When Devils Speak the Truth chapter 10
Title: When Devils Speak the Truth
Fandom: Smallville
Guest Characters: Johnny, Ben and Susan from Fantastic Four; Sheppard, Lorne and McKay from Stargate Atlantis; Mystique, Pyro and Iceman from X-Men (movieverse).
Characters: As many of them as possible, from as many other fandoms as I can manage and still keep track.
Genre: Future Fic, AU, slash, whumpage abounds
Pairings: Clark/Oliver, Clark/Johnny Storm
Rating: R - that means adults only people, you have been informed
Warnings: MM Slash, death, torture, genocide, apocalyptic themes, sex, sacrifice,
persecution, religious stupidity.
Summary: Clark refuses his destiny and is thrust into the future, a future where he never became the hero he was meant to be. He must survive on an Earth that is dying and face friends and loved ones who can no longer be trusted. Reuniting with Oliver tests the bond they once thought unbreakable and Clark must decide what being a hero actually means.
Links to: Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5
Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9
Chapter Ten: Carrying a Torch
Clark touched his communicator and it beeped in response, of course - Chloe had been blocking the signals, now that she was gone the radio was open.
“Iceman!” commanded Clark. “Get in here now.”
Iceman acknowledged as Clark continued to hold Oliver’s wounds. He looked around the room, something niggling in the back of his mind. Beside him Johnny stifled a sob as he cradled Oliver’s head.
Lana’s prediction came back to him.
He had just assumed that Lex would be the devil, that he would have to meet Lex and somehow whatever Lex said would lead Clark to the correct path. If it had been anyone else but Lana he would never have believed all this seer business; but she was positive that he must listen, must follow what she had told him. Chloe was the devil… no, he shook his head. Whatever she had become she was not, could never be that; he couldn’t discount what she had said though
You cannot save anyone Clark, not me, not Oliver and not even yourself
He stared at the smoking pile of bones and ash; she had been talking about herself, he couldn’t save her either. Oliver, he couldn’t save Oliver. The body beneath him writhed and the blood had slowed but still pushed through his fingers. Oliver’s face was pale, the blood contrasting against his chin in the harsh torchlight. At least he still breathed but it was so feint that his lips barely moved.
Beside him Johnny stifled a sob as he cradled Oliver’s head; fearful eyes looked deep into his own and for some reason Lana’s words echoed in his head.
At the moment of greatest peril you will not know the enemy, only when devils speak the truth can you be sure of the path. Hold true to your love and allow humanity to prevail.
What path? Surely this was a moment of peril. He really hated prophecies and their inability to make sense until after the event. Chloe couldn’t be the devil, not her - yet… Clark thought about it and the way Chloe had spoken, her phrasing. The words were not her own, whatever had been done to her, she did not think that way but Lex did. Those were his words spewing from her mouth. He told her that the red sun made Clark vulnerable, that she would be able to stop him.
If that were true Lex would have come here himself; he would want to see Clark when the end came. Instead he had left it to Chloe and the Lex he knew never entrusted the vital tasks to anyone but himself.
beware for what is real can be distorted by that which you hold as truth
Chloe had believed, she had spoken it as truth - but it couldn’t be. If it was, if his powers had gone then Lex would be here right now, gloating and with a gun to his head.
Which meant that the sun was not draining his powers - it was something else.
His mind worked at lightning speed, Oliver was dying in his arms and he couldn’t let this happen.
“Johnny,” he said softly, then when he didn’t answer. “Johnny!”
“Clark,” Johnny responded and turned fear filled eyes to him.
“I want you to search this room, look for anything that seems out of place - a false wall, a box anything.”
“But-.”
“Just do it!” hissed Clark and Johnny leapt to obey.
That brought him back to the original problem - if he needed the words Chloe had spoken to guide him he was still at a loss. What paths were open to him anyway? Lana had said he would face two choices, what choices did he have here and now?
“There’s nothing Clark, apart from Victor’s body its just an empty room,” announced Johnny.
Iceman came rushing in, “Clark, what-?” He came up short when he saw a bloodied Oliver in Clark’s arms.
“No questions,” said Clark, laying Oliver gently on the ground and backing off. “Freeze him, now!”
Iceman was quick and nodded, understanding Clark’s strategy. He held out a hand but Clark held up his hand, “Wait!”
Clark felt Oliver’s suit, it was bulkier and had those extra implants. He tore one open and flinched back, the inside glowed with shards of green kryptonite.
“Johnny! Get these out, now!” Johnny plucked them out of the folds, knowing what it was and rushed outside. Oliver was still alive, barely but even as his powers returned Clark could hardly hear his heartbeat. He stood back and indicated to Iceman.
