Chapter Thirty-Two
"I believe that everything happens for a reason.
People change so that you can learn to let go,
things go wrong so that you appreciate them when their right,
you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself,
and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."
— Marilyn Monroe —
New York
Clark managed to get Karen away from the scene. He let the police deal with the hostages and the media. He could see just how much the incident had hurt her. She'd put herself out there, trying to reach Archie and for a brief moment it seemed she had. Then it all fell apart.
He knew it was the reason so few heroes open themselves up like that. Yes, the victories were better than any other, but the defeats remain as wounds to the heart. If there had been any doubts in his mind about loving her, today had erased them. To try and save Archie she'd risked being emotionally naked in front of the whole world. That kind of courage was special, just like she was.
This would linger with her for a long time, but he vowed to be there every step of the way. It's just what you do for the one you love.
He got her back to her apartment and just held her, letting the tears and sorrow pour out. If there really were any, Clark didn't have the words to make it better. No pep talk or inspirational speech was going to wipe the pain away. So he did the most human thing of all, he just let her know she wasn't alone.
In some ways it was the hardest thing for him to do. All his instincts were to try and fix it, yet some things once they're broke can't be fixed. It was another realization of the limits to his powers for Clark. To most it seemed that Superman could do anything, even change worlds. Perhaps that's why some feared him. That was the first hard lesson he'd learned. No matter how hard he tried, no matter what sacrifices he made, he would never be able to get everyone to like or trust him. He realized just how hard he'd been trying to do that. Clark had finally accepted he couldn't worry about everyone else's opinion or fears. He had to be true to himself and what he believed and that would have to be enough.
It was a hard lesson to learn, but once he had, Clark found a sort of peace with himself. It was what he was trying to say to Bruce and Diana back at the farm. He wasn't turning away from the world or denying what was happening, Clark was accepting reality and moving ahead with a clearer view of the world and his place in it.
His place at the moment was here with Karen.
Clark hadn't figured it all out yet. He knew he still had flaws and would make mistakes, but the answer wasn't to pull away like Bruce or the Amazons had done. Recently he'd been thinking about an answer the scholar Joseph Campbell had given to a question about what he would say to the Buddhist tenet that all life is suffering and lose. Campbell had smiled and quoted an old Irish saying, 'is this a private fight or can anyone get involved?' It had seemed like a funny comment at the time, but now Clark thought he understand what the man was getting at.
Life is the struggle. It's the agony and the ecstasy, the little heavens and hells we experience everyday. It's taking a chance of loving someone else, even though they might not return it. The pain may linger, but it only makes the pleasure sweeter. To cut yourself off from all of that is to cut yourself off from life.
He looked down to find Karen looking up at him through tear filled eyes.
"Why, Clark, why did he do it," she asked.
"I-I don't know," he admitted. "I wish I had the answers, but I don't."
"I thought I'd reached him, but then …" She couldn't finish the sentence.
"Hey, sometimes-sometimes things just fall apart and there's nothing we can do about it," Clark whispered. "That man, Archie, his problems didn't start today or yesterday. I think you did reach him, it's why he let the woman go."
"It doesn't feel like enough, I wish I could have done more," she murmured.
"Humpty Dumpty, Karen."
"Wh-what?"
"Sometimes all the king's horse and all the king's men can't put it back together. I know it's hard, but some things get broken beyond repair. I think that goes for people, as well."
"It' not fair," Karen grumbled.
"No, no, it's not," admitted Clark. He kissed her forehead and held her tighter. She returned it, holding him as if she never wanted to let him go.
"Clark?"
"Yeah?"
"They're going to want a statement, the media. I can't, I just can do it," she said.
"Let me handle it, okay?"
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," he replied. "Before I do that, there's someone I've been wanting to you to meet."
"I'm not really up for meeting people right now."
"I understand, but she's special to me, just like you are."
"I've met Kara, Clark, we don't like each other, remember?"
"Vividly, but I think you'll like Martha Kent, most people do."
"Martha Kent? Your mother?"
"Yeah, meeting the family, think you can handle it," Clark teased, hoping to lighten her spirits.
"What-What if she doesn't like me," Karen nervously asked.
"How could she not," Clark smiled. "Her son's in love with you."
"And I'm in love with her son."
