Clouds Up - Two (2/15)
The tour was scheduled for a Friday.
It was to be the first tour of the Plant given since the company had changed hands. It was the first public exposure of ELD Inc. period. Lex had to be there, and as acting chief of all western Kansas Plants, Lucas had to be in attendance as well.
They'd started meeting about it three months ago, in the large office in Metropolis. Normally, that room was used for board meetings, which Lucas was allowed to attend but never did. But Lex was determined this event would be a success. He'd brought in a lot of people to consult: planners, board members, different department heads. He'd planned out every detail, every step.
At first, Lex's perfectionism was just annoying, but soon it became infuriating and actually somewhat worrying. If something did go wrong, however minute in the overall scheme of things, Lucas had no doubt Lex would blame himself.
Or he'd somehow blame Lionel, and then blame himself.
"I think the schedule is just fine the way it is," Lucas had offered at the final meeting. "There are no conflictions. What's wrong with it?"
"No," Lex had responded. He'd shaken his head and stood up. "It's not looking how I want it to. Something's. . . something's missing. I'm not sure, can't put my finger on it, but something's not working here."
"It will be fine. We're going through the practice run, just like you wanted. If there's a problem, most likely we'll see it then."
"I hate this," Lex had told him quietly. He'd paced over to one of the walls of windows, and had put a hand out to touch one pane. The board room had been empty by that point, only Lex and Lucas still there going over and over the agenda repeatedly.
"Hate what, exactly?" Lucas had asked in response. "Planning?"
"No," and Lex had shaken his head again, his reflection showing the sadness on his face. "I hate all this pandering, the talking and schmoozing and bullshitting. These photo-ops, they're disgusting."
Lucas had then set his pen down, had taken in the way Lex was standing and the set of his jaw and shoulders.
"They're necessary," Lucas had said. "You don't follow the rules, and you'll end up regretting it."
That was when Lex had turned around. He'd still had a hand bracing himself against the window, but he'd been looking back at Lucas over his shoulder.
"What does that mean?" he'd asked, almost angrily. "Or do I not want to know?"
"You probably don't want to know," Lucas had agreed. "But we have to do this, so stop complaining."
Lex had given a short chuckle to that and had then pushed away from the windows. He'd come back over the table, but hadn't sat down.
"Sometimes you scare me, Lucas."
Lucas remembered looking up at Lex and smiling.
"Sometimes that's the point," he'd confided, knowing he'd been right to admit it when Lex had grinned back at him.
***
"How are the troops?" Lex yelled over the loud spinning of the helicopter's blades.
"All assembled, and awaiting your command," Lucas retorted.
Lex laughed delightedly, slinging his arm around Lucas' shoulder as they ran across the landing pad towards the Plant entrance.
"Great," Lex said. "Everything's going well so far. I see the press is already chomping at the bit."
One of Lex's assistants had gone ahead of them and was holding the door open. Lucas let Lex go in first, then said when they were both inside, "The first van showed up two hours ago."
"Which group is that?" Lex asked.
"Channel 5," Lucas answered. "Metropolis," he added redundantly.
Lex smiled again, then, as they'd reached Lucas' office, took a right and went inside. Lucas followed, as did the same assistant who'd opened the door for them out on the landing pad.
"Thanks, Lanie," Lex told her. "Why don't you go check on the reception area? Make sure all your hard work has paid off."
Lanie nodded, going back to the door and closing it behind herself as she left the room. Lex turned to Lucas.
"Ready?" he asked, raising his eyebrows and smiling.
Lucas nodded. "I was born ready," he said deadpan, smiling when Lex snorted and his cheeks turned red as he laughed.
"You've been watching action movies again, haven't you?" he asked rhetorically. He shook his head and took off his suit jacket, folding it inside out and laying it down on Lucas' desk. "Diehard?" he guessed.
Lucas shrugged. "Terminator, actually. I like the villains."
"Machines, right?" Lex asked, even though he knew perfectly well what the plot was. Lex always did that with him, though. He did that with all of them to a certain extent, but most often with Lucas.
It wasn't a game, or a ploy, but almost like a test of some sort. He always waited to hear what Lucas thought before volunteering any information. In meetings, especially for this big tour and expo, he'd always asked Lucas his opinion before asking anyone else's. It was strange. Something about it bothered Lucas, but he couldn't say what exactly.
"Yes," Lucas said. "Skynet and the T-1000 and Arnold Schwarzenegger. And Linda Hamilton."
