Thanks for the feedback folks. Yikes, though-- I never meant for this fic to be such a Clark-bashfest. Heh. But that's all my fault of course for portraying him as such a thick-headed mule.
Tank-- I'm glad to hear you're enjoying it, but I am definitely sorry for making Clark such a lunkhead. *ducks* But his character is definitely something I'll think about a bit more when I start making edits for the archive.
I love how you put this: "That means he has to wake up and smell the Lois' pretty soon." That's basically right, heh.
As for Krypto, I definitely know where you're coming from. I was hesitant about putting him in here. But as an animal lover who wanted to use him at some point (without him taking over the story and making it about him rather than Lois and Clark), I figured I might as well just run with it to add just a bit of uniqueness to the story.
What I tried to do with animals in this story was to use them as catalysts or transitional objects of sorts. Krypto is something Clark could touch without fearing of causing harm. Then Krypto showed how Clark could touch others without harming him. Caring for the bird leads Clark and Lois to confront their care for each other--though it works out in a sort of strange way. And then there are of course the lions...
So, the animals all do play their parts (and I tried to use animal language where I could to tie things together thematically), but they definitely could have been omitted; other objects/people could have done what they do. And it probably would have been better that way. But I did have some fun doing it as I have it, so I guess if Krypto at least doesn't take away from the story, then I shouldn't take him away from the story?
Sorry for that ramble, heh.
Laura-- Yikes! Sorry to hear that.
At least it is almost over?
Iolanthe-- Hahah. That might be too subtle for Lois.
Seme-- Heh. Yeah, he's a coward. But at least his reasons for cowardice are better than most people's...?
Michael-- Heh.
I really enjoyed that bit with Jericho!