Jeremiah Narrates a New Beginning

 Jeremiah Danvers Narrates a New Beginning

Nikita and I were together, alone but together for more than a week. The alien would come, feed us, ask us a few rather simple questions and then leave. I was having trouble making heads or tales of him. “My guess is if he wanted us dead we'd be dead right now, so what's his story?”

“I don't know. He's a GREEN Martian.” She said definitively. “If he's lived his life as alone as I have he's lived it for at least 3 times as long. He's forgotten how to trust people, especially humans. Other aliens wouldn't be as hard.”

“That I can understand.” I said glumly.

Three days later the alien came to take me away. He grabbed me by the arm and started to literally drag me out of the room. “No leave him alone!” Nikita cried out.

“You want to die instead?” The man asked her in a threatening voice.

Nikita's voice was low but distinct. “Yes, I do.”

"I cannot believe you are actually going to kill him; I do not see this in you. 'Discerner of the motivations and intentions of the heart' is a name for my people. But if you were going to kill one of us, I'd rather it be me than him. If for no other reason than that would make sense!” She turned to look at me. “And obviously there is another reason. Listen I am quite familiar with how ignorant humans can be, especially when they're scared. But I'd think if you were angry at either of us it would be a freak of nature like me, not quite literally the best human I have ever known!”

By this time the alien had released me from his grip and was starring at Nikita with something stronger than curiosity. A sentiment I shared with him. But Nikita wasn't finished. “I seriously cannot understand why you hate him. Hate is reserved for Whites and for the worst of humans. Hank would fit in among White Martians. My word for him translates as 'ignorant, arrogant asshole'. But Whites are...something else. They are Crishnaka-Sareth. Or near enough.”

“You've lived under the Whites?” The alien said in a voice of which I could make nothing.

“I've lived under Hank Henshaw; for more than 15 years. He scared the hell out of me. And if I wasn't so busy being scared of him I'd have laughed in his face. You confuse the hell out of me. And if I wasn't so busy being confused by you, I'd weep for you.” Her voice took on an exasperated edge. “Is there literally any thing else that needs saying?!” Answering her own question, she sat down, tucked her feet behind her and looked away from us.

I looked over at the man, trying to judge if her outburst had hit home. It clearly had done: He was staring with wide, sad eyes. Staring at me. “I was wrong about you. And I'm sorry.”

That's when I finally realized. “You thought I was...her keeper?”

“I thought she was Enkaren and you were keeping her calm and under control.”

“Demios Pah, Tor-ek Nitch-a.”

“WHAT?!” I exclaimed. “Nikita, what the hell was that?”

“She says I've dishonored the name of my ancestor. And she's not wrong.”

“Stop it!” Nikita cried out. The alien stopped in his tracks. He turned to Nikita. “He's done nothing to deserve this. I would think if anything you'd be after me.”

“Are you saying you'd rather die instead?”

“...Yes.” Nikita answered her voice low but distinct. “I would rather be killed than let him die. I'd think if you'd be angry at either of us it would be a freak of nature like me. Not quite literally the best human I have ever known. So if nothing else that would make sense!”

The outburst must have hit home; the alien released me instantly. “There was no need for any of this Sajen. There never was, was there?”

“I...I misread the situation.” The alien said as if he were a schoolboy getting dressed down for misbehaving. A feeling that would only deepen as the conversation continued.

“And that's the worst thing about all of this. All you had to do was ask. I would have told you. Hell you're a Martian you could have read my mind. I would have permitted it! How quickly we become the things we hate and we don't even realize it.” Nikita walked to the far end of the room sat on the floor with her feet crossed in front of her and turned her head away from her host. Displaying a universally recognized 'I don't want to talk to you' attitude.

