Strangers In Paradise
Chapter 9: Just Another Date


Clark's Apartment

When Clark decided to become Superman, he conditioned himself to be ready for anything. He learned everything he learned from his adopted parents and his Kryptonian heritage to prepare himself for the mental and physical challenges that awaited him. However, no amount of conditioning or preparation could prepare him for this.

He was going on a date with the most amazing woman he had ever met. Not only was she undeniably beautiful, but she also happened to be an actual princess from an island of immortal warriors. This was not some blind date or some woman he met at a bar. Diana had already had a profound impact on his life. He only knew her for three weeks when their paths first crossed, but those three weeks gave her plenty of time to find a place in his heart. Now he had a chance to really open up to her and see if Diana could be more than some girl he met in his youth.

Standing in front of the mirror in his bathroom, Clark had gone through nearly every dress shirt in his wardrobe. He usually didn't put so much scrutiny into his appearance. He really couldn't because for so long, his goal had been to not stand out in a crowd. But he wanted to stand out to this woman. He wanted to make an impression. Being Superman just wasn't enough. He had to show Diana that Clark Kent was just as interesting. Still in just a towel, he threw aside another shirt that happened to have a coffee stain on it. As he grabbed another, he came to a striking realization.

"You are so unprepared for this," Clark said to his reflection. "You had a couple days to prepare and you still couldn't do it. You're Superman, for crying out loud! You have no excuses."

After berating himself, he looked back into his room to see that it was almost time. Diana would be here any moment and he still couldn't decide on a shirt. With more urgency, he ran back to his closet and sifted through everything he had left with super speed. He had to find some way of making himself presentable and if he couldn't accomplish this, then he had no right to call himself Superman.

As he searched, Clark thought back to his limited dating experience from growing up in Smallville. He didn't really date much back in high school. The only woman he ever went out with was Lana Lang. They both sensed before they even graduated that their lives were going in very different directions, but that didn't stop his Jonathan Kent from offering a little advice on love.

"It's going to be overwhelming. It's going to be confusing. Heck, it won't even make sense at times. Love is one of those things that'll never make sense, but trust me – you know it when you feel it. The key is finding out whether you can share these feelings with that special someone."

Clark thought he would never need that advice after he decided he could not become emotionally involved with others. Once again, his father's wisdom trumped the power of Superman. It was sobering as he stopped for a moment to catch his breath. This was one instance where he needed to be more man than Superman.

'You always knew the right thing to say, Pa. No matter how difficult I made it for you and Ma, you told me what I needed to hear, even when I didn't understand it. What I wouldn't give to talk to you now.'

Now standing just outside his closet, Clark stopped using his powers and looked at the mess he had made. Nearly every shirt he had lay strewn over the floor and bed. If his father were here, he would be laughing hysterically at the way he was handling himself. Jonathan Kent always knew how to maintain perspective. That was something even Superman struggled with every now and then.

Eventually, Clark calmed down enough to go through a few more shirts. He finally came across a nice navy blue dress shirt that he hadn't worn yet. It wasn't too fancy or flashy, but it wasn't overly plain either. So rather than agonize over what it lacked, he decided to go with it. Without using his super speed, he put it on along with a matching pair of slacks. He didn't put on a tie or use any fancy cufflinks. He didn't even wear his best dress shoes. When he looked at himself in the mirror again, he regained his perspective.

'I can already hear you saying it, Pa. At this point, you and Ma would have sat me down and told me to stop trying to be more than the man I already am. Let that be the man I show this woman. Let that be the man she falls in love with. I've just spent so much time and energy these past few years, trying to be something greater. At times, that makes it hard to see myself as an ordinary man because I'm not ordinary. But maybe…maybe I need to be that man in order to be with this woman. And maybe I need to be that man in order to be a better Superman.'

It felt like he was getting ahead of himself, but part of being Superman meant staying a step ahead of himself at times. This time, however, Clark Kent was the one who had to keep up. It was a daunting prospect, but Diana was worth it.

His time finally ran out when he heard a knock on his apartment door. He checked the clock. Diana was right on time. Clark took one last look at his reflection before turning to a picture of him and his parents that he kept on his dresser.

"Wish me luck," he said to them. "I promise I'll be the gentleman you raised me to be."

Clark used his super speed once more, cleaning up his bathroom and putting away his shirts within the span of a few seconds. He then made his way to the front door and took a deep breath. He could no longer focus on how he looked or how ill-prepared he was. His only focus on this point was showing Diana a good time. With this in mind, he opened the door to greet his date.

"Hello, Kal. You look very handsome," greeted Diana with a smile worthy of royalty.

"Uh…hi," was all Clark got out in response.

And just like that, his focus was shattered. Standing before him was a sight that would have left anyone, man or Superman, utterly paralyzed. Diana had somehow found a way to make herself even more beautiful.

"You look…wow. I just…wow," he said as he struggled to put into words what he was seeing.

"Are men supposed to sound this foolish at the beginning of a date?" she teased.

"They're not supposed to. But in the presence of a beautiful woman – well, it's to be expected," said Clark, trying to regain his composure.

"Then I'll consider it a good sign of things to come."

It was easy for both of them to be encouraged. Clark could only smile and try not to appear too goofy as he admired Diana's stunning form. She wore a light purple dress that wasn't too short, but did plenty to show off her legs. It also hung low enough to augment her already ample cleavage while fitting her toned hourglass form to perfection. Beyond the dress, she had styled her hair so that it had an elegant, wavy flow. Every feature of her face and skin had been neatly tended to, giving her the look that was truly divine.

What made it even more remarkable was that Diana didn't wear a lot of makeup. She didn't even wear any perfume. She had so much natural beauty that it didn't take much to bring it out in its full glory. Diana didn't bother changing too much about herself, but she had changed enough to leave him astonished. That was another encouraging sign that boded well for the night.

"Well if you're done looking foolish, let's get going," said Diana as she latched onto Clark's arm. "I'm not too versed on the dating process, but I imagine few succeed on an empty stomach."

"And you'd be right," said Clark. "That's why I'm taking you to one of my favorite barbeque places. It's not too fancy, but it's got class. I like to go there and pig out every time I've had a tough couple of days."

"After out clash with Metallo, I think that would be fitting," she said as they made their way to the elevators.

"I wouldn't say Metallo was the toughest part of my week. Would you believe that the prospect of going on a date with a beautiful woman was enough to make Superman a nervous wreck?"

"Only if you believe that the idea of going on a date with such a wonderful man makes even an Amazon weary," said Diana in good humor.

"Then I guess that means we're in the same boat. I'll try my best to limit the foolishness, but bear in mind that even Superman's power has limits," said Clark curtly.

"That's okay. I don't mind a little foolishness in a man, so long as he makes up for it in all the right ways."

"And what might those ways entail?" he asked.

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

She had a playful yet sexy undertone that he hadn't heard before. He tried not to respond too foolishly, taking his hand in hers and grasping it affectionately as they entered the elevator. This ambitious endeavor could now begin and in some ways, it was as daunting as ten battles with Metallo. This was the first time they allowed themselves to just be normal around one another, relatively speaking.

He didn't have to be Superman. She didn't have to be Wonder Woman. They could just be a man and a woman on a date. How far this date would take them, however, remained to be seen. But if the way she was looking at him was any indication, this night had the potential to be very memorable.


