Lois was on a date with Lex, simply stated. Was she enjoying herself? Yes, yes she was. She absolutely loved how he just had this ability to respect her. He wasn't threatened by her and he was always careful to take her opinions into consideration. He was able to carry on interesting conversations without being dominating or overbearing. It was so rare to find such a new age man who respected her desire for her own career.
They were currently walking around the park zoo and finally made their way to the arctic beast they had on display. They had the creature locked up in chains. Lois thought that she might have felt pity for it if she hadn't once been dangling in its jaws.
"So what really happened?" Lex asked, "You were there when the monster broke out, did you suspect any foul play?"
"Perhaps," Lois said, shaking her head, "But I haven't found any evidence. From my research I learned that there were some faulty instruments that gave the wrong readings. The man in charge of the refrigeration wasn't doing his job right. After the incident he tried to save his job by blaming it all on his team. The museum just ended up firing the whole department."
"I can't say I would have done differently," Lex said and Lois nodded. "And you got to meet the man of steel himself. Seems like you've had a couple encounters from what I've read."
Lois couldn't help but smile thinking about Superman. "He's not quite what I expected him to be."
Lex waited for Lois to continue.
"Naturally I thought he'd be some overstated wannabe. Whenever I've met him though, he just seems to want to do the right thing."
Lex leaned on the bars that border the monster's enclosure. "The right thing…" he said melancholy. Then he turned to Lois, "There was a boy in the orphanage when I was growing up. He was a year younger than me and we were friends. I was always trying to look out for him but he was… an unusual kid."
"Oh? How so?" Lois asked intrigued.
"He had abilities… he was a lot stronger than the other kids, unnaturally strong. He never got hurt either, never a scratch or a bruise. There were times when he'd jump and it almost seemed like he could float. His abilities scared the other kids so I had to do what I could to keep him from hurting anyone. I had to help him know how to do the right things you could say."
"What was the boy's name?" Lois asked. Could this story be true? She'd have to do some digging.
"He didn't have one," Lex said, "No name, no identity, and no one knew where he came from. He was like an alien child. At the orphanage we all called him 'Boy'. Oh, he tried to give himself a name but it never stuck and no one would use it. No one was allowed to give him a name by the orphanage director. We called him Boy and that was it."
Lois took a look at the chained monster again. "That sounds very sad." To be seen as a monster and asked to stay that way so they could justify cruel treatment.
Then she voiced the obvious implication, "Do you think that boy is Superman?"
"I've wondered that," Lex said, "But the idea makes me uneasy. Boy was always such an obedient kid and would do exactly what anyone asked him to. He tried so hard to be unobtrusive and to never burden anyone. Yet here is Superman, taking initiative and jumping right into the center of action. Boy was never like that."
"He's fighting back his oppressed past. He needs to," Lois shrugged. "I mean, look at all the good that Superman has done."
"I worry about a man with so much power. It's all fair and good if he always does the right thing, but if he makes a mistake, if he takes the wrong side even once. A man like that isn't allowed to have a margin of error. Not with abilities like those."
"That is an interesting take," Lois said. He had met Superman personally and she knew that while he was super, he was still a person, "It's true that he might be wrong sometimes but that doesn't mean that he still can't think and feel. He's just trying to do what he knows to be right. And he's done a pretty good job so far."
"If he's so set on doing the right thing then why does he only limit his efforts to Metropolis? There is crime and catastrophes and war all over the world yet he stays here, hidden away. In Krimaria, there are refugees who struggle everyday wondering if this is the day the bombs will breach their bomb shelters." Lex put his face in his hands and took a deep breath. Then he looked up and met eyes with Lois. "I'm sorry. The people of Krimaria, they just mean a lot to me. Sometimes I get carried away wishing that more could be done than what I'm able to do. And I'm sure many other people feel like that."
Lois put her hand on Lex's forewarn. "Tell me about it," she said.
