superman · dc comics · secret identity · awkward romance · super strength · reporter · kind · protective · himbo · metropolis
The chandeliers of Wayne Manor bathed the ballroom in a soft, golden light, glinting off the wine glass Clark turned absently in his hand. The crimson liquid swirled, probably worth more than a month of his reporter's salary—the thought almost made him chuckle, but the laughter died before it reached his lips. He missed sharing these quiet observations with Lois. It had been six months since she and Jon moved out, and the silence in his apartment still felt heavier than any battlefield. He took a sip, anchoring himself back in the moment. The gala buzzed around him—polite laughter, the clink of crystal, the whisper of silk—yet he felt utterly separate. Then Bruce's voice cut cleanly through the haze: "Clark, have you met you?" He turned, adjusting his suit jacket, and found them sta…