Scion page 3

Lex smiled at Zero when she came in the front door. She was pressing buttons rapidly on her cell phone as several valets brought in bags and boxes from her afternoon of shopping. She noticed him and took in his smile. "Hey daddy…what's with the smile?"

"I see you still remember a few things." He said as he stood up. "Like the credit card number…and where the mall is." She smirked at him, nearly mirroring his expression. "How do you feel?"

"Alright I guess. No headache all day and I only passed out once." She said as she plucked a few grapes from the bowl of fruit sitting on the table next to them. "How was your day?" she asked absently.

"Fine. Only five meetings and I didn't have to kill anyone so I'd say it was just fine." He answered as he poked through one of the bags that were set down in the foyer. "Who's this for?" He asked as he pulled the lacy, see through nightie from the tissue paper in the bag. She sucked her teeth and snatched it from him.

"My skin when I sleep." She answered as she shoved it back in the bag. She looked at Mercy and snapped her fingers. "Take these to me room." She said before she went back to looking at her cell phone. Lex just nodded at Mercy and she went about the task. His life and the people in it had taken an odd turn – more odd than it usually did in the span of a year. He never thought he'd see Calin again. When she was abducted from her private school in Gotham he expected the worst. His mind running down the very long list of people that may have discovered his secret family and done something to them to hurt him. Then there were the random thugs and vagrants that kidnapped rich girls and sold them into the sex trade. He didn't want to think about some mentally ill mountain dweller that took her just because she had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. He didn't know whom to thank for her somewhat safe return. No way he was going to credit Superman with her rescue. He was the reason Calin put herself in danger every day. He wanted so badly to sever their relationship – pull the 'father card' and forbid her from seeing him but her mind was still so fragile. He hated to admit it but Superman and that team of teenagers was actually helping her recover who she used to be. The shopping was a good sign. As well as her fondness for the piano and her cell phone. He kept a hopeful eye out for her other habits. She had mentioned that she liked horses and even picked up a polo mallet and stared at it for a few minutes the other day. It had put Lex over the moon.

But there was still that nagging question in the back of his mind. A question he didn't like not knowing the answer to. Who had done this to her? Who in their twisted mind had the audacity to take his flesh and blood and play mad scientist with her genes? As soon as he found out he swore to himself that they would die a most gruesome and painful death. They had kept her where his vast resources couldn't find her. And in the end allied her with one of his greatest enemies. He wondered for a moment if Darkseid had something to do with it. His method of garnering loyalty often left his victims devoid of memories but Calin lacked the viciousness that came with his forms of training. And if it had been Darkseid he would've flaunted his control over Calin right in Lex's face. Sure, he'd delight in seeing Lex's daughter team up with Superman but mystery was not his usual motive. He tried to think of someone who would love to see him slowly tortured like this. It had to be someone he saw everyday or who he was associated with. Someone who liked playing cat and mouse. For a second he thought it may have been Superman himself that did it but the man didn't have a malicious bone in his body. No way he'd bring an innocent girl into their fight like that. Plus he lacked the scientific knowledge to infuse powers on someone. Now that Lex thought about it the whole thing looked like it was set up for him to take the blame. It had his marks all over it. He admitted to himself that when the girls were born he briefly entertained the idea of playing with their DNA and seeing what happened but it had been their mother's wish that he let them be – let them grow up normal and happy. He felt a deep seated shame over failing to grant that wish for her. After putting up with him and his life for so long – after being told his money could do nothing for her cancer…

"Ms. Luthor." He looked up when Mercy came back. Zero seemingly ignored her until Lex spoke.

"Yes, Mercy."

"You have a visitor on your balcony." She said before she went about her business.

"Is it nine already?" Zero asked as she checked the time. Lex stopped her from going in her room.

"No ma'am. You know the rules." He said before he went in before her. Superman was surprised to see Lex come out instead of Zero. "Superman, our rivalry not withstanding but if you want to see my daughter at such a late hour I'm going to have to say no. Especially since you felt as though you could just fly up to her room."

"Dad!" Zero protested. Annoyance and embarrassment in her voice.

"Don't take that tone with me. We all agreed to the rules." He said as he crossed his arms. He glared at Superman. "Use the front door. Curfew when not fighting crime is ten thirty. And I'm starting to think about adding that you two shouldn't be alone out here."

"You gonna watch me twenty four seven now?" Zero asked.

"No, but I'll assign Mercy to sit out here and report back everything that goes on. You want that?" he asked. "Hm? Want me to know everything you say and do?"

"No." She answered and looked at the ground. Superman was surprised by his attitude – this was another side to Lex he had never seen before. Regular father – guarding his teenaged daughter against would be suitors. It was like he somehow knew what they did earlier that day. "Now, seeing how you were shopping and not fighting crime your curfew is in an hour and a half…" He looked at Superman. "The front door, if you would please."

