Chapter Eleven

Disclaimer: I don't own Superman or any of the DC characters, or the setting, I'm just playing in their universe for the first time. Also, as a reminder, my Lex Luthor's modeled after Smallville's Lex in my head (played by Michael Rosenbaum).

A/N: Happy New Year, guys! We'll get a little more from Clark's POV here as he tries to do some damage control.

In the end, we stayed well into the next day, while Kal performed some basic repairs to the building he'd torn the roof off of, and other chores like he did on his own farm to help them out. I did my best too, helping fell trees so that new homes could be built to replace the ones that'd burnt down, learning a bit of their language as we went along.

He was the one to take the trailer back to the Coles parking lot, I was too embarrassed to show my face there. After a brief stop to get our belongings from the beach resort, we flew back to the farm, bone tired. Due to the time difference, the sun was still up over Kansas, and that was the only thing that kept me going. All I wanted now was a meal, a bath, and a bed.

The moment we entered the house, Martha greeted us with a grim smile. "We have a little problem," she declared, pushing the morning edition of The Daily Planet across the kitchen counter to us.

The front-page article held a grainy picture of me flying away with the trailer in my pink Balinese costume, with the title: Kryptonian Crime Wave?


~ Clark ~

It may be a small crime, but how far of a jump is it from stealing from your local grocery store to robbing a bank? Or an armory? Or nuclear weapons? It's a slippery slope once you start down that path, and this reporter has to wonder if it's only the beginning. When a hostile alien has already demonstrated a violent temper, where will she stop in her quest for revenge?

Clark let the paper fall from his fingers with a short huff of annoyance. Pretty prose aside, Lois had gone too far. What had she been thinking?

"Nuclear weapons?" Kyria frowned once she'd scanned the discarded article. "What would I need weapons for? I could defeat any army without them should I seek revenge for my people."

"Probably best not to say something like that in public," he said with a wince. This was how things got blown out of proportion, Kyria simply didn't understand why people would take her blunt words as a possible threat. But he'd thought Lois had more sense to know that Kyria's heart was in the right place. Apparently not.

"Is it true, what it says? About her stealing the truck?" Martha asked, her brow furrowed with worry. "I thought you were helping those volcano people."

"No, we were… but… yeah. She thought she was helping though." Clark's frustration quickly turned to agitation, and he paced back and forth in the small room, trying to figure out the best form of damage control to attempt.

"Helping by stealing?" Martha raised a single brow, unable to keep the skepticism from her voice.

"I thought Robin Hood to be a heroic figure, not a criminal," Kyria volunteered, and a light of understanding came into his mother's eyes.

"Ah."

"They are angry about the theft, as you said they would be." Kyria's expression turned sober, maybe even a little fearful. "What if we explained it went to the poor, not for my own gain? Should I alert the media? Have a press conference? Lex said that is the best way to get my message out."

"No, don't talk to anyone," Clark blurted, nipping that idea in the bud before she accidentally unleashed a media storm. There was a chance this could all blow over easily enough. "Just stay here, I'm going to fix this."

"How?" Martha asked.

"By going direct to the source."


~ Clark ~

It wasn't what he'd had planned for the evening, Clark was tired and hungry from all the work they'd done in Bali, but this was the sort of conversation you had to have face to face. Unsure whether he'd find Lois in her apartment or at the Planet, he got lucky and found her at home.

A sharp rap at her balcony door brought Lois quickly enough. "I guess I don't have to wonder if you've seen it," she said, stepping aside to let him in.

"What were you thinking drawing negative attention to her like that?" he demanded, instantly giving himself a mental kick for not starting off more diplomatically. All this did was put her on the defensive.

"Hey, I have a job to do, a responsibility to the public to report a story like this. I can't suppress it just because you don't like it," she retorted, shutting the slider with a scowl.

"And that was responsible journalism? You completely left out where we spent the past twenty-four hours helping a village in Bali. Or did you not catch that news story?"

