From Part 1/3:
As she lay in bed, analyzing the situation, she realized that she could have a lot of fun with Clark, knowing that he was Superman. <He doesn't know that I know he's Superman! I wonder if he plans to tell me anytime soon. All those poor excuses he's made to disappear to become Superman. Hee hee. This is going to be FUN>.
Part 2/3:
Clark got to the scene of the fire in the nick of time. One of the women already had suffered from smoke inhalation, and the children were barely alive. He felt good that he had been able to make the right decision. Leaving Lois in his bedroom was easily one of the hardest things he'd ever had to do. As he left Metropolis General, he analyzed his brief encounter with the woman that he had loved at first sight.
Ever since he and Lois began to work together at the Planet, he had fantasized about an intimate situation with her – hoping that she would be the first woman he made love to. In his mind, however, the evening would have started with a much more romantic ambiance – dinner, wine, candles…..instead of the intensely passionate version he had just experienced. Not that he was complaining – he *was* a guy, after all. But he - in no way, shape, or form - was simply interested in a one-night stand with Lois. Now, he had to determine exactly what the mysterious Ms. Lane had in mind for them – him.
He suddenly remembered his promise of Chinese food, and abruptly changed direction. There's no Chinese like *real* Chinese, after all!
Back in Clark's apartment, Lois' mind was whirling in many directions. Should she play dumb when he came back? She had turned on the TV and saw breaking news coverage of Superman saving the day at the apartment fire. Even if he changed clothes, he would smell of smoke when he came back, wouldn't he? She felt herself tingling at the thought of taking a shower with Clark…he was absolute eye candy!
She figured she could go one of two ways with the information she had: play completely dumb, and see if he revealed himself to be Superman voluntarily; or, option two, have some fun with the situation. The devil in her voted for "option two"!
She sat on Clark's couch with *the* towel wrapped around her. Finding absolutely nothing in his refrigerator, she made herself a cup of tea and waited patiently for Clark's return with the Chinese food that he had promised her in his note. Now she understood why Clark would never tell her exactly where the restaurant was….because it wasn't from the continental United States, for sure!
Clark landed on the roof of his apartment building. Peering into his apartment with his enhanced vision, he quivered at the sight of Lois sitting on his sofa, clad only in the same white towel he had been wearing when she came over. God, she was the sexiest woman alive! He changed into his "Clark clothes" and re-entered the apartment with the Chinese food. It was only after he placed the food on the kitchen table that he realized he reeked of smoke!
"Hey sexy," cooed Lois. "Whatcha got there? I missed you."
Clark, not wanting to get too close to Lois lest she question why he smelled of smoke, started heading towards the bathroom in earnest. "I missed you too. I'll be right out," he replied, closing the bathroom door and *locking* it this time.
How could he explain having to take a second shower to her? She had already seen him in a towel once already…obviously, he had already taken a shower today. Maybe it was time to be completely honest with his partner and tell her he was Superman. It would make life a whole lot easier. In the meantime, he needed to clean up ASAP!
He decided that a super-fast shower would be the only solution. The smoke smell was mostly in his hair, anyway. He washed his hair by running the water for a brief moment, drying it by bouncing his heat vision off the mirror towards his head (nearly giving himself a Mohawk in the process). He realized that his "Clark clothes" also smelled of smoke, from being inside his cape. He threw them in the hamper and at super-invisible speed, went to his bedroom, changed, and then appeared to come out of the bathroom fully dressed as Clark again.
Lois laughed when she saw him come out of the bathroom wearing different clothes than he had been wearing when he entered. "Do you keep a change of clothes in the bathroom, Clark? I could swear you were wearing something different when you went in." <Yes, this is *so* much fun!>
Clark felt himself flush. Lois had become a premier investigative reporter by developing a talent for observation of the most minute details! "Lois – let's eat, OK?" Clark replied, not wanting to lie, side-stepping her comment altogether.
