Honesty 14
Woo-hoo! The first original chapter of Honesty in nearly 7 months! I'm posting this to ff.net later today.
Title: Honesty -- Chapter 14, Friday
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.
A/N: I've finally discovered how Lex's security system works. Hints follow, but there'll be more detail later, when we see Tim get his employee orientation. If he gets the job. :looking around to see if anyone caught my slip:
============
Lex and Martha arrived on time at the minimum-security facility and were escorted into the conference room by a security guard.
"You're sure you want to go through with this." Martha asked.
"I need to start building my own staff, and I've seen this guy's portfolio. He does great work."
"You're all right with him being a convict?"
Lex shrugged. "He's only committed property crimes, nothing violent, and I've become a big believer in second chances. Without second chances, I'd be my dad all over again by now."
Surprised, Martha nodded. "As long as you feel safe with him around . . . "
They were interrupted by the arrival of Tim. He was a scruffy-looking man with shaggy sandy-brown hair, like a malnourished Todd Oldham.
Tim did a double-take when he looked at Lex. "You're . . . ."
The small, comic book geek part of Lex always hoped that they'd finish this with a duck!, but instead, Tim finished his thought the way everyone else always did, " . . . Lex Luthor.
"I don't know what you want with me," Tim said mistrustfully, "but I'm not in that line of work anymore."
Lex made a sound halfway between a laugh and a sigh. "I'm not looking for someone in *that* line of work," he said, carefully avoiding the word arsonist. "I'm interested in hiring you on as my groundskeeper."
"Your groundskeeper?" Tim asked as he sat heavily in the chair opposite Lex and Martha.
"Yes. I've seen your portfolio, and I'm impressed. My estate covers quite a lot of territory in Smallville, and I need someone to handle it for me."
"But why *me*?"
Lex smiled over at Martha briefly, "Smallville has been a very good place to have a second chance, even though my first contact with it wasn't all that great, and I hoped that maybe you'd be up for a second chance there, too."
***
Half an hour later, Martha and Lex left the Lowell County minimum-security facility together.
"Well, he certainly seems sincere about wanting a new beginning," Martha said.
They walked on in silence, while Lex thought about Tim Turner.
"This is nice," Martha broke the silence as they walked through the parking lot.
"How so?"
"It's just nice to be able to spend some time with you. To see you away from the guys."
"I'm still a guy, even if I'm going to be your daughter-in-law," Lex smirked.
"I know that. I meant Clark and Jonathan is all. And speaking of daughter-in-law, when can I ask you about your intentions toward my son?"
"If you can dish it out, I can take it," Lex responded affably.
"All right. What are your intentions toward my son?"
"If I could, I'd take him to Vermont and put a ring on his finger this weekend, instead of taking him to Bruce's party."
His directness took her breath away, "You would?"
Lex nodded, "Though the State of Vermont would rather we wait until he's eighteen, and I also defer to your wish that we wait until he's out of high school."
Martha looped her hand through the crook of Lex's arm, giving him a sunny smile as they continued the walk to Lex's car.
***
"Homework?" Jonathan asked Clark.
"Sort of," Clark closed the book slightly so his father could see the title. "It's Lex's."
"Why is Lex reading books on hematology, and why would he loan them to you?"
"It's research for a personal project," Clark didn't dare tell his father that he was the project. "And since I've been thinking of becoming a doctor . . . ."
"You what?"
"Is that a problem?"
"Well, aside from the fact that you're supposed to be using your *gifts* to help people, no."
"Dad . . ."
"Do you have any idea what your mother and I have gone through, what we've done, to protect you, to . . . "
"And I want to make the most out of the life you've given me. Is that so wrong?"
"But anyone can become a doctor, your gifts are something that only you can do."
"Oh. So I'm not smart, but I can lift heavy things."
"That's not what I'm saying," Jonathan responded with exaggerated patience.
"Then what are you saying when you say that I shouldn't become a doctor because I should be using my *gifts* to help people?"
"You're taking my words out of context."
Clark just glared at his father, refusing to dignify that with a response.
