Strangers In Paradise
Chapter 8: Personal Angles
Clark's Apartment – Earlier
Only a few hours ago, Clark Kent had been agonizing over the life decisions he had made that left him feeling so alone. Now, in a stunning twist of fate, his path had crossed with this amazing woman again. All those feelings that he struggled with as a young man who still learning to be Superman had returned. But this time, they didn't feel so overwhelming.
Shortly after their conversation above the clouds, Superman flew with Diana back across the Metropolis skyline. He was so excited about seeing her again that he completely forgot about the lingering soreness he felt from the battle against Metallo. He led her to his apartment, which was near the top floor of a typical building in the upper west side area. When they landed on his deck, it was still pouring rain. As soon as they were inside, he changed into a pair of dry clothes and got a towel for Diana to dry off. He then made some tea and they sat down on his living room sofa where they just started talking. They had so much to catch up on and unlike before, they didn't have to worry about hiding from or fighting against anybody.
They stuck to the basics initially, avoiding feelings and emotions that they weren't ready to confront. Clark told her about the life he created as a mild-mannered reporter who found time to become Superman in between. Diana told him about the life she had created as an aid worker and officer in the Red Cross, traveling the world delivering aid and occasionally playing guardian angel whenever necessary. So much of the lives they had created for themselves began when their paths first crossed. There was no telling how coming together again after five years would change their lives even more.
When Clark encountered Diana five years ago, he had been at a crossroads of sorts and she helped push him down the path towards being a better Superman. But because of the extenuating circumstances under which they parted ways, he didn't think he would ever see her again. He thought he would never get to thank her for helping him, even when it meant going against her own family. Now the circumstances were completely different.
They didn't have to be secretive or subtle. They could just be open with one another. For Clark, who was used to hiding his identity from others, it was refreshing.
"You've created a great life and a nice home for yourself, Kal," said Diana as she looked around at his home. "You live a life as an honorable, upstanding mortal man. Yet you find the time to become the embodiment of everything that is good and noble about men. That's quite an accomplishment."
"I could say the same for you," said Clark as he poured her another cup of tea, "A beautiful woman with an aspiring career delivering aid to the needy – that's an even greater accomplishment, given the circumstances."
"And it's an accomplishment I never could have realized had I not met you," she told him. "For that, I can never thank you enough."
"I want to say you're welcome, but I also want to say I'm sorry because it came at a price. Believe me when I say I wish this could have happened without you being exiled from your home."
"Don't blame yourself for my mother's stubbornness. I made the choice to leave. I did what I thought was right."
"But still – you had to leave your home and come to this crazy world all on your own," said Clark distantly.
"I won't say it was easy. I still miss my mother and my sisters, but I have no regrets. "
"I wish I could've been there to help you. You know I would have," said Clark sincerely.
"Of course you would've. I never doubted that for a second," said Diana warmly. "That was another difficult decision I had to make. I needed to learn how to live in man's world on my own terms. I needed to build a new life and I couldn't do it at the expense of yours. And besides, seeing you again under such circumstances would have been…awkward."
They finally reached the topic that they had been avoiding, those powerful feelings that had been left incomplete for the past five years. Diana reached over and grasped his hand, conveying the depths of those feelings and showing that they had not faded with time. It quickly changed the mood, shifting from a friendly catch-up to something far more serious.
"Yeah, you're probably right about that," conceded Clark, having to divert his gaze to hide his awkwardness.
"But things are different now," said Diana. "I've had a year to build a new life as Diana Prince. That time has allowed me to become a different kind of warrior. I've come to experience the many benefits of man's world. Things like Krispy Kreme doughnuts, cafe mocha lattes, Monday Night Football, and binge-watching Netflix helped me embrace this world."
"Well after what you showed the world today, I think it's ready to embrace you too."
"And I welcome that opportunity. However, there's something else I want to embrace first…something that I think we both know we can't keep avoiding."
Diana set her tea aside and scooted in closer. No amount of combat or warrior training could have prepared her for this. She had contemplated how this conversation would play out for nearly five years, yet it still felt so daunting. This man didn't just open a door to a world that she only ever knew from the skewed perspective of Amazon culture. He made her feel things she still didn't fully understand. She still didn't feel ready, but she wasn't about to back down.
"Are you sure you want to deal with this now, Diana?" asked Clark.
"For once, I'm not completely sure. But I don't want to keep ignoring it," said Diana. "Kal, you changed my life. You changed the way I see the world. You helped me become a better warrior than I could ever hope to be."
"And you helped me become a better Superman," he told her.
"Then I don't need to convince you that I felt something for you during our brief time together. I don't claim to know what it is. I don't even know if I'm equipped to deal with it, coming from a world where our feelings are restricted to sisterhood and combat. But this feeling I have for you is strong and it has only grown as the years go by. And I need to know before anything at all comes of it whether you feel it to."
"I think it goes without saying, but I'll say it anyways. I do feel it. And I know how strong it is," said Clark with little hesitation.
"Then why should we hold back? Why not do something with it when we have the chance we never had in our youth?"
"What exactly would that involve?" he asked nervously.
"Honestly, I don't know," said Diana with less certainty than she had ever felt before. "Everything on Themyscira was so established and ordered. We never even had to think about these things. A year is simply not enough time to learn the many subtleties of man's world."
"That's more common than you think. I've lived in this world for most of my life and even I haven't learned everything either."
"Even so, we can't let these feelings slip through our hands again. We shouldn't – not after a day like today. So let's find a way to embrace these feelings…together."
As Diana said these words, she gave his hand a firm squeeze, revealing just how much this meant to her. She was now at a loss and so was he. These feelings were so powerful and confusing. It was hard enough dealing with them in their youth. Now, even as adults, they confounded them. But in their desire to embrace them, Clark and Diana found themselves drawn together once more. Their faces drifted closer, the powerful feelings guiding them every step of the way. Everything slowed down, every passing moment becoming more obscured. Then, as lightning flashed from the raging storm outside, their lips met in a soft kiss.
