Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Greed. 

The simple five letter word described what is known as the sin of intense desire for something perfectly.

Add a -Y to the word greed and you have the best adjective to describe Layna Chambers.

And she wouldn’t give a damn if you called her out on it because she knows she’s greedy. She relishes in the fact that she can get anything she wants.

And she’s always wanted the best of everything, especially the things she didn’t need. Always the fastest cars, the most expensive clothes, the biggest houses, and the most lavish vacations. 

She lived a lifestyle that most people wouldn’t be able to achieve even if they lived a few thousand years.

But there was one thing that Layna wanted that even she couldn’t get.

And it infuriated her to no end.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Mrs. Chambers, Mr. Kent is here to see you.”

“Who?” Layna looked out from her closet and at her blonde assistant. She was headed to a fashion show Saturday and was disregarding some of her older and out of season clothing to make room.

“Mr. Kent from the Daily Planet.” 

“Oh…” Layna let out an interested sigh as she stepped out of the closet that was bigger than most people's apartments “.....and what does he need.”

“He’s a reporter here to i-”

“I love reporters.” Layna perked up at the mention because she did love reporters. She loved the attention, she loved that they talked about her, she loved that what they wrote made other people talk about her. Good or bad she could care less, as long as attention was being shined her way.

Layna glided past an overworked and mildly abused personal assistant to make her way to her living room where she knew he would have been kept waiting. When she reached said room she took a moment to observe the Daily Planet reporter as he observed the art work that decorated her wall. 

He was handsome, she would admit. Tall, well built, nice hair, although the glasses, and cheaply made suit he was wearing ruined the entire aesthetic for her, and made her quickly lose interest.

Layna coughed to make her presence known, moving closer. Clark Kent turned around fumbling with the recorder and notepad in his hands. 

“Mrs. Chambers, it's a pleasure to meet you.”

“Well of course it is.” Layna took the hand that was given to her appreciating how much bigger and warmer it was compared to her own. “Nice meeting you too, Cody.”

“Uhm it's actually Clark….Clark Kent.” Clark mildly corrected following behind her to the seating area.

“Oh….Cody’s a more attractive name.” Layna showed no embarrassment for getting his name wrong as she sat back and made herself comfortable against her newly bought ten-thousand dollar leather couch. “Do you want anything to drink? I had sake imported this morning.”

“No thank you.”

“More for me then.” Layna reached over to pick up a gold bell that was resting on her eight-thousand dollar custom made glass table. She rang it once and seconds later a gangly man came out with a full bar cart, quickly pouring her drink at her demand, before pushing his cart and himself against a corner waiting for his next command.

Clark did his best to try and not let the disgust he felt for the opulence that surrounded him or his host's arrogant attitude show on his face. Instead he placed down his recorder on the intricate carved glass table in between them, and focused his eyes down to his notepad that had some already pre written notes scribbled on it.

“So the first thing I wanted to ask about Ade Abbas is…….”

“My father?” Layna interrupted giving Clark a confused look. “What does this interview have to do with my father?”

“It’s supposed to be about his charity ‘Life of Giving’ and how things have progressed ten years since his death.”

Layna made a sound of irritation “I thought this interview was supposed to be about me.”

“I’m not sure what gave you this impression b-”

“What gave me that impression was that I’m me, and I’m amazing. Newspapers and blogs want to run stories about me all the time, and you want to talk about my dead father!?”

“His charity and legacy actually.”

“That’s even worse.” Layna brought her glass to her lips and emptied the sake in one swift movement.

Clark looked at her dumbfounded and tried to find the right words to use. “B-but I’m sure as his daughter you have some connection to his charity an-”

“I don’t do charity.” Layna stood up giving Clark a dismissive hand wave “If you aren’t here to talk about me then I’m not interested. Goodbye.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Superman…..” 

The name left a breathless Layna as she watched a whirlwind of red and blue tie up her would-be kidnappers and fly them off somewhere, and before she could even think of where he reappeared right in front of her in all his super-powered, sexy alien, spandex wearing glory. 

“Are you okay ma’am?” 

Layna tried to answer but her breath got caught up in her throat, the only thoughts that were being processed through her mind was how absolutely magnificent this man before her was. 

Truly better than anything she had ever encountered anywhere before.

