Lois & Clark Forums Forums Fan Fiction Lois & Clark Fanfic Into The Fire 4/6

**My laptop quit on me so I had to finish this on my phone. Thank you once again to folc4evernaday for all of the help. **

Into The Fire

4/5

Bruce paced in his penthouse suite, enjoying the luxury of the Lexor Hotel as he read the morning edition of the Daily Planet. His assistant had not yet arrived with the information he had requested. He wanted to know everything he could about Clark Kent, the farmboy from Smallville-- the man who had confronted him at his own dinner party.

‘You spend your time walking the fine line of Gotham City’s’ Most Eligible Bachelor and Gotham City’s Most Famous Womanizer.’

No, Clark Kent would be stomped out just like the other individuals that had dared to cross him in the past. Clark’s partner, the stunning beauty that Bruce had first met would work against the two men very easily. Bruce was very fond of Lois like one of his former adversaries, but he would not make the same mistake Luthor made.

Bruce stood up looked out the window of the penthouse overlooking the city and noticed how the bright skies shined down on the streets creating a kaleidoscope of color on the sidewalk. The flicker of the name ‘Lexor’ on the side of the hotel and scowled in anger. He stomped his foot on the floor turned away from the window and began to pace. He understood why Metropolis seemed to enjoy making a home for his enemies: Lionel Luthor, Franklin Stern, and most importantly, Lex Luthor.

Yes, his enemies had enjoyed their time in Metropolis and now it was his turn. He would begin his reign in the city. Gotham was his home, but Metropolis would be where he would seek his revenge on the men who dared to hurt his family and loved ones.

Last night had not gone as he had hoped. He’d planned the evening out perfectly but it seemed he’d underestimated one variable in his plan for revenge; Clark Kent. It appeared the relationship between him and the lovely Lois Lane was more serious than he’d been led to believe. He’d have to strategize an alternative to get what he wanted from Lois Lane.

***

Lex Luthor was not a man to be trusted. He was a murderer that had committed every crime known to man all under the ruse of being Metropolis’ humanitarian and Man of the Year. He’d sabotaged the Prometheus Space Station for profit, put thousands of lives at risk trying to test Superman’s abilities and used under-privileged children as guinea pigs to test drugs on.

Luthor had tried to manipulate Lois into marrying him by creating a financial crisis within the Daily Planet then acting as its savior by buying it before blowing it up. He’d then framed Jack for the crime and left almost three hundred employees displaced struggling to take care of their families. He’d almost succeeded. Almost.

Luthor thought he’d won when Lois agreed to marry him. A time neither he nor Lois liked to remember. Their relationship had been strained and barely recovered from the tension that had built up between them when he’d refused to support her wedding to Luthor. In his misguided view of triumph, Luthor had tricked Superman into his wine cellar where he’d trapped him in a Kryptonite cage and tried to kill him. It was the closest Clark had ever come to death. A bitter reminder to him that even Superman could be brought to his knees.

The tall dark building held Clark’s gaze as he approached the tall gates. He handed the guard his ID and allowed himself to be patted down. Never in a million years would he have thought he would darken the cell door of Lex Luthor, yet here he was in the Metropolis Men’s Penitentiary ready to see the man that almost destroyed his life. He needed answers and he was hoping Luthor would give them to him. Who knew if Luthor would be capable of telling the truth –or if he’d tell him—given their history? It wouldn’t be the first time Luthor lied to hide his past transgressions and he suspected that when it came to Bruce Wayne it wouldn’t be his last.

Clark was brought up not to hate any man, but Lex – he hated. He had to tried to kill him several times and even tried to kidnap Lois. Lying on the concrete floor surrounded by the kryptonite cage that was meant to kill him after being tricked by Luthor had taught him one thing; some people are evil. Some people cannot change. Listening to Luthor taunt him about how he was going to break Lois—tear away the independent streak that had made him fall so completely in love with her— and hearing the chords of the wedding march above him as he sat moments away from death –had been the push he’d needed to free himself from the poisonous cage. The day and a half he’d spent in that cage solidified his anger and contempt for Lex Luthor. He would never forgive him for what he’d done –or what he’d tried to do.

