Dark Side of the Sun – Chapter 1
15 Years Later
Metropolis - Outside City Hall - Morning
Cheers and applause echoed throughout the streets of Metropolis originating from an assembly being held in the middle of city. As the crowd—whose first layer was composed of eager journalists and photographers—adjusted, a well-dressed man in a charcoal suit approached the pulpit and took hold of the microphone, pausing slightly as the murmurs in the crowd slowly die down. The man's face was chiseled precisely, as if by the hand of Michelangelo himself; his eyes, two dark pools of light, were bold and held the direct attention of his audience. Finally speaking, his firm and powerful tone seamlessly complimented his confident demeanor.
"There once was a time when the darkened streets of Gotham brought fear to every man, woman, and child, when wave after wave of crime threatened to erode the very foundation of the city itself. Those who chose to work their evil deeds by the cover of night held Gotham at ransom, until one day, a dark knight appeared and began to fight back. And although this infamous masked vigilante's actions alone did not strengthen the city's foundation, it did spur the city's demand for a greater beacon of hope. Mayor John Alden took the reigns over Gotham two years ago, and since his stern hold of the city, crime has gone down at dramatic rates. People feel safe again in the streets, even after sunset.
Today Metropolis is faced with a dilemma not unfamiliar to the one faced by Gotham.
I come here to you now in support of Andrew Agathy, a man whose campaign for mayor of Metropolis I proudly support. Andrew Agathy will bring about change, and end Lex Luthor's reign of destruction and his unlawful misuse of his title as mayor.
This great metropolitan city will not go down in flames, not like other cities around us have done in the past. I am here to bring an important message that I have taken years to learn. What makes for great change is not war, but great leaders of peace. Mr. Agathy has fought hard to peacefully voice the concerns of his people while standing courageously against those malevolent forces who wish nothing more than to break the spirit of this city.
The darkness that surrounds us can be overwhelming in its persistency and unyielding nature. This year Metropolis hit an all time high in crime, far surpassing the record that Gotham held not too long ago. Gotham fought back and won, Metropolis can do the same, and I, Bruce Wayne, am here to tell you that Andrew Agathy will bring about the needed change.
Support this city; support the spirit of your fellow people. Support Andrew Agathy for mayor.
Thank you very much.
The crowd recharged with cheers and applause. Mr. Wayne raised his hand and leaned forward to the microphone once more, stating: "I will take a few questions at this time."
Immediately, the layers of the journalists at the front raised their hands, a few eager gentlemen shouting out their questions before being called upon. Finally Mr. Wayne signaled for a young man in the front who asked if Mr. Wayne was ready to back up Mr. Agathy and the city with his billion dollar name plate. The crowd chuckled at the comment and so did Mr. Wayne who calmly answered that neither Agathy nor the city required his name plate to succeed.
"Once Agathy assumes power," Bruce Wayne attested, "Productivity and wealth will be cultivated easily within the walls of this great metropolitan city."
An older woman was selected next; she asked if Gotham would have to do without this playboy millionaire from now on.
"Gotham will always be my home, but I am slowly adapting to Metropolis—" Bruce answered, but was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Is it really possible, Mr. Wayne, to try to govern Metropolis all the way from Gotham?"
The crowd murmured loudly as Bruce adjusted and spoke clearly into the microphone, "Thank you, Mr. Clark Kent, from our very own Daily Planet, for the question. You have just given me a great entryway into my next announcement. As of today, Metropolis, you can consider me another member of this great metropolitan city."
Taken off guard, Clark inquired further, "Are you stating here, for the record, Mr. Wayne, that you will now occupy Metropolis as a permanent residence?"
"Yes, but I will by no means take the credit for this decision," Bruce stated, "The choice was really made by my wife, Lois Lane."
The flurry of chaotic noise resumed as Bruce and Clark casted steely stares upon one another, a decade of unspoken words visible in both of their eyes.
