The House of the Earth Part 3: (1/8): A Real Boy

[mithen]

Title: Chapter One:  A Real Boy
Pairing/Characters: Kal/Bruce, Kara, Zhon, Selina
Notes: "The House of the Earth" is an AU in which a few thousand Kryptonians escaped the destruction of Krypton to flee to Earth and enslave its people.
Rating: G
Word Count: 940
Summary: Kal leaves what used to be Gotham on his trip across the country with Bruce.

Dawn was just starting to gray the skies as Kal and Bruce made their way toward the southern bridge where they'd be meeting Zhon and Kara.  Kal pushed at his glasses nervously--they seemed to keep sliding down his nose.  Clark.  I'm Clark now, he reminded himself.  I'm a human slave named Clark, son of Jonathan and Martha of the Smallville Plantation.  On my way to see my folks after a decade apprenticed to learn metalworking from  John Henry in Metropolis.

He didn't feel like Clark, was the problem.  He felt like Kal dressed up like a human.  He wanted to be Clark, but he didn't know who Clark was.

He glanced over at Bruce, then felt a shock when he realized he could glance over at Bruce, that the other man wasn't following behind him as a slave was obliged to do.

"What are you smiling about?"  Bruce's tone belied his words;  it was oddly bouyant.

"I'm just...happy," Kal said.

"You're not going to make a very effective slave if you're grinning like that all the time."  Bruce pondered a moment.  "Though you may be able to convince people you're a half-wit."

Somehow this just seemed to make Kal's smile grow wider.  "That might work."

Bruce made a huffing noise but didn't seem to lose the lightness to his steps either.

Zhon and Kara were standing in front of a large flatbed truck loaded with large and small boxes.  The base of the old human bridge loomed above them, massive metal girders and stone blocks.  They were deep in conversation as Bruce and Kal drew near.  As Kal watched, Zhon gestured vehemently to make a point and Kara put out a calming hand, then let it drop before she actually touched him.

The realization broke in on him like a flash:  They're in love.  As the pair turned to greet them, Kal wondered why he hadn't been able to see it before:  the hesitancy, the yearning, the constraint and affection.  It had always been there, but it had never dawned on him until now.  Yet now it seemed something he could see easily. 

He wondered what had changed in himself to give him that kind of insight.

Zhon was holding something out.  "The finishing touch," he said wryly.  In his hands was a silver circlet.  A slave collar.

Kal took it from him and turned it over in his hands, opening it.  Then he handed it to Bruce.  "Would you?"

Bruce stared at him a moment, then took the collar from him slowly, not breaking his gaze.  He placed the collar on Kal's neck, then paused.  "I can't close it," he said.

Kal grimaced.  He reached up and put his hands on Bruce's, adding his strength until the slave collar clicked shut.  "There," he said.

The metal was cold on his skin;  Bruce's hands were warm.  "Kal," Bruce said.

He smiled.  "Nice to meet you.  I'm Clark."

Bruce didn't return his smile, just looked at him a while longer before he dropped his hands.  "Let's get going."

As they opened the doors to the truck, there was a sudden movement in the girders of the bridge above them, then a thump upon the hood of the truck as Selina landed solidly on the metal.

"Well well," she said as everyone froze.  "What have we here?"  She took in Kal's clothing and collar, and her eyes narrowed.  "I heard you were leaving town, so I came to say goodbye."  Her green-dusted whip grated lightly along the hood.  "You really think putting on some glasses and a collar will make you a real boy, Pinocchio?"

Kal couldn't help but smile slightly, remembering the stories Alfred had told them both.  "Does that make Bruce Jiminy Cricket?"

"Perhaps."  Selina's lips curved as well, a smile with no humor in it.  "But be careful, Bruce.  In the original, Pinocchio kills the cricket."

"Enough."  Zhon's voice cut in as Kal's smile vanished.  "Why are you here, Selina?"

Selina pirouetted on the roof of the car.  "To wish you luck on your trip?  Or perhaps to congratulate Kal on his impending nuptials?"  She smiled again, razor-sharp.  "News travels fast that the little prince is to be wed to an Amazon princess.  A fairy-tale wedding!"  She clasped her hands in a parody of girlishness.  "I do hope I'm invited."

"Selina," Kal said.

She dropped her hands and looked at him closely, the mock-coquettishness falling away.  "The collar looks good on you."  With a backspring and flip she disappeared into the rusting steel girders of the bridge.  "It makes you look almost human," her voice floated back down.

