fiyeraba au where they never met at shiz and so fiyero believes the wicked witch narrative. he becomes captain of the gale force and elphaba “captures” him (idk why, maybe he’s critically injured and shes healing him or something?) and they fall in love from there
how can you think fiyeraba is anything but wonderful when throughout like 90% of wicked for good fiyero looked like he was on the verge of a panic attack every goddamn second he wasnt with elphaba and she was in danger but the second he's safe with her at the end he looks as happy as he could ever be even though he just got turned into a fucking scarecrow like. yesterday
like. fucking look at him and hes so happy and the moment he starts to worry that she doesnt love him anymore he's TERRIFIED
Fiyero didn’t get in the way of Gelphie, Glinda did.
Fiyero isn’t the reason Gelphie couldn’t be together, Glinda was.
And it’s a tragedy, it really is, and it’s part of why Glinda’s character is so fascinating to me and I love her so much. But the amount of people who hate Fiyero simply because he’s a love interest who is male is crazy to me, especially when you consider that he represents to Elphaba what Glinda chose not to be for her.
Elphaba and Glinda will always love each other—which is part of why I’m so glad they added the “I love you” moment in the movie—but Fiyero chose her. And Glinda eventually chose her, too, but Fiyero did it first. And Elphaba loved him, too.
And that’s why even though no one gets a happy ending, Glinda gets her bittersweet ending alone, and Elphaba and Fiyero get theirs together.
thinking about Steve buying Jonathan a replacement camera for Nancy to give him vs Jonathan donating a sweater of Nancy's??? that she loved??? because he hated the color pink???????????
Author's note: Here is Chapter 3 (and Chapter 4 😉) of imgonnagetyouback! Sorry if it took a while, I was having a hard time writing Chapter 3. And so, as a compensation, I also wrote Chapter 4 heheng~~
💬 6 🔁 3 ❤️ 24 · Clois Multi-Chapter Fanfiction #1 · "imgonnagetyouback"
Author’s note: Here is chapter 2 of imgonnagetyouback! Since it
PS: the link above is the link of Chapter 2 where the link of Chapter 1 is already attached so you can find them easily :))
--
Chapter 3
The next morning, Lois Lane arrived at the Daily Planet five minutes early, a rarity that immediately made Clark suspicious.
Clark looked up from his desk just in time to see Lois breeze in, coffee in hand, hair slightly windswept, cheeks flushed from the cold. And right behind her, like a very well-timed shadow, was of course Chase Grant.
“Morning, Lane,” Chase said, matching her stride with a grin that was way too bright for this hour.
“Grant,” Lois responded with a half-glare, half-smirk. “If you’re going to tag along, at least walk quieter. You clomp like a Clydesdale.”
Chase blinked. “A… what?”
“Big horse. Big.” She gestured widely. “Feet. Stompy. Keep up,” she said rolling her eyes, like what she always does to me before Clark thought. He watched the exchange with a tightening jaw. That was his kind of banter with Lois — the insults with affection tucked between the syllables. The sparks hidden beneath sarcasm.
Now it was Chase who got that.
Not him.
Lois caught Clark’s stare and quickly looked away, cheeks tinging pink. Chase smirked because he noticed, his eyes flicking between them with sudden, quiet interest.
“Morning, Kent,” Chase said.
“Chase,” Clark responded neutrally.
Then Lois shoved a file against Chase’s chest. “Come on, Grant, we’ve got interviews.”
“We?” Clark repeated, standing, before he could stop himself.
Lois froze, so does Chase.
Clark blinked, willing himself not to sound like he was interrogating her. “I mean... usually Tess assigns partners for—”
“I volunteered,” Lois cut in. “It’s fine.”
Clark nodded, trying to look casual while internally he felt like someone had yanked his heart sideways. Chase’s eyebrows rose slightly, as if putting one more piece of the puzzle in place.
“Let’s go,” Lois muttered to Chase.
And they were off, walking side by side, bickering lightly all the way to the elevator, the familiar Lois rhythm, now with a different partner.
And Clark hated it.
--
Lois pushed open the door of the press venue and immediately groaned when Chase bumped her shoulder.
“That was intentional,” she accused.
“It was proximity,” Chase shot back. “Try having spatial awareness.”
“Try walking without leaning into people like some rom-com lead.”
“I don’t lean,” Chase said, leaning.
Lois shoved him, hard.
Chase laughed under his breath. “You always this violent with coworkers, Lane?”
“Only the ones who annoy me, Grant”
“Oh good. So I’m special.”
Lois rolled her eyes, but she wasn’t entirely annoyed.
And from outside the venue, Clark Kent, camera in hand for backup shots, saw it too. He swallowed. This was supposed to be his spot next to her. His shoulder she shoved, his jokes she batted away, his space she filled with irritation and warmth. But now she kept him at arm’s length.
Except when Chase was around, then she kept Chase close enough to shove.
Clark lowered the camera and looked away, that simmering inside him rising again, slow and unwanted.
---
“Group dinner. No excuses.” Chloe was unstoppable when she wanted to be, which was why Lois, Clark, and Jimmy soon found themselves at a cozy booth at their favorite Metropolis diner.
Lois was already on her second drink. Jimmy and Chloe were glowing, finally healing and happy. Clark sat across from Lois, trying not to notice how she avoided meeting his eyes.
Conversation flowed easily until Chloe, without meaning to, dropped a verbal bomb.
“So, remember our wedding day?”
Lois choked on her drink immediately.
Jimmy perked up. “Oh boy.”
Clark froze.
Chloe continued, oblivious. “It’s wild thinking about how everything happened at once like Lana coming back, the explosion, all that chaos—”
Lois stiffened. Clark’s shoulders tightened, the memory a flicker of pain.
“And Clark,” Chloe went on, smiling at him warmly, “you were dealing with so much. Lana returning, the break—”
“Chloe,” Clark cut in, his voice gentle but edged.
She blinked. “Oh. Sorry. I didn’t—”
“No, it’s fine,” Clark said quickly, trying to steady the air before it cracked Lois in half. “It’s just… that was a long time ago.”
Lois stared into her glass, expression unreadable.
Jimmy, noticing the situation decided to spice things up. Maybe someone would grab the opportunity to saym something, directly or indifectly. “But Lana was, like… the Lana. I mean, you must still—”
“No,” Clark said immediately, both Chloe and Jimmy surprised with the amount of confidence and surety of his response. Lois didn't show any reaction, she refused to be on that position again -- the one where she thought they're finally moving towards something past friendships. But still, she watched Clark.
Clark held her gaze, steady, sincere, careful. “Some things… they’re like old photographs. Important when you took them. But eventually you put them in a box, because they don’t match the life you’re living anymore.”
Clark wished so hard that Lois could pick up what he meant, that he wasn’t talking for himself, but that he was talking to her.
But she looked away, shrugging lightly, “Good for you, Clark,” was what she said, like a good friend would say. Let's see once she comes back though, she willed herself not to let her intrusive thoughts win.
He swallowed. She didn’t believe him, or didn’t want to, he thought.
Chloe mouthed sorry at Clark. Jimmy sipped his milkshake loudly.
And then Jimmy, sweet, oblivious Jimmy, struck again.
“So, Lois,” he said brightly, “who’s this Chase guy you’ve been hanging around with?” he ashed as Lois was taking a sip of her drink. This caused Lois to choke violently, coughing and nearly spilling her drink.
Clark instantly reached out, steadying her elbow. “Lois, you okay?”
She swatted him halfheartedly. “I’m fine! I'm fine guys,”
Jimmy blinked. “I didn’t know it was that serious.”
“It’s not!” Lois said, voice cracking like glass. “Not," cough "serious, or anything. He’s just… a coworker. A coworker who is new. And annoying. And tall. And—”
Chloe raised an eyebrow. “Tall?”
“Shut up.”
Clark looked down at his plate, jaw tight.
Lois cleared her throat, regaining her composure. “Chase is just a guy who happened to be on my flight. And now he’s here. That’s all.”
Clark didn’t miss how her eyes darted away when she said it.
Chase didn’t miss it either, because at that moment he was entering the diner, spotting them by accident, and pausing at the door.
