Chapter 15
At the five-star restaurant Oliver had chosen for "just lunch," Lois was hiding out in the bathroom. The meal had gone abysmally with Clark giving attitude to Oliver at every turn. He was clearly unhappy with the fact that Oliver had apparently re-entered Lois' life and he hadn't even been aware of it.
She looked in the mirror and held her own silent conversation with her inner being. That should be good, Lane, right? That could mean he's jealous. She freshened her make-up and frowned at the effects. No sleep and hours of crying did not do her looks a bit of good.
Clark noticed, too. The turkey. The one day he isn't oblivious to everything I do has to be the one when I'd rather not even let him see me!
She stood back from the mirror to survey the results. It will have to do. She only hoped Oliver was pleading her case with Clark and not torpedoing any chances of Superman having those tests. If he doesn't go through with them, what will I do?
Let's face it Lane, it really won't matter. You'd risk anything for him. He just doesn't know it.
Or he just doesn't care.
********
At the table, the two men talked in whispered terms.
"It's the first time I've talked with the girl in months. Clark, she only called me because she's confused about you."
"Me?"
"Well, the other you, that was the subject from start to finish. She was very upset. I don't know when I've known Lois to cry like that. What on earth did you do to her?
"Nothing. I swear." Clark pushed up his glasses as he thought. "Well, I did have to skip out on her at Star Labs, but—"
"I meant,' he looked around to make sure the waiters were keeping their distance, "Superman. Besides, I'm sure she's used to that kind of thing from you. No, I don't think it was that. I got the impression that she was glad you weren't there."
"But Lois does not even really know Superman."
"But she knows Superman was the Red/Blue Blur. There's a history there, right?"
"Well," Clark began and Oliver watched him squirm in his chair. He was definitely uncomfortable talking about the subject. "I talked to her on the phone."
Oliver looked at him pointedly. "How many conversations are we talking about?" He wasn't letting Clark get away with much today.
"A few." He looked up to see Oliver staring intently. "Okay, more than a few times. I always felt I could be more honest with her on the phone as him than I could as just me."
.
"And you used one of my voice modifiers for those little heart-to-hearts. Clark, it wasn't hard to guess what you were going to do with that."
"Okay, fine. Yes, there's some history," he conceded.
"So, whatever you said in those little heart-to-hearts, it made an impression on 'our' Lois." Oliver finished off his wine.
"'Our' Lois?" Clark gripped the edge of the table and Oliver immediately responded.
"Hey, easy there! A broken table is going to be hard to explain." He looked around cautiously and was relieved to see Clark loosen his grip. "Clark, I can't change the fact that Lois and I once dated. But, if it helps, something always seemed to come up before we…" He let the sentence hang and smiled.
"Really?"
"Yeah, sometimes the double life of a super-hero really sucks." He poured himself another glass of wine. "But back to our problem girl, apparently she and this Doctor covered a lot of theoretical areas." Oliver snickered. "And somehow she's got it into her brain that Superman can't have sex."
Clark felt himself blush down to his toes. "Oh, god, she didn't—"
Oliver stopped grinning and his mouth dropped open as he sat back in his chair, stunned. "Oh my—"
"I can't believe her."
"Don't tell me she's right! Clark, I thought you and Lana—"
"Oliver, I am not going to discuss—" But Clark looked up to see the shocked expression on Oliver's face and relented. "Okay, all right. We did. But only when I was 'normal' or Lana was not. Satisfied?"
"So you don't really know?" Oliver shook his head in wonder. "Then Lois has a point." Oliver looked at Clark's bowed head and knew immediately that he was going to have to treat Clark, the invulnerable Superman himself, with care. For one brief moment, he prayed for the wisdom of Jonathan Kent to guide him as he spoke to his son.
"Clark, maybe Lois is right. It wouldn't hurt to know a bit more about your own body. Knowing your own limits, for example could be useful. I know you don't like the lab rat scenario, but you wouldn't be in that kind of situation if you set the guidelines beforehand and the people conducting the tests are reputable."
But Clark ignored him. His thoughts were still on Lois. "I don't understand," Clark said splaying his hands out in front of him. "It doesn't make sense. Why is she so worried about it? She can't be sure Superman and the Blur are the same person, and she hasn't had that much contact with Superman. The one interview. That's all. I know she's been there a few other times I've made some saves, but I barely made eye contact with her. And even though I told her she could contact Superman through me, she hasn't even asked. Not once."
"You sound like that bugs you too." Oliver laughed and Clark just glared at him. "Well, she wouldn't be the first girl in this city who's imagining a fantasy life built around Superman."
Clark's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Clark, between all those tears, Lois told me things …well, let's just say, that girl has one fertile imagination when it comes to your alter ego. She has come up with enough questions to lay landmines in front of you for years. And you, my good man, are going to have to do something about it. You can't just let her flounder like this. It's no good. For either of you. You need to find out the answers to all her questions. Because they're your questions too, no matter what you do about Lois."
"Look, Oliver, I'm just hoping she'll get over this. I'm not going to have any tests—"
"Clark, this is Lois we're talking about. She doesn't get over things. She doesn't let anything go. She digs. She investigates. She—"
"I know. I know."
"You need to decide. Either tell her everything, or tell her there's no chance with you. Ever."
Clark drew in a very rattled breath.
"Look. I know the whole thing with Lana spooked you. I know you were slowly getting to a good place with Lois when Lana came back and you took three steps back. Now Lois is about to do the same thing because of this …problem she's hopefully imagined. Do you really want her to do that? Because I don't think you do. She doesn't bounce back. She doesn't come back. When she drops someone, she does it for good."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you and she had a lunch date today." Clark let his anger at that situation come to the surface
"And she invited you along. Does that sound like a romantic outing to you? We were going to lunch to talk about you, Clark." He lowered his voice even more. "Well, about Superman anyway. I'm not sure there's a difference in her mind either. She's getting close, Clark, if she doesn't know already."
"You think she knows?
"I don't know. But I wouldn't put it past her to have figured it out. I know you've been wearing the glasses for years now, and your hair is different. You've even been changing your posture and voice somewhat, but it might not be enough for someone who is around you as much as Lois. Have you been slipping up somehow around her?"
"No, no…I don't think so. But she's just been acting so strangely lately. It's hard to read her. I mean one minute she's annoyed with me, the next she's kissing me…the next she's raving about sex with Superman."
"Oh my god…we better duck. Lightning is sure to strike in a second. Clark Kent actually said the word 'sex.'"
Clark shot him a look of pure venom.
"Wait a minute. Did you say she kissed you?"
"Yeah. Practically in front of the whole bullpen. I overheard someone suggest they put cameras in our new office so they could all be entertained. They think she leads me around by a leash as it is."
"And whose fault is that?" He ignored the angry look and continued, "Lois needs a firm hand. You've always dealt with women, all two of them, with velvet gloves. I think you need to take a lesson from Superman in handling Lois. It's the only way. Believe me, I know. I blew it with her."
Oliver stood up from the table.
"You're not leaving?"
"Yeah, I am. There's something I need to do for a friend."
"Before Lois gets back? Oliver, she'll think we fought or something. You can't—"
"You can handle Lois, Clark. Just remember, a firm hand, and have the crème brûlée. It's fantastic here. I'll take care of the bill on the way out, and I'll send another car for you two."
Clark sighed. "I can't believe you're deserting me like this."
"I am not deserting you, my friend. I'm off to buy Star Labs. If you're going to be put under a microscope, we need to make sure it's one of mine."
