more Zod!preg
Title: You Have Your Father’s Eyes
Summary: Zod has babies. What’s an evil warlord to do?
Pairing: Zod/Jor-El, Zod/ many others. He’s a sex god. Expect everything warm to be fucked, so…
Rating: NC-17 because I’m a perv
Warning: Severe plot bastardization (and Clark bastardization), but IC (I hope), and MPREG. Twice!
Spoilers: Smallville through season five, Superman II, basic Batman canon, probably.
Krypton
20 Years Ago
Kryptonopolis Holding Facility
Two days ago, Zod had set down to dinner with his partners and requested something quite unorthodox.
“But, the house name of the bearer is always the one to be given to a child?” Lara looked concerned, but intrigued. She reached over and touched Zod’s hand.
“I don’t intend to leave you. Either of you. But… I have no house. The name Zod is but a name given to worthless street children of Kandor.” He looked her in the eye earnestly and gripped her hand. Lara would understand this. Her house was hardly well known either, and despite the lip service to equality, people’s minds were harder to change. Lara had spent more than one evening during their early days together complaining about how the other medics looked down their nose at a girl from the House of Van.
“Dru that isn’t true!” Jor-El protested. Zod pressed his lips into a line and drew in a breath through his nostrils. His Jor could be so naïve.
“I have risen above my station, true, but there is no power to the name beyond my own. The House of El, however…”
“Your family does have quite the history,” Lara admitted. She picked up a vegetable, dipped it, and waved it in front Zod’s bowed lips. He snatched it with his teeth playfully, to Lara’s delight. “And I think there is a ring to the House of Zod-El.”
“I assure you, as he grows, our son will come to have pride in both of his names. I simply want the best for him.” Zod had assured them. Jor-El had reluctantly agreed. He didn’t want to take the honor due to their child’s bearer, but the idea of their son being proud of the heritage of the House of El appealed to him. They had been a name in science for centuries, even before the ban on interplanetary travel.
Now, Zod sat uncomfortably in a white holding cell and a full-body shiver ran through him. His body involuntarily jerked then jackknifed back into a curl. He could feel the sweat dripping down his face and neck. He decided then and there that his boy would have to be an only child.
When the military officers had come for him, his Jor and Lara had been out. They’d thrown him against the wall, grabbed him violently and begun to rough him up before even reaching for their badges or holding cuffs. His voice had cracked in panic as he shouted as loudly as he could for them to be more gentle, that he would come with them willingly, if they’d only take care for his baby’s sake. The look on their faces had almost been worth the shame of being lead out of their home space in chains.
According to the officers, Peru-Col had led the Council in charges against him. If he were found guilty, the Council would soon sentence him to the Phantom Zone, perhaps for eternity. His pregnancy put a snare in their plans, however. They would have to wait until the child was born before sending him there.
Hours passed as he rolled his shoulders, pressed his head against the wall and arched his back, listened to his own ragged breathing echo through the empty cell. He knew that although he could not see outside of the cell, others could see in. He had watched perhaps hundreds of unsuspecting citizens in a cell like this one, and he did not want them to hear him cry out. He hoped that Lara and Jor were on the other side, waiting for the guards to let them in to visit. He could take failure in his enterprise, although success was too too important for their species’ survival. He didn’t think he could take them leaving him.
Zod cringed at the hopeful noise he made as the cell door opened. A guard walked in and Zod wondered if he were to be brought before the Council in labour. Lara followed, dressed in her medic’s smock and looking no less deadly than a black ops officer.
“Oh, Dru.” She flew to his side and drew out a cloth to wipe over his forehead. Her face was a cool mask.
“Be careful of him, doc.”
“Silence. Get out,“ She snapped in a thick, low voice.
“They told me-“
“I don’t care. Get out and don’t come back unless you have Jor-El with you.” Lara turned back to Zod. The conversation was over, and the guard walked out abashed. Zod gave her a lopsided grin.
“I unnn... Mmmm.” She pulled out a scanner and began running it over him. He fought the spasming of his body. “I… I am very glad you are… here.”
“They messaged us at the office. I cannot believe they just took you into custody like that. I heard what they did to you.” Her nostrils flared. Zod wondered if she would help him out of this cell, although he had been unable to stand on his own for a while now. She breathed a sigh of relief. “They didn’t harm the fetus. I think… you’re early, you know.”
“I am aware.” Zod tried to catch his breath. He watched her hands feeling his gravid belly skillfully. “What are they saying? Has the Council…”
”Jor-El has argued with them as much as he can. They threw him out. He’s been watching in the observation room since then. Off with your pants.”
Zod raised a brow. “How many people are in that observation room?”
“OFF.” She ordered, taking the matter into her own hands. “Turn away from that wall, though.”
Zod braced himself against the wall and tried to lift his hips so Lara could remove his trousers. A rush of warm liquid flooded out from between his legs. “What the fuck was that??”
“That means the baby is coming,” she replied softly, sliding his pants over his hips.
“Well, I knew that already!!” he shot back shortly.
“It’s okay, Dru.” She shucked off his pants and shot a wickedly dangerous look over her shoulder at the people in the observation room. On her knees, Lara edged over to Zod’s side, cupping his face with one hand and reaching the other between his legs. He flinched. That area had never hurt to the touch before. “It’s okay. You will be fine and the baby will be fine. You must remain calm, and trust me, all right?”
Her voice was meant to be reassuring, and it was. Firm and professional. Her eyes were nervous and worried. They flitted back to the wall and pleaded. Jor-El, please come. We need you.
***
Jor-El dragged yet another hand through his hair. He was a nervous wreck and looked it. He couldn’t stand that they’d left his Dru in there alone with no help. That they hadn’t been there to make sure the guards who had taken him weren’t more careful, hadn’t shaken him up and caused an early labour. That the Council had ordered him out of their proceedings, declaring that he was too close to the issue to be of help. A moment ago Tal-Al had come in to tell him that Zod would be sent into the Phantom Zone the moment his child was born.
And it chilled him to the bone that somehow he knew that his Dru was guilty.
Torture. Illegal experiments. Laws controlling the people that bordered on sheer tyranny. Hacking into the Eradicators’ programming to make them his own. He knew his Dru. He knew that Zod would do these things if he thought they were necessary to save their people. He knew that Zod would not hesitate to get his hands dirty for the greater good. At least the greater good as Zod perceived it. Jor-El wasn’t sure if he wanted their salvation at the cost of their spirits as Kryptonians.
“Please.” He was surprised to find his voice choking with tears. His blurred vision showed him the love of his life, leaning weakly onto Lara. He heard him crying out in pain. “Please, Tal-Al. Let me see him. Let me help him.”
Tal-Al’s thin, dark arms encircled his shoulders gently. “Peru-Col and Seig-An told us that we should leave Zod alone for this, but I insisted that we meet his medical needs by sending in a medic.”
Jor-El looked up at her. She gave him a thin smile. “Go. This may be the last time you are able to see him.”
Jor-El did not hesitate. He jumped up and ran around the corner to the door leading into Zod’s cell. Tal-Al nodded to the guard.
