Chapter 5
The Justice League had finally formed, as they finally obtained ownership of a decommissioned space station that was built by Wayne Enterprises, the only reason that they got access was thanks to Clark talking to Bruce Wayne about the potential dangers their world could face from extraterrestrial threats.
To deal with problems that came from other problems the Justice League was formed, initially, there were only a few members but as heroes felt more and more pressure, they realized there was strength in numbers, so the Justice League began to have more and more heroes join the roster of their members.
The other benefit is their headquarters was up in space, in no way under the control of any nation or government, so even if the world demanded them to register, and surrender for capture, they could simply ignore them practically forever. The station was a scientific and engineering masterpiece, self-sufficient to such an extent that people could live there for the rest of their lives and it would be no drain on the resources of the station.
Clark was quite impressed by how quickly the Justice League already had seventeen heroes as members. The one thing that was a shock to him was that somehow John Steward and Hal Jordan also joined, two members of the Green Lantern Corps, they also hated the very idea of the Superhero Registration Act. Hal told his fellow Green Lantern to stop calling it that and use the name that fits the Superhero Enslavement Act.
Not many heroes present would argue that the proposed law basically made Superheroes into government-owned and controlled slaves. "This is why places like this are being established around the world, where we can come and go from the watchtower, and not a single person would know about it. As Batman, I became a hero to prevent the innocent from suffering, to hell to any group of puffed-up politician who thinks he can prevent me from doing that."
Clark stepped closer to Batman and smiled, "I may not be as well known as some of you since I pretty much focused on street-level crimes, but those who know me, call me Cobalt. The S Symbol before you ask, is a family emblem, every member of my family who has ever been a hero wears it. I know, confusing but there you have it."
Many of the heroes introduced themselves to each other, to make everyone know them, and they shared their dislike of that stupid law. Both Batman and Clark could see that they all shared a common response and a common goal, which made the League much better to work together, they introduced themselves as Flash and said that the message from the General from New Krypton was quite clear, either burn down the stupid act or they will burn the world.
Two young women introduced themselves as relatives of Cobalt and they introduced themselves as Power Woman and Super Woman, the other noticed the S symbol and knew that Cobalt was not kidding about it being a family emblem. "That all may cause that law to be struck down, but this is politics we are talking about, it will not be fast, so by the time the law is struck down, we should find a way to help our fellow heroes who do not wish to be enslaved and have their friends and family put in danger."
*** Boston, Mass ***
"Watching the news again?" Jonathan Kent, father of Clark Kent asked his son who was simply relaxing on the couch watching the latest development on the Superheroes Civil War.
"Damn shame it's still going on, I tell you."
"They are still saving people, and that's admirable but it is a shame what's happening to them," as they watched how two more Heroes under Captain America had been apprehended. Dressed in a casual white tee-shirt and shorts he continued to be on paid vacation from the Baxter Building Farm. He figures he might as well spend some time with his parents. Which meant that Cobalt had been out of action for a week also.
"Well every person here has been a hero at one time in our lives, so we are against this just because of that, but we are also against it for the absurd human rights violations this commits, which is why New Krypton would not stand for this, they would oppose it on principle, but since many heroes are fellow Kryptonians then they would not hesitate to protect our fellow citizens and others like them." Jonathan and Martha made him feel better as he heard them say that.
Clark sighed inwardly, both of his parents were anti-registration, he was firmly in favor but did not join Captain America's party because he trusted New Krypton and their ally nations would provide enough incentive to do the right thing. He might not like it but he doesn't dislike it enough to resist. The fact though, is that he was Anti-Registration.
In all honesty, Tony Stark had some good ideas, something about creating localized Hero teams, too bad for him the Justice League was now operational, and thanks to the many hidden bases around the world, this meant they could eventually form a branch of the Justice League on every continent, Clark suggested that they should create a specialized one they could call Justice League Dark, which would be for supernatural threats.
