Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except Lacey. And believe me, she wishes I didn't. Everyone else belongs to Warner Brothers, DC Comics and all sorts of people that are not little old me.

Seven

Lacey swore as she stumbled down the empty hallway. She stopped and knelt down to massage one of her ankles. "Damn it. How the fuck do I manage to stumble when there isn't anything around to trip up on?"

It was late in Metropolis, but here she was, still in the Daily Planet building, trying to reorganize some files that the temp that had taken her place had scattered around. She had been home sick with the flu and upon returning, she'd discovered that she had missed out on a Bruce Wayne appearance at the Planet. Fuck. That would have almost made this scenario worth it. Mmm. Bale. But if that weren't enough, the temp had either eaten or moved her stash of Skittles from her desk.

Lacey looked up and could see the snow falling beyond the window. It was December already. When Halloween had come, it wasn't so bad. Her neighbor had invited her to a costume party that she threw every year. She'd had fun, so it helped ease the pangs of missing her family.

But then Thanksgiving had come. She'd spent it alone, allowing herself to actually wallow in her miserable state of life. She'd even done the unthinkable and downed an entire bottle of cheap wine all by herself. Boy, did she regret that the following morning.

It was now the real holiday season. The big one.

She hadn't even realized she'd moved from her spot in the hallway, until she found herself touching the cold glass of the window. The snow was everywhere in the city, but it was turning to slush quickly enough. But at night, in the darkness, the starlight, with the city lights.. It almost made one believe the snow would remain a cold but lovely blanket to decorate the city.

Christmas was going to kill her. She knew this. She also knew she should get back to work. But she didn't budge. She wanted to go home.

At this point, she'd settle for a Chevy Impala and its owners.

Lacey shook her head. Enough of the pity party. Save it for The Day. She turned on her heel and headed for her desk. As soon as she was there, instead of working, she grabbed her coat and headed for the elevators. She wanted to be up on the roof again.

Soon enough, she was standing on the snow-covered rooftop and staring over the ledge again. The rooftop moments of solitude were becoming a new habit for her. Lacey liked to think it was her way of trying to kill her fear of heights, but in reality, it was a way to remind her that no matter how high you got, you could always fall down.

She wasn't sure how long she'd been standing there while clutching her coat closed and just watching the snow fall.

"Working late?"

Lacey sighed inwardly. It figured. The caped one had probably been doing his fly by sweep of the city. She didn't bother turning around as she leaned over the edge again. "I prefer to think of it as paid procrastination." She heard him chuckle lightly and she closed her eyes. Mm. Snow. "I have the strong desire to build a snowman."

She could feel the warmth radiate from him as he joined her at the ledge. "So why don't you?"

"Because I make really lousy snowmen." She smirked and sent an amused glance his way. "They look like defective mutants that got a little touch of the fire happys." Lacey kept her eyes on him. "So what's up? I mean, you're Superman. You should be out there fighting the good fight. Why are you standing here talking to me?"

"I'm making sure you haven't had any run ins with rogue fortune cookies." He replied with a mildly amused tone.

"I had take out yesterday and I actually got a fortune." Lacey announced proudly. "It said 'You are almost there'. I'm pretty sure it was in reference to that glorious day when I finally take over the world."

Superman smiled at her, knowing by now that she was kidding. "Exactly how are you going to do that?"

"I can't actually tell you. But it does involve the Burger King guy and the Quaker Oats guy." Lacey shuddered. "Those commercials still freak me out and I've seen some scary shit." After being gifted with another light laugh from Superman, Lacey allowed herself to go quiet.

The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable, which was a little odd considering who they were and the fact they really didn't know each other at all.

It was shattered by Lacey's now quiet voice. "Do you ever get tired of keeping people away? Never letting them know the truth? Even when you know it's better that way?"

Superman looked at her, only to find her staring down at the streets below. Something about the way she spoke told him that she wasn't asking about his own situation. He took a deep breath. "Sometimes. Why do you ask?"

"Because I keep doing it. Doesn't matter w- And there I go. Doing it again." She chewed on her lower lip. Breathe. Chill. Her eyes closed. "You aren't a savior you know."

His watchful eyes never wavered even though she had changed the subject rather quickly. "I never claimed to be."

"People like thinking you are. Which isn't fair to you or to them." She began tapping her booted foot onto the roof. "Instead of being inspired by you, too many people shrug off responsibility to you. Why do it themselves when Superman can do it for them? So, when you decide to go off and find something of your own, you get saddled with a guilt complex as soon as you come back, all because of the things you missed while you were gone."

Lacey wasn't done yet. "Yes, you have powers. Yes, it's up to you to use them responsibly. But it's not up to you to remain frozen on some narrow pedestal. You aren't here to coddle humanity like an overprotective nanny. You're here to just do the best you can at whatever it is you choose to do. It's the glory of free will and if anyone deserves a shot at something for themselves, it's you. Even if it's like, a pet cow named Horatio that acts like an elephant in a ballet."

"May I ask where this is coming from?"

Lacey pushed herself away from the ledge. "It's something that's been nagging at me for awhile. I figured I may as well say it all now before I snap and do it in public."

He found himself wanting to break the moment of melancholy that filled the air. He also knew by now that something kind wouldn't cut it. "The flaw in that plan is that it would actually require me to talk to you in public." He knew he was smirking now. "Why would I subject myself to that?"

He found his reply in the form of snow being thrown in his direction.