Alex had always been his mother's child. She had loved his fiery red hair which was a color passed down from her side of the family. He would sit on her lap while she combed his hair. It was one of the most enjoyable times they had together when he was younger. Towards the end he would do the combing for her. A sad but endearing memory he would always think of when he fixed his hair.
Lex was never close to Lionel, like he was his mother, but when Clarence was adopted he felt even more alienated by his father. More than ever before. Lionel cared for his adopted son more than his biological one. It wasn't so much that Lex was jealous it was the fact that his father was blind to everything that Clarence did or said.
Clarence never respected his mother. She would try to get him to do something or just discipline him in some way but the boy would laugh and run to daddy.
It sickened him how much his father let Clarence get away with. He could stand the disrespect towards himself but not at his mother. He wished that she would slap him or punish him for the way he was treating her. But she just got this odd look on her face and ignored it. Walking away as if she couldn't do anything. Just as she did Lionel. Clarence and Lionel were so much alike it scared Lex.
When she died it was hard on Lex. He blamed his father in many ways for her death. Lionel never paid close attention to her needs, which had become Lex's life. He cared for her around the clock and watched her suffer through so much pain and grief. The only thing that kept him going today was the fact that she wasn't suffering anymore.
When Lex believed in heaven he liked to think that was where she was. Trapped in a time where life didn't exist. Just a world full of light and happy memories of times past. He wished he was there. Maybe at least in her memories he was.
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Lex started to walk towards his room and away from the door to his father's study. It had taken a lot for him to turn around and not charge right in.
"Perhaps I am overreacting."
He bumped into Clarence and saw a little bit of fear in the younger boy's eyes. The thirteen year old just darted into his own room and left Lex staring after him. At eighteen Lex knew all about being afraid of his father. He knew the cut had to do with Lionel but didn't really want to think about it. As long as Clarence seemed all right there was nothing he could do.
Lex packed his things to begin on his way back to Harvard. The distance was good for him. He enjoyed being engrossed in school work. Not having to worry about the world. He would just take life one day at a time.
His mother had always told him he could do anything he wanted if he put his mind to it. It was a promise he made to her a week before she died. She had told him not to become like his father. A lifeless inhuman being who's only desire was to negotiate business deals and sell his soul for a new corporation.
He didn't know at the time what his mother was talking about. He was too young and thought she wasn't thinking clearly but now it was crystal to him. He would stay away from the man and the "family" business. If he ever wanted to do that it would be of his own doing and not from being handed down from a long line of Luthor's. Lex had to be his own man. Even if it meant Clarence would get everything given to him in Lex's place. He didn't care.
The boy was more like Lionel in his character than Lex would ever be. It wasn't a compliment to Clarence, but he was only thirteen and this was the only life he had ever known.
Remembering the day when he had found Clarence he shook his head and wondered just why this had all came to be. A stupid meteor shower and a boy who's parents were killed tragically. Trapped in their own vehicle. Burned to the ground.
At times he could feel sorry for the child. He even pitied him for the choice of parent that he had gotten handed in his life. If it hadn't have been for that blasted trip to "Smallville" maybe none of this would have happened.
He walked out of the room, suitcase in tow. Lionel was outside waiting at the limo with Clarence. His father gave him a stiff hug and pat on the back. Just as if he was being recruited into the army. If the older man had of saluted him, he wouldn't have been surprised in the least.
Clarence looked at Lex almost envious of his being able to leave. Lex understood completely. Lionel had kept the boy under top surveillance. Lex never understood exactly why. He just accepted it as his father's way of controlling at least one of his sons. One he really did have complete control over from the beginning. He could mold the boy into anything he wanted.
Lex thought to himself. Poor kid. Well, at least he wouldn't ever want for anything. He was given the finest tutors and extravagances that most children his age would give their right arm for. At least all Clarence had to do was stay within Lionel's vision…and reach.
