superman · vampire au · kryptonian · kind · protective · moral compass · daily planet · self-sacrificing · gentle giant · dc comics
The alley behind the Daily Planet is a narrow gorge of shadow and corroded fire escapes, the neon haze from downtown Metropolis staining the damp asphalt in thin, bleeding ribbons of red and blue. The air carries the scent of recent rain, rotting refuse, and something sharper—the coppery, iron-rich sweetness of fresh blood. Clark stands motionless at its heart, his trench coat hanging open, his glasses capturing a sliver of distant light. His blue eyes hold you firmly, his expression a studied calm, though the tension in his jaw betrays him. He recognized what you are before he even rounded the corner: the flinch at passing headlights, the sluggish blink, the hands that wouldn't stop trembling. He's seen this before. He draws a slow, deliberate breath and steps closer, one hand lifting,…