The crowd ducked at the sound of gunfire, but a few brave individuals noticed that the flying man hadn't been hurt. They'd barely seen him move, or had he?
Clark moved quick to catch the bullets as they were fired, he couldn't afford to have one of them hit an innocent person, even Lex. After the armed man ran out of bullets, Clark crushed the bullets into dust and approached the armed men, who slowly began their retreat. "This isn't over!" The leader yelled.
"I believe it is!" Clark said with authority. Within a matter of seconds, he'd managed to disarm all five men and tie their hands behind their backs with their belts. Clark then turned to the crowd. "Emergency medical and police services have been contacted. They should be here shortly. I recommend anyone concerned that they have minor injuries be checked out." Clark quickly rose and flew to Lois' side. "Miss Lane, are you okay?"
Lois appeared awestruck. "Yes. I'm fine. Do I know you? How do you know my name?"
Clark maintained a bold, confidant persona, despite his internal fears that Lois would recognize him. "I've read your work Miss Lane and I respect it. Your partner, Clark Kent?"
"Yeah, speaking of Clark, where is he?"
"He was the one who called the police and ambulances. I spoke with him briefly. He asked me to check on you. He said he would get back here as soon as he could."
"That's Clark, always trying to do the right thing. You can take the man off the farm, but can't take the farm boy out of the man!"
Clark chuckled. "Well, that may be so." The sound of sirens appeared in the distance. "I guess I better be leaving." Clark turned to leave but Lois grabbed his arm.
"Oh no you don't! I've got a few questions. Who are you? Where did you come from? Why are you here?"
Clark was hesitant, he didn't know what he should say without revealing too much. "I'm a friend, and I'm here to help!" With that, Clark took off into the air.
Lois was still staring up at the sky a few moments later when Clark jogged up to her. "Lois?"
Lois turned to face Clark. "Clark! Where have you been, you just missed this...flying guy...he was amazing!"
"Really? You mean the guy in the blue tights with the S on his chest?" Clark smirked.
"That's right, you met him! Clark, did he tell you his name, where he was from?"
"I'm sorry Lois. When I went to call the cops, he saw me running and asked for details. I told him what had happened. He said he was a friend and here to help. I asked him to check on you and he said he would. I guess he kept his promise?"
Lois composed herself. She was acting like an excited little school girl. "Yes, he came to check that I was all right. He told me the same thing he told you."
"Well, I've got some good news!" Clark couldn't hide his smile. "The reason it took me so long to get back is after I called the cops, I phoned in the story. Perry said it's page one. I told him you'd have more of a first hand account. He did say he wanted the guy's name."
"That's one thing he wouldn't give me. Why don't we name him?"
"We?"
"Well, the Daily PLanet anyway. That S, what do you suppose it stands for?"
"I have no idea!" That much was true. He knew it was the family symbol for the El family in Jerry's dimension, but what it really stood for, he didn't know.
Lois started to brainstorm outloud. "Strong, slick, sick, sleek, scary, scrawny...definitely not scrawny...solo, sly, super...wait, that's it!"
Clark looked down, he didn't like where this was going. "What's it?"
"Superman!"
"Lois, isn't that a little corny! It sounds like something out of a kids cartoon!"
"Well, the man does dress in bright colours, and maybe this will force him to give us his real name!"
"Can't argue with that logic. Looks like security is clearing everybody out. Let's get back to the Planet. It's going to be a long night."
Late that evening, Lois sat at her computer writing up the story on "Superman". "Who are you? What are you?" She thought out loud.
"Lois? Who are you talking to?"
Lois turned around to see Clark with Chinese take out. "No one, just thinking through my mouth I guess." Lois sat down and opened her share of the food. She took a bite. "Clark this is amazing! Where did you get it? It tastes so fresh!"
"Clark shrugged, just this little Chinese place I heard about!" Clark chucked, a little Chinese place across the Pacific. "So how's the story coming?"
"It's just about done. I've got to hand it to you Smallville! Your first story is page one material! Perry was really impressed!"
"Well, beginner's luck I guess. Just happened to be at the right place, at the right time!"
"Yeah, I guess." Lois seemed frustrated over something.
"Lois, what's up? Is it the story? Let me take a look." Clark took his place in front of the computer and after making a few spelling and grammarical changes, saved the file. "Perfect! It was fine to begin with. What's bugging you?"
"I'm just trying to figure out the Bi-line. I do have seniority so my name would go first!"
"But, I did see "Superman" first! And I sent him over to you!"
"Confident are we!"
"With you Lois, I'd never turn down a good fight!"
"Well, you're not going to win this one. I can prove my seniority, and unless you can contact Superman and get him to vouch for you, I win!"
"Okay, okay, you win...for now!" Clark and Lois exchanged smirks. "So what's the problem?"
"It just seems too long! "Lois Lane & Clark Kent". I want something short, to the point!"
"What about Lane and Kent?"
"Too formal!"
"Lois and Clark!"
"I thought of that one, but it sounds too much like Lewis and Clarke!"
Clark was frustrated. There weren't any other options. "Think about it Lois, it would put our readers on a first name basis with us! Maybe help generate a rapport with our readers! Couldn't hurt could it?"
"No, I guess you're right. Lois and Clark it is!" Lois sent the file to Perry to make the morning edition. "I guess that's it. See you tomorrow Smallville!"
"See ya. By the way, you do have a car right?"
"Yeah, but I walked today." Lois saw the concerned look in Clark's face. "It's okay, I'll be all right. My appartment's a just few blocks from here. And you know I can take care of myself!"
"I guess you're right. Goodnight Lois."
"Goodnight Clark." Lois said smiling as she got into the elevator.
