Part III:
She was an idiot, and she knew it. While her original plan was to avoid the Kent farm and all that was Clark Kent, she realized pretty quickly she couldn't. On the wedding day, she had stupidly left all her work notes in that stupid farmhouse because she had a stupid deadline at the time to reach. So, now, she was having to go to the Kent farm and pray Clark wasn't there. She could just get her things and get out and avoid him a bit longer. Simple, easy.
Considering that right now, she was living out of a hotel room because she didn't want to run into Lana at her place, it would've been easy to avoid Clark for the most part. Her editor already said he'd let her work from home for a bit if she needed given the circumstances. But nope, face the music she must sooner than she wanted to.
Driving up to the farmhouse, she noticed no cars in the driveway, and the place seemed empty for the most part minus a golden dog who could never quite leave her alone. She smiled down at the mutt having grown a fondness for it and petted Shelby on the head. "Hey there, Shelbs. Clark leave you to watch the farm," she asked a bit relieved he wasn't around. Maybe she could avoid him longer than she thought.
Entering the house, she looked around and felt the silence. Good, no Clark Kent. No needing to face the reality that was life and feelings. She snuck upstairs to his old room where she had stayed the day of the wedding and found her notes neatly stacked next to the bed. She looked around the familiar room noticing it had been tidied up since she was last here. She of course had left the notes scattered on the bed, but looking at them now, they seemed organized and set aside causing her to roll her eyes. Clark couldn't leave anything messy not even her own notes.
She paused noticing a familiar shirt laying to the side of the bed. A small smile graced her face as she knew it was her favorite red plaid shirt. Looks like Clark was probably doing laundry before he left. She shook her head and decided to grab it. She was pretty sure he thought he lost that shirt already years ago to her although neither would ever admit it.
Having gotten her notes in her arms, and his plaid red shirt she made her way out of the room and down the stairs. She was so close to leaving unscathed. She could see the end in sight. That was until her foot made a creak on the steps, and she looked up having heard her name quite clearly from a familiar mouth.
"Lois," Clark said having entered his home in a rush. Unexpectedly, there she was, and he almost had to question if she was really here or not. After the singular text message exchange, she hadn't reached out at all, and he took that as rejection and to leave her alone. But now, here she was in person sneaking down the stairs in his house. The sight of her shocked him as he just stood there dumbly looking at her.
"Oh, hey Clark," she responded like a dear in headlights. "I just remembered I had left my work notes at the farm, so I came to get them. I didn't think you'd be home because I'm sure you've been busy, and it just seemed easier to get them and all," she was cut off from her rambling by Clark Kent engulfing her in a large bear hug. Again, that familiar warm feeling filled her gut as a small smile appeared on her face at the gesture.
Clark didn't think, he just reacted when she started rambling. There was a part of him that was hugely relieved to see her. Everywhere just seemed quieter without her in it, and he found himself missing that voice he once found annoying. No words were exchanged between the two until Lois pulled back.
"Miss me, Smallville," she quipped giving him a sincere smirk.
He pulled back and felt the familiar ground she was presenting him. He smiled slightly back and shrugged. "Well, you know I've noticed it's just been so much quieter since you left. And it was starting to grow a bit boring."
The twinkle in her eyes appeared looking at him. She nodded her head slowly and rolled her eyes. "Well, I hate to break the wonderfully blissful silence that is your life, but I'm back. So better get used to it." Good this was easy and familiar them quipping each other. They didn't need to talk about the wedding or feelings or anything else. They could simply be Lois and Clark.
"Are you taking my shirt?" He didn't notice it before because he was just surprised to see her, but now it was pretty obvious when the colors were contrasting against her dark jeans and purple top.
She looked down at the shirt then back at him again as if she were a deer caught in headlights once more. Crap. "I could've sworn it was my shirt," she replied easily. Yes, perfect. If she couldn't admit that she was stealing his shirt, she could pretend it was hers. Easy enough.
His eyebrows rose at her shallow attempt. "I didn't realize you owned any plaid, Lois, considering how much you hate it," he retorted boldly giving her an I'm not buying it look. Both had a silent agreement that when she stayed here, that was basically her shirt now, but he missed these moments quipping with her. The last few days had been quiet and rather serious. He sort of missed the levity that Lois brought into his life.
