A/N: Longer chapter, a turning point really. Lex makes his move, Lois learns more about herself and Clark. And Clark. Let's all feel sorry for poor Clark (AWWWWW!) Please review. I lack basic human contact.
Disclaimer: A monkey in the zoo would own more of this than me. At least he gets to keep his own poop...
Chapter 11 - Confessions Part II
Six months passed quickly. Clark and Lois had settled back into their partnership, testing the limits of tapdancing. They had gone out on several more dates, each one as good as the first. Last week, Clark had actually kissed Lois goodnight. Not just a quick peck on the cheek, but a real kiss with full blown passion. Lois kicked herself for not doing it sooner. It was definitely the best kiss she had ever had.
Superman was still in the news, and would never be considered a minor story, but he had reached a comfortable level of acceptance in the world. He made it clear he would help where he could, but humanity had to solve it's own problems. Lois respected that.
The latest Superman story was the most curious. He had stopped an out of control car from slamming into a group of pedestrians. But, afterward, he had staggered slightly, as if he was weak with some type of sickness. With a quick look around, he leapt into the sky without another word.
Clark had talked to Chloe on the phone after the incident with the car. Thinking back on the episode, he had related that it felt just like Kryptonite exposure.
"Are you sure Clark?"
"Yes. It felt just like Kryptonite radiation, just not as strong, so it wasn't too close to me. That could've been a disaster."
"No kidding. LexCorp cleaned up most all of the meteor rock just after you disappeared. You don't think…"
"Lex seems hell bent to destroy me. He is still obsessed with the Kiwatchee legends."
"Be careful, Clark."
Clark had every intention of being careful. But would it be enough to deal with the likes of Lex Luthor?
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"The plan is in place, Mr. Luthor. We are waiting for your signal to execute" said a disembodied voice in the penthouse of the LexCorp tower.
"You have authorization. Proceed as planned." Said Lex, staring into the shadows. For months, Lex's operatives had been creating situations that would test Superman's abilities, observing and recording. Failure after failure had plagued him, until he thought of the meteor rocks of Smallville, Kansas. He had cleaned up the town and had the specimens stored in New York. He was planning to study the effects of meteor rock radiation on human mutation. But, he thought that maybe it could be turned into his ultimate weapon. And, he was right. He reviewed the high definition tapes of Superman's latest test and noted the weakening effects of the radiation. At a distance of twenty meters, the rocks weakened him. Much closer, they might kill him. Very soon, Naman, we will see if you are as invulnerable as you think.
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Lois loved her new car. It was sporty, but not pretentious. Insurance, gas, parking and the payments all but killed her new raise, but the status was worth it. Clark had cautioned her about saving for a rainy day, but she laughed him off. Next he'll be telling me that thunder causes sour milk.
She was stopped at a red light, tapping her nails to the beat on the radio. She liked good old hard rock, not the wimpy emo-rock that Clark preferred. She was so occupied, she didn't spy the two men nearing her car.
Without warning, Lois' door opened and a man reached in, grabbing her. She tried to scream, but he clapped a hand over her mouth. His partner looked at him and said, "Remember the plan, we want her to scream. That way, he'll be sure to come."
Lois was scared and confused. They WANT Superman to come? The ruffian pulled his hand off her mouth and said, "Go ahead, call for Superman."
Lois clamped her mouth shut. The men frowned and looked at each other. One shrugged and punched Lois in the jaw. She staggered, held upright by her captors. They wrenched her arm around her back, causing an involuntary scream. "That's the spirit!" one joked.
"You won't be so cocky when Superman shows up" spat Lois.
"Miss Lane, that's just what we want" one grinned.
They know my name! Thought Lois. This is some kind of trap?!
Like a falcon, and with a cracking of pavement, Superman appeared in front of them all. "Let her go" he said sternly.
One of the men produced a gun and pointed it at Superman. Superman chuckled, "You don't read much, do you?" he stared the man down.
The man's reply was a smirk and shrug. "Compliments of Lex Luthor, Superman." The man fired.
