HOLDING OUT pt14

Pairings - Not sure yet, Clark and Chloe most likely
Spoilers - It would help if you've ever Watched Smallville
Disclaimer - As much as I'd like to, I own nothing and will in no way make profit from this piece of fiction from the depths of my imagination.

NOTE – As I start to write this note, I think in my heart that this'll be the final chapter in this tale. Though, for symmetry's sake, I kind of want there to be a 15th chappy. We'll see what happens I guess. I've got some follow up and follow through work to get done here, so I'll have to see what surmises.

Thanks again everyone for reading. Both at K-Site and You all rule and have been the inspiration to keep me writing.

AK

September 24, 2013
Metropolis Central Orphanage Society

11:17am
"It's all right, Kids. You'll be safe now."

With three children tucked under his arms and wrapped delicately in his cape, Clark moved as quickly as he dared through the burning building. The heat and searing flames didn't affect him at all, but the already wailing and terrified children under his protection were too shaken up for him to fly into high speed.

Scanning the building with X-Ray Vision as he trotted down the hallway, he caught sight of several more children. Two trapped on the top floor, and one hiding under her bed on the fifth floor.

One of the kids began to cough again, his little frame trembling with fear and pain. The other two just kept crying.

Sweat rolled off Clark's brow as he trotted, tightening the cape around their bodies. "Just a few more minutes kids." Still scanning the building, he noted several of the main support beams were alight.

"So much for the smash and grab approach," he muttered.

One of the kids began squirming, flailing to get free.

Go, Clark!

Not able to waste anymore time, Clark allowed his feet to leave the ground and hurtled along the hallway as fast as he could safely, without harming the children or causing more damage to the building. Flames followed in his back draft, licking continually at his red booted heels. The children began screaming in unison as he rocketed them towards the nearest window.

From the outside, it appeared as if a gigantic missile erupted from one of the upper floor windows. A large, red figure blasted out into the sky, wrapped in flames and debris that followed him out. Down on the ground, Paramedics and Metropolis Fire Department officials were forced to duck and cover. The children already saved were quickly covered by blankets and other officials.

Tons of Metropolis' citizens were corralled by police barricades, and watching in thrall as Clark's caped form came to a controlled halt in mid air, before making a smooth descent to Earth, the three children cradled protectively against his torso.

The crowd exploded into cheers.

With soot covering his face and beginning to stain the bright primary colours of his outfit, Clark landed gently on the ground. Handing the three children over to the nearest paramedic and fire fighter, he turned back towards the flaming building searching again to confirm the exact location of the remaining victims.

He could only see the ones on the top floor. There was no trace of the one under the bed.

With a thunderous crack, the building shifted suddenly to the right. The support beams!

Clark leapt into the sky, hollaring down over the din. His voice echoing off the surrounding buildings. "Get everybody back! The building's about to collapse."

Even as his body zipped skyward, he could hear his command being relayed. The din of the surrounding throngs changed direction as everyone tried to get away.

Not taking his eyes off the two remaining children's forms, Clark cleared the roof of the building and landed directly above their motionless bodies. Not wasting anymore time, he ripped away the tar smeared rooftop and ignored the black smoke that billowed into his face. Dropping into the room, Clark cradled the two small bodies again the S-Shield on his chest and soared upward into the sky.

"Are you getting this? Tell me you're getting this!"

Akwardly holding his camera with one hand, Jimmy trained his lenses to the sky. Clicking the shutter like mad at the image of the blue and red clad man descending to earth holding two terrified infants in his arms. In the background of the shot, the buidling's noisy collapse was immortalized on film.

"Dammit, Jimmy! Speak to me."

"Lois, if getting shot in the line of duty don't get me a Nobel Peace Prize, these pics are guaranteeing me a Pulitzer."

Heaving a huge sigh of relief, Lois turned her attention back to the scene. Already her notebook was crammed full of the usual pertinent details that she'd scrambled together on her way to the fire. Supervising Officer on scene, number of paramedic and fire officials in attendance, number of victims affected, property management company in charge, list of possible suspects who would want this building to go up in flames (There's a scumbag in every circle!). But none of that was important now. There was only one question that everyone needed an answer to.

"Who is this guy?"

Jimmy turned slightly, quirking an eyebrow. "Who cares? He just saved a bunch of kids from a burning building. That's good enough for me."

Lois rounded on him. "Jimmy. Pictures. Now."

Sighing, Jimmy resumed his frantic clicking.

As the caped man finally landed again, and handed the children off to other attendants he began speaking with several of the other officials.

Now's my chance!

"Come on, Jimmy!"

Holding her Press Pass and Daily Planet credentials in front of her like shield, Lois bulled her way past the police officers and fire officials that stood in her way. Ducking under one last arm, she heard Jimmy's indignant cry of pain and promptly ignored it. She was within 15 yards of the man's now dirty cape and was able to overhear the conversation he was having with a woman who was holding one absolutely filthy child.

"Are you certain that none of children are missing?"

"No sir, all present and accounted for. I don't know how you did it, but we can never repay you for ..."

The woman continued on, speaking about how the Orphange was forever in his debt and so on and son forth. But as Lois watched in amazement, the man continued to nod, occassionally murmuring words of encouragement and thanks. All the while his beautiful blue eyes scanned the flaming remains, as if searching for something only he could see. Suddenly, his eyes widened slightly, the corners of his lips starting to turn upwards.