Clearing her throat she tried to brush past him a bit and head towards the door, but he seemed to be in her way, so she straightened up. "Well, that's where you're wrong. I definitely bought a plaid shirt once for a monster truck rally, and this is it so," she trailed off daring him to question her lie while also trying to get past him.
"Okay, I was just going to go upstairs and change into my red plaid anyway to do some work on the farm, so glad you could get your shirt back," he teased watching her continue to try to get around him and avoid him figuring out it was his shirt.
She nodded her head briskly and finally got past him before turning around. "Well, good luck with all that. I'm sure I'll see you in the bull pen," she finished as she made her way to the door beelining it as quickly as she could to avoid any other further topics from coming up.
"You know I did miss you," he finally said as she had almost made her way to the door. She paused and turned slightly to gauge his face. Was he still teasing or actually being sincere? Once she turned, she immediately regretted it as her stomach started doing gymnastics and her heart sped up slightly because the way he was looking at her is the way he looked at her that night. His blues eyes sincere and piercing into her armor like always.
She debated in her head for those brief moments what to say. She missed him too, and she knew it. She just was so afraid with how much she missed him. Lois Lane didn't attach herself like that to men who could break her heart in the blink of an eye. But Clark was different, and she knew it. He had put blankets over the barbed wire she had setup around heart a long time ago, and now he was a splinter she couldn't quite remove. "Of course, you did, Smallville," she replied easily giving him a small smile. "I'm sure your life was just insanely boring without me in it."
He chuckled shaking his head. "Something like that," he finished not wanting her to leave in fear that she would run away again. The ghost of her seemed to haunt him everywhere when she wasn't around. He could see her in the bullpen, the farm, and even in his super hero life. It seemed the presence of Lois Lane was bound to linger after it so heavily bled into his life. "You know," he started to offer watching her continue to hesitate and feeling relief at that. "I could help you sort through those notes and catch you up on what you've missed at work."
She knew this was a lifeline he was throwing her. He was asking her to stay with his half-baked excuses. The words of Oliver rung in her head yelling at her to stay and fight, but then the words of warning from Chloe seemed to linger in her head as well. The third point always seemed to hurt. "Actually, it seems you already took the liberty to sort through my notes," she noted giving him an exasperated look. "So, raincheck on the catch up," she threw out feeling her spirits slowly get crushed with her own words.
His body visibly sunk in a bit at the disappointment of her words. His lifeline was cast back in his face. She was still hurt, and he was the one that caused it. "Yeah, of course, Lois." He threw her one last puppy dog look feeling the absolute guilt at the decisions he'd made. Maybe he should've gone with her to Star City. Maybe he should've called more. Maybe he should've stopped that kiss from ever happening.
She inhaled slightly and got her bearings together. "Great, see you around." And with that, she sprinted out the door not daring to turn back. She didn't feel good about any of it, and she felt so unsure of herself now. Whereas before, she had Clark in one category, now he seemed to be in so many different categories in her mind. It made it all so confusing and awkward. She missed the days when he was just a bumbling teenager she could brush off, but now he had become so much more the past few years and a part of her hated that.
Having made her way to her hotel room, she showered and put on the red plaid shirt she had stolen almost feeling stupid for doing it. She wasn't going to be able to move past him if she kept his stuff around. But, to her, the shirt was more than Clark, it was home. A place where she could stay with memories of people who were around. The first place she knew she wasn't going to have to get up and move out of once the General got reassigned. It just also happened to be comforting that it smelled like Clark.
Looking down at her notes, she chewed the inside of her mouth and read through them. Most of it was redacted which was frustrating, but she did get a few keywords here and there. Two specifically stuck out to her; Prometheus and Luthor.
Clark was more than disappointed when Lois left. He was really hoping they could talk and smooth things over so he could explain himself. The more he thought about it, the stupider it sounded. She had basically made her last goodbye seem almost final. He thought if he just got Chloe back, then everything would be fine and go back to normal, and it had a little bit. Lois was back. But she was distancing herself, and he could feel it.
The person he would normally talk about this stuff with was Chloe, but she was currently taking care of her heavily hospitalized husband. The next person would be Lois, but seeing as it was about her, he didn't really see that as an option. He'd call Oliver, but it always felt weird to Clark to talk about his ex with him. Almost felt like he was rubbing salt in an open wound sometimes.
