Free Fall
Author: Krys Yuy
Summary: Clark isn't willing to risk his heart again. But when Fate gives him a glimpse into his future, the only question is – how hard will he fall?
Pairing/Characters: Clark/Lois, Chloe/Bart, Oliver/?, Justice League
Warning: Spoilers up to Hex.
Rating: PG-13/T
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters used. This fic is purely for entertainment purposes only.
Author's Notes: Wow, another update! I'm on a roll (those used to my writing pattern know that this is really unlike me). I guess this just proves the power of Clark and Lois. Anyway, thanks again for all the amazing support! Thanks to everyone who took the time to review! (cloisharley, NaomiBlue, Aaron Leach, Dreamscometrue16, ThisIsRealThisIsMe, RleFay, CuteANDSexxxy17, Lavenderlily12, f1ameseeker, Sounni, Hakkyou Kuusou, daydreamer10101, Cath, artiist1284, CrazyLikeaFox, Seersha, buckinut, reeven, IrishUnicorn, k3josai, L.O.T.D., Evergreen, mszdatu) – You guys all rock! If you have a Fanfiction . Net account, I will try to be better about responding to your reviews because I love you guys for leaving one. Your reviews inspire me to write more. Everyone else who's favorited and/or put this on story alert, please tell me what you think! I'd love to get your feedback as well.
I hope you guys enjoy this update. Now, please read, review and enjoy! P.S. I have not forgotten about his wedding ring. It will come into play later.
Chapter 3: Assumption
Wife.
Wife. Wife. Wife.
Wifewifewifewifewifewife-
He remembered the cold sensation he had somehow been able to feel through his flannel shirt when Lois trailed her left hand along his right shoulder and arm. With a start, he realized it must have been her wedding band. How on earth had he missed that?
Lois Lane is my wife.
Clark felt like the world had unexpectedly imploded, and then rearranged itself. He was suddenly looking at everything in a wondrous new way. When he imagined his future, he was always afraid he would be alone, enforced further by the forty-eight hours that once again proved how dangerous his secret was to the people he cared about. Obviously though, something had changed. Not only was he in a relationship, he was married. To Lois Lane.
Brash, bossy, tough, courageous, endearing, attractive Lois Lane.
A smile unbidden spread across his lips.
But before he could really think about the ramifications of that particular revelation, a voice cut through his reeling thoughts.
"Clark, is there a reason you're standing there with that goofy expression on your face?" a familiar voice asked. "Or did you just want to enjoy the view of the sidewalk?"
Clark blinked and refocused his gaze to see the amused expression of one Oliver Queen. Oliver looked exactly the same, all blonde hair and brown eyes, an impish grin lighting the corners of his mouth. He had on black slacks and a casual white cardigan. But there were the telltale signs of growth along his upper lip and chin.
Oliver noticed his look and rubbed his chin in response. "What do you think? I know it's been awhile since we last saw each other, but I personally think this new look will work for me," he commented.
"It's… different," Clark conceded, trying to imagine Oliver with a mustache and goatee. He tucked thoughts of Lois away for a later time, knowing he would have to keep his wits about him if he were meeting anymore of his friends. "Sorry," he apologized for what felt like the tenth time. How long was playing dumb going to work? "There's been a lot on my mind recently."
"No kidding," called another voice. Bart appeared next to Oliver in the doorway and shook his head. "Dude, you are way off today."
Oliver turned curious. "How so?" he asked.
"Well, he forgot his glasses and –"
Clark didn't like how Oliver's eyebrows rose at that, and wondered how important a stupid pair of glasses was. It's not like he needed them! But the last thing he wanted were the gears in Oliver's head turning. "Bart, aren't you supposed to be standing still for the tailor right now, instead of commenting on my absentmindedness?" he interrupted.
Bart made a face. "Honestly, why can't I just wear my costume?" he asked, darting glimpses behind him into the store.
Oliver glanced around at the somewhat quiet street and chuckled. "Maybe because not all your wedding guests like playing that kind of dress up."
Bart waved a casual hand in the air. "Po-tay-toe, po-tah-toe," he said, shrugging.
"Are you guys actually going to stand out here all day?" A.C. popped his head out between Oliver and Bart. "Vic and I are already done."
