Great story, Wendy!
I agree with everybody else - that was a great revelation, and their reactions very believable.
Lois gets out of her apartment - acts first, and then realizes she's reacting: shaking. She runs to Clark. Where else would she possibly go? And he realizes it - she's run to him, not to collaborate on the story to end all stories, but because he is her support system.
And he had to tell her the truth. He didn't even have to think about it, he knew
“I had to. You came here looking for comfort, expecting me to sympathise with you over what Superman had done to you. I’d have felt like a hypocrite if I’d continued pretending that we’re two separate people. I did that to you. I had to take responsibility for my actions.”
I thought this exchange:
“I’d feel a lot better if I thought you’d actually get a couple of bruises.”
He grimaced. “Sorry. I can’t - ever since I was about ten I couldn’t get hurt.”
was particularly revealing for Clark. Lois is angry, and she says the kind of thing people say - almost inane - when they start to take a breath from reacting, start to think. She's grumbling as she winds down: 'I can't even hurt you and you deserve it.' And Clark takes her literally: 'Sorry, I can't since I was little.' And she sort of has to do a quick mental double take, and it gets her thinking about something besides her anger. And they start to talk.
And I'm happy to cast my vote for Best Ending Lines - maybe there should be a new Kerth category?
Well done! Thank you for another great story!
~Toc
