THE LION: Chapter 5

Clark recovered only after a few moments and tried to laugh it off.

"Come now, me…Superman?" He laughed. "What would give you the idea that I was Superman? I'm not Superman, honest." He tried to sound incredulous but she wasn't buying into it.

"UH HUH." She used the same tone on him that she used earlier.

"No really, what made you think I was Superman….I'm curious." Clark prompted her. He was treating it like it was a joke. He hoped she would too. But her eyes and everything about her was calm and serene. She really did believe that he was Superman, and anything that he was going to say about how he wasn't Superman would not convince her otherwise.

"Well, sweetie, it's like this. Whenever there was trouble that meant Superman had to be there and you're with me, you'd leave."

"I'm a reporter, that's my job, to get the story." He explained.

"Riiiiiight. And another thing, you look an awful lot like him. And…..I know that your so called mutant ability is super strength, not that it's all that unusual. But one time you fell asleep here in the apartment, I caught you levitating above the couch. Now unless you have a series of abilities….like your mom…and I happen to know that you're adopted….you're Superman." She looked at him and grinned. He looked resigned to the fact that she had well figured him out. But surely there was more to it then that?

"So when exactly did you begin to suspect that I was Superman, when I hovered over the couch in my sleep?"

"Nope. Second date." She began to putter around the kitchen. "So what would you like to eat? I went shopping not too long ago and I got lots of your favorites." She smiled at him and treated him the same as she always did.

"You've suspected I'm Superman for three years? Honestly!" He asked astonished.

"Yeah, so what exactly happened to you a few days ago? I mean you usually stay in touch."

"Batman and I were attacked by Hydra. I got blasted; I mean Superman got blasted by a kryptonite fueled energy weapon." Clark said quietly. Trica dropped a jar of peanut butter on the floor and it bounced unnoticed.

"Kryptonite! Gee, are you all right!" She exclaimed running over to him and started checking him out.

"I'm fine now; Hank fixed me up as good as new. It wasn't too bad, Batman saved me. He's almost as good as a partner as Sabretooth. I really shouldn't be telling you this; it's supposed to be top secret. But my being Superman is supposed to be a secret too." He chuckled ruefully.

"Well, I'm grateful to Bruce for taking care of you." She let go a heavy breath. "Why wasn't Vic with you?"

"We were looking for Vic when………" He trailed off. "Are you sure you're a frail?" He hugged her carefully and she laughed at him.

"Just because I'm a frail, doesn't mean I'm stupid, or not observant. Besides, I've always been good at mysteries. But I'm having a very hard time figuring out a way to get you to propose to me."

"Most men would think that you're teasing, but I know better." Clark scrubbed his face with his hand. "I'm not quite ready to put you in danger just yet."

"Why would I be in danger? You're just a computer geek and sometime freelance reporter." She smiled at him.

"Boy am I ever glad that the peanut butter came in a plastic jar, it takes forever to clean peanut butter off of everything." Clark was certain if he wasn't Superman he'd be suffering from whiplash about now in her change of subjects and demeanor. Clark resigned himself in the knowledge that she was now privy to one of the world's greatest secrets. How she ever suspected that Bruce was Batman, he'd thought it best not to talk about it.

"Chef's choice, dear will be fine." He grinned. He was in for a treat, not that he hadn't deserved one, and he did. He took off his jacket and sat down on the couch. If she wanted to act if things were the same, he would too.