As for Cobalt, Clark felt a bit guilty not going on patrol, as to his surprise he was also listed as a hero who had not registered. But nowadays, New York is heavily defended by both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Iron Man forces, and not much is slipping through the cracks. After all, Tony Stark has to prove that his method works to deal with all sorts of threats.
Then SHIELD began to send millions of field agents to arrest and capture any hero who did not register or if they had any evidence of them committing any crimes. They knew who they were and through the agents, they were quick to gather much evidence making each arrest as airtight as possible, and then they arrested them civilly and respectfully.
"Don't give me that sigh young man, why I didn't even know Carol was a Superhero! Too bad you let that one get away eh?"
Clark's face flushed a bit and drank some beer to cover his blush. His crush on Carol was well-known by his parents. The fact that he was asked by her to the Prom was the highlight of his teen life at the time and he MIGHT have strutted around like a peacock. After that, Carol went off to the military and while they kept in contact some, it was she who ended their correspondence. Something about a huge project group at the time.
Of course, now that Ms. Marvel's bio was listed, he could fill in the blanks. That was when she became a liaison to Captain Mar-vell.
+++ A week later +++
Clark, still on leave, was out washing his truck and reveling in it. As if to emphasize the point he took his shirt and wiped the sweat off of it. While he has sweated before of course it is usually mainly when he battles the likes of Lobo, and Darkseid, or is depowered. This was sweat from honest hard work, being a farmhand he rarely felt any exertion despite everything he did for Ma or Pa.
"Hi, Clark~~~!" A girlish voice sounded in his parent's driveway.
Looking up from using his shirt as a towel he saw one of his old neighbor's teen daughter waving at him flirtatiously. He gave a small smile and waved back and noted that she, her friends, and even his sister Jasmine squealed and proceeded to walk away talking to each other.
Girls. He'd never understand them, Superman or not. Still, looking down at his shirt, he frowned, it was already soaking from the soap and water he used. Might as well take it off. The moment he did he heard his dad stifle an amused chuckle.
"What?" Clark looked over to his dad who was doing some maintenance on the lawn.
"Son," Jonathan Kent gave Clark a deadpanned look. "Nobody likes a showoff."
Clark looked chagrin at his father's comment and took a look down at his body. Sure it was a lot better than what he had but it was not quite up to his old body, he supposed he would be considered fit and lithe. However, in response to his look, Jonathan looks around the neighborhood and stops the machine.
Clark looked chagrin at his father's comment and took a look down at his body. Sure it was a lot better than what he had but it was not quite up to his old body, he supposed he would be considered fit and lithe. However, in response to his look, Marcus looks around the neighborhood and stops the machine.
"Whatever, I'm just blocking the neighbor's view anyway, gonna take a beer break, want one?"
"Sure?" Clark responded still unsure of what his father was talking about and continued to work shirtless on cleaning his car. It was a few minutes later when he heard a wolf whistle somewhere close by, but a quick scan showed nothing. He was tempted to use his powers to find out who but decided against it. His dad came out a bit later and finished off the lawn work before heading back inside, which left Clark alone to finish off the car in silence.
It was when Clark was finished when something caught his eye in the sky. It was a black dot that appeared to be floating flying closer. Clark was tense and got ready to take off his bracer when the dot began its descent.
'Carol?!' Clark thought a bit stunned. The last time he saw her was when she came back for his graduation. She was in a coma the last time he saw her but now she was here again and prettier than he even recalled. Long blonde hair was put up in a messy bun, she was not in her Ms. Marvel costume but instead regular civilian clothes.
"Clark?" the hovering beauty asked as she finally landed at her childhood home. Her voice sound uncertain as if if not believing her eyes. He couldn't blame her, he was pretty scrawny back then.
Clark's eyes met her blue eyes before he decided to give her a wry smile. "I know we haven't seen each other in years, but surely I haven't changed that much Carol, or should I call you Ms. Marvel now?"
