krysyuy | Free Fall [5/?] (Smallville // Clark/Lois)

Title: Free Fall (5/?)
Author: Krys Yuy
Summary: Clark isn’t willing to risk his heart again. But when Fate gives him a glimpse into his future, the only question is – how hard will he fall?
Pairing/Characters: Clark/Lois, Chloe/Bart, Oliver/Dinah, Bruce/Zatanna, Justice League
Warning: Spoilers up to Hex.
Rating: PG-13/T
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters used. This fic is purely for entertainment purposes only.
Author’s Notes: As promised, lots and lots of Lois. It seems fitting, somehow, that this is also my longest chapter for this story to date. ^o^ More Lois also means more Clois (at least in this part), so I hope you all enjoy. Please tell me what you think about Lois – I was so nervous writing her that I’m sure there’s something that can be improved upon. I also have a challenge for the readers. I count seven Smallville episode references in this chapter. See if you can name them! (One is very obvious as it’s not really a reference so much as a passage dedicated to it. XP And two others are from the same episode.) Now, I’m off to write for my capstone course in Creative Writing (is it sad that I’d rather be writing this fanfic?)! Anyways, I sincerely hope you guys like this update. Please read, review and enjoy!

Chapter 5: Confession

Wait. Clark blinked. What?

He couldn’t have possibly heard that right. But the serious expressions on his companions’ faces said otherwise. They had no reason to joke. Especially Bruce. The dark haired man seemed eerily calm, his gaze cool and self-controlled as he waited for an answer.

Clark knew the longer he stayed silent, the more trouble he was in, but words couldn’t seem to form in his mouth. He wondered if he looked as gobsmacked as he felt. His mind tried to process the dubious conclusion it had come to after Bruce’s revealing words.

I’m… Superman?

Suddenly, Big Blue didn’t sound all that horrible.

Clark shook his head and closed his mouth – had that been open the entire time? Not good. “I –”

Zatanna interrupted him with a small giggle. Clark’s eyebrows furrowed together as the two other men turned to their companion.

Oliver frowned. “Have something you care to share, Zee?” he asked, irritated.

“Oh.” She placed her fingers over her mouth with a somewhat sheepish shrug. “No, not really.” Her light-green gaze locked with Clark’s and her mouth twitched.

“Zatanna, either contribute to the questioning or stay quiet,” Bruce said. His voice was somehow able to be both monotone and reprimanding at the same time. His face didn’t show it, but he was also clearly not happy about the conversation being interrupted.

Immediately, her smile died. However, she didn’t look hurt. She looked equally irritated. “I’ll do as I please,” she said, her tone deceptively subdued.

Oliver sighed and turned back to Clark, ignoring the couple practically glaring at each other. “You were saying?”

Clark didn’t know how he could possibly answer. Sorry, he forgot where his costume was? Oh, he didn’t know he had an affinity for capes? Out of all the things either man could say, Superman was the last thing he expected.

“I-I’m sorry,” he finally said. Any excuse he made in his head was far from solid, and admittedly, sounded rather lame. He went for the truth. “I don’t know what to say.”

Oliver stared at him for a long moment. Then he stated, “You’re not Clark.”

A spike of dread struck him and Clark wondered if they would believe his story. He had already lied to them by pretending to be his future self. Would they really believe that he had time traveled? He raised his hands in a placating motion, prepared to defend himself.

“What’s going on?”

Everyone turned to find Lois leaning against the frame of the now open terrace door. One eyebrow was raised and her lips were pursed together. Clark knew she was trying to piece together the situation with what information she could gather just by studying them in that moment. She pushed away from the door and strode over until she was standing closest to Clark.

“I can’t be interrupting a meeting of the Billionaire Boys’ Club. Unless you’re now inducting farmer-slash-reporters.” She tilted her head in Clark’s direction. “Or a windfall of money came Smallville’s way.”

She smiled sweetly at him. “Keeping any secrets I should know about?”

Clark swallowed the lump in his throat. “Lois –”

“Lois, step back,” Bruce ordered, walking forward, obviously prepared to draw her to their side.

She stepped away from him, and as a result, came even closer to Clark. “Excuse me?” she demanded.

