"What in the unholy hell is going on here?" Helena demanded as she stood under the cave's steel door, her expression ice cold.

"Hey H," Damian drawled, his smirk illuminated by the Batcomputer's glow. "Didn't expect you back so soon."

My gut twisted. Helena's eyes snapped to him, then to Bruce, before narrowing on me. "Somebody care to explain why my… classmate here is hanging out in what's supposed to be our top-secret, family-only headquarters?"

She spat "classmate" like it tasted rotten in her mouth. Not that status mattered, but the label stung like a bitch. We'd shared a hell of a lot more than a classroom. Or at least, I'd thought so.

"Helena," Bruce cut in, stepping forward. "You already trained today, I thought I told you—"

"That you were busy?" she interrupted. "Busy hiding things from me, apparently. And you…" She rounded on me. "What are you doing here? How long have you been in on this?"

My brain went blank. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Not in a million fucking years. I'd envisioned this conversation a thousand times, but never like this. The words I'd rehearsed over and over in my head crumbled into nothing.

"You know what? Fuck you," she snapped when I didn't answer fast enough. She pivoted on her heel and stalked off toward the hidden staircase that led out of the cave. "Bunch of liars," she muttered, her fading words carrying easily to my ears.

"Wait!" I called after her, scrambling to my feet, heart pounding. But she was already gone.

My eyes followed her retreating form through the solid rock. I wanted to explain, to tell her the truth. I had no choice now. But how do you tell the girl you're falling for that you're something straight out of a nightmare?

She was almost back in the manor through the secret passage. I couldn't lose her like this. Fuck, fuck, fuck!

"Helena, please," I shot after her using my speed to catch up in seconds. My hand shot out to grab her wrist, but I yanked it back at the last second, not trusting myself not to crush it in my panic.

"I–I can explain," I pleaded, standing a few steps below her, my hand still hanging uselessly in the air.

Helena jumped, spinning around with a startled gasp. Her eyes widened in confusion at my sudden appearance, then narrowed as she took in the training gear I was still wearing.

"What are you?" she demanded, her arms crossed defensively, like she was trying to shield herself from me.

Ice seemed to crystallize in my veins as my worst fear materialized. I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came out. What was I supposed to say? Hey, surprise, I'm an alien! An alien killer to be specific.

"I'm not…" I closed my eyes for a second. "It's not what you think."

"No shit," she shot back. "Are you some kind of vigilante? An assassin?"

"What? No!" I protested, the absurdity of the idea making me shudder. Knowing how easy it would be for me to kill someone, let alone intentionally, made the thought so much worse.

"Then what the hell were you doing down there?" She was practically vibrating with anger now. "How could you hide this from me?!"

"I wasn't—I'm nothing—" I stammered, feeling like I was sinking into quicksand. "I just—"

"Nothing?" she scoffed. "My dad doesn't just hang out with some random nothing in his secret hideout. Don't insult my intelligence, Kent."

The bitterness in her voice sliced through me but I gathered my courage and took a hesitant step towards her. "Please..." I repeated, holding up a hand like I was trying to pacify a wild animal. "Just let me explain. I swear, I wanted to tell you, but it wasn't that simple. It never was."

"Explain what?" she snapped. "Because right now, I'm seeing a guy who's been lying to my face. Sneaking around in my house, with my father, my brother—" she choked out, "—and didn't think I deserved to know."

I flinched, looking away. "I—I never wanted to lie to you," I mumbled. "I just... I couldn't tell you."

"Couldn't or wouldn't?" she spat. "Were you planning to tell me? Or were you just going to keep me in the dark forever, letting me believe you were just some—some normal guy?"

"This isn't easy for me either!" The words tore out of me louder than I meant, but I couldn't hold it back anymore.

Helena scoffed again. "You're wearing a suit that looks like it was made for a goddamn vigilante." She shook her head in disbelief. "You owe me the truth."

"I know," I croaked out. "And I'll tell you. But not here." I glanced back at the steel door of the Batcave, where Bruce and Damian were still within earshot. "Can we go somewhere more private?"

She looked at me, her mouth twisted into a sneer. For a second, I was sure she'd tell me to get the hell out of her face. But then she let out a sharp breath.

"Alright. My room."

~

We emerged from the hidden passageway into the hallway of Wayne Manor. We walked in silence, the weight of it almost crushing. The manor seemed too big, the ceilings too high, every empty space between us filled with a tension so thick it felt like it could choke me. I followed her up the grand staircase, my eyes occasionally straying to the sway of her hips beneath the tactical leather. This was the first time I'd seen her in full gear, and damn, she looked every inch the Huntress. Shit. Now was not the time to get distracted. I tore my gaze away and forced myself to focus on the expensive artwork, my mind running a million versions of what I could say to her.

We reached her room, and she pushed open the door, her scent washing over me. It was a reminder of every good moment we'd shared, or rather everything I stood to lose.

