Clark Kent/Superman (red_blue_blur) wrote,
@ 2012-01-08 13:43:00

A Day at the Office
Clark Kent typed away on his keyboard at a stead and deliberate pace as he worked through his story on the candidates for Governor of Delaware. Brenda Goughlin was a well-known and liked community organizer with the support of several small-businesspeople in town, but was running a huge campaign deficit to compete with her opponent. Her stances on education, tourism and crime were tough, but not nearly as tough as her stance on big business. Coughlin felt that big business should play by the same rules that the small companies did. She made no secret of her disdain for mega-corporations and even insinuated that some of them profited by smothering small businesses all over the state with her harshest criticisms at LexCorp.

City Councilman Chris Hathaway was a friend to big business and regularly held meetings with business leaders all over the state, including Lex Luthor. While LexCorp didn't officially endorse Hathaway, radio and news stations all over the state provided glowing coverage of the City Councilman and several corporate moguls were lining up in their support of him which came with hefty donations and regular fundraisers to get his name out there. Hathway's personal life wasn't spotless; a former girlfriend had taken out a restraining order against him several years ago and the information was sealed, but that fact was rarely mentioned in his coverage.

Goughlin's ties to "radical liberal and socialist causes" was all over the airwaves as often as possible. Clark didn't like American politics in general, but this whole thing was going to get nasty as it neared time for the election. He was trying to give a fair and balanced vetting of the candidates and their backgrounds but something about Hathaway rankled him. The impression he took away from his recent meeting with the Councilman was that he only considered people useful so long as they supported the news stories image of him; when Clark asked questions about the restraining order, Councilman Hathaway became defensive.

Clark was asked to leave soon after.

Sighing, Clark leaned back in his chair and tried to take his mind off of things for a moment. He decided more coffee was in order and rose from his chair to go to the coffee pot.

(Post a new comment)

ihavequestions
2012-01-08 08:39 pm UTC (link)

In truth it hadn't been the coffee pot's fault, but the appliance's level of innocence hadn't spared it Lois' wrath of frustration. She was smacking it--repeatedly and hard--while grumbling to herself about it being somehow faulty.

The election cycle was starting to wear on her. She hated the smear techniques to begin with, but this round was the worst and so-called reputable news outlets had gotten involved. The reporting was less and less like actual news and more and more sensationalistic, TMZ-style reporting with next to nothing based in fact. And Lois wasn't even reporting on things; Clark was, though she had been assigned to Councilman Hathaway's meetings after Smallville had gotten himself blacklisted after asking real questions. The Councilman probably would be kicking himself once he realized that he'd much rather tango with Clark Kent than Lois Lane this last meeting.

The meeting was probably why Lois was so irritated.

"I said brew, goddamnit!"

(Reply to this)(Thread)

red_blue_blur
2012-01-08 08:48 pm UTC (link)

Clark sees Lois's frustration and, while he doesn't know exactly what's going on, he is sure he can guess so he steps in to keep her from creating an office-wide issue by destroying the coffee pot. Few people dared to get in Lois Lane's crosshairs when she was angry, but Clark wasn't worried.

Lois didn't hit nearly as hard as the Parasite did. Not physically, at least.

"Lois! Hold on, hold on..." Clark says, getting himself between her and the coffee pot before she beat it to death.

"Okay, the poor guy can't do his job if you're beating him senseless. How about you sit down, I get us the coffee and then you tell me what's got you so angry?" Clark asks, trying to be soothing.

He could tell that everyone was waiting for Lois to tear his head off. She'd been that way since her pregnancy started, but she wouldn't take any time off, despite being "asked" repeatedly.

Clark could see the slight bulge in her stomach but it only made her more beautiful, despite Lois's constant referring to herself as a 'whale'.

"You need to sit down, Lois. Please." Clark says, holding up his hands in a gesture of peace.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ihavequestions
2012-01-08 08:56 pm UTC (link)

"Fine. But you make it brew and you better not try to con me with decaf because I can smell the difference and I will hit you if you try it, got it?"

