Chapter 9

"What is it, Clark?" Richard said as he stopped in the very middle, watching as Clark walked closer to the edge of the roof. The Daily Planet globe was not where it usually was. It had fallen a few days before. Superman had stopped it just before hitting his uncle Perry. Just another reminder of the man that had changed his relationship with Lois and with it his entire life.

"You were honest with me and I think it's only fair that I am honest with you." Clark said.

Richard still didn't understand the magnitude of what was about to happen, just like Lois hadn't either the day before. In his mind, he slowly started thinking the worst. "What are you talking about, Clark?"

He saw him hesitate. Clark had said he loved Lois, but he wasn't going to interfere in her relationship with him. He had understood he only wanted to see Jason, had that changed? Did he want Jason for himself? Had something happened between Lois and Clark the night before? Why hadn't he asked more questions about what they had talked about? Clark had seemed very cooperative, then.

"What I'm about to tell you is very… difficult." Clark said, staring at him.

He asked again. "What are you talking about, Clark?"

"I'm going to tell you something nobody else knows about me." He said it, and then reconsidered, "Not true. There are two people who know. One of them is my mother."

Richard chuckled, dying of curiosity. "And the other?"

"Lois."

"Lois?"

"I just told her yesterday."

"You mean," Richard narrowed his eyes, "when she told you about Jason?"

Clark's eyes looked up, remembering, "No, a little after that."

Nodding in understanding, Richard crossed his arms, waiting for this big secret to be revealed. "All right. If you feel you need to tell me…"

"I feel is the right thing to do… considering…"

"Considering what?"

"The circumstances…"

"What circumstances?" Pressed Richard.

"Our circumstances."

"Can you… elaborate?"

He saw Clark breathe nervously, almost scared. Then he turned to look at him, carefully. "You can't tell anybody."

Richard snorted, trying to think on who would want to know a secret coming from shy, clumsy reporter Clark Kent. "I won't."

"It's not an easy secret."

Rolling his eyes, Richard nodded, "All right. I promise I won't tell anybody. Now please tell me, I'm dying with anticipation."

Giving him a half smile, Clark waited. "When I tell you… you may be angry at first… but let me explain."

"Why would I be angry?" Richard raised his voice, "Jesus, Clark, tell me what's bothering you. I won't get angry, I won't tell a soul. I swear. Now please, trust me."

Trust. Why would Clark Kent trust him?

"I'm Superman." He muttered.

He probably had heard wrong. "Sorry, what?"

Clark looked away, pursing his lips. "I'm Superman, Richard."

"Did you say that… you were Superman?" Richard repeated, unable to believe his ears.

"That's right."

The sudden attack of laughter made Clark chuckle with him. It did sound funny, didn't it? "What are you talking about, Clark? You're not Superman."

"Yes, I am." Then Clark stood up straight, like he really meant what he was saying.

"No. You're not."

"Why would I tell you I was if I wasn't?" Clark narrowed his eyes. "It's the truth."

"Yeah, right." But there was now doubt in Richard's voice. "Really?" He pointed at him. "You're serious?"

"Yes, I'm serious. I can prove it."

For a moment Richard just stood there, staring at him. He had thought about it before. The height, the hair, the eyes. It all made sense. But he had dismissed the idea then, why shouldn't he dismiss the idea now.

"You can prove it?" He asked, though he really didn't need to. He had focused hard enough, and it was true. Clark looked exactly like Superman. Except for those glasses, the hair-do and the suit. He was Superman.

"I can fly." He said casually. To his astonishment, Clark Kent, dressed as he was, levitated off the floor. All Richard could do was stare; his mouth half open, his entire world gone, only the realization that Clark Kent was Superman remained.

"Oh, my God." He whispered. "You're Superman."

Landing on the roof again, Clark cocked his head to the side. "Now I need to explain…"

Explain what? "No. You don't need to explain anything." Richard barked, now out of his trance and seemingly possessed, "It's all clear now. She wants you. And she can have you, can't she? You're not only a god, you're also a man. What she always wanted."

"No, Richard, let me explain."

"No! You came back and you lied to everybody and now she's leaving me to be with you. You abandoned her, you bastard!"

"Richard…"

But Richard turned around, ready to leave. "Get out of my way." He found it irritating when Clark super-sped in front of him, blocking his way to the door.

"Please, listen."