She sat on the edge of her bed, arms crossed. "Okay," she said, her eyes locked on me. "I'm listening."

I took a breath, trying to get my thoughts straight. "I'm not... normal," I started, pacing the room, unable to stay still.

"No kidding," she said, one eyebrow arching. "I figured that much out."

"I was born different," I continued, raking a hand through my hair. "When I was a baby, Ma had to give me random stuff to hold just so she could feed me. Pots, toys, anything. Otherwise, I'd crush her hands, the bottle… anything I got my hands on."

I stopped pacing and leaned against the dresser, not quite able to look at her. "There are things I can do, Helena. Things I've tried to keep hidden my entire life because they're not… right."

She tilted her head. "Like what?"

I turned to face her. "I'm fast. My senses are off the charts, my skin's bulletproof." I said, shame burning in my chest. "I'm strong, Helena. Too strong. I could kill someone by pure accident."

"Show me," she demanded, raising her chin.

I hesitated, my pulse hammering in my ears. Then, in a blur, I moved. One second, I was standing near the dresser, and the next, I was in front of her, so close I could feel the faint warmth radiating off her. She let out a startled gasp.

"That's just… speed," I said, crouching so I wasn't looming over her. "Just one of the things." I took a deep breath before continuing. "I can... hear things from miles away. See things others can't." My gaze flicked over her shoulder, landing on the headboard behind her. "Nice collection of throwing knives, by the way."

Her head snapped toward the hidden compartment, then back to me, her brow furrowed. "So you're like that Flash guy from Central city? And you thought I couldn't handle that?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm not like him. He's out there doing heroic shit, while I—" I stood back up and looked down at my hands, the same hands that had caused so much pain and destruction. "I can't even control this crap."

Helena rose from her bed and stepped closer, looking up at me. "And what, you were afraid I'd freak out? You know me better than that. I don't scare easy." She gestured to her Huntress gear. "You already knew about me, didn't you?"

I nodded, glancing at the black and purple leather that hugged her curves. "Yeah," I admitted. "It wasn't hard to figure out once I knew who your dad was. That's why he took me in for training, after... well, after stalking me for a while."

"That sounds like him," she chuckled humorlessly. "Metas are his new obsession. Of course, he'd have his eye on you."

I tried to smile back, relieved that the tension seemed to dissipate. Tell her. She wouldn't accept another lie.

"I wish I was… metahuman," I whispered. "But I'm even more of a freak."

"Clark, metas aren't freaks. And you of all people least of all," she countered, her eyes softening. "At least not in the way you think." She flashed a teasing smile, but it didn't stick.

My mouth was so dry it hurt to swallow. "I'm not even... human, Hel," I blurted out, burying my face in my hands. "I'm from another fucking planet. I don't even know what the hell I am."

A beat of silence passed. When I finally forced myself to look at her, her eyes were wide, her mouth hanging open like she couldn't quite process the words.

"You... what?" she breathed out. "Are you serious? How is that even… I mean, how?"

I dragged in a breath. "I was found in a spaceship," I said quietly. "When I was a baby. My DNA, my whole… physiology—none of it is human. I'm a literal alien."

She didn't say anything at first, just stared at me like I'd just ripped the ground out from under her. I could see the way her mind worked furiously to make sense of the impossible.

I tried to ignore the sick feeling crawling up my throat. This was it. This was where she'd look at me for what I really was.

"God, Clark," she finally groaned, rubbing her temples. "You think that's what would scare me? That you're from another planet?"

I blinked, my mouth opening slightly in surprise.

"What scares me is that you didn't trust me enough to tell me. That's what hurts."

"It's not about trust," I said quickly. "It's about what happens when people find out. You should see how your dad looks at me—like I'm a threat waiting to happen. And maybe he's right. Maybe I'll lose control one day, and someone's gonna get fucking killed. So no, I didn't want you to know that side of me."

"You thought I'd… what, run away screaming?" She let out a sharp laugh, pacing the room now, her hands moving wildly as she spoke. "I mean, you snap more pens than anyone I've ever met. I should have guessed something was up. And you think I haven't noticed how you flinch every time someone gets too close. How did I not see it?"

"This strength… it's not just a pain in the ass. It's as if I'm not compatible with this world. It's like… a lot. I've hurt people. People I care about. I could hurt you. Without even realizing it."

She stopped dead in her tracks. "Well, you haven't hurt me before," she countered. "And we've been pretty damn close."

"You don't get it," I said, shaking my head. "I can't just… do it naturally. I have to constantly control every movement I make. Every second of every day. I—" I paused, feeling a knot form in my throat. "My mom's hip…it was me. I was just a kid. I hugged her too tight, and I heard…her ribs snap under my arms." My voice cracked.

"Jesus, Clark..." she whispered. "That's… god, I'm sorry."

I shrugged, trying to brush it off, but the guilt was eating me alive. "It's not your fault," I said roughly. "It's mine. I'm the one who's..."

