Sympathy for the Father
The cell phone rang three times before he fumbled into his pocket and hit the answer button. In a voice laced with weariness and grief, he spoke into the receiver. "Hello?"
"Harry, this is Lex Luthor. I heard about your father and I wanted to express my condolences."
Harry laughed in disbelief. "Lex Luthor. You've got some fucking nerve, calling me the day after my father's funeral. And how did you get this number anyway?"
Lex replied in the cool tone with a hint of sarcasm that Harry always hated. "I have my ways, Harry."
"Yeah. I bet you do. What the hell do you want?"
"To express my sympathies on the passing of your beloved father," Lex answered in a hurt tone.
"Don't give me that 'outraged innocence' bullshit. I know you better than that." A blurred flash of pale skin and a bald head passed through his mind paired with indistinct conversation and throbbing music. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and shivered. "Come on, Lex. I don't have time for your games."
"What games? You have a suspicious mind, Harry. Didn't you hear – I'm reformed."
Harry chuckled harshly. "I'll believe that when I see it."
"Is that an invitation?" Lex asked softly. When Harry did not answer, he continued. "I hate to cut this short but I have other matters that need my attention. Again, Harry, I'm sorry about your father. Oh, by the way," Lex paused and said before he hung up, "You and I have some business to discuss. It's not extremely urgent, but I wouldn't suggest that you wait too long."
Harry swore softly and threw the phone against the wall. He sank to the floor and buried his face in his hands and began to cry. No matter where he turned, the darkness was closing around him.
The cell phone rang three times before he fumbled into his pocket and hit the answer button. In a voice laced with weariness and grief, he spoke into the receiver. "Hello?"
"Harry, this is Lex Luthor. I heard about your father and I wanted to express my condolences."
Harry laughed in disbelief. "Lex Luthor. You've got some fucking nerve, calling me the day after my father's funeral. And how did you get this number anyway?"
Lex replied in the cool tone with a hint of sarcasm that Harry always hated. "I have my ways, Harry."
"Yeah. I bet you do. What the hell do you want?"
"To express my sympathies on the passing of your beloved father," Lex answered in a hurt tone.
"Don't give me that 'outraged innocence' bullshit. I know you better than that." A blurred flash of pale skin and a bald head passed through his mind paired with indistinct conversation and throbbing music. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and shivered. "Come on, Lex. I don't have time for your games."
"What games? You have a suspicious mind, Harry. Didn't you hear – I'm reformed."
Harry chuckled harshly. "I'll believe that when I see it."
"Is that an invitation?" Lex asked softly. When Harry did not answer, he continued. "I hate to cut this short but I have other matters that need my attention. Again, Harry, I'm sorry about your father. Oh, by the way," Lex paused and said before he hung up, "You and I have some business to discuss. It's not extremely urgent, but I wouldn't suggest that you wait too long."
Harry swore softly and threw the phone against the wall. He sank to the floor and buried his face in his hands and began to cry. No matter where he turned, the darkness was closing around him.