Fic - The Prize is Pie
Title - The Prize is Pie
Author: twilightHDfan
Pairing: Clex
Rating: PG
Warnings - future!fic, fluff, angst, crack, Batman being told off by a 3 yo
Spoilers - none really
Disclaimer - Not mine, no matter how much I wish. Written for fun, with no profits being made.
Prompt - For clexmas spring fling changes - deaging/aging
A/N - Did I get it in on time? It's still the 7th somwhere right? *looks hopeful*.
Summary - When Lex put his latest plan to kill Superman into place, he didn't expect to wake up to a pair of familiar green eyes and a baby face.
“Are you alright, Sir? Sir?”
Mercy’s voice sounded in Lex’s ear, as he lay on the ground, stuck under a pipe, staring up at the blue sky, where the roof had previously been. Yet another attempt at destroying Superman had failed.
He only got a few seconds to think about the failure, while looking at the white wisp of clouds above him before his view was blocked by a pair of bright green eyes, messy raven hair and shy grin.
It was a sight he was used to seeing, although the grin had fallen away over the years, and the man who usually looked down at him didn’t have the baby face, the chubby cheeks, the face that made you want to grab the boy and protect him from the world.
But he knew those eyes, would know them anywhere, having seen them both when he was awake and asleep to know them anywhere.
For a moment, he felt a connection with the Kent’s, realised why they had been the way they had, because one look at the baby face and even Lex felt the pull to protect. But he had to remind himself that this was his enemy, and if his plan hadn’t worked the way he had wanted it to, for Superman clearly was still alive, at least it had done something.
And really, this just made it easier for Lex to kill the alien. Kill him now while he was vulnerable, when he wasn’t as strong or fast or as wary of Lex as the grown ma- alien was.
Except, it wasn’t the alien looking at him, wasn’t Superman or Kal-El or the Man of Steel. It was Clark. A baby Clark looking down at him, grin on his face, as his hand reached out to gently pat Lex’s cheek, staring for a long moment before staring at the pipe that was keeping Lex in place.
He frowned at it, before reaching out with one hand and pushing, the pipe making a loud groan as it was pushed out of shape and off Lex.
“Sir?”
“I’m alright,” he replied, still staring at baby Clark. “Casualties?”
“Sixteen injuries, no casualties noted, although Superman has not appeared since the final phase was put in place,” Mercy answered.
Superman hadn’t appeared because apparently the plan had turned him into a three year old boy, who was still grinning at him, his hand out, as if he wanted to help Lex up. Lex only took the hand because he was still feeling a little shaky on his feet, and when he took off his jacket and wrapped it around Clark, it was only because the jacket was ruined.
And he had no choice to hold Clark’s hand as they started walking through the rubble, because the boy had just grabbed his and started walking.
Mercy and Hope both looked at the boy with raised eyebrows, the two of them sharing a glance before looking at Lex for orders. It was why he trusted them with his life and secrets, because they trusted him completely.
Without a word, Lex walked past them, Clark in tow, the little boy seemingly content to follow him, and towards the car waiting for him, Mercy and Hope following.
When he got to the car, Lex opened the door, Clark looking up at him before clambering into it, Lex sliding in after him. He was surprised when Clark slid back to sit right next to him, head leaning against Lex’s arm. Baby Clark was as warm as Grown Up Clark was, and Lex only allowed it to continue because he could see the way Clark was struggling to keep his eyes open.
He might be a villain, but he wasn’t a monster. He left that to people like Doomsday.
Clark woke as they pulled up to the tower, his eyes huge as he looked up at the building, before turning and staring at Lex. Lex gave him a small smile, before he climbed out of the car, Clark following after him, jacket dwarfing his small body, arms flapping as he walked next to Lex.
As they rode up the elevator to the penthouse, Lex told himself that he was simply keeping Clark close so that he could learn about the alien, could learn new things that would help him to destroy his enemy. As he got off the elevator he undid his cufflinks, throwing them in the bowl, only to stop when he heard a low whimper.
Turning back towards the elevator, he couldn’t help the shot of pain that ran through him as he saw Clark curled on the floor, small, hurt noises coming from him, his skin streaked with green. Clark stared up at him with tears in his eyes, face the picture of misery.
It took him a moment to realise that it was the kryptonite shields he had in place throughout the penthouse that were hurting the boy, and he quickly moved over to the panel on the wall that would shut them down, quickly keying in the sequence.
Turning to look at Clark, Lex took in the little boy in the corner, wide hurt eyes staring at him with unshed tears, making them look bigger.
“Clark?” Lex murmured, crouching down near the boy. He hated the look of wariness on the little face, it reminding him too much of the look Clark had gotten on his face just before he had ended their friendship. Caught up in his thoughts, Lex didn’t realise the boy had moved until he felt arms wind around his neck, face pushed against his chest.
“Ow,” Clark whispered.
“I know,” Lex replied, swallowing hard. “But the painful rocks are switched off now.” Clark nodded against his shoulder, but refused to loosen his grip, so Lex had no choice but to pick the little boy up, his heart squeezing painfully, as he walked them into the lounge room.
He couldn’t help but squeeze Clark closer, hoping that doing so would stop the ache that had started in his chest, the way his throat felt tight. Clark just snuggled closer, murmuring something that Lex couldn’t understand, before becoming heavy in Lex’s arms.