Lex smiled, but it wasn't really genuine. Lucas could tell the difference. This one was just a reflex, just Lex trying to play normal. It was confusing sometimes. Lex acted more than he just was most of the time, and trying to take cues from him was tricky. Sometimes Lex laughed and smiled when no one else would have, and when Lucas imitated him people gave him funny looks.
But Lex was strange like that, and it seemed like most people expected it. Lex did it and people found it interesting and acceptable. Lucas did it and people moved away or grimaced awkwardly.
"So did you like the first movie or the second movie more?" Lex asked, sitting down in the chair behind Lucas' desk. Lucas took that as a sign and carefully lowered himself into one of the other chairs.
"I liked both movies," he replied, confusedly. "Am I supposed to prefer one over the other?"
"No, not necessarily," Lex answered. "It's just a lot of people do. I myself always liked the first one, but most seem to think the second's better."
Lucas shrugged, looking away from where Lex was staring at him, and instead focusing on his hands.
"I think both movies are entertaining," Lucas finally offered. "They're different. I don't see how it's possible to compare them."
"Interesting," Lex said, and Lucas could hear the smile in his voice.
Again, like a test. Lucas often wondered if he were passing.
***
"Mr. Luthor!" shouted one reporter, louder than the others. Lucas saw Lex's head turn, that calculating look in his eye as he looked towards the man who'd just shouted. "Mr. Luthor!"
"Yes," Lex acknowledged, pointing to the man. "You, there."
"Do you consider today a success? And what was it you were hoping to get out of such an event?"
"Besides your goodwill, Mr. Layton?" Lex joked, and the room laughed. He waited a moment or two for the laughter to die down, his expression turning serious. Then Lex gave a sigh and briefly chewed on his lower lip, his hands curling around to grip the edge of the podium tightly. "Truthfully," he said, looking at the reporter, Layton, but then also making eye contact around the room, "the goal was distancing, distancing ELD Inc. in the public's mind from that of my father's company." At those words, the cameras began flashing more, and chatter started up on the floor again.
"Distancing from Luthorcorp itself," another voice shouted out, "or you from your father?"
Again, Lex chewed on his lip before answering. Lucas had never seen him do that before.
"Both," he said quietly, and suddenly the room was virtually silent. The clicking and snapping of the photographers' cameras was still quite loud, but all the people were quiet. Everyone was focused on Lex.
Lex gave one of those fake smiles. "We all know today was more than just a school fieldtrip. This was the culmination of months of hard work and planning, and, to answer Mr. Layton's question: I do consider it a success. I trust we all learned something today, both about the goings-on in a fertilizer plant like this one, and also something of how this company functions at its basic level. ELD Inc. is not Luthorcorp. It is neither run by the same men, nor does it conduct business in the same manner. We pride ourselves on ethically and efficiently achieving our goals. I may be CEO of this company, but I'm not the only person in the boat. I like being able to sleep at night. I like being certain that the company I'm a part of is not in the business of ruining lives for personal gain. I think we all like that. In the business world, it's something quite new and refreshing." Lex chuckled, and several of the other people on the platform followed suit. Some of the reporters on the floor applauded, and when Lucas looked at their faces, he saw openness and curiosity there, not doubt or derision.
The reporters began shouting out their questions again, and Lucas caught one familiar voice amongst them. He was standing behind Lex, to his left along the back wall, but when he heard that particular man, he rushed up and put a hand on Lex's shoulder.
Lex startled, but turned his head and covered the microphone. Lucas moved close enough so that what he was about to say wouldn't be overheard.
"It's time to go," he whispered into Lex's ear. "No more questions."
Lex frowned, but nodded. Lucas moved back to the wall, just as Lex started speaking to the room again.
"I'm afraid we'll have to cut this short," he said lightly. "It is Friday, after all. I'm sure I'm not the only one looking forward to getting out of here." More laughter, and Lex stepped back with a final congenial wave to the press. Everyone on the platform started moving towards the exit, but Lucas stayed put, taking in the faces of the crowd. Reporters and photographers were all gathering up their things and making for the doors, but he caught sight of the one he was looking for easily enough.
With one last look in the man's direction, Lucas crossed the stage and exited back out into the hallway. Several people were standing around talking, but he made his way past them towards his office.
When he opened the door, it was just Lex and his assistant Lanie again. Lex finished what he'd been saying, and then Lanie left the room without him even needing to tell her.
