(Remember to Vote and Comment as it Does a Lot for Motivation Seeing That You're Reading)

Metropolis — a sprawling, restless city that never slept. The streets buzzed with life, filled with people brushing past one another in a constant rush to reach their destinations. Taxis blared their horns in frustration, trying to push through the ever-present traffic, while trash spilled from overstuffed bins onto the sidewalks. The wind carried with it a fluttering newspaper from the Daily Star. Its front page bore the image of a bald man in a sleek black suit, smiling warmly, a new golden trophy cradled in one arm. The headline read: 

"Lex Luthor Voted Most Important Man in America."

Y/N stepped out of his modest apartment building, still not used to the sight of Metropolis's towering skyscrapers. Even after all this time, they loomed above him like titans of steel and glass.

"Geez," he whispered under his breath.

Dressed in a neatly pressed navy-blue suit, black suitcase in hand, his hair carefully styled and his glasses sitting comfortably on his nose, Y/N looked every bit the aspiring professional. But as he stood marveling at the skyline, lost in thought, he failed to notice an elderly woman coming his way. She collided with him, stumbling as her phone and handbag hit the pavement.

"I'm terribly sorry, ma'am," Y/N said quickly, crouching to gather her belongings. But the woman's reaction was anything but grateful.

"What are you doing?" she snapped, her eyes narrowing suspiciously as they locked onto the handbag now in Y/N's hands.

"I was just trying to help you pick up your—"

"Give me that!" she barked, yanking the bag from his hands.

Y/N blinked, taken aback but still trying to maintain a polite demeanor. "I guess I need to watch where I'm going," he said with a sheepish smile, his voice calm. He looked down, attempting to disarm the tension. "Still, the city is incredible. I can't imagine what it took to design and build all these amazing structures. They're so tall, I just couldn't stop looking up and—"

"Looking up?" she interrupted with a frown.

"Yes," Y/N replied.

"You're not from Metropolis, are you?"

"No, no I'm not," he admitted.

"Of course you're not, you clumsy oaf." Her voice was sharp with disdain. "People in Metropolis have better things to do than stare up at the sky," she muttered, walking away without another word.

Y/N's first morning in the city was turning out to be far from the dazzling experience he had envisioned. He tried ordering coffee from a local barista, who barely acknowledged him. Crossing the street earned him shouts from impatient taxi drivers. It was nothing like the picture-perfect "City of Tomorrow" described in books and brochures.

"Hurry up! We're gonna be late!" a young man shouted to his friend as they dashed past him.

Y/N turned curiously to see where they were going. Ahead, a crowd had gathered around a massive building, buzzing with anticipation.

"All right, everyone calm down! Don't push!" a police officer shouted, trying to manage the crowd, though it was clear no one was listening.

"Is something wrong, officer?" Y/N asked, stepping up to the barricade.

The cop shook his head. "Nah, just the usual," he replied, his accent thick and unmistakably local.

"The usual?"

"You're not from Metropolis, are you, buddy?" the officer asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh... no," Y/N admitted again, feeling a bit embarrassed at how often that question kept coming up.

"Then here's a tip: avoid Luthor Avenue in the mornings."

"Luthor?" Y/N's eyes widened at the name, the memory of an old acquaintance flashing in his mind. "As in Lex Luthor?"

"Is there another Luthor?" the officer scoffed.

"Why the crowd?"

"They're here for a shot," the officer explained, motioning to the mass of people pressing against the gates. "Every morning they show up, hoping today's the day Mr. Luthor picks them. It's like a ritual. They shout, they pray, they beg, hoping to get his attention."

Y/N leaned forward to get a better look. The crowd was clapping, waving, calling out. Some had their hands clasped as if in prayer.

"Truth be told, I show up here on my days off too," the officer added with a shrug. "Playing the 'Luthor Lottery.' It's like this until he steps out at ten sharp to survey the crowd."

Y/N's heart skipped. He glanced at his wristwatch and felt a surge of panic.

"Ten sharp?" he repeated, eyes wide.

He took off down the street at once.

-------------------------

"Keep the change!" he called, tossing a few bills at the taxi driver as he burst through the revolving doors of his workplace.

The building's exterior was far from impressive. A homeless man sat on the steps asking for change. Graffiti covered the faded walls, and some of the bricks looked one strong wind away from crumbling. As he rushed inside, Y/N's suitcase caught in the door, bursting open and scattering its contents — family photos, paperwork, a wrapped sandwich, and a bruised apple.

"Hold the elevator!" he called out desperately to three people stepping inside. They only laughed as the doors slid shut in his face.

Y/N bolted toward the second elevator. The doors were still open. As he skidded across a wet patch on the floor, he nearly collided with a large man already inside.

