Lois & Clark Forums Forums Active Threads

I'm glad to be back in this series too!

Though sometimes I think it'd be fun if they just gave up on the timeline. I'd love to hear about the secret underground lair that stores all of their combined memories, triggers waiting for their pull.

• They could get therapy for Resplendent Man before he tries to commit suicide (still resulting in a story).
• The faulty power connection that foils the Whine Whine Whine caper (still resulting in a story).
• The foiled Planet bombing (still resulting in a story).
• Senator What's-his-name indicted before the Tsunami vote (still resulting in a story).
• Lucy fixed up with a nice guy before she met Johnny Corbin (still resulting in Ellen pitching a hissy fit).
• Them finding themselves on Intergang's priority hit list because of their overall interference...

This is an old story. I didn't find FDK thread, so I created one: Anybody's Baby by Annie M.

Full story: Anybody's Baby

QUOTES:

*A new year

*A newborn baby

*A new house

*A new job

*A new lifestyle
Doers that count?

*A resolution (kept or not)
And this one?

*A new (anything not listed above)
A new Mayor?

Sorry for the question. I guess I didn't pay enough attention.

Andreia

1.
2. unsure!

3.
4. nope...don't know.

5. eek no.

6.
7. This one is familiar.... but not sure....


Ahh I am so bad at this. 😬

I'm really enjoying your story. Hope you'll post again soon.

Welcome to the 2025 Kerth Quiz: Challenge Story

SPIFFY DISCLAIMER THINGY!: All the stories featured in this quiz qualify for the Best Waffy Story, but this quiz is not a stamp of recommendation for nomination. There are more fantastic stories which qualify for this category, but this quiz only covers 7 randomly chosen ones.
(Instructions are blatantly copied/linked from previous Kerth Quizzes.)

RECOMMENDATIONS: Don't forget that recommendations for other favorite eligible stories are *very* welcome and encouraged! So don't forget to add these in a section after your guesses!

QUIZ RULES: One point each for getting the story and author from the quote. Plus, shiny gold stars for those who recognize their own stories. Please don't forget to mention which number you're answering. Rule recap: Open hard drive and open boards (+AO3!), *don't* forget to snip out the excerpts in your replies, and don't forget the spoiler tag when you post in the replies thread.
CATEGORY: This award honors the extra creativity required to craft a story around a certain set of parameters. This includes all stories written in response to challenges and ficathons posted on the Lois and Clark Fanfic Message Board (any challenge regardless of the year it was posted; but only story responses that were posted in 2024 are eligible). This also includes Discord dares and specific request fulfillments.

The DEADLINE for entries for this quiz is SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2025, by 11:59 p.m (Eastern Time Zone).

Here’s the full list of Eligible Stories.

Here are the full quiz instructions: Countdown to Kerth Quizzes Extended Instructions and Disclaimers.

Please post your answers HERE.

Good luck!
Evie

__________________________


🏆 EXCERPT #1:
“He can’t stay here.” Lois folded her arms across her chest as Krypto bounded into her apartment, running straight to her sofa and standing up on it, tail wagging madly. “My apartment’s not pet friendly either.”

“You used to have a cat,” Clark argued, closing her apartment door behind him.

Lois frowned. “That was…years ago. They’ve changed the policy since then. I’m sure of it.”

“Mrs. Newton down the hall has that parakeet. And your upstairs neighbor has that yappy dog. And you have fish.” He reminded her.

“Fish? Fish aren’t pets. They’re purely… decorative.”

Krypto began digging at her sofa.

“Hey! Cut that out!” Lois yelled.

Krypto barked loudly in response, leaping to the other sofa.

“Off the sofa, Krypto,” Clark commanded him, and Krypto immediately jumped off and ran to Lois, rolling onto the floor in front of her and baring his belly.

“See? He likes you.”

Lois groaned, kneeling to pat the dog. “What am I supposed to do with him while we’re at work?”

Clark shrugged. “We’ll get a dog sitter. Or put him in doggy daycare.”

“Doggy daycare!” Lois scoffed.

“Please, Lois… it’s just until we get our own place. Once we’re married and have a house, he’ll have a big yard to run around in, and we can play fetch and–”

Her eyes grew big. “We’re getting a house and a yard?”

Clark gulped. Not this again, he thought. “Uh, well…maybe? I mean…if you want a house and a yard?”


🏆 EXCERPT #2:
It happened as it had to happen: they agreed to a bet. The winner was allowed to decide the rest of the evening’s planning - and (that had been Clark's condition) had to publicly admit to the loser that they were in the wrong.

Lois was...less enthusiastic about that in particular, but eventually agreed. Anything else would have been far too close to conceding a possible defeat, after all.

Lois looked at the clock nervously. Only 25 minutes left. "Clark, where are you?" she murmured to herself.

As if he had heard her (which, she had to admit, was entirely possible), she heard the familiar "swoosh" sound, and Clark stood - in the Superman suit - in the living room of the house.

And he clearly needed a shower. Damn it! And she couldn't even come join him because that would inevitably mean a massive delay. Life simply wasn't fair.

"I'm almost ready!" she heard Clark call from the direction of the bathroom.

Five minutes later, Clark emerged from the bathroom, clean and dressed for the evening.

“Honey, it’s a little late,” he remarked.

"Oh really? I did not notice at all." She couldn't resist a little sarcasm.

“Well, I'm afraid we won't be able to do it with the car anymore. We'll probably have to resort to the air alternative, if you don't mind..."

Lois didn't. It was the simplest, most practical solution. She agreed - which had nothing at all to do with the fact that she was able to snuggle particularly close to Clark's chest and bury her hands in his hair for the next few minutes. In no way.



🏆 EXCERPT #3:
Streaky: Remember how big his uncle’s lab was? It was crammed with many shiny boxes and gadgets! Anyhow, a moon round* before the big boom, he kept talking about, I was exploring…

Krypto: Happiness! Looking for a squeaky snack?

Streaky: Sometimes one or two might escape their cages. Yum! None were running free. On this particular day, I found a large device my staff member was working on… a shiny metal box.

Krypto: Oh! That was something he called a test rocket or was it sprocket…?

Streaky: Big buddy, please stop interrupting.

Krypto: Sorry.

Streaky: I watched from my favorite perch until he went away. The metal box was glistening, and it was big enough that both of us could have fit into! After walking around and sniffing for a minute or two – I thought squeaky snacks might be hiding in there – I decided to hop in!

Krypto whimpered in alarm but said nothing. Pepper purred loudly in response. Clark noticed the exchange and again thought that maybe, just maybe, there was more to his dog than met the eye. Pepper continued purring loudly, ignoring the curious glances of his substitute staff person.

Streaky: I had no idea my staff person was priming the box to be launched. He did not see me get into the box. The top clanged down and the next thing I knew, a funny air came into the box. I slept for a long time and then woke up in a field in this town. Mrs. Harper was taking a walk in the field … or rather she called it a ‘park’…and found me wandering around. She fussed over me quite a bit. Something about ‘bad staff’ leaving me alone. Anyway, after a stay in a place with smelly cages, my new female staff brought me here.

Krypto: Oh! That must have been the uncle’s test ship. Good thing the ship was sent here. Now we can be friends again. Do you like her?

Streaky: She is nice. Wish she didn’t dress me up all the time and call me fuzzy britches!

Clark watched as the two animals got into another exchange of soft yelps and meows. They were good to have around and pleasant company. Maybe he should consider getting a cat to keep Krypto company?


🏆 EXCERPT #4:
"I'm really grateful you're here, Clark... but why are you here? It's late,” she asked, pulling the blankets over her scantily clad body. She was wearing her pink silk short set. The camisole hung down a bit, the straps always falling off her shoulders.

“I couldn’t sleep. I started walking aimlessly through Metropolis. I realized I was heading toward your apartment, when the aroma of this hidden bakery stopped me in my tracks, I couldn’t help myself,” Clark explained as he stood up.

Lois noticed as Clark retreated out of her bedroom and heart felt broken once again. Luckily, seconds later he returned with a cup and treat in hand.

“I remember a conversation we had a few weeks ago about peppermint and chocolate. You said you loved those little Andes mints, but hadn’t tried a peppermint mocha yet. So I found a bakery that had them along with chocolate croissants,” he explained, standing a few feet from her bed now.

She grinned as he held out the gifts to her, and suddenly the embarrassment of him seeing her in silky pajamas didn’t matter. This man was a gift. Lois tossed the blankets off her and stood up. Within a second, she was inches away from him, and she reached over and kissed him on the cheek. Then she took the treats out of his hand and disappeared out of the bedroom.

“Clark, if you hurry, I might share,” she stated. The memories of the nightmares disappeared as the aroma of heaven overwhelmed her senses. Now she felt lighter and before she took a sip of the peppermint mocha, she remembered the feel of his skin on her lips. Yes, the nightmares were over, and Clark was alive and a reminder of how her fantasies could become reality.


🏆 EXCERPT #5:
When Jimmy returned to the copier room, he officially did not see Cat Grant sitting in the middle of the floor, surrounded by uncrumpled papers, the empty fishbowl in her lap.

“He's not in here!” She looked up at him. “Did you get everyone’s names?”

“Everyone,” Jimmy confirmed. “There were a few opt-outs, but CK definitely wasn't one of them. Maybe somebody picked him already.”

Cat looked startled. “Some names were picked already?”

“Well, yeah.” Jimmy reached down and took the fishbowl from her. “People have been picking names from it since this morning.”

“Unbelievable!” Cat sprang to her feet and raced out the door, grabbing a random piece of crumpled paper almost as an after-thought.

“Hey, wait! What about that phone-number?!” Jimmy called, but the door swung shut behind her.


🏆 EXCERPT #6:
“Mom doesn’t like it when you get on the couch, Krypto,” Jon said but he continued scratching.

Krypto just huffed and tilted his head to give the boy better access.

Suddenly, a flurry of footsteps preceded another small human into the room. Clark’s girl-pup, Laura, stopped and looked around before spying Jon and plopping herself on the boy’s other side.

“Jon! Jon! Read my story!” Laura insisted. She pushed a piece of paper into her brother’s lap.

Jon frowned and pushed the paper back. “Have Mom read it.”

“Mom’s at work.”

“Then, have Dad read it.”

“Dad’s making dinner.”

“Dad can read it in like a second.”

“But I want you to read it. Please!”

Krypto huffed again and looked up at the pups. He wished they would stop bickering.

Jon rolled his eyes but put his device down and took the paper. “Fine. What’s your story called?”