Bruce stared after her.  "Is Luthor going to be a problem?"

Zhon shook his head.  "I do not think so." 

Bruce cast him a slantwise look and nodded.

Kara sighed, her eyes troubled.  "I'll cover for you while you're gone, tell my parents I've heard from you."  She pulled Kal into a hug.  "Safe travels, cousin."  Zhon bowed as they got into the truck, echoing her.

Bruce started the engine and the truck moved forward, pivoting around to move onto the road and then the bridge.  Morning fog lifted from the bay and shrouded the crumbling stone and steel. 

"Almost human," Kal muttered to himself, and Bruce glanced at him, his face unreadable.

As they reached the middle of the bridge, the sun lifted over the horizon, light gilding the fog, turning the very air around them into a blaze of glory.

"Say goodbye to Gotham, Clark," said Bruce as they reached the other shore, moving west with the sun, away from the El plantation.

"Hello," Kal whispered, looking west out the window.

Comments

[fictionalknight.livejournal.com]

I can't tell you how happy I was to see this when I refreshed my f-list. Totally made my evening. :) (I wish I had the energy to give you comments worthy of being called feedback... I'll come back for it, I promise! But I had to say how really happy it made me to see this - better than pain meds, this stuff!)

[mithen.livejournal.com]

Charlotte! *giggles* I love that name.

*hugs* I'm glad I could lighten your day a bit!

ETA: Gmail is down (AUGH!), so I can't email you to say thank you so much for the gift certificate! So I shall say it here just in case Gmail stays kaput. You made my day, and it did need some making! *hugs*

[fictionalknight.livejournal.com]

Charlotte! *giggles* I love that name.

hehehe! I'm glad you approve. I seriously like it better than my own name, so... why not! XD

You totally brightened my day with this! I often end up running to something you wrote when I'm down, but new stuff is what works the best, so this was a godsend. :D (and yay for GMail working again, but *hugs* anyway)

Onto some actual FDK, now that I actually feel human again ('bout time!)


"You're not going to make a very effective slave if you're grinning like that all the time." Bruce pondered a moment. "Though you may be able to convince people you're a half-wit."

I laughed soooo much at this. It's endearing in a way, and also it made me think of movieverse!Clark because he always looks so darn happy... Or at least, that's how I remember him. ;)

The realization broke in on him like a flash: They're in love. As the pair turned to greet them, Kal wondered why he hadn't been able to see it before: the hesitancy, the yearning, the constraint and affection. It had always been there, but it had never dawned on him until now. Yet now it seemed something he could see easily.

Heeee!! :) I hadn't realized they were either, it was a nice surprise. And as for Kal now seeing it, well... ahem... "takes one to know one" I suppose? Maybe that'll hit him soon, too. (and *squee*!)

Kal couldn't help but smile slightly, remembering the stories Alfred had told them both. "Does that make Bruce Jiminy Cricket?"

/dies! I'm not sure if my memory of the Disney movie is very good, but from what I remember, Jiminy Cricket is a cheerful, positive, optimist character. That is SO not Bruce, no matter what incarnation of him you're looking at. That made the line so very amusing. XD

"Say goodbye to Gotham, Clark," said Bruce as they reached the other shore, moving west with the sun, away from the El plantation.

"Hello," Kal whispered, looking west out the window.

I loved this! :) As if he doesn't want to say goodbye, so he's saying hello to the "new world" they're traveling to instead. That's so simple but so Clark... and awww. :) I love it! :happy sigh:

Have I mentioned how much I love this AU? I'm really looking forward to the next part. ...maybe I'll go read the beginning again, once my boss stops asking me to check things for her this evening. ;)

[mithen.livejournal.com]

I laughed soooo much at this. It's endearing in a way, and also it made me think of movieverse!Clark because he always looks so darn happy... Or at least, that's how I remember him. ;)

Bruce insulting Kal becomes a constant theme in this arc, somehow! I started to feel a bit bad about it, but at the same time it's a symbol of the fact that they're a little freed of their roles here, and the relief he (and Kal!) feels at that.

Heeee!! :) I hadn't realized they were either, it was a nice surprise. And as for Kal now seeing it, well... ahem... "takes one to know one" I suppose? Maybe that'll hit him soon, too. (and *squee*!)

