Quicksand 8/13
Title: Quicksand
Authors: herohunter and ladydreamer
Pairing: Clex
Rating: Generally PG, and NC-17 in parts
Warning: mpreg
Summary: One cold November evening, twelve years after Lex Luthor left Smallville and Clark Kent behind, the two meet in Centennial Park… as Lex is walking home with his daughter.
Thanks to our beta lexalicious, and to lapetite-kiki for the beautiful cover for the fic.
Part Eight
Lex took Clark's hand as they waited at the stoplight. He looked around the school as kids filtered out onto the sidewalk to be picked up by their parents. Since Clark's story had come out, there had been many dissenting opinions regarding the metahumans. Lex could find almost any news or radio station talking about it, although, thanks to Clark's article, there were more people defending them. Lex turned off the radio and pulled forward a little.
"If Athena doesn't have much homework, we could go somewhere for dinner," Clark suggested, rubbing his thumb across the skin of Lex's hand.
"I think that sounds like a good idea. We don't get out enough. I've become quite the homebody, but Metropolis has so many nice places," Lex agreed. He pulled into the line of cars waiting to pick up their children. "Do you see her? We'll ask her where she wants to go."
Clark stretched his neck but frowned when Athena was nowhere in sight. She sometimes got distracted when talking to her friends, but she knew to wait for them inside the school gates and where they could see her. "No, I don't... Her classmates are there, though..." His right hand reached for the door.
A pang of worry struck Lex's heart and he nodded. "Go find her? Maybe she got in trouble for being talkative, or something," he said with a smile.
"Yeah." Clark got out and crossed the school gates, then searched for their daughter again. She wasn't there. He approached a nearby teacher, who assured him she hadn't seen Athena there at all, and the gate watcher confirmed it. Clark leaned out of the gate, motioned for Lex to join him, and turned around so he could scan the school building. Athena would be there unless something had happened; she knew how much Lex worried about her.
Lex parked the car and hopped out, jogging up to join Clark. His heart was starting to beat rapidly. "You don't see her?"
"She's not in her classroom, at the principal's office or anywhere upstairs," Clark told him softly and moved on with his search.
Lex took a breath to make himself calm, and put his arm around Clark's back. She couldn't be missing. His heart couldn't take it.
Clark searched the lower level, his chest tightening because Athena was nowhere in the school building, but he said nothing further and focused on the physical activities area. He finally took a relieved breath. "She's in the gym, Lex." He took Lex's hand and headed that way. "Oh. She's crying."
"She's crying?" Lex repeated in alarm. "Is she hurt?" He looked around and wanted Clark to superspeed them there, but it wasn't a good idea with so many people around.
Clark shook his head. "Not that I can see. How was she allowed in there by herself? I'll be having a word with the hall monitor!"
Lex squeezed Clark's hand. He was such a good father, and had taken to it so quickly, too. "She probably moved faster than they could see," Lex told him quietly.
"I don't care if she turned invisible," Clark said under his breath. "She's a pick-up, and she wasn't at the gate; someone should have missed her!" He pushed the gym door open and let Lex walk in first.
Lex hurried in to see Athena crouched over her knees and hiding on the other side of the bleachers, which were pushed back against the wall. "Baby?" he ventured as he approached her.
Her ragged sobs echoed through the empty space, and Lex hurried to her side, putting his hand on her back. "Kitten, it'll be okay, whatever it is. We're here."
Clark rushed to them and embraced Lex and Athena at once, closing his eyes because she was there, and she was fine, and like Lex had said, whatever it was, they were there.
Lex rubbed her back steadily and let her cry for a little while. Athena let out a whimper and wiped her eyes in embarrassment. "S-Sorry."
"Don't apologize, baby. It's okay." Lex pressed a kiss to her cheek and caressed her hair. He tucked his fingers under her chin, and lifted her face. "How about we get out of here, huh?"
Athena wiped her hands against her cheeks. "I need to wash my face," she whispered.
Lex kissed her forehead. "Okay." He took her hand and brought her to her feet.
Clark picked up her book bag, stood and took a step back. Lex had more experience than he did at this.
Lex met his eye and began to guide her toward the girls' room, but she pulled away, then said softly. "I can do it, Dad."
