CHAPTER 122 — THE INTERRUPTION
Wayne Manor.
Tony Stark, clad in his Mark VII armor, stood near the wide windows of the manor's lower hall, arms crossed as he looked out over the dark grounds. The city lights were distant. Out here, the night felt thick and heavy.
A few steps behind him stood Gaius, silent as ever, his golden armor catching faint reflections from the room's soft light.
Behind them, Naruto paced back and forth.
"You're really not taking me?" Naruto said, stopping in front of Tony.
"I can fight. You've seen that."
Tony turned slowly, meeting Naruto's eyes. He didn't joke this time. Didn't smile.
"I know you can," Tony said. "That's not the problem."
Naruto frowned. "Then what is?"
Tony gestured around the room.
"This place," he said. "These people."
Naruto followed his gaze. Saeko stood near the wall, arms relaxed but her posture alert. Mindy sat on the couch, legs pulled up, watching everything with narrowed eyes. Alfred stood near the doorway, hands folded behind his back, calm but clearly tense.
"Lex knows about us now," Tony continued. "He knows where we are. That means this manor isn't safe anymore."
Naruto's expression shifted.
"Someone will attack here?"
"I think so," Tony said. "That's why I want you to stay here."
Naruto clenched his fists. "Okay. I'll stay."
He looked down slightly, disappointed that he had to remain behind.
Gaius stepped forward, noticing Naruto's disappointment.
Naruto turned to him.
For a moment, Gaius said nothing. Then he spoke, his voice calm and steady.
"Stay here," Gaius said. "Protect Saeko. Protect Mindy. Protect the others."
Naruto blinked.
"You are needed here."
The words landed differently than Tony's had.
Naruto stood still. His shoulders slowly straightened. His eyes widened, then lit up.
"Yeah," Naruto said, a grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, you're right."
He turned toward Saeko and Mindy.
"Don't worry," he said confidently. "I've got this."
Mindy puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms.
"Still boring," she muttered.
Saeko didn't speak, but she nodded once toward Naruto. Trust. Quiet and real.
Alfred watched the exchange closely. He said nothing, but something eased in his expression.
Gaius nodded once at Naruto.
Tony saw Naruto's reaction and sighed. Gaius's words had worked better than his. He pouted, not even trying to hide it.
Tony took a breath, then glanced at Gaius.
"Ready?"
"Yes," Gaius said.
Tony activated his armor. His helmet closed with a soft hiss.
Gaius powered up the jump pack on his back.
Tony looked back once more.
"Keep them safe," he said.
Naruto gave a sharp nod. "Always."
A moment later, fire and light filled the manor grounds as Tony and Gaius launched into the sky, streaking away toward Metropolis.
The night swallowed them.
~~~
High above Metropolis, Lois Lane screamed.
The wind tore past her, stealing her breath, her thoughts, everything except fear. The city lights spun beneath her, distant and sharp.
She was falling.
Then
A sudden rush of air.
Strong arms wrapped around her, firm and steady.
The fall stopped so fast it made her gasp.
Lois opened her eyes.
Superman held her.
For a second, she just stared, trying to make sure it was real.
"You came back," she whispered.
Superman didn't answer. He only looked at her, relief clear in his eyes.
He lowered them gently to the ground below. Lois's legs shook as she stood, and she reached out, gripping his arm.
They kissed.
It was quick. Simple. Honest.
Superman pulled back first. His gaze lifted toward LexCorp Tower.
"I'll be right back," he said softly.
Then he was gone, flying upward in a blur of red and blue.
Leaving Lois looking at him from below.
~~~
Lex Luthor stood calmly on the helipad atop LexCorp Tower, hands clasped behind his back. Wind tore across the open platform, whipping his coat as Metropolis stretched endlessly below, glass, steel, and light packed tightly together. The city glowed beneath them, alive and unaware, separated only by height and cold air.
In one hand, Lex held a small device.
A timer.
Superman dropped from the sky and struck the helipad with a thunderous crack. The reinforced surface groaned beneath his boots, metal flexing under the force.
"This is between you and me," Superman said, his voice low but controlled. "Let her go."
Lex smiled, perfectly at ease this high above the city.
"Oh, I wouldn't do that again," he said lightly. "Now I know you're always listening."
Superman stepped closer, the wind swirling around them.
Lex turned and began to walk across the helipad, unhurried, shoes tapping against the metal.
"The problem of evil," Lex said. "If God is all-powerful, he can't be all good. And if he's all good, then he can't be all-powerful."
"I'm not a god," Superman replied.
Lex chuckled. "Wrong again. Gods don't bleed."
He stopped near the edge, Metropolis yawning far below.
