The Green Light
"In the meantime/ In between time-"
Metropolis
A woman of strong opinions certainly described Lois Lane. Others would use different words but in the end they all mean basically the same thing, Lois usually knew what she wanted and did her best to get it. If her style wasn't as smooth or polished as some others, she could live with that. She always believed that when it came right down to it, everyone looks out for themselves first otherwise they were a fool.
That wasn't to say she couldn't be generous, because she was. She just understood that despite all the noble words to the contrary, it was really impossible to care more about someone else than yourself. Humans weren't set up that way. As cold as it sounded before you could help others you had to help yourself.
Lois was also realizing that wanting something and having it were two different things. When you want something, you imagine this perfect picture in your mind of what it will be like when you finally get it. That fancy sports car never seems more amazing than it does in your imagination. Once you have something reality sets in. That fancy sports car is temperamental in cold weather and the electrical system is a constant headache. You still love the car; it just isn't as incredible as you imagined it would be.
Relationships can be like that too.
Each of us has fantasies about what it would be like to be with some famous celebrity or sports figure. We imagine how incredibly perfect it would be if they were in our lives. In those fantasies we never consider there might be problems that go along with being with the celebrity, everything's always perfect.
Lois had those fantasies about being with Superman; only in her case they'd come true. At first it was just like she imagined, but as time past reality was beginning to intrude. She was in love with, of that she had no doubt. The part that was troubling her was that she'd begun to wonder if that was enough. In the fairy tales it was, but this wasn't a fairy tale.
When she was in his arms or flying over the city with him any doubts seemed to vanish. It was when she was alone in her apartment and he had canceled because of some emergency that the doubts surfaced. There would always be emergencies to take him away from her. It was one of the many things she admired and loved about him, that he did so much good for the world. She would never ask him to give that up.
It was ironic really, the very things that drew her to him also kept him away. It would always be like that. Being with him meant sharing him with the world and usually the world got more of him. It wasn't vanity or pettiness on her part, she just wanted to be with the man she'd fallen in love with. More and more she realized it would never be that simple, she would never and couldn't be first in his life.
Most would say she was lucky just to have him in her life and she should be happy to get whatever time he could spare. There were probably millions of people that would gladly changed places with her. They had the same fantasies she used to have. It would be pointless to try and explain how if wasn't quite like that imagined.
As she exited the Daily Planet building, Lois found herself at a crossroads. The fantasy was gone and now there was just the reality. She wanted more, but knew he couldn't give it to her. As selfish as it sounded, she didn't want to be second in her partner's life. She would never be happy being second and if she wasn't happy how could the relationship work?
Her mind was so filled with these thoughts; she wasn't watching where she was going. As she was about to step off the curb, a hand reached out and pulled her back. She was about to complain when the bus passed within inches of her. Startled and frightened she jumped back and found herself in someone's arms.
"You should watch where you're going, Lois,' a masculine voice said to her.
Lois turned to see Richard White smiling at her.
"Ah, um, ah, thank-thank you, Richard, you saved my life, I think,' she somehow managed to say.
"I guess you don't need to be Superman to save someone, do you,' he joked.
Lois glanced up at the sky for a moment and then shook her head.
"No, I guess not."
"You know, Lois, since I saved your life, you owe me,' he offered. "I was just on my way to lunch, why don't you join me?"
"Ah, thanks again, Richard, but I probably shouldn't,' she replied.
"It's just lunch, Lois, how can you refuse the man that just saved your life,' he asked with a smile.
"That's blackmail, Richard."
"Is it working?"
"Oh, all right, but just lunch,' she finally said. He held his hand up as if he were taking an oath and then offered his arm to her. Hesitantly, Lois took it.
"I hope you like Italian,' he said. "There's a little place I've been dying to try."
"Yeah, I like Italian,' she admitted.
"It's just a couple of blocks from her, why don't we walk?'
"Okay.'
He gave her a charming smile and the two of them started down the street.
