The weight of the previous confrontation only moments ago lingering heavily in his mind, Sparga flew off through the horizon to leave the beaten Zod in the crater so he could lick his wounds. He needed to calm down, he needed to let his anger dissipate. Zod had no right to say what he said! What was going through his head to come here and claim to pay respects and then spit on his father's grave like that? The words echoed in his mind on repeat, causing his anger to keep simmering in a boil as he clenched his fists while flying through the horizon. "Kal-El was a beacon of hope once. And then he was a monster." The accusation stung deeper than any punch, igniting a fury in Sparga that he strained to control lest it consume his rationality. What was it about Zod that always caused Sparga's rage to roar like such a violent wildfire? It was just like before all over again. He was just a teenager when Zod threatened Raven, sparking the catalyst for ascension that brought the Saiyan Kryptonian hybrid's rage to a height that changed him forever. But that was a decade ago and he had tamed that all-consuming anger. He was a man now, one who always sought to keep a cool head. But Zod…
Zod always knew how to bring the fury out of Sparga. As he soared through the skies at high speeds, he sighed deeply to let the cool air fill his lungs and calm him down. Before, he'd have been angry for days - maybe even weeks. But he knew that holding onto anger for that long served no purpose. He wasn't the same reckless teenager who ran from his problems and channeled his anger onto the undeserving anymore. And besides. Had Zod not came knocking, he'd have been otherwise occupied with another obligation he was far more interested in keeping. And so he flew off to the frozen north of the Arctic.
The jagged peaks of the frozen wasteland were soothing as he let his mind flood with the memories of his childhood spent here. Or more specifically, the Fortress of Solitude, his personal home - A sanctuary hidden in ice where memories of Kal-El and the legacy of Krypton intertwined. Sparga needed clarity, a moment of peace, a reprieve to reflect on all the chaos of the battle that had taken place only moments ago.
As he rocketed through the sky, Sparga's thoughts raced back to the warmth of his childhood memories, of better times. He could still hear Kal's voice in his head, gentle but firm, guiding him through the trials he faced in his youth. "Strength without purpose is just a burden," Kal had often said before… Everything had happened the way it did. He was just thankful that Kal came back to the right side in the end. A memory that only Sparga had, one that the rest of the world knew nothing about. The sacred, secret private moment before Kal had sacrificed himself to save Sparga in the final battle in the Qliphoth was precious to him, and it was proof that this hard task as the new Superman was worth fighting for. Strength without purpose is just a burden. Why was this particular phrase running through Sparga's mind right now? The weight of those words resonated now more than ever in ways Sparga was turning over in his mind to understand why he was reminded of it in this moment, and he clenched his fists tightly with determination fueling his speed as he pierced through the clouds with such momentum that the world beneath him faded into a blur of white.
After what felt like only moments in the speed of his flight, Sparga descended before the doors of the Fortress of Solitude. He landed softly, the crunch of snow beneath his boots grounding him and sending him back to happier memories. The chilled air filled his lungs, further grounding him and just before the shut doors that opened the path inside, he saw Chronoa bundled up and shivering with condensation from her breath filling the air. He smiled as he trodded through the snow to approach her and when she caught sight of him, her expression immediately shifted into one of delight and relief.
Chronoa: "Finally! I was wondering how long that would take you. Let's go, let's go! It's freezing out here!"
Sparga chuckled softly, leaning his head to the side as he let the cool breeze blow past him like a soothing balm. Being out here always made him feel better. It helped that he was practically immune to extreme temperatures and this was actually kind of refreshing for him, but he still enjoyed seeing Chronoa out here waiting for him, even if the reason didn't make sense.
Sparga: "Can't you just magic yourself inside? Why are you waiting for me out here?"
Immediately, Chronoa in her scrunched bundle of fabrics and extra winter clothing shuffled into Sparga and sought warmth and Sparga's grin widened even wider. Now it made sense. With a slow inhale, he embraced her to offer warmth and then reluctantly moved away to kneel down. Sparga began brushing some snow off of the welcome mat in front of the door and wiped it clean before lifting a corner to reveal a simple key that was embedded in the ground. Several cracks in the stone floor splintered out around it where it lay resting and when Sparga reached to pick it up, the scraping sound it gave off when he dragged it across the ground gave off a deep rumble as if it were much larger and much, much heavier than the reality of its tiny size.