He watched Lois laugh nervously at Jimmy’s teasing, watched Clark watching Lois like she was the only person in the room, watched Lois pretend she didn’t feel Clark’s gaze burning through her barriers.
And Chase’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
Ah, this is getting interesting, Chase thought, smirking, a plan in mind.
---
Lois stepped outside first, the night air cooling her flushed cheeks. Clark followed more slowly, clutching the leftover pie Chloe forced on him.
“Lois,” he called softly.
She turned, not meeting his eyes. “Clark… don’t. I’m tired.”
“I just wanted to say… you don’t have to avoid me.”
Lois stiffened. “I’m not avoiding you.”
He smiled sadly. “Lois, you haven’t called me Smallville except once by accident.”
She opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again.
“I just…” she exhaled slowly, “I don’t want to make anything more complicated than it already is.”
Clark stepped closer, carefully and respectfully, but close enough for her to feel the sincerity.
“It’s only complicated,” he said gently, “if we pretend we’re strangers.”
Her breath hitched.
Before Lois could reply, a voice cut in.
“Lane.”
Lois turned. Chase stood there, hands in pockets, expression unreadable but eyes sharp.
Clark stiffened.
Lois blinked. “Chase? What are you doing here?”
“Was picking up takeout.” His gaze lingered on her, then slid to Clark. “Didn’t expect to see you two… like this.”
Clark’s jaw tightened.
Lois forced a smile. “Oh uhm, we had dinner with our friends. We were just leaving actually," Lois clarified. And Clark hated how Lois had to clarify that to Chase.
Chase nodded slowly, a knowing edge in his gaze. “Right. Good night then.”
He walked off, but Clark caught the look on Chase’s face.
He recognized something now.
Something about Lois and Clark that she was trying very hard to hide.
And Clark realized with a sinking weight... that he was running out of time before Chase, the charming and confident Chase, figured out everything Clark had only just begun to admit to himself.
Lois shoved her hands in her pockets. “I’m heading home, Clark. See you tomorrow.”
He nodded, watching her walk away again.
Still slipping through his fingers.
Still calling him Clark.
Still not knowing that the photograph he boxed away…
…was because the picture he wanted now was of her.
Chapter 4
The bullpen had never felt so loud.
After two months of avoiding complicated feelings and even more complicated men, Lois Lane walked into the Daily Planet expecting a normal day. A sarcastic comment here, a spilled coffee there, mild existential dread sprinkled in between.
What she did not expect was Tess Mercer standing at the center of the newsroom like a redheaded thunderstorm.
“Lane, Kent, and Grant,” Tess barked. “My office. Now.”
Three heads snapped up at once, Lois freezing mid-sip, Clark straightening in his chair, and Chase closing his laptop with a grin sharp enough to slice tension.
Lois groaned silently. Here we go.
Tess didn’t wait for them to get comfortable before launching into the briefing.
“Metropolis has a new underground medical exchange. High-tech equipment, no traceable funds, and someone with serious resources backing it.” She gave Chase a look. “Your hospital connections might give us a lead. However—” she turned her gaze on Lois “—a source requested to speak only to a ‘couple.’ So two of you are going undercover, while the other one can try getting information from the other med personnels in the hospital," Tess finished.
Behind Lois, she felt the temperature spike. Clark stiffened. Chase perked up.
Tess continued, oblivious to the emotional minefield she’d just activated. “I don’t care which two of you pose as the couple. Choose quickly. And don’t destroy my newsroom in the process.”
She left the room without another word.
Three seconds of silence followed.
Then—
“I’ll do it,” Clark said.
“No way, Kent, I’m doing it,” Chase said at the exact same time.
Lois stared between them. “Oh goodness,” she muttered.
Clark crossed his arms. “I’ve known Lois for years. We already have a believable dynamic.”
Chase scoffed. “Sure, if the assignment calls for posing as estranged siblings,” he teased provokingly.
Lois nearly choked. Clark’s jaw tightened.
“And besides,” Chase continued breezily, “Lois and I have been getting close. We’ve worked together a lot recently. It makes sense.”
Clark’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve known her for two weeks.”
Chase smirked. “Quality over quantity, Kent.”
Lois interjected, “Hey, you two don’t have to fight—”
But Chase wasn’t done.
“And let’s be honest. Don’t you have a girlfriend somewhere? Wouldn’t she get jealous watching you pretend to be Lois’ boyfriend?”
The words hit Clark like a punch.
Lois felt it—saw the flicker of shock, then irritation, then something darker.
Clark stepped forward, voice low. “Chase. My personal life isn’t—”
“—anyone’s business?” Chase finished, tone deceptively light. “Funny, considering you make my business your business every time Lois and I talk.”
Lois winced. Okay. This is getting bad.
Clark’s voice sharpened. “If you think—”
“Hey!”
All three turned.
Oliver strode across the bullpen like he walked into bar brawls every day, which knowing Oliver, he probably did.
And he looked ridiculously handsome doing it.
---
Oliver raised a brow at the two men, each inches away from throwing a punch. “Did I interrupt a testosterone competition or is this a Planet team-building exercise?” he teased.
Before Clark or Chase could answer, Lois practically launched herself toward him.
“Oliver! Oh my goodness hi!” She threw her arms around him in a hug that was way more dramatic than necessary, "thank you came just right in time," she whispered before pulling away from him.
Oliver blinked. “Uh. Hello?”
Lois spun toward Clark and Chase, tightening her grip on Oliver’s arm like he was a flotation device. “You know what, boys? I think it’s best if Oliver and I go undercover. He can handle me as a girlfriend.”
Oliver, catching on instantly, smirked. “Well, she’s not wrong.”
Lois tugged him toward the hallway. “Great! Settled! Behave you two,” she said. Clark and Oliver looked at each other, Oliver smirked because the last few words uttered by Lois were exactly the same words she said t him and Clark the first time they met.
Once they were safely out of sight, Oliver burst into laughter.
“Handle you as a girlfriend?” he repeated. “Wow, you must’ve been desperate.”
Lois groaned. “Desperate doesn’t even begin to—ugh!” She dragged her hands through her hair. “They were about to duel or something. Clark was two seconds away from heat visioning Chase.” She said dramatically, Oliver smirked, if you only knew, he thought.
Oliver’s eyebrows shot up. “So Clark was jealous?”
“NO,” Lois said instantly, and far too defensively. “He was just… being Clark.”
Oliver gave her a knowing look. “Right. And I go to board meetings for the coffee.”
Lois glared. He raised his hands in surrender but couldn’t stop smiling.
“So,” he said, “wanna tell me why you’re avoiding letting either of them play pretend boyfriend?”
Lois sighed, letting the weight settle. “Because… it’s messy. The whole thing. Clark’s acting weird. Chase is acting weirder. And I’m… I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Oliver softened. “Lois. You don’t have to figure it out today. You just have to get through one undercover act without your life turning into a soap opera.”
Lois snorted. “With my luck? Impossible.”
Oliver chuckled and nudged her forward. “Come on, girlfriend. Let’s plan our date.”
---
Chase was the first to cut through the heavy silence. “Well,” he said with a low whistle, “that was dramatic.”
Clark didn’t respond. His eyes were still fixed on the hallway Lois and Oliver had vanished into, his jaw clenched.
Chase shoved his hands in his pockets. “You know she didn’t pick Oliver because she actually wanted him, right?”
Clark’s head snapped his way. “What are you talking about?”
Chase shrugged with infuriating calm. “She picked him because she didn’t want to deal with us.” He cocked his head. “Or rather… with you,” he teased.
Clark felt his pulse spike. “What exactly is that supposed to mean?”
“It means Lois Lane doesn’t run unless something’s chasing her,” Chase said, voice smoothing into something almost knowing. “Or someone.”
Clark stiffened, not trusting himself to respond.
Chase started to turn away, but Clark stepped forward, “Hold on.”
Chase stopped on his track, raising a brow.
“Lois mentioned you and her met on the plane,” Clark asked, struggling for neutrality. “How did that happen?”
A slow smile pulled at Chase’s mouth. “You really want to know?”
Clark didn’t look away. “Yes.”
Chase decided to start executing his plan, half lie and half truth is not bad he thought. Hhase leaned casually against a desk, like he had all the time in the world. “She sat beside me, and I tried saying hi. She brushed me off. Completely..." typicall Lois, Clark though. "...but then turbulence hit, she grabbed my arm, and—” he shrugged, “after that, she let me talk to her.”
