Fic: Conqueror (3/9)
Title: Conqueror (3/9)
Author: BradyGirl
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Clark/Lex, Lydia Wentworth, Sabrina Spellman, Salem
Genres: Challenge, Drama
Rating (this chapter): PG-13
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Halloween Challenge Prompt: Lex has a painting/statue that comes to life.
Summary (this chapter): Clark hobnobs with the rich and famous at Lex’s Halloween Ball.
Date Of Completion: October 25, 2007
Dates Of Posting: October 31, 2007/November 2, 2007
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC and Warner Brothers do, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1352
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note: Written for the
old_school_clex Halloween Challenge.
Also fits the 2007 DCU Fic/Art Halloween Challenge run by me! J Again, I used too many prompts to list, but my Special Prompt is ‘Magic Spell’.
All chapters can be found here.
III
AMERICAN ROYALTY
Clark walked quickly to the mansion, smiling as he remembered the small trick-or-treaters who had trekked to their farmhouse door. He was very lucky to still enjoy such simple things with his parents and to have happy memories of his own childhood.
As he paused through the open ornate iron gates of the Luthor estate, he thought of Lex’s sadness. He doubted there was any more trick-or-treating or holiday fun after Lillian’s death. Lionel did not seem the type to bring his little boy door-to-door begging for candy.
Clark went up the long driveway, a couple several yards ahead of him, and another couple alighting from a limousine at the front entrance. The moon was nearly full, bright silver rays lighting the night. The woman at the front door laughed at something her companion said.
Clark was at the front door, receiving a smile from the butler. The staff always seemed happy to see him. Maybe it was because he didn’t treat them like dirt as many of the mansion’s visitors did.
Inside was a decorated foyer with a huge arrangement of pumpkins, leaves, and gourds on the table in the middle of the floor. The walls were draped in black, the suits of armor polished and gleaming. He could smell roasted pumpkin seeds, French onion soup, baguettes, pumpkin and apple pies, roast beef, turkey, fish, and fresh vegetables. Hot mulled cider was strong.
He walked down the hall to the ballroom, a little nervous as he smoothed the front of his costume.
The room was filled with elaborately-costumed people. Clark felt a little self-conscious, but no one knew him here. Even if they thought him a bumpkin, he wouldn’t embarrass Lex because of his lack of pedigree.
He searched the crowd, then saw Lex.
Pale skin contrasted with the black formal clothes and black silk cape with the high collar. A single splash of scarlet on the black-and-white waistcoat matched the red silk lining of the cape.
Lex made a sexy vampire.
Clark blushed at the thought. He had to rein in these hormones. He might not be human, but he sure acted like it.
Lex turned at that moment, his eyes lighting up. He wasn’t wearing a mask but Clark was, yet it made no difference.
Lex knew him, anyway.
& & & & & &
Lex’s heart pounded at the sight of his young friend. Clark was wearing the classic Hamlet costume: a black doublet shot through with gold, white ruffles at the collar and sleeves, black tights, soft black shoes, a long, black silk cape, and a sequined black domino mask.
Lex really liked the tights.
“Glad you could make it, Your Majesty.”
Clark laughed. “Thank you, Count.”
Lex grinned. “We’ve got a buffet all set up. Cook has really outdone herself.” He looked knowingly at Clark. “Unless you scarfed all the candy apples and candy corn your parents were giving out.”
Clark blushed and Lex laughed.
Clark sampled some of the food, sipping ginger ale as Lex said, “I’m really glad you’re here, Clark. I have to mingle, but I like having someone to talk to.
“Glad to be of help, Lex.”
Lex saw the admiring glances thrown Clark’s way. Clark’s cheeks were flushed from the autumn cold, his green eyes sparkling through the mask. Dark, wavy hair framed that gorgeous face.
Lex, you’ve got it bad.
“Lex, who is this stunning Danish prince?”
Lydia Wentworth was resplendent in her Queen Elizabeth I costume. The grande dame of Metropolis society, she was a woman in her fifties who looked ten years younger.
“My friend, Clark Kent.”
