Fic: Now or Never (4/?)
Title: Now or Never (4/?)
Author: Babettew54 babettew54
Category: Superman Returns
Characters: Lois Lane/Clark Kent/Kal-El, Perry White, Lex Luthor
Rating: M
Summary: They’ve had so many chances to make it work, but could there really be one more?
Words: 2,300
Disclaimer: DC Comics/WB Entertainment owns. No profit is being made from this story; this is strictly for my own amusement.
Author’s Notes: In this next chapter, things take a dramatic turn as Lex stirs up more trouble and the circumstances of this next encounter could change everything forever. I hope you like it. Thanks, everyone! :D
Previously:
( Chapter 1) ( Chapter 2) ( Chapter 3)
Chapter 4: Lethal Weapon
Somewhere in the Bahamas:
Alexander ‘Lex’ Luthor had watched numerous newsfeeds from his small and dingy hotel room in the Caribbean as news of Superman’s rescues over the past few days had come over the television, and nothing had changed. He was still just as heroic as before, no difference at all. Jor-El’s information about the ‘red kryptonite’ had been very specific concerning its effects.
After being rescued by a passing cruise ship a week after landing on the island, Kitty had parted ways with him, and now he was on his own again without access to his millions, but his contacts in the states had managed to get the red kryptonite without too much trouble. He was sure the red kryptonite would cause Superman to go berserk, wreck havoc on all around him, but something must have happened. Either Lois Lane knew about the red kryptonite or she never got the package, but which was it? He then called his contact at the courier service and was assured that the package had been delivered.
Then he thought about it some more and Clark Kent knew everything there was to know about Superman. He was probably there when the package arrived and knowing what a snoop the man was, he probably took the necklace from her and warned her about mysterious packages from unknown senders.
Lex knew he had to come up with another plan. First of all, he had to get back to the states. He was stuck in the Caribbean with no way to get back home, with no money and no access to his millions, but that was a minor detail. He would figure something out.
With more red kryptonite at his disposal, he had to figure out a way to get it to Superman without raising suspicion on himself, that he was still alive and out to ruin Superman’s reputation, bring him down to his knees and to let everyone know that he could not be trusted, that he could turn on them, and destroy them all at any moment. It was only a matter of time but he would find a way, oh yes, he would find a way.
Suddenly, a plan came to him, a plan so brilliant, that sometimes he surprised himself with the cunning greatness of his magnificent mind.
~o~o~
Back in Metropolis, several days later:
Lois and Jason had come home a little earlier than usual this day because Clark would be coming over for dinner and Lois had planned a special dinner for both the special ‘men’ in her life. Her mood had improved considerably in spite of meeting ‘Lulu’ and if she were a betting woman, she would bet that Clark had picked up on her jealousy and treated her with kid gloves, taking her to lunch and a quick flight above the clouds afterwards.
Tonight was also going to be a ‘new beginning’ for Jason and Clark to get to know each other better and hopefully Jason would open up about what had happened on the yacht. Jason was still reluctant to talk about that day and about his feelings. Clark realized that bottling those feelings up over a long period could lead to trouble, specifically his powers coming to the forefront at the worst possible time.
While preparing dinner, Lois thought about her earlier conversation with Jason in the drive home from the sitters. “Mr. Clark can help you, Jason, please just listen to what he has to say.”
Jason was still reluctant to talk about that day. “Mom, why do you say ‘Mr. Clark, he’s Superman?”
“Jason, we never call him that not while he’s in his disguise, you know, as Clark Kent. It’s too dangerous for him. Do you understand?”
“I guess so,” he responded not understanding.
“Listen to me, Jason, this is important. Clark needs to be ‘Mr. Clark’ so he can live and work in peace like everyone else, so he can live a normal life and honey, he’s counting on us to help him to do that and he can count on us, right, honey?”
Jason understood. “Ok, Mom, he can count on me.”
She smiled at her son. “That’s a good boy.”
~o~o~
A few hours later, Clark arrived for dinner on time Lois noted which pleased her enormously putting her even more at ease. It was only a dream, Lois, forget about it. Lois opened the door and she couldn’t help her eyes as they roamed over his handsome face, his broad shoulders and long legs. He looked fantastic with a dark suit and stripped tie which set off his good looks to distraction.
