Different Worlds Part Ten

by Arcadia

Rokan Part Two "Good evening, I'm Angela Chen. Welcome to Channel 11 news where you get the news and weather in the first eleven minutes. This evening's top story is the monster that attacked Metropolis this morning." The large monitor in the Fortress of Solitude showed Rokan causing destruction downtown Metropolis as the news anchor narrates. "The dinosaur that was found in Antarctica reportedly thawed and broke out of the Metropolis Natural Science Museum. After killing two scientists in the museum, it caused destruction in downtown Metropolis." A video of Superman holding Rokan's tail appeared on the screen. "Superman tried to handle the beast." Superman is shown being thrown from Rokan. "But he wasn't successful." Wonder Woman flew on the screen and her battle with Rokan is shown. "Wonder Woman showed up to take on the beast and while the Amazing Amazon faired better than Superman." It cuts to a video of Wonder Woman ramming into the traffic pole and collapsed on the ground. "She was also defeated." A picture of Superman and Wonder Woman kissing filled the screen as Angela continued. "According to the reports from the Daily Planet, Superman and Wonder Woman are secretly an item." The screen cuts to Superman and Lois kissing in front of Wonder Woman after the fight with Rokan. "But it can't be serious with Superman kissing Daily Planet reporter, Lois Lane." "Superman was quick to break the kiss from Miss Lane and addressed the public that the creature attacking Metropolis was actually Rokan, a creature from his destroyed planet Krypton. Superman and Wonder Woman didn't answer any questions as they were quick to leave the scene in search of Rokan. But coming from this reporter, Superman will get a lot of cold shoulder before he's back in the good graces of Wonder Woman." Annoyed, Diana switched the channel to CNN. They were repeating earlier reports of Rokan's destruction all over the world. After leaving Metropolis, Diana and Clark flew around the world in search of Rokan only to have the beast best them each time and with no luck of Diana retrieving her lasso. After their defeat in Australia, they flew to the Fortress of Solitude to come up with a better plan in dealing with the beast. Although they had a mission to deal with Rokan, Diana couldn't help but think of Lois Lane kissing Clark. So many questions arose in her. Who was Lois Lane? Why was she hanging onto Clark? Why did she kiss him? Diana was smart to notice it was Lois who kissed Clark and Clark was rather startled by the kiss and was quick to pull away but it still bothered Diana that the kiss happened. CNN broke in with breaking news that Rokan was in Hawaii causing destruction. Her thoughts on Clark and Lois Lane would have to wait. Diana turned to rush to the lab where Superman was with Kel-Ex but he stood in the entranceway. "Kal, Rokan is in Hawaii. We should move." Superman looked over Diana at the screen. "I see. Diana, before we go, you have to understand--" Diana knew what Clark wanted to talk about and she cut him off. "Kal, we can't talk about that now. There are bigger things happening than us right now." Superman nodded. "Right. Later then. Rokan is powerful than both of us. He is from Krypton and the only thing that can stop me is kryptonite." "Yes," Diana said but she wasn't following where Superman was going with this. "In my lab, I have a vault of all the kryptonite I've collected so far. It's approximately half the size of Rokan. It should be enough to stop him." "Stop him how?" Diana questioned. "Kill him? Contain him?" "I don't want to kill him, Diana. It's a living creature." "A living creature that has killed ten people and caused numerous damages across the world," Diana reminded him. "We've no way to contain it." "Yes, there is. The Phantom Zone." Diana knew what he was talking about for Clark had told her about it. "There are all kinds of creatures as well as prisoners in the Phantom Zone. It should hold him. I will go to Hawaii and keep Rokan there until you come with the kryptonite. Kel-Ex will follow you with the Phantom Zone projector. Once we have Rokan weakened, we'll send him to the Phantom Zone." "Won't you need to be warned to leave once I arrive with the kryptonite?" Diana asked. Clark answered by putting an earpiece in Diana's right ear. "This should keep us in contact with each other, but I won't go anywhere. Your sister, Epione taught me some techniques that would help me slow down the affects of kryptonite." "I'm