#cantwritefastenough

It is late Friday night or early Saturday morning when Lois makes it back to the cabin. The place smells like sour cooking and when she checks the stove the chicken and rice have congealed. She grabs the tongs Clark had been using and scraps the remains into the trash can. Sadly they would have to deal with the smell.

Lois had taken the crying women back to her cabin knowing Clark was out and looking for the missing girl. By the time they made it down, her husband had already called the cops and a few local neighbors were gathered planning a grid search. It was unnecessary, Superman showed up with the child. It became pandemonium, Lois had to remember that these people don't see Superman everyday. The parents collected their daughter with hugs and kisses and the locals shouted, taking photos and wanting autographs, the cops were starstruck.

Then Clark mentioned the animal. The girl had been tracked by a leopard. A real jungle cat in the woods of Michigan. At first they thought it was a joke but true to his word Clark found the leopard again and was able to catch it. More people were called, the news showed up and Superman was tasked with taking the animal to the closest zoo.

That's why she couldn't take the trash out, the whole community was up in arms about wild animals and a fear that trash would draw them closer to town. With the dinner tossed she opened the fridge and started making a few sandwiches pairing them with the macaroni salad and some chips. She sits at the outdated kitchen table and starts searching her phone for information.

Exotic Animals laws

Walter Miller Company

Exotic Animals spotted.

She reads and writes down notes looking into more, finding more articles and videos. There is money in the illegal trade she knew, but she is more shocked in how many sanctuaries were fronts for people to just own dangerous pets. Eventually Clark returns coming from the back bedrooms still in his super suit. He takes the seat next to her and she offers him a sandwich.

"Sorry about dinner."

"It's okay, the sandwiches are good. How is the leopard?"

"Sedated and going through evaluation. How I've dealt with two exotic wild animal loose in so many days is beyond me."

Lois sets her notes in front of him, with a smug smile, "Crazier connection. You know how the locals mentioned someone buying up all the land? I did some digging, guess what company is doing it." Clark takes the notes and sees Lake Real Estate, a subsidiary part of a much larger company known as Welders LLC. Walter Miller's company. A real Estate conglomerate currently responsible for buying land and homes, leaving them empty to make their other properties go up in price and creating some of the housing shortage happening across the country.

"Walter Miller. Do we think this is his daughter again? She just owns exotic animal all over the country?" He asks.

"I don't know but I doubt it. Sabrina is a fame chaser, she might come out this way for a short vacation but to be out here regularly? I think something else is going on. Something besides real estate and animal smuggling."

Clark gives a sigh, running his hand through his hair and messing up the perfect Superman coif and his natural curls springing loose. "They're going to do a search of the woods." He starts. "Other locals have reported in the pass spotting and hearing different animals that the police hadn't taken seriously but are now. They asked me to help."

She gives a smile, "Of course, they aren't going to turn Superman away."

He looks at her sad, "So much for our weekend away."

Lois reaches out for him. "Clark I'm never going to be upset that you are saving people. And we still are having a weekend away but now we also have a story on our hands. Do you really think I'm going to be here tomorrow just staring at the scenery? Besides all that sex was getting old."

He laughs pressing his fingers into her open palm and tracing the line. "Was it now, getting bored of me?" Getting up she moves to sit on his lap, his arm wraps around her waist, her legs dangle over in a bridle style.

"Getting so bored with you." She jokes nuzzling her face into his neck. "Ten years of marriage and we're tired of each other."

His hand cups her jaw and turns her face to his, his eyes are deep, lips wet and when she's this close to him she can see the imperfections of his skin, the dips and lines, the dryness. It's a comfort a reminder that for all his powers and greatness he's getting older with her, the two are aging together and that in twenty, thirty, fifty years from now she won't be an old women and he still be young.

"Ten years and I still want you. I don't think I could ever be tired of Lois Lane." He kisses her soft, his lips resting onto hers like that's where they should be. Lois drags her hand up into his hair and pulls him to her. The kissing is slow, his hands even more so.

