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: You all are utterly fantastic! I don't know what to say. I've never received this much feedback in this site in a matter of 24 hours before, so I'm a bit overwhelmed. Fortunately, it encouraged me to write more so here you go. I hope you like it.

Chapter 5: Discovery

"Could you watch Jason for a couple of hours this afternoon?"

Clark looked at her, eyes wide and his jaw trying to reach for the floor. A few minutes ago, Lois and Richard were called into Perry's office, but he made a conscious effort not to eavesdrop so often than it was necessary. So when she stepped out of the meeting and asked if he, Clark Kent, could watch over Jason, he was beyond surprised and elated at the same time.

"Of course!" Clark exclaimed a bit too excitedly but then immediately cleared his throat. He turned to Richard. "Is that okay with you?"

"It's not a problem with me if it's not a problem with her," Richard answered with a shrug. "What about you buddy?" he asked Jason, who stood besides his mother's leg. "Do you think you can hang out with Mr. Kent this afternoon?"

Jason smiled widely, then nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah!"

Richard smiled. "There's your answer."

Lois kneeled before Jason and started to go through the list of things he shouldn't forget. Jason nodded to every single one of them; his regimen has become second nature to him that he barely needed any reminding. Then Lois stood before Clark and gave him a list of reminders as well, just in case Jason forgot.

"Thanks, Clark. I really appreciate this."

"It's no problem at all," Clark said, holding his emotions together. He felt the need to burst but thankfully, nothing of the kind happened.

"Be a good boy to Clark, okay Jason?"

Jason nodded. "Yes mom."

"Okay."

With one last glance towards Clark, she headed out the door with Richard close behind. Nervously, Clark glanced down and saw little Jason eyeing him peculiarly.

"So…" he began sheepishly. "What would you like to do?"

Jason shrugged, and then smiled, pulling on his sleeve. A gesture Clark assumed that he wanted him to go down and face him at eye level. So he placed one knee down on the floor while his forearm rested on the other knee. Jason leaned in to his ear and whispered, "Can you take me flying?"

Clark was speechless, and was left unable to answer him as quickly as he should.

"I'm sorry Jason, but I don't know how to fly planes."

Jason frowned; he wasn't referring to a plane. He whispered into Clark's ear once more as Clark himself adjusted his tie, feeling the tightness of it stronger now than ever before. "Not that flying," he said in such a childlike manner. "Flying without planes."

"Oh," Clark reacted timidly. "Um… Jason."

"How come you where a costume?" Jason asked, further solidifying to Clark about what he actually knew. He didn't expect this at all, and he was hoping to talk to Lois some more before he actually started sharing more information with Jason.

"Um…" Clark was fidgeting now. "So I can help people."

"Not that costume." Jason pointed to his three-piece suit and glasses. "This one."

Clark weakly smiled. "I... uh... this isn't… well… it isn't a costume. Not really."

Jason didn't look entirely convinced.

"Then how come nobody knows that you're here?"

The kid was too smart, perceptive and curious for his own good. Lois could take full responsibility for that and wondered what else their son's mind has figured out. Judging by his reaction, Jason didn't look at all afraid, just a little confused like Lois has said.

"Well…" he began, easing in the conversation just a little bit. "Well, because people don't know who I am."

"I do," Jason responded with such a triumphant smile.

"Um…" Clark took a deep breath, looking around the office and noticing the busy atmosphere. He didn't want to have this talk here, so he decided to find a quieter place. "What do you say we go up to the roof and talk a bit further?"

Jason's eyes lit up. "Okay!"

Clark nodded, equally as enthusiastic. "Up we go, then."

It's not exactly the tallest building in Metropolis but it is one of the most recognizable and the most famous. The recently reattached globe of the Daily Planet building has shown brightly for over seventy years, representing the beauty of the city and the ideals for which the newspaper was founded on.

Now, Clark Kent stood on the roof with Jason, who sat on the ledge, his feet dangling on the side building whileClark supported his back with his chest, holding onto him firmly as they both looked out into the city. Clark was even more surprised to see Jason looking up into the sun, as if, on some unconscious level, knew that it gave him strength.

"I guess you have a lot of questions," Clark said, breaking the silence. He was nervous earlier, and while traces of shyness were clear in his expression, he was a lot more confident talking to him now than he was before. "I'll try my best to answer them."

"Is Superman your real name?" Jason asked with so much wonder evident in his crystal blue eyes. His eyes.

Clark chuckled. "No, it's not I'm afraid."

"How come?"

"Well… um… your mom named me."

"Really?"

Clark nodded, slightly amused at how inquisitive he is. "Hmm mm. This is where she first met Superman, actually," he said pointing to the roof, remembering the first time he rescued Lois. "She was covering a story and she fell off a helicopter," he explained as simplistic as possible.

Jason gasped, and it was the cutest sight Clark's ever seen.

"Don't worry, I won't ever let anything happen to her," Clark said assuringly. "You too, you know."

Jason smiled and nodded. "What about daddy?"