"Going up?" Y/N asked, catching his balance and flashing a nervous smile.

"What floor?" the man replied. He looked to be in his mid-forties, balding, wearing a green janitor's uniform.

"Uh... the top floor, I guess," Y/N said, straightening his tie.

"The top? You a bill collector?" the man asked, eyeing Y/N's polished suit.

"No, I'm a reporter."

"You don't look like a reporter. You look like someone chasing rent."

"Y/N L/N," he introduced, extending his hand.

"Rudy Jones," the janitor replied, shaking it with a disinterested grunt. "I work clean-up. For now anyway. They've been cutting jobs left and right — same as everywhere else."

"Well, I guess I'm lucky then. Just got hired today," Y/N said, trying to stay upbeat.

"Don't mean to burst your bubble, Mr. L/N, but this place is circling the drain," Rudy said, wiping his nose with a worn sleeve. "Most of the building's empty. They can't even afford to fix the spinning globe on the roof. It's rusted in place now."

The elevator groaned as it climbed, shuddering with every passing floor.

"They only hire the misfits now," Rudy added. "Troublemakers. Extremists. And—"

The elevator jolted violently, cutting him off. Y/N's suitcase toppled over again, spilling its contents across the elevator floor for the second time.

"—Fresh fish," Rudy said with a smirk. "No offense."

Although Rudy quickly shut himself up as he noticed the brown paper bag Y/N went to pick up. "You packed your lunch huh?"

"Until my first pay check comes in" Y/N replied as he backed his belongings up once again/

"I forgot my lunch today, gonna be a long time until dinner. I'm working a double shift, like I always do" Rudy grumbled to himself.

"Well, you're welcome to have mine, I suppose" Y/N offered, holding the brown bag up to Rudy, maintaining that smile as the door to Y/Ns floor opened. Helping out where he could, just like Ma taught him.

"You saved my life buddy" Rudy thanked, taking the brown paper bag and immediately shoving his hand inside to take the sandwiches within.

"Uhh Mr Jones, it's a little early for lunch isn't it?" Y/N turned and asked as he exited the elevator.

"I didn't eat breakfast neither" Rudy replied, scoffing the sandwich into his mouth as the elevator let out a small ding and the doors began closing.

"It's the most important meal of the-" the doors closed before Y/N could finish his full sentence. Y/N didn't let this bother him, and pushed his glasses flush onto his face and turned to look at where he'd hopefully be spending the rest of his life.

The Daily Planet

A well established, trusted, news source not just for Metropolis, but the entire world. Always busy, always a story to tell, always lives to change. To Y/N, this is where he could make a difference, help the little man have a voice.

"Excuse me my name's Y/N L/N, I'm looking for-" he tried to ask a gentleman who didn't even stop to talk to the new hire. Only continuing to barge past him.

"Accountings to the left at the end of the hall" was all the man replied, going about his business without a care.

Another man walked past Y/N towards the elevators as the other one opened revealed a tower of coffee trays and doughnut boxes stacked on top of each other. The man was muscly, wore a short sleeved sports themed top, and held a thick moustache on his face which was ginger much like his full head of hair. 

"Where'd you go to get our order kid? Central City?" the ginger muscly man asked to the stack of coffee and snacks/ 

"It'd be faster if they paid to fix the coffee machine, and much cheaper" the young man holding the massive stack replied. "Speacking of which, that's three fifty Mr Lombard".

"Put it on my tab Jeremy" the newly identified Lombard responded with a chuckle. 

"Your tabs getting kind of big"

"So will your gut if you keep eating like that Steve" a new figure spoke out to eh ginger, she was a blonde woman who looked to be her in the late thirties, although she was as thing as someone years years her younger. 

"Never Cat-" Lombard responded, already shoving a doughnut into his mouth. "-I work out" he finished, mouth already chewing. 

"Me too, just not at the gym" the woman replied giving a coy smile as she poked the mans chest through his shirt. She then turned to the man holding the coffee, barely giving Y/N a glance up and down. "A vanilla latte, you're a doll Jason" Cat smiled. 

"It's umm, it's not Jason Miss Grant" the mild mannered younger ginger replied. "It's Jimmy" he smiled, freckles and all. 

Just as Jimmy began to move, the leaning tower of coffee slowly began to topple over. Moving quickly, Y/N moved over and placed his hand atop the tower to steady it. 

"You need help with that Jim?" Y/N smiled at the younger man. 

"Thanks, umm who are you?" Jimmy asked as Y/N took the other half of the tower, allowing the ginger to offer his hand to his helper. 

"Y/N L/N, reporter"

"Jimmy Olsen"

"Photographer?" Y/N asked, looking down at the small black leather bag Jimmy had strapped around one of his shoulders. 

