Chapter 22: The Interview of the Century*
Lois hurriedly fumbled with her keys, her hands slightly shaking from the adrenaline and rush of the day. She cursed under her breath as she finally managed to open the door to her apartment. The clock on the wall read 6:53 p.m.
"Great job, Lane," she muttered sarcastically to herself. She had planned to leave the *Daily Planet* at least an hour earlier to give herself time to prepare, but as usual, the whirlwind of news and deadlines had sucked her in.
She flicked on the lights, immediately kicking off her heels and heading for the small hanger by the door where she hung her jacket and bag. Every move felt rushed, her mind whirling as she tried to focus.
Her eyes darted to the kitchen. "I need just one shot to take the edge off," she muttered under her breath, making a beeline for the cabinet on top of the fridge. She reached up, grabbed a bottle, and poured herself a quick shot of whiskey, downing it in one go. The warmth of the alcohol spread through her chest, calming her nerves—just a little.
"Okay," she exhaled, taking a deep breath and centering herself.
She grabbed her recorder, notebook, pen, and phone, and then hurried to the balcony. Flicking on the switch, the dim lighting flickered weakly. Lois glanced around the space, immediately regretting not having fixed the bulbs when she had the chance. The dimness created a more intimate atmosphere than she would have liked for something as professional as this interview.
"Perfect," she muttered sarcastically. "Just perfect."
She set two glasses of water on the table, arranging her things neatly beside them, and sat down to wait. She checked her watch—6:59 p.m. She only had seconds to spare before Superman would arrive.
Right on cue, the sound of something gently landing on the balcony caught her attention. Lois looked up just as Superman—fully donned in his suit—landed gracefully on the balcony.
For a moment, Lois just stared at him, taking him in. She had seen Superman in action before, but there was something about seeing him up close, standing tall and imposing, that made her breath catch. He was... magnificent.
"It looks good on you," she said, her voice softer than she'd intended. Her eyes flicked up and down his figure, and she had to bite her lip to maintain some semblance of professionalism.
Superman smiled, clearly catching the effect he had on her. "Thanks," he replied gently.
Lois quickly cleared her throat, pushing herself back into reporter mode. "Right, well... shall we start?" she said, shaking off the moment of awe.
Superman nodded, his expression shifting into something more serious as he took the seat opposite her.
Lois double-checked her recorder and held it up. "Do you mind if I record this?" she asked.
Superman gave a slight nod. "Go ahead."
With a deep breath, Lois hit record and leaned forward, notebook ready. "This is Lois Lane reporter for the Daily Planet and I have Superman with me and it is June 15th, 2017".
"Alright, Superman," she began, her voice clear and professional. "Let's start from the begining. Who are you?"
Superman's eyes softened, but he kept his answer measured and guarded. "My birth name is Kal-el. I was born in a planet called Krypton. It was destroyed a long time ago. Before it all exploded my parents sent me to Earth to save me."
"How old were you?"
"I was a few months old."
"How much of the history and culture of Krypton do you carry with you?"
"It's interesting. Even though I didn't really spend any time that I can remember in Krypton. We, Kryptionians have some of that information ingrained in our DNA. I don't know how to explain how it feels but it's like I have these faint memories aout all things Kryptonian. My father sent a lot of knowledge with me. Knowledge I can use to make sense of these faint memories"
"You must learn extremely fast!" Lois was truly in awe about this man. This was probably the most powerful being on Earth and he was so humble and kind.
Superman chuckled "Yeah. That is definitely one of my powers or differences, if you will"
"What else makes you super? Flying, of course."
"I'm super strong, super speed, super hearing, super breath, super vision and… I can see really far and through solid objects"
"That's quite the list!"- Lois says genuinely impressed
"What makes you different? What gives you these abilities?"
Superman's eyes met hers, calm but firm. "My physiology reacts to the conditions here on Earth. Let's leave it at that."
Lois knew he was being deliberately vague, protecting something. Her instinct screamed that there was more, but she wouldn't push—not yet. "Fair enough," she said, scribbling another note.
"And why now. It seems you've been around for a while" Lois asked, her voice steady."Why reveal yourself to the world as Superman?"
Superman's gaze didn't waver. "Look I've spent the last few year seeing the World. I have helped in the shadows all my life. Being in the shadows gave me the opportunity to observe and learn. Miss Lane, the world is facing new challenges that require action. I revealed myself because I have abilities that can make a difference, and I feel it's my responsibility to help. We need to unite the world forces for a better Earth."
Lois nodded, feeling the weight of his words. "What about the Justice League? How do you fit into that dynamic?"
Superman's face brightened slightly at the mention of the League. "That's exactly what they have been fighting for for years. If anything I'm late to join then. The Justice League stands for truth and justice and I don't know better values to have. I'm honored to serve with them."
Lois continued to write down notes, her mind racing with each new piece of information. Finally, she paused, considering her next question carefully. "I know we touched on this a bit but some people might say that with your powers, you could do more than just help. You could rule. Why not?"
Superman's expression turned serious, his voice firm but calm. "Power doesn't give someone the right to rule, Lois. It gives them the responsibility to protect. My role is not to impose my will, but to ensure that people's freedoms are protected. Earth is not mine to control. My powers are meant for defense, not domination."
Lois felt a shiver run down her spine at his words. There was a nobility to what he was saying, something that made her feel like she was standing in the presence of someone who truly understood the gravity of his power.
"One last question," she said, her voice softening as the interview drew to a close. "What's the final message you want to give the people of Metropolis? What do you want them to know about you?"
Superman paused for a moment, considering his response carefully. "I want them to know that I'm here to help. I'm here to protect. This is my home now, and I'll do everything in my power to keep it safe. They don't need to fear me—they need to trust that I'll stand with them, no matter what comes."
Lois clicked off the recorder and sat back, letting out a slow breath. The tension between them felt heavier now, not just because of the information he had shared, but because of the unspoken understanding that lingered in the air between them.
Superman leaned back, letting out a breath of his own. "That was... a lot," he admitted with a small smile.
Lois giggled, the tension easing just a little. "You did *super* well," she teased, her smile returning as she reached out and touched his arm. "Really, Superman—you were perfect. This will reassure people."
Superman looked at her hand on his arm, then back up at her, his eyes softening. "Thank you," he said, his voice gentle.
There was a moment between them, a quiet connection that hummed in the air. But before it could deepen further, Lois cleared her throat and pulled back.
"Superman," she said, her tone light, "I think we should keep things... professional. I've got an article to write, after all."
Superman chuckled, standing up and stepping to the edge of the balcony. "Of course, Miss Lane."
Lois smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "Now, aren't you going to... fly away or something? I need to get to work on this article."
Superman grinned and gave her a mock salute. "I'm going, I'm going."
With that, he launched into the sky, disappearing into the night. Lois stood there for a moment, watching him go, the reality of everything that had just happened settling over her like a weight.
"I spent the night with Superman," she whispered to herself, shaking her head in disbelief.
And now, she had to write the article that would change everything.
To be continued...*