Fic: I Still Believe (7/?)
Title: I Still Believe (7/?)
Author: babettew54
Category: Superman Returns, Batman Comics
Pairings/Characters: Clark/Lois, Joanne/Samuel, Bruce/Diana, Lex Luthor II, Jason, Connor, Martha/Ben
Rating: T
Word Count: 4,100
Summary: This is a story about secrets and lies how they always come out and usually at the worst possible time.
Disclaimer: DC Comics/Warner Bros. Entertainment owns these characters, except for Joanne Kent and Samuel Hamilton; they’re mine. This is strictly for my own amusement.
Author's Notes: In this next chapter, Conner gets a shock during Kara’s rescue, a bit of regrouping going on here, as four committed couples reconnect, and later one super powered young woman needs a lot of attention. When you get a moment, please tell me your thoughts. Thank you! :D
Banner by hanakt
Previously:
( Chapter 1)( Chapter 2)( Chapter 3)( Chapter 4)( Chapter 5)
( Chapter 6)
x-posted to: (AO3); (FFN)
Chapter 7: Long Time Coming
Inside LexCorp's secret lab:
Talia rushed into the lab through a secret passage out of breath. "Alex, what happened? Superman?"
"He's not Superman, Talia. It's Kon-El, my son."
"But he looks just like him. Are you sure? You may not remember everything, Alex."
"Stop calling me that. My name is Lex," he snapped, annoyed.
All during their bickering, Kon-El went over to Kara and jerked the kryptonite necklace from around her neck and threw it away, and then immediately tried to surround them with his force field but it did not work.
Kara slowly lifted her head then she spoke to him through her mind. Is that you Kal-El?
Conner decided to lie to her for now, but they had to hurry. Yes, it is I. Come with me.
"You can't stop us, Alex, so don't even try," Kon-El told him then he helped Kara to stand. She was barely able to walk on her own.
"Don't move another inch or I'll shoot!" Alex fired when he wouldn't stop. The k-bullets bounced off Conner's back, but shockingly, he felt a few pin pricks as if the bullets had actually hit him.
Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman all arrived just then. Diana went to help Conner with Kara who seemed pretty frightened by the chaos all around her, but seeing Diana did seem to calm her somewhat.
Batman shot dangers at Talia for her part in all of this, while Superman, disgusted with this faux Lex and his assistant tried to keep his temper in check, and then his eyes burned. "I suggest you both leave now or be caught in an inferno."
Bruce briefly locked eyes with Talia then shoved her out the door. Their brief stares were witnessed by Wonder Woman and by Alex.
Alex and Talia did not need to be told twice. Clark proceeded to burn the lap to the ground. As soon as the fire consumed everything in its path, he blew it out with his super breath. The sprinkler system was not fast enough to stop all the flames. The lab was no more.
Clark then left the lab, turned to Alex and Talia, his eyes still burning. "Stay away from my family, or you will regret it."
And with those words hanging in the air, everyone followed Superman out onto the street.
"I'll take her." Batman then took Kara from Kon-El and Diana, picked her up and took her to his Batmobile.
Diana watched them with a thoughtful expression, not knowing what to think. She trusted Bruce, but sometimes he set her teeth on edge. He was an incredible lover and boyfriend, and she was surprised at how long they had been together, but all things must end.
And now she had Talia to think about. How far did her loyalties lie with Luthor II? They still had no idea the person or persons who had sent the photographs to Clark. Maybe I can find out the truth woman-to-woman. Could she have sent them? She sighed to herself. That was not the only reason she wanted to confront Talia, she told herself staunchly. It had nothing to do with Bruce. Her attitude also surprised her, but better to get out now than stay and have her heart broken, but the thing is, there was no way of stopping that from happening now.
The other members of the team watched Bruce for a moment. "I'll meet you all at the Bat Cave shortly." Bruce then jumped inside and took off.
"That was interesting," Clark commented, as he watched Diana out of the corner of his eye. "Are you alright?"
"I'm OK. Why wouldn't I be?" Diana replied still watching the Batmobile until it was out of sight.
"No reason; just asking." He paused. "Are you coming? I'm headed over there now."
"No, but I'll expect an update later today."
"Alright, if you're sure." Clark, Conner and J'onn all lifted up into the sky and took off. J'onn headed back to Watchtower to update the rest of the League.
A few minutes later, Diana also took off and headed to Bruce's apartment. She was so confused right now, so she decided to wait for him there.
~o~o~
Back inside the now destroyed LexCorp lab:
Talia was beginning to wonder if fulfilling Lex's last wishes were worth all of this trouble. She had been stunned to see Bruce again. The negotiations of the sale of the company had been done over the phone and online, but now she couldn't help remembering their haunting past.
Talia had been raised by an Eco terrorist Ra's al Ghul. Her father wanted a suitable heir for his empire and a mate for his daughter. To this end, Ra's masterminded the kidnapping of Batman's partner, Robin, as well as his own daughter, in order to determine the Dark Knight's worth. Batman successfully passed the test but turned down the notion of marriage despite being strongly attracted to Talia. She became torn between the two warring men and, not wishing to be a pawn, left to make her own way in the world.
