An (Im)Perfect Moment

By ljp

Category: Superman movieverse

Spoilers: Superman Returns

Rating: PG

Word Count: 1,495

Summary: Clark decides that this was (not) the perfect moment.

Disclaimer: I do not own Superman, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, etc. DC Comics rules all.

Notes: Thanks to bistyboo1974 for the quick read-thru / beta even though neither of us are really at our best today. After all, I'm going on an all-nighter and about 4 hours of morning-sleep. Still, I hope you enjoy. It was just something going through my mind that I really needed to get out.

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Everything about the moment was completely wrong. Clark adjusted his glasses and rapped his knuckles across the door. He took a deep breath when he heard the movement on the other side and a hurried “Hold on, hold on, be right there.” A moment later, the door opened a few inches.

“Clark?” Lois blinked at him then stepped aside and let him in. “What are you doing here? God, I thought you were Richard so I was hiding. Come on in.” She closed and locked the door behind him. “I’m going completely crazy. Please tell me you brought me a latte. Or chocolate. Clark, you brought chocolate for me, right?”

Clark swallowed. “I, uh, don’t think you should chance it in that dress.”

He had been avoiding looking at her, but he had to now that she stood in front of him. Lois was, in a word, breathtaking. The empire-waist gown was sheathed in ivory lace from just under her breasts to the floor. The v-neck pushed those breasts up and filled out the ivory satin. It was held up with thin beaded straps, similar beading emphasizing the empire-waist cut and dropping from between her breasts and down her stomach, where the lace parted to reveal satin underneath. There was a train, not long, but enough that the gown will trail behind her as she walked. She wore no veil; rather her dark curls were held in place with gold pearl-accented combs.

“What are you staring at?” she practically snapped. “Since you’re here, you might as well be of use. I can’t get these buttons at the back and my mom disappeared to find Jason something to drink.” She turned, giving Clark her back.

He still stared, this time at the bare expanse of her back visible under a few errant curls against the back of her neck. The creamy lace of her corset peeked out from under the row of unbuttoned buttons.

Lois turned to him over her shoulder. “Clark?”

He shook his head and, with trembling fingers, began doing the tiny buttons up slowly. “Sorry. You look stunning, Lois.”

She huffed. “I look ridiculous. We’ve had the marriage license for months and I just wanted to go to the courthouse and get it over with, but no, Richard and Perry insisted on this circus show.”

When he finished the final button, he allowed himself a moment to brush the side of his hand across her soft skin. He thought he felt her shiver. And he knew her heart beat sped up.

Lois stepped away from him and faced him, pressing her the silk and lace over her stomach and thighs. “Thanks, Smallville,” she said with a smile. “So, how do I really look? And no lying.”

I never lie, he almost said. But instead he let his gaze linger over her, the way the dress hugged her curves, the swells of her breasts peeking above the ivory silk, the corner of her mouth tucked between her teeth. “You look beautiful, Lois,” he said, allowing his voice to lower slightly. “Richard is a very lucky man.”

Lois held his gaze for a moment before looking away. “So what brings you here? I thought you RSVPed no. Something about a silver-haired mother back in Kansas?”

“I—needed to talk to you,” he said.

“Right now?” she asked, laughing. “Clark, I’m getting married in ten minutes. This can’t wait until Monday at the office?”

“I won’t be at the office Monday, Lois.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I gave Perry my two weeks’ notice two weeks ago,” he said. He wrung his hands together and tried to keep his focus on her face. “I’m taking a transfer to the Smallville Ledger. My—mother’s not doing very well right now and I think I need to be there for her.” He was lying. He was stalling. He shouldn’t be doing this.

Her smile fell. “Clark, why didn’t you say something sooner?” She touched his arm. “Is she all right? Is that why you weren’t going to be able to make it today?”

He nodded.

“I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m going to miss working with you, you know.”

“You’ll be fine, Lois. You have Richard.”

