Fanfic: Salvation Ch. 8/11
Chapter 8
Lois was starving.
Her stomach rumbled loudly for the fourth time that morning and she fought back a groan. Her lunch break wasn’t for another hour and her pantry had been painstakingly bare when she’d woken up looking for breakfast. Lois didn’t fare well on an empty stomach, which was not letting her forget this little detail, and her sour mood did nothing to help. If Clark were here, he would’ve already brought her some sort of treat to get her through the morning rush. Some days it was a doughnut - one of those sweet, sugary maple ones she loved so much. Others, it was a bagel loaded with cinnamon and still warm from baking. When he felt really generous, he brought a giant bear claw loaded with sugar and carbs and tasty goodness. Just thinking about it made her mouth water. A big, delicious bear claw, with a big, delicious Clark on the side.
She couldn’t repress the sad sigh that left her lips after this thought. Lois hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him for more than a few minutes at a time, and then her subconscious would slowly drift right back to that night that felt so much longer than just a week ago. She didn’t want to admit it, but she missed him - more than she could say.
And yet, he could still make her so angry even when he was gone.
He kisses me, and then he leaves. What is wrong with him? Lois thought to herself as she brooded at her desk. Is it me? She smirked. No, it’s definitely not me… right? Doubt filled her mind and she began to do something no Lane should ever do - over think.
He kissed me, and then he left. Why would he leave? Why did he look so… She searched for the right word picturing his face as clearly as if she was standing with him again. She remembered the look in his eyes when she’d begged him not to leave.
“Guilty.” Lois said under her breath. “He looked guilty. But, why?”
Lois jumped with surprise as she felt a sudden tap on her shoulder. “Lane, I need you down at 23rd street, pronto.” Lois’s editor said as he circled around her desk to face her.
“Damn it, how many times have I told you not to do that to me?” Lois said irritably.
“There’s a massive fire.” He said, ignoring her comment. “Get down there and cover it, and if he shows up, see if you can finally get a comment from the Blur while you’re at it.”
Lois scowled. “He doesn’t exactly stick around for interviews.”
He shrugged. “Well, then at least get the story about that fire. You might want to hurry if you don’t want to miss out on the excitement.” As he walked away, Lois felt that familiar wave of anticipation bubble in her stomach. She grabbed her keys, pausing a moment to gaze at Clark’s empty desk. She felt a sudden pang of loneliness, but pushed it aside as she quickly left the building. There was no time for sappiness, not when there was a story waiting.
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“Massive” didn’t even begin to cover the size of this fire. Lois could feel the heat even from a block away where she had parked her car. As she rounded the corner, her mouth fell open in a gasp. Four large apartment buildings were burning in an intense and uncontrollable inferno. A crowd of nearly a hundred and fifty people were gathered around six ambulances, some being treated for smoke poisoning, others having minor wounds taken care of. Yellow police tape separated the crowd from the buildings, where three fire trucks were busy pumping what had to be hundreds of gallons of water into the flames.
Lois squinted her eyes against the heat and approached an elderly police officer who wore the badge ‘Chief of Police’ on his bulletproof vest.
“Excuse me, Officer, can I ask you some questions? I’m from the Planet.” Lois said, flashing her ID. Without waiting for a response, she plunged forward. “What started the fire?”
“Cigarette.” The officer said with a gruff, smoky voice. “Guy fell asleep while taking a smoke. Next thing you know, Metropolis has its very own hell-hole.”
Lois jotted his comment down in her notepad. “How many injured?”
“Nearly everyone has had some kind of injury, but no deaths. It took too damn long to evacuate, so everyone inhaled a little too much smoke. We did a head-count and got one hundred and fifteen, not counting the thirty who weren’t home at the time of the fire.”
Lois scribbled all of this down and after getting the man’s name, she stepped away. She silently debated on questioning one of the firefighters next, but decided to wait until the fire had become more controllable. She stood back to watch as the fire seemed to rage and scream above them. And then, icy fear hit her as her surroundings suddenly became familiar, one building in particular.
This was Clark’s apartment.
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Clark was nearby, hidden in the shadows as he watched the place he had lived in solitude for the last three months go up in flames. In a strange, sick way, he was glad to know that his dingy little flat was gone. He had spent too many sorrowful nights in that dark place. Thankfully, he had taken Shelby to the farm to stretch his legs before the fire had even started. It had been strange to be in the home he'd grown up in after being away for so long, but now he was thankful that he had decided to pay a visit.
Clark scanned the area with his superhearing to check if anyone was still inside, and when he was sure everyone had made it out safely, he disappeared into the red and blue Blur he was so famous for. He circled each building using the wind from his superspeed to fan out the flames, and in a matter of seconds, all that was left were half-charred remains. He sped back to his rooftop and watched as the crowd gave a startled gasp and began to chatter wildly, some with knowing grins on their faces as they came to the conclusion that this was the Blur’s work.