Kara and J'onn just flatly refused to say anything overt, I ran out of ways to cajole them, lol. And I definitely agree about the new insight coming from a personal change as well. :)

I'm not sure if my memory of the Disney movie is very good, but from what I remember, Jiminy Cricket is a cheerful, positive, optimist character. That is SO not Bruce, no matter what incarnation of him you're looking at.

The only part that fits is the hectoring, but Jiminy always did it cheerfully, lol. Bruce is...not quite that style, no. Better than the Blue Fairy, though. :D

I loved this! :) As if he doesn't want to say goodbye, so he's saying hello to the "new world" they're traveling to instead. That's so simple but so Clark... and awww. :)

Kal is so desperate to see Earth, without even really being aware what it is he wants...I found it very endearing to write. Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback, Caro! *hugs*

[bradygirl_12]

Intriguing start! I like the title of this arc. :)

Kal is going to learn so much! And I look forward to seeing Jonathan and Martha. :)

[mithen.livejournal.com]

Hm, I actually don't have a title for this arc! I have no idea why I only title the chapters (other than it might get too unwieldy for me mentally to have a series, arc, AND chapter titles--but when I write MotS I have the series and arc titled but not the chapters...)

Uh, sorry, I'm making my head hurt and have wandered off on a tangent. :)

Jonathan and Martha! *grins* I don't write them often enough, they were fun to have here...

[rjunkie.livejournal.com]

Ooh, you've got me hooked. Hello, indeed.

And I didn't know that Pinocchio killed the cricket in the original. I'm not so sure I wanted to know that.

[lilacs-roses.livejournal.com]

Disney ... 'tweaks' a lot of things.

[rjunkie.livejournal.com]

To put it lightly.

I'm pretty familiar with the original versions of the rest of the fairytales made into Disney movies, but for some reason I never looked into Pinocchio.

Damn Disney...just can't give it to me straight.

[mithen.livejournal.com]

And I didn't know that Pinocchio killed the cricket in the original. I'm not so sure I wanted to know that.

Yeah, in the original he's unnamed, and when he nags Pinocchio too much Pinocchio hits him...then his little cricket ghost follows him around the rest of the book. @_@ The original, from what I've seen, is a lot more pedantic/moralistic and a lot less fun. :)

[lilacs-roses.livejournal.com]

Haven't read yet; I tried accessing the 'House of the Earth' you referenced but the link isn't working. Is there any way you can give the people who aren't familiar with that work, some type of summary so we have a better understanding of where this is coming from?

Thanks :)

[liarashadowsong.livejournal.com]

The link you want is http://jij.livejournal.com/252070.html ... she changed the name of her old journal a while back, and seems to have forgotten to update the link she provided. Hope that helps.

[lilacs-roses.livejournal.com]

Thanks much :)

[mithen.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *hugs* I cannot seem to remember that cutting and pasting those older links is not going to work, lol. *facepalm*

[liarashadowsong.livejournal.com]

*giggle* Happy to help! (and here is a Marvel Steve/Tony icon, because I currently lack a Clark/Bruce one) ^_^

[mithen.livejournal.com]

Someone has responded faster than me! But thanks for the reminder to fix the link...I always forget the links are wonky when I cut and paste them. :P My bad!

In short: Kryptonians invaded Earth 20 years ago, Kal owns Bruce but they're both secretly working for the resistance. LOL, once I start getting longer than that I get very bogged down in details, alas!

[liarashadowsong.livejournal.com]

Hm... this looks to be a very interesting arc. I'm looking forward to see Kal try to be Clark for the first time in this AU.

*shudders* Did not like that particular detail of the original version of Pinocchio when I first heard of it, still don't for that matter. I am, however, rather fond of your Selina, even though she pointed out that little detail and such. Actually, I'm rather fond of most of your protagonists, especially Kal, Bruce, and Kara.

*giggle* And now I want to see Martha and Jonathan! ^_^

[mithen.livejournal.com]

Hm... this looks to be a very interesting arc. I'm looking forward to see Kal try to be Clark for the first time in this AU.

I was getting so frustrated with him in the last arc, constantly feeling like some part of him was missing...and realized that especially in this world there has to be some way/time for him to be Clark, at least a little. So...road trip! :)

I love writing this Selina so much. In fact, I've especially loved writing all the women of this world for some reason (I've written a couple of Diana scenes but I don't know if they'll be in this arc or the next one). I'm delighted you like her too, it's always good to hear I'm not too far off from canon.