Something in Clark tightened, jealousy prickling sharp and unwelcome. Chase watched it with interest.
“You know,” he continued lightly, “she kept insisting she didn’t want to talk, but her eyes said something different. She was… distracted. Like her mind was somewhere else. Or someone else.”
Clark swallowed. “Lois doesn’t get distracted.”
“With most people? No.” Chase pushed off the desk, stepping closer. “But she does when she’s trying not to think about someone she actually cares about.” Clark, whether he admits or not, hates that he's able to read Lois like that.
“And honestly,” Chase added with a small, provoking smirk, “a woman like Lois? She deserves someone who’s sure about her. Someone who actually knows what he wants.”
Clark’s hands curled into fists.
Chase kept going, tone deceptively casual. “She’s too extraordinary to wait around for a guy who can’t figure himself out.” His gaze flicked over Clark, evaluating, challenging. “If someone wasn’t sure about her? I’d say they’re about one step away from losing her.”
Clark’s heart thudded hard and uneven.
“And if there were someone who was sure about her…” Chase let the sentence hang, his smile widening just enough— “…well. He’d be smart to take his chance.”
Clark’s breath froze. He knew exactly what Chase was implying.
Chase gave a small, polite nod, like they’d just discussed the weather. “Anyway. Thought you’d want to know how we met.”
He took a few steps away, then paused and looked back over his shoulder.
“Just a piece of advice, Kent,” he said softly. “Feelings don’t stay unspoken forever. Someone always says them first.”
Then he left Clark standing alone, pulse pounding, the hallway where Lois disappeared suddenly feeling much farther away.
And for the first time… Clark wasn’t entirely sure Chase Grant wasn’t going to go after her.
How anyone doubts Fiyero and his love is just insane. The man walked through a tornado to find his green girl wife some fierce and loyal protection. Saved her AGAIN from the Gale Force. He took the time to EXPLICITLY SAY: “Protect HER”. Reaffirming to everyone present of his love for Elphaba and thus confirming his intention to die for her safety. Held a gun to he’s ex fiancé’s head to buy her time to escape. In that 5 minutes of screen time he does more for Elphaba than anyone else in both films.
J*ncy & ‘The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse’ [toxic communication patterns that predict divorce/relationship deterioration]
One of the most common things I hear from people who staunchly oppose Stancy getting back together is their assertion that "Steve and Nancy aren’t good for each other and have already proven that they don’t work as a couple”—a line that is constantly recycled to praise J*ncy, which they claim is the healthier relationship because Jonathan and Nancy “understand each other better” and interact in mature, productive ways.
To be quite frank, it’s genuinely concerning to see so many fans portraying J*ncy as this paragon of health and compatibility when you actually take the time to scrutinize their verbal interactions/behavioral patterns throughout the seasons. From there, it becomes glaringly obvious how Jonathan and Nancy exhibit prime examples of conflict-avoidant behavior and adopt passive-aggressive communication styles that fail to bring any true sense of resolution between them—a couple that consistently flees from internal conflict and avoids direct, honest communication with each other, bottling up their emotions and frustrations until they eventually explode and injure each other in the process.
Though this passive approach to conflict resolution may extend the longevity of a relationship (if we define “longevity” purely as a duration of time vs. a true reflection of the closeness between partners), it also fosters an environment in which sweeping problems under the rug is normalized rather than directly addressing them for the sake of strengthening a couple's bond. This never-ending cycle is then perpetuated, one where recurring issues become festering wounds that aren’t properly treated. The relationship is dragged out until everything that was good about it slowly corrodes over time. Resentment builds when partners no longer communicate and fail to address the root cause of their issues. What was once a genuine partnership gradually morphs into two people going through the motions without feeling any emotional attachment to each other—a relationship based on obligation and circumstance rather than love. Altogether, this attests to the perils of engaging in arguments without the intention of truly resolving problems, a toxic communication pattern that breeds emotional distance, misunderstanding, and underlying resentment. In contrast, maintaining an open dialogue allows partners a safe space to convey their struggles with emotional honesty, generating intimacy, appreciation, empathy, gratitude, and mutual respect between them.
From a sociological perspective, Jonathan and Nancy's relationship dynamic is very much a product of the environment they were born into. On the outside, Hawkins poses as this perfectly normal, peaceful town, but its unassuming appearance is a deceptive facade that conceals the ugly truths rotting at its core. Similarly, j*ncy are perceived as this “unstoppable power couple” with perfectly compatible values and aspirations as they cling to each other during times of crisis (“Everything between us is-” “Perfect!” / “You think I’m not happy?…Jonathan and I are fine! We’re good!”)…but they also refuse to acknowledge their trauma/the source of their recurring relationship issues, which leaves them stagnating in times of peace rather than healing and growing closer as a couple. Though their “shared trauma” bond may provide them with a momentary sense of comfort and connection, it also prevents them from being emotionally honest with themselves and truly confronting their problems. Regardless of their social class distinctions, both Nancy and Jonathan (and Steve) know firsthand what a loveless, stagnant relationship looks like from the models set by their parents. They maintain a critical view of their parents' marriages, and Nancy explicitly condemns being in a relationship that prioritizes keeping up pretenses of happiness/normalcy as a cover-up for deep, underlying issues. It's an emotionally sterile, obligatory kind of arrangement that can so easily culminate into the toxic, abusive environment that Jonathan associates with his childhood. Because of this, they both harbor fears about becoming their parents and having a relationship that fits the cultural milieu of the time i.e. conforming to a society that discourages authentic displays of "weakness" and vulnerability in order to preserve the illusion of normalcy/perfection/success/happiness. But, in spite of their adamance about breaking the toxic cycle, we saw this same kind of passive, conflict-avoidant behavior return in full force during s4, when time and distance only exposed the cracks in j*ncy's relationship:
"I just can't take that, you know? This huge knot of resentment would build like some cancer until eventually she hates me! And then, before you know it, we're just like my mom and dad! We're divorced, my kids hate me...yes, shit! I mean, it's all shit! The cycle never ends!"
"But what is your approach here? To just slow-motion break up with Nancy?" "I guess…”
It’s quite illuminating to hear Jonathan’s s4 cynical monologue about his future because the “nightmare cycle” he describes—a slow, inevitable relationship deterioration—is the kind of outcome commonly linked to couples that have poor conflict resolution skills. In this hypothetical scenario, he deprives himself of the agency to fix any problems that arise between him and Nancy, maintaining a passive, fatalistic attitude towards it all. This should come as no surprise when you look back on all of j*ncy’s past fights and recognize how they never truly resolve their underlying issues. Both of them lack the tools and communication skills to properly reconcile due to the poor example set by their parents, instead choosing to distance themselves and ignore their problems until the next crisis pushes them to cling to their shared trauma bond for comfort. At the end of s3, when Nancy conveys her anxieties about Jonathan moving away, he assuages her fears by telling her, "It's gonna be okay. As a wise man once said, we've got shared trauma." (“So what’s a little more?”) Once again, this kind of bond is romanticized, but it’s an incredibly passive, avoidant approach to dealing with insecurities. Rather than making a concentrated effort to solidify their bond by devising concrete plans to ensure that they remain close as a couple, they fall back on their traumatic experiences together and somehow expect that connection to be a stable enough foundation for their relationship.
But, as we saw in s4, that was not the case.
Jonathan’s fear of them becoming another divorce statistic shows his subconscious awareness that, with their established way of dealing with problems (i.e. sweeping them under the rug), they are doomed to become their parents. Both of them enable each other’s behavioral tendencies to suppress emotions, masochistically reveling in their shared guilt/trauma rather than choosing to confront it together for the sake of bettering themselves. This failure to address their emotional wounds will inevitably perpetuate the cycle of generational trauma (“we’re divorced, my kids hate me…it’s all shit!”) when Jonathan and Nancy don’t put in the effort to self-reflect together and refrain from taking the necessary steps towards healing and growth.
