[Third Person Pov]
As they wandered side by side through the softly lit streets of Japan, the hum of the city settling into a calmer rhythm as evening approached, Lala slowed her steps. She leaned closer to Clark, her voice dropping just enough to feel more personal amid the surrounding noise.
"You know," she began carefully, "I really appreciate everything you've been doing for me tonight. You've been trying so hard to make sure I enjoy this date." She smiled faintly before continuing, her tone gentle but sincere. "But a date is supposed to be something we both enjoy, not just me. I want us both to have fun."
Clark blinked at her, clearly caught off guard. He tilted his head slightly, brows knitting together in confusion. "But… I am having fun," he replied honestly. "Eating good food and drinking pleasant drinks is something I genuinely enjoy."
Lala let out a small, relieved breath. "I'm glad to hear that," she said, her smile returning. "But it still feels like we've been focusing on me the entire time. And again, I really do appreciate it." She hesitated, then added more softly, "I want to do things you enjoy too. I want to make sure you have a good time… and I want to get to know you better."
A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she glanced up at him, clearly a little embarrassed by her own honesty. She rubbed the back of her head and laughed awkwardly. "I don't think I'm doing a very good job explaining myself."
"No," Clark said after a moment, his voice calmer now. "You explained it just fine. I get what you're trying to say." He exhaled slowly, running a hand through the back of his hair as a thoughtful expression crossed his face. "Alright then. Let's go do something I enjoy."
He pulled out his phone and quickly typed a message, sending a brief but firm text to Momo telling her to stop following them. Slipping the phone back into his pocket, Clark gently took Lala by the hand and guided her into a quiet alleyway away from the crowds. He turned to face her and rested his hands securely on her shoulders.
"Okay," he warned, a hint of amusement in his voice, "I'm going to start vibrating really fast. For a moment, we're going to become invisible. Just bear with me."
Before she could respond, he carefully wrapped her in his protective shielding. Then, in the next instant, Clark began vibrating at super speed, the air around them warping subtly.
"Woooah!" Lala exclaimed, her voice wobbling and distorting as if she was speaking into a spinning fan.
Once they were invisible, Clark shot upward into the sky, completely undetected by the civilians below, who were too busy admiring the orange-streaked clouds as the sun dipped toward the horizon. The world beneath them faded quickly as he pierced through a layer of clouds above the city.
When Clark finally stopped vibrating, the sudden stillness made Lala burst into laughter. "Hehehe! That was so fun!"
"That wasn't even what I wanted to show you," Clark replied dryly, rolling his eyes. "Just grow your wings already."
"I know, I know," Lala said with a playful laugh, her voice light and teasing. "But it was still fun nonetheless, Peke." From behind her, leather-like bat wings unfurled gracefully, stretching outward from her wool sweater.
She moved to fly ahead of him, but Clark reached out, extending his hand. Lala placed her smaller, delicate hands into his without hesitation. Holding on, Clark began drifting backward through the air, the rushing wind tugging at his shirt and tossing his messy black hair as he guided her along.
"You wanted to get to know me, right?" he said, his voice relaxed, almost peaceful. "Well, the first thing you should know is that there's nothing I adore more than flying through the open air."
Lala watched him closely, smiling at the carefree expression on his face as he closed his eyes, fully trusting the sky around them. Together, they began moving through the air like dancers, twisting and gliding in effortless harmony. Clark led with quiet confidence, spinning and soaring as though the sky itself welcomed him.
Lala couldn't look away. She followed his movements, captivated by the serenity that surrounded him as he flew, realizing that this—this sense of freedom—was the truest glimpse of who he was.
Lala laughed freely as she spread her arms wide, mimicking Clark's movements as best as she could. She tilted and twisted through the open sky, weaving between wisps of clouds while circling around him, her laughter echoing softly through the air. It felt less like flying and more like play—careless, weightless, and alive.
Clark, for his part, leaned fully into the moment. He casually flew with his hands tucked behind his head, his movements streamlined and effortless, as if gravity itself had long since given up trying to bind him. He watched her with an amused glint in his eyes as they darted around one another.
They both plunged into a thick cloud, its cool mist briefly swallowing them whole—but only Lala emerged on the other side.
She slowed to a stop, blinking as the world cleared around her. Her laughter faded into confusion as she glanced around, wings fluttering instinctively. "Clark?" she called out, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
She began drifting backward, scanning the sky for any sign of him—until she suddenly bumped into something firm and unmoving.
