Chapter 12

DC

Marvel

The Newest Marvel

*** The Date ***

It's been roughly two weeks after the attacked on the Grey's and the X-Men were finally able to relax. Professor Xavier had put together a team of mutants to travel to the Shi'ar empire to find answers for why they had attacked the Grey family. Jean had wanted to go along with them but she was the Headmistress of school, not to mention the relationship between her and the Shi'ar was very contentious at this point.

Clark found out the reason why Jean was so hated by the intergalactic empire. While possessed by the Phoenix, a primordial Cosmic entity that reminded him of the Lanterns Primordial beings, she wiped out an entire solar system full of sentient beings. They stopped it in a way but since then the Phoenix had been intruding into Jean's life at different interval. However, Jean had told him that Wanda Maximoff had somehow ripped the Phoenix away from her, along with the rest of the mutation populations powers.

Clark could not help but wondered what his life was like during the House of M. Unlike Jean he had no memory of it. Of course that was before he regained his powers.

With things now relatively peaceful, Clark was finally able to make good on taking Jean out on that date. So he was dressed in his best, not to casual but not too fancy. When he pulled up to the front door of the mansion he saw Jean had already exited, probably sensed him arriving.

Exiting his truck Clark saw Jean in her full glory and felt his jaw opened. Wearing a black dress that hugged her body like a glove, she moved with grace that could even rival Diana. There was a slit on the side of the dress that teased him by only revealing hints of her legs as she moved toward him. Her hair was framed all around her shoulders with curls in it's tresses. She was in a word, stunning.

Another detail Clark took in as Jean got closer was her amused expression and that her lips looked redder than usual. Before he knew it she was in front of him.

"Are you going to breath anytime soon Clark?" Jean asked with a teasing smile as her emerald eyes danced with delight. That's when he realized she was right, he had forgotten to breath!

Doing so, he gave Jean a rose he bought for this occasion. Jean accepted it gracefully and smiled at him before pulling him by his tie and kissing on his cheek.

"Such a gentlemen," Jean complimented him and Clark could not help but smiled goofily before he remembered to open the door for her. He shot her an apologetic look but she merely looked amused as she got into the passenger side. Just as he entered the driver side he saw Kurt aka Nightcrawler appeared in front of his driver side window.

"Don't have too much fun you crazy kids!" Nightcrawler tease the couple even as Kitty was wolf whistling from the door way.

"Ugh, those guys!" Jean growled before she settled in his car before she gave Clark one of her stunning smiles.

"So shall we?"

+++ Dinner +++

"Wow, sounds kind of like the Avengers." Jean commented as she slowly drank her wine.

They were in an upscale restaurant in the city, nothing to fancy of course, he couldn't get a reservation on such short noticed but it was very nice. Clark knew Jean was not a snob, but like both Ma Kent's always said, it can't hurt to treat girls nicely. So here they were, Clark and Jean situated in a private booth, almost nobody around in the comfortable surroundings. They discussed in details on his memories, mainly on the subject of his past life which he felt very at ease discussing with her. Jean truly seem fascinated by it.

"I guess," Clark finally replied after he broke out of his musing as they were done with dinner and on dessert now.

"Does that make me Captain America or Thor? Maybe Hulk?"

Jean eyebrow furrow together as if giving it deep thought as she gave him a serious look. "None of those, you're all so different from the Avengers personal wise but the intention is there."

"Oh? I would think the Squadron Supreme would be an obvious comparison," Clark grinned as Jean rolled her yes.

"You have to admit the similarity between me and Hyperion is pretty damn scary."

"No, the Squadron Supreme are more brutal in their dealings not to mention Hyperion is more merciless," Jean shook her head letting her hair bounce around lightly.

"If anything, you would be a more idealized version or the better version of the Squadron."

Clark smiled happily at that as Jean pretty much vocalized his thoughts on the Justice League analogues. In truth, Clark thought they were more in line with the Crime Syndicate than his own Justice League.

"So, was there anybody special back in your old world?" Jean asked casually, she assured Clark that no one were eavesdropping.

Clark thoughts immediately went to Diana and their break up. Jean saw his expression and immediately looked apologetic.

"Sorry, I didn't meant to brooch such a sensit-"

"No its fine," Clark spoke up before he decide to let the past go. "You deserve to know, there was someone but we were no longer together toward the end."

Jean gave him a deep searching look before she reached across the table to squeeze his arm. Her touch instantly comforted him and made Clark feel happy. He covered her hand with his own and gave it a tender squeeze. Their contact once more was one more like a jolt to him, and looking at Jean red face it felt the same for her.

And there they sat in companionable silence until something completely unexpected caught his eyes. Walking into the restaurant was Tony Stark, dressed like the billionaire he was, and on his arms was Carol in a stunning white dress. The two were talking and laughing while reporters outside were prevented from coming inside.

Jean, as if sensing his change, turned to where he was looking and her eyes too widen before it turned into a glare.

"Clark if you want to leave we can." She told him as she turned back to him and gave him a non-judgmental look.

Clark eyes met Jean's and suddenly he felt a lot better. Why was he thinking about his ex when he was here with such a beautiful woman? There was no excuse.

"No," Clark said firmly before he brought her hand up and kissed it. "I was just surprised that's all, forget them, lets talk about us. There is an us I hope?"

Jean blushed prettily at his bluntness but did not retract her hand. "I- I think so if you don't mind being a part of my crazy life."

Clark gradually leaned in closer and was glad Jean mirrored his action. Gently he lean even further over their table and whispered in her ears.

"Good thing for you, I'm Superman."

Jean leaned back to see the playful look in his eyes. She gave him a beautiful smile before it suddenly changed into a very seductive one. However whatever she was going to say next was interrupted with a cough by their waiter.

