Lucius Fox's Residence, Gotham City
Night came down, and Lois and Clark chatted alongside the streets of Gotham until they made it to her uncle's place of residence. Clark was a bit overwhelmed; it looked like a townhouse version of Lex's mansion back in Smallville.
"He lives here?"
Lois smiled at his uneasiness. She put a hand to his shoulder to help him relax. "He doesn't judge," she whispered by his ear, her warm breath intoxicating him.
"Okay," he responded absentmindedly.
She quirked an eyebrow amused before walking up the stairs. She unlocked the door and gestured for Clark to come in. He slowly makes his way into the beautifully textured home, placing his coat on a nearby hanger.
They both hear laughter coming from the kitchen.
Clark turns to Lois. "Are you expecting anyone else?"
Lois shrugged, giving him a no. "Only you," she affirmed. She walked past him and headed to the kitchen, Clark followed closely behind. "Oh you've got to be kidding me," he heard her mutter under her breath.
She spun around abruptly, almost crashing into Clark. "Are you okay?" he asks, concern in his voice.
Lois smiled, caressing his cheek with her hand before taking a deep breath and answering. "I am now," she says softly that it made Clark want to reach out and kiss her. She turned sideways, waving him to the kitchen where Clark was met with two pairs of eyes that were obviously powerful.
The older man approached him with an air of calm and pleasant authority, nothing like that of The Luthor's. He shook Clark's hand with a genuine smile.
"Lucius Fox," he introduced himself. "So you're the man that makes my girl smile," he says with an even bigger smile gracing across his face, which garnered a look of flush and annoyance from Lois.
"Uncle Luke!" she complained.
Lucius continued to smile at the two. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Fox," Clark greeted faithfully in return.
Mr. Fox waved him off. "Hey now, let's have none of that. Formalities are forbidden in this house, Lucius would do just fine," he ordered playfully, yet honestly. It was at that moment that Clark could see where some of Lois's more charming personality traits come from and already had the feeling that he was going to like Lucius Fox.
The second person he noticed almost immediately that he had to mask the surprise look on his face. Standing at about six feet tall with jet-black hair and expensive wardrobe, Clark stood face to face with the dark avenger himself, Bruce Wayne.
"Bruce Wayne," he reached out to shake his hand. Clark was hesitant a moment, not because he found him distrustful, but because he didn't know what his agenda was.
"I know who you are," Clark answered, shaking his hand firmly.
Bruce felt his defensive tone coming out in waves, especially in his grip. He quickly glanced at Lois who focused her attention on both her uncle and this… Clark.
Bruce truly has his work cut out for him. Not that he had any intention of wooing her away. It's becoming more and more evident that Lois Lane has eyes for only one person, and he isn't the type of man to make trouble in what appears to be a serious relationship.
"So what brings you to our fair city?" Bruce asks in pleasant conversation.
Before Clark could answer, Lois interrupts. "What are you doing here?"
"Lo, he's my guest," Lucius explained.
"Whom you failed to mention was coming," Lois argued.
It was becoming apparent to Clark that Lois and Bruce have had some kind of relationship. Clark wasn't a religious type, but he hoped to God that it wasn't that kind of relationship.
"It was last minute; Mr. Wayne and I were discussing business." While Lois and Lucius squabbled back and forth, Clark was in the living room, staring intently at all the multi-cultured items displayed throughout the room. One item caught his eye, a shield with an emblem on it that briefly reminded him on that one trip he left for Metropolis during his earlier years in Smallville High.
"It's the Emblem of the Order," a voice says from behind. Clark kept his back towards him.
"I know," Clark replies simply.
"Oh, so you know you're history"
"No, I know this Emblem," he corrected.
So the guy did have a backbone, Bruce thought to himself. He looked awfully familiar to him though.
"I was wondering if we've met before?" asks Bruce who never forgets a face.
Clark finally turned around and shook his head. "No, I don't think so," he lied. They met while he was portraying his alter-ego, but I doubt he'd want to know that and the last thing he wanted was one of the world's most richest men asking him questions about how he found out. He's had enough of that with one other millionaire to last him two lifetimes.
"So how long have you and Miss Lane known each other?"
"What does it matter to you?" he questioned him in return.
"I'm only curious"
"Okay fellas," Lucius walks into the room. "Dinner's ready, I'm not a half-bad cook," he assured. The two men chuckle at the older man's enthusiasm before following him to the other room where Clark sees Lois by the stove.