Lara held Zod by the shoulders and was muttering soothingly to him. Her eyes bulged at the sight of Jor-El, and she ruffled Zod’s sweat-soaked hair and looked into his eyes. “Jor’s here, babe. He’s here.”
Zod craned his head to see him. He reached out his hand. “Come here?”
Lara eased him into Jor-El’s arms, then picked up her scanner and gave Zod a quick sweep. “Hold him. Keep him calm.”
”I am calm,” Zod snapped at her. Lara rolled her eyes and rose to her feet.
“Where are you going?” Jor-El asked, settling into a comfortable position with Zod.
“I have make sure we get an incubator in here. He’s early, Dru,” she responded to the plaintive look on Zod’s face. “And… I’ll see if I can’t get a room prepped in the medical tower just in case the Council has a bout of sense in the next few hours. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
“Is something wrong? You need to tell me,” Zod begged.
Lara sighed and fidgeted on her way out the door. “All right… The baby is fine. For now. He’s not in distress, but you’re bleeding, which means you’re both in danger. You could go into shock. He could start having problems with his heartbeat. Preferably they’d let me take you to the tower, but I doubt they will considering the charges, so I’ll do what I can from here. You need to stay calm and try not to stress yourself any more than you already are, okay?”
“Just save my son.”
She walked back over to swiftly kiss him, then Jor-El, who was clinging dearly to Zod. “I love you both. Take care of him, Jor.”
“I will.” He watched Lara leave the room briskly. “Just tell me what you need.”
Zod shook his head. “Just hold me.” His voice was uncertain and shaky. He felt his body throw itself into another session of involuntary jackknifing. Jor-El held him as tightly and steadily as he could, with one hand protectively on the curve his Dru’s belly. When the jerking died down again, Zod went limp in Jor-El’s arms. He petted the edges of Zod’s hair worriedly. If Zod survived this, the guards who had taken him would be tortured severely. For as long as possible before they died.
***
Present
Phantom Zone
When one doesn’t have a body, it’s hard to register emotion. So connected to our corporeal selves, the feeling of panic is so accompanied by physical sensations that without them the feeling itself becomes a psychological torment.
Clark’s heart could not speed up. There was no spine for a chill to run down or muscles to tense in fear. His ghostly form could not punch a wall, and there nothing he could do. He could only scream mentally. Seven minutes ago, he watched as Lex slumped onto the floor and stopped breathing. His naked form was awkward and limp, and the machine supporting him let out a shrill whine.
Hurry up, Fine. Come back! You got him into this, and you’d better save him!
Clark noticed several other of the inhabitants of this place float by in interest.
Is that Zod? Peru-Col looked on with interest.
It cannot be, her companion replied. But it does bear a resemblance to Zod’s old form.
Peru-Col smirked at Clark. You chose a mate who takes after your bearer. How sweet.
He isn’t my mate! Clark protested. Peru-Col exchanged a look with her partner.
Fine flashed into the room. His hands were immediately on the support machine. “The machine is working. What’s wrong with you?”
He knelt to the floor and ran his hands over Lex’s body. His face was hard, but his brows had gone askew with confusion. “What do you need? Tell me what you need.”
I dunno, Mr. I’m So Much Smarter Than Kryptonians. Maybe blood. Or food that didn’t come through an IV. Maybe some clothes! Unable to do much else, he swung at the air and pretended that it was Fine at the end of his fist.
“Hrm.” Fine rolled Lex’s body over.
Nice. Peru-Col added with admiration.
Stop looking at him! Clark gave her a glare. She shot a knowing look to the others.
Bony hands moved over Lex’s chest, giving out electricity like a pair of paddles. The pale body jerked and was still. Again, Fine shocked his chest. A third time. The machine ceased its whining, but Lex’s eyes did not open.
I did not know humans could survive like that. An extremely tall man with long dark hair floated over. Clark remembered him complaining to anyone who would listen that when they were freed, Ursa and Peru-Col would be facing his wrath. Col hadn’t seemed impressed.
Lex is a little more than human, Clark replied somewhat admiringly. Please wake up.
Over at Club Zero, the Fine clone masquerading as Lois approached Lionel Luthor.
”Hey, Warbucks’ Daddy. Come over here,” it ordered. Chloe looked up from her laptop and quickly intercepted the clone.
“Um, hi, cuz. Is Luthor Senior bothering you?” She had to fake her way through this somehow. Bruce had discussed his concerns with her earlier, and she had been watching Lois’ behavior. Her accent was off, and she moved wrong. Fine had many abilities, but he wasn’t much of an actor.
“I am doing nothing of the sort, Miss Sullivan.” Lionel slipped his hands into his pockets and regarded Chloe curiously. She fidgeted with her hands and looked up at Lois.
“Look, this is kind of pressing here, so… could you just come outside with me for a minute?” It raised the tone of its voice to a bitchy soprano.
“Sure, I’ll come,” Chloe answered. The clone scowled at her.
“That one. That one is the one I need.” It pointed at Lionel.
“Are you shopping, Miss Lane?”
“I’m losing my temper, and I don’t have time to discuss this.” It grabbed his arm and pulled roughly.
“Hands off of me.” Lionel resisted. Bruce, who had noticed from across the room, slid himself in between the two bodies.
“Let’s just calm down here.”
“You’re lucky I recognize how upset he would be if I broke your neck,” the clone said tersely and shoved Bruce aside. He hit the floor, rolled, and was on his feet again in a moment, grabbing Chloe and pulling her out of the way.
“Tell us what you want.”
A small crowd gathered around them. The clone looked around. “What I want has hardly been a matter of discussion of late unless I’ve forced the issue.”
It reverted to the sharp-cheeked humanoid form with which they were most familiar. “I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to reveal myself without good reason, but there is too much at stake here. You need to come with me, Mr. Luthor. Now.”
“What, are you going to pick us off one by one?”
“I would like to.” Fine tapped his foot. “We do not have time for this.”
“Take me instead,” Bruce insisted. He was sure that he could find a way out once he was taken.
“What’s your antigen count and blood type?” Fine ran his eyes over Bruce, as though he was looking inside him.
“…what?”
“Get out of my way.” Fine moved to pick up Lionel. The older man dangled from his arms, he scanned him and then swore profusely in an alien tongue. “You’ll have to do.” Suddenly a wall of fire rushed at him. Nevaeh saw him try to dart away as he dropped Lionel to the ground and pushed the fire surrounding her through him. The clone screamed and melted.
“Ah... nicely done.” Lionel motioned as though he were going to pat her on the back, but was careful not to actually touch her. More than one person had burned themselves on her before learning to steer clear after she flamed up.
“Son of a bitch.” Someone screamed.
Chloe turned and felt herself stumble backward. It was the ship, shifting into place in the middle of their hideout. She wanted to scream and cry. It was over.
The ship yawned open slowly and another Fine stepped out, holding something very white and very wilted. It was connected to him with some kind of tubes. He hopped down and laid it on the floor.
“Lex!” Lionel rushed forward to the crumpled form of his son.
