The Dating Game: Part 3

Chapter 3: Diana Diana arrives at the Watchtower to start her shift. It had been a few weeks since she had found Kal on her couch after his break up with Lois. They had talked infrequently about it. He had told her about when he went as Superman to end it and Lois had thrown a plate at him. He seemed very depressed over the whole thing and to her annoyance she couldn't seem to cheer him up. Her attention is caught by J'onn walking towards her holding the head of one of their training robots in his hand looking very unhappy and muttering in what she has come to recognise as Martian. "J'onn what's the matter?" she asks. "Superman," he answers curtly. "Kal?" J'onn holds up the robot head. "This is his handiwork. In the last month he has destroyed 50 of these." Diana's eyebrows rise up. Kal is usually never so careless when he is training. He feels it is…rude to destroy League equipment. J'onn continues his complaint over Superman's behaviour. "Every day lately he has been doing this and when I ask him what is wrong he won't say and also closes his mind to me. I am having regrets about teaching him how to shield his thoughts." Diana finds it odd. He hadn't seemed that upset last time they talked. She frowns. He has obviously not been telling her what is truly troubling him and that makes her…well annoyed is a mild term for what she is feeling. "Where is he?" she asks J'onn. "Destroying more of these," he says unhappily as he holds the head up. "J'onn I may be a little late starting my shift," Diana informs him and then heads off to the training room. "We'll manage!" J'onn shouts after her hoping to whatever god is listening that Diana can get to the root of what is bothering Superman. Diana opens the door to the training room and immediately has to avoid a robot part flying at her head. Alright now she is more than annoyed. "Kal!" she yells. Clark stops from destroying robots at the sound of that voice. What is she doing here? Clark takes a moment to get his feelings in check before he turns around to look at her. "Diana. What brings you here?" he asks cordially. Diana folds her arms across her chest. "Finding out what the robots have done to make you so angry?" "They haven't done anything. I'm just keeping in shape." "By pulverising machines with the merest fraction of your strength?" she asks not very convinced. Clark shrugs. "Not my fault we don't build them tougher." Diana narrows her eyes. "I think you need a proper workout. Come with me," she says then turns and leaves. Clark's curiosity gets the better of him and he follows. Destroying the robots wasn't helping anyway. He still had this empty feeling inside him. He had first noticed it the day he had ended it with Lois. He had gotten back home and went to bed and there it was. This annoying empty feeling that he can't quite describe and he doesn't know how to fill so he distracted himself from it instead. Hence the broken robots. He follows Diana to the Transporter. "I thought you had a shift?" he queries. "I do but J'onn said they could cope without me. For now I'm going to help you. Now get up here." Clark is very confused but he obeys and stands next to her. Next thing there is is the usual tingling of the Transporter beam and then he finds himself in the middle of what looks like Kansas actually. They are alone in the middle of the nowhere. "Why are we here?" he asks her. Diana removes her Tiara and her lasso and places them on the ground and assumes a fighting stance. "Diana what are you doing?" "I told you I was going to see you get a proper workout. You have a problem with that Kent." Kent!? She never uses that name. "Why are you calling me Kent?" he asks getting more puzzled by her odd behaviour by the minute. "It is your name is it not?" she retorts. "Well yes it is but you never use it no matter how many times I ask you to." Diana shrugs slightly. "Maybe I decided it is time for a change." Clark feels sad and the emptiness in him grows larger. He may ask her to use his human name but secretly he loves the way she says his Kryptonian name with her soft, melodic voice. Clark's introspection costs him as Diana attacks him and promptly throws him down on his back. "Hey! That was cheating. I wasn't ready," he protests. Diana places her foot on his chest hard. So hard in fact that Clark can actually feel the point of her heel dig into his chest. "I'll make you a deal. You tell me what is bothering you and I'll play fair," she offers him. Clark shoves her foot aside and stands up. "There is nothing bothering me." Diana shrugs. "Very well then," she says and then attacks him again without warning. Clark is a little more prepared this time but it takes only a few moves until he