Such complacent behavior is a stark contrast to Steve’s speech in s4 “If we were meeting together for the first time right now part of me thinks we would’ve made it,” which I find particularly pertinent to this issue because, unlike Jonathan, Steve has undergone the grueling process of self-reflection and personal improvement. He’s proven he is more than willing to change and put in the work to maintain a healthy, supportive relationship. He cultivates hope and a sense of optimism because he recognizes he has the agency to be a better partner than he was before, identifying his character flaws and devoting himself to growing beyond them. Even before he underwent such a drastic character transformation he was still fully invested in the future of his and Nancy’s relationship; in s2 he conveys his potential plans to stay in Hawkins instead of going off to college in order to be close to her, actively including her in this decision-making process…whereas Jonathan outright lies to Nancy about applying to Emerson in s4 and completely excludes her from his plans for the future.
Jonathan presents this eventual relationship breakdown as something entirely out of his control, all because he hasn’t done the work of identifying the deep-seated, problematic patterns in their relationship and dedicated himself to fixing them alongside Nancy. Much like his broken-down car that he puts off repairing in s4, he avoids confronting their issues to delay an impending breakup. Both of them are stuck in this never-ending cycle of complacency and miscommunication, hoping to progress in life but unable to move forward together.
Speaking of their communication issues, I want to highlight a relevant psychological study that was conducted by Dr. John and Julie Gottman (known for their longitudinal research on couples/relationship stability), who have identified ‘The Four Horsemen’ of toxic communication patterns a.k.a. the most reliable predictors of divorce/relationship deterioration over decades. These kinds of behaviors erode trust and breed resentment between partners, illustrating just how significant a couple’s communication style is when it comes to resolving conflict:
Criticism: “verbally attacking personality or character rather than addressing behavior" (making “you” vs “I” statements ex: ‘you’re always too lazy to clean up!’ vs ‘I feel underappreciated when you don’t make the effort to help around the house.’)
Contempt: “attacking sense of self with an intent to insult or abuse” (superiority, sarcasm, eye-rolling, name-calling, etc)
Defensiveness: “victimizing yourself to ward off a perceived attack and reverse the blame” (refusing to take responsibility and counter-attacking)
Stonewalling: “withdrawing to avoid conflict and convey disapproval, distance, and separation” (shutting down/freezing/withdrawing from interactions)
I find this particular study crucial to dissecting Jonathan and Nancy’s relationship because so often do I come across fans who misconstrue their fights as “healthy” behavior because it shows that they “understand each other” more than her and Steve do and actually confront their problems/hold each other accountable. This assessment is concerning because it outright dismisses how toxic j*ncy’s communication styles are when both of them prey on each other’s deepest vulnerabilities and directly exploit them in their fights with each other; they know exactly where to hit each other where it hurts, and they target those specific soft spots in order to inflict the most damage. In that regard, I think people mistake Jonathan and Nancy’s awareness of each other’s backgrounds and insecurities as true empathy when, in reality, those fans conflate surface-level judgment with genuine understanding, proximity with intimacy, stagnation with stability.
Nancy and Jonathan even address this lack of understanding between them in s3 during what is objectively the worst of all their fights in the show: “Well then I guess we just don’t understand each other anymore.” “Yeah, I guess not.” Above all, it underscores how j*ncy don’t take the time and effort to truly empathize with each other, put each other first, and assume the other person’s position to see things from their point of view. Nancy explicitly confesses that she wasn’t thinking about him at all throughout her s3 investigation, and Jonathan’s actions clearly indicate he also wasn’t thinking about her, considering how he failed to stand up for her against their misogynistic bosses when it meant potentially jeopardizing his job security to provide for his family.
And so I have to laugh when I constantly see people claiming that this was a “good fight” for j*ncy…a realistic fight, yes, a complex and nuanced fight where both parties have the right to feel justified in their hurt, also yes, but “good”?
“Good fights” are verbal forms of communication that allow partners to convey their emotions/frustrations in an honest, productive manner for the sake of understanding each other better, working together to solve their problems, and developing tools to aid them in the future. J*ncy’s fight in s3 was a far cry from that—an antagonistic verbal assault where both of them invalidate each other’s feelings of hurt, mock each other’s backgrounds, capitalize on each other’s insecurities, and fail to address the root cause of their issues. A fight that they “resolve” when Nancy apologizes for calling him an asshole and Jonathan admits that Nancy was right about the case, but both parties refrain from acknowledging the grudges they hold towards each other’s character flaws and how they can improve their behavior to prevent future conflicts.
And this problem isn’t even something that can be reduced to one major fight between them...a single, isolated event. Jonathan and Nancy have consistently demonstrated unhealthy, unproductive approaches to conflict resolution with each other even before they were officially a couple, beginning from s1 and spanning all the way to the end of s4. Their toxic communication styles instigate this rapid escalation of conflict as they exchange pointed personal attacks that tarnish the other person’s dignity instead of upholding a mutual sense of respect. It’s a recurring theme, and it seems to stem from underlying feelings of resentment about their differences in worldview/background.
A core part of Nancy’s identity is her relentless pursuit of truth to uphold justice, help others, and, in doing so, change the world for the better. Jonathan, on the other hand, finds a deep sense of fulfillment in protecting his own family from the world because trying to change it is a futile endeavor in his eyes. Their priorities and worldviews are not in alignment. Because of this, misunderstandings inevitably arise when both of them fail to recognize each other’s motivations and feel hurt that the other person isn’t validating them/seeing things from their own perspective. Such dissonance then causes them to reflexively lash out and fixate on their different backgrounds to color their perceptions of each other. To Jonathan, Nancy’s optimism/sense of hopefulness about the world is viewed as naïveté, proof that she is far too privileged to understand the hardships of the real world. To Nancy, Jonathan’s cynicism/wariness towards others is viewed as a symptom of his victim mentality—the kind of trust issues and close-mindedness born out of a jaded childhood. J*ncy widen the rift between them by repeating this pattern of toxic, unsupportive communication, but when both are put in a life-or-death situation that bonds them and distracts them from their relationship issues once again, the unhealthy behavior is only reinforced. It’s a continuous loop of them ignoring their problems, holding grudges/distancing themselves, then waiting for the next crisis to bring them back together again…that is, until they eventually encounter the same problem as before, and the loop restarts.
Nancy: “He was supposed to be here for the break, and then he backed out at the last minute for some vague, mumbly Jonathan reason. And, to be honest, I’m not even that surprised because I’ve been feeling him pulling away lately. And I don't know if it's because we're 2,000 miles away or if he met someone new or what. And now I can't find out why because apparently he's blown up his family's house phone or something!” - [STONEWALLING] (Jonathan shutting down communication w/ Nancy to delay their breakup)
Jonathan (+ Argyle): "What was I supposed to do?" "Not lie!" "Not lie?" “Yeah!” “Not lie?” “Yeah!” “So I just tell her the truth?” “Yes!” “No!” - [STONEWALLING] (distancing himself and refusing to tell her the truth so he can avoid conflict)
Jonathan: “I just think it's kind of incredible...it’s incredible how you continue to convince yourself.” - [CONTEMPT] (derogatory comment intended to ridicule Nancy for her lack of self-awareness)
Jonathan: “I told you over and over again to drop this story, that it was a bad idea. But you refused. And now I’m screwed.” - [CRITICISM] (blaming her and claiming a sense of superiority over her)
Nancy: “It’s a summer job. Your life is hardly over.” - [DEFENSIVENESS] (invalidating his frustrations and diminishing his feelings of loss as an overreaction)
Jonathan: “I don’t live in a two-story house on Maple Street. My dad doesn’t earn six figures. Hell, he isn’t even around!” - [DEFENSIVENESS] (harboring resentment towards her privilege and establishing himself as the victim in this situation)
Nancy: “God, here comes the Oliver Twist routine.” - [CONTEMPT] (mocking him for his preoccupation with his financial background)
Jonathan: “Mortgage. College tuition. They’re real things, Nancy! Things that you don’t care about, only because you don’t have to.” - [CRITICISM/CONTEMPT] (resenting her for her privileged upbringing and derisively targeting her sense of dignity)
Nancy: “I didn’t realize I lived in a bubble!”
Jonathan: “Well, you do!” - [DEFENSIVENESS/CRITICISM] (more resentment for her sheltered background/lack of self-awareness)
Nancy: “I waited.”
