Chapter Text
“Emperor Luthor? Your two o’clock is here.”
“Send them in.”
Lex leaned back in his chair, the more things changed the more they stayed the same. Being Emperor of a planet wasn’t only tickertape parades and hunting down so called ‘heroes.’ It was also work, work similar to what he did as a business man. The door slide open.
“Ah, Mr. Wayne—and Richard! What a pleasure.”
The child had the perfect poker face set in a chiselled jaw that echoed his father’s features. He was big, would probably grow bigger and fill out to his father’s height and weight. As he was now he was a few inches taller than his older brother, and a tiny bit broader. Fifteen and imposing like his foolish father never was. At his side Richard was a beautiful contrast. Lithe, wiry, thin and unconsciously graceful. Whereas his little brother wore a poker face set in stone, his was an easy smile that looked as genuine as sunshine.
The two put up an effortless wall. Game faces showing what they wanted to show, polite diffidence. But Lex was Emperor and had been in a boardroom since before they were born. It was hard to read them, but not impossible. The boy was agitated, Richard was nervous on behalf of his brother.
Bruce Wayne’s sons bowed low. He still felt a tingle of pleasure at the sight of submissiveness from powerful people. The two before him were boys, but that didn’t make them impotent, quite the opposite actually. Their youth was probably what kept them safe during the purges. They grew in a time of war, bloodshed, the end of one world order and the beginning of another. They survived and were tempered by their survival.
“Please,” he gestured and they straightened like good little puppets.
“Emperor, we thank you for your invitation,” The boy said smoothly. His voice was deepening and he was probably doing his damndest to make sure it didn’t crack.
Lex smiled his benevolent ruler smile, “Please Mr. Wayne, call me Lex, or Mr. Luthor if you must. I’ve known your brother since he was ten, and he’s always been one of my favorites.”
One of the perks of being Emperor was no matter what you said it wasn’t creepy. Richard met his playful grin with his own appreciative cheeky smile. That’s what he liked about Wayne’s eldest. He was a good actor. Smart enough to be polite and pretty while the men he was surrounded by talked about the shifting landscape of their world and galaxy. It allowed Richard Grayson to move behind the scenes. Even now he was showing his value to his younger brother, pulling attention while making sure their impression was as neat as possible. The boy by himself, although undeniably a genius of the boardroom, was a lump of clay compared to Lex. Richard ensured the boy behaved himself and, if he didn’t, distract the Emperor with his beauty and wit. It was the same routine he performed as a child at Bruce Wayne’s side, although it was wasted on that buffoon. It took more than a pretty child to obfuscate that man’s stupidity. Lex always had enjoyed the show though. Damian Wayne and Richard Grayson were a better act, he could already tell.
“You’re very kind Mr. Luthor,” The boy cut into his thoughts. His eyes were narrowed the slightest bit. His neck jutted out just a little. He probably wasn’t even aware of his marginally aggressive stance. Most people wouldn’t catch it. On first glance he looked as cool as a Gotham winter, but it was evident he was protective of his elder brother. Lex didn’t mind. The boy would be as empty-headed as his father if he didn’t fear the man in front of him. Lex could crush both of them with one simple gesture.
He waved his hand towards a table set with tea and sandwiches.
“I hope you don’t mind. I have to take any opportunity and since we’re friends…”
“Of course! We don’t mind at all. Trust me, we’ve been there.” Richard gently pushed his brother towards the table making it look like a friendly pat on the shoulder. That was interesting. He might be able to read the boy’s moods through Richard since the young man had an obvious talent for it and knew the Wayne child better. He must have smelled reluctance.
“You honour us,” The boy said, “With such a candor Em—Mr. Luthor.”
Damian Wayne was pretty good when he wanted to be. Lex wasn’t sure if the slip was intentional or not.
Lex took a seat, served them tea and leaned back schooling his own easy smile.
“Yes, well. I know that the shift was difficult for your family, but I want to continue the friendship the Waynes and Luthors have shared, Mr. Wayne.” Lex liked using Bruce Wayne’s moniker on the boy. It was an obvious platitude meant to make the boy feel inadequate. The Emperor called him ‘Mr. Wayne’ because it pleased him to do so and skirted on the absurd to address the big child across from him as such.
