153/Negotiating the Cape

Negotiating the Cape
Date of Scene:	27 February 2020
Location:	Lois Lane's Apartment
Synopsis:	Superman whisks Lois away to a romantic spot, and they plant seeds for a closer relationship.
Cast of Characters:	Lois Lane, Clark Kent

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Lois Lane has posed:
Lois had an entirely different plan in her head when she started. She'd dress up, have some food ready, call for Superman in a I'm-not-dying manner, and things would go smoothly from there. How could he resist? Things ended up falling apart with the plan quickly, though. The dress she decided was a no-go because it looked like she was trying too hard (which she was) so she ended up in jeans and a soft grey ruffled blouse. Not too dressy. The food idea was the one that turned out the worst. Mostly because Lois is most certainly /not/ good at cooking. Whatever it was that had been in the oven could no longer be called food, so the whole thing had to be chucked. She had to spray air freshener around the place to get rid of the smell of smoke.

So dressing up was out, food was out, and Lois was left with a mess of an attempt to make something out of it. She puts her face in her hands, rubs vigorously, then gets to her feet, heading to the balcony. "You know what, this is going to be great, things are going to be great." Her self pep-talk doesn't seem to be going as planned. Opening the doors and stepping outside, she calls, "Superman?"

She hasn't called for him since she saw him last and part of her gets incredibly nervous doing it, more than before. "I am not in danger but would appreciate it if you visited?" The last part is tacked on in a quieter tone.

Clark Kent has posed:
The arrival of Superman is not immediate. Lack of danger is part of that: he doesn't have to rush over to stop her from impacting the ground. Who knows how far away he was, or what he was doing. He could have been saving children from a burning orphanage, after all. Her request to maybe sort of appreciate a visit may not rank above that....

It's about ten minutes before the sound of rushing air and wind heralds Superman's arrival, causing the curtains around the balcony to flutter and move. Superman arrives on the Balcony, hovering overhead, and descends with a notably majestic manner: shoulders back and set with a heroic confidence, the suit glossy over muscle in the contrasting light of the balcony, cape a rippling wave of crimson. He doesn't say anything -- yet.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois left the balcony doors open, just in case. So when she hears the whoosh, she almost drops the glass baking dish she was scrubbing burnt bits off of with rubber gloved hands. She honestly didn't know how long he'd be or if he would. "Oh! Uh..." She sets the dish back in the sink, fumbling to take off her rubber gloves and she throws them back on the counter as she moves towards the balcony. "Hey, uh, I'm glad you could make it." She looks around for a moment. At least she hadn't left her laundry out... she'd forgotten to check.

"I though I'd see about things because..." She trails off. Mostly because she's feeling incredibly unsure. Unsure if somehow this was okay for her to do. "... you look good." It's a long pause before she realized that the train of thought had stopped and matching her two sentence fragments together made an awkward phrase. She's instantly red.

"I just mean to say... I wanted to see you, that's all."

Clark Kent has posed:
Superman fully lands, framed in the doors of the balcony. That's his place, his spot: somehow he exists best just at the edge of the apartment; inside and it starts to feel strange. He's similar to a celebrity, something out of reach in an otherwordly way, and an apartment clashes with that.

"Would you like to grab a coat, and come with me?" Superman offers. It's a serene, relaxed offer, comfortable and easily offered. It comes with a warm, true-blue smile from the Man of Steel. His eyes move down her, and his smile has a bit of an amused tone to it. "Perhaps shoes, as well," he suggests, voice deep, a tease there.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois hadn't thought that part through. She looks down at her bare feet sheepishly, then back up to Superman. "Oh. Yes. Yes, of course. Just hold on one second." She promptly disappears into the bedroom to prepare. She decides it's better not to tell him she had dinner planned and messed it up. Hopefully he wouldn't pay too much attention to her kitchen.

True to her word, Lois doesn't take terribly long to get her shoes and her coat and she comes hurrying back into the living room. "Sorry about that, I didn't think about going out." There were no mental preparations for this.

Clark Kent has posed:
While Superman doesn't comment, she WILL catch him giving her kitchen an overly concerned look. He can pick up on the smoke scent, perhaps. How good are his senses, anyway? The man can hear her call for him from presumably very far away... hard to know what exactly his list of powers actually ARE. He has never been particularly volunteering about what he can do: there's a filter of humble pie, always.

"That's all right," Superman says, tone still even, pleasant. There's a softened quality to his brilliant blue eyes, as he offers her his hand, palm up, extended out. He fully intends to carry her, but he does not intend to do so without her full agreement. "I promise to return you safe and sound," Superman intones, a firm promise. SOME sort of trip awaits, no doubt, and there's a twinkle to his eyes about it.

Lois Lane has posed:
While she's not willing to admit that she screwed over having a romantic dinner with Superman, Lois can certainly admit that she did burn something with a sheepish smile in Superman's direction. She'll never say what. Instead, she focuses on the blue-clad wonder in front of her. He's certainly a sight. For a moment, she looks at the extended hand as if it were all a dream, but she doesn't let that look last long.

She places her hand in his. "I have always trusted you to return me safe and sound. You've never disappointed." Usually the one with the firm control of the situation, when she takes his hand she's letting go of it in favor of trusting him. Even if it makes her nervous.

Clark Kent has posed:
Superman envelopes her slim hand in his, guiding her towards him just a step, before he moves to meet her, and leans in and down, one hand coming up under her knees, the other to her back, fully intending to carry her in the same way he has done for years. Not recently... but nearly every other time he's performed a rescue, it is in this manner: holding her securely but safely, and giving her full access to put her arms around his neck if she likes.

There is one additional part to it, though, as he used a slight bit of superspeed to toss his cape up into the air and across just before he swept her off her feet, so that it falls across her protectively. "It will be cold, at high speed; keep that tucked about you," Superman suggests, while he begins to fly, levitating up off of her balcony, the apartment rapidly starting to recede below....

Lois Lane has posed:
It's not the first time he's done this. Superman's scooped Lois up like this and flown up and away with her dozens of times. This time, though, felt much more significant for her than the others. Her arms slide up around his neck, not because she feels the need to hold on, but because there's a familiar closeness that comes with doing so. He won't drop her, but she's sure he can't complain about being snuggled up against.

As requested, she takes a moment to tuck the cape in around her as protection before she rests her head in against him. "Funny, I didn't even have to get into any trouble to get all this," she says.

Clark Kent has posed:
"Yes, I thought it might be better to set some healthier patterns," Superman chuckles deeply, making the joke with a pleasant, even voice. It's easy to hear him this close, even if it's fairly windy from both the flight and the ambient weather of the February. "I hope you don't mind me changing up what you might have planned," he asks, apologetic. There's still plenty of room to go back, of course, had she wished to voice it, his hope says.

His chin briefly touches the top of her head as she tucks her head and cheek into his neck. There is only a slight cling of soap to him, a clean smell, no colognes or anything else.

Should she look down, the city lays out below and all around them, as he hasn't taken them too high: the beautiful lights of Metropolis glitter like thousands of winking and moving gems.

Lois Lane has posed:
"No, you changing it up is nice. I ruined my plans before you even got there, so whatever you've got in mind would be great," Lois says, a bit sheepishly. She breathes in the faint smell of soap, but manages to tear her gaze away from him to look at the city below them. "Does that ever get old? Seeing a sky above and a sky below? It's beautiful up here."

She certainly can't imagine the sight ever getting old. Sometimes, something of pure beauty never loses that touch. Her face returns to his neck a bit. Usually she's too busy with the adrenaline rush of danger to enjoy being this close to Superman, so this opportunity is being taken.