Jonathan: “Yeah, for like only a month.” - [CRITICISM/CONTEMPT] (mocking Nancy's attempt at defending herself for "retreating" into a relationship with Steve)
Nancy: "I want [the lights] off." - [STONEWALLING] (coldly shutting down any further attempts at continuing the conversation)
Jonathan: “You should’ve thought about that before you talked to them. They’re assholes, okay? I get it. But it’s just some stupid story.”
Nancy: “Oh, it's stupid?”
Jonathan: "It's stupid to get fired over." -[CRITICISM] (implying that the work Nancy is doing is ‘stupid’ and not worth their time/invalidating the significance of a case Nancy feels passionate about by prioritizing his own job security)
Jonathan: “Well, I’m here now, aren’t I?”
Nancy: “Hallelujah!” - [CONTEMPT] (mocking Jonathan and conveying her feelings of resentment towards his absence)
Jonathan: “You want everything handed to you on a silver platter…What did you expect? That you would make star reporter in a month? Crack the big case?” - [CRITICISM/CONTEMPT] (more condescension and belittlement, diminishing her sense of value)
Nancy: “You sound just like them, you realize that right? Just like Bruce and those assholes.”
Jonathan: “Yeah, those assholes gave us jobs.” - [CRITICISM/DEFENSIVENESS] (Nancy comparing Jonathan to their asshole bosses + Jonathan defending said asshole bosses to discredit Nancy's feelings of hurt)
Nancy: “Is that what that was? That was humiliating. Humiliating!”
Jonathan: “Yeah, the real world sucks. Deal with it like the rest of us.” - [CONTEMPT] (completely dismissing her humiliation, belittling her for her naïveté while maintaining a condescending attitude and sense of superiority)
Nancy: “You don’t know what it’s like.”
Jonathan: “Neither do you.” - [DEFENSIVENESS] (unwillingness to empathize and see things from each other's perspectives)
Jonathan: “It’s 6 AM and, uh, I had a late night with Fagin and the gang, so...” - [CONTEMPT] (snarky remark in response to her ‘Oliver Twist routine’ comment, coldly attempting to end the conversation instead of making an effort to reconcile with her)
Nancy: “You know, I was actually starting to think you were okay. I was thinking, ‘Jonathan Byers...Maybe he’s not the pretentious creep everyone says he is.’ - [CRITICISM/CONTEMPT] (name-calling and escalating the conflict with a personal attack)
Jonathan: "Well, I was just starting to think you were okay. I was thinking ‘Nancy Wheeler...She’s not just another suburban girl who thinks she’s rebelling by doing exactly what every other suburban girl does until that phase passes, and she marries some boring one time jock who now works sales, and they live out a perfectly boring little life at the end of the cul-de-sac exactly like their parents, who they thought were so depressing but now, hey, they get it." - [CRITICISM/CONTEMPT] (using the insecurities that she conveyed to him a scene prior as ammunition to hurt her back)
I bring all of these up not to unfairly denigrate j*ncy as a couple, but to illustrate just how entrenched certain communication/behavioral patterns can become when no conscious attempt is made to address the underlying issues in a relationship. It is possible to break the cycle of toxic habits and overcome these relationship pitfalls, but it requires self-awareness and a willingness to change. Both parties must fully devote themselves to unlearning their maladaptive behaviors and unhealthy defense mechanisms for the sake of growing closer as a couple. This involves therapeutic guidance, constant self-reflection, and commitment to cultivating a stronger relationship/improving oneself to be a better partner. The problem is that, above all else, the relationship needs to be prioritized…and both Jonathan and Nancy haven’t done that in their lives. There are no shortcuts to true behavioral change when it’s an ongoing, nonlinear process that takes time, energy, mutual effort, and proactivity. Even more so in the case of Jonathan and Nancy, who have experienced deep emotional trauma at such an early stage in life and were raised in an environment that encouraged emotional suppression. Those two factors alone make tackling their problems as a couple/as individuals that much more difficult.
And J*ncy’s underlying issues are even harder to fix because they boil down to the fundamental, ideological divide between them…which, more often than not, causes them to fall back on superficial stereotypes and prejudices about the other person instead of trying to empathize with them during their fights. They don’t prioritize each other and, as a result, don’t take the time to truly understand each other. They are on opposing teams when they attack each other, struggling to find common ground because of their conflicting worldviews/fixation on their social class distinctions.
Out of all the toxic communication patterns mentioned before, contempt is the number one predictor of divorce for couples because of the pernicious way it erodes trust and respect between partners over time. Knowing this, it’s concerning (but also unsurprising) to see how often contempt plays a role in J*ncy’s fights as they constantly mock and belittle each other while playing on each other’s insecurities. And you can see how a lack of respect for Nancy as a partner/as a person manifests itself in Jonathan’s actions in s4 when he doesn't include her in his decision-making process and continues to lie to her about his plans for the future (“She’d just throw her dreams out the window to come out here and be with me!”). Though he frames it as a selfless, noble act, it doesn’t disguise the fact that he ultimately has no faith in her ability to overcome her stereotype and doesn’t trust her judgment when it comes to choosing between her career and her relationship. In this situation, Nancy’s caring, selfless nature is seen as a weakness because it somehow undermines her sense of ambition/the strength of her convictions—according to Jonathan, she is the type of person who will drop everything and discard all of her dreams/plans for the future to follow her boyfriend (does that sound like Nancy to you??). Despite how much she’s grown as a fiercely independent, driven individual who doesn’t let other people hold her back, deep down Jonathan still perceives Nancy as this naive suburban girl who doesn’t have the backbone to truly be “herself.” She will passively let life’s adversity derail all of her career aspirations, choosing not to pursue the things she wants to pursue and, instead, retreat into her relationship (just like how she “retreated” back to Steve at the end of s1…evidently he still holds a grudge about that 🤷🏻♀️).
Jonathan’s compulsive urge to shut down communication with Nancy in s4 is the kind of behavior that can be traced back to their conversation about photography in s1 when he confesses that "[he'd] rather observe people than, you know...” “Talk to them?” The way he understands and relates to others inherently requires distance/detachment. He harbors this fear of trust and intimacy because he doesn’t want to get too close to the situation, close enough to expose himself and reveal his own vulnerabilities, instead choosing to hide behind his camera i.e. his safe, protective barrier from the real world. Because of his disillusionment with the world that stems from a traumatic childhood, he likes to think he has this all-knowing, unbiased, rational perspective on people but, in reality, he’s only making surface-level assumptions about them. His cynicism is just as limiting as Nancy's "naïveté", as he projects his own feelings/prejudices onto other people and lets his mistrust cloud his judgment. Such insular, black-and-white thinking then causes him to catastrophize about his future with Nancy in s4. He’s singlehandedly convinced himself that they are doomed to become their parents rather than recognizing how certain compromises can be made that allow both of them to have a future together and still accomplish what they want out of life. He chooses to shut down communication between them and swallow down his fears instead of actually talking to her about them. Considering how conflict-avoidant and emotionally suppressive both Nancy and Jonathan are, it is easy to see how Jonathan’s indirect form of communication and failure to confront his problems are detrimental to Nancy’s growth/healing journey. Because of her own emotional baggage, she would greatly benefit from having a supportive partner who is direct in his communication, honest and transparent about his feelings, and, consequently, inspires her to be the same…
Enter Steve.
Steve, who consistently goes out of his way to find Nancy and apologize to her when he messes up, hoping to reconcile by changing his behavior instead of sweeping their problems under the rug. Whose directness culminates in his s4 love confession as he bares his soul to her and lays his feelings out on the line despite having his heart shattered before…the same kind of courage he displayed when he chose to risk his life by reentering her world back in s1, a dangerous world filled with monsters and supernatural forces, all because he wanted to be by her side to protect her. Who relinquishes so many of the things he once held dear in his life (his status, his reputation, his friends, his worldview) but doesn’t see it as a great sacrifice because his love for Nancy inspires him to embrace the best version of himself. Who shows up for her in s4 when she’s dealing with her unresolved trauma all alone, both physically and emotionally present for her. Who expands Nancy's support system by connecting her with friends that look out for her, a remedy to her feelings of isolation from losing her best friend and being in a relationship with a self-proclaimed misanthrope. Who shows his gratitude/appreciation for Nancy by thanking her for the “proper thump” that completely changed the trajectory of his life.
