A/N: Okay, this is going to be a two-shot story. Wanted to do a one-shot, but a friend told me I should cut it off here, and I like it. This chapter is short. Next chapter should be longer. I just wanted to do something I could actually finish for now :) Not to mention, I'm sort of conducting an experiment of my own with this *evil laugh* So read and review! Please tell me what you think is going to happen with Richard- you may influence the outcome.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything remotely related to Superman. If I did, I certainly wouldn't be posting things on here. I would be writing these ideas down and pitching them to people that can actually pay me for this! XD Not to say you guys don't deserve it anyways. . . which is why I'm doing this!

The Experiment

Richard White stood over the counter, only one object marring the otherwise smooth granite surface before him. One thing, standing in his way. It always seemed to be one thing. Whether that thing was Superman, the issue of Jason's parentage, a bullet or Lois Lane- it was always something. Something that held him back, that kept him in place, that kept him from moving forward, that kept him from happiness.

Everything would be different now.

Vicarious living wasn't enough for Richard anymore. He couldn't pretend to be happy for Lois and Clark. Couldn't pretend to be happy for the awards Lois received anymore, for Jason's good grades in school or increasing strength.

It shouldn't have to be this way. It shouldn't have had to be enough. He should have had his own life now, his own reasons for happiness. Though, in hindsight, Richard should have seen it all coming. And the fact that Lois hadn't told him Clark was Superman didn't make a difference in his discovering of the fact. Didn't make a difference in the amount of pain and anger he felt over it all.

Experimentation. That's all this was. A very stressful, enormously risky, incredibly high-stakes experiment. An experiment left up to fate and a man who called himself such. Briefly Richard allowed himself to think of the consequences, realize what it was he was laying down on the line.

What would Lois think? And Jason? And his Uncle Perry? What if it worked? And scarier, what if it didn't? Was it worth it all? He shoved such thoughts from his mind, and forced himself to focus. It wasn't that complicated. There were only three things involved, three variables.

Richard, Superman, and a bullet.

*****S*****

A/N: Okay. So. Sorry if it's short or confusing. Leave a review and next chapter will be longer-slash-more complete. And feel free to ask about what you think the test/experiment is. :)