Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Part 1. My Greatest Fear

It was one of those rare occasions where everything was quiet. Clark Kent relished in the calm moments. Lois was inside the farmhouse working on her latest story and he was out in the barn finishing up chores. While he could be using his powers to quicken the pace, there was something about doing it the normal way that brought him joy. 

He was placing the last of the tools in the drawer of the chest when he felt something in the air shift. It was the creepy and eerie static that pulled the hairs at the back of his neck. He had jinxed the muted moments he had been enjoying.

He sensed an addition to the barn and quickly turned to witness an older man with sharp features and sunken lines on his face. His size was nothing to be intimidated by since he was three feet tall with a green suit and matching hat, standing on his workbench. Yet, he was weary of whoever this was that suddenly appeared in his space. Anyone or anything that conjured from thin air was a possible threat in his experience.

"Who are you?"

"Me?" The man began to float and smirked. "I'm Mister Mxyzptlk."

The only Mxyzptlk he knew of was from high school. Mikhail Mxyzptlk came from a line of people who lived in the Balkans and could "control the hand of luck", according to Chloe's research. He later found out that they were actually just controlling people. He had caused Clark to hurt another player unintentionally while trying to rig a game for gambling. Eventually, high frequency sound disabled him and he disappeared. He always figured Lex and Luthorcorp had something to do with it since Mikhail had been chosen as an exchange student through an organization set up by LuthorCorp.

"I knew someone with that name. You wouldn't happen to be related?" he inquired, trying to make a connection.

The small man laughed as he crossed his legs. "A different version."

A different version? Was this another case of the multiverse?

Mr. Mxyzptlk pointed to himself with his thumb. "I'm from the 5th dimension..."

Clark could feel the tension in his temples growing as his brain was trying to fathom what the fifth dimension was.

"Why are you here?"

The small being pulled his hat off and inspected it. "I was bored and decided I wanted to play."

"Play?"

Dark eyes pierced into the Man of Steel as he pointedly stated, "With you."

Clark had his fair share of game playing foes: Toyman and Prankster to name a couple. He wasn't looking to add to the list.

He puffed his chest out and stood taller, exuding the energy that transformed him into his alter ego. "Maybe I don't want to play."

Mxyzptlk frowned. His voice dropped and he growled, "That's what the other one said."

"Other one?" Clark asked, raising an eyebrow.

Mxyzptlk's eyes darted to the desk in the loft and landed on the framed picture. The imp sailed to the upper level and picked it up, dangling it in front of him.

"Your significant other?"

Clark quickly sped up the stairs and grabbed the frame, holding it close to him in protection. It was a photo of him and Lois, a selfie from one of their first dates (specifically date #5). He didn't like where the small man's mind was going.

In a blink, Mxyzptlk teleported and disappeared. There was a humming surrounding Clark in the loft and he tried to follow it. He noted it behind him and he whipped around to face the imp as it materialized.

"Now, I know how to torture you."

"You leave her alo---"

Clark was cut off by a snap of fingers. Colors swirled around him and he was frozen in place, unable to fight against what was happening. It was a similar feeling to when Mikhail had tried to control his mind. The velocity of the colors increased as they mixed together and ultimately turned gray to black. He heard another snap and he felt his lungs exhale. He blinked several times to find himself alone in the barn. Everything was quiet again, but an unnatural feeling lingered. Something was off. Something was missing.

His hands were empty. Gone was the framed photo he had been clutching. He felt his heart drop within his chest. He supersped to the house and called out Lois' name with no answer. He immediately felt the loss of her presence. No blistering energy. No material things that belonged exclusively to her.

It was as if Lois had been deleted from the home they were building together.

"No." 

He closed his eyes and concentrated. He cycled through millions of sounds until his delicate ear drums detected the unique rhythm of beats. She existed. He found Lois. Like a string tied to his heart he grabbed onto the sound and let it lead him to her location. Unsurprisingly, it was the Daily Planet. In a flash, he was on the 8th floor outside her office. He let out another breath in relief.

The door with her name on it swung open and he was face to face with his fiance.

"Whoa!" she called out as she lost her balance, bouncing off his chest.

"Sorry," he smiled as he caught her instinctively. 

"You always bowl women over when you first meet them?" she asked.

He tilted his head at her comment. "What?" he asked in confusion as he held her in place.

She glanced down to where he was clutching her shoulders. It was in the same manner he had been holding the frame in the loft.

"You...can let go now."

But he couldn't. How did she not recognize him?

He stared at her, deeply trying to penetrate her hazel eyes with his and call out to the memories that must be dormant. "Lois."

"Lois Lane. That's my name. And you must be..." Her eyes danced around his physique. He watched her eyes take everything in as if it were their first time meeting, as if they were strangers. She placed a finger on her lip and continued, "Brawny lumberjack." She then used the same finger to point at him. "And unless you have an intriguing story for me from the depths of the forest, I'm late." 

His grip weakened as he stood dumbfounded. She uncurled his fingers off of her and they dropped like deadweight at his sides. She started to move past him but he couldn't let her leave, not when everything was so baffling to him. She was always the constant that kept him from losing it.

He reached out for her arm and she turned back to him with a stunned expression.

"Late?" he asked.

She lifted up her hand and showed off an engagement ring. "Meeting my fiance, so if you could..." She pulled at his grip and he released her arm, once again blindsided and shattered.

With every step she took towards the exit he could feel himself unraveling. This wasn't his world. The imp had sent him here and he had no idea how he would leave and get home.

He could hear the voice repeat, "Now I know how to torture you."

Mxyzptlk wasn't wrong. He was engulfed in agony as Lois went off to meet a fiance that wasn't him. They made eye contact one last time as she waited in the elevator car. They were locked in and for a split second he thought he saw a flicker of something in her irises before the doors closed. At least that was what he was hoping he saw.

Agony soon morphed into rage as his fist and teeth both clenched simultaneously. 

"Mxyzptlk." he seethed.

Clark could hear a mischievous laugh behind him.

"You rang?"

Chapter Text

Part 2. To Love Someone

Clark tried to mask his scowl as he turned toward Mr. Mxyzptlk, but instead of being three feet, the being had grown to to be an average height man, still donning his bowler hat and purple outfit, but looking less out of place than if he had been floating like he did in the barn.

The Daily Planet workers walked around the men in a staring contest. Clark then tugged at Mxyzptlk's collar and pulled him into Lois' office.

“You can change your appearance?”

With a snap of the fingers the Mr. Mxyzptlk transformed back into his original form, floating in a sitting position with his legs crisscrossed. “I can do a lot of things.”

“How?”

“Simple.” He was a great showman, putting his powers on display. Random items, like an alarm clock, a toaster, and a cactus, were appearing and disappearing in an instant.

“Magic. Like Zatanna,“ he connected aloud. 

Mxyzptlk’s face contorted in disdain. “I don't like her. Not in any universe. She does shame to my name.”

Clark couldn’t quite understand what he meant and questioned his name. “Mxyzptlk?”

“You said it and I appear,” he exclaimed with arms extended. 

“That’s good to know,” then added with a grumble, “I guess.”

Mxyzptlk jumped on the desk and started to kick through the mess Lois left behind. Clark started to grin that she still had her typical tendencies. It was reassuring to know who she was here. It felt like he would know her in any universe.

The trouble-making creature picked up a framed photograph and dangled it in front of him.

“Looks like you were replaced.”

Clark’s face was stone cold, he didn’t want to reward Mxyzptlk with a reaction, but when he saw the picture it was unexpected. Last time, when he was in the mirror world, it was Oliver that Lois had been linked to. It had stung greatly, but that version of himself had been pulled over the edge by Luthor influence; he had been a monster in that place. Without Lois' love he'd never escape the darkness. Being with Oliver seemed understandable given the history, even if he still didn’t want to accept it. At least he knew who he was up against. However, this time it was a stranger and it threw him off. His poker face collapsed.

He held the frame and the glass cracked from his grip right over the unknown man’s face. When Jor-El had sent him to a world where he had never arrived on Earth he had found out that Lana was living in Paris with someone new, married and with children. He had been relieved that she was okay and not torn to pieces that her life was completely stable without him. Looking at this picture was different. There was no solace looking at the couple. A fire rose within him that he couldn't extinguish. 

