There was the usual hustle and bustle of the Daily Planet all around them, but for once it had gone quiet around Clark. Now, it was just he and Lois, Lois perched on the edge of his desk, looking down on him, with worry and tension and sadness and regret in her eyes, reaffirming.
"You're okay with this."
"Yes."
"You're really okay with this."
"Of course."
"Because I don't have to, I can bring one of my girlfriends."
"I want you to be happy, Lois." Clark wasn't sure where it came from, he had not planned on saying such a cliché, something ex-partners were supposed to say to each other, when they were feeling particularly noble. To show how good of a person they were, and despite his earlier bravado, when he and Lois spoke on the rooftop, that he was fine, that he had moved on, that they were nothing to each other, that only in hindsight could he see was covering up a terrible hurt, that was then only proved by their behavior at the interview to be a lie. Because what did it even mean, to cut ties with a person, was it even possible, entirely, because once you gave a part of yourself to another person, you could never get it back, just as he could never return the time and the energy and the feelings and the everything that Lois had given to him, while they were together.
That the unease was still there, despite being with Bruce – that only added to it, even – because there was also a terrible fear, running concurrent to all this, that this would be he and Bruce one day, awkwardly trying to navigate the choppy wake of their own relationship failing and ending, still trying to work side by side, and be with the people they both knew.
And yet there was something within him that had said that to her, and maybe it wasn't as truly noble or as clean as he would have liked it to be, but it was sincere. There was still part of him, just as he'd felt when they were together, that wanted her to be happy.
Even if it wasn't with him.
And he could see in Lois' eyes, in those chocolate brown eyes he loved so, even still, that she understood, that he was not entirely alright, but he was alright as he was going to be, and that it was time. Time for her to go to the ball with her new – with her current – partner.
"Yeah?" She questioned, one more time.
"Yes. Bring him. I'd like to meet him." He repeated, one more time.
"My girlfriends still ask about you, you know. How you're doing. And they're supposed to be on my side you know? But they do. They say, 'Clark was really good to you. A real diamond, that guy.' Please tell me you're bringing someone to this. I don't care who it is, it would just make this so much easier and – hey Jimmy!" Lois abruptly switched focus, and Jimmy, who had been approaching merrily, suddenly stilled.
"Am I interrupting something? I feel like I'm interrupting something."
"No, no. We're good." Lois hurried to reassure him, then turned to Clark to confirm. "We're good?"
Clark nodded and Lois carried on. "We were just talking about the gala ball extravaganza, or whatever the hell they're calling it. They sure went all out with this thing. So, Jimmy, you got a hot date or what?"
"Not that it's any of your business, but yeah. I do." Jimmy answered evasively, but could not stop the happily smug grin forming on his face.
"Looking pretty proud there, Jimmy." Lois teased, but the smile stayed right where it was.
"Come on, it's fun right? Big event like this."
"Maybe you'll get to take a photo of Ms. Kyle yourself?" Lois conjectured.
"I'll try to get a good one of Bruce Wayne's ass. Just for you." Jimmy returned, and now it was Lois who could not hide her devilishly amused grin, while Clark ducked his head. Though the two of them were paying him no mind, he did not want to have to explain even the faintest hint of a blush forming on his face. He should have known that motion would not go unnoticed though. Fortunately, Lois interpreted it a different way.
"Jimmy, you've offended Clark's midwestern sensibilities! But if you managed that, I'd pay you good money for it."
"Sorry, Mr. Kent. But I hope the lighting's good, 'cause I'm sure you wouldn't be the only one."
"Damn well better be." Another voice popped in, tense and nearly at its limit for patience, as it always was, and Mr. White, unusually, was making his way toward them, as he continued. "Everybody's going to be there. And you all better get some actual photo and copy I can put in the paper. Besides getting to go to a banquet on company dime. You bringing your new man, Lois?"
"I am." Lois reported.
"Good. Good. And you Kent? And I swear to God boy if you say no, forget about Bruce Wayne's ass, I'm going to kick yours so far out of this office, you might as well never come back. Heaven knows I can always hire someone else. Your writing is decent at best. Only keep you on out of the goodness of my heart."
"And because he's the fastest typist in the building." Lois added.
"Yeah, he's good for bragging rights. What's your average words per minute Kent? So I can lord it over them all next time I pass them in the hall?"
"140, sir."
"Jesus, Kent. That's godly, is what that is. And you Lois? What's your average pecking speed?"
"No comment. Just that I get done what I need to get done. Or I get Kent to do it for me."
"Eh, nobody can keep up with that." Mr. White conceded, in a rare show of solidarity with one of his workers.
"It's why you keep him around." Lois repeated, and so did Mr. White. "Yeah, it's why I keep him around. So Kent, to keep your job, tell me you've got a date for this thing."
"I am bringing a plus one, sir."
The fury on Mr. White's face was only matched by his next choice of words. "Goddammit Kent. But alright, your plus one got a name?"
"Ms. Price."
"And a first name?"
"Diana."
Mr. White, to Clark's surprise, nodded in approval. "Good name. A fine name. Diana. Jimmy, get a picture of the two of them, while they're at it. I'd like to see what this Diana looks like."
Before Jimmy could reply, Lois butted in, asking with astonishment. "You're bringing Diana?" And then she just as instantly regretted it, that she should not have revealed a connection, but Clark tried to reassure her, with a calm look when he met her eyes before answering. "I am." He was bringing her as his plus one. It wasn't that much of a stretch that Lois would know of her beforehand.
"That's great, Clark!" Lois quickly jumped on board, causing Mr. White to direct further questions to Lois. "You know her?"
"Get this, Perry. She's taller than Clark!"
