Parallel

“Did you receive my article, Perry?”
Clark peeped open Perry’s wooden door. Popping his head through the opening lightly.

“Knock first, what have I said? Anyways, yes. I did, Kent, and let me tell you, I hope this guy wasn’t jerking you around. Seriously? As...ass guard? What type of pl-“

“It’s- it’s Asgard sir, A-S-G-A-R-D.” Clark interrupted shyly so, closing the door behind him.

Perry chuckled simply, looking away from the reporter back to the monitor in front of him. “That’s interesting to say the least. How do you always find these fellas, Clark? You’re almost as good as Lois, almost.” Perry said, he raised his eyebrows at Clark.

“Thanks, Perry.” Clark whispered, blushing under his glasses.

“How was he? You know, In person? Is he an articulate fella?” Perry let his glasses slide down to the tip of his nose looking down at Clark.

“Articulate? What-“ Clark chuckled, “Yes, of course he is. Why wouldn’t he be?” Clark crossed his arms.

“He’s an alien, I don’t know the level of intellect this guy possesses.” Perry shrugged his shoulders.

“...He conducted an interview with me, he’s as articulate as you can get .” Clark said in disbelief, letting his arms fall from his chest.

“Look, son, I’m just asking questions like anyone would. Everybody is curious about this guy. You met him, so you know first hand how he is— at least from first impression.” Perry looked back at his monitor, unbothered by his own comments.

Clark would lie if he wasn’t a bit offended, he felt disrespected even though the comment wasn’t necessarily aimed at him or mean spirited at heart, he felt insulted and belittled with how obliviously xenophobic people can be. Clark was sure deep inside that Perry didn’t mean any offense, he was just genuinely curious and failed to word things in a proper respectful way but there is just some things that hit close to home. Him and Thor simply not being human will always be a recipe for judgment in people’s eyes doesn’t matter how many people they save. Their alien nature will always be questioned and judged wether by innocent curiosity or by blind bigotry.

———

It had been 3 weeks since Clark‘s first interview and encounter with the god of thunder and he had been thinking about him to say the least. Ever since the interview... headlines about the god saving people gradually decreased. His last appearance was about two weeks ago and Clark was digging in his brain as to what had happened to him. Did he grow bored of earth and leave? Did he retire to a cabin in the Alaskan wilderness never to be seen again? The questions were endless.

As Clark was in deep thought Jimmy came by his desk asking how he was and why he’s been so quiet.

“Did you already finish your article on the ‘A.M Beatings’? Why are you so quiet? You look down Clark—“

“Yes and I’m fine, Jimmy.” Clark said sternly, not looking at the kid but at the monitor before him.

“Yikes” Jimmy, rubbed the back of his neck. “Not your week, huh?” He nervously chuckled.

Clark snapped out of his blue demeanor and looked back at the kid with sympathetic eyes “I’m sorry kid, I’m just not having a good week, that’s all.” Clark half smiled up at the freckled kid.

“I understand, if you need me I’ll always be a yell away, amigo.” Jimmy patted Clark’s shoulder.

“Thanks, kid.” Clark chuckled for the first time. “Thanks...” he said again barely above a whisper.

[Did I have anything to do with his disappearance? Did my questions make him vanish?]

Clark wasn’t usually this preoccupied with someone he just met for a day— but the connection they had, their likeness had a lasting impact on him.

That being said, there was a series of random criminals being beaten in the early hours of the morning and then left on the sidewalk of the Metropolis police department every week— Hence...”The A.M Beatings”. This phenomenon was being carried by someone no one has yet to have the answers of. No clues, no dna, no footage...just nothing to identify the individual who carried out these acts. They were for sure making the MPD’s (Metropolis Police Department) job easier and the streets safer. This guy was a ghost of sorts and Clark was more than ready to get to the bottom of who this was...as the big blue.

—-

Later that day, Clark contacted his old friend Bruce Wayne to see if he had any clue as to who this was. After all, the profile was very similar to Bruce Wayne’s alter ego; The Batman. A vigilante, someone who worked before dawn, someone never caught, someone not afraid of breaking knees.

——

“If you’re a reporter I suggest you leave the premise—“

“It’s me, Alfred.” Clark interrupted , the old butler opened the door, the bright sun was directly hitting the butlers face making him squint.

“Oh, Master Kent.” Alfred put his hand over his eyes, creating a shed for them from the sun. “Well, do come in. Bruce is in the cave as usual.” He said in a usual manner.

As the two men boarded the elevator to the underground cave who’ve only been seen by a few selected eyes in the world, Clark was determined to find answers. In his head he was already planning what to say. He didn’t want to assume, that’s the last thing he wanted to do, but the profile pointed right at Bruce and if it was Bruce he wanted to know what he was doing in Metropolis out of all places.

Alfred coughed, snapping Clark out of his thoughts, indicating that the elevator already came to a halt.

As Clark stepped out of the elevator , Alfred pressed the button to go back up to the manor. “If you need anything master Kent I’ll be upstairs.” Alfred said softly.

“Thank you, Alfred.” Clark smiled back at the old man, tipping his baseball hat.

As Clark walked more in to the bat cave he realized how silent and dark everything was, except for the occasional chirps and flapping noises the bats gave off. He wondered if that’s why Bruce loved it down here, maybe he loved the illusion of peace if gave off compared to the sporadic world he encountered every night he dressed as the bat.

“...been a while.” Bruce grumbled from his computer, his back facing Clark as he went through mountains of information. He sensed him without Clark even making a sound.

“You can say that.” Clark chuckled, walking besides Bruce, getting a better look at his face.

Bruce’s facial features were being defined by the bright monitor lights, sharp turns and edges. His eyes glued to the screens, pupils taking in data from left to right.