A fucking monster.

I couldn't bring myself to say it. Maybe because I didn't want to see that truth reflected in her eyes.

She moved closer, her hand coming up to cup my cheek. "Hey," she murmured, her thumb catching a tear I hadn't even realized had fallen. "You didn't mean to. You were just a kid."

I leaned into her hand, my eyes sliding shut as I soaked up the warmth I'd been starved for.

"I don't want anything like that to happen to you." I whispered. "I don't wanna put you in danger."

Her hand fell away, and I opened my eyes just as she stepped back. "You're talking to someone who practically gets off on danger. Don't underestimate me." The softness was gone, replaced with defiance. "You think you're too much for me?" she asked, her stance shifting.

Shit. I recognized that look—a hunter zeroing in on their prey. My pulse quickened. "Don't—"

"Prove it," she interrupted, her eyes gleaming.

"No, wait—" My hands shot up defensively, palms out, but she was already moving.

Instinct took over. I threw myself to the side, the crossbow bolt she'd fired whizzing past my ear and embedding itself in the stone wall behind me with a sharp thunk. I winced as I slammed into the ornate bedpost, the wood giving way with a thunderous CRACK as it splintered under the force.

"Helena, what the fuck!" I growled as dust from the shattered wood drifted around me.

She froze, her eyes widening for a split second before a smile curled on her lips. "Nice dodge," she taunted. "But can you keep up?"

Before I could respond, she was on me again. Her boot came up fast, connecting with against my ribs with a dull thud. I heard her gasp, but it didn't slow her down. Her punch to my jaw felt like a light tap, making her stumble back in disbelief.

"What the—" she muttered, clutching her hand.

"Helena, stop." I pleaded. "This is insane. You're gonna get hurt!"

She wasn't listening. Tossing the crossbow aside, she grabbed her bo staff, swinging it at my head. I ducked, the staff whooshing over me.

"I'm serious!" I shouted as she spun, launching a high kick aimed squarely at my temple. I leaned back, the kick grazing my cheek as I stumbled back.

Helena's eyes widened as she staggered back, clutching her leg. "Damn it," she cursed under her breath. "You're like a brick wall."

"For fuck's sake!" I snapped. "This is the last thing you should be doing!"

But she wasn't done. She lunged at me, wrapping her legs around my waist and locking me in a chokehold. My mind raced, calculating the pressure, the angle, the potential consequences of even the slightest resistance.

I could end this easily— flip her off me, pin her down, but the last thing I wanted was to hurt her. Instead, I let go, my muscles going slack, allowing her momentum to carry us both. We tumbled onto the bed, the headboard cracking under my back as we landed.

"Enough!" I said, grabbing her wrists as gently as I could manage. She struggled, her muscles straining against my hold, but she couldn't break free.

Finally, she stilled, her breath hot against my neck. "I had to see it," she whispered in my ear. "The big bad alien."

I looked into her eyes, searching for the fear, the disgust I was so sure I'd see. But all I saw was that same spark of defiance.

Helena's breath was ragged, her chest heaving against mine as she fought to catch her breath.

I loosened my grip on her wrists, slowly, careful not to hurt her. "Please don't do that again," I muttered. "You saw what I just did to this room."

She glanced around, taking in the splintered bedpost, the cracked headboard, the crossbow bolt embedded in the wall. Her lips twitched, almost smirking and she reached up, brushing a stray lock of hair off my forehead. "You didn't hurt me," she said quietly. "And you could've, a dozen times over. But you didn't."

"Not yet," I countered. "But one day, I might not be able to stop myself. And I wouldn't be able to live with that."

"Then let me help you," she said. "We can practice. Figure this out together."

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Okay. But you've gotta promise me something."

She raised a single eyebrow.

I met her gaze, dead serious. "No more of this testing shit. Next time, just ask."

She smirked, a flash of her usual attitude returning. "Where's the fun in that?"

"Helena," I warned, giving her a look.

"Fine," she relented. "No more surprise attacks. But don't expect me to go easy on you in training."

I huffed out a laugh, lowering my voice. "Wouldn't dream of it."

She chuckled, leaning in to kiss my cheek, a feather-light touch that sent shivers down my spine. "Don't think this means I'm letting you off the hook, though," she teased. "You still need to make it up to me. No more secrets."

"Promise," I said, holding her gaze.

"Good." She gave me a final, lingering look before pulling away, standing up from the bed. "Now, let's go find Dad. If I know him, he's probably got a lecture locked and loaded for how I spoke to him."

I groaned, rubbing the back of my neck. "Oh, he's definitely going to lecture me. Us. All of us."

"Better get it over with," she said, extending her hand to me.

I took her hand cautiously, letting her pull me to my feet. "You know, for someone who just tried to kick my ass, you're being surprisingly nice."

She grinned. "Don't get used to it, alien boy."