Title: Unmasked

Author: Nadia Mack

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I Own Nothing

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

Author's Notes: You all are really amazing. Thank you heartily for all the wonderful feedback.

Chapter 4: Jason

Superman didn't know how long he stood there, still and silent, watching over his son like some kind of angel or guardian. Six years ago he wouldn't have believed it was possible, but there he was, alive and breathing, snuggled comfortably within his blanket. He's never seen anything more beautiful.

Jason.

Superman continued to watch. An act he could only do. For how long, he couldn't answer. He wished he had an answer because he longed to tell the little boy who he really was, and where he truly came from.

Then there was his mother.

Lois.

For a time he despaired. A relationship with her had been hard before he left for Krypton, but now that he's returned, and she engaged to Richard White with a son they share as their own, it's become almost impossible to be a part of their lives without feeling like a third wheel. An outsider.

Soon after, Superman found himself sitting besides the small twin bed as he continued to watch his son sleep soundly. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't make himself move away. Not even the sound of the door creaking open made him want to leave.

Lois gasped softly at the sight before her that it left her unexpectedly yet pleasantly surprised.

"Superman!"

Jason turned but didn't wake up, and Superman was content just to watch him like this a little longer than he knew he should.

"I know I shouldn't be here," he said in a low voice. "But I…" he was at a loss for words. "I just… wanted to see him. He's amazing, Lois. I wish I had been there… when he was born." He finally looked up, his eyes clearly glistening with unshed tears. "One of many regrets."

Lois took a seat nearby and placed it at the opposite side of their son's bed, facing Superman. Richard was deeply asleep in the next room but for some reason neither could properly explain, they ignored that fact and the two felt the tension between them grow stronger by the second.

"I'm going to tell Richard. I just don't know how to tell him, but it's going to be soon. We… I can't ignore it anymore than I already have."

"Does he suspect anything?" Superman inquired softly.

"About you and me? Probably, but with Jason I doubt it ever crossed his mind. He believed I was in a bad relationship before he met me – "

"Is that how you saw us?" Superman interrupted with a sigh.

Lois sent him a pointed look. "I couldn't exactly tell him that I was actually Superman's girlfriend at our first date, now could I." She stopped to clear her head before continuing, resting her hand on his son's tummy as she did. "You left and I was angry. After the first six months, I wanted to forget I ever met you."

Superman's eyes fell back to their son, unable to meet her intense gaze and emotional declaration. Memories of the past evading his senses.

Superman flew to her balcony right after a disastrous night. The turmoil he felt inside himself breaking through the calm façade he displayed for the world to see. A moment later, the pain subsided when he saw the woman he has undeniably fallen in love with come rushing out to meet him.

"Superman," she uttered, a little breathless. Lois has been watching the news over the fire that broke out in Hobbs Bay. A bomb had exploded, but even Superman's powers couldn't get there in time to save a group of children caught in the crossfire.

"I'm sorry for coming here so late," he apologized; the only need he cared for at the moment was to see her until he found himself unable to stand straight.


"Here," she led him inside. "When was the last time you slept?" she asked as they stopped next to her couch while simultaneously wondering to herself if Superman even slept.

The next thing Superman knew, he was sitting down, his hands over his face as he tried to purge the torched bodies of the bombing's victims out of his mind with little success.

"I couldn't save them."

"It wasn't your fault," she said softly, pulling his hands from his face. "You can't save everybody."

"I sometimes wonder if it even matters."

"It always matters," she said intensely yet supportingly. "Even the smallest act of kindness matter."

Lois saw him differently tonight than the many nights that they've shared in each other's company. Tonight, she found herself not looking at a demigod, but as a man. A man who needed comfort despite the comfort his mere presence gave to the world, and she wanted to share that comfort with him.

"I should go," he said, always the gentleman.

"No." She stopped him with a single hand to his chest. "Stay," she said, her lips inching towards his. Their hearts raced at the same time as the implication of her words sunk into Superman's consciousness. "Stay with me Sup… Kal-El."

His name on her lips brought out something inside him that he's suppressed since the moment he'd fallen for her. And when their lips touched, he found himself becoming undone.

"Say it again."

She smiled in his kiss. "Kal-El."

That night replayed in his mind over and over again. It had been his first time, and he remembered how patient she was with him. He became nervous and shy, a glimpse of Clark in him appeared but she only thought it was amusing that the most powerful man in the world could quiver so close to her.

They made love twice that night. The first started out with the feeling of discovery, knowing each other on a level they've carefully avoided till that night. His confidence in himself grew, and the second time was slightly far different than the first, and he allowed himself to get lost in her embrace, in their dance.

"What are you thinking?" Lois asked, breaking through his thoughts.

"The past," Superman answered simply.

"I find myself thinking about the past too," Lois replied. "But that doesn't change the present." Superman gave a barely noticeable sigh. "They're both going to have questions I can't answer." She was referring to Richard and Jason. "This morning, he broke a stapler in half, and all I could tell him was to be careful next time," she revealed. "I don't even know what to expect."

Superman met her eyes and gazed into them emotionally. He wanted nothing more than to assure her that everything was going to be okay.

"I imagine he'll grow into his gifts just as I did mine," Superman said, taking Lois a bit by surprised.

Suddenly, the investigative reporter in her took the place of the mother. "What exactly do you mean by that? You didn't always have your powers?"

Superman nodded. "I was about four years old when my strength started showing, but it would come and go, normally it'd come when I felt scared or threatened, and sometimes when I'm excited about something."

Lois remained dazed by the revelation. Another secret in his past discovered. He had spoken to her about Krypton at length, and about his biological parents Jor-El and Lara, but that was all she really knew about him on a personal level, nothing else beyond that.

In spite of the discovery, she chuckled softly.

Superman could only look back, unprepared by her reaction.

"What?"

"Nothing," she said, but then changed her mind. "I mean… the thought of you as a kid… it never really occurred to me before that you could've been one."

"There's so much I want to tell you, Lois."

"Then start now."

"I – " he began but the sounded of a third voice called out to her.

Startled, Lois turned to the direction of the voice before looking back at Superman, but by the time that she did, the space he occupied besides their son was empty, and he was gone again, leaving the breeze through the open window in his wake.

"Hey," Richard said, entering the room and giving her a warm kiss on the forehead. "Is everything okay?" He looked over Jason to double check himself, and then moved tot he window to close it when he felt the bit of cold. When all was good, he faced Lois again. "Are you okay?"

Lois didn't know if she'll ever be okay.

"Let's go to bed."

Richard nodded, holding her hand and leading her out of the room.

Landing on the balcony of his new yet still unfurnished apartment, Clark picked up his cordless phone and dialed a familiar set of numbers. After a few rings, a kind sounding elderly man answered.

"Sorry for the late call, Alfred, but is Bruce there?"

"Of course, Master Kent. One moment."

"Thanks."

Several moments later, Bruce's voice appeared. "If this is about the apartment, I'm not taking it back," he said decisively.

"No, the apartment is fine Bruce, thank you, but I need your help on another matter."

"It's about time you actually asked me for help. Took you long enough," Bruce said with humor. "What do you need?"

"Medical records."

Bruce lifted his eyebrow. "Of whom?"

"Jason Lane."

To be continued…