Mxyzptlk started to giggle and did a cartwheel in the air. “Woohoo. You have to set it free to know if it is meant to be.”

“I already know it is,” Clark said, slamming the frame back down. He knew his destiny. Lois was a part of it. He felt it in his bones.

 The imp put his finger to his chin. “But does she?” He kicked his leg in the air and sang, “She doesn't know you!”

Clark had to believe that she did. Through whatever amnesia she was going through, he tried to hold on to the belief there was a way. There was always a way.

“What else is different? When you love anything you have to know that it may be lost.” With a final laugh Mxyzptlk disappeared.

What else was lost? 

Clark had been through this before. Too many times for his liking. He ventured into Metropolis and there wasn’t much of a difference in how it looked, but he could sense a shift in how the city moved. There was more caution. In his world people moved around with ease, knowing there was a hero dedicated to their safety and well-being. He obviously wasn’t present in that capacity. He began to worry that maybe Clark Kent didn’t exist at all again. He dug into his pocket and plucked out his phone, searching for his mother’s number. It rang twice before she picked up.

“Hello?”

“Mom?” he asked tentatively, not sure how she would respond.

“Clark, is everything okay?” his mother answered.

His nerves were eased that he indeed was part of the world in some capacity. 

“Yeah, Mom. I’m just checking in.”

“I’m fine.” The sound of the city was behind him and it seemed his mother picked up on it. “You’re not at the farm?”

“No, I…I went into Metropolis to check on something.” Or rather someone. He didn’t know how much to divulge. 

“Clark, that is such a big step. You haven’t left the Smallville area in so long. What changed?”

Clark Kent lived, but was he a hermit in this world? He knew that was one of the paths he could have taken, to seclude himself away from the rest of the world and to stay on the farm and not pursue something more. He had flirted with that path back many times. After everything with Brainiac, Veritas, and the Traveler saga he very well could have just stayed on the farm and rejected his destiny.

What had changed?

An image flashed in his mind. Pink shirt. Black vest. Determined walk. Swaying ponytail.

Lois.

“Seriously, Clark. Don’t you think you’re destined for greater things in life than working on a farm?”

She brought the application to the Daily Planet. He ended up across from her desk. She pushed him to meet his potential and then exceed it.

“ I'm going to be a little closer to home.”

Home. 

His mother’s voice interrupted his thoughts as she asked, “Clark?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I'm fine. I just wanted to check in, that’s all.”

“Okay. Be safe.”

“You too.”

He hung up the phone and looked up at the Watchtower building. Using his X-ray vision he saw that the top floor was vacant. There was no Watchtower. Probably, no League either. The only other person who might be in the city and still on duty would be Oliver. Clark saw the Clocktower in the distance and used his powers to inspect it but the space was empty as well. It seemed Metropolis was vulnerable and without a hero.

He returned back to the farmhouse and stood in the silent kitchen. As the sun started to set, the dimming brightness mimicked the light inside himself. He took a deep breath. He was trying to stay grounded and focused, but could feel the edges peeling away. When this happened years before he would return to the farmhouse and hold the one thing that kept him lucid enough during his training---man’s best friend.

“Shelby!” he called out.

The silence remained in the house.

Clark turned around, opened the side door, and yelled again. Yet, there was no barking and pitter-patter of feet on the hardwood floor.

He tried to be reasonable. Shelby was staying in Washington D.C. more as he and Lois were in the apartment in Metropolis. Apartment life wasn’t working for the older dog’s arthritic legs and the couple didn’t want to leave him alone at the farm, so Shelby was getting comfortable keeping his mother company. Maybe in this world the dog was there too. 

Clark reached for his phone and dialed his mother again.

“Clark? Two calls in one day? Is everything o--”

He unapologetically cut her off by asking, in panic, “Is Shelby with you?”

“Who?” He felt a tightening in his chest as his mother seemed confused. “Clark?”

“Sorry. Never mind.” His hand with the phone dropped limp at his side.

He felt an additional fracture to his heart. Shelby was gone. If Lois hadn’t come into his life all those years ago and lived with his family then she wouldn’t have brought Shelby home. As much as Lois would sneeze and tell the dog to steer clear of her, he witnessed moments when she would seek comfort from and care for the dog. Shelby, in turn, adored her---barking in delight whenever she entered the house and depressed when she would leave. While Shelby was friendly to many, there was a special relationship reserved for Lois and Clark. He was their dog from the beginning. And he was a connection to Lois. It was another reason Clark hadn't been able to abandon the pooch after he rejected his human side when Lois was missing for three weeks. Even if being around Chloe and Oliver hurt because they reminded him of Lois, Shelby had a diverging effect. The dog knew how to soothe him and felt the loss of Lois in a similar way. It was why Clark had determined that Shelby couldn’t lose both of them.

But Shelby had vanished. Clark's spirit was depleting. The urgency he felt in needing to be consoled and no one was there to fill the role. 

It was a breaking point. He wasn’t a hero. Shelby was gone. Lois didn’t remember him.The life they were building crumbled at the hands of a mystical magical creature that could change things on a whim. He was teetering and becoming unbalanced. 

He felt his emotions heighten, his core in tatters, and he was suddenly inundated with the sounds of the world. The screaming he wanted to expel on the outside was drowning him on the inside. Clark fell to his knees and tried to control it, the one thing he should be able to control. He was only able to momentarily muffle the sounds. He sat on the floor and put his back up to the cabinet under the sink. He started to rock into it as the volume kept adjusting in his eardrums. His force increased as his upper shoulders hit the wood, splitting and splintering the doors. He landed into the pipes, causing them to rupture. Clark was getting drenched and flooding the kitchen. Simultaneously, his mind tried to swim through the noise and grasp on to something to ground him but he was slipping into a dizzying spiral.

It all stopped with the distant sound of glass shattering.

“Ow!”

His eyes snapped open with one word on his lips.  “Lois.”

Careful with his hands and heat-vision, he stopped the water before following the sound.

He found himself back in Metropolis outside The Blue Lotus restaurant. Through the window he could see that Lois was bleeding from her hand. He restrained himself from going to her. The “fiancé” appeared and tended to her wound, wrapping a napkin gently around her skin. His stomach twisted at the touch.

“Are you alright? What happened?”

Lois shook her head. “I don’t know. I just felt dizzy for a second.”

“You snapped that stem of the wine glass like a twig.”

Clark saw that red wine had flooded the table. He was worried about what had affected her, but she seemed to be okay now. He realized that he had also seemed to find a balance himself. He had calmed by seeing her. He wished he could be sitting across from her, holding her hand. Her hair was curled over her shoulders and she was wearing a strapless teal dress, like the one she wore on her internet date for Good Morning, Metropolis . She looked beautiful.

He wanted nothing more than to walk in and banter with her like they had that night.

“How do I look?” she asked into the camera.

“If this were a prom you’d be crowned queen.” He told her, causing her to smile and blush, looking down at the table as she played with her hands. He couldn’t stop looking at her, wishing he was in the restaurant with her and not in the studio observing. He stated, “Your date’s a lucky man.”

She leaned in and said, “Do I detect a note of jealousy from the notoriously nice Clark Kent?”  She moved her shoulders and playfully said with a grin, “Careful my date doesn’t hear you. He might just have to take you down.”

“I’d like to see him try.” Clark scoffed before taking a sip from his mug.

“You know what they say: All’s fair in love and war.”

He lowered his voice as he asked, “What’s it going to be for us, Lois? Love or war?”

“Clark, it sounds like you’re asking me out on another date.”

He was slightly caught off guard. Not wanting an audience, he looked around before asking, “If I was, would you say yes?”

She slowly smiled wide. She began to answer, “I’ll tell you what I’d say…”

And in the memory they were interrupted by her ex, Oliver. He had been constantly getting blocked in his pursuit of something more with Lois.

He was more confident now with all his experience and knowledge, but he couldn’t just show up. It wouldn’t play out the same way. He walked backward out from under the streetlight. Lois’ kept flickering toward the window, looking outside and almost directly at him, but he stuck to the shadows. If she saw him so soon after their first meeting she might get the wrong idea about his intentions. He had to keep his distance for now as much as it pained him.

