Chapter Text
A year later:
Very few things left him speechless. This was one of those things.
The wind prevented him from moving, on the LuthorCorp terrace, the city seemed a really small place.
He patted his back pocket for that weapon he had hidden before going up the stairs. He took off the safety, preparing to take it whenever he wanted and shoot.
Until it happened, and he couldn't even foresee it, he couldn't say another word, he couldn't catch him.
He saw him throw himself from the terrace, into the void of the streets.
A sure death crossed his eyes as he dropped the weapon he was hiding...
A year before:
2:22 pm — Main Avenue.
A gust of wind surpassed without difficulty the height of the tallest buildings. Some people who were circulating pointed out the anomaly that passed through their eyes in a matter of seconds.
On the other side of the street was the tallest building, protected by a notorious amount of security personnel stationed at the main entrances.
Just below the building, a small group of protesters stood with banners against the owner of that place. Although a couple of protesters were not very difficult to handle, the problem lay in the fact that they, or most of them, were metahumans.
When a shadow positioned itself at the entrance of the building in a soft way, the leader of the demonstration took a few steps forward without fear.
— You shouldn't be here. The guards get scared and think you're going to do something wrong — that soft voice was not enough to disperse them.
— I thought you were joining us — replied a young man with silver hair.
— Don't you know that Lex Luthor is about to run for mayor?
"Yes" he thought "Since last week when I read it in the newspaper and I felt something similar to devastated"
Superman shrugged — You should leave, the police may arrive and hurt you.
The protester snorted — That's the least of it. We are surprised by you, you are supposed to be from another planet, and it doesn't seem important that the man who declared war on metahumans wants to be mayor to propagate his agenda of hate.
Superman took a while to respond, a small grimace of concern that he tried to get rid of immediately — There's nothing I can do, I can't interfere in the elections.
— I see, you're only "super" when it comes to "normal" people and you leave aside the people who are really more like you.
"Ouch" The man lowered his head for a second and looked forward again.
— There are other ways to demonstrate, showing up at Lexcorp's offices won't work.
— I'll tell you something — the man dropped his banner on the ground — Being like you won't work, now go away, boy scout.
When Superman gets news about the demonstration again, it's when he's already at work with a cup of coffee examining some files. He learns that things didn't go well, he could hear perfectly when the police intervened with rubber bullets and some protesters used their special abilities to defend themselves. Which ended in a couple of imprisonments and injuries.
And there's no way to change it.
He falls defeated in his chair, in the small cubicle, now his world is a computer and the summary of the city's anniversary that has to be ready for tomorrow.
"Boy scout" he murmurs bitterly as he drinks coffee.
Suddenly he feels an incessant ringing in his ears, he puts his hands to his ears while trying to pretend that that ringing is not bending him with pain.
Lois passes by him, frowns and walks slower to see him up close.
Clark hears murmurs until a familiar voice interferes in his mind.
"Hello, can you hear me? I haven't done this in a while"
The pain slowly disappears but doesn't stop bothering.
— Who are you? – he whispers — Wait, you're the protester from today, I recognize your voice.
"Wow, you're super observant" the voice says sarcastically "I present to you my power, I can speak through the minds of other people and from what I see, also in yours"
— What's your point? — Clark whispers, glancing at Lois with a half-smile, pretending to be okay.
"Oh, yes. While you were going to do whatever, Lex Luthor sent for not only police officers, but also paid bodyguards to try to kill us, they used real bullets. Doesn't the constitution say that you can't repress a protest by trying to assassinate the protesters? This is getting out of hand..."
— That's terrible – he murmured, pretending to be typing on his computer.
"Well, I'm telling you this so you can act and do something useful"
Lois approaches his desk, frowning.
— What do you mean?
"Isn't it obvious? Give this information to a reporter or journalist, let them write that Lex Luthor is not as good as everyone thinks. But give the information to a good one, not an idiot"
Clark tilts his head, he already knows that Lois leaned against his desk waiting for answers.
— Do you think it will work?
— Clark, who are you talking to?