“He needs blood, I think. Now,” Fine insisted. “You aren’t a match, but with his immune system, I don’t think I’d find one on this planet.”
***
Krypton
20 Years Ago
Medical Tower
Zod woke groggily, at first uncertain where he was. He thought, perhaps, that he must be in the Phantom Zone, and that the particular floating sensation must be what it was like to no longer have a body.
As he came to gradually, the pain centered him and made him realize that he must still have a body, to ache so. He could feel the strained muscles all over his body, throughout his back and particularly in his stomach and pelvic area. He couldn’t sit up at all, but he could see that he was in a bed in the Medical Tower, connected to several machines. Suddenly, he slid a hand over his belly. The bulge was gone. The child gone. He felt hollow.
“Jor! Lara?” His voice was raspy and weak. Had he been screaming? He hoped none of the military had seen him giving birth, although he doubted he’d been that lucky. Stories about the birthing cries of Zod were probably already out among the lower infantry. He waited anxiously for an answer. Perhaps it hadn’t been wise to let them know he had awakened. He would surely be taken away now. If only they’d let him see his son first. “… JOR!!”
“I’m here. I’m here, Dru, be calm, please.” Jor-El ran into the room so quickly he slid into one of the machines. Zod managed a weak smile.
“Our son? Where is our son?” he begged, trying once again futilely to sit up. Jor-El sat at his side and gently petted his limp white hair. It was good to see his color finally returning.
“He’s fine. Dru, he’s beautiful.”
“I want to see him before they send me away,” Zod demanded.
“Lara will bring him soon, I’m sure. Just be calm, love. Be calm.”
Zod took a deep breath. Even that much hurt his insides.
“You almost died. I suppose you can feel that. The medics were working on your for hours after you delivered. Lara had to remove your pouch.” Jor-El continued stroking his hair fondly, but a little sadly. “You aren’t going to be sent away.”
“I’m not.” Zod raised a brow in question. He relaxed into the pillows of the bed.
“Ursa came forward with new information while you were giving birth to Kal Zod-El… Oh uh, Lara chose while you slept. She was anxious for him not to have a name for so long. She didn’t think you would…”
“How long.”
“It’s been three weeks.” Jor-El watched the surprise register on Zod’s drawn face. “You almost died. You.. your heart stopped.”
Their hands clasp over the thin fabric covering his chest. Zod looked into his love’s eyes. Something was different. Something had changed. There was a hardness there, a determined look that had replaced the loving trust he had long enjoyed from his love. “Jor…”
“Say hi, Kal.” Lara’s playful voice floated into the room. She walked holding a tiny boy with a spatch of dark hair against her shoulder. The baby was squirming in his red blanket and making distressed mewling noises. “Look at your ima from the outside.”
“Oh.” Zod reached out his arm. “What’s wrong with him? Lara, please. Let me…”
“I just fed him, and he’s dry. He’s fine.” She laughed. “As though I would deny you your son. Help Dru sit up, Jor. Kal has been so restless without his ima.”
Jor-El’s strong arms braced his back and helped him shift in the bed. Zod’s muscles screamed at the movement, but he forced himself to move. He couldn’t be separated from his son any longer. Lara eased the wiggling bundle into Zod’s outstretched arms. Kal looked up at him with babyish amazement. Zod was mesmerized, watching the child watch him. His eyes were so bright and focused. Surely, babies could not take in their surroundings that way so soon. But three weeks, he’d missed that much already. Lara giggled as Kal made a soft, pleased cooing sound.
”He has your eyes,” Zod spoke in startlement. Jor-El grinned involuntarily.
”I know. It seems unfair he looks so much like Jor when you did so much of the work!” Lara smirked at Jor and held his hand over Zod’s stomach. His eyes were so serious that she tilted her head and gave him a chastising look. “See, he’s settled now that he’s with you. I knew that had to be why.”
“It’s… because we’re linked. I said nothing before, but I am sure he knew I was hurt,” Zod said softly, letting Kal clutch his finger. “You will be so strong, my son.”
Lara felt her face flush. Zod was smiling lopsidedly at his son with such pride and sweetness that she would have hardly recognized him. Tears began to fall.
“Lara?” Jor-El squeezed her hand.
“I’m sorry. I just… thought all this time I would lose him. I couldn’t let myself-” She covered her mouth and looked away trying to regain her composure. Jor-El nodded and rubbed her hand.
Zod hoped Kal would have Lara’s empathy and strength as well as his male fathers’ other strengths. “How is it that I am not being sent to the Phantom Zone? What happened?”
Lara wiped her eyes and took a breath. Zod could see the little mantra playing in her head, telling herself to put her emotions away for a better time. “Ursa rallied the military members and found evidence that implicated Peru-Col and Seig-An as well as several members still in the military and suggested that she had gone out of her way to accuse you to divert guilt from their own actions. Peru-Col killed herself before they could take her into custody.”
Jor-El watched Zod’s face for a reaction to this news. “And Seig-An? What of him?”
”He will probably be sent to the Phantom Zone. You will be the only member of the higher Council left.” Jor-El didn’t know what to make of Zod’s expression. He looked a little annoyed, which made no sense. Zod now led the military and the Science Council. There was no one in the Law Council who would oppose him. He was in essence, solely in charge of their world.
“I’ll have to talk to Ursa later.” Zod narrowed his eyes pensively and returned his gaze to his son.
“I’ve already thanked her profusely. She is the most determined, loyal disciple you could have. If it weren’t for her, our Kal would be denied his bearer.” Lara ever so softly stroked Kal’s face with a finger. “That would just be terrible for him.”
The three remained silent in one another’s company for a moment.
“The next time you get pregnant you should name the child after her,” Lara said seriously. Zod’s disgusted expression made her laugh. She poked his belly softly.
“No-oo.” Zod mouthed at her in mock horror. He was a bit amused, since he’d forgotten for a moment that physically could have no more children. As he smiled at his child, he surmised the truth of the situation. Seig-An had been troublesome for a while now. Clearly, he had been intending to raise the charges, but Peru-Col had done so herself to gain his trust. Together, she and Lal-Ursa had first convicted Zod then shifted the blame to Seig and the other members of the Council who would oppose his rule. Peru-Col likely had entered her new body early and sent a Vessel back to her home with no programming but the simple instruction to kill itself when guards knocked at the door. He would check with Ursa later for the details.
Zod had been through his trial of fire. Who would believe aspersions against him now that he had been proven true? Very few. Ursa’s quick, sharp mind had saved him when she could have taken the opportunity to seize power herself. She was intelligent enough to realize that her own limitations, her accent and manner, her untempered aggressiveness and unbridled curiosity, would prevent her from being a leader to the people at this time. He would reward her at the nearest opportunity for her wise actions. She would be definitely leaving the planet when he did.
***
Present
Club Zero
“He isn’t waking up,” Fine stated. One of the other clones was pacing impatiently, and a few others were guarding the door.
