Here's part two. I apologize, if I had realized I would get it done today, I would have waited and posted the story as one big one-shot. But, well, here's part two, the final part.
Thanks for the feedback on part one!
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Clark Kent knocked gently on the door of Mary Jane Watson’s modest apartment. From what he had read, Ms. Watson had been somewhat connected as the “love interest” of the Spider-man and fascinatingly enough, had also been linked to Peter Parker. His anger had had plenty of time to cool on the flight to New York City, and he was finally ready to look at the situation objectively. He attempted to line up the facts in his mind.
Peter Parker had arrived in Metropolis and immediately dug around Lois Lane. While he, himself had fallen hard the moment he laid eyes on her, he knew Lois’ stunning beauty didn’t typically make all men drop their things and rush to ask her out.
And he wasn’t quite sure how the whole “Peter Parker is Spider-man” thing worked out. For one, why was the man working for the Daily Bugle, actually supplying the newspaper with the excellent photography that accompanied such trashy headlines as “SPIDER-MAN IN CAHOOTS WITH TERRORISTS”? The only thing he actually knew for certain was that Peter Parker had some emotional entanglement with Mary Jane Watson and therefore, she remained his one and only lead.
A moment later, he was pulled from his musings by the door opening a crack, the chain still firmly in place. A strikingly beautiful redhead was looking out at him with a mixture of quiet suspicion and genuine curiosity.
“Ms. Watson?” Clark said softly.
“Yes?”
“My name is Clark Kent. I work at the Daily Planet in Metropolis.”
Mary Jane paused for a moment, still keeping the chain in place, but pulling it taut. “Lane and Kent? I read your articles quite often. What are you doing here?”
“Ms. Watson, I’m afraid I came here to speak with you about your boyfriend, Peter Parker.” He cursed himself when she immediately paled. “No! No, nothing serious. He’s fine, Ms. Watson. I apologize for scaring you.” In his haste to reassure her, Clark bungled his words, but eventually he felt she got the message. “I just need to talk to you for a few minutes. You can keep the chain there if you’d like.”
To Clark’s incredulity, a hint of a blush caressed her cheeks and she unlatched the chain.
“I’m sorry. I’m afraid I’ve gotten a little hardened living in the city for so long. You can call me MJ, Clark.”
A wistful smile flitted across his face as he thought of his own city girl. “No, no. You’re right. I just wish my girlfriend at home would be so conscious of her safety.”
MJ leaned her head against the doorframe as she took in the man’s whipped puppy gaze. “You sound just like Pete. He worries too much for his own good.”
Stifling a groan, Clark ran his fingers through his head. “But if the person keeps insisting on finding herself being held hostage by madmen and seduced by lunatic billionaires…”
MJ blew out a breath and rolled her eyes. “Been there, bought the T-shirts. Come on in Clark, and ask me what you need to know about Peter.”
Clark hesitated in the doorway, his mind still on Lois. Was she inviting Peter Parker into her home? Would she let a strange man in her apartment? Why did Mary Jane trust him? He hadn’t shown any credentials! He could be anyone, for goodness sake. Why were these city,
Earth women so infuriatingly trusting?
“Clark? You planning on drinking your Coke out there?” MJ sauntered back to the doorway and gave him a curious little head tilt. “You look awfully confused, Sport.”
He felt the heat rise up his throat in the start of a blush, as he stumbled after her. “Sorry Ms. Watson.”
“What is it with you and this Ms. Watson thing? I told you to call me MJ.”
As Clark mumbled an apology, Mary Jane smiled and patted his shoulder. “Boy, you sure do remind me of Peter sometimes, Clark, and I barely know you. I think you two would get along really well.”
Clark narrowed his eyes, the name sending a bucket of ice water across his shoulders and clearing his mind. “Don’t hold your breath on that, MJ.”
When she looked at him curiously, Clark sighed and rubbed his neck. “MJ, you had better sit down for this.”
Three hours later, Clark Kent and Mary Jane Watson were on the runway of the LaGuardia airport, their plane picking up speed as they chased the sunset all the way to Metropolis.
________________
Clark gripped the edge of his seat on the plane, tensely debating how long the flight was back to Metropolis. He glanced next to him at MJ, who was calmly flipping through the in flight magazine. His death grip relaxed somewhat at her poise, as he made a conscious effort to unwind.
“I’m sorry, MJ. I didn’t mean to make you come all the way to Metropolis with me. Honestly, I just wanted to ask you about Peter. If he had been laid off at the Bugle or anything…”
“—You think I was going to sit at home and knit while you tracked down Peter Parker?”
“Um… Well, no, of course not.” Clark was unnerved. Talking to Mary Jane was like talking to a subtly different Lois. Both had spitfire intelligence and tended to say exactly what was on their minds. He had simply told her that Peter was in Metropolis, working for the Daily Planet; he didn’t want to be the one to break the news that her boyfriend was a scumbag cheating on her with
his girl.