Lex was shocked that Clark had fallen asleep so quickly, especially with Lex, but he couldn’t help the jolt of feeling that ran through him at the sign of trust. True, this wasn’t the boy or man he knew, but any Clark showing him trust was something he wasn’t used to.
Putting the boy down gently on the couch, Lex stared at him for a long moment, unable to stop himself from reaching out and stroking the dark hair off the boy’s head. Clark’s mouth twitched up in his sleep, a soft murmur leaving his lips as he shifted onto his side.
**
With Clark asleep, Lex took the time to find out how the day had turned out so wrong. The beam was meant to cut Superman down, to turn him human, take his powers away for good so that Lex would finally be rid of the alien menace.
Going through the file on the project, he froze as he saw that one of the scientists had used a different form of kryptonite. A purple form. Which Lex had definitely not signed off on and which he had never even heard of before.
He made a few phone calls down to the lab and within a few minutes the scientist responsible was standing in front of him, shifting nervously.
“Would you like to explain why you decided to use a new component in the machine?” Lex asked coolly, face completely blank. The man swallowed loudly before opening his mouth.
“It has the exact same properties as green kryptonite,” the scientist said. “We had no way of knowing-”
“That’s why everything is signed off by me,” Lex replied, voice like ice. “So that things like this don’t happen.”
“But it neutralised Superman, Sir,” the scientist answered. “And now it will be easier-”
“How long will the effects last?” Lex snapped, resisting the urge to clench his fists.
“I … I’m not sure,” the man replied, eyes flitting around the room, looking for a way out. “It was meant to kill Superman, not … make him a toddler. If I had more time I could-”
“Do it,” Lex snarled. “I want to know how long this is going to last, if it’s permanent or not. Go now, before I change my mind.”
The man nodded once before almost running out of the office. Once the man had left, Lex turned and faced out the window, running over the events of the day. The new kryptonite might be like the others, something that only affected Superman for a short period of time, or it might be permanent, leaving Clark a toddler.
The thought had something squeeze in his chest, the idea of never seeing grown up Clark again making him feel uneasy, before he reminded himself that he was enemies with the man, and that he shouldn’t care about never seeing him again.
But if Clark was to remain a toddler, then Lex had a decision to make. Did he keep the boy? Help him learn to live in this world again, or did he give him back to Martha Kent, let the woman raise him again. The latter thought had him clenching his fists, and he knew he wasn’t about to let Clark go.
He’d have to move quickly though, put things into place before the League or anyone else got wind of what had happened to Superman. He knew how quickly Bruce could throw a wrench in the works, so he needed to have everything iron clad before the Bat figured out what had happened.
Picking up his phone, he couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t the way he had wanted, but Clark would finally be his.
**
It was surprising how quickly little Clark, now Clark Kent Luthor, fitted into Lex’s life, Lex refusing to wonder if grown up Clark could’ve fitted in as seamlessly. It had only been three days, but it felt a lot longer than that.
Clark was slowly picking up words, and how to read and write, beaming every time he got something right, Lex making sure the boy didn’t get too down when he got something wrong.
Mrs Stout, his housekeeper instantly took a shine to Clark, something that didn’t surprise Lex in the slightest, the little boy somehow charming not only his housekeeper but all of his staff, including Mercy and Hope. His two body guards would bring Clark small gifts and give them to the boy when Lex wasn’t looking, although both would deny it.
Lex didn’t realise just how much Clark was actually changing his life until he was planning to blackmail a politician into giving him the building permit he wanted and looked up to see solemn green eyes staring at him.
“Is there something you want, Clark?” Lex asked. Talking to Clark with structured sentences was important. Clark had simply frowned at him, shaking his head, but looking for all the world like he knew exactly what Lex was doing.
“No,” the boy had finally replied, staring at Lex once more, looking like Lex had kicked a puppy, eyes wide, hurt look on his face, before turning and walking out of the room.
Lex had stared after him for a moment, before looking down at the plans on his desk. A tight feeling entered his chest as he looked at what he was doing, only easing once he had picked up his phone.
“Call it off,” he said to the woman on the other line.
“Are you sure?” she asked, purr to her voice.
“Change of plans,” Lex answered, walking over to his shredder and feeding the papers he’d spent days preparing through it.
“It’s off,” the woman replied, before hanging up the phone. Sinking down on the couch in his office, Lex wondered if he’d just thrown his best chance of getting his building approved out the window. His thoughts were interrupted by a tug on his pants. Lifting his head he saw a familiar grinning face and he couldn’t help but think how cute Clark looked in his little jeans and dress shirt, his hair neatly combed, and new sneakers on his feet.
“Pie!” Clark said proudly, holding a plate with apple pie on it up at Lex. He looked at Lex expectantly, pushing the plate closer to him until Lex took it.
Lex still couldn’t help the shock that ran through him when Clark then proceeded to climb into his lap, grinning up at him when he was settled, clearly waiting for Lex to eat the pie he’d brought him. Clark was even more affectionate as a child then he had been as an adult, often hugging and clambering up to sit on Lex’s lap when he could.
He told himself that the only reason he ate the pie was that he was hungry, and that it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Clark had started to look upset when it had taken him a few minutes to pick up the fork. Or that Clark had clearly brought it to him because he felt Lex had done something right, like Mrs Stout did when Clark did something right.
