The carol of Lex

By Chase Binder

Disclaimer: Smallville and Superman are not mine. My choice to alliterate their eventful lives is because Joe, Jerry, Alfred and Miles created something that inspired me.

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Everything around the room was dim. Its surroundings were covered by only a faint light that was given out by a small lamp right next to Lex's bed. Still it was enough to discern that the person who stood right in front of him was Ryan himself, back from place where place where people don't usually come out alive.

Words of silence came out of his mouth. At first a piercing scream seemed the most appropriate response but then again he thought, it was Ryan, not some nefarious business adversary. Chances are its purpose would have less of a murderous intent for him to pay heed the surging panic within.

Lex backed away a small distance, leaning his head even further, keenly observing the truth of the situation. The innocent beady eyes. Bowler's hat hair. Trademark jacket and the most honest smile on a person.

It really was Ryan.

"I guess it's safe for me to say that you're more surprised to see me than I am in seeing you." Ryan uttered, finally addressing the silence.

"Well that's not fair. I wouldn't know, you're the only one who can read minds." Lex quipped, but still slightly uneasy about the situation.

"I'm glad you managed be witty in such a puzzling situation."

"I guess it's best to be funny when things get hairy and you don't know what else to do."

They both chuckled briefly as Lex gestured his hand, pointing to a velvet futon nearby. "Please, take a seat." he said kindly. Although he felt weird interacting with some sort of ghost in the middle of the night, he couldn't help himself that he was oddly enjoying the occasion.

Ryan sat on the futon and placed his hands on his lap. Lex veered away from his blanket and got up from the bed. He paced slowly and headed towards the fire place. He knelt down near the burnt logs and made efforts to light it back again.

"So, how exactly did you come back from the dead?" Lex asked while striking a match and lighting it. He placed the small flame near the logs and then, the hearth found life. The room became warm again.

"Well, I'm still dead, to be blunt. I hope this is not startling you." Ryan said, in very unsullied innocence.

"I spend most of Christmas eves alone. This feels more like an unexpected blessing. It's actually a pleasant feeling that I'm spending it with someone. Although hopefully, my dad will also arrive soon."

"It's kinda cool to be here, but I think you understand what this all means right?"

"Well if you're telling me were going to perform that whole Christmas Carol, I kinda figured that out." Lex replied, momentarily keeping quiet, realizing that if decent people aren't the ones who usually go through these things, then he couldn't help to think what kind of person he was, or supposedly going to be. "But hey on the bright side, it's better than assuming that I'm losing my mind."

"Nah, I wouldn't worry about that. My brain decided to malfunction once, look what it did. Next thing I knew, I was able to read minds"

"Hehe.. Ah.. makes sense. Listen, do you want a hot coco or something?"

"Alright, however I don't think it would do much for a dead guy."

They again reacted by putting on a grin.

"Although," Lex continued, "If you don't mind, we have to make it ourselves. The maids took a day off."

"Hey I doesn't matter to me."

Both of them got up. Lex found his slippers and had put them on. They paced towards the door to headed off outside the room.

Lex swung the door open and was welcomed by an unusual stream of light. He thought hard on what was going on. Something didn't seem appropriate. He walked gradually, looking around, hanging in bewilderment. He saw that the decorations that had been put up before were now gone. They were replaced with something different. Then it came to him, Santa Baby playing on the gramophone, a glazed tree towering and a laugh he'd distinguished distinctly. It rushed inside like a warm torrent of nostalgia.

This was Christmas Past.