Title: The Return of Tomorrow
Type: Crossover
Pairings: Clark/Lois; Tony/Pepper
Description: Tony Stark and Clark Kent meet. How? That's why you have to read. It probably doesn't make sense, but the time travel rules the Russo's made up don't either, so, ha! This story is by request as a birthday present. It will be in four parts.
Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville or Iron Man characters. DC and Marvel and all that jazz. Blah, blah, blah. Just don't sue. This is for fun because what else do we have during this pandemic? I do own Callie, though. She was created in 2009 from a prior Smallville fan fic.
1. Parent Teacher Association of Dads
The PTA Meeting. The joining of teachers and parents to discuss the ideas of improvements in a child's school and education. It is a right of passage for many, to show some type of participation in the institution of learning. For countless others it is something that is dreaded, a hurdle to get over with the vindication of saying that you had taken part. Then there are those where it is a chance to have control and a springboard for other facets of control in the district system. Then, lastly, the minority, who just enjoy the normalcy of being involved in any capacity.
It might seem strange to yearn for a PTA meeting for normalcy, but when one has battled intergalactic beings, listening to fights about nut-free and nut-aware classrooms and how to design a welcome bulletin board, it was a "welcomed" escape. And the person yearning most of all sat in the back and adjusted his thick black rimmed glasses on his plain face. He glanced around the room and behind him to the refreshment table where some of the parents had gathered and were chit chatting. He checked his watch. As much as he wanted to do his parental duty, he also wanted to get the show on the road. He knew his daughter would also be itching to leave.
A smile crept upon his lips. Whenever he thought of his daughter he couldn't stop a smile from forming. She was a whirlwind of energy, sometimes literally, with a pure heart. She was the best parts of himself and his wife. Then there was the six month old at home. Two kids. A wife. It was something Clark Kent had always dreamed of, but never thought possible. But how could he have dreamed up a woman like Lois Lane? Her forceful energy like a wrecking ball to the walls he had built up for so many years. How could he also dream up being a superhero and protecting the Earth? A job he took so seriously that it nearly killed him for good. He shook his head not wanting to dwell on the events of the last year and a half. The death of Superman. Clark Kent's return. His decision to not seek his powers back. To be a father first and hang up his cape. For now.
That's what he had told Lois. "For now." She was worried about him and his decision. They had talked it over so many times. She supported him when he made his final choice, but he knew that she worried even more now than she did when he was fighting space invaders. But, there was a new group of heroes around. And he was confident that they would do just fine while Superman was on "extended leave" or "sabbatical or "retired", however he thought of it. He was getting used to his depowered self. And one of those things, which Lois so gleefully pointed out, was getting more involved in events he might not have had time for before.
Today, it was the PTA.
While Lois was home with their son, he took their first grade daughter with him to this such event to help Lois relax. Callie, their daughter, was currently in a room designated for childcare while he sat in on this meeting. He checked his watch again.
"That was supposed to start fifteen minutes ago." He said to himself, the impatience rising. He adjusted his body in the seat, wanting to grab the jacket draped over the back of the chair.
Just as the parents at the refreshment table started to take their seats, a tall man with tinted glasses, exquisite facial hair, and black zip up and dark jeans entered the gym. While his attire wasn't unusual, the way he carried himself stuck out. He certainly didn't look like he belonged in Smallville, but then again, there was always something surprising showing up unannounced.
The man raised a basket full of muffins and with a suave pull of his glasses said, "Hi, I'm new here and these are blueberry muffins my dazzling Iron Chef wife made."
Some of the women flocked over to his direction to show him where he could place his contribution. Clark held back an eyeroll and wished Lois was beside him to provide some cheekish commentary.
Before Clark knew it, the new guy sat down right beside him. He turned and said, "Any idea how long these things last?"
"Supposed to be for an hour." Clark replied.
The man let his head fall back limp before bringing it back forward. "Things we do for the missus, hm? Oh, I'm sorry, I shouldn't assume…"
Clark shook his head and confirmed, "There's a missus."
The man then extended his hand out and introduced himself, "I'm Tony Stark."
Clark reciprocated and shook his hand politely, "Clark Kent."
"Quite the handshake, Clark. All that working on the farm? Again, an assumption based off the lumberjack flannel you've got going on there and the whole rural environment."
Clark looked down at his apparel, a blue and grey flannel button down, white undershirt, and jeans. It didn't scream lumberjack flannel, but his "fashion sense" had been source material for a long time. He didn't know what to make of Tony Stark. There was an opinion forming slowly. He liked him, but was also irked by him? He talked fast and made mild jabs. This was a very familiar feeling.
