A week later, in Metropolis...
Clark placed coffee on Lois's desk - two sugars, splash of vanilla, extra hot because she still got distracted by stories and let it cool. After a month of dating, he knew all her habits, including how she'd immediately steal half his breakfast bagel without looking up from her computer.
"Thanks, Smallville," she said, reaching for the bagel right on cue. Their fingers brushed, and even after dozens of dates, the contact still made his heart skip. "Anything new on the Stark situation?"
"Military's keeping everything under wraps," Clark said, settling into what had become his usual spot on the edge of her desk. "Though my source at Bagram says he's being released today. Private flight back to LA."
"Interesting timing," Lois said, bringing up her notes. "Right when LuthorCorp announces new military contracts. And did you see the latest satellite images from that compound in Afghanistan? Complete destruction, but no signs of conventional explosives."
"Kent! Lane!" Perry's voice carried across the newsroom. "My office!"
They exchanged glances - not the awkward looks from a month ago, but the comfortable communication of two people who'd grown used to reading each other.
"Close the door," Perry said when they entered. "Stark's heading home. His office just called - says he's willing to talk to you, Kent, once he's settled. Something about finishing a conversation from Vegas?"
Clark nodded. "We discussed ethical constraints in weapons development at the Apogee Awards. He seemed interested in exploring the humanitarian applications."
"Well, whatever impression you made, it stuck. They're offering fifteen minutes, exclusive." Perry studied them both. "I want you both on a flight to LA. Something big's brewing - Stark hasn't said a word to anyone since his rescue, but suddenly he wants to talk to the Planet?"
"We'll get the story, Chief," Lois said, already making notes.
"And Kent?" Perry's mouth twitched. "Try to keep her out of trouble this time. A month of dating and she's still finding ways to drive security teams crazy."
"That guard at the mayor's office was definitely hiding something!" Lois protested.
"And you were right," Perry admitted. "But maybe next time wait for backup before picking the lock?"
Clark hid a smile. Some things hadn't changed, even if everything else had.
"Your flight leaves in two hours," Perry continued. "Stark might not be ready to make any official statements, but I want you there when he is. And see what you can dig up about that compound. The military's being awfully quiet about how he escaped."
They left Perry's office, shoulders brushing comfortably as they walked. The newsroom's initial excitement about their relationship had faded to occasional fond eye-rolls when they got caught sharing private smiles over their computers.
Cat Grant appeared as they reached Lois's desk. "LA? Perfect for your one-month anniversary."
"It's work, Cat," Lois said, but she smiled at Clark. "Though maybe we could take an extra day? I've never seen the Pacific."
"The sunset from Santa Monica pier is amazing," Clark said softly. A month together had taught him exactly how her eyes lit up at unexpected romantic gestures.
"You two are disgustingly cute," Cat declared. "Though I have to admit, the Planet's much more entertaining since you finally got together. Even if Clark still occasionally tries to sneak that brown suit past Lois."
"That suit is officially retired," Lois said firmly. "I have photographic evidence of Jimmy burning it."
"I liked that suit," Clark protested, but his eyes were warm behind his glasses.
An hour later, they were heading to the airport in a cab, Lois reviewing her notes while Clark pretended to doze. Really, he was listening to her heartbeat - a habit that had started during their first stakeout and had only grown stronger since they'd started dating. The steady rhythm was more soothing than any meditation he'd learned in Tibet.
"The military's being awfully tight-lipped," Lois mused, flipping through her file. "Three months in captivity, then he just appears in the desert? No signs of pursuit, no rescue operation?"
"And that compound," Clark added, opening his eyes. "Complete destruction, but no typical bomb damage patterns."
"You noticed that too?" She grinned, and Clark felt that familiar warmth in his chest. A month of dating hadn't dimmed how her investigative enthusiasm affected him. "The satellite photos show melting patterns inconsistent with any known weapons system."
"You have satellite photos?"
"Jimmy has a friend at NASA who owes him a favor." She caught his look. "What? It's not like I hacked anything this time."
"This time," he echoed, but reached for her hand anyway. After four weeks of dinners, movies, and late-night story editing sessions that turned into something more, these casual touches felt natural.
Their fingers intertwined as Lois continued theorizing. "Whatever happened in that compound, Stark isn't talking. But those mineral readings from the area..." She trailed off, noticing Clark's expression. "You're staring again, Smallville."
"Can't help it." It had become their private joke, but the truth behind it still made his heart race.