“It’s called, Coco and the Wolves,” Laura answered with a smile.

Jon started to read. “Mom had a dog. The dog was named Coco.” Jon paused. “He should be named Krypto.”

Krypto lifted his head at the sound of his name and woofed softly.


🏆 EXCERPT #7:
Lois swallowed against a huge lump in her throat and blinked to keep the tears at bay. Her breathing turned shallow and she gripped the steering wheel tighter, intent on keeping her attention on the street.

But her heart thumped heavily in her chest and her throat tightened to the point where she thought she couldn’t breathe.

Consciously, she knew Clark was all right. But with the unbidden memories came that twisting in her gut telling her otherwise. The terror of having him almost die on her was still so fresh in her mind, just as painful as watching him collapse from Dillinger's bullet had been.

The voice of doubt kept whispering words of discouragement.

She told herself she was crazy. He was snoring right next to her. Yet, the need to check on her companion turned overwhelming.

Again her gaze darted toward him. Lois only dared to breathe as she saw his chest rise and fall.

He was still there, not just a figment of her imagination.

Lois swallowed, the lump in her throat a little less suffocating, but still noticeable.

Her heart kept racing. No matter how many steadying breaths she took it refused to calm until, finally, she reached out with a trembling hand. His fingers uncurled at her touch, allowing her to slip her hand into his.

Clark gave her hand a gentle squeeze, sending a rush of warmth through her. It settled her frayed nerves. The tension bled away, leaving a sense of comfort she'd only ever felt with him.



Good luck, everyone!
________________________________________________


Have a question? Ask it here! Or you can PM any of the K-Com members or reach out on Discord too! You can also send an email to us here: Kcom@kerthawards.com

In order to help you find all things Kerth for this year, we’ve created a TOC for all the 🏆TOC for Kerth Awards 2025 Posts🏆.

The Kerth Committee
(KSaraSara, Michael, lovetvfan, and Evie)

Thanks for playing round one of the Kerth Quizzes, everyone!

Here are the answers for the Waffy Stories:

• 1). I'll Be Home For Christmas - Her Story by Queen of the Capes
• 2.) A Conversation Long Overdue by bakasi
• 3.) There Will Never Be Another Tonight by Toomi8
• 4.) Big Changes Come in Small Packages by AmandaK
• 5.) IBM: Pont Neuf by JadedEvie
• 6.) Fade to Black: Honeymoon In My Mind by lovetvfan
• 7.) You're the only person I wanted to be with tonight by 90stvfangirl

Here are the recommendations that people made:

• Falling for a Farm Boy by Female Hawk
• I Will Always Love You by AmandaK
• 2023 Ficathon: Wishing You A... for JadedEvie by Queen of the Capes
• 2023 Ficathon: Christmas Lights for KSaraSara by JadedEvie

Here are the scores everyone got on this quiz:

• AmandaK: 7 points + 1 shiny gold star!
• 90sTVfangirl: 3.25 points (half point for an author and .75 for an author and series!) + 1 shiny gold star!
• UltraWoman: 6 points
• Bakasi: 4 points + 1 shiny gold star!
• Michael: 5 points + 1 platinum star (just because he asked for it; platinum stars are good for one round only)!
• BlindPassenger: 3.75 points (.75 for an author and series!)

AmandaK, our reigning champion, is defending her cape!

The next quiz, Quiz #2, the Best Challenge, will be posted shortly! Head over to get your answers in now!

And thanks again for playing!

Bumping because new stories are coming.

Complete ficlet
Comments

Happy Ficlet Friday!

Last year (2024) around this time, I began a little series in response to the Kerth challenges. It was always my intention to resurrect that series whenever more challenges were issued. Well, it’s Kerth time again and here I am ready to continue “Try Not to Change Anything.”

It is important to note that this series is being written out of chronological order. The first story (which shares its name with the series) must be read first. After that you can read in either the order they were posted or in chronological order as they are listed in the TOC. Just know that future stories may fall anywhere in the order chronologically. Each story mostly stands alone so long as you know the basic premise of the series. So please go back and read “Try Not to Change Anything” before reading this fic.

Kerth Challenge #1: Random Episode Fic

Ask the person nearest to you to give you a number between 1 and 4

Then ask them to give you a number between 1 and 22

The first number is the season your story will come from and the second is the episode from that season. Using that, write a story that either alters the episode, adds to it, changes it, or continues it.

I got 3x22 – Seconds. Ugh. Ugh, ugh, ugh. I asked my husband to provide the numbers. As soon as he said 3, I began dreading that he’d pick a number within this arc. I did NOT want to write this. And given the nature of this series, it doesn’t really fit. But I think I came up with an idea that works – something of a rewrite of the entire arc. Enjoy.

The More Things Change

Try not to change anything, Clark thought to himself sarcastically as he sped through the skies. He must’ve said those words a thousand times in the years following his and Lois’ strange soul jump into their own eleven and twelve-year-old bodies. And they’d tried their best to follow that rule – right up until it all just began to seem futile.

Three years ago, after several months of trying to pretend that he was only ‘friends’ with the woman who was technically his wife, he finally threw caution to the wind and decided that trying to stick closely to the previous timeline was only making them both unhappy. He’d kissed her in front of the news room and from there it was a whirlwind of reigniting their romance between all too familiar stories and stakeouts. They were officially married (again, technically) within the year.

And the world hadn’t exploded.

It was incredible really. Despite all of the changes they ended up making, nothing went drastically wrong. In fact, somehow, for some inexplicable reason, most things had played out very closely to the way they had before.

Including this.

“Why this?!” he muttered to himself angrily as he scanned the city, yet again, for his missing wife. “Of all the blasted things that had to stay the same, why couldn’t this one thing change?”

Of course, it wasn’t exactly the same. He hadn’t accidently married his wife’s clone, thank goodness. No. They were already married. And, so far as he knew, Lois hadn’t wound up singing in a bar under the name Wanda Detroit.

No, she’d just been kidnapped and replaced by a clone in a more standard way. Was there a standard way for something like this to happen?

Of course, he’d recognized the clone much faster this time and he’d felt like pulling his hair out when he realized it was happening again.

Naturally, this was all Luthor’s doing – although why he was so obsessed with Lois was a mystery. She’d never dated him in this timeline. They’d began investigating him right from the start. But he and Lois had been openly a couple before they became even peripherally under Luthor’s radar.

Nevertheless, the billionaire crime lord had set his sights on Lois fairly soon after their first official meeting and, after several dinner invitations failed, had begun finding other ways for them to meet so he could covertly work his charms – all of which Lois quite firmly rebuffed.

It didn’t even end after they got married or when they finally exposed Luthor – no, then he just began outright kidnapping her whenever he wasn’t in jail or in hiding. Their only guess as to the source of his obsession was the pheromone perfume that Miranda woman had threatened the city with. If Luthor had been sprayed by the 100% formula, its affects would be permanent and that would explain why he wouldn’t leave Lois alone.

It had been a crazy couple of years.

At least the previous Luthor encounters had been something new – something they weren’t repeating from the past. It kept things… interesting wasn’t really the right word. But no one could say their lives were boring.

Clark thought about heading back home, to the brownstone he and Lois had managed to buy a few years earlier than they had before. But the clone was still there and he didn’t really want to deal with her right now. He just wanted to find his wife.

He’d already checked the underground tunnel where he’d found them the last time they went through this. It was empty – yet another thing that wasn’t the same.

He strained his ears, listening for her call. He scanned the sewers and tunnels for any sign of Lois or Luthor or that Asabi fellow. So far, nothing.

“Come on, Lois. Where are you?” He asked aloud. He didn’t have a lead. He didn’t even know where to start. The only reason he’d been able to find her last time was that the clone followed Luthor and led him there.

The clone… she hadn’t known where Luthor was hiding in the previous timeline, but maybe this time…

With that thought, Clark made a quick U-turn and headed home.

***
MEANWHILE…

Bound and gagged in an underground bunker is pretty standard for Luthor, Lois thought to herself as she pulled against the ropes holding her hands behind the chair. Gotta say though – the two bodies in the eight-foot, glass cylinders has got to be a first.

She wasn’t entirely sure how she’d ended up there but she was fairly certain chloroform was involved, given the nausea she’d felt upon waking up. She’d seen Luthor flit in and out of the room a few times while she was still dazed so at least she knew who her captor was. He’d been gone for about a few hours now though.

She was growing weary of these games with Luthor. He’d escape prison, hide out for a while, kidnap her, and try to convince her to run away with him. Then Superman would rescue her and cart Luthor back off to prison. One would think that Luthor would learn to get out of Dodge the next time he escaped, but nope – he always came back for her. His obsession was getting really old.

She gave the ropes another tug and thought she felt them give just a little bit. Great. A few more hours of this and I’ll be home free, she thought sarcastically. She wondered if she ought to be working harder on the gag instead. If she could just call for Clark, they might be home in time for supper.

Before she could work out the best way to start shifting the gag, she heard footsteps approaching. A moment later, Luthor appeared carrying a large, strange looking gun and followed closely by Asabi.

“Ah, Lois, my dear. I see you’re feeling more awake,” Luthor said. Lois glared in reply. “Tsk, tsk. My sweet. I hate to see you like this – but we can’t have you calling for a certain someone in blue tights now, can we? Perhaps we can do something about that though – I would love to hear your melodious voice.”

Lois rolled her eyes. The only melodious sound her voice would be making if he removed her gag was exactly the sound he did not want to hear. He couldn’t really be that stupid, could he?

Luthor hefted the gun he was carrying, offering her a better look. “You see this? It is a quantum disrupter. I got it from… well it really doesn’t matter where I got it. Would you like to see what it can do?”

Lois turned her head away in feigned indifference but she kept her eyes on the weapon as Luthor pressed a button and then aimed at an old desk on the other side of the room. He fired and a beam of energy shot out. The desk seemed to waver for a moment and then it seemed to come apart at the molecular level, leaving nothing behind.

Lois felt her eyes widen. It was a terrifying weapon to be sure.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Luthor asked. Lois gave him her most incredulous look. “Of course that was only a desk. Imagine what this could do against an enemy. Well, it might even be enough to take down Superman. Shall we find out?”

His threat was clear. If she called for Clark now, Luthor would use that thing on him. Lois had no idea if it could actually hurt Clark or not but she really didn’t want to find out.

Luthor seemed to believe she got the message. He put the gun down and moved to her side, reaching for her gag. “Now, do you think you can behave, my love?” He loosened the material and then lowered it from her mouth.

