A/N: Sorry, guys. This took longer than expected. I was a bit busy last week. Since I only have the weekend and Tues to work on it, it got a little hectic. I was going to finish this chapter on Tuesday, but then I comepltely forgot cuz my eyes were glued on CNN and MSNBC during the election results! ^_^
So, ANYWAYS. Here it is: Lois' reaction.
Chapter 3: "A Wrath of Lois"
Clark was more than grateful that the rain had stopped a while ago. Lois was already drenched as it was.
He took a quick peek of her as he flew high in the skies. He tried not to go too fast, afraid that she would start getting real cold.
God, she's beautiful…. He forced his eyes back ahead.
The entire fly ride, both were silent.
Clark was too afraid to utter a word. He didn't want to say the wrong thing that might cause her to react badly.
And Lois didn't know how to bring out her words. She knew what she wanted to tell him, but didn't know what exactly to say first. Maybe it'll be easier when I'm on the ground and able to look at him in the face, she thought. And away from his embrace.
They were preparing to land. Very slowly, Clark started to fly downwards.
A shiver ran through her entire spine as he clutched her closer. His strong hands felt hot against her skin. She had figured long ago that Superman could withstand temperature changes better than regular people. She had observed that the weather had an affect on him, just as it had an affect on everybody else. But his body was stronger and could last longer.
Lois turned to meet his gaze, wondering what it was that he was thinking. However, his eyes kept ahead and said nothing.
She turned away and saw that they were a few feet from her apartment balcony. She released a heavy sigh. She was so glad to be home.
When they arrived, Superman carefully put her on the ground, then he did a quick scan of his surroundings, making sure that there weren't any witnesses. Once he saw that the coast was clear, he came to floor contact and followed Lois into the apartment.
Lois turned to close her doors, suddenly feeling a knot tie in her stomach. This was it. Once she turned around, she would have to face it.
So, she took in a long breath to help steady herself and turned around.
However, Clark was nowhere to be seen.
She frowned and looked around the room. She was about to call out his name when all of a sudden, he super-sped out of her room.
She gave him a frown, wondering what he was doing.
He grew a bit red from embarrassment. He had gone two years with using his powers in front of her, but without her knowing who he truly was. She had seen him run in super-speed before, but this was very different. Now, it wasn't Superman she was seeing using these superpowers…but Clark instead.
And without knowing what was going through her head, he wasn't sure how to react to that.
Lois still stood there, frowning at him.
He knew what she must be thinking. "I went ahead and closed all of the windows. Then, I checked to see if anybody would be listening in."
"Checked?"
Clark gave a hesitation. "Yeah…I, uh, heard what our neighbors are doing."
Lois didn't get it at first. But then it hit her. Oh, right. He has super hearing. She gave him a small nod and turned away. "So…what are they doing?"
She was dancing around the issue, she knew it.
"Well, three of them aren't home. And Mr. and Mrs. Kane are snoring," he responded.
She gave another nod and started taking off her coat. She then turned to face him again and for the first time observed him.
Superman. Faster than a speeding bullet. Metropolis' hero. The Man of Tomorrow. He stood still in his blue suit, red cape, red boots, and his S shield on the center of his built chest. His jet, black hair was nicely combed back and his baby blue eyes shined even in this dim light.
And just like always, Lois' breath became unsteady. Her crush and desire for Superman had never left. But now that she knew who he was….
Lois cleared her throat and forced herself to look away.
Clark interpreted her reaction as her being uncomfortable. "Um…I could change…if you want?"
Lois gave a small shrug. "I'm fine, either way…."
She was lying. She actually would rather talk to Clark as…well, as Clark. Looking at Superman and thinking of him as Clark was just a little too weird for her at the moment. It was still difficult to think of both of them as one and the same. Maybe with time….
His thoughts were the same on the matter. For him as well, would be a lot easier to talk to her as himself, not his alter ego.
And without even thinking about, he super-changed into his regular clothing. When he looked up to see her again, he saw that that had probably not been the best idea.
Her eyes were wide in shock. Her breathing started getting a little uneasy again. She quickly looked away, not wanting him to see her freak out.
Clark darted his eyes someplace else too. He put his hands in his pockets and began fidgeting with his keys, not knowing what to say.