The thought set his teeth on edge and he glared out the window at the blue sky.
“You okay, Sport?” MJ laid a gentle hand on his tense shoulder and Clark relaxed despite himself.
“Yeah, I’m fine MJ,” he said quietly, giving her a small smile. “Thanks.”
“I have no idea what Peter’s doing in Metropolis getting a job at the Daily Planet,” she burst out a moment later. For the first time, Clark saw her masked anger rise to the surface. “If he wasn’t planning on coming back, I’m going to take him out back and beat him up.”
This was said so petulantly, and with such a straight face, Clark burst out laughing. “There’s no doubt in my mind that you could take him, MJ. No doubt at all.”
She nodded, one side of her mouth curving into a small smile. “I like you, Clark Kent. Tell me about this city girl you’re so hung up on.”
A genuine smile crossing his face, Clark dived into one of his favorite subjects. “Lois Lane… Well she’s my partner, for one thing, and let me tell you, she did not like me very much when we started out. She had worked hard for her position and she made it a point to tell me that she was top dog. Lois is… complicated. She’s very beautiful, but really, that isn’t what draws me to her. She’s single minded and pigheaded, mowing down anyone in her way. But then again, there are times when she’s completely the opposite. She’s fiercely loyal and tenacious. She’s absolutely incredible.” Clark paused, looking down at his hands. “I’m sorry, I must be boring you.”
MJ shook her head, and rested her chin on her hand. “I like hearing you talk about her. If Pete says half the sweet things you say about city girl about me, I think I’d count myself lucky.
Clark shook his head, wondering how such a scumbag man like Peter Parker could have wormed his way into this amazing woman’s heart. “If you don’t mind me saying, MJ, if he doesn’t already say those things about you then he’s a real idiot.”
Laughing, Mary Jane ducked her head and then leaned back against the headrest. “As I said, Clark, I like you. You’re good for my ego.”
_________________
A few hours later, Clark left the Planet, a seething Mary Jane Watson in tow.
“He’s actually out on a date?! With
your city girl? What is this ‘Chez Joey’s’ place anyway?”
His jaw clenched, Clark mindlessly pulled MJ out of the way of a renegade taxi and helped her cross the street. “It’s a nice restaurant known for its truffle cheesecake and filet mignon.”
“And they’re there right now?”
“That’s what Jimmy said,” Clark paused. “After I threatened him.”
For a moment, a ghost of a smile flickered across her face. “You were very menacing. And by menacing I meant pathetic.”
“Okay fine, after
you threatened him. I don’t think Jimmy will be able to sleep for a week after you pulled off that high heel and threatened to go for the jugular.”
Mary Jane and Clark hurried along the sidewalk until they reached the front of the restaurant. Through the mildly frosted glass, they could just make out twinkling white lights strung up across the ceiling and the muted lighting of a restaurant guaranteed to put a dent in a man’s wallet.
Clark pulled open the door for Mary Jane and followed her in. A wave of gentle conversation, savory scents, and romantic lightning assaulted their senses. Clark located Lois’ heartbeat right away and pointed them out to Mary Jane.
“I’m going to kill him,” she hissed, her gaze riveted on her erstwhile boyfriend.
His spine a rigid line of tension, Clark thought he might not be far behind. Lois and Peter were ensconced in a spacious booth toward the back of the restaurant, blood red wine catching the sparkles of the white Christmas lights above.
Biting back his own jealousy and hurt feelings, Clark rested a gentle hand on Mary Jane’s back. “Perhaps we should go,” he muttered dully. “I apologize for bringing you here. This is wrong.” He wasn’t quite sure which of the various things wrong with the situation he was addressing.
A hard sparkle glittered in Mary Jane’s emerald green eyes as she shook her head and grabbed his hand. “No, we shouldn’t go. You’re here as my date, aren’t you Clark?”
“Um…”
“Yes, you are. Now before I dismember my boyfriend, we’re going to give him the shock of his life and make him seethe with jealousy.”
“We are?” Clark gulped, but a quick glance back at Lois, who was leaning in closely to Peter’s head, hardened his resolve.
“And we’re going to get a steak dinner out of it, too.”
The immature part of his conscious was jumping up and down at the thought of giving Lois a taste of her own medicine, while the rational part was wondering whether it might be smarter to go poke a sleeping pit bull in the eye.
After the briefest moment of inner debate, Clark nodded.
“You look stunning, Mary Jane, let’s go knock their socks off.”
She gave him a megawatt grin, and the transformation from angry to careless was so profound, he gaped for a moment. “You deserve an Oscar, MJ.”
Mary Jane spoke quietly with the hostess, giving her a few winning smiles and then grabbing his hand again.