Chronoa: "I know it weighs billions upon billions of tons, it still seems silly that you'd just hide the key to your front door right in front of it."
Sparga: "Well, yknow what they say; Hide things where everyone thinks you'd hide it, and they won't think you hid it there."
Chronoa: ". . . Sweetie? Sparga? I've never met anyone in my life who said that."
Ignoring her, Sparga pushed the key into the slot just underneath the engraved "S" in the center of the large double doors and with a twist, the locks came undone and and a tremor shuddered the canopy of crystal around them before the two doors began to slide open. Replacing the key back under the welcome mat, Sparga gestured for the Kaioshin to enter where she waddled in as quickly as her heavy layers could allow. Once inside and with the doors sealed behind them, she shed the heavy fabrics to let herself wash over with the embrace of the regulated temperature inside and she squealed happily as she was finally free from so many thick and cumbersome garments. Sparga's tail swayed gently as his expression softened and the stresses and fears from earlier seemed to melt away under such a jovial mood. Slowly, Sparga strolled up behind her and wrapped his arms around her into a gentle hug and she paused.
Chronoa: "Is… everything okay?"
Sparga: "Yeah. Yeah, Zod… just was a bit more of a headache than I anticipated."
Chronoa: "That's who you went to go fight? I remember you telling me about him before. Are you sure you're okay? It's not often you fight one of your own kind. What did he want?"
Sparga rolled over how he wanted to answer in his head for a moment, and Chronoa could tell that he was hesitating. But rather than push or pry, she waited for him to admit things on his own rather than force it out of him before he was ready. She knew he'd spill his secrets eventually. And they had all weekend for her to wait. So for now, she just chose to let the Saiyan Kryptonian hybrid wrap his arms around her a little more snuggly and he pushed his face into the crook of her neck. She could tell he wasn't injured, so what was bothering him she couldn't help but wonder?
Sparga: "He… came to pay his respects."
Oh. That feels about right. Sighing softly, the Time Kaioshin shifted to twist in his arms and return the hug. She wasn't about to guess at what was said, but if it involved Sparga's father then it was going to eat at Sparga for a while. And she was not about to have him distracted like that and tormenting himself. She wanted this weekend with him so they could unwind from their responsibilities. And boy could she use some rest and relaxation herself. All those time scrolls to sort through and all the time patrollers to organize. If she didn't have Trunks' help, she wouldn't know how she does it. But more pressing at the moment was Sparga's sour mood. She hated seeing him guilt-ridden for someone else's sins like this. But she understood it, and the importance of why he did it. That didn't mean she liked it, however.
Dragging Sparga by his wrists, she pulled him along to not just forcibly yank his attention out of his brooding, but also drag him out of the foyer and to somewhere where they could be alone in this empty crystal citadel. She knew that aside from a few maintenance robots and a wildlife preserve for endangered animals from who knows what deep end of space they came from, she and Sparga were alone in the Fortress of Solitude. But she knew that if she wanted him to actually enjoy himself for the duration of their weekend retreat, then she'd need to keep his mind off of the events from earlier today.
Chronoa: "Well nuts to him! From everything you told me, he sounds like a jerk! And I'm not about to let him ruin our weekend, you hear me, Mister?! Let's go enjoy ourselves in your ice palace, Elsa!"
Sparga: "... I should never have shown you that movie."
Several hours later filled with laughter and affection, with passion and desire, and Chronoa stirred beneath the warmth of silken sheets. Her skin brushed against the smooth fabric as she blinked awake to the dim light of the Fortress' crystals casting a soft glow that gave a serene and calming blue hue over everything. Her entire body ached in sweet ways as she let her waking mind replay the passion they shared earlier - A mix of quiet whispers and shared breaths merged with needy indulgence and an ache so blissful in her loins that she almost didn't want to get out of bed. But as her senses returned to her, Chronoa became more and more aware of a lingering warmth beside her, the empty space where Sparga had been beside her with the sheets thrown over her to keep her tucked in and cozy.
She smiled faintly, still feeling the way his arms had wrapped around her. How many hours had she slept? She pushed herself off of the mattress slowly, her hair a tussled mess and she was so glad that Sparga wasn't in bed with her when she saw the drool on her pillow. But the silence was different now. Pushing herself further up and off the bed, Chronoa let the sheets slip away and felt the cool breeze brush against her bare skin while scanning the room.