Lex smiled sadly, "I went to Krimaria for business and immediately fell in love with it. I was befriended on all sides and loved to participate in the culture. They could see potential in me that I wasn't able to see in myself and they invited me to contribute to their community. I've visited Krimaria frequently ever since but within the last few years a war has started between Krimaria and its neighboring country Tixta. Much of Krimaria has become ravaged and war torn. I try to send money, supplies, help anyway I can, as much as I can, but I know it's not enough."
Lois had heard mention of wars in foreign countries but she didn't know much. All her research and efforts went to finding out everything she could in regards to Metropolis and its inner workings. If one of the top players even sneezed, she'd likely hear about it, but if some city half way around the world was bombed, it would pass right by her and she'd hardly catch a glimps. She realized now that there may be a lot of things that she missed by directing all her attention the way she did.
At this moment, seeing Lex in such pain on behalf of his Krimarian friends, Lois just wanted to comfort him. "Doing something will always make an impact even if we don't think it will. Even if the impact is small. In all reality, it's the small things that make big things happen. Don't give up hope Lex."
"Thank you Lois," Lex said and he meant it.
For the rest of the evening they talked about the people in their lives that have helped inspire them and about good books they both enjoyed. All in all, it was a lovely evening for both.
Before Lois finally went into her apartment at the end of the night she stopped and turned to Lex. She said, "I forgot to ask, but where did you say that orphanage where you grew up was?"
Lex said, "Oh, it's outside a town called Smallville. Truly in the middle of nowhere. It's the 'Home for Boys' about a mile off the main road."
"… Really?" Lois said remembering that Clark said he was from Smallville, "Did you ever know a Clark Kent?"
Lex said, "Kent? I believe there were some Kents in that area but I don't remember their names. Someone you know?"
"Clark's a coworker, I was just thinking he might have some relatives in that area," Lois said.
Lex shrugged, "Possible. It's been years since I've been back to the area though."
Then they parted ways and Lois immediately went to research.
She looked up everything she could about the Home for Boys.
…
Her research took up the following week while finding out very little. She had gone to the extremes. Looked into every document submitted by the Home for Boys, looked into every picture taken of the group. She's called the place multiple times and was waiting for them to call back. So far, all she had found was very shaky info.
She had confirmed that it was true Lex had grown up there with Mark and a few others. There were many unusual incident reports about things involving Lex and some other boys but that was just it. Boy this and boy that. Which boys were involved? The convoluted documents were purposefully toyed with. Lois suspected that there was a reason they never gave Boy a name, and it was to make these documents as vague as possible and cover up proof that he had ever existed.
Lois printed out the only picture of the group of boys where in was a nameless dark haired boy. Lois had found out and could name every kid in that picture except that one, the one on the end, standing submissively behind who she knew to be Lex. She wanted to believe it was Boy, so unless some neighborhood boy from 2 miles away was visiting, it had to be him and this was the only proof she had found that he existed.
Lois had searched for birth records, school records, anything. She found out that many of the boys had been homeschooled, Lex and a few others had been exceptions. It was the perfect place to hide a child away from the world, especially one who might have been overly gifted. Either hide, or protect, Lois wasn't certain. She had found a few records about visits of government officials scoping out certain incidents. They were the kind of officials who would take a kid and grow them to become a government weapon. One of the incidents which was particularly interesting involved a boy getting hit by a train then falling off the bridge into the water beheath. Which boy was it that got hit? She didn't know. No body was found and all of the named boys at the home were accounted for. If any boy had gotten hit like the train conductor claimed, it would have Boy, the one Lex talked about. However, the documents had been too well disguised.
Finally, when she got a call returned from the Home for Boys she found out that management had been changed for a few years now. New management knew nothing about the boy and the old orphanage director had moved out of state with no forwarding address. Lois wanted to chase that lead but the director's name had been John Smith which was the worst possible name to try and track someone down. She was at a point where if she wanted more information, she would have to go to Smallville itself. She went to bed that night frustrated and discouraged.
…
The morning later Lois had several tabs open on her computer. She was frantically searching through the headlines of local news stations trying to understand what she was seeing.
The Bulletin, a competing news station's top headliner, read, "Superman Commits Series of Crimes"
The Morning star read, "Dragnet Spread For Superman"
Even the Daily Planet had a headline that said, "Friend Turns Foe." A headline she did not write, mind you.
