Sad that Lois couldn't discern that Barry wasn't Clark, though. Apparently, Barry's been practicing his moves with the ladies at those 'adult' parties. Enough for Lois to think that he was a better kisser than even Clark.
Clark Kent was an amazing kisser. The brief goodbye kiss during the heat wave last year? Tender and sweet. The rouse before they were pushed out of Trask’s plane? Pleasurable, but just a distraction. The distraction in the Lexor Hotel? That one should have prompted her to demand more.
But even Superman’s pheromone-induced kiss didn’t compare to what Clark Kent had just done to her on her couch. His strong fingers working their way through her hair, touching spots on her scalp that sent an electric zing through her nervous system. The press of his full, swollen lips against hers, and the soft moans that scattered her thoughts. His broad tongue slipping between her teeth and frantically jousting with hers.
Perhaps with longer exposure she would have realized that Barry wasn't exactly acting as Clark did. She was a bit distracted with 'Clark' coming back to life and all.
It served Clark well to have Lois dump him as Superman so that she could be Clark. Hee-hee.
Barry straightened his spine and removed all traces of his jovial personality from his face. “When I saw the article, it seemed obvious that you hadn’t told her about you. Otherwise, why would she have had a picture of Superman in her purse?”
Clark stood up straight, squaring his shoulders. “So, what, you were just going to sweep in here and take over my life?”
“I don’t want your life. I don’t want to be Clark Kent. I told her I was a clone. It’s not my fault she didn’t ask a follow-up question.”
Clark narrowed his eyes. “So you just want her.”
And something in the way Clark looked at him, the evident jealousy burning behind his eyes, irked Barry. How arrogant that Clark believed he had an exclusive right to Lois. “Why not?” Barry asked, intending to wound Clark where it would hurt the most. “If you don’t want to love her, then I will. And it’s obvious you don’t want her or you wouldn’t have faked your death.”
“I didn’t have a choice!” Clark raised his voice in a pitch of despair. “Some people would go to any lengths to find a way to hurt me.” Clark set his jaw. “You know that better than anyone.”
“So you get an exclusive hold on her? You won’t have her, but no one else can either?” Barry scoffed. “That’s so arrogant.”
“I love her.”
“Not enough to be honest with her.”
“So now you’re my moral judge? You get to decide when I tell her the truth?”
Barry's has a point. One year alive and he's wiser than a Kryptonian with almost 3 decades on him.
I loved this!
Barry and Clark without any experience whatsoever acted like brothers right from the get-go. I could just picture this:
“Get out,” Clark said with a tone of menace he probably effectively wielded against everyone else.
Barry set his jaw, unwilling to be intimidated. “Make me.”
* * * * * * * * * *
“What the hell is going on here?” Lois shouted from her doorway.
Clark and Barry froze. Clark’s arm was wrapped around Barry’s neck, gripping him in a headlock, and Barry’s leg was locked around Clark’s, pinning him to the ground. Clark couldn’t imagine how shocking it must look to Lois to see Superman and Clark fighting like characters from the World Wrestling Federation.
Clark followed Lois’ eyes as she scanned the room. The apartment was in shambles; furniture overturned, holes in the drywall. Clark and Barry had been fighting, and the evidence was strewn about the room. He was breathing hard, muscles exhausted, desperately tired. Though Clark had easily defeated Barry a year ago, they were more than evenly matched now.
This is the best part of the story!
I could total picture their matching contrite expressions, after freezing when Lois yelled at them.
Clark looked at Barry to see if he was going to speak. Barry looked back at him, silently communicating his support. Clark nodded slightly, acknowledging to both Barry and himself that it was time to end the lies.
Barry pointed at him. “He’s Clark.”
Clark pointed at Barry. “He’s Superman.”
Barry’s voice dipped in astonishment. “I am *not* Superman!”
Clark shrugged. “Well, you could be.”
Barry shook his head. “But I don’t want to be Superman.”
Clark smiled. “It might be nice to have a vacation every once in a while.”
Barry rolled his eyes. “I get paid by the hour.”
Lois interjected. “Geez, you two fight like brothers.” Her eyes widened as she looked back and forth between the two of them. “That’s why you can always get ahold of Superman so quickly.”
