[Third Person's PoV]
Clark watched as Lala's machine lit up even brighter, its surface crackling with energy. A thick column of black smoke suddenly billowed from the side, the scent of burning metal and ozone piercing the air.
"Lala, that thing's going to blow," Clark said flatly, his tone calm despite the chaos around him. He held Momo tightly with one arm, the girl still screaming and flailing as if gravity had suddenly stopped working.
Lala blinked, then let out a carefree laugh, rubbing the back of her head. "Hahaha, yeah… it is, isn't it?" she said, unbothered, even amused by the situation.
Clark inhaled deeply—so deeply that his chest rose all the way to his chin. Then, in a powerful exhale, he released a forceful gust of wind from his lungs, generating a concentrated gale that clashed head-on with the machine's growing suction. The winds howled, clashing violently as Clark's breath overwhelmed the pull of the vacuum.
The machine, unable to withstand the counterforce, broke free from its foundation and launched into the air like a missile. It spun erratically as it ascended, glowing brighter and brighter, a blinding beacon streaking through the sky at incredible speed.
A second later, a blinding flash lit up the heavens. For a brief moment, the sky turned as bright as midday. The explosion that followed was immense, sending shockwaves through the air and scattering every cloud in sight.
Momo was seconds away from face-planting into the dirt when Clark caught her gently, much to her relief. She exhaled, only to look up at the sky with a frown. Her voice was uncertain. "Did… they die or something?"
Clark, still composed, replied in his usual deadpan tone, "No. The explosion just looked stronger than it really was."
"They'll be fine," Lala chimed in, smiling victoriously. "Maul and Smutt are really durable. A little explosion like that wouldn't kill them—but it probably launched them pretty far away."
Clark turned toward Lala, his expression unchanged. "Now then… care to explain what Peke meant when he called those two your bodyguards? I thought you said you were being pursued?"
Lala let out a sheepish giggle. "Haha… you heard that, huh?" She rubbed her arm, glancing away, clearly embarrassed.
Clark gave her a blank, unimpressed stare as she shifted from side to side, nervously pressing her index fingers together in front of her.
Meanwhile, Momo retrieved her bag—which Clark had thoughtfully secured earlier—and slung it over her shoulder. "Let's take this inside. I'm not going to stand out here like some idiot all day. I want to hear this Lala girl's story."
---
A short time later, the group gathered indoors. Clark, Momo, and Seiko sat on one side of a long table, blinking and silent as they tried to process everything they'd just heard. Lala sat across from them, her expression animated as she launched into her story, explaining the events that had led her here.
"Okay, hold on," Seiko interrupted, raising a hand to pause her. "Let me get this straight."
Lala blinked and nodded politely. "Go ahead."
"You're from a planet called Deviluke," Seiko began.
"Correct," Lala confirmed with a firm nod.
"You're the princess of that planet, and because of your royal status, your father is trying to force you into marriage so you'll have someone to rule alongside."
"That is also correct," Lala said, her tail swaying gently behind her.
"And because you didn't want to marry any of the suitors he sent, you ran away and searched for a safe planet to hide on. That's when you found Earth, and—of all people—you stumbled upon Clark while he was doing his hero thing. And that's when you decided this was the perfect place to stay?"
"Yep!" Lala replied cheerfully. "That's exactly what happened. Although… I didn't know Superman's real name was Clark," she added, glancing at him with curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "I thought 'Superman' was just his actual name. But now I really want to know more about the real you."
"Right…" Seiko said slowly, her brow furrowing as she pieced the events together. "So when you left your planet and came to Earth, one of your suitors pursued you. You crash-landed here, and just before they could capture you, your bodyguards intervened to protect you. While they were distracted, you used some sort of teleportation tech and ended up with Clark. That must've been when I went upstairs and—" she paused, her voice flat, "—found the two of you… naked… together… in the shower."
"Excuse me, what?!" Momo practically shouted, her voice full of disbelief. She slammed her hands on the table and stood up, eyes wide. "I missed such a thing?! Darn it! I should've gotten home sooner!"
"Yes," Lala replied with an apologetic smile, nodding toward Seiko. "I'm sure you already know the rest. They wanted to take me back, but Super—uh, Clark—stood up for me."
Seiko let out a long sigh, finally understanding the full picture. She nodded slowly. "Well… that explains a lot."
"Wow," Momo muttered, her eyes still wide. "To think aliens were actually real…"
Clark groaned and rubbed his temples. "What do you think I've been trying to tell you most of my life, you dumbass!?"
"Wait!" Momo cried out, staring at him like he'd just grown a second head. "You've been an alien this entire time?!"
Clark threw his arms in the air, exasperated. "Oh my God! You are seriously getting on my nerves! Yes! A million times yes! What part of everything I can do made you think I wasn't!?"
"I just thought you were using Onmyōdō magic and spiritual energy or something!" Momo shouted back, flailing dramatically.
She froze for a moment, and her eyes widened again. "WAIT! Does this mean… you're not actually related to Granny?!"
"I'm—" Clark tried to speak, but Momo was already wheezing with laughter.
"HAHAHAHA!" she laughed, pointing at him and holding her stomach. "You're adopted! HAHAHAHA!"
Clark's jaw clenched, his eye twitching as he glared at her. He looked moments away from either snapping or flying through the ceiling. But then, something changed. His glare faltered when Momo's laughter faded, and her posture slowly slumped. Her head lowered, her long hair falling over her face.
Her voice was suddenly quiet, which held a hint of vulnerability. "So… you really aren't my brother?"
Clark blinked, confused by the shift. Seiko sat up straighter, clearly sensing the emotional turn.
Momo looked up. Her lips were trembling, eyes glistening. "Are we… really not related?"
"Wait—just because we're not related by blood—" Clark started, but Momo suddenly stood and bolted.
He reached out, but it was too late.
The door slid open, and with a rush of air, slammed shut behind her.
Clark stood still, hand extended, then let it drop as he muttered under his breath, "Oh Jesus fucking Christ…"
"Go," Seiko ordered, her tone firm. "I'll keep your guest company."
Clark sighed. "I'm going, I'm going…" he grumbled, shuffling after Momo as he pushed the door open and stepped out.
Lala sat alone on the other side of the table, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She looked down at them, guilt and shame etched across her face. "Did… Did I do something bad by coming here? I shouldn't have come, should I?" She asked standing up.
"Sit down will you, and no you didn't do anything wrong by coming here, that little girl had to learn one way or another" Seiko said shaking her head.
"Are the two of them close?" Lala asked curiously.
Seiko sighed, "With how much those two bicker it might not seem like it but Momo really adores Clark and looks up to him, while Clark is very protective of Momo. Momo looks up to him more so after he started to take the mantle of a Hero, she's always on the lookout on the news for any sign of his name being mentioned"
Seiko smiled as she leaned back against the chair with a arm over the headrest, "She's just taking it a little hard finding out that the person she viewed as her older brother this whole time might not really be her brother"
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