"What?"

"You have a camera" he added. 

"Oh, yeah, yeah" Jimmy sighed as he looked down at his bag, almost forgetting his whole job. "I'm a photographer in training actually, I'm an intern unpaid, but I get school credit" he explained as he straightened himself, able to stand more steadily thanks to the load. "Which would help if I was actually in school" he mumbled to himself. 

"Do you know where I can find Perry White?" Y/N asked as he and Jimmy began to unload the stacks of coffee and snacks. However, Y/N soon got his answer, as a loud female voice could be heard screaming;

"BUT CHIEF!" from a nearby office. "It's not wrong if it's the truth" a woman shouted at the elderly man in front of her. The woman was similar in age to Y/N, dressed in a white shirt and black skirt, she held a file in one hand and pointed at it with the other. 

"Here we go again" the man grumbled to himself as he winced and grabbed a cigar. 

"Isn't that what the Daily Planet stands for? Truth, Justice and a Better Tomorrow? You used to have that hanging on your wall" the woman continued her rand as the man moved round to the other side of the room. 

"The repo men took it, along with all our press passes and my patience" the editor in chief replied without a care in the world. 

"Perry-"

"Forget it, I have city hall breathing down my neck enough as it is. I don't need another article about the failings of out public transportation infrastructure" the man relied as he began to dig through his desk drawers/ 

"Then what about-" before the woman named Lois could finish Perry cut her off once again. 

"Or an expose on a teen beauty pageant organised by the mayor's wife" he mumbled. 

"But our taxes are paying for the corruption of young girls across the city Chief!" Lois called out as her eyes scanned the many skyscrapers that were viewable through the windows. "They're learning how to mix eye shadow before they're learning how to read. The people of Metropolis need someone to pull the curtain back like you used to" Lois plead although it seemed her pleas fell on deaf ears. 

"A month ago Lex Luthor's automated flying drones quote malfunctioned and killed seven people in South America, but no one is talking about it. And he's already unveiling his next great invention-" she was cut off once again.

"And I've got strict orders from the publisher, leave Luthor out of the paper" Perry groaned back, sounding like he was either sick of Lois or the publishers, or both. 

"Lex Luthor played a monopoly against Metropolis and won, but he shouldn't pass go or collect two hundred, he should head directly to jail" Lois said, coldly as she crossed her arms and looked the chief dead in the eyes. 

"I hate when you quote me" Perry confessed as he continued to search for his lighter. 

"The Daily Planet is the only paper in Metropolis that had the guts to take on that self-righteous megalomaniac" Lois pressed. 

"Had being the key word. And we're on the brink of bankruptcy because of it"

Lois then noticed the lighter was already sat on Perrys desk, hiding between the wires of the monitor. Picking it up, Lois flicked it several times ti produce a flame and held it up to the cigar. "But we're not bankrupt yet chief, we're here, so why do you keep backing down from everything? We to get the truth out in the open. The truth about everything".

"Luthor might have a skeleton in his closet, but not everyone else does" Perry noted as he took a few puffs from his cigar. 

"Yeah most people in any position of power have an entire graveyard" she snarky responded. 

"Lois, everything you've written since you've been here may be filled of passion and misspelled words, but they all tear something down" Perry noted, remembering all the exposes Lois has written over the past few years. "Sometimes those things deserve it, sometimes they don't" he finished, taking the cigar out of his mouth and blowing out s smoke. 

"I'm the best writer you have Chief" Lois spoke, looking Perry dead in the eyes. 

"Technically sure, but a great reporter isn't cynical Lois, a great reporters objective believe it or not something that looks is actually that good" 

"Name one thing?" Lois demanded with her hands on her hips. 

"Ice cream" he flatly said. 

"Uhhh Mr White" a new voice called out from the doorway, causing Perry and Lois to look at the origin to see non other than Jimmy Olsen with a few coffees and doughnuts. "Did you say you wanted ice cream?" he asked. 

"What? Course not, I said I coffee kid, two sugars" he corrected. 

"Oh"

Is that my coffee?" Perry asked gesturing to the tray. 

"Yes" Jimmy awkwardly replied. 

"Then why are you standing there?" Perry barked. 

"Oh yeah" Jimmy noted as he walked into the office, his hand hovered over the cups trying to figure out which was which. "Two sugars, and an orange juice for Miss Lane" Jimmy said as he picked up said container and handed it to the black haired woman. 

"Thanks..." Lois said, not even looking at Jimmy as her eyes were more focused on a suited man standing by the doorway, giving her a small wave. "Can I help you?" she awkwardly asked eyeing the man up and down. 

"Oh" Perry let out just as he was going to take a sip from his coffee, raising his hand Perry gestured for the man to enter which he did. 