"I saw it," she replied, arms crossing over her chest. "And that's supposed to make it okay that she ripped off that store?"

"No, of course not, but she didn't know she was doing something wrong. You have to understand, she comes from a society where no one was allowed to go hungry or unclothed..."

"Right, the utopia that was so evolved it destroyed itself," she smirked, and he flinched at the biting words. Instantly, her expression dissolved into regret. "Clark, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult your homeworld. Just… she broke the law and I reported it. That's all."

Her regret was sincere, but it didn't do much to soothe the sting. "That's not all and you know it. You wrote it with a sensationalist slant and you didn't have to. You're writing for The Daily Planet, not some cheap tabloid."

Her arms crossed defensively again. "It's my job to sell papers."

"At whose expense? You didn't bother to try and find out the circumstances. You could've interviewed her about it. You don't know her…"

"I don't want to know her," she scowled. "And everything I printed is true."

"Technically yes, but you made it sound as if she's unstable, out for bloodthirsty revenge. She's not like that at all."

"Why, because she stopped trying to kill you while you're being her bestie?" Lois scoffed, throwing her hands up in the air. "And I hate to break it to you, but she is unstable."

"Who isn't when confronted with the circumstances she was thrown into? Lo, she's a good person, and she'll continue to be a good person if we show her by good example that she can survive in this world without resorting to violence."

"If she was a good person you wouldn't have to tell her that. She'd just be that good person without the violent tendencies."

It was his turn to scoff. "Are you telling me you've never wanted to take a swing at anyone in your life?" he raised a single accusatory brow. "Because I seem to recall you telling me you'd pop her one yourself if I wouldn't. It's the same for her, she just happens to be a little more lethal when she loses her temper. She can't help that, but I can teach her control."

"But Clark, you don't have to. There are people who can help acclimate her to our world if that's what she needs. It's not your job…"

Clark took hold of her arms, trying to somehow get her to listen to him, not just spend her time formulating her next argument. "I want to. It's the right thing to do, for her and for everyone. This is the best way I know how to help her. Can you just trust me and give her a chance?"

For long seconds he could see the struggle on her pretty face, the counter arguments building, and then she let out a long breath. "Yeah, I can do that."

Pulling her close, he hugged her tight, thankful that she was willing to curb that stubborn streak and give them the benefit of the doubt. It felt good to have her in his arms again, but he knew they'd be waiting for him back on the farm, full of worry. "I'd better go."

"Back to her?" To her credit, it looked like Lois regretted the words the instant they slipped out, so he didn't tease her about sounding jealous. To be honest he wasn't sure they were in a teasing headspace at the moment.

"Back home. It's been a long day, I'm pretty beat."

"I could make you something to eat," she offered, and then he did tilt his head as if to say, really? "Okay, I can order you something to eat," she smiled.

It felt good to smile back, like some of the tension had dissolved away. Part of him did want to stay and just relax with her, to get past this bone of contention between them and strengthen the easy connection they'd shared. A bigger part of him wanted to go assure Kyria that there wouldn't be any follow up pieces attacking her so that fearful look would disappear.

"No, I'd better get back. Ma had dinner ready and I promised her I'd try to be there for this whole holiday week. I was already gone much longer than I thought I'd be."

He thought she might protest, but all she said was, "Alright."

"Look… speaking of the holiday…" Clark scratched the side of his neck, not sure if this was a good idea or not. "Do you have any plans?"

"Not really. No," she shrugged.

"Why don't you spend Christmas with us?"

"Oh yeah, I can just see how well that would go over," she snorted. "Kyria and I staring daggers at each other across the dinner table."

"Hey, you promised to give her a chance. And the only way that will happen is if you get to know each other. Please? For me?"

"I don't think I could ever say no to you," she said with a soft smile, and he reached up to cup her cheek, bringing her in for a tender kiss.

"I'll come and get you Christmas morning, then we can spend the whole day together."

