Match floated in the skies above the Kent farm as he closed his eyes, ignoring the sounds of Martha's sobs below as well as Pa Kent doing his best to comfort her and Lois.
Match wanted to go help, but right now, he had to prepare himself and calm his mind for when he had to break the news to Chris/ Paragon. He would have normally left it to Batman or one of the others, but he agreed with them when they said that he had to be the one.
After all, while Match knew that he could easily be angered, his brother was a bomb that no one knew when it would blow up and unlike everyone else, Match and Supes were the only ones who knew just how deadly Chris' anger was.
'Brother may act calm, but he is always looking for that one switch to go off,' Match thought with a frown, looking out at the farm before letting out a shaky breath as he looked to the skies.
'Why did you have to fight it alone? Why couldn't I have been there? Why wasn't I...? Why did you have to go and not me?'
"Match!", Match blinked as a voice shouted from below, looking down to see Pa Kent standing in front of the porch while looking up at him.
Dropping down, he landed softly while listening into the house, frowning when he only heard soft breathing.
"We had to give Martha some sleeping pills to calm her down. Lois is resting with her so I came to see you," Pa Kent explained and Match nodded with a shaky smile, which Kent noticed as the man crossed his arms.
"You're doing the 'what-ifs' in your head, aren't you?", He asked, shaking his head when Match nodded with a frown.
"I should've been there. If I was there, he-"
"No, don't," Pa Kent cut him off firmly, surprising Match as he looked up to see the soft yet weathered look in the older man's eyes when he walked closer.
"Don't you dare put that weight on yourself, son. Clark made his choice, always did and he'd never let one of you carry blame that isn't yours."
"It still doesn't change the fact that he's gone, Pa. And Chris...Chris is going to tear everything apart when he finds out."
"Yeah, that kid...he may be more calm than you and Clark put together, but he's also the most caring out of you three and as everyone knows, 'Beware of him that is slow to anger'."
"Exactly and I...I don't think I'd be able to stop him. Instead, I..."
"You know you would want to help him find the one who was responsible?", Pa Kent finished with a knowing look, letting out a soft sigh as Match bit his bottom lip and didn't respond.
"You want me to teach you something I learned too late, son?", Pa Kent asked, Match looking at the man before nodding slowly.
"Anger is always the easy path. It's the path that will get you results the easiest, but it is always the path that will destroy who you are and that's not what Clark would want for either of you."
"Chris...he isn't like Clark or me. He likes being good, but he only needs a reason to abandon that path and I think this might be it."
"Then you better remind him of why he chose the path of good because if you can't reach him, nobody else can."
'I think there's one more,' Match thought with a slight smirk, remembering the girl that was currently at Chris' side and overlooking his recovery.
At that moment, he blinked as he heard the sound of his communicator ringing, looking at Pa Kent who smiled and gestured for him to answer it.
"Match here."
"Match! You have to come! It's Chris!"
"Did something happen?", He asked urgently before his eyes widened in surprise as M'gann laughed and responded with a happy tone.
"No, he's awake."
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"So...who's going to tell him?", Flash asked as the Justice League sat in their conference room, none of them answering in response to their question after M'gann had delivered the news of Chris/ Paragon awaking from his coma.
"Not me. The kid's a lot scarier than Clark when he's pissed and this is just going to set him off," Hal spoke with a shake of his head, Flash nodding in understanding when John, Hawkman and Hawkwoman nodded as well.
"Yeah, we're out. I'd rather not have a pissed-off Kryptonian looking for a way to vent."
"I believe that, in order for this to not be a total disaster, the two members that were the closest to Superman should deliver the news," Red Tornado spoke up and everyone turned to Batman and Wonder Woman who looked at each other.
"The only issue is which one of us two would deliver the news better."
"I'll do it. Chris and I have fought together so he will not have as much of a volatile reaction when I tell him," Wonder Woman responded, Batman looking to be in thought before he nodded.
"Very well, I shall leave it to you, Diana."
