DPJ part 21
10/31/05 11:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
roxyPrevious Parts are here, dressed for trick or treat. Oh for—don’t do that with the candy! Ew!
Here she is, short but hopefully interesting, the next part of DPJupiter. Part 21, as a matter of fact. It’s all shiny and new. Fun, the next few bits were fun! Just don’t get angry at me for the next bit. Not this one—the next one. *nods*. Blame Clark—it was his fault.
“Lara, I can’t wake Lex up. I’m worried…”
“Lex will sleep until I wake him. He needs the time to recover. You have duties to attend to. I will attend to Lex.
Clark rolled to his back and stared up into the silvery light stretching far above him. “ Lara, can you…help him with his...memories?”
“In what way Kal-el?”
“Can you…is it possible to alter his memories? Is it possible to remove the memories that make his life so unhappy?” There was a hesitation before Lara spoke, a sure sign that she was reluctant to answer but Clark pressed on. “Is there?”
“It is possible.”
“Than I want you to remove everything that hurts him—can you make happy memories?” Memories of what should have been?
“Kal-el. Think about what you are asking, and think about whom you wish to alter.”
“But his life has been horrible—remember how he cried. That wasn’t the reaction of a person who has any joy of life. He’s miserable, he’s…he’s suffered enough. I don’t want him to suffer anymore.”
“Kal-el. I must momentarily devote my attention elsewhere. There is a problem.”
How did she make silence so damn loud?Clark cursed. He could order the AI to do what he wanted, but without Lara’s…humanity…he doubted the results would be what he desired.
He needed to talk to some on else about this. Some one wiser than he was.
******
“Bruce.” Clark walked through his apartment, checking his mail, emptying the fridge. He’d let a lot of things go on his impromptu vacation. He leaned against the frame of the large window in his living room, watched neighborhood kids playing on the sidewalk. The rhythmic strike of their jump ropes against the concrete was oddly soothing.
“Clark. How is your vacation going? I see that you’ve had to break it a time or two. Good work by the way. There was minimal damage in the train incident.”
A chill clawed up his spine, Clark felt the press of the headpiece against his throat when he swallowed. Minimal damage? Twelve people died before he was able to pull the railroad cars out of the water, families…children….
The sound of the kids outside, their shrieks of laughter twisted inside him, closed his throat.
When had Bruce started sounding like the AI? Clark realized that he’d been ignoring changes in Bruce, the way the sparkle in his eyes had turned to ice, the way that quirky smile had slowly become a tight line… “I need to talk to you.”
“Clark…is it important? I’ll make time for you of course, whatever you need, you know that, however….”
“It’s not really important,” Clark lied. “I’ll get in touch with you later. I’m heading back to Smallville. I might need to heighten surveillance over my folks.”
“Really?” Bruce asked, his voice more animated than it had been. “Interesting. Beyond the normal reason?”
“No, no, still the same reason. Just—it might escalate. I’ll explain when I see you, okay?”
There was silence on the line, and Bruce spoke. “I’ll meet with you tomorrow night than. Will that do?”
“Yes—that’s fine. Good. I’ll see you tomorrow than.” The sound of the jump ropes slowed and quickened, slowed and quickened…
“Don’t wear the costume,” Bruce said and disconnected.
Clark felt a quick electric flash run through him, and turned away from the window. He set the handset down carefully on the nicked and scratched coffee table in front of what Lois called the ugliest couch in the world. He smiled, the smile slowly eased down into a frown. Using speed he quickly cleaned enough to make the apartment look neat but not museum like—and thought about what his options were.
It had occurred to him during his brief conversation with Bruce that if he showed up with Lex on his arm, Bruce was going to go ballistic. He truly felt that Lex was...well, Bruce felt the way he had up until a few days ago. He dropped on the couch and shuddered. If he’d seen Lex, seen him grieving…no one with a heart could have seen that suffering and not been affected.
******
His mother was sitting on a bench near her flower garden when he arrived. He touched down lightly behind the barn and walked to where she sat.
“Mom--”
“Clark,” she started and laughed. “I was just thinking about you. How’s Lex?”
He grinned. “You were ‘thinking about me—how’s Lex?’ Thanks, I feel loved.” He sat next to her and kissed her forehead.
She smiled and leaned back against the bench. “You know what I mean.”
He settled next to her and they were quiet for a bit, only the hum of bees in the garden and birds in the distance breaking the silence, and then Clark turned towards her and said, “Mom, I have a weird question to ask. If it was possible to change some part of your life that caused you horrible pain, and suddenly you had the opportunity, would you do it?”
“That’s an interesting question son. Why…oh Clark.”
Clark blushed but went on. “Mom, it’ll take years and years for Lex to recover enough to have a normal life. If he didn’t have this on him, he could have a real life. Maybe---a life with me.” Clark looked defiant and Martha knew he was halfway to making up his mind.
“Clark you know it’s wrong. No matter how horrible it may seem to us, you can’t make Lex choose such a drastic action--”
“I wasn’t going to ask him.”