I looked over at the man, who glanced back at me, silently asking for an interpretation. “She's comparing you to Hank Henshaw. Someone who treated her like an enemy for no reason and literally tortured her in a blind attempt to get her to reveal the truth of her intentions. But there was no truth to be found, because she wasn't lying. She wasn't a danger to anyone. And if Hank had looked at her for 5 seconds and seen anything other than a human-looking alien, he would have seen her for the innocent person she was. It was there for all the world to see and he couldn't accept it. I served under Henshaw during this time. I couldn't understand why he saw her as the enemy. The last interrogation he performed on her proved he actually got off on hurting aliens...even helpless ones like her.”

“And you broke her free.” Realization blanketed the strangers face. Followed quickly by a look of unmitigated shame. “You broke her free from the D.E.O.”

“I couldn't stand by and let her get tortured for information she didn't actually have. For being a thing rather than a person. Most prisoners at the D.E.O absolutely deserve to be there. And some fo them, to our eyes would truly look like freaks of nature. There is no getting around that. But Nikita was no threat, and certainly no apparent monster. The night before, when I asked him why he was so convinced this prisoner was an enemy he promised me that 'tomorrow, that thing will reveal its true intentions'. I shut the machine down and took her out of it. Nikita put hank in the device, but kept it turned off. I expected her to run off into the night but she didn't move. She asked me if I wanted to come with her. She said she wanted me to come but wouldn't ask that of me unless I wanted to. We made our escape together. She is quite right. All you had to do was ask. Force, much less pain was useless.

She actually laughed at Hank for making the exact same assumption.”

Eternal Bond of love

The kind of love men can have for one another; a love without need. A familial bond without description or cost...except the cost of being interested in that person's happiness and well being far more than in your own.

The Various ways this has happened in my stories.

“It's quite alright Nasir. I'm going to miss you.”

The shock on the other man's face was considerable. “Where am I going?”

“Nasir, I...just please, take the horse and be about your business.”

“Forgive me but are you jesting with me?”

“No why would I...Why would anyone say that in a jest?”

“Why would you let me go?” Nassir responded instantly. And then slowly as if he were trying to work out in his own head what was going on. “Sir, this is your prize of battle. I was the servant of the man you killed in fair combat. I am your prisoner...your slave should you wish it.”

“Nassir, I understand the custom of position. At least I think I do. And I will have no part of it. Especially not if it's simply because of my rank. Which is why I ask, is it because I won, or simply because of a title I inherited from my father?

“Sir, by our very understanding of fate and destiny it is for you to say what happens now. We are taught that ALL is as God wills it and I truly believe that. My master challenged you, more for sport than on principle mis-prizing what he saw. If you take me with you, if you claim me, I will see it as God's justice. That being said I must ask: What do you intend to do with me?”

“I will ne-ver own another human being. And I refuse to make you pay the price for your master's choices. I was little better than a slave myself before Godfrey...before my father found me my life changed very much overnight. We left for the Holy Land together but he did not survive the journey that brought me here. Regardless of how this came to be, I will not have you following after me because of who my father happened to be. This new life was thrust on me; I've done nothing to earn or prove my rank as a knight. I have done nothing to deserve the admiration I see in your eyes right now. Except be a quick learner when Godfrey gave me a brief fighting lesson. I will find my fathers people and live my life. But I cannot and will not ask you to be a part of that. Go in peace.”

Sometime later after defending Kerak, Balian will say. "So that's why you were so eager for God's justice. It wasn't 'your masters' choices." Having realized rather inescapably that Nasir was the lord.

'You truly must be a stranger here' was the look on Nassir's face as he explained his fate was in his hands because of his victory. That it really was entirely in Balian's hands what happened to him, just from their understanding of fate and chance, the turning of fortune's wheel.. Balian had more than earned the right to decide his own fate. But that Nassir's willingness to become his 'prisoner or slave' was an understanding and allowance due to Balian because of his rank. “That being said I must ask: What do you intend to do with me?”

“I will ne-ver own another human being. And I refuse to make you pay the price for your master's choices. I was little better than a slave myself before Godfrey...before my father found me my life changed very much overnight. We left for the Holy land together but he did not survive the journey that brought me here. Regardless of how this came to be, I will not have you following after me because of who my father happened to be. This new life was thrust on me; I've done nothing to earn or prove my rank as a knight. I have done nothing to deserve the admiration I see in your eyes right now. Go in peace.”