His super-hearing was still adjusting and he heard disturbances all around the city. Not able to ignore it any longer he left his post and started to follow his superhero instincts. In streaks of red and blue from his plaid and jeans, he put out a fire on 4th Street, stopped a mugging in Centennial Park, and, as he heard tires squealing, pushed a truck to the shoulder on the Hobsneck Bridge before it hit other cars. When he returned the pair was leaving the restaurant.

He watched Lois walk with No-name and he yearned to be by her side, traveling down the city streets like they usually did. He had to endure a stranger in his place. Against Clark’s better judgement he followed them, hunching his shoulders and keeping his head down to try and blend in. 

They kept on the familiar walk, right to 2318 Main Street, the apartment he and Lois shared above a corner grocery. When the farm sale had fallen through with Apokalips, Smallville became a retreat getaway from the city for quiet. But the apartment was also home. They had put their stamp on it. 

“Part of us merging our lives together is taking the time to find the right spot for everything,” Lois thoughtfully told him.

“All I know is that my perfect spot is here with you.”

Except his things weren’t present there now. His perfect spot was occupied by an unwelcome individual. 

The churning in his stomach made him sick as he wondered if Lois and the man lived together. What else might transpire if they went upstairs together?

The two stopped outside the brick building and Clark hung by a car parked in the street as if he were the owner. He bent his head down and listened to their conversation.

“You've been quiet this whole way. That isn't like you,” the man pointed out.

Lois sighed and tugged at the belt of her black coat. “Sorry, it's been a long day.”

“What's on your mind?”

“Have you ever had deja vu?” she asked.

The man shrugged his shoulders. “Sure, hasn't everybody?”

“Yeah, but this one I can't pinpoint.” She let out a grunt of frustration. “It's bothering me.”

“I'm sure you'll figure it out.”

“Yeah,” she shook her head, “I think I'm just tired.”

“You know that my place is bigger and has a better mattress. Why don’t we go there?” 

Clark made a face and gripped the side mirror of the car like it was the man's head.

“I like my apartment. You know that.”

The man rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I can't pry you away from the rusty pipes.”

“Its closer to work and more affordable,” she argued.

“We are getting married. Maybe we should finally compromise on a new place for the both of us.”

 Clark felt heat behind his eyes as the man pulled Lois closer, a hand starting to fall lower on her back. He could feel his Kryptonian powers threatening a public display. He braced himself on the side mirror and it suddenly popped off in his hands. Just as the two were about to kiss the car alarm blared. The couple jumped back and he ducked down, the mirror traveling with him. Clark closed his eyes and chastised himself for making a scene. 

When the noise ceased, he raised his head up, peering through the driver’s side door and through the windshield. The man’s phone rang and he kissed Lois’ cheek before running off. She stood on the sidewalk looking around her like she sensed something. He wanted nothing more than to approach her since she was finally alone, but what would he even say? He was so disheveled he knew he wouldn't make a great impression abruptly appearing. Lois took one last glance before she walked upstairs, no doubt to #207. 

After soldering the metal of the side mirror back onto the car with his heat-vision, Clark glided over to the building and put his back against the solid red brick. He deeply exhaled, trying to ease the tension in his chest with a small rub to the center with his fist. However, he couldn’t quell the anger building up again. He should be upstairs with her. They should be sitting on the couch watching a movie, snuggled up to each other. But it was ripped from them.

He turned into the adjacent alley and hissed, “Mxyzptlk!”

Immediately the being was floating in the air by his shoulder. “You don't look so good, Blue.”

With his reflexes, Clark caught the little nuisance and slammed him against the brick wall, his hand clamped around his neck.

“This ends now!”

“Eeeeh----eeehhhh,” Mr. Mxyzptlk choked.

Clark released some pressure so he could breathe, but there wasn't much he could do for the pressure in his own chest.

His eyes pierced into him. “Send me back. Now!”

The imp wiggled in response. “There's nowhere to send you back to.”

“What do you mean?” Clark asked.

“You didn't go anywhere,” he revealed.

Clark’s eyes narrowed. He wasn’t going to be toyed with anymore. “You sent me to an alternate Earth! Send me home!”

Mxyzptlk lifted his chin. “No. This is your Earth. I just redecorated.”

“Change it back.”

“The game is for you to decipher it. That's how it works. And you're on a time table.” A watch suddenly appeared on his arm and he tapped the face of the glass.

Clark’s upper lip curled and with a graveled voice said, “Explain.”

“You have 48 hours. If you don't resolve it by then this place will get erased.”

Clark briefly looked down in thought. Erased meant everyone in it. It meant losing Lois forever.

He began to squeeze harder and Mxyzptlk started to choke again. Clark reduced his strength, hoping to coerce a change, but the tactic didn't seem to work since the imp started to smirk.

“Tick tock, you've got a heart to unlock”

In a poof Mxyzptlk was gone.

Clark wasn't in a mirror world. There was no device to get him back. His world had been manipulated. Was it a worse or better alternative? Resorting back to when he had first become the Blur, he planted himself in the crow’s nest of one of the tallest buildings observing different parts of Metropolis, but also watching over Lois--who remained companionless as the hours ticked away. As the city quieted down somewhat he was able to think in the pockets of silence. 

“A heart to unlock…” he mumbled to himself.

“She is the key,” he heard Dr. Fate’s voice echo in his mind.

He understood what Mxyzptlk’s master plan was. Clark had less than 48 hours to get Lois Lane to fall in love with him.

Chapter Text

Part 3. Forever and a Day

When Clark arrived back at the farm he realized he'd made a good decision to not approach Lois, seeing that he looked like a Belle Reeve escapee when he finally looked in the mirror. He was a contrast to the more polished, fair haired, medium build, average height individual who presented himself as Lois' fiance. It kept replaying in his mind, a prime focus on the hand touching Lois (that he wanted to break…), and he needed to put a stop to it. Instead, he forged the beginnings of a plan. It meant getting his foot in the door at the Daily Planet. He found a crisp white dress shirt on the closet and rolled up the sleeves on his forearm. He donned a nice pair of black pants, his only pair of dress shoes, and a pair of black rimmed glasses. He knew Lois appreciated the look. He had to grab her attention somehow and undoubtedly compete with his new, and unexpected, foe.

Clark made two quick stops along the way before he stood and waited by the bank of elevators in the lobby of the Daily Planet, balancing a tray of coffee and a bag with maple donuts. When Lois walked in, right on schedule, he put his plan into motion.

“Miss Lane,” he said, with a deep, strong tone that he usually only reserved for her.

It stopped her in her tracks. She twisted in her heels and brought her bandaged hand up to the straps of her bag. Her brow furrowed as she examined him. “You again?”

At least she hadn't forgotten him…again.

She looked at the coffee and pastry bag before her eyes gravitated back to his.

She shook her head as she said, “Don’t tell me you’re a new intern.”

He paused for a moment and replied weakly, “Yes?”

“You don’t sound too sure about it.”

“I just don't have my credentials yet.” He cleared his throat and adjusted his stance. “I was hoping that maybe there was an open position with you. Be your Guy Friday?”

“I’m not the one who makes those decisions. Try H.R.”

She started to walk again, but he slid into her path and leaned by the elevator buttons. She slowly started to grin, grabbed a coffee from the tray, and pressed the up button.

“But I’m sure you hold a lot of influence, your words would mean a lot.”

The doors opened and she walked into the car. “If you think I’m going to say that flattery will get you anywhere you’re…” she brought the rim of the coffee to her lips “…wrong.”

She hit the button for the elevator doors to close but he stopped them swiftly with his hand.

“I’m sure you need an assistant being so busy. Just one day. Please,” he pleaded, hoping to convince her.

She stared at him over the top of the cup, then brought it down and let out a huff. “You look like a golden retriever with those eyes.”

He lifted his eyebrows.

“Get in,” she caved, with a sigh.

He didn’t need any other invitation and quickly hopped in.

“So, what’s your name anyway?” 

“Kent. Clark. Clark Kent,” he fumbled as he pulled and pushed at his glasses.

“You really must be fresh off the farm. At least you dressed better today.” She finally took a sip, trying to silence a little moan from the perfect blend he knew to get and followed up with, "Do you have any experience working in journalism?”

“High school newspaper.”

“That’s it?” she asked, turning her head toward him.

