Friends
Written by Amazonia V
Chapter 23:
Superman watched the family scene bemusedly. His siblings obviously loved him. His sisters sat on either side of him, as they chattered incessantly. Lara, his mother, served him his 'favorite' food, grilled Lanzanian bird meat with sautéed rinions and piped tubers.
Tasting it, Superman thought that it was similar to the meal Ma Kent often prepared for him, back on the Kent farm, grilled turkey with sautéed onions and mashed potatoes.
He felt very much at home here on Krypton.
He had no super-powers here under the red sun, but moving over the planet was an easy task. It was only a few weeks ago that his brother Kor-El had commandeered a mini-rocket and together, they had zoomed across the surface of the planet.
Superman had asked what he had hoped were subtle questions as they went along, trying to learn as much as he could without revealing that what he knew of Krypton was unlike what he was seeing now.
Last evening's meeting with the Council had gone well. His plans had been unanimously accepted. His father Jor-El had been full of praise after the meeting. Superman's heart had warmed. He had unconsciously yearned to hear his natural father's praise. The Kents had always been supportive, but the warmth and affection and pride his natural parents displayed in his abilities and accomplishments was something else.
He listened now to the banter of his siblings around him. Zal and Nom were arguing about whether they were ready to deposit their life essence in the birthing matrices. Their mother, Lara, frowned at them, before saying, "You need to first pass the Kryptonian citizenship test of maturity before you do that. Only Kal and Kor may make their deposits."
"And so can we," chorused Superman's twin sisters.
"I know that you've already done so," smiled Lara at them.
As Superman joined in the conversation, he realized that he was able to speak Kryptonian for the first time, freely. His heart swelled. He was home.
Later that evening as Superman retired to his bed chamber to rest, he realized he was not alone. Green Lantern stood against the wall, arms folded across his chest, looking at him with concern.
"Hello, Hal."
"Superman. You need to return with me," responded Green Lantern.
"Need? So says the man who deserted us to enjoy Ahprodite's charms."
"I did not. I simply created a power ring double of me to make love to her, while I searched the Universe and Time for all of you."
Green Lantern remembered how he had watched Aphrodite open her robe, baring her body, making him want her despite all the reasons to stay away. Sparks of heat had worked through him as Aphrodite had threaded her fingers through his hair and pulled his head down closer to kiss him, her tongue moving in time with his, her breasts pressed against his chest. She had moaned softly against his mouth and all he had thought of then was how good she felt in his hands, just the way a woman should feel, soft warmth instead of sharp bones and harsh angles.
But even as this sudden and extreme passion for her threatened to take over everything else, he knew he needed to think quickly to escape from Aphrodite's too willing hands and ways.
How he'd fought against the seduction of taking just one more kiss. He'd had to use all his will power to prevent himself flinging her onto the bed, sliding against her, into her, until they were both completely lost in each other's skin, and sweat, and sex, the nightmare of Timor forgotten for a few blessed seconds.
He had quickly made an excuse to use the bathroom, then willed himself to create a power ring duplicate to take his place with Aphrodite.
Now, Green Lantern quickly brought Superman up to date. He told him about Fanci Webb and Black Star and the battle they had fought. Looking at Superman he said, "You do know that this is all an illusion? You need only to allow yourself to feel and overcome the feelings this new scenario has created within you. And only you can make the choice to return to reality."
Superman felt cheated. Who was Green Lantern to make him choose? He wanted to be with his parents and family. Why, tomorrow, he and his brothers were going to the bar at the end of the universe. Kor had promised Kal that if he went incognito, without his President's cavalcade, there would be some pretty Venusians to pick up. Superman was looking forward to that.
Green Lantern watched the play of emotion on Superman's face. Morpheus was good at his job, he decided. Then, his face lit up. He willed his power ring to show a visual of Ares and Diana. As the power ring threw up a screen, the images flashed on it.
The scene inside was not what he'd expected.
Ares was standing close to Diana, who had turned away from him. As Superman and Green Lantern watched, Ares reached out, touching her hair where it lay loose about her shoulders. He caught up a handful of the soft strands and tugged her closer, not cruelly but hard enough so that she didn't fight him.
"Let me go," said Diana icily.
"Why? Aren't you curious? I'm a much better lover than anyone you know. You might enjoy having a skilled lover in your bed for a change."
Diana's first impulse was to deny it. But this was Ares, and she needed to use caution in her dealings with him. She contented herself with "If I wanted another man I wouldn't choose a lustful liar who thinks only of war."
He ignored her; his voice dropped seductively. "Diana, soon, you will be mine. You deserve the best."
"And you are the best?" she mocked.
"Oh yes. I am."
His arrogance knew no bounds and he pulled her closer to his body so that they were clasped in each other's arms. Ares brushed the pulse in her throat with his fingers, pausing briefly, before running his hand downward over the metallic bodice.
"Let me show you what you're missing," he rasped.
But Ares had misjudged Diana of Themyscira.
The flat of her hand struck his cheek, hard enough to sting. Using the element of surprise, she flipped him over her head so that he landed on his back behind her.
Just for a moment Green Lantern forgot where he was or why he was there. And then he heard the shocked silence behind him turn into a roar as Superman stood before him in full uniform, his eyes glowing red.
The room around them changed rapidly, too rapidly, for them to note. The scene vanished from his power ring as Green Lantern and Superman were pulled into a vortex of churning objects, blinking colours and flashing lights.
On the island of Themyscira, Queen Mother Hippolyta was playing with her grand-children. Hugging them to her, kissing them, till little Aric got annoyed. "Respected mother," he said, "stop kissing me. Kissing is for girls."
"Ah, child, I don't know how long we have together."
"Playing with infants is not what an Amazon, much less an Amazon queen does," came a new voice.
Hippolyta looked up to see Hermes standing before her. Surprised, she rose from her seat in the gardens of her palace, and gestured to the children's nursemaids, who ushered them away quickly.
"Athena sends me to you, Queen Hippolyta. Or should I say, γιαγιά Hippolyta? No matter, I need the warrior Hippolyta, who once fought and overcame the enemies of the gods."
Hippolyta sighed. "What does Athena command of me?"
"Athena sends you a message. Your daughter has prevailed. The mists of time recede, as the Universe restores itself. Athena now rules Olympus, with Zeus as her Counselor. Already Chronos has been chained by Hephaestus in Tartarus, with Chaos and Aether. And the Aeropagus has cosigned Ares there too. Your guardswomen must guard well the doors of Tartarus."
Hippolyta smiled. "I hear and I obey."