When the Nights get Hard: (Lois/Clark)

[jacquelyn]

Dream
"At least I have friends, unlike some people?

Aviary Jacquelyn Eves apologize to Ashley right now! her mother scolded from the front seat. Her face set in the rear view mirror, as her eyes flashed with a scolding fury.

The words had left her mouth without an real thought behind him, after they�d left she�d immediately felt remorse for saying them, but once they were out, nothing could take them back, nothing could make the clock rewind itself. You may get the words forgiven but you could never take them back. As Aviary sat in the back seat with her feet pressed against the back of her mother's seat. Aviary couldn't even begin to recall what she'd said, or better yet why. Even as the dream continued she knew this wasn't right, she hadn't been in the car, she hadn't been here, and what she'd said to her sister had been at school in front of her friends showing off on a dare.

Ashley had turned her head to stare out the window, but that wasn't before Aviary had caught the look of hurt there and the slightly tremble of her chin. Aviary felt her pain, a freaky twin thing some called it, but it seemed to only go one way. Her eyes got misty and she averted her gaze out the window on her side. Maybe if she'd been looking the other way she'd possibly been able to see the truck...her gaze jerked back towards the window and she could see the large black F250 come swerving over the next four lanes of traffic as he came accelerated heading right for them.

"MOM! Watch out the truck!" But her scream fell on deaf ears and no one seemed to acknowledge her presence anymore in the car, it was as if she wasn't there anyone, not really there.

"Aviary!"

The truck was coming at them as it sharply changed lanes and collided with the front passenger side. The crunch of metal on metal and the sound and then they were flying the small car being thrown and then they were flipping through the air, the car jumping the median and sliding on it's hood into the oncoming traffic.

As she tried to close her eyes she couldn't, her head hit the side window and she felt blood when the car came resting to a stop. It took her minute but she'd managed to crawl out the broken back window. The sound of her sister's cry just before they had been hit, had her stumbling to her feet. Before her gaze shifted and she was sitting in the front seat. "Mom...." she said softly, her eyes taking in the form of her mother, her eyes open but she wasn't moving, the force when they'd hit the median and then gone over had snapped her neck. She found that she couldn't move, her fingers twitched, and she was in so much pain, she couldn't feel the blood pooling from her side as a piece of the car stuck out of her side and pulled at the open wound with every breath she took. She realized with a dawning sense of dread this wasn't her, she wasn't hurt this was her sisters last moments.

As a shadow fell over her body, she turned her head, her mouth opening to speak, but blood dripped from her mouth and her breath was coming in wheezing shallow pants. The man who stared down at her had no intention of helping her sister who was still alive, who might have lived had she gotten help. The man had a black goatee and he was in nice black suit, his hair was black and curly a top his head in a classy yet messed up way. His eyes were dark brown and devoid of any emotion. He didn't say anything even as his hand reached around to curl around her neck, his thumb jerking her chin up so that she looked up at him, looked into his eyes. His other hand pulled out a small 9mm pistol with a silence on the end of it. He pressed the barrel to her forehead and watched the fear in her eyes, the tears. "P-Plea...se..."

The man didn't even blink, he just gave a small half smile before he pulled the trigger putting a bullet between her eyes a neat little hole, that ended her sisters life and just like that, it was extinguished.

"AVIARY!"


The sound of her sister's voice screaming her name a second time woke her up. A strangled sound coming from her as she sat up in her bed, her eyes filled with tears and her whole body was shaking and she was cold, ice cold. Her hands pressed against her face and she sobbed, ignoring the sound of her phone going off on her side table. Who ever it was, she'd call them later. She sobbed, for a long time, maybe forty-five minutes to an hour. What stayed with her was the man's face, and her sisters last words.

