"Sorry!" said Ruby.
"It's fine." said Clark.
"Sorry again!" said Ruby.
"I can't feel it, don't worry." said Clark.
The dance floor was crowded as ever with students doing the rounds with each other. Ruby and Clark danced to the music, trying desperately to stay in rhythm. Unfortunately, Ruby was tripped up by her own high heels and found herself stepping on Clark's feet every few seconds.
"Hold on!" said Ruby, breaking away from Clark, "I hate these things so much."
"No worries," said Clark, "I've heard you have to get used to them."
Ruby sighed, "I don't know, I'm gonna go get some punch. You want some?"
"Sure," said Clark, "I'm just gonna go-"
Clark paused when he spotted something out of the corner of his eye, an older man wrapped in white cloth. He milled about, seemingly unseen by everyone except Clark. Clark squinted his eyes, sensing a sort of familiarity from the man.
"Clark?" said Ruby, "What are you looking at?"
"I uh-" said Clark, "I'm gonna go get some fresh air."
Ruby frowned, "Ok, but don't be long. I'd rather not sit alone like a socially awkward wallflower."
Clark smiled, "I won't be long...hopefully."
Ruby walked over to the punch bowl to fill a cup while Clark began to follow the mysterious man. He gently pushed his way through the crowd, making sure not to knock anyone out of the way. Following the ghostly glow of the figure, he watched as the man drifted onto an empty balcony.
"H-Hello?" said Clark, entering the balcony as well.
The man looked back at Clark, smiling. He was an older man, sporting a short if fuzzy beard as well as a simple golden circlet on his head. He seemed to glide around instead of walk, his white robes sliding behind him.
"Kal-El !%!# !#%*^!# Krypton." said the man.
Clark frowned, failing to understand any of the words, "I'm sorry, I don't understand you."
The man chuckled, playfully shaking his head.
Clark narrowed his eyes, "I saw you about a week ago, at the fountain. Who are you?"
The man's smile deepened as he walked towards Clark, raising his arms as if to embrace the boy. Remembering the nightmarish imagery and feelings he experienced after last touching the man, Clark jumped back.
"N-No!" yelped Clark, "Don't touch me!"
The man's smile vanished, replaced with a look of deep sadness and sorrow. Slowly but surely his arms fell to his sides. Clark frowned, noticing that the man was clearly unhappy.
"I'm sorry." said Clark, "I just don't know what you are."
The man looked Clark dead in the eyes before saying something that Clark would remember for a long time.
"Do you know what you are?" asked the man.
Clark's eyes widened, surprised that not only could the man speak English, but that the man seemed to know and understand Clark's own crisis of identity. He stepped back, shaking his head.
"Are you practicing for an interview of some sort, or are you just talking to yourself?"
Clark whirled around, coming face to face with a bald man in a black and purple suit in his late 20's. Looking back, Clark noticed that the white-robed man was gone.
"Uh, interview." said Clark, "I was practicing for an interview."
"Hm, I'm almost afraid to ask what kind." said the man, extending his hand, "Lex Luthor, CEO of Lexcorp."
Clark's eyes squinted behind his glasses, "Lex Luthor? The same Lex Luthor in charge of the biggest company in all of Remnant?"
"What other Lex Luthor of actual importance is worth naming?" said Luthor, "Of course it's me."
Clark frowned, a little put off by the man's ego, "Sorry, nice to meet you."
Clark took Luthor's hand and shook it.
"Strong grip you've got there." said Luthor.
"I used to help my Pa clear out tree trunks in the fields." said Clark, "Smallville's a tiny town without much access to mechanical help, so whenever the tractor broke down I'd have to help uproot the obstacles."
"Ah, a hard worker!" said Luthor, "I always appreciate those."
Clark nodded, "Thank you sir."
"Might I ask that you sit with me across the way at my table?" said Luthor.
Clark cocked his eyebrow as Luthor gestured to a large empty table across the dance floor.
"I'm honored sir, but why?" asked Clark.
"You seem to be an interesting individual." said Luthor, "I'd like to get to know you."
Clark tapped his foot nervously, "I don't know, I came to the dance with someone, I should probably get back to her."
Luthor kept a calm face, but Clark could swear that the veins on Luthor's forehead were pulsating.
"Alright, have it your way." said Luthor, "But can you entertain one more question before you go?"
Clark's tapping intensified a little, but he simply nodded, happy to be given an exit, "Yeah, go ahead."
Luthor smirked, "Alright, here's the deal. I came to this party with General Ironwood, who arrived a few weeks ago with a heavy chunk of the Atlas military."
