Chapter Five

Jimmy stared wide eyed as he looked at three different video recordings all at once. He had managed to adjust the timing on two earlier videos of Superman stopping muggers with the recent one of him being saved in the middle. Maybe it was just the pattern of fighting, but the moves and techniques in the three slowed down videos looked the same. It must just be technique.

However, the younger man had known his name. He had addressed him with such familiarity as well. Jimmy played the videos again, making note of everything from the look in the heroes eyes to the way he moved his hand. They looked identical.

It wasn't the weirdest thing to have clones or even body switching, he might never have believed it if he hadn't turned older. Whatever it was though, this would either turn out to be a story or lead down an equally exciting rabbit hole.

The idea of Lois slapping Clark, of divorcing Clark, of treating him the way she had was completely out of character for her.

Exposing his identity, quitting the paper, trying to get more money, that was completely out of character for Clark.

Things only made sense if he worked under the hypothesis that the man he had saved him was Clark Kent, or rather Superman, in a different body. As a reporter you had to work as a detective and as a detective you could not rule out the improbable no matter the likelihood. This wasn't as if he was helping a rabbit's clone reclaiming a teapot. Human problems made much more sense and the way the two moved it was clear that this was more about psychology, identity, rather than anything else.

Either this kid believed he was Superman or he actually was Superman.

Perhaps delving through a few more recordings would turn that hypothesis into a theory, he just needed to figure out how to prove it.

….

….

Clark smiled as he watched Lois eat her pastry. The two were sitting in a quiet corner of a café near their home and to any passerby it would look like Troy O'Neil was being interviewed for a position at the Planet. In fact, truth be told, he had already been offered a place as an intern at the Planet which Perry had done as a personal favor to Lois. Fortunately, it was a paid internship although the O'Neil family had a lot in the bank and Troy even had a trust fund for when he was twenty-one.

"So," Clark smiled as he showed Lois a manila folder, "I managed to get all of the college work that I've done and a few new tests and I'm all set to start transferring to Metropolis University."

Lois laughed softly and shook her head. "You should really go back into journalism," she stated, "Come on you've got years of experience, Troy, you would pass all of those classes with flying colors and I do mean flying."

Clark looked at the paperwork again, "I love reporting on the news, you know that, and even those personal stories make me feel more human, but this body loves the legal field and if I follow this path not only will I be able to save people, I'll be able to defend them too. Well, as long as they aren't suing my new identity."

Lois nodded, "I guess that makes sense." She reached her hand out and ran a finger over his bandages on his wrist. It had been about four days since she had learned his new identity. Still, she wasn't completely used to it and she worried about the marks that Troy had left on his arms. She was also curious to know whether Clark had been able to self-heal them.

"You know, your body must have shrunk a little and I don't mean in the way it did after the reunion, god was that a mess, but you must have developed your past metabolism at least a little," she mused. She watched him as he nodded and thought about what clothes would look best on him. Being young and blonde, he was definitely different from her husband and the same suit and tie combination might not be the best. Maybe a sportscoat or even vest combination would be good. Or even just a white shirt and black slacks with a good fit to them.

"I've been thinking that myself," Clark nodded, "I think the sooner I'm around people that don't know this body the better. I wouldn't know how to explain it and that means I have to honor this body and his wishes. I think pursuing law is a good way of doing that."

Lois laughed and held his hand, running her thumb over it in small circles. "Well, look at you, the man with the kind and loving heart."

Clark smiled happily, he looked around to make sure that nobody was watching them and gently lifted his wife's hand and kissed the back of it. "I love you," he whispered.

Lois shook her head, "Same," she nodded. "You're the only man who could literally throw a lasso around the moon and give it to me."

For a few passing moments, the two of them just sat there gazing at each other and thinking about how lucky they were to have a chance after death. That was something that most people didn't get. It was a second chance on life and love and even though there was definitely an age difference, they were together and that's all that mattered.

The two didn't even notice when Jimmy Olsen approached their table, his eyes studying them and his breath slow to keep a calm exposure.

"Morning Lois," he said, "Hi, CK"

"Hey, Jimmy." Clark said as he looked up at the photographer who smirked to himself, although there was such shock in his eyes. "Uh, I mean…hi there" he said after Lois nudged him with her foot. The two looked up at the photographer.

"You know?" Lois asked raising an eyebrow, "I mean, there's nothing to know, I mean how are you doing today Jimmy?"

"Trust me," Jimmy grinned as he pulled up a chair, "after reviewing that video tape, seeing the two of you together, totally obvious. So, you going to tell me what happened?"

