Ah, summer – that time that seems endless, but actually fills to overflowing with visiting, visitors, parties and sun – leaving little time for solitude with a keyboard.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Groucho Marx (1890 - 1977)
Forgive me, I am only a Gold-K besieged Kryptonian girl with delusions of humanity, and thus, a slow typist.
The fact that Cousin Kal is back in my basement -- and floating in the pool for hours on end -- because he's avoiding Lois, is beside the point.
I had to warn him not to float above the pool, since the neighbours might talk.
Disclaimer: Superman and his fellow characters are the property of Warner Bros. Studios and DC Comics and created by Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel.
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13 Hidden Depths
Set into sharp relief under the tall, salmon-colour light standards in the hospital parking lot, Superman's famous insignia peeks out from Clark's open shirt. The odd sight, a kind of Superhero nakedness with tie askew, transfixes Lois's gaze. Faced with her suspicions confirmed, only her stubborn will allows her to speak her mind out loud.
"How could you put Clark in such danger – impersonating him like this?"
Realization startles Lois like a wet towel after a swim in warm water. Her eyes sting, and she chokes for air. "Oh, my. Clark never came back; it's been you all along. I saw things, noticed things, but, I just figured, he was – you were – different… changed."
Lois takes a step back, and stares at Clark as if he were a stranger ransacking her bedroom.
"You're spying on me – is that it? First, jealous of Richard, then -- this is so creepy, and not like you." She whirls on him, throwing her arms in the air, "Huh… like you? I don't even know you. His poor mother – when she finds out --"
Kal's face flushes at her mention of Martha, and Lois jumps to a conclusion he would never have imagined. Her voice cracks with apprehension, "- is he even alive?"
"Lois, how could you think that I…." Clark's body sags, and his suit swallows him whole. He makes a move towards her, but she steps back to preserve the distance between them, nods and crosses her arms in front to hug herself, her body shaking. Thus protected, she steps forward into his space and looks in his eyes.
How can she not know? All this time -- everything we've gone through - together – and now, she thinks I'm the villain.
For a time, Lois stares – as if she wants to see through him, past the Big Blue Boy Scout – beyond the God-like man she trusted. Forgetting to blink, her eyes water -- finally, her lids close, and she slowly shakes her head from side to side -- as if something she was looking for wasn't there. Clark gasps with unwanted insight.
Of course. Most of the time, she was with Clark. She's friends with him, not me.
Watching Lois thread her fingers through her hair to scrub her scalp, Clark recognizes one of her favourite coping behaviours – the one that telegraphs her conscious effort to think – to sort information -- and decide on the appropriate response, preferably action.
She releases a breath with his name on it, "Superman."
A rapid shake of her head seems to realign her thoughts, and she continues in a stronger voice, "Does he even know you are doing this?"
Before Lois can fly into another signature rant, Clark whirls into his uniform at super speed, scoops her up, and flies her straight to the roof of the Daily Planet building -- where he sets her down gently, and then steps back into the shadow of the new Globe. The dappled gloom gives him the courage to speak to her.
I have to – to, somehow, salvage this mess. Help me, father.
"Lois – Clark is fine — I can't explain, but you'll have to trust me -– us. This was not about you."
Clark's voice turns inward, almost a whisper, and Lois has to strain to hear.
"I would never spy on you." Look through your window maybe, hover over your house, and listen in on your conversations… "I have to admit, I've watched over you. And, it may seem like I, I'm always around… but Lois, I… care for you --
Lois sighs and cuts him off mid-ramble, "What on earth could you have to do that involves Clark Kent? God… when we flew – that first interview after you came back -- you pretended you didn't know who Clark was; you are such a liar."
You have no idea.
"Lois, it's not like that – Clark is safe, he needs me to… be him. I can't explain without putting him… and his mother, in danger."
This is so messed up.
"Danger? No, "Kal", or whatever you want me to call you, this is not going away. Perry thinks Clark Kent is Superman, for Pete' sake. How could he be in any more danger than he is right now? If Perry lets that information leak, all of Clark's loved ones will be at risk of retaliation by Superman's enemies… uh, Lex Luthor springs to mind."
"Yes… but, believe me, Lois, he couldn't be safer."
Lois rolls her eyes, and Clark bats for a home run.
"Um – it was his idea."
Good one, Kent – blame yourself – I mean, the other guy.
On cue, Lois breaks into another tirade, "His idea?? I'll kill him – is it for a scoop -- or a byline? I'll KILL him, I swear. You don't know, Superman, Clark can't take care of himself – he needs a keeper; please… tell me he's safe at the Fortress, at least?"
Superman steps out of the shadow, shrugs, and grins -- hoping Lois will interpret his behaviour as an answer. Her arch eye roll, and slowing heart rate, make him breathe easier – for the moment.
He takes a hesitant step towards her, all his future happiness -- his purpose in life, poised on what her answer will be to his next question. When they are close enough to kiss, Clark dips his head to look in Lois's eyes, fearful of what may lie in their hazel depths. "Are we -- okay?" He reaches a hand out to touch her arm, but she pulls back.
