Chapter 6 [Luthor Mansion]
Clark drove the truck up to the mansion's door. He shut the motor off and leaned back against the seat. Glad Mom's helping out again. She's happier when she does that! He tapped the dashboard. He'd practiced with his flying around the yard. He'd discovered a few places with not too many trees to work on Maneuver's skill. Concentration screened everything out.
Mentoring proved easier than first anticipated as well. Lana took to her new abilities with surprising speed. She practiced every spare second it seemed. She already matched his skill set. In addition, her hearing improved for some reason. She wanted to try flying for herself.
Before I can help Lana, I have to know how to do a long flight myself! He rubbed his forehead. Anticipation and Experience knew Jonathan would shut him down before he could get off the ground. Maybe I can try with Professor Dubois. She'd be able to help out. Maybe Jasmine can follow with her carpet? He filed the ideas. How can I find out if I don't try? He got out of the truck and walked around the backside. He dropped the tailgate and slid the produce boxes out.
"Hey, Clark." Lex came out the side door. "Right on time! Wolfgang was just wondering what I wanted for a vegetable. Always saving dinner and everything else."
"Thanks, Lex. Mom's glad to help out." Clark smiled for his friend. "Lead the way and I'll get them to Wolfgang."
"Thanks, Clark. I've got people for that. You seem really tense. Everything all right?" Lex raised an eyebrow. He knew that Jonathan still had issues about the impromptu trip to Quebec. The whole "guidance for Clark and Lana" between Jonathan on one side and Jennifer Dubois on the other side really seemed silly. For one thing, the teens were of both cultures now. Jennifer had experience at the whole "Kryptonian on Earth blending in" thing for a quarter of a millennium. If Dave and Angie trusted her, that was good enough for him and should've been for Jonathan and Martha too.
"It's my Dad. He's just being…him. Lana's learning how to fit in. She's working with her abilities. I just want to be a good role model and boyfriend for her." Clark shrugged off Discomfort's burden. "It's not so easy sometimes." He looked around. "Anyone listening?"
Lex rolled his eyes. "There's always someone listening. You're learning about that. I think you're further along than you give yourself credit for. Come on. Maybe you can help me with something." He signaled to his staff concerning the crates. Then he led Clark through the side door, up a set of stairs and into the main mansion itself. "Richards, can you bring some coffee to the library?"
"Of course, Master Lex! I'll have it at once." Richards bowed and scurried away.
"Come on in, Clark. Promise the surveillance is off." Lex led them into the library/office area. Then he shut the door. "At least your Dad isn't as bad as the Sultan, Stuart Dubois, my Dad or Norman Osborn. Look at it that way. Your Dad just wants Lana and you to be safe. Granted he takes that to a whole new level. But he wants you two to be safe. Ever think of having an escorted flight?"
"I was thinking of asking Professor Dubois for that. Maybe Jasmine might tail us on her carpet?" Clark sat down. "Maybe even go to a place where I can stay over and not have to fly right back?"
"Jasmine could catch you if your flying suddenly gives out." Lex nodded. "It's too bad New York's so far. I'd suggest that. Lana just called." He shook his head. "She really wants to help Peter and Gwen. It's a shame I'm not flying out until tomorrow."
"So why don't you?" Clark got up. He paced about the library area. His eyes looked everything over for the thousandth time.
"I have a meeting in Granville at 10:15. We're leaving right after that." Lex heard a knocking at the door. "That's our coffee. Just a sec." He sauntered across the carpet and to the door. "Just bring it in, Richards. We'll take it from here."
"Certainly, Sir. By the way, you haven't seen Mr. Parker have you? He's not in his room and his duffel bag is not there either. Nobody saw him leave the mansion." Richards poured two cups of coffee.
Not unless he left as Spider-Man. Why would he do that though? "Interesting." Lex heard his phone ring. "Lex Luthor."
"Lex, this is Jennifer Dubois. I need a favor. Do you have an extra room for tonight? The Kents invited me to dinner. I might need a place to stay."
"Of course! Actually you can do me a favor too. Clark was just looking for help with a long distance flight. Maybe we can set something up?" Lex motioned toward the coffee. He fixed his own cup.
"Absolutely! Lana and I planned to fly up to New York tomorrow morning. Then I was going to fly her back tomorrow night or the next morning before her shift. I'm going to have to get through Jonathan Kent's hard head. I don't think there's an explosive that'll do that," Jennifer noted.
Lex chuckled. "He wants the kids to learn the Earth way of doing things. That's good to a point as you know. When's your dinner?"
"I guess in about half an hour. I'm at an orchard outside of Sleepy Hollow, NY. Martha asked me to bring some cider. I'll talk to Clark then. Guess Lana's cooking up a storm down there. Hope Clark's got his appetite." Jennifer handed the cashier a debit card and finished her transaction.
"Sleepy Hollow? Any word on the Cranes?" Lex sipped on his coffee.
"Not for a little while. I've been meaning to catch up with them. I know Dave was thinking the same thing."
"He might be doing that right now. I feel him close by." Jennifer accepted the cider from the cashier. But the Child's out by you guys? Really? Now he's in New York? What's going on? "Anyhow I'll be there shortly. Save some of that coffee for me."
"I'll have a fresh pot by that point. I don't believe in stale stuff." Lex saluted with his cup.
"You'd better." Jennifer coughed. "Take care." She hung up. She walked around the back of the building. She flexed her legs and streaked into the darkening skies overhead.
"Anything going on?" Clark gulped from his own coffee.
"You're going to have company for dinner. Professor Dubois' coming. She's staying here tonight. Then she and Lana are flying up to New York tomorrow for the day. That's your opportunity. Carpe Diem." Lex shrugged.
Yeah. If Dad lets me. Clark shook his head.
Dinner and Mysteries awaited….