He's the kind of person who takes accountability for his actions, owns up to his mistakes, and dedicates himself to fixing them. Even after their biggest fight in s2, Steve is willing to set his anger, hurt, and pride aside because he loves her and wants to put in the effort to reconcile with her. He isn’t satisfied with letting their problems fester and allowing grudges/grievances to create distance between them. And the way Steve selflessly lets her go by encouraging her to be with Jonathan shows that, above all, he wants Nancy to be happy.
Self-discovery, self-growth, and vulnerability are all written into the DNA of Stancy's relationship, as two people who constantly surprise each other, challenge each other to explore their own identities, and feel drawn towards each other in spite of the many people who discourage that connection. Their dynamic is a perfect metaphor for forging your own unique identity even when the world bombards you with oppressive ideas about who you should be and what you should feel. Their past sources of conflict ultimately boil down to these internal struggles/questions of identity: Nancy, with her struggle to discover her own voice as she copes with her guilt/trauma by suppressing her emotions/keeping up pretenses of normalcy; Steve, with his personal growth journey as he learns to accept himself and redefine his sense of value/worth/identity. The reason Steve and Nancy fit so well together in s4 is because, once they’ve reunited after spending so much time apart establishing their own separate identities, you realize that the "bones" of their relationship were not entirely flawed. There is no contempt between them, no lingering resentment, no sense of judgment about the other person's worldview/background. No recurring tendencies to inflict damage on each other through targeted personal attacks.
On the contrary, teasing is an essential part of Steve and Nancy's love language, a playful, humorous form of communication that has proven to be an effective buffer against stress for couples, fostering better problem-solving skills and emotional intimacy (“You almost shot me with that one.” “You almost deserved it.”). They repeatedly engage in light-hearted interactions that encourage jokes and laughter between them, interactions that allow them to be young/have fun together (the horror!) instead of being bogged down by the heaviness of the real world. When Nancy calls Steve an “idiot,” she means it with the utmost fondness, a term of endearment reserved for when he is being unabashedly himself around her—silly and earnest and caring vs the cool popular jock/douchebag-bully people say he is. When Steve teases her about her studious, goody two shoes reputation, he regards her with genuine affection and respect. This is because he recognizes the ways in which she outright defies that label, admiring her bold, adventurous side, her genuine compassion and empathy that negate others' perceptions of her as this cold, privileged princess who’s a stickler for rules and propriety. Both of them see each other as their honest, authentic selves, in direct opposition to the way society tells them they’re supposed to see each other. Both acknowledge each other’s stereotypes with a shared sense of humor, maintaining this unspoken awareness that they are more than what other people say they are. Their mutual respect is displayed in the way that they defend each other from other people's criticism (“[She’s] not really [a priss].” “He’s actually a good guy…he’s not like that at all. He was just being protective.” “He’s actually grown up quite a bit.”) They perform acts of service for each other that demonstrate their love and devotion (“But Wheeler, right there, she didn’t waste a second. Not one second. She just dove right in...that was as unambiguous a sign of true love," Nancy picking out the cobwebs in Steve’s hair, bandaging his wound and expressing concern over him, Steve saving her from Billy in s3, promising to keep the kids safe in s2, going back to protect her from the demogorgon in s1, etc). They validate each other’s perspectives and create a safe, nurturing space to talk about feelings and dreams (“That sounds…nice.” “Yeah?” “Yeah.”) They bond over their shared values/optimism for the future—this desire to broaden their horizons outside of Hawkins while dedicating themselves to helping others and maintaining an unwavering belief that the world can be changed for the better.
People love to harp on about Steve and Nancy’s supposed incompatibility as a couple when, in reality, a future together is very much possible due to the healthy, supportive dynamic that they've cultivated after maturing as individuals. A relationship built on trust, hope, and mutual respect. Any problems that they encounter in the future can be overcome because they work alongside each other as a unified team and share the same optimistic outlook; there is empathy and adaptability, vulnerability and understanding, a willingness to change and grow.
A commitment to seeing each other exactly as they are, without all their defenses, and cherishing that intimacy...rather than using those vulnerabilities as ammunition to hurt each other.
Author’s note: Here is chapter 2 of imgonnagetyouback! Since it may be hard for you to find chapter 1 on my page, here is its link:
💬 4 🔁 8 ❤️ 25 · Clois Multi-Chapter Fanfiction #1 ·
“imgonnagetyouback”
Author’s note: As promised, here’s Chapter 1 of the prompt I
PS: idk how to post a story in ao3 so I will use tumblr as my primary medium of posting. I hope you guys like this and let me know your thoughts :))
—
Chapter 2
The bullpen was still buzzing after Chase Grant’s dramatic entrance, but Lois Lane heard none of it. Her ears were ringing too loudly with one word, moron!
Chase gave her a knowing little nod, the kind that translated to, relax, I’m not going to spill your in-flight confessions to the entire newsroom, but she didn’t trust that expression. No, not for a second.
Tess scanned the room then said, “Since Mr. Grant is new to Metropolis reporting, I want one of our senior staff to bring him up to speed. Show him the ropes, help him adjust to our workflow.”
Clark, the ever-righteous Clark Kent, took an instinctive half-step forward, but before he could open his mouth, Lois’ voice cut through the room, “I’ll do it.”
Clark froze mid-breath. “You… will?” The shock in his tone was an understatement, he was dumbfounded.
Dozens of heads swiveled toward her. Chase blinked, eyebrows raised, pleasantly surprised. Tess didn’t even try to mask her shock.
“Well, then” Tess said after she recovered from the shock, “that’s settled.”
Lois plastered on her brightest, fakest smile. “Welcome to the Planet, Grant.”
Chase grinned. “Looking forward to it, Lane.”
Clark stared at her like he was trying to solve a calculus problem. “Lois, are you sure? I mean, it doesn’t have to be—”
“It’s fine, Clark,” she said, pointedly not calling him Smallville. “Totally fine. Perfectly fine.”
Chase, unfortunately, picked up on the oddity immediately.
“Clark?” he repeated, glancing between them. “That what you call him now?” he teased.
Lois stiffened. Clark blinked, confused. And that was Lois’ cue.
“We’re leaving,” she barked, grabbing Chase by the elbow and dragging him toward the conference room, “Orientation time. Let’s go. Chop chop Grant!”
Chase followed, amused. Clark watched them go, jaw tightening after hearing that last familiar phrase Lois would always utter to Clark.
When the door shut behind them, Lois spun around, “Listen very carefully,” to which Chase raised both hands. “Should I be scared?”
“Yes,” she said flatly. “If you say one thing — I mean ONE — about the plane, I swear I will bury you under the archives room where even the cockroaches don’t go.”
Chase chuckled. “Relax, Lois. I’m not going to mention your metaphorical farm boy.”
“Good,” was what Lois only said.
He leaned against the table, he just can't pass the opportunity to tease one Lois Lane, “Though you should know, I didn’t orchestrate this.”
“Oh please. You expect me to believe you just happened to show up in my newsroom?”
Shrugging, Chase answered “I applied for the job months ago. Tess called me two days ago with an opening. You being here is a bonus.” He gave her that infuriatingly smooth smile again. “And I didn’t even know your last name.”
Lois blinked.
"You didn’t?”
“Nope. You introduced yourself as Lois. No Lane. No Daily Planet. No Pulitzer-candidate aura.”
She swallowed, now feeling slightly stupid. “Oh.”
“But now,” Chase said, “things make a lot more sense.”
Lois folded her arms. “Nothing from the plane leaves this room.”
“Scout’s honor.”
“You were never a scout.”
“You don’t know that.”
She groaned.
---
Couple days had passed and Clark noticed immediately.
Because Lois Lane had always called him Smallville.
In irritation. In fondness. In habit. In everything in between.
But now? It's always, “Clark, hand me that file.” or “Clark, we’re late.”
or “Clark, not now.”
Every time she said his first name, she flinched, subtly, but enough for Clark to see it. Of course he would see it, he knows her.
And every damn time Lois calls her Clark [and not the nickname he once hated but grew fond of being called by one Lois Lane], Chase was within a ten-foot radius.
Clark didn’t know why, but that pattern sank its claws into him more than he wanted to admit.