All of these shocking events had taken place before Bruce and Clark had met years ago on that fateful day in Gotham and before the Justice League had been assembled.
Talia now had her own agenda. Alex would not be taking over the company, if she had anything to say about it. Furious with him, she watched as he surveyed the damage to the lab.
"Look at this mess. You wouldn't listen to me. I told you not to reveal Kara to the world until we had a plan. That was not a smart move. You knew they would come after her." Talia continued to scold Alex for his mistake.
"Blah, blah, blah. I knew they would come, both of them just like before."
"And did you expect they would defeat you again? No, I don't think you did."
"It was all part of my plan. I wanted to see how far they would go to get her back, and now I know." Alex was also thinking about Kon-El. The k-bullets had bounched off his back. His powers were diminished, but he had no idea why.
She crossed her arms. "Oh, I see, and when were you going to inform me of this plan?"
"In due time, my dear, in due time."
"Don't call me my dear. Coming from you, it's creepy."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Don't try my patience, Talia. You are expendable."
"Is that a threat?"
"What do you think?" He left her there staring after him.
I have plans too, Alex, she thought.
~o~o~
High over the skies of Gotham City:
It was now a few hours after daybreak and Lois was awakened by her phone. It was Clark. "Clark, what happened? Do you have Kara?"
"Yes, we have her. She's with Bruce at the cave. I'm headed there now. Conner is with me."
"But why aren't you bringing her here to the house? I made up a room for her."
"We need to check her out first then I'll bring her there in a few days. We want to find out how she's doing and make sure she's up to it. Her powers are still gone, and she's going to need time to adjust."
"Of course, I understand, just keep me informed. I actually can't wait to meet her."
"Well, she can't speak English right now, but that will be remedied shortly."
"I can tell from your voice how excited you are. I'm extremely happy for you Clark."
"Thanks, honey. I'll call you later. Oh, how's Jo? She's home isn't she?"
"Yes, she's home Clark. Everyone is OK. Jason is here looking out for us."
"I'm happy to hear that, Lois. I'm glad you called him to stay over."
"Me too. Bye, honey."
"Bye Lois."
~o~o~
The next morning at LexCorp:
Talia was half asleep at her desk. She should have gone home and gotten some rest. It was imperative that she finalize the sale before Alex found out about it.
Suddenly, Alex walked in on her, surprising her. She tried to shut off her computer, but he was too fast.
She hadn't noticed before how quickly he could move. Did he have superpowers? She shook her head at that ridiculous thought then she suddenly remembered the transplant doctors with their heads together whispering and administering strange vials of blood. She shuddered remembering.
"What are you hiding, Talia?"
"Nothing."
He didn't believe her. "Get up."
"But, I'm busy working."
"I said, get up."
Talia sighed then stood up. "Alex, I don't have time for this."
A few clicks of the mouse, then, "I see you have time to sell my company out from under me."
"It's not your company. It belonged to Lex."
"But I'm his son."
"You are not his son. You're some type of hybrid abomination." She wrinkled her nose as if she smelled something odorous.
Alex stood up then. "How dare you?"
"I dare because I could expose you for who and what you are and then where would you be?"
Alex backed down a little. "I know a threat when I hear one."
"I see we understand each other. Now get out!" Talia demanded and smirked at him.
"How much more time before the sale goes through?"
"A week, maybe longer, I think."
"What do you mean, you think?"
"There are a few details to be worked out." After renewing their plans for the sale, Talia had not heard from Bruce Wayne for about a week which surprised her. She thought he was eager to take LexCorp into the Wayne Foundation, but that had been months ago. Maybe he had changed his mind.
Alex narrowed his eyes at her. "We'll see about that." He turned and left her office.
~o~o~
The Bat Cave a little while after the rescue:
Kara felt stronger by the minute. She lay on a slap of some sort. Her eyes opened slowly then she looked at her surroundings. Strange looking machines surrounded her, and she was surprised when two men wearing the El crest walked over to her. They looked alike, even had on the same costume, but now that they were standing close together, they were different. One was slightly talker than the other, and one was clearly younger. The older one had a bit of gray at his temples. This time she did speak but not with her mind. "Kal-El?"
"I'm Kal-El. This is Kon-El, my son. He rescued you. Can you understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes, I speak English," Kara replied.
"But he said …"
"I led him to believe that I could not speak the language, but I can."
"That was a smart thing to do," Kon-El remarked.
"Thank you." Kara then turned her head and stared at the stern one. "Who is that?"
"That's Batman," Clark replied.
"Bat … man? That's a strange name."
Clark and Conner chuckled.
"How's the examination going … Batman?" Clark asked and kept his smile in place.
Bruce turned from the monitors and gave them the results of his test. "She's stronger than either of you. Her molecular structure is extraordinarily dense meaning she can absorb more of the sun, and she probably won't need the sun's rays as often you two."