[liarashadowsong.livejournal.com]

I think I know what you mean - to a much lesser degree since I was only reading and not writing, but still... It was like "this is a great story, but there's something missing". And that something was Kal being Clark. It's funny; I didn't get that vibe from "From This Day Forward" or any of it's sequels (maybe because it actually took place on Krypton and we got Brucie?).

Selina is awesome. I'm looking forward to seeing those Diana scenes, whenever they do show up.

[mithen.livejournal.com]

It's funny, I was thinking the same thing about the arranged-marriage AU! Clark doesn't seem as necessary there. I think part of it is not so much the lack of a "human side" (although it is that), but the lack of a hero side. They kind of go together here, he can't become a champion for Earth until he knows Earth and its people better, while he could be a champion for Krypton in the AU because he knew its people.

(I've obviously been thinking about this quite a bit, lol!)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_steelphoenix_/]

Yay! More House of the Earth!

I really wonder how much of an insight Kal/Clark is going to get into 'being human', and that which they put up with. He's sensitive to this kind of thing already; I don't know how he'll react to the reality, namely being on the receiving end. I'm very interested to see how this goes.

[mithen.livejournal.com]

I really wonder how much of an insight Kal/Clark is going to get into 'being human', and that which they put up with.

I know in a real sense he can't understand what it's like to be a slave--it would be like putting on a blindfold and saying "Hey, I know what it's like to be blind!" The ability to stop the pretense at any time makes it useless in a practical sense...but I do think he'll learn about Earth, humans, and himself, and the connections between them (if I can do it! *crosses fingers*)

I've wanted to write a road trip story for ages, and it's a bit hard when one character owns various jets and the other can fly, and neither is likely to be willing to take a few days off to tool around the country. :)

*runs off to polish part 2*

[bradygirl_12]

That's true, he will never really be a slave, but he'll learn what it's like, and that will be valuable going forward. :)

[mithen.livejournal.com]

Just seeing the world and the people in it should be useful for getting him to the "hero" instead of just "good person" stage, I hope...

[zenithjolt.livejournal.com]

Yey!! Aw, this was fantastic! Kara and Zhon in love was a great addition ^_^ So happy that this series is back, can't wait for part two!

I love how Kal was trying to figure out Clark and get into character, and settling on a cute opposite of Kal --"Though you may be able to convince people you're a half-wit."

Somehow this just seemed to make Kal's smile grow wider. "That might work."--

Update soon! This was a Wonderful start! :D

[mithen.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it! I've known Kara and Zhon were an item for a while now, but they were unwilling to do anything that would give them away, lol. I had to finally tell Kal to just notice it...

I had a lot of fun with Kal trying to be Clark in this arc! And there will be an update pretty soon! Thanks so much for reading and commenting...

[starsandsea.livejournal.com]

Yay!!! THOTE!!!!! :D

He didn't feel like Clark, was the problem. He felt like Kal dressed up like a human. He wanted to be Clark, but he didn't know who Clark was.

*pets him*

"Though you may be able to convince people you're a half-wit."

Somehow this just seemed to make Kal's smile grow wider. "That might work."

*pets him again*

The realization broke in on him like a flash: They're in love. As the pair turned to greet them, Kal wondered why he hadn't been able to see it before: the hesitancy, the yearning, the constraint and affection. It had always been there, but it had never dawned on him until now. Yet now it seemed something he could see easily.

Don't worry Kal, I'm as clueless as you are! :p

Kal grimaced. He reached up and put his hands on Bruce's, adding his strength until the slave collar clicked shut. "There," he said.

Oooh, I loved Bruce putting the collar on Kal.

"It makes you look almost human," her voice floated back down.

Ouch.

Bruce stared after her. "Is Luthor going to be a problem?"

Zhon shook his head. "I do not think so."

Why do I get the impression they're underestimating him?

"Hello," Kal whispered, looking west out the window.

*pets Kal again*

*dances* Yay!! I can't wait to see more! :D

[mithen.livejournal.com]

Don't worry Kal, I'm as clueless as you are! :p

*grin* I gave up trying to get them to be affectionate or tell Kal directly or anything! They just were not going to do it...

Oooh, I loved Bruce putting the collar on Kal.

That was my favorite detail of this chapter as well, actually!

Why do I get the impression they're underestimating him?

Well, he's not going to be a problem about this road trip specifically. The larger picture...oh yes. :)

Glad you liked it! *chews fingers nervously* There should be more up soon!

