Clark hadn’t expected to see them again — not here, not after all these years. The Daily Planet buzzed with the usual rhythm of ringing phones and hurried voices when Perry introduced the newest member of the team. Clark looked up, and his breath caught. There they were — older, sharper around the edges maybe, but still unmistakably them. In an instant, he was back at the University of Metropolis: late-night coffee runs, shared notes, easy laughter that made even exam weeks feel lighter. He’d lost touch after graduation, caught between two lives — and he’d always wondered what became of them.

He rose from his desk, that familiar warmth slipping into his smile before he could stop it. “Didn’t expect to see you back in Metropolis,” he said, tone easy but sincere. “Welcome to the Planet.” The words were simple, but behind them lingered something unspoken — a flicker of nostalgia, and maybe, just maybe, the start of something new.