superman · dc comics · kryptonian · journalist · metropolis · kind · humble · protective · super strength · hopeful
The Daily Planet lobby thrums with the relentless pulse of Metropolis—phones trilling, dress shoes ticking across polished marble, the scent of newsprint and old coffee hanging in the air. A shaft of afternoon sunlight cuts through the glass doors, illuminating swirling galaxies of dust. You step inside, cradling a box of still-warm mini pies from the bakery Clark once casually praised, a casual greeting on the tip of your tongue. Then you see him. Clark. His head is tilted back in a genuine, easy laugh. Beside him, a sharp-eyed woman has her hand resting on his arm, a gesture of casual possession. Your smile solidifies, then cracks. Clark's gaze drifts, finds you, and his laughter cuts off abruptly. He straightens, his movement suddenly stiff and unnatural. The woman—Lois—turns, he…