A.C. turned his head slightly, giving Clark a view of his shoulder-length ponytail. But besides that, his aqua-loving friend seemed unchanged. Perhaps slightly taller, but that was it. He wore an orange muscle shirt with green stripes running along the side and dark green track pants. He grinned at him.
"Hey Clark. Finally decided to join us, huh?"
Clark shrugged sheepishly and pushed his glasses up again. They kept slipping and he wondered not for the first time why he bothered. "Sorry," he replied, but gave no further explanation. Honestly, he wasn't feeling that sorry at all. Despite his reservations, he had to admit it was nice seeing his friends. It had been awhile.
"How are you?" he asked politely, making his way into the store behind the others.
A.C. sighed. "Thirsty."
"You're always thirsty," said a voice from the back of the room.
Clark walked further into the shop and saw Victor lounging on one side of the stylish beige couch. His friend wore a pair of black jeans and a gray T-shirt covered with 1s and 0s in various sizes and shapes. He had also grown taller, but his overall build remained the same, deceptively normal, but – Clark checked quickly with his x-ray vision – still a body of metal and wires.
"I need more than eight glasses of water a day," A.C. grumbled under his breath. "I'd rather not have my skin all dry like you guys."
"Who has dry skin?" Oliver asked, a bit affronted.
Victor chuckled and nodded in Clark's direction. "Hey, man. We thought you weren't going to show," he commented.
Clark winced at yet another reminder of his ignorance. "Umm, I was –"
"He forgot how to get here," Bart interrupted. Clark glanced over at him in exasperation and Bart shrugged. "What? That's what you said."
"You forgot?" Oliver echoed, a note of disbelief in his tone. Somehow, Clark knew he was frowning again even though he was faced away from him.
"There was a story…" Clark trailed off, not knowing what else to say. If he played it off as a simple oversight on his part, then they would be less wary. He hoped.
He stepped up on the low platform placed in front of a three-paneled mirror. It was situated against the middle of the back wall. He gave the room a quick once-over, using the reflection of the mirror. Decorated in varying shades of beige and black, the shop gave off a subtle classy feel. The front of the room had displays and carefully arranged products of men's formal wear.
Clark nodded respectfully at the short bald man with glasses who came up to him. He had a loose length of measuring tape around his neck and a kind smile, setting Clark at ease.
"Mr. Kent," he greeted, reaching out to shake his hand. "I'm glad that you and your party could finally make it." There was no annoyance whatsoever in his tone and he seemed genuinely grateful for their business.
Clark nodded again and smiled in return, standing patiently as the tailor began to work around him. He raised his arms obediently when the owner began to measure the length from his shoulder to his wrist. Clark began to understand why he chose this shop for the groom's side of things. He wouldn't have been surprised if he had used this shop for his own ceremony.
His thoughts inevitably turned to Lois and his cheeks burned. My wife… Huh. It was starting to sound less and less strange the more it looped around his head. Still, he had to consciously hold himself back, instinctively recognizing that he was treading on dangerous ground.
"He's not even listening," Victor said somewhere in the background.
"Yoo-hoo, Earth to Clark." Bart waved a hand in front of his face and Clark focused on him with a confused blink. "See, I told you." He looked behind Clark at the guys. "Way off."
"What?" Clark asked, looking at his friends in the reflection. They looked back at him skeptically. "Like none of you have had an off day." I'm just having a more bizarre one than most.
A.C. shrugged from where he now sat next to Victor. "You've been so on top of everything regarding Bart and Chloe's ceremony that it's a little weird that you forgot. I mean, seriously, you take the time to remind us about appointments and stuff when we're in the middle of –" He glanced at the tailor. "– work."
Since when had he become a wedding planner? Clark only had to think about it for a few seconds before the answer came to him. "Well, I answer to a boss," he replied wryly, knowing only Lois could have roped him into it.
"Well, that's true," Oliver agreed, smirking.
Clark rolled his eyes. He spread his legs a little when the tailor began to measure his inseam.
"Why aren't you the one reminding us about this stuff again?" Victor asked, and Clark watched as his friend gave Bart a pointed look.
Bart raised his hands in surrender. "Look, if it were up to me, Chloelicious and I would have tied the knot in Vegas already," he replied.
