[Third Person's PoV]
Clark sat around a sizzling Korean barbecue grill, accompanied by none other than Momo, Lala, and Seiko. The delicious scent of grilled meat and spices lingered in the air, smoke drifting lazily upwards from the grill embedded in the table. To avoid drawing unnecessary attention — particularly for Lala's sake — Clark opted against wearing his usual glasses. Instead, he wore a simple black baseball cap, pulled low to obscure most of his face.
Momo and Clark were huddled close together, their shoulders touching as they shared quiet laughs. Momo nudged him playfully and grinned with excitement, "Do the thing, do the thing, please!"
Clark chuckled softly, glancing around the restaurant to ensure nobody was watching them too closely. Once he was certain they were safe, he casually picked up a slice of raw meat with his chopsticks. With a slight squint of his eyes, twin beams of crimson heat vision lanced out, instantly cooking the meat to a perfect, juicy sizzle. Steam curled from it as the edges browned deliciously.
Both he and Momo snickered like mischievous kids as he tossed the meat into the air. Momo leapt up and caught it in her mouth like a trained dog.
"Ahhh! Hot-hot-hot-hot!" she mumbled mid-chew, flapping her hands and fanning her mouth as her cheeks puffed.
Clark laughed. "Heh, well duh — it's called heat vision for a reason."
Before either could say anything else, a sharp whack landed on both their heads. Seiko, looking thoroughly unimpressed, loomed over them with her hand still raised.
"Behave, you two," she said sternly.
"Sorry…" they both muttered in unison, rubbing the tops of their heads in embarrassment.
Lala, seated across from them, covered her mouth and giggled, clearly entertained by the chaos. Her tail swayed contently behind her as she dipped her meat into a small bowl of hot broth. After a bite, her expression melted with bliss as she held her cheeks, humming softly. "Wow~ Earth food is so good~"
Clark and Lala suddenly stiffened, their eyes locking on the subtle, rhythmic swaying of her tail. A waiter was passing by with a tray of fresh meat, and both of them instinctively lunged forward, pressing Lala's tail down to hide it.
"A-AAHH~!"
The waiter stopped mid-step, eyes wide, staring at the table with a bewildered look.
All four froze. The air was thick with awkward tension. Seiko, calm as ever, recovered first.
"My granddaughter just really enjoys the food," she explained with a straight face.
The waiter blinked, confused. "...Granddaughter?" he muttered before continuing on his way.
Once he was out of earshot, all eyes turned to Lala, who was now staring down at her lap in shame.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "But my tail is very sensitive. When it's touched or pressed, I get all tingly and weak. It's… really hard to control."
"Wait," Momo leaned in, voice a mix of intrigue. "So it's like your… ero-zone?"
Lala gave a mortified nod, cheeks flushed red.
Momo instantly burst into laughter, banging the table with a fist while Clark and Seiko looked thoroughly exasperated.
But Momo wasn't done. She mischievously reached over and began teasing Lala's tail again.
"Ahh~ mmhmm~ please stoppp~" Lala moaned, squirming in her seat, biting the knuckle of her forefinger in a poor attempt to suppress the noises escaping her mouth. An aura of sultry energy radiated from her as she panted lightly, her chest rising and falling with visible effort.
Clark and Momo both stared at her with wide, stunned eyes, unable to process what they were witnessing.
Leaning closer to Seiko, Clark whispered, "Are we absolutely certain she's not some kind of Yokai… or succubus?"
"I'm beginning to question that myself," Seiko muttered, shaking her head.
Momo finally released the tail, drawing her hand back. "Sorry, sorry!" she said, flustered. "Lala… you're dangerous. Even I felt something there…"
Seiko shot them a look. "Enough. Finish your meals. And Momo — stop bothering Lala."
"Yes, ma'am," Momo replied sheepishly, lowering her head.
The group eventually settled down, enjoying the rest of their Korean barbecue in relative peace. Plates emptied, drinks refilled, and satisfied smiles began to replace the earlier embarrassment. Lala, in particular, looked radiant, her tail gently swishing behind her as she enjoyed every second of it.
---
Later, the four of them exited the restaurant, Clark carrying a large bag filled with leftovers and extra meat he'd bought for Krypto. The night air was cool and calm as they slipped into a secluded alleyway away from prying eyes.
A few seconds later, a streak of red and white shot into the sky — a blur soaring high above the glowing skyline of Seoul, cutting through the clouds like a comet.
Clark led the flight, his cape billowing in the wind. Halfway across the journey back to Japan, Lala and Momo joined him mid-air, flying gracefully at his side. Seiko, ever composed, sat cross-legged atop Clark's back, her topknot whipping in the breeze, arms folded as if this were the most natural way to travel.
