Next part on Saturday!
Thank you again Nancy (anonpip), Rel and Michael!
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Both Sides of the CoinPart 28
TOC Later that evening, Clark entered the Metro Club. He was in one of his nicer suits with a fake goatee and mustache. His hair was styled more like his twinâs than his normal loose bangs and his eyes were unencumbered by glasses.
Clark approached the bar and smiled. âWhat do you recommend?â
The barman considered him and handed him a drink without a word.
<Lois?>
<You here now, Clark?>
<Yep, at the bar... You?>
<Backstage getting ready for the next number...>
<Anything you need me to do?>
<Just scope the crowd... I havenât gotten anything of note since that meeting...>
Clark sipped on his drink, scanning the crowd, squinting as if he was near-sighted. But as the next song started and he saw Loisâ outfit for the first time he choked on his drink. <Lois?!>
<Yes, Flyboy?>
<What... *is* that?>
<Clark, donât make me laugh up here...>
Clark found it difficult to keep his eyes off his girlfriend and on the crowd. After a moment he forced himself to turn away. He looked at the bartender. âAny job openings here?â
The bartender frowned at him. âI donât think so, but Iâm not the one to ask...â
âYou arenât the one to ask for what?â
Clark and the bartender turned to find that Toni Taylor had joined them.
Clark smiled. âI was asking if there were any jobs available...â
Toni sized him up. âIâm afraid there are no openings... Pity.â
<Pity?! Quit eying up my boyfriend! You->
<I can hear you, Lois.>
<Good! Make sure you keep Blondie in her place...>
<Her brother patted your rear earlier, Lois... Speaking of, donât I owe him for that still?>
<Whatever, Flyboy...>
Five men suddenly burst into the club. They were all dressed in silver, from hard hats to gloves... and they were carrying some sort of flamethrowers. The leader shouted, âJohnny! Youâre a dead man!â and the five let loose plumes of fire accompanied by wild yells.
Clark lunged for Johnny, knocking him to safety while everyone else dove for safety. On the way down Clark âforgotâ to modulate his weight, knocking the air out of the other man.
The flamethrowers took a short break and the Metro Gang returned fire with their guns. The men quickly retreated.
Clark scrambled to his feet. <Lois where are you?>
<Iâm backstage.>
<Stay there.>
<Clark...>
<At least until they stop firing, please?>
People scattered except for Lois who emerged from the stage door and ran to Clark.
Clark looked at her and silently shook his head. When everyone else was out, Clark turned to the fire and breathed out, creating a wind that suffocated the fire.
Lois wrapped her arms around his waist. âEverything ok?â Clark nodded. âWho *were* those guys...â
Clark nodded towards lettering on a wall. âI think weâve just met the âToastersâ...â <You see them, Jay?>
<The must have ditched the suits... No sign...>
***************************
The next day, Lois was again in her waitress outfit. She noticed men gathering for another meeting and grabbed a tray but stopped after another waitress was turned away. She wandered into the back and found a door. Opening it she found a supply closet. She detected the low murmur of voices. Moving a few containers she found that the bullet holes from the previous day now made the perfect spy holes.
<Somehow the idea of you looking through bullet holes isnât comforting...>
<I bet... but you know Iâll be careful, Clark...>
<Like you were careful last night?>
<I was doing my job.>
<Your job is running into a burning room?>
<Donât get smart with me, Flyboy. Besides, I *did* wait until they stopped shooting...>
<Lo-is...>
Lois ignored her boyfriend as before her eyes Toni Taylor staged a coup. Johnny drew his gun but the other five men in the room gathered behind Toni and drew theirs as well. Johnny looked at the odds and reigned in his temper. Johnny was escorted away on a âvacation.â Toni asserted herself with her new troops and laid down her plan to turn the gang into a supposedly legitimate business.
Deciding sheâd been missing long enough, Lois hid her spy holes and returned to the floor.
***************************
Lois joined Clark at the Planet. âSo, do we print the coup?â she said without preamble.
Clark sighed, âMy gut says no, at least for a day or so, but there doesnât seem to be any connection between the Metros and these âToastersâ... What do you think?â
Lois frowned. âMy main concern is that I donât want to pull out yet... If we print anything that specific theyâll know they have a leak.â Lois began to take off the trench coat she was wearing.
Clarkâs eyes widened as he caught a glimpse of her outfit. <Clothes, Lois!>
Lois froze and immediately redid the coat. <Thanks, Clark...>
âTrue... also, Toni Taylor may be offering me a job after last nightâs fire.â
âSo weâll both be there... and they would never expect *two* leaks. I say we go ahead and print...â <And your ears will be there...>
âOk, if youâre sure...â <Nice to feel useful... Besides, itâs safer for me to be in there now anyway...>
<Who said I would be the one blowing my cover if they need to discover a leak?>
Clark just gaped at her.
Perry joined them, eying her trench coat. âSo, Lois, howâs the undercover work going?â
She blinked. âFine, Chief, why?â
Perry grinned. âGood, I didnât think youâd *chicken* out on me...â He sauntered off laughing.