Clark looked down when there was a sigh by his feet and the tailor muttered to himself.
"Vegas, he says," he grumbled. "Young men are too eager these days…" Only Clark could hear him and he smiled a little.
"All this –" Bart continued on, gesturing at the contents around the shop. "– is 'cause Chloe wants it. But she knows better than to expect me to remember the little details." He leaned back against the wall and looked up at the ceiling. "The only thing I'll be remembering after all this is the sight of my girl walking up the aisle to me in her smokin' dress and me taking her into my arms and kissing her like there's no tomorrow."
"I didn't know you were so romantic," Oliver commented dryly.
"It's the truth." Bart shrugged. "This girly stuff is for the girl." He crossed his arms. "As long as she's mine, I really could care less about everything else."
Clark frowned. "This is your wedding, Bart," he said. "It only happens once. Don't you want everything to be perfect for her?"
"I know!" Bart exclaimed, looking at Clark indignantly. "That's why I asked you to help me, remember?" He ran a hand through his spikes. "I'm no good at this kind of thing. I'd just mess something up."
Clark instantly felt bad. Bart obviously did care and he had asked his future self for help. Before he could think of some way to apologize without it being obvious he hadn't known, the tailor stood up and scribbled down some notes. He placed the pencil behind his ear and tucked the paper pad into his back pocket.
"All done, Mr. Kent," he said. He looked at Bart from above his lenses. "Mr. Allen, if you please…" He gestured to the platform as Clark stepped down.
Bart looked to be almost in a state of dread, and Clark resisted the urge to laugh. "Come on, it doesn't take that long," he said.
Oliver pushed Bart forward. "The sooner you do it, the sooner it's over with," he said. "Then we can all go back to headquarters and talk about the project."
Project? While he was doing fine now, Clark knew he'd be walking on thin ice if they were going to talk about things regarding the League. There was only so much he could pretend to know before his luck ran out. He tried to concentrate on the conversation going around him even as his mind worked on the possibilities.
Bart was already starting to fidget as he took his place on the platform. "Why couldn't you go before me?" He frowned at Oliver.
"Hey, I was here before all you slackers." Oliver grinned and relaxed against the black lounge chair. "Don't try to prolong the inevitable."
"Eager to get your measurements for when you finally pop the question to Dinah?" A.C. teased, obviously pleased when Oliver began to sputter.
"Wh-? I don't even– Did she –" Oliver clenched the velvet material of the chair. "We've only been dating for a year!"
"Okay, he's not ready," Victor commented, getting a nod and laugh from A.C. and a smirk from Bart. Clark remained silent, trying to imagine Dinah with Oliver, though he still smiled a bit at his friend's reaction.
"A quiet team. Why couldn't I have picked a quieter team?" Oliver muttered to himself.
Clark chuckled at that, but then felt his phone vibrate in his jacket pocket. He took out the cell and flipped it open to read the text message.
You better be at the tux shop with your rainbow-colored friends.
His brow furrowed. Sometimes he just didn't get Lois' references. He typed in a quick reply.
Yes, Lois.
He didn't think she was done yet, and his hunch was rewarded when another text came seconds later.
Smooth-talker hasn't run out on you, has he? Do I need to make a cousin call?
Clark grinned, shaking his head. Why was Lois the only one who could make him feel lighter than anything? A quick rush of the fingers and his reply was sent a second later.
Bart stuck around. Looks like he might be serious about this.
A few seconds later his phone beeped again.
Ha. He better be.
That seemed like the end, so Clark was about to close his phone when another text came through.
P.S. You're such a text showoff. ;P
He raised an eyebrow. What did she mean by that? He shrugged and slipped his phone back in his pocket. He looked up to find all his friends giving him Cheshire cat grins. Even Bart was grinning in the mirror at him.
"Six years later and you're still so lovesick," Victor commented, laughing. He nudged A.C. in the side. "Cute, huh?" he added teasingly.
"So cute," A.C. agreed, nodding and trying to hold in his laugh.
"Six years?" Ollie chuckled. "Make it eleven! Our dynamic duo just denied their feelings when they first met."
"Excuse me," Clark interrupted hotly, his cheeks and neck burning with embarrassment. "When did this become about me and Lois?"
"When you couldn't take your eyes off the texts from Mad Dog Lane," Victor replied knowingly.
