Cambrian
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Endless Legacy Ch. 9 (DC Comics)
🕑 Added 2023-04-27 14:23:23 +0000 UTCA/N: In which picking such a cute and cuddly animal might have been a mistake.
-x-X-x-
He’s never named anything before, he abruptly realizes. Perhaps that’s why the first several ideas to pop through his head all sound like things his father would approve of. Because even now, even after Lex Luthor abandoned him and left him all on his own in his previous life… Lucien still automatically seeks his approval before anything else.
Nose wrinkling, something twisting in his gut, a low growl leaves Lucien’s lips.
“Fuck it. Your name is now Spot.”
“Mrow.”
The Snow Leopard Cub’s mewling voice makes him blink as it continues to look up at him, blinking those big eyes it has. Sighing, Lucien reaches down and picks Spot up off of the straw within the crate, lifting the cub high into the air like this is the Lion King or something. Except this isn’t the Lion King and he’s not a monkey last he checked, so he pulls the cub into his arms and supports its bottom, holding it close to him.
Immediately, his powers told him everything he could ever want to know about Spot. His new pet is healthy at least, but then Lucien could have guessed at that. The Lex he was currently dealing with might be a clone that pales in comparison to the real thing, but the clone didn’t know that and Lex Luthor never did anything by half. Frankly, Lucien would be a lot more worried if the cub HAD shown up ill or diseased or with fleas or anything like that.
But no, Spot is picture perfect, even as he shifts and wiggles in Lucien’s arms, mewling pitifully and demanding to be let down. Lucien does so, watching the Snow Leopard Cub slowly toddle around, exploring his new environment carefully.
… He was in charge of someone now. HE was in charge of what was effectively a newborn baby. He’d asked for Spot on a whim, trying to squeeze something useful out of his father. Maybe if he was more like Lex, Lucien could compartmentalize it and just not care… but the truth was, he was like his father in some ways and very much unlike him in others. He cared, more than he’d ever been able to acknowledge or understand before now.
After all, he couldn’t have a pet in his last life. He’d been too sickly for anything, even goldfish. After all, on particularly bad weeks he would find himself lying in bed all day long, barely able to get up to get water. Not exactly conducive to keeping even a damn goldfish alive.
But now here he was, stronger than ever with a bright future ahead of him. And if it turned dark, if anything happened to him, he got to rewind and try again for an indeterminant amount of times before his soul fractured and he stopped being himself. Yay.
Spot though… Spot represented the first real step into this new life of his. Things weren’t going to go the way they had before. Obviously, Lucien knew that… but there was a difference between knowing something and experiencing something. The cub carefully exploring his new surroundings was the experience that Lucien had truly needed to give him a kick in the pants. More so even than what had happened between him and Mercy the day before.
“Mrow.”
Blinking, Lucien looks to see that Spot has stopped and is looking at a specific box in particular. His living room is filled with all of the things he will presumably need to take care of a Snow Leopard Cub… but Spot starts to paw at that box, sniffing at it. Right… Lucien can guess what’s in there. Letting out a soft chuckle, he makes his way on over.
“Need help with that, Spot?”
“Mrow?”
“Yeah buddy… breakfast time.”
-x-X-x-
An hour later, they’d both eaten and Lucien had even managed to go through some of the boxes. He doesn’t understand half of it, but he’ll learn as he goes along. After eating, Spot had quickly proven just how unprepared he was for taking care of a baby animal… by showing Lucien what said baby animals tended to do once they ate. No, not nap, though that had come after. The other thing first.
Lucien had cleaned up after the cub, and now Spot was sleeping in a comfy-looking cat bed. However, seeing the cub curled up in the small bed… Lucien was already imagining just how big Spot would get. He was a cub right now. But Snow Leopards got big. Maybe not as big as some other wild cats could get, but plenty big enough that keeping an adult Snow Leopard as a pet would be… challenging to say the least.
He wasn’t about to just give up on Spot though. Especially not when the cub had already paid a life’s worth of rent and then some. After making sure he and Spot were both fed and the cub was fast asleep, Lucien hadn’t just been opening boxes. He’d been multitasking. In the back of his mind, he was turning over everything he’d learned from Spot while his hands worked on prying open crates.