He supposed it better to maybe distract himself, and he had told Lana he would stop by. No better time than now he supposed. Speeding off towards The Talon, he gently knocked on the door before entering. He was more than surprised to see Tess in the apartment then anything. Unfortunately for him, this would set off a chain of events that would reveal to him more about Lana than he ever knew before. For one, he learned she didn't choose to leave but was forced by Tess and Lex's goons. Secondly, he learned she had been training to endure torture for something of a rather. Then, he found out Lex was grafting a super suit to himself, the thought surprising him.
This all culminated in him rushing to a secret lab of Lex's and trying to stop the grafting process from occurring. When he arrived, he was surprised to see Lois standing with her hands up and Tess aiming a gun at some scientist looking guy. Clark rushed in to save the day only to be beat by Lana. He watched as she super sped by, surprised by the turn of events.
She simply smiled at him in response and rushed off. Clark acted quickly grabbing Lois and getting her to safety before heading back to get the scientist to safety far away from Tess. He was reeling at everything that had occurred as he paced the floor of the Daily Planet before sitting down and typing furiously.
He didn't notice a certain brunette taking her seat at her desk and staring at him trying to read his thoughts. The events of the night had taken her on quite the wild goose chase. She wasn't sure what to make of it all other than whatever had happened in that lab was stopped by the Red-Blue-Blur. She leaned back in her chair as it squeaked knowing it would get Clark's attention, but, when it didn't, she furrowed her brows and began rocking back and forth rather annoyingly.
Clark for the most part was zoned into his distraction of finishing some fluff piece articles he had written. He barely registered the creaking of the chair across from him until it became increasingly louder and more frequent in urgency. He glanced past his computer to see Lois Lane coyly looking at him as she rocked. "What brings you here, Lois," he asked pretending like not even an hour ago he had saved her life.
She smirked having gotten his attention finally. "Couldn't sleep. Figured I churn out this article I've been working on," she replied having stopped the rocking and now leaning forward on her desk. "What brings you here burning the midnight oil?" Clark usually wasn't one to get restless, and, when he was restless, he usually wasn't sitting at The Planet typing out articles. Throwing oneself into work was more her thing than his
"I couldn't sleep," he responded crankily reliving the events of the night over in his mind. Did this change anything now that Lana was super powered? No, it just made him concerned for her. Last time she was given powers, it didn't end well for anyone.
"Hmm," Lois responded wondering what was keeping the farm boy awake. "Well, it's at least nice to have some company this late at night. Usually it's just me, and sometimes Jeff the copy guy." She grimaced at that. There wasn't anything wrong with Jeff, but it was clear the guy had a huge crush on her. Sometimes made her creeped out when they were left alone.
She began typing on her computer not noticing the distracted look in Clark's eyes.
"Uh, actually Lois, I have something I need to go do," he said not elaborating as per usual. Lois had to roll her eyes at the half baked excuse. "I'll see you later," he finished rushing off rather quickly.
Furrowing her brows, she stared at his empty seat feeling almost offended. First, the guy kisses her, then he leaves her hanging, then he leaves her high and dry the minute she sits down at work. If Clark actually liked her, he sure had a funny way of showing it. Feeling a bit dejected and slightly annoyed, she rolled her eyes and sunk back in her desk chair as she began to type. She had an article to distract her from the weirdness that was Clark Kent at least.
Clark on the other hand had rushed up to the roof because he heard one Lana Lang ask him to meet up there with her. He knew he needed answers to all the questions that plagued him from the day. So, instead of staying with Lois in the Bullpen, he rushed up the stairs of The Daily Planet to the roof. When he arrived, it was dark, and the stars shone brightly in the sky revealing just how late it really was.
Lana was standing facing out from The Daily Planet roof's door. She was looking down at Metropolis below as the noise of the city seemed to persist even into the late night. Hearing Clark enter the roof, she turned with a smile on her face finally feeling whole after the transformation she had gone through. It was weird in a way. "Hi, Clark," she spoke taking a step towards him.
Giving her a wary look, he kept a cautious distance unsure of how she would be considering the circumstance. "Lana, we need to get that suit off you. Remember what happened last time," he prompted as memories of the last time flashed in his head. The power had gone to her head last time, and it didn't end well for anyone.