***
“I can’t believe my eyes,” Lex Luthor stated as he walked into the dark waiting room with the two guards. His wrists were behind his back as the guards guided him to the table and locked the chain connected to his handcuffs inside the metal lock in the middle of the table. He could not believe the name that had been given when the guards had escorted him down to the poorly lit waiting room. He’d hoped that Lois would finally see reason so they could recapture what they’d once had. After all, they had almost been man and wife. How she could go from him, Lex Luthor to a reporter not even worth the dirt on his shoe was beyond him. His curiosity had gotten the better of him and he’d agreed to the visit. “Well, I believe I can safely say you’re the last person I expected to see in this room, Mr. Kent.”

The reporter’s eyes met his for a moment before he spoke, “I need some information.”

“What makes you think I’d do anything to help you after everything you’ve done?” Luthor snarled back at him venomously. He enjoyed the sight of this lowly reporter coming to him in need of help but he would not be forthcoming. Watching him squirm would be entertaining.

“I think you’ll want to help.”

“Somehow, I doubt that.” Luthor shot back with a growl.

“One of your rivals seems to have taken an interest in everything you’ve ever owned—LexCorp’s companies and subsidiaries all seem to have been bought up overnight by one owner—rebuilding your empire under their name. Taking every possession you ever owned—”

“And what do you suppose I’m supposed to do about it from prison, Kent.” He looked at himself, holding up the chain to illustrate his predicament.

“You want to watch your legacy get bought and sold like cattle be my guest.”

“I’m surprised you care so much.”

“I don’t—except now your enemy seems to have his sights set on someone I care about very much and I don’t want to see her hurt.”

“Lois Lane.” Luthor’s eyes went dark. “Who is he?”

“Bruce Wayne.”

“What can you do for me, Kent?” Lex wondered aloud. He had been in prison for the past few months. He wasn’t the man, he once was, he didn’t have the necessities he once did or the resources.

“You tell me what I need to know and I will see about getting some luxuries…Maybe some mint toothpaste to start.” Clark mentioned with the scrunched up nose as he looked up at the man who tried to destroy everything he loved.

Luthor ignored the remark and pressed on, “I’m serving a nine hundred and ninety-nine year sentence thanks to you, Kent!”

“It’s your fault you are in here, Luthor. Just tell me what I want to know,” Clark demanded as his anger for the man began to show. “I will see what I can do about getting you a few liberties.”

“A few liberties? We’re talking about a lot more than petty crimes here. You said yourself he’s after Lois.”

“If you think I’m going to do anything to help you get out of your sentence you’re sadly mistaken.” Clark glared back. “All you have left is your legacy –which is slowly disappearing the longer you hold out.”

“Fine!” Luthor snarled bitterly. He had the upper hand and he knew it. Kent always seemed to have the upper hand with him. How, he never would understand. “As you suspected, there is a …history with Wayne Enterprises and LexCorp.”

“Go on.”

“I’m sure you know LexCorp took over a large part of Wayne Enterprises in ’75. The same year Mr. Wayne’s parents were murdered.”

“You took advantage of his parents’ murder to close a deal?” Kent asked in disgust.

“Not me. Before my time. My father, Lionel Luthor. He was cut throat like that. No respect for the dead.”

“Nothing like you, right, Luthor?” Kent raised an eyebrow, daring him to disagree.

“I am not my father.” Luthor snarled. “If Bruce Wayne is moving in it’s revenge for LexCorp’s hostile takeover of Wayne Enterprises. He was able to finagle a large part back when he took over the company as CEO in ’89 but a large part is still under LexCorp’s control.” Lex finished with a satisfied smile.

“You say that like you’ve won something.” Kent said in disgust. “You stole his parents’ company from him.

“It’s business.” Luthor shrugged. “But if he is setting his sights on Lois there’s no lengths he won’t stoop to get his revenge. I’ve crossed paths with him many times before.”

“Lucky for you.” Clark’s eyes darkened. “Do me a favor, will you Luthor? If he does come to visit try not to look so smug about stealing a company from an 11-year-old.” With that Kent got up and left the room.