Moving over her legs to her back and up her shirt. They shouldn't have sex, she's to sore from the last couple days and while his suit is always a turn on it comes with problems, while she can't leave a mark on his skin she loves to feel it.

He shifts her and now she's facing him, straddling his legs and feeling his cock press against her. She groans as his hands holds her ass and she rocks herself against him. The soreness in her pussy melting to sweet want. She bites at his lower lip hears his breathing stagger. Their want melding together and like a couple of horny teenagers they keep their clothes on and grind against each other until Lois feels the twist insider her, they way Clark is able to pull her desire out of her with so little work should be embarrassing.

"Call me Superman…Please." He asks.

Lois is tense feeling the hardness of him all over her, the press of his hand already on bruised skin. She leans next to his ear humming into his skin and says, "I'm so close Superman…please make me come. Superman please—" Her body bucks and she grips tightly to his cape and tucks her knees into him. She can't feel the soft, quite movements from him but she recognizes the look on his face his tightly shut eyes and splayed out hands, he comes under her and she gives a sighing laugh. They didn't have sex but they manage to get off.

****

The next morning Clark is already gone when Lois wakes. She didn't wait around, changing and grabbing her lap top and heading out. Remembering the directions of the cafe that Clark mentioned yesterday she drives into town. Passing by the neighboring cabin seeing the young family packing up to head home. Either the trip as planned ends today or they were leaving early she didn't know but she waves as she passes.

There is an increase policed presents on the main street, a garbage truck moves slowly gathering all the trash and there's tons of people. Lois had assumed that the streets would be bare everyone to scared to go out with the risk of wild animals but, young and old, families and college students walk through the streets. She lucks out snagging a parking spot as someone pulls out but worries she won't get a table inside.

The small cafe is packed she can tell before even going in, not wanting to fight she goes to the small outside patio setting up her laptop and using a spare sweatshirt as a buffer to the iron chair, even without the bruising those chairs were uncomfortable. There is a URL on the side of the building she uses to place an online order with directions she was sitting in the patio. With her drink ordered she starts up her laptop and begins working.

She looks more into Walter Miller and his daughter trying to find a connection to this area and exotic animals. There is a video Sabrina did years ago working with a charity to protect safari lands and Lois calculates that Sabrina is into animal rights every year doing a live charity drive for a number of shelters and helps pet owners in the Metropolis area by offsetting the cost of getting their animals fixed.

Walter Miller is harder to track. He doesn't post his life on social media and has always did his dirty work behind closed doors. She tries to track some of the sales of the land in the surrounding area, having to call the county clerk who gave the info more willingly then Lois had anticipated. Lake Real Estate has been around for four years but has only just recently started acquiring land, though if her Birds Eye Maps are right the locations seemed off compared to how Welders as a company works.

Welders likes buying the cheap rundown homes or medium income apartments, the hoard them like kids do with Halloween candy. They aren't in the rental business and vacation homes aren't their focus either so lake side property is a choice. When she stalls she first calls a couple different people. Some of the other towns were Lake Real Estate have bought property in other parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio. She also called the few numbers she could find for Lake Real Estate getting a voice mail and leaving her number for a call back.

When the barista brought her her second order of iced coffee did Lois realize the table behind her became occupied. Three men talking low keeping to themselves, she wouldn't have thought anything of it if it wasn't for the fact one of them brought up Superman. Lois pretends to continue to work and eavesdrops on the conversation.

"The search party still in the woods?" Says one.

"Yeah, Brian and Josh are still helping in the search, so far we're in the clear they haven't gone near the south side." Says another.

"What's the plan? Superman is in the area, we don't have many options. This can't be a coincidence." The third tags on.

Lois sips her coffee, this is something other then just some locals chatting about a real superhero helping the community. She doesn't turn to look at them fidgeting with her phone instead and hoping she gets more.

"They're going to call us tonight, tell us what to do. That leopard got out weeks ago it was bound to be caught, everyone's on edge but no one knows anything yet." Says the first.