is back on the ground again. Clark stands back up. This is quickly getting tiresome. Diana tries to attack him again but Clark counters her this time. He isn't sure why she is being so aggressive but if she wants to do it this way then he can do it this way as well. ---------------------------------------------------------- 3 hours later and Clark and Diana are locked together in a hold each trying to shift the other without much luck. They are both sweaty and bruised. This little sparring session having turned into one of their most aggressive ever. "So," Diana say through gritted teeth as she strains with effort to move Kal, "You going to tell me what is bothering you now?" "I told you," Clark says with great annoyance. Diana had been asking him that repeatedly. "Nothing is bothering me." "Liar!" she spits in his face. Clark summons some extra energy and gets the upper hand on Diana and manages to wrestle her to the ground where he pins her down with his weight. "Superman doesn't lie." "He isn't here Kal. It is just you and me," she says while struggling to shift him off of her. "'Go on Clark. Tell her. Deep down you know what you want.'" "Shut up!" Clark yells at the voice. Diana wonders who exactly Kal is shouting at but whoever it is has distracted him and she uses this moment to roll him over and pin him down. "Now maybe you'll tell me what is wrong with you because I'm not letting you up till you do." Clark scoffs. "You seriously think you can hold me?" he says with scorn. "Nothing can hold me," he now says with arrogance. Diana softens her voice. "Kal. Please don't shut me out. I'm your friend and I'm concerned about you." Clark looks up into her beautiful blue eyes and the wall he has built around his feelings collapses. "I'm empty," he confesses. "Empty?" she asks with confusion. Clark frowns trying to think of a better way to describe it. "I don't know how to explain it. I feel like some part of me is missing so I'm empty inside. I'm not sure this makes any sense." "Actually it does," Diana says with such sadness Clark can't help but notice. "You?" he queries. She nods. It was that feeling when she was growing up that drove her to one day leave her home and see the outside world because she knew whatever was missing inside her couldn't be found on Themyscira. "But why would you feel like that? It isn't like you're destined to end up alone," he says and then immediately wishes he the ground beneath him would swallow him up. Diana looks at Kal and realises he didn't mean to say that and now the pain and hurt is so clear in his eyes. "Kal. We talked about this before. I'm here for you." Clark has long ago stopped trying to get Diana off of him. "It is not the same Diana. I want someone to wake up in bed with everyday. Someone to hold and comfort when they're sad and who will do the same for me. Someone who can ease this ache inside me that has existed since the day I found out I was the only one left." Diana's heart bleeds at the pain and longing in his voice. Gods she wants to do something that will make him feel better. Anything. It hurts her to see him like this. "'Kiss him!'" What was that voice she heard? Diana looks around for a second but sees no-one. It had to be her imagination but as she looks down on Kal looking so vulnerable an irresistible urge to kiss him and take his pain away surges through her. She lowers her head and presses her lips to his not knowing if this is in the least way wise. Clark's eyes widen in shock at the feel of Diana's lips on his. God they hadn't shared a kiss in years and now he remembers why he had avoided it. Her lips are so impossibly soft and warm that once you taste them you are hopelessly lost. He can feel her tongue gently probing at his lips. He knows if he gives her what she wants he will be lost to her utterly and so will their friendship. He pushes her off. "Diana…we can't." "Why not?" she asks bluntly. "Diana. We've been here before and we both agreed it was for the best that we remain only friends." That is right she did. She had just come to Man's world and she was naïve in the way of things and the feelings she had for Kal were new and scary so she ran away from them but that was a long time ago and she has had lots of time to think about that time and reach a new conclusion. "Kal. I think maybe I was wrong." Clark blinks. He hadn't expected her to say that. He had thought she would hear him and they could put this down to the adrenaline of fighting. Before he can say anything though Diana's lips are one more pressed to his only this time with much more force. An involuntary moan escapes him and his hands move of their own volition and wrap themselves around her pulling her down closer against