“I can’t hold ill feelings.” Damian shrugged. “Everyone lost someone. It’s a hard sacrifice for world peace, but the world is better in the end, you saved it. When Gotham fell you could only count your blessings by who was still beside you when it was over.” The boy’s eyes shifted towards Richard for the briefest of seconds, but Lex expected it and watched for it. He got to see the care the stony teenager felt toward his brother. The look was echoed in Richard’s eyes and lasted longer. Hard not to be jealous of such loving siblings. Lex could admit money and power couldn’t buy that.
“But you both suffered more than most,” Lex pressed, perhaps a small punishment for them having what he couldn’t. “Not only your father’s death, but your brother’s treason.”
Damian’s countenance didn’t shift at all. He either supressed what he was feeling very well, or he didn’t care much for Timothy Drake-Wayne in the first place. Lex leaned towards the second when he saw the obvious grief on Richard’s face.
That was another thing he liked about Richard, he didn’t bother to hide emotions that had no real bearing on the conversation. It made him more interesting to observe. He remembered many times Richard small and delicate at Bruce Wayne’s side while Bruce explained the boy’s enthusiasm for Lexcorp products to hide the fact he probably forgot to hire a sitter. Unlike most brats his age Richard was quiet and respectful so his presence had never annoyed Lex. Bruce Wayne’s nonsensical babble was often undercut by Richard’s charming babble. Lex liked seeing the boy’s eyes widen in obvious amazement when talking about the aerospace program or the undersea missions he launched. The boy gave away little when it came to business practices and workers’ rights, but he never allowed himself restraint on emotions that wouldn’t give Lex any advantages. It made his mask even stronger by allowing those harmless emotions to pass through. He wondered if the boy learned it in the circus. He certainly didn’t learn it from Bruce Wayne, an open book of simple impulsive emotions.
Damian’s knuckles tightened briefly when he noticed his brother’s reaction so Lex surmised the two youngest of Wayne’s children didn’t get along and probably vied for their older brother’s attention. Damian should be pleased by his victory. Richard was at his side, not Drake-Wayne’s.
Timothy Drake-Wayne was still at large actually, but Lex had no problem with that. In a state run by fear it was important to have an enemy to blame misfortune on. The rag-tag group Drake-Wayne joined would be easy enough to crush, but they caused him no real damage. They would never get to him and that was all that really mattered. They could blow up all the empty buildings they wanted. It didn’t change the fact that he ruled the world and would one day, perhaps, rule more than that.
Drake-Wayne’s status only gave him more of an advantage over the two in front of him.
“I hope you don’t judge us on his merits,” Damian let his open disgust leak through. A little bit of damage control.
“No, no, of course not,” Lex said effortlessly. “I only mean to say that it must have been hard for you. Thirteen years old, your father dead, your brother a traitor, Wayne Enterprises rubble. You’ve done well rebuilding it from literally the ground up. I can only admire that.”
“Drake’s not our brother,” Damian said ruthlessly. He had emphasised ‘our’ and leaned nearer to his brother when he did it. The boy’s eyes skimmed Richard who looked sad, but was nodding his head reluctantly; his sky blue eyes met Lex.
“He … made the wrong choice.”
He had to compliment the two. They acted perfectly. The disgusted younger brother, the wistful older brother. Showing Lex their honesty and through their honesty their loyalty. It was quite marvellous the balance they maintained.
“You can’t blame a young man finding passion in revolution,” Lex shrugged as if he wasn’t bothered by their brother’s treason and acts of terror. “If I had lost he would no doubt be lauded as a hero who stopped a dictator, not as a terrorist who works towards the destruction of peace. It’s all in the perception. The branding.” He picked up a sandwich, “Please, I am being rude dredging up the past. Have some lunch. Talking about such dark things, even with friends is inappropriate, especially since I want to talk about good things with you, Mr. Wayne, but first let’s eat.”