She sighed and backed away, then turned to go sit down, rubbing her side a bit. Her body morphing under the hormonal onslaught of pregnancy was slightly uncomfortably and wholly weird...though Lois could swear that the critter was kicking her already even though her doctor had told her that was absolutely impossible at this stage. Which is why she started referring to her expected as 'the Alien'.

Even if Clark seemed to go pale every time she did.

She was rubbing her side and muttering under her breath when Clark approached with coffee.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

red_blue_blur
2012-01-08 09:04 pm UTC (link)

Clark handed her the coffee, caffeinated, though he was watching to make sure that this was the only caffeinated cup she got at the office today. He wished he knew the magic words that would make her go home and rest or take maternity leave, but those words were not forthcoming.

Still, he'd had to try again, even if it would make her angry.

"Lois, you're my friend. I care about you a lot. But...you're driving everyone in the office nuts. Even Perry. Granted, that isn't hard but you've got /bodyguards/ following to work. I'm sure that Lex means well, but everyone around here is getting worried about you and no one wants to see you overwork or yourself or go into labor too soon.

I think that even my ability to stay calm will probably vanish if you go into labor anytime soon and especially if you have to have your baby at your desk." Clark says, trying on a goofy smile for her.

"How are your feet feeling?" he asks.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ihavequestions
2012-01-08 09:12 pm UTC (link)

"The bodyguards aren't for me. They're to intimidate me. I broke up with Lex. He's not exactly thrilled."

She took a sip of the coffee and looked up at him for a moment. Sometimes she wondered how much Clark remembered about the night of the paper's anniversary party. He had been pretty drunk, though so had she and he'd never said anything. Not even a word.

She rubbed at her side and sat her coffee down.

"I have months before the Alien arrives, Clark and I promise you I will manage to get myself to the hospital in enough time when he does show up. I feel okay, just like I'm being kicked. Doctor says I'm not, though so who knows."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

red_blue_blur
2012-01-08 09:25 pm UTC (link)

Clark didn't like the sound of that at all. If Lex was trying to scare Lois into coming back to him, Clark wouldn't let that continue.

He tries not to visibly cringe when she refers to the baby as "the Alien", as she does almost every time she talks about it. The reference bothered Clark, though he could never tell her why. Lois was out of it at the party and he had been as well, due to Parasite's near totally theft of his powers. He'd gone to the party to keep up appearances though all he'd wanted was to collapse on his bed and not move again.

The drinking helped to keep the pain down that night but the hangover was terrible. Lois and Lex were still together, but they were having problems and Clark...had been weak.

Being with Lois was the best thing that had ever happened to him, though he wished it hadn't been while they were drunk. He didn't think Lois would have done it otherwise. Clark had taken advantage of her and he couldn't forgive himself for that, but it wasn't Lois' fault.

It never occurred to him that things might be different than he thought.

"/The baby/ will be fine and I will help you get to the hospital if I'm anywhere nearby. What are you eating these days? Maybe it's something that doesn't agree with either of you." Clark suggests.

"Can I see?" he asks.

"Is Lex trying to intimidate you about the baby?" he asks.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ihavequestions
2012-01-08 09:30 pm UTC (link)

"If you're asking to rub my belly, please do. And it's not food, though this kid seems to require so much food its insane. I am starving all the time, Clark. Constantly. And I think it's giving me a vitamin D deficiency or something because the more sunlight I get the more he kicks and wiggles."

She wasn't going to tell him about the bruise.

"I don't think it's about the baby, but the truth is I don't know what Lex Luthor is up to. I gave him some hard truths and told him to sit and spin and he's not happy about it. That's all it is."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

red_blue_blur
2012-01-08 09:40 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, so 'he' likes being outside, huh? That means 'he' will grow like a weed. How do you know it's a boy?" Clark asks with a smile.

He takes her hand and massages it gently.

"How about this: I'll take you to lunch. You'll eat and then I'll take you home and you can rest." Clark says, looking at her side. He sees the bruise and that causes him to look up into Lois's eyes.