Clark Kent has posed:
"No," Superman answers, with a thoughtful quality. He is honestly considering it as she asks him; he didn't have an answer prepared. "It does not ever get old. I reminds me, every time, of how beautiful this city is. This country, this planet." Superman has a larger scope of things than some people: the hero has to take a global view, a lot of the time. It's a significant responsibilty, and it enters his voice with honor - and some weight.

Superman slows a little as they travel far above Centennial Park; the golden Superman statue is a large lighted dot of gold.

Then, a soft warning, but mostly unnecessary: "Hold tight." He gives her that moment, then puts on alot of speed, in a smooth arc, headed out of Metropolis. He is cautious of his speed, but his cape, he knows, will buffer a lot of the extreme speed of the travel.

Lois Lane has posed:
There's some weight to the fact that, when she thinks about it, he's significant to so many more people and in so many ways, a truly global scale. Lois does feel a bit tiny in this instance, just being one blip on the radar of millions and billions of people. Somehow, she was /here/. While the warning was unnecessary, it's still appreciated.

Tucking her head in a bit, she keeps it there so that the wind won't sting her face so much. There's safety in the crook of his neck. Safely tucked against him, it felt familiar. It must have been all the times he'd saved her in the past.

Clark Kent has posed:
The speed is extreme, and probably hard to follow now, but Superman chose to do it to get there quickly, instead of making it a longer wait in the cold air. Still, it will be minutes, because he does not want to make her ill from the trip: that is rather the opposite of the sensation he's after, of course.

But it isn't long before he slows, moving down low. Ocean is below them, and the air is rich, warmth evident; he's taken her far south, away from the chill of the northern cities. The ocean is dark below, inky night, but lights are all around: islands in the distance.

Soon, the motion completely slows, down to a stop, and he gently lands. The scent of the sea is still strong, salty. It is night, yet it is quite pleasant, perhaps seventy degrees.

Around them is a stretch of glossy white sand, ocean. There is a cluster of buildings: cottages perhaps, up winding paths of stone, to where they overlook the beachhead. Softened winds, subtle, make the tropical trees move along the edge of rock and sand. Only one of the cottage fronts is lit, and is the light source on the beach: it is casting the warm golden ambiance down onto the sand. Superman checks on her, angling his head.

Lois Lane has posed:
When they began to slow, Lois lifted her head a bit so she could get a better view of what was going on. As soon as they land, she adjusts herself a bit more to take a look around the area around them. "This is..."

Sure, people daydream about being swept up off their feet to exotic getaways or beautiful locales, but it's very strange to just be in one. "If I were ever to take a vacation, I'm thinking something like this is a good option." She looks back at him. "This is beautiful. It... must be really strange for you. So many things you do are amazing and astounding to the rest of us but for you it's just... what you do."

Clark Kent has posed:
There's an odd little bit of discomfort there, that stems from being explained that it is just what he does. In a manner, it is, but in another manner, it isn't /who/ he is. What he can do doesn't make up everything. To a large degree, he's made up of what he does /not/ do with the level of power he's capable of.

Despite those things, Superman is still warm, cradling her safely: and he hasn't put her down yet. She is, in a literal sense, still swept off of her feet. "Well, consider this a brief vacation?" Superman suggests, his voice amused, a chuckle in it. "I do not do this often, truthfully."

Lois Lane has posed:
The discomfort is noted and Lois frowns a little at having poked somewhere she didn't intend to. But he's there with her and she's happy to be there. "Can't remember the last time I went on a vacation, hard to just take a break when things are happening all the time." Lois looks at him gently. "You certainly make it easy to have a brief vacation." She doesn't seem to be itching to really move from her position where she's at. She's comfortable.

"You haven't really taken any time for yourself since you've been..." She's not sure how she wants to phrase 'not dead', so she just doesn't. She's about to say something when she pauses as she looks at him. "You're okay? I know you're here and obviously have your powers and everything but the world just sees Superman as a symbol sometimes and not as a person. So I want to know that you're okay. What you went through must have been hard for /anyone/."

Clark Kent has posed:
Superman moves across the sand, actually walking, to the stair area. He doesn't actually climb up the stairs, but he does gently begin to set her to her feet, easing her down should she want to have some of her own freedom and mobility to do as she wishes. He looks her over quickly to check that she is doing well and not stumbling, and draws his cape back to let it fall behind him as usual. It's warm: she may not really need the jacket anymore.

Superman looks at her, a consideration in his eyes. He looks away, to the ocean, as if the answer was harder than a lot of the other ones he's given. It gives her a view of his profile for a moment. "I'd like to tell you that I am perfect, and business is as usual," Superman says, finally. "I'd like you to not worry, and protect you from that." He looks to her, then down, contemplative. "It is hard to face your own mortality, I've learned firsthand. And that something was injured, beyond just a broken body."

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois settles on her feet again, taking her jacket off thanks to the warmer weather. It's a bit strange, but it's nice to be able to enjoy. Tucking her jacket over one arm, she puts her other hand out to touch his arm as she listens. When he's done talking, she turns to look at him seriously. "Superman, I'm going to be perfectly honest here. I understand that for some you're an icon. There are things, ideals, that you represent for a lot of people, myself included. But I'm not an idiot. I haven't looked you in the eyes over the years for you to just be some ideal."

Her hand squeezes his arm. "I don't want you to be perfect. I want you to be you, whatever or whoever that is to you. I just want to be the person you can be that with. That's all I've wanted."

Clark Kent has posed:
Squeezing Superman's arm isn't easy; he may as well be made of steel. Still, the pressure there is noted, and he looks to her hand, then turns his gaze to meet her eyes, steady and fearless. Still, he's always given her a softness there, and this time is no different. There's a compassion, and something else. A 'something' that isn't entirely cloaked. Not on this private beach and short little vacation. However long it lasts, he brought her there to be alone with her.

"I only hope that whatever I am, whatever I can give... is enough," Superman replies, heavily, but not unhappily. He then considers her, and lifts his left hand towards her cheek - much like he did in her apartment, except this time he actually touches his fingers to the line of her jaw, very soft.

"I'm still putting the pieces back together," Superman sighs. "I may not be everything that you expect." It's apologetic, slightly sad. That knowing him may destroy the perfection of Superman.

Lois Lane has posed:
"You make it sound like you think you're on the low end of the totem pole in terms of being 'enough' here," Lois says with a laugh. When he touches her face, she leans into his hand, enjoying it a moment before just smiling back at him. "So... don't be what I expect. Be unexpected." She releases his arm. "You're Superman. You've broken barriers that people have never dreamed of before. So who says there are rules you have to follow in order to heal?"

She goes to poke him, but it doesn't quite have the same impact when you're poking /Superman/. Instead, she places her hand atop the one resting on her cheek. "If you'd like, I'll hold some pieces for you while you're figuring them all out."

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark --err, Superman-- looks at the hand at her cheek, smiles more as she brings her own hand up to touch the back of his. He studies her eyes then, her supportive, strong words for him. He fully takes in her offer of support.

Drawing close now, he bends his head forward down towards her: close, close. Very close, nose brushing hers, while thumb gently touches the side of her mouth. His forehead lingers barely a breath's distance away from hers. "I'd like that. Thank you."

Lois Lane has posed:
Oooh, he's suddenly close. Well, not suddenly, it wasn't as if she didn't see this coming. But he's much closer and now Lois is having to really pull things together. This was a good ten years in the making and she hadn't daydreamed about talking to Superman on a tropical beach to just ignore when she had the real thing right in front of her. Literally in front of her.

She focuses on her breathing first, not allowing herself to give in to nerves. Then she gives it time. She's not rushing it and it's a moment she's enjoying. But he hasn't moved yet. He had seemed shy at points and she even thought nervous, so perhaps he was feeling the same way about the moment.