Lydia extended her hand, diamonds glittering on her fingers. Her gold brocade gown was lined with pearls, several long strands of pearls draped over her bodice. The white ruffled collar was high and stiff, a golden crown with diamonds perched atop her reddish-gold wig. Pearls framed her gold-sequined mask.
Lydia was imposing in street clothes.
She was overwhelming in queenly regalia.
“Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Wentworth.” Clark shook her hand.
“Mmm. Lex, dear, you’ve done wonders with this old stone mausoleum.”
“Well, you know how it is, Lydia. I call it home.”
Lydia smiled imperiously. “I don’t know why Lionel banished you to this backwater.”
Lex noticed the dull red flush creeping up Clark’s cheeks.
“Well, Lydia, Smallville offers me peace and quiet after a frenetic pace in Metropolis.”
Lydia raised an elegant eyebrow. “How peaceful can it be with all the strange happenings here?”
“Oh, come now, Lydia, you know how the press exaggerates things.”
“Perhaps.” Lydia toyed with her strands of pearls as a cowboy and a traditional Witch started making the rounds of the buffet table. “But surely you miss the bright lights and diversity that a major city can offer?”
“Bucolic has its charms.”
Lydia’s eyes flicked over Clark. “No doubt.”
Suddenly angry, Lex forced a smile to his face. He was glad that Clark was concentrating on balancing his plate as he ate and had missed the nearly smirking glance thrown his way.
Only the jaded of Metropolis would consider Clark a mere boy toy. Clark was too good, too pure, too damned innocent for the likes of Lex to corrupt.
Feeling very protective, Lex said, “So, I noticed you were at the Wayne Foundation auction.”
“Yes, it was quite interesting. Gloomy Gotham is always a horror, but Bruce is so Old Money his ancestors booked a stateroom on the Mayflower.”
Lex smiled. His old friend certainly was Old Money, the patina on the family treasure far older than Luthor money.
Halloween was Bruce’s favorite holiday.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a black cat dart by the table. Startled, he looked around but saw no cat, just the young blond Witch he had seen earlier.
I must be more tired than I thought.
“I also saw Oliver Queen there. He asked after you.”
“Well, that’s nice to hear,” he said distractedly.
“Isn’t it? Good for quality people to stay in touch.”
Lex noticed that Clark was no longer beside him. He talked with Lydia for a few more minutes, then excused himself.
He went out to the gardens, guessing Clark would have come out here.
A few minutes later he found Clark sitting on a marble bench in the grove with the Alexander and Hephaistion statues, eating his food and gazing up at the stars.
“Sorry ‘bout that.” Lex’s silk cape whispered along the path.
“It’s not your fault.” Clark sipped his ginger ale.
“It’s just that most of my associates are as snobby and condescending as Lydia?”
Clark smiled slightly. “Comes with the money, doesn’t it?”
“Not all the time.” Lex sat beside Clark, their capes mingling on the bench.
“That’s true.” Clark turned to look at Lex. “You don’t act like that.”
Lex laughed. “I can be pretty arrogant.”
“Maybe, but you’ve got a good heart, Lex. I’ve seen you with my parents and friends. If anything, any rudeness comes from their side, not yours.”
Lex felt a pang. It was true that whenever someone mistrusted him merely for being a Luthor, it hurt.
“Well, the ultra-rich can be pretty vicious.”
Clark laughed slightly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
They sat together companionably for several minutes, then Lex stood with a sigh. “I have to get back.”
“I’ll go with you.”
As the two men left the grove, the blond-haired Witch slipped out of the shadows, carrying a black cat. The cat slipped out of her grasp and pranced around the base of the statues.
“Salem, you are one pain-in-the-butt.”
“Can I help it if they have fresh tuna in the kitchen?”
The Witch rolled her eyes and studied the statues. She took a pouch out of the folds of her skirt.
“Is this where you chant hibbity-bibbity-bobboli-boo?”
“Hush.” She started at the statues, quietly uttered a complex chant in Latin, and threw golden sparkles from the pouch, the sparkles fluttering, encircling the statues in a cloud of stars.
Salem said, “Pretty.”
“Let’s go.”
Salem trotted after Sabrina, tiny pinpoints of starlight winking off white marble.
