[center][img]https://metropolisplus.com/Superman/SupermanTitle.gif[/img][/center]

[h2]Metropolis
A Week Ago[/h2]

The familiar buzzing of a ringing cell phone could be heard on a nearby coffee table. The flashed screen would read "Kori" with a sun and fire emoji next to her name.

"You're not going to answer her? You know she cares about you, right? I like her. She has a certain fire in her heart that reminds me a bit of myself." Lois Lane said while holding a mug of coffee. It had been a week since her fiancé's untimely demise and the scene in front of her was almost too nostalgic.

[color=ed1c24]"I know and I'll call her back later. Presently, I look [i]and[/i] feel like a dork. Like I'm just some wannabe pretending to be him."[/color] Kieran responded. He was currently looking at himself in the mirror. More specifically he was looking at his new [url=https://i.pinimg.com/236x/0c/4f/74/0c4f74a1e0f1f8a86e2197a60d433b06--superman-art-batman.jpg]suit[/url]. It had been a week since Clark Kent, the Superman, fell after using a double-edged attack to defeat the monster known as Doomsday. It had been hard on everyone, but especially so for Lois and Kieran. Their whole world shattered and Kieran was now under a pressure that felt all too familiar to him and his time with the Teen Titans. 

Lois sighed and put down her coffee. "You do not look like a dork and you're not a wannabe." She walked closer to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. "You look like the hero you were always meant to be. If your father were here he'd say the same."

[color=ed1c24]"But that's the problem, isn't it? If he was here I wouldn't be wearing this. I wouldn't have Metropolis or the planet looking to me, expecting me to be the answer to all of their problems. I wasn't... I'm not ready to be Superman."[/color]

Lois didn't like what she was hearing. She wanted to be able to console and uplift Kieran, but she truthfully couldn't understand what he was feeling. Not fully at least. Not to mention she was still reeling from his death as well. "Let me let you in on a little secret. Clark wasn't ready to be Superman either. When he first started out he was a complete novice and quite embarrassing. But he never let that hold him back, because his true source of power and the true meaning behind Superman isn't the Kryptonian physiology or the sun that grants you all these abilities. It's the giant heart that you both share and the will to push forward no matter the obstacle."

He may not have admitted it out loud, but Lois's words actually helped. When he emerged from the Phantom Zone Superman was already this perfect symbol of hope. An impossible standard to reach, but to know that he didn't start out that way relieved a bit of the pressure from his shoulders. [color=ed1c24]"Thank you and I'm sorry I haven't been around much."[/color]

"Don't worry about it. Also, I know you aren't set on becoming a reporter, but I pulled some strings and got you an internship at the Planet. Now that you're Metropolis' premier hero, like Clark, you're going to need to keep your ear to the ground and always be ahead of the press."

[color=ed1c24]"I'll do it, but I promise I won't like it."[/color]

"We'll see. I have a feeling you will."

[h2]Orbit
Today[/h2]

[img]https://i.pinimg.com/236x/79/df/62/79df626a97ab9543bb24180110daef61--barrow-superman-stuff.jpg[/img]

Kieran hovered just above the blue and green planet known as Earth. He soaked in the sun's rays while listening to the world below. He understood why Superman had preferred to do this. It was peaceful up there and not to mention the feel of the sun on his skin. But beyond those more selfish reasons this was the perfect place to search for trouble without patrolling the skies of Metropolis.

He hid it well, but Kieran was annoyed. For the past two weeks things haven't been going too well for the side of justice and he wasn't sure exactly how to solve the issues at hand. Coast City was currently overrun by technology, Gotham was under the control of thugs on steroids, and rates of crime skyrocketed all over. The criminal element didn't hesitate to take advantage of the heavy blow handed to the heroes and if this was all the time it took for things to change so drastically what was the point of Superman? The Justice League? Were they just there to barely play the glue in holding the world together? Was the fight against evil that pointless? Was there any hope worth holding onto?

His thoughts were interrupted by his ear picking up a certain frequency. He had tuned his super hearing to look out for the Supermen of America's communication channel when he was gone. The message was breaking up, but he was sure that he heard that gorillas were attacking Central City. If they were giving Flash a problem they weren't your ordinary apes. Grodd. He extended his super hearing to focus on the conversation in the Monitor Room. He was glad he did, because he had discovered that Livewire and Bloodsport were up to no good in Metropolis. He was sure that Black Lightning would've been more than enough to handle Livewire and he shuddered at the thought of Bloodsport and his Kryptonite needles. Grodd and his army seemed to be the more pressing issue.

Kieran inhaled slowly soaking in the sun's rays once more before making a full speed descent towards Central City, USA. A sonic boom could be heard as he re-entered the atmosphere and tore through the skies. With his visual prowess it was easy to find the armored king of the apes. He locked onto his location before slowing his descent just enough not to destroy the city with his landing. A small crater formed under his feet. [color=ed1c24]"If it isn't Gorilla Grodd. Did you do something different with your fur? There's this certain shine to it."[/color]