“I appreciate the protection you’ve given him until now, but I’d like to know what you were doing with my son,” Lionel asked peevishly. He and Lex were settled on a pair of cots and had been connected with a tube to facilitate the transfusion, with a hope that Lex’s body would tolerate the near but not perfect match in blood type. Bruce sat close by. He’d found a pair of pants and a sweater, too large, to cover Lex. He’d looked too dead lying there cut up, naked, and limp. He didn’t think Lex would have appreciated the other rebels staring at his naked body, either, but Bruce wasn’t sure anymore. Lionel had given him a disapproving look when he’d sat on the floor next to Lex’s cot, but said nothing and let Bruce try to warm Lex’s dead hand in his own. Chloe and Nevaeh sat close by, the former on her laptop peeking up every few moments and the other peering over her shoulder attentively.
“I’m intimate with Lex’s security system. I’m certain you know what I’ve been doing with your son.”
Lionel cradled Lex head and regarded Fine irritably.
“Just give him the blood. Alright, dad? Can I call you dad?” Fine spoke flatly with no humour in his voice. “Why isn’t he waking up?”
”Look what you’ve done to him! Of course he isn’t waking up!” Lionel barked accusingly. Fine said nothing and tilted his head to the side. He walked briskly over to the cots and ripped of the sweater. “What are you doing?”
“His heart stopped again.” Palms pressed to his chest. The body jumped. Bruce squeezed Lex’s dead hand. Fine sighed and leaned over Lex’s vulnerable body, sliding his hand underneath his neck. Lex’s chin tilted upward. “I have your heart beating. Your father is giving you blood. You have to heal, and you have to wake up. I still need you, Lex.”
Lionel exchanged a look with Martha, who instead of averting her eyes, returned with a sympathetic look. Bruce clutched Lex’s hand stubbornly and refused to leave Lex’s side when the enemy who had hurt him this badly stood over him whispering words of love.
“Remember how important this is. Remember our deal. Wake up, or I kill all of your friends and family.”
Chloe felt her heart speed up. She stood and moved closer.
“Since when does Lex have friends?” Bruce asked flippantly. Fine looked down at him.
“The deal is the deal. I certainly have more critical matters to worry about than Lex’s lack of popularity.”
“Well, you helped create that unpopularity,” Chloe said. Fine looked at her, and she perked her eyebrows and shrugged. “Didn’t you? I mean, you spent a lot of time in World History talking about local politics and business. Leaning on Clark to keep him from talking to Lex?”
“You don’t miss a trick, do you? If you live through this, you’ll be a hell of a reporter. Or an FBI agent.”
“I’m weighing my options,” Chloe replied with a closed expression. Fine returned his attention to Lex’s body. He ran his fingers over one side of his face, then down the other, then along the stitches in his neck and chest.
A trail of black ooze ran out of the ship and ran quickly up to Fine’s side. It shot up and formed into another clone.
“Do what you have to,” the first Fine said to the second.
The second clone frowned and held his hand over Lex’s forehead. His eyes went left to right quickly about seventeen times in rapid succession, then he straightened, looked the other Fine straight in the eye, and shifted into an image of Lex wearing a black business suit and a lavender dress shirt. “It always pays to keep a back up file. You know this won’t do you any good for your overall plan, however.”
“Um, er, Lex? Fine… Flex?” Chloe tried to get the Lex-a-like’s attention. He turned and tilted his head at her. He gave her a lopsided smile. She was surprised that anything could be creepier than the real Lex smiling at her. “If Lex is alive, more or less… is Lois…”
“Your cousin is fine, Chloe. She’s in a chamber I- we created in order to heal these weak physical beings survive the harvest of their DNA for Vessels. We should be able to fetch her soon, provided you make sure that the Kryptonians don’t see her before we make our penultimate move.”
“Then why isn’t Lex in one of those chambers?” Lionel demanded.
The Flex looked at him and raised a brow. “Because Lex has a stronger constitution, and every second counts when you are trying to work the impossible.”
“That was nice and vague,” Chloe muttered to Martha.
Fine moved closer to the Flex and encircled his waist with his arms. The Flex returned the favor and looked at him questioningly. Chloe heard a small “ew!” from far behind them where Lana was trying to pretend she wasn’t watching. She’d refused to come any closer to Lex earlier.
“Tell me how to wake him up.”
“I’d think it would be obvious, Milt.” The Flex pursed his lips in flirtatious amusement. “You know what the answer is to all of my questions.”
Fine rolled his eyes impatiently and almost sneered in what might have been jealousy. “Clark.”
***
Corporeality hit Clark hard like a speeding train. It didn’t hurt, but the molecules bent around him, and he felt caught up in the motion. Before he knew it his lungs were breathing and his eyes were blinking. He had a heartbeat, and he could hear all of the many heartbeats around him.
“Clark! Oh, god. Thank god thank god.” He was being held. Someone was crying hysterically, clutching him.
“Mom?” His eyes adjusted to the surroundings, the people crowding around. Chloe was looking up with watery eyes and a wide smile that pushed her lips into a thin line. Lana pushed forward and craned her head to see his face. Her mouth opened a bit, and she said nothing. “Mom, I’m fine. Don’t cry. Chloe, geez. You’re supposed to cry when I’m gone, not because I came back. Some friend.”
She shook her head rapidly and clasped his hand. “I thought maybe…”
“Not dead yet.” He looked over at Lex. He could hear Lana huff at not being greeted. He couldn’t even look her in the eye. “I see I’m not the only one. I was in the Phantom Zone, and I could see everything there. What can I do to help him?”
”Do you really think you can magically heal him?” the Flex teased dryly. He tilted his chin at Clark who frowned a little in confusion.
“You said he could wake Lex up.” Fine took the Flex’s hand and tried to pull him away from Clark.
“I never said that.” He smirked at the look of annoyance on Fine’s face. “Who do you think he is, Prince Charming? Is he going to kiss the princess and end the deadly sleep? Not likely. But we will need help if we’re going to stop Zod.”
Fine’s lips clenched so tightly it almost looked like a pout. The Flex rubbed his arm and turned away. “Thanks, babe.”
“I’m boxing your memories before I leave this planet,” Fine replied curtly. “How are we supposed to complete our plans now?”
The Flex shook his head. “Impatience is such a human trait.”
Fine grunted irritably under his breath and started to walk toward the cot.
“Give his body time to process the blood. He needs his immune system up and running in order to heal himself.” The two of them looked into each others’ eyes. The Flex reached over and caressed Fine’s shoulder. The other seemed to relax in spite of his annoyance. “We’re still on schedule. Don’t worry.”
Clark shivered at the intimacy between Fine and… himself. He couldn’t, didn’t want to, imagine what had led up to that intimacy.
AN: Buh?
Antigens have to do with the immune responses in the body. If Lex has a super-immune system, as they suggested in S3, he probably has a rare blood type because he has more antigens than normal people. It would make it impossible for him to donate blood. If his dad had the same ABO type, he MIGHT be able to give blood to Lex (in a comic verse), but definitely not the other way around.
Also, I messed with the naming system for Krypton because um, a patriarchal naming system makes no sense for a species that is gender equal and mostly bisexual. I'm not a fan of the original system anyway. It's dumb. XPXP Thanks for the sexism in the "superior" species DC!