The Watchtower – One Week Later
Lantern was on assignment, so it was only the five remaining original members and Dinah at the meeting. It had not been a good week for the League. What had started with Vigilante and Wildcat and then Zatanna had continued all week. More members seemed to be pulling away. A somber mood hung over the meeting.
Diana had been very quite through most of it. Since her talk with Kal at his family farm she'd been going over and over his words. She had also been reflecting on her own actions throughout this whole time. Most of her life, she had always been so sure about things. Perhaps it was the wisdom her Goddess Athena had granted her, but she believed her actions were the right ones. Now she wasn't so sure.
As the meeting was about to end, Diana finally decided to speak up. Bruce was saying he thought things had stabilized and the worse was over as far as members leaving.
"There's one more member that will be taking some time off, Bruce, me," Diana said.
"What?" Everyone shouted in shock.
"Now it not a good time, Diana," Bruce heatedly said.
"I know, but it's important that I do," she admitted. "Things have been said and actions taken that seemed like the correct things at the time, but now I find myself wondering if they were."
"They were necessary, Diana."
"I believed that too, but I find myself struggling to refute Kal's arguments. Where I'm from and how I was raised is deeply interwoven into who I am. My mission is to spread peace and love, yet I can't be afraid to question my own beliefs if I'm going to do that. I need some time to find those answers."
"It's not the time to start questioning yourself, Diana," Bruce countered.
"When is the time, Bruce?'
Jonn had still not addressed any of the issues that had brought about this situation in the League. He glanced at Shayera and saw her nod.
"I support what you are saying, Diana," he began. "I think it would be a good time for all of us to reflect on what has happened."
"Jonn," Batman started to say, but Jonn raised his hand to stop him.
"No, please, Batman, I have listened to your arguments and those of everyone else. I've been reluctant to voice my opinion, perhaps out of fear, but I cannot be silent any longer. I believe you are too close to this, Batman. Perhaps it would be beneficial for you as well to take a step back."
Shayera spoke up.
"Because of my past actions I was afraid to speak, as well,' she admitted. "The truth is, I have no place else to go beside the League, and so I went along. I'm an alien just like Superman. I don't present the same issues he does, but the fear pointed at him can easily turn towards me. When my people invaded Earth, the thing that ultimately made me side against them was the League. I saw the goodness in all of you. Superman might have been the figurehead of it, but each of you represents that goodness in your own way. I think some of that's been lost in the last few weeks."
Most of the others nodded in understanding.
"I have felt the sting of fear," Jonn added. "I admit I'm ashamed that I did not offer my hand of support, as you and Superman once did, Batman. Perhaps these loses of members is a necessary part of moving forward. The issues raised were always there and needed to be addressed."
"I agree," Dinah said. "As chairwoman, I'm supposed to remain neutral, but that's harder and harder to do when I see friends walk away. I joined the League not just to fight supervillians and alien invasions, but because I believed in what it stands for. It's not the same League you seven started. Maybe it's time for new voices to represent it and show that it still stands against this type of fear. God, listen to me, I've been on this job so long I'm starting to make speeches."
"Get used to it, I renominated you for another term," Wally smiled. Dinah reached over and smacked him.
"Ow, that was because we're friends, right?"
"No, I'm just pissed at you," Dinah replied.
"Jeez, Zatanna's the nice one and she had to leave," Wally grumbled.
Smallville
Clark and Karen were walking around the farm. The meeting with Martha had gone better than Karen could have hoped for. The wise, sweet older lady had welcomed her with open arms. Before Karen knew it, Martha had gotten her to open up and she was telling her all about their first date. Much to Clark embarrassment, Martha had loved the part about him apologizing over and over for putting his arm around Karen in the theater. Martha insisted they stay for dinner and Karen happily accepted.
Clark was showing her around the farm, and Karen felt better than she had all week.
"I can see why you like it here," she said.
"It's one of the few places I feel like I can be myself," Clark offered.
"That's nice," Karen replied. "I like your Mom."
"She likes you too. I think you scored extra points by managing to embarrass me. I'm almost a little worried about what stories Ma's going to tell you." Clark cringed.
"I promise not to think less of you," she teased.
"You say that now, you haven't heard the stories yet," Clark grumbled. Karen laughed and they walked a little further.
