Chapter 2: Superman

"So how's life treating you?" Questioned Tony Stark as he sat across from Lauren. The man was seated in a relaxed position within Lauren's therapy session. Lauren on the other hand was leaned forward with a brow raised and a warm smile on his lips. "Well Mr. Stark, I'm doing well and I hope that the same could be said to you." Lauren responded with a soothing tone. Tony simply shrugged before taking a sip from his flask of alcohol. "I'm living", Tony said, "Pepper thinks that I'm doing good by coming to you...honestly I'd like to know why she thinks you're better than the guy uptown."

Lauren remembered that he wasn't the only one in tone who could help people just by speaking. There was another man, Dr. Badir, who had much more high pay for therapy sessions than he did. The fact that Pepper Potts had come to him for the first knowing that fact was humbling.

[Flashback]

"Good afternoon." Greeted Pepper Potts as she walked into the room. Lauren rose from his seat and shook hands with her before gesturing for her to have a seat. The woman was a beautiful blonde wearing casual clothes. She was wearing white blouse, blue jeans, and black sneakers. On her wrist was a jeweled bracelet, obviously a gift from someone. "I'm glad that you came to visit Ms. Potts, I'll be frank, why did you come to me rather than to Dr. Badir's office?" Lauren asked out of curiosity. Pepper smiled as she leaned back on the couch, relaxing herself a bit. "Because the guy with the highest pay isn't always the one who'll tell you the truth", she answered, "Plus, I did my research on you and saw your high marks in this career."

Lauren raised a brow before returning her smile. He fixed a pair a glasses on his face before leaning forward in his seat. "Well, I'm honored to be treating you today...but please don't say things like that", Lauren stated, "It sounds weird to know that you know my college life and life choices." Pepper immediately flinched and gained an apologetic look on her face. "I-it wasn't my idea, Tony wanted to make sure tha-" She paused when Lauren held a hand up for her to settle down. "It's alright Ms. Potts, Ironman was just being safe", Lauren reassured, "So, why don't we get started? What is it that has you stressed out?" That question got Pepper to form frown affixed upon her face before responding. "Things with Tony aren't exactly how I thought they were going to go", she started, "After the whole Stark Expo incident, him almost dying...I'm not sure if I can actually handle a relationship with him. I've been stressed out, always expecting something else to happen to him or me. I love Tony, but this isn't the life I wanna live in the long-term."

Lauren nodded his head while listening to Pepper's words. He gave her a sympathic look before cocking his head to the side a little. "Ms. Potts, from what I understand you are a fantastic woman", he began, "A woman with a lot of patience and willpower, those are admiring traits to a man. The life that you're living isn't an easy one, you're an ordinary woman who likes to have ordinary things to happen to her. However, I should remind you that you work for Tony Stark, playboy, billionaire, philanthropist. Who is also Ironman if I might add." Lauren paused before continuing to speak. "What ordinary life that you wanted to have was thrown out the window the moment that you became Mr. Stark's right hand woman. I'm willing to bet even when you were hired by Stark Industries that your life stopped being ordinary. That said, I won't sugarcoat the truth for you. An ordinary life isn't in the near future for you. If you love Mr. Stark as much as you say you do, then the best thing that you can do is adapt to him. Why not try and play his charm against him? Play with some of his buttons, hearing what you've said makes me think that you are what keeps Mr. Stark grounded in reality. If he loses you, then he loses his grip on humanity....so try to hang in there for him. Only time will help him, after all, he's still young and has much to learn about being in love."

Pepper listened to Lauren attentively, nodding each time he made a point. Eventually she gave him a calm smile before leaning forward in her seat. "You know, I'm starting to feel like you're a Couple's Counselor than an actual Psychiatrist." She joked. Lauren let out a good natured chuckle before leaning back in his seat. "Well, I try to reach out to all sorts of people, if they're willing to listen."

[Flashback End]

"That's her opinion Mr. Stark, but that's not why we're here isn't it?" Lauren asked and watched as Tony let out a long drawn out sigh. "Look Lauren, give it to me straight...am I a good guy?" Tony asked bluntly while keeping eye contact with Lauren. He had closed his flask of alcohol and even leaned forward in his seat. Lauren on the other hand frowned and leaned back in his seat. He clasped his hands together on his lap before responding to Tony's question. "Mr. Stark-" Lauren began but paused when Tony raised a hand for him to stop. "Tony, call me Tony." Tony demanded, causing a warm smile to curl onto Lauren's face. "Tony", he started once more, "A good man can be anything, he could be your next door neighbor offering you a ride to work. He could be the man willing to give you his ear to listen to your troubles. He could even be the man flying around with a suit of armor protecting people." Lauren paused before giving Tony a sympathic look. "Before you and I had met, and before you became Ironman, I can say without a shadow of a doubt...you were the spitting image of your own father. A playboy, billionaire, philanthropist...the man who has everything but also had nothing. Like before, I understand that your relationship with your father wasn't great. It lead you down a path all too similar to his own when he was your age. You became the man who has everything...but also nothing."

