''I can't believe that I let you talk me into this, Dad.''
''It'll be good for you,'' Clark said, as they drove their way towards Greenville middle school. There was a wide, proud smile on his face. ''You'll finally be able to meet kids your age.''
''I don't like anyone my age.'' Harry shot back. The baseball cap he wore covered the top half of his face. ''It's not like I'll actually make friends here.''
''You will,'' Clark said, sounding so sure of himself. ''I know that you will.''
''And what's the point of me even starting now?'' He asked. ''It'll be summer soon.''
''That's true.'' Clark said, ''But I still think it would be good for you if we start now. Who knows, maybe you'll be disappointed when summer comes.''
''Doubt it.'' He muttered, ''When will Kara be back?'' Six days ago, she ventured into space to protect a civilisation from destruction. Typical Kryptonian stuff.
''Soon.''
For the rest of the car ride, Harry was silent, feeling like he was being taken to his execution. Clark parked just in front of the school, watching as herds of kids entered through the gates.
''Have fun,'' Clark said. ''And-''
''And I'll try not to get kicked out on my first day.''
''You won't.'' Clark said slowly, ''But do try to at least make some friends.''
Harry shrugged. As he stepped out of the car, Clark said one final thing, ''I'll come here to collect you three o'clock on the-'' Harry slammed the door shut. With a backpack slung around his shoulder, Harry slipped through the gates and headed into the front office.
The lady at the desk didn't seem to notice him. He cleared his throat. She looked up, her forehead creasing.
''Yes?''
''I don't know what class I'm meant to be in,'' Harry said, as politely as he could.
''Name?''
''Ha-'' He stopped himself. ''Henry. Henry Kent.''
She turned to her computer. ''You have maths this morning. E-42. Head down the hall, turn right, it's just by the staircase.''
Harry walked down the hall, turned right and kept on walking until he found it. He took a deep breath. Sixth grade, here we come.
The moment he entered, all eyes were on him.
''Henry Kent?'' A woman asked. She was short, with greying hair and a wrinkled face.
''That's me.''
''My name is Ms Brent, I'll be your homeroom teacher, you'll be seeing me for maths.''
Harry nodded, feeling rather awkward with how everyone was whispering about him. ''Okay.''
She smiled at him warmly. ''Well, why don't you sit next to Laura? There's a free seat beside her.''
Without another word, he made his way to the back. There, he locked eyes with who be presumed to be Laura and it was only once Harry's expression hardened did she look away. He sat next to her, finding that Ms Brent's words washed over him.
The month prior Harry had three encounters with the world-ending creature, Doomsday. The first occurred in the woods, where he briefly met a girl, who he didn't think he'd see again.
Laura was the girl from the woods.
Harry was so lost in his thoughts, that he didn't know he was being called on.
''Mr Kent, are you listening to me?''
He blinked. ''What?''
Ms Brent pointed at the board. ''Can you tell me what X equals?''
He pulled a face. ''Why are there numbers in maths?''
''Because, Mr Kent, of algebra. But I'll excuse that because it's your first day.''
A few people laughed. One person even mimicked him. ''Why are there numbers in maths?'' Mocking his accent.
Harry made fists. Back in London, nobody dared to make fun of him, but now he had to be on his best behaviour.
Laura put her hand up.
''Yes, Miss Lane?''
''The answer is 6.''
Ms Brent looked at her approvingly. ''Correct. Good job.''
Fortunately, Harry wasn't called on for the rest of class. He was tempted to leave but suppressed the urge.
Battling creatures that could end humanity? No problem. Middle School? Hell no.
Ms Brent gave him his schedule, at the end of class. ''Never lose this piece of paper. It's no good if you don't know your classes.''
At least he wouldn't have to write in gym.
High bleachers looked down upon the football field, which was larger and more spacious than anything Harry saw in his old school. Mr Jackson was the teacher in charge, tall & almost as muscled as his father with buzzed hair.
''Run a lap around the field!'' Mr Jackson commanded. ''Come on, we don't have all day!'' He looked at Harry. ''Well, get moving!''
Harry fell into a run, quick enough to slip into the lead but slow enough to seem human. The world seemed still at this pace. He was the first one to make a full lap.
''Good job.'' Mr Jackson said approvingly. ''What do you play?''
He repeated. ''What do I play?''
Mr Jackson shot him a look. ''What sport, what sport? Don't tell me that you play nothing.''
He shrugged. ''Well, yeah.''
