Beautiful Death

Beautiful Death
Flora Winters
I do not own Smallville or any of its amazing characters.
Summary: Kal meets the most beautiful man he has ever laid eyes on at a night club in Metropolis. This young man is haunted by his past and surrounded by darkness and shadows that not even the light of the sun can penetrate. This is rated mature for language.
Chapter Eleven

Clark took Ronan to Crater Lake and they had been there for a few hours after the Talon closed for the night. The two of them were walking along the shore when Ronan slipped his hand into Clark’s, “It’s so beautiful here.”

Clark nodded as the two of them stopped for him to bend over and pick up a rock and sent it skipping across the lake for miles, “I love it here.”

Ronan smiled, “How far will that rock skip?”

Clark shrugged giving his hand a squeeze, “I dunno.”

“Huh,” Ronan said as they continued walking to watch the small waves hit the sandy shore, “Don’t you have school tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” Clark said stopping to pull him into a tight embrace and then whined, “I don’t wanna go to school!”

Ronan snorted as he hugged him back, “I bet school is fun.”

“Right,” Clark told him dramatically, “I’d rather face that ugly hag again than go to school.”

Ronan put a glowing hand over Clark’s mouth looking around nervously, “Don’t say such things,” he warned darkly, “They might happen.”

Clark licked Ronan’s palm and his eyes turned misty, “I’ll protect you.”

Ronan slowly removed his hand from Clark’s mouth and rested his head on his shoulder, “I am putting your family at risk just be being here.”

“So am I,” Clark told him, “Meteor freaks just love me. Lana gets abducted at least once a week, and Chloe gets knocked out at least twice.”

Ronan frowned, “You say that like it’s your fault.”

“It is my fault,” Clark told him while he looked out across the lake that glittered like it was filled with silver diamonds, “I came down with the meteors that devastated this place.”

“You don’t have to tell me anything Clark,” Ronan said soothingly, “It hurts you to talk about it even though it’s not your fault.”

“You sound like you already know,” Clark said with a tight brow.

Ronan frowned and turned his head away only for Clark to gently grip his chin and tilt his head so he could look in his eyes, “What is it?”

“It’s nothing,” Ronan lied and Clark was not going to have any of that. Not now, not ever. He was tired of lies.

“Please,” he asked, “Tell me?”

Ronan sighed heavily and then answered, “When I first tasted you I saw images of your past joys and pains.”

Clark’s eyes widened, “What?”

“I did not mean to see them,” Ronan apologized because he was deeply sorry. Clark had suffered like him for being “different” but at least he was and is loved, “I can’t control it.”

“What did you see,” Clark asked really wanting to know.

“You wanted to play football so badly and your dad not allowing you for fear you might lose control and hurt someone,” Ronan told him, “The green rocks almost killed you in a room filled with steam.”

Clark gasped and Ronan said, “I will gladly kill those who strung you up in the field half naked and in pain from that rock.”

Ronan looked into his blue eyes and put a luminous hand on his cheek, “Let me hurt the ones that have hurt you Clark?”

Clark kissed his eternally smooth forehead, “I don’t like seeing others in pain.”

“Even if they cause you pain,” Ronan asked, “Like the blind old man who almost got your mother killed?”

“Wow,” Clark said, “You really did see a lot.”

“Let me kill the man who took Ryan away from you before his time,” Ronan asked.

Clark paled and shook a little. He had not thought of Ryan for a long time. The pain from losing him had been too much for him to handle at one time, “You can’t choose who lives or dies Ronan.”

“Of course I can,” Ronan snapped without meaning to, “My mother is the Goddess of Death.”

Clark blinked and took a step back, “What?”

Ronan froze and just looked at the ground, “Nothing.”

“Ronan,” Clark asked, “I want to help you but I can’t unless you trust me.”

Ronan shook his head and Clark took a step forward, “I know what it feels like to suffer.”

Ronan snapped. His beautiful hands melted into deadly talons and he raked them across Clark’s chest only to slash his shirt to tatters. Clark jumped back with wide eyes, “Ronan?”

“Do you,” Ronan snapped knowing full well that Clark did, “Know what it means to suffer Clark?”

Clark nodded his head in sadness and Ronan laughed chillingly, “I have lived and breathed death and suffering everyday and every night for thousands of years Clark.”

