Alright - I promised to write this chapter by the end of the weekend. I didn't say which weekend. Hehe. No, I'm sorry.

I went to see Logan this Friday, and I gotta say, the movie was amazing. Probably one of the best X-Movies, if not the best (First Class is still #1 in my humble opinion).

Anyway, here's the 33rd chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Superman, unfortunately.


Chapter 33 - Alive

The last thing Clark remembered was the sound of metal on metal. And the burning pain in his chest, as if he was struck by twenty lightnings at once. Or forty.

When he regained consciousness, the thing he remembered last – the burning pain – returned with a vengeance. He wasn't completely sure if he could move the upper part of his body without his chest crying in protest.

Clark slowly opened his eyes, and was surprised to see the cealing of the Fotress of Solitude's infirmary – the solar lamps and the crystaline structure.

Fortress of Solitude, of Fortress, as Clark called it, is Clark's place of solace, protection and the last gift from his biological parents, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van. It houses the most advanced Kryptonian technology with vast databases containing the knowledge of various parts of the universe.

Clark decided, much to the chagrin of his aching muscles, to prop himself up into a seating position. Luckily, the bed in the Fortress Infirmary (FI) is also Kryptonian, therefore it responded to his movements and inclined itself as requested.

He heard the swoosh of the automatic door as it opened and a series of footsteps behind him.

Great idea, Kent, having the bed not facing the door, he thought.

„Looks like sleeping beauty finally woke up," he heard someone say. Clark scoffed.

„Very funny, Batman," he said hoarsely. Kelex immediately handed him a glass of water.

„Thank you, Kelex," said Clark after taking a few sips, his voice now sounding much better.

You're welcome, master Kal-El," replied the robotic butler.

„You may leave," he said. Kelex turned around and left the room.

It didn't take long before he had two set of eyes glaring into his skull. One belonging to the Dark Crusader, and the other, unsurprisingly, belonging to the Princess of Themiscyra herself.

„Uh.. hi?" said Clark, trying to sound nonchalant.

„You didn't tell the League about the Fortress," said Batman – it was a statement.

„You didn't ask. I can tell you about it later, alright? For now, I'd like to ask you a few questions – for example, how the hell did I get here? What happened? How long have I been out? The last thing I remember is Circe muttering something in Ancient Greek about killing and Hecate. Killing curse?"

Batman sighed and gestured to Diana to bring him up to speed.

„You were hit by an ancient killing curse created by Hecate thousands of years ago. You barely survived, Clark," she said, her voice completely serious „we have no idea how you managed to survive – you just did."

„Even I don't understand my physiology to full extent, Diana.. I'll run some tests later. About my other questions?"

This time, it was Batman who spoke up. „Your girlfriend led us here."

Clark choked on his spit. „M-My girlfriend?"

Batman's lips turned upwards the tiniest bit. Diana grinned. The tension slowly dissipated.

„Yes. You carry your phone in the little pocket of your cape – she called. I picked up. She asked what happened. By the way, Kent, she was scared. You've got some apologizing to do."

Clark nodded. He couldn't even begin to imagine what was running through Sarah's head. And what about his parents? Oh, God.

Batman then proceeded to tell him the basic info. After Sarah called, she gave Batman coordinates to the Fortress, along with instructions what to do – how to enter the Fortress, where to take Clark, and, most importantly – let Kelex take care of him.

Clark smiled, the pain in his chest all but forgotten. He'll have to make it up to her.

„As for your last question.. you've been here for almost three days, soaking up the artificial solar energy from the solar lamps."

Clark's eyes widened. „Three days?! Oh, God. That means it's Tuesday. Perry's going to fire my ass.."

To his surprise, Batman chuckled. „Don't worry, Kent. I called Perry and explained to him that you will be indisposed for a short while."

Clark's eyes narrowed. „You?"

„Yes. I'm his boss, after all."

Clark's eyes widened comically. „The current owner of the Planet is..."

Suddenly, Batman took off his cowl, revealing the handsome face of the famous billionaire playboy.

„Bruce Wayne," he confirmed offered his hand for a handshake, „nice to meet you officialy, Kent."

Clark grinned and accepted the handshake. „So, technically, that makes you my boss, eh?"

Bruce rolled his eyes. „The news are replaying the footage on a constant loop."

Clark sighed. „So, what are the titles? The Death of Superman? Superman's Last Stand? How To Get Seriously Hurt In Less Than Three Seconds: A Guide By Superman?"

Diana chuckled, Bruce rolled his eyes again. „You were right about the first two."

Clark then decided to stand up, his muscles were protesting, but he didn't care about that. His knees felt a little wobbly – he's never felt this... weak... before. He doesn't like the feeling.

„You should lay down for a little while," suggested Diana, but even she knew that when Clark set his mind to something, there was no way of convincing him to not do the thing. What a stubborn man.

Clark shrugged in response. Diana sighed and followed him into the center of the fortress – the Central Room, where the main computer resided.