''And you are that damn fast?'' Mr Jackson said, with astonishment. ''Ryan here is on the football team, fast as a viper, but you made him look slow!''
Ryan, who was the second to make a full lap, glared at Harry. He was a sporty-looking blonde boy. ''I wasn't trying to race him. If I was, I would have won.''
''In your dreams.'' Harry shot back.
''Henry Kent, that's your name, right?'' Mr Jackson asked.
''Yeah.''
''Your dad Clark Kent?''
He tried not to show his surprise. ''How do you know my dad?''
''We played football back in high school.'' Mr Jackson said. ''Looks like you got his genetics. He was fast and strong like an ox, could have made it to the big leagues if he wanted to.''
''I didn't know that,'' Harry said. If he was such a good football player, then why did he become a reporter?
Mr Jackson had an offer. ''It's too late into the year, but next August, sign up for the try-outs. If you're half as good as your dad was, you'll pass with flying colours.
An idea popped into Harry's mind. Ten years from now, he could be a famous athlete. How hard could it be? He would be so much stronger and faster than everyone else.
''No way!'' Ryan said angrily. ''Look at him, he's skinnier than my sister. No way he can play properly.''
''He could do with a bit of meat on his bones.'' Mr Jackson admitted. ''But he could do pretty well, I think.''
''I'll think about it,'' Harry said slyly.
Mr Jackson turned to the rest of the class. ''Alright, another lap!''
Supergirl flew through the endless stretches of space, crossing two galaxies in the matter of two hours before returning to the Milky Way. She made her way to Earth, diving down like a meteorite.
Down below in Metropolis Superman was fending off an army of robots. Supergirl came swooping down and kicked one so hard that its metallic body was sliced into two.
''Welcome home, Kara.'' Superman hurled the next robot into the wall. It exploded into tiny fragments.
''So, who are these guys?''
''They were built by people in Centconn.'' He said, ''But they went rouge and started attacking the public.''
With the two of them, it only took half a minute until all 12 or so robots had been dispatched. Their robotic remains littered the street.
''But what about you, how did Argus go?'' Superman asked once they flew atop the nearest building.
''They're okay now.'' She said. ''I helped them against their invaders; I would have been back sooner but they wouldn't let me skip out on the celebrations.''
He laughed, a hearty, happy laugh. '' I at least hoped you enjoyed yourself.''
''It wasn't bad.'' She said, ''How's Harry?''
Superman cracked a smile, in a way he only did when talking about Harry. ''He's doing good. He starting school today.''
''Oh?'' She said, ''That's today, how do you think he'll do?''
''I don't know.'' He admitted, after a pause. ''I hope he's doing well, but…''
''Trouble follows him.'' She finished for him.
''Trouble does follow him.'' He agreed. ''I do worry about him sometimes.''
''He's doing fine.'' She assured. ''Sure, he gets a bit antsy at times, but he's doing fine.''
''He is, and I'm proud of him. He's changed in a good way.'' He said. ''Zatanna said something to me.''
''What'd she say?''
''She said there was something off with Harry.''
''Off how?''
''She doesn't know, but I trust her judgement. She's a witch, so she almost has a sixth sense. And she said when she got near Harry, something was warning her to get away.''
Supergirl blinked. ''That's a bit extreme.'' She said. ''I mean, he's a bit of an odd case. A hybrid Kryptonian.''
''Then there's Lily…''
She remembered the name vaguely. ''His mom?''
''Yes,'' Superman said. ''When we did blood tests, there was something weird with his DNA.''
She frowned. ''Was Lily a human?''
''I believe so.'' He said. ''But with what I told you, and a few other things, makes me wonder, who was she really?''
After gym, it was English, which Harry didn't care for in the slightest. He barely picked up his pen. He even slipped out a few minutes before the bell rang, so he could head into the cafeteria early.
As there weren't many other students in the cafeteria yet, he sat at one of the many empty tables. Clark prepared a packed lunch for him, carrots, two chicken sandwiches and some cookies.
It didn't take long for the hall to slowly be filled up. Everyone was with their friends, everyone but him. He was the new kid, the weird new kid. Clark had told Harry to try and make friends, but he didn't want them.
Ryan and his two friends, Bret and Markus, approached Harry's table.
''Get up.'' Bret barked. ''You're on our table.''
Harry swallowed a carrot without offering them as much as a look. ''And?''