Author: BradyGirl
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Clark/Lex, Lydia Wentworth, Sabrina Spellman, Salem
Genres: Challenge, Drama
Rating (this chapter): PG-13
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Halloween Challenge Prompt: Lex has a painting/statue that comes to life.
Summary (this chapter): Clark hobnobs with the rich and famous at Lex’s Halloween Ball.
Date Of Completion: October 25, 2007
Dates Of Posting: October 31, 2007/November 2, 2007
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC and Warner Brothers do, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1352
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note: Written for the
old_school_clex Halloween Challenge.
Also fits the 2007 DCU Fic/Art Halloween Challenge run by me! J Again, I used too many prompts to list, but my Special Prompt is ‘Magic Spell’.
All chapters can be found here.
III
AMERICAN ROYALTY
Clark walked quickly to the mansion, smiling as he remembered the small trick-or-treaters who had trekked to their farmhouse door. He was very lucky to still enjoy such simple things with his parents and to have happy memories of his own childhood.
As he paused through the open ornate iron gates of the Luthor estate, he thought of Lex’s sadness. He doubted there was any more trick-or-treating or holiday fun after Lillian’s death. Lionel did not seem the type to bring his little boy door-to-door begging for candy.
Clark went up the long driveway, a couple several yards ahead of him, and another couple alighting from a limousine at the front entrance. The moon was nearly full, bright silver rays lighting the night. The woman at the front door laughed at something her companion said.
Clark was at the front door, receiving a smile from the butler. The staff always seemed happy to see him. Maybe it was because he didn’t treat them like dirt as many of the mansion’s visitors did.
Inside was a decorated foyer with a huge arrangement of pumpkins, leaves, and gourds on the table in the middle of the floor. The walls were draped in black, the suits of armor polished and gleaming. He could smell roasted pumpkin seeds, French onion soup, baguettes, pumpkin and apple pies, roast beef, turkey, fish, and fresh vegetables. Hot mulled cider was strong.
He walked down the hall to the ballroom, a little nervous as he smoothed the front of his costume.
The room was filled with elaborately-costumed people. Clark felt a little self-conscious, but no one knew him here. Even if they thought him a bumpkin, he wouldn’t embarrass Lex because of his lack of pedigree.
He searched the crowd, then saw Lex.
Pale skin contrasted with the black formal clothes and black silk cape with the high collar. A single splash of scarlet on the black-and-white waistcoat matched the red silk lining of the cape.
Lex made a sexy vampire.
Clark blushed at the thought. He had to rein in these hormones. He might not be human, but he sure acted like it.
Lex turned at that moment, his eyes lighting up. He wasn’t wearing a mask but Clark was, yet it made no difference.
Lex knew him, anyway.
& & & & & &
Lex’s heart pounded at the sight of his young friend. Clark was wearing the classic Hamlet costume: a black doublet shot through with gold, white ruffles at the collar and sleeves, black tights, soft black shoes, a long, black silk cape, and a sequined black domino mask.
Lex really liked the tights.
“Glad you could make it, Your Majesty.”
Clark laughed. “Thank you, Count.”
Lex grinned. “We’ve got a buffet all set up. Cook has really outdone herself.” He looked knowingly at Clark. “Unless you scarfed all the candy apples and candy corn your parents were giving out.”
Clark blushed and Lex laughed.
Clark sampled some of the food, sipping ginger ale as Lex said, “I’m really glad you’re here, Clark. I have to mingle, but I like having someone to talk to.
“Glad to be of help, Lex.”
Lex saw the admiring glances thrown Clark’s way. Clark’s cheeks were flushed from the autumn cold, his green eyes sparkling through the mask. Dark, wavy hair framed that gorgeous face.
Lex, you’ve got it bad.
“Lex, who is this stunning Danish prince?”
Lydia Wentworth was resplendent in her Queen Elizabeth I costume. The grande dame of Metropolis society, she was a woman in her fifties who looked ten years younger.
“My friend, Clark Kent.”
