Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

******suite outside National City******

As the call connected Lillian took a steadying breath she was not sure that she was able to keep the food she consumed firmly in her stomach if her fears were proved to be accurate. She couldn't contemplate the thought that her son would do something so aberrant as to damage the family line in this way. She thought that she had taught him better than that, that above all else family was the most important, she had once thought that it was Lena that didn't understand the magnitude of what it meant to be a Luthor, the importance and the sanctity of the bond of family, and the importance of the Luthor DNA and its legacy. It appeared that it was her son that had turned his back on the Luthor supremacy and failed in his duty to protect it. Lena didn't seem all that surprised that she had called back, she must have monitored her as she went through the files, she had made no effort to hide her trail, it should have been expected that Lena would have been alerted. This new information had clearly made more of an impact than she thought. She was not sure if it was the degradation of the Luthor genome, the thought that her son had strayed so far from her, or the clear fact that Lena was indeed the future of the Luthor family and her contribution to the Luthor supremacy had damaged her.

“Lena darling, I have one question, Did your brother send Otis to you?”

“When did your Son even not follow through on his manipulation of me Mother? Whereas his plans to take down the Supers always seemed to fall short he reserved a special place in his megalomaniac brain to ensure he followed through with every threat he made to me.”

“Lena, the dramatics and sarcasm are not needed in this situation, I asked a direct question as I am hoping that the video that is now part of the project is something that was discontinued once he regained his senses”

“Mother it is funny that you think that there was any point following the introduction of Superman to the earth that Lex regained his senses, you got in to the LuthorCorp server you saw the information, you already know the answer to the question, and the fact that you knew exactly where to look for the information tells me that you know more about the project than you stated earlier, not that i thought for a moment that you had the ability to be truthful without some additional help.”

Lillian could feel the shiver run through her whole body as Lena mentioned additional help, the only thing that she would be referring to was that disgusting little worm that was wrapped around her wrist to ensure that she complied and didn't lie. The sick feeling that she was having was only being accentuated by the thought of having that thing attached to her again. She wanted to help restore Lena, to reinstate the superior Luthor DNA that coursed through her veins but there were limits to her cooperation, and having that thing reattached to her was definitely a hard pass. It was clear that Lena was not going to make this easy, why was it with Lena everything had to be dramatic and full of emotions, she was an accomplished scientist and very intelligent. Why did she feel the antiquated emotional requirements for interactions were appropriate?

“Lena, I am asking you a direct question because if what I think has happened has I want to help, I told you that I wanted to make better decisions when it came to you and I meant it, I am more than aware that my past endeavours have not backed up this sentiment but that doesn't make it any less true. I am aware that you are referring to the truth seeking alien friend of yours but I do not need that to want to help. I have kept my distance even with the reports coming to me waiting for you to reach out, and now you have, so did Otis visit you or not?”

“Well yes your words have never held much water with me mother in fact without the truth seeker your sentiments in the lab would have been rejected as a lie, but as I am more than aware of what that particular creature does I have had to accept that on some level, in your own way you care for me, I reached out and you made out that you didn't know about the project, you expect me to just give you the information that you want without anything in return?”

Lillian could understand that Lena was cautious, she was herself being cautious knowing the part that she played in the project, and that they deaths of the subjects were managed through her intervention. She realised that if she was going to gain any trust with Lena she was going to have to take the first tentative step. She had come to the understanding that her words need to be backed up with action and so far the only action was to stay away and reflect, a needlessly long and relevant activity if she wasn't going to back it up with action now. She stood and walked over to the window, looking out there was a cityscape just a few miles away and LCorp standing high above the other buildings. She pinched the bridge of her nose and steeled herself to do something that she was vehemently opposed to. She was going to let herself be vulnerable, open herself up a little to Lena.

“The project was supposed to be the initial project to find a virus that was able to affect the Alien populas and be used to protect people against any alien invasion. However, an early response to the interaction of human disease with an alien DNA showed a prospect of regenerative properties, at this time Alexander and Handen decided to change the focus and work with reanimation of the dead cells, which resulted in a virus that killed and reanimated the host. Alexander decided that this has applications in the military and I went along with it providing the system to have the heart reanimated without removing the virus. He went rogue and I washed my hands of the project, I did not know that he planned to have you infected. If I did I would have terminated Otis myself.”

