Full Summary

An alternative take on episode 5 where Jimmy and Lois meet in front of the Daily Planet and learn they both know Clark is Superman.

"Yeah and if you're going to confront him just be gentle about it."

Lois glares at him. Jimmy is becoming concerned about how judgemental she is. Maybe Clark does have a reason for hiding his huge appetite.

"He's a little self-conscious about it— ."

"As he should be"

"Lois, what?"

"At least, he should be ashamed about being such a liar!"

"He's being a little deceptive, but I don't think it's that big of a deal. It'll come out eventually, and we just have to be accepting."

"What do you mean it's not a huge deal? He's putting himself in danger daily and I just can't 'accept that'. How can you?"

"I'm sometimes a little concerned with his habits, but I wouldn't say he's in danger. I think it's pretty normal, I guess, given his size."

"No, it's not. Literally, it's not normal to be Superman."

What? "Wait, you figured out he's Superman? Is that what we've been talking about this whole time?"

"Yeah, that train's gonna crash," said a distracted Clark over the phone. "Cover me until I get in." Jimmy then heard a loud whoosh and a click as the call ended.

While he's happy that Clark or, er, Superman is out there saving lives, a selfish part of Jimmy will miss walking to work with him if these morning outings continue. He reasons, maybe, Clark went out early to give each other space before they spend the whole weekend together. He's grateful for the morning they have jogged together, though, because going together motivated him, which has been especially helpful since he has been getting in shape for this day. Beforehand, long nights of video editing and researching for Flamebird led him to sleep in until a few weeks ago.

Speaking of the trip, one thing he worried about is if he packed enough food. Clark eats a lot. Then again, he figures they will just pack as much as they can carry, and with a superhuman as a best friend, Jimmy can count on Clark to do the heavy lifting, including all their food.

As he nears Daily Planet, he is about to call Lois to confirm the plans with her, but he halts when he sees her running past the entrance, her neck craned upwards. Jimmy glances up too, thinking he might catch Clark, but he just sees skyscrapers piercing the large blue sky.

Lois collapses, resting her hands on her knees to catch her breath. Then, she quickly stands back up and whips out a notepad from her jacket. She scribbles something down, scrutinizing her notes while pensively nibbling on the cap of her pen. When she looks up, she spots Jimmy and waves him over. "Jimmy!"

"Hey, Lois, it's Squashing Day! Are you ready—"

"Yeah, I'm all packed," she responds, dismissively waving him off and pulling back up her notebook. She starts flipping through the pages. "Random question. If I gave a list of dates and times would you be able to corroborate Clark's whereabouts? For Instance, on August 3rd, he said he was going to get a bagel and then he came back without a bagel. Also, have you noticed how often he steps out for bagels?"

Clark does go out for bagels. It's definitely because he is going out as Superman, but he's unsure if that is what she is getting at. Clark, bless him, is not the most subtle, so Jimmy would not be surprised if Lois became suspicious of something going on with him.

One possibility is that she is catching on to his gigantic diet, something Clark has been a little self-conscious about with her. When the three of them have gone out to eat, Clark orders one meal, a single serving, like a normal person. However, when it's just the two of them and the restaurant is cheap, Jimmy witnesses Clark scarf down multiple servings. He even has a Costco membership to buy bulk for himself, and when Lois became privy to his membership status, Clark made a clumsy attempt to justify it, saying the deals are too good to refuse and he's on the family plan. Jimmy's not upset. The benefits of a membership trickle down to him when they go out shopping together. What irks Jimmy, though, is that Clark could eat three whole Costco pizzas and have it go to a six-pack, the real indicator of his alien status.

All these thoughts about food are making Jimmy hungry. Perhaps that is just the case with Lois? "Are you asking because you're hungry? Do you need a bagel?"

"No, no, there is this thing that I think it's true, but it's crazy, but I am 99% sure I'm right, but before I do anything I need to be 100% sure."

"So, this 'thing'. It's about Clark?"

She hesitates for a moment. Her lips press together as she seems to contemplate letting Jimmy into her thought process. "Yes, look, it, uh, no big deal. I just need you to confirm with me about the times he stepped out for "bagels', 'a granola bar', and "a fourth slice of Mellissa's birthday cake' '.

So, she is onto his eating habits, and she's so intense about it? Jimmy hoped he could make Lois more understanding. The camping trip won't be fun if she's judging him for how much food Clark eats or if he is subconscious about it and therefore eats less. He wouldn't be any less immensely strong, probably, but a hungry Clark is a grumpy one. Jimmy needs both of them at their full capacity.