He’d never felt this satisfied in his life and couldn’t help but wonder if it was because he had stopped himself from doing something that was definitely leaning more towards the wrong side of things.
**
Being around Clark as he learned new things made Lex smile more than he ever had before in his life. The little boy’s face would light up, beaming grin crossing his face as he turned to show Lex what he had learnt, making sure that Lex saw.
When Clark had discovered the replica of the Battle of Troy he had almost bounced right off his feet, Lex worried that the little boy might, before Clark’s wide eyes had turned to him in excitement.
Seeing Clark play with the pieces, completely disregarding what actually happened, what with Clark having Achilles and Hector fighting side by side, Lex couldn’t help but be glad he’d kept the thing.
**
Lex had been waiting for the visit, and couldn’t help the smirk that crossed his face when he felt the presence in the room. He might be walking the straight and narrow path now, unable to take the disappointed look Clark would get on his face, the little boy somehow knowing when Lex was doing something wrong. But that didn’t mean he didn’t enjoy baiting the superheroes. He still thought they were a law onto himself, and that at the end of the day they were all just vigilantes that should be in jail.
“You know breaking and entering is still against the law, even for superheroes, Batman,” Lex said, walking over to the bar and pouring himself a scotch.
“You can’t keep him, Luthor.”
“Oh?” Lex replied, turning around and taking in the hulking figure of the Bat across from him. “Funny, because the adoption papers say that I can.”
“We won’t let you,” Batman answered, taking a menacing step forward. “I don’t know what you’re up to, Luthor, but I won’t let you hurt Clark.”
Lex let a smug smile cross his face. He had no intention of hurting Clark anymore, the mere thought of it making him want to hurt things, but Bruce didn’t need to know that. And Lex needed to have some fun in his life.
“His mother will take him back,” the Bat continued, taking another step. “And I am taking him now.”
“This isn’t Gotham, Batman,” Lex replied, stepping forward. “And I’m not one of your pathetic Arkham villians. If you want him, you’ll have to take him over my dead body.”
“So be it.”
The Bat was in front of him quicker than Lex had expected, but he still managed to dodge the punch, rolling on the ground before standing. Bruce may be good, but he wasn’t the only billionaire who had training.
He was however, one who had all kinds of tools on his body, and while Lex managed to get a few hits in, it wasn’t long until he found himself up against the wall, leather gloved hand around his throat. And just like that, it was gone.
“No!”
Clark stood in front of Lex, hands on his hips, Lex sure that the frown of disapproval that Lex had been getting whenever he was up to something … less than right, on his face. The look on Bruce’s face, even covered with the mask, was priceless, the man clearly shocked.
“Don’t hurt, Lex,” Clark continued, taking a step towards the Bat, clearly not afraid in the slightest.
“Clark?” Bruce asked, the Bat expression falling away from his face for a moment.
Clark simply glared at Batman, before turning back to Lex, eyes running over him, frown deepening when he saw the bruises on Lex’s neck.
“Bad Batman,” Clark said, turning and shaking a finger at Bruce, before turning back to Lex. “You okay?”
“I’m fine, Clark,” Lex replied, unable to stop the way his voice softened as he looked down at the little boy, who was hugging his leg, while still staring at the Batman accusingly.
Bruce looked shock, his gaze going from Clark to Lex and back again, before he shook his head.
“I’ll be back, Lex,” he said, heading towards the window.
“Perhaps next time you should bring your lawyers,” Lex called. “Given that intimidation doesn’t seem to have worked.”
He couldn’t help the smug smirk that crossed his face, his hand reaching down and running through Clark’s silky raven hair. He felt warmth spread through him when the Bat disappeared, Clark still hugging him around the leg, patting his knee gently in a way that he thought was comforting, and which Lex had to admit kind of was.
“How about some pie?” he asked, smirk slipping into a real grin when Clark looked up at him with worried eyes.
“But it’s bed time.”
“Sometimes we can have a midnight snack,” Lex whispered, sliding down so his face was level with the boy. “When we’ve been especially good."
Clark seemed to turn that idea over in his head for a while, before a large grin crossed his face.
“Okay!” he said, running off towards the kitchen. Lex couldn’t help the warmth that spread through him as he followed the little boy.
**
“Two weeks?” Lex asked, rubbing at the hollow feeling of his chest.
“It’s only an estimate,” the scientist said, shifting uncomfortably, like he had the first time Lex had called him in there. “But with the amount of exposure Superman had, and the concentration of kryptonite in the beam, calculations would suggest that Superman will return to his real age in roughly two weeks.”
Lex nodded, keeping the mask in place, while he felt his heart crumble a little. It had only been a week, and yet Clark had wormed his way into his life so much that he couldn’t imagine him not being there. It was even worse this time than it had been the first, because at least they’d gradually come to their enmity.
This time, Clark would go from the adorable, loving, carefree child, who seemed to want to be around Lex regardless of what was going on, back to the wary, distrustful, hating enemy that Lex had helped build.
Because he couldn’t kid himself, Clark was partly the way he was because of Lex, had started to distrust Lex because Lex had given him reason to. Oh, Clark had a part to play in their current stand off as superhero and enemy, but Lex had to admit he may have pushed him there towards the end.