The three dug into their lunch. Damian took the tea, Richard preferred coffee. Richard kept the conversation light, taking control of it with ease. Damian every so often would punctuate with a clever sardonic remark. Such a team, Lex could only imagine what he could have done with the two of them. If they had grown so well under that idiot playboy think how they would have blossomed under a master like Lex.
“Now I’m sure you get asked this a lot Richard,” He said. They were just finishing desert. The tête-à-tête had been enjoyable. That was good, as the Emperor didn’t suffer fools and bores anymore like he used to. Richard looked at him curiously his wide mouth filled with cake. He raised his eyebrows politely.
“Bruce seemed to adopt a lot of children with black hair and blue eyes. I can only wonder…”
Richard swallowed, forced himself to chuckle, “Yeah, I’ve been asked that before. No, Bruce is definitely not my biological father. That honour belonged to John Grayson. If you saw a picture you’d have no doubt.”
And Lex didn’t have to be polite. On his holographic computer he searched for John Grayson of the flying Grayson. A beaming face was projected in front of them so suddenly that Richard’s polite mask nearly slipped right off.
“Oh, I do see it,” Lex said casually as if he hadn’t just dragged the young man’s dead father out for his own personal inspection over the dining table. He called up another picture. This time it was both Mary and John. He tilted his head studying them and glanced at Richard. The remaining Flying Grayson’s face was completely blank and neutral, probably the safest expression he could take. It was odd seeing him without a smile.
“You have your father’s colouring and facial features,” He reached over and ran his fingers down the young man’s jawline. Richard didn’t move an inch. “But it’s softened by your mother’s bone structure. Exquisite.” He tapped his cheek, “I suppose that answers that.” He pulled back and the hologram shut down.
Damian looked as neutral as his brother, but he could feel his rage physically. Apparently he didn’t appreciate Lex’s teasing and touches. The boy might have a big brother complex.
“And what about your mother, Mr. Wayne?” The boy’s midnight blue—nearly black eyes met his own and he allowed Lex to see his anger. Impetuous, but he was only fifteen after all.
“You wouldn’t be able to find her on google,” Damian answered, barely restrained. It seemed he did carry some of his father’s impulsiveness. He jerked the slightest bit when Richard put a hand on his shoulder. A look passed between the two, and they were once again the characters they played for the Emperor’s amusement. Lovely.
“It’s been a wonderful lunch Lex, but my brother and I don’t want to take up too much of your precious time. You said you had good things to talk about with Damian?” Richard said, bright as a new penny.
“I like my time taken by the both of you. You are the next generation after all. Important to how our society will develop. That’s why I’ve called your brother here.”
“Oh?” Damian hummed with perfectly faked interest. His rage was gone, boxed away for now.
“As you know I seized control of many corporations and companies for the greater good, but I did leave a few untouched, one of them Wayne Enterprises.” That was because at the time W.E. was a smouldering pit in the ground with most of its CEOs dead or in hiding. It looked good on paper that Lex wasn’t taking control of everything, but really he had.
Damian nodded along interest piqued.
“It was because I thought perhaps Wayne Enterprises had ties to the Batman. I wanted to see what the Dark Knight would do, crippled,” That had also been a factor. He had been so sure, but years of digging had been fruitless. There was no connection.
The boys glanced at each other, surprised. Dick looked at him opening his mouth and closing it, then steeling himself.
“Batman’s an urban legend. I know his story kind of spread around in the last two years, but every Gothamite knows it’s just a story made up by the cops. His symbol gave the city hope when all those murderers and freaks were running around unchecked. They still light the Bat Signal sometimes during curfew. Stay in bed or the Bat will get you, that sort of thing.”
Lex smiled and appreciated the young man’s candor and careful apology by the lowering of long eyelashes and the slight tilt of his head baring neck.
“Oh, Batman is very real,” Lex tented his fingers. He spoke to them like a favorite uncle might tell their nephews campfire stories. “I’ve met him before. He was in the Justice League alongside Superman.”
“But that seems… they were so public,” Damian said. He didn’t look like he believed a word that Lex was saying, but was wise enough not to argue too much.