"Lois, where did this come from?" he asks.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ihavequestions
2012-01-08 09:50 pm UTC (link)

"I just have a hunch it's a boy. Intuition. Something like that."

She sighs at his offer of lunch and then rest and is about to protest a bit when he questions her about the bruise. She hadn't expected him to find it, but then again he was practically inspecting her. She should have realized he'd do that.

"The weed gave it to me. I think he was aiming for my spleen and got my side instead, which tells me his aim is about as good as yours somedays, Smallville."

She smiled, a little weakly.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

red_blue_blur
2012-01-08 09:55 pm UTC (link)

"Well, my aim is notoriously bad. I /do/ wear glasses, as you can see." Clark smiles, though.

"Okay, that bruises looks really bad. We'll just get lunch and take it back to your place. I know of a couple things that help bruises." Clark says. "Home remedies."

He stops inspecting her as the rest of their co-workers are watching them. He wasn't trying to move in on Lois and he didn't need it getting back to Lex that he was. It would be just like Lex to try to use that against Lois to hurt her and the baby.

"Hey, you in there." Clark says, laying a hand on her tummy. "You can't just kick your mother like that. She has to sleep and sit and do other things. Can you hold off on the bashing of the organs?" he asks.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ihavequestions 2012-01-08 09:58 pm UTC (link)
	"I hope none of the home remedies smell bad because my nose is insanely sensitive lately. Everything is." Clark gets a solid kick to his hand when he speaks to the baby, though, a little foot of steel. Lois winces, but doesn't make any sound of pain. "Yeah, okay, lunch and maybe lying down a little will help. You win, this time." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	red_blue_blur 2012-01-08 10:06 pm UTC (link)
	Clark blinks. "I felt that." he says, stunned. Clark knows a bit about pregnancies and a baby shouldn't kick quite like that at this stage. "Have you thought about getting a second opinion?" he asks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ihavequestions
2012-01-08 10:09 pm UTC (link)

"Not with our insurance. I had wondered if maybe I was further along than the doctors thought, but I'm pretty sure I know exactly when I got pregnant so that's out. Why don't you just take me home, okay? And we can have something delivered. I suddenly really don't want to be here in the office right now."

She smooths her shirt down over her stomach and then turns to start gathering her things...and downing her coffee.

"Want to be heroic and carry my bag for me? It'd be very much appreciated."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

red_blue_blur
2012-01-08 10:19 pm UTC (link)

Clark almost suggested that he carry her, the baby /and/her bag. He could fly all three of them home but that would scare Lois. The way she talked about "the Alien" didn't give him much hope on her understanding. Lois would need to know everything and when she did...there was no reason to believe she wouldn't think of him as she thought of Lex.

A part of him is glad that the baby isn't his. Clark was afraid that she wouldn't want anything to do with him if she knew he wasn't really human.

"I'll carry your bag and walk you all the way there." he smiles.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ihavequestions
2012-01-08 10:26 pm UTC (link)

"Thank you."

She handed him the bag, put on her coat, and then headed out. Lois took the elevator without argument but was unusually quiet both for the ride to street level and then for the three blocks it took to get to her apartment. She looped her arm in his and held tightly as though she was fearful. It wasn't often that Lois Lane was quiet or afraid.

"Clark, how upset with someone would you be if they knew something important about you and had for months, but had never said anything until the present?" She motioned for him to just sit her bag on a chair as she herself flopped onto the couch and took of her shoes.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

red_blue_blur
2012-01-08 10:33 pm UTC (link)

Clark was also quiet, but mostly because he was trying to determine if those security guys were following them. And yes, they were.

When Clark hears Lois's question, he takes a deep breath and thinks it over for a moment. He has an answer ready by the time they get inside.

"I would wonder if the person really knew what they thought they knew. But otherwise, I'd hope they'd be willing to let me address that important thing for myself. Not everyone wants to be confronted about things by people who don't understand." Clark says, going to help Lois take off her shoes.

