Who: Lex Luthor and Mercy Graves (oneshot) When: November 17th, 2013 Where: Ellworth Memorial Hospital, Metropolis What: Midnight meeting Rating: Some swearing
"This is going to help with the pain, Miss Graves."
"Fuck you. I've had worse." Mercy gritted her teeth, and shot a glare at the doctor.
"Miss Graves, please. I'm doing my job, and you're lucky to have survived this. If you don't recover properly, there's a very good chance you'll do more damage."
"I was beaten to an inch of my life, asshole. But again, I've had worse."
The doctor shook his head as he hooked up the IV to her arm. "Don't pull this out. You're weak, and you'll only end up hurting yourself."
"Go fuck yourself." And then the exhaustion hit her and lay back, staring angrily up at the wall. Her face was still a mess of bruises and cuts, most of her body in a cast. The pain was agonizing. Her attacker hadn't just roughed her up, they had roughed her up in such a way that she was feeling it for weeks after, the mark of a professional.
"Goodnight, Miss Graves. Maybe after some rest, you'll be more agreeable to your treatment." And he left, leaving her alone.
She remained awake for a few hours after, trying to hear the conversations that were happening outside of her room. Someone had tried to leave the tv on, but she'd insisted it be left off. Silence was better than that crap. In that silence, she eventually drifted off, but her eyes opened suddenly at the sound of a voice.
"Graves."
She tried to jerk upright, despite the casts and other apparatus holding her down. But nothing happened, she couldn't even move her head, just her eyes. She swallowed hard as she looked in the direction that it had come from. A shadowy figure sat off to her left, near her bed. He sat forward and she tried to move away, but again, nothing happened.
"Graves. We've shared quite the history together, haven't we? I've shaped the world and my company with you by my side. I've shaped your life. That tough little thing I found on the streets, so violent, so brash. Such raw talent in that young Mercy Graves."
She whimpered.
"I saved you, Mercy. I saved you from a quick death that was inevitable given your rage. I honed your skills, gave you a purpose, direction." His hand moved towards her face, and she whimpered again. One of his fingers slowly traced down her cheek. "And in return, you protected my life. You put your own life at risk for the safety of mine." He sat back again, watching her silently for a few minutes.
"I appreciated your efforts, Mercy. I always have. Your loyalty never wavered, even when I knew you disagreed with my actions. You didn't want me to run for office, you argued with me about it. But never once did you stop protecting me. For that, I am grateful."
Slowly, he leaned forwards again, and his voice was low, and laced with a deadly tone. "Which is why you are still alive. I brought you out of chaos and rage, and you know damned well what I am capable of. Your ... poor choices in regards to me and the rights you stripped away from me were regrettable. But this time ... this one time, I will chalk them up to your continuing efforts to keep me safe. You did what you thought was right, and were made blind because of it."
He cupped her chin, and even if she had been in control of her body, she wouldn't have been able to move, so paralyzed with fear. "Never. Forget. Who I am. Never forget what I am capable of. I am Lex Goddamned Luthor," his grip on her chin tightened for a second before relaxing again, "and I can make the pain you suffer now seem like heaven on earth if I'm pushed like this again."
Silence, and then he pressed his lips to her forehead in a brief kiss before letting go of her chin and standing. "Goodnight, Mercy darling. Sleep well. You'll need the strength for your recovery." And the door opened and closed, and he was gone.
In the dark, a tear slipped down Mercy Graves cheek and hit the pillow beneath her head as she remained motionless.