Chapter Text
The thugs with the clear plastic masks pushed them both into the room and the door was closed, locked, and sealed behind them. They both sent worried glances in all directions. The room was a perfect cube. Four meters in each direction. The walls were reinforced concrete and smooth as silk, even a fly would have trouble holding on to them. The lighting came from the ceiling along with the ventilation openings. In one corner was a bunk bed and in the corner opposite it was a shower that hid a sink and a toilet.
"They definitely thought of everything." Lois said. "The Maniacs."
Clark turned to the door. There was no handle, but he tried to press it. Nothing happened. He applied a little more force, taking the risk that Lois would notice and again, nothing happened. Worried he looked around, turning on his x-ray vision and nothing, no x-ray vision and nothing else. What happened to his powers? He checked the walls and then noticed it. The walls were polished, and Clark thought that was why they glinted in the light but upon closer inspection he noticed the blue chips. Blue kryptonite. The concrete was all laced with blue kryptonite.
He put both hands on the wall and bowed his head, his back to Lois. How will he get them out of it this time?
Lois looked at him. The uncomfortable silence continued between them. Lois sat down on the bottom bunk.
"The top bunk is mine." she said.
Clark turned and sat on the floor. His back is against the wall and his hands are on his knees. He still hasn't said a word. He looked at the walls. There are probably surveillance devices in the room, listening devices, maybe even a camera. The room was completely controlled by someone else. Even if he was able to use his powers, it was too dangerous.
"Clark?" He still didn't answer or look at her. "You can't keep ignoring me!" no response She stood up and folded her hands. "There must be surveillance on every inch of this room." He raised an eyebrow as if to say, 'You think?' She ignored him. "You think they listen to every word we say? What am I saying, of course they are. And I'm without my hacking tool kit." Clark stood up. She didn't want to admit it, but her gaze was drawn to him like a magnet. "How long do you think before someone notices that..." He walked over to the shower and peeked behind the plastic partition. "The ball was clearly a trap." Clark gritted his teeth as she said 'ball.' "They must have been planning this for months."
Clark walked over to the bed and climbed into the top bunk. He checked the vent above the bed, but the vent was too small even for Lois and its lid was perfectly attached to the concrete. Lois walked over to the door and ran her hand over it, trying to find a crack.
"If we yell loud enough maybe Superman will show up and..." Clark stiffened. He jumped out of bed and turned to her.
"The room is soundproof." She looked at him in surprise. He hasn't spoken to her in three days.
"How...?"
"From the sound the door made when it closed. We geeks notice things like that." He went to the shower. There were two glasses by the sink. He poured himself water.
"Ok..." Lois chose to ignore his little sting. "Someone will notice we're gone..."
"You mean Agent Scardino?" She glared at him. "The guy with the Clinton mask knocked him out with a pistol. I don't think you should trust your friend to save us." Lois put her hands on her hips.
"Maybe I wasn't talking about him, eh? Maybe I was talking about..."
"About whom? About Superman?" She turned her back on him. Clark drank the water and sat down on the floor in front of the bed. Lois turned back.
"I don't understand by what right you think you are allowed to decide for me what I will do in my private life."
"I have no right in the world. I hope you and Dick live long and happy lives."
"You're not! You've been acting like a jealous schmuck since the moment he showed up! You've been really unbearable to work with for the past few months!"
"Well, you won't have to put up with me much longer." He caught what he said and shut his mouth. As angry as he was, this was not the way he wanted to tell her. She took slow steps until she was standing in front of him.
"What do you mean?"
"It's not important. Forget it."
"Clark! Spill or I'll make your life miserable!" He looked at her.
She wore an evening dress with layers of chiffon interwoven with silver. The dress exposed her knees but, in the back, came down to her feet. In the front she had a Chinese collar, no cleavage but in the back, Clark knew, her back was exposed almost to her butt. She was stunning. Her hair was pulled up, revealing a long and voluptuous neck. She licked her lips now.
"Perry and I agreed that at the end of next month I'm leaving Metropolis. I'm joining the foreign desk and the first mission will be Afghanistan, probably."
"How long?"
"Till further notice."
"No, I mean, how long have you known about it?"
"A little over a week."
"And only now are you telling me?!"
"Every time I tried something got in the way and then Dick announced that he was stationed in Metropolis and since then there hasn't been a moment that..."
"It's Richard, not Dick!" She exclaimed, "You know he hates that name." Clark shrugged nonchalantly. Lois sat down on the bed across from him. "Why?"
"What's the matter, Lois? I thought you'd be pleased. You've been trying to get rid of me for years."
"I don’t!"
"I think the least you owe me is honesty." She turned away from him. He snorted. "I don't know why I expected a real response from you." She looked at him sharply.
"I'm not the one who abandons our partnership without saying a word!" He laughed humourlessly.
"Partnership?! What partnership, Lois?" She swallowed and bowed her head, refusing to meet his gaze. "Richard Scardino spends more time with you than I do! You research stories with him, for God's sake!"
"He’s my boy friend! And a reliable source! And someone I can trust to not suddenly disappear without explanation!"
"And certainly, all of these."
"Yes exactly!"
"You don't need me, you never have. You've made that abundantly clear."