"Should the rest of us prepare to stop him should he try something?", Flash asked with a frown, to which everyone glanced at each other before Batman nodded.
"I don't believe he will, but just to be certain, Hal, John would you mind patrolling the outside of the Watchtower?"
"No problem, Bats."
"We'll be outside the room," Hawkwoman spoke with a smile, the other members nodding in agreement as Wonder Woman smiled and nodded.
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"Easy, easy. You're not supposed to be moving around this much," M'gann spoke amusedly as she helped Chris sit up, smirking when she saw him roll his eyes even as he winced with every move.
"I know, but I'm not the type to stay lying down."
"That is true. So, how do you feel? Mentally, I mean," She asked, not surprised when she felt flickers of panic and anger in the back of his mind as he smiled and nodded.
"Pretty...pretty good, I'd say. There are still some headaches now and again, but...yeah, pretty good."
"Did you forget I'm a mind reader?", She asked with a smirk, giggling as Chris just smirked and lied back with a sigh.
"Yeah, fine. I'm not doing all that...yeah, I'm not good in the head right now, but I can deal with it."
"We can deal with it," She corrected him, making Chris raise an eyebrow before he blinked as she grabbed his hand and smiled.
"Remember what you asked me?"
"...When you're ready, you let me know what your answer is?"
"Why did that sound more like a question than a statement?"
"You're imagining that," Chris said with a nervous smile, chuckling as M'gann just smiled amusedly and nodded.
"Sure. Anyway, I've had some time to think about it and... my answer is yes."
"...Yes, as in 'yes' or yes as in 'maybe, but we'll see'?", Chris asked, chuckling when M'gann just gave him a flat stare.
"Why do you have to make everything so complicated?"
"It's just who I am. So, that's a yes yes?"
"Yes, that's a yes 'yes'," She whispered, leaning forward and giving him a soft kiss. It didn't last long as she slowly pulled back, giggling at the happy smirk on Chris' face as he nodded.
"Nice."
"Nice? That's all?", M'gann asked, but before he could answer, they turned as the door hissed open. M'gann, however, remembered what had happened and winced when she saw the heavy look in Wonder Woman's eyes, Chris narrowing his eyes when he saw Hawkman and -woman along with Flash and Batman entering the room as well.
"Paragon, it is good to see you awake."
"I would say the same, you know, but you sound like someone who has very bad news. Oh, where's Supes? I gotta ask him something."
"That...is why we are here," Dread danced in Chris' heart as he glanced at M'gann, already feeling worried when he saw her smile now gone as well as the sad looks in everyone's eyes.
"Where is Superman?", He asked, but frowned when Diana's lips parted and no words came out.
"Was he captured? Is he in a coma?"
"...No. There was another attack on Metropolis by the Light and...Superman defeated it, but at the cost of his life," Diana finally got out, everyone watching tensely as they saw Chris looking at her before he smiled.
"Nah, I don't believe that. Is this his attempt to get back at me for pranking him that one time?"
"Paragon-"
"Huh, I can't feel his heartbeat. Maybe he's on Earth?"
"Paragon-"
"I have to admit, you guys got me at first. Almost believed you, to be truthful, but-"
"Chris," Batman cut in, making Chris blink before he felt his heart drop when he saw the Dark Knight looking at him with a grimace.
"Clark is gone."
"...No. No, no. No, he's...he's Superman. The Man of Steel, the Hope of Humanity, the Man of Tomorrow, the Big Blue Boy Scout. There's...No, please," Tears gathered in the corners of Chris' eyes as his breathing grew ragged, his eyes darting from person to person only to find nothing but looks of pity and sadness.
"W-Who...? Who did it?"
"The Light."
"Who, specifically?"
"That...will be revea-"
"Who did it?", Everyone frowned as they heard the growl in Chris' voice, Hawkman and Hawkwoman along with Flash readying themselves as M'gann placed a hand on his arm.
"Chris, look at me."
"Batman, who did it?"