Lex let her go and watched her walk away curiously. At some point he knew that she would need some space, but he hadn't expected it to happen when she was alone in the gym crying. Clark rested one hand on Lex's shoulder, looking away from the girls' room door.
"She's upset," Lex whispered. He leaned into Clark and waited for her to return. After a moment, she trudged out and went to their side, keeping her head down. Lex reached forward to touch her shoulder, then thought better of it. "Ready to go, baby?"
Athena nodded silently and waited for her fathers to take the lead. Lex licked his lips and nodded. They could talk about this in a safer space than the school.
Clark had a slight frown on his brow. She was upset, and she was entitled to that, but running off and hiding behind the bleachers was something he would address later. She had a phone, and she could have called them to pick her up, or to at least let them know she didn't want to be waiting for them with the others. He was going to let her know that scaring Lex like that wasn't acceptable. He crossed his arms and let Lex and Athena leave the building first.
Lex lead them back to the car and opened the door for Athena. She looked back at her group of friends by the gate, then looked down again and hopped inside the backseat before putting the back of her hand against her eyes. Miranda turned back to look at her, then looked back at the group of girls, who laughed. Once they were all inside, Lex handed her a lavender handkerchief.
"I'm sorry, Athena, whatever it is," Lex told her quietly.
Clark's determination and frown melted away at the utter sadness she was giving off. He reached over and touched her knee. In his parent-minded thinking, he almost forgot that he had known all too well what it was to feel like an outcast. "I'm sorry too, princess."
"Thanks, D-Dad," Athena said, wiping her eyes.
She was quiet during most of the ride home, and Lex let her be so for a little while, afraid that he shouldn't press her too much, or she might not talk to them. He hadn't really had to deal with much moodiness with her until now, so he just watched her through the rearview mirror, and waited until they were taking off their shoes at the door to ask, "Can you tell us what happened, kitten?"
"My friends don't like me anymore." Athena threw herself on the sofa.
Lex looked back at Clark, then moved to sit by her side. "Why would you think that?"
"Today Macy made Miranda talk to me in the bathroom before lunch, and she said that the girls think I'm a baby, and my family's a bunch of freaks, and they have more fun when I'm not around," Athena said dejectedly.
Clark's eyebrows rose. He looked at Lex and sat on the arm of the sofa, at Athena's other side. So the girls were being mean their daughter, now they needed to find out why. Oh, how he would love to show up as Superman and make it all fine again, but those friendships wouldn't be real, either, if girls wanted to be with her because of him, so he knew he would never suggest it. In all honesty, he wasn't sure how much advice either he or Lex could provide, since they had been outcasts themselves most of their school lives. "We may be freaks, but if they think you're not fun, there's something wrong with them," he said softly.
"Ba- Athena, you're the most mature eleven year old I know," Lex argued.
"They say that 'cause I call you guys all the time," Athena replied, looking at her hands. "And they think we're freaks because Clark writes about them, and because you're both men. Macy's mom told her that if men had been meant to be together, they'd be able to have babies. I can't tell them they're wrong about that. I just tell them it doesn't matter if you can have babies if you love each other, and ask them if they'd tell infertile couples and older people not to love each other, but they don't get it." She shrugged. "Macy's spoiled and mean. It wouldn't be so bad if Miranda hadn't gone along with it."
Lex rubbed his lips. "Well, I'm proud of you for sticking up for us. That couldn't have been easy."
"What wasn't easy was keeping my temper," Athena replied.
Clark tried not to channel his Kent father side and ran a hand through his hair. "Well. Do you think you'd prefer attending a school with children of other same-sex couples?" he suggested. "Discrimination will be wherever you go, sweetheart, whether it be because Lex and I are men, or because you're smart, or I defend metahumans, or your father is bald, or I wear glasses. You'll always find someone who thinks they're inferior to you somehow, and those people will try to make you feel less than they pretend to be, but if you want, you can try being with people who understand at least one aspect of our lives, if Lex agrees also."
Lex put his arm around Athena's shoulders and nodded. It hurt him inside to see her so down. She was such a naturally bright and beautiful child.
"I dunno. Maybe." She fussed with her hair and sighed. "I like my teachers. I don't wanna just give up."
