[Third Person Pov]
Komi started looking at Clark with a frantic expression, quickly stepping closer to him. She waved her hands around uncertainly, not knowing where to place them as she tried to check him over, her eyes scanning him from head to toe to make sure he was actually alright.
"Komi, Komi, calm down," Clark said with a short, easy laugh. "I'm fine, honestly I'm not injured. I'm practically invulnerable."
Komi didn't relax. She looked at him skeptically, her brows slightly furrowed as she tried to figure out if he was telling the truth or just saying that to reassure her.
Seeing the doubt written all over her face, Clark gave a faint smile and shook his head, letting out a small sigh. He glanced around for a moment before speaking again. "Since you're having trouble believing me, see for yourself."
Komi tilted her head, confused about what he meant, but before she could ask, Clark lifted his glasses slightly above his eyes. In the next moment, twin beams of energy shot out and struck directly into his own palms.
"Wha–Clark!" she stammered, instinctively tensing up. She didn't know whether to step forward and stop him or back away, her body caught in hesitation as her eyes widened with shock and fascination.
"See?" Clark said once he stopped. He raised one of his hands slightly for her to look at. The center of his palm was a bright red from the impact, the heat still visible in the irritated skin, but as she watched, the redness slowly began to fade until his skin returned to normal.
Komi stared at his hand in amazement. Slowly, she reached out, wanting to examine it more closely, but just before her fingers could touch him, Clark gently pulled his hand back.
"I just hit it with heat intense enough to burn through steel," he said calmly. "I don't think it would be in your best interest to touch it just yet."
Komi immediately snapped her hand back as if she had almost touched something dangerous and quickly muttered a quiet apology under her breath.
Clark flicked his hand lightly and blew on it a couple of times, cooling it down before extending it back toward her.
Komi hesitated for a brief moment before cautiously taking his hand. It was only warm now, no longer dangerously hot. She examined his palm with careful fingers, tracing over it lightly. It felt just as she remembered from the time in her room, rough, manly, and warm in a way that made her heart flutter.
The familiarity of it made her grow flustered, and she quickly tried to focus on what she was doing instead of the thoughts creeping into her mind.
"Do you believe me now?" Clark asked as he slowly withdrew his hand.
Komi nodded without hesitation. After seeing something like that, it was impossible not to believe him. She gathered her courage for a moment before asking the question that had been lingering in her mind.
"Why is an assassin after you in the first place? Is it because you're Superman?"
"Partially, but that's not the real reason," Clark replied, shaking his head as he lightly pushed himself on the swingset, letting it move back and forth in a slow rhythm. "It most likely has to do with the fact that I'm Lala's fiancé."
Komi blinked, staring at him in confusion, unsure what Lala had to do with any of that. Then her thoughts drifted back to their earlier conversation on the train, when he had admitted he hadn't been entirely honest about their arrangement.
Clark scratched his cheek, looking a bit awkward now that he had to explain further. "You see, I'm not exactly the only alien you technically know. Lala is one as well… in fact, she's the princess of a major intergalactic empire."
Komi froze. The words hit her all at once, and for a moment it felt like her thoughts completely stalled. She stood there, slightly dazed, trying to process how casually he had just turned her understanding of everything upside down.
"I'm going to be honest, and no disrespect to Lala," Clark continued with a faint snicker, "I'm surprised she hasn't accidentally revealed herself yet and has managed to keep her identity a secret this long."
"Um… actually…" Komi said, slowly raising her hand as she spoke. "I believe I have seen her tail on more than one occasion, but Momo said it was a prop."
At the time, that explanation had seemed like the only reasonable one, but now, with everything Clark had just told her, those moments started to make a lot more sense in a completely different way.
"Of course you have…" Clark sighed, running a hand down his face before shaking his head, clearly not as surprised as he probably should have been.
"So are the assassins after Lala as well?" Komi asked, still trying to understand the dynamic between the two.