“Ma’am are you injured?” He questioned her while placing a concerned hand on her shoulder which managed to jolt her out of her mesmerization, and for a deep blush to spread up her chest.

“I’m fine.” Layna's voice was pitched higher than normal. “...Almost getting kidnapped is a typical Wednesday evening for someone like me. Although I must admit you are a far better looking savior than the entire GCPD put together or even Batman. I’m not sure if I can think of an adequate way to thank you for your heroism. Perhaps you can fly me back to my penthouse and we can properly discuss it...”

“I-” Superman blinked rapidly a few times. Sure he was use to woman swooning at him as Superman, the occasional flirtatious comment, or a compliment thrown towards his figure, but never once in his entire career has he had a woman boldly propositioned him for sex. “I don’t need payment ma’am, the fact that you're safe and those men are now in custody means that I have done my job and that’s enough for me.”

“My name is Layna.” Layna frowned at the use of ma’am, and took a few steps closer so now she was invading much of Superman’s personal space. Her tall model-like physique meant she wasn’t much shorter than him, and could almost directly look him in the eye. “There must be something I can do for you Superman.”

“There is..” The way Layna’s face glowed is the way Clark imagines a wild cats’ face to be after ensnaring it’s prey. “You can get home safely and remember to stop by the GCPD tomorrow to make a positive identification of the two men from tonight.”

“Oh…”

Superman can’t say he didn’t feel any sort of satisfaction the way her face crumbled, or the last words he uttered towards her weren’t out of pure pettiness. “Good Evening, Layla.” 

And just like that he was gone.

She was infuriated by him. 

She wanted Superman. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Julie, did you read this!?” Layna shouts, waving around her phone and moving about in a way that causes the makeup artist that was applying mascara to her eyelashes, to smear it on the side of her eyelids. “You know what get away from me! And someone get me a makeup artist who actually knows what they're doing!”

The other makeup artist and hairdressers looked away in embarrassment at Layna’s usual tantrums and knew it was best to leave it up to her assistant Julie to deal with her.

“Yes, I read it. It was a beautiful tribute to your father and his legacy through his charity. Very well written.”

Layna glowered. “Obviously we didn’t read the same damn article! There wasn't a word about me in here. They didn’t even mention my name!” 

Julia tried to interrupt with calm reassurances that, not being mentioned wasn’t necessarily a bad thing as Layna and her father had never been close but the dark haired woman just continued on her slanderous rant. 

“He did this on purpose. That asshole purposely didn’t even so much as acknowledge that my father had any children.”

In her anger Layna threw her phone across the room.

Good publicity was always welcomed.

Bad publicity was always fun.

But not to be mentioned at all!

Not to get any publicity…..

Clark Kent just made her shit list.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Bruce Wayne was perhaps one of Layna Chamber’s favorite people. Of course he didn’t make the top three because she filled up those positions with herself but he was rather high up on the list. Something about Gotham’s favorite celebrity playboy spoke to her spirit. She truly saw them as the same people just in different bodies.

Not to mention his parties were always absolutely amazing!

And speaking of said host. Layna turned around looking to see if any waiter was passing by with a glass of wine when she laid eyes of on their ever gracious host dressed in a striking Italian suite, with his beautiful dark hair slicked back waltzing around with a glass of wine in one hand as he shallowly conversed with those around him.

“Bruce, I've missed you!” Layna spoke loudly pulling him away from the duo he was conversing with and into a hug.

“I’ve missed you more!” Bruce mimics her voice playfully and plants a kiss on her right cheek. She wasn’t sure if it was an innocent kiss out of friendship or because he knew they would be caught in the background of the group taking pictures in front of them.

And if they were caught in the picture then the speculation that Bruce Wayne and Layna Chambers supposedly being in a relationship would be front page news for weeks.

“If that was true you would stay in Gotham for longer than two weeks a month.” Layna admonished. Bruce Wayne was rarely ever in Gotham these days, jet skiing across the world doing truly who knows what.

“You know me Layna, I hate sitting still. But I’ll try to make more of an effort to stay in touch.” Layna knew he was lying but she still accepted his words the same way she accepted the wine he was offering.

“You don’t even have to do that. Just bring me back something nice from your next adventure, okay.” Layna allowed Bruce to waltz around the room with her in his arms, if there was something Bruce loved it was a beautiful woman in his arms, and Layna never minded playing that role.

