Claire Martha Kent Part I
By Arica, Princess of Rivendell
Summary: AU. What if Clark had never been born? What if the Els had given birth to a daughter instead? This is the life and times of Kaila El or Claire Martha Kent. NOT SLASH! NEVER INTENDED TO BE TAKEN AS SLASH!
Disclaimer: I own NEITHER "Smallville," NOR "Lois and Clark the New Adventures of Superman." I do NOT own any of the D.C. Comic Books or their characters. All of the characters mentioned belong to each of their own creators.
Warnings: Later on, there will be some torture, domestic abuse, some child abuse, and infidelity.
A/N: Thank you Serena85 for being the first one to review since my return to ff . net. Thank you AnmialsRainbows and ShapeofRainbows for coming back to read this after all these years. I also thank Guest #1, Guest #2, and Belluda57 for their kind reviews. Thank you Angelvan105 for taking the time to PM your review and to ask questions. Thank you .Winchester.17 for letting me know how much you like the story and are interested in it.
To the Guest whom asked about Male!Lois and Fem!Clark, I have to say that won't be in this story as Claire isn't a female version of Clark; but instead, Clark's twin sister; and Lois is definitely female.
To anyone wondering if this is going to be slash or femslash, no it will not have either of those pairings.
For those wondering how often I update, I generally update once a week. If something comes up and I'm aware of an issue ahead of time, I try to update the day before my next update is expected. If something unexpected comes up, I try to update no later than two days late; however, life does sometimes get in the way of this; and it ends up being three days late. In which case there will be two updates that week instead of just one.
To all my readers, sorry about the delay in posting Chapter 9; things got super busy here. I'm posting two chapters today as promised I would do if I wasn't able to post a chapter a deadline. So Chapter 10 will also be up shortly. Thank you all for your patience.
Pairings:
Hints/mentions of past Claire/Lex
Will at some point have Claire/Oliver
Will have Kara/Jimmy
Will have Bruce/Chloe
Will have Dinah Lance/AC
Will have Victor Stone/Diana Prince
Bart Allen/Linda Park (Thank you, Kairan1979.)
Also Lana/Lex will be present at different intervals
After many years of working on this story, this will most likely not have Lex/Lois (but my characters may yet pull a rabbit out of their hats).
Casting:
Claire Kent—Michelle Trachtenberg
Oliver Queen—Justin Hartley
Lex Luthor— Michael Rosenbaum
Lana Lang—Kristin Kreuk
Chloe Sullivan—Alison Mack
Bruce Wayne—Christian Bale
Kara Kent—Laura Vandervoot
Jimmy Olson—Aaron Ashmore
Dinah Lance—Alaina Kalanj
Arthur Curry—Alan Ritchson
Victor Stone—Lee Thompson Young
Diana Prince—Tia Mowry
Lois Lane—Erica Durance (But a mixture of Smallville Lois and the Lois from L&C: NAS personalities).
Bart Allen—Kyle Gallner
Linda Park—Linda Park (was in Jurassic Park III)
Cat Grant—Tracy Scoggins
Perry White—Lane Smith
Chapter Nine
Business Deals
It had been three weeks since Oliver Queen and Lex Luthor had traded words in the Talon. Oliver had read in the papers that very morning that Lex was planning on trying to take on his company in a hostile takeover. Luckily, Queen Industries and Wayne Industries had joined companies one week prior; of course, they had never made it public knowledge. Bruce had wanted to wait for what the other man had called an "opportune moment" Oliver had a feeling that Bruce had known about Luthor's plan and therefore had wanted to wait until Luthor made his move.
Oliver's thoughts and suspicions were confirmed when the phone rang and Bruce Wayne was on the other end asking Oliver when they should do the big unveiling. Oliver thought about it and asked, "Preferably before Luthor decides to try and attack the company."
Bruce chuckled, "Well, since he's planning on announcing the rest of his plan at a party he's hosting on the first of November, we could cancel everything that we have planned for this weekend and host our own party."
"Or," Oliver replied, "We could announce it at the party I'm hosting on the thirty-first of October this year. That way he has no way of changing his plans to accommodate ours."
Bruce Wayne responded, "The thirty-first works for me."
"Excellent. Make sure that everyone you invite knows that it's a Masquerade Ball."
"Masquerade Ball?"
"Is that a problem?"
"No. I was just surprised. You didn't seem like the kind of man who liked such things."
"Every now and then I do; besides I already told a friend that's what it was."