"Wow, that's incredible." Clark was astounded.
"What does it mean, Kal-El?" Kara was curious about the stern one's report. "Is he talking about me?"
"Yes, Kara. Here on Earth the yellow sun affects us differently than the red sun on Krypton."
"Oh I see." She frowned not understanding.
"How old are you?" Conner asked, curious about her. Something was not right.
"I'm sixteen."
"Sixteen?!" Conner and Clark exclaimed at the same time. They thought she was legal, eighteen at the very least.
Bruce chuckled at the looks on their faces. "I could have told you. She's just a child."
"I'm not a child, stern face." Kara sat up a bit too quickly. Her head swam. She touched her forehead.
"There, there, lie down, that's it." Clark helped her to lie down.
She watched him for a moment. "Kal-El, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, what is it Kara?"
She stared into his eyes. Can you hear me? Kon-El heard me. Can you?
Clark replied with his mind. Yes, I can hear you.
Kara was truly hurt as tears sprang into her eyes. I called to you days ago, and … no one came.
Clark didn't know what to say. Kara, I … I'm sorry. He took her hand hoping to show her how sorry he was. "Bruce, is there some place we can take her now? Are you done with your tests?"
"Yes, I'm done. You can take her upstairs. Just look for …"
"I know Alfred. Come with me Kara." Clark helped her to sit up and then he carried her out of the cave. He then took the elevator up into the mansion.
"Wow, sixteen? I still can't believe it." Conner shook his as he watched the elevator.
"Maybe they mature faster on Krypton than here on Earth," Bruce commented with a straight face.
Conner chuckled. "I think you're right."
~o~o~
Bruce's high-rise apartment, a few hours later:
Diana had just hung up with Clark, and now she knew the truth. Kara was the last survivor of Krypton, Clark's cousin and more powerful than any other Kryptonian here on Earth, and she was only sixteen.
Diana was actually relieved to hear that. She now felt ashamed for feeling jealous of a mere child, not to mention Talia. Seeing her again after all this time sent a jolt to her system. She tried not to feel jealous when Bruce and Talia stared at each other. What is wrong with me? She thought. You know what it is, just admit it. Her inner voice was relentless. "Shut up, shut up!"
"Who are you talking to?" It was Bruce. He came into the suite dressed to the nines looking so sexy he took her breath away.
She ignored his question but could not help it as her eyes looked him over. "Where are you going dressed like that?"
"Did you forget? We have plans tonight." She was still in her costume. He frowned at her. "What is going on with you, Diana? Even since our 'secret' dropped, you've changed."
Diana had forgotten about their date. She looked away. "I haven't changed."
"Yes, you have." He paused. "Is this because of Talia?"
"No of course not; I know that part of your life is over."
He sighed and walked over to the window. "It was your idea if I remember correctly. You wanted to drop the secrets, the hiding and now everything is different." He ripped off his tie and headed to the dressing room.
She quickly followed him. "Bruce wait, I know everything has changed, but it may take some time to adjust to this 'outing of our relationship.' I'm willing to work at it, but are you?" She waited for him to say something. A full minute went by. "I'll get my things."
Bruce suddenly realized he was not ready to give her up not by a long shot. "You're not going anywhere. Get over here."
"Giving me orders, Bruce? I don't think so." She waited for him to come to her.
He growled under his breath then he came over to her. "You won't need these unless you plan on dodging bullets this evening."
"Bruce wait, I have to say something."
"Diana, now … don't say something you'll regret."
Diana pulled her arm away and stepped back. "Are you sure about this, Bruce?"
"Of course, I'm sure. Aren't you?"
"You know I am, but …"
"No buts Diana, we can make this work. I'm ready and willing. What more do you want?"
"I want all of it Bruce." Diana surprised herself with that answer, but she couldn't keep it in anymore.
Bruce's heart was pounding. This was it, this was the change. Was he ready? "You drive a hard bargain, but I don't run away from a challenge."
"It's not a challenge Bruce. This is between you and me no one else." She waited.
He thought about it for a moment. "I'm ready, Diana."
Her eyes lit up. "Really, Bruce, I mean ..."
"Shut up, enough talking," he murmured and then he kissed her hard slanting his mouth against hers. She kissed him back loving him to a distraction. Her mind gave into her feelings. Her heart and her mind were now in sync together for the first time. It was a thrilling and exciting feeling.
Bruce was thinking about how far they had come over the past few years, from the flirting, the fights, the near death experiences and now this. A commitment to her and only her, but was he really ready? There was one thing he was sure of … he needed her with him no matter what.
That was enough for now.
~o~o~
Conner's apartment, a little while later:
What a night, he thought. Conner rarely felt exhaustion, but ever since his illness and almost dying his body was different from before. He headed into the bathroom, twirled out of his suit and then he saw the bruises on his back.