“Clark’s…” Oliver was obviously struggling with whether or not they should inform Lois of their suspicions. “… not himself.”

“Really.” She gave Clark an once-over before shaking her head. “He looks the same to me.”

“Trust us,” Oliver retorted, his muscles tense. “Lois, he’s not who you think he is.”

From the way she stiffened, Clark knew she was beginning to take the conversation seriously. She turned to the right so she was facing the others straight on. Clark stared at her back, suspecting it wasn’t a coincidence that she placed herself between him and the others. His heart warmed and he wanted to grin. Instead, he stayed where he was and watched Lois interact with the two powerful men.

“What do you mean?” she asked, sounding calm. Clark saw through it, and because of the blonde’s wince, Clark knew Oliver did too.

“Well, we’re not exactly sure –” Oliver began, trying to find the right words.

“We have our suspicions,” Bruce interrupted with a note of finality.

Lois, however, wasn’t having any of that. “And I’m just supposed to believe you?” She stepped back a few paces until her back met Clark’s front.

Clark reached out to steady her against him automatically. He still couldn’t find it in him to say anything, though, when the glower from Oliver darkened and it seemed like storm clouds were once again gathering around Bruce’s temple.

“Just give us a few more minutes. We need to talk to him,” Oliver said, trying for a more amicable tone.

“Interrogate him, you mean?” Lois shot back. Her head turned from Oliver to Bruce and she didn’t like what she saw, if her posture stiffening further under his hands said anything. “You know what? I think Clark and I are going to go back inside –”

Oliver protested immediately. “Lois!”

“– so you both have to put this, whatever this is –” She gestured with her hands in a vague circular motion. “– on pause.” She swiftly turned towards the exit, hit Clark in the face with her ponytail, and grabbed his hand all in one smooth move.

Dumbfounded, he could only follow her as she dragged him along. He chanced a look back at Oliver and Bruce. They were both frowning, but evidently didn’t want to make a scene since neither man ran after them. Zatanna leaned against the edge of the railing, a pleased smile playing across her mouth. She nodded at him subtly and Clark smiled a little before turning back to see where Lois was leading him.

“Umm, thank you,” he said, leaning down so she could hear him above the rock music pulsing through the club.

Lois stopped by the gift table where presents were piled up and winked back at him from over her shoulder. “And I didn’t even need stilettos this time,” she said with a laugh.

Huh? Clark straightened and wondered what on earth shoes had to do with how she handled Oliver and Bruce. He shook his head. Either way, he was glad she was on his side.

“But you know, this just means you’re going to talk to me now,” Lois continued, beginning to move again.

Clark felt a bout of apprehension about ten times worse than when he had been on the balcony. He couldn’t say anything as she started to cross the room, his hand still tucked in hers. The familiarity of her touch comforted more than he could admit to himself though.

The club atmosphere turned more romantic as slow music began to drift through the speakers. Lois abruptly turned to look at him, squeezing his hand. “Dance with me,” she said, eyes twinkling.

Her statement didn’t register at first as he was momentarily charmed by her uncharacteristic enthusiasm for dancing. She led him down the steps and onto the dance floor before he could think about it. Then she dragged him into the midst of twirling couples.

“Lois!” Suddenly, Clark felt an entirely different type of panic. “This isn’t a good idea.”

Something flashed through her gaze before a small grin lit her lips. “Please, Smallville. A little light ballroom won’t kill you.” Lois tugged him towards her, taking his hands and placing them on her waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and began to sway. “Nothing to it.”

Clark flexed his hands – had she always fit so perfectly? – and stared into her eyes. Hazel sparkled back. Slowly he danced, trying not to trip as the music washed over him, never breaking his link with the woman in his arms. He began to lose himself in hazel and subconsciously moved closer.

Another day came back to him – one with similar soft, relaxing music playing in the background. He remembered dancing close, close enough that he could smell her fruity shampoo, but not enough to feel her against him. There was the whisper of her hair against his cheek as he glanced down for another glimpse of how beautiful she looked. Her fingers were warm in his, and his right hand was comfortable on the curve of her hip. He kept looking at her and then looking away, almost unsure she was really in his arms.