“I cannot Milord.” Nassir said slowly but firmly. “All is as God wills it. I truly believe that. And if I didn't before I would now. I cannot see how the two of us could have come together at all, so soon after you even arrived unless Allah brought us together. At any rate, I am not permitted to leave your side. I refuse to leave a stranger to Jerusalem alone and friendless, lost in a sea of faces.” He smiled softly and continued. “Call me a servant or protector if you want, and if that helps you accept MY decision. It would not be far from the truth. No matter what ELSE my life is now, it is bound to yours, and it is by choice, not compulsion I assure you; inshallah.”

Batman V Superman was a freaking Masterpiece!

 I've been watching some detailed analysis of Batman V Superman. And then I went back to Everything Great about Man of Steel and I came to a conclusion.

This is not Superman yet. He is not only a newborn superhero but a lot of the things we know him as are still in his future. Most especially the final reason the film gets so much hate. When he ends Zod's life to save civilians Zod was about to incinerate with his heat vision. "Superman doesn't kill" being so firmly ingrained into our understanding of who Superman even is. Superman probably developed the 'no killing' rule he's known for BECAUSE of how heavily it weighed on him when he was forced to end Zod's life. Everyone complains that this is not the Superman we know. It's not supposed to be. This is how Clark Kent *becomes* the Superman we know and love. And it's a freaking masterpiece.

Saw something last night, that definitely belongs on my blog about missed treasures and maligned masterpieces of movies and TV Shows. There is something about Batman Versus Superman Dawn fo Justice that I don't think literally anyone has mentioned yet.

The movie does not present itself as Batman versus Superman so much as Bruce Wayne becoming obsessed about Superman and the journalist Clark Kent being concerned over the Bat Vigilante in Gotham. In other words, thier Human identities feelings and fears about the others costumed persona. If you look at it that way, or if people even bother to notice it instead of focusing on the Batman V Superman battle of ideologies this film is "supposed" to be -- the entire film makes a lot more sense.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | EPIC Fight Scene! | ClipZone

This is one of the deepest scenes the movie. In any movie. And it's one of my favorites.

That it was Superman's humanity which stopped Batman. Seeing this 'evil alien' care more for a human life than his own life and not the silly name coincidence seemed self-evident to me.

As well as why Bruce's flashback having nothing to do with his 'Martha' but with him now being the one holding the gun. But even I didn't consider that Clark not only accepted 'Save Martha' as his dying breath, but was giving his final wishes to his murderer. 'After you kill me, at least do this for me'. Anything Superman said would have been heard through Superman's lips, not Clark's because as with any other version of the story Superman's armor as far as his secret identity is that people don't expect an alien to have a human life. So why would this evil god like alien Bruce sees when he looks at Superman have a human mother?

"How many Good guys are left how many stayed that way" not only spells his motivations out perfectly but also explains why he didn't go through with killing Superman later. He finally realized that Superman was a good guy. And that he probably should have been asking that question about himself, not the strange visitor from another planet. Also Superman said 'Martha' not 'mom' because Batman had made it abundantly clear he didn't care about Superman's parents. And since he obviously wasn't *being Clark Kent at the time, Batman would have heard 'Save Jor-el's wife' not "Save a human woman who is in danger".

Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice

I don't understand how blind people are

 4 out of 4 users found this review helpful.