"That is something I cannot reveal to you at this time."
"...Luthor. Luthor is the only one that would go this far just to prove a point," Chris spoke with a frown, making everyone tense as he placed a hand against his chest and took a deep breath.
Unbeknownst to everyone, Chris activated his Tactile Telekinesis, feeling throughout his entire body and forcing his body to repair the damage done to it.
"Chris, what are you doing?", Batman asked before his eyes widened as he realized what the young man was doing, immediately signalling for Flash as the speedster moved.
"Damn, you really are something else," Flash murmured with a sad look as he rushed forward, Chris gritting his teeth as meta-human handcuffs laced with kryptonite were locked onto his wrists.
"Take these off."
"Not until you calm down," Batman spoke with a firm tone, signalling for M'gann to stop as Chris looked up with a snarl.
"Calm down?! My brother was fucking killed and you want me to sit still while Lex Luthor celebrates his victory?!", He growled, Batman's eyes narrowing when he saw Chris straining to break the handcuffs despite the blood dripping from him tearing his wrists open.
"Chris, we all share your grief, but vengeance will not honour Clark's sacrifice," Wonder Woman spoke and Chris didn't say anything, simply glaring at the handcuffs as cracks began to spread on them.
"Uh, Bats, the kid's gonna blow," Hawkwoman spoke with a frown, readying her weapon before they turned as the doors opened once again.
"Chris," Chris looked up as he heard Match's voice, staring at the sad smile on his face as his fellow clone walked closer and stood next to him.
"Match, you-"
"Brother, I know. I know you want to go and tear apart the world right now, but...we can't. If we do, we're just going to prove that Luthor was right about us being weapons."
"And what? We just let him run about as if it was nothing?", Chris asked with a glare, but Match just sighed and shook his head.
"No, brother, but we don't follow his ways. We do it how Clark would have wanted us to do it and we make sure that hope stays alive even when he isn't. That is why he fought alone, because he believed in us being able to do so," Match spoke softly, Chris clenching his fists with a growl, the former taking the key from Batman and unlocking the handcuffs.
The next moment, he surprised Chris as he hugged, him, M'gann doing the same as Chris just sat there.
"I understand your pain, brother, but Clark didn't want us to be nothing more than weapons. He'd want us to be the next in line, his brothers and his legacy. Let us live up to it."
"Why the hell did it have to be you?", Chris murmured, to which Match chuckled and shook his head.
"Because just like how you're the only one who can calm me, I'm the only one that knows how to calm you, brother," Match replied, Chris letting out a chuckle at that before he smiled as M'gann pressed her forehead against his and felt her whisper soothing calm waves of telepathy that eased his pain.
"You're not alone, Chris."
"I know. It's...just a shame that it came to this."
"Wha-", With a grunt, Chris ripped himself free and sent out a shockwave of TTK into the air, making it pop with a powerful concussive explosion as he took a deep breath and shot upwards.
Tearing through the Watchtower, he ripped through the roof and dove towards the planet, narrowing his eyes when hundreds of green hard-light walls formed in front of him.
"Chris, please stop," Martian Manhunter spoke with a frown as he flew after Chris, Hal and John making more blockades only for them to be surprised as Chris dove fists first into and through the walls like they were nothing.
"Right, forgot about his meta-ability. Well, we can just let him reach the Earth like this," John Stewart said as he formed a massive net to try and ensnare Chris only for it to be torn apart as Chris didn't even slow down.
"Lanterns, hold back! You are only feeding into his rage! If he thinks we're caging him, he will not stop fighting us!"
"Bats, not to shout at you, but he is already fighting us!", Hal snapped, dodging fragments of his constructs thrown at him as he flew after Chris.
"Chris, stop! Please! If you go to Metropolis in this state, you're going to level half of the city."
"If Luthor is in that half, then good!", M'gann was surprised at Chris' words, Martian Manhunter narrowing his eyes when he saw the streaks of red running along Chris' face as well as the red shining in his pupils.