Metropolis Airport
That Same Morning
A private aircraft with the name "Wayne Enterprise" arrived in the Metropolis airport. Slowly the roaring from the engine and rotating propeller came to a stop, and the main door opened and a staircase descended onto the ground. Lara Joanne Kent, a petite young girl with cascading blonde locks, stepped out through the threshold, momentarily taking in a breath of fresh air. As she was about to take the first step down, however, a hand poked out through the door and stopped her.
"Don't forget your cane again, Lara." Lois Lane said handing her daughter a wooden walk aid.
The girl shook her head and pushed it away and descended down the steps freely, "For the last time, mom, I don't need it."
Successfully, both mother and daughter made it down the steps. Hand in hand, they entered the airport's waiting area. "You know, you're still as stubborn as when you were eight years old." Lois said with a chuckle. "God forbid I ever delivered you a few minutes late to your father's house. You'd give me the silent treatment until I promised to make it up to you the next weekend with your father."
"Yeah, well, dad says I take after you in that department," Lara smirked as she made her way towards the seating area and sat down.
"Is that so?" Lois asked joining her daughter. "You know, I still don't know how you do that, know where everything when you're--"
Lois stopped and Lara finished for her mom, "Blind? It's okay, mom, I've been like this since I was six years old. I don't mind not being able to see, besides, it's just given me a chance to hone in my other four senses."
"Yeah, well, seeing isn't all it's cracked up to be," Lois said. "I mean, look at me, I trip just about every eight seconds and don't ask me to count the times I bump into furniture."
"That's every other second," Lara quipped, "At least that's what dad says."
"Yeah, well your dad seems to think he knows me pretty well, doesn't he?" Lara nodded and for a moment Lois was taken aback by the serenity in her daughter's face at the mere mention of her father. "You really love your dad, don't you sweetie?"
The young girl nodded and said, "He misses you, you know."
"Lara," Lois began patiently. "We've had this conversation countless times and it always ends the same. Your father and I have been divorced for over ten years now and we've both made our peace with it. There's no sense in drudging up any past spirits with a meeting."
"You haven't seen him face to face in over six years. Isn't that a little drastic?" Lara asked.
"Life became complicated, Lara. You know that sweetie." Lois sighed then opened her mouth to say something but shut it down when the words didn't quite come to her.
"I can hear you breathing hard, mom." Lara said. "You don't have to get so upset every time I mention dad."
"You and that hearing of yours, Lara. I swear it's reminding me more and more of your dad's pesky hearing ability every day now."
Lara chuckled, "You haven't answered my question, mom. Isn't not seeing dad for almost a decade a little drastic? He's still in love with you, and you're—"
"Married to Bruce," Lois finished "He's your father too, you know that."
"He is, and I love him," Lara said, "But…I want you to be happy, and I know that you're happiest when you're with dad."
"And how would you know that if apparently it's been close to a decade since I've seen your father?"
"Because I still remember when I was little and you did visit each other," Lara said. She leaned up against her mother and rested her head on her thighs. "I would cry every time you would leave me at dads, and not because I didn't like it there like you thought, but because I liked seeing the two of you together so much that it would break my heart every time you left."
Lois laughed, "Ah, a little culprit even as a young child."
"Yeah, well, you two were so much fun together." Lara continued, "I love how you would always try to cook for us, but then end up burning the food." She laughed, "And then you'd ask how the food was and dad would just stutter saying it was great."
"Your dad never could lie," Lois began and then stopped to add indignantly, "Hey, I did not always burn the food!"
"And he sat through all the meals, and listened to me go on and on about our new life alongside Bruce without ever saying a negative word, and now thinking back on it, I can't even imagine how hard it must have been to see us becoming a family with someone that wasn't him." Lara sniffled and then sat up. She looked away from her mother for a moment before adding, "Everything he does, even as Superman, he does it for us, mom. You and me. We're his world."