“Thank you,” Lex said quietly, rubbing a hand over his head, a move he hadn’t done for years. The scientist seemed shocked, nodding his head and leaving when Lex waved him off.
Standing up, Lex moved to stand so he could look out the window. He couldn’t kid himself that he didn’t care about Clark now, couldn’t kid himself that he hadn’t always cared about Clark. But he was a Luthor, and Luthor’s struck out when they were hurt. Struck out when they felt that something that should be there’s was taken from them. And Lex was many things, but he was most definitely a Luthor first and foremost.
He shouldn’t have been, but he was surprised when he felt warm arms wrap around one of his legs, a small head pushed against it. His hand fell down and stroked through the locks that were a comfort to him now.
“You should be in bed,” Lex murmured quietly.
“You’re sad,” Clark replied, patting Lex’s knee.
Lex knew what he should do, should start pushing the little boy away, push him away so that when he lost the unconditional love that the little boy gave to him it wouldn’t hurt as much. But he couldn’t, he knew one look at Clark’s sad green eyes would have him caving, so why even try? Especially when it meant he would just start hurting earlier.
“We should have pie,” Clark murmured, Lex unable to stop the curl to his lips.
“We should,” he agreed, standing there for another long moment, before taking the little boy’s hand and heading towards the kitchen.
**
The day Lex walked into Clark’s room to find it empty, he knew his time was up. The hollowness that had been pushed away by having Clark back in his life came back with full force, making him almost fall to his knees.
Taking one last look at the room, he walked back out, closing the door behind him, before locking it.
He had thought that with Clark gone, that after a few weeks his life would return to the way it was before, that he would return to the way he had done business before. But every time he tried something that wasn’t exactly … right he’d remember the way little Clark would look at him, and that ache in his chest would become more severe, only lessening when he stuck to the straight and narrow.
Sticking to the straight and narrow did have some benefits, he didn’t have to face Clark for one, didn’t have to look into the green eyes, didn’t have to remember the feelings he couldn’t deny any more.
Which is why he was surprised when he opened his balcony door to see Clark standing there. Not Superman, but Clark Kent, in his jeans and flannel, green eyes staring at Lex with something like hope in them, small smile on his face.
“What is it with you heroes and breaking and entering?” Lex asked, not letting the flutter in his stomach and the soothing feeling in his chest let him forget who he was talking to. Little Clark loved him unconditionally, Big Clark never had. It was almost as though they were two completely different people, two Clark’s who had wormed their way into his life and left him in the end.
“I … it’s just, um, you’ve been doing a lot of good lately,” Clark replied, taking a step closer to Lex. Lex raised an eyebrow back at the man, telling himself that the small amount of hurt that had crept into Clark’s green eyes didn’t matter to him.
“How I run my business is no concern of yours, Clark. Not unless you and Miss Lane are trying to write yet another scathing diatribe about me,” Lex answered, trying to stop his racing heart. He’d been around Clark numerous times over the years, just never when Clark was clearly showing him his powers, showing him that he was Superman. He wasn’t quite sure what it all meant.
Even when Lex had made it clear that he knew who Superman was, Clark still tried to maintain that they were two different people. So Clark showing him now was kind of throwing him for a loop.
“I just thought maybe …” Clark started, trailing off when Lex simply looked at him. It took all of Lex’s will not to walk over and hug Clark, try to stop the hurt and confusion he could see in the green eyes, wanting to fix it.
They stared at each other for a long moment, before Lex turned walking back over to the door, feeling like the moment was over.
“Pie!” Clark blurted, just as his hand grabbed the door handle. Turning his head, Lex looked back, raising an eyebrow in question.
“Would you like to have some pie with me?” Clark asked, shuffling his feet, hands stuck in his pockets.
“I’m afraid Mrs Stout hasn’t made any this week,” Lex replied, his mouth answering before he really had time to think about it.
“That’s okay,” Clark replied, beaming grin crossing his face. It had been so long since Lex had had one directed at him that he couldn’t help but stare. “Mom made me one before she left. We could fly to Smallville if, um, if you want?”
Lex knew that this was one of those moments, one of those moments you looked back on and realised that was where everything changed. He could walk inside, and he knew that would be it, Clark probably wouldn’t try again, or he could take a chance.
“Apple?” he asked, taking his hand off the door and turning to look at Clark. Clark continued to beam at him, Lex remembering why he’d done so much to see it back at Smallville, the grin leaving him warm all over.
“And I’m pretty sure there’s some ice cream in the freezer,” Clark answered, taking a step towards him.
“And you want to take me flying?” Lex asked, feet taking a small step. Clark ducked his head then, looking up at Lex through his fringe.
“I always wanted to take you flying,” he muttered, blush spreading across his cheeks. Lex would think about that comment later, right now, the science geek in him wanted to go flying, wanted to go flying with Superman and actually enjoy it, choose to do it.
“We should probably leave now then,” Lex said, having moved right up to Clark. “Gives us enough time to go and get some ice cream if there isn’t any.”
Clark’s head snapped up, beaming grin back on his face, as he reached out and pulled Lex against him.
“Careful, this might take your breath away,” Clark murmured to him, before taking off.
Lex found he was right. Although maybe not for the reason Clark was thinking.
