Zod!Preg YAY
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 and Superman comic canon.
RECAP! PREVIOUSLY ON ZOD!PREG:
Zod’s new body got knocked up with twins by Lois Lane and Bruce Wayne before he took it over. He’s taken over the world. In the past, he was in a lifelong triad with Jor-El and Lara Van, and together, they spawned a little Kal-El. But after the birth, Jor-El has become suspicious of Zod’s methods.
Lex was thought to be dead, but it turns out that he’s alive and working with Brainiac so that the latter will protect the few members of the resistance. Because of what Brainiac did to him to create Zod’s new body, Lex flatlined a few times, and Brainiac was forced to bring Lex to the resistance base to get him help. In an attempt to save Lex’s mental knowledge, he allowed a clone to copy Lex’s brain. But the Lex/Fine clone, known at the Flex, promptly tricked Fine into letting Clark out of the Phantom Zone to help them defeat Zod. Bruce and Clark are jealous of each other, and Lex woke up, surprised at how many people were actually glad to see him alive. Now Lex has to finish rewriting Brainiac’s program so he isn’t compelled to help Zod, so Clark can take Zod on before he releases the other criminals in the Phantom Zone.
Earth
Present
Underground Lab Somewhere in the Metropolis Area
Zod’s head was splitting at the seams. His back was shooting with pain, and his body was giving off so much heat he thought the consol next to him might melt at his touch. His major inclination at the moment was to find something and fuck it into dust. He’d lost that soft little creature he’d been keeping at the beginning of his pregnancy. If he didn’t make a connection with something, he felt he might end up destroying the city before this was all over, just to have some kind of release.
He was floating, slightly. It was less exhausting than attempting to walk with his ponderous bulk sticking out from his black-garbed form. The twins kicked excitedly with his mood. Zod was not particularly happy to be doing this, and at this time, but he felt he had no choice. He moved his hands against the consol.
Jor-El’s form appeared before him. He looked confused and a little irritated, particularly for an artificial intelligence. Suddenly he broke into a laugh.
“That’s a bit uncalled for, Jor. I may be pregnant, but you’re dead.”
“I suppose I am.” Jor-El’s face closed into a stern expression. “What do you want from me?”
“I want evidence that you will not try to stop me here.”
“I’ve been trying to stop you already.”
Zod rubbed the curve of his belly where the male twin was pushing. Although the black cape covered him completely, his clothing underneath had become insufficient. The shirt road up quite a bit. He would have to remedy that, if the twins didn’t come soon. As it was, he’d simply taken to walking around his quarters nude.
“You’ve clearly failed. It is time that you realize you are no match for me. You are best suited at my side, Jor-El. Take your place beside Zod, and we will rule together, with our son.”
“I do not know how you plan to do that, Zod, and I don’t want to know.”
“He will come to me.”
“He will protect the humans. You’ve seen that.”
Zod lifted his chin and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “He will. Yet you have alienated him. You have made many mistakes, and he does not believe that you care about his adoptive race. You certainly should never have told him to destroy The Vessel without letting on that the human we based it on was still alive.”
“He has your temper, and that human… I do not approve. I don’t want him to become like you.”
Zod would not show that the words hurt. They were true; he was aware. He’d known as he watched Kal-El grow that all of Jor-El’s AI’s actions were predicated upon the programmer’s fear that his son would become such a monster. He had tried to take Kal-El away from the humans several times, to teach him, but the boy would not listen to him. He required a different sort of touch. Zod was not sure he had that touch in him anymore.
“You understand if I do not think that is a bad thing.” Zod turned from him bitterly, hand gently caressing and comforting the twins. His face said nothing, but they knew of his inner anger bubbling. “He will join me. He will see not only me, but his true mate in me. And he will see that I also have a familial connection with these creatures.” His brow rose coldly, and he fetched a disk from his pocket. Shoving it into the consol, his eyes gazed with venom at Jor-El’s form. “You understand if I cannot let you interfere.”
The hologram opened its mouth in surprise, but had no time to make a sound. Zod retrieved the disk and floated out of the chamber wordlessly. The virus would destroy the AI and render that location, wherever it was, useless as a means of retaliation against him.
***
“You aren’t attractive, you know. Don’t even think for a minute that you are.”
Lex looked up from the laptop where he was working with an expression of such bile that Clark thought Lois might melt on the spot.
“I mean, skinny, pale, and bald? Not cute.” She informed him with an air that said she knew she was being blunt, but the truth must be told. Chloe raised a hand to her shoulder and shook her head vigorously with wide eyes.
“That’s great to know.” He went back to his work. His right reached up to his neck and trailed along one of the surgical scars. “While we’re sharing, you have some chin hair you might want to take care of. And you would look immeasurably better if you went darker rather than lighter when you dye your hair. Blond looks good on Chloe, but it only makes you look more mannish. And the color is more horse-like than an attractive blond anyway.”
“The only reason women ever sleep with you is for your money!”
“Lois, he doesn’t know. Cool it.”
“He… he doesn’t?” She turned and gave Lex a fake smile. “Okay.”
Watching Lois walk quickly in the other direction, Lex shook his head in bewilderment.
“Alien abduction can be… stressful?” Chloe suggested.
“No. Really.”
Chloe had to admit she was impressed with how diligently Lex was working. He still looked like death warmed over, and between Clark and Bruce, he wasn’t allowed off of his cot, but he seemed driven to be working on that program every moment. He hadn’t even slept as far as she could tell.
“Or maybe she’s jealous that nobody’s really interest in her except for Zod. And you have the attention of three guys here already,” She joked. Clark flushed.
“I’m… that’s not. Stop that!”
“I was kidding. Well, mostly.” She counted it a victory to see Lex’s eyes. It wasn’t a smile, but he was amused. “I’m going to go see if there's dinner to be had.”
Clark sat in silence with Lex for a moment. Bruce was lying beside his cot, asleep. Like some kind of watchdog. He had no doubt he’d wake up if Fine came within fifteen feet of their area. Slowly, Clark reached out to touch Lex’s shoulder.
“Le-“
“Don’t.”
Clark jumped. Did hadn’t thought Lex was even looking in his direction.
“I know what you are. I don’t mind, but please don’t touch me.” Lex didn’t meet his eyes.
‘You.. what?”
“I don’t have time for this. Just respect my wishes, please.”
“Well you could at least explain it to me? Why I’m so disgusting you can’t let me touch you!”
“It’s not just you!” Lex glared at him. He looked a little embarrassed. His hand smoothed over the back of his head and touched the scars that met at the ridge of his skull. “As though you ever explained anything to me when I asked. When I knew. Much easier to let me believe that I’m crazy. Not much of a jump there anyway, right? Lex the megalomaniacal madman?”
“That isn’t how it was.”
“All Fine had to do was suggest it, and you trusted him instantly. You never trusted me.” Lex turned his head as his voice broke. “I don’t really even mind you lying to me to protect yourself. I would do the same, and we both know it. But you didn’t trust me with simple, stupid things and that… Clark…”
Clark sat down next to him as close as he could without touching him. He watched for a flinch, but when Lex seemed all right, he continued. “It got to be a habit. Sometimes I didn’t want you to be disappointed in me. Sometimes I wanted to protect you from what was happening.”
“That worked out pretty well for all parties involved.”
Clark remained silent. He leaned against the cot.