<Iâm going to kill Jimmy...>
***************************
Clark sat at the bar in the clothes he had worn the previous night. He watched Toni walk in and slam a newspaper on a table. He tuned into the conversation. The gang had figured out that they had a leak but had no idea who it might be. The bartender approached Toni and notified her of Clarkâs arrival. Clark tuned out as he was motioned over.
Toni looked him in the eye as he approached. âI've changed my mind.â
âAbout what?â He smiled widely.
âThe lack of available positions... Good-looking men who save my life are handy to have around...â
<And heâs *mine*, Sweetheart...>
<Temper, Lois... How do you think I feel around Luthor?> âIâm glad... What can you offer me?â
She considered him. âBartender. You start tonight, Mr...?â
âClark, Joseph Clark.â
She smiled. âJoey, you were very brave last night...â
Clark shrugged and honestly replied. âYou needed help...â
Toni ran a hand down his arm and he felt Lois bristle. âAre you always so cool under fire?â
âTry me...â
Toni patted his arm. âI might, but for now letâs start with bartending. Keep your eyes and ears open and you might move up...â
Clark could feel Lois losing her temper. <Lois, calm down... Itâs no different than that dinner you had with Luthor...>
<That was when we first met, Clark!>
âYouâre the boss...â <Consider this: You can monitor me whenever you want...>
<I... Clark...>
âI hope so...â
One of her lieutenants came up and informed her that âTootsâ had quit because of her fear that the Toasters might return.
<Toots?>
<The singer...>
Toni settled the matter easily, they were going to find a new singer and sue the old one.
Clark regained her attention. âWhen do I start, Boss?â
Toni smiled. âAs soon as you shave and get an appropriate uniform...â She handed him some cash. âWelcome to the Metro Club.â
***************************
Lois headed for the bar and ordered a round of drinks, winking at her boyfriend. Clark was in a tux, he had removed the facial hair, and added a pair of CJâs glasses. <The suit looks cute...>
<Cute?>
<Yeah, like an 18th century railroad conductor...>
<Lo-is...>
<That sounds dorky to me... Iâm coming to peak...>
<Thanks, Jay...>
Lois ran a hand up Clarkâs arm.
âJoey?â Toni had joined them.
<Joey?>
<âJoseph Clarkâ...>
<Interesting choice... Isnât the name of one of Momâs ancestors?>
<I originally came up with Charlie King... but I canât use *that* one anymore...>
<I should say not...>
Toni appraised him. âI hardly recognized you...â
Clark smiled. âJust getting to know the help.â
Toni glanced at Lois. âNot too well, I hope.â
<Sorry in advance, Lois...>
<Huh?>
Clark turned to his girlfriend. âBeat it, kid. I gotta get to work.â He copied Johnnyâs move of the day before.
<Clark?!>
<I said sorry in advance...>
Lois stalked off.
Clark made a drink and handed it to Toni. âLong Island Ice Tea with a squeeze of lime?â
Toniâs eyes widened. âHow did you guess?â
Clark smiled. âI have my ways...â <And good hearing...>
<Youâre going to pay later, Kent...>
<What did you do, Clark?>
Toni smiled again, flattered. âInitiative... I like that...â
<Isnât that basically what Mr. White said when he hired you?>
<Can it, Jay...>
Clark met Toniâs eyes. âDid you read about the Toaster's latest stunt? Burned a police station to the ground about a couple of blocks from here.â
He saw her drop her eyes and her heart rate increased slightly. <Lois, what if the Toasters answer to a middleman...>
<You mean just like Luthor normally does business?>
<Yeah, what if yesterday was planned... to organize the coup...>
<That would be big...>
Toni recovered and looked worried. âBad for business. They're out of control. They've got to be stopped.â
Clark smiled. âWhat precautions are you setting up?â
Toni just smiled. âYou need to be higher up to hear that, Joey...â She looked at the door. âWe'll talk some more about this later. Right now, just stay here and look handsome. I've got some business to discuss...â She headed for a table.
Clark followed her gaze and forced himself not to react, turning so his back faced the room. Lex Luthor sat down with Toni.
Clark tuned his hearing in to the couple but just as the conversation started to lead somewhere a drum roll shattered his concentration.
<Clark?!>
<Iâm okay, Lois, but that hurt...>
The announcer came on as Clark tried to regain his equilibrium. âLadies and Gentlemen, the Metro Club proudly presents: Miss Lola Dane!â
Clark turned wide eyes to the stage. Lois began to sing âIâve Got a Crush on Youâ looking at Clark subtly most of the number. Clark was too stunned by the way his girlfriend looked to think straight. Suddenly her eyes widened slightly. <Clark?! Luthor is here?! I think he just recognized me...>
Clark was snapped out of his reverie. <Iâll meet you backstage...>
After she finished wild applause broke out. Luthor pulled out a rose from a neighboring table and threw it to the stage. âBrava!â
Clark quickly headed to the back. He found her easily and looked at her in concern. <What now?>
She dragged him into her supply closet. <We see if he blows my cover...>
<I think you should leave now...>
<If he wants to level this all on Toni, he might actually see me as an advantage...>
<True... but thatâs quite a risk...>
Clark heard a noise outside the room. <Someoneâs here...>
<Give them a âsnitchâ...>
<Lois?>
<Theyâll have their leak and Luthor canât blow my cover when we arenât expecting it...>
Toni opened the door, glaring at the couple. âInteresting place for a bartender...â
Clark grabbed Lois. âHere she is... Your leak: Lois Lane of the Daily Planet.â
Lois struggled, glaring at Clark.
