Chapter 4

DC

Marvel

The Newest Marvel

*** Boston, Mass ***

"Watching the news again?" Marcus Kent, father of Clark Kent asked his son who was simply relaxing on the couch watching the latest development on the Superheroes Civil War.

"Damn shame it's still going on, I tell you."

"They are still saving people Dad, that's admirable," Clark gently rebuke his father as he watched how two more Heroes under Captain America have been apprehended. Dressed in a casual white tee-shirt and shorts he continued to be on paid vacation from the Baxter Building Farm. He figure he might as well spend sometime with his parents. Which meant that Cobalt have been out of action for a month also.

"Well if Captain America would just surrender this entire war would be over," Marcus sat down next to his son and kicked up his feet on the coffee table.

Clark sighed inwardly, both of his parents were pro-registration, he himself was firmly against but did not feel like joining Captain America's party. He might not like it but he doesn't dislike it enough to resist. The fact though, that even if he was Anti-Registration, Tony Stark has some good ideas on where he wanted to focus with The Initiative. Fifty superhero teams in all fifty state. If this works then it would be adopted world wide.

In all honesty it seem like a more detailed version of his Justice League. First there was the Justice League, then the Justice League of America with their counterpart the Justice League of Europe, finally the Justice League Dark, who dealt in the supernatural. While not state specific they were responsible for their region with the Justice League main branch helping out wherever is necessary.

As for Cobalt, Clark felt a bit guilty not going on patrol, as to his surprise he was also listed as a hero who have not registered. But now a days, New York is heavily defended by both S.H.I.E.L.D, and Iron Man forces that not much is slipping through the cracks. After all, Tony Stark have to prove that his method works to deal with all sort of threat.

Then there are the Secret Avengers as people have begun to dubbed them, that still fight crime while fighting off Iron Man "Cape Killers".

"Don't give me that sigh young man, why I didn't even know Carol was a Superhero! Too bad you let that one get away eh?"

Clark face flushed a bit and drank some beer to cover his blush. His crush on Carol was well know by his parents. The fact that he was asked by her to the Prom was the highlight of his teen life at the time and he MIGHT have strutted around like a peacock. After that Carol went off to the military and while they kept in contact some, it was she who ended their correspondence. Something about a huge project group at the time.

Of course now that Ms. Marvel bios was listed, he could fill in the blanks. That was when she became a liaison to Captain Mar-vell.

+++ A week later +++

Clark, still on leave, was out washing his truck and reveling in it. The experience between a human and when he was Superman was like night and day! As if to emphasis the point he took his shirt and wiped the sweat off of it. While he have sweated before of course it usually mainly when he battle the likes of Lobo, Darkseid or was depowered. This was sweat from honest hard work, being a farmhand he rarely felt any exertion despite everything he did for Ma or Pa.

"Hi Clark~~~!" A girlish voice sounded by his parent drive way.

Looking up from using his shirt as a towel he saw one his old neighbor teen daughter waving at him flirtatiously. He gave a small smile and wave back and noted that her and her friend squeal and proceeded to walk away.

Girls. He'd never understand them, Superman or not. Still, looking down at his shirt, he frowned, it was already soaking from the soap and water he used. Might as well take it off. The moment he did he heard his dad stifle an amused chuckle.

"What?" Clark looked over to his dad who was doing some maintenance on the lawn.

"Son," Marcus Kent gave Clark a deadpanned look. "Nobody like a show off."

Clark looked chagrin at his father comment and took a look down at his body. Sure it was a lot better than what he had but it was not quite up to his old body, he suppose he would be considered fit and lithe. However in response to his look, Marcus look around the neighborhood and stop the machine.

"Whatever, I'm just blocking the neighbors view anyway, gonna take a beer break, want one?"

