[center][img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b2/02/6f/b2026fc4dff75658c30fd5b41d58e72e.png[/img][/center]
[center][sub][i] A Sep/AndyC production[/i][/sub][/center]

The night air over the Midwest was cold and clear as the Man of Steel made his rounds, rolling plains sprawling out in all directions beneath him, and nothing but hundreds of miles of empty sky all around.  He’d chosen a wide, looping circuit reaching from Chicago to Denver, covering a significant portion of the United States in a path that had taken him about fifteen minutes or so.

To be honest, Clark wasn’t really going out on patrol to look for trouble tonight; after losing his temper when seeing the ‘gift’ Lex Luthor had been handing out to millions of people-- including his mother-- more than anything he just needed a few minutes to clear his head.  He’d learned the hard way from his encounter with Batman that rushing into a situation while still hot-blooded could lead to disaster.  If he was going to confront Luthor in regards to this ‘Brainiac’ situation, he was going to need to keep his cool.

Besides, giving Martha and Lois a few minutes to themselves might help them get to know each other some more, start finding some common ground, bond a little.  That would be extremely important if Clark and Lois were going to--.....well, he was getting ahead of himself.  Things were going well in that regard, but there was still plenty that needed figuring out.

As he banked south and west, crossing from Missouri back into Kansas, he took a slight detour from his route, swooping down over the skyline of Central City-- maybe seeing a friendly face could help put him back in the right frame of mind.

Iris had been running back to her ‘base of operations’ in Keystone, the small run down little place that Jay was renting out for her. That said, it was starting to feel less like a dump and more like a superhero lair with each passing day. The fight with Mota hadn’t taken much out of her, her biggest concern was the overall lack of activity in the last couple of weeks. There had been no bank robberies, heists or open warfare between gangs. Mere petty crime, while she knew her presence was having an influence the Gem Cities, she never believed it would be so fast. The reporter in her knew there was a story there. She just hadn’t found it yet.

As Iris sped through the city she noticed a blue and red blur flying through the sky, a smile crossing her face. She kicked it into high gear in order to get a good enough lead on him to get up on top of a building before he approached it. Once there she stood tapping her foot impatiently until he was closer. [color=#ff9900]“You know, you could call more often.”[/color]

[b][color=#4a86e8]“Correct me if I’m wrong,” [/color][/b]Superman answered, returning the Flash’s grin, [b][color=#4a86e8]“but I seem to remember the last time we met, you were going to have a friend of yours work on that.”[/color][/b]

Carefully, Superman lowered himself, reducing the anti-gravity field around him until he was able to touch down gently on the rooftop.  With practice, he had started to get the hang of flying with more control, no longer merely hurling himself through the sky in contempt for the laws of physics.  It still took a great deal of concentration, however, to take off and land without leaving a crater behind.

[b][color=#4a86e8]“Good to see you again, Flash,” [/color][/b]he greeted her.

Iris raised a finger defensively. [color=#ff9900]“I’m not the only one with friends you know, and I’ve been a little busy. You know, Superheroes need to do their superhero thing. Being the fastest alive has its responsibilities.”[/color] She almost moved in order to give Superman a hug, but then realised that that probably wasn’t where they were at. Instead she turned it into a stretch as she forced out a yawn.

Smooth, West.

Clearing her throat Iris walked to the edge of the rooftop, looking down towards the street level. [color=#ff9900]“It’s good to see you to Superman-” [/color]God it was weird for Iris to call him that, to his face, out loud. [color=#ff9900]“- I have to admit though, I’m a little curious. What brings you by? Or is it just to appreciate the new suit?”[/color] She raised both her arms and did a spin to show it off. [color=#ff9900]“I have a very good tailor.”[/color]

[b][color=#4a86e8]“It’s a good look for you,” [/color][/b]he said.  [b][color=#4a86e8]“I was able to find a new outfit myself.  Bit of a long story on how I got it, but, well, it certainly saves me having to iron my logo onto another T-shirt every time I get caught in an explosion.”[/color][/b]

Clark spread his own arms to show off the blue bodysuit, complete with red boots and belt.  It was a find from about two months ago, part of his discovery in the Arctic, which had changed a great deal about his outlook on who he was and his purpose on Earth.  That, however, was another story for another day.