"Lois Lane meet Y/N L/N" he called out, as the two shook hands. Lois gave the man in front of her a smile. 

"It's nice to meet you Miss Lane" Y/N pleasantly spoke. 

"Lois is Fine" 

"L/N will be replacing Gil Friesen now that he's defected to the Daily Star" Perry explained as he took his cigar out his mouth again. 

"Chief, why don't I show Y/N here around? Maybe take him on the city bear. Introduce him to the few contacts the Daily Planet has left" Lois suggested, looking over her shoulder at Perry. 

"Wow, thanks Lois, that'd be swell" the suited man spoke with delight. 

"Uh huh" was all Lois could reply with, not even looking at Y/N or giving him much thought. 

"You, of all people ate volunteering for something?" Perry asked in disbelief. 

"What can I say? I'm in a generous mood, I blame you" Lois explained smiling at the editor in chief. 

"Who doesn't nowadays. Can I help you with something Jamie?" Perry asked, seeing that Jimmy was still in his office. Lois eagerly left the office, with Y/N awkwardly following behind. 

"It's egg not Jamie Mr White, it's-" before the red head could finish he was cut off. 

"It's I'm looking for another job if you don't get back to work!" Perry barked causing Jimmy to look down. 

"But you're not even paying me" he mumbled to himself. 

"At least I'm doing something right around here" Perry said proudly to himself. 

"I really appreciate this Lois" Y/N managed to get out, holding his suitcase up as he narrowly avoided and curved his way through the Daily Planet news room. All the whole following Lane who simply barged her way through people. 

"Sure Y/N" was all Lois could call back. "I just have to grab something from my desk and we'll be good to go" she added as they came to said desk. Y/N looked, quite surprised to see the state of it. A rotting plant pushed away in the corner, desk drawers overflowing with papers and stationary, a few pizza boxes stacked atop of each other, leaning against a load of different coloured files. "It's here somewhere" she spoke out to self as she dug her pile of mess. 

"Along with everything else you own" Y/N mumbled to himself. 

"Hey Lois hon" a new voice called out, both turned to see a woman holding a vas filled with exotic flowers. "These just came for you, they're simply wonderful" she added, there was a pink note attached to the flowers, addressed to Lois from someone named Jon. 

"Those should brighten things up" Y/N noted with a smile. 

Lois groaned as she took hold of the vas, and promptly dropped it into the nearby trash can. "I don't like flowers" she said, digging further into her desk and junk.  "Now where is it".

"You know they say the key to a clear mind is an organised space" Y/N pointed out to his colleague who just ignored him. 

"Hold this will you?" Lois said, not even bothering to turn around and handing Y/N a bright pink bra, which he held onto with his index finger and thumb and holding away from himself. "Ah-ha!" Lois called out as she withdrew from the desk, showing she was searching for a blonde whig and sun glasses. 

Lois wasted no time whatsoever, rushing through the lobby of the building as soon as the elevator doors opened. Y/N struggled to keep up, politely asking people to move out the way. "Uh Lois?" he called out. 

"Come on Y/N, we're gonna be late!" she called back. 

"I didn't know we had an appointment to keep" was all he could respond with. 

"Watch your step Mr L/N wet floor" Rudy called out as he soaked his mop one more time as he had been doing for the past hour. 

"Thanks Rudy" 

"How's your first day going?"

"A bit quick for my liking" Y/N nervously responded. 

"Wouldn't you know it? I forgot my bus pass. I forgot my buss pass and I live all the way in Hob's Day" he complained, looking away down the hall and then back to the suited reporter in front of him, sorrow and sadness in his eyes. 

"Is that far?" was all Y/N could ask, unsure of where exactly that was. 

"Is it far?" Rudy asked, still complaining. "By the time I walk home, I'll have to turn around, you don't suppose you could help a fellow co-worker out do ya Y/N buddy?" Rudy finally asked, looking Y/N in the eyes and slouched his back slightly to look even more sad. 

"Well I suppose I could" Y/N began, digging out his wallet and searching for a few bills. "Would a twenty be okay?" he asked, only to have it quickly snatched form his hands by Rudy. 

"Like I said Mr L/N, you're a real life-saver" he said, holding the bill in his hands and loving the texture.

"Come on Y/N" Lois called out, grabbing hold of the mans tie and forcefully pulling him through the lobby. 

"That man doesn't have very good luck" was all Y/N could note looking at Rudy, whose frown had instantly turned upside down as he looked at the bill. 

"He'd like you to think so, but Rudy Jones is just like everyone else in Metropolis" she noted as the two were about leave the building. "You give them the chance and they'll bleed you dry". 