“Oh my god Clark, and if you do that what makes you different from Lucas?’
Clark jumped off the bench and stood with his back to Martha, said, “It is different! I not trying to hurt him, I want to make it better for him, can’t you see that? I can have his memories replaced with good ones, ones in which he has a happy normal life.”
“Clark! Raping his mind and justifying it doesn’t make you better than Lucas. Don’t you think he believes Lex should be happy too? Don’t you think he believes that he loves Lex as much as you do?”
“Mom! Lucas made his life is a disgusting joke—and you sound like you’re fine with it!”
Her face was pale, spots of bright red on her cheeks and she looked angrier than Clark could remember seeing her in a long time.
“Clark don’t be stupid! If I thought it was what Lex wanted, I would do my best to act like it wasn’t happening and keep on going, because I want Lex in *my*life. It is tearing the poor boy up inside—and *still* it’s not your choice to make. Lex is stronger than anyone, including himself gives him credit for. Let him rest, get over what he tried to do. He’ll come out of it. He’ll make his own decision now that he knows he has a choice. That’s all you have to do Clark—just be there. Can you? Think about it, Clark. Can you truly be there for him, no matter how ugly, or how hard it gets?”
******
Clark decided to drive to Gotham, spent the time thinking about what his mother said. She made sense but he had it in his power to save Lex years and years of pain, why shouldn’t Lex have what he could give him? Lucas could be a distant memory, in fact with Lex separated from him, he could put Lucas away for life, so deep that he’d have to crawl his way out from under the jail—hell, he could have Bruce drop him into Arkham and never bring him out again. It could be done, as long as he didn’t have to worry about Lex….
Tbc
Here she is, short but hopefully interesting, the next part of DPJupiter. Part 21, as a matter of fact. It’s all shiny and new. Fun, the next few bits were fun! Just don’t get angry at me for the next bit. Not this one—the next one. *nods*. Blame Clark—it was his fault.
“Lara, I can’t wake Lex up. I’m worried…”
“Lex will sleep until I wake him. He needs the time to recover. You have duties to attend to. I will attend to Lex.
Clark rolled to his back and stared up into the silvery light stretching far above him. “ Lara, can you…help him with his...memories?”
“In what way Kal-el?”
“Can you…is it possible to alter his memories? Is it possible to remove the memories that make his life so unhappy?” There was a hesitation before Lara spoke, a sure sign that she was reluctant to answer but Clark pressed on. “Is there?”
“It is possible.”
“Than I want you to remove everything that hurts him—can you make happy memories?” Memories of what should have been?
“Kal-el. Think about what you are asking, and think about whom you wish to alter.”
“But his life has been horrible—remember how he cried. That wasn’t the reaction of a person who has any joy of life. He’s miserable, he’s…he’s suffered enough. I don’t want him to suffer anymore.”
“Kal-el. I must momentarily devote my attention elsewhere. There is a problem.”
How did she make silence so damn loud?Clark cursed. He could order the AI to do what he wanted, but without Lara’s…humanity…he doubted the results would be what he desired.
He needed to talk to some on else about this. Some one wiser than he was.
******
“Bruce.” Clark walked through his apartment, checking his mail, emptying the fridge. He’d let a lot of things go on his impromptu vacation. He leaned against the frame of the large window in his living room, watched neighborhood kids playing on the sidewalk. The rhythmic strike of their jump ropes against the concrete was oddly soothing.
“Clark. How is your vacation going? I see that you’ve had to break it a time or two. Good work by the way. There was minimal damage in the train incident.”
A chill clawed up his spine, Clark felt the press of the headpiece against his throat when he swallowed. Minimal damage? Twelve people died before he was able to pull the railroad cars out of the water, families…children….
The sound of the kids outside, their shrieks of laughter twisted inside him, closed his throat.
When had Bruce started sounding like the AI? Clark realized that he’d been ignoring changes in Bruce, the way the sparkle in his eyes had turned to ice, the way that quirky smile had slowly become a tight line… “I need to talk to you.”
“Clark…is it important? I’ll make time for you of course, whatever you need, you know that, however….”
“It’s not really important,” Clark lied. “I’ll get in touch with you later. I’m heading back to Smallville. I might need to heighten surveillance over my folks.”
“Really?” Bruce asked, his voice more animated than it had been. “Interesting. Beyond the normal reason?”
“No, no, still the same reason. Just—it might escalate. I’ll explain when I see you, okay?”
There was silence on the line, and Bruce spoke. “I’ll meet with you tomorrow night than. Will that do?”
“Yes—that’s fine. Good. I’ll see you tomorrow than.” The sound of the jump ropes slowed and quickened, slowed and quickened…
“Don’t wear the costume,” Bruce said and disconnected.