Gotham Heights
Clark did a quick once over of the human interest story for mistakes. He didn't see any and pressed send. Hopefully if he did a few articles here and there, Perry wouldn't begrudge him the extra time off. He'd agreed to it, but that didn't mean he liked it. If usable articles still came his way from Clark Perry would overlook that he wasn't at the office.
Finished for the day, he got up and walked towards the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator door and stared at the emptiness in front of him. There was some fruit and leftover cartons of Chinese food, but other than that it was slim pickings. Grabbing the last can of Coke, Clark closed the door to find Diana standing right there.
"Hey,' he said, stepping back in surprise. "Practicing your stealth, Diana?"
"No, perhaps the empty refrigerator was just too fascinating for you to hear me come up,' she countered with a smile.
"Witty."
"I'm making a list, Kal,' she said, not acknowledging his last remark. "We've been here a week and there are still many things we need."
"Like food,' he said.
"Yes and plates and cutlery,' she replied. "I thought we could go shopping today and get everything we need."
He glanced at the list in her hand.
"That's kind of detailed, isn't it? You wrote down what patterns you want the plates to have?"
"Why make a list if you're not going to be thorough,' she asked. "I know exactly what I want to go with the rest of the house, Kal. By making a precise list I get what I want."
"Very orderly of you,' he remarked.
"Thank you," she said with a smile. "It's something Amazons are raised with, an eye for detail."
"I think this goes a little beyond detail, Diana,' he observed as he looked at the list again. "You want the dinner knife to be exactly 9.7 inches? You measured them?"
"The dinner knife is the largest knife in a standard place setting, Kal. Of course it should be the longest,' Diana explained.
"Of course."
"So are you done with your work,' she asked.
"Yeah, just finished it up."
"So shall we go? I checked online and there are several quality stores in the area."
"Okay, but it doesn't sound like you really need me on this one,' he said.
"Of course I do, Kal, I want you opinion on what's in our home,' Diana replied.
"What if my opinion is different than yours,' he asked with a smile.
She just looked at him for a moment.
"Right, just like every other married couple,' he finally said. 'After you."
They were heading out the door when a thought occurred to him.
"Diana, hold on a second,' he said, reaching out for her arm. She turned towards him.
"I just wanted to thank you for listening the other night. I really appreciated it."
"You are welcome, Kal," she replied. "That's what a wife's suppose to do."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes and before you ask, because I say so,' Diana said with a smile.
'Yes ma'am."
"You're learning, Kal," Diana said with a laugh. He was just about to make a counter remark when some called his name. He looked up to see LuAnn from across the street coming towards him.
"Clark!" She shouted with a big smile. "I'm so glad I caught you!"
"Oh, this one,' Diana said under her breath. LuAnn reached up and hugged Clark, kissing him on the cheek.
"I just wanted to see if you're coming to the barbeque this weekend,' LuAnn asked.
"The barbeque? What barbeque?"
LuAnn seemed surprised and turned towards Diana.
"Didn't you tell him about it, Diana?"
"It must have slipped my mind,' she offered. Clark cocked an eyebrow towards her but didn't say anything.
"I know the feeling, things slip my mind all the time. Anyway, Cubby and I are having a barbeque this weekend and you simply must come, Clark,' LuAnn said. "Oh and you too, Diana, of course."
"Of course,' Diana repeated.
"Well, thank you for the invitation, LuAnn, "Clark began.
"You have to come, Clark, all the neighbors are dying to meet you both," LuAnn said, cutting him off. "Now I won't take no for an answer. Say you'll come, please!"
"I'll try,' Clark reluctantly replied. "Should Diana and I bring something?"
"Who?"
"His wife,' Diana said moving over to put her arm around Clark.
"Yes, of course, it must have slipped my mind,' LuAnn replied. She flashed a huge smile at Diana. "I think I'd forget my head sometimes if it wasn't attach."
"I'd like to see that,' Diana murmured.
