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House Of Luthor: Perry White
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There are a lot of mysteries about Clark Kent, little things that don’t add up. The amount of time he spends outside the newsroom, the miraculously fast way he produces articles moments before deadline, the way he managed to get under Lois’s defenses so quickly, the way he never seems to get annoyed with Jimmy…and of course, the truth behind his connection to Superman--closer, at times, then even Lois, it would seem.

Nothing too big, of course, and Perry likes it that way. A small puzzle here and there is what makes people interesting, what ensures there are stories to find and write up and publish. Those foibles and enigmas are what turns a story from dry facts into news. So it’s all right that Clark’s got a couple secrets. Perry’s sure never told anyone some of his trade secrets, and if Clark wants to play fast and loose with excuses and that disappearing act of his, it’s never affected the news--and therefore, never mattered much to Perry.

But for all of the things that don’t make sense about Clark, there’s been one thing about him clearer than the genius of Elvis’s voice. One truth he can’t hide. One secret he can’t keep--except, possibly from the one person who matters most. One thing that everyone at the Daily Planet knows.

And that’s the fact that Clark Kent is head over heels in love with Lois Lane.

Oh, the kid’s done a good job of pretending like friendship is plenty good enough for him. And, well, with as tough a case as Lois Lane, Perry’s actually pretty impressed Clark has already got that far. He’s patient and undemanding and apparently one of the most laidback people in the world--and smart, too, to see past Lois’s brash façade so quickly, and to realize just how much the diamond hidden underneath is worth.

Lois actually does think Clark is just her friend, or at least, Perry’s pretty sure she does. If he knows that first star reporter of his at all, Clark has probably heard all about being Lois’s friend--she might have even played the brother card on him by now--and everyone in the newsroom has heard Lois talking up Superman to her partner, ignoring his rolled eyes and casual shrugs. It’s all part of her defense system, shutting down anything that could possibly happen before it can happen.

But Perry doesn’t think either Lois or Clark saw Lex Luthor coming. Lois no doubt convinced herself that it was no big deal, while Clark counseled himself to patience.

Fat lot of good it did either one of them.

Now Perry’s left without one reporter--doesn’t even know what to say to her when she asks him about the RSVP to her wedding--and can see the other…well, Clark’s not dwindling away. Not in so many words. He’s tougher than that, and more desperate too. But he’s definitely changing, wrapped up in this investigation to the exclusion of all else. Matter of fact, Perry kind of misses the easy comfort Clark used to exude, before this frantic intensity changed all that.

“Maybe it doesn’t even matter what we find,” Clark says heavily. “Maybe Luthor is what she wants.”

And for the first time, Perry thinks he can hear a note of defeat there in his voice. For the first time, Clark looks tired, worn out. Almost resigned. Beaten.

If there’s one thing Perry knows, it’s how to meet a deadline, and in his entire life of deadlines, this is the one that means the most--to save the Planet. To save Lois.

And to save the Clark he’s never stopped being glad he hired.

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