November 19, 2015

Metropolis

Clark Kent

Clark woke up in his apartment. He got up and cooked his breakfast, some eggs, bacon, sausage toast and some juice. He sat down and turned on the News. Clark thought for a minute about Ralph and Sue. He liked Sue for the same reason he liked Lois. She was unafraid of the world her husband was involved in. Clark thought for a minute about how he acted towards Lois. The last two years Clark had hidden himself from her, who he really was. They had gotten along great, they'd gone on a few dates, but he was sure that; One, she had no clue he was Superman, and two, she wasn't really interested in Clark as much as she was Superman.

Clark opened up the paper. He had written the Interview with Superman about the New Justice League. It made the front page. However on page two was Lois' article. It was about Superman being charitable around the city. Clark sat back. To everyone in Metropolis, he was Superman, and really, only Superman. Except Lois. Lois got Clark and Superman.

He tapped his watch, forming the Superman suit. He flew out of his window to his destination. A minute later he was floating outside Lois' apartment. She came out in a robe.

"What brings you here so late?"

"Having a hard time sleeping. Can I come in?" He asked.

"Yeah." Clark landed on the balcony and walked in. Lois' apartment. She had a very simple setup. A few couches, a table and a television. Lois walked to her kitchen and came back with a cup of black coffee. She sat down and they started to talk. But after a minute, CLark noticed something. Lois was getting cold. She was curled up, but she was unable to keep warm.

"Lois you look cold."

"Oh it's fine." But Clark was having none of it. He pulled off his cape and walked across to where she was sitting. He sat next to her and put the cape around her. He also slid his arm around her. She made no effort to resist. The Television turned on a movie, To Kill a Mockingbird. Lois chuckled.

"You know this is Clark's favorite book." She said. Sometimes when they talked, Lois would mention 'Clark'. She would also make her judgments and interpretations of him in his civilian persona, and Clark would not them for when he interacted with her as Clark Kent.

"It's mine too." Lois turned to him.

"You know, you and him are similar in so many ways." She said. Clark though for a second. Had she figured it out?

"Really. I don't think we've ever been introduced."

"And you look… a lot… a lot like him." Lois was looking in somewhat disbelief. She reached over and picked up her glasses and put them on him. She gasped. Clark was sure she had figured it out.

"Clark?" She asked.

"Yes Lois." Clark tapped his watch, and the suit dematerialized. He was left in a white t-shirt and blue sweatpants. He was ready for the onslaught of questions Lois was sure to ask him. After collecting her thoughts, she got up and moved over to a chair.

"But how? You've worked with me for almost three years. How did you just…"

"You know, it's funny. I had to work, very hard, to avoid detection. I got the glasses, I worked on my posture, my appearance, my mannerisms. Ever notice Superman is left handed, but I'm right handed. When I'm Clark, I speak softer, I use smaller words and sentences" He said with one tone. "But when I'm talking to you or the press as Superman, I use another." He said in a different tone.

"You know I always had suspicions." She said.

"Like what?" He asked. Clark was curious to see how attentive Lois had been to his mistakes.

"Well one time in a meeting, when you were in an argument with Perry, you got upset, and I noticed your tone was much more, Superman. And about halfway through the sentence, it changed back to Clark."

"I remember that! It was about writing about The Justice League not killing. He thought we had caused it, but I knew we didn't." When he said that Lois' face changed.

"So wait. All of those stories you got with Superman, the ones I didn't get to do because you had an exclusive, you just…" She said wanting a response.

"I asked myself the questions I thought you would ask. After some time with you, I noticed the questions you asked. So I asked myself the same ones."

"What kind of questions do I ask?" She asked.

"Critical ones. The ones that need to be asked, and make me think if what I'm doing is right."

"I'm happy to be such an influence."

"You were a great influence Lois. Youngest reporter to with the pulitzer, one of only a few to do it twice. It's actually a pretty significant reason I came to Metropolis. I knew this was the best place to come."

"You know that's something that bugged me Clark. Why'd you come to Metropolis. The Planet can't be the only reason. What really brought you here? And why… why make a fake identity, and live amongst us? You're like what? The uncontested strongest man in the world? You're the face of the Justice League? Why would you waste your time as Clark Kent?" SHe asked. Her toe wasn't one of anger, it was one of genuine curiosity.

"When I was about 17, I was playing Baseball. I was great at it. I could use a fraction of my power, and hit home runs every time. One time, we won the State Championship. I went back home, and got a letter from Kansas University. It was a full scholarship for Baseball. I talked to my dad." He started.

"Do you mean your adopted dad? You know, because you're an alien?"