"Oh my god, it is you!" Carol dropped the tote bag that she had been carrying onto the ground and the next moment Clark was in her embrace.
'Fast!' Was Clark's initial thought before he gently embraced his ex-girlfriend? They were never together together.
After a moment of being in each other mutual embrace, it was Carol who was the first to break a hug. Clark watched as her eyes took him in and roamed through his body. He wasn't ashamed to admit that he was doing the same. Damn if she didn't make casual clothes look good.
"Wow, you've gotten taller, taller than even me!" Carol observed with some amazement. Clark was a full head shorter than her when he had graduated. What kind of growth spurt did he have?
"Couldn't stay a boy forever you know," Clark replied with a wry grin. A superpowered punch was the answer. The blonde beauty obviously held back but it was playful.
"Clearly not," Carol mused as she drank in Clark again. She was simply amazed at how the cute dorky boy she knew turned into … THIS!
"Dad told me the house still belonged to you but rarely sees you there," Clark began as he looked at the house where he used to hang out after school.
Carol followed his sight and let a small sad smile grace her features. The house was full of both happy and sad memories. Now it was a house where nobody lived, sadly she was the sole resident of her family's old home.
"I check it on it from time to time, despite everything, it's still home you know?"
Clark nodded along before he decided he wanted to catch up with his old friend. Everything else was secondary.
"Hey, Carol- Look, if you have time wanna go grab something to eat? We can catch up if you're not busy with… your job?"
Carol was a bit surprised by Clark but remembered Clark was not one to shy away from things. She was pretty sure he knew she was Ms. Marvel but he still looking at her as if she was Carol from next door. Suddenly she felt a strange warmth spread through her and smiled.
"I'd love to."
+++ Pat's Diner +++
It was an old hangout that Clark and the Danvers used to go to often when they were younger. It was a small family-style restaurant and there were a lot of eyes upon Carol when she walked in but afterward, they went about their business.
After they ordered their drinks and food, Clark dressed in casual jeans and a form-fitting black t-shirt, watched as Carol straightened out strands of her hair.
"What?" Carol mock glared at Clark watching her with an amused glint in his eyes.
"Nothing, just that now I know how you keep your hair so impeccable," Clark teased before pretending to dodge her extremely slow punch.
"Well, I see your way of solving problems still remains the same as ever."
"Hey! I have you know I do negotiate too," Carol defended herself with amusement. It wasn't her fault that villains don't listen so violence it was!
"Sure, whatever you say, I totally believe you," Clark egged the woman before they both laughed a bit as their appetizer arrived.
"So how's life been treating you?" Carol asked as she bit into a chicken wing while discretely taking in Clark's new look.
"Oh well, college and all that boring stuff, you know, got married to three women and I have a new fiance too." Clark summarized as he finished biting into a drumette. "Oh, and I work at the Baxter Building now."
Carol's eyes widened as she quickly swallowed the chicken. "Wow, I didn't expect you to need multiple wives, and You work where?!"
Carol's eyes widened as she quickly swallowed the chicken. "You work where?!"
"The Baxter Building, specifically a division called the Farm, but all it is is crunching the hard numbers for Reed Richards," Clark enjoyed the way Carol looked between amazed and shocked.
"Hey, you always said I was smart, is it really such a surprise?"
"Well..." Carol pursed her lips before she shook her head. "Not really, I mean, I've been there a few times and didn't see you… or perhaps overlooked you somehow."
Clark watched as Carol played a bit with her hair, a sure sign that she was embarrassed that she might have missed him at the Freedom Four Plaza.
"Well, I am on temporary leave from the Farm, paid of course," Clark reassured his childhood friend as their main course arrived.
"Oh? On vacation?" Carol felt a bit relieved before she decided to let her food cool down a bit.
"Forced vacation," Clark corrected and saw Carol's questioning look. "Dr. Richards put those who do not agree with the Superhero Registration Act on paid leave until the whole thing blows over. The rest get to work on Project 42, whatever that is."
