Chapter 4: Superman, Paper, and an Imitation Game

The beeping scanner filled the air as Alex slowly dragged a bottle of hand sanitizer over it.

Margaret, his favorite store Karen, stood in front of him with a pursed-lip frown, her arms crossed.

"You did that on purpose," she accused.

Alex raised an eyebrow, scanning her next item at an equally painfully slow pace.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he said innocently.

Margaret scoffed. "I swear, you are the worst cashier I've ever met."

Alex smirked. "And yet, here you are, every day, standing in this exact spot, buying things you don't actually need."

Margaret narrowed her eyes. "I need this hand sanitizer."

"Uh-huh," Alex nodded, scanning her next item—a twelve-pack of assorted highlighters.

"For what, Margaret? Are you grading papers now?"

Margaret huffed, snatching the pack. "Maybe I like color-coding my grocery lists, Alex. Ever think about that?"

Alex grinned. "You color-code groceries? Damn. You really are built different."

Margaret rolled her eyes, but there was a small smile on her face. She reached into her purse, pulling out her card.

As she swiped, her demeanor shifted—the usual playful fire in her eyes dimmed for just a moment.

"…Stay safe, alright?" she muttered.

Alex blinked, slightly caught off guard.

Margaret never said stuff like that.

It had only been a week since the world saw the Hulk throw a killer android into orbit—right down the street from here.

It made sense that people were still shaken.

Alex, for his part, just grinned lazily.

"Aw, Margaret. Didn't know you cared."

Margaret scoffed, taking her bags. "I don't. Just need someone to keep annoying."

With that, she walked out.

And Alex?

Alex smiled.

Ten minutes later—

The door chimed again.

Alex, not looking up, grabbed the next item. "Welcome to Quickmart, please don't—"

Then he paused.

The store was empty.

Except for one person.

Superman.

Alex stared.

Superman smiled. "Hey, do you have the latest Daily Planet?"

Alex silently reached under the counter, pulling out the newspaper, and slid it forward.

Superman took it, glancing over the front page.

"Nothing else?" Alex asked, arms crossed.

Superman smirked. "Well, I do have a question."

Alex sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright, ask it, or else I'll just mentally check out and go full NPC mode."

Superman chuckled. "Fair enough."

He folded the paper under his arm. "How much can you turn into?"

Alex raised a brow.

That was… oddly direct, but not assertive.

He thought about lying. But this was Superman. His BS detector was probably as strong as his heat vision.

So instead, Alex shrugged.

"So far?" He tilted his head. "Anything. Humans, animals, monsters… cartoons, anime characters, you name it."

Superman blinked, clearly processing that information.

Then, he chuckled. "Alright, what about me?"

Alex grinned.

"Funny you should say that—"

A second later, he was gone.

In his place stood—

Superman.

Same height, same build, same costume—

The cape even fluttered.

Superman's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Huh."

Alex, still in Superman's form, smirked. "Shocking, right?"

Superman folded his arms, clearly amused. "What about Batman?"

Alex grinned.

A second later, his form shifted again—his red-and-blue replaced by black-and-gray armor, his face hidden under a cowl.

Then, in the most gravelly voice possible, Alex muttered—

"Iron Man sucks."

Superman burst out laughing.

Alex shifted back to himself, a cocky smirk on his face.

Superman wiped a tear. "I don't think I've ever heard Batman say that."

"Oh, but he's thought it," Alex said, leaning on the counter. "You know it. I know it. Everyone knows it."

Superman shook his head, still smiling. "Alright, I'll leave you alone."

He reached into his belt, pulling out a small communicator, placing it on the counter.

"If you ever need us," he said, "we're there."

Alex stared at the device for a moment.

Then, with a sigh, he pocketed it.

"Yeah, yeah. Now get out before you tank my productivity."

Superman gave a small salute. "See you around, Alex."

And then—he was gone.

Alex leaned back, running a hand through his hair.

Then he sighed.

"Great," he muttered. "Now I have Batman and Superman watching me."

But oddly, he didn't mind it as much as he thought.