"We can look at the other schools," Lex suggested. "And I can talk to your teachers and see if they have any suggestions based on what we like. We'll decide together, like before."
Athena sniffed and nodded.
"Want a pre-dinner cookie? I made them this afternoon," Lex offered. Athena thought about it and nodded again.
Clark held out his hand to her. "Let me tell you something."
"Yeah?" Athena took his hand and looked up at Clark solemnly. Lex stood and went into the kitchen to fetch the cookie jar and bottle of chocolate milk.
Clark held her hand in his and slipped down to sit closer to her on the sofa. "There's a big difference between quitting and walking away, to people like you and me. I don't have to tell you how careful you need to be always, don't squeeze too hard, watch your limbs, don't get too mad and smack something, right? Well, if you decide to go to another school, it's not quitting so much as walking away from a situation that might make you lose control some day. Quitting would be if you told us you never wanted to go back to school, and you were gonna become a hippy and wear tie-dye shirts and never cut your hair again, hm?" He gave her a little wink.
Athena laughed softly. "Clark..." She sucked in her lower lip and nodded. "I understand. I just don't know what I want to do. People are going to be like this everywhere, right? Even if it's not about you and Dad being men. I know there's nothing wrong with having abilities or being gay."
Lex returned and handed the bottle to Clark so he'd warm it for her and offered her the cookie jar. She took two out.
"And I'm proud of you for sticking to your beliefs," Lex assured her. He watched her nibble the cookie. "And if you do decide to walk away, we're right behind you."
Athena nodded and touched her eyes as they teared up. "Thank you. Both of you."
"It's nothing. We love you, and we hate to see you sad," Lex said.
"That's right," agreed Clark as he made her milk the temperature she liked best, then handed it to her. "If we could, we'd keep if from happening for the rest of your life, which is impossible. What we can do we will, though, and when someone is mean to you, you can be sure that they're just trying to make themselves feel better than you because they don't, not really. They're jealous and insecure of something you have, or something you are. It doesn't make their words any less hurtful, but it's the truth."
Athena nodded, listening to the words Clark was giving to her, and twisted open her chocolate milk. "Do you think Miranda will be my friend again someday?"
"I don't know. You're getting to be the age where kids splinter off into groups. It'll be worse in high school, unless the school controls it," Lex said honestly.
"Can't wait to grow up," Athena said sarcastically. "I'll try to remember. When they tease me, I'll think of that, Clark, and I'll try to ignore them."
Lex petted her cheek with the back of his hand. His brave, smart girl.
Clark patted her knee. "I wish I could say I'm sorry that Lex and I aren't your regular every day parents, sweetheart, but I can't. If not for Lex, I'd have no one, and I'd definitely not have you."
"Regular everyday parents break up and hate each other. Then they use their kids against each other. I'd rather have you," Athena said confidently.
"Well, I'll take that," Lex replied with a smile.
"And everyday parents aren't super smart like you, Dad, and they don't save people everyday like Clark," Athena continued. "They don't team up on weekends and save practically hundred of people from being experimented on. Regular parents aren't as good as my parents."
"Thanks, princess," Clark said, bringing her hand to his lips and kissing it once. "Why don't you go to school a few more days and then make a decision about what you want to do?"
"I can try that." Athena knew her father would be collecting information on the other schools available by morning. He was good at that.
***
Athena walked down the hallway carrying her books and dropped by her locker. She stopped abruptly, seeing a pacifier hanging from the handle, and heard giggling behind her. She lifted her chin, swallowed slowly, and reached up to wrap the string around her hand. It came off with a tight snap, and she tossed it into the trashcan across the hall from where she was standing. The giggling stopped. She began to swap out the books she would need for her next two classes.
After her talk with her fathers, Athena gave it a few days before she'd asked to see the information her father had collected regarding the other schools available. Macy and her little gang were just having too much fun, and it made Athena too mad. She was going to lose control, and she couldn't let that happen, for herself, but for her fathers as well. If people connected her abilities to Superman, they might connect it back to Clark, and Lex had spent all of her life protecting her.
Macy came up behind her, and so her little group of friends joined, with Miranda in the back. "Hey, Wah Wah. I hear you're leaving Apogee Prep at the end of the year?" Macy said, leaning on the locker next to her.