A jet of super-cold air shot out, enveloping Oliver and in seconds he was encased in a solid block of ice. Putting a hand on the ice to wipe away some condensation and allow him to see Oliver’s face Clark grimaced. He had to believe this gave Oliver time, turning to Iceman he asked silently.
Iceman put his hand on the block. “As long as I monitor him I can keep him like this for days, maybe longer - but that doesn’t mean he would survive after we thawed him.”
“He will,” whispered Clark. “Oliver is a survivor.”
Chloe’s words echoed in his head: In the end its all about survival. She must’ve known she would not get out alive, yet she spoke about survival. Chloe hadn’t been talking about herself. Perhaps, deep down underneath what she had become a little of the old Chloe remained, leaving that one little clue to help him out.
He turned to Iceman. “Can we secure this base?”
“For a while maybe, bring in some extra teams, but once Lex knows we’re here they’ll send in troops, or just blast us.”
“Do it,” Clark looked up at Iceman and saw in his eyes respect, somehow he knew these people would do what he said. Why, in such a short time, would they just give command to him? Who knew, but he wasn’t about to reject it. Iceman started speaking on the radio, issuing orders rapidly.
“Iceman,” continued Clark. “Arrange to get Oliver out, and then have an evacuation plan once I give the signal.”
CKCKCKCKCK
Clark stood on the roof, watching the pitched battle take place in front of the facility. Oliver’s forces seemed to holding their own so Clark concentrated on soaking up as much sunlight as possible. The amount may have been meagre but it was still feeding him strength. Lex must have known that simply turning the sun down would not rob Clark of his powers - but it is what he wanted everyone else to think. The fact was the sun shining down on them, the red orb hanging in the sky - was not a red sun.
“Clark, what are we doing here?” asked Johnny, obviously itching to join the battle rather than worry about Oliver.
“Johnny, look up and what do you see?”
“The sky, the sun?”
“And what colour is it, the sun?”
“Um, red Clark, like it has been for months.”
Clark got closer to Johnny. “Wrong - its still the same sun Johnny, out in space it’ll still be giving out the wonderful white light we all remember.”
Johnny had been in space, he was a former astronaut so he looked at Clark with understanding dawning in his eyes. “Its only atmospheric interference making it red, reduced in power only the strongest light spectrum - red - makes it through to us.”
“Exactly,” remarked Clark. “Which means my powers have not been syphoned off because of the sun - it’s still providing the same mix of radiation I need, however reduced, for my powers.”
“But you’ve been feeling off for days, you said so.”
“The kryptonite in Oliver’s uniform, probably some on the plane, in the other bases. Just trace amounts, enough to weaken me but not make me sick.”
“A ruse,” nodded Johnny. “To make you think you were powerless, letting Lex win without ever having to face you.”
“Something like that.”
“So what now, we go and take him out, chop off the head?”
“No.”
“No?”
Once again Lana’s words echoed in his head.
Follow the path laid out and trust only your heart. For all that you have endured, for all that you will face there is but one true path. Two choices you will face, one will see all that you love die and the other will restore your destiny.
He knew now, what he had to do. Two choices. If he stayed and fought Lex he would save lives, maybe stop the rampant evil in the world - but the earth would still die. As Chloe had said - he could not save anyone. No, but he could give them a chance to survive, give humanity the choice to get through this or wither and die.
Restore his destiny, do what his father asked of him and sacrifice all that he was for the humans of this world.
They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you... my only son.
He didn’t need to kill Lex to show them the light.
Hold true to your love and allow humanity to prevail
Thinking of Oliver he now knew what Lana had meant, in order to stay true to Oliver he had to be willing to do the unthinkable, to do what no-one expected him to do. Leave these people to prevail, using his life to provide a final gift.
“Johnny,” said Clark, embracing the other and Johnny automatically snuggled his head into Clark’s neck. “You must do something for me,” he whispered into the other’s ear. “Tell the world our story. Tell them of Oliver, of Victor and A.C. and of Bart, of Reed - and yes even of Chloe. Let them know of all the people that have died for them, given their lives even when they were saving the very people that persecuted them. Heroes Johnny, the world needs them, not just to save them but to lead the way. Kal’El cannot save humanity, he never could - but the idea of Kal’El can. Kal’El is you, me, Susan, Ben, Iceman, Pyro, Lorne, Sheppard...McKay, and every one who fights down there and across the world.
“Lex may have taken the light but he didn’t take away freedom, or destroy good - those things can only be given away. Choice Johnny, all we do is give people choice. What they do with those choices I cannot control, no more than this apocalyptic religion can. I am going to restart the sun, after that it is up to them.” He pulled back a little and gazed into Johnny’s tear stained eyes. “I love Oliver so much, and I love you and I made that choice, knowing I shouldn’t and knowing it was wrong didn’t stop me. I knew in here,” he thumped his chest, “That it was right, even if it was wrong.”
Johnny laughed. “That makes no sense.”
