Chloe took a deep shuddering breath as she stood outside the revolving doors of The Daily Planet. Each time somebody rushed out, Chloe winced as their invading emotions seeped deep within her body, their lights dimmed as they walked out into the sun. And each time one person came out, Chloe always wanted to turn away, run back to the half safe closure of her house and dive beneath the covers but she couldn't. She was doing this for Lois because she needed her strong, stubborn cousin and because...well, Oliver had drove her here and she didn't have a ride back.
I can do this!
She chanted this little mantra in her head over and over as she took steps toward the door. And she continued as she finally stepped into the busy world she had left behind. Nostalgia filled her and for once it was her own as her eyes drank up the bustle, the rapid movements as people dashed before her. Her nose inhaled the crisp smell of paper and the just polished floor. As she walked into the newsroom with heavy trepidation, she stared for a moment at the gold planet on the wall, reminding her of some life she felt so distant from. With a shudder, she pulled back into reality, immediately wincing as a wave of emotions crashed over her. Using every strength she had, she pushed them out, seeking solace in her own state of mind.
Chloe scanned the room looking for Lois until she spotted her walking back to her desk, her hands filled with files. Chloe pushed herself over to her until she was just hovering before Lois.
"Lois?"
Lois turned her head to the side, typing rapidly until she finished then turned her head fully to Chloe.
"Hey." She said but Chloe could already see the blue aura surrounding her. She slouched as Lois' sadness twisted inside her.
"Could we talk?" Chloe asked, "Somewhere not here."
Lois glanced around the room then back to Chloe, her eyes searching as she looked at her cousin.
"Yeah." She said softly after awhile. She grabbed her coat and purse, and headed out followed closely by Chloe.
They reached a small cafe not to far from work. They hadn't said a word to each other and the silence grew as they sat across from each other. Lois watched Chloe closely. Her cousin seemed odd. Her body was pulled in tightly like she was trying to hide and her eyes avoided everybody while wincing every now and then.
Chloe decided to take initiative and started talking, scaring Lois as she spoke out so loudly.
"I'm sorry!"
Lois glanced down at her menu for a second while Chloe felt slightly reproved.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Lois asked, looking up at Chloe expectantly.
Chloe choose her words carefully. She didn't want to hurt Lois more then she already had.
"I wanted too. I did." She stopped as she noticed the slight reddish haze to Lois' aura.
Chloe faltered a bit as she realized Lois was getting angry. She back tracked a bit.
"I was scared, Lois." She said. She brought her head closer to the table, her words turning to whispers.
"Lois, I found out about my first ability saving you!"
Lois followed suit, bringing her head down lower but when Chloe told her that her head shot back up in utter confusion. Slowly and bit by bit it came back to her. Reeves Dam. Her being stabbed and bleeding to death but also her sudden miraculous recovery and Chloe, pale and cold against the wall.
"You did heal me." She spoke, her words carrying all the weight of the shock she felt. She shook it off when another thought suddenly occurred to her.
"You were dead!" She all but stood up in frustration.
"Well, I didn't know that was going to happen but Lois, either way, I wouldn't change what I did. If it meant me being "dead" and you being alive...I would do it again."
A small smile tugged at Lois' lips but she was too shocked to give in to the heartfelt moment.
"First ability?"
"Well, it seemed that I could heal but something happened and I just couldn't do it anymore."
"Do you know what happened?"
Chloe felt bad about lying but that was in Clark territory and she couldn't say anything.
"No." She said with a small shake of her head.
"So...how did you get this new one then?"
Chloe smiled as she realized how open Lois was to this.
"You're not mad at me?" She asked even though she knew the answer.
"No. Just hurt. You could've told me, Chloe." Lois said firmly, "You're my cousin and by default that means I have to accept you, meteor powers and all." She finished with a small laugh.
"Don't be afraid to tell me. I can handle it."
"I know you can."
Lois took a small nibble of a fry, "So, how'd we get this new ability? Wait...what is your new ability?"
Chloe stood a little straighter as she tried to figure out how best to explain.
"Well, it seems and this is just a wild guess but in all likelihood...I might have the ability to feel people's emotions."
Lois nodded her head a bit.
"So...you can feel me right now?"
"It seems to work in close proximity and when the emotions are really strong."
"My cousin, the walking lie detector. Lucky!"
Chloe gave Lois a look, "I don't find my constant struggle for some alone time in my own body to be considered lucky."
"Okay, maybe not that part but besides all the homicidal tendencies, I've always thought meteor powers were kind of...cool." Lois confessed sheepishly.
