00Lex
00Lex
"Do you mind if I join you gentlemen?"
Despite my training, the voice pulls my attention away from both the cards I'm holding and my opponent across the table. The blonde currently draped around Bumati's shoulders stiffens, her eyes widening and I have only a moment to wonder why before both Bumati and I glance up at the intruder.
The man who spoke is much prettier than the blonde. Tall, dark hair, green eyes, with lips that should be illegal. Although the tuxedo he wears is nothing special, there is no disguising that the body it clothes is. The only thing that ruins the image is the bow tie that's askew. There's an air of innocence surrounding him, proclaiming him not the sort to frequent this town where lives and futures are gambled away in the streets as often as fortunes are gambled away in the casinos.
"I'm Clark. Clark Kent."
I return my concentration to Bumati, whose smile of greeting to the young man is animalistic - a reminder that he has teeth and is dangerous. He's nodding and indicating for Kent to take a seat. If this is a trap for me, then my cover is well and truly blown for my preference in companions is not generally known.
To hide my concern that the mission could be compromised, I turn away and take a sip of Scotch.
Bumati introduces himself, saying simply that he is a research scientist. My face is impassive, hiding the fact that I know exactly what he's currently cooking up in his secret labs. If he achieves his objectives it won't end all life on Earth. Cockroaches will survive. Maybe.
It's my job to see that doesn't happen.
Kent turns toward me, his hand extended. I take it, ignoring the strange frisson of awareness that shoots through me at his touch.
"Luthor," I say calmly. "Lex Luthor."
* * *
Kent is good at cards. Very good. Too good for it all to be attributed to luck, but for the life of me, I can't tell how he's cheating. He simply seems to know what cards Bumati and I hold and plays his hand accordingly.
Bumati is losing heavily and throws down his cards in anger. The only way I've been able to hold my own is by ignoring the cards and odds and watch the boy's face instead. Although he tries his best, his feelings are easy to read.
I still don't know who Kent is working for, but now I'm sure it's not Bumati. Too many times I've caught flickers of disgust cross Kent's face as he eyes him.
When Bumati and the blonde rise to leave, Kent and I stand as well. Not wanting to appear an ungracious loser, Bumati invites both of us to visit his estate situated on the far side of the bay.
I accept with alacrity. This is my chance to get inside. I've studied the outside of the estate. Fortress would be a better term for it. The lab I've been assigned to destroy is located underneath. However, it's guarded by an army larger than Troy's and since I lack a wooden horse, the invitation will have to do.
Kent declines, explaining that he plans to be gone by morning.
After Bumati's departure, I finish up my Scotch and head for the casino's exit, pretending not to notice that I'm being followed. On the steps outside, I take a moment to breathe in the cool night air before turning toward Kent.
"This has been bothering me all night." Reaching up, I pull apart the knot of his badly tied neckwear, and then retie it with precision. "There," I say as I finish. I let my hands slide down Kent's shirtfront, feeling the muscles underneath ripple in reaction.
His eyes meet mine.
"Now that it's tied right, would you care to untie it?"
Kent moves closer until our bodies are pressed together. I know the hardness against my hip is no gun.
* * *
The next morning, I awaken to the ringing of a telephone. I scan the empty room and then listen for sounds coming from the bathroom. There are none.
In the past, after a night of lovemaking, I've been greeted the following day with my partner wielding a knife or a gun, or, on one remarkable occasion, a grenade. There have been countless betrayals, both minor and major.
This is the first time, however, that I've ever actually felt disappointment upon waking.
"Good job, Luthor." The booming voice on the other end of the line surprises me. He's not supposed to contact me until the mission is accomplished. "A bit noisier than we'd like, but got the job done, didn't it?"
Still confused, I look out the window toward Bumati's estate on the far side of the water. Dark smoke is curling up from it. As I watch, there's an interior explosion and part of the wall that surrounds it disappears in a cloud of dust.
Without saying a word, I hang up the phone and continue to stare.
Although I have no proof, I have my suspicions. Somehow, someway, Kent was involved.
One day, I'm going to discover who he really is.
