Previously:
Clark had just spun out of the suit into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt when the doorbell rang. He had been out patrolling, an activity he normally did later in the evening, but as he had no idea how this particular evening was going to play out, he had thought it best to get it over with. It had also kept him from focusing on the ever-tightening knot in his stomach that told him to cancel this evening. However, Lois was at the door, and the time had come. There could be no more backing out. Taking a deep breath, he swung the door open to a smiling Lois.
“Hi, Clark,” she said as she brushed past him into the apartment. “I hope you have something good to eat, because I’m starving.” She headed straight for the kitchen with the ease of a frequently welcomed visitor. “I hope you have the coffee on!”
“Uh, yeah, Lois. I do,” he muttered as he shut the door and followed in her wake. He was just glad he’d remembered to pick up something on his way back.
“Oh good!” Lois said when she saw the take-out bags sitting on the table. “I smell...Chinese?” She hauled the cartons out of the bag. “How did you know that I was hoping for Chinese?”
“Considering we’ve only had it once this week so far, I figured it was time.” He shrugged. With what he had to tell her, he also assumed that every little bit of extra good will he had on his side would be a help.
When they had divvied up the food and settled themselves on his couch, Lois turned to him with an expectant look. “So, partner, what is it you wanted to tell me?”
*****
And now:
The moment had come. It was time to come clean…and Clark’s mind seized up panic. He could not possibly tell her! What had he been thinking? Sure, it had sounded like a good idea at the time, but it was definitely not a good idea now. Tell her his secret? Have her realize that he had been lying to her all this time? No, no, absolutely not.
Something of his inner turmoil must have been apparent in his expression, because Lois looked at him impatiently and repeated, “Out with it, Clark. What is it you wanted to tell me? There’s nowhere to run to this time.”
Desperate to avoid the one topic he had set this whole evening up to address, his feverish mind grasped hold of the subject of their most recent conversation. “Uh, Lois, let’s talk about the Halloween party.”
She quirked an eyebrow at him, but shrugged. “Sure, Clark. Let’s talk about costumes. Have you got yours yet? If you don’t rent a Superman one soon, they’re going to be sold out.”
Yes! That was the answer: another lie, but a necessary one, surely. Clark arranged his face into what he hoped was a gravely sad expression. “Well, Lois, that’s sort of what I wanted to tell you. I tried to rent one yesterday and unfortunately, they were already sold out.”
Lois laughed. “Really? Good thing I already rented you one then, partner!” She reached over and patted his arm gently with a giggle.
Clark stifled a groan. Switching tactics, he started again, “I don’t know about this Superman idea, Lois. I mean, really, we’re friends. Isn’t it strange that I’d dress up like him?”
“Oh no, Clark. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. He’s probably used to it by now anyway.” Lois shook her head at the ridiculousness of his protest. “Now, no more arguments. As a matter of fact, I brought along the costume I rented you. It’s out in the Jeep so let me go get it a minute so we can check to see if it fits.” With that, she hopped up off the sofa, and headed out the door.
Clark let out a frustrated breath of air. What now? Surely he could think of a way out of the mess he’d created. And his keen reporter’s mind came up with...nothing. And there she was, coming back through the door, bag in hand and a bright smile on her face. There was nothing to be done. It was hopeless. He would have to revert to his original, ridiculous plan of telling her the truth.
Lois whipped the suit out of the bag and shook it a little. “Looks good, don’t you think? I’m pretty sure it’ll fit you. Want to go try it on right now?”
“Uh, no! No, no, that’s all right!” Clark stammered.
“Come on,” she said in her coaxing voice. “I went through all this trouble. The least you could do is try it on. Please?”
It had to be done. Right now. Motioning toward the couch, he said weakly, “Lois, I really need to talk to you. Leave that...thing...over there.”
Lois tossed it over the back of the chair and sat down on the couch. She crossed her legs in front of her, elbows on her knees and hands propping up her head, looking at him intently. “Okay, Clark. Go ahead.”
She was so cute sitting there, peering at him. He shook his head, trying to focus on the business at hand. “See, Lois. I need to tell you something. It’s really important and I, I haven’t really been able to tell anyone this, but well, you’re my friend, and uh, I trust you and…”
She blinked her eyes, waiting patiently. He knew he was babbling, much like Lois herself did from time to time, but she was apparently still listening. “Lois, I have a secret. And…I’m Superman.” He let it out in a rush, forcing it through his lips before he had a chance to stop the words from coming out yet again. Clark dropped his head and closed his eyes, waiting for the worst.
