Note: Thanks to all of you that have responded positively to this story. I'm truly grateful for the feedback! This chapter is a little bit of a set up to the chapters to come. Hope you enjoy and I would really love to hear your feedback!!! Thanks for all the support!!!
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Chapter 3
"The Lois Lane I know…" The sadness in Oliver's eyes filtered through his voice. "…is lying to me."
"How dare you?" Yanking her hands out of his grasp, Lois side-stepped him as a new anger began to boil inside. "You've been out of my life for months now, Ollie. How could you possibly presume to know what I feel for Bruce? Or anyone, for that matter?"
"Because I've seen you in love, Lois." Oliver spun her around to face him. "This isn't it." There was a pause before he launched his next assault. "Besides, you don't fit in with these people."
All the jabs from her childhood about not fitting in hit her at once. All of the new schools she attended. All the new friends she didn't make. All of her insecurities came rushing back. Arms crossed in front of her defensively, as a hint of vulnerability layered her hazel eyes.
"You know, Ollie, I may just be an Army brat and not a fairy tale princess, but even I can clean up with the best of them."
"That's not what I'm talking about, and you know it." Ollie softened. "Look, I know these people. They don't care about anything beyond themselves. You do. You have a fire in your gut, Lois. A drive to find the truth, to fight for it."
"Marry Bruce, and you'll be spending your time wasting money you didn't make and planning charity functions for causes you don't believe in. The Lois Lane we both know will die a slow death here in this world of his." Slowly shaking his head to emphasize his point, Oliver stated his conclusion once more. "You don't belong here, Lois.
"No?" Tears were dangerously close to surfacing. Not tears of pain, but anger. He was right. She knew he was right. She hated him for being right. For making her face the truth. "Then where do I belong? If not with Bruce…not with you. Where, Ollie? The Kent farm?"
She threw it out derisively, as if it were the last place she would ever want to be.
"Actually…" Ollie rocked back on his heels and pursed his lips in thought. "…yes. I think you do."
"Puhleease." Lois scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I'm sure the perfectly perky little Lana Lang has already fitted the windows for new drapes by now." She bypassed him on her way to the balcony railing and sent a final jab into the night air. "Probably pink flannel."
It took a moment and a few blinks of surprise for that to sink in. But when it did…
"So, that's it." As if a light switched on, Oliver's face brightened in understanding "You're jealous of Lana."
"Am not."
"Because…" Pieces from past encounters were dropping right into place. "…you have feelings…for Clark."
"Do not."
"And now, you're running from them."
She spun to face him. "Got another theory, Arrow Boy? Because that one doesn't pass the truth test."
Taken back by the truth her vehement denial confirmed, Oliver half chuckled. "Wow. I did not see that one coming."
"You still don't. Because I do not have feelings for Clark Kent!" The frantic wave of her arms only added to the mounting evidence facing Oliver.
"Sure you do." Oliver shrugged as he stuffed his hands in his pockets with a confident smirk. "Man, it makes perfect sense."
"In what alternate reality?"
"The fighting. That kiss in the alley. The fighting. You two are a love/hate classic just waiting to happen."
"Ok. I don't know what you've been drinking…"
A blonde eyebrow shot up. "You know why we didn't make it, Lois?"
"Because you're an emotionally unavailable Weekend Warrior?" Lois shot back.
"Because we're too much alike." He pinned her with his words and his gaze. "True love can be standing right in front of us, making us happier than we've ever been, but if we even suspect a heartache down the road, we don't just walk, we run. So far and so fast no one can catch us."
"I. Am. Not. Running."
"Tell it to someone who doesn't know you as well as I do." Ollie offered, mischief darkening his eyes. "Better yet, tell it to Clark. You have two days."
Ollie grinned and turned to go.
"What? Wait." Lois' expression crumbled in confusion. She reached out and grabbed his arm, effectively stopping his retreat. "What are you talking about? What's going on in two days?"
"If you haven't contacted Clark by then, I'm letting him know where you are." He explained with a grin. "And why."
"Ollie…"
"I mean it, Lois." An eyebrow shot up and his countenance changed from teasing to serious in a heartbeat. "Two days…either come clean with Clark, or I will…"
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He had super sped his way from Smallville to Metropolis, down to Star City and back. Every place she'd ever mentioned living, Clark Kent had been there in the space of a heartbeat. Every town she ever referenced, he visited. If she'd said it, his feet had taken him there.
She was no where to be found.
He slipped on to the couch in his own personal fortress of solitude and felt the desperation begin to take over.
He had to find her. He just had to. And soon.
Realizations about his own feelings threatened to drown him.
Since when had Lois Lane become a need for him? Since when had her irritating chatter become the sweetest sound? He couldn't pinpoint the moment, or the hour or the day that he had fallen in love with her, but fallen in love he had.
So slowly and so profoundly, he needed her now just to breathe.
He had never felt this way before. Never. Not even with Lana.
He half-laughed at the thought. Lana. If that had been love…what then was this? What then was Lois?
Soulmate.
The word echoed through his mind and he felt something snap into place inside of him. A missing piece suddenly found. An ache instantly soothed. A heart skipping a beat, waiting for hers to complete the delicate rhythm.
Yet he remained incomplete.
As he would…until he found her.
One path remained open to him. It was dangerous. And foolish. He'd be risking his own life. Risking everything.
Clark Kent stood tall, his steely blue eyes glinting with determination.
If that's what it took…
He would find her.
Or die trying…
Tbc