Disclaimer: DC Comics owns all rights to the characters within. They are used without permission and not meant to infringe on copyrights nor meant to generate income.
Public Enemy Number One, chapter 4
Unfortunately, the JLA did not return in the next two days. Without Superman issuing a denial, the public furor over Match grew. The Titans and Outsiders did state what happened, but they lacked the stature to penetrate the frenzy.
Even worse, there were incidents where Match was reported as causing havoc. They were false since Conner was with Max at school when they happened, but the public didn't know that.
It got bad enough that there seemed to be no stopping congressional hearings. There were even television segments on what actions one should take if present during an attack by Match. It was even getting discussed at school.
"I don't know why they're so worried," Dan complained. "It's not like Match is ever going to come to Smallville."
Conner gave Max a quick look, but his brother just smiled.
"The probability of a single specific person coming to Smallville is quite low," Max agreed.
"What do you think of the issue?" Conner asked.
"It looks pretty bad for this Match guy," Dan said. "I mean, they've got footage of him tearing things up and holding people hostage. It looks like he's a bad guy."
Conner had a sinking feeling in his stomach. He shouldn't have asked that question. He had hoped that Dan would say something to make his brother feel better.
"I want to know why the heroes aren't doing anything about it," Dan continued. "Normally, you'd get someone saying that they were going to take him down, but there hasn't been anything like that. After Doomsday, there were all these announcements by Guy Gardner and Wonder Woman on how they'd never let something like that happen again. It makes me wonder whether it's really happening or whether someone's pulling a big trick on everyone."
"I think there have been statements by the Titans and Outsiders that it was a fake Superman that took the Titans captive," Max noted.
"That's the first I've heard of it."
Dan chewed on his sandwich a bit before moving on to a new topic. "What is it you guys do on the weekend that takes you out of Smallville? Is there any chance I could go too?"
"We were signed up for a youth group by the Kents," Max said. "It's not all that exciting. I think there's some sort of membership fee involved, but I'm not sure. The Kents don't like discussing their finances in front of us."
Conner said nothing at the bald-face lies Max was telling. Max did the Kent's taxes for them; he knew exactly how much they made and how much they spent.
"That's too bad," Dan frowned. "It would have been great to get out of Smallville once in a while. Is it a cool group of people?"
"Conner's girlfriend is there," Max said. "His best friend is there too. They're a pretty good bunch."
"Oh, your girlfriend," Dan said. "Is she that girl you did the play with last year? I've seen pictures of it both here and at your house."
"No, that was Max," Conner said with a grin. "He gave a great performance as Juliet and carried my performance. He's really good."
"Seriously? Max got in drag?"
Max blushed. "It was an assigned part. I didn't go out of my way to try for it. That dress was really uncomfortable; it was difficult to breathe in it."
"You never mentioned that," Conner said.
"It wouldn't have done any good. But now you know the reason I took great pleasure in burning it."
"Did you really have hair that long, or did you wear a wig?" Dan asked.
"I was laid up in the hospital for a time before moving in with the Kents," Max explained. "I didn't have the opportunity to get a haircut and my hair was quite long at the end of it. So, that was all my hair."
"This puts you in an all new light," Dan teased. "I'm not sure I can look at you in the same way again."
"Just for that, we'll be practicing throws today," Max said. "Dan will be my demonstration victim."
That afternoon's practice had an unexpected visitor. Clark was paying a visit.
"Lois is here too," he said. "We're going to be staying for a little while. Who's your friend?"
"This is Daniel Reiner," Max introduced him. "Dan, this is Clark Kent, Conner's and my cousin."
"It's nice to meet you," Dan said as he shook Clark's hand.
"I'm glad to see they're making friends," Clark said. "Sometimes, I worry that they get anti-social outside of their comfort zone."
"Dan, would you mind excusing us for a little bit?" Clark asked. "There's some family stuff that I need to tell them."
"No problem. I'll be waiting in the barn."
After Dan left, Clark turned to them. "I know it wasn't you, Max, and I'm sorry, but these incidents have people calling for your head."
"I'm not going to let him take the blame for something that he didn't do," Conner warned.
"I'm not suggesting that," Clark said. "What happened is that I have agreed to watch over you for the next week, at which point you'll be questioned by Congress. I'm sorry it's happening this way, but people wanted you thrown in the Slab. This was the best I could get them to agree to."
"Your telling them did not change any minds?" Max asked.
"It may have changed their minds about the initial incident, but these follow up attacks by someone impersonating you are pushing it forward."
"I understand. Thank you for trying."
Despite the fact that Clark meant well, Max started to get frustrated about being watched. While he knew that Clark didn't have to watch over him, Clark had made a promise and wouldn't break it. Perhaps what was most frustrating about it was that he couldn't get any time alone with Dan; normally they let Conner get cleaned up first after training to give them some time alone, but with Clark around, they didn't even get that brief amount of time.
What was amusing was watching Lois spend time with them. She got along with everyone in the family, but it was very clear that she didn't take relaxation well. She wanted or needed to be doing something, and life in Smallville wasn't what she was cut out for.
Lois was also more perceptive than anyone else in the house. She made an offhand comment about how Dan was a good kid, and he'd make someone happy, giving Max a glance. The other, however, didn't take any notice of this and teased Lois about wanting to set him up with someone.
"Are you doing okay?" Conner asked.
"The last time we did this, it was those closest to me who doubted," Max pointed out. "This time, they're rallying around me. It's still...annoying that Clark is forced to be around. I would much prefer to have him around without watching me. It would be far less stressful."