“Then I traveled a bit. Freelance work.”

“And now you’re trying to make it in the big city?”

“Something like that,” he said, dropping his voice and taking a step closer.

She shook her head at him. “Personal space, Kent. That’s rule number one.”

“I thought that was ‘always know your source’?”

She narrowed her eyes at him, but he could see curiosity in her irises. “Even if it was, I have the power to change the order at any time.”

He gave an affirmative nod. “Yes, Miss Lane.”

Her mouth began to drop, but before any sound could come out the bell for the elevator rang when they reached the 8th floor. Avoiding whatever she had felt, Lois darted out and he was right behind her.

 “Chief!”

“What is it, Lane?” Perry White grumpily asked on his way past several desks.

“This is Clark Kent, jolly green intern. He wants to shadow me for today.”

“Get it cleared by HR.”

“I was kind of hoping you would.”

“I don’t work for you, Lane. You work for me. You want to train your puppy, you get the paper.”

Another dog reference?

She rolled her eyes and stomped toward her office. He followed her (like a puppy dog? Maybe he did this to himself…) and she slammed her coffee down before picking up the desk phone and calling downstairs to HR.

“Hey, it’s Lane. That new intern is up here and he’s going to shadow me for the day. Just send up a visitor’s pass or something, okay?”

Clark glanced around again and really took in the room. There were no big differences except to the image on her desk.

“How did that happen?”

He glanced over and saw her looking at the cracked frame. 

“Something wrong?”

She put the picture back down and marched over to him grabbing the bag of donuts. "What's wrong is that I’m already slowed down because of my new addition and if we don’t speed it up Ron Troupe will get my scoop.”

“Something interesting?”

“There are stories of a vigilante stopping crimes in the city last night.”

He knew that would pique her interest. While he was stopping crimes he made sure to leave his symbol in several locations as a way of getting on her radar. Getting to the Daily Planet to be close to her was one thing, but Lois Lane not only fell in love with Clark Kent but also The Blur. It was two sides of the same coin and he was trying to recreate the atmosphere to bring back those feelings.

“Listening to the police scanner?” he said admiring the framed front pages.

She was about to bite into the donut, but it suddenly lowered from her lips. “Yeah, well my fiance is a cop.”

He whipped his head around, the glasses almost flying off his face. “He is?”

She put the donut back in the bag and poked him in the chest. “You should keep that in mind. The 2-7 isn’t that far from here.”

“Does he have a name?”

“Dave.”

“Dave?” 

What kind of name was Dave? Lois and Dave? It was ridiculous. Of course he was more partial to himself being her significant other. The situation at hand of a new world around him, after watching them he knew she wasn’t convinced of her feelings either.

“You have a problem with his name?”

He shook his head and pushed the glasses back up the bridge of his nose.

“Good. Because my personal life is none of your business. I don’t care about yours and you shouldn't care about mine. Now, let’s go.”

She held out the bag and he took it. 

As they walked out he saw Jeff Page hurrying toward them, almost tripping over his feet in the process.

Waving his hand up he exclaimed, almost out of breath, “I have the visitor’s pass, Miss Lane.”

“Thanks, Jerry.”

“Jeff,” he panted with a goofy smile.

“Right, Jeff.”

“It’s okay, Miss Lane. You’ll get it one of these days.” She nodded and began to walk past him, patting him on the shoulder, which made the man glow.

Jeff soured, however, when he looked at Clark and flung the lanyard at him. Clark caught it against his chest with his free hand. Same old Jeff.

“Friday, let’s go,” Lois hollered, using his previous reference as a new nickname.

They rode the elevator down and left the building, heading down to the jewelry store where there had been a break-in. When they got to the location of the robbery they stopped by the symbol he left scorched into the side of the building.

“He left some kind of calling card,” he said, bending and pretending to inspect it.

“Yeah, I saw it. Nice 'S'.”

He looked over his shoulder and her eyes quickly diverted from the lower region they had been planted on.

“He must want the public to know they’re protected.”

“Or he has a huge ego,” she countered.

“Wouldn’t he have left at every crime he stopped, then?”

“So, what, this is to say to the neighborhood they have a friendly hero watching over them?”

“Well, if we do that could be helpful,” a voice said in the distance.

An officer with a shield hanging from his chest walked up to them and Clark recognized the man from the restaurant and the picture---Dave. Dave was about to lean in and kiss Lois when Clark stepped in between and extended his hand.

“Hi, I’m Clark.” He squeezed extra tight and watched as the man winced. It was a little petty using his strength in such a way but he couldn't help it.

“Quite the grip, Clark. You must be working with my Lo-Lo.”

It was Clark’s turn to wince. Lo-Lo? That kind of nickname would only escape his mouth if he were teasing her. He wouldn’t seriously call her that.

“Trial as an intern,” Lois corrected him. 

“She’s the best, Clark. You can learn a lot from her,” Dave said, smacking him on the shoulder, not having the same impact as he had hoped.

Unmoved, he replied, “I’m aware.”

“Any new information about this guy?” Lois asked, ready with her pen and notepad.

“No description of him except that he was abnormally fast. Some reported seeing a streak of red from one angle and blue at another. The symbol isn’t anything we’ve seen before but we can’t rule out gang affiliation.”

Clark wanted to laugh and held back. “It’s not a gang symbol.” Unless the Kandorians were suddenly back and rivals to Intergang. Though, he didn’t want to put out any more thoughts to the universe that could be conjured up somehow.

“And how are you so sure?”

“A hunch,” Clark said with a hint of snark.

Dave puffed out his chest. “Well, a hunch doesn’t stand up to detective work.”

Lois was caught in the middle of the both of them and was visibly holding back remarks. It was the one uncharacteristic thing he had witnessed about her. Finally, she opened her mouth after glancing in each direction. “I'm just going to get more quotes. Play nice.”

Lois gave Clark a long stare before she hurried between different individuals to another officer. The “play nice” was targeted at him. So much for thinking he was just some farmboy. If she knew any more about him she would have slapped on a “Smallville” and he would have felt that all was right in the world. Instead, she had supersped away and left him in the dust with…Dave.

“She sure got out of here fast,” Clark remarked.

“It's all the coffee,” Dave nonchalantly replied as he bent down to look at the scorched symbol again.

Clark grumbled under his breath, “And not your face?”

The detective looked up from the wall. “What?”

“This is an interesting case,” he said louder, with an emphasis on the rhyming word to cover up his muttering. “I think I'll just keep observing.”

“Right. And I'll keep doing my job, too.” Dave pointed back to the evidence. “So, if you’ll excuse me.”

“Sure thing,” Clark nodded.

With an exhale of relief to be away from Dave’s company, he walked over to Lois who had just finished a conversation with a uniformed officer.

“You have something against cops?” she asked, writing in her notebook.

“No.”

“It seemed like you did from where I’m standing.”

“I just wouldn't jump to this vigilante being here for nefarious reasons.”

“Already a fan of this red or blue streak-er?”

Clark cringed. “Don't call him a streaker.”

A hint of a smile was playing on her lips. “You have a better name?”

“No,” he took a step closer, “but I'm sure you'll come up with something.”

“What did I tell you about flattery?”

“You're right, I should listen better. Or maybe you want to write your rules down…”

“Oh, I'll draw them up for you.”

“Good.”

The way her eyes sparkled when she smiled made him catch his breath.

“What?”

“I'm just curious…”

She tilted her head. “About?”

He swallowed back the words he actually wanted to say. “What else is on the list.”

“We’ll see if you last long enough to see it.”

He toyed with the sleeves of his dress shirt, folding them back up to see his forearms. 

“Oh, I can last lon---” he stopped abruptly and caught her eyes widening. For a moment he forgot this wasn’t their normal flirtatious bantering. He could feel his cheeks starting to heat up, caught in a limbo of embarrassment. He coughed and cleared his throat, then said, “I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.”

“You’re really that passionate about working at the Daily Planet.”

He was that passionate to be around her. “Absolutely.”

“Okay, I have a lot of ground to cover and I need to get this story out for the next edition. Keep up.”

She was already on the move, laser focused on the story and negating the fair-haired fake-fiance still staring at the wall behind him. He was going to choose to ignore him too. 

“No problem,” Clark replied as he caught up to her.