Ryan loomed over Harry. ''You ain't tough. I don't know why you think you are, but this is where we always sit. School rules.''
He ate another carrot. ''And I don't care. I was here first.''
''Want me to force you to get up?''
''Try it.'' He dared.
Ryan shoved Harry, who didn't budge. He smirked at the boy. ''C'mon. You can do better than that.''
Ryan's face reddened like a tomato. ''We ain't done. Watch your back.'' He turned on his heel. ''Come on, let's get outta here.''
Like you can scare me. Harry thought. Primary school, middle school, it's all the same.
A bright, peppy voice suddenly said, ''Gettin' on Ryan's bad side on your first day? You sure know how to stir stuff up.'' She was a slight girl with her red hair done up in pigtails. Her accent carried undertones of the countryside. ''Mind if we sit here?''
He glanced at Laura, who was standing beside the other girl nervously.
''Sure.'' She took her seat, across the table from him. ''I'm Emma.'' Laura sat next to Emma, remaining quiet.
''I'm Henry.''
''So, Henry,'' Laura said, ''What're you doing all the way in Metropolis? I think you're like, the only British kid in our grade.''
''Er….family stuff.'' He told her but refused to elaborate.
Emma took a sip from her carton of juice. ''So, how do ya' know Laura?''
He furrowed his brows. ''What?''
''I didn't say that I knew him!'' Laura said hurriedly.
He stared at her. ''What did you say?''
''I said that we met once!''
''Why're you getting so embarrassed about this?'' Emma asked, teasing.
''I am not embarrassed!''
''What are you even doing here?'' He queried. ''This isn't Smallville.''
''I was visiting family.'' Laura then added, ''I could also ask the same to you,'' sharply.
''I was visiting family too.''
''This seems really tense.'' Emma hummed. ''So, fill me in. What happened in Smallville?''
''Nothing happened in Smallville,'' Laura said quietly.
''Oh, come on. We've been friends since the second grade, I know when you're lying! Just tell me, I'm dying to know.''
Neither of them answered and the silence drifted on.
Emma sighed, fed up. ''Oh, fine. Be a bore and don't tell me.''
''Nothing happened,'' Harry said. ''I just went to see my nan and grandad.
Emma burst into laughter. ''Nan and grandad?''
''What's funny?'' He said coolly.
''Nothing, nothing's funny,'' Emma said. ''It's kinda cute, actually. I love it when British people say stuff like nan and grandad.''
He rolled his eyes. ''You Americans say weirder things. Why is soccer not called football, your football isn't even football.''
''He does have a point,'' Laura said, finally looking to be at ease. ''I've always thought that was pretty stupid.''
Emma wagged her finger. ''No way.''
Harry looked straight at Laura. He only had one carrot left. ''Let's talk in private.''
''This definitely isn't weird!'' Emma said pointedly.
Laura fidgeted in her seat. ''Erm, why?''
''I think that you know.''
Laura faltered, then said to Emma, ''We'll be back in a minute.''
As the two of them got up from the table, Emma just shook her head. ''The pair of you are complete oddballs!''
Harry brought her out into the playground, by the gates. He watched her like a hawk. ''Did you tell anyone?''
''No, of course not!'' She said hastily. ''It's not like anyone would believe me anyway.''
''You can't tell anyone either,'' Harry told her with finality. He didn't care if his real identity got exposed, but his father would.
''I know.'' She muttered. ''I can't believe it though; you're a superhero, a superhero is in our school.''
''I'm not a superhero.''
''That's ridiculous. You fought Doomsday. Everyone is calling you Superboy.''
''So?'' He retorted. ''I fought Doomsday because it attacked me.''
''You protected people in metropolis!'' She shot back. ''I saw it on the TV. I don't know how you're saying otherwise!''
''Because I wanted to even the score.'' He said, then sighed. ''Look, you probably think I'm something that I'm not. I'm not Superman.''
''I guess not.'' She said, ''What are you then?''
Harry shrugged. ''I don't know.'' He whispered. ''Look, I just wanted to make sure you weren't going to tell anyone. The Superboy thing? That was just a one-off. That's not me.''
''I said that I wouldn't tell anyone. Even if I do, who would believe me? People would just mock me…''
While he didn't show it, he was relieved. This was something nobody could know. Then, he snapped out of his thoughts.
Harry's fingers twitched. He whirled on his heel and caught the stone whirling towards him.
''What are you guys doing!'' Laura bellowed, outraged.