The only convoluted parts of this movie are Lex Luthor's plan and why the world suddenly hates Superman. As far as Why Bruce is so relentlessly pursuing Superman and why 'Save Martha' actually pulls him back, they could not have set it up more clearly. And I realize a lot of Batman fans were disgusted/surprised at this version of Batman but they do explain his character perfectly: this is world weary, Robinless Joker beaten Batman who has almost given up on hope for the world. He spells out his motivations to Alfred "He has the power to wipe out the entire human race and if we believe there is even a 1% chance that he is our enemy" He sees this alien as another freak in a costume. He even tells Superman while he's punching his face repeatedly "You were never a God, you were never even a man." Batman does not spare Superman because thier mother's share the same name. Batman didn't even know 'Martha' was Superman's mother's name at first. But Superman asking Batman to save someone else was enough to make him pause and consider that this evil alien cares about people, cares about someone more than his own life. And then Lois comes in and tells him "It's his mother's name." And he realizes Superman has a human family, has a life, IS a good man I/he almost murdered. He finally realizes that "How many good guys are left, how many stayed that way" is a question he should have been asking about himself all along. It's a line straight out of Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Setting up both his mission and his attitude for the next movie.

This is not "Batman" anymore. This is not Superman *yet*. I'm wondering why it's so hard for people to stop, look at the film and realize this. Superman is a new born superhero. People call it unrealistic or something that neither hero reacts how they would in thier prime. Neither hero IS in thier prime. Supposedly Batman hates Superman for clear obvious reasons but that Superman has no reason to hate Batman? Clark Kent has a pretty clear reason for hating or at least mistrusting a vigilante who tramples on the law and civil liberties. People see this movie fail thier own expectations and in so doing, completely fail to see this movie in the context of this universe. Where honestly their expectations do not and should not apply.

With potentially his last breath Superman asks his killer to save someone else. And people calling that sloppy writing and the biggest plot convenience ever, made zero sense. Various commentors ask why Superman asking Batman to save his mother would be surprising to Batman or would make any difference. 'what else would you do, any one would ask for thier mothers life that doesn't make him special'. When the entire point of the scene is that Batman does not see Superman as a person at all until that one humanizing moment. He never considered the evil alien had a human mother, let alone would be willing to die for her, or anyone else. Also it matters to Bruce. Saving Martha matters to Bruce.

One Seriously unexpected Hero

 Barry Allen meets Eaobard Thawne who is finally wearing his original face and not Harrison Wells' face. He claim not to remember Barry or even being the Reverse Flash. Which of course Barry does not believe for an instant. And with Flash-Cowl on Barry rants for five solid minutes that he is taking this lying murderer into Iron Heights which is letting him off easy. Mena supercharges herself with Thawne's machine. and they both get knocked on their asses by blow back from her speed.

Flash: She's gone. This is what you wanted all along isn't it, for the negative speed-force to corrupt her.

Eaboard Thawne: Why would I want That?! I didn't even know the negative speed-force existed before today!

The Flash: She protected you from me why would she do that?

Eaobard Thawne: Because she LOVES me, you idiot. And I love her...more than anything. When I lost my memories, I had a singular focus in my life: Somehow, someway I was going to become a speedster and then I met Mena...everything changed.

(In flashback)

Eaobard: I know it sounds strange but I think I'm supposed to me a speedster. I think that's why despite all the holes in my head I can see the BLOC crystal clear. I think I'm meant to use it.

Mena Dhawan: So you want to be like Flash be a superhero?

Eaobard Thawne: I want to be bigger than a superhero I want to recharge power-grids I want to reverse tornadoes before they destroy cities and towns I want to end famine, end war I want to save the world. (narrating) But it wasn't meant to be. I'd already fallen in love with Mena when we discovered her machine could only work for one person. But that wasn't the worst part. Mena had a heart condition. And one night, she went into cardiac arrest. There was only one way to save her. (Thawne puts Mena into the machine to save her life)

Mena Dhawan: You gave up your dream...your chance to save the world.

Eaobard Thawne: You Are my world. (They kiss)

(back in the present day)

Eaobard Thawne: So please...even if I was this -monster somehow or, in another life don't hold my sins against her, I am BEGGING you...save her.

The Flash: (seeing actual tears in his 'monsters' eyes) The Thawne I know has haunted my life since I was just a kid. He's killed people I care for. He deserves to rot. (reaction shot) He could never put someone else's needs before his. (Softly) I'm sorry. You're not the man I thought you were. (Offers his hand which at first Thawne actually shies away from; a little stunned) You're someone better.

 (Thawne gratefully shakes his hand.)

