Fic: The End Of All Things (3/10)
Title: The End Of All Things (3/10)
Author: BradyGirl
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Lex Luthor (implied past Clex), Clark/Bruce, Diana, Donna Troy, Dinah Lance, Dick/Roy (Also, see Author’s Notes below)
Genre: Drama
Rating (this chapter): PG-13
Warnings: There will be character deaths in various chapters.
Spoilers: None
Continuity: Comicsverse (mix of pre-COIE with current canon) and a dash of Smallville.
General Summary: Can a new world arise from the ashes of the old?
Chapter Summary: The JLA must work with Lex Luthor as the War grinds on.
Date Of Completion: February 25, 2008
Date Of Posting: February 29, 2008
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 776
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: While this was written from Diana’s POV, this story is structured like Strange Brew and The Family Series with multiple characters and pairings. The prominent pairings are Clark/Bruce, Dick/Roy, Ollie/Dinah, and Steve/Diana, and there are other pairings and characters included as well. Each chapter will list those who appear in that particular segment.
All chapters can be found here.
This is a story of loss, grace under fire, and hope.
III
TRIANGLE
Ten Months Ago
The Justice League and other heroes looked up at the large viewscreen grimly. Lex Luthor’s visage stared back at them, and the heroes alternately glared and grimaced. A few were more neutral in expression like Diana.
Clark was one of them.
“We have to bring you in for tests, Superman. Otherwise we can’t be certain of the new armor.”
“Lex, do you really think this will work?”
“We have to try.” Lex frowned. “The Davons are using Kryptonite against you. You’re as vulnerable as any of us now.”
Bruce’s visage grew even more grim at the words but he said nothing. He and Clark had fought a titanic argument over letting Lex work with the JLA (“You can’t trust Lex, Clark, no matter what you think!”) but had abruptly stopped when he had seen Diana. Instead, he had gritted his teeth and agreed to bringing in Lex.
Bruce rarely left Clark’s side now, and insisted that Dick be brought into the League during this time of crisis. Roy certainly had no objections, and neither had anyone else. Connor, Kon and Tim had also been brought in, and now the JLA and the other heroes were sitting in the meeting room of the Hall of Justice.
The Watchtower had been destroyed a month ago, and the old headquarters was now serving them well. Hidden in the North American mountains, the Hall was safe from the aliens, at least for now.
Diana watched with a calmness that was no act. She didn’t say it to anyone, but she didn’t feel anything anymore. Perhaps a twinge here and there, but her social interactions were from memory now. She slept little, unable to bear the same dream over and over of a silver plane crashing into the ground, and battle was the only thing keeping her going. Her mother was far too busy to talk to, as several small attacks had occurred against Paradise Island, Hippolyta surmising that they were reconnaissance missions.
Diana watched as Clark spoke to Lex, absently touching her Medal.
“Is the prototype ready?”
Lex nodded. “Ready whenever you are, Superman.”
Bruce looked as if he wanted to scream but said, “If it keeps you safe, we’d better test it.”
Lex’s smile was triumphant. “A good decision…Batman.”
Diana lifted an eyebrow.
Bruce remained cool as he answered, “Of course, Lex. Keeping Superman in working order will give us a big advantage over the Davons.”
Clark smiled. “I have you and Bruce Wayne of Wayne Industries to thank, Lex.”
Lex smiled again. “Yes, you do...”
Diana sat up straighter. Lex had not spoken the name, but Clark hung in the air between him and Superman. And both Clark and Bruce had slipped into calling him ‘Lex’ instead of ‘Luthor’. She wasn’t as surprised when Clark did it. She had heard him call Luthor by his first name when he was alone with the man. But Bruce?
Her eyes widened slightly.
Lex knows their identities!
Of course! Her mind went back to articles she had read before the War. Lex had spent some time in Smallville at a fertilizer plant that his family owned. Before that, he had attended Excelsior, a private school for the sons of the wealthy…including Bruce Wayne.
She nearly smashed a fist into the table. Of course! Why hadn’t she seen this before?
She looked at Lex’s image onscreen and saw the smug triumph…and something else.
Great Aphrodite! Love comes in strange ways.
And knowing Bruce, he knew it, too.
“Diana!”
Diana turned and saw Donna Troy stagger in, shock bolting her up out of her chair.
Donna was bleeding, her Amazonian armor badly damaged. She held out a hand as she fell to her knees.
“What is it? Wonder Girl?”
Diana was on her knees in front of her protégé. Donna looked at her with miserable eyes.
“The Island…we are close to defeat.”
Diana thought she could no longer feel anything.
She was wrong.
“Mother?”
Donna shook her head. “She was still fighting when she sent me. We need you, Diana!”
Dinah stood up. “The women will accompany you back, Wonder Woman.”
Diana nodded. Dick was already there, scooping Donna up in his arms. “We’ll take care of her, Wonder Woman. Please, go to your mother and sisters.”
Shayera was already checking out weapons, and Dinah was calling on her communicator to summon Starfire, Supergirl, and Batgirl.
Clark put a hand on her shoulder.
“Go and take care of your home, Diana. We can handle things here.”
Diana nodded. “Thank you.” She glanced up at Lex, who was quiet.