“What do you want? Art? Jewelry?” 

“You do have exceptional taste in jewelry, but there is one thing I have had my eyes on lately.....”

“Name it.” 

Bruce was quite aware of how spoiled and self-centered Layna was. He was also quite aware of how much he indulged her. But she was one of his oldest friends. Meeting a few months after the night that took his parents away. Layna had always been the one to stand up for him when he was younger to both bullies and paparazzi, and when he got older and more reckless she was the only one who never judged- she even covered for him a few times, taking the heat for him. And yes, they may have grown apart some ever since he became Batman, but she was still important to him.

“Superman.”

Bruce paused right there in the middle of the ballroom for a second thinking he hadn’t heard her correctly. “Pardon?”

“Superman. You know, The man of steel, Metropolis’s favorite hero..”

“I’m quite aware of who Superman is. But you want him……”

“Yes.”

“In what way?

“Do you, of all people, really want me to draw you a diagram?”

“You can’t have him, Layna.”

She pulled herself out of his arm and was now pouting. “Why not?”

“Because you can't just buy people or own them.”

Layna rolled her eyes, bringing her glass of wine up for a sip. “I don’t want to own him. I just want him to be mine and only mine. There’s a difference.”

The incredulous expression on Bruce’s face was almost comical. “And how do you plan to do that exactly?”

Layna shrugged nonchalantly. “You’re the smart one. I was hoping you could give me a few ideas.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The entirety of Gotham City was dangerous but the East End was the most dangerous part of the city. It’s somewhere you never want to wander through unless you're armed and a participant of the illegal activities that populate the area. 

Layna Chamber’s was neither of these things, and this was the second ever time that she found herself in this part of the city. Usually she preferred the more glamorous areas and rarely ever mixed herself with commoners. Although this time she came here rather purposefully. 

Walking under the shattered streetlights the area was dark and abandoned.  

“Hellooo…” Layna called out not knowing much else of what to do. “.......Any bad guys hanging out around…..” She continued to call out, hoping that someone dangerous would jump out in order for her to put her plan into action.

“Look I’m really rich, like super rich, and I just n-” Layna was cut off when a man came running out of the alleyway to her left. He stumbled and fell at her feet, causing Layna to jump back, but before she could ask any questions he quickly got to his feet and continued running, cursing violently under his breath.

“Huh.” Layna sent a curious glance towards where he had run out from before deciding to walk that way. The alley was much darker but she simply followed the noise of cussing and punching. Before she could go any further down the alley she was stopped by the infamous shiny black bat-mobile that was parked diagonally in the ally. Layna watched in almost awe as Batman beat the last standing man's head against a brick wall knocking him unconscious. 

“You’re much more impressive in person than on television.” Layna piped up watching as he bent down and picked up a small case.

Batman turned around with amazing speed. She couldn’t tell much about what he was feeling due to the cowl hiding his face and his voice being distorted. “What are you doing here!?”

“What do you mean?” Layna asked innocently. Gotham’s protector approached her and they were standing face to face with the bat-mobile separating them.

“What are you doing in this part of the city Layna? You don’t belong here.”

Layla felt content that at least one superhero could get her name right, and didn’t even question how he knew her. “Well if you insist on knowing. I was hoping to meet someone special here tonight.”

“Who?” Batman asked suspiciously as he opened his bat-mobile and gestures for her to get in which Layna did with no problem. 

She looked around the interior in awe and her first thought was she most definitely needed to have one of these made for herself…..in another color of course. The all black was dreary.

“Superman. Last time I was in danger he swooped up out of nowhere and saved the day.”

“You purposely endangered yourself so Superman could save you!?” 

Even with the cowl she was sure he was giving her a look of irritation and judgment. 

“I was never in any real danger.” Layna huffed indignantly. She wasn’t dumb having gone to some of the best private schools in the world, but she just never had a good sense of self preservation or danger. “Hey, you wouldn’t happen to have his phone number or something, would you Batman?”

“No I don’t and what is wrong with you! Gotham's incredibly dangerous and you can’t just put yourself in danger here trying to get Superman’s attention. Especially when Superman doesn’t even patrol Gotham. Do you know how badly tonight could have ended?” Batman wasn’t yelling but his tone made it clear enough about how he felt, and any normal person would have been shaking in their trousers, begging for forgiveness. “Do you!”

