Smelt, Chapter 47
Title:Smelt
Author : Legendarytobes
Rating : Through at least R eventually for sex/language
Pairings : by this point in the story - Chlark, J'onn/Martha, Bruce/Diana, Cassie (Wonder Girl)/Conner Kent, and Lois Lane/Zatanna (no really) and mentions of past Chlollie.
Summary : AU - Chloe wasn't able to stop Clark from putting on the gold K ring in "Finale, part 1," and he has to deal with an ordinary life and the realization that he's not always enough for the people around him now.
Warnings : TC, violence, cursing
Previous Parts - http://two-of-us.svtometropolis.com/viewstory.php?sid=1214
What Happened Last Time: Granny and Clark are off destroying the Fortress and finding the third prophet to help Darkseid rise again. Chloe met with the Batman and found out he's stockpiled a lot of Kryptonite to killl Clark. She's also still reeling from having put on the Fate helmet and seeing visions of a bloody future with Clark murdering Conner and Darkseid forcing the League to surrender to him.
Again, it's been forever since I touched it so I forgive you if you all forgot about it too! However, I'm back to writing Chlark and I hope you all won't mind me finishing this up first!
Author's Note : This fic was a runner up for "Best Chlark" at the sv_fca
I said there was nothing I could do for you.
Jor-El's voice thundered through my brain, into everything I was. I'd heard a lot about him from Conner, after I came clean to him. Oddly, my own Det. Ellis had never had a Fortress or private retreat of any kind written in for him. Maybe that was all psychosomatic too. Maybe I didn't want to remember this place. From what I'd gathered from my brother, Jor-El was cold and sadistic. He'd killed my human father and branded me like an animal. He'd taken control of my mind, put things into it without me asking, and even taken my powers from me in some stupid stunt to give them to my former fiance.
It was all games with him and power plays.
I was done with that, damn it. I knew who I was and what I wanted. I was Superman and I was going to work with Granny to create a world where things like genocide couldn't happen, where I was ruling with strength and despite my so-called father's demands. I don't know why I even bothered coming back to see this machine before. I don't, but I wasn't who I'd been, and no one was going to abuse me or push me around any further.
Granny stood next to me and placed a warm hand on my shoulder. I was beginning to reconstruct my family, and Jor-El had no place in it.
At all.
"I don't need to be fixed," I replied activating my heat vision.
I don't know if a machine can be surprised, but Jor-El certainly sounded like he was. It is not possible for you to have your powers back.
Quirking my head at him, I snorted. "It's not possible for you . I have someone who's got my back now."
I sense something dark in her. She's not human.
"She part of our club then," I said. "Granny has helped me discover exactly what I want to be. And I know who I am. I don't need you anymore."
I have long since relieved you of duty, Kal-El. You know that happened when you lost your powers and I have no need of you now with your insolent tone.
I laughed long and hard, and I wondered if the AI realized what a joke it was, trapped here and barking orders. It only had power as long as I agreed to play, and I no longer wanted to do that at all. Pulling back my arm, I punched through the ice column encasing the uniform I'd come for. The black was a nice look, but it wasn't enough. I needed to show the world all of me---my face and my sigil. I needed them to see me as the hero I was and black wasn't for that.
A red cape?
Yes, I could be the world's hero in red and blue. I knew that now.
The fortress shook with the force of my blow and it felt good, felt fucking amazing to take out all that pain and anger and frustration. No more confusion, just what Granny wanted...what I wanted to. Tossing the outfit to her, I let everything out, ignoring the shouts of that impotent creation that was the fortress. It caved around me in seconds.
Seconds to take it all down and something I know I should have done long ago.
Maybe I'd have smiled more then.
***
The next day, I went to Smallville High. I wanted something from Zoe, needed to double check with her. After that, Granny promised we'd go to my third. I couldn't wait for that, but some needs came first. I was half way to The Torch office when a familiar heartbeat caused me to duck into the nearest classroom.
Conner.
Activating my heat vision, I could see how beaten up he was, the ring of bruises from my fingers around his neck. I swallowed. Maybe I had been rougher than I meant to. Trying to convince Conner had bled into more violence than I'd wanted and I don't even know when it had. It was just that all these emotions swirled up in me and that prompted me to follow them. Convincing him, drawing in my family, what Granny wanted.
