(no subject)

[man_of_stee_ll]

-setting up different things in his penthouse in Metropolis. He walks from one side of the room to the next, turning off various monitors and screens. It had been quite the week. Another day, another deal, another accusation.

Between the Daily Planet, that bastard Kent, his worse wife, and the underminings of the Lexcorp board of directors, the man himself was tired. Which was going to lead to a very, bad thing shortly. He pours himself a snifter of Louis VIII and stands with his back to the window-
"...If you're quite done watching me, please leave. Go fly your dog or something."

Power Girl opens the window gently, floating into his penthouse. "What's wrong, Lex? Rather have Superman spy on you instead of me?"

-He's raised the snifter to his lips, eyes narrowing before taking a pull of it- "Breaking and entering...loitering..." -turns around after a drink- "Indecent exposure...how may I help you?"

"Oh, Lex. You can't. Help anyone, I mean, forget me. I'm just doing Superman a favor and watching you while he deals with some League business.

"You'll forgive me then for saying that you've done the world's worst stakeout. But, since you're here...Cognac?" He hands her a snifter. "Scan the bottle if you like...you won't find anything odd in it. I'm fresh out of odd, green alien rock."

"Sorry, Lex. I don't drink unless I'm with friends. And I wasn't trying to be sneaky. You simply needed to know that you were being watched so you didn't get any cocky, destructive ideas."

"Cocky, destructive, ideas..." He tilts his glass again with a wince. "Sorry, that's my Thursday agenda. Tuesday night is devoted to "The Colbert Report" Karen...or Miss Starr...I often wondered why we never crossed paths. We have similar ideologies...your company's right at the top of things. We practically run in the same circles."

"It's Power Girl to you, Luthor." She raises an eyebrow and twitches. "We haven't crossed paths before because I consciously make sure to avoid you. And please, please tell me this isn't your way of hitting on me. It's bad enough you had that relationship with Supergirl. Don't try to have one with me."

"With Supergirl? That wasn't a relationship. That was an experiment gone horribly, horribly, awry. With my relative, if you must know the truth. You shouldn't avoid someone like me, either." He sets the glass down in front of her. "I'll leave the bottle if you're interested. Besides, the Supergirl I know is a child. Literally. And a man at my age, with what I've done, has more than enough connections to the Kryptonian "family" of sorts."

She raises an eyebrow. "It's good to see that you're as good a liar as you ever were, Lex, but everyone knows how you're the one who had the relationship with Supergirl - not your supposed son. Drop the act. Really. It's old and stale."

"Fine. You want truth from me...I'll give you more than any of your friends, coworkers, teammates, what have you EVER have sought to have."
-pours another shot- "The absolute...cold hard...truth about Lex Luthor."

"Oh wait, let me call Lois. Maybe she can write this out for the Planet. Unless this is a sob story. In that case, we're not so interested."

"This one, you'll probably need a drink for. Please, accept my hospitality. Common human courtesy."

"You're a leech, Lex. not a human."

"Lois Lane...lovely woman when she's not wishing to destroy a person's livelihood." -drinks drawing up his breath- "What I am...what I've ever desired to be, is an asset to humanity. I don't NEED to work in the shadows, I don't NEED to wear a mask to promote the well being of my fellow man. And I don't ever...consider parading around in the skies, lording over decent, hard working mankind in some sort of alien military uniform. Or whatever your "Superman" wears."
He continues. "Look around...how much better off is the world with its superhuman population. They're afraid...afraid of who they are, of who they can become. The human spirit has been capped. Why bother to improve when you'll never be better than Superman, or Wonder Woman. Its not like they'll generate out over time either...your Teen Titans have ensured that their domination will continue for long, long after I'm gone."

"....Wow. Lex."

"For what its worth...I was a hell of a tuba player as well."

"If I was young, naive, or suffering from stupid, I'd say that you have a great argument...If I was."

"Its not an argument. Besides...I don't live in a world of secrets, Kar...Power Girl. Can you say the same?" -pours her a glass- "Come, you say you drink with only friends...I've given you the most honest critique of me...that makes us past enemies."

She laughs coldly. "I don't have secrets. Everyone knows who I am. What I do. Where I'm from." *She accepts the glass, swishing around the drink in it's glass* "What are you trying to get at Lex?"

"I want a world that doesn't have need for a Superman. Do I wish death on the Kryptonian...of course not. But I believe that we would have been much better off had he gone where he came from. What would he have been on "his" world? A scientist? A factory man? Whatever it was...its not the God that he's worshipped as here."

"You want a Utopia which won't exists as long as you try to get rid of Superman."

"I want...a world that's free to grow on its own. Free to learn, free to fail. I've failed before...who is Superman to say that it can't happen? As a matter of fact, who are YOU to say the same? You have Starr industries...are your employees free to make mistakes? Or do they work under the fear that if they make a flaw...their employer will do their job for them...making them obsolete?

"I get where you're going with this, Lex. I do. But you've got to realize that you're on a slightly psychopathic ideal here. You don't understand Superman...or me...or what we're about...at all."

