Honesty 15
Title: Honesty -- Chapter 15, Bruce's Party, Day 1
Author: PepperjackCandy
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Category: Established Relationship
Spoilers for: Nothing. I don't think.
Disclaimer: I own nothing Smallville-related, or related in any other way to Clark Kent, Superman or any of the various creations of the wonderful folks at DC Comics.
Feedback: Always welcome, either by e-mail or using the review system at fanfiction.net.
A/N: It's alive! ALIVE! Bwa-ha-ha!
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Four hours, and only a few complaints from Jonathan about conspicuous consumption, later, Bruce Wayne's limousine pulled up in the drive in front of his house. Lex and the three Kents climbed out as Bruce came out the front door.
He greeted them, paying special attention to Jonathan and Martha, then sent them upstairs to their suite in the care of Alfred, to whom Martha had spoken on the phone once.
Alfred directed the elder Kents to their master suite and Clark and Lex each to their respective rooms, one on either side of the Kents' suite. Then, assuring them that their bags would be brought up momentarily, Alfred left.
"Looks like Bruce is helping your folks with their goal of keeping your virtue intact," Lex whispered to Clark indicating their separate, and separated, rooms.
"Jonathan, did he say master 'suite'?" Martha opened the double doors that Alfred had indicated. "Oh, my God. Jonathan, look!"
All three men ran to the door, immediately seeing what had caused Martha's outcry. The room within was exquisite, dominated by a king-sized brass bed with linens in shades of white and light blue, the motif of white and light blue was repeated on the walls, and as the quartet looked closer, they could see that the walls were covered with the same fabric that covered the duvet on the bed.
Matching doors were on the left and right walls of the room, and Martha walked to one as Jonathan walked to the other. The door that Martha opened led to, not just a closet, but a full dressing room with mirrors, adequate light fixtures, and a chest of drawers.
Jonathan's door led to a full bath with a huge sunken tub and a bidet.
Lex furrowed his brow and left the room. He came back a moment later, grinning. "Do you know where we are?"
"Is this a trick question?" Clark couldn't help asking.
"This is the suite that Bruce's uncle Philip had built for his in-laws. His wife, Julie, had two half-siblings, I can't remember their names, and when Philip moved them from Gotham, Julie made him make a suite for her family."
"And you're sure that this is it?"
Lex nodded, "The suite was completely self-contained; there's a kitchen off of the sitting room."
Two young men entered their suite, then, their bags in tow.
Martha went immediately to the four garment bags that held their formalwear, moving them into the dressing room. Lex smoothly tipped each of the young men $20, ignoring the sour-lemon face that Jonathan made as he did so.
After the two young men left, Lex addressed Clark's father, "Those aren't Bruce's regular employees. He hires the college-aged children of his employees to staff his house this weekend. He pays them very well for their time, but a little extra is always welcome."
"Oh. I suppose I should reimburse you half of what you paid them, then," Jonathan admitted grudgingly.
"No need, Mr. Kent. I'll just let you pick up the tip next time one's warranted," he added with a grin that Jonathan reluctantly returned.
They walked downstairs, where Alfred waited. "Since you have arrived, the other guests have gone out to the patio."
"Thank you, Alfred," Lex said with a smile, leading the other three in the correct direction.
The evening was balmy, the shadows lengthening as the sun began to disappear behind the house, the air filled with the sound of the gentle lapping of Lake Michigan against the shore.
"Here you are," Bruce said as they approached. He raised his voices, "Everyone, this is the Kent family, Jonathan and Martha, and their son, Clark. Of course, you all know Lex."
Everyone smiled warmly as Bruce clapped Lex on the back. "You'll introduce the Kents around?" He asked.
"Of course." Lex smiled back.
People began to line up at the buffet-style table. Clark looked everyone over, his eyes alighting on a young woman about his own age, red-headed and in a wheelchair.
"That's Babs. She and I are usually the only people here Bruce's age. She's younger, though. I think she's 19. Needless to say, she'll be glad to meet you," Lex said.
A minute later, Lex said, "I take that back."
"She won't be happy to meet me?"
"No. You and I and Babs aren't Bruce's only contemporaries. See that guy?"
Clark followed Lex's line of vision to a young man with sandy brown hair. "Yeah?"
"Ted Kord. Of Kord Industries."
"Kord Industries?"
Lex smiled at the awe in Clark's voice. Kord Industries was the manufacturer of the hottest game console on the market.
"Let me guess. Prep school?"
"No. He's actually one of Bruce's friends. They met at some business function or something a few years ago."
Clark watched the sandy-haired man looking from one guest to another, his gaze finally locking onto Babs; staying there. Clark filed this away to ask Lex about later as they stepped up to get their dinners.
Clark never got a chance to speak with Lex privately after dinner, though, because as he headed back towards the patio after visiting the restroom, he heard a deep voice call out, "Clark!"
Following the sound of the voice led Clark into Bruce's study, where the young billionaire sat behind the desk. "Sit down, won't you?"
Nervously, Clark sat.
"So, have you given any thought to what we talked about at your farm?"
Clark nodded, "Yes, sir. I told Lex everything."
"You did?" Bruce looked surprised.
"Well, as much as I know. And I told him that you know, too."
Bruce raised an eyebrow. "Did you?"
Clark looked at him levelly. "You wanted me to be honest . . ."
Bruce smiled wryly and nodded, "point taken.
"What about your parents?"
"Well, they already knew what was in my storm cellar," Clark responded evasively. When Bruce didn't rise to the bait, he said, "Neither of them know that you or Lex knows. It would just make them suspicious of both of you, and the last thing I need is for my parents to go back to mistrusting Lex."
"Fair enough."
"Clark!" Lex's voice echoed through the halls.
"You'd better go. Sounds like someone's looking for you."
Clark nodded and, smiling, left Bruce's office.
Once Clark had joined him at the base of the stairs, Lex led him up to the suite, where a roaring fire and a chilled bottle of sparkling grape juice had been set out.
Clark turned surprised, pleased, eyes on Lex.
"Your mom and dad are watching television in the media room with some of the other guests, so I figured this would be a good time to be alone. Probably our last chance until next week," he said, alluding to the heavy social schedule they had for Saturday.
Lex poured them each a glass of the grape juice, which they sipped while curled up together on the sofa.
When Jonathan and Martha came to bed, the two young men were already asleep.