Broken Vows
Written by Arcadia
Chapter 7:
Clark was nervous as he entered his apartment. Since the announcement of their divorce, Clark and Lois have been trading boxes with each other. He would return her stuff all neatly packed and Lois would give him his box with his belongings damaged, broken or wrinkled. The only way they communicated now was by the phone. Lois avoided him at the Daily Planet which was becoming increasingly difficult to work in.
Clark would hear the whispers of his colleagues, expressing their shock Clark would cheat. Some even took Clark's side recalling Lois behavior to him when he first arrived in Metropolis. Some even speculated Lois cheated on him with Superman and Clark cheated in retaliation.
Clark tried to avoid the gossip, taking assignments that would leave him out of the office most of the day. With Lois at the Daily Planet, Clark was able to go to his apartment and pick up a few items at a time before Lois had a chance to damage or break any more of his stuff, but sadly, he left most of his stuff to her care.
When Clark entered his former home, he found Lois in the living room. He was holding a box with the last of Lois' things from the Fortress. Lois was sitting on the sofa with a large orange envelop in her hand.
"Hi."
Lois looked up at him. "Hi," she said quietly.
Clark placed the box on the floor. He kept himself close to the door in case he had to make a quick exit. "I have the last of your stuff."
"How funny. I have the last of yours," Lois said dryly, indicating the box on the table.
Clark looked through the box resting on the table with his eyes and saw once again Lois tossed everything in the box without a care, even damaging some of it. "I guess I should take it and go."
"Yeah, you should." Lois stood and tossed Clark the envelop. "Why don't you take this with you?"
Clark looked at the envelop and then at her. "What's this?"
"You have x-ray vision, Smallville. You should know. It's divorce papers."
"Divorce papers? You filed already?"
"What's the point of delaying it?" Lois asked. "Sign it and I'll grant you your divorce. Clark Kent's secret identity will remain a secret and the world won't know Wonder Woman is a slut."
Clark was relieved Lois wasn`t going to expose him or Diana but he had to ask, "Lois…why? I mean, thank you for not revealing my secret, but I thought you would reconsider the divorce." He pleaded to Lois. "You don't want to try counseling? You don't want to give us another chance?"
Lois snorted. "Why? You'll end up cheating on me again. You love her, Smallville. You loved her before me. If our marriage couldn't stop your feelings then nothing will. We'll just be wasting our time on something that just won't work and frankly I'm tired. I'm tired of looking the other way. I'm tired of thinking you won't cheat. I'm tired of being jealous of you and her. I'm tired of being blinded by what you represent and not seeing you for who you are."
"What do you see me as?"
Lois sat on the edge of the couch and looked at him pitifully. "Just another man."
Clark looked at the papers and then at Lois again. He was going to plead again, ask Lois to reconsider but then it hit him on what his parents were saying, what Diana was trying to get across.
He and Lois were over and there was nothing he could do to get his marriage back. He could beg Lois over and over but she would always look at him with the same distrust and disgust as she was looking at him now. Lois wouldn't change. Everyday Lois would wonder if he would cheat on her again and everyday Clark would wonder if he *would* cheat. Their marriage would be filled with distrust, bitterness and suspicions. And, he, well, he would never be truly happy, not as he would with Diana.
I've been such a fool Clark told himself. At least leave the marriage with some dignity.
Not knowing what Clark was thinking, Lois squeezed the bridge between her eyes. She was exhausted physically and emotionally with Clark's constant pleading. "Just sign the papers, Smallville. I'll keep quiet on who you are on these conditions. One--you have to leave the Daily Planet. I can't work with you and deal with the gossip at the paper about our divorce and hear everyone talk about Superman and Wonder Floozy as a couple. Two--I know you're going to go public with your lover but try not to be too showy about it."
"All right," Clark agreed half disappointed, half in disbelief it was really coming to this. Clark took the papers out of the envelop. He read the thick papers with his fast eyes. Lois wanted the apartment and all the furniture, their car, her job at the Daily Planet. She didn't want any alimony and she was also going back to her maiden name. Clark would keep his clothes, his awards and his identity. He didn't have much of anything left: he was losing his job, his apartment, something that was apart of his life for many years. It was a price to pay but it could've been worst and in the long wrong very trivial to what he was keeping: his identity; his dignity.
Clark signed the papers, slipped it back in the envelop and handed it
back to Lois.
Lois' expression was surprised. "I can't believe you did it so fast. So no more begging? Pleading? No more suggestion at counseling or how great we are together." Her expression darkened. "You just can't wait to get away from me and jump in bed with your tart."