"Lois, I think I know what you're talking about."

Her eyebrows shoot up. "You do?"

"As much as Clark tries to hide that side of himself, it's so obvious. It's part of why he's so…big" Jimmy makes large sweeping motions with his arms to indicate Clark's stature.

"Yeah! I mean, It's so obvious! I've known for a long time."

"Right, it's silly that Clark has been hiding it from you."

Lois' face goes stone hard. "He's been hiding it? From me?'

"Yeah and if you're going to confront him just be gentle about it."

Lois glares at him. Jimmy is becoming concerned about how judgemental she is. Maybe Clark does have a reason for hiding his huge appetite.

"He's a little self-conscious about it— ."

"As he should be"

"Lois, what?"

"At least, he should be ashamed about being such a liar!"

"He's being a little deceptive, but I don't think it's that big of a deal. It'll come out eventually, and we just have to be accepting."

"What do you mean it's not a huge deal? He's putting himself in danger daily and I just can't 'accept that'. How can you?"

"I'm sometimes a little concerned with his habits, but I wouldn't say he's in danger. I think it's pretty normal, I guess, given his size."

"No, it's not. Literally, it's not normal to be Superman."

What? "Wait, you figured out he's Superman? Is that what we've been talking about this whole time?"

"So, Clark is Superman!" Lois exclaims.

Jimmy facepalms as guilt twists in his stomach. Lois didn't know, idiot. She was suspicious, and now you confirmed it.

"You knew! He told you and not me?"

"Okay, first off, between the two of us he would tell me first. I'm his best friend of four years and you only knew him a few months."

Lois shoots him an icy glare

"Secondary…he didn't tell me," he admits deflating momentarily, "but I did figure it out through my excellent deductive reasoning. My channel with a 30% growth rate today attests to my skills"

She crosses her arms, "Seven to nine subscribers is another way to put it." Then, her eyes narrow and she adds, "What's your evidence?"

"On move-in day in college, he destroyed the door handle to our dorm."

"He also broke a handle off the door when we first met." She mutters to herself, "I just thought the door was old or screws were loose, but now…"

"Oh! He tried to blame the screws, but I knew that was BS because it was clean in half," Jimmy continues with greater enthusiasm. Clark was the first completely concrete evidence to him of paranormal and potential extraterrestrial life, but it is the only evidence he couldn't share with anyone until now. "He breaks his alarm clock five times this month. He now buys them wholesale. I suggested he get a stronger clock, but he insists that this is the clock with the most realistic rooster noise but would a clock—-"

"Jimmy, focus, what else is there?"

"Right," his cadence locks into pensive thought, recalling all the evidence and searching for the strongest one. "When I went to his family farm, there was a giant hole in their corn crops. His family said that a meteorite just landed there and things just can't grow there anymore. But I think it could be some kind of crop circle. A little messy for one, though, or maybe that's where his spaceship is buried."

"So, you think he's an alien?"

"It's a theory. I don't know for sure. I considered some kind of mutant, maybe? A demigod? A mad scientist experiment who got switched at birth? But whatever or whoever is, I just know he is my loyal, honest friend, Clark Kent. "

Lois crosses her arms."I mean, not completely 'honest'. He hasn't told us that he's Superman. Aren't you upset that?"

Jimmy frowns. As the years went on, a part of Jimmy feared that Clark hadn't seen him as trustworthy enough. However, as his long-time roommate, he had collected other secrets and tidbits about him that sometimes he wished he didn't know. Besides, it seemed no one, aside from his parents, know. Being a superhuman is a wild idea to spring onto someone. And now it has new developments that he is grappling with, and Jimmy figured perhaps he is afraid to pull them into that complicated world. However, he knows he could handle it and wants to take on any burdens with his friend, but the best he can do is to be patient and show up for Clark as someone he can one day handle that knowledge, and he hopes to pass this idea onto Lois.

"I don't like being left in the dark about such a major part of his life, but I figured he would tell me more when he was ready. I always got the sense that it was a really sensitive topic for him. His super strength is sometimes to be more of a problem than a benefit. It's only recently, after the robot incident, that he is actively and regularly going around saving people as Superman. I supposed when he realized that there are major dangers out there, he wanted to step in. I don't know where he got the red and blue suit from and I don't know the full extent of his powers but— "

"And that's why we should confront him, to get to the bottom of it. If he's good, why would he try to hide from us?"

