Author's note: I could have stopped at ten, and wrote the chapters a little longer, but you know what they say about drabbles and ficlets collections … These go to eleven :D
Couldn't resist, mate.
Anyway, here's a bit of a puzzler. Judging by this snapshot, does Lois actually know that Clark and Superman are the same person? Does she feel it, but doesn't acknowledge it? Does she play along? Did I mention this is set in the Justice Lords' universe?
Your call :o)
Disclaimer: the writers have stated somewhere that instead of writing the fairly obvious 'Crime Syndicate' story, they went for a mirror version of the prime universe, with the same characters but different choices. This decision meant that, 1), a deeper and more insightful story and look at the characters, and a bold story-writing choice and 2), they created the 'Better World' storyline and universe (which set the whole Cadmus arc in motion, I might add) which means I didn't. At all. I'm just going along for the ride.
Snapshot Collection
11. Gone
It's been two years, and Lois often wonders where Clark has gone.
Sometimes, in the middle of a conversation with Superman, the question pops up in her mind, but then she does something she never thought she would – or even could – do. She refrains from asking.
Not that she's scared, hell no. At least not all the time. Not like the others are.
But she wasn't brave like Perry was. Maybe that's why she's still around – the fact that Superman likes her, and the fact that she can occasionally keep her mouth shut. She's only learned to do that recently.
But there's been no news of Clark for two years. Not since that article just after the … White House Incident.
It was the weirdest article she'd ever read.
It was an interview of Superman – this in itself was odd, since Superman always gave her exclusive interviews – who explained everything that happened since the election. What really gave her the chills, though, was not the words themselves, but the tone and overall feeling of the piece.
Superman had been cold, his words final. Clark had been – his questions had felt full of hot anger. Lois didn't know what to make of this; her Smallville boy scout always kept a tight grip on his feelings toward anyone he interviewed. Very professional. And endearing. Damn him.
And this article is the last thing anyone has heard, seen or read from him. To all intents and purposes, he just vanished.
Lois has even called his parents on occasions. While Martha Kent is always glad to have her on the phone, inquiring after her well-being and insisting that her calls are always welcome, Lois notices that Jonathan Kent never wants to speak to her, and Martha's voice often sounds strained and tired.
No, he hasn't come home. Yes, we keep hoping. Yes, you'll be the first to know if Clark gives any sign that he's alive and well.
And Lois keeps looking. Because hoping is just not good enough. It's foolish and sentimental and not efficient at all.
Nothing she does can seem to shake the first impression she got while reading the article – that something is just not right. Something shouldn't be. At least, shouldn't be that way.
She still hasn't figured out whose cry for help (or justice, or anything, really) the article really was, though – Superman's or Clark's.
If it was Clark's, then it was quickly silenced. And Superman hasn't stopped scaring her since. Not that she will show him.
She doesn't know why, but sometimes it feels that a part of Superman died two years ago.
Deep down, she really hopes that this part wasn't actually Clark Kent.
Hey, that's my first (and so far last, I only got 2 snapshots left) fic without even a mention of Flash. Everything happens eventually :o)
As though the original premises for A Better World weren't creepy enough, it sparked a little idea in my brain. What I wanted to hint at was that very early on, ol' Supes might have become slightly schizophrenic, with the Clark side of his personality writing this article before being snuffed out of existence. Creepier. My mind feels slightly wrong sometimes :P Seriously, we don't know anything about Clark Kent in ABW – which also means we don't know anything about Martha and Jonathan Kent, for starters. Anyway.
Next up: Sure, Batman had specified to Zatanna that she couldn't keep the video Circe recorded of his little jazz number – but he hadn't said anything about the soundtrack.