He looked at her, his eyes wild. Kryptonians weren’t supposed to feel anything this intensely, but right now Kal-El didn’t seem to give a damn. “Lois, I love you,” he told her, his voice rough with emotion.

Time stopped. Her breath froze, and for a second Lois could only stare at him with wide hazel eyes. This hadn’t been what she’d been sent here for, but it had happened nonetheless. She knew the truth in herself now, mixed-up and complicated and more than once denied to herself, trying not to think about it too much for fear of being forced to recognize something so dangerous. So completely insane, even for her. Still, there was only one thing she could say in reply, and she braced herself for the words that would change everything between them. “I … I love you, too, Kal-El,” she whispered, and traced his cheek with her fingertips.