“That’s Batman’s talent. Remaining unseen in the shadows. Using fear, superstition, word of mouth. I always thought he had your father in his pocket. Investigations were fruitless of course. I gave Bruce Wayne too much credit. He wasn’t really the type to be interested in heroes, villains, politics or multi-billion dollar companies when it all came down to it. Just women, orphans and pleasure.”
“Quite right. One can almost envy his simple view on life,” Damian agreed seemingly unbothered by the insult to the elder Wayne or the insinuations. “How about it Dick, were there any bats in our closet when you were a child?”
Richard shook his head in amusement. They were keeping an easy rhythm with Lex. Trying to be humorous, but ready to pull back into submissive agreement if Lex so much as twitched at them in annoyance. Lex preferred the show.
“If Batman was the Black King behind Wayne Enterprises we would be the first to know,” Richard shrugged. “The real mastermind was Lucius Fox. Bruce wasn’t the best business man, but he knew people. He knew who he could rely on. He brought in people that made up for his faults. He wasn’t so inattentive to the company as people thought; it was just that he wasn’t suited to run it. A partier is who he was, but he was more big-hearted than people gave him credit for. He took in four orphans and raised them out of love. That doesn’t sound like a man who would make pacts with shadowy villains to me.”
“Well said Richard, you’re quite right. I have come to such a conclusion, but never the less, Batman is very real and the fact that he hasn’t sunk his talons into Wayne Enterprises is a good thing for all of us.”
“It’s unexpected,” Damian mused. “I never would have thought someone so clearly ripped off from an old comic book could be real, but as you are who you are we’ll definitely take your word for it. So he must be still at large then, you speak as if he is.”
Curious glances between the boys. They were definitely interested in what he had to say.
“Unfortunately yes, and more effective than any of the other rebels that would stomp on peace and freedom. He lost his resources when Gotham fell. Whoever was funding him must have perished, but that doesn’t take away his mind, his genius. The rebel group that your brother joined, I believe he controls it, amongst others.”
Damian snorted, “Sounds like the kind of man Drake would follow. Amazing, a shadow that’s giving you trouble when you have the Amazon’s sieged, the Lanterns bound in bureaucratic red tape, the Flash in hiding, the Martian being studied, Green Arrow locked up for the rest of his natural life and Superman—”
“Mine,” Lex interrupted.
They were startled, genuinely surprised.
“…What?” Richard asked open mouthed.
“I thought Superman was killed,” Damian asked for clarification. Lex could only read their astonishment, o therwise, both of them had dropped their masks hard over their other emotions. Lex wasn’t suspicious of that. Nearly everyone saw Superman as a symbol of good at one time or another, even after all his propaganda work. As much as he craved it, he couldn’t expect every man, woman and child to hate and fear the alien as he did, not yet at any rate. Many of his American citizens grew up under the terrifying shadow of the Kryptonian. They saw him as protection rather than the boulder in front of humanity’s progress he actually was. In fact…
“You were a fan when you were younger, weren’t you?” He pinned Richard with his gaze. The young man closed his mouth and slowly shrugged trying to keep cool. He dropped his eyes letting his usual confidence fizz. Shame suited that pretty face.
“Uh, yeah. Well, who wasn’t?—I mean…”
Who wasn’t other than Lex Luthor?
“But I remember you being particularly fond of him,” Lex pressed. “Leaping around your father’s office pretending to be Superman. You even had a red cape. It was very cute.”
Not at the time of course. Richard was just another little lamb blinded by Lois Lane’s swill of ‘Truth, Justice and the American way.’
“What about you, Mr. Wayne?”
“I always preferred Katana,” Damian said without missing a beat. He looked over at Richard a mocking eyebrow raised. “You wore a cape?” He was trying to make it a joke. An embarrassing moment in his brother’s past, not a reason for the Emperor to sign Richard’s death warrant for treason. Damian didn’t need to worry too much. Lex saw promise and purpose in both Bruce Wayne’s sons. As long as they kept their game at a high level he saw no reason to hurt them—well, not much anyway.
“Ah… yeah…” Richard rubbed the back of his neck. He was looking at Lex trying to read the Emperor’s face. He really was quite a sight actually. Not for the first time Lex wondered if Bruce Wayne’s perchance for beautiful children was more hunger than coincidence. Of course Lex wasn’t interested in kids himself, but a fully grown man that still bore the blush of youth? That was a different story. Richard was a bit tantalizing now that he thought about it.
