Title: Unmasked

Author: Nadia Mack

Rating: K

Disclaimer: I Own Nothing

Summary: Post Superman Returns. Behind the hero is a man longing to be free.

Author's Notes: Thank you all for the feedback. It's greatly appreciated. I can't guarantee that my tenses are any better, but I'll cross my fingers that it turns out at least half-way decent.

Chapter 2: Old Friends

Clark stepped into the limousine and leaned back against the chair for comfort. He shook his head with a bemused smile. He had known Bruce Wayne longer than he'd known Lois, and besides his mother, it was good to see another friendly face.

He looked over his shoulder and said hello to the driver, who happened to be a friend as well.

"Good evening, Alfred," Clark greeted with a smile.

"And good evening to you, too, Master Kent. It is good to see you again," Alfred replied in his regular cheery yet refined tone.

"Thanks, Alfred." Clark turned back around to face Bruce. "Why does he still insist on calling me Master Kent?"

Bruce shrugged. "English propriety, I guess. It's in his blood." He poured Clark a drink and refilled his glass. "Welcome back, by the way."

Clark took the glass from his hand. "Thanks," he replied weakly.

"That doesn't sound like the Clark I know." There was a long almost drawn out silence before he continued. "I've been following the news in Metropolis the past few days," he revealed followed by a wry grin. "Leave it to you to make a grand entrance."

"You saw that?" Clark said sheepishly.

"It was all over the news," Bruce reminded him.

"Right."

The two had met in China, shortly after Bruce left Gotham City. The young and ambitious man was having issues with the locals when Clark had interceded and helped him out of a jam. They had been friends ever since, almost like brothers.

"How's Gotham?"

"Better," Bruce answered simply, taking a sip of his brandy.

Clark nodded in understanding. During the couple of weeks he spent at the farm when he first returned, in addition to reading up on the happenings of Metropolis, he spent a couple of lunches over at the library to see what else was happening in the world. To his amusement and surprise, a dark figure known as Batman has been aiding in taking down ruthless criminals in the darker parts of Gotham City.

He immediately knew who was behind the mask and thought not to talk about it any further unless he wanted to. Naturally, it goes both ways.

"Um… not that it isn't good to see you, but why are you here?"

"Your mom called me."

Clark raised his eyebrows. "My mom called you?" he repeated skeptically. "What for?"

Bruce tried not to smirk. "Because she mentioned that you needed a place to stay, and knowing you, you easily forget all the little things like… I don't know… getting an apartment for an example."

"Yeah, I was on my way to do just that," Clark replied sarcastically.

"No need." Bruce reached into his coat pocket and took out a small envelope. He handed it to Clark before attending to his drink once more.

Clark looked at it curiously before opening to see its contents. Inside was a set of keys, a pamphlet, and a lease. After looking at the pamphlet and saw pictures of a penthouse model, he faced Bruce with a serious expression.

"Bruce, I can't afford this."

"Oh, you mean the lease?" he asked and then waved it off with a hand. "That's just for show. Forget about the rent, the apartment is yours, just make sure you pay all the other necessities. Consider it a gift for saving the world."

Clark sighed. "You know I don't take payoffs."

"That's too bad, because I'm not taking it back and everything is in order. All you have to do now is move in. Besides, it's not like I don't owe you one." He paused and then chuckled. "If you don't take it, I'll tell your mom."

"That's rich. Threatening to tell my mother. And that's beside the point," Clark argued so relentlessly that it was beginning to tire Bruce out… almost.

"Look, the place is perfect for you. It's located in the high-rise district just a few blocks away from your job. You can fly in and out undetected, and if you really feel that uncomfortable, you can start by babysitting for me and we'll be even."

"Babysitting?"

"Yeah, I'll tell you all about it later," he replied vaguely. The limo came to a sudden stop. "We're here."

If it hadn't been for the last few weeks, Clark would've been dead set to say no, but right now, he just didn't have the heart to refuse his offer. He trusted Bruce completely, so that wasn't the problem.

After a few more words and a goodbye to Alfred, Clark stepped out of the vehicle and looked at the address of his new place.

1938 Sullivan Lane.

Clark stepped inside his unfurnished new abode. He had to give Bruce credit for his excellent taste. Even when it was unwanted, he could hardly complain. The location was perfect and the view was even better than he had expected. It was large and spacious with ceiling high windows along one wall that led and opened to a balcony that reminded him of Lois's apartment back before she was…

No. He couldn't go there. Thinking about it hurt him even more than just knowing it, and then acknowledging that it wasn't going to go away. If only he had the ability to turn back time, he wouldn't be walking around in self-pity thinking of a life that could've been.

Searching every room, he found the place to be to his liking despite his earlier protests. It had three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a gorgeous kitchen, office space, a living and dining room too. Even without any furnishings, it was practically too much.

"Home sweet home, I guess," he uttered to himself.

At the Daily Planet, Clark stumbled out of the supply closet with two of his suitcases in hand; the bull pen had been twice as active since Superman had returned, and it had become ten times worse after Lex Luthor's failed attempt in taking over the real estate market. The office was nothing but chaos.

Perry didn't believe in days off. He had everyone working full time. The news doesn't rest, he would remind them constantly.

"Oh hey, Clark!"

The sound of her voice froze him on the spot.

"Where have you been?" she asked with a hint of concern in her voice. "We haven't seen you around these past couple of days. Jimmy tried calling but I don't think you even had a phone."

Clark swallowed hard before turning around. He pushed his thick black-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose with his forefinger as he faced Lois Lane.

"Oh, hello Lois. I've just been… you know… around."

Her brows furrowed as if assessing his answer, and for a moment, he feared she would discover everything. Before she got around to questioning him further, Richard White arrived and immediately dropped a light kiss on her lips, an action that made Clark flinch. He didn't think it was something he would ever get used to.

"How are you doing, Clark?" Richard asked politely.

"I'm fine," he replied with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. "I was just about to head out." Clark picked up his two suitcases.

"You've finally found a place?" Lois asked rhetorically this word implies the dialogue before is a question. "That's great, Clark. I was just about to mention to Richard that you should stay with us until you got back on your feet."

Clark wished all of a sudden that he could super speed out of there. While the thought of being able to see Jason brought him unexpected joy and excitement, it was quickly quelled considering the situation would have required him to be in Lois and Richard's constant presence. He might have been referred to as the Man of Steel, but that was certainly something he just couldn't stomach.

"That's really nice of you, Lois, but its okay. I'm moving in there right now."

"Need a lift, I have my car?" Richard asked his tone and look was nothing but genuine, which made everything that much more complicated. All those times Lois had claimed she had the worst taste in men, she just happened to find the perfect one now.

"That's all right," he politely refused. "It's not that far."

"Really?" Lois asked, looking far more intrigued than she had been ever since he returned. "Where at?"

Shifting from one heel to another, Clark meekly replied, "It's a few blocks from here. Sullivan Lane."

"Wow, Clark. I didn't know you had such… taste." The surprise in her voice was evident to both men, but Clark avoided discussing it further all the same.

"Well, I've got to get going now, so, um… I'll see you two in a little bit." Clark quickly moved past them to reach the elevator. Unbeknownst to him, Lois looked on in continued interest.

"That was weird," she observed.

Richard turned to her a little confused. "What do you mean?"

"I wish I knew."

To be continued…