He took quick glances at her, frowning. This must be really bad. Lois was never silent. She was even more of a chatterbox whenever there was any sort of silence in a room.
After a long fifteen seconds of awkward silence, Lois had finally had enough. "So, you're forgiven for all those times you ditched me." She gave a nervous chuckle.
Clark swallowed hard. And with a pained face, he finally let out what he'd been meaning to tell her so many times. "Lois, I am so sorry. I wanted to tell you, but--"
"I know," Lois said with sincerity.
"I didn't want that sort of weight on your shoulders." He took a step towards her, his eyes pleading for her to believe his truthful words.
"It wouldn't have been a burden," Lois cut in.
"It would have been unfair to you." He wasn't listening to her, not really. He just wanted to let it all out already. These 3 years had been almost agony to him. And he could only imagine all the hurt he had caused her by lying so many times.
"Clark." She knew he wasn't listening to her.
"I hated lying to you--"
"Clark."
"Every minute of it. And it's not that I didn't trust you, because I do! I do, Lois!"
"Clark!"
That got his attention. He immediately stopped rambling and looked down at her, preparing himself. Here it comes, he said. Here comes the wrath of Lois.
Lois sighed in relief and started up at him with loving eyes. She gave him a small smile. "I understand."
He waited several seconds, a little thrown off. And when she still said nothing he said, "But…?" He was still waiting for it.
She shook her head. "There isn't a 'but'."
He didn't get it.
She knew that he was getting confused all the more. "Clark, I know why you had to lie to me. I understand. I get it."
Clark started shaking his head. "Lois, this isn't you."
She rolled her eyes. "God. You and Chloe really don't believe I can be rational, can you?" she muttered.
"No," he said automatically.
She sent those piercing baby blue eyes a small death stare.
"Lois, I know you. I know that right now you're actually feeling real pissed, but you're just holding back for whatever reason."
She shook her head. "I am not angry."
He gave her a look of disbelief.
"I'm not!" she exclaimed in offense.
He really didn't believe her, but she just wasn't budging. Fine, he thought. If she's not going to give in easily, then I'll just have to force it out of her. And he knew exactly how to rile her up. "So, you're not mad at me for ditching you all those times?"
She shook her head calmly. "No. I understand why you had to do it."
"You're not angry that left you in the middle of a crowded restaurant countless of times?"
"No." The old, angry feelings began to dimly resurrect inside of her, however.
"So, it still doesn't bother you that I left when you were awarded by the city for your article the other week?" He hated doing this, but he needed to. She needed to get it out.
Some anger threatened to burst out of her, but she tried to control it and keep it in. "No."
He knew he was close. He could almost smell her wrath. "It doesn't hurt you that I didn't tell my secret? That after being together for a year, I didn't let you in on it?"
Something clutched her heart at that moment. She shook her head, doing her best to control these feelings. "I know what you're doing, Clark. Stop."
"You're not feeling as if I didn't trust you enough to tell you? Hell, Chloe--your cousin--has known for ages."
Lois began to walk away. A knot began to tie hard in her throat. "Stop it."
However, he wasn't giving up so easy. He went after her. "So, I guess it's fine that even after that night some months ago when you let out your most deepest secrets to me, I wasn't as open as you were."
"Dammit, Clark!" That had done it! Lois sharply turned around towards him. She gave him a shove. "Why are you doing this?!"
Even though it was hurting him causing her this anger, he knew he had to do it. Lois had to let it out. All of that anger needed to be spoken. "Answer my questions first."
Lois stared up at him, tears now stinging her eyes. She began to remember all those times he had hurt her. All the times he walked out in the moments she most wanted him. He had made her feel deeply insecure every time he turned his back. Every time he walked out of the door, she felt her heart slowly die. Because even though she knew he loved her as much as she loved him, she knew he was hiding something.
At first, she believed that it had something to do with his mother or Chloe. And even at times, she was worried that the Green Arrow was having Clark do some jobs. It had worried the hell out of Lois. She had even gone to Ollie and threatened to expose him if she ever found out that he was using Clark for one of his assignments. She didn't care whether it was for a great cause or not, but Lois did not want Clark anymore near the word danger.
She shook her head now, remembering. If I had only known…
All those times, during one of her and Clark's assignments for The Daily Planet, she had been worried to death about Clark when all of this time he had been…. She couldn't finish the thought. Couldn't bring herself to it.