Infernian Effect

Infernian Effect

Aka: Earning Superman's Respect

Superman is recounting the story of the first time he truly understood Hank Henshaw

Nikita sat on the edge of the bio-bed. Her hands and head entirely still. Her eyes nothing if not sad. “He got away didn't he?” She said suddenly.

“Don't worry about that right now, Nikita, okay?”

“I told that guy to get out of here or face some heat vision and he followed my advice. How can you get any more responsible for an adversary's escape than that?”

“Right now I'm more interested in what exactly happened out there?” Director Henshaw said as he walked up to her, stopping about 4 feet away.

“I didn't know he was Infernian. I'm sorry.”

“I've never known you to be scared of anything, not even me. I can't believe you were paralyzed by fear.”

“I wasn't. I mean I was paralyzed but it wasn't by fear, or any other emotion for that matter. My people are sensitive to two races in the galaxies. Infernians are one of them. In layman's terms by body had an allergic reaction to his physiology.”

“I could tell you seemed to be struggling through the pain. I honestly thought it was some kind of psychic attack. When you warned him away I knew it must be something else. But you still managed to keep your wits about you enough to know I was coming and to warn him away. That's impressive, not disappointing.” Nikita looked at him a moment. "Super hearing. I literally heard you from 20 blocks away. that's how I got there so fast."

“I have to agree with Superman on this one.” Hank Henshaw said in his deliberate tone. “You didn't fail in your duty, you performed exceptionally. And I am sorry but I have to ask why you didn't tell me you have such a severe reaction to even the presence of Infernians?”

“I didn't realize there were any Infernians on Earth. There's no reason for it.” She looked over at me and back at Henshaw. “He's from further away than either of us.” She explained.

“Well that makes sense.” I conceded. “What did you say to him anyway?”

“I'm pretty sure I told him that he was thinking with his weapons rather than what little of his brain existed. I'll have to brush up on the regional." Now it was my turn to look confused. "I didn't say something in his language. I spoke in a language I knew he would understand. a language that everyone in his part of that galaxy understands at least enough of to get by. The same way France, Germany and the Netherlands all speak English, even though it's none of thier native languages.  To continue the metaphor, I need to learn if English is used differently in Germany than it is in France. It's a lot easier for Xavallens, Enkarens and Atraxi to understand each other. We all speak the same native language. A language by the way that has more in common with Aramaic or Arabic than with English. You can let go of me now Superman.”

I did. And then I smiled. “That's the first time you've actually called me that.”

“And from this point on, when the occasion calls for it I will. In the field and on the job that's what I'll call you. I'll only call you Kal'el when we're off duty.” She laughed wearily.

“Nikita, are you sure you're alright?”

“Yes, I am recovered. Just uncertain.” She gave Henshaw a glance I wasn't sure I understood the meaning of. But it was clearly something strictly between the two of them so I didn't ask about it. I took a step back. “Hank, I am fully expecting you to yell at me.”

“For what?”

“For screwing up the mission so badly. For letting that guy escape. This isn't me being hard on myself Hank. I failed in my duty. I didn't just let the guy get away; I told him to.”

“Why do you think that's what happened?” Hank asked her bluntly but respectfully. “I mean, yes you did say that. But why are you so convinced you did anything less than your duty?”

“Second that.”

“Because it's my job to be ready for those things and I screwed up the mission.” She said without turning to look at me. Then the look on her face changed. It was like a cold wind blew the white clouds away from her face and suddenly she saw something clearly, from Henshaw himself. But I still couldn't tell you what.

“You're expecting a reprimand?” Hank said. I admit I didn't understand his confusion. 'Of course she's expecting you to dress her down, rack her over the coals. She doesn't know anything else from you'. I feel kind of stupid about it now but that was my reaction. She was unique among D.E.O agents not just because she herself was an alien, but because she had once been a prisoner here, under Henshaw. I knew a little bit of their history together, and that it took Jeremiah's death to put it behind them. So her expectation made sense to me. When she next spoke it was in a crisp, clear tone full of as much dignity and restraint as if a Air Force Captain was addressing a 2-star General. “If I were any other agent, it's what you would do. ”

“If any other agent had a panic attack in the middle of a combat situation, yelling at them would be the last thing I would do.”