There was a laundry list of reasons that he’d chosen a Snow Leopard Cub, after all. Sure, maybe there were other creatures on the Earth that could have helped him more, and sure, maybe there were options that would have been easier to care for then Spot was likely to be. But… at the same time, Snow Leopards were one of the toughest cats imaginable for their size. Not as big or powerful as a lion or tiger, sure… but what they did have, they sure made good use of. They were killing machines plain and simple.
With Spot’s help, Lucien could already see ways to enhance himself. All of his senses would gain improvements from the blueprint he’d pulled from Spot, and he could also increase his strength and durability a fair amount as well. He could effectively make himself superhuman, albeit on the lower end.
It wouldn’t be enough though. What he’d gained from Spot could probably allow him to give any would-be muggers on the street a run for their money. Faster reflexes, tougher skin and bones… he could probably handle a knife-wielding assailant at the very least. But he wasn’t going to be bullet proof. And being part Snow Leopard wouldn’t stop a hit squad from coming and taking him, if that were to happen.
Letting out a low breath, Lucien’s eyes flicker to Spot’s sleeping form again. Hm, he really might have made a mistake in picking something that started out so loveable. He was incredibly starved for affection, and while Death was great… what they had between them was so intense and so carnal that Lucien could admit he needed something more… normal.
It certainly said something about his life that having a Snow Leopard as a pet was considered ‘normal’, but then that was just par for the course when being the son of Lex Luthor he supposed. Spot was already filling a place in Lucien’s heart that he hadn’t even known was empty or in need of filling. He was rapidly becoming attached, and it felt like it was much too late to do anything about it.
Which changed things at least a little bit. Before, Lucien could safely say he had one goal and one goal only. Making his beloved Death cum. It was a good, strong, worthy goal in his own personal opinion, and in this case, he felt like his was the only opinion that mattered.
Now however… while that overarching goal had not changed in the slightest, he had a new mandate as well. Raise and protect Spot. The cub had stopped being just a way to get some superhuman attributes the moment that Lucien had first laid eyes on him, and he wasn’t going to lie to himself and say it was otherwise. It wasn’t just about his own safety anymore. Now he had a Snow Leopard to look after as well.
So… what? Did that mean he had to go after his father or something, just to make sure Spot stayed safe? That sort of preemptive bullshit was certainly something Lex would do in a heartbeat. But on top of that, this wasn’t even really his father. It was a damn clone. If Lucien moved against the clone given what Mercy had said, it would only result in his real father popping back up at the worst time.
He still needed to get to work though. While trying to take LexCorp from his father might have seemed like the most obvious option given he was Lex’s son and thus his heir… it was a bad move for a number of reasons. A bad opening move, at least. If he was going to turn on his father, he needed to bolster his defenses massively in a number of other ways first.
Sitting down at the dining table, Lucien steeples his hands together in front of him and thinks. He needed more… everything. Personal power, yes… but not just that. He needed financial power and political power as well. With the right moves, he could step out from under his father’s shadow and make something new. Something that was entirely his.
It wouldn’t be easy of course… but it also wouldn’t be too difficult to get started. After all, Lucien had two massive advantages. One, his mind. Two… he was from the future.
Some of it was foggy, and it was true that he hadn’t gotten out much… but he still remembered things. He still remembered some of the major events that occurred over the next six years and he could use that to his advantage in a number of ways.
In fact… Lucien’s eyes flicker over to the kitchen and he stands up, making his way to a letter he’d not even bothered to open, leaving it to clutter up the counter with a whole bunch of other unopened mail that he’d discarded there. It was about a week old, technically. But for him, it was eight years ago. Frankly, it was a wonder he’d even remembered it.
Then again, it was an invitation to a gathering put on by THE Bruce Wayne. The Wayne Manor Gala was a yearly affair and one that Lucien was pretty sure he was never invited to before this year. Nor was he invited to it after either, not even in the two years he’d had left before he was ultimately kicked to the curb by his cruel, cold father.
However, for whatever reason… this year he’d gotten an invitation. In the original timeline, he’d ignored it of course. He was too sickly for such gatherings, and if he’d tried to go, his father would have stopped him. If somehow he’d slipped through Lex’s net and attended anyways, his father would have punished him. But now? Now things had changed. Now Lucien was better and could represent their family name with something approaching poise.
