A/N: take note: I'm ignoring the events of the Ultimate Galactus miniseries; though I will have some of the things from it happen, it won't be exactly the same.

Chapter 4: Propositions

A scruffy-looking man ran through the crowd of people in downtown, clinging the large purse in his hand as a older woman screamed a few blocks down to stop him, that he stole her purse. "Excuse me," A voice spoke directly overhead of the man.

"What the …" the man gasped and look up to find Superman lazily floating above him.

"I really don't think that purse is your color." Superman smirked as he reached down and lifted the man out of the crowd by the back of his shirt. The Man of Steel pulled the purse from his hands and carried the man back to the woman and the patrolman now talking to her.

"I believe this belongs to you, ma'am," Superman smiled as he handed the pocketbook back to the woman, then turned to the police officer. "And I believe this belongs to you." He said, sitting the thief down beside the waiting patroller. "Have a good day!"

He waved before taking to the air, and flew around to meet Spider-Man, who sat perched on a rooftop with his masked pulled up enough to allow himself a donut. "You know I could have handled that one, Big Blue."

"You were eating breakfast, Little Blue," Superman quipped back, "Didn't want to interrupt."

"Excuses, excuses … Donut?" Spider-Man offered the fellow hero the box of Dunkin' Donuts.

"Jelly-filled?" Superman asked, eyeing the box.

"Naturally, as if there were any other kind?" Spider-Man laughed as Superman pulled a donut and took a bite out of it.

"Thanks," Superman said, eating the jelly-filled treat. "Hits the spot... Now, I have an appointment; see you around, my friend."

"Don't fly too high, brotha." Spidey waved as Superman flew away.

Superman flew high through the air and on out of New York City toward the suburb city of Westchester. "Must be the place …" He said as he came down to a large mansion with a gold plated sign out front "Xavier's School for Gifted Children".

He walked up to the front door and stopped, gently knocked on the door and waited a few moments for it to open. "Greetings, Superman, it's an honor to meet you." A young, African American woman with distinct silver hair and aqua eyes greeted him. "Professor Xavier has been expecting you."

"Um … You know who I am, but …" Superman said somewhat awkwardly to the exotic woman.

"Forgive me, I am called Storm. Now, please follow me; the Professor is waiting." Storm said with a smile, motioning for him to enter.

"This is a nice place." Superman said, looking around the mansion as they walked through the entrance and into the main hall. He was placed in a state of unease when he realized he couldn't see through several hidden elevator shafts and the lower floor with his X-ray vision.

"It is home." Storm smiled, looking over his tights-clad body.

"My face is up here." Superman smiled, causing the young woman's face to color.

Thoroughly embarrassed, Storm stopped at a large wooden doorway, "This is the Professor's study. I'll leave you here. It's been a pleasure to meet you, Superman."

"Same to you, Storm." Superman said, extending his hand to the woman.

Storm returned a shy smile and took his hand in a handshake. "Good day." Storm nodded and left back the way she came.

Superman opened the door and walked in to find an older, bald man seated in a motorized wheelchair, an orange cat with black stripes lazily snoozing on his lap. And to his surprise, at the man's side was the same couple he interviewed the day before at the space center. All three turned to him, each with a different expression.

The wheelchair-bound man gave him a sage-like smile. Mr. Summers gave a friendly one, while Ms. Grey gave him a peculiar look that morphed into a look of shocked revelation as she mouthed 'the reporter from …' before shaking it off.

"Good morning, Superman," the elder man smiled and rolled toward him. "I am Professor Charles Xavier. Welcome to my home and school for the gifted." He lifted his hands to the two young adults on either side of his wheelchair. "These are my students, Jean Grey and Scott Summers. I've been watching you for some time, my young friend. I must say you have made quite a name for yourself." Xavier smiled when he saw Superman glancing to the two. 'Jean and Scott are very trustworthy, and in our line of work, friends you can trust entirely are often hard to find.' Superman was only slightly surprised to hear the man's voice inside his head. Hearing about someone being psychic and actually having the experience happen to you were two entirely different things.