glad my sister was been able to help you." Diana wanted to say more but decided not to. "Let's go. We haven't much--" Diana was cut off when Clark kissed her. She didn't kiss back as she stared at him wide eyed. Diana continued to stare at him puzzled when Clark broke the kiss. "Be careful, Diana. Rokan is dangerous." "I think I should be saying that to you," Diana said. "Afterwards, we talk." Diana nodded her agreement. Clark released her and left the fortress. Diana entered the lab and found Kel-Ex waiting. "Master Kal-El told you the plan, Mistress Diana?" Diana started to correct him on Kel-Ex's addressing her but remembered what happened last time. "Yes, Kel-Ex." Diana pointed to a large silver door. "Is that where Kal keeps the kryptonite?" "Yes, Mistress Diana." Diana pulled the handle of the large lead door and stepped inside of the vault. Kel-Ex followed her inside. "Master Kal-El had me forge all the kryptonite together." Diana stared at the culmination of kryptonite which looked the size of half Rokan as Clark had said. "Will you be able to carry it, Mistress Diana?" Kel-Ex asked. "Of course," Diana answered. "But Kal said this is deadly to him; it can kill him. I'm just concern how much danger he is putting himself in." **** It didn't take long for Superman to find Rokan in Hawaii. Rokan was over Maui flapping his wings creating strong winds in the area. Hawaiians and tourists sought sheltered in buildings. Rokan landed and his footsteps created tiny tremors. His ten feet wide feet left deep imprints on the ground. Rokan plucked a palm tree from it roots with his beak and ate it. The tree was tasty but he wanted something with more substance. He saw tourist running in fear and decided they would be tastier. Before he could grab one, two red beams burned his tough skin. Rokan squawked and look frantically to see who attacked him. Superman flew towards Rokan and shot his heat vision on Rokan again, piercing the beast's neck. Rokan returned the fire and Superman avoided the blasts. Superman landed on top of Rokan, sitting on its back. He unhooked Diana's lasso around Rokan's neck and secured the lasso on his right arm. Rokan tried to buck Superman off him but the Man of Steel dug his fingers in Rokan's thick skin, keeping himself on the monster. He then used his strength to pull Rokan up by his shoulders. Rokan screeched and flew upward just as Superman wanted leading Rokan away from Maui. They were away from the people but the island was still in danger with Rokan in the skies. As they neared Molokai, Diana contacted Superman through his earpiece. "Kal, I am approaching with the kryptonite." Diana knew Clark was staying with Rokan and though she didn't agree with him, proceeded with the plan. Kel-Ex flew aside Diana as he held the Phantom Zone projector. As soon as Diana was within twenty feet of him, Superman felt the affects of the large supply of kryptonite. His grip on Rokan loosened and he struggled to hang on as Rokan was now coming under the affects of the kryptonite. He concentrated on the meditative techniques Epione taught him and the kryptonite was less severe on his body. Rokan feeling weakened by the kryptonite screeched painfully and flapped his wings. This time he was able to knock Superman off but Superman caught himself and flew to Kel-Ex to adjust the Phantom Zone projector as Diana drew closer to Rokan with the kryptonite. Rokan lands on top of a volcano on Molokai momentarily to regain his strength. Slowly his strength started to return but it was easily zapped away as Diana approach. Rokan saw the Amazon and panicky flapped his wings wildly. As his wings flap madly and his feet on top of the volcano created tiny tremors, pressure build in the volcano until it violently exploded. "Great Gaea!" Diana cried out. Dark smoke and hot lava shot out of the volcano. Diana was caught in the cross fires of the explosion. Hot lava splattered on her, burning her tough skin. To make matters worse, Rokan dived in the safety of the volcano to get away from the kryptonite. Superman looked up at the volcanic explosion and witnessed the hot lava hitting Diana. "Diana!" Not thinking of his own safety or his meditation, Superman flew to her. As he approached her, he saw lava burns on Diana's arms and legs and looked at her worriedly. "I'm fine," Diana told him as she could read his thoughts. "Rokan caused the volcano to erupt and I got caught in the crossfire. He dived in the volcano. He's hiding to protect himself from the kryptonite." Diana explained. She saw Superman suddenly stumble in flight. He lost his grip on the projector and started to plummet to the ocean when Kel-Ex caught up with Superman and held him up with one hand and held the Phantom Zone projector in the other. Without Epione's meditative techniques, Diana saw the affects of kryptonite on Clark. His skin was pale and he looked so weak. It shocked her how quickly the kryptonite was affecting him. "Kal, you shouldn't be here." "I'm not…" he strained the words out as the kryptonite continued to drain him."