More Powerful: Chapter 49

- Fool Me Once -

Clark turned the corner to find Kitty standing near the rear exit. Her arms were outstretched and rigid, her knuckles were white from the death grip she had on the gun in her hands. Behind her stood Lois, no worse for wear clutching an ever paling Jason to her chest. Blocking the way to the exit was Lex whose eyes were on locked on Kitty.

"Hello Superman. You're late."

Kitty didn't look up as his approach. Her eyes were wide and shining with unshed tears. Nevertheless her gaze burned unflinchingly into Lex'. Her tone was even and disturbingly calm.

Clark slowly raised a comforting hand. "Kitty, put the gun down." He took a few cautious steps toward her. He was surprised to find his brow slick with sweat. Suddenly a familiar feeling of nausea swept over him. His footing faltered slightly and his breathing labored. [IYou've got to be kidding me.[/I

Luthor laughed tensely, one eye watching the gun pointed at his chest.

"You didn't think I was going to go gallivanting around in the dark without this did you?" Lex patted his coat pocket victoriously. "Fool me once, Superman…" A wry grin spread over his face. "But fool me twice Kitty, I didn't think you had it in you to pull a stunt like this!"

Clark's eyes flew from Lex to Kitty to Lex again. "Luthor. This isn't may not be the best time. I don't think she's –"

Lex' face twisted mockingly, "She's what? She's no more capable of killing me than you are, Superman!" He took a step forward. He smiled, his voice full of smarmy arrogance. "She wouldn't shoot me. Would you Kitty? You know you're nothing without me. What...are you going to go back to selling yourself in Vegas to any man who was lucky at the tables that day?" He laughed cruelly.

Kitty's eyes burned even as a shamed blush spread over her cheeks

Smelling blood, Luthor went on, "You're still the same weak girl I found roaming the streets. You'll never-"

Kitty took a step back and raising her arms, re-gripped the gun. Her tears spilled onto her cheeks as she closed her eyes.

A shot rang out. And Lex looked down in numb surprise at the wound in his thigh. Blood pooled and then began to flow as he cried out in pain and leaned against the wall, his eyes blazing with pain and fury.

Kitty opened her eyes, a rueful smile, fluttering to life on her lips. "Sometimes people can surprise you."

She raised the gun again, anger lending her resolve.

"Don't do this." Clark's voice was soft, soothing.

Kitty c0cked the gun and looked at Clark, her eyes haunted with a library of horrific memories he couldn't even imagine. "He'd kill you if he had the chance." Her voice broke with the force of her growing rage.

Clark's eyes never left Kitty, his ears picked up the fluttering strain of his son's heart beating a weakening cadence with his terrified mother. Clark's own heart pounded in his chest, but his voice didn't betray his trepidation. "That's what separates us from him, and we're running out of time." He held her gaze. "Katherine." His voice was a caress over her name.

Kitty turned to Clark, her expression unsure. Her arm lowered slightly.

"It's alright." He held out his hand. "Please, give me the gun." Clark smiled encouragingly.

With a bitter scoff, Luthor leapt forward his hands closing around the gun.

"You're as spineless as he is [IKitty.[/I" His tone a mocking echo of Clark's sincerity. "You're weak! You always will be! You worthless piece of street -" Lex pulled to gun between their bodies, his face contorted in a maniacal grimace.

A loud bang ricocheted off the walls

Kitty's eyes grew wide. Her mouth opened wordlessly, a small thread of blood trickled from the corner of her lips. She let go of the gun and took a step back. As Kitty turned toward him Clark saw the ugly red stain growing across her abdomen.

Kitty let out a strangled gasp, a death rattle growing louder with every intake of breath.

Lex' lips turned up in an almost tender smile as he knelt at Kitty's side. He twisted the gun from her feeble grip. Leaning forward, his coat covered her body as he kissed her pale lips. He ran his hand down her cheek, wiping a tear streaking from the corner of her eye.

"You'll be forgotten in a week." He cooed.

Kitty gasped, her eyes falling closed her eyes, coughing her life blood onto the cement floor, the light from the dying sun playing across her face.

She lay on her back, "Forgotten..." she whispered, her voice nearly inaudible.

Lex leaned in closer, his eyes sparkling cruelly with triumph.

Kitty reached into the breast pocket of his coat with a movement that's speed surprised even Clark. Pulling the green shard from its hiding place, "Here's something to remember me by." Kitty shouted in determination and Lex' eyes bugged in surprise as her weapon found its home. With a triumphant smile, Kitty fell back to the floor, her eyes closed in satisfaction.

He teetered for a moment, off balance: His eye wide with surprise. Lex sat back on his haunches, revealing the long green crystal, protruding from his chest.

Lex' eyes were wide and glazed as his body went into shock. His breathing rasped in his throat, blood gurgled from the wound in his chest.

Lex' gaze made a slow journey from the green shard, to Kitty and finally rising to meet Clark's eyes. "After all these years, you can't...let it end like this...we can...let bygones… be bygones" he choked out, each syllable weaker than the last.

"You've got to fly me...to the hospital"

There was no satisfaction in Clark's reply. "I can't. That shard, its kryptonite…If I pull it out…you won't make it more than a few seconds." He shook his head, his eyes full of pity. "I can't save you this time...Lex." Clark's mouth wrapped around the name for the first time, his voice was low with disappointment and sorrow.

Lex laughed dryly at the irony, his eyes no longer focusing. "It...wasn't...supposed to...end like this." He slumped to the ground, his breath becoming ever more shallow and weak. "The greatest...criminal...mind ...of our...-"

His breath failed him. His heart beat its last. His voice was silenced.

Lex Luthor was dead.