She simply smiled in response to his statement and shook her head. "I wasn't ready last time, Clark." She paused taking in a breath. "Now, I'm ready, and I feel great."
Shaking his head, he still warily stayed a good enough distance away from her. "This isn't something you can train for, Lana. You've literally changed your physiology." Before, he had questioned slightly if his judgment on her changing had been correct, but, in this moment he knew it to be true. The Lana he knew wouldn't have put her body in such danger for power. Although now that he thought about it, maybe she would've. Had his rose-colored glasses really been that foggy?
Lana took a step towards him watching him take a step back in response. The reaction confused her. For a man that could do such great things, he always had a hard time accepting that part of himself it seemed. She wondered if a part of him resented that part of himself. "Don't you understand," she asked almost desperately trying to get it through his thick skull what this meant.
Taking another step towards him cautiously, she bridged enough of the distance to at least grab his hand affectionately. "Clark, you don't have to be alone anymore," she persisted looking him in the eyes to convey how okay she was. "I won't be holding you back," she continued taking a closer step forward a bit more confidently now that he wasn't trying to actively retreat. "We can be together," she finished letting go of his hands and touching his face lovingly. A question bounced in her eyes as she didn't dare move closer.
Stoic he stood processing her words. A confused look graced his face as he tried to push away his initial worry. She didn't seem like she was before, but he had also been burned too many times by people who thought they could handle a power given to them. But this power wasn't given to Lana, she had taken it willingly. That couldn't bode well, right? Now, she was spouting about them being together. Clark's head reeled in confusion a part of him not wanting to move and the other part of him wanting to so desperately. As she inched forward, every part of him still couldn't move for some reason. Maybe he didn't want to.
Finally, lips met which shocked Clark's system. Normally, he would've responded and clung to the hope of not being alone the rest of his life, but something was different this time. While the kiss was fine, it wasn't what he was expecting. He could've sworn before when he kissed Lana, fireworks went off and passion surged through him. But, as he kissed her now, that passion and enjoyment was replaced with a dull feeling of worry. Where once her lips felt warm and like home, now they felt foreign. Something he had not been expecting at all.
This realization made him jolt his head back and look at her. None of this was right, and he knew it deep in his heart. He never wanted someone who could do what he did. Sure, a part of him did in his youth when he thought that was the only way he could be understood. But now, he had grown to realize that having powers didn't mean that person would ever understand. He was an alien from another planet, a lone survivor. There are very few people who would truly understand that, and he was glad for it.
The nagging feeling of loneliness that he'd been feeling crept in demanding he accept the affection and attention. It begged him to keep the companionship that sat in front of him. It would be easy No secrets, no complications. Just two superhumans being able to save the world together. But was that what he wanted? He thought back to the last year in what felt right to him. Working at The Daily Planet, fighting crime at The Blur, movie nights with Lois, drinking nights with Ollie, taking care of the farm. Those things are what made Clark Kent, Clark Kent. He wasn't just a super powered person who was destined to save the world, he was also human and whole.
"Lana, this isn't right," he finally spoke taking a step back from her embrace. His head hung slightly as he tried to think through what to say. "I hope you didn't do this for me," he started swallowing thickly and looking at her with worry.
The rejection hit Lana like a ton of bricks. Although she had speculated it would happen, she never thought it would truly happen. They were Lana and Clark, high school sweat hearts destined for each other. The boy and girl next door who were supposed to fall in love and live happily ever after. Where had it all changed and gone wrong? A part of her was angry at what had occurred. After everything, even the truth coming out, he still rejected her.
"Clark, we can finally be together," she insisted as if her first assertion hadn't fallen on deft ears. She fought to stay in the embrace they were currently in, as if letting go would be the final string cut by the fates never to be repaired.
Clark processed her words again but didn't move. His mind had been made up, and he knew the paths they were heading weren't connecting together but rather veering apart. The destinies of both becoming clearer to him as he stood in thought. "Lana, where do you see us a year from now," he asked jarringly. Maybe it was a desperate attempt from his mind to hold onto one last hope of them. Maybe it was his way of confirming what he knew.
