Superman Movieverse Forum

Posted on behalf of Vgerland
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Chapter 3 – Can’t You See It Is Just Me?

Clark stood awestruck for several seconds before he found his voice and was able to respond coherently. After looking around nervously to make sure no one was watching he kneeled down to be closer to eye level with the small boy. "No one has seen through my disguise before how did you?"

Jason just shrugged his shoulders as if it was nothing, "It was easy, you look just like him only with glasses and messed up hair." Before Clark had the presence of mind to stop him the little boy reached up and grabbed the glasses off his face and began putting them on. Holding them in place to keep the too big glasses from falling off he shrugged again. "See, can’t you tell it’s still just me?"

Clark gulped realizing just how thin his disguise really was. He nodded that of course he could. "Most grownups don’t see the world of possibilities as clearly as they should or as clearly as a child does. They only see what they want to see or expect to see. No grownup would ever expect to find Superman hiding as someone like Clark Kent." He quickly retrieved the glasses and pushed them back in place. Looking around once again he was thankful that his desk was in a corner and felt certain that no one had noticed or heard what had just transpired.

Seeing the discomfort on the man still kneeling beside him the little boy tried to offer help. "Maybe you should wear a mask like Batman or Mr. Incredible, or even Spiderman. Nobody can tell who they are."

"Jason it’s not that easy, I didn’t want to wear a mask because I don’t want people to be afraid of me," he whispered back.

"I’m not afraid of them." Jason shook his head decisively.

"Good, I’m glad, but Spiderman is just make believe and Mr. Incredible, I don’t even know who that is."

"You’ve never heard of Mr. Incredible? He’s in my favorite superhero movie, The Incredibles; you’ve never seen that movie?" he asked incredulous.

Clark shook his head sadly. "I haven’t seen any movies for a very very long time, before you were born even."

Jason seemed saddened at that, he could hardly believe that everyone had not seen his favorite all time movie. Then putting his finger in his mouth thinking for a second his eyes twinkled as he excitedly exclaimed, "We have the DVD you could come over and watch it with me and Daddy." That seemed to remind him of something else entirely as his expression once again turned to a look of confusion and he reverted back to whispering. "I heard what Mommy whispered to you when you were hurt and sleeping at the hospital. What did she mean?"

Clark caught his breath, yet again taken off guard by the little charmer. Unsure just how to proceed he looked past Jason and sought out Lois finding her, Richard and Perry still in a heavy debate about something in Perry’s office. He was curious what could have them so distracted that they had missed Jason wondering the office but at present he was too captivated by his son to focus elsewhere. He looked back at Jason once again giving him his full attention. "What did you hear her say?"

Once again the little boy shrugged, then leaned over and whispered in Clark’s ear just as Lois had. "‘Don’t leave us again Jason is going to need his father’. That’s what I heard…" Then looking even more confused with perhaps a bit of hope mixed in he asked "Are you my Daddy? Are we gonna spend weekends do-in stuff together?"

Clark sighed deeply clearly not ready for those questions. Again looking around the room to assure himself that they were not being watched or overheard, he leaned in close to Jason. "You need to ask you mother to explain what she meant. It’s not my place right now. Jason, your Mother doesn’t know that I’m Superman. I need you to keep my secret at least until I can tell her. Can you do that?"

Jason looked pensive, "I’m not spose’d to keep secrets from my Mommy and Daddy."

"I know Jason, and I really hate to ask you to keep this secret but your Mommy is going to be really mad at me when she finds out and it would be better if she finds out from me. Do you understand that?"

The little boy nodded sadly. "I don’t want Mommy mad at you, I won’t tell anybody."

"Good, I’ll tell her as soon as I can but your Mommy should be the one to tell your Daddy. Okay?"

He nodded again then taking a big breath accepting everything as settled, "I’m hungry. Do you have anything in your desk for me to eat? My Daddy always has a snack for me."