"I just wonder if you really want to do this, or if it's some idea that Lex Luthor put into your head."
"Dad . . ."
"Oh, you think you'll become a pediatrician, or an oncologist or something like that. But once Luthor's done with you, you'll be some Beverly Hills plastic surgeon."
"First, I have no idea what specialization I'll go into. If I end up as a doctor at all. But even if I do go into *reconstructive* surgery," he emphasized the word clearly, "a lot of good is done in that field. A few overpriced tummy tucks and nose jobs would free up a lot of time to help children with birth defects or burn victims."
"Seems you'd be better just to keep them from getting . . ."
"Not. Another. Word." Martha's voice interrupted them.
Both of her men turned, speechless.
"Clark. Lex is on the porch waiting for you. Jonathan. Kitchen. Now."
Clark hightailed it out of the house, leaving his parents alone.
"Lex and I could hear you out in the driveway," Martha said once Clark was out on the porch and they were in the kitchen. "If you want to keep Clark's gifts a secret, bellowing about them at the top of your lungs is *not* the most efficient way to do it.
"I don't know why you've got this fixation on Clark using his gifts to help others, but Clark wants to be a doctor. Most men would burst with pride to hear their son say that he wants to be a doctor, but not you. No, you have to be different."
Jonathan grumbled something about Luthors.
"It has nothing to do with Lex, Jonathan. You've had this fixation since we discovered how strong Clark is, like it was some personal message to you from God. But Clark isn't just strong, and fast, he's also very, very intelligent. And if he wants to use that intelligence over his other gifts, then that's just something you'll have to learn to live with."
***
After his mother kicked him out of the house, Clark sat down next to Lex on the porch swing, "How'd it go?"
"Pretty well. I mean, you've seen his work."
"But do you really need a topiary peacock on your front lawn?"
Lex chuckled, "Well, maybe that was a little excessive, but you've got to admit that Nell would have loved it for Lana's birthday party. Actually, I was thinking about the rose arbor he did at the First Community Church in Kerrville. Something like that outside my office window would be nice. Or some other flower. Wisteria?"
Clark shrugged, "Whatever you want."
"Nothing's definite. I need to introduce Tim to Liza of course."
Clark nodded, "And if she likes him?"
"I was thinking unlimited access to the grounds and greenhouses, but only access to the house with an escort."
"Sounds like you've thought about this a lot."
"I'm thinking about hiring a convict on work release. Of course I've thought about security. Particularly yours."
Lex took Clark's hand, and they sat in silence for a minute.
"What's up with your dad?"
"The usual. He wants me to use my gifts to help people; I want to help people with my brain."
"It's really sad how dads sometimes just don't get it. He'll come around. He's got," Lex did some quick math in his head, "11 years to get used to the idea, after all."
They heard the back door slam, then a minute later, the front door opened and Martha stepped out onto the porch. "I think that Jonathan needs to cool off a little."
"Do you want me to postpone the helicopter?" Lex asked.
Martha shook her head. "We're just about packed, and I'm sure Jonathan won't be too long."
Sure enough, half an hour before they were to leave for Luthor Manor, Jonathan turned up, still sweaty from whatever he'd been doing in the barn. "I'll take a quick shower and be right down."
Fifteen minutes later, a freshly-washed Jonathan came downstairs, his hair still wet from his shower, wearing freshly-starched jeans and a shirt that Martha had just pressed that morning. "Do I meet with your approval?" He asked when he came downstairs.
Martha sidled up to him and kissed him firmly. "Mmm. You even brushed your teeth," she kidded.
"Look, son, I'm sorry about blowing my stack, but you sort of blindsided me with this med school thing, and . . . "
"That's all right, Dad." Clark gave his father a manly, back-slapping hug and then retreated to stand by Lex again.
"So," Jonathan addressed Lex, "I know we're running a little early, but . . . ."
He was interrupted by the sound of tires in front of the house.
"That's probably the limo now."
Jonathan's jaw tightened as he suppressed the urge to complain about Lex's lavish lifestyle as he picked up his and Martha's suitcases.
