It's Friday, so it's time for a little magic. The Disappearing Tsunami The docks were bathed in yellowish light as Lois, Clark, and Houdini sneaked past the warehouses lining the pier. They still didn't know what Roarke was planning to ensure Luthor's systems would fail or what was going on here in the first place.
Even Perry's contact in the Pentagon hadn't been able to tell them what 'Project Shockwave' really was.
Lois wrapped her arms a little tighter around herself as the cold, clammy air dampened her clothes and sent a chill through her.
Houdini froze and a low growl escaped his throat. Clark laid his hand on the dog's back to calm him. He put his index finger to his mouth and then pulled Lois and Houdini behind a bunch of barrels.
Clark slipped down his glasses and stared intently at whatever his x-ray vision revealed only to him. Lois felt a slight pang of frustration. She hated to wait without having any idea what was going on. Craning her neck, Lois tried to look around the barrels. But Clark seemed to sense her intention and held her back.
As she glared at him, he shook his head.
"Too dangerous," he whispered. "Roarke is tying Harrington up. Apparently he wants to get rid of a witness. And he isn't alone. There is another guy patrolling the pier."
Clark took her hand. Crouching, they slowly made their way around the barrels. They took a strange zig zag route that Lois assumed was keeping them out of sight. Slowly they seemed to approach Roarke and Harrington. Lois heard voices, though they were still too far for her to make out what they said.
Suddenly, Houdini froze and started to nudge Clark with his snout. The setter became more agitated by the second, small whimpers escaping his throat. Lois felt her stomach drop. She knew very well what that meant.
As Clark turned to the dog, his wide eyes confirmed her fears. He was going to have another hiccup.
"Now?" he mouthed.
Lois could see the emotions ripple over his features, the panic and resignation. He looked around, but they were too close to badly stacked boxes. As Clark eyed them, Lois could almost see the wheels in his mind turn. They seemed unstable and there was a good chance they would tumble if he moved at superspeed.
A heavy smell of gasoline hung in the air, which didn't bode well for accidental bursts of heat vision.
Clark squeezed his eyes shut. His hands trembled as he tightened them into fists.
Lois wished they hadn't come. She reached for Clark's hand, wrapping hers around his tightly clenched fist. His powers were almost palpable under his skin.
Clark took a shuddering breath.
She felt a tremor run through his body. His muscles stiffened and a low moan escaped his throat. Lois watched him with trepidation as he fought the effects of the red crystal.
She wasn't afraid he would hurt her, but it scared her what this would do to him. Already she could see a fine sheen of perspiration pooling on his forehead and heard the quiet grunts that he was trying hard to keep as low as possible.
Lois cursed herself for dragging him into this while he was still having hiccups. After all nothing had changed, even if they now knew a possible solution to his problem.
But Clark had told her he needed time to think, which was only fair given the circumstances. She understood that he didn't jump at the opportunity to get healed when it meant she'd have to expose him to the green crystal and cut the red splinter out of his body.
She wasn't a doctor, they didn't have anaesthetics and –
Next to her Clark curled in on himself and rested his head on the ground. Lois still held his hand while Houdini licked the other. Between them Clark was hovering two inches above the ground, making Lois pray that whoever was out there wouldn't find them.
She glanced around, keeping her ears trained on every sound. Clark's grunts appeared unnaturally loud while time dragged on, making seconds appear like minutes and minutes like hours. Lois held her breath, afraid that the additional sounds would alert Roarke's goon to their presence.
Even Houdini seemed to sense the danger and had gone still. Every hair of his thick fur stood on end.
Clark's eyes were squeezed shut, lines of pain evident around them. He was still floating, if only a bit. Lois was impressed as well as worried. As she watched him her gut clenched in sympathy. She could only guess how much he was struggling right now to keep the powers contained. And he managed, which was exciting to see. But it also cost him. His breathing was getting labored and sweat soaked his shirt.
Lois wanted to tell him that he should just let go. She wanted to ask him how he was doing and how long this torture was going to last. Tears filled her eyes as she watched him suffer in silence and she wasn't sure how long she could endure this before it would break her.
And there still was a man who might find them any moment. Lois closed her eyes, sending another prayer to Heaven that this ordeal would be over soon, for both of them.
"I envy you," a louder voice disrupted the silence. "You'll have a much better view from where you are. Sayonara."
A motor started and waves hit the pier as what sounded like a boat headed to sea.
Next to her, Clark dropped with a heavy thud.
"Tsunami," he ground out. "Go, free Harrington and run."
He vanished in a blur and right in that moment, Lois heard explosions in the distance.
Houdini barked and ran off. She followed him around the barrels. Not far from them Congressman Harrington sat tied to a bollard.
She knelt next to him, struggling with tight ropes as she saw The giant wave rolling toward them.
Her breath caught and she tried harder to losen the ropes that kept Harrington in place.
"Run while you still can," he urged.
She shook her head and continued her struggle. Her gaze darted toward the approaching wave that became bigger with every passing second. Houdini whimpered, tail between his legs.
Lois froze at the sight of the tsunami. Her mind screamed at her to run, but he feet wouldn't listen.
And then, suddenly, the wave slowed and shrunk before her eyes. The water rolled back and all that remained was a gust of water that left them drenched but otherwise unharmed.
"How?" Harrington sputtered.
"Magic."
Warmth flooded Lois belly as she spotted Clark a little later. He was dripping wet but smiling. Houdini started toward him, wagging his tail and barking with excitement.
Lois returned Clark's smile, not sure what made her happier - that he fought the hiccup or that he'd saved their lives.
He looked proud of himself and rightfully so. His love for her shone in his eyes, making her wish that she wouldn't have to expose him to the crystal again.