Athena wasn't sure where Macy had heard that, but it was possible a teacher had mentioned it to someone, and a kid had overheard. In any case, she simply frowned and pretended to be fascinated with her choice of book to bring with her.
"I'm talking to you, Wah Wah." Macy leaned her head forward. "Are you gonna call Daddy's boyfriend? Tell him how mean the girls at school were to you?"
April and Mary Beth laughed behind her. Frustrated that Athena wasn't answering, Macy grabbed her shoulder. "Hey!"
"Oh, were you talking to me? I didn't hear my name," Athena said flatly. She shut her locker. A little too hard, because it bent inward. Oh, darn it.
The girls stared for a moment in surprise, and Athena turned quickly and headed down the hallway. She would have to go in the other direction when she reached the second floor, but it would be better than trying to get past them.
Miranda jogged up behind her. "How did you do that?"
"Flimsy metal, I guess. It was probably just waiting to cave inward." Athena turned her head and met Miranda's eye sharply. "Why are you talking to me anyway? I wouldn't want to harsh your fun."
"Don't be that way. You don't understand," Miranda said.
"Get back here," Macy warned.
Miranda hesitated.
"Better go. Your overlord is calling."
"Are you really leaving?" Miranda asked.
"Eventually. Would you miss me?" Athena stopped and turned to her. "Or are you afraid they'll turn on you next? I'm happy to have my dads; they're great. They're not," she added, indicating the girls behind them.
"Athena..." Miranda said softly.
Athena looked into Miranda's green eyes with a frown, but still hoping that she would just stand up to them and apologize. Instead, Miranda looked back to Macy and said nervously, "Good luck at your new school. I didn't know that Metropolis had schools for freaks."
Gritting her teeth, Athena blinked hard. "They do. It's this one. See you around." She turned away and sprinted for the stairs, not too fast.
When she reached her classroom, Athena worried who would be their next target after the girls didn't have Athena to pick on. There was this girl they called Hester the Hog, who they occasionally left little piggies for in random places and texted constantly with oink oinks. She hoped not. While she waited for algebra to start, she opened up her phone, and texted Clark with an "I love you. Hug Dad for me at lunch." Then she put her phone down and opened a book to read, so she could ignore everyone.
***
Clark read the text, broke out into a tender smile, and texted her back: "Love you, princess, and we're both proud of you." He stood, ignored Lois' curious stare, and walked over to the men's room. He was home a moment later, wrapping his arms around Lex. "This is from the daughter."
Lex chuckled and put down his mini-vac. "Well, that's sweet." He chuckled and hugged Clark back. "Hm. This one's from me."
"Mmm, nice." Clark pulled off his glasses and leaned in to give Lex a kiss.
Lex let out a pleased sound and rested his hands on Clark's hips. "Is everything else okay?"
Clark drew his head back, looked to the side, and nodded after a second. "Her heartbeat sounds good. How's your day going?" Lex was vacuuming, so Clark thought he should ask.
"It's fine. I've just been worried about Athena and her school," Lex admitted. "She had so much on her. She's too young to be dealing with kids like this, isn't she?"
Clark puckered his lips to the right and walked up to a bookshelf, studying a row of books and how carefully Lex had lined them up. "I'm not sure, Lex. Bullies have always existed; you know that better than even I do. I once pushed a kid through a door who had been picking on Pete. I don't like it, but there's no real set age to be bullied... Sure, she's younger than her peers..."
Lex crossed his arms. "No, you're right. She's just still my little girl. I can't stand to see her so sad, and I'm very disappointed in Miranda. She seemed like such a smart girl. I guess I'll be glad that Athena's not likely to join in on that sort of thing."
"Yeah, that's a lesson I hope she'll take with her forever." Clark sighed.
"Agreed." Lex picked up his mini-vac again. "Character building. That sort of thing."
Clark nodded. "Well, I should let you get back to your cleaning." He walked up to Lex and kissed his cheek.
"I'm sorry. I'm going to be like this when she's at school for a while, probably." Lex touched Clark's hair. "Love you. And thanks for the visit."
"I wanted to give you her message. Love you, too." Clark flashed Lex a smile and flew back to the Planet before they started suspecting that he had been sucked in through the toilet. In Metropolis, virtually nothing was impossible.
