Lois Lane

Felicity chuckled, “Oh no, Oliver and I are out of the billionaire’s club. His trust fund and my severance from Palmer Tech keeps us comfortable but it’s not like what some of the people in the room have. No. We’re interested in who gets the box. When I heard about it I started doing some research and things don’t quite add up about this little gem.”

“I see,” Lois hummed in reply, understanding the curiosity over who will get the box. “There are some pretty big buyers here so it’ll be an interesting contest to watch.”

Her eyes narrowed a little in interest when Felicity mentioned that some things didn’t add up. “What do you mean?” Lois asked, genuinely curious. “Is it a fake or something?”

Clark’s eyes remained trained on Lois as she straightened his tie. The nickname brought a familiar, warm smile to his face, as it always did. “Make it an anonymous quote and I’m sure he’d be enthralled,” he offered, knowing nothing but the best would appease their editor-in-chief.

After his leave of absence, Clark nearly forgot about his own story he needed to write. “Right. Work,” he nodded. Though, how he was meant to write a story after practically a month’s worth of a mental war with himself, was a mystery that had yet to be solved. Either a fluff piece, which Clark normally avoided completely, or a piece on his recovery since the gala. While a piece on recovery would be an easy out, there was no way he could write about his recovery when it was far from over, so he settled on a fluff piece. “I don’t think your readers want to hear from me, honey,” Clark mused, the corners of his eyes crinkling with how wide he was smiling. 

Lois huffed a little with laughter and petted his tie flat to his chest, hand lingering there a moment before dropping back to her side. “Yeah, work.” She parroted slightly, her smile dimming a little to something more bittersweet. “Got to get back behind the typewriter sometime, Kansas.” She prodded softly despite the fact they hadn’t used typewriters in reporting for years.

An event like this sure did make Jefferson feel like the small town boy he had always been growing up. Only ever having left Central City with the Legends, the young man was far outside his comfort zone. Moving through the big crowd, towards the bar the man overheard a woman’s voice and stopped to turn and see who it came from. Before him he saw a gorgeous fair-skinned woman with dark flowing hair and a press badge on her chest. Jefferson was not exactly the person to talk to the press. But someone around here needs to be nice to her, the young man thought to himself as he approached the woman. 

“Yeah, people can be jerks.” Jefferson muttered and took a step closer to the woman. “I’m Jefferson Jackson” He introduced himself and extended his hand. 

Lois looked up as an unfamiliar yet friendly face spoke up. “Lois Lane.” She smiled in reply, shaking his hand in introduction. “Nice to meet you, Mr Jackson. I have to agree with your sentiment. People can be jerks.” Not all people but Lois had crossed paths with a fair share of them. “But I guess not everyone came out expecting to have reporters documenting their night.”

She wasn’t put off by the negativity from some people and knew she’d get her story one way or another. Giving up was never an option for Lois.

“It’s the best when they make that face like we smell like we stepped in something foul.” Kara loomed closer to Lois holding a flute of champagne to her.  The bopping anxiety raced up her chest and strangled out the courage that hid timidly within her. It hadn’t been long since the gala and the thought of Clark being here made her sick. 

“I didn’t expect you to be covering something so fluffy.” 

Lois took the champagne with a nod of thanks, taking a sip and humming in agreement. “Or, my favorite, they spot you in the press room and purposely ignore your questions.” She added lightly, moving closer to Kara’s side out of unconscious habit.

“Apparently I needed to ‘ease myself back into the game’.” Lois quoted her editor, voice lowering an octave in an effort to mimic him poorly. “Not even the argument that I won my first Pulitzer with an article I wrote only two days after being thrown from a rooftop could sway him.”

“You can hardly blame them when they all likely have skeletons in their closet, and you have a reputation for being particularly tenacious.” Lena joked with a small chuckle at Lois’ put out expression. “If I were them I wouldn’t trust you’re just here for the auction either.”

Lois’ expression turned innocent when Lena mentioned her reputation. She had always been curious. Probably why she was more aligned with the investigative part of her title as an Investigative Reporter.

“Well, in truth I’m not.” Lois confessed. “I’m actually quite curious about the main attraction that’s drawn so many people here. How did they come by it? Have they verified it’s the Pandora’s Box? How do you verify something like that?” The questions were easy to ask but not so easy to find answers to.

“These press badges have such power, don’t they? They can give or take the attention away in seconds. I, for one, am more than grateful for the lack of conversation after our last outing such as this.” Butterflies fluttered in his stomach as he stood beside his wife, his eyes taking in the sheer amount of people that had shown up to the auction event.

