A/N: WOO-HOO! Finally! I got the ball rolling! Sorry it took me so long to get back to this one, but I had writer's block and got distracted with another story for a while. . . and unluckily for me, writer's block is my own special form of kryptonite. . . Luckily, though, I called up Clark and he swooped down and obliterated that brick wall that stood in my way in one fell swoop and allowed me to get back to what was really important here: pleasing the fans! So here you go, the next installment of "Clark vs. Lex"! I swear, the next sections shouldn't take so long! (but honestly guys, it's only been like a couple of weeks XD ).
Disclaimer: The following passage contains information that neither I nor any large coorporations consider to be my own. For starters, I do not own any of the characters, locations, or catchphrases that may or may not be found in this manuscript. What I am responsible for, however, is the wickedness I have inserted into the plotline and the distress that I have caused many of the aforesaid characters due to my ramblings and insatiable need to answer the question "what if...?" :D
*****Chapter 11: A Far Cry From Perfect*****
Lex had been truly shocked to see the news in the paper the morning following his escapades at the Daily Planet. At first, he brushed it off. Of course Clark Kent had to die. He was Superman, and Clark got shot. Superman wouldn't have died.
On the other hand, he did use kryptonite, Lex thought with a wry smile creeping across his features. It would be great, although perhaps mildly disappointing, if he really had killed Superman. Though it would have been such a shame- his last attempt had been so much more dramatic, and epic- the man deserved a somewhat more shocking death.
But surely it couldn't be the truth. Clark dead, and Superman dead, in one blow? It was too much to ask. Regardless of the fact that they were the same person.
And yet still, it had now been three days since he had shown up as either the man or the superhero.
Lex knew Clark. He knew he loved Lois more than anything else in the world- well, excepting that little bratty child of his. He should've known the second he laid eyes on the boy that this was indeed Clark's little boy. The point was, he wouldn't just give up. Three weeks earlier he had lifted an island made from kryptonite and hurled it into space even though he knew it would probably kill him- and he had survived that. Lex shrugged his shoulders- that attempt had been to kill him. The bullet clean into the shoulder was meant to incapacitate him, not kill him. Well, killing him was the ultimate goal, but you know what he meant.
Which was why he found it hard to believe.
Lois had cried very effectively, but no superhero burst forth to come to her rescue. She somehow was seriously upset over the article, though Lex assumed it was nothing but a hoax. Briefly he imagined what he would do if the superhero really was dead, and couldn't repress the smile that rushed to his lips.
Then he sobered. He wasn't dead. He couldn't be. That was too soon. It had only been three days. . . but he couldn't help feeling that if another day passed and the superhero still hadn't shown his face, he would begin to believe in miracles.
Suddenly the door burst open to the room. He shot a mildly irritated glance at the man who dared intrude on his inner musings, then noticed it was Lois's prison guard- and he had a worried look on his face.
Suddenly apprehensive, Lex turned to question him. "Yes? What is it? Has Superman shown up yet, or is he still too chicken?" Or dead, his subconscious added, before he crossed that thought out of his mind. No. He couldn't possibly be dead. It didn't add up. There was something else. Right?
Or maybe he would have to just own up to the fact that this victory was going to be anticlimactic.
The man hesitated before speaking. He well knew what Lex Luthor could do. "N-no, but it's Miss Lane, sir."
"What about her? Is she missing? Spit it out already!"
"She's kind of. . . having a fit. She says she refuses to eat until she can speak with you again- regardless of whether or not Superman comes for her. She's Lois Lane- and she's demanding an interview of sorts. Oh, and she also swore that she'd never cry for his help again if you didn't go talk to her."
Lex sighed. He knew Miss Lane wouild be trouble, as she was always apt to be, but so far all she had done for him was scream at him, yell at him, cry, and be stubbornly silent. The silence was the best of the four options, but he needed her cooperation if he wanted to get to Superman- to get Clark. After a moment of consideration, he came to a decision and stood up.
"Alright," he spoke slowly. "Let's give Superman a run for his money."
Walking into Lois's quarters, he was greeted with an icy stare. "Miss Lane," he greeted. "Glad to know that we're just about back on speaking terms. Are you ready to cooperate now?"
"I'll never work with you, Luthor."
"Well then, maybe Jason will. I'm sure if Superman isn't willing to rescue you, maybe he would be willing to show up for his son's sake."
Lex revelled in the flash of panic that occupied her features. She was so easy to manipulate. "You wouldn't." Her voice was a whisper, but even as she spoke the words she knew she was being ridiculous.
"I'm Lex Luthor. Of course I would."
Her eyes widened with horror. Nevermind the fact that he had absolutely no idea where her son was at the moment- a thought that reaffirmed his staunch belief that Superman really was not yet dead. He would use her fear to gain her cooperation.
