Chapter 17

The Watchtower...

Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Batman. The Big Six. The regular meeting where they catch up on recent major events. J'onn is just finishing informing them of his success in removing the knowledge of the secret identities and other relevant knowledge from Poison Ivy's mind without having to do a complete mind wipe and how Ivy had now be returned to her prison cell. It had now been a couple of days since the incident in Gotham.

Batman is listening while at the same time reading over J'onn's written report. He will have to take steps to completely shut down this terrorist network Ivy managed to establish. However for the moment back onto the Blur. "Any chance you can do the same on the Blur?" he wonders because he wants the knowledge of his identity erased from this man's mind.

"Isn't that going a little overboard?" Flash queries thinking that is going too far. "The guy was drugged. Otherwise what has he done?"

"I share Batman's sentiment,"Aquaman adds his opinion. "We know nothing of this man to be certain he can be trusted."

Green Lantern leans back in his chair, thinks for a moment and holds back his opinion for now.

J'onn looks to Diana for hers. "I am uncertain if that is necessary but I think it best to keep options open so Batman's question is valid. Could you erase the knowledge if it ever became necessary?" she asks.

"I cannot be certain," J'onn has to admit. "The Blur is not human. He is a Kryptonian. A species that is almost mythical as they had not left their home planet for millennia. I have no way to understand his mental architecture without studying him extensively. A procedure I doubt he would consent to and one I would not undertake without his permission. He is not a villain. As Flash said he was drugged. I believe...you may call it a gut instinct if you wish...I believe he is a good person who would not misuse the knowledge he now possesses."

Batman isn't taking J'onn's or anyone else's gut instinct as proof that the Blur is good. He only works with hard facts, few of which he has as both J'onn and Flash are correct in one sense. The Blur was drugged and what he observed was therefore not the real person. Therefore the next course of action is to place the Blur where he can be observed and studied close up. "Then he must be made a member so he can be watched and evaluated," Batman states. Not suggests. It is a statement of what needs to happen in his view.

"Since when did we force people to join?" Flash asks, that idea not sitting particularly well with him. The League was suppose to be about people voluntarily joining because they believed in its aims.

"Since it involves a being with powers to rival Diana and J'onn," Batman argues.

"Oh so it has nothing to do with your pride being a little wounded by the fact he kicked your ass?" Hal asks being quite perceptive as to what is really motivating Bruce.

"I do not let my emotions get in the way of making decisions," Batman states in that cold, gravelly voice.

Flash starts coughing and in between his coughs he speaks a word that suspiciously sounds like "Catwoman."

Flash gets the full Bat-glare for that and he sinks into his seat a little.

"I agree with Batman," Aquaman once more expresses his view that Bruce is correct. "This alien is far too powerful to be left roaming around without a leash of some kind."

"I agree with Flash. We do not force members to join," J'onn adds his opinion.

Everyone looks to Diana as leader to make the call. "We should vote on it," she decides since there was obviously a split. Best to see what is the majority decision.

"If it's a tie we leave him alone," Hal puts forward.

Diana agrees to that. Unless it's a majority decision they should not force him. Batman and Aquaman vote to have the Blur join. Flash and J'onn vote against leaving her and Hal to essentially decide. The pragmatic warrior in Diana agrees with Bruce and Arthur so makes her vote to have the Blur join leaving it upon Hal what the final decision will be.

"In their way both views have merit," Hal says. "However I agree with Flash. When did we start forcing people to join. Until we change the rules that says we do that I vote we leave him alone until he decides he wants to join."

"The vote is 3-3. As it is a tie the motion is defeated by the terms that were agreed," Diana announces.

Batman and Aquaman have extremely unhappy expressions at that. Both stand up and leave without another word.

"Gee those two are like grumpy brothers-in-arms," Flash complains at Batman's and Aquaman's similarly bad moods as he gets back to his feet and leaves with Hal.

Diana blows out a weary breath. J'onn places a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. "Perhaps you should go home. This last week has been trying."

Diana smiles a little at J'onn's care for her well-being. "Yes and that's just Plastic Man now he is out of that knot," she jokes. Then of course there was Maxima and the Blur and the clean-up of Ivy's scheme. "I can't even remember the last time I went home," she admits to J'onn or the last time she saw Tom. They had only exchanged a few brief messages. Diana decides she will go home if only to throw out all the food in her fridge that must be off by now.

Out in the corridor Wally says to Hal, "You know some days I wonder whether we have lost our way. I'm sure we use to stand for something noble."

Hal is a little surprised that Wally can sound so serious and actually twigs that. "We still do. We save people."

"Yeah but we seem to be getting more and more authoritarian. You know like..."

Hal cuts Wally off. "No. Just no. Don't compare us to them. We're not like them Wally. We never will be."

"A year ago I would have agreed with you but I don't know...something is changing Hal. I don't know what it is but some thing is changing." Wally checks his watch. "I've got to go. I have a date with Linda."

Hal watches Wally zip off with a wry smile. He really seems to like this Linda Park he is seeing. Hal lets out a breath as he rethinks Wally's suggestion. No. Just no. Hal won't accept they are becoming them. They are not becoming the Justice Lords.