It didn't happen on a whim. It wasn't planned or even understood. It just happened, a simple manifestation of all the feelings that they had been dealing with for the past five years. As their lips became entwined, Diana affectionately wrapped her arms around his neck while Clark slipped his hands around her waist. Instinct and affection guided their actions. In these actions, so many feelings they couldn't put into words were conveyed. However, there was still so much more to say.
It wasn't clear just how long the kiss lasted, but when their lips finally parted they remained locked in a daze over what just happened. At some point Clark's brain managed to turn itself on again. He didn't understand the depths of these feelings any more than Diana, but he knew they were worth exploring. So once his thoughts caught up to his emotions, he came up with an idea.
"Let's go on a date," he blurted out with little thought.
"A date? Right now?" said Diana, jarred from her daze.
"Not right now, of course," laughed Clark. "I meant Friday night, you and me, dinner and a movie…an actual date between two people who want to get to know each other."
"But we already know each other."
"True, but there's only so much you can learn about someone while being stranded on an island for three weeks," he said with a touch of humor. "Maybe I'm just thinking out loud here, but I think if we're going to make something of this, we should keep things basic. So let's go on a date and see if we can actually be together without our lives being in danger."
"It sounds so appealing, but it also sounds so…"
Diana's words trailed off as she struggled to articulate her reservations about such a notion. This was another instance where growing up on an island of immortal female warriors put her at a disadvantage. She was aware of the basic courtship rituals in man's world. She had seen it in plenty of forms over the past year. The Amazons even had rituals of their own with respect to courtship between sisters. However, the idea of participating in a ritual with which she had so little experience felt daunting.
"I know what you mean, but hear me out," said Clark in a more serious tone. "Knowing each other and being able to save each other from killer robots are two different things. So far we've established that we can work together, carry on a conversation, and even share secrets with each other that we don't share with others. So let's see how far we can take this."
"How do we do that?" asked Diana with more intrigue.
"Well I'm not saying one date is going to do the trick, but it will at least give us an idea of where to go from here. Because honestly, I really would like to know if you're someone I can share my life with. Ever since my parents died, I haven't been able to share it with anyone. And after what happened to you, I thought I couldn't share it because being Superman would only ever lead to someone getting hurt."
"That sounds terribly lonely," she commented.
"It is, which is why I've started questioning that recently. Now I'd like to prove myself wrong. This isn't just about the life I have as Superman. This is also about the life I've built as Clark Kent and the life you've built as Diana Prince. I don't want any of those lives to be mutually exclusive. That includes the new life you just created, being a warrior woman strong enough to take on Metallo."
"To be fair, I didn't exactly plan on creating that life when I came to your aid," said Diana sheepishly.
"Well it's too late to un-create it and I don't think you should. You and I are capable of amazing things, Diana. We should use those abilities to do good. And in my experience, part of knowing what is good means building a good life. It gives us something to fight for. It connects us with the people we're trying to protect. That's how I know this is the right thing for me. It's just a matter of finding out whether it's the right thing for us."
Clark spoke with such excitement in his tone, which helped mask the fact that he hadn't given this idea much thought. He was operating on a whim, not allowing himself to overthink this for once. He didn't care that he hadn't been on a date since his junior prom with Lana Lang. He didn't care that his and Diana's circumstances couldn't be more complicated. This woman had such a profound impact on his life already and he was prepared to explore that impact, even if it meant stepping into unfamiliar territory.
His excitement made it sound so appealing, helping to alleviate some of Diana's reservations. It seemed like such an innocent request, but it carried with it so many possibilities. Clark wasn't just suggesting that they get to know each other. He was willing to skip a few steps and see if they could share every aspect of their lives, both as civilians and as beings of great power. It still seemed so daunting. Her mind struggled to process it. However, her heart had already made a decision.
"Okay. Let's do it. Let's go on a date!" said Diana, now sharing Clark's excitement.
"And if at all possible, let's do it without putting ourselves in a dangerous situation," added Clark.
"That shouldn't be too difficult, I hope," she said jokingly.
"Let's at least make the effort. That means no costumes and no killer kryptonite-powered robots. I want us to be just an ordinary man and a woman on an ordinary date."
"Even though we're most definitely not ordinary?"
"Exactly!" he affirmed.
It was now set in stone. Clark Kent was going on a date with Diana Prince. For once, they weren't going to fight any battles or hide who they were. They were just going to be themselves and share a night together. They had no idea how such a night would play out. It might only end up triggering a new host of complicated feelings. But as they sat together on the couch in a light embrace, reflecting on all how their paths had crossed once again and the influence they had already had one each other's lives, it felt like the right thing to do.
Clark was already smiling at the prospect of spending a night with this woman. She looked ready to kiss him again, but he decided to save that for the date. There was still one outstanding issue they had to address. However, this one had little to do with the way Diana had affected his life and everything to do with how she was destined to affect the lives of many others.
"There's one more thing I think we should address before we focus too much on our date," said Clark, his tone shifting again.
"What might that be?" asked Diana.
"It involves you, showing up in a tiara and saving Superman from Metallo."
"And that's an issue?" she questioned.
"Not at all, but since you did it in front of a global audience, it's bound to become an issue. From what you've told me, you've already gone to great lengths to keep your life as Diana Prince separate from your life as a warrior. That might be difficult if people start making assumptions."
"Yes, that hasn't been lost on me. I suppose that's to be expected when you go rushing into a battle without thinking," said Diana, her demeanor shifting once more.
"That doesn't mean it can't be turned into something positive. Part of what helps make me effective as Superman is being accessible to the public. In my experience, if you do the right thing without an explanation, people will always question your motives. So let's give them a way to embrace you the same way they've embraced Superman."
"And how do you propose I do that?"
This time, the reporter in Clark got excited. It hadn't been lost on him that Diana showing up in the middle of a battle involving Superman counted as big news. It also hadn't been lost on him that he had been working on a story from the Red Cross about some mystery woman who happened to show up in war zones. When he began his life as Superman, he did so with the hope that other super-powered beings would follow his example. This certainly qualified and it deserved to be documented.
As he began going over the headlines in his head, he slipped out of Diana's embrace and retrieved his laptop from the kitchen. He then sat down in the chair across from her, put on his glasses, and prepared to take notes on what was sure to be his biggest story to date.