He raised his talons to the night sky and it suddenly got very cold, “The man I loved was killed for the crime of loving me,” he shouted like thunder overhead, “I never knew the loving touch of a father or the warm embrace of a mother!”

“You,” Ronan shouted jabbing a sharp talon at him, “Have taken it all for granted!”

“I don’t take life because its fun or exciting,” Ronan raged, “I do it because I can!”

He took a deep breath and fell to his knees punching his fists into the ground shattering the rocks to pieces, “I fucking hate her,” he screamed as blood tears ran from his eyes, “She fucking took everything from me! She destroyed the ring he gave me! I have nothing of him now!”

“Let go of me,” Ronan screamed when Clark pulled him into his arms. He pounded on Clark’s naked chest doing no harm at all as he screamed, “I don’t want to be like her!”

“Then don’t be,” Clark whispered and Ronan heard it as clear as thunder. He closed his eyes and rested his head against Clark’s chest as he punched him again. He breathed in Clark’s delicious scent trying to calm him self down.

“I’m sorry,” Ronan said as more tears fell, “I hurt you.”

“No,” Clark said running his fingers up and down his back in small circles, “We’ve become closer.”

Ronan smiled up at him and Clark swore such beauty should blind a man as Ronan whispered, “You’re my light Clark. Let me be your darkness.”


The first day of school was like any other first day of school. It started off with the sun shining the birds singing in the trees and the sound of Lana screaming as a meteor freak tried to drown her in the school pool.

Suddenly the meteor freaks grip gave loose and she swam to the surface to see him floating with a bullet in his head. She looked around in panic as people ran in to see what the hell was going on.


“Damn,” Pete said sitting back in a chair while Chloe filed some papers away, “Someone killing meteor freaks.”

“Lana could have been seriously hurt,” Clark ranted, “What if his or her aim had been off?”

“Then I wouldn’t have to go to biology class,” Lana said walking into the Torch to sit down next to Pete, “But I’m glad you care.”

Chloe pulled a Mountain Dew from her fridge and handed it to Lana, “Why were you by yourself?”

Lana wasn’t about to speak the truth so she chose to go with a half truth, “I wanted to be alone so I could think about things.”

“Oh,” Chloe said sensing the vibe of back the fuck up before I really turn pleasant.

“What things,” Clark asked and Pete jumped when Lana opened her soda with a hiss making Chloe snort.

Lana took a long sip from the can and closed her eyes, “I’ve been depressed lately and put myself into a dangerous situation for a meteor freak to kill me.”

Everyone’s jaw dropped and Lana howled with laughter as the bell rang, “Gotta go,” she said and bounced from the room like everything was perfect.

Pete looked at Chloe and then at Clark asking, “She’s kidding, right?”

Clark looked out the window which clinched fists and Chloe bit her bottom lip which prompted Pete to ask again, “Right?”

Clark had no idea why the gunman had gone for Lex at the back of the Talon. Clark had gotten there just in time to knock Lex out and shield him before he would up with holes all in him.

The gunman was hidden well enough to see something strange happen to Clark when he was around the green meteor rocks. That was when he decided to make himself some very special bullets. There was no way he was going to allow the meteor freaks to fuck up everyone else’s life like they had his. One had killed his father and now they all had to pay. Clark Kent had to die!


Lana really wished she had not made that stupid joke earlier today because now her friends were watching her every move like hawks. Were they really scared that she might actually try to put herself into a dangerous situation? Didn’t they know that she was just too fucking beautiful to die or did that “boy” make them forget?

Clark was fucking in love with him and Chloe was infatuated with him. The strange thing was, according to Chloe, that he is only seen out and about at night. His sleeping patterns must be set to his night classes. She hoped he failed them all.

“Hey Lana,” Chloe called walking up to the bar, “How are you feeling?”

Lana was tempted to pick up the knife and throw it at her of course she would miss on purpose. There was no way in hell she could afford murder being on her record.

“Hi Chloe,” she grinned warmly, “What can I get you?”

“Not a thing,” she said, “I was just wondering if you wanted to come see a movie with me later.”

That threw her. Lana thought it over in her head and then asked, “Which movie?”

“Not really sure,” she told her, “We can choose when we get there.”

Lana nodded, “That sounds like fun.”