Lois took a moment to stretch her jaw before replying. “I’m not your love, Luthor. I’m married.”

“For now, perhaps. But that will soon change.”

Lois shook her head. “What is your game this time?” She nodded towards the cylinders which Asabi was currently hovering next to. “What’s with Adam and Eve over there?”

“Ah, you shall soon see, my dear.”

Lois rolled her eyes. Let him keep his secrets. “Do you really think you’re going to get away with it this time? Clark is going to figure out where you’ve taken me. He always does. It’s only a matter of time.”

“Yes, yes. The infamous Mr. Kent. He is so very clever about following the clues – a regular Sherlock Holmes. But I’m afraid that Mr. Kent doesn’t even realize you are missing.” Luthor grinned as though he were in on some sort of twisted joke.

“Well, of course he realizes I’m gone,” Lois contradicted. “It’s not like you could’ve planted some sort of copy…” Something niggled at the back of her brain – a very old memory from before they’d jumped back into their youth. It was fuzzy but…

“No… Oh, no,” she groaned. “Clark told me about this, from that time I lost my memory. You had a clone made of me! You planted it to sabotage our wedding and then you were going to transfer our souls into other bodies or some such nonsense.” She didn’t bother to mentioned that she’d done her fair share of soul hopping.

Luthor looked a bit bewildered for a moment but he shook his head. “While I’m not certain how you came by your information – you are mostly correct. I did plant a clone to act in your place, although I don’t know what that has to do with weddings. By the time dear Mr. Kent realizes, you and I will be long gone – off to start new lives in our new bodies thanks to science and a little help from Mr. Asabi.”

“You’re delusional if you think I will willingly go with you anywhere, Luthor.”

“We shall see. Perhaps after a month or so in seclusion, you will see things differently.” Luthor ran a finger down her cheek. “I look forward to breaking that indomitable spirit.”

Lois shivered in disgust. “The jokes on you. Clark’s already seen through your little decoy. He’s probably on his way here right now.”

Lois had excellent timing. Just after the words left her mouth, several things happened in quick succession. Superman burst into the room, possibly breaking a door or wall in the process. Luthor reached for the disrupter. Lois called out, “Superman, look out for the – ” but she didn’t bother finishing because the hero had already focused his heat vision on the weapon, causing Luthor to drop it before he could aim.

For a moment, everything was still. Luthor gaped. Lois smirked. Superman crossed his arms over his chest and raised one eyebrow. Then Luthor tried to make a break for it – which was foolish. Superman swiftly bound him and Asabi together and then crossed the room to free Lois from her bounds.

“You remembered about the disrupter?” Lois asked, massaging her wrists to work the blood back into her hands.

“Of course.”

“Did he really replace me with a clone again?”

Superman winced. “Don’t remind me. This is one part of our past lives I would much rather have not lived over again.”

“At least it’s not exactly the same. I haven’t lost my memory this time.”

“I’ll count my blessings.” Superman nodded toward the hole he’d made in the wall. “There’s a ladder to a manhole down that tunnel. Why don’t you head on up and call Henderson? I’ll wait here with these two and all this… evidence.”

Lois nodded and headed out the way he’d come in. She found the ladder easily enough – the manhole cover had already been moved out of the way, letting in light from the street up above. She began to climb. The rungs were gritty with rust but she paid no mind. As soon as this was over, she was going to take a long, hot bubble bath.

As she neared the top, she reached for the edge of manhole to heft herself up. Suddenly, the rung she was standing on gave way. She lost her grip on the edge of the hole and felt herself begin to fall. Her breath caught in her throat and she didn’t even have time to scream before she struck her head on the concrete below.

Clark, hearing the fall, was at his wife’s side in an instant. He checked her pulse and x-rayed her for neck injuries. Then he cradled her head in his lap and felt the blood from her head wound run between his fingers. As he scooped her up to take her directly to the hospital, he closed his eyes and whispered a quick prayer.

“Please. Please don’t let this happen again.”

Chapter 11
Isolated House

Lois paced back and forth in her prison, her mind racing. She now knew Mindy’s intentions for her husband. She was nothing more than bait, a mere pawn in this sinister plan. But of course, Lois had already decided she wouldn’t make things easy for Intergang’s leader.

She didn’t yet know exactly how she could play her role, but one thing was certain: she would do everything possible to escape before Clark was forced to come and rescue her. The thought of him being exposed to kryptonite gas again terrified her. The last time, he had only survived because Lord Nor’s body had absorbed the gas instead of him. This time, there would be no Kryptonian to save his life.

Her eyes rested on the air vents. She was almost certain that’s how the gas would be dispersed. She needed to find a way to block those vents before Mindy executed her plan.

Without arousing suspicion, Lois began to discreetly examine the room, searching for anything she could use to block the air ducts. She forced herself to show no signs of nervousness, knowing full well she was under surveillance.

She had to act the part, behave normally, all while preparing her escape. The growing pain in her bladder became unbearable, and Lois realized there were no toilets in her room. She had no choice but to ask for help, though every fiber of her being hated the idea of depending on her captors.

She hesitated for a moment, then decided this might be their mistake. If the toilets were outside her prison, it would give her a chance to scout for other escape routes. Perhaps even a clue about where she was being held.

Walking to the visible camera in the corner of the room, she declared firmly but calmly:
"I need to use the bathroom. Unless, of course, you plan to turn this cell into a pigsty?"

She knew they were watching her, and if this was her only opportunity to explore other parts of the building, she had to take it. Her thoughts raced as she considered every possible scenario.

A man entered without a word and gestured for Lois to follow. She immediately noticed that he hadn’t bound her hands, giving her a sliver of hope. As she walked down the hallway, she carefully observed every detail: the doors they passed, the locations of the cameras, potential blind spots, and the overall layout of the space. All of it could be useful for her eventual escape.

When they reached the bathroom, she entered alone, relieved to see there were no cameras inside. Finally, a moment of reprieve, away from the prying eyes of her captors. The room was simple: a toilet, a shower, and the bare essentials of a bathroom. But what caught her attention was the small window high on the wall. It led outside.

Lois approached it, her heart beating slightly faster. Of course, the window had no handle, but it was a step in the right direction. If there was a window, there might be a way out. She clenched her jaw, determined not to let this opportunity slip away.

The man accompanying her banged on the door, and Lois exited, now equipped with a plan for her escape.

Above Metropolis

Clark flew tirelessly over the northern part of Metropolis, scanning every road, every property, every forest, every grove. The sun was just beginning to rise, and exhaustion was starting to set in. Even though he didn’t need much sleep, his worry for Lois was wearing him down. He hadn’t found a single lead.

As he turned back toward the city to rest, something caught his attention: a car matching the description in the photo Jimmy had shown him. Clark dove toward it, using his super-vision to confirm the license plate.

Isolated House

Lois lay on the bed in her makeshift prison. All night, she had been strategizing how to use her next bathroom trip to her advantage. Determined, she decided to ask for a shower to mask the sound of her escape with running water. She had found a nail file among the makeup items left on the vanity.

Her plan was to unscrew the bathroom window and escape through it. Once outside, she would hide and then call for Superman. It was a simple plan, but she was convinced it could work.

Above the House

Clark hovered in the air, observing the isolated house with intense focus. He had verified the license plate of the vehicle parked outside and confirmed it was the one he was searching for. But when he tried to scan the house with his X-ray vision, he hit a barrier: the walls were lined with lead. This detail left no doubt—he had found where Lois was being held.

Logic told him to be cautious: he should wait for police backup and create a plan to avoid falling into a trap. But his heart couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Lois in her captors’ hands a moment longer. The sense of urgency overwhelmed him.

With fierce determination, Clark crashed through the front door. It splintered into shards of wood and metal, powerless against his strength.

Inside the House

The alarm blared instantly, its deafening noise alerting the guards. In a surveillance room, Mindy Church calmly watched Superman’s arrival on multiple monitors. A satisfied smile spread across her face.

“Perfect... Just as I planned,” she murmured triumphantly.

She pressed a button, releasing gas into the room where Lois was being held captive.

Meanwhile, Clark swiftly incapacitated the two armed men who rushed toward him. His movements were quick and precise, the men restrained before they even realized what was happening. But something immediately caught his attention: a muffled sound coming from one of the rooms, the sound of someone struggling to breathe.

In Lois's Room

Lois lay on the bed, gasping as the gas filled the room. The air grew increasingly thin. Her vision blurred, and she felt unconsciousness creeping in.

Mindy, still watching from her monitors, pressed another button, opening the door to Lois’s room.

Clark, now alert to his wife’s distress, rushed into the room without hesitation. He found her lying on the bed, motionless. His heart clenched. He knelt beside her, gently cradling her face in his hands, and desperately began to breathe air into her mouth.

Mindy, observing the scene with sadistic delight, wasn’t finished. She pressed another button, releasing a distinctive green gas into the room: kryptonite in gaseous form.

Clark had no time to react. The moment the gas reached him, an unbearable pain consumed him. He collapsed onto Lois’s body, overwhelmed by the kryptonite that sapped his strength.

Lois, still disoriented, felt the urgency rise within her as she realized the kryptonite gas had ceased, giving Clark a momentary reprieve. The fresh air filtering into the room gave her a slight surge of strength. She immediately bent over her husband, her trembling fingers searching for a pulse. To her immense relief, she found it—weak but steady. Clark was alive but gravely weakened.

Lois knew they didn’t have much time. If she stayed passive, Mindy and her henchmen would surely return to finish the job. Every second counted. With tremendous effort, she managed to move Clark enough to free herself from beneath him. Her body screamed in protest, but adrenaline fueled her determination.

Kneeling by Clark’s side, she whispered softly, hoping for a response:
“Clark… I’m getting us out of here. Please, hold on...”

Her heart raced as she searched the room for any means of escape. She couldn’t give up—not now.

Evie Jade

Many things are taking place in this part. What I wanted was for the readers to see that Lady Polara Lo can most definitely handle a sword! She carries many scars from that battle, both external and internal. Thanks betaing and commenting it is much appreciated.

This is my entry for the FDK Scavenger Hunt: January 2025. I didn't find a FDK thread, so I'm starting a new one.

Full story: Anybody's Baby

Lois and Clark on the verge of starting a relationship. My favorite phase.

Awww...

Lucy spells trouble.

"Lois, this is my baby. Take care of him. Bye."

Clark to the rescue.

The adition of a baby in the early stage of their relationship was an unexpected twist, but it was a blessing in disguise for Lois and Clark. It was a sweet and beautiful story.

