Chapter 1

I rush through the revolving doors to the Daily Planet, scanning my watch nervously. "Goddamnit!" I'm late again. It's half past ten, the conference started at nine. In my defense, there was a fire at Pendragons Inc. and a mugging on fifth avenue, butI can't exactly tell Perry that. I grab a chocolate donut on my way in, silently thanking the saint who treated the office today. My stomach rumbles in appreciation as I take a bite. I haven't had a chance to eat since breakfast yesterday. This Superman persona is really starting to drag.

"Sorry I'm late," I push the conference room door open and all four pairs of eyes zero in on yours truly. "There was a fire at my apartment and -" But nobody is listening to me. Cat Grant stands before the whiteboard, steeling my thunder; everybody sits in rapt attention as she pitches her story. No doubt Bruce Wayne got himself into deep shit again, sleeping with an ambassador's wife or such nonsense . Perry forgets to chew me out for being late. I don't question my luck and take the seat next to Lois, who is slowly reimagining Cat's head on a spike. At least that glare is not aimed towards me for once. I shake my head at her and eat the rest of my donut in . . .

I spit the donut out and it smacks Lois in the face, chocolate frosting splattering all over her cheek as my eyes focus in on the whiteboard behind Cat. Lois lets out a cry like a startled goat and elbows me in the side sharply, her eyes daggers in my side; I forget to pretend her whack hurts.

All I see is my face plastered across the whiteboard, my hands entangled in Lana's golden locks, as she drapes herself over me in nothing but her bathrobe; her mouth locked on mine. Holy crap. I'm toast. I'm six feet under. Cat stands before the whiteboard, beaming with self-righteous glee, her mouth moves, but I don't hear any words. It's not what it looks like, I want to protest, and bite my tongue. Clark Kent is not kissing Lana Lang. Lana Lang is not kissing Clark Kent. So far as the world is concerned, Andrina, America's favorite pop star sensation, is giving Superman a lap dance. My face burns with embarrassment. That was a private moment! No one was supposed to see that. It was just two old friends catching up after eight years apart. Admittedly, we did a little more than just catch up, but no one can know. There hasn't been a scandal this big since Oliver Queen cheated on his fiancé with her sister. Everyone knows I hate Lex Luthor. No one will believe Lana . . . I mean Andrina came on to me first. It would seem like I . . . Superman is trying to spite Lex Luthor. I don't work like that, but no one will believe that after this goes public. If Lex sees that photo, he'll terminate her, and it won't be pretty. I know we have our differences. Lana can be a bit of a power-hungry floozy some days, but I wouldn't wish Lex's wrath on my worst enemy. Oh wait, except maybe Lex. Though chances of Lex offing himself are quite slim, he's far too in love with himself for that.

"It's a fake," I say, careful to keep my voice void of any emotion. "Has to be!"

Jimmy smiles at me pityingly and looks down at his feet dejectedly, crestfallen. That's right. Superman is Jimmy Olson's idol. A fact that is easy to forget when Jimmy beats me at Mario Kart on a daily basis. Now Superman is just a sleazeball who steals another man's fiancé, a disappointment. I was just trying to warn Lana about Lex . . . and then. What does it matter? Clark Kent can't speak up for Superman. He's a nobody from Smallville. I should have never listened to Pete. Creating Superman has been his worst idea yet.

I miss the days in the shadows.

Cat chuckles darkly. "I assure you, Handsome, it's as real as you and me. I've got a video," she winks at me, and licks her top lip suggestively. "Man, if a man kissed me like that," she shivers. "I'd never leave the bedroom!"

"We did not!" I start to protest, my face turning as red as my cape, and I quickly realize my misstep. Fortunately, no one notices my slip, I hope. I quickly scan the faces around me. Cat is as clueless as ever, more interested in filing her nails than the bumbling farm boy in the room. Jimmy hums a sad song to himself, not taking his eyes off his lukewarm coffee. My eyes narrow on the portly man with a receding hairline, looking a bit too smug for my liking. Perry White did not become Editor of The Daily Planet because he can yodel. Not for the first time, I wonder if he knows more than he lets on.

