031. Sunrise

Richard slept. The flight, the makeshift cocoon Kal constructed from blankets he'd pulled out of his mom's attic, the anxious fretting over Richard like he was at his deathbed instead of just fallen-down drunk—all this, he slept.

But when Kal lay next to him, enshrouded in crystal and the susurrations of organic technology, Richard sighed closer.

When the earth shifted, the light broke their haven. Metropolis called.

"Not mine," Richard mumbled under his breath as Kal laid him in his real bed, body subsumed in white.

I am, Kal's body said, disappearing with the first ray of the sun.

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Fluttering between dreaming and waking, he saw Kal, outlined in radiance, looking down on him with something akin to the heat of the sun.

The next time he opened his eyes, the room was flooded with an assault of light; he groaned, burrowing down further. He surfaced for the aspirin and water on the nightstand, squinting blearily at the note. Perry said take it easy, come in when you can. He laughed at the obvious lie, instantly regretted it, and laid back gingerly, into relief. Closing his eyes was better.

Behind them was the most beautiful sunrise he'd ever seen.

032. Sunset

The harrowing angle of the spire was scant support for his frame but the shadow that coalesced beside him did not protest.

"You're back." Graveled welcome.

A pause of scrutiny.

"But you haven't returned."

Kal kept eyes fixed ahead on the blood of Gotham in the sky. "I don't know how."

"That's not why you're here."

"I came to tell you. Face to face. I'm sure you've noticed… my activities."

The dark head inclined in acknowledgement. "Superman isn't out there," he said, a wing to the swollen sun.

"Then where?"

The darkness settled in, patient.

"Only you know that, Kal."

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He handed her the mug, the wisps of steam swept away by the cool night breeze.

"You shouldn't be out here," she said, the crimson sunset darkening her face.

"Lois," he crouched before her, placing his hands on her knees. "Eduardo found me a place near The Planet."

"So soon?" she said, twisted her fingers around the handle. She stared into the liquid as if she could divine their future in it.

"I have to go. I don't belong here, Lois." He went back inside.

"But you do."

But the wind just swept her words away into so much vapor.

033. Too Much

"The suffering never ends," Kal whispered.

"The nature of life, friend."

"And death," Kal turned to him. He was like the specter of a dying star.

The green eyes gentled as much as they could. "It cannot be changed."

"Why, then? What good do we do if it never ends?"

"To end the cycle would be to end life," he said, absorbing the depths of Kal's desperation. "And it's not what we're here for."

Bruce flashed, a reluctant brother, through the obsidian veil. "The greatest thing the world lost when you left was not a hero, Kal—it was hope."

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"I'll see you tomorrow morning to go to school, kiddo," he said, falsely cheerful.

"And softball?" Jason asked, slamming two of his figures into each other, biting his lip.

"Wouldn't miss them for the world," Richard said. He scooted closer to Jason and touched a finger under his chin. "Just because I'm staying with uncle Perry doesn't mean I won't see you," he said. "And mom'll be here, just like always."

"But I want you, daddy," Jason's action figures dropped to the floor.

All he wanted to say was I know, son.

But even that would have been too much.

034. Not Enough

Kal accepted the words for the rare gift they were.

They sat in a silence that only those who bear the weight of the world can understand, an empathy borne of repeated failures, of the knowledge that, no matter how strong, no matter how dedicated, they would never be enough. Death leaves no room to falter.

"I have none left to offer," He said, voice hollow, rage all emptied from the inside out.

"Where do we look, Bruce?"

A gentle touch.

"To the unsung, friend. Our greatest heroes."

The hush of black on black and he was alone once more.

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"Look, Richard… I realize I should have told you… I know that. It's just… I mean, how could I? You should understand—it's not like you brought it up either once you…well. Not that you did anything wrong." Her heard her sigh, probably pinching the bridge of her nose trying to find the words.

"I'm sorry, Richard. More than I can say. Please just come home."

He closed his eyes, willing himself to feel something.

"It'll be different. I promise."

She hesitated, ending with a terse, "Call me. Please."

He closed the phone and let it clatter to the floor.

035. Sixth Sense

"I'm really glad you could make it," Richard said, his smile straining. His eyes were ringed in a spiderweb of red veins, hands trembling slightly..

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Kal replied, doing a quick x-ray on Richard but finding nothing.

Richard gave him an odd look. "C'mon," was all he said and they moved to the sidelines to watch Jason pitch, which he did with more enthusiasm than skill.

But then he took a deep breath, screwing his eyes up tight, and let the ball fly with such accuracy even Kal couldn't detect a waver in the line.

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"C'mon," He said, turning, stopped short by the grip of Kal's hand.

"What are you doing, Richard?" He asked, low and thrumming steel.

"What?" He felt himself breathing hard, not enough goddamned oxygen. "What? I just wanted you to come talk to Jason."

"Richard, you don't have to—"

"No!" Richard pushed away. "This is exactly what I have to do because this is the best way. We'll make it a smooth transition and no one will get hurt and I'll be fucking uncle Perry… and…and…"

The world spun and the last thing he remembered was Kal catching him.