Andreia

Mmhh, for some reason I never feel like torturing Lois that way. I'd thought about letting him help Lois take care of a sick Lucy. But the kids have grown too old already.

Hi Barbara!
Huh. This doesn’t bode well… sounds like … stuff developing …

Okay, this feels like fifteen? When do girls start with heels?

Poor dear! Couldn’t they stick to separate corners of the audience room?

LOIS: It will make for a great in-depth piece on the absence of caring parents at private school functions.

Yes. She’s much better served with dating in her peer group. That visiting professor on economics, Alexander-Call-Me-Lex, for example. At 35, he’s much more knowledgeable about dating fifteen-year-old girls.



Yeah, she’s so not going to interested once the whole jail-bait situation resolves itself.

Oh, the Pan is flying already? And did Lois break the story?

/Points at earlier age guess/

/Starts wrapping a copy of Lolita for Clark’s birthday/

Yes. But you *are* handling this very well!

The cafeteria mystery meat never stood a chance!

Oh dear!
SAM: It’s normal!

Actually, that’s interesting. We’re now three years later, what is going on with Lana?



Oh deary me!

Did Lana con him into her accepting the wedding proposal he never voiced?

Lois can read!

Yes, it’s about time he made an honest woman out of her. Or touches her.

Maybe if he started with how he loves Lana like a sister…?

An estranged sister…

Maybe if he procrastinates for another two and a half years the problem will resolve itself?

You can prepare by having this discussion in an exclusive restaurant. If that is outside your price range, I recommend first removing easily picked-up breakables from the apartment.

You are in trouble when a teenager gives you relevant relationship advice.

/Cue crying teenage girl in three…two…/

Having this mental discussion implies he is not convinced. I also recommend he not inform her of her sibling status in his affections. It might make breaking up with Lana the less stressful option.

How about his wife? He’s twenty-eight, so she should only be two solar systems out.



He did see the competition, didn’t he?

Once she’s all grown up, his outlook will change.

Straight till morning!

Michael

Hi Barbara!
We’re getting more prominent names now!

Let’s just hope he’ll not be accompanying her to her junior prom.
CLARK: Lois asked me to be a chaperone.

/squints/

Oops, I guess she could hear me squint.

Lana’s fine. He even had to beat her off with a stick.

/Starts off on very long list/

LANA: Life’s too short to bother with other people’s interests.

Gotten used to it by now, huh?

Awwwwww…poor dear!

Oh? People around?

See? It’s why you always carry a potato sack to pull over your head and body. You look just like debris with arms and legs then. Also, did I already mention ‘poor dear’?

Thanks for the timeline update!

Clark needs a hug!

I wonder if her teachers worry about too much imagination. And what her prospective employer might say when she submits writing samples.

PERRY: Now this is very creative writing. Good structuring. Grammar and spelling need some work; I guess Ralph can get you started there. But, and that’s important, little darling, here at the Planet we only publish true stories, not fiction like they do at the National Whisper.

CLARK:

But he got to be back home before midnight.

Also:

YODA: Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is.

Isn’t the ‘happy thought’ panon?

It does for Batman.


Miss Lane!

Oh boy.

On to the next part!

Michael

Thanks for the feedback!
It was interesting writing a character other than L&C.
I've always loved Cat, I enjoyed making her less of a predator. 😄

Thank you for your feedback! Made my day 😊 Stay tuned for a part 2!!

Oh I'm loving this fic! Poor Clark, blaming himself for everything, and having to essentially leave the only home he'd ever known. How old is he again? If he left when he was 12 and is an adult now, it's been at least 6 years, right? Is that enough time to start feeling more like a part of his new family? I genuinely don't know. This whole AU is fascinating!

Yay! Ok, I devoured this instantly when you posted but didn't have time to go back and leave any worthwhile feedback until now.

This so perfectly encapsulates the tone of this kind of thing.

It's nice that you put them in the same boat so early, and nice, too, to see this little bit of communication.

Yeah, not sure if it's the Kryptonian part or the state part, but this is nooooot a fun wedding, lol.

FRESH! No, no, just kidding! This whole section is undeniably sweet.

OMG, even if it's not - what a terrible delicacy!

Awww. I like that she has a better relationship with her family in this world.

Awww.

He's going to need to get used to this one!!

So cute! Love this reference to the pilot.

So realistic!

LOVE this version of Ching!!

Oh my goooodddddd! Yay! I'm so glad that they made it into this story!

Great hook! Looking forward to seeing this story unravel!

Looking forward to finding out!

Chapter 4

“Well, here we are.” Clark said as he opened the door to his suite, which he would now be sharing with his wife. Given his status as son of the first lord, he was afforded a larger space than most aboard the mothership, with a separate sitting room, bedroom, and bathroom. The sitting room had a small table and with two chairs, bookshelves, and a padded “window seat” next to a view screen which could be changed to show a variety of scenes rather than the black vastness of space. Currently, it was set to show farmland in the evening.

Lois stepped into the room ahead of him and paused to look around. Clark suddenly found himself feeling self-conscious again. After the fiasco of their initial meeting in the bridal chamber, they had settled into easy conversation – sharing stories and getting to know each other, even teasing each other a bit. Lois was smart and fun and he’d quickly felt a rapport with her.

They had returned to the reception after Ching escorted his parents back to the transport station. Clark could still hardly believe his brother had managed to pull that off. What a gift! And yet his heart ached for more time with his mom and dad. He somehow missed them more now than he had before their too short visit. What he wouldn’t give to have their advice now?

Now that he was alone again… with his wife… in his rooms – a space which had, till now, been only his to decorate and lounge about in as he pleased. Now he had to share it with someone he’d only just met. Even though they’d been getting along well, it was only a matter of time before they managed to irritate each other while living in close quarters. It would take time to work out the rhythm of living together. Right now, he felt… vulnerable.

“You can, uh… you can make yourself comfortable,” he said gesturing around the room absently. “There’s… books and holovids on the shelves. The bathroom is through that door and this door leads to the… bedroom.” He gulped nervously. That was something else they were going to have to figure out. But he wasn’t ready to discuss that just yet.

“It’s nice.” Lois commented casually, but she’d crossed her arms around her waist and seemed to have closed in on herself.

‘She’s nervous too,’ Clark thought to himself. They were back at square one. At the reception, it had been easy to navigate around each other – no pressure, no expectations. It had almost seemed like a first date or not even – more like two new acquaintances just hanging out. There were no silly wedding reception games – no cake to smash in each other’s faces, no garter, no clinking glasses to call for a kiss. Mostly, they had been left alone, wandering through the great hall, commenting on various people they knew or recognized, chatting with whomever felt like speaking to the newly wedded couple.

No one had expected them to behave like husband and wife. Even towards the end, when they were asked to join their respective fathers on the dais for the formal conclusion of the celebration, their part in enacting the treaty had only been marginally acknowledged.

Lois had spent a few last minutes with her father before the dignitaries from Earth were transported back to their homes. Clark’s heart had ached for her as he watched her trying so hard no to cry in front of her father and wiping her tears away as soon as his back was turned. He knew how she felt – abandoned among strangers with no way home. He’d been there once, years ago. And seeing his folks again today had sent him right back to that time and place – the twelve-year-old kid who didn’t understand why he couldn’t go home.

… it was just supposed to be a visit.

Clark cleared his throat and glanced around the room for something to break the ice. He spotted an unfamiliar suitcase and duffel bag by the wall. “Hey, looks like they brought your things here. I cleared out some space in the closet and there’s an empty chest over here you can use. If you need anything else, just ask. We’re, um… well, it takes about a month to get back to New Krypton so this’ll be home for a while.”

“Right… thank you,” Lois replied. She sounded tired all of a sudden. Come to think of it, he was feeling pretty wiped out himself – which was odd given his current proximity to Earth’s sun. That wouldn’t last long. They were leaving orbit in the morning and his abilities and strength would fade within about a week.

He understood why they had to go – too many Kryptonians had used the powers they’d gain to do terrible things. But, having grown up under the comforting warmth of the yellow sun, he was not looking forward to returning to the cool, dull light of New Krypton’s red sun. He’d always felt out of place there. Despite being Kryptonian by birth, he could never let go of the idea that Earth was meant to be his home.

Clark shook his head to return his thoughts to the current situation. He and Lois still had to figure out how to make this marriage thing work and that wasn’t going to happen with them both just standing there. Deciding to give her a few moments to herself, he cleared his throat and stepped towards the bedroom. “I’m just going to change into something more comfortable. Feel free to look around. Make yourself at home.”

At her silent nod, Clark slipped into the other room and shut the door behind him with a heavy sigh. He really hoped they be able to get past this awkwardness soon. He’d really enjoyed her company at the reception. He didn’t want to lose the friendship they’d only just begun to build.

***

Lois breathed a sigh of relief when Kal left her alone in the sitting room. She just needed a few minutes to adjust… again. Realization that this was really happening seemed to come over her in waves. For awhile she’d be fine and then something would remind her of why she was here and what she was doing and it would all become overwhelming again.

She was leaving Earth – something she had never imagined doing. Heck, before the Kryptonians showed up, space travel was still limited to highly trained astronauts and means of going farther than the moon had yet to be conceived. Now she was getting ready to travel lightyears away to a new solar system with a new husband she barely knew.

Although… Kal was proving to be a surprise in many ways. He’d grown up on Earth apparently – raised by farmers if she didn’t miss her guess about the Kents. They seemed to be very nice people and Kal clearly adored them.

“Clark…” she whispered softly the name Martha and Johnathan had called him. “Clark Kent. I wonder what he prefers to be called. Lois walked towards the bookshelves, wondering what she might find there. She was surprised again by his selection. She had expected most of the books to be written in Kryptonian (there were a few of those), but the works on the shelves were primarily written in English – with a few in other Earth languages as well. And she recognized many of the titles.

“Moby Dick, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Tale of Two Cities, The Lord of the Rings…” she muttered the titles as she ran her finger along the spines. “He’s quite the reader.”

She came to a book-end, next to which stood a framed photograph. It was a family portrait. She recognized Martha and Johnathan, although they appeared several years younger in the photo. The little boy seated between them couldn’t have been older than ten or eleven. He was looking at the camera with the brightest smile. Lois could almost feel the happiness radiating off of him.

She stepped back and swept her gaze over the rest of the shelves, taking note of the few knick-knacks spaced out between the books and holovids – an old baseball, a small globe of the Earth, a Luke Skywalker action figure. Lois rolled her eyes at that last one.

