Claire Martha Kent Part II
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. I do NOT own Peter Parker or Mary Jane Watson. I do NOT own any of the Marvel 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 to everyone whom has Favorited, Followed, Reviewed, and/or Private Messaged me about CMK.
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
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 Three
Trust
Claire couldn't believe what she was seeing. She had come out of her room and had just started to enter the dining room; but she had stopped in the doorway and just stood there. No one had noticed her, yet.
In the dining room, Lex and Lana Luthor were sitting side by side. Claire wanted to remain unnoticed for as long as possible. From the doorway, Claire could see that Lana was upset to find Oliver Queen was here and then Lana asked, "Pete may I ask," and trailed off as she gestured towards Oliver.
Pete had caught onto what Lana was asking and said, "Oliver's here with Claire." He paused and took a sip of water from a glass before he said, "I wanted to meet him." Then Pete paused again. Lex immediately caught on to Pete's hesitation while Pete tried once more to hide it as he said, "I did want to come to yours and Lex's wedding; however, I couldn't get away from work. Plus, I wanted to bring Jasmine along with me and she was unable to make it as well."
"Oh," Lana replied. She got a look of confusion on her face and tilted her head, "I'm sorry, you said that Claire was here?"
Lex barely kept himself from reacting to Lana's statement. He noticed that Pete sat up straighter as if to confront Lana while Oliver seemed to lean back in his chair as if to observe. The only hint he gave that he might also respond to Lana was that he had put down his glass of water and had a slight frown on his face.
Jasmine spoke before either Pete or Oliver could and said, "She is here; I believe she went up to the guest room that was made up for her. Pete has several."
Lana gently smiled and responded, "I'm aware about how many guestrooms Pete has; I've visited him a couple of times." She then turned to Lex and said, "We should have Pete and Jasmine out sometime. With the couple hundred guestrooms we have at the manor, it shouldn't be too hard to find them both a room. Plus we could give Jasmine the room that overlooks the sunflower patch."
It was Lex had yet to touch his own glass of water and everything in him was rebelling at Lana's suggestions. As if she sensed his inner rebellion, she touched his arm and smiled at him with her teeth.
He knew he had to choose his words carefully. "When have you visited, Pete?"
Lana froze ever so slightly. She knew very well why Lex was asking that. She hadn't told him about those visits and she also knew that Lex could easily make it look as if she had cheated on him during those visits if he could match up the timelines. She also chose her words carefully, "I'm sorry, Darling; I didn't think it was something you needed to know at the time."
Lex had to fight to keep the smirk and smugness out of his voice while trying to project concern for his wife's wellbeing as he said, "Well, for future reference I would always like to be aware of your whereabouts."
"The way you know all of Claire's whereabouts," Oliver coldly asked, "Lex?"
Lex tensed ever so slightly as his blue eyes met Oliver's brown. For a moment, Lex could see a Great White Shark circling before him as it caught the scent of spilt blood. Lex placed himself into a relaxed position trying to cover just how tense he was as he projected a sense of calm over his being. He smirked as he kept all of his attention on blonde man and said, "I don't know what you're talking about; I'm just here with Lana visiting one of her old high school friends; is that a problem?"
Pete jumped in before Oliver could and said, "There's no problem, Lex; I just wasn't expecting you is all."
Lana brought the attention back to herself as she said, "I wanted to see this place and you always said that I was welcome to visit; I figured that option was open to my husband as well."
Oliver studied the male Luthor in front of him carefully. He reached for his glass and took a sip. His brown eyes narrowed as Lex seemed to relax into the position he had tried to project a fake sense of calm over himself.
Inwardly, Oliver smirked as he thought to himself, "This will be easy; almost too easy."
From the corner of his eye, Oliver saw Pete's jaw clench, and he noticed that Jasmine was warming up to Lana Luthor and her husband. It was quite obvious to Oliver that Jasmine was relaxing around the two because she knew that Lana was married and therefore wasn't after Pete.
Suddenly the theme tune for Robin Hood the Prince of Thieves sounded through the room; Claire made a hasty retreat out of the doorway and then super-sped to the left into the living room. She saw some bookshelves and sitting on one of the shelves was the book entitled, Pride and Prejudice. Claire smiled as it was one of her favorites and she began to read it.
Oliver Queen excused himself from the Dining room, answered his cell phone as soon as he was outside the dining room door, and then he entered the living room. He was surprised to see Claire sitting on the couch and reading. He smiled as he thought, "She looks so peaceful." The voices on the other end of the phone caused him to close his eyes and feel stressed as he felt his latest plans start to crumble around him.
"We need help," the first voice belonging to A.C. said.
Oliver opened his mouth to reply; but the second voice beat him to it, "Serious help," Bart whined.
