The Dating Game: Part 2

Chapter 2: Lois It has been a few weeks since Clark broke up with Lana and she is at least talking to him again but she is also still hurting. He really screwed up but he at least hopes his friendship with Lana is not totally beyond repair. He gets into work and there sitting on his desk in a close to scandalously short skirt is Lois. His eyes automatically go to her legs because Lois has great legs but she rarely wears something that shows so much of them off. Clark goes to his desk. "Morning Lois." Lois looks up at him and smiles that smile that makes him go weak at the knees. "Morning Clark." Clark sits down, consciously telling himself not to look at Lois' legs in case she spots him doing it. "So what brings you over to my desk?" he asks her. Lois is looking at him, looking like she is daydreaming. "Hmm , oh I just wanted to say good morning." She places her hand on his arm and to Clark's surprise she squeezes his bicep. Is she feeling him up? Come to think of it Lois has been unusually nice to him lately and also much more touchy feely around him than she usually is. He wonders why, then a light bulb goes off in his head. Could Lois like him? Him Clark Kent and not him Superman. She has never paid any attention to Clark Kent before and Superman and Lois were still on a break. He still hadn't decided whether to tell her who he is but if she now has an interest in Clark then she could know. This is what he has waited for for years. For Lois Lane to show Clark Kent a modicum of romantic interest. Of course the question now is how does he make sure for certain she is interested. He is only guessing and his secret identity is too important to put at risk on a guess. Clark swallows. There is only one solution. He has to ask her out on a date but before he can Perry is yelling for him. He sighs, gets up and heads off to Perry's office positive as he goes that Lois' eyes are following him. Lois watches Clark enter Perry's office. Ever since she saw just how well built he is she has been wondering what it would be like to get a closer examination of Clark Kent. After all Superman was still procrastinating over their relationship so technically she was single and she knew of Clark's crush on her. After all it was pretty obvious he had a crush on her. Not that she blamed him because in her own humble opinion she is a pretty attractive woman. She did nothing to encourage him because Clark is not her usual type and well he still isn't but it isn't like she is looking for anything too serious. They'll go out a few times, have a good time, maybe Superman will spot them and it'll provoke him into finally deciding what he wants. Lois had given Clark a few weeks to get over the debacle he made with Lana and now it was time to flaunt her stuff and get him to ask her out. She had started today with the short skirt but that is only the beginning. After all her legs aren't her only `assets'. Clark Kent won't know what has hit him by the time she is through. In the days that follow Clark becomes more and more certain that Lois is interested in him so he finally works up the nerve and at the end of another working day he asks her out. Lois is now looking at him with an amused expression. Oh great. Here it comes. He put himself out there and she is about to tear his heart into little pieces. "I would love to Smallville. You can pick me up at 7." Clark's jaw drops and his mouth hangs open in pure shock. Lois reaches under his chin and closes his mouth for him. "Careful there. Something could fly in," Lois says, her voice sugary sweet before she walks off, her hips swaying seductively. Clark can't believe it. Lois actually agreed to go out with him. Jimmy comes up behind him and pats him on the back. "Way to go CK. You're now the envy of every single, straight man here." "I can't believe she agreed." "To be honest CK I'm a little surprised myself. I thought she was totally obsessed with Superman. Good luck though. You'll need it." "Why do think I'll need luck?" Clarks asks a little confused. "She isn't called `Mad Dog' Lane for nothing. She is as aggressive with men as she is with stories." Clark doesn't think that is true. Ok sure she is a little forward but when they were dating before she wasn't that aggressive but saying that that was him as Superman and there is that awe issue she has in respect to his heroic alter ego. Well sitting here speculating isn't going to get him his answers. He needs to go home and get ready for his date with Lois. That is the only way he'll know for sure just what Lois feels for him. Clark takes Lois to one of the best restaurants in Metropolis. The owner owed Superman a favour which got Superman's good friends Clark Kent and Lois Lane a table. The meal is nice but he can't help but think that Lois is humouring him a little bit during their conversation. He knows she is not really that interested in his upbringing. When she laughs at funny bits it is her little forced laugh. He has seen her use it when she is buttering up a source or trying to sweet talk herself in some place. Being a gentleman Clark escorts Lois back to her apartment. They stop outside the door. "Well thanks for dinner Clark. I had a really great time," Lois tells him. "Me too Lois." Lois takes a little gamble. "Do you want to come in for…coffee?" Clark gulps. The way she said coffee is an all too obvious sign she wants something more. Unfortunately the second he takes his glasses off she'll know who he is and he isn't ready to do that yet. "Um no thanks. I'm trying to cut down." Disappointment flits across