Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville or the Justice Lords.
Summary: Dom/Sub fic. Dark-fic. Chlark. Torn between servitude and rebellion, Chloe Sullivan has to make a choice; Does she fight her oppressor, or give in to the lust of the man she's loved since her childhood?
Lithe body pressed against a larger, stronger form, a ruffled blonde head of hair framed glazed green eyes, staring up at the other figure with enamored devotion.
Chloe couldn't count the number of days that she had been here, trapped beneath the watchful eye of her old friend. A part of her knew that he wasn't the good person that she had once known; That he had changed and maybe she would be wise to fear him.
She couldn't fear him, though, no matter how much she should. Ever since she had known him she had been madly in love with him.
When Clark originally locked her inside this chamber, chaining her to a plush bed with just enough length to allow her to reach the nearby 'facilities', it was because, in his own words; "Your death would serve little purpose, and would distress Lois." However she was pretty sure Lois wouldn't approve of what they were doing now.
She tried not to admit to herself that she probably enjoyed his attention more than she should.
At first he had come along every now and then to check on her health: She had plenty of things to ensure her continued survival, but he wouldn't let her have her freedom; The only thing she was truly denied.
Over time, however, whenever he came to see her he seemed steadily more distracted and irritated, pacing across the room and ignoring her worried glares. At some point he seemed to decide to put her to use; A surprise, considering that she had been so sure that Clark Kent wasn't even aware that she was a woman or even had lady parts.
Right now, lying on top of him, one arm wrapped around her waist while she traced patterns on his chest with her index finger, clad only in a white sheet, she was forced to admit that he seemed to know full well that she was a female.
She swallowed the emotion that rose in her chest. Denied it with all her heart in a futile attempt to stay strong.
A shift in his breathing was the first notice that the "Man of Steel" was awake, a strong muscled arm pushing against the lush softness of the bed, blue eyes opening to stare up at the ceiling.
She shuffled backwards, gazing up at him with a coy look. The blonde had long decided not to even bother trying to resist; Clark Kent was her one true weakness, and no matter how hard she tried she just couldn't quit him. Now wasn't any different.
"Why won't you let me go?" She queried. So many times she asked this question, and each time the answer steadily changed, from his original answer, to; "There would be little meaning to your death", "There is no need", all the way to "I have a use for you."
"I have a use for you." He confirmed her suspicions of his answer aloud, eyes settling onto her face.
Once upon a time she might have been upset at the answer, might have been distressed at his callous treatment, but now... Now she had learnt to read between the lines, to see beyond the words. His mouth always spoke to her with little emotion, but his eyes... She could see his true emotion hidden in their blue-green depths; The lordly "Kal-El" cared about her a lot more than he said he did.
Looking down, Chloe pressed herself into his side, accepting the warmth that his welcoming embrace provided. For now this was enough.
Beside her blue eyes framed with thick, jet-black hair stared down, softening as a large thumb gently stroked her hip.
The white cape dragged on his shoulders in spite of his strength, expression stoic as he gazed into the crimson hue of the sky. He knew that he would go to her that night; Couldn't stop himself even if he tried.
Chloe Sullivan had always been his best friend, even when they had gone through the strife of her betrayal, passing information to Lionel Luthor. He had used this to justify her capture and subsequent imprisonment, used it to hide the truth from even himself.
He cared about her more than he cared to admit, felt for her as he tried so hard not to. From the emerald-green of her eyes to the silky smoothness of her skin, from the sharp way she would look at him in suspicion to the way her face would soften, welcoming him like a warm fire in the winter.
When he had first trapped her it had been because he knew that she would be on the front lines, standing alongside Oliver Queen and Bruce Wayne and Arthur Curry and so many others that still tried to defy his rule. Even with the disbanding of Green Arrow's little posse and the peace treaty with Atlantis he still kept her trapped. Even with his discovering "The Bat's" location and befriending the Amazon people he still kept her trapped.
He adjusted his tight black top, straightening the El family symbol out as he reflected on everything that he had accomplished.
With most of the world so less violent and with the government's under his thumb he still held her at the Fortress, employing his resources to keep her there.
Even when she was against him, she had still been his confidante, keeping a watch as he fretted over Lois' estrangement and the government's opposal, when he lamented the violent nature of humanity she was there; Watching and listening, his best friend even when denying his rule.
He had done terrible things, ruined lives and destroyed land in his attempts to bring about a utopia, but still he couldn't see fear in those green orbs, couldn't see terror despite having knowledge of what he had done.
When it had started, he had been intent on keeping her away from the others and the world itself; Her knowledge could ruin him. Killing her was off the list, as was harming her in any way. So it fell down to keeping her under watch, holding her and allowing her no contact with the outside world, save for the messages to her cousin ensuring the brunette of her safety and the limited access to the internet that he gave her.
Now, however, he was just as trapped as she was; Even when he was in an important meeting or stopping crime he was still thinking of her pale, roaming hands, her hazy hazel-green eyes and the way her tongue peeked out of her lips after a kiss, as though unwilling to let go...
Sighing heavily, Clark pushed off of the ground, lifting into the new night sky, course set for the same place as always.
Lois Lane wasn't impressed by Clark Kent. She wasn't impressed by Kal-El. What she was impressed by was "Superman"; The Man of Steel had always known this, but he hadn't realized just how much she saw the super-powered superhero instead of either the alien conqueror or the retiring Kansas-raised troubled young man.
He'd always been touched by her support and easy acceptance of his heritage, but after talking to her now he was just frustrated. She couldn't understand his doubts about his situation, about if he was doing the right thing for humanity or if he was just hurting the people around him; It wasn't easy.