***
Lex was ruthless. He let power and greed take control and now he was paying for it. His father treated him like garbage for many years and the only one who looked after him was his mother. Yet his mother committed suicide when he was a young boy leaving him with his father until his convenient death right around Lex’s seventeenth birthday. No one could prove how his father died, just that it was a horrible car accident. Lex had his hand in it, yes, but it was one of those crimes that could never be proven.

Was Bruce Wayne like Lex? Yes, in a way, both men had their parents taken away from them at a young age leaving them to take care of themselves. Yet one man took a different path than the other. One man took revenge and the other wanted sought out power.

Lex did not tell Clark everything. Why would he? The mild-mannered reporter had been a thorn in his side for too long. Lex would not tell Kent about the ace in the hole that Bruce Wayne likely had – the one he had used before.

***

Lois breathed a sigh of relief as she leaned back in her chair. Her article on Bruce Wayne was finished as she hit send. She was proud of this article. It wasn’t the type of hard-hitting journalism that she was used to investigating, but it was still something she was proud to put her name on. Clark had respected her wishes and given her the space she asked for. He’d even proofed the article for her and opted to keep his name off as a sign of a ‘truce’ between the two of them. It had upset her to see him acting like the green-eyed-monster over a harmless businessman. Seeing him like that had brought back memories of a time in their relationship she didn’t like to remember—his jealousy of Lex and even Dan. What he seemed to forget and what had upset her last night was the main reason Lex or Dan were even a factor was because he wasn’t being honest with her.

Now that Clark had trusted her with his greatest secret they’d finally moved past the jealous tantrums—or so she hoped—and into a more trusting relationship. The idea of marriage had been thrown around but after some reflection and tears he’d agreed not to use the ‘M’ word until they’d figured out how to be a couple *with* Superman.

Her interview with Bruce Wayne had been insightful. It would be nice to have someone besides Superman trying to help the city recover from the pain Lex had put it through. She had a feeling given some time even Clark would grow to like the young billionaire—and his plans for Metropolis.

“Are you, Lois Lane?” a blonde-haired beauty wondered as she stood next to Lois’ desk.

Lois was not sure whom the woman was standing before her, but she looked familiar. “Do I know you from somewhere?”

“These days I work for Mr. Wayne, before that, I did some freelance work here and there,” the woman explained as she sat down at Lois’ desk. “I need to talk to you before it's too late.”

“What are you talking about? Who are you?”

“My name is Harley Quinn. He is using you to get to your boss,” Harley announced as she leaned over. “If Mr. Wayne finds out I was here then Mr. J will come after him. I can’t have that, not until this is over.”

“Mr. J? Who is Mr. J?” Lois asked as she began to write the information down. Who was Mr. J? What did Perry have to do with any of this? What was Harley talking about?

Lois had recalled seeing Harley a few times before, now that she thought of it. Harley was usually in the backdrop barely visible with her hair pinned up and in clothing that made her look like a librarian.

“You need to ask the right questions,” Harley explained in her navy blue turtleneck and black full-length skirt.

“What does Perry White have to do with this Mr. J…or Bruce Wayne for that matter?”

“Not your Editor,” Harley awarded her a sultry smile as she ran her hand through her blonde hair, “Mr. Stern. Have you looked into Mr. Wayne’s past relationships?”

“He is Gotham City’s most eligible bachelor,” Lois sighed still trying to figure this woman out. She wasn’t getting anywhere. This Harley Quinn was speaking in riddles. She needed answers – not a game of twenty questions. “You need to help me here.”

“Fine. Look up Vicki Vale and her past with Stern Media. That is all I can tell you,” Harley revealed before she stood up from her chair. She heard the newscaster on the television announce the time and suddenly Harley looked around the newsroom nervous. “I have to go. Be careful and whatever you do, make sure you are not alone with Mr. Wayne.”

Before Lois could ask another question Harley had run out of the newsroom. The woman was an enigma to Lois; nothing that Lois thought she was. Lois recalled thinking that Harley was quiet and meek the first time she had noticed her. Today she was anything but – yet Harley was giving her more questions than answers. Why was Bruce trying to use her? What did Mr. Stern have to do with any of this? What did Vicki Vale have to do with any of this?

***

Clark walked into the lobby of the Daily Planet. He had so much information to research yet he felt like he needed a shower after the visit with Luthor. He wanted to tell Lois what he found out but he wasn't sure if he could tell her that he went to see the man who had caused both of them so much pain over the years.

