(no subject)
Title - An Ordinary World
Author - yavannauk
Fandom - Smallville
Rating - G
Spoilers - Season four
Disclaimer - Not mine, I couldn't afford the motor and household insurance bills. I promise I'll scrub them down and give them back to DC comics, the WB and anyone else who does own a slice of them when I'm done with them.
Summary - Clark feels as if he's losing touch with the ordinary parts of his life.
Author's notes - Thank you to Barbara for beta duties.
Clark feels as if he's in the middle of some bizarre chess game. He's just one of the pieces on the board and ranged around him are Lex, Jason, Lana, Lionel and Mrs. Teague. Also, despite both being dead, Isobel Thoreaux and Jor-El seem to be players too. Clark hasn't figured out all the rules yet, but he knows what the prize is. They're all playing for the three stones and the knowledge they represent.
Here, in the hidden part of the caves, Clark contemplates the one stone currently in his possession. He'd been so close to the second in China, until Isobel once again took control of Lana's body. In those few minutes, while she'd distracted him, it had vanished and Clark doesn't know which of his fellow pawns has it now.
From the depths of his pocket Clark pulls the octagonal key, fingering its metallic contours. He wonders if he should risk awakening Jor-El again, but decides against it. He can do without another parental lecture on his responsibilities. He's heard enough of them since returning from China. Clark rubs his thumb over the Kryptonian symbols on the key's surface before shoving it back into his jacket.
Deciding there are no more answers for him here today, Clark leaves the brightly lit inner chamber. The wall simply seals itself up again behind him and Clark finds himself in cool darkness. As he makes his way carefully back towards the entrance, Clark sees a lone figure silhouetted against the brightness ahead. He stops, letting his eyes adjust to the daylight, and wonders which of the other players has come seeking information here.
When the shadowed shape takes a few more steps in his direction, Clark knows. The smooth outline of the bare scalp marks Lex out unmistakably.
"Lex, what are you doing here?" Clark asks, his voice sharp.
It wouldn't be unreasonable for Lex to point out that the caves are still under Luthor guardianship, but he doesn't. Instead, he musters a somewhat tired looking version of his habitual smirk. It's further distorted by the yellowing bruise still marring his lower lip.
Jet-lag, Clark thinks randomly; Lex is clearly still feeling the effects of the trip to China. He wonders if the other injuries Lex sustained are paining him too. It's only been a couple of days.
Clark's train of thought is derailed as Lex finally breaks his silence.
"I could ask you the same question." Lex tilts his head, eyes fixing on Clark's face.
Regretfully, Clark recognises the pattern their conversation is taking. All they seem to do these days is ask each other questions neither of them wants to answer. Underneath all the secrets and lies do they even have a friendship any more? Clark feels a pang of sadness as he acknowledges the answer might well be no. He thought he'd resigned himself to the fact that circumstances had made them drift apart, but for the first time in a while, Clark's not so sure.
In China he'd rescued Lex almost out of habit, but he'd never actually stopped to find out if he was all right. He hasn't taken the time to ask since either. Surrounded by all the undeniably alien and magical occurrences of late, Clark realises he's been losing touch with the ordinary, human things in his life.
Casting a quick glance over his shoulder into the depths of the caves, Clark wonders if he's letting Jor-El win by default. He's so wrapped up in the quest for the stones and he doesn't even really know why, except that it's what Jor-El wants. He's never acquiesced to his birth father so easily before, so why should he now?
"Clark?"
The quiet echo of Lex's voice again grounds Clark, reminding him that Lex probably expects some kind of reply from him. Clark shakes his head to clear it, deciding to offer a half truth.
"I was trying to make sense of what happened in China. Lana, the stone..." Clark shrugs his shoulders, trying to convey everything that had happened with the gesture.
Lex nods in understanding as he moves closer. "You noticed that the symbols in the temple were the same as here? Got any theories yet?"
"No," Clark replies. "There are still too many pieces of the puzzle missing."
"And you have no idea what happened to the stone?" There's a sudden intensity to Lex, a sharper focus to his gaze.
"I really don't," Clark tells him, for once able to be absolutely truthful.
Lex purses his lips thoughtfully. "Which means that either Lana or Jason has it."
Eyes widening in surprise, Clark stares at him. "Do you think so, but...?"
The tiredness is all too evident on Lex's face again as he smiles faintly. "I don't know what to think any more, Clark. I thought I knew who I could trust, but now..."
"I'm sorry you got hurt," Clark blurts out suddenly.
He can't, in all honesty, ask Lex to trust him, not with his secrets standing between them. Nevertheless, Clark needs to do something to show Lex that their friendship still matters to him.
Lex blinks at the apparent non sequitur. "I'm all right, Clark. You were there to rescue me - as always."
"But I didn't ask if you were okay." Clark looks down at his hands. "I should have done."
"You're asking now," Lex says, his smile broadening into something a little more real. "That's what counts. A lot's been happening lately, Clark, and sometimes the niceties fall through the cracks."
"They shouldn't, though," Clark insists.
"Maybe not, but that's human nature," Lex replies.
And alien nature too, Clark thinks.
"We could go to the Talon," Clark offers. "Catch up over coffee and slices of Mom's apple pie."
Lex claps him on the shoulder, grinning. "Sounds good, Clark, there's really nothing to equal your mother's baking."
As they leave, Clark hopes magic, alien stones and regular Smallville weirdness take a back seat for now, because normal's never sounded more appealing.
