Disclaimer: Don't own Superman & Lois

Summary: Pre-series, Clark tells Lois he's Superman

Timeline: Based loosely on the flashbacks at the start of season 1, episode

Title: Seeing the World

Clark's side of the bed was empty when Lois woke up. His pillow was still warm, indicating he hadn't been gone for very long. A low musical humming floated in through the bedroom door accompanied by the smell of coffee.

The trip to Smallville was a surprise, sprung on her mid-week. He'd looked at her so hopeful, that she couldn't bear to say no. Or maybe she didn't want to. Clark Kent was someone she was starting to imagine spending her life with.

They'd arrived late the evening before, and went straight to bed after a cup of coffee, and homemade cookies. They sat up for hours in the living room with Martha going through old photo albums, and sharing stories of Clark's childhood. In the middle of joking, and blushing, she was getting a sense of what made him tick.

She tightened the ponytail and took the winter hat, and mittens off the dresser. She entered the kitchen and was handed a mug of coffee. "I can help him with the chores," Lois wanted to pull her weight.

"He's almost finished in the barn, and then he comes in for breakfast. Take him a cup of coffee. You two have something to talk about," Martha got right to business. Clark called her after he first met Lois, and from the way he talked about her and since, it was obvious to Martha that Lois Lane was the one.

Lois' feelings were slower to come. She was charmed at first sight by the handsome, nerdy, guy. His optimistic spirit drew in, and became something that balanced her more cynical side. As they started dating, and sharing things about their lives, she'd catch glimpses of the man underneath that left her intrigued. She suppressed the instinct to pry; a story was usually more satisfying when the teller revealed it themselves. But she was frustrated. If this trip brought clarity on him, and their relationship, it would be worth it.

Martha followed her to the door, and held it open as she juggled for a hold on both cups of coffee. "Listen to him. That's all he wants," she said. Why wouldn't I? Lois wondered as she picked her way across the gravel.

Clark heard the kitchen door shut, and tracked Lois' steps across the gravel. He met her at the barn doorway. He took the mug from her and leaned against the doorframe. "Good morning,"

"Good morning," she raised her cup, and they clinked.

The clouds gathered above them, a light grey colour signaling the sun above them. His mother knew why they were there. It was time Lois did too.

"We should talk,"

"Yes. We should," Lois acknowledged.

Clark took her mug and set it on the stump he used for cutting firewood. He set his glasses down between them, and turned back toward her. "I brought you here this weekend, because I want you to see me,"

He'd straightened, his bearing different, yet familiar to her. The face did it for her; eyes searching hers, friendly, but inquisitive. She still wanted him to say it out loud first. "The man I've become is a direct consequence of this town, being surrounded by my parents who loved me in spite of my differences. A community that taught me by example after my father passed."

She found her voice; reached a hand up and stroked his cheek. "After last night, how could I not see you?" The photos of awkward teenage Clark Kent. The football player, high school reporter. She picked up his glasses and held them out to him. Instead of taking them, he stepped away from her. He knelt close to the ground as if to leap, and then was floating in the air above her. He landed and took her by both arms.

"You're… him," she didn't say Superman's name out loud. In a flash, it was all right there in front of her; months of missing and interrupted dates. The same sunny attitude as Clark Kent. Why didn't she see it?

"Superman. Yeah," Clark didn't know what to expect when he revealed the truth. He picked up his mug, now chill and debated whether he should warm it with heat vision, and decided against it. She was silent, and started walking towards the house. He let her knowing he could block her before she got to the porch. "Regardless of what happens between us, nobody can know my true identity. Clark Kent must remain the same bumbling, happy go-lucky guy that he was when we first met," She turned back towards him, fixing him with a look so intense he wondered if she had x-ray vision. It felt like she was memorizing every detail about him.

Of course, she'd keep his secret, nobody would believe her if she told them anyway. "You're Superman. I'm dating Superman."