-------------------------

Soon enough, the two reporters arrived at their supposed destination. But to Y/N's surprise, they weren't anywhere near a traditional entrance, nor was this just any location. They were crouched behind a concrete barrier across from the sleek, towering skyscraper that loomed over the skyline — LexCorp Headquarters.

The building buzzed with activity. Dozens of guards patrolled the front, security drones hummed above the gate, and a throng of people milled around outside the perimeter hoping to catch a glimpse of the billionaire inside.

"Lois?" Y/N whispered, eyeing the organized chaos. "What are we doing?"

Lois Lane didn't answer right away. She scanned the surrounding area for cameras, onlookers, or guards, her sharp eyes cutting through the crowd like a hawk. Then, casually, she tossed her bag over the shoulder and stepped onto a concrete ledge lining the perimeter wall.

"We're crashing a LexCorp party," she said flatly, already grabbing onto the cold steel bars and preparing to climb.

"Crashing... as in, illegally entering?" Y/N blinked. "At LexCorp?"

"Today's the big unveil. Lex Luthor is showcasing his latest so-called 'technological marvel' — another defense contract dressed up like a gift to mankind," Lois explained, grunting slightly as she pulled herself upward. "Every other reporter in the city is going to parrot whatever PR garbage he throws at them. Not me." She looked over her shoulder. "Now give me a push."

Y/N hesitated, glancing toward the well-lit main entrance just a block away. "Can't we just go in the normal way? The front door is right there..."

"The Daily Planet wasn't invited," she shot back. "We've got to improvise."

"But—"

"Just a little push, Smallville," she interrupted, nodding down at him.

Still uncertain, Y/N gave in. He placed his hands on the soles of her shoes, looked away to avoid any further awkwardness, and gave a light push. "Why weren't we invited, again?"

"Because unlike every other outlet in Metropolis," Lois said as she clambered over the top of the wall, "we don't worship at the feet of this city's self-appointed 'Great White Hope.'"

Y/N blinked. "'Great White Hope'?"

"It's what the sycophants call him," Lois spat with disdain. "'Lex Luthor: Genius, Philanthropist, Visionary.' The guy practically writes his own headlines."

"What's wrong with Lex Luthor?" Y/N asked innocently.

At that exact moment, Lois lost her grip. She toppled over the top of the wall with an ungraceful thud onto the other side, landing in a heap. Her head popped up moments later, eyes wide with disbelief.

"Are you kidding me?" she said.

She dusted herself off, brushing her jacket smooth before stepping closer to the gate. "What's wrong with Lex Luthor?" she echoed, eyeing him through the bars. "Where the hell are you from?"

"Smallville, Kansas," he replied with a shrug.

Lois stared at him. "Smallville? You're telling me you're from the same dusty little town that spawned Lex Luthor, and you don't know what's wrong with him?"

"I haven't exactly been keeping tabs," Y/N admitted. "I've been traveling a lot these past few years."

Lois narrowed her eyes. "Tell me the truth. This is all an act, isn't it?"

"What is?"

"The bad suit, the slouching, the glasses that practically eat your face," she said, flicking the edge of his thick frames with a finger. "Your prescription lenses are so strong they warp your eyes, but you know what? The eyes tell the story."

Y/N shifted awkwardly. "Lois, I think what you're doing is technically trespassing."

She stepped forward, staring at him with sudden intensity. "You want to be underestimated, don't you?"

"Lois, I have no idea what you're talking about," he replied with a nervous chuckle, trying to brush off the growing tension.

She exhaled through her nose, then softened slightly. "Look, Perry White may be desperate enough to hire anyone who'll work for minimum wage and a free subscription to the Planet, but he's not stupid. He sees something in you... and so do I."

Lois reached into her bag and pulled out a blonde wig and large sunglasses.

"You're my wingman today," she said with a smirk, placing the wig carefully over her dark hair.

"Wingman?" Y/N echoed skeptically.

"And right now, you're my ticket to a one-on-one with the bald billionaire. Did they give you your press I.D. yet?"

Y/N opened his wallet and pulled out a flimsy plastic badge with a fresh-faced photo of himself. Lois gave it a glance.

"Nice picture," she said. "Now all you have to do is walk over to the front gate, show it to security, and get in."

"But—" he began, nerves creeping in again.

"Trust me, Smallville," she said, placing the sunglasses over her eyes and adjusting her wig. "Bernstein and Woodward are gonna have to move over. Because here comes Lois and Y/N."

She gave him a thumbs-up and a grin. Against his better judgment, Y/N smiled back. Maybe this job wouldn't be so bad after all.

Y/N pushed through the buzzing crowd outside LexCorp's towering main gate. People were shouting, pushing, craning their necks just for a glimpse through the barricades.

