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Reestablishing Bonds, chapter 4

Max was mostly finished with his morning run when he saw her in the distance. He briefly entertained the idea of changing his course to avoid her, but she was waiting on the Kent's porch. Fortunately, it was early enough that the two of them were the only ones around; not even the farmers were out of bed yet.

He brought himself to a stop outside of the Kent's house. His time was on par with his previous runs.

"Hello, Match!" the girl said cheerfully. "Do you always get up so early?"

"I don't sleep much," he answered. "Shall we go inside, Supergirl?"

"How would you like your eggs, Supergirl?" he asked as he began to prepare breakfast.

"Please call me Kara. What should I call you?"

"When not wearing my costume, I am Max."

"Er, that's it?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure? Conner's also Kon-El, don't you have a name like that?"

"No, I don't. How would you like your eggs?"

"However you're having them is fine."

Max put a couple more eggs in a pot of boiling water.

"So," she began, "how are you? We've never met before, so this may be a bit of a surprise."

"You've been on Paradise Island. I imagine that you've been busy training. When you came to see Conner, I was otherwise occupied."

"Where did you go?" she asked curiously. "It drove Kal crazy that he couldn't find you."

"I needed some time alone."

There was a pause.

"Um, don't you want to know why I'm here?" she asked.

"I figure you'll tell me when you're ready," Max said. "Your eggs are ready."

Max presented her with two hard-boiled eggs.

"Why didn't you cook them with your heat vision?" she asked. "It would have been faster."

"I don't have heat vision. In any event, the Kents have a policy of not using powers to do chores."

Kara gave him a disbelieving look. "How can you stand that? I'd go crazy if I couldn't use my powers!"

"When I first came here, I didn't have the ability to use my powers. Regardless, I try to use them only when it's necessary."

"I, um, have a request to make of you. Will you do it?"

"Please let me know what you'd like me to do, and I'll decide."

"I'd like you to go talk to Kor-El. I really think that'll help him."

"Who is Kor-El?"

"He's the adult version of you and Conner."

"I wasn't aware that he had a name."

"Kal gave it to him. He and I have gone and talked to him a few times. He's really trying to be his own person."

"You are aware that he tried to kill me? I'm not sure that he'd want to talk to me."

"He's a lot better now! I think if he talks to you, it'll help him get over what's keeping him back. He wants to talk to you!"

Max paused. "Are you aware that I crushed the illusions that he was implanted with? He was under the impression that he was from the future and he had a purpose. I took that away from him. He hates me."

"Nonsense! That's all in the past. Come on, talk to him! Please!"

Max sighed. "I have serious misgivings about it. However, I will go talk to him."

"I'm sure it'll go great!"

"Do you want me to come with you?" Conner asked.

Max smiled slightly. "That shouldn't be necessary."

A thought occurred to Max. "Have you been to talk to him?"

Conner looked slightly guilty. "I have. He didn't say that much, just that he was trying to find his purpose."

Max spent half a moment to compose himself. "I'm ready."

Max entered the detention center. Behind a plexiglass wall was the more developed clone that had tried to kill him. The cell was lit with specially designed lamps that put out a wavelength that he couldn't absorb. Were Max under that light, he would be unable to replenish the energy his powers used.

"Hello, Kor-El," he said, his voice not revealing the tension he felt. "How are you doing?"

"Match," the man greeted him. "It's been a long time since I've seen you. You're looking well."

"Thank you."

"What's your other name?"

"Excuse me, I don't understand."

"Your Kryptonian name. I'm Kor-El, what's yours?"

"I don't have one."

Kor-El smiled. "Why do you suppose Kal-El gave me one while he didn't give one to you?"

"I wouldn't want to speculate."

"Maybe he doesn't care for you as much as he cares for me."

Match was aware that the security cameras were capturing this exchange. He refused to let Kor-El make him angry.

"That's a possibility," he heard himself say.

"I've got an idea! Why don't I give you a Kryptonian name? From the stories I've heard, there's a relative to name you after."

"What would that be?"

"Kru-El. That'll be your name from now on."

Match refused to flinch. "Why did you want to see me?"

"After you revealed my true origin, I was adrift. Everything I had believed in was a lie. I needed a purpose, something to strive for. Thanks to you, I've found one."

"What's that?"

Kor-El stared at Match with eyes full of rage. "I'm going to destroy you. I'm going to dismantle you piece by piece, Kru-El. You're going to wish that you were never created."

Match silently regarded him and then walked away.

"You'll beg me for death, Kru-El! You'll see!"

Match did not look back as he left the detention area.

Conner caught up with Max as he left. "Are you okay?"

Max had an anguished look in his eyes. "Am I that bad? I must be to incite such hatred."

"You're not," Conner replied forcefully. "Kor-El is sick. Something's wrong with him. You can't listen to him."

"But-"

"No! No buts! You're a good person, Max. I know you are."

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