"No." Richard repeated, not looking at him, "Get out of my way… Clark."

"I can't."

Richard felt this incredible urge to hit him. All these emotions started to fill his very soul and the realization that if this man was really Clark Kent and Superman at the same time, which meant that he didn't stand a chance. Before, at least it was clear where he stood with Clark Kent. He had assumed both of them would be fighting over Lois fair and square. Both having to compete against The Man of Steel. The situation was different now, and just in a matter of seconds, all had changed.

"I'm going to ask again…" began Richard.

Clark was quick to interrupt, raising his arm to stop him. "For both Lois and Jason's safety, I can't let you go until you hear me out. I'm sorry, there's no other way I know how to deal with this."

"You're Superman, I thought you were perfect." Richard said.

"What?" He seemed genuinely surprised. "I know you're angry, Richard. But everything I told you this morning is true. Everything. I'm just a man. Just like you."

Richard snorted, shook his head and looked back at Clark. "You're not just like me, Clark. You're like a god."

"I'm not a god."

Giving a step forward, Richard confronted Superman, dressed as Clark Kent. "You can fly, you're strong, invulnerable. You aren't just like me."

"Yes, I am."

"No, you're not."

"Listen to me, Richard." Clark pleaded, "I am just a man. Yes, I come from another planet, but that's not my fault. And I have been keeping this secret from everyone for a long time. Only now, I have a son. That means I have to start making different decisions. One of those was to tell you the truth.

"I want you to be with Jason, just like I want you to stay with Lois. She looks happy. Jason only knows you as his father. He has no idea who I am. I don't want to be the one to end a good thing."

After a moment, Richard said: "Jason will find out, won't he? That you're his real father, I mean." Sarcasm in his tone. "Clark, it's not your decision to make. Lois will decide what to do, and I bet she will go with Superman. Does she know the truth about you?"

"Yes, I just told her." Right, he did mention that, didn't he?

"So, she didn't know… before?" He sounded puzzled. "Wait a minute. How did she have your kid if she didn't know that you were the same person?" Realization filled his face. "You didn't tell her and yet you took her into your bed? You really are a piece of art."

That seemed to hurt Clark extremely; Richard could see it in his eyes. He suddenly felt embarrassed to have said such a thing.

"I know I don't deserve her." Clark said quietly. "I lied to her, I didn't trust her. And yes, I left her. I didn't know about Jason then, but that's not an excuse."

"You're right. It's not."

Clark turned to look at Richard once more; he had been looking into the city below them. "But I love her, and I love Jason. Please understand, Richard. I am the only one left. There is nobody left from Krypton, but me. And yet here, I have a son. I'm not alone anymore. That means a lot to me."

This infuriated Richard, why would he need to show how vulnerable he truly was, it made it harder to hate him and he wanted to. The truth was, he was so confused with emotion that he didn't know what to do. Seeing Clark in front of him, knowing that behind the clothes, the blue suit was hiding, made him feel like he was the one being unfair.

"I'm sorry about your situation, Clark, but you're no martyr." He said.

"I know. I just want what's best for Jason and Lois. And right now," Clark explained, "telling you the truth about who I am seemed like the most intelligent thing to do. It wasn't easy, though. Please Richard, don't make me regret my decision."

"You mean if I tell everybody your secret? What will you do to me? Kill me?"

"Don't be stupid, Richard. Of course not." Reassured Clark. "But it could kill Lois… or Jason. Think about it. If people knew that I had a life besides being Superman, it would put them in jeopardy. It would put my mom in jeopardy."

That threw Richard off. "Your mom?"

"Yes, my mom. Martha Kent." Clark stated, "She has done nothing to you. And nobody relates her to Superman now. I would do anything to protect her, just like you would do anything to protect Lois and Jason, right?"

Richard had to agree. Yes, Clark was right; he had to keep this secret. And Clark had been right since the beginning. It was a hard secret to keep.

"Fine." Richard blurted, "I won't tell anybody. You have my word." He looked away. "But you can't expect me to act normal about it. And you can't expect me to move aside and stop trying and win Lois back. I may look alright, but I'm freaking out. I mean, look at you… you're Superman!"

This calmed Clark enough to smile. "Thank you, Richard."

"Don't." He replied. "Now, if you don't mind, I need to get out of here. I need time to think."

With that, he went around Clark Kent and entered the building through the metal door.

To be continued…