"Press only, folks! Press only!" a security officer barked from the checkpoint. "Mr. Luthor will be back in the morning to make someone's dream come true, now move along!"

The crowd groaned in frustration.

"Excuse me, I'm press!" Y/N called out, waving his guard in the air as a few citizens looked at him. "Y/N L/N, I'm with the-" before the mild mannered reporter could finish, the guard swiped the card from him. 

"Daily Planet" he read out, the Lexcorp symbol visible on the side of his shirt. 

"Is there a problem sir?" Y/N asked back with confusion. 

"You bet there is" the guard growled back, grabbing hold of Y/Ns shoulders and beginning to push him back away from the gate. 

But as Y/N was being pushed back, he managed to spay Lois sneaking her way through the front door in her sunglasses and whig, giving her colleague a thumbs up. 

"Be glad all we're going is locking you" the guard finished. 

-------------------------

Lois was nearly unrecognisable in her blonde wig and oversized sunglasses, stood among a crowd of well-dressed reporters as they were led through LexCorp's upper levels. Guided by security, the group was ushered to the top floor, an open-air rooftop platform bathed in sunlight and corporate grandeur. 

Every corner flew a banner emblazoned with the LexCorp logo, and the hum of excitement buzzed louder than the hovering helicopter that touched down nearby.

But it wasn't the branding or the aircraft that drew all eyes. Centerstage stood a towering mechanical giant.

The mech suit was colossal, easily twice the height of any person on the roof. It was as thick as a small truck, painted bright white with sharp streaks of green and violet lining its contours. 

Its design was as menacing as it was sleek. Instead of traditional hands, the suit was fitted with two massive pincer-like arms that gleamed under the sun. Standing in front of it was a composed figure dressed in a thousand-dollar tailored suit: Lex Luthor himself.

Cameras clicked and pens scribbled as Luthor stepped up to a podium, his voice cutting through the ambient noise with the confidence of a man completely at ease in his dominion.

"When my father passed," Luthor began, "I set out to do more than inherit a company. I made it my mission to build a better tomorrow."

He gestured to the mech beside him. "And what you see today, this marvel of engineering, is a glimpse into that future. It's the culmination of years of relentless research, countless late nights, and, above all else, hope."

His charisma was undeniable. The press hung on his every word, nodding as if hypnotized. Some smiled with adoration, others scribbled down notes with frantic admiration.

"The world is changing," he continued. "And I'm proud to announce that LexCorp has just developed the strongest metal on Earth, a compound we've named Metallo." He paused for effect, then smirked. "And for all my competitors in the audience... yes, it's already patented."

Laughter broke out among the reporters, as if on cue. They chuckled and clapped, eating out of his hand.

"Professor Ivo, if you would?" Luthor gestured to the bald man beside the machine.

"Thank you, Mr. Luthor," said Professor Anthony Ivo, stepping forward. His wire-rimmed glasses clung to the bridge of his nose, and his neatly trimmed grey beard gave him a scholarly presence. "My team and I have constructed a fully remote-operated exoskeleton entirely out of Metallo. It requires an unusually high level of radiation to activate the metal's unique properties, which we are in the process of stabilizing. But even in its current state, the weight-to-strength ratio is unprecedented."

He tapped a few commands into a control pad. A low hum began to resonate from the mech, and with a series of mechanical clicks, the giant sprang to life. Servo joints whirred and pistons hissed as it took its first step forward.

Just as the helicopter was lifting back off the rooftop, the mech raised its massive pincers and clamped them around the aircraft's landing gear. Effortlessly, it held the chopper suspended in the air, its grip steady, its frame unmoving.

"Twice as strong as steel," Ivo declared with pride. A wave of applause broke across the rooftop.

"And once we've established a mobile radioactive power source," he added, "this technology will redefine the future of labor."

"You mean soldiers," Lois muttered under her breath.

Unfortunately, her comment didn't go unnoticed. One of the nearby security guards narrowed his eyes and took a closer look at her.

"Hey," the guard said suspiciously. "Hold up..."

His eyes scanned her features, ignoring the wig. With a smirk, he reached out and yanked it off, revealing Lois Lane's unmistakable dark hair.

"Well, well, well," he said with satisfaction. "If it isn't Metropolis's favorite troublemaker, Miss Lois Lane."

"Louise," Lois said quickly with a smile, brushing her hair back like she wasn't just caught red-handed. "Long time no see, if you don't count last Thursday. You look good. New haircut?"

"You know the drill, Lane," the guard said, unimpressed. "Daily Planet staff aren't welcome on Luthor property."

A second guard arrived, already laughing. "Which means you should be playing hopscotch on the street, not sneaking into billion-dollar showcases."

"How about a game instead?" Lois said, removing her sunglasses. "You're it!"

