Prologue

(Clark's POV)

Another earth-shattering punch. I barely deflected it.

I can't lose! I just can't!

I kept silently repeating this mantra, while concentrating on Titan's face. Just to distract myself from pain.

Since childhood I knew that I'm much stronger than the other children. So I had to avoid fighting as much as possible. And if fights were inevitable, I always held back. I knew what a simple punch of mine can do.

But this time my enemy had a strength and durability of Kryptonian. So I hit him as hard as I could. I used every ounce of my strength.

He didn't hold back too. Even the cannibal from Seattle wasn't so strong. I felt the blood on my face. I can tell you, not a nice feeling at all.

Awww, damn it! Hey, I know that my invulnerability has its limits! I don't need such a painful reminder!

And I couldn't allow myself to be vulnerable. Not now.

I managed to stop the bone spike from stabbing me. I dodged Titan's next attack and hit him.

But it wasn't enough. Titan wasn't knocked out, as I hoped. He stood up.

Fear bit me, and I couldn't shake it off. I wasn't ready to fight someone who can rise on his feet with a bone blade stuck in his chest.

God, what is this creature? Is he immortal…?

Then Titan did something completely unexpected. He smiled.

"Good fight, Kal-El".

And then he collapsed.

At last… Wait, what if it's a trap?

I quickly x-rayed fallen opponent. His heart wasn't beating. Titan was dead, killed by his own weapon. Like a Bad Guy from stupid movies.

What now?.. LOIS!

I turned around.

Damn!

Lois was not unconscious anymore. She was staring at me. And the expression on her face was… unreadable.

She saw everything. Well, not everything, but more than enough. She could even overhear Titan calling me "Kal-El".

What I am supposed to do? Running is not an option. Not this time.

(Lois' POV)

I couldn't believe my eyes.

Clark, the fashion-challenged farmboy from Nowheresville, was trading punches with the Big Bad Baldy. I saw blood on his face, but his eyes were burning with pure rage.

Only once I saw goody-to-shoes Clarkie like that. It was that horrible night when his girlfriend/wife was murdered.

My vision blurred for a moment. I rubbed my eyes. They were still fighting, and Smallville seemed as powerful as Titan.

What the Hell..?.

Clark dodged Titan's bone spike and sent a strong punch to his opponent's jaw.

The Mad Wrestler flew through the cage and landed with a loud "thud".

And then Titan suddenly got up.

I was scared. Yeah, mighty and fearless Lois Lane wanted to run and hide. And I just couldn't help myself. It was like a scene from a horror movie. But this time I wasn't a spectator. I was a Girl-That-Was-Killed-Because-She-Was-Too-Dumb-To-Run-In-The-Right-Direction.

I really wanted to run. But I froze in place when I heard that Titan spoke.

"Good Fight, Kal-El".

Kal-El?

And then he collapsed.

I wanted to check if he was dead. I couldn't bring myself to do it. What if this monster is still alive?

Clark turned around. He looked straight into my eyes. And he gasped. Anger disappeared from his eyes. Now all I could see was…

… fear? No, I can't believe it. He just knocked out this Juggernaut. He can't be afraid of me! For Pete's sake, I hurt my wrist trying to hit him!

But Clark was scared. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

Clark Kent, the guy I knew for years. The guy I still couldn't understand completely. Especially after this night's wrestling show.

He cleared his throat.

"Lois…"

(To be continued...)