My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the fires in California.
TW: Glad you enjoyed it. You'll see.
Guest: I'm sorry, but I genuinely have to ask, did you even read the chapter? Because you make it seem like Darkseid saw Oliver, trembled in fear, and then ran like he's a little kid scared of the monster in his closet. Darkseid noticed Oliver was there, taunted him, and then left because he accomplished what he wanted too.
Metropolis
Afternoon
Logan, Jay and Dinah all sat at the kitchen table, playing cards as they waited for Charles to finish with Bobbi. As they played, they caught up.
"You, as a teacher. I just can't see it," Jay mused as Dinah explained what she did.
"It puts bills on the table, and it had its rewards. Besides, would you ever expect to see the Black Canary as a high school teacher?" Dinah pointed out and the two men shrugged, conceding her point.
"You have a wife, right? Joan?" Logan asked Jay, the information coming to him suddenly.
"Yeah, we just celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary. Surprised you remember that," Jay said in shock and Logan shrugged.
"Since I found out about Laura, bits and pieces are coming back. Been trying to remember for the last few years, turns out all it took was finding out I had a daughter," Logan said, chuckling at the irony.
"Well, at least one good thing has come out of all this. Last time I talked to Bobbi, a few days before Prometheus' men grabbed me, she'd just broken up with her ex-husband and was on her own after leaving SHIELD. Feels like another lifetime," Dinah mused.
"Ex-husband, huh?" Logan asked with a raised eyebrow and she chuckled.
"I always joked you'd scare any boys off before they could get near her. Looks like I wasn't far off," Dinah laughed and Logan shrugged. "Lance Hunter. He's not a bad man, there's just a lot of baggage between him and Bobbi. They divorced before she ever met Oliver. They met back up after SHIELD fell, tried to recapture what they had. Bobbi told me she loved him, just…"
"Just not the way she loves Oliver," Jay noted and Dinah nodded.
"When I heard you two were friends, I wasn't surprised. The two of you are a lot alike," Dinah noted as she glanced at Logan.
"Hopefully, not too much," Logan muttered.
"I don't know, I think Oliver could have worse people to be like," the trio looked up as Bobbi walked in, Charles rolling after.
"We done here, Chuck?" Logan asked and Charles smiled.
"Esme is a powerful Telepath, but my experience has allowed me to remove the suggestion from Bobbi's mind. Oliver is no danger from her," Charles assured them.
"So what now?" Bobbi asked.
"Now, I think we need to get back to Watchtower. You ready to see Oliver again?" Jay asked and Bobbi grimaced.
"Not really, but I don't think I'll ever be ready," Bobbi said before Logan's phone rang.
"Hold on, it's Sara," Logan said before answering it. "Hey, Sara, we were just about to head back….what?...Okay, we'll be right there."
"Jimmy, what is it?" Dinah asked as Logan hung up the phone, looking like he could use a beer.
"Things just got a lot worse," Logan said grimly.
Watchtower
Not long after
"Logan and the others will be back soon," Sara said as she turned back to the others.
"Good, we'll need all hands on the deck. I should call in AC and Bart," Clark noted.
"Maybe J'onn too," Kara added and Clark nodded his agreement.
"I still can't wrap my head around this. Thawne…is now possessed by Darkseid?" Sam asked, looking like he was trying to understand a complex mathematical problem.
"I um, I stabbed him with a knife Sara gave me. He was on the ground, bleeding out," Barry said, running a hand over his face as he remembered what happened. "Then Darkseid showed up and they seemed to make some kind of deal. He said something about Thawne's soul belonging to him and then was all this smoke…and then Darkseid was in Thawne's body."
"Not just his body. He has Thawne's powers now," Oliver said, remembering Darkseid speeding away.
"So now we have a guy who can turn people into raving lunatics, me included, and who knows what else and now he has super speed?" Tony asked in disbelief.
"Looks like things can't get much worse."
Everyone looked up as Jay walked into the room, followed by Logan, Dinah, Bobbi and Charles. At the sight of Bobbi, Oliver stared for a moment, everything else fading away. Now that they weren't on a battlefield, and he had time to look at her, Oliver found that, in his opinion, Bobbi had grown even more beautiful than she was during the Siege.
"Hey, guys. This is Bobbi…my daughter," Logan introduced and it was silent for a long moment.
"Hi. I'm Rogue," Rogue broke the silence, walking over and holding a hand out to Bobbi. "I…work with your dad."