"In addition to being Superman, I'm also a reporter for the Daily Planet. So let me interview you so you can share your story with the world. Let me help you become a hero every bit as strong and influential as Superman," said Clark, cracking his knuckles in anticipation.
"That sounds ambitious. But if anyone is going to tell my story, I'd want it to be you. I know you'll portray me in a wonderful light," said Diana, knowing there was no going back on this new life.
"I'll do my best," he promised her. "Speaking of which, we'll need to give you a name to go by that conveys the same message as Superman. And I think I know just the name for a woman as wonderful as you."
London – Present Time
"Wonder Woman. That's what they're calling you?" said Hessia as she held a copy of the Daily Planet that Diana had just given her.
"That's what it says," said Diana proudly. "Why? You don't like it?"
"I think it's fine. There are far worse names they could call a woman in a tiara. It just…changes things significantly."
"I say such change was necessary."
Hessia kept shaking her head in amazement as she read over the article for the third time. It had become global news. There was a powerful new hero in town and this time, it happened to be a warrior woman bearing the strength of Superman and eye-catching attire. The Daily Planet was the first to break the story, making it their front page headline, complete with a picture of Diana posing proudly on a rooftop. She was no longer this mysterious guardian that occasionally showed up in war zones or during a humanitarian crisis. She was part of the growing pantheon of superheroes that was emerging throughout man's world.
Sitting in her kitchen, drinking her morning coffee as the sun rose over London, Hessia sensed that this was the beginning of a new stage in Diana's life. She expected as such when she ran off to help Superman in the first place, but she never expected it to manifest like this. She could no longer live a life of quiet exile like so many Amazons before her. She now seemed destined to become something far greater.
"You look concerned, Hessia. You think I made a mistake," said Diana as she stood across the kitchen table.
"I wouldn't go that far. It's never a mistake to aid someone in their time of need. That's a value everyone in the Red Cross is taught," said Hessia, "But I do question your willingness to invite such a public spectacle to your life."
"I won't claim I had no reservations. But the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that this is the right thing to do. I've already done so much good with my abilities while working for the Red Cross. Now I'll be able to do good on a much larger scale."
"Your heart is certainly in the right place, Diana. It always is. I'm just concerned that you're making many changes in your life that you're ready for."
"That concern crossed my mind as well. Then I remembered how often inaction results in even greater difficulties. As Diana, exiled Princess of Themyscira, I can only do so much. The battles I fight are meaningful, but small. So in order to take on the larger battles that affect more people, I need to be something greater."
"And you think you can do this as Wonder Woman?"
"I'm willing to take that risk and accept the consequences," said Diana strongly. "This doesn't mean my work with the Red Cross will end. It just means that I'll be active on multiple fronts."
Hessia remained concerned, but understood that Diana had already made up her mind. She was going to go through with this and become Wonder Woman, a full-fledged superhero in this unforgiving world that she had only lived in for a year. It gave her plenty of cause for concern, but there was no undoing this article or the reaction it had generated. The news was abuzz with all things Wonder Woman. There was no telling what this would mean for Diana in the long run, both as an exile and as an Amazon.
"I'll refrain from listing all the potential problems this could create and say I hope you're ready for this," sighed Hessia as she set the paper aside.
"As am I," said Diana. "I believe I've already taken a few important steps. Kal helped me make sure that I didn't divulge too much. As far as the public knows, there is no connection between Wonder Woman and Diana Prince."
"Except for the fact you have the first name, have the same build and hair color, and frequently work in dangerous environment," Hessia pointed out, much to her chagrin.
"We've taken precautions. That's all I'll say."
She looked at the exiled princess with a raised eyebrow. By omitting details, she got the impression that this issue wasn't completely resolved. Diana clearly wanted to continue her work with the Red Cross as a civilian. She did so much good in that role and she wasn't going to sacrifice it just so she could be Wonder Woman. It was important for her to maintain the life she had built for herself. That life didn't just keep her connected to man's world on a personal level. It helped safeguard her for much greater consequences, many of which she wasn't even aware of.
"That's a relief because the big wigs in Switzerland still have big plans for Diana Prince. They're expecting to meet with her on Monday to discuss a new role in the organization."
"I intend to meet with them and astound them in every way possible," said Diana confidently, "But before then, I have more immediate concerns."
"Yes, that's another issue that has me worried – this date you're going on."
"You make it sound more dangerous than anything Wonder Woman is facing. I would think this would worry you the least."
"And you'd be wrong," said Hessia. "I'm fairly confident that Wonder Woman can handle whatever foe she ends up facing. But can Diana Prince handle something like this? Something no Amazon has ever trained for?"
"That's another concern that crossed my mind. Know that I haven't been making these decisions on a whim," assured Diana.
"But you're not as confident about your ability to handle it, are you?"
Diana's poise finally faltered. Hessia knew her too well. She could see through any false certainty. It was part of what made her so skilled when it came to healing, but it also could be frustrating at times.
Diana set her coffee aside and hugged her shoulders. She kept trying not to think too much about her date, but failed miserably every step of the way. She only had a few days to prepare for it. This man, who had come into her life by accident, was now making an effort to become part of it in a more meaningful way. It would force her to take a completely different approach to her relations with men. So much of what she did came from reacting, letting her heart guide her decisions and actions. This had more purpose behind it. They were going to try and make something of these feelings they shared and part of that worried her.
"I guess I can only manage so much certainty," sighed Diana. "I never did get around to understanding the concept of dating in man's world."
"It's a concept I've tried to avoid throughout my exile. Lucky for you, I didn't do a very good job of it," said Hessia with a reassuring smile.
"You've been on dates before?" she asked.
"None like the one you're about to go on, that's for sure. There are good men in this world and they're certainly worth getting to know. However, old Amazon attitudes die hard."
"Well I'm going to need them to die fast if I'm going to make sure they won't affect me."
"That would certainly help, but don't expect it to happen. We've been trained from birth to cut ourselves off from the influences of men. That conditioning is not easy to overcome. It is a big reason why I've never been able to share my life with a man."
"But Kal is different," argued Diana. "We've already opened ourselves up to one another in ways that go beyond any Amazon conditioning."