Looking at him now, Lois did not feel any different in how her heart felt about him. However, the rest of her was a different story.
One thing she hated most was being lied to. This Clark had known from the start. She opened her mouth, more than ready to lash out. But just as she was about to scream out her first fury, she looked into his deep, baby blue eyes.
She saw how tender they were. How lovingly he looked at her. And she couldn't bring herself to do it.
Tears formed and she bit down her tongue as hard as she could. She shook her head and looked away from him. The knot in her throat was tighter than ever.
It seemed as if someone had just come in and squeezed hard at his heart the moment he saw the tears come. He hated Lois feeling any sort of pain. It was as if he felt it too, only twice as strong.
With complete gentleness, he reached over and placed his strong hands on her shoulders and turned her back around to face him. And when she still did not look up, he lifted her hand with two of his soft fingers.
She knew she had to look up at him. He wouldn't move until she did it. So, taking a deep breath, she lifted her eyes back to his. And just like she expected, she nearly melted.
He looked down into her brown-green eyes intently. "Lois…please tell me," he said in a low, pleading whisper.
He needed to know that her thoughts weren't as he was imagining. Was she being quiet to spare his feelings? Was what she was thinking that bad? Was she so frustrated with him that she wanted to break things off, but didn't know how to? Didn't know where to start? Or she was possibly afraid of what he would do if she did want to break things off? She knew the truth about him now. Knew that with just one finger, he could kill her. God, this was killing him! Why won't she just talk already?
Lois swallowed. She took a few breaths to steady herself. She saw that keeping her mouth shut was now driving Clark in agony. She always said what was on her mind, never afraid to. So, now that she was keeping silent, she knew it was driving Clark off the walls, possibly thinking the worst.
She saw that he was battling with something inside himself. She placed a warm hand on his cheek to calm him and said with all sincerity, "How can I be mad at the person I most admire in this world?"
His heart pounded hard on his chest.
She caressed his cheek. "The person…I most love?"
He still did not have his answer. "But how do you really feel about this? You must feel angry."
Lois took a step back and was about to deny it all again, when Clark took a step forward towards her. He had really lost his patience. "Dammit, Lois! Just tell me!"
She hated yelling! And that made her snap. "Don't yell at me, Clark! And stop pushing me!"
"Then stop lying to me, Lois!" he demanded in a very deep, angry tone.
She gave him a hard shove. "I have every right to lie to you--you've been doing it to me for all these years!"
He frowned at her. "So that's what this is? That's why you've kept quiet? You want to get back at me?! Do you think that's a lot worse than the 'Wrath of Lois'?"
"I'm not trying to get back at anybody, Smallville! But if you keep pushing my buttons, you'll really see what the 'Wrath of Lois' looks like," Lois threatened.
"Then why are you holding back?! Though, I should actually be grateful that my ears aren't bleeding from hearing your annoying voice instead of complaining," he muttered to himself.
Lois wanted to give him a good kick in the gut. Now that her anger was out, she had no way of controlling it. "Do you really want to go there, Smallville?"
He arched his brow. "To your wrath? It's not like I haven't experienced before. You lash out at everyone that crosses your ways every damn day already."
Now that was the limit. She lifted her left foot and kicked him on the shins with all of her might.
Clark felt a light twinge on his knee. He looked down, frowned, and then looked back up at her with a smug reaction.
She grunted. She forgot! Damn him! "For your information, Farm Boy," she said it as she gave him a hard shove--she had caught him off guard, so he stepped back, "it's a good thing that I've been biting my tongue instead of lashing out!"
"And why is that?!"
"Because it will do no good!" she tried to explain.
"How would it do no good?!" He seriously didn't get her sometimes.
He looked at him with furious tears stinging her eyes. "Because it doesn't matter, Clark!"
"To me, it does!" He couldn't remember the last time he had yelled this much.
Lois shook her head, trying hard to get this out finally. "What good would it do to yell at you? It will only make me feel more guilty than I already do!" She turned away as a tear spilt from her eye.
However, he wasn't going to let her face out of his sight. She was finally letting this out, and he needed to look at her while she did. He walked around her to face her. "How is it that you feel guilty? For what?"