But Layna wasn’t exactly normal.

“You’re right. I didn’t think this all the way through.” Layna sighed looking down at her hands like a naughty child being reprimanded. “I shouldn’t have come out here tonight.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“You moved to Metropolis!?”

“So I know this seems really impulsive, but a few weeks ago I had a conversation with Batman and he was totally right. The only way I can get in contact with Superman is for me to live in Metropolis.” Layna excitedly chatted over her cellphone as she wandered around her new mansion making notes of fixtures that would need to be replaced. “And the house is absolutely amazing. Plus I think Lex Luther is my neighbor. How cool is that!?” 

“Batman told you to move to Metropolis?” Bruce ignored her changing the conversation to her plans of having a housewarming party as he was still not able to let go of the fact that she was claiming Batman told her to move to Metropolis. He remembered that night, and was absolutely sure those words never left his mouth.

“I don’t think whoever is under the cape has much of a way with words, but he most definitely implied it.”

Bruce sighed deeply. “You can’t just drop your whole life here in Gotham Layna to chase Superman.”

“That’s why this move is only temporary. As soon as I get bored of the scenery and get what I came for I’ll pack and head back to Gotham.” 

“And how are you so sure that you’ll get what you want?” 

“Because I’m Layna Chambers. I always get what I want.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“She moved to Metropolis to…..to be with Superman?” Clark didn’t usually answer personal calls at work, but Bruce Wayne also didn’t usually call him either. Although this was somehow the oddest conversation he’s ever had with anyone. “I’m not understanding.”

“Layna can be very one track minded and sometimes geta a bit obsessive. She’s not a bad person or a real danger, but she is determined. And currently she is determined to have Superman.”

“Have Superman how?”

“Don’t make me draw you a diagram.” 

“Uhm, okay. So what am I supposed to do? Should I talk to her as Superman?”

“No. The best you can do is avoid her, don’t fall for any of her antics. Hopefully she’ll get bored or get distracted by something else and leave.”

“You’re really friends with this woman Bruce?”

“She’s not a bad person. Her morals are just a bit skewed, and she’s been known to have her tantrums, but deep down she’s well meaning.” 

“I’ll take your advice and ignore her for now. But I don’t want her causing trouble here.” Clark and Bruce said their goodbyes, and once he hung up Clark returned to his computer which had a word document pulled up. 

He was working on an article about a news reporter from a conservative news channel that was recently fired due to some sexual harrasment allegations. He’d only gotten about a paragraph in when his name was being shouted out. He looked up to see Perry waving at him from his office. 

Clark sighed standing up and walked towards Perry’s office. 

“Yes Perry.”

“I want to move you from the Roger’s story, and give it to Marcy.”

“Why? I’ve already interviewed two out of the five women, and have a mockup of the article.” Clark couldn’t hold in his irritation. He had been working incredibly hard on this specific article, and it was supposed to be his best story this year. 

“I understand, but I have an even better story for you to cover.” 

From behind his glasses Clark gave the dark skinned man a skeptical look. “What is it?” 

“Socialite Layna Chambers has recently moved to Metropolis. And she’s willing to give us an exclusive interview about herself and her move here.”

“That sounds more like entertainment. I don’t cover entertainment Perry.” Clark paled a bit. He had just been having a conversation about avoiding this woman at all cost when in his alter ego, but to be honest he wanted to avoid her as Clark too.

“She specifically asked for you.”
 
“She did?” 

“You're the only one whom she would accept interviewing her. Apparently you made quite the impression on her when she met you in Gotham.”

In more ways than one it seems. 

Chapter Text

Three days later Clark found himself handing over all his notes and recordings for the Roger’s article over to Macy- which killed him a bit on the inside. It wasn’t that Marcy wasn’t a good reporter, she just wasn’t the type of reporter to ask the hard questions and deep dived into all the facts. He knew whatever she wrote would be washed down, and wouldn’t deliver these woman the justice they deserved. 

That same day Clark found himself going to The Blue Chandelier Bistro. Layna had wanted to meet somewhere public and of course the place she picked was an upscale restaurant. And although it was smaller than most other restaurants in the area it was just as exclusive and expensive to eat at.    

“Mr. Clark Kent.” Layna looked up from the menu in her hands and smiled at Clark when he approached the table. 

