Chapter 21

It took a moment to recognize who he was. Of course, Bruce already knew and he had seen photos of the journalist beside his byline, but it was a completely different experience actually seeing him standing there as Clark Kent compared to whom he saw the other night. Superman stood tall and proud with his hair slicked back. His composure exuded confidence and a command of his surroundings, aloof, but caring. Superman, like Batman, stood in stark contrast to reality.

The man before him now was just as tall, but his shoulders slumped very slightly, his hair was loose and curly, his face bespectacled. The amalgamation of dress and attitude spoke of an educated and capable man, albeit unassuming with just an air of naiveté. Bruce wondered if this was an act or if this was the true man. It was always difficult to tell with people like the two of them. Which was the mask and which was the man? Or maybe they were both and the man only showed through with those in his confidence. Regardless, in this moment he was obviously playing his assigned role to have a normal life. If he knew about him, it was difficult to tell, but he refused to relinquish his guard. For the time being, Bruce would play along and cast a charming smile toward the younger man.

"Mr. Kent. I don't usually give interviews at parties, even for the Daily Planet."

He shrugged easily while still retaining his unassuming nature. "I thought maybe you would make an exception."

Bruce cocked his head to the side still bearing his boyish smile. "I don't make exceptions. Why don't you enjoy the party, Mr. Kent?"

Kent smiled a little at this.

"Part of being a journalist is that even at social functions you're always working. Especially ones that include such influential people."

He appeared undeterred and Bruce felt annoyance creep into him. "Even influential people need some time to play."

"You should know."

Bruce ignored the jab at his playboy antics.

"Which is why I don't give quotes at parties. Make an appointment," he said a bit too sharply, but the man was starting to irritate him.

"Others have tried before. You're a very difficult man to reach." This man was relentless and Bruce had to take a deep breath to regain his charm. He turned to him with a fake smile and easy shrug.

"I don't know what to tell you. I like my privacy. Now take a break and enjoy the party." He patted his shoulder and started to walk away.

"That is very tempting. And I understand that you would want some respite too. Especially since men like us so rarely get them," Kent said behind him.

Bruce didn't turn. He was well-practiced in controlling his face, but on a hunch he realized that he shouldn't risk giving anything away. Instead he pretended he was fascinated by his drink and didn't turn around.

"I'm not sure what you mean," he said in a nonchalant voice.

Bruce heard the fabric of Kent's suit ruffle. He must have shrugged.

"I...just mean you're very busy. So am I. I imagine that someone like you would have interesting hobbies."

At that he turned around with a charming smile carefully placed on his face. When he saw Kent it faltered. It hadn't been a shrug. He was standing straight-backed now. Such a strange experience it was to see Superman wear glasses. Bruce rolled his shoulders back as well and set his face stoically. He was taller than Kent and decided to use it to his advantage. He was Batman. He feared no one. He was fear.

"Interesting hobbies, you say? I imagine you do the same." Bruce finished off his drink.

"Good night, Mr. Kent. Be sure to leave a message with my secretary. I'm sure I'll remember you," he said all of his charm gone.

Kent was no longer smiling too. "I'm flattered. Considering last time you were the one who left an impression." He reached into his pocket and retrieved a small object wrapped in cloth and stretched out his arm to him. "I believe this belongs to you."

Bruce was eyeing Kent. His expression was unreadable. Bruce stepped forward and took the object. It was bundled in a simple white cloth, but he knew what it was before he unwrapped it. Highly contrasted against the white surface lay his custom-made Kryptonian metal batarang. Bruce smiled a little. So many emotions swam through him as his heart beat just a little faster. Surprise, begrudging awe, and a bit of relief.

"That really hurt, by the way." Bruce looked up to see Kent smirking and he chuckled.

"I imagine you're not used to that." He heard Kent chuckle. "I have to admit I'm impressed and not just a bit relieved. I was worried that you were all brawn and no brains."

He sighed. Never before had he been wrong about someone. Usually he could easily dissect a person, what their motivations are, their abilities. Barbara and Kassandra had been right. Thinking of them, he frowned a little. Kent hadn't solved the riddle completely, but perhaps, just this once, he would throw him a bone.

"I hope you weren't too angry with them," he said congenially. "They were only following orders and they like you."

"I like Barbara and Kassandra too," he said after a moment's hesitation. he could tell that Clark's feelings were complicated toward their mutual friends.

Bruce's eyebrows shot up into his hairline briefly before he regained his cool again. This man was better than he had thought. There was no identifiable information Barbara divulged and she was an accomplished hacker. Digging her out would have been difficult for anyone. And Kassandra was crafty and intelligent. Once again he was impressed.

"So you're not angry, Clark?" A familiar voice spoke behind them.

"Kassandra," Clark said with just a hint of surprise; he had had no idea that she was there, but he supposed that she had the ability to remain unseen. Other than that, he had only blinked once.

