Prologue
The first time he saw her was one of the most terrifying experiences in his life. Up close she seemed so… just larger than life. But it may have been that he was tiny back then. Only four and a half feet tall at twelve years old – small for his age. Little late bloomer still sporting a bowl cut and spaces where his adult teeth hadn't grown in yet. His school bus was on its way to Metropolis for a two day trip when a rock slide pushed the bus through the barrier. A few kids saw them fly over and he wished he had a window seat at the time. Madre dios! To see them fly up in all their glory - it was a once in a lifetime sight.
Everyone screamed when Superman grabbed the front of the bus. He could hear the metal groan and bend under his super strength and they started moving back up the cliff. It was nearly all the way up when it started to split in half. The screws popped off the steel and he could see the sky starting to appear as the roof split. They were falling again - nearly completely vertical when the back half of the bus hit the side of the cliff he was thrown from his seat.
He fell hard on the back window and it shattered underneath him. He was falling and all he could do was scream because he didn't have the scarab yet. Just as he thought it was all over for him he felt arms around him – his decent slowed and he was drifting back upwards. She held him securely – careful of the cuts he got from falling through the window.
"I've got you." She said before she flew him back up to the bus. She held the back end to make sure it didn't completely separate as Superman pulled it up. The rest of the students were fine but they were being checked out one by one by the paramedics and the police. He looked up at his savior when she placed him on the road. He wanted to thank her but the only thing that came out his mouth was his breakfast. She winced and took a step back from him as he heaved.
"Poor thing. He's really scared." Superman said and gave him a little pat on the back.
His classmates never let him live that down. Some of them still called him 'Super-Puker'. Yeah, he could've died but he would forever be the wimp that threw up in front of Superman and Double Zero. His favorite hero and his dream girl. He was getting his cuts cleaned when she came up to him again.
"Feel better." She said before she smiled and handed him a stick of gum. From that day forward he only chewed 'Big Red'.