Authors: herohunter and ladydreamer
Pairing: Clex
Rating: Generally PG, and NC-17 in parts
Warning: mpreg
Summary: One cold November evening, twelve years after Lex Luthor left Smallville and Clark Kent behind, the two meet in Centennial Park… as Lex is walking home with his daughter.
Thanks to our beta lexalicious, and to lapetite-kiki for the beautiful cover for the fic.
Part Eight
Lex took Clark's hand as they waited at the stoplight. He looked around the school as kids filtered out onto the sidewalk to be picked up by their parents. Since Clark's story had come out, there had been many dissenting opinions regarding the metahumans. Lex could find almost any news or radio station talking about it, although, thanks to Clark's article, there were more people defending them. Lex turned off the radio and pulled forward a little.
"If Athena doesn't have much homework, we could go somewhere for dinner," Clark suggested, rubbing his thumb across the skin of Lex's hand.
"I think that sounds like a good idea. We don't get out enough. I've become quite the homebody, but Metropolis has so many nice places," Lex agreed. He pulled into the line of cars waiting to pick up their children. "Do you see her? We'll ask her where she wants to go."
Clark stretched his neck but frowned when Athena was nowhere in sight. She sometimes got distracted when talking to her friends, but she knew to wait for them inside the school gates and where they could see her. "No, I don't... Her classmates are there, though..." His right hand reached for the door.
A pang of worry struck Lex's heart and he nodded. "Go find her? Maybe she got in trouble for being talkative, or something," he said with a smile.
"Yeah." Clark got out and crossed the school gates, then searched for their daughter again. She wasn't there. He approached a nearby teacher, who assured him she hadn't seen Athena there at all, and the gate watcher confirmed it. Clark leaned out of the gate, motioned for Lex to join him, and turned around so he could scan the school building. Athena would be there unless something had happened; she knew how much Lex worried about her.
Lex parked the car and hopped out, jogging up to join Clark. His heart was starting to beat rapidly. "You don't see her?"
"She's not in her classroom, at the principal's office or anywhere upstairs," Clark told him softly and moved on with his search.
Lex took a breath to make himself calm, and put his arm around Clark's back. She couldn't be missing. His heart couldn't take it.
Clark searched the lower level, his chest tightening because Athena was nowhere in the school building, but he said nothing further and focused on the physical activities area. He finally took a relieved breath. "She's in the gym, Lex." He took Lex's hand and headed that way. "Oh. She's crying."
"She's crying?" Lex repeated in alarm. "Is she hurt?" He looked around and wanted Clark to superspeed them there, but it wasn't a good idea with so many people around.
Clark shook his head. "Not that I can see. How was she allowed in there by herself? I'll be having a word with the hall monitor!"
Lex squeezed Clark's hand. He was such a good father, and had taken to it so quickly, too. "She probably moved faster than they could see," Lex told him quietly.
"I don't care if she turned invisible," Clark said under his breath. "She's a pick-up, and she wasn't at the gate; someone should have missed her!" He pushed the gym door open and let Lex walk in first.
Lex hurried in to see Athena crouched over her knees and hiding on the other side of the bleachers, which were pushed back against the wall. "Baby?" he ventured as he approached her.
Her ragged sobs echoed through the empty space, and Lex hurried to her side, putting his hand on her back. "Kitten, it'll be okay, whatever it is. We're here."
Clark rushed to them and embraced Lex and Athena at once, closing his eyes because she was there, and she was fine, and like Lex had said, whatever it was, they were there.
Lex rubbed her back steadily and let her cry for a little while. Athena let out a whimper and wiped her eyes in embarrassment. "S-Sorry."
"Don't apologize, baby. It's okay." Lex pressed a kiss to her cheek and caressed her hair. He tucked his fingers under her chin, and lifted her face. "How about we get out of here, huh?"
Athena wiped her hands against her cheeks. "I need to wash my face," she whispered.
Lex kissed her forehead. "Okay." He took her hand and brought her to her feet.
Clark picked up her book bag, stood and took a step back. Lex had more experience than he did at this.
Lex met his eye and began to guide her toward the girls' room, but she pulled away, then said softly. "I can do it, Dad."
