Chapter Text
The clock on the wall read 5:34 PM, and Conner still hadn’t shown up. Clark knew staring out the window wouldn’t make him arrive any sooner, but tonight, of all nights, he couldn’t help himself. It seemed that even after nearly a year with the boy, he still struggled to accept the small flaws he could work with him to improve instead of just calling them out.
A year. It passed so fast.
A full year that marked the date of the absolute breaking point among Lex and Clark; the moment that he met him, that he saw Lex’s cunning eyes on a face younger but identical to his… It was then that the man he could still respect and understand, even as a nemesis, transformed into an absolute, irredeemable monster in Clark's eyes.
At last, Conner arrived. Just as Clark was about to open the door to receive him, Jon beat him to it. As soon as his son opened the door, he leaped into Conner's arms. Conner reciprocated by lifting Jon into the air, engaging in a playful tussle.
Clark smirked endearingly, it was nice to have another person like Jon who could get him, who he didn't have to half-lie to or hold back with.
Perhaps a little jealousy settled too, that one day Jon would trust Conner more than him, especially when he entered his teenage years. Clark tried to explain to Jon that despite his appearance Conner was actually younger than him, but his son seemed too eager to forget about it every time it was mentioned.
A week ago was the anniversary when Conner joined the Titans. The day he finally became a trusted member there were cheers and rejoice, but also concern, as it was clear he lacked the guidance of another Kryptonian to navigate all the changes happening to him.
Asking Kara for her help after Clark explained his own vexations about even being near Conner was the worst idea he ever had. She reacted even more explosively than he did, expressing herself in a very disdainful manner of Conner’s very existence and even going so far as to call it an abomination right in front of him.
After being given a stern talk and several months to process her feelings, Kara eventually became more welcoming towards him, at least by her own standards compared to the reactions of other Kryptonians she knew.
So, with no other mentor figure other than him for the boy, he had to swallow any uncomfortable feelings and do his best for him. He still had those stomach churning feelings from time to time, but being a little honest with himself, Conner made it just as hard with his reluctance to learn and improve, the very thing he was doing now.
“You’re late, Conner,” Clark said, trying to keep his tone firm.
“I know,” Conner replied, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked up, genuine regret flickering in his eyes—an emotion that had been absent during his first few months with them. “I’m really sorry. I got nervous for a moment and lost track of time.”
Clark sighed, feeling the familiar tension rise in his chest, and softened his approach.
"It’s fine now, we need to prepare."
Every moment he was near the boy he had to remind himself that he needed to approach him differently, to not regress into old habits that almost destroyed everything.
The first months had been exactly that, mostly filled with discussions, scoldings, and even rigid treatments as Conner seemed to mirror Lex’s behavior during some missions in ways that unsettled Clark. Each time Conner attempted to engage in a personal conversation, flashes of Lex’s manipulative tactics rushed through his mind, forcing him to shun any of those attempts, as any slip could endanger himself, or even worse, the woman he loved and his son.
So it was a surprise to him when the whole Justice League and Conner’s friends called him out on it,
“It’s not fair for Kon.”
“If you choose to take up the role of his mentor you’ll have to adapt to his needs and not the other way around.”
“He needs a parent figure more than ever, otherwise let someone else take care of him.”
And they were right. That wasn’t a cut and dry case where he had the simple choice of keeping his distance for his own mental peace. That boy was kryptonian, one of the last individuals of a race whose remaining survivors could be counted with the fingers of one hand, and not only were his abilities developing, but he was also beginning to exhibit powers that Superman had never encountered before, that in itself made him a liability that only he could manage, add Lex’s genes and early influence to that mix and it pretty much became his responsibility to look over the boy in every way possible.
“Right,” said Conner, “I already have my clothes under my suit, so I’m ready to go.”
“You know the plan?”
“I do, each step.”
“Repeat it.”
It wasn’t really necessary, but if he were honest, he probably felt just as nervous as Conner. So much could go wrong that night as he, Conner, and Lois walked into that place. Despite having permission to be there, the tension that would settle upon their arrival could be cut with a knife.
After Conner confirmed that he understood everything he had to do, Clark sighed in relief.
“Good,” he praised, “I thank you for your help, I know how hard this must be for you, you're very brave.”
At that, Conner’s lips formed a tender smile, seemed like it was still taking him time to learn to process his emotions, no doubt thanks to his parents.