Title: Honesty -- Chapter 14, Friday
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.
A/N: I've finally discovered how Lex's security system works. Hints follow, but there'll be more detail later, when we see Tim get his employee orientation. If he gets the job. :looking around to see if anyone caught my slip:
============
Lex and Martha arrived on time at the minimum-security facility and were escorted into the conference room by a security guard.
"You're sure you want to go through with this." Martha asked.
"I need to start building my own staff, and I've seen this guy's portfolio. He does great work."
"You're all right with him being a convict?"
Lex shrugged. "He's only committed property crimes, nothing violent, and I've become a big believer in second chances. Without second chances, I'd be my dad all over again by now."
Surprised, Martha nodded. "As long as you feel safe with him around . . . "
They were interrupted by the arrival of Tim. He was a scruffy-looking man with shaggy sandy-brown hair, like a malnourished Todd Oldham.
Tim did a double-take when he looked at Lex. "You're . . . ."
The small, comic book geek part of Lex always hoped that they'd finish this with a duck!, but instead, Tim finished his thought the way everyone else always did, " . . . Lex Luthor.
"I don't know what you want with me," Tim said mistrustfully, "but I'm not in that line of work anymore."
Lex made a sound halfway between a laugh and a sigh. "I'm not looking for someone in *that* line of work," he said, carefully avoiding the word arsonist. "I'm interested in hiring you on as my groundskeeper."
"Your groundskeeper?" Tim asked as he sat heavily in the chair opposite Lex and Martha.
"Yes. I've seen your portfolio, and I'm impressed. My estate covers quite a lot of territory in Smallville, and I need someone to handle it for me."
"But why *me*?"
Lex smiled over at Martha briefly, "Smallville has been a very good place to have a second chance, even though my first contact with it wasn't all that great, and I hoped that maybe you'd be up for a second chance there, too."
***
Half an hour later, Martha and Lex left the Lowell County minimum-security facility together.
"Well, he certainly seems sincere about wanting a new beginning," Martha said.
They walked on in silence, while Lex thought about Tim Turner.
"This is nice," Martha broke the silence as they walked through the parking lot.
"How so?"
"It's just nice to be able to spend some time with you. To see you away from the guys."
"I'm still a guy, even if I'm going to be your daughter-in-law," Lex smirked.
"I know that. I meant Clark and Jonathan is all. And speaking of daughter-in-law, when can I ask you about your intentions toward my son?"
"If you can dish it out, I can take it," Lex responded affably.
"All right. What are your intentions toward my son?"
"If I could, I'd take him to Vermont and put a ring on his finger this weekend, instead of taking him to Bruce's party."
His directness took her breath away, "You would?"
Lex nodded, "Though the State of Vermont would rather we wait until he's eighteen, and I also defer to your wish that we wait until he's out of high school."
Martha looped her hand through the crook of Lex's arm, giving him a sunny smile as they continued the walk to Lex's car.
***
"Homework?" Jonathan asked Clark.
"Sort of," Clark closed the book slightly so his father could see the title. "It's Lex's."
"Why is Lex reading books on hematology, and why would he loan them to you?"
"It's research for a personal project," Clark didn't dare tell his father that he was the project. "And since I've been thinking of becoming a doctor . . . ."
"You what?"
"Is that a problem?"
"Well, aside from the fact that you're supposed to be using your *gifts* to help people, no."
"Dad . . ."
"Do you have any idea what your mother and I have gone through, what we've done, to protect you, to . . . "
"And I want to make the most out of the life you've given me. Is that so wrong?"
"But anyone can become a doctor, your gifts are something that only you can do."
"Oh. So I'm not smart, but I can lift heavy things."
"That's not what I'm saying," Jonathan responded with exaggerated patience.
"Then what are you saying when you say that I shouldn't become a doctor because I should be using my *gifts* to help people?"
"You're taking my words out of context."
Clark just glared at his father, refusing to dignify that with a response.