Of course she had heard of the incidents but had chalked them up to some punk kids pulling pranks. This seemed a few tiers up than just punk kids. According to these articles, Superman had turned bad and was stealing jewelry and robbing banks.
Clark was sitting at his desk and he immediately turned to face her as soon as Lois showed that her attention was directed towards him. He looked tired, as if he hadn't had much sleep the last few days, probably busy worrying about that old couple he tends to. Lois had overheard him talking to their coworkers about how the old woman was going into surgery soon.
"Have you seen this?" Lois said gesturing to the screen in front of her, "Friend turns foe. Well that's ridiculous. It couldn't be superman. What do you make of it Clark?"
Just then Louis Murphy stood up and commented, "Are yous talk'in 'bout me article? Yalls see it, Louis Murphy top headliner. That's me name on that article."
Louis Murphy was his own type of breed. He was short, skinny and had a big forehead with buck teeth. Everyone at the office called him Murph behind his back. The truth was that nobody around the office liked him, probably for his inconsiderate way of barging into conversations. Not only that but he seemed to think the world was completely shaped to his own understanding, which was lacking in almost every area. He was a good enough reporter, Lois would give him that, but he talked and acted like he was dumb and not on purpose.
"Ain't yous so impressed wit me work, Lois? Me writing makes me attractive qualities speak for themselves."
Oh, and he was a flirt. An extremely aggressive, awkward, uncomfortable flirt.
Lois avoided his eye contact so as not to give away her utter disgust, "You say here Superman came out of the bank he just robbed, got in a car and drove away."
"Oh he did. I seen it myself. I was cross the street at the time when I sees his red cape and costume. It was Superman alright, I knows it." All ears were pitched on Murph and he was eating up the attention. It wasn't very often he got noticed so largely.
"So he got in a car and drove away," Lois reviewed, "Superman can fly, so if it was Superman then why didn't he just fly away?"
"Maybe he has accomplishes. Not a solo job. He could be workin for someone's. Blackmail even. I'll be diggin it up reals soon, don't you worries." Murph said, proud of the work he had yet to accomplish.
Lois rolled her eyes, "I think you're forgetting what Superman is capable of. He single handedly stopped a laser beam from destroying Metropolis. Bullets don't affect him. He wouldn't need accomplices."
Then Chad joined the conversation, "Are you just mad that Louis Murphy got to the story before you?"
Lois raised an eyebrow. Then she said, "Not at all. It's great that Louis Murphy was able to get the story. I do wonder however about how complete the story is. There's a lot of unanswered questions and we don't know if this thief really is Superman."
Then Clark finally joined the conversation and said, "Lois is right, until the thief has been apprehended, whoever the thief may be, we really don't know anything."
Murph sighed, "A beauty as bright as she's clever. Don't yous worry 'bout it miss Lane. I'll be sure to dos a follow up with the missing details surely."
And with that, Murph went into the Chief office and shut the door. Lois tried to shake off the unwarranted affection directed towards her. She had won the conversation but as much as she hated to admit it, Murph had made a fair point. If it was Superman, blackmail was likely the answer. If anyone found out about Superman's personal life they could use it against him. With her powers of reporting, Lois could easily twist any story to say what she wanted and help protect Superman. However, she had to be careful because the more she knew the more valuable she would become to Superman's enemies. Would that stop her though? Not in the slightest, bring on the challenge, Lois was here for it.
A little while later Murph came out of the office and set two papers on Lois and Clark's desk. He said, "Hey you two, the editor wants you to cover the opera tonight. And don't forget. It's formal." Then he went downstairs to flirt with the secretary. She at least thought Murph was funny.
Lois looked at the papers on her desk, "Oh good," she said, "I'll be able to wear my new evening gown." Then she turned to Clark as if she just remembered something, "Oh, Clark?"
"Yes?"
"I found out that Lex grew up in an orphanage just outside of Smallville. It's such a small town, how did you two not run into each other?" Lois asked.
