sv/dc ficlet - void
Just a brief little thing, now the pain is easing.
Spoilers for Smallville - "Void" and Infinite Crisis #6.
He knew he kept the serum for a reason. Death is painful, but quick, and after adjusting to the brightness and the odd lightness that’s almost similar to flying, Clark sifts through the spirits - the countless people he’s failed to save in his lifetime - with practised precision. He knows who he’s here for.
Conner appears suddenly underneath a cliff face Clark knows well, right down to the "CK loves LL" etched into the rock. The boy smiles sadly as Clark joins him. "You shouldn’t be here."
Clark’s responding laugh is as brittle as the flaking rock behind their backs. "Neither should you."
"It’s cool, Clark." He leans back and gestures around him. "I actually never thought I’d get all this. The afterlife or whatever you call it. It kinda rocks." Clark snorts and Conner turns his head against the rock to face him. "But it’s not for you. Not yet. So why are you here?"
"I had to see you," Clark says, choking on the words. "There wasn’t time...before. There’s so much I wanted to tell you but I never had the chance."
Conner places a hand on Clark’s shoulder and Clark’s surprised that it feels warm. "Clark," Conner says, and pauses, considering his words. "I know, okay? All that stuff you wanna say, I know. But there’s someone else who needs to hear it."
"No, Conner, I-"
Conner stops him with a smile, light refracting off his teeth. "There isn’t much time. I just want...Clark, can you..." He holds out his arms and Clark’s eyes widen briefly. He nods and pulls Conner into him, arms curling protectively around his son.
It’s awkward at first, but Conner presses his face against Clark’s chest and sighs. Clark grips tighter, feeling the wetness through his shirt as Conner shakes and quietly murmurs, "Thank you."
He’s strong, even against the tugging he can feel from the other side, and he holds Conner like maybe he can take him back, too, and he can have a second chance to do things right. But Conner finally struggles in his arms, and sits back and little. "It’s time, Clark. He’s waiting for you."
"He?" Clark doesn’t think there is anyone more important than the boy in his arms right now.
"Promise," Conner says with urgency. "Promise me you’ll give him a chance."
With a flash of light, Conner fades and Clark’s arms feel empty as he falls backwards into nothing. There are words on Clark’s lips, words he still hasn’t had a chance to say, and as things start to solidify around him, Clark opens his eyes and lets the words bubble to the surface. "Forgive me. I’m sorry. I love you."
Above him, Lex stares and let's the syringe in his hands clatter to the concrete beside them. He cradles Clark’s head in his lap and soothes the sides of his face. "It’s okay, Clark. I’ve got you."
They’ve got each other, Clark thinks as his eyes flutter closed. And maybe this time, it’ll be enough.
Spoilers for Smallville - "Void" and Infinite Crisis #6.
He knew he kept the serum for a reason. Death is painful, but quick, and after adjusting to the brightness and the odd lightness that’s almost similar to flying, Clark sifts through the spirits - the countless people he’s failed to save in his lifetime - with practised precision. He knows who he’s here for.
Conner appears suddenly underneath a cliff face Clark knows well, right down to the "CK loves LL" etched into the rock. The boy smiles sadly as Clark joins him. "You shouldn’t be here."
Clark’s responding laugh is as brittle as the flaking rock behind their backs. "Neither should you."
"It’s cool, Clark." He leans back and gestures around him. "I actually never thought I’d get all this. The afterlife or whatever you call it. It kinda rocks." Clark snorts and Conner turns his head against the rock to face him. "But it’s not for you. Not yet. So why are you here?"
"I had to see you," Clark says, choking on the words. "There wasn’t time...before. There’s so much I wanted to tell you but I never had the chance."
Conner places a hand on Clark’s shoulder and Clark’s surprised that it feels warm. "Clark," Conner says, and pauses, considering his words. "I know, okay? All that stuff you wanna say, I know. But there’s someone else who needs to hear it."
"No, Conner, I-"
Conner stops him with a smile, light refracting off his teeth. "There isn’t much time. I just want...Clark, can you..." He holds out his arms and Clark’s eyes widen briefly. He nods and pulls Conner into him, arms curling protectively around his son.
It’s awkward at first, but Conner presses his face against Clark’s chest and sighs. Clark grips tighter, feeling the wetness through his shirt as Conner shakes and quietly murmurs, "Thank you."
He’s strong, even against the tugging he can feel from the other side, and he holds Conner like maybe he can take him back, too, and he can have a second chance to do things right. But Conner finally struggles in his arms, and sits back and little. "It’s time, Clark. He’s waiting for you."
"He?" Clark doesn’t think there is anyone more important than the boy in his arms right now.
"Promise," Conner says with urgency. "Promise me you’ll give him a chance."
With a flash of light, Conner fades and Clark’s arms feel empty as he falls backwards into nothing. There are words on Clark’s lips, words he still hasn’t had a chance to say, and as things start to solidify around him, Clark opens his eyes and lets the words bubble to the surface. "Forgive me. I’m sorry. I love you."
Above him, Lex stares and let's the syringe in his hands clatter to the concrete beside them. He cradles Clark’s head in his lap and soothes the sides of his face. "It’s okay, Clark. I’ve got you."
They’ve got each other, Clark thinks as his eyes flutter closed. And maybe this time, it’ll be enough.