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.
Notes: Sorry for the very belated updated on this one. Life got in the way of posting this. But here it is. And thanks again to those of you that gave feedback and took the time to read. Love ya'll.
Ten
If it was one thing Lacey did, it was plan ahead. She'd chosen to take her vacation time the last week of May. So there she was. On vacation.
In her apartment. Wearing her pjs, watching dvds, and debating on making pancakes. Hey, she was actually good with pancakes.
So when there was a knock on her door, Lacey was a little annoyed by the interruption. She rolled off her couch and hit the floor with a groan. She was feeling that lazy. But she managed to get up and forced herself to walk to the door.
Lacey was going to kill Gina. She was. Gina had been warned not to bother her today, but she'd also seen the glint in her eyes. Lacey sighed as she unlocked the door. She was probably going to-
When she opened the door, it wasn't Gina on the other side. Oh no. Of course not. That would be fate being kind to her.
It was Clark, and in his hands were a bakery box and a gift-wrapped box.
Clark raised an eyebrow at her choice of attire. A purple tank top and matching pajama bottoms? Interesting. "This is how you spend your birthday?"
Lacey stepped aside and allowed him in. "It is when it's just me." Once inside, she shut and locked the door behind him. "How did you get up here and how did you know it was my birthday?"
"The answers to both your questions? Gina." Clark explained and set the boxes on the coffee table.
Yes, Gina was a dead woman, Lacey decided. A very dead woman. Lacey sighed and settled back onto the couch. She didn't lay down this time, but chose to sit up and pull her legs up to her chest. "Shouldn't you be at work?"
"I called in." He explained and sat down next to her. "I don't think they'll miss me for one day."
Lacey gasped in mock horror. "You're playing hooky? For shame. What kind of influence have I had on you?"
"The way I see it? A pretty good one." Clark smiled at her. When she ducked her head a little, he managed to catch a glimpse of the blush on her cheeks. That made his smile brighten. He liked having an effect on her. "What were you up to before I showed up?"
"I was watching movies." Lacey replied. She didn't look up until she felt the heat on her cheeks fade. Damn the man. "I was just about to start 'Grosse Pointe Blank'."
Several movies, some quick exits featuring Superman, six Chinese take out boxes, and half a cake later the pair were still watching movies.
"Why did I sit through that?" Clark glanced down at Lacey in disbelief. The two had moved from the couch to the floor at some point and at that moment, Lacey and a penguin pillow were using his lap as a headrest.
Lacey preened. "Because I'm the birthday girl and I said please."
"How can that be your favorite movie?"
"Hey, 'Return of the Living Dead' is a horror movie masterpiece." Lacey had to defend her movie choice. She moved onto her back so that she could stare up at him. She began to list her reasons. "It has an amazing soundtrack, non-typical characters for the time, if you're into that sort of thing you get a punk chick's strip show, great special effects, insane logic, and hello? Tarman. TARMAN."
"Insane logic is right. The human jaw doesn't work that way. It can't-"
"Ok, don't. I used to have this exact same discussion with my brother. I already know it's not possible, but that's what makes it so fun." She smiled at him. "And you're mistaken by the way. It's not my favorite movie. It's my second favorite."
Clark groaned. If a zombie movie was her second favorite, he was afraid to know what her number one was. "Dare I ask?"
"I don't have it. I keep meaning to buy it, but then I get distracted by other shiny objects. Like tin foil. I'll be all, 'Ooh. Movie. I think it's time to- Shiny object! What was I doing?' Sometimes I have short attention span."
She was rambling. He knew he shouldn't have let her eat so much cake. "But what is it?"
"I knew you'd ask. It's 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'." Lacey laughed at the surprised look on his face. "Hey, I am allowed to have favorites that don't involve hordes of Uruk-Hai and zombies."
Clark chuckled. "If you don't have it, what's next on the agenda? More cake?" He regretted mentioning that.
She made a face. "Ugh.. No. I think I'm sick of cake."
"Considering you ate three pieces, I'm not surprised." Clark teased.
She pouted in response. "It was good cake! Where did you get it anyway?"