"I know. I did a little digging on the X-Men after the Siege. It's nice to meet you," Bobbi said, taking Rogue's gloved hand.
As they dropped hands, Bobbi looked up and her eyes caught Oliver's. For a long moment, it was silent, the two seeming oblivious to everything else around them.
"Hey," Bobbi said.
"Hey," Oliver echoed.
"While this reunion is…awkward, I'm sure, but I did find something on Darkseid," Chloe spoke up and everyone turned their attention to her. "Sort of."
"What'd you find?" Steve inquired as Chloe brought up a symbol on the screen.
"Is that a sun with a V inside of it?" Clint asked, wondering what that was.
"Yeah. And it's also the symbol of a group called Veritas, a secret society that was founded by Virgil Swann," Chloe explained, causing Clark, Barry and Stein to start.
"The Virgil Swann, world's leading expert in research of Satellite communications?" Barry asked.
"He's more than that. He helped me figure out who I am, where I'm from," Clark explained.
"And if what I've heard about Veritas is true, Virgil may have been attempting to do so for some time," Stein noted and Clark looked over at him.
"You knew him?" Clark asked, noticing how Stein talked of Virgil with a familiarity.
"We went to Harvard together. We studied different fields of course, but we ran in the same circles. I hadn't spoken to him in over 15 years before his death," Stein explained.
"Did he ever mention this Veritas society?" Matt inquired but Stein shook his head.
"No, Virgil was very secretive," Stein said.
"Apparently not. This Society was based on finding The Traveler, a man from the stars who would arrive on earth to face the coming darkness that would seek to enslave humanity. Sound familiar?" Chloe asked as they turned to Clark.
"When Oliver and I went to the future, we were told that the history books recounted that Darkseid fell in battle to us," Clark remembered.
"Hold up, you guys went to the future?" Rhodey spoke up, those who hadn't been here when that was revealed looking stunned.
"Long story, don't ask," Oliver said immediately, not wanting to get into it.
"It does seem to be talking about what's happening now," Sam pointed out.
"We need to find these other members of Veritas. Chloe, do you have any leads?" Clark asked.
"One, but you won't like it. I did my best to find any other members, but they all seemed to meet unfortunate ends. Which probably has something do with the fact that Lionel Luthor was a member," Chloe announced, stunning Clark and Tess.
"Lionel. It makes sense, Lionel always did need to be near power," Clark noted before catching onto what Chloe was getting at. "You don't think…"
"If Lex knew about Veritas, he wouldn't keep it on any files. He'd only trust his own eyes," Chloe agreed.
"Lex Luthor?" Tony asked in disbelief.
"He and I go back…a long time. He and I used to be best friends, until I realized Lex was becoming just like his father, obsessed with power and knowing things he felt entitled too. If he knows something about Veritas, he might tell me," Clark mused.
"Can you trust him?" Steve asked.
"Not on a good day. But he might be our only option," Clark said, looking like he'd swallowed something sour.
Hearing movement, everyone turned to see Tess walking out a brisk pace. The door slammed shut behind her and it was silent for a long moment.
"Did I miss something?" Carter asked.
"If you did, so did we. She got some kind of beef with Luthor?" Sara wondered.
"She might," Clark said, frowning as he searched his memory. "Three years ago, Lex was arrested after murdering Lionel and Lana framed him for her murder as well. Tess was named temporary CEO; she was paying for his defense and stood by his side leading up to the trial. Then, three days before the trial started, she was made permanent CEO of Luthor Corp, and fired Lex's lawyer, froze all his assets. She even made a public statement, denouncing Lex's actions."
"At the time, we just thought it was cutthroat business stuff. But based on that reaction, there might be something deeper going on," Chloe noted.
New York, Oscorp
Same time
"Not bad for a first day, Mr. Parker. You are as brilliant as advertised," Otto complimented as he and Peter walked down the hall after work.
"Thank you, Dr. Octavius. I'm just trying to earn my place here," Peter said modestly and Otto laughed, placing a hand on Peter's shoulder.
"Well, keep this up and you'll do just fine," Otto assured him.
"Peter?"
The two paused at the sound of the voice as they rounded the corner. Peter was tense as he looked at the stunned face of Gwen Stacy.
"Hey, Gwen," Peter said with an awkward wave.
"What are you doing here?" Gwen asked, confused to see him there.