Her eyebrows crinkled in confusion a bit thrown by his question. After a minute, she smiled just a bit before answering, "I see us saving the world and coming home to each other. Don't you?" At his expression, she paused feeling like a child who gave the wrong answer to a pop quiz she didn't know she was taking. "Wouldn't that be enough," she asked desperately grasping for the last bit of hope she had for them. Wouldn't she be enough was what she was really asking, but she wasn't sure Clark would even know that.
He swallowed feeling the confirmation settle in his gut. All those times he felt unsure of his life and decisions, all those times he felt pressure to never be wrong, never make a mistake, suddenly went out the window in that moment. This wasn't about the rest of the world or what others thought or wanted. This was about him, and, as much as he'd never want to hurt Lana, sometimes it wasn't preventable. He couldn't save everyone, and he couldn't spare everyone's feelings. Isn't that how he got in this mess in the first place? He wondered now if he had fought harder for Lana when they were younger and worried less about everyone else where they would be. The thought hurt as he realized things might've been different. But he wasn't the same person he was then as he was now.
"I don't see that for us," he responded letting his words settle between them. "I don't want to just save the world as a superhero, Lana. I can't be that all the time." He swallowed feeling like all the words were wrong. He wanted to smooth this over, make it painless, but there really wasn't a way to do that. They would both hurt from this decision, but he knew it would be best for the both of them.
She stayed in his arms absorbing his words. How could he be so super powered and so normal at the same time? How could he not understand all the good they could do? "Now, you can't, but with me we can," she insisted not backing down. "I won't be holding you back." She felt as if the logic made sense, and she wasn't understanding where he fell short on it.
He shook his head in response. "It never had anything to do with you holding me back." Another pause as he searched for the words. "I like working here at The Planet, making a difference through my reporting. I like having movie nights and karaoke nights and nights out with my friends." He took a step back from her creating space to better focus on his words. "I like saving people, but it's not all of who I am." He nodded his head finally looking at her in the eyes. Eyes that would've made him lost for words in the past. "I'm able to do what I need to do for people because of the things I do when I'm not The Red Blue Blur."
She took a step towards him knitting her brows in confusion. "We can still do those things, Clark," she offered half hazardously. In her heart, she knew she couldn't fully function like that. She fought for these powers and had a responsibility to people to use them for good. All she ever wanted to do was make a difference and save the people around her, and, to do that, she knew it took sacrifice. Sacrifice of time, friends, family. A part of her just hoped she wouldn't have to make that sacrifice alone.
"Can we," he asked slicing through her like a knife. "There isn't going to be a part of you that feels guilty while we sit on the couch at home?" He swallowed shaking his head. "Because I've had these powers my whole life, Lana, and even I feel guilty when I'm taking any kind of down time." He could see her face start to realize what he had in the past few days. They were different people heading down different roads. Both having a noble goal but never being able to reach either without separating.
She nodded her head in understanding. He was right, and she knew it. A part of her had felt it the last few days but had hoped she was reading it wrong. Clark Kent, former love of her life, super hero, and also average farm boy. The image of the lost boy of her youth who only wanted to help others and constantly sacrificed himself in the process seemed to be replaced by the self-assured man who had accepted who he was as a whole standing in front of her. Both of them wanted to save the world, but both had ultimately different ideas on how to do that. She knew this now.
The realization saddened her a bit realizing maybe she would've been enough without all the changes she had gone through. She would've been enough for him, but she knew she would've never felt good enough for herself. Always feeling overshadowed by his presence and knowing she could do more. Now, now she could do more, it would just have to be somewhat without him. "Maybe you're right," she admitted finally taking a small step back to create further distance than what he had created. "I hope you find what you're looking for in life, Clark," she finished meekly a part of her wondering if he already had.
He gave her a small sad smile and nodded his head. "Same to you, Lana," he responded finally feeling assured in his decision. "And if you're ever in town, who's to say we couldn't team up," he said creating levity between the two again. It was a sincere offer to her. Just because their chapter had ended, didn't mean they couldn't still stay in each other's orbit. Both after all only wanted to do good.
Lana smiled towards him at his statement. Clark Kent always the genuine kindhearted man he was. "I think we definitely could," she offered out before smirking slightly. "That is if you can keep up," she joked back grateful they still had their friendship intact. She knew she needed to go but was holding on to just one more minute with him. She had a world to save and a difference to make, but she also had some things to take care of in town as well. Lex being one of them. She walked over to him and gave him a friendly hug that lingered just a second longer than it probably should've. "I'll look forward to reading about you in the funny pages," she finished looking up at his bulking figure.