With no warning, she flung the sunglasses directly into the first guard's face and bolted.

"Exit, stage right!" she shouted, weaving through startled press and security alike. She vaulted over a waist-high partition and sprinted across the open floor toward the stage.

"Stop her!" one of the guards yelled, charging after her.

Lois dashed across the platform, hoping to draw the guards after her and then make a break for the service elevator behind the staging area. But her diversion came at the worst possible moment.

Professor Ivo, seeing the commotion, rushed to disengage the mech from the helicopter.

"Watch out!" he shouted. But it was too late.

The remote signals clashed. A flicker of static disrupted the control pad. The mech's motors locked up, and it staggered violently forward. Its massive pincers, still gripping the helicopter, jerked sideways. With an earsplitting screech, the mech crashed to the ground, dragging the helicopter's landing gear and tipping the entire aircraft off balance.

Lois tried to pivot, but the sudden collapse of the mech knocked her backward. She tumbled toward the edge of the roof, screaming as she went over the side.

Her hands managed to catch the edge of a long, vertical flagpole displaying the fluttering LexCorp emblem. She dangled precariously, dozens of stories above the city. Her grip slipped an inch as the metal pole groaned under her weight.

Above her, the helicopter teetered on the brink. The front end hung off the roof, its rotors still spinning, slicing the air.

Lois looked down, eyes wide with panic. Below her was nothing but air and a deadly drop.

Her fingers were already beginning to lose their grip.

Down below, at the front gate of LexCorp, security guards kept a close eye on Y/N. One of them spoke into his radio, his voice dry and laced with sarcasm.

"Lois Lane? Yeah, we've got one of her friends down here," he said, watching Y/N carefully.

But Y/N wasn't listening to the guard. His attention had shifted entirely. His eyes narrowed, ears focusing. He heard something else. Something faint. A sound most would have missed. It drifted through the wind, from high above the tower, fragile and desperate.

"Help."

It was barely audible to an average person, lost in the crowd noise and traffic. But not to Y/N. Not to someone like him. His heart skipped. His eyes darted upward. There, clinging to a LexCorp flagpole, was Lois Lane, her legs kicking helplessly, her grip slipping inch by inch.

"Please... someone..." she screamed, her voice cracking.

"Lois?" Y/N murmured in disbelief. He stood up straight, posture shifting in an instant. With sudden purpose, he began to move through the crowd, carefully but quickly, brushing people aside.

"Pardon me. Excuse me. Coming through," he said, voice calm but urgent.

He broke away from the crowd and darted down a nearby alleyway, out of sight from the public. Once alone, he exhaled.

"Alright, Y/N. Don't think about how tight it is," he said to himself, fingers working quickly at the buttons of his shirt. He tore the front open to reveal the red and gold crest that shimmered against a royal blue suit.

The symbol was ancient, woven into the fabric on Krypton generations ago. To his people, it had once represented the guild of miners. To his parents, it represented perseverance. And now, here on Earth, it was hope. A symbol that once gave strength to the lowest caste of Krypton would now do the same for the people of Metropolis.

Overhead, Lois's grip finally gave out.

"HELP!" she screamed as her fingers slipped, and her body plummeted.

Amazing Edit By KN1GHTFALL 

"Say, Jim!" a man shouted, pointing to the figure in disbelief. "That's a bad outfit!"

Y/N turned to the bystander with a polite smile. "Excuse me," he said softly.

Then he crouched slightly, and with a burst of wind and a thundering rush, he launched into the sky.

"Whoa! What the hell was that?" a nearby cop exclaimed, holding onto his hat as it flew from his head.

"Look!" another bystander shouted, pointing upward. "Up in the sky!"

The crowd followed his finger, watching in awe as a red and blue streak rocketed through the air, faster than the eye could track.

Above the city, Lois Lane plummeted. Wind rushed past her ears, drowning out her scream. The only thing she could feel was fear. She had accepted the inevitability of what was coming. No way out. No escape. Just cold air and the brutal ground rushing closer with every second.

But then, she stopped falling.

Not with a crash. Not with a jolt.

With an embrace.

Strong arms wrapped around her midsection. She gasped, startled. Her eyes opened to meet the impossibility of what she was seeing. A man. A flying man.

"Hello, Miss," he said, his voice calm and kind, cutting through her panic. "I've got you."

"You've got me?" Lois asked, eyes wide. "Who's got you?"

She twisted her head around, expecting to see a crane or helicopter or wire pulling him up. But there was nothing. Nothing but air and sky. He was carrying her.

Before she could make sense of it, a roar above her caught her attention. The helicopter. It had been dislodged during the mech's collapse, and now it was crashing down toward them. Lois screamed again.

"LOOK OUT!"

