[ WP ] A superhero gets ready to sacrifice his life to stop a great threat . For help , he turns to the one who knows his powers best - his own nemesis .

`` Hahaha! Clark Kent?! Oh wow. It really was staring me in the face the whole time,'' admitted Lex as he poured some brandy for Clark. `` How could I not have seen it?!'' 
 
 Clark took the glass of brandy out of Lex's hand and rolled it around. `` Let me guess, it does n't do anything for you?'' Lex teased. 
 
 `` I'm afraid not, Lex,'' Clark replied. `` Look, I know we've had our greviences in the past-'' 
 
 `` Yeah, that's what they were- *greviences. * You're an asshole, Clark. You fend for these people at every turn. Look at them- they're eating this city alive, and they ca n't even stop themselves. They'll always have Superman to rely on, to fall back on... to get a free ride from. Superman- the perfect model of their superior protector to keep them all safe. And now, that protector will be gone. They'll have to fend for themselves again,'' Lex posited. 
 
 `` I know, Lex,'' Clark admitted. `` But that's why I'm here. Once they infuse my body with the reactant and I enter the Mothership, I'll die... most certainly. There's absolutely no way I'll be coming back.'' 
 
 `` If I did n't know you better... and I do know you, I'd say you were trying to fake your own death. Tired of this planet?'' Lex chuckled. he knocked down his swig of brandy. 
 
 `` You know that I'm saving your life, right?'' Clark pointed out. 
 
 `` Yes, yes- saving humanity once again, and a thousand thank yous,'' Lex droned sarcastically, pouring himself another brandy. `` So what do you want from me, Clark Kent- the Superman of Metropolis?'' 
 
 `` I... I need you to look after someone,'' Clark admitted. 
 
 `` What if I betray you?'' Lex asked cautiously. 
 
 `` I ca n't do anything,'' Clark admitted, shrugging as he pulled the picture out of his wallet. `` I'll never know if you hold up your end of the bargain or not, but you're the most powerful human being I know, and I want... I *need* you to do this when I'm gone.'' 
 
 `` Just one person? What about the rest of the human race?'' Lex complained. `` Why is she so valuable?'' 
 
 `` I ca n't ask you to protect humanity, Lex- you're a sociopath. I do n't think you're capable of feeling emotion, and besides... I ca n't protect humanity completely, why would I think you could?'' Lex shrugged. It was a good point. Clark dropped the picture onto Lex's desk and picked up his hat off the adjacent coat rack. 
 
 `` I always respected you, Lex,'' Clark said- winking as he put his hat on and tucked his jacket under his arm. Lex did n't say anything. He just watched Clark leave through the large sliding glass doors. He slugged down the second glass of brandy and placed the tumbler on his desk as he unfolded the picture that Clark had left. Lex knew her- she was a reporter who had given him a brutal lashing of an interview the week before. Lex had even asked her out on a date, which she of course refused. 
 
 Her name was Louis Lane.