In the next few hours it seemed like any other working day. The dynamic was there and while it was normal to him he could sense Lois wanting to question his ability to predict her demands before she made them.

“You know, you’re really annoying me,” she said as they arrived back at the office.

He started to grin.

“Are you smiling at that?”

He quickly hid his expression. “No.”

Her deskphone started to ring and she immediately answered it. With her ear to the receiver, clamped between her cheek and shoulder, she was focused, holding the notebook with her bad hand and trying to write as she asked questions. Lois eyed the bag with the donuts and he knew she hadn't eaten. She tried to distract herself but he got the message. He pulled out a maple donut and held it up for her. She looked confused by his action. His eyes spoke for him, looking directly at the donut and then at her. He tilted his head, gesturing at the baked good for her to take a bite. He could visibly see her excitement and she quickly bit into it, the enjoyment radiating as she chewed. She quickly got back to business on the phone, reenergized. He was pleased with himself.

And the natural flow continued as she paced and dictated, her enthusiasm and animation in her hands boosting his energy while he typed at the computer. He had hope that everything was going to be okay. That two people so in sync, even with obstacles in place, would prove to anyone paying attention that Lois and Clark could conquer anything they were up against. 

As he read over the article he started to put some finishing edits on it, triple checking the facts and moving sentences around to improve the structure and make sure that the most important details were at the beginning.

“What if you tried it like this?” he asked, pointing to the monitor.

Lois stood behind him and leaned over his shoulder. “Damn it, you're right.” 

He tried to mask his pleasure as he got her approval and also caught a whiff of the mixture of coconut from her shampoo and the woody-floral fragrance of her perfume. Her proximity could be so intoxicating for him. He gave his head a small shake and maintained his composure. He took his glasses off and rubbed his hand over his eyes.

He twisted in the chair and it let out a squeak. He repeated the move and the sound occurred again. He watched as she stretched over the desk and keyboard, sending him a glare as she finished submitting the story to Perry.

“Oh, I’m sorry, is this annoying you?” he asked.

“The chair or you in it?”

He got up from the seat, sauntering around the desk, and couldn’t help but smile at the exchange. He remembered the exact words being spoken when he sat across from her after their experience at Black Creek. He had been impressed with her skills and how she managed to take control of situations without skipping a beat. It revitalized him and drew him in. It convinced him to fill out the application and join the Daily Planet. He had been immensely delighted when he revealed they would be desk neighbors, leaving her in surprise. The chemistry in their writing and work ethic couldn’t be denied. On paper and off, Lois and Clark were good together. He was home.

She followed him to the center of the room and tugged his arm, forcing him to turn around. “Look, I don't give compliments often, but you're not half bad at this. And today we were on the wavelength and kind of kicking ass. As much as it pains me to say…we make a pretty good team.”

“Yeah, we do,” he sighed.

The air around them started to change, a magnetism gaining strength and pulling at them. The gap between them disappeared, all personal space ceased to exist.

“You're breaking the first rule,” Lois whispered. She started to lift herself on her toes in her heels, trying to match his height, her mouth hovering near his.

“So are you.”

They were leaning in. Clark started to close his eyes, anticipating the magic of her lips. Their first kiss in the alley had taken his breath away, haunting him along with their crimson escapade and the passionate kisses that made his body quiver. Their first official kiss in the bullpen had been unexpected, but he hadn't been able to help himself in initiating it. It had become increasingly harder to resist Lois. Which was why he committed himself to forever with her.

If only she could recall that.

But what her mind didn't remember it seemed her body might. It was reacting in all the same ways. He knew her like the back of his hand.

He felt a brush of her top lip on his bottom one. His hands held her sides.

It was about to happen.

Then the most dreaded thing occurred. Her cell phone rang. His eyes opened up and she glanced over, seeing the name “Dave” popped up on the screen. He wanted to throw the phone into the sun.

She hopped back, putting distance back between them. “I have a fiance.”

“I know you do.” He was her fiance. She just didn’t remember. For the memories she did have, he couldn’t help but ask, “Are you happy?”

She paused and slowly said, “Y-yes. Of course I am.”

He looked deeply in her eyes. He could see the truth in them. “Lo…”

She let out a small gasp and with a trembled voice said, “I…I can’t do this. This isn’t going to work out.”

“What?”

“I…I don’t know.” She then spun around, getting louder she continued, “You just have been…You know all this stuff like you've known me forever! You knew my first official rule! Have you been watching me or something? Studying me? Are you a stalker?”

“No.”

Her voice was then barely audible as she asked, “Then how?”

“We have a connection.”

“Or you manufactured one.”

“That’s not true and you know it.”

“I don’t know what I know!” she yelled. She grabbed her bag and headed for the door. “I have to go.”

His head fell back in frustration. “Lo--” He went to touch her, but her eyes caused him to halt.

“No.”

One word cut him sharply and deeply.

He let her walk out of the office. 

He gently hit his head against the door frame three times. She was talking herself out of what she felt. She was always stubborn, but she didn’t know what was at stake. He needed her to trust how she felt. He had come on too strong and scared her off, he knew that, but he needed to do something.

Giving her enough of a head start, he exited out of her office and toward the stairs. He rushed down and into the lobby. He stood and listened in the rotunda, zeroing in on where she was.

“Hey, buddy. Today is not the day to try something!” she said as she struggled.

His whole body tensed up. Lois was getting attacked. He zipped out of the building and straight to her location. The masked mugger flew back into a wall with a single touch of his palm to the culprit’s chest. Lois stumbled back into traffic. Clark grabbed her body, bringing her to safety on the sidewalk. He took the mugger to the 27th precinct, handcuffing him to a chair next to a perplexed Dave sitting at his desk. Lois was saved but Clark stayed in the shadows to make sure she was alright as she looked at her surroundings. Like she had been doing, she sensed the presence of someone there and looked directly in his direction in the alley. He was partially illuminated by a street lamp.

“You’re the vigilante.”

Clark remained mute since he didn’t know how she would react if she saw his face. He knew she was always perfect when she found out his secret, but she had been puzzled all day; he didn't want to create more of an imbalance for her. 

“My name is Lois Lane and I would love to talk to you. To thank you.”

He didn’t move.

“Strong but silent type? I can work with that.”

She loved a challenge. That had been the start of the relationship between the ace reporter and the Blur.

He suddenly had an idea. In an instant he sped her to their phonebooth and flew himself to the top of the building, looking down as he called her.

Lois’ hazel eyes bulged. She was disoriented as she questioned, “What the hell?” The phone started to ring and she swiftly picked it up. “Hello?”

Transforming his vocal cords without technological assistance, her name easily rolled off his disguised tongue, “Lois.”

“Mr. Vigilante?”

He grinned. “I’m sure you can come up with a better name.”

She tilted her head at the words. “I can mull that over tonight.”

“I trust you will. Miss Lane.”

He was alerted by a hitch in her breath. She said to herself, “Not again.”

“Are you alright?”

“It’s been a long confusing day,” she confessed.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“I’m pretty sure I’m the reporter and I should be conducting the interview. Not the other way around.”

“I thought maybe you needed saving again.”

They had talked (her mostly, but he gladly listened) for what seemed like hours. When they were finished he had sped her back to the apartment. He waited until she fell asleep (alone) before continuing his patrol like usual. He knew that he was making a difference, in the streets. However, every toss and turn in Lois’ sheets caused a momentary distraction. There was a sign in their interactions, whether Clark Kent or the mysterious Blur, that Lois remembered him. He clung to the light in the sea of darkness that threatened to drown him.

In a poetic moment, he stared out into the east to catch first light from the perch he made on the roof of the Daily Planet. As the sun began to rise he noticed the stark difference from any other morning. The sun had turned red. He could feel his body change, his powers depleting as the rays started to hit him.

“Mxyzptlk,” he seethed.

The being popped up in front of him. “It’s a 3rd act twist!” he exclaimed.

Clark lunged for him, but only grabbed air. He sighed. Mxyzptlk had the power to manipulate so much. He was placing more obstacles at every turn.

Time was running out and Clark (quite literally) couldn’t outrun it anymore.