“Don’t.”
“I didn’t. OH. Sorry.”
“…I know you didn’t mean to.” He paused. “You aren’t disgusting.”
Clark crossed his legs and peered up at Lex sheepishly. After a moment, a smile began to form at the corner of Lex’s lips. It didn’t develop, but it stayed.
“I’m sorry.”
“You only have to apologize once, Clark.”
“I’m sorry for not trusting you. For lying to you when I didn’t have to. For jumping to conclusions and letting Fine wrap me around his finger when I should have known you would never hurt my family.”
Lex blinked. “Alright.”
“What?? Is that all it takes? I expected an acerbic comment at least.”
“Well, no, that’s not all. But… it’s so seldom anyone actually take responsibility for their behavior towards me. I would be remiss to take it lightly.” The front of his brows rose. “I’m sorry I let my obsessive curiosity get in the way of my judgment regarding our friendship.”
“I already forgave you for that.”
“Well, it was so bizarre I think the apology bears repeating.”
“I bring the weird out in people.” Clark grinned to himself. Lex shook his head.
“I promise you the weird was already there in my case.”
He reached out his hand slowly and took Clark’s fingertips for a moment. They looked into each others’ eyes.
”We’re going to have to-“ Clark started.
“Yeah, I know.”
“It’ll take time.”
“Well, it’s about time we did, anyway.” He pulled his hand away. “Okay, that’s enough for now.”
Clark tried not to look too obviously sympathetic. Lex seemed embarrassed enough.
“I almost have this,” he said frustrated. “I’m so fucking close… someday I’ll have to tell you about the Bookshelf of Bruce Wayne.”
“WHAT?”
“Well, it was no Chamber of Clark Kent. That much is for certain. No big pictures of him anywhere. I did have illicit copies of all the reports regarding the death of his parents, medical records, and a full background check on the man who’d committed the murder. I also managed to get some information that the police missed.”
“That’s special,” Clark said with a raised brow. “A bookshelf. In the room you shared?”
“Bruce can be a veritable Sherlock Holmes, but he’s also rather adept at missing what’s right in front of his face, particularly when it’s happening in his own home. I think he was more amused than anything else. And he was interested in looking at the information I’d found. Together we tracked down the mob head that ordered the hit on his father.” Lex smirked. “Did I tell you both Bruce and I are crazy?”
“And have you both sought counseling?”
“Well, you know what happened when I did,” Lex replied darkly. He growled at the monitor. For the first time, he wished he’d been more of a delinquent in his youth and picked up more criminal programming tricks. “Mostly we counseled each other.”
“Oh. Then I’m glad you had him,” Clark said honestly. It was hard to know how to react to Bruce’s presence, when Lex had never mentioned him before.
“So am I. I don’t know where I would be. I’m pretty sure I know where he would be. Maybe we could share a cell in Arkham.”
“Arkham?” Clark didn’t like how dark Lex sounded. For a moment he’d seemed like the Lex he remembered being friends with.
“Gotham’s Belle Reve. Only, with fewer mutants, I hear.”
Chloe trotted up with a few trays of food. “That’s probably a relief to the other inmates. I snagged some food. Can you eat?”
Lex cocked a brow. “Me? I have no idea. I’ll try.”
Bruce sat up suddenly. “You should. You’re even skinnier than I remember you.”
“I doubt that.” He took a biscuit and nibbled it experimentally. The food was pretty simple, but there was enough to go around. “You’ve gotten bigger though. I see you’ve been disciplined.”
Bruce nodded. He rubbed his eyes sleepily. Lex considered verbally comparing him to Clark, but he didn’t feel up for the drama at the moment. He could play with them later when their race wasn’t in quite so much danger.
“Alex,” Bruce said very softly. “Sooner or later we’re going to have to talk about what happened to you. I’m willing to wait because I know I should have found a way to contact you when I left, but…”
As Bruce paused, Lex clamped a hand over his mouth and continued to work with the other.
“I’ve got it. I’ve FUCKING got it.”
Chloe and Clark jumped back as a blur rushed into their presence and became Fine.
“Yes! I’m free,” he said triumphantly with a near growl. The ship to their right lit up. A few people drew near to watch, one of them Lionel Luthor.
“I suppose asking you to stay and help would be useless.” Lex tilted his head in askance.
Fine stepped closer to him and reached for Lex’s face with one hand. Lex recoiled, but Fine grabbed him and forced a kiss on his lips. Lex frowned deeply but reciprocated almost hungrily, shivering as Fine shoved his tongue into his mouth, rolling it along Lex’s mouth. As he moved back, he bit then sucked on Lex’s lower lip then pressed against him once more before he released the man, shaking in his cot.
Fine straightened and looked down on Lex with a cold gentleness. “No, this is goodbye, Lex. I have no intention of staying.”
“I see.”
“Removing Zod’s support system should help your efforts immeasurably. You know this.” Fine started to move towards the ship then stopped. “You could always come with me.”
Bruce was immediately on his feet and attentive to the situation. Lex’s lips quirked. “And what, be your favorite pet experiment? Not really one of my ambitions.”
“I’d have more use for you than that.”
“I’ve had my fill of those… uses,” Lex replied harshly. The computer looked disappointed.
“There is so much out there for you to see. More than even a man like you could imagine. You are wasted here. You might win. And then what? More coping with how simple your fellow humans are. You’re more than them. And even worse, you’d don’t belong here. We’ve talked about this. I know that you want to go.”
“I’m not coming with you, Milton. You know my reasons.”
“They’re flawed reasons. A mind like yours should be able to see the benefits of coming with me.”
“A mind like mine wonders why a super computer wants company so much,” Lex chided gently. Fine’s face soured. He began a broad, quick stride to the ship.
“When we meet again, Lex Luthor-“
“We’re enemies. I understand.”
They watched the other Fine clones melt and rush into the ship, which twisted and blurred out of existence within a second. Lex flung himself back onto the cot and threw his arms over his face, covering his eyes with his elbows. Lionel drew near.
“You can lecture me on something Greek about power later, dad. Right now I’m going to fucking sleep.”
Lionel knelt by the cot, aware of Bruce’s presence and his disapproving glare. He had avoided confronting Lex for that reason since he’d returned. “There is no part of me that is comfortable about your relationship with Milton Fine, Lex.”
“You aren’t as familiar with Greek society than you claim, in that case.”
“But you’ve done an amazing amount with what little you had to work with. I’d thought you were dead.”
“Almost.”
“You survived. And you extended your protection to Martha and I even when you needed help yourself.” He paused. Lex moved his arm and looked at him exactingly, daring him to continue. Instead, Lionel patted his arm. “Get some sleep. When you wake we can talk strategy.”
Lex rolled his eyes. His inner drive keeping him alive had been to finish his work, and he had no hopes of anything beyond that, so he shut his eyes.
“Well, I’m proud of you, Lex.”
He felt someone’s hand on his shoulder, but he didn’t have the energy to brush it off. Was that Martha Kent’s voice? He moved his lips, trying to say thank you, but without the impetus of their immediate doom, he drifted off too quickly.
***
Zod sat in a tub of ice, clearing a second plate heaped with strange human foods. He wanted Kryptonian cuisine, but this would have to do.
He remember sitting naked with Lara’s arms around him as she watched his exuberant feeding in amusement. She’d spent the night trying to see how long it would take to fill him up and rubbed his back when he was sore.