Metropolis...

Lana had had to come up with reasons for firstly her disappearance after Ivy abducted her and second her appearance in Gotham with the Martian Manhunter. Damn modern technology with cameras in everything. The surprising thing was that it was Batgirl...Barbara who had showed up and aided her with concocting a convincing story revolving around Ivy attempting to finish what she started that day in the park a few months back and the Justice League rescuing her.

Lana did not ask Barbara about the status of her relationship with Clark. Lana decided to not butt her nose in until Clark asked for her advice which he hadn't yet. He had mostly spent the last couple of days brooding in one of the darkest moods she had ever seen him in. He was visibly weighed down with his guilt. He had not talked about that either or what he got up to while under red kryptonite.

One thing that was certain as pertains to Clark was that he was now unemployed. Apparently not showing up to your jobs for several days are grounds to be dismissed unsurprisingly. As for Lana's job her assistant Mel had as always more than adequately covered for her. It was one reason Lana hired her because Mel was damn good at her job.

After spending the day getting caught up on work Lana returns to her apartment late to find Clark sitting on her couch looking deep in thought. She moves to sit down next to him. "So can I ask. You ready to talk about it yet?" she tentatively raises the subject.

Several minutes of silence and Lana starts to think that today won't be the day until finally he responds.

"You know I was just starting to think I was getting my life sorted out," Clark says.

"You were...you are," Lana assures him because she knows how devastated he was about losing his mother even if he tried to hide it.

"Am I? I thought I had grieved and was ready to move on but it seems I was deluding myself. I don't seem to be any further along with creating a life for myself than I was the day I arrived in Metropolis," he summarises what the red kryptonite along with Wonder Woman's lasso had forced out of him and forced him to have to confront about what he feels over everything he has lost in his life.

"Clark no-one ever 100% gets over losing the people they love. It takes time to heal."

"Why though Lana? Why do I always end up alone?"

"Clark you're not alone. You have me."

"For how long? Hmm? How long until someone else figures out what Ivy did and comes to get you?"

"Clark no-one identified you being the Blur," she points out.

"Only because by some miracle no-one got a clear shot of my face but there are too many pictures of partial images of me. Someone will connect it if I remain visible," he says with worry for Lana.

"Is that why you haven't shaved for these last 2 days?" Lana asks pointing at the stubble on his face.

Clark rubs his hand over his stubbly chin. "Partially. I think some facial hair might help hide my features but the truth is that the only way I can keep you safe is is if I disappear under the radar for awhile."

"What does that mean?"

"I can't stay here Lana," he tells her of the decision he has made after thinking it over for the last couple of days. "I need to just let people forget what they saw which I can't do if I'm seen every day by the same people. I've decided to do some travelling."

"Where? Across the States? Like a road trip?" she asks him for details while holding off her opinion that he's making a rash decision.

"No. More like across the world."

"What?"

"I was thinking that it's a big world and I've seen so little of it...and being in an entirely different country will make it easier for me to vanish into the crowd."

"Clark I don't think that's the right response to this," Lana argues against what he is saying.

Clark smiles oddly. "No. I didn't think you would."

"Clark please don't rush into making this decision."

"I wasn't going to. I need a few days to tidy up some things and I promise Lana I'll continue to review my decision but at the moment this is what I think is best."

"But why?" Lana asks still not really understanding.

"Too much has happened. Too many people know too much about me. I don't know how to handle that. I was never prepared for that right at this moment. I need to be away until I figure things out. As Pa use to say there comes a time in every man's life where he must embark on a journey alone to discover who he is. Because I lost him...because I had to look after Ma I've been putting that journey off. It's time I took it."

"You want my honest opinion Clark?"

"Always," he assures Lana.

"I think you're letting your guilt dictate your actions. I know you did things you are probably regretting."

"I did things that were not me at all."

"Is this because you slept with Ivy?" Lana asks because well it is an awkward subject to broach but she just doesn't get it.

"No...although that is not something I'm proud of."

"And Huntress?"

Clark screws his eyes shut. "I mentioned that as well didn't I?"

"Yes."

"That's...Lana you know me. I don't go sleeping around normally. That's not me. That's not us. We weren't raised that way."

"True," she concedes.

Clark sighs.

"Were there a lot of women?" she asks hoping that once he gets it off his chest he won't feel as guilty and will rethink his whole leaving scheme.

"No. Just the 3."

"Who was the 3rd?"

Clark laughs sadly at himself. "I have no idea. She said her name was Maxima...and she was almost as strong as I am."

"I've never heard the name."

"Me neither and I looked for her. I did a search online to see if she was some obscure hero or villain or something but nothing."

"Well if she is a powerful as you say Clark she'll probably pop up in some capacity one day but maybe you just need to take it as one of those human experiences. Trust me Mel has some stories about waking up next to some complete stranger after a night out. It happens. It's human."

Clark smiles slightly at Lana's description of him. "Thank you," he says gently. "You are a wise woman. How are you still single?" he asks since honestly Lana should have found the someone she deserves by now.

"Who the hell knows." On the subject of relationships. "Have you talked to Barbara yet?" Lana wonders.

"It's on my list of things to do."