"... and our children, My God, our children will still be able to have a full and total life."

He turned back to the woman, his smile not quite showing teeth. "It was my pleasure, miss." Running both hands through his ruffled black hair, he looked skyward.

Don't let him go!

Rushing forward, Lois grabbed his bright red cape firmly. Startled, the man turned to her. His face freezing suddenly in alarm.

"Hi, Lois Lane. Daily Planet. That was ... " Think woman! Say Something! "That was amazing!"

Slowly the look of alarm disappeared form his face. Within seconds it was replaced by a calm demeanor that seemed at the same time very personable, yet very detached. Almost ... alien.

"Thank you, Miss Lane." His voice was deep, almost a full baritone. Looking back over her shoulder he motioned. "Is that photographer with you?"

"Probably, look how about an interview. I want ... I mean, I know the whole world is going to want to know about you. About how you did this. And why. And ... And who you are."

The man continued to gaze down at her calmly. Clearing his throat pointedly, Lois cut off her prattle so quickly that her teeth clicked shut.

"Those are all excellent questions, Miss Lane. And going by the number of reporters and tv crews that are trying to make their way forward, I believe that those are questions that deserve an answer."

Frantically, Lois threw a glance over her shoulder. Looking past where Jimmy was trying to talk his way past the police officers she could see several tv crews setting up and other reporters desperately trying to make a way through the crowd of people. Absently, she noted that all the people in the crowd seemed to be pointing and shouting excitedly in the general direction of the caped man.

"So you want a kickback or something?" Lois' lips began to sneer . "I should've known. Fine. I'm sure that the Daily Planet would be more than happy to offer you some financial measure to get the exclusive interview with you."

"You misunderstand, Miss Lane. I am more than happy to answer those questions."

"For free! Really?" Whipping out her notebook, she got ready to take notes. "Perfect! So, where do you want to ..."

"Unfortunately, I've already promised the interview to someone else."

With her jaw looking like it was trying to swing between her knees, Lois let go of his cape and held her arms out to the sides. "How ... Who could you have ... But ... I've got the Exclusive ... I saw you first."

Gathering his cape to his sides, The man smiled slightly. "I'm afraid that's not correct." His body suddenly began to rise up, the air rushing in under his feet. "Good bye, Miss Lane. Children."

And then he was gone, and streak of red and blue over the flaming remains of the building.

Lois stood there, staring up into the sky after his disappearing form.

Jimmy trundled up next to her, holding his camera protectively against his chest. His face pinched in pain from his injured arm.

"So ... What'd he say?"

Lois opened and closed her mouth several times. Nothing came out. But her eyes never left the spot where he dissappeared from sight.

Several blocks away from where the orphanage continued to smolder it's way into ruins, a lone whip lean man stood on a rooftop overlooking the scene. Noting the number of people surrounding, the smoke rising up into the sky, and the damage to the nearby buildings.

He sighed heavily, coughing at the very end.

"Maybe Ollie could get you a golden breath mask to match those ridiculous ear wings."

Wiping the char from his mouth, Bart turned back. "You're the one in the cape, dude. Hello Queen's Court."

Leaning against one of the chimney pillars, Clark chuckled deep in his chest while neglicently wiping some of the soot out of his face.

"Leg's all better?"

"I heal quick."

"There's a surprise."

"Not really." Bart eased back the top of his mask once he too was behind the chimney and out of easy eyesight. He shook his sweaty curls out and wiped at his brow. "That building was hot."

"Thanks for grabbing that kid on the fifth."

"I wasn't going to get in the way, but you were taking longer than I thought. Those extra muscles slowing you down?"

Clark shook his head. "The building was already coming down. I couldn't risk knocking out walls, bringing it down faster."

Bart nodded. "Makes sense. Good thing I showed."

"Why are you here?"

He paused, collecting his thoughts. Then he countered. "I could ask you the same thing. Five years is a long time man. Maybe I wanted to catch up."

"And maybe you wanted to grind my gears for being AWOL while you guys were trying to save the world."

Bart leaned his back against the chimney, no longer facing him. "You always talked about using our abilities to help people. About how it was important to help those who couldn't help themselves. And then you take off. Leave everyone behind to clean up the world while you're off ... Doing whatever." Clark hung his head. "How can you explain that?"

"I'm not sure that I can. Not in a way you'll fully understand."

"I'll settle for partly."

Clark shrugged. "You got a few hours?"

"You hungry?"

"I'm making dinner for Chloe tonight, so I don't want anything too heavy."

Bart sneered, giving him a disgusted look. Finally Clark laughed.

"Okay, fine. So I don't get bloated easy. Sue me."

"I'll think about it." Standing up, Bart reached back for his mask. Then he paused.

"What?"

"A lot of people were upset when you disappeared man. Your mom. Ollie. Me." He paused. "Chloe."

"I know. I want to make it up to them."

"I get that. And you probably will."

"Thanks."

"Just ..." He sighed before pulling up his mask again. Squaring his surprisingly broad shoulders, he faced Clark dead on. All trace of humour gone from his face. "Just don't make any promises you can't keep, okay? Some people couldn't take losing you again."

Silence.

"Fair enough." Pushing off the wall, he looked into the distance. "Lunch?"

"Lunch. Feel like Mexican?"

"Actually, I know this really good place in Portgual."

"Cool. I'll follow you."

"All right. Try to keep up."

The thunderclap they created leaping into full speed rattled the windows for an entire block.

END of pt15