Clark frowned. Had he really…?
"Hey, Bart, you may want to get tips from the big man here, though," A.C. said, gesturing to Clark. "Married nearly three years and still going strong."
Clark's heart jump-started. Three years?
A.C. continued, "In case the sizzle ever runs out, y'know." He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. "But feel free to come to any of us, too."
"Please." Bart snorted. "The last thing Chloelicious and I need advice on is the sizzle." He grinned.
A.C. rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah."
The tailor stepped back and took out his pad from his back pocket. He jotted down what Clark assumed were the rest of Bart's measurements before looking up with a polite smile. "All done," he said.
"Yes!" Bart hopped down from the platform. "Burritos all around!"
The others gave him odd looks but Clark smiled a little. The tailor came up to him specifically and said, "I'll have the tuxes done in two weeks, along with the custom vests Ms. Sullivan requested. I'll give you a call when they're ready for pick-up."
Clark shook his hand firmly. "Thank you very much," he said.
Bart joined them and also shook the tailor's hand. "Yeah, thanks," he said, seeming a bit uncomfortable but still sincere.
"No problem at all, gentlemen," the tailor replied, nodding.
Clark and Bart exited the store where their other three companions were already waiting. Oliver stood next to his limo, leaning against the open door. "Shall we?" he asked.
"Move over, green beans," Victor stated, squeezing past the billionaire and into the limo.
A.C. followed suit with a shrug at Oliver's indignant expression. Oliver looked at Clark and Bart, frowning. "Well?"
Bart clapped a hand on Clark's shoulder. "Come on, amigo," he said. "Time to save the world."
Clark stood still as Bart moved ahead and joined the others in the limo. Oliver remained standing outside and looked over at him curiously. "What are you waiting for, boy scout?"
Clark tilted his head as far-off sounds of struggle reached him. "Sorry, Oliver, I'll have to take a rain check," he said. He saw Oliver open his mouth, but then Clark was gone with only a gust of wind in his wake.
–
Hours later, after running all over Metropolis stopping muggings, rescuing people from burning buildings, and generally helping wherever he could without being seen, Clark found himself staring up at the Daily Planet. The tint of the setting sun made the building look all the more golden and awe-inspiring. Though he had a hundred questions that needed answering, one stood out more than anything else after his rescue spree.
Who was Superman?
The name had been on everyone's lips as would-be victims, bystanders, and even local authority figures chattered, some even whispering excitedly. It was like they were waiting for that person to show up and save the day. And through all his saves, he heard no mention, not even a tiny peep, about the Red-Blue Blur.
Clark frowned. Was this hero a friend of Oliver's? And what kind of name was Superman, anyway? Clark thought it sounded a bit arrogant as if someone was too full of himself. He needed to find out what had happened, and that was why he was currently standing in front of the building of one of the world's best known, critically acclaimed newspapers.
This was an answer he could easily get without exposing himself. All the unanswered questions about Lois and the League could only be answered by them, and Clark had no desire to reveal what happened to him until he had more of a grip on this reality. Superman – Clark still scoffed a bit at the name – would definitely be in the news, and where better to get it? Obviously, he couldn't find out his identity, but he could at least get an impression of what he was like.
Clark hoped he wouldn't be bombarded with more mysteries, but he knew he wouldn't get anywhere if he second-guessed himself. He walked through the revolving door – that's new – and found himself in the lobby. It looked pretty much the same and Clark held in his sigh of relief. It was nice to see that one thing remained constant. He started heading down to the basement when a voice called out to him.
"C.K.! What are you doing here?"
He smiled and turned around. "Jimmy!"
Seeing his auburn haired friend up and about sent a wave of happiness through him. He was glad that Jimmy hadn't suffered any permanent damage from the attack at the wedding. Thinking of that day, though, made the smile fade from his face. There was a time when he thought Jimmy and Chloe would be happy forever. Clearly, that wasn't the case and Clark wondered how many more surprises awaited him the longer he remained in the future.
Still, it seemed like the fallout of Jimmy's relationship with Chloe hadn't affected him too badly, at least on the surface. Though Jimmy seemed a bit puzzled to see him, his smile was still beaming from his face. He had a manila folder on hand and a camera around his neck.
