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Madame Ex: Lois Lane
***

“My instincts say…”

Her breath freezes in her lungs.

She’s made so many mistakes, and most of them have all been in some way or another connected to the man standing in front of her, hesitating as he makes his decision--to abandon her (as she deserves) or to stand by her (as he has done so many times before). She’s taken him for granted. Ignored his warnings. Treated him like a friend who betrayed her (instead of the other way around, as it actually was). Ignored him for weeks. Held onto him after her disastrous decisions crashed down around her in rubble and regret. Refused to let him have any distance from her at all as the Planet rebuilt itself from her ashes (in case he realized that he’d be better off away from her).

Dismissed his declaration of love.

And now, a mere couple months after that catastrophe, here she is, telling him to trust her instincts. Her instincts. Ha! Where did those lead her when Lex was wining and dining and playing her? Where were they when Superman came to her apartment and did his best (in vain) to stop her before she spilled out her heart in front of him? What good have her instincts ever been where Clark is concerned (always warning her away, telling her to lock herself behind tall, thick walls, instead of trusting him)?

But she’s still standing, still asking, still waiting (even breathlessly) because she can’t give up. Not on herself. Not on her career. Not on him.

(She missed out on the chance to have his love, but he is still her partner…for now).

He opens his mouth (she tenses). He takes a breath (she cannot). He says, “…never argue with a woman who’s just been behind bars.”

It’s so Clark. All humor and deflection and understanding. All trust and forgiveness and an agreement to ignore all the reasons he has not to trust her (or even to give her the time of day).

Simple. Clean. Friendly.

Her breath leaves her in a whoosh, his arm is warm in hers, and his slight smile is fuel enough for the grin making her cheeks hurt and her heart ache.

All she’s done to him, all she’s not done for him, but still he is Clark.

Her friend. Before, she might have felt regret at that; now there is only room for relief. Because no matter the qualifier, never mind the definition, he is still hers.

*