The Earth Like a Jewel, Glittering, Falling...

[jij]

Pairing: Clark/Bruce
Rating: R
Disclaimer: The boys belong to DC and to each other, but not to me.
Notes: The next in a series expanding the "Absolute Power" story arc from Jeph Loeb's run in Superman/Batman. ( Other stories here).
Summary: As the new rulers of the globe celebrate their first Christmas after their takeover, the question is raised

Comments

[jij]

But weren't you supposed to be writing the happy right now? You broke your promise. wahhh!

*grins goofily*

Sorry. Decided I had to hit bottom with the poignant before I could climb up a bit. I think it's tmelange's fault, I was reading hers and it made me sad and this was the result.

[jij]

*taps her foot and looks at sasha_anu*

Well? :)

[rubynye]

"This is the first chance I've gotten to really explore this place, Clark, you wouldn't believe it! It's got everything, it's amazing. They must have had plans in place to build it the minute we took over." Oh, that's a Bruce who grew up with Clark for a brother. In some ways it's kind of remarkabl how happy they are in this dystopian alternate universe.

And then the Black Mercy! Oh, painful and perfect.

This is a remarkable series. :)

[jij]

In some ways it's kind of remarkabl how happy they are in this dystopian alternate universe.

Yep, the whole series comes from watching the scenes in "Absolute Power" and thinking "...They're so happy!" I wanted to see more of Bruce being all happy and protective of Clark. He can be quite an enthusiastic kid in this version...

[tmelange]

I forgot to mention how much I love the title to this story. It is haunting me. I've been thinking about it all day...

[jij]

*does happy dance* Me too!

The title came before the story. :) I knew Clark had to get the globe and had to drop it, but couldn't come up with a good reason why Mr. Super-Reflexes would drop it. And then I remembered "The Man Who Has Everything" and just slapped my head and said "Why did it take me so long to think of that?"

[tmelange]

There's always so much that I *could* say about your stories that I try not to go overboard. I'm glad i remembered to come back and comment about the title because it is very unique and lovely.

[jij]

What the heck is that plant

Ah, the Black Mercy. It's a weapon used by Mongul. And the heartbreaking thing for this story is that the Black Mercy works by showing you your secret heart's desire. Batman, for once, gets it wrong. :(

I'm glad you liked it! I'm not sure where Bruce got his gift, but I agree there's good odds he made it himself. :)

[jij]

Bruce really is the man who has everything in this one. And yes, I might not end up focusing on it (I'm in a string of Clark-POV stories now), but I would think Bruce looks back on that and says "Damnit!"

June, right? We're into June?

June is up next! And I've been working on June pretty steadily for over a month, so I have high hopes I can get it out for merfilly's birthday on the 7th.

You dreamt about my series? I'm moved. I dream about it too, but that's a little more understandable. :) Gosh, that is a great image, Clark being up in the Watchtower and and imagining Bruce's face in the glass... *files it away in case Clark can't get his act together memory-wise*

[vipers_in_love]

Ay, poor Clark. It's like seeing his version of hell, which comes true. Good for freedom, not so good for S/B...

I liked this image so very much:

Caught between fire and ice, Clark opened his eyes and saw the Earth hanging, luminous in the star-dusted sky. In the black glass he could see Bruce's face reflected, his eyes closed and lips slightly parted, lost in dreamy passion. Clark felt his breath catch in his throat at the sight of his lover's face, spangled and studded with stars, hovering over the Earth like a rapturous angel. So beautiful...so precious... and then all coherent thought was lost in the wonder of what Bruce could do to him.

Fire and ice.

Oh, and this one. I read it and nodded. You hit the nail on the head.

Behind Clark, Bruce saw their parents standing, frozen. Saturn Queen had her hand over her mouth; his fathers' eyes were wide. They looked, he thought for a split second, like children who had been caught playing with a toy they had no right to.Absorbing stuff. I really admire the way you're putting this

[jij]

bless you for updating so frequently!:)

Once a story has its hooks in me I have little choice! I'm actually almost done the next one but am deliberately holding off and polishing it up until merfilly"'s birthday on the 7th. I think the delay will actually result in a better story at the end...I'm so terrible at revising stuff, I tend to say "I'm done, let's get this up fast!"

[jij]

And heh, that should be merfilly (Bad username! Bad!) I so often get those tags wrong and then I can't go in and edit a comment, which is really annoying...