If it was just another save or something gone wrong while helping others he could count on her, but outside of that... He just couldn't seem to get through to her that he was a person with his own ideals and dreams and hopes and needs. He hadn't known just how much of a symbol he was to her.
At the very least he had the appreciation that so many of his supporters showed and the league's cooperation, and when it came down to it he had certain venues that offered comfort to him as the lord Kal-El; Comforts that even as Clark Kent he could learn to appreciate. Blonde locks filled his mind and he absently wondered what it would have been like had he chosen the other cousin. Although maybe it wasn't too late for that, every king needed a queen, after all.
Five years ago she had been obsessed with his powers, just like her cousin. Maybe not quite to Lois' extent, but still she had repeatedly pushed him. But then, Chloe hadn't repetitively driven him to give her the front scoop, hadn't judged him for anything he did but had never been afraid to set him straight when he screwed up. Lois was simply addicted to his abilities, it seemed.
Exhaling heavily, he settled into his seat around the large white table and turned his attention to J'onn as he spoke, attention drawn to the large screen on the wall.
His interest was quickly peaked as he watched an image appear, showing a battle that ran through the streets of Metropolis. He stared as Diana ran out at the strange creature on screen, clad in her old outfit, stared as Bruce threw projectiles and goaded the beast while J'onn disorientated it.
The scene wasn't going their way, as the beast grabbed J'onn and threw him into Bruce, batting aside Diana and grabbing Bart, clad in a ridiculous red spandex ensemble, out of the air.
For a moment they stared grimly as their friend was choked by the monstrosity, hands scrabbling at it's hands. A bright blur slammed into the monster, sending it flying through a thick stone pillar and into a van.
Standing at the center of the screen, visage highlighted by the blazing flames behind him, Kal-El stared at himself, wearing a ridiculous blue-red tight costume, cape flaring behind him.
The beast roared and flung the van at him, humping through the air in it's wake and sending him back with extreme prejudice.
The screen cut out, leaving them all ruminating on what they had just see. Across the table Bart adjusted his red hoodie and Clark eyed his own black-white outfit, comparing himself to the figure on the screen. It was hard to believe that he would ever dress like that, could even think of dressing like that.
"What you have just seen is an alternate Earth, parallel to our own." He shifted his focus back to J'onn.
"So, this is an Earth where... What, exactly?" Bart sounded out in confusion. Despite the boisterous man's nonchalant poise they Kal-El could see the tense set of his shoulders. Obviously something in the other Earth had affected him.
"While not exactly eloquent, I'd like to ask the same thing." Bruce sounded, fingers steepled in front of his scowling face.
Kal-El took in the expressions of everyone around the table and then turned back to J'onn, listening to the martian as he explained. "They're still in the infancy of their league, formed only a few years ago." The green man informed them. "And thus far they've not even made a Watchtower. They live separate lives, coming together only in times of dire need, only protecting their chosen cities."
A facsimile of Clark Kent appeared in his face, eyebrows raised in stunned disbelief. Even Bruce, who lived in one of the darkest cities in the world and generally worked alone, would at the very least call in one of the 'minor leaguers' when he was in need, if not entrusting the task to Richard or Barbara or requesting Intel.
"So... They're divided, separate in their ventures." He intoned, eyes dark. Even when he had began his hero career, he had always sought out the others help or tutelage. Even Diana hadn't been so blind as they seemed. His thoughts strayed over their tactics and he realized that any teamwork displayed had been incidental and accidental; No maneuvers, no proper assists, no preparation, simply charging in blindly. "So what do we do?"
J'onn lightly smiled at him. He knew that the man had known him as a baby, but it never really permeated save for these few instances, when Clark spoke for the group and they all listened. Sometimes Clark wished that he could read minds, or at least gauge what the martian manhunter was thinking.
"We can't leave 'em." They turned as one to regard Bart, watching the red-clad speedster fidget slightly under their scrutiny. "...Right?"
"I had not intended to." J'onn boomed, drawing their attention once more. "I believe this world would benefit from our presence. They cannot defeat that beast alone."
"How?" This time the question came from Bruce, hooded eyes glaring up stoically. "You wouldn't bring this up unless you had a plan." He accused.
The martian was silent for a moment, before finally he drew back, sighing and nodding. "By locking onto their temporal co-ordinates and using our similar genetic structures as a beacon, I will be able to replace them with us." He explained.
Everyone was silent as they mulled over the words. "And you'd leave them here?" Kal accused.
Shaking his head, J'onn assuaged their fears. "I could place a physical beacon here and in the new world, allowing us to travel freely."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Bart sounded enthusiastically. "Let's go!" Diana and Bruce gestured their assent and J'onn waited for his input.
He pondered on what might be different in this new world, mind flitting over everything. Was he still in a relationship with Lois? Chloe? Lana? Was his father alive? Was Lois'? Chloe's? Were her powers active in this alternate Earth? Did she even exist?
His chest clenched at the thought that she might not exist, and for a moment he was confused as to why that was. What did it matter if she didn't exist in this new world? She existed here, and that was all that mattered.
For some reason the thought wouldn't leave his mind though, taking precedent over even the familiar monster on screen. He would never admit to his teammates that he had seen it before; This was personal. As was his train of thought. He hissed and ignored the curious looks, deciding that he wouldn't be "Superman" if he let others be hurt, even in another universe. 'Hypocrite.' He firmly squashed that line of thought and focused on the here and now.
Sighing, he stood at his full 6'3 and nodded. "Alright."