She squeezed his hand. "We should try that new Thai place when we get back. The one by your apartment?"
The casual mention of future plans, of shared meals and quiet evenings, meant more to Clark than any dramatic declaration. "It's a date," he said softly. "Though technically it would be our twelfth."
"You've been counting?"
"Journalist. We notice details."
Their easy banter carried them through check-in and security. Clark couldn't help remembering their first flight together, how awkward things had been after Vegas. Now, sharing an armrest felt as natural as sharing bylines.
His superhearing picked up a news update: "Tony Stark remains silent about his captivity as he returns home. Sources at Stark Industries hint at major changes ahead..."
Clark thought about his conversation with Stark at Caesar's Palace - the man's unexpected interest in ethics and humanitarian applications. Something had changed in the billionaire even before Afghanistan. Now, that change seemed to have crystallized into something more.
"You're thinking about the interview," Lois observed as they boarded.
"Just remembering our conversation in Vegas. He was different than I expected - genuinely interested in reducing civilian casualties, in making weapons smarter so they'd hurt fewer people."
"And now he's survived three months in a cave and won't talk to anyone except Clark Kent from the Daily Planet." Lois settled into her seat, automatically claiming the window. "Something happened out there, something big."
"Think he'll tell us?"
"Us?" She smiled. "He asked for you, partner. I'm just here to keep you from being too nice when the tough questions need asking."
Clark adjusted his glasses, hiding a smile. If she only knew how much he loved watching her go after a story - that mix of brilliance and determination that had first drawn him to her.
"Besides," she added more softly, "maybe we can finally see that Pacific sunset you keep promising me."
The plane took off, carrying them toward whatever story Stark was ready to tell. But Clark Kent's mind was split between the mystery they were chasing and the woman beside him who made both his identities feel real.
The world was changing. New forms of power were emerging. And somehow, a farm boy from Kansas had found his place in it all - not just as Superman, but as Clark Kent, journalist and partner to the most remarkable woman in the world.
Even if she did keep stealing his pretzels at thirty thousand feet.
—
When their plane landed in Los Angeles, the California sun was beating down with an intensity that would have made most people wilt in their business attire. Clark, naturally immune to temperature extremes, found himself more focused on Lois's subtle adjustments to her blazer than the weather.
"Ready for this?" she asked as they climbed into their rental car. "Stark's first public appearance since Afghanistan. Every news outlet in the country will be there."
"Including the Planet's best reporting team," Clark smiled, adjusting his glasses. "Though I notice you didn't argue when I offered to drive."
"My generosity knows no bounds, Smallville." She was already reviewing her notes. "Besides, someone needs to figure out why Stark specifically requested you for this interview."
The drive to Stark Industries headquarters gave them time to observe the city's reaction to Tony's return. Banners welcomed the prodigal son home, while news vans lined the streets approaching the compound. Security was tight - Clark's enhanced vision caught multiple teams of guards with sophisticated scanning equipment.
They arrived just as Happy Hogan's car pulled up with Tony inside. The crowd that had gathered - employees, press, well-wishers - erupted in applause. Clark helped Lois navigate through the mass of people, using his larger frame to create a path while being careful not to seem unnaturally strong.
Obadiah Stane stood waiting at the entrance, his commanding presence drawing all eyes. But Clark's attention was fixed on Tony Stark as he emerged from the car. The billionaire looked remarkably composed for someone who'd spent three months in hellish captivity, though Clark's enhanced senses picked up subtle signs of tension - slightly elevated heartbeat, minute muscle tremors suggesting recent trauma.
What really caught Clark's notice was the strange energy signature emanating from Stark's chest - something his X-ray vision couldn't quite penetrate. It reminded him of the mineral radiation he'd detected in Vegas, but different somehow. More focused. Controlled.
"Mr. Stark!" various reporters called out. But Tony's attention was focused on the Burger King bag Happy was bringing him. There was something almost defiant in the way he reached for it, as if the simple act of eating fast food was a declaration of independence.
"None for me?" Stane asked with practiced joviality, embracing Tony like a prodigal son.
"Last one," Tony replied between bites. "Doctor's orders."
Clark watched the interaction carefully, noting how Stark maintained physical space between himself and everyone except Happy. Even his hug with Stane had been brief, controlled. This was a man who'd returned changed from his ordeal, though he was working hard to maintain his familiar public persona.