Clark saw Lois frantically searching the area, pulling aside random fire fighters and shouting at them with a panicky look on her face. He felt his fingers begin to tingle again and stepped further into the shadows with clenched fists. He wanted nothing more than to scoop her up in his arms and take her away with him. He wanted to touch her warm face and take in the scent that only she possessed. Just to hold her for a moment would’ve been enough, but yet not nearly as satisfying as it would be to hold her forever.
Clark felt his feet leave the cement underneath him, and was taken by surprise as he looked down. He was hovering barely two inches from solid ground. As soon as he felt the first hint of fear, the sensations in his body disappeared and he became earthbound once more.
He scowled to himself, cursing under his breath. He’d been up all night trying to take flight again after that very first accidental burst of gliding or flying or whatever the hell had happened to him last night, but had very little success. He hadn’t managed to get off the ground at all until just now, and he hadn’t even been trying. Supposedly all Kryptonians were born with this ability, but why was it so hard for him in particular? It was all so random, and if he didn’t know how to control it, how would he learn?
Please, please tell me if there’s a Clark Kent on that list. Clark’s superhearing tuned in to Lois’s frantic pleas, and he focused his attention back to the scene before him.
I’m sorry miss, but no one by that name has even registered as a resident in any of these apartments. There aren’t any records of a 'Clark Kent.'
But I was just here last week. I saw his room, I know he lives here! Lois said angrily.
I’m sorry, Miss, but I don’t have the answers you’re looking for.
Clark tuned out, stepping forward slightly from behind a corner of the building. He saw Lois standing to the side, looking very scared and alone. The pang in his heart resounded throughout his chest and he quickly turned away again. He never wanted to hurt her, but it seemed like that was all he ever did. He’d promised to come back to her, but he knew it was a promise he might not be able to keep.
He turned away with tears in his eyes, and blinking angrily, he disappeared in a red-blue blur.
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11:01p.m. - Daily Planet
Lois switched off her computer and sighed deeply as she wrapped her jacket around herself. It had taken her an ungodly four hours to write the story about the fire, and it wasn’t writers block that had gotten in the way. She’d asked every tenant of the four apartments if they knew of a Clark Kent living there, but no one had ever heard of him; not even the man who Lois was sure had lived next door to his apartment.
“No, sorry lady, never heard of him. The only guy who ever lived in that place was a guy named Cal, ‘cept I think he spelled it kinda weird. Never knew much about him. Didn’t like to socialize.”
How could no one know him? Lois was absolutely sure that this was his apartment, even though there weren’t any records of his rent and the fact that his own landlord had given her a blank stare when asked about Clark Kent. She’d come back to the Planet in a haze of confusion and worry, fearing the two worst possible scenarios - either she was losing her mind, or Clark was…
Needless to say, Lois was panicking.
She walked quickly towards home, wrapping her arms around herself as she shivered. It was a cold night, and she mentally scolded herself for wearing a skirt today. It was pitch black out, with only little pinpricks of light coming from the street lamps above. The wind whistled eerily, and Lois tried to ignore the chill it sent down her spine. She should’ve waited for a cab, but even the streets were empty tonight.
Lois heard laughter behind her, and she glanced over her shoulder. A group of three men were on the opposite side of the street about thirty yards away. They were all whispering.
Lois began to walk a little faster, really wishing a bus or something would show up right about now. Mugging was common in Metropolis streets, but tonight she just wasn’t in the mood to deal with it.
After another block, Lois stole another glance at her followers. They were now on her side of the street. She could hear the rustling of their leather jackets and caught a few random words. They were watching her.
Lois felt her heartbeat thudding against her chest and she quickly glanced around, looking for a safe haven. There was nothing - just skyscrapers and apartments.
Calm down, Lois. Just keep walking. It’s only a few more blocks.
They were on her before she knew they had caught up.
Two of them grabbed her from behind, shoving her to the ground as another pinned her. Gritting her teeth with rage, Lois kicked with the heel of her shoe into his groin, catching the others by surprise long enough for her to give the one on her left a hefty uppercut and the one on her right a full-on blow to his nose, blood pouring down his face. She leapt from the ground and went after the first man again who was heading back for more, but he dodged her punches easily.
“Well, well, well, looks like we got ourselves a little fireball,” He grinned, licking his lips.
Lois faked left, and then met his face with her fist, sending him backpedaling.
“You’re messing with the wrong girl tonight.” Lois seethed. The second man was coming back, and she elbowed him in the gut before swinging her fist backwards to connect with his eye. He groaned, but didn’t go down.
The third one was holding his broken nose with one hand and swung with the other, nearly catching Lois’s face, but she dodged just in time. She kicked him squarely in the chest, and he flew onto his back cursing like a sailor.
The other two were circling her. “Come on now, kitten. Time to stop playtime. We have plans for you.”
“No one tells me what to do,” Lois said, and she went wild. Left and right hooks knocked the second guy back far enough to leave his leader wide open, and she went in for the kill. Clenching both fists together, she swung like a baseball bat and hit him with a satisfying crunch. As he fell backwards, she kicked him in the chest for extra momentum. He landed on a few stray trashcans, but didn’t stay down like she thought he would. In an instant, he was back on his feet in a rage that was almost animal.