He didn't feel any different, but it is true. He was now vulnerable to kryptonite and his force field abilities were either gone or diminished, he wasn't sure. I'll have to tell everyone and soon. His Father would be able to help him. Sighing, he was happy to have him and his family in his life.
He then put on his sleeping pants and decided to meet the new day early to meet the sun rise. He didn't want to make too much out of this, but thinking back on the past few years, he did seem to need the sun more often than he had before. Resigned to these changes, he was willing to make that adjustment. He was alive and that was all that mattered.
The bathroom door suddenly opened, just before he could put on his robe. "There you are!" It was Megan, the love of his life. He knew that now. Neither of them had changed. They still looked the same, and even though they had been living together for nearly three years now, they were completely committed to the other.
"Here I am!" He flirted with her then he kissed her hard. Even though he was exhausted, he always found kissing her invigorating and exciting.
"Humm, you missed me. I can tell." Out of the corner of her eye, Megan saw the bruises from the mirror but did not say anything. Conner would tell her what happened eventually.
"Let me show you just how much," he murmurred.
And he did.
~o~o~
A little while later, in bed, Conner had a question. "Are you happy, Megan?"
"Very happy."
"Really?"
"Conner, what's wrong?" She waited for him to explain about the bruises.
"It's nothing."
She leaned up on her elbow to see his face. "I love you, Conner. That hasn't changed and it never will."
He touched her cheek softly. "I guess I just needed to hear it."
"Anytime." She snuggled back into his arms. She sensed his mood, so instead of asking about the bruises, she asked, "So I want to hear all about this 'Kara'!
It's going to be a long night, he thought.
~o~o~
Meanwhile, over at the Kent house:
"When are you coming home?" It was Zatanna. Jason had called to tell her what was happening.
"Not for a few days," Jason responded.
"Oh, I see. I understand. Your family needs you."
"I need you."
"I need you too."
"This is hard."
"Jason, we've been apart before."
"I know, but this is different somehow."
"How do you mean?"
"It's my family and they're in danger. There's a lunatic out there and he could hurt them."
"They'll be alright, as long as you're there to protect them. I have faith in you, Jon."
He liked it when she called him that.
"Well, I'll call you in the morning. How are things in Hawaii?"
"Hot."
That one word sent his heart and mind into a tailspin. "Zee, I have to go."
Zatanna chuckled. "I'm sweating … it's so … hot."
Jason's costume suddenly became too tight. "You're mean."
She laughed then. "Good night, Jon." She paused. "I love you."
"I love you too."
~o~o~
Later that morning at the Kent house:
"I miss my husband," Lois whispered into the telephone.
"I'll be home in few days."
"But Clark, Perry wants a story about Lex Luthor II."
"Oh, now he wants a story?"
"He apologized and I accepted his apology for both of us. He just wanted to spare us from all the craziness that is Lex Luthor."
"I understand but you told him that was not necessary, because we're fine and we can take care of ourselves."
"Yes, I explained all of that to him."
"Good, because that's why I'm calling. I have a scoop. You can print all you have on Kara Zor-El. In a few days, I'll introduce her to the world as Supergirl."
"Supergirl? Is she ready for that? Doesn't she need training and help adjusting? You said it yourself." She paused as she thought about it. "Clark, I don't know about this."
"Lois, everything will be fine."
"How do Bruce and Diana feel about that? I can't imagine that they would go along with it."
"They will."
"Uh, huh, I don't think I'll take that bet."
"You'll see. I have to go. I love you."
"I love you too."
Clark hung up as Bruce came into the kitchen. "Was that Lois?"
"Yes it was. How's Kara this morning?"
"Still resting, I suppose."
"You suppose? Didn't you check on her last night?" Clark was shocked.
"Clark, she's not a child," Bruce commented, getting some coffee.
"Yes, she is. You said so yourself. She knows nothing about our culture or how we live from day to day."
"Shouldn't you be teaching her all of that?" Bruce was getting bored.
"Men!" It was Diana coming into the kitchen and getting a muffin and some coffee. "Alfred let me in. I'll take Kara with me to the island. She can regain her strength and learn a few things about her powers and how to control them. I know that look." She pointed to the two of them." "She'll be in good hands with me."
"How long will she be gone?" Clark wanted to know.
"Only a few months," she responded sipping her coffee.
"Months?" Bruce and Clark asked at the same time.
Diana rolled her eyes. "I'll go get her now." She turned to leave but almost ran into the very person they were discussing.
"Good morning. Oh, hello," Kara greeted Diana pleasantly. "I remember you from last night."
"I'm Diana Prince." They shook hands. "Nice shirt."
"Oh, I'm sorry, but my clothes were dirty. I liked the costume, but I need clothes."
Diana raised an eyebrow at Kara's protectors.
Bruce and Clark both groaned to themselves.
"Come with me, Kara. We need to talk."
TBC!
~o~o~
Song Inspiration: Long Time Coming,Maria Mena
A/N: Wow, a lot of couples in this chapter. I wanted to delve more deeply into these couples and to update them. I love writing superhero ships. It's so much fun. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. Let me know what you're thinking. Reviews are love.