"Okay, well thanks for the invitation, LuAnn,' Clark quickly said. "I guess we'll see you this weekend."
"Wonderful! Now don't forget!" LuAnn said. "Bye Clark! Bye Diana!"
"Bye,' Diana said with a fake smile. Clark returned LuAnn's wave and when she was far enough away turned to Diana.
"It slipped your mind,' he asked. He gave her a look at the said, 'come on, Diana, what's the truth'.
"Yes, well, sort of," she replied and then admitted her real feelings. "I don't like her."
'You? Really?'
"Yes, Kal, why is that so hard to believe?"
"I guess I just never thought about it actually,' he said. "You always seemed to like everyone."
"Don't be ridiculous, Kal, no one likes everybody," Diana replied.
"So who else don't you like,' he asked out of curiosity.
"I don't know, off hand I can't think of anybody,' she said.
"Maybe you could make a detailed list of that next,' he teased.
"You have a problem with my making a list of the things we need for the house,' she asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"No, but why stop there,' he continued. "You could put down the person's name and then the very specific reason you don't like them."
"You mean like someone that enjoys teasing me,' she asked. "Guess who would be on the top of that list, Kal?"
"How many guesses do I get?"
"One."
He just smiled at her as they stood face to face in the front yard.
"I thought you wanted to go shopping,' he finally said.
"I do and I'm driving,' she replied with a smile.
"You know usually when a man and a woman are together, it's the man that drives," he quickly said. It was her turn to give him an amused look. Diana held up the keys and jingled them as she headed for the car.
"Yeah, somehow I didn't think that would fly,' he admitted.
Themyscira
Hippolyta was just finishing up the business that went with being Queen, but her mind was elsewhere. It seemed her daughter was more stubborn than she thought. Not only had she gone through with the marriage, she had been living with Superman for a week. Through channels Hippolyta got reports of everything that was happening from the Embassy and she didn't like what she was hearing. Not only was Diana continuing with the 'bet', Hippolyta's spies observed she seemed happy when she contacted the Embassy.
That bothered the Queen. It was so frustrating relying on second hand reports, especially where it concerned her daughter. As the others filed out, Hippolyta leaned forward on her hands trying to figure out something she could do.
"Diana,' General Phillipus asked.
"Yes."
"I thought the wedding would work."
"I did to, but apparently my daughter is even more stubborn than I thought,' Hippolyta admitted.
"So what are you going to do,' Phillipus asked.
"What can I do? I'm here and Diana's in something called the suburbs,' Hippolyta lamented. "It's been a whole week and still she continues this charade!"
"May I suggest something?"
"Of course."
"Diana decided to accept your challenge and marry Superman rather than give up this bet,' Phillipus explained. "Since she's decided to live this pretend marriage, I was thinking you should too."
"How so,' the Queen asked.
"It's been a while since I was in the Man's World, but I do remember a custom where the mother-in-law visits."
The two women looked at each other and then smiled.
"Oh, that's very good, Phillipus, very good,' Hippolyta said. "If Diana wants to pretend to be married then I can pretend to be the visiting Mother-in-law."
"Yes, it will give you a chance to remind Superman of his promise and I would imagine the Princess would not like it one bit,' Phillipus offered.
'I like it even more. Have the Embassy send down pictures of these suburbs and what women are wearing in them,' Hippolyta said. "I think it's time Diana and her husband had a visit from her mother and aunt."
"You wish me to go?"
"Yes, and bring your sword."
Gotham Heights
Clark had never been much of a shopper and he was finding out that being a passenger wasn't too great either, at least being a passenger in a car driven by Diana. While she observed most of the traffic laws, she had a rather aggressive style of driving, very aggressive.
They'd been pulled over once already, although the nice policeman as Diana called him didn't give her a ticket. He had a feeling she wouldn't when the first word out of the officer's mouth was pretty. When the officer asked if she knew how fast she was going, Diana had replied yes, of course she did. Remembering the first time he met Diana, Clark couldn't blame the officer for letting her go. She definitely made quite the first impression.