Someone had pushed her against him and he caught her, albeit a little awkwardly. He recalled turning to look, but the culprit was faceless in his memory. All that mattered was the woman standing in front of him, her left hand now loosely grasped in his right. He remembered looking down at their entwined hands and then back at her face.

Lois had gazed at him with a slight tilt of her head, like she was trying to see through him. Her eyes scrunched up faintly and she looked as if she had a question in mind. However, a second later, instead of talking, her free hand touched his chest timid and light, like she was afraid he would disappear.

His heart froze. All he could do was stare at her, mesmerized, but unable to move. He had gazed from her eyes to her lips and back, unexpectedly seeing a myriad of possibilities for the future. Possibilities he never even dreamed of considering.

Hesitation and hope warred in her expression as she did the same, her gaze flickering from his eyes to his lips. There had been an enchanting vulnerability about her in that moment, and he knew there had to be a hint of a smile on his mouth.

Go ahead, his mind had whispered to her then. You can trust me with your heart.

He and Lois must have had a moment of telepathy because she moved closer at that exact second. No more indecision. An excited thrill ran through him and he could move again. He leaned in slowly, fully prepared to meet her halfway, knowing everything was about to change. For the better, something told him.

However, an excited voice had stopped him, breaking the spell. He remembered stepping back and that perfect clarity falling away from him. He couldn’t recall what happened to Lois after that, and regret sank into the pit of his stomach.

Why had he stopped again? Staring at her now under the shimmering club lights, caught in another moment in time, he couldn’t remember why.

But nothing was stopping him now.

That thought spun around his head as he looked down at her lips, coated a light red. Temptation skirted his consciousness. She wasn’t wearing a dress of burnt orange and her hair wasn’t falling in soft curls, but she looked as beautiful as he had ever seen her.

He leaned in, ensnared in what seemed like another enchantment. She leaned towards him as well, and his hands tightened on her waist. But instead of meeting him halfway, her head turned slightly so they were cheek to cheek, her lips pressed close to his ear.

“We definitely need to talk.”

And just like that, the spell was broken again.

Clark pulled back, ignoring the obvious disappointment coursing through him, and looked down to find Lois with the most serious expression on her face. He nodded, mentally preparing himself. “Now?” he asked, even though he was pretty sure what her answer would be.

“Now.” She gestured up with her head. “Somewhere else though.”

“But –” Clark looked around and found the engaged couple talking and laughing to each other in a private corner. They looked like they needed company, didn’t they? “I still haven’t said hi to Chloe or Bart –”

She looked at the corner where he spotted the couple. “They’re off in their own world of engaged-soon-to-be-married bliss,” she commented with a wave of her hand. “Besides, do you really think you’re going to weasel out of this?” Lois rolled her eyes. “Please.”

He sighed. She was right, of course. “Lead the way, Lois.” Better to go with the flow and all that, or in Lois’ case, a tsunami.

She tilted her head again, like she was scrutinizing him and he puzzled over what he could have possibly said. Her mouth screwed up to one side and her eyes narrowed.

“What?” he asked.

Her fingers were trailing up and down the back of his neck and he shivered. “Say my name,” she said.

It was his turn to look at her strangely. His eyebrows scrunched together in bafflement. Despite that, he complied. “Lois.”

Her fingers stilled. “Hmm…” Her hands fell away from his neck.

Clark felt bereft as he followed suit, dropping his hold on her waist. “Lois…” he repeated, confused but wanting her to talk to him.

“Come on, Smallville.” She grabbed his right hand in her left one. “Chop, chop.”

She led him through the dancing couples and then around the outskirts of the room. Lois nodded and smiled at the guests but didn’t linger long enough to actually talk. Before he knew it, she had maneuvered them out into the hallway. But instead of going to the elevators, she went through the exit to the stairs and headed up.

Seconds later, they were on the rooftop of the Metropolis Satellite Center. A light wind ruffled their hair, but other than that, the night was hushed. He and Lois were completely alone.

Lois dropped his hand and walked a few feet away from him to look out over the Metropolis skyline. Millions of tiny lights glittered back at her, bathing her in a soft, muted glow. “It’s not the Planet, but it’ll do,” she commented, shrugging.