"You ever going to tell me what happened?"

"No offence Lana but I would rather not...at least until I talk to Barbara."

Lana accepts that. "Ok but you know I'm here any time for you."

"I know...and thanks. You're my best friend you know."

"Really? What about Pete?" she asks in reference to Clark's only other really close friend growing up, Pete Ross.

"I've demoted him. I mean since he went off into politics it isn't like we really talk any more. He has his world. I have mine. We've moved on to different things," he says a little bit regretful he and Pete have essentially lost touch with each other.

The truth is the same applies to Lana in regards to Pete. The last time she saw him was Mrs Kent's funeral and that had been the first time in years really they had been together for any length of time. "So any plans for tonight?" Lana wonders.

Clark nods. "Yeah I have a couple of things I want to do."


Washington DC...

Tom Tresser slots the key into the lock and opens the door to his apartment after another long day. Really he is thinking quick bite to eat and collapse into bed.

That was what he was thinking until he stepped inside his apartment and found he wasn't alone. He has to blink to make sure he isn't seeing things. "Diana?"

"Tom!" Diana greets him with a smile. After leaving the Watchtower she went home cleared out her fridge, had a quick shower and change of clothes to freshen herself up. Then seeing it wasn't too late into the evening she had decided to drop in on Tom and surprise him since they had seen so little of each other.

"You're here?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" she asks back at the look of confusion on his face.

"Diana we've barely talked this last week," he reminds her.

"I know. I'm sorry. I've been busy."

"Yeah and I've had to cover for you with at work."

Diana does feels guilty about that. "I know Tom but I told you when we started dating that sometimes the League would have to take priority."

"I get it's important to you Diana but aren't I suppose to be as well."

"You are," Diana insists. This is the longest relationship she has ever had since she left home and came to Man's World.

"Really?" Tom questions that. Maybe it is because he is tried but he isn't in the mood to let this slide this time and he means this time as in this is not the first time this situation has arisen where he just doesn't seem very high up on Diana's list of priorities.

"You're questioning my word?" Diana asks, almost unable to believe he would do that. Diana doesn't lie about things like that. She doesn't get the option to as her lasso, as long as it is attached to her, forever makes sure she can't live in self-deception.

"No," Tom insists. Not her word. "I'm questioning what you see this as because right now I'm getting the feeling you are only paying lip service to this relationship. I'm getting the feeling you entered into it because you think that is what you are suppose to do or you were curious about what this whole thing between men and women is about and you wanted to solve the puzzle. Is that it Diana? Am I just a means to solve what you see as a curious intellectual puzzle?"

Diana frowns and her hands clench into fists. "Tom I do not know for certain what you are accusing me of but I am certain I do not like it."

"I'm not accusing you of anything," Tom insists. "I just want to know if this relationship has any future or not. I mean where do you see us in even a year from now Diana?"

Diana has no answer to that because it never occurred to her to think that far ahead. Why would she? They hadn't been dating that long for her to start thinking about those things. Surely they were still at the part of the relationship where they were living in the moment...Diana thinks that is where they are. She doesn't have huge experience to fall back on but it seems Tom might be thinking they are further along than she at least is.

Tom's mood darkens further when she doesn't reply. Obviously she isn't thinking about where this relationship is heading at all. Tom knows he should be happy. He's dating Wonder Woman but he just isn't as happy as he thinks he should be. Tom rubs his eyes. "Look Diana I'm tried. Lets...lets just talk about this when my mind is fresher ok?"

Diana nods, uncertain and unhappy about what just happened. After all where did all that come from suddenly?

Diana grabs her jacket, she had come in her civilian guise, slips it on and walks to the door. "I'll...uh...see you at work tomorrow?" she phrases it as a question as if unsure he'll want to see her.

Tom nods in almost sad concession that they can't avoid that. They're partners. He watches Diana leave pretty certain he just made a colossal mistake but it has been getting to him for awhile that Diana seems to put her work, her sisters, her...well too many things before him and he was just too tired to restrain himself from raising it.

He'll fix this. Somehow he'll fix this when his mind is able to think things through but as for right now he wanders into his bedroom and falls down upon the bed no longer hungry but just wanting a good night's sleep.


Gotham City...

Another night, another patrol. In a sense it is what Huntress lives for...although she does have those papers to grade so she should probably cut it short and get started on that. She takes a run and leaps over an alley to the next rooftop. She'll do one more quick look around the local area and then head home.

"Good evening."

Huntress looks around for where that came from and then she looks up as the Blur floats down to land on the roof a short distance away. She notes he is out of the black and back in the blue leather pants, blue t-shirt and red hoodie vest-top with red boots combo she first met him in. She spots the shades on his face and the fact there is some stubble on his chin. "Save it," she says.

"What?"

"I know why you're here. I know you were drugged and you're no doubt here to apologise for sleeping with me and how you regret it yadda yadda...save it. I get it. You don't need to say anything."

Clark folds his arms across his chest. "You done?" he asks.

Huntress mimics him and folds her arms across her chest. "Depends. If you're here for the reason I said leave," she tells him.

Clark pushes the hood back and then pulls his shades off his face. Considering he had sex with her and considering she hangs out with Barbara and Black Canary there is really little point in keeping his face hidden from her.

