We're Not In Kansas Anymore

Chapter 10

"Aftermath"

Clark was nervous.

He was in Gotham City, sitting in a waiting room about to finally meet the man who was sponsoring him to attend Sky High. Clark knew next to nothing about the mysterious multi-millionaire Bruce Wayne beyond what he had read in the newspapers and magazines or seen on television, but somehow the man had gained valuable information on Clark in a way that not even Lionel Luthor had been able to. The fact he had only used it to help Clark get where he needed to be to become a member of the next generation of super heroes spoke of the man's character in a positive manner.

The door opened, and the smiling lady who had escorted him there motioned for him to follow her.

"Mr. Wayne will see you now," she smiled.

Clark followed her down a small hallway and through a set of double doors to a huge private office that rivaled anything he had seen the Luthors use. But where Lex and his dad seemed to prefer glass and polished metal this office was paneled in dark woods that seemed to blend with the shadows of the ceiling above and a thick dark carpet muffled any sounds made by footsteps. At the end of the office was a large antique oak desk set before an enormous picture window that looked out onto the cityscape of Gotham. Behind the desk, in a huge, black leather chair, sat Bruce Wayne.

"Clark," he said as he made an effort to stand up from behind his desk with a cane, "it's great to finally meet you."

Clark shook Bruce's hand, surprised at how strong the older man's grip was. He then sat down in a chair opposite the desk that Bruce motioned to.

"Well now," Bruce said, "I hear you've had quite the time already at your new school."

"Yes sir," said Clark "I…"

"First," said Bruce, "quit the "sir" business. I may be near you dad's age but I still feel uncomfortable being referred to that way. Second, don't feel like you have to explain everything to me. I know all about what happened. I'm glad to see that Lex finally made the right choice…I was starting to get worried about him. Though finding out Cobblepott…the Penguin…is back out of the shadows is disturbing enough, not to mention where most of Joker's toys went"

"Mr. Wayne," said Clark, "can I ask you something?"

"You want to know how come I'm so interested in the super hero community?"

Clark nodded his head, wondering if Wayne was a telepath or something.

"I used to be part of it," said Bruce, "until the night I had my last run-in with the Joker. He finally got me with a knife right through my right kneecap…never did heal properly. In return he caught a spear through the chest thanks to my sidekick he had tried to brainwash to kill me. Poor Tim…the kid still hasn't fully recovered."

Clark went silent as his mind processed the information. There was only one super hero in all of Gotham City who would be so interested in the Penguin and the Joker…one who disappeared for a time a few years ago. But that hero had reappeared recently…could he be a replacement?

"You mean you're…"

Bruce just nodded his head and smiled. "I USED to be. My…son Richard now wears the mantle, and he's doing a great job of it. Now I have to content myself by fighting crime via other means…in your case helping the next generation of heroes get the best education and means to learn to use their powers that they can. That's why I've sponsored you and quite a few others. As a matter of fact you may know some of them…"

He then pushed a button on his desk and a buzzer sounded. All around Clark secret panels slid back as other young heroes Bruce Wayne was sponsoring and mentoring entered.

Clark was astounded. There stood Wally, Jake, Magenta, and, most surprising of all, Warren. They seemed just as surprised to see Clark and each other.

"This explains a lot," Warren said to Clark, "I didn't think even you could pitch enough hay to afford going to Sky High."

"I saw there was no reason for something as trivial as money to keep all you kids from being able to attend," smiled Bruce, "actually you're only the latest crop I'm sponsoring. I just wish Lash and Speed hadn't done what they did."

Bruce paused for a moment and sighed. "I was seriously tempted to withdraw my support for them before I learned they had a big turnaround after being pacified. I've spoken to Principal Powers and she agreed that they be given another chance…they'll have to repeat their senior year and behave the entire time. They screw up once, and that's it."

"Don't let Daddy fool you," piped in Magenta, "he only seems like a hard nose, but he's really a softy."

"And thank you for blowing your cover, kitten," smiled Bruce to his daughter.

"Hey, we're among FRIENDS, Dad," said Magenta as she went over and kissed her father on the cheek, "you might know what those were if you hadn't spent most of your younger years hanging out in caves or on rooftops."

"Don't knock rooftops," said Bruce, "that's where I met your mother."

"Yeah, and it took…what, a zillion years before you finally got together with her. If the Joker hadn't put that knife in your leg I wouldn't be here now."

"I'm sure THAT piece of information makes him rest easier," Bruce responded before returning his attention back to the group.

"There's another reason I wanted to see you all. It concerns what happened with Royal Pain and a couple of other issues. Principal Powers and I have discussed them at length, and we would like you all to act as a means of getting all the other kids together on the same page…bridge the gaps that have developed between the hero and sidekick classes that created Royal Pain to begin with all those years ago and continue to this day.

"So what are we supposed to be," said Warren, "a bunch of "super friends"?"

"Well, no," said Bruce, "how about just a group of friends keeping an eye on the school from within. Think of it as a kind of a "hall monitor/student voice" calling."

"Oh yeah," said Warren, "my dad will be THRILLED with that news."

"You're dad's reaction may surprise you," said Bruce, "remember, I knew him before he went rogue. I think he just let a lot of frustration get to him…just like Susan Tenny. Hopefully we can stop more of that from happening in the future."

"I'll be glad to help," said Clark, "I think we all would."

"Sure," said Wally, "I remember how freaky I felt when I first got my powers. If it hadn't been for the buds I've got now who knows what I'd be doing."

"Me too," said Jake, "I thought I'd be a circus freak until I got to go to Sky High. I want to give something back."

Everybody looked at Warren, who was ever the outsider.