"You would be right again, regarding the farm, not the lumberjack part." He took a beat and then commented, "So, you're new to Smallville?"
Tony nodded."Yeah, my wife and I happened upon it. We, uh, had quite the year and were looking for a place to settle that was small and peaceful. Start fresh. I knew a guy who owned a farm and raised his family. It's something you envy. He pulled it off and now I have my shot."
Clark nodded. "I know what you mean. There's something to be said about the simpler things."
"There's an issue with that sometimes, trying to latch on to those simpler things. Trying to ignore the bigger things out of our control."
Clark nodded in agreement. That had been his year. Situations rising and him trying to focus on the life he built, while clearing the way for others to fight. It was hard, but in his condition he would be more of a liability on the field. He had sidelined himself and gave advice if he received a call. He still had a toe in the pool, he just wasn't near ready to jump back in.
"That's true. It can't always be simple. I know from personal experience, if I see a situation pointed south, I can't ignore it. I wish I could, though." Tony eyed him for a moment and Clark almost felt like he was under a microscope. "What?" He asked.
"I'm sorry, you just remind me of a friend from back home. That 'All-American' vibe you've got going on there."
"Is that a compliment?" He asked, Tony's comments and attitude reminding him of when he first met Lois.
"It is indeed." He smirked, "He's a good man. A really good one. Someone to live up to."
He could sense that Tony was looking wistful and wondered if he had lost this friend. He was becoming more and more curious about Tony's background, as well. There was something about him that Clark couldn't quite place, something he was hiding behind his fast talking persona. He felt that this was something to keep his eye on. He hadn't used his investigative skills in a while, but he was ready to rev up those engines again. It was really all he could do in his current state.
Tony cleared his throat and seemed to pick up on Clark's thoughts.
"I've gone and done it again. Pep has warned me I've become like this. You see, I've been called many things, Clark. Nostalgic didn't used to be one of them." Tony said, slapping his hands to his lap.
"We all get like that sometimes. That homesick feeling."
"This is just a big change. I'm more of a fast track city guy. A man of tomorrow. I've slowed down at times,but there's the tug, you know? I lived a different life before and now," he waved his hands in the air, "Now, it's a whole new world."
They were interrupted by a female voice over the speakers in the gym.
"Welcome everyone. I promise we'll be done in the allotted time. But, before we start…"
Maddie Haroldhaus, or "Punchbowl Maddie" as Lois called her, was running the meeting at the front. She cleared her throat into the microphone on the front table. She had a doe eyed look as she craned her neck to look at the back row of seats. A slight blush grew from her cheeks as she softly sighed into the mic when her eyes locked onto the two men.
"Would Mr. Stark like to take a moment to introduce himself?"
"Guess, I'm on," he whispered.
Tony stood up and looked at the small crowd of parents.
"Uh, my name is Tony Stark. My daughter Morgan will be starting in the first grade here at Smallville Elementary. I'm just here to give support and, uh, let me know when the science fair is."
Maddie sighed, making goo goo eyes and breathed, "Thank you, Mr. Stark."
Tony sat down and out of the side of his mouth remarked, "You're going to have to give me a list of the crazies to avoid."
"I'll have my wife, Lois, make that up for you. She seems to be more aware of that than I am."
"That's because you're one of those 'look for the best in people' types. Not that that's a bad thing. You'll get walked over on more, but you'll have people's trust."
Yes, Tony would certainly get along well with Lois. He was also trying to look for the best in Tony. If there was anything he learned from being around certain people in his life, Lois, Oliver, Bruce, it was that this type of attitude was a mechanism, harboring sides of the individual they didn't want others to see. There was something deeper behind Tony Stark and he was going to figure it out.
"You said you have a daughter starting in the first grade. I do, too. Her name is Callie. She's actually here tonight."
"You don't say. So's my Morgan." He smiled.
In a classroom down the hall from the gym, a volunteer parent, Mrs. Holmes, helped try to keep the few kids brought to the meeting occupied. One boy was throwing a temper tantrum on the floor wanting his mother and annoying the rest of the children in there.
Callie glanced over from the table she was sitting at. She rolled her eyes when she saw it was Rick Haroldhaus. He and his mom were the worst. Moving her attention back to her drawing she went for the red crayon at the same time the quiet new girl across from her did.
"Sorry." The new girl said.
"That's okay, you can have it first."