Lois grins triumphantly, like a bloodhound on the warpath. She's been onto me ever since I stole her interview with Superman way back in the day. I can fool the entire world into believing Kal-El and Clark Kent are two Separate people, but Lois Lane sees right through my foggy glasses. But she had no proof, till today that is. I make a face at her and hope I don't look as guilty as I feel. "Kind of hard to whoosh your way out of this one, Smallville," she whispers in a low tone only audible to the rare members of the super hearing club. Population: One. I force my expression to stay neutral. I can't let her see she's getting to me. It would only add fuel to her theories. Would that be such a bad thing? I tell that small voice in me to shut. Mixing Lois and the Super friends is a bad idea.

"I love it!" Perry explains, smacking his hand on the table. "The Fall of the Superman!" Perry smiles as if Elvis himself has crawled out of the grave and hugged him. I can't believe how quick he is to throw me to the crows. I thought he would at least give me the benefit of the doubt. "I want the whole scoop. How did they meet? Is Andrina tired of her billionaire play-toy?"

There is no story, just bad judgment on my part. I should have never gone to Lana's penthouse to warn her about Lex. Better yet, I should have gone as Clark. Oh wait. I tried that, but Clark Kent from Snoozeville couldn't get passAndrina's stone-faced guard. I signed my own death certificate the second I floated through her open window. "But remember," he looks at Cat when he says this.

"I hardly need to remind you the Daily Planet does not deal in are not the inquisitor," he says. " I want nothing but cold-hearted facts." Take a number, I'll be right with you as soon as I'm done roasting my head in a volcano. "This is America's favorite son we're dealing with. I don't need to tell you the amount of scrutiny the Daily Planet will be under if this proves false."

I can't stand it any longer, I leap to my feet. "We can't write this story!" I insist, not caring if I sound off my rockers. "Think of the people . . ." I scrounge around for the right words to say. "They'll be crushed, all those children!" I'm fighting a losing battle.

"Well, he should have thought about that before he put his cock in America's Sweetheart's pants," Lois says deviously. She is only trying to get a rise out of me, it's not going to work. She knows as well as I that Superman will never go that far.

"Now Clark," He says tentatively, as if treading on broken glass. "I know you idolize the guy."

How stuck up does he think I am? Superman is at the very bottom of my list of 'favorite people,' right down there with The Batman. The lunatic has no respect for human life. I would like to drop him in a black hole and see what happens.

"So, I'll understand if you want to sit this one out?" He raises a bushy gray eyebrow at me.

I'm left with no other choice. If I sit this one out, Lois and Cat will skin me alive. "Psh. . . of course not!" I add a nonchalant shrug for good measure. "I don't idolize the man. Who do you think I am, Jimmy?" I laugh uneasily. I hate throwing my pal under the bus like that, but it was unavoidable.

Jimmy pouts and lets out a cry of despair. "It can't be," he mumbles over and over into his Superman mug. "Superman is no cheater." I wave my hand in Jimmy's direction, illustrating my point.

"Alright Kent," he says with a throaty chuckle. " In that case, you'll be partnered up with Grant for this story, see to it you keep her in line."

There's an uproar of protests from the girls, ranging from:

"But he's my partner!"

"I don't need a nanny!"

"I work alone!"

"She's not a real writer!"

"Clark will only slow down my 'process'!"

"Though he is rather yummy once you get past the King Dork facade."

And my personal favorite:

"Have you completely lost your mind!" Lois flies out of her seat, and slams her Mac shut. "I've done more exclusives on Superman than all of you put together! He's mine!"

If by that you mean, you take unnecessary risks to get my attention. Sure, I'm all yours Lois.

"Hello," I raise my hand and grin at her, knowing it will drive her mad. "Are you forgetting me? I've done my fair share of exclusives too." It's all for show; Perry can't say I'm too close to the story now. Getting under Lois Lane's skin is an added bonus; I'll even go as far as to say it's one of my superpowers.

She swerves on me madly, and I finally understand why they call her Mad Dog Lane. She looks like a Pitbull ready to bite my head off, though a very cute Pitbull. "Don't get me started on you, Smallville." Never Kent, or Clark, always Smallville or Superman. She's even called Superman Smallville a handful of times to his face, just to gauge his reaction. Lois wags her index finger at me. "You, mister, are the worst kind of criminal!" She spits the last word out as if she's choking on rotten eggs. I laugh at the angry red pitbull at my side. She's so mad that's the best comeback she could come up with. I eat criminals for breakfast, Lois.

