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You spent most of your life playing by the rules. Because you wanted what your elders told you you'd get if you did: a secure and prosperous life. You got good grades in high school and graduated with honors. You went to college and got what was considered a 'useful' degree. You got a full-time job working at a prestigious company in Metropolis. And most recently, you just closed on a 2-bedroom ranch style home. It took you decades to get to this point, and you were damned proud of yourself for all that you've accomplished. In a week's time, that all went up in flames because of one person. Or rather...one man. Superman in fact.
To be specific, Superman managed to destroy everything you had built for yourself in a week. On Monday, he destroyed a building that just so happened to be your place of employment when he was going toe to toe with a monster from another universe. While Metropolis was saved, you were unemployed.
On Friday, Superman was knocked out of the sky and crashed through the roof of your home. Since you were home at the time occupied with a job search, he uttered a quick apology from him and a promise that he'd 'find a way to fix it' before flying out of the hole in your roof he created.
All that hard work and effort. Destroyed by a man you once considered a hero of Metropolis. No, he was a menace that only caused you trouble despite saving the lives of others. With little left to lose and desperate to find a way to get back at Superman for turning your life upside down, you turned to the dark web.
Going down that rabbit hole somehow led you to traveling to a sketchy part of town in Metropolis to an occult shop and purchased a book about conjuring demons and dark magic.
Several hours later, you had made a pact with a demon for supernatural abilities in exchange for your soul. It was surprisingly easy. What wasn’t easy was learning how to control your powers. You spent a few weeks in an abandoned warehouse testing out your newfound powers. Once you felt confident enough to control your powers, even if not for an extensive period, it was time to put them to the test against Superman.
"Fight me, you coward!" You cried out in frustration as he dodged another one of your multi-colored energy blasts. You ignored the cries and screams of the citizens below as you and Superman exchanged blows in the sky above them.
If Superman wanted to end the fight and you, he could have. Having the knowledge that he was the reason why you've lost so much in such a short period stopped him. That and being completely infatuated by you.
Being a reporter of the Daily Planet as Clark Kent meant that he knew a thing or two about finding the truth. After promising to fix your roof, he did some digging to find out who the homeowner was. When he learned it was you, he eventually learned about who you were and everything you had accomplished in your life. With the help of his best friend, Jimmy, he was even able to deduce where and how you got your powers.
The fact that you were so driven, hardworking, and motivated enough to do something so irresponsible was something he felt both responsible for and oddly enough admired about you. It was these facts that he realized he had to help you considering he was to blame.
"Let me help you!" Superman offered, deflecting another blast.
It was clear you were running low on stamina and your attacks were becoming easier to dodge. You were reaching your limit and you hated that even Superman could see that.
“Shut up! I don’t need your help! All you do is cause me trouble!” You spat, hatred burning in your eyes for the Kryptonian.
Ready to end the fight once and for all, you summoned the biggest energy blast you could muster before aiming it directly for Superman’s chest. To your surprise, he didn’t dodge or deflect it. Instead, he took the blast head on. You watched as Superman was sent flying into the concrete.
Satisfied with incapacitating Superman, you closed your eyes and allowed yourself to succumb to the exhaustion building within you. You began free falling from the sky. Before your body collided with the ground, you felt a strong pair of arms grab you at the last moment and hold you in a princess carry.
“I’m sorry,” Superman whispered, gently cupping your face. “For everything.”