"I kind of work here now," Peter explained, stunning her further.
"Mr. Parker is my new research assistant. Dr. Otto Octavius," Otto Introduced himself, holding out a hand to the stunned Gwen.
"Gwen Stacy. Nice to meet you, Dr. Octavius," Gwen said, finding her voice and accepting his hand.
"You as well, Ms. Stacy. You and Peter are friends then?" Otto inquired as they dropped hands.
"Something like that," Peter said with a tight smile. "I guess I'll see you around, Gwen."
"Yeah, I guess so," Gwen said softly, watching as Peter walked off with Otto.
Watchtower
Not long after
Tess is standing alone, looking out a window when someone walked up beside her. It was silent for a moment.
"They send you to check on me?" Tess finally asked.
"No. But we are…concerned," Steve said after a moment, looking at her with worried eyes.
"You can't trust Lex Luthor, Steve," Tess said, not looking at him.
"I don't think anyone does, but we might need him to stop Darkseid. What's going on Tess? I can't help if I don't know what he did," Steve said patiently and Tess was silent for a long moment.
"A year before Lex was arrested; I was caught in an explosion. I was badly hurt. Lex paid for my medical bills, too care of everything, made sure I was well looked after. I thought it was such a kindness…until a week before his trial was set to start. I found some files on a subject that had nano transmitter implanted behind her optic nerve. The more I read the files….I didn't want to believe it until I managed to hack into the frequency and saw myself, staring back at me. Lex had made me his eyes and ears," Tess said, her voice trembling as Steve stared at her, horrified.
"Tess…I'm so sorry," Steve said and she laughed hollowly as she wiped her eyes.
"It's not your fault. I'm not saying this to make you feel sorry for me; I'm telling you this to warn you. No matter what he knows, you can't trust Lex," Tess stressed to him.
"We don't. Regardless of anyone's feelings on him, we need to know whatever it is that Lex knows," Steve told her patiently. "I don't think Clark likes it any more than you."
"I don't," the two looked over as Clark walked through the doorway. "But regardless of my personal feelings on Lex, he might be the only one who knows how to stop Darkseid. We need any piece of information we can get, Tess. Even if comes from Lex Luthor."
"I know. That doesn't mean I have to like it," Tess grumbled and Clark smiled tightly.
"I don't either. But we all do what we have to in order to save the world."
Elsewhere in the building, Oliver and Bobbi sat across from each other, not speaking. Finally, Oliver broke the silence.
"I'm sorry," Oliver said and she looked at him in surprise. "For dragging you into this."
"It's not like you could have predicted that Kane would be such a psychopath. The fact that he's Slade's son actually makes a lot of sense," Bobbi mused and Oliver smiled tightly. "Not everything bad that happens is your fault."
"I am…trying to remember that," Oliver said after a moment. "How'd they get you?"
"I was in a bar, alone. Two of his men tried to grab me, I beat them easily, but they were the distraction while a third hit me with a tranq dart. Next thing I knew, I was waking up, tied to a chair with Kane showing me a live feed of my mom surrounded by guards. Said unless I did everything he said, he'd kill my mom. I think I should be the one apologizing, Oliver."
"Kane had your mother. I would have done the same thing in your position. You don't owe me anything," Oliver assured her and paused. "I've been thinking about you lately, even before all this. I mean, I'm always thinking about you but…this is different."
"Oliver, if you have something to say, just say it," Bobbi said, smiling slightly at his mini rambling.
She'd never seen Oliver this nervous before, she mused as he ran a hand through his hair. It was kind of cute.
"After the Siege, you told me you still loved me. Is that still true?" Oliver asked and her eyes softened.
"I realized a long time ago that I would never fall out of love with you. So yes, Oliver. I still love you," Bobbi assured him and Oliver let out a shuttering breath.
"Okay…okay. Then I need to say something, something I should have said a long time ago," Oliver said and Bobbi looked at him curiously, waiting for him to speak. "Four years ago, I pushed you away after Russia. It was too hard to look at you without seeing the baby, without thinking about what I had lost. I lost sight of the fact that I wasn't only one hurting. I should have been trying to grieve with you."
"I doubt it would have helped. My mom always said that I fight my battles alone like, my dad," Bobbi noted.
"Which is why we should have tried to help each other. Instead, I pulled away like a coward. I'm sorry," Oliver apologized.