“Neither do we… the power of Kal’El was never mine, it belongs to anyone who dreams of a better future, and is willing to sacrifice for it.”
“Clark, why are you talking like this, like you’re leaving?”
“Because Johnny,” Clark took a final look into Johnny’s eyes, so full of trust and hope and fear and sadness. Using his super-speed Clark grabbed the box from Johnny, broke open an electrical conduit and hugged Johnny close.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. Clark broke open the box and brought up the shard of kryptonite between them, at the same time letting the conduit make contact. His world exploded in pain as the raw power coursed through them, igniting Johnny into flame instantly and dropping Clark to his knees. A green glow surrounded them and the pain intensified before flashing out. The conduit went flying and the piece of kryptonite disintegrated into dust.
CKCKCKCK
Clark came awake, he had probably only been out for moments. Looking over he could see Johnny still on the ground, his fire out but smoke curling up from the roof around him. Let’s hope this worked thought Clark and held out his hand, concentrating he was relieved when it burst into flame. He couldn’t be sure that their powers were interchangeable but had a hunch it would work. He super-sped to the door and back just to make sure his powers were still working. In the distance he could see several helicopters approaching, their own he hoped and went and got a flare from his gear. Letting it light he threw it across the roof then bent down to check on Johnny.
The man was still breathing and as Clark touched his cheek Johnny opened his eyes. Leaning in Clark kissed him deeply and smiled.
“Sorry about that, I can get to the sun but needed your power to re-ignite it.”
“And there was no less painful way?” asked Johnny cheeklily.
“Not that I know of, McKay kind of mentioned you can heat up hotter than the sun and it got me thinking…”
“What?” said Johnny, a worried expression on his face.
“You were going to be the nova bomb weren’t you?”
Johnny’s sad smile was all the answer he needed.
Clark kissed him again. “This is your world Johnny, you gotta stay and look after it.”
“Clark, you’ll die.”
Frowning slightly Clark looked up at the dull red sun. “Maybe, who knows?”
“What about Oliver?”
Clark sighed, the sounds of battle and helicopters was getting closer so he knew they had little time. “You’ll look after him, I left a long time ago Johnny, I love him but the Oliver I know, it isn’t the same and never would be.”
“Liar,” grinned Johnny.
It was true, no matter which world or time Clark knew that he would love Oliver Queen. It was why he had to do this, why he couldn’t leave it to anyone else. It was not Chloe’s words that had shown him the path but her actions; she had sacrificed herself for his survival. Maybe she had been the devil, but in the end she had done what Clark needed.
Clark made ready to leave and leaned in for one more kiss. “I love you Johnny.”
Johnny brought his lips close but spoke before they touched. “I know, that’s why you cannot do this.”
“I have to,” their lips were almost touching so Clark saw the change in Johnny’s eyes before he spoke again.
“No Clark, I mean you really can’t do this.” His hand shot out and planted something on Clark’s chest. The world immediately went blurry and Clark felt the familiar sickness in his chest.
Kryptonite!
Johnny had put kryptonite on him.
Standing quickly and stepping back Johnny gave a sad smile. “I saved a little, thought I might need it when you did something foolish.”
“Johnny, no,” said Clark weakly, unable to remove the kryptonite. He knew this wasn’t that type of betrayal, knew from the look in Johnny’s eyes what the man was planning.
“I’m sorry Clark,” choked Johnny, tears streaming down his cheeks. “But this is my mission, it always was.”
His body erupted in flames, the tears vaporizing, but Clark could still see the hurt in his eyes.
“Its alright Johnny,” he rasped. “I forgive you.” What else could he do, Johnny had known what he was up to and played along. Now with Clark’s power and his own he would do exactly what Clark had meant to. How could he hate him for that? “I still love you, good luck…hero.”
A smile flashed on Johnny’s flaming face and he crouched, ready to take off. “I love you too Clark…tell Susan, and Ben-.”
“I will.” Whispered Clark and let his tears flow as Johnny lifted off the ground and shot into the sky. He managed to remove the kryptonite and fling it away, standing almost immediately. Johnny was still visible but Clark stopped himself from flying after him.
Hold true to your love and allow humanity to prevail
The awful truth of that statement hit home and Clark allowed himself to cry openly. Loving someone meant letting them fulfil their own destiny, and honouring their sacrifice. The chopper arrived and hovered above Clark, he could see Sheppard signalling from the cockpit and Clark waved back. He could have just flown up but his body didn’t want to move, he just wanted to collapse and let everything fade into oblivion.
In a matter of hours he had lost his best friend, almost lost the love of his life and another whom he was just beginning to love.
Taking a last look at the red sun Clark swore under his breath at it and promised himself that he would never forget the smiling face of Johnny Storm,
hero,
friend,
lover.
Tbc…