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Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 569 Likes: 88
Columnist
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Columnist
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 569 Likes: 88 |
Chapter 10 lives here.And here's the TOC.I really wanted to put them into a situation that they might not be able to get into so easily in Metropolis, so here we are! And from my little research section: There are more notes on the tombs, cave-ins and dynamite coming in the author's reference notes with the epilogue, but just know that in reality, it would definitely have taken them a much longer time to be rescued than the 5-6 hour estimate that was shouted down to them; cave rescues are slow, deliberate operations that require both a high level of skill and team organization. Dynamite would also be pretty scarce at a dig in this location and time period, but it used to be standard, and it's not impossible that it would show up here in 1995. But more on that in the very spoilery reference notes section to come. Also, just a reminder of Clark's night-vision: there were a couple of points in the show where his night-vision seemed to be more impaired than his usual vision, so I took the show's cue and gave Clark vision that was much better in the dark than anyone else around him, but was not perfect. (And, of course, there's all that lead in the walls and rocks around them, which you can assume is also in any dust in the air.) That said, of course, Lois believes that he can't see her at all and is being very free with her facial expressions, so I'm finally throwing Clark a little life-preserver in interpreting what's happening in her mind during this story. Enormous thanks to 90stvfangirl who kindly agreed to beta this story, and pacem for a very punctual second look!  I always appreciate any thoughts or comments on stories!  Thanks for reading!
Looking forward to this summer's Location Challenge! Looks like stories are due around August 1st, and then polls open for voting! And don't forget about the 2026 fundraiser! Head over to the Fundraising page to donate or consider adding a story to the Keepsake Collection fundraising drive!
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Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 201 Likes: 44
Hack from Nowheresville
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Hack from Nowheresville
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 201 Likes: 44 |
This is definitely my favorite chapter so far. I love it when two or more characters get trapped somewhere (no wonder Fly Hard is my favorite episode), although being in such a cramped space made me nervous! I would completely freak out if I were in their shoes. She could feel Clark on top of her, his arms still around her, one cushioning the back of her head. He’d probably saved her from a concussion at the very least, maybe saved her life.
And he wasn’t moving.
Cold dread filled her chest.
Those must have been horrifying moments for Lois, like something out of a horror movie. Imagine, her partner's last act in life would have been saving her life, and then she'd have to remain trapped under his corpse for hours!!! What a trauma! “FIVE or SIX HOURS?! You’re KIDDING!” she asked incredulously, her voice sharp and raised.
For God's sake, woman, don't do that! But for some reason, it had come out breathy and light and low instead, which gave it a distinctly sensual sound.
Well, well... Clark shifted infinitesimally above her
Well, well, well...  And subsequently felt the low rumble move all the way through her body.
She mentally chastised her toes as they started to curl.
Poor Lois. I'm starting to feel sorry for her  “But you’re–You’re top banana–You said–You’ve always said–”
She also said she liked being on top, so being underneath him now must be creating some new neural pathways. He’d tipped his head to rest on her shoulder a while back.
I wonder if he actually needed to rest. To me, it's possible for Superman to feel tired in this kind of situation, especially because of the psychological aspect of it. Either way, it's an adorable image. “Do you want to call for Superman?” he asked. “He can have us out of here in a second.”
It's interesting how he's almost leaving the decision of whether to reveal his secret up to her. “I– um, it was I’ve Got a Crush on You.”
“Sing it to me.”
Oh, the parallel. She hesitates to sing it, but he wants her to do so  She let her cheek rub against his.
Maybe it was okay to indulge, just a little, when they were in such danger, and their time together could be so short? Bearing away from further thoughts of their mortality, she oh-so-quietly sang through the rest of the song in his ear.
“'Cause I've got a crush, my baby, on you…”
I'm melting! Their cheeks touching, the song... She’d been stealing little snatches of casual touch from him [...] and now she was getting exactly what she’d wanted.