Their parents.
Just a month after the discussion with his team regarding Conner’s need for a parental figure, Clark realized he truly couldn’t be the father he needed, despite the daily threat that he might one day return to Lex. However, that didn’t mean he would abandon the boy to sink or swim, or even leave him vulnerable to future manipulation tactics from Lex, and other villains in general.
That was when Clark came up with the idea of taking Conner to live with his parents and be registered as their son as well, becoming his brother in the process.
After that, most things went great. Ma and Pa’s influence in him started to notice right away, there was a kinder light in his face, like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Now that the immediate pressure was off, Clark could take things at a more relaxed pace.
Bit by bit, he began to get to know Conner in a way that felt comfortable for him, asking about his progress in school and his hobbies. Eventually, he felt secure enough to talk about his own family and ask Conner if he would like to visit them, especially since Lois had also developed an interest in the boy.
Out of the four of them, Jon was the most excited about meeting him. And despite Clark’s worries about letting Conner get too close to his son, he had to remind himself that he wasn’t Lex, nor would be; even if his mind had the same structure or even if it was a replica of it. Obviously something horrifying had to happen to that man to turn out like that. And there was no way that would happen to Conner.
But if Lex excelled at anything, it was his stubbornness and persistence in sabotaging Clark’s life, including the now growing relationship with the boy. A sabotage Clark unintentionally enabled by allowing his own fear of Conner drifting to his Luthor side to take control.
That was what had brought them back to their current situation, facing the current threat: a Kryptonian ship that posed a potentially world-ending danger as it approached their planet, carrying toxic and hazardous materials.
As soon as reports came, they reunited in the Hall of Justice to discuss the solutions with the least possible damage, and Clark could read it in Conner’s body language, he could almost hear his thoughts on who he was thinking of that could help.
When Connor finally dropped the name “Lex”, Clark immediately said no. Most of the other members were appalled he would even consider that Lex could be of help or even be entrusted with such information, while others agreed that his knowledge and the commitment he boasted too much about to protect humankind might make him capable of cooperating and helping to save the world.
To that a calm and civil discussion started where Conner gently but adamantly insisted that Lex could help, that beneath his ruthless exterior, there was a capacity for something akin to empathy, that Lex had it in him to make the right choices if given the chance.
Superman sighed, memories of his younger self coming back, moments of his young years where he believed exactly the same about that man.
But the conversation didn’t stay civil for long. It escalated quickly when Conner, trying to defend his point, let slip that he had spent much more time being groomed at CADMUS than they all thought. He mentioned, almost offhandedly, that in those rare moments when he was allowed out of his containment tube, he would interact with Lex, and in between the harsh personality and power tests he submitted him to, he showed signs of caring about him.
Superman’s eyes narrowed as the weight of what Conner was saying hit him. It was troubling to realize how deeply rooted Lex's manipulation still was in his psyche—that even now, he felt he could defend him.
Clark tried to press the point again, his voice growing sterner, “You don’t know him like I do. If Lex ever felt something akin to what you describe, it’s long gone. Has been since you picked your side.”
That’s when the boy’s frustration boiled over. His eyes sparked with anger as he retorted, "That’s not true at all! Even now he still cares about me as his son.”
“And how do you know that?” Clark narrowed his eyes, stepping closer to Conner.
“Because we’ve been talking for months to each other!”
That got the whole member’s attention, spurning questions about when did that happen and exchanging alarmed glances among them.
“It wasn’t constant,” he replied tensely, “but I’d hear from him once, twice a month. News, a call—he was there. At times I just…" he trailed for several seconds, then simply let down his head, hiding his gaze from the others, “I don’t know what happened.”
Clark felt the realization hit him like a blade to the gut. It was as if the progress he thought he had made with the boy, the bond he had worked so hard to build, suddenly crumbled completely.
His worst fears were beginning to materialize, all because he had been too trusting and faithful to Conner.
Who was to say that Conner hadn’t inadvertently put his own parents in danger by allowing even a trace of that man’s influence in his life?
How much information had he shared, whether intentionally or not, with that man?
Most importantly, how could he have done this at his back while Clark was starting to confide in him about what he cared about most?