These words seem to hit Tony at his core when he started to think about it. He had a frown on his face when he considered Lauren's words. Lauren's next words however were not as grim as before. "However, now after the Stark Expo..I think that you're becoming a better man. Being a good man doesn't just happen, you don't wake up and do a good act calling yourself a good person. It's like making a suit of armor, it could take hours to years. All one needs is patience and the mental effort to keep going. It's why you're blessed to have people in your life waiting for you to get there."

Tony's eyes widened upon those words, the people in his life that were by his side. Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, people who were willing to stand by his side. People who were willing to wait for him...

Lauren watched Tony register his words before the man stood up from his seat and stared at Lauren for a moment. "Laurie", Tony started before taking a sip from his flask once more, "Why aren't you the highest paid therapist?" Lauren smirked before slowly standing up as well. "Because I'm a psychiatrist who has alot of talent to talking to people", Lauren responded, "Being the richest man doesn't make me better than the poorest one."

______________________________

Roughly 3 days had passed since Lauren's last appointment with Tony Stark and he felt satisfaction in helping the man. He of course would have to be ready for his next appointment, but for now he was busy. Lauren was in Antarctica again within the cystaline fortress. He was watching as Jor El was showing him a suit being made for him. "So I gotta ask dad", Lauren started with a perplexed expression, "Why do Kryptonians wear supersuits?" That question caused Jor El to glance at his son with a confused look. Lauren noticing his father's confusion began to explain for him. "Basically people wearing tights, capes, and spandex." Lauren clarified, causing Jor El to let out slight chuckle. "I assure you my son, that is not spandex or tights", Jor El assured, "This is fine Kryptonian silk and leather, far more durable than this world's best armors. This is the suit that noblemen on Krypton wear whenever they traveled the streets of it's cities."

Lauren nodded before narrowing his eyes on the red "S" symbol being formed on the chest piece. With a raised brow he had his next question for Jor El. "What does the 'S' stand for?" He asked, and a grin grew on Jor El's face as he faced towards the suit once again. "It is the symbol of our House, a symbol that I wanted you and your brother to keep with you...Hope." Jor El answered.

________________________________________

Somewhere in the clouds was a commercial plane, a young boy sat inside of it playing with an action figure of Ironman. A woman sat beside him fast asleep as the plane soared through the air. The boy looked out to the clouds and saw the clouds passed by them, he looked bored, in need of excitement. That was when he saw something peculiar, he saw a man. It was a man flying without any sort of propulsion. He had a dark blue color scheme to his suit, a red velvet cape, a black and red symbol upon his chest, and a passionate smile on his lips. The boy's eyes widened as he moved a hand to shake the woman seated beside him awake. "Aunt May, Aunt May, Look!" the boy shouted, rousing his aunt awake. May woke up with a groan, the woman frowning before looking at what her nephew saw and she too stared wide eyed. The man seemed to have noticed them, and simply waved at them. The boy waved back escatically with a wide grin plastered on his little face.

The man then faced forward once again and accelerated ahead of the plane, causing the occupants on the plane to finally notice him as well. "Aunt May?" The boy called, "Can I get an action figure like him?"

With the man, it was obvious to note that it was Launen Winters, now in the suit that his father was so diligently making. Of course he had to hide his identity, and to do so he wore contacts that changed his eye color to deep sea blue. His hair was also gelled to look far more unique, done by his father no less. Practically speaking, Lauren was no one in the eyes of the public. As he soared through the air, he found himself passing through the clouds arriving at New York City. He could see the new Stark Tower being built from a distance, the Chrysler building in it's stunning magnificence, and the Big Apple in it's entirety. He had originally planned to fly around the city, until he heard a scream. His eyes narrowed, the super senses of his ear identifying the scream of terror. With an accelerated push, he flew faster to the source of the distress. He flew around the buildings with almost precise turns, and nearly clipping a few of them. Lauren still had much to learn with his flying, though his flying wasn't terrible. It wouldn't be long before he came upon what was happening. It was a bank robbery, one that had the police in a hostage situation. Without stopping, Lauren barreled forward and through the bank's walls like a rhino. He came to a stomping halt on the marble floor of the bank, creating a small crater and cracking the floor. When he looked forward he saw 5 disguised gunmen, all of which stared at Lauren wide eyed.