As he took a seat he must admit that he was surprised that she got his name right this time, and hoped that this was a sign that things would go well.

“Miss Chambers.” 

“I prefer Layna.” 

“Alright Layna….”  Clark placed his tape recorder and notebook down on the table, and began flipping through his notebook while pulling out a pen. “I wanted to start by-“ 

“I haven’t even ordered lunch yet.” 

“Oh, I can interview you while you’re eating.”

“Aren’t you going to eat?” 

“This isn’t usually the place which I eat at.” 

“It’s because you’re too poor to eat here isn’t it?” 

Clark's face instantly draws an angry expression and he is about to open his mouth in response- probably something out of character for him, but she waves him off before he can say anything. 

“It’s fine I’ll order for the both of us.” 

Layna turned to the side and waves over a waiter. When they approach she quickly begins spurting out her order. 

“I’ll have the Asian Chicken Salad in Crispy Wonton Cups and he’ll have the Balsamic-Glazed Steak Rolls. A bottle of Mairena for the table.”

“I don’t drink,” Clark says watching the waiter walk away with their order- or he should say her order. 

“It’s just a bit of wine. I’m sure a man of your size can handle themself.” Layna takes a sip of the sparkling water in front of her. 

“I don’t mean to be rude, Layna but this article has a deadline, and I really would like to start this interview immediately.”  

Layna cocks her head to the side. “Do you promise to actually write about me this time?” 

“W-What are you talking about?” 

“That lovely little piece you wrote about my father. You completely snubbed me in it. I wasn’t even a footnote.” 

“It wasn’t a snub. You didn’t have much to contribute and I felt it would be best to focus on those who his charity affected.” 

Layna snorted softly, crossing her arm. “I’m no idiot, Clark. I’m very aware of how you perceive me. Some spoiled, entitled brat. I’m quite sure you probably detest me.” 

“That’s not true.” Clark tries to deny it, even though she wasn’t wrong. He didn’t have the highest opinion of the woman sitting in front of him. She was pretty on the outside but he was sure she was rotten on the inside. 

“There’s no need to lie. I could care less how you feel about me. But what I won’t stand for is to be ignored or overlooked by anyone. Which is exactly what you did when you wrote my father’s article.” 

“Is this what this is all about? You're mad at me for not mentioning you in Mr. Abbas’s article so….”

“So I’m giving you a second chance to right a great misdeed. To write an exceptional article about myself. Do you understand?” 

Clark nodded absolutely sure the woman before him was more than just self-centered. “I understand. Although I am also really curious as to why you’ve decided to move to Metropolis. It seems to be a very unexpected move.” 

“There’s something I want that can only be found in Metropolis, and I plan on getting it very soon.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Superman!”  

Layna is a breathless type of giddy as Superman swoops down, wrapping his arms around her and flying her away from the immediate danger he was positive that she had placed herself into. And once he had found a safe place away from danger he gently placed her on her feet on the ground. 

“Ms. Chamber’s….”

“Please Superman, we know each other well enough by this point that formalities are not needed.” Layna’s arms are still wrapped around Superman’s shoulders, and very much invading his personal space. 

Superman does his best to keep his face neutral as he unwraps her arms from around him and takes a step back.

This was the tenth time he had saved her in the last four weeks. Every time he turned around she was finding some way to put herself in danger and screaming for him at the top of his lungs. 

Superman liked to believe he was a patient and understanding person, but her obsession over him and inability to take a hint was grating on his last nerve. He hasn’t felt as if he could be his most effective self when in the back of his mind he was constantly worrying what her next scheme would be. 

Completely unaware of the man’s thinking, Layna begins eagerly speaking. “So I was thinking since I’m free and obviously you’re not doing anything important that we should go g-“

“You need to stop this!”

“Stop what?”

“Stop this foolishness! Stop putting yourself in danger and doing all these outrageous things to get my attention.”  

“Are you asking me to stop because it’s worked and you want to be mine?” A hopeful glint sparkles in Layna’s brown eyes.

“NO!” Superman’s patience had officially snapped. He was viciously shaking while yelling at her. “I’m asking you to stop because this is not how adults behave and I have no interest in belonging to you! I have no interest in you whatsoever!”

“I-I don’t understand.” 