“Good evening, Lois,” Clark smiled at her reaction, exactly what he was hoping for.
“Wow, good evening, Clark. You look nice, but you didn’t have to change clothes just for us.”
“This is a big deal for me, Lois. Jason and I well, we’ve never talked as ‘Mr. Clark and Jason’ before. It’s important and I wanted to make a good impression.”
Lois chuckled. “You’re nervous?”
He straightened his tie and smoothed his hair in place. “Only a little,” he lied.
Lois thought that was sweet. She leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Just be yourself and you’ll do fine.”
He smiled and tried to relax. “Thank you Lois for your faith in me; it means everything.”
“You’re very welcome; now, let’s eat. I’ll get Jason.”
~o~o~
The dinner did not go exactly as planned. Both Jason and Clark were quiet seemingly very nervous about their talk, and she couldn’t help but notice the similarities between the two, not only their mannerisms but also their looks and smiles too. She could have kicked herself for not picking up on it before and shook her head at her blindness. “Well, why don’t you two head on up while I clear the dishes?” They both hesitated. “Go on now … scoot!” She waved her arms toward the stairs.
Clark was the first to get up and headed toward the stairs. He waited as Jason joined him, then he followed his son to his room. Clark sat down on the desk chair while Jason sat on his bed. He immediately grabbed his backpack, pulled out some books and a small box.
“Do you have homework, Jason; I could help you?” Clark offered hoping to get a conversation started.
“No, I finished it at the sitters,” Jason said as he opened a book and began to read.
Clark tried to come up with a question about the yacht but before he could say anything, he began to feel his eyes start to burn as if ….! Then suddenly laser beams shot out of his eyes shocking his son. The beams hit the headboard inches from his son’s head. Clark covered his eyes and ran from the room.
Lois had heard the noise and wondered what had happened. “Clark what in the world is going on and what’s wrong with your eyes?”
“Lois, there’s red kryptonite in Jason’s room somewhere. Please go and find it; I’ll head out and hopefully the distance will lessen the effects.” No sooner had he said that then he began to float up towards the ceiling. Lois tried to pull him down but he was too heavy.
“Clark, what should I do?”
“Go and find the red kryptonite and throw it into the lake; please hurry, go now!” He instructed as he tried to concentrate on returning to the floor.
Lois ran up the stairs, made sure Jason was alright then she searched his room. “Mom is Mr. Clark alright and what are you looking for?”
“Jason did you bring something home from school today, something new, something unusual? It’s important honey.”
“Well, the teacher gave me this box and said to give it to you.” He handed her the box, Lois opened it and the red kryptonite was inside. She immediately ran downstairs, then out the back door and threw it into the lake. She came back into the house then Clark fell from the ceiling and hit the floor.
Jason followed her and wondered what was happening. He arrived downstairs and Mr. Clark was on the floor and his Mom was stroking his head and asking him if he was alright.
“Clark, can you hear me?”
“I’m alright; give me a minute.”
Lois couldn’t help but think about her dream and how uncontrollable Jason had been, but this was different somehow. Jason had been rebelling against his confinement, but Clark wanted to control his powers but couldn’t somehow. “You called it ‘kryptonite’? But this was different from before and it’s nothing like the green version, right?”
“Yes, it has to be from my home planet Lois. I wish I could talk to Jor-El. Just one of the things Luthor took from me.” He sighed. “The red kryptonite only affects my powers and my emotions. You know what the green does to me. This time my powers were controlling me. Each time I come in contact with the red kryptonite, there’s no telling what it could do to me, that’s why we have to be very careful from now on, Lois.”
“And we have to find Lex, the sooner the better.”
“Mr. Clark, was this my fault?” Jason asked worried about him.
Clark held up his hand and Jason came forward and took it. “No, son, it wasn’t your fault.”
Then Jason began to wonder about the yacht and what he had done. “Mr. Clark what happened to me … on the yacht?”
Clark glanced at Lois and she nodded her head in agreement.
Clark got up from the floor and brought Jason over to the sofa. “Jason, what I’m going to tell you, is something your mother and I have wanted to tell you, well, for a while now.”