Clark grinned then grimaced. "No I don’t have anything in my desk… but wait, I could get you something out of the vending machines, what would you like?" He got up and the two headed for the kitchen hand in hand.

Jason smiled broadly looking up at the tall tall man. "Can you get me a candy bar… and a root beer?" he asked excitedly.

Clark smirked knowingly, "Jason, your Mommy would kill me if she found out I gave you a candy bar or root beer."

Jason stopped and pouting muttered, "I never get anything good."

Soon they were back at Clark’s desk with Jason sitting on top of it with his feet dangling as they shared two apples and a banana that had been cut into neat bite size pieces.

Clark noticed Jason eyeing him peculiarly as he ate. "What’s the matter?"

"How do you change to Superman?"

Clark laughed, "I have the other suit on under this one," he whispered back.

Jason frowned as he looked intently at Clark’s neckline. "Even the cape?" Clark smiled and nodded raising his eyebrow.

"Mr Incredible doesn’t have a cape cause Edna says capes are dangerous and could get caught in stuff. Has your cape ever got stuck?"

"Edna? No, no my cape is very useful to me and besides I kinda like it."

"Edna makes super hero suits. I guess she doesn’t make yours since you have a cape? She wouldn’t let Mr. Incredible have a cape even when he asked for one." Seeing Mr. Clark’s expression he quickly added. "I know they’re just pretend."

"Hmmm. I guess I really need to see this movie huh?" Jason nodded and took another bite of banana. Clark smiled and settled back in his chair savoring the prospect of watching a movie, any movie with his son.

Lois and Richard had been in Richard’s office several minutes discussing the article Clark had written and the need for follow-up articles. Lois got up and paced back and forth in thought then purposefully went to the far window and peered into Richard’s office to check up on Jason. She smiled seeing him deep in concentration with his tongue sticking out between his lips no doubt working on yet another masterpiece. Satisfied she went back to pacing and then sat in the chair next to Richard as they continued the long discussion with Perry.

About fifteen minutes later Lois stood up and craned her neck to peer into the adjoining office to check on her son. Not seeing him she walked over to the window for a better view. He was no where to be seen. She turned her search to the bullpen and almost immediately saw the small boy perched on Clark’s desk with the man himself seated close by. She watched for a few seconds almost transfixed as the two laughed and talked animatedly. She couldn’t shake the feeling she got watching them that something about the two of them together was so natural, even expected. Coming out of her reverie she went out to retrieve her wayward son.

"Munchkin, what are you doing out here bothering Mr. Kent? You were supposed to stay in your dad’s office, you know that."

Jason looked up innocently, "I just wanted to give Mr. Clark some more pictures and then I got hungry." He finished the piece of apple in his hand and grabbed two more pieces just in case his mother made him go back to his Daddy’s boring office.

Clark had risen as Lois approached and took an almost apologetic stance. "He wasn’t bothering me, I needed a break anyway and besides I find him quite entertaining."

Richard came up behind Lois having heard what was said. "Well my office can be a little confining for him. I guess no harm done." He ran his hand through the boy’s hair sweeping it out of his eyes. "What are you eating?" Jason opened his hand and showed his remaining pieces of apple.

Clark spoke up, "I wasn’t sure what he could eat, but figured apples and bananas would be on any restricted diet. I hope that was alright."

"Good choice, no doubt he tried for something filled with sugar?" Lois smiled at Jason and his reaction confirmed her suspicion. "Thanks Clark but we really don’t expect you to baby-sit our child. I guess we were a little distracted."

"Really, I didn’t mind. You... two have a very special little boy there."

"Yes, we do and thanks Clark we’ll try and not make it a daily occurrence." Richard said as he picked Jason up and headed away either not noticing or ignoring the hesitation in his co-worker’s voice. "Come on champ let’s go back to my office and let your Mom and Mr. Kent get back to work or we’ll be here all night."

Lois turned back to Clark after watching Richard walk away. She couldn’t help noticing Jason’s wave or Clark’s happy response in kind. "Ahhh Clark, back to business, that article you wrote was good but sadly lacking in some of the detail and specific things that people really want to know."