Lois' face. "Ok I understand. Well maybe we can have coffee another night." "Sure. That would be swell," he says a little bit too high pitched. Lois smiles at him and enters her apartment. She closes the door. Damn. She was so close to getting that itch she has scratched. Well she'll just have to try again. Lois Joanne Lane doesn't know defeat and she'll get Clark Kent into her bed even if she has to endure another few tediously dull dates because it turns out she and Clark don't have a lot in common. He's a good friend but definitely not long term dating material. She needs a man who has a little adventure in his soul and that man is not Clark Kent. A couple of dates later and Clark is still not taking the coffee bait. He had long dreamed of dating Lois but it is turning out not to be quite as he dreamed. It seems all she is interested in is getting him into bed which doesn't make sense. He knows Lois well enough to know she isn't usually that kind of woman. Something is going on but he isn't sure quite how to find out what so he does the only thing he can and takes her out again and again it is the same thing. He is getting the terrible impression that Lois isn't taking this seriously at all. She just doesn't act the same around him, Clark, as she does around him, Superman, and he doesn't have the nerve to ask her directly what is going on. Lois is getting increasingly frustrated. Sure Clark is nice and sweet and a perfect gentleman on their dates and that is kinda of the problem. She could do with him being less of a gentleman and being more assertive. By date number 4 Lois has had enough so as they stand outside her apartment door she grabs Clark by his jacket and jerks his head down to her lips where she proceeds to kiss the life out of him. Clark gently tries to pry himself away. "Lois!" "What?" she asks rather annoyed. "Lois. What do you want from me?" "Gee Clark I know you're a little naïve but even you are not that naïve." "Lois I don't just sleep with anyone." "Oh come on Clark. You're single. I'm single. Lets just make each other happy for a evening." She seductively walks up to him. "Besides I've been dying to see that chiselled physique of yours for weeks now," she says in a low, sultry voice. That is when it strikes Clark. She wants him for his body. "Lois do you even like me?" "I like you as a friend." "But nothing more?" Lois groans. "What does that have to do with anything?" she asks him totally frustrated. She doesn't want to talk right now. She just wants him to pick her up, take her to bed where they can proceed to spend the night having some hot and heavy sex. "Lois I need to know how you feel about me before we do what you propose." "Again. What does that have to do with anything but if you must know Clark I think you're a nice, decent guy if a little dull." "Dull," he repeats insulted. Lois shrugs. "I like my men with a little fire in their souls but I was willing to make an exception for you." "Fire? Like Superman?" Clark's voice has grown deeply serious. "Well yeah but he has nothing to do with this Clark. I've barely spoken to him outside interviews for months. He barely notices me lately. At least you pay me attention." It is then reality, and his heart, shatters and Clark works out the real reason Lois dated him. She is trying to make Superman, make him, jealous so he goes running back to her. He cannot believe she would use him that way. He tries to cool his temper. "Lois. I don't go in for casual sex. If that is all this is about then forget it." "You slept with Lana," she says petulantly. "That was a mistake and I'm not about to repeat it by sleeping with you. You like me as a friend. Then fine. We're friends and I don't sleep with my friends. So thanks for sharing dinner with me Lois. Goodnight." Clark then stalks off while his gut churns with hurt. He can't believe he was so foolish as to believe Lois might look at him as more than a friend. He needs to get away and talk to someone and there is only one person he can talk to about this. ---------------------------------------------------------- Diana walks into her quarters at the Themyscira embassy after a late meeting that had really gone on too long. It is then she notices a figure slumped on her couch. She turns on the light and there lying sleeping is Kal. His glasses have half fallen off his face. She can't hold back the smile at the sight of him. He looks so innocent and boyish when he is asleep. She goes up to the couch and kneels down. She takes his glasses off, placing them on the coffee table and runs her hand through his hair. If only he knew how much she loved him but she won't tell him. She can't. Not when he loves someone else. It would just ruin their friendship if he knew. "Kal," she speaks softly. He stirs a little and mutters something in what she thinks is Kryptonian. "Kal," she repeats a little louder. Clark's eyes flutter open and he sees Diana looking down on him. He had come to talk to her only to find her in a meeting so he decided to go sit on her couch. He didn't want to go back to his empty apartment and they had a policy that if they needed to they could just go into each other's homes. "Hey Diana," he says a little sleepily. "Hi." Clark sits up. "Guess I fell asleep." "I guess you did. Now what are you doing here? I thought you had a date with Lois." Clark suddenly remembers why he came here and his face saddens. "I did." Diana sits down next to him. "What happened?" "It's over." "What is over?" "Me and Lois Diana. We're done for good." Diana can hear real hurt in his voice so she squashes the little bit