Lois was surprised Lex set up to meet her in the LexCorp basement. Usually, she always met him in his penthouse. She had only been down to the LexCorp basement once before, during Nightfall and it had seriously creeped her out then. Lex had made a replica of her apartment and had invited her to live there and be his--
"Lois, darling, so glad you came," said Lex, coming over to greet her. She was disturbed to realize that the compound existed just as she remembered it from Nightfall. That must mean her replica apartment was still the same, too... He had chosen another apartment for this evening, obviously also a mock-up from the Nightfall incident. She looked around warily, wondering whose apartment he had modeled this room after.
"Lex, why are we down here?" she asked nervously, for once wishing she had told Clark what she was up to.
He smiled but didn't answer her. "A glass of wine, darling?" he offered instead.
She shook her head. "No, I--I need a clear head. I still have some work to do when I leave here..." she emphasized, making it clear that she *would* leave.
"Lois, you are a diligent worker, I must hand it to you. Come, at least have a seat." Lex gestured to two plushly upholstered chairs set up by a gas fire.
"My darling, you are lovely in the firelight," he whispered before letting go of her arm to let her sit. She should feel flattered, excited even by his comment. Instead she felt a vague wariness.
Lex took a sip of his wine and eyed her over his glass. "So my dear, have you thought of my proposal?"
She nodded, giving him a noncommittal smile.
"I wait with baited breath, Lois. What will it be?"
She looked over at him. Surely it was just a trick of the firelight that she could almost see a red glow in his eyes? Still, she shivered.
Lois stoop up again, needing to feel in control. She could do this. He had been nothing but kind and generous to her. He wouldn't hurt her. Sure, no one wants to be turned down from a marriage proposal, but it was too soon!
"Lex, the last few weeks have been really wonderful," she began. "But this is all too much, too soon."
"Do you need more time?" he offered generously.
She shook her head and then looked at him, thinking. "Lex, do you love me?" she suddenly asked.
"Lois, you dazzle me and delight me." He walked over to her, turning her to look at him. "Lois, you are the sun and moon to me. Just say 'yes.'"
She started wringing her hands. Of course he didn't love her. If she actually married him, she would be just another possession, a jewel in his cap. "I--I can't, Lex."
He frowned suddenly. "Is it that partner of yours, Kent?"
"What?" she asked, taken aback. She knew they didn't like each other, but the ice in his voice worried her.
"I know you've been seeing him more than just as a work partner, Lois. And I don't like rivals. I *always* win," he said dangerously.
"Lex, I have only been seeing you for a few weeks. Surely there is no reason to--"
"Lois, you need to get away from that man. He has too much influence on you. In fact, I don't think you can consider my proposal properly unless you don't see any more of Mr. Kent. You need to make it clear to Perry that you cannot work with him."
"I will not!" she protested.
Lex turned to her, his voice calm, but his eyes bespoke a warning, "You don't want me to have to --arrange for Mr. Kent to go elsewhere, do you?"
"Clark would never leave the Planet!" she cried defensively, shocked at what Lex was saying.
Lex waved his hand casually in the air as he spoke, "Well, he might not have to. Accidents happen--"
Though she was disgusted at what he was suggesting, Lois found herself smirking just a little. <<At least I know Clark can handle himself.>> "Superman would never let anything happen to Clark," she said defiantly.
Lex didn't answer her but walked over to a bureau. He pushed a button to reveal a glass panel. Under it, was a large rock, glowing the sickly green of Kryptonite. He turned to her, the glow giving him a devilish look. "I wouldn't get Superman involved in this, if I were you, Lois."
He closed the panel, and then walked over to her. The malice she had seen in him mere seconds ago was gone, as his face smoothed from long practice into the lines of gentleness.
It was like he hadn't even made those veiled threats.
"Just think about it, Lois."