“Do you want to see him?”
“Excuse me?” Richard blinked. Damian was on edge. Lex stood walking towards his desk.
“You were such a fan and I can give you a rare experience.” He pressed the hidden button down and the wall across from him made a loud click and gradually slid away. The boys were standing, now staring with anticipation and hidden horror. The glass cage was slowly revealed, the green glow of Kryptonite cycling in the air. Superman raised his once proud head. Vision that could previously boil metal could only give a burning look toward his captor. He wasn’t completely broken yet, but Lex didn’t particularly care. He had him, that was what mattered.
“Now, now Kal-El, don’t be rude, we have guests.” Lex gestured to the boys. The alien’s eyes drifted to Damian and Richard. He looked right through them. “Sorry Mr. Wayne, Richard. This is the first time I’ve allowed him to look upon human beings other than myself. Come on now Kal-El, Richard was a fan of yours once.”
Lex walked forward and put a casual hand on Richard’s shoulder. He noted Damian’s anger at the touch. Definitely a big brother complex.
Kal-El unsteadily rose to his feet. He was naked. There was no point treating him like a human anymore, he wasn’t a human after all. Despite his perfect human features, his perfect human physic, he was an alien.
“What do you think Richard? Of your hero?” Lex shoved Richard forward.
Richard stumbled forward catching his hand on the glass for balance.
Kal-El gazed at Richard. With great effort he pressed his hand against the glass mirroring the younger man. Richard stumbled back, startled.
“He’s not my hero anymore,” The young man looked away. “You proved to the world he couldn’t be trusted.”
“And he deserves what he gets,” Damian finished bitterly. “Mr. Luthor this is quite a sight. I thought you had him killed.”
Lex grinned, “I want the world to feel safe Mr. Wayne. The world feels safe when the monster’s dead. Maybe it’s foolish to imprison a tiger that still has his teeth, but … he lends himself well to the project I have planned for you. Kryptonian DNA is hard to come by.”
“Oh?” Now Damian really sounded interested. “Batman and Superman in one project? I’m intrigued. Dick.”
The young man’s head snapped towards his younger brother. He had been staring at the alien. Quiet horror and fascination. He blinked. “Hm?”
“The Emper—Mr. Luthor and I will be talking about logistics of the business we plan to conduct. I know you don’t enjoy it much.”
Richard slowly nodded. His little brother was giving him an out. Lex couldn’t have that.
“Why don’t you stay here, get acquainted. Talk a bit.” Lex smirked, “And your brother and I can talk in the lounge. I could use a drink.”
“Damian’s—”
He held up his hand. “Coke for him, I promise.” He glanced at Damian. “Such a protective big brother. You run a billion dollar company, but you can’t enjoy the end of the day with a brandy. You have a lot to look forward to, Mr. Wayne. Come, the lounge is this way.” He steered Damian away and glanced back. The green glow of kryptonite reflected off Dick’s skin. A very beautiful young man. Someone to snare maybe?
-
He watched the tapes later, hours after Damian Wayne and his older brother had left the premises. First he watched the news where Damian used his restrained Wayne charm and told the public how Wayne Enterprises had just received a lucrative government contract. One that meant safety and security from those that would bring peace to its knees. Richard smiled in the background, the proud big brother. Those two definitely knew how to play the crowd. He would enjoy working with them both. He lazily entered his office and pressed the secret button. Superman was revealed. As usual he said nothing. Lex held up the disk.
“So what did you two talk about?” he slipped the disk in his holographic computer. Kal-El’s eyes flickered towards the image. “You really were his hero you know. It’s sad, a young man like that being taken in and disappointed by a fraud like you. I suppose I wanted to punish you both for it.”
The hologram filled the room and there was a slightly smaller duplicate of Richard and the cage that Kal-El resided in. It was minutes after he and Damian had left to discuss the contracts and exactly what he wanted Wayne Enterprise’s services for. Richard was essentially trapped in the room. He rubbed his arm looking uncomfortable. His eyes stared out the window towards the bright cityscape of Metropolis.
