"Bruce Wayne lands in Metropolis." The headline slapped across Clark's face even prior to hitting the desk. "Is this supposed to mean something to me, Lois?"
"It should," she said. "Read it and weep, Smallville."
His eyes traveled down the paper, speeding faster and faster through the article with every line. It was hard not to crack a smile at his dismay, nor his baffled expression when he returned her look.
He flipped the page, scoffing at the words. "What do you mean he's in negotiations with Lex Luthor? Who got this interview?"
"It should've been you, but someone had to click his heels three times and go back to Kansas. Cat got the byline."
"Where were you?"
"Nowhere special." A grin stretched across her lips as she reached into her desk. "Just getting us two V.I.P press passes to the conference today."
He grabbed a pass out of her hand and slipped the lanyard over his head. "How on Earth did you score that?"
"Lex likes me."
"That makes one of us—"
"Kent! Lane! I want you on the Lex-Wayne deal." Perry emerged like a firework from his private office. "Consider this your lead for the next month."
"Way ahead of you, chief."
"I want to know exactly what this deal is and what it means for Metropolis. The second Luthor trusts Wayne is the second we all do, too."
The reporters responded in unison, "Yes, Sir."
Even before the boss spat out further instructions, the two were already in motion. Kent pulled a blue suit jacket over his button-down and tie. He checked his pockets for the essentials. Along with two pencils, an empty notepad was slid into the jacket pocket.
"Move it or lose it, Kent."
How Lois always managed to move faster than him, he'd never know. He followed her path through the bustling Daily Planet bullpen to the elevator, where she'd already pressed the button to call it. Sounds across the reporter's floor drowned out the ding of the elevator's arrival. He'd grown accustomed to the constant ringing of phones and the chorus of voices either holding interviews or trying to get one.
Even the mechanical whirring of the large, golden doors went unnoticed.
"Smallville."
"Coming," replied Clark, who was soon stepping into the elevator behind his co-worker.
On the twenty-seven story descent, Lane took the moment to freshen her makeup. Clark knew the routine well. First she'd push a hand through her hair. It's for volume, she'd say. Then she'd check her lipstick. Cherry red was her color of choice. Always cherry red. He once made the mistake of buying merlot red. It worked for the emergency, but he was promptly sent out to buy the correct pigmentation the next day. And finally, once she reapplied the cherry red and finished the process with a pop of fresh lips, Lois looked herself over in the handheld mirror. Left side first, then right, then the purple compact snapped shut between her fingers.
He still cared for her deeply and had come to terms that he likely always would, but not in the way either of them initially expected. She came to the same conclusion in her own Lois Lane fashion. She was always the tougher love between them. Clark Kent was something softer.
The soft thud of the elevator hitting the ground floor shook him from these thoughts. In matching fashion to the bullpen above, the doors opened to reveal a busy reception area. Naturally, Lois walked out first.
"What's your angle, Smallville?"
He thought for a moment, behind slightly at the waist to be closer to her ear. Otherwise everything he said may as well be incomprehensible chatter among the other workers.
"It's a work in progress, Lo, but I'm not thrilled to have another billionaire in Metropolis."
"I'll find out Lex's take on it. We can divide and conquer."
He held the glass door open for her and soon joined the sea of Metropolitans flooding the city sidewalks. Clark likened the city's movement to the chaos of the Daily Planet's reporter's floor. Sunlight bled into the skyscraper's windows, only to more vigorously warm the masses outside. That was, if the sun was higher that day than the record-breaking architecture of Metropolis's business borough, New Troy. Any time before eleven in the morning or after one in the afternoon, buildings that stretched up to the heavens acted as a natural shade for its citizens.
To cascade down the concrete arches of the heavenly city would be to have finally reached the pounding heart and soul of Metropolis. The streets were consistently crowded with cars of all makes and models, no matter the time of day. Likewise were the sidewalks and alleyways, where hundreds of thousands of heels and shoes clomped, paced, and ground into the concrete soul below. To exist in New Troy was to feel blissfully small, a speck among the collective mass and architecture that longed for the sky.
As autumn fell over the city, a breath of hope hung in the air. With the change of season came the promise of cooler temperatures, and the most beautiful holidays to be seen anywhere in the country.