[senmut]

Oh so beautiful.

And love? *surprised and pleased*

Loved Selina...

[mithen.livejournal.com]

*grin* Kara and J'onn have been in love the whole darn series, but they simply refused to do anything overt enough to be noticed. I finally had to tell Kal to just catch a clue, damnit. I would love to write a side story about how they met sometime...

[batfan-sarah.livejournal.com]

yaaaaaay!!!

i've been so looking forward to the continuation of this story! :D

i also finished reading "from this day forward" which was lovely, and i was having a great time reading about the kids at the end!

but yeah, i love the house of earth series so very much, so i'm wicked excited to be seeing more.

can't wait for the next installment!!!

[mithen.livejournal.com]

I loved hinting at the kids in the future! I have no idea how they quite work out, but it's fun to imagine.

I'm hoping this next arc goes well--I've been having a lot of fun writing it (I'm almost done the last chapter!) and I hope you enjoy it! *hugs*

[arch-schatten.livejournal.com]

I love the morning air here. It's.. so permeating and real, the excitement and anxiety of an early morning before a trip. I loved that! And Gotham in the morning light, the plantation all foggy and bathed in gold... so pretty! I really liked the ambiance in this chapter!

As the pair turned to greet them, Kal wondered why he hadn't been able to see it before: the hesitancy, the yearning, the constraint and affection. It had always been there, but it had never dawned on him until now. Yet now it seemed something he could see easily.


Aww yessss, J'onn/Kara! wohoo! I love reading J'onn in love. It's.. I dunno. It makes me so happy! and I really love how Kal can see it now more clearly, how he's.. maturing in some ways, getting more in contact with the human emotional spectrum. I mean.. Kryptonian society is different in a lot of ways, so I'm gonna guess Kryptonian romance -if there is such a thing- might be.. slightly different? and anyway, Kal grew up off planet, so that's even.. more different!

Kal grimaced. He reached up and put his hands on Bruce's, adding his strength until the slave collar clicked shut. "There," he said.

The metal was cold on his skin; Bruce's hands were warm. "Kal," Bruce said.

He smiled. "Nice to meet you. I'm Clark."

Bruce didn't return his smile, just looked at him a while longer before he dropped his hands. "Let's get going."


That is one long quote but my brain went all white static there! This.. should not be sweet! this is.. not. not. Shhhkkkkkshhhhkkkkshhh. Lol, this scene is awesome! I bet Bruce is also suffering from mind static. Everything he hates, and Kal is so happy to share it with him, because it makes him human, and it is wrong, and skkkkkkkkhhhhhshhhhkkkk.

I'm really looking forward to this arc! yay! Go boys! Hang in there, Bruce! Don't give up, Clark! wohoo!

[mithen.livejournal.com]

It's.. so permeating and real, the excitement and anxiety of an early morning before a trip. I loved that! And Gotham in the morning light, the plantation all foggy and bathed in gold... so pretty!

It's interesting...for some reason (maybe because I have to write this series so much more with my head than my heart) I'm a lot more aware of where I'm getting my inspiration for certain scenes! This one was driving to the airport early in the morning in Maine, heading out on some trip somewhere, and the mist rising up everywhere...yeah! The next chapter has a scene adapted from The Hobbit, lol, and Chapter Seven a sequence swiped from an old novel about the Soviet Union invading America! I don't really realize where the images are coming from until I'm in the middle of writing them...

Everything he hates, and Kal is so happy to share it with him, because it makes him human, and it is wrong, and skkkkkkkkhhhhhshhhhkkkk.

Haaaa, I'm glad I wasn't the only one who got all staticy about that! I actually debated whether it was kind of weirdly wrong to have that be an intimate sort of moment, but I couldn't resist! My Bruce muse was not pleased with me for that, lol...

*hugs* Thank you so much for commenting! It's always so cool to know what works for you...

[saavikam77.livejournal.com]

Awww... Such a poignant moment at the end.

I do love Selina's attitude, of course. They all probably needed the reminder that this won't be easy.

And Kal as half-wit Clark. XD Too perfect.

*applauds*

[mithen.livejournal.com]

I do love Selina's attitude, of course. They all probably needed the reminder that this won't be easy.

Selina is very handy in this world as the reality-check "Hello, don't get relaxed" sort of character. *hugs Selina very carefully* I'm finding her oddly easy to write in this universe, so I'm really glad you like her!