Clark wasn’t sure what to expect, so he stood still and waited for her to make her move. Across the street, the Daily Planet globe spun slowly and Clark wondered vaguely if it ever stopped.

Lois took a deep breath and turned around to face him. “So…”

Her expression was unreadable and Clark frowned. “So?” he echoed.

“What are you, a parrot?” Lois shook her head and crossed her arms. “Clark,” she said seriously. “You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”

The feel of her falling into his arms. Wide, amazed eyes. A breath of disbelief.

“Guess I should stop calling you Smallville.”

“I know,” he replied quietly.

“Then, please…” Her voice trembled a tiny bit before righting itself, and Clark knew he was one of only a handful of people who could have detected it. “Talk to me.”

His gaze dropped away from her face. He couldn’t think when her hazel eyes were trained on him. What harm would it do, really, to tell her? He obviously couldn’t navigate the future on his own without help. It felt like reality kept twisting everything around him just when he thought he had a handle on it. The world was unsteady beneath his feet, but having Lois near somehow balanced him.

A desire to tell her outweighed any misgivings he initially had about waking up to a whole new world.

Lois smiled softly, but said nothing, trusting him.

Clark breathed in deeply and exhaled. He took a figurative step towards the imaginary ledge that existed only in his mind. “I’m Clark.”

Her smile turned puzzled and she raised one questioning eyebrow.

“I mean, um, I’m Clark.” Okay, this already wasn’t going how he imagined it would. “Just not your Clark. I’m from the past.” He paused. “I think.”

Several minutes passed as Lois stared at him. Her eyes weren’t wide with shock or narrowed with suspicion. She just… looked at him. Finally, when he thought he would have to snap her out of her trance, she asked, a bit incredulous, “… you think?”

Well, that was better than the yelling he imagined. If he was telling her, then he might as well go all out. “There might be a tiny chance I’m from an alternate universe,” he added. “But I’m pretty sure I’m from the past.”

Lois’ brow furrowed as she studied him. “So, you think you’re from the past?” she asked slowly. She began to move, circling him and looking him up and down. “You don’t look younger.”

“I’m 99.9% sure I’m from the past,” Clark corrected, trying not to tense as he felt Lois’ gaze roam over his back. “I somehow made it into your Clark’s body.”

Lois paused to stand by his left, closer to the edge of the roof than to him. “How do you know you didn’t just lose your memories?” she asked quietly.

“I’d remember,” he stated almost inaudibly. He looked into her face, secretly thrilled to see her eyes had opened up to him again. There’s no way I could forget you.

He wondered if she was telepathic because a shy, yet pleased smile formed on her lips. “Well, despite your charm, sweet-talker, I’d have to say this wouldn’t be the first time,” she replied. She put her hands in her back jean pockets.

“I’ve lost my memories before?” he asked, though not surprised. He vaguely recalled the day he lost when he tried to catch a thief who had robbed the Talon.

“A lot’s happened.” Lois shrugged, looking for all the world like it was an everyday occurrence to get a visit from a past version of her husband.

Clark eyed her curiously. “I have to say, Lois… You’re taking this rather well.”

“You don’t know Lois Lane-Kent.” She smiled brightly and tossed her ponytail, obviously teasing, but the meaning of her words sunk in. She visibly sobered and Clark followed suit, frowning.

“I’m sorry,” he said sincerely. “I wish I could fix this. I just don’t know how.”

She walked the few steps it took to stand directly in front of him. “We’ll get through this,” she said with the confidence of a woman who had every faith in herself and the man she loved. She took her hands out of her pockets and reached up to cup his cheek. “We always do.”

Clark inhaled sharply. “Lois…” he said softly, his next words causing a strange pain in his chest. “I’m not your husband.”

She paused, her eyes locked on his. “You’re still Clark Kent,” she said simply, though her hand fell away from his cheek all the same.

This Lois caught him off guard more than he cared to admit. “Not to make you suspicious of me, but I could very well be a danger to you. I could be lying. You shouldn’t trust so easily,” he said softly. “Just because I have his face…”

Instead of getting angry like he expected her to, she laughed. “That’s not why I trust you,” she said, shaking her head.