“You’re not worth it.” He seethed, spittle forming at the corner of his mouth. “But you sure as fuck know how to piss a guy off. And now I’m gonna make you pay.”
Without realizing it, one of the other two henchmen had snuck up behind her and took a fistful of hair, pulling back sharply. Lois gasped with shock and felt something being poured down her throat, making her gag and choke for air. It burned as it hit her stomach, and she felt like she could be sick. Suddenly, her arms and legs lost all feeling, as did the rest of her body. She couldn’t move a muscle.
“Don’t worry, it only lasts two and a half minutes.” The leader of the group said, looming over her petrified body. “But that’ll be plenty of time.”
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Clark looked over the city miles away, breathing in the cold, fresh air and listening intently for the sounds of cries for help. He closed his eyes and listened for Chloe… she was home, cooking something on the stove and humming to herself. He listened to see if anyone else was with her, but there were no other sounds.
Odd… Lois should’ve left the Planet by now.
He listened closer, searching the city for her heartbeat. It took a moment to filter through the rest of the garble, but then he found it. It was beating faster than he’d ever heard it before. Perplexed, he listened for voices around her.
Damn, this one put up one hell of a fight.
How many more, Travis?
We’re almost at the top. Thirty stories, and no witnesses. This bitch needs to learn a lesson. Here - get the door.
Clark heard the quick footsteps, the opening of a creaky door, the wind whistling from the top of a building. Rough laughter… and Lois’s quick heartbeat.
Lois.
In a panic, Clark was gone. He lost her heartbeat for a split second as his terror started to rise, and wasted precious seconds trying to find it again. He was gasping for breath, feeling more scared than he could ever remember, and then he heard it again. He pinpointed her location and the Blur ran.
He appeared at the top of the building a millisecond later. The three thugs were lifting Lois off the ground.
“Let her go!” He yelled, catching all four of them by surprise. Lois’s head rolled to face him and her eyes widened.
“C…”
“Alright, come and get her, hick.” Travis said, advancing on Clark.
Suddenly, Clark felt sickness come over him and he fell to the ground. All three of the men were wearing tiny green rings on their right hand - kryptonite.
Travis stopped, narrowing his eyes at the fallen man in front of him. He shrugged to his friends. “That was easy.” They all snickered.
His face grew serious again. “Do it.”
Lois was beginning to regain feeling in her limbs, but not enough for her to do more than twitch her fingertips weakly. The two men hoisted her up and leaned over the edge of the building. It was a long, long drop.
Clark’s eyes widened as they met Lois’s, and he saw a tear drip down her face as she looked at him. And then, she was gone.
“NO!”
The pain was terrible - he knew the effects of kryptonite well, but seeing Lois drop to her death was much, much more painful than a green rock could ever be. He rose to his feet and ran to the edge, moving no faster than a normal, human man, and dived.
He was far from the kryptonite in seconds, and his strength returned as the sickness faded away. Lois was nearly ten feet away from him, even with his outstretched arms reaching for her. He could see the stream of tears running down her face and individual droplets whisked into the wind as she gazed at him in a way he knew was meant only for him.
Lois knew this was the end. She and Clark would fall to their deaths, and she would never get to experience the joys of life again. Chloe would be devastated, the General, Lucy, Mrs. Kent; she would never see them again. She felt like she was falling in slow motion as she gazed at Clark. He looked like an angel coming to save her. She could almost see his wings. Her heart broke as she saw the determination in his eyes. She would never have the chance to tell him how she felt, the chance to see what they could’ve been, had this night turned out differently. More than anything, she wanted to be in his arms one more time before death took them.
Her strength had returned enough for her to force her mouth to move, to make a few little syllables come from the deepest part of who she was. She knew he would never hear her, but at least she had finally said it.
But Clark did hear. He saw her lips move, and he listened closely.
“I…love…you…”
His entire body shuddered violently, the tingling sensations shot through his veins, he felt power coursing through every inch of every part of him, he felt… like he could fly.
He shot forward towards Lois and scooped her into his arms. Holding her tightly to him, he rose from the vertical drop and was shooting straight into the heart of the city. He didn’t feel fear, because how could he be afraid when the very best part of him was so close? He dodged buildings and slowly rose higher into the sky until he was far above the city. His movements were effortless, like he had been flying since birth. It was the most natural, the most wonderful thing he had ever experienced.
Lois’s arms had looped around his neck and she was gripping him tightly, gasping for air that wouldn’t make it into her lungs. She was afraid, but not of Clark. She was afraid of the speed and the height and the sheer craziness that Clark Kent was flying. And then, she put it all together.
The disappearances. The stupid excuses. The whole hero complex he seemed to have. The way he was always there at the right place at the right time. The flying.
She turned her head to look at him, and their eyes met. Clark slowed down a little and kept his gaze fixed on her. Words didn’t seem to be necessary right now. Lois raised cold fingers to touch his cheek and she felt so much warmth and love that she felt she could cry, because she somehow knew it was all for her.
Clark took her hand and held her tighter, letting their gaze hold for one more moment before shooting forward once more.