As much as it hurt not having the pleasure of being called that himself, he knew, from the bottom of his heart, that he could never refuse his son, nor could he ignore how good of a father and fiancée Richard is to both Jason and Lois.

"I won't let anything happen to your dad, too," Clark replied in earnest.

Satisfied, Jason went back to his earlier request. "Can you take me flying now?"

Clark laughed. "No, not yet. But soon, I hope."

Jason looked sad for a moment before thinking out loud, "Can we hang out more?"

A burst of happiness and joy filled his sense before reality hit him back to the ground again. Being with Jason was a rare occurrence, and he didn't know how much more time they could spend together in the future so he didn't want to let the moment pass them by.

"I'd love that," Clark said, hiding his sadness over the situation.

Jason twisted his body around and wrapped his little arms around his neck. Clark squeezed him softly, a single tear falling from his eye as he held his son in his arms for the very first time.

"Thank you, Mister Superman."

Clark chuckled as he hesitantly let him go, wiping the one tear away at the same time so he didn't notice. "You think you could call me Clark when I'm not in my costume?"

Jason nodded and grinned. "Okay, Mister Clark!"

Clark pulled him in and hugged him again. He didn't think he would ever get tired of it.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," Jason returned.

"Come on, we should head back downstairs before your Uncle Perry gets worried about you," Clark said, carrying him in his arms as he moved away from the ledge and back to the stairs. He wanted to hold him a little longer before Jason went back to the life he couldn't be a part of.

True to his word, Jason kept Superman and Clark Kent separately, and Clark couldn't help but be so appreciative of his natural efforts to protect his secret. As the boy grew older, it won't always be as easy, and he was coming to the sudden realization, that he too, have held off the truth for far too long.

Just as his thoughts were taking a turn for the honest, his desk phone rang. Clark picked up the handset and greeted openly through the receiver.

"Daily Planet, Clark Kent speaking, how can I help you?"

"I'll never get used to hearing you answer the phone like that," Bruce replied on the other line as Clark forced himself not to chuckle.

"What's up?"

"I got those records you wanted," Bruce said, getting right down to business. "Unfortunately, I have no idea what any of it means so I had Lucius take a look at it."

"Can he be trusted?" Clark asked with obvious concern. He'd heard about Lucius Fox and how Bruce had entrusted Wayne Enterprises to him after buying out most of the company's shares and firing the previous CEO, so he had some comfort but not enough to be negligent.

"He has our utmost confidence, Clark."

In Gotham City, Bruce Wayne sat before his computer console with a wireless ear piece as he spoke through a microphone with Clark Kent on the other line. He flipped over the child's file and committed to memory what Lucius has relayed to him about his findings.

"What did you find out?"

"The kid has some major health issues. According to this, his allergies range from nuts, seafood, wheat and even milk. I guess ice-cream is a no go in the Lane-White household."

Clark already knew that much about him and was glad that it was treatable, but he was concerned about something else. "Anything out of the ordinary?"

"Yeah, other than being born premature, the kid has a pretty high I.Q. according to his psych evaluation."

"He had a psych evaluation?" Clark repeated with concern.

"Don't worry, he passed in flying colors. There's nothing really out of the ordinary with him. His blood work looks… wait a second."

"What?" Clark replied with barely contained anticipation. If it wasn't for his deadline and the pleasure of getting to know Jason, he'd be at Wayne Manor this instant trying to figure out what made his son so fragile.

"Well… I didn't notice it before, but I think his file is incomplete."

"Repeat that by me again," Clark requested in spite of his super hearing advantage.

"There are a lot of blackouts in the comments section, but I didn't really pay attention to that." Bruce adjusted himself in his seat. "Why the curiosity, Kent? What's so special about this kid that has you asking me to sneak into his medical files? I knew you had a thing for his mom back then, but that was what… five… six years ago."

"Six years to the rest of the world, but only a couple of weeks for me," Clark admitted with exasperation. "Bruce…"

But Bruce didn't need further explanation as the date of Jason Lane's birth revealed itself clear in black ink. He finally understood his friend's desperation, and to some degree,related to it.

"Don't worry about it. I'll see what I can find out on my end, but in the meantime, get some rest. You sound like crap."

At the Daily Planet, Clark looked over his shoulder to find Jason drawing on Lois's desk and smiled.

"I'll keep that in mind, thanks Bruce." He hung up the phone.

Back in Gotham City, Bruce took the elevator back up to the main house. Once he made his way out to the library, he spotted a small bundle of energy bouncing atop his butler's shoulder.

"Be careful Alfred," Bruce said anxiously, still getting used to being a father.

"Nonsense, Master Wayne," Alfred replied with that trademark wit of his. "I'll have you know that I'm quite accomplished at this, right Miss Helena?"

"Right!" Little Helena said, repeating the first words she's learned. Last week was 'no' and this week is 'right.'

Bruce smiled. If his suspicions was correct about Jason Lane, his friend is going to have his work cut out for him, and he'll no doubt love every minute of it.

To be continued…

- Information on the Daily Planet was taken from Superman Returns Visual Guide, page 44.