"No. That isn't it at all." He picked up his last box. "It just hit me it's really over and no amount of pleading and begging I do would make you forgive me. I can see it in your eyes, Lois. Even if you did take me back, you wouldn't be happy. You wouldn't trust me and honestly, I'm not even sure about myself. We would both be miserable in a loveless marriage filled with suspicions and mistrusts. We would be fighting all the time or not saying anything at all. That's not what I want in a marriage and I know that's not what you want either."
Lois didn't want to admit it but he was right. Still, it would've been nice to see him beg and plead one more time. Lois sighed as she stared at Clark. Tears weld in her eyes as she realized this was really it. She wiped her eyes. "I'll take the papers to the courthouse first thing tomorrow."
Clark nodded sadly. "Whatever you think is best." They stared at each other for a long moment not knowing what else to say. Clark looked at his box then Lois again. "I guess I should get going." He took one final look at his apartment he had called home and started for the door.
"You're finally free, Smallville."
Clark looked back at Lois. Their eyes met one final time. Neither said anything as Clark walked out of the apartment.
****
"Funny, seeing you here," Bruce said as Clark entered the bat cave.
Clark heard about Bruce being injured in Gotham but since their falling out, Clark hadn't checked on his former friend. He looked at the left hand that was injured. It was healed now and he could tell Diana was here and she gave him herbs from Themyscira.
"I just want to talk. Thank you for talking to Lois."
"What makes you think I talked to her?" Bruce said.
"Lois would've gladly given away my identity to punish me but someone talked her into not doing that. It had to be you. Of course I know it wasn't to protect me or your identity. It was to protect Diana."
"You think you know me so well."
"Oh, I think I do," Clark said with a wry smile. "I've been around you long enough."
Bruce sat in his chair in front of his large computer. He and Clark stared each other off, wondering who would talk first. Clark gave in.
"Lois and I are getting a divorce."
"That should make you happy," Bruce said with a dark expression. "You can finally be with Diana without any guilt."
"I'm not as happy as you may think, Bruce. I feel very guilty about my marriage ending. I betrayed my promise to a great woman and I'll always carry that guilt with me." He sighed. "As for Diana, we have much to discuss before we can even *think* of being together. It's possible what we had is over forever." He looked at Bruce cynically. "You should be pleased. Neither of us has her."
"You'll get back with her, Clark." Once again, Bruce wasn't sympathetic.
"Even if you are right, Bruce, I want to make things right with *us*. We shouldn't let our feelings for Diana hinder our duties with the League. I know what happened in Gotham."
"Diana more or less said the same thing," Bruce said. "I had plenty of time to think about this. If you and Diana come together, I won't interfere. Diana has made her choice and I've chosen to respect that." Bruce rose from his chair. "I'm willing to put our differences aside and move on if you are."
"I am." Clark held his hand out to Bruce.
"But," Bruce said, shaking Clark's hand, "I will be taking some time off from the League. I have lost objectivity. I need to clear my thoughts, get focused again."
"Diana and I will hold the fort until you return," Clark promised. "We should all get together as friends and work on Justice League assignments as soon as possible." Clark smiled. "I actually miss you berating me."
Bruce's lips twitched as well. "I'll be sure to do that as soon as I get back. Better be good to her," Bruce warned. "I'm good at delivering vengeance."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way, Bruce."
****
A week later, Clark flew to the Themysciran Embassy. Clark hadn't seen Diana much with J'onn assigning them different schedules. With his divorce weeks from finalization, Clark decided to settle things with Diana. Whether they have a relationship or not, he at least had to be friends with her again.
From the sky, Clark could see a group of paparazzi around the entrance. He couldn't fly in that way. It has been almost six weeks since the news of his relationship with Diana was announced to the world and it was still a hot story. Clark landed on Diana's balcony instead. Diana wasn't in her room so he walked out her bedroom hoping to find her or someone who could tell him where she was.
"Ferdinand," Clark greeted the Minotaur in the hall.
"Superman." Ferdinand was giving Clark the same look everyone else gave him. They knew what was going on with him and Diana but didn't know how to address it. "How are you?"
"I'm well. Have you seen Diana?"
"Yes. She is in a meeting. She has outside guests visiting her. I think it would be best if you remain discreet."
Clark agreed. "Will it be all right if I wait in her room?"
"Of course. I'll let her know you are here as soon as her meeting has ended."
Clark returned to Diana's room and sat on the divan. He only had to wait an hour before Diana arrived. "Ferdinand told me you were here."
"I didn't know you were in a meeting. I can come back later if you want."
"It's all right. My guests are having lunch now. I have a few minutes. Ferdinand will let me know when I need to get back," Diana explained. "Why are you here?"