She figured she should start unpacking and made her way back towards her suitcase, but froze as Kal came out of the bedroom. He had taken off the heavy, Kryptonian wedding robes and was now dressed in a pair of plaid, flannel sleep pants and a grey t-shirt which read ‘Kansas State University’ in purple letters. The shirt fit him almost too well – accentuating the muscles in his chest and arms. Lois felt her mouth go dry. She’d thought he looked good before.

“What?” Kal spoke up when he caught her staring. “Is my shirt on backwards?”

Lois blinked and shook her head. “No, no. You look… that is,” she cleared her throat. “Well, you really are from Earth, aren’t you?

Kal smile and relaxed a little. “Yeah, I am. At least, I grew up there.”

“You promised me a story.” Lois reminded him.

He nodded. “I did. But… well, it is sort of long. Are you sure you want to get into it now?”

She shrugged. “Nothing better to do.”

“Alright. Would you care to change first?”

Lois looked down at her own, stifling robes and suddenly couldn’t wait to be out of them. She quickly grabbed a pair of lounge pants and a sweatshirt from her suitcase and stepped into the bathroom to change – she wasn’t quite ready to check out the bedroom. After changing and using the facilities, she went back out to find Kal sitting in one of the cushioned chairs by the small table. He’d somehow acquired a tray of cookies and two mugs of hot liquid. Her nose identified the beverage first.

“Is that hot chocolate?” she asked.

Kal nodded. “It is. I figured we should take advantage of Earth’s delicacies while we still can. It’ll be a while before regular trade is established. New Krypton has… something kind of like chocolate, but it’s not the same.”

Lois felt her spirits wilt slightly. “I didn’t realize I was going to have to go without chocolate.”

Kal chuckled softly. “I take it you like chocolate, then?”

“Like is an understatement. You got some of this we can stash away for emergencies?”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Kal gestured to the seat across from him. “Sit. Enjoy. I figured a story like this called for refreshments so I zipped out for some while you were changing.”

Lois blinked as she sat. “That was fast. How did you… oh, right. The superspeed thing.” I’ve gotta be honest, it’s kind of weird seeing those powers used for something so… domestic. Does everyone on board use them so casually?”

Kal shrugged and took a sip of his drink. “Not really. I mean, sometimes they come in handy. But most Kryptonians are used to doing things without powers and so superspeed and strength for basic everyday things just get in the way.”

“But not for you?” Lois nabbed a cookie and nibbled on the corner.

“I’m different.” Kal admitted, shaking his head slightly. “I grew up on Earth. I’ve had these abilities since I was a kid and – not gonna lie – it’s a lot harder to control superspeed when you’re eight than it is when you’re an adult.”

“You had all these powers when you were eight?”

“Not all of them. I couldn’t fly before I left.”

Lois breathed out heavily and shook her head. “He couldn’t fly, he says,” she muttered before taking a sip of hot chocolate. Her husband could fly – that was hard to wrap her head around. She’d seen Kryptonian soldiers flying on television and even a few times in person but it was never anyone she knew. Now she was married to a guy who could fly and stop bullets and shoot heat rays from his eyes.

She was pretty sure his powers would fade after they left Earth’s solar system – that was the whole reason all the Kryptonians had to leave – but it was still pretty wild to think about. This discussion was going a little backwards, though.

She leaned forward and looked Kal in the eye. “I think you need to start at the beginning. How did you end up on Earth to begin with?”

Kal nodded. “Well, back on Krypton – before it imploded – Jor-El, my father, was a scientist.”

“But he’s the First Lord,” Lois interrupted.

“He is now. But, as you know, up until a few months ago, Nor-Zod was First Lord and, back on Krypton, his father was. Despite being of noble birth and expected to become First Lord within his time, my father chose to study science and was dedicated to learning all that he could and helping the Kryptonian people.

“One day, he discovered that Krypton was unstable. After running many tests to verify his findings, he brought them to Lord Zod. But Zod wouldn’t listen. The man refused to believe that anything could go wrong during his reign. He silenced my father – forbidding him to share his findings and placing our family under house arrest. My parents had a few resources in their home lab – just enough to build a small spacecraft. Fearing they would never survive the end of Krypton, they chose to send me to Earth. I was to be ‘the last son of Krypton.”

“But they did survive,” Lois pointed out. Her cookie and coco were forgotten as she listened to his story.

“Yes. My father miscalculated. He predicted the first large tremor which shook Krypton’s core and sent me into space just before it struck. However, he thought that tremor would trigger a series of quakes which would destroy the planet within days. He was wrong. That first tremor was only the beginning. But once it hit, my father’s warning could no longer be denied. Other scientists had already come to the same conclusion.

“A mad scramble began – everyone trying to get off the planet. Transport ships were hastily constructed and people fought for a seat on board. Those who could afford it sought private passage off world. My father tells me it was chaos. Families were torn apart. Earthquakes continued on and off for almost a year. And when the end finally came… less than one percent of the population had managed to evacuate.”

Lois gasped. “That’s awful. I mean… I knew a lot of people had died on Krypton but I had no idea it was so many.”

Kal nodded. “It was awful. And those that did survive had nowhere to go. They drifted for several years in various colonies of strung together space crafts. They finally found a habitable planet and chose to settle there, but New Krypton is… less than ideal.”

“Is that how they came to Earth – they were looking for someplace better?”

“Uh… no.” Kal ran his hand through his hair in a nervous gesture, looking down so as to not meet her eyes. “No, I’m afraid that’s actually my fault.”

Lois sat back, surprised. “Your fault?! How is it your fault?”

Kal took a deep breath before beginning to explain. “You see, my father was probably the only Kryptonian who knew about Earth. He’d discovered it during some studies of space probes. He was fascinated by other worlds. He sent me too Earth with the expectation that he and my mother would die along with everyone else on Krypton. When they didn’t… he decided to go looking for me.

“Shortly after settling on New Krypton, he took a private shuttle to Earth. I was twelve years old when he found me and already developing many abilities, but without really understanding why I had them. My parents – the Kents – had told me how my ship had crash landed in Schuster’s Field, but they didn’t know anymore than that. When Jor-El found me… he answered so many questions. And he invited me to go back with him to New Krypton. I didn’t want to leave Earth. My home was in Smallville – ”

“Smallville?” Lois interrupted. “Is that a real place?”

“Of course it is. Smallville, Kansas.”

“Kansas. Wow. You couldn’t get anymore rural.”

Kal gave her an irritated look. “Are you gonna let me finish? Or are you going to keep picking on my home town.”

Lois held her hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry. I’ll behave.”

He took a sip from his cup before continuing his story. “As I was saying – I didn’t want to leave my parents or my home. But I did want to meet Lara, my mother, and to learn more about where I came from. So, I agreed to take a trip to New Krypton while I was on summer break.”

Kal paused and fidgeted with his cup. He looked sad. “I promised my folks I’d be back soon… but things didn’t work out that way. The trip to New Krypton was long and Jor-El used the time to teach me the language and the customs of our people. I learned so much. When we arrived, Lara and Ching welcomed me and, while I was a little homesick, I was happy.

“Then people started asking questions – where I’d been, how I’d survived. Somehow the news about Earth got back to Nor and he decided it was worth checking out. Once he discovered the powers granted by the yellow sun…” Kal shrugged. “He didn’t want to give them up. And once he’d opened hostilities with Earth, there was no way I could go home.”

He closed his eyes for a moment and Lois could see the pain etched on his face – so much like what she’d seen when he hugged the Kents for the last time earlier today. She didn’t know what to say. She wanted to comfort him – but how?

Kal cleared his throat and looked at her. “So, you see, it’s my fault. They never would have come to Earth if it wasn’t for me.”

His voice was laced with long-accepted guilt. He blamed himself for all of the death and destruction inflicted upon his home.

That was just intolerable.

Lois set her cup down hard and stood up – pacing practically before she’d even begun to speak. “Don’t be ridiculous!” she exclaimed. “You were a child. You didn’t ask Jor-El to send you here or to come looking for you. You didn’t send Nor to investigate Earth. You were just a boy.”

“But if I hadn’t –”

She spun on her heal to face him as she cut him off. “No! It’s not your fault, Kal!”

Kal offered a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes and shrugged his shoulders. “Everyone tells me that.”

“Maybe you ought to start listening.”

“Maybe.” He chuckled suddenly. “You know we’ve come a long way from you saying Kryptonians don’t care about peace.”

Lois breathed a short laugh of her own. “Well, you’re not exactly the average Kryptonian.”

“No, I’m not.” His smile was brighter this time and his eyes seemed to peer straight into her soul.

Lois looked at her feet for a moment, feeling shy, and then pushed through her nerves and sat back down. “There’s something I don’t understand,” she said.

“What’s that?” Kal sat back and bit into a cookie, looking more relaxed than he had before.

“Why send just you?”

Kal frowned in confusion. “I told you. They didn’t have the resources to build a bigger ship. I was an infant. The capsule was just big enough for me.”

“But what about Ching? Couldn’t they have found a way to send your brother as well?”

“Oh!” Kal’s eyes flew open in surprise and he shook his head. “No. You see, Ching isn’t my biological brother. He’s adopted. After Krypton was destroyed, a lot of children were left without families. Jor-El adopted Ching as his son and heir.”

“I see.” Lois pondered that a moment and then questioned, “but then, shouldn’t you be the heir? Or does it go to Ching by default since he’s older?”

Kal shook his head again. “No. You’re right. Technically, I should be next in line to be first lord. But, at the time when Ching was adopted, I was officially presumed dead. Although my parents believed I had made it to Earth, no one else knew that and they didn’t have the resources to go looking for me until after they settled on New Krypton. So, Ching was named heir instead.”

“Shouldn’t it have gone back to you when you returned though?”

“Yes. And it was offered to me. But I didn’t accept it for two reasons. The first being that I had not received the training expected of a future first lord. Ching had. He was better prepared than I. The second reason – well, I just don’t want to one day be in charge of an entire planet. I grew up on a farm – not a palace. I feel so out of place during official court functions.”

“Like today?” Lois guessed, remembering how nervous he’d seemed during the wedding ceremony.

Kal nodded. “Like today. And also… I don’t really consider New Krypton my home. I love my family and I am grateful for the legacy of the people I come from but, super powers aside, I don’t feel Kryptonian. I’ve always thought of myself as human.”

Lois finished off her hot chocolate as she considered his words. He was truly caught in between two worlds – born on one but raised on another. He wasn’t a space boy at all – he was a farm boy. She wondered if he’d played baseball or been a boy scout. That seemed likely.

