Previously in
Part 2A little later they made it back to the hotel. Clark entered the room first, Lois following. "I'll just put this stuff away then make us a drink, all right Lois?" he asked as he put his bag down on the bed and unwrapped his coat from his waist. He headed for the small table and drinks area aiming to put on the coffee. "Just put the picnic blanket down on the table," he called out to Lois.
"Oh, I don't think so," came the sultry reply, but before he could turn he felt two hands dive over his shoulders and tuck something into his t-shirt. He twisted round in shock and then looked over his shoulder to see the red blanket hanging down his back like a … cape.
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***---***---***---***---*** indicates flashbacks
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* indicates scene changes or character POV changes
Character thoughts are in 'single speech marks'
Disclaimer: Superman, Clark Kent, Lois Lane and all other character and place names are owned by DC and/or Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. I own nothing ... except my fantasies -- which frequently include Clark/Superman.
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Part 3He gulped and looked back to Lois. Her grin was totally unexpected. He was sure he would see accusation, triumph, anger or any of a multitude of other things designed to show him that she'd beaten him, she'd figured him out and today had been all about torturing him. But there was just joy on her face. She still didn't know. Was Clark so completely ordinary that, even dressed like this, Lois couldn't see the truth? But as he watched carefully her face dropped, joy being replaced by confusion.
Suddenly her hands shot up and she ripped away his glasses. They immediately dropped from her fingers and one hand came up to cover her trembling mouth. She turned away. Clark raised one hand and reached out for her shaking shoulder. He almost touched her as he reached to rest his palm on her arm in comfort but just before the final contact he heard her whisper. "I've been made a fool of by the man I love." Barely heard, even for his super ears, he caught his breath in shock. Reaching out again he missed touching her as she raced for the door. He sped there ahead of her and put his hand on the door handle.
"Let me out," she breathed.
"Please don't go Lois," he asked.
"Let … me … out. You can't keep me here, no matter the size of your super-biceps," she growled at him. Her eyes met his and he saw anger and pain. Stepping back he gave her room and her hand reached for the handle.
"Please, Lois." His voice was now a pleading whisper. "Don't go."
She turned to look back at him as she pulled the door open. The pain in his heart spilled out and he felt a tear track down his cheek. She turned away from him, ignoring his pleas and his pain. When the door slammed shut behind her he collapsed against it.
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Lois raced down the corridor and headed for the stairs. Stopping to wait for the elevator was out of the question. 'Please, Lois,' the ethereal voice played in her mind as she reached the ground floor. 'Don't go.' But rather then invoke her pity or forgiveness it increased her ire. As she stormed passed the desk on her way to exit the hotel memories of checking in did nothing at all to help her disposition.
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Lois leaned forward onto the counter. The young woman behind the desk was nervously explaining the situation. “Yes, miss, I understand, but this is the peak of the tourist season. We are fully booked. When the reservation came through it was the only room we had left.”
“You’re telling me that we have to
*share* the room?”
“I’m afraid so, unless we get a cancellation." The eager to please girl smiled as understandingly as she could. "If we do I will notify you immediately. Plus it is a twin room,” she rushed out in a conciliatory attempt.
Lois turned on Clark as she whipped the two key cards from the desk. “Well, if this doesn’t beat all. At least the last time we had to share, it was the honeymoon suite at the Lexor.”
The young clerk, overhearing part of what she had said, and desperate to please the customers spoke up again. “Oh, I didn’t know you were honeymooners! I will have a complimentary bottle of champagne sent up to your room immediately.” She turned and began to scribble a note on the pad beside her.
Lois turned back and laid an incredulous look on the lady. "If we were honeymooners then why would we want separate rooms? We’re partners.”
The clerk blinked in confusion, not getting where the conversation was going. “Oh domestic partners. I understand. So this isn’t really a honeymoon.”
Lois felt her temper rising further. She replied, perhaps a little more sharply that she necessary. “No! We definitely are
*not* domestic partners. Look, we both work for the Daily Planet and we are
*writing* partners. We are here for the conference being held at the Hampton Inn.” She turned back to Clark briefly and muttered under her breath. "Why travel couldn't have just booked us in there to save all this hassle I don't know."
The flustered clerk began to blush. “But, I heard you say that you were in the honeymoon suite.”
Lois rolled her eyes. “We were undercover.”
The blush deepened and the young, embarrassed woman lowered her head. “Well, uh, I guess that’s what the honeymoon suite is for. Lots of time under the covers.”
If looks could kill, the clerk would have died a thousand deaths in that moment. “Not 'under the covers'. Undercover! We were on a stakeout. You know ... spying on the bad guys.”
The clerk's head came up, her mouth dropped open and she looked back and forth between Lois and Clark. "But … but … you two … I thought …"
"What? What did you think?" Lois replied as she tilted her head to one side in mockery.
"Um, nothing. I apologise. Enjoy your stay."
"That's yet to be seen," Lois snorted then grabbed Clark’s tie and started to drag him toward the elevator. “Let’s go, Clark. I’m hungry and you’re buying me dinner.”