"Then tell me...what are YOU about? I know enough about Superman to write a series of bad comics.

"You, however...are an enigma. What does Power Girl want? Truly, honestly?"

"What do I want? You to show your true colors, Lex. Stop hiding behind words and plans and ideals. Stop deluding yourself. Stop trying to delude the world. Superman might be okay playing games with you. Lois might be okay trying to uncover the truth about you, only to have you cover up the truths see exposed. Me, i want you out. in the open. unmasked."

"Then you've got it. I have admitted who I am, and what I do. What you do with that information...is completely up to you, your Justice Society, and others. Michael Holt for one, was one of my biggest campaign supporters. He'll vouch for what I am."

"....I can see why you were elected president, Lex. Even if i didn't vote for you. It happens. Every now and again, the public backs a losing horse. But...think of it this way. Were you ever invited by your vote for drinks and good conversation?" -raises his glass for a toast- "How's about this...to success. In what we do, and who we are. If it conflicts, so be it. If it connects...even better."

"You know, Lex. You worry me. And intrigue me. Which worries me more."

"Which one more?" -He pauses- "Your stakeout's more informative than you thought, no?"

"It's certainly more disturbing than I thought."

"Then next time...I'll offer vodka instead. Or wine, if you're interested?"
-wanders back to the mini-bar- "If I might ask, who are you voting for this year?"

"Whoever it is you aren't voting for."

"Means "undecided"." Luthor smiles and does another pour. "Are you always this gruff and hardened around friends?"

"You can ask Wildcat, if he'll talk to you."

"Wildcat...He's still pattering about? Don't your types have a Medicare system or something for heroes that hang it up?"

She glares. "Wildcat's one of our own. Don't you dare insult him unless you want to be toast."

"Its not an insult. If I'm not mistaken, Ted Grant's fights are usually broadcast still on ESPN Classic. Now HE is a testament to the human spirit. And the fact he's still going is nothing short of amazing."

"I'm sure."

"So, I know the majority of what I want to of Power Girl...what of Karen Starr? How is she?" He comes back from his mini bar. "Does she exist? Or is she doing the morning shift, after your stakeout?"

"She doesn't exist. Not really. I gave up the secret identity. It's just my legal name now."

"You're full time Power Girl. Is that your preferred name?"

"Kara...My preferred name is Kara."

"Kara..." He extends his hand for a firm shake. "Lex. Lex Luthor. Its a pleasure."
She's looking down at the hand "it's still Power Girl to you, Lex."

"And its still rude to not shake hands. Even the best opponents do so."

She takes the hand grudgingly.

He shakes it as firm as possible. "That's refreshing. I've gotten a disrespectful one from Superman before. I hate an unfirm handshake."

"Do you blame him? You're constantly trying to discredit him."

"The man citizen arrested me on my own yacht. For trumped up, unproven charges. Is he even a registered citizen?"

"I'm not allowed to say."

"More secrets. Don't you get tired of them? Either way...I commend you on your control. I'm sure your life is almost like constantly wearing kid gloves."

"Those aren't my secrets to spill."

"Then if nothing else, you can always count on the truth from me. We'll call it a welcome change."

"The real truth, or the truth that's convenient for you?"

"The same amount...that hopefully...I can count on from you. Hopefully at a time that you're not doing Superman's work for him. You're better than that."

"I'm helping out a friend. Surely you've done the same?"

"Truthfully...its been a while. I used to be able to call Clark Kent a friend. But his support has waivered since we came to Metropolis. A long, long while ago."

"That's a pity."

"No, its a long time gone. I don't, nor can't live in the past...for the life of me, I can't even remember why it happened. but Kent's not interested in helping fix fences."

"Maybe because you seem to be such a slimy little weasel in expensive clothing."

"And here you sit...bantering away in my home. They shoot women for lesser offenses than that in Kahndaq."

"I'm sure you'd feel more comfortable in Kahndaq."

"I respect their regent, and their rules. Its not my cup of brandy, however. Just...do me a favor. Speak to me normally...let your anti-Luthor rhetoric that Superman's fed you aside for tonight. Talk to me, as a person. One to another, please? I'm asking."

She sighs. "Alright. I'll be civil. Just don't get all smooth and fresh, okay?"

"I couldn't if I wanted to. Superhuman strength, and extraterrestrial differences make that impossible, don't they?"

"A little bit,. yes. Well, at least the fact that I could kick your ass from here to Apokolips if you tried,."

"Its an honest question. -raises his hands in mock surrender- Even if there was a mutual attraction...we're of different genomes. We couldn't do anything even if you wanted.

"I...mutual attraction?"

"Humor me...Its scientific questioning."

She raises an eyebrow. "it's utterly impossible."

"Say Superman...wished to marry. He'd have to have a Kryptonian...namely you...or someone else of that genome. Correct?"

"Oh. Yes. Entirely."

"And if you're as related as you've claimed in the past...well, I'm not sure how the laws go on your homeworld...but on Earth, its...a bit complex, we'll say."