Chase, meanwhile, took to the bullpen like he'd been born in it. He was charming, fast-thinking, and irritatingly good at making Lois roll her eyes, just like what Clark has been good at doing for years.
“Seriously, Grant?” Lois said one afternoon, snatching a draft from his hands. “You spell-check with your eyes closed?”
“They’re beautiful eyes, though,” Chase said with a grin.
“Not relevant,” she shot back.
Clark’s jaw tightened from his desk.
Because that was his dynamic with Lois.
The bickering, the sparks disguised as arguments, that belonged to them!
He tried not to watch but he failed. Whenever Lois pretended not to hear something Chase said, whenever she stifled a smile, whenever she nudged Chase with the same exasperated shove she used to give him…
Clark felt it.
A slow simmering burn.
And then there was the coffee machine incident. Clark approached the machine just as Lois and Chase were already there. Chase held two cups.
“Black, two sugars?” he asked Lois.
“That’s Clark’s order,” she snapped, a little too fast.
Clark’s heart stuttered.
Chase blinked. “Oh, my bad.”
Lois grabbed her own cup and muttered, “I take mine however I want to take mine.”
Clark’s lips quirked. “That so?”
She glared at him, cheeks pink. “Don’t.”
Clark took a sip of his coffee. “Didn’t say anything.”
But his eyes said everything.
Chase looked between the two of them and smirked and Clark so hated that smirk.
---
Clark Kent prided himself on being calm under pressure. Alien invasions? Manageable. City-wide disasters? Red and Blue Blur saves the day. Two reporters bantering over coffee? Normally harmless.
But Lois Lane avoiding him like he was made of kryptonite dust?
Plus another guy getting under her skin the same way he used to That was, new, unwelcome, and honestly, kind of torture.
Clark watched Lois from his desk as she leaned over Chase’s shoulder, pointing sharply at a paragraph on his screen.
“No, Grant, burying the lede isn’t a stylistic choice. It’s a crime.”
Chase chuckled. “You say that like you’ve never done it.”
“I don’t do crimes. I expose them.”
Clark smirked. Always has the last words, he thought. He tried to refocus on his article, but his eyes kept drifting back to them. But if he be honest, that’s what irritated him the most, how natural Lois' and Chase's rhythm was. Tsk, their names being mentioned together do not even sound pleasing, he pettily said in his mind.
But he recognized it. That was their rhythm. Clark and Lois, Lois and Clark. From before everything got complicated. Before the wedding. Before Lana. Before the hurt. Before Lois left for Star City to accompany Jimmy.
He remembered the parking lot conversation before Chloe’s wedding, the way she’d looked at him, cautious but open, the way she let him in without realizing she was doing it.
And then he’d messed it up. He. Had. Just. To. Mess. It. Up.
He’d broken something he didn’t even know they were building.
And now, he's watching Lois, laughing lightly at something Chase said, laughing in a way she hadn’t laughed at Clark in weeks.
And there it was again, that simmering inside him. He refused to call it jealousy. Because jealousy implied Lois belonged to him. She didn’t. Not then, not now, but he wouldn't want it to be not forever.
But the feeling was still there. A knot in his stomach every time Chase made her smile and a pressure in his chest whenever Lois called him “Clark” instead of “Smallville.”
He missed that nickname more than he’d ever admit. Smallville meant he mattered to her in a way no one else did.
Now she wouldn’t even say it in front of Chase. Clark wasn’t stupid. He noticed the pattern instantly.
Lois was hiding something. Something that had to do with that plane. Something that made her stiffen every time Chase was around him. Something Clark wasn’t part of. And he hated that most of all.
The bullpen had gone silent. Chase had left. The night crew had clocked out. It was finally just the two of them.
Lois typed furiously, pretending she didn’t notice Clark walking toward her desk with that determined stride she recognized too well.
“Lois?”
She stiffened. “What is it Clark?” she asked, without lifting her eyes to look at him.
Even her voice had walls now, he lamented.
Clark winced but pushed on. “We need to talk.”
“No, we don’t.”
“But we do,” he said, gesturing toward the empty room. “It’s quiet. No distractions," a pause, "No Chase," he uttered quietly.
Clark caught how Lois’ eyes twitched at the name. She sighed and stood abruptly, grabbing her coat, “Five minutes. That’s all you get.”
They walked to the far windows overlooking the city’s glow, neutral ground, the unspoken Lois-and-Clark negotiating table.
Clark exhaled. “How did you two meet? You and Chase,” he started.
Lois blinked at the unexpected question. “Seriously?”
“Lois, he knew you. Before he walked in here. Before Tess introduced him. And you’ve been… weird around him... and me. So I just want to know what happened.”
Lois rubbed her temple with a sigh. “He was just bothering me on the plane, okay? That’s it.”
“Bothering you?”
“That’s all you need to know.” Too fast. Too sharp. A dead giveaway.
Clark studied her, concern tightening his brow. “Lois, if he made you uncomfortable—”
“He didn’t,” she cut in quickly. “He was just, talkative,” then she forced a dismissive wave. “End of story.”
Clark didn’t buy it for a second. But he knew Lois. He knew that if he pushed, she’d bolt. Hence he shifted, eyes softening.
“Lois… about Chloe’s wedding—”
“Nope.” She stuck a finger out immediately, practically stabbing the air. “We’re not doing this.”
“We need to talk about it.”
“No we don’t.”
“Lois.”
She froze, jaw tight, bracing herself.
Clark lowered his voice. “You left to attend Jimmy. And when you were there, you never called me. I had to get updates from Oliver. And when you came back… everything was different. And then Lana—”
“Clark,” Lois cut in fast, louder this time, “I’m sorry.”
He blinked. “What?”
“For your—” she made a vague gesture between him and the air around them, “breakup. Again. For the thousandth time. Chloe told me what happened.” Deep inside, Lois knew she needed to cut off whatever Clark would've to say about Lana because she does not trust herself and she doesn't trust her lacrimal glands in not producing tears with whatever she would've heard from Clark.
Clark’s stomach knotted. Lois offered a small, sympathetic smile, the kind she reserved for real hurt. “Hey… I know it sucked when Lana came back and then things fell apart. But you’ll be okay. You guys always find your way back.”
Clark’s heart dropped, “No, Lois—”
She laughed suddenly and punched his arm in that teasing, familiar way of hers. “That’s what you thought before, Smallville.” It was too late when Lois realized the words that came out from her mouth.
The nickname slipped out so naturally she didn’t even catch it. But Clark did, for the first time in a couple of weeks, she called him Smallville.
His breath hitched. A smile, nvoluntary, warm, and hopeful tugged at the corner of his mouth. Lois froze when she saw it, gulping down the lump in her throat.
Then rolled her eyes. “See? There you go. Smiling again. Just be patient.”
Patience. The worst possible advice for the wrong situation.
Because she didn’t understand. She didn’t realize. She still thought Lana was the reason behind his sadness.
When the truth was standing right in front of him, refusing to meet his eyes.
Clark opened his mouth. “Lois, that’s not what I—”
But she bulldozed right over him again, stepping forward without even realizing it. The general's advice kicking in, always have the upper hand.
“And seriously, Clark, thank you,” Her voice softened, all teasing gone, “for saving Chloe. For being there when it mattered most. I never got to tell you that.”
She was close now, close enough to hug him. Her hand twitched at her side, like her body moved instinctively toward him.
Clark held still, breath catching. But Lois stopped abruptly, something flickering in her eyes. A sudden, sharp memory of the way his smile a moment ago had twisted something deep in her chest.
Instead of the hug she clearly almost gave, she smiled at him, lifted her hand and just rubbed his arm gently. A ghost of contact. A safe distance.
“Really,” she whispered. “Thank you.”
Clark swallowed, overwhelmed, “You don’t have to thank me for that.”
“I do.” She stepped back, wall sliding right back into place. “Anyways… it’s late. I should head home.”
He nodded, even though he hated watching her slip away again. Slip, goodness he hated that word.
Lois walked toward the exit, pushing the glass door open. Clark lingered behind, hands in his pockets, mind spinning.
But then, Lois stopped in the doorway. Clark saw her freeze, shoulders tensing. Then he saw why, Oliver Queen stood waiting just outside the bullpen. Hand in pocket, suit immaculate, smiling at Lois.