Lillian found herself once again drifting back in thoughts, the day that the goons she sent to collect Lena almost killed her by tipping her over the balcony, both had forever lost the use of their legs, the gun men that tried to take over the benefit and subsequently got outwitted by her, they had been terminated completely, not only was it a failure and a possibility of outing her involvement with CADMUS but they had tried to hurt Lena. That Neanderthal Edge that had tried to kill her and prove that she was to blame for the children that he poisoned, setting up his car was a stroke of genius, even if she did say so herself. She didn't know how to show Lena that she cared but the evidence of her attempts to show it were there.

“Lena, Did your brother follow through on his plan to infect you?”

“He did, and now I am having to work out how to restore myself to what I was, although there has been a few issues that I haven't been able to work out, I was hoping that somewhere there was a reversal but it appears that Lex has cleared up after himself quite competently on this occasion there is no one left from the original project”

“Oh Lena Darling, there is nothing that those Hacks could offer you, it was your work that solved the issue with the sun and the hunger, they have no comprehension of the gravity of the discovery nor to mention the applications, and nothing that they could contribute would be worth having. They were short sighted and presumptuous, not to mention that their hubris at believing that they could start at the top, how your brother thought that taking such high priority targets would be a good idea I will never understand, but then he did always lack the foresight of a strategic long term investment.”

“I have helped mother, and I have a cure for the virus…..”

“Lena you can not cure this virus, the cure for reanimated dead cells are dead cells, this is not something that can simply be cured, you can not just remove the virus”

The sudden panic that flooded her came out in her interruption and the pitch of her voice, she had spent so long moderating every facet of her voice and face yet something about the possibility of both her children being dead, that both of the Luthor children killed each other had worn away the last of the resolve that she was holding on to at this point. Above all else the primary function of the matriarch of the family was to keep the family together, to rule them and lead them forward to prosperity, to fulfil their potential, she couldn't help but feel that her diverse parenting style had somehow led to this. Sure the initial thought of her own failings was quickly and swiftly moved from her mind however her analytical side was moving over the difference in the way the two were managed, she had tried to correct Lena at each stage she didn't seem to learn as quickly as Alexander had, instead of taking the criticism and changing the behaviour that caused it she had continued to perpetuated the issues, craving attention all the time something that Alexander had grown out of very swiftly. Something about Lena continued to require the persistent attention, her dramatics and theatrics were a drain, clearly the formative years with her mother had made her too needy. Although maybe it would have helped her to have some praise although she found the thought utterly preposterous, she had never had praise or affection as a child and it had pushed her forward to become the exceptional woman she was. Clearly Lena needed a different hand.

“We are well aware of the shortcomings of the cure mother, do you think that I would be reaching out if there was another way? You are the only person that has successfully reanimated a heart, we can start it but there is a fault in the brain, and in the heart that we have not been able to circumvent, you have the knowledge needed to sort out the issues, I have seen your research but there is a corrupted file, I need you to send me a new copy so that I can correct the abnormalities and implement the cure.”

“I see so you think that you and the merry band of miscreants you have collected can implement the procedure and treatment that I devised without me? You have called for my work but not my help”

“Why would you think that I would ask for your help mother, you have shown no interest in ever helping me in any way that does not forward your own agenda. You have continually proved that there is nothing you want from me other than the Luthor DNA, although now there isn't even that now, so why would I think that you would even consider helping me? You say that you are sorry, that you want to make better choices and continually prove that this is lip service not real sentiment, and even the actual fact that you in your own twisted way love me has not perpetrated any sort of care, I don't believe that you understand the words let alone the meaning mother, now will you send me the uncorrupted file or not?”

It was as if Lena was able to know that she was questioning her own methods and behaviours, somehow she was picking up on the feeling of confusion that was dominating her mind of late. Highlighting her own thoughts that she had continued to let down Lena, being unable to change the habits of her lifetime when it came to her own agenda even when she knew that she cared for her. Lena was not going to make it easy for her to re-engage with her, regardless of her new found intention to mend the proverbial fences and show Lena that she is trying, it wasn't something that Lena was going to make easy.

“Well you may not ask, but I would like to help Lena, I will need to see the research and the results from the tests that you have conducted to see if there is anything else that needs to be factored into the procedure, after all this isn't as simple as reanimating the heart of someone that has recently passed, or taking over the role of the medulla oblongata before the change, it is important that the procedure is calibrated to the host otherwise it will be a futile procedure, you can have my research but only if I am there to over see it. That is the only way that you are going to have what you need Lena.”

