Chapter Thirty-Nine

Lex sighed. He had spent the day as any other business day. Breakfast, or in his case coffee, with Clark out on the porch. Reading the business section. Going to meetings. Reading reports.

Except today was his birthday.

Birthdays were something he stopped looking forward to years ago. His mother had planned parties with tasty treats and extravagantly decorated rooms. But no one had wanted to celebrate with the bald freak. Lionel didn't even make an appearance, too busy at the lab. Young Lex instead got presents that were probably picked out by his assistant.

But this year should be different. Lex had Clark now. Except he had never brought the topic up. Had Clark ever known his birthday? He could have said something during "Julian Day" when Clark brought up birthday dates, but it seemed too self-serving.

He dialed Clark's phone.

"Hi, Lex," Clark said on the line.

"Hi, Julian. I was just wondering if you'd like to join me for dinner in Metropolis. A new restaurant just opened."

"Sorry. Got a date tonight. Rain check?"

"Sure. Have fun." Lex sighed again and hung up. He shook his head. Caring for Clark these past months was wonderful, but it wasn't right to expect or demand anything in return.

"Here's the days final reports boss," Marci said as she placed a folder on his desk. "And I have you scheduled for an art exhibition opening in an hour. You'll want to change."

Lex grimaced. In the past few years as a way of celebrating, or rather, acknowledging, his birthday, he would go out to an event of some kind.

"Not tonight, Marci."

"Proceeds are going to cancer research."

Lex sighed a third time. She had him there. Cancer took his mother. It was a particular field of research he encouraged supporting. He changed into the more formal suit he had stashed away in his office. The limo took him to a gallery known for holding exclusive and estranged artists. There were a few occasions when the gallery would host a charitable exhibition. Those events were usually a sign that the artist was talentless and only had deep pockets or knew people who did.

At the door he took a glass of champagne from the waiter. He had been to this gallery before. He remembered seeing sculptures of stacked squares and there had been a time when a sculpture was just a stack of newspapers tied with string. Lex scoffed when he overheard people calling that particular artist a "genius".

He sipped the champagne and walked around the room, sampling sushi from trays other waiters were carrying. A violin player was in the corner playing music from one of Lex's favorite classic composers. This artist on exhibit was a photographer; Lex ignored the brochure wanting the work to speak for itself. The photographs were close ups of bees on flowers, cluttered desks or dining rooms tables with dirty plates. All in black and white. Somehow Lex was getting "Life" from this collection. Beauty in the chaos of living.

Lex chewed on a sushi roll slowly and complimented Marci in his mind. This was an exhibit he could ask nothing more of. The food was excellent, the art was photography, and the proceeds were going to a personal cause. He turned a corner and gasped at the enlarged photo in front of him.

Somehow, it was him as a child. A bald boy with a towel tied around his neck like a cape. He was high fiving a young Julian, around his shoulders a bedsheet cape. Piled on the floor were building blocks, action figures, and pillows. He turned when he heard a familiar laugh.

Standing to the side was Clark, grinning ear to ear, Chloe hanging onto his arm. Jeff and Marci stood next to them, smiling.

"What?" Lex asked in amazement.

"Happy Birthday, Lex." Clark said, raising a glass of something of something sparkling.

"I thought you said…how'd you know?"

"Marci called last month and gave me the heads up."

"I figured reminding Julian your birthday was approaching wasn't high on your priority list, so I took the liberty."

"And what do you get the man who has everything? Chloe helped me track down mom's old photography professor. He shared the photos she was most proud of, and Marci helped decide the order of them."

"This is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me. Thank you." Lex hugged his brother. Clark introduced him to the Professor Olsen who had been invited to the event. Professor Olsen was able to share stories of Lillian in class and declared that she had been one of his brightest students; a real pleasure to have in class. Lex beamed inwardly as a side of his mother he had never known was revealed to him.

As the time of closing approached, a five-tiered naked cake was brought out decorated with lily flowers and sliced almonds.