STAR Labs – Parking Garage

"This night can't end fast enough," sighed a restless Lois Lane.

It had been a tough and tedious week. Everyone was still swooning over Wonder Woman while the story about Lex Luthor's escape from justice faded almost overnight. And it wasn't just because Wonder Woman looked better in a tiara and skin-tight outfits either. Stories involving Lex Luthor often had many loose ends and unanswered questions. It was hard enough to build a coherent story when he was parading around as a benevolent businessman. It promised to be much harder with him on the run, out of sight, and surrounded by his many resources.

This didn't stop Lois from digging around with her usual fervor. She spent the past few days contacting sources, cashing in favors, and chasing whatever clues Luthor had left behind. He made sure she didn't have much to go on. It made for plenty of overtime at the office, much to the dismay of her boyfriend. That still didn't stop him from helping out, which was what led her to STAR Labs.

"I really hope these negatives you found have something important. They might be the last bread crumb Luthor is going to leave before hit men get involved," said Lois, talking to Jonathan over her phone while waiting in the driver's seat of her car.

"I hope so too because I definitely made a few enemies getting those out of Luthor's office," replied Jonathan over the phone. "His people really didn't take kindly to news crews rummaging around after Luthor fled."

"You don't get ahead in our line of work without making enemies so you must have done something right."

"I'm all for doing the right thing for my girlfriend, but it would be nice if that same girlfriend made sure this didn't become one of those stories that put a dagger to her throat."

"I can't make any promises. You know I don't like to promise anything when Lex Luthor is involved," said Lois.

"Could you at least promise me you'll call it a day after you meet up with your contact?" he asked.

"Tell you what…if this lead pans out, then I'll break out that white box I keep under our bed," she told him.

"Which one is that?"

"The one that contains that ridiculously overpriced and obscenely revealing lingerie I last wore on your birthday," Lois answered.

There was a brief silence over the phone. Lois could already picture Jonathan's face lighting up like a kid on Christmas morning. He understood better than most of her lovers that being with her meant a lot of worrying, but he also knew she loved him enough to make it feel worth it.

"And if it doesn't pan out?" he finally said.

"I'll wear it anyways to cheer myself up. That way you win either way," she told him.

She imagined his face lit up again. Lois would have loved to give him more reasons to tolerate her reckless dedication to her job, but her source had finally emerged from the secure portion of the building.

"Gotta go now, babe. Make sure you're ready for either outcome. Love you!" said Lois as she hung up her phone.

Assured that her boyfriend felt sufficiently appreciated, Lois gathered a somewhat bulky briefcase and exited her car. She then caught up with a balding, middle-aged man with glasses and a large overcoat as he made his way across the parking lot.

"Dr. Hamilton, over here!" Lois called out.

"Lois Lane, the only person in Metropolis who enjoys putting in overtime on a Friday," replied a restless Dr. Emil Hamilton, one of STAR Labs' top researchers. "To what do I owe this latest visit? And does it warrant lying to my wife again?"

"I promise you this time doesn't involve walking parasites or giant monkey robots – as far as I know," she replied. "But I need you to look over something incredibly technical that I'm not qualified to assess."

"Is that all?" he asked skeptically. "I know you, Ms. Lane. You rarely call in a favor this late without it being major."

"Do you really want to know the full story? Or do you want to get this over with and call us even? I'll even throw in a steak dinner. That way you can bring your wife home some cheesecake."

Normally, Dr. Hamilton insisted on knowing every detail. It was part of what made him a competent scientist. But in his experience with Lois Lane, some of those details were better left unsaid. He had worked with Lois before and he considered her a valuable associate, responsible for providing STAR Labs with a great deal of good press. She even singled him out in a few stories for work he did that proved instrumental in the battles against Titano and Brainiac. For that, he owed Lois more than a few favors, although that often meant putting himself in the line of fire.

This time, however, Lois was purposefully vague when she called him a few hours ago when he was preparing to close up shop for the weekend. He figured she had good reasons for doing so and decided not to probe any further than necessary.

"Very well," he said. "Depending on the nature of what you've got, it may require a few extra courses."

"Lucky for you, I skipped lunch," said Lois. "Now come on, I need to know what this is so I can determine how screwed I am."

She practically shoved the heavy briefcase into his arms, which ended up being heavier than he though. She then led him over to her car where he got into the passenger's side. From the looks of it, this was going to be a busy night for both of them.


Shuster's Ribs & BBQ

"I should be used to saying this by now, but man's world has once again surprised me. This man behind these ribs and this cheesecake is truly blessed," said a very full and very content Diana after finishing her meal.

"I agree completely," said Clark. "Growing up in Kansas, I was surrounded by some of the best barbeque in the Midwest. To date, Shuster's is the only place I've found in Metropolis that measures up."

"And I'm glad you found it. After a meal like this, I feel like I have the strength to take on a titan!" said Diana proudly.

"Well I can't have my date going hungry on me now, can I?"

Diana smiled and laughed as they sat back in their booth, having enjoyed a hardy dinner and a delicious desert. Things had settled since the initial awkwardness at the beginning of their date. They could now safely say that they were enjoying each other's company on a more personal level. And this time, it didn't require one of them to be in danger.

The cab ride to the restaurant tested their ability to deal with uncomfortable silence. Eventually, Clark broke the ice by pointing out some of the landmarks along the way and telling her some stories about what he had experienced since moving here. Diana compared some of them with her experiences in London, which helped them relax. Once they got to the restaurant, they managed to get over the idea that this was their first date, they began talking less like a couple of superheroes in disguise and more like a couple of friends enjoying each other's company.

It was a unique experience and not just because Diana had never been on a date before. The mere concept of getting to know this man on a personal level felt so strange yet so right. When their paths first crossed on the shores of Themyscira, so much of their conversations revolved around his knowledge of man's world and her desire to know everything about it. And since they were constantly working on a ship or worrying about being detected, she didn't get a chance to really learn what made this man tick. By getting to know each other like this, she learned something remarkable. Men and women really weren't that different after all.

Such a thought would have been downright blasphemous on Themyscira. Every Amazon had been brought up to believe that man's nature was savage and beast-like while a woman's was compassionate and caring. But in listening to Clark describe his hopes and dreams, along with those he encountered along the way, she noticed how similar the men and women approached their lives. They loved, hated, gained, lost, and suffered all the same. The only differences were the mentality and circumstances involved.

In that sense, Clark Kent's circumstances were wholly unique. As he described his life and his aspirations in both Smallville and Metropolis, Diana noticed a few things that set him apart from the other men he described and the men she had encountered. It led her to dig a little deeper into what made him who he was, both as Superman and as Clark Kent.

"Clark, can I ask you something personal?" asked Diana in a more serious tone.

"Sure, you can ask me anything, Diana. Just let me know if this is one of those questions I'll have to answer tactfully," said Clark, reminding her that they were still in public and couldn't broach certain issues.

"I don't think that'll be necessary here. It's more of an observation than a question, I suppose," she said. "After we parted ways, you avoided getting emotionally entangled with others. Even when you were tempted – like with this Lois Lane you mentioned – you pushed others away before they got too close."