“Very well mother, but this will be done on my terms, or it will be done without you, do you understand? Before you say it can't be done without you I have already found the two devices needed it is only a matter of time before the team work out the missing parts, you may not think much of them but the team I have have already managed to find a cure, It has only taken two months, if you think that we won't be able to manage the rest in the remaining time, you are misguided, if you want to be part of this then you will do it my way.”

Lillian didn't like that Lena was pushing for control, it was something that she didn't give up easily, and not something that she wanted to give up in front of others, but the thought of the last heir to the Luthor legacy was no longer human was with a dent to her pride at this point. Not to mention that without doing this Lena’s way she was never going to prove that she really did care for her, and wanted to do better. She really wanted to be able to prove that although she is not always able to circumvent her nature she did want to do better when it came to Lena.

“Very well Lena, I will be there tomorrow morning.”

**********Lena’s Penthouse**********

Lena woke early, the medication for the sun seemed to have stopped the effect that it had on her, she started to contemplate that, the information that Lex had on his experiments suggested that only the susceptible had any effect from some of the things. The religious were harmed by crosses and holy water, people who believed in vampires and followed the mythology seemed to be affected by the rules. It was as if the information that they internalised and believed in adapted the way that the virus affected them. Lena didn't believe that Vampire existed, she didn't have a religious component to her she was a scientist. Was this change in her reaction to the sun based on that belief, that the science caused this issue therefore science could get her out of it. She thought back to the quote that Lex had used. Cogito, ergo sum, although the translation of René Descartes, I think therefore I am, was a fascinating idea, humans thinking themselves into existence, that the thoughts shaped reality was interesting. Although she was a firm believer in the co-creation of the world at large based on the perception of the constituent parts. It was not the physical as much as the conceptual that was created in this way although the collection of the conceptual had managed to mould and shape the world around them, the buildings and the infrastructure. However she had to believe that we existed before we thought about our existence, evolution may not have all the answers but there was a scientific and definite process, not just a sudden awakening into existence. She was more inclined to believe that evolution created the human, there was a drive within that caused the exploration of the world. A need to move beyond the primal instinct that was there for survival, that thinking in its rudimentary form began and since became more pronounced, scientific. Of course all were limited by their own understanding and things changed as humanity continued to explore and evolve.

She made her way around the bedroom gathering clothes to dress as she contemplated this, Was the sun downing effect that seemed to almost shut her off the moment the sun arrived diminish because of the medication, because she willed it, it was clearly no longer a factor she has reversed the night to day, removed the creature of the night aspect from her vampire repertoire. She wondered if the early effects were more based on the nearly 30years she had spent running herself into the ground. She clicked the blinds and the sun flooded the room, the tingling feeling was gone, she noted it a couple of times wondering if the medication was somewhat flawed. She had more energy since waking but the sun had pulled her to sleep in the middle of the day, like there was a persistent need to be out of the main sun, however she had found being in the sun had caused a pleasant tingle. Each night she had slept more, last night she had what would be considered almost normal human sleep. Standing in the sun missing the feeling of the tingle that seemed to energise her Lena had a thought, Kara’s blood, her Kryptonian blood caused a reaction with the sun, and that gave her power. The tingle the additional energy and speed, strength that she had over the past few weeks that had been diminishing in the last three days, could be explained by the dissipation of Kara’s blood in her system. Kara had spoken about the difference waking up in the sun, the way the energy would filter into her energising and waking her. She continued to think on this as she moved through into the kitchen, it was the simple fact that she was deep in thought that she had not been paying attention to the surroundings, or the heartbeat that was waiting for her. She startled slightly as she saw the figure, her fangs popping and moving into an attack posture snarling at the intruder.

The scent hit her the top notes that include a blend of bergamot and mandarin, a combination fresh, sweet and somewhat piquant. Adding to its complexity are coriander seed, lie de vin, narcissi, geranium, petitgrain and tagete. The bitter undertone of the blood and overall power scent a mixture of Clive Christians power perfume and bitterness, she recognised the now strong scent of her mother and calmed her internal animal, as she looked at her mother she could see two things as the scent shifted to a burned orange overtone to the already assaulting aroma. She was shocked and fearful of her, but there was a sadness in her eyes too. Could it be that Lillian actually did care for her on some level? Lena knew that the truth seeker meant Lillian spoke the truth, but Lillian and love was something that even Lena’s brilliant mind could not rectify. She moved to a more neutral position and looked at Lillian, her fangs retracting as she stepped forward.

“Mother, how did you get here?”