Huntress for the first time gets to see his face in its entirety. Dayum. He was gorgeous.

"You said regret," he begins with. "Regret is the wrong word. You're a beautiful woman and only an idiot would regret being with you and I like to think I'm not an idiot...although I can be a little slow sometimes on the uptake," he jests in a self-deprecating manner.

Huntress' lips twitch a little at his humour. "I still feel like a but is coming," she says.

"I was drugged and that was not really me. I..." he trials off and paces a little as he rethinks his words. He planned this out generally what to say but not word for word. "It's a personal choice not a judgement on anyone who thinks differently but I don't tend to sleep with people without getting to know them first. Call it old-fashioned if you want but it is who I am."

"Ok. You're old-fashioned," Huntress jokes with a smirk.

Clark smiles a little. "I don't regret what we did," he repeats his assertion.

"But we won't be doing it again," Huntress can guess.

"No," Clark says simply.

"Well I appreciate you coming all this way to tell me but it wasn't really necessary. I'm a big girl. I don't need my feelings mollycoddled. In fact I kind of hate all that. I prefer people just to get to the point and say what is on their minds."

"That's only part of the reason I'm here. The other is to say thank you for finding Lana and if you ever need a favour I owe you one."

"Well technically I could consider the multiple orgasms you gave me as payment," she points out and smirks when he visibly turns beetroot red to the tips of his ears. Oh she can definitely have fun with him now she knows how easily the real him is embarrassed. It's that small town upbringing no doubt with old-fashioned values. "However since you're offering consider me a debt I will ask to be paid one day."

"Done...but just the one," he clarifies.

"Aw shame. You seemed to enjoy multiples before," she teases.

"I'm going to leave before my face gets any redder," he says.

Huntress laughs softly.

Before he leaves Clark reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small crucifix and holds it out to Huntress. "This is yours I believe."

Huntress reaches out and takes it. She wondered what happened to that.

"I...uh...kind of tore it off when we were..." Clark rubs the back of his neck as he fumbles over his words trying to describe how he tore it from around her neck when they were having sex. "I would have brought it back sooner but I wanted to get the chain repaired first."

Huntress is at a loss for words. She thinks this possibly could be the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for her and he doesn't even know how much this small cross means to her. She took this off her mother's body after her parents were murdered. It was upon this cross she made her oath to avenge them. "Thank you," she says genuinely.

"It's the least I could do," he says modestly before he slips his shades back on and pulls his hood back up. "Well I'll go. I have things to do. Goodnight," he says his farewells.

"Wait," Huntress says stopping him. "I know you were drugged before but if you wanted to start over again from scratch I would not be adverse to that," she makes the offer because she is genuinely touched by what he did and hell he is gorgeous. Even if it didn't work out she could at least not have the regret of not having tried.

Clark blinks. He never expected that. "I...I'm sure you're a wonderful person but I'm not in a good place right now to start anything," he says trying to turn her down as gently as possible. Clark may not be brilliant or an expert on relationships but he knows enough about himself right now to know the last thing he can do is be involved with anyone.

"I understand that," Huntress says in response and she does. She's been in that place. Arguably or some people would make the argument she is still in that place.

"Thank you...and one day I'm certain you'll find the man you deserve," he says before he floats upward and zips off across Gotham's skyline.

Huntress loops the chain over head and puts the cross back where it belongs around her neck. She smiles a little and almost feels sad that he didn't want to continue their little get together but somehow for whatever reason she never ends up with the good guy...and can't help but wonder if in another moment he would be the man she deserves.


The next morning, outside Gotham...

The Mayor of Gotham City, the Police Commissioner and various other officials stand at what was the water's edge of one of Gotham's reservoirs which is now completely dry after the Blur vaporised the entire contents to prevent the spread of mind spores courtesy of Poison Ivy.

The Mayor in particular is getting fed-up of trying to run a city where psychos and criminals can even attempt this kind of stuff. He has already decided he has had enough and won't be standing for another term.

Until then...until his current term expires he has to deal with the current issue of how to refill this lake before Gotham starts to run short of water. Of course you don't have those types of discussions here. This is just for the PR and to get some good photos on the news showing him acting decisively to resolve this problem.

He answers the usual questions from the assembled press and gets to the last question from a certain female reporter.

"Mr Mayor. Lois Lane. Daily Planet. The Justice League issued a statement explaining Poison Ivy had managed to drug the Blur into acting the way he did but he still did an enormous amount of damage. Is he going to be held to account or do you just bow in awe like everyone else does to the them and let the Blur get away with it?"

"Ms Lane. I would love to hold the Blur to account and if you can hand him in or give us his current location then I'm certain Commissioner Gordon will act."

"Oh. Would this act be in the same way you have turned a blind eye to Batman and company all these years?"

"Ms Lane it is official policy not to condone the acts of vigilantes but they exist and even you have to admit they have done much to restrain the activities of these supervillains that plague our communities."

"That's a nice avoidance of answering my question," Lois says sounding smarmy about it.

"Ms Lane as I recall you have written many favourable articles about the Justice League."