END
Author: twilightHDfan
Pairing: Clex
Rating: PG
Warnings - future!fic, fluff, angst, crack, Batman being told off by a 3 yo
Spoilers - none really
Disclaimer - Not mine, no matter how much I wish. Written for fun, with no profits being made.
Prompt - For clexmas spring fling changes - deaging/aging
A/N - Did I get it in on time? It's still the 7th somwhere right? *looks hopeful*.
Summary - When Lex put his latest plan to kill Superman into place, he didn't expect to wake up to a pair of familiar green eyes and a baby face.
“Are you alright, Sir? Sir?”
Mercy’s voice sounded in Lex’s ear, as he lay on the ground, stuck under a pipe, staring up at the blue sky, where the roof had previously been. Yet another attempt at destroying Superman had failed.
He only got a few seconds to think about the failure, while looking at the white wisp of clouds above him before his view was blocked by a pair of bright green eyes, messy raven hair and shy grin.
It was a sight he was used to seeing, although the grin had fallen away over the years, and the man who usually looked down at him didn’t have the baby face, the chubby cheeks, the face that made you want to grab the boy and protect him from the world.
But he knew those eyes, would know them anywhere, having seen them both when he was awake and asleep to know them anywhere.
For a moment, he felt a connection with the Kent’s, realised why they had been the way they had, because one look at the baby face and even Lex felt the pull to protect. But he had to remind himself that this was his enemy, and if his plan hadn’t worked the way he had wanted it to, for Superman clearly was still alive, at least it had done something.
And really, this just made it easier for Lex to kill the alien. Kill him now while he was vulnerable, when he wasn’t as strong or fast or as wary of Lex as the grown ma- alien was.
Except, it wasn’t the alien looking at him, wasn’t Superman or Kal-El or the Man of Steel. It was Clark. A baby Clark looking down at him, grin on his face, as his hand reached out to gently pat Lex’s cheek, staring for a long moment before staring at the pipe that was keeping Lex in place.
He frowned at it, before reaching out with one hand and pushing, the pipe making a loud groan as it was pushed out of shape and off Lex.
“Sir?”
“I’m alright,” he replied, still staring at baby Clark. “Casualties?”
“Sixteen injuries, no casualties noted, although Superman has not appeared since the final phase was put in place,” Mercy answered.
Superman hadn’t appeared because apparently the plan had turned him into a three year old boy, who was still grinning at him, his hand out, as if he wanted to help Lex up. Lex only took the hand because he was still feeling a little shaky on his feet, and when he took off his jacket and wrapped it around Clark, it was only because the jacket was ruined.
And he had no choice to hold Clark’s hand as they started walking through the rubble, because the boy had just grabbed his and started walking.
Mercy and Hope both looked at the boy with raised eyebrows, the two of them sharing a glance before looking at Lex for orders. It was why he trusted them with his life and secrets, because they trusted him completely.
Without a word, Lex walked past them, Clark in tow, the little boy seemingly content to follow him, and towards the car waiting for him, Mercy and Hope following.
When he got to the car, Lex opened the door, Clark looking up at him before clambering into it, Lex sliding in after him. He was surprised when Clark slid back to sit right next to him, head leaning against Lex’s arm. Baby Clark was as warm as Grown Up Clark was, and Lex only allowed it to continue because he could see the way Clark was struggling to keep his eyes open.
He might be a villain, but he wasn’t a monster. He left that to people like Doomsday.
Clark woke as they pulled up to the tower, his eyes huge as he looked up at the building, before turning and staring at Lex. Lex gave him a small smile, before he climbed out of the car, Clark following after him, jacket dwarfing his small body, arms flapping as he walked next to Lex.
As they rode up the elevator to the penthouse, Lex told himself that he was simply keeping Clark close so that he could learn about the alien, could learn new things that would help him to destroy his enemy. As he got off the elevator he undid his cufflinks, throwing them in the bowl, only to stop when he heard a low whimper.
Turning back towards the elevator, he couldn’t help the shot of pain that ran through him as he saw Clark curled on the floor, small, hurt noises coming from him, his skin streaked with green. Clark stared up at him with tears in his eyes, face the picture of misery.
It took him a moment to realise that it was the kryptonite shields he had in place throughout the penthouse that were hurting the boy, and he quickly moved over to the panel on the wall that would shut them down, quickly keying in the sequence.
Turning to look at Clark, Lex took in the little boy in the corner, wide hurt eyes staring at him with unshed tears, making them look bigger.
“Clark?” Lex murmured, crouching down near the boy. He hated the look of wariness on the little face, it reminding him too much of the look Clark had gotten on his face just before he had ended their friendship. Caught up in his thoughts, Lex didn’t realise the boy had moved until he felt arms wind around his neck, face pushed against his chest.
“Ow,” Clark whispered.
“I know,” Lex replied, swallowing hard. “But the painful rocks are switched off now.” Clark nodded against his shoulder, but refused to loosen his grip, so Lex had no choice but to pick the little boy up, his heart squeezing painfully, as he walked them into the lounge room.
He couldn’t help but squeeze Clark closer, hoping that doing so would stop the ache that had started in his chest, the way his throat felt tight. Clark just snuggled closer, murmuring something that Lex couldn’t understand, before becoming heavy in Lex’s arms.