"Y-you would u-use a child just to get at. . . S-superman?"
He snorted. "And I thought Clark was the one who stuttered. And let's not forget, he's no ordinary kid, Lois. He's Clark Kent's son. Superman's son." He grinned. "I just love how those two names are interchangeable, don't you?"
She grew white, though whether it was with rage or fear, Lex couldn't quite be sure. "You're a monster," she whispered, barely at his hearing level. How could anyone do such a thing? To a chiild, no less?
Lex feigned disinterest and sighed, boredly playing with his gun as he spoke. "You know, Lois, I do have things to do- I was informed that you wanted to speak with me. If it were anybody else, I might not have wasted my breath- but for the Lois Lane- Pulitzer winner, star reporter, mother of Superman's love child- how could I possibly refuse? Besides, I believe we are long overdue for an interview, and you promised your guard something along those lines, did you not?"
She positively glowered at her captor. "I only have one question for you Luthor."
"One question? Well, that surely won't do. We'll have to come up with some more, but I suppose we could fly by the seat of our pants on this one. I'm sure you- being the creative person you are- can come up with something better than "boxers or briefs". Although I imagine it was not a difficult answer to ascertain from your boyfriend." He quirked his lips at this. "Any hack reporter could have guessed that."
"He was not- is not my boyfriend!"
"Well, not yet, maybe. Although, perhaps not ever, now. How sad, really. Your relationship consisted of a one night stand and him wiping your memory. Oh, and a child he was never around to see. Gosh, it seems like Superman's been a little loose with his mantra lately. "Truth, justice. . ." and all that jazz. Isn't it ironic?"
The smile that played on his lips only served to infuriate Lois further. If there were any projectiles within her range, he was positive she would have thrown them at him with no amount of mildness. But that, and the fact that she was securely fastened to a chair, prevented her from causing him any physical harm. After struggling to get free and attack him for several moments, she finally gave in. With a glare, she asked her question. "Why? Why do you hate Clark, or Superman, so much? What prompted all this?"
His eyes flashed with a hot rage. "Why? Let's start with Clark Kent, shall we? Why that brilliant kid- my best friend, no less- was able to cheat his way to the top of his class with his powers, beat me to a scholarship- which he afterwards refused!-, how he stole my girlfriend, and then I stole her back, and then how he kept claiming that we grew apart because I had changed, because I was the one who wasn't normal! Because of what the drugs made me! And instead of helping, he abandoned me, left me on my own- only come to find out, he really didn't! You want to know why, Miss Lane? Huh?
"Because Superman found me! Granted, he wasn't exactly Superman at the time, not with the entire ensemble and whatnot. He said he was trying to save me- but I didn't want to be saved. So when my parents died, and I inheritted all their money, and aligned myself with other wealthy people, and after I discovered just how real Superman was- that he wasn't some biproduct of the drugs or my mind- I decided to take him down. When he continually sent me to prison and foiled my plans, it became even more personal. When I learned he was my ex-best friend, Clark Joseph Kent- it took the game to a whole new level. And when I found out he had an old flame- and she'd had a kid that looked mysteriously a lot like Clark Kent did as a kid- it became too easy. It was unbelievable- and he just flies around, pretending he's perfect. He's a far cry from perfect, Miss Lane. You of all people should know that! Look at all of the mistakes he made with you!"
Lois cut off his rantings and ravings there with a cold glare and an icy- no, steely edge to her tone. "Let's get one thing straight, Luthor. Jason was not a mistake. And Superman- as either Clark or the hero- would never, despite what you may think of him, stoop so low as to do any of the things you've done. You, Luthor, are a maniac, as what you've told me only proves. You are the furthest thing from perfect- you're the devil incarnate! And it will be a warm day on Krypton before I ever listen to you or do as you tell me."
Lex Luthor squared his jaw firmly, and a steely look came into his eyes. For a moment, she thought that Lex should have been the one given the nickname "man of steel," since it fit him so much better. Or perhaps man of ice.
"So be it."
With that he stalked out of the room, leaving Lois to wonder if she had only made their situation worse.
*****Act Drop*****
A/N: Yay! I know, it was short, but necessary to move the story forward. . . Also, note that once again, I am NOT following the Smallville concept of Clark/Lex relationship, I am creating my own idea of what they're previous friendship was like. I am blissfully unaware of what happened on the show, and anything that may seem similar or dissimilar to it I can take no blame for. The disclaimer holds true for all this. I've no idea what happened on the show, but I think it would be cool if this is what happened :)
More to come! Read and Review, and next time you hear a sonic boom go past your house, know that it's Clark thanking you for your feedback!
