Kal/Morgan Conclusion
Jul. 29th, 2004 08:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
serafina20Wow, look at that. It's done. yes, I think I'm going to try and write a sequel to LLAR. No, I don't know when. I only have the vaguest idea of what it'll entail. Obviously, some of it's set up in here and it'd deal with the Lex/Morgan/Clark relationship (no, not a threesome; don't scream. Even I am not that squicky.:)
Previous Parts
There was a light tap on the front door, then Kal stuck his head inside. "Hey," he said warily, glancing at Quentin. "Can I come in?"
Morgan closed his PDA and handed it to Quentin. "Yes, of course." He looked up at Quentin. "Do you have any questions?"
"No, not at all. I should be back in a few hours." He took the PDA and went to the door. "Hello, Kal."
"Quentin." Kal waited stiffly at the door for Quentin to leave, then turned fierce eyes on Morgan. "Are you doing something illegal?" he demanded.
"Why, Superman? Are you going to take me to jail?"
"I already did," Kal replied, sitting on the couch at the end of Morgan's feet. "And if I find any more evidence that you're participating in illegal activity, I'll have to turn that to the prosecution."
Morgan smiled tiredly. Kal asked him the same question every time, even if Morgan was just watching the news. He was insistent that he know nothing about any further illegal acts on Morgan's part, and yet always inquired after them. Sometimes, it was so easy to forget that this was the same boy who'd robbed countless banks wearing a mask, who'd broken into Lane Enterprises, and who'd set fire to a crack house with no sense of compunction. Kal was so very different now: grown up, confident, and honorable.
He was Clark Kent. Superman. Protector of Metropolis, lover of Lex Luthor. He wasn't Kal, the runaway and Morgan's cocky rentboy. Not anymore.
"It's the list of medication I'm on," he reassured Kal. "You know I've been ill. Quentin is picking them up from the pharmacy for me, and I want to make sure I got everything."
Kal nodded, face softening. The suspicion melted away, and Morgan smiled. Honorable and intelligent, but still easy to talk around. Not that Morgan had been lying; it *was* a list of medications he was on, and Quentin was picking them up from the drugstore. After he paid a witness to go very, very far away before the trial, or else risk Morgan's wrath.
"How are you feeling?" Kal asked.
"Better." He coughed, wincing at the rattle in his chest. "I have a lingering cough, and I ache all over, but better. How's Lex?" he asked, reaching for his glass of water.
"He's okay." Kal moved and pulled Morgan's blanket further on him. As he tucked it in, he said, "He's overworking again, as usual. Drinking about a gallon of coffee a day. He managed to quit smoking for two weeks before he became too much of a bitch for even me." Kal shrugged and gave Morgan a lopsided smile. "I don't actually think he's addicted. I think he just goes crazy without something to do with his hands and mouth."
"That sounds like Lex."
"Yeah. And it doesn't hurt him; his lungs are healthy, so who am I to take it away from him?" Kal sat back down. "He's agreed to start antidepressants."
"Really?" Interesting. He never thought Lex would agree to something like that, especially not after the horrors of the mental institution.
"It's getting out of hand. He's cycling about every three months now. He'll be fine, happy, working hard and easy to get along with and then, one day, he just isn't. He's like a completely different person, and can barely get out of bed. I thought I'd be enough, but..."
"Kal. It's not your fault."
Kal sighed and nodded. Pulling off his glasses, he rubbed his eyes, looking weary. "I know that. I do, really. But I love him, Morgan, and I hate not being enough to stop the pain." He squeezed the bridge of his nose. "I don't think drugs are going to help him."
With Lex's unique mutation? "Probably not."
"I'm trying to get the AI to work on it. Find the right mix of whatever to fix the chemical imbalance. And then find the right words to get Lex into therapy."
Morgan shook his head silently. Lex needed therapy, of that he had no doubt. But he wouldn't go, unless Kal managed to sweet talk him into it. Lex was too private to talk about his problems with a stranger. Lionel made certain of that.
"You're good for him, Kal. I’m glad you found him."
Kal grinned and leaned back on the couch. "Remember when you sent me out looking for him? When LuthorCorp fell?"
"Yes?"
