Chapter Nine: Lois in Love
Metallo, disguised to blend in with the crowd at the Talon, walked up to the counter. "A cup of sugar water — more sugar than water."
Lois gazed at him awkwardly from behind the counter. "Looking for a rush are we?" she asked, fixing him the drink. When done, she handed it to him.
He fiddled with his wallet, all his money, all pennies and quarters, spilled out onto the table. "Sorry," he said lazily.
"You know what," Lois said, not wanting to deal with such a strange man. "It's on the house. Okay? Alright."
"Thanks," Metallo said. He took the cup and gulped the whole thing down in one swig. He turned back to her. "By any chance, do you know a person who goes by the name of Clark Kent?"
Lois gave pause, then answered. "Yeah, why?"
Metallo smiled malevolently. "You're a pretty girl."
"Thanks?" Lois said, unsure of really what to say."
"I'm sure any man would be attracted to you. Even one that is more than man." He lifted his silver hand onto her forehead and sent an aquatic blue beam from the tip of each of his fingers. "You are to go to the Kent Farm and seduce Clark Kent — keep him busy while we do what we must."
Lois looked drone-like for a second and then came back to her senses. She gave Metallo a fleeting smile, turned to the waitress next to her, and called. "Amy, take over here." She turned back to Metallo and smiled yet again. "I — have to go," she said, and without another word strode out the door and headed towards the Kent Farm.
Clark explained everything to Pete as they drove in his truck, keen on finding Jett. "Hey man, I gotta hand it to ya," Pete was saying, about Jett. "You had guts takin' in a stray like that. I mean what he did to the Talon — Lana was pissed!"
Clark shot him a look and he quited down. They sped onwards down the barren highway, passing nearly identical fields as they went. Time was of the essence.
Time was essentially gone, now. It had been hours and Clark figured Jett gone. He and Pete turned around and headed back. When they reached Clark's house, Pete received a warm welcome from the Kents. Clark showed him Conner. "Mother of Pearl, it's like opening the door to the past."
"Yeah, you're telling me," Clark said. He turned around and came face-to-face with Lois Lane.
"Hey Smallville — I see you finally decided to show up."
"Yeah, I was out looking for something."
Lois grabbed a piece of his shirt. "Obviously not a sense of fashion. Can you come into the other room with me? We need to talk."
"Ermkay," Clark said awkwardly. He left, being lead by Lois, rather urgently, out into the yard, up into the barn and up the stairs into the loft.
Lois pushed Clark on to the couch. He stood up abruptly. "Lois?" he asked. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Lois said, moving closer.
"No, you're not. Something's wrong," Clark said.
"Shut up and kiss me," she said, sounding very un-Lois-ish.
"Lois stop!" Clark called. Just then Clark's elbow hit one of the shelves behind him and the led box, containing a small piece of Krypton, fell down and opened. Clark doubled over in pain. Lois shook her head.
"Why am I here?" she asked herself. Then she noticed Clark. "Clark? Clark, are you okay?"
"I – I'm fine. I'm just gonna lie here for a bit. Could ya send Pete up?"
"That's the guy you came in with? Whatever." As she walked away, she thought to herself. Was I just coming on to Clark Kent? No more late-night drinking for me.
When Pete came up the stairs he spotted Clark and disposed of the meteor rock. "Clark man, are you alright?"
"I'll be fine," Clark said, standing up and brushing himself off, all the while wondering to himself what had possessed Lois.