Clark felt a quick electric flash run through him, and turned away from the window. He set the handset down carefully on the nicked and scratched coffee table in front of what Lois called the ugliest couch in the world. He smiled, the smile slowly eased down into a frown. Using speed he quickly cleaned enough to make the apartment look neat but not museum like—and thought about what his options were.
It had occurred to him during his brief conversation with Bruce that if he showed up with Lex on his arm, Bruce was going to go ballistic. He truly felt that Lex was...well, Bruce felt the way he had up until a few days ago. He dropped on the couch and shuddered. If he’d seen Lex, seen him grieving…no one with a heart could have seen that suffering and not been affected.
******
His mother was sitting on a bench near her flower garden when he arrived. He touched down lightly behind the barn and walked to where she sat.
“Mom--”
“Clark,” she started and laughed. “I was just thinking about you. How’s Lex?”
He grinned. “You were ‘thinking about me—how’s Lex?’ Thanks, I feel loved.” He sat next to her and kissed her forehead.
She smiled and leaned back against the bench. “You know what I mean.”
He settled next to her and they were quiet for a bit, only the hum of bees in the garden and birds in the distance breaking the silence, and then Clark turned towards her and said, “Mom, I have a weird question to ask. If it was possible to change some part of your life that caused you horrible pain, and suddenly you had the opportunity, would you do it?”
“That’s an interesting question son. Why…oh Clark.”
Clark blushed but went on. “Mom, it’ll take years and years for Lex to recover enough to have a normal life. If he didn’t have this on him, he could have a real life. Maybe---a life with me.” Clark looked defiant and Martha knew he was halfway to making up his mind.
“Clark you know it’s wrong. No matter how horrible it may seem to us, you can’t make Lex choose such a drastic action--”
“I wasn’t going to ask him.”
“Oh my god Clark, and if you do that what makes you different from Lucas?’
Clark jumped off the bench and stood with his back to Martha, said, “It is different! I not trying to hurt him, I want to make it better for him, can’t you see that? I can have his memories replaced with good ones, ones in which he has a happy normal life.”
“Clark! Raping his mind and justifying it doesn’t make you better than Lucas. Don’t you think he believes Lex should be happy too? Don’t you think he believes that he loves Lex as much as you do?”
“Mom! Lucas made his life is a disgusting joke—and you sound like you’re fine with it!”
Her face was pale, spots of bright red on her cheeks and she looked angrier than Clark could remember seeing her in a long time.
“Clark don’t be stupid! If I thought it was what Lex wanted, I would do my best to act like it wasn’t happening and keep on going, because I want Lex in *my*life. It is tearing the poor boy up inside—and *still* it’s not your choice to make. Lex is stronger than anyone, including himself gives him credit for. Let him rest, get over what he tried to do. He’ll come out of it. He’ll make his own decision now that he knows he has a choice. That’s all you have to do Clark—just be there. Can you? Think about it, Clark. Can you truly be there for him, no matter how ugly, or how hard it gets?”
******
Clark decided to drive to Gotham, spent the time thinking about what his mother said. She made sense but he had it in his power to save Lex years and years of pain, why shouldn’t Lex have what he could give him? Lucas could be a distant memory, in fact with Lex separated from him, he could put Lucas away for life, so deep that he’d have to crawl his way out from under the jail—hell, he could have Bruce drop him into Arkham and never bring him out again. It could be done, as long as he didn’t have to worry about Lex….
Tbc
Tags:
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
11/1/05 04:53 am (UTC)the houseLex? Because I so, so do. And I freaking love Martha for telling him.(no subject)
11/1/05 04:59 am (UTC)(no subject)
11/1/05 09:34 am (UTC)That really isn't the answer to anyone's problems, because if you do that Lex will know, somehow, and he'll either hate you for it or try and kill himself again.
I really want Bruce to lock Lucas up!
Nice work, Roxy.
(no subject)
11/1/05 04:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/1/05 11:37 am (UTC)(no subject)
11/1/05 04:10 pm (UTC)Oh, Clark
11/1/05 12:13 pm (UTC)Re: Oh, Clark
11/1/05 04:10 pm (UTC)Heeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
(no subject)
11/1/05 12:40 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/1/05 04:11 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/1/05 01:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/1/05 04:11 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/1/05 02:10 pm (UTC)And silly, silly Clark - he's just not thinking!
Bruce! Is he getting...twitchy?
Heeeee.
Lovely stuff!
(no subject)
11/1/05 04:11 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/1/05 06:08 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/2/05 04:03 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/1/05 08:59 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/2/05 04:04 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/2/05 09:25 pm (UTC)Maybe Lex will KILL both you and Lucas, and ends up with Bruce...or he should just marry Martha...
(no subject)
11/3/05 04:29 am (UTC)Lex marrying Martha--hey! That reminds me! Where the hell is my Oedipus Lex? When am I gonna get more? I'd stalk
(no subject)
4/5/07 12:10 am (UTC)(no subject)
4/5/07 12:23 am (UTC)(no subject)
4/6/07 06:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
4/7/07 02:01 am (UTC)