"Why thank you," I place my hand over my heart. "That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me." I am really laying on the Clark Kent persona thick, I should get an Oscar for my performance. Though usually Superman is the act.

Lois growls frustratingly and braces her arms on the table. "Listen Fly-boy I am this close to . . ."

"That's enough you two!" Perry says in his no-nonsense voice. "This is a newsroom not a battlefield," he shoots the two of us a hard look.

"I fail to see the difference," Lois says, still fuming.

"Somebody is possessive," Cat shares a conspiratorial smile with me. She puckers her lips and blows a kiss my way. I fight the urge to fly out the window right now and wash my hands of this mess. I never thought I would see the day where I needed Kryptonite. Maybe I can pop in and say hello to my Ol' pal Lex.

"I'm sick of the lot of you!" Perry screams loud enough for the inmates to hear on Stryker's island. I scratch my poor aching eardrum and will the ringing in my head to stop. Jimmy squeaks and looks like he's about to wet his pants. Lois crosses her arms and stares at me as if it's my fault Perry has high blood pressure. "I don't want to hear any more bickering capeesh?" When none of us move, he glares at each and every one of us unblinking. He could give The Batman a run for his money. "Well, don't just sit there catching dust!" He slams a rolled up newspaper on the table and the room echoes with a sound like thunder. I flinch. "This story is not going to write itself!"

I'm the first one up, and out the door faster than you can say "Superman is a loser." I don't need to be told twice to flee. Any longer in those close quarters and Perry would have an obituary to write for yours truly.

"Not so fast, partner," Cat shoves past Lois and loops her arm between mine. Is it just my imagination or does Lois look a bit green?

I follow Cat to her desk, which is right by the window and has a perfect view of the Revenge Club across the street. I move a gaudy pink box and sit on the edge of her desk. I'm already feeling violated and she hasn't done anything dirty yet. The entire corner wears her expensive perfume like a second skin. Her desk is covered with makeup products that probably cost more than she makes in a week. I finger an absurdly pink cat figurine dressed in a bikini and push it far, far away from me. Knowing Cat, she's probably hosted a handful of midnight guests on this very spot. I suddenly feel itchy and dirty and can't get off her desk fast enough.

Cat puts on one of her flirtatious smiles and then ducks under the desk, shoving her rear unnecessarily in my direction. She hums the 'Gilmore Girls' theme song to herself as she rummages around, looking for something. I'm forced to move out of the way. Lois I can handle, but Cat is an entirely different species. We should be searching for sources, not playing dress up.

"Gotcha!" She finally resurfaces carrying a sparkly teal dress. She holds it up against her body, showing off its cleavage. "What do you think?"

"I think a mermaid lost her tail somewhere," I flip my notebook open, a poor attempt to seem like I'm brainstorming. I already know the story, thank you very much. The reporter in me knows I've hit a goldmine. Superman falling from grace, who would have imagined that? Any sensible reporter would be all over the story like a vulture on a carcass.

Cat bites her lip thoughtfully. "You're right, it's more Aquaman's style," she says with a thoughtful shake of the head, her light hair smacking me in the face. Aquaman prefers Mera nude; though Cat doesn't need to know that. She disappears back into her secret compartment and resurfaces again with a simple red sundress with a pattern of white roses.

I laugh despite myself. It's the dress I bought for Lois in Smallville as a joke. I've been wondering what she did with it. Cat takes my laughter as an answer and tosses it to the side, her face crestfallen, and resumes searching for the perfect outfit. I grit my teeth; I never had to play Fashion Critique with Lois.

I chance a peek at our desks across the room and silently chastise myself for mentally calling it ours, even though they are set side by side. There is I and there is you, there is no we, a fact Lois reminds me of daily. Someday maybe. Lois sits behind her computer typing furiously, but her eyes are locked on me. Lois's impromptu weekend in Florida has paid off, her skin taking on a golden sheen that would put an Amazonian to shame. Her violet eyes are even more piercing against her tan. I envy her, I can't even get a mini tan if I fly into the sun. Her black ringlets cascades over one shoulder. She is every bit a princess from a fairy tale, but her permanent scowl ruins the image.