…letting you fight that monster alone. I'll … lure him out of the volcano." "You're too weak by the kryptonite to do it," Diana said. "We only have one shot at this. I'll go after Rokan and lure him out. When he comes out, send him to the Phantom Zone." "Diana, you'll only hurt yourself even more," Clark said. "Diana! Don't!" Diana didn't listen as she flew down the volcano after Rokan. Rokan was in the base of the volcano, swimming in the lava. When he saw Wonder Woman descend towards him with the kryptonite, he panicked flapping his wings slinging lava on Diana. Despite the burning, Diana persisted and got closer to Rokan. When Rokan saw Diana wasn't giving up, he flew closer to attack Diana with what little strength he had left. Diana withdrew and flying higher in the volcano, just barely out of Rokan's reach. The creature took the bait, flying higher trying to maul Diana but his aim was off as the kryptonite affected him. Superman stood on the edge of the volcano waiting for Rokan. He leaned on Kel-Ex as he focused the Phantom Zone Projector. The large amount of kryptonite was painful but Superman knew he would've been in worse shape had he not talked to Epione. There weren't any herbs that could help him fight the affects of kryptonite but the meditative techniques the Amazon taught him help deal with the pain. Diana flew out first followed by Rokan close on her. As soon as Superman saw the beats, he fired the Phantom Zone projector on Rokan. Beams from the projector swallowed Rokan and the beast struggled with all his might but couldn't break free as he was sucked into the zone. Clark let out a relieved sigh. He looked upward and sent Diana a weak smile. She smiled back. Now that the matter with Rokan had been dealt with, it was time to deal with the matter concerning them and Lois. **** "Kal, this isn't necessary." Diana sat on an exam table in the lab of the Fortress of Solitude as Clark applied healing cream on Diana's wounds. Clark rubbed cream on Diana's left arm as he said, "You were burned by hot lava. It's not as severe as I thought but you should get it treated." "I know that but I can go home and use the purple ray," Diana argued. "This works, too," Clark told her as he placed a bandage over the wound. "And with your skin you will be healed in less than twelve hours. I can already see it healing." "What about you?" Diana asked, changing the subject on him. "How do you feel after being exposed to all that kryptonite?" Clark smiled. "I'm fine now that the kryptonite has been locked up again. I'll have to work on those meditative techniques a bit more though." Clark took some more cream and rubbed it on Diana's upper right leg. She jumped slightly as a shiver traveled through her. She didn't understand why but she liked it when Clark touched her there. He was only treating her wound but for her it was something pleasurable. Clark noticed the jump and looked concern. "What is it? Did I hurt you?" Diana shook her head, her voice momentarily lost. Clark thought he might've hurt her when it was just the opposite. Clark ignorant to Diana's thoughts resumed tending to Diana's wound. "We need to talk about what happened in Metropolis." "The kiss between you and Lois Lane." "Yes." Clark sighed. "Diana, I didn't now she was going to do that. I rescued her after she fell off the Daily Planet building due to my fight with Rokan. She insisted I carry her to the scene where you were." Clark shrugged. "Now that I think about it, I'm betting she kissed me in front of you and the press intentionally." "Intentionally?" Diana questioned. "Why?" "To challenge you for me. Stake her claim. I don't think she was too happy about that article Cat wrote about us." At Diana's lost look he explained. "Lois is attracted to Superman." Realization dawned on Diana. "I see. It isn't attractive to force yourself on someone to get them to notice you." "Yeah, but that's how some people do it," Clark mused. Diana raised her right arm