No, correct that.
I wanted it.
Except I hadn't wanted Conner to look so awful.
It must have been as bad as I thought because the next thing I saw was Zoe walking down the hall and dragging my brother to the left corner of the hall and through The Torch doors. I hated not being able to see all of it, not really wanting to focus my sight through a collection of rooms and walls. Instead, I perked up my ears, figuring the conversation would have to suffice. Maybe Conner was warning her first. Not a good move since she had what I needed.
Conner, Jesus, what happened?
I... my brother fumbled and I found it ironic that superheroes, whose lives depended on secrecy, really couldn't lie any better than we did.
Conner, I'm serious. What could even do that to you?
What's that supposed to mean?
It means that I know. Clark...he told me about you and who you really are. I won't say what cause I wouldn't hold that against you or against Clark. I always suspected The Blur and the people most like him weren't from around here.
I could make out the scrape of a chair against linoleum and then the uptick of Conner's heart. Zoe was smart but she wasn't refined in her approach yet.
I don't know what you're talking about.
You and Clark and The Maid of Might. You're aliens. I mean, I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's great for Metropolis, considering what you all do. I just know that you have abilities and that you shouldn't be bruised. What's going on?
You know?
Another scrape and this time I assumed it was Zoe who was standing. Conner's heart slowed and I wonder if his girlfriend should be worried. If he's part me, well, I always had a thing for smart reporters.
I don't care. I just... what's wrong? Clark missed meeting with us yesterday. I'm worried.
Stay away from him. There was the rustle of fabric and I could see him, just envision him rubbing at his neck.
Con?
Clark did this. He's not right. Something horrible poisoned him and we're trying to fix it.
Lex?
So much worse. I just...stay sharp and find a way to warn Clayton. He has all his blur abilities back. You just need to be careful.
God, you too.
I waited a few seconds, till after the "woosh" of super speed hand worn off, and I was sure Conner was gone. It was then I sped as well, slipping seamlessly into The Torch office and shaking my head when Zoe jumped. Tilting my head, I watched as she backed into the desk. It almost amused me to see her struggling through the drawers, eventually settling on a letter opener to brandish against me.
"I'm not going to hurt you."
"Bullshit!" Zoe replied, holding the letter opener high and swiping it in my direction. She really did remind me of Chloe.
Holding up my hands, I started to pace, letting the my duster flare behind me. "I could have killed you by now. I have no reason to because you're a friend and I don't want to kill if I don't have to."
"Conner---"
"I didn't mean to get that far. He's my brother and I'd never really injure him."
She glared at me. "Sure looks injured to me. What do you even want from me?"
Running my hand over a desk that needed to be seriously dusted, I sighed and turned back to her. "I need the records of everything Wayne Industries has been doing in Smallville. Them and Queen as well. I think they've been digging out the meteor rocks."
She blinked. "You! Two years ago, Queen Industries did the same thing all over the county. I was following it back when I was a sophomore. I could never figure it out. The rocks came from the shower and they mutate so they're clearly radioactive. If Oliver and Mr. Wayne want them---"
"I need you to find out if they've been taking any. I don't want to be surprised at all."
She swallowed and stood up as tall as she could. It was laughable when you realized I could beat up someone as powerful as J'onn or Diana. "I won't help you, Clark. Something's wrong with you...it's poisoning you. Just go see Chloe and she'll fix it. That's what she does."
"I'm fine!" I said, flashing heat vision and letting an abandoned part of the cork board burn until Zoe put it out with a bottle of water in front of her. "I feel amazing. I just need to have someone checking things for me."
"Like Chloe would have?"
"I need my own assistant. I work better with someone to pitch ideas off of. You wanted me to get my powers back so why aren't you happy?"
Zoe shook her head and started for the door. "Because you're acting insane. You can't seriously want to help anyone who'd make you think hurting Conner was okay."
I was at the door before she had turned the knob. "So you're not going to do what I ask anymore?"
Zoe looked up at me and spit in my face. "Never."
She really was just like her idol.
"Then tell Conner and Chloe something."
"What?" she asked and her heart was hammering so fast.
With no effort at all, I snapped her left shoulder. "I'm not waiting long for them. I'll take this to Watchtower next."