Clark looked at Metropolis with pride, not because he'd made some drastic change to it yet, merely for being a part of it.
He walked a step behind Lane and always to her outer side. At least if any commotion happened in the street, she'd be in close proximity to a door.
"I just can't imagine what Wayne would want with Metropolis," said Clark.
Lois shrugged and pulled out her phone to check the latest social media gossip on the elusive billionaire. "Beats me. Money, fame, power. A break from Gotham?"
"Or another big city to sink his claws into."
Lois began to cross the sidewalk, ignoring the glaring DO NOT WALK sign in favor of her phone. She didn't notice the taxi speeding down the road. Clark darted out into the street, tugging her back to safety.
"Hey! Pedestrians get the right of way!" Her shout fell on the deaf ears of the driver.
All the meanwhile, Kent steadied his breathing.
"You should pay more attention."
Her fist raised to the long-gone car once they started to cross safely. "I'm not the only one. Jackass!"
The press conference was held at Centennial Park. When the reporters arrived, the scene was nothing but expected. Security blocked off the perimeter of the park's square. The section held an empty wooden stage, podium, and rows of folding chairs below. Only those with press badges or proper identification were let in. Clark and Lois presented their passes and joined what other news outlets managed to get inside. Clark noticed mostly lower-level news mediums and a few Gotham-based papers. Vicki Vale seemed to have made an appearance, sitting next to Jack Ryder at the top right section.
Lois parted to say hello to their rivals across the bay, while Kent snuck over to the top left section to save their seats. Once settled, Clark pulled out his notepad and pencil, and waited. Lane returned shortly to avoid diving any deeper into why the Daily Planet operated superior to the Gotham Gazette. The multitude of seats soon filled, leaving the remaining newscasters and cameramen on the outskirts of the concrete center. Kent was sure Jimmy Olsen was among that crowd.
"There they are!" Various reporters shouted up to the stage.
"Mr. Wayne!"
"Mr. Luthor!"
An uproar rose from the crowd as Lex Luthor and Bruce Wayne climbed up to the stage. Both Kent and Lane were among the mass who stood, hands raised with preliminary questions.
Lex was easy to spot. He was a large, stern man. His lips rarely parted from their scowl, but they did this afternoon. He wore a sophisticated smile to accompany the wave he passed the crowd. Wayne followed behind. Kent only saw him prior in newspapers and television interviews. Seeing him in person elicited a physical response; he commanded the attention of anyone and everyone.
Bruce held himself like a proper businessman. His shoulders were pulled back, his smile came off polite and perhaps a bit confident for Kent's liking. Bruce's dark hair was neatly smoothed back in a style that no doubt defined the business formal fashion industry in the last handful of years.
And because of all of those pleasant things, Clark only grew increasingly suspicious of him. Bruce Wayne was known to be a businessman, sure. But even more notable than his formal reputation was his informal one. Bruce Wayne was also known to be clumsy, frequently drunk, and fatally shallow partier. His romantic scandals were a regular thing of gossip, even for Metropolitans.
Clark sat with the crowd, and saw two peas in the same dubiously luxurious pod.
Lex spoke first.
"People of Metropolis, I'm honored to have your attention this afternoon. I know rumors about my involvement with Wayne Enterprises have been circling around for the last week or so, and I'm pleased to say the majority of these rumors are true."
Lane and Kent shared a glance. Tense energy in the audience spread like a disease. Clark noticed a significant increase in fidgeting bodies and tapping pens.
He continued, "I've personally been in contact with the company's wonderful owner for a handful of months now. What we present to you today is the future of Metropolis. Too long, we've ignored our neighbors across the bay in pursuit of our own destiny. Lexcorp is now realizing what we as a city should've learned long ago. We are more powerful together."
Tentative applause followed his pause.
"Bruce, would you mind saying a few words about your vision for the future?"
"Why, of course."
The businessmen shared a picturesque embrace as they shifted to put Wayne at the microphone. No doubt it would make the front page of more than one newspaper tomorrow. Clark struggled to keep his eyes from rolling.