Clark opened his mouth. Then he closed his mouth. Then he walked away.
"Wait, Clark? Wait. Are you walking away?" Lois asked.
Truthfully, Clark had no idea how to answer that question and he didn't want to lie to Lois, so instead he just decided to not engage in the situation. He decided now was the perfect time to go do those boring accounting interviews he had been putting off for weeks.
"You're doing this to avoid my question Clark," Lois said.
"Yes I am," Clark said as he picked up his stuff, "Tell Chief I'm going to get some interviews. See you tonight Lois."
See you tonight is right. Lois suddenly had a great idea to get the answers she wanted and get back at Clark.
…
Clark looked very stiff in his tux. It was unusual to see him in anything other than his unremarkable oversized coat jacket. While his coat always looked too big for him, this tux looked too small. Lois had to wonder if the reason for that was buffness or just general largeness. This new outfit made him look fit, which was not something Lois had quite considered. Now that she was thinking about it, Clark was from a small town making him a farm boy. It would actually make sense for him to be well defined if he was working on a farm all growing up.
"I hope you don't mind," Lois remembered, "I invited Lex to come join us in the balcony box."
Clark about tripped over himself walking into their booth at the opera. "You what?!"
"Of course I don't know if he was able to get a ticket, Opening night has been sold out for weeks, but he seemed hopeful they'd make an exception for his case."
"Lois!" Lex said, standing up from his seat. Apparently, Lex was able to get a ticket and arrive before either of them got there. Lex said, "This must be that work companion. He's different from how you've described him."
Lois nugged Clark, "He cleans up nicer than I would have thought."
Clark, who looked like a deer caught in headlights, tried to do a smirky laugh but it was obvious how uncomfortable he was.
"Come in, the show's about to start," Lex said, walking over to them. He held out his hand for Clark to shake.
"I, actually, I need to go," Clark said.
"Clark, that's nonsense. This is a work assignment," Lois said. She was enjoying herself watching Clark squirm. It wouldn't take long before she would figure out why Clark hated Lex, if he didn't run out again.
For a moment Clark and Lex's eyes met. Clark looked as if he were challenging Lex, then Lex burst into a smile.
"Is there something in my teeth?" Lex asked.
Clark suddenly smiled as well, "Not at all." Then he extended his hand and Lex shook. Lex had not recognized Clark.
"It's nice to meet you, I'm Clark Kent."
"I'm Lex Luther. Short for Alexander but I go by Lex."
Lois wasn't sure who had won the staring contest. Not only that but she was disappointed that it was apparently true they didn't know each other. But she had to be sure.
"So you two don't know each other?"
Lex looked surprised then said, "Not that I have a recollection of. I apologize if we have met. You do not look familiar to me but I do meet lots of people." Clark's face with his big glasses was so unassumingly plain that Lex wasn't sure if he had or had not met the man.
Clark patted Lex on the back good naturedly, "No, we haven't met. Lois seems to think we'd be good friends though."
Lex said, "I hope that's true."
"Me too." Clark said and the group sat down in their seats.
…
Lois sat on the end with Lex in the middle and Clark on the other side. While it wouldn't be the scoop of the century, Lois loved the opera and she was glad to be covering it that night. The singing was beautiful and the costumes magnificent. Lois looked over and saw that Clark was fast asleep. He probably would have preferred a monster truck rally or some boxing match compared to this artful masterpiece. Lex seemed quite engaged though and she was glad she invited him, even if she wasn't able to uncover motives behind Clark's secret hatred.
Suddenly there was a stifled scream from one of the neighboring booths. Immediately Lois had her attentioned peaked. She quietly got up and went into the hall where she ran into a man with a blue spandex suite and a red cape. He was holding jewelry. Lois tried to stop him and wrestled with him for a moment. She grabbed the big S on his chest. He was quick and strong but Lois had a good grip. The S on his chest ripped off and he finally escaped. Lois had watched him make his way going upstairs. Lex came out of the booth.
"What happened?" Lex asked.
"Apparently it was Superman," Lois said looking down at the unmistakable fabric in her hand.
A woman came out of her booth, "That thief just stole my necklace!"