It was amusing then, and tedious now. He sucked the remaining meat off of a rib and set the bone upon the plate resting on his large belly. He started in on a pile of mashed potatoes and fetched a hot wing from a little container beside his tub.
Ursa came in and pinched her mouth into a very small pucker to the left.
“Do you have something to say to Zod?” He demanded pissily. And took a chomp out of a pickle. She sat down in the middle of the large bathroom and stole a pickle.
“Nothing I want to say. You might decide to eat me.” She pondered that a moment and took a bite. “When are the critters coming?”
“Soon,” he said, relief for that much evident in his voice. Her brow creased. Ursa picked up a piece of ice and started to run it along his exposed skin. “In theory, I have three more weeks, but I imagine now it is going to be a matter of days, with the way I’m feeling.”
“They’re still growing, though.”
“Might be the last stretch.” He picked up a small carton of ice cream and tasted it. Good fudge, marshmallow cream…“Or I could be wrong entirely and go the full term. I don’t doubt this body could handle the extra growth.”
“I trust your instincts. They’ve never steered me wrong before.”
“I don’t know about that, Ursa.” He spared a hand to caress her calculating face. She was sizing up his strengths and weaknesses, as he lay there, vulnerable and awkward.
“I think your instincts told you that Jor-El was lost to you. It was emotion that allowed him to live long enough to betray you. If I were inclined to take a mate, I think I would understand better. Given the circumstances at the time…”
“Given the circumstances now,” he replied. He set down the ice cream and began clearing his plate of fried vegetables. She watched him as he finished off the food, then leaned back in a state of semi-exhaustion. He raised a brow at her and placed a hand on the mound rising out of the ice. He rolled his head over to look at her. “What is it you have come to tell me?”
“All of the Brainiac computer’s clones are gone.”
Zod tried to sit up, but found it impossible as another pain shot through his back. Ursa laid a hand on him regardless and shook her head. “I’ve been trying to make a decent showing since it happened, but even with speed, it has been difficult. I wanted to come to you to find out what to say to the people.”
“Why has it stopped? What happened?”
”I don’t know. I haven’t had the spare moment to investigate. However, I do not know where the Brainiac has been keeping its ship. And when I went to the lab… even the consol was gone.”
Zod’s eyes widened with fury. How could a computer betray him? He knew for certain that it could not have rewritten its program on its own…
“Help me up.”
“I want you by my side. But I want you healthy and whole,” Ursa urged. He presented his hand to her with a look that informed her he was not to be denied. She sighed and took it. He was plenty strong enough to move, but the displacement of muscles and his center of gravity made every motion difficult. Together they hefted him out of the tub.
“I will need to make an appearance.” He gave his back a long stretch. It was aching more than that time his squad had gone into a plague zone to fish out some straggles and someone had blown a fucking building up around him.
Ursa looked skeptical. He regarded her coolly.
“We will ensure that I am covered and all parts of me which stick out are safely out of sight. The people live in fear. They will do nothing for the time being.” He rose off the ground and floated into the next room. Ursa followed. “Even in my current state, the humans will have no way of stopping me.”
“I wonder if we shouldn’t let at least one ally out of the Phantom Zone.” She stepped back at the look on his face. “We can pull out only one who would not think to defy you. We have to cover our asses, Zod. It is enough that the Brainiac is gone. What if it has turned against us?”
“I don’t think that it would bother.” Zod floated over to his dresser and looked for something that might fit. He would have to have something made for his appearance before the people. “Perhaps it would be wise, in any case.”
He wondered if he should let out Kal-El to help him now. Perhaps he would have seen by now that he should be allying himself with his bearer. Before the boy hardly had any information at all. Jor-El had denied him of what he needed to know… no. He could not risk his new offspring for care of the first. Kal-El would come to him at the right time, and not before.
***
“My people, you may be curious as to why I have pulled back my forces. Make no mistake. You are all under the care of Zod. I can see you at all times.” Zod hovered behind a podium that came up to his chest. He could feel the twins fighting inside him. It was difficult to concentrate with them behaving so. He sent them a signal to settle down.
In the base, everyone crowded around the one television in their possession. It didn’t work under regular circumstances, but then again, none of the airwaves were up. The televisions turned on when the aliens were informing them of something.
“I’m never going to live this down,” Lex said softly. Bruce shook his head.
“It’s not you.”
“That’s never mattered. He has my face.” Lex sighed and shook his head. He slipped out of the cot and tried to manage standing. He had to admit, it had been a long while since he moved anywhere under his own power. Bruce caught him as he fell back.
“Where are we going?”
“I need to talk to Clark,” Lex replied, looking annoyed with himself. Bruce stayed by his side, supporting his weight as Lex shakily moved forward. He ignored the shivers running down Lex’s back. Bruce knew why Lex was uncomfortable being touched, even if he wouldn’t say it.
Clark spotted them from where he was watching and closed the distance on his own. Chloe snuck away from Nevaeh and followed.
“What’s going on?”
Lex looked pointedly at Chloe then to Clark.
“Oh. She knows. She saw… something.”
Lex nodded. “Zod has-“
“What about him?”
Lex looked up at Bruce. He was mostly just leaning back against him now. Bruce held onto him protectively as he met Clark’s eyes. “I’ve never had a problem with Bruce keeping my secrets. But given your trust issues, I’m not going to ask you depend on my judgment.”
Clark and Bruce stared at one another intensely. Clark ran a hand through his hair in frustration and looked to Chloe, who shrugged, then to the ceiling.
“We might need his help,” Chloe offered. “The whole world knows there are… I mean. That could be great for you or it could be really dangerous.”
“With the proper PR and handling as we work our way out of this mess, it shouldn’t be a problem. But you can kiss a normal life goodbye," Lex advised.
“My life is normal?” Clark protested. “Are you kidding?”
“Relatively. Compared to the tabloids following your entire childhood and the president calling for personal favors, yes. You live a pretty normal life!”
“The president doesn’t call me for favors,” Bruce said flatly.
“Would you grant them?” Lex asked.
“I think he’d be more afraid I’d demand he came over for a party, actually. I don’t think Wayne Industries has much experience in weapons.”
“I hear they have more than they used to,” Lex replied with a smirk.
“Where the hell do you get your intelligence?” Bruce demanded.
”A little bat told me.”
Bruce looked furious, like he might drop Lex. Then he matched Lex’s grin. “You are brilliant and frightening, Alex. I don’t know how you put these things together. I was careful.”
Clark gave them a perplexed look.
“Bruce has a secret, too,” Lex explained.
“Argh,” Bruce grumbled. He looked up at Clark again. “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours?”
“I think mine’s bigger than yours,” Clark challenged.
“I don’t know about that.”
“Okay, really,” Chloe broke in. “This penis envy between the two of you has got to stop. NOW.”
Lex covered his mouth laughing and started to slip from Bruce’s grip.
“Careful,” Bruce said. “Okay, let’s move this a bit further away from the crowd, shall we?”
The four of them moved away from the group still watching Zod’s address. Lex snuck a look over at his father, who was sitting next to Martha. Very close next to her.
“My dad is trying to move in on your mother.”
“I know,” Clark replied with a growl. The reached the far corner of the warehouse, and Bruce eased Lex down onto the wall.
