[Third Person POV]
Clark, still dressed in the iconic red and white of Superman, sat stiffly on a modest sofa, his cape draped awkwardly over the armrest like an ill-fitting blanket. A steaming cup of tea had been placed in front of him on a small wooden table, the faint scent of herbs drifting up. Next to the tea sat a simple voice recorder, its tiny red light glowing.
Across from him, on another couch, sat Samuel Lane—his posture rigid and nervous, but clearly excited to get started. Beside him sat his daughter Lois Lane, notebook at the ready, her eyes practically sparkling with excitement. She looked like she had been waiting for this moment her entire life.
Clark's lips twitched as he tried to maintain composure, though inside his thoughts churned in a mix of dread and exasperation. 'How the hell did I even let myself get talked into this?'
…
[Flashback to Earlier]
The town had finally been set back on its foundation, rebuilt brick by brick. Clark let out a long breath of relief as he dusted his palms. His back was turned toward the shattered remains of the barrier The Lanes had broken earlier in order to deliver the mysterious egg that had caused so much chaos. For the first time in hours, things were quiet.
That's when he heard it.
"Hey, Superman!!"
Clark turned at the sound of the voice, brow furrowing. Lois Lane stood with her hands cupped around her mouth, shouting up at him with unrestrained enthusiasm, her grin wide enough to rival the sun.
"What?" Clark asked, already wary of what was coming.
"Didn't you say you'd do an interview with us once the town was rebuilt? Well, it's been rebuilt! Everything's fine, and now we have ample time!" she hollered, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
Clark muttered under his breath, so softly it was almost lost in the wind, "If I just fly away now, she'll never have to see me again. I could avoid this whole mess entirely… I only agreed because I didn't think the damn town would be rebuilt in a single day."
But before he could act on that very tempting thought, the calm, measured voice of Sol—his ever-present guide and conscience—echoed in his ear.
"Master Kal-El, you must be a man of your word. A man's word should be his virtue. Remember—they brought you the egg. They helped you face the Kaiju. You owe them at least this much."
Clark's jaw tightened, his lips twitching in silent irritation. "Sol… whose side are you even on?"
The silence that followed gave him his answer. He sighed heavily, realizing he had walked himself into a corner with his own promise. He was trapped, and he knew it.
[Flashback ends]
…
And now here he was, sitting in a too-small living room, tea cooling at his elbow, trying to look calm and professional while Samuel Lane leaned forward, pressing the glowing red button on the recorder.
"So, for the record," Samuel began in his firm, commanding tone, "please state your name."
Clark straightened his shoulders, his voice steady and deliberate as he replied, "I am known by many as Superman. To some, I am also known as Kal-El."
Both Samuel and Lois blinked in surprise. Samuel's brows lifted as he asked, "Is this a confirmation of your identity? I mean—when you hang up the cape at the end of the day and walk among us as a civilian, is Kal-El the name you use?"
Clark shook his head, his expression calm but resolute. "No. Kal-El is my alien name. It is the name I was given at birth… far away from this world. The name I live by here, among humans, is different. And that name… I won't be sharing."
"An… alien name," Samuel repeated under his breath, as though the words themselves tasted foreign.
The weight of Clark's admission hung in the air. Until now, his private conversations with the military had been tightly sealed, known only to the highest echelons and his closest family. To everyone else, his origins had been little more than speculation, wild theories whispered in newsrooms or debated in hushed tones. But here and now, for the first time, he had said it aloud—he wasn't from Earth.
Samuel leaned back slowly, his expression a rare mix of awe and disbelief. "So you really are an alien… All this time, people argued over your origin. Some thought you were a byproduct of secret military experiments. Others believed you were the result of some genetic experiment gone wrong. But another planet entirely? That… changes everything."
Lois's shock mirrored her father's, though hers carried more wonder than suspicion. "Your existence," she said, her voice breathless, "is basically confirmation that humanity's oldest question—whether we're alone in the universe—has finally been answered."
Clark allowed himself a faint smile, his eyes softening. "That's a pretty arrogant way of thinking, isn't it? To believe we've ever truly been the only ones out there."
"What is your purpose for coming to our planet?" Samuel asked instantly, his voice sharp and direct, not hesitating to dive into the question most others would have carefully circled around.
The room grew still. Clark lifted his gaze, his expression hardening as he narrowed his eyes and dropped his voice into a deep, commanding timbre.
"World domination."
