A couple of days later, Clark returns home to his apartment. He was out buying groceries and was packing them away. There was a knock at his door. He expected it to be Lois, as the two were meeting up for lunch. Clark opens the door and to his surprise, he sees Bruce Wayne standing in his door way. Clark is taken aback as Bruce enters his apartment.
"Clark Joseph Kent. Raised in Smallville Kansas and currently residing in Metropolis. Allis' Superman and Kal-El." Bruce says coldly.
"How did you-
"Check your cape." Bruce says as he cuts Clark off.
Clark stares at Bruce for a moment, the uses his super speed to head to his closet. On his cape he finds a micro device in the shape of a bat. It's a tracker.
"You may not want to speed home after a night of being Superman, just in case someone is tracking you." Bruce says.
"What do you want?" Clark asks.
"What do you?" Bruce asks back.
"You're style of fighting crime. Don't you think it's a bit… aggressive?" Clark asks.
"It's necessary to get the job done." Bruce says.
"Is it?" Clark asks.
"Yes." Bruce says.
"Bruce, you bludgeon your enemies to a pulp and then drop them off in prison." Clark says.
"Where they belong." Bruce says.
"I don't disagree but-
"My methods may be crude, but they are required. We're not all invulnerable. Sometimes in the heat of the fire you have to make a judgement call. But never think I don't have a code to live by." Bruce says.
"The Batman doesn't kill." Clark says.
"Never." Bruce says.
"So you use fear to your advantage. Don't you worry about the psychological effects?" Clark asks.
"Don't act so innocent Clark. You really believe people don't fear the Superman. Look at how you commanded the U.S. navy last month." Bruce says.
Clark stood back. He knew Bruce was right about that. His use of power to instill fear into those soldier's still haunted his dreams.
Clark and Bruce stood there, staring at each other for a long moment. The door then opened and Lois walked in.
"You know Clark, you may want to move into a building with an elevator because three flights of stairs in heels-"
Lois pauses for a moment as she sees both Clark and Bruce standing in his kitchen.
"Bruce Wayne?!" Lois says in shock.
"Pleasure to meet you Miss…
"Lane, Lois Lane." Lois says
"Ah yes I'm familiar with your work in the Planet. And might I say you're even more lovely in person." Bruce says as he takes Lois's hand.
"Oh, well, my. Nice to meet you too." Lois says, flustered and flattered.
Clark could not believe to one-eighty Bruce did when Lois walked in the door. It was like Bruce Wayne and Batman were two completely different people.
"So, Bruce, what are you doing in farm boy's apartment here?" Lois asks.
"Clark had reached out to talk to me about my plans for revitalizing Gotham's downtown district." Bruce says.
"And you made a trip to Metropolis just for that?" Lois asks, not really buying it.
"Only the best, for the Daily Planet." Bruce says.
"Anyway Mr. Kent, if you want more info for your story, you know where to find me." Bruce says as he heads off.
"We gonna talk about this?" Lois asks.
"Come on, let's go to lunch." Clark says.
Lois and Clark head to Bibbo's diner for lunch. Clark stares down at the menu as Lois stares a hole through Clark's head.
"The fish sticks sound good." Clark says.
"You going to tell me?" Lois asks.
"Tell you what?" Clark asks, already knowing the answer.
"You know what! Why was Bruce Wayne in your apartment?" Lois asks.
"He told you. I'm doing a story on Gotham's downtown district." Clark says.
"And the head of Wayne Enterprises just hopped on his private jet to fly here and discuss it with you?" Lois asks.
"He can afford it." Clark says.
"You folks ready to order?" Bibbo asks as he comes to their table.
"Actually, something has come up, I won't be able to stay." Lois says as she gets up and leaves the table.
Clark looks on in disappointment and confusion.
The rest of the weekend goes by without Lois and Clark speaking to each other. Monday comes around and both of them sit in the office, but isolated from each other. Jimmy makes his morning rounds.
"Here's your coffee Miss Lane." Jimmy says.
"Thank you, Jimmy." Lois says.
"Do you need anything else?" Jimmy asks.
"Go see what Clark's looking at on his computer." Lois says.
"Oh gee Miss Lane, I don't know." Jimmy says
"Come on Jimmy, be a pal." Lois snaps.
Jimmy hesitantly walks over to Clark's desk.
"Hey Mr. Kent, you need anything?" Jimmy asks.
"No, I'm good right now Jimmy." Clark says.
Jimmy stands there for an extra moment, looking at Clark's screen.
"Do you need something Jimmy?" Clark asks.
"Oh- uh no, sorry Mr. Kent." Jimmy says as he speeds off.
Clark goes back to his work as Jimmy heads back to Lois's desk.
"What'd you find Jimmy?" Lois asks.
"It looks like he was going through some articles on Bruce Wayne." Jimmy says.
"What are you working on?" Lois says to herself.
Jimmy continues making his rounds and heads to Cat Grant's desk.
"Hey Miss Grant, can I get you anything?" Jimmy asks.
"What's the situation with Lois and Clark?" Cat asks.