his body. Oh god what are they doing? "Diana. Please stop," he pleads hoarsely. "You want this too Kal. I can feel it." Clark shuts his eyes. His body has reacted to her being there in the very normal way male bodies react to having a beautiful female body laying on top of them. He can't do this though. "Diana. I can't. We tried this before. It can't work." "Why not?" she demands to know once more. Clark open his eyes to find her staring down with intensity he has never seen in her eyes. "Because…" he starts to say. "Because what Kal?" "Because I'm not good enough for you." Diana jaw drops in shock. He actually thinks that!? Good Clark thinks at Diana's reaction. Maybe now she will see sense and get off of him. He can't believe he nearly threw their friendship away…his thoughts are cut off by Diana kissing him even more passionately than before. By the gods he is an idiot and Diana is going to show him how wrong he is. He is more than good enough for her. She continues to kiss him, and by now she has notices he is kissing her back, until her lungs are burning and she has to either stop or pass out. She takes the stop option and pulls back. As she desperately draws breath she can see Kal is doing the same. "Diana what are you doing?" Clark asks breathlessly. "You're an idiot!" she says back still breathless herself. "What?" "You heard me Kal-El. You are an idiot." "Do I get an explanation of why I am an idiot?" "Not good enough for me!?" she says in incredulous disbelief. "Where in the name of Olympus did you get that idea?" "Um it was pretty simple really. You're a princess. I'm a farmer's son. Therefore that makes you out of my league." Diana throws her hands up in exasperation and gets to her feet. She starts pacing around him as he too stands up. "You are an idiot Kal." "You've said that already." "And I'll say it again and again and again and how ever many times it takes till you get that foolish notion out of your head." She doesn't understand Clark can plainly see. "Diana. I care for you. You are my best friend but I don't fit into your world. I never will." Diana comes to a realisation "That is why you ended it all those years ago." Clark nods. Diana takes a moment more before continuing. "Did you feel something for me back then that was more than friendship?" Clark nods once more afraid to say the words. "And now? What do you feel now because you kissed me back there. I felt it so don't bother denying it." Clark won't deny it. He can't. He did kiss her back. He couldn't help himself. She was kissing him and he was lost in her just as he feared he would be. Just like he was the first time he kissed her on their first date. He has always felt so drawn to her and it scared him. For a man who is so use to being in total control being with her makes him feel out of control so he did the only thing he could and limited their relationship to friendship. "Diana. I can't do this. Please don't make me." Diana walks up to him so she is literally inches away. "Why not?" "Because I'm afraid." "Of what?" she asks him. "Of you. Of my feelings for you. Of," he hesitates and drops his gaze to the ground. "Of loving you," he says at barely a whisper. Diana gently places her finger under his chin and raises his head so he looks her in the eye. "Kal," she says so incredibly softly. "I'm afraid too." Clark looks at her slightly puzzled. "Of what?" he asks her. "That something will happen to one of us before I can tell you how much you mean to me. Before I can tell you how much I love you." Something strange goes off inside Clark at her words. The long buried feelings he has for her burst forth and suddenly the emptiness within him is gone. "I'm sorry," he says. Diana thinks he means he is sorry but he can't return her feelings. "I understand," she says sadly and turns away trying to stop the tears that threaten her eyes. Clark grabs her hand and pulls her into him. He wraps an arm around her waist. "No I'm sorry I didn't say this to you years ago. Diana. I love you." This time it is he that kisses her and a strong overwhelming feeling swells up inside Diana. Tears run down her face but they are ones of happiness. The kiss eventually stops when they are both close to collapse due to lack of oxygen. They stand there nose to nose breathing heavily and Clark feathers little tiny kisses onto Diana's lips. "I'm sorry it took this long Diana. You're right. I am an idiot." Diana smiles brightly. "Yes you are," she says in confirmation. Clark smiles back. "Good. I'm glad we sorted that out. Now what?" "Well I don't know about you but I would like to go home and get these bruises looked at." Oh Clark had forgotten about those. His had almost faded away completely in the sunlight