Chapter 70

"Friction"

Zatanna and Victor walked along in almost an awkward silence; the two didn't seem to have much in common at all. Every now and then one would make an awkward attempt at conversation to ease the weird tension but they couldn't seem to find anything to connect on aside from their appreciation of the color purple, and not the film.

"So, Victor..." Zatanna began once again in an attempt to at least form some sort of friendship. Her mind raced over things they could both agree on but she found she came up empty handed. Finally she settled on the one thing she knew like no other, magic. "Tell me, what's the one thing you would wish for in the whole entire world?" She asked. The other members of the JLA wouldn't let her hear the end of it if they knew what she was up to, but what choice did she have. They had tried the old fashioned way and found nothing in common, so now they were going to play her way.

"Is this a trick?" Victor asked suspiciously knowing Zatanna's reputation for making everything what she called "fun".

"No," Zatanna answered. She was lying but she knew Victor wouldn't go along if he knew she was going to grant one of his wishes just to spice things up a little. "It's not a trick."

"Okay..." Victor eased off a little. "What would I wish for?" He thought out loud just as Oliver and Dinah passed and looked in their direction. "Well, I -"

"Hey!" Oliver interrupted, giving victor a friendly slap on the back to keep him from speaking his wish. "What are you up to?" Oliver asked looking directly at Zatanna.

"Nothing," Zatanna smiled and crossed her arms.

"Yeah," Oliver nodded with a doubtful look. "Well, none of 'that' now."

"None of what?" Victor asked.

"Magic," Dinah answered as she and Victor watched the exchange between Oliver and Zatanna.

"Oliver," Zatanna protested.

"Zatanna, I told you not to use magic here."

"You were serious?" Zatanna raised her eyebrows looking for clarification as Oliver nodded. "I thought you were joking when you said that."

"You were trying to put a spell on me?" Victor asked in a defensive tone.

"No, not a spell. I was just going to make one of your wishes come true," Zatanna clarified.

"It's the same thing!"

"No," Zatanna shook her head. "They're completely different."

"What?"

"Look, man, Zatanna has a good heart. She wouldn't cause you any harm."

"She just sometimes has a way of making things 'challenging' for her friends," Dinah added to Oliver's statement.

"Thanks, Oliver and Dinah," Zatanna said with a sarcastic twinge in her voice.

"Don't mention it," Oliver smiled. "And I really mean 'don't' mention it or else I could end up waking up on the wrong side of the tracks with the pointer sisters. No thanks, I don't feel like having a hex put on me, things are going really well in my life right now."

"I can make sure they go even better," Zatanna stated as if she were offering Oliver some sort of deal.

"Nope, that's okay," he cut her off. "I can handle things on my own, I don't need any magical help, but I'll tell you what, I'll come to you when I do."

"Oh I'm plenty of fun, just not the magic type."

"Everyone's the magic type, Oliver, even you," Zatanna stated. "Come on Victor. Let's go keep an eye on our target." Zatanna began to move through the crowd again with Victor close behind, once again they had gone back to the awkward silence only now there was also a sense of apprehensiveness from Victor.

"I think that went well," Oliver commented to Dinah as he watched Zatanna and Victor walk off.

"Well, you certainly won't win 'father of the year', but at least no one left crying or with a spell put on them," Dinah commented.

"And that's what matters," Oliver nodded. "Let's go find the others."

"Otis!" Lex called as he spotted his assistant zipping through the crowds like a lost child. Otis immediately snapped to attention when he heard Lex's voice.

"There you are, Mr. Luthor," he said as he ran up to Lex and Lana. "I've been looking all over for you."

"And why's that?" Lex asked.

"I have some important information for you."

"And what would that be?"

"It's about Kent."

"What about him?" Lex asked getting annoyed with the delay.

"He's not what he looks like. There's more to him than meets the eye."

"What do mean, Otis? You have to be more specific. These vague details you're giving me tell me absolutely nothing."

"Well, I saw him..." Otis trailed off trying to find the right words.

"What did you see?" Lex demanded growing more impatient.

"Well, I didn't really 'see' it, but it was like he just appeared out of nowhere."

"What do you mean, Otis?"

"He's quick, okay?"

"Quick? How quick?"

"Faster than a car. He claims he used shortcuts and Miss Lane backs him up on that, but I don't buy it. He beat me back to the carnival from his farm and I was driving. He 'walked'. I know he's hiding something."

"You're learning, Otis," Lex smiled.

"Sir there's something else you'd be interested in," Otis stated after a moment. "There was a younger guy."

"Who?" Lex asked.

"I don't know who he was, but I saw him as I was driving away."

