I have to take issue with you, Rachel. This isn't fluff. It's important stuff, vitally important stuff. (By the way, it worked perfectly.) You need to show us how Kal and Lois are progressing in their relationship. You need to show us how easy it is for them to be together. You need to let us know how much each of them loves the other.
And then you can show us how much the truth will hurt Lois.
I'm not one of those who insists that Clark is a lying louse for not telling Lois about Superman so very early in their relationship. I believe that his desire for Lois to love Clark and not be blinded by the flashy suit is perfectly, completely valid, and it points up just how 'human' he really is. He wants to be loved for himself, not for the public image he projects.
But this Clark/Superman has gone past that. Granted, their closeness wasn't his doing; it was a result of the trauma they both endured, and Lois's unselfish heroism in rescuing Superman. But he's allowing the hero to take over his life. He's letting Clark become the construct where Superman hides instead of the hero being Clark's way to help using his powers without sacrificing his personal life. Superman is now in competition with Clark for Lois's affections, and if both men are real beings with real personalities and real depth, she's probably going to choose the hero over the nice guy.
And, perhaps without intending to do so (unless that was your evil plan all along), you've almost guaranteed that Lois won't trust either of them with her heart when she does learn the truth. If Kal-El, whom she all but threatens when he suggests that they not remain close, has lied to her all this time (and yes, this time it really is a lie), then why should she believe anything he says about how he feels, either as Superman or Clark?
This may be the scariest chapter of all.
