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It isn't as if they don't try.
Except when you're two reporters, one with another identity that involves trying to save the world, some things are easier said than done. That would include dating like so called normal couples.
Their first date actually goes off fairly well, and Lois would later joke that it gave them false hope.
Clark picked her up, on time even without having to use the superspeed, which, considering that Superman was needed about thirty minutes prior to when he was supposed to show up, it was a close call.
She looked beautiful in a knee length red dress and appreciated the matching colored roses he brought.
"Red," she said, pleased, breathing in the fragrant scent, "my favorite."
He would remember that ... well, he would when he stopped being distracted by her bright smile, which had his heart racing. No matter how many times he saw her, she always took his breath away, regardless of what she was wearing or doing.
Clark adjusted his tie, which suddenly felt a little tight, and offered his arm. "Shall we?"
"We shall," she agreed.
He made reservations at a small bistro within walking distance of her place - nice, but not too fancy, where they (read: he) would definitely feel out of place and awkward. All in all, it was wonderful night, one where he didn't have to disappear once, and when she kissed him after he dropped her off, he almost literally floated all the way home.
The only thought that was on his mind was how he couldn't wait to do it again.
That would take a while before it happened.
Fortunately, he did see her every day, but he couldn't deny that he liked seeing her in a non work setting, where their sole focus isn't about chasing after a bad guy or trying to push forward their career. As much as he loves seeing her in her element and blossoming at the Planet, he also liked when she was away from work, letting her guard down and letting him in. And he liked the way he was with her.
In a world where he struggled to fit in, with her, he could just .... be.
There weren't enough words to express to her how rare that was.
Their second official date, long after she found out and accepted his dual identity, was interrupted almost immediately.
The two of them were barely out the door, ready to go see a movie, when he heard the screams. Clark winced and turned to Lois apologetically.
"Lois-"
"Let me guess, you have to go?" To her credit, she didn't sound surprised, even if the light in her eyes dimmed slightly. Before he could apologize, she waved it off. "Go, save the day. I'll be here."
He did just that and after preventing an accident when a car's breaks stopped working, he somehow managed to return less than ten minutes later, solidly believing he was in the clear.
"Okay, we may miss the previews, but I think we can make it," he said cheerfully, the two of them heading to the theater.
Just as they standing in line for the tickets, there was more trouble.
Seeing the look on his face, Lois surmised, "Something tells me we aren't going to catch the main show either."
Clark winced. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," she said airily. "I get it."
"I'll be back-" He paused, trying to assess the issue. "I'll be back at some point?"
"If you come back tonight, I might have some hot chocolate waiting for you," she said coyly.
"Have I told you that you're amazing lately?" He said, knowing he had to go, but unable to leave, in awe of the woman in front of him.
"I could stand to hear it again."
"You're the best," he said.
"You're not so bad yourself." She grasped his shirt to pull him close and kissed his cheek. "I'll see you."
He certainly hoped so.
They were both disappointed. While the emergency he first had to leave for took a relatively short time, there were a couple more that popped up while he was handling it, each taking increasingly longer and the last of the bunch keeping him on site for well over an hour before everything was cleared.
By the time he was finished, he didn't have to look at a clock to know that it would be much too late and listening in, he could hear Lois's steady breathing indicating that she herself had realized that too and had turned in.
He tried not to feel too let down.
After all, there would be other nights.
Their third date went about the same way. He was able to stick around for ice cream and the start of a stroll in the park, but duty called shortly after.
For their fourth date, it was Lois's turn to cut it short when she got a message about a lead. One moment, they were laughing and in another, her phone went off, and she was frantically typing, whatever was on the screen getting her full attention.
"Oh, this is what we were waiting for," she said. "I think we can actually catch these guys-" Her expression was excited up till the moment when she realized what they were in the middle of and then she trailed off, looking at Clark.
"Clark, I know we were supposed to go to the museum ..."
"Where are we going instead?" he interrupted, with what he hoped was a warm understanding smile.
"Any chance you're up to chase a story?" she asked hopefully.
"I'm up to be wherever you are," he said honestly, pleased with the way it brought back her smile.
"Let's go then, Kent," she said, reporter face on. "We have a headline to bring home!"
"Right behind you," he said.
It didn't go anywhere, but it was fun anyway.
After that, he stopped counting. They were able to squeeze in a quick coffee or get dessert, but long dates felt like a dream, one that just wasn't within reach. Even though he knew that they were both busy, Clark worried that she would get tired of this. Lois never seemed really upset when he had to cancel or break plans and after the initial shock and anger at his lies, she had accepted his Superman persona wholeheartedly, in a way that he could have never imagined someone would.
But he couldn't help but fear that there was an expiration date to her patience.
"You know," Lois said, as they got hot dogs from the nearby food court, on their way to the mayor's press conference. "I think this is the closest thing to a meal we've shared in a while."
He smiled sheepishly. "Does this count as a date?"
She snorted. "At least I can't complain about the food."
"Yeah," he said wistfully. "I wish it could be more ..."
"Let's be real, Clark," Lois said frankly. "I'm more of a food cart girl than dinner at places with tablecloths."
"Sure, but I feel bad about ... cancelling so much. About letting you down."
She softened. "You don't let me down. And if I was upset, you would know it. I know what I signed up for." She shrugged. "Besides, you're not the only one who is busy ... I'm pretty sure a couple of dates were changed when I got a lead or ended early because I had to meet a source."
"I think if you keep a tally, I'm still mostly the one to blame," Clark said, embarrassed and keeping his voice low not to attract any unwanted attention.
"Lucky for you, I don't do that," she said, her lips curved into a teasing smile. She took his hand and squeezed it lightly. "Look, maybe we can't have traditional dates all the time but honestly? I would rather have this."
"Me too," Clark said, happily and relieved.
"Good."
"Good."
That night, they didn't manage to get together for dinner, but later, he was able to take her flying, the two of them disappearing upon the clouds, alone at last in the dark night, the city around them quiet.
"See, this?" Lois said, the bright smile he remembered from their first date back. "I'll take this over any formal dates any time. But I think-" Her cheeks reddened slightly, from the cold or something else, he didn't know- "I think I'm happy wherever I am with you."
"So am I," he said, grinning widely.
As their lips met, one thing Clark was certain of was that he was a lucky man.
And he was never going to forget that.