In the Kent apartment, Metropolis

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

Lois Lane, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist (she might just consider making that her full name), settles on her sofa with a cup of tea, a few slices of dry toast and a stack of notes because note cards are more fun to flip through when interviewing. This is meant to be a comfortable setting for her and the man she's interviewing, and it's always nice when she can do something with her shoes off.

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[straight-arrow.livejournal.com]

Across from her sits millionaire philanthropist Oliver Queen, aka Green Arrow.

Thanks for having me here, Lois. I don't get to see you and Clark enough.

Alright, let's get the grilling started. Bring on the questions.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

"That's terrific." Lois turns on the recorder and smiles brightly. "So are you aware that President Luthor's after you for what he calls 'questioning' about the Costa Linda affair?"

[straight-arrow.livejournal.com]

His nose wrinkles at the mention of Luthor.

Yes, I am. But, to be blunt about it, the grandstanding Luthor's been doing about the situation in Costa Linda pi--ticks me off. He's taking a human-rights situation that's been documented by multiple sources and turning it into some indictment of superheroes on "political grounds".

I'll be in contact, but he's certainly not my first priority.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

"But you're declining to be available to him for questioning." Not a question.

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No. I'll make myself available. At my own convenience. There's a difference.

Our commander-in-chief seems to be under the impression that heroes are on tap for his political games. We're not. He doesn't run the JLA, and if he did my resignation would be in the mail faster than a speeding bullet.

I've had things in Star City and with Alejandro Reyes on my plate. When I have the time, I'll be in touch with the White House.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

"Don't you think people will consider you arrogant if not unpatriotic if you make an agenda like that?"

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Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn what people choose to believe. My actions speak for themselves.

I'm not putting Luthor off for self-interested reasons, here. I'm doing what I've always done. I put people who need my help above fat-cats who want to push me around. Deal with it.

Unpatriotic? Last I checked, we lived in a free country. I thought patriotism in America was about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, not cowtowing to the President. He's supposed to serve us, not the other way around.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

Lois smiles and notes, "I don't know Superman would agree with you, but the two of you don't exactly have the same MO where hero work goes."

[straight-arrow.livejournal.com]

I don't make any claims for anyone else. Big Blue does as his conscience dictates and so do I.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

Lois nods slowly to that but doesn't look too happy; it'd be a nice feather in her cap to expose someone like that. "Amnesty International is hailing you as a hero, but sources inside the government say that you could face charges for illegal military actions."

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They can prosecute me for whatever they like, but let's look at the facts: I'm not an agent of the U.S. government, and I'm only a reserve member of the Justice League. I didn't ask anyone's permission to do this, and I'm not asking them to approve.

I've never made any secret that what I do is taking the law into my own hands. But in case you haven't noticed, we've been letting people do that for a good few years now. Does the fact that I don't have superpowers change that? I could name a few others that have done more than me.

There's a line between what's acceptable and what isn't. I didn't cross it. I didn't kill anyone, I didn't torture anyone and, contrary to Fuentes' little press releases, I didn't try and depose a foreign government just because they're a bunch of scumbags who deserve it. All I did was rescue someone. If they're going to send a bunch of Marshals to arrest me for that, then they'd better look at what the death rate in Keystone City would be if the Flash stopped catching people who leap from burning buildings, because that's what's next.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

"You know, I'm going to quote all of that. Words like that are what make you a cut-above sort of hero."

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You're too kind, Ms. Lane.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

"Well, maybe. I don't think you're going to like some of these other questions. But then," and her eyes twinkle, "I think you like a challenge."

[straight-arrow.livejournal.com]

After what you asked Hal on live TV, I was expecting one. Ask your questions.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

"All righty then. So Green Arrow, you had intelligence on where Reyes was being held and you decided your team should go get him instead of letting something more official happen. Why?"

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I was led to believe by the people that let me know about Reyes that official channels had pretty much decided to ignore Costa Linda. My research agreed with them.

In retrospect, I'll admit that the mole probably led me on a bit. But Costa Linda is never going to be a major trading partner of the U.S., and so a lot of people just don't care how bad things are down there.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

Lois turns to the recorder, shuts it off, puts aside her notes after a few last-second remarks, and says, "Poor gringo?!"

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What? You've never heard a blond use Spanish before?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

"Not BAD Spanish." Lois resettles, legs crossed under her, and drinks some of her tea. "So...you doing okay staying clear of Lex?"

[straight-arrow.livejournal.com]

Pretty much. He's blowing a lot of hot air, but he doesn't seem to be doing anything about it.

I'm surprised. I've been a thorn in his butt a couple of times lately, and nada. He might just be mellowing.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

"Um, well...I think something weird might have been going on with him. So don't rest on your whatsits and expect him to be President Nice-enstein for too long." After a nibble from her toast she then asks, "How are YOU doing?"

[straight-arrow.livejournal.com]

Up to my ears in alligators, as usual, but I'm still afloat.

You? How's pregnancy agreeing with you?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

"Dr. Mid-Nite over at the JSA is a godsend. I'm going to ship him some weirdo vegetarian stuff as a thank you. He gave me some pills that keep me from puking most of the time and -- HEY. Did you know Lex put me on the no-fly list? I was going to Costa Linda with Clark to interview some people and wham, no flying for me at all. Bastard. They said it's a mistake, but yeah, whatever. I know where it came from."

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I take back the mellowing comment. That man is a cyst on the rump of mankind. Why do the really rotten ones never just kill themselves in lab experiments gone horribly wrong?