"Well, what was that about?" Lex demanded. "I trust your judgment, but I'd appreciate knowing why-- "
"Thom Aerson was in that room," Lucas interrupted. "Fourth row, left side, third seat from the center aisle." Lex was silent, his mouth downturned and his forehead furrowed in anger. "I thought it prudent to leave on a high note before he turned it ugly."
"Jesus," Lex whispered, stunned. He brought a hand up to his chin and rubbed it back and forth across his face. "That was a close one then."
Lucas nodded.
"Thank you," Lex suddenly said, meeting his eyes. "I had no idea he was there. No one else did either, obviously."
"That's my job," Lucas replied. "I know what goes on in this Plant. I know what goes on in all the Plants in my area." He waited, but Lex didn't say anything. "That's what you hired me for," he gently reminded him.
Lex's mouth twitched, but he didn't really smile. "That, and other things," he eventually said.
Lucas smiled at that. "That's what family's for," Lucas offered. "I'm supposed to look out for you. We're all in that same boat."
"And thank God we all know how to swim," Lex added.
Next
It was to be the first tour of the Plant given since the company had changed hands. It was the first public exposure of ELD Inc. period. Lex had to be there, and as acting chief of all western Kansas Plants, Lucas had to be in attendance as well.
They'd started meeting about it three months ago, in the large office in Metropolis. Normally, that room was used for board meetings, which Lucas was allowed to attend but never did. But Lex was determined this event would be a success. He'd brought in a lot of people to consult: planners, board members, different department heads. He'd planned out every detail, every step.
At first, Lex's perfectionism was just annoying, but soon it became infuriating and actually somewhat worrying. If something did go wrong, however minute in the overall scheme of things, Lucas had no doubt Lex would blame himself.
Or he'd somehow blame Lionel, and then blame himself.
"I think the schedule is just fine the way it is," Lucas had offered at the final meeting. "There are no conflictions. What's wrong with it?"
"No," Lex had responded. He'd shaken his head and stood up. "It's not looking how I want it to. Something's. . . something's missing. I'm not sure, can't put my finger on it, but something's not working here."
"It will be fine. We're going through the practice run, just like you wanted. If there's a problem, most likely we'll see it then."
"I hate this," Lex had told him quietly. He'd paced over to one of the walls of windows, and had put a hand out to touch one pane. The board room had been empty by that point, only Lex and Lucas still there going over and over the agenda repeatedly.
"Hate what, exactly?" Lucas had asked in response. "Planning?"
"No," and Lex had shaken his head again, his reflection showing the sadness on his face. "I hate all this pandering, the talking and schmoozing and bullshitting. These photo-ops, they're disgusting."
Lucas had then set his pen down, had taken in the way Lex was standing and the set of his jaw and shoulders.
"They're necessary," Lucas had said. "You don't follow the rules, and you'll end up regretting it."
That was when Lex had turned around. He'd still had a hand bracing himself against the window, but he'd been looking back at Lucas over his shoulder.
"What does that mean?" he'd asked, almost angrily. "Or do I not want to know?"
"You probably don't want to know," Lucas had agreed. "But we have to do this, so stop complaining."
Lex had given a short chuckle to that and had then pushed away from the windows. He'd come back over the table, but hadn't sat down.
"Sometimes you scare me, Lucas."
Lucas remembered looking up at Lex and smiling.
"Sometimes that's the point," he'd confided, knowing he'd been right to admit it when Lex had grinned back at him.
***
"How are the troops?" Lex yelled over the loud spinning of the helicopter's blades.
"All assembled, and awaiting your command," Lucas retorted.
Lex laughed delightedly, slinging his arm around Lucas' shoulder as they ran across the landing pad towards the Plant entrance.
"Great," Lex said. "Everything's going well so far. I see the press is already chomping at the bit."
One of Lex's assistants had gone ahead of them and was holding the door open. Lucas let Lex go in first, then said when they were both inside, "The first van showed up two hours ago."
"Which group is that?" Lex asked.
"Channel 5," Lucas answered. "Metropolis," he added redundantly.
Lex smiled again, then, as they'd reached Lucas' office, took a right and went inside. Lucas followed, as did the same assistant who'd opened the door for them out on the landing pad.
"Thanks, Lanie," Lex told her. "Why don't you go check on the reception area? Make sure all your hard work has paid off."
Lanie nodded, going back to the door and closing it behind herself as she left the room. Lex turned to Lucas.
"Ready?" he asked, raising his eyebrows and smiling.
Lucas nodded. "I was born ready," he said deadpan, smiling when Lex snorted and his cheeks turned red as he laughed.