So she just goes for it. Lois leans in, bridging the tiny distance remaining between their lips. Her lips press to his softly, just enough to be a real, solid kiss, but gentle enough not scare him off if Superman is, indeed, feeling nervous.

Clark Kent has posed:
It is, indeed, a long, long time, and a death and ressurrection, in the making. But Superman isn't going to continue to just let life pass by during his inaction. He can't continue to remain dead; he was given a second chance to be alive, and he's going to live: finally.

Superman's quick senses saw her coming in a type of slow-motion. And he'll replay the memory in that same slow motion later: her adjustment of breathing, the sense of anticipation he can hear in her catch of breathing, and then her sweet offer of a kiss.

Lois didn't have so far to lean, because he met her, with a glad hope. The gentle kiss turns warm and full, as he brings his arms around her, embracing her. Nervous yes, but brave, and ready to stop waiting.

Lois Lane has posed:
It was only the first moment of contact that was tense. As soon as he's leaning in and responding, Lois sinks into it as if it were the most natural place to be. Maybe somewhere in the back of her head she's nervous, but this feels like it's /her/ place. She'd been convinced of it for years, but it never seemed like something that was a realistic daydream. Her own arms move to wrap around him, to move more into an embrace while they kiss.

With the fuller kiss, all the tension seems to recede because it's a clear sign to her that this is exactly where he wants to be too. She returns the kiss, letting it linger. She doesn't think too much now, mostly just reacting, mostly actually enjoying the moment because she wasn't going to get this exact moment ever again.

Clark Kent has posed:
No, this could now be their February night, where Superman borrowed her away suddenly one evening, for a private little vacation on a beach in the Carribean. Where their history was brought into a new step, a new place. Where Lois reminded Superman how alive he really /is/, and drew him out of himself and a darker place he had been lost in since his return.

This /is/ where Lois belongs, with him, it feels to him as well. How he's going to deal with the enormous mess of identities and her reaction and the lies of years? He has no idea. But for right now, he's going to be himself entirely, and lean into the kiss, and into the woman he does, truly, love.

And the kiss may convey that, with masks pulled away. He's not paralyzed in his meek alter-ego, and he's not keeping the elusive distance Superman often did. This is some newer, exciting bridge. How long it will last is hard to know, but he holds the kiss as he does her: securely, but always gentle. Always.

Lois Lane has posed:
Maybe when Superman finally tells her his identity, she'll remember this moment. It's one she'll certainly remember anyway. Lois doesn't want it to stop, though. Finding out his was alive was a shock after so long grieving and having him back felt like something that could be pulled from her hands. So she doesn't draw back, not for a long time. She's not sure how long.

When she finally does, it's mostly merely to regain her focus, her senses a bit. She pulls back the tiniest bit, resting her forehead against his, simply returning to the close distance they had before the kiss started. A safe, reachable distance. "You know, usually I'd have some witty comment to joke about after something like that but you have positively made me speechless, Kal-El."

Clark Kent has posed:
Superman smiles at her, eyes open but quiet, a soulful relief in them, for reasons that probably will not be readable. His walls have been broken open, and it's made him a little worried, a little tense. He's questioning himself: all of the reasons why he hasn't acted on this are swarming back. Will people go after her to get to him? Of course they will. Can he protect her, always? He doesn't know. But it isn't as if she doesn't realize these things: he is Superman, in front of her, not a mild, safe reporter. She knows the risks, and is still leaning into him, close in his arms. His suit is minimal, though highly armored - but it doesn't feel like much space at all.

Superman smiles at her as she explains her lack of witty comment, though it doesn't appear that he's going to speak. No, instead he kisses her again, more of a softer expression. He's waited so long, there's a considerable backlog of kisses.

Lois Lane has posed:
There's a tiny hint of amusement from Lois as she's swept up in another kiss. He never seemed much of a man for words, much like the other man in her life, Clark, who seemed to be much better with them on paper. Clark at least, has the excuse of being a bit shy. Still, the thought gives her a brief moment of amusement before she's melting into the kiss again.

This one she makes no move to stop at all. She could, and would, happily spend all night kissing Superman on a romantic secluded beach. And there would be no one she could gush about it with later. Superman hadn't revealed himself to the world and the only other person she could talk to would be... Clark. Somehow she doubted Clark would want to hear her tales of how romantic it was and how great of a kisser Superman is.

Nope, this gets to be one very treasured secret.

Clark Kent has posed:
So long as Lois doesn't publish an article about it, things should be all right with this secret. Superman draws back to let her breathe, lifting his head to gently put a kiss on her forehead just between her brows, and then look at her, blue eyes soulful, and a mild blush to his cheeks and neck. There's no hiding those blushes, not really. He's not a suave fellow, that isn't his style. There's more of an earnest honesty there: a complete lack of games.

He lifts one hand from embracing her to brush the side of her hair back a little. "I'd set up a little something to eat up at the house. I was unsure you would accept my offer, so it is not much," he says quietly. "After I.... reveal that I'm alive, it will be a little easier." To get things, travel, and so on. "I'm getting there." Soon.

Lois Lane has posed:
There's something baffling about the idea that Superman blushes that causes Lois to absolutely grin at him. "You really thought I wouldn't go with you?" That also causes her a tiny bit of amusement. "Kal-El, I'm not sure you're very good at reading women." It feels more intimate to use his name instead of just calling him 'Superman' to his face. "In case you're unsure of things and how I feel, let me tell you that you've never just been a story to me. You've always been something more."

She leans her head against his hand when it draws close. "You do whatever you need to do, whenever you need to do it. I've made this choice, so I'll be here." She pauses. "Already got the article started. Well, some notes really. I doubt it'll be as good as the other one, though."

Clark Kent has posed:
The grinning at him causes more of the blush to surface, and also prompts him to lift his head up and back a little bit, amusement showing in return: able to accept her amusement with a chivalrous manner. "You may be right, my strengths lie elsewhere," Superman grants her, gracious. "There could have been something, or someone else." Such as that mild reporter. What a mess that could be, will be - who knows. He tries not to focus on it: best to stay here, where Lois has given Superman kisses.

"What can I do to make it better? I hope the news of my return is of higher impact than my demise," Superman says, with a rueful quality. No pressure. He slides his other hand down her arm, to fold the palm gently over her hand, and turns his torso outward, indicating he intends to lead towards the prepared little beachfront house.

Lois Lane has posed:
There's a little twinge of something that plays at the back of Lois' mind at the mention of 'someone else'. "Well, you apparently think I'm worthy of a short exotic beach vacation, so I'd imagine there's some fondness there on your part," she teases. And suddenly realizes she's falling into a weird sense of comfort after having kissed him. Did it just take all the tension out of things?

"Oh, the news of your return will be incredibly important and shaping it correctly will be key, but it's hard for elation to beat out grief sometimes. I wrote that piece when my world had been shattered. Poured a lot into it. Not that I can't pour a lot into this one, it's just a different emotion. Harder to channel."

She follows the gentle nudging towards the house, moving towards it as she talks. "Obviously I'll need some good quotes from you, something inspirational. May need more of your words than mine in this case. People needed my voice last time, this time they need yours." She pauses. "Plus I've got Clark this time. I can't leave him out of this, especially given that he knows you're alive. He's a really good guy. He's also a hell of a writer, so giving what I've got to him to look over will probably help. Don't worry, you're in good hands."

Clark Kent has posed:
"He knows?" Superman asks, scanning her from the side. He doesn't seem upset, and this is very sketchy waters to be treading into, it could be difficult very quickly, so he diffuses it with a slow, accepting nod. "I'll trust your judgement," he says, firmly. "And I'll have some words ready, then." There doesn't seem to be any concern: he will know what to say when he gets there. It will come, he has faith in his ability to convey what he needs to. As Superman, anyway. It's just... naturally there.