Lara turned around, her empty blue orbs flooded with tears. Lois leaned in and gently wiped a rogue tear that slid down her daughter's cheek. "How did you get so insightful all of a sudden, young lady? I'm supposed to be the adult remember?"
"I just miss you two together, mom. And I know dad does too." Lara said as Lois wrapped her arms around her daughter and hugged her lovingly.
"You know you're the most important person in my life," Lois said softly. "If you've been unhappy alongside Bruce all this time, I wouldn't have ever hesitated to leave—"
"No, no." Lara immediately replied, "I love Bruce, and he's been there for me, too. He's my family, mom. I mean, who else would suffer through my constant demands of bedtime story after bedtime story when I was little? And now that I'm older who's always there to scare of any boy that comes knocking at my door?" Lara paused for a moment as her words sunk in and then added with a grin, "Okay, maybe I wouldn't mind him leaving after all." Lois laughed and Lara complimented her spirit with a smile. "But seriously mom, I love both of my dad's."
"And that is why Bruce and I have made this move, Lara. For you. We want you to be close to all your parents, and your grandmother too."
"What about Aunt Chloe and Uncle Ollie? Won't they be farther away now?" Lara asked.
"Yes, but the last time I checked, you've been pretty good about locking in those air miles between both of your fathers."
Lara giggled, "Bruce's jets are amazing mom, but nothing beats flying solo with dad."
"Tell me about it," Lois said, reminiscing for a moment on old times. "Look, Lara, if it means that much to you, I'll consider visiting your father more often."
"Do you mean that mom?"
"Yes, but you have to be patient with me."
"Oh, but it doesn't have to be right away," Lara said. "And Bruce can come if you'd like."
"Speaking of Bruce," Lois said turning to glance at the clock. "He's late."
Lois stared out at the window, looking up at the sky with worried expression on her face.
Metropolis
Luthor Enterprise
Looking up at the same sky, a drunken Lex Luthor stood at the window of his twenty story corporate building sulking in the disappointment of his political career. His term as mayor of Metropolis had been a complete failure, and now he was facing a possible impeachment. To compound matters further, Bruce Wayne had wasted little time in finding a replacement for the new voice of Metropolis.
Gulping the last bitter drops of alcohol, Lex tossed away the bottle of 1787 Chateau Lafite into the trash can and without any thoughts of sobering up, grabbed another bottle of wine from the cooler next to his desk and reclaimed his position against the window.
Outside the sky was clear until a shadow entered view. For a moment Lex felt his entire body tighten, the wine bottle in his hand fell and shattered in the floor, and his eyes widened—the pit of darkness in his eyes revealing through its reflection the horror of an aircraft heading straight into Luthor Corp, straight for Lex Luthor himself.
The noise of the explosion echoed throughout the city of Metropolis, leaving a momentary dead silence in its wake, until a rapid crescendo of new explosions suddenly took its place.
One after another, each one of Luthor Corps buildings in Metropolis went up in flames.
End of Chapter 1
Author's Note: Please remember,this is a story that will have a lot of twists and turns, and will definitely have readers saying "What the f--k??" at least once in every chapter. Some of the things that will get under your skin (like the Lois and Bruce) will not be as bad as they seem, while others (and I won't give you an example because I don't want to ruin the suspense) will end up being a lot worse than you would have ever thought possible.
If I do my job correctly as a writer, at the end of this story you will have laughed, cried, screamed, and cursed at least once. And bloody well meant every emotion!
This is a dark fic and it's gonna have a lot of gut wrenching moments, but it will also have light, funny moments, and as mentioned earlier there will eventually be a light at the end of the tunnel. But it will be a long time coming so you must be patient. And I can also foresee that this story will not be for everyone. Some may be turned off by Brois, but if readers leave for that, then maybe it's a good thing because more than likely they wouldn't have been able to stomach what's coming next. It's gonna be huge. It's gonna be controversial. It's gonna be...well...you'll see.