For a moment, they stood there not sure what to do or what was going on. Lauren took that time to view the hostages, seeing them being tied up and in shock as well. A few of them even happened to be children staring up at him in awe. When Lauren looked back at the gunmen, he gave them a stern glare before stepping out of the crater he made. "I'll only ask once, put your weapons down and turn yourselves in." Lauren ordered and watched as one by one the gunmen knocked themselves out of their stupor. The lead one raised his submachine gun at Lauren and smirked before opening fire. Lauren watched the bullets travel towards him, time slowed down for him, as if the bullets were traveling too slow for him. Lauren walked forward, moving with ease despite everything and everyone around him looking slow compared to him. Eventually, Lauren was near the bullets that had been fired upon him. With a smug look, he began grabbing each and everyone of the bullets that had been fired at him. When time became normal again for him, Lauren was standing 3 feet from the lead gunmen with an outstretched hand. Slowly, he dropped the bullets in front of him, much to his shock and dismay. The other gunmen stared wide eyed and one by one they dropped their guns and put their hands in the air. Unfortunately, the lead gunman gritted his teeth and aimed his gun at Lauren's smug face. Then he unload the rest of his magazine into Lauren's face.

This time, Lauren did not move. He stood there and allowed the man to shoot into his face. It wouldn't be long before the clicking sound of an empty magazine was heard. All of the bullets that had been shot into Lauren's face were flattened and resting on the floor. As if they had been shot into a wall of steel. The lead gunman looked down slowly, staring at the bullets in shock. When he looked at Lauren once again, Lauren simply cocked his head to the side before placing a hand on the man's shoulder. The action made the man jump out of fright, expecting Lauren to hit him. Instead, Lauren gave him a warm smile before patting his shoulder gently. "Got that out of your system?" Lauren asked, confusing the man. His accomplices all got down onto their knees and put their hands on their heads still trying to wrap the situation around in their minds. "I understand that life can be hard, that wanting or needing money for material things or for loved ones", Lauren began to speak as he looked each and everyone of the gunmen with a soothing smile, "But getting good people hurt in the process isn't the way to earn money. If you don't want this lifestyle, then don't believe that you've tried everything to get a well paying job. Luckily for you guys, you won't be going to prison since you haven't spilt any blood."

Lauren's voice carried a good natured tone, aiming to help the men relax as well as the hostages. "Although....had you actually hurt anyone, I wouldn't be talking." Lauren warned before gesturing for the lead gunman to the front door. His accomplices followed behind him, not saying a word as they all pondered on what just happened, as well as thinking on Lauren's words. As they walked out the front door towards the police, Lauren turned to find a small child running to him. She had trimmed blonde hair, pale skin, blue eyes, and wore a middle school uniform. She had a spark in her eye of amazement, and curiosity. With a warm smile, Lauren knelt down on one knee to the girl's level. "Hey there, would you like to help me get everyone out?" Lauren asked, and escatically the girl nodded her head. With a gentle motion, Lauren lifted the girl in his arms and looked to all of the hostages. "Come on people, let's go get some fresh air." Lauren offered, and immediately every occupant in the room stood up and rushed to Lauren to ask him questions. They wanted to know who he was, see if he was actually real, and what he was. With slow steps, Lauren escorted them all outside to a cautious small army of police officers who lowered their weapons. Lauren carried the small girl in his grasp, holding her gently as she looked at the officers. Her eyes watered when she saw someone she knew amongst them. "Daddy!" she called, and the officer in charge of the group rushed forward with determination. He nearly pushed the former hostages in the way and snatched his child out of Lauren's hands.

He hugged his child closely, tears at the corner of his eyes as his daughter hugged him back fiercely. "Thank god..." He slowly uttered, before looking at Lauren who was smiling at him. Only one question came to mind, one that was on everyone's mind as they looked to Lauren. "Who....who are you?" The officer asked, to which Lauren slowly backed away to being 10 feet from them all. Lauren with a smile still plastered on his face answered. "Call me Superman." Superman responded, then flew upwards into the air with a small crater being left in his wake. All the onlookers who had gathered around stared up into the air in awe and shock as Superman soared above the buildings. Before Superman could proceed to fly home, he heard the sounds of police sirens going off in downtown Manhattan. "The city that never sleeps...guess that's true." Superman remarked, before taking off in Manhattan's direction. He was off to save the day again, with his cape tailing behind him.