More than that though, he could represent HIMSELF at the Gala. Bruce Wayne might have been a billionaire playboy, the quintessential billionaire playboy in fact, but he still had a massive company. And the Wayne Manor Gala would be filled with plenty of more serious and self-respecting businesspeople as well. Never mind that Bruce Wayne probably didn’t know the first thing about where his money came from… his party was still an opportunity that Lucien could ill-afford to pass up.
Or could he? Going to the Gala WOULD be a big move… and make big waves as well. He had ideas swirling around in his head about how he could already use such a thing to his advantage, but there was still every possibility that it would backfire and bring his father down upon his head before he was ready. The Gala was high risk, high reward… but it would only give him greater influence, it wouldn’t put money in his pockets right now.
No, if he wanted to make money outside of his father’s wealth, Lucien would need to use his considerable intellect along with his future knowledge… to invent something. It wouldn’t be difficult, to be fair. The world had been accelerating in development long before this time, and in the next eight years it would accelerate even more.
With a clear mind for the first time in his entire life, Lucien even had ideas floating around in his head that would involve improving upon some of the inventions he could steal from the future that he’d come back from. Patent the right thing, and he could become a millionaire overnight. Though that path would also draw his father’s ire eventually, once Lex found out about it. But it would probably take a little longer than if Lucien went to the Wayne Gala.
And yet, what were political and financial power in the face of personal power? Lucien could attend parties and file patents all day long and his father would still have plenty of hit squads to send after him if he decided Lucien was being too much of a nuisance. But Lucien didn’t have to rely upon money, or intellect, or friends to protect himself like Lex did. He had personal power as well.
Through Spot he was gaining several improvements. Feline agility. Enhanced senses. Maybe even claws, though he was still figuring that part out. Right this moment, as he sat there thinking, Lucien was currently already in the process of enhancing his body for the first time. He’d repaired it before, but now… now he was improving it. While just sitting there.
However, no matter how useful Spot was, there was no denying that there were more useful people out there. More useful ‘templates’ that he just needed a single touch to take for himself. If he could lay a finger on a Kryptonian for instance, he would truly be in the money. Or any one of the other dozen alien races that lived on Earth.
And indeed, with his foreknowledge he even knew of some key moments where he might be able to run into those sorts of people.
Then again, he wouldn’t have to risk running into an active super battle to touch a superhero or supervillain if he had enough money or influence to get them to give him just a single moment of their time. He wouldn’t even have to convince them of anything. Arrange a meeting, shake their hands, talk about the weather… and it would be done.
There were lots of paths forward. Lots of ways to achieve his goals, both in the immediate and the long-term. But one thing was certain… no matter what Lucien chose-
Blinking, Lucien finds himself taken out of his thoughts when a fuzzy sensation intrudes upon his steepled hands. He looks down to see the spotted face of a certain Snow Leopard cub poking out from under his hands. Spot, having climbed up onto the table while he was deep in thought, looks at him curiously, seemingly having already imprinted on him by this point.
“Mrow.”
Smiling, Lucien unwinds his hands and reaches under Spot’s chin to give it some rubs. Then, he makes his decision.
Comments
Sonzofzsea
If can host a charity event and get someone to come could shake there hand and hope it someone without gloves unless your strong enough to handle a battle probably a bad idea to try and meet sone though it plus would make you known has someone and if you change the powerused to much even if you make multiple identities and different body types for them would probably leave a trail
StressOwl
Get some feline pheromones and some cheetah powers.
Keeper
Yeah, rn in the comics she’s mentoring the other 2 Batgirls while being Oracle/Batgirl Prime. She has a spine implant but it gets overloaded easily so she mostly stays by the computer or has to use a wheelchair after putting on the costume for a quick fight. Very much in the "I could beat everyone in this room but I’m better suited to leading the Birds of Prey and the Batgirls instead. But don’t think I’m a broken bird."
James022
Physical power, Spot must be defended at all costs!
Chaeden Amastis
Also in most continuity's the whole batfamily is......distrustful of magic which is the most direct healing ability most supes have. You either have super tech or magic, any other healing ability supers usually have is just self regen. Hell if there WAS someone who just had a healing super power if they volunteered it around she'd probably be fine with it.
Fenrir44
Lets go to the gala if it is a event that Lucien can only attent this year and won't be invited again then lets back it inpersonal power is always something we can do in a constant stream avenues like this where we more easily can get both possible political allies and investers in one go? Not as offtern
Kaijucifer
Physical power can be hidden. He needs that to protect himself for when he pursues financial and influential.
