TITLE: A Different Kind of Hiro

AUTHOR: William Rayne

EMAIL: knytmareyahoo.com

RATING: PG-13

SPOILERS: Talisman

DISTRIBUTION: FanFiction.net, email me

DISCLAIMER someone else owns 'em, I'm just taking them out to play. Don't sue me, I have no money

FEEDBACK: Desired like none other.

A/N: I'm interpreting the meanings of the traditional Superman symbol and the Smallville (Jor-El branded) symbol to mean whatever fits my stories best…I apologize for confusion b/c I'm lazy. Plus, AU, I think I have some leeway to fudge a bit. Waverider is explained, to those who don't know the name from the DC universe, at the end notes.

As always: bold italics for stressed, italics for thoughts or voice-over, and underlines for sarcasm or disgust. 

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A Different Kind of Hero

Chapter 5

Antarctica, March 2023

Hiro retched until his stomach was empty and then he dry-heaved. Clark healed in the sun and rose to touch his brother gently on the shoulder.

Both brothers were tear-stricken as they looked at one another. Hiro broke the silence, "Sorry, Clark. It was the only way."

"Thanks for saving my life, but are you sure it had to end like that?"

"Does it matter? It's been done and I can't change the past," Hiro asked bitterly and saw the concern in his brother's eyes. "Yes, it had to end like that. You didn't have him in your head. You don't have to live the memories of the atrocities he committed without remorse. If he had lived, we wouldn't have found peace and our parents wouldn't be safe."

Clark mulled over the statement and said simply, "I believe you. I don't agree with some of your choices but I know that you'll always do the right thing. Even if the right thing is something I couldn't do myself. Does that make me better? No, if anything it makes me a coward of sorts."

"No, it doesn't," Hiro responded, "it makes you better because you are. You should never cross the line I was forced to. I wish to God there was another way, but I promise you this: I'll never cross that line again. I can't bear it. Does that make me weak?"

Clark livened up and said as he punched his brother jokingly on the shoulder, "No, it makes you a wussy. I can't believe you puked like that."

Hiro shook his head, "You come that close to death and see how you react."

Clark sighed and then suddenly realized, "Hey, wait, weren't you injured? And how did you get here and what was with the floating?"

Hiro let out a long sigh and said, "Nanobots. I'll explain later, the bigger question is what are we going to tell Mom and Dad?"

Clark blinked, "You're kidding, right? We tell them the truth."

"Yeah," Hiro said sarcastically, "That'll go over real well. I can see it now. Um, Mom, Dad, the nanobots that Zod used to take over my body are still there. They're good now and there won't be a relapse. Oh yeah, I was able to program them so that I could simulate some of Clark's powers. Don't worry, I can turn them off at any time. Oh yeah, I had to behead Zod to save my brother. Thanks for understanding."

"You have a better idea? I'd love to hear it," Clark retorted.

"They so are not going to let me play football again. There goes my full ride at Princeton."

"You shouldn't anyways, you have powers now. You could hurt someone, inadvertently."

Hiro stood up and Clark mirrored the action, "Weren't you listening, Clark? I can shut them down. Unlike you. I should still be able to play."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

Clark tackled his brother with full force. Hiro got angry and said, "What the fuck was that about?"

"You're unscratched. If I was a normal person, you would've injured me."

"Exactly. You aren't normal. Besides being a complete control freak with a Jesus complex, you would've hurt me if I hadn't put up a telekinetic forcefield in time."

"And what if you think you'll get hurt by someone who is human? What if you subconsciously put up that field during a game?" Clark said annoyed by his brother's stubbornness.

Hiro howled in frustration, "I can't believe you."

A few minutes of silence later, they both calmed down. Finally, Hiro said softly, "Fine, I guess I could pay for the rest of school with the money I've made from endorsements. I'm sure there hasn't been any official statement as to what happened to me. We can figure out something to spin so that I can't play."

Clark smiled, "Don't worry, little brother. We'll find a way to work things out. What's with your tights?"

"Don't start, Ballerina. These were given to me along with the swords from the real Jor-El. Besides, I think I'll get a mask and call myself 'Nightwing', like I suggested instead of 'Superman'. Why'd you go with such a lame name?"

"Hey, Lois came up with that, not me," Clark said defensively.

"Oh yeah, and you went along figures. What is it with you and brunettes? I mean Lois and Chloe are alike except for that. Why Lois?"

"Let's not start on women, Mr. Chick-of-the-Week. Are you ever going to have a serious girlfriend?"

"Hey, I'm young. I don't need to settle until later. Besides, I don't need Miss Right. I'll settle for Miss Right Now. Something you'll never understand. You're such a boy scout, you know that? Right?"

"Were we even raised by the same parents? I swear Mom and Dad have gotten soft in their old age."

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A/N: Waverider is a part of the Linear Men, a group dedicated to the preservation of the timestream. Something like that, that whole arc will be resolved in the next story. Suffice it to say that he's a time traveler that's not supposed to interfere but occasionally does. I hope you enjoyed, I'll be writing the last part of the trilogy that will explain exactly how the nanobots have changed Hiro. (Think Superboy from the present day comics, but don't worry…the cheese of that will be resolved by the end of the trilogy)

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