"Superman and I would never boff, if that's what you're thinking."

"Then after you two...the Kryptonian race is done. Excluding...whatever Supergirl is. My theories outside, that is."

"There actually isn't a Supergirl anymore. She retired."

"Was. You're still not answering my question."

"What's your question?"

"Its finding out more about you...and not in a perverse way either. I'm not sure of the Kryptonian physiology yet, but...is it just something that you all don't consider? Physical "expression" we'll say."

"Look, while we're being honest, here's the thing. I don't know if you're going to try to use this information in some weird scientific way, Lex. You're smart, sexy, charming, and incredibly crafty. It's hard to trust someone like that."

"I will not use...what you tell me against you. That, I do promise you.
Super Venus Boy: I've had sex before, if that's what you're wondering."

"With a human? If this gets into the realm of too much information, please excuse me...My ex wives did say that about me. God rest their souls..."

"....Yes."

"Without fear of snapping them in half? Intriguing...now, as far as humans...our procreation involves a bit of muscle loss...at odd times. Its just as much about losing control as any. How do you cope?"

"...i don't know? Lex, you can be blunt with me...
And not use euphemisms, what are you trying to say?"

"....This IS blunt? You'll have to forgive me. I tend to over-analyze."

"You're not talking about orgasms, are you?"

"Yes. With a human male, it spreads from one end to the next, and causes a forceful ejection. Almost completely wiping out the nervous system. Hold a moment." -makes a hand gesture, and produces a laser guided chalkboard and pointer to appear, diagramming a reproductive system- "The human female is similar. However, its muscle spasms have a different, yet similar purpose...almost as a landing pad for the...are you following?"

"Just because Kryptonians have different genes doesn't mean our sex is altogether different. It's not like we have tentacle sex up there."

"Thank God for that..." -shakes his head- "I've seen terrible things in my day. I was held captive once and privy to a Grodd/Giganta mating. It aided in my early baldness."

"...I don't think i have words for that"

"So...with that...quite lucky human...how was it? Did you have to reign yourself in?"

"Not at all. He could take a hit."

"A metahuman?"

She grins. "Perhaps."

"I noticed a bit of reservation, however, even when you shook my hand. So you'd probably kill a normal man." -regards her- "Of happiness."

"The reservation was because I was being wary of you, Lex."

"Don't be. I can't say that I'm harmless...but for you...I'm not a threat."

She grins smugly "We've called a truce. I believe you."

"And in case you're in need? You can always tell Superman that I spent my evening spouting curses over a Bunsen burner."

"In need of?"

"A good story. You'll have to tell him you did SOMETHING on your stakeout, won't you?"

"I'll tell him I had a conversation with you. What's wrong with that?"

"I know him. He'll pry."

"So, let him. He's like a big brother to me. What are you worried about?"

"Eventually, he'll have to let his younger sibling go on her own way. You're too grown to be anyone's "girl"."

"Are you suggesting a name change, Lex?"

"I'm suggesting nothing. You're your own person. Superman already had a mini-female version. And a male one as well, but young Lionel...we don't discuss."

"I'm not a mini-version of Superman, I'm Power Girl, dammit!" *taking a deep breath* "What do you want from me, Lex."

"To be honest? I'm happy with the open conversation. Cheers, Kara."

"And that's all you want?"

"That's all I can hope for, isnt it? But I am...in your words a slightly psychopathic, leech of a slimy weasel in expensive clothing..."

"I'm touched that you remember what I've said about you...And horrified...But touched.

"Its a blessing and a curse...I forget nothing."

"And that is what makes you so disturbing."

"If you're so much...you can always leave the way you came. There's no Kryptonite enforced handcuffs on you here." -laughs and takes a stronger pull of his drink- "Unless you ask for them."

*eyes widen* "wh...what?"

"Nevermind. If you're uncomfortable...I apologize. And that's a very good Chardonnay that you're not drinking and I havent offered yet."

"Lex....what are you saying?"

"That if I make you the least bit uncomfortable...its probably best that you end your stakeout and leave...but if you're not...then...don't." -produces a bottle of wine-

*shakes head* "Lex. You aren't....I mean...you don't....Are you asking me to have dinner with you?"

"How does breakfast sound?" -wanders closer with the bottle- "Scan it if you wish."

"It's a little early for breakfast, isn't it? or a little late."

"You're not refusing?"

"I haven't said that yet."

"I know of a tremendous breakfast place. Free from prying eyes. I'd ask that you dressed...a bit less work-related, however. People talk, and your community is rather tight-knit."

"I do have plenty of pairs of jeans and shirts and t-shirts, Lex."

"But...what to do until breakfast time?"

*eyes widen* "I....uhh...."

"You can continue to do your stakeout. I however, am still in my working clothing. You'll excuse me while I change? -finally removes his suit jacket and hangs it in midair, letting it hover to a closet on its own-"....privately? Please don't destroy or toss my living room while I'm away."

"Umm...right. You undress. I'll finish my stake out and then maybe we can...have a meal. Or something."