The two lovers looked at one another, both trying to search for an escape route. Clark looked guiltily at the table before turning towards his friend.

"Are you hoping to run a story on this?" he asked before Lois blinked hard and interrupted.

"What are you talking about? What video tape? What's going on here?"

"Security footage," Clark admitted. "I wasn't going to let someone stop and hurt one of my closest friends. Even if my secret was revealed, which I didn't think was possible, it doesn't mean I let someone that important to me die. So, are you looking for a story on this?"

"Nope," Jimmy grinned, "There are some things much more important to me than getting an article published even on the front page. You're absolutely right CK, you are one of my closest friends and I'm just trying to figure out what's happening. I'm telling you, losing your friendship would hurt a lot more than losing my job."

"I need that down in writing," Lois said as both men looked shocked.

"I trust him, I mean, I know he's not going to write anything about it,"

"Definitely not," Jimmy smiled, "but I do feel that I'm owed some kind of explanation about what has happened. I'm not some dumb kid that can be fed an excuse, I'm a reporter of the Daily Planet. I need facts."

"Should I start before or after I died?" Clark said, "because either way I think we need a less public place."

Jimmy looked up and down the body, he was confused. He had seen Clark Kent, or at least someone inside of Clark's body, Superman's body, and that guy was definitely not dead. Did being put inside another body kill you? Was this a reanimated corpse or some vessel that his spirit had had to enter? How on earth could the man of steel die?

"You…what?" Jimmy asked confused.

"We most definitely need a less public place if we're going to discuss this," Lois agreed.

….

….

The couple had taken about an hour to fill Jimmy Olsen in on what was going on. Even though Clark was alright telling their friend everything, just knowing that someone else had dangerous knowledge put Lois on edge. What if there was a falling out and Jimmy decided to write everything down. There weren't people who you could blindly trust in this world, everyone had a folding point and in Lois' mind every single person could be bought, well not every single person.

Gazing at Troy on the sofa, she let her breath soften. She had him here tonight and hopefully she would be able to keep him here for many nights to come. Even though he was young, this was her husband and she needed him to be safe. The human body was only a wearable item that the soul used, but where he sat, reading her articles from the newspaper, the light did make him look awfully adorable.

Clark gazed up at her as he folded the paper, "Are you going to look at me like that all night?" he asked as he reached out a hand towards her.

"Well, you are taking your time on that paper," Lois commented, "we both know how fast you can read and when you take your time with something I get to see you in one position longer. It's nice to have something so calming to watch."

Clark laughed, "You could see me in many different positions tonight if you wanted to. One day we're going to have to test what moves can actually be performed in this body."

Lois hummed, "As much as I agree with that, perhaps tonight isn't the best night to run those tests. I am more than happy just knowing that you are here with me." Lois came beside him and ran her fingers through his hair, she removed his glasses and kissed him passionately as he moved into the kiss. "I don't know what I would have done were you unable to come back," she said sweetly.

Clark chuckled, "Fortunately, neither of us had to find out."

As the two shared the intimate moment, there was the sound of the doorbell and a knock at the front door. Lois sighed and kissed her husband's forehead, "Didn't know Chinese food took that short a time to be delivered."

"With the fortune cookies it takes less," Clark joked, thinking about an old moment they had shared together.

Clark was about to look up when he heard Lois' gasp and anxiety, he steeled himself for the situation, jumping onto his feet before his eyes widened and mouth dropped open.

"Jonathon! Martha!" Lois said as she awkwardly hugged both of them, "What are you…"

"Clark is acting extremely strange," Jonathan said, "I was hoping that you might be able to help us help him."

"Is he here?" Martha asked before coming into the house. She stared at the blonde boy, pausing just for a moment as she studied him as if she knew him. She looked at Lois, "I didn't know you were entertaining, we just barged in and ruined your night. Honey I am sorry about this."

"Don't be…" Lois whispered, "You two are always welcome here."

Jonathan looked at the boy before him and held out a hand, "Sorry, Jonathan Kent, it's good to meet you. Are you a friend of my son's?" he asked.

Clark looked at his parents not knowing what to say. "I…" his heart ached as he watched them. Was it fair not to tell them, he had told other people and these were his parents, surely there was an exception here or was telling him unfair in itself. Telling them that their son had died and they couldn't have stopped it.

Lois watched him look between them in horror.

"Are you okay, dear?" Martha asked, "You're turning extremely pale. What's your name?"

"I…" Clark looked around, his eyes landing on a picture of himself as a teenager graduating highschool whilst his parents stood on either side of him. "I'm the real Clark. I'm your son," he replied, his body starting to shake a little from fear he rarely had.