Clark then said something in Kryptonian, and the display showed various news channels – CNN, FOX NEWS, HLN, and various others. They were all muted, except for one.

„—urrent state of Superman remains unknown, though it is suspected that the Man of Steel is either comatose or dead."

Clark rolled his eyes and turned around to look at the two heroes.

„Thank you," he said sincerely.

Diana smiled while Bruce nodded. „We'll be leaving now. You need to rest. And call your family. I'm sure they are worried."

Clark saw something flicker in Bruce's eyes, but before he could even begin to identify it, it was gone.


After they left, Clark picked up his phone – Clark didn't know how, but he had a signal. He called the Kent residence. After a few rings, his mother picked up.

Hello?" she asked, her voice sounded strained.

„Hey, Ma."

Clark! Oh my god, honey, are you okay? What happened?—" she started asking million questions at once. Clark laughed.

„Mom, relax. I'm sorry I scared you. I'm fine, I'm in the Fortress, actually. I'll be home in a few hours, when I heal properly. I'll explain everything then. I'm alright, okay? You don't have to worry. I love you."

I love you too, Clark. Come home soon."

„I will," he promised.


After that, he decided to call Sarah. The call went pretty much the same way as it did with his mom – except for Sarah's promise that she will kill him herself if he ever scares her like that again.

„Duly noted," he said.

Good. I'll see you tomorrow, alright? Just rest," she said, and her voice sounded even softer than usual. He must've really scared her.

„Yeah. Good night," Clark thought about telling her that he loved her – Lois Lane herself told him that it was never the right time – only the right person.

But he'd rather tell her that face to face, not through the phone.

Good night, Clark," she said before she hung up.

After a few hours under the solar lamps, Clark started to feel a lot better – the ache in his chest all but subsided. He did a few scans on himself – especially his chest – and compared it to the scans Kelex did shortly after Diana and Bruce brought him there.

On Kelex's scans, Clark's heart was damaged because the curse hit him straight in the chest, right above his heart. In the newest scans, his heart was fully healed. Clark sighed. There shouldn't be any lasting side-effects.

Clark put on his suit. It's time to go home.


He's pretty sure he's never been hugged so tight by his parents. The moment he landed on the front porch of the Kent house, both Jonathan and Martha tuckled him in a big hug. Not that he minded, of course. When they broke away, his mother's expression turned from caring, motherly and empathetic to stern.

„Now, young man, what happened there?" she demanded as she crossed her arms. Clark gulped, and proceeded to explain.

„You survived a killing curse," stated Jonathan.

„Yep."

Jonathan whistled. Martha punched him in the shoulder.

„Not funny, Jonathan," she said before she turned around and hugged Clark again.

„Now," she said after she pulled away, „I think there is one girl who really wants to see you."

Clark smiled and nodded. He quickly changed into a pair of shorts and a white Batman t-shirt – it's important to Clark that Bruce never finds out about this – and made his way over to the Wilsons.


He didn't even have the chance to knock on the door before it opened and he felt a pair of arms wrap around him in a deathgrip. Instinctively, Clark wrapped his arms around her small (for him) form and held her tightly. He was pretty sure that he'd have some bones broken if it weren't for his invulnerability.

He heard her relieved sigh and he couldn't help but smile a little into her hair.

„Are you alright?" she murmured into his chest.

He just held her tighter in response. „Yeah. I'm fine now. I'm sorry I scared you."

There was no if about that.

She just shrugged her shoulders in response. Clark kissed the top of her head.

„It's okay. I knew what I signed up for," she said, „but that doesn't make it any easier. When I saw you fall on the ground on TV..."

She didn't finish, just held him even tighter, if that was possible.

He didn't know how long they've been in an embrace before someone cleared their throat. Sarah sighed and slowly unwrapped herself from him. Clark did the same.

„Hi, Frank," said Clark.

„Hello, Clark," smiled Frank Wilson, Sarah's uncle and current guardian, whose eyes shone with amusement, „would you like to stay for dinner?"

Just when Clark was about to object, Sarah said, „He'd love to, Frank!"

Clark was about to protest again, but when she looked at her, he knew he didn't stand a chance. He sighed and looked at Frank with a smile. „Sure, Frank. Thank you."

Frank just laughed and gave him a knowing look that said You are wrapped around her little finger, aren't you?

Sarah took ahold of his hand and together, they entered the Wilsons' house.

„Ria, Clark's staying for dinner, if that's alright?" Frank raised his voice a little so that his wife, Arianna, could hear him.

„Clark's here?" yelled Ria back. A few seconds later, the woman in question strode into the living room, clearing her hands with a napkin.

When she noticed Clark, she hugged him quickly before she abruptly pulled away.

„We saw the news, Clark! Are you okay? What happened?"

Clark must've been gaping like a fish, because both Ria and Frank chuckled. Clark then looked at Sarah.

„You told them?" he asked, his voice full of surprise.