He embraced her grateful that both had matured enough to move past their petty youth. Both accepting they made mistakes and bad choices and accepting who they were now. "Well, I'm sure I'll be reading about you too," he quipped back shaking his head and smiling slightly. "If you're staying in town longer though, never hesitate to reach out, okay," he asked knowing she had ideas of a future she wanted to help create.
"You can bet on it, Clark Kent," she responded before stepping away from him and starting to walk off. "No better time to start than now," she responded giving him one last sad smile before super speeding off.
He smiled as he watched her blur away shaking his head. Leave it to Lana to go full work mode right off the bat. As she left, he felt a part of his past that had felt like a restless sea, finally settle. The water was calm for the time being, and he knew he only had so long to enjoy it. A small hesitation settled in him about her having powers. He'd have to make sure Chloe knew and was monitoring the whole situation. He'd keep a relatively close eye on it as well as he could.
Shaking his head, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and turned towards the Daily Planet roof door. He wondered if Lois was still working or had scurried on home once he left her in such a rush. He sauntered down to his desk as he stopped in the doorway. She was still working typing furiously away while chewing on her bottom lip. He could tell whatever she was writing, she was more than focused on.
He made his way to his desk and sat down beginning to type away at the article he was working on previously. He noticed out of the corner of his eye that she looked over at him slightly and a small smile graced her face. He smiled slightly too knowing she was happy he was here even if she wasn't going to outwardly acknowledge him. Lois Lane, his perfectly imperfect Daily Planet partner and personal best friend. If his young self could see him now, he might be more than confused at the events that brought him here. Clark inwardly chuckled at the thought.
Lois had been furiously typing at her keyboard trying very hard to not be distracted by the clear blow off Clark gave her. Stupid farm boy with his stupid vague errands stupidly running off. Leaving her here feeling rejected furiously working hard to distract herself from thinking about him. If he didn't want her around, fine. She'd become the best damn reporter around without his stupid help. She could take a message, and this is one he left loud and clear.
She hadn't noticed how much time had passed or how much work or lack thereof she had accomplished. That was until she saw Clark meander his way over to his desk and sit down. She glanced slightly over at him and gave a small smile. Maybe he did have to run an errand after all, and it had nothing to do with her. He clearly chose to come back, so maybe not all was lost with the clueless farm boy.
She let the silence fall between them as all that could be heard was their keyboards clicking and typing away. Each pretending they weren't happy to be so alone together on a work night like tonight. After what seemed like an hour but was probably more realistically a few minutes, Lois finally broke the silence having always hated it.
"Quick errand, Smallville," she commented not expanding further but something in her voice told him she knew he didn't run an errand.
He smirked slightly glancing over at her a bit before focusing on his screen. "Didn't realize you were timing me, Lois." He felt the familiar comfort feeling of their dynamic. She quipped him and he retorted back. Lately, he knew he was starting to throw her off her game. He could tell by the way she'd slightly blush at his words and look away before responding. He always felt a little lighter when he realized it.
"I wasn't," she gut-instinct responded blushing slightly at his words. Dumb plaid ridden farm boy. He was getting better at this whole word play game they had going on. "Just didn't want us both to miss our deadlines seeing how I'll have to look over your articles and all that," she responded briskly trying hard to put her guard up but feeling herself fail miserably.
His eyebrows shot up as he finally turned towards her. "Huh, is that so," he asked a clear smile now adorning his face. He could feel the war banners between them slowly come down as they spoke. He was more than grateful for it. "Can't say I don't enjoy having my own personal editor," he responded having emphasized personal editor with a flirty tone. Although, while his voice would've given it away, his face didn't as he was looking at his screen only doing brief glances out of the corner of his eye to see her reaction.
Lois's eyes grew wide at his implication as she looked over at him wondering if he meant to say it like that. She felt the familiar heat rise to her cheeks at his words. Was Clark flirting with her? A parted of her wanted it to be true, but the other part of her didn't want to hold out hope. She cleared her throat slightly and nodded her head. "Well, yeah, get used to it, Smallville," she finished focusing her eyes back on her screen although she too was throwing brief glances out of her side eye at him. "Did you finish what you needed to," she asked changing the subject and glancing over at him.
