Disclaimer: Not mine
Being with Clark on the car was weird, uncommon, rare; almost exotic. And incredibly frustrating.
"Honey, aren't you going a bit fast?"
"I would like to arrive to Metropolis today, Clark. And right now? I'm tempted to throw you out of the window. Will you shut it already?"
"Ok, ok. No more protesting about your excessive speed," said Clark raising his hands capitulating.
"Fine."
A short silence.
"Can we talk about the excessive volume then?"
"Clark!" said Lois smacking his arm with her right hand.
"What? It's loud."
Lois rolled her eyes. "You can't listen to Led Zeppelin low, Clark. This stuff is classic."
"Well, I will thank then that you forgot your Whitesnake anthology home."
"What I don't understand is why are you in the car with me when you know me behind the wheel, when you know me and music, and when you know me having you as copilot."
"Because I'm hoping that someday you'll change. I believe in miracles, you know?"
"That one's on the other play list, sweetie," she said smiling.
"Oh, now you're 'sarcastic Lois'," said Clark chuckling. Then he caressed her face. "It's good to have you back, Lo."
Lois took his hand and kissed it. The only woman he had known with the habit of kissing a man's hand as a way of showing her love. He loved her, it couldn't be any other way. Once the song ended, she turned down the volume.
"This Smallville break has been blissful, Clark," said Lois with her eyes fixed on the road.
"You're right. We both needed it. So what are you going to do when you get back?"
"I'm forcing you to go to work with me, for a change, and we're gonna get started with the story."
"Mad-dog Lane strikes back."
"I'm actually thinking about getting an upgrade on that one."
"Really?"
"Rottweiler. What do you think?"
"As long as you don't call me poodle again, I'm ok with it."
Lois snorted. "You're more like a golden retriever, sweetie. That day I was just being purposely sappy."
Clark chuckled at the memory. "You called me muffing."
"I still remember Ollie's face," said Lois smiling.
"You know...we haven't gone back to that--or other store like that."
"Good try, Mister. Fifth already?"
"Sixth, actually. You were drunk on the fifth one, you just don't remember."
Lois snorted, then chuckled, then burst into laugh.
"What?," asked Clark.
Lois couldn't control her laugh as she spoke. "Even drunk I managed to decline a proposal and you're still trying?"
"Golden retriever, remember? We're the most hopeful persistent ones. Remember Shelby on the kitchen when you were eating?"
"Well, at least I hope it was romantic."
"You were bent over the toilet. I was holding your hair. It was like a fairy tale."
"And you still wonder why I call you 'alien' so often."
Dinah had gone for a ride to help ease her mind.
Ollie took that time to start working on Lex Luthor's case. He prayed Barbara's murder had nothing to do with it, because if it did, as he suspected, he would be facing a very serious internal conflict within the League; Clark was already feeling guilty and Bruce was already putting him on the cross. If he found the slightest connection, he'd nail Clark himself.
Barbara had made a brilliant job encoding and fragmenting the information stolen. Ella was not familiar with Oracle's own OS and that was slowing her down. Without Ella's part Bruce would not be able to advance, so that would hopefully buy him some time. Suddenly his cell rang. It was Clark.
"Hey, Clark?"
"I'm back at Metropolis. Anything new?," said Clark from the other end of the line.
"No. But I'm thinking about playing behind a certain bat's back."
"Messing with him right now doesn't sound like a very good idea, Ollie."
"Look, he's methodic, and either he concealed information when I went to see him, which wouldn't surprise me, or he is waiting to see what the intel Babs stole has to say. Dinah talked to Dick. Apparently the job was made by high-class professionals. Not a single fingerprint. Nothing. We are all depending on those files."
"Perhaps they overlooked something. Maybe I should go and look."
"Yeah, that would work great for your case. Bruce made the survey, Clark. When he says there's nothing there, you believe him."
"So what are you thinking?"
"Barbara was working on Lex's facility before dying. Lex had to know what was going on, because he destroyed it. It seems as if he was ready for it."
"You think he was expecting us?"
"He's a viper, Clark, and he doesn't like to leave loose ends. Either he used it as bait to hopefully kill you with all that kryptonite, or he really was hiding something huge."
"Or both."
"Most probable scenario."
"Bruce has probably reached those same conclusions, Ollie, why don't you talk to him?"
"Bruce is going solo on this one, Clark."
"That's dangerous," said Clark with concern.
"This is Bruce we're talking about, Clark. He'll know what not to do. He's signed a request for resignation, effective immediately."
Clark looked at him questioningly.
"Bruce knows this cannot be a League's problem, at least not until it gets bigger. We
need to find out if Lex ordered Barbara's murder."
"I think he did," said Clark.
"Still we need proof. Maybe you can pull some strings at the paper."
"No way. That will involve Lois, Ollie."
"Picture it like this, Clark: if Lex is involved, you better find out sooner than later, because everybody you love will be in danger. Lois on top of the list." Ollie heard the door. "I have to leave, Clark, Dinah's home."
"Send her our love."