The End
"Do you mind if I join you gentlemen?"
Despite my training, the voice pulls my attention away from both the cards I'm holding and my opponent across the table. The blonde currently draped around Bumati's shoulders stiffens, her eyes widening and I have only a moment to wonder why before both Bumati and I glance up at the intruder.
The man who spoke is much prettier than the blonde. Tall, dark hair, green eyes, with lips that should be illegal. Although the tuxedo he wears is nothing special, there is no disguising that the body it clothes is. The only thing that ruins the image is the bow tie that's askew. There's an air of innocence surrounding him, proclaiming him not the sort to frequent this town where lives and futures are gambled away in the streets as often as fortunes are gambled away in the casinos.
"I'm Clark. Clark Kent."
I return my concentration to Bumati, whose smile of greeting to the young man is animalistic - a reminder that he has teeth and is dangerous. He's nodding and indicating for Kent to take a seat. If this is a trap for me, then my cover is well and truly blown for my preference in companions is not generally known.
To hide my concern that the mission could be compromised, I turn away and take a sip of Scotch.
Bumati introduces himself, saying simply that he is a research scientist. My face is impassive, hiding the fact that I know exactly what he's currently cooking up in his secret labs. If he achieves his objectives it won't end all life on Earth. Cockroaches will survive. Maybe.
It's my job to see that doesn't happen.
Kent turns toward me, his hand extended. I take it, ignoring the strange frisson of awareness that shoots through me at his touch.
"Luthor," I say calmly. "Lex Luthor."
* * *
Kent is good at cards. Very good. Too good for it all to be attributed to luck, but for the life of me, I can't tell how he's cheating. He simply seems to know what cards Bumati and I hold and plays his hand accordingly.
Bumati is losing heavily and throws down his cards in anger. The only way I've been able to hold my own is by ignoring the cards and odds and watch the boy's face instead. Although he tries his best, his feelings are easy to read.
I still don't know who Kent is working for, but now I'm sure it's not Bumati. Too many times I've caught flickers of disgust cross Kent's face as he eyes him.
When Bumati and the blonde rise to leave, Kent and I stand as well. Not wanting to appear an ungracious loser, Bumati invites both of us to visit his estate situated on the far side of the bay.
I accept with alacrity. This is my chance to get inside. I've studied the outside of the estate. Fortress would be a better term for it. The lab I've been assigned to destroy is located underneath. However, it's guarded by an army larger than Troy's and since I lack a wooden horse, the invitation will have to do.
Kent declines, explaining that he plans to be gone by morning.
After Bumati's departure, I finish up my Scotch and head for the casino's exit, pretending not to notice that I'm being followed. On the steps outside, I take a moment to breathe in the cool night air before turning toward Kent.
"This has been bothering me all night." Reaching up, I pull apart the knot of his badly tied neckwear, and then retie it with precision. "There," I say as I finish. I let my hands slide down Kent's shirtfront, feeling the muscles underneath ripple in reaction.
His eyes meet mine.
"Now that it's tied right, would you care to untie it?"
Kent moves closer until our bodies are pressed together. I know the hardness against my hip is no gun.
* * *
The next morning, I awaken to the ringing of a telephone. I scan the empty room and then listen for sounds coming from the bathroom. There are none.
In the past, after a night of lovemaking, I've been greeted the following day with my partner wielding a knife or a gun, or, on one remarkable occasion, a grenade. There have been countless betrayals, both minor and major.
This is the first time, however, that I've ever actually felt disappointment upon waking.
"Good job, Luthor." The booming voice on the other end of the line surprises me. He's not supposed to contact me until the mission is accomplished. "A bit noisier than we'd like, but got the job done, didn't it?"
Still confused, I look out the window toward Bumati's estate on the far side of the water. Dark smoke is curling up from it. As I watch, there's an interior explosion and part of the wall that surrounds it disappears in a cloud of dust.
Without saying a word, I hang up the phone and continue to stare.
Although I have no proof, I have my suspicions. Somehow, someway, Kent was involved.
One day, I'm going to discover who he really is.
The End