"It almost killed a little girl." Says the third guy. "There's also that missing hiker from Helensburg, I wouldn't be surprised if he came face to face with that leopard."

"Don't go sleeping in the woods if you don't want to be a wild animals meal."

Lois is shocked by the open conversation. They may be whispering but they were in public and they knew a lot about these animals, the connection with Walter Miller and something possibly happening tonight. She took quick notes of what the men had said and waited longer then she had wanted for them to get up and walk by her so she could see their faces. Nothing about them stood out, three white men, two older white graying hair and round stomachs, the other around her age buzz cut. They dress like construction workers, steel toed boots, dirty paint stained jeans and reflective vest. As they pass one turns to the barista who's changing out the chalkboard sign to update the menu. They know each other Lois is sure with how the acknowledge one another and then they are gone.

Getting up she walks to the front of the build and sees them all pile into a van. Nothing particular about it and drive off. The worker continues to finish up the sign and Lois tries to come up with a way to find out who any of them are. Thinking she opens her bag and sees Clark's wallet in her purse. Taking only a moment she drops it on the ground and proclaims.

"Oh one of those guys left their wallet here." She picks it up and the worker looks over at her. "Oh no."

"I can take it. They come by often enough." Says the worker. That's not enough she need more information. "Are you sure dropping it off at the police station wouldn't be better? I'd hate for them to lose their cards and ID."

The barista rolls her eyes giving a frown. "I promise. I know the one guy in the group. Larry Grim he's my best friend's uncle. They'll be in tomorrow morning." Lois hands over the wallet an easy price for a name.

****

Lois pulls into the the parking lot of the most popular trail head, cop, hunters, trackers all around. Superman must still be out searching the woods. When she gets out she clips her press badge on and joins the crowd of other press and civilians. First listening then walking to the cop standing on the other side of the roped off area.

"Lois Lane of the Daily Planet. Any comments about the exotic animals in these woods?" The cop gives her a bored look, her name doesn't carry as much weight out here as it does in the city.

"The sheriff has already issued a statement. There is no other updates as of now."

"Have you moved the search closer to the lake? Are the police looking into the missing hiker, Jesse Mcbride?"

"Lady what do you think no other update means?"

"Dustin Ellis I know you aren't talking so rudely to someone just asking some questions." Says a woman from the crowd. "The Daily Planet being interested in our small town is a big deal." Dustin gives the women an annoyed frown and she crosses her arms.

"Sorry for being rude. No updates." He walks off to the other corner of the roped off area.

"I apologize for my son. He wanted to be apart of the search but got stuck on crowd control. Your from the Daily Planet? They sent you out here fast."

"I was actually in the area. I'm surprised to see so many people out after yesterday."

"Oh that's because of Superman. Everyone wants a chance to see him. I know my son and the sheriff don't like it but then again more people out means less likely any animal will mosey their way into town. I'm Carol by the way."

"Lois. Do you know anything about the land towards the south side?" Carol ponders.

"Of the lake? It's the old industrial part of the town back when shipments would come in but most of those building have been abandoned for years now. It's where I attended parties back in high school."

"Lake Real Estate bought up a lot of the land over there. Old place to buy if the goal is to create rental properties."

"Oh I don't know about that. I'm just glad that's all they got, in the last five years we've had so many outside landlords coming in and buying up property taking the money and not investing any in the local community. Not only that but it's making it impossible for our children to keep roots in the area, they’re being priced out."

Lois nods this is happening all over the country the only places that seem to be spared the pinch are the ones that made zoning laws back in the day that stopped the purchasing power of large companies and allowed diverse house. Smallville being one such place. After the 2008 housing crisis they went crazy protecting their community.

"Do you know Larry Grim?" She asks.

"Your questions are all over the place. You think Larry Grim has anything to do with this? I know of him, quiet man, I know his wife and him separated awhile back and he's dating another women now." She stops, "Oh, he does work for that company I think or at least he was contracted out. He drives trucks and takes equipment to and from." Lois nods and jots down her notes.

"Larry is an animal guy but he isn't no Joe exotic or whatever that man's name is."