"Marvel Girl, do pull up a chair for our friend," Xavier glanced back at the two students. "Cyclops, some tea, if you would, please."

"Do you have any chocolate milk?" Superman asked somewhat sheepishly, earning a grin from Scott and a look of disbelief from Jean.

"Great … two of them …" Jean rolled her eyes as she glanced to the side of the room, and three chairs lifted off the floor and floated toward them.

"I'll get right down to it. You are fascinating, Superman," Xavier said out loud before adding telepathically, 'Or may I call you Mr. Kent?'

Superman glanced to the redhead and her boyfriend, who were returning with two glasses of tea and two glasses of chocolate milk. 'They will keep your secret; besides, Ms. Grey has already figured it out.'

"Superman will be fine for now," he responded, taking the glass of milk from Scott.

"Alright, as I was saying … you are fascinating," Xavier continued, "We have had contact with other alien races, the Kree and the Skrulls, but none of them have exhibited the abilities you have. According to the write-up in the Daily Bugle, you draw your power from our yellow sun. I'm curious on the physiological aspect of that."

"Ah, so, you want to poke and prod me, do you, Professor?" Superman gave a small smile.

"Let me ask you this, do you know everything there is to know about your abilities? Do you know what your limits are?" Xavier smiled. "One of the first things we learn here is what we can do, how much, and for how long we can do it."

"And this will stay here?" Superman narrowed his eyes at the elder gentleman.

"This is my home, above all else," Xavier said with a nod. "What happens here stays here and is kept with the utmost privacy."

"I've tried to test them myself, but there's only so much you can really do and I'm still not really sure on how far I can push myself …I assume you probably have some way of doing this, so … alright Professor, I'm game, but… " Superman said, standing to his feet. "I am trusting you with this, Professor. I hope I'm not misplacing my trust."

"We are fighters for peace, my friend," Xavier smiled. "We're on the same team. Besides… we all wear tights here." He added jokingly before turning to the redhead. "Jean, please escort Superman to the examination room. You know what to do, my dear."

Superman followed Jean into a hidden elevator in the corner of Xavier's office. As the door closed, Superman noticed Jean brushing her bangs in another manner and putting on her glasses. "Hm, I'd have never thought of this, Kent. Glasses and change of hairstyle really do make a good disguise."

"Can we keep this a secret," Superman whispered, "I don't really want that to get out…"

"Don't worry, my lips are sealed, but I do suggest maybe letting Scott in on it," Jean said pausing for a moment. "You are both stiff, naïve, way too serious, and so pure-minded, it'd make a telepath gag. You'd make terrific friends."

Jean bit her lip as she looked away. "Seriously, though, Scott's our field leader, and if someone stubs his toe getting onboard the X-Jet, Scott blames himself. We're all radically different here, Superman. Scott's more than my boyfriend, he's my best friend, and he needs someone he can relate to and talk to. And I don't mean to pry, but I can sense a lot of loneliness within you. Maybe you two can help each other with that…"

"I'll think about it," Superman nodded as the elevator dinged before the door slid open.

"Alright, Big Blue, right this way," Jean winked, leading him to the medical bay. "Dr. Grey needs to take a look at you, so take a seat and lose the cape and top." She instructed, walking behind a changing wall and pulling on a pair of scrubs.

Superman shrugged and did as told, neatly folding his uniform top and cape on the medical bed beside him. "Alright, big guy … holy shit! I thought you were invulnerable!" Jean gasped, glancing at the large, purple bruise in the center of his chest.

"Tell that to the Hulk," Superman smiled sheepishly.

Jean nodded and placed a needle at the bend of Superman's arm. "This needle is strong enough to pierce Colossus in his armored state; it might pinch a little …" she said, pushing it gently, but blinked when the needle bent. "Or not…" she shook her head and threw the needle away before moving on to the next test. She placed electrodes on the Man of Steel's chest and torso and stepped back to a control panel, "Stay perfectly still." She instructed.

