Heavy steps thumped against the metal floor. Loudly, as if they were amplified somehow. Or maybe it was just his mind playing tricks on him, it was hard to be sure of anything by now. He laid on his side, sweat sticking his hair to his face. Waves of pain pulsed across his entire body, intensifying at the site of the wound. It was the kind of agony only one thing in the world could cause him. Kryptonite... The power of the rock lodged in his chest completely overwhelmed him. There was nothing he could do. He couldn't speak, couldn't move...even his breath was starting to run short. The steps stopped in front of him.
"Come on, Superman. I was hoping you'd put up a fight."
The Kryptonian clenched his teeth and let out a harsh breath, glaring up at him.
Luthor...
The man sneered, evidently pleased with himself. "It hurts, doesn't it? The way it's slowly killing you." He raised his foot and gave him a sadistic kick to the abdomen.
Superman cried out and tried to curl into a ball, closing his eyes against the pain.
"Funny how a small glowing rock is all it takes to bring you down." commented Luthor as he kicked him once again.
A groan of agony. At this point he couldn't scream even if he wanted to.
Luthor stood there, the smirk on his face reflecting just how proud he was with himself: "Isn't it ironic? That the only thing that should destroy you is actually a part of your own planet?"
The Kryptonian coughed, a wad of blood splattering on the ground.
"Our rivalry has gone on for too long, Superman."
He grabbed him by his hair and pulled him up, grinning at the sight of his ruined costume and beaten face. He raised his knee and slammed it into his diaphragm, cherishing the pained groan it earned him.
"I would be lying if I said that I'm sorry, so let's just get this over with, once and for all."
He loosened his hold, letting him slide back to the ground.
The Kryptonian's pain started to dull. When the chunk of kryptonite was shoved deeper inside his chest, he could hardly feel anything. He let out a shallow breath, his eyelids fluttering shut.
"LUTHOR!"
Bruce...