“Okay. Shall I start?” Bruce waited. Clark granted him a shrug and a nod. “I don’t suppose you’ve heard much about what’s been going on in Gotham over the past year?”
“I have a little. There was some kind of riot involving a fear inducing chemical,” Chloe supplied. Bruce nodded.
“Well, I was involved. And I continue to be. I’ve been using the resources of my family’s company to combat the crime in Gotham.” He paused for a moment. “Dressed as a giant bat.”
“You… what??” Clark’s voice rose in disbelief.
“Black. Dark. Easy to conceal my face.”
“Plus he’s afraid of bats,” Lex put in, raising a finger.
“Mm. Yes.” Bruce shifted his weight uncomfortably. “I mean to strike fear in the hearts of those who would hurt the innocents on our streets.”
“That’s awesome,” Chloe laughed. Clark cast a disparaging look in her direction.
“You have a hero fetish.”
“Your turn, Clark,” She shot back.
“Fine. Okay. I don’t dress up as anything. I’m just an alien.”
Bruce opened his mouth. “Oh. I guess yours is bigger.”
“And that alien that just took over the world in Lex’s body? That’s kinda my mom.”
“What?” Lex looked up in disbelief.
“It’s true. Apparently in my species, the males carry. He’s pregnant now, remember.”
“Clark, you should have told me. You can use this.”
“Use this. Everything is an angle to you!”
“Of course it is. We’re trying to survive here. You’re on our side, aren’t you?”
“You know I am!” Clark had to fight to keep his voice down. Lex narrowed his eyes.
“If I knew that do you think I’d have kept quiet about the ship to you?”
Clark sucked in his lower lip. “Okay, so I suck at the espionage thing. I hate having to lie. I did it wrong.”
“We both did.” Lex reached up and grasped his hand momentarily. Clark crouched down to his level. “This is why I stayed. I know you. You have all the potential in the world, if you’d be bold enough to use it. Zod has the same powers as you, correct?”
Clark nodded. “As far as I know. I mean, Ursa flies, but I can’t and I’ve never seen Zod do much more than hover. We’re probably equally matched.”
“Then we have to play this. We play this fast, and we play it smart. He didn’t suspect losing Fine. Now he’s making this speech in a clear attempt to keep control over the people. He’s in a bind, and he’s weak, and you have to go after him now before he revises his plan. I can tell by the way he’s worked so far that it won’t take him long to regain control.”
“Okay then. I go after him.” Clark looked at his hands nervously.
“I could go with you?” Chloe suggested.
“There’s going to be a fight. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I could bring some kryptonite.”
“Which could get turned on me.”
“I can come as backup. We don’t have any of the meteor rocks here anyway.” Bruce said pensively. “If I can take on gangs, I can at least provide you some cover.”
“Maybe this is the time to go get some,” Lex suggested.
Bruce thought on that. “Clark moves in; we get the kryptonite as back up? Move quick, cover our bases. Not a bad plan considering our resources. You’ll have to sit this one out.”
“I’ll try to cope with my disappointment,” Lex replied sarcastically.
***
Zod moved slowly back to his quarters. He was feeling a bit drained after the address and had decided to walk for once. He hadn’t used superspeed in awhile either. He wasn’t sure how the fetuses would cope. Ursa would be out for a long time yet, so he would have to field the long trek to the top of his tower himself.
Generally, he would have liked to stick to Kryptonian tradition and leave the naming to his female partner. As she was dead, he had been trying to put some thought into it. They would have to have Kryptonian names. Perhaps, named after those he knew, although that wasn’t done often.
He slowed his already slow waddle across the parking lot, perking his ears. Someone was drawing near to him.
Within a second, Clark zipped across the lot. And Zod was high in the air looking down at him around his big belly.
“Oh, dammit,” Clark said, stopping just in time before the LuthorCorp building. “He can fly.”
“I can. It’s a bit awkward given the situation.” Zod called down from his position. “Are you coming up to greet your ima or are you going to stay down there?”
Clark wished he’d spent more time in the Fortress of Solitude practicing this. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on lifting off the ground. He opened his eyes and smiled at the few inches he’d managed. He tried to push further, but then lost control and fell on the ground. He could hear Zod laughing at him.
“Didn’t daddy teach you that? Or was he too busy sending you on all manner of ridiculous missions after rocks? I’ve never really understood the El tradition of repeatedly testing your offspring.”
“Is this going to be a heart-to-heart or something?”
“I’d like for us to get along, Kal-El. You are my son.”
“My name is Clark.” He shouted up at Zod. Zod shrugged.
“As you wish. Clark.” He watched his son walk around looking up at him. “I’ve watched you. Ever since they exiled me to the Phantom Zone. Every day of your life that they stole from me. It didn’t have to be that way. We all could have survived. Found a new home where we could live together. Your father, mother, and I.”
“Are you trying to convince me you’re in this for peace? You took over our planet!”
“You grew up with two loving parents in a fairly safe area of the world. You never wanted for food or shelter. There are many who cannot say the same… Clark. As I watched you, I watched them as well. Do you really think we would be safe here? The way they have been running their planet? They will destroy themselves without our help. And they would certainly try to destroy us.”
“My father said a “dark force” was rising from Krypton. He meant you. He tried to stop you from even coming here.”
“He is also responsible for your foster father’s death, if I recall. He’s been toying with you, and people have died.” Zod watched as Clark’s face fell. “He ordered you to kill that man you loved without telling you that the original was likely already gone. He asked for unquestioning obedience without earning your trust.”
“It’s not like that with us!”
“Forgive me. Things were different on Krypton. But you clearly cared, if you were not in love...”
“Lex would have died because of you not him. You’re the one in his body right now!”
”You’ve been in the Phantom Zone. How could I possibly tell the Brainiac computer whom to chose? What to do?” He stored the bit of information that the Vessel’s original copy was not dead in the back of his mind. Clark visibly weakened again.
“I don’t know who to trust,” Clark said softly. He looked sad and lost.
“Then stand down, and we can discuss this as equals. You are my kin. I do not want to fight you, and I know that you yearn to be closer to your true family, without having to be ashamed.”
Clark shoved his hands in his pocket and stuck his lower lip out a little bit. “Okay. Ima? Is that the word?”
Zod lowered slowly, and Clark could see why he didn’t fly. It was hard for him to see below his body, and therefore, difficult to land. Clark moved forward as though to help him touch down safely.
Then he shot him full blast with his heat vision. Zod flew back and hit the ground, rolling as he curled over his belly. Clark sped forward and hit him again to keep him off balance before he grabbed him by the collar of his cape.
Before Zod even opened his eyes, Clark felt himself thrown backward by something powerful, slammed into the ground, and enveloped in wave after wave of pain. Just as quickly, it was lifting him in the air, constricting his body tightly. It might crush his bones and obliterate him into nothing.
Zod gathered himself off the ground slowly, clutching his stomach, clearly in pain. “Zod can fly.”
He moved towards Clark, wincing a bit as he came, but still looking terribly frightening in his anger.
“Zod also has telekinesis. Were you not watching your enemies while you were in the Phantom Zone? Or were you just watching your mate, mourning over your inability to do anything for him?”
He raised his hand and clenched it. Clark whimpered as the energy around him squeezed ever tighter.
“Mommy…”
I was going to take a break on this one, but I'm trying to wrap this up a bit before school starts.