"Well I like to think it was a lot more difficult than that, but yeah – that's the decision I made. After what happened with us, I just…didn't think I should put myself or anyone else through that again."

"That's admirable and all, but I get the impression you were already doing that before you met me. From what you told me about your life in Smallville, you did the same thing to a certain degree – not letting anyone get too close, not wanting them to get hurt. Why is that? What are you afraid of?"

It was the first difficult question that had come up since the date began. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Clark thought he was ready for it, having promised himself that he would be as honest and forthcoming with Diana as he needed to be. Part of being honest meant revealing things, intentionally and otherwise, that he wasn't used to revealing. But this still caught him off-guard somewhat.

He had to think about it for a moment. His usual inclination was to give only a partial response. It wasn't always satisfying, but it usually got his point across. But this clearly concerned Diana to some degree. If he was going to be open with her, then she deserved a full answer.

"You know, you're not the first person to point that out," Clark told her, "And if you had asked me a week ago, I probably would have given you the same answer I've been giving since I was a teenager. I'd have told you that it's part of the burden I placed on myself. Because I was so different, I had to be more responsible and that meant keeping everybody at arm's length."

"But that's not the full story, is it?" said Diana.

"It's not even half, I'm afraid," he admitted. "Even before I knew how different I was, I would look at the way other people would act around one another – men and women, brothers and sisters, parents and children – and I just didn't feel like I fit in."

"I know what that's like. Growing up in a place where practically nobody is your own age and expects you to grow up faster than you want…it's hard to feel accepted."

"I guess this is one instance where circumstances, as crazy as they might have been for us, really didn't matter. Some people are just outsiders, able to admire the view but never be part of the show," Clark sighed.

"But does that mean we can't let anyone get close by default? I may have felt isolated, but I always had my mother's love and support."

"I had that too with my parents. The Kents always made me feel loved, even if I didn't feel like I belonged. So much of who I am now is because of the love and support they gave me. But even they could only do so much. Some of the things that kept me from getting close to others – those were my choices."

Clark hadn't let himself think too much about this. He spent enough time thinking about being Superman while balancing a civilian life as Clark Kent. It felt somewhat uncomfortable, but it was also relieving to some extent. He needed to get this out. He needed to share it with someone and it helped that Diana understood in ways few could.

"I guess if I was going to give a completely honest answer, I would say that having too much to lose – that scares me," said Clark. "Even before my parents died, I didn't think I could handle losing too much. I know it's part of life, losing things and learning to cope. I just didn't know how to cope. And between losing my parents and losing you – I can't say I'm very good at it."

"I don't think anybody can say they're good at coping with such loss. Even Amazons mourn when a sister falls," said Diana.

"But they don't let that stop them from embracing others. I have and I guess that shows I'm not as good at it as I need to be. That makes it really hard to open up and let others in."

"You let me in."

"That's because you're different, Diana," said Clark as he reached across the table and grasped her hand. "You're someone I don't have to keep secrets from. Besides, with that lasso of yours, I know I can't."

"I'd never dream of using it on you, Clark," she told him.

"You won't have to. But that's not the only reason I opened up to you. There aren't a lot of people in this world who are so willing to embrace others so completely. People either focus too much on the good and ignore the bad or vice versa. But you embraced me, my flaws, and everything in between. I don't have to hide anything. I can let myself be vulnerable. And be comfortable knowing that even if I can't cope, you're still willing to embrace me."

He gave her hand an affectionate squeeze, conveying to her just how much this meant to him. Every word he said was completely genuine. It was still an unfamiliar feeling, sharing his fears and insecurities with someone. Superman wasn't supposed to have those feelings, but Clark Kent had been struggling with them for most of his life. Now he was sitting across from someone who understood and accepted these struggles. It went beyond just being attracted to this woman. Diana Prince was someone he could be completely honest with.

Diana smiled and returned the gesture, having gotten a much more detailed answer than she expected. Men were such complex creatures, much more so than what her sisters had led her to believe. She had encountered many amazing men during her time in man's world, but only Kal-El was willing to share the breadth of such complexities. Even among her sisters on Themyscira, few dared to reveal their flaws and insecurities out of fear of being considered weak. But in revealing his, this man proved to be strong in a whole new way.

"Can I ask you a question now?" asked Clark.

"I suppose it's only fair," said Diana, still smiling. "Ask me whatever you please. I will answer it as though I were bound by my lasso."

"I promise it won't be that hard," he assured. "I'm just curious about something. I noticed – going all the way back to when we first met – that you prefer to call me by my birth name."

"Is that not appropriate?" asked Diana. "I will stop if it bothers you."

"It doesn't bother me at all. I promise," said Clark, "But when we caught up a few nights ago, I told you that it's important to call me Clark when I'm not in uniform. Even after that, you kept calling me by my birth name. Why is that? Is there a reason?"

He didn't make too big a deal of it, but it definitely got his attention. Diana hadn't thought too much of it. When they first met, he had shared both his names with her. He gave the impression that he didn't do that with everybody he met. For all she knew, she had been the last person he revealed his birth name to. But in pondering his question, she saw an opportunity to do for him what he had just done for her.

"I'm afraid you just asked a harder question than you thought, but I'm more than willing to answer," said Diana.

"It's not too personal, is it?" asked Clark nervously.

"Not at all," she assured him. "Actually, this relates more to the culture I came from. You see, a big part of who we are involves embracing our heritage, even if that heritage is mired in tragedy. We don't hide who and what we are. We don't apologize for it and we don't obscure it with false rhetoric."

"Those are all admirable traits that aren't too common these days, but what does that have to do with names?"

"Names are just a small part of our heritage, but still carry a great deal of importance. We wield them like weapons. We yell them with pride when we charge into battle because we want our enemies to know who we are."

"Well you do a good job of getting that message across," said Clark.

"But your situation is different," said Diana. "You can't proclaim who you are because of what you do, although I get the sense that you wish you could on some levels. If you didn't, you never would have told me your birth name in the first place."

Clark didn't remember putting that much thought into that moment. He had just acted on an impulse, as an inexperienced young man was prone to do in front of a beautiful woman. But that didn't mean there wasn't some truth to Diana's words.

"I'll admit it's tempting sometimes, but it's still not a name I often go by," he admitted.

"But it's still a significant part of your heritage," she pointed out. "It is part of the world you came from. Even if you never told anybody, it is still a part of you. So when our paths first crossed and you shared that information with me, my first instinct was to call you by your birth name. While I didn't know the extent of your heritage at the time, I knew it had to be meaningful for you to be the wonderful man that you are."

"And you were right," said Clark.

"I didn't know just how right I was, but I've learned to trust my instincts and I'm glad I did."

It was a more detailed answer than Clark had expected, but one that provided additional insight into this amazing woman and even himself. Diana didn't just embrace others and all their faults. She embraced herself, not hiding anything about who or what she was. She carried herself with such pride, yet still maintained this uncanny capacity for compassion and humility. He could learn a lot from someone like her, both as Kal-El and as Clark Kent.

These sorts of questions changed the tone of the date considerably. They tried to keep it casual at first, but that could only go so far. Now they were learning more about each other, delving into the intricacies of who they were. It was more than they expected, but it added even more depth to a connection that only kept getting stronger.

"I'm sorry if I made that more difficult than it needed to be," said Diana in a lighter tone.

