In the Clouds

Superman: Part 9

He could see the momentary hesitation his words brought, followed by telltale steely resolve. Lois wasn't one to be discouraged, even by the loss of control. That hadn't been his intention, of course - her heart really was beating very quickly. He really could hear it. Checking to make sure she was alright was of the utmost import to him, not only because of their connection but because that was just what he did. The preservation of all life, no matter the personal cost. Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of people that didn't have the power to fight for themselves the way he could, thanks to his gifts.

That's not to say he wasn't particularly invested in the safety of his soulmate. Of course he was. Whether or not that ever amounted to anything didn't matter. She was another part of him; even if she was a part he was trying to accept might have to remain wholly separate. Losing someone under his care was always hard. Failing to save perhaps the single-most-important person on planet Earth relative to him was simply something Clark couldn't allow himself to do. Watching her hand rise to feel her own heartbeat, still shaking from adrenaline, Clark listened to her rattled sigh and earnest attempt at reassurance.

Clark allowed himself another small laugh. No matter how much he loved it or how much he didn't take it for granted, it was fair to say Clark often forgot to consider that the average person would simply never experience anything like it. A controlled fall, maybe - if they were particularly thrill-seeking and usually fairly wealthy. "Apologies. If there's a next time, I'll try to give you a little more warning." The Kryptonian shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Well, you are. I don't know about getting to, that makes it sound like I'm doing you some big favor with my company, but we're talking."

Her sort-of dismissal of his thanks warranted a slightly raised eyebrow, albeit in good spirits. "You know what a lot of the coverage of the bus crash was, right?" Sure, people talked about him saving lives. More still talked about the aforementioned fears, though. His ulterior motives. The U.S. government disavowed him as not an American asset - which was fair. He wasn't one, after all, nor would he ever be. More than likely, even if they knew more than most did, the idea of a free-roaming, seemingly unstoppable man probably made the Pentagon a little twitchy.

I already trusted you. Despite his previous observations, that phrase took him more than a little by surprise. If Clark hadn't intended to stay before, her words certainly convinced him to change his mind. There was one thing that stood out, though. One thing he wasn't content to let rest, for fear of his intentions being misconstrued. "My goal isn't to be admired, to be clear. I don't think I deserve admiration for doing what I think is the bare minimum of someone in my situation." Clark shook his head. "I just want the people of Metropolis to know that as long as I'm needed, I'm here." He paused, then grinned a little. "For what it's worth, I do trust you."

"Sounds like a deal. In other circumstances, I'd see if you wanted to do this over coffee, but I don't know if they'd let us sit down." Some light humor that was almost as much to put himself at ease as it was for her sake.

"I don't doubt that what you report will be the truth." He paused, considering whether that was too familiar. "I'd hear otherwise. You're an honest reporter from what I've gathered, and that's why I'm staying," Even if she was an honest reporter that had to ask Clark how to spell a word pretty often." He nodded in her direction. "It's on you whether or not the truth is a good thing. That, I'm leaving in your hands, Miss Lane." The slight slip didn't occur to him, pushing onwards. "Sincerely, for better or for worse." Clark smiled down at her once again, brushing the cowlick of hair out from in front of his face - perhaps the most annoying part of his disguise to get under control when he was just boring old Clark Kent.

Clark nodded at the question about recording the conversation, then realized audible consent would probably be beneficial. "Yes, I C... Superman, as you've called me," It was the first time he'd ever addressed himself by that name. "Am alright with you recording our conversation, Lois." Then came the first round of questions - and there were a lot of them. Not more than he'd expected, granted, but a lot nevertheless. He waited for the first salvo to conclude before answering in kind.

"Why? Because it's the right thing to do," Clark smiled slightly. "I know how it sounds. I think I do, anyway. It's still true. I have abilities others do not, and I think it's my responsibility..." The Kryptonian paused, frowned, then amended, "My privilege to help people in need wherever I can. No matter how seemingly small the issue might be." The sincerity in Clark's voice was about as genuine as it got. He was fully aware that it was a cliché, but that didn't make it any less the real reason he was doing this. The world's cynicism didn't have to be his cynicism.

He nodded after a moment at the list of powers, fighting the almost bashful look that started to pass over his face. At the best of times, Clark never wanted to sound like he was gloating. That just wasn't him. Still, it warranted an answer. "I can lift and do a lot more than that, yes ma'am." Clark's eyes settled on her purse, before which he looked up. "Your keys are in the side pocket of the bag and the flight over knocked your pack of gum loose." He smiled almost apologetically.

The nature and origin of his powers were more complex topics than his powers themselves, of course. A lot more complex, most because he only knew so much, himself. Still, he'd resolved to answer honestly, and so he would. "I'm from a planet called Krypton," He started slowly. "Many, many light years from here - in another galaxy." Clark shifted his weight again, noting how other that made him sound. "I was sent here when I was a baby, and I've lived on Earth my entire life."

That was the origin. Now came the nature. "Krypton's sun was a dimmer red star, and the gravity there was weaker. The radiation of Earth's sun gives me these... abilities? Gifts?" He shrugged noncomittally, as though not sure how to describe them himself. "In all honesty, I'm still learning a lot about where I came from and what I can do. I haven't always known, and I didn't always have them. I grew up here like anyone else."

If she had further questions, she'd ask. For now, he moved on to the next one. Her knowing of his activities in Africa earned her another raised eyebrow. Clark had thought he'd been more or less dismissed as an myth there. He should have known better than to think Lois wouldn't chase after a lead like that, no matter how much other people dismissed it. Still, the question drew a warm, gentle smile from him.

"My mother made it for me. The symbol means hope on Krypton."

As for Metropolis, Clark didn't have to think long. "Metropolis represents something I think is important. It's big and busy and alive, but it's... troubled, too." Not too secretly, his eyes shifted in the direction of Lexcorp, though he didn't say anything aloud. "I try to help people wherever I can, but Metropolis seems like a good place to start. If it'll have me, I hope it will be my home for a long time coming."