“Then why are you so willing to believe me?” he asked, honestly curious.

Her laughter calmed somewhat. “I knew something was different,” she began. Her head tilted as she examined his face, like she was trying to drink him in. “This morning, I thought something was a little off, but I passed it off as one of your many endearing quirks.” She smiled sassily and Clark rolled his eyes, but he could still feel his cheeks flush. “But let’s get to your three strikes first, shall we?”

She continued on, stepping back and Clark breathed a little easier. Once again, he was able to think when she wasn’t so close to him. He listened to her story carefully, committing everything she said to memory.

“Strike one was when you didn’t call me after the tux shop. You went AWOL and you didn’t tell the League where you went. But I just assumed you were off saving the day like you do.”

It was the first time she mentioned anything about the superhero aspect of his life. Clark felt a streak of pleasure and happiness wrapped in one at the proud smile gracing Lois’ lips. Suddenly, he wanted to ask about Superman, but she kept talking and he didn’t want to interrupt.

“The thing is... you didn’t check in,” she said. She looked up with intense greenish-brown eyes. “You always check in.” The conviction in her voice was so strong that Clark finally discerned the reason for her anger when he first came into the Ace of Clubs. “When you’re going to be late or you can’t meet, you send a text or you call. I say you don’t need to, but you do. You know I worry.” She shook her head with a fond smile. “But the party started and then… nothing.”

She started to pace in front of him, going from one end of the roof to the other. “I held out for an hour and seventeen minutes,” she said. “Then I caved and texted you.” While still walking, she raised two fingers.

“Strike two,” she began. “… you love to dance with me.” She didn’t quite look at him when she said that, and Clark mused on whether or not she was as embarrassed to tell him as he was to hear it. “It’s one of our favorite pastimes.”

Clark couldn’t imagine dancing becoming one of his favorite activities. The feel of her waist beneath his fingertips flashed through his mind. He looked down at the ground as Lois continued to speak. Okay, maybe he could see it. Maybe.

“And strike three…” She stopped and turned to face him again. She repeated her earlier order. “Say my name.”

Clark still didn’t know what that would prove, but acquiesced for a second time. “Lois.”

Disappointment dashed through her eyes so fast that Clark thought he imagined it. “It was like that all day,” she said, shaking her head.

Clark wondered how he could have possibly gotten her name wrong. “Huh?”

She smiled sadly. “You call me ‘Lo’,” she whispered.

He let that sink in. “Oh.” Him bestowing a nickname on Lois sounded a little odd.

She must have read the expression on his face because she clarified. “I mean, you still call me Lois, of course. You’re not as liberal with the nicknames like I am with ‘Smallville’.” She smiled when he did. “But you call me ‘Lo’ at least once a day…” She looked like she had something to add, but seemed to think better of it when she shook her head.

Lo. It sounded strange in his head at first, but when he looked at Lois, he could see it fitting seamlessly. When had he first started to use it?

“Three strikes and you’re out,” she said with a wry smile. She hugged her arms and looked down. “But I think I would have noticed sooner if…”

“If…?” he prompted, compelled to see into this complex relationship his future self shared with this Lois.

She exhaled slowly. “If you weren’t Clark,” she stated, looking up. “If you weren’t you.”

The certainty in her quiet statement made Clark believe her. He wondered how this Lois would have handled Bizarro.

“Only you could ever make me feel this way,” she confessed softly. She was entwining her hands with his, and when had she gotten so close to him? Her fingertips grazed the back of his knuckles, sending tiny shivers through him. “And that’s why I trust you.”

She looked at his face as if she were searching for something. He swallowed, speculating on what she could possibly be looking for. Her eyes fell to his lips and abruptly it was like he couldn’t breath.

If she heard his sharp intake of breath, she didn’t say anything. She simply kept looking up at him. “It’s the same…” she murmured.

He cleared his throat. It seemed like he was losing her to her thoughts again. “What is?” he asked.

She blinked, coming back to herself. “Nothing,” she replied. He didn’t believe her for a second, but before he could press her on it, she released his hands.