“Thanks for pushing me to get out of the house tonight, honey. I think this will be good for me, for both of us.” Every part of him wanted to stay at home, snuggled in a pile of blankets, but it had been far too long since his injury, and it was time.

Lois didn’t need superpowers to know that coming out tonight was hard on Clark. But she also was worried that her husband was becoming a bit of a permanent homebody. Coming to the auction was a good first step, in her opinion.

“You might be grateful, but I’m not sure the boss will be when the only quote I can give him about the event comes from my husband... who, I might add, also works for him and has his own story to write.” Lois grumbled, although she didn’t sound entirely put out. She did have an article to write, but having a night out with Clark felt more important.

“Your reputation proceeds you, Ms. Lane,” Felicity said with a smile as she walked up offering the reporter a glass of champagne. “I don’t know if you remember me, I’m Felicity Smoak-Queen,” she with a kind smile. 

Lois turned at the sound of her name, smiling at the sight of the familiar blonde. “Thank you,” she took the glass and offered it in a small toasting gesture. “It’s very rare I forget a name and a face, Mrs Smoak-Queen. Especially one as memorable as yours.”

The auction had drawn quite the crowd and, naturally, the media's attention. It wasn't Lois' usual assignment to write a fluff piece about an auction but it was the one she had been given.

“we only have two possible suspects from 38 that would have have any access or knowledge. CADMUS has been taken down after oracle’s attack, and even though lillian luthor is no where to be found, this is not her m.o.” alex was thinking out loud, “and lex…he’s in prison. and he would be taking credit, one way or another.” 

alex shook her head slowly, “no suspects yet, no. there are still many pieces that don’t fit together. the hired mercenaries, the dampeners.” alex shook her head slowly as she glanced over at lois, her limps pressing together apologetically. she wished she had more than that for her. 

alex sighed as she pressed her fingers into her temples, shaking her head slowly, “i tried to talk to her, to tell her to stand down and let me handle it. but she thinks i’m trying to control her, and i’m not, i’m just…i’m really worried about her.” alx sighed as she fretted, tearing at one of her fingernails with her hands, “i can’t do my job if i have to worry about her being reckless while someone out there has kryptonite and i’m not sure what to do.” alex turned to lois for advice - as a woman who also knew what it was like to be the big sister of such a fiery sister.

“Right,” Lois nodded, face twisting into a thoughtful look as she pondered over the information she was given. “Seems a bit too hush hush to be either of the Luthors. Unless this is just stage one and there is something bigger and bolder planned for a second act.”

It was disappointing to hear that there were no suspects yet but Lois wasn’t going to give up hope. “Only a very select few would know to use dampeners and have the funds to hire mercenaries.” She hated to think it but to her it was one logical explanation of how someone would know that there would be metas and Kryptonians present at the gala. “I really hope I am wrong, but is it possible there is a mole? Someone who could be feeding information to our enemies?”

A sigh of empathy left Lois, knowing exactly what it was like to have a headstrong younger sister. “That’s the thing. She probably doesn’t want you to handle it because she’s just as worried about you.” Lois offered, knowing the dynamic between sisters wasn’t always an easy one.

“Honestly, in his mind he would think that’s a good recent to hurt someone.” Lena muttered, a frown pinching between her brows at the thought. Lex would take just about anything as a slight, and since his descent he had decided there was no point in not retaliating against those slights.

“She was.” Lena nodded at the mention of Alicia, her frown letting up a little at the mention of her friend. “She helped me choose the venue and organise security for the event. If there is anything that could be a trail back to the person who did this, I’m sure she’ll want to know as much as the rest of us.”

Lois let out a harsh sigh, knowing Lena was right. She knew Lex better than anyone. “If it is Lex, then I am sure word has traveled back to him that the attempt on Clark’s life failed.” Lois mused out loud. “There is undoubtedly a plan B, C and D already in the works.”

There was no accusation in Lois’ voice that Alicia had done any wrongdoings but it seemed fair to look at all angles of the events organization. There may be some detail that was missed. “Finding out about the security company hired might provide some kind of lead. After all, they were supposed to be screening us all for anything dangerous.” Lois continued her thoughts. “I am sure Alicia would have vetted everyone involved before hiring them. But you and I both know paper trails can be erased.”