He opened a binder, studied the first few words, and let his hands grip on the outer side of the oak podium. Bruce waited for a moment. Anticipation hung in the crowd.
"I'm not here to make empty promises to you."
That caught the genuine attention of every reporter, including Kent. The opening line was quickly written down in his notepad.
"I'm not here to promise a perfect, bright and shining future to you. You already hear enough of that from Lex over here."
The charming laughter on his lips elicited a similar reaction to all but few.
"Quite frankly, it's not in my nature. For better or worse, I'm a Gothamite through and through. We're a tough crowd. We look across the bay and see your spread out skyscrapers and your green businesses, and see a vision of what we could be. Let me assure you of something else as well. I'm not here to make empty promises, and I'm not here to change Metropolis into Gotham or vice versa. It's my belief that both of our beloved cities could work in tandem to build a better future with each other."
It sounded good. Of course it does, Clark thought. Bruce didn't write his own speech.
"Moving forward, Lexcorp and Wayne Enterprises are finalizing negotiations to further develop both lands. Our goal is to rebuild the areas of lower income in Metropolis, and then do the same in Gotham. Factories will be built and jobs will be created in both of our industrial districts."
The rest of the conference was full of the big business propaganda Lex adored giving. When it ended with the same fanfare track it began, most of the reporters rose to leave. Only those with VIP passes were allowed to stay for refreshments afterward. Kent and Lane were among the few to travel to the champagne table.
"What do you think?" Clark asked quietly.
Lois picked up a flute, taking a moment to ponder the inquiry. "I think it sounds good, but we know how Lex operates."
"And with Wayne up to bat with him? Can't be good news."
"I'll get a quote from Lex. See if he can tell me anything he didn't feel like telling the others."
"Why do I have to get Wayne?"
Lane grinned then. "The big man likes me, remember? Who knows, maybe you and Corporate America will hit it off, Smallville."
Kent felt the lowest of groans pass beyond his lips.
"Say, I hope she doesn't mean me."
The voice caught him off-guard, despite how smoothly it hit his ear. The hair stood up on the back of Clark's neck, as if there wasn't warmth in the air. Clark turned on his heel with widening blue eyes.
"Ah," he said, now picking up his own champagne flute. "Lois says whatever she wants. Tact is not her strong suit."
"That's alright. It's nothing I'm not used to." Bruce motioned to Vale and Ryder, who were fighting for Lex's attention.
Clark said, "I'm sure. I have a couple questions of my own if you don't mind. I'll try to be less ruthless than your usual crowd."
"I'm an open book, Mister..."
"Kent. Clark Kent. Reporter for the Daily Planet."
Bruce shook his extended hand. A chill ran up Clark's spine at the touch.
"Mr. Kent. A pleasure. Bruce Wayne. Ask away."
The two parted from the table to walk through the shaded areas of the park's square. Clark could hardly peel his eyes away from the CEO, searching for any sign of anything on his face. What he found was rehearsed politesse and old money manners. Whatever Bruce told him today, the reporter was sure it had been practiced.
"Wayne Enterprises has never shown any interest in Metropolis before. What changed your mind?"
"Actually, Mr. Kent, that's not entirely true. My parents had always dreamed of branching to our neighboring cities. Their vision for Gotham is something they wanted to spread as far as they could. I'm merely following in the path they set out for me."
"And what vision is that?"
"They wanted a cleaner, safer Gotham. I think that's fairly understandable. Like I said in the conference, I'm not here to turn your town into mine. I'm looking for cooperation between the two," Bruce said.
"But why? And why partner with Lex? It's not a secret how controversial his reputation is," said Clark.
"If you'll forgive me, Mr. Kent. I'm not going to speak about my potential business partner."
His hands raised in innocence. "Alright, alright. I'm just concerned about what another big corporation means for Metropolis. Lexcorp has already cut out thousands of small businesses in favor of his extreme wealth. What makes you any different?"
"I suppose you'll have to wait and see."
"Smallville!" Lane called from the opposite end of the square. Both men turned their heads in similar fashion to her. "Wrap it up. Perry wants us back in half an hour."
Bruce smiled and raised his half-empty glass. "To the truth."
"To the truth." Clark clinked their glasses together and tasted flat alcohol.