“Listen huh...” Clark scratched his neck.

“It wasn’t me.” Bruce said, taking his eyes off the screens. Crossing his legs as he turned in his chair to Clark.

“How did you— how— okay, If it wasn’t you who was it then? Jason? Dick? Damien?” Clark said flabbergasted.

“I figured you’d put two and two together and see how awfully similar this guy is to me and would come here. But it ain’t me, nor any of the Robins. Plus, he’s messier than I am...bit of a rookie if you ask me.” Bruce smirked, standing up.

“Well, there you again Bruce. Beating me to it. You cannot blame me for coming to check with you, you know I have to check with everyone. It’s sort of my duty as Superman. No page unturned.” Clark placed his hands on his hips, looking at Bruce with a smile.

“Boy Scout.” Bruce said simply with a smile tugging so very lightly at the edge of his mouth, barely noticeable but Clark always spotted it. I assume you need help finding this...individual, so I’ll give you a big lead I found. Since he tends to drop off criminals in front of MPD, it’s for certain that he has a secret hideout in Metropolis. A hidden lair near the radius in which he operates, as soon as he does his job he retreats to where he resides— theres also the possibility ... “ Bruce lingered on the word.

“Possibility of what?” Clark questioned, his eyebrows knitted together.

“He has superhuman abilities we don’t know about. The timeframe in which he does things is so quickly that no one has seen the guy once, not even cameras surrounding MPD have caught him. In fact, they just see the criminals being thrown from a blind corner, an angle cameras can’t see— thrown to the MPD doors unconscious. They’ve been interviewed of course but each criminal has said the same thing...which is his face is covered. They’re knocked unconscious within seconds of seeing the individual. What’s interesting is AFTER they’re knocked out cold this individual KEEPS beating them, broken ribs and legs. And I thought I was tough with criminals.” Bruce whispered the last sentence, deep in thought.

At that moment Clarks face heated up, ‘a superpowered being?’ He kept asking himself, only one person kept coming to mind for some reason.

“...yeah huh, thank you! This definitely will help. Owe you one Bruce.” Clark said chuckling.

“You owe me loads of things, I just don’t bring them to light...choose to ignore them. I guess it’s the philanthropist in me.” Bruce said and motioned for Clark to walk with him back to the elevator. They walked side by side chuckling, every response from each other was a jab but a playful jab. Bruce was Clark’s best friend to say the least.

“Thanks again, Bruce.” Clark said warmly at him and patted his shoulder.

Bruce just simply mumbled a “mhm” with a side smile.

The reporter soon after got on the elevator and left the mansion in quite a hurry.

The A.M Beatings...it can’t be him? Can’t it?

These were thoughts that kept circling Clark’s head as he quickly lifted himself off the ground in to the gray Gotham sky, gravity giving in to his muscle density. The cold wind slapping his face as he pierced through the thick clouds. Finally exiting stratosphere the sun hugged his whole figure, Clark suddenly halted to take it all in, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath in. His senses were sharper and he didn’t feel drained whatsoever by the gloomy Gotham skies below him.

“We need to talk, Kal-El, son of El.”
A booming voice suddenly catching Clark off guard, quickly knowing who’s deep voice that was...he let his tense shoulders rest has he looked at the city below him. Still not turning around to look at him.

Clark was surprised, disappointed and happy all at once. He was surprised he kept sneaking up on him, not knowing how. First time they met he did the same thing— he wondered if it was all coincidence. He was also disappointed in the mans actions for the past few weeks, that smiley morally righteous god going around beating people unconscious...it didn’t seem like the Thor he met at the bar. But most of all, even though he was giving him the cold shoulder he was happy Thor found him. But Clark wouldn’t allow himself to show it.

Clark finally turned around after a few seconds of trying to collect himself.

“How did you find me?” Clark said in a stern manner, the wind making his hair strands go everywhere across his forehead.

“Well, nice to meet you too, Kal.” Thor chuckled, as he swung what appeared to be a hammer of sorts in a circular motion to keep himself afloat above his head. “I wanted to see you.” Thor continued.

“Wh-“ Clark stuttered at the gods bluntness. “Why are you going around beating criminals unconscious? With broken ribs? Barely with a beating heart? Why did you.....disappear?” Clark whispered the last word hoping he didn’t hear it.

Thor had a surprised face to say the least, he was amused almost at Clark’s behavior.

“Which criminals you speak of?” Thor knitted his eyebrows together, not knowing a word he was talking about.

“Oh don’t act surprised, Thor. I’m coming to you as— as a friend, trying to settle this in an appropriate manner. I protect metropolis, I protect every city— every country— this planet, it’s my duty to.” Clark said crossing his arms.

“Kal, I truly don’t know what you speak of. I’ve been out of this planet for two weeks.” Thor slowly floated towards Clark, a few inches between the men.

“What? What do you mean? There is multiple eye witnesses and suspects that place you in the crimes scenes, Thor. With your powers you’re able to leave the criminals at the police station in a jiffy without anyone noticing you.” Clark breathed out.

Thors face turned even more confused every time Clark told him something. “Look, I don’t know who you speak of. You got the wrong god. I’ve been traveling across the galaxy with a few friends. I came back because I missed Earth, I missed the...” Thor halted, “people in it.” He said shyly looking Clark.

“I-“ Clark felt blood rush to his cheeks, he looked down immediately hiding his flushed face.

“Kal-El. I may have an idea who it is.” Thor said disappointedly.

“Who?” Clark quickly raised his head.

“Loki.” Thor said simply so, clenching his fist.

“And who is that exactly?” Clark crossed his arms.

Thor hesitated answering before finally blurting it out.

“My brother...who you’re looking for is my brother and he’s framing me.”

———