Summary: Clark's closest friends muse on the last year since Clark arrived in Metropolis. Clark muses on both Clark and Superman's arrival.
Since Clark Kent Came To Town
By Deadly Chakram
PG
Submitted May 2011
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I make nothing. All recognizable characters, plot lines, lines of dialogue, etc belong to DC Comics, December 3rd Productions, and anyone else with a stake in the Superman franchise.
~~~~~ Superman ~~~~~
(Jimmy)
The news room is mostly dark now. A few desk lamps still burn, as do the lights in Perry's office. Does that man ever go home? Well, at least I can give him the mock up of tomorrow morning's front page. I knock softly and show it to him. There are no corrections. The paper can go to print.
As I come back into the bullpen, I can't help but notice the eerie silence. Don't get me wrong. I savor the silence. No one racing out the doors to grab a story. No yelling for me to grab someone's photos from the darkroom. But it still feels like the spirit has been sucked out of the place. As much as the hustle and bustle of the days can sometimes give me headaches, I thrive on the adrenaline.
I look across the floor. Of course. Lois and Clark are still here. Lois is at her computer, typing away. I wonder what she's working on. Probably the series leads trying to connect the mayor to Intergang. She looks frustrated. I look over at Clark. He's eyeball deep in books and papers, old news articles and faxes. As I look, he sighs and runs a hand through his hair. He looks more frustrated than Lois does. He reaches over and grabs a slice of cold pizza from the box by his desk. He grabs another slice, brings both to the small staff microwave, heats them, and brings them over to Lois' desk. I treated him to the pizza to celebrate his first anniversary at The Daily Planet.
Has it really been a year since CK came to Metropolis? Has he really been working here for a year? Has he really survived having Lois as a partner this whole time?
A lot has happened around here in the past year. And a lot of it has happened because of CK. I knew in the moment that I first met him that he was an okay guy. Naive maybe. Soft perhaps. And I wondered if Metropolis might chew him up and spit him out. But even so, I knew that, given half a chance, he'd be the kind of guy that you'd want to be around. His face was always quick to break into a smile. And I only ever heard him speak well of people, even Mad Dog Lane. Well, ok, maybe he had a few choice words about Lex Luthor, but honestly, I don't blame him. Luthor was a monster.
I guess the biggest change I've seen is in myself. Since CK came to town and befriended me, he's always prodded me to assert myself. I never really had much confidence in myself. I mean, I knew I could do a great job at The Daily Planet, but I never had the guts to stand up to Perry and demand my chance. But knowing that CK was backing me, I seemed to grow and find my courage. I went from being Perry's gofer, to getting a few articles written. I still don't believe that they were anything special, but CK always had a kind word about them. And he always offered to help me by giving it a read-over before I handed it to Perry. When I realized that writing wasn't what really made me happy, CK was there with reassurances and pointed out to me how much I love photography. With his approval of some of my work, I approached the Chief and wouldn't you know it? CK was right. Perry loved the idea of sending me into the field with a camera.
Ever since CK first came to the paper, he's trusted me to be his right-hand man. I was the first person that he trusted to help him research things. I still remain his "go-to" guy. Rarely does he ever ask any of the other researchers for help, and that's only if he can't get a hold of me right away. He relies on me. The feeling is amazing. CK was the first one to really give me a chance to shine here. Up until then, Perry really only ever relied on me to fix things for him or to fetch his lunch. But once CK established a routine of using me as his researcher, Perry was forced to see me in a new light. I stopped being "kid" - most of the time anyway. Now Perry calls me "son" - just as he does with Clark. It makes my heart swell with pride every time the Chief calls me "son." It makes me feel like a cherished member of the Planet team. And I know that the Chief approves of me - and of my work. Since the moment I took the job at the paper, all I've ever wanted was the Chief's approval. CK helped me to finally earn it.
Lois and Clark are lightly conversing at her desk. The pizza is finished. Clark is perched on the edge of her desk, looking over her computer monitor. He pokes the eraser end of a pencil at her screen as he talks. Lois types for a few moments. Clark says something else to her and her face crinkles up into a smile and a laugh. Does Clark even realize how much he's caused Lois to change in the last year?
That's the other big change I've noticed. CK's presence has transformed Lois. Before his arrival, Lois wasn't much of a talker. I rarely ever saw her smile, let alone laugh. Unless, of course, she was nominated for another Kerth award. But ever since CK came to town, Lois has changed. She smiles so often and freely now. Her tone with everyone else in the bullpen has softened. Oh, don't get me wrong. You don't want to cross Lois if you can help it. She can still tear you to shreds. But she's more easy going now. She's still reserved at times, but at the same time, she's a lot more relaxed. Before CK, Lois hardly ever spared a word for anyone who wasn't a source or the Chief. And me? Forget it. She barely knew that I existed unless I was bringing a box of donuts past her desk. I mean, we had a working friendship, but that really only extended to the hours we spent in the bullpen together. But now that CK is around, she's opened up. He really has rubbed off on her. And thanks to CK, Lois really respects me now. That means a lot to me. I've admired her journalistic skills since the very beginning. Because of CK, Lois has honored me by becoming my friend outside of work as well.
And, I have to admit, its' been kind of fun watching CK get the better of Lois. It's been refreshing to see him knock Mad Dog Lane down a few notches. He really earned my respect when he pulled off a very inspired prank on her. He'd sent her tromping through the Metropolis Sewage Reclamation Plant in search of Superman. "Superman" had been a Godzilla doll dressed up like the superhero. That had definitely put a chink in Lois' armor. That's also the moment when I knew CK could hold his own, the moment when I first came to respect that he wasn't the backcountry boy from Nowheresville, as Lois so often put it.
Perry emerges from his office, shutting the lights as he leaves. He bids us goodnight and orders us to go home soon. We all wish him goodnight and soon he's disappeared into the elevator and on his way down to the lobby.
Perry's changed a lot since CK got here also. I've never seen a man be so proud of his employees before. I mean, the Chief has always been proud of his reporters, especially Lois. But ever since CK arrived and proved his worth - both with Lois and without - there's been a new glint in Perry's eyes. He too, laughs more often now. And, although not always, he often seems to be less stressed now. He doesn't worry about Lois so much when he knows that CK is going with her on assignments. He worries about them both, don't get me wrong. But I know it makes him feel better knowing that the two are going to look out for each other. It also helps Perry's mood to know that he's got the strongest reporting team in Metropolis working for him, if not the country. Stories that he might have hesitated giving Lois before, he now gives her without another thought. He knows that CK grounds her and keeps her safe. Yes, the Chief is a happier man now.
I look at my watch. It's getting late. I need to send the mock up to print. After that, it's finally time to go home. I look at Lois and Clark again. Lois is shutting her computer off, resigned for the moment, to leave the story until she can sleep on it. I know she'll be back to it in the morning. Clark stands and helps her into her coat. Does Lois even know how much CK loves her? Does she not see it in the way he looks at her? It's obvious to everyone else in the newsroom. CK catches my eye.
"Night Jimmy," he says. "Thanks again for the pizza."
"Night," I say. "And happy anniversary again CK."