She opened her mouth then shut it. She scowled. “It’s completely different, Clark. Richard’s going to be my husband. You’re—well, you’re Clark. My partner. My best friend.”

He wished he could be Superman in front of her all the time, with that confidence and strength. But even as Superman it was difficult for him when he was with her. “Lois, the truth is, my mom’s fine. She’s moving to Montana. She has a gentleman friend who owns a ranch there.”

“Then why are you—?”

“Because—Lois when I said I needed to talk to you, I didn’t mean I needed to talk about why I’m leaving the Planet or why I’m moving back to Smallville. I need to talk to you about—about Superman. And about Jason.”

She visibly tensed. “What about them?”

“Just because I’m leaving Metropolis doesn’t mean I’m not going to be around.”

Lois frowned. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Clark took a deep breath. “Lois,” he said, fiddling with the frame of his glasses and standing up a bit straighter. “There’s really no easy way to say this, but I can’t let—I can’t watch you marry Richard without you knowing.”

“Knowing what?” she asked.

“And I don’t want you think I’m doing this to keep you from marrying Richard. Because, Lois, Richard’s a good man. He’s good for you. He’s a good father to Jason.”

Lois, getting impatient, stamped her heeled. “Clark, what the hell are you talking about?”

He took his glasses off his face and lowered them to his side as he brought himself to his full height. “Lois, I’m Superman.”

Her mouth opened but she said nothing. She clenched her fists at her sides but stood stationary in the middle of the small dressing room. Her cheeks flushed pink and her eyes started to tear up. “I don’t believe you,” she said in barely a whisper. She crossed to him, flung his tie out of the way, and tore the buttons open on his shirt until the familiar blue and red showed. “Oh my God.”

“Lois,” he said.

She held his shirt at its lapels and looked up at him. She was close, the closest she’d been since the night he’d saved the Genesis flight and they’d met on the roof of the Planet. “How dare you!” she hissed. Her mascara started to run with her tears. “How dare you come and tell me now.”

“Lois, I—I will always be there for Jason and for you. But I’m not strong enough to be Clark Kent to your Lois Lane anymore.”

“You’re Superman! You’re stronger than anyone on this planet!” she argued. Her grip on his shirt tightened. Her cheeks were wet.

He swallowed and tried to keep from leaning even closer to her. “Not when it comes to you, Lois.”

Lois gave her head the barest shake.

“I love you, Lois. More than you will ever know. That’s why I RSVPed no. That’s why I’m leaving Metropolis. That’s why walking away right now is going to be the hardest decision I have ever made.” He stepped back from her.

“Then don’t make it. Just say the word and I’ll—I’ll walk out right now with you.”

For a moment, Clark could think of nothing else. How easy would it for him to take Lois’s hand and fly away with her, fly high up into the clouds where she wouldn’t be marrying Richard, where he wouldn’t have to leave the city, where he could still see her and could openly love her and say it every morning and fall asleep next to her every night.

But that couldn’t happen. It wouldn’t be that easy. There were complications. He still split his life in two every day. Richard still loved Lois, loved Jason. And Jason loved Richard. And Clark was still Superman. Superman was Jason’s father. Who would believe Clark Kent was?

“No,” he said. “I’m not going to do that. Marry Richard, Lois.”

He didn’t have a chance to react before her hand connected with the side of his face, but he heard the crack of her bones. He flinched. “Lois—” But when he reached for her hand, she reeled back, cradling her hand against her chest.

“Leave,” she whispered. She looked at the closed door behind him.

“Lois.”

“Please leave,” she said, her voice shaking. “I’m supposed to get married now. You RSVPed no. I don’t need you here.”

He wanted to say something else but he didn’t. Instead, he nodded and backed up to the door. He opened it with a jerk and without unlocking it. He found her gaze and shook his head slightly. When she looked away, squeezing her eyes shut, he left in a blur and gust of wind.