"I don't doubt that you have, but don't think for a second that you've opened up as much as you think you have," said Hessia in a more serious tone. "You're at somewhat of an advantage because you don't have to deal with the scars left by men like Hercules, but you're also at a disadvantage in that you've never had to make yourself vulnerable before a man.
"But haven't I already made myself vulnerable to him?"
"Only to an extent," she answered. "At some point, you're going to feel like you're losing control. It'll force you to trust this man more than you think you're capable of trusting anyone. Every instinct you have is not going to like it, but it's something you're going to have to deal with if you really want to get close with this man."
It was enough to make even an Amazon princess feel restless. Hessia used the one word that filled every Amazon with dread - vulnerable. So much of their culture and condition revolved around being the strongest warriors possible, devoid of any weakness or reservation. Diana might have questioned certain aspects of Amazon culture, but she fully understood the importance of never being vulnerable.
She began pacing around the kitchen, those old Amazon attitudes still influencing her in ways she would never admit. Hessia stood up and attempted to consoled her fellow sister. She understood better than Diana why these influences were so difficult to overcome. The first thing Hercules did to her and her fellow Amazons was render them weak and vulnerable. They exploited that vulnerability to the fullest, betraying whatever trust the Amazons had given him and his men. The result was a pain that had few equals, going far beyond the physical atrocities.
But Superman wasn't Hercules and Diana had never been one to lose focus in overwhelming situations. This didn't have to be any different. She just had to make sure she was ready to fully embrace this new approach to dealing with men.
"Now I'm not trying to scare you out of this. I don't want to give the impression that I think this is a mistake," said Hessia.
"Although you tend to give very poor impressions, Hessia," commented Diana.
"I'm aware of those flaws and I intend to work around them," she assured. "Without thinking too distantly into the future, I want this to work for you. I think this is overdue – an Amazon getting close to a man and showing that they can be trusted. We just need to prepare you."
"You make it sound more daunting than a week in a harpy den."
"At times, I'm sure it'll feel that stressful. That's why I'm going to help you. That means we're going shopping. We'll pick you out the perfect dress, make sure you have the perfect hairstyle, and go over all the do's and don'ts of male/female courtship. By the time we're done, you'll leave that man so impressed that he wouldn't dare avert his gaze for the whole night."
"The harpy den still sounds less daunting, but I'm liking the idea of finding new ways to get Kal's attention," said Diana.
She sounded confident again. Daunting it may be, this didn't mean they couldn't have a little fun with it. One thing Hessia noticed about man's world is that it had a wide variety of ways to deal with stressful situations. Diana remained as determined as ever, ready to treat this like a battle plan for a full scale invasion of Hades. They had a few days to prepare so they had to make the most of them. However, that also meant they had plenty of time to address some of the more uncomfortable details associated with dating in man's world.
"In that case, we'll get started this afternoon," said Hessia in an encouraging tone, "But before we get into the major emotional issues associated with dating in man's world, there's one more practical issue we should probably get out of the way first."
"And what might that be?" asked Diana nervously.
"It has to do with a little something man's world tactfully called protection. But trust me – it doesn't mean what you think."
Metropolis – Daily Planet
Clark was usually not one to bask in the success he achieved, regardless if came from being a reporter or being Superman. But this was one occasion where he took extra satisfaction in a story. It felt fitting that he was the one who introduced Wonder Woman into the world. In a sense, he helped create her by inspiring Diana. She was walking proof that Superman could inspire others to do good. On top of that, he was going on a date with her. It was a far greater bonus than he was used to.
He walked around the office of the Daily Planet with a slight smirk on his face the whole day. Everywhere he went, his colleagues and co-workers congratulated him. The TV mounted on the wall next to his desk spent most of the day covering the new intrigue surrounding Wonder Woman. Overall, the effects were positive. Every report told a similar story. The public was ready to embrace this new hero.
"It's official. There's another new hero in town in the mix and this one wears heeled boots and a tiara," said a female reporter in one of the news reports on TV. "The footage of Wonder Woman's battle against Metallo is going viral, already trumping the previous record held by Superman's battle against Brainiac. The Daily Planet reports that Wonder Woman is from a race of warrior women who choose to remain secluded for centuries. She decided to buck that trend and many are glad that she has. As the intrigue surrounding her grows, opinions of her remain high."
The report then shifted to highlighting public sentiment. Clark remembered going through this process as well when he first became Superman. It had been a difficult process because superheroes were still new and unknown. Now people were getting used to the idea and that would help Wonder Woman become the hero she wanted to be. It also didn't hurt that she was beautiful.
"I think it's great. Finally, we ladies have a hero we can look up to and say you go girl!" said a young woman in one of the news reports on TV.
"While I don't approve of her attire, I do approve of her ability to prove that a woman can be every bit as powerful as Superman," said an older woman from the same report.
"Dude, she's hot and she's super strong. I'm already in love with her!" said a young man.
This same sentiment prevailed on the internet. Clark had been tracking the web traffic and comments on the Daily Planet's website all morning. Most people across most walks of life supported Wonder Woman. Many saw her as the female equivalent to Superman. It was ironic because Superman had been responsible for Diana taking on this role, but he kept those details to himself.
However, there were some critics, as he had expected. There had been plenty of critics of Superman as well when he first emerged. But the criticisms of Wonder Woman took on a more unique.
"I think it's disgraceful. What kind of woman thinks she can be a hero while dressing like a harlot?" scoffed an older woman from the same news report.
"I honestly don't care. She's just another one of these super-powered freaks that's making this world more dangerous," said an apathetic older man.
Clark chose to tune them out. He learned long ago that people were going to have these sorts of opinions. There was no way to change them. Diana had thick skin, in more ways than one. He wasn't worried about her handling criticism. He had enough to worry about over the prospect of dating her.
As he watched the report from his desk, Clark felt a pair of critical eyes on him. He didn't even need to divert his gaze. There was still one person at the Daily Planet who didn't share in the enthusiasm surrounding Wonder Woman and it was only a matter of time before she made her sentiment known.
"I know you're there, Lois. Quit scolding me and say what you need to say," said Clark as he casually sat back in his chair.
"You look way too smug for a humble farm boy. I'm starting to think you've been biding your time, waiting for a moment when you can pretend like you're the prize pig at a fair," said Lois with folded arms as she leaned over his desk.
