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Fallout, chapter 2

Location: the JLA Watchtower, medical bay

"Hello, Clark," Max said. "Would you mind getting me a glass of water? I'm not supposed to get out of bed or use my powers without supervision."

Clark brought over a glass of water and watched silently while Max drank it.

"Thank you," Max said. "What can I do for you?"

"I can't believe you did that in my parent's barn," Clark said.

Max blushed. "I don't think we need to go into any further discussion about that. It's private."

"See what you went through...it brings it home that I don't know much about you. We're family, but it's like there's a barrier between us. That's my fault, and I want to fix it."

"It's not entirely your fault," Max corrected. "I'm not very talkative. In fact, I would have preferred for many of those things to remain secret; I had no desire to burden you with them."

"It's not a burden. You shouldn't think of it that way. Looking at the way I treated you...I wouldn't blame you if you hated me."

Max blinked. "Why would you think something like that?"

"I've been hard on Conner, and I've been ever harder on you. I haven't trusted you when you didn't do anything to deserve it. I've been thoughtless too; I should have given you a Kryptonian name. I've held you at arms length when I shouldn't have."

"You won't win any parenting awards, but you're not my father. I don't have one."

"You're part of my family. I want us to be closer."

Max stared at him. "You've seen what I've done. Can you accept that?"

Clark looked sad. "I'll try to. It's still new, and I'm trying to get over the shock of it."

"Can you accept my relationship with Dan?"

"What makes you think I don't?"

"Your reactions. I know that you're very traditional, and it can be difficult to accept."

"I guess I just thought you'd be into the same things as Conner. You know, girls, pizza, that awful music..."

"Conner and I both had unusual upbringings, but he's been exposed to 'regular' things more than I have. There weren't many members of the Agenda or Groups that wanted anything to do with me. At least, nothing pleasant."

"I know that. It's just very hard for me to understand you."

There was a pause.

Max spoke first. "Look at me."

"What?"

"Look at my eyes. Of whom do they remind you?"

Clark stared at Max, not quite getting what he was saying. Then, it dawned upon him. It was the look of someone who had seen and experienced the worst of humanity. He knew someone else who had that look.

"Batman," he answered.

Max gave him a sad smile. "Exactly. Conner has a joy and sparkle in his eyes that I never had. I hope he never loses it."

"Does it hurt to be around him?"

"Sometimes. He's a constant reminder of what I might have been. Still, the occasional pain is more than countered by having him as a brother."

There was another pause. This time, Clark broke the silence.

"You can go home now. The doctors say it's okay."

"It'll be good to return."

"I want things to be better between us," Clark said suddenly. "I may not be good at expressing it, but I do really want that."

"I know."

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