"Free transportation to boot? Alright, count me in, Smallville," she smirked, full of the sass he admired so much.


~ Clark ~

"She's been out there since you left," Martha said in a soft voice, the moment Clark crossed the threshold.

Clark heard the rhythmic thunk of metal against wood, and could guess what Kyria was up to. "Didn't you have dinner?" The table was still set, plates untouched.

"No, it's in the oven. Neither one of us was in the mood to start without you," she smiled, and he laid a hand on her shoulder.

"I'll go talk to her."

Kyria stood by the side of the barn, splitting a mountain of wood with an axe. As a testament to how tired she was, she moved at human speed, or maybe she just wasn't in a rush.

"You don't have to do that," he said in between swings, not wanting to startle her.

"I know. I wanted to," she said, her words clipped and terse, continuing to swing the axe.

"You could've been resting inside, it's been a long day."

The axe faltered. "I was… embarrassed. I didn't want your mother to think those things of me."

"She doesn't, she knows you. She knows you're a good person."

"Am I?" Dropping the axe, she turned to his, eyes shiny with unshed tears. "I seem to be getting things wrong no matter what I do."

"Your heart was in the right place," he said in a soothing tone, but that didn't seem to mollify her. If anything, she seemed more agitated.

"I don't know why it troubles me to have someone hate me."

"Ma doesn't hate you."

"Lois does."

Clark hesitated, not wanting to lie or oversimplify her concerns, but wanting to ease her fears. "Lois doesn't hate you, she doesn't understand you, and that scares her. But she's agreed, no more character assassinations in print until she has more of the facts."

"More of what facts?"

"More of who you are, what you've been through, who you're trying to become."

"I told you, I don't know who I am anymore," she replied, her rich voice throbbing with misery. "It's all so different. It's all so hard here, never knowing when a single misstep might…"

Doing the only thing he knew how, Clark folded her into his embrace. "It'll be okay," he said softly, cheek resting against the top of her head. "I know you'll figure things out, you're stronger than you give yourself credit for." Holding her tight until her shuddering tremors subsided, he was about to suggest they go in for dinner when a growing rumble fractured his attention.

Kyria heard it too, her head popping up as she strained to listen. "What is that?"

He'd heard it before, the distinct sound of a lot of military vehicles converging on a single point – the farm. "That would be Trouble with a capital T," he sighed.


~ Kyria ~

"Stay inside, I'll see what he wants," Kal instructed, depositing me to stand with his mother in the kitchen. It was pretty obvious to me what they wanted, but I was content to wait inside. For the moment.

It took him mere seconds to remove his outer clothes and emerge dressed in his distinctive suit. "General Swanwick," Kal began with a regal nod, cape billowing behind him in the breeze.

"Superman."

Kal winced at the name, but didn't protest it. Instead, he had other objections. "I thought I asked you not to try to find out where I hang my cape?"

"We already knew about your adoptive parents' farm, what with so much alien activity here and the location of your ship. You can't expect us not to keep it under at least a minimal amount of surveillance."

"Can't I?" Kal cocked a single brow.

"We're not here to talk about your living situation," Swanwick replied with a dismissive wave.

"I guessed as much. But I'm wondering why you felt the need for such a hefty escort?" Kal's gaze swept over the horizon, and I knew he saw all the vehicles beyond the country road, the jeeps and troops on foot obscured by the corn fields, the helicopters behind neighboring structures, just as I did.

"Better safe than sorry," the general shrugged.

"Meaning… you're anticipating trouble with whatever you're here to discuss?"

"I always anticipate trouble, that's how I earned my stars," he replied with a weak smile. "And since the object of my current inquiry is rather troublesome…"

"She's not an object," Kal bristled.

"But she is troublesome, and we have some concerns."

"You have nothing to worry about, I can personally vouch for Kyria. She doesn't mean any harm." Kal sounded so confident, even I was convinced, and I'd been fearing my next misstep in human society.