"Sure?" Clark response still unsure of what his father was talking about and continued to work shirtless on cleaning his car. It was a few minutes later than he heard a wolf whistle somewhere close by, but a quick scan showed nothing. He was tempted to take the watch off to find out who but decided against it. His dad came out a bit later and finished off the lawn work before heading back inside, that left Clark alone to finished off the car in silence.

It was when Clark was finished when something caught his eye in the sky. It was a black dot that appear to be floating flying closer. Clark tense and got ready to take off his bracer when the dot began its descent.

'Carol?!' Clark though a bit stunned. The last time he saw her was when she came back for his graduation. She was in a coma during Steven's funeral, now she was here again and prettier than he even recalled. Long blonde hair was put up in a messy bun, she was not in her Ms. Marvel costume but instead regular civilians clothes.

"Clark?" the hovering beauty asked as she finally landed at her childhood home. Her voice sound uncertain as if if not believing her eyes. He couldn't blame her, he was pretty scrawny back then.

Clark eyes met her blue eyes before he decided to give her a wry smile. "I know we haven't seen each other in years, but surely I haven't change that much Carol or should I call you Ms. Marvel now?"

"Oh my god it is you!" Carol dropped the tote bag that she had been carrying onto the ground and the next moment Clark was in her embrace.

'Fast!' Was Clark initial thought before he gently embraced his ex-girlfriend? They were never together-together.

After a moment being in each other mutual embrace it was Carol who was the first to break hug. Clark watched as her eyes took him in and roam through his body. He wasn't ashamed to admit that he was doing the same. Damn if she didn't make casual clothes look good.

"Wow, you gotten taller, taller than even me!" Carol observed with some amazement. Clark was a full head shorter than her when he had graduated. What kind of growth spurt did he have?

"Couldn't stay a boy forever you know," Clark replied with a wry grin. A superpowered punch was the answer. The blonde beauty obviously held back but it was playful.

"Clearly not," Carol mused as she drank in Clark again. She'd was simply amaze at how the cute dorky boy she knew turn into … THIS!

"Dad told me the house still belonged to you but rarely see you there," Clark began as he looked at the house where he use to hanged out after school fondly.

Carol followed his sight and let a small sad smile grace her feature. The house was full of both happy and sad memories. Now it was a house were nobody lived, she was the sole survivor of her family.

"I check it on it from time to time, despite everything, it's still home you know?"

Clark nodded along before he decided he wanted to catch up with his old friend. Everything else was secondary.

"Hey Carol- Look, if you have time wanna go grab something to eat? We can catch up if you're not busy with… your job?"

Carol was a bit surprised by Clark but remembered Clark was not one to shy away from things. She was pretty sure he know she was Ms. Marvel but he still looking at her as if she was Carol from next door. Suddenly she felt a strange warmth spread through, and smiled.

"I'd love too."

+++ Pat's Diner +++

It was an old hang out that Clark and the Danver's use to go to often when they were younger. It was a small family style restaurant and there was a lot of eyes upon Carol when she walked in but afterward, they went about their business.

After they ordered their drinks and food, Clark dressed in casual jeans and a form fitting black t-shirt, watched as Carol straighten out strands of her hair.

"What?" Carol mock glared at Clark watching her with an amused glint in his eyes.

"Nothing, just that now I know how you keep your hair so impeccable," Clark teased before pretending to dodge her extremely slow punch.

"Well I see your way of solving problems still remain the same as ever."

"Hey! I have you know I do negotiation too," Carol defended herself with amusement. It wasn't her fault that villains don't listen so violence it was!

"Sure, whatever you say, I totally believe you," Clark egged the woman before they both laughed a bit as their appetizer arrived.

"So how's life been treating you?" Carol asked as she bit into a chicken wing while discreetly taking in Clark new look.

"Oh well, college and all that boring stuff, you know," Clark summarized as he finished biting into a drumette. "Oh and I work at the Baxter Building now."

Carol eyes widen as she quickly swallowed the chicken. "You work where?!"