"Aren't you supposed to be at –" Jimmy's smile suddenly seemed a tiny bit forced. "– Chloe's bridal shower right about now?"
Clark took out his cell phone and checked the time. 6:54. He didn't even know what time the shower was supposed to be at or even where it was. He could try calling Lois, but knew there was no way he could claim he had forgotten with her. Wincing at the possibility of that confrontation, he looked up and immediately felt bad. Jimmy's smile had faded away and now, he just seemed sad. He stared off into space at some point over Clark's shoulder.
Clark cleared his throat a little and Jimmy's attention focused back on him. "Umm, how did you know?" he asked. "About the shower, I mean?"
A bit of life went back into Jimmy's expression as he shrugged sheepishly. "I kinda peeked at the invitation on your desk," he confessed. "I'm sorry. I got curious, y'know? I know things between Chloe and I ended badly, but it still…" He blew out a breath. "I've moved on, and so has she, obviously. Sometimes it's just… hard."
"I know," Clark replied, suddenly thinking of Lana. His heart ached, but he was surprised that the sting was no longer as sharp as it had been before.
"Ugh, what am I saying?" Jimmy hit his forehead with his fist lightly and shook his head. "It's been six years."
"First loves are hard to forget," Clark whispered. The pain of their last kiss flashed through his mind, and he winced. Even in the end, all they had done was hurt each other. There were so many regrets and Clark abruptly felt like he tasted something awful in his mouth.
He firmly shut thoughts of Lana away when Jimmy spoke again. "I can't say it's not bittersweet. The idea of Chloe marrying someone else… well, it's weird," he admitted. "But I'm happy for her. Tell her that for me, will you?"
"Yeah, of course," Clark replied, nodding.
Jimmy smiled in thanks, but then looked troubled all over again. "Wow, I totally just dumped all that on you, didn't I? I'm so sorry, C.K.," he apologized. "Am I keeping you from the party?"
The party. Right. Clark shook his head. "Actually, I just…" He thought of Lois and smiled. "I needed to pick up something for Lois at her desk."
"Oh, I was heading that way, too. I got some pictures for the Chief," Jimmy said, holding up the folder in his hand. "I thought I'd slide it under his door in case I forget to bring them to work on Monday. Come on." He got into an elevator that opened its doors a few feet away from them.
Clark glanced back at the stairs to the basement and then back to Jimmy, who was holding the doors open. Had he and Lois been promoted? It has been six years. Suddenly pleased, Clark entered the elevator and watched Jimmy press a button for one of the higher floors.
They were the only two inside when the doors closed and Clark thought it was a perfect opportunity to get his friend's opinion. "So, Jimmy…" When he looked over at him, he asked, "What do you think of Superman?"
Jimmy looked at him strangely and Clark wondered if they had this conversation already. He thought about backpedaling, but Jimmy answered a second later. "He's amazing. He saves so many people, but he never expects anything in return. You know he's an all-around great guy. Very classy." Jimmy's expression turned sly. "What brought this on? You think Superman's finally going to sweep Lois off her feet? Metaphorically this time?"
"What?" Clark asked, immediately alert. He didn't like the implications of that question. "Why would I think that?"
"Oh, you know I'm kidding, C.K." Jimmy raised his hands in a placating motion. "If it were anyone else, I'd say there would be a reason to worry. But not with Lois." He shook his head. "If you two aren't a couple of the epic proportions, then I don't know who else would be."
Warmth stirred in his chest, and Clark sincerely replied, "Thanks, Jimmy." His voice lowered to a soft whisper. "It's nice to hear that."
"They're just good friends," Jimmy said reassuringly. "Lois likes to act like she's his exclusive reporter, but he gives interviews elsewhere, too."
The elevator dinged and the doors opened to a quiet newsroom floor. Only a few people were milling about, probably polishing some last minute articles for the weekend edition. The size of the room was much more impressive than the basement as it took up the whole floor and was wide open. The layout had the reporters' desks exposed and arranged in different sections. There were little cubicles of dark wood separating the desks, but the divisions were low enough to see the tops of heads. The elevator actually opened up to a higher platform that overlooked the newsroom, and one had to go down a small set of stairs to the right to gain access to the main floor.