"So it was you the whole time," he said, "at the bank, at work with the note..."

Although she seemed a little taken aback by his , she nodded.

All this time, it had been her. He had strongly suspected of course, but seeing the truth in front him was surreal. Everything made perfect sense. The way she had looked at him and the way she had encouraged him during his anxiety over the legislation, through the lens of the truth her motivations were clear. Of course she had understood what he was going through; she had known who he was the whole time. And the meta-human who had helped him had been her. He smiled a little at the thought.

"How long have you-?" she asked a little awkwardly.

"A while." Her eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"What gave me away?"

He shrugged. "Just a feeling."

Her eyes softened. "I am sorry, Clark. I didn't want to lie to you. But I had to."

"I know," he said softly.

He wasn't angry. All of their time together she had spouted her loyalty to him and had proven that loyalty to him repeatedly. Looking in her eyes, he could see her guilt and shame. How could he be angry?

"Yes, she had to," Bruce cut in. Clark turned to Bruce. Because of you, he thought a little bitterly.

Looking between them Clark didn't know where to start. He had so many questions. What was Bruce's plan? How did it involve him? He started with what he believed to be the simplest one.

"So what happens now that everything's out?"

Bruce's eyes shifted. "There is much to be discussed, but I'm afraid this is not the time nor the place."

"Do you wanna get some coffee or something?" Clark asked a little facetiously. Why must there always be a delay with him?

Suddenly they heard crashes and screams down the street. All three of them turned to see cars being shoved out of the way and flipped over by an unseen force. The path of destruction came closer and closer. Clark zoomed in with his vision to see the cause. It was a man. When he stood he was at least 6"4'. He had dark brown hair with dark eyes that contrasted against his white shirt, but matched his black overcoat. Interestingly Clark could see something green and circular underneath his shirt. After the invasion, this would be Clark's first encounter with another super-powered being on the battlefield.

"Superman!" The man yelled out. "Come out, come out wherever you are!" He circled around, searching.

"Who is that?" Clark asked out loud.

"No one good," Bruce said before he whipped out his phone and dialed something. Clark wondered ironically if Bruce was calling the police. What was he doing on his phone at such an urgent time? Meanwhile the man on the street continued to yell and cause havoc.

"Not coming? Maybe this will inspire you!" The man yelled as he grabbed the nearest pedestrian by the throat and lifted her into the air.

"If you don't come out, I'll snap this girl's pretty little neck," he threatened shaking the young woman a little for emphasis.

Clark immediately pulled at his tie, but was stopped by Bruce's hand on his shoulder.

"We need to do something," he said through gritted teeth.

"We will. But I'll go first," he said in a calm, but commanding voice.

"What?!"

Bruce didn't answer as he snaked his way into the shadows beyond the crowd and vanished. As he watched he realized that Kassandra had disappeared as well. Annoyed by the command and their impromptu departure, Clark sped away and quickly changed into his uniform. He flew above them to get a better view and assess the situation. Clark would handle this; Bruce was not in charge of him.

The man appeared to be normal except for his unusual strength and whatever was protruding from his chest underneath his shirt. Clark deduced that perhaps that device gave this man his strength, but he wasn't here to ask questions, so he began to descend close enough to face this man.

"It looks like he's not coming. Such a pity to kill something so pretty," he sneered at her.

"Let her go," Clark said in his most commanding voice.

The man looked up at him with surprise and sneering joy. "Superman! So nice of you to join us!"

"I said let her go."

The man looked utterly confused and amused. "Don't you want to know why I'm here?"

"No. I want you to let the girl go." If there was one thing he hated about some criminals more than their crimes, it was their want to play games with him. The man only looked more amused however and was relentless in continuing his fun.

"That's not following the script Superman. It goes like this: you ask me my name. I tell you. Then I tell you what I'm here for. We fight. I win."

Clark glared at the man, who merely smiled.

"Fine, I'll start. You can call me Metallo." He gestured for Clark to say his line, but he said nothing. The man rolled his eyes in exaggerated exasperation.

"You're bumming me out, Superman. How am I going to enjoy this if you don't play along?"

"Here." He released the woman to the crowd and she quickly disappeared. "Now will you ask me the question?"

It took all of his will to not roll his eyes. "What do you want?"

"Revenge. And money. But mostly revenge."

The confusion must have shown on Clark's face because Metallo chuckled.

"He's paid a pretty price, Superman. Even gave me an upgrade." He tapped the device on his chest. "But don't be offended. I'm not doing this just for the money."

Suddenly the man jumped with amazing force and threw an uppercut at him. Surprised Clark didn't react in time, but soon got control of his body. The strike and the short exposure to the meteor rock had shaken him. He ignored it and looked down to see Metallo jump into a nearby window with a great crash. The large window that faced the ballroom.