"I just wonder if you really want to do this, or if it's some idea that Lex Luthor put into your head."
"Dad . . ."
"Oh, you think you'll become a pediatrician, or an oncologist or something like that. But once Luthor's done with you, you'll be some Beverly Hills plastic surgeon."
"First, I have no idea what specialization I'll go into. If I end up as a doctor at all. But even if I do go into *reconstructive* surgery," he emphasized the word clearly, "a lot of good is done in that field. A few overpriced tummy tucks and nose jobs would free up a lot of time to help children with birth defects or burn victims."
"Seems you'd be better just to keep them from getting . . ."
"Not. Another. Word." Martha's voice interrupted them.
Both of her men turned, speechless.
"Clark. Lex is on the porch waiting for you. Jonathan. Kitchen. Now."
Clark hightailed it out of the house, leaving his parents alone.
"Lex and I could hear you out in the driveway," Martha said once Clark was out on the porch and they were in the kitchen. "If you want to keep Clark's gifts a secret, bellowing about them at the top of your lungs is *not* the most efficient way to do it.
"I don't know why you've got this fixation on Clark using his gifts to help others, but Clark wants to be a doctor. Most men would burst with pride to hear their son say that he wants to be a doctor, but not you. No, you have to be different."
Jonathan grumbled something about Luthors.
"It has nothing to do with Lex, Jonathan. You've had this fixation since we discovered how strong Clark is, like it was some personal message to you from God. But Clark isn't just strong, and fast, he's also very, very intelligent. And if he wants to use that intelligence over his other gifts, then that's just something you'll have to learn to live with."
***
After his mother kicked him out of the house, Clark sat down next to Lex on the porch swing, "How'd it go?"
"Pretty well. I mean, you've seen his work."
"But do you really need a topiary peacock on your front lawn?"
Lex chuckled, "Well, maybe that was a little excessive, but you've got to admit that Nell would have loved it for Lana's birthday party. Actually, I was thinking about the rose arbor he did at the First Community Church in Kerrville. Something like that outside my office window would be nice. Or some other flower. Wisteria?"
Clark shrugged, "Whatever you want."
"Nothing's definite. I need to introduce Tim to Liza of course."
Clark nodded, "And if she likes him?"
"I was thinking unlimited access to the grounds and greenhouses, but only access to the house with an escort."
"Sounds like you've thought about this a lot."
"I'm thinking about hiring a convict on work release. Of course I've thought about security. Particularly yours."
Lex took Clark's hand, and they sat in silence for a minute.
"What's up with your dad?"
"The usual. He wants me to use my gifts to help people; I want to help people with my brain."
"It's really sad how dads sometimes just don't get it. He'll come around. He's got," Lex did some quick math in his head, "11 years to get used to the idea, after all."
They heard the back door slam, then a minute later, the front door opened and Martha stepped out onto the porch. "I think that Jonathan needs to cool off a little."
"Do you want me to postpone the helicopter?" Lex asked.
Martha shook her head. "We're just about packed, and I'm sure Jonathan won't be too long."
Sure enough, half an hour before they were to leave for Luthor Manor, Jonathan turned up, still sweaty from whatever he'd been doing in the barn. "I'll take a quick shower and be right down."
Fifteen minutes later, a freshly-washed Jonathan came downstairs, his hair still wet from his shower, wearing freshly-starched jeans and a shirt that Martha had just pressed that morning. "Do I meet with your approval?" He asked when he came downstairs.
Martha sidled up to him and kissed him firmly. "Mmm. You even brushed your teeth," she kidded.
"Look, son, I'm sorry about blowing my stack, but you sort of blindsided me with this med school thing, and . . . "
"That's all right, Dad." Clark gave his father a manly, back-slapping hug and then retreated to stand by Lex again.
"So," Jonathan addressed Lex, "I know we're running a little early, but . . . ."
He was interrupted by the sound of tires in front of the house.
"That's probably the limo now."
Jonathan's jaw tightened as he suppressed the urge to complain about Lex's lavish lifestyle as he picked up his and Martha's suitcases.