Clark’s chest tightened as Lois stepped out to meet him. Oliver greeted Clark and he greeted back. He knew the two were friends regardless of their history.
The glass door shut between them, Lois’s silhouette framed beside Oliver’s as they walked down the hallway together.
i'm thinking; Fiyero probably became some sort of martyr in the eyes of the ozians, right? Like, it would make more sense that once Morrible gets word of what he did and how the guards handled it she decided to make up a lie that Elphaba k¡lled him rather than announce that the beloved and respected prince/captain of the guard decided of his own mind to abandon THE Glinda The Good and his duty to the people and The Wizard to be with the witch. His death is much more beneficial to the wizard and Morrible's plans if they can use it to further their agenda even more.
The idea that even Fiyero's most noble sacrifice, his bravest, purest, biggest act of love for Elphaba could be twisted and turned into yet another thing that adds fuel to the fire of the ozians' hate for Elphaba... I'm not ok
And they probably would make up something so vile too, like claiming that the witch was obsessed with Fiyero so she put a spell on him and when he resisted it she killed him because if she couldn't have him no one else would or something like that omfg I'm making myself sick
someone in the fiyeraba discord said they think that fiyer-crow has his stupid little hat because the other guards put it on him to mock his love and devotion to Elphaba, and oh god it makes sense because i don't think he ever had a hat before he transformed so like where the fuck did it come from and dear god i'm going to be SIIIIIIIICK
Can I just say about the Regina x Rodrick ship, I’m so happy that most of the fandom seems to collectively agree that Rodrick likes it when Regina is mean to him.
He’s not trying to “fix her.” There’s no Taming of the Shrew bullshit. This is basically him:
Author’s note: As promised, here’s Chapter 1 of the prompt I posted in X: What if, when Lois returned from Star City, tagging along with her was a reporter she met on Star City who just loves to tease & challenge Lois? Clark saw the familiar banter between Lois and this new guy. The question is, why does he feel threatened?
PS: idk how to post a story in ao3 so I will use tumblr as my primary medium of posting. I hope you guys like this and ket me know your thoughts :))
—
Chapter 1
Two months. That’s how long it had been since Lois Lane left Metropolis, since she packed her bags, tucked away her pride, and flew to Star City under the guise of helping a wounded friend. In truth, she had been helping herself, or trying to.
Now, seated by the oval window of a commercial flight cruising above the clouds, Lois wasn’t sure if she’d done much healing at all.
She could’ve accepted Oliver’s offer for a private jet, but something about being alone with her thoughts among ordinary people sounded better. Less suffocating. No pitying glances. No reminders of what she’d left behind.
Her fingers toyed with the boarding pass tucked into the seat pocket. The engine hummed steadily beneath her boots, the soft chatter of passengers fading into white noise. She leaned back, closed her eyes. That’s when someone dropped into the seat beside her.
“Guess this one’s mine,” came a smooth, amused voice.
Lois opened her eyes.
The man sliding into the seat was the kind of man that made even seasoned reporters pause mid-sentence. Tall, broad-shouldered, and sculpted like he’d been carved out of some smug Grecian marble. His dark hair fell in casual waves, his jaw sharp enough to make headlines of its own. The sleeves of his navy shirt clung to his forearms in a way that suggested he didn’t need a gym membership to keep that build.
Great, Lois thought dryly. Just what I need flying coach with a walking Calvin Klein ad.
He smiled at her, confident, easygoing, the kind of smile that could charm an entire press room. “Chase,” he said, offering a hand.
“Lois,” she replied, shaking it briefly before returning her gaze to the window.
Silence hung between them for a few minutes, thankfully. Then, predictably, he started talking.
It wasn’t the usual small talk. Chase spoke about things people normally save for midnight confessions, how he’d quit a job that paid well but hollowed him out, how he didn’t know what he was chasing anymore (pun unintended, he swore), and how sometimes, it’s easier to talk to strangers than to people who think they know you.
Lois didn’t mean to listen. She really didn’t. But his tone which was honest, almost disarming cracked something open.
“Funny,” she said after a while, her voice quiet, eyes fixed on the fading horizon outside. “That’s exactly why I don’t talk to people.” She meant it to shut him up but of course he didn’t.
He turned to her, curious. “You don’t?”
Lois internally rolled her eyes but decided to just go with it. She’ll never meet him anyways. Besides, they just know each other by first name basis. She shook her head. “People… they have this tendency to disappoint you. The moment you let them in, they find a way to hurt you. So, I stopped letting them in.”
Chase studied her. “So, someone hurt you?”
Lois huffed out a bitter laugh. “Yeah. You could say that.”
He didn’t push, he just waited as if inviting her for a confession.
“There’s this guy,” she began, the words spilling before she could stop them. “I’ll just call him Smallville. It’s a nickname.”
Her voice softened despite herself. “We were partners. At work. Always bickering, but it worked. And then… there was this moment. At my cousin’s wedding. We almost kissed.”
“Almost?” Chase prompted gently.
“Yeah.” Her throat tightened. “Almost. Until his ex walked in, which he claimed he was in love with since he’s 5. And just like that, he looked right past me. Like I’d never been there.”
She blinked rapidly, keeping her eyes on the window. “Something tragiv happened that same day which made me leave the town. Told myself I was just helping my injured friend, but… I know it’s more than that. I think I was just running. Staying in Star City longer made it easier to pretend I didn’t care anymore.”
Chase’s voice was quiet when he asked, “Do you?”
Lois didn’t answer. The seatbelt light blinked on, and the captain’s voice filled the cabin, announcing their descent into Metropolis.
She felt Chase’s gaze linger on her, but she didn’t look back. The moment the plane’s wheels touched the runway, she grabbed her bag, muttered something about being late, and disappeared into the crowd before he could even say goodbye.
---
The newsroom buzzed as always, clacking keyboards, ringing phones, the low hum of chaos that Lois usually thrived in. But lately, she’d been moving like a ghost between desks, always vanishing just before Clark Kent, the man she would love to strangle and hug at the same time, entered the bullpen.
If he arrived at nine, she was already leaving to meet a source; if he stayed late, she’d turn in early; even when they crossed paths at the coffee machine, Lois suddenly remembered an urgent call to make. She does everything just to not stand in the same room with him.
Clark noticed. Of course he did.
Every dodge, every sidestep, and it stung more than he wanted to admit. He’d hurt her, even if he hadn’t meant to, gosh he never wanted to hurt an independent, does-not-settle-for-less Lois Lane. And now, the walls Lois had built around herself were taller than ever. And this time, they were built against him. And somehow, Clark thought, this was way worse than standing in a room full of kryptonite.
He’d been waiting for the right moment to talk to her, to explain. But the right moment never came — and maybe it never would, unless he made one.
The following Friday, Clark made up his mind. He spotted Lois across the bullpen, her hair catching the light as she typed, pretending not to notice him. He crossed the room, determination in every step.
“Lois, we need to talk.”
Her eyes flicked up, wide, like a cornered animal. “Smallville, I can’t right now, Tess called a—”
Right on cue, Tess Mercer’s sharp voice cut through the noise from the mezzanine above. “Everyone, listen up!”
Reporters looked up from their desks.
“We’re temporarily assigning a new reporter to the Daily Planet’s city desk,” Tess announced. “He’ll be joining us starting today.”
A tall figure stepped out from her office, flashing that same confident smile Lois had seen from a plane window two days earlier.
“Everyone, meet Chase Grant.”
Lois froze.
Clark blinked, glancing between them.
Chase caught sight of her and smirked, clearly amused. “Well… small world.”
Lois’s jaw dropped. “YOU?!”
The bullpen fell silent, everyone turning to stare.
Clark’s brows furrowed in confusion. “You two know each other?” Lois concluded that the jealous and somewhat irritated tone she heard from Clark was just pure hallucination. But she could only gape. Of course the stranger she’d spilled her heart to at thirty thousand feet had to show up here, in her newsroom, standing next to her unresolved disaster of a partner.
Somewhere deep down, Lois Lane swore and cuss the guy out. One thing just entered her mind – that moron must’ve known who she was and masterminded his way to talking to her and spill her guts to him, and now she’s screwed.
###
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