"My signal doesn't last as long as I'd like, I don't have much time. Listen, if you want, I apologize for calling you Boy Scout, but promise me you'll do something..."
The ringing gets louder, and Clark gasps without being able to contain himself. Like the voice, the sound also disappears.
Clark moves his hands hyperactively to finally take a pencil and write.
— What was that, Clark?
He looks at Lois ashamed, stops writing and tries to calm down.
— It's nothing... — Lois arches an eyebrow, he's terrible at lying — It's just that have you ever thought that you don't do enough for people? I think I'm letting a lot of people down by following the rules...
Lois approached and touched his shoulder kindly — Is it because of Luthor's candidacy? It's not your responsibility.
— I wish I could believe it — he said with a tired smile — I have to do something in the name of the people who need me, but I can't do it as a superhero... — he whispers the last thing.
Lois smiled warmly — You know, you're not the worst reporter, last week the boss threw a latte in Jimmy's head because he ordered it without extra sugar — he pointed to his cubicle — What I mean is, we all fight our battles, but being yourself you're going to find a way to help. Not as a "superhero" but as yourself.
Again a small smile made its way into the man, he played with his pencil until he sighed.
— Thank you, Lois.
— You're welcome, by the way, should I assume that your strange murmurs were because of some curious Kansas custom or...?
— Being honest... exactly — he replied, appearing calm.
………………………….
Exactly the next day the head of the editorial decides to gather some reporters in his office under the excuse of talking about behavioral guidelines in a company.
But the only one who knows that it is a lie is Clark, noticing it from the first moment he observed the boss murmur complaints and curses with the new newspaper, seeing him through his office.
When everyone is gathered, the boss looks threateningly at Kent while adjusting his tie.
— Let's see if I understood, Kent — he says without taking his eyes off him — Your last report was supposed to be about the city's anniversary, and instead of that you publish your interview with Superman, and you also make fun of and complain about LuthorCorp for ten or five pages?
— It's three and a half...
— That doesn't matter! — he interrupts, putting a hand to his forehead.
The small group of reporters moves slightly away from Clark, he knows they won't say it but he is already aware that he has lost possible allies.
— Listen to me — Kent begs. — If we don't say anything, we will be accomplices of what is really happening, the real problem. There are many people out there, who just for having different abilities are going to be persecuted...
The boss approaches and pats him on the shoulder.
— Look, I understand that you are a sentimental man. But some things don't concern you, I have nothing against flying people or "metahumans" — he says, raising his hands — But that's not our job, and you're a human, you'll be safe because you're normal.
The clarification remains in the air for a few seconds of silence, Kent lowers his gaze, he doesn't look disappointed because the last thing he needs is to look like an activist again.
He hears the boss take a few steps forward, and then clumsily look for a cigar in his pockets.
— In case any idiot of you doesn't know, Luthor can tear the Daily Planet apart faster than a damn rooster sings — he lights his cigar and smokes without caring about the uncomfortable proximity to Clark's face.
— He could sue us. That's why I don't want another damn bad review of Luthor for the rest of the year, understood!
Everyone firmly says yes. Defeated, Clark allows the boss to give him another bad look, feeling the cheap smoke impregnate his shirt.
When his colleagues leave the office, they don't mind accidentally bumping into him.
He receives a few short pats on the back when he heads to his cubicle, Lois approaches him amicably
— Don't worry, he'll change his mind when he sees that you're the only one with the courage to tell the truth. That increases sales. — he explains, smiling.
Clark isn't entirely sure but just nods as if he didn't have much to think about. He returns to his monotonous life with the terrible feeling of not doing anything for anyone.
Were all the elections the same way? he wonders hundreds of times. Of course, growing up in a small town didn't give him a broad idea of how the world of politics worked, even so, every time he read about corrupt rulers or money laundering, a great hatred grew within him.
And now corruption would fall fully on the beings who were like him. Being just a little different from the rest could become a sentence.
Of course he knew Lex, in the past he wrote about him, about his creations, even his entrepreneurial mentality. And although it had nothing to do with it, every time Lex could, he voraciously criticized Superman and any metahuman.