“I told you I would be here in the morning yet you seem to be surprised by my appearance, I was already on my way and in a little place just outside the city, I thought that We may as well make an early start to the day.”

“I don't mean here as in National City, I meant here in the penthouse, I could have hurt you, I have not eaten yet, it isn't safe to just drop in on me at the moment I need to be prepared, and how the hell did you get in here?”

“Oh Lena darling, you would not hurt me, I hold the information that you need, I am your mother, and no matter how mad you get at me you have never shown any homicidal rage towards me. As for how I got in, please don't be so pedestrian. It is beneath you, and insulting to me, as if I am unable to get into any building that I desire. You underestimate me, you may think that I know nothing of you but you are a sentimental woman, your code for the elevator is a reflection of that.”

Although Lillian was displaying confidence on every level with her stoic look, the sardonic grin and fixed gaze, not to mention the power pose that she was accustomed to with Lillian, the enhancements told Lena something that she had never before had the insight into. The scent was still trepidation, possibly fear, her heart was racing, her pupils dilated with the adrenalin and there were miniscule inflections and wavering in the classic tone. She was not as confident about anything that she said as she was portraying, not even the thought that Lena needed her for anything. It was interesting to have this insight into her mother, for so long Lena had thought that nothing rattled her but clearly that façade was exactly that, a fictitious presentation of a strong woman. She smiled slightly as she walked towards her mother.

“Well you are here now, so we should discuss your involvement in what we are doing but first, I have to deal with the unfortunate need for sustenance that my dear brother gifted me with.”

Lena moved around to the fridge and opened it up taking out a bag of synthetic blood, she watched Lillian's reactions to everything that she was doing, it wasn't that she particularly wanted to upset her, or disgust her, but this new ability to see under what Lillian was portraying was something that she wasn't going to pass at. Being able to understand the woman behind the marble exterior, the emotions behind the biting tones and the way that she hides things could be something of use. Especially if she was able to use it to ensure that she was aware of any change in her that would be helpful in seeing any deception that was on its way. She watched the small changes in her eyes, the slight twitch to muscles, the change in the heart rate, the tick in the lip, the shifting scents, everything was data, everything was building a bigger picture. The irony was not lost that Lena had to become a monster to see her mother and more than the two dimensional character that she portrayed herself as, that she was finally able to experience her in 4d. As she placed the blood into a wine glass there was a moment of disgust, Lena had chosen not to use something opaque to see the reaction. She placed it into the microwave and heated it to body temperature, the smell was less prominent in the synthetic blood but there was a change as the liquid heated up, she watched the nose wrinkle slightly and smiled. Her mother didn't have as strong a stomach as she pretended to. She then watched her as she drank the blood, smiling slightly flashing the blood stained fangs that were on display, there was again fear. Lena finished the blood and moved towards Lillian, she could see the moment that Lillian steeled herself to the spot, her desire to move a way circumvented by her stubborn superiority.

“Well I suppose that we should discuss the team and the changes before you come over to the lab, it is important that you know that since this happened there have been a lot of changes in my life and my day to day needs. Firstly the change came with no instruction. I am sure that Lex was trying to ensure that I was going to stalk the city and cause an issue for me, that didn't happen, he has always underestimated me. And the support that I have. The team that is around me at the moment is Jess, who is the COO of LCorp. She has prepared everything and made sure that I have the treatments and blood needed. Sam who is the CFO of LCorp, she has been helping Jess in her new position and supporting me personally. Eliza and Alex Danvers, both doctors and working on the cure and the trouble with the reanimation of the heart. Kelly who is Alex’s girlfriend and a psychologist who has been helping with the mental changes, and Kara, she is my emotional support and ensures that I do no harm.”

“You have six people aware of what happened, Lena what are you thinking, it is important that we keep this under wraps it is imperative that no one sees any weakness in the Luthor line, nothing that can be used to diminish the legacy, not to mention that Kara is a super, if anyone is going to tell you in other than her it would be her sister, she is the head of the DEO. you are still surrounding yourself with less than desirable people, Eliza isn't exactly a fan of the Luthor’s, you bring in an alien pet, and then the alternative life people promoting perverse family values”

“They have all been imperative to managing this situation ensuring that not only I am safe but the reputation of LCorp. The reason that Eliza isn't fond of you is because you stole and tortured her husband, tried to kill her daughters multiple times, and tried to release a virus on the city. Her dislike for the Luthor name falls at your feet, mainly mother, she has no issue with me. She is also the one that managed to find a cure to the virus. Alex has been helping with the cultures and the virus, keeping the DEO out of the way and supporting me, as has her girlfriend, helping me to manage this situation, and as for alternative lifestyles, you have no idea, you really are blind at times, that Alien pet you are talking about is my girlfriend. If you have a problem with anyone on my team you can leave, we will do this without you, or as they all accept me this way I may just remain like this.”