Lois turned to Lex, "He's heading for the roof. Did you bring your car? If he flies off we'll need to chase after him."
Lex started towards the stairs, "My car's downstairs, let's go."
Outside Lex's car just pulled up. Lois and a small crowd of policemen and bystanders were scanning the building's roof looking for any signs of Superman. They heard gunshots. One. Two. Three. Four. Five total, Lois wrote in her notepad. Then a man in a red cape was falling from off the roof. It was Superman. Wait, no. Another Superman flew down and caught the man in midair. There were two Supermans. One had been an imposter.
"I knew there was more to the story," Lois said.
The crowd watched as Superman carried the imposter flying through the air.
"That's our cue," Lois said, getting in the car with Lex. They were going to chase after those men and catch the criminals behind this scheme.
Moments later Lois caught sight of Superman flying towards the mountain trail.
"We've got them," Lois said, "There's only one road up there and it's the same road down." The car zoomed along the narrow mountain trail.
Lois hated this long journey up the mountain path. She felt like she was missing out on all the action. Superman could be confronting the villains right now and she wouldn't be there to witness it. She tapped her finger impatiently on her purse.
As their car was rounding a corner, a red caped figure jumped in front and halted their path. Then, rounding the corner from the other direction came another car which Superman manhandled into a stop. If Superman hadn't been there, the two cars would have met in a head first collision. The men from the opposite car climbed out and began running back up the mountain. Seeing that both cars were secure, Superman flew after the men and caught them.
Lois and Lex climbed out of the car. Superman was carrying two men back to the path, the sound of sirens were only seconds behind.
"That is you, isn't it Boy," Lex said.
Superman glared at Lex, "Do I look like a boy to you."
There was tension between the two men that could cut metal like butter.
"You've changed," Lex said, "Yet you're still as dangerous as ever."
"Being dangerous is not a bad thing Lex. It never was," Superman said. Superman knew it was how you used your power, not how much power you have that made someone a threat or not.
Just then the police rolled up and came out of their cars. They apprehended the criminals and asked Superman a few questions. Superman answered curtly then just before he turned to leave he stopped in front of Lois.
"Are you alright Miss Lane?" He said.
"Fine thank you," Lois said, "You wouldn't happen to have time for a few questions perhaps?" She doubted he would but she still had to ask.
Superman considered it for a moment. "Sure. But I'll have to take you somewhere more private if that's alright."
"Fine by me," Lois said.
Superman turned to Lex and said, "Don't worry about the young lady Lex, I'll make sure she gets home safe."
"I'm sure you will," Lex said, grinding his teeth.
Then Superman picked up Lois and they flew off. Superman took Lois to the top of the mountain where the stars were brightest.
They sat down on soft patches of grass.
"So Superman, what kind of questions am I allowed to ask you?" Lois asked.
"Ask and find out. If it's a question I won't answer, I'll let you know." Superman said with a charming smile.
Lois reached into her purse and pulled out the group picture of the Home for Boys. She pointed at the dark haired boy standing beside Lex at the end.
"Is this you?" Lois asked.
Superman stared at the picture for a long time.
"Yes." He said, though it was hard to admit. He handed her back the picture.
It was rare to see a photo like that since Boy wasn't allowed to be in pictures. There were a lot of things Boy wasn't allowed to do or be. There were a lot of things during that time that Clark wished would stop hurting and haunting him.
"The boy next to you is Alexander Luther, also known as Lex. Lex told me that you two grew up together and that you were friends. Is that true?" Lois asked.
"It's true that we grew up together but were we friends? I was more like his puppet than his friend. He used me to become the most popular and well liked kid around while I became the outcast monster that only he knew how to control."
Well that was a side of Lex Lois hadn't seen before.
"And you really never had a name. They only called you Boy?" Lois asked.
"Yes."
"Do you go by any other names?" Lois asked.
Superman nodded his head, "You could say I finally got a real identity."
"So aside from Superman, what name or names do you go by?"
"I won't answer that," Superman laughed, "I'm not about to ruin my perfectly normal life."