"Are you saying I shouldn't take satisfaction in my work?"
"It's a little late for that so I'm not going to bust your chops for it. Besides, that's not why I'm scolding you," she said.
"Then tell me the real reason. It's not like I'm taking full credit here. I listed you as a contributor and gave you all the credit you deserved on this story, Lois."
"This isn't about credit. This is about the story you aren't telling – the one you've been hiding that nobody seems to care about because they're too enamored by all things Wonder Woman."
"Now you're giving the impression that I have some sort of agenda."
"Quit playing dumb, Clark," said Lois. "You're not as good at it as you think and I've known you long enough to see all those little subtleties you think no one notices."
His overly satisfied demeanor faded. He was now actually concerned about what Lois saw. She always seemed to pick up on things that nobody else could. It was part of what made her a great reporter. On more than one occasion, she saw something in him that he didn't realize himself. So far she hadn't picked up on enough to link Clark Kent to Superman, but she did often notice things he either overlooked or ignored. It often put him in a difficult position because Lois often revealed to him more than she intended.
"I can accept that you dug a little deeper into the Red Cross story, found a few connections, and caught up with Wonder Woman just in time for her big debut. For all I know, she has a thing for mid-western farm boys and is incredibly shallow about it," Lois went on.
"I'm not sure if that's supposed to be a compliment, but I'll take it anyways," said Clark.
"Now here's what bothers me – in that chain of events that led you to this story, there appears to be a few links missing."
"I didn't hide anything a good reporter can't afford to hide, Lois," he assured her. "You're the one who showed me the first week I was here."
"And I believe you when you say that, Clark. But I also know how you work a story. You meet people, you befriend them, and you earn their trust in the most honest way possible. While this sort of thing would get you eaten alive in most media professions, you make it work for you and you're annoyingly competent with it. But something about this story made you change that approach. You had to go a few steps further to get to someone like Wonder Woman."
She then sat on his desk and gazed at him with a level of scrutiny that she usually reserved for the Lex Luthors of the world. It was a gaze that didn't usually work on Clark Kent because he was always so careful and honest. This time was different. Lois sensed there was another story here. It might not be worthy of the front page, but it still intrigued her.
"So what is it? What did you redact from your notes before turning them over to Perry?" asked Lois.
"I honestly don't know what you're talking about, Lois," said Clark incredulously.
"I think you know what I'm talking about. You're just not letting it cross your mind."
"I think you think you know because you want a better reason for the Wonder Woman story to be higher on the front page than the Lex Luthor story," he retorted.
"Don't turn this around on me, Smallville. I know the T&A usually trumps the hard news. It pisses me off, but it doesn't concern me as much as this."
"I'm still not sure what this is referring to."
"Then let me rephrase my question in a way that should get my point across," she said, now leaning in so he couldn't easily ignore her. "If you won't tell me what you kept out of the story, then why don't you tell me who it is that wants you to keep it out?"
This time, Clark couldn't stop himself from reacting. He shifted in his seat and opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. It was Lois Lane's most effective tactic. She didn't always get the answers she wanted, but she knew she could get a clue by asking the right questions and getting the right response. He had been able to avoid it for years to keep his identity as Superman secret, but he couldn't avoid it this time.
His silence helped Lois make a connection that he wasn't ready to explain. She soon had that smirk on her face that she often got whenever she was onto something. Clark had to tread very carefully now. He couldn't afford to reveal too much about Wonder Woman, Diana Prince, or the connection she had with Clark Kent and Superman.
"I see. So it's one of those stories," said Lois knowingly.
"And which story is that?" said Clark, his uncomfortable tone doing little to dissuade her.
"It's the cardinal sin of reporting – becoming emotionally entangled with a story. You're the last one I thought would ever be guilty of it, but I guess even boy scouts slip up. So what's her name?"
"Lois, I think you're starting to make too many assumptions here."
"And the fact you haven't even denied them yet is a pretty strong clue that they're not entirely wrong," she retorted. "Now are you going to tell me or not? Clark Kent's personal life might not make it on the front page for most people, but I happen to be your best friend. And if there's a story here that you can't even share with your best friend, then that has me worried."
Now things were getting tense. Lois could sense Diana's influence on him. Perhaps he should have been more tactful, but it was too late now. She knew something was up and unlike Perry, she was willing to probe for the details.
Some of it felt like genuine concern. Just yesterday, he was in a pretty messed up state after learning about her moving in with Jonathan. The next day, he has this unexpected triumph and enjoys it a bit too much. Even though he avoided becoming emotionally involved with her, Lois still cared about him. At some point, his personal life was going to get her attention. It was just happening a lot sooner than he had hoped.
But as he struggled to surmise a response that Lois would accept, Perry came walking by his desk and approached Lois.
"There you are, Lane. I need you in my office five minutes ago. Something just came up and we need to talk about it," he told her.
"Can it wait?" groaned Lois.
"It involves Lex freakin' Luthor so no. It can't. My office…right now…no excuses," he said sternly. "Let Kent finish his victory lap and get back to work."
Clark breathed a sigh of relief. Perry couldn't have picked a better time to be in another one of his moods. Lois clearly wanted to stick around and get a straight answer from him, but Perry was the one that signed her paychecks. Shaking her head in defeat, she got off his desk and followed Perry.
"We're going to finish this conversation at some point, Clark. You can count on it," she said to him.
"I'm sure it'll be a very pleasant discussion, Lois," said Clark in bemusement.
As Lois caught up with Perry, Clark caught his breath and turned his attention back to his computer screen. He was still getting emails about the Wonder Woman story. Everyone else was praising him while Lois Lane remained unsatisfied. At some point, he was going to have to give her at least part of the story. It wouldn't be fair to shut her out completely. She was his best friend. He trusted her more than anyone he had met since his parents died. He just had to figure out a way to make it work.
'Saved by Perry White's impatience – can't remember when I've ever been able to say that. I owe him one, but I doubt I'll ever get that lucky again. Lois is right. She's more right than she thinks. At some point, I need to tell her at least some of the truth. She has been too good a friend to me. But first, I need to make sure the truth is something I'll be happy to share. That means making sure my date with Diana this Friday goes perfectly.'