"Point him out to me, now!" Lex said turning Otis around to face the crowds.

"I don't see him..."

"Find him!"

"There," Otis pointed. "Talking to Oliver Queen."

Lex looked at the young man Otis had pointed out. "Bart Allan," Lex stated.

Lana looked to Lex. She knew who Bart was through Clark but as far as she knew Lex had never met him. "How do you know Bart?" She asked.

"Let's just say, we go way back," Lex smiled as he thought of the time he captured Bart in his Level 33 facility.

"Okay, but I know Bart," Lana began. "I met him through Clark and from what I remember you and Clark weren't even friends when he came to Smallville the first time."

"Well, Clark always had a way of sharing his friends with me even if he and I weren't on speaking terms," Lex smiled a vague smile which told Lana he wouldn't tell her anything else about the matter so she unwillingly dropped the subject.

"Alright," Lois said as she plucked off another piece of cotton candy and popped it in her mouth, "Time to put this sucker to bed and gear up for round 2." Lois began to walk toward the outdoor stage where the band was finishing up their set with Clark and Chloe in tow.

"You coming, Jimmy?" Chloe called as Jimmy began to walk to the front of the stage.

"No, I'm going to get some more pictures for 'The Planet'," Jimmy said as he positioned himself near the stage.

"Like he hasn't taken enough pictures today," Lois commented as she hopped up the stairs. "Here, Smallville, hold this for me," Lois said pushing her cotton candy into Clark's chest.

"Sure," Clark said sarcastically knowing Lois hadn't heard him. Lois walked up to a microphone, tapped on in three times sending an echo out through the speakers then pulled the microphone out of the stand.

"Okay everyone, let's hear it for the band," Lois said as the crowd applauded. "Right," Lois said as everyone stopped clapping. "So, for those of you who don't know me, I'm Lois Lane of 'The Daily Planet' and this is my writing partner Clark Kent," Lois said as Clark gave a little embarrassed wave. "This is my cousin and fellow reporter Chloe Sullivan and right there in front of the stage taking pictures is Jimmy Olsen, who you're all probably sick of now because he's been sticking his camera in your faces all day. Anyway, we'd just like to thank you all for coming out and making today such a success. We've raised a lot of money so far for the battered women's shelter in Metropolis and we know there will be even more raised at tonight's ball. So if you would join with me in a round of applause thanking all our contributors including the farmers who set up the farmer's market, the businesses that have been sponsors today, the carnival operators and most of all everyone of you that showed up to support this cause. Thank you all, we look forward to seeing you tonight at the ball and for those still interested in purchasing tickets for the ball there's still time left, you can go to any of the booths throughout the carnival. Thank you all once again," Lois said as she turned back to Clark and Chloe.

"You sure you covered everything, Lois?" Clark asked in a teasing manner as they left the stage.

"Oh shut up, Smallville. At least I was through."

"You were that alright," Clark said as Lois punched him in the arm. Clark instinctively gave in to the punch as he always did so that Lois wouldn't get hurt.

"Now what?" Chloe asked as she, Clark and Lois walked through the people.

"Guys, wait up!" Jimmy called chasing after the group.

"Oh, sorry Jimmy," Lois apologized. "We almost forgot about you."

"I have to go talk to my mom for a second," Clark said leaving the group.

"What's he doing?" Jimmy asked.

"Relax, Jimbo, he's probably just checking to see if his mom needs help taking the booth down," Lois replied.

"Mom," Clark called just before he reached the booth.

"Clark," Martha greeted, hugging her son. "Did you enjoy yourself?"

"I did," Clark nodded. "Do you need a hand taking the booth down?" Clark asked taking down the sign Martha was having difficulty reaching.

"Thank you," Martha smiled as Clark began to help his mother with the booth. "Well, you've survived so far," Martha commented.

"What do you mean?"

"You've survived the unexpected visit from General Lane, the carnival, Lex and... well, Lois."

"Lois?"

"Lois," Martha nodded. "I know she was a little stressed about today and she can be a little pushy and uptight when she's stressed."

"I think you mean she becomes a dictator," Clark stated causing Martha to smile. "I like that she can be a perfectionist even though she and I know we're not perfect," Clark commented as he spotted Lois with Chloe and Jimmy. "She's everything I'm not and because of that she makes me a better person."

"You compliment each other," Martha stated watching her son.

"I think we do," Clark smiled, his eyes never leaving Lois.

"You're in love, Clark," Martha said as Clark looked at his mother.

"Is it that obvious?" He smiled as Martha nodded. "We haven't said it to each other yet, but... I am in love with her."