Jimmy nervously rubs the back of his neck. "Well, Lois, you said and I quote 'No matter where he goes, no matter where he hides, we will track Superman down and force him to tell us all his secrets. And then we'll publish them.' He probably doesn't want his enemies with highly advanced weaponry showing up at our apartment or his parents' after you tell the world who he is."

Lois deflates. A hurt expression flashes across her face as she protests, "I would never do that to Clark. I—" Her words got lost in her mouth and a blush bloomed on her cheeks. Jimmy had a few guesses on what Lois wanted to say, but she composes herself and carefully states, "Clark is my friend." She glances down at the pavement before peering back up at Jimmy. "I would never expose those kinds of secrets. Does he really think I would do that? Do you?"

"I don't think you're that kind of person, but Clark doesn't know that. Hidden alter ego does fall under 'all secrets'."

"Okay, but…" she paused, contemplating on what to say next. "I think I was just being a little hyperbolic. I don't want to expose secrets that would hurt him. I just want to tell the world who he is and why he's here."

"And he did tell you, right?"

"Yeah, but it was… during that interview, I felt he was still hiding things from me. He was so vague when answered everything. Knowing he's a reporter makes me more annoyed. Clark should know those responses were bad. How am I supposed to write a story around a bunch of "I-don't-knows'."

"Are you trying to get a story or the truth?"

"Both?" She shrugged and groaned. "Look, I just…get so annoyed with secrets and lies. I don't know how to explain it. It just gets under my skin when I can't get the whole truth."

"I get it. I'm a reporter too, but maybe he doesn't actually know what's going on with himself, and he told you as much without exposing his identity. Everyone has secrets. Yeah, people need to be informed about what happens in the city and we also need to ensure parties are held accountable, but people also have the right to privacy especially if it's for their security."

She sighs, "You're right."

"Yeah, I am."

Ignoring him, she goes on, "Okay, so, now we know. Would it be right to continue a secret that we know is his secret? Also, he's not just a guy with powers, but a superhero with dangerous enemies. We should be there to help him. Maybe if we let him know we know, he could let us in to help him, you know?"

"Uh…"

Before Jimmy could process what Lois said, a thick, heavy arm encased itself around his shoulder. His immediate thought is that it's Clark, but he knows his friend wouldn't be so invasive, fragrant with Axe body spray while jabbing a football into his neck.

"You've been scooped," announces a booming voice above him. Jimmy groans. "It's Steve Lombard, the Daily Planet's star reporter!" Thankfully, he soon unwraps his arm around Jimmy only to throw the football in Lois' direction. "Think fast, Lane". Steve pelts the football in her direction and she jumps to dodge the ball. He turns back to him. "Grab your camera. Let's go. I asked Perry for a special photographer and he said if I can find you, I can have you. So, you're it!" He pulls him and they start down the road with him trapped under his arm.

Jimmy manages to crane his neck around and call for Lois, but his heart drops as he watches her enraptured by her phone. He resigns himself to a day of sports reporting.

However, he hears Lois' footsteps. "Wait, Steve, Cat, uh, asked us to cover a story on a new pet store opening, and she wants pictures of the pups." She flashes her phone with text seemingly from Cat. " So, I will take Jimmy back." She grabs his arm, freeing from Steve's grasp.

"Uh, shucks, well, can't refuse Cat, but this is not the last of you'll hear from The Steve!" Steve whirls around and goes back into the building, and the pair bolt away before he could second-guess them.

When they are a few blocks away, they slow down. Jimmy turns to Lois. "Seems you're okay with some lies."

"Uh, that lie got you out of a day with Steve."

"An act I appreciate."

"Exactly. We cover each other. We have each other's backs. And I think Superman needs someone in his court."

"We can do that without telling him."

"Wouldn't it be better to tell him?"

"I've gone this far by keeping it to myself."

"What good would it do especially now with giant robots and weird tech showing up? Are we just going to stand around and pretend to know nothing while he makes up bad excuses to run off somewhere or do you want to run off with him?"

"Well, I'd rather not encounter those giant robots again, but since things are getting more serious maybe we should tell him."

And as if on cue, they see Clark running down the sidewalk toward them. "Hey guys, Perry's been looking for us. Steve said you guys were out here."

They give each other a look and ready themselves to stand on this sidewalk a little longer.