Chapter 25:
Roof of the Daily Planet:
"Do you have to leave me here? We could always walk in together."
"Lois, people want to talk to you here and I have to go get my clothes from where I stashed them when I had to come rescue you."
"I could have handled things myself." I cross my arms defiantly.
"Sure Lois, and pigs can fly." He retorts sarcastically, "Don't you dare say anything."
Damn how'd he know? "I wasn't going to say anything… honestly."
"I'll believe you this time. Now go downstairs, I'll see you in five." He lifts up into the air and then disappears.
That is seriously starting to annoy me. I go to the door and make my way down to the bull pen. I sigh, wanting to spend more time with Clark but know that I have to work. I make my way to my desk and plop down heavily.
"LANE!" now what does Perry want? I groan and stand, my body aching after being pushed around so much within the last three days.
"Yeah Perry." I say as I stroll into his office and collapse into the couch in the corner.
"You ok?" he asks with genuine concern in his voice.
"Yeah, just tired… you know me, I'll soldier on."
"I want you to go home and rest… after you've interviewed Lex Luthor."
"What… no Perry. No!" I don't know what I'm protesting against more, interviewing Lex or going home.
"Lois, I know that there's some sort of history between you and Lex. And I know that you really really don't want to do this interview, but, he personally requested you. Olsen will be going with you so it's not like you'll be alone with him."
"He requested me?" I thought he would have learned after the last time we'd had a run in; his face didn't take too kindly to my hand.
"I'm as stunned as you are about that, I thought he'd put a restraining order on you, not invite you to Lex Towers for an interview."
"There's no way out of this is there?" I ask dejectedly.
"Nope… can't see a way out."
"Fine, just please don't tell Clark where I'm going."
"Ok, give me a good reason why first."
"Lex and Clark have a complicated history that isn't my place to tell you, but he won't take too kindly to any sort of contact with Lex."
"Alright, but next time I want a real answer."
"Yes Perry."
"Lane?"
"Yeah?"
"What's Bruce Wayne doing here?"
Holy s--t I forgot about Bruce! "I don't know." I answer as I scurry out of Perry's office towards Clark and Bruce.
"Bruce?" I call out in a neutral tone.
"Lois." He greets curtly.
"Hey Lois, Bruce here has offered to do an interview with me."
"That's nice, have fun then." I try to look uninterested.
"You coming? We're grabbing lunch too." Bruce doesn't look too pleased with Clark's invitation and I can't say that I'm all that excited about going to lunch with Bruce so soon, it wouldn't look too good publicly either.
"I would really love to but Perry's got me following up a lead or two and I have a note from Jimmy, gotta go see him..." I trail off, noticing the mass surrounding the three of us.
"No trouble this time." Clark addresses me.
"You sound like my father."
"Promise me Lo, I'm not leaving 'til you do." He crosses his arms.
"Fine, I promise. I'll have Jimmy with me the whole time anyway."
"That doesn't boost my confidence." Bruce mutters, "Just ignore me Clark." He adds as I glare at him.
"I'll take your word Lo. Stay out of trouble and I'll see you after lunch to work on those Superman articles."
"It's a plan, bye Clark. Bruce." I nod as they turn and leave the bull pen. I'm relieved that they seem to be getting along, well at least in public. I sigh as I think about the Luthor interview; I head off in search of Jimmy. Might as well get lunch in before facing the Devil.
Clark:
I shove my hands deep into my pockets. I have no idea what to say to Bruce… "Thanks." Bruce looks at me puzzled.
"For what?"
"Looking after my family."
"It was really no problem Clark. I'd prefer to not talk about this here. Do you mind if we go back to my hotel and talk there in private."
"No, not all." We go back to our uncomfortable silence. Waiting to talk about the important things gives me time to think things through. I size Bruce up; he's about six foot one, around two hundred pounds, give or take. He's a dark guy, looks like he broods a lot, which surprises me. I'd never thought that Lois would be drawn to such a broody person.
"I thought you didn't do interviews?"
"I don't, but I think this should be an exception, we'll just talk business though."
"Ah, yeah, of course. I'd like to say I'm honored but I honestly don't know what to think."
"It's understandable." Bruce simply states as he leads me out of the elevator, through the lobby and into the waiting car. "Clark Kent, this is Alfred."
"Afternoon Master Kent."