“I told her we’re meeting our
friends here. She said to go right over,” Mary Jane said, giving his hand a quick, friendly squeeze. “And don’t you worry that handsome head of yours. If you think this is good acting… well, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”
________________
Lois gave Peter a vacant smile as she listened to him recount yet another story about that one time in chemistry. Or biology. Or whatever it was he was prattling on about. She rested her chin on her hand and leaned into the table, willing herself not to fall face first into her Caesar salad.
“Lois, Peter, what a coincidence seeing you two here.”
Lois straightened immediately, turning to face her partner with a twinge of guilt settling in her chest. He didn’t deserve to be blown off like she kept doing to h—
Who the hell was the redhead?!The strikingly gorgeous woman had her arm looped territorially through
her partner’s arm. A quick once over revealed one perfectly toned leg quite close to Clark’s, and… what was that other hand doing?!
The thoughts flooded through her mind in about a millisecond, but her stunned reaction was nothing compared to her previously dull dinner date’s. Peter jumped to his feet, suddenly appearing much taller.
“Mary Jane? What are you doing here?”
The woman paused, considering him. “I could ask you the same question, Tiger.”
“I-I…” Peter broke off and faced Clark instead. “Why did you bring her here? Who the hell do you think you are?”
Though still battling her own mounting fury, Lois grabbed Peter’s arm and swung him around to face her.
“You,” she said squarely, poking him in the chest. “Don’t yell at him.”
An elegantly dressed waiter materialized out of nowhere, a stern look on his features. “Is there a problem here?”
Clark and Peter faced each other, inches apart, with tense jaws and hard eyes.
Eventually Mary Jane spoke up. “No, of course not, sir. We’re just sitting down.”
MJ took Peter by the shoulder and steered him next to Lois in the booth before grabbing Clark’s hand and pulling him down next to her.
“Now isn’t this fun?” she asked brightly. She grabbed Peter’s water glass and took a big sip. “Delicious.”
“Mary Jane, why are you in Metropolis?” Peter asked again. His blue eyes seemed darker now, more pained. For a moment it startled Mary Jane, but she stuck to her guns.
“I’m here with Clark Kent, Peter.”
“And how do you know Clark?” Lois asked, her tone biting. She hadn’t missed the affectionate way this Mary Jane woman had held Clark’s hand and she didn’t like it one bit. “Who the hell are you?”
“Lois!” Clark admonished from across the table. She whirled on him, giving him a death stare. “You shut up, Mister. I’ll get to you in a minute.”
A siren wailed in the background as the table fell silent.
“MJ, Jameson wanted me to come to Metropolis and get a job at the Daily Planet,” Peter finally said, his voice strained. “To try and scoop their paper.”
Lois and Clark both let out a sharp cry of indignation at the same time.
“You were using me? To scoop the Daily Planet?! You low-life, scheming, two-faced…” Lois ranted, going into full Mad Dog Lane mode.
Two more sirens screamed past the restaurant, and a radio call begged for more backup.
“You left me in New York City to get a job half a million miles away and you didn’t think I deserved to know?!” Mary Jane’s calm demeanor had finally dropped, as she let loose on her scheming boyfriend.
For a moment, Clark almost felt sorry for the guy.
And then another siren joined the chorus and all of his pity became directed at himself. He couldn’t ignore the situation any longer and Lois Lane was going to kill him. No matter his invulnerability, she’d find a way. And knowing her, she’d make it very painful. He tugged on his tie and stood.
“I’m sorry,” he directed this at Lois, pleading with his eyes for her to understand. “I have to go…” he shut his eyes as he thought for a moment, though it could be that he was praying for divine intervention, “…pay my barber. I forgot to get Waldo his check last time and he’s worse than my landlady.”
A pair of brown eyes shot daggers at him, while the green gaze just merely blinked. It was then he realized that Peter was standing next to him, jittery as well.
“And I have to go…” he glanced at Clark and for a moment their differences seemed to melt away as each recognized the cry for help in the other’s eyes.
“Do that thing!” Clark finished, giving the two girls a brilliant smile.
“Exactly,” Peter gasped. The men looked at each other and nodded, before stumbling out of the restaurant. Once outside, they glared at each other suspiciously.
Another police car raced past.
A split second later, Superman was zeroing in on the problem area while Spider-man was hurling himself from building to building.
Neither stopped to think about what they had seen the other do; a truce was called as human life took the utmost precedence.
__________________
Inside the restaurant, Mary Jane and Lois could only stare at the spots where the two men had been in amazement.
“Does this seem to happen to you an awful lot?” Mary Jane finally asked, sinking back into the booth.
“Constantly.”
“And they just make you so angry you could throttle them?”
“All the time.”
“But then they come back and do something really sweet and you kind of forget you were mad at them, despite how much you’d like to hold onto that anger?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Girl, I think we’ve been had.”
