Born To Fly
By Serena Kenobi
Rating: T
A/N: Wow, you guys are awesome!! Thanks for all the great reviews. Let's get to the big 100, shall we?
Disclaimer: I don't own Superman Returns, but I do own the DVD. Coolio for me!
Chapter 8 - Revealed
Take that, 'Susie', Lois thought gleefully as she took the elevator down. The doors opened, and she got out, finding Clark talking animatedly with Jimmy.
"Oh, hey, Lois," Clark nodded, "I'm sorry I ran off like that, but I forgot my–"
"No need to explain, Clark," Lois smiled, "I understand."
Clark stared at her, confused. "But I didn't…" he trailed off, wondering if she knew more than she was letting on.
Lois shook her head, grinning. "I have to go write this interview," she said. "If you have any other info on Superman, Clark, that'd be great."
"I have some other info on Superman," Susan's gloating voice cut in. Lois turned to see the hateful reporter smoothly walking towards the group.
"Oh really?" Lois asked, raising her eyebrows. "And what would that be?"
Susan smirked. "While you were searching for Superman at the fire, I was interviewing him at a robbery three blocks down. He personally took time to talk with me. Sorry if you didn't get anything else, Lane," she sighed mockingly. "If you'll excuse me, I have this exclusive interview to write." She shot Lois a look before sitting down at her desk.
Lois inwardly fumed, and she shot Clark a glare. Why did he stop for Susan?
Clark gave her a funny look, pushing up his glasses. "Uh, Lois, are you all right?"
Lois shook her head, realizing her mistake. "What? Oh, yeah. I'm fine." She went to her desk, sat there for a moment, deep in thought, and then glanced at Clark. He was still staring at her, seeming to be slightly suspicious.
Uh-oh. He knew something was up with her.
Oh yeah. Something was up with her. She was mad. Very mad. Mad at Susan, mad at him…
Restless, Lois stood up and grabbed a cup of coffee, returning to her computer and staring at it.
Lois took Jason to a friend's house and drove to the nearby public beach. The sun was setting, its rays turning the sky and clouds violet, magenta, orange, and yellow. It was a beautiful evening. But Lois didn't notice. She was too busy wondering how she could tell Clark... well, Superman, that she already knew his identity. A thousand different scenarios ran through her head, but none of them were turning out the way she wanted them to.
"Hi Superman, I know you're Clark. Sorry for not telling you before!" She spoke to herself, shaking her head in frustration. "Hello, Superman. This may come as a shock, but I know your real name. Argh! Superman, I have to tell you. You're Clark Kent. Yes, I know." She banged her head on the steering wheel in the parking lot of the beach, annoyed at her own lack of calmness. "Come on, Lois, you're more self-confident that this!" she furiously told herself, opening the door and stepping out of her car.
Lois walked down the beach slowly, letting her bare feet sink into the cool sand. She gazed into the sunset and wondered when her blue and red superhero was going to show up. Wanting a better view of the ocean and the city, she climbed up onto the closest dock, treading slowly towards its end. She leaned against the rail and let the cool breeze blow in her face.
"Beautiful evening, isn't it?" A deep and familiar voice suddenly spoke up from her side. Lois, startled, turned quickly to see Superman standing beside her, gazing at her with adoration and longing.
But he wasn't Superman. Or, at least, dressed as Superman. He was dressed in tan jacket, jeans, a T-shirt, and plain sneakers. His hands were stuffed casually into his pockets, and his hair was blowing slightly in his face.
He had to admit, he felt much more nervous than he appeared to be.
"Cl - Clark," Lois stammered, drinking him in, wide-eyed. He nodded, putting his head down in shame.
"I'm sorry for lying to you, Lois," he began, "But I didn't want to hurt you again like I did last time."He glanced up for her reaction, but she was silent. "I know I should never have left you and Jason, but if I had known-" He was abruptly cut off as she grabbed his jacket and pulled him into one of the most passionate, loving kisses he had ever experienced. When they finally pulled apart from lack of air, Lois, breathing hard, put her head against his.
"It's all right, Clark," she murmured, "I already knew. I forgive you, and I understand why." She stared deeply into his blue eyes and hoped he wasn't mad at her.
Clark's mouth hung open. "But why... how long have you known?"
"About a week," Lois admitted. "I didn't know how to tell you. I finally recognized what I should have seen behind those glasses of yours long ago. I feel like such an idiot," she berated herself.
Clark shook his head, saying, "No, don't. I didn't want you to find out, I mean, I did, but no none was supposed to know. But now that you know..." He grinned. "Lois, this is one of the best days of my life."