Daily Planet - Perry White's Office
Lois had to set her frustration aside about Clark and the Wonder Woman story as soon as she entered Perry's office. Since he singled her out and didn't call a staff meeting, this usually meant that there was another story unfolding that hadn't become news yet. Since it involved Lex Luthor, Lois braced herself for more frustration.
As soon as Perry sat down at his desk, he turned off the TV besides his desk that had been broadcasting the news. He then retrieved a sheets of paper from his printer and a bottle of aspirin from the top drawer in his desk. When he looked over the papers, he shook his head restlessly. Some stories just never went away.
"First things first, Lois," he began. "I don't know why you were looking at Kent the same way my dog looks at a wounded raccoon, but it better be something you can sweep under the rug. I can't have my best reporter being petty with a colleague just because he broke the Wonder Woman story."
"I'm not as petty as you think, Perry. But I'll skip the part where I explain myself if you give me a good reason to shut up and listen," replied Lois.
"Well I think this qualifies because when you read this, you're going to need to be more vindictive than usual."
He handed her the sheets of paper for her to look over. After scanning the first page, Lois quickly adopted Perry's restless demeanor. She expected anything involving Lex Luthor to be upsetting, but that man always found a way to make her hate him even more. This short report, which had the word confidential written at the top of every page, detailed some sort of major law enforcement operation by the feds. Near as she could tell, only a few sets of eyes had seen this. That might be a good thing because she imagined she wouldn't be the only one upset by this.
"Where did you get this and when did it come in?" asked Lois as she flipped through the pages.
"It came in via fax five minutes ago and since hardly anybody uses fax machines anymore, I knew it was serious," answered Perry. "Wonder Woman may have grabbed all the headlines, but your article about Luthor and Syria didn't go unnoticed."
"I want to take comfort in that, but everything I'm reading here is making that very difficult."
"Then you might want to put it down and save yourself the trouble because it's exactly what you think it is. It's confirmation that Lex Luthor will not be dragged off in handcuffs anytime soon. But this time, it's not for a lack of trying. Less than two hours after your story broke, the FBI and the ATF surrounded Lexcorp and attempted to arrest him. But by the time they showed up, Luthor was already over international waters in his private jet."
"I want to be shocked and outraged. I really do. But I'm used to Luthor getting away with this. I'm so used to it that it makes me sick to my stomach," sighed Lois as she casually tossed the papers aside.
"You're in good company, Lois. Trust me," said Perry. "He probably had a plane ready and fueled up before he even turned Metallo loose. The Feds say they're cooperating with the CIA and Interpol in an effort to track him down, but you and I both know that won't work. Luthor has too many resources and too many friends in high places."
"You're telling me things I already know. I hope you didn't call me into your office just to remind me how annoyingly cunning Lex Luthor can be."
"I wish I was that foolish, but there's another development that caught my attention and not for the reason you might think. Luthor might be on the run, but he's not the kind of guy to go into hiding. We can still chase him down and I think we have something to go on."
Lois grew more curious. This wasn't the first time Lex had been in trouble with the authorities. There had been a couple of occasions where he had been subject to heavy scrutiny, often as a result of stories that the Daily Planet broke on his operations. He often followed a similar pattern, staying on the move while his overpaid lawyers sheltered him. He had been getting more ambitious lately. Hopefully, that meant he was on the brink of screwing up.
"You're about to start me on a project you know I'm not going to enjoy, aren't you?" said Lois.
"Are you going to storm out of my office before I get you too interested?" asked Perry.
"Only if this something you mentioned is really that interesting," she replied.
Perry smirked, knowing Lois couldn't turn away from an interesting story. He then turned his computer monitor around so that it faced her, revealing that he had been tracking flight data since he got the fax.
"Take a look at this and think back to all the other times Luthor evaded the law," said Perry. "When he knows he has to be in another jurisdiction in another hemisphere, he sets up shop in a handful of Lexcorp subsidiaries. Conveniently, they're all located in places like China, Switzerland, and a handful of Middle Eastern countries that don't enforce their extradition laws very well."
"But those are just the subsidiaries that we know about," Lois pointed out. "I'm sure she has others in places that are extremely well-hidden."
"I don't doubt that for a second. But if we assume Luthor is as smart as he claims, then we also have to assume those hide-outs are in places that are inaccessible by tourists, law enforcement, and overzealous reporters."
"That makes sense, even if I'd rather assume he's only half as smart as he thinks he is."
"So then why – if he's so smart – is his private jet flying to Greece?" asked Perry.
It didn't come off as a hard question at first, but Lois found it difficult to answer as she looked at the computer screen. Perry had it focusing on the middle of the Atlantic. Luthor's jet was marked with a large red X to single it out amongst dozens of other jets in mid-flight. Its path was already confirmed as heading towards Greece. Another data window showed a confirmed flight path, most likely another little tidbit that Perry's old source provided. It could have meant nothing, but Perry didn't believe that and neither did she.
Lex Luthor didn't just run for the sake of getting away. He always had a plan and a backup plan to that plan and a backup plan to that backup plan. It was part of what made him so frustrating to track down. The confession by Metallo was the most damning revelation he had ever encountered. He had to have a hell of a plan to deal with it and part of that plan had to involve flying under the radar. Something about this didn't add up and that didn't sit well with either of them.
"Well I want to say he's shopping for private islands, but he's too cheap when it comes to real estate," said Lois.
"It's also worth noting that Lexcorp has no subsidiaries or business interests in Greece. He pulled out four years ago when the government tried to levy heavier taxes on multinational corporations," added Perry.
"Like I said, he's cheap."
"So then why is he going there? He's not going on vacation, that's for damn sure. He knows he's on the run and that his company is going to take a huge hit. So that means there must be something of interest to him in Greece that nobody knows about yet."
"And you want me to find out what it is?" surmised Lois.
"Don't tell me you're not curious," he retorted. "Even if it isn't front page material, how badly do you want to kick him when he's down?"