Lex let her go and watched her walk away curiously. At some point he knew that she would need some space, but he hadn't expected it to happen when she was alone in the gym crying. Clark rested one hand on Lex's shoulder, looking away from the girls' room door.
"She's upset," Lex whispered. He leaned into Clark and waited for her to return. After a moment, she trudged out and went to their side, keeping her head down. Lex reached forward to touch her shoulder, then thought better of it. "Ready to go, baby?"
Athena nodded silently and waited for her fathers to take the lead. Lex licked his lips and nodded. They could talk about this in a safer space than the school.
Clark had a slight frown on his brow. She was upset, and she was entitled to that, but running off and hiding behind the bleachers was something he would address later. She had a phone, and she could have called them to pick her up, or to at least let them know she didn't want to be waiting for them with the others. He was going to let her know that scaring Lex like that wasn't acceptable. He crossed his arms and let Lex and Athena leave the building first.
Lex lead them back to the car and opened the door for Athena. She looked back at her group of friends by the gate, then looked down again and hopped inside the backseat before putting the back of her hand against her eyes. Miranda turned back to look at her, then looked back at the group of girls, who laughed. Once they were all inside, Lex handed her a lavender handkerchief.
"I'm sorry, Athena, whatever it is," Lex told her quietly.
Clark's determination and frown melted away at the utter sadness she was giving off. He reached over and touched her knee. In his parent-minded thinking, he almost forgot that he had known all too well what it was to feel like an outcast. "I'm sorry too, princess."
"Thanks, D-Dad," Athena said, wiping her eyes.
She was quiet during most of the ride home, and Lex let her be so for a little while, afraid that he shouldn't press her too much, or she might not talk to them. He hadn't really had to deal with much moodiness with her until now, so he just watched her through the rearview mirror, and waited until they were taking off their shoes at the door to ask, "Can you tell us what happened, kitten?"
"My friends don't like me anymore." Athena threw herself on the sofa.
Lex looked back at Clark, then moved to sit by her side. "Why would you think that?"
"Today Macy made Miranda talk to me in the bathroom before lunch, and she said that the girls think I'm a baby, and my family's a bunch of freaks, and they have more fun when I'm not around," Athena said dejectedly.
Clark's eyebrows rose. He looked at Lex and sat on the arm of the sofa, at Athena's other side. So the girls were being mean their daughter, now they needed to find out why. Oh, how he would love to show up as Superman and make it all fine again, but those friendships wouldn't be real, either, if girls wanted to be with her because of him, so he knew he would never suggest it. In all honesty, he wasn't sure how much advice either he or Lex could provide, since they had been outcasts themselves most of their school lives. "We may be freaks, but if they think you're not fun, there's something wrong with them," he said softly.
"Ba- Athena, you're the most mature eleven year old I know," Lex argued.
"They say that 'cause I call you guys all the time," Athena replied, looking at her hands. "And they think we're freaks because Clark writes about them, and because you're both men. Macy's mom told her that if men had been meant to be together, they'd be able to have babies. I can't tell them they're wrong about that. I just tell them it doesn't matter if you can have babies if you love each other, and ask them if they'd tell infertile couples and older people not to love each other, but they don't get it." She shrugged. "Macy's spoiled and mean. It wouldn't be so bad if Miranda hadn't gone along with it."
Lex rubbed his lips. "Well, I'm proud of you for sticking up for us. That couldn't have been easy."
"What wasn't easy was keeping my temper," Athena replied.
Clark tried not to channel his Kent father side and ran a hand through his hair. "Well. Do you think you'd prefer attending a school with children of other same-sex couples?" he suggested. "Discrimination will be wherever you go, sweetheart, whether it be because Lex and I are men, or because you're smart, or I defend metahumans, or your father is bald, or I wear glasses. You'll always find someone who thinks they're inferior to you somehow, and those people will try to make you feel less than they pretend to be, but if you want, you can try being with people who understand at least one aspect of our lives, if Lex agrees also."
Lex put his arm around Athena's shoulders and nodded. It hurt him inside to see her so down. She was such a naturally bright and beautiful child.
"I dunno. Maybe." She fussed with her hair and sighed. "I like my teachers. I don't wanna just give up."