"That's all right. I appreciate the insight," said Clark. "It's actually reassuring to know that your instincts are so trustworthy."

"Where I come from, they have to be. Sometimes they're all we can rely on when we find ourselves in a difficult situation."

"Was that what also led you to help me?"

"You mean after I shot you with an arrow?" teased Diana.

"Well I would call that more of a reflex than an instinct," quipped Clark.

"Call it what you want, it shows that my culture is still very much a part of me. I won't apologize for it, but I won't justify what it taught me about men. You've already proven to me in so many ways how wonderful mankind can be. I like to think my instincts only confirm it."

This time she gave his hand a squeeze. Diana even teased him with a little footsie under the table, something Hessia had described from her own dating experience. It conveyed more affection in a less playful and more intimate manner, bringing out more of the powerful feelings they had been so eager to explore.

Despite Diana and Clark's limited dating experience, this felt like a good sign. These once overwhelming feelings kept gaining greater perspective. They were now growing in new ways, creating entirely new feelings in the process – some of which weren't appropriate in a crowded restaurant. That didn't make them feel any less right.

They continued their affectionate exchange even as the waiter came by to drop off their check. Clark and Diana hadn't forgotten that the date was just beginning. There was still plenty of time to take these feelings even farther.

"Here you go. Thanks again for picking the finest barbeque in Metropolis," said the waiter.

"Always a pleasure," said Clark as he paid with a few twenties, making sure to leave a generous tip. "Please send Chef Shuster my regards when you get a chance. Tell him the sauce was perfect."

"Will do, Mr. Kent!" nodded the waiter.

As the waiter picked up the payment and gathered their plates, Clark got up and extended his hand to Diana.

"Now that we've got a full stomach, ready for the movies?" he said in a gentlemanly tone.

"Of course, but you do know that excessive manners won't win you additional favor, right?" said Diana as she took his hand and rose up.

"I know. I'm just following my instincts," he replied with an innocent shrug.

Diana gave him a playful swat and followed him out of the restaurant. Their instincts were leading them in all sorts of interesting directions tonight. It was yet another positive sign that there was something special to this connection. Now armed with full stomachs and a long night ahead of them, they had plenty of time and energy to let it grow even more.


Metropolis – Malton's Diner

"Give it to me straight, Doc. What kind of patient am I dealing with here?" asked Lois as she watched Dr. Hamilton go over dozens of low-quality negatives.

"To be honest, I'm still not sure. But if I had to give a prognosis, I'd say it was…intriguing," replied Dr. Hamilton.

"In a good or bad way?" she said.

"That remains to be seen."

Lois was rarely certain about what she would find when she started digging into a story. But whenever that story involved Lex Luthor, she had come to expect the worst if her digging led to anything at all. Luthor was usually very good at covering his tracks and he got a lot better at it after the Syria incident. This felt like one of those stories where she wouldn't be getting the full story so she had to make sure these few parts she had obtained really counted.

Dr. Hamilton had been reviewing her materials for about an hour now. After leaving STAR Labs, she took him to a diner across town. It was low-key, but the food was still good and she made sure Dr. Hamilton remained well-nourished as he sifted through the negatives. She needed this to reveal something or at least point her in the right direction. Jonathan went through a lot of trouble to get these and he made clear that this was the most anyone was going to get at this point.

Despite being on the run and technically a fugitive, Lex Luthor made sure the press and the authorities had nothing to go on. Shortly after the Metallo story broke, Luthor's lawyers got involved and effectively sealed off his home and his Lexcorp offices. This caused its stock to take quite a hit, but Luthor could afford take the losses. Knowing Lex would not be content hiding on some remote beach for the rest of his life, Lois believed he had to be working towards a larger payoff.

"What you have here isn't your typical stack of office memos and travel receipts," explained Dr. Hamilton as he held one of the negatives up to the light. "Had someone other than you shown me this, I'd have called it a random assortment of materials that have little reason to be in the same drawer."

"Well without making too many assumptions of whose desk this came from, what can you tell me?" asked Lois intently.

"Other than you should invest in a better camera, not much," he replied. "Near as I can tell, most of the documents in these negatives are schematics of sorts. I can't make out the full design, but they involve a lot of advanced biotech components."

"How advanced are we talking about here?"

"Advanced enough to safely conclude that STAR Labs has some catching up to do," said Dr. Hamilton. "These outlines right here depict a DNA/RNA recombinating synthesizer, capable of taking various fragments of DNA, reconstituting them in an artificial substrate, and generating accelerated cellular functions within a nutrient-rich cytoplasmic medium."

"And what does that mean for those of us who don't have PHDs in biology?"

"I don't know, but it's definitely on a large scale – larger than anything that's supposed to exist at the moment. These processes are all valid on paper, but the ethical implications have kept many from doing anything this ambitious."

"Assume for a moment that the person involved is wholly unethical and pathologically ambitious," said Lois. "What could he do with components like this?"

"Without knowing the full design, it's hard to say. It would also depend on the DNA at their disposal. With the right genetic material, the kind of life forms that could be created – well, it wouldn't take much imagination to conjure something terrifying."

That didn't sit well in the slightest, ensuring Lois would be skipping desert. She knew better than most how terrifying Lex Luthor's imagination could be. Dr. Hamilton knew it too, but he avoided mentioning that name. He didn't even let himself think it. He knew all too well what happened to anyone who got too closely involved with Lex Luthor's affairs. He still had nightmares about what happened with him during the Titano incident. Even without Luthor's name attached to these schematics, this had the potential to be much worse.

"I'm not going to ask for specifics. I figure I'll sleep easier at night that way. But can you at least give me a timeframe?" asked Lois. "How long would someone with a sick enough imagination need to create something really terrifying?"

"By applying the standard rules of biology, it would take at least several months to create anything useful," Dr. Hamilton answered. "Bear in mind, however, certain rules can be bent. But don't quote me on that."

"Don't worry. I'm not quoting your or anyone else I end up dealing with. Right now, I'm just trying to get a feel for what I'm dealing with here."

"Well it's definitely cause for concern – that much, you can be sure of," he said. "However, these schematics are only part of that concern. In fact, they're not the most distressing thing I've seen in these negatives."

"Then tell me what is so I know if I should skip desert," said Lois.

"That might be a problem because this is where my expertise is severely limited."

Dr. Hamilton set aside the negatives he had been looking at and retrieved several others that he had singled out. He held them up to the light again and scrutinized the image. They stood in stark contrast to the schematics, but the implications were still distressing.

"What you're looking at here has nothing to do with biotechnology, science, or even typical business affairs," he went on. "They're just personal letters, sent by a private courier and intended to be very private. It appears some of them had been thrown away in a panic."

"Well the handsome man who got these for me did say he fished some out of a trash can," said Lois.

"And there were probably many more he couldn't save because near as I can tell, these letters are part of a conversation that has been going on for quite some time. It involves lengthy discussion regarding Greco-Roman artifacts, ancient mythology, and expeditions to various sites in Greece, Italy, and North Africa."

"I'm guessing we're not talking about vacation plans and cruises."

"It's hard to tell what they're talking about exactly, but there are a few telling themes," said Dr. Hamilton. "Some refer to prospective business clients. Some refer to inquiries made to museums and experts regarding ancient artifacts and legends. Nobody names any names. Nobody gets too specific, but this document in particular mentions elements of Greek mythology."

