Awwgust Drabbles

Comfort After a Bad Day

The smoke cleared and orbs of crimson pierced through the darkness. The lucky bastard. Clark had unleashed WWIII on him and Lord Dickface was still standing. Darkseid rose through the smoke, ichor pouring out of his ugly mug like streams of lava. Clark stiffened as Darkseid clawed at his throat.

Briefly Clark was horrified at the damage he caused, but it had to be done. Darkseid was no man. He didn't deserve to live. He was doing the world a favor by destroying him. Darkseid turned Clark into the monster he always feared he was. He robbed him of his humanity and turned him loose on his home. If it weren't for Lois Lord Kal-El would have killed so many innocents. He didn't have a home to go back to because of Darkseid. The people of Earth would never trust him again.

He wanted to put a dent in Darkseid's skull. He could do it easily. He'd been dreaming about this moment, Darkseid kneeling at his feet, begging the boy for mercy. Clark's fists were crusted with Darkseid's blood. But then he saw Lois' heartbroken face and knew what she would want him to do.

Clark heaved Darkseid off the ground and brought him to the edge of the cliff. Darkseid weighed almost as much as Pa's tractor, but Clark's arms shook under the sheer force of what he did. He was making a grave mistake allowing Darkseid to live, but there had already been enough bloodshed.

The slaves eyed Superman with naked fear and wonderment. It was the same look muggers gave him before he crushed their guns. He couldn't tell if they were afraid of him or Darkseid. They need not worry. He won't bother them again.

He chucked Darkseid over the edge, praying he broke a few ribs. "Darkseid is finished," Clark landed at the bottom of the cliff, the ground trembling beneath him. "Do with him as you will. You are free."

The men clammered around Darkseid reverently. Clark stared dumbfounded as they worked together to ease off the ground, carrying him tenderly. What was wrong with them? He's brainwashed them all! Don't they see he's chipping away their lifeforce, exploiting them, torturing them. All of the above and more!

Darkseid lifted a weak hand and loyal subjects halted. "I am many things Kal-El, but here I am God."

That deranged tyrant! Those poor people don't realize he has them under his boot. "Don't, Clark," someone pulled him back.

Clark turned ready for a fight and faltered when he saw his cousin. "Kara?"

"You fight by Darkseid's rules, you're going to kill somebody and it won't be him." Clark's shoulders slumped. "Let's go home."

"Home," Clark choked on the word. He didn't have a home to go back to. But what other choice did he have?

For the first time Metropolis felt as alien as Superman. The people, good people, were as scared of Superman as the mugger with a gun to their temple. He lost track of how many times civilians ran away from him in terror. His worst nightmare had come true. The only solace he found was on the rooftop of the Daily Planet. It was the only place that still felt like home. But not all his colleagues were as forgiving as Jimmy. Lombard had started throwing darts at a Superman poster to past time.

'I'm locking my bedroom door at night.'

'Superman should go back to the hole he crawled out of.'

'It's no longer safe in Metropolis. I'm moving to Gotham.'

'No one man should have that much power.'

"Don't listen to them," Lois hugged Clark from behind and kissed the nape of his neck. He was surprised she still touched after what he did.

"They're right," Clark reached for her hand, stunned her pulse was steady. "I lost control and it scares me."

"You didn't lose control," Lois said. "You were brainwashed."

"It was still me," he said. "I knew what I was doing and a part of me enjoyed it," he shuddered. It felt good to cut loose and be himself. "If I can't trust myself, how can I win back the trust of an entire planet?"

Lois drew him toward her and kissed him. With a touch of her lips she reminded him why Superman kept fighting. "One person at a time, Smallville." she whispered against his mouth. "Give humans a chance to see Superman the way I see you."