"We can look at the other schools," Lex suggested. "And I can talk to your teachers and see if they have any suggestions based on what we like. We'll decide together, like before."
Athena sniffed and nodded.
"Want a pre-dinner cookie? I made them this afternoon," Lex offered. Athena thought about it and nodded again.
Clark held out his hand to her. "Let me tell you something."
"Yeah?" Athena took his hand and looked up at Clark solemnly. Lex stood and went into the kitchen to fetch the cookie jar and bottle of chocolate milk.
Clark held her hand in his and slipped down to sit closer to her on the sofa. "There's a big difference between quitting and walking away, to people like you and me. I don't have to tell you how careful you need to be always, don't squeeze too hard, watch your limbs, don't get too mad and smack something, right? Well, if you decide to go to another school, it's not quitting so much as walking away from a situation that might make you lose control some day. Quitting would be if you told us you never wanted to go back to school, and you were gonna become a hippy and wear tie-dye shirts and never cut your hair again, hm?" He gave her a little wink.
Athena laughed softly. "Clark..." She sucked in her lower lip and nodded. "I understand. I just don't know what I want to do. People are going to be like this everywhere, right? Even if it's not about you and Dad being men. I know there's nothing wrong with having abilities or being gay."
Lex returned and handed the bottle to Clark so he'd warm it for her and offered her the cookie jar. She took two out.
"And I'm proud of you for sticking to your beliefs," Lex assured her. He watched her nibble the cookie. "And if you do decide to walk away, we're right behind you."
Athena nodded and touched her eyes as they teared up. "Thank you. Both of you."
"It's nothing. We love you, and we hate to see you sad," Lex said.
"That's right," agreed Clark as he made her milk the temperature she liked best, then handed it to her. "If we could, we'd keep if from happening for the rest of your life, which is impossible. What we can do we will, though, and when someone is mean to you, you can be sure that they're just trying to make themselves feel better than you because they don't, not really. They're jealous and insecure of something you have, or something you are. It doesn't make their words any less hurtful, but it's the truth."
Athena nodded, listening to the words Clark was giving to her, and twisted open her chocolate milk. "Do you think Miranda will be my friend again someday?"
"I don't know. You're getting to be the age where kids splinter off into groups. It'll be worse in high school, unless the school controls it," Lex said honestly.
"Can't wait to grow up," Athena said sarcastically. "I'll try to remember. When they tease me, I'll think of that, Clark, and I'll try to ignore them."
Lex petted her cheek with the back of his hand. His brave, smart girl.
Clark patted her knee. "I wish I could say I'm sorry that Lex and I aren't your regular every day parents, sweetheart, but I can't. If not for Lex, I'd have no one, and I'd definitely not have you."
"Regular everyday parents break up and hate each other. Then they use their kids against each other. I'd rather have you," Athena said confidently.
"Well, I'll take that," Lex replied with a smile.
"And everyday parents aren't super smart like you, Dad, and they don't save people everyday like Clark," Athena continued. "They don't team up on weekends and save practically hundred of people from being experimented on. Regular parents aren't as good as my parents."
"Thanks, princess," Clark said, bringing her hand to his lips and kissing it once. "Why don't you go to school a few more days and then make a decision about what you want to do?"
"I can try that." Athena knew her father would be collecting information on the other schools available by morning. He was good at that.
***
Athena walked down the hallway carrying her books and dropped by her locker. She stopped abruptly, seeing a pacifier hanging from the handle, and heard giggling behind her. She lifted her chin, swallowed slowly, and reached up to wrap the string around her hand. It came off with a tight snap, and she tossed it into the trashcan across the hall from where she was standing. The giggling stopped. She began to swap out the books she would need for her next two classes.
After her talk with her fathers, Athena gave it a few days before she'd asked to see the information her father had collected regarding the other schools available. Macy and her little gang were just having too much fun, and it made Athena too mad. She was going to lose control, and she couldn't let that happen, for herself, but for her fathers as well. If people connected her abilities to Superman, they might connect it back to Clark, and Lex had spent all of her life protecting her.
Macy came up behind her, and so her little group of friends joined, with Miranda in the back. "Hey, Wah Wah. I hear you're leaving Apogee Prep at the end of the year?" Macy said, leaning on the locker next to her.