"Clark Kent," Lex said softly. "Son of Martha."
Superman froze.
"Where is she?" Superman demanded.
Lex reached into his coat and pulled out several pictures, flipping them toward Superman like a deck of cards.
With his super speed, Superman caught all the pictures midair. Each one showed Martha Kent, tied to a chair, fear etched clearly across her face.
"If she dies," Lex said calmly, the wind carrying his voice, "the world sees what you really are."
Superman's fists clenched around the pictures, crumpling them all with his immense strength
"You have one hour," Lex continued. "Kill the Bat… or your mother dies."
Superman stood still, caught between rage and fear.
Then
He felt it.
He turned around and saw two fast-moving forces tearing through the sky, coming straight at them.
Lex turn to it too. His smile faltered.
"What's this?"
The air split.
Gaius struck the helipad first.
The impact shook the tower itself, metal screaming as shock rippled across the platform. A heartbeat later, Tony landed beside him, repulsors flaring briefly as he stabilized.
Tony's faceplate slid open.
"Wow," Tony said, glancing between them. "This is awkward."
Lex stiffened. "Who are you?" Seeing them more clearly, he knew at once who they were, the ones who had taken the Mother Box. Still, he pretended not to know them.
Tony tilted his head. "Didn't you try to investigate us?"
Lex's eyes flicked to Gaius. Fear crept into his expression.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Lex said quickly. He knew the golden one was ruthless, nothing like Superman, who could be manipulated. After watching Gaius kill two soldiers without hesitation, Lex realized they couldn't be the same as Superman.
Gaius stepped forward.
"Let me kill him now," Gaius said.
Tony stepped aside without comment.
Lex backed away. "Wait—!"
He turned toward the helicopter.
Gaius moved.
In one motion, he grabbed Lex by the neck and lifted him off the ground.
The helicopter pilot panicked, drawing a gun.
Gaius kicked the helicopter.
The impact sent the helicopter spinning sideways. It flipped violently, the rotor slamming into the helipad and shredding part of the metal surface. The aircraft crashed hard against the platform, skidding and twisting as it landed, the pilot slumping unconscious inside the crumpled cockpit.
Gaius raised his hand.
Superman reacted instantly, grabbing Gaius' arm.
"You can't kill him," Superman said.
Tony frowned. "You know he did this to you, right?"
Superman hesitated.
Gaius looked at Superman and activated, Identification.
This was one of their plans, to determine whether Superman was truly Doomsday.
Superman (Clark Kent / Kal-El):
The last son of Krypton, Clark Kent is a Kryptonian born as Kal-El and raised on Earth, where the yellow sun grants him extraordinary powers. Possessing immense strength, near invulnerability, flight, super-speed, enhanced senses, and heat vision, he stands as one of the most powerful beings on the planet. Despite his power, Clark lives as a human journalist, guided by compassion, restraint, and a deep moral code. As Superman, he serves as Earth's greatest protector, a symbol of hope, justice, and the belief that immense power can be wielded with kindness.
Superman was not Doomsday.
Gaius loosened his grip. Lex collapsed to the ground, coughing.
Tony exhaled in relief as he watched the panel. He didn't want Superman to be Doomsday. After investigating him, Tony had seen that Superman was a hero, there were no crimes on his record, no evidence of wrongdoing, aside from being framed by Lex Luthor and feared by officials who had painted him as the villain. Now, with the panel clearly confirming that Superman couldn't be Doomsday, Tony finally relaxed.
Gaius looked at Superman.
"Why?" he asked.
"We leave him to the law," Superman said.
Hearing this, Gaius felt a hint of disappointment.. He knew how strong Superman was. After all, he had planned to lure him into the Shared Gate, but it seemed that would no longer be possible, Superman didn't appear suitable for his world.
"I am the law," Gaius replied.
He slammed his fist into Superman's torso. The force sent him hurtling backward, skidding perilously near the edge.
Gaius grabbed Lex again.
Superman recovered instantly, standing between them, completely unharmed by the punch Gaius had delivered to his chest.
"Stop!" Superman shouted.
Tony raised his hands, repulsors trained on Superman. "Why are you still protecting him?"
he asked, slight irritation in his voice. He couldn't understand it, Superman was too kind. Even after the man had framed him and caused deaths in the process, Superman was still defending him.
Superman's voice broke slightly.
"He has my mother," he said. "If he dies, she dies."
Tony hearing this lowered his hands.
Gaius also released Lex.
Lex collapsed again, breathing hard.
Slowly, a smile spread across his face.
"That's right," Lex said. "If I die… his mother dies too."
End of Chapter
~~~
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