Lois sat at the table. "Hey, Clark, this Chinese is 'out of this world' as usual. Where did you say you got it?"
"I didn't, Lois. Remember, if I told you, it wouldn't be a secret anymore."
"Secret. Right. Funny how there's not a word of English on these containers," she said, smiling. "Well no matter, I worked up quite an appetite from before. This is great!"
They devoured the various containers of Chinese food in relative silence. Clark was unable to accept the current situation (Lois Lane eating Chinese food with him in his apartment) without further clarification.
"Lois, I'm not one to look a 'gift horse' in the mouth, but I think we should talk about what happened. Are you OK? This seems really out of character for you. I thought you were dating Luthor, anyway. I don't mean to come across as controlling or selfish, but I really can't share you with another man – not when we're doing *this*," Clark said. "You're not on drugs or something, are you?"
Lois looked Clark straight in the eye and said, "Drugs? No. The closest thing I've been to being on drugs would be the new horrible perfume I had on briefly today –while you were out at the Dock Workers strike, some woman at the Planet named Miranda was spraying it on everyone - but I didn't like it – it smelled like sweat – so I took a shower to get rid of the smell before I came over here. Why? Don't you think that it *is* possible for someone like me to be attracted to a 'Hack from Nowheresville' like you? You are every bit as good-looking as Superman, you know," she smiled. <That comment ought to hit a nerve>.
Clark was beginning to become suspicious. Normally uptight Lois Lane was showing a side of herself he had never known existed. He liked it – Hell, he *loved* this side….but if it wasn't real, he would be really heartbroken. What if she continued to date Lex Luthor? Did she suspect he was Superman? What was going on in that beautiful head of hers?
"Really? I thought Superman was the only one for you, Lois. I figured you started dating Lex because you didn't think Superman would ever ask you out," Clark countered.
Lois suddenly realized that Clark was jealous of Superman. How crazy was that? He *is* Superman. Maybe she could use that information to her advantage. Hmmm.
"Clark, I started dating Lex so I could interview him. I've had my eye on *you* since the very first time I saw you in that towel. I was *so* attracted to you that very first day when I came to pick you up. Remember? You were living in that horrible Hell Hole when you moved to Metropolis. Superman is flashy, but he's not real. You, on the other hand, are very real and very sexy; you're my partner and have become my best friend."
"Really, Lois? Because as recently as last week you told me that you thought you were in love with Superman. This just doesn't add up!"
<Wow. He thinks I'm in love with his other self, and he still can't tell me the truth>.
"Clark, if I told you I would never see Luthor again, and that I'm no longer interested in Superman, could we continue our previous session? Practice *does* make perfect, you know!"
Lois stood up, towel dropping to the floor. He had the strength of character of Superman, but the woman he loved was parading her beauty in front of him, freely offering herself. He felt his resolve weakening. "Lois, I'm not one for casual relations, you know. In fact, you were my – first. Being with you means everything to me. I know it's usually *not* the guy saying this to the girl, but I don't want to be used."
Lois was touched by his words. <He wants to be loved as Clark, not as Superman. I get it. I *finally* get it. So if he knows that I know he's Superman, he's going to think that I was with him because I found out he's Superman. Omigod. I've painted myself in a corner and I don't know how to get out!>
"Clark, all I know is that you are the only man who's been able to break through the wall I've had up ever since the Claude fiasco. You're incredibly attractive, you're my best friend, and I want to be with you. I want you to know that I accept all of you. If there is anything that you want to share with me, I promise that I will not betray your trust. I know today I'm acting a lot more forward than usual, but I'm glad. Hiding how you really feel is hard. I'm glad it's out in the open. Let me show you how much I mean what I'm saying right now."
Lois started unbuttoning Clark's shirt, revealing that chest that she loved so much. She had worked her way down to his waist when he suddenly stopped her.
"Lois, there's something I have to tell you before we go any further."
TBC