Summary: Zod has babies. What’s an evil warlord to do?
Pairing: Zod/Jor-El, Zod/ many others. He’s a sex god. Expect everything warm to be fucked, so…
Rating: NC-17 because I’m a perv
Warning: Severe plot bastardization (and Clark bastardization), but IC (I hope), and MPREG. Twice!
Spoilers: Smallville through season five, Superman II, basic Batman canon, probably.
Krypton
20 Years Ago
Kryptonopolis Holding Facility
Two days ago, Zod had set down to dinner with his partners and requested something quite unorthodox.
“But, the house name of the bearer is always the one to be given to a child?” Lara looked concerned, but intrigued. She reached over and touched Zod’s hand.
“I don’t intend to leave you. Either of you. But… I have no house. The name Zod is but a name given to worthless street children of Kandor.” He looked her in the eye earnestly and gripped her hand. Lara would understand this. Her house was hardly well known either, and despite the lip service to equality, people’s minds were harder to change. Lara had spent more than one evening during their early days together complaining about how the other medics looked down their nose at a girl from the House of Van.
“Dru that isn’t true!” Jor-El protested. Zod pressed his lips into a line and drew in a breath through his nostrils. His Jor could be so naïve.
“I have risen above my station, true, but there is no power to the name beyond my own. The House of El, however…”
“Your family does have quite the history,” Lara admitted. She picked up a vegetable, dipped it, and waved it in front Zod’s bowed lips. He snatched it with his teeth playfully, to Lara’s delight. “And I think there is a ring to the House of Zod-El.”
“I assure you, as he grows, our son will come to have pride in both of his names. I simply want the best for him.” Zod had assured them. Jor-El had reluctantly agreed. He didn’t want to take the honor due to their child’s bearer, but the idea of their son being proud of the heritage of the House of El appealed to him. They had been a name in science for centuries, even before the ban on interplanetary travel.
Now, Zod sat uncomfortably in a white holding cell and a full-body shiver ran through him. His body involuntarily jerked then jackknifed back into a curl. He could feel the sweat dripping down his face and neck. He decided then and there that his boy would have to be an only child.
When the military officers had come for him, his Jor and Lara had been out. They’d thrown him against the wall, grabbed him violently and begun to rough him up before even reaching for their badges or holding cuffs. His voice had cracked in panic as he shouted as loudly as he could for them to be more gentle, that he would come with them willingly, if they’d only take care for his baby’s sake. The look on their faces had almost been worth the shame of being lead out of their home space in chains.
According to the officers, Peru-Col had led the Council in charges against him. If he were found guilty, the Council would soon sentence him to the Phantom Zone, perhaps for eternity. His pregnancy put a snare in their plans, however. They would have to wait until the child was born before sending him there.
Hours passed as he rolled his shoulders, pressed his head against the wall and arched his back, listened to his own ragged breathing echo through the empty cell. He knew that although he could not see outside of the cell, others could see in. He had watched perhaps hundreds of unsuspecting citizens in a cell like this one, and he did not want them to hear him cry out. He hoped that Lara and Jor were on the other side, waiting for the guards to let them in to visit. He could take failure in his enterprise, although success was too too important for their species’ survival. He didn’t think he could take them leaving him.
Zod cringed at the hopeful noise he made as the cell door opened. A guard walked in and Zod wondered if he were to be brought before the Council in labour. Lara followed, dressed in her medic’s smock and looking no less deadly than a black ops officer.
“Oh, Dru.” She flew to his side and drew out a cloth to wipe over his forehead. Her face was a cool mask.
“Be careful of him, doc.”
“Silence. Get out,“ She snapped in a thick, low voice.
“They told me-“
“I don’t care. Get out and don’t come back unless you have Jor-El with you.” Lara turned back to Zod. The conversation was over, and the guard walked out abashed. Zod gave her a lopsided grin.
“I unnn... Mmmm.” She pulled out a scanner and began running it over him. He fought the spasming of his body. “I… I am very glad you are… here.”
“They messaged us at the office. I cannot believe they just took you into custody like that. I heard what they did to you.” Her nostrils flared. Zod wondered if she would help him out of this cell, although he had been unable to stand on his own for a while now. She breathed a sigh of relief. “They didn’t harm the fetus. I think… you’re early, you know.”
“I am aware.” Zod tried to catch his breath. He watched her hands feeling his gravid belly skillfully. “What are they saying? Has the Council…”
”Jor-El has argued with them as much as he can. They threw him out. He’s been watching in the observation room since then. Off with your pants.”
Zod raised a brow. “How many people are in that observation room?”
“OFF.” She ordered, taking the matter into her own hands. “Turn away from that wall, though.”
Zod braced himself against the wall and tried to lift his hips so Lara could remove his trousers. A rush of warm liquid flooded out from between his legs. “What the fuck was that??”
“That means the baby is coming,” she replied softly, sliding his pants over his hips.
“Well, I knew that already!!” he shot back shortly.
“It’s okay, Dru.” She shucked off his pants and shot a wickedly dangerous look over her shoulder at the people in the observation room. On her knees, Lara edged over to Zod’s side, cupping his face with one hand and reaching the other between his legs. He flinched. That area had never hurt to the touch before. “It’s okay. You will be fine and the baby will be fine. You must remain calm, and trust me, all right?”
Her voice was meant to be reassuring, and it was. Firm and professional. Her eyes were nervous and worried. They flitted back to the wall and pleaded. Jor-El, please come. We need you.
***
Jor-El dragged yet another hand through his hair. He was a nervous wreck and looked it. He couldn’t stand that they’d left his Dru in there alone with no help. That they hadn’t been there to make sure the guards who had taken him weren’t more careful, hadn’t shaken him up and caused an early labour. That the Council had ordered him out of their proceedings, declaring that he was too close to the issue to be of help. A moment ago Tal-Al had come in to tell him that Zod would be sent into the Phantom Zone the moment his child was born.
And it chilled him to the bone that somehow he knew that his Dru was guilty.
Torture. Illegal experiments. Laws controlling the people that bordered on sheer tyranny. Hacking into the Eradicators’ programming to make them his own. He knew his Dru. He knew that Zod would do these things if he thought they were necessary to save their people. He knew that Zod would not hesitate to get his hands dirty for the greater good. At least the greater good as Zod perceived it. Jor-El wasn’t sure if he wanted their salvation at the cost of their spirits as Kryptonians.
“Please.” He was surprised to find his voice choking with tears. His blurred vision showed him the love of his life, leaning weakly onto Lara. He heard him crying out in pain. “Please, Tal-Al. Let me see him. Let me help him.”
Tal-Al’s thin, dark arms encircled his shoulders gently. “Peru-Col and Seig-An told us that we should leave Zod alone for this, but I insisted that we meet his medical needs by sending in a medic.”
Jor-El looked up at her. She gave him a thin smile. “Go. This may be the last time you are able to see him.”
Jor-El did not hesitate. He jumped up and ran around the corner to the door leading into Zod’s cell. Tal-Al nodded to the guard.
