Who: Lois Lane What: Lois gets a story Where: the newspaper When: after the party but before midnight! Rating: low Status: Narrative | Complete
Human interest stories had never been Lois’ cup of tea. Give her an intense bank robbery or heated trial over the ins and outs of Grandma Nellie’s garden vegetable winners or the latest shop opening in town. It wasn’t that she didn’t see the merit in those stories, she did; knew they were needed not just for filler but to give the readers something to look forward to, some semblance of hope in a world that loved to showcase the gore and terror on it’s front page or as the leading story. She’d written her fair share of them since landing in Lawrence though and being regulated to the day by day developments of the small city was slowly driving her mad.
She’d accepted the piece on Rose’s center party specifically because Rose was a friend and she wanted to make the place look good, but the small article on the event and what services the youth of Lawrence would be able to find come Monday morning hadn’t taken her more than fifteen minutes to write. Considering she’d gotten to the office by eleven she was well under deadline for the article to make the Sunday presses and sent it off to the editor to give a once over before turning her attention to the few leads she’d been looking into for Amy..
A few internet searches and checked messages later and Lois was certain no one had heard or seen the vampire since his eventful first few weeks. She wasn’t sure that meant he’d been sent back by the Seal or not, but at least there weren’t anymore victims on the streets. Lois wouldn’t wish the violent deaths she’d seen his last set of victims endure on anyone, not even a Luthor. And while finding no trace on the vampire was a good thing, it had her clicking through the web and sighing over the lack of anything decent to sink her teeth into.
The last few members of the staff still milling around were heading out the door and Lois waved off their invites to join them for one last round of beer. Maybe it was time to call it a night, get out of the costume she was still wearing and catch an extra hour of sleep. Or maybe she’d be lucky enough to sneak in a bubble bath if Krypto wasn’t around.
“Tell me you’re not trying to pull an all-nighter, Sullivan.” It took Lois a moment to remember that her editor was referring to her, months later and she still wasn’t used to having Chloe’s name as her own at the office. Ever since her cousin had been pulled back to their own world, it stung a little whenever she saw the last name in print.
Lois shut down her computer and slid out from her desk, picking up her phone. “Leaving the same as you are, Chief.”
“You know I hate when you call me that.” His gruff answer reminded Lois of her father, and she couldn’t help but wonder about what he would be doing back home. Even if she’d return to the exact moment when she left it seemed she couldn’t stop worrying that the world did keep on going without her and how that would affect all those she’d left behind.
It wasn’t the time for such ruminations though, and she patted the man on his arm as they made their way to the elevator. “Which is the sole reason I keep it up.” There was only an amused snort in reply before the doors opened and a young woman nearly barreled into them as she exited the elevator.
“I need to talk to a reporter.” Lois quickly assessed her even as Max started in on how the paper was closed. Crisp, clean dress and the watch and handbag she was wore and carried weren’t knockoffs. Lois had a feeling the diamonds in her ears were also genuine. “It’s fine, Max, I’ve got a few minutes to spare.”
Max gave the woman a once over, patented paternal look of concern on his face as he looked between the two of them before he glanced back at Lois. “Call me when you leave.”
“Aye, aye, captain.” Lois mock saluted, offering the woman a reassuring smile as Max stepped into the elevator.
“Mixing up your rankings there, Sullivan,” he mused, and she grinned at him as the doors closed leaving her alone with the young woman and custodial staff that was still working.
“Lois La--Sullivan,” she introduced, mentally kicking herself for the near mistake. “Why don’t we head back into the office and we can discuss what you need a reporter for Miss...?”
“McCloud.” The woman gave her a once over, clearly unimpressed by the outfit she was wearing.
“Costume charity ball.” It took all of Lois’ inner strength to not roll her eyes. “I’m the only reporter still around so if you want to talk about whatever is on your mind we can, but if you would like to come back in the morning when there are others around feel free to do so because there is a bubble bath with my name on it that I’m more than happy to go enjoy that.” She really hoped this didn’t have to do with someone’s vegetables. If she had to write one more story on oversized squash before the new year...
Ms. McCloud shook her head. “No, it’s fine. As long as you’re willing to listen, that’s what I need. No one else seems to be willing to do that. Not the police. Not the government. Everyone just keeps pushing me to the side.” That peaked her interest, not used to anyone who came into the building wanting to talk about anything outside of the damn harvest festivals in the last few weeks.
Lois offered the woman a seat and pulled out her recorder from her purse, holding it up. “Do you mind?” At the woman’s agreement, she clicked it on, taking out her pad of paper to start jotting down notes.
An hour later and the conversation was finally coming to an end. Lois tried not to let her excitement show on her face as she jotted down the last few notes. It was hard to reign it all in, but so far this story was looking far better than anything else she’d looked into, even the pumpkin contest that had led to a hostage situation hadn’t been this juicy. Maybe it was the late hour or the ridiculous candy high she was currently coming down from, but the idea of looking into Ms. McCloud’s grandmother’s nursing home and the fraud with social security checks and patients that were dead still receiving checks for the center seemed like a helluva good time in Lois’ opinion. No it wasn’t a bank robbery or a trial or a serial killer on the loose, but it was something she could really sink her teeth into and investigate. The fact that the mayor’s brother was an investor in the nursing home was just icing on the cake.
Maybe there was something wrong with her.
She took the woman’s contact information, assuring her that she’d get back to her as soon as possible with any information she was able to dig up, while making sure Ms. McCloud made it safely back into the elevator. Lois nearly turned the computer back on to start searching when her phone rang and she rolled her eyes at her editor’s name lighting up her screen.
“I think I might have something front page worthy once I fish out all the details,” she started, pursing her lips in annoyance when he interrupted her.
“Don’t make me call Clark, Lois,” Max warned. Lois rolled her eyes at the threat, knowing he’d make good on it if she did try to stay any longer. “Get home, get some sleep, and you can fill me in on everything in the morning when the sun is finally back up.”
“I’m leaving now,” she assured, purse back in hand as she shut off the remaining lights. The elevator pinged alerting her of it’s arrival. “Hear that, chief? Getting into it now so I’m going to hang up and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Text me when you get home, Sullivan. The last thing I need is one of my top notch reporters going missing on the streets. And stop with the chief.”
“Will do, chief.” She laughed at his grumble before hanging up, unable to stop smiling as she started back toward the complex, already trying to piece together what she could of the story so far in her head. It was almost worth the lecture she knew she would be on the receiving end of if Clark was still awake.