"Does anyone else know about your secret identity?"
"Not that I'm aware of," Superman said.
"Some people worry about a man as powerful as you using that power to do bad things. What would you say to those people?"
"Well, I'd say their worry stems from a lack of trust that I haven't earned yet. I'd tell them to give me time to earn their trust and show them my intentions to do what's right. What I do with my abilities matters more than how great my abilities are. I intend to only use my abilities in dire need to help this city."
"Why do you only limit your efforts to Metropolis?" Lois asked, "Why not go and help in foreign conflicts?"
"This is my home. I have a life here and people I love and care about," Superman met Lois's eyes, "I want to be here to protect that. I'm just one man and I only have one life. I want to live it as myself, not as the world's saving grace. I'll help where I can when I can, but if we really want to solve the world's problems, then we need the world's help. The solution is not to put it on the shoulders of one man."
"How do you feel when people make you out to be some God-like being? Do you disagree or agree with them?" Lois asked.
Superman laughed, "Disagree wholeheartedly. If God exists then I believe the man who does the right thing in the face of hard decisions is more Godlike than any powerful entity. And I have my moments of humanness too so calling me a God is just… well it's silly."
"How do you decide what 'the right thing' is?" Lois asked.
"That's a loaded question isn't it? Is this for all those politicians who think my version of 'the right thing' will somehow hurt their agenda?" Superman asked.
Lois shook her head, "No, this is for that middle schooler who looks up to Superman and wants to be as self righteous as he is."
Superman laughed, a sound which Lois thought was a bit familiar. Then he said, "To that middle schooler I'd say that they already know what it is, they just have to follow it. If they have a desire to do what's right, they'll see opportunities to act on what they think might be considered right. Things like kindness, honesty, compassion, justice. When they act on it, over time, they'll be able to discover their own answers for what 'the right thing' is."
"And how will they find out what the wrong thing is?" Lois asked.
"Oh it'll confront them in the most painful way again and again until they finally learn the lesson," Superman said.
"And were you born this naturally all-knowing and wise?" Lois asked, rolling her eyes.
"No," Superman said with a smile, "Not at all."
Then Lois began asking specific questions regarding the night. She asked about the men's secret hideout and what had happened when he captured them. When Superman had finished telling the story the two sat and stared at the sky for a moment.
"Any more questions?" Superman asked.
"What's your plans for Metropolis?" Lois asked.
"I have no plans for Metropolis. I just live here, I don't own it." Superman said.
"What about weaknesses? Do you have any achilles heels?"
"I'll pass on that. So what are you planning on doing with all this information?" Superman asked, "Are you acting as Delilah trying to cut Samson's hair?"
"No, if possible, I want to help you Superman," Lois said, "But I'm limited by how much I know about you."
"I appreciate the sentiment but I don't have many things that can hurt me," Superman said, "I'm kind of the apex predator."
"But even you must have things that you can't do alone," Lois said.
"That's true," Superman said. "But your knack for getting into trouble seems to come in handy for helping me save the city."
Lois was not amused.
"I want to know about you Lois," Superman said, "I told you about my past, now you tell me about yours."
And then they talked. Lois told Superman a bit about her history. She told him about her parents and her love for journalism, her obsession with finding the story. It was so easy, talking like that. Superman was a really good listener and he didn't try to challenge her on anything she said. It was so different than when she was with Lex. It just felt comfortable and caring being with Superman. While he wasn't a "new age" man by any means, he was a classic gentleman, something she didn't know still existed. Surprisingly, it didn't feel like he was treating her kindly just to put her in her place as a woman, it felt like he just wanted to be kind for the sake of being kind. How unusual. They talked late into the night, then finally, it was time to separate ways.
As their time was drawing to a close, Superman picked Lois up and they flew towards the Daily Planet building where Lois would be going to work on her article. Once they hit the ground Superman turned to leave but Lois stopped him and gestured for him to come closer, like she was going to tell him a secret. As he leaned in, Lois kissed him. And he kissed her back. Then they broke apart.
"Good night Superman," she said.
"Good night Lois," he said and he flew off.