The girl smiled as she grabbed the crayon and continued her drawing. She and Callie were about the same height, both had brown hair but Callie's was longer while this girl's was shorter. They both wore pink and that was filed away as something potentially in common. Callie wanted to make a friend.
"I'm Callie." She piped up.
"Morgan." The girl said not looking up from her paper.
"I like pink. Do you like pink?"
"Uh huh."
Trying to extend the conversion, Callie asked,"What are you drawing, Morgan?"
"You wouldn't know it."
"That's okay. I'm still interested."
Morgan looked at her finally. Callie could tell that the girl seemed shy, almost like she was afraid to talk to her. That made Callie sad.
"I'm drawing the greatest superhero ever."
Callie smiled. That was something they could bond over. She knew exactly who the greatest superhero was. As Callie got up from her seat and took a peek at the picture she became puzzled. It wasn't what she was expecting it to look like.
"That's not Superman." She pointed out.
Morgan shook her head. "I'm not drawing him."
"Who are you drawing?"
Morgan smiled triumphantly. "Iron Man."
A confused look took over Callie's face."Who's Iron Man?"
"I told you that you wouldn't know him."
"How is he the greatest superhero if I've never heard of him?"
Callie had met all the heroes of the Justice League. Some even babysat her. She had never heard of Iron Man before. She didn't recognize the design either. Though, there was the hero "Steel" who appeared while her father was 'recovering'. There was no \S/ on this chest, just a glowing center.
"Because he is and I know it. I never heard of Superman either until I got here."
Callie's eyes bugged out of her head. "You never heard of Superman?"
Morgan shook her head and shrugged. "I know about Captain America. He's kind of like him."
"Who?"
"Nevermind." Morgan said, sadly. "It's from where I used to live."
"Do you miss your old home?" Callie asked.
Morgan nodded.
"I'm sorry."
The girl looked at her and softened. "It's okay."
"I lived in Metropolis and my family moved back onto my grandma's farm. My dad...well he was away for a little while and thought it would be nice for us when he came back."
Morgan perked up. "My dad did that, too! I'm happy he's back. I really missed him. He's the best."
"My dad is, too." Callie remarked.
"My dad is really smart." Morgan challenged.
"So is my dad!" Callie challenged back.
"My dad is like the smartest guy in the world!"
Callie wanted to dispute the claim, but she did think Dr. Hamilton was the smartest guy she had ever met. He used a lot of big words that her mom claimed he made up. Callie thought of other attributes of her father that she could use to win this argument. She grinned as she replied, "My dad is the strongest." Even without his powers, Callie finished in her thoughts.
"Yeah, well, my dad can build a lot of stuff."
"My dad can build and lift a lot of stuff. You should see our barn!"
Morgan stood up with her hands on her hips. "I love my dad, 3000!"
Callie stood and did the same. "I love my dad more than that plus infinity!"
"Nuh-uh! You don't even know what that means!"
"Girls!" Mrs. Holmes said to them. "Stop arguing and be nice."
Both girls stopped and sat down. They looked across the table and narrowed their eyes at each other. Callie wanted to prove how cool her family was by using her powers, but she knew that was wrong. That was part of the reason they were back in Smallville. Her parents thought it would be safer for her and her brother, but she didn't really agree. She didn't say anything, though. She was just happy they were all together. She realized she got defensive with Morgan for no reason. If they kept arguing they would start fighting about whose mom is better and Callie didn't want to get in trouble for burning the school down. She was already still working off the living room rug incident.
"I'm sure your dad is cool." Callie said, apologizing.
"Yours, too."
Interested in one piece of information, Callie pried,"You said your dad went away for a while?"
Morgan sadly nodded.
That was something Callie knew well and was still dealing with. She still had nightmares every so often, Doomsday returning and Superman dying, saving the city-saving her family. She never really wanted to talk about it. She also didn't want to bring up bad memories to her parents. But, it seemed like Morgan might understand.
"My dad went away and it made me and my mom sad." Callie added.
"Did he go away on purpose?"
Callie shook her head. "He...uh…." she tried to find the words to use without giving away her secret. "He got hurt and he had to get better."
Morgan gasped and her eyes grew wide. "My dad got hurt and went away, too!"
"Yeah?"
Morgan looked at Mrs. Holmes and then to Callie and whispered, "Did you think that your dad was never coming back?"
Callie nodded. "I was afraid of that."
"Me, too. Everyone came to the house and was sad. I didn't want to believe it, though. When I heard stories that were scary, he always was okay. Because my dad, he's like...he's like a…."