She reached for a robe hanging by the edge of the bed and slipped it on, her brow furrowing as she noticed the heavy silence. The silence of his absence tugged at her, and she followed the dull droning hum of the Fortress ambiance to the hallway where she found a cracked open door. With a gentle push, she peaked inside to see Sparga fully dressed and hovering with his legs crossed and his body tucked inward while holograms played in a loop.
Sparga: "Kelex. Show me images of Kal-El."
The computer gave a soft beep and began cycling through recent footage of a man with a vibrant red cape and a bright red S on his chest not too different from Sparga's own uniform wearing an expression of rage and fury as he tore through hordes of resistance. It didn't play out for very long, but it was a frightening sight all the same. And then Sparga's voice cut through abruptly as he waved a hand and caused the images in the hologram to pause.
Sparga: "NO! No… Show me images of Kal-El… happy."
It was quick, but Chronoa could hear the brief break in his voice as he made his request. There was a quiet desperation to his tone, a haste to search for any memories other than the ones that the rest of the world were insistent on reminding him of. The computer gave another beep and then replaced the cycling footage with something different. The same man from before appeared in the hologram, but he looked so different - His expression was soft and warm, inviting and he had such a gentle presence about him that when he smiled, Chronoa felt like he was smiling right at her and she felt so safe. Her heart ached, knowing where Sparga's thoughts must have drifted off to after they went to sleep.
The footage that played out showed Kal-El flying through the sky, wearing that same smile that made the world feel so safe and Sparga looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Chronoa hesitated for a moment, her hand resting against the crystalline doorframe of the chamber as she watched Sparga, his figure outlined by the soft glow of the hologram playing out before him. His shoulders were tense and taut, and even his tail hanging loosely looked as if it were hanging in defeat. She knew that look - it was half the reason they had any real problems in their relationship. That look like he was carrying the weight of every memory, every unspoken word, every regret in his eyes. It wasn't the first time she had seen him like this, and she hated that he kept doing this to himself.
With quiet steps, she entered before gliding up off of the floor to meet him. Chronoa tightened the robe around herself further, clutching the lingering warmth closer to her as it contrasted against the chill in the air. When her hand lifted to land on his shoulder, he tensed heavier but he didn't turn to face her - just at the hologram of a fatherly smile that seemed almost directed at him. The man in the projection felt worlds apart from the one she had heard so much about.
Chronoa: "Hey… I'm here, okay?"
When Sparga spoke, his voice was barely a murmur. He didn't turn to look at her, but she felt his tail sneak its way up to wrap around her ankle and calf in search of the comfort of her touch.
Sparga: "I know. Sorry I left you all alone in there. I just… needed to remember him like this. Before everything changed."
Chronoa's heart ached as she curled up around him, pulling him into a gentle hug while she cradled him.
Chronoa: "And that's okay. It's good to hold onto those memories. They're proof that what you're doing is important."
Sparga: "It feels like I'm the only one who remembers him like this. Like what he's supposed to be."
Sparga pressed his hand against the scarlet "S" on his chest, his fingers tense until he was almost clawing at the material with heavy sadness dragging down his entire being. He finally shifted to look at her and she could see the melancholy in his eyes that were red and slightly puffy.
Sparga: This symbol stands for hope. How can I remind people of that if everyone keeps insisting that the man before me who wore it is a monster? How can I show them that I'm not like that? That he wasn't always like that?
Chronoa: "Sparga, I know that he wasn't always like that. The fact that you're who you are is proof of it. But holding onto the past so tightly, it… It might be hurting you more than helping."
Sparga frowned and shifted again, turning back to the projection of his predecessor's smile.
Sparga: "Kind of ironic coming from you, isn't it? We spent so much time together fixing the past and now you're asking me to forget about mine. To forget about him."
Chronoa: "That's not… I'm not asking you to forget about him. I just worry you're hurting yourself trying to live up to a legacy of such high standards that even the best of us couldn't keep."
Sparga: "That's the point of being a Superman, 'Noa. We don't get the luxury of failure. We have to be the ones that the world looks to when things get tough. When hope is lost, people look for a Superman to bring it back and reassure them that the world will keep turning. If I can't be what he was - If I can't be better than he was when he failed to be that, then what does that say about me?! How can I make people forget about his crimes if I can't surpass him?!"