Lois swore that time stopped. She saw a streak of green shoot out of the gun and strike Superman in the upper chest. She knew guns. They don't make tracer rounds for .45 caliber, do they? She watched in horror as Superman's face registered surprise, then shock. He crumpled to the ground and screamed. Oh, God! They figured out how to hurt him! She was forgotten as the thugs celebrated.
"Man! Did you see that! This stuff really works!" said one. He reached out for the gun, "Lemme shoot him once before we finish him off!" His partner handed over the gun, and they went to Superman, who was writhing in pain on the cold asphalt.
Lois took advantage of the distraction to grab the tire iron she kept next to the seat. Springing into action, she clubbed the man with the gun in the back of the head. His partner barely had time to react when she beat him to unconsciousness. She dropped her weapon and retrieved the gun, tossing it in the sewer drain. She ran to Superman, who's skin was turning a sickly green. His upper chest was seeping blood from the neat bullet hole. "I'm going to get you to a hospital!" she told him.
"No" he gasped weakly. "No hospitals. Take…me…to…Clark's…partment."
Lois was flabbergasted. "Clark's! You need a doctor! You've been shot, for God's sake!"
Superman's breathing was labored. "Please…hurry…bullet…poison" he said as he began to lose consciousness.
Lois took off her shirt and pressed it to the wound to try to staunch the bleeding. "Alright, I'll get you to Clark's, just stay with me!" She hauled him to the passenger seat and tossed him in, getting in and speeding across town.
She somehow dragged Superman up to Clark's apartment and got him in, using Clark's spare key he gave her, just in case. No one saw us, so I probably just used up all my karma. She dumped him in the middle of Clark's sparsely decorated living room, blood pooling on the wood floor. "Hey, stay with me, Superman, we're here." Clark was nowhere to be found in the apartment. He was usually there at this time of night. His balcony door was open to the breeze on this cold winter night.
Superman weakly pointed to a bookshelf. "Top…on top." He gasped.
Lois felt along the top of the shelf, and came down with a copy of War and Peace. She opened it, and was shocked to see that the pages had been gutted. Instead of a novel, there was a curious crystal, about the length and thickness of her forearm. "This thing? Is this what you need?" she asked him.
Superman took all his strength to nod. "Lois…bullet…poison…you…you have to get it out."
Lois stared at him in shock. She ran to the kitchen and started grabbing knives, forks and spoons, which she dumped next to him. Gritting her teeth, she picked up Clark's sharp paring knife and poised it over the wound. "It's in here deep. This is really going to hurt" she said.
Superman looked her in the eye and said, "Do it."
Lois tried to cut in a straight line, but he wouldn't stay still. And his screaming was definitely getting distracting. She opened the wound as best she could, then grabbed two spoons. She kept tugging gently at the bullet, trying to do as little damage as possible. Superman gave a final yell, then passed out, making her job much easier. His blood was in her hair, on her face and coated her hands and arms to the elbow. Tears in her eyes, she gave a final tug and the strange, glowing bullet fell from his flesh. Lois looked over at the crystal, which had begun to glow with a bright light. It appeared to suck the green glow out of the bullet, which shattered into dust.
Lois packed the wound with toilet paper and duct tape. Clark didn't even have a first aid kit or Band-Aids in his apartment. Lois tore the ruined suit off of his torso and grabbed some blankets. She had to prevent shock and hope that his alien physiology could heal. Her father had insisted that she get trauma and medic training when she was younger. If Superman lived, she swore to be the best daughter ever. She cradled Superman in her arms, covering them both with a blanket. She started to shake as the adrenaline burnt out of her system. Clark, I really need you, now. She couldn't stop the flow of tears, frightened for the hero lying there. Soon, she fell into a fitful sleep, going from one nightmare to another.