"Klarion's magic! It's feeding on his anger and anguish!"
"Then, we must stop him!"
"I'll do it!", Match responded as he soared past Martian Manhunter and the Lanterns, narrowing his eyes as he forced himself to speed up.
"Match, turn around and leave me alone!"
"Not until you calm down, brother!", Match shouted before he was surprised when they pierced into the Earth's atmosphere, Chris immediately turning and snapping his fingers with a burst of TTK.
As he did, the air exploded with enough force to push the Kryptonian back, Match pushing the force away only to frown as he saw Chris diving straight for the ground.
"Get him! If he gets to ground, he'll be able to freely hide himself and we'll lose him!", Martian Manhunter spoke telepathically to Match, who dove after Chris with a frown.
"Chris! This is your last chance! If you do this, you are no better than Luthor!"
"I never was better! I told you all! I am not better!", Chris shouted back, Match gritting his teeth as he felt himself catching up only for Chris to make another explosion behind him.
With every second, Chris created explosion after explosion with a snap of his fingers, creating enough distance before he dove hands first through the ground.
As he did, Match watched as his brother sealed the hole back up, grimacing as he looked to Martian Manhunter who closed his eyes and scanned the area.
"...He's gone. I can't feel his mind," The martian responded and Match let out a soft sigh as he shook his head.
He just knew that this was about to be a big mess.
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"With this, the Light has officially succeeded with Phase 1," Vandal Savage spoke with a smirk, looking at his fellow co-leaders who nodded in agreement as Klarion giggled.
"Hihihi! I told you all that my magic and Lexy's genius would make something strong! It's a shame it didn't last long, but that also means we can just make a new one that's better and stronger."
"Indeed, though I will say that the battle did take a bit long as I have not fully concluded my research on the effects of Chaos Magic on Krypto-", Everyone narrowed their eyes when they heard Lex stop talking, Vandal looking at the monitor he was on to see him looking at something behind his monitor.
"Luthor? Is something the mat-", Vandal frowned when he heard a loud thud, everyone immediately hiding their faces while Vandal linked his fingers in front of him as Lex leaned back with a smirk.
"So, you've come for me, Paragon?"
'So, he survived,' Vandal thought with a frown, watching as the hero in question walked up to Lex's side and in front of the camera.
"Still, I do not see why you came to vi-", Vandal had to admit that there was not many things that could surprise him as old as he was.
Yet, he couldn't help his flicker of surprise when Paragon placed a hand on Luthor's head, watching as his fingers tightened while Luthor's eyes widened as he clawed at his throat.
"Lex Luthor, Ra's al Ghul, Vandal Savage, Queen Bee, Ocean Master, Klarion, The Brain. Those are your identities, yes?", Paragon asked, leaning down to look into Savage's eyes with a dangerous smile.
"What, you expected there to be no consequences for your actions? I'd just leave you all alone and try to capture you alive?", Paragus asked with a smirk, lifting Luthor up by his head as everyone watched the man turn a deep red.
"No, no. See, that's the Justice League and while I am a member, I am a believer of the term 'Eye for an eye'. If that makes the world go blind, then I am more than happy with that knowing that Supes has been avenged," He spoke before clenching his hand, shattering Luthor's skull as well as making the man pop like a balloon.
"Ra's ah Ghul, you're next. Hug your daughter Talia and gather the League of Shadows because when I arrive...", Paragon trailed off, reaching forward and giving one final smile and word before he turned it off.
"I will be dragging you all down to the depths of Hell where you belong."
A/N: And we end it off here! Like I said, this Chris is not a good guy even when he is a good guy. He wants to see the good in people, but thanks to his memories, he also knows that these people would not change no matter what.
Therefore, time to get rid of the parasites.
Next chapter: Hunting down a Bee.
P.S. for anyone wondering, I am going for a Chris/ Paragon that is more driven by his emotions as well as the remnants of the chaos magic, but the latter will be explained later on.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
Anyway, as always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one...
Ba-Bye~!