"When??" She looked into his eyes, Clark raised an eyebrow and all the rage in her eyes faded and was replaced by guilt.
"So, I'm giving you exactly what you wanted."
He got up and went to pour himself some more water. He felt suddenly dehydrated. Holding the glass, he looked at Lois. She hugged herself.
"I'm cold." she explained.
Clark looked around the room in confusion. He was hot. He put the glass on the floor next to the bed and took off his jacket and put it on her shoulders. The jacket was still warm from his body heat. Lois squirmed inside until her hands were inside the sleeves. She looked at him gratefully.
"Maybe you should get under the covers? It's not much but it's better than this thin dress." Lois nodded and climbed into the top bunk.
As soon as Lois lay in the top bed the lights flickered and a moment later the room plunged into darkness. Clark lay in the lower bed on his back, his hands clasped behind his head.
"I don't like this place." Lois murmured.
"I think we should try to sleep. Things will look better when we get up." She nodded and then realized that in the dark he couldn't see her.
"Ok." After a few minutes she said very quietly "Clark?" There was no answer. "I'm sorry." And when there was still no answer. "We're back to the silence therapy? Clark?" She looked down. He was sleeping like a baby.
Lois went back to lying on her back. This place, this room, made her very uncomfortable. Being trapped in the same room with Clark Kent was the last thing she wanted to do. And it wasn't because he was a bad person or anything, quite the opposite, and that was the problem. He was a good guy. Maybe he wasn't always there when she wanted but always there when she needed. He knew how to listen and was patient. They also believed in the same things but in different ways and different directions. And she didn't want him to get hurt, he was so important to her and followed her wherever she led him. Her life was dangerous, there was no place in it for a farm boy who became a journalist. She didn't want him to lose his innocence, she didn't want to lose him.
Tears began to well up and Lois sniffled.
She did him such a dirty trick with the story about Bronstein, tried to keep him away from her. And she did it on purpose and it succeeded, succeeded beyond expectations. She was until now haunted by his betrayed look. She wanted to protect him and ended up hurting him the most. And in retrospect the whole thing was stupid. Clark held out with her for three straight years. Her only partner that ever kept up with her and they worked so well together and she ruined everything.
She got off the bed and lay down next to him.
"Lois?" He sounds sleepy.
"I'm cold." He wrapped her in blankets and then hugged her to him. "I'm sorry." The blue eyes looked at her. "I was trying to protect you..." He smiled softly at her. "To keep you away from me and I didn't think you would stay that far away."
"You tried to protect me from what?"
"From me. I'm not the safest person to be around and from the first moment I got you in trouble."
"I'm a big boy, Lois. I can take care of myself." She clung to him; he was so warm.
"I know. I'm sorry."
"It's OK."
"Clark?"
"Hmmm?"
"Are you okay? You feel very warm."
"Hmm..."
"I'll go get you some water." She got out of bed and found the glass and brought him water to drink. Clark only took a few sips and Lois put the glass on the floor. "That’s strange."
"What?" Clark barely raised himself on one elbow.
"The water glows green." She didn't notice Clark turning pale. "Oh, maybe they have kryptonite in them. Maybe it's a good thing Superman isn't coming to save us."
Clark lay on his back again. I drank two glasses of this water, he thought, no wonder I'm so hot. It also explains the headache. Lois turned to him.
"Clark? Clark!" Lois touched his face.
"I'm fine."
"You are not okay." His skin was cold and clammy. She touched his forehead. "You're on fire!"
She wanted to see him with her own eyes, she had to see him. Clark had never been sick, certainly not like this. She stood up and pulled all the blankets from the top bed and covered him. It doesn't seem to help. She stood looking up into the darkness.
"He needs a doctor." she shouted. "Get us out of here!" no response Lois grumbled angrily. "At least turn on a light!"
Moments later and a pale and weak light came on. Lois leaned next to him. He wasn't look good. He was pale and slightly green and his face bathed in sweat. She dug through the jacket pockets until she found his regular handkerchief. She moistened the handkerchief with water from the glass and was about to place it on his forehead. Clark groaned in pain and tried to dodge the handkerchief.
"I have to take your heat down, Smallville."
"No, no..." He didn't make sense.
Lois ignored his protests and placed the handkerchief on his forehead. Clark flinched like he'd been burned. Lois hurried and removed the handkerchief from his forehead. He was still moaning in pain, but he looked better. She put the handkerchief on the bed. Clark barely opened his eyes.
"Smallville?"
"I'm sorry, Lois." He didn't look at her but at the top bed.
"Clark, I'm here." But he showed no sign of noticing her.
"I should have been stronger." She looked at him in confusion. "Save you from there and now it's too late."
"It's never too late, Clark." She gently caressed his forehead and held his hand. He felt so fragile.
"I should have told you..."
"Tell me what, Smallville?" She softened her voice.
"I love you." Lois's breath hitched. "And I should have told you the truth about me, that I..."
"What are you?" Clark looked at her suddenly.
"Lois?"
"Yes, Clark."
"Why is it so dark in here?"
"Are you okay? Clark?" He closed his eyes and did not open them. "Clark?" She shook him but he didn't respond.