He could even attribute his new unwanted encounters with kryptonite to Lex's not-so-disguised strategies to end his life.
However, he still had the positive vote of the population, and although Lex seemed to have the right to investigate and try to capture the hero, Clark still had the right to continue saving people.
Why couldn't everyone just get along?
— Hey, Clark, don't despair. The anger will pass the boss — Jimmy appears in front of him with a hot coffee — I think you were very brave to write that, I admire it.
Clark smiled — I wish everyone here thought the same...
Jimmy turned slightly to see his colleagues, who annoyed pretended to be absorbed in their work — It will pass. Lex Luthor can't finish off the Daily Planet, it's an exaggeration...
— Oh no...
Jimmy frowns, seconds later the boss's office opens with a bang. Everyone gets up from their desks, Jimmy almost spills the coffee.
— Where the hell is Clark Kent?!
Clark gets up abruptly as he receives hundreds of critical glances.
The boss approaches with his fists clenched.
— Lex Luthor called, he wants to see you tonight. — he raises a finger and pushes against his chest — If he wants to close the Daily Planet, believe me, I'll kick something more than your stupid little girl face.
He swallows.
Now he's in trouble.
He hears the coffee fall from Jimmy's hands, spilling over his shirt.
"It could be worse"
………………………
"Rigidity"
He can't find another word to describe it, otherwise he would be insulting the personal aesthetics of almost the entire life of a rich man.
It's not that he wasn't used to seeing ostentatious things, the few times he visited real mansions he hadn't been absorbed in seeing them, they all had in common the taste or personal touch of the owner that made them a home.
But this was not the case.
The mansion seems even more gloomy at night, not counting the security personnel. Was it really so necessary for the butler to take off his jacket without asking? Or for the guard on duty to check his pockets without compassion?
Luckily, despite Lois's strenuous requests, he didn't carry a hidden camera.
Sitting down, or rather –being forced– to sit in a small, uncomfortable armchair in an almost deserted hall, makes it a reality. He's there and he can't escape.
He rubs his hands on the soft armchair until, without noticing, that man stands in front of him with an indifference worthy of admiration.
He wears a black suit and the tie is slightly misaligned to the side, that's what he fixes his gaze on so as not to get nervous when he sees him in the face. He had heard it from other people, the guy could be terrifying.
— This will take twenty minutes – he tells his assistant who is right behind the reporter, he leaves, carefully closing the enormous door behind them.
The businessman sits slowly on the sofa.
— I read your article — he explains without beating around the bush — Is writing that I am an insensitive magnate a soft euphemism?
— Listen, I'm really sorry, I was just trying to give an opinion and it got a little out of hand.
— In fact, Mr. Kent, I'm not upset.
Clark barely looks him in the eye. Maybe he wasn't as intimidating as he thought, even so his neutrality is uncomfortable.
Clark looks behind him to try to relax.
He can't see through the walls.
— I think you're right in some ways. — he continues — However, you forget that metahumans can be a threat to humanity.
"All the walls here are covered in lead" he thinks confused. Is it another rare coincidence? He realizes that Luthor has been waiting for an answer for a long time, looking at him critically.
— Look, if you don't like the article I can apologize, but please, don't close the Daily Planet because of this.
Lex let out a half-smile, almost a silent laugh.
— It is not my intention to close your editorial, Mr. Kent...
Clark almost sighs out loud. He looks him in the face with a certain glow in his eyes, Luthor subtly looks away, even if it's strange, he doesn't give it importance, because with this he has hope, the concrete proof that that man is not as bad as they say.
— I just want you to be my vice mayor in the elections. – he lets out serenely.
Clark parted his lips.
— Me as vice mayor? Why me?
— Many see you as a fervent defender of metahumans — he explains, getting up from the sofa — I, on the other hand, receive death threats for my opinions. The voters will not elect me if they fear that the metahumans will rebel when I take the mayor's office. Especially with the growing acceptance towards them.
Clark frowned — They wouldn't do that — he whispered, annoyed, they were definitely not a threat.
He was not a threat.
