Title: METROPOLIS: New Beginnings by Annie T aka Cloisthelegendbegins.
Rating: PG to PG-13 (some mild violence, some sensuality, nothing more than you would see in a episode of Smallville)
Relationship: Lois and Clark legend with a Smallville twist!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Smallville/Lois & Clark TNAOS/The Superman movies or DC Comics - it's all just for fun!!
Summary: Clark returns to Metropolis after almost six years away, having completed his training and traveled the world... picking up from where the movies and L&C would have begun with a little creative license along the way...

CHAPTER ONE

Gotham Gazette Offices Late Evening.

It wasn't the first time she'd worked late with only the occasional shuffle of the cleaning crews to let her know she wasn't alone in the building. And it wasn't that she was overly edgy, despite the number of times she still found herself looking over her shoulder. But there was just, something, that brought her attention from the computer screen long enough to notice when a shadow moved in her peripheral vision.

Automatically her spine straightened a little, her hand sliding from the keyboard to the top drawer of her desk while she looked from side to side without moving her head to indicate she knew she wasn't alone. Stay calm. Remember you're in the best position. That was one of the comforts of having her desk facing the only entrance and her back to the wall. But it also meant she had to be ready, just in case she had to get to the exit – fast. So she rolled her chair back at the same as she slid the drawer open, covering the sound with a cough as her fingertips touched the cold metal of the gun she always kept close by.

He stepped out of the shadows, a deep voice she hadn't heard in what felt like a lifetime rumbling out a low greeting, "I should have known I'd find you at a newspaper somewhere. Hiding in plain sight, huh?"

Her breath caught, "Clark?"

The light from her desk lamp illuminated his features as he stepped closer, a small smile on his mouth and sparkling in his eyes, "She remembers."

The answering smile was immediate, and she was out of the chair and flinging herself into his arms before the sound of his low chuckle even reached her ears, "Oh my god - I can't believe you're here!"

"Careful now – squeeze me any tighter and you might leave a bruise."

Leaning back she smacked a broad shoulder, "As if!"

Setting her at arms length Clark raised his dark brows, "Look at you. Life in Gotham City obviously suits you."

She tilted her head to one side and rolled her eyes, "What can I say? I guess I just found my niche. If I'd known all it would take was a secret identity then I'd have followed your lead a lot sooner."

His expression changed, taking on that 'weight of the world/responsible for everything' look she remembered all too well from when she'd known him before, "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you Chloe. What you did –"

"Needed done," She stepped forwards again and squeezed his forearms, "I'm a big girl now Smallville – I can look out for myself. So you can stop that. You always did guilt better than anyone else on the planet."

The smile reappeared, "Your cousin has been rubbing off on you some in the nick name department, hasn't she?"

Chloe grinned before moving back to her desk, talking along the way, "Lois and my new life combined. It's tough not getting to see her anymore though. I miss her being around."

"You still talk?"

"We have a code," She threw him a wink as she sat down on the edge of the desk, "Just don't go telling anyone at the Witness Protection Program. I'm quite happy where I am. So – tell me all about Clark Kent's latest adventures – where've you been for the last five years? Enrolled a new side-kick yet?"

Clark shook his head, folding his arms across his broad chest, "No new side-kick, you'd be tough to replace. I've traveled some – finished up my training – and now I'm headed back to Metropolis. I just wanted to check in and see how you were."

"You finished your training? Wow – what was that like?"

"Interesting."

"I'll bet."

When he wasn't any more forthcoming Chloe crossed her legs and studied him for a moment, finding it interesting he'd chosen to go back to the city rather than the small town they'd grown up in, "Do you know what you're going to do in Metropolis?"

"I have a job offer," His wide mouth twitched at the edges, "At the Planet."

Chloe's eye's widened, "You're kidding me."

"Nope. Start Monday. I sent them some pieces from my travels and they liked what they saw. It's pretty easy to get the inside story on disasters and accidents if you're on the scene when they happen."

"Well, well, finally a hidden bonus to being a superhero, huh?"

"So it would seem. And the way I see it – it's easier to keep track of what's going on if I'm at the center of it all, so The Planet's ideal," He unfolded his arms and moved forwards until he was close enough to turn and sit on the desk beside her, his voice lowering, "You want me to give a message to Lois?"

Chloe laughed softly, nudging his shoulder with her own, "And how would you do that when you're not supposed to know where I am, genius?"

"Good point."

"Does she know you're back?"

"No."

"She was pretty mad at you for a while."

Clark smiled, his chin dropping, "No change there then," He glanced sideways at her, "It'll be like the old days."

"We've all come a long way from the old days."

"Yes, we have," And the hint of regret in his voice was all too evident.

So Chloe nudged his shoulder again, her voice soft, "We all end up where we're s'posed to be in the end."

"I like to hope so."

The doors at the end of the hall swung open, a cleaning trolley rattling down the tiled floor while they sat in silence waiting for it to pass; a million unspoken words hanging heavy in the air between them until Clark took a deep breath,

"Are you happy Chloe?"

