Webs of Steel

Chapters 13; Cluster of Chaos

The truck whirred and grumbled as Clark put it in park, and he sat back in the driver's seat. In the few hours he and Lois had spent together, a lot had changed. He had gone from feeling mopey and troubled to happy and content.

"You know, I actually had fun with you tonight, Smallville." Lois spoke, breaking the silence.

"Funny." He smiled. "I was just about to say the same thing."

"No, I'm serious." She insisted.

"So am I."

Lois flashed a smile of her own and turned her head towards the passenger side window then looked back at him.

"But I want to be honest…" She began. "I've had some pretty shitty luck in the past but I've never had something real before, I don't want to sound lame or anything but I'm a little out of practice when it comes to a real, serious relationship. So, if that's what you're looking for then I'm cool with it, but I don't wanna disappoint you."

Clark chuckled. It wasn't intentional, but he couldn't help himself. "Sorry, I don't mean to laugh at you."

"Don't worry about it." She sighed.

"And I've had something real… with Lana… but it was a mess. All these secrets and lies piled up and we both got hurt. I don't want that to happen again." He added.

"It won't." She said, her smile widening. "I'm not her, and you aren't the same person you were back when you were with her."

"I know… Actually, Lois, there's something I need to tell you."

"Okay, yeah… whatever it is you can tell me."

"But I should warn you that it might change the way you see me."

"Hah!" She laughed. "I don't think anything will change the fact that you are a plaid shirt wearing, cheeky farm boy."

"Oh, I don't know so much."

"Come on, what are you, an alien? Spill it, Smallville."

"Well, actually… yes. Kind of." He admitted.

"W- what?" She frowned.

"I don't want to keep things from you and make the same mistakes that I did with Lana. I want you to know who I really am."

"Uh-huh." She stammered, barely able to get the sound out.

"And the truth is that I'm not from Smallville, or anywhere on this earth." He explained. "I'm from a planet called Krypton…"

Lois sat next to him in silence with her mouth open wide. Of all the things she had expected him to say, this hadn't been one of them. She had no idea what to say. This was a lot, even for her.

"Clark, I… I don't know what to say."

"It's okay. It's a lot, I know." He assured her.

"You just… you seem so natural here, so…"

"Human?"

"Yeah."

"I was raised by humans after all."

"And lucky enough to have been found by two of the most amazing humans." She added.

"Oh, truly the best." He agreed.

"So… you really are an alien?" She questioned. "Look, Smallville… I know that there are some strange things about you, but I don't quite know if I believe that you're from another planet."

Clark sighed. "I figured you'd say that, but I can prove it."

"What are you gonna do, phone home?" She joked.