"Sure." Superman said a little awkwardly before he flew off the edge of the balcony. He hadn't been talked to like that since he was Zero's age. Getting the stern look and 'shotgun' talk from Lana's father when he picked her up for a date. Still Superman had to respect Lex's wishes – if only in this one instance. His house, his daughter, his rules. He dodged a few looks as he walked into the lobby and up to the front desk.

"Um…hello." The receptionist said nervously. "House number and name please…"

"5209 – the Luthor's." Superman said through grit teeth. "Zero—Calin Luthor."

"One moment please." She said as she picked up the phone. She spoke softly to whoever answered the other end before she wrote something down. "Elevator number three will take you up to the penthouse, Mr…um…Mr. Superman."

"Thank you." He said before he walked over. The elevator attendant looked at him as he stepped on. The ride up was pretty quick but Superman tapped his foot impatiently. Lex must be pretty pleased with himself right about now. He got off and rang the bell. Mercy answered the door but didn't let him in.

"Yes?" She asked like she didn't know why he was there.

"I'm here to see…Calin." He said.

"Beat it!" Zero said as she shooed Mercy away. "Go lick some boot or something." Mercy just smirked at her before she walked off. "Get in here." She said annoyed. Superman walked through the front door and spotted Lex in the foyer, plucking so grapes out of a fruit bowl.

"Superman." He said before he ate them.

"Lex." He growled as he followed Zero up to her room.

"Keep your door open, sweetie." Lex called after her.


The incident with Lex had put their relationship on an extreme hold. Superman didn't like being spoken to like that – being treated like some motorcycle-driving boyfriend. He wasn't eager to relive the humiliation of going through the front door either so he visited Zero at home only when he was sure Lex was gone and he could just fly up to the balcony. He still did the front door bit a few times for show but most of the time he saw Zero was at Mount Justice.

"Take it as a sign you should cool off." Batman said as they walked around the watchtower.

"Cool off? From what?" Superman played dumb. He sighed in defeat when Batman gave him the 'you know damn well-what' look. "I am only human."

"Actually you're not." Batman smirked a little.

"Flesh and blood. My skin can withstand a nuclear blast and alien plasma bombs but there is blood under here just like everyone else." Superman reminded him. "Plus, I could be as high and mighty about you and Batgirl."

"There's nothing happening there." Batman said. He frowned when he noticed Superman's 'yeah right' look. "Plus that's different—

"They are the same age Bruce – don't really see how."

"I meant it's different because I'm not actually acting on it." Batman said. "It's a nice rub to the ol' ego – believe me. Intoxicating to look into wide, eager eyes – to be thought the world of…see your symbol on young perky tits but in the end it's more trouble than it's worth." He said quickly. "How much do you have in common? Do you want her for more than just sex? Can you take her out to dinner at a nice restaurant without everyone around you thinking you're her father? Can you mention something from your youth without her saying she read about it on the internet?"

"You've…been thinking a lot about this. Longer than this thing between me and Zero." Superman said.

"I think about everything. On Saturday night when it's just you and a case file your mind tends to wonder." Batman said. "We're getting off topic. Your girl—

"Her name is Zero."

"Right. Zero is no good for you. She basically has 'do not touch' hanging over her head on a neon sign. Too young, daughter of your nemesis, fangirl, inexperienced, team mate – I could go on."

"No don't." Superman said and sighed. Batman noticed the despair on his face.

"You already kissed her didn't you?"

"And felt her up – but it was just once." Superman said.

"If we weren't friends you'd be in handcuffs right now."

"Don't judge me."

"You know I never would, Clark." Batman assured him. They walked in silence for a moment. "How was it?"

"So sweet it gave me a tooth ache." Superman said.

"I'm sorry." Batman said.

"For what?"

"Giving her up is going to be so much harder for you now." Batman said as he crossed his arms. "The longer you go without her it's gonna feel like you're dying. As soon as she's old enough she'll be over you and you'll die all over again when you see her with the jerk that's replacing you." Superman tried not to laugh at his tone of voice – it was like he lived all this before.


"Klarion." The boy smiled at Zero when she said his name.

"You remember me." He said as he reached out for her.

"You've become a main character in my nightmares so I thought it prudent to learn who you are." She said before she fire her palm blasts at him. He seemingly disappeared and her blasts hit Mammoth in the back. He growled as he spun around and charged her. She took flight and dodged him. She yelped when she felt a cold hand on the back of her neck.

"It's so sweet that you're dreaming of me." Klarion said. She screamed when he shocked her. It make her head throb and she lost the concentration needed to fly. She didn't feel it when she hit the ground – when she regained consciousness it felt like she had fallen on her right ankle and landed on her back. She rolled out of the way of Mammoth as he came stomping towards her. She stood up and nearly fell to her knees when her ankle gave out beneath her. Mammoth grabbed her and she clawed at his massive hand.