"No not really. My parents, the Kents, I call my Mom and Dad, because they raised me. Everyone can have a mother and a father, but it's the people who shape you that make them a dad or a mom. But I talked to my dad, and He talked to me about the scholarship. I was telling him how I planned to become a baseball player, make a lot of money for them. And he got to telling me about the night that him and my mom found me. They told me how they found my strength, when I tapped the crib they had made for me, and I broke it. As I grew, they saw more and more that I wasn't ordinary. And he told me that It's my life, do what I want, but I'm here for a bigger reason than to throw a ball around. When I graduated, I knew I wanted to go to school for journalism."

"Why Journalism? WHy not become a fireman or a police officer?"

"I stop fires, and I stop bank robberies as Superman. But someone needs to stop things that people cant see. So journalism is, in my thinking, the best way to do it."

"Well why not politics?"

"Two reasons actually. If someone was to really look deep into my past, I'm worried they might figure out that I'm Superman. And It's not moral."

"Fair point."

"I couldn't run for office. All of the morally grey area, and on top of that, I've been tol not to."

"By who? Krypton?" She asked with a smirk.

"Yes actually." Lois's face changed to that of annoyance, in regards to how he just deflated her balloon. "My dad downloaded his consciousness to some crystals. Long story short, His advice to me was to be a bridge to both worlds, Krypton and Earth. But that I should not intervene in the affairs of the Earth."

"So you can save us, and you can guide us, but you shouldn't rule us."

"That's how I take the advice."

They talked for a bit longer. Eventually, they got to what Clark thought Lois was going to start with for questions.

"So why did you lie to me?"

"I had to." He guiltily replied.

"So How do I know you haven't been lying to me since?"

"Lois I only lied to you about my identity."

"But why?"

"So nobody would hurt you. I couldn't stand the thought of someone hurting you."

"What you you mean?"

"If someone went after my mother, or you or anyone from the Planet, I would be lost. The people I care about most? You're the reason I try and keep the Man, more important than the Super."

"An interesting idea. But why now Clark? Why tell me now?"

"Lois, I'm showing you who I am, because I wanted to be completely and wholeheartedly honest with you. I was wondering if we could go to dinner sometime." Clark asked. Lois looked… for lack of a better term, stunned.

"Clark I… "

"Take your time Lois. Give me a call when you've got an answer." Clark tapped his watch, summoning his suit back.

"You can keep the cape." Clark walked over to the balcony to take off. He turned back for a minute, Lois was following him.

"Can I ask you a favor?"

"What is it?"

"I've always wanted to see the city how you do… Could you show me?" SHe asked. She had his cape in her hands. She handed it to him, and he clipped it back on him and pulled Lois in close. He lifted off the ground, higher and higher. When they got high enough, they looked down at the city. It was a sunny day, and the city was beautiful. The light reflecting off of the Daily Planet was immaculate.

"So. About that date, I think I'll have to take you up on that offer." Lois said. Clark looked and gave her a smile. "We can work out the details later Smallville. Now if you don't mind, I need to go home and clean up. I have to be at the courthouse later." Clark flew her back down to her balcony. As he was once again ready to fly off and get on with his day, Lois grabbed him by the cape to once more grab his attention. He turned back to see her smiling.

"Thank you Clark. For trusting me." And she reached behind his head and pulled him close. This time, he made no effort to stop her. And they kissed. Clark felt her warmth, and he lost all feeling of time or space. When he opened his eyes, he saw Lois and he were in a cloud.

"Pretty rusty at this aren't you Smallville?" She said with a smirk.

"No Comment miss Lane." He smiled back at her. And he leant back in for another kiss. And the two of them danced atop a cloud. Clark himself danced on the stars he was getting to finally go on a date, with the woman he was in love with.

-AN-

Hey everyone. So this is the thing I'm trying out now. This is like a bonus short at the end of the story. This is just like an extra thing I thought I'd put in, show other going ons in the world. Hope you guys like it.

Oh, I should add. Superman looks like his New 52, but his face is a lot more pre-crisis. His hair is less 'tussled' and more Christopher Reeves 'spit curly-ish' when hes actually Superman. Clark Kent has that tussled Hair. I've thought about it and I'm not really trying to describe the faces of characters, because 1- I'm not great at facial description, and 2- If you're reading this, you probably like comics and have your own interpretations for what a character looks like. So me telling you what they look like is moot. If you've been reading these thinking Superman has the red underwear, then that's fine. I don't want to impede on other peoples ideas.

So I hope you guys have been enjoying this all. Hope you think this is a cool idea. I'm taking suggestions for where else to take this idea. Thanks for reading, Have a Great Day!