Lex was shocked that Clark had fallen asleep so quickly, especially with Lex, but he couldn’t help the jolt of feeling that ran through him at the sign of trust. True, this wasn’t the boy or man he knew, but any Clark showing him trust was something he wasn’t used to.
Putting the boy down gently on the couch, Lex stared at him for a long moment, unable to stop himself from reaching out and stroking the dark hair off the boy’s head. Clark’s mouth twitched up in his sleep, a soft murmur leaving his lips as he shifted onto his side.
**
With Clark asleep, Lex took the time to find out how the day had turned out so wrong. The beam was meant to cut Superman down, to turn him human, take his powers away for good so that Lex would finally be rid of the alien menace.
Going through the file on the project, he froze as he saw that one of the scientists had used a different form of kryptonite. A purple form. Which Lex had definitely not signed off on and which he had never even heard of before.
He made a few phone calls down to the lab and within a few minutes the scientist responsible was standing in front of him, shifting nervously.
“Would you like to explain why you decided to use a new component in the machine?” Lex asked coolly, face completely blank. The man swallowed loudly before opening his mouth.
“It has the exact same properties as green kryptonite,” the scientist said. “We had no way of knowing-”
“That’s why everything is signed off by me,” Lex replied, voice like ice. “So that things like this don’t happen.”
“But it neutralised Superman, Sir,” the scientist answered. “And now it will be easier-”
“How long will the effects last?” Lex snapped, resisting the urge to clench his fists.
“I … I’m not sure,” the man replied, eyes flitting around the room, looking for a way out. “It was meant to kill Superman, not … make him a toddler. If I had more time I could-”
“Do it,” Lex snarled. “I want to know how long this is going to last, if it’s permanent or not. Go now, before I change my mind.”
The man nodded once before almost running out of the office. Once the man had left, Lex turned and faced out the window, running over the events of the day. The new kryptonite might be like the others, something that only affected Superman for a short period of time, or it might be permanent, leaving Clark a toddler.
The thought had something squeeze in his chest, the idea of never seeing grown up Clark again making him feel uneasy, before he reminded himself that he was enemies with the man, and that he shouldn’t care about never seeing him again.
But if Clark was to remain a toddler, then Lex had a decision to make. Did he keep the boy? Help him learn to live in this world again, or did he give him back to Martha Kent, let the woman raise him again. The latter thought had him clenching his fists, and he knew he wasn’t about to let Clark go.
He’d have to move quickly though, put things into place before the League or anyone else got wind of what had happened to Superman. He knew how quickly Bruce could throw a wrench in the works, so he needed to have everything iron clad before the Bat figured out what had happened.
Picking up his phone, he couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t the way he had wanted, but Clark would finally be his.
**
It was surprising how quickly little Clark, now Clark Kent Luthor, fitted into Lex’s life, Lex refusing to wonder if grown up Clark could’ve fitted in as seamlessly. It had only been three days, but it felt a lot longer than that.
Clark was slowly picking up words, and how to read and write, beaming every time he got something right, Lex making sure the boy didn’t get too down when he got something wrong.
Mrs Stout, his housekeeper instantly took a shine to Clark, something that didn’t surprise Lex in the slightest, the little boy somehow charming not only his housekeeper but all of his staff, including Mercy and Hope. His two body guards would bring Clark small gifts and give them to the boy when Lex wasn’t looking, although both would deny it.
Lex didn’t realise just how much Clark was actually changing his life until he was planning to blackmail a politician into giving him the building permit he wanted and looked up to see solemn green eyes staring at him.
“Is there something you want, Clark?” Lex asked. Talking to Clark with structured sentences was important. Clark had simply frowned at him, shaking his head, but looking for all the world like he knew exactly what Lex was doing.
“No,” the boy had finally replied, staring at Lex once more, looking like Lex had kicked a puppy, eyes wide, hurt look on his face, before turning and walking out of the room.
Lex had stared after him for a moment, before looking down at the plans on his desk. A tight feeling entered his chest as he looked at what he was doing, only easing once he had picked up his phone.
“Call it off,” he said to the woman on the other line.
“Are you sure?” she asked, purr to her voice.
“Change of plans,” Lex answered, walking over to his shredder and feeding the papers he’d spent days preparing through it.
“It’s off,” the woman replied, before hanging up the phone. Sinking down on the couch in his office, Lex wondered if he’d just thrown his best chance of getting his building approved out the window. His thoughts were interrupted by a tug on his pants. Lifting his head he saw a familiar grinning face and he couldn’t help but think how cute Clark looked in his little jeans and dress shirt, his hair neatly combed, and new sneakers on his feet.
“Pie!” Clark said proudly, holding a plate with apple pie on it up at Lex. He looked at Lex expectantly, pushing the plate closer to him until Lex took it.
Lex still couldn’t help the shock that ran through him when Clark then proceeded to climb into his lap, grinning up at him when he was settled, clearly waiting for Lex to eat the pie he’d brought him. Clark was even more affectionate as a child then he had been as an adult, often hugging and clambering up to sit on Lex’s lap when he could.
He told himself that the only reason he ate the pie was that he was hungry, and that it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Clark had started to look upset when it had taken him a few minutes to pick up the fork. Or that Clark had clearly brought it to him because he felt Lex had done something right, like Mrs Stout did when Clark did something right.