"Oof!" Lala yelped, startled. She twisted around midair and looked over her shoulder, only to find Clark standing casually in the air behind her, completely unbothered, a smug and nonchalant grin plastered across his face.
"Yo," he said simply, teasingly, as if he hadn't just scared her half to death.
Lala stared at him for a split second before breaking into a grin of her own, laughter bubbling up once more. She lightly shoved his shoulder as they resumed flying together, the playful mood returning instantly.
By the time the sun had fully vanished beyond the horizon, the sky had deepened into rich shades of indigo and black, crowned by a crescent yellow moon. Clark gently took Lala by the hand, his other arm settling securely around her waist as they twirled together beneath the moonlight, their movements fluid and unhurried—more like dancing than flying.
Lala's bright, unrestrained laughter rang through the night, blending with Clark's own low, quiet chuckles. The open sky became the next stage of their date, vast and private, untouched by the world below.
As they slowed, Lala looked at Clark more closely. There was something about his expression that made her heart ache—in the best way. The usual weight he carried was gone, replaced by something lighter, younger. For once, his face wasn't shaped by responsibility or duty.
It was the face of a fifteen-year-old boy simply enjoying the moment.
A face Lala couldn't help but fall completely in love with.
Before she could stop herself—or even think it through—she reached up and pressed a kiss to his lips. The motion was impulsive, sincere. When she pulled back, she realized he was staring at her with one brow raised.
"Sorry…" she said quickly, her voice small, eyes flicking away apologetically.
Clark scoffed. "Why are you apologizing?" he asked dryly. "You've done way more shameless stuff before. Honestly, it's gotten to the point where I've questioned whether Devilukians are even born with a sense of shame."
"That's just rude," Lala huffed, pursing her lips indignantly. "I do have shame. I have tons of it."
"Could've fooled me," Clark replied, smirking—before leaning in and kissing her back.
The suddenness of it took Lala by surprise. Her eyes widened for just a moment before she melted into the kiss, her hands curling into his shirt as she pressed closer to him. She closed her eyes, letting the world fall away beneath the moonlight, forgetting everything else.
…
Later, Clark sat comfortably atop a floating cloud, its surface soft and luminous beneath them. Lala rested on his lap, her back against his chest while his chin rested lightly on the top of her head. Together, they gazed down at the city far below, its lights sparkling like unblemished jewels scattered across the darkness.
"You seriously want to know more about me?" Clark asked after a while, his tone flat and faintly incredulous. "You already know I like flying. What else could you possibly want to know?"
Lala hummed thoughtfully before responding. "Come on, there's more to you than just flying, right? You already know I like inventing and eating sweets. I want to know more about you too."
Clark sighed, clearly reluctant. "Fine, fine…" he muttered. "I guess there is something else I enjoy."
He fell silent for a moment, the closeness between them—and everything that had happened—loosening his guard. When he finally spoke again, his voice was quieter, more serious and vulnerable.
"This isn't something I've ever really admitted out loud before," he said. "So if you tell anyone else, I'll know… and I'll gut you like a fish. Are we clear?"
"Crystal!" Lala exclaimed instantly, snapping into a salute with exaggerated seriousness.
Clark rolled his eyes. 'I'm going to regret this…'
"I guess… apart from flying," he admitted, "I always kind of enjoyed being an exorcist with Granny Seiko." His voice softened as memories surfaced. "When we were younger and she was training us, she'd take Momo and me to places with dense curse energy—areas where Aberrations could easily form."
"She'd bring us along on missions issued by the God of the Land," he continued. "Sometimes to observe how other exorcists worked, sometimes so we could get real experience. I didn't have to hold back then. I could go all out—use my strength however I wanted."
He paused, eyes drifting toward the city lights. "We don't do it much anymore… being Superman and dealing with school makes it complicated. But those are moments I still look back on fondly."
Lala turned slightly in his arms, gazing up at him with open curiosity and genuine fascination. "What are Curses and Aberrations?" she asked softly.
Clark sighed. "That's… going to take a while to explain," he said. "Are you sure you really want to sit here and listen to me talk about being an exorcist?"
Lala nodded enthusiastically, eyes bright. She snuggled closer, clearly settling in.
"Well," Clark said with a resigned shake of his head, "get ready for a big info dump."
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