Upon arrival at their temple home in Japan, Clark gently descended and landed in the courtyard. With the help of his cape, he carefully set Seiko down onto the ground.
"I'm heading back to the Fortress," Clark informed her.
"Alright," Seiko nodded, brushing off her robes. "Just don't stay up too late — it's a school night, after all."
Clark chuckled as she patted his shoulder and turned to head inside.
As Clark turned to take off, his boots just beginning to hover above the temple courtyard, a sudden tug on his cape pulled him back.
"Wait!" Lala called out.
Clark looked over his shoulder, brow raised. "Hm? What's wrong?"
Lala floated up beside him, her long pink hair catching the moonlight as her wings fluttered softly behind her. She wore a bright, radiant smile.
"I just wanted to thank you," she said warmly. "I don't think I've ever had the chance to properly say it."
Before he could reply, Lala leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. The gesture was sweet and sincere, and it left Clark blinking in surprise.
He looked at her, bemused. "You know… on Earth, we usually say thanks with our words."
Lala giggled and floated backward, her hands behind her back, wings still fluttering lazily in the air. "We do that in Deviluke too, silly. But just saying it wouldn't do justice to everything I feel right now."
Clark smiled faintly, scratching the back of his head. "Well… you're welcome, I suppose. Just try not to need saving every other week."
She gave a teasing smirk. "That really isn't up to me now, is it?"
Clark let out a soft scoff. "No. I guess not."
"But don't worry," Lala added quickly, her eyes sparkling with determination. "I won't be a burden. I'm actually strong, I'll have you know— I could even be your sidekick!"
Clark chuckled. "Keep dreaming. I already have a partner — and his name is Krypto."
He gave her a mock salute, then with a powerful thrust, rocketed into the sky, leaving a booming gust in his wake.
Lala pouted dramatically. But as she looked up and watched the red-and-white streak vanish into the night sky, her expression softened into a tender smile.
'One of the reasons I came here was to comfort and protect him. I'll definitely repay you someday, Clark… and when that day comes, I'll be the one saving you. My hero…'
---
Superman soared across skies and continents, streaking above clouds, oceans, and cities. He briefly slowed when he heard cries for help — diverting to stop a runaway train, and even catching a collapsing crane. Each act was swift, graceful, and invisible to most — a blur of red and gold before the world resumed as if disaster had never threatened it.
Eventually, he reached the Arctic.
The Fortress of Solitude responded to his presence immediately. Its crystalline spires shimmered under the polar lights as massive doors parted silently, welcoming their master home.
Clark stepped inside, the warmth of alien technology contrasting against the frigid winds behind him. He let out a sharp whistle.
Krypto, his loyal white dog, came bounding toward him, barking happily and spinning in excited circles. Clark grinned and walked over to the custom-made dog bowl, setting down the large bag of leftover meat from Seoul.
He activated his heat vision, gently warming and cooking the meal to perfection.
Krypto immediately dove in, devouring it at super-speed until the bowl sparkled. The bowl itself spun away from the force of his enthusiasm, rolling across the floor as Krypto licked his lips with satisfaction, tail wagging like a turbine.
"Glad you enjoyed it, boy," Clark chuckled, ruffling the dog's fur affectionately before walking deeper into the fortress.
He entered his personal training chamber — a vast, clean space equipped with advanced technology, energy fields, and crystalline consoles. Clark sat in the center of the chamber, settling into a lotus position as he took a calming breath. The room dimmed slightly, focusing its attention on him.
"Sol," Clark called.
A glowing AI interface emerged, casting soft light across the room. "Yes, Master Kal-El?"
"Did you find everything I asked for?" he asked, eyes still closed.
"Yes, Master. I have retrieved all recorded meditation techniques and internal training methods spanning Kryptonian history, including the archives of Vathlo Island, the archives of House Tor, and the philosophical doctrines of Raoist scholars."
"Good," Clark said with a nod. "Cross-reference them. Compile the most efficient and effective practices into one singular system. I need to refine everything — mind, body, spirit"
"As you command," Sol responded with unwavering precision.
Clark pressed his fingers together in the classic Kryptonian meditative stance. His breath slowed. His thoughts sharpened.
'I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself for what happened to that little girl…'
The memory was a weight on his chest — one he carried every day.
'I can't dwell on what ifs. But I can make sure they stop being ifs altogether. My bio-field — the energy that buffers my body — it's powerful. But I don't fully control it yet. I have access… but not mastery. I need that mastery, so I never have to hesitate and worry about harming what I'm trying to save again.'
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