"I still have the picture I used to show people. I thought he was the most beautiful person I'd ever seen in my life, and I wanted him so badly." He tipped his head back. "I'm glad I found him, too."
Morgan coughed again. "Does he know you're here?"
Kal nodded. "He's not happy. He doesn’t understand. I've tried and tried again to tell him, to explain why I come and why I can't hate you. But he's so scared and hurt, I don't think he hears."
"You don't have to come. I don't want to put your relationship with him in jeopardy."
"I let him see Lois." Kal turned his head and met Morgan's eyes. "I'm trying to get him to see you. With me. The three of us should sit down and talk."
"Do you mean before or after the trial?"
"Before, if possible. I really don't think Lex would see you in prison, not unless he's accepted you already. But, you know, you've got good lawyers. Maybe you won't go to prison."
With the way he'd been feeling lately, Morgan doubted very much that he'd ever make it to prison. The actual trial didn’t start for another four months, and that was only if his lawyers didn't drag it out longer. And then, there were so many charges and so much to wade through, Morgan was counting on being free for at least another year.
He pushed the gloomy thoughts away. He wasn't that old and hadn't been that ill.
"I don't want you to bring him here if he doesn't want to come. He's been through enough in his life, and I don't need..."
"I’m going to ask him marry me, Morgan," Kal interrupted quietly. "And I'd like you to come to come to the wedding."
A heavy coldness settled around Morgan. He shivered involuntarily, and pulled the blanket around him tighter.
Married. His Kal and his son. Married. It shouldn’t have been surprising. After all, Kal had never made a secret of his feelings or desires towards Lex. And yet, for some reason, Morgan felt completely off guard.
"And what?" he finally said, lips numb. "Do you want me to give Lex away?"
"No," Kal replied, amused. "I want you there. For me." He folded his legs under him and faced Morgan. "You were such an influence on my life, Morgan, and what you did..."
"What I did? I took advantage of a sixteen year old."
"You also treated me like an adult. You never made me feel like I was dirty or perverted for sleeping around or being a prostitute. You taught me how to kiss, how to be fucked, how to talk dirty."
"You knew how to talk dirty all on your own," Morgan interrupted. "And did you even did it well."
Kal blushed. "Thank you. But it was more than that. Because of you, I had the courage to graduate from high school a year early. I had the courage to stand up to my biological father, to give into my biological father, too. Sometimes giving is the bravest thing you can do, and if you hadn't encourage me to go live my own life, I think I would have ruined it by running away from something I didn't understand. You gave me enough money to go to Princeton, and then travel the world and *live*. You helped me define the man I am today, and then you gave me the most perfect gift in the world." Kal smiled, eyes shining. "I loved Lex even when I thought Lionel was his father, but knowing that you are, it just... Maybe it should be incestuous, but it just makes my relationship with Lex more right. As much as I cared for you, you were too old and too different. And Lex is everything good about you and everything wonderful on his own. He helps me remember that there's a good man underneath the criminal, and that it's okay to still care for you."
Morgan didn't know what to say to that. He hadn't the gift with words Kal did, nor the inclination to bare his soul, not even to his precious boy.
"When are you going to ask him?" he asked, trying to disguise how ruffled his felt.
"Soon. It's coming up on a year since he and I got together. I think I'll ask him then."
"Don't bring him to me too soon. Ask him first, and then a month or two later, try and get him to come. You don't want him to think that it's a contingency."
Kal nodded. "Okay. I won't."
"You have my blessing, of course," Morgan said suddenly. Because he knew that was one thing Kal must be after: the blessing from his former lover to marry the son.
A look of relief blossomed on Kal's face. "Oh. Good. I was afraid..."
"I let you go, Kal. Twice." Morgan smiled in self-deprecation. "Despite insisting I wasn't noble when it came to you, I, uh, hid your ring. I thought if you wore it, you wouldn’t listen to your parents and would make things worse. You always seemed angrier while wearing it, and I thought... I thought if I hid it, you'd hear what they had to say and then not return."
"Oh." Kal looked down at his hands. "Oh."
"Kal..."
"Thank you." Blue-green eyes met Morgan's, and Kal smiled tentatively. "You were right. Thank you."