"Will do. Bye."
Clark hung up. He needed to clear his head, things were getting ugly by the minute and he was far from happy about it. Lois was having a shower, so he went to the bathroom and opened the door, only to be hit with a wave of moisture.
"Lo, if I were wearing my glasses I would be seeing nothing right now."
"I needed a hot shower, Smallville," came the voice from the tub. "Wanna share?"
"Tempting. But actually, I came in to tell you I'm going on patrol. I'll be home in an hour or so, ok?"
"Ok, I will act alien-like and say: that's swell! Have a good flight."
Clark opened the curtains and kissed an unsuspecting Lois. "Love you, alien's wife."
"Love you too."
"See? I called you 'wife' and the sky didn't fall on you."
"I don't need a ring or a signed paper to be your wife, you trickster. I'll count that as the seventh frustrated try."
"But I'm getting there." He kissed her again and blurred out.
Showers normally inspired Lois. Whenever she was stuck with a story at home and didn't feel like jogging or working out, Lois had a shower. Thanks to this one, she had come up with a few ideas.
Once dried up and dressed, she went to the studio and started writing on the computer. She might not be directing the team anymore, but she sure as hell would present her ideas. And let's face it, Perry might have downgraded her, but he placed her working with her husband and her brother in-law, the mildest reporters on the Planet. Her cell began to sing.
Yes, Clark was not the only one programming songs on electronic devices. Her cell was overloaded with everybody's numbers, so she had decided to program her family and friends numbers with songs. Lois used to joke about her sister's and Ron's age difference, so both to ease things and annoy a little her dad, she called them the Graduates. Pennywise's cover of Mrs. Robinson seemed so right, that it was the first song to make it to her cell, long before she used The Pixies for Clark. Smiling she picked up.
"Hey, Lois."
"Ron, what's up? How's the zoo?"
"Your sister is trying to explain Samuel why does he have to make a draw of himself and his friends at school but don't tell his teacher because it is a surprise for her."
"Ha! Tomorrow all the school will know it. That's my nephew. Are we still up for dinner next week?"
"Sure."
"Luce is cooking?"
"Nope."
"Then count me in. So, what's the call for?"
"It's about the story."
"I was actually working on it right now."
"Hey, I'm sorry about what happened with Perry," said Ron.
"Don't sweat it, Ron. I already told you, it was my fault, I earned it."
"Well, I ran into Jeff Brock today. Old friend, he works as a security guard. He was part of the security staff at Grey's auditorium the night of Luthor's speech, and drove his limo."
Lois felt the nerve wave hitting her stomach. "He heard something?"
"I'm not sure, but..."
"What did that Brock guy tell you, Ron?," asked Lois.
"He was talking on the phone, and seemed pretty pissed off. He said something about running a background on some lady, I assume that Jane Doe, and then mentioning Gotham City. I checked his upcoming schedule, Lois. Lex Luthor has nothing there."
"You said Gotham?," asked Lois.
"Yeah. Ring any bells?"
"No," Lois lied. "No, Ron, it doesn't. But I'll see if I can find out something, ok?"
"Sure."
"See you tomorrow, kiss Luce and Sammy for me, will you?"
"Of course. See you."
Lois hung up. She didn't like to lie, but she started to think that whatever had happened to Barbara Gordon, it might be connected to Lex.
"Clark! Come, you and I have to talk!"
Clark came in two minutes after. "Sorry, a fire in Oakland."
"Yeah, I can smell it."
"Oh, sorry, I'll go change."
"No, you need a complete shower, and we have to talk first."
Clark could see that look on her face. The one she had when she was fully immersed on a story.
"Ok," he said.
"I just spoke to Ron on the phone, Clark. The night of the rally, after the campaign act, Luthor called someone." Clark's body tensed. "I don't know the details, but he did mention Gotham."
"Gotham?" Clark asked trying to conceal his suspicions.
"He's not going there in his political itinerary anytime soon, Clark. Look, I know that for some reason you cannot talk about it, but--"
Clark cut her. "I-- I'm sorry, Lo, I have to go."
"Clark!" Lois exclaimed not quite liking his sudden need of avoiding the subject. Lois hated it when he did that.
"I'll try to explain when I get back, I promise." Clark flew out the window and headed to Gotham City. More precisely, to the Batcave.
Author's notes: Lois not wanting to marry. She developed a trauma due to Chloe's disastrous wedding. And she doesn't need the papers to feel married to him. Plus, it's easy to use for light Clois scenes.
Bruce is dark, and his relationship with Clark is rather tense; his sense of justice very defined, so from a moral point of view, if he has to blame Clark for Barbara's death, he will surely do.
Music info: Lois is listening to Led Zeppelin 'Ramble on' while she drives (also reference to The Ramones 'I believe in miracles').
Here's the explanation of both bonus tracks of the soundtrack:
Pennywise 'Mrs. Robinson' (S&G cover): Lois' ringtone for the Troupes.
The Pixies 'Here comes your man': Lois ringtone for Clark.