"I'm just following different leads." There's a shock in the crowd and someone shouts and points up into the sky. Lois sees Clark coming down, cap bright and hair perfect aside from the stubborn curl. The crowd surges and Dustin the cop has to keep them at bay, a second cop comes to help. Lois elbows her way to the front.

More men come out from the treeline. They all meet under a tent while Superman talks quietly and they mark what Lois assumes in a map. Eventually the sheriff comes to the crowd and Lois and the other media reach their arms and phones out to record any updates. "Our search is still underway. We ask that everyone remains out of the woods. We still don't know where the leopard came from but he has been successfully removed and taking to the city zoo."

People hit with a barrage of questions. Lois's voice raises above them all, her bossiness' and unflinching nature out matching those around her. "Are you considering checking private property?"

The sheriff looks at her, noting her press badge and raising an eyebrow. "It's not out of the question but the public woods are top importance."

"Have you made any connections to the missing hiker and the animal?"

"The detective in charge of the case has been given an update and is looking into the angle."

"Has there been any other reports of exotic animals in these woods?"

"We currently have no reason to believe there are more exotic animals in these woods." He points to another reporter then another one, Lois is being shut out. She writes his lukewarm response down from the other questions and when it's clear she won't get much more than that she heads back to her car.

It's like doing a puzzle without having the picture in front of her. There's a vague idea of what this all is suppose to look like. Walter Miller, his daughter being an animal enthusiast, the purchasing of land and exotic animals. Miller is a lobbies for Tec companies, he use to work for Lex Luthor in the ever complicated world of laws and politics. But it doesn't seem connected to that at all. It it really just Sabrina and she's using her fathers shell companies to hid her strange need to own dangerous animals.

She watches as Clark goes to the crowd waving and shaking hands with people. Everyone is excited to meet Superman. He gets on his knee to talk to the few children who were there talking to a little girl who hides her face behind her doll.

"Dammit!" She hadn't checked in with Conner at all. Grabbing her phone she check her messages and see's a few update pictures. Lily sitting on the old porch swing, Jon in Conner's husbands arms petting a cow. Kara, Lily and Jon laying on the living room floor drawing. As she pulls away she calls him up.

****

Clark makes it back to the cabin a few minutes after her. She sits on the couch, her notes all spread out and looking into other angles. Is Luthor corp involved, Max Lord, she even did a Hail Mary and used her contacts to call the closest person she could get to to try and get Sabrina Miller on the phone. It was her wellness coach, someone who Clark had done a deep investigation on and uncovered years of abuse and wack science, it wasn't enough to change everyone opinions of her, really Clark just got ripped to shreds by a large portion of her fans but she didn't need to know that Lois is married to that 'guy with bad posture, spotty skin and a body filled with toxins.'

"You've been busy." He says looking at her notes.

"I wish they made since. What info do you have. Off the record."

He gives a smile. "We found the den, and the missing hiker, his body was near it, they'll do an investigation but he was a victim of the leopard." Lois gives a somber nod, she honestly can't imagine the pain a parent goes through when their child has died. The close is when Clark died but even that pales in comparison.

"No other animals?"

"Maybe? I did find the skeletal remains of something but I'm not sure what. We did go to a couple peoples houses, known for harboring wild animals but more like raccoons, possums and deer. Not what we're looking for. There is one interesting thing. We needed a mold of the leopard's teeth so I headed up to the zoo to pick up the casing and while there they told me that the leopard's DNA was strange."

"How so?"

"It's a DNA match to a leopard from the Chicago city zoo. Which means it could be his offspring except that leopard died four years ago and all his children are accounted for. They are doing more test they think there was contamination. What have you found out?"

Lois relays the information she was able to cobble together ending it with. "The answer is right there in all of this."

"Well it looks like were going to be doing an old school stakeout." Clark says. "We need to find this building and see what they are planning."

Lois nods, "Good thing we brought the car. Also were going to need to stop by the coffee shop and pick up your wallet."

He gives her a look as she heads back to the bedroom to change.

