"I told that to all of you and none of you listened," he shakes his head amusedly, stirring sweetener into his coffee. "I come back and Lois and Chloe are gallivanting around the country running from story to story and my mom's still fighting the good fight up in Washington. And you're still running yourself raged." That last part comes out as a good natured accusation, but there's an underlying genuine concern.

"Trust me, I'm glad to be back. The arctic was great and all but it's certainly no Metropolis. Or Smallville, for that matter."