Y/N shifted his focus instantly. Still holding Lois in one arm, he extended his other hand upward. The helicopter descended rapidly, smoke trailing from its engine. With incredible control and calm, Y/N caught the aircraft mid-fall. His knees bent slightly from the momentum, but the strain didn't show on his face.

Y/N gently lowered himself, Lois, and the damaged helicopter down to the street. His descent was careful and precise, every movement deliberate. With ease, he set the massive flying machine down, its landing skids scraping softly against the asphalt. All around, the crowd stood frozen, eyes wide, mouths slightly open, locked in awe and disbelief.

"How did you...?" Lois asked, her voice trembling. Her body still shook from the adrenaline, hands clinging to the front of his suit. Her mind struggled to catch up with what her eyes had just seen.

Y/N smiled gently and answered, "My dad and I used to play catch."

Lois blinked. "With helicopters?"

"No. Baseballs," he replied with a light chuckle. Then, his expression turned serious as he turned to the onlookers. "Excuse me, these men need medical assistance," he called out, motioning toward the pilot and copilot inside the helicopter.

The crowd stirred. A few finally sprang into action, rushing to help the injured men as they staggered out, visibly shaken.

Y/N turned back to Lois. His tone was soft, reassuring. "Are you alright?"

Lois stared at him, her voice caught in her throat. Her lips parted slightly before she finally whispered, "Who... who are you?"

Y/N hesitated. There was so much he could have said, so many ways to explain, but he kept it simple. "Just someone who wants to help."

Suddenly, a new voice broke through the crowd.

"Hey!" a man shouted, stepping forward and grabbing a handful of Y/N's cape with open curiosity. "What are you wearing? Is this what makes you fly?"

"I, um..." Y/N began, but the crowd surged forward before he could finish.

Questions came at him from every direction, a flurry of excited, confused, and frightened voices.

"Who are you?"

"What else can you do?"

"Can you help me? I need help!"

"Yeah, me too!"

"Johnny, don't touch him!" a mother yelled, yanking her young son back from grabbing at Y/N's arm.

"I'm not here to hurt anyone, ma'am," Y/N said gently, holding his hands up in a peaceful gesture.

But the growing panic in the crowd drowned out his voice. Fear began to spread like wildfire. People pushed in closer, reaching for his cape, bombarding him with questions, assumptions, and suspicion.

"Hold it right there!" another voice barked, sharp and commanding.

The crowd parted slightly as two police officers pushed their way through. One of them had his gun drawn, his eyes locked onto Y/N with mistrust.

"Everybody clear out. Don't move, buddy! We need to ask you some questions," the officer said, shoving a man out of his way as he approached.

"I..." Y/N tried to speak, but the words faltered. His expression was full of quiet confusion. He had done everything right. He had saved lives, caused no harm, and only asked if anyone needed help. Yet the fear in their eyes told him it wasn't enough.

They didn't understand.

The very idea that someone could do good without wanting something in return was too much for them to accept. To them, it wasn't natural.

With a heavy breath, Y/N looked around once more at the faces surrounding him. Some were curious, some amazed, but many were afraid.

And then, slowly, he rose off the ground.

The crowd gasped as he lifted into the air, cape billowing behind him. He said nothing. He just looked down, disappointment weighing on his features.

Lois reached out, her voice soft but desperate. "Hey, wait..." she whispered, stretching her hand toward him. But it was too late. He was already rising, vanishing into the sky above Metropolis.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, and the city gave way to the cool blue of evening, Y/N flew alone. The wind rushed past his face, but his mind was elsewhere. He could hear them. The voices. Echoes carried by the open sky. People across the city, talking, speculating, judging.

"You see what he was wearing?"

"It's a miracle!"

"What does he want?"

"What is he?"

"Seems like a freak to me!"

"That thing isn't natural!"

The noise came from everywhere. From phones, radios, television reports, rooftops. Everyone had something to say. Some were amazed. Others were afraid. Few understood.

Y/N looked down at the city below. Cars honked. People crossed streets. Shops turned off their signs. The world moved on, already shaping the story into something that fit their comfort zones.

And up above them, floating silently through the twilight, Y/N whispered to himself, almost too softly for the wind to carry.

"I think I've made a mistake."

Authors Note 

And there we go, another chapter done and dusted I hope you enjoy. Sorry for the long wait, been busy with uni work and other stories like Dark Tomorrow. I do hope you enjoyed. Hoping to get other chapters out soon, want to get a chunk out before the Gunn movie. 

I've posted ideas in my idea book so please go check it out, debating between a 1920s or Arrowverse Batman books so go and let me know your thoughts there. 

Just gonna leave this here so you have to watch it again

https://youtu.be/Ox8ZLF6cGM0

Anyway,

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