There was dead silence for what seemed like an extremely long time. Then he heard…a giggle? It was small, but definitely, yes, a giggle. His head shot up, and he stared at his partner who was leaning back against the sofa and shaking with mirth. “Lois?” he ventured, unsure of what could possibly be the reason for her outburst. Of all the reactions he had expected, this was certainly not one of them.
“Oh Clark, Clark...” There were tears of laughter in her eyes. He could see her pull herself together and look him straight in the eye.
“Didn’t you hear me, Lois?” he said quietly. “I said I’m Superman.”
“Of course you are,” she replied matter-of-factly. “I know that.”
“WHAT!?!” Clark’s voice rose of its own accord as he stared at her in shock.
She patted him gently on the knee. “Yes, Clark. I know that you are Superman. My only question was when you were going to get around to sharing this piece of information with me...your partner, your friend.”
His mind was reeling. He had intended this to go another way and instead she had, in typical Lois Lane fashion, turned the tables on him. “When...?” he croaked.
“Oh, a couple of weeks now,” she said airily. “I *am* an investigative reporter, you know. Seeing past the facade and all that. I was trying to think of costumes for us to go in, and was thinking about a Superman costume. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much of a striking resemblance the two of you bore to each other. Both dark haired, brown eyes, fairly similar haircuts. Sure, there were the glasses, but take that away, add a little hair gel, and voila: one person.”
She’d known for weeks? And she hadn’t told him? He had suffered all this for nothing? “Why didn’t you tell me?” he said with a little bit of anger in his voice.
This time Lois’s eyebrows hit her hairline. “Tell you? Why didn’t *you* tell me is a better question! At first I was pretty upset with you, but then I started to see that you had good reasons at first, so I forgave you for that. Then I realized you might want to tell me now, but probably hadn’t really had the right opportunity to tell me yet, so I figured I would make it easier for you by giving you one,” she finished magnanimously and leaned back. “Stop gaping, Kent. Like I said, I’m a reporter. This is what I do.”
No one could have said how long they would have sat there in silence after her speech had it been up to Clark. His mind kept whirling until she said in exasperation, “Come on, Clark! Say something! Aren’t you proud of me for figuring this out?”
Something about the tone of her voice pulled him out of his whirling thoughts. Come to think of it, she had been quite clever to put two and two together like that, especially with all the work he had put into deceiving her in the first place. Not to mention the fact that for some reason, she had managed to work through whatever angry feelings his deception had engendered. She really *was* brilliant. And she was *his* partner. Not to mention that she was truly adorable with that smug look on her face, brown eyes sparkling at him. “You know what, Lois,” he said firmly. “Yes, I *am* proud of you. I should have expected nothing less. You’re the smartest person I know.”
A brilliant smile broke across her face at his response, and she scooted closer to him on the couch. “So, partner,” she said with a sly smile. “What are we going to do for Halloween, then?”
*****
“Lo-is!” Clark said with exasperation. “This...thing is impossible!”
She laughed and came over to where he stood. “It’s not a ‘thing’, Clark. It’s called a ‘cravat’. And it wouldn’t be a problem if you’d just stop messing with it. You know perfectly well that this period costume was really hard to get so don’t go and spoil it.” Stepping back, she tilted her head to the side and eyed him critically. “Looks good, Kent.”
Clark rolled his eyes. These costumes had been Lois’ idea once again, and he had only agreed after a little arm twisting. He was not completely thrilled about having to go as a famous fop, no matter how dashing a figure Sir Percy Blakeney’s alter ego might have been. Lois had told him it was poetic justice, and the only way he could make it up to her for having to sacrifice her original costume idea. Now that the day had come, he had to admit that she did look incredible as Marguerite St. Just in her floor length, burgundy, velvet gown with embroidered lace sleeves, her dark hair piled up on her head, with the required ringlets slipping down. As always, she amazing, and he felt compelled to tell her so. From the small grin she gave him, he assumed that she was happy he noticed. She gave him a gentle shove toward the mirror and stood next to him as he regarded the pair they made.
He couldn’t help smiling a little as he looked at the two of them, dressed to the nines in period regalia, ready to go out. Lois and Clark. Not Lois and Superman, but Lois and Clark. The way she treated him, and the way she simply...was... with him left no doubt that she knew the distinction. No, they weren’t really a couple and this wasn’t really a date, but something told him that a real one might not be far off.
Lois cut short his ruminations with a tug on his arm. “Come on, Clark. We’re going to be late!”
Yes, this was how it should be: two partners together, friends first and maybe something more. In time, anything was possible.
The End