Chapter Text

Part 4. Take Me Home

Clark sat on the ground, his back against the wall under the ledge of the roof. He had been contemplating what to do next. After the events of the day before he had felt positive everything was heading in the right direction, he had felt it in every fiber of his being. Yet again, Mxypzlk had thrown a wrench into the plans. A third act twist he had called it. A twist that made a knot form in Clark's stomach. He was susceptible to magic and now actually powerless in the face of it.

He was stuck.

He had finally made an attempt to contact his team, but any calls he made to members of the league were met with disconnected lines. He was alone.

Or, was he?

He thought about Lois and the worry started to ease. She was still a light for him. They had proved their connection still existed, so much that it frightened her into running. That was typical and expected, given their history, but she was like a boomerang and would come back. Nonetheless, it was there. A spark that could quickly turn into fireworks. An explosion of emotion that could rock the world back onto its rightful axis. 

He had to go to her. He had to explain everything. She would understand. She always did. He needed to lay all the cards on the table. There was no time to be fearful.

Pushing himself up, he brushed off the clothes he was still wearing from the day before and headed for the door. He trotted down the stairs, the cardiovascular activity having its impact.

When he got to the 8th floor, he caught his breath and entered into the crowd of people getting off the elevator. He spied over their heads that Lois' door was open. Determined, he made a beeline for her office. Just as he was about to enter Jeff Page exited, sending him darts through his brown eyes as his shoulder pummeled into him.

“Excuse me,” Clark muttered.

“I'll be needing that pass back.” Jeff said, pointing to the badge that was still clipped to the pocket of his shirt.

Clark shifted back as Jeff tried to grab it.

“Excuse me?” Clark said again, this time questioning what he was doing.

“That doesn't belong to you, unless your name is Jordan Elliot. The actual intern that was supposed to start.”

Clark used his football skills to shuffle and dance around him, getting into Lois' office and closing the door.

She stood at the window, her hair over her shoulders and covering her features. She was in her charcoal skirt and jacket, arms folded as she looked out at the city. 

“Lois.”

She didn't even turn to look at him. She was angry---and had every right to be---but he needed to talk to her.

“Lois, please,” he pleaded. 

She turned toward him and the hurt expression was a gut punch to an already sensitive stomach. He noticed she was wearing the glasses he had left on the desk and reacted to his stare.

“Oh, these?” she said, pointing to the black rims around her hazel eyes. “I figured I’d give these a try since my vision obviously needs to be fixed to see clearly. Though, the sun still looks strange...”

“I can explain.”

She snorted. “Explain? You used me.”

“That's not true,” he stressed.

“Truth? You want to go there?” She took the glasses off and tossed them at him with a glare. “You weren’t even the intern who had a job here! You lied!”

“Not completely.”

She tilted her head to the side as she inspected his face. “Who are you?”

“My name is Clark Kent. Everything I said was the truth. But you're right, I'm not the intern and I led you to believe I was. But you have to understand that I did it for a reason.”

She put her hands on her hips.“It better be a good reason, like life or death level.”

“It is.”

“Fine.” She clicked her tongue and waved her hand in the air. “Explain.”

Clark took a deep breath. “This world has been tampered with. And I've been trying to make it right and probably doing it in all the wrong ways. But you know something is off balance, don't you? You feel it?”

“That the world is corrupt? Who doesn't feel that way?”

“But it's more than that. You felt our connection. Lois, it's there because even with a manipulated world, we’re still stronger. There is something that we share that is so much deeper.”

There was a thaw in her eyes, but in true Lois fashion she tried to cover it up with a quip. “Is this some kind of past lives thing you're trying to sell? Maybe you should work for the Inquisitor.”

“Not a past life. Our current one.” He tentatively took a step toward her. “Where you and I work here together, as partners. And where you help me be the hero I was meant to be. You’re by my side.” He left out the fiance part to not overwhelm her. “That's why it feels so right.”

“A hero? By your side? What are you talking about?” she dismissively asked, turning back to the window. Her attention diverted back to him through the reflection of the glass when he took another step up behind her, coming into view in the light. Their eyes locked and she said,“I've been down that road before and I always make a giant u-turn.”

“But this is different,” he told her.

“How?”

“I’m the strong but silent type keeping the city safe.” He put his hand on her shoulder. Her body was tense at first, but readily recognized the touch and relaxed.“Keeping you safe.”

She turned quickly, her features softening as she glanced over him again. She didn't have to ask, he could see the question on her face.

“On the phone last night. It was me.”

She shifted her stance, her hand on a hip as she geared into reporter mode. “Oh, yeah? Show me your powers then.”

He deflated. “I can’t.”

“Convenient,” she chuckled, stepping away. “You had me going for a moment. You and the psychic I saw one time should become friends and form a network…”

He followed her around the desk and reached out for her arm, pulling her back to him, almost right into his chest. “Lois, I need you to look deep inside yourself and trust me.” He looked at her, ocean eyes penetrating hazel ones, and deepened his voice with determination. “I’m the Blur.”

He could have said Superman, but the name was too new. The Blur was the beginning, it was the beginning of them on their journey in the next phase of their lives where their paths were intertwined. It held more meaning.

“Oh, is that what you call yourself?”

Clark looked over stunned to see Detective Dave in the open doorway. He dropped his hands from Lois and silently cursed the interruption.

Dave focused on Clark went to reach for something in his back pocket.“How about you come downtown so we can have a chat and you can stop harassing my fiance?”

Lois placed herself between the two men. “He's clearly joking,” she said and pinched Clark hard in the hip. He let out a yelp, folding to his side. “See. He can't even handle that.” 

There was confidence when she looked at Dave, but out of the corner of her eye she looked at Clark with concern.

The fake fiance wasn't deterred, though. “Regardless, I saw Jeff and he said this guy is an imposter.”

“It's an HR mix-up. That's all.”

Lois could be handing him over and she wasn't. Clark realized she was protecting him. She was trusting him. She believed him.

“His confession is another piece of evidence.”

She rolled her eyes and commented with her hands, “What confession?”

“I don't think it's a coincidence he shows up on the same day as this vigilante. Let's go, Goliath.”

Lois tried to hold out her arm to block him, but Dave dismissed her and even pushed her back into the desk to get access to Clark. 

Even without powers Clark felt a burning in his irises. When Dave's hands were about to grab him, Clark’s emotions overcame him. He shoved Dave against the door, shattering the frosted glass insert.

“Still pretty strong,” he mumbled to himself.

Then the shock settled in when he saw all faces on him from the desks outside. He had just assaulted an officer. This wasn’t good.

He didn't have his powers. He was running out of time. An arrest wasn't the next obstacle he needed. 

He looked at Lois with panic stricken eyes and she mouthed, “Go!”

With regret, he closed his eyes for a moment, and then sprinted out of the office before Dave could get up out of his daze. The elevator bell rang and he bypassed workers to get to the stairs, rushing down each flight as fast as his legs could take him. When he got to the basement he headed right for the phone booth as he saw a security guard entering the opening of the bullpen. He waited a few minutes before seeing that the coast was clear and made his way to the loading dock where he slipped out the open bay door and towards parked delivery vans. He hid between them until he heard the cluster of sirens. Then he used his knowledge of the backstreets to navigate unseen while on foot.

This had turned from bad to worse.

Once he was at least 20 blocks away he stopped, his chest heaving and adrenaline starting to wane. He crouched next to a dumpster behind a Chinese restaurant for a respite.

“Mxyzptlk.”

With a pop in the air, the being from the 5th dimension was back, grinning as his dark eyes looked over Clark's disheveled appearance. He reveled in the chaos.

“Hey, Blue. How do you do-hoo-hoo?” he chuckled as he bounced around on the closed lid.

“I want my powers back!” Clark demanded, hitting the metal of the dumpster and making the hellion jump.

However, popcorn appeared in Mxyzptlk’s hand. “But it’s getting good now!” He threw popcorn into his mouth and 3-D glasses materialized over his face. “I want to see how it ends.”

“You keep changing things. Isn't that cheating?”

“It's more entertaining!” He snapped his fingers and sirens wailed again. Clark perked his head up trying to determine the distance. “You have to keep the audience guessing!”

It was no use. It was a manhunt. This had turned from an absurd rom-com to The Fugitive in the blink of an eye.

“You want me to fail,” he resolved.