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Leaving the lobby and emerging out into the cool night her raging anger did not fade, not even a little bit, when the air met her enflamed cheeks. She sped up her walk, determined to put as much distance between her and … him … as possible. As she quickened her pace she found herself jogging and then finally running.
'It's not real. It can't be real,' were the only thoughts repeating in her head. They went round and round. 'He wouldn't do that. He wouldn't let you act so foolishly.' 'But he did,' she replied to herself. 'And not just today, letting me give him the Superman t-shirt, he's done it every day since we met. Made a fool out of me.'
After a while she found herself back at the entrance to the beach outside the Hampton Inn. "Scene of the crime," she chastised herself. The sun had set behind the ocean an hour ago and the sky was turning dark. "He didn't make a fool of you. You made a fool of yourself Lois," she spoke out loud, and the anger dissipated to be replaced by hurt and betrayal.
She began to stroll slowly over to the patch where they'd sat earlier. The look on Clark's face as she'd left suddenly invaded her mind. A tear had fallen down his cheek as he pleaded with her to stay. Those pleas had angered her as she left. Now they melted her heart. 'I don't think I've ever seen him cry before.' she thought. 'For someone as full of love, friendship and compassion as him, how come I've never seen him cry?' As the tears began to stream down her own face she closed her eyes. She resisted letting them turn into sobs but still they fell. Tilting her head back she opened her eyes to see the clear darkening evening sky, hoping for some serenity but instead she noticed a blur streak overhead.
"You're up there, aren't you?" she said, realising immediately what that movement above her had been. Although the comment was actually been spoken to herself, quietly ... rhetorically, she knew that he would be listening as well as watching. "I bet you never even got changed. That is so like you. You think it's your job to look after me. You think I can't possibly be all right by myself." She paused and sighed. "Or you just worry too much. I know you. You worry about everything don't you? You have this overdeveloped sense of responsibility. You feel that you have to fix everything; fix the world; fix me." The tears dried up as she began the catharsis of speaking her thoughts out loud. "Well, you can't fix me." She paused, unable to continue the lie. Clark had been 'fixing' her from the first moment they met; healing her heart, teaching her to trust, to care, to love. "You know, I wanted to give you the t-shirt because … because." Her breath shuddered. "Because ... I've given up on my Superman fantasy. I have a new fantasy. But, something just came over me when I was looking for a present for your birthday and I got the wonderful idea of combining the two. Old and new. Superman fantasy and … Clark fantasy." There, she'd said it. She knew he was listening and there was no turning back now. "I wanted to turn you into my own personal Superman. You two are my … the only … I …" she faded off. "Argh," she shouted and waved her fist in the air. "You two mean everything to me. No-one else in the world … and I just wanted to pretend that I could have both of you, just for a day." She looked down at the sand and began swishing at it with her toes. Her voice dropped in volume as she continued. "I had a lot of fun today. And seeing you turn into Superman one little bit at a time ... I wanted you more and more." She smiled shyly. "When I saw the red blanket I knew I had my final piece. I considered wrapping it round you after you caught me at the barrier, but you looked at me in such a way. I thought you were, hoped you were, going to kiss me. I also got the weirdest sense of déjà vu, which had been hitting me all afternoon. I guess I know why now. But, anyhow, I decided to wait. I decided that I'd let us get out of the open, safe back in the room, then I'd pounce on you with the 'cape'. You know,
*I* was gonna kiss
*you* then. I resolved to kiss you, to take a chance, and I was going to do it while you were dressed as Superman, to show you that I could think of you as Superman, that you could be
*my* Superman."
She stopped swiping at the sand and looked back up to the sky, clasping her hands behind her back. "I'm mad at you." She breathed deeply. "And I'm mad at myself. You hurt me. You deceived me. I … I want to forgive you, but I just can't. Not without some kind of recompense from you. I need something."
A quiet voice came to her on the breeze: so quiet she wondered if she'd imagined it. "Anything."
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"Anything? Really?" Clark listened from his position in the sky. "Well then. I guess, seeing as I feel such a fool, maybe you should too. Your next rescue has to be exactly as you are now." He saw Lois grin and his stomach dropped. "I know. You never got changed, you still have your red shorts on, the red picnic blanket cape, which is probably only dangling from one shoulder by now, and most of all, you are still wearing the t-shirt." He glanced at his shoulder. She was right. The blanket was only held in place on one side now. "So! Off you go. Rescue something, foil a robbery, anything. I'll be waiting. And once Superman has been seen in a less-than-perfect suit causing just that little bit of embarrassment, I'll forgive you."