She looked up at him with an impatient look. "Clark…all those times me getting angry with you…me complaining about you being late…me nagging about you skipping dinner dates…." She shook her head, feeling disgusted with herself. "While you were out saving innocent people…protecting all of Metropolis…all I did was think about myself?"
He too shook himself at her. "Lois…you didn't know at the time."
"It still doesn't change the fact that I acted like a five-year-old girl."
"Lois…." He cupped her face with his hands.
A few tears kept coming down. She clutched onto his shirt and cried onto his chest. "Why couldn't you have just told me?" she asked in a very low whisper. There, she had asked it. Even though she knew the answer--even though he had already answered it from the beginning--she still needed to let out that question.
He hugged her tightly against him and soothed her back. "God, I wanted to, Lois. You have no idea how badly I always wanted to tell you."
"But Chloe knew…. How come you couldn't tell me?" Even though she was still very much angry with him, she leaned in more into his embrace. His touch was quickly calming her.
"She's one of the proofs as to why I couldn't tell you." He pulled away from her so that he could look into her eyes as he said the next thing. "Lois, everyone that has come to know my secret has faced mortal danger. My parents, Lana, Chloe…they all nearly died because of what they know about me. Do you really think that I wanted the same fate for you?" A knot formed into his throat and he fought back tears of torment. "I couldn't live with myself if something horrible ever happened to you because of me. I was able to live through my father's death…. I don't think I could survive yours."
An of Lois as a dead corpse flashed into Clark's mind at that moment. Two tears came down his cheeks as he pushed the image away.
Clark didn't have to confess this to Lois. She already had guessed the answer long ago, but it was still a good thing that they were speaking these words out loud.
She reached out and wiped away his tears. "How do you think I felt while being kept in the dark?" She stepped closer to him. "Clark…for a while there…I thought that you were dying and that only Chloe and your mother knew about it. I knew you were hiding something big from me that you were much too frightened to let out."
Tears came down from her own eyes now, remembering that horridness time when she honestly believed Clark had cancer or something. She had cried herself to sleep those nights. And even though she had held on to that theory for three days, it had felt like torture. Torture that had lasted for centuries instead of a few nights. Thank goodness that Martha had cleared that up quickly.
Lois was now sobbing. Clark brought her back to his embrace and rocked her, as every tear slowly tore him apart.
"It was the longest three days of my life. I felt like I myself was slowly dying."
Clark gave her a kiss on top of her head. "I'm sorry," he murmured into her head. "I'm so sorry."
"I hate being lied to, Clark. It just…if you can't be honest with me…how can I trust you?"
"I won't keep anything else from you again," he vowed. He turned her face to his. "I'll tell you everything from now on."
"You better," she warned as she gave him a threatening glare. "If I find out some secret about you from someone else's mouth, Smallville…I kid you not, I will make sure that your life is a living hell."
Clark chuckled. He leaned over and kissed those luscious, red lips of hers. A rush of happiness ran throughout his body.
When they pulled away, Lois gave him a smile and moved her arms around his neck. "Now…tell me everything."
He frowned. "About what?"
She rolled her eyes. "About you, you goof. Your home planet. How your parents found you. When did you find out the truth about your origin? Have you always had your powers? Or did they come to you one by one? And how does that x-ray vision work? Is it like on all the time? You're not using it right now are you?" She suddenly became a little self-conscious and took a slight step away.
However, he stepped with her and chuckled once more. "Alright, alright. One question at a time. Yeesh. It's like you want to know the autobiography of Superman."
She gave him a teasing smile. "No…I don't care much for Superman anymore."
He arched his eyebrows in surprise.
She brought him closer to her. "All I care about is knowing the complete truth of Clark Kent. Metropolis can keep the Man of Tomorrow. I'll keep the real thing." She gave him a passionate kiss.
"Where do you want me to start?" he asked as he rocked her side to side.
"From the beginning…when you arrived in Smallville…to your first love…to your meeting with me--the most important--"
He kissed her then. "That is the most important. That's when the adventures of Lois and Clark started…."
"To the Daily Planet…all the way up to how Clark Kent became Superman…My man of steel."
He smiled broadly at her….
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NEXT CHAPTER: The day after Lois finds out the entire truth. How will she cope with it now that she knwos the ENTIRE truth?
(two more to go!!! This story is going to have only 5 chapters!!!)