Suddenly Carol stilled and Clark almost wanted to kick himself. Things have been going so smoothly that he forgot Ms. Marvel was very much pro-registration.
"Perhaps we should cut this short, I have so many things to do and-"
Just as she was about to get up to leave Clark grabbed her wrist making her stop. She could have easily broken his hold but memories of a sickly boy who got hurt easily flashback and old protective instincts flared up.
"Carol, it's okay, I'm not holding it against you or anyone from the pro-registration side," Clark explained in a hurry. He was enjoying his friend's company and really did not want her to go.
"Look Mom and Dad is anti-registration and we're fine with hearing differing opinions. So please, stay?"
Carol slowly sat back down and gave Clark a long look. The last thing she needed was her childhood friend calling her a traitor or backstabber like those close to her in the Superhero community. She didn't want to hear that from Clark.
"So you really don't hold it against me for siding with To- Iron Man?"
Clark shook his head and sighed. "Look, what happened is a tragedy and for me, personally, the Super Hero Registration Act is wrong, it violates so many civil and personal rights it is not even funny, then what I found out about it makes the entire thing insane."
Carol stared hard at Clark before she slowly sat down. She was curious at what he thought about it, unlike those who side with the Resistance, he did not sound angry, just sad.
"How did you find something that neither Reed nor Tony found, they are the smartest people in the world, what did you find out," Clark told her that he told Reed, he even showed evidence of what he found, but Reed would not listen and didn't believe him this act has signs of it being written and made by HYDRA to stop heroes from doing anything.
Clark watched as Carol pushed her plate aside and gave him a curious look.
"Look Carol the thing is written to make it impossible for heroes to do a damn thing, and if they do they are supposedly breaking the law, so they get trapped in a max security prison, if a cop does not stop to protect someone, they throw his ass in jail, not the other way around. It requires heroes to get permission to do anything, and one hundred and seventeen nations have to approve, look around we couldn't get ten people to agree on a flavor of ice cream here, so getting every nation to agree is impossible, that is what HYDRA wants. If heroes can't do a thing, they got free rein to do anything they want."
"Then there is the whole secret identity thing, I know that on paper only those who want their identity revealed to the public would but it is still a list that exists somewhere. Tell me, Carol, how many times have our government been hacked by outside forces. Is there anything such as 100% proof of security when it comes to villains and their abilities? But for me the most worrying part is that supervillains don't even need to get their hand on the entire register, they just need to get one or two."
Carol let her food warm as she chewed on Clark's thought. Naturally what he brought up was the worst-case scenario but still, his points were valid. Still….
"I agree that there is nothing 100% proof when it comes to the likes of H.Y.D.R.A and A.I.M, but they would be for the most part extremely protected. As for risking their lives, so do the regular law enforcement officers whose identities are public. They face retaliation every time they apprehend criminals. What makes someone that wears a mask like me any different than a beat cop?"
Clark nodded and agreed with Carol up to a certain point.
"Carol, when was the last time a supervillain went after beat cops? They are too occupied with bringing down their heroes to lash out at those who just indirectly jail them. I feel that if you take that away, then sooner or later the villains would not be different between the two and that's when you see causality rise. Heroes like you can serve as a beacon for the villains to rally against. When you are seen as the same as a regular law enforcement officer you are no longer a beacon but part of a machine. A machine I think the villains would want to destroy regardless of who's in the way."
Carol blinked and for once pondered the side she was on, she was still loyal to the cause but Clark did bring up some good points. The Initiative to have superhero teams in all fifty states would mean that it would be an institution. Shaking her head before she did not want to think too deeply about it for now, right now she has a job to do. She looked up and saw Clark looking embarrassed, instead of looking righteous.
"Sorry for sounding preachy," Clark apologized in a heartfelt manner. Carol was on the pro-registration side, yes but she was also his friend. Heck even his superhero friend Spider-Man was on the pro-registration side. While he respects Captain America, he wasn't going to go out of his way to enlist nor would he register.