Clark nodded; afraid she might bolt if he touched her. Instead, he took advantage of her stalled speech to try an explanation. "I've had to spend my whole life hiding everything I am from the world. Fewer than 10 people know the truth including you,"

"I have to admit it's clever. You stumble into door posts, stutter at meetings. Drop things, spill coffee. You don't make eye contact with your direct superiors. You get away with it because of the dorky, good-looking charm. You work hard, and you're a good writer. But underneath it all, you're Superman. The one they least expect, indeed." She was getting to used to it. Not completely over the shock, but the more they talked… she'd get there.

She walked back to the stump and picked up and picked up her coffee. "You probably don't need any help with the chores,"

A smile. He picked up his glasses again. "No. Company would be nice though. Warm up?"

He used his heat vision to warm their coffees, and gave hers back. He felt her eyes on him, and could practically hear the wheels turning inside her brain. "What is like to fly?" she ventured. He brought her close to him, "Let me show you," They took off from the ground. She barely noticed the ground disappearing below. He stopped at the edge of the atmosphere. "Would you like to look?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied. He repositioned her so he held her hand, and they both were horizontal to the ground. Lois put a finger out and found she could trace the outline of the continents. She lights going on where it was still night time, and out when it was day. Her mind wandered over the countless possibilities the world held, and she watched the clouds skidding below them.

His voice brought her around. "To answer your question. It's freedom. The sense of leaving all of Clark… I mean my responsibilities behind on earth for a while and being by myself. As Superman it's a dose of perspective. I realize that no matter how powerful I am, I can't be everywhere at once."

"An escape and a reminder rolled into one," Lois summarized.

"Exactly."

Lois could stay like this staring down at the planet for hours. Clark noticed her lips starting to turn blue, and gathered her in. She resisted at first. "Can we st…" her teeth started chattering mid-sentence.

"We'd better get back to earth. Mom will have breakfast ready." he settled her head against his chest, and started their descent. He felt Lois chuckle. "Superman talking about his mother," it was going to take some getting used to for sure.

Their feet hit the ground in front of the barn, and empty mugs were still on the stump. She picked them up and his glasses, handing them back. She watched him push them up with the single finger; a Clark Kent gesture. His posture slumped a little bit; the transformation was jarring now she'd seen the man behind them. He reached for her hand and led her into the house.

Martha took the mugs from Lois and refilled them. Clark took his and settled into a seat at the table, Lois beside him.

"How did it go?" she asked.

"It's a start. There's a lot to figure out, but we'll be okay." Lois replied. Her use of "we" gave Clark hope. He squeezed her hand and let go. They finished breakfast talking about the day's plans.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Clark asked her as he lifted her suitcase from the car outside her apartment. She'd been quiet since they left Smallville. He didn't want to say anything for fear of what her answer would be. His mom did a great job of helping to break the ice; every time conversation would get quiet, she'd have another story ready for Lois. In a way, he supposed Lois could be as much a friend for Martha, as she would be a girlfriend for him.

Her hand rested on his as she took the case on its wheels moving towards the curb. "It's still sinking in. Seeing where you grew up, helped a lot, and hearing the stories. Her toe caught a weed sticking up in front of her building. He was there to give her a hand up and pick up the suitcase.

"Won't someone see?" she worried that the moment he'd sped to her rescue would be the same one someone happened to look out.

"They're all asleep. He could hear evening sounds of murmured conversations, bed-time stories, and heartbeats. There's work in the morning," she took the hint holding the door for him and leading the way to the elevator.

"This is me," she whispered as they stopped in front of a door the other end of the hallway from the elevator. She got her keys out and took the suitcase into the front hallway. She cast a glance over her shoulder expecting him to follow, and returned to the door when he didn't. She stood on tiptoes and looped her arms around his neck kissing him long enough to make her intentions known.

Ever the gentleman he broke the kiss. "I won't come in this time," he rested his forehead against hers. She smiled noticing that he used 'this time'. "We should take it slow."

"See you tomorrow Clark" she said.

"See you tomorrow Lois," he replied. She watched him walk back down to the elevators.

"Good night Superman," she whispered after she'd shut the door.

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