She was touched that he needed to know and comforted by the fact that even though so much had happened since they'd been friends before it still felt like it had been weeks rather than years since they'd last talked. It was a sign of true friendship, wasn't it?

"You know something? I am. I might not get to write the name Chloe Sullivan in my by-lines these days but I'm still exactly where I always wanted to be," She waved a hand at the room, "Here in a great newspaper – sniffing out the great stories… It's not The Planet I dreamed of but its pretty close. I could do with a little less of a high-maintenance image but I kinda love the fact that an old friend thinks I look glamorous nowadays…"

Clark nodded, aiming another smile her way, "I'm glad. And now I'm back I'll try and fly in as often as I can, okay?"

"In the literal sense or via traditional methods?"

"Nah - I got that one down pat now."

"Well I'm very glad to hear it 'cos some of those training sessions with Kara?" She shuddered, "Not so pretty to watch. Graceful wasn't exactly your thing at the beginning."

He laughed, "No it certainly wasn't."

Chloe watched as he pushed up onto his feet, tilting her head back to look up into his face as he studied her with affection shining in his eyes. She'd missed her friend. It felt good to have him back – and to think he could come to her again if he needed help with something. She'd missed that too. Only now she had a life of her own as well – she wouldn't be putting her career on hold while she spent time helping him research meteor freaks or escaped Zoner's or… well… the list could go on and on…

"Don't be a stranger."

"I won't," He rocked forwards onto the balls of his feet and dropped his chin to look at her with a quirk of his eyebrows, "Watchtower."

Ah, so that was how he'd found her. She pursed her lips and nodded, "Oliver finally signed you up then I take it."

"Uh-huh."

She nodded again, "Bout time too. You always were the last one to the party. Do we still get to call you Boy Scout?"

The question raised another low chuckle of laughter as he rocked back onto his heels, "No, that's gotta go. If I have any new ideas you'll be the first to know."

"I better be. Can't have Lois steal the scoop on me and you know no-one bestows a superhero title better than lil ole me."

"If it was left to Lois we'd still have the Green Arrow Bandit, so I'll just leave it in your capable hands," He took another deep breath and looked her straight in the eye, "If you need me – for anything - just yell, okay?"

Chloe smiled a broad smile, well aware he meant literally, "I have an army of superhero's looking out for me these days - trust me. You just keep an eye on my cousin for me – she's never out of trouble."

"I can believe that."

"She won't make it easy for you."

"I can believe that too."

"And you'll have a hard time convincing her you'll make much of a reporter when she's only ever known you as a farm boy."

The smile he gave her indicated he had an ace somewhere up his sleeve, "Well like you said – we've all come a long way since the old days."

Chloe's eyes narrowed; every fiber of the reporter in her sensing something big was on its way. But before she could ask the question he leaned in and placed a kiss on her cheek, his voice low and edged with sincerity,

"It's good to see you Chloe Sullivan."

"You too Clark Kent," She waited until he was almost at the door before she added, "And by the way – for future reference - it's Vicki."

He turned, "Vicki?"

Yes, they'd come a long way alright. Something told Chloe that Clark Kent was about to unleash a new name into the annals of Superhero history. And thanks to the Witness Protection Program she had a new name of her own – one he needed to start using if he wanted to make sure Lex Luthor's long reaching hand couldn't touch her again,

"My name - it's Vicki – Vicki Vale. Try and remember?"

"I'll do my best."

And just like that he was gone – the associated swift displacement of air blowing her long blond hair back from her cheeks. She shook her head, a smile on her lips,

"That just never get's boring…"

The Daily Planet – Monday Morning.

"I don't need a partner."

"I'm sorry – did I say it was optional?"

Sarcasm was wasted on Lois and her Editor-In-Chief was well aware of that fact, so she simply placed her hands on her hips and glared at him, "If you land me with some wet-behind-the-ears newbie it'll slow me down."

"I sincerely hope so," Perry leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking as he rocked it from side to side, "You need someone to be the voice of reason Lois – every time you get in over your head and end up hurt it takes you out of action. And the last time was one time too many. You need someone to watch your back."

"I had Jimmy to watch my back."

"Yes and look how well that turned out. You may as well have taken Bambi on assignment with you." With a deep sigh he rocked forwards, folding his arms on the desk and fixing her with a direct stare that said he meant business, "This paper sells on its headlines Lois and with you out of action I lose headlines. It's business. And as your boss I call the shots – so you're getting a partner whether you like it or not."

Lois knew when Perry used the tone of voice he'd just used on her there was no way she was getting out of it. Oh, she could fight – she could kick and scream and reason with him and threaten to leave – but it was pointless. So she'd just have to prove her point,

"If he gets in the way it'll cost me headlines."

"Three strikes and he's out – you have my word on that. But I tell ya Lois, from what I've see of this guy's work, he's got a superhuman nose for a story before anyone else gets to it."