Lois chuckled to herself and shook her head. Perry knew her too well. She was always looking for the next big story, but every now and then she pursued other, more personal stories. Lex Luthor used her as bait to try and kill Superman. It was the latest in a long list of reasons for her to despise him. She helped send him on the run by capturing Metallo's confession. Now she had a chance to chase him down again and finish the job.
"I'll start digging. I'll let you know when I hit pay dirt," said Lois as she got up and left his office.
"Even when you do, keep on digging," said Perry. "If he's going to stay on the run, he's going to need friends in some very high places."
Olympus – The Oblivion Dungeon
The void that existed between Olympus, Earth, and Hades was a vast and desolate abyss. In every direction, there was nothing but darkness. It was so dark and so quiet that mortals and gods alike were often driven mad by such desolation. The only way to stay sane was to keep the mind occupied and unfocused on the utter oblivion surrounding it.
In some ways, this was the best punishment Ares could have hoped for. He knew better than most that his father was capable of much greater cruelty. Being isolated in this vast sea of nothingness gave the God of War plenty of peace and quiet to plan his next battle. For hours on end, he would meditate in his confined cell, simulating every detail of every possible outcome. Zeus thought that he could no longer wage war while confined to this cell. He probably planned to keep him here until he encountered a battle he could not win. He had every intention of proving his father wrong. While he could not fight any battles at the moment, he could still put the right pieces in place.
As he sat motionless in his cell, Ares finally opened his eyes when he sensed a presence trying to contact him. It wasn't physical. Only Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon could access these dungeons. But that didn't mean that communication was impossible. While his godly power was greatly limited within this realm, he could still utilize enough energy to open a small vision portal. He could only create one the size of his hand, but it was enough to figure out who was calling him.
"Hello Apollo. It's about time you called," said Ares.
"Nice to see you too, brother. You're looking well," said Apollo through the vision portal, not bothering to hide his smug undertone.
"Considering my circumstances, that would be a very poor choice of words on your part," scolded the God of War. "Your actions had better make up for it."
"Oh dear brother, your utter lack of faith wounds me. Do you really believe I've forgotten my part just so I could revel in your failure?"
"I can't think of anyone on Olympus who would be surprised in the slightest if you did."
"Well I'm sorry to disappoint, but I actually did complete the contingency plan you outlined. It turns out that you were right. The mortal, Lex Luthor, is as smart and as foolish as you hoped him to be."
Apollo may have been an annoying in ways only possible for a god, but Ares could count on him to carry out a task whenever it served his interests. He didn't have as much to lose, but he had plenty to gain and Ares could always count on his greed and lust for power to win out over his more annoying proclivities.
"As I speak, he is on his way to a private airstrip in northern Greece," he continued. "He is still in possession of the Dagger of Deimos. And wouldn't you know it? Father tasked me with retrieving it."
"Father couldn't possibly be that incompetent. He would sooner trust me with such a task," scoffed Ares.
"Well I may have my services voluntarily in exchange for some overdue leniency," said Apollo wryly. "Father still hasn't forgiven me for that unfortunate incident with Vesuvius. He thinks I'm making a pitiful attempt to regain his good graces."
"And you're not?"
"Oh please, I haven't cared for father's graces in ages. I just like to make him think I care. It ensures he'll continue underestimating me, which will be necessary if I'm to carry out my next task."
"Can I assume you'll be sufficiently discrete and cunning in completing it?" said Ares.
"That won't be as difficult as you think. Father remains hopelessly preoccupied with the escalating chaos in Tartarus. It would take another war with the Titans to make him pay attention to the affairs of mortals."
Apollo made it seem so easy and that didn't sit well with Ares. Great wars were never won with such ease. He expected Zeus to remain distracted. He even expected Apollo to succeed in his attempts to manipulate their father's decisions. However, he couldn't assume that Zeus would be easily outwitted. He needed to make sure that the Father of Olympus would be unable to oppose him. He might not be able to outmatch his father in terms of power, but there were other ways to subdue a god.
"Then it would seem you'll have plenty of time on your end. Be sure to use it wisely," said Ares.
"I'll be careful not to push my luck. You don't need to belabor the importance of ensuring Lex Luthor's success," said Apollo dryly.
"That's still going to take patience on your part, which I know isn't one of your virtues. And since you tend to get bored easily, I've come up with another task that should keep you entertained."
"Oh I'm definitely interested," said Apollo. "It's not like manipulating a mortal is a challenge for me."
"Well this involves a bolder form of manipulation. Father has shown that he will act swiftly the moment he senses his fellow gods stepping out of line. So when the next battle begins, we must make sure that he is engrossed in another."
"Always the tactician, aren't you?" said Apollo dryly, "And how, pray tell, do you intend to ensure that our dear father is caught up in such a battle?"
"By manipulating his beloved Amazons, that's how," said Ares, unable to hide his hatred upon their mention.
He could see Apollo grinning widely through the vision portal. Ares didn't expect that his fellow god would need much convincing. He would readily jump at the opportunity to outwit Zeus' beloved army of wenches, if only to undermine his power. But for Ares, this was much more personal.
This whole war began because of the Amazons. He came to his father seeking to enlist Diana as an apprentice. He believed he could create the ultimate avatar of war, capable of winning battles on Earth and Olympus. But his father just had to be difficult. He cared more about the ignorant warriors who worshipped him than he did his own children. The Father of Olympus needed to pay a price for his many sins and the coming war would show that even a god was not above justice.
"Ooh, now I'm very interested," said Apollo. "What did you have in mind?"
"Listen closely and be prepared to follow my instructions carefully," said Ares strongly. "This is going to involve laying a few very important clues for the Amazons to follow. If you do it right, they'll play right into our hands when the time comes."
Northern Greece – Private Airstrip
"We're on our final approach, Mr. Luthor. We've just received clearance from the local Greek authorities," announced the pilot of Lex Luthor's private jet.
"And exactly how far will that clearance take us?" asked Lex from opulent passenger quarters.
"For what you paid for it – far enough," the pilot answered. "As far as everyone not on the payroll is concerned, you're just a nameless businessman on an extended vacation."
