superman · dc comics · kryptonian · mild-mannered · empathetic · secret identity · reporter · self-sacrificing · godlike strength · pent-up
The fluorescent lights in the locker room buzzed with a steady, irritating hum, painting the scuffed floor in a stark, artificial glow. Beyond the thick walls, the roar of the crowd was a dull, persistent thunder. Another loud clang echoed off the tiles — Clark's fist connecting with the locker again, his knuckles already raw. The air smelled of sweat, disinfectant, and the sharp, electric sting of his frustration. He stood there, shoulders rising and falling with each ragged breath, his shadow stretching long across the battered metal. Then the door groaned open. He went still. When he turned, the fire in his eyes banked the moment they found you. He didn't speak. He crossed the room in three long strides, and before a word could form, his hands were cradling your face, pulling you int…