Author: babettew54
Category: Superman Returns, Batman Comics
Pairings/Characters: Clark/Lois, Joanne/Samuel, Bruce/Diana, Lex Luthor II, Jason, Connor, Martha/Ben
Rating: T
Word Count: 4,100
Summary: This is a story about secrets and lies how they always come out and usually at the worst possible time.
Disclaimer: DC Comics/Warner Bros. Entertainment owns these characters, except for Joanne Kent and Samuel Hamilton; they’re mine. This is strictly for my own amusement.
Author's Notes: In this next chapter, Conner gets a shock during Kara’s rescue, a bit of regrouping going on here, as four committed couples reconnect, and later one super powered young woman needs a lot of attention. When you get a moment, please tell me your thoughts. Thank you! :D
Banner by hanakt
Previously:
( Chapter 1)( Chapter 2)( Chapter 3)( Chapter 4)( Chapter 5)
( Chapter 6)
x-posted to: (AO3); (FFN)
Chapter 7: Long Time Coming
Inside LexCorp's secret lab:
Talia rushed into the lab through a secret passage out of breath. "Alex, what happened? Superman?"
"He's not Superman, Talia. It's Kon-El, my son."
"But he looks just like him. Are you sure? You may not remember everything, Alex."
"Stop calling me that. My name is Lex," he snapped, annoyed.
All during their bickering, Kon-El went over to Kara and jerked the kryptonite necklace from around her neck and threw it away, and then immediately tried to surround them with his force field but it did not work.
Kara slowly lifted her head then she spoke to him through her mind. Is that you Kal-El?
Conner decided to lie to her for now, but they had to hurry. Yes, it is I. Come with me.
"You can't stop us, Alex, so don't even try," Kon-El told him then he helped Kara to stand. She was barely able to walk on her own.
"Don't move another inch or I'll shoot!" Alex fired when he wouldn't stop. The k-bullets bounced off Conner's back, but shockingly, he felt a few pin pricks as if the bullets had actually hit him.
Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman all arrived just then. Diana went to help Conner with Kara who seemed pretty frightened by the chaos all around her, but seeing Diana did seem to calm her somewhat.
Batman shot dangers at Talia for her part in all of this, while Superman, disgusted with this faux Lex and his assistant tried to keep his temper in check, and then his eyes burned. "I suggest you both leave now or be caught in an inferno."
Bruce briefly locked eyes with Talia then shoved her out the door. Their brief stares were witnessed by Wonder Woman and by Alex.
Alex and Talia did not need to be told twice. Clark proceeded to burn the lap to the ground. As soon as the fire consumed everything in its path, he blew it out with his super breath. The sprinkler system was not fast enough to stop all the flames. The lab was no more.
Clark then left the lab, turned to Alex and Talia, his eyes still burning. "Stay away from my family, or you will regret it."
And with those words hanging in the air, everyone followed Superman out onto the street.
"I'll take her." Batman then took Kara from Kon-El and Diana, picked her up and took her to his Batmobile.
Diana watched them with a thoughtful expression, not knowing what to think. She trusted Bruce, but sometimes he set her teeth on edge. He was an incredible lover and boyfriend, and she was surprised at how long they had been together, but all things must end.
And now she had Talia to think about. How far did her loyalties lie with Luthor II? They still had no idea the person or persons who had sent the photographs to Clark. Maybe I can find out the truth woman-to-woman. Could she have sent them? She sighed to herself. That was not the only reason she wanted to confront Talia, she told herself staunchly. It had nothing to do with Bruce. Her attitude also surprised her, but better to get out now than stay and have her heart broken, but the thing is, there was no way of stopping that from happening now.
The other members of the team watched Bruce for a moment. "I'll meet you all at the Bat Cave shortly." Bruce then jumped inside and took off.
"That was interesting," Clark commented, as he watched Diana out of the corner of his eye. "Are you alright?"
"I'm OK. Why wouldn't I be?" Diana replied still watching the Batmobile until it was out of sight.
"No reason; just asking." He paused. "Are you coming? I'm headed over there now."
"No, but I'll expect an update later today."
"Alright, if you're sure." Clark, Conner and J'onn all lifted up into the sky and took off. J'onn headed back to Watchtower to update the rest of the League.
A few minutes later, Diana also took off and headed to Bruce's apartment. She was so confused right now, so she decided to wait for him there.
~o~o~
Back inside the now destroyed LexCorp lab:
Talia was beginning to wonder if fulfilling Lex's last wishes were worth all of this trouble. She had been stunned to see Bruce again. The negotiations of the sale of the company had been done over the phone and online, but now she couldn't help remembering their haunting past.
Talia had been raised by an Eco terrorist Ra's al Ghul. Her father wanted a suitable heir for his empire and a mate for his daughter. To this end, Ra's masterminded the kidnapping of Batman's partner, Robin, as well as his own daughter, in order to determine the Dark Knight's worth. Batman successfully passed the test but turned down the notion of marriage despite being strongly attracted to Talia. She became torn between the two warring men and, not wishing to be a pawn, left to make her own way in the world.