"The Baxter Building, specifically a division called the Farm, but all it is is crunching the hard numbers for Reed Richards," Clark enjoyed the way Carol look between amazed and shocked.

"Hey, you always said I was smart, is it really such a surprise?"

"Well..." Carol pursed her lips before she shook her head. "Not really, I mean, I've been there a few time and didn't see you… or perhaps overlooked you somehow."

Clark watch as Carol play a bit with her hair, a sure sign that she was embarrassed that she might have missed him at the Freedom Four Plaza.

"Well, I am on temporary leave from the Farm, paid of course," Clark reassured his childhood friend as their main course arrived.

"Oh? On vacation?" Carol felt a bit relieved before she decided to let her food cool down a bit.

"Forced vacation," Clark corrected and saw Carol questioning look. "Dr. Richards put those that do not agreed with the Super hero registration act on paid leave until the whole thing blows over. The rest get to work on Project 42, whatever that is."

Suddenly Carol stilled and Clark almost wanted to kick himself. Things have been going so smoothly he forget Ms. Marvel was very much pro-registration.

"Perhaps we should cut this short, I have so many things to do and-"

Just as she was about to get up to leave Clark grabbed her wrist making her stop. She could have easily break his hold but memories of a sickly boy that get hurt easily flash back and old protective instincts flared up.

"Carol, it's okay, I'm not holding it against you or anyone from the pro-registration side," Clark explained in a hurry. He was enjoying his friend company and really do no want her to go.

"Look Mom and Dad is pro-registration and we're fine with having differing opinion. So please, stay?"

Carol slowly sat back down and gave Clark a long look. The last thing she needed was her childhood friend calling her a traitor or backstabber like those close to her in the Superhero community. She didn't want to hear that from Clark.

"So you really don't hold it against me for siding with To- Iron Man?"

Clark shook his head and sigh. "Look, what happen is a tragedy and for me, personally, the Super Hero Registration act is going overboard- that said, the idea behind it is sound and I can see the benefit in the long run."

Carol stared hard at Clark before she slowly sat down. She was curious at what he thought about it, unlike those that side with the Resistance, he did not sound angry, just sad.

"If you can see the benefit in the long run, than why don't you support it?"

Clark watched as Carol had pushed her plate aside and was giving him a curious look.

"Mainly because of S.H.I.E.L.D Cape Killer units. To see a superhero, someone that once protected the city being dragged from his home or hunted down like animals. It's one thing for the Super Heroes to do it to one another, I mean they often fight each other all the time, but their support seem to go overboard."

Carol gritted her teeth but Clark had it right, the S.R.U or the Superhero Restraint Unit dubbed "Cape Killers" by the public did use excessive force with her former colleague. It was something that isn't known until after the fact.

"Then there is the whole secret identity thing, I know that on paper only those that want their identity revealed to the public would but it is still a list that exist somewhere. Tell me Carol, how many time have our government been hacked by outside forces. Is there anything such a 100% proof security when it comes to villains and their abilities? But for me the most worrying part is that super villains don't even need to get their hand on the entire register, they just need to get one or two."

Carol let her food warmed as she chewed on Clark thought. Naturally what he brought up was the worse case scenario but still, his points were valid. Still….

"I agree that there is nothing 100% proof when it does comes to the likes of H.Y.D.R.A and A.I.M, but they would be for the most part extremely protected. As for risking their lives, so do the regular law enforcement officers who identities are public. They face retaliation every time they apprehend criminals. What makes someone that wear a mask like me any different than a beat cop?"

Clark nodded and agreed with Carol up to a certain point.

"Carol, when was the last time a super villain went after beat cops? They are too occupied with bringing down their heroes to lash out those that just indirectly jail them. I feel that if you take that away, than sooner or later the villains would not different between the two and that's when you see causality rise. Heroes like you can Cap serve as a beacon for the villains to rally against. When you are seen as the same as a regular law enforcement officer you are no longer a beacon but part of a machine. A machine I think the villains would want to destroy regardless who's in the way."

