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BANG!
A deafening sonic boom ripped through the still night air.
In an instant, Clark Kent's figure materialized in a barren field far from the bonfire.
His arms were locked tightly around the dark-skinned teenager he'd just whisked away—Davis.
> "Clark… you…"
The boy's eyes trembled in disbelief.
Of all the people who might have stopped him tonight, Clark Kent was the last he expected.
Back when he was still an awkward, broken kid, Clark had been the only one who'd ever shown him kindness.
He'd stood up for him. Shared lunches with him. Treated him like a person.
Davis had never forgotten that.
And now, the one person he respected most was standing before him, looking disappointed.
> "Davis," Clark said gently, his voice steady and sincere.
"Where have you been these past six months? I tried to find you, but you disappeared."
There was no anger in his tone—only concern.
That was Clark's way. He didn't fight people like Davis; he reached them.
The warmth in his voice slowly began to melt the rage boiling inside Davis.
Minutes passed. The edge in the boy's eyes dulled.
Finally, he lowered his head.
> "Clark… thank you. If not for you, I… I would've done something terrible."
Clark smiled softly, the corners of his mouth curving in that calm, reassuring way only he could pull off.
> "Then don't. You're better than them."
For a moment, it felt like everything might end peacefully.
They parted ways—Davis walking down the dirt road, shoulders heavy but heart lighter than before.
But fate had other plans.
At the end of the path, a figure stepped out of the shadows.
Tall. Still. Waiting.
Alex.
> "Who are you?" Davis asked, his gut twisting.
He didn't know why, but something about this stranger's presence screamed danger.
Alex didn't reply.
In the blink of an eye, he was gone—then reappeared directly in front of Davis.
The world blurred.
Davis barely registered the movement before a chill ran down his spine.
Alex's gaze seemed to cut through him, scanning his very essence.
Cosmic energy.
Yes—he had it. The faint, pulsing signature of Kryptonite mutation.
Another meteor freak.
> "You're one of them too?" Davis stammered.
"What do you want?"
Alex didn't answer.
He simply reached out.
Davis moved to dodge—but Alex's hand clamped down on his shoulder with effortless precision.
SLAP!
> "Let me go!"
Davis thrashed violently, but Alex's grip was like iron.
Then came the strange sensation—something draining out of him.
The energy that had made him strong now felt like it was being ripped away.
Panic set in.
> "You asked for this!"
Davis roared, unleashing a surge of energy from his palms.
BOOM!
The blast lit up the field with green-white light, kicking up dust and heat.
When the smoke cleared, Alex stood exactly where he'd been.
Untouched.
The blast that could've torn through steel hadn't even scorched his jacket.
Davis froze.
> "Impossible…! Is your body made of steel!?"
His voice cracked.
> "Let me go! LET ME GO!"
The desperation in his tone echoed through the still night—
—and was drowned out by another BANG!
A sonic crack split the air like thunder.
Clark Kent arrived, his boots hitting the dirt hard enough to leave a crater.
His eyes locked instantly onto Alex.
Recognition—and anger—flared in them.
> "Clark?"
Alex's tone was almost casual, as though greeting an old acquaintance.
> "What's wrong? Lost your way? Or just out for a midnight jog?"
Mockery laced every word.
> "Let him go," Clark said, his voice cold now.
Alex tilted his head, feigning confusion.
> "Clark, are we really that close? We just met this morning."
> "Then I'm sorry," Clark muttered.
Before Alex could reply—
BANG!
Clark blurred into motion, a streak of red and blue tearing through the darkness.
His hand shot out, aiming for Alex's wrist—
—but Alex's fist moved first.
THUD!
The impact was like a cannon.
Clark's eyes went wide as pain exploded through his chest.
The next instant, his entire body was airborne, rocketing backward and slamming into the ground with bone-shaking force.
Dirt and debris erupted. The earth cratered.
For the first time in his life, Clark Kent didn't just lose a fight—he didn't even see the attack coming.
He staggered to his feet, coughing, staring at the stranger in disbelief.
> "What the hell…"
Alex stood where he was, unbothered, his coat swaying lightly in the breeze.
> "So you're not just some ordinary guy," Clark muttered, voice low.
"Whatever your purpose is—let Davis go."
Alex's eyes glinted faintly.
> "I'll ask again," he said lightly. "Are we close?"
It was pure disdain—calm, almost bored.
Truthfully, he hadn't planned to hurt Davis. Once he'd absorbed the energy, he would've let the kid go.
But now that Superman had decided to interfere?
Fine.
Let him see what it meant to provoke Homelander.
Because Homelander didn't explain himself.
He didn't justify his actions.
He enforced them.
And Superman? He'd learn that lesson the hard way.
BANG!
Clark vanished again, moving even faster this time. His form blurred into a streak of motion invisible to human eyes.
But to Alex?
He was still slow.
Painfully slow.
Clark's fist came flying in—
—and Alex simply turned his head slightly.
Then—
BOOM!
Another punch, straight to the chest.
The shockwave cracked the ground like thunder.
Clark was sent hurtling backward, smashing through a boulder the size of a truck.
Stone exploded into dust.
He hit the dirt hard, coughing, the world spinning.
Alex lowered his fist, expression unreadable.
> "Is that all, Superman?"
His voice was soft, almost disappointed—
but the contempt in it cut deeper than any punch.
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