“What is it?”
“Your mother and I have known each other for a long time Jason before you were born; we’re very close.”
“She never mentioned you,” Jason said confused.
“I know; you told me. But before I went away on my trip, we became close and … there really is no easy way to say this.” He squeezed his hand. “Jason, you’re my son. The things you did on the yacht they’re because of the powers you inherited from me.”
Jason removed his hand from his and shook his head not believing it. “No, it’s not true,” he cried. “I have a father; his name is Richard White!” He yelled then turned and ran up the stairs.
Lois and Clark stared after him in shock.
“Jason, Jason, come back here!” Lois hollered after him.
Clark closed his eyes and hung his head then Lois came over to him and took him into her arms, holding him close.
Jason meanwhile picked up his Superman doll and without realizing his strength threw it as hard as he could; it hit the wall with a crack and fell to the floor. “Superman is my father?”
~o~o~
Clark left her arms after a moment. “Go to him, Lois, he needs you. He’s been through so much and maybe it was too much for him to handle right now. I’m so sorry.”
Lois stroked his hair. “There’s nothing to be sorry about; I wanted him to know the truth too. Please don’t go anywhere and Clark, he’ll come around in time. You’ll see.”
“I hope so,” he replied and tried to give her an encouraging smile.
She squeezed his hand and headed for the stairs.
Clark decided it was time for him to go. I’ve done enough to hurt my son, my family. He shuddered when he thought about what could have happened. Maybe it was just too much to hope for, having Lois and Jason in his life. It was a fantasy, but the reality was he wasn’t cut out for this life, being a father and maybe one day a husband. His mind wandered then to a future where his one true love and their son could live together and be a family, but that’s all it was … a fantasy based on nothing but false hopes and shattered dreams.
It was time to face reality so he set his mind to the real world, and the threat that was still out there, Lex Luthor and his insane plots and schemes, wrecking havoc with his family and innocent people. He glanced up the stairs and then left the house and headed to the police station to give them the last known whereabouts of Lex Luthor.
TBC!
~o~o~
A/N: Oh, man, hugs the family. Thanks for reading everyone! Reviews are love! :D
Author: Babettew54 babettew54
Category: Superman Returns
Characters: Lois Lane/Clark Kent/Kal-El, Perry White, Lex Luthor
Rating: M
Summary: They’ve had so many chances to make it work, but could there really be one more?
Words: 2,300
Disclaimer: DC Comics/WB Entertainment owns. No profit is being made from this story; this is strictly for my own amusement.
Author’s Notes: In this next chapter, things take a dramatic turn as Lex stirs up more trouble and the circumstances of this next encounter could change everything forever. I hope you like it. Thanks, everyone! :D
Previously:
( Chapter 1) ( Chapter 2) ( Chapter 3)
Chapter 4: Lethal Weapon
Somewhere in the Bahamas:
Alexander ‘Lex’ Luthor had watched numerous newsfeeds from his small and dingy hotel room in the Caribbean as news of Superman’s rescues over the past few days had come over the television, and nothing had changed. He was still just as heroic as before, no difference at all. Jor-El’s information about the ‘red kryptonite’ had been very specific concerning its effects.
After being rescued by a passing cruise ship a week after landing on the island, Kitty had parted ways with him, and now he was on his own again without access to his millions, but his contacts in the states had managed to get the red kryptonite without too much trouble. He was sure the red kryptonite would cause Superman to go berserk, wreck havoc on all around him, but something must have happened. Either Lois Lane knew about the red kryptonite or she never got the package, but which was it? He then called his contact at the courier service and was assured that the package had been delivered.
Then he thought about it some more and Clark Kent knew everything there was to know about Superman. He was probably there when the package arrived and knowing what a snoop the man was, he probably took the necklace from her and warned her about mysterious packages from unknown senders.
Lex knew he had to come up with another plan. First of all, he had to get back to the states. He was stuck in the Caribbean with no way to get back home, with no money and no access to his millions, but that was a minor detail. He would figure something out.
With more red kryptonite at his disposal, he had to figure out a way to get it to Superman without raising suspicion on himself, that he was still alive and out to ruin Superman’s reputation, bring him down to his knees and to let everyone know that he could not be trusted, that he could turn on them, and destroy them all at any moment. It was only a matter of time but he would find a way, oh yes, he would find a way.