"What kind of elements?" asked Lois.

"I can't make out the handwriting, but there are mentions of a one particular artifact. It's some kind of knife or dagger, I believe."

This heightened Lois' interest. She recalled all too vividly how Metallo held a dagger to her neck to draw out Superman. She didn't give it much thought at the time, but she noticed that Metallo made it a point of emphasis to use the dagger to finish off Superman. He didn't try to snap his neck or poison him to death with the kryptonite. She didn't recall anyone saying they had recovered a dagger from the fight scene. Everyone had been too focused on Wonder Woman to give it much thought. She now suspected that this dagger could be the key to unlocking the truth.

"Tell me more about this dagger," said Lois intently. "What is it and why is it singled out?"

"I'm sorry, but you're asking a man who only got a C-minus in Ancient Mythology in college," said Dr. Hamilton as he set aside the negative. "Without knowing more details that I don't care to know in the first place, I can't tell you much. I can only say this artifact is very valuable."

"I didn't intend to tell you more than you want to know. I understand you're a big fan of ignorance now," said Lois in a critical tone.

"Only to the point where I don't have to lie when asked," retorted Dr. Hamilton. "But you don't need to tell me much. I can surmise certain details on my own. So before you let something slip, let me ask this – if you wanted to keep something secret, why would you only write letters that you would only end up throwing away?"

"Well if reporting on leaked text messages has taught me anything, it's because I don't trust anything electronic to stay private."

"Then you would be safe in assuming that you won't find any trace of these letters in email logs or cell phones. Someone went out of their way to make sure the information in these letters stated completely private. If there's anything else like them, then they've probably already found their way to an incinerator."

Dr. Hamilton just described Lex Luthor's tactics to the letter without using his name. She could tell by the tepid look in his eyes that he knew this too, but he didn't say it out loud. He was really going out of his way to make sure he remained blissfully unaware of what she was caught up him. While she could hardly blame him, this only made following this story more difficult.

At the very least, she established another connection. Now it made a bit more sense as to why Luthor fled to Greece when he had so many other options with his vast resources. However, he made sure he left little behind for anyone to follow. These negatives were the best she could come up with and they might not be enough.

"So what you're telling me is if I want to learn more, I'm screwed," said Lois.

"I didn't say that, but your options are limited," conceded Dr. Hamilton. "I can't do much more for you, I'm afraid. However, that doesn't mean I can't help you."

He carefully gathered the negatives and placed them back in the briefcase Lois had given her. He then retrieved a napkin from the dispenser on the table, got a pen from his pocket, and wrote down some information. While Dr. Hamilton was reluctant to get caught up in one of Lois Lane's stories, he didn't doubt for a second that she would do the right thing when push came to shove.

"I'm giving you the private contact information of a friend of a friend," said Dr. Hamilton. "His name is Professor Felix Foust. He specializes in Greco-Roman antiquities. He's a bit of an eccentric and there are some stories about him that are…unsettling to say the least."

"Sounds like some of my dad's old army buddies," commented Lois.

"But if there's a story behind this dagger, he would definitely know about it. I can't guarantee that it'll be a pleasant conversation. You might have to be tactful in how you broach this subject."

"Even more so than I am with you?"

"If you want a straight answer, sometimes you need to ask obscure questions – especially for men of peculiar obsessions," he told her.

Dr. Hamilton handed her the napkin, which now had an address and a phone number. This was as far as he could go in terms of helping her. He had every intention of forgetting this meeting and everything he saw on those negatives the moment he walked out of this diner. As Lois looked at the napkin, he put on his coat and got up from the booth.

"Thank you for the dinner and the cheesecake," he told her. "I hope you find what you're looking for, Ms. Lane. I just hope it doesn't get too messy."

"Oh come now, Doc. You know I'm only as reckless as I need to be," said Lois jokingly.

They both laughed, knowing a certain level of recklessness would be necessary to get to the truth. In both their line of work, that often led to plenty of danger. But for Lois, the danger was a lot less predictable.

Dr. Hamilton left the diner while Lois put the napkin away in her purse. She hadn't uncovered as much as she hoped, but she uncovered more than she expected. She still had a chance to reveal Luthor's closely guarded secrets, but that meant relying on new sources that she didn't even know she could trust. Since time was still a factor, she didn't have the luxury of vetting this Felix Foust in ways that couldn't be accomplished on a smart phone. Knowing this, Lois called for the check and looked up the address on her phone. She had to get to Professor Foust before Luthor, otherwise the trail would go cold.


Metropolis – Outside The New Warner Theater

Clark and Diana's first date once again settled into a more casual mood. The heightened feelings at the restaurant subsided somewhat, but only to a point. They left emboldened, eager to continue their date and see where it took them. This led them to the movie theater where more of their personal subtleties were revealed.

After waiting in line during the typical Friday night rush, they picked out a movie. There wasn't much debate. Clark showed little preference, having never been much of a movie buff. Diana took the choice a lot more seriously. She ultimately made the decision and they ended up seeing a movie that just came out. It was a typical action movie, full of explosions, overly macho men, and beautiful women. It was a surprising selection, but one that ended up being the right one in plenty of unexpected ways.

During the movie, Clark noticed another one of Diana's quirks. When she saw a movie, she loved to break down the action and point out the flaws of certain tactics. She also got excited when she saw other women participate in the fighting. That didn't come as too much of a surprise, being a warrior woman who grew up around fighting. These movies had their faults, but they were clearly one of the many features about man's world that she had come to enjoy.

When the movie concluded and they exited the theater, Diana was satisfied and sufficiently entertained. Clark didn't usually get this worked up about a movie, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable seeing Diana so upbeat.

"That movie was more satisfying than I expected," said Diana, still clinging to Clark's arm as they followed the crowd outside. "The effects were weak, but the characters were strong. I'd say that's a suitable trade-off."

"I'll take your word for it. This is the first movie I've seen in the theaters in over a year," he told her.

"You're not big on movies?"

"I like them just fine. I just rarely find the time to see them. I usually just catch them on cable."

"Complete with inane commercials and all the good parts cut out? Unacceptable!" Diana teased.

"I know. I'm terrible at keeping up with popular culture. But if I'm dating a movie buff, maybe I'll have more incentive."

She laughed while he affectionately grasped her hand. Being with Diana had already taught Clark a lot about himself. Just going to a movie with her revealed how much he had drowned himself in his work. He rarely took the time to step back and appreciate the people he was trying to protect. Having someone like Diana in his life might give him all the more reason to be a better Superman.

"Even if you haven't kept up, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did," said Diana.

"I thought it was great. It had action, comedy, and drama. There was plenty to enjoy," said Clark. "Plus, that actress who played the soldier – Gal Gadot, I think – was really something."

"I agree. She's a personal favorite of mine," she said. "A tough woman who plays tough roles – I can appreciate that."

"For obvious reasons," quipped Clark.

"If only she could get cast in a movie with a more suitable male lead. I didn't mind the actors in this movie, but there was room for improvement. Someone like Ben Affleck or Henry Cavill would have been much better."

"Well if they ever end up in a movie with Gal Gadot, you and I will be first in line to see it."

