Four in the morning and I got an image in my head of Superman kneeling on the ground, a victorious Lex standing behind him. I took some printer paper and a clipboard and started writing. There was one line, or one eventual moment I really wanted to get to before my hand got tired. I filled two pages then ran out of room with one line left in my story. I didn't feel like starting a new page that would only have one line at the top of it, and would probably get lost before I had a chance to type it up, so I wrote the final line in the space between paragraphs. I'm pretty sure that last line was as much of a "Jaw. Floor." moment for me as the author as it was for Lex himself.
“Please, I beg of you, stop this!” Superman said to the Luthor who stood behind him. His cousin Kara was suspended before his eyes, beaten and bruised. Other than a revealing 2 piece swimsuit, her only covering was a necklace of kryptonite which dung into her skin. The chains themselves seemed to be made of kryptonite. Clark fell to his knees at the sight.
“That's a bit better.” Lex said tauntingly. “At least you are where you belong.”
“Please Lex, I'll do anything; just let her go.”
“What makes you think I want anything from you? I mean, beyond submission and to see you kneeling at my feet. Get up Superman. Get yourself up and stand like a solider. Take your defeat like a Kryptonian.”
Summoning every ounce of his will, Superman forced himself to his feet. He was pretty sure what Lex would order him to do: Kneel before him, willingly and deliberately. Having the lofty, over confident better-than-thou Superman humble himself was Lex's ambition, had been his singular focus for years.
“And now take your place where you belong; at my feet and under my heel.”
“Don't you even want to know who I am?” Superman persisted. “You found out Kara's identity or she wouldn't be here. At least, not with kryptonite burning her blood.”
“Actually I didn't learn who she was. Not as far as learning of her human identity. I just picked her up when she was trying to fly. She was wearing this at the time.” Lex Luthor casually tosses a blue skin-tight suit and red cape into Superman's face. “I take it she's more than just another lost Kryptonian from your not so invincible doomed planet.”
“Turn it off damn you!” Superman screamed. “Turn it off or you'll kill her and this will be for no-thing!”
Lex turned a dial on his handheld and the green light faded. The chains released themselves and fell to the floor, joined quickly by their former captive. The necklace still firmly embedded in her skin, Kara crawled away from the chains.
“Now, you mind answering the implied question?” Lex Luthor prompted.
“She's Zor'el's daughter.” Superman answered, breathing hard with relief and regret.
“Is that supposed to mean something to me?” Lex quipped, clearly annoyed.
“My Kryptonian name is Kal'el, the son of Jor'el. Ipso. Facto.”
“She's your cousin!” So that 'S' so many people see as you fly by, looking up at their hero. The symbol old Perry White saw as a symbol of hope for tomorrow?”
“...Let's just say there's a very good reason Zod and Jax-Ur never wore it.”
“In point of fact I was pretty sure you had a human identity Superman. I just didn't particularly care about it. But now my interest is peaked.”
Superman looked his nemesis in the face, not directly in the eyes. “Promise me that you will let Kara go and I will tell you. Please show at least that much humanity...and honor.”
“Okay now you're being flat our ridiculous!” Superman hung his head, certain his last hope at saving his family was gone. “Why would you trust me to let her go? Making that promise and breaking it is nothing for me. I'm an evil sociopath. I can mimic concern and empathy and feel none of those things as easily as I breathe air. What makes you think a megalomaniac like me cares about any life as long as it gets me what I want?”
Because you never do anything without a purpose Lex Luthor. You only destroy buildings to further your goals. You only hurt people because you...” He caught himself. “Because you perceive them as being an obstacle to be removed or somehow in your way. If it will further your goals you will set her free. There is nothing you want from her. And you have absolutely no reason to want to hurt her. You only used her to break me. I'm broken. If you doubt it...I will submit anyway.”
Kal'el of Krypton turned to face the wall, putting Lex Luthor at his left. He slowly bent his back and lowered himself to his knees. For all you could tell he was bowing his head saying his prayers ready to be executed. Symbolically he was preparing himself to be beheaded by the righteous and victorious Lex Luthor. A poetry he knew would not go unnoticed by the Machiavellian, student of all human philosophy he'd fought against for so long.
“For the first time since I've known you, you've actually surprised me.”
Keeping his eyes to the floor, holding himself as humble and vulnerable, as non 'arrogant kryptonian' as he could Superman gave the only response he could think of to explain his surrender and not antagonize his conqueror; he hoped. “I said I would do anything; I meant it. This is what you wanted. Is it enough? Are you appeased Lex?”
Lex walked around Superman 2 or 3 times. The 'superior man' as Lex had come to think of him, did not raise his head or make a sound. As he stood behind the man--it would be improper to call him an alien now--he came to a decision. “Tell me why you speak so strangely to me, why this entire time you've been saying my name like we were friends, and I'll let you and your cousin fly out of here.”
Superman was quiet for several moments after that. Lex allowed him the repose. No matter if it was intended as an offer or a challenge, his statement deserved serious consideration. Finally Superman began to speak. And it was as if his words came from someone other than himself. “Your family had a ranch in Montana. You used to visit there every summer with your mom. Your father sold the property when your mother died. You believe the world isn't black and white; that sometimes good and evil is gray. There are very few people you truly trust...Which is why you value trust even above loyalty or power. Although most people would say that was impossible, or that I had it backwards.”
Superman raised his head enough to glance behind him. “You called me a boy-scout long before I ever put on this cape...Or this 'S'.”
For the first time in his adult life Lex Luthor was speechless. Until finally he found a single word. "CLARK?!"
"I was wondering if you were ever going to see it." Superman said, smiling thinly.
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