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 and Superman comic canon.
RECAP! PREVIOUSLY ON ZOD!PREG:
Zod’s new body got knocked up with twins by Lois Lane and Bruce Wayne before he took it over. He’s taken over the world. In the past, he was in a lifelong triad with Jor-El and Lara Van, and together, they spawned a little Kal-El. But after the birth, Jor-El has become suspicious of Zod’s methods.
Lex was thought to be dead, but it turns out that he’s alive and working with Brainiac so that the latter will protect the few members of the resistance. Because of what Brainiac did to him to create Zod’s new body, Lex flatlined a few times, and Brainiac was forced to bring Lex to the resistance base to get him help. In an attempt to save Lex’s mental knowledge, he allowed a clone to copy Lex’s brain. But the Lex/Fine clone, known at the Flex, promptly tricked Fine into letting Clark out of the Phantom Zone to help them defeat Zod. Bruce and Clark are jealous of each other, and Lex woke up, surprised at how many people were actually glad to see him alive. Now Lex has to finish rewriting Brainiac’s program so he isn’t compelled to help Zod, so Clark can take Zod on before he releases the other criminals in the Phantom Zone.
Earth
Present
Underground Lab Somewhere in the Metropolis Area
Zod’s head was splitting at the seams. His back was shooting with pain, and his body was giving off so much heat he thought the consol next to him might melt at his touch. His major inclination at the moment was to find something and fuck it into dust. He’d lost that soft little creature he’d been keeping at the beginning of his pregnancy. If he didn’t make a connection with something, he felt he might end up destroying the city before this was all over, just to have some kind of release.
He was floating, slightly. It was less exhausting than attempting to walk with his ponderous bulk sticking out from his black-garbed form. The twins kicked excitedly with his mood. Zod was not particularly happy to be doing this, and at this time, but he felt he had no choice. He moved his hands against the consol.
Jor-El’s form appeared before him. He looked confused and a little irritated, particularly for an artificial intelligence. Suddenly he broke into a laugh.
“That’s a bit uncalled for, Jor. I may be pregnant, but you’re dead.”
“I suppose I am.” Jor-El’s face closed into a stern expression. “What do you want from me?”
“I want evidence that you will not try to stop me here.”
“I’ve been trying to stop you already.”
Zod rubbed the curve of his belly where the male twin was pushing. Although the black cape covered him completely, his clothing underneath had become insufficient. The shirt road up quite a bit. He would have to remedy that, if the twins didn’t come soon. As it was, he’d simply taken to walking around his quarters nude.
“You’ve clearly failed. It is time that you realize you are no match for me. You are best suited at my side, Jor-El. Take your place beside Zod, and we will rule together, with our son.”
“I do not know how you plan to do that, Zod, and I don’t want to know.”
“He will come to me.”
“He will protect the humans. You’ve seen that.”
Zod lifted his chin and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “He will. Yet you have alienated him. You have made many mistakes, and he does not believe that you care about his adoptive race. You certainly should never have told him to destroy The Vessel without letting on that the human we based it on was still alive.”
“He has your temper, and that human… I do not approve. I don’t want him to become like you.”
Zod would not show that the words hurt. They were true; he was aware. He’d known as he watched Kal-El grow that all of Jor-El’s AI’s actions were predicated upon the programmer’s fear that his son would become such a monster. He had tried to take Kal-El away from the humans several times, to teach him, but the boy would not listen to him. He required a different sort of touch. Zod was not sure he had that touch in him anymore.
“You understand if I do not think that is a bad thing.” Zod turned from him bitterly, hand gently caressing and comforting the twins. His face said nothing, but they knew of his inner anger bubbling. “He will join me. He will see not only me, but his true mate in me. And he will see that I also have a familial connection with these creatures.” His brow rose coldly, and he fetched a disk from his pocket. Shoving it into the consol, his eyes gazed with venom at Jor-El’s form. “You understand if I cannot let you interfere.”
The hologram opened its mouth in surprise, but had no time to make a sound. Zod retrieved the disk and floated out of the chamber wordlessly. The virus would destroy the AI and render that location, wherever it was, useless as a means of retaliation against him.
***
“You aren’t attractive, you know. Don’t even think for a minute that you are.”
Lex looked up from the laptop where he was working with an expression of such bile that Clark thought Lois might melt on the spot.
“I mean, skinny, pale, and bald? Not cute.” She informed him with an air that said she knew she was being blunt, but the truth must be told. Chloe raised a hand to her shoulder and shook her head vigorously with wide eyes.
“That’s great to know.” He went back to his work. His right reached up to his neck and trailed along one of the surgical scars. “While we’re sharing, you have some chin hair you might want to take care of. And you would look immeasurably better if you went darker rather than lighter when you dye your hair. Blond looks good on Chloe, but it only makes you look more mannish. And the color is more horse-like than an attractive blond anyway.”
“The only reason women ever sleep with you is for your money!”
“Lois, he doesn’t know. Cool it.”
“He… he doesn’t?” She turned and gave Lex a fake smile. “Okay.”
Watching Lois walk quickly in the other direction, Lex shook his head in bewilderment.
“Alien abduction can be… stressful?” Chloe suggested.
“No. Really.”
Chloe had to admit she was impressed with how diligently Lex was working. He still looked like death warmed over, and between Clark and Bruce, he wasn’t allowed off of his cot, but he seemed driven to be working on that program every moment. He hadn’t even slept as far as she could tell.
“Or maybe she’s jealous that nobody’s really interest in her except for Zod. And you have the attention of three guys here already,” She joked. Clark flushed.
“I’m… that’s not. Stop that!”
“I was kidding. Well, mostly.” She counted it a victory to see Lex’s eyes. It wasn’t a smile, but he was amused. “I’m going to go see if there's dinner to be had.”
Clark sat in silence with Lex for a moment. Bruce was lying beside his cot, asleep. Like some kind of watchdog. He had no doubt he’d wake up if Fine came within fifteen feet of their area. Slowly, Clark reached out to touch Lex’s shoulder.
“Le-“
“Don’t.”
Clark jumped. Did hadn’t thought Lex was even looking in his direction.
“I know what you are. I don’t mind, but please don’t touch me.” Lex didn’t meet his eyes.
‘You.. what?”
“I don’t have time for this. Just respect my wishes, please.”
“Well you could at least explain it to me? Why I’m so disgusting you can’t let me touch you!”
“It’s not just you!” Lex glared at him. He looked a little embarrassed. His hand smoothed over the back of his head and touched the scars that met at the ridge of his skull. “As though you ever explained anything to me when I asked. When I knew. Much easier to let me believe that I’m crazy. Not much of a jump there anyway, right? Lex the megalomaniacal madman?”
“That isn’t how it was.”
“All Fine had to do was suggest it, and you trusted him instantly. You never trusted me.” Lex turned his head as his voice broke. “I don’t really even mind you lying to me to protect yourself. I would do the same, and we both know it. But you didn’t trust me with simple, stupid things and that… Clark…”
Clark sat down next to him as close as he could without touching him. He watched for a flinch, but when Lex seemed all right, he continued. “It got to be a habit. Sometimes I didn’t want you to be disappointed in me. Sometimes I wanted to protect you from what was happening.”
“That worked out pretty well for all parties involved.”
Clark remained silent. He leaned against the cot.