I want to march towards Lois, lift her up in my arms and kiss her like I did when we thought the world was ending and all that mattered was her. Not the enormous astroid plummeting to Earth. Not the thousand people calling out for my help. Just Lois and Clark against the universe. I felt like I could tackle anything so long as she was at my side. The kiss was my salvation and my doom. It only took that one moment, that single kiss kiss for her to see through the chink in my armor. I might have averted one crisis, but my world ended that day all the same. She never looked at Superman or Clark Kent the same way after that kiss. I can push planets out of orbit, jump into burning buildings, and stop trains in their tracks, but when it comes to Lois Lane, I freeze up like one of Captain Cold's victims. She's my Kryptonite. I tell myself if I reveal the truth to her, she'll only turn around and write the story of the century. I can already see the title: Superman Hiding in Plain Sight. Don't be stupid. It's only a pathetic excuse. If she wanted to blow the whistle she would have done so by now. No. Plain and simple: I'm scared. Scared of losing her. Scared of letting her be part of my masked crusade. But the way things are going looks like I already have lost her. Barry and Iris seem happy. Maybe it is time I man up and admit Lois is right.

"What about this baby?" Cat's voice slices through my thoughts. I begrudgingly pull my gaze away from Lois and towards Cat. She holds up another red dress, this time one the exact shade of blood which is low cut and has a black rose sewed on the side. I much preferred the sundress. This one looks a bit too Hester Prynne for my liking.

"Cat," I groan. "What in the Sam Hill are you doing?" I have a pretty good idea, but I hope I'm wrong. No outfit is going to make a lick of a difference to me when she creams me alive.

"Picking my outfit for the . . ."

"A dress is not going to make a lick of a difference," I grind through my teeth. "Superman doesn't notice that kind of thing." Maybe you should try driving your car off a cliff like a certain reporter I know.

"Oh, I don't know," Lois says heatedly from her desk, sulking. "Superman seems to like girls in glitter. I would go with the blue one Cat. it matches his eyes." She shoots a venomous look my way. It takes every ounce of my power not to glare back at her.

"Superman," Cat laughs in amazement as if Lois has made a cosmic joke. "Who said anything about Superman?" She fingers the blue dress. "You want dirt on someone you look no farther than their family," Cat says. "Honestly Lois, I thought you were supposed to be the smart one?"

"Wait, you mean . . ." I stop myself from saying Pete in the nick of time. Pete Ross is Clark's roommate. I keep forgetting about his pesky alter ego Sam Lando who moonlights as my adopted brother and manager. Just chock it up to another of his hair brained ideas.

Lois's ears perk up. "Cat," she says approvingly. "That's actually a half-decent idea."

Cat's eyes widened in shock. It's a rare day in hell when Lois compliments Cat Grant. "Really?" she squeals.

"It's a terrible idea," I hiss. "Sam doesn't give interviews."

"I don't know Mr. Kent," Cat slithers towards me, like a cat on the prowl, and places a manicured hand over my chest, right where the S is under my shirt. My traitorous heart beats a mile a minute and sweat starts to drip behind my ear. I hope I'm not as transparent as I feel. My muscles tense on instinct. I've only allowed a handful of women this close to me. She's invading my personal space. Cat traces the contour of my jawline with her index finger, her touch butterfly light against my flesh. I feel my face redden. She leans in close, till I can see the smudge of mascara underneath her eyes. The air fills with the scent of lavender.

"You'll find I can be quite persuasive," she purrs against my mouth teasingly, then slips to the girl's lavatory to change.

Lois watches her leave with fire in her gaze. "Since when are you on a first name basis with Lando?" She stares at me accusingly.

"Since when do you give Cat compliments?" I raise an inquisitive eyebrow at her, silently laughing.

Lois picks up a thick book and throws it at my head. I don't duck fast enough, and it hits me squarely in the face. "Ow," I scrunch up my face in exaggerated pain.

"Don't pretend that hurts Smallville," She sneers. "Be thankful there is no kryptonite nearby." She shoots one last venomous look my way and stomps out of the bullpen.