Aviary had to pull herself together, but that didn't mean the pain went away. She just rolled out of bed, her feet instinctively landing on the floor, as she went for the bathroom, the bile climbing up her throat faster then she'd ever experienced before. As she flushed the toilet and looked at her clock and saw the clock it was 4:45 in the morning. Her placed her hands on the cool counter top and looked at herself in the mirror her head hung low and went through the motions of brushing her teeth and taking a shower, a short, cold shower...she just couldn't bring herself to feel any warmth.

She had a meeting with Lois Lane and her partner Clark Kent, she was supposed to tell her story, about how she was looking for the murder(s) who killed her mother and her sister, but how could she go with the face of the man she knew killed her sister, and how did she know that? How was she seeing his face now? She still needed the case file and she would do anything to get it, there was no way it really happened like that. Her sister had died on route to the hospital, that's what her father had said, there was no way her sister had been killed, murdered in cold blood and no one had told her. No, it didn't work that way.

Five minutes later she was walking out of her her rented apartment for the week. It was a work vacation, no this was about her meeting with Roger Hayden, and Tobias she was being evaluated her performance, her mental stability was being looked into. People were starting to wonder if the job was too much, if the unsolved vehicular homicide of her mother and sister was just too much for her to handle.

She reached the coffee shop, about the time they opened. She stared up at the menu, trying to really read what it said and not having much luck. She was dressed in dark blue jeans, black boots and a half sleeved emerald green sweater, it would do for today. She wasn't worried, but her make up didn't do a great job of hiding her exhausted look but she didn't much care. Her dream just wouldn't leave her alone, every time she closed her eyes it was there. She just wanted to curl up and not get up anymore and it'd been a long time since she'd hit this low and she wasn't sure what to do about it. She felt someone behind her and she stepped back to the side.

"Go ahead, I don't know what I want" she said casting the person a quick glance, but not really seeing them.

[Lois Lane]

Why Lois Lane was unable to sleep this morning, she didn't know. Granted there were a few things on her mind, one being the story the young woman looking for the murder of her sister and mother. Though she didn't know too many details but she had agreed to meet with the young woman and help her out where she could; Lois just hadn't told Clark yet. However she was sure to fill him in today and she was almost certain that he wouldn't mind diving into this. Lois was sure there wasn't much that they could really do, after all they were just reporters but they where the best reporters and they had a way of not taking no at face value. There was one other person that she hadn't told and that was Perry White; editor of the Daily Planet; and chances where she wasn't going to tell him. After all he would most likely flip his lid over the fact they were looking into an old story, when there was other stories to be chasing after.

Lois had decided since she was awake, that she might as well get some coffee, a dozen donate, and head to work. There was always something there she could do, and hanging around her apartment wasn't really all that interesting and this early in the morning there was nothing on TV either. So deciding she would try a new shop for her coffee, for she had heard good things about this place, bought Lois Lane to stand in line right behind the young woman that she would be meeting with later.

Lois looked up at the menu, trying to decide what she was in the mood for, her mind already ahead to what kind of donates to buy and about what she could do to fill her morning. It was a voice that bought Lois back to the reality that she was standing in line at a coffee shop. "It's a hard choice to make so early." Lois said with a smile as she stepped forward and ordered her coffee. It wasn't long a wait after her order and so within about two minutes Lois held her cup of hot coffee and was turning to leave. "Good luck on your choice." Lois gave the woman; who looked as if she hadn't slept in days; a warm smile and left the coffee shop. If she had known that this woman was the one she would talk to later that day, than she would have not only offered to buy her coffee but for the two of them to set down and enjoy it in the pressure free coffee shop. But since she had never meet Aviary, Lois just walked out of the shop and to her next destination.

Later that morning, Lois was already set up at her desk, looking over a few leads of stories she was interested in or currently working on. She had removed her suit jacket, a dark blue that matched her skirt, and her shoes. This left her in her off white blouse, which had a little lace around the neck, and the dark blue skirt. She noticed a few people that started to come into work, even a few of them either said good morning or hello; which she respond back in kind. Right now it was just another day at the office, but that was the way Lois Lane liked it; well with a little excitement mixed in from time to time.