"Huh? What do you mean lacking, aren’t we suppose to leave them wanting more?"

Lois smiled not surprised in his answer, "Exactly, it leaves the door wide open for a follow-up and you know Perry. He is now demanding we co-write the follow-up articles. Richard and I tried to talk him out of it but he is insisting you and I work together. He wants the old Lane-Kent style back on the front page."

"I’m sorry… I know you don’t want to cover Superman anymore, I just thought…"

Interrupting him she came in close to make sure they could speak privately. "Clark, I know I said that but I’m not sure I even mean it anymore. I can’t stay mad at the guy forever you know. Besides this is about a lot more than just Superman."

Softly hitting his chest with the notepad in her hand she handed it over and smiled looking him in the eye. "Here’s a list of questions the three of us came up with that we need to get answered. Check it out and add any more you think of. I’m going to start digging up some of the answers plus we need to set-up a meeting with Superman to fill in the gaps from him."

Looking down at the napkin still on Clark’s desk she licked her lips, "Are you going to eat that last piece of apple?"

Clark just smiled as he shook his head. Lois snatched the apple up and walked over to her desk munching it as she keyed in her password to wake her computer up from the screensaver. I probably should change that password…someday. She thought as she went back to work.

Watching her walk away and sit down at her desk to work he smiled thinking to himself as he watched her key the letters. She doesn’t hate me. He sighed and finally sat down and began going over the notes trying not to laugh at the many spelling errors. Then on a whim looked at his computer screen and pulled up a search engine and keyed in Mr. Incredible. Choosing the WikipediA site from the listings he smiled as he read the article and laughed outright at the images.

Lois looked up from her work hearing Clark laugh and wondered just what he could be finding so funny. Shrugging she went back to work.

Closing the WikipediA window he pulled up the Planet classified ads and searched for nearby rentals making note of a couple listings that looked promising. Living out of a work storage room was getting old fast. Going back to work he added to the list and began his own research.

Some time later Jimmy came up behind him. "Mr. C. You’re back. Man, I was so worried when you didn’t show up yesterday. I guess you were working some lead huh?"

"Sorry Jimmy, I guess I didn’t stop to consider that anyone would be worried. I’ve just gotten use to doing my own thing the last few years. I guess I need to remember to report in if I’m out chasing an elusive lead for a long time."

"Yeah, I guess I know how that can be. The Chief had me out doing a photo spread of the damage around the city all day."

Lois came up behind Jimmy. "Speaking of elusive leads, have you tried to contact Superman yet?"

Clark looked incredulous shrugging his shoulders. "Me, I don’t contact him, he contacts me. Don’t you know how to contact him?"

Lois rolled her eyes and picked up her notepad from his desk then with her other hand grabbed his tie pulling him to his feet then practically dragged him to the elevator with her. "Come on Kent, I’ll show you how it’s done and you can play chaperon. That should keep both Richard and Perry happy."

"But, Lois" Clark objected. "I’m not ready I haven’t finished with my research yet. I want to be prepared."

"You really are a boy scout. Never mind, it doesn’t matter we’ll use what we already have. Sometimes you just have to make things happen."

"And sometimes you just have to go with the flow and let things happen as they happen?" Clark asked with dubious confidence.

"Now you got it. Me, I would much rather be on top and make things happen," Lois said firmly as she pushed the elevator button. "I’m tired of playing this game by his rules, I want some real answers and explanations and we’re not coming back till I get them. You Clark Smallville Kent are going to help me get them."

As the elevator doors started to close Clark looked into the bullpen and saw Richard standing at his office door laughing at Lois’ antics while Jason stood behind him watching with unmistakable anticipation in his bright eyes and winsome smile. Clark couldn’t help but wonder and worry just how she would react to those real answers once she got them. But she was right, it was more than just about Superman and he had to keep focused on what really mattered and have faith that in the long run everything would work out as it should.