As he listened to Lois giggling, obviously imagining the hilarious picture of him stopping a pile up on the freeway dressed in his pretend suit, he seriously considered swooping straight down to talk to her. She couldn't possibly mean for him to really show Superman to the world in this light? Yes, Clark would be embarrassed, but this would destroy respect for Superman the world over. Surely she was only teasing him, showing him how annoyed she was with him. Showing him how much work it would take to get through this. But then he realised what she'd said. 'Rescue something.' He shot off into the air searching the city for the scenario he had in his head. There was bound to be one. Surely. And if he did this then he could really prove himself to Lois. He would have done exactly as she asked, even though she didn't mean it because it was too dangerous for him in reality. He'd perform his next Superman feat dressed as Clarkman … or SuperClark … or … what could he call himself in this guise?
He found his intended target in under 30 seconds. Caught at the top of a tree in a small back garden the black and white kitten had obviously been too adventurous for its own good. "Kind of reminds me of someone else," Clark muttered with a smile on his face as he returned the feline to the ground. Now, the question was, how would he prove to Lois that he'd fulfilled her request, unless he showed her the kitten. She'd just have to believe him. But was that really a possibility at the moment. Would she ever believe anything he told her again?
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While she waited to see if Clark would take her seriously she sat down and allowed the memories to overtake her. Memories of kisses, memories of unguarded looks. 'How did I not see it before?' She felt foolish again. No matter how different the glasses and hair made him look, and she had to admit that was really only a passing resemblance between the two of them especially with the clothing change, she should have recognised his facial expressions. Both Clark and Superman looked at her with such hurt and hope, such longing … and such love. 'I've kissed both of them. How did I not notice the identical tingle when their lips touched mine: when
*his* lips touched mine?' And then came the memories of her behaviour. She'd always treated them differently, dramatically so to start with, and even now, when she no longer dismissed Clark, there were differences. Superman got her awe, Clark got her friendship … and, she finally accepted, they
*both* got her love. She sighed as she came to her final conclusion.
"I'm a fool," she whispered to herself. A whoosh followed by a soft sound on the sand had her standing and turning. Looking up into his un-obscured face, with natural wavy hair her heart skipped about wildly. 'A fool in love with you.'
"Lois," he began softly. She reached out her hand and grasped the piece of red material at his right shoulder. Tucking it in more securely she smiled. 'I was right. He didn't change, and it's only hanging by one corner now.' She looked back up into his face again and the beginning of the song in her head came to her. 'A fool in love with you … Earth Angel.'
"Lois, I'm so sorry." He spoke again. "I wanted to tell you … so badly, but I didn't know how. And this was never about keeping you in the dark, or not trusting you. Lois I … "
"Shhh," she put her fingers up to his lips.
"I love you," he whispered past them.
She smiled up at him; combination of Superman and Clark, combination of alien … angel ... and Earth: Superman's face, Clark's expression, Superman's suit, Clark's clothes.
"Clark, my angel … Earth Angel."
"I did it. I did what you asked Lois." She saw the pain and the hope in his eyes. "I rescued a kitten from a tree dressed just like this. I know it's not much, but I'll do anything. Please forgive me, Lois. Please. After all … it is my birthday." He chuckled nervously at that last comment hoping she wouldn't think that he wasn't taking this seriously at all.
"I forgive you." The relief in his eyes, the way his shoulders relaxed back, was echoed in the smile which covered his face. "Clark, how could I not?"
He stepped forwards and her heart quickened in anticipation of the kiss she craved. Instead his head passed her and his arms surrounded her in a tight hug. She brought up her arms and encircled his chest, then buried her head in his neck. He wouldn't presume to kiss her. Not even now. She smiled. 'So like Clark.'
"Earth angel, earth angel," she began to mumble into his shoulder. "Will you be mine? My darling dear, love you all the time. I'm just a fool," she felt his arms tense around her in anticipation. Did he expect her to say it, or did he expect her to stop. She drew back and looked into his warm, chocolate-coloured eyes. "A fool in love … with you."
The joy and shock on his face filled her heart with happiness. His eyes searched hers. She saw them flick down to her lips and his head twitched forward. 'He still can't do it. He still can't presume.' She smiled and slid her hands round from his back to his chest and then up to his neck. As they linked behind his neck she pulled and his lips descended to meet hers. She felt his arms hold her tighter. His lips nibbled hers, gradually deepening the kiss. When her lips parted his immediately took advantage and her whole body vibrated with pleasure as she experienced the true level of passion that Clark Kent felt for Lois Lane. Her muffled thought processes vaguely compared the feeling to dream-like floating. Their lips parted for a moment giving her a chance to gain her breath and she let out a single breathy laugh when she realised why it had felt that way. Stars sparkled above her. They also sparkled far below her; the lights of Pensacola.
As Clark's soft, warm lips touched hers once again she thought back to the moment she'd finished packing her suitcase. Two thoughts in particular played over in her head. She'd warred over whether it was the right present to choose for her best friend. Just once or twice she'd played second guess with her decision. Zipping closed her suitcase she'd finally dispelled her worries.
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"Oh, yes. It was definitely the right decision."
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She'd also long since accepted the ulterior motive for this present too. She wanted to see Clark's bare chest again … and she wanted to see him dressed as Superman.
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"I bet he'll look just 'Super' in this."
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And she was sooooo right.
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