He finally lost his cool. His voice, once firm but measured, now rose sharply, creating a tension that made even the nearby Justice League members hesitate to intervene. The argument intensified as he chastised Conner for not informing him immediately about the situation and for potentially putting everyone in danger. He pressed Conner, questioning whether he was considering switching sides again, and before letting him a word in, Clark made it clear that there was no way the boy could maintain contact with Lex if he wanted to continue being part of their team.
That was what finally made Conner snap as well, his voice cracking in frustration as he blinked back tears, shouting that he let himself be manipulated, despite deep down knowing it was a sweet lie, just because at least Lex treated him like a son, and asking, no—demanding—why Clark couldn’t do the same.
Even as he said it, Conner knew the answer. Clark knew he always had. But the mix of conflicting loyalties and emotions was clearly tearing him apart.
In desperation, Conner pleaded, "Help me figure this out! I can’t keep being pulled in different directions like this anymore!"
Clark knew exactly what was being asked of him, but he couldn’t lie, even though a part of him wanted to. Lying would’ve been easier, kinder, and comforting for the boy, but no lie could last forever, the mess unraveling in front of him was proof of that.
“I’m sorry, Conner,” he said, trying to keep his cool once again, to truly make him understand that he wished he could say otherwise, “I can’t.”
It was all Conner needed to hear. His eyes darkened with a mix of hurt and fury before he shot up through a window and into the sky. The sound of his departure was like a sudden crack of thunder, leaving Clark and the others standing there—speechless, someone, no idea who, went looking for him immediately, because all Clark could think of was if he wouldn’t regret the things he said to him.
Clark shook his head, kicking that harsh memory out of him, he wasn’t himself that day. Accusing Conner of treason after he proved himself time and time again was one of the worst calls he’s ever made. The boy had a good heart, and he confirmed it at that very moment when he saw him on the porch saying goodbye to Jon, who was being picked up by the a car where Robin was in. They would probably be back before 2 AM, but that was wishful thinking.
Once again, the weight of the current situation sent chills down his spine, filling him with doubt about whether he was doing the right thing by sending Conner to speak to Lex. He still had the opportunity to tell the boy he wouldn’t allow it and insist on being the one to talk to Lex himself.
He was surprised that Conner even considered speaking with Lex in the first place and practically ask for his help, as if their last confrontation hadn’t happened at all.
It had been two months since Conner left to look for Lex, and, as expected, he ended up getting betrayed. That was when he finally saw Lex for the monster he truly was.
A month later however, the Justice League realized Conner had been right: Lex was their only option for gaining any clues to fend off the force threatening their world before it could cause irreparable damage.
Clark sought out Conner at his home again. The boy was visibly apologetic, but Clark barely heard his words as he pulled him into a tight embrace for the very first time. He reassured Conner that everything was forgotten and acknowledged that, despite his misguided approach, he was right about Lex being their best option. Clark then offered his own apology for allowing personal feelings to cloud his judgment.
He explained their plan to enlist Lex's help through dialogue, taking advantage of the upcoming lavish gala the man would host at a luxurious rooftop lounge atop a gleaming skyscraper that pierced the city skyline. He and Lois would gain entry with their press passes, and at the first opportunity, Superman would pull Lex aside to explain the situation and secure his assistance—ideally, without ending up with Kryptonite scratches on his body.
Conner didn’t know what to think of that information, it was almost like he disconnected himself from the world, focused on his own for weeks. Nothing anyone would blame him for after what happened that day.
However, two days before the event he called Clark and asked him details of what they would talk about, Clark did his best to disclose as much as he could, but Conner remained unconvinced that his choice of words was the correct one.
He tried not to let that same worry that drove that wedge between them take over again, and listened to him. After all he did know a side of Lex that Clark didn’t, and probably no one else but him.
Finally, Conner suggested vehemently that it could be him the one to speak to Lex, since the press would still pester that man the whole night, and Superman could arrive as a distraction, since his presence was expected too at the party thanks to a compromising event that tied to him to it months ago.
After warning Conner and outlining all the reasons why it was a bad idea—emphasizing that Superman should handle it—Conner continued to insist that he could do it. By the end, Clark didn’t object to the plan, he didn’t have the heart to deny Conner anything anymore, especially when that boy was once again going to that lion’s den, the same one that hurt him in every way it could; all to make up for his mistake, to still try and give the Justice League the best chance at success.
A part of him couldn’t help but swell with pride for him.
They went through their strategy one last time, and even though he could sense Conner's nerves, he gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder before the four of them climbed into the van, heading toward Lex’s party.