"Right, you still don't know the whole story, basically…" Clark said before going on to explain everything to her, taking his time so she could follow along.
Komi sat back down on the swing beside him, her hands lightly gripping the chains as she listened closely. Her attention didn't waver as Clark explained how Lala had run away from home, how she was actually royalty, and how her suitors would now be targeting him because of their engagement.
"I see…" Komi muttered quietly, her gaze lowering toward the ground as she processed everything.
Clark raised a brow and looked at her more carefully. He tilted his head slightly, studying her expression. 'Is… is she pouting right now?' he wondered.
"What? What's wrong? Was it something I said?" Clark asked, genuinely confused and unsure of what he might have done.
Komi tightened her grip on the swing's chains and turned her face away slightly, her voice soft and low. "Back then you said you weren't in any danger… you lied."
Clark paused for a second before a faint smile formed on his face as he noticed her sulking. 'Is that really why she's upset? Because I said I wasn't in danger?' he thought, a bit amused. 'How can someone be this adorable?'
He let out a quiet chuckle before responding. "Komi, what you consider dangerous and what I consider dangerous are completely different things. I have full confidence in being able to protect both Lala and myself, so you don't have to worry about me being in danger."
Komi looked at him for a moment, but she didn't have anything to argue back with. There wasn't really a better form of protection than someone like him. "…Okay… if you say so."
Clark's expression softened as he looked at her, though his smile became slightly awkward. "I'm sorry for… you know, not telling you the truth sooner."
Komi quickly shook her head. "There's no reason to apologize, it's understandable… you have a secret identity to maintain."
She turned to look at him more directly, her expression turning serious. "And you don't have to worry. I won't tell anyone either."
Clark let out a small snicker. "Komi, if there's anyone I'm not worried about when it comes to keeping my secret, it's you. Trust me, I know you won't say anything."
Komi puffed her cheeks slightly, a small pout forming. "I'm getting better…"
Clark laughed and nodded. "That, I agree with." He stood up and stepped in front of her. "Come on, I want to show you something."
He extended his hand toward her with a small, inviting smirk.
Komi looked at him in confusion but reached out anyway, placing her hand in his as she stood up.
Without much warning, Clark gently but firmly pulled her closer, causing a startled yelp to escape her.
Komi found herself pressed against his chest, her eyes wide as she looked up at him, silently asking what he was doing.
"Just don't freak out, alright?" Clark said, briefly glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention.
Komi barely had time to react before she felt it, her feet lifting off the ground as her body suddenly became weightless. Her eyes widened even more as she looked down and realized they were slowly rising into the air.
"W-Wait—" she stammered, panic quickly setting in as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
Clark smirked when he saw her squeeze her eyes shut. A moment later, he took off into the sky in a fast, smooth motion, carrying her with him.
The rush of wind surrounded them instantly, pressing against Komi from all sides. She trembled like a cat stuck somewhere too high to climb down, tightening her grip on him as the sound of the wind roared in her ears.
After a short while, the movement slowed, and then stopped completely.
The strong rush of air softened into a gentle, warm breeze, the kind that carried the subtle shift from spring into summer. It brushed past her steadily, no longer overwhelming.
Komi could hear Clark's voice right next to her ear, calm and reassuring. "Open your eyes, trust me."
She hesitated, her body still tense, but after a moment she slowly cracked one eye open. When nothing bad happened, her other eye followed.
Her breath caught.
They were high above the city, far enough that everything below looked smaller and calmer. The horizon stretched endlessly, and the sky was in the middle of changing from day to night. The sun hung low, casting a deep orange glow as it slowly sank, its light reflecting across the buildings and streets below.
"It's… beautiful," Komi whispered, her voice filled with quiet awe as the wind gently moved her hair.
"I had a feeling you'd like it," Clark said softly, still holding her securely.
"Thank you…" Komi breathed out, her emotions swelling as she kept her eyes fixed on the view, unable to look away.
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