All of these shocking events had taken place before Bruce and Clark had met years ago on that fateful day in Gotham and before the Justice League had been assembled.
Talia now had her own agenda. Alex would not be taking over the company, if she had anything to say about it. Furious with him, she watched as he surveyed the damage to the lab.
"Look at this mess. You wouldn't listen to me. I told you not to reveal Kara to the world until we had a plan. That was not a smart move. You knew they would come after her." Talia continued to scold Alex for his mistake.
"Blah, blah, blah. I knew they would come, both of them just like before."
"And did you expect they would defeat you again? No, I don't think you did."
"It was all part of my plan. I wanted to see how far they would go to get her back, and now I know." Alex was also thinking about Kon-El. The k-bullets had bounched off his back. His powers were diminished, but he had no idea why.
She crossed her arms. "Oh, I see, and when were you going to inform me of this plan?"
"In due time, my dear, in due time."
"Don't call me my dear. Coming from you, it's creepy."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Don't try my patience, Talia. You are expendable."
"Is that a threat?"
"What do you think?" He left her there staring after him.
I have plans too, Alex, she thought.
~o~o~
High over the skies of Gotham City:
It was now a few hours after daybreak and Lois was awakened by her phone. It was Clark. "Clark, what happened? Do you have Kara?"
"Yes, we have her. She's with Bruce at the cave. I'm headed there now. Conner is with me."
"But why aren't you bringing her here to the house? I made up a room for her."
"We need to check her out first then I'll bring her there in a few days. We want to find out how she's doing and make sure she's up to it. Her powers are still gone, and she's going to need time to adjust."
"Of course, I understand, just keep me informed. I actually can't wait to meet her."
"Well, she can't speak English right now, but that will be remedied shortly."
"I can tell from your voice how excited you are. I'm extremely happy for you Clark."
"Thanks, honey. I'll call you later. Oh, how's Jo? She's home isn't she?"
"Yes, she's home Clark. Everyone is OK. Jason is here looking out for us."
"I'm happy to hear that, Lois. I'm glad you called him to stay over."
"Me too. Bye, honey."
"Bye Lois."
~o~o~
The next morning at LexCorp:
Talia was half asleep at her desk. She should have gone home and gotten some rest. It was imperative that she finalize the sale before Alex found out about it.
Suddenly, Alex walked in on her, surprising her. She tried to shut off her computer, but he was too fast.
She hadn't noticed before how quickly he could move. Did he have superpowers? She shook her head at that ridiculous thought then she suddenly remembered the transplant doctors with their heads together whispering and administering strange vials of blood. She shuddered remembering.
"What are you hiding, Talia?"
"Nothing."
He didn't believe her. "Get up."
"But, I'm busy working."
"I said, get up."
Talia sighed then stood up. "Alex, I don't have time for this."
A few clicks of the mouse, then, "I see you have time to sell my company out from under me."
"It's not your company. It belonged to Lex."
"But I'm his son."
"You are not his son. You're some type of hybrid abomination." She wrinkled her nose as if she smelled something odorous.
Alex stood up then. "How dare you?"
"I dare because I could expose you for who and what you are and then where would you be?"
Alex backed down a little. "I know a threat when I hear one."
"I see we understand each other. Now get out!" Talia demanded and smirked at him.
"How much more time before the sale goes through?"
"A week, maybe longer, I think."
"What do you mean, you think?"
"There are a few details to be worked out." After renewing their plans for the sale, Talia had not heard from Bruce Wayne for about a week which surprised her. She thought he was eager to take LexCorp into the Wayne Foundation, but that had been months ago. Maybe he had changed his mind.
Alex narrowed his eyes at her. "We'll see about that." He turned and left her office.
~o~o~
The Bat Cave a little while after the rescue:
Kara felt stronger by the minute. She lay on a slap of some sort. Her eyes opened slowly then she looked at her surroundings. Strange looking machines surrounded her, and she was surprised when two men wearing the El crest walked over to her. They looked alike, even had on the same costume, but now that they were standing close together, they were different. One was slightly talker than the other, and one was clearly younger. The older one had a bit of gray at his temples. This time she did speak but not with her mind. "Kal-El?"
"I'm Kal-El. This is Kon-El, my son. He rescued you. Can you understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes, I speak English," Kara replied.
"But he said …"
"I led him to believe that I could not speak the language, but I can."
"That was a smart thing to do," Kon-El remarked.
"Thank you." Kara then turned her head and stared at the stern one. "Who is that?"
"That's Batman," Clark replied.
"Bat … man? That's a strange name."
Clark and Conner chuckled.
"How's the examination going … Batman?" Clark asked and kept his smile in place.
Bruce turned from the monitors and gave them the results of his test. "She's stronger than either of you. Her molecular structure is extraordinarily dense meaning she can absorb more of the sun, and she probably won't need the sun's rays as often you two."