"I- um I- uh- I don't know what you mean." Jimmy says, flustered.
"Come on Jimmy, spill the dirt." Cat says.
"Things are icy, I don't know why." Jimmy says as he speeds off.
Cat makes sure that the story of Lois and Clark's relationships demise makes it through the news room by the end of the day.
Steve Lombard approaches Lois's desk as the day comes to an end. Steve was the senior sports editor at the Planet. He was loud, obnoxious, and believed himself to be very macho.
"Hey Lois, the Sharks have just four games left this season." Steve says.
"Yeah, their playoff hopes are still alive." Lois says.
"They're playing Gotham in a make-or-break game this Sunday. I got box seats; you want to go?" Steve asks.
"Why yes, YES STEVE I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO THE GAME WITH YOU." Lois says very loudly, making sure that Clark can hear.
Clark felt about Steve the same way that Lois felt about Cat.
Cat then approached Clark's desk.
"Clark you got plans for dinner tonight?" Cat asks.
"Well Cat I-
"Oh come on, no you don't. What do you say we go out for a meal?" Cat insists.
"Well um, alright." Clark says hesitantly.
Clark shows up to the restaurant at eight. He didn't do too much to prepare. He's dressed nice, but not too nice. Cat comes in the door in a tight white dress and white stiletto heels. These two obviously have differing ideas on what to expect tonight.
"Cat- uh hello." Clark says, caught off guard by how great Cat looks tonight.
He stands up and pulls Cat's chair out for her.
"Such a gentleman." Cat says.
"You look great." Clark says.
"I try." Cat says back.
The waiter comes over and the two order their food.
"So Clark, you and Lois, where do you two stand?" Cat asks, going right for it.
"Well, I'm not really sure." Clark says.
"How do you mean? Are you a couple, not a couple? What's the deal?" Cat presses.
"It-s uh- it's complicated." Clark says.
"It may be complicated, but that's too easy of an answer." Cat says.
Clark sighs.
"Do you keep secrets?" Clark asks.
"Everyone does Clark." Cat says.
"Well let's say I know a secret, not my own but someone else's. Is it my place to share this information with a significant other?" Clark asks.
"You really care about Lois, don't you?" Cat asks.
"Yes, I do." Clark says.
"And what about this other person?" Cat asks.
"I'm- I'm not so sure about them." Clark says.
"Well if you care about Lois as much as you claim, you should tell her. If you really see a future with her, you're going to have to be completely honest." Cat says.
Clark sits back and think. He actually thinks Cat is right.
"Thank you Cat, you're a good friend." Clark says.
"Yeah… just a friend." Cat says.
The week goes by and Clark thinks about what Cat said. Him and Lois don't interact any more than they need to for work. Sunday comes around and Lois heads to the Metropolis football game with Steve Lombard.
The two meet at the stadium. Lois was wearing an old Metropolis Sharks jersey. It was kind of beat up. She hadn't been to a game in years.
"Helllloooooooiiisss!" Steve says, thinking it sounded really clever.
"Hi Steve, Lois says, already disinterested.
The two watch the first half of the game. Steve continues to make what he thinks are witty comment, only receiving a slight head not from Lois in return. Half time hits with Gotham having a slight lead on Metropolis.
"Are you enjoying the game?" Steve asks.
"Uh yeah it's great." Lois says
"You seem distracted Lois." Steve says.
"I'm sorry Steve, everything is great. It's just- it's Clark." Lois says.
"What's even going on with you two?" Steve asks.
"I don't know. I think he's keeping something from me, I just don't know what it is." Lois says.
"I think I have Kent figured out." Steve says.
"You do?" Lois asks.
"Yeah, his big secret." Steve says.
"What do you mean?" Lois asks, worried that Steve Lombard of all people knows that Clark actually is Superman.
"I have a theory about Kent. Have you noticed how he's a real body guy, but not a sports guy?" Steve asks.
"I guess I've never really thought about that." Lois says.
"I'm just saying, I think Clarky boy doesn't like the ladies. But don't worry, I do." Steve says.
Lois's anticipation shatters. She should have known to not expect such a deep analysis from Lombard.
"I uh- I don't think that's it." Lois says.
The game comes back and the two watch. But Lois can't get Clark off her mind. After the game, she thanks Steve for the tickets and heads to her car. He mind is on auto-pilot as she drives to Clark's apartment.
She knocks and Clark opens the door.
"Hi." He says, not expecting to see her standing there.
"Hi." She says back.
"Can we talk?" Lois continues.
Clark lets her in.
"Lois- I have been wrestling with this all week." Clark says.
"Clark, I know something is up. I just don't want you lying to me about it." Lois says.
"I know." Clark says.
"I can put up with the missed dinners and cancelled dates, because I know you're off saving the world. But what- what could be so big that you keep it from me. And how does it involve Bruce Wayne?" Lois asks.
"It's something I've really struggled with all week." Clark says.
"Don't you trust me?" Lois asks.
"Of course." Clark says.
Clark sighs.
Bruce Wayne… is… Batman." Clark says.