Lara held Zod by the shoulders and was muttering soothingly to him. Her eyes bulged at the sight of Jor-El, and she ruffled Zod’s sweat-soaked hair and looked into his eyes. “Jor’s here, babe. He’s here.”
Zod craned his head to see him. He reached out his hand. “Come here?”
Lara eased him into Jor-El’s arms, then picked up her scanner and gave Zod a quick sweep. “Hold him. Keep him calm.”
”I am calm,” Zod snapped at her. Lara rolled her eyes and rose to her feet.
“Where are you going?” Jor-El asked, settling into a comfortable position with Zod.
“I have make sure we get an incubator in here. He’s early, Dru,” she responded to the plaintive look on Zod’s face. “And… I’ll see if I can’t get a room prepped in the medical tower just in case the Council has a bout of sense in the next few hours. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
“Is something wrong? You need to tell me,” Zod begged.
Lara sighed and fidgeted on her way out the door. “All right… The baby is fine. For now. He’s not in distress, but you’re bleeding, which means you’re both in danger. You could go into shock. He could start having problems with his heartbeat. Preferably they’d let me take you to the tower, but I doubt they will considering the charges, so I’ll do what I can from here. You need to stay calm and try not to stress yourself any more than you already are, okay?”
“Just save my son.”
She walked back over to swiftly kiss him, then Jor-El, who was clinging dearly to Zod. “I love you both. Take care of him, Jor.”
“I will.” He watched Lara leave the room briskly. “Just tell me what you need.”
Zod shook his head. “Just hold me.” His voice was uncertain and shaky. He felt his body throw itself into another session of involuntary jackknifing. Jor-El held him as tightly and steadily as he could, with one hand protectively on the curve his Dru’s belly. When the jerking died down again, Zod went limp in Jor-El’s arms. He petted the edges of Zod’s hair worriedly. If Zod survived this, the guards who had taken him would be tortured severely. For as long as possible before they died.
***
Present
Phantom Zone
When one doesn’t have a body, it’s hard to register emotion. So connected to our corporeal selves, the feeling of panic is so accompanied by physical sensations that without them the feeling itself becomes a psychological torment.
Clark’s heart could not speed up. There was no spine for a chill to run down or muscles to tense in fear. His ghostly form could not punch a wall, and there nothing he could do. He could only scream mentally. Seven minutes ago, he watched as Lex slumped onto the floor and stopped breathing. His naked form was awkward and limp, and the machine supporting him let out a shrill whine.
Hurry up, Fine. Come back! You got him into this, and you’d better save him!
Clark noticed several other of the inhabitants of this place float by in interest.
Is that Zod? Peru-Col looked on with interest.
It cannot be, her companion replied. But it does bear a resemblance to Zod’s old form.
Peru-Col smirked at Clark. You chose a mate who takes after your bearer. How sweet.
He isn’t my mate! Clark protested. Peru-Col exchanged a look with her partner.
Fine flashed into the room. His hands were immediately on the support machine. “The machine is working. What’s wrong with you?”
He knelt to the floor and ran his hands over Lex’s body. His face was hard, but his brows had gone askew with confusion. “What do you need? Tell me what you need.”
I dunno, Mr. I’m So Much Smarter Than Kryptonians. Maybe blood. Or food that didn’t come through an IV. Maybe some clothes! Unable to do much else, he swung at the air and pretended that it was Fine at the end of his fist.
“Hrm.” Fine rolled Lex’s body over.
Nice. Peru-Col added with admiration.
Stop looking at him! Clark gave her a glare. She shot a knowing look to the others.
Bony hands moved over Lex’s chest, giving out electricity like a pair of paddles. The pale body jerked and was still. Again, Fine shocked his chest. A third time. The machine ceased its whining, but Lex’s eyes did not open.
I did not know humans could survive like that. An extremely tall man with long dark hair floated over. Clark remembered him complaining to anyone who would listen that when they were freed, Ursa and Peru-Col would be facing his wrath. Col hadn’t seemed impressed.
Lex is a little more than human, Clark replied somewhat admiringly. Please wake up.
Over at Club Zero, the Fine clone masquerading as Lois approached Lionel Luthor.
”Hey, Warbucks’ Daddy. Come over here,” it ordered. Chloe looked up from her laptop and quickly intercepted the clone.
“Um, hi, cuz. Is Luthor Senior bothering you?” She had to fake her way through this somehow. Bruce had discussed his concerns with her earlier, and she had been watching Lois’ behavior. Her accent was off, and she moved wrong. Fine had many abilities, but he wasn’t much of an actor.
“I am doing nothing of the sort, Miss Sullivan.” Lionel slipped his hands into his pockets and regarded Chloe curiously. She fidgeted with her hands and looked up at Lois.
“Look, this is kind of pressing here, so… could you just come outside with me for a minute?” It raised the tone of its voice to a bitchy soprano.
“Sure, I’ll come,” Chloe answered. The clone scowled at her.
“That one. That one is the one I need.” It pointed at Lionel.
“Are you shopping, Miss Lane?”
“I’m losing my temper, and I don’t have time to discuss this.” It grabbed his arm and pulled roughly.
“Hands off of me.” Lionel resisted. Bruce, who had noticed from across the room, slid himself in between the two bodies.
“Let’s just calm down here.”
“You’re lucky I recognize how upset he would be if I broke your neck,” the clone said tersely and shoved Bruce aside. He hit the floor, rolled, and was on his feet again in a moment, grabbing Chloe and pulling her out of the way.
“Tell us what you want.”
A small crowd gathered around them. The clone looked around. “What I want has hardly been a matter of discussion of late unless I’ve forced the issue.”
It reverted to the sharp-cheeked humanoid form with which they were most familiar. “I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to reveal myself without good reason, but there is too much at stake here. You need to come with me, Mr. Luthor. Now.”
“What, are you going to pick us off one by one?”
“I would like to.” Fine tapped his foot. “We do not have time for this.”
“Take me instead,” Bruce insisted. He was sure that he could find a way out once he was taken.
“What’s your antigen count and blood type?” Fine ran his eyes over Bruce, as though he was looking inside him.
“…what?”
“Get out of my way.” Fine moved to pick up Lionel. The older man dangled from his arms, he scanned him and then swore profusely in an alien tongue. “You’ll have to do.” Suddenly a wall of fire rushed at him. Nevaeh saw him try to dart away as he dropped Lionel to the ground and pushed the fire surrounding her through him. The clone screamed and melted.
“Ah... nicely done.” Lionel motioned as though he were going to pat her on the back, but was careful not to actually touch her. More than one person had burned themselves on her before learning to steer clear after she flamed up.
“Son of a bitch.” Someone screamed.
Chloe turned and felt herself stumble backward. It was the ship, shifting into place in the middle of their hideout. She wanted to scream and cry. It was over.
The ship yawned open slowly and another Fine stepped out, holding something very white and very wilted. It was connected to him with some kind of tubes. He hopped down and laid it on the floor.
“Lex!” Lionel rushed forward to the crumpled form of his son.