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Lois woke on the floor. She was a mess, covered in dried and sticky blood. She looked around, forgetting for a moment where she was. Then, she saw him. He was standing in the open balcony doorway, arms outstretched greeting the newly risen sun. He looked almost savage, stripped to the waist and spattered with blood, eyes closed and face upturned. She thought of the tales of sun-worshipping savages, and the scene fit. She had never seen anything more beautiful.
Lois rose and went to him. Superman turned and looked her in the eye. "You saved my life, Lois. Thank you."
Lois was groggy from a poor nights sleep, all bemused and confused. She stepped closer and looked at his shoulder, brushing away the dried blood. "Not even a scar" she whispered. She felt his strong arms encircle her and looked up in to his face. He was looking at her like she was the most beautiful woman in the world. It wasn't passion or lust, but simply and beautifully, love. She felt herself drawn to him. He bent down and kissed her.
Lois eyes were closed, but she clearly saw the flash of light that came with recognition, then understanding. Lois jerked away, leaving Superman staring at her, confused. She began to back slowly away, fingertips caressing her lips, her revelation. "That kiss" she breathed.
"I'm sorry, Lois. That was forward of me." He replied.
Lois ignored him, still staring. Little clues began presenting themselves, like a sculptor carving a statue, until Lois was sure of the truth. "You've kissed me before…Clark." She breathed.
Superman's, no Clark's, face registered surprise and shock, then settled into open fear. "Lois, I…I wanted to tell you. Every day I wanted to tell you. But, I…I was just so…"
"Afraid?" Lois supplied. Clark slumped, like all the air had gone out of him. "It's making more sense now. The lame excuses, the unexplained absences…my God I've been so blind."
Clark looked even more afraid to Lois. He hadn't seemed this scared when he was bleeding out in her car. "Are you angry?" he asked.
Lois chuckled, which surprised her. "I think I should be, but after last night…no. I'm not angry. I think I need an explanation, though."
Clark nodded, "Would you like to clean up first? You can borrow something to wear…that is, if you want to." Clark had started to go back to the bumbling and stuttering man she knew so well. She couldn't help but laugh, which soon gave way to tears. Clark started to go to her, but she held up a blood stained hand. "Yes, Clark, I need a shower, but you were the one who was shot. I think you get first dibs…" Lois stopped when Clark disappeared in a rush of air. He reappeared clean and dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. "Shower's all yours, Lois." He said. Lois shook her head and went into the bathroom.
Lois was numb from all the shocks. She lounged in the shower, scrubbing herself three times. She finished, dried off and then looked for something to wear. Clark's pants were all hopelessly big, so she settled on a button down shirt and nothing else. She went to the living room, and saw him in the kitchen, pouring two mugs of coffee. He offered her one and then led her to the couch. Lois looked around and saw no sign of the bloody night on the floor.
Clark noticed her noticing. "I cleaned up. Then Superman went down to the police station to try to get a lead on the two who attacked you." He paused, then continued, "they're dead. Shot in the head. It looks like Lex has managed to cover his tracks."
Lois looked at him. "You speak of yourself in the third person?"
Clark gave her a pained look, "Superman is just what I do, Clark Kent is who I am. I think it's time for that explanation, now." Clark told Lois his story, from the Kent farm in Smallville, to the Fortress and his decision to don the cape.
Lois sat in numb silence. What can I say? "I wish I hadn't found out the way I did, Clark. But, I'm glad there aren't any more secrets, save one."
Clark started. "Secrets? Lois what are you talking about? I've told you everything!"
Lois nodded, "But I have one more confession. I've fallen in love with you, Clark. I need to be in your life, and I need you in mine." Lois had been sitting on the opposite end of the couch, but now she slid over to him and straddled his legs, holding him tight and crying. "We've both been afraid for so long, and that's kept us apart. We need each other."
Lois felt Clark as sobs wracked his body, making his frame shake. "Oh, Lois. We've wasted so much time. I love you, with all my heart."
Lois pulled back and looked him in the eyes, cupping his face in her hands. She was crying tears of joy and not the least bit ashamed of it. She kissed him with all the passion and love she had. And he kissed her right back.