“Cool,” Chloe said checking her cell phone for missed calls, “We can go just as soon as you get off work.”

Lana smiled and waved as she watched Chloe leave. She sure did look cute today. Lana stopped whatever the hell it was she was doing and frowned, “Cute?”


Lex was once again perplexed by that which was Clark Kent. How the hell did he get there to save him? Hadn’t the gun already been fired? He walked over to his counter and fixed himself a nice glass of scotch to calm his fragile and disturbed nerves. He really needed to go see Clark, but first he needed to rest.


Ronan who had no idea what the hell was happening across Smallville was following the steps to Workout with Stacey on the TV that Clark had hooked up for him to pass the hours with. All of these steps were so easy to follow and the work out was not hard at all. So why the hell were people complaining? This was supposed to keep them healthy so they could live longer lives and yet they complained. It made no sense to him whatsoever.

“Workout with Stacey,” a voice asked from behind him making him spin around to see Clark grinning goofily.

“This is fun,” Ronan said leaping across the loft to hug him close.

Clark grabbed him and spun him around only for Ronan to feel something funny and he looked at him, “What’s wrong?”

“Something bad happened twice today,” Clark told him.

Ronan turned the TV off with the remote and Sat down next to Clark on the sofa that had been transformed into a semi-comfortable bed.

“What happened,” he asked in concern.

“A meteor freak tried to drown Lana in the pool at school today only to get shot in the head by a bullet and then what I assume is the same shooter tried to kill Lex outside the Talon,” Clark tells him.

“So the killer is after meteor freaks,” Ronan said and then asked, “Is Lana and Lex okay?”

“They’re fine,” Clark said taking his hand, “I was almost too late to save Lex though.”

“But you weren’t and that’s what’s important,” Ronan told him and then looked really concerned as he asked, “You mean the shooter saw you use your powers?”

Clark frowned, “I think so.”

“You have to be careful Clark,” Ronan told him, “You could be a target now for all we know.”

“His bullets can’t hurt me,” Clark reassured him, “I even told Chloe to take Lana to the movies in Metropolis tonight. She’s really depressed for some reason.”

“Depressed,” Ronan asked, “Why?”

He had no idea why he cared. It must be because Clark cared and therefore he should care as well, “Clark?”

“The suns down,” Clark said, “Let’s go for a walk?”

“Okay,” Ronan said quickly slipping into his shoes, “Where to?”

“Around,” Clark told him as they left the barn to walk out to the field.

The warm night air blew gently through Ronan’s long hair and Clark said, “About last night Ronan.”

“I’m sorry,” Ronan interrupted, “Those things I said. I didn’t mean them.”

“You were so angry,” Clark went on even though he accepted the apology, “You must have meant it.”

“Clark,” Ronan said stepping in front of him to stop him from moving, “I did not mean to hurt you.”

Clark smiled warmly and was about to say something when a gunshot went off. Everything slowed down to a crawl. Clark pushed Ronan to the side as he saw the bullet coming right at him.

He put up his hand to catch it and Ronan saw the look of horror and confusion in Clark’s eyes as the bullet passed right through his hand in a slow spray of blood and directly into his shoulder.

Suddenly everything sped up and Clark spun around full circle screaming in agony as he fell to his stomach crying out for someone to help him. It felt like fire was shooting through every cell in his body, slowly burning away life.

Ronan was by his side in an instant turning him over to look at the wound. Clark had tears streaming down his face as he cringed in pain. A sick green color began to spread through his veins where the wound was.

Martha and Jonathan came running out of the house to see Clark in Ronan’s arms. They ran over to them to see that it was Kryptonite in his shoulder.

“Bring him to the house Ronan,” Jonathan shouted quickly, “Martha, get me my pliers!”

“He’s dying Jonathan,” she cried as she ran to do what he said.

Ronan had Clark in the kitchen floor in an instant when Martha ran in and began to heat the pliers over the stove. Jonathan came running in to see green poison coursing through his son’s veins.

Clark was holding onto Ronan for dear life and he suddenly screamed when Jonathan tried to get at the bullet with the pliers. Ronan held him tight as his feet kicked around trying to get away from that which was causing him pain.

Clark screamed again and his eyes rolled up in his head. Ronan panicked, “Don’t you fucking die on me,” he screamed through blood tears, “You don’t have my fucking permission!”