Ryan, along with the two boys from the cafeteria, worked their way over to them.
''What you doin' with him?'' The shortest of the three boys, Bret, asked. His face was freckled.
''Why are you throwing stones at us?'' Laura shot back, arms crossed.
''We weren't throwing stones at you,'' Ryan said, then gave Harry a look. ''But your little friend.''
He hurled the stone back. It skimmed against Ryan's cheek, opening a paper-thin cut across his cheek. ''Get out of here.''
''Henry.'' She whispered, eyes darting between them as tension thickened in the air.
''You think you're hot shit!'' Ryan yelled, his face reddening with fury. ''I don't know why you think that, but you're not.''
''You guys really should just….not do this.''
''Leave, Laura.'' Ryan spat. ''I won't say it again.''
Harry cracked his knuckles. ''Let's get this over with.''
A flicker of surprise crossed Ryan's face. ''There's three of us.''
He asked, ''So?''
''I just wanted to scare you a little,'' Ryan said. ''But you really piss me off.''
Laura grabbed him by the shoulder. ''Henry, wait?''
''I won't hurt them.'' Harry said, ''Much.''
Harry jumped forward and barged the two boys down with his shoulder. He savoured the look on Ryan's face. He took him by the shirt and slammed him into the gates.
''I could really hurt you right now, but I won't.''
Ryan lifted his knee, to try and hit Harry, who just caught it and slammed the other boy to the ground. ''You idiot!'' He got on top of Ryan and twisted his arm. Ryan moaned. ''How do you like that?''
''Get off!''
Harry put some more pressure on his arm, his blue eyes glinting coldly. ''You're the one who thinks he's hot shit! I've met so many people like you. You don't know who you're dealing with! I should break your arm!''
By then a small crowd surrounded them, the onlookers echoing, ''Fight, fight, fight!''
Harry scythed his free fist back but knew he couldn't just hit the boy full strength.
''What's going on here!'' A teacher pushed through the crowd. ''Get off him!''
Harry clicked his tongue. He got off Ryan and looked around, before spotting Laura, who almost looked frightened.
''Screw this.'' He scaled up the gates and landed on the other side.
''Get back here!'' The teacher demanded. 'You can't just walk off school premises.''
''Why don't you fuck off?'' He spat.
When Harry was far enough away he rubbed the bridge of his nose. Dad's going to kill me.
Without a destination in mind, he strolled around Metropolis. The best choice would be to head home, but he wasn't in the mood to face Clark.
Parks were a quiet spot at this time of day, so he went to the nearest one and sat on the bench. Harry was listening to birds chirp and watching owners walk their dogs, as a familiar voice spoke from behind him.
''Shouldn't you be in school?''
''Erm, no,'' Harry muttered. ''And what are you even doing here, dad said you weren't back yet.''
''I got back a few hours ago.'' Kara planted her hands on her hips. ''So?'
There were only two people who could scold Harry and get away with it, sadly his cousin was one of them.
''I don't even go to school.'' He grumbled. ''You know that.''
''I haven't been gone that long.'' She said, ''When I got back I met up with Clark. He seemed excited about your first day of school.''
He scowled at her. ''I'm not in the mood, Kara.''
Kara sat next to him, her stern expression fading. ''Rough first day, huh?''
''Yeah…''
She ran a hand through her hair. ''I'm meant to be in class in ten minutes….will you go back if I tell you to?''
''I flatlined three kids. So, no.''
She didn't look the least bit surprised. ''Let's go to the coffee shop then. There's one just down the street.''
They decided on outside seating, as it was a blazing hot day. The sun was out. Harry had barely touched his milk chocolate.
''Not thirsty?'' Kara asked. She had almost finished her latte.
''No.'' He said flatly.
She nodded slowly. ''So, are you going to tell me what happened?''
''I already have.'' He said. ''I got into a fight, almost went too far.''
''But you didn't. That's what matters.''
He stared at the sun. ''If this was before, I probably wouldn't have cared. I could send someone to the hospital and not feel bad at all.''
''That was before.'' She said smoothly. ''Whether you see it or not, you've changed.''
''No I haven't.'' He said. ''I'm always just so….so angry.''
Kara pushed her cup aside. ''I know.'' She said, ''I know you try to hide it, but you've got a temper.''
''It's not even just that.'' He told her. ''Remember Doomsday?''
''I doubt I'd ever forget about something like that.''