Then she thought about his career plans and suddenly understood why he had chosen that path. “That’s why you want to become the ambassador – you would rather live on Earth, where you can see your adoptive parents regularly and live the way you’d grown up think you would.”

“Exactly.” Kal smiled. “I also have a unique perspective which I think will serve me well in the position. I love the people of Earth and the people of New Krypton. I genuinely want what is best for both planets and I hope I can help build trust between our worlds.”

Lois whistled softly. “That’s a lofty goal. After everything that’s happened – I’m not sure humans will ever trust Kryptonians.”

“Maybe not. It won’t be easy and it’ll take time. But I believe it is a goal worth pursuing.” Kal stood and began to clean up their snack, moving their cups to the tray and then carrying the tray to a little ledge by the door to their rooms. Lois assumed someone would come by to take it away in the morning.

As she watched him, she recalled another question she’d had since they met the Kents. “Do you prefer to be called Kal or Clark?”

He paused in his tidying and sighed with a wistful smile. “Clark. I’ve always thought of myself as Clark. But on New Krypton, I am Kal-El. That’s just the way it is.” He didn’t elaborate anymore and Lois wondered if he’d tried to push the issue at some point in his youth.

“Would you like me to call you Clark?” she asked, smiling softly.

He shook his head. “I would like that very much, but you’d better not.”

“What if I just call you Clark in private?”

“If you slip up… some Kryptonians can be really weird about names.”

“I won’t slip up… Clark.”

He smiled and it finally seemed to reach his eyes. “I like that. Thank you, Lois.”

Lois returned the smile as she stood up and stretched. It had been a long day and she was about ready to turn in. She was about to mention doing just that when she recalled that they had yet to work out sleeping arrangements. She looked toward the bedroom apprehensively.

They had been on good terms since the bridal suite and she felt fairly confident that Kal… Clark wouldn’t try anything. He’d made his position on the matter pretty clear. She actually felt fairly safe with him considering they’d known each other less than a day. But that didn’t exactly translate to comfortable sharing a bed.

Glancing around the sitting room, she noted the lack of sofa or any other suitable sleeping space. The window seat wasn’t even long enough to stretch out on. She supposed she might be able to doze off while sitting up if she were tired enough but that didn’t seem likely right now. She eyed the floor… no way. She’d never get comfortable.

“What’s wrong?” Clark asked. He must’ve noticed her sudden change in demeanor.

Lois sighed and shrugged. “It’s just… it’s late and I was thinking about going to bed except…” she trailed off, unsure how to broach the subject.

“Except we haven’t talked about sleeping arrangements.” Clark finished for her.

Lois nodded silently and waited to hear his thoughts on the matter. Once again, she found herself feeling vulnerable. This had been his room first. It didn’t seem fair that she should come in and kick him out of his bed simply because she was uncomfortable with the idea of platonically sharing a sleeping space with a man she barely knew. But then, he probably wasn’t all that comfortable with it either.

“You take the bed.” Clark finally said. “I’ll sleep on the floor out here.”

Lois raised her eyes to meet his, surprised at the offer. “Oh, no. I couldn’t make you do that. It’s your bed.”

Clark smirked and crossed his arms over his chest. “Would you rather sleep on the floor?”

“Well… no. But… um…” Lois bit her lip, having no idea how to solve this problem and suddenly distracted by the stretch of his sleeve across his bicep.

“It’s a big bed. We could always share.”

Lois felt a blush spread across her cheeks at the thought of actually sharing a bed with Clark – and why did that no longer seem quite as daunting? Ugh! She felt like a foolish schoolgirl. Pull it together, Lane, she scolded herself. She was just about to come up with some scathing remark to put them back on equal footing when he spoke up again.

“I’m kidding,” Clark said gently. “I think that would be too much for both of us right now.”

Lois took a deep breath and smiled her thanks at his courtesy. He had her completely off kilter and she wasn’t sure whether or not she liked it. She needed sleep. She could sort out everything else in the morning.

But she still wasn’t sure about making Clark sleep on the floor. It looked so hard and uncomfortable.

“Seriously, Lois. Take the bed.” Clark said when she continued to hesitate. “I’ll be fine. Look.” And with that he lifted up off the floor and assumed a reclined position about 3 feet in the air.

Lois knew Kryptonians could fly. She’d seen them fly on television and a few times in person, but almost always in an intimidating, warlike manner. This though… this was just so casual. The juxtaposition between what she’d known before and what she was seeing now was so severe that she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Okay fly-boy. I’ll take the bed,” she said between chuckles. “Do you often float in your sleep?”

Clark shrugged and floated back onto his feet. “Sometimes,” he answered, his voice sounding a bit husky. Lois looked up to find him staring at her with a look of wonder.

“What?” she asked.

He just smiled. “You have a really nice laugh.”

Lois blushed again but she didn’t really mind this time.

Mike M, hey there! Thanks so much for taking the time to reply -- I'm glad it was an enjoyable read!
...you're right about Chapter 2 being Lois uplifting Clark. I also wonder if this chapter is actually a chapter 2 to Clark trying to prop up Lois, and seeing it not working... Hmm. You've got a good idea there. I'll pop it into the back-burner and let you know if I write them.

Also, I WHOLLY agree about Deborah Joy Levine having the potential to give us something a little meatier/more complex to work with relationship-wise at the top of season 2 if she'd remained the show runner. Such a tragedy to miss out on that.

bakasi, thanks so much for the kind words! I really appreciate it!

[quote][/quote]“You're burning up, Clark,” she whispers between sobs. “These bruises could use some ice and you don't even have a single package of frozen peas.” She pushes me away and glares at me. “And of course I'm not going to find any bandages, am I?”

No Lois, there will be none of the usual stuff a sick person would have in their medicine cabinet. Another thing that separates Clark from us humans.

This was so beautifully written. The reveal was perfect, mature and made so much sense. Clark gets to tell Lois rather than her guessing and she does not fly off the handle demanding to know why he never told her. Instead, she asks those same question in a quiet manner. The only time we see Mad Dog Lane is briefly while she's trying to get ice cubes for his many bruises. Right now Lois is being what they are at the moment... a friend. The rest will follow in time.

That being written, how about continuing this fic? I would enjoy reading how they take on Metallo, 'cause this is more than fluff!

Welcome to the 2025 Kerth Quiz: Waffy Story

SPIFFY DISCLAIMER THINGY!: All the stories featured in this quiz qualify for the Best Waffy Story, but this quiz is not a stamp of recommendation for nomination. There are more fantastic stories which qualify for this category, but this quiz only covers 7 randomly chosen ones.
(Instructions are blatantly copied/linked from previous Kerth Quizzes.)

RECOMMENDATIONS: Don't forget that recommendations for other favorite eligible stories are *very* welcome and encouraged! So don't forget to add these in a section after your guesses!

QUIZ RULES: One point each for getting the story and author from the quote. Plus, shiny gold stars for those who recognize their own stories. Please don't forget to mention which number you're answering. Rule recap: Open hard drive and open boards (even if you don't know, just guess an author!), *don't* forget to snip out the excerpts in your replies, and don't forget the spoiler tag when you post in the replies thread.
CATEGORY: Ah, those Warm and Fuzzy Feelings. These fun, feel-good stories are full of the cozy, happy moments that make us smile and the romantic moments that make us swoon. Apparently the kids these days call it “fluff”...so this category is ALL about the fluff!

The DEADLINE for entries for this quiz is SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2025, by 11:59 p.m (Eastern Time Zone).

Here’s the full list of Eligible Stories.

Here are the full quiz instructions: Countdown to Kerth Quizzes Extended Instructions and Disclaimers.

Please post your answers HERE.

Good luck!
Evie

__________________________


EXCERPT #1:
“We're supposed to go to Smallville, tomorrow.” Claire let go of the end of her cape and lost altitude until she was once again standing on the cave floor. “We made plans to spend Christmas with my parents. The tree is already up, and we were all going to decorate it together. There was going to be eggnog and homemade cookies.”

He was quiet for a moment. “That sounds really nice.”

Claire nodded. “I was looking forward to it.” She swallowed, swiping at her eyes again. “Especially giving him his present. Mom helped me pick it out, and we hid it in her art studio.” She stared out across the chasm that ran through the cave. A family of bats flew together in the dark. They became blurrier and blurrier until they finally disappeared.

Bruce said nothing. He'd never been a man for empty platitudes, nor could anyone justly call him an optimist. It was why he often left the task of comforting people to her. As for the times when she needed comfort herself—well, one didn't need the world's greatest detective to conclude none of that would be happening this time.

Eventually, his voice interrupted her maudlin thoughts. “What did you get him?”

She blinked at him. “What?”

“I was just wondering.” Bruce gave a casual shrug. “If there's one upside to being stuck here, it's that you don't have to worry about spoiling the surprise if you tell me. So, tell me: what's he getting for Christmas?”

The utter seriousness in his tone and the thinly-veiled curiosity in his expression sent her into a peal of laughter despite herself. She wiped the last tears away, and her breathing slowly steadied. “If you really want to know: I got him a coffee mug.”

“A...coffee mug?” His brows knitted together.

Claire nodded.

“...Did you have a fight?”

Claire's jaw fell open as she whirled to face him. “What? No!”

He tilted his head at her. “Then why—?”

“It says 'World's Greatest Dad' on it.” Claire stared down at the floor.

Bruce was silent for a long time. “Oh.”


EXCERPT #2:
The peephole in the door darkened for a moment. There was a sharp intake of breath and then he heard the locks clicking.

His own breath caught in his throat as she opened the door. She wore slacks and a gray tank top that hugged her soft curves. He couldn't help his eyes dropping to her cleavage for a moment, that hint of the enticing valley between the swell of her breasts.

Clark's mouth ran dry and with difficulty he dragged his gaze back up to her chocolate brown eyes. He could get lost in those, too.

Tongue tied, he held out the flowers.

A smile spread across her lips. “What's the occasion?”

He swallowed hard. “Does there have to be an occasion?”

“Nope.” Her smile broadened, making his knees weak.

She stepped aside, letting him in. He brushed his lips against her cheek.

“It's so good to see you,” he mumbled.

He let his lips linger on her skin as he pulled her into an embrace. Today they hadn't seen much of each other. Different assignments had them leave the newsroom in alternating intervals, the rest of the time Superman duty had interfered. Which was why Clark had preferred knocking at the door over tapping on her window.

If he could help it, the hero had the night off.

“It's good to see you, too.” She buried her face in the crook of his neck.


EXCERPT #3:
“What if it doesn’t work?” Lois whispered.