Chronoa: "But your worth isn't tied to a symbol or your family's legacy, Sparga! You're your own person. Your father might have worn that symbol, but it's yours now. And you're trying to wear it like he did in ways that might not really reflect who you are. Sparga, look at you, you're exhausted! You're not a failure for not being perfect, and you won't be any less of a hero for accepting that!"
The two of them stared at one each other, neither backing down as they held their gazes for a few moments. Eventually, however, Chronoa closed her eyes and sighed deeply before reaching out to place her palm on his cheek and he tensed for a moment before melting into her touch. When her eyes opened back up, they had softened as she leaned in to press her forehead to his.
Chronoa: "I'm sorry. I just… I don't want you trying to stumble and fall trying to fly too close to the sun. I don't want you to get hurt trying to be something you're not."
Sparga gave a soft half huff, half chuckle as he took her hand in his own and held it against his cheek before replying.
Sparga: "Even though I get my powers from the sun? 'Noa, I'm Superman. And that's not gonna change who I am. I'm gonna-"
Chronoa cut him off with a chaste, innocent kiss before pulling away to speak.
Chronoa: "Please, no more. Not right now. I didn't come here to argue with you about something that means so much to you. It's just.. Hard for me watching you tear yourself apart living up to impossible expectations. Let's just put a pin in this for now, okay? You still haven't shown me that city in a bottle."
Sparga pulled her closer into a firm hug, relenting before straightening his posture and carrying her to glide back down to the ground. The two of them wandered around the fortress, Sparga showing Chronoa some of the keepsakes that his father held onto and all the while, she couldn't help but notice the way his face would light up over every memory. She enjoyed his delight, but deep down she knew that all this would do is further reinforce his need to pursue down the path he was on. But at least they weren't arguing about it for the time being, so she'd take what she could get. For once, he looked so relaxed and peaceful that she'd concede for the moment and allow him this. But eventually, the weekend came and went quicker than either of them had expected, and it was time for them to return to their responsibilities.
Sparga: "Y'know. I'm surprised that there was no emergency calls this entire weekend for either of us. Feels almost a little disconcerting."
Chronoa: "Maybe people only come looking to fight you when they know you're around? Almost like the universe is trying to balance itself out against how big a force Superman is?"
Sparga: ". . . I can't tell if you're making fun of me or if you're just overthinking things."
Chronoa: "I'm just saying, Sparga. Do you really need to be Superman?"
Sparga: "You know what my answer is gonna be. And besides… I don't think Zod is gonna be gone for too long. I keep thinking about what he said. About my biological father. I think he's gearing up for something, Chronoa. Something big. I think the world is gonna need a Superman more than you realize if Zod or anyone worse comes knocking on our door."
Chronoa: "Oh, please. What's worse than an evil Kryptonian tyrant who has limitless strength?"
Sparga: "Phrasing."
Chronoa: "Sorry. But you just knocked Zod silly the other day! What are you worried about? Everything is gonna be fine!"
Sparga: "Maybe. But maybe a little caution might prove to do us some good. I'll see if I can salvage anything from the old Watchtower wreck and start putting some things together."
Chronoa: "Oooorrrr… You ask my Time Patrol for help."
Sparga turned to look at Chronoa with an expression that was equal parts amused and surprised. He had to stifle a snort at the notion before chuckling in dismissal and waving his hand to downplay the idea.
Sparga: "'Noa, I left the Time Patrol. As tempting as it sounds, I don't wanna keep leaning back on my old comrades while moving forward. And besides, that's the easy route."
Chronoa: "Ugh, how very Saiyan of you. Alright, alright. I'll let you do this on your own. No cosmic favors from a literal Goddess of Time."
Sparga chuckled and wrapped Chronoa into a gentle hug before pressing his index and middle finger to his brow. There was a look of concentration and focus in his features as he honed in on what he was feeling for in his perception.
Sparga: "Yeah, yeah, keep teasing. Let's get you back to the Time Nest before Trunks starts sending a search party."
Once he had his desired target, Chronoa wrapped her hand around Sparga's forearm so that when his Instant Transmission ignited, the two of them would vanish from the Fortress of Solitude's interior and teleport instantly to their destination.