Superman did as told as machines lowered from the ceiling and began to rotate around the table.

"Alright, that should be enough for now," Jean said as the machines rose back into the ceiling. She quickly removed the electrodes and stepped back. "The Professor will call you when the tests come back, and we'll go from there, Supes." Jean smiled, adjusting her glasses.

"That it?" Superman blinked, reaching for his shirt and cape.

"All we did was run a genetic scanner; it'll tell us a bit more about yourself," Jean said as Superman pulled on the rest of his uniform.

"I do appreciate all this," he said sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck.

"Don't mention it, with your track record, I don't have to be a psychic to know you're likely going to save our collective asses before it's over." Jean smiled walking with him toward the elevator.

Jean escorted him to the front door of the mansion. "Hey," She spoke up as he took to the air, "Don't forget what I talked to you about. Cyclops, you know…"

"I won't." Superman smiled warmly.

"Promise?"

"I never lie." He winked before flying into the sky.

(S)

Clark hadn't set his second foot off the elevator when Jameson's voice bellowed his name. "Gee. Sorry I'm a little late, Mr. Jameson," Clark pushed his glasses on his nose as the editor-in-chief stomped toward him. "I … um… had a doctor's appointment…"

"Kent, I don't give a flying flip why or even if you're late, I want to know what your freaking secret is?" Jameson stated, slapping a hand on the slouching reporter's arm.

"Um, what are you talking about, Mr. Jameson? Secret? I mean … seriously," Clark stammered, his blue eyes wide behind his glasses. "Me? With a secret? I'm an open book, and a really dull one at that …"

"Then, why, pray tell, does one of the richest men in New York State want to have a private, one-on-one interview between himself, his wife and YOU, Kent?" Jameson asked, grinning like he had won a million-dollar lottery.

"Um … who wants an interview, Mr. Jameson? I don't get it." Clark blinked in confusion.

"Lex Luthor, of course! Owner of Luthorcorp!" Jameson said with a laugh, "He wants you at his office at the Luthorcorp building promptly at seven; don't be late or it's your job and your ass!"

"Lex Luthor?" Clark asked with sigh.

"Got a problem with one of the richest guys in the city?" Jameson pressed, narrowing his eyes. "If he takes a crap, he makes news, so you better report every little thing tonight, Kent. If he sneezes, I wanna know about it! Understood? GOOD! Now, I got a counterattack to plan..." With that, Jameson turned on his heel and stomped back to his office, mumbling about stupid capes wanting to play with fire.

"Counterattack?" Clark cocked his head to the side as Peter Parker patted his shoulder.

"You better watch yourself tonight, CK," Peter spoke up from his hiding place behind Clark. "Luthor's a few miles of bad road if you asked me."

"I could come with, you know," Lois piped up from her desk, "Not that I'm worried about you walking into the snakes' den by yourself or anything, just thought you could use a real professional's advice in interviewing him. You know? Real questions instead of 'do you shave your head or do you wax?'"

"I really do appreciate your concern, Lois," Clark smirked, "But I'm sure I can handle it. Wouldn't want John to get jealous, would we?"

"Jealous? Sounds like John's not the one with the jealing issues," Lois perked up instantly. "Does the Planet's favorite farmboy have a crush on little ol' me?" she added with a exaggerated mock-southern accent.

"Don't flatter yourself, Lane," Clark rolled his eyes before both he and Lois turned to the grinning Peter. "What are you grinning at?" they asked in unison.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing," Peter said quickly, "I … uh … need to show this layout to Robbie, bye!" He dashed past the two confused reporters.

"Clark, seriously though," Lois said in a concerned voice. "Lex likes to play mind games… watch your back in there tonight, ok?"

"I've dealt with him before back at Smallville, Lois," Clark said, smiling at Lois' widened eyes. "We were even friends once upon a time. I can handle Lex Luthor; don't worry."

"Who said I was worried?" Lois spun her chair around to face away from him.

"This day just keeps getting better and better…" Clark rubbed his forehead as he made his way to his own desk.