With that, I was gone.
Author : Legendarytobes
Rating : Through at least R eventually for sex/language
Pairings : by this point in the story - Chlark, J'onn/Martha, Bruce/Diana, Cassie (Wonder Girl)/Conner Kent, and Lois Lane/Zatanna (no really) and mentions of past Chlollie.
Summary : AU - Chloe wasn't able to stop Clark from putting on the gold K ring in "Finale, part 1," and he has to deal with an ordinary life and the realization that he's not always enough for the people around him now.
Warnings : TC, violence, cursing
Previous Parts - http://two-of-us.svtometropolis.com/viewstory.php?sid=1214
What Happened Last Time: Granny and Clark are off destroying the Fortress and finding the third prophet to help Darkseid rise again. Chloe met with the Batman and found out he's stockpiled a lot of Kryptonite to killl Clark. She's also still reeling from having put on the Fate helmet and seeing visions of a bloody future with Clark murdering Conner and Darkseid forcing the League to surrender to him.
Again, it's been forever since I touched it so I forgive you if you all forgot about it too! However, I'm back to writing Chlark and I hope you all won't mind me finishing this up first!
Author's Note : This fic was a runner up for "Best Chlark" at the sv_fca
I said there was nothing I could do for you.
Jor-El's voice thundered through my brain, into everything I was. I'd heard a lot about him from Conner, after I came clean to him. Oddly, my own Det. Ellis had never had a Fortress or private retreat of any kind written in for him. Maybe that was all psychosomatic too. Maybe I didn't want to remember this place. From what I'd gathered from my brother, Jor-El was cold and sadistic. He'd killed my human father and branded me like an animal. He'd taken control of my mind, put things into it without me asking, and even taken my powers from me in some stupid stunt to give them to my former fiance.
It was all games with him and power plays.
I was done with that, damn it. I knew who I was and what I wanted. I was Superman and I was going to work with Granny to create a world where things like genocide couldn't happen, where I was ruling with strength and despite my so-called father's demands. I don't know why I even bothered coming back to see this machine before. I don't, but I wasn't who I'd been, and no one was going to abuse me or push me around any further.
Granny stood next to me and placed a warm hand on my shoulder. I was beginning to reconstruct my family, and Jor-El had no place in it.
At all.
"I don't need to be fixed," I replied activating my heat vision.
I don't know if a machine can be surprised, but Jor-El certainly sounded like he was. It is not possible for you to have your powers back.
Quirking my head at him, I snorted. "It's not possible for you . I have someone who's got my back now."
I sense something dark in her. She's not human.
"She part of our club then," I said. "Granny has helped me discover exactly what I want to be. And I know who I am. I don't need you anymore."
I have long since relieved you of duty, Kal-El. You know that happened when you lost your powers and I have no need of you now with your insolent tone.
I laughed long and hard, and I wondered if the AI realized what a joke it was, trapped here and barking orders. It only had power as long as I agreed to play, and I no longer wanted to do that at all. Pulling back my arm, I punched through the ice column encasing the uniform I'd come for. The black was a nice look, but it wasn't enough. I needed to show the world all of me---my face and my sigil. I needed them to see me as the hero I was and black wasn't for that.
A red cape?
Yes, I could be the world's hero in red and blue. I knew that now.
The fortress shook with the force of my blow and it felt good, felt fucking amazing to take out all that pain and anger and frustration. No more confusion, just what Granny wanted...what I wanted to. Tossing the outfit to her, I let everything out, ignoring the shouts of that impotent creation that was the fortress. It caved around me in seconds.
Seconds to take it all down and something I know I should have done long ago.
Maybe I'd have smiled more then.
***
The next day, I went to Smallville High. I wanted something from Zoe, needed to double check with her. After that, Granny promised we'd go to my third. I couldn't wait for that, but some needs came first. I was half way to The Torch office when a familiar heartbeat caused me to duck into the nearest classroom.
Conner.
Activating my heat vision, I could see how beaten up he was, the ring of bruises from my fingers around his neck. I swallowed. Maybe I had been rougher than I meant to. Trying to convince Conner had bled into more violence than I'd wanted and I don't even know when it had. It was just that all these emotions swirled up in me and that prompted me to follow them. Convincing him, drawing in my family, what Granny wanted.