slightly so Clark could take care of the open wound there. "Do you have feelings for Lois Lane?" "The truth is I was attracted to Lois but she only had eyes for Superman and I accepted that because I thought Lois would be attracted to me: Clark." He looked at Diana with sincere eyes. "But then you arrive and it didn't matter anymore." "Do you still have feelings for Lois Lane?" Diana asked. "Only as friends," Clark told her as he patched a burn on her inner left thigh. Clark didn't say anything but he was aware of what his touches was doing to Diana. She *liked* it. At first, he thought her skin was sensitive to his touch due to her burns but now as he listened to quick beating of her heart, her rise in breathing, he knew it was something more. *There certainly are advantages to super hearing.* He put cream on the last wound and said, "And if you have to use the lasso to believe me, I wouldn't argue with it." He sounded sincere and he looked into her eyes. Even without her lasso of truth, Diana knew Clark was telling the truth. Or maybe it was his sweet caress on her legs as he tend to the burns there that was clouding her judgment. "I believe you," Diana said, her voice a little heavier. "I know I don't have to use the lasso." She stared at him with soft admiration in her eyes. "You're not like other men." Clark smiled, appreciative that she believed him and didn't need her lasso. It said much about their relationship. After he covered the last wound he said. "There. All done." "Thank you." Clark sat beside Diana on the table, feeling playful, confident. "You know, my mother had a funny way of making my wounds better." Diana gazed at him innocently. "What's that?" Clark kissed the bandage on her upper arm. "A kiss." "Kisses don't heal wounds, Kal," Diana told him. "Have your wounds ever been kissed?" Diana shook her head. "No." Clark kissed a wound on her left elbow. "Then how would you know?" Diana laughed as Clark slowly moved up her arm with kisses. "If that was the case, there would be no need for doctors, nurses, healers…" she sucked in a breath when Clark kissed her neck. "Kal, is this part of your custom of courting me?" "Yes." He stopped to look into her eyes. "Is it working?" Diana returned with a kiss of her own answering his question. **** After the disaster of Rokan the following day, life resume as normal as it can be in Metropolis. The people in the Daily Planet were bustling about stories that resulted in Rokan, while others resume talking about the politics of the world, sports, business. Clark was in a good mood when he got to work, too. Professionally, things were going good. Even though Lois Lane got a front page story of Rokan's destruction in Metropolis, Clark wrote about the events at the museum and his first hand account of witnessing Rokan's destruction. The story saved him from a tongue lashing and possible firing from Perry White. Personally, things were even better. He and Diana got over their first major hump in their relationship and became closer by it. All that matter now was dealing with Lois and--- "Clark!" Cat Grant. Clark turned to see his salacious colleague walking towards him in a mini skirt and a black sheer shirt that didn't require him to have x-ray vision to see what was underneath. "Cat." Cat put her arms around Clark. "You bailed on me yesterday before we had a chance to arrange our date." She ran her fingers through his hair as she flirted, "Instead of dinner at a restaurant, how about dinner at my place on me." Clark knew what Cat meant but played innocent. "You're cooking dinner?" Cat gave a throaty laugh. "No. Dinner is *on me*." "Oh, I get it. Take out." Cat frowned. Clark was so dense sometimes. She was going to speak it in turns even he would understand when Clark took his hands off her and placed it on her sides. "Take out sounds nice, Cat, but I will have to say no." Cat glowered. "No?" "I was only going to go on this date with you to find out how you got that story about Superman and Wonder Woman. I thought about it and realized it wouldn't be right to go on a date with you with such immoral intentions." "I don't mind," Cat smiled. "I don't mind being used." She put her arms around his neck again. "Or spanked. Tied up. Licked." She gave Clark a salacious look as she licked her lips at him hungrily. "I bet behind those glasses, sweaters and three piece suits you can be pretty kinky." Clark took Cat's hands off him and stepped back so she wouldn't grab him again. "I'm sorry but no." "You're seriously