"Ah, afternoon Alfred." I'm a little put off by the British butler.
"To the hotel Master Bruce?"
"Thank you Alfred." I watch Bruce and Alfred as they converse. Both comfortable with the exchange, I feel so out of place.
"You might want to be a little bit more discreet with the staring." Bruce says, looking out the window onto the city.
"Sorry."
"It's alright. You have to be curious about me." Bruce answers knowingly.
"Just a bit." I push my glasses up on my nose, finding them a pain.
"We're nearing the hotel now Master Bruce, public or service entrance?"
"We'll go the service entrance thanks Alfred."
"The last thing you need is to be seen with me, huh?"
"Nothing to do with being seen with you Clark, I just don't like to be seen."
"You're in the wrong city, Metropolis is shocking for privacy."
"Tell me about it. Anyway, here we are." Bruce leaves the car as it comes to a stop. I also exit the car and follow Bruce to the service elevator. I'm amazed, even the service elevator is a better quality than any other service elevator I've ever seen. Bruce punches the button to the top floor, the elevator hums into life…
Sidewalk below Lex Towers:
"Remind me why we're here again Lo?" Jimmy asks, a little antsy.
"It's good to see that my cousin married a real man." I reply sarcastically.
Jimmy puffs his chest out. "I'm a real man. You better not get me started down that road again Lo."
"Ah, I forgot how much you whined like a little girl." I hear Jimmy spluttering as I enter the building. I can feel a change in the environment, I shiver.
"This is spooky." Jimmy whispers from behind me.
"Welcome to Lex Tower Ms Lane and Mr Olsen." Some perky bimbo greets us.
"Miss, it's Miss Lane not Ms." Jimmy chuckles beside me as I respond.
"I'm sorry Miss Lane, follow me please." She holds the same perky tone.
"Ooh goody." I rub my hands together in mock eagerness. Jimmy laughs and the perky blonde's features tighten. My smile grows, I'm already getting to this woman; I'm getting better with age.
Jimmy leans towards me and whispers conspiratorially. "Keep at her, I think she's cracking." He winks at me.
I wink back and grin. "To our left here we have the statue donated-"
"Thanks, ah…" I look at her name tag, "Carol, but we're not here for a tour; we just want to get our interview and then leave." I force a smile.
"I'm sorry Miss Lane, but it's my job to give a guided tour to all who visit Mr Luthor."
Jimmy tries this time, sounding more understanding… "Carol we really do understand that this is part of your job but we really need to be quick about all this because we have deadlines and other engagements to meet."
"We won't tell Lex, Carol." I quickly add in.
She seems to ponder this for a while. "Ok, but if Mr Luthor asks I even showed you the imported jade statue and that you got here a half hour early."
"Uh-huh, sounds good honey." I reply flippantly.
She does a little bob of her head and proceeds to show us to the elevator. She presses the call button and the doors immediately slide open.
"It's like we're in the twilight zone." Jimmy whispers in my ear.
"Nah, Lex is just overly dramatic. A real drama queen actually, now I know why he dumped Lana, there wasn't enough attention around for two drama queens."
I hold back my giggle and Jimmy gives me an odd look, Carol pretends that she didn't hear me as she jabs at an unmarked button. I feel like humming the X-Files theme but resist. Carol looks like she wants to say something but continues to stay silent. So she's not as slow as I originally thought. The elevator doors ding and slide open with a slight hissing sound. Jimmy jumps behind me; I turn and glare at him. He rolls his eyes knowing that I'm going to give him hell afterwards. I follow Carol to a waiting room, a receptionist sitting behind a desk next to two large oak doors.
"Miss Lois Lane and Mr Jimmy Olsen are here to see Mr Luthor." Carol says to the brunette. The brunette nods and goes back to what she's doing. Carol turns to us.
"Mr. Luthor will be with you in a few minutes, please make yourselves comfortable." She indicates some couches to our right.
"Thank you Carol." Jimmy smiles as she leaves.
We sit down, "Do you always have to be so nice?" I ask quietly.
"Well someone has to be nice with all your hostility."
"I am not hostile; people just misinterpret my actions and words."
Jimmy's about to reply when the oak doors smoothly slide open and Lex strides out, a fake smile adorning his face, "Lois… Jimmy… it's good to see the both of you. This way please."
I don't like the look on Lex's face nor his tone of voice, but follow, curiosity always getting the best of me…
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