“He’s not breathing Jonathan,” Martha cried as he finally pulled the green bullet out and gave it to Martha who ran from the kitchen with it.

“Come on Clark,” Jonathan pleaded, “Heal!”

Ronan watched as the wound in his hand and shoulder suddenly began to seal up completely. There was not even a scar left.

Clark was breathing softly but he would not wake up. Ronan rested his head back on the counter as he held Clark close to him.

Jonathan noticed that his tears were tinged a ruby red and God he was beautiful. There was fear, sadness, and anger in those luminous eyes.

He watched Ronan bend down and kiss the top of Clark’s head as he hugged him like a giant teddy bear that almost got taken away from him. That was when he noticed the long sharp black talons that were holding his son and he watched in fascination as they melted away into beautiful pale hands.

Martha ran back in to sit at her husband’s side while she held Clark’s healed hand. She looked up at Ronan to see the red tinged tears on his cheeks but kept quite about it. She reached over and pulled a wet rag from the counter and began to wipe his face clean.

Ronan just watched her do this without protest. The look in her eyes made more tears fall. Why couldn’t his mother have been gentle and warm like this? He smiled weakly at her and hid the rage for the one who had hurt what was his behind a thin cloak of darkness.


Lana told Chloe that she was going to run the trash out to the dumpster and she would be ready to go. Chloe smiled up at her from her laptop nodding.

Lana stepped out the back door and walked over to the dumpster to see a man all in army paint and gear step out of the shadows. She saw the gun on his back and recognized that it was Van.

She took a step back, “What do you want?”

“I just killed one more meteor freak Lana,” he told her, “One less demon walking the planet.”

She knew Chloe was inside but decided to not get her involved, “Clark will be here any minute now.”

Van laughed coldly, “Clark Kent is dead,” he told her, “I just killed him.”

Lana felt the breath freeze in her lungs and a sudden rage took over as she smacked him across the face with the garbage bag. The force from it knocked him to the ground and she ran back inside of the Talon screaming for Chloe to call the cops because Clark had been murdered.

She locked the door behind her and could hear Van fighting to open it. She ran to the front of the Talon to lock that door to. Chloe was on her cell telling the cops what Lana had told her to do as she cried.

The both of them screamed when gunfire shattered the front door of the Talon and ducked behind the bar. Chloe told the police what was happening and then Van was pointing the gun right at them and demanded that they go with him or else.


Clark slowly opened his eyes to look around seeing his parents leaning back against the counter with their eyes closed and he felt that someone was holding him. He leaned his head back only to smile at seeing Ronan looking peaceful in his sleep.

He reached up a golden hand to caress his moon kissed face and those aqua orbs snapped open to look down at him. Ronan took in a deep breath and smiled as he leaned into Clark’s gentle touch.

“You okay,” he whispered like a cool night breeze smelling of sweet jasmine and Clark nodded. He was feeling better than new.

The elder Kent’s opened their eyes to see Clark smiling up at Ronan and quickly hugged him close. They were about to say something when a knock came at the front door.

Jonathan was the one to open it to see Sheriff Adams looking a little perplexed, “Mr. Kent,” she said, “I’m here about Clark.”

“What about me,” Clark asked walking into the room with a new shirt on.

Sheriff Adams looked a little relieved and then even more worried, “I just got a phone call from Chloe Sullivan and Lana Lang,” she told them, “She said you had been killed by a man named Van. I have people at the Talon right now due to gunfire.”

“Sheriff,” a voice said over her piece, “They’re signs of gunfire and forced entry.”

Sheriff Adams paled, “Any casualties?”

“None,” the voice said, “The two young ladies must have been taken.”

She looked back up at the Kent’s only to see one missing, “Where did he go?”

“Who,” Martha asked.

“Your son,” she told them.


“You fucking bastard,” Chloe screamed at Van as he shoved them into an empty classroom, “I’ll fucking kill you!”

“You and what army blondie,” he asked, “He got what he deserved.”

He shoved the two of them into a pair of desks and told them to shut up or he would kill them just for being freak sympathizers. He walked over to look out the window wondering what the hell he was going to with the two of them.

Chloe just about had her hands free and Lana was looking around the room for some kind of weapon to use against him. Chloe smiled viciously through her tears as she freed her hands and quickly moved to until Lana as Van still gazed out the window.