Lex could appreciate the space his father always kept between them. He could go and do wherever he wished just as long as he didn't embarrass the Luthor name. Yeah, as if the Luthor name was so damn perfect. But he did live a clean life. Not for Lionel. For his mother and her memory.
Lex was never close to Lionel, like he was his mother, but when Clarence was adopted he felt even more alienated by his father. More than ever before. Lionel cared for his adopted son more than his biological one. It wasn't so much that Lex was jealous it was the fact that his father was blind to everything that Clarence did or said.
Clarence never respected his mother. She would try to get him to do something or just discipline him in some way but the boy would laugh and run to daddy.
It sickened him how much his father let Clarence get away with. He could stand the disrespect towards himself but not at his mother. He wished that she would slap him or punish him for the way he was treating her. But she just got this odd look on her face and ignored it. Walking away as if she couldn't do anything. Just as she did Lionel. Clarence and Lionel were so much alike it scared Lex.
When she died it was hard on Lex. He blamed his father in many ways for her death. Lionel never paid close attention to her needs, which had become Lex's life. He cared for her around the clock and watched her suffer through so much pain and grief. The only thing that kept him going today was the fact that she wasn't suffering anymore.
When Lex believed in heaven he liked to think that was where she was. Trapped in a time where life didn't exist. Just a world full of light and happy memories of times past. He wished he was there. Maybe at least in her memories he was.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Lex started to walk towards his room and away from the door to his father's study. It had taken a lot for him to turn around and not charge right in.
"Perhaps I am overreacting."
He bumped into Clarence and saw a little bit of fear in the younger boy's eyes. The thirteen year old just darted into his own room and left Lex staring after him. At eighteen Lex knew all about being afraid of his father. He knew the cut had to do with Lionel but didn't really want to think about it. As long as Clarence seemed all right there was nothing he could do.
Lex packed his things to begin on his way back to Harvard. The distance was good for him. He enjoyed being engrossed in school work. Not having to worry about the world. He would just take life one day at a time.
His mother had always told him he could do anything he wanted if he put his mind to it. It was a promise he made to her a week before she died. She had told him not to become like his father. A lifeless inhuman being who's only desire was to negotiate business deals and sell his soul for a new corporation.
He didn't know at the time what his mother was talking about. He was too young and thought she wasn't thinking clearly but now it was crystal to him. He would stay away from the man and the "family" business. If he ever wanted to do that it would be of his own doing and not from being handed down from a long line of Luthor's. Lex had to be his own man. Even if it meant Clarence would get everything given to him in Lex's place. He didn't care.
The boy was more like Lionel in his character than Lex would ever be. It wasn't a compliment to Clarence, but he was only thirteen and this was the only life he had ever known.
Remembering the day when he had found Clarence he shook his head and wondered just why this had all came to be. A stupid meteor shower and a boy who's parents were killed tragically. Trapped in their own vehicle. Burned to the ground.
At times he could feel sorry for the child. He even pitied him for the choice of parent that he had gotten handed in his life. If it hadn't have been for that blasted trip to "Smallville" maybe none of this would have happened.
He walked out of the room, suitcase in tow. Lionel was outside waiting at the limo with Clarence. His father gave him a stiff hug and pat on the back. Just as if he was being recruited into the army. If the older man had of saluted him, he wouldn't have been surprised in the least.
Clarence looked at Lex almost envious of his being able to leave. Lex understood completely. Lionel had kept the boy under top surveillance. Lex never understood exactly why. He just accepted it as his father's way of controlling at least one of his sons. One he really did have complete control over from the beginning. He could mold the boy into anything he wanted.
Lex thought to himself. Poor kid. Well, at least he wouldn't ever want for anything. He was given the finest tutors and extravagances that most children his age would give their right arm for. At least all Clarence had to do was stay within Lionel's vision…and reach.
Lex could appreciate the space his father always kept between them. He could go and do wherever he wished just as long as he didn't embarrass the Luthor name. Yeah, as if the Luthor name was so damn perfect. But he did live a clean life. Not for Lionel. For his mother and her memory.