Lydia extended her hand, diamonds glittering on her fingers. Her gold brocade gown was lined with pearls, several long strands of pearls draped over her bodice. The white ruffled collar was high and stiff, a golden crown with diamonds perched atop her reddish-gold wig. Pearls framed her gold-sequined mask.
Lydia was imposing in street clothes.
She was overwhelming in queenly regalia.
“Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Wentworth.” Clark shook her hand.
“Mmm. Lex, dear, you’ve done wonders with this old stone mausoleum.”
“Well, you know how it is, Lydia. I call it home.”
Lydia smiled imperiously. “I don’t know why Lionel banished you to this backwater.”
Lex noticed the dull red flush creeping up Clark’s cheeks.
“Well, Lydia, Smallville offers me peace and quiet after a frenetic pace in Metropolis.”
Lydia raised an elegant eyebrow. “How peaceful can it be with all the strange happenings here?”
“Oh, come now, Lydia, you know how the press exaggerates things.”
“Perhaps.” Lydia toyed with her strands of pearls as a cowboy and a traditional Witch started making the rounds of the buffet table. “But surely you miss the bright lights and diversity that a major city can offer?”
“Bucolic has its charms.”
Lydia’s eyes flicked over Clark. “No doubt.”
Suddenly angry, Lex forced a smile to his face. He was glad that Clark was concentrating on balancing his plate as he ate and had missed the nearly smirking glance thrown his way.
Only the jaded of Metropolis would consider Clark a mere boy toy. Clark was too good, too pure, too damned innocent for the likes of Lex to corrupt.
Feeling very protective, Lex said, “So, I noticed you were at the Wayne Foundation auction.”
“Yes, it was quite interesting. Gloomy Gotham is always a horror, but Bruce is so Old Money his ancestors booked a stateroom on the Mayflower.”
Lex smiled. His old friend certainly was Old Money, the patina on the family treasure far older than Luthor money.
Halloween was Bruce’s favorite holiday.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a black cat dart by the table. Startled, he looked around but saw no cat, just the young blond Witch he had seen earlier.
I must be more tired than I thought.
“I also saw Oliver Queen there. He asked after you.”
“Well, that’s nice to hear,” he said distractedly.
“Isn’t it? Good for quality people to stay in touch.”
Lex noticed that Clark was no longer beside him. He talked with Lydia for a few more minutes, then excused himself.
He went out to the gardens, guessing Clark would have come out here.
A few minutes later he found Clark sitting on a marble bench in the grove with the Alexander and Hephaistion statues, eating his food and gazing up at the stars.
“Sorry ‘bout that.” Lex’s silk cape whispered along the path.
“It’s not your fault.” Clark sipped his ginger ale.
“It’s just that most of my associates are as snobby and condescending as Lydia?”
Clark smiled slightly. “Comes with the money, doesn’t it?”
“Not all the time.” Lex sat beside Clark, their capes mingling on the bench.
“That’s true.” Clark turned to look at Lex. “You don’t act like that.”
Lex laughed. “I can be pretty arrogant.”
“Maybe, but you’ve got a good heart, Lex. I’ve seen you with my parents and friends. If anything, any rudeness comes from their side, not yours.”
Lex felt a pang. It was true that whenever someone mistrusted him merely for being a Luthor, it hurt.
“Well, the ultra-rich can be pretty vicious.”
Clark laughed slightly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
They sat together companionably for several minutes, then Lex stood with a sigh. “I have to get back.”
“I’ll go with you.”
As the two men left the grove, the blond-haired Witch slipped out of the shadows, carrying a black cat. The cat slipped out of her grasp and pranced around the base of the statues.
“Salem, you are one pain-in-the-butt.”
“Can I help it if they have fresh tuna in the kitchen?”
The Witch rolled her eyes and studied the statues. She took a pouch out of the folds of her skirt.
“Is this where you chant hibbity-bibbity-bobboli-boo?”
“Hush.” She started at the statues, quietly uttered a complex chant in Latin, and threw golden sparkles from the pouch, the sparkles fluttering, encircling the statues in a cloud of stars.
Salem said, “Pretty.”
“Let’s go.”
Salem trotted after Sabrina, tiny pinpoints of starlight winking off white marble.