A weight lifted from Morgan's chest, and he smiled. It wasn't that he'd ever doubted that he'd been right. Sending Kal away had always and obviously been the correct thing to do. But, ever since Kal had come back into his life, Morgan had been afraid that if Kal knew, he wouldn't' see it the same way. And then, not only would he leave, but he'd take Lex, and any intimate news of Lex, away as well.
Kal inhaled sharply suddenly and rose. His shoulders were back, eyes narrowed, and, even without changing into that ridiculous costume, he'd transformed into Superman in an instant.
"I have to go," he said, eyes far away.
Morgan rose as well. "What happened?"
"Explosion. Fire." He narrowed his eyes and then swore under his breath. "Fucking Lois is in it. Ten to one she set it to draw me out."
Morgan laughed softly and put his hand on Kal's shoulder. "What can you expect? You're irresistible, Kal."
Kal snorted and turned his head. "You'll be okay?"
"I'll be fine. Go."
Kal moved swiftly and his lips connected with Morgan before he realized what was happening. The kiss was soft and gentle and almost platonic. A part of Morgan melted, feeling as if he was home again.
Then, in the next instant, Kal was gone, and Morgan was left behind with the memory of what they'd shared.
The End
Previous Parts
There was a light tap on the front door, then Kal stuck his head inside. "Hey," he said warily, glancing at Quentin. "Can I come in?"
Morgan closed his PDA and handed it to Quentin. "Yes, of course." He looked up at Quentin. "Do you have any questions?"
"No, not at all. I should be back in a few hours." He took the PDA and went to the door. "Hello, Kal."
"Quentin." Kal waited stiffly at the door for Quentin to leave, then turned fierce eyes on Morgan. "Are you doing something illegal?" he demanded.
"Why, Superman? Are you going to take me to jail?"
"I already did," Kal replied, sitting on the couch at the end of Morgan's feet. "And if I find any more evidence that you're participating in illegal activity, I'll have to turn that to the prosecution."
Morgan smiled tiredly. Kal asked him the same question every time, even if Morgan was just watching the news. He was insistent that he know nothing about any further illegal acts on Morgan's part, and yet always inquired after them. Sometimes, it was so easy to forget that this was the same boy who'd robbed countless banks wearing a mask, who'd broken into Lane Enterprises, and who'd set fire to a crack house with no sense of compunction. Kal was so very different now: grown up, confident, and honorable.
He was Clark Kent. Superman. Protector of Metropolis, lover of Lex Luthor. He wasn't Kal, the runaway and Morgan's cocky rentboy. Not anymore.
"It's the list of medication I'm on," he reassured Kal. "You know I've been ill. Quentin is picking them up from the pharmacy for me, and I want to make sure I got everything."
Kal nodded, face softening. The suspicion melted away, and Morgan smiled. Honorable and intelligent, but still easy to talk around. Not that Morgan had been lying; it *was* a list of medications he was on, and Quentin was picking them up from the drugstore. After he paid a witness to go very, very far away before the trial, or else risk Morgan's wrath.
"How are you feeling?" Kal asked.
"Better." He coughed, wincing at the rattle in his chest. "I have a lingering cough, and I ache all over, but better. How's Lex?" he asked, reaching for his glass of water.
"He's okay." Kal moved and pulled Morgan's blanket further on him. As he tucked it in, he said, "He's overworking again, as usual. Drinking about a gallon of coffee a day. He managed to quit smoking for two weeks before he became too much of a bitch for even me." Kal shrugged and gave Morgan a lopsided smile. "I don't actually think he's addicted. I think he just goes crazy without something to do with his hands and mouth."
"That sounds like Lex."
"Yeah. And it doesn't hurt him; his lungs are healthy, so who am I to take it away from him?" Kal sat back down. "He's agreed to start antidepressants."
"Really?" Interesting. He never thought Lex would agree to something like that, especially not after the horrors of the mental institution.
"It's getting out of hand. He's cycling about every three months now. He'll be fine, happy, working hard and easy to get along with and then, one day, he just isn't. He's like a completely different person, and can barely get out of bed. I thought I'd be enough, but..."