Lois.

The zoomed through the hole Metallo had created and slammed him into the ground. People were screaming and panicking as they ran frenzied from the room Metallo had already begun to destroy. Tables were turned over and somehow the bar had caught fire, but he felt a wave of nausea and pain wash over him. He groaned as he staggered back to his feet.

"Are you feeling alright, Superman?" Metallo asked in mock concern. The pain was unbearable and it took all his strength to stay upright.

"Oh it must be this."

He opened his shirt to reveal a circular device in the center of chest and at the heart of it lain a large refined shard of meteor rock.

"A gift from a mutual friend. You have no idea how long I've waited to do this."

Metallo punched him with all of his strength up into the ceiling which cracked from the impact of Clark's body. The agony of the meteor rock still radiating through out his body, he couldn't stop himself nor could he prevent himself from falling uncontrollably.

He landed painfully on the ground and couldn't find the strength to stand. He opened his eyes and was horrified to see Lois unconscious a few feet away from him. Quickly he scanned her. She was alright except that her ribs were broken. She needed to get out and get to safety.

"Lois," he whispered as loudly as he dared as he could hear Metallo slowly approaching. Slowly she regained consciousness and when she noticed him, her eyes widened with fear. He smiled a little bit to reassure her and very slightly signaled with his head for her to leave. Hesitating only a moment, she nodded and ran as fast as she could with her injury.

He felt a boot fall heavily on his back. "You are one tough son of a bitch."

Metallo kicked him in the back of the head and Clark saw stars dance before his eyes, tasting blood in his mouth.

"All of that destruction; the carnage from the invasion and you came out in one piece while the rest of us, well, didn't."

Clark felt the boot underneath him and was turned over like a burrito by Metallo.

"But I was given a second chance," he said pointing to the device. "I'm more machine than man now, but I suppose I should be thankful. I'm strong enough to repay you for what you did."

Metallo went to stomp on his face and with every ounce of energy he had, he forced it into his eyes sending a blast of his heat vision which hurt Metallo enough to distract him. Disoriented, Clark sent another blast strong enough to push Metallo 10 feet back. Clark staggered to his feet as Metallo ran at him with an angry cry and attempted to tackle him, but Clark stood firm. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he clasped his fists together slammed them down into his back. With a cry Metallo crumpled to the floor. By the back of his shirt Clark pulled him up and threw him away with as much strength as he could muster. But Metallo recovered and punched him the stomach. Clark doubled over, allowing Metallo to grasp his neck and lifted him freely into the air. Metallo pulled his arm back preparing to strike when a high-pitched whine reverberated across the room.

A bat shaped piece of metal lodged into his 'heart'. He looked momentarily confused until it detonated; the force sending him backwards and separating him from the meteor rock fragment. Too weak to stand or escape, Clark fell in a heap next to the offending object. He heard two pairs of footfalls from behind running toward him and knew they were Bruce's and Kassandra's. Faintly, he saw Bruce pick up the meteor rock and hand it to Kassandra. There was a blaze of blinding light and Clark felt as though a weight had been lifted from his chest and the pain ebbed away from his limbs.

He blinked to clear his vision and when he looked up he saw Kassandra and Bruce both in uniform standing over him. Kassandra was holding the now opaque white rock.

"Are you alright, Kal?"

Her ribs were broken, she knew that much. But she refused to stop moving and give in to shock and to panic. Walk, walk, keep walking. Focus... Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot, left...She collapsed against the wall of the building. Somehow she had gotten outside. Clark was going to be alright. Everyone was going to be alright. Swallowing she shakily stood and started walking again, but she honestly didn't know where she was going.

Suddenly blaring lights were in front of her and a motorcycle barely missed her. The shock of the near accident sent her already unsteady body backwards into the same wall from before. The biker had stopped a few feet away from her. This person was dressed in a tight black suit and helmet with its visor down.

"Watch where you're going!" she yelled at her almost killer, but the fierceness in her voice faltered from the pain and exhaustion and she leaned into the wall for support. The biker dismounted her vehicle and walked towards her.

"What are you doing?" she asked as she felt her body weakening and she slid down the wall a little.

The biker stopped in front of her and began to examine her, but the image of her swam in front of Lois' eyes. She couldn't keep track of where this person was.

"You have several broken ribs and you're in shock. You need medical attention," said the stranger. She wanted to say 'No shit' to the woman's obvious assessment, but her strength was waning quickly. Her voice sounded a little familiar, but she couldn't place it.

The attempted recall wasn't helped by Lois' injury. She could feel herself slipping into unconsciousness. There were spots in her eyes and they expanded, encroaching on her vision.

"Lois? Lois!" the voice cried.

Lois isn't here right now. Please leave a message. Her mind thought groggily until everything went blank.