"Really Kent? You ain't exactly lacking in the height department."
"She's gonna be even taller in heels!"
Perry heartily slapped Clark across the back, with what Clark wasn't sure was appreciation or condescension until he heard his uncharacteristically joyful voice. "Good on you. Not a lot of guys got the balls to ask the tall dames out. That's how I managed to snag my wife. Alright Kent, you can keep you job."
"Thank you, sir." Clark replied with relief, then Mr. White gave them their final marching orders. "Alright everybody, knock yourselves out, don't drink too much till after you've got your notes – I know that's a big problem for you Kent, try to control yourself – and bring me some good articles."
"Aye-aye sir!" Lois concluded, while Jimmy playfully saluted and Clark simply nodded.
"A word, Batman. In private."
Bruce was at the Tower, doing a routine check up on its security systems. He usually went out of his way to avoid casual discussions while here, but this was Wonder Woman, and this was no casual discussion. The two of them had ongoing business, so he gestured for her to remain where she was, while he made sure all communications in and out of this room were cut temporarily, and the door was locked and sealed behind her.
He nodded for her to continue when he had finished.
"This Saturday night is turning into quite the spectacle." She started out slowly. Bruce did not appreciate slowness in discussing plans. So he asked what he needed to know. "Did Clark agree to you accompanying him?"
"He did." Bruce studied her. She seemed at ease. He was not expecting that. Curious, he stated. "Frankly, I'm surprised you have no objections to this."
"Because we didn't tell him it was your idea?" She clarified, and Bruce gave the barest of nods, causing Diana to clarify further. "He's going to have Luthor, Lois, and this mystery man of his all in the same room. If something unexpected should happen once again, I agree with you, I do not want him alone. Even if he is Superman. And even if you are in the room as well, which I am sure would be his objection. That the presence of all three of us is not truly necessary."
"Perhaps it is overkill." Bruce conceded, but he would not have asked if he did not think it necessary. And Diana would not have agreed if she didn't think it necessary, and she explained, as succinctly as she could. "My instinct tells me otherwise."
"...So does mine." Bruce revealed.
"Is that why you're bringing Selina, specifically?" Diana questioned.
"I trust her judgement of people, and I trust her in a fight." If it comes to that, was left unspoken but understood.
"He'll be alright." Bruce was quick to take offense, and quick to rebuke. But Diana interrupted. Not believing a word.
"I never said-"
"-You didn't have to say it. Everything you've done says it. He'll be alright. See you and your date on Saturday night."
Bruce sighed. There was no use arguing that topic any further. There was something else he needed to address, half in jest, half not.
"One more thing."
"Yes?"
"Try not to kill Lex." Bruce felt justified in having said it, from the icy cold that took over Diana's eyes.
"After what he's done, that will be difficult."
"I admit, the idea of beating him senseless gives me more satisfaction than it should."
Diana was having none of his self-pity. In fact, it was only in her presence he saw it as self-pity. He considered it a genuine fault. She took no issue with it whatsoever.
"You are a warrior. And he is scum. I've never said this to Clark, but I've always wondered if Luthor's obsession with Superman is of a more personal nature, and not the political and philosophical dogmas he hides behind."
"You can't tell if he hates him or wants to be him?"
"So you've thought the same."
"I simply can't decide if that lessens or heightens my hatred of him."
Diana smirked. "Heightens mine. That he claims to be a genius, and yet has used that vast intellect to fool himself into thinking he is above the rest of humanity. That motivations like greed and envy do not, could not motivate someone as evolved as himself. That he truly believes he is doing this for the benefit of mankind, when in fact his true reasons are base. When in fact, he would give up his prized humanity in an instant for a Kryptonian's powers… he reminds me of myself. At least, how I used to be."
"Really?" Bruce questioned drolly, and the tables had turned. Diana's self pity that she saw as a genuine fault, that Bruce gave little consideration for. Diana was always a threat, but she had not attempted to kill Clark on multiple occasions. She was not Lex. Still, she explained.
"On Paradise Island. I thought we were above humanity too. We weren't humanity. We were Amazons. We did not have your petty power struggles, or your messy marriages."
"What changed?" Bruce indulged her.
"Many things. I lived in your world. Things were not as simple, as I'd thought. When you have to deal with different peoples and different languages, all packed together with tenuous borders, when you and your tribe are not sequestered alone on an island no one else can reach. When I learned first hand how those marriages became so messy, when I myself fell in love. And when I fell out of love. That though I have my ideals, what I praise more are those who seek the truth, no matter how messy or petty it may be. Which is why I appreciate talking with you. You do not have the idealism so many of us share, you are not forthright with your thoughts, but you are true to yourself in a way that is rare in this world."
"You could always use the Lasso on him." Bruce offered.
"Who? The mystery man?"
That was an interesting thought, but not who he had intended with that statement. "Lex. Then we'd know for sure."
"Some, when confronted with the truth, are enlightened. Others cannot accept it, and fall even further. I believe Luthor, despite all his power, would not have the inner strength to be able to handle that truth, and would be all the more difficult to deal with because of it."
"Unless he were killed." Bruce offered, but more dangerously. Enough for even Diana to take offense.
"Do not tempt me, Bruce. For this is one of the many things we disagree on. It is only out of respect to Clark that I do not intervene, as he does not intervene in my battles, unless I ask. But make no mistake, I would have killed Luthor long ago for his crimes."
"The only reason I would stop Clark from doing it, is because of what it would do to him, not what it would do to Lex." Bruce confessed.
Diana sighed. "Sometimes, the two of you remind me of how so very young you actually are. But rest assured, I will have my lasso with me, and if the opportunity should present itself, I will secure answers from both men."