Epilogue 2: There's just something missing ...

His mind kept returning to the box, hidden in his room. His confidence in himself had grown in leaps and bounds since he had started sharing his life with Lois, since he had shared his secret with her. Thinking of what was in the box he wondered whether his confidence had grown enough yet.

"No," he said out loud. "No way am I as sure of myself as I need to be to wear ... it." But it's from Ma, he thought. He dropped his head and sighed and went back to cooking breakfast. His mind drifted back to the box, again. How many times was that now? And it was like this every day. Unable to resist the impulse any longer he sped up to his room and pulled out the box. Ever so slowly he took off the lid and stared. Could he do it?

"Let's just see what it looks like," he murmured.

A moment later he stood in front of a full length mirror and stared in shock. This ... this was not him. It just didn't feel right. He most definitely wasn't comfortable ... emotionally. Physically it fit so well that ... it was snug. He couldn't pin point what was specifically making him feel uncomfortable, was it just the ... outfit ... in general or was it something specific? He looked it up and down.

Tight blue top, light blue legs, light red *cough* pants, little yellow belt. He frowned at that. Well, it wasn't as if it was necessary to keep the trousers up.

He looked directly in the mirror at his own chest and smiled. Now that looked good. He was definitely comfortable with the symbol. He turned from side to side to try and take in a full look then realised why he was so uncomfortable.

You could see his ... The costume moulded so closely over his ... behind.

He let out an embarrassed groan just as he heard a noise from the doorway. He spun round to see Lois leaning against the door post. She had a quirky smile on her face.

"Hey, Smallville," she said. "Guess you didn't hear me come in."

"Er," Clark stuttered, "I was preoccupied."

"I can see," Lois replied. She pushed herself upright from the doorway and walked forwards. "It's ... great," she said, "but I really feel as if there's just something missing."

"You really think it's great Lois?" asked Clark. "I feel ... exposed. Especially my backside," he said embarrassed as he turned sideways slightly to demonstrate. Lois was about to make a comment when Clark's expression changed suddenly.

"I've got it," he said. There was a whoosh and a wind in the room as Clark rushed to his wardrobe to pull something out. He stood before Lois with a large piece of red material. Swinging it round to his back he tucked the edges into the collar on his top. Turning round he showed Lois.

"There, a cape. That should cover up my ... behind." He turned back to Lois feeling ten times more comfortable. She had a strange smile on her face. "What?" he asked.

"You're worried about people seeing your ... behind?" she queried. He frowned at her not understanding her question. She glanced down his body and nodded her head in a certain direction. "No-one is going to be looking at your cute posterior, Smallville," she explained.

"Lois." Clark replied, shocked.

"Or maybe I shouldn't call you Smallville anymore," she mused. "At least not while you are in that Super outfit." She strode forward and reached up her arms. They snaked around his neck and she pulled him down for a lazy kiss. His arms moved round her back and he pulled her in close. Deepening the kiss he felt his worries lighten and as he surrendered his whole being to her he could have sworn he felt a light as a feather.