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Characters: Hayley Stark & Clark Kent/Superman [CLOSED]
Date: Today, evening
Location: Hayley's suite
Situation: Hayley wants to show Superman her new Kryptonite ~~by attacking him~~ in a totally innocent way and then realizes it's Clark.
Warnings/Ratings: PG for violence

Hayley took a deep breath and let it out slowly through her mouth. Just because she felt things like this were necessary and maybe even enjoyed them for that reason, that didn't mean it was ever easy. Aaron, Jeff. They really did haunt her in a way, though not the way Jeff would have led her to believe, and this was her first attempt at justice since coming to the turtle.

She curled up more tightly in the closet, the lead box hidden between her stomach and thighs by lumps of jacket gathered in her lap. The girl was strategically positioned, hiding half-beneath a rack of clothes in the back corner of the closet in her room, the best way she could think of to force the man close to her. She would only have one chance before he knew what she was doing, before he could get away and know to never return here.

She knew Jor-El might never speak to her again and that the other heroes might come after her. But Superman was a villain. Any single individual with that much power who refused to allow the weak a way to challenge them was a villain; Batman was anything but weak. Originally she had toyed with the idea of trying to kill Superman, but, as Jason had said, what difference would it really make when they just come back again? Now, she had no intention of trying to kill him, only of teaching him a lesson. That he didn't have any right to control her or the others here. That he wasn't invincible.

The girl hoped her voice would carry out the half opened closet door and the slightly cracked window. At least she had made certain that her neighbors were all gone for now, hence the timing. Now was her only chance. Hayley contorted her voice with fear and sadness and forced tears from her eyes, pulling her legs closer to her in order to almost completely surround the box. Then she called out.

"Superman!"

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There's tons of logical reasons Kal comes up with in the spot. Like how if he had wanted to kil he wouldn't have had to stop when the event stopped- if he had wanted to keep on putting the blame on someone else, he could easily have when there's plenty more people with a similar powerset as his own. There aren't many people as familiar with Kryptonian powers to notice the difference, and those who are are close friends and family. Or how there's way easier ways to kill someone and making sure there is no proof left, like freezing them on the spot.

But he knows neither of these would help in this situation, and there's a way more obvious reason anyway.

"Because your killer also attacked Lois. If you don't believe I wouldn't harm you, at least believe I would never harm her." And then, as an afterthought: "She also knows, by the way."

He lets out a sigh, managing to simply sit down but not daring to push himself any further. He hides his face in his hands, unsure how to deal with this situation. It's weird how calm he is about the whole thing- he thinks he should be furious. Maybe he will be, later. But right now he's just- confused, and curious. And he also believes her when she says she's done everything she had to do- he's alive and safe in her apartment after all, and the Kryptonite is nowhere to be seen.

"...Why?"

She does believe him. Really, Hayley believes Clark would never kill her, if she's being honest, but she also didn't believe he'd lie about something like this for so long. That he would never attack Lois is unquestionable though and so she accepts the truth of it and moves on as quickly as he does, spending only a moment to understand the 'she also knows' before it's filed away. That means Lois will also know about this attack. There's no doubt in her mind about that. As will Jor-El and who knows who else. Really, she wouldn't blame him for announcing it to the turtle. And, being the beloved Clark that he is, that means she'll never be safe again.

Hayley takes a seat after he does, sliding back a foot to lean on the wall and pulling her knees up to her chest. She wraps her arms loosely around her legs, watching him. It's not what she expects. Even knowing it's Clark, part of her expected to die now that he has reason.

"I meant what I said before," she admits, though her tone is infinitely sadder now. "I didn't know you were you. I thought- I never saw you show remorse or feel guilty and I've never seen you save anyone here. If someone besides the Bat Man had Kryptonite, maybe the other guy and I wouldn't have died. Maybe Lois wouldn't have even been attacked. I wanted you to-"

It's so hard, trying to explain to doting Clark the venom she feels for Superman. "Superman acted like he was perfect. Like he was this paragon of virtue and a towering example of what we should all be. He expected respect and to be listened to, like he had earned it. And maybe he did- maybe you did, where you were from. But not here."

"I wanted you to know what it felt like to be powerless and afraid. So that you could maybe even begin to empathize with the rest of us about what it's like to be vulnerable. So that you would reconsider, about the Kryptonite." She pauses. "It's not here, by the way."

He lets out a non-committal sound when she mentions the Kryptonite isn't in the suite, he hadn't expected it to be. Except part of him had, of course. The same part of him that already wants to tell Hayley it's fine, she's forgiven, she had no way of knowing and she did what she thought was fair and just. And he will forgive her, one day- but not yet, not now. Not when he isn't sure if she even thinks there's anything she needs to ask forgiveness for.

"I never mean to come across that way." And he doesn't, he will never tell someone they need to act like he does. He gives his reasons, he discusses, he argues when someone says something he deeply disagrees with. But the moment he shoves his opinions down people's throats he will stop being a superhero. And he doesn't remember doing anything as Superman but offering protection to Hayley... and telling her there's only one person he trusts with Kryptonite and it's not her.

"I'm not a paragon of virtue nor I believe myself to be. I'm just an alien with Superpowers that gets made fun of because I stop to get kittens down from trees. I have saved people here, by the way, but I'm not about to make a list for you because even if I hadn't I do not need to justify myself in front of you.