Understanding why he’d turned to the man that had nearly killed him on multiple occasions wasn’t a conversation he anticipated going well between him and Lois. He looked down at the single white rose in one hand and Swiss chocolate truffles in the other. Hopefully buttering her up with her favorite rose and chocolates would help smooth over the impending Tornado Lane he was sure would follow.

***

Lois stared at the elevator doors the young woman, Harley Quinn had just left through. Her mind was racing with questions but nowhere to find the answers. Where was she to begin her research?

She looked around the newsroom, noting the absence of her partner. Where was Clark? It always helped to bounce theories off one another. Once he got back from --wherever he was she’d update him. Maybe he’d heard of this Harley Quinn before?

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she was becoming about the story she’d just sent to Perry. What if Clark had been right about Bruce Wayne?

The soft ping of the elevator doors caught her attention. She couldn’t help but smile to herself when she spotted the tall dark-haired man stepping off the elevator and into the newsroom. He looked her way with a broad smile.

“Hey, stranger,” she said, noting the white rose and chocolates in his hands, “are those for me?”

Clark Kent perched himself on the edge of her desk, handing them to her, “Hey, yourself,” He leaned in to kiss her, oblivious to the audience around them.

“Flowers and candy?” She mused. “You didn’t kill my goldfish, did you?” He chuckled and her eyes sparkled with humor. “It’s not our anniversary…” She did a mental check to make sure, “Is it?”

“No.” He leaned in to kiss her again, lingering a little longer, “It’s also not Valentine's Day or Christmas or any other present exchanging holiday.”

“So,” She fingered the knot of his tie mischievously, “you bought me flowers and candy for no reason?”

“I always have a reason,” He stroked her cheek. She gave him a perplexed look and he continued, “I like seeing your face light up when you get flowers….and I like watching you make that expression when you eat your favorite chocolates. It’s purely selfish reasons.”

“Selfish reasons, huh?” She smirked at him, opening the box of chocolates and offering him a bite.

“Mmm, thank you,” He murmured.

“You are up to something, “ she noted with a wag of the finger. “I’ll find out sooner or later so you might as well tell me now.”

“I’m not up to anything. Can’t a guy just buy the woman he loves flowers and candy?” He asked with a teasing grin.

She could tell by the pitch in his tone there was more. “Fine,” She smiled back at him. “Thank you for the flowers and chocolate…..Now, what did you do?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too,” She stroked his cheek.

“I’m sorry I overreacted yesterday. I love you, I trust you, and your wanting to interview Bruce Wayne shouldn’t have gotten the reaction it did. I’m sorry.”

“I already forgave you.” She grinned back at him.

“I know, but I still feel bad for how I reacted.” He admitted sheepishly. She smiled tenderly at him, watching as he struggled to find his words. It amazed her that a man that made a living out of writing and could turn some of the most mundane puff pieces into award winning, emotional stories could still stumble with his words around her. It was one of the many things that made her love him so much more.

He took her hand in his, staring at it a moment. “I just...I’m not perfect. I’m going to make mistakes. If I haven’t already made my fair share already.” She nodded her understanding and he continued, “ I need you to understand that this thing between us --everything--being this close to someone. It’s new to me. I’m not used to letting someone in--seeing the flaws. I guess I’m so used to having the glasses be a disguise I don’t know how to stop hiding.”

“Oh, Clark,” She leaned in to kiss him. “I love you. I think we’re both so used to not letting anyone in --it’s hard to know how to let one another in.”

“Yeah,” He stared at her hand for a moment then let out a long breath, “There’s something I need to tell you though. I was trying to find out more information on Bruce Wayne…” She gave him a look but didn’t say anything and he nodded, “I know. I know. There was just something that seemed ...off about him last night. Anyway, I went to see…”

He stopped mid-sentence. The familiar faraway expression crossed his face and she sighed, “What is it?”

“Runaway train. The brakes went out on the Metro Line. I gotta….”

“Go.” She nodded.

“We’ll finish this later.” He promised, leaning in to kiss her once more before heading for the stairwell.

“Count on it.” She muttered, leaning back in her chair as she watched his retreating figure.

TBC…in final chapter