[b][color=#4a86e8]“Anyway,” [/color][/b]he changed the subject, [b][color=#4a86e8]“I was in the area, and thought I might drop in, catch up when there isn’t a monster to fight or a planet in immediate danger.  So, erm…..how are things?”[/color][/b]

Iris signalled to Superman with one finger, before disappearing from the rooftop. Reappearing a second later with two hotdogs, two cans of Coke and a bag of chips. Throwing a can and a hotdog at Superman she sat herself down on the ledge of the building, slapping the roof beside her indicating that he should sit. She sat on the edge and dug into her hotdog, pulling her hair behind her head to prevent it from ending up all in her food.  [color=#ff9900]“You know how it is. Your best friend’s dad, who you got released from prison, turns out to be a time travelling maniac who actually wasn’t innocent who created you by accident trying to give your best friend powers. He then tries to kill you after giving said friend powers, gets killed by said friend and then the friend turns into dust right in front of you.” [/color]She shrugged. [color=#ff9900]“One of those superhero things.”[/color]

Iris turned to face him. [color=#ff9900]“The strangest thing is recently, things are calming down in Central City. Over the past couple of months actually. Ever since Heatwave got a cosmic supercharge. Yet, I can’t shake this feeling that I’m missing a story. You know what I mean?”[/color]

Clark shifted uncomfortably.  [b][color=#4a86e8]“I, erm, I’m sorry to hear about your friend,” [/color][/b]he said.  Deep down, he always blamed himself when he heard about someone losing a friend of a loved one; the drawback of choosing to save people for your life’s work is that it stings that much more when someone can’t be saved.  [b][color=#4a86e8]“But I know what you mean.  I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help out with the Surfer the second time around-- I was busy, well, getting nuked in Gotham City at the time-- but ever since that series of attacks, I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop.  I don’t think we’re going to be in the clear any time soon, but at least it’s nice to have a breather until then.”[/color][/b]

Clark took a bite of his hot dog-- he honestly wasn’t hungry after dinner, but it would be rude to let it get cold.  [b][color=#4a86e8]“Mm!  This isn’t half bad,” [/color][/b]he remarked.  [b][color=#4a86e8]“Anyway, I’ve been thinking.  Together we were able to take down the Surfer the first time, and the group that tackled him at the Raft seemed to do a good job.  And I wouldn’t have been able to stop the Toyman if I hadn’t gotten help from Batman.  Maybe we should start putting a little effort into, y’know, networking.  Make it a little easier to mobilize when the next cosmic threat comes crashing down.  And even if the sky isn’t falling, well, it couldn’t hurt to have some friends to talk to.”[/color][/b]

Iris chuckled at the comment about the Hot Dog.[color=#ff9900] “It’s a hot dog Superman, they’re crap wherever you go. When you’re a Speedster though you need to keep up with your metabolism. I figured you’d be in the same boat.[/color]” She shrugged as she took a sip of her soda. [color=#ff9900]“Yeah it always seems like there’s something going on, to be real there are a lot of threats that we can’t face alone. It’ll be even worse if the bad guys start teaming up.”[/color] She finished her own hotdog, licking the last of the residue off her fingers before throwing the trash down into a dumpster at the bottom of the building.

[color=#ff9900]“I’m not saying a little networking wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing, it just isn’t wholly practical. There’s no real safe way for us to communicate with each other without placing a lot of trust in one individual. Unless you happen to be a billionaire with your own satellite network.”[/color] Iris pointed an accusatory finger at him, she didn’t believe it for a second but it helped bring some much needed levity to the conversation. [color=#ff9900]“If you have an idea, you’re the one to make it happen. After all, in the modern age, you’re the world’s first Superhero. So what’re you thinking?”[/color]

In all honesty, this wasn’t how she expected this conversation to go. Iris had all kinds of questions running through her head. All kinds of conversation topics, and then Superman was talking to her about some kind of Superhero Network? Next he’d ask her for advice.

[b][color=#4a86e8]“Well, I don’t really have a solution off the top of my head,” [/color][/b]Clark admitted, taking a sip of his soda, [b][color=#4a86e8]“but yeah, I think it would be a good idea to keep off the conventional channels.  Radio chatter can be intercepted, phone calls can be traced, and talking over the internet is just begging for trouble.  And even if we do have the methods, there’s the matter of who we can trust with it.  Masks and public codenames and secret identities are fine when it comes to protecting the people you care about, but it can be hard to tell if you can count on someone when you don’t even know their name.”[/color][/b]

Finishing off his hot dog and washing it down with a swig of soda, Superman suppressed a burp, then after a moment’s consideration, he made a decision.

[b][color=#4a86e8]“I’m Clark, by the way.  Clark Kent.”[/color][/b]

Iris spat out her soda. She had been sitting drinking it quite happily, not disagreeing with anything he had said. In fact she was about to bring up the whole [i]Braniac[/i] thing. She had avoided having her phone updated, she didn’t like the fact that it could track her movement and quite [i]possibly[/i] discern her secret identity. The fact that he just told her his real name however, that was something else entirely. The only secret identity she knew was that of the Blue Beetle, and that was more due to him having a slip of the tongue than there being actual trust.