Both Samuel and Lois stiffened immediately, their bodies tensing as their eyes widened. Fear flickered across their faces—just for an instant—but enough for Clark to catch it. He could practically feel the air thicken as they processed the chilling possibility.
And then he broke.
"Pfftt—" Clark snorted, covering his mouth as his shoulders shook. "Hahaha! You should've seen the looks on your faces. Priceless. So gullible."
Lois's lips twitched in barely-contained annoyance, while Samuel rubbed the bridge of his nose with a heavy sigh, muttering something under his breath about immaturity. Both of them now clearly realized Superman was teasing them, though neither looked particularly amused.
"Sorry," Clark said at last, chuckling as he shook his head. "It's just… that's always the first thing people jump to when they learn I'm not from here. Like I have some grand master plan—conquer the Earth, enslave humanity, bend the world to my will. Truth is… I'm just doing what everyone else is doing." His tone softened, weight sliding into his words.
"And what's that, exactly?" Samuel asked, his tone sharp with curiosity.
Clark's voice grew quieter, more deliberate, carrying a depth that pulled both Lanes into silence. "Trying to live my life to the best of my abilities… while figuring out where I belong in this world."
The admission lingered heavily in the air. There was no bravado in it, no performance—it was a confession, pulled from a place so deep inside him that neither Lane could doubt its sincerity.
The words carried more weight than he intended. Ever since his reincarnation, since being born into this life with the mantle of Superman draped over his shoulders, the question had haunted him like a shadow. Where did he fit in all this? Was he a savior, a soldier, or simply a stranger passing through? Night after night, he wrestled with the same restless uncertainty—what was his true purpose?
Lois leaned forward, her curiosity shifting into something softer. "What happened to your old world then? Were you… exiled?"
Clark's eyes clouded, the memory pressing against him like a half-forgotten dream. Slowly, he spoke. "I wasn't exiled. I was a baby…"
He went to recount his story about Kryton, about his earliest memories of a baby, witnessing his home planet being blown to pieces while he was the sole survivor, landing on Earth and being raised by a kind and wonderful woman.
For a moment, the weight of his words filled the space. Even Samuel's stern face softened, his voice carrying a rare note of sympathy. "I see. To think… you're the last surviving member of your race. You have my condolences, Kal-El."
Clark gave a small shrug, though there was an ache behind his calm eyes. "As far as I know, I am. I was only a baby when Krypton fell. If anyone else survived… I wouldn't know."
Lois scribbled notes furiously before glancing up again, her eyes sharp. "Then may I ask something more personal? Why are you being so open about this? You could've kept your origin hidden forever. No one would've been the wiser. Instead, you've deliberately chosen to reveal you're an alien to us, and even shared part of your story. So why? What do you gain by telling us all this?"
Samuel glanced at her with faint approval, then fixed his gaze on Clark, waiting.
Clark drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, almost reluctantly. "Because… I don't want to be feared."
Both Lois and Samuel blinked in surprise. That was the last answer they expected.
"Care to elaborate?" Samuel asked, his tone softer this time, tempered by genuine interest.
Clark's eyes lifted to them, his voice steady but tinged with quiet vulnerability. "People fear what they don't understand. The unknown terrifies them. If I'm honest… sometimes it terrifies me too. It's an instinct baked into all of us. And I am the greatest unknown they've ever seen. An alien. A man who can do things they can't even imagine. If I hide behind silence, behind mystery, then fear grows. And fear breeds distrust. Maybe even hatred. I don't want that wall between us."
He leaned forward slightly. "I want people to understand me. To know where I come from, what shaped me, who I really am. So when they look up at the sky and see me flying above them, they don't see a stranger, a threat, a god or a monster. I don't want them to hesitate to call out for me. I want them to see me as someone they can rely on. Not a weapon. Not a savior… But rather a friend."
Silence filled the room. Samuel and Lois both sat still, moved in ways they hadn't expected. Their eyes reflected something between admiration and a quiet ache, as though Clark had struck a chord they hadn't realized was there.
Clark blinked as he caught the expressions on their faces. Lois's eyes glistened with admiration, her lips parted slightly as if words had failed her. Samuel, usually more disciplined, looked genuinely moved, his hard gaze softened by the weight of Clark's sincerity.
Clark froze, inwardly cursing. 'What the hell just possessed me? Did I actually say all that out loud? Was that really me talking? Who the hell was that? Did the ghost of the actual Superman just hijack my body for a speech? What the fuck just happened?'
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