Toni smiled. âGuess I'll have to find another singer. Good work.â
Clark took a breath. âWhat do you want me to do with her?â
Toni motioned to the back door with her head.
Clark scooped Lois onto his shoulder, she squealed and struggled. Once outside the door, Clark noticed they had an observer. <One of the goons is watching, Lois...>
<So make it good, Clark...>
<Iâm going to drop you in a dumpster...>
<Youâre what?!>
Clark flipped her into a pile of shredded paper. âAnd *stay* out!â
***************************
Later that night, Lois and Clark met at Clarkâs apartment. They went over their notes and theories. âWell, the heatâs off and Toni seems pretty impressed...â
Lois smacked Clark. âWatch it, Flyboy...â
Clark opened his mouth to retaliate but a knock sounded at the door. A quick scan caused his brows to climb. <Itâs Toni Taylor...>
<Youâre kidding?!>
<Hide!>
<Where?>
<Um, the bedroom?>
<This is why you need doors...>
Lois scrambled up into the loft while Clark rearranged his hair and switched glasses.
Clark opened the door to reveal Toni Taylor carrying a bag of groceries. âOnce again I'm in your debt. I thought I'd pay you back with a home-cooked meal. How does lasagna sound?â
Clark smiled nervously. âDelicious.â
Toni scanned the apartment. âNice place...â
Clark smiled. âThanks, it was a fixer-upper... You should have seen it when I moved in... You know, you don't really have to do this.â
Toni batted her lashes at him. âI know. I want to.â
Clark seated himself. âDo you always get what you want?â
Toni considered him. âUsually. How about you?â
Clark smiled. âOccasionally...â
Toni moved closer to him. âCare to try your luck tonight?â
Clarkâs face sobered. âNo need to rush a good thing...â He fidgeted, trying to defuse the situation. âYou said something about lasagna?â
<Nice save, Kent...>
<Thanks, I think... You okay up there?>
Toni smiled at him.
<Except for getting nauseas listening to another woman make moves on *my* man?>
<Yeah...>
<Iâm fine.>
Toni was busily preparing her meal when the phone rang. Frowning, Clark reached for it. âHello?â
âClark? Itâs Lucy...â
âLucy? Is something wrong?â
âWell, Mr. Luthorâs at the door... Heâs trying to find Lois and heâs being pretty insistent...â
<Lois? Are you listening?>
<No, why would I listen to the flirting?>
âWell, Iâll see what I can do to find her...â
<Lucyâs on the phone...>
<What?!>
âThanks, Clark... Mr. Luthor is acting kinda creepy...â
<Luthorâs at your apartment...>
<What?!>
âIf youâre worried, call Jimmy and have him come over...â
<Iâll stop by, too...>
<Thank you, CJ... I donât want Lucy to be worried...>
âIâll do that. Thanks, Clark...â
âOh! And remember your sisterâs working late tonight... and my brother was thinking of coming over for a visit...â
âClark? What are you... Oh! The undercover thing...â
âRight...â
âYouâre having to cover at your apartment? Is Lois there?â
âIâm sure youâre right... but you canât be too careful these days...â
âThanks, Clark... CJâs talking to Luthor outside, now... Luthor thinks heâs you...â
âGreat, just what I need. Anyway, talk to you later, Lucy...â
âBye, Clark... Thanks and good luck...â
As he hung up Toni looked at him questioningly. âWhat was that about?â
âFriend of mineâs little sister got creeped out by some weirdo outside their place...â
<I like that... Luthor is a âweirdoâ...>
<Any problems, Jay?>
<This guy really doesnât like you, Cal... *And* heâs convinced Lois is home...>
<Well CJ, if youâre there get Lucy to let you in and prove Iâm not home...>
<If thatâs what you want, Lois...>
Toni frowned. âShe okay?â
Clark nodded. âI told her to call her boyfriend if she needs company and my brother was heading over there anyway...â
Toni watched him. âYouâre a good guy Joey...â
Clark shrugged. âI have my own code, and I stick to it...â He pulled at his shirt. âLet me go change while thatâs cooking...â
Toni smiled and nodded.
Clark quickly fled to his bedroom. Once there, he glanced through the ceiling and saw Lois sitting in the loft, quietly playing solitaire on the floor. <You okay?>
Lois grimaced and rolled her eyes, unaware that he was watching. <Iâm fine, bored but fine...>
<We could try to sneak you out... but I canât really think of a good enough distraction...>
<I could if it was me... but you do *not* have permission to kiss Toni Taylor...>
Clark had changed into a casual shirt and jeans. <The only woman I want to kiss is you...>
âJoey? Lasagnaâs ready...â
<And back to work...> âComing!â
tbc....