Superman Injured Shoulder and Pride

Lois Lane sat across from Superman, her pen and notepad at the ready. She had been tasked with interviewing the Man of Steel for the Daily Planet, but she wasn't impressed by his smug attitude.

"So, Superman," Lois began, "how strong are you?"

Superman chuckled, a arrogant grin spreading across his face. "Let's just say I'm strong enough to lift a planet," he boasted.

Lois raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. She had a surprise for the Man of Steel, one that would knock that cocky smile right off his face.

With a sudden burst of strength, Lois ripped off her blouse, revealing her muscular physique. Her biceps bulged, her pecs flexed, and her abs rippled with power. Her clothes were no match for her strength, and they tore apart at the seams, shredded by her impressive muscles.

Superman's eyes widened in shock. He had never seen a woman so strong, let alone a human.

"Surprised, Superman?" Lois asked, a smirk on her face.

"Well, yes, I must admit," Superman stammered. "But you're just a human and a woman, after all. You can't be stronger than me."

Lois's smirk turned into a scowl. She was angry at Superman's condescending attitude, and she was determined to prove him wrong.

"I challenge you to an arm-wrestling match," Lois said, her voice cold and challenging.

Superman laughed, amused by the idea. "An arm-wrestling match? With you? I don't think so, Lois. You're a human, and I'm an alien. It's not even a fair fight."

"Are you afraid of a little... well, not so little girl?" Lois asked, her muscles flexing as she spoke.

Superman's laughter faded, replaced by a look of determination. He wasn't afraid of Lois, but he also didn't want to hurt her. He even tried to just walk away and leave the interview.

But Lois wouldn't take no for an answer. She grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the table, determined to prove herself. Lois was insistent, and she wouldn't let it go, just like how she wouldn’t let go and despite Superman trying to brush her arm aside, he couldn’t… He had to admit she was strong, for a girl… He resigned himself to accept her challenge, but would still take it easy on her, or so he smugly thought.

"Fine," Superman said, his voice tight. "We'll arm-wrestle, but don't say I didn't warn you."

At first, the match was evenly matched. Lois gritted her teeth and strained against Superman's arm, her muscles bulging with effort. Superman, for his part, looked almost bored, as if he wasn't even trying.

But as the match continued, Lois could see a hint of fear in Superman's eyes. He was starting to realize that he couldn't overpower her, no matter how hard he tried. And boy did he really start to try. But as the minutes ticked by, Lois's strength began to overpower Superman. She could see the fear in his eyes, the realization that he might not be able to win this fight.

Lois smiled triumphantly as she felt his arm starting to give way. She was going to win, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Lois was slowly inching closer to closer to victory as her arm kept pushing down Superman’s, and Superman could do was panic. He started to frantically think of a way to beat her, but it was too late. Lois's arm slammed down on the table with a resounding thud, and she emerged victorious.

It was with a mighty heave and a fierce growl that Lois bested Superman, wrenching his arm down and pinning it to the table. A heave so mighty and powerful she wrenched his shoulder out of its socket, the sound of popping and tearing filling the room.

Superman screamed in pain, his eyes watering from the agony. He had never felt anything like this before, and he was almost in tears.

"How... how did you do that?" he asked, his voice weak and trembling.

Lois laughed, a triumphant grin on her face. "Lex Luthor gave me a special drug that increases my strength," she explained

As Superman heard Lois revelation he could only groan in pain, and clutch at his injured shoulder. He had never felt such intense pain before, and he could barely even think straight. The sound of his shoulder popping out of its socket was like a gunshot in the quiet room, and he can’t believe that Lois not only laughed but her laughter hurt him more than his shoulder… Well, maybe not more, but he couldn’t abide being laughed at, not by a woman, and certainly not by Lois as they did have an on and off again thing… Something was telling him, that whatever they had might now be over, just like his illusions of being the strongest person in the world.

Lois grinned wickedly, her muscles bulging with unnatural strength. "So, Superman do you have anything left to add.”

And he really didn’t. Shoulders hunched he was a broken man and he lumbered away to nurse his wounds at the Fortress of Solitude.

It was there he saw Lois’ article entitled “I Beat Superman At Arm-Wrestling” with a byline by Lois Lane. It even had a picture on it. One that captured the moment of Lois Slamming his hand down on the table. It’s funny he didn’t recall anyone else being in the room, but he was really caught up in the struggle someone must have come in during it and took that photo. As his eyes scanned for the photo credit info, he was saddened to see that it was taken by his friend, Jimmy Olson.

It took months and months for Superman to show himself in public again, and he always made sure to avoid Lois. Which was a bit difficult as she was making quite the name for herself as a hero. Some say even mightier than Superman and truthfully, it appeared she had been tallying up more rescues, crime thwarted, and victories in then he had lately.

It seemed to him not only did she out-muscle him at arm-wrestling, but she was even muscling him out of Metropolis. And as the weeks further passed it was getting harder and harder to avoid her, but he always made sure to do so. She even sent him requests for a follow-up interview, but he couldn't bring himself to face her again. Sometimes he thought about maybe taking her up on her offer, but then he would remember the humiliation she had inflicted on him and change his mind.

He wondered if she wanted to apologize, or if she just wanted to humiliate him again. He didn't know, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to find out. All he knew was that he never wanted to experience that kind of defeat again.

Was he being petty? After all the real injury seemed to be to his pride. But, she broke something in him that didn’t involve his shoulder and he’ll have to heal that first, if he could ever become a superhero again, let alone a Superman.