„Of course not. Clark, honey, they saw you without your glasses a few times already," she said calmly, though amusement was dancing in her eyes.

This time, Clark looked at the older couple. „H-How? W-W—"

Ria decided to take him out of his misery, „Clark, glasses aren't exactly the best disguise – especially for the people who know you. Plus, there aren't many seventeen-year olds who are 6'5" and have 230 pounds. Plus, I can see the S on your chest through your shirt, so that kind of gives it away."

Clark blushed and mumbled something about being 240 pounds, and Sarah stifled a giggle.

„You know I'm Superman and.. it's okay with you?" he asked, and all three of them noticed the flicker of fear in his eyes.

He was scared that they wouldn't accept him.

Sarah squeezed his hand while Ria smiled reassuringly.

„Clark," started Frank, „you are the most powerful being on Earth and you're only seventeen.. and yet you fight for what you think is right. You have to power to rule us all, but you don't. You fight for what you believe in. You help people. How could we not approve?"

Clark smiled at him, sending him a silent thanks.


The dinner was amazing. Ria, with a little assistance of Clark's heat vision and cooking skills (credit do Martha) managed to cook, or rather grill, salmon – a simple soy sauce, brown sugar marinade and hints of lemon and garlic.

„So, Clark," started Ria, „what happened out there?"

Clark put his fork down and interlaced his hand with Sarah's.

„I don't even know what happened, honestly. I got a call from the Flash, saying that D—Wonder Woman was having some sort of trouble in Metropolis. When I got there, I saw this.. sorceress, I guess. Her name is Circe. An old enemy of the Amazons or something," he said.

Sarah didn't miss his slip when he said Wonder Woman's name.

Clark continued, „She fired some spell at me – I managed to dodge the first one. Then, she summoned another spell – more powerful. She spoke Ancient Greek, so I understood only a few words, but even then, I got the message that it was a killing curse. Apparently, she directed it right at me, because even though I dodged it at first, the curse just.. followed me," Clark squeezed Sarah's hand, „and hit me in the chest. The next thing I know, I woke up in.. uh.. an infirmary, so to speak," he finished.

„Watchtower infirmary?" asked Frank.

„Oh, no," Clark smiled, „bud something like that."

Ria didn't miss the look Clark sent to Sarah – a look of pure gratitude – who smiled in return. Sarah had something to do with the last part, but she decided not to push.

Ria then looked at Frank, and they seemed to communicate without words. Frank nodded.

„Well, I have an announcement to make, to both of you. Frank already knows," she said with a smile.

That got both Sarah's and Clark's attention. Ria took a deep breath.

„I'm pregnant."

Silence.

One second.

Two seconds.

„OH MY GOD, RIA!" exclaimed Sarah a second before she stood up and gave her a big hug. „Congratulations!"

Clark stood up as well and made his way over to Frank. „Good job," said Clark with a wink, and Frank laughed.

After Sarah let go of Ria, he congratulated her as well.

Clark then looked at Sarah, who was positively beaming, and his stomach did a few flip-flops. She looked at him then, and with a twinkle in her eye, she stood up on her tiptoes and gave him a passionate kiss.

„PDA, kids!" exclaimed Frank after a few seconds.

All of them laughed.


Later that night, after the dinner and about ten games of 20 questions, all aimed at Ria and her pregnancy, Clark and Sarah decided to take a walk.

Neither said anything, for no words needed to be said. Their hands were intervened and they walked slowly, enjoying each other's company.

„Kal-El."

Both Sarah and Clark stopped dead in their tracks. In front of them stood three beings – two of which Clark was pretty sure were human – wearing black and green uniform with a symbol on their chest Clark, unfortunately, recognized.

„Green Lanterns," said Clark.

One of them - the alien – nodded. He was at least 8'3", with pink skin and red eyes. Clark recognized him as a Bolovaxian.

„Very good, poozer. Name's Kilowog – I'm the Green Lantern of Sector 674."

„You're a Bolovaxian," said Clark again. This time, Kilowog didn't hide his surprised expression.

„Kryptonian database," Clark explained, „but that doesn't explain why the three of you are here. As far as I know, there is only one Lantern for each Sector of the universe."

One of the human Lanterns shook his head. He was tall, though not as tall as Clark, lean but muscular, and had dark brown hair. „Not anymore, Kal-El. There are two Lanterns for each Sector now. Me," he gestured to himself, „and him," he gestured to another Lantern, who waved awkwardly, „are the Lanterns of this Sector – 2814."

The second Lantern of Sector 2814 looked similar to the first, but he was slightly smaller and his uniform looked more.. creative. The Green Lantern symbol was on on the right side of his chest, and there were some white parts of his uniform.

„Which still doesn't explain why you're here," said Clark. He looked at Sarah and saw her watch Kilowog in fascination. She had his hand in a deathgrip. He squeezed her hand gently.

„We need your help. Have you ever heard of Doomsday?"