Superman continues up the rocky stairs in the warm evening, all the way to the little home itself. It's unlocked; he draws the door open to show her to the interior. It's small, cozy, and simple in furnishing. And the awkwardness he was worried about does come - it is very, very odd to even consider eating or doing normal things while in his Superman persona. It's outright strange. And what does that say about him?

Lois Lane has posed:
This was the part that felt weird before, when Superman was in her living room, and it doesn't entirely feel more at home here. Lois is trying very hard to get through and see that Superman-as-a-person thing and less of the shiny veneer of Superman-as-a-symbol. It /is/ important to her, though, so she tries to be as casual as possible, to try to make him relaxed. If she can at least appear to be calm and collected, maybe he'd feel at home too. So, she goes with what seemed to have made her comfortable before.

Once they're just inside, she turns to give him a peck to the cheek. It's not as if she can surprise him with it, he's much faster than her, but she does it anyway. If kisses on the beach managed to make her feel more at home with him, surely she could do the same to make him feel at home in a domestic setting.

Lois does feel a mild bit guilty about mentioning it now. "Clark knows, yes. He was pursuing it on his own and figured it out. I made a bit of a slip of words, too. To be honest, it's much better this way, he can help with the article and he's not poking around snooping you out before you're ready. I'd trust him with my life. I really do hope you aren't disappointed in me." Okay, it's more than a mild bit guilty.

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark deliberately turned up the speed of his thought process. He had to decide a few things, and quickly. So it may feel like it's something he knew to do - though in reality, he just used one of his more invisible abilities: thinking quickly. Not that it helps with emotional things, those don't move any faster, for the most part!

The kiss on his cheek doesn't surprise him, but does cause a softened smile after she does it. "No, Lois," Superman says, simple. He isn't disappointed in her trusting Clark. That's the truth, and it rings of truth. He is not upset, or jealous, or anything else. It seems he said he trusted her, and he does.

He pauses a moment, clearly to gather a little bit more of her attention for what he's going to address. "I think I need to change out of this," Superman observes, while looking down at the sleeves of his suit, across his own body, then finally to her. There's concern there for some reason, that muddies the clear blue of his eyes.

Lois Lane has posed:
The fact that he showed some trust in her is a big thing for Lois and remains evident by the way her smile lights up. He's not mad and he seems like he trusts her judgement. But then he mentions changing and she freezes for a second, entirely unsure of the implications of that. Some of it, certainly. She looks over at him. He's got her full attention now, although he mostly did before.

"If that's what you want and are comfortable with." She says, her voice soft. New territory. Strange territory.

Clark Kent has posed:
Superman pauses. "...I did not mean I intended to be nude," he says, with a seriousness, and a clear sense to it of embarrassment. But perhaps that isn't what she thought he meant, anyway. He crosses his arms over his heavy barrel of a chest, firmly, as if he could somehow fend off that by just enough posturing. He ends up laughing softly at himself, though, giving way to that it is, in fact, silly.

But the better route is to start to bridge out of Superman The Icon Of Hope. If he hopes to see if she's interested in what's underneath that veneer of /Superman/.

Lois Lane has posed:
"It was a joke," Lois says, only half joking. She's grinning, though, amused at the mistake. "I'm glad you think it's funny." She /is/ glad. A lot of navigating with him is figuring out what he wants, what he's comfortable with without being able to really read him. Like walking in the dark and feeling with your hands to know where the walls are and the things you might trip over lay.

"Maybe someday," she states in a teasing tone, the grin still there. "But whatever you do mean to do, go ahead. Don't let me get in your way."

Clark Kent has posed:
Superman watches her, a bemused expression on his face. He's embarrassed still, but amusement is there. Overall, he is, in fact, very balanced, it seems. It meshes well with everything she's seen of Superman over the years: he isn't being strange or different. He's still the same. The core remains. He looks at her, and the kindness changes into something else, something more elusive. He moves a bit closer, leaning in, with a bit of hesitation, and attempts to offer a brief kiss.

"I'll be right back, in a few minutes," Superman decides, quietly, though he's giving her the opportunity to tell him to stay, or to leave things as they are.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois returns the brief kiss, one hand resting on the 'S' on his suit. She's not sure what the look on his face is for, so she looks at him with a mild look of concern. But he doesn't seem too off. He seems alright. He seems himself. She smiles warmly at him.

"Okay," she replies. "Don't keep me waiting too long or I might think you died." There's that smile again.

Clark Kent has posed:
Apology enters Superman's features, that sadness. Guilt. He did not mean to cause her to suffer. But he also does not apologize verbally for dying. Instead, he touches her arm, steps back, and is gone in a blur of motion. That gives her a few minutes to herself, in the quiet of the small house. Quiet, save for the water of the ocean outside, and rustles of mild warm wind in the tropical trees.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois watches him go, standing in the same spot for a few moments. Nervousness hits her abruptly and she turns, moving to find a spot to sit down. He said a few minutes. Which meant that she'd be waiting, so she'd better sit. She breathes in the warm air filled with the scent of the ocean, taking in how strange and new everything is. She's not at her apartment working on an article, she's far away from Metropolis on a beautiful little slice of paradise. It's surreal, but it feels good. It's refreshing. It's what she wants.

Clark Kent has posed:
It isn't more than about five or six minutes. Superman needed a little bit of time to decide, in a situation where he wasn't staring at Lois. And to coax his poor ego. In truth? He went to Kansas. The pep talk was swift; he'd been there earlier in the day. He needed the last bit of support and encouragement there.

Still, Clark just can't lay it all out. He did leave his parents exhasperated. Clark had to be Clark, though.

And so, he returns, the rush of air and sound of him closing the door the major indicators. He has, in fact, changed clothes; he glides inside and lands. There's no awkwardness showing: he holds that inside, buries it. Shoulders are up and back; he owns his space and commands confidence and charisma. He doesn't need the suit: not truly. He has traded down into a very snugly fitted dark blue T-shirt -- a novelty 'Superman S' shirt that Ma winked and held out to him -- and some very comfortable, faded and well loved denim jeans. He's barefoot. In a way, he's larger, out of the superhero suit; with his dark hair and bright blue eyes, made all the more blue by his dark hair in contrast, he's entirely Superman. The suit is a symbol, but there's no mistaking him. It suggests he would be unable to pull off a secret identity.

Kal-El crosses his arms some over his chest, bared arms showing a myriad of thick muscle, and gives her a silent little nod. Containing his worry that she may still see through it, and hate him. Somehow.

Lois Lane has posed:
There's still some nervousness, even if it is just a clothing change. Lois gets to her feet when he arrives again, hand over her heart. "Those must have been the longest minutes of my life." She takes a moment or two to really look him over. There's no way he can't feel her eyes studying every aspect of him. There's a small smile on her lips, and it grows as she looks at the shirt. "You know, I use a Superman mug at work. It's my favorite. There was one time I washed it and left it in the break room to dry and someone took it and I was /everywhere/ in the office looking for it. Someone had taken it and put /pens/ in it. So I dumped the pens all over their desk and took it back. No one's taken it since."

She makes her way over to stand next to him. "So do you feel more like yourself like this, or in the suit?" Even close up, she doesn't seem to have caught on. While the iconic suit makes a dramatic difference, and the change of clothes might make some things feel a little more familiar, Clark has a whole persona to him and that's all Lois has known of him. But Superman out of the suit makes her feel more like she's talking to Kal-El, the person behind the symbolic Superman. A person much more approachable.