"Yes," she concedes. "I have also written criticisms where justified but this is not about the League. I'm just trying to clarify your position. Do you have a different position between League and non-League members? That would explain your tolerance of Batman."

"Ms Lane my position is that everyone has to be held accountable for their actions. I am by the voters of Gotham. You are by your readers. The Blur, the Batman, the Justice League all need to be held to account by someone and I have already explained my desire to see the Blur held to account for his actions. Now there is little more I can add to that."

"Really?" Lois questions that. "What about the fact it is speculated the Blur took down over half of Gotham's crime bosses and psychos which is more than you have managed in 3 years?"

"There is no absolute proof he was behind that."

"We both know he was."

"I will not indulge in idle speculation Ms Lane. As for my record I am more than happy to defend it to the voters of this city. One of which you are not."

"What about Lana Lang's involvement?" Lois fires off another question quickly not allowing him to brush her off.

"Ms Lang has already given a statement to the police and the press. I will not elevate myself into a position where I will assume I can speak for her. If you have questions for her Ms Lane go ask her directly."

"Mr Mayor..."

"I think that's enough," the Mayor's press agent steps in. "You've had more than your fair share of questions and the mayor is a busy man. I'm sure you have enough tittle tattle for your article Ms Lane."

"Tittle tattle?" she exclaims angrily that this jerk dare insinuate she writes tittle tattle. "Can I quote you on that?"

"We're done. Thank you for your time ladies and gentleman," the PR agent announces as the mayor is led back to his car to be driven away.

That PR guy is on Lois' black list from now on. She was here to try and get a full understanding of what happened to Metropolis' first full-time hero the Blur since her stress-relief partner was being tight-lipped about it. Lois was so turning off that tap to Hal for awhile in retaliation.

Essentially Lois just knows the statement the Justice League released doesn't quite cover it all. How did Ivy managed to drug the Blur? That was never explained in detail. Lois knows BS-ing when she hears it and that statement was it at its finest. They're covering stuff up. Lois knows it and despite in some senses being a fan of the League that won't stop her finding out what it is they are hiding.

Just then an enormous shadow comes over the entire valley. Suddenly Lois screams out at what feels like a drop of ice water goes down the back of her heck. She hates that. There are audible gasps from the people around her and Lois looks at them to find they are all looking up. She does the same and what she sees is an enormous iceberg above her being carried by what is in comparison a tiny figure in red and blue. The Blur.

Lois watches on as he places the enormous chunk of ice down upon the dry lake bed. He then floats up to where she and the rest of her fellow reporters are and hovers there. He then addresses the crowd.

"I cannot atone for my actions nor the destruction I caused. An apology is insufficient but I offer one and hope and believe the people of this city have it in their hearts to be forgiving. What I can do is to replenish this lake with this piece of frozen fresh water I brought here. I believe it best to leave it to melt slowly of its own accord. Ladies and Gentlemen thank you for your time."

He then shoots off upward and away with a sonic boom as he breaks the sound barrier.


The Batcave...

That night Barbara makes her way down into the cave by the staircase from the manor above. She had come dressed in her civilian guise. This wasn't really business per say although she and Bruce still have to have that chat about what to do with Clark. It was also more than that. Barbara's thoughts about quitting this hero gig had returned stronger than ever after the many mistakes and misjudgements she made during the whole incident with Clark. Well she isn't here to discuss that particular issue with Bruce. It is just something that is on her mind. She finds Bruce hovering over a microscope examining something. She walks up next to him and spots a thin sliver of green material on the slide. "What's that?" she asks.

"The substance J'onn described in his report."

Report? Barbara looks down at the bench and spots a file. She picks it up, opens it and starts reading. It is J'onn's report on what transpired in Gotham. "Kryptonite?" she inquires.

"An extraterrestrial element whose radiation is fatal to Mr Kent."

"Bruce you are not thinking of using it against him are you?" she asks, almost outraged that he would.

"Only if I have to."

"Bruce," she says his name forcefully.

Bruce turns from the microscope and looks at her. "Some method is required to contain him should he prove to be an enemy," he states flatly defending his actions.

"Bruce he is not an enemy. He's a nice guy."

"You're thinking with your hormones."

Barbara scowls at him. "Bruce I'm about 5 seconds away from punching you," she warns him. "My judgement is based solely on knowing who Clark is. Perhaps you should try that sometime instead of jumping to the worse case scenario first off."

"Do you see me running off to try and take him down?" he asks rhetorically.

"I somehow doubt that little sliver is enough to stop him," she shoots down his argument.

"I'm working on procuring more," he admits because he assumes Barbara would assume that is what he is doing. "I've only been able to track down a few known pieces. The cheapest one will cost me about $50,000."

"Which is pocket change for you but listen to me well Bruce. If you use it when it is not justified you will find me your enemy," she lets him know.

"It's a fail-safe only," he explains himself. "You can't deny we need one."

Barbara wishes she could but she can't.

"Do you wish to tell me how we ended up where we did?"

"Not particularly."

Bruce glares at her.

"There isn't much to say Bruce that J'onn doesn't include in his report. You know basically how we ended up here."