[jacquelyn]

Aviary had given the woman a small smile of thanks and continued to look over the menu. She wasn't worried about picking something she didn't like, as she knew what to stay away from. It was more towards the fact her mind kept replaying the last few moments of the dream in her head, every time she closed her eyes all she saw was his face, his dark eyes that held no remorse for the child's life he'd just terminated as though it was his choice to be judge, jury and executioner.

Her eyes snapped opened and she ordered what she got usually. No need to try and make things complicated. After retrieving her coffee and waiting for it. She left the coffee shop, just killing time outside the building, she found herself having second thoughts about this interview, maybe it was best to cancel it. She'd been walking up the street and then doubling back, and walking past the building about ten times. She'd sometimes coffee in hand walk up the door and be ready to pull it open, but she'd shake her head, mutter under her breath and charge up the sidewalk away from the building, before some five minutes later be back in the same position.

She was late and her phone was at home on the night stand, her coffee had long sense grown cold and she'd thrown it away passing the trashcan on the corner of the street after the eleventh time of going in a circle up the block. Get it together Jacquelyn, you're acting like a coward.[/color]

She scolded herself and started her way back towards the building. She was sure this was rather comical to those at the front desk. She wiped her slightly sweaty hands on her jeans as she stopped walking in the middle of the crowded sidewalk. A man roughly elbowed her in the shoulder causing her to stumble back a bit and run into the very solid form of someone else. Usually most people would be forced to step back, but her slight body did little to move who she'd run into.

Her cheeks heated red and she stammered out an apology quickly. "I'm sorry, that was my fault. Are you alright? I didn't damage your suit I hope," she said cast a quick glance at the door she needed to walk in. She was by her internal clock ten minutes late for the interview and unbeknownst to her, it would seem she wasn't the only one running a little late today.

[Superman]

[style= text-align: justify; padding: 5px; width: 550px;] White light filled the small, lonely Metropolis Apartment and as its flow intensified, little particles were beginning to form and soon matter was appearing from seemingly nowhere. A figure began to materialize in the light and in a matter of under a minute the man of steel stood tall and proud at the center of his sparse apartment that was barely furnished save for the few necessities. It had been two weeks now since he had actually stepped into his own living quarters, opting instead for the more lavish and advanced rooming he had within the tower. But it wasn’t for any superficial reasons whatsoever that Kal-El had been avoiding his own home, it was merely his responsibility that had kept him away. He had, in the last two weeks been away from the office under the guise of investigating a few fraudulent companies in China. With the help of a few choice words and insistence, Clark Kent was able to convince Perry that this story was Daily Planet newsworthy. So in the two weeks he had been amassing information on companies that didn’t exist while performing his other more important duties for the world.

These articles hadn’t been his best work, but the topic alone was far from Clark’s expertise. He had a little help from one of Gotham’s most powerful socialites in this economic business. Thankful for that, he was able to produce nine articles in his time away and Perry appearance moderately satisfied. Returning to Metropolis was in a way unwanted, he had become so estranged from the city in his time away, thinking only on a global - no universal scale now. Never before had he been so preoccupied, never had he let it get this bad but times had been extremely rough for not only him, but for the entire league. And the city of Metropolis, though the apple of his eye was becoming quite small in the grand scheme of things.

He sighed wearily, looking at the drab and depressing apartment that stood around him. Maybe he should paint the walls. Considering if he had the time he would, but for now they would stay their pale, off grey. Moving across the floor he began to remove his cape, his suit and neatly tossed them queen sized bed. Chancing a glance at the time, he noted that he was running a little later than usual. Averting his gaze, Clark Kent quickly made way for his double door closet, slide one door to the side and quickly pulled out a navy blue suit and onyx black tie. Moving a little more quickly now, Clark swiftly went to the bathroom, proceeded to take a shower and freshen himself up for the morning and then came back to his room and just as quickly changed into his outfit for the day.