With the awkward conversation he and Bruce had before, it quickly disappeared as Clark inched nearer to Lois's side. Bruce observed.
"I seriously hope you're not cooking," he says coming up behind her over her right shoulder, his left hand resting around her midsection. Bruce's suspicion was confirmed. Lois Lane is taken.
She tilted her head to the side and looks at Clark with a grin. "Sadly, no. I've been demoted from chopping vegetables to tossing a pre-made salad bag into a bowl."
Clark looked back at her with a teasing smile. "Well, I think you're doing a great job. I especially like that 'grip the bowl' technique," he says watching Lois flip the salad bag upside down while the contents fall into the bowl she held in her other hand.
"Oh, well I'm glad that you're humor wasn't lost on your way here"
Clark smiled brightly before a resounding 'ahem' was heard by the other half of their company.
Clark flushed a bit red at being caught so openly by the affectionate words he and Lois were sharing. He stepped back to let go when he felt Lois's hand stop him on her midsection. He was surprised yet ecstatic at what this could mean.
"Come on everyone before our food gets cold," Lucius urged, winking at Lois at the same time. It was such a good change to see his girl smiling so much. This young man seems like a good enough guy for her.
All four sat down to eat which was quickly followed by lively chatter, and for two hours, they sat comfortably around the dinner table talking of tales and experience. Conversation ranged from politics, to economics, art and even music.
For Bruce, it was a welcomed change. As much as he enjoyed his regular conversations with Alfred, and his sporadic interludes with both Mr. Fox and Rachel, the only other times he's had an opportunity to participate in group talks were in the company of businessmen, not friends. He hoped this would be a first of many.
For Lucius, it too was a welcomed change to have his dinner table filled with pleasant faces. His goddaughter, Lois, for one, and of course Bruce. This Clark character was winning his approval with little effort and he couldn't be happier for his Lo.
Clark sat and conversed with them happily and without fear of judgment. It was rare for him, other than his parents and Chloe, and sometimes even Lana; he rarely found himself in this kind of position where the subject of conversation wasn't about meteor freaks or himself. It was a refreshing change and it was a change he didn't mind at all. It also amazed him how easily Bruce differentiated himself against Batman. He wondered himself whether he was capable of such a disguise. Perhaps one day.
Lastly, Lois sat eying each man that surrounded her closely. Two of them meant the world to her, and the third, Bruce, well; he's somewhat of an enigma. Unpredictable to her but he seemed to have tamed his attempts to get to know her by simply putting away the confidence and letting the rest of them see the man. She finally had to admit that he was a decent guy and was thankful all of them got along.
When dinner was through, Lois and Clark helped with the dishes as Lucius and Bruce conversed a little more about business.
Clark passed the washed plate to Lois while she wiped it dry. "Thank you," he says to Lois, who looks at him confusingly.
"For what?"
"For tonight, I had a lot of fun," he tells her sincerely.
She smiles at him in return. "Me too"
This time, Clark didn't let his fears get in the way. He kissed her softly and when it was returned, Clark cupped her cheek forgetting all about the wet soapy dishes in his hand. They break apart, Clark apologizing profusely as Lois just chuckled.
"Sorry," he says again.
"It's all right, Clark, no harm done." She hands him the dish cloth so he could do the honors. Clark grins and took it without question, wiping the foamy soap of her soft cheek. The touches and close proximity between them were electrifying.
"We should finish up and join your uncle"
"We should," she agreed, but not looking all that convincing.
Clark took a deep breath, trying his best to keep some kind of distance, but he was failing miserably.
"I think I hear your uncle calling," he says but he really wasn't.
"Hmm…" she mumbled, their lips inching closer.
Just as their lips were about to meet once more, Bruce burst in. Lois will have to rethink about her earlier assessment of Mr. Wayne.
"I'll be heading out," he announced, putting on his coat. "Clark, it was great to meet you," he shook Clark's hands once more before turning to Lois. "Miss Lane," he nodded politely.
"It's Lois, you can call me Lois," she says.
Bruce smiled gratefully.
"Goodnight Lois"
"You too"
Once he was gone, Clark turns to her. "He seems like a nice guy"
"Uncle Luke is a good judge of character"
"I thought he didn't judge"
"Not right away," she smiled.
Clark grinned.
To be continued…