Furrowing his brows, he finally looked up from the computer and at her. Finished what he needed? He wondered what she meant by that before realization hit that she thought he'd run an errand. "I can honestly say, I definitely finished what I needed to," he responded the subtext dripping from his words. Although, he wasn't too sure she'd catch on, but he never tried to sell Lois short.
She nodded her head sensing there was more than an errand that was run with the finality his tone took on. "That's good," she responded turning back to her article and typing again. That feeling of unsureness sat within her. Having accepted she'd only be a friend to Clark; she wasn't quite sure overall where they stood other than he wasn't completely blowing her off work wise. That was something at least.
Clark on the other hand could feel Lois thinking loudly. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out they were both unclear of where they stood with each other. He looked down at the date that showed on his work computer. It was going to be Friday night tomorrow. Clark smiled a little at what that meant. He cleared his throat slightly but kept his gaze on his computer screen. "Well, you know what tomorrow is, Lois," he asked briefly glancing to see her reaction. She seemed confused. Great, she had already forgotten. "It's Friday, which generally constitutes a movie night," he added to clear up her confusion. Keeping a careful eye on her, he tried to gauge her reaction. Would she reject his offer and keep avoiding him?
As she realized what he just offered, her confused looked turned into a small smile which she quickly tried to hide. Replacing it with a small smirk and schooling her expression, she turned her chair towards him. "Is that so," she responded mirroring his own words from earlier. "Well, how do you know a hot eligible bachelorette like myself doesn't already have plans?" It was a challenge. He had been getting her all worked up the last few days and giving her the run around. He deserved some shit thrown back his way.
Clark looked down at his keyboard in confusion then back up at her then back towards his screen. He hadn't expected her to have a date or anything since she'd been gone the last week, and before that she was busy with the wedding. On top of that, he thought maybe there was something between them, but maybe he was mistaken. Maybe it was more one sided like it had been with Lana for a bit. He swallowed trying to form a response as he'd realized he'd been silent for much too long.
Before he could jump in front of it, Lois plowed through his fear with a chuckle and shake of her head. He was really too easy sometimes. "Relax, Smallville, I don't have plans. Movie night sounds great." She rolled her eyes at him. Why would he even think that she had plans. She'd spent the last week worrying about Jimmy and Chloe, and reeling about Clark. When would she even had had the time to set anything up?
Chuckling slightly back to her, he relaxed a little bit. Good, he hadn't completely lost her to some random guy she met in Star City. "Good, consider your Friday night taken then," he responded with resolve, but feeling all sorts of nervousness on the inside. They hadn't had a movie night since the whole kissing incident, and he wasn't too sure what that meant.
"Great, it's a date," she responded automatically before her words reached her ears and her eyes went wide in absolute fear. "I mean, or not a date," she quickly tried to recover but felt like it made it so much worse. Why had she spoken at all? It didn't need confirmation. Stupid Lois. "Just two good friends watching movies is all," she continued to ramble slightly hoping the more words she tossed on the salad, the less it would look like throw up.
Clark sat back a bit and watched her fumble with her words feeling satisfied he was getting under her skin. When she had somewhat finished her ramble landing on the two of them being friends, his shoulders dipped slightly in disappointment. Was he hoping movie night would be more? No, he just wanted to have a good time with a good friend. Maybe he did hope for it to be a date night. Now, he wasn't too sure himself. His face contorted in concern and confusion as he didn't even focus on the words she was rambling on about. "Lois," he finally said interrupting her and watching her face contort into a look of innocence. "How about, it's just movie night," he landed on giving her a smile that anchored in her rambling.
She nodded at that and smiled slightly. "Great, it's a movie night then," she responded feeling the giddiness from the wedding fill her up inside. She had almost forgotten why she was at The Planet tonight as she turned her desk chair towards her screen. Then she remembered looking at the article flashing in front of her. She shook her head and focused her thoughts. She needed to get this done before the morning deadline which was fast approaching. Her thoughts on Clark Kent would have to wait.
Clark on the other hand was on cloud 9. Although uncertainty laced his thoughts, he was just happy to be in Lois's good graces again. Maybe a good ole fashioned Lois and Clark movie night would smooth things over with them and ease the tension that had been building. Yes, that's what would fix it, just a movie night between two really good friends.
TBC…