He had slowly crossed half of the distance that had been between them and he longed to rush the last half and embrace her, assure her that they would be perfect together.

“What if it does?” He asked in a hushed tone, trying to match her own.

Her gaze moved from the floor to focus on his face.

“Lois, there will never be another tonight. This is our moment.”

“But what if it isn’t?”

“What do we have to lose?” He asked gently as he stopped just in front of her, realizing that her arms weren’t crossed in defiance, but in fear.

“Everything,” she whispered.

“If you’re going to take that chance, shouldn’t you know what exactly it is you’re saying no to?”

Clark took a gamble and reached up, gently cradling her elbows in his hands. He expected her to tense up or flinch out of his touch, but she didn’t.

“What are you suggesting?”

“This,” he said as he leaned in to kiss her.


EXCERPT #4:
She stepped into his arms and he willingly embraced her. It was like coming home. She was surrounded by his scent, which had long since faded from his jersey. His arms felt sure and strong around her. His heartbeat pounded just a little fast in her ear as he came down from the adrenaline rush which had brought him to her apartment.

“Oh, wow,” she breathed into his chest. “I’ve missed this so much.”

She felt him nod and tighten his hold on her, but he didn’t speak. If he was anywhere near as overwhelmed in the moment as she was, she couldn’t blame him for not being able to find his voice. They stood there for several moments, simply basking in each other’s presence. How had they gone so long without this?

Eventually, Clark leaned back to look at her but didn’t let her go. “Lois, what happened? Why did you call? I thought we agreed to only call if there was an emergency.”

“It is an emergency… sort of.” Lois bit her lip, feeling a bit sheepish for summoning him all the way from… wherever he had been. “I mean, I’m not in danger or anything. But something happened and I didn’t know what to do. And you’re the only one I can talk to about this.”



EXCERPT #5:
How had her life become millionaires and superheroes? Was this what she’d been hoping her life would be?

In reply, her mind offered up an image of Clark in the newsroom, handing her a cup of perfectly warmed coffee, leaning over her shoulder as they wrote together. Now that was the life she’d wanted to build for herself, before the millionaires and superheroes had appeared. All of her favorite things in one mental snapshot: a job where she was in the top of her field and helping people, non-fattening legal addictive stimulants, and a partner she could rely on.

Her partner...

Clark was going to hate her engagement when he found out.

“It’s getting late,” her hero said, interrupting her thoughts. “I should get you home.”

She blinked. Had she just been daydreaming about Clark Kent while standing a on moonlit Parisian bridge with Superman?

It’s been a weird week, she thought.

She turned to him, then, and recognized how deeply the atmosphere had shifted. It felt like there was something between them now that hadn’t been in the way before. She wondered if it was on her end, because of her sudden thoughts of Clark or on his end, because of her sudden announcement about Lex.

“Thank you for the story,” she said. “And for bringing me here.”

She felt the wind catch her hair then, and casting one final look around, she leaned out over the railing into the breeze. It reminded her of flying. The exhilaration of it all pulled one last grin from her. Whatever was going to happen with her love life, right now she was in Paris, and she wanted to memorize this feeling while she was present in it.

I’ll be back for you soon, she thought, saying au revoir to the city. Not goodbye forever, she promised herself, with a quick glance down at the love lock, just for now.

She turned back to her hero. His expression was still but the look in his eyes was haunted and longing. It made her breath catch in her chest, and she was sure he’d heard her heart skip that beat.


EXCERPT #6:
Lois hung up the phone and stared at the ceiling for a moment, feeling frustrated and irritated with herself. What on Earth had that been about? Why had she lingered on the phone like that with him like some sort of infatuated school girl?

She’d been talking to Clark…CLARK! The guy who almost always dipped his tie in his coffee every morning. The guy who always seemed to be disappearing at a moment’s notice with the silliest explanations and excuses. The guy who…

The guy who had thrown her down onto the bed…this very bed and kissed her in a way that she’d never been kissed before. The fact that it had been a ruse did not keep her mind from traitorously replaying that kiss — easily the best kiss she’d ever had — over and over again.

She rolled over, frustrated with herself for allowing her thoughts to go there once more. She’d successfully told herself over and over again that Clark was a colleague and a friend. Nothing more. But she couldn’t ignore the way her body seemed to come alive when he looked at her, or when he gave her that smile that seemed to exist only for her. Something about that smile made her feel warm all over. And that was before the kiss.

God, that kiss.


EXCERPT #7:
Looking down at their entwined hands, Clark couldn't help but smile at how effortlessly she had taken his hand in hers while he couldn't even muster the courage to do the same over the course of a two-hour movie.

"Clark?"

He cleared his throat, forcing a smile.

"It's just been a weird week," he confessed quietly.

"Mayson," she nodded understandingly, her eyes briefly lowering before meeting his again. "You want to talk about it?"

He didn't want to talk about Mayson.

"I'm sorry you thought I was ignoring you," he blurted out, surprising himself as he recalled their interrupted conversation at her apartment.

"Oh," she responded in a small voice. "That's okay. Like you said, it's been a weird week."

"You're not yesterday's news," he emphasized, noting a sense of relief seemed to wash over her. "I still want to... um... date." Was that what they were doing? It felt like so much more to him. "I still want us to... see each other. You know, see where things go. Because..." he paused, feeling his heart race. "Just because... I like you." He winced at his own words, feeling his cheeks flush.

Lois smiled shyly, her hand squeezing his. "You're the only person I wanted to be with tonight."


Good luck, everyone!
________________________________________________


Have a question? Ask it here! Or you can PM any of the K-Com members or reach out on Discord too! You can also send an email to us here: Kcom@kerthawards.com

In order to help you find all things Kerth for this year, we’ve created a TOC for all the 🏆TOC for Kerth Awards 2025 Posts🏆.

The Kerth Committee
(KSaraSara, Michael, lovetvfan, and Evie)

All my stories are Au based on LC & TASS, so there are some small differences from the og episode and it's a bit more angsty.

Cold metal dug into Lois’ spine. She tried to move but chains fastened her down. They were green and had the acidic stench of kryptonite. She craned her neck, inwardly recoiling when she saw Clark suspended in a glass chamber. His dead eyes stared at her through the green liquid entombing him.

“Clark!” She sobbed.

A sharp pain pricked her stomach. Her cries morphed into screams as blood was drawn out of her womb. “No, please don’t take my baby!” she weakly tried to hug herself but her arms wouldn’t budge. She was powerless to do anything but watch as a scientist plunged a syringe into her.

The harsh, sterile light above her blinded her. It was all she could focus on to blot out the pain. The pain of losing him. Time and time again. The pain of losing their child.

“Subject 11 is stable. Prepare for extraction,” the scientist said, sounding eerily like Lex Luthor. A surgical mask hid the lower half of his face, but there was no mistaking that calculating gaze. “You should be honored,” his oily gloved hand massaged her swollen stomach. “The alien hybrid you carry is humans’ salvation. Your sacrifice will be remembered.”
Lois’ breath hitched as white-hot pain consumed her.

Lois woke with a splitting headache, her mouth tasting like blood. She brushed a hand over her smooth belly, her racing heart gradually slowing. It was just a nightmare. She had been having lots of those lately. She groggily sat upright and wished she hadn’t. The nightmare was bleeding into reality. She stood on a platform a little bigger than a twin bed. That wasn’t what worried her. She was on display in an underground museum.

A sleek black car –she hadn’t seen in years–was parked in the center of the room. It was the original Batmobile. For a brief moment, she hoped the Caped Crusader was here. But the batmobile was just one item in a room full of oddities. To her left was a shelf, with various knickknacks and jars.

The jar closest to her housed a red-violet organism –it would have resembled a poinsettia if it weren’t for the tentacles springing from the center with odd suction cups. She spotted a crown that looked suspiciously like Princess Diana’s diadem. Inside a glass case was ancient, gold goblet. Three batarangs hung on the wall proudly next to a disturbing Van Gogh painting that showed the Gotham skyline from the 1800s.

Her gaze drifted back to the batmobile and she wandered if it were low tech enough for her to hot wire the car. An eclectic shock shoved her back.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Tim Lake glided out of the shadows, his blonde trophy wife dangling on his arm. “Sustained contact for longer than three seconds will detonate the 200 pounds of TNT directly beneath your feet.”

“Good,” Lois stalked as close to the edge of the platform as she dared. She looked each of the lovebirds in the eye. “I can take you with me when I go,” she glared at Amber, showing her she meant business. “Talk about an explosive romance,” she smiled icily. “Your love life is about to go up in smoke.”

Tim Lake leisurely sauntered to the edge of the platform and met her glare with a calm smile. “No,” he sighed. “Let’s not pretend you’re willing to take it that far, love,” he combed a finger through his mustache. “You’re reckless, not suicidal.”

She ripped Superman’s heart out and crushed it. Clark couldn’t be near Lois without that self-loathing expression darkening his features. He thought she hated him because of what Darkseid made him do. The rest of the world might hate Kal-El, but Lois Lane never could. The lies she let him swallow were kinder than the truth.

She slammed her hand against the invisible barrier. Searing electricity sizzled up her arm. Still she remained firm, even after flesh burned off her palm. If she died it would allow Clark to move on –settle down with a being like him, who could carry on the legacy of Krypton. He could be the father he was always meant to be. Without her.

Amber Lake rushed to the edge of the platform. “Get back!” she screamed. Lois met Golilocks anger with a challenging smile.

“Mrs. Lane, Step away from the barrier,” Tim Lake said, still eerily composed and calm.

“Or Superman dies,” husband and wife said together, sharing conspicuous smiles.

That lone phrase tore through the haze of pain and choked her. Lois drew her burnt hand back. She didn’t need to see the kryptonite to know it was there. Her hunch had been right. The Lakes were the board members who stole kryptonite from S.T.A.R. Labs. It was somewhere here in the building.

“Why are you doing this?” Lois struggled to hide the fear in her voice. She hated sounding weak.
Amber smiled as if she had won the lottery. “We’re collectors.”

Lois did a quick once over of the room. Besides the strangely shaped flower, she was the only live specimen in the museum. “I’m not worth collecting.”

“No argument there,” Tim Lake said. “We have no need for humans.”

A sinking dread plunged into her stomach. “You’re the honey, honey,” Amanda smirked. “Superman is the bee.”

“You’ve made a mistake,” Lois willed her voice to stay strong. “Superman doesn’t care about me–I’m just a reporter to him.”

Amanda laughed as if Lois were a comedian. “I know true love when I see it,” she smiled adoringly at her husband. “And you two have it in spades.”