Harry wondered if he should go on. ''You're going to call me crazy, but I liked fighting Doomsday.''
She pressed her lips together. ''You did?''
''You think I'm crazy.'' He said dully.
''No, of course I don't. But why? Those couple days weren't fun.''
''Because I didn't have to hold back,'' Harry said. ''I could let everything out on Doomsday. Sure, I nearly died, but I could let loose.''
She seemed to understand. ''But now you've got no way to let out your pent-up emotions.''
''Exactly.'' He exclaimed. ''I'm not going to say I liked it in London, but at least I could let loose.''
''That's not healthy, Harry.''
Harry looked down. ''Do you think I'm a bad person?''
She didn't have to think. ''Don't be ridiculous. You're not a bad person.''
''Really?'' He whispered weakly. ''Wanna know how I felt when I did what I did to my uncle?'' He didn't wait for an answer. ''I felt good. I liked the way my aunt and uncle looked at me. I felt powerful.''
She seemed to consider how to respond. ''How do you feel about it now?''
He shrugged. ''I don't know.''
Kara's eyes went cold. ''Let me tell you a little story. Do you want to know what happened to Krypton?''
He looked at her. ''What?''
''It was destroyed. Blown up. Over a billion people dead in the blink of an eye.''
There was a lump in Harry's throat. ''Oh.''
''When I found out who was responsible, I was hell-bent on revenge,'' Kara said coldly. ''I'm different from Clark. He came here as a baby….I wasn't. I wasn't much older than you when Krypton was destroyed.''
He frowned. ''Wait, you're older than dad?'' She barely looked 20.
''Technically.'' She said, ''But I was put into stasis, which stopped my ageing for a long time. I only woke up four or five years ago.''
Harry nodded, listening closely.
''His name was Brainiac.'' She carried on. ''And let's just say, when I found him I got my revenge alright.''
''Did you kill him?''
''I tortured him.'' She said bluntly. ''I wanted to make him pay….but when I did finally kill him, I just felt empty.''
''Why?'' He asked. ''Didn't you get your revenge?''
''No.'' She shook her head. ''There's a difference between revenge and vengeance. I killed him to make myself feel better.''
''He deserved it.'' He reassured her.
''Maybe,'' Kara said, sounding unsure. ''But I could have, should have gone about it better.'' She sighed. ''What I'm trying to say is that everyone has made mistakes, done things we wish we hadn't.''
He let her words sink in. ''I'll go back tomorrow.''
She flashed him a smile. ''I hope you do.''
''I will. I hate school, but I told Dad that I'd try…''
Harry sat on the sofa with his arms folded as Kara told Clark about the events that unfolded earlier.
''Maybe it was too soon,'' Clark said.
''I don't think it was that,'' Kara said. ''He's got a lot of pent-up anger, don't you, Harry?''
Harry shrugged. ''I don't know. Maybe.'' He mumbled.
''You could have told me,'' Clark said, not unkindly.
''I mean, I said that I didn't want to go.''
''I've got an idea though,'' Kara said suddenly. ''Why not take Harry with you when you're dealing with some crime? Maybe let him crack an alien or two.''
Superman hesitated. ''I don't know if that's the best idea.''
''I don't know if it is either.'' She said, ''But he feels like a caged animal, don't you?''
''Kind of…'' He trailed off.
''And there's only one way for him to let off steam.''
''I don't know, Kara,'' Clark said. ''I do what I do to help people, to protect people who can't help themselves. Not so that I don't feel…caged.''
''I could help.'' He said hurriedly. ''I-I just can't keep living like this, like a normal kid. I need to do something.''
Clark looked at him silently. ''You will still be going to school.'' He said firmly.
''I know.''
''And you will have to do everything that I say.''
''Yeah, I got that.''
Clark closed his eyes for a moment. ''I'll take you out tomorrow, and only when I see how you handle it, will I decide whether we'll continue doing it.''
He nodded along. ''I'm cool with that.''
Kara winked at Harry. ''You're welcome.''
Once Kara left Clark prepared dinner, spaghetti pasta. They sat at the table and enjoyed their meal. The TV was on, playing the news, but for once, nothing interesting was going on in the city.
''Dad.'' He said.
Clark swallowed his pasta. ''Yes?''
''You never told me that you played football.'' He savoured the surprised look on Clark's face. ''Mr Jackson told me.''
''Willson Jackson?''
''Yeah.'' He confirmed. ''He's my gym teacher.''