And for the first time I felt something approaching respect for Hank Henshaw. And for the first time I began to understand that he was never the heartless jerk to Nikita I had always assumed.

“How do you mean?”

“I had always considered Nikita a hero for having so quickly forgiven Hank his previous actions. But far from throwing away a 'hot coal' so it wouldn't burn her, Nikita never had one to hold on to. She had always respected Hank.”

I looked over at Director Henshaw to try to convey my appreciation of the situation. And I saw something that would have taken my breath away. Hank was looking at her with a look of sympathy, and obviously trying very hard not to embrace her. That's when I decided I could call him 'Hank' as often as Nikita does and not feel awkward about it. But only if Hank said he was okay with that.

“Director, I really think I should escort Nikita back to her quarters. And then I'll start X-ray visioning the city for that Infernian.”

“Understood Superman and agreed...on both counts.”

After we'd gotten into the hallway and Nikita informed be she could walk a few paces on her own, I turned around and walked back up to Hank, who was standing there, almost as if waiting for me to say something. “I was wrong about you, Director. And I'm sorry.”

“That means a lot to hear you say that.” Was all he said at first. “I take it Nikita has finally convinced you of the sincerity of her feelings.”

“More like you've finally convinced me you deserve her high esteem. It's no secret that even though we work fine together I never exactly liked you. I know what you're going to say 'we don't have to like each-other to work together'. But it really would help. I want you to know, it was never about my father Hank. Not what happened to him anyway. I hope you understand...what I'm trying to say here.”

“I believe so. And as I said...this means a lot to hear you say that.”

“Do you mind if I just call you 'Hank' from now on?” I blurted out.

“Most people at the D.E.O call me by by first name. It feel appropriate, like you were part of the team here if you did. And no I wouldn't mind it. In fact it...Jeremiah called me by my first name when he was here. And I know you're his son.” Hank looked at me with a kindly smile. “I'll call you Superman for the sake of secret identities. But I want you to know, I respected your father. I regret that I never told him so. Nikita is the only person alive who can tell me what your father would have said. They were together on such things. But she is also someone he risked everything for. Jeremiah Danvers served under me for 6 years. The only time he disobeyed my orders or broke literally any rules in this places was when he broke Nikita out of this place. Aside from you and Alex she is the only person Agent Danvers ever cared for. And I am not about to fail him twice...” His words actually failed him.

“It's your way of honoring Jeremiah...protecting her.”

'Well, you certainly don't need anyone's protection.”

“Heh. Fair point.”

“Besides, Nikita is pretty amazing all of her own.”

“No argument here.”

Hank looked thoughtful for a moment. “Do you mind if I ask, why does she call you 'Kal-el'?”

“It's my alien name.” I answered him simply. “That is, my birth name. When Jeremiah and Alex found me and took me in, they called me Elias. And naturally I took their family name. Nikita says that this,” I touched the symbol on my chest. “is the symbol of the house of El. Apparently aliens would know me as Kal'el. And why did your face just change so completely?”

“I need to talk to Nikita. There is a much longer story here than I ever suspected.”

“She's not in trouble is she?” I said in a rush. “How could she be in trouble because of this.”

“No Superman, she's not in trouble. But I do have a serious question that needs answering. If that symbol only identifies you as a member of a family...how does she know your full birth name.”

“That's...a pretty good question actually.”

Hank looked thoughtful for a moment. “Do you mind if I ask, why does she call you 'Kal-el'?”

“It's my alien name.” I answered him simply. “It's my birth-name. When Alex and her father found me they called me Elias and naturally I took their family name. If Nikita is any indication, the rest of the universe would know me as 'Kal-El'. According to Nikita this,” I touched the emblem on my uniform. “Identifies me as being a member of the family 'El'.”