“You’re wrong. He won’t come for me.”

“I saw the way he kissed you before Nightfall,” Amber said. “You can’t fake love like that.”

Tim checked his watch. “Wouldn’t be long now, before loverboy puts the pieces together.”

It was then Lois noticed the empty platform across from her. “No,” she shook her head fervently. Clark was claustrophobic, being in such close quarters wouldn’t be healthy.

“Yes,” Amber beamed. “Such a fine specimen – the last of its kind.”

“He’s a human being,” Lois argued. “You can’t keep him locked up like some animal in a zoo!”

“That’s exactly what he is,” Tim said. “An alien specimen that belongs in a museum,” he waved his arm at their impressive collection. “And shall he refuse cooperate we have a plan B,” his gaze rested on the strange flower near Lois.

Lois studied the flower in the glass jar. She tried to remember any time Clark might have mentioned an alien flower. There was Starro and then the black mercy. “It can’t be.”

“Was quite difficult to come by,” Tim tilted his head regarding her. “But Mongul was quite happy to be rid of it.”

“But that will kill Superman!” Lois protested. The black mercy fed on its host’s body. “Your prize would be worthless if he’s dead.”

“Fear not, love,” Tim said. “It shouldn’t come to that.”

“He will make the right choice,” Amber said, closing the door behind her.

Lois wasn’t going to let Superman end like this. She had ten minutes to form an escape plan. Maybe less. She paced the platform, making lists in her head. The Lakes were kind enough to provide her with a meager cot, but she did her best thinking while walking. There were plenty of weapons to use against the Lakes, but no way to get to them. If she had Batman’s remote she could have turned the Batmobile on. Oh. What’s the point? All of Batman’s toys were voice activated –or so Clark says. Unleashing the black mercy on Amber Lake would be sweet justice indeed.
But still no way to get out of this cage.

The door slid open, a patch of sunlight leaking through. She heard Clark’s muffled voice on the other side of the wall. No. The idiot. “But are you in the mood for this?” Amber glided into the room. She waved at Lois. Superman shoved Tim into the room and released him when his eyes landed on Lois. The gut wrenching-kicked puppy look on his face undid Lois. The tears she had held at bay for months poured out at full force. “Smallville,” she whispered.

“Lois!” Clark sped to the platform, desperation etched in each crevice. He tried to reach for her and pushed back with a jolt of electricity.

“So near, and yet so far,” Tim taunted.

“It’s trap!” Lois shrieked. “They have kryptonite,” and so much more. She glanced sidelong at the black mercy. She racked her brain trying to remember the kryptonese word for flower. “Bahshki!”

“I don’t care,” Clark hovered over the floor. His eyes bore into her and she forgot their situation for a second.
A beep interrupted her thoughts. “You have thirty seconds,” Tim said. “You mess with the timer she dies. You break the light field she dies,” he explained. “You try to disarm the bomb and clean our clocks, she also dies,” he said. “The only way to save her is to become part of our collection,” Time smiled as if he knew he had already won. The color drained from Clark’s face as he saw the small platform.

“Don’t do it!” Lois sobbed. “You can’t live like this!”

“A life without Lois Lane is not worth living,” Clark said.

“Damn you, Kal,” Lois bit on her lower lip. “The world needs Superman!”

“And I need you.”

No he didn’t! The idiot. He was thriving before he met her. He still had friends, counting on him . . . Wonder Woman, Batman, Flash. They all needed him to be strong and make the ultimate sacrifice so the world could be safe.

“Ten seconds and counting,” Tim said.

“You’ll be trapped . . . caged unable to move or breathe, the bars sealing you in a coffin with no air,” she painted an ugly picture for Clark hoping his claustrophobia was stronger than his love for her.
“At least we’ll be together,” Clark said.

“Two seconds,” Amber smirked.

“This isn’t . . .” Her argument died on her lips as she watched Superman dutifully fly into the cage. “You idiot!” Lois cried. At the same time Amber turned on the light barrier on his cell.

“Lift off,” Tim clapped a hand on his knee.

“We did it!” Amber embraced her husband gleefully. “The Kryptonian is ours!”

Superman had belonged to Lois Lane once. It killed her to be so close and unable to touch him. Amber and Tim’s embrace turned into a passionate kiss– not unlike the way Clark once kissed her on the roof of the Daily Planet. Her knees gave out and she collapsed onto the cot. Her lips were cold and chapped. She didn’t want to go on living.

Tim’s next words barely registered. “Now, the floor is a minefield anyone tries to rescue–well, you get the idea.” Tim said something about a feeding schedule, but she couldn’t possibly hold any food down. She couldn’t see Clark through the haze of tears. “Oh, and one last thing,” Tim paused at the exit. He ripped Superman’s calf in half, and Lois covered her mouth to stifle the scream.

“With the two of you dead, no one will come looking for you,” Amber jeered.

“And since Bad Brain Johnson did it, nobody will be looking for us,” her husband added.

“Oh, isn’t he fantastic,” Amber purred. “Welcome to Forever,” she blew a kiss to Clark as they left, leaving Lois alone with her nightmare.

Lois hadn’t been truly alone with Clark since he proposed. And she ripped his heart out. Clark gave up everything in his life, friends, family . . . the world. And for what? An earth woman who was a failure in every sense of the word. She avoided meeting his eyes.

“You’re hurt,” Clark said. She had completely forgot about her burned hand.

“It doesn’t hurt.”

The burn is nothing compared to the pain of losing their child. Lois dug her hand in her pocket, hiding the rash. She curled on the cot and tried not to think about the baby. Even before the Lakes there had been a wall separating them. A wall she put there to protect Clark. She was damaged, an embarrassment to the Lane name. A failure of the human race –not worth Kal-El’s time.

“You should have left when you had the chance,” Lois bit out.

“Without you, it wouldn’t have been a life worth living.”

“That’s not true,” Lois hugged her knees. “You have friends . . . family who cares about you. Teammates who depend on you,” Lois looked meaningfully at the batmobile.

“You’re my family,” Clark said predictably.

“No, I’m not,” Lois said, fighting to keep her voice steady. “You deserve so much more than me.”
“Is that what all this is about?” he gestured between the two of them–in a sweeping gesture summarizing their broken relationship. “You don’t think Lois Lane is worthy of my love.”

“Yes!” Finally the lunkhead was understanding her. “You belong with Wonder Woman.”

“You keep saying that, but I don’t love her,” Clark’s jaw worked in frustration. “I love you.”

“And a lot of good that did you!” Lois snapped. “You’re trapped because of me!” If she had stayed in Smallville like Superman told her to, none of this would have happened. She was the bait and she fell right into the Lakes trap. “Wonder Woman would have never let herself get captured!”

Clark’s cheeks colored with frustration. He tried to hide it, but she knew he agreed with her. “Nobody puts baby in a corner,” Clark said, shifting his voice so he sounded like Patrick Swayze. “Or Lois Lane.”

“Seriously, Smallville!” Lois would smack him if she could. “That’s not funny.”

“Made you smile,” Clark arched an eyebrow at her. She hadn’t even realized what she was doing. She dropped her smile. “I missed that,” Clark said seriously. “I haven’t seen you smile in a while.”

There was not much to smile about. If she weren’t human . . . there could be a needy three month old at home. Clark would’ve bought a house and painted a nursery. Mama K. would have sewn a Superman onesie for her grandson. She turned her back on him so he wouldn’t see her cry. What was wrong with her? She never wanted children before. She was happy to be childless before Clark.

“Talk to me, Lois,” Clark implored. “We’re going to be here for a long time. You might as well tell me what I did wrong.”
Lois sighed heavily. “You’ve done nothing wrong. You’re perfect,” Lois said. “It’s not you . . .”

“It’s me,” Clark finished, having heard this countless times. “I can help . . .”

“You can’t fix us, Clark,” Lois rolled over on the cot to face him. Clark curled in the corner, face white as a sheet. “Smallville?”

Lois jumped off the cot and ran to the edge of the platform. Clark sat with his legs pulled to his chest, hugging his knees.His breathing was labored, eyes glued on her face. There was no kryptonite, but he was sweating buckets. “It’s okay, honey,” Lois soothed. “There’s no kryptonite,” Lois’voice hitched at the end, as she recalled the kryptonite cage Superman was sealed in all those years back. He was no doubt reliving the last time he was caged. “I wish I could touch you,” Lois lamented. Even for just a second.

“You can touch me with your words,” Clark said tightly.

Her heart ached for him, leaving her in physical pain. Without thinking her hand rested on her belly, to remind herself why pulling Clark into her lap was a bad idea. As much as she wanted to embrace him she couldn’t. But it was killing her seeing him so uncomfortable. All she could do was wrap him in a blanket weaved with empty words. But it was better than leaving him to suffer in silence.

“Ever since I met you,” Lois started tentatively. “No, ever since I took time to listen –really see you,” Lois wiped at her damp eyes. “Something about you always made sense to me,” she said. “Even when a huge part of you didn’t make sense,” Lois smiled wistfully, recalling the time she jumped into Niagra Falls to prove Clark was Superman. “There was a part deep down that made sense,” Lois croaked. “That’s the part I’d always hold onto.”

She didn’t know it then, but she loved Clark Kent from the moment he spilled champagne on his baggy suit. Possibly even longer. She was too scared to admit her feelings then. Not much had changed and everything had. She was scared still, but it was a different kind of fear, afraid of disappointing Clark – afraid of coming face to face with the agony she saw in Superman after his battle with the Black Mercy. Only this time it was so much worse. Van had been as real as her love for him. He was buried alongside her mother.

Hadn’t she already hurt Clark enough?

“Lois,” Clark breathed barely over a whisper. She saw the war raging within him. He longed to question her, ridicule her for her decision to break up the hottest reporting team in town. She didn’t have the strength to argue anymore.

“You gave me a reason to keep on living after Nightfall,” Clark said. Lois winced, that word sending shards of ice down her spine. She had come so close to losing him. Still could. The kryptonite was likely in the next room.

“You believed in me even when I stopped believing in myself,” Clark said. “I still believe in us. We’re stronger together,” he said. “I’m here for you.”

When you’re ready to talk, I’m here for you . . . was left unspoken between them. She would never be ready to face that music. Lois pretended to sleep, and ignored Clark.
TBC

Ahh, so sweet.
Much better than him falling asleep in the car!

This is so Lois:

“You couldn’t find the words? The man with the amazing, encyclopedia-like memory couldn’t figure out how to tell me this secret.”

😂