"Clark, that's all I've ever wished for you," Martha said with a smile. "It even makes the fact that the General caught you and Lois having sex this morning bother me less. As long as you're being safe," Martha said as Clark's eyes went wide.

"Mom, we're not having sex."

"Clark, you're a grown man, in your twenties, it's perfectly normal-"

"But I'm not. We're not. What the General saw this morning was me giving Lois a kiss. He just misunderstood the whole situation. I've never slept with Lois. Some day, yes, when we're ready and have both said 'I love you', but right now, no. We've just started dating. We're still learning about each other. Knowing Lois she probably won't even let me call her my girlfriend yet, but that's okay. When we're both ready, we'll be ready, but for now we're not and I'm not going to rush anything. I respect Lois more than that."

Martha smiled at Clark. "You really are Jonathan Kent's son."

"You can say that again," Lois said as she walked up and wrapped her arms around Clark's waist, poking her head around the side of his arm since he was quite a bit taller than her. "You know what, Mrs. Kent, he's my Jonathan," Lois smiled up at Clark who put his arm around Lois, pulling her to his side.

Martha smiled at Lois knowing the full extent of the meaning behind her words. It wasn't all that long ago that Lois and Martha had talked about Lois finding her soulmate and Lois had referred to her soulmate as being her Jonathan. The fact that Lois called Clark her Jonathan told Martha just how much Lois cared for Clark.

"Have you ever seen a couple so cute?" Chloe asked as she and Jimmy watched Lois and Clark with Martha from the distance.

"Well, I think we're pretty cute, but I am a little biased," Jimmy smiled as he wrapped his arm around Chloe and gave her a kiss. Chloe turned to Jimmy with a huge smile as she beamed up at him.

"I think I agree."

Clark walked throughout the carnival which was now being dismantled by the carnival operators and toward his truck. Lois was going to meet him there so they could go to the event hall to make sure any last minute preparations for the ball were taken care of then they would return to the farm to get ready for the evening.

"Yo, Clark!" someone called. "Clark!"

"Pete?" Clark asked as he turned around to see one of his best friends jogging up to him.

"Clark, man, where were you? All day I've been searching this place for you."

"Where was 'I'?" Clark asked with a smile. "Where were you? Lois and I spent the day with Chloe and Jimmy, you know our friends who you were supposed to be coming with."

"I did come with them and then I left them to find you."

"And somehow you missed me when Lois dragged me up on that stage to close the carnival?" Clark stated with a sarcastic twinge in his voice.

"No I saw that," Pete laughed. "That was pretty funny."

"So why didn't you come find me then?"

"I did but by the time I got to the stage you were already gone. I only found you now because I'd recognize those blue plaid shirts anywhere," Pete commented looking at Clark's shirt. "I thought you would outgrow them by now."

"Well, I don't think I've had a growth spurt since I was 14," Clark laughed. "So I can't outgrow them."

"And Lois likes them?" Pete asked.

"Did she tell you to ask me to stop wearing them or something?" Clark asked.

"No, man. I'm just saying is all. My girlfriend is a city girl and she hates when I wear plaid shirts. Lois is a city girl too so I would imagine that she'd hate the plaid shirts as well."

"Well, I'm pretty sure if she had my heat vision she would incinerate them."

"And you still wear them?"

"She fell for me when I was wearing these shirts so what harm can it do?" Clark shrugged.

"My girlfriend won't let me be caught dead in one, I can tell you that," Pete stated.

"Speaking of your girlfriend," Clark began as he and Pete began to walk toward the truck again, "is she here yet?"

"No," Pete shook his head. "Her flight won't get in till later today, she's going to meet us at the ball."

"Oh," Clark nodded. "Well, I'm looking forward to meeting her."

"I think you and Lois will like her a lot," Pete smiled.

Lois stood beside the red truck arguing with the younger Lane over the phone as she waited for Clark to come meet her. It seemed all the two were doing was arguing, Lois was surprised Lucy had even called her at all. "Look, Luce, dad is worried about you, okay?" Lois said in defence of her father.

"Why is dad worried about me? He has absolutely no reason to be," Lucy retorted.

"What do you mean 'he has no reason to be'? He's your father, Lucy. When he hasn't heard from you in weeks then yes he has a right to be concerned. You refuse to tell anyone where you are and you won't even call the General so what is he supposed to do? Sit back and let you get into trouble?"

"No, Lois, but he doesn't need to run after me every time he thinks something is wrong. Maybe I just need some space. Tell him not to bother coming after me."

"He's already left, and even if I wanted to I couldn't stop him from going after you. You know that."

"He's wasting his time. He won't find me."

