Chapter Text
Lex Luthor was looking out of his office window from where he dominated Metropolis. He was exhilarated. He was starting a game with an old friend-enemy.
Mercy frowned at his excitement. He normally only got this excited with things to do with Superman. To her knowledge, he wasn't planning anything concerning Superman.
"Mercy," He called, "Implant Plan 'Theater.'"
"Fine," she answered. He turned to see her observe him quietly. His lips curled upwards in a smirk, "You don't know why I am excited."
"No, I don't. Normally, only things related to Superman can make you this happy."
His smirk became even more pronounced, "What makes you think this isn't related?"
Mercy observed him walk around his desk. "It might be related, but that is not all. I don't understand the other part."
"Mercy, have you ever hunted a wolf?"
"No," she answered succinctly.
"For the past years, I have made my goal of destroying Superman, but that does not mean he was my only obsession," Lex continued, looking at her attentively, "Before Superman and Clark Kent had my attention, Bruce Wayne had it." Mercy seemed surprised at the statement.
"It is true. Bruce Wayne was a fascinating man back then and he still is. He is the beast. Sometimes, it is tiring to always hunt down a God."
"Are you saying you are replacing your Superman obsession with a Bruce Wayne one because it is easier?", Mercy asked, baffled.
"No. You are not listening Mercy. Hunting a beast is a very different activity than hunting a God. A God either strikes you down with his judgment or ignores you. A cornered beast on the other hand will fight you savagely. Until Superman's morality breaks, he will not strike me. Bruce Wayne will try to hurt me. It is time I face a foe willing to hurt me. It makes things... different. My strategies will have to be adapted." Mercy thought his statement over, "Shouldn't it be easier, dealing with Bruce Wayne than with Superman?"
Lex looked disappointed and a bit annoyed at Mercy's continued ignorance. "Mercy, imagine Joker got bored with always dealing with Batman and decides to try another superhero. He could try his refined techniques against someone unused to them at all, like Superman. Where Batman vaccinated himself against Joker's tactics, Superman would have difficulty opposing them without any background on it. In my case, I am testing tactics that cannot be used against Superman against Bruce Wayne. It is a good way to measure out about my progress with the bonus of angering Superman."
"If this is only a game, what is your endgame, as you're so proud to say? Bruce Wayne's death?", Mercy asked, still perplexed at Lex's behavior.
"Mercy, there are so many good endgame to this war, but I fail to see what would be the point of Bruce Wayne's death." Lex went over to pick up a glass of water on the other side of his desk.
"Then, what would you consider a win?"
"Among other things? Superman's intervention... Bruce Wayne's rejection of everyone... There are so many good endings."
"So you have already determined how you can win this game?", Mercy pursued. Lex Luthor turn his back on her to observe the city, his hands clasping behind him. "Bruce Wayne's major weakness is his fear of loss, especially loss of his relationships. Relationships has always been Bruce's Archilles' heel. I will simply push him toward his normal self-destructive habits."
"Is that affection in your voice?", Mercy asked jokingly. Lex did not respond for a while. "Most people do not have some hate for Superman and some love for Bruce Wayne. But then again, I am not most people."
Mercy was surprised Lex let her know he loved Bruce Wayne. Lex had love for his sister Lena and for himself. That had been the extent of it to her knowledge before now. "So you love Bruce Wayne and hate Superman?"
Mercy could hear Lex's smirk in his reply, "It is never that simple with me, Mercy." That was true, she thought.
"Besides," he continued after a pause, "Superman does not understand why anyone would hate him and Bruce does not understand why anyone would love him. Neither of them knows how to react in that situation. In a way, it is the best way to keep them off balance."
Mercy was uncertain what to make of the statement. Was it Lex's rationalization or just another facet of his personality? Was he lying to her again or messing with her head? Who knew with the man...
"We should probably go, if you intend to arrive in time for the gala in Gotham tonight," Mercy finally said.
"We should. We wouldn't want to miss the first skirmish, would we?" Lex answered softly without moving from his position.