Lena raised her brow and smirked, she could see the movements all over Lillian’s face, she was shocked and appalled by the statements that she had made, then there was conflict, clearly Lillian was trying to decide what she could do about this, if she could manage, if the effort was worth it, it was interesting to watch all the things play out on her face, and within her body as to anyone else watching the only change was a deliberate pursing of the lips and a rise of the brow before she spoke. So much more had happened in that time, so much that Lena previously had not seen. She wondered how much a difference this would have made to her life if she had this ability before.

“Your predilections and experimentations are of no consequence at this time, the important thing here is to get you back to who you were meant to be before your brother decided that he would destroy the family lineage with his vendetta. Clearly this band of individuals have made some progress and managed the situation, but I am here to conclude this problem and clean up the mess Alexander has made.”

“It is not a experiment, this virus has bound me to Kara, something that I had always felt but refused to act upon, it had highlighted and reignited the primal instincts, i have been helped by everyone, to control my base impulses, to manage the needs and to work on this problem. If they had not I would still be locked in a cube a snarling mess, they have done more than made progress and you are not here to take over, you are here to help, which means you need to work with them, and be on your best behaviour, as I said we can do this without you, but it will be easier with you.”

“Lena I have told you I am here to help, I am disappointed that you still do not believe that I care for you, we have difference of opinions fundamentally in many areas, but you are my daughter, you are a Luthor, and above all else, even if you believe nothing else, family has always been the most important thing to me. Everything I have ever done has been for my children, regardless of if you believe it or not it is the truth.”

Lena continued to monitor Lillian as she spoke, it was not that she didn't want to believe her, but she had no evidence of this in her interactions with Lillian, as much as she knew that she could snap the woman like a twig now, drain her dry and remove the treat once and for all there was such a part of Lena that wanted to believe her, to have a relationship with her mother that was more than before. Something that she would be able to look back on as a positive relationship. They had never had any care or love in their relationship but here was Lillian suggesting once again that it was indeed there, and Lena could see no signs that she was lying in any way. She felt the small slither of hope growing in her heart, she knew it was dangerous but she wanted to believe there was more to this woman than the cold hearted abusive mother that she had been, she wanted to believe that some of the devotion and love that she saw her give to Lex was available to her too. She smiled at her and placed her hand on her arm.

“Thank you for coming Mother, they have helped with my control, my baser needs, which are strangely more prominent than they have ever been and been able to keep my mind active, the public face is still intact. It is because of them, and I need you to promise that you will be on your best behaviour, and the real best behaviour not until it no longer suits you, if you are truly here for me then this has to be about what is best for me, they have all agreed to this, its you that needs to now.”

“I don't know how clearer I can make myself Lena, I am your mother, I am here to help, I said a long time ago I wanted to be a better mother and it is the truth, along with how I feel about you, I do love you Lena, I am here to help, I will be on my best behaviour with them. What baser needs have been an issue?”

There was a moment in the question that Lillian had a flicker of concern but there was also curiosity and interest, something that Lena was not used to from Lillian, especially not directed at her, she motioned to the elevator to head to the car, smiling slightly, she wasn't sure that this was a conversation that she wanted to have with her mother, but scientist to scientist she could manage.

“Feeding, possessiveness, hypervigilance, aggression and of course, sexual gratification. Unfortunately I have not been able to gain complete control of them, although every day I am managing better, the lab is set up with a cube to work within that means if the experiments trigger something I am contained, working with blood is difficult, there is a venting protocol so that I am able to remove the scent of the blood and the others in the room. Strong scents can cause an issue especially if appealing, they can trigger the needs, the presence of Kara is both comforting and difficult at times, she caused the enthral I believe its called, an insatiable desire for her, in every way, I become aggressive and possessive over her. If I do not consume enough blood I lose cognitive ability and run on aggression and the need to feed. They call it frenzy, the only one that can contain me is Kara. There is an apartment set up adjacent to the lab with a vacuum barrier that I can move to so that more complex experiments can happen, it served as my home when I was out of control and unable to be around people. Transitioning was difficult.”

They moved out of the elevator and into the car, Lena could see that there were more questions that Lillian had, it could be an interesting ride.