Lois had had enough of her sister's games. "Where are you?" Lois demanded in an annoyed tone, the same tone she had used on Lucy when they were children and she would report back to the General about her sister.

"It doesn't matter," Lucy answered in snide sound in her voice.

"Do you even hear yourself?" Lois asked in disbelief. Could Lucy really be that childish and immature, was it even possible? "This is why the General always had me watching over you and reporting back to him. He couldn't trust you because you never proved that you could be an adult. As long as I can remember someone has had to bail you out of something you got yourself into, and you know who always took the heat for it, me; but I am done, Lucy. It's time for you to grow up and be responsible."

"Are you done, Lois?" Lucy asked with a fierceness Lois was used to hearing by now. Every time Lucy became defensive she would tear into Lois, the one person who actually had been there for her trough everything. "You aren't my mother, you never were and you never will be, so it's time for you to get off your high horse and accept the fact that I can and will make my own decisions and I won't be scared into anything by you or by dad."

"You know what, Lucy, I'm done. I don't know why I even bother worrying about you. You're just the same spoiled little brat you always were."

"Lois?" Clark asked as he saw Lois and the mood she was in when he and Pete arrived at the truck.

"Lois. You are the only person I can call. You're the only person I trust to call. I know you aren't going to drill me, sure you can be a little protective and uptight, but you are always there for me when I need you."

"Of course I am, I always will be. You're my sister."

"Is everything alright?" Pete asked, only catching some of what was going on with Lois and her sister.

"Yeah, Pete, it's fine, just sister stuff," Lois answered.

"Pete?" Lucy asked. "Who's Pete?"

"Clark's best friend," Lois answered her sister.

"Did Lucy call your dad?" Clark asked as Lois shook her head no.

"Look, Luce, I have to get going. I know you don't want to hear it, but I love you and I want what's best for you. Call me later?" Lois asked.

"I know you love me, Lo', and I love you too. I'll call you later, don't worry."

"Please think about coming back to the States. Ever since mom died you dad and I have only got each other," Lois said as she glanced at Clark who smiled warmly at her, "and now I've got Clark, but I would love for my sister to be here too. If you don't want to come back with dad then come stay with me, please?" Lois pleaded then paused for Lucy's response but her sister said nothing. The only sound there was was the occasional breathing noises coming from Lucy. "Okay, I love you," Lois stated then hung up her phone.

Clark watched Lois with a sympathetic look. "So?"

"I just want her to be okay and not hate me."

"She doesn't hate you," Clark said wrapping his arms around Lois protectively as Lois let her head rest against his chest.

"You're a good sister, and I bet your sister would say the same thing if she were here now," Pete offered after a minute of silence.

"Thanks," Lois smiled. "Both of you."

"That's what I'm here for, Lois. One save at a time," Clark smiled at Lois, quoting something she had said to him years ago. "Come on," Clark said leading Lois to the passenger side of the truck by the hand and opening the door for her as Pete climbed in the back. Clark walked around to the driver's side, got in the truck, started the engine and the three drove off.

"Marcus, what have you got for me?" Lionel demanded as he walked into the private investigator's small office and loosened his tie as he sat in the chair directly across from Marcus' desk. Marcus looked up from the papers he was scanning.

"Well," Marcus said slipping the papers into a file. He got up from his desk, walked to the office door glancing out into the hall, before turning back to Lionel and pulling the door closed as if he were nervous to be overheard. "Your son isn't dropping his suspicion of Senator Kent's boy."

"That's it?" Lionel asked touching his beard as he leaned forward toward Marcus who had taken his spot across the desk again. "Tell me something I don't know, Marcus. I'm not paying you for the obvious."

"Who said I was finished?" Marcus asked before he went on. "The girl-"

"Miss Lang?"

"Yes. She always seems uncertain when she and Lex converse. Like she could be swayed either way, depending on what she stands to gain."

"How noble," Lionel mocked.

"She strikes me as manipulative, wants everything but doesn't want to give anything. She may still be in love with the Kent boy, I can't really tell and I don't think she knows for certain either. As for Richard White, he wants out, but Lex is threatening him, holds things over his head. I saw White trying to talk to Lois and Clark at the carnival, but they won't listen. Don't trust him, but who could blame them? What has he done to prove himself to them?"

"So Richard White could potentially be allied with us," Lionel contemplated.

"He could."

"What about Lex's new employee, the assistant?"

"His name is Otis and that guy seems loyal to no end. He's unswayable. Lex's word is final to him."

"He's an idiot," Lionel stated in a cold tone that was full of disdain.