Checking the time again, he saw that only a minute had passed. He was making good timing, but then again he wasn’t entirely concerned. He made way for the door, paused, returned to the room and picked up his leather briefcase and then reached for the exit again. When he opened the door, he paused, pressed his fingers against the sides of his face and ‘tutted’ to himself. Zipping back into his home, he grabbed the small pair of glasses that rested on his bedside table and slowly he placed it atop his eyes. Now he was ready.

It didn’t take long to resurge onto the busy streets of Metropolis. Taxis and private cars filled the streets and filled it with the sounds of roaring motors, persistent honking and the screeching of tires. People on the street were minding their own business as the usual and going on about their busy lives. Mothers walking children to school and fathers on their way to the office. Clark smiled shyly as he stumbled in the path of a rather prude looking businesswoman. She scoffed, walked past him and continued her obnoxious conversation on her cellphone.

Checking his analog watch, Clark took note of the time and considered that it would be a good idea to take the express route. Nodding to a few of his neighbors who were also exiting the complex, he inconspicuously made his way for the side street and then slipped into the alleyway. Making sure that no one was about, he compressed the muscles in his legs and then suddenly he burst forward with tremendous speed that left a gust of wind behind that sent loose papers and trashcans flying about. He moved with great caution and ease through the alleyways of Metropolis, making sure to avoid main streets or the eyes of bystanders. Remembering the map of his city, he made exception progress to the Daily Planet and arrived a block away in what seemed like a minute.

Brushing his suit down, the man of steel – rather ace report, Clark Kent emerged from the alleyway, briefcase in tow and his free hand tinkering with his hair to perfect the curl that was signature to Clark Kent. He joined the heavy flow of pedestrian traffic and paused in front of a coffee stand to grab a cup of coffee, black no sugar.

He moved seamlessly through the crowd, looking up at the Daily Planet’s golden globe and smiling slightly – thankful that amidst all the insanity that had occurred, the remarkable piece still stood. Proud, tall, representing everything that he –

“Oof-“

It was more so a response in surprise rather than pain. A small, brown haired woman backpedaled into him and in the absence of his attention he clumsily released his grip on his cup of joe and felt the warm liquid become absorbed into the very fibers of his suit. The paper container fell to the ground, and began to roll away, but on instinct he quickly bent down to pick it up. He would have to find a proper receptacle for this later. Raising his head, he listened to the woman, her voice full of anxiety, forgiveness and judging by her breathing, fatigue.

Clark Kent only smiled, holding his hand up in reassurance; he noticed that some coffee had also found its way onto her dark green top, “It’s alright.” He said with a warm smile, “Well I am, my suit took most of the damage.” He added with a slight chuckle. Really, it was alright, the suit? Well he had done worse to his own wardrobe, so it wasn’t entirely a concern. The woman however looked far more shaken than the slight collision should have caused. She was disheveled, her hair a clear attempt to be neatly brushed down and her making doing very little to hide the exhaustion in her eyes. But it was more than that, the not quite audible but labored breathing, the irregular beating of her heart, the taunt muscles on her face that flexed and faltered under her expression to show that there was something that deeply bothered her and it was more than the coffee stain on his suit.

“Are you alright?” He asked but quickly the Kryptonian caught himself and he shook his head, “I mean your shirt, it has some coffee on it.” He pointed out as he began to remove his blazer to prevent the coffee from seeping any further and forever staining his white shirt, “If you’d like you can come up to the office with me to clean yourself up. You look like you have somewhere important to be.” He smiled again, folding his blazer and resting it onto his forearm as he held his briefcase. Clark studied the look on her face and paused, realizing the uncertainty that still hung within the air, raising his brow she extended his hand, “Clark Kent, I’m sorry about your shirt.” He offered, finding it a little ironic that he was on the apologetic end. He waited for her response and took a glance at his wrist watch to confirm that he was definitely late. [/style]