“Don’t.”
“I didn’t. OH. Sorry.”
“…I know you didn’t mean to.” He paused. “You aren’t disgusting.”
Clark crossed his legs and peered up at Lex sheepishly. After a moment, a smile began to form at the corner of Lex’s lips. It didn’t develop, but it stayed.
“I’m sorry.”
“You only have to apologize once, Clark.”
“I’m sorry for not trusting you. For lying to you when I didn’t have to. For jumping to conclusions and letting Fine wrap me around his finger when I should have known you would never hurt my family.”
Lex blinked. “Alright.”
“What?? Is that all it takes? I expected an acerbic comment at least.”
“Well, no, that’s not all. But… it’s so seldom anyone actually take responsibility for their behavior towards me. I would be remiss to take it lightly.” The front of his brows rose. “I’m sorry I let my obsessive curiosity get in the way of my judgment regarding our friendship.”
“I already forgave you for that.”
“Well, it was so bizarre I think the apology bears repeating.”
“I bring the weird out in people.” Clark grinned to himself. Lex shook his head.
“I promise you the weird was already there in my case.”
He reached out his hand slowly and took Clark’s fingertips for a moment. They looked into each others’ eyes.
”We’re going to have to-“ Clark started.
“Yeah, I know.”
“It’ll take time.”
“Well, it’s about time we did, anyway.” He pulled his hand away. “Okay, that’s enough for now.”
Clark tried not to look too obviously sympathetic. Lex seemed embarrassed enough.
“I almost have this,” he said frustrated. “I’m so fucking close… someday I’ll have to tell you about the Bookshelf of Bruce Wayne.”
“WHAT?”
“Well, it was no Chamber of Clark Kent. That much is for certain. No big pictures of him anywhere. I did have illicit copies of all the reports regarding the death of his parents, medical records, and a full background check on the man who’d committed the murder. I also managed to get some information that the police missed.”
“That’s special,” Clark said with a raised brow. “A bookshelf. In the room you shared?”
“Bruce can be a veritable Sherlock Holmes, but he’s also rather adept at missing what’s right in front of his face, particularly when it’s happening in his own home. I think he was more amused than anything else. And he was interested in looking at the information I’d found. Together we tracked down the mob head that ordered the hit on his father.” Lex smirked. “Did I tell you both Bruce and I are crazy?”
“And have you both sought counseling?”
“Well, you know what happened when I did,” Lex replied darkly. He growled at the monitor. For the first time, he wished he’d been more of a delinquent in his youth and picked up more criminal programming tricks. “Mostly we counseled each other.”
“Oh. Then I’m glad you had him,” Clark said honestly. It was hard to know how to react to Bruce’s presence, when Lex had never mentioned him before.
“So am I. I don’t know where I would be. I’m pretty sure I know where he would be. Maybe we could share a cell in Arkham.”
“Arkham?” Clark didn’t like how dark Lex sounded. For a moment he’d seemed like the Lex he remembered being friends with.
“Gotham’s Belle Reve. Only, with fewer mutants, I hear.”
Chloe trotted up with a few trays of food. “That’s probably a relief to the other inmates. I snagged some food. Can you eat?”
Lex cocked a brow. “Me? I have no idea. I’ll try.”
Bruce sat up suddenly. “You should. You’re even skinnier than I remember you.”
“I doubt that.” He took a biscuit and nibbled it experimentally. The food was pretty simple, but there was enough to go around. “You’ve gotten bigger though. I see you’ve been disciplined.”
Bruce nodded. He rubbed his eyes sleepily. Lex considered verbally comparing him to Clark, but he didn’t feel up for the drama at the moment. He could play with them later when their race wasn’t in quite so much danger.
“Alex,” Bruce said very softly. “Sooner or later we’re going to have to talk about what happened to you. I’m willing to wait because I know I should have found a way to contact you when I left, but…”
As Bruce paused, Lex clamped a hand over his mouth and continued to work with the other.
“I’ve got it. I’ve FUCKING got it.”
Chloe and Clark jumped back as a blur rushed into their presence and became Fine.
“Yes! I’m free,” he said triumphantly with a near growl. The ship to their right lit up. A few people drew near to watch, one of them Lionel Luthor.
“I suppose asking you to stay and help would be useless.” Lex tilted his head in askance.
Fine stepped closer to him and reached for Lex’s face with one hand. Lex recoiled, but Fine grabbed him and forced a kiss on his lips. Lex frowned deeply but reciprocated almost hungrily, shivering as Fine shoved his tongue into his mouth, rolling it along Lex’s mouth. As he moved back, he bit then sucked on Lex’s lower lip then pressed against him once more before he released the man, shaking in his cot.
Fine straightened and looked down on Lex with a cold gentleness. “No, this is goodbye, Lex. I have no intention of staying.”
“I see.”
“Removing Zod’s support system should help your efforts immeasurably. You know this.” Fine started to move towards the ship then stopped. “You could always come with me.”
Bruce was immediately on his feet and attentive to the situation. Lex’s lips quirked. “And what, be your favorite pet experiment? Not really one of my ambitions.”
“I’d have more use for you than that.”
“I’ve had my fill of those… uses,” Lex replied harshly. The computer looked disappointed.
“There is so much out there for you to see. More than even a man like you could imagine. You are wasted here. You might win. And then what? More coping with how simple your fellow humans are. You’re more than them. And even worse, you’d don’t belong here. We’ve talked about this. I know that you want to go.”
“I’m not coming with you, Milton. You know my reasons.”
“They’re flawed reasons. A mind like yours should be able to see the benefits of coming with me.”
“A mind like mine wonders why a super computer wants company so much,” Lex chided gently. Fine’s face soured. He began a broad, quick stride to the ship.
“When we meet again, Lex Luthor-“
“We’re enemies. I understand.”
They watched the other Fine clones melt and rush into the ship, which twisted and blurred out of existence within a second. Lex flung himself back onto the cot and threw his arms over his face, covering his eyes with his elbows. Lionel drew near.
“You can lecture me on something Greek about power later, dad. Right now I’m going to fucking sleep.”
Lionel knelt by the cot, aware of Bruce’s presence and his disapproving glare. He had avoided confronting Lex for that reason since he’d returned. “There is no part of me that is comfortable about your relationship with Milton Fine, Lex.”
“You aren’t as familiar with Greek society than you claim, in that case.”
“But you’ve done an amazing amount with what little you had to work with. I’d thought you were dead.”
“Almost.”
“You survived. And you extended your protection to Martha and I even when you needed help yourself.” He paused. Lex moved his arm and looked at him exactingly, daring him to continue. Instead, Lionel patted his arm. “Get some sleep. When you wake we can talk strategy.”
Lex rolled his eyes. His inner drive keeping him alive had been to finish his work, and he had no hopes of anything beyond that, so he shut his eyes.
“Well, I’m proud of you, Lex.”
He felt someone’s hand on his shoulder, but he didn’t have the energy to brush it off. Was that Martha Kent’s voice? He moved his lips, trying to say thank you, but without the impetus of their immediate doom, he drifted off too quickly.
***
Zod sat in a tub of ice, clearing a second plate heaped with strange human foods. He wanted Kryptonian cuisine, but this would have to do.
He remember sitting naked with Lara’s arms around him as she watched his exuberant feeding in amusement. She’d spent the night trying to see how long it would take to fill him up and rubbed his back when he was sore.
