Chapter Four

Lois took a deep breath as she asked to be let out of the cab a block before the house. She kept thinking of that young man's smile, his eyes, his hope. Everything pointed to him having some connection with Clark. Maybe immediately jumping to the conclusion that it was him was wrong. Oh god, and she had invited him into the house.

Did it even matter anymore?

The world knew that Clark and Superman were the same person, maybe he had just wanted to get something to sell. Maybe she would one day find her house robbed and her office ransacked due to people wanting to sell these memorabilia online. Superman wasn't a celebrity in that way, he wasn't a model or a speaker. He was a superhero and superheroes shouldn't care about money.

She sighed as she heard a flutter of a bird's wings, but with the anxiety she was carrying it could have been a bird, a bat, or even an owl.

Arriving at the house that she and Clark had made a home, she smiled a little as she saw the man sitting on the doorstep. She looked around. Had he hired a photographer to shoot some pictures, were there people hiding to ask more questions about Superman's domestic life and how she felt she fit in. The strange thing was that nobody else seemed to be here, just her and the man holding up a coffee cup.

"Decaf," he said as he handed it to her and ran a hand through the blond hair.

"Health reason or are you just being considerate?" she asked with a smile, "Look, you have to be honest with me here. I swear that one false move and you won't be here for your twenty-fifth birthday, but you look…your eyes."

"Starting to recognize me for the man I was?" Clark asked as he watched her, "I always thought you were beautiful when the light bounced off your face like that."

Lois sighed, she sat down next to him. Putting one hand to his cheek, she sat back. She inhaled deeply before asking, "Do me a favor?" she asked, "Don't move."

Clark nodded very softly before concentrating on his breathing.

Lois slowly ran her hand through the thick blond hair and slipped off the glasses. She closed them before setting them down on her knee. Her eyes ran up and down the body again before she allowed her lips to tenderly sink upon his. At his natural movement, she trusted him more. As young as he was now, this was his husband. Her sweet and loving husband.

She pulled back, "Please tell me you're over eighteen," she whispered desperately as she looked at him. Tears filled her eyes, "You're so….young. Please tell me that it's not against…"

"According to all the data I've found, my new name is Troy O'Neil. I am a twenty-year old law student who was born in Montana and has lived in various places over the course of two decades." Clark replied as he saw the relief of his wife's face. "However, I am still him. I have my soul. I even have my powers," he laughed weakly.

Lois blinked, "Does that mean you're safe. I mean your body, how can you make an adjustment with your abilities, aren't the physiological differences too much."

Clark shrugged, "I don't feel different on an internal level, it's just that this body is slightly…larger than my other one and I'm worried about how exercising can change it."

"Appearance isn't important," Lois said quickly, "but…" she paused and smiled, "You still are very attractive."

Clark grinned, "Thank you," he nodded, "I wish I could stay but…"

"there's somewhere that Troy needs to be," Lois nodded, "How's your flying ability?" she asked as she handed him back the glasses. "Can't you just zip in and out of there and be here?"

"I don't feel capable of doing it yet, but I will try" Clark smiled. "I love you. I'll contact you as soon as I can."

Lois nodded, "At least I get to have you back in some form, I love you too."

….

….

As Clark, now Troy, made his way home he smiled at the world. Sure, it would take some getting used to and he had to figure out his limitations and his body, but he had the one most important part secured, his wife…or soon to be girlfriend anyway. With Lois beside him, things would be a lot easier. He had someone who knew, someone that he could depend upon.

Not everyone had that which made him extremely lucky.

He felt his stomach tighten as he made his way back to the train station, he was starved and in this body it wasn't hard to understand why. Just stopping at a nearby convenience store would be good enough, or a café, or even a stand. He had concentrated too much on seeing Lois and too little on taking care of himself. It was time to test this body's metabolism.

As he crossed to the business area of Metropolis, he saw a sign from a cafe that he often frequented. Okay, so he could go there and get some kind of pastry and coffee. Then once he got off of the train, he could get something else.

He made his way towards the store and his eyes opened. There were muggers there and they had their gun on…Jimmy Olsen. This was bad.

Clark didn't have a superhero outfit or a disguise, if he were to have an alter ego he wouldn't even know the name of them. He did however have a deep love for his friend and a need to protect him. He had been given a second choice, but he was thinking that Jimmy wouldn't be so lucky.

"So now that Superman is retired," one of the men said, "You know all of his secrets such as where to find him."