Lana stilled her breath when she felt her hands freed from the binds and then both of them sat there when he spun back around, “What are you two doing?”

“Thinking of all sorts of ways to kill you,” Lana hissed.

Van pulled up a chair and sat down in front of them, “I’m keeping people like you safe.”

“Safe,” Chloe screamed trying to not pounce on him right then and there, “Clark was the best person in this entire fucking town!”

Van snorted as he got back to his feet, “And now he’s worm food,” he said as he walked back over to look out the window.

Chloe looked at Lana and slowly got to her feet. She silently snuck up behind him and suddenly slid the rope around his neck and squeezed, “I’ll fucking kill you!”

He spun around and she stayed behind him and jumped on his back screaming as she tightened the rope enough to make him gag. Lana jumped to her feet and ran to grab his gun only for him to flip Chloe over him and she smacked into Lana.

Both girls went down hard and Chloe rolled over only to be kicked in the head which knocked her out cold. Lana moved to get up only for Van to shout while aiming his gun at her, “Stay the fuck down Lana!”

She snarled up at him with pure poison in her olive green eyes when they both suddenly heard a noise out in the hall.


“Ronan,” Clark asked as he followed him down the long hall, “Are you sure they’re here?”

Ronan’s fangs were all the way down and his Talons were flexing at his side as he stalked down the hall, “I can smell the bastard.”

“Clark,” Lana shouted in relief and fear as Van pushed her to the side.

“See Lana,” Van shouted, “He can’t even die like a normal person!”

Ronan was completely hidden in the shadows. He did not want Lana to see him like this for fear that it might scare her.

“Where’s Chloe, Lana,” Clark asked in fear.

“In the classroom across the hall,” she said, “This cunt rag kicked her in the head.”

“Shut up Lana,” Van yelled, “Watch this!”

Lana screamed when rapid bullet fire shot into Clark making him stumble back. Tears were streaming down her eyes and then she couldn’t breathe when he still stood there looking completely unharmed.

All those times he had saved her life. He was a meteor freak, and she didn’t care. She loved Clark Kent even more.

Van looked really confused and shouted, “You fucking freak!”

“You’re the freak,” Lana hissed and kicked him into the glass case making him shatter it. He fell to the ground and she kicked him the face like he had Chloe.

She looked up at Clark with awe in her eyes and serious relief that he was not dead. She walked over to him to watch him pull open his shirt to reveal a large piece of metal wrapped around his chest with bullets made of green metal lodged in it.

She reached up and hugged him close, “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“You to,” he whispered while hugging her back, “Let’s go get Chloe.”

Ronan watched them go and he silently stalked upon Van like a reaper and pulled him up by his collar. His eyes rolled around in his head and then focused in on the beautiful creature before him.

“What are you,” he asked and then struggled, “Let me go.”

Ronan laughed softly and it was a laugh you did not want to hear in a dark place all alone, “You shot my Clark,” he whispered coldly, “And now you must pay the price.”

“What do you mean,” Van asked while still struggling and then he saw the Talons holding him up.

His silent screams were cut short by sharp fangs tearing into his throat. He kicked furiously and struggled as Ronan watched the light die in his eyes while draining him dry.

He pulled his head back and sighed as he dropped the empty skin to the floor. He smiled coldly down at what was left of Clark’s shooter, “Now you can be with your daddy.”


Sheriff Adams was really starting to get frustrated now. She had no idea where the hell the kidnapper had gotten off to. She had questioned Mr. Kent and Miss Lana only for them to tell her the same story. They had just left him lying there to go get Chloe. She had let them go in the ambulance with Miss Sullivan who was still out cold from the kick to the head. What the hell was this town coming to?


Lex rushed into the hospital room to see Lana and Pete along with Clark talking to an upbeat Chloe who was still holding Clark’s hand as if terrified she might wake up and him actually be dead. He quickly put his flowers down and asked, “How are you?”

“I’m good,” she said, “Now that I know Clark’s not dead.”

“Dead,” Lex asked.

“Long story,” Clark told him as he looked over to see Ronan suddenly walk in looking human but beautiful as ever.

Both Pete and Lex turned around to stare at the male vision of Desire incarnate. Clark saw this and went over to Ronan to introduce him, “This is Ronan,” he told them.

