This was such a sweet chapter!
He was on his feet in an instant, but...should he go in there? ...hold her hair? Was she okay?
Clark stood there, frozen with indecision. He didn’t know where any of the boundaries were—this was all so new. He without a doubt wanted to be in there holding her hair and rubbing her back and making sure she was okay. And Best Friend Lois might have even welcomed that, though she may have protested a little at her modesty or not subjecting him to the sight of her stomach contents.
But Almost-Dating Lois? He wasn’t sure.
This is so dead-on! Clark, the most helpful man in the world, unable to help because he's worried he'll do more harm than good. Lois' personality really sets up a neat little series of emotional traps for him to work through. So great to see him think through this.
But if she was sick...he couldn’t leave her.
Heart-clenching to see his usual over-protectiveness in a lower stakes setting.
“Here, c’mon,” he murmured as he scooped her up into his arms and straightened to standing, her arms automatically circling around his neck.
It's SO delicious that she has no idea she's already done this motion a dozen times.
Her head was nuzzled into his neck; this was more intimately than he’d ever held her as Superman.
And this is so great, the way you elevate it!
“I need my best friend,” she said quietly, but with conviction.
He nodded instantly...
After his (rightful) waffling over these boundaries earlier, this is such a great use of showing that when it counts, they set the boundaries to be what they need.
"I guess it just doesn’t seem fair that you’re sick and being hunted by a delusional killer at the same time.”
"And...I’m already involved with you, Lois. Us going on a date doesn’t change that.”
Both sweet and true! This might be my favorite line of the chapter.
Then, in an instant, just as her knees were hitting the floor, he was there by her side and gathering her hair up away from her face.
Great progression that he *listens* to her and makes new choices for them based on what she says.
...it hit him just how many times she’d been vulnerable, unguarded with him—even that very first week he’d met her, when she’d confessed to breaking all of her rules. He wondered why he hadn’t noticed it before, especially all those times he’d felt lonely and adrift, aching to know if she would ever care about him the same way he cared about her, loved her.
Sometimes it's so hard to see the forest through the trees sometimes, especially when the stakes are high and there are lots of red herrings! It's nice to see that he's self-aware but still just struggling with it.
Looking forward to the next bit!
oh, the Chinese food. I loved that Lois was letting Clark see her in a vulnerable state. Poor Clark trying to keep control over his emotions. It's going to be a long night for him. Hopefully Lois doesn't get sick any more. Maybe a little cuddling in the dark and morning as they wake up??? I'm liking this story a whole lot.