Tag: Aviary

[jacquelyn]

Aviary looked with dismay at the coffee that was so quickly staining his suit jacket. Her father had not been happy when she as a child had given him a pair of matching hand prints on his expensive jacket, her and her sister had been finger painting and he sported white hand prints of hers and a light blue of Ashley’s, on his pair of matching suit jacket. She knew all too well how expensive those suits were. She wasn’t sure why she was so rattled, she needed to get her head back in the game, she was never this out of sorts and she was beginning to let things spiral out of her control this morning, no she needed to take hold of the rest of the day.

She gave a small wave of her hand and forced a bit more authority in her voice, she needed to act like she actually knew what she was doing. She wasn’t one of the youngest on her team for nothing, no she needed to shove Jacquelyn in a closet and keep her there. She needed to be Aviary Eves, team leader of her division. She hadn’t gotten her team ranked number one at the office by allowing her personal life to dictate her actions, her emotions, she couldn’t start now.

“Don’t apologize Mr. Clark, this wasn’t your fault. Allow me to pick up your dry cleaning bill, it’s the least I can do.” she said to him, as she worked at building up her walls, that cold persona her team knew her so well for. The one she built that kept everyone out and at arm’s length. She frowned slightly as his name clicked for her, so this was Clark Kent, one of the people she’d be meeting, along with Lois Lane. She wasn’t sure how she felt about having met him like this, not a very good first impression at all. The first time they mean, she was not on her game, and she’d managed to spill coffee on a very expensive suit. She was well aware of how men viewed their suits, her not so long ago ex Austin Matthews had been no different.

She took his hand slowly, a little hesitant as she contemplated leaving, forgoing the whole thing and not coming back. She’d on the first flight out of here before you could get in touch with her boss. “Aviary Eves, it’s nice to meet you,” she said with a bit of her nervous look in her eyes, she almost hoped perhaps he wouldn’t recognize the name, but if she walked in there with him, he’d figure out she was his story for the day. She had mixed feelings about the whole thing, but it was better than her boss trying to send her to counseling.

If you paid close attention you could see the demeanor she put up wasn’t exactly staying up completely, little bits of her true personality were shining through. “I have a…err… meeting with you and your partner Lois Lane…and it would seem I’ve made you late for work.” She said her face falling in a more sincere look. She ran her fingers through her hair and kicked at the concrete with her boot, some of her mannerisms displayed almost childlike qualities, those that one may put towards someone who had to grow up fast.

”We should get inside, I’ve already made you late…I shouldn’t made you any later. If you Perry White has an issue with your tardiness, allow me to speak with him…it’s the least I can do for you, on top of getting your suit cleaned.” She giving him a slow smile, allowing him to see that perhaps she wasn’t all that bad, under all the layers that made her who she was.

[Superman]

The sudden change in demeanor went almost unnoticed to Clark Kent as he tried exceptionally hard to come off as bubbly and oblivious. Hand still outstretched, he felt the tightened grip of her hand around his own as she exhumed a new air of confidence. Back straight, head high, and the fatigue somewhat wiped off her expression now, Clark almost didn’t recognize the young woman before him. He smiled slightly as she modestly introduced herself, adopting a very business-like and assertive manner that was surprising for someone of her – dare he think it – height.

There was a fleeting hint of nervousness in her eyes, but it quickly faded as she turned her gaze. He was only left to hold his hands up rather bashfully as he muttered, “Dry cleaning? No no… it’s not necessary.” His quiet statement however went unheard as Aviary went off again to state her reason for being here. Once she gave her alibi, he quirked his brow in slight confusion and this time it wasn’t an act.

Perhaps he forgot to read his emails, or missed a call from Lois, but Clark Kent was nowhere near informed about a possible interview with an Aviary Eves. He knew nothing about the woman aside from the obvious façade she put up – well only obvious to the man of steel as his heightened senses caught ever fallacy in her movements. Though miniscule it was clear as day.