“Ronan,” the two of them repeated as they watched him walk over to Chloe smiling blindingly at her, “How are you?”

“I’m good,” she said, “I would be great if they had caught Van.”

Ronan felt Clark take his hand and Lex stiffened. What the hell is this?

Pete just looked confused and decided to just let it go. He knew Clark was an alien and all so decided to wait until Clark decided to mention this as well.

The doctor came in and told Chloe that she was free to go after she filled out a few forms. Lana was more than thrilled that her two best friends were okay.

Each of them left the room so Chloe could get dressed. People would just walk by looking at Ronan and stumble into something or other people were taking a gander to. Lex had no idea what to make of this young man who had looks both sexes would kill for.

Ronan leaned into Clark and Clark whispered into his ear, “Why did you kill him?”

“He shot at you,” Ronan said simply, “And he hit you each time.”

Clark frowned and Ronan continued, “If it had not been for the lead you would have died.”

“I don’t like you killing people,” Clark told him.

“I didn’t kill a person Clark,” Ronan hissed looking into his eyes, “I killed a monster that almost killed you.”

“He was a human,” Clark argued.

“Hardly,” Ronan scoffed, “Its no telling how many families he’s devastated and he made your mom cry.”

“What are you two hissing about,” Lana asked walking over with a very confused looking Lex.

“Nothing,” Clark quickly said punching Ronan in the shoulder who quickly returned it, “Just sports.”

“Sports,” Lex asked only for Chloe to walk out of her room looking ready to get the hell out of that place.

Ronan rolled his eyes and began to walk away for Clark to grip his shoulder, “Where are you going?”

“For a walk,” he snapped irritably, “I need to clear my head.”

Pete snorted and Lex looked at him furiously as they watched him walk off down the hall. Clark turned to look at them, “I’ll see you all later, “and he took off after him.

Lana took Chloe by the hand and looked at Lex, “We’ll need to fix the doors at the Talon.”

“Why,” he asked wondering what the hell was going on.

“They were shot down,” she told him.

“Only in Smallville,” Pete said and Lex smacked him over the back of the head without even thinking about it as he stormed off muttering over meteor freaks and more bills.


“Ronan,” Clark called after him, “Wait up!”

Ronan just kept walking and Clark sped right up to him, “What’s wrong with you?”

“What the fucks wrong with me,” he asked with fangs showing, “What the fucks wrong with you?”

Clark looked at him and Ronan punched him in the face which caused Clark to stumble back as he shouted, “I saw you shot! I saw you bleed for the first time! I listened to you scream in agony! I saw the fear in your eyes and could smell it all over you!”

Clark just stood their in shock as he watched the blood tears stream down his face, “You could have fucking died and you’re lecturing me over killing some worm that could have taken you from me?”

He was trembling in rage and snapped his fangs at Clark when he tried to get closer to him, “I could smell your blood Clark,” he hissed, “I can still smell it!”

Clark saw him rake his deadly talons through his hair, “It felt good to watch the light die in his eyes as I watched in horror as the blood flowed from you like water from a fucking tap!”

Clark suddenly had Ronan in his arms kissing him furiously and pulled back, “I’m sorry,” he whispered against his smooth skin, “I’m so sorry.”

Ronan just stood there in his arms allowing himself to be held like that for the time being. It kept him from killing things that needed killing.

“Let’s go home,” Clark suggested in a whisper, “Let’s go home and talk.”

Ronan allowed Clark to pull him away and they headed towards the farm. He was not sorry for killing the little bastard. Clark was just going to have to get over it. He would have probably just killed Chloe and Lana if Clark had been killed.

“I did the right thing Clark,” Ronan said not knowing why he was trying to justify his actions.

“I know,” Clark whispered and turned around to give him a small sad smile, “I just don’t like to admit it.”


Jenna had enjoyed the little fight from his birds eye view from the sky. Ronan had been terrified that poor Clark could have died. Soon all of Ronan’s nightmares would come back to haunt him and would surely kill him in the end. This was going to be such fun.

He shot off through the sky sending clouds rolling as he sped towards his hideout to complete his dark spell. Ronan was not going to know what hit him until it was too late to do shit about it.

TBC…

I would really like some reviews. This story is going to be finished because I want the characters to shut up in my head. I would like to thank all those who have reviewed so far. Thank you.