"I hope so. Good movies are worth waiting for, but sometimes waiting can be frustrating."

They appeared to the same page in terms of movies, another good sign for the course of this night. It helped add to the powerful feelings that had been growing since the date began. As they made their way away from the movie theater, they just started walking. They didn't have a destination in mind. They just kept following these feelings.

"I hope by then, you'll share in the excitement. You looked a bit uncertain at times during the movie," said Diana.

"Well to be fair, I spent the first half-hour surprised that you would pick a movie like this."

"Why is that? You didn't think I was going to make you sit through some bland chick-flick, did you?" teased Diana.

"Would you hold it against me if I thought that was a real possibility?"

"Only if you actually expected me to conform to the expectations of man's world," she scoffed.

"And you know I wouldn't dare to think that," said Clark.

"Sure you wouldn't," said Diana skeptically.

She gave him a playful nudge as they started walking down the street together. Even though Diana had thumbed her nose at plenty of traditional female stereotypes, Clark still applied them at times. It was something else he was going to have to work on if he was to be involved with this woman. Diana was a woman in a class all her own. Traditional standards just didn't apply for her.

"To be fair, I've noticed that conforming to expectations is a common issue. I've also noticed it applies to both men and women," said Diana more seriously.

"Yeah, that's one of those things most people don't talk about or scrutinize," said Clark.

"I guess coming from such a different world made it harder to overlook," she went on. "I see movies that come out and women are expected to like them. They emphasize romance, drama, tragedy, and all these generic stories that have been told since the days of Homer. And while women may consume these stories, I often wonder whether it's because they really enjoy them or if they've just been conditioned to."

"It's probably a little of both."

"You're probably right. The same applies to men. A movie comes out full of action, explosions, and beautiful women in obscene outfits – they're expected to enjoy it and they consume it willingly. But they're subject to the same conditioning. That makes it hard to know what is truly masculine and what is truly feminine."

"Sometimes it's just easier to conform to expectations," said Clark. "We all have an inherent need to be part of a community. Even people like you and me try to belong."

"And that can be dangerous sometimes," said Diana. "I came from a culture where expectations are much more stringent. So when I tried to defy them…well, you know how that turned out."

"That doesn't mean it wasn't the right thing to do."

"I know it was right. But it still troubles me because I see it seems to pervade every culture I encounter. Men and women are expected to behave a certain way. Sometimes there's even the illusion of choice. It makes me wonder, at times, at what this means."

"It's worth thinking about. Then again, I always ended up having to make tough choices, regardless of what everyone expected."

"You would be an exception in that respect and a rare one at that," said Diana, "But there are so many others who never got to make the choice I made – to defy expectations and do what feels right rather than what feels appropriate. How many have denied themselves the same satisfaction I've experienced?"

Diana had a way of raising difficult questions about difficult issues. It was something Clark didn't often think about. So much of his issues involved confronting physical dangers that others couldn't confront. This was something that ran deeper, so much so that even the power of Superman couldn't grasp it.

As they walked along the busy sidewalks, taking in the crowds of men and women going about their business, it was hard not to contemplate the expectations driving them. Clark saw a young woman wearing a dress she clearly didn't like while walking with her father and mother. He also noticed a boy eating some ice cream from a cone that he seemed to enjoy, but not as much as the siblings walking near him. He even saw another couple walking down the opposite street. The woman was latched to the man's arm, just like Diana was with his. They seemed to be having a good time, but they also seemed to be doing what was expected of them for a typical date. Something about that bothered him. Looking back at Diana, he didn't want this relationship to be typical.

"We'll probably never know for sure. There's not much we can do to change what people expect of one another. These expectations aren't something we can touch or overpower in a fight," said Clark.

"So what can we do?" she asked with a sigh.

"We can do what we're already doing. We can inspire," he said strongly. "We show that we can be more than what we're expected to be. And if we can do it right, then others will do it as well."

"And you think that's enough?"

"I believe that's the best way to do it. You can't force positive change. People will make the right decisions when they know those decisions are genuine."

"That's undeniably noble, but also frustratingly tedious," Diana pointed out.

"Well like that movie with Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck, and Henry Cavill you mentioned, it's worth waiting for."

Diana laughed again, which helped lighten the mood once more. They seemed to have a knack for doing that around one another. It was a valuable skill to have, especially if this was to be the first of many dates. It gave them plenty of positive expectations in that regard.

"Only you could make something so noble seem so appealing," said Diana, taking his hand and entwining their fingers.

"That's how I inspire," said Clark with a smile.

"And you do it well," she told him. "And since you've inspired me so, I propose we do something that defies expectations for two people on a first date. To hell with propriety! Let's just do something we can enjoy and not care about how others may perceive it."

"Only you could make something so defiant seem so appealing," said Clark, noting the excitement in her tone.

"Then help me think of something before we start second-guessing ourselves," she said with more urgency. "It'll help make this date more memorable than it already is."

Knowing Diana would not back down when she was this certain about something, Clark began thinking. He wanted this date to be as memorable as possible and so did Diana. He forced himself to not make excuses for anything that came to mind, but it also had to be special.

They kept walking for a couple blocks, mulling over the possibilities. Then, as they passed by a sporting goods store, Clark got an idea that was both outrageous and appropriate.

"Hold up, Diana. I just thought of something," he said as they stopped walking.

"What is it, Clark?" said Diana, who had been blanking on ideas.

"It's actually something I hoped to do before we parted ways last time, but we never got the chance. We'll have to go into this sporting goods store for a moment and hail another cab, but I think you're going to enjoy this!"


Later – Metropolis Central Park

"Are you ready, Diana? This is for the win," said Clark intently.

"I'm ready, Clark. Do it already!" said Diana confidently.

Taking the Amazon warrior at her word, Clark proceeded as planned. Emotions were intensifying. Passions were running high. This date had quickly taken on a profoundly different tone, but not in the way either of them expected.

"Down! Set…Blue 52! Blue 52!" he shouted. "Hike!"

It unfolded exactly as they had drawn it up. Diana snapped him the football he bought from the sporting goods store and the play unfolded. Diana, having tossed aside her heels, ran out in the specified pattern he described. She did a double move and then went long, showing agility that few would expect for a woman in a dress. But she didn't mind in the slightest. As soon as she got far enough, Clark threw the ball downfield in a perfect spiral and Diana made an acrobatic catch. As soon as she had it in hand, she held it up and celebrated.

"Touchdown!" Diana proclaimed. "Game over and another comeback for the ages! Clark Kent has done it again and led his team to victory!"

"You're having way too much fun with this, Diana," laughed Clark from across the field, "And no, I'm not complaining in the slightest."

"Never be afraid of too much fun, Clark. Some things are worth overdoing!" she replied as she skillfully spun the football on the tip of her finger.

"I've never really had a chance to have this much fun before, but I could get used to it."

Diana smiled and threw the ball back towards him, which he caught easily. When imagining the perfect date with Diana, Clark never could have imagined something like this. It went against all every notion of what constituted a date, but it still worked so beautifully.