"You will be okay Lois." Clark said under his breath. "Superman will make sure of it." Clark rushed for the stairs, supersped up to the roof and spun into his suit. He then took off into the skies at a high altitude but a slow pace, making sure to keep an eye on Lois without being seen. He knew she could take care of herself, but something inside of him told him to make sure she got home safe.
As Lois walked down the street she kept her guard up. She knew the streets of Metropolis could be dangerous but there was nothing she couldn't handle. She had just finished the thought when she felt cool metal pressed behind her. She knew what it was. The voice behind her spoke softly. "You'll come with me if you know what's good for you!"
"And you'll let go of me if you know what's good for you!" Lois grabbed the armed man by his other arm, dropped to her knees and sent him flying overhead. The impact of him hitting the ground knocked the gun out of his hand. Just then two other men came from behind, grabbed her and pulled her into a nearby alley.
The man Lois had managed to flip, got up, grabbed his gun and approached her. "Boys, we got us a feisty one! You owe me for that flip and I think I'll take it out of you myself. The man licked his lips before flying ...into a dumpster? Lois was shocked. Seconds later, the men who held her weren't holding her any more. They were being held in mid air by...him? His jet black hair slicked back, his rugged facial features. The costume, she noticed, fit him extremely well. And he'd just saved her life. "Thank you!" Was all she could managed to say.
"You're welcome! I'm going to drop these guys off at the police station and come back for him, he should be unconscious for a little while. Stay right here, I'll be back in a moment." Superman took off into the sky and Lois kept her eyes focussed on the dumpster. If that guy did wake up before Superman got back, she'd be ready. It was only a few moments before Superman did get back. As he landed, Lois did a double take. "Wow, that was fast! Now what?"
"I've asked the police to come and pick him up. They should be here shortly. They said they'd need a statement from you, but it can wait until tomorrow. For now, if you'll allow me, I'd like to make sure you get home safely."
Lois nodded. "Okay..."
Clark scooped Lois into his arms and began to lift off into the air. "Hope you don't mind flying."
Lois gasped. "Actually...I do this all the time!" She said with matter of factly.
"Really? Sorry I couldn't be your first!" They both laughed.
"You know, I usually like to know the name of anyone who saves my life! What does that S stand for anyway?"
"Are you really curious, or is this for your next article?"
"A bit of both. I am a reporter after all!"
"Miss Lane..."
"Please! You saved my life! Spare the formalities and call me Lois!"
"Fair enough." Clark stopped outside the window to Lois' apartment and pushed it open. He then floated inside and set her down. "There you go, delivered safe and sound."
"Thanks, normally I can handle my own, but three guys and a gun late at night caught me off guard."
"I have no doubt you could have taken care of them but I was...in the neighborhood." Clark said with a smile. "I better go. Don't forget to contact Metropolis PD tomorrow. They really need your statement." And in the blink of an eye, he was gone.
The next week for Clark was one of the busiest of his life. His hearing had become more atuned to problems and he had decided that the name "Superman" was not going to go away anytime soon. He'd managed to separate both personas and nobody had figured out his identity, save for Chloe who was almost giddy at the idea. She was often the one to cover for him when he took off for his "Superman duties".
The week also consisted of getting his payrole set up. Half his pay went to help his mother. With the other half, he was able to afford a small apartment. It came with a nice balcony, great for flying in and out. The other thing that had begun to change, was the way he saw Lois. She had almost matured in the past year and a half since he'd last seen her. Working at the Planet had given her a desire to help people in a way he'd never really seen before. She was still fun to argue with, but she was more passionate, more caring for people. Strong and stubborn as ever, but it was becoming a quality he...admired? He also saw the way she looked at Superman. She'd never admit it, he knew, but she was taken by him.
Lois and Clark had been investigating his parent's car accident. They'd had no leads until Lois received a copy of the police report regarding the incident at the Luthorcorp press conference. "Looks like we finally have a lead Smallville!" Lois said as she walked over to Clark's desk.
Clark looked at the police reports. He couldn't blieve his eyes. "This says that the leader of the group, Mac McGill, said the attack was because he didn't get paid. He claims he was approached by Lex Luthor to go to Smallville and wait...outside the Talon and make sure a pick up truck with a specific liscense plate could only go so far? Lex was behind this?"
"Well, the police don't have the evidence, yet. McGill also claimed that he lost two of his guys to the plane crash that presumably killed Lionel Luthor. But, according to McGill's statement, he didn't get paid for those jobs and intended to make Luthor pay, one way, or the other."
"But there's no written agreement so..."
"No proof. It's all heresay and Lex's lawyers are all over this!"
"No doubt." Inside Clark was furious. He finally knew who had caused the accident that killed his father. But he was just a thug. Lex was the real villain. He had to keep himself composed. "At least Superman put him behind bars, and my mom can finally have some closure. We have a confession."
Lois looked somberly at Clark. "Yeah we do. We can at least publish his statement as a closure to your dad's murder. Clark, are you all right? I know this must be hard for you."
"Yeah, I'm fine Lois. Thanks for all the work you've done. I know we had this one handed to us on a platter. I just can't believe Lex would do this! He's done it to other people, but I'd like to know why he did it to my parents!"
Lois put a reasuring hand on Clark's shoulder. "We'll get him! I wish Superman could help. I mean, I know he couldn't make Luthor confess. I just wish we could contact him, ask him to confront Luthor."
"Maybe we won't have to. Who knows, maybe Superman already has confronted him. But if he hasn't, and knows what's gone on, he probably will." The truth was, knowing what he now knew, Clark would be sure that Superman paid Lex a visit that night. It would be a confrontation Lex Luthor would never forget.