Lois sighed and mirrored MJ’s pose.
“So you’re Peter’s girlfriend, I gather?”
“Yup. If I ever decide he’s out of the doghouse. You’re the city girl Clark rhapsodized about on the way here?”
“Apparently.”
“So are we just dating two snakes or what?”
Lois shook her head, still in a state of bewilderedness. “Honestly, Mary Jane, I haven’t the slightest idea. Maybe they’ve got some kind of split personality?”
She actually seemed to give the idea some consideration, but the jingle of the local news network interrupted their musings. MJ and Lois immediately turned at the sound, and watched transfixed as the bartender ignored his customers and turned up the volume.
“I repeat, Spider-man from New York City and Metropolis’ own Superman are here, helping to deal with the hostage situation and the fire raging in the building.”
“Hey! Turn that up!” Mary Jane shouted.
The bartended shot her a dirty look, but raised the volume.
“It seems like the two superheroes, who have never been previously spotted together, are managing to deal with the situation. The Spider-man has just pulled out the hostage! Yes, I repeat, the hostage appears to be safe!”
In the booth, Mary Jane let out a cry of excitement, while Lois kept her gaze fixed on the set for news of Superman.
“His freezing breath has done it again! Superman has extinguished the fire and apprehended the criminals. The two work inordinately well with each other!” The newswoman continued to rave about the two superheroes until the camera suddenly zoomed in on the two heroes. They were facing each other, Superman floating in mid-air and Spider-man perched in an unnatural position on the way.
“They appear to be arguing,” the newswoman continued her play by play in a chipper tone, her eyes glued on the super beings.
Spider-man shot two gloved hands and shoved Superman hard into the air.
Mary Jane and Lois both gasped. They looked at each other, and then back at the screen.
“What the hell is Spider-man doing here in Metropolis?” She finally asked, her eyes still on the set.
“I have no idea. What on earth could they be fighting about?” Lois shook her head, wide-eyed.
The cameraman was creeping closer to the heroes, who were tackling each other and sparring twenty feet above the ground. The soundman ducked as close as he dared and suddenly, with a burst of static and crackle, the muffled voices on the heroes could be heard.
“---Lois--- you traitor---Planet” Superman’s words were cut off in a burst of static, but the faint voice of Spider-man arrived on tape next, muttering a string of indistinct words.
The name Mary Jane, however, rang loud and clear across the set and into the ears of the two incredulous women.
“They can’t be…” Mary Jane began, glancing at Lois uncertainly.
“Where did Clark and Pete say they went?”
Lois responded dully, her mind whirring. “To the barber and to do a thing.”
“Oh my god.”
“I know.”
“Oh my god.”
“
I know!”
“They can’t be…”
“Did you know this?”
“…like two-year-olds…”
“…invulnerable or not, I’m going to….”
“…castrate him.”
“Oh my god!”
“Come on.”
Lois dug through Clark’s wallet, which he had left on the table, and left six twenties. On second thought… She looked in there again and shook the rest of the contents onto the table.
“That’s an expensive glass of wine,” Mary Jane commented as she blandly watched Lois rob Clark blind.
“Oh, trust me, when I get through with that man…”
“I know. Let’s go.”
The two women ignored the hostess who tried to open the door for them and settled outside the restaurant to wait.
“I can’t wait until they get back here,” Mary Jane began, cracking her knuckles.
“Me either. You know, MJ, after having gotten off to a very rocky start, I think I’m beginning to like you.”
Mary Jane opened her mouth to respond, but she was interrupted by Clark and Peter stumbling around the building, straightening their ties. Peter had a black eye and a cut lip, while Clark’s hair was mussed with his glasses askew.
Both men froze when they saw Lois and Mary Jane leaning sharklike against the wall of the restaurant.
Peter muttered an expletive beneath his breath and Clark took a step backward.
Their eyes met, all thoughts of battle forgotten.
“Time to get the heck out of dodge,” Peter said quickly.
“I think you’re right, Peter.”
A burst of sound and light, and they two were gone.
And that was how Spider-man and Superman were left cowering on the roof of Chez Joey, while their girlfriends enjoyed a steak dinner beneath them.
On Clark’s wallet.
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Silly, I know, but it's a relief to have this one off my hard drive. It's been on there, half finished for ages. I thought posting it would spur me to finishing it up. I guess it worked, though I can't promise that this is at all realistic! However, as it deals with a flying man... Anyway, I got the restaurant "Chez Joey's" from Dandello's site
The World of Lois and Clark . (Trust me, I couldn't have made up that name!)
The rest was all my silly imagination.
This is unbeta'd because, well... I wasn't sure who would want to be saddled with this rather long silliness. So all those annoying typos are mine.
Let me know what you think!
Laura