(S)

Clark Kent sighed in dread as he stood out front of the Luthorcorp Building. He hadn't seen Lex in several years, and their last few meetings were less than friendly. He hoped that this interview would go better than their old clashes back home… "Well, Clark, here goes nothing…" he said to himself as he walked through the front door and made his way to the receptionist.

"Hello, um, oh… Clark Kent, Daily Bugle… I'm here to see, um, Mr. Luthor… I have an appointment… I think." Clark said somewhat awkwardly as he pushed his glasses up on his nose.

"Yes, I see right here, Mr. Kent, right this way." The receptionist smiled politely as she stood to her feet. "Right this way." She said, walking toward the elevator and placing a keycard into the slot. "This will take you to Mr. Luthor's private suite, Mr. Kent." She smiled as Clark walked into the elevator.

The door slid shut, and Clark felt it rising through the building. He slid his glasses down slightly and glanced around. An odd feeling of dread filled him when he realized that the inner workings of the building were made with a layer of lead.

The elevator bell sounded and the door slid open again. Clark took a careful step out into the massive office suite that was larger than most homes.

"Clark Kent! It's been too long!" Lex Luthor smiled as he stood to his feet and approached Clark. "You look well, my friend, but then, again you never get sick, do you?" He winked and pointed a finger at his one-time friend.

"Hey, Lex," Clark said awkwardly, taking Lex's hand in a handshake. "You've come a long way …"

"I'm an open book, Clark," Lex led him to the living area of the suite where a pair of couches sat near a large plasma-screen TV. "And you working Daily Bugle as a reporter? You could have been so much more than that, Clark, so much more … but, then again … looks can be very deceiving, can't they?"

"Sometimes, yeah …" Clark said awkwardly, glancing down to the coffee table between the couches, seeing them covered in clipped newspaper articles of Superman. "What is it you wanted to see me about, Lex, word on the street is you don't give interviews …"

"Clark, naive as always!" Lex laughed before growing serious. "I have a proposition to make, Clark, one that can really only be done by a man of your talents."

"I'm just a country boy from Kansas, Lex; what can I do?" Clark forced a chuckle.

"Smallville was where you were raised, Clark, not where you were born," a second voice spoke from the doorway. Clark and Lex glanced to see Lana Lang-Luthor standing in the door to the bathroom in a pink bathrobe with gold initials 'L.L.' on the corner. Her long, red hair, still damp from her shower, hung limply across and down her shoulders. "Or do you prefer Superman these days?"

Clark shook his head and forced a laugh. "You think I'M Superman?" Clark asked quickly.

"You were my best friend since I was sixteen, Clark," Lex smiled at his friend as Lana walked up to sit down next to Lex and draped an arm across his shoulder. "A new hair style and glasses can't fool a man of my intellect."

"Your modesty amazes me," Clark chuckled, "Your imagination, too."

"Perhaps," Lex smirked before reaching for a remote. "Whether or not you are the vaunted 'Man of Steel', there is something that I would like to share with you. Something I'm sure you can help me with either way. After all, the powers of a god and the powers of the press are both mighty."

"You're still new in town, Clark, but perhaps you've heard of what many believe to be an urban legend. The Kingpin." Lex said as several photos of a large, heavily built, bald man appeared on the screen. "He's as much a urban legend as the Ultimates… IE not."

"His real name is Wilson Fisk. He owns this city, Clark." Lex explained, taking Lana's hand. "Even the police and courts."

"That's not possible; no one can …"

"This isn't Kansas, anymore, Clark; this is the big city, the real world," Lex smiled sadly, "Truth and Justice and the American way no longer go hand in hand, especially in this town. What Fisk wants done gets done, and he always gets off scot-free."

"I know I did a lot of questionable things growing up," Lex gave a look of self-loathing, "Things I still lose sleep over, but that was a long time ago. I've changed, Clark; you have to believe me. Lana changed me." He saidm pulling the redhead's hand up to his lips to plant a soft kiss on her knuckle.