It sounded crazy when he first said it out loud, but Diana went along with it. First, they went into a sporting goods store where Clark purchased a couple of regulation footballs. Then, they hailed a cab and rode it to Metropolis Central Park. At this hour, it was mostly dark with the exception of a full moon and a few security lights. That was fine by them because it meant more privacy. They soon found an open field near a baseball diamond. Diana then removed her heels and they began playing football, carrying on as though they were a couple of kids fooling around in the back yard.

It certainly went against expectations, but it was fitting in a number of ways. While Clark had been stranded on Themyscira, he tried to teach Diana about the various sports in man's world. Football ended up appealing to her most. She appreciated the skill and athleticism it required. She also enjoyed the hitting. That certainly resonated with her Amazonian heritage. At one point, he tried to make a football out of boar skin so they could play a little before he left. The arrival of Diana's mother and sisters changed those plans, but that only made the end result more worth it.

"So what other plays can we run? I'm willing to risk a few more grass stains if you are," said Diana as she jogged back across the field.

"I think you've exhausted my football knowledge," replied Clark as he casually tossed her the ball. "There's only so much we can do without pads and a goalpost, I'm afraid."

"That's okay. I like this. You and me – having fun through feats of strength and agility – it feels right."

"Which is saying something in and of itself," noted Clark.

"I agree. It says we have our own unique way of doing things. And guess what? It works."

She tossed the ball back again and he did the same. Instead of running plays or getting overly elaborate, they just started playing catch. It was so simple yet it felt so right. For a moment, Clark and Diana were back on the beaches of Themyscira, having the kind of innocent fun that young people were supposed to have. Now here they were, a couple of adults who had to endure plenty of hardship to get to this point. Something about that made this connection they shared all the more meaningful.

"I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to do something like this before," said Clark, his tone shifting as they kept tossing the ball. "It would have been nice to do something like this back on the island, even if it ended the way it did."

"Yes, it certainly would have. Then again, there were a lot of things we didn't get to do," said Diana. "There was so much more I wanted to learn. There was so much more I wanted to share with you."

"That's for sure. But I wasn't just talking about what we could learn from each other."

When Diana threw the ball towards him this time, he held onto it. He looked down at the ball and back at her. In his memories, he still saw the beautiful teenage girl who yearned to embrace the outside world. Now, that girl had grown into a woman who had experienced that world and somehow became more wonderful because of it. In himself, he saw someone who had been profoundly influenced by this woman. While he only knew her for a brief while in his youth, she helped him become the man he was now.

After reuniting with her and spending this night with her, it put a lot of things about the past and present into perspective. As he looked at Diana under the soft moonlight, he realized something he never got a chance to realize when he first met her. And he had to share it with her while he still had the chance.

"Diana, as much fun as this night has been, there's something I need to get out…something I wish I could've shared with you years ago," said Clark.

"What is it, Clark?" asked Diana, sharing his more serious tone.

Setting the ball aside, Clark approached her with the same demeanor as his younger self. He allowed himself to be vulnerable again, standing before her with the utmost sincerity. She looked at him with her caring eyes, ready to embrace him no matter what.

"For most of my life, I've always had this…emptiness inside me that made me feel alone," said Clark. "Being the last of my kind and not being able to share that with anyone isn't something I can just ignore. My parents, my friends, my colleagues, and the people I save – they all make me feel loved and I'm always willing to return the feeling. But there are parts of that emptiness they can never fill."

Clark gently cupped her chin and caressed her face, gazing upon her with a special kind of affection that made even an Amazon warrior falter.

"It wasn't until I met you on that island that the emptiness finally faded," he continued. "I may have been young, but I know what I felt. I just didn't know how deep it went."

"I felt it too. It was pretty deep," said Diana with equally strong affection.

"Being around you, I didn't feel alone. I didn't feel lost. I felt stronger in ways I never felt after I saw you again. There were even times during those final days where it had gotten to a point where I started feeling things that I couldn't leave behind on that island. And I'm convinced that if we had just a little more time, I would have been able to at least admit it."

"Admit what, Clark?" asked Diana intently, her heart now racing. "Tell me now before so you don't have to wait another five years to say it."

"That I was starting to fall in love with you," he said, not giving himself a chance to hesitate. "I could've said it. Or at the very least, I could have hinted at it. But I never got the chance."

It struck with the force of a titan army, this admission that they had both felt but never articulated. Diana found herself drifting deeper into Clark's warmth, wrapping her arms around his neck so that he could feel the extent of her own emotions. It left them paralyzed in a way they had never experienced, but they didn't dare fight it.

"You didn't have to say it or hint it, Kal. I felt it. We both did," said Diana in a soft tone.

"But still…" began Clark, still having so many things he left unsaid.

"But nothing," she told him, placing a finger on his lips. "You started falling in love with me. I started falling in love with you. Being separated didn't stop that process. So let's not agonize over all the steps we skipped."

"We missed a lot. And I don't want to miss anymore."

"We won't. We're here now…together and strong. No emptiness…no lost chances…just us."

There was nothing more to say at this point. Under the soft glow of the moonlight, that process that began five years ago on Themyscira could finally be complete. Nothing else was getting in their way. Nothing was holding them back. With these powerful feelings guiding them and burning emotions fueling their desires, their faces drifted closer together until their lips finally touch to form a passionate kiss.

In an instant, everything that had kept Clark and Diana apart disappeared. The connection they had formed strengthened and through that connection, a new outpouring of emotion flowed. Their tender kiss turned into an outburst of passion. Diana clung to his shoulders while Clark slipped his arms around her waist, holding her in his powerful arms. Any remaining reservations they had officially faded. They would not hold back on this night. They were going to express this feeling in its fullest and nothing was going to stop them.


Metropolis Technical and State University – Antiquities Department

"Professor Foust? Professor Foust, are you there?" asked an increasingly desperate Lois Lane. "Your teaching assistant told me you were working late. I hope you have time to talk."

She frantically knocked on the door of Professor Foust's office for the third time. She knew she was pushing her luck at this point, hoping that the professor would be working late on a Friday night. This was her last source. If she hit a dead end here, then the story would be dead. She needed it to pan out or Lex Luthor will have once again outwitted the truth.

As soon as she left the diner, Lois drove straight to the campus where Professor Foust conducted most of his studies. Not surprisingly, he worked primarily out of a department that got most of its funding from a Lexcorp subsidiary. There was nothing that directly tied this funding to the work of Felix Foust. That would have been too obvious for Luthor, but Foust's department did receive a disproportionate share of the funding. That alone assured Lois that she was on the right track. But as soon as she arrived at the campus, she already got the sense that she was too late.

"What am I doing wasting my breath?" she sighed. "At this hour, I need to skip a few steps."

Lois tried opening the door. As expected, it was locked. That meant the teaching assistant she talked to on the phone a half-hour ago had either been lying or was misinformed. She decided to work under the assumption that Foust was a man who didn't always tell the truth to his subordinates. If worked with Lex Luthor, then he probably shared a few of his defining personality traits. That meant she would have to break a few rules to get the story she wanted.

She briefly looked to her right and then to her left, making sure that nobody else walking the halls. At this hour, it was pretty quiet so Lois was in the clear. She then reached into her purse and retrieved a pocket knife that she always carried with her and used one of the tools to pick the lock. It was a less-than-ethical practice, but one she found she often had to use when investigating a Lexcorp story. Picking locks wasn't her specialty, but growing up on army basis and having to survive in volatile situations made it a skill worth having.