His fingers curled into fists at his side. He watched as she distanced herself again. “I guess it was pointless to keep it from you,” he said in an attempt to change the subject.

Lois’ eyes cleared of her heavier emotions and she seemed lighter as a grin graced her face. “Yeah, pretty much,” she said, nodding. “And you honestly thought you could?”

“I woke up six years in the future,” Clark replied in his defense. “I’ve kind of had a surreal day.”

“Six years?” She stayed silent and a few seconds later, it was like a light went off in her head. “No wonder.”

“What?”

“Nothing,” she repeated innocently.

Clark knew that wasn’t the case at all, but he let it go. It didn’t seem to be a pressing matter anyway, and he wasn’t sure if he could take any more revelations about his relationship with Lois.

“Thank you… Clark.” Her face softened, truly sincere and touched, and it made him realize how appreciative she was of his honesty. “For telling me.”

Wet, teary eyes. A sad, resigned tone. Hurt plain for all to see.

“And when you hit your reset button, you’re not gonna tell me your secret, are you?”

“I don’t deserve your thanks,” he said in a low voice, closing his eyes.

A few seconds later, there was a gentle touch against his brow and a quick adjustment of his glasses. “Hey, man of mine,” Lois said, her tone light and soothing. He opened his eyes when she placed a hand under his chin. “Chin up.”

He smiled. It was like an involuntary reaction to her. “You’re amazing,” he murmured without realizing it.

The smile that lit her face in response was worth the state of confusion that currently was his heart. “I know,” she said teasingly.

Another imaginary step towards that dangerous ledge.

Clark breathed in, then out, acutely aware of her touch. He opened his mouth to speak when the door to the roof banged open. Lois jumped, but Clark turned around swiftly in one move, pushing her behind him. He felt Lois place her chin on his shoulder, and he knew she was trying to get a look at the source of the interruption.

“Bruce! Ollie!” she exclaimed loudly, and Clark winced at her volume. Almost absentmindedly, she reached up to smooth his hair. “Sorry, handsome,” she murmured.

Clark felt a blush creep up his neck.

The two billionaires did not look happy. Oliver was almost full-out scowling, while Bruce’s face was nearly perfectly blank, if not for the slight downward tug of his mouth. Their combined stares would have been enough to send any normal man’s knees quaking. Lois moved her chin off Clark’s shoulder as she moved to stand beside him.

“Now, boys, I thought we agreed to put this on pause,” Lois said, her tone light, but her eyes hinting at her displeasure. “This is a party for my little cousin and her fiancée. You should be downstairs enjoying it.”

Oliver shook his head. “It’s time for us to press play. How could you expect us to mingle when you’re with this stranger?” He pointed to Clark, and Clark tried not to let it bother him.

“You could be in danger,” Bruce added pragmatically, voice serious but lacking Oliver’s urgency.

“Please.” Lois scoffed and placed a hand on Clark’s right bicep. “Being with Clark is the safest place to be.”

Clark laid a hand over hers and straightened as he regarded the two men. “I’m not here to hurt anyone,” he said.

If it was possible, Oliver tensed further. “So you acknowledge you’re not Clark,” he replied.

“No.” He shook his head. “I am Clark. Just not the one you’re used to.”

“That’s supposed to inspire trust how?” Oliver asked, frowning.

“Ollie, listen!” Lois exclaimed. “He’s Clark!”

“Not our Clark,” Oliver retorted, stepping forward. “He’s been acting strange all day. He let an important League meeting go unattended.”

Bruce stayed where he was, but kept his gaze focused on Clark. “He didn’t know who Superman was,” he added.

Lois’ grip tightened on his bicep, though her face didn’t react. “Add another bullet point to the list of things we need to talk about,” she muttered under her breath, knowing full well he could hear her. To the two men, she merely said, “Let this go.”

“Unlikely.” Bruce crossed his arms. “Zatanna.”

The black haired woman from earlier came out of the shadows, her lips stubbornly pursed. “I’m not doing this,” she said.

Oliver looked back at her. “Zee, you already agreed.”

“Only if he agrees as well!” She gestured in Clark’s direction.

