He was unaccustomed to evoking fear in others. As future ruler, he knew that he would wield unchallenged power, and he spent his life treating others as he would want someone with his power treating him. To wake up in a world where he was hated by both his own people and another race of people entirely was a brutal shock.
Proving that Clark is decent, no matter what universe he is in.
This was a marriage of equals. Kal-El felt a stab of jealousy. Even if this hadn't happened, he would have never known this kind of relationship by the nature of the role he was to play within his society.
So Clark avoided the strictures of Kryptonian society by being rocketed to Earth as an infant.
A wave of protective anger on her behalf spiraled through him and he felt her shock and surprise at her returned perception of those feelings. He quickly tried to calm himself down, not wanting to frighten her, but then he felt amusement coming from her. That's nothing compared to his anger.
Interesting. Lois has lived through being the concubine of Clone-El, and has managed to come through the torture and abuse that Clone-El inflicted upon her. Now she links with the true Kal-El and sees that he is nowhere near as bad as his clone. Perhaps this will be another key to her healing.
He had to convince those who had been victimized by a monster wearing his face and name to help him liberate this world. He was alone and terrified. He was hated and feared and all he wanted to do was make things right. How could he convince them that he wasn't like his clone?
Good question! How can he make anyone believe in his good intentions? He can't go around telepathically linking with everyone. Probably the only thing that would accomplish it would be for him to get all the Kryptonians off Earth, and to leave himself. Then the humans might believe in him.
...the lure of their soul connection. Maybe Kal-El had experienced a closeness with her that he hadn't felt with anyone else – a sense of rightness. The thought didn't horrify her the way it once would have. LL would be an entirely different story. Lois felt a pang of despair for the two – she knew that they belonged together – yet it would never happen.
This is so sad. We know that Kal-El and LL are supposed to be soul mates. But LL has been so wounded that it's not possible for her to be with Kal-El. Lois managed to overcome her demons and find love with Clark, and of course Kent and Lane (canon L&C) never had to deal with anything so horrific. But I want to believe that in the end, the soul connection between LL and Kal-El will let them be together. But it might not happen.
"Here – I'm the enemy. I will work to free this world. I will not give up. But... I cannot let myself think I can have a life here as Clark has done in the other world. I don't know what I will do, or where I can go – but I cannot lead my people anymore – nor can I live here.”
NOOO! Kal-El on New Krypton. LL on Earth. Never the twain shall meet. NOOOO!
Clark was shocked into silence at realizing it was LL who had spoken and not Lane.
Is this the first time that LL has actually volunteered a conversation with Clark? So far, I think, she's been limited to giving orders and making pronouncements.
“How long before you were friends?” LL asked. It was one of the things she'd been desperate to know.
This is important. It's important because LL has gotten past the original disgust and hate at the very idea that Lois and Clark could be friends. Now she's accepted that there can be a L&C friendship, and now she's just asking about the details. Perhaps this bodes well for a future with Kal-El for her. (And yes, I'm trying to matchmake them, even though I know it's impossible.)
“Okay... well... I wanted to talk to her, but I couldn't. So I asked her father.”
LL paled and Clark flinched. Her father was probably dead in this world. He had no idea the fate of so many – his own parents... hers, her sister- but he dared not ask.
Will we find out more about this later? What happened to the Lane family on this disastrous alt-Earth, where Clone-El rules?
Oh, and could you please check - according to my reckoning, these two parts should be Chapters 30 and 31.
Michael