Regardless of his own standing in the current situation, Clark trusted that Lois had set this interview up appropriately and it was just a matter of him being negligent. Completely not on purpose but if anything it helped him play by his own character. Not wanting to compromise Lois’ professionalism, he wiped the perplexed look on his face and nodded in agreement and understanding to Aviary.

“Ah, right. I received an email about this earlier today. Forgive me, I’m still recovering from jet lag. I just flew in from China this morning.”

He brought his hand behind his head and rubbed lightly against his jet back hair. Blue eyes twinkled with sincerity as he listened to Aviary, still attempting to redeem the clumsy events that had transpired earlier, “It’s alright Miss Eves, and you don’t have to worry about the suit.” He said in the most reassuring tone that he could. He placed a hand on her shoulder in confidence, attempting to extend his own optimism to her, “I would however be more concerned over your interview appointment. We should head up now if you’d like to get started.” Another smile and he motioned for her to follow him as he entered the glimmering skyscraper that housed one of the most well renowned newspaper in the world.

A quick ride up the elevators to the 32nd floor brought Aviary and Clark to the main floor of the Daily Planet. Clark, being the good natured and well-manner fellow that he was, offered coffee to Aviary with humor in his voice and greeted Janet, the receptionist. Clark also took the initiative to direct Aviary to the bathroom in the case that she wanted to clean up before the interview.

“I’ll be sure to tell Miss Lane that you’re here. Just ask Janet to escort you when you’re ready.”

Clark called out to Aviary as he departed down the hallway and disappeared behind the wall. He stepped into the large open space that was filled with rows of desks and papers strewn about. Clark moved quickly down the aisle, catching a glimpse of Lois raven colored hair as she disappeared behind her computer screen. Out of breath, and slightly disheveled, Clark towered over Lois’ desk, one hand still holding onto his soured blazer.

“Lois, Aviary Eves is here… should I know anything about this?” he inquired, hoping to get some more information before Aviary returned.

[/div]

TAG: Lois Lane

[Lois Lane]

It was just another morning at the Daily Planet, which means it was busy and Lois Lane was already in every place at once it seemed like. The coffee she had bought this morning was already gone and replaced with a now cold mug of Daily Planet best. Lois Lane had been working on her own for the last few weeks, because Perry had had the bright idea of sending Clark to China; this didn't set well with Lois because she couldn't go too. Perry had to deal with that choice for the next week or so, for working with Lois was even harder than before. But he just slipped away into his office and prayed that Lois would just leave him alone for a while, though that hardly happen when she had her mind set to something. Today however she hadn't gone to bother him yet, so he was able to enjoy a few moments in the morning dealing with other issues than with Miss Lane.

Lois had no idea that Clark was back in town, and though she tried to make everyone believe that she didn't miss him; everyone else knew the truth that she did. She really missed having her partner around, the friendly banter back and forth and the fact it was more fun hunting down stories with someone. She even missed how he seemed to disappear in the middle of everything; mostly because she didn't have any chance to wonder where he had gone or what he did; even though he always told her what he was doing or seem to be doing.

The best way she found to no think about the fact that she was still state side and that she sort of missed her partner was to work, and do as much of it as she could. So when Clark entered the building with her morning appointment, Aviary, Lois didn't notice as the very tall farm boy Clark made his way to her desk.
“Lois, Aviary Eves is here… should I know anything about this?”
Lois stopped typing and looked up at the towering figure that stood over her, holding onto his blazer instead of wearing it. For a moment Lois just looked at Clark, it couldn't really be him because he would have called her telling her he was back in town. A moment later she realized it was him and she became flooded with emotions, well two really. Happy because she was glad to see him, but anger because he had left without saying goodbye and had shown up without telling her he was back. Just seconds later she had decided on the emotion she wanted, anger because what kind of friend would do what he did. Looking back down at her keyboard Lois started to pound away at the keys.

