To end this year on a light note. Happy New Year, everyone.
Lights And Music
Clark glanced at the watch. The big hand moved to eleven. Just five minutes to midnight. Next to him Lois seemed oblivious of the fast approaching new year. Her lips were moving as she went through the folder in front of her.
Apparently, she didn't celebrate New Year's Eve any more than she did Christmas. His heart clenched in sympathy. He knew her relationship with her family was strained at best. Clark had thought that maybe she'd at least spend tonight with friends.
But instead she’d volunteered for the night shift. After all, unlike him, she wasn't the newbie.
He wished he'd taken her to Smallville for Christmas instead of leaving her all alone. But he wasn't sure they were there yet. Sure, their relationship had begun to change over the past weeks.
She no longer regarded him as a rival. They were slowly growing into friends and in rare moments it seemed like they could be more. Or at least so he hoped.
Lois closed the folder with a frustrated sigh and leaned back in her chair. “Nothing. I was sure there'd be a story somewhere between these pages.”
“Hey, this is New Year's Eve. In a big city like this there's got to be something newsworthy. We just need to be patient.”
Lois’ brows climbed toward her hairline. “With Superman around? Didn't you listen to the speech he gave on LNN tonight? He's keeping watch so we all can celebrate a peaceful New Year's Eve.”
“Oh, I did.” Clark hadn't expected for anyone to heed his advice though. The hero had more of an impact than he'd expected.
So far, he hadn't been called away to stop any muggings, the streets were dry and he'd decided to ignore the cats stuck in trees, so he could spend more time with Lois.
The hand of the clock moved further, just two minutes to midnight. Perhaps now was the time to pull out the bottle of champagne he was keeping in his desk drawer.
But he wasn't sure Lois would welcome the gesture.
She’d made it pretty clear that she didn't want any relationships with her coworkers. And sharing a bottle of champagne might be pressing his luck.
“It's almost midnight. Do you want to go on the roof and watch the fireworks?”
She pursed her lips and a small frown appeared on her forehead. Then, reluctantly, she nodded. “These folders aren't getting us anywhere. And I love fireworks.”
He beamed at her.
Her eyes narrowed. “Don't read anything into it, Kent.”
He held up his hands. “I promise I won't.”
Together they headed for the staircase. It was just a few seconds to midnight when they stepped out into the chilly night. The sky was clear, full of stars, though not as many as in Smallville. One day he was going to take her there to celebrate, Clark vowed to himself.
Clark looked at his watch. “Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two…”
“One,” she said.
And for a moment there was a gleam in her eyes, a hint of something…
The night exploded in a rain of light. More fireworks lit up the sky, bathing the city in their iridescent lights, green, red, blue. From somewhere music filled the air, a waltz.
Clark reached out to take Lois' hand. “Would you like to dance?”
She frowned at him.
“It's a New Year's tradition in Austria,” he added softly. “The people there welcome the New Year dancing.”
“I thought they were having a picnic at the beach.”
He shook his head. “Austria, not Australia.”
Before she could stop him, he pulled her close and started to whirl her around in a quick waltz.
“You're full of surprises, Mr. Kent.”
He winked at her. “And here I thought you'd figured me all out.”
She shot him a warning glance, but didn't reply. Instead she leaned against him and followed his lead. Clark felt her heart beat against his chest, relishing the rare moment of having her so close. He wished the music would never fade.
“Happy New Year, Clark,” she whispered.
“Happy New Year, Lois.”
Last edited by bakasi; 12/31/25 04:32 PM.