“Okay, I officially need to talk to Nikita about something.” He walked away.

“She's not in trouble is she?” I said urgently. “How the heck could that get her in trouble Hank?”

“No Superman, she's not in trouble. But I do need to ask her how the heck she knows your full Kryptonian name if that thing only identifies you as being a member of your family.”

“I...actually never thought of that.”

Heroes of the Verse

 Okay so most of these next 12 entries will be replaced soon. Updated really. Putting them all up at the top instead of scattered throughout my blog serves two functions: gives them priority and easier access for me. Gives them easiest access and just the extra bit of prominence to my reading audience.

National City, DEO and Smallville are on Earth 13. The two versions of earth-based heroes will be Earth's 27 and 42. The legends are Earth-based heroes which means if they weren't on the Waverider anymore, or hadn't joined in the first place, they'd be hereabouts. Or I would put their stories as I write them on a completely separate Earth.

Earth 27:

“Oliver can I take with you for a minute?”

Oliver Queen looked up from his novella to a welcome sight: Quentin Lance standing in his study as if he belonged there. “Of course Quentin, what's up?”

“I know when the three of us are together, you mom me and you you're very chill about it and I appreciate that. But I wanted to know...ARE you okay with it?”

“Mr. Lance, you've been seeing my mom romantically for a year and a half, you've been living with her for the past five months if I had a problem with it you'd have heard about it like way before now. And is this going where I think it's going?”

“I want to propose to her. Why do I feel like I'm rushing things here?”

“You don't.” Oliver answered easily. “You want to know if this is a marriage of convenience, or whether she'll think you're charging in. She won't and you're not. You're direct and plainspoken with the biggest heart and the strongest moral compass of anyone I have ever-known. Be equally unadorned, no fanfare, no parade, just ask.”

“Wow, on the list of things I thought you'd say that is...was nowhere near the top.”

Oliver's face went completely blank for about five seconds. “Wait, were you nervous about what she would say or...about what I would say?”

“Oliver to say we have a complicated history is an understatement. We've had a lot of crap we've had to push through over the years..”

“..And we've had almost as much crap happen to us that we've pushed through together. Our relationship, as myself at least, has been through so many ups and downs I've lost track of when I was looking up. You didn't realize it as t the time, how could you but as the Arrow I saw another side of you. And if I hadn't still been worried how'd you'd feel about it, I would have been warmer. I'm sorry I should have trusted you more. Besides, it meant a lot more than you apparently realize when you admitted to having worked with the Arrow last year. You risked happiness with my mom, and falling from Grace in my eyes, standing up for a masked man in a hood that the entire city thought was a murderer all over again. 'We've been through a lot', is sure as hell an understatement, but I think you're focusing on the wrong part of that expression: we've been through it.”

“Did she already know?” Quentin asked suddenly.

“I hadn't told her yet. It turns out I wasn't that good at hiding from her, she already knew. And something I've been waiting to tell you, since that day on the bridge I think, whether you're with my mom or not...I've always tried to make you proud of me...like I think it would be with a father.”

“So to recap then.” Oliver said in rather a weak voice. Yes, I'm fine with it, and yes, I want you to be a part of the family...of MY family. And I'm very sorry if I ever made you feel otherwise.”

“I...I feel like I should hug you right now.”

“Yeah I'd say it's a hug thing.” Oliver replied, embracing Quentin with affection and joy.

Takes place the eight months between Oliver's wedding to Felicity and the Green Arrow's victory at Genesis Day. And when four years later The Green Arrow holds a press conference to hang up his hood after a decade of protecting the city Quentin Lance-Queen and Moira Queen listen somberly and in private, knowing their son put on that hood and another man is taking it off. Robert Queen died when Oliver was 12. Prior to Lian-Yu Quentin DID see Oliver as a spoiled punk and kept an intentional respectful distance with Oliver after he got back. Growing closer to the Arrow from the undertaking to Rashe than the Quentin and Oliver we knew. I' So Quentin has been a present role model in Oliver's life a lot longer than just since Lian-Yu, but not close to Oliver and Moira until Rashe framed the Arrow for the Mayor's death and all the chaos and the Alpha-Omega virus at the end of season 3.