"That's all well and good, son, but we'll need more than your personal assurance. What we need are answers."

Kal gave a single nod. "It's been a long day. Why don't you draft up your questions and we can discuss them tomorrow after a good night's rest?"

Swanwick shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "I don't think you understand. It's a bit more urgent than that."

I decided they were going in circles and the sooner I went to answer their questions, the sooner I'd find a hot meal and my bed. Giving Martha's shoulder a light squeeze, I stepped out onto the porch. "I'll speak with them," I announced.

"Good evening, Kyria, is it?" Swanwick asked with a polite smile.

"Kyria Dru Zod," I nodded, and there was a ripple amongst the soldiers with the clicks of weapons at the ready. Kal immediately inserted himself between me and the military personnel, but I gave him a brief smile. "It'll be okay," I said, echoing his earlier words. It was understandable that the House of Zod would draw terror in their hearts. Father would've been proud. "What is it you wish to know?"

"It's more than a few simple questions. I think it'd be better if you come back to the base with us."

"Alright," I readily agreed, but Kal's hand on my arm stayed me.

"You're not taking her into custody, are you?" he asked.

"It's for her protection. There's been quite a public outcry since that article came out."

Kal didn't withdraw his protective hand. "She'll be safe enough with me, nobody knows she's here. Or at least they didn't until you arrived. How did you know where to find her? Oh… I get it. It was Lois, wasn't it?"

"Ms. Lane cooperated with our inquiries, yes," he nodded. "Look, the fact is, there are a lot of people gunning for her right now. There are so many still reeling from the loss of loved ones, looking for someone to blame. Grief and fear are a powder keg for vigilantism. I was serious when I said we'd be bringing her in for her own protection. Especially once people figure out she's related to Zod. That's what that meant, right? You're related to him?"

"He was my father," I nodded proudly.

The murmur that swept through the troops was vaguely unsettling, even though I knew their bullets couldn't harm me.

"To be honest, I can protect her better than you can," Kal said, looking even more uneasy with the situation than I was.

"She…"

"Can she make her own decision?" I interjected, tired of them both discussing it like I wasn't even there. "If you prefer me to come with you to answer your questions, I will. But I wish to make it clear, I don't require your protection."

"Whatever gets you in the truck," Swanwick muttered under his breath.

"Fine, then I'm coming too," Kal declared, his chin coming up as if he expected an argument, but the general merely waved him on.

"Swell, the more the merrier."

It was my turn to place a hand on Kal's arm. "You don't have to come with me. You're tired, and your mother is waiting dinner for you." I knew he had to be exhausted, because I was. There was no sense in both of us going through this ordeal, and I would spare him it if I could.

"I'm not letting them take you away without anyone on your side," he replied, and I felt warm inside as if we stood in the morning sun.

"We're not against her. Exactly," Swanwick scowled, and Kal gave him a piercing stare before breaking into a somewhat forced smile.

"Good, then you won't mind me coming along. If you want me to," he added to me. "I think I can help when those situations you don't understand come up. That way you don't end up making any Robin Hood mistakes again." His smile softened for me, and I found myself smiling back at him, despite the armed escort.

"I would like that, if you don't mind."

"Fine." The general started to look impatient. "We'll take this back to the base."

"We'll meet you there," Kal replied in a final bid for autonomy.

Swanwick hesitated, but finally nodded. "We'll see you there."

"We'll be there in an hour." Kal stood by my side until every last soldier withdrew, and only then did we turn back toward the house.

"Why didn't we go with them?" I asked.

"You need to eat."

"I don't think I can," I admitted, my nerves were too on edge over this latest development. What if they wanted to imprison me for my father's crimes? Yes, I probably could take on an army if I had to, but not without bloodshed. And if violence were to erupt between me and their armed forces, would I ever find a place to call home?

Kal wrapped a comforting arm around my shoulder. "It'll be okay."

A/N: Well, what do you guys think? Are the military to be trusted?

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