Lois clutched the hand he held over hers. “If he agrees to what?”

“Let her use her unique skills,” Oliver said as gently as possible.

Lois’ reaction was immediate. “No way. No.” She shook her head and looked towards the other woman. “No offense against you, Zee, but you won’t be performing any hocus pocus on my husband.”

Hocus pocus? Clark looked at Zatanna, once again feeling that prickle of something along his skin. He had felt it before, not just with her. Three women flashed in his mind – strangers in everything but appearance. His eyes widened.

Zatanna tilted her head to the side and smiled.

He peered at her again as if he could see something new. “Magic,” he murmured, now understanding his state of apprehension around her.

Lois angled herself in front of Clark. “Like I said, that’s a no can do on the voodoo,” she said, shaking her index finger. “Do not pass Go. Do not collect two hundred dollars.”

Oliver came forward slowly. “You can’t be so sure about what he says to you, Lois.”

“Ollie, listen to me,” she said, trying to reason with him. “He’s still Clark. He’s just from the past.”

Oliver paused, and looked to Clark for confirmation. Clark nodded. “Everything she said is true. I’m from the past.”

“Or he could have a memory lapse,” Lois added.

Clark didn’t think it was a good idea to introduce multiple theories when he hadn’t gained their trust yet. “No, I’m from the past,” he corrected.

“Yeah, but –” Lois saw the look Clark was giving her and sighed. “Okay, okay. Look, he doesn’t remember the past six years.”

Nothing about Bruce’s expression changed as he said, “I’m not inclined to believe him.”

“He just has a memory lapse!” Lois retorted, and Clark slapped his forehead. She ignored him and continued, “Like that doesn’t happen every day of the week for you superheroes.”

“He could be lying,” Oliver pointed out.

Lois’ jaw set stubbornly. “Not to me.”

Oliver grit his teeth, but seemed to understand that he needed another approach. He exhaled and tried for a more reasonable tone. “Lois, just let Zatanna work her magic. If he’s telling the truth, nothing will happen,” he said.

She shook her head. “When has ‘no way’ ever translated to ‘maybe I’ll change my mind so keep trying to talk me out of it’?”

Clark gripped her shoulders loosely and her tense muscles relaxed under his touch. “Nothing will happen?” he asked, directing the question at Zatanna.

She opened her mouth, but Bruce answered for her. “Nothing should.” His icy blue eyes still held the same challenge from earlier.

Clark dropped his hands away from Lois. “Fine. Go ahead.”

Lois spun around. “Clark! Don’t let them walk all over you! You’re supposed to be like steel, aren’t you?” She reached up to grab his shoulders tightly. “You can prove yourself in other ways.”

“I don’t want there to be any doubt,” he said. He was wary about witchcraft, rightfully so, but he felt like he could trust Zatanna.

Lois frowned deeply. “Aren’t there huge warning signs flashing around the word ‘magic’ in your head right now?” She lowered her voice. “You’re just as vulnerable as anyone else.”

“I know,” he replied. He placed a hand on her arm in an attempt to comfort her. “Lois, it’s okay.”

She looked into his eyes for a long while, and Clark almost fidgeted at the way she was trying to see into him. “You’re just like him,” she murmured.

Clark wasn’t sure what to feel being compared to his future self.

Oliver cleared his throat. “Well?”

Clark gently pushed Lois away, or tried to. She clutched at the lapels of his black jacket with iron-willed determination. “Lois,” Clark whispered quietly.

She closed her eyes and when he pushed again, she released his jacket. She took the few steps back until Oliver placed a hand on her shoulder. The blonde billionaire gently maneuvered her behind him, and Clark watched as her hazel eyes opened again to stare at him.

Lois turned to glare at the other dark haired man on the roof. “Why won’t you believe me? He’s Clark! I can feel it,” she said heatedly.

“Feelings aren’t proof,” Bruce replied, blue eyes colder than Clark had seen in the short time he knew him.

Lois threw up her hands. “It’s like talking to a constantly brooding wall!”

Clark’s lips twitched, but he sobered quickly when Zatanna stepped forward.