"Alright," said Warren, rolling his eyes and trying to sound bored with the whole deal, "if it'll stop with the big puppy eyes everyone's giving me, I'm in too."

"You were in from the start," grinned Clark, "admit it."

"I don't admit ANYTHING, you hick," said Warren, though he was unable to really hide his own grin.

Magenta leaned over and whispered to her father; "are you sure they aren't related?"

Clark was again waiting, but this time he wasn't alone. He was in Maxville General Hospital in the special "super" wing, waiting for word about Will. With him were Will's parents, the Commander and Jetstream in their secret identities of Steven and Josie Stronghold, and Layla.

Clark wished so much that his chance to finally meet his childhood hero hadn't been because of the fact that the man's son was in critical condition from having been drained of his powers by the vengeful Royal Pain almost to the point of dying. Now Clark's friend…and he still considered Will such even though he had attacked him…was at death's door and there was nothing he could do about it. He had already offered to donate some of his super charged blood if needed to keep Will going, but that was being held as a means of last resort.

Layla was so distraught. She had been the one to defeat Royal Pain, but the villain had already done her damage. Now Layla had gone without eating or sleeping for nearly two days because of the ordeal.

Clark was getting more and more worried about her, and had tried to get her to eat something several times, but she declined. A part of Clark was also angry with Will. He had put Layla through so much this entire time, and she had stayed loyal to him all the way. Clark wanted to take Layla in his arms and tell her everything was going to be all right, to hold her and comfort her through any ordeal to come.

Finally the door opened and a tall, distinguished looking man with black hair growing white at the temples and a heavy moustache came out. He was still wearing his hospital scrubs, and the only things on him that made him stand out from the other doctors were the strange golden amulet around his neck and his nametag that read "S. Strange/Special Advisor".

"How is he Stephen?" asked Josie.

"Your son will make it just fine," said Dr. Strange, "it seems getting pacified actually saved Will's life; the kryptonite used to "jumpstart" his powers was burning them out as well, like a powerful fuel tearing up the very engine running on it. When he was returned to a baby state, it put the powers into neutral long enough for his system to stabilize and begin healing itself, then when he was returned to normal Royal Pain drained off the kryptonite before it could start causing damage again."

"Does he have any powers?" asked the Commander.

"All the signs point to yes," said Dr. Strange, "but it will be a while before he fully recovers and can power up again. He'll be weak for a while, but a lot of rest and food will have him on his feet again in no time."

Everyone was relieved to hear that. Layla was so happy she jumped into Clark's arms and hugged him fiercely, making his eyes go wide at the strength he had never imagined such a small girl having. He put his own arms around her as his happiness about Will melted into his enjoying Layla's embrace as well. He released her the instant she let him go, but wished he could have held her much, much longer.

"When can we go in and see him?" asked Josie.

"I'm afraid he'll still be unconscious for a while. Why don't you all go home and rest, maybe get something to eat and come around on visiting hours this evening. By then he should be able to see you."

As Dr. Strange left, Steven Stronghold turned to Clark and Layla.

"Thanks for coming kids," he said with a tired smile, "it means a lot to Josie and me. I know it will mean the world to Will as well."

"It was our pleasure and honor sir," said Clark as he shook the Commander's hand, his "idiot fan boy" side doing cartwheels at shaking his childhood hero's hand.

"I think we should take the doctor's advice," said Josie, "you two go on home and we'll let you know the minute Will is awake and can see you. He'll be eager to see you too."

Outside in the cool afternoon, Clark and Layla walked into an alleyway, where Layla leapt into Clark's arms and he sped off, arriving at her home in mere moments. Clark hesitated before putting her down; he enjoyed holding her and it had been her idea to begin with for them to travel together like this. It was just that every time it was harder and harder for him to let her go…like he would never get to hold her again.

That was when he decided to finally speak. For too long Clark had always had to hold things back, to keep his secrets despite the fact that the silence confused and estranged his friends. How many times had his inability to speak up and really tell his feelings jeopardize things with Lana, who he still loved as well? And not just her love, but also her very friendship was endangered too. It was time to break that bad habit, beginning now.

"Layla, can we…talk for a minute?"

"Sure Clark," she said, totally unaware of what was about to happen

"These past few weeks…it's been the first time I was ever around anyone my own age with super powers…at least ones who weren't trying to kill me or one of my friends. I made a lot of friends here…and I'm really glad that you're one of them."

"I'm glad we're friends too," said Layla, giving Clark that pixie smile that always made his heart melt.

"Layla, I…" started Clark, not sure how he wanted to express himself, "I want you to know that I like you…I like you a LOT."

"I like you too Clark," said Layla with a puzzled look on her face.

"No, I mean I…I suck at this. Just let me ask you something."

"Okay"

"I know you're going with Will…but I…I…will you go to the Homecoming dance with me?"

"Oh Clark," said Layla, her eyes going wide in surprise, "I…wow, I don't know what to say."

"I…oh God…I hope you don't think I'm a creep asking you now with Will sick. I just…I fell in love with you the moment I saw you and…no…wait…"

"You…fell in love with me…didn't you say?"

"Yes…I…I did. I said it…and I did."

"Clark…I'm really flattered…I…"

"I…I'm sorry. Just…just forget I said anything. I…I've got to go."

Layla started to say something but Clark was gone in an instant and was ten miles away, running at super speed before she could get a word out. She stood stunned by what had just happened.

Clark was running back to Smallville as fast as possible. He just wanted to get away from Maxville and his sick friend who he had just betrayed by trying to steal his girlfriend.

But as fast as he ran, Clark could still feel the tears running down his cheeks.

To be continued

Next:

Homecoming is only days away but will Clark go after what just happened with Layla? Maybe another friend can help, because someone from Smallville IS on the guest list as a hero's date.