but hers won't have healed yet. Well he can't have that so with one quick motion he picks her up in his powerful arms. "Kal! What are you doing?" "Taking you home so I can treat your bruises." Diana looks at him in great surprise. "Kal. You are aware that I'll have to take my armour off." Clark smiles boyishly. "That's the bit I'm looking forward to," he says with an unmistakable desire in his eyes before he takes off and for once Diana simply lets him. ---------------------------------------------------------- The next day is coming to an end and for once J'onn is delighted to say it has been a day where Superman has not wrecked anything. The Transporter activates and Superman appears for his shift and J'onn has to look twice. His permanent scowl is gone and he is smiling a smile J'onn isn't sure he has ever seen on Superman's face. "J'onn!" Clark greets his friend warmly and proceeds to actually give him a hug. "Superman. You are in a good mood," J'onn observes. "Yes I am," Clark happily admits. "And I would just like to apologise for my behaviour these last few weeks. If there is anything I can do to make up for it let me know." J'onn is totally dumbstruck. What did Diana say to him yesterday to perform this miracle transformation? "I accept your apology Kal. I am just glad to see you in a better mood." "Yeah me too. Anyway I should get going. I have a shift to perform. See ya!" Clark says cheerfully. J'onn watches him leave in utter amazement. "Diana. You are a miracle worker," he says to no-one. ---------------------------------------------------------- The next night Lana is getting home from her shift at the restaurant she works at. It may not be the most glamorous work but it pays the bills. She steps out of her car and goes to relieve her babysitter when she hears a familiar whooshing sound. She turns round and standing there is Clark. Now she was still mad at him after what he did but he had been gentle prodding at her to speak to him and she might find it in herself to forgive him one day. "Clark. Why are you here?" she asks him. Clark shoots her a timid smile. "Lana I won't take much of your time but I need to say something to you if you'll let me." Lana gestures for him to continue. "I'm an idiot and I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt you and I hope you will believe me when I said I really did want to date you when I first asked you out. Looking back I should have ended it sooner because as beautiful and as lovely a person as you are Lana we aren't ever going to be a couple. I'm sorry I hurt you before I realised that." Ok. That Lana was not expecting. Sure he had apologised several times and admitted he had made a mistake but to actually hear him confess that he is an idiot is a bit of a surprise. Not that she disagrees with him because she doesn't. "So what do you want from me Clark?" "Nothing," he says horrified that she thinks that. "Nothing Lana. I don't want anything. I would like us to be friends but that decision I leave entirely in your hands along with the belief that there is enough goodness in your heart to forgive me. Well that was everything I wanted to say so I'll stop keeping you from your son. Goodnight Lana." Clark turns to leave but Lana stops him. "Clark. Wait." Clark stops. "Yes." "Um what happened with Lois? Your parents mentioned you went out a few times." "Yeah we did," he confirms. Lana is puzzled by how little emotion there is in his voice. He said that like he was confirming some boring fact. "What happened?" "Lois turned out not to be the person I thought she was. Did you know she started dating Richard White recently?" Lana shakes her head. "No." Clark shrugs. "I feel sorry for him." Clark's voice drops to a whisper. "Rebound guy," he tells Lana. Lana frowns up in puzzlement. "I dumped her," he tells Lana. "You ok with that?" she asks him. "Sure. Lois and I are done, finished, finito. I found someone much better. Funny thing is that she was there all the time right under my nose. Well I have to go. See ya Lana." With that Clark whooshes off leaving a rather stunned Lana wondering just who he is on about that was right under his nose. ---------------------------------------------------------- The next day at the Planet. "Smallville." Clark swings his chair round to find Lois standing behind him. "Yes Lois. Can I help you with something?" "I was just wondering if you're alright with me dating Richard?" she queries. Gee it only took her a week to ask him about that. "Why wouldn't I be Lois? It's your life. You can live it how you want," he says rather acerbically. "Well I thought you might be angry at me," she says defensively. Cark sighs. "No Lois. I'm not. I just misinterpreted what you wanted. It's