“Are you sure?” she asked. Her face remained carefully blank.

He nodded. He looked away from her to lock eyes with Lois. She was worried for him and he smiled, trying to reassure her. She obviously tried to smile back, but her efforts were weaker than his.

“Do it,” he said, not breaking his connection with Lois.

He could hear the hint of remorse in Zatanna’s voice. “I’m sorry, Clark.” She raised her right hand, palm facing him.

“Dnibnu sih eugnot dna kaeps ylno hturt!” Her eyes glowed brilliantly blue. “Laever flesrouy!”

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What a nice gift after enduring yet another blah Monday :)

I’m… Superman?

Suddenly, Big Blue didn’t sound all that horrible.

LMAO. Poor Clark never likes any of his super hero names. First Boy Scout, RBB, and now Superman. Awww Clarkie.

I love how Ollie takes charge once Zatanna/Bruce engage in their silent war; immediately moving back to "business" mode.

As for Lois, I think you captured her character very well. I can only imagine how hard it is with her especially balancing the dry wit, the vulnerable woman deep inside of her and the soldier she often portrays herself. I do love her reentrance into this chapter; bringing her back and having humor to deflect a tense situation is so very Lois.

“I can’t be interrupting a meeting of the Billionaire Boys’ Club. Unless you’re now inducting farmer-slash-reporters.” She tilted her head in Clark’s direction. “Or a windfall of money came Smallville’s way.”

Loves. Absolutely loves it. I love how you have her make a sarcastic joke all the while her complete attention is on Clark; the understanding she knows something is up, and IMO, using the humor to put the final piece of the puzzle together.

I love the fierce protectiveness that you give Lois here; standing between a skeptical Bruce and Ollie, refusing to back down, and treat Clark any differently until she hears his side of the story. A fitting image for their relationship in general; that she will stand by him and protect him when times are tough. He may be strong physically but emotionally? Not so much.

Ah the dance. How utterly bittersweet. You do a wonderful job with juxtaposing Clark's recent memories with the future he know finds himself in. And how all those confusing and conflicting emotions he feels now; are clearer and they make sense here in the future.

His heart froze. All he could do was stare at her, mesmerized, but unable to move. He had gazed from her eyes to her lips and back, unexpectedly seeing a myriad of possibilities for the future. Possibilities he never even dreamed of considering.

♥ Melts into a puddle of goo.

And this line is short but it holds so much meaning.

She paused, her eyes locked on his. “You’re still Clark Kent,” she said simply, though her hand fell away from his cheek all the same.

You capture everything right there in that one comment from Lois. And the essence of why Clark is different; why in the end, she will willingly allow him to be Superman and her husband, knowing that he will always come back. Knowing he isn't Ollie. Also I love the small details that Lois uses to immediately pick up on that Clark isn't her Clark. The dancing, going AWOL but most telling was "checking in," something which would be insignificant but holds a lot of importance to them. A reassurance that he'll come back to her, that he may be a hero but at the end of the day, he is her husband. It reminded me a lot of the LnC quote that Clark says to Lois, "Superman is what I do, Clark Kent is who I am."

Ah the name. That really broke my heart. Clark calling "Lo" in a lot of fics for me, doesn't work, but here, it feels right.

I love the callback to the whole Bizarro issue, and Clark's understanding of this Lois, and how he realizes yet again how different she is from you know who.

Nice to see Zatanna, like Lois, is willing to believe in Clark and only does the spell because Clark gives her the okay; that up until that point she resists giving into Ollie and Bruce.

Clark wasn’t sure what to feel being compared to his future self.

Poor Clark. He goes through a myraid of a thousand different emotions doesn't he?

The seven episodes? My guesses - Justice, Persona, Stiletto, Bride, Infamous, Hex and Spell. I tried *g.* Oops, you wanted the references instead, right? Sorry I should have paid more attention to your AN. ;)

So if past!Clark is in the future, then does that mean future!Clark is in the past?

BTW, I think the banners you use for this story are lovely.

Edited Date: 2009-04-07 01:27 pm (UTC)

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Thoughts and Charms of an Aspiring Writer

Free Fall [5/?] (Smallville // Clark/Lois)

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