"Your help to be precise, Robin Hood;" the third voice belonging to Victor was serious.
Oliver sighed and dropped his head, Claire looked up, and blue-green eyes met brown eyes. Claire's eyes showed worry and Oliver's eyes conveyed pain; Claire could still hear the voices on the other end pleading with Oliver to come and help them; she got up and walked over to him, she took the phone and said, "He'll be there," then she hung up.
Oliver clenched his jaw, took a deep breath through his nose, and let it out with his mouth. Then he spoke, "Claire—"
She cut him off, "Go."
"Claire—"
"No, Ollie," she put up a hand and said, "No, Ollie, you need to go. They need help; your help."
"Claire—"
"Go."
"But—"
"I can handle Lex."
Inwardly Oliver frowned as that wasn't his only reason for wishing to stay as he heard himself whine, "Clai-are—"
"Did you just whine at me?" Claire teased him.
Oliver could tell she was teasing because of the sparkle that had entered Claire's eyes and because of the small smile on Claire's mouth.
Oliver allowed his mouth to quirk upwards in a half smile and half smirk; Claire looked up and smiled at him. She knew that he would have to go; she had promised the team after all; "Go, Oliver, they need you."
"I know;" he said aloud. Inwardly he thought to himself, "But with Lex here—"
Claire interrupted his thoughts, "Let me handle Lex. You know that I can."
He heard the resignation in his own voice as he said, "I know."
"Then why—"
He quickly cut her off and threw out the first excuse he could come up with, "I trust you and I believe that you can handle yourself; however, I don't trust Lex Luthor to follow the rules and stay away from you. I don't like the idea of leaving you here open to attacks that are going to be coming from three people and don't tell me that Jasmine likes you; because even I can tell that she doesn't like you. I also don't want you to tell me that Lana and you have a truce; because we both know that she'll stand by Lex until the day she dies. Also, don't tell me that Lex won't try something because you and I both know that Lex could try something and that he really wants you; also, I know that you are aware that he won't stop until someone forces him to or he gets what he wants."
"Ollie—"
He had to keep her from talking, or he would lose the train of thought that had him on such a roll, "I know; but I can't help but worry. You're one of my best friends and if something were to happen to you—"
Claire gave him a fond smile as she interrupted him, "I know, Ollie. Nevertheless, you have to go. Believe me, I would love to go with you; but I can't; I have to stay here and mind the fort. However," Claire said, "I will give you this," and she reached behind her neck and undid the clasp of the chain that hung around her neck. Claire then showed the chain to Oliver. The chain was pure gold and on the chain were two wedding rings.
Oliver raised an eyebrow at the rings and Claire explained, "These rings belonged to my parents. After Dad died, Mom gave me Dad's wedding band. Then Lionel started to court my mom and she gave me hers because she said that she was starting to fall in love with Lionel;" she took a breath and before she could continue Oliver said, "Claire—"
"No, Ollie," Claire interrupted, "I need you to let me finish;" she took another breath and continued, "I want you to keep these safe for me. I know how difficult it is to—"
Oliver interrupted, "To return afterwards?"
"Yeah; and well, I just want you to know that I care so I want you to have this so that you can remember that there is someone who understands and cares about you."
Oliver chuckled; "You need to relax, Claire;" and then in a more serious tone he whispered, "I would be honored to accept this chain to look after until this mission is complete and I am home safe and sound. Now, would you be willing to help me put it on?"
Claire smiled as Oliver took the chain from her and then he turned so that his back was facing her. He then moved the chain up enough so that the clasp was behind his neck and she took the two ends and joined the clasp together. Oliver turned back so that he was facing her and he moved the rings under his shirt so that they were touching his skin. Claire smiled and she hugged him.
Oliver took a deep breath and he hugged her in return. He whispered in her ear, "I will return, I promise." He then stepped out of her embrace and he looked down at his right hand where he always wore the family ring. This ring was the same ring Chloe had taken off the Green Arrow's finger. Oliver took the ring off and then he took Claire's left hand and he placed the ring into the palm of her hand and enclosed the ring within her fingers; "To remember that I will return," he said. Oliver kissed Claire's forehead and he went upstairs to pack while Claire returned to the kitchen.
Lex looked up as Claire entered the room and he smiled as he stood up from his chair. Lex walked towards Claire and said, "I was wondering when I'd get to see you."
Lana got up. Even though she could see that Claire was unhappy with Lex's advance, Lex wouldn't give up talking to her. She knew that Lex claimed to love her; but, she also very well knew the truth. She absolutely had to remind Lex that he belonged to her now and not Claire Kent.
The dark haired beauty easily stepped between Claire and Lex as she spoke, "It's good to see you, Claire. If you're looking for Oliver—"
"Actually;" Claire interrupted, "I just saw him."
