Review Comments:
Mr. Wartburg - There is an extremely good chance the archaeologist mentioned is Carter Hall, haha.
Jas- El - I was really worried that people wold think I was stealing that scene from the new Man of Steel trailer, so I'm glad you know that's the actual canon. And you definitely hit the nail on the head with how Clark sees himself and the world. I'm pretty proud of that X-Ray banter because I wanted to combine the best Superman with the best Lois, haha. The idea of not reshaping the world because you can, will be a big deal to Clark, so it was a much needed parallel.
blaker316 - I'm glad you liked it!
LoisNClark4Ever - I'm glad that you liked it! Awww, you're gunna make me blush! haha. More than anything else, what makes Superman the best is that he represents the best of what we can be. He has so much power, and he could change the world by force if he wanted to, but when people see what he choses to do with that power, it hits home in a big way. It's going to be a recurring theme, so I don't wanna give too much away, but Superman really does equal hope.
Superman For All Seasons is a little older, so it might take some rooting through the back issue boxes, but if you're not anti-digital comics (I personally prefer print, but I don't blame those who like the digital ease), you can find them on Comixology easily enough. There are four issues, one done in a different POV for each issue.
SmallvilleAU52 - Lex isn't about to wager his future legend with Clark over a petty thing like his identity. If it comes down to it, Lex wants to kill him fair and square. I'm glad you like the Metallo fight! It was fun to write! And I'm glad you liked how Clark changed his outfit, I wanted to do something new and a little more modern than the phone booth. Clois is slowly on the rise, but they'll have plenty of bumps along the way. They need to build their bond first.
Adding other DC Heroes is definitely going to be a ton of fun, and the Flash is definitely one of my favorites. I loved writing the real heroes talk between Lois and Clark, because she needs to know how much he respects her. I don't want her falling for just Superman, Clark Kent deserves her love too. Victor will get an upswing soon, haha.
Guest - Your wish is my command! New chapter time!
Author: CaptainTightPants12
Rating: K
Disclaimer: If I owned Superman, his story lines, or any related characters, you'd be seeing this story in the pages of the this month's issue of Superman and not for free on FanFiction. Ditto any DC Comics characters or storylines.
Summary: After Barry Allen changes history to save the world, Clark Kent faces an uncertain destiny in a new world.
Chapter: #26, Old Flames
Author's Note: And, how does Lois and the world react to Superman's big story? Find out here! Sorry it's a day late, this weekend was just insanely busy, I even had to move Laundry Day from Sunday to Monday... the horror... haha. Enjoy!
"Smallville, you don't get it."
Clark rolled his eyes, playing annoyed when he was enjoying every second. "I can see that, Lois."
She was all too proud of her front page story. Meet The City's New Savior, Superman! She hadn't stopped ranting about it since it went to print this morning. "You have to understand, this guy is the real deal. I mean, I know I was a sceptic-"
"You flew to Central City to try and find him," Clark laughed.
"-but I'm serious now. I'm true believer in this red and blue, super-dude," she wagged her finger. "And he's not like that guy in Central City, moving too fast to get caught. Or being all creepy in the shadows like that weirdo in Gotham. He's ready to step out into the light and lead by example. For free. Tell Lex Luthor to suck on that."
He snickered and gave her puppy eyes, "Can we? Can we please? I'll drive."
Lois rolled her eyes, "I'm not going to let the poster child for Rogaine ruin this for me, Smallville. Luthor's been calling himself Metropolis' Savior for years, trying to buy the city's love with his money and crap named after himself, mind you, so it's a good thing my Man of Steel is bulletproof because Baldie is gunna be gunning for him."
"Your Man of Steel?" Clark smirked. "Should I look for the followup story: I Spent The Night With Superman?"
"Not that it's any of your business, but it's pretty clear that we've struck up a connection. He clearly sees me as the fighter of Truth, Justice, and American Way that I've always been," she explained proudly with her head high.
He laughed loudly, "I've seen you lie, break the law, and you have more european shoes than a Kardashian."
She fixed a sassy look on him, "Green is not your color, Clark Kent. Jealous much?"
"Don't worry, Lois," Clark laughed as he stood up. "You can have Superman all to yourself. I have to run downstairs to meet with Jimmy and get some shots for a piece I'm doing for the big Queen Industries conference next month."
She waved her hand at him and went back to her desk, "Run along, Smallville, don't want to have to get my Big Blue Boy Scout to kick your butt for sassing me. He prefers to avoid violence anyways."
Clark rolled his eyes and walked away, trying not to dance his way to the elevator.
It wasn't that long when she felt a hand start to caress her shoulder, and she tried not enjoy the idea of it being Clark. "Don't you need to go get pictures from Jimmy, Smallville? Do you really need me to kick-"
"Who is Smallville?"
Lois jumped out of her chair like a bolt, "Who the hell- John? John Corben?"
He smiled and look at the waste basket next to her desk, "I see you got my flowers, why are they in the trash?"