There were tears in her eyes and just as quickly as Superman had lost his patience he started feeling bad. He didn’t want to be mean or hurt her feelings. He just desperately wanted her to understand that he had no desire to be owned, and as a matter a fact wanted to be left alone. 

“Look I’m sure you're a very lovely woman Miss. Chambers. But this obsession you have over me is unhealthy, and I feel that it would be best for you to return to your life in Gotham and receive some professional help.” 

“I don’t need professional help!” Layna snapped angrily, feeling offended. “And you should feel honored that I’ve worked so hard to get your attention. I’ve never worked so hard for anything in my life! Why aren’t you happy getting my attention? Why don’t you want to be mine.” 

Superman let out a deep and exasperated sigh. It was as if everything he was saying was going in one ear and out the other. Nothing he was saying to her was sticking unless it was something she wanted to hear. “You can not own people. And I have no desire to be owned. And from now on whatever trouble you get yourself into I will not be here to save you. I am done with your games and entitlement.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

‘Superman, thank you for finding time to do this interview with us.’ 

From the flatscreen television Lois Lane’s voice resonates. She’s standing in front of the hospital where victims from an attack by Livewire were being treated. Standing next to her or more like towering over her was Superman in all his glory.

‘Of course Ms. Lane. It’s always a pleasure being interviewed by you.’

Lois let out a laugh. ‘I’m glad to hear you haven’t gotten tired of my questions. Or having to save me.’

Layna observed the way Lois looked up at Superman with admiration. And how close Superman was standing next to her, and how easily he was smiling at her with his full attention.

'How can I ever get tired of saving Metropolis' best reporter.'

Layna could feel her blood start to boil, not being able to take the image in front of her anymore, she picked up the remote throwing it and smashing into the television causing it to crack, but it still continued playing.     

“This isn’t fair!” Layna stomped around as if she were a petulant child. Yelling and throwing things around. “This isn’t right!”

“Layna maybe you should take a few deep breaths an-“ Julie tries to calm down her boss seeing the path of destruction the other woman was creating. 

“Breath! The one thing in the world that I want! What I deserve is being taken away from me and your best advice is to breathe!? Get out!”  

“But Lay-“ 

“I said get out!” Layna screeched, scaring Julie enough for her to run out of the mansion. She had never seen Layna so enraged, but decided it would be best to let her bosses' tantrum play out and just come back later to check on her.  

“This isn’t fair.” Layna sulks to the floor in tears when the front door slams shut. She begins sobbing to herself. “Why is wanting Superman too much to ask for? He should belong to me. I deserve him more than anyone else. He should be mine, mine mine!” 

‘Layna Chambers of Earth.’

“What?” Layna jumped up and looked up through her bloodshot tear stain eyes. In front of her was an orange ring surrounded by bright glowing orange light. A disembodied voice that sounded similar to Gollum's began to speak.   

‘Your heart holds great greed and desire to make all things that fall within your sight yours. Take this ring and take all that is yours.’

“Take what is mine?” Layna stands up and hesitantly approaches the ring. “Superman? I can have Superman?” 

‘You can have Superman. You can have everything.’ 

"I can have everything?"

Layna hesitated. Orange wasn't her color and the ring looked very cheap. But at the same time she could have everything. She could have Superman. Layna reached out for the ring and it attached to her right pointer finger. The orange light encompassed her. Orange light flared around her eyes, and her clothes transformed into a tight fitting two piece. A sleeveless orange tank top cut out in the shape of a V with the orange lantern insignia, tight fighting orange spandex pants, and knee length leather black boots. 

‘It’s yours. It’s all yours.’

“Yes!” Layna agreed with the greedy voice whispering in her ear. 

‘What do you want? Money, power, food? You can have it all!’

“I want Superman!” 

‘Yes! You deserve Superman! You need him! He belongs to you!’

“You’re right.” 

‘Then go get him! Go make him yours. And everything else’

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Clark stepped out of his shower wrapping a towel around his midsection. It had been a long day at the Daily Planet, fighting Livewire, interviewing with Lois, and he’d just landed home after helping with some earthquake relief efforts in Japan. After such a day all Clark had wanted to do was have dinner and turn in early for the night, but as he was rummaging through his underwear drawer he could hear panicked conversations engulfing Metropolis.

‘What is that?’

‘Are we under attack?’