"Very well," he concedes seeing Barbara isn't going to reveal more detail about whatever transpired between herself and Kent. "Lets talk about the future."

"Lets not because I haven't talked to Clark yet."

"Why not?"

"Unlike you he can't turn his emotions off. He needed a few days to process things."

"He looked fine on the news...unless you missed that?"

"No I saw him drop the iceberg off. I'm going back to Metropolis tonight. I just wanted to make sure you weren't going to do something stupid and confront him."

Bruce just looks at her.

"Oh come on Bruce. I know you. Powers or not you would go ahead and do it. In Clark's case it would be a mistake. You confront him in your usual manner you'll drive him away not bring him into the Justice League which is what you want so you can keep an eye on him."

Bruce has to concede that he taught Barbara well for her to correctly surmise his actions. "Very well. On this occasion I shall leave it to you but don't expect me not to intervene should he become troublesome."

Barbara would be more surprised if he didn't. She turns to leave but Bruce stops her.

"One more thing."

"Yes?"

"It wouldn't be the same without you if you quit."

Barbara's expression is one of complete and total surprise. "How did you..."

Bruce looks at her. "I may be insensitive," he admits his failings. "But I'm not blind. I know you've been unhappy."

Barbara sighs. "The mission may be enough for you but I need more than that."

"Or perhaps you just need a break."

Barbara looks at him with even more surprise that he suggested that.

"As you said you're not me. I accept giving total dedication to this. It is my choice. As for yourself it is obviously better if you take a break and come back refreshed rather than you quit completely. It's only logical."

"I...I need to think on it."

Bruce nods. "Understandable."

Barbara starts to head up the stairs that lead up to the manor. She stops just before they turn the corner and she vanishes from sight. "Bruce. Thank you," she says for once in his life giving some credence to her feelings.

As expected he says nothing back and Barbara continues her walk thinking as she does so that Bruce is probably correct. Maybe it's time she took a vacation.


Metropolis...

Barbara walks into her apartment after the trip from Gotham. Her phone rings. She fishes it out of her pocket. "Hello."

"Babs."

"Clark?" she asks with surprise at hearing from him. She thought she would have to be the one to make the first move to resolve stuff.

"Yes. Are you busy?"

"No. Why?"

"I was thinking that I could come round so we could talk."

"...ok. Sure," Barbara decides. It isn't like she has anything else to do.

There is a knock at her door. She turns round, opens it and standing there is Clark. "Were you waiting for me?"

"No. I came from home."

"In 5 seconds?"

Clark opens his mouth but Babs cuts him off. "Right. Superspeed. I forgot. Please no comments," she begs not wanting it pointed out how on earth she could forget that. She gestures for him to come in.

Clark walks in and Barbara closes the door. She points him at her couch while she sits in the chair opposite. "Clark. I'm sorry," she starts off saying.

"I know you are...but that doesn't change what you did."

Barbara struggles for what to say.

"Barbara I've done a lot of thinking. I'm not angry at you. I don't hate you," he tells her and he really isn't. He's just melancholic about it as he is in general about his life at the minute.

Barbara feels relief that he doesn't seem to hate her.

"You talked to Dick yet?"

Barbara is surprised he would ask that. She shakes her head. "No."

"Barbara I am the last person on earth at the moment that should give advice on relationships but you obviously have unresolved feelings for him."

Barbara rubs her head and sighs sadly. "It's really not that simple. It was...bad...by the end. When you took you me out I realised it was the first time I had been on a date in ages from even before Dick and I split up. Then there was the fact he made decisions that would drastically alter our lives without consulting me."

"Shouldn't you be saying this to him."

"Ok. Add lack of communication to our problems."

"Which won't be solved by bottling your feelings up Barbara. That is part of the reason I act so far out of control under red kryptonite. All the feelings I bottle up explode out like a volcano."

Barbara looks at him curiously, intrigued by his insight into himself.

In response Clark shrugs. "I'm aware of my flaws. Ma and Pa use to always say I carried too much on my shoulders and didn't share it. They weren't wrong."

"So you and I..." she starts to say wanting to clarify it.

"Barbara I like you. You're a great person and you deserve someone amazing to make you happy but you need to resolve your issues with Dick and I need to resolve my grief and to find my place in this world."

"What does that mean?" she asks.

"Well first off...I'm really trying to avoid saying that horrible phrase about remaining friends."

"Yeah. I hate that one too so you can skip it. I get it. You and I...we don't have a future."

"In any sense Babs because I'm leaving."

"What?"

Clark repeats what he said to Lana about too many people seeing him and the need to vanish under the radar.

Barbara guesses that explains the stubble on his face. "So no joining the Justice League?" she queries. "Because you know they're interested," she feels she should mention just to tell Bruce she tried.

Clark shakes his head. His doubts about the Justice league and what they stand for are if anything stronger. "No. This is best for me to figure out who I am," he reiterates his belief.

"So definitely leaving?"

"Yes."

"Huntress will be so disappointed."

"Huh?"

"She brags."

Clark lowers his head into his hands for a minute horribly embarrassed by the thought of what Huntress may have revealed. He looks up at Barbara. "Babs I..."

"You were drugged," she states cutting off what she knows was an apology. It's not necessary.