There's a lot of people who didn't know me at all. People who also got killed- and let me point out that your murderer isn't Kryptonian so the green K wouldn't have done anything to stop him. My point is: you don't see the others obsessed with Kryptonite- or obsessed with attacking me, in the cases they didn't know about it. I have other weaknesses as well, weaknesses I have shared with others." Magic, electricity... the list isn't long, but it's there. He's also going to make sure Hayley never knows of his other weaknesses now.

"There's also other people with my power-set in this place, and others with no powers but a similar attitude. So I'll ask again.

Why? What did I do to make you so angry? What did I do make you do this?"

Hayley sighs. Weary though she sounds, she's still struggling to sort through all of the thoughts and emotions racing through her mind. It seems impossible to pick one solid reason out of her mind and lay it before him to explain why she did what she did.

It will take her quite some time to realize how little it's actually his fault. That although it was his powers that killed her, it wasn't him. That the pedestal she put him on, the image of him she created in her mind, the caricature of justice she saw is all of her own making.

Although it crosses her mind, she's not ready to admit that his not being there feels like a betrayal, because that would mean admitting to relying on him in the first place. She does blame herself for being stupid and weak enough to trust him, for the vulnerability that allowed her to be killed, but this isn't about her. So she tells herself. It wasn't about hurting him. It was about making him understand.

"I already told you," she mutters, not afraid of looking like a petulant teenager right now. The girl lifts her gaze to look at him. "Why did you lie to me?"

She knows what he'll say. How he has two identities to protect the people he cares about, how people that find out get hurt. How he lost someone because the wrong people found out who he is. It's the same answer she hears time and again from every so called superhero and she disagrees with it as much now as she did the first time she heard it. The supposition that they know what's best, an assumed authority or credibility with no mind to their own faults and demons and weaknesses. It's demeaning, disgusting, and unfair.

"I was raised in Kansas."

It feels weird, to be telling her this when he's still feeling the effects of the Kryptonite all over his body. He isn't sure he isn't going to puke yet he's here talking to her about his life. Ridiculous.

"My parents adopted a kid they found in the middle of the cornfields because they hadn't managed to have a kid and they were reaching old age. They raised me the best they could, they taught me to be the man I am today. Even when I started developing my powers they persevered. Eventually I left to face the world on my own, but they are still living in Smallville." Or were. Pa died of a heart attack not long ago. He's not telling her that, not now.

"They live a calm life, they struggle with money so I send them some every month. They just got a new truck.

And I would rather keep some things to myself when talking to you than allow someone, anyone, to take their life away form them because they wanted to know Superman's parents, or get to me in some way."

"Because you didn't trust me," she corrects him. "It's not supernatural. The reason, I mean. You didn't tell me because you didn't trust me. And, maybe you were right to, I don't know. I guess I just attacked you, but.."

Hayley trails off, not entirely sure what to say. Someone paying attention might notice the undertones of what sounds like guilt in her voice, the remorse she tries to hide away. The girl is still trying to figure things out for herself, still trying to understand. She feels remorse for forever ruining her friendship with Clark, but not for attacking Superman.

"I didn't know it was you," she reiterates. She knows it will do little to make him feel better given his attitude towards violence in general. But it's important to her, like maybe it could help.

"They were your powers." The response comes as an afterthought, answering the question he posed before. "They were your powers and you didn't even feel guilty. Or- He didn't. Superman."

"This is wrong." He lets out a little soft grunt of frustration as he hides his face on his hands. He was pretty sure she'd react like that and still he tried, he tried because he thought he could make her understand now that she knew the two sides of himself. But it's to soon, the scar is still too fresh and no matter how much salt he throws at it needs time to heal.

"You attacked me with Kryptonite and yet you're the one scolding me. Do you even realize how wrong that is? I-" He stands up, almost jumping up from his seating position. He'll regret that later when his muscles are in pain, but right now he just wants out. "I have to go.

But first: I know the Kryptonite isn't in here, but don't think for a moment I'll stop looking for it."

"No, I wasn't-" Hayley cuts off as he stands, moving to stand herself. It seems like a natural thing, wanting them to be on more even ground. She makes no movements towards him and tucks her hands behind her back to appear even less threatening. "I wasn't trying to scold you, okay? You asked why. You asked why, when others have the same powers or attitudes, why I attacked you."

"You can use my console, if you need to call someone for help getting back." She offers, knowing just how angry she is. She'll make absolutely no effort to stop him if he moves to leave, but she has nothing to say to his comment about the Kryptonite. Now, with the potential of Jor-El or even Clark himself coming after her, she has even less reason to give it up. Not that she expects it. But there are so many other reasons she hasn't been able to work out just yet.

For her own afterthought, she adds, "I won't tell anyone."

He tries not to look relieved when she says that. He doesn't quite manage.

"... Thank you. There's a lot of people that will appreciate that. And I will ask why again, I want to know the reasoning behind your actions- Nut right now I'm pretty sure nothing we say will penetrate the other's skull." And as if he hadn't heard her offer to use her network he reaches for the door- stumbling, with a hand always on the wall.

But he finally reaches it.

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