Clark Kent has posed:
The question about which he feels more like himself in. The suit, or this. The question seems to make him think. And then think more, about which answer to give her: should he be honest about it. And then an inward nudge to himself: the lies have to stop. The secrets have to stop. Or he's going to continue on the same path he's been on. He lowers his arms from being crossed to set them at his hip level instead. It's not intentional, but it's another Superman pose. Lots of the big hero poses possibly started from the hero right in front of her.

"I think... this. I started here. Not in the suit," Kal-El/Superman/Clark says, with a bit of a quieter tone. "Superman is... something I created."

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois can sense a bit of vulnerability in what he's doing when the tone of his voice changes, and she instinctually reaches out to try and take his hand. "So this is the real you," she says, trying to take it in, trying to understand. "Superman has always been a symbol, I feel. It's why people make him, you, an ideal. It's why it's hard to think of Superman sitting in my living room. But you're a person, not a symbol, you can't just separate yourself from that. Some of you will always shine through."

She looks him over again. "We haven't gotten to speak as much as I'd like. Things have always been about saving me or work and there's not been a lot of /this/. But I've always seen kindness in your eyes. Some things shine through."

Clark Kent has posed:
"Superman came from... wanting to do more. Use what I can do to make the world better," Kal-El replies, from the heart. He meets her eyes as she brings up the kindness in them; there's a bravery there, a direct ability to meet her gaze and hold it. It's something he avoids as Clark: mild mannered reporter generally blushes and looks away. There's a slight flush here, but no avoidance. It's a relief for once, to let that part of himself shine through: to steadily let her study his eyes, without a fear that she'll find Superman in them!

She took his hand, and his squeeze following that is gentle and measured; he's always very aware of his strength. His other hand moves to touch her hair. "I expect you to have a million questions," he says. "I have some, too. But we can start with the easy ones, I think." He draws in a slow breath. There's a chivalrous quality, and a smile, to the framing of what follows:

"May I kiss you again?"

Lois Lane has posed:
"I can't say I'm the same, I can't fly or anything like that, but I know what it's like to want to do more to make things better," Lois offers a gentle smile. She seems to enjoy hearing about him, hearing what he stands for. For a reporter, it'd be a dream come true, asking all kinds of questions to the Man of Steel. It almost seems selfish to keep this to herself, but at the same time it's incredibly exhilarating. To know what's on the other side of those blue, blue eyes...

For a moment, those eyes were what she was lost in, but she's drawn back to where she is at the touch on her hair. "A million /good/ questions," Lois jokes. "I'm a reporter, I ask the questions that get a story." She sets the joke aside as she looks back at him, ready for the first question... and there's the tiniest hint of a laugh. "I don't think you have any idea how incredibly sweet you are." Her hand squeezes his with a wry smile. "Why, yes Kal-El, I do believe you may."

Clark Kent has posed:
Kal-El lifts her hand promptly, eyes directly still on hers.... and kisses her on the hand. There's still that soft quality, but also a spark of fun. He isn't just the man of steel; there's depth being displayed, of what MIGHT be a complete person back there.

"Your turn, then," Kal-El says smoothly, keeping her fingers near his lips, thumb stroking the edge of her hand, before he begins to lower it-- but not let go, he just rotates his hand a small amount to curl his fingers around her palm: a loose hold.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois looks entirely to amused by the chivalrous hand-kiss, giving him a bow of her head as if graciously accepting the gesture. There's some playfulness to it. So while there are plenty of questions she could ask, there are some that pull a little more at her than others. Ones /she/ could ask. Her fingers brush against his, keeping the gentle hold, the connection.

"So how long have you been wanting that first kiss?"

Clark Kent has posed:
Superman makes a slight face, as if her question was one that clearly was going for the jugular early. "Oooph," laughs the hero a little bit, studying her. There's an honest answer coming, it's clear: it's more a sense that he may be mildly embarrassed by it, or does't want her to think poorly of him.

"I think.... when we were first alone," he decides, as something that feels right to identify. "I believe you had run /towards/ danger, at the time." He moves his thumb against her hand again: a reproach in it, but not unhappiness. He loves her spark.

Lois Lane has posed:
"If you ever can't find me, go to the danger and I'll come running," Lois teases, studying him carefully. "I certainly haven't yet, and you know you won't ever be able to talk me out of it." She says it, matter-of-factly. It's not a challenge, it's truth not to be questioned. But she's still smiling. It's the smile of someone truly enjoying themselves. He's seen it a few times as Clark, the times Lois really opened up and relaxed.

"I'll give you a bonus. I'll answer the same question and give you your regular question to ask." She glances back at him. "I think you had the same instinct I had. If I hadn't been so dazed from being in the middle of danger and so surprised at being rescued, I just might have gone for it. While it's a shame I didn't, I think the actual kiss made up for it."

She just lightly runs her fingers against his. It's a tiny affectionate gesture, not really meant to bother too much, but to be a continued presense. "Alright then, ask me something."

Clark Kent has posed:
"I rely on you to call for me if you need," Kal-El smiles back. "I did fear that during the time when I was not able to come, you may have needed me," he says, some tender sorrow coming into his voice. He did worry, he felt guilty - while he was the one that was dead, that she may have needed him. That he let her down by dying. But he had sacrificed for everyone. It's a tangled emotion.

A deep breath moves his broad chest, and he takes one step in, his wrist brushing near hip, as he's still holding her hand. "I will always be Superman. Even when I am injured, or out of the suit. It's a part of me, I've come to feel. It isn't a separate identity; it's not just a cape." He watches her, eyes showing depth, and some worry. "Can you accept that? It is not everything... but it is a very big piece. And it will always be here."

Lois Lane has posed:
"In some ways, that's true. I did need you when you were gone. It wasn't because I was looking for a quick way out of a dangerous situation, it's because you're important," Lois points out. "If you weren't important to me we wouldn't be right where we are now. That doesn't mean you need to feel any guilt over me."

But he's asking a very interesting question of her. "I've thought about it a lot. Probably a lot more than I'd care to admit. Sure, there are some odd logistics to it that I'm sure we'd have to figure out, and beyond that there's still some pretty complicated emotions, I'd imagine. It's not as if I've had this experience before, there's not really a guidebook." She snorts at the idea of someone writing a superhero self-help dating book. It's bound to have been done by now.

"The point being that I have sorted through a lot of stuff to get to this opportunities and I've waited a hell of a long time for it, so yes, I am perfectly willing."

Clark Kent has posed:
Kal-El watches her, his full attention on her, without being studying about it. He has an ambiance that shares a charismatic quality as well as being entirely supportive: he's a leader that recognizes the good in others and tries to draw that to the surface for them. He isn't judging, just accepting: the whole of what she says, the whole of what she /is/, whatever that may be.

The tall, broad hero inclines his head to her, and his deep voice hushes some, as his tone returns to a private one, words for just HER.

"I am not interested in trying to do this with anyone else but you, right now," he says, with a weight of awareness of the message he's conveying. But he is a dependable, dedicated sort: there has no be no surprise in his take on it. The surprise is perhaps in that it's her he's chosen.

Lois Lane has posed:
He might not be studying her, but Lois is certainly studying him. He seems to understand more about her than the other way around, so she does feel at a disadvantage. The words he says, the ones for her? They're weighty. Her heart flutters to hear them, it's what she wants, but instead of going with her heart she's going with her head. There's the smallest squeeze of her fingers before she speaks.

"... are you sure? You could have anyone." It doesn't sound like she's questioning his decision as much as it sounds like she's questioning /herself/. Her usual confidence isn't quite there. It's hard not to think the scales are a little more weighty on one end. How do you compare to /Superman/?