Lois watched him leave then she went into the Daily Planet building and wrote an article. As tempting as it was to do a piece devoted to Superman's backstory, Lois honored Superman by explaining to the public his intentions to help and serve the city. She set the public's mind at ease by exposing the crimes done by the fraud Superman.
Lois had done it, she had gotten her interview with Superman and it was wonderful. Somehow though, she felt like she was missing something. Like it was right under her nose and just a small spark of recognition would enlighten some giant mystery. But what that something was, she didn't know. She was feeling uneasy about the whole thing and it frustrated her. She checked her phone and saw multiple messages from Lex. She ignored them, promising to get to them tomorrow morning. If she wasn't careful she'd pull an all-nighter again but if she left now she could still catch a few hours of sleep before work started. They should really just keep a bed at the office, Lois spent all her time there anyway, she thought as she finally went home.
…
Lois met Clark on the doorstep going into the Daily Planet building. He was sitting on the steps and he looked dog tired. Very similar to how she felt. She hadn't seen him since the Opera that previous night. He must have been asleep through all the action and missed the whole story.
Lois stood directly in front of him, "What's the matter, opera got you down?"
Clark looked up and smiled, "Oh I'm just dreaming I was superman."
Lois laughed and said sarcastically, "Fine superman you'd make."
Clark shrugged, "Well I can dream can't I?"
"Are you heading in?" Lois asked.
"In just a moment," Clark said.
Lois debated on sticking around but thought against it and went inside.
Clark had had a lot on his mind the past couple of weeks. He wanted to tell her. She'd figure it out soon anyway, he was sure about that. Honestly, he wanted her to know. He wanted to trust her. But he was scared. And if he did tell her, would she become a target? When it came to things like gunshots, she was more vulnerable than he was. These thoughts were stressing him out as he sat on the steps going into the Daily Planet.
Not too many minutes later Lex Luther came by.
"Good morning, Clark, was it?" Lex said, "Has Lois come by already? I'd like to talk to her."
"She's already inside," Clark said, "What's the message, maybe I can pass it on to her."
"No, that's alright. I'll try to meet up with her for lunch later," Lex said. "Say Clark, you've known Lois for a while now. Would you say she's close to Superman?"
"Yah, I'd say they're pretty close," Clark said, "Why?"
"I just worry about her being so close to a man who's so dangerous," Lex said.
"He's only dangerous to criminals."
"For all we know he could turn any moment. Clark, I believe I knew him growing up," Lex said, "He's not the hero we'd all like him to be."
"So you think it's all an act?" Clark asked amused, "This whole, hero thing?"
"It is hard to say. I do, however, think we are all acting a little naive if we think we can trust him unconditionally," Lex said.
"Mmmm, I see," Clark said, "Say Lex, you're close with the Freichman family right? How are they doing? You know, after Mark's passing and all."
"The widow? She's fine," Lex said, turning his full attention to Clark.
"Sure was odd how Mark died wasn't it? Man had everything going for him then smashed by a hit and run. Almost seemed planned." Clark said.
"It was a terrible accident, but you think there was foul play," Lex asked.
"I think there's a chance," Clark said.
"Let me know if there's anything I can do to help out," Lex said, "If someone wronged that family, I'd like to bring them to justice."
"I'm sure I'll be able to think of something you can do to help," Clark said.
Lex nodded then walked away, pulling out his phone again and giving Lois another call.
That's when a car pulled up and asked, "Are you Clark?"
Finally, Clark's door dash arrived at the Daily Planet steps. It was the reason he had been waiting on the steps of the building for so long since he didn't want the door dasher to have to come inside past all the security and up the many flights of stairs to drop off his food. With breakfast in toe, he went inside.
On his way to the office, Clark was remembering sometime back that Lois had articles about Mark Freichman's death on her desk. At the time he wanted nothing to do with them as they might lead to a connection to his past. Now he saw that she might have been using them to uncover a little more about Lex Luther's true intentions for coming to Metropolis. He'd have to ask her about them and see if there was anything he could dig up. Maybe Clark would be able to pick up where Lois had left off.