‘This is the end! We’re all going to die!’

Having his interest peaked, Clark walked over to his window pulling aside the curtains. At first he didn’t notice anything unusual, but soon an orange light caught his eye. The light wasn’t that of the sun setting as one would expect for that time of day, it was much more intense and far reaching. Focusing his supervision he could see that the light was solid and engulfing the entire city of Metropolis. 

With his super speed Clark runs through his apartment getting dressed in his Superman suit and flies out his window and into the city. He flies up to the force field and mentally begins running through a list of villains who could possibly be responsible for this and their reasoning for it, but he draws a blank. 

Floating in front of the force field he first approaches it with his heat vision attempting to burn a hole through it. The area he concentrated on sizzled and smoked under his heat vision but his heat vision didn’t so much as chip it. He tries again with his heat vision increasing the intensity, and when nothing happens he changes his tactics attempting to punch his way out. With each hit a crack formed but was quickly mended over. 

Superman huffed floating back and glaring at the force field in frustration. Flying to the middle of the city he focuses all of his senses and scans the world below him attempting to find the source of the force field. If he couldn’t break through it himself he maybe could shut it off at the source. 

“Are you looking for someone?” 

Superman spins around his cape billowing behind him. He hadn’t heard anyone approaching. But was surprised to see Layna behind him taking in her new appearance and the orange aura glowing around her; he felt his concern grow immensely when his eyes landed on the Orange Lantern ring on her right hand.

“You did this?” 

“Well duh!” 

“Layna that ring you're wearing- it's very dangerous. It’s a parasite and the longer you wear it the more it’ll mess with your mind. You need to take it off.”

“Take it off? Why would I do that?"

“Because it’s dangerous. It might cause you to harm someone, and I know you wouldn’t want to hurt anyone.” 

“Of course I don’t want to hurt anyone. But it’s my ring!” Layna brings the hand with the ring to her heart. “And it’s going to give me everything I’ve ever wanted. Everything I deserve.” 

“And what is it that you want?” Superman questions fearing that he already knows the answer to the question. 

“You Superman. I want you.” 

“Okay,” Superman says and his eyes then jump to the force field still surrounding Metropolis. On the other side he could see that dozens of military attack aircrafts were gathering and attempting to shoot down the barrier. Superman knew that if he couldn’t break it down, that they would have no better luck. “Let’s make a deal. You can have me but you need to take down the force field you have around Metropolis.” 

Layna looks thoughtful for a second and Superman thinks maybe he’s been able to reason with her. That he’ll be able to convince her to take down the force field in order to calm the panic that has picked up in the city below them, and once that’s been done be able to trick her into giving up the ring.

What Superman doesn’t hear is the voice of avarice whispering in her ear- drowning out all and any reasonable thoughts of Layna. 

‘No! It should all belong to you. Superman, Metropolis, the world. You should take it all and leave nothing behind!’ 

Layana nodded her head in agreement with the voice. “I don’t want to give up Metropolis. I want this city and you and everything. It should all belong to me. Be mine!”

“Layna you can’t have everything. That’s wholly unreasonable.”

“Yes I can. I can have whatever I want!”

‘He’s going to try to take us from you. Don’t let him.’

The orange aura around Layna flared, and she was the first to attack out of her paranoia. A brilliant orange light fired from Layna’s ring striking Superman in the middle of his ‘S’ insigma sending him flying back. He was able to catch himself before could crash into the side of an apartment building. 

“Layna I don’t want to hurt you, but you need to give that ring up.” Superman shouts doging several more blast from Layna’s ring.

“Never. You can’t have it!”

Superman realized that the only way he’ll be able to get her to stop will require him to physically pry the ring from her finger. He flies towards her directly hitting her in the stomach which causes her to double over in surprise and pain. Superman takes the opportunity to grab her hand and try to pry off the ring from her finger. 

“No it's mine!”      

Layna screeched and fought back. Her fist clenches and a construct of a giant fist appears punching Superman away.

“It’s mine! All mine! You can’t take it away!”

Superman attempts to cut through her with his laser vision, but a force field much like the one that surrounds the city surrounds her rendering his laser vision useless.

“Layna I’m not the enemy, but you need to stop this.”

“Yes you are. You wouldn’t give me what I wanted. Your trying to take everything that belongs to me from me!”

