3. Mastermind

 Jason didn't get back to the loft until almost four in the morning. The entire apartment was dark when he stepped inside.

He kicked off his shoes as quietly as possible and shrugged out of his jacket before heading toward the kitchen for a glass of water.

Then he noticed Lana's shoes beside the door.

He stopped.

She stayed. A small knot of guilt settled in his stomach. He'd told her he'd be late. She could've gone home hours ago.

Instead, she'd waited for him.

Again.

Jason grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and headed toward his room.

He already knew what he'd find before he opened the door.

Lana was asleep in his bed, curled around one of his pillows with the blanket tangled around her legs.

Jason smiled despite himself.

He took a quick shower, changed into his boxers and climbed carefully into bed beside her. Lana shifted when the mattress dipped. 

Jason wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against his chest. Almost immediately, something inside him relaxed. No matter how exhausting his day had been, Lana had always been able to do that.

Six years.

Sometimes he couldn't believe she'd stayed with him that long.

Especially lately.

"You're going to catch a cold if you keep sleeping like that."

Jason flinched. 

Lana laughed sleepily.

"I thought you were asleep." 

"I was." Lana turned until she was facing him.

"I didn't mean to wake you."He pressed a kiss against her cheek.

"You came back really late this time."She yawned, snuggling into his arms.

"Sorry."

"You must be exhausted."

"I am." Jason gave her his most pathetic expression."Re-energize me?"

"You're ridiculous."Lana laughed.

"Please?"

She leaned up and kissed him.

Jason smiled against her lips.

For a few seconds, everything else disappeared.

The studio. Work. The hours he'd spent elsewhere.

Everything.

When the kiss deepened, Lana eventually pressed a hand against his chest and tapped. Jason immediately pulled back.

"Sorry," he sighed.

"It's okay."

He wrapped his arms around her again and tucked her beneath his chin.

Neither of them spoke for a minute.

“How was the rest of your night?” He asked suddenly.

“Oh, it was fine. I went out for ice cream with Clark.” 

Jason was silent for a while before asking. "Do you have any friends you can introduce to him?”

"What?" Lana lifted her head so quickly she nearly hit his chin.

"What?"Jason laughed.

"Who are you and what have you done with my boyfriend?"She asked him in mock shock.

"Very funny."

"You've spent months telling me setting people up inside the friend group is a terrible idea."

"I've been thinking about it."He shrugged.

"Well..."

"I'm serious," he said. "The guy needs a girl."

"I told you about Soraa."Lana settled against him again.

"The girl from your shoot?" Jason's arm tightened slightly around her.

"Yes."

"She's the one you've been trying to set him up with?"

"Mhm."

"And he keeps saying no?"

"Every time."

Jason stared at the ceiling. He wasn't particularly surprised. He'd noticed the way Clark looked at Lana.

Sometimes he wondered how she hadn't noticed.

Then again, Lana could be oblivious when it came to herself.

"Do you think there's someone he likes?" she asked.

Jason looked down at her.

For a second, he considered telling her.

Then decided against it.

"I don't know." He answered.

"I brought it up when we went out for ice cream earlier. He was kind of snippy.” She told him a bit about their conversation.

"Maybe you shouldn't give him a choice." Jason suggested after quietly listening.

"What does that mean?"Lana lifted her head.

Jason smiled slowly.

"Jimmy and I are both busy tomorrow."

"So?"

"Clark's free."

Lana stared at him.

"No." Then her eyes widened. The thought seemed to hit her just as his smile started to grow. “Blind date.”

"Surprise blind date." Jason grinned.

"Jason!"

"What?”

"That's evil."

"You love it."

"I absolutely love it." She sat up, suddenly wide awake. "I could get him out of the apartment. Sora could meet us somewhere and then.."

"You disappear." He said, finishing her thought

"You're a genius."Lana pointed at him.

Jason pulled her back down.

"I just want my friend to be happy like us."He kissed her forehead.

"Mmm. Clark's too sweet and handsome to be alone."Lana smiled and rested her cheek against his chest.

Jason went quiet.

Lana immediately realized what she'd said.

She winced.

Probably not the smartest thing to say while lying half-asleep in her boyfriend's arms.

"Not as handsome as you." She added finally.

"Nice save." Jason looked down at her.

"I thought so." She smiled 

He rolled his eyes, but she felt his body relax again.

Lana kissed his cheek.

"Go to sleep. I'll take care of everything tomorrow."

"That sentence worries me," Jason shook his head.

"It should." 

Jason laughed quietly.

Within a few minutes, they were asleep.

~~~

When Lana woke the next morning, Jason's side of the bed was empty.

Again.

She stared at the indentation in his pillow. "Good morning to you too," she muttered. 

She knew his schedule was insane. But would it kill him to wake her up and say goodbye once in a while?

Lana climbed out of bed and pulled on yesterday's clothes.

She'd been staying over so often lately that she really needed to leave some clothes here.

She grabbed her bag and headed into the kitchen. 

It looked like a small tornado had passed through.

Plates covered the counter. A cabinet had been left open. Someone had abandoned half a piece of toast beside the sink.

"Animals."Lana stared.

At least there was fresh coffee.

She smiled.

Clark.

He always made a fresh pot when he knew she'd stayed over.

Lana cleaned up some of the mess, before pouring two mugs and taking a seat at their kitchen table. 

A few minutes later, Clark walked into the kitchen freshly showered and dressed.

"You're awake."He stopped when he saw her.

"Way too early, unfortunately." She said while taking a sip of her steaming hot coffee.

He sat across from her and picked up the mug she'd left for him.

"Perfect."Clark took one sip.

"I know.” Lana leaned forward and rested her chin against her palms. "Are you doing anything today?"

"Why?"Clark's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"No reason."

"That's already concerning," he muttered.

"I wanted to go see a movie." She gave him her sweetest smile. "Wanna come with me?"

Clark studied her. Then shook his head. 

"You don't want to?” Lana frowned.

"I didn't say that."

"You shook your head!" She pointed at him accusingly. 

"Because you're still wearing yesterday's clothes."

"Oh."Lana looked down at herself.

"Shouldn't we go to your apartment first?"Clark smirked.

“Right! Ok, let’s go! I’ll change, and we can go catch a movie downtown.” She jumped up.

Clark barely had time to finish his coffee before Lana was rushing him to get his shoes on and out the door,

"Jesus, slow down." He laughed.

"We have things to do."

"We?" he quirked an eyebrow.

Lana ignored him.

Clark stopped at the elevator and pressed the call button.

"Let's take the stairs." She said impatiently when the elevator didn’t come up immediately, seeming to have stopped a few floors below them.

"You voluntarily want to take the stairs?"He looked at her strangely.

"Yes." She nodded, heading to the door that led to the stairs before he could argue.

"Who are you?" he called after her.

"Last one down pays for the tickets." Lana took off.

"That's cheating!"Clark ran after her, smiling from ear to ear.

Their laughter echoed through the stairwell as they raced down, grabbing at each other's sleeves whenever one managed to get ahead.

They reached the bottom at almost the same time.

“Tie!” Lana leaned against him, breathless from laughing.

“Clearly I won, you were holding on to my shirt.” Clark opened the door to the parking garage.

"You're paying." She shrugged walking past him.

"We'll see."