"It's not like I was any better at trying to bridge that gap. I could have reached out at any time, but I was hurting too. We both got too wrapped up in our own pain that we forgot it wasn't just us. It wasn't all on you," Bobbi told him.
"Maybe not, but I just learned that my past has been dragging me down, keeping me from moving forward. The shark that doesn't swim drowns," Oliver said and she looked at him confused. "Russian proverb. You move forward or you die. I have been standing still for a very time now."
"So it's time to learn to swim then," Bobbi noted and Oliver nodded.
"Yeah. Yeah, it is. I understand if too much has happened between us…but I know I will never love anyone the way I love you. I was thinking…maybe it's not too late for us."
"Oliver," Bobbi said softly, reaching and placing hand on the side of his face as she looked at him lovingly. "Stop talking."
Shortly after, the pair stumbled into the room Oliver had been using since arriving at Watchtower, locked in a passionate kiss. Oliver barely managed to close the door as they began removing all the barriers that separated them.
Elsewhere, Barry was deep in thought when someone walked, putting a hand on his shoulder. Looking back, he saw it was Chloe.
"You okay?" Chloe asked softly and he smiled tightly.
"I don't know. I…killed a man. Darkseid may have taken Thawne over, but Thawne was dying before that," Barry said with an unreadable look in his eyes.
"You couldn't have known Darkseid was going to do what he did," Chloe tried to comfort him.
"Maybe not, but it doesn't change the fact that I still did it," Barry said and beat passed. "You know what the worst part is? Even knowing what I know now, I'd still do the same thing. Except I'd make sure Thawne was dead before Darkseid showed up. I'm not sure what that makes me."
"It makes you human. We all a dark side, you should have seen mine a few years back," Chloe said with a grimace, remembering the mess with Davis. "It doesn't make you a bad person."
"I've never been a boy scout. I believe in the death penalty, I believe that certain circumstances allow for us to take a life if it will save another. But I just…I never thought I was willing to kill someone before," Barry said with a sigh. "Not sure why I'm even worried about this, when Darkseid has Thawne's body and powers."
"Because you're a good man, Barry Allen," Chloe told him and Barry smiled tightly.
"I don't know about that. What I do know is that Darkseid is just getting started," Barry said, wondering what Darkseid's next move would be.
Unspecified location
Same time
"It is an honor to have you here with us, my Lord," Goodness said as she, Godfrey and Adrian bowed before Darkseid, who was sitting in a chair.
"I thought it prudent to oversee the next part of my plan myself. Tony Stark is lost to me, but it is of no consequence. Soon, this world will be mine; humanity will become my slaves or be destroyed. But first, Granny, you must cease this obsession with Tess Mercer," Darkseid ordered.
"My Lord, I have put so much work into her. She can be a great asset to our cause," Goodness protested.
With a cold look upon his face, Darkseid raised his hand and Goodness suddenly found herself pulled forward, gasping as Darkseid choked her without even touching her.
"She has sided with our enemies! Tess Mercer has chosen the light over Darkseid! For that, she will join her allies and be destroyed! Should you attempt to save her, you will join your precious Lutessa in death!"
Darkseid made a pushing movement and Goodness was sent flying, landing hard on the floor. Goodness grasped her throat, breathing heavily as sweet air filled her lungs.
"Make no mistake, Granny. You can be replaced, even now. Do not question me again," Darkseid said coldly as he got to his feet.
"Yes, my Lord. Please forgive me," Goodness said, her voice a little gruff as she pulled herself onto her knees, bowing slightly.
"The time of my victory is almost upon us. Be ready to stand by for my plans," Darkseid ordered.
"My Lord, there is still the matter of Clark Kent," Godfrey said carefully and a twisted smirk crossed the face of Harrison Wells as Darkseid let out a chilling laugh.
"Do not concern yourself with him. Clark Kent will soon no longer be an issue."
Maximum security prison
Not long after
Clark appeared outside a jail cell, the hall empty. The occupant looked up, surprise covering his face briefly before a smirk crossed his face. It was silent for a moment before Clark spoke.
"I need your help," Clark said, hating the words that left his mouth and the man laughed.
"Hello, Clark. It's been a long time," Lex Luthor said smugly.
Kind of a filler chapter (probably the last one) but hope you all enjoyed it anyway.
The Oliver/Bobbi scene was hard to do, but hope you all enjoyed it.
And Lex has finally entered the story outside flashbacks! Wouldn't be a true Smallville crossover without Lex showing up in some form.