He didn't push her away. He didn't punch. He rose . Straight up, through the clouds, into the freezing stratosphere. Xenia clung tighter, laughing, gasping, the green fire in her veins starting to flicker. The air thinned. The cold bit through her stolen invincibility.

Superman closed his eyes. Not in pain. In sadness .

For one perfect, terrible second, Xenia Onatopp looked at him—this alien boy scout with blood on his lip and tears freezing on his cheeks—and she believed him.