Chloe shook her head with a snort.
Clark entered Watchtower, clicking his phone shut for the thousandth time, anxious to hear from either Lois or Chloe concerning their lunch.
"About time you got here, Clark. You know, for someone who's faster then a speeding bullet, you sure do take your time." Oliver called down as he stepped off the staircase.
Clark walked over to him, smoothing down his tie. "Fire in Brazil." He said by way of explaining. He removed a bit a smug of his hand.
A sudden rapid flash of red and yellow streaked by them; Clark's tie flying in his face and causing Oliver to scramble for the scattered papers he had been holding.
"Dang! Missed that one!" Came the rapid voice of Bart as he slammed himself down a chair. "I was in Mexico stopping a drug trade."
He stopped for a moment before letting out a massive burp.
"And a few burritos."
Clark smiled down at his red clad friend.
"Hey, amigo!" Bart welcomed with a big wave. He looked around the room, whistling at all the high tech gadgets.
"Where are Victor and AC?" Clark asked after awhile.
Oliver glanced up from the computer, "AC is down in Hawaii following pirates."
"Real pirates?" Bart asked.
"And Victor is in Jump City helping out a new team forming down there." Oliver continued, ignoring Bart's question but throwing him a look.
"And Dinah?"
"Here and present." Dinah said smoothly as she emerged from beneath the staircase.
"You gotta teach me how to do that." Bart stared at her in amazement.
She smirked at him, leaning against the banister of the staircase.
"So, what made you call this quaint little meeting together?" She asked with a small tilt of her head.
Oliver leaned back against his chair as he crossed his arms. "Lex."
"He will tell you eventually, Lois."
Lois looked up at her cousin, her eyes narrowing and her lips pursing.
"No fair. Unless I get some meteor power advantage, you can't do that!"
"I'm sorry but it's really strong." Chloe said, emphasizing it by rubbing her temples.
Lois slouched, "What is?"
"Come on, Lois. Do we have to beat around the bush?"
"There is no bush to beat!" Lois exclaimed.
"Yes there is. He's tall and has a fetish for plaid."
Lois looked away in frustration. As much as she hated to admit it, she had been thinking about Clark because that was all she ever did beside sleep and eat. She hated it. Lois never acted like this...and with Smallville! It was just too crazy!
"I just...have all these feelings and I don't know what to do with them. I mean, this is Clark! I've spent the past five years enjoying the way I've annoyed him but all of the sudden, I just can't help the way I look at him. It just snuck up on me."
Chloe stared at Lois, watching as her aura intensified to a bright gold. It shimmered brightly then the sun's rays that beat down on them. Beneath the gold, small bursts of red and blue hues could be seen pulsating. Chloe's heart expanded as the warmest of sensations filled her, coursing through her body, filling her every being. It was intoxicating, like wine making her head buzz a little.
"Lois..." She whispered.
"What?"
"You need to stop talking about Clark..." Chloe slurred, her eyes drooping.
"Chloe? Are you okay?" Lois asked, standing a bit.
Much to her dismay, Chloe shook of the feeling and it swept out of her body, snapping her awake like she had been thrown into a pool of cold water.
"That...was...really...strong..." She said slowly, drawing it word out as if she was in a daze. With shaky hands, she took a sip of water.
Lois looked at her expectantly.
"I haven't felt something that strong before except..." A faint memory emerged from the recesses of her mind.
"Except for when I was in that coma..." She searched her mind. "Before I woke up...I felt something like that."
"Like what?" Lois asked with a confused smile.
Chloe didn't hear her. She sat back in her chair, pondering what all of this meant.
Lois snapped her head up. "Wait! He'll tell me what exactly?"
"I can't say..."
"But you know? You know what Mister I-Don't-Want-To-Hurt-You-But-Let-Me-Just-Keep-Lying-To-You-In-Hopes-You'll-Back-Off is keeping from me and everyone else...minus you!"
Chloe blinked at Lois. "You said you weren't mad?!"
"I'm not! What makes you think I'm mad! I am definitely not mad!"
"I know you're mad, Lois!"
"Stop. That." She all but growled.
"Lois, I know you understand Clark's dumb reasoning behind him not telling you so what's the real reason you're mad at Clark!"
Lois looked down at her lap. After a moment she glanced back up at Chloe, who saw the strong blue hued aura around her.
"Because...even if he does it out of some hero complex he seems to have picked up recently...I feel like...it just means that I'm not worth telling."
"Mr. X. We are ready to start Phase One."
"Begin."