“Oh…” the junkie said. “What’s going to happen to me?”

“I’ll walk you to a hospital and let the doctors look after you,” Clarke said. “What happens after that is none of my business.”

“Uh, yeah… alright,” the junkie agreed. “My name is Steve by the way.”

“I don’t care. Start walking.”

Clarke started walking down another corner, away from the mess he had made out of the two buildings. Steve stumbled for a moment, then caught his stride, matching Clarke’s gait. He looked in wonder, first at his legs, then at the destruction in the alleyway that he narrowly escaped.

“So, how can you do all this?” Steve asked. “Are you a wizard or something?”

“Hardly,” Clarke answered.

“But you healed me and destroyed those buildings and killed those drug dealers! Do you just carry explosives with you at all time or something?”

“I was under the rubble when it fell too.”

“Then how—”

“Because my name is Richard Clarke.”

Steve lost a step for a moment, but quickly regained it, desperate to stay within the five-foot radius. “Richard Clarke? You mean the Special Forces guy who single-handedly took out that terrorist group in Egypt?”

“I’m not with special forces,” Clarke said. “But yes, that was me.”

“Oh my god!” Steve said in a moment of glee. “I can’t believe you’d come out here to help me! You’re awesome! And you look… well, different than I would have expected.”

Clarke just grunted as he led Steve out to the street. He briefly wondered how far the nearest hospital was and how long it would take to get there.

“So, how do your powers work?” Steve asked, now staying closer than necessary. “Can you teach me? I could help you, like a sidekick! I used to be on the football team in high school, so I—”

Steve halted his pleading as Clarke stopped mid-step and slammed him against the nearest wall.

“Listen,” Clarke said, baring his teeth. “First, I’m not a superhero. I don’t want a sidekick. I don’t need a sidekick. I don’t fly through the air and stop Lex Luthor from taking over the city. I just stop whatever evils I happen to see. Second, about how I got my powers. I’ve been asked that very question by every fan, friend, casualty, enemy, reporter, naysayer, detractor, cop, and federal agent of every country I’ve visited, plus four Kings and Queens of Britain, and twelve United States Presidents, and I’m going to give you the same answer. I don’t fucking know! I was just born with them and they are a natural extension of my will! Third, as soon as we get to the hospital and I step away from you, you’ll revert back to the same dopehead junkie you were before with a broken leg! So, in all seriousness, shut up until we get to the hospital! Am I clear?!”