"I didn't have any room on my desk," she shrugged. John took a moment to notice with all the trash and papers, there really wasn't any room on her desk, not that she actually meant that. "Besides, I told you to stop months ago." She paused for a second before clenching her jaw. "So if you're here... I take it my father is in town then? What's he here for? Probably making another shady deal with Lex Luthor behind my back, giving him another military contract to exploit?"
John shook his head with a smile, "Not even a hug hello, Lois?" He took her glare as a firm no. "Your father is in town to help keep our country safe. You really should talk to him, I know that deep down he misses you."
"My father and I are no different than you and I, John" she snapped cooly. "Practically strangers."
"We did have a date, Lois, and your father was right. We would be good together. I knew it that night. Settling down and having a few kids? Would be good for you, ya know?" John asked despite her disgusted expression. "Definitely help clear your head from the insanity of this place and temper your ridiculous crusade for spreading "the truth", as you call it."
Lois wondered what the prison sentence for strangling a sergeant in the US military would be.
John took her expression for some kind of realization and reached for her hand, "A reporter can't change the world, Lois."
"Get your hands off me, John!" she shouted, batting his advance away.
He leaned in with a harsh whisper, "Hey! Don't dismiss me, Lois!"
Clark had been watching for a few moments, trying to decide if it was his place to step in, but right about then a part of him that decided that it was his place to step in and get involved. Subtly. He quickly found himself very close to them, trying to place a hand on John's shoulder without ripping his arm off. "Excuse me, I hope I'm not interrupting..."
Corben turned around and glared, "What the hell do you want?"
It took a second for him to remember that he was supposed to be bumbly, nervous Clark Kent. He quickly pushed his glasses back up his nose and flashed a polite smile. "Ah, well, Lois and I, I think we were supposed to grab lunch, right?"
She looked at him with a thankful grin, "It's a date, Smallville." She shut an ugly look at Corben.
"And who is this supposed to be?" Corben asked with a steely gaze and cool tone to his voice.
Lois rolled her eyes at how he tried to size up Clark. "This is Clark Kent, he's my partner. Smallville, this is John Corben."
He gave him a bit of a awkward wave that clearly didn't impress Corben. He moved in close to Clark, clearly trying to show some kind of physical domination technique to intimidate Clark. "Partner, eh?" Corben smirked. "Nice glasses, Kent"
Clark stuck out his hand with what he hoped looked like a friendly smile, "Thanks. They were my dad's."
His offer was received with an even bigger smirk from Corben as he took his hand and squeezed what Clark assumed was as hard as he could. "I guess things run in families. My father was a soldier, and well, I'm guessing yours liked math, so you can do it. Tell you what, how about I take Lois to lunch and you get back to World of Warcraft. What do you say?"
"My father is a farmer, backbone of society and such," Clark gritted through a smile before squeezing Corben's hand hard enough to surely cause a couple fractures, not that Corben would dare complain in front of Lois. "And really, if you wouldn't mind, I really need to catch-up with Lois about work stuff. And I'm really more of a comic book kind of guy."
Corben coughed, trying to mask the pain, "Right. Wouldn't want to get in the way of work."
"Really?" Lois asked in surprise, not that she minded one bit.
"I'll tell your father you said hello," he grunted.
Corben quickly retreated away and Lois looked at Clark with a big smile. "What the hell, Smallville?" Clark gave her a confused look. "John Corben's my father's deadliest pet soldier. He's a heartless killer, Clark."
"Really?" Clark shrugged. "Seemed like a nice guy to me."
"I've never seen anyone stare him down before," she chuckled. "Let alone blow him off like that."
He shrugged again, trying to seem cool. "Didn't notice. Prescription must be off in my apparently dorky glasses."
Lois looped her arm in his, "Don't worry, Smallville, I dig a guy with glasses. Now I think you mentioned buying me lunch?"
Corben watched from the shadows with a look of pure rage on his face. 'Who did she think she was to turn me down? And for that nerd? Guy looked like he couldn't hit his way out of a wet paper sack to save his life,' he ranted, still rubbing his hand obliviously in pain. 'Must have freak hand strength from all those video games he probably plays, four-eyed freak.'
He tore out of the Daily Planet like a bat out of hell. Before the hour was up, he was in LexCorp Plaza.
"General, sir... Mr. Luthor, sir..." Corben grinned. "I'd be honored to pilot Project: Metallo..."
. . . . later . . . .
Corben flexed his hand, feeling the power of the suit at his disposal. He walked towards the wall, and quickly punched a hole clean through it. He turned back to Lex and the General. "Now this is power..." he grinned like a maniac.
"Perfect. Now go get me a Superman trophy, Son," the General grinned.
Author's Note: Well, what did you think? We got to see one of my favorite moments, nerdy Clark Kent vs. tough guy John Corben. Yet again, Secret Origin influence is vastly abundant, though I hope I put my own spin on it too. In a lot of ways, this is where things jump off into a new direction that isn't as shackled by the comics/movies/Smallville.
Anyways, shoot me some reviews and let me know what you thought! Your reviews make the muse talk louder!