********
Lois had been dropped off that night at her apartment a short time later. She had thought about telling Clark everything, but then he'd surely want to confront Luthor. And she couldn't let him do that knowing Lex had Kryptonite! And even though he could handle any traps Lex might throw at him as Clark, Lex could quickly discover his secret when his efforts to "do away" with him failed. No, the best course of action was to do what Lex said--for now. And pray God that she'd come up with a better plan before he made her march down the aisle.
So, here she found herself after a wonderful date with Clark, having to force him out of her life. She had let herself indulge for just a moment on the dance floor that they could be together, but unfortunately, fate had other plans.
Lois made her way to her bedroom, wiping tears from her eyes. She was frightened into a corner and she hated the feeling. She did not want to be a victim, but she didn't see what she could do and still protect Clark from Lex. As she changed into a schlumpy robe, she started thinking, hard. Clark had distrusted Lex from the start. Lois suspected that Clark may have known more about him than he let on, as he may have had to deal with him as Superman. And they just didn't tend to bring up Lex around each other; Clark hated him and Lois was sort of dating him. But now, she wished urgently she had probed Clark for more information on what he knew about Lex. She sighed.
But maybe she didn't need Clark to handle this. Lois was, after all, one of the best investigative reporters in the business. So all she really needed to do was to find a way to bring down Lex legitimately, and not involve Superman at all. She admitted it would be easier if Clark could help her, but it was too dangerous for him. She spared little thought as to what Lex might do if he found out she was trying to bring him down, though. What mattered was finding out what Lex was really about. And she'd have to do it as surreptitiously as possible. Lex might have spies... even at the Planet, if Lex could threaten to send Clark away from his job. And she didn't think it was an empty threat. She knew Lex had influence all throughout Metropolis.
She'd definitely have to do this on her own.
And as hard as it was going to be, she was going to have to push Clark away from her even further.
*******
Lois told Perry first thing that she needed some space from Clark.
Perry threw his hands up in frustration, "Don't sing it, Lois! I had just hoped that fate would smile on you two--"
"Perry!" she cried, getting his attention. "Clark and I---we're fine. I--I am just onto a very big story that I--need to do alone. Please. This is very important."
He eyed her carefully. "If it's such a big story, why can't you work with Clark on it?"
She sighed. "Please. Trust me. If I could, I would. But--this is just too big. I need to do it alone."
Lois hoped all her years of loyalty and dedication would win out. She needed Perry to trust her, just to do this one favor.
"All right. But I am *not* going to be the one to tell him. You'll have to tell him yourself."
And that's when things went from bad to worse...
She came up to Clark's desk, barely having said hello to him when he had come in. She knew he was rightly upset about last night, but she couldn't tell him why. And she was about to turn his world even more upside down.
"Hi," she said quietly.
"Hey," he answered, his face an unreadable blank.
She cringed. She knew she hurt him. But it was for his own good. She had to protect him from Lex.
"Clark..." she sighed heavily. <<This is so hard.>> "I first want to apologize for last night. I--I just need some time."
He looked up at her, slightly hopeful but still hurt. "You slammed the door in my face last night, Lois," he said despondently.
She touched his shoulder, and then looked around warily. Would Lex know she was talking to Clark? She suddenly pulled her hand back.
"I talked to Perry this morning. Clark, I need---a break from our partnership."
He looked up at her suddenly, hurt evident on his face. "Why, Lois? What did I do wrong?"
She winced. She hated hurting him like this. "Nothing, Clark. It--it's me. Just---give me a week, okay? I just--need a week."
She sincerely hoped that was all the time she needed. Because she couldn't bear to see that hurt look on Clark's face, a look that she had put there and that he didn't deserve. She felt her throat constrict. <<I have to protect him. He's saved me so many times, I have to do this for him.>>
He sighed. "I don't understand, Lois, I really don't. But I told you that I'd give you all the time you need to--well, I'll keep my promise. I don't like it. But you have it. A week."
She tried to keep her countenance steady, not to reveal the turmoil inside. <<I really do love him, don't I?>> she suddenly realized and it nearly made her let out a sob. <<But I have to do this. I can't let Lex win.>>