"You know, in all the drama of late, I forgot to ask how the conference went on Primus 5?"
"About what you'd expect," Clark admitted. "It was really about us and they all had questions."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. They all had their concerns and fears about us. I told them basically it was none of their business and I wasn't going to answer any questions."
"Damn straight, screw them," Karen said indignantly.
"Your diplomatic skills still need a little work, honey," Clark teased. She gave him a look, but then smiled.
"So did anyone stand up for you?"
"Ah, yeah, that was another weird part, Lashina did."
"Lashina? Darkseid's Fury Lashina," Karen asked.
"That's the one. I'll never figure her out."
"You sound like you two have some history," Karen asked pointedly.
"You could say that," Clark reluctantly admitted.
"Oh really?" Karen stopped and stared at him. She wasn't sure how to take this latest revelation. "Just what sort of history do you two have?"
"That's sort of a long story, really, and I have that press conference in a little while," Clark nervously said. "I should really be getting to it if I want to make it back for dinner."
'I noticed you didn't answer the question, Clark."
"I think I'm better to be going, I'll see you in a little while, okay?"
"Clark Kent, we're not finished with this! I don't think I like the idea of you and her, at all!'
"Really got to go, we'll talk later, okay?"
"I'm not going to forget this,' Karen grumbled. "Lashina! What the hell, Clark?"
"See you a little later," he said and then started to fly off. "Love you!"
"I love you too, but I still want some answers!" Karen shouted as he disappeared into the sky.
Metropolis
The auditorium was packed to the rafters with reporters and news media. There was an excitement in the air, as Superman was going to make a statement. Things had cooled down a bit since the incident in New York, the shock of what happened seemed to cause everyone to pause and take a step back, but there were still a lot of questions out there about his relationship with Power Girl and the Justice League. The media loved a good celebrity story and with him speaking today they were already thinking about cranking it up again.
The curtains opened and Superman walked out. Flash bulbs went off all over the auditorium and the assembled TV crews went live all over the world. Clark stood behind a podium and looked out over the crowd for a moment before beginning.
"Thank you all for being here. I only have a brief statement and will not be taking questions."
This was unexpected, as Superman always answered every question put to him, no matter how long it took.
"I know you all want me to come out here and tell you everything, but I'm not going to do that. Yes, I am in a relationship with Power Girl, but that is private, between the two of us. I ask that you respect this. I've heard all the comments about my being an alien and what that means, but I would ask that you remember I grew up on Earth. I was only an infant when I arrived, so in every real sense this is my home. The values I've always tried to honor are values I learned here. This is said to be a land of immigrants.
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Those are the words on the Statue of Liberty. I may have come a little further than most, but I'm an immigrant too yearning to breathe free. Like most I have tried to honor my people and where I come from, but this is my world, my home. I want the same things all of you want, a life, a home, a family, a safe community and world for everyone. These may seem like ordinary dreams, but they are my dreams.
I'm not a threat to you or earth, as many have feared. Mistakes have been made in the past and I take full responsibility for my part in them. I know words alone won't convince everyone, so I only ask that you judge my actions as my true intent.
As far as the Justice League, leaving it was my own decision, no one else. It's bigger than any one member, and it is my hope it continues its vital mission. It has my complete support and I will help it any time I am asked.
This will be the last press conference I will be doing. I will continue, as I always have to try and help all the citizens of the world that need it. I only ask that you understand I want a private life as well.
Emmanuel Kant categorical imperative states, 'Act as if the maxim of your action were to become through your will a general natural law.' My hope is for a better world. Not one imposed, but one shared and worked towards by all. I will do my part to work towards that better world. Thank you.'
Reporters erupted with questions, shouting them at Superman as he walked away from the podium. This time he didn't stop to answer them.
New Haven Retirement Home
Mai Ellis walked into the dimly lit room to check on the old man. The small light above his bed was on. She was surprised to see a smile on his face. As she moved closer to him, he seemed to open his eyes and look at her. He whispered something that she didn't quite hear. She leaned closer.
"Hope rules the day."
It seemed like such a strange thing for him to say. As Mai eased back to ask the old man what it meant, she saw the light had gone out of his eyes. Wesley Dodds left this world at 5:07 PM with a smile on his face.