of her that is overjoyed at what he just said. "What happened?" she inquires gently. Clark laughs sadly. "I found out the real reasons Lois was dating me?" "What were there?" "Promise not to laugh?" "I promise," she assures him pretty certain he can't say anything that she would find remotely funny. "She wanted me for my body." Diana smiles but she stops a laugh escaping her lips. She takes a moment before replying otherwise she is certain she will laugh. "That the only reason?" "No," Clark says the unhappiness in his voice all too evident. "Go on," Diana encourages him. "She was trying to make Superman jealous." "I see." She had tried to stop it but humour entered her voice. Clark picks up on it. "Diana it is not funny," he snaps at her. At the pain in his voice Diana regains her full composure. "I'm sorry Kal. I didn't mean to upset you." She takes his hand and gently strokes the back of it with her thumb. She knows how deeply sensitive Kal is even if he tries not to show it. Clark takes a breath. "I know. I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm sorry." His gaze drifts to the floor. "You have nothing to apologise for Kal. It is Lois that needs to apologise." "I doubt she'll be doing that anytime soon. I don't think she thinks she did anything wrong." Clark rests his head on Diana's shoulder and she gently holds him. "I just thought she might actually be interested in me, the real me. Not the me that flies around in a red cape but it seems I was deluding myself. I guess I really am destined to end up alone." "Nonsense Kal. You're not alone. You're never alone. I'm here. I`ll always be here." She wants to say so much more than that. That she loves him. That his heart would be safe in her hands but he is in pain and this isn't the right time. He wraps his arms around her and pulls her tight against him. Diana wraps her arms around him and gives him the comfort she knows he needs right now. Clark finds Diana's embrace comforting. He shouldn't be burdening her with this but he didn't know where else to turn and her words that she is here with him eased the pain. Diana is his best friend and to know that she will be here with him as he lives out the centuries of his life while everyone else dies is the only thing that makes the knowledge of his longevity bearable. "So what will you do now?" Diana asks him. "The only thing I can do. Tell Lois that we can't be together. I mean Superman will have to tell her…god I hate all this 2 identities stuff some days." Diana rubs his back. "You're just having a bad day. It'll be alright." "More like a bad few months. I'm telling you ever since Lois fed me her `we need to have a break' casserole my life has just been crap." Diana pulls back so she can look him in the face and is surprised to see him wiping a few stray tears off his face. She didn't know he was hurting this badly and she has a strong urge to fly to Metropolis and slap Lois…hard. "Clark I know you've had a bad day but surely everything hasn't been bad. I mean were there no good times with Lana and Lois?" she asks him in an attempt to ease his pain. "I would categorise them as ok not good. Lana and I…that ended badly. I made a terrible mistake just before I ended it." "What mistake?" Oh Clark hadn't told Diana about that. "I, um, slept with her." "Kal!" she admonishes totally shocked that he, of all people, would be so foolish. Clark cringes. "I know. It was really stupid and she slapped me if that means anything to you." "Not really since you couldn't feel it." "I felt it Diana. Maybe not physically but I felt it," he says solemnly. Diana takes a moment to cool her temper. Kal does sound genuinely sorry for what he did. Clark sighs. "I don't know what I was thinking. Well actually that was the problem. I wasn't thinking. I let my libido take charge for once. I guess deep down I really am just a guy." Thinking back on it it wasn't even that special. Oh Lana was sweet and tender and out of necessity so was he but deep down he needs more passion than that. "Diana. I am really sorry if I disappointed you. All I can say in my defence is that I'm not perfect. I do make mistakes." "Kal," Diana starts to say. "I know you're not perfect. I never expect you to be so." "Why not? Everyone else does," he says petulantly and then immediately regrets it. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that." "Kal. It's late. You've had a bad day and you're tired. Let us talk about this when you're in a better mood." Clark nods. Diana is right. He stands up. "I'll go. I'm sorry if I've been a bother." "Kal. You're never a bother. Now go home and get some sleep. I'll still be around when you wake up if you feel like talking." "Ok. Thank you Diana." Clark then bends down and kisses her on the cheek. "You're a good friend," he tells her before he is off. Wow Diana can't remember the last time Kal kissed her in any fashion. She places her hand up to his cheek at the lingering impression of his lips. A tiny kiss like that and she isn't mad at him anymore. Merciful Minerva. Does she have it bad. Well she should get to bed. She stands up and notices Kal's glasses are still on the table. Well she is sure he has a spare pair. She glances out the balcony from which he left. She hopes he will be alright. His heart is quite fragile and she cannot believe Lois wanted him for his body. Saying that she wouldn't mind having his body pressed next to hers. She rolls her eyes. She cannot believe she just thought that. That is it. She is going to bed before any other lurid thoughts enter her head. ---------------------------------------------------------- The