“I know you.”
Richard jumped in shock. He opened his mouth to speak, but quickly closed it.
“…What?” He asked tentatively moving towards the glass. Real emotions flashed over his face. Fear and uncertainty.
“You actually did speak with him,” Lex’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “How do you know him, Kal-El?”
With great effort the hologram answered. “The newspaper. Bruce Wayne.”
“You… that’s right you were a reporter,” Richard said quietly, hesitantly. “Clark Kent.”
Lex snorted at the sound of Kal-El’s old name.
“That’s right,” Superman rasped, forced a smile. He tried to straighten, but he was too exhausted and leaned against the glass instead. “Your name is Dick Grayson. Bruce Wayne’s eldest, isn’t that right? I interviewed you. A memorial piece for Haly’s Circus. You were… what? Sixteen?”
“Yes,” Richard had moved back a few steps. He didn’t know what to do. He was trapped in the room and didn’t want to displease his Emperor. Lex had told him to talk to Superman.
Lex hadn’t actually expected Superman to talk back, much less to start the conversation, but that was alright.
“How is Bruce Wayne? Still on page 6?” It was a bad attempt at a joke. An alien attempting to find common ground with a human. Lex looked at Kal-El again. Kal-El’s regard was fixed on the flickering image of Richard. He must miss it, interacting with humans. Pride wouldn’t allow him to speak with Lex, but the young man he had no problem with.
“I didn’t know you’d be taken in by a handsome young face, Kal-El,” Lex chuckled. Superman quickly looked away from the boy as if to take back his interest. Too late for that now.
“No.”> Richard’s hologram interrupted. He looked down at the floor with barely contained anger. “Bruce Wayne is gone.”
Kal-El stumbled back and let himself fall onto the bench that was his bed. “Oh. He said softly. I’m sorry.”
“You should be,” Richard said coldly. “It’s your fault. Actually, no sorry. It was Oliver Queen’s fault, but he was under your command, wasn’t he? He’s in jail now. Thank God.”
Lex frowned and glanced at Kal-El. “Sorry did I forget to mention that?” Kal-El stared right through him. Lex liked to keep the Alien in the dark about his Super Friends. He decided not to be annoyed at Richard though. The grief on the hologram Superman’s face was payment enough.
The holograms stared at each other in silence.
“It was Batman who watched over Gotham city.” Kal-El said at last.
Richard stiffened, “He’s not real.” It was an automatic reaction.
Curious. He really didn’t believe in Batman even after his Emperor said it was so?
“Everyone in Gotham knows he is,” Kal-El remonstrated gently.
Richard crossed his arms and refused to meet the alien’s eye. “He was our hero and you corrupted him.”
Lex let out a soft laugh of surprise. “My, my. That young man only half an hour before told me in the politest of words that I was silly for thinking Batman was real.”
“Is Gotham so bitter that it would rewrite his history?” Kal-El asked with a bit of despair at his friend’s apparent fall from grace.
“Yes. Batman’s legend is going to die. Damian and I want to make sure of that. He’s going to be known as a scam. That’s the best way to destroy him. He was a symbol. Now he’s just a fake. He killed our Father, now we’re going to kill what mattered most to him. His legacy.”
Lex nodded in approval, “I must say I do like those boys Kal-El. Sharp and perceptive and out for revenge. They’ll do well with me I think.”
Superman’s eyes narrowed at that.
“You disapprove?”
Not a word of protest from his prisoner. His hologram filled the silence.
“Is he still alive?”
“How would I know?” It was said cruelly. Richard was growing a bit more comfortable. Taking shots at a man behind the glass that used to be his hero. A man that, by proxy, brought destruction to his city and killed his father.
“Because you’re from Gotham. Gotham is his.”
“Well I haven’t heard from him lately.” Richard passed the cage back and forth as Kal-El sat studying the young man’s movements. “The Emperor thinks he is. He’s meeting with my brother right now. I bet he’s discussing exactly how they plan to catch him. They’ll hunt him down and find him and make him pay for putting his trust in you. We’ll find him.”