Jean and Clark both turned to look at the man who had a bottle of wine in his hand, a very expensive one at that, he had seen it's price tag.

"Courtesy of Mr. Stark, Mr. Kent," The Waiter set the bottle down and unblock their view to show Tony across the room. Tony was facing in their direction while Carol back was to them. He gave a raised a glass to toast them before placing his hand on Carol's.

Clark momentarily felt like he was punched in the gut but suddenly felt Jean grip on his hand become stronger. That snapped him out of the weird state he was in as he looked to his date.

"I'm sorry Jean, I've been so rude- Uh Jean?" Clark was interrupted in his mid apology when Jean suddenly stood up the wine bottle in hand.

"Excuse me Clark, would you?" Jean said in the sweetest tone he ever heard her use. He didn't know why but that sent a chill up his spine.

Strolling with some unfathomable purpose Jean arrived over to Tony's table. Carol body language suggested she was surprised but happy to see her but that's when Jean uncorked the bottle and up ended it over Tony's head.

"Oh crap..." Clark muttered as he took out a couple of hundred dollars and toss it on the table, more than enough to covered for their meal as he went over to Jean. There was a slight commotion from the other patron and the wait staff as they also seem shocked at what transpired.

Clark closed the distance between the tables relatively fast and saw Carol finally turn with a confusion expression before she recognized him. Her eyes widen before she turned to looked back at Tony.

"You disgust me," Jean told Tony before she grabbed Clark's arm and dragged him out of the restaurant. Clark looked between Jean and then Carol, the former was angry while the latter was looking between him and Tony.

Clark gave his ex a weak wave as he left with Jean.

It wasn't until three block later that Jean let go of his arms and turned to look at him.

"I'm sooo sorry Clark but what that asshole did, just, made me- Argh!" Jean telekinetically picked up a glass bottle and vaporized it.

'Whoa...'

Clark, not knowing what to say, decided actions was better than words as she suddenly embraced her and pulled her against him. Jean let out a surprised yelp before she gradually relaxed in his embraced. After a few moments he looked down at the beautiful woman in his arms and caressed the middle part of her exposed back.

"Feeling better now?" Clark asked with a wry smile on his face. "I figured I'd should be the one acting like this not you."

Jean blushed prettily in his arms before she leaned her head against his chest.

"You'd probably be if you knew what Tony did," Jean turn her head upward to look up at him. "You think it was a coincidence he came to our restaurant with Carol in tow?"

Clark blinked, he didn't think too much on it to be honest. "Wait are you saying he found me on purpose?"

"He really wanted to get you fired and it irked him that the I refused his request," Jean confessed surprising Clark greatly.

"When he found out I knew you since I was a kid his A.I stop pestering me."

Clark looked down at Jean a grateful look on his face.

"I really don't know what you did that made him spiteful," Jean continued as cuddled in his arm. "But if it is any consolation, Carol did not know. I imagine she'd be none to please."

Clark did not want to admit it but a feeling of relief did flood his body at Jean's statement. The two remained a bit more silent before he felt Jean sigh in his arm.

"Our night is probably ruin," Jean lament to him. "You should probably take me home."

Clark decided then he did not want this night to end. Jean came to his defense over something he didn't even know was happening. No, this date was not ruined, not by a long shot.

"Jean?"

"Yes?" Jean answered in a questioning lit.

"Hold on tight," Clark grinned as he quickly took off his watch and shot straight up even as Jean screamed in surprised at how fast they were going. However a few second later he stopped with a very frazzled looking Jean in tow.

"Clark! What are you-u…?" Jean trailed off as she finally realized exactly where they were when she saw the Northern Lights.

"We're at the North Pole?!"

"I know you probably might have seen this before, but for me when I had my fortress of solitude this was one of the sights that I really enjoyed," Clark said looking a Jean with a small apologetic smile.

"It might be corny, but I always wanted to share it with someone."

"Surely the other woman in our world-" Jean trailed off as Clark shook his head.

"We were always too busy, the breaks we had together were far and few in between," Clark stated in a sad manner before he turned to look at Jean.

"For what it's worth, I'm glad you're the first person I get to watch this with."

*** Jean PoV ***

Jean blushed and smiled at Clark, the warmth she felt at his earnest words were making her heart beat madly. She was a bit surprised that she didn't feel as cold as she'd thought she be considering she was at the north pole in a silk dress. Clark, surprisingly, generated a lot of warm heat that remain at just the perfect temperature.

The two watched the Northern Lights in contentment for a while. Jean realized that she'd was falling hard for Clark, something she didn't think was possible after what happened with Scott. The thing she had with Logan was more lust than love, not that she didn't love him too, but Clark was different from them both.

The love she had for Clark was of the purest kind, formed as a kid, forged through friendship, it was simply love between on person or another, no lust or desire attach. Just the thought of being in one another's company and the happiness it'd bring. Now however, that love was now being superheated with something familiar.

Desire.

"Clark?" Jean broke their long comfortable silence as she brought a hand to his face and turned her to him. She noticed little flicker of fire dancing along her arms.

"Jean?" Clark looked at her in that adorable manner was very fond of as a child.

"Show me." Jean breathe softly before she kissed her childhood passionately. At first she felt his confusion in the kiss before it turned more forceful. Something… powerful. She did not care as she kissed him harder, harsher, deeper.

A moment later she still felt his uncertainty before Jean ripped open his shirt and looked at him.

"Clark," Jean heard her own husky voice come out clearly. "I'm not fragile."

Those were clearly the magic words as Clark showed her no mercy much to her delight.

To Be Continued…

World War Hulk begins next chapter.