Author - yavannauk
Fandom - Smallville
Rating - G
Spoilers - Season four
Disclaimer - Not mine, I couldn't afford the motor and household insurance bills. I promise I'll scrub them down and give them back to DC comics, the WB and anyone else who does own a slice of them when I'm done with them.
Summary - Clark feels as if he's losing touch with the ordinary parts of his life.
Author's notes - Thank you to Barbara for beta duties.
Clark feels as if he's in the middle of some bizarre chess game. He's just one of the pieces on the board and ranged around him are Lex, Jason, Lana, Lionel and Mrs. Teague. Also, despite both being dead, Isobel Thoreaux and Jor-El seem to be players too. Clark hasn't figured out all the rules yet, but he knows what the prize is. They're all playing for the three stones and the knowledge they represent.
Here, in the hidden part of the caves, Clark contemplates the one stone currently in his possession. He'd been so close to the second in China, until Isobel once again took control of Lana's body. In those few minutes, while she'd distracted him, it had vanished and Clark doesn't know which of his fellow pawns has it now.
From the depths of his pocket Clark pulls the octagonal key, fingering its metallic contours. He wonders if he should risk awakening Jor-El again, but decides against it. He can do without another parental lecture on his responsibilities. He's heard enough of them since returning from China. Clark rubs his thumb over the Kryptonian symbols on the key's surface before shoving it back into his jacket.
Deciding there are no more answers for him here today, Clark leaves the brightly lit inner chamber. The wall simply seals itself up again behind him and Clark finds himself in cool darkness. As he makes his way carefully back towards the entrance, Clark sees a lone figure silhouetted against the brightness ahead. He stops, letting his eyes adjust to the daylight, and wonders which of the other players has come seeking information here.
When the shadowed shape takes a few more steps in his direction, Clark knows. The smooth outline of the bare scalp marks Lex out unmistakably.
"Lex, what are you doing here?" Clark asks, his voice sharp.
It wouldn't be unreasonable for Lex to point out that the caves are still under Luthor guardianship, but he doesn't. Instead, he musters a somewhat tired looking version of his habitual smirk. It's further distorted by the yellowing bruise still marring his lower lip.
Jet-lag, Clark thinks randomly; Lex is clearly still feeling the effects of the trip to China. He wonders if the other injuries Lex sustained are paining him too. It's only been a couple of days.
Clark's train of thought is derailed as Lex finally breaks his silence.
"I could ask you the same question." Lex tilts his head, eyes fixing on Clark's face.
Regretfully, Clark recognises the pattern their conversation is taking. All they seem to do these days is ask each other questions neither of them wants to answer. Underneath all the secrets and lies do they even have a friendship any more? Clark feels a pang of sadness as he acknowledges the answer might well be no. He thought he'd resigned himself to the fact that circumstances had made them drift apart, but for the first time in a while, Clark's not so sure.
In China he'd rescued Lex almost out of habit, but he'd never actually stopped to find out if he was all right. He hasn't taken the time to ask since either. Surrounded by all the undeniably alien and magical occurrences of late, Clark realises he's been losing touch with the ordinary, human things in his life.
Casting a quick glance over his shoulder into the depths of the caves, Clark wonders if he's letting Jor-El win by default. He's so wrapped up in the quest for the stones and he doesn't even really know why, except that it's what Jor-El wants. He's never acquiesced to his birth father so easily before, so why should he now?
"Clark?"
The quiet echo of Lex's voice again grounds Clark, reminding him that Lex probably expects some kind of reply from him. Clark shakes his head to clear it, deciding to offer a half truth.
"I was trying to make sense of what happened in China. Lana, the stone..." Clark shrugs his shoulders, trying to convey everything that had happened with the gesture.
Lex nods in understanding as he moves closer. "You noticed that the symbols in the temple were the same as here? Got any theories yet?"
"No," Clark replies. "There are still too many pieces of the puzzle missing."
"And you have no idea what happened to the stone?" There's a sudden intensity to Lex, a sharper focus to his gaze.
"I really don't," Clark tells him, for once able to be absolutely truthful.
Lex purses his lips thoughtfully. "Which means that either Lana or Jason has it."
Eyes widening in surprise, Clark stares at him. "Do you think so, but...?"
The tiredness is all too evident on Lex's face again as he smiles faintly. "I don't know what to think any more, Clark. I thought I knew who I could trust, but now..."
"I'm sorry you got hurt," Clark blurts out suddenly.
He can't, in all honesty, ask Lex to trust him, not with his secrets standing between them. Nevertheless, Clark needs to do something to show Lex that their friendship still matters to him.
Lex blinks at the apparent non sequitur. "I'm all right, Clark. You were there to rescue me - as always."
"But I didn't ask if you were okay." Clark looks down at his hands. "I should have done."
"You're asking now," Lex says, his smile broadening into something a little more real. "That's what counts. A lot's been happening lately, Clark, and sometimes the niceties fall through the cracks."
"They shouldn't, though," Clark insists.
"Maybe not, but that's human nature," Lex replies.
And alien nature too, Clark thinks.
"We could go to the Talon," Clark offers. "Catch up over coffee and slices of Mom's apple pie."
Lex claps him on the shoulder, grinning. "Sounds good, Clark, there's really nothing to equal your mother's baking."
As they leave, Clark hopes magic, alien stones and regular Smallville weirdness take a back seat for now, because normal's never sounded more appealing.