Disclaimer: Superman is owned by Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Comics and their associates. The works of this story are entirely fictional and creations of the fan fiction author. The writer is receiving no financial gain with this piece.
Author's note: Lois finds out Superman's secret identity, and more.
Revelations
It was three days after Superman had come to Lois - three days after he had learned about his son. That night had been magical. It seemed as if the stars were finally beginning to align in their favor, and that they might actually have a chance at a long-denied relationship.
Richard had realized for some time that Lois could never come close to feeling for him what she felt for Superman. And, because he was a good man, and wanted her to be happy, he had quietly moved his things out of the house, and back into his apartment in Metropolis. Lois felt badly for him, but grateful for his understanding.
Today, at work, she sat at her desk and stared off into an unseen distance, remembering her steamy embrace with Superman from that wonderful night. She shivered at the memory and wondered when she'd see him again. Clark cleared his throat behind her, "Uh, Lois?" She gave herself a mental shake and turned to Clark with a too-bright smile.
"Hi, Clark. What's up? Did you want to talk about that piece the chief wanted us to do together?"
"There's something I needed to talk to you about, but not here, – how about some lunch?"
"Sure, I could eat – lead the way."
Lois followed Clark outside, where he hailed a cab instantly (the man really had a way with cabs), and they settled into the back seat. The monotonous motion of the vehicle left her in danger of sinking into another dreamy reverie and she gave herself another mental shake to clear her head.
"So, where're we going?" Lois asked. She assumed he had an idea for a story and wanted to run it by her, as he'd done so many times before.
"Um, actually, we're going to my place".
Lois sat up slowly. "Your place? Your apartment?" In all the time she'd known Clark, she had never been to his home. They were friendly, worked well together, and respected each other as colleagues, but had never really socialized outside of work. He had given no indication of any romantic interest, and she really hoped that this was not leading in that direction. She'd hate to hurt his feelings. He was such a sweet, likeable dork.
Clark read her reaction perfectly. He had taken such pains to keep a certain distance between them and now he was reaping what he had sown. He sighed.
"It has to do with Superman, Lois, and I thought you'd be interested. It's not something I could show you at work."
Lois relaxed slightly. "Really?"
"Uh, yeah – some background information I dug up – but I wanted to show you first".
Now Lois was truly intrigued. She wanted to learn everything she could about the enigmatic man she loved. They finally arrived at their destination. Clark's apartment was a second floor walk-up in a tidy, older building in a working-class section of town. Clark paid the driver and ushered her into the building. As they walked up the stairs and into Clark's apartment, Lois's practiced eye idly took in all the details: photos of a lovely old farmhouse; an older man and woman standing proudly with a younger Clark; what looked like college graduation photos.
"These your folks, Clark?" Lois said.
"Yeah", he said "my mom and dad".
"They look like nice people. Do you get to see them much?"
"My dad died a few years ago. I don't get to see my mom as much as I'd like, but we stay in touch".
"I'm sorry Clark, I didn't know about your father."
Clark sighed. There was so much she didn't know.
"So, what did you want to show me?"
"Have a seat". He indicated a comfortable sofa nearby.
As she sat, she watched Clark go to one of the larger pictures on the wall, and swing it wide. Lois was surprised to realize it was on hinges, and that a wall safe lay behind it.
"Wow, Clark, this is all very cloak and dagger", she said.
"You have no idea", he muttered under his breath.
When he turned back to her he had some photos in his hand. Only these were not family photos. They were unlike anything she had ever seen, or remembered seeing. It was a cave-like setting – a vast cavern, with huge, lovely crystals jutting out all through-out. It was sparkling, stunning, like a cave full of diamonds.
"This is amazing!" she said. "What is it?"
"It's Superman's Fortress of Solitude", said Clark, sinking down next to her on the sofa. "The crystals are a kind of repository of knowledge from his parents. It was meant to educate and protect him as he grew up on an alien planet – Earth".
"Wow – have you been there?" Lois said. She felt somehow deflated that Superman would take Clark, and not her, to a place so very personal to him.
Clark nodded slowly. Then he said, "So have you".
Lois looked up, startled. "What are you talking about? I think I would have remembered a place like this!"
Clark regarded her steadily. "Not if Superman made you forget. Not if he felt he needed to protect you from the burden of knowing too much-even the knowledge of who he really is."
Lois's wide eyes narrowed suddenly, "Clark, what the hell are you talking about? And how would you know what Superman did or didn't do?"
As her words hung in the air, Clark rose to his feet. He straightened his posture to his full height from the perpetual slouch he'd adopted. One hand raked back his hair from its unfashionably floppy foray onto his forehead. The other hand slowly removed his glasses. He looked at once bigger, more powerful, and the room seemed suddenly smaller. With those few simple changes, his striking good looks became apparent, and he radiated a kind of quiet confidence; a nobility, even. But more than anything, it was the look on his face that told Lois the truth. His eyes didn't dart away from her gaze. There was no nervous, distracting, fidgeting with his glasses. He looked directly into her eyes with all that he was, all that he felt, plainly written on his face, and simply waited.
Lois nearly slipped off the sofa, instantly breathless. "Jesus Christ, it's you!" She looked at him wildly, feeling suddenly lost. Clark dropped to one knee beside her, and possessed himself of her hand.
"Well, not Jesus Christ, but yeah, it's me", he said with a slight smile.
"How could you - How could I not have known?" She suddenly felt shy and desperately tried to think of anything horribly mortifying she may have said or done over the years in front of Clark, at once despising herself for such weak feminine thoughts.
Clark couldn't help smiling at her discomfiture. "I was invisible to you, Lois. I made sure of that. It wasn't that difficult. Why would you ever make the connection between Superman and the office dweeb?" he said ruefully.
"But, you said I knew, once", she said, wrinkling her brow in confusion.
Clark took a deep breath. "Well, yeah, you did. But it turned out very badly. Bad guys took advantage. It made you distraught, ultimately unhappy. So, I did what I thought was for the best at the time. I used my powers to make you forget."
There was a pregnant silence. Clark waited for the inevitable.
"WHAT! How was that your decision to make! What the hell were you thinking? How could you?" The last was said plaintively, bewildered, and felt like a knife twisting in Clark's gut.
So he told her. He told her about their trip to Niagara Falls on assignment. About how she guessed his identity after a chance incident revealed his power to her. He told her how he had given up his powers so that he could be with her, because at the time he thought it was the only way they could have a future; could have children together. He told her about her breakdown when she realized that his sacrifice for her nearly brought about an end to the Earth. That it was at that moment that he'd made the decision to make her forget. He stopped when he saw her tears threatening to overflow, and tried to gather her into his arms.
"Don't touch me! Don't you dare take this away from me again!" she cried.
"I won't, Lois, I promise", he said as he drew her into his lap, and stroked her back soothingly. "First of all, it seems that, after all, I don't need to become a mortal to have children with you," he said, his voice warm with a deep satisfaction. "And, I've come to realize something very important".
"What's that?" she said, sniffling.
He looked steadily into her eyes. "We're stronger together than we are apart." He brushed her lips with his, and then pulled away slightly and captured her eyes once more. "I need you in order to be who I am", he said simply.
Lois gazed tearfully into his earnest eyes. Then her arms crept around him, and she held on for dear life.
Clark closed his eyes and gave up a silent prayer of thanks, as he held her close. It was going to be alright.