"Kal. It's not your fault."
Kal sighed and nodded. Pulling off his glasses, he rubbed his eyes, looking weary. "I know that. I do, really. But I love him, Morgan, and I hate not being enough to stop the pain." He squeezed the bridge of his nose. "I don't think drugs are going to help him."
With Lex's unique mutation? "Probably not."
"I'm trying to get the AI to work on it. Find the right mix of whatever to fix the chemical imbalance. And then find the right words to get Lex into therapy."
Morgan shook his head silently. Lex needed therapy, of that he had no doubt. But he wouldn't go, unless Kal managed to sweet talk him into it. Lex was too private to talk about his problems with a stranger. Lionel made certain of that.
"You're good for him, Kal. I’m glad you found him."
Kal grinned and leaned back on the couch. "Remember when you sent me out looking for him? When LuthorCorp fell?"
"Yes?"
"I still have the picture I used to show people. I thought he was the most beautiful person I'd ever seen in my life, and I wanted him so badly." He tipped his head back. "I'm glad I found him, too."
Morgan coughed again. "Does he know you're here?"
Kal nodded. "He's not happy. He doesn’t understand. I've tried and tried again to tell him, to explain why I come and why I can't hate you. But he's so scared and hurt, I don't think he hears."
"You don't have to come. I don't want to put your relationship with him in jeopardy."
"I let him see Lois." Kal turned his head and met Morgan's eyes. "I'm trying to get him to see you. With me. The three of us should sit down and talk."
"Do you mean before or after the trial?"
"Before, if possible. I really don't think Lex would see you in prison, not unless he's accepted you already. But, you know, you've got good lawyers. Maybe you won't go to prison."
With the way he'd been feeling lately, Morgan doubted very much that he'd ever make it to prison. The actual trial didn’t start for another four months, and that was only if his lawyers didn't drag it out longer. And then, there were so many charges and so much to wade through, Morgan was counting on being free for at least another year.
He pushed the gloomy thoughts away. He wasn't that old and hadn't been that ill.
"I don't want you to bring him here if he doesn't want to come. He's been through enough in his life, and I don't need..."
"I’m going to ask him marry me, Morgan," Kal interrupted quietly. "And I'd like you to come to come to the wedding."
A heavy coldness settled around Morgan. He shivered involuntarily, and pulled the blanket around him tighter.
Married. His Kal and his son. Married. It shouldn’t have been surprising. After all, Kal had never made a secret of his feelings or desires towards Lex. And yet, for some reason, Morgan felt completely off guard.
"And what?" he finally said, lips numb. "Do you want me to give Lex away?"
"No," Kal replied, amused. "I want you there. For me." He folded his legs under him and faced Morgan. "You were such an influence on my life, Morgan, and what you did..."
"What I did? I took advantage of a sixteen year old."
"You also treated me like an adult. You never made me feel like I was dirty or perverted for sleeping around or being a prostitute. You taught me how to kiss, how to be fucked, how to talk dirty."
"You knew how to talk dirty all on your own," Morgan interrupted. "And did you even did it well."
Kal blushed. "Thank you. But it was more than that. Because of you, I had the courage to graduate from high school a year early. I had the courage to stand up to my biological father, to give into my biological father, too. Sometimes giving is the bravest thing you can do, and if you hadn't encourage me to go live my own life, I think I would have ruined it by running away from something I didn't understand. You gave me enough money to go to Princeton, and then travel the world and *live*. You helped me define the man I am today, and then you gave me the most perfect gift in the world." Kal smiled, eyes shining. "I loved Lex even when I thought Lionel was his father, but knowing that you are, it just... Maybe it should be incestuous, but it just makes my relationship with Lex more right. As much as I cared for you, you were too old and too different. And Lex is everything good about you and everything wonderful on his own. He helps me remember that there's a good man underneath the criminal, and that it's okay to still care for you."
Morgan didn't know what to say to that. He hadn't the gift with words Kal did, nor the inclination to bare his soul, not even to his precious boy.
"When are you going to ask him?" he asked, trying to disguise how ruffled his felt.
"Soon. It's coming up on a year since he and I got together. I think I'll ask him then."