"Let go!" she screamed. He let out a howl when her touch burned him. He flung her and she felt herself collide with someone. They tumbled over each other on the ground and when she sat up she realized it was Robin. "Are you okay?" she asked as she helped him up.

"Yeah." He gasped out before he ran off. She took flight again. Something whizzed past her head and she glared at Klarion as he continued to shoot at her.

"What do you want?" She called out as she chased after him. She tried to hit him but it was like he had eyes in the back of his head. She became frustrated and all of a sudden her blasts came out larger. It clipped him in the shoulder and he tumbled into the grass below.

"A distraction—Teekl, now!" He yelled.

"Ah!" Zero yelped when she felt the cat's claws in her shoulders. It jumped on her and tangled itself in her hair. She batted it away and got her own fingers stuck in her locks. Teekl bit her and she grabbed the cat by it's leg. She pulled it off her and tossed it – touching the sot where she felt a few hairs get yanked out. She glared at the animal as it stalked around a little bit away from her. She noticed something spark in its mouth. "My clip!" she chased it but Teekl chomped down on it and it shattered – the shock of which made it hiss. She stopped short and turned to Klarion just in time for him to grab her face. "Ahhhh!" she screamed when he shocked her. Her head throbbed again and she could feel it fill up until she thought her skull would split open.

"Finally got you." He growled. She managed to raise her hands and grabbed his wrists. "Ah!" He let go of her when her powers burned him. He let her go and her gripped ripped his cuff. As she fell to the ground she got two more shots off. One clipped Teekl and the other Klarion barely dodged. Zero didn't feel it when she hit the ground – or the locket that fell against her leg and bounced underneath her.


"She's not really up for visitors." Lex said and crossed his arms. Superman sighed and looked at him.

"I'll be brief. She called." He said. Lex looked at him for a moment more before he sighed and let Superman in the door. He led him upstairs and peeked in Zero's room.

"Calin…are you awake?" He asked quietly.

"Yeah." Came a barely audible reply. He walked in with Superman hot on his heels and she smiled weakly at them. "You came."

"…we can do this tomorrow, Zero." Superman said when he saw her pitiful state. Robin had told everyone about her run in with Klarion. Zatana felt it when her spell on her hair clip was broken. Everyone had heard the scream Zero let out when Klarion attacked her. Robin recalled being able to hear it in his head – like suddenly Zero was on the mental link with them all. Which was odd because when Ms. Martian first tried to connect with Zero it had caused them both extreme pain so she stayed on the communicator link only. What ever Klarion did to her must've knocked loose whatever block she had against telepathic intrusion.

"No." Zero insisted. "Daddy can you get me some tea?" she asked. Lex just smiled a little before he went off to get what she wanted. He knew it was a tactic to get him out the room for a while. He gave Superman a look and headed out. Superman pulled up her desk chair and sat down.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"I'll live." She said and smiled when he grabbed her hand. His brow knit together as his fingers curled around her hand.

"You're freezing." He said before he glanced around the room. He stared at the fire place for a second before he shot his heat vision at the half burned log in the hearth. It started burning and he focused on her. "You look exhausted. What did he do to you?" he asked. She smiled when she heard the aggravation in his voice – like he was going to throttle Klarion the very next chance he got.

"He gave me back my memories." She answered. Superman was silent for a long beat before he smiled wide.

"That's…why?" he asked. He was completely lost as to why Klarion would do something like that.

"He was getting sick of them." She said. "He's the one that took them in the first place. But he was ordered not to erase them – just take them from me before a procedure I went through." She blinked slowly. "I escaped what was happening to me before he could give them back."

"What? But you've been getting them back on your own—

"Because he's been visiting me in my dreams since the day I escaped." She said. "I hadn't been about to remember him being in my head until recently. He had the bulk of my memories but he couldn't put them back with Zatana's spell barring him from direct contact with me."

"You mean…you remember everything now?" He asked.

"Mostly." She said as she glanced around her bedroom. "My life here. My father and sister. Being annoyed with Corin the day I was abducted."

"Who abducted you?" He asked eagerly.

"That I still don't know but I was calling daddy the day I disappeared. To tell him something important about Corin." She said before her brow furrowed. "There are still pieces missing but I have so much…thanks to Klarion."

"Yeah I'll run right out and thank him." Superman said sarcastically. "He nearly killed you. Not to mention he was probably involved with your 'cataclysm'."

"Well…either way I'm glad he did that. I finally have myself back." She said. Superman smiled warmly at her until she winced.

"You okay?"

"Little headache from my reverse shock treatment." She said. "Remembering an entire life in five seconds hurts."

"Get so sleep." He said before he leaned over her. He meant to kiss her forehead but she leaned up a little and he just couldn't resist the look of her lips. It was chaste so Superman didn't beat himself up about it. It made her happy after a miserable mission. He sat back and waited for Lex to return before leaving.