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Public Enemy Number One, chapter 6
"Have you prepared your opening comments?" Lois asked.
Clark frowned. "No. I can't believe he's making me give them. I know it makes sense, but I'm not the one called to testify. He should be giving them."
Lois looked at her husband. "You don't like speaking in public, do you?"
"That's completely beside the point."
"I never thought that a little public speaking would scare you. You've talked to all sorts of public officials."
"Those were in private. I wasn't in front of cameras."
"You're in front of cameras all the time when in costume," Lois pointed out.
"That's different. I'm doing things then, not speaking."
"So every time I'd ask you questions and have Jimmy take a picture, you were terrified?"
"Questions I can deal with. This is giving a speech. It's different."
"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Conner asked.
Max nodded. "I am."
"You're not nervous or anything?"
"I've done my research on the committee members. I have a very good idea of what they will ask and the appropriate response. I've also prepared an opening statement in the event that Clark is unavailable."
"I don't see how you can be so calm. I'd be nervous."
Max smiled. "If it helps, Clark is nervous too."
"What makes you say that?"
"I can hear him talking to Lois. She's trying to calm him down."
"I wouldn't have thought that he'd be worried."
"He doesn't like public speaking."
"I don't blame him. I'm glad that I don't have to do it."
"So, I shouldn't get you to sub in for him if he's called away?"
"You wouldn't..."
"Relax, I'm joking."
"Ha, ha. Hilarious. I need to show you some really funny stuff because I don't think you have this humor thing down, yet."
Max quirked an eyebrow at him. "I'm not sure why you don't find it funny. I'm certain that you've told similar jokes."
"Mine weren't said in serious situations. I want this committee to get the facts straight. I don't like hearing people accuse you of things you haven't done. It's not fair."
"It's gallows humor, but I see your point. There are plenty of things I could be accused of that it seems rather ironic that I'm under scrutiny for something I didn't do."
"Are you still guilty over things the Agenda and Groups made you do? Those weren't your fault. You didn't have control over them."
"That's not entirely comforting."
Kor-El was having difficulty sleeping. Tomorrow was going to be an eventful day, and he was excited.
"Tomorrow is going to be glorious," he said to himself. "It will be your last, Match. Everyone hates you, and they'll all love me when I kill you. Don't they all applaud the hero who slays the monster, after all?"
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As this chapter was short, I'm posting it at the same time as chapter 5.
Any and all comments welcome!