"Wow, that's incredible." Clark was astounded.
"What does it mean, Kal-El?" Kara was curious about the stern one's report. "Is he talking about me?"
"Yes, Kara. Here on Earth the yellow sun affects us differently than the red sun on Krypton."
"Oh I see." She frowned not understanding.
"How old are you?" Conner asked, curious about her. Something was not right.
"I'm sixteen."
"Sixteen?!" Conner and Clark exclaimed at the same time. They thought she was legal, eighteen at the very least.
Bruce chuckled at the looks on their faces. "I could have told you. She's just a child."
"I'm not a child, stern face." Kara sat up a bit too quickly. Her head swam. She touched her forehead.
"There, there, lie down, that's it." Clark helped her to lie down.
She watched him for a moment. "Kal-El, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, what is it Kara?"
She stared into his eyes. Can you hear me? Kon-El heard me. Can you?
Clark replied with his mind. Yes, I can hear you.
Kara was truly hurt as tears sprang into her eyes. I called to you days ago, and … no one came.
Clark didn't know what to say. Kara, I … I'm sorry. He took her hand hoping to show her how sorry he was. "Bruce, is there some place we can take her now? Are you done with your tests?"
"Yes, I'm done. You can take her upstairs. Just look for …"
"I know Alfred. Come with me Kara." Clark helped her to sit up and then he carried her out of the cave. He then took the elevator up into the mansion.
"Wow, sixteen? I still can't believe it." Conner shook his as he watched the elevator.
"Maybe they mature faster on Krypton than here on Earth," Bruce commented with a straight face.
Conner chuckled. "I think you're right."
~o~o~
Bruce's high-rise apartment, a few hours later:
Diana had just hung up with Clark, and now she knew the truth. Kara was the last survivor of Krypton, Clark's cousin and more powerful than any other Kryptonian here on Earth, and she was only sixteen.
Diana was actually relieved to hear that. She now felt ashamed for feeling jealous of a mere child, not to mention Talia. Seeing her again after all this time sent a jolt to her system. She tried not to feel jealous when Bruce and Talia stared at each other. What is wrong with me? She thought. You know what it is, just admit it. Her inner voice was relentless. "Shut up, shut up!"
"Who are you talking to?" It was Bruce. He came into the suite dressed to the nines looking so sexy he took her breath away.
She ignored his question but could not help it as her eyes looked him over. "Where are you going dressed like that?"
"Did you forget? We have plans tonight." She was still in her costume. He frowned at her. "What is going on with you, Diana? Even since our 'secret' dropped, you've changed."
Diana had forgotten about their date. She looked away. "I haven't changed."
"Yes, you have." He paused. "Is this because of Talia?"
"No of course not; I know that part of your life is over."
He sighed and walked over to the window. "It was your idea if I remember correctly. You wanted to drop the secrets, the hiding and now everything is different." He ripped off his tie and headed to the dressing room.
She quickly followed him. "Bruce wait, I know everything has changed, but it may take some time to adjust to this 'outing of our relationship.' I'm willing to work at it, but are you?" She waited for him to say something. A full minute went by. "I'll get my things."
Bruce suddenly realized he was not ready to give her up not by a long shot. "You're not going anywhere. Get over here."
"Giving me orders, Bruce? I don't think so." She waited for him to come to her.
He growled under his breath then he came over to her. "You won't need these unless you plan on dodging bullets this evening."
"Bruce wait, I have to say something."
"Diana, now … don't say something you'll regret."
Diana pulled her arm away and stepped back. "Are you sure about this, Bruce?"
"Of course, I'm sure. Aren't you?"
"You know I am, but …"
"No buts Diana, we can make this work. I'm ready and willing. What more do you want?"
"I want all of it Bruce." Diana surprised herself with that answer, but she couldn't keep it in anymore.
Bruce's heart was pounding. This was it, this was the change. Was he ready? "You drive a hard bargain, but I don't run away from a challenge."
"It's not a challenge Bruce. This is between you and me no one else." She waited.
He thought about it for a moment. "I'm ready, Diana."
Her eyes lit up. "Really, Bruce, I mean ..."
"Shut up, enough talking," he murmured and then he kissed her hard slanting his mouth against hers. She kissed him back loving him to a distraction. Her mind gave into her feelings. Her heart and her mind were now in sync together for the first time. It was a thrilling and exciting feeling.
Bruce was thinking about how far they had come over the past few years, from the flirting, the fights, the near death experiences and now this. A commitment to her and only her, but was he really ready? There was one thing he was sure of … he needed her with him no matter what.
That was enough for now.
~o~o~
Conner's apartment, a little while later:
What a night, he thought. Conner rarely felt exhaustion, but ever since his illness and almost dying his body was different from before. He headed into the bathroom, twirled out of his suit and then he saw the bruises on his back.
He didn't feel any different, but it is true. He was now vulnerable to kryptonite and his force field abilities were either gone or diminished, he wasn't sure. I'll have to tell everyone and soon. His Father would be able to help him. Sighing, he was happy to have him and his family in his life.