Sarrin finds a new beginning

One: this takes place in Superman and Lois' world. NOT a D.E.O world at the core of the Arrow-verse or a world I created for my stories. There is no department of extra-normal Operations and Superman works with the Department of Defense. In that he works with his father-in-law General Lane

The Arrow-verse was full of enemies becoming friends and even more saturated with friends becoming enemies. Superman and Lois did things slightly differently in that the season 1 bad guy was revealed to be Clark's half brother and in the course of season two he became and ally and more of an actual friend and brother to Clark. Clark does come to trust and rely on him. His name was Tal-Rho.

I'm setting my story about a young Atraxian, a race that was a labor-class on Krypton, in THAT world not either of the continuities I created or Earth-38. In case you don't know, while this show is set in the same multiverse as Flash and Arrow and Supergirl, it's not Supergirl's version of Clark and Lois. It's thier doppelgangers/doubles on one of the few Earth's remaining after the mega-crossover Crisis on Infinite Earths. They actually have a history of people from other Earth's distinctly Dis-liking Kal'el specifically. Or another Earth's version of Kal'el causing some serious problems when he's just trying to do the right thing. So it's something they are sort of familiar with that gets turned on its head when they meet her. She's the inverse: An alien who's misunderstanding isn't with Kal'el specifically at all.

Sarrin's race are called the Atraxi. On Krypton she was raised to all but fear Kryptonians. Well she was raised to show them the utmost respect. Her people were a labor class on Krypton. Farmers, laborers and house-staff.  Anyway after meeting Clark Kent, as well as Superman, she lives at his house everyday for a week before calming the quaking reaction. Superman or Kal-el had nothing to do with that nonsense and she holds the man no particular grudge. 

One of Clark's friends asks her: Why do you keep calling him by his last name? Sarrin looks at her funny and says "Because I don't know his first name and he's wearing the symbol of the house of El."

One day Tal-Rho stops by to see his brother and reacts in surprise as  Sarrin address him as 'Sajente'. After confirming she's Atraxian he tells her among other things she doesn't have to call him that.

"Sajen then." She says. "I'd feel weird not calling you at least that. I address Kal'el that way."

Tal-Rho tells her 'that I can deal with'. This sends her over the moon. Clark walks in and asks her what's made her so emotional, given the dignified restraint and composure she usually carries herself with.

"Going by my true name so often – Sasha is a name I adopted when I landed here and started going to school and everything. You're the first people I've met since secondary school to even know I'm an alien. Going by my native name of 'Sarrin' all the time is new for me – add to that meeting TWO Kryptonians I don't have to. – yeah goofy grin on my face."

In an undertone Clark asks his brother. "Is it that rare for her to meet a good Kryptonian?"
"It is that rare for her to meet two Kryptonians she doesn't have to essentially call 'master'. Good and bad don't enter into it for her. They...never could make that distinction."

Clark recognizes what he means. That the Atraxi weren't allowed to make a distinction between good and bad Kryptonians. They were required to address all of thier 'superiors' that way. And that Tal isn't being politic so much as considerate about it. As if he doesn't agree with it either...anymore.

"Tal, she's not the only one over the moon about this." Clark mentions as he walks away.

One thing I HAVE to remember to include is that when Sarrin met 'Superman' she recognized the symbol on his chest as Kryptonian but couldn't read it. She actually asked him 'if we were on Krypton, what would I call you'. Essentially asking his Kryptonian name. Tal-Rho's crest on the other hand she can 'read' just fine. Also that when talking to Clark and John Henry Irons, she defined 'Sajente' as how you would address royalty or heads of state and how any of her race would address ALL Kryptonians. And 'Sajen' as how you would address an officer of the law or a superior officer in the military. Clark, dressed in human clothes invited her to stay at his house. She accepted, but warned him that 'old habits die hard'. Meaning it will take a minute for her not to treat him as a superior.