan that escaped as her soft touch attacked his will. "Lois," he moaned. "What are you doing?"
She laughed and slid her hand to his side. "Trying to see if you're ticklish."
Clark shot her a smug grin. "Well, you can't get me there. I'm not ticklish."
"Oh," Lois frowned, disappointed. She began to pull her hand away, but in a quick move, changed direction, and traced her nails down the inside of his nearest leg, testing the sensitive skin exposed by his sleeping shorts.
Clark let out a surprised yell, and grabbed for the offending hand. He rolled her onto her back, and pinned her arms above her head.
Lois was having trouble catching her breath as she was overcome with laughter. "Sorry, I had to try. You can't tell a Lane that there's something she can't do."
Clark glared at her for a minute, and then his gaze softened. "I love you."
Lois smiled up at him. "I know."
Clark grinned as he leaned down to kiss her. From the look in her eyes, he knew that she finally did.
tbc