Okay, I'm quoting the whole story. But this section was just hilarious!
Clark seemed to draw in a breath, then gestured his hand towards the clone. “Lois, this is Barry. He was cloned by Lex Luthor, who used him to try and hurt me. But he’s been working as a Superman look-alike for the past year and really has changed the way he sees the world.”
I know that there's a ton to absorb here, but I expected a bit more of a reaction from Lois and Clark about learning that Lex was the clone's "father".
After a few minutes, Lois took a few tentative steps towards Barry and lowered her voice, even though it was now clear that Clark would be able to hear what she said anyway. She whispered harshly to Barry, “You shouldn’t have let me kiss you!”
Barry couldn’t seem to prevent a slight smile from curling the corner of his lip. “You’re kind of hard to resist.”
Lois let a small laugh slip at the compliment.
Barry definitely inherited Clark's ability to wise-crack.
‘Superman is Clark and Clark is Superman and Barry is just Barry.’ Odd how the existence of a clone seemed like the easiest idea to accept.
Yes, in a span of 24 hours, Lois's world went 180' to 360' to 270'. No wonder she's dizzy.
Clark shifted restlessly; it seemed strange to see Superman project anything other than confidence. “I’m just gonna go,” he said as he made a fractional movement towards the window.
![[Linked Image]](http://cosgan.de/images/midi/konfus/a050.gif)
So, Barry really IS the smart one?
The cape was tucked underneath him, and he shifted uncomfortably, tugging as if it felt wrong to be sitting on top of it.
I agree. That just doesn't work.
“Can you just take off those clothes?” she asked.
Um....
CLARK: Definitely not the reaction I was expecting! I sure can!
![[Linked Image]](http://cosgan.de/images/smilie/konfus/n022.gif)
LOIS: I mean CHANGE your clothes.
CLARK: Oh... uh...
![[Linked Image]](http://cosgan.de/images/midi/konfus/c085.gif)
... um... Sure.
“No. Stay. I still want you...” Her throat caught on the words that most of her still wished were said under different circumstances. “Here. I still want you here.”
“And I want to be here. With you. Always.”
“You should know...” Lois took a calming breath to gather courage. “Even after all of this...” Lois’ voice got very quiet. “I still have feelings for you.”
Clark caught his breath, then asked, “Like a brother?”
Lois looked away and admitted, “No, not like a brother.”
I don't know. After how Lois treated Clark's "brother" Barry, "like a brother" doesn't seem so bad now.
I'm glad you allowed Barry to get his Lois Lane, too. They both deserved some happiness. This isn't the idea I had, but then... that would have required a whole big mess of parts to clean up. This is more direct and to the point. /I was going to suggest that it was Barry, not Clark, who married Clois and got jilted on his honeymoon night. But, as I said, it would have taken much more explanation... such as how Barry and Clark switched places after Lex kidnapped Lois.../
She looked up at him, squinting slightly against the sunlight. “Oh. Hi, Clark.” Her eyebrows wrinkled in confusion, then she looked out at the pond. “I was just so hungry. But I don’t see any frogs.”
Such a Clois thing to say.
He tried to find a safer topic of conversation. Once again, he cast his eye over her filthy clothing. “What happened to you?” he asked.
She finished the hot dog and looked down at herself. “I must have passed out. When I woke up, there was so much rubble around me, like the tunnel had collapsed. It took me hours to get out of there.”
Oooooooh. That makes sense. Of course, it leaves the problem that Clark's first wife (not his birth-wife) is still alive, therefore, he cannot marry Lois without becoming a bigamist, but that's fodder for another story.
He bent forward, captured by the ingrained feelings for her that he had had his entire life. Barry kissed her, pressing his lips passionately against hers.
Barry felt her body freeze in surprise for a moment, but then her arms wrapped around his back and she leaned into his embrace. He darted his tongue across her lips, and she responding by parting her lips and moaning a soft sigh. And he was thrilled, because kissing was fun.
Awwwww. Plus, that last line...
Hilarious!
A fun story! What a great idea teaming up Vatman with Barry. Brilliant!