rejecting me?" "Yes." The words came but it wasn't from Clark's mouth. It was from Lois. Lois got between Clark and Cat. "Give it up, Cat. Smallville's not your type." Clark stood surprise to see Lois come to his defense. Usually, he was on his own, but it was nice to have a friend help him out when dealing with the man eater Cat Grant. Lois put an arm around Clark. "Besides, he's with me. Perry wants us to cover a story. So, get in line." Cat scoffed. "Whatever," and walked away. "Thanks, Lois," Clark told Lois. Lois smiled at him. "Anytime. Smallville." Now that she knew Clark was Superman and he was hers or would soon be, she needed to start keeping women at bay from what was hers. **** Lois Lane stood on the balcony of her apartment looking to the skies in search of Superman. She wore a black mini dress, light makeup, dab perfume behind her ears and between her breasts. Earlier that afternoon, she found a note in her purse and it was from Superman. Lois and Clark spent the day together working on a story so she knew it was Clark who dropped the note. Superman wanted to talk tonight. Lois knew he would admit his feelings to her and she would for him. *He's come for me. Me.* Lois thought as she spotted him flying towards. Superman landed before her and Lois thought confidently, *You are mine, Smallville.* "I'm so glad you've come," Lois said happily. "Please, come in," Lois invited. "Out here is fine," Superman said. Lois stared at Superman. Something wasn't right. He sounded serious, much too serious for a man admitting his feelings to his true love. He wouldn't come inside her apartment which meant he wasn't staying long. The happiness she had earlier was fading fast as it dawned on her that she might not be the one for him. "You're not here for us, are you?" Her lips quivered and she struggled to keep the tears from her broken heart at bay. Superman pitied Lois but he had to remain serious. "Lois, we need to talk about what happened in Metropolis." "What's to talk about?" Lois feigned innocence. "You kissed me." "Is there something wrong with that?" Lois asked. "I think it was deliberate." "Why? Because it was in front of Wonder Woman?" Lois scoffed. "I thought you would be thanking me." Superman's eyes widen slightly. "Thanking you? Why?" "Well, there are rumors about you and Wonder Woman having a romance. With me kissing you, an end would be put to that. The press will think you're with me. They wouldn't hound you or Wonder Woman with questions about your relationship." "Or they would think I'm playing two women." Lois laughed. "Nah. They wouldn't think that about you." She put her hand on Superman's S and traced it with her finger. "You're the boy scout after all." Superman covered his hand over Lois. "Lois, I know how you feel for me, but we can't do this." "Why not?" Lois asked. "If you're worried about bad guys coming after me, they already do that. They've been doing that even before you showed up." "No. I don't have the have the same feelings for you as you do for me. We can only be friends." To soften the blow, he said, "But you're a good friend to me, Lois, and I'll always come for you, Lois." His voice was soft, honest but the look in his eyes wasn't that of love. His eyes of love were for someone else now. Someone who fought crime wearing a swimsuit. "Yeah," Lois said, her voice thick, "but it's not the same anymore, is it?" She wanted to turn around so he wouldn't see her face, see her heartbreak, but she couldn't. If he did, he may fly away without Lois getting everything off her chest. "You're seeing Wonder Woman, aren't you?" Superman knew this would be hard for Lois. For her pain, it was hard for him, too. "Yes." Lois smiled despite her heartbreak. "That's good." She sniffed as the first tear shed. "I'm happy for you. Really I am." The tears were coming faster now and quickly wiped them away. Superman stepped forward to comfort her but Lois put her hand up stopping him. "It's okay. I'm fine. I'm fine." "Lois, I'm sorry," Superman apologized. Lois laughed but there was no humor in her voice. "What's to apologize for? It's not like we were dating or anything. Sure there were moments where something could've happened but it didn't." Lois hugged herself and released a heavy sigh. Superman watched her unsure of what to say. `I'm sorry' didn't seem enough. "Lois, my mother always said, there's someone for everyone. You--" "Wonder Woman's met them hasn't she?" Lois rudely cut him off. "No, but she will." "She doesn't deserve