His tone carried a hint of mockery.
After all, in that hellish nightmare, Superman's fanatical followers had quickly formed an unstoppable army, sweeping across the globe.
Governments in hundreds of countries around the world had crumbled under the power of Superman's ruling army.
It was a nearly invincible force.
A cavalry of fervent Superman loyalists.
Steve spoke sternly, "Let's not go there."
He turned to Tony. "We might need to investigate where these people came from before we make any decisions."
"So, you're telling me you want me to let him go?" Tony was furious. "Even though he triggered the Kryptonite Reactor today?"
"Kryptonite Reactor? What is that?" Soren interrupted.
Tony shot him an annoyed look but didn't answer. Instead, he turned his fiery gaze back to Steve. "I don't agree."
Steve thought for a moment and then looked at Clark. "Superman, I think you need to come to the Avengers base."
Superman was taken to the Avengers base by Captain America.
He knew the Avengers' distrust of him would inevitably strain the relationship between the Justice League and the Avengers.
But the matter was too important. He had to communicate with Steve Rogers about Homelander.
Inside the Avengers base, Clark followed Steve down a hallway toward a small conference room.
Everyone they passed looked at him with hostility.
These people were the backbone of the resistance, those who had fought to the bitter end against Superman and his ruling army in that dystopian world.
Nearly all of them had faced Superman directly.
Many had watched comrades fall, their heads pierced by Superman's unforgiving heat vision.
Especially Dr. Banner, who was on the verge of Hulking out right there.
Fortunately, Natasha was able to calm him down, but even she wore an expression of displeasure.
As she soothed Banner, she cast a wary glance at the towering Superman.
Clark silently averted his gaze.
Meanwhile, Soren was taken back to Stark Tower by Tony.
Iron Man angrily dragged Soren, throwing him into the top-floor lounge before shedding his blood-stained armor.
Tony, seething with anger, snapped at him, "When did you first get in touch with him?"
Soren was thrown onto the couch, its bouncy cushions causing him to spring up a bit. He steadied himself on the couch's backrest and sat up straight, confused. "I guess… about a month and a half ago?"
"A month and a half!" Tony's eyes bulged in disbelief. "And you didn't say a word to me or your parents?!"
Soren glanced at him guiltily, then mumbled, "I have the right to date whoever I want."
"Date whoever you want??"
Tony was momentarily struck speechless. "Say that again. I dare you."
Soren: "…"
He couldn't understand why Tony was reacting so aggressively. Sure, it was Superman—fine, to a regular civilian without superpowers, dating Superman might seem a little wild—but did that mean he couldn't date Superman?
And more than surprise or shock, Tony seemed… furious.
Under Tony's immense pressure, Soren bit the bullet and said softly, "Yeah, date whoever I want."
Once he said it, the words just kept flowing, like a floodgate had opened. "I like Superman. I liked him the moment I saw him. Why can't I be with him? I know when you like someone, you should be with them, just like you and Pepper. I don't get it, what's making you so angry, Tony? What unforgivable thing did Clark ever do?"
Tony took a deep breath.
He was trying his hardest to stay calm, not to lash out with sarcasm. But when Soren asked that last question, he couldn't help but press his hand to the reactor in his chest.
He looked at Soren, speaking to him in the most serious tone he had ever used, "Listen, the things he's done… are beyond what you can even imagine right now. I don't want anyone—especially you—to go through any of that because I wasn't careful."
Soren pursed his lips, remaining silent for a moment before finally saying, "I don't know… why none of you will tell me. You all refuse to tell me what happened before. So how am I supposed to understand what you're talking about?"
He turned away, the rebellion in him fully igniting, and stared out at the steel jungle of Manhattan through the floor-to-ceiling windows. "I don't want to be some pet cat or dog you keep locked away in a glass bottle for protection. That doesn't help me at all, Tony."
"Maybe, once I learn what happened, I'll make a different choice. But right now, I don't know anything about his past. What I do know is that I like him now. Can you understand that? I just want to be with the person I like. Is that so wrong?"
Soren stood up, walked over to Tony, and looked him in the eyes, asking calmly.
Tony seemed almost wounded by his words. His heavily shadowed eyes locked on Soren's face, his mouth slightly open, but no words came out.
...He suddenly realized that what he was doing now might not be so different from what Superman had done all those years ago.
"You think we treat you like some kind of pet, like a cat or a dog?" Tony asked.
He repeated, "Are you serious?"
Soren hesitated, then nodded firmly. His voice was quiet but resolute. "I don't need anyone to protect me. I'm responsible for my own choices."
Tony stared at him, then asked, "You think you can take responsibility for yourself?"
Soren met Tony's gaze directly. "Yes, I'm sure."
He looked at Tony, his Kryptonian-blue eyes steady, his lashes trembling ever so slightly, the intensity in them unmistakable.
Tony Stark gazed back into those eyes, emotions surging inside him, barely under control.
...The image of a shattered Soren, lying broken in the arms of another world's Clark Kent, flashed vividly before him.
Tony was the kind of person who couldn't keep things bottled up. He almost blurted out everything that had happened, wanting to tell Soren right then and there. But in the end, he stiffly turned his head away, letting out a tense, frustrated sigh.