"Miss Eves is a client that has ask for help in the story about her parents death." Lois Lane answered without looking up as she hit the print button. Turning her chair quickly she turned her back on Clark and stood up to walk over to the printer for her work. She was acting more angry that she truly felt for she was happy to see him back, but it was unwise to really show it after all she had just spent the time he was gone proving to people she didn't miss him. So with her back still toward him she picked up the papers that had just printed off and looked them over before she would take them to Perry's office.

[Superman]

The immediate coldness that he was welcomed with was a bit unexpected but not entirely unprecedented. Lois Lane was a piece of work and he meant that in the most positive way as possible. She was a complex puzzle, smart, assertive, kind and for some time Clark thought that he had the young ace reporter all figured out. That was hardly the case because she constantly managed to surprise him. There was always a new aspect of Lois that he didn't expect and it wasn't really a bad thing, he enjoyed the challenge of figuring out the many facets of Lois Lane. It's what made her ever so lovely.

Blue eyes blinked back to reality as Lois' rather short response came off as both callous and with some despondence; toward whom he as unsure. He looked at her with an expression of concern wondering why she seemed in such a sour mood. Had something happened? Did he miss something during his absence at the Daily Planet? The only time he interacted with Lois during his time away was as Superman and when a raid by intergang had brought Lois into their clutches (nothing surprising there) and as the boy scout that he was, Clark had gone ahead and stopped intergang and spent a few moments with Lois.

She appeared fine then, but then and now had a large time difference and for all Clark knew the world could have turned upside down for Lois. His facial muscles weakened slightly, losing their jaunt and optimistic features and creating an expression of worry that made his eyes twinkle with an otherworldly sheen.

"Her parents' death?"

Clark began, trying to keep things on a business level while he studied the back of Lois' head and wished that his powers granted him the power to read minds.

"How can we help?"

They were reporters, not necessarily detectives so Clark was unsure of how exactly they would tackle this situation. Of course he didn't underestimate Lois' ability to crack the toughest case. It was she after all who didn't give up on that little girl who was kidnapped a few months ago. Even after the police tabled the case, she alone - through hard work and determination - found the young girl and saved her from an uncertain fate. He was sure that Lois would have a good reason for picking up this case. It was either that or they were running out of things to write on.

Not that parental death's weren't important, they were (in Clark's opinion) just way out of their jurisdiction.

He looked back to Lois, his lips pursed and realizing that she had lowered her emotive defenses. He moved forward, following her to the printer and extending his free hand to her shoulder. Her could feel her muscles quake in response to his touch. Was it anger or something else?

"Lois... is everything a-"

"Mr. Kent... Miss Lane, Miss Eves is ready to see you now. I've set her up in conference room B."

Janet interrupted his inquiry with her high pitched and overly optimistic sounded voice. He wasn't upset at her, she hadn't meant to do it purposely, but he wished her timing was a little better. Releasing his grip on Lois' shoulder her motioned for the hallway that led to the conference rooms and elegantly held his hand forward to allow Lois the rite of passage first.

They walked the short trip from their desks to the conference room in complete silence. The sound of their ruffling papers and Lois' heels thudding on the carpeted floor the only indication of life between them. He reserved his inquiries, deciding to leave them for later and for a better time when she didn't appear so upset.

Conference Room B's door came into view, and Clark quickly pushed forward and placed his large hand on the handle of the door. Opening it gently he was immediately hit with the smell of freshly made coffee and small breakfast pastries. Janet was always good at her job.

A smile etched across his face as his eyes fell upon the young woman across the room who was seated at the end of the table. With an exhale, he looked to Lois deciding to allow her to take point on this interview and quickly took his seat adjacent to Aviary while pulling out his notepad and a fine, ball point pen.

Tag: Aviary Eves