"Mr. Stark," Clark called out, pitching his voice to carry without seeming aggressive. "Clark Kent, Daily Planet. We spoke in Vegas, about ethical constraints in automated targeting systems?"
Something shifted in Tony's expression - recognition, but also something deeper. He studied Clark with that genius-level intellect that had revolutionized multiple industries. "Kansas. The farm boy who actually read my MIT thesis. Didn't expect to see you on the West Coast."
"You did offer an interview," Clark reminded him gently.
"Did I?" Tony's tone was light, but his eyes were sharp. "Must have been before my unscheduled vacation. Though I remember our conversation about reducing civilian casualties. Seems even more relevant now, doesn't it?"
"Tony," Stane interrupted smoothly, "the board is waiting. Perhaps we could schedule something for later?"
But Stark was still studying Clark, that brilliant mind clearly working through multiple calculations. "No, this is perfect timing actually. Kent understands something most reporters don't - the responsibility that comes with power." He glanced meaningfully at the crowd of journalists. "How about we do that interview now? Before the vultures descend?"
"Now?" Stane's practiced smile slipped slightly. "Tony, you've just returned. There are protocols, press releases to prepare-"
"And I'm officially ignoring all of them," Tony cut him off cheerfully. "Kent, you and your partner - Lane, right? - my office. Ten minutes." He turned to Happy. "Got any more burgers in the car?"
As Tony headed inside, pausing occasionally to wave at the crowd, Lois grabbed Clark's arm. "How do you do that? Everyone else he brushed off, but you he remembers from a random conversation in Vegas?"
Clark adjusted his glasses, watching Tony's interaction with his employees. The billionaire's casual manner didn't quite hide the way he kept his distance, maintaining clear sightlines to exits. "Sometimes people just need someone to listen to what they're really saying, not what they think they're supposed to say."
"Mr. Kent, Ms. Lane," Stane's voice carried that particular tone of corporate authority as he approached them. "I'm afraid Mr. Stark is still adjusting to his return. Perhaps we could schedule something through proper channels?"
"Of course," Clark replied politely. "Though I believe Mr. Stark already set those channels when he requested me specifically. Unless Stark Industries has a policy of ignoring its CEO's direct instructions?"
Lois's heartbeat quickened slightly - Clark had learned to recognize that particular rhythm as her "proud of her partner" pulse. Stane's expression remained pleasant, but his own pulse increased with carefully controlled frustration.
"Ten minutes," Stane conceded. "I'll have someone escort you up."
As they followed a security officer into the building, Lois leaned close to whisper, "Not bad, Smallville. Though I notice you didn't mention the shipping manifests we found."
"One revelation at a time," Clark murmured back. "Something tells me Tony Stark has quite a few of his own to share."
The elevator ride gave Clark time to process what his enhanced senses had detected. The energy signature from Tony's chest was definitely technological rather than biological - some kind of power source, though unlike anything he'd encountered before. And beneath Stark's casual demeanor lay a tension that spoke of profound change.
This was a man who'd gone into captivity as a weapons manufacturer and returned as something else entirely. Clark couldn't help but wonder if Tony Stark's transformation might parallel his own journey from hidden hero to public guardian - though their methods might differ significantly.
The world was changing indeed. And somehow, a farm boy from Kansas had become not just its most powerful protector, but also one of its most trusted observers. Clark smiled slightly, thinking how Jor-El might react to his son using journalism to help humanity as much as his powers.
But those thoughts could wait. Right now, Clark Kent had an interview to conduct - one that might reveal just how deeply Tony Stark's captivity had changed not just the man, but the future of human technological advancement itself.
"Ready?" he asked Lois as they approached Stark's office.
Her answering smile held that perfect mix of professional determination and personal warmth that never failed to make his heart skip. "Always, partner. Let's see what story Tony Stark has to tell."
Tony's office reflected its owner's personality - cutting-edge technology seamlessly blended with classic modernist design. As Clark and Lois entered, they found Tony already settled behind his desk, finishing another burger from his Burger King bag.
"Hope you don't mind if I eat during this," Tony said, gesturing for them to sit. "Three months of cave cuisine leaves you craving the classics."
"Whatever makes you comfortable, Mr. Stark," Clark replied, setting up his recorder while Lois arranged her notes. He noticed how Tony positioned himself - back to the wall, clear view of both exits, the strange energy signature in his chest humming at a frequency only superhuman hearing could detect.
"Tony," the billionaire corrected. "Mr. Stark was my father." Something flickered across his face at the mention of Howard. "Now, Kansas, you wanted to continue our conversation about ethics in weapons development?"