Layna cries out, unleashing an extremely powerful energy blast that blasts Superman out of the sky and sends him crashing down into the earth below them.

Layana follows, seeing that he had crashed into an obscenely lavish mansion being buried under several broken marble pillars. She is about to approach him but the magnificent artwork that lines the walls and the statues the decorate the floor easily distract her. 

‘All of this should belong to you!’

“Yes. They should be Mines.” Layan agrees, reaching and feeling a shiver of greedy pleasure as she touches the frame of one of the pictures. She is about to take said picture when a heat ray hits her in her shoulders causing her to yelp in pain and jump back. 

Layna spins around on her heels, but before she could make the full turn Superman is crashing into her, sending them both flying through the walls and into another room. The two scrimmage around on the floor. Superman is significantly stronger and manages to pin her down to the ground with a knee on her stomach and one hand is cuffing both her wrists above her head.

She yells and thrashes under him clenching a fist as Superman once again tries to pry the ring from her finger. 

“NO!” The force field shapes around Layna and expands until Superman is tossed off of her. She pulls herself to a sitting position, but before she can get completely up Superman is already pounding down on the force-field surrounding her. 

Layna does her best to keep the force field up but his continuous pounding is sending vibrations throughout it. And even though the field only cracks a little, the ground under her starts crumbling and they both fall to the lower level in a heap.

Superman stands up ready for his next attack, but as he does so he instantly feels that something isn’t right. His head began to feel light and his legs began to feel like jelly under him. Superman takes in his surroundings attempting to figure out what was affecting him and why. 

By the time he does see what is causing him to feel so weak, his knees have already given up under him.

“Superman?” Layna’s voice holds her confusion when she slowly brings herself to her feet.

“W-we need to get out of here.” Layna follows Superman’s eyes to see him staring with dread at a glowing green rock sat in a simple glass case.

Layna approached the case, lifting it up and picking up the glowing green rock about the size of a golf ball. She turns the rock in her hand with fascination.

“Pretty.” Layna mumbles walking towards Superman with the rock still in hand. The second she holds the rock to his face he slouches down pale and weak. Layna’s mind begins to piece the puzzle together recognizing what they had stumbled upon and why it was affecting Superman.

“Layn- don’t.”

“Don’t worry Superman.” Layna runs her hand that isn’t holding the rock through his hair and down his face. “I’m not going to hurt you. I would never hurt you.”

‘You need him. He belongs to you. You’ll never be happy without him!’

"I need you."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Two Months Later

Layna hummed in almost contentment when she walked into her home. Well technically Lex Lutho’s home, but she had made it her’s- having found it was much more lavish than her own. Although Superman had done a number on the place during their fight.

Every inch of the entryway filled with some of her most beautiful and prized possessions she had collected over the last two months, although her greatest possession she hid away in her bedroom.

Her avarice had proved to be more powerful than anyone could imagine. And it fueled the orange lantern ring on her right hand like a supernova. In the two months since her scrimmage with Superman the force field Layna had set around Metropolis had expanded to include several more surrounding cities. 

And she took claim to everyone and everything under her beautiful orange dome.

under her beautiful orange sky.

Of course there were those who tried to stop her. Disgruntled and scared citizens who attempted to attack her and the Justice League along with the combined power of the military spent numerous hours trying to break through her shield and rescue the cities.

But as long as greed continued to live and cultivate in Layna’s heart then that shield would be indestructible to any power.

Pushing the double doors to her bedroom open Layna glows when her eyes rest on her most prized possession. Sitting on her California king sized four poster bed with his hands spread out eagle and handcuffed with kryptonian handcuffs to the poles of the beds was Superman.

Her Superman.

“Love, I'm home!”  

Layna sings happily walking to the bed, she crawls to his side gently running her hand down his exposed chest.

“Lay-” Superman mumbled out drowsily. The constant exposure to kryptonite combined with the fact that he has not had any exposure to the sun has greatly weakened him leaving him in a drowsy- almost delirious state. 

“Shhshh….” Layna shushed the dark haired man kissing the side of his face and snuggling against him. “I know you're happy I’m home. I’m happy to.”

‘Mine. Mine. Mine. All Mine.’

Layna continued her gentle humming stroking at all of Superman’s exposed skin.

He was her’s and all was right in the world.

She was almost content.