Carol blinked and for once pondered the side she was on, she was still loyal to the cause but Clark did bring up some good point. The Initiative to have superhero teams in all fifty states would mean that it would be an institution. Shaking her head before she did not want to think too deeply on it for now, right now she has a job to do. She looked up and saw Clark looking embarrassed, instead of looking righteous.

"Sorry for sounding preachy," Clark apologized in a heartfelt manner. Carol was on the pro-registration side, yes but she was also his friend. Heck even his superhero friend Spider-Man was on the pro-registration side. While he respect Captain America, he wasn't going to go out of is way to enlist nor would he register.

Carol no longer see the handsome man before her but instead a lanky boy that use to be extremely shy in her presence. Suddenly she gave him a beautiful smile. Clark always did make her feel at ease with how he view things even though it might not have been popular. She could respect it.

"It's okay," Carol assured him before she look at their mostly finished dinner. "Care to walk a defenseless lady home?"

"Defenseless?" Clark gave Carol an extremely skeptical look. "Excuse me, but I was under the impression I was dining with the beautiful superheroine Ms. Marvel."

"You think I am beautiful?" Carol suddenly felt very… flirty as she shot Clark a smoldering look. Seeing Clark swallowed hard made her feel even more bold. She briefly remember back when she was in high school, when Clark obviously had a crush on her, how she was dressed a bit more sexy to tease him and see him be tongue tied around her.

"O-Of course," Clark answered as he started to feel a bit hot under the collar so to speak. "I mean I even have a poster of you- Oh I mean-"

"Oh really now?" Carol knew Clark was getting flustered again, but damn if she did not enjoy it. "A picture of me on your wall. Why Clark I am flattered."

"I- I'm gonna shut up now," Clark forcefully chomp down on his jaws much to Carol laughter.

++ Danvers Home, The Next Morning ++

Carol was the first to wake up to a very comfortable warmth in bed with her. A moment later she recalled exactly what happened the night before and why she felt sated. She wasn't sore like when she was with other super hero in the past but Clark was delicious in every aspect. Also what he lacked in strength and durability he made up for in skills.

Snuggling in deeper the blonde bombshell inhaled Clark scent. Though she was the Superheroine, she felt extremely safe with one of Clark arm wrapped around her. She had to admit he grew up extremely well. If he had looked like this in highschool, he would have had to fight girls off with a stick.

Reluctantly Carol pried herself away from Clark arms, and look down at the sleeping man. She needed this, she had been too stressed out with the Civil War, this was her slice of rest and relaxation. She slowly put on her clothes and prepared to get ready for her job when her ear piece beeped.

Hovering quietly she exited and house and flew up into the sky letting the fresh morning air caress her.

"This is Carol."

"We got the lab result back." A gruff voice on the other end replied. It was the S.H.I.E.L.D lab tech.

"And?" Carol asked impatiently.

Yesterday after she left the diner with Clark, she had the S.H.I.E.L.D agents stationed in her town retrieved Clark dishes to get a DNA sample. As much as she hated to doubt it, her childhood friend changed too much for her to think there was no external factor involved. So she suspected he was a mutant or perhaps he underwent something like Captain America. So through the night S.H.I.E.L.D was diligently combing through Clark history. Now she dreaded the answer, if her childhood friend had powers he had to register.

"Negative Ms. Marvel, Clark Kent is clean, he also underwent testing before he joined the Baxter Building Farm Division, they match. Taken side by side he simply grew into the way he looked now through hard work and diligence.

"Thank you Agent," Carol turn off the earpiece and exhaled in happiness. Finally something right was going her way. Suddenly a thought occurred to her, perhaps she can get him onto Project 42, that way they'd be in each other orbit and… well she didn't know what they had but she wanted to explore it. Whatever happens happens.

TO BE CONTINUED.