It did get a little annoying in a couple of the stores she picked out. Watching other men fall all over each other to help her and treat him like he was invisible got old very fast. Come on, Clark thought, I'm supposed to be her husband here, could you stop drooling over my wife? Have some dignity; you act like you've never seen a beautiful woman before, he grumbled.
Begrudgingly, he did have to admit her list cut down on the time spent shopping. The I told you so look and smile she gave him made him almost regret admitting it. Most of his time was spent agreeing with what she picked out. Clark knew when to pick his battles and what pattern the china had wasn't one of them.
The grocery store was a different matter. Just like everyone else, they both had very specific likes and dislikes. For the most part they agreed on what they were buying, but inevitably they were conflicts.
'Klondike Bars? Have you read the label, Kal,' Diana asked. "They certainly don't sound healthy at all."
'This is your first time in a Whole Foods grocery store, Diana,' he explained. "Well any grocery store for that matter. What we have here is the fundamental difference between good for you and just good. Klondike Bar are just good.'
"Really,' she said, though her tone indicated she wasn't buying it.
"Ice cream and chocolate, Diana, do I really need to say more?"
"Don't you think you're overselling it a bit, Kal?"
"Have you ever had an Klondike Bar, Diana?'
"No."
"Well, think of this as an opportunity to experience something new,' he said. "Like how fascinated you were with the automatic sprayer over the vegetables."
"That was ingenious,' she admitted. "I also like how they have free samples throughout the store."
"I actually guessed that by the way you stopped at every one of them."
"I was just trying to be polite,' she said in justification.
"Uh-huh, cause the lady passing out cheese and crackers would have been so crushed if you hadn't stopped,' he replied with a bit of a mocking tone.
"I notice you jumped right in line when they were giving out shish kabobs,' she fired back.
"Meat on a stick, Diana, I've always been fascinated with the technology,' he joked. "It's the scientist in me."
'I think it's something else coming out of you,' she commented. "And the first part is bull."
"Nice to see Kara is expanding your vocabulary, I'm sure your mother would be pleased,' he countered. "A week in the suburbs and all the manners of the Princess go right out the window."
"If you want your little treat so bad, Kal, just say so," she replied and then hit him in the shoulder. "And don't call me Princess."
"Ow, could you at least not hit me in public, Diana? Please,' he asked. She reluctantly nodded and they were both silent for a few moments.
"Are you okay,' he asked.
"Yes," she replied. "That was our first fight as a married couple, Kal."
"I apologize if I made you angry,' he offered.
"Thank you, I apologize as well, 'she said.
"So we're okay?"
"Yes."
"Good."
They smiled and started down the aisle.
"Kal?'
"Yeah?"
"Do we have to get these,' she asked, holding up the Klondike Bars. "They are really not good for you."
"We're getting them, Diana,' he firmly said, putting them back in the basket.
The Watchtower
Dinah was trying to get some work done, but couldn't concentrate. She knew he was in the room somewhere. She didn't want to acknowledge me out of fear of encouraging him. Despite the assist with the bikers, he just got on her nerves. It wasn't like she'd been shy about telling him, but he didn't seem to get it. If he called her Boss one more time, she couldn't promise not to hit him. As much as she hated it, she just had to know where he was in the room.
"Well, I guess I should get ready to take on more of those bikers,' she said aloud. "Maybe I should consider some backup this time."
She waited, but couldn't see anything move. Sighing in frustration, she continued.
"I really wish there was someone I could ask."
Out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw the wastebasket move and quickly turned. Eyeing it suspicious, she got up and went over to it. She gave it a little kick to see if he would react. Nothing. She gave it a little harder kick, still nothing.
The door slid open and she turned to see who it was. It was Shayera. Dinah quickly looked back at the wastebasket, but it still hadn't moved.
"What are you doing,' Shayera asked.