****

Lois cuts the lights as she pulls off the road and parks the car in a wet gravel mud pit that often got used as a parking lot. They were in between two industrial building and tucked next to a truck and machinery that from her perspective looks like it had been there awhile. With her earlier research she knew that Lake Real Estate owned both buildings but nothing about what they were being used for.

"Do you see anything?" She asks Clark, his glasses are turned up and she can see his pupils— strain, it the best word she can come up for it.

"There's lead. It's like they build a lead skeleton inside the building, but only half heartedly, it only goes up about fifteen feet high and there's what I assume is a roof too."

"So a bare bones lead building inside a building. There is only one reason why you do that. They don't want Superman interfering, but what is it."

"This has Lex written all over it. And we know him and Miller are friendly."

"Lex has been quite. After the whole brainiac taken over the pentagon and nearly whipping out all of our allies he lost all his government contracts."

"And Bruce went in with the double hit of buying out nearly all of his scientist." Clark adds.

"You hear anything?"

He nods, "People, not many. But there is something in there, big, I can hear it walking but I can't place they type of animal it is."

Taking her binoculars she looks to see another truck pulling up. A transport truck. She recognizes the man getting out as Larry from the coffee shop. He's alone but someone from insides meets him before heading back in.

"They're talking." Clark says. "They've been told what to do-" He jolts and before Lois can ask, Clark grabs her and pushes her down onto the middle conceal and his body moves over top of hers his arms spread around her. She feels it, the glass shattering and the bullets hitting his body but fling off. She doesn't scream or cry, just bites tight on her lip until blood is drawn and her fingers dig into Clark's thigh. The bullets stop and the driver side door opens.

"How noble he used his body to protect her." Says a man. He reaches for Lois, poking her with his gun. She gives Clark's leg a squeeze, she's fine and to stay down. Bringing her hands up, shaking from the adrenaline she slides out from under Clark who stays slumped over. "Somehow they all missed you."

Lois is shocked that the man who is holding her at gunpoint and who just shot a few rounds into her car is none other then the sheriff from earlier. "Please, let me take him to the hospital." She says knowing this is unlikely going to happen.

"He's gone dear, I'm sure you're fine with that, leaves the door for Superman to come and sweep you off your feet. Come on let's go." He grabs Lois from under the arm and pulls her out of the car dragging her to building. She doesn't see Clark leave at all but she does see the car shift knowing he's most likely already in the building.

The sheriff throws open the door and continues to drag Lois with him though she isn't fighting him. She first sees Larry looking distressed, and one of the other guys from the coffee shop. Then she sees the strange lead structure, it sits in the middle of the warehouse and does look like a second building though thin and temporary.

"Who were you shooting at?" The first guy asked.

"A nosy reporter. She was at the task center earlier today asking questions and her and her husband were staking the place out." He tosses Lois to the ground and she watches as he reloads his gun. She gets to her knees, noticing that this building opens directly to the lake channel and water is filling in from outside, the lead building built over part of it too. Then she hears the screech of a monkey and jumps from the sound. "Husband's been taken care of but we still have to get rid of her and the animals."

"You're going to kill her?" Ask Larry eyes widen with panic.

The sheriff rolls his eyes, "We can't let her go, this is Lois Lane from the Daily Planet, Superman showing up was bad, she's worst. This entire thing will be front page news. Besides I already killed her husband, though you don't seem that broken up about it." He says turning to Lois holding up the gun. Lois's just glares at him.

"How do you know you killed him? Very little blood for emptying your gun into him."

The sheriff clenches his jaw while the others look among themselves one angrily asks, "Did you check?"

"Ted, Josh go grab the guys body we have to get rid of it anyway. You got lucky Lane, but you won't be this time. What's the plan?" He ask as the other two run outside.

"We have to get rid of all the animals. They want us to kill them then dispose of them." Says the only guy who's name she didn't know.

"Kill Them! The animals?" Larry shouts. "We can't kill them."

"We don't have a choice we have to get rid of all the evidences and they ain't sending anyone to get them off our hands."