"I'm sorry you found out that way."

"Clark...I didn't have a claim on you or anything. You are free to do what you want."

"I'm still sorry."

Barbara won't say this but it did sting a little when Helena mentioned it. Of course she understands that Helena didn't know Clark was the Blur and therefore she didn't know it was Clark she was sleeping with so despite any urge to be angry at Helena there is no justifiable reason to be angry at Helena...and some days Barbara hates how analytical her mind is. Is some irrational anger too much to ask for?

Barbara decides the best thing to do right now is not dwell on this and change topics. "You should know...Batman is looking into obtaining that kryptonite substance," she feels he should know.

Clark is kind of relieved when Babs changes the topic but he still feels as guilty as hell. In response to her he says, "Actually I'm not surprised. After everything I did I suppose that was inevitable. It's another reason I need to vanish."

"You going to stop being the Blur?"

"Yes...and no."

"I'm lost."

"Ok don't please don't take this the wrong way but as I said I did a lot of thinking these last couple of days. I still want to help people but I want to discover for myself the best way to do that. I appreciate all you were trying to teach me but you were trying to mold me into what you thought I should be. Not what I should discover for myself what I need to be."

"That's not what I was trying to do," Barbara defends herself, sounding angry at what he is suggesting she was was doing. What he is suggesting is that she is Bruce and was somehow manipulating him.

"Not consciously no but what were you teaching me Babs except your way of thinking?"

"You know if you were going to break up with me there are nicer ways to go about it!" she says in a raised voice.

Clark closes his eyes and rubs his brow. "Babs don't go there," he pleads. He is in no mood to revert to the subject of them and have this descend into an argument.

"Why not?"

Clark looks at her and is surprised she is going there. She has an excellent memory. She can't have forgotten. Well fine he decides with some spite. She wants to go there. They'll go there. "Ok Babs. Let me remind you." He coughs and speaks in a higher pitch imitating her, "Clark. I would like us to keep a solely professional relationship for now."

"Yeah and who kissed who Clark?" she asks him, her voice stern.

"Who kissed back? Who moaned out another man's name?"

Barbara's anger instantly vanishes and her guilt returns.

Clark takes a moment to reign in his emotions. This is not what he wants he remembers. "Babs I do not want to fight with you. I don't want this to end with us mad at each other but this is the end. I need to step out on my own. That is what I came here to tell you." Clark steps up to her and kisses her softly on the corner of her mouth. "Take care of yourself. Talk to Dick and whatever choice you make be happy," he says, genuinely wanting her to be so, before he departs leaving Barbara alone in her apartment with thinking to do and decisions to make.


The next night Lana stands in her apartment looking out the window. Clark had said his farewells and was gone He promised to remain in touch and Lana knows he will keep his word on that but still she'll miss him. It had been nice having company even of the strictly platonic kind. Lana still believes he is making a misjudgement but she had tried and failed to dissuade him so she would do what friends do for each other. She would support him.

A knock on her door grabs her attention and Lana goes and opens it. "Jimmy?" she inquires with surprise at seeing the young man again. Clark had struck up a friendship with him. Lana had...well she had been busy at work and hadn't seen him since that night they first met.

"Can I come in?" Jimmy requests.

"Uh sure...but Clark's not here," she informs him.

"I know. He left. He came to see me," Jimmy explains that Clark had come to say farewell.

Lana lets him in and Jimmy wanders in a little before hovering. He then pulls something out of his pocket. He looks nervous Lana would judge.

Jimmy takes a breath. "I wasn't sure how to say this..." he trails off and passes Lana the photos he just took out.

Lana takes them and looks through them. They are photos of Clark...well the Blur in Gotham. Not ones that show his face clearly. She looks up at Jimmy, perplexed by what he means by giving her these but suddenly from his expression she gets it. "You know."

Jimmy nods. It wasn't hard, for him, to see that it was Clark in the photos. As for other people somehow no-one saw it. It was kind of weird if Jimmy was honest.

Lana turns walks a few steps away needing a moment to think.

"I'm not here to expose him," Jimmy tells her. "It is just...I've never been in this situation and I saw you in the images from Gotham and I figured you were the person to talk to."

Lana laughs a little at the absurdity of that...or at least it sounds a little absurd to her.

"I'm not sure where to start honestly," Jimmy admits at a total lost about what he suppose to do now or what he is suppose to ask.

Lana sucks it up and turns to face him. "It's a really long story Jimmy."

"Lois isn't back from Gotham yet so I have the night off," he tells her as in he is not going anywhere.

"Alright. You're going to want to sit down," Lana tells him because he'll find his legs won't be able to support him much after she gets through telling this story and he needs to hear it so he can understand who Clark is and why he must keep it secret.


Elsewhere in Metropolis that night Lex is reviewing the images from Gotham after waiting a few days to collect them together. Wonder Woman defeated the Blur but only through greater skill. Not greater power. That is what Lex had come to conclude. It makes the Blur an interesting possibility for Lex to use in his war with the Justice League.

This incident had also taught him something else. Poison Ivy was able to manipulate the Blur in some fashion and if he can be manipulated...if his mind can be altered then he can be controlled. It was only a question of how and through what method.