Clark Kent has posed:
Superman doesn't seem to faulter under her studying at all, though some blush arrives: just a little bit. There's a slight little shyness - might seem a little familiar - before he takes full stock of what she's asking, and the drop of confidence. He opts for actions instead of words, at least right away. He steps closer, then, leaning in closely, as they were on the beach outside. And offers her a gentle kiss: one which is meant to show he meant what he said.

Maybe he could have anybody, but that isn't where /his/ heart - or head - is.

Lois Lane has posed:
Whatever familiarness there is, Lois doesn't make the connection. She's mostly distracted by the things that don't feel familiar--adjusting to the feeling of being the object of Superman's affections. The kiss doesn't take her by surprise, perhaps it's the reaction she had been hoping for but not fully expecting. He'd chosen her, somehow, and that certainly meant something. Her confidence seems to return with that thought and the kiss.

She moves her arms around him, pressing herself up against his chest and keeping the tight embrace. He showed her his answer, so she's making sure he's aware of her answer in kind. He's Superman, and that's perfectly fine with her.

Clark Kent has posed:
The kiss deepens and lingers, and then gradually ends as he draws back a little, though still within inches. He kept his hands low, at the sides of her waist, simply boosting her up to help her embrace him fully as much as she'd like. There's a sense of him relaxing: a pent-up tension starting to dissolve away into how good this has actually gone. All of the worst-case worries and fears about the whole of it are being covered in the positive emotions created. She's accepting what he's offered. At least, so far.

... He may have overwhlemed her with the situation a little bit. So he moves to look at her in the eyes, very close. His hope is real, but so is his gentle restraint. "What can I do to help this be less complicated?"

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois' instincts, in general, are to run to where the story is. She faces danger, if necessary, but she doesn't let herself wait when she could be in the middle of it. While it may be a bit overwhelming, instead of struggling under the weight of it, she's trying to use it to hit the ground running. Lean fully into the situation. She'd rather try that and stumble a bit with him to help her up than to try and process it all and make him feel guilty for no reason.

Lois rests her weight against him, using him as a bit of a physical support right now. She's letting him know the trust is there. "I guess the best way you can help me is to help me know you. That's something I regretted after you died. I remember looking at you and seeing more than just Superman there and I wanted to know what else was hiding underneath. I felt, somehow, that you wanted to show me."

Clark Kent has posed:
Superman has no trouble with her weight, of course; he gives a little bit, while still being a full physical support. He adjusts his hands to be behind her, lacing his fingers, palms against her lower back, splayed. Keeping her close and secure without being controlling about it.

"All right," he says, with a slow nod, his eyes moving to one side, as he gathers his thoughts. The lowering of head made the curled front of his thick black hair move just a little bit. "Let's talk... about my death for a moment," he says, taking on that deep, dark subject, the elephant in the room.

"I do remember it. How it happened. How I felt," Superman says, in a private tone. "That I knew that was it. I don't... regret it," he says. "But this is a second chance, for me. To be more. And to show you more."

Lois Lane has posed:
"I don't think you /should/ regret it. You saved people. If there was any way for Superman to die, there was no finer way," Lois murmurs. Her arms tighten about him a little, but he may realize after a moment she's not doing it for her... she's doing it for him. It's to try and bring some comfort to /him/. "I can't imagine that it was a great experience. It must have been terrifying for anyone."

She lets out a deep breath. "I, uh, I don't know how long you were dead before you came back, and I don't know how long you've been around, how much of me you saw..." She looks up at him with a sheepish smile. "I was a bit of a mess. Clark had gone to take care of his dad not long before so with him gone, when you died it was..." She swallows hard. "It was a lot harder to deal with than I like to admit. So I wrote."

She closes her eyes for a moment, breathing in deeply before looking at him again. "I figured if I was grieving there were a lot of people doing it too. I wrote it for me, but at the same time I wrote it for them. Best piece I ever wrote, and I think that's because it was personal." She clears her throat. "Anyway, by all of this I just mean to say that I understand the feeling of a second chance. That loss made a lot of things fairly clear to me, I just didn't think the second chance involved you actually coming back. So I'm taking that chance."

Clark Kent has posed:
There's a look in his eyes that says 'I'm Sorry', even if he keeps it off of his lips. There's a strangeness to his gaze, a distance, but it's from reflecting into his own death, into that abyss. There's injury there, there's still difficulty for the powerful hero. Facing that he died was no small feat. He adjusts his position, his head to one side of hers, and moves his hand up her back, offering her a hug. It is a differnet type of comfort, and she may sense very quickly it's him seeking that support, as much as offering.

Could be that there's buried fears, dread lingering from death, all of it. Loss that's channeling into the embrace, but still a bit of separation: it's not right to fully allow the dam in his chest to open about this. Some of it needs to stay bottled and buried. "I have been recovering," is what he says. "If you are asking why I did not stop the horrible assault on Genosha... I was not here. I should have been. I... should have been."

Lois Lane has posed:
They need each other, in a way, and Lois relaxes into the hug to give as much comfort as she gets. But when he starts talking again, her arms tighten around him. It's there for him to feel her taking care of him. It's not as if her arms can protect him from anything, but she can still protect his heart, his feelings, and if she can do so, she will. "Don't you say that." Her voice is stern. She's not angry, she's being serious more than anything else.

"I understand that the suit and the cape represent something. I understand that there is responsibility and I respect that. You want to help people, you feel the need to help people. But you are one /man/. You're not just a bunch of powers flying around and saving people. You're a person. A person who just found out exactly what his limits are. You're recovering from that. Genosha is... it's an incredible loss. But if you make yourself responsible for every person on this planet individually for every second of every day you're going to be crushed under the weight."

She lets out a deep breath. "You can and will do everything you can for people, but you can't save everyone from everything at the same time. Don't deny yourself that you're Superman but you're also Kal-El." She looks up at him. "I would not be standing exactly where I am now if it weren't for both."

Clark Kent has posed:
"At first, when I found myself awake, alive," Kal-El begins, slowly, "I was... relieved, that other heroes found themselves, have covered any gap I may have left. The Avengers came together, to stop villains. Perhaps Superman's time was complete. Perhaps the world could stand without Superman." He smiles softly, against her ear. "If the world no longer needed Superman, didn't need me ... I don't mind it at all," he chuckles softly.

"Because I know I can't do everythere. Be everywhere," it's hard for him to accept. Such responsibility Superman carries: it's intense and heavy. a planet of it. A planet asking why he isn't doing more, more, more. Giving up everything to constantly help....

And there's guilt from it. He burrows his face in her hair and shoulder for the moment, those shields around his heart cracked. And there's an injured heart under it, that tries so hard to carry a world.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois' arms slip upward just a bit so she can hold him against her better, more of a comforting position. "The world is always going to need good people, and I'm always going to need you." It's simple, but it's what she's going with for now. She can't think of any words that will help more in this case than the ones she's already said. She squeezes him tight, leaning her head down to rest a little closer to his.

"You can talk about it if you want. You don't have to hide it." She's not entirely sure who he even does have that he can talk to about this. "I'll listen. You'll even be doing the impossible and getting Lois Lane to shut up for once." It's said in a humorous manner--she's hoping he /will/ find it funny, perhaps even laugh. She just wants to help. She should have taken better notes on how to comfort someone from Clark.

Clark Kent has posed:
"If I can inspire even one person to help improve this world... it's worth it," Kal-El says softly. "And I think... that's what has helped me come back. I have more good I can do. A lot more. But doing it alone..." He shakes his head. "I intend to rebuild the Justice League. Help the Avengers train. Whatever time I have, from this second chance." He moves his head back, and brushes into her hair with his fingers, running the fingers more deeply than before. He's /allowing/ himself to accept her offering of comfort. There's more of a realness to him, even if it's brief. He /is/ a person, when he allows people to see it. Clark's in there.

