DCU Superman #30

“Ample Apartments.” I head to the front desk, where a man tells me the room number and floor where she and a roommate are located, presumably a friend. I stop at the door.

 

“Alright, let’s do this.” I stop myself from knocking on the door.

 

“Although, how am I supposed to explain that I know her and her sister have powers without sounding very suspicious?” I ponder before shrugging it off. I’ll just wing it, Lois has done it before, can’t be that hard, right? I knock at the door, it takes a moment before I hear a response.

 

“I’m coming!” I hear from the other side. It takes a few seconds before the woman behind the door unlocks and opens the it. Which reveals a woman with short white hair.

 

“Uh, hello. Clark Kent, reporter for the Daily Planet. I came here to talk with a woman named Beatriz da Costa?”

 

“Oh, well she’s not here right now, I can let her know you were visiting for-”

 

“I need to talk with her desperately, it’s about something important.” I interject.

 

“You can wait in the living room if you don’t mind?”

 

“Thank you.” I say as I walk into the apartment and sit on the nearby couch.

 

 

“I never got your name by the way.” I add.

 

“Tora Olafsdotter.”

 

“Very nice to meet you Tora.” I reply kindly with a smile.

 

“Thanks.”

 

“So, how long have you and Beatriz been friends?”

 

“Since before we came to Metropolis, she was very nice to help me find my way through America.”

 

“Has she ever told you about her life in any way?”

 

“Like her desire to be a fashion designer? She’s always wanted to be the next Coco Chanel or someone like that. Not really invested in all that, I mean it’s an interesting job, but-”

 

“No, that’s not exactly what I meant.” She looks back at me, puzzled.

 

“What do you exactly mean?”

 

“Like has she ever talked to you about her famil-” We turn to the sound of keys and the door opening as a young woman, with bright emerald eyes and spiky green hair enters the apartment.

 

“Sorry I was a bit late, was busy dealing with some douche at the subwa-” She stops as she notices me.

 

“Oh Bea, this is a reporter from the Daily Planet.” She explains.

 

“Hi, Clark Kent.” I greet with my hand out. She just stands there staring at me.

 

“What do you want?” She asks, sounding almost offended.

 

“Bea! Manners.”

 

“It’s fine, Ms. Olafsdotter, the reason I came here was…” I take a deep breath.

 

“Well, it’s because of your sister, do you happen to know the last time you saw Claire?” She gives a brief look of shock before it turns to anger.

 

“You didn’t tell me you had a sister Bea.” Tora says, slightly concerned. Beatriz stays silent, her eyes closed, taking a deep breath. There’s a brief moment of silence which I attempt to break.

 

“Um, Ms. da Costa, are you oka-”

 

“Why can’t you damn people leave me alone!” She yells out before green fire bursts out of her hands, throwing me across the living room.

 

“Bea, what did you do?!” Tora yells out.

 

“It was either him or me Tora, we’ve got to go now.” She responds, grabbing Tora by the hand.

 

“But-”

 

“Don’t worry, at worst, he’ll get first degree burns. But we have to go-” I groan out, getting up from the blasts. She breaks from Beatriz’s grasp and rushes over to me.

 

“Are you oka-” Tora attempts to ask before she stops herself.

 

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.” I get up to see them staring at me very weirdly. I glance down to see that most of my coat and shirt was burnt off, revealing my suit.

 

“Uh…” Crud.

 

“How are you okay? And why are you wearing a Superman shirt?” I let out a sigh. She doesn’t get it. Before Tora shrieks excitedly like a teenager. Oh no, she gets it.

 

“Oh my gosh. You’re, the glasses, Superman!” She jumps up with glee. Beatriz gives her a look of bewilderment.

 

“What are you…?”

 

“Don’t you get it Bea? He’s Superman!” She points at me ecstaticly. Beatriz looks back at me, almost like she was asking me if this was true. I groan before finally speaking.

 

“Yes, it’s true, I’m Superman.” Tora rushes to me, grabbing Bea by the forearm with her.

 

“We’re so sorry that we attacked you, especially Bea.”

 

“Uh..” Bea attempts to muster a response after the bombshell that was revealed less than a minute ago..

 

“Right Bea?” She asks, pulling her ear.

 

“Ow ow ow, yes. I’m.... sorry.” She finally answers.

 

“It’s ok.” I reply calmly.

 

“But that’s not what’s important right now. I need your help with your sister, she’s been attacking recently, and she’s involved with people. Which by my guess, none that mean any good”

 

“What makes you think I’ll be able to help?”

 

“Well, given what just happened, I feel like you can help me with her.” I stop to hear sirens and radio chatter about Volcana attacking the police station.

 

“What is it?” Beatriz asks.

 

“Your sister, we need to stop her.”

 

“Oh, me too!” Tora interjects.

 

"Tora, no-" but before she can finish her sentence, Tora rushes to her bedroom.

 

“Wait, does she-”

 

“Yeah.” She replies.

 

"Look, even if I wanted to help, I can't. She's just too powerful. And I… I barely know how my powers work. The fact I was able to use them against was just… chance."

 

“It’s okay, I understand.”

 

“If Beatriz can’t help, then maybe I can!” Tora says, walking out of her room in a bright blue suit with white highlights.

 

“Tora..”

 

"Bea, we have these powers... But that also means we have a responsiblity, to use them for good." Bea sighs in response.

 

"You did not just reference Spider-Man to try and convince me..." She gives a soft smile before looking back at me.

 

“Let’s get going.” I change into my suit before carrying Tora and flying to the police station, I give one last look back to see Beatriz, her head down.

 

Done