"Mine, too," she answered earnestly, and was quickly pulled into another long kiss. She wrapped her arms around him, losing herself in his superhuman touch.
Lois watched anxiously as Perry read her article out loud. Clark was sitting across from her, staring out into the sky, clearly unconcerned. She envied his inner calm and stared at him for a moment before turning back to Perry.
"'One on One With Superman,'" Perry read the title, putting on his glasses. "Catchy... I like it." Muttering to himself, he scanned down the two page article and smiled. "Excellent job, the both of you. I expect to see more of this. In fact," he picked up a file from his desk, "I want you both to check out the island that Lex Luthor was last seen on."
Lois and Clark's heads shot up. "What?" they asked simultaneously.
"You heard me," Perry snapped, annoyed at their apparent deafness. "Luthor escaped with his girlfriend from a nearby island after their helicopter ran out of gas. The coast guard found it, and I want you both to see if you can pick up where he left."
"What about boats in the area?" Lois suggested, "I mean, someone had to pick him up. Maybe he had other alliances or friends."
Perry shrugged. "Well, that's for you to find out. You leave as soon as you're ready. I have a small cruiser waiting for you at the docks."
Clark and Lois stood up and started to leave, but Lois had to know something. "Oh, Chief," she began, "Did Susan write another interview about Superman?" She had to know.
"Don't call me Chief," Perry glared, "But yes, she did. I'm going to be looking over it soon. Why so interested? Your article is front page."
Lois could not help but feel slightly relieved. "Oh, never mind," she muttered, quickly shutting the door behind her.
Clark grabbed his coat and waited for Lois to get her things together.
"I'll just be a sec, Clark," she called out as he stood by the elevator. He just nodded, shooting her a quick smile, and she grinned, shaking her head. It felt great that both of them had finally connected. She put her notebook, blackberry, and pen into her purse, pulled on her coat, and checked her desk one more time to make sure that she hadn't left anything behind. "Clark, I'm..." she turned around and halted when she saw Clark chatting with someone. Said someone was tall, handsome, and... "Bruce Wayne?" her eyebrows shot up.
Clark obviously heard her, for he glanced her way and turned back to the billionaire playboy. Wayne looked in her direction for a split second and spoke to Clark again, breaking out into a devilish smile. Clark started to smile as well and motioned her over. Lois frowned and slowly walked up to the two of them.
"Bruce, this is Lois Lane, my partner," Clark introduced her. "Lois, this is an old friend of mine, Bruce Wayne."
Bruce smiled at her and shook her hand in a friendly way. "Miss Lane," he nodded, "Clark has told me a lot about you. Won't stop talking about you, actually," he laughed.
Clark shot him a glare, but Bruce didn't seem at all fazed.
Lois smiled slightly. "Wow, Clark, you have friends in high places," she observed, looking back to Bruce. "An honor to meet you, Mr. Wayne. I have heard a lot about you, too; but I have to say, I didn't expect you to know Clark. How did you two meet?"
Both men glanced at each other uncomfortably, not knowing what to say. "Uh, well, it's a long story," Clark stammered, pushing his glasses up.
"Clark!" The three turned to see Susan beaming at Clark. She then noticed Bruce, and her eyes lit up in a predatory way. "Mr. Bruce Wayne!" She exclaimed, hurrying over to the trio. "I can't believe it! It's so great to finally meet you! I thought you usually stayed in Gotham." The reporter gave him a winning smile.
Bruce seemed as if he had seen many of this kind of woman before. "And you might be?" he asked, indifferent.
"Susan Lynn," she stuck out her hand. "One of your biggest supporters. How's Gotham these days? Getting a lot of action?"
The billionaire grinned as if he knew something the rest of them didn't. "You could say that," he replied mysteriously. "Actually, I'm here to escort my good friend Mr. Kent and Miss Lane here to a nearby island so they can do their assignment." He glanced at Clark with a smug look. "Isn't that right, Clark?"
Clark gave him an irritated stare. "Right," he said with false enthusiasm. "Of course. We should actually get going now, so Lois?" he looked at her.
Lois nodded. "Yes, of course." She went to the elevator, and Bruce and Clark followed her inside.
Susie was in complete shock. How did Clark know famous Bruce Wayne, and how did Lois get herself surrounded by extraordinary looking men?
I liked this chapter. Reviews are great presents, and I like presents! So feel free to give me as many as you want to. Have a Super Christmas, everyone!!!