It was amusing then, and tedious now. He sucked the remaining meat off of a rib and set the bone upon the plate resting on his large belly. He started in on a pile of mashed potatoes and fetched a hot wing from a little container beside his tub.
Ursa came in and pinched her mouth into a very small pucker to the left.
“Do you have something to say to Zod?” He demanded pissily. And took a chomp out of a pickle. She sat down in the middle of the large bathroom and stole a pickle.
“Nothing I want to say. You might decide to eat me.” She pondered that a moment and took a bite. “When are the critters coming?”
“Soon,” he said, relief for that much evident in his voice. Her brow creased. Ursa picked up a piece of ice and started to run it along his exposed skin. “In theory, I have three more weeks, but I imagine now it is going to be a matter of days, with the way I’m feeling.”
“They’re still growing, though.”
“Might be the last stretch.” He picked up a small carton of ice cream and tasted it. Good fudge, marshmallow cream…“Or I could be wrong entirely and go the full term. I don’t doubt this body could handle the extra growth.”
“I trust your instincts. They’ve never steered me wrong before.”
“I don’t know about that, Ursa.” He spared a hand to caress her calculating face. She was sizing up his strengths and weaknesses, as he lay there, vulnerable and awkward.
“I think your instincts told you that Jor-El was lost to you. It was emotion that allowed him to live long enough to betray you. If I were inclined to take a mate, I think I would understand better. Given the circumstances at the time…”
“Given the circumstances now,” he replied. He set down the ice cream and began clearing his plate of fried vegetables. She watched him as he finished off the food, then leaned back in a state of semi-exhaustion. He raised a brow at her and placed a hand on the mound rising out of the ice. He rolled his head over to look at her. “What is it you have come to tell me?”
“All of the Brainiac computer’s clones are gone.”
Zod tried to sit up, but found it impossible as another pain shot through his back. Ursa laid a hand on him regardless and shook her head. “I’ve been trying to make a decent showing since it happened, but even with speed, it has been difficult. I wanted to come to you to find out what to say to the people.”
“Why has it stopped? What happened?”
”I don’t know. I haven’t had the spare moment to investigate. However, I do not know where the Brainiac has been keeping its ship. And when I went to the lab… even the consol was gone.”
Zod’s eyes widened with fury. How could a computer betray him? He knew for certain that it could not have rewritten its program on its own…
“Help me up.”
“I want you by my side. But I want you healthy and whole,” Ursa urged. He presented his hand to her with a look that informed her he was not to be denied. She sighed and took it. He was plenty strong enough to move, but the displacement of muscles and his center of gravity made every motion difficult. Together they hefted him out of the tub.
“I will need to make an appearance.” He gave his back a long stretch. It was aching more than that time his squad had gone into a plague zone to fish out some straggles and someone had blown a fucking building up around him.
Ursa looked skeptical. He regarded her coolly.
“We will ensure that I am covered and all parts of me which stick out are safely out of sight. The people live in fear. They will do nothing for the time being.” He rose off the ground and floated into the next room. Ursa followed. “Even in my current state, the humans will have no way of stopping me.”
“I wonder if we shouldn’t let at least one ally out of the Phantom Zone.” She stepped back at the look on his face. “We can pull out only one who would not think to defy you. We have to cover our asses, Zod. It is enough that the Brainiac is gone. What if it has turned against us?”
“I don’t think that it would bother.” Zod floated over to his dresser and looked for something that might fit. He would have to have something made for his appearance before the people. “Perhaps it would be wise, in any case.”
He wondered if he should let out Kal-El to help him now. Perhaps he would have seen by now that he should be allying himself with his bearer. Before the boy hardly had any information at all. Jor-El had denied him of what he needed to know… no. He could not risk his new offspring for care of the first. Kal-El would come to him at the right time, and not before.
***
“My people, you may be curious as to why I have pulled back my forces. Make no mistake. You are all under the care of Zod. I can see you at all times.” Zod hovered behind a podium that came up to his chest. He could feel the twins fighting inside him. It was difficult to concentrate with them behaving so. He sent them a signal to settle down.
In the base, everyone crowded around the one television in their possession. It didn’t work under regular circumstances, but then again, none of the airwaves were up. The televisions turned on when the aliens were informing them of something.
“I’m never going to live this down,” Lex said softly. Bruce shook his head.
“It’s not you.”
“That’s never mattered. He has my face.” Lex sighed and shook his head. He slipped out of the cot and tried to manage standing. He had to admit, it had been a long while since he moved anywhere under his own power. Bruce caught him as he fell back.
“Where are we going?”
“I need to talk to Clark,” Lex replied, looking annoyed with himself. Bruce stayed by his side, supporting his weight as Lex shakily moved forward. He ignored the shivers running down Lex’s back. Bruce knew why Lex was uncomfortable being touched, even if he wouldn’t say it.
Clark spotted them from where he was watching and closed the distance on his own. Chloe snuck away from Nevaeh and followed.
“What’s going on?”
Lex looked pointedly at Chloe then to Clark.
“Oh. She knows. She saw… something.”
Lex nodded. “Zod has-“
“What about him?”
Lex looked up at Bruce. He was mostly just leaning back against him now. Bruce held onto him protectively as he met Clark’s eyes. “I’ve never had a problem with Bruce keeping my secrets. But given your trust issues, I’m not going to ask you depend on my judgment.”
Clark and Bruce stared at one another intensely. Clark ran a hand through his hair in frustration and looked to Chloe, who shrugged, then to the ceiling.
“We might need his help,” Chloe offered. “The whole world knows there are… I mean. That could be great for you or it could be really dangerous.”
“With the proper PR and handling as we work our way out of this mess, it shouldn’t be a problem. But you can kiss a normal life goodbye," Lex advised.
“My life is normal?” Clark protested. “Are you kidding?”
“Relatively. Compared to the tabloids following your entire childhood and the president calling for personal favors, yes. You live a pretty normal life!”
“The president doesn’t call me for favors,” Bruce said flatly.
“Would you grant them?” Lex asked.
“I think he’d be more afraid I’d demand he came over for a party, actually. I don’t think Wayne Industries has much experience in weapons.”
“I hear they have more than they used to,” Lex replied with a smirk.
“Where the hell do you get your intelligence?” Bruce demanded.
”A little bat told me.”
Bruce looked furious, like he might drop Lex. Then he matched Lex’s grin. “You are brilliant and frightening, Alex. I don’t know how you put these things together. I was careful.”
Clark gave them a perplexed look.
“Bruce has a secret, too,” Lex explained.
“Argh,” Bruce grumbled. He looked up at Clark again. “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours?”
“I think mine’s bigger than yours,” Clark challenged.
“I don’t know about that.”
“Okay, really,” Chloe broke in. “This penis envy between the two of you has got to stop. NOW.”
Lex covered his mouth laughing and started to slip from Bruce’s grip.
“Careful,” Bruce said. “Okay, let’s move this a bit further away from the crowd, shall we?”
The four of them moved away from the group still watching Zod’s address. Lex snuck a look over at his father, who was sitting next to Martha. Very close next to her.
“My dad is trying to move in on your mother.”
“I know,” Clark replied with a growl. The reached the far corner of the warehouse, and Bruce eased Lex down onto the wall.