“He needs blood, I think. Now,” Fine insisted. “You aren’t a match, but with his immune system, I don’t think I’d find one on this planet.”
***
Krypton
20 Years Ago
Medical Tower
Zod woke groggily, at first uncertain where he was. He thought, perhaps, that he must be in the Phantom Zone, and that the particular floating sensation must be what it was like to no longer have a body.
As he came to gradually, the pain centered him and made him realize that he must still have a body, to ache so. He could feel the strained muscles all over his body, throughout his back and particularly in his stomach and pelvic area. He couldn’t sit up at all, but he could see that he was in a bed in the Medical Tower, connected to several machines. Suddenly, he slid a hand over his belly. The bulge was gone. The child gone. He felt hollow.
“Jor! Lara?” His voice was raspy and weak. Had he been screaming? He hoped none of the military had seen him giving birth, although he doubted he’d been that lucky. Stories about the birthing cries of Zod were probably already out among the lower infantry. He waited anxiously for an answer. Perhaps it hadn’t been wise to let them know he had awakened. He would surely be taken away now. If only they’d let him see his son first. “… JOR!!”
“I’m here. I’m here, Dru, be calm, please.” Jor-El ran into the room so quickly he slid into one of the machines. Zod managed a weak smile.
“Our son? Where is our son?” he begged, trying once again futilely to sit up. Jor-El sat at his side and gently petted his limp white hair. It was good to see his color finally returning.
“He’s fine. Dru, he’s beautiful.”
“I want to see him before they send me away,” Zod demanded.
“Lara will bring him soon, I’m sure. Just be calm, love. Be calm.”
Zod took a deep breath. Even that much hurt his insides.
“You almost died. I suppose you can feel that. The medics were working on your for hours after you delivered. Lara had to remove your pouch.” Jor-El continued stroking his hair fondly, but a little sadly. “You aren’t going to be sent away.”
“I’m not.” Zod raised a brow in question. He relaxed into the pillows of the bed.
“Ursa came forward with new information while you were giving birth to Kal Zod-El… Oh uh, Lara chose while you slept. She was anxious for him not to have a name for so long. She didn’t think you would…”
“How long.”
“It’s been three weeks.” Jor-El watched the surprise register on Zod’s drawn face. “You almost died. You.. your heart stopped.”
Their hands clasp over the thin fabric covering his chest. Zod looked into his love’s eyes. Something was different. Something had changed. There was a hardness there, a determined look that had replaced the loving trust he had long enjoyed from his love. “Jor…”
“Say hi, Kal.” Lara’s playful voice floated into the room. She walked holding a tiny boy with a spatch of dark hair against her shoulder. The baby was squirming in his red blanket and making distressed mewling noises. “Look at your ima from the outside.”
“Oh.” Zod reached out his arm. “What’s wrong with him? Lara, please. Let me…”
“I just fed him, and he’s dry. He’s fine.” She laughed. “As though I would deny you your son. Help Dru sit up, Jor. Kal has been so restless without his ima.”
Jor-El’s strong arms braced his back and helped him shift in the bed. Zod’s muscles screamed at the movement, but he forced himself to move. He couldn’t be separated from his son any longer. Lara eased the wiggling bundle into Zod’s outstretched arms. Kal looked up at him with babyish amazement. Zod was mesmerized, watching the child watch him. His eyes were so bright and focused. Surely, babies could not take in their surroundings that way so soon. But three weeks, he’d missed that much already. Lara giggled as Kal made a soft, pleased cooing sound.
”He has your eyes,” Zod spoke in startlement. Jor-El grinned involuntarily.
”I know. It seems unfair he looks so much like Jor when you did so much of the work!” Lara smirked at Jor and held his hand over Zod’s stomach. His eyes were so serious that she tilted her head and gave him a chastising look. “See, he’s settled now that he’s with you. I knew that had to be why.”
“It’s… because we’re linked. I said nothing before, but I am sure he knew I was hurt,” Zod said softly, letting Kal clutch his finger. “You will be so strong, my son.”
Lara felt her face flush. Zod was smiling lopsidedly at his son with such pride and sweetness that she would have hardly recognized him. Tears began to fall.
“Lara?” Jor-El squeezed her hand.
“I’m sorry. I just… thought all this time I would lose him. I couldn’t let myself-” She covered her mouth and looked away trying to regain her composure. Jor-El nodded and rubbed her hand.
Zod hoped Kal would have Lara’s empathy and strength as well as his male fathers’ other strengths. “How is it that I am not being sent to the Phantom Zone? What happened?”
Lara wiped her eyes and took a breath. Zod could see the little mantra playing in her head, telling herself to put her emotions away for a better time. “Ursa rallied the military members and found evidence that implicated Peru-Col and Seig-An as well as several members still in the military and suggested that she had gone out of her way to accuse you to divert guilt from their own actions. Peru-Col killed herself before they could take her into custody.”
Jor-El watched Zod’s face for a reaction to this news. “And Seig-An? What of him?”
”He will probably be sent to the Phantom Zone. You will be the only member of the higher Council left.” Jor-El didn’t know what to make of Zod’s expression. He looked a little annoyed, which made no sense. Zod now led the military and the Science Council. There was no one in the Law Council who would oppose him. He was in essence, solely in charge of their world.
“I’ll have to talk to Ursa later.” Zod narrowed his eyes pensively and returned his gaze to his son.
“I’ve already thanked her profusely. She is the most determined, loyal disciple you could have. If it weren’t for her, our Kal would be denied his bearer.” Lara ever so softly stroked Kal’s face with a finger. “That would just be terrible for him.”
The three remained silent in one another’s company for a moment.
“The next time you get pregnant you should name the child after her,” Lara said seriously. Zod’s disgusted expression made her laugh. She poked his belly softly.
“No-oo.” Zod mouthed at her in mock horror. He was a bit amused, since he’d forgotten for a moment that physically could have no more children. As he smiled at his child, he surmised the truth of the situation. Seig-An had been troublesome for a while now. Clearly, he had been intending to raise the charges, but Peru-Col had done so herself to gain his trust. Together, she and Lal-Ursa had first convicted Zod then shifted the blame to Seig and the other members of the Council who would oppose his rule. Peru-Col likely had entered her new body early and sent a Vessel back to her home with no programming but the simple instruction to kill itself when guards knocked at the door. He would check with Ursa later for the details.
Zod had been through his trial of fire. Who would believe aspersions against him now that he had been proven true? Very few. Ursa’s quick, sharp mind had saved him when she could have taken the opportunity to seize power herself. She was intelligent enough to realize that her own limitations, her accent and manner, her untempered aggressiveness and unbridled curiosity, would prevent her from being a leader to the people at this time. He would reward her at the nearest opportunity for her wise actions. She would be definitely leaving the planet when he did.
***
Present
Club Zero
“He isn’t waking up,” Fine stated. One of the other clones was pacing impatiently, and a few others were guarding the door.