I know Lois had been longing physical contact with Clark, but if I were in her place, I'd need a whole month without touching anyone after this experience
Stories are written by the victors.
(Hmm, come to think of it, that's not the exact quote...)
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1 member likes this:
Chaos |
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 442 Likes: 4
Beat Reporter
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Beat Reporter
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 442 Likes: 4 |
I really enjoyed their conversation, knowing what we know about Clark but knowing she doesn't. He does such a great job keeping her calm just as himself. He'll expose his secret in a heartbeat if needed, but the problem is he'd be telling their rescuers, not just her.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,016 Likes: 98
Pulitzer
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Pulitzer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,016 Likes: 98 |
You're writing this scene so well. How they're trapped, how Clark tries to calm down Lois while they wait. I wonder what he would have done if she'd taken him up on his offer to call for Superman.
It's never too dark to be cool. 
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,882 Likes: 12
Pulitzer
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Pulitzer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,882 Likes: 12 |
“Look, if we’re here for hours and you’re too afraid, or if the rocks shift and everything starts to collapse, just call for Superman.”
Oooh I really like that! I am enjoying seeing them so close together! 👀👀 But we're still not any closer to solving the mystery!
What we've got here is failure to communicate...
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 568 Likes: 77
Columnist
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Columnist
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 568 Likes: 77 |
There was something in his voice, a cost, that was battling with the certainty he offered.
A cost indeed. But one he is very willing to pay if she needs it.
Come hang out in the Discord server! Just make a Discord account and click this https://discord.gg/fv2bAVVUBQ to join. Discord can be a little intimidating, but we keep our server simple and are always happy to help people learn their way around!
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Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 569 Likes: 88
Columnist
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Columnist
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 569 Likes: 88 |
Peixinho, Aww, thanks! This one was a lot of fun to write. And I love Fly Hard, too! Imagine, her partner's last act in life would have been saving her life, and then she'd have to remain trapped under his corpse for hours!!! What a trauma!
Deep trauma - she'd never recover. Good thing he's Superman.  For God's sake, woman, don't do that!
Not everybody knows how to behave with rocks? She also said she liked being on top, so being underneath him now must be creating some new neural pathways.
Just balancing the relationship a little bit! I wonder if he actually needed to rest. To me, it's possible for Superman to feel tired in this kind of situation, especially because of the psychological aspect of it. Either way, it's an adorable image.
Thaaaaaanks! And I think he definitely needs rest by the end of this. He seems to use quite a bit of energy on each feat, but recharges super-fast. There was another episode (season 4?) where a villain trapped him in a missile silo to try and curb his re-charge, and it worked. Based on that, maintaining the task of holding up this much rock plus the workers on top of them should be depleting some of his resources for sure. It's interesting how he's almost leaving the decision of whether to reveal his secret up to her.
I wanted them both to make the choice, but since they can't exactly talk about it, that can't happen in real time. So he's already decided that he'll tell her, and I guess now he's just waiting for her to take him up on the offer. I'm melting! Their cheeks touching, the song...
Oh, good! I was really hoping this would read as gentle and sweet, not cheesy. AmyPrime, thanks so much for the feedback! There was definitely some dramatic irony playing into how this was read! And YES, those rescuers definitely posed an extra layer of problem! Bakasi, thank you so, so much! That's very kind to say. I tried to figure out how Lois would want to be comforted -- because telling people 'calm down, you're alright,' is usually pretty fruitless. I'm glad it worked for you! Anna, it's like when your career is going well, things are inevitably falling apart at home or somewhere else, lol. The case isn't going well, but, boy, they're really bonding! But one he is very willing to pay if she needs it.
, Yes, absolutely! I wanted him to make the decision, but to give her the ultimate choice.
Looking forward to this summer's Location Challenge! Looks like stories are due around August 1st, and then polls open for voting! And don't forget about the 2026 fundraiser! Head over to the Fundraising page to donate or consider adding a story to the Keepsake Collection fundraising drive!
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