Suddenly, a plan came to him, a plan so brilliant, that sometimes he surprised himself with the cunning greatness of his magnificent mind.
~o~o~
Back in Metropolis, several days later:
Lois and Jason had come home a little earlier than usual this day because Clark would be coming over for dinner and Lois had planned a special dinner for both the special ‘men’ in her life. Her mood had improved considerably in spite of meeting ‘Lulu’ and if she were a betting woman, she would bet that Clark had picked up on her jealousy and treated her with kid gloves, taking her to lunch and a quick flight above the clouds afterwards.
Tonight was also going to be a ‘new beginning’ for Jason and Clark to get to know each other better and hopefully Jason would open up about what had happened on the yacht. Jason was still reluctant to talk about that day and about his feelings. Clark realized that bottling those feelings up over a long period could lead to trouble, specifically his powers coming to the forefront at the worst possible time.
While preparing dinner, Lois thought about her earlier conversation with Jason in the drive home from the sitters. “Mr. Clark can help you, Jason, please just listen to what he has to say.”
Jason was still reluctant to talk about that day. “Mom, why do you say ‘Mr. Clark, he’s Superman?”
“Jason, we never call him that not while he’s in his disguise, you know, as Clark Kent. It’s too dangerous for him. Do you understand?”
“I guess so,” he responded not understanding.
“Listen to me, Jason, this is important. Clark needs to be ‘Mr. Clark’ so he can live and work in peace like everyone else, so he can live a normal life and honey, he’s counting on us to help him to do that and he can count on us, right, honey?”
Jason understood. “Ok, Mom, he can count on me.”
She smiled at her son. “That’s a good boy.”
~o~o~
A few hours later, Clark arrived for dinner on time Lois noted which pleased her enormously putting her even more at ease. It was only a dream, Lois, forget about it. Lois opened the door and she couldn’t help her eyes as they roamed over his handsome face, his broad shoulders and long legs. He looked fantastic with a dark suit and stripped tie which set off his good looks to distraction.
“Good evening, Lois,” Clark smiled at her reaction, exactly what he was hoping for.
“Wow, good evening, Clark. You look nice, but you didn’t have to change clothes just for us.”
“This is a big deal for me, Lois. Jason and I well, we’ve never talked as ‘Mr. Clark and Jason’ before. It’s important and I wanted to make a good impression.”
Lois chuckled. “You’re nervous?”
He straightened his tie and smoothed his hair in place. “Only a little,” he lied.
Lois thought that was sweet. She leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Just be yourself and you’ll do fine.”
He smiled and tried to relax. “Thank you Lois for your faith in me; it means everything.”
“You’re very welcome; now, let’s eat. I’ll get Jason.”
~o~o~
The dinner did not go exactly as planned. Both Jason and Clark were quiet seemingly very nervous about their talk, and she couldn’t help but notice the similarities between the two, not only their mannerisms but also their looks and smiles too. She could have kicked herself for not picking up on it before and shook her head at her blindness. “Well, why don’t you two head on up while I clear the dishes?” They both hesitated. “Go on now … scoot!” She waved her arms toward the stairs.
Clark was the first to get up and headed toward the stairs. He waited as Jason joined him, then he followed his son to his room. Clark sat down on the desk chair while Jason sat on his bed. He immediately grabbed his backpack, pulled out some books and a small box.
“Do you have homework, Jason; I could help you?” Clark offered hoping to get a conversation started.
“No, I finished it at the sitters,” Jason said as he opened a book and began to read.
Clark tried to come up with a question about the yacht but before he could say anything, he began to feel his eyes start to burn as if ….! Then suddenly laser beams shot out of his eyes shocking his son. The beams hit the headboard inches from his son’s head. Clark covered his eyes and ran from the room.
Lois had heard the noise and wondered what had happened. “Clark what in the world is going on and what’s wrong with your eyes?”
“Lois, there’s red kryptonite in Jason’s room somewhere. Please go and find it; I’ll head out and hopefully the distance will lessen the effects.” No sooner had he said that then he began to float up towards the ceiling. Lois tried to pull him down but he was too heavy.
