I meant to get this chapter out over the weekend but life got busy. Sorry for the delay.
The More Things Stay the Same
Part 7
Lois struggled against her assailant, her self-defense lessons taking over as she maneuvered herself into a better position to break free of his hold. She drove an elbow back into his ribcage and managed to pull his arm away from her neck far enough to duck down and out. Mentally, she noted that he wasn’t very good at this – that move wouldn’t have worked so easily on a more skilled opponent. She’d count her blessings later though.
She took off at a run only to realize, too late, that the alley he’d pulled her into was a dead end. The thug was hot on her heals. She was going to have to fight her way out. Shouldn’t be too hard, she thought, remembering her earlier assessment. Of course, it never hurt to call for a little back up, just in case.
She spun around and dropped into a fighting stance at the same time as she shouted, “Help, Superman!”
To his credit, the thug paused a moment and actually looked around for the superhero before shaking his head and continuing to advance on her. If he’d been a little bit smarter, he might have tried to run away. He wouldn’t have gotten far, but at least it would have shown he had some sense. He came within arm’s reach of Lois and lunged – only to be hoisted up into the air by his belt.
Lois grinned up at her rescuer. He always arrived just in time.
A moment later, the thug had his wrists strapped to a lamp post with the aforementioned belt and Superman turned to face Lois. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Just a little winded. Thank you, Superman.” She smiled at him but he didn’t smile back. In fact, he seemed to be avoiding her gaze and he looked… upset? He was usually so friendly. She wondered what was wrong.
“There have been a number of attacks on women in this area,” he said, gazing around as though searching for someone else in need of help. “You shouldn’t be out at night.”
Lois’ interest was piqued. “A number of attacks? How many? Who are the perpetrators? What about the victims? Is there any connection between them.” Her reporter’s instincts were screaming that there was a story here. But Superman seemed to have his mind elsewhere. Lois shook her head. “Never mind, I’ll ask the police. Speaking of – we should probably get this guy taken care of,” she said, gesturing to the man still tied to the lamp.
Superman nodded and looked about more purposefully than before. “There’s a police cruiser two blocks over. Be right back.”
Superman left and returned just as quickly but he remained silent and stoic as they waited for the police to arrive. By the time they’d both given their statements, seen the assailant loaded in the back of a cruiser, and been informed that she’d need to stop by the precinct for information about the other attacks it was rather late. She made her way back to her jeep and quickly decided it would be best to go ahead and sleep at her mother’s apartment tonight, as she had originally planned. She could work out what to do about her life and her marriage in the morning.
She retrieved her suitcase from her trunk as the police cruiser pulled away. Superman approached her a moment later. He seemed hesitant and unsure. Lois tilted her head quizzically. She’d never seen him like this. “Are you alright, Superman.”
He looked up at her briefly and then away. “I’m fine. I just… these streets aren’t safe. I didn’t want to leave until you were safe inside.”
“That’s very generous of you, Superman. Thank you. I’m just staying down the block here, at my mother’s apartment.”
He nodded and they began to walk in silence. Glancing up at him, Lois noticed a tick in his jaw, as though he were clenching his teeth or biting back something he wanted to say. She couldn’t fathom what he was thinking about, but she supposed it wasn’t any of her business. It seemed that even Superman had personal problems and she certainly had enough of her own at the moment.
“This is me,” she said, stopping in front of her mother’s building. “Thank you for the rescue and for walking me.” She turned to go into the building but was stopped by a hand on her shoulder. She looked back at Superman and was stunned to see something like anguish in his eyes.
“Lois, I – ” he stopped and shook his head. Then his hand lifted from her shoulder to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear before lingering against her cheek. His palm was warm and a sudden sense of familiarity swept through Lois’ mind. She knew his touch…
But then he was pulling his hand away and lifting slowly into the air. “Be safe,” he said, and then he was gone.
Lois watched him disappear into the night, absently covering her cheek with her own hand. She wondered at the torment she’d seen behind his eyes. Was it possible that he actually harbored hidden feelings for her? Of course, Superman would never act on feelings towards a married woman – he was too noble to even fathom it. He didn’t know about her decision to leave Clark… not that said decision was one hundred percent set in stone.
“Ugh!” she shook her head and turned to go inside. “I can’t think about this right now. Tomorrow. I’ll think about it tomorrow.”
Despite her best intentions she was still thinking about it ten minutes later as she settled into bed and shut of the lamp. She had no idea what she wanted to do and if she couldn’t get her mind to stop spinning, she was never going to get to sleep.
Rolling over on her side, she willed her brain to be quiet. Her thoughts drifted back to Superman’s touch just before he left. She was sure that he had touched her that way before, but she couldn’t for the life of her remember when. It had to be one of her lost memories.
Earlier that night, she’d been ready to give up on all of those memories. Now she wanted to try harder than ever to get them back if only to help her understand why she simultaneously felt so close to Superman and yet almost like a stranger.
His touch had felt… intimate – a thousand thoughts and words in a single touch.
Clark touched me the same way, her mind whispered as she finally drifted to sleep.
********
She was flying, soaring high above treetops through the night sky. The view was spectacular but not nearly so wonderful as the feeling of his arms around her. They were going fast but she couldn’t feel it. Something about him protected her from the forces which would normally be too much for a human to withstand.
The prom had been nice, but flying with Superman was even better. She looked up at him and he smiled at her.
Except it wasn’t Superman.
It was Clark.
Clark was flying her home. He was wearing a tux.
“Do you want to go home yet?” he asked.
She shook her head and snuggled closer to him. “No. Can we go to Smallville?”
“How would I explain that to my parents? They just found out I can fly – and I didn’t even give them a chance to let that sink in before I took off to be here with you. Not sure now’s the right time to tell them you know my secret.”
“We should have already told them.”
“You want to listen to my dad wax hyperbolic about dissecting frogs? Be my guest.”
“Hmm… I’ll pass.” She gazed up into his eyes and sighed contentedly. She could hardly believe he was here. And he could fly again – that meant they could see each other whenever they wanted. No more waiting long months to convince their parents to let them visit. No more phone calls which were never quite enough. Now, all she had to do was call and he would be there.
“Thank you for taking me to the prom. It really was a night to remember.”
********
Lois sat up in bed, the dream already slipping away like so much sand in an hour glass. But there was one fact which lingered long enough for her to grab ahold of it and recognize it for the truth.
“Clark is Superman.”
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