Good Night, Lois – The Corner Of Her Mouth
“This is nice,” Lois whispers next to me.
I stare at her, not sure what she’s talking about. For the past few hours we’ve been sitting in our camouflage tent, crouched in the same position as we wait for something, anything to happen. The air is humid and hot – which, admittedly, doesn’t bother me much. I know it’s hard on Lois though. Her shirt is soaked with sweat. There’s not even a breeze carrying some fresh air. At least we have a net so the mosquitos aren’t eating her alive.
I can hear them. There’s a constant buzz around the tent, mixing up with the sounds of the jungle. A couple of days ago we found evidence that the gun runners have been here, that they met with other people. My powers helped collecting that evidence which means we don’t have anything we can put to print. Now we’re hoping they will come back and meet again, exchange weapons so that we can take pictures.
They might choose another place. I’ve scanned the immediate area, but I never dared to leave Lois for long. This stakeout might just be a wild goose chase for all we know.
I clear my throat. “Nice?”
Lois gives me a pointed look. “You know, you and I - here on a stakeout, that’s nice. You and I - so close together.”
She reaches out and cups my cheek, traces the corner of my mouth with her thumb and for a moment of breathless anticipation I think she’s going to lean in and close the distance between us. I drown in the dark pools of her eyes and lose myself in the sight of her lips. She’s right this is nice. It’s Heaven - but also hell.
I don’t know how many times I’ve caught myself watching a bead of sweat trickle down her neck and vanish in the valley between her breasts. Having her so close is tantalizing in a very literal way. Her lips are constantly so close to mine that it wouldn't take much to collect the kiss that's always been in the right-hand corner of her mouth.
I don't know why I haven't seen it there before. Or perhaps I just didn't recognize it for what it was. But thinking back, I remember it being there even when she was five. Perhaps that kiss was what has always drawn me toward her.
I clear my throat and shift my focus back on the jungle, so full of life but yet devoid of the people we're waiting for.
“Yeah, nice,” I agree roughly.
While she's sitting next to me, I'm painfully aware of her heartbeat, her sweet scent and the thimble in my pocket that she gave me many years ago and that I’ve been carrying around ever since.
She told me I should return it when she was old enough to kiss her for real.
“I want us to be permanent partners, Clark.” There's a gleam in her eyes as she looks at me, making it impossible to pretend I didn't hear her.
My chest tightens. “Perry would have to agree to that, don't you think?”
She huffs. “I'm not just talking about the Daily Planet. You know that! How much longer are you going to ignore your feelings?”
It's not that easy. Because I love her. “People are going to talk, you realize that, don't you?”
She raises her brows. “And?”
“Lois, I'm still thirteen years older than you.”
“And how is that a problem?”
“Because…” I throw up my hands, not sure where to start. There's a million reasons why us being lovers is a bad idea, much as I want it.
“See, you can't say.” She crosses her arms in front of her chest. “Have you even looked in the mirror lately?”
I frown at her. “What has that to do with anything?”
“Because you don't look a day over thirty. Nobody would even guess you're older than me.”
I stare at her dumbfounded. Whatever argument I was expecting, certainly not this. But before I have a chance to even think about it, the song of the birds outside dies down as the sound of an engine approaches.
“They're back,” I whisper.
I look through the small window in our camouflage tent, where the hood of a car slowly comes into view. Doors clap and people get out. There's the roar of a second car soon after.
“We need to get closer,” Lois urges.
“Wait!” I can't help the sinking feeling that she's going to get herself in trouble. I try to hold her back, but she's almost out of the tent already.
The last thing she needs is me making a commotion. I swallow down a curse. For all her courage and tenacity, she's driving me crazy sometimes.
It's also what I love about her.
Every aspect of this amazing woman, down to the kiss in the corner of her mouth.
Last edited by bakasi; 03/30/25 06:32 AM.
