Shelley, if you're bad, I'm even worse. I actually read this several days ago, but hadn't gotten around to writing up some fdk.
On the issue of Clark being too much of a softy when it came to his mom, I disagree somewhat with that. I don't think Clark has it in him to be angry at anyone, especially someone close to him. And he was a bit mad at first, but as Martha made him realize he may have misinterpreted Lois' actions earlier, he was too busy hoping Martha's interpretation was right to be mad at her. Maybe he and Lois will get a bit of humorous revenge later on, but in the end, I agree that they're grateful she did what she did.
Before setting out, he got changed. He wouldn’t forget in a hurry the way Lois had looked at him when he’d tried on those black jeans and the CK polo shirt - especially when he’d peeled the other T-shirt over his head in order to do so - and he wasn’t above using that knowledge to give himself an advantage right now.
Maybe I'm just a guy, but I don't see the great attraction with black jeans.
I've been told differently by numerous people, but oh well, I'm not a woman.
The door opened abruptly; she stood there in the gap, giving him a surprised look. “Clark? What are you doing here?” Then he noticed her eyes widen, and he decided that his decision to wear the black jeans had been the correct one. Yes, she’d noticed.
I may not understand the attraction, but this is still funny!
So, how are you today?”
Oh, great start, Kent! he thought, kicking himself mentally.
/me thwaps Clark, too.
“My mom led you to believe that I was in love with someone else. Another woman,” he clarified, ramming his hands deep into his pockets.
Lois stared at him. After a moment, eyes wide, she said, “And... you’re not?”
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Give the woman a prize. At long last, after hint upon hint, she finally figures it out! No criticism of your writing, Wendy. It's just that Lois really IS this dense to take so long to figure out what's in front of her face when it comes to her personal life.
“I’minlovewithyou,” he gabbled, then turned away, as if ready to bolt for the door.
ROTFL! I can just see him doing that.
“Because I’d kind of like to remember the first time the man I love tells me that he loves me too.”
Awwww.
“Clark Kent!” Lois reached behind her and grabbed a towel. “Are you going to make me beat it out of you?”
He fended her off with one hand, catching the towel in the other. “You want to try?”
Do it! Then maybe Wendy will have to make this an nfic.
“You do know that you’re wasting valuable time here?” she pointed out.
“I am?”
“Oh yes.” She licked her lips slowly, deliberately. “Valuable kissing time.”
“Oh.” He dropped the towel instantly. “You know, you could be on to something there, Lois.”
Yes!
Pygmalion had won her Eliza.
Or had Eliza won Pygmalion?
“Thank you, Martha,” Lois murmured, reaching up to kiss Clark again.
Nice comparison. Guess it doesn't matter which one won whom.
“No.” She cut across him firmly, her expression having changed from indignation to resignation in the space of a single second. “No, I do believe it,” she added quietly. “I know exactly why you didn’t tell me. Don’t I?”
He pulled a face. Yes, it had been partly her behaviour, the way she’d treated him as Clark and as Superman, which had made him reluctant to tell her, but that had been far from the only reason. Mostly, it had been the very real fear that to tell anyonewould put not only himself but also his parents at risk. Jason Trask’s single-minded search for ‘the alien’ and anyone who had harboured him had reinforced that caution and ingrained it to his bones.
As much as I hate dragging out these revelations and having Lois be upset with him, she does seem to have forgiven him a bit too quickly. Without having actually tortured him recently with her Superman obsession, I wouldn't think Lois would be so quick with her reasoning. At least, IMO. Maybe a paragraph or two of introspection where she gets upset with him, reviews her recent past, and then decides she's been rotten to him. To forgive him so quickly seems a bit OOC without at least some thinking about it.
“Do I get free flights?”
Clark blinked; whatever he’d been expecting, it wasn’t that! “I guess that could be arranged,” he agreed mildly.
“Good. And chocolate from Switzerland?”
He had to laugh at that. “Is that all my being Superman means to you? Your own private pilot and chocolate from Switzerland?”
LOL! Trust Lois to bargain with him for chocolate and flights.
She nodded. “See, I believe you. I believe Superman,” she said. “I know you wouldn’t lie, or treat a woman badly just because you can. You have integrity. And I love that about you, too.”
This is a rather interesting take. Granted the reason she fell for Clark is the same reason she fell for Superman. But in the face of the lies Clark had just admitted to, she's willing to trust that Superman would never hurt her for no reason. I've never heard this idea expressed in such a way. I like it.
“Remind me to thank her... ooh, maybe about the time I’ve finished paying off my credit card bill!” Clark replied, grinning.
Maybe he should get Martha to pay the bill? It was all her doing. Just kidding.
And then she kissed him again, and words seemed unnecessary.
And a nice WAFFy ending! Yay!
A lovely story, Wendy! I look forward to your Christmas story next!
