Chapter 2

"Superman?" Martha read the headline and looked at her son fearfully. "How do you feel about that?"

"Let's just say it's a better name than the one I thought she was going to suggest. You don't think it's a bit…pretentious?"

"How can it be? She makes it very clear that she thought it up; you didn't. I think it's catchy, and it describes your powers to a "T."

"I suppose so. But the bigger problem is how am I going to interview me with Lois?" Perry isn't exactly making this easy for me," he grumbled.

"Then maybe he doesn't know," his mom said reasonably.

"He's got to, mom. You should have heard the hints he dropped to me yesterday. I've never seen him even walk into the basement offices before, and he was there practically all day hovering around our desks."

"Maybe he is just really impressed with the two of you as a team and wanted to observe—"

"Mom, this is a-tractor-fell-out-of-the-sky Perry White we're talking about here. I don't think he's really forgotten any of that."

"But you said he saw your hands bleeding. That would have to convince him you were normal. I'm sure you will think of something, dear."

Clark picked up his briefcase and headed for the door. "Don't wait dinner on me tonight, mom. I have a feeling I'll be busy.

********

"And you're sure he's going to be there?" Lois asked for at least the tenth time that afternoon.

"Yes, I'm sure," Clark said patiently, pushing up his glasses again. "He'll be there."

Lois checked her lipstick in her compact and touched up her bangs. Clark watched out of the corner of his eye and fought off a slight stab of jealousy. Jealousy? Impossible! You can't be jealous of yourself.

But as he watched her take out a comb and mirror from her desk drawer, he knew he was. Lois was never one to primp, and there she was — primping.

"Maybe I should go home and change…" she mumbled under her breath.

"Lois, you're fine. I'm sure he's not going to notice—"

"Oh, that's harsh, Smallville. He's not going to notice if I look good or not? Well, I'll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself. You aren't even going to be there. Some help you are! How do you know he's not going to notice—" Lois turned in her chair to look directly at Clark. "Oh, I see what you're doing."

"What am I doing?" Clark was lost.

"You're psyching me out, so you can swoop in at the last minute and—"

"Steal your interview? Lois, do you really believe I'd do that?"

She was a little ashamed that she'd even let the thought enter her mind. "No, no, of course not. I'm sorry, Smallville, but this is just about the biggest story any reporter could ever have. I can't blow it."

"You're not going to. You'll do fine. I'm sure he'll be the one to be blown away." He turned back to his monitor and couldn't help but add, "Especially if you leave that third button down undone."

"Hm. You noticed?" Lois smiled. "Well, dress for a successful story."

"Rule Number 387?"

"Cute. No, just a variation of Rule Number Three." She took a small camera from her purse and checked the battery.

"Lois, I thought he specified no pictures."

"He did, but…" She looked guiltily up at Clark, who had gotten up to take the camera out of her hands. "Oh, Clark, I'm sure he'd expect it. I mean, I have to have a picture if I'm going to write—"

"No, you don't. He may have a reason he doesn't want any pictures."

"Like what? Plenty of people were snapping away like mad the other day. There are plenty of pictures all over the internet."

"And not a one of them were very good shots of his face."

"Yeah…that's odd, isn't it? How do you suppose they were all out of focus when it came to his face?"

"Who knows?" Clark took the camera back to his own desk. "But if you promised not to take pictures, then you shouldn't—"

"I didn't promise. You did. There's a difference." She marched right over and took the camera back from him.

"You're right, there is, and that is, you're not taking any." He snatched the camera from her again and held it up and out of her reach.

"Clark! You—" She stopped, suddenly aware that their boss was standing right beside her. "Oh, hi, Mr. White. Clark here is just being a little..."

"Unreasonable? Or wise?" Perry White cleared his throat. "If the man said 'no pictures' then we have to honor that. I'm not going to get in bad with the single most sensational maker of news in this century. No, Lois, we can wait on that perfect picture until the man is ready. Right, Clark?"

There was that knowing look again. "Right, Mr. White."

"Hadn't you better get going, Lois? You don't want to keep him waiting."

"Sure thing, chief, I was just about to leave." She gathered her things, eyeing the camera in Clark's hand. There was just no way she was going to be able to get it from him again. She sighed in resignation as she scurried out the door.

"Do you know where he's meeting her, Clark?"

"The roof of the Metro building."

"Hm. Well, why don't you take the rest of the afternoon off, son. I'm sure you've got something else you could be doing."

"It's only three, sir." Clark was surprised. It was not often he got off on time, let alone early.

"Yes, but I made only two assignments of both of you. You certainly accomplished yours in a hurry. Just be sure to keep that line of contact open, will you?"

Clark started to reply but realized there were very few things he could say that would not be a blatant lie. He settled for a simple "Yes, sir."

"And, Clark," Perry turned back to him at the doorway, "be careful." He went out the door leaving Clark with only one thought. He knows.

Author's note: ColleenJoy, I had forgotten all about the Calvin and Hobbes use of the name. I knew it sounded familiar when I thought of it. Stupes, indeed.

Daydreamer, you and me both! If only they could talk TW into those tights, it would double their viewership overnight!

Thank you both for the reviews! It's so important to know people like what you write!