Three strikes could be arranged she felt. If nothing else, one of the joys of being a bone-fide General's daughter was a gal learnt about strategy. She gave the newbie a week, tops. After all, she'd made her way onto The Planet's payroll by being a tiger – and tiger's didn't play well with kittens. Lois had yet to meet a newbie who wasn't a kitten…

"Well he better be somethin' if he's gonna keep up with me."

"I can give it a try."

Lois's hands dropped from her hips when she heard the deep voice behind her – it couldn't be. But she could already feel a sense of impending doom settling in the air as she slowly turned on her heel to look at him.

It couldn't be, but it was.

His eyes sparkled behind the lenses of unfamiliar glasses, a hint of a smile on his mouth. And Lois hated him for looking so pleased at her surprise. Hating him even more when he merely inclined his head a little – lifting a large hand to push his glasses back up his nose as he replied with a calm,

"Miss Lane."

She made a cursory glance down his large body and then turned to look over her shoulder at Perry while pointing a finger forwards, "You hired him?"

"Lois Lane meet Clark Kent – your new partner."

Monday mornings officially sucked. With a scowl at Perry for good measure she turned her ire on the person she now blamed entirely for her predicament, lifting her chin as she walked towards him, "If you already got the job you didn't need to dress like you're heading to an interview. And just so you know; new guy gets the coffee."

The smirk she gave him was immediately replaced with another scowl when he raised a hand, "Black, four sweet n' low."

"See Lois – already doing his research…"

Snatching the coffee from his hand Lois lowered her voice as she walked through the narrow space left in the doorway, "Way to go at kissing ass on your first day."

"Come in Kent. Close the door."

Oh he had a nerve just walking in after disappearing off the face of the earth for so long. Not that she hadn't noticed the features that appeared from varying locations around the globe the last couple of years with his name on them - some of them had actually been good – not great, but not bad either. And it wasn't that she was ticked off he hadn't stayed in contact with her specifically, it wasn't like they'd been that close to begin with. But she'd thought when her Cuz -

She pursed her lips as she walked across the buzzing floor to her desk – phones ringing, voices calling across the room, the sound of printers and the barely perceptible clack of keyboards all clamouring together into a kind of weird lullaby that soothed her soul. The Planet was home, the one constant left in her life and if Smallville thought he could just walk in here and make like he hadn't deserted everyone and everything –

Well, he could just think again.

"Pull up a chair Kent."

Clark controlled the smile that had been on his face since Lois left the office with her nose in the air, reaching a hand across the desk to shake Perry's hand as he sat down, "Mr. White – just in case I haven't already said it; I really appreciate the chance t-"

"It's not a free ride Kent. We'll give it a try for three months and see how you do. But I warn you now – Lane isn't gonna make life easy for you."

Had she ever? "I'm sure th-"

"And she's gonna do her best to trip you up so she can get rid of you, make no mistake about that. She prefers to go it alone. I had to fight like hell to get her to take a photographer with her," Perry frowned across the wide desk, "Can write a story with the best of them but can't take a picture worth a crap. You take your own pictures, right?"

"Well I've taken a fe-"

"That'll help. We'll give you something small you can carry with you. How's your spelling?"

"It's good. I've never-"

Perry nodded, "Make sure you read everything through before it goes to copy editing then. Save me a full time member of staff to check for that language only Lois understands."

Clark had to hold back another smile. Ever since her early days at The Inquisitor Lois had been more interested in grabbing a headline than she had in whether or not anyone could translate the words she used.

The glasses he was still struggling to get used to made their way a little down the bridge of his nose again, forcing him to raise a hand to push them back into place. He still didn't see why he needed to wear them – it wasn't the biggest stroke of genius his Mom had had when they brainstormed 'disguises'. But it was more about the little things that would make people second guess their suspicions she had reasoned. The guy that preferred to wear reading glasses rather than contacts was hardly likely to be the same guy who would fly through the air and catch falling planes. And look-a-likes for celebrities were a dime a dozen, so if anyone ever put two and two together he could laugh it off, suggest he might make money pretending to be someone he wasn't and then do something clumsy to prove his point if he had to, right? Well. Time would tell.

He just needed to make sure no-one ever got close enough to see through him. A lesson he'd learned the hard way in Smallville.

"Marsha will show you were you're working and get you a press pass."

Clark nodded. Didn't seem like much point trying to add to the conversation anyways. He'd failed miserably so far. But when he stood up, Perry cleared his throat and cracked a smile,

"Glad I was able to repay that favour I owed you Kent. Might not have been here if it wasn't for that little stopover in Smallville. Don't let me down."

Clark smiled back, "I won't Mr. White."

He turned and left the office, his smile growing as he looked around the busy bullpen. This was the beginning; finally. Because he knew his place in the world now, didn't he? Or at least what he wanted it to be.

'There's a whole world of people out there who need us…. You can't wait for them to come to you.'

That's what a friend had said to him once, before they were even friends. And he'd been right. Clark had learned that in his travels around the world. He'd fought against every one of his abilities in his youth but they were gifts. Gifts that as an adult he wasn't going to waste. He wasn't going to wait for the people who needed help to come to him.

Not anymore…