Hi, glad you're back. I did have to go back and re-read the other parts to remember what happened before, but I'm still here reading.
Not for the first time, he’d behaved selfishly, ignoring the repercussions his stupid acts could have on everyone he cared about. His mom and dad, his friends... Lois.
We were a bit concerned before as to why his first reaction wasn't to go protect his parents. Guess this explains it. He didn't understand the impact of the whole thing until he saw Luthor face-to-face. The first thing after leaving now should be to get them to a safe place.
“What do you want, Luthor?”
Smiling, he replied, “A few days back I would have thought that was obvious but now I’m not even sure myself. I’ve spent quite some time pondering my options, yet I haven’t been able to decide on any. Though I certainly hope you’ve had the time to think things through and reconsider.”
With great effort, Clark tried to remain calm. Losing his patience would lead him nowhere, he reminded himself. “Reconsider what, Luthor? Working for you?”
“Well, now that you mention, that too. But I was actually referring to something else. Boy, your memory is a little comatose lately, isn’t it? I was simply ‘hoping’ you’d changed your mind about attending the wedding.”
I guess Luthor's starting small, trying to get Clark to do something that wouldn't compromise his integrity. Later, he'll probably try to get Clark to do something evil.
With great care, he pulled out a small, black box. “I don’t want you to see this as a threat. It actually shouldn’t be. Given your current situation, this is probably the smallest of your worries, but...” As he opened the box, a soft green glow lighted the room.
Wonder what Lois would say if Clark told her Luthor had kryptonite and is now blackmailing him? She probably wouldn't believe it, maybe?
Make mom and dad – even Lois- saf... proud.
Uh, huh. Just a slight slip of the tongue.
Most of that, however, had been clouded by her latest discoveries. Lucy had told her to try and see things from a different perspective, but which? There was no way she could ignore his lies.
<<But there was a reason... and you know you’re not being fair. >>
That voice again. When had Lois Lane grown a conscience? Furthermore, when had she grown a conscience that showed so adamantly all the things she tried so hard to ignore? After all, did Clark’s reasons for hiding his secret matter? A lie was always a lie. It was a matter of trust.
<<Oh, please, listen to yourself! When did YOU give him a reason to trust you in the first place? He had to put up with your ignoring him for weeks before you began giving him a small fraction of your attention. >>
Lois is starting to figure out that Clark isn't necessarily being evil or a "typical male" by not telling her since she never really trusted him completely. I'm a bit surprised that Clark never used the reason that Lois is too close to Superman's (not Clark's) arch enemy to tell her. Lois was thinking about him and being mad at him in terms of him being only Clark. She never thinks of his reasons as Superman why it would be a really bad idea to tell anyone about his secret.
And it hit her. Clark had been there for her, unconditionally, whether he’d been wearing one of his wild ties or that spandex suit of his; it was always his concern for her well being that surfaced. How could she not have noticed? How could all the outstanding qualities she’d seen in Superman have looked so dull? Or had they? Because it really wasn’t that she’d never realized how gentle Clark was, how compassionate. <<No, Clark’s so much more than that, >> she thought. <<He’s generous, caring...>> Sorrowfully, she realized that no one could ever offer the kind of love Clark had; no one would ever love her like he did SHE would never love anyone then way she loved him.
She finally figured out that one lie doesn't define a person's character. And it looks like she's figured out she loves him. But in typical L&C fashion, they always think it's too late for them. She needs Ellen Lane to make her see it's not too late, assuming she's there in this story. Or maybe Lucy since she is there.
Can't wait for the next part.
Is this wrapping up in 2 or 3 more parts?