He’d never felt this satisfied in his life and couldn’t help but wonder if it was because he had stopped himself from doing something that was definitely leaning more towards the wrong side of things.
**
Being around Clark as he learned new things made Lex smile more than he ever had before in his life. The little boy’s face would light up, beaming grin crossing his face as he turned to show Lex what he had learnt, making sure that Lex saw.
When Clark had discovered the replica of the Battle of Troy he had almost bounced right off his feet, Lex worried that the little boy might, before Clark’s wide eyes had turned to him in excitement.
Seeing Clark play with the pieces, completely disregarding what actually happened, what with Clark having Achilles and Hector fighting side by side, Lex couldn’t help but be glad he’d kept the thing.
**
Lex had been waiting for the visit, and couldn’t help the smirk that crossed his face when he felt the presence in the room. He might be walking the straight and narrow path now, unable to take the disappointed look Clark would get on his face, the little boy somehow knowing when Lex was doing something wrong. But that didn’t mean he didn’t enjoy baiting the superheroes. He still thought they were a law onto himself, and that at the end of the day they were all just vigilantes that should be in jail.
“You know breaking and entering is still against the law, even for superheroes, Batman,” Lex said, walking over to the bar and pouring himself a scotch.
“You can’t keep him, Luthor.”
“Oh?” Lex replied, turning around and taking in the hulking figure of the Bat across from him. “Funny, because the adoption papers say that I can.”
“We won’t let you,” Batman answered, taking a menacing step forward. “I don’t know what you’re up to, Luthor, but I won’t let you hurt Clark.”
Lex let a smug smile cross his face. He had no intention of hurting Clark anymore, the mere thought of it making him want to hurt things, but Bruce didn’t need to know that. And Lex needed to have some fun in his life.
“His mother will take him back,” the Bat continued, taking another step. “And I am taking him now.”
“This isn’t Gotham, Batman,” Lex replied, stepping forward. “And I’m not one of your pathetic Arkham villians. If you want him, you’ll have to take him over my dead body.”
“So be it.”
The Bat was in front of him quicker than Lex had expected, but he still managed to dodge the punch, rolling on the ground before standing. Bruce may be good, but he wasn’t the only billionaire who had training.
He was however, one who had all kinds of tools on his body, and while Lex managed to get a few hits in, it wasn’t long until he found himself up against the wall, leather gloved hand around his throat. And just like that, it was gone.
“No!”
Clark stood in front of Lex, hands on his hips, Lex sure that the frown of disapproval that Lex had been getting whenever he was up to something … less than right, on his face. The look on Bruce’s face, even covered with the mask, was priceless, the man clearly shocked.
“Don’t hurt, Lex,” Clark continued, taking a step towards the Bat, clearly not afraid in the slightest.
“Clark?” Bruce asked, the Bat expression falling away from his face for a moment.
Clark simply glared at Batman, before turning back to Lex, eyes running over him, frown deepening when he saw the bruises on Lex’s neck.
“Bad Batman,” Clark said, turning and shaking a finger at Bruce, before turning back to Lex. “You okay?”
“I’m fine, Clark,” Lex replied, unable to stop the way his voice softened as he looked down at the little boy, who was hugging his leg, while still staring at the Batman accusingly.
Bruce looked shock, his gaze going from Clark to Lex and back again, before he shook his head.
“I’ll be back, Lex,” he said, heading towards the window.
“Perhaps next time you should bring your lawyers,” Lex called. “Given that intimidation doesn’t seem to have worked.”
He couldn’t help the smug smirk that crossed his face, his hand reaching down and running through Clark’s silky raven hair. He felt warmth spread through him when the Bat disappeared, Clark still hugging him around the leg, patting his knee gently in a way that he thought was comforting, and which Lex had to admit kind of was.
“How about some pie?” he asked, smirk slipping into a real grin when Clark looked up at him with worried eyes.
“But it’s bed time.”
“Sometimes we can have a midnight snack,” Lex whispered, sliding down so his face was level with the boy. “When we’ve been especially good."
Clark seemed to turn that idea over in his head for a while, before a large grin crossed his face.
“Okay!” he said, running off towards the kitchen. Lex couldn’t help the warmth that spread through him as he followed the little boy.
**
“Two weeks?” Lex asked, rubbing at the hollow feeling of his chest.
“It’s only an estimate,” the scientist said, shifting uncomfortably, like he had the first time Lex had called him in there. “But with the amount of exposure Superman had, and the concentration of kryptonite in the beam, calculations would suggest that Superman will return to his real age in roughly two weeks.”
Lex nodded, keeping the mask in place, while he felt his heart crumble a little. It had only been a week, and yet Clark had wormed his way into his life so much that he couldn’t imagine him not being there. It was even worse this time than it had been the first, because at least they’d gradually come to their enmity.
This time, Clark would go from the adorable, loving, carefree child, who seemed to want to be around Lex regardless of what was going on, back to the wary, distrustful, hating enemy that Lex had helped build.
Because he couldn’t kid himself, Clark was partly the way he was because of Lex, had started to distrust Lex because Lex had given him reason to. Oh, Clark had a part to play in their current stand off as superhero and enemy, but Lex had to admit he may have pushed him there towards the end.