Lex ignored the comment
— What I ask is that you work with me, if you accept, I will make sure to have the approval of the metahumans, I know you are a friend of Superman, therefore if you work with me, you assure me my own safety and a prosperous mayoralty.
Interviewing himself had its consequences. Anyway, he omits the comment.
— And what do I gain?
Lex doesn't seem surprised, he just adjusts his tie, realizing that Clark has been looking at it for a long time.
— I will give you unlimited access to my work. You will be able to have a voice and a vote in the laws to be sanctioned, you will be my partner and you will be able to write bills. I even dare to say that if that means sanctioning laws to protect metahumans, I will... I am willing to change my mind.
Both look at each other, no one says anything. Clark tries to find something that betrays that he is lying, but Lex remains in perfect condition for half an hour.
His heart doesn't beat faster.
He's not sweating.
He's not nervous.
"Is he serious?"
Clark puts a hand to his glasses.
— What if I say no?
— That's respectable – Lex replies, with a small curve on his lips that resembles the satisfaction of what he is about to say.
— If you don't accept, nothing will happen. Another mayor will take my place, maybe another one who is more against the metahumans, who knows, some lunatic who exterminates them from Metropolis.
Clark looks up sadly. Again, the elder avoids eye contact.
— And I could, I don't know, denounce the Daily Planet for defaming my image in the middle of the electoral campaign, and you should look for another job.
"Wait" Clark gets up instantly.
— Is it a threat?
Lex smiles sideways. Kent is only annoyed with himself for having believed his false kindness.
"People like him never change" he remembered the countless times he heard it.
— No, I don't threaten, I just suppose possibilities. It's basic statistics — he says with obviousness, looks at his watch and feigns a small grimace of surprise.
— Look at the time. I'll let you think about your decision, you have until tomorrow afternoon.
Clark gets up, stumbling over the sofa, he already has the butler from before by his side who is about to put his jacket on him without asking, Clark takes it and gives him a "thank you" with frustration.
He doesn't say goodbye, he doesn't look back. Because even so, he knows that Lex Luthor will be smiling sideways as if he had won a game of chess.
………………………
— No — he says for the fifth time in the night.
Clark is smart enough to call Lois to talk immediately after the fact, but not enough for her to accept his "no"
Lois leans against the door frame of his apartment.
— I'm just saying that it's a great opportunity — she says, arms crossed.
— On what planet?
— It's clear that he's lying to you, he wants to use you for his elections, I don't think he's changed his opinions so radically...
Clark nods, looking at a fixed point. He would give his life for that man to detest him.
— But this is your opportunity, if you access his inner circle you could confirm how much he manipulates public opinion, and who knows, discover more about his sordid plans — she says excitedly — Don't you want to destroy that madman in his own game?
— Destroying sounds very aggressive...
Lois sighs, then closes her eyes as if clearing her mind to be kind in a way that Clark understands.
— We both know that Luthor is a maniac with a lot of power loose in the world. I think he chose you because he thinks you're... clumsy – she pretends to cough, Clark looks at her curiously — If you pretend to agree with him, maybe you can have access to valuable information, which proves all our suspicions of the dangerous things he has in his hands, are true.
The man thinks about it seriously, he has a mental list of the pros and cons, and damn it, he can't ignore that if he doesn't accept the deal they will close the Daily Planet.
No, he can't afford to lose the most valuable thing he got since he arrived in the city, he can't take the job away from so many. If anyone can tell the truth about Luthor, definitely, that would be the Daily Planet.
With his help.
"We will use each other"
On the other hand, he remembers the protest, there are people who need him.
— I'm not sure...
Lois makes a grimace — You've seen Superman do incredible things, why don't you do something incredible in the name of Clark Kent?
It's definitely dangerous, even more so being himself. If Luthor finds out who he really is, he doesn't want to imagine what he would do to him.
But if he manages to expose him, he won't have to deal with that last name for the rest of his life.
He will save metahumans and save the Daily Planet from imminent chaos.
By the time he realizes it, Lois is already smiling.
He said yes without realizing it