'I can already hear Perry yelling at me from his office. He's saying I'm really pushing it, breaking into the offices of people who might have nothing to do with a story. If he's smart, he won't ask. That way only one of us has to lie.'

It didn't take long for her to get it unlocked. She looked around to again to make sure the coast was still clear. Then she entered the office and turned on the light. What she saw was a story in and of itself.

"Okay, this is a little disconcerting," Lois said to herself.

She had just walked into the domain of someone who was more than a little passionate about his work. This walked a fine line between dedication and obsession, but she got the sense that the line had been crossed long ago.

Felix Foust's office wasn't an office as much as it was a museum crammed into the confines of an office. Every wall was lined with artwork and displays, each depicting or containing ancient artifacts. Most were of a very Greco-Roman nature, but there were a few other exotic displays that Lois didn't recognize. They included things like vases, fresco fragments, swords, shields, and jewelry. Some of this stuff looked like it belonged under lock and key in a real museum, which led her to believe that Foust didn't acquire these relics through entirely legitimate means.

In addition to the artifacts, there were also mountains books stacked on every table. Some reached as high as the ceiling and weren't all that organized. Some even lay open on the tables, indicating that Foust was in the middle of something. His desk alone had several books opened along with several laminated parchments. Since Lois didn't have time to become an expert on ancient mythology or artifacts, she focused on these materials. She needed to get a sense for what had been up to and how it could relate to Luthor.

"Okay, I'm going to try and ignore the fact that I'm in some fanboys shrine to all things Ancient Greek," said Lois as she stepped over a few stacks of papers. "What are you up to, Foust? What could Luthor be paying you to research?"

She began sifting through the books and papers on his desk. She couldn't make sense of most of it since it was written in a language she didn't speak. There were a few documents containing research materials and references to a rare collection of artifacts that existed mostly in myth rather than history. She didn't see anything that looked like the dagger that Dr. Hamilton had deemed so important. But one parchment did catch her eye.

After clearing aside a few books, Lois spread out the parchment a little more to reveal a more elaborate depiction. Part of it appeared to be a map of sorts, detailing a remote area in Greece. It highlighted a temple complex, complete with records of rituals and sacraments. On the other part of the parchment was a smaller depiction of a large suit of armor. It didn't look like any armor she had ever seen in history or in myth. It had all sorts of ancient symbols associated with it, but Foust had placed a post-it note over with two underlined words.

"The Annihilator Armor," Lois read. "It sounds more like an action figure than an artifact, but it must be something important to put this much work into it. I'd love to ask questions about it. What are the chances you're still around to answer them, Professor Foust?"

She continued sifting through the books and documents strewn along Professor Foust's desk. Lois needed to find a calendar or an itinerary of sorts to see if she could at all catch up with him. A man who was this thorough with his research had to have something. He clearly hadn't told his teaching assistant so she would have to piece it together herself.

Then, as Lois dug through another stack of books on a table next to Foust's desk, she found his printer. In the tray, she saw a couple sheets of paper that had been printed out and never retrieved. When she retrieved them to see what they contained, her determination immediately turned to dismay. Her worst fear had just been confirmed.

"Damn you, Foust! Damn you, Luthor!" she cursed as she clutched the sheets of paper. "You did it again. You ruined all my hard work. Could this night get any worse?"


Metropolis – Clark's Apartment

It was official. This was the best night of Clark Kent's life. His date with Diana had become something much more. All these powerful feelings that had plagued them both for the past five years became much less complicated. Now it was really happening. Every pent of feeling was set to manifest in a physical act.

It began in the park with one kiss. That kiss turned into an emotional outpouring of every emotion they wanted to convey to one another. This emotional outpouring soon became mixed with a burning desire. That desire led them to skip whatever else they had planned for the night and return to Clark's apartment. They didn't get a cab this time. They couldn't wait that long. They broke the agreement they made early on about not using their powers and took to the sky. Then, at speeds too fast for anyone in the city to see, Diana and Kal made it back to the apartment in mere seconds. Once the door was closed behind them, the final culmination of their passions could begin.

"Clark…Kal…nothing better tear you away from me this time," said Diana in her heated desperation.

"It won't, Diana. I promise," said Clark intently.

Desperation became determination as they resumed their passionate kissing. Having returned to normal speed, they stumbled into the apartment in a fury of affectionate gestures. Their lips and tongues swirled, their hands wildly roamed, and their bodies became enmeshed within their strong embrace, ruffling their clothes and fueling the urge to shed them. At one point, Diana jumped up and threw her legs around his waist. He instinctively caught her, allowing him to get a nice grip on her butt. And as their heated kissing intensified, he led her towards his bedroom.

In the midst of this growing passion, Clark higher functions hadn't completely shut down. He knew where this was going. Diana had to know as well. The way she clung to him made clear how much she wanted this. He wanted it too. He never wanted anything so badly before in his life. But if they went through with this, it opened the door to a new host of possibilities. They would no longer just be a man and a woman who decided to go on a date. They wouldn't just be two people who met in their youth and formed a special connection either. They would become something much more profound.

Following these powerful wants and desires, Clark sat Diana down on the foot of his bed. They continued with their heated kissing. It was becoming unbearable, the growing need to express their passion. But before it became too overwhelming, their lips parted briefly and Clark gazed lovingly into Diana's eyes.

"Diana…do you want this?" he asked her breathlessly.

"Yes…I want this so bad," answered Diana without hesitation.

"Just know that if we do this – it changes things. You and me…become something much bigger. It might be something we're not ready for."

"You think we're not ready?"

"I think we're not thinking clearly right now."

He almost sounded reluctant, but she could tell how much he wanted this. The way he held her in his arms with such strength and care gave the impression that they were about to lose control. Superman and Wonder Woman couldn't lose control. But as far as she was concerned, they weren't Superman and Wonder Woman at the moment. They were just Diana and Kal, two powerful beings immersed in passion. Their thinking might not be clear, but their feelings couldn't be more certain.

"Then don't think. Just feel," Diana told him. "Feel this with me. Share it with me. I want it. You want it too, don't you?"

"Of course I do," said Clark.

"Then embrace it with me," she urged him. "Don't think about what it means. Just embrace it for what this is."

"And what exactly is this? What would you call it?" he asked her.

"It's exactly what you think it is, Kal. Now take me in your arms, lay me on your bed, and make love to me. You'll be my Superman. And I'll be your Wonder Woman."

She smiled lovingly and he smiled back. He then kissed her again and followed her urgings. Together, they embraced this feeling.

Without these reservations, basic passions took over. They shed their clothes, slipped under the soft sheets of the bed, and let their lustful actions convey their loving sentiment. Their bodies soon moved together in a graceful yet heated dance, manly muscle clashing harmoniously with womanly curves. Sharp gasps and desperate cries of bliss soon filled the room. Lips and tongues continued roaming, tasting the sweet bliss of their flesh. It was ecstasy every bit as strong as the powers they wielded.

Through this act, there was no more doubt about what it was or where it would lead them. This connection they had made was special. Now that they had come together and embraced it fully, the implications were now clear. Clark and Diana were falling in love. Now, in wake of this powerful act, that love was ready to blossom.


Up next: Strong Hearts and Cold Trails