Lois hisses, "O-kay? Why didn't you tell me?"
Completely cowed now, Clark cannot face her and lie, so he looks to his boots for support. "F-for all the reasons you just gave – his… safety, his Mom's safety…"
Lois shakes her head slowly, takes Kal's large hands in her own, and gives them a reassuring squeeze. "But you could've trusted me, you know that."
"It's… more than that Lois – much more -- and I fear you'll hate me for it. This knowledge is dangerous to you too, and I'm reluctant to put you out there – I don't want to risk losing you. Moreover, we have to consider Jason. He is very important to me." and the world…
Squeezing his hands again, Lois persists.
"Kal, where is Clark?"
As if in answer to her question, Superman whips his head around, and Lois imagines that the tension in his face reveals his subterfuge. However, when his eyes glaze over, and a pulsing vein mars his noble forehead, she worries there are bigger things afoot than her concern for Clark. "Superman… what's wrong?"
Clark barely registers Lois's voice, even her heartbeat is muffled, masked by a voice he'd hoped never to hear again, transmuted through the shrill and tinny subsonic wave.
"SUPERMAN – I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME – HI. LEX LUTHOR HERE, PUTTING IN A FEW MOBILE MINUTES WITH MY FAVOURITE WIRELESS CARRIER – YOUR SUPER-HEARING. YOU KNOW KITTY, DON'T YOU? A SILLY GIRL, AND NOT ONE OF MY FAVOURITE PEOPLE LATELY. WELL, SHE WENT BEHND MY BACK, SUPERMAN, AND I DON'T LIKE THAT -- NOT ONE BIT. SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD DO A LITTLE END RUN ON YOURS TRULY. SINCE I KNOW YOU CAN'T RESIST, I'M GOING TO END HER SHORT, AND VIRTUALLY USELESS, LIFE UNLESS YOU PRESENT YOURSELF AT A PLACE AND TIME OF MY CHOOSING. CAPISCE? I'LL BE IN TOUCH."
Worry paints Lois's features a kinder colour, and her voice follows suit, "S - Superman?"
Clark blinks and looks at her, "Sorry, Lois – where were we?"
"I uh, was worried about… Clark – where is he?"
I can't…
"He's safe Lois – trust me." Taking Lois's hands, Clark's eyes try to convey all his regret for his perceived actions. I want to stay, I want… to tell you.
"I have to go."
The cool night air stirs as if beckoning him to take flight, and he moves to leave her, but Lois does not release his hand. "There's something you're not telling me – I mean there's a lot you aren't telling me, but I wish…"
Clark pulls her hand to his lips, pressing a sweet kiss there, and with a small squeeze, releases her and steps up onto the roof parapet.
"I'm sorry – I have to -- why don't you go home to Jason – I'll drop by after… work, okay?"
For the first time since her revelation, Lois smiles at him and, as he rises into the crisp night sky, she calls after him. "Ok, but you're not off the hook – I'm still mad at you about this whole impersonation thing."
Lois's voice echoes in her ears, and she feels a pang of guilt -- a fear of being overheard -- a new feeling she senses may become commonplace in her near future.
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Superman lands at a run outside the safe house, and the layers of brick wall peel back under his x-ray vision. He realizes he is holding his breath, and lets it out when he sees Kitty, unhurt, reclining on the couch and flipping through a magazine.
He greets the on duty plainclothes police officer, and enters the livingroom, his colours brightening the drab interior.
"Kitty… Katherine, we have to leave."
"Superman?" Kitty says needlessly. She did not expect him, and, clearly, does not believe her eyes.
"No time. Lex is right behind me, and I know of only one place you'll be safe."
The cop steps up, and touches Superman on the arm – an intimate gesture by an apparent stranger, but one, Clark has noted, that happens more often since he fell from the sky and landed on an operating table. It moves him each time it happens, so he turns a less guarded face to the officer, who hesitates under his powerful gaze.
"Um, uh… Superman – she needs to be at the courthouse at 10:00 am tomorrow morning. You too."
Clark smiles his reassurance, and his tone is gentle, "Don't worry officer, we'll be there."
Giving a nod to the policeman, Clark leads Kitty outside. Once there, in one fluid motion, he goes straight up and pierces the lowest cloud layer, where he pauses. Kitty shivers, he frowns slightly, and his eyes ask a mute question -- which she answers with a shivery nod. His eidetic memory replays a similar moment he shared with Lois, and a pang of guilt sticks him in the chest. He avoids eye contact with Kitty while he removes his cape and wraps it around her shoulders. He pays close attention to securing it, while she drinks in his preternatural features.
"So… where are we going, handsome?" Kitty watches Superman's face and a look of puzzlement washes over hers, as his gaze grows intent. He holds her out at arm's length from him, turning her body in the air, while his eyes follow along the line of her form wrapped in his cape. Even for Kitty, this inspection is unusual, and she giggles nervously. "See anything you like, Honey?"
Superman meets her gaze, and she swears there are tiny flames smouldering in their depths.
"Katherine,"
"Yes?" she whispers.
"I-I'm sorry, but this may hurt a bit. Hold very still."
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TBC
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