It was all the reminder Lana felt that Lex needed; however she felt her own façade shake when she heard Lex ask, "Oh?"
Lana turned to look at her husband. Lex looked positively devious. Lana was grateful that annoyance filled Claire's voice as she said, "He has to leave on business and—"
"And of course you'll be leaving with him;" Jasmine said coldly.
Claire looked surprised by that and Pete said, "Jasmine, Claire can stay."
"Pete—"
"She stays;" Pete then added, "Jasmine," as an afterthought.
Claire started to say something but Lana beat her to it; "Stay, Claire. Catch up with us; besides you, Pete, and I haven't hung out since high school. The only way it could be better was if Chloe was here."
Lex had to fight his anger towards Lana down as he said, "Of course, you'll have to stay, Claire. Billionaire business is not something you would be comfortable around anyways. You couldn't sit still to save your life and business is one of the many things Oliver and I have in common; beyond that, you wouldn't be allowed to stay with him throughout the time he would be conducting business."
Claire felt her own anger rise as she replied, "Contrary to what most people think, Lex, I am aware about what goes on in business." Claire would have continued except that Lex noticed the blonde billionaire standing behind Claire in the doorway. "Oliver," Lex said, "Claire was just telling us that you had business to conduct elsewhere; now while Jasmine seems to want Claire out of the way, I don't think Pete and Lana quite agree. I would like to spend more time with Claire as well, before she has to leave. I'm also aware of the fact that the two of you drove down together so I was going to suggest that my driver take you to the airport and drop you off there; then he can head over to the hotel he's staying at; since Pete was so kind to invite Lana and I to stay here."
Oliver smiled. He had been afraid that his plans would be ruined; but, with Claire having given him her parents wedding bands and with Lex staying behind, as much as the bald billionaire may have been trying to play things off as he had, it was clear to Oliver that his own plans had not fallen to the wayside completely.
Oliver wasn't afraid of showing this smile as Claire thought it to be his, "I'm going to pretend that I'm pleased" smile. It was for that reason Oliver made certain to place just a hint of a threat in his voice as he asked, "You trying to get rid of me, Lex;" while keeping the tone just light and airy enough for Jasmine and Pete.
Due to slight challenge Oliver had just issued, Claire became afraid that something could happen to him. She turned to face him; but Oliver's eyes never once left those of Lex.
Lana was the one whom broke the standoff. First, Lana moved forward so that she was standing next to Lex, she then placed her hand just above his elbow since his arms were down at his side with clenched fists; she then said, "Lex," to draw his attention to her. Lex glanced at Lana; but he quickly returned to glaring at Oliver. Lana repeated Lex's name and then said, "I want you to look at me, Lex." Lex did so in annoyance and then Lana said, "Oliver you have my word that Lex won't sabotage your business deal."
Lex felt fear shoot through him as Lana uttered those words. He knew what she was really promising Oliver Queen with those words. He began to feel even more boxed in; but, dared not say anything against her at that point. He kept his eyes pinned on Lana in that moment. He saw her smirk and wondered if there was anything else he had missed in his calculations.
Claire saw that Oliver was still hesitating. She was unsure as to why; but, she felt that she still had to try to reassure him. Therefore, she moved towards him and placed hand on his elbow; as he had his arms crossed over his chest while he leaned against the doorframe in a "relaxed" position; even though Claire could tell that Oliver was very much on edge.
Oliver refused to look away from Lex until Lex nodded at Lana and while still looking at Lana he said, "You should leave, Oliver." Then Lex looked up to see that Oliver was now looking at Claire whom had her hand on the blonde billionaire's elbow.
Oliver was looking in Claire's eyes and written there plainly for him to see was, "You have to go; the boys need you;" and the reply she saw in Oliver's eyes was, "I know; but I don't want to leave you here."
Claire smiled a small smile and Oliver knew that Claire was saying, "I'll be okay." Oliver pulled Claire into a hug and whispered into her ear, "I will return." Claire whispered back to him so only he could hear, "I know; now go, before Lex becomes suspicious."
Oliver kissed the top of Claire's head; and in the corner of his eye, he spotted Lex's jealousy. Oliver outwardly shook his head at the other billionaire; but inwardly smiled. He then let Claire go, thanked Pete for letting him visit and making up one of the guest bedrooms for him, and then he told Jasmine that it was "nice to meet her;" then he turned and left. He was thankful that he was able to use Lex's car and driver, because it meant that Claire would have a car of her own to use if she needed to escape.
However it worried him as well because he knew the only reason he had been given use of the car was due to Lana's insistence. He knew she was looking for an alliance; but, he was unsure as to why. That worried him a very great deal as that alone could ruin his own plans for the future.
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