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Ultra Woman: Clark Kent
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“I could really use some HELP,” he raised his voice briefly before lowering it again, “getting out of this.”

No sooner had the words come out of his mouth than he heard a whoosh (familiar except not because he usually heard it on multiple frequencies and from the other side of it) and Ultra Woman descended from the sky.

For a moment, awe superseded his embarrassment. Lois Lane was amazing, he’d always known that, but it was like realizing it all over again (for the first and the thousandth time) when he saw her in a Suit and cape, able to fly and willing to save the day. Clark stared up at her, and in a surreal moment, realized that this must be what she felt like when he came at her slightest call.

Relieved. Grateful. Impressed. A little intimidated.

Of course, he had a few more emotions rolling around inside him on top of all those. Emotions he wasn’t so proud of.

Like shame that in only one day of actually being an ordinary man (the regular human he’d always secretly wished to be), he’d failed to save a man rom a mugging, been beaten up, kidnapped, used as a hostage, and almost blown up. Not to mention the ropes he still couldn’t get off his wrists. To be fair, Lois got in situations like this fairly often, but at least she was there because she was chasing stories, uncovering bad guys, making the world a better place. Clark had just been overconfident and forgetful--and so unfamiliar with limitations.

He was embarrassed, too. So embarrassed that after only one day, he’d already nearly given away Lois’s secret identity. Already been a hostage that could have been used against her (and if anyone knew how important a secret identity was, it was him).

He was even a bit humiliated that he was so weak now, though he was trying his hardest to expunge that. Lois certainly wasn’t weak. His parents were the strongest people he knew. Perry and Jimmy both had strengths he admired. It wasn’t rational of him, then, to think of himself as less without his powers.

Maybe he was just afraid to find out that without his powers, he wasn’t brave. Wasn’t a hero. Wasn’t strong.

But he called and Lois came and he hadn’t given away her secret identity and he was able to lead her back to the Newtrichs’ hideout and hold her when she cried, and maybe he wasn’t Superman anymore, but maybe Clark Kent could be a hero too. Or at least, a hero to Lois (to Ultra Woman) and that was just as good.

Calling for help wasn’t as nice as being the one who came in ahead of a sonic boom. Being tied up wasn’t nearly as easy to get out of without super-strength. Playing the hostage instead of the superhero would definitely take a bit of getting used to.

But in the end, Lois was still there, melting into his embrace as if she still respected him. His parents still loved him, even understood him. He could still do his job, even help people, though he’d be a bit more careful about how he went into knife fights next time.

Powers or no powers, he decided, his life was still pretty good.

***