“Thank you,” Lex said quietly, rubbing a hand over his head, a move he hadn’t done for years. The scientist seemed shocked, nodding his head and leaving when Lex waved him off.
Standing up, Lex moved to stand so he could look out the window. He couldn’t kid himself that he didn’t care about Clark now, couldn’t kid himself that he hadn’t always cared about Clark. But he was a Luthor, and Luthor’s struck out when they were hurt. Struck out when they felt that something that should be there’s was taken from them. And Lex was many things, but he was most definitely a Luthor first and foremost.
He shouldn’t have been, but he was surprised when he felt warm arms wrap around one of his legs, a small head pushed against it. His hand fell down and stroked through the locks that were a comfort to him now.
“You should be in bed,” Lex murmured quietly.
“You’re sad,” Clark replied, patting Lex’s knee.
Lex knew what he should do, should start pushing the little boy away, push him away so that when he lost the unconditional love that the little boy gave to him it wouldn’t hurt as much. But he couldn’t, he knew one look at Clark’s sad green eyes would have him caving, so why even try? Especially when it meant he would just start hurting earlier.
“We should have pie,” Clark murmured, Lex unable to stop the curl to his lips.
“We should,” he agreed, standing there for another long moment, before taking the little boy’s hand and heading towards the kitchen.
**
The day Lex walked into Clark’s room to find it empty, he knew his time was up. The hollowness that had been pushed away by having Clark back in his life came back with full force, making him almost fall to his knees.
Taking one last look at the room, he walked back out, closing the door behind him, before locking it.
He had thought that with Clark gone, that after a few weeks his life would return to the way it was before, that he would return to the way he had done business before. But every time he tried something that wasn’t exactly … right he’d remember the way little Clark would look at him, and that ache in his chest would become more severe, only lessening when he stuck to the straight and narrow.
Sticking to the straight and narrow did have some benefits, he didn’t have to face Clark for one, didn’t have to look into the green eyes, didn’t have to remember the feelings he couldn’t deny any more.
Which is why he was surprised when he opened his balcony door to see Clark standing there. Not Superman, but Clark Kent, in his jeans and flannel, green eyes staring at Lex with something like hope in them, small smile on his face.
“What is it with you heroes and breaking and entering?” Lex asked, not letting the flutter in his stomach and the soothing feeling in his chest let him forget who he was talking to. Little Clark loved him unconditionally, Big Clark never had. It was almost as though they were two completely different people, two Clark’s who had wormed their way into his life and left him in the end.
“I … it’s just, um, you’ve been doing a lot of good lately,” Clark replied, taking a step closer to Lex. Lex raised an eyebrow back at the man, telling himself that the small amount of hurt that had crept into Clark’s green eyes didn’t matter to him.
“How I run my business is no concern of yours, Clark. Not unless you and Miss Lane are trying to write yet another scathing diatribe about me,” Lex answered, trying to stop his racing heart. He’d been around Clark numerous times over the years, just never when Clark was clearly showing him his powers, showing him that he was Superman. He wasn’t quite sure what it all meant.
Even when Lex had made it clear that he knew who Superman was, Clark still tried to maintain that they were two different people. So Clark showing him now was kind of throwing him for a loop.
“I just thought maybe …” Clark started, trailing off when Lex simply looked at him. It took all of Lex’s will not to walk over and hug Clark, try to stop the hurt and confusion he could see in the green eyes, wanting to fix it.
They stared at each other for a long moment, before Lex turned walking back over to the door, feeling like the moment was over.
“Pie!” Clark blurted, just as his hand grabbed the door handle. Turning his head, Lex looked back, raising an eyebrow in question.
“Would you like to have some pie with me?” Clark asked, shuffling his feet, hands stuck in his pockets.
“I’m afraid Mrs Stout hasn’t made any this week,” Lex replied, his mouth answering before he really had time to think about it.
“That’s okay,” Clark replied, beaming grin crossing his face. It had been so long since Lex had had one directed at him that he couldn’t help but stare. “Mom made me one before she left. We could fly to Smallville if, um, if you want?”
Lex knew that this was one of those moments, one of those moments you looked back on and realised that was where everything changed. He could walk inside, and he knew that would be it, Clark probably wouldn’t try again, or he could take a chance.
“Apple?” he asked, taking his hand off the door and turning to look at Clark. Clark continued to beam at him, Lex remembering why he’d done so much to see it back at Smallville, the grin leaving him warm all over.
“And I’m pretty sure there’s some ice cream in the freezer,” Clark answered, taking a step towards him.
“And you want to take me flying?” Lex asked, feet taking a small step. Clark ducked his head then, looking up at Lex through his fringe.
“I always wanted to take you flying,” he muttered, blush spreading across his cheeks. Lex would think about that comment later, right now, the science geek in him wanted to go flying, wanted to go flying with Superman and actually enjoy it, choose to do it.
“We should probably leave now then,” Lex said, having moved right up to Clark. “Gives us enough time to go and get some ice cream if there isn’t any.”
Clark’s head snapped up, beaming grin back on his face, as he reached out and pulled Lex against him.
“Careful, this might take your breath away,” Clark murmured to him, before taking off.
Lex found he was right. Although maybe not for the reason Clark was thinking.
END