He then put on his sleeping pants and decided to meet the new day early to meet the sun rise. He didn't want to make too much out of this, but thinking back on the past few years, he did seem to need the sun more often than he had before. Resigned to these changes, he was willing to make that adjustment. He was alive and that was all that mattered.
The bathroom door suddenly opened, just before he could put on his robe. "There you are!" It was Megan, the love of his life. He knew that now. Neither of them had changed. They still looked the same, and even though they had been living together for nearly three years now, they were completely committed to the other.
"Here I am!" He flirted with her then he kissed her hard. Even though he was exhausted, he always found kissing her invigorating and exciting.
"Humm, you missed me. I can tell." Out of the corner of her eye, Megan saw the bruises from the mirror but did not say anything. Conner would tell her what happened eventually.
"Let me show you just how much," he murmurred.
And he did.
~o~o~
A little while later, in bed, Conner had a question. "Are you happy, Megan?"
"Very happy."
"Really?"
"Conner, what's wrong?" She waited for him to explain about the bruises.
"It's nothing."
She leaned up on her elbow to see his face. "I love you, Conner. That hasn't changed and it never will."
He touched her cheek softly. "I guess I just needed to hear it."
"Anytime." She snuggled back into his arms. She sensed his mood, so instead of asking about the bruises, she asked, "So I want to hear all about this 'Kara'!
It's going to be a long night, he thought.
~o~o~
Meanwhile, over at the Kent house:
"When are you coming home?" It was Zatanna. Jason had called to tell her what was happening.
"Not for a few days," Jason responded.
"Oh, I see. I understand. Your family needs you."
"I need you."
"I need you too."
"This is hard."
"Jason, we've been apart before."
"I know, but this is different somehow."
"How do you mean?"
"It's my family and they're in danger. There's a lunatic out there and he could hurt them."
"They'll be alright, as long as you're there to protect them. I have faith in you, Jon."
He liked it when she called him that.
"Well, I'll call you in the morning. How are things in Hawaii?"
"Hot."
That one word sent his heart and mind into a tailspin. "Zee, I have to go."
Zatanna chuckled. "I'm sweating … it's so … hot."
Jason's costume suddenly became too tight. "You're mean."
She laughed then. "Good night, Jon." She paused. "I love you."
"I love you too."
~o~o~
Later that morning at the Kent house:
"I miss my husband," Lois whispered into the telephone.
"I'll be home in few days."
"But Clark, Perry wants a story about Lex Luthor II."
"Oh, now he wants a story?"
"He apologized and I accepted his apology for both of us. He just wanted to spare us from all the craziness that is Lex Luthor."
"I understand but you told him that was not necessary, because we're fine and we can take care of ourselves."
"Yes, I explained all of that to him."
"Good, because that's why I'm calling. I have a scoop. You can print all you have on Kara Zor-El. In a few days, I'll introduce her to the world as Supergirl."
"Supergirl? Is she ready for that? Doesn't she need training and help adjusting? You said it yourself." She paused as she thought about it. "Clark, I don't know about this."
"Lois, everything will be fine."
"How do Bruce and Diana feel about that? I can't imagine that they would go along with it."
"They will."
"Uh, huh, I don't think I'll take that bet."
"You'll see. I have to go. I love you."
"I love you too."
Clark hung up as Bruce came into the kitchen. "Was that Lois?"
"Yes it was. How's Kara this morning?"
"Still resting, I suppose."
"You suppose? Didn't you check on her last night?" Clark was shocked.
"Clark, she's not a child," Bruce commented, getting some coffee.
"Yes, she is. You said so yourself. She knows nothing about our culture or how we live from day to day."
"Shouldn't you be teaching her all of that?" Bruce was getting bored.
"Men!" It was Diana coming into the kitchen and getting a muffin and some coffee. "Alfred let me in. I'll take Kara with me to the island. She can regain her strength and learn a few things about her powers and how to control them. I know that look." She pointed to the two of them." "She'll be in good hands with me."
"How long will she be gone?" Clark wanted to know.
"Only a few months," she responded sipping her coffee.
"Months?" Bruce and Clark asked at the same time.
Diana rolled her eyes. "I'll go get her now." She turned to leave but almost ran into the very person they were discussing.
"Good morning. Oh, hello," Kara greeted Diana pleasantly. "I remember you from last night."
"I'm Diana Prince." They shook hands. "Nice shirt."
"Oh, I'm sorry, but my clothes were dirty. I liked the costume, but I need clothes."
Diana raised an eyebrow at Kara's protectors.
Bruce and Clark both groaned to themselves.
"Come with me, Kara. We need to talk."
TBC!
~o~o~
Song Inspiration: Long Time Coming,Maria Mena
A/N: Wow, a lot of couples in this chapter. I wanted to delve more deeply into these couples and to update them. I love writing superhero ships. It's so much fun. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. Let me know what you're thinking. Reviews are love.