“I appreciate the protection you’ve given him until now, but I’d like to know what you were doing with my son,” Lionel asked peevishly. He and Lex were settled on a pair of cots and had been connected with a tube to facilitate the transfusion, with a hope that Lex’s body would tolerate the near but not perfect match in blood type. Bruce sat close by. He’d found a pair of pants and a sweater, too large, to cover Lex. He’d looked too dead lying there cut up, naked, and limp. He didn’t think Lex would have appreciated the other rebels staring at his naked body, either, but Bruce wasn’t sure anymore. Lionel had given him a disapproving look when he’d sat on the floor next to Lex’s cot, but said nothing and let Bruce try to warm Lex’s dead hand in his own. Chloe and Nevaeh sat close by, the former on her laptop peeking up every few moments and the other peering over her shoulder attentively.
“I’m intimate with Lex’s security system. I’m certain you know what I’ve been doing with your son.”
Lionel cradled Lex head and regarded Fine irritably.
“Just give him the blood. Alright, dad? Can I call you dad?” Fine spoke flatly with no humour in his voice. “Why isn’t he waking up?”
”Look what you’ve done to him! Of course he isn’t waking up!” Lionel barked accusingly. Fine said nothing and tilted his head to the side. He walked briskly over to the cots and ripped of the sweater. “What are you doing?”
“His heart stopped again.” Palms pressed to his chest. The body jumped. Bruce squeezed Lex’s dead hand. Fine sighed and leaned over Lex’s vulnerable body, sliding his hand underneath his neck. Lex’s chin tilted upward. “I have your heart beating. Your father is giving you blood. You have to heal, and you have to wake up. I still need you, Lex.”
Lionel exchanged a look with Martha, who instead of averting her eyes, returned with a sympathetic look. Bruce clutched Lex’s hand stubbornly and refused to leave Lex’s side when the enemy who had hurt him this badly stood over him whispering words of love.
“Remember how important this is. Remember our deal. Wake up, or I kill all of your friends and family.”
Chloe felt her heart speed up. She stood and moved closer.
“Since when does Lex have friends?” Bruce asked flippantly. Fine looked down at him.
“The deal is the deal. I certainly have more critical matters to worry about than Lex’s lack of popularity.”
“Well, you helped create that unpopularity,” Chloe said. Fine looked at her, and she perked her eyebrows and shrugged. “Didn’t you? I mean, you spent a lot of time in World History talking about local politics and business. Leaning on Clark to keep him from talking to Lex?”
“You don’t miss a trick, do you? If you live through this, you’ll be a hell of a reporter. Or an FBI agent.”
“I’m weighing my options,” Chloe replied with a closed expression. Fine returned his attention to Lex’s body. He ran his fingers over one side of his face, then down the other, then along the stitches in his neck and chest.
A trail of black ooze ran out of the ship and ran quickly up to Fine’s side. It shot up and formed into another clone.
“Do what you have to,” the first Fine said to the second.
The second clone frowned and held his hand over Lex’s forehead. His eyes went left to right quickly about seventeen times in rapid succession, then he straightened, looked the other Fine straight in the eye, and shifted into an image of Lex wearing a black business suit and a lavender dress shirt. “It always pays to keep a back up file. You know this won’t do you any good for your overall plan, however.”
“Um, er, Lex? Fine… Flex?” Chloe tried to get the Lex-a-like’s attention. He turned and tilted his head at her. He gave her a lopsided smile. She was surprised that anything could be creepier than the real Lex smiling at her. “If Lex is alive, more or less… is Lois…”
“Your cousin is fine, Chloe. She’s in a chamber I- we created in order to heal these weak physical beings survive the harvest of their DNA for Vessels. We should be able to fetch her soon, provided you make sure that the Kryptonians don’t see her before we make our penultimate move.”
“Then why isn’t Lex in one of those chambers?” Lionel demanded.
The Flex looked at him and raised a brow. “Because Lex has a stronger constitution, and every second counts when you are trying to work the impossible.”
“That was nice and vague,” Chloe muttered to Martha.
Fine moved closer to the Flex and encircled his waist with his arms. The Flex returned the favor and looked at him questioningly. Chloe heard a small “ew!” from far behind them where Lana was trying to pretend she wasn’t watching. She’d refused to come any closer to Lex earlier.
“Tell me how to wake him up.”
“I’d think it would be obvious, Milt.” The Flex pursed his lips in flirtatious amusement. “You know what the answer is to all of my questions.”
Fine rolled his eyes impatiently and almost sneered in what might have been jealousy. “Clark.”
***
Corporeality hit Clark hard like a speeding train. It didn’t hurt, but the molecules bent around him, and he felt caught up in the motion. Before he knew it his lungs were breathing and his eyes were blinking. He had a heartbeat, and he could hear all of the many heartbeats around him.
“Clark! Oh, god. Thank god thank god.” He was being held. Someone was crying hysterically, clutching him.
“Mom?” His eyes adjusted to the surroundings, the people crowding around. Chloe was looking up with watery eyes and a wide smile that pushed her lips into a thin line. Lana pushed forward and craned her head to see his face. Her mouth opened a bit, and she said nothing. “Mom, I’m fine. Don’t cry. Chloe, geez. You’re supposed to cry when I’m gone, not because I came back. Some friend.”
She shook her head rapidly and clasped his hand. “I thought maybe…”
“Not dead yet.” He looked over at Lex. He could hear Lana huff at not being greeted. He couldn’t even look her in the eye. “I see I’m not the only one. I was in the Phantom Zone, and I could see everything there. What can I do to help him?”
”Do you really think you can magically heal him?” the Flex teased dryly. He tilted his chin at Clark who frowned a little in confusion.
“You said he could wake Lex up.” Fine took the Flex’s hand and tried to pull him away from Clark.
“I never said that.” He smirked at the look of annoyance on Fine’s face. “Who do you think he is, Prince Charming? Is he going to kiss the princess and end the deadly sleep? Not likely. But we will need help if we’re going to stop Zod.”
Fine’s lips clenched so tightly it almost looked like a pout. The Flex rubbed his arm and turned away. “Thanks, babe.”
“I’m boxing your memories before I leave this planet,” Fine replied curtly. “How are we supposed to complete our plans now?”
The Flex shook his head. “Impatience is such a human trait.”
Fine grunted irritably under his breath and started to walk toward the cot.
“Give his body time to process the blood. He needs his immune system up and running in order to heal himself.” The two of them looked into each others’ eyes. The Flex reached over and caressed Fine’s shoulder. The other seemed to relax in spite of his annoyance. “We’re still on schedule. Don’t worry.”
Clark shivered at the intimacy between Fine and… himself. He couldn’t, didn’t want to, imagine what had led up to that intimacy.
AN: Buh?
Antigens have to do with the immune responses in the body. If Lex has a super-immune system, as they suggested in S3, he probably has a rare blood type because he has more antigens than normal people. It would make it impossible for him to donate blood. If his dad had the same ABO type, he MIGHT be able to give blood to Lex (in a comic verse), but definitely not the other way around.
Also, I messed with the naming system for Krypton because um, a patriarchal naming system makes no sense for a species that is gender equal and mostly bisexual. I'm not a fan of the original system anyway. It's dumb. XPXP Thanks for the sexism in the "superior" species DC!