Clark was vague about it. "Just a bakery I like to go to." She didn't need to know it was in Europe.
The vague tone made her suspicious. Her eyes narrowed. "Where is it at?"
"This nice little neighborhood.." It was the truth. "If you behave yourself, I'll take you to it."
Lacey rolled her eyes. If he wanted to be cagey about it, she'd let him. For now. She turned onto her side and grabbed the remote again. "If it involves flying, that is so never happening."
Clark frowned down at her even as he instinctively brushed aside a lock of hair from her face. He'd been inviting her for flights for months, but she always refused. He had assumed she was afraid of heights, but she'd never actually told him. "What is it with you and flying?"
"…" She idly flipped through channels on the tv, doing her best to pretend that she wasn't aware of his hand that was now toying with her hair. "I hate heights. Fear. Not good. The one time I flew, when not in a plane, was on Harry's broom." Lacey paused. "And that sounds a little kinky and wrong. But seriously, a flying broomstick. I kept my eyes closed the whole time and he lost my fedora. Stupid birds. Stupid flying."
"You'd be perfectly safe with me." Clark told her. He'd never let anything happen to her. "I can't promise about the hats."
"Yeah, well, maybe so, but I'd be expected to look around and then I'd probably pass out and die." It wasn't the whole truth. Yes, Lacey was afraid of heights, but she also saw flying with Superman to be a Lois Lane/Love Interest of Choice kind of event. Then there was the whole logical issue that normal people do not fly at super speed without the possibility of death. Then again, this world had comic book logic. Who the hell survived being tossed around a crashing plane like a rag doll with only bruises and one fainting spell? Only Lois Lane and the funny citizens of comic book logic. No way in hell was Lacey risking her ass for something like that. "And really, if I die? I'd only be entertaining to medical research and necrophiliacs."
Clark grimaced. That wasn't a visual he really wanted. "Thanks for that."
"You're welcome." Lacey stopped channel surfing and left the tv on some random movie. Her brow furrowed as she tried to figure out what it was without using the viewing guide. "What is it with you and flying?"
"What do you mean?" Clark asked with a slight frown.
"I mean, I get that you like to fly. It's your thing." Lacey set the remote down and clutched her pillow. "But why--" Why use it as a way to get back into Lois's graces upon your return? A romantic ploy? And why ask her?
When she didn't finish her question, Clark frowned. "Why what?"
She remained silent for a moment before releasing a tired sigh. "Nevermind. I kind of didn't have much of a point. You should know my oddities by now, Mr. Kent."
"Just how likely is it that I'll ever know all of your 'oddities'?"
"Not very." Lacey said with a light shrug. "I can change at any random moment. In fact, watch as I now do something so outrageously out of character, that it makes you keel over from shock!" It took all of her willpower, but she sat up. She also tried very hard not to think about how comfortable he was.
Clark was watching her with interest and she did something he didn't expect.
She handed him the remote.
Never had she done that before.
He stared at her. She stared back.
"What did you do?"
Lacey blinked at him. "Say what?"
Clark folded his arms across his chest. "You're offering me control over something you cling to. You did something and want to distract me."
"I did not!" Lacey said indigently. She knew he was teasing, but come on. It was her birthday. It was her day to do things. "If I wanted to distract you, I'd give you a lap dance." His eyes widened and she flashed him a coy look. Score. "Who knows? You might even get a discount."
Clark gave her a wary look. Now he definitely knew the cake was a bad idea. Not that he minded her tactics.
Lacey grinned at him and reached out to ruffle his hair. "Stop giving me that look. You know full well I'd never give you a lap dance. Even with the discount, you couldn't afford it."
Clark had comment ready, but before he could speak, his hearing caught the sound of sirens.
Lacey knew that look. It was Clark's trouble radar doing its thing. She stood up with a stretch. "Shoo, Blue. People need you."
Clark was already standing and ready to leave again, but he felt a little guilty. He'd done this so many times today already… "Are you-"
That eyebrow of hers arched and she began to shove Clark toward her balcony. "Goooo. No worries and no complaints here. I'll love ya anyway." And Lacey's mind broke. Oh fuck. Damn damn damn. Lacey wanted to hit the backspace key and delete that last comment. She could only hope that Clark didn't think she meant it the way she really did. She risked a glance at Clark while retaining as cool of a demeanor as she could.