"Idiot or not, he's been Lex's eyes and ears. The idiot routine gets him a lot of information. Anything he sees or hears gets reported back to Lex immediately. Lex is keeping him close. I don't know why, but this Otis guy went to the 'Kent Farm' earlier today. When he went to Lex and told him something, I don't know what, but Lex seemed pretty interested."

"I see."

"Look, it's not my job to question things and I know I said I wouldn't, but in a case like this I can't help but ask. What is it about this Kent kid that's got everybody reeling over him?"

"That's something I can't say. All you need to know is that he's one of a kind," Lionel said standing up from his seat.

"One more thing," Marcus said standing up behind Lionel who was already half way across the room to the door. Lionel looked back with his eyebrows drawn together in a question. "It has nothing to do with Kent really, but Lex is obsessed with unmasking Superman. He talked about some kind of trap he's going to set up to capture an image of Superman's face so he can run it in the 'LuthorCorp' system, some sort of facial recognition scan. He swears he will know who that guy is."

Lionel nodded, "Thank you, Marcus."

"You're welcome," Marcus nodded in return as Lionel turned and left the office.

"There the two of you are," Martha smiled as Clark and Lois entered the Kent farmhouse through the front door. "I was wondering when you'd get back. Linda and A.C. are busy getting ready for the ball and I was beginning to wonder if you two would even make it back before it started," Martha said as Clark dropped his keys on the small table beside the door.

"We had to head over to the banquet hall to take care of some things and we dropped Pete off over at his dad's farm," Clark answered.

"Crap," Lois said glancing at her watch. "I'd better start getting ready for the ball, we have to be over there in half an hour and not all of us can do the 'whoosh' thingy. I honestly thought I would have a little more time to unwind. Next year things can't be planned so close together."

"Lois, sit for a few minutes," Clark commanded.

"I'm dating you, I'm not Shelby. Don't give me commands. Besides I don't have time to sit, I have to get my dress on, do my makeup and my hair. You aren't a girl, Clark, it takes a little more effort for us," Lois protested.

"Please, just do what I am asking. Sit," Clark commanded again.

"But-"

"Just do as he says, Lois," Martha said.

"You relax. I'll go get your dress out and I'll set up your things. It will take me a minute. I'll even 'whoosh' you upstairs so you don't lose the time walking up, okay?"

"You're best," Lois said kissing Clark's cheek and then she ran to the couch to relax if only for a moment.

Clark smiled at Lois then looked to his mother. "Can I get anything for you mom?"

"I'm fine sweetheart, thank you."

"Alright," Clark nodded and with a gust of wind he was gone from the room. Martha walked into the living room where Lois had gone to relax.

"Hey, Mrs. K," Lois watched Martha as she walked around the couch and took a seat opposite of Lois. "Thank you for your help today. I'm not sure how Clark and I would have pulled that off without you."

"I'm sure you would have managed, you had everything pretty much taken care of long before I offered any help. It was my pleasure to help you anyway. You're part of this family, Lois, and family goes out of their way to help each other. I would do anything I could to help you out," Martha gave a warm loving smile to Lois who smiled in return at the only mother figure she had ever really known.

"That means a lot," Lois nodded. Lois stopped when a sudden gust of wind blew by and left Clark standing in front of her.

"Everything is ready when you are," he said.

"Thank you," Lois said looking up at Clark.

"No problem," Clark said as he took Lois' hand and pulled her to her feet. Before Lois could make a comment Clark had swept her off her feet and had whooshed her away upstairs.

"A girl could get used to treatment like this," Lois commented as Clark smiled at her and gave her a sweet but simple kiss then set her down by the bed in his room where her dress was sitting. He then grabbed his tux from the back of the door.

"I'll leave you to get ready," Clark smiled.

"No peeking with your x-ray vision," Lois stated.

"Don't tempt me," Clark said as his eyes quickly swept over Lois.

"I have no idea where this brave bold version of Clark Kent comes from, but I like it," Lois said as she bit her bottom lip and took a step closer to Clark.

"You bring it out in me Miss Lane," Clark smiled even more as Lois wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned close as if she were about to kiss him. Clark's lips hover close to Lois' but never touched hers then suddenly Lois leaned back with a teasing smile.

"Do you have everything you need?"

"Yeah, tux, shoes, tie."

"Thanks God it's not a bowtie. You look sexier in a tie," Lois commented as she touched Clark's tie with one hand as her other hand rested on his chest.

"Do I now?" Clark asked as he leaned closer again.

"Go get ready, you're quicker than I am," Lois raised her eyebrows as she pushed Clark out of the room with the hand she had on his chest then shut the door.

"You're a tease Miss Lane," Clark stated as he smiled then walked into the washroom to get dressed.