"A superhero?" Callie suggested.
Morgan's eyes teared up. "Sort of. He is to me."
"Mine, too."
Morgan smiled. "There's a lot of stuff I don't understand. But my dad is home. And we came here. And as long as we're together, it's okay. I just don't want to lose him again."
Morgan gave Callie back the red crayon and she started to finish her drawing. She looked down at the smiling family picture on the farm she drew. "Me either."
The two girls looked at each other, happy to know that they now had a new confidant.
"So, it's decided that we will use the gold paper with the maroon letters." Maddie said as she hit the gavel she brought from home against the table.
Tony was jolted awake from the noise and quickly wiped his face. "Oh my god. Please tell me I wasn't drooling."
"You kept it at a minimum."
"I hope you were taking notes. I might need to cheat off of you when she gives the final exam on this stuff."
Clark chuckled. "I think you'll manage. She seems to like you."
"Don't tell my wife, she might come to the next meeting and punch her out. Though, on the other hand that would be more entertaining."
"She'd have to get in line behind my wife."
Tony raised an eyebrow.
Clark explained."They've had a few run-ins. Maddie sometimes is still living in the past."
"You and she...?" Tony asked,clearly starting to make an assumption.
"Oh, no!" Clark quickly added, not wanting Tony to get the wrong idea. "She's just made comments about someone I dated in high school and it's like a soap opera she was a fan of."
"Not really tethered to reality?"
"Exactly."
"Well, these small town dramas are something to get used to, I guess."
"Everyone does know who you are."
Tony shrugged, "I'm used to that."
It was Clark's turn to raise an eyebrow.
"Where are you from, by the way?"
"Lived in Malibu, then a place in upstate New York, seems like in another world."
"Multiple worlds wouldn't be anything new." Clark mumbled.
Tony pointed at him."That's interesting."
"What, about different worlds?"
"Yeah. You think about or know about that stuff?"
"There are stranger things that have happened in and around here. When you take into account the things that League has seen-" Clark stopped himself. He was talking to Tony like they were old friends, like he knew and understood the superhero life he led-had led. "I just mean, there's the Justice League and all battles and things they've faced. It seems like anything is possible."
"Right, I guess maybe every world could have its own heroes and galactic villains." Tony said, seeming to be caught up in thought.
"They seem to have it handled." Clark said, almost like he was convincing himself of that fact.
"Sure, sure. Stay back and let them do their job."
Clark nodded in confirmation. Both men then sat in silence, their minds drifting off in similar directions, unbeknownst to them.
Once the meeting was finally over, Clark and Tony walked down the hallway together towards the classroom where their daughters were.
"I think I'd rather watch paint dry then listen to that Maddie drone on and on." Tony said.
"It's just once a month."
"True, but if I pull a Carrie with a bucket of red paint on her, I won't be held accountable for my actions. I might even get accolades. A statue perhaps."
"We can then watch the paint dry." Clark added.
Tony laughed. "I like you, Kent."
When they made it to the door both girls ran screaming toward the entrance, "Dad!" "Daddy!"
Clark could never get over hearing those words come out of his daughter's mouth. When he glanced at Tony it seemed like he was having the same reaction. Both men swooped up their little girls and held them in their respective arms.
"Callie, did you meet Mr. Stark's daughter Morgan?"
Callie nodded, "She's my best friend. Can she come over to the farm to play?"
Clark smiled and chuckled, "Best friend, already?"
"Yup," Morgan chimed in. "Callie and I know a lot of the same things. And we both like pink! Can I play at her house one day, Daddy. Please?"
"Uh, sure there, sweetheart. As long as Mr. and Mrs. Kent are okay with it."
"We'll find a good time." Clark confirmed.
"Sounds like a playdate."
Both girls exclaimed in roars of glee and wiggled in the arms of their fathers.
"What's next on my calendar for the evening, Ms. Stark?" Tony asked.
"Cheeseburgers!" she exclaimed.
"Exactly what I was hoping you would say. I'm famished after all that droning. And we're never having a playdate at Mrs. Haroldhaus's house or I'll sell all your toys."
Morgan giggled and Clark smirked.
As the men exited the building Clark approached the red truck parked in front, while Tony went over to the black SUV. They both strapped their daughters in safely and closed the car doors before walking towards each other. They exchanged numbers for the future playdate and logged it into their phones.
"It was nice to meet you, Tony."
"Same here, Clark."
With a small wave Clark retreated back towards his car and Tony stood a bit reflective for a moment before doing the same.