Clark narrowed his eyes on the bald businessman before glancing to his redheaded wife. Seeing her green eyes smiling back at him relaxed him slightly. "So, you're saying this Mr. Fisk is actually the Kingpin?" Clark asked, turning his attention to the screen to see a picture of Fisk shaking the hand of a man, judging by his dress, to be important.

"Remember how you always stood up for those less fortunate back in high school Clark? Well, that's what I'm doing now; Fisk must be stopped, no matter the cost." Lex said seriously, "Fisk owned the contract for the space shuttle that almost crashed. Not only would that have broken the New York Space Center, but he had several million dollars worth of insurances on that craft. That's how he plays the game, Clark. What he can't control, he breaks. But you and Superman are two, if not one in the same, that I know he'll never control, am I right?"

Clark continued to stare at the television. He had always been the trusting type, but he could tell when someone was trying to manipulate him, and Lex was always like that. But the question was: did he have a hidden agenda to all of this, or was he on the level, had he really had changed from the greedy, manipulative man Clark thought he would never have to face again?

"What are you getting out of all this, Lex?" Clark turned to his old friend.

"I'm a married man now, Clark," Lex smiled, placing an arm around Lana's shoulder. "Someday, sooner or later, I'd like to have a family with my wife here. And I want New York to be a safe place for our children. If we can get the Kingpin and his inner circle out of power, then, with you at the paper and Superman in the skies, this might actually be a good place to live again for the first time in a very long time."

"Here you go, Clark; this is a token interview Lana and I worked up earlier that you can give to Mr. Jameson. Trust me, I've met the man before; I know he can be a tad overbearing. Also, here are copies of the info I've taken on Fisk and his operation in this town. You can … pass them on to Superman if you see him…" Lex gave a wink, handing Clark a printout question and answer sheet and a file folder.

"Thanks for the time, Lex, better or worse, it is good to see you again … you, too, Lana…" Clark said, noticing Lana's heart rate starting to rise. "I better be going, so I can get this typed up for morning." Clark said, getting up and making his way to the elevator.

"Clark, wait!" Lana said, running up to him. "You can't just walk out without giving me a hug." She said with a smile before getting up on her toes and wrapping her arms around him. "Be careful, Clark … Remember Fall Festival … Senior Year …" She whispered so softly only Clark's super hearing could hear her.

Clark nodded as she pulled back. "Great to see you again, too, Lana," Clark smiled before turning and walking into the elevator.

(S)

Superman soared through the air over the frozen landscape, his mind racing.

Too many people knew… too many people that he didn't know and didn't completely trust. To say the Last Son of Krypton was worried would be an understatement.

He smiled as his destination grew closer in the distance. The massive crystalline structure stood out at the northern pole of the planet Earth. He slowly began his decent and touched down into the central area of his Fortress of Solitude. This was where he found out everything he knew about himself and where he came from, but he still had too many questions, and the events of the day didn't help at all …

"Welcome back, Kal-El," a feminine voice spoke up as he touched down.

"Hello, Vision," Superman said as he approached the crystal controls. "Have you been monitoring things?"

"Indeed, Kal-El," Vision replied as a crystalline seat rose behind Superman.

"So, what do you think?" Superman asked, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"I have studied Professor Charles Xavier and his X-Men since my awakening, Kal," Vision's voice spoke, but paused for a moment. "Some of the Professor's methods are indeed questionable, but his goals appear sincere. I do not believe he is an enemy."

"I felt that way, too; it's Lex that concerns me," Superman sighed, "I almost believed him there, I almost did."

"What changed your mind?"

"My senior year Fall Festival at Smallville." Superman said tightly, "Lex manipulated things, so everything would go his way. He manipulated the whole student body, including myself."

"Luthor is not to be trusted, then," Vision stated matter-of-factly.

"This isn't going to be as easy as I thought, is it, Vision?" Superman asked, motioning toward his symbol.

"No, it is not, Kal-El, but then again," Vision said with a hint of laughter in her synthetic voice. "Such is life."

To Be Continued …