The Justice League had done a good job of pulling the wool over people's eyes...of selling them a convenient tale to comfort them but Lex knew better. Lex saw through it. They avoided the details of what Ivy had done precisely and avoided the details of how they freed the Blur.

The details was what Lex needed to know because once he did the Blur's power would be his to command and use and victory in this war would finally be his.


Bludhaven...

It was not a choice Dick regretted leaving Gotham. Bruce...it had been intolerable trying to live up to Bruce's standards. No matter what he did...no matter how old he got Bruce continued to treat him like that little kid who has lost his parents and whom Bruce gave an outlet for his grief and pain.

Dick left because he had had enough of trying to live up to the impossible.

The only regret he has is that his leaving spelt the end of his relationship with Barbara. He has tried to move on but in the end when he imagines a future with someone the person he sees is Babs. It is always her he will love.

Right now Dick sits in his apartment holding an old picture of him and Babs smiling, happy, together. He lets out a sigh. "Where did it all go wrong?" he asks.

"Well how about the part where you started taking me for granted."

Dick shoots up to his feet and he finds Batgirl standing there leaning against the wall next to the window. "Babs. I never took you for granted," he swears.

"Dick. This is the part where you shut up, listen and let me vent," she tells him broaching no room for debate. Barbara pulls her mask down. Clark was right yesterday she had come to accept after her anger at him cooled off. She needed to tell Dick exactly where it went wrong and then his response will determine whether they try this again or she finally puts her feelings to bed and moves on so he better come up with some damn good answers because she has to just admit looking at him as she does now she can't deny that she still loves him...and perhaps she thinks with a sly smile...perhaps they can take that vacation she has decided to go on together.


Smallville...

Clark was just making one last check-up around the farm as it would be some considerable time he thinks before he returns here. This house, where he grew up, should be full of happy memories but at the minute it is just full of sad ones regarding the loss of his parents. This is why he needs to go. If he stays he'll end up back in a full scale mope-a-thon and that is not what Clark wants.

What he wants...desires is an understanding of his place in this world. He has all this power but for what and how is he suppose to use it?

These are things he needs to discover the answers to and he just feels it is best if he does it alone out there. As he said to Lana it's a big world and he has seen little of it if he is being honest. He has seen little of how people perceive heroes or want from their heroes. If he is going to continue down that path it is something he has determined he needs to know.

Clark steps from the house into the loft of the barn where he spent many an hour of his childhood sitting and contemplating the world, what he was and his place in it. Like now he never could come up with an answer but that was more to do with the fact he spent more time dreaming about Lana than anything. He really did have it bad for Lana back then.

Clark's brow then furrows and his eyes suddenly dart back and forth. Since he started helping out, being the Blur, and using his powers more often he has learned just how truly sharp his hearing is after years of basically ignoring that gift and that gift has picked up the fact he is no longer alone. Clark turns round to find the Martian Manhunter standing there. "You should have phoned ahead. I was just about to leave and I have nothing to offer you," Clark says failing in what his mother told him to be a courteous host to guests.

J'onn evaluates Clark for several moments. "I understand what you are doing," he says being sympathetic. "When I lost my family and my people I too spent many years travelling alone."

"I don't wish to be rude but is there a point?"

"What I took years to learn is that you don't need years to learn that being alone is not the answer. That you require companionship to help you heal and move on."

"Heal? It depends what you expect me to be healing from."

"You are the last of your kind as I am the last of mine. I understand your pain."

"I can't feel pain for a race I can't even remember."

That's a lie and a poor one at that. J'onn doesn't even need his telepathy to tell that. However what J'onn can also tell is that Clark says it in an attempt to convince himself that it is true. He could offer many words but Clark is not ready to hear them. "Then I shall not impose on you further. However should a day come you ever wish to talk I am here to listen," he makes the offer.

"I appreciate the offer but I don't see that happening. There is nothing to discuss," Clark says, his voice frigid cold. He can't see what there is to talk about.

"Then I bid you a farewell and wish you well in wherever your travels take you," J'onn offers kind words. Until the day Clark is ready to listen to his wisdom there is little more he can do.

"Thank you," Clark says politely out of an ingrained habit more than anything. J'onn departs the barn and Clark hears the whoosh to indicate the Martian leaving. Clark blows out a breath and tries to forget what J'onn was trying to raise. He makes quick work of securing the house before he picks up his bag and takes off into the air. He has one more goodbye to say before he leaves.

Clark comes to a stop a couple of feet off the ground before he sits there cross-legged hovering. "Ma. Pa," he says to their gravestone. "I'm not sure if you'd be disappointed in me for my decision or not but this is what I feel I have to do. I hope you understand. It may be awhile before I come to see you again. I...miss you," he says sadly. "I wish you were here but you're not and that's part of the problem. I just don't know what to do to make it better. To make the pain go away. I...I'm just going to sit here awhile," he decides and until the sun rises and he makes his leave that is precisely what Clark does.


Author's Note: After what happened I wanted Clark to make a complete break with everything. This way I get to move him to where I want him to be for the next part of his journey. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; Clark's travels teach him a few things about who he is and who he isn't suppose to be.