"I didn't doubt you."
"You didn't, and for that, I'm grateful."
"You've got something you've been hiding recently though, haven't you?"
"You think I'd hide something about this?"
"No, I don't think it's about the Kor-El thing. I'm pretty sure that it's something personal. You seem happier than you did a few weeks ago."
"You don't think I'm happy, normally?"
"Now, I know you're hiding something. You're trying to change the subject. You always do that when you're hiding something."
"I do have something I've been keeping to myself."
"Are you ready to tell me about it?"
"Not quite yet."
"If it makes you happy, I don't really mind you keeping it secret. It's just that I'd like to be able to share in your happiness. You don't have to keep everything secret."
Max looked guilty. "I think I've been a little selfish about it. I should have confided in everyone. I will soon."
"The important thing is that you're happy. I'm glad that you're happy."
"You're purposely making me feel guilty," Max accused.
"Maybe. It's the one thing that you aren't good at evading."
"I thought psychological ploys were beneath you."
"I learned from you."
"I think I'm ready to tell them," Max said to Dan at lunch when Conner had left for a moment.
"Are you sure?" Dan asked. "It can be a little difficult for people to take. Your family's a bit more traditional than mine is. They might take it worse than mine did, and it wasn't pretty for me."
"They're more cosmopolitan than you think. If nothing else, Lois suspects and approves. I think it's best to tell them now while we're guaranteed to have someone who will be on our side."
"You've got this all planned out, don't you?"
"I know them, and I know how they'll react. At least, I hope I do. I do better when I can think things through calmly and rationally. Somebody once took me by surprise, so I had to sputter around a while before I could think straight."
"Sometimes you've just got to stop thinking and act!"
"That's exactly what I've told him," Conner said as he returned. "So, what's my brother got to stop thinking about?"
"It was something in the past," Dan said. "He got thought it. Eventually."
"Oh, was this the thing that took him a week to get through? I was wondering if he'd ever get through that!"
"I'm right here," Max reminded them.
"I have something I'd like to tell everyone," Max announced at dinner.
Lois smiled. Dan looked nervous. The others looked a little surprised.
"Oh, this is about that thing you've been quiet about, isn't it?" Conner realized. "You've finally decided to stop being so secretive."
"So, what is it you want to tell us?" Clark asked.
"Dan and I are in a relationship," Max stated calmly.
There was confusion, realization, and surprise that washed over faces.
"Are you sure?" Conner asked. "I thought you used to like some girl."
"Is that true?" Dan asked.
Max shrugged. "Like I told you, gender is irrelevant. It's the person that's important."
"I guess that's true," Clark said, his voice sounding a little strained.
"I, for one, am happy for both of you," Lois said. "I think you're both well-suited for each other, and I hope you have a long and successful relationship."
Clark looked at her, and Lois stared back.
"This was a little bit of a shock," Martha admitted. "If you're happy, then I'm happy for you."
Jonathan paused before adding, "I am too."
"Have you guys, you know," Conner began.
"That's none of your business," Max said in a deceptively calm voice.
"I'm sorry," Conner apologized. "I don't know what came over me. I talked about being ready for anything you had to say, and then I act like this. I guess I'm not as prepared as I thought I was. This does explain why you let me get cleaned up after training first though. If you need more time alone, I understand. Well, now I do."
"Conner, you're babbling," Max said.
"I guess this means I can stop thinking about setting you up."
"You were trying to set him up?" Dan asked.
"I was just thinking about it. Don't all of you give me those looks! You all thought Lois was talking about setting Dan up, but that wasn't it at all, was it? You were trying to let Max know you approved."
"You knew?" Clark asked his wife. "How?"
"I suspected," Lois said. "As for how I thought that, well, I guess it's reporter's instinct."
"I'm a reporter too."
Lois said with a grin, "Keep watching me, Smallville. You may learn something."
They all laughed.
Sadly, the laughter did not last long. After dinner, Dan left to go home, and Lois turned on the news. There was another attack that had been attributed to Match. This time, there was footage of the attack, and it showed Match causing damage.
"That's not possible!" Conner exclaimed. "You were with us at dinner! The footage's fake!"
Lois flipped to a few different news channels. They were all reporting the same thing: Match had made another attack.
"It's all different footage," she noted. "It's not fake."
"What are you saying?" Conner asked.
"Conner, calm down," Clark ordered. "Lois isn't saying what you think she's saying."
"What are you saying?" Conner asked in a calmer tone.
"The footage isn't doctored, so there is someone doing all the damage," Lois said. "There's a fake Match doing it, and he doesn't look like he's Kor-El with white hair."
"Kor-El is taller and broader than the one shown in this attack," Max said, speaking for the first time. "The one here also has a monotone voice, and Kor-El does not."
"You can tell that from one viewing?" Lois asked.
Max nodded. "This individual's tone and inflection are based on mine. No, I have to correct myself; they are identical to mine."
"What do you mean?" Conner asked. "You don't speak like that."
"I do when focused on a mission objective."
Lois looked at Max. "Between your perception and analytical abilities, I can make you the best reporter that's ever been on the face of this planet if you want. I can train you to be the best."
"I fear you're being too exuberant," Max said.
"You'll be better than Clark, or even me," Lois promised.
"Hey!" Clark protested.
"If you ever gave yourself over to your work, you might be better than me, Smallville," Lois said. "You can't, though. With Max, I think he could do it while still saving the world."
"I'll be satisfied with clearing my name for now," Max said. "This will be moot if I'm forced to be taken into custody."
-----
Any and all comments welcome!