“We don’t indulge nearly enough,” he commented quietly, not just meaning the movie. After his near brush with death, he’d been thinking a lot about their little family. Not just him and Lois, but Kon and Conner, Kara… If he would have died that night, who would have been there to protect his family, to carry on the family name? Clark held his wife close, his arm resting easily on her hip as she spoke.

She was right, as she typically was. Lois could read Clark so effortlessly, it was both a strength and a weakness. He couldn’t hide anything from her, even if he tried. “Thanks, honey. There’s just a lot going on up here, and honestly, right now I don’t think I’m in a great place to talk about it just yet. When I am, you know that I’ll let you in.”

Lois had an inkling that Clark didn’t just mean the movie. But she also wasn’t blind to the fact he was struggling to come to terms with what was really eating away at him.

“We have a few weeks off work.” Lois changed the topic slightly, “Why don’t we use the time to indulge? Maybe go out to the farm and visit your Mom. I do want to see if those repairs we made in the barn are still holding up.” Of course, that would mean a trip back to Earth-38 but the Kent Farm had always brought a sense of home to both of them.

Clark’s admission drew a small smile out of Lois and she leaned up to place a gentle kiss on his lips to show she understood. “Just don’t keep it to yourself too long, okay? Don’t want you getting lost in that head of yours.” She then snuggled close, hand drifting soothingly over his chest and side.

alex debated lois’ words and shrugged her shoulders, “there’s not evidence of kryptonians existing on earth, no. but it could be that this time around no one survived.” alex contemplated with a wince in her tone just at the thought. alex clicked her tongue thoughtfully, not really sure of her answer, “there is no way to track travel between earths. the technology is not just available to the deo or star city. but i don’t think it’s someone from 38.” 

alex smiled a little at the faith lois seemed to have in her - it was a lot more than kara was giving her right now. the smile faded momentarily at the mention of lex luthor and alex heaved a tired sigh, “dealing with a megalomaniac is definitely a lot easier than a hidden new threat.” alex admitted slowly - lex was always an obvious target, a frustrating arms length away but always there, seen enough to know where to pour their efforts into. 

“have you talked to kara?” alex asked experimentally as her fingers worried of the cup of coffee she held, “she seems so…affected by all of this.”

“True,” Lois’ brow furrowed at the thought. It was a possibility that there had been a Krypton that had been destroyed with no survivors. A horrible possibility but one that could exist.

Her frown remain when Alex said there was no way to track travel. “What makes you think it isn’t someone from Earth-38?” It was curious to hear who Alex had her suspicions about. “Do you have a suspect in mind?”

With a nod, Lois had to agree. Hidden threats were always harder to uncover but it wasn’t like that hadn’t faced them before. She had to hold hope that they would find out who was behind the attack and that person (or people) would be brought to justice.

“Yeah.” Lena confirmed, letting out a long slow breath at the mention of her brother. “He’s tried to kill me more than once from behind bars. And avoided the trail going back to him. So… I wouldn’t put it past him to do the same to Clark. Honestly I’m surprised he hadn’t tried before.” She muttered. But then she had always kept the slim hope that Lex had been in the dark about Superman’s identity. When she realised it herself, she had suspected that he might have known, unless he had already been completely delusional by the time both sides of Clark’s identity were in his life. “If it was Lex… it means he knows the truth about Clark.” She noted solemnly.

She gave Lois a tired but grateful look at her words. Even if she would carry the blame of it regardless, it gave her great relief to know that Lois didn’t hold her responsible and wouldn’t resent her for it. “If it is Lex, I won’t let him get away with this.” Not like last time. She had acted too late in stopping Lex before, and people died for it. She would do whatever it took to make sure the link to him was uncovered - he wouldn’t be able to try and cheat his way out this time while he was still behind bars. At least she hoped.

“Maybe it’s because he wanted to big note himself as Clark’s greatest enemy because Clark misquoted him in an article.” Lois replied, trying to joke but it fell flat. 

Lex had always had it out for Superman - not Clark. Lois presumed it was because the idea of conquering the Man of Steel was more prolific than targeting a reporter. But if Lex had worked out that Superman and Clark were one in the same, then that would explain the gala attack.

“I presumed as much.” She murmured low, mulling over the thought. 

Her answer was one that he expected already, of course, that she would tell him that he didn’t need to do it, that didn’t mean that he wouldn’t still do it, “Can’t promise that I won’t do it anyway, though,” he had flown so many times to Italy to grab some pizza, or to France to get some croissant. Only the best for his friends, “I guess I get it, it is nice to try out for food in different places.”