Athena wasn't sure where Macy had heard that, but it was possible a teacher had mentioned it to someone, and a kid had overheard. In any case, she simply frowned and pretended to be fascinated with her choice of book to bring with her.
"I'm talking to you, Wah Wah." Macy leaned her head forward. "Are you gonna call Daddy's boyfriend? Tell him how mean the girls at school were to you?"
April and Mary Beth laughed behind her. Frustrated that Athena wasn't answering, Macy grabbed her shoulder. "Hey!"
"Oh, were you talking to me? I didn't hear my name," Athena said flatly. She shut her locker. A little too hard, because it bent inward. Oh, darn it.
The girls stared for a moment in surprise, and Athena turned quickly and headed down the hallway. She would have to go in the other direction when she reached the second floor, but it would be better than trying to get past them.
Miranda jogged up behind her. "How did you do that?"
"Flimsy metal, I guess. It was probably just waiting to cave inward." Athena turned her head and met Miranda's eye sharply. "Why are you talking to me anyway? I wouldn't want to harsh your fun."
"Don't be that way. You don't understand," Miranda said.
"Get back here," Macy warned.
Miranda hesitated.
"Better go. Your overlord is calling."
"Are you really leaving?" Miranda asked.
"Eventually. Would you miss me?" Athena stopped and turned to her. "Or are you afraid they'll turn on you next? I'm happy to have my dads; they're great. They're not," she added, indicating the girls behind them.
"Athena..." Miranda said softly.
Athena looked into Miranda's green eyes with a frown, but still hoping that she would just stand up to them and apologize. Instead, Miranda looked back to Macy and said nervously, "Good luck at your new school. I didn't know that Metropolis had schools for freaks."
Gritting her teeth, Athena blinked hard. "They do. It's this one. See you around." She turned away and sprinted for the stairs, not too fast.
When she reached her classroom, Athena worried who would be their next target after the girls didn't have Athena to pick on. There was this girl they called Hester the Hog, who they occasionally left little piggies for in random places and texted constantly with oink oinks. She hoped not. While she waited for algebra to start, she opened up her phone, and texted Clark with an "I love you. Hug Dad for me at lunch." Then she put her phone down and opened a book to read, so she could ignore everyone.
***
Clark read the text, broke out into a tender smile, and texted her back: "Love you, princess, and we're both proud of you." He stood, ignored Lois' curious stare, and walked over to the men's room. He was home a moment later, wrapping his arms around Lex. "This is from the daughter."
Lex chuckled and put down his mini-vac. "Well, that's sweet." He chuckled and hugged Clark back. "Hm. This one's from me."
"Mmm, nice." Clark pulled off his glasses and leaned in to give Lex a kiss.
Lex let out a pleased sound and rested his hands on Clark's hips. "Is everything else okay?"
Clark drew his head back, looked to the side, and nodded after a second. "Her heartbeat sounds good. How's your day going?" Lex was vacuuming, so Clark thought he should ask.
"It's fine. I've just been worried about Athena and her school," Lex admitted. "She had so much on her. She's too young to be dealing with kids like this, isn't she?"
Clark puckered his lips to the right and walked up to a bookshelf, studying a row of books and how carefully Lex had lined them up. "I'm not sure, Lex. Bullies have always existed; you know that better than even I do. I once pushed a kid through a door who had been picking on Pete. I don't like it, but there's no real set age to be bullied... Sure, she's younger than her peers..."
Lex crossed his arms. "No, you're right. She's just still my little girl. I can't stand to see her so sad, and I'm very disappointed in Miranda. She seemed like such a smart girl. I guess I'll be glad that Athena's not likely to join in on that sort of thing."
"Yeah, that's a lesson I hope she'll take with her forever." Clark sighed.
"Agreed." Lex picked up his mini-vac again. "Character building. That sort of thing."
Clark nodded. "Well, I should let you get back to your cleaning." He walked up to Lex and kissed his cheek.
"I'm sorry. I'm going to be like this when she's at school for a while, probably." Lex touched Clark's hair. "Love you. And thanks for the visit."
"I wanted to give you her message. Love you, too." Clark flashed Lex a smile and flew back to the Planet before they started suspecting that he had been sucked in through the toilet. In Metropolis, virtually nothing was impossible.