“Don’t.”
Richard looked at him incredulously. “Don’t?! Don’t stop a murderer and a mad man from walking free?”
“The war is over Richard,” Kal-El said kindly. Sadness was written on his face. Compassion for the young man who had lost so much. “Luthor won. Not even Batman can stop him. You and your brother should go on with your lives.”
“That’s not how I was raised.” Grayson was all tense pent up energy, “You start a show and you go until the very end. You don’t stop and stumble over the mistakes, you just make sure the ending’s spectacular. Batman’s ending is going to be spectacular. Gotham belongs to the Wayne’s now, Mr. Kent.”
“Will you do something kind for me, Richard?”
“No. Why would I?”
“Because you are a kind man. You look upon an enemy that you hate, but I see your compassion. You feel ill witnessing a man being tortured in front of you, even if it is a man that you think has brought death and destruction to millions. You pity me.”
“…I—no. I—”
Kal-El was right though. Richard did pity him. Richard was still under the impression that Superman was a human being that deserved mercy and compassion. It might have been annoying or endearing. It was certainly useful.
“Don’t pity me, Richard. You’re right. I did bring about those deaths because of my own hubris. You’re right to hate me. The mistakes I made cost everyone.”
Richard turned away. “You’re a monster. I don’t pity you.” The hologram captured the tears in his pain-filled eyes beautifully.
Lex moaned salaciously. Richard would be a useful tool against Kal-El. He would definitely have to take the young man under his wing. Damian Wayne wouldn’t like it at all. Lex didn’t actually want to ruffle the teen’s feathers too much, not when such an important project had fallen into his hands, but any twig to add to Kal-El’s already heavy burden was too perfect to pass up. The first human contact Kal-El had had in two years. The first words spoken. Superman had chosen the boy, not Lex.
Richard wiped his eyes and moved as far away from the cage as possible.
“I’m sorry,” Kal-El whispered. Richard didn’t respond. They waited in silence until the door opened and Damian and Lex walked back into the room. Damian seemed to notice his older brother’s agitation and took him by the wrist.
“Come Dick, we’ve taken up more than enough of the Emperor’s valuable time.” Richard nodded tiredly. Lex said something about how they would be welcome at any time and how much he enjoyed their company and how he looked forward to working with Wayne Enterprises. Richard probably wasn’t hearing him anymore. His eyes every so often flickered back to the cage where Superman sat silently, an animal on display. The boys bowed low again and Damian practically dragged his older brother through the door. He talked excitedly about the project, feigning an eagerness to start rather than an eagerness to have his brother out of the building as soon as possible. Lex shrugged, that was reasonable. He had been cruel to Richard, although he hadn’t actually expected the boy’s fallen hero would speak to him and push Lex’s cruel teasing to torture opening up his old wounds. The hologram cut out.
“That’s not very fair Kal-El. We’ve known each other years and not a word, but as soon as a cute young thing comes along you can’t shut up.” Superman glared up at him, already protective of the boy even though the boy hated him. Lex took a seat in his arm chair reclining back. He liked staring at the alien. Strength brought to its knees. “I’m not a cruel man though. I can see you’re taken with him. I’m taken with him myself. I think we should have him over again, without his young chaperone. No, don’t speak. I know, I know. You think he’s too young for me, but Kal-El, there are not many people that can speak so bravely in front of the great Superman, and I do get lonely, don’t you? Maybe he’s what our relationship needs. Someone to spice things up a little bit. He was an acrobat. Think how flexible he must be—”
“Leave him alone.”
Those were the first words Superman had spoken to him in two years. Two years since the ‘I surrender’ passed his lips.
“See?” Lex moved back over to his desk and again hit the button. The wall slowly closed. It would leave his prisoner in darkness until the next time Lex decided to look upon him. “He’s already having an effect.” The wall slid shut. Superman would be enclosed in his sightless soundless world with only kryptonite for company.
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“No.”
He said it as soon as the two of them slipped in their limo and the bug detector cleared the car.
“It’s Superman.”
“No Grayson,” He glared at his brother.
“Damian, this changes everything.”