"Among other things," Clark adjusted his glasses. "Your captivity changed your perspective on that topic?"
Tony studied him for a long moment, those genius-level eyes calculating something. "You know what's interesting, Kent? Most reporters would lead with the cave, the escape, the trauma. But you - you go straight to the ethics. Just like in Vegas." He took another bite of his burger. "Why is that?"
"Because that's what matters to you," Clark replied simply. "The rest is just context for the real story - how this experience changed your view of power and responsibility."
Something shifted in Tony's expression - recognition, perhaps, or respect. "Three months in a cave gives you time to think. About legacy, about consequences." His hand drifted unconsciously toward his chest. "About what it means to have power without accountability."
"Your weapons," Lois interjected, her reporter's instincts catching the thread. "You saw them being used?"
"By the wrong people, against the wrong targets." Tony's voice hardened slightly. "Young Americans dying from Stark Industries missiles. The very weapons I created to protect them being used to hunt them." He set down his burger, appetite apparently diminished. "The system's broken, and I've been part of the problem."
Clark leaned forward slightly. "And now you want to be part of the solution?"
"I want to redefine the solution," Tony replied. "Everyone thinks protection means bigger guns, smarter bombs. But what if we're asking the wrong questions? What if true security isn't about weapons at all?"
"What's it about then?" Clark asked, though something in his expression suggested he already knew the answer.
"Responsibility," Tony said firmly. "Accountability. Using power - whether it's technological or financial or..." he glanced meaningfully at a newspaper headline about Superman, "...other kinds - to actually help people instead of just claiming that's what we're doing."
Lois was scribbling rapidly in her notebook. "That sounds like a significant shift in corporate philosophy. How do you think your board will react?"
"About as well as you'd expect," Tony smiled grimly. "But then, they're not the ones who spent three months seeing the real impact of our products. They're not the ones who had to..." he trailed off, that genius mind clearly processing multiple threads at once.
"Had to what, Tony?" Clark prompted gently.
"Had to build something different," Tony finished quietly. "Something that protects instead of destroys." His hand touched his chest again, and Clark's enhanced vision caught another glimpse of that strange energy signature.
"The arc reactor technology you were developing before Afghanistan?" Clark suggested, remembering his research. "Your father's original clean energy project?"
Tony's eyebrows rose slightly. "You really did do your homework, Kansas. Yes, the arc reactor could be the future - clean energy, sustainable power. But it's just the beginning."
"Of what?"
"Of changing everything." Tony stood, pacing with nervous energy. "The weapons, the war profiteering, the whole military-industrial complex - it's a cycle that feeds itself. But what if we could break that cycle? What if Stark Industries could lead the way in actual protection? Clean energy, medical technology, disaster response..."
"Your board might argue that weapons protect people too," Lois pointed out.
"They protect some people by threatening others," Tony countered. "I want to protect everyone. Build things that save lives instead of taking them." He paused, studying Clark intently. "You've been to war zones, Kent. Seen the aftermath of what we so carefully call 'tactical engagements.' What did you learn?"
"That the people caught in the middle don't care about politics or profit margins," Clark replied quietly. "They just want to live in peace, raise their families, build better futures."
"Exactly." Tony's energy seemed to focus suddenly. "That's what we should be facilitating - better futures, not better ways to kill each other." He checked his watch. "And now I have a press conference where I get to explain that to people who won't understand."
"We'll be there," Lois said, standing. "Though I have to ask - why Clark? Why give this interview to him specifically?"
Tony smiled slightly. "Because in Vegas, when everyone else was asking about parties and profits, Kent here wanted to talk about reducing civilian casualties. About using technology to protect instead of destroy." He met Clark's eyes. "Sometimes you need someone who sees the story behind the story."
The press conference room was already packed when they arrived. Clark and Lois found spots near the back, watching as Colonel Rhodes and Pepper Potts managed the chaos of Tony's first public appearance since Afghanistan. Clark's enhanced hearing picked up multiple conversations - reporters speculating about Tony's condition, board members worrying about stock prices, and beneath it all, that steady hum from Tony's chest.
A man in a suit approached Pepper near the back of the press room. Through his enhanced vision, Clark caught the SHIELD logo on his ID before he concealed it - Agent Coulson, introducing himself with that carefully bland affect that seemed standard issue for government agents. Clark's superhearing picked up their conversation about debriefing Tony on his escape.