“No! I want you to get to the point!” Mxyzptlk blinked his eyes repeatedly and let out a huff. “This slow burn is taking too long. I'm gonna speed it up!”

The sky turned black as dark clouds rolled in. There was a crack of thunder and a streak of lightning as rain suddenly poured down. A storm had been conjured. Clark looked at his watch and saw the hands spinning forward.

When he looked back up the space was vacant of the mischievous creature.

“Certainly didn't hold back on the dramatic effect.”

When Clark exited from around the building he was on the sidewalk across the street from the corner grocery that he and Lois lived above. 

“Get to the point, huh?”

He crossed the street with purpose. Using the fire escapes, he traveled up, slipping twice on his way to their floor. Under torrential rain he pushed against the pane and used his shoulder to try and raise the old window. Once he was able to get his fingertips underneath the bottom, he lifted it up and climbed in. He was careful, realizing he was dripping on the wood floor.  

The room didn’t look that different, the furniture looked the same, except his things were missing from his side of the bed---a photo of him and Lois, the book he was reading, and a vintage cigar box his father had in the barn that Clark put his phone and other miscellaneous items in. He also noticed the absence of his plaid shirts on the back of the door. Usually, Lois would throw one of them on if she was relaxing at home. The thought of it not being present was startling even if it seemed mundane. From the day he met her (as Clark and not Kal-El) she had “borrowed” his shirt. When she was cold at the farmhouse, living in his room, he would find her wrapped up in one. When they started working together, she wore both his jersey as a night shirt and “borrowed” another plaid shirt to cover her dress after Chloe's engagement party to Jimmy (he never got that one back). Of course, when they started dating it took on a whole new meaning. He had never quite thought about the evolution of the shirts until that moment, until they were gone. It was the little things missing that jabbed at him. It was all part of the life he and Lois were building together that Mxyzptlk was trying to take away.

 He slowly opened the bedroom door, knowing that the hinges needed oil again to prevent squeaking. When he turned the corner Lois was in her white button down  blouse and jeans, standing in front of the television with concern. Her eyes drifted from the screen and found him. She always found him.

“You need to get out of here! The whole city is looking for you!”

He met her in the living room and shook his head. “It doesn't matter.”

“You're running out of time!”

“I know.”

He knew that more than ever. Time was precious. He cupped the side of her face and she closed her eyes. There was a harsh banging on the door, but neither of them moved. There was most likely a tsunami wave of law enforcement on the other side of the wall, courtesy of Mxyzptlk. He was going to stand there with her until it all fell apart. 

His thumb grazed over the top of her cheek. He’d traced her features so many times over the years he’d lost count. When he was away for too long he could reconstruct her like a puzzle in his mind. He just wanted to memorize her again, self-soothing his growing nerves as the minutes ticked away.

The banging was incessant, but he tried to ignore it.

“The door…” she whispered.

He pulled her tightly into a hug. There was no use in barricading themselves in. There was no escaping. Mxyzptlk had purposely sped up the timetable, torturing him with keeping Lois on the precipice. If the imp was keen on ending the world Clark was going to be right next to her when it happened.

He pulled back to look at her face again. “Lois.”

Her eyes were watery as she opened them. He wanted to kiss her. Especially, if this could be the last time. He bent his head down his lips grazing her temple, trailing a line down her cheek until they made their way to her mouth. He wanted to kiss her like he had the night before he went to fight Zod. An act of pure passion that told her everything she needed to know and left no questions.

They were jolted back when the door burst open with a small blast, chunks of wood flying and hitting the floor. Clark stood in front of her instinctively to protect her. She grabbed his biceps as she looked over his shoulder at the scene. He was seized as a group behind Dave piled in. He used all his strength to wrestle away. Lois grabbed his hand, interlocking her fingers with his and wouldn’t let go.

“Stop!” she cried out.

“Lois, stay out of this. He's dangerous,” Dave said.

Clark continued to look at her, holding her hand tightly. He was brought back to images of an apocalyptic future world, as a version of himself smiled at her even though he was mortally wounded. She truly was like the sun, healing his body with her energy present. He couldn't save his world, but he could save her. That was enough.

That version had succeeded in saving Lois, in sending her back in time to him. It was a beautiful sight the night he saved the monorail car. She had given him life. A spark that ignited a heart that had gone cold. His mind was furiously using his eyes to cause friction with hers, like striking two stones together in an effort to light the fuse.

He tried not to flinch at the weight trying to hold him down. There were at least five officers attached to him and trying to haul him away. He anchored his legs and could feel the spasms in his muscles begin. He kept his focus on her as the sixth pair of hands sent voltage of electricity running through him from his back.

He clenched his teeth and let out a shout of pain at the burning coursing through body, restraining his control. He started to lose his footing. He could feel himself move in the opposite direction. His hold was weakening.

He was losing the battle. 

“No,” he whimpered as he felt moisture brimming at the bottom of his eyes.

More uniformed bodies flooded the apartment, aiming to detain Lois as she fought against them.

He was grabbed again and lost his grip with her hand, leaving it extended and floating in the air.

“I love you.” There was a strain in Clark’s voice when he told Lois, “I’m sorry.”

He watched as a tear fell out of her eye. With a single tear she cut into him like it was a shard of stray glass. It broke him and water from his eyes met the rain water droplets still lingering on his face. She tried to go after him again but his view of her was obscured as he was finally pulled through the door and around the brick wall.

A chorus of rumbles of thunder shook the apartment building as if angry forces had woken. He was shuffled outside and tripped in a puddle, almost falling to the ground. The rain pelted at him as he veered back toward the entrance to the building, struggling against the men ushering him towards a squad car, trying to fit handcuffs over his wrists. 

He needed to get back to Lois. Though he without x-ray vision to see through walls or superhearing to focus on her heartbeat and voice, he knew she was trying to get to him, too. 

 A humming sound swelled in the atmosphere. While there was chaos of yelling, whistles of wind, roars of thunder and wail of sirens---one voice cut through it all.

“SMALLVILLE!”

Everyone was startled. Lois stood getting drenched by the rain, but under a streetlight she was illuminated and glowed like an angel.

His guardian angel.

“Lois, you didn't just heal me, you brought me back. You saved me,” he told her, amazed by her secret actions. It filled him with so much love for her it overflowed within him.

“Well sometimes even the hero needs a guardian angel, Clark.”

He had never said anything about the town or any indication of the nickname.

She remembered.

Lois ran to him and pushed the men away from him as if they were feather-light and held his face. She brushed the curl from his forehead out of his ocean eyes. She stood on her tippy-toes and his craned head down to her, finally getting her lips to meet his--paradise. He wrapped his arms around her and helped her by lifting her off the ground, the handcuff dangling from his wrist, and bringing her up the last few inches to his height.

He immediately felt his body melt into hers, a comfort only she could provide. He pressed mouth with great fervor against hers, pouring every ounce of love he had into it. A kiss that transcended space and time. There was another flash of lightning that joined the moment and engulfed them.

When he opened his eyes he stared at Lois. Gone was the thunder, lightning, wind, and rain. They were in the loft of the barn. Dry. Safe. Home.

“We’re back?” Lois asked.

He looked around and it all seemed normal. Their date picture was on the desk, unharmed. They were unharmed. 

There was a bark from the bottom of the steps and the sound of paws on the wooden floor boards. Shelby appeared with a whine, wagging his tail at the sight of the couple. Clark crouched down and the dog hustled toward him. Clark caught him in his arms and gave him a tight squeeze. He nodded into the dog’s golden fur, answering Lois’ question. She bent down to pet the dog’s head and brought her cheek down to meet him.

“I’m guessing Shelby wasn’t around in that altered world.”

“No.” Shelby licked his face first then turned to lick Lois. “I think he senses something was wrong. I don’t even know where he went through it all.”

Lois exhaled deeply, sending her bangs up in the air. “Even being there I felt like I was in a prison and everything was right there but I couldn’t quite get to it.”

He felt the anger inside of him develop at the statement. “I know. He made it that way,” he seethed.

“Who’s he?”

Clark stood up. “A magical creature from the 5th dimension.”

“Of course, because why not?” she shrugged her shoulders.

He started to smile at the calm delivery of her response. Her words were like a cooling blanket, extinguishing the heat under his skin.