“Clark, what should I do?”
“Go and find the red kryptonite and throw it into the lake; please hurry, go now!” He instructed as he tried to concentrate on returning to the floor.
Lois ran up the stairs, made sure Jason was alright then she searched his room. “Mom is Mr. Clark alright and what are you looking for?”
“Jason did you bring something home from school today, something new, something unusual? It’s important honey.”
“Well, the teacher gave me this box and said to give it to you.” He handed her the box, Lois opened it and the red kryptonite was inside. She immediately ran downstairs, then out the back door and threw it into the lake. She came back into the house then Clark fell from the ceiling and hit the floor.
Jason followed her and wondered what was happening. He arrived downstairs and Mr. Clark was on the floor and his Mom was stroking his head and asking him if he was alright.
“Clark, can you hear me?”
“I’m alright; give me a minute.”
Lois couldn’t help but think about her dream and how uncontrollable Jason had been, but this was different somehow. Jason had been rebelling against his confinement, but Clark wanted to control his powers but couldn’t somehow. “You called it ‘kryptonite’? But this was different from before and it’s nothing like the green version, right?”
“Yes, it has to be from my home planet Lois. I wish I could talk to Jor-El. Just one of the things Luthor took from me.” He sighed. “The red kryptonite only affects my powers and my emotions. You know what the green does to me. This time my powers were controlling me. Each time I come in contact with the red kryptonite, there’s no telling what it could do to me, that’s why we have to be very careful from now on, Lois.”
“And we have to find Lex, the sooner the better.”
“Mr. Clark, was this my fault?” Jason asked worried about him.
Clark held up his hand and Jason came forward and took it. “No, son, it wasn’t your fault.”
Then Jason began to wonder about the yacht and what he had done. “Mr. Clark what happened to me … on the yacht?”
Clark glanced at Lois and she nodded her head in agreement.
Clark got up from the floor and brought Jason over to the sofa. “Jason, what I’m going to tell you, is something your mother and I have wanted to tell you, well, for a while now.”
“What is it?”
“Your mother and I have known each other for a long time Jason before you were born; we’re very close.”
“She never mentioned you,” Jason said confused.
“I know; you told me. But before I went away on my trip, we became close and … there really is no easy way to say this.” He squeezed his hand. “Jason, you’re my son. The things you did on the yacht they’re because of the powers you inherited from me.”
Jason removed his hand from his and shook his head not believing it. “No, it’s not true,” he cried. “I have a father; his name is Richard White!” He yelled then turned and ran up the stairs.
Lois and Clark stared after him in shock.
“Jason, Jason, come back here!” Lois hollered after him.
Clark closed his eyes and hung his head then Lois came over to him and took him into her arms, holding him close.
Jason meanwhile picked up his Superman doll and without realizing his strength threw it as hard as he could; it hit the wall with a crack and fell to the floor. “Superman is my father?”
~o~o~
Clark left her arms after a moment. “Go to him, Lois, he needs you. He’s been through so much and maybe it was too much for him to handle right now. I’m so sorry.”
Lois stroked his hair. “There’s nothing to be sorry about; I wanted him to know the truth too. Please don’t go anywhere and Clark, he’ll come around in time. You’ll see.”
“I hope so,” he replied and tried to give her an encouraging smile.
She squeezed his hand and headed for the stairs.
Clark decided it was time for him to go. I’ve done enough to hurt my son, my family. He shuddered when he thought about what could have happened. Maybe it was just too much to hope for, having Lois and Jason in his life. It was a fantasy, but the reality was he wasn’t cut out for this life, being a father and maybe one day a husband. His mind wandered then to a future where his one true love and their son could live together and be a family, but that’s all it was … a fantasy based on nothing but false hopes and shattered dreams.
It was time to face reality so he set his mind to the real world, and the threat that was still out there, Lex Luthor and his insane plots and schemes, wrecking havoc with his family and innocent people. He glanced up the stairs and then left the house and headed to the police station to give them the last known whereabouts of Lex Luthor.
TBC!
~o~o~
A/N: Oh, man, hugs the family. Thanks for reading everyone! Reviews are love! :D