He was grinning at her. "I'll be sure to remember that."
Lacey felt the brief touch of his lips as he stole a kiss before zipping away to save the day. She blinked and glanced around the living room with a sigh. Her favorite reporter had left another mess when he left. Papers fluttered to the floor and several knick-knacks were on their side.
"Maybe I should superglue everything down…" She mumbled before attempting to clean things up.
Clark found Lacey in the kitchen when he returned. He had already changed out of his Superman costume and he was silently watching her while she stirred some batter. "What are you doing?"
Lacey cried out in surprise and dropped her spoon into the batter mix. She spun around with a glare. "Don't do that to me!" She snarled. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
He smiled apologetically at her and she seemed to calm down enough from being angry to being annoyed. "I'm sorry." She once again picked up the spoon and he joined her at the counter. "So.. What are you making?"
"Pancakes." Lacey replied and resumed stirring. She looked over at him with a slightly distant expression and allowed her eyes to quickly scan him. "Everything ok?"
"It was a fire." He didn't want to go into much detail with her. He felt as if it would sound like bragging. Besides, she was being a little chilly toward him and he wanted to know why. "Why pancakes?"
"I had a craving this morning, but then you brought cake and we ate lots of takeout. So now I want my belated pancakes." She frowned and turned her attention back to the pancake batter. It was obvious that she was trying to build some distance and Clark was not about to let that happen.
Whether her comment from earlier was a slip or not, and it was looking like it was, she had said it and Clark didn't want to let that go. He opened his mouth to tell her exactly that.
"I can't do this." Lacey growled in annoyance and set her bowl on the counter with a little too much force. She spun around and stared at him while he snapped his mouth closed. "I can't be all grouchy and bitter at you just because I went and said something stupid. Don't get me wrong, I can do that to anyone else, but I can't do that to you. And this is all your fault in the first place!"
She took a breath that was meant to be calming, but it didn't do the trick. "First you get me all comfortable and banter happy, then you sneak up and become what could be considered my best friend. Then you keep on confusing me like mad. I mean honestly! What am I supposed to think? Standing there with those bright blue eyes and adorkable smile, gee what's a kiss here and there going to do? A hell of a lot! And you introduce me to your mother? Then your ex visits and I get all jealous and imagine turning her into fish sticks and damn it, I really hate the fact that you look like a deer caught in headlights while I tell you that I am actually in love with you." Lacey placed her hands on her hips and glowered at him. "I hope you're pleased with yourself."
Clark had to admit it as he felt the smile on his face. He kind of was. Even as Lacey's glower turned to a look of wariness, he couldn't help but laugh. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. The maneuver caused her to 'eep' but she didn't actually protest. He leaned down toward her and she gave him a shifty look. "You have no idea."
Lacey swallowed, her bravado from just a moment ago had already faded. "Speaking of ideas.." She said in a soft tone, "This is a very bad one."
Clark lifted his free hand and gently pushed some falling strands of hair behind Lacey's ear. "The only reason you think that is because you're paranoid. Thankfully, your unique sense of paranoia is just one of the more endearing qualities that remind me why I love you."
"Yes, well I-" Lacey froze. If her own revelations had broken her brain, this one had just punched reality. Her eyes were wide. Get yourself together, girl! "--Oh." That was all she could say? Think, damn it! Think! "For the record, I'm not going to apologize for the fish stick thing."
"I wouldn't dream of asking." Clark laughed.
Lacey rolled her eyes and then surprised him when she hugged him tightly. She felt his arms tighten around her and she had to admit, continuity screw up or not? This was totally worth it. "This isn't going to change everything, is it?"
"What do you think?"
"I think I may need to get over my fear of flying." Lacey said and pulled him down for a kiss. Maybe, just maybe, she was getting a happy ending.
Since the world didn't end and Lacey didn't wake up on her couch in Missouri, there was a chance.
These days, that was good enough for her.