He thought that was the best part about being able to go anywhere that he wanted in a blink of an eye, the food, being able to eat all different kinds, in all different places, “My life was pretty good,” he wasn’t sure if he should tell her about his Clark yet, “Yes, to all of your questions. My Lois, she was very sweet, she welcomed me with open arms into the family.”

“What are some of the places you have tried here for food?” Lois asked, genuinely interested as Conner had been on Earth-1 longer than she had therefore she expected he would be in the know about such things. “I am told the best place for burgers is Big Belly Burger. But I don’t know. Some of those big chain stores can’t beat the little local owned places.”

Food was an easy and safe topic to talk about but it wasn’t the only thing Lois wanted to know about Conner. However, she noted when Conner was talking of his Earth it was all past tense. It was curious. Made her wonder if something happened that prevented him from going back.

But those thoughts were stored away. Questions for later.

“That’s amazing to hear. I cannot understand how anyone could hurt someone so kind. Upon preparing for the gala, I took to reading some of his works and I swear I felt as if I were there. Mr. Kent’s insight is something to marvel and I am so sorry that his big night was ruined. I’m just happy that he’s recovering and due make sure leave your address with my assistant. I’d love to send some goodies for you both,” the honeydew tone of her words saturated the mockery that had truly laced each perfectly placed syllable. 

“I did,” she frowned. “Aside from the security personal as employed by L-Corp, my event planner suggested a privately chartered security team, Blackhawks. I didn’t know much of them but the list of their former cliental spoke volumes. I would have never expected someone who had guarded billionaires and former presidents to do such horrid things.” 

“That’s what I am trying to understand myself,” Lois replied, taking the compliments to Clark’s work at face value. Alicia appeared kind however something felt off about her. Something Lois couldn’t quite put her finger on. It could be nothing, just the suspicions and reservations one had of strangers after an event such as the gala. 

“Thank you for the concern, Ms. Baker. I’m sure Clark will appreciate knowing that his fan base is growing.” 

Taking on board the names Alicia provided, Lois made a mental note to follow up the private security team. She might not know much about them, but maybe there was someone among her Earth-1 contacts that did.

“Am always here to help.” Querl said as he stepped in. “Yes, I was told am a good listener so I thought it might help in the situation.” He can feel the situation is very hard but he will have to look more into the situation to make sure of what his thoughts where going into his mind. 

Querl nodded, “Prolonged Exposure would need time and at their own pace.” he knew it would. “Is there anything particular I can help? Am sure what happened to him had some effect on you.” He said being mindful of Lois. 

“I think having a good listener would definitely help the situation.” Lois agreed, welcoming Brainy further into the apartment and inviting him to sit down on the sofa or the arm chair while she sat herself down on a second arm chair.

Lois nodded, “I thought as much.” When Brainy confirmed that prolonged exposure to kryponite may have caused a delay in Clark’s healing. 

She was about to answer his question by saying that Brainy could assist the DEO in their investigations into who had access to kryptonite on Earth-1. But then the second part of his offer made her pause. “It’s always difficult to see him hurt, you know?” she stated, wondering if Brainy understood how difficult it was to see someone they loved hurt. “I didn’t think Earth-1 had to worry about kryptonite but I guess it wasn’t only us that arrived from Earth-38.”

Alicia wondered how long it would take the precious Lois Lane to appear in all of her nosy glory. You just can’t keep a good girl down from a juicy story. Or rather you can’t throw off a bloodhound. It’s what made of all of this back and forth worth it. Her plans were knitting together with an unnatural speed and she couldn’t be happier. Turning after a beat, she immediately greeted the woman with a hug. Her hands etching gentle circles into her back before she peeled back. 

“I am never too busy to help. How is your husband? I am so sorry I haven’t come personally to see him. Things have been quite hectic since the gala.” 

There was a little caution in the hug as Lois returned it politely, not dismissing it altogether but there was no warmth behind the gesture. Like one would hug a lesser known person that only visited every blue moon. It was a kindness, nothing deeper than that.

“My husband is recovering well.” Lois admitted truthfully yet not willing to share all the details. “It’s okay. He’s had so many well wishers already that we’re considering people may have to ring ahead and book an appointment in advance.” It wasn’t that extreme but Clark was well loved and Lois appreciated that their family had rallied around him. Besides, a light bit of humour despite the circumstances tended to do wonders in breaking the ice.

“I know you had a hand in organising the event.” she pressed on, keeping her tone conversational. “I just wondered who was in charge of security selection? Was it a private firm? Or did the location supply them?”