Chapter 24 - Face of Evil
Late the following day, Lois sat by the table in the Kent's kitchen, reading their Daily Planet story. Clark came downstairs without knowing what to expect from her. Lois was wearing one of Clark's infamous red flannel shirts. She glanced up from the paper, and sipped some coffee.
"Morning, Lois." Clark said playfully, since it was after 4 in the afternoon. "Morning, Smallville." She returned the gibe. Clark noted that she was still wearing his blue K ring. Had it been effective in muddying up her memory enough to make her forget about Clark's secret?
"Thanks for covering for me last night." Lois showed him the Daily Planet headline, which she read aloud: "Red and Blue Blur Helps on Weapons Bust, Stuns City." Lois sipped the steaming cup of coffee. "What do you think?" Clark asked her warily. "It's very good, Clark, catchy, in fact. I hope Perry agreed." Clark snickered as he grabbed some orange juice from the refrigerator.
"Actually, Perry personally approved the story, with the photographs." Clark sat next to her, still unsure of what Lois recalled from their bizarre evening. "Why didn't you ask for a by-line?" Lois sounded serious. "Like I told Perry, we're a team. It doesn't matter. Plus, he gave me credit for the pictures." Lois nodded absently. "How do you feel?" He asked worriedly.
"Like a truck ran over my head." Lois said, bleary eyed. "That could be because you bumped your head on the deck rail of the Montague Bay." Clark lied, though it felt horrible. "I did? I don't remember that." Lois stared at him blankly. "Maybe you should see a doctor, and have it checked out." Clark fished. "You never know about those things."
"I'm fine. Girl of steel, Army brat, remember?" Lois quipped. "Still, it pays to be safe." Clark urged. "Anyway, did you see this Red and Blue Blur?" She grilled. Clark was already getting sick of lying to Lois.
To him, it felt far worse than even lying to Lana. He desperately wanted to break this pattern of deceit. Instead, Clark caved. "Yeah, definitely. It was amazing!" He lied convincingly.
"You didn't get a picture?" Lois asked with disdain. "No, sorry Lois. I just missed the blur a couple of times. He or she was simply too fast." Clark gulped, as the hurt increased in the pit of his stomach with every word that he spoke. "Oh well, at least we got the story." Lois dejectedly sipped some more coffee.
"I'd bet that we haven't seen the last of the Blur, Lois. There'll be more opportunities." Clark said, distraught over her expression. Lois was silent, never a good sign. "I do have some good news that might cheer you up." Clark flashed her a bright smile. She gazed at him strangely.
"What would that be?" Lois prodded. "Perry wanted to tell you himself, but you were crashed out." Clark teased, as Lois grew more attentive. "He has to get approval from the powers that be, but he said that he's willing to elevate us to Senior Cub Reporters." Lois's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yes, really." Clark was glad to see her smiling again. "That's great news, Clark! I can afford my own place in the city!" Lois was so excited, that she'd completely forgotten about their budding relationship. "Oh, yeah. That's good, isn't it?" Clark asked depressingly. Again, he would have to sacrifice his feelings for Lois's benefit. This is starting to suck! He mentally grumbled.
Lois finally realized how that sounded, as Clark got up and rinsed out the coffee mugs, and orange juice bottle. "I mean, um…our place in the city?" Lois asked uncomfortably. Clark couldn't face her at the moment. He went on cleaning the counter, and tossed the rag into the sink basin.
He stopped cleaning and sat back down across from her. "Lois, I don't want to push you into anything that you don't want to do. If you want a place of your own in Metropolis, then go for it. After all, it's what you want, isn't it?" Lois was getting teary eyed. "It's not all about me, Clark." She said.
"Lois, don't worry about it." Clark's tone was flat and emotionless. "It makes perfect sense for you to get a place in the city. You'll save money on gas for the commute, you'll save time getting to and from work, and as we said earlier, Metropolis is where the action is."
"What about you, Clark? What do you want?" Lois choked back another tear. "I hate it when I get all emotional like this." She muttered. "I'm not sure, yet Lois." Clark actually felt that it was an honest reply. "I'll still see you every day at work, and you're welcome here anytime at all."
Lois wasn't sure what to make of his response. "You're blowing me off?" She asked hurtfully. "No Lois, it's not like that." Clark tried to rescue the impossible situation. "If it's what you want, then do it. I'll help you pick out a place." Lois took a breath. That resolution seemed to satisfy her.
"I have to run the farm as well." Clark defended. "People do count on our limited supply of food goods. Eventually, I'll probably sublet the farm to a neighbor, and move into the city, too." Lois was starting to relax. Maybe this is the correct decision at this time, Clark mused.
We can always change things later, he justified. "Okay, Smallville, that's it then. I'm getting a condo in the city." Lois decided. "Great!" Clark forced his attitude to be positive. "It has its good points." Lois began. "Like you mentioned, I'll save on travel expenses."
"Just think, Smallville, no more lady's unmentionables plastered all over the house, no more borrowing your clothes, or snoring in front of the television." She quipped. Clark painfully smiled. Those were some of the things I liked, he silently admitted.
Chloe called a bit later to congratulate them on the headline story. She talked to Clark first, just long enough for him to fill her in on the details. Lois got on the cell next, boasting to her younger cousin about the possible promotion.
They went out to dinner in Metropolis, and began to search together for a condo. Fortunately, there were a number of options available. Clark noticed that Lois still hadn't taken off the blue K ring. That told him something, he rationalized. Lois cared.
Within a week, they'd picked out a condo not far from the Daily Planet. Clark, meanwhile, sadly separated he and Lois's things. Lois piled her clothes, record albums, and personal effects into her luggage and some cardboard boxes. They loaded up her car. "I guess that's about it, Smallville." Lois said bravely, though her emotions were in turmoil.
It's for the best, Clark thought, still trying to convince himself that the change was necessary. Lois hugged him, and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Everything was about to go back to normal, Clark mused, but was it truly for the best? Only time would tell.
After getting Lois settled, Clark went back to the farm, and into his barn loft. He gazed out over the land, appreciating the setting sun, and spent time trying to convince himself that it would all work out in the end. This time he failed. Clark was alone, again.
Clark felt terrible as he wandered back into the house. Other than Shelby / Krypto's padding feet, the ranch house was silent. He absently patted the family pet's head, and flipped on the wall telephone's voice mail. A message had come in about a half an hour ago.
"Hey Smallville! I just wanted you to know that I was thinking about you." Lois's recording said. "The condo we picked is working out just fine. I've checked and double-checked all of the security systems and utilities. I'm still sorting through my stuff…gotta go, someone's at the door."
The recording clicked off. Clark was glad that Lois was satisfied with the condo. Suddenly, he felt odd, like something was out of place. "Wait a minute…" he voiced his concerns aloud. "We haven't told anyone but the condo owner that Lois has moved in…so who was at the door?"
Clark chastised himself for being overly paranoid, but he felt as though he needed to check it out, if only to ensure a good night's sleep. He locked up the house and zipped into Metropolis. As he entered the newer building…it was a three-story condo conversion…Clark spied Lois's door wide open.
He sped upstairs and peered in. "Lois? Are you decent?" Silence. The lights were off. Clark flipped them back on…the condo was in disarray. There had been a struggle…blood splatters dotted the formerly pristine light gray carpeting. "Damn it!" He yelled, and dialed 911. Next, he tried Lois's cell phone. Unfortunately it rang in the living room beside her couch. He picked it up, pocketing it.