Chapter 5: Morning Adjustment
BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ!
Clark woke up by the loud buzzing sound of the alarm clock.
He looked at it.
7:00 AM
He didn't even realize he fell asleep. Getting up and looking around, it became even more apparent that the previous nights' event wasn't a dream.
"Sweetheart..." some called out in another room. "Have you seen my press pass?"
He turned to the sound of her voice. Realizing who it was once again.
"Lois!"
He began pacing around the bedroom, trying to figure out a strategy. A mental debate occurred in his mind with thought's like, 'Do I tell her?' 'Do I wait?' and 'She'll think I'm crazy' swirled in his mind.
Suddenly, she appeared in front of him that it almost threw him off balance.
She lightly gripped his arm. "Honey, are you okay?" she asked worriedly.
Lois watched her husband fidget, almost as if he was nervous. Odd, she thought. He seemed a little unusual this morning. She had woken up to find him asleep on a chair by her bedside, and the only times she remembered him doing that was when he was afraid of something.
Clark momentarily froze before stuttering out that he was all right.
Her voice was soft, caring. It was as unfamiliar to him as the place he stood in now. But there was something more, something different. She was different. Last night in the dark, even with his x-ray vision, he only caught a glimpse of her. Now, looking at her more closely, she truly didn't look any different from the Lois he knew, yet there was something in her eyes that revealed otherwise. It looked older, mature, like its seen the world. He's feeling things, he doesn't know where they're coming from, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that she had something to do with it.
He continued to stare. She wore a business suit, black, with a white blouse underneath, and you could clearly tell that by the shape of her body, she stays fit. She looked beautiful in it. Beautiful? He's so confused.
Who was this woman and what did she do to the real Lois Lane?
"You should get dressed, we're going to be late for work," she continued, breaking him out of his thoughts.
Clark blinked. "Work?" He'd forgotten about the newspaper article he'd uncovered earlier. It looked like he and Lois were partners for the Daily Planet. That was one other revelation that took him by complete surprise. He liked journalism, but it had never occurred to him he'd actually pursue it as a profession.
She raised an eyebrow before he directed his attention below.
"Work... Right!" he tried to save himself.
"You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah," he replied almost a little too quickly.
Clark watched her turn back towards the bathroom. He looked at the suit and tie that hung near the door. He shook his head slightly, berating himself for being in a position he doesn't have a clue as to how to fix. He hurriedly puts the ensemble on.
The voices came again, and this time, it was louder than ever before. He tries to keep his bearing. Moments later, attempting to adjust his tie, for the last 10 minutes he's been nothing but nervous. So nervous, he didn't even realize Lois was behind him.
"Tough night, huh," she observed.
He stood silently before answering. "It was a little hard," he wasn't quite sure what words to use.
She softly pressed his hand away from his tie.
"Here, let me," she says, untying it to start from the beginning.
The voices stopped as it did earlier that morning. "Thanks," he smiled. Clark closed his eyes as Lois's body was pressed against his. The scent of her was intoxicating. Opening his eyes, he saw from the mirror a smile on her face.
"Yeah, well even a Superman needs help here and there," she says, her smile still there.
Raising an eyebrow. What's a superman, he thought to himself. The comment was kind of off, but it sounded like she was comparing him to something or someone. He wasn't quite sure which. His curiosity quickly dissipated upon realizing how close and comfortable he had gotten with her in the last few seconds.
"Ready?"
He smiled again. "After you"