next few days at work are unbelievably awkward. Clark doesn't know what to say to Lois exactly anymore. She has gone back to treating him the way she did before their whole dating fiasco. Well tonight he gets to endure even more awkwardness. Tonight Superman tells Lois that they can't have a relationship under any circumstances. It is clear from what she said she doesn't love him as Superman. She can't because she doesn't know him and she certainly doesn't love him as Clark Kent. Clark thinks she loves the thrill of being around Superman which is not the same thing as actually loving him although he thinks Lois believes it is. That night Lois is pacing around her apartment. Superman had left her a message that he was coming. Finally! She was beginning to think he would never come round to realising what they have. "Evening Lois." Lois jumps. "Superman! Jesus. You spooked me." "I'm sorry," Clark says striding in from Lois' balcony. Just because he is here to end their relationship doesn't excuse him from spooking her. "So you left me a message," Lois says prompting him to speak. "Yes. I've come to a decision about what you said. I'm sorry it has taken me so long. I've been busy." "With what?" Lois asks. "Personal issues." "Like what?" "That is my business Lois. I do have a life beyond what you know." "I know. That is why I kept asking you to tell me who you are so we could have a more normal relationship." "Is normal what you really want?" Clark asks sceptically. "Of course it is." "So if I was a normal guy with no super powers, that wouldn't affect your feelings for me?" "But you're not a normal guy," Lois answers avoiding the question which Clark notices. "Yes Lois I am. I work. I shop. I pay taxes. It is all rather… dull," he says using her word that she used to describe Clark. Lois shrugs not understanding what Superman is driving at. "We all have to do that." "Lois I think if you knew the real me you would be severely disappointed." "No I wouldn't. How could I be? You're Superman." Clark sighs. She doesn't get it. "No Lois. I'm not. Superman is a figment of my imagination. He is an idea. A symbol for people to look up to and be inspired to better themselves." "Which they do." "I hope they do Lois and I hope you will continue to so as well." "Why wouldn't I?" "Because these last few months, since you unilaterally decides we needed a break, have been very enlightening for me and I've concluded that you and I won't work." "What!" Lois screeches outraged. "You heard me," Clark says in a very calm voice. "But I've done so much for you. Without me you wouldn't even have your name." Clark can`t believe it. She is trying to guilt him into a relationship. Well it is too late for that. "I never asked for a name," he points out to her. "All I wanted was to be known as a friend. Besides I have a name. Kal-El. You didn't give me it." "So just like that you're ending it?" "Yes I am," he states firmly. Lois searches Superman's face looking for a tiny glimmer of doubt about what he is saying but she sees none. She just can't believe he is dumping her. Anger boils up within her. "There's someone else isn't there?" she accuses. After all that is the only explanation she can think of as to why he is dumping her. Clark lets out a weary sigh. He should have figured she would think that because in no way in Lois` mind could it be her fault. "No Lois there isn't," he states firmly and calmly. "Then explain this to me please?" she begs. "I already told you Lois. You and I won't work. We're too different. I'm sorry it took me this long to realise it." "I…I..," Lois can't say the words, can't even think of them because this makes no sense to her. She and Superman have this connection. She has always felt it and she thought he did as well. They've been through so much together and she has helped him out so many times and all she gets for that is him dumping her. He is…he is…an ungrateful pig. That's what he is. "Get out," she tells him, her voice low and dangerous. Clark knows that tone and knows it is best if he stages a strategic retreat. He heads for the balcony. He stands there and turns to look at her. "I'm sorry if I have hurt you Lois. It was never my intention." Lois grabs a plate and throws it at him. Clark deftly catches it and places it down before he flies off leaving a fuming Lois standing in her apartment. He hopes she won't do something stupid in her anger. What is he saying? She does stupid things whether she is angry or not. He guesses he should an eye on her just in case. From a discreet distance of course. He lets out an even wearier sigh than he did in the apartment. That's both Lana and Lois gone as possible romances. The only remotely bright spots is that he thinks Lana might forgive him and remain his friend and he also thinks that Lois is still Clark Kent's friend. It's a good thing he never told her who he was. He shudders involuntary at the thought of what would have happened if she had known. It looks like he is destined to end up alone after all. "What about Bachelorette number 2?" Oh for crying out loud. Can't that stupid voice leave him alone. Hasn't he messed up enough for one lifetime. "Deep down Clark, you know which one you want." Clark shakes his head. He is not listening to this. He pushes himself to fly faster hoping to find something to distract himself for a while and not even contemplate what that infernal voice is suggesting. He is not losing his friendship with Diana for any reason even if deep down a little voice tells him that he and Diana could be wonderful together.