"No. No more work for you today, Lois Lane. You are to relax." he says,

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ihavequestions
2012-01-08 10:38 pm UTC (link)

"What if this person had participated in the event that gathered the information?"

Lois didn't fuss over him taking off her shoes. She figured it was better to not push his buttons too soon lest he really get spectacularly angry with her later. And she didn't want that. She needed him, particularly now.

"And it's not bad information. What if it's...positive information?"

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	red_blue_blur 2012-01-08 10:45 pm UTC (link)
	"Lois, is something wrong?" Clark asks. She was grilling him without grilling him and that was cause for worry. "Even if it's positive information, it could be awkward for that person in question, especially if they don't think it's positive information." Clark says. He starts massaging her feet, hoping to distract her from this line of questioning. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ihavequestions
2012-01-08 10:51 pm UTC (link)

"Not wrong, per se. I'm just tired of wondering."

She relaxes a bit when he starts to rub her feet and it does distract her, but the distraction is only brief.

"Clark, I should have said something to you along time ago, but I didn't want to embarrass you. I thought that if you wanted to talk about it you would, but...I don't know, maybe it's the hormones but I have to get this off my chest. I don't think you'll be to pissed, but I don't know."

Lois takes a deep breath.

"We had sex in the coat check the night of the Planet anniversary party. And by we I mean you and I."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

red_blue_blur
2012-01-08 11:00 pm UTC (link)

Clark keeps massaging her feet but his momentum stutters for a moment after she speaks. He quickly resumes it, but he can't look up at her just yet.

"I know, Lois." he says quietly. "I took advantage of you and I'm sorry. I disrespected your relationship with another man and that was wrong." Clark says.

"I didn't want to bring it up because I didn't want to embarrass you. I couldn't figure out why you were still speaking to me and I thought you didn't remember." Clark says quietly.

Suddenly, the words just come tumbling out of his mouth.

"Lois, I am not that kind of man. I swear that I haven't been using our friendship to prey on you and I didn't mean to wreck your relationship and bust up your family." Clark says.

"I need you to know this, Lois. I care about you too much to let you go through this alone, but I don't want to be something Lex can use against you regarding your baby." he says.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ihavequestions
2012-01-08 11:05 pm UTC (link)

"Baby's not his. There really isn't shit he can use against me no matter how hard he tries, though he'd probably be pretty annoyed to hear you trying to take credit for his own work in wrecking our relationship."

Lois extricates her foot from his hand and then leans forward, tipping his face up so he has to look at her.

"I know you didn't take advantage of me. I was there. I was very much there."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

red_blue_blur
2012-01-08 11:18 pm UTC (link)

"Wait, what?" Clark asks dumbly.

He and Lois had gone at it a wildly in that small little space. He couldn't imagine that no one had heard them as vocal as they were, but it seemed no one had.

If Clark remembered right, they'd done it twice in quick succession, and--

Did she just say the baby wasn't Lex's?

"Lois...if the baby isn't Lex's baby...does that mean it's...?"

Clark can't even finish the question he's in so much shock.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ihavequestions 2012-01-08 11:21 pm UTC (link)
	"It means what you think it means." Lois sits back. She can't really read the expression on his face at the moment and isn't quite sure what he's going to say or do next. Clark wasn't the violent type to be sure but the man was stunned pretty badly and he might raise his voice once things sunk in. Hell, she'd be pissed, too. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

red_blue_blur
2012-01-08 11:32 pm UTC (link)

Clark can barely believe what he's hearing. He never expected to be a father; he didn't even realize that he could father a child with a human woman. But Lois was the woman he wanted and he'd known that since he met her.

He simply lays his head on her lap.

"I'm so sorry, Lois. I should have known. You've been going through this by yourself and I didn't realize...oh god. The baby's been hurting you this whole time and you didn't say anything.

We...I need to find out what this means. If the baby is hurting you, it's because of me." he says.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ihavequestions 2012-01-09 12:04 am UTC (link)
	"Clark, the baby just kicks. It's what he does. He'll play soccer. It will be great." She plays with his hair. "You've been here every step, you know." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)