Jay didn’t count, they both used the same name. The name itself also rung a bell, she hadn’t worked directly with Clark Kent before, but she had done work with the Daily Planet. She raised her hands and grabbed her mask, pulling it off of her face. The difference was negligible but it felt symbolic more than anything. She extended her hand out to him. [color=#ff9900]“Nice to meet you Clark Kent. Iris West, at your service.”[/color] After shaking hands she stood up and paced.

[color=#ff9900]“I think we need to think about this. Maybe sit on it for a while, there’s a lot of hate and distrust to us out there. If we unionise people might think we’re planning a hostile takeover. The two of us-”[/color] She shrugged.[color=#ff9900] “-We’re pretty fast. Plus that Thor guy can open portals now apparently.”[/color]

[b][color=#4a86e8]“Heh, I’ve been hoping for a chance to meet Thor,”[/color][/b] Clark chuckled.  [b][color=#4a86e8]“One of the guys from work is betting Thor could take me in an arm-wrestling match.  I’d like to take him up on that bet.”[/color][/b] 

[color=#ff9900]“As long as the two of you don’t get into it. The last thing we need is for Thor and Superman to level half the country just to see who the bigger man is. For the record, I’d like to put my money on Thor.” [/color]Iris recoiled away from- Clark. In mock fear. [color=#ff9900]“Don’t get up in my business, it took the two of us to take the Surfer on. He did it solo, but then again if he is the real Thor he’s been around for thousands of years so has a [i]little[/i] more experience than we do.[/color]

Clark laughed again.  [b][color=#4a86e8]“Maybe I should get my hands on a magic hammer of my own, [i]then[/i] we’ll see what’s what.  But in all seriousness, even if we don’t make anything official, I think we ought to start considering who we can count on when things really hit the fan.  So far, you’re only the third person not directly related to me who knows my name, and only the second in the, erm, ‘hero community.’  The other being Batman, but that was more of a matter of circumstance.  So I hope you know that means I’m putting a pretty substantial amount of trust in you, Iris.”[/color][/b]

Clark considered the name for a moment.

[b][color=#4a86e8]“Iris West….” [/color][/b]he said to himself before a light bulb went off in his head.  [b][color=#4a86e8]“You’re with Central City News, right?  I’ve read your work, it’s great stuff.  My gir--....erm, my co-worker’s mentioned you a few times as one of her proverbial rivals.  I, erm, don’t think she means anything by it, she just likes to get competitive.”[/color][/b]

Iris burst out laughing. For being possibly one of the strongest men on the face of the planet. He was pretty darn awkward.[color=#ff9900] “I swear Clark, you really are just a big blue boyscout aren’t you? I’m surprised you’ve got the teeth to be a reporter.”[/color] She straightened her face out.[color=#ff9900] “I appreciate the trust you’re putting in me. So long as you appreciate it back, only-”[/color] She did a quick mental tally [color=#ff9900]“-four people know my identity and none of them are even family. Also you can let your girl-worker know, that it’s a lot easier to write good fluff pieces on a hero, when you’re the actual hero.”[/color]

Iris shrugged. [color=#ff9900]“It’s technically cheating, I know. It does keep me in with a job however, and I haven’t won he pulitzer prize because of it yet. I’m working on it though.”[/color] She stood up. [color=#ff9900]“Listen, thanks for stopping by. Sometimes it’s good to have someone to talk to about work stuff, the only other people I can talk about this stuff are either retired superheroes or scientists determined to use me as some form of energy generator.”[/color] She threw a smile at him as she pulled her mask back onto her face, her hands moved as a blur before she held a piece of paper out to him, a number written on it. “[color=#ff9900]That’s my cell, as in my actual cell. Call me if you need me, or. If you just need to talk. Though I think if we hang out here any longer, we’re going to start attracting attention.”[/color]

[b][color=#4a86e8]“Good point,” [/color][/b]said Clark, [b][color=#4a86e8]“we, ah, don’t want people get the wrong idea.  Erm, whatever that may be.  Anyway, it was good catching up with you again.  I’ll hang onto this, and give you a call when the time comes.  At any rate, I’ll see you the next time the planet needs saving.”[/color][/b]

Calling back to her ‘Big Blue Boy Scout’ remark, he gave a quick three-finger salute, and was off into the night, headed back towards a sleepy little farm town about two hours’ drive away.