"It's a pear almond cake with cream cheese frosting in between the layers. Benji told me it's not that sweet cause I know you don't like sweet things, but a cake is traditional on birthdays." Clark explained.

Lex couldn't speak. Someone had given him a real birthday cake. He wordlessly took a slice and smiled around the room at the smiling faces. Lex found his eyes drifting back to the main photo in the middle of the room. His eyes fixed on the young Julian.

"That's my favorite photo." Lex heard himself say. "Do you remember it?"

Clark unsurprisingly shook his head. "No."

"We were playing together but it turned into fighting. I wanted to be Warrior Angel because I was bald. You wanted to be Warrior Angel because…well, and mom got fed up with the shouting so she told us that neither could be Warrior Angel and we would have to both be his sidekicks. I decided I would be Brain Master, super intelligent able to outthink any foe. You were Stronger Man, strong and fast."

"Stronger Man?"

"Brain Master wasn't much better. Anyway, as quick as it started our fighting stopped and we were playing again. United in fighting the evil Devilicus."

"Sorry I can't remember."

Lex shrugged. "New memories. Remember? Like tonight."
Marci interrupted them to get a photo of them together. They posed with Clark's arm around his shoulder bringing him in for a hug.

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

"What'd you think?" Clark asked when they were in the mansion.

"I think this was the best birthday ever. Thank you. I can't remember ever feeling this satisfied."

"Satisfied?" Clark raised an eyebrow. "Happy, Lex. The word you are looking for is 'happy'."

"Happiness is just a feeling of euphoria. Brain chemistry; your mind tricking you." Lex turned around to see that Clark had ducked into the study. He reemerged with two foils.

"You're happy and you know it." Clark tossed a foil to Lex and took a ready stance. "Say it."

"Are you serious?"

"En garde." Clark lunged forward. Lex blocked the attack and took a step to the left.

"There are antiques in this hallway."

Clark would not let up the attack. Lex admired how much the boy had improved since his lessons started. Soon, both boys were laughing as they fought up and down the hallway; half playing and half in proper form. There were a few close calls with vases or statues being tipped over, but Clark was able to use his superspeed to put them back on their pedestals.

Lex started to pant from the exertion. He had spent a full day at work and then several hours at the party. Unlike his alien brother, he was only human, and his body was beginning to tire. Clark took notice and sped behind him, locking his arms in a bear hug.

"That's cheating!"

"Say it."

Lex allowed himself to rest. Truth was, he did feel the effects of euphoria. He had just had an actual birthday party with guests. Real people who had wanted to be there. True, most of the people were passerbys who had heard of the exhibit, but he had a few conversations with some of them; talking about photography or art in general. Professor Olsen was probably there only out of respect for Lillian. And Chloe and Jeff had mostly been there for Clark. Marci didn't really count since she was an employee. But Clark had planned the whole thing. Clark spent time putting it all together, just for him. Everything had been perfect; he could not have asked for a greater gift.

"I'm happy," Lex confessed quietly.

"That wasn't so hard. Was it?" Clark released him, the huge grin still on his face. "Oh, one more thing." He sped away to return with a flat parcel wrapped in purple with a purple bow. Lex ripped off the paper to see the photo taken with Clark earlier that evening already in a frame. "It's for your desk. Marci said you didn't have any."

"Thank you."

"Good night, Lex. Happy Birthday."

Lex put the swords away and then walked upstairs to his bedroom, clutching his birthday gift to his side. He made the mistake of looking up at one of the family portraits before entering his room. The painted Julian Luthor giving a reproachful look that banished all feelings of euphoria.

He sighed as he closed his bedroom door, shutting away the stare. He had Clark now and Lex was satisfied.

Couldn't help but give a nod to Jimmy Olsen when I was trying to think of a name for the photography professor. I didn't really decide if the professor was his father or grandfather or even if they're related. I was trying to find a way to bring in Jimmy into this story and originally he was going to be the computer guy that helped Lois, but then I decided to bring in Brainwave.