"He's in here,' Dinah replied. "I don't know where, but I can feel he's in here."
"Who?"
"Plastic Man."
"You think he's the wastebasket?"
"I thought I saw it move."
"Dinah, come on, sit down a second,' Shayera said in a very gentle voice. "I think it's starting to get to you."
"I'm telling you he's in here, Shayera."
"I don't think he is."
"Oh, trust me, he's here somewhere,' Dinah grumbled.
"Let's take a break, huh? Maybe get some coffee or something,' Shayera offered. 'Decaf in your case."
"I'm not losing it Shayera, he's here!"
"Sure he is, honey, sure he is." Shayera nodded. "Now come on, the stress is starting to get to you. You need to relax."
Shayera put her arm around Dinah and ushered her towards the door.
"You don't believe me, but he's here!"
"Well, then we'll just take a break for a little while and he'll be gone when you get back."
"I'm not crazy!"
"No, no, of course not,' Shayera replied as they exited the room.
The door slid closed and the room was silent for a moment. Slowly the chair Dinah had been sitting on began to change. A smiling Plastic Man looked down at the work she had been going over.
"I'm winning her over,' he happily said. "A-ring-a-ding-ding-ding-Ding!"
Metropolis
They had finished the shopping and Clark had decided to make a quick patrol of the city. It wasn't that he didn't trust Kara, just that he wanted to be seen around town so no one would put together that both Clark Kent and Superman were gone.
Things were pretty quiet, although he stopped a small robbery. The police and reporters arrived just as he was leaving, so it would make the papers that he was there. He finished the patrol and was just about to head back when he decided he should stop and see Lois. With the situation as it was, she'd been on his mind a lot lately.
As he flew towards her apartment, he spotted her sitting on her balcony having a cigarette. That usually meant she was thinking about something. She spotted him as he descended and watched him all the way down.
"Hi, Lois.'
"Hi, Superman. I didn't think I'd be seeing you anytime soon,' she said.
"Just stopped to make sure the city's all right."
"Is it?'
"Yeah, it seems so," he replied. "Quiet night."
"Yes, it is,' she said.
"How have you been?"
"I don't know' she replied. "I've been doing a lot of thinking."
"Oh?"
"About us."
"And?"
"It's not working, is it,' she asked.
"Lois I know things have been difficult lately, " he began. "I realize that my keeping secrets hasn't helped either."
"That's not it,' she said with a shake of her head.
"It's not?"
"No, I realized that even if you told me who you are in that other life, it wouldn't change what's bothering me,' she explained.
"What is bothering you,' he asked.
"This. Us. I'm not sure I can do this anymore.'
He started to object, but she waved him off.
"No, please, let me say this while I have the nerve,' she told him. "I think maybe we should take a break, see other people."
"Why?"
"You're Superman, you belong to the world,' she said. "I thought I was okay with that, but I'm not."
"Lois I can't change who I am,' he replied.
"I'm not asking you to, really. I know there are bigger things involved and what you do is important,' she continued. "I just can't do this part time anymore."
"Maybe I could switch things around some,' he offered.
"No, that's not what I want, Superman."
"What do you want?"
"What I can't have. I realize that now"
"Lois, don't do this, please,' he urged. "Let's talk about it."
"I don't really think there's anything left to say," she sadly replied. "I love you, but I don't think that's enough."
"I love you, too, Lois."
"Thank you for that. It makes this easier."
"Don't do this,' he asked again.
"But don't you see, I have to,' she explained. "I'm not happy with how things are and I know they aren't really going to change. Maybe I've been kidding myself all this time, but I find I want the fairy tale. I want to come first."
"Lois…"
He started to speak, but she stopped him.
"Don't, please, don't make promises now that you won't be able to keep,' she said. "The world needs Superman. I couldn't live with myself if I was the cause of changing that. I just don't want to share anymore. It was a beautiful fantasy, but now it's time to face reality. I'm sorry."