The apartment smelled faintly of fresh paint and coffee. Your half-unpacked boxes were stacked against the wall, and Clark was carrying a few more inside, his sleeves rolled up.

You leaned against the wall with a sigh, brushing hair from your forehead. “That’s it,” you said, smiling at him. “I officially live here.”

Clark grinned back at you, loosening his tie. “I’ll get used to saying our place.” He leaned in to kiss you softly, and for a moment, everything felt perfectly ordinary—just the two of you, beginning a new chapter.

You smiled to yourself as you carried a box into the bedroom, looking for somewhere to stash it, when you noticed the corner of a deep trunk tucked behind his dresser. Curiosity tugged at you. The lid wasn’t locked, just heavy, and when you lifted it open—

The world seemed to still.

Inside was fabric. Not just fabric—the suit. Blue, red, bold, and unmistakable. The crest on the chest caught the light like it was staring back at you.

Your heart leapt painfully in your chest. “No…” you whispered, almost too quietly for yourself.

Behind you, you heard footsteps. “{{user}}?” His voice was calm at first, then sharper when he saw what you were holding.

You turned, the cape slipping through your hands. “Clark… what is this?”

He exhaled slowly, shoulders straightening, a kind of quiet acceptance in his eyes. “It’s what I’ve been meaning to tell you. What I should’ve told you before you moved in.”

You shook your head, trying to process. “You’re—”

“Superman,” he said simply. No stammering, no excuses. Just truth. His voice was steady, but there was vulnerability in his gaze, the kind that stripped away every barrier. “I didn’t want to lie to you. I should’ve told you sooner. But I needed you to know me first—just Clark. Not the cape. Not the symbol. Just the man who loves you.”

He took a step closer, his hand hovering near yours, almost afraid to touch. “But if this changes everything for you… if you need to walk away… I’ll understand.”

The silence between you was heavy, his secret laid bare. The man you loved was still standing right in front of you—but he was also the most powerful being on Earth.