"Why would he do that?" asked Clark.
"He's here for the Vytal festival," said Luthor, "though I would guess that he's a little paranoid considering all the firepower he's bringing. I was asked to come along since the new Atlas defense drones are made by my company."
"Explains why you're here," said Clark, "Normally a big CEO guy like you wouldn't bother with stuff like this."
"Right on the money boy," said Luthor, "But now after that lead-up, I have to ask, what are you doing here?"
"Huh?" said Clark, clearly confused.
"Please answer the question," said Luthor, clearly impatient, "you have a woman to return to don't you?"
"I…yeah." said Clark, "When I realized that I possessed this strength, I knew I couldn't let it go to waste. I've seen huntsmen and huntresses working out in the forests outside Smallville and I realized that the best way to put my strength to use was to be a huntsman."
Luthor nodded, "So you're doing this for the glory? For fame?"
"No," said Clark, "I'm doing this because it's the most direct way to help the people who can't help themselves."
Luthor rolled his eyes, "Heh, and they say chivalry is dead."
"Hey Clark!"
Clark and Luthor's eyes were drawn to a third voice as Ruby entered with 2 cups of punch.
"I got us punch!" said Ruby before spotting Luthor, "Who's Baldy?"
Luthor cringed, attaining a great deal of disdain towards Ruby immediately, "Well, I'll leave you to your woman."
Clark's fists tightened as Luthor swiftly turned around and waltzed away, pushing people out of the way as he went along. Ruby frowned, "Your woman?"
"I didn't say anything, he doesn't seem to be very sociable." said Clark, "Kinda like our resident billionaire."
"Well at least Bruce isn't a total wad!" said Ruby, sticking her tongue out and blowing a raspberry at Luthor as he returned to his table.
Taking the punch, Clark took a sip before resting on a pillar, "Man, this is a pretty fun party."
"Yeah, if you're all lovey-dovey for someone." said Ruby, "I wish we could do something more exciting."
Clark closed his eyes, ready to relax when he suddenly heard a soft *Splat*. This was followed up by a few soft *thuds* as well as more *splats*.
"Uh oh." said Clark.
"What?" said Ruby.
"Sounds like there's a fight going on." said Clark, looking out the window, "If I'm right, it sounds like it's going on at the Cross Continental Transmit Tower."
"Finally something interesting is happening!" said Ruby, cracking her head side to side, "You coming?"
Clark looked around at the rest of the party, noticing that everyone was now settling into couples, "Yeah, let's get out of here."
Luthor sighed, sitting down at his table. After a few moments, Emerald sat down across from him.
"How'd it go?" asked Emerald.
"Kent is more disappointing in person than I expected." said Luthor, "I found the entire conversation to be Mind numbingly boring."
"He's a simple guy as far as I know him." said Emerald, "Not sure what your problem with him is."
"I can't stand that creature for many reasons." said Luthor, "For one, he's not even of this planet."
"Again with the alien stuff? You sound like a tinfoil hat kind of guy when you get into that." said Emerald.
"Shut up." said Luthor, "Not only is he alien, but his motivations are disappointingly simple."
"What's wrong with simple?" asked Emerald.
Luthor glared at Emerald, "He wants to help people because he was raised to do so. Do you have any idea how much he could actually accomplish if he exercised his full potential and power? He could rule over us like gods!"
"If he could do that, why doesn't he?" asked Emerald.
"Because he wasn't raised that way!" said Luthor, "But mark my words, one day he'll realize his potential, he'll turn on the world. When that happens, I will be the one to stop him and put him in his place."
Emerald glanced over to Clark, "Well, he's accomplishing something right now."
Luthor whirled over to where Clark and Ruby were lazing about, watching them hop out of the window.
"Think they're going out to get laid?" wondered Emerald.
"He's probably going to the Transmit Tower." said Luthor.
Emerald's eyes widened, "What?! How would he know?"
"I've said on numerous occasions he has advanced hearing," said Luthor, "It's likely he's heard the commotion stirred up by our mutual friends."
"Shit," said Emerald, "I better call this in."
"Agreed, and while we're on calling things in," said Luthor, pulling out his scroll and inputting a few commands, "let's see how Kent does in round 2 against Metallo."
Hey guys, a shorter chapter this time around! I've been playing Gideo Vames a little more since going into quarantine but the writing schedule should remain the same. A chapter within a week of the last!
Reviews:
DCDGojira: Nice suggestion with the Crossover stuff, though I have a more...foreboding one in mind.
Thanks for the feedback as always! :)
Shadow Joestar: Thanks for the feedback as always! :)
Next Chapter: Tower Showdown
