Expectations

By NostalgiaKick <feli290412@gmail.com>

Rated G

Submitted May 2016

Summary: People rarely look below the surface.

Story Size: 468 words (3Kb as text)

Disclaimer: All recognisable characters, story lines etc. are property of DC Comics, December 3rd Productions and Warner Bros. I’m not making any money off this, etc. etc.

Author’s note: Set at the end of ‘Chi of Steel’, this is #32 in the At First Sight series.

This story is part of a series that includes “1. At First Sight,” “2. A Matter of Time,” “3. Evil Lurks,” “4. Invisible,” “5. Gratitude,” “6. Unprofessional Behaviour,” “7. But For the Grace of God,” “8. Vulnerable,” “9. Decisions,” “10. A Terrible Mistake,” “11. Facets,” “12. Terrified,” “13. A Remarkable Woman,” “14. The Aftermath of Illusion,” “15. Black, White and Shades of Grey,” “16. Tainted,” “17. Betrayal,” “18. Brothers,” “19. Saving the Enemy,” “20. Aching,” “21. Healing,” “22. Defending Myself,” “23. Euphoria,” “24. Family Ties,” “25. Two Steps Forward,” “26. Vigilante,” “27. Friendship,” “28. Life Or Death,” “29. Ramifications,” “30. Christmas Magic,” “31. Situational Ethics,” “32. Expectations,” “33. A Permanent Solution,” and “34. Success.”

***

People only see what they expect to see.

I didn’t see Lois in the guise of the young man that accosted us in the street, even though Jimmy had described her successful disguise when she uncovered that car theft ring just before I joined the Planet.

And I certainly didn’t expect the hooded thief to be Lin Chow, Chen’s quiet, almost mousy little sister.

I guess it works both ways.

***

When Lois told Perry that people only see what they want to see, I’m pretty sure my heart stopped for a moment.

Lois is keenly observant, adept at putting disparate pieces together to figure out what has been hidden, and incredibly tenacious. They’re all qualities I admire, and they’re what make her such a superb investigative reporter.

They’re also dangerous- at least to me.

One of these days, she’s going to make one of those intuitive leaps she’s so good at, and realise that Clark Kent and Superman are the same person. Actually, I’m surprised she hasn’t already done so.

It’s an interesting paradox. Lois is closer to me than anyone in the world with the possible exception of my parents, and certainly spends more time with me than anyone else. And I know I’m not always as careful as I should be when it comes to using my powers in the presence of other people. So you’d think that she’d be the one that was most likely to find out my secret.

But she hasn’t.

The only thing I can put it down to is that she doesn’t expect it. She doesn’t expect Superman to be the one working beside her. She doesn’t expect Superman to be the one bringing her cups of coffee and sharing pizza and a late night movie with her.

Part of me is grateful for that. If I can fool Lois while working side by side with her, with all the free time and days off we spend together, then the rest of the world doesn’t stand a chance. The thought of the rest of the world figuring out the connection between Clark Kent and Superman sometimes scares me rigid.

But not Lois.

No, not Lois. If there is ever to be any future for us- the kind of future that I want- then Lois has to know the truth. If she doesn’t work it out on her own, I will have to tell her.

Just not yet.

THE END

Table of Contents

Expectations