Lois stood up to meet him. “We have our lives messed with and you’re smiling?”

He placed his hands on her upper arms. “You always make me smile. That's why I needed to be there with you.”

“You said it was life or death level. What exactly was going to happen?”

“He threatened to erase this world. With everything he was doing, I believed he was capable.”

“So, what stopped him?”

He brought his hand up to her face again. “We did. He was making me jump through hoops to see if you would believe in us, if you could fall in love with me after forgetting me. I had less than 48 hours.”

“I can see how jamming, like, five years of relationship building into 48 hours might be a problem.”

He leaned his forehead into hers. “We succeeded.”

He gave her a kiss, capturing her mouth with the same eagerness and intensity before the flash. It elicited a moan from Lois. Joy permeated from his heart to his soul.

They always fought for each other. Always believed in each other. There had been ordeals in their relationship where they were apart, but they found to get back to each other. It wasn’t effortless, it took hard work and determination. Their belief in one another was a type of fuel in their individual systems. 

“Believing that you would come back to me was the only thing that kept me going.”

There was bliss like he had never known when they reunited. 

Lois broke the kiss and said against his lips, “Not that I’m not happy that we passed another psycho’s Love Connection test, but why?”

He brushed hair away from her face and let his fingers thread through, momentarily distracted, before he answered dryly, “He was bored.”

She rolled her eyes. “We were a source of entertainment?”

“Oh yeah.”

“Is it over?”

“I don’t know.”

Lois took a step back, her eyes narrowing and flickering across the loft. “Where is the twerp? Does he have a name?”

“Myxzptlk,” Clark supplied, absentmindedly.

The being suddenly appeared with his hands over his heart. 

“Aw, look at you two. You made it!” He disappeared then reappeared by Lois’ shoulder. “I’m still available to be your fiance if you want to leave this guy.” He pointed at Clark with his thumb and frowned.

“No thanks.” Her eyes widened with realization. “Hey, wait. Were you…”

He changed into Dave, still wearing the same outfit, and tipped his purple hat.

“I’m willing to try again.” He gave a smirk at Clark. “Round two, Goliath?”

“Absolutely not.”

“I like it here.” He walked over to the couch and stretched out, putting his hands behind his head as he crossed his feet on the trunk. “You’re an admirable foe.”

Shelby appeared from behind Clark and gave a low growl.

“Cute kid.”

Lois protectively pulled the dog next to her. “Don’t you want to buzz off back to your dimension?”

He pointed at her. “You can’t only get rid of me if you say the magic word!”

“Please?”

“Nope! Haha!” Mxyzptlk gave a wave and then he vanished.

Lois swatted at the unoccupied air. “If I can get my hands on that little backwards Rumpelstiltskin…”

“Get in line.” Clark paused in thought, Lois’ words connecting dots in his head. He gasped, “That's it.”

“What is?”

“How to get rid of him.” He gave her a chaste kiss filled with a dose of elation. 

“Do you really think a fairytale is our solution?”

“He let a clue slip out saying he didn't like Zatanna. She says does ‘shame’ to his name. She says her spells backwards. That has to be it,” he concluded.

“So, we get her on the line. Maybe she knows who or what this guy is.”

“Worth a try.”

After a phone call and some investigating their hunch was proved correct, only Zatanna’s special skills weren’t needed. They had to trick Mxyzptlk into saying his name backwards. Getting him to say “Kltpzyxm” was the next hurdle. They broke down and analyzed the pronunciation, collaborating on exactly how to get the mystical being to say it.

Lois and Clark were up to the task, planning their partnered assignment. If Mxyzptlk wanted to play a game, they were going to do it their way. 

“Ready?” Clark asked as they walked back into the barn.

“Ready,” she said, pulling at the outfit she had put on just for the mission.

“Okay.” Clark took a breath and said, “Myxzptlk.”

Back in his original form he popped in, arms stretched out in excitement. “Whoo! I knew you’d want to try round two!”

“We actually have a challenge for you this time,” Clark informed him.

He brought his tiny hand to his chest. “For me?”

Lois chimed in. “We bet you can't solve the riddle.”

“Try me,” he snarled.

Clark recited, “A Scotsman wears one below, but he wants to make it glow. To make colors unite, he holds this to alter the path of light. But even if it sounds bizarre, you have to lose the ‘r’.”

Mxyzptlk scratched his face, perplexed.

“Maybe you need a clue.” Lois lifted up the hem of her red tartan plaid skirt from her Scottish lass costume. “What am I wearing?”

“A kilt!”

She gave a nod. “He's got the first part.”

“And what alters light?” Clark threw his Kryptonian prism in the air and caught it as he waited for the answer.

“A prism!” Mxyzptlk exclaimed.

“But remember, lose the ‘r’.” Lois reminded.

“A piz-zim?”

“Put it all together?”

“Kilt-piz-xim!” he said triumphantly. Then his eyes grew wide. “Oh no.”

Poof. He was gone in purple smoke.

“Outfit came in handy in this situation." Lois said, putting her hands on her hips. She looked at the space where the imp had been. “Mixle-piddle-dick”

Clark laughed. “You were clever with your words.”

“The riddle made me feel like I was writing a spell as a witch.” She grimaced. “I just remembered I was possessed by one. That was not pleasant.”

“I remember that too. You had quite the dance moves,” he grinned, teasing her.

She shook her head in amusement. “I don’t remember yours.”

“It’s better you don’t.” It was an embarrassing ordeal and his first run in with magic.

“Yeah, you should just stick with modeling. It was a good idea to have the objects for support.”

“I didn’t want to be too obvious, but we needed to make sure it was the right combination.”

She walked over to him. “It worked.”

“We work,” he said, reaching out and pulling the rest of the way.

She let her chin rest on his chest as she looked up at him. “You know I'm sensitive about being used to get to you.”

He nodded. “That’s the power of love, though. The fear of losing it could tear anyone apart, human or superhuman. But even if it can be cruel, love is also what gives us strength. You were able to break through the haze. It saved us.”

“So, you’re saying that love might just save your life, Huey Lewis?” He let out a chuckle realizing that he may have let his words be influenced by music lyrics. She shifted her steps and started to lift herself up by her toes. “You know, with all my stubbornness you had the chance to ditch it all and find someone else.”

He shook his head. “There’s no one else. Only you.”

She is the key.

And she proved it through their relationship. She opened his eyes and her love unlocked his abilities to take to the skies. He had a feeling he had unlocked some things for her too.

“You’re the only one for me, too. As if you didn’t already figure it out.”

“Made all the torture worth it.”

“Aw,” she said, rubbing the area of his chest where his heart was beating furiously. “Well, I’m the opposite of that little instigator. If you say the magic words I will appear.”

“I love you.” 

“Poof!” she said, waving her hands and leaning in, kissing him. She whispered against his lips, “I love you, too.”

Mxyzptlk’s efforts had been thwarted, trying to get Clark to drown in melancholy. He’d had enough of that over the course of real life. He was forever grateful for the peace and love he felt with Lois. There was no one else who could make him feel that way, bringing him to new heights. 

Speaking of which…

He pulled back and asked, “Why don't we take a flight?”

“Embrace our world and not a whole new one?”

“Exactly.”

She nodded eagerly. “But first,” she paused and looked down at her clothes before continuing, “I have to change.”

He glanced over her body and started to grin. “I don't mind the outfit.”

“Oh, I know that. But this is for a different occasion. It'll be safe in the special closet.” She took his hand and pulled him to the door. “Come on.”

He followed her into the kitchen, with Shelby arriving at his side as he stood and took inventory while she went upstairs. Everything was in its place. The stuff they kept at the farm was a mixture that was them, just like in their Metropolis apartment. It was the perfect balance. Though he was open to adding more to the mix in the future.

After a few minutes, Lois came back down with her brown bomber jacket, her hair tied back. He led her back outside under the blanket of sparkling stars. She stepped into his personal space with ease and wrapped her arms around his neck. He bent his knees and catapulted them up into the sky.

 Looking at Lois, her face was always in awe when they flew. And she wasn’t wrong with her expression. The life they nurtured, the world they oversaw, it needed to be appreciated.

He was going to enjoy the beautiful things he had. With the hope there would be more beautiful things to come.