fine. I was a little steamed I'll admit but I've moved past that." "So we're still friends?" she asks hopefully. She doesn't want to lose Clark's friendship. "Sure Lois. We're still friends." Lois smiles and before Clark would have given anything for one of those smiles but not any longer. Not when he has a woman whose smile is brighter than the sun and has more effect on him than the real sun has on his solar charged body. "So as friends do you want to go have a drink tonight after work?" she asks him. "I would love to normally Lois but I'm afraid I can't." "What? Why not?" she asks before a reason hits her. "You have a story don't you and you were trying to investigate without me. I can't believe you would do that. We're partners." Clark waits for a moment to make sure she is finished with her rant. "You done?" Lois nods. "I can't go out with you Lois because I have a previous engagement." "What engagement?" "My private life Lois is my private life." Lois tries to read Clark's face. "You have a date?" she says with utter disbelief. "Why is that so hard to believe?" he asks her. "Well I just thought…" Oh Clark figures out what she thought. She thought he would still be broken up over her. "Well I'm not Lois. Disappointed?" "No. Of course not. I'm glad you're getting out there Smallville. I was almost beginning to think you were gay." Riiight. That is why he dated her, because he's gay. "Well if you'll excuse me Lois I have a story to write up." Clark then turns back to his computer. "Oh. Sure," she says as she walks away a little upset that Clark could be over her so soon. Generally she leaves more of an impression. Clark listens to Lois walk off. He had apologised to Lana last night because after he and Diana had realised their feelings for each other he needed to put some closure on the mistakes he had made lately. He sure as hell wasn't apologising to Lois because for once he wasn't in the wrong apart from misjudging what she wanted from him. Anyway he should get back to his work. He needs to finish early. He has a surprise he needs to set up for Diana. ---------------------------------------------------------- Diana finishes another meeting late. Sometimes being ambassador was a lot of work she could live without. She gets up to her quarters and opens the door to find the lights out but the place lit with numerous candles. "Do you like it?" Clark asks her coming up behind her. He wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her against his body. "Kal. It's beautiful," she tells him very touched that he went through so much effort. "Not as beautiful as you." Diana doesn't respond but just takes a moment to enjoy Kal's embrace. She had dreamed about this for so long she is almost afraid that this is a dream. "I made dinner," he tells her. "You didn't have to do that." "I wanted to. I needed to. I needed you to know how sorry I am for all those years I denied my feelings for you. I need you to know how much I love you." Diana turns round in his arms to face him. She looks at his face lit only in candle light. By the gods he is beautiful. She takes her hand and strokes his cheek and watches him close his eyes and melt into her touch. For a man supposedly made of steel he was remarkably sensitive to her touch. Clark takes a moment to luxuriate in Diana's touch. God how could he have denied himself this for so long. That day they sparred something inside him changed. He now realises that he has probably always loved her but never felt worthy of her. He sill isn't but he can't fight his feelings any longer. He wants her so much. He loves her more than he has ever loved everyone. It amazes him how quickly he has come to that conclusion. "I love you Clark." His eyes snap open and he smiles at her. "You called me Clark," he says with a kind of awe that she would use that name. Diana smiles back at him. "Problem with that?" "No. I was just surprised. You never use it when we're alone." "Clark. I love you the man. I always have. It never bothered me that you came from a humble background. I have met enough pampered princes over the years to know that the qualities you gained from your upbringing are what make you truly remarkable." "And you princess are simply remarkable," he says back before he lowers his head and kisses her. "'So which Bachelorette will you choose? Number 1, number 2 or number 3?'" "Number 2," Clark mumbles in answer to the voice. Diana breaks the kiss. "What?" she asks at his mumblings. "Nothing," he answers her with a smile. "Now how about dinner?" ---------------------------------------------------------- Author's Note: That epilogue i mentioned will have Clark find out the source of the mysterious voice that keeps plaguing him.