"And I'd like to see you," Superman says. "On your balcony, or otherwise."

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois looks a little brighter once she sees he seems to be giving in to the comfort. It's made some diffference there. "Good, it sounds like you've got a good plan for how to move forward. You know I'll do my part to try and get the people ready for the return of Superman. I'm hoping they'll be just as swayed by my words this time. I can only try."

He's opening up, she can at least tell that there's a little of that, and she's grateful for the small bit of progress made. "You can drop in any time, you know I'll make time for you. On my balcony, or otherwise." She replies.

Clark Kent has posed:
"More of that I'm feeling my way as I go, than a real plan," Superman chuckles. His laughs are deep and vibrant, from his lower chest, a plesant, full vibration. He draws his hand from her hair to cup her cheek, gaze on her with some emotion that's hard to name... akin to a sort of love, but unspoken. "I know you will. I'm glad to have you on my side," he says, truthfully.

"And by my side," he adds, a bit more cautiously, but warm. "I'll try not to show up unexpectedly. But if you call, and I am able... I will come as soon as I can."

Lois Lane has posed:
"Well, you've discovered the real secret, Superman," Lois says, as if he had somehow discovered something. "None of us know what we're doing, we're all just... feeling things out as we go. So don't be afraid of that, it just means you're one of us." She looks back at him, her own gaze affectionate, though hard to read what it is beyond that.

"I'll do my best to try not to call on you too often. I will resist the urge." And boy, that urge is certainly there.

Clark Kent has posed:
There's a tip of dark eyebrow as she tells him, Superman, to not be afraid. It's a rather precious thing to him, rare. He brings his lips close to kiss her cheek, just next to her mouth. "I'm proud to be one of you," Superman says heavily, with an undercurrent of relief. He wants to belong, badly.

"I just... do not want to bring any focus to you that may endanger you. I won't let my presence cause you to suffer," he promises her, more seriously. This is a big sticking point with him: and may explain a lot of the distance.

Lois Lane has posed:
"It's already going to happen, Superman," Lois points out. "I'm going to be in danger regardless. If not something specifically pointed at me because of you, then I'm sure it'll be something else. My writing pisses off people sometimes, and I involve myself in situations where I'm at risk."

She looks at him. "I've made a career linking my name to yours. You think people aren't gonna try to use that against you?" She smiles after a moment. "How about this. If I ever feel like your presense causes me suffering, I'll tell you. Sound good?" The smile's more of a grin at that. She doesn't think that could ever happen.

Clark Kent has posed:
In truth, they already have attempted to hit her to get to him. Those kidnappings, those other things. They both do know it. Will this be worse? Or is it worse to continue with her in danger and suffer only the bad side of their connection, none of the good?

Kal-El smiles a little, and draws her towards the small couch near the glass doors that overlook out onto the dark ocean, moving to sit, finally. "On the other hand, if I'm visibly with you... perhaps you'd be safer overall." There is something to be said for avoiding the gaze (and wrath) of Superman.

Lois Lane has posed:
"To be fair, that /almost/ helped me once," Lois laughs. "They were very scared of the prospect of Superman. Unfortunately it meant that they wanted to shut me up faster." It's amusing to her now, but danger always is a little scary in the moment. She's easily led towards the couch, sitting down next to him. There's a wry smile.

"You might do well to scare off those who don't think they can handle you. Besides, I'm a bit too tricky for my own good. If someone targets me to get to you, you think I'm really not going to try and get out of it and at least signal you?" She looks mock offended. "You doubt my skills? So many years and most of those saves are because you heard me. That's not always an accident."

Clark Kent has posed:
"I didn't think any of the times were an accident," Superman replies, watching her sit down next to him, and leans his hand, palm up, against her leg: an offering of his hands to her, to hold onto, to continue their connection, even as they sit together. It's sort of shy again: he didn't go for putting his arm around her or something like that, the politeness and care.

So many years, indeed. And she's always strong. "I know how tough you are." Superman looks at her appraisingly. "And I know often you save yourself."

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois places her hand atop his and laces their fingers. She does her best not to look slightly flustered. "You say that as if /I'm/ the hero," she laughs softly. "I think there are a lot of people who assume my forays with danger are entirely accidental. That somehow I'm unaware it's a risky circumstance. I think those people would be surprised at the amount of times my calculated risks pay off."

There's the slightest bit of her weight as she leans against him, just enough to be known. "I will say... I'm appreciative that you notice. Not just that you notice when I need a hand, but that you notice that I'm competent and not just using you. This would be really, really awkward if that was the case."

Clark Kent has posed:
"It's nice to be needed," Superman does tease her, with a nudge to her leg from the wrist of the hand that now has fingers interwoven with hers. The interesting reality is finally settling in - that somehow this date has become much more than an awkward, uncertain trip overseas. He wasn't sure how she'd react to any of it: not really. There's still a fear that she's more interested in Superman than what may be beneath it. Hard to shake those feelings. But only one way to go forward.

"I want this to work," he shares, looking down at his broad hand in her feminine one. His hands are smooth, no callouses - he's immune to such damage that could cause it, really.

Lois Lane has posed:
"I mean, you could make a full time job of following me around and watching my back," Lois teases. Her gaze slides down to their hands as he speaks. "I do too. And I appreciate the honesty. I know this is a bit of a leap of faith for both of us... and I realize now that a leap of faith isn't a great analogy for someone who can fly."

She grins. "It's something that may take some practice to get right, but I appreciate knowing that I'm not the only one that really wants this to work." It's still a little strange to her to think of him wanting her. Him wanting to pursue this. "So we'll try."

Clark Kent has posed:
"I could not /always/ fly," Kal-El smiles a little as he confides in her. "I was twelve when I realized I wasn't the same as everybody else." He tilts his gaze more, from their hands and towards the floor, looking into the past again. "Took longer to sort out flight. Some interesting dreams. Waking up floating over my bed." His smile is rueful: and human.

Finally he looks to her, seeking out her expression. This is a new door: referencing his past at /all/ is not something Superman does. For all the world knows, Superman just appeared one day in 2008. But here, he was a boy, with all of the confusion of becoming Superman.

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois leans in a little closer. It's him being open and she's eager for that. She's interested and engaged. She's curious about his life. "That must have been really crazy as a kid. Were you ever scared you'd just float away?" She shakes her head. "That's what I'd be scared of. Being able to go up and not come down. I'm not a big fan of losing control."

She grins. "That's why it's a big deal when you fly me somewhere. One hundred percent trust right there. I don't think there's another person on this planet that gets that."

Clark Kent has posed:
"I never want to take your control from you," Superman replies, quite firmly and directly. There's a tone entering his voice that is often reserved for giving solumn speeches - the kind that can silence a room, even if he's not speaking loudly. "Never be afraid to tell me, please," he requests from her. He will never disrespect her.

"No, I was more afraid of accidentally harming someone. Or being an outcast," he answers, truthfully, able to identify his fears.

Lois Lane has posed:
There's a lot in there. Lois is certain it's only the surface, but it's enough. She squeezes his hand. "I'll be honest with you, whenever you want it. If there's something off, if there's something wrong, I'll say it. I've always valued the truth." It's the reason she became a reporter... she wanted people to be able to see the world as it really is and make their actions according to that knowledge. Being truthful in a relationship? That's more important than anything.

"I'm so sorry... it really must have been scary, especially as a child. Harming someone, being outcast..." There's a pause. "You're still scared of that. You never got over it, did you?"

Clark Kent has posed:
"I've had magical enemies or psychic ones control my actions..." Superman shakes his head slowly, though his smile is quiet, it's pained. He knows his limitations, his weaknesses. "Turned on others on my team. I..." He shrugs a little bit. "I've reason to fear it." He's a monster when turned against his own. It's truly the worst case scenario for him.