''How is he doing these days? I haven't seen him since high school.''
''Good,'' Harry said. ''He actually said I should sign up for the football try-outs next year.''
Clark chuckled. ''You must have made quite the impression on him. Just be careful, okay? My dad didn't want me to play when I was younger.''
He titled his head. ''Why?''
''Because, well, we're so much stronger than everyone else. He wasn't doing it to be horrible, he was just worried I'd hurt someone.''
Harry studied him. ''Are you going to do that too?''
''No,'' Clark said, with a shake of his head. ''I just want you to be careful.''
''I will,'' Harry said. ''I didn't even say I would go to the tryouts anyway. I haven't even played football before, American football anyway.''
''We can change that.'' Clark had a bright gleam in his eyes. ''I know today was rocky for you, but at least it wasn't all bad. I didn't think you'd be considering joining after-school activities this soon.''
He rolled his eyes. ''I shouldn't have even told you.''
The news anchor suddenly said, ''I've received word that some thieves have hijacked Goldguard Bank. The police can't go inside because they have hostages.''
Harry pushed his dish aside. ''This seems like a pretty good test.''
Clark looked at him seriously. ''Do you have your suit ready?''
''Who's the kid?'' Sergeant Millers asked, just outside of Goldguard Bank. ''I didn't think you had a Robin.''
Superboy glowered at the man. ''I'm not Robin.''
Superman asked, ''What's the status?''
''20 hostages, four suspects, all armed.''
''Why don't we just go in now?'' Superboy asked. ''We could take them down in seconds.''
''Not with innocents involved,'' Superman said sternly. ''We should be able to take them out before then, but even if there's a 1 percent chance that someone gets hurt, I'm not going to risk it'' He turned to Millers. ''Thank you.''
Superman and Superboy ducked under police tape and approached the building.
''So, what's the plan?'' Superboy queried.'
''First things first, we will talk.''
He crooked an eyebrow. ''What?''
''Violence will always be the last resort,'' Superman said. ''Most things can be settled just by talking.''
''And what if they just decide to shoot the hostages when you try to talk?'' He asked.
''They won't. The hostages are their bargaining chip.'' Superman said with certainty. ''And under the chance that they do, then we should be close enough to save them.'' He sighed. ''I much prefer fighting super-humans than dealing with hostage situations, they can always go wrong.''
In the entryway 20 or so people were on their knees, shaking. ''Superman is here, we're saved!'' One voice said.
''What did I say about talking, shut your mouth or you get a bullet in your brain!''
There were three men, and one woman, all masked and carrying heavy weaponry.
''This doesn't have to end this way,'' Superman said softly, even in this situation his voice was tender. ''I know none of you want this. You just feel like you have no other choice.''
''Come any closer, and they're dead! Hear me, dead!'' The woman waved her pistol around threateningly.
''I didn't say that you weren't capable.'' Superman showed his hands. ''We won't come any closer.''
Superboy clicked his tongue. He knew he could knock the four of them out before they could blink.
''I know you don't want this.'' Superman went on. ''If you kill anyone here, then you will be in prison for the rest of your lives. You won't be able to see your friends, family….or even children.''
''Fuck this.'' The women hissed. ''The police we could deal with? Superman? This ain't gonna go our way.''
''I don't give a fuck!'' One of the men roared. ''I don't care who you are, come any closer and we'll shoot.''
''Don't be stupid!'' Another man shouted. ''This is Superman. What are we gonna do, shoot him?''
Superman still didn't raise his voice. ''I just want you all to calm down. Put your guns down and let's talk.''
The women and two men put the guns down. Only one remained.
''Put your gun down!'' The women bellowed.
''Fuck that!'' The man pointed his rifle at the nearest hostage. ''Come any closer and she's dead.''
''You don't want to do this,'' Superman said quietly.
''Yeah, I do.'' The man said. ''I'll kill her.''
''You idiot, just put the gun down!'' Another man said.
''Fuck you.'' Then, came a bang.
Superboy skirted across the room, caught the bullet in between his teeth, and bit it into two. He spat it on the floor.
The man gaped. ''What the fuck!''
Harry whirled forward and struck the man in the face, who flew into the wall. He sprawled downwards.
''Good job!'' Superman called, from the other side of the room.
''I've seen you on the news. I remember now!'' The woman said. ''You're the kid who fought Doomsday. Superboy, or whatever.''
''That's me.'' He said cockily. ''So, want to try me?''
They didn't.