It was the best news he could have hoped for. Lex Luthor was now a wanted fugitive for his involvement in the Syria debacle a year ago. No fewer than a dozen governments and several international organizations wanted to put him on trial. The hit his company took couldn't be understated. The amount of money that he and his shareholders had lost was painful. Yet he still managed to escape with relative ease and he had more than enough resources to remain free for as long as he needed. However, he did not feel a sense of relief. He didn't even feel all that frustrated. Right now, he only felt a burning hunger to strike back against Superman and this Wonder Woman.
As his private jet touched down on a poorly paved runway, Lex opened the silver briefcase he had handcuffed to his wrist since before he took off. Inside was the Dagger of Deimos that Ares told him would kill Superman. He never got a chance to see if the God of War had been telling the truth, but he suspected there was at least something to his bold claims. There was more power in this dagger than Ares had revealed and Lex didn't doubt for a second that this renegade god had omitted certain details about this relic.
With the utmost care, Lex grasped the dagger by the handle and held it up. The weapon had fallen silent since Metallo's battle against Superman. Any lesser mind would have mistaken it for an unimportant artifact that probably belonged in a museum or some rich man's private collection. Ares probably thought that no ordinary mortal could possibly ascertain its power. Unfortunately for Ares, he was no ordinary mortal.
'He probably thinks I'm doing his bidding. He might even think I'm so desperate at this point that I don't have a choice but to seek the aid of a god. He forgets that only the foolish and the insecure pray to gods to solve their problems.'
In scrutinizing the dagger, he noticed something that Ares probably overlooked. During Metallo's battle against Superman, he managed to lightly graze the Man of Steel a few times. It didn't cause any major wounds, but it still did something that none of his previous battles had ever done before. It made him bleed. This alien that carried himself as a god actually could bleed. Lex could still see the specks of Superman's blood staining the edge of the dagger. This blood and the information contained within it promised to be more powerful than any god.
'There can be no room for gods when it comes to mankind's ultimate destiny. No god will deliver us. No alien will save us. Mankind must save themselves. It only takes a special breed of man to lead them to that destiny. It's time that I become that man.'
Lex carefully placed the dagger back into the metal case and sealed it. He could not let this relic out of his site for the foreseeable future. It was the key to becoming the man who was destined to best both gods and aliens. However, getting to that destiny wouldn't be easy.
After the jet came to a stop, Mercy Graves entered the passenger area from the rear of the jet. She had been on the phone for the past hour or so organizing the next step in this endeavor. At this point, Lex Luthor had little reason to believe that anything was out of order.
"What's our status, Mercy?" asked Luthor as he locked the case.
"We're on schedule, Mr. Luthor. Your transportation has arrived. It'll take you to the secure location you've set up near the excavation site," answered Mercy.
"As the facility been retrofitted to my specifications?" asked Luthor as he got up and fixed his suit.
"It took more bribes than we expected, but they were able to install the lead shielding you requested. Superman will not be able to eavesdrop on you anytime soon."
"I'm still going to work under the assumption that he's looking for an opportunity to throw me in front of a world court. But he's not going to break any laws or persuade any of the Greek officials I've paid handsomely to keep their mouths shut and their hands up. That means we can't afford to slip up."
After fixing his tie and making sure the metal case was secure, he followed Mercy to the side-hatch of the jet. It opened to reveal a cloudy sky and rugged terrain. This part of Northern Greece wasn't used to receiving visitors. That made it a fitting place to hide, but it also had a reputation for being seismically active so few bothered. This would only further work into Luthor's favor because he needed to carry out this plan in isolation. In his experience, too many allies meant too many vulnerabilities. For this operation, only one ally mattered.
"Is my associate here and ready to begin?" asked Luthor.
"He's waiting in the convoy. I'll let him answer the rest of your questions," said Mercy flatly.
Lex continued to follow Mercy down the steps of the jet, passing by a few bodyguards he had poached from local militias. They surrounded a convoy that included four black SUVs and a couple of motorcycle escorts. Mercy led him to the one in the middle and opened the rear passenger door, allowing him to climb in. Inside, a middle-aged man in an all-black suit with jet-black hair and overpriced sunglasses was waiting for him. Once Lex was secure, Mercy got into the driver's seat and got the convoy moving.
"You're quite punctual for a man wanted by at least a dozen countries," said the man.
"Is that going to be a problem?" asked Lex.
"Not in the slightest," he assured, "But where are my manners? My name is Alfonso Disole. I believe you're familiar with one of my associates. I understand he took an unexpected leave of absence."
"No need to be vague, Mr. Disole. I know that's not your real name and I know you're probably as charismatic as your associate. And if it's all the same to you, I would rather not know you any more than I have to," said Luthor.
"I understand. An enterprise such as this works best on a strictly impersonal basis. You have your part to play and I have mine. That is why I've made the necessary arrangements at the coordinates you requested. It'll take some time to enlist workers, import equipment, and conduct a survey. This is an operation that will span a few months at the very least. But if you're confident in your claim, I'll be happy to provide you the necessary means."
"I'm more than confident. I'm certain," said Luthor, keeping his eye on the metal case. "Your previous associate left one too many clues for me to follow. I was able to confirm my theory during my flight."
"I won't dare question your methods provided you deliver as promised," said Mr. Disole.
"Oh I'll deliver," said Lex as he clutched the case firmly. "I'll deliver more than you can possibly imagine."
The darkly dressed man only smiled, offering no further questions or criticism. As far as he was concerned, he was just a facilitator to whatever Lex Luthor had planned. He didn't need to know the details. He only needed to be certain of the results.
As the convoy pulled out of the private airstrip, Alfonso Disole adjusted his sunglasses and looked at his reflection in the window. For a brief moment, his reflection faded to reveal his true form. It was degrading for any god, taking the form of a mortal. Apollo hadn't done so in years. Deceiving humans lost its entertainment value centuries ago, but this human promised to change that. If it meant carrying himself as this pathetic mortal, then he was willing to endure.
'He's even more egotistical than Ares described. I miss the days when humans were gullible enough to pray to statues and rocks. I hope I won't have to maintain this pathetic form for too long. Father doesn't tolerate consorting with mortals as much as he used to. But if Luthor finds what I think he'll find, Father will have much more pressing concerns. And that's not counting how screwed he's going to be once he finds out what I did with his precious Amazons.'
Up next: Just Another Date