"Don't bring him to me too soon. Ask him first, and then a month or two later, try and get him to come. You don't want him to think that it's a contingency."
Kal nodded. "Okay. I won't."
"You have my blessing, of course," Morgan said suddenly. Because he knew that was one thing Kal must be after: the blessing from his former lover to marry the son.
A look of relief blossomed on Kal's face. "Oh. Good. I was afraid..."
"I let you go, Kal. Twice." Morgan smiled in self-deprecation. "Despite insisting I wasn't noble when it came to you, I, uh, hid your ring. I thought if you wore it, you wouldn’t listen to your parents and would make things worse. You always seemed angrier while wearing it, and I thought... I thought if I hid it, you'd hear what they had to say and then not return."
"Oh." Kal looked down at his hands. "Oh."
"Kal..."
"Thank you." Blue-green eyes met Morgan's, and Kal smiled tentatively. "You were right. Thank you."
A weight lifted from Morgan's chest, and he smiled. It wasn't that he'd ever doubted that he'd been right. Sending Kal away had always and obviously been the correct thing to do. But, ever since Kal had come back into his life, Morgan had been afraid that if Kal knew, he wouldn't' see it the same way. And then, not only would he leave, but he'd take Lex, and any intimate news of Lex, away as well.
Kal inhaled sharply suddenly and rose. His shoulders were back, eyes narrowed, and, even without changing into that ridiculous costume, he'd transformed into Superman in an instant.
"I have to go," he said, eyes far away.
Morgan rose as well. "What happened?"
"Explosion. Fire." He narrowed his eyes and then swore under his breath. "Fucking Lois is in it. Ten to one she set it to draw me out."
Morgan laughed softly and put his hand on Kal's shoulder. "What can you expect? You're irresistible, Kal."
Kal snorted and turned his head. "You'll be okay?"
"I'll be fine. Go."
Kal moved swiftly and his lips connected with Morgan before he realized what was happening. The kiss was soft and gentle and almost platonic. A part of Morgan melted, feeling as if he was home again.
Then, in the next instant, Kal was gone, and Morgan was left behind with the memory of what they'd shared.
The End
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 09:11 pm (UTC)I would love to see a sequel for LLAR. The characters and history in this AUverse are really compelling, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
Obviously, some of it's set up in here and it'd deal with the Lex/Morgan/Clark relationship (no, not a threesome; don't scream. Even I am not that squicky.:)
Thanks for that, I don't know if I could cope with the squick factor there.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-30 01:23 pm (UTC)Thank you! And, yeah, Morgan is tragic, isn't he? He let his boy go, only to have him turn right around and fall in love with his son. *sigh*
Thanks for that, I don't know if I could cope with the squick factor there.
Trust me, neither do I. ;)
Thanks for all your feedback and support!!
no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 11:28 pm (UTC)I also would love to read the sequel to LLAR, this characters and the universe are just too compelling not to want know what happens next but take your time, we will be waiting, :)
Now I'm off to re-read LLAR.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-30 05:36 pm (UTC)Wow, thank you. That's almost overwhelming praise. :)
I loved your characterisation of Clark, it's the way I see him on the show, reckless, occasionally petulant, makes very bad decisions, but in the end he's still able to rise above his mistakes and become Superman. You've definitely got a handle on his voice.
Clark was so fun to write in this. Because he is such a brat, but a very hurt brat who's also very lost. And it was fun kind of showing the before and after of it, and to know that, despite wanting to escape his destiny and leave it behind, he's able to grow up and accept responsiblity and become who he was meant to be.
I hope to write a sequel to LLAR soonish I want to start writing COTW 47, at least the first few scenes. The problem with getting to the sequel is I'm going to start working soon, so I don't kow how much tim I'll have. However, I've always been very good at taking ME time, and since I don't have (nor really want) much of a social life, I'm sure I'll be fine. :)'
Enjoy LLAR. And if you find any inconsistencies (really glaring ones, I mean) can you let me know? Thanks.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-30 02:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-30 05:37 pm (UTC)Thanks for the fb!!
no subject
Date: 2004-07-30 11:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-30 05:38 pm (UTC)Thank you! I'm really happy you enjoyed it. It's been so much fun to write, I know I'm going to be depressed when it's finally over.
