"Dark Paradise"


Jensen's apartment
Chiron Building
Detroit
2027

"Holy shit. I fucking did it."

She looked up from the last dish she was wiping off with a damp cloth.

"Look."

She witnessed him picking up a glass of whiskey, albeit he did it with the most careful of grips – without a single crack.

"Finally! The calibrations are perfect!" Demitra hurried over to him at the sofa, skipping with glee. "You can now enjoy your god-awful whiskey!"

Jensen arched an eyebrow at her for that comment. "For as long as we've known each other, I'd think you would like my whiskey by now."

She kept her cheeky smile for the man, giggling all the while, out of sheer happiness for him. "Dream on, dreamer."


"Oh wow. Really? I can't believe it. How's the location? Well, if it's as good as you say it sounds… I can't come down any time soon though, Adam still needs me. Yeah, I know the clinic has always been my dream, but my best friend needs me more. Yeah. Okay. I'll let you know when I can pop by for a quick visit to the site, Dia. In the meantime, see if Daniel or mommy can help me out with it. Thanks, sis. I'll speak to you soon!"

He waited patiently in the hallway until she ended the call with her older sister, Dianna, before meeting up with her in the living room. "Violet?"

"Oh hey! I was on the phone with Dianna. She sends her regards."

"Regards received," Jensen said playfully. "What was that thing about a location? And a clinic?"

"Oh, it's nothing, Adam," She said through uneasy chuckles.

"Sounds like you're needed back in Cincinnati."

"No, I'm not. Really."

"Demitraaa…"

She gave up when he dragged her name in that adorable manner. Smiling to herself, she began her explanation. "It's just… always been a little dream of mine. To open a shelter for the less fortunate augmented people. We have so many of them in Cincinnati, Adam, sleeping on the streets, suffering from withdrawal. We see them in Detroit too. If only Sarif Industries and LIMB Clinics weren't here, I would have tried to open one here. But they'll protest, I'm sure of it."

He saw it on her face. So easily. "You're also still not comfortable in Detroit, are you?" It was in reference to her young son getting murdered and husband getting arrested right there in Detroit.

Demitra averted her gaze, unable to answer him honestly.

"You still amazing for putting aside your feelings and living with me. You know I appreciate that." He told her, his voice dripping in appreciation.

Her bright smile returned. "You know I'd drop everything for you, Superman."

"That I know, Supergirl. But it's been 4 months. You know I'm doing much better. If you have to go back to Cincinnati, you know I won't be the reason you can't open that clinic."

"Adam-"

His augmented hands found her shoulders. "I'm okay, V," Then he took her into a hug. "If it wasn't for you,"

"Oh, Adam," She practically melted in his embrace. "You know that I'm still in one piece because of you. Nothing I do can ever repay that."


Demitra's apartment
2024

"Sure you should be in here, Violet?"

Demitra laid on her son's bed, embracing a stuffed teddy bear in her arms. "I can't let him go so easily, Adam. You know that."

Jensen sat down next to her feet, one hand on her calf. "It's not that, V. You know that."

"Yeah… Yeah I know what you mean," She sat up, the teddy bear still in her arms. Jensen shifted closer to her, and a smile formed on her face as she propped the teddy bear onto her lap. "This was his favorite toy. Given to him by his uncle Adam."

"I think you should get out of this house for a while. Come stay with me instead. You know I'll take good care of my girl,"

"You're sweet, Superman. But I couldn't impose on you and Megan. It wouldn't be right," When there was no reply from him but instead a disheartened look, she questioned, "What is it, Adam?"

From his back pocket, he retrieved his wallet. Opening it up, he pulled out what appeared to be an… engagement ring.

"Oh nooooooooooo."

"I don't completely understand it either," Jensen lamented, staring at the ring in his hand. "Said that she liked things the way they were and didn't want something like marriage to 'complicate' it. Whatever that meant…"

Demitra let it sink in for a good few seconds before she spoke. "Did she… perceive that after marriage, things would change?"

"I think it's her job. I think it's… consuming her. Got her in a bind, and now she won't let anything or anyone tear her away."

"Head of Research at Sarif Industries. How many people would kill to get to where she's at? I mean, I don't know which era she's living in that she believes anything will change after becoming a wife, but… the idea certainly got to her. Aren't both her parents scientists as well?"

"She once mentioned that they never really give her much attention growing up. It was always about work with them."

"Apple doesn't fall far from the tree, then," While that line has been delivered with some annoyance, Demitra resumed her soft tone. "I don't think she's cruel. Just ambitious. I'm not saying that you shouldn't be upset with her, I'm just saying that you shouldn't stop being at least her friend. If she's okay with that too."

"That's you, V – always trying to see the good in people. Too bad there's no more good to see in Reggie."

"Yeah…" Even the sheer mention of her soon-to-be ex-husband's name made her blood boil, as well as heart to break. "Have you spoken to her at all?"

"Not since Addy's murder. I'm been pretty much sticking to you like a magnet," He said while nudging into her playfully, which earned him a small smile. "She's been distant for a while. Neglecting, even. I somehow thought that marriage would bring her back to me."

"It's a classic, naïve thought. No one would blame you for trying. But it would have been a lot worse if you had actually gotten married."

"Guess I dodged a bullet?"

"I think you did."

With that, that conversation had come to an end. Although something else was on Jensen's mind, and he mentally debated on whether or not to bring it up to Demitra, at this point in time.

"So… Reggie kept screaming something at me. Said you were still in love with me."

She could not help but laugh out loud at that, like the situation was hilarious. Although, it could have been an attempt to hide her embarrassment. "Even while I was another man's wife, I was still your girl. Some might say that that's wrong somehow."

"Did you love me? This whole time?"

Jumping right in. Well, what the fuck do I have to lose? I've lost everything. "Oh, I'm always gonna love you, Superman. I just… threw everything away when I met Reggie. I truly loved him and he committed the ultimate betrayal. I'm done. I just wanna fade away."

"Demitra, no," He latched onto her shoulders, silently begging her look at him in the face. "I won't let you do that. I can't claim to understand what you're going through, but I can't lose you either. Not you."

By then, she had already begun to sob softly. "It's too hard, Adam. How can I get over this?"

"You'll get by. Don't worry, I'm here."

She relaxed in his embrace, melted when he placed a peck on her head, and hid away from the world in his arms.