"I want to talk."
Diana regarded him and sat on the divan next to him. "All right."
"Lois and I are divorcing. I'm not stopping it."
Diana wasn't sure how to take the news. Part of her was relieved but another part of her was sad Clark's marriage was ending. She knew how much he loved Lois and how much he wanted to try to reconcile. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah. Thanks. Lois and I are over for good. She promises not to write a story exposing my identity or our affair."
Diana knew that had to be a hard thing for Lois to do. She saw the hate in Lois' eyes. Diana knew Lois wanted her and Clark to pay badly for the affair. "That's very admirable of her."
"Yeah." Clark ran a hand through his dark hair. "I didn't even plead with her again. I just signed the papers and left."
Diana was taken back. "But you said you were going to try everything."
"I was," Clark admitted, "But then it hit me that no amount of pleading would change anything. Then I thought about what my parents were saying, what you were saying. I guess I wasn't ready to admit it until that moment but my marriage to Lois is over." He sighed. "It's best to leave with some dignity even though what I did was disgraceful."
Diana smiled, proud of him for ending the marriage with grace and not forcing himself into something she knew he would regret.
Clark wasn't sure what Diana's smile meant but he said, "I know we're not on good speaking terms now but I want to tell you again how sorry I am for lying to you about Bruce. I should've told you the moment I knew but I didn't. It was stupid. Maybe on some level I did want him to see so he'd know he'd never have a chance with you and for that I'm deeply sorry."
Diana squeezed his hand. "Thank you."
"I should've been honest with my feelings, Diana. I knew I wanted you and I was going to leave Lois but I was so foolish, wanting things to go my way that I turned and ran when our affair was exposed, only thinking of trying to make things right with Lois without thinking of how much this was all hurting you."
Diana saw how guilt ridden Clark looked. She laid a hand on his again. "You don't have to say anymore."
"I do," Clark said. "Not only did I hurt you when I tried to work things out with Lois when our affair was exposed, I hurt you again. Those vile pictures that reporter took of us exposed you in such a distasteful manner. You must've been so embarrassed and you had to deal with it alone. I wasn't there for you and yet you come to me in the darkest period in my marriage because you knew I needed my best friend. Even though things weren't good between us, you came to me."
A tear fell from Diana's eyes and Clark brushed it away. "I'm so sorry. I've hurt you so much. I hope you can forgive me, Diana."
Diana pressed two fingers against Clark's lips, silencing him. "You've said enough apologies. Thank you."
"I should be going."
Clark rose to his feet when Diana suddenly asked. "So, what happens
now?"
"Pardon?"
"You're divorcing Lois. Will you continue working with her at the Daily Planet?"
Clark shook his head. "No. Part of the divorce settlement was that I leave the Daily Planet. I've decided to leave Metropolis as well. I think it would be better this way for both of us."
"So, what will you do?" Diana asked.
"Find a new city to live in and consider a new career. A novelist sounds like a good idea. I'll be spending more time with the League now that Bruce is on leave."
Diana, like everyone else in the League, knew Bruce was taken a leave of absence. Only Clark, Diana and J'onn knew why. "I think you'd be good at being a novelist." Diana stood next to him. "What about us?"
Clark remained guarded. He didn't want to set himself up for disappointment. "I would like to be with you but I'd understand if you didn't. I really blew things hiding about Bruce and my behavior when my affair was exposed. I don't deserve you. It's up to you what you want."
"It's up to me then." Diana decided. It didn't take Diana long to come to a decision. She cupped her hands on Clark's face and pulled him to her, kissing him softly. She smiled at Clark's stunned expression. "I would like to start over then. Even though we've been intimate, I think we should be slow with our relationship. It will take time for others to get used to us, like your parents, Lois, even Bruce." She laughed shakily. "Your parents can't be too fond of me now."
"My parents are madder at me than you but I think they will come
around."
Diana started to say something else but a knock at her door prevented her. "That's Ferdinand. I have to get back to my meeting. We'll talk later."
"Dinner." Clark called to Diana as she started to leave.
Diana turned around, confused. "What?"
"Dinner. You want us to start slow with our relationship. How about dinner a month from now?"
Diana was still confused. "Why a month from now?"
"My divorce to Lois will be final. I want to start this relationship right."
Diana smiled in understanding. "A month it is." There was that knock again. "I should go. I'll see you." She gave him a light peck on the cheek.
Diana left after that and Clark left the embassy, soaring in the skies. One month from now he thought with a smile. Divorcing Lois was hard for him to take and it was something that would be with him for the rest of his life but he was hopeful as a new chapter in his life was beginning one month from now.
The End