32Author's note: This is my first attempt at writing any sort of fan fiction. This story is going to try to explore Superman's character and motivations, especially with Lois. Any criticism is welcome. Let me know what you think, if you enjoy it, let me know and I might write some more...
Oh, and as usual, I own nothing, etc.
This chapter has been slightly updated as of Nov. 20, 2008
They can be a great people, Kal-El, if they wish to be.
They only lack the light to show the way.
For this reason above all, their capacity for good,
I have sent them you,
My only son.
Chapter I: The View From Above
Clark quietly sat on top of the Daily Planet building with his feet dangling over the edge. His crimson cape was caught up by the cold November wind and billowed about him as he watched the people hurry about below. Tonight was a slow, uneventful night; there was nothing terribly exciting going on in the world at the moment, so long hours in the Bull Pen were not needed. He had left the office at six and went out on patrol, but no one seemed to particularly need his help this evening. He searched the city with his enhanced senses for any sort of trouble or call for help but found none.
So he was left alone with his thoughts as he sat and watched the people go by on the streets below. Clark saw a lot of terrible things as Superman; he typically saw more of man's inhumanity in one day that most people would see in their entire lives. Yet all the evil, all the pettiness that he saw never managed to dishearten him; after all was said and done he still firmly believed in the inherent goodness of mankind. This was one of the reasons that he enjoyed watching the people below go about their business so much, ordinary people who were totally unaware of his silent presence hundreds of feet above them.
But today was different. Clark's heart was heavy for some reason that he could not quite put his finger on at the moment. He looked down to see a very stressed out woman desperately trying to keep control of her three young boys. There was an elderly man sitting on a park bench watching the people go by, this sight made him quietly chuckle to himself; maybe he was just like him. Then his eyes landed on a young couple leisurely strolling down the sidewalk, completely oblivious to anything and anyone except each other. These two people were very obviously in love, and as he watched them, Clark's heart sank a little lower.
Is that it? Clark thought to himself, am I lovesick or something? As he watched the couple round the corner and move out of sight, he found that he was indeed envious of the life that these two unknown people seemed to be so happily living with each other. As the two strangers disappeared from view, thoughts of Lois immediately appeared in his mind: her long dark hair, bright eyes and the mischievous smile that would creep onto her face when she was preparing to do something particularly reckless. He missed her, even though he had seen her just couple of hours ago. Clark rolled his eyes and thought to himself, Poor Superman, feeling sorry for himself again…
But Clark honestly did not know what to do about feelings like these. At the moment, he would have much preferred to have a great chuck of kryptonite strapped to his chest than to be sitting at the top of Metropolis wallowing in his own self pity. He was lonely and he did not know what to do about it.
It wasn't being by himself that made him lonely, something like that could be easily cured for the Man of Steel. After all, virtually every man, woman and child in the country simply adored Superman, all he needed to do was fly down to the street and he would be swarmed by hundreds of people. But that was part of the problem; he was not Superman. Superman was really just the blue tights and the red cape that he wore under his clothes everyday. Superman was just a mask. In reality he was Clark Kent; the bumbling, nerdy reporter who worked for the Daily Planet. And for Clark Kent, there was really only one person that he thought that he could really depend on: his mother.
Or maybe Lois, he thought to himself. Lois and he had grown very close during the years that they had been working together but he also knew that she would never really understand him as long as he kept her in the dark about his double-life. Besides, the romantic feelings that Clark had for her tended to just increase his loneliness after spending time with her. Being with her was great, but the end always came too soon and leaving her was becoming increasingly difficult.
He needed someone to talk to about all of this but whom? His mother was never helpful with romantic advice. She would only tell him to quit worrying and then proceed to plan out how he should get married and give her some grandchildren while she was still around to see them. Clark did not need that right now. But if he couldn't talk to his mother because she wouldn't be any help, and he couldn't talk to Lois because she seemed to be at the center of his current problem, who could he talk to?
Clark's gaze returned to the people below him. He envied them more then ever. Their lives seemed so simple to his Kryptonian eyes. Ordinary people didn't have to worry about leading double lives or keeping secrets. They could simply live and be free.
Just then he saw a man dressed completely in black walking down 52nd Street. Clark's eyes were curiously drawn to this man for some unknown reason. It wasn't until the man was nearing St. John's Church that Clark finally realized why he was only wearing black: he was a priest. Clark had never really talked to a priest before, sure he had said hello and made small talk on the few occasions that he came across them, but he had never really spoken to a priest about anything important. But for some unknown reason, he suddenly felt like giving it a shot, after all, what harm could it do? Maybe some spiritual advice could help him figure out what he should do.
Just as he was about to push off from his seat and head for the church, he heard an alarm go off on the other side of the city. Meeting the priest would have to wait for now, Superman was needed elsewhere at the moment. But as he sped off in the direction of the bank robbery in progress, Clark made a mental note to visit St. John's Church in the very near future.