you." Lois said and moved closer to Superman. "Wonder Woman is innocent… about a lot of things. She's lived with women all her life. She doesn't know about relationships with men. She can't give you what I can give you." Lois traced a finger over his chest again. "You are man, Superman. I'm sure you have needs and desires like any other man. I can give you what Wonder Woman can't." Lois fingers traced lower and Superman grasped it again when she touched his belt. Superman released Lois' hand and stepped back. "Lois, I'm sorry." "Wonder Woman has her mission. She can't commit to you when she has something as big as her mission to achieve." Superman knew what Lois was doing and unfortunately for her, it wasn't going to work. "I won't get in her way. I know Diana's mission is important to her and we will find time for each other." Lois' lips quivered, desperate. "I will never be too busy for you." "Lois, don't," Superman pleaded with her. He cared for Lois too much as a friend to see her do this. When she saw pleading wasn't working, Lois became angry. "Fine. There's something I need to know, *Superman*." The way she said his name was with such anger she never directed at him before, but Superman remained rooted to the ground and took it. "Was there ever a chance for us or were you waiting for someone like Wonder Woman to come along?" "No, Lois," he said sincerely. "I wasn't waiting for Wonder Woman to come along." "Then what were you waiting on!" Lois yelled. "We've known each other for a long time. You've saved my life so many times I've lost count. I've seen you when you were weak, when you're strong. I'm in love with you! Why couldn't you choose me?!" The tears flowed from Lois' eyes. It was painful to see Lois this way and he was the caused of it. "It's not just the strength and abilities I love. It's you. The good person you are. If you were an ordinary man, I'd still love you." Superman wished that were true but with her rejection of Clark, he couldn't believe it. He couldn't tell Lois the whole truth. It would be best to take the brunt of it and have Lois hate him. He took a step forward and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Lois, if I became involve with you, my enemies would get to me through you. I couldn't risk your life. Look at the many times your life has been in danger already." Lois shrugged Superman's hands off her angrily. "But it's all right for Wonder Woman? You think she can take care of herself and I can't. Don't give me the `it's not you but me line', Superman. It doesn't suit you." She saw through that. Superman had to give her that. Funny, how she could see through that but couldn't see that he was Clark Kent. "Lois, we may not be meant to be together, but there is someone for you. I know it." "I used to think it was you, Superman, but I can see I was wrong." Superman touched Lois' arms again, staring in her eyes with care that Lois almost cried again, but she wouldn't do that. She cried in front of him enough for one day. "No matter what, Lois. I'll still be around to save you." "But we can only be friends. I got it," Lois said ruefully. Lois pulled away. It hurt losing Superman. She loved him, but he didn't want to be with her. Now that she lost him, she didn't hold back from asking, "Did I blow our chances with my behavior towards you as Clark?" Superman's eyes widen in shock and his mouth parted surprised. "You knew? How long?" "Since I heard you making arrangements with Island Girl," Lois snorted. The pieces of the puzzles fell into place. "You? You told Cat about us? You had her spy on us?" "We both did and I only did so to see if you were Superman," Lois explained as if it was no big deal. "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone. Just tell me why. Why you never told me? Did you think I wouldn`t accept you?" "I wanted you to want me for Clark and not Superman," Superman said. "I would've accepted you." "Accepted me for Superman disguising himself as Clark Kent or farm boy Clark Kent using his powers as Superman?" He asked. "Would you ever be drawn to Clark Kent, Lois?" "Of course I would've." Superman knew it wasn't true but he wasn't going to admit it to Lois. "I guess it's just one of those things. Thank you for keeping my secret and I'll always be your friend." Superman kissed Lois' cheek. "Take care of yourself, Lois." Lois nodded afraid to say anything she would regret. Superman flew away and Lois cried again as her heart broke. She lost Superman and she knew this time it was for good.