Muesli
I'm with going to the gala on this one, simply because some members of the Justice league might be there as well and if Lucien can bump into them / shake their hands, that might solve the issue of personal power as well....as for financial power, that can still come later, once a proper powerbase has been established and we're not constantly in danger of being gunned down by a hitsquad.
SlayingHurdle72
while personal power is indeed a must we should go financial security first since right now we have access to no money that would help us in getting power or influence. our rent and food cost is covered by Lex corp and I doubt Lex has given us an allowance to do whatever we want with. I do vote for going to the Wayne Gala no matter what wins since that has all 3 possibilities. Power: get batmans peak human body. Influence: get to know some of the top movers and shakers and make some connections there. Financial: get some investors from the rich people at the gala for any patient we are putting out.
Phraxius
I don't believe he can get skills, at least at this time. It's likely possible given that both memory and muscle memory is biological, but I doubt it's something he can pull off instinctively. If it was, he'd have gotten a lot more information out of the handshake with Lex.
Kael Hyun
I went with Political power as not only does he get a chance to meet Bruce and potentially get some security to help financially maneuver around Lex he also could meet some of Gotham's Sirens and Batfamily (if Dick is visiting from Bludhaven he could get acrobatic prowess, with Jason knowledge on guns, a chance at Master strategist and tactician with Tim, Genious level Hacking with Babs, the ability to read body language and anticipate opponents' actions with Cassandra.) Also please don't do what the Comics did and make Tim super Cringe
Kael Hyun
Depending on the Continuty Kara could be at the Wayne Gala (she is friends with Barbara in the DCAU)
Strange Loop Sleuth
If I recall correctly, she is unwilling to use a treatment that is only available due to her connections/money, insisting that she will only use a treatment that is publically available. That rules out most of the superscience and alien tech.
SylverIron
Investing in the stock market for 6 years could've helped with the financial route. Not that I voted for it but seemed a different option after inventing something.
Cambrian
That's definitely a potential possibility down the line! Though that does leave me wondering... in-universe, what's the excuse for why Barbara doesn't get her spine healed by any of the hundred heroic options she could go to for that sort of thing? Even death is plenty curable in DC, though not quite so easy. But it's a little hard to justify anyone remaining maimed or paralyzed for longer than it takes to phone up a healer associated with the Justice League lmao.
Chaeden Amastis
Honestly seems likely too late. But The comment about potentially running into the batgirls made me think of him running into Batgirl/Oracle at the party and potentially get a in with the bat family or at least her by curing her spine problems.
Rockinalice
Right at this moment Personal Power is probably the best bet because the other choices will come with enough Personal Power, it's the same reason we went with Biological manpi because with that all other powers come with time. Plus getting Personal Power gets us Opportunities to get social by meeting others
VincentVanNintendogh
Personal power is most likely the one to yield the best result for Lucien. Still, Political/Social with the one time chance to go to a Wayne Gala would be a way to get the strength of Batman… and meet some of the Batgirls. Maybe even in Gala dresses.
Nanaya7Nights
Has Supergirl landed on earth yet? If not, then he just needs to be close enough to her crash site to be the first person to the scene. Then again, he probably needs a few upgrades before he can try something like that to ensure that traumatized Kara doesn't accidentally kill him. He could also attend public events with Superhero appearances. Even a single chance to brush against or shake hands with Starfire, Beast Boy, Raven, Wonder Girl, Wonder Woman, Superboy, Superman, Flash, etc would be worth it.
Darendarus
The other two can be gained more easily by acquiring the first. Looking forward to seeing how he does it!
Nanaya7Nights
He reads the entire biology. The healed damage alone would confirm that Bruce is a vigilante.
Marcus
As Vergil (DMC) one of my favourite characters says "Might controls everything. And without strength you can not protect anything" In DC money and political power IS useful, but if it was the better choice then Lex and any number of rich or influential threats would’ve already taken out the Justice League, PERSONAL Power is definitely the best choice.
Phraxius
Looks like three solid choices, IMO. I initially leaned political, but the extra security provided by a bit of personal power sounds like a good call. Who knows, there might be time to attend the party afterwards. It'd be amusing if Lucien shook Bruce Wayne's hand only to find himself utterly astonished by the fact that the playboy is in absurdly good shape. Presumably 'makes your average Olympian athlete look mediocre' good shape.