"I do not think I ever will stop being concerned for it." With his hand, he unlaces fingers, but doesn't part; just folds his palm over her hand. There's nothing in any of his display that would suggest he has powers. All of it is subdued, human. "But I know that's for the best. If I ever stopped caring... I feel like I'd not be me, any longer."

Lois Lane has posed:
"It's a scary thing, certainly," Lois agrees. "I can understand staying concerned about it all, but fear doesn't suit you. Don't let yourself dwell in it, if you can. You might be scared, but you have allies who will help you. You can rely on other people, even when you can't rely on yourself. I... know that from experience."

He'll likely know exactly what she's talking about too. There have been times she's found it's easier to let Clark help than for her to do it on her own, even if it's reluctant. "I can't just say don't be scared, that's not how fear works, but don't let it win. You and I will both stubbornly fight something to the end if it helps someone, I think, and if you won't help yourself, then help me."

Clark Kent has posed:
"I said I was concerned; yes, there's fears," Superman says, his tone adjusting, as he finds and focuses on his own inner strength. "But I know what I can do. What I can change. I will not let fears win." He winks at her. "That's that Superman side of me I mentioned. He won't allow it," he chuckles softly. "We can all be better than that." He's warmed to the topic, drawing out of that place where the worries live and recovering the hero. He's shown he will stubbornly fight to the end -- the Doomsday fight made him no longer have to defend himself on that count. Proof in actions.

"I'll have to set my own bar. Be better than I was yesterday," Kal-El says, with a light bump against her shoulder with his. His finesse with his strength is perfectly controlled, no power to it.

Lois Lane has posed:
"That's a good way to look at things." Lois' shoulder bumps back against his. It's a nice sort of connection, little things, getting comfortable in the same space they're sharing. "I definitely think that's honestly something everyone can and should follow. I can't say I'm great at it myself, but I like to think I try." She laughs, but it's followed up with a smile. "Coming back as Superman will certainly be a high starting bar to set yourself, though. Better be ready." She does want him to be prepared for everything that entails.

There's a small pause. "You know, you haven't asked me a question," she says, glancing at him with a twinkle in her eye.

Clark Kent has posed:
"I haven't? I lost track," Kal-El laughs, with a lift of eyebrows, and leaning back on the couch a bit. It does creak some, because he stretched his back out. Not enough to harm it, but there was a noise. And internally, he questions if he should use his strength more, to pull attention away from that he's Clark... and there's some inward shame there at the thought. He pushes it aside.

"Did you have a plan for tonight that I derailed?" he asks, kindly. "I hope you didn't mind. We can still go back to it."

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois is abruptly red. Whatever plan she was thinking of a moment ago was not at all the one that came to mind when he suggested he had derailed something. "Oh, ahh..." He's managed to fluster her. Once again, her weakness is Superman. "No plan, not at all. I didn't really want to presume, so I sort of decided to be more casual, especially when dinner didn't work out..."

Try as she might, her cheeks are warm now and not particularly fading in color. "No, this is perfect. I couldn't ask for anything better."

Clark Kent has posed:
He didn't anticipate the strong blush! He smiles at her, though. "All right. I'll take you back if you say the word, though," Kal-El assures. She is not a hostage there by any means!

"That was my question, even so. Go ahead next," Superman offers to her, deftly having slipped the net of needing a question, it seems. He draws his other hand across to gather her hand in both of his: a physical assurance that everything is okay.

Lois Lane has posed:
That was the question? Lois hadn't even noticed, especially not with the blushing. "Yeah, sure, I'll let you know if I need to go back. But that's later. Right now we're just fine right here." That is, aside from the blush. She'll regain her senses for a minute. The clasping of her hand is a bit of a relief, the simple connection allowing her to ground herself and relax from the momentary fluster.

"You know... I'm going to ask you the same question. Were you planning all this in advance, or did you decide last minute and just whip it all up?"

Clark Kent has posed:
Kal-El manages not to blush as much as she did, but he partially anticipated that she'd ask about the situation. "This spot is mine for this week. I got it after I spoke to you." After he'd shown that he was alive. After her positive reception of him. "I've been here alone, off and on." He'd wanted a private spot that wasn't the Fortress of Solitude, for himself, even if nothing happened or she hadn't wanted to come, it was his. And it made sense to show this to her.

"I wanted a spot without a lot of eyes," he explains, and looks out towards the water, then to her. "I'm recognizeable." No kidding.

Lois Lane has posed:
No wonder he was blushing. Lois thought her blushing was contained, but it creeps up again now. "So you got it but had no idea if I'd even call?" She's legitimately surprised, mostly because he took a risk. She might not have called for him right away, she might have taken some more time to sort things out. He took a calculated risk, much like she did more often than not. She has a weird sense of pride in that.

"I'm glad you did it. It's lovely here and it's honestly somewhere I could see coming to again." She is definitely blushing. "I'm going to cheat and ask you another question. Does it feel obtrusive, having so many eyes on you all the time?"

Clark Kent has posed:
"Well... if it hadn't been here... I have other options. Other places I can show you. I won't take you to the moon, but..." Kal-El smiles at her then, drawing one palm from over her hand to brush up her arm. It's not quite flirtatious, but it is a way of feeling out how safe just general touch is. And showing that he does, in fact, want to be open to it, and her.

"Sometimes. But I think I liked being 'alive' more than dead. I don't want to pretend to be something I'm not." Boy, is that ever true, but also a sense of that he'll do it if needed. For years, if needed.

Lois Lane has posed:
While the blush hasn't seemed to fade, Lois is calm to the touch. It doesn't seem to bother her or disrupt her in the slightest, other than the faint tinge of color that hasn't quite left. She's used to being close to Superman. He's held her in his arms many times over the years and she certainly was nervous and excited over those times, but it had built up plenty of trust. Trust that is abundantly evident in the comfort that comes from being physically close, even if the motion isn't brought about in a flirtatious way.

"I know I'm eventually going to have to share you with the rest of the world, but part of me is enjoying being selfish and having you to myself. Being able to see you without the pressures of everything on you... it's nice. I appreciate having the opportunity to see it."

Clark Kent has posed:
"I'm .... still active, such as flight 1495," Superman replies. It's quiet, but not with any shame. It is exactly that. "I just have not been wearing my suit.... and I have not slowed down to be visible to onlookers." He chuckles softly, "Much like how it was before I created Superman. Stopping car accidents... trying to be subtle, not draw attention. Not linger afterwards..." He shakes his head minutely, and looks at her, seated by his side. "If the Justice League need to call me, they will. They know to do it. As do... the Avengers. I've reached out to their leadership." That means Captain America knows.

"Right now, though, I have not been called on. Except by you," he says, and, after looking at her with a softened expression, leans in close, a kiss offered, if she bridges the rest of the distance to him.

Lois Lane has posed:
It's fair. He's still helping, he's just not public. Superman is there when he's needed. And she had called because she had needed him. Just this time it wasn't to be saved because she'd gotten in over her head. This time it was because she did need him--he'd worked his way into her heart and her life in a way she didn't fully understand until he was away. It was painfully similar to the other man in her life that she was close to.

She studies his eyes for a moment as she leans in towards him, letting her eyes drift shut as she meets his in the kiss. She scoots in closer and lets one hand stray up to trace along the edge of his ear and then into his hair, a gentle movement.

Clark Kent has posed:
Superman kisses her, letting that kiss say everything else.

Soon enough, though, they continue to talk, sharing thoughts and finding a connection, between Lois and Kal-El, through to the dawn.

And Lois spends a sleepy dawn with Clark -- whether she knows it or not -- before he takes her home.