“Okay. Shall I start?” Bruce waited. Clark granted him a shrug and a nod. “I don’t suppose you’ve heard much about what’s been going on in Gotham over the past year?”
“I have a little. There was some kind of riot involving a fear inducing chemical,” Chloe supplied. Bruce nodded.
“Well, I was involved. And I continue to be. I’ve been using the resources of my family’s company to combat the crime in Gotham.” He paused for a moment. “Dressed as a giant bat.”
“You… what??” Clark’s voice rose in disbelief.
“Black. Dark. Easy to conceal my face.”
“Plus he’s afraid of bats,” Lex put in, raising a finger.
“Mm. Yes.” Bruce shifted his weight uncomfortably. “I mean to strike fear in the hearts of those who would hurt the innocents on our streets.”
“That’s awesome,” Chloe laughed. Clark cast a disparaging look in her direction.
“You have a hero fetish.”
“Your turn, Clark,” She shot back.
“Fine. Okay. I don’t dress up as anything. I’m just an alien.”
Bruce opened his mouth. “Oh. I guess yours is bigger.”
“And that alien that just took over the world in Lex’s body? That’s kinda my mom.”
“What?” Lex looked up in disbelief.
“It’s true. Apparently in my species, the males carry. He’s pregnant now, remember.”
“Clark, you should have told me. You can use this.”
“Use this. Everything is an angle to you!”
“Of course it is. We’re trying to survive here. You’re on our side, aren’t you?”
“You know I am!” Clark had to fight to keep his voice down. Lex narrowed his eyes.
“If I knew that do you think I’d have kept quiet about the ship to you?”
Clark sucked in his lower lip. “Okay, so I suck at the espionage thing. I hate having to lie. I did it wrong.”
“We both did.” Lex reached up and grasped his hand momentarily. Clark crouched down to his level. “This is why I stayed. I know you. You have all the potential in the world, if you’d be bold enough to use it. Zod has the same powers as you, correct?”
Clark nodded. “As far as I know. I mean, Ursa flies, but I can’t and I’ve never seen Zod do much more than hover. We’re probably equally matched.”
“Then we have to play this. We play this fast, and we play it smart. He didn’t suspect losing Fine. Now he’s making this speech in a clear attempt to keep control over the people. He’s in a bind, and he’s weak, and you have to go after him now before he revises his plan. I can tell by the way he’s worked so far that it won’t take him long to regain control.”
“Okay then. I go after him.” Clark looked at his hands nervously.
“I could go with you?” Chloe suggested.
“There’s going to be a fight. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I could bring some kryptonite.”
“Which could get turned on me.”
“I can come as backup. We don’t have any of the meteor rocks here anyway.” Bruce said pensively. “If I can take on gangs, I can at least provide you some cover.”
“Maybe this is the time to go get some,” Lex suggested.
Bruce thought on that. “Clark moves in; we get the kryptonite as back up? Move quick, cover our bases. Not a bad plan considering our resources. You’ll have to sit this one out.”
“I’ll try to cope with my disappointment,” Lex replied sarcastically.
***
Zod moved slowly back to his quarters. He was feeling a bit drained after the address and had decided to walk for once. He hadn’t used superspeed in awhile either. He wasn’t sure how the fetuses would cope. Ursa would be out for a long time yet, so he would have to field the long trek to the top of his tower himself.
Generally, he would have liked to stick to Kryptonian tradition and leave the naming to his female partner. As she was dead, he had been trying to put some thought into it. They would have to have Kryptonian names. Perhaps, named after those he knew, although that wasn’t done often.
He slowed his already slow waddle across the parking lot, perking his ears. Someone was drawing near to him.
Within a second, Clark zipped across the lot. And Zod was high in the air looking down at him around his big belly.
“Oh, dammit,” Clark said, stopping just in time before the LuthorCorp building. “He can fly.”
“I can. It’s a bit awkward given the situation.” Zod called down from his position. “Are you coming up to greet your ima or are you going to stay down there?”
Clark wished he’d spent more time in the Fortress of Solitude practicing this. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on lifting off the ground. He opened his eyes and smiled at the few inches he’d managed. He tried to push further, but then lost control and fell on the ground. He could hear Zod laughing at him.
“Didn’t daddy teach you that? Or was he too busy sending you on all manner of ridiculous missions after rocks? I’ve never really understood the El tradition of repeatedly testing your offspring.”
“Is this going to be a heart-to-heart or something?”
“I’d like for us to get along, Kal-El. You are my son.”
“My name is Clark.” He shouted up at Zod. Zod shrugged.
“As you wish. Clark.” He watched his son walk around looking up at him. “I’ve watched you. Ever since they exiled me to the Phantom Zone. Every day of your life that they stole from me. It didn’t have to be that way. We all could have survived. Found a new home where we could live together. Your father, mother, and I.”
“Are you trying to convince me you’re in this for peace? You took over our planet!”
“You grew up with two loving parents in a fairly safe area of the world. You never wanted for food or shelter. There are many who cannot say the same… Clark. As I watched you, I watched them as well. Do you really think we would be safe here? The way they have been running their planet? They will destroy themselves without our help. And they would certainly try to destroy us.”
“My father said a “dark force” was rising from Krypton. He meant you. He tried to stop you from even coming here.”
“He is also responsible for your foster father’s death, if I recall. He’s been toying with you, and people have died.” Zod watched as Clark’s face fell. “He ordered you to kill that man you loved without telling you that the original was likely already gone. He asked for unquestioning obedience without earning your trust.”
“It’s not like that with us!”
“Forgive me. Things were different on Krypton. But you clearly cared, if you were not in love...”
“Lex would have died because of you not him. You’re the one in his body right now!”
”You’ve been in the Phantom Zone. How could I possibly tell the Brainiac computer whom to chose? What to do?” He stored the bit of information that the Vessel’s original copy was not dead in the back of his mind. Clark visibly weakened again.
“I don’t know who to trust,” Clark said softly. He looked sad and lost.
“Then stand down, and we can discuss this as equals. You are my kin. I do not want to fight you, and I know that you yearn to be closer to your true family, without having to be ashamed.”
Clark shoved his hands in his pocket and stuck his lower lip out a little bit. “Okay. Ima? Is that the word?”
Zod lowered slowly, and Clark could see why he didn’t fly. It was hard for him to see below his body, and therefore, difficult to land. Clark moved forward as though to help him touch down safely.
Then he shot him full blast with his heat vision. Zod flew back and hit the ground, rolling as he curled over his belly. Clark sped forward and hit him again to keep him off balance before he grabbed him by the collar of his cape.
Before Zod even opened his eyes, Clark felt himself thrown backward by something powerful, slammed into the ground, and enveloped in wave after wave of pain. Just as quickly, it was lifting him in the air, constricting his body tightly. It might crush his bones and obliterate him into nothing.
Zod gathered himself off the ground slowly, clutching his stomach, clearly in pain. “Zod can fly.”
He moved towards Clark, wincing a bit as he came, but still looking terribly frightening in his anger.
“Zod also has telekinesis. Were you not watching your enemies while you were in the Phantom Zone? Or were you just watching your mate, mourning over your inability to do anything for him?”
He raised his hand and clenched it. Clark whimpered as the energy around him squeezed ever tighter.
“Mommy…”
I was going to take a break on this one, but I'm trying to wrap this up a bit before school starts.