Jimmy laughed weakly, "Listen, I don't know where to find the guy. If he's retired then he's gone somewhere and hasn't told me. Trust me, I'm not all that important to him."

"You could have said that about Superman, but weren't you friends with Clark Kent?" the other man asked.

Clark could feel Jimmy's heartbeat from where he stood. He could feel the sweat and anxiety from his friend. This was a different circumstance, someone he cared for deeply could be really hurt. He heard one of the men take a gun out from his pocket and hold it up causing the new reporter to raise his hands in defense and surrender.

"Take whatever you want, my wallet, my phone, I even have my credit cards on me. I won't fight back I…" he said, his eyes widening in fear.

"We want to have Superman," the first man said.

Clark looked at the details of the situation more closely. He could see the anger of the two muggers and he had a feeling that they weren't joking around. Another wrong move and the gun would be triggered. As healthy as his friend was, there wasn't a chance of him surviving that bullet if the gunman knew what he was doing.

Life was all about sacrifice and as the gun was shot, Jimmy stepped back.

…It was an odd feeling not having blood drawn out from a bullet, but there was a slight warmth in Clark's hand as he held onto it. He knew that he had exposed at least some part of himself, but this was his friend and you made sacrifices for those you cared about.

There was a slight echo as he dropped the bullet to the ground.

Wide eyes looked at him as he stood there. He knew he was the youngest person in this but it was important to stand his ground. Another bullet was shot and Clark caught it again. With a few restrained hits, he was able to land both guys unconscious and wrapped some nearby rope around them. "Jimmy are you okay?" he asked, forgetting at the present about the mixed up body.

The reporter/photographer stared at him, "You know…my name. Who are you?" he asked

Clark took a few steps back, his mind wrapping around the situation. "I've read your articles," he said trying to keep his voice calm. "You're an idol when it comes to writing and your work ethic. I'm kind of a fan of you."

"Well, right now I'd say I'm a bigger fan of you," Jimmy laughed as he heard the sirens. "I'll wait for the cops if you want to get out of here."

"Thanks," Clark nodded, "I do appreciate that, take care of yourself."

Jimmy nodded, staring wide-eyed and with a wide grin as he watched the man who had just saved his life. There wasn't really an explanation on this other than his help with the Smallville incident that had introduced him to multiple people from Krypton. That must be where he learned his name and it was good that if Superman had retired someone new could defend them.

Jimmy looked up at where there was a nearby security camera, if he could just get that footage and try to remember the incidents that had happened about a year ago, then he could figure out who that guy was. It felt wrong to publish an article about him without giving him a chance to be interviewed, but he could at least show his thanks.

He grinned before adopting a more serious expression for the police officers as he tried to explain his situation.

….

….

Clark ran a hand over his forehead as he sat on the train, coffee in one hand and a muffin in the other. Had he been stupid to get involved in the fight that had just happened? Jimmy was always eager for a story so maybe the exposure would not be good, but on the other hand, if he had let his friend die because of Superman it would give him a much more unpleasant feeling.

What he did know now was that he wanted to be in Metropolis, he could attend the university and act like he was renting out a room from Lois Lane. Though they would have never have done it with him as Clark Kent, it was different now, the threat of exposure of the Superman secret wasn't there anymore.

He could get a job, get some money, start a new life whilst keeping important elements from the old.

As long as he kept calm and tried to think of himself as Troy then there was a lot he could achieve with this new life. Hopefully it would turn out okay. Hopefully the age difference would not be a problem and that Jimmy would soon forget this incident or at least forget what he looked like. When people were in tense situations you always had a blurred after image of the events and it wasn't as if any pictures were taken or video recorded.

Picking up his cell phone, Clark called the number that he most often dialed.

"Hello? This is Lois, who is…"

"Honey, it's me, Troy." Clark said as he heard the relaxed breath of his wife on the other side, "I was hoping you could do me a favor?"

"Of course," Lois nodded as she went to get a piece of paper and something to write with. As many instructions as her husband were to give her, she would try to follow each and every one of them. "Does it mean you'll come back sooner?"

Clark laughed, "I was wondering if you could find me a job at the Planet"

Lois grinned, "I'll definitely see what I can do, pull a few strings if I have to. We'll make it work."

Clark nodded, "Thanks honey. Please remember when you're in bed tonight how much I love you and how much being apart is making me ache."

"I love you too, no matter what body you're in, Troy." Lois said, "Sweet dreams."

"Of course they'll be sweet," Clark laughed, "because I'll be dreaming of you."