She just hoped that they were not already too late.
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Author: BradyGirl
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Lex Luthor (implied past Clex), Clark/Bruce, Diana, Donna Troy, Dinah Lance, Dick/Roy (Also, see Author’s Notes below)
Genre: Drama
Rating (this chapter): PG-13
Warnings: There will be character deaths in various chapters.
Spoilers: None
Continuity: Comicsverse (mix of pre-COIE with current canon) and a dash of Smallville.
General Summary: Can a new world arise from the ashes of the old?
Chapter Summary: The JLA must work with Lex Luthor as the War grinds on.
Date Of Completion: February 25, 2008
Date Of Posting: February 29, 2008
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 776
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: While this was written from Diana’s POV, this story is structured like Strange Brew and The Family Series with multiple characters and pairings. The prominent pairings are Clark/Bruce, Dick/Roy, Ollie/Dinah, and Steve/Diana, and there are other pairings and characters included as well. Each chapter will list those who appear in that particular segment.
All chapters can be found here.
This is a story of loss, grace under fire, and hope.
III
TRIANGLE
Ten Months Ago
The Justice League and other heroes looked up at the large viewscreen grimly. Lex Luthor’s visage stared back at them, and the heroes alternately glared and grimaced. A few were more neutral in expression like Diana.
Clark was one of them.
“We have to bring you in for tests, Superman. Otherwise we can’t be certain of the new armor.”
“Lex, do you really think this will work?”
“We have to try.” Lex frowned. “The Davons are using Kryptonite against you. You’re as vulnerable as any of us now.”
Bruce’s visage grew even more grim at the words but he said nothing. He and Clark had fought a titanic argument over letting Lex work with the JLA (“You can’t trust Lex, Clark, no matter what you think!”) but had abruptly stopped when he had seen Diana. Instead, he had gritted his teeth and agreed to bringing in Lex.
Bruce rarely left Clark’s side now, and insisted that Dick be brought into the League during this time of crisis. Roy certainly had no objections, and neither had anyone else. Connor, Kon and Tim had also been brought in, and now the JLA and the other heroes were sitting in the meeting room of the Hall of Justice.
The Watchtower had been destroyed a month ago, and the old headquarters was now serving them well. Hidden in the North American mountains, the Hall was safe from the aliens, at least for now.
Diana watched with a calmness that was no act. She didn’t say it to anyone, but she didn’t feel anything anymore. Perhaps a twinge here and there, but her social interactions were from memory now. She slept little, unable to bear the same dream over and over of a silver plane crashing into the ground, and battle was the only thing keeping her going. Her mother was far too busy to talk to, as several small attacks had occurred against Paradise Island, Hippolyta surmising that they were reconnaissance missions.
Diana watched as Clark spoke to Lex, absently touching her Medal.
“Is the prototype ready?”
Lex nodded. “Ready whenever you are, Superman.”
Bruce looked as if he wanted to scream but said, “If it keeps you safe, we’d better test it.”
Lex’s smile was triumphant. “A good decision…Batman.”
Diana lifted an eyebrow.
Bruce remained cool as he answered, “Of course, Lex. Keeping Superman in working order will give us a big advantage over the Davons.”
Clark smiled. “I have you and Bruce Wayne of Wayne Industries to thank, Lex.”
Lex smiled again. “Yes, you do...”
Diana sat up straighter. Lex had not spoken the name, but Clark hung in the air between him and Superman. And both Clark and Bruce had slipped into calling him ‘Lex’ instead of ‘Luthor’. She wasn’t as surprised when Clark did it. She had heard him call Luthor by his first name when he was alone with the man. But Bruce?
Her eyes widened slightly.
Lex knows their identities!
Of course! Her mind went back to articles she had read before the War. Lex had spent some time in Smallville at a fertilizer plant that his family owned. Before that, he had attended Excelsior, a private school for the sons of the wealthy…including Bruce Wayne.
She nearly smashed a fist into the table. Of course! Why hadn’t she seen this before?
She looked at Lex’s image onscreen and saw the smug triumph…and something else.
Great Aphrodite! Love comes in strange ways.
And knowing Bruce, he knew it, too.
“Diana!”
Diana turned and saw Donna Troy stagger in, shock bolting her up out of her chair.
Donna was bleeding, her Amazonian armor badly damaged. She held out a hand as she fell to her knees.
“What is it? Wonder Girl?”
Diana was on her knees in front of her protégé. Donna looked at her with miserable eyes.
“The Island…we are close to defeat.”
Diana thought she could no longer feel anything.
She was wrong.
“Mother?”
Donna shook her head. “She was still fighting when she sent me. We need you, Diana!”
Dinah stood up. “The women will accompany you back, Wonder Woman.”
Diana nodded. Dick was already there, scooping Donna up in his arms. “We’ll take care of her, Wonder Woman. Please, go to your mother and sisters.”
Shayera was already checking out weapons, and Dinah was calling on her communicator to summon Starfire, Supergirl, and Batgirl.
Clark put a hand on her shoulder.
“Go and take care of your home, Diana. We can handle things here.”
Diana nodded. “Thank you.” She glanced up at Lex, who was quiet.
She just hoped that they were not already too late.
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