"Don't go soft on my now Larry." Starts the sheriff. "Now Miss Lane I'll do you the comfort of killing you before throwing your body into the gator pit." He straightens his arms and fires the gun but Lois doesn't flinch. She can't see it happening, barely hears it but she can imagine it in her mind. Superman bursting through the roof, debris falling around them, Larry and the other guy moving out of the way. The sheriff still stuck in his pose the gun spark still lit as the bullet is caught mid air in Clark's palm.

His cape is still filtering in front of her and the three all stand there dumbfounded. The sheriff fires more bullets and they ricochet off of him, Larry and the other guy taking cover. Lois shouldn't be shocked, these people have only ever heard of Superman and hearing about someone being bulletproof is different from seeing it first hand.

The door burst open and either Josh or Ted Lois doesn't know comes in with his own gun pulled. "There is no body in the car and Ted took off!"

"Dammit!" The sheriff shouts then Lois hears the sound of doors opening. Looking behind her she sees the lead building is lined with garage doors and all of them are opening. They don't all come out at once but she can hear more of them now, monkeys, a lone bear and hyenas.

"Superman! That channel leads directly to the lake. If they get out everyone could be at risk." Lois says. She's looking for a way to keep them in then sees the gate. Clark goes to round the animals up while Lois runs to the wheel that will seal shut the channel access. The sheriff and others take off using the release of the animals as a distraction.

A tropical bird flies out from one unit and she ducks, Clark has wrestled the bear back to his cage and bent shut the door. The hyenas have cornered a young monkey and she turns away not to see what happens only to hear the swoosh of Superman and the monkey is safe. A lion turns the corner as she comes to the wheel, he is unbothered and sits on his side and while there is some distances from her to him she's so focused on him that she doesn't hear the fast approaching feet. Turning around to see a gator coming on her she jumps back. Larry come in and swings a long board at the gator allowing it to chomp on the wood.

"The gate! The hyena will make a run for it." He says. He keeps the gator back while Lois pulls on the wheel lifting the metal gate up, the water making it heavy. She can't lock the wheel in place while holding the tension.

"Lock it while I hold it." She shouts. Larry comes up and locks it in place just as the gator moves forward mouth open then gets dragged back. Clark pulls the gator and easily lifts him back to his unit. The hyenas take the longest to gather while the lion just moseys his way back to his unit, Clark shutting it behind him.

"Is that all of them?" Lois asks.

"I think so." Clark says landing next to her and Larry. "You want to tell us what this is all about?"

Larry gives a sigh rubbing his neck then starts talking. "I don't know everything. A few months ago I was asked to help transport some equipment eventually I got promoted to transporting the animals from here to other states, to like important places, labs and stuff. I was told it was for protecting the animals, that they weren't being treated right in captivity and we were helping them. We had to keep it a secrets though and I believed them."

"What labs?" Lois asked.

"Ah…Project Labs and Cass Science."

"Those are both under Cadmas Labs umbrella." Clark says. "And the zoo mentioned how the leopard's DNA was odd, maybe it's not an offspring but-"

"A clone?" Lois finishes. "Superboy destroyed all of Cadmas's data and research years ago and then the laws passed banning the practice of cloning."

"Brain the Sheriff might know more." Larry says. "He and Mitch was the contact for all of this."

"Looks like I've got to go find the Sheriff. We need to call the state police too and FBI most likely."

"Already on it." Lois says. Clark turns back to Larry who looks sick at the mention of the police.

"Are you willing to talk the FBI? Your cooperation will look good." Clark asks. Larry’s lips go thin and he looks like he might cry.

"I didn't want anyone to get hurt. This was a job, this area has been struggling and I needed the work. When the leopard got out I thought it was taken care of but then…I didn't know about all of this, Cadmas and cloning."

Clark brought his hand down on the man's shoulder. "And you stayed to help. That says a lot too. And I'll tell them that you stayed but we will need people on record to get this truth out and to get justices for the hiker and these animals."

Larry rubs his face before nodding and Lois calls.