But his attention shifted as Tony entered the conference room, cameras flashing and reporters surging forward. Instead of taking the podium, Tony did something unexpected - he sat down on the floor in front of it.
"Would everyone sit down?" Tony requested, gesturing to the floor. "That way you can see me, I can see you."
Clark watched the ripple of surprise move through the room as reporters exchanged glances before slowly lowering themselves to the carpet. Even Lois raised an eyebrow before joining them. From their spot near the back, Clark noticed how Stane's practiced smile faltered slightly before he sat beside Tony.
"Good to see you," Tony said to Stane, though Clark's enhanced hearing caught the slight tension in his voice.
"Good to see you too," Stane replied smoothly.
Tony's expression grew more serious. "I never got to say goodbye to Dad," he began. "I never got to say goodbye to my father." The repetition carried weight, and Clark noticed Colonel Rhodes' slight nod of understanding. "There are questions I would have asked him. I would have asked him how he felt about what this company did. If he was conflicted, if he ever had doubts. Or maybe he was every inch the man we all remember from the newsreels."
Clark felt Lois shift beside him, her reporter's instincts catching the significance of Tony's words. This wasn't the polished performance they'd expected - this was something rawer, more honest.
"I saw young Americans killed by the very weapons I created to defend them and protect them," Tony continued, his voice carrying clearly through the now-silent room. "And I saw I had become part of a system that is comfortable with zero accountability."
"Mr. Stark?" A veteran reporter - Ben - raised his hand.
"Hey, Ben."
"What happened over there?"
Tony stood slowly, moving to the podium. "I had my eyes opened. I came to realize I have more to offer this world than just making things blow up." He paused, and Clark's superhearing caught his heartbeat - steady, certain. "And that is why, effective immediately, I am shutting down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark International."
The room erupted in chaos. Reporters leaped to their feet, questions flying. Clark caught Pepper's shocked gasp, saw her mouth fall open in genuine surprise. Even their earlier interview hadn't prepared them for this moment.
"Until such a time as I can decide what the future of the company will be," Tony continued over the noise.
Stane rushed to the podium, trying to salvage the situation. "What we're gonna take away from this is that Tony's back! And he's healthier than ever!"
But Tony wasn't finished. "What direction it should take, one that I'm comfortable with and is consistent with the highest good for this country as well."
Clark watched Colonel Rhodes' face fall into disappointment, while Stane attempted damage control: "We're going to have a little internal discussion and we'll get back to you with the follow-up."
As Tony moved through the crowd of shouting reporters, his path took him near where Clark and Lois sat. Their eyes met briefly, and Clark saw in them the same conviction he'd witnessed in their interview - but also something else. A hint of the cost this decision would carry, the battles yet to come.
"Get ready to write one hell of a story, Kent," Tony said quietly as he passed.
"He really did it," Lois whispered, her notebook forgotten in her hands. "Even after your interview, I didn't think he'd actually..."
"End the foundation of his company's success?" Clark finished. "I think that's exactly why he gave us the interview first - he wanted someone to understand the why before he showed the world the what."
They watched as Stane continued damage control from the podium while Tony left through a side door, Pepper and Rhodes hurrying after him. The press room buzzed with activity - phones being dialed, emails being sent, the first ripples of what would become a financial and industrial earthquake spreading outward.
"The weapons manufacturing division employs thousands," Lois said, already analyzing angles. "The military contracts alone... this is going to send shockwaves through the entire defense industry."
"I think that's exactly what he wants," Clark replied, standing and offering her a hand up. "Sometimes you have to shock the system to change it."
As they gathered their notes, Clark's enhanced hearing caught fragments of urgent conversations throughout the building: board members scheduling emergency meetings, PR teams drafting responses, military liaisons demanding explanations. But beneath it all was Tony's steady heartbeat, moving away from the chaos he'd created, committed to his new path.
"Think he'll succeed?" Lois asked as they headed for the exit. "Changing something this big?"
Clark thought about the strange energy signature he'd detected in Tony's chest, about the look in the billionaire's eyes when he'd talked about protection instead of destruction. "I think Tony Stark just showed us who he really is - someone willing to risk everything to do what's right."
"Sounds like someone else I know," Lois smiled, then quickly added, "Someone who better not disappear before we file this story."
"No disappearing acts," Clark promised. "Though I still owe you that Pacific sunset."
They left Stark Industries behind, but Clark knew this was just the beginning.