Bruce smirked on the other end of the phone. He knew that he shouldn't get personal, but beings Oliver was his best-friend...No, Bruce decided he would not treat Oliver as he would his best-friend in this very moment. It was bad to mix business with play even if it was banter between two best-friends. So instead, Bruce said, "I'm glad that you keep promises Mr. Queen that means that I will most likely be able to trust you when it comes to business deals."
"Of course, Mr. Wayne," Oliver replied and then he said, "Mr. Wayne, I'm sorry to cut this phone call short, but I have a meeting that I must be at in about ten minutes."
"Mr. Queen, I completely understand. Have a good day, Mr. Queen; and, I will see you on the thirty-first."
"Thank you, Mr. Wayne. You have a good day too, and I will expect you and any guests you invite for the thirty-first of October."
"Good-bye, Mr. Queen."
"Good-bye Mr. Wayne."
And with that, the two businessmen hung up their phones.
One week after that phone conversation and the night of the Masquerade Ball at the Metropolis Plaza was in full swing. Claire Kent was dressed in a beautiful emerald green dress that touched the ground, a white veil with a gold crown hung over her hair, and her green velvet flats. To many, she appeared to be one of the most beautiful women in the room.
Oliver himself was dressed in a forest green shirt and pants, he had a forest green hat with a green feather in it on his head, and his forest green shoes, along with a black mask, and he even had some arrows and a bow on his back.
Oliver had gone to get drinks and as he headed to return to Claire, he saw Lex Luthor enter and take Claire's hand and whisper in her ear. And Oliver saw red.
Claire felt someone come up behind her and she teased, "Robin, I'm surprised I thought you were going to get drinks."
"I don't know who this 'Robin' is; but if he left you alone just for a minute even if it was just to get drinks, then he was foolish, Juliet."
"Lex," she breathed as fear entered her eyes.
"What's the matter, Angel?"
Claire hated that Lex could call her that with such ease while an evil smirk was upon his face and the way his hand almost brushed her own; then out of the corner of her eye she saw Oliver approaching and he looked angry. Claire couldn't let Oliver lose face tonight so then she turned to Lex, "Give me one hour, and I'll meet you in the gardens."
Lex was surprised and after he glanced to his right and saw Oliver Queen; his smirk became more prominent, "Lose the boy. I'll give you one hour, but that's it."
Claire glared as Lex dissolved back amongst the crowd and Oliver got there to Claire's side, "Are you alright."
"I'm fine."
"He didn't hurt you?"
"Oliver, please calm down."
"Claire—"
"Ollie, please, just let it go."
Oliver closed his eyes, he could still see the fear in her eyes and he was angry but she was soothing his nerves and he wanted to be angry.
"Please, Ollie. Let's just go dance."
"Claire—"
"Ollie," Claire spoke his name again and when he looked into her eyes he could see the tears gathering there, he swallowed and then Oliver said, "Claire, please tell me, what's wrong."
"Oliver, just take me onto the dance floor and hold me. Just hold me; even, if it's just for an hour."
And Oliver agreed. Fifty minutes later, Claire switched partners with Chloe and then she excused herself from Bruce so she could use the restroom. Five minutes later, she was outside in the garden and Lex followed ten minutes later after ditching Lana.
"Angel," Lex breathed when he was only a step away. Claire took two steps away from Lex and held up her hand to show that she didn't want him to follow.
Claire spoke and said, "What do you want, Lex?"
"Angel, please."
"NO, LEX! You had your chance; and you couldn't accept that there were some things that I couldn't tell you."
"Claire, please let me explain."
"Explain, Lex? Explain what? Explain how you ended up giving me the most ridiculous ultimatum ever and then you dumped me when I refused to give into it, and then you went for one of my friends, is that what you want to explain? Because, you can't explain it away, Lex. You hurt me, you hurt me so badly I was broken—"
"I know, Angel, I know I did that and I'm sorry that I hurt you."
Claire's voice was strained as she screamed, "BUT YOU'RE NOT, LEX!" And then her voice became a whisper, "But you're NOT, and I can tell, because you're still hurting me, Lex."
"Claire, please, we can go back to the way things were; you and me, Romeo and Juliet."
"I told you we weren't Romeo and Juliet and even if we had been, we can't go back. I can't go back."
"Be with me."
"And what of Lana? Will you break the promise you made to her as you broke the one you made to me?"
"We can work something out."
"You are NOT LISTENING TO ME! I do NOT want to work it out, Lex, I can't."
"We can. Please, Claire, our love was the stuff made in legends."
"I'm not that girl anymore, Lex. I'm not the girl who will fall under the spell of your pretty words as you tell me that I'm supposed to be with you. Because Lex, I can't."
"Tell me you don't love me."
