Aching

By NostalgiaKick <feli290412@gmail.com>

Rated G

Submitted September 2015

Summary: When everything is destroyed, Clark needs a reason to
stay in Metropolis.

Story Size: 366 words (2Kb as text)

Disclaimer: All recognisable characters, story lines etc. are
property of DC Comics, Warner Bros and December 3rd Productions.
I own nothing.

Author's note: #20 in the At First Sight series, set at the end
of Barbarians at The Planet, while Clark is still in the Arctic.

This story is part of a series that includes "At First Sight,"
"Evil Lurks," "A Matter of Time," "Invisible,"
"Gratitude," "Unprofessional Behaviour," "But For the Grace
of God," "Vulnerable," "Decisions," "A Terrible Mistake,"
"Facets," "Terrified," "A Remarkable Woman," "The
Aftermath of Illusion," "Black, White and Shades of Grey,"
"Tainted," "Betrayal," "Brothers," "Saving the Enemy," "Aching" 
and "Healing."

***

Everything fell apart so quickly. It feels like I blinked and my
whole world changed.

The Daily Planet is gone.

Jack is in prison. Jimmy is unemployed. Perry is retired.

And Lois is engaged to another man.

***

Love isn't supposed to be this hard.

I always thought that I'd meet someone, we'd fall in love, and
things would go from there.

Instead I'm sitting in the snow with tears freezing on my
cheeks.

I love her. I am deeply, passionately, head over heels in love
with Lois Lane. I want to spend the rest of my life with her.

And she wants to spend the rest of her life with Lex Luthor.

I didn't think anything could hurt as bad as Kryptonite, but
this does. It feels like my heart has been replaced by an aching
void.

I'm not sure the ache will ever go away.

Every time I close my eyes, I see her face as she rejected me. I
see the ring on her finger. I see her kissing Luthor.

I could've stopped it. She wanted Superman. All I had to do was
give her him.

But I can't do that. I am Superman, but he's not really me. She
doesn't want the ordinary man under the cape.

She doesn't want me.

I should walk away. I shouldn't stay in Metropolis and torture
myself, wanting her so badly and knowing that she'll never be
mine.

If she'd chosen a decent man -- if she had a reasonable chance
at happiness -- I'd do just that.

But she hasn't. She's chosen Luthor.

She doesn't know what she's getting herself into. I can't walk
away and let the woman I love marry a criminal.

I have to stay. I have to do something.

I have to save her.

THE END