Clark noticed all this and, somewhere in the back of his head, he was excited. But the forefront of his mind was too preoccupied with this Lois and Superman business. He knew there was no reason to be annoyed, but for some reason, he was all the same. Jimmy wasn't helping matters, either.
"Though that is rare," Jimmy continued as an afterthought, going down the stairs with Clark following him. "And he does manage to be there every time she needs to be saved. So what if her name has become nearly synonymous with his?" Jimmy stopped in the middle of the room and gestured to the two cubicles in front of him. "The Lane-Kent team cannot be beat."
Clark saw his nameplate on the left desk and Lois' on the right one. The state of their desks once again reflected their personalities just as their nightstands had. They each had a lamp attached to one side of the wooden partitions and a computer on the flat surface of the desk. Pictures and awards were posted on the walls of their cubicles with papers crowding their 'in' and 'out' boxes, but the similarities ended there.
Clark noticed his side was very neat, papers and notepads stacked in tidy piles. There were colored tabs sticking out of them, and Clark knew his future self had implemented the organization system he was only beginning to think about. Pens and pencils were gathered in an open black container placed next to the computer screen.
In contrast, all sorts of papers were scattered on Lois' desk – forms, notes, receipts, drafts, etc. Press passes were draped over her screen or hanging over the side of her desk, held in place by a couple of paper weights in the form of tiny monster trucks. A couple pencils and a pen were in a beige cup with the words 'World Famous' in bold letters on the side. An empty mug with '#1' sat next to it. Even though he couldn't figure it out, he knew there was a kind of organized chaos going on at her desk.
Clark almost forgot Jimmy was there until his friend patted his shoulder. "I'll see you Monday, C.K."
"Yeah," Clark replied, even though he wasn't sure if he actually would. "See you." He watched as Jimmy wandered further down the rows of desks until he reached the lone private office in the back of the room. When Jimmy bent down to slide the folder under the door, Clark looked away and back at the two cubicles in front of him.
After a moment, he went over to his side first. He sat down in the swivel chair tentatively, a bit surprised at it somehow being familiar, but at the same time, not. His desk was actually a corner desk. The flat surface in front of him extended past the corner all the way to his left, lining up against the two walls of his cubicle. Lois' side mirrored his. If there wasn't a barrier between their desks, he knew he would be facing the back of her computer just as she would his. The layout of their desks echoed elements of the original arrangement from the basement.
Clark touched the wooden division in front of him lightly, imagining Lois behind it. He smiled. It seemed right, somehow, to be her partner even in the future.
I wonder… On a hunch, he opened the desk drawer to his left and his smile widened. Carefully, he took out the black frame and pressed his fingers against the glass. 'Lois' Rules of Reporting' looked back at him. The frame was a bit worn along the edges as if it had been taken out many times.
He glanced back in the drawer and spotted a folded Daily Planet newspaper pushed towards the back. Curious, he took it out and placed the frame back gently. He closed the drawer and unfolded the newspaper. The bolded words 'Superman Saves the Day Again' was written across the top and the byline was 'Reported by Clark Kent', but neither was what grabbed Clark's notice. It was the large colored picture plastered right in the middle of the article.
Superman's back was to the camera and all Clark could see was a red cape and the tips of red boots. Clark vaguely thought the cape was ridiculous, but most of his interest focused on the person in the hero's arms. While Superman's face wasn't shown, the picture had obviously been printed mostly for the woman's reaction to him saving her. The picture wasn't a close-up by any means, but it was still easy enough to make out the face.
Lois Lane's eyes were wide, but there was a delighted smile playing on the edges of her lips. Looking awestruck and amazed, her arms were wound tight around her rescuer's neck.
Clark narrowed his eyes and stood up, flipping the newspaper over. He ran his fingers through his hair and glanced over at Lois' desk. Something pinned on her cubicle wall caught his gaze, half of it obscured by another pinned item, a list of to-do things.
He walked around to her desk and took the article from her wall. There was another picture of what he assumed was supposed to be Superman, except this one was just a blip in the sky. The photographer obviously had a lot of trouble taking a picture so far below on the ground.
But this time it wasn't the photograph that caught his attention. It was the headline.
'I Spent the Night With Superman'. Reported by Lois Lane.
Clark decided he didn't like this Superman character one bit.