Claire looked away from him and said, "I don't love you."
"Say it, while looking into my eyes," he growled.
Claire looked him directly into his eyes and she spoke clearly, "I don't love you."
Lex searched her eyes, and outwardly he smirked; but on the inside he was a broken man. However, he refused to give up, in the end he'd be victorious. She still loved him, or at least a part of her did, which meant that he still had a hold on her. One he knew he absolutely had to crush in any way he could, or commit murder. So he whispered, "I hope you know Queen won't be able to protect you forever."
As Lex turned to walk away Claire called, "Oliver is more man than you will ever be! And I can't wait for him to wipe that smug smirk off your face!"
Lex whirled around, he stormed back towards her, he tried to grab her; but, she pushed him away and then slapped him as lightly as she could (which due to her strength still hurt him).
Lex growled, "More man than me, Claire? If you remember, Claire, it was me whom you once came to for comfort and you are still mine whether you want to admit it or not."
"I care for you, Lex, but I don't love you. Get that through your thick skull. I could never love a man or boy, but especially a boy, whom broke my heart.
He snarled, "And what of Dear Oliver, Claire? Does he love you? Do you want him to love you? No billionaire could ever love you, Claire. At least when it comes to me, Angel, you would have the honor of being my mistress. All you have to do is give me three little words."
"Get out of my sight, Lex; you aren't even worth my anger; and just for the record, I refuse to be anyone's mistress."
Lex sneered as he turned away. From the corner of his eye, he spotted a reporter he hadn't known was there. One whom had overheard the entire conversation and got it on tape. For a split second Lex felt relief that Claire would never be able to forget the conversation; and then he felt fear travel down his spine.
When Lex got back inside the Plaza, he searched out Lana and pulled her close whispering, "I love you. Have I told you that lately?"
Lana was becoming annoyed with this phrase. She knew why Lex said it and it bothered her. Whenever he felt threatened by Oliver Queen's attention towards Claire, Lex would turn the affection he had towards Claire onto her and it bugged her. It bugged her even more that at the same time Lex had said his usual phrase and given her the hug that always followed, Claire had entered her line of sight and Claire looked at Lana and Lex with pursed lips.
But Lana was confused by the look on Claire's face there was no hurt nor jealousy, it didn't even look sad, it was just blank and then Oliver Queen went up to Claire, and Claire's face lit up like a Christmas tree; but there was sadness as well in the girl's eyes, and Lana's eyes widened. In that instance, Lana Lang knew that Claire couldn't care less about Lana's relationship with Lex because Claire had someone else looking after Claire's heart these days, and that someone was Oliver Queen.
Lana pulled Lex tighter and found hope that she and Claire could maybe become friends again. She knew it would be difficult and had to be on Claire's terms. But, Lana also knew that with enough time and patience she could easily convince the other woman that she had missed her company. She also knew it would help if she had just the right explanation prepared as well.
After all with Lex so unwilling to share what he knew about Claire, becoming friends with Claire again, was her only ticket to finding out what secrets the other woman held.
A few minutes later, Oliver Queen and Bruce Wayne said that they needed to make an announcement and then it came out that Wayne Industries and Queen Industries had become business partners in everything. And that to attack one company would be to attack both companies and that all the paper work had been filled out weeks ago.
Lana was shocked; but extremely happy that Lex hadn't been able to ruin Oliver and through him Claire; after all such a ruination would ruin her own plans for the couple.
Lex, on the other hand, was livid. His eyes fell onto Claire as he fought to keep the fear he felt from showing on his face. Instead hiding his true emotions behind a carefully constructed mask.
Lana never saw the look Lex had given Claire, if she had, she would have seen all the things she would have wanted to see on his face. Obsession, lust for power; even a hint of insanity. However, Lana's eyes were on Oliver and his eyes were on Claire. What Lana saw in Oliver's eyes was shocking, pure love, adoration, respect, and devotion radiated from the warm brown eyes of Oliver Queen and all of it was directed at Claire.
Lana would have sworn the look was genuine but then his eyes left Claire's face and found a reporter. Lana saw then that Oliver wore a mask of his own; and she smirked. Because if she could play her cards just right, she could perhaps gain an ally in Oliver Queen.
When Mr. Queen looked at Bruce Wayne, there was friendship and understanding maybe even brotherly affection. When near Chloe or Kara there was only friendship, and with any girl who wasn't Chloe, Kara, and especially Claire, Oliver Queen had no interest once so ever. Lana found it breathtaking as she watched Oliver Queen, never realizing that her boyfriend, Lex was already coming up with another plot to destroy the man Lana had decided she wanted for an ally.
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