slayers_desire | a different experience with the future

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Entry tags:

clark,
destiny

a different experience with the future

Normally, April is granted glimpses into her future, or the future of people she cares about. And when that happens she often feels drained and tired. Today a totally different experience with the future occurred, when she talked with an older red-kryptonite influenced Clark.

The initial contact and a possessive kiss had fueled her Beast. Then after using green kryptonite to null the red, April had learned more about Clark's future.

Including things she has to tell his younger self.

Even if it wasn't a vision, April feels drained all the same. And so draws herself a bath and slips into the warm, relaxing bubbles. If older-Clark was right, then his younger self should still be contactable. She just needs to figure out the right way to explain what she saw, what happened and how to not say certain things about his future.

Using her PINpoint, she calls her Clark. And there is a moment of pure anticipation as it rings.

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Oh.

No wonder she's clinging to him like he's going to disappear. "I'm not going anywhere," he says firmly. He doesn't know quite how Nexus time works, or if something like that could happen, but he refuses to accept it as a possibility.

"Speaking of my future self..." He's not quite sure how to ask. Nothing like this has ever happened to him before.

"Future-you told me that I would still be in your life. But sometimes it takes proof to ease the worries."

The message she needs to deliver is quite serious. So she will guide him away from the door and to sit on the couch. "Future-you says to trust Jor-El and obey what he says. You have misinterpeted what he wanted. And the simulation used force because of the resistence."

Whatever Clark had been expecting to hear, this is not it. "What?" He can't believe what he's hearing. "No, this is... you're sure he wasn't still Kal?"

"I saw the red bleed out of him. It was you. Future-you."

"He wanted to tell you this, to prevent a very bad future he saw."

This goes against everything he's ever been taught. He can't just stay sitting there, and he gets up to pace. "I... that doesn't make any sense. Maybe you heard him wrong." He can't think of any possible way that could be misinterpreted, but he's rather desperate to find some proof that giving in to Jor-El is some kind of trick. Or at least one hell of a mistake.

"There are going to be more Kryptonites appearing on Earth in your future, Clark. One in particular, named Zod, I have seen in your future before. Red-kyptonite you was working with Zod, and wanted to be the new leader of Earth."

"But Zod also appeared in the vision future-you had. And I am assuming that Zor-El is trying to prepare you to face this enemy."

"I could show you the vision that future-you was trying to prevent."

Clark's emotions are a turbulent mess. More Kryptonians? He's never met another one of his kind before. Didn't think there were any left. He wants so badly to meet them, but...

It sounds like a terrible idea, if this Zod guy is an enemy. And he doesn't know anything about the others. Once again, he wonders if he's the only decent member of the species.

He hesitates. This is a lot to deal with at once. "You can do that?"

((Your typo amuses me. There actually is a Zor-El; he's Clark's uncle.))

"I can. It is very difficult, but doable."

((I deny any typos. ;-> )

He still isn't quite sure, and he looks at her uncertainly. "Is it really bad?"

"Zod appeared as a tyrannical leader. With other Kryptonians as masters over the humans. The humans were in cages. Treated like slaves and trading goods for their basic needs."

"You... had your powers drained."

He can't tell which part horrifies him more, and for a long moment he can't even speak. He doesn't want to see. But something tells him he might have to.

"...show me."

"Please sit." April knows that standing would just result in falling after the vision is transferred.

She first concentrates on the vision flashes she received from future-Clark, and using her abilities to tune to the whole vision. Then by placing her hands on Clark's temple, she makes contact with his mind, and starts to show him the vision.

Her going into his mind will feel very intimate, for with a mere jolt she could access his most private thoughts and fears. And he has the same connection to her mind. The vision will flicker like a film at first... but then it becomes very real. Like they are there.

The vision is a long and bloody exercise in human fortitude. His own farm turned into a prison camp, Chloe leading a team of assassins packing kryptonite weapons, Zod setting up camp in the Luthor mansion. The red sun beating down on him, none of the life-giving energy of the yellow sun entering his body. Being dragged through the streets by Zod, so badly injured he can't even stand.

And finally, the energy field's collapse, revealing the yellow sun just in time for Zod to run him through with a glowing green blade. Twisting it, eviscerating him even as the yellow sunlight fruitlessly tries to energize him.

As it is like most of her visions, this one makes April like she is standing right there. Helpless to stop a thing. She jolts at the death of Clark in her vision and sobs.

With the vision delivered, she was ease out of his mind. Knowing that the vision would not have been kinder for Clark.

"This is what your future-self had seen."

Clark isn't even aware that he's been crying, face streaked with tear tracks. "Oh my God." It's one thing to hear about it. It's another thing altogether to watch it happen. To see yourself mortally wounded in the most brutal way possible.

Moving to hold him in her arms, April strokes his hair and comforts him. It is never pleasant to see a version of your own death.

"You can prevent it now." She whispers. "Future-you said it was only a possible outcome, but could be prevented."

He doesn't even realize he's being held for a minute, he's so deep in shock. "I..." He doesn't even know what he wants to say.

He tries a few times to say something, but nothing comes out. The only time he's ever felt this nauseated is when he drank liquid kryptonite days ago.

Clark doesn't have to say anything. April will just hold him. Comfort him. Be there for him. She understands this kind of shock. Has experienced it herself before.

He finally finds his voice. "How far in the future is that?"

"Future-Clark definitely had a few years on you. And he said it was a vision of something one year later, when he received it."

"I would say... five maybe seven years?" It was tough to estimate. April never asked Future-Clark his age.

Today has gone downhill in a hurry. "That's not a lot of time to change things."

Much as he dreads the answer, he has to ask. "My... future self... did he say anything else?"

"You future-self had a year, and mentioned that things had changed. He had hoped that with more time, you could change more. He believed in you." April uses her sleeve to wipe his face. "I believe in you."

She can't tell him about his Earth dad.

"You mentioned a Tess, and a destroyed lab where someone was experimenting with kryptonite. That was where you breathed in the red kryptonite. And that you had a Watchtower. And that Chloe's kryptonite arsenal was the only thing that would saved the world from Zod and the Kandorians."

"And I was still a good influence in your life."

"Chloe had a what? Kryptonite arsenal?" The fact that she apparently knows his weakness and his secret is alarming, to say the least.

"Under the red Kryptonite influence, you had mentioned that it had been a betrayal of Chloe and Oliver."

"I got the impression that both people were working with you in the Watchtower you mentioned."

He's beyond confused. He's never heard of Watchtower and he has no idea who Oliver is. Or Tess. Sure, he'll find out sooner or later, but right now he's in the dark.

"...I hate to think I get cryptic in the future."

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