Carol no longer sees the handsome man before her but instead, a lanky boy who used to be extremely shy in her presence. Suddenly she gave him a beautiful smile. Clark always did make her feel at ease with how he viewed things even though it might not have been popular. She could respect it.
"It's okay," Carol assured him before she looked at their mostly finished dinner. "Care to walk a defenseless lady home?"
"Defenseless?" Clark gave Carol an extremely skeptical look. "Excuse me, but I was under the impression I was dining with the beautiful superheroine Ms. Marvel."
"You think I am beautiful?" Carol suddenly felt very… flirty as she shot Clark a smoldering look. Seeing Clark swallow hard made her feel even more bold. She briefly remembered back when she was in high school, when Clark obviously had a crush on her, how she was dressed a bit more sexy to tease him and see him be tongue-tied around her.
"O-Of course," Clark answered as he started to feel a bit hot under the collar so to speak. "I mean I even have a poster of you- Oh I mean-"
"Oh really now?" Carol knew Clark was getting flustered again, but damn if she did not enjoy it. "A picture of me on your wall. Why Clark I am flattered."
"I- I'm gonna shut up now," Clark forcefully chomped down on his jaws much to Carol's laughter.
++ Danvers Home, The Next Morning ++
Carol was the first to wake up to a very comfortable warmth in bed with her. A moment later she recalled exactly what happened the night before and why she felt sated. She was more sore than when she was with other superheroes in the past but Clark was delicious in every aspect. Also, he was strong but gentle and his durability was incredible his stamina oh my God and he was almost insatiable and he was very skilled so no wonder he needed multiple wives otherwise they would have died by now.
Snuggling in deeper the blonde bombshell inhaled Clark's scent. Though she was the Superheroine, she felt extremely safe with one of Clark's arms wrapped around her. She had to admit he grew up extremely well. If he had looked like this in high school, he would have had to fight girls off with a stick.
Reluctantly Carol pried herself away from Clark's arms and looked down at the sleeping man. She needed this, she had been too stressed out with the Civil War, and this was her slice of rest and relaxation. She slowly put on her clothes and prepared to get ready for her job when her earpiece beeped.
Hovering quietly she exited and house and flew up into the sky letting the fresh morning air caress her.
"This is Carol."
"We got the lab result back." A gruff voice on the other end replied. It was the S.H.I.E.L.D lab tech.
"And?" Carol asked impatiently.
Yesterday after she left the diner with Clark, she had the S.H.I.E.L.D agents stationed in her town retrieve Clark's dishes to get a DNA sample. As much as she hated to doubt it, her childhood friend changed too much for her to think there was no external factor involved. So she suspected he was a mutant or perhaps he underwent something like Captain America. So through the night, S.H.I.E.L.D was diligently combing through Clark's history. Now she dreaded the answer, if her childhood friend had powers he had to register.
"Positive Ms. Marvel, Clark Kent is a person of Kryptonian descent, he also underwent testing before he joined the Baxter Building Farm Division, and the record states they know. Clark Kent is recognized as a Citizen of New Krypton and so is the rest of his family. As much as we wish we could arrest them for not registering, New Krypton made it clear, and the law is being struck down as we speak but it will take time to completely remove it."
"Thank you, Agent," Carol turned off the earpiece and exhaled in happiness. Finally, something right was going her way. Suddenly a thought occurred to her, if the law was effectively gone, then such things as Project 42 were meaningless, to think the very threat of a new world war caused the government to destroy the act they just put into law. This made her feel a lot easier now that at least she knew how Clark changed so much, but she still wanted to know who were these women who married him.
AN: We are releasing chapter six as an apology for the delay in publishing more chapters, Hero100100 and I got sidetracked and busy with other stories before we realized we had not updated this story in so long, we both apologize for the wait.