I hope you enjoy re-reading LLAR. If you notice anythign that contradicts what I wrote in this fic, could you let me know? I'm gonig to try and reread the fic, too, but it always helps to have another set of eyes.
Thanks for the feedback!
"If I promise to leave, can I keep you?"
Date: 2004-07-30 09:13 pm (UTC)You'll want to look at two scenes of LLAR for inconsistencies. The first is after the monsoon, Lex and Clark are in bed at the Kents: Clark tells Lex that he had been dating Lana when he ran away (um, not sure about that one, actually), that it was Jonathan that came back to take him home, and that Clark/Kal told Morgan to stay away from him after he left.
Later, after their confrontation with Morgan, at the Fortress: Clark tells Lex that Morgan wanted to have sex with him, but respected Clark's refusal, and that Clark had only been with one other guy and wasn't earning money for sex before meeting Morgan.
But, I wasn't bothered by inconsistencies. I still think LLAR is a great story and works well with this one. By the way, I'd like to vote for "Clark Kent: Dot Dot Dot" for a title. When it comes time for the sequel it can be "Morgan Edge: Etc., Etc."
Re: "If I promise to leave, can I keep you?"
Date: 2004-07-30 11:24 pm (UTC)Yeah, me too. ;)
that it was Jonathan that came back to take him home, and that Clark/Kal told Morgan to stay away from him after he left.
I seriously might just change that in the orignal story and then make a note of it. I like the new version better.
I was aware of the other part, and I'm going to work around. Among other things, I really don't think that Clark woudl tell Lex everythign about his past (especially exactly how he and Morgan met) at least not when Lex was in that emotional sense.
Thanks so much!!
no subject
Date: 2004-07-30 12:44 pm (UTC)I think well written fic can divert from canon all it wants so long as the motivations are explained and described clearly, which I thought you did wonderfully.
Have you settled on a title for K/M yet? Personally, I kind of like the continuity of titling it some sort of variation on Clark Kent: _____ or even Kal-El: _______. It helps tie the two stories together.
I'm definitely looking forward to a sequel.
Off to read K/M...
no subject
Date: 2004-07-30 05:41 pm (UTC)Thank you so much! I think what's nice about Lex is he's such a *good* guy at heart. Good, but complicated, and he has all these facates that are fun to explore. I really like putting him in different situations, even more than I like putting Clark tehre. I mean, I love Clark, and I love writing AU's with Clark in them, but Lex is the really fun one to play with. I think it's because he's such a different (yet fundamentally the same) person when his life has diverted from what it is on the show. Clark doesn't seem to change all that much (although, he did for awhile in this fic [Kal/Morgan] which was why it was so much fun to write).
I haven't definitevely decided on a title yet. I'm still leaning towards Sympathy for the Devil or Nigh and Day, although you're right that Clark Kent: .... fits more with the first title. I really can't stand titles, though. Mine never flow easily.
Thanks for the fb and hope you like the Kal/Morgan fic!
no subject
Date: 2004-07-30 02:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-30 05:43 pm (UTC)It was *hard* to write. I'm not much for sadish endings, and even though it's not the worst (they're still a little more than friends, and they have a bond), it was still so hard. *sniff* I feel so badly for Morgan.
Enjoy rereading LLAR, and thanks so much for all the feedback!
I'm totally blown away
Date: 2004-08-17 11:53 pm (UTC)Morgan's POV of thought was wrenching and so clear. I love this man.
I'm still tearing up. I'm such a mush.
Thank you for such a beautiful, dark and exhilarating ride. This is going to remain one of my favorite stories always.
**hugs**
Re: I'm totally blown away
Date: 2004-08-18 11:41 am (UTC)And the strange thing is, I trust Morgan more than Lois any day, even with his lingering feelings for his precious boy. He loves both Clark and Lex so much, he'd never do anything to hurt them. Lois, while she does love Lex, if he gets in her way, she'll hve to sacrifice him.
Morgan's POV of thought was wrenching and so clear. I love this man.
Thank you. I love him too.
Thanks for all your support and feedback in the creation of this story. It helped a lot. *hugs*