No, correct that.
I wanted it.
Except I hadn't wanted Conner to look so awful.
It must have been as bad as I thought because the next thing I saw was Zoe walking down the hall and dragging my brother to the left corner of the hall and through The Torch doors. I hated not being able to see all of it, not really wanting to focus my sight through a collection of rooms and walls. Instead, I perked up my ears, figuring the conversation would have to suffice. Maybe Conner was warning her first. Not a good move since she had what I needed.
Conner, Jesus, what happened?
I... my brother fumbled and I found it ironic that superheroes, whose lives depended on secrecy, really couldn't lie any better than we did.
Conner, I'm serious. What could even do that to you?
What's that supposed to mean?
It means that I know. Clark...he told me about you and who you really are. I won't say what cause I wouldn't hold that against you or against Clark. I always suspected The Blur and the people most like him weren't from around here.
I could make out the scrape of a chair against linoleum and then the uptick of Conner's heart. Zoe was smart but she wasn't refined in her approach yet.
I don't know what you're talking about.
You and Clark and The Maid of Might. You're aliens. I mean, I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It's great for Metropolis, considering what you all do. I just know that you have abilities and that you shouldn't be bruised. What's going on?
You know?
Another scrape and this time I assumed it was Zoe who was standing. Conner's heart slowed and I wonder if his girlfriend should be worried. If he's part me, well, I always had a thing for smart reporters.
I don't care. I just... what's wrong? Clark missed meeting with us yesterday. I'm worried.
Stay away from him. There was the rustle of fabric and I could see him, just envision him rubbing at his neck.
Con?
Clark did this. He's not right. Something horrible poisoned him and we're trying to fix it.
Lex?
So much worse. I just...stay sharp and find a way to warn Clayton. He has all his blur abilities back. You just need to be careful.
God, you too.
I waited a few seconds, till after the "woosh" of super speed hand worn off, and I was sure Conner was gone. It was then I sped as well, slipping seamlessly into The Torch office and shaking my head when Zoe jumped. Tilting my head, I watched as she backed into the desk. It almost amused me to see her struggling through the drawers, eventually settling on a letter opener to brandish against me.
"I'm not going to hurt you."
"Bullshit!" Zoe replied, holding the letter opener high and swiping it in my direction. She really did remind me of Chloe.
Holding up my hands, I started to pace, letting the my duster flare behind me. "I could have killed you by now. I have no reason to because you're a friend and I don't want to kill if I don't have to."
"Conner---"
"I didn't mean to get that far. He's my brother and I'd never really injure him."
She glared at me. "Sure looks injured to me. What do you even want from me?"
Running my hand over a desk that needed to be seriously dusted, I sighed and turned back to her. "I need the records of everything Wayne Industries has been doing in Smallville. Them and Queen as well. I think they've been digging out the meteor rocks."
She blinked. "You! Two years ago, Queen Industries did the same thing all over the county. I was following it back when I was a sophomore. I could never figure it out. The rocks came from the shower and they mutate so they're clearly radioactive. If Oliver and Mr. Wayne want them---"
"I need you to find out if they've been taking any. I don't want to be surprised at all."
She swallowed and stood up as tall as she could. It was laughable when you realized I could beat up someone as powerful as J'onn or Diana. "I won't help you, Clark. Something's wrong with you...it's poisoning you. Just go see Chloe and she'll fix it. That's what she does."
"I'm fine!" I said, flashing heat vision and letting an abandoned part of the cork board burn until Zoe put it out with a bottle of water in front of her. "I feel amazing. I just need to have someone checking things for me."
"Like Chloe would have?"
"I need my own assistant. I work better with someone to pitch ideas off of. You wanted me to get my powers back so why aren't you happy?"
Zoe shook her head and started for the door. "Because you're acting insane. You can't seriously want to help anyone who'd make you think hurting Conner was okay."
I was at the door before she had turned the knob. "So you're not going to do what I ask anymore?"
Zoe looked up at me and spit in my face. "Never."
She really was just like her idol.
"Then tell Conner and Chloe something."
"What?" she asked and her heart was hammering so fast.
With no effort at all, I snapped her left shoulder. "I'm not waiting long for them. I'll take this to Watchtower next."
With that, I was gone.