Chapter 4 “Competition”

It had taken Clark a while, but he was finally starting to settle in. I was strange, but the first time Clark had moved to Metropolis he had had no trouble picking up the pace. But now, after his five years of absence, his life had become a complicated mess. It was one thing to start a new life, but continuing it with a five year disadvantage was quite something else. None of all the Superpowers in the world could have helped him with that. He had received quite a number of emotional blows in a quick succession, but it finally looked like things were calming down.

His apartment was now fully furnished and decorated. The people in the streets of Metropolis had gotten used to the presence of Superman. And Clark Kent had found a certain level of camaraderie with Lois Lane.

Clark looked over his glasses as Lois, who was typing away furiously on her computer. He had finished his story over half an hour ago, but he hadn’t sent it off to Perry just yet.

Focusing on her screen, Clark noticed Lois was reaching the conclusion of her article.

10 more minutes…

Clark bent over his notes, fooling a passing Perry into believing he was working hard.

Lois had been determined to finish a story before Clark for weeks now. She hadn’t succeeded yet, and Clark had decided to cut her some slack.

Nodding at a passing Jimmy, Clark ventured another glance at Lois’ screen. She was running a spell-check. If she beat the fastest typist at the Daily Planet at handing in a story, then maybe she would be in such a good mood that he was able to talk her into lunch…

Normally, Lois had lunch with Richard, leaving Clark with Jimmy, but today Richard had been out all day, pressing contacts, and Clark seized the opportunity. He might not be able to with Lois the way he would like, but they could be friends at least.

“Hey, Smallville!” Lois’ voice sounded across the room as she strode towards him. Clark feigned a busy look.

“You got that story finished yet?”

“Almost, just dotting the i’s.”

“So, you’re not done yet?”

Clark fought back the grin that was pulling on the corners of his mouth.

“Nope. You?”

“Oh, I just send it off to Perry for a review.” Lois said airily.

“Gee, you’re fast.”

Lois tried, and failed, to fight the smug expression on her face.

“Yeah, well… I’m absolutely famished now. What d’you say about a bite, Smallville, once you’ve sent that off?”

Clark looked up, surprised she was the one to take the initiative, and then smiled his goofy smile.

“That sounds like a plan.”

He sent the story off to Perry with a last click of his mouse and gathered his coat.