"You've been watching action movies again, haven't you?" he asked rhetorically. He shook his head and took off his suit jacket, folding it inside out and laying it down on Lucas' desk. "Diehard?" he guessed.
Lucas shrugged. "Terminator, actually. I like the villains."
"Machines, right?" Lex asked, even though he knew perfectly well what the plot was. Lex always did that with him, though. He did that with all of them to a certain extent, but most often with Lucas.
It wasn't a game, or a ploy, but almost like a test of some sort. He always waited to hear what Lucas thought before volunteering any information. In meetings, especially for this big tour and expo, he'd always asked Lucas his opinion before asking anyone else's. It was strange. Something about it bothered Lucas, but he couldn't say what exactly.
"Yes," Lucas said. "Skynet and the T-1000 and Arnold Schwarzenegger. And Linda Hamilton."
Lex smiled, but it wasn't really genuine. Lucas could tell the difference. This one was just a reflex, just Lex trying to play normal. It was confusing sometimes. Lex acted more than he just was most of the time, and trying to take cues from him was tricky. Sometimes Lex laughed and smiled when no one else would have, and when Lucas imitated him people gave him funny looks.
But Lex was strange like that, and it seemed like most people expected it. Lex did it and people found it interesting and acceptable. Lucas did it and people moved away or grimaced awkwardly.
"So did you like the first movie or the second movie more?" Lex asked, sitting down in the chair behind Lucas' desk. Lucas took that as a sign and carefully lowered himself into one of the other chairs.
"I liked both movies," he replied, confusedly. "Am I supposed to prefer one over the other?"
"No, not necessarily," Lex answered. "It's just a lot of people do. I myself always liked the first one, but most seem to think the second's better."
Lucas shrugged, looking away from where Lex was staring at him, and instead focusing on his hands.
"I think both movies are entertaining," Lucas finally offered. "They're different. I don't see how it's possible to compare them."
"Interesting," Lex said, and Lucas could hear the smile in his voice.
Again, like a test. Lucas often wondered if he were passing.
***
"Mr. Luthor!" shouted one reporter, louder than the others. Lucas saw Lex's head turn, that calculating look in his eye as he looked towards the man who'd just shouted. "Mr. Luthor!"
"Yes," Lex acknowledged, pointing to the man. "You, there."
"Do you consider today a success? And what was it you were hoping to get out of such an event?"
"Besides your goodwill, Mr. Layton?" Lex joked, and the room laughed. He waited a moment or two for the laughter to die down, his expression turning serious. Then Lex gave a sigh and briefly chewed on his lower lip, his hands curling around to grip the edge of the podium tightly. "Truthfully," he said, looking at the reporter, Layton, but then also making eye contact around the room, "the goal was distancing, distancing ELD Inc. in the public's mind from that of my father's company." At those words, the cameras began flashing more, and chatter started up on the floor again.
"Distancing from Luthorcorp itself," another voice shouted out, "or you from your father?"
Again, Lex chewed on his lip before answering. Lucas had never seen him do that before.
"Both," he said quietly, and suddenly the room was virtually silent. The clicking and snapping of the photographers' cameras was still quite loud, but all the people were quiet. Everyone was focused on Lex.
Lex gave one of those fake smiles. "We all know today was more than just a school fieldtrip. This was the culmination of months of hard work and planning, and, to answer Mr. Layton's question: I do consider it a success. I trust we all learned something today, both about the goings-on in a fertilizer plant like this one, and also something of how this company functions at its basic level. ELD Inc. is not Luthorcorp. It is neither run by the same men, nor does it conduct business in the same manner. We pride ourselves on ethically and efficiently achieving our goals. I may be CEO of this company, but I'm not the only person in the boat. I like being able to sleep at night. I like being certain that the company I'm a part of is not in the business of ruining lives for personal gain. I think we all like that. In the business world, it's something quite new and refreshing." Lex chuckled, and several of the other people on the platform followed suit. Some of the reporters on the floor applauded, and when Lucas looked at their faces, he saw openness and curiosity there, not doubt or derision.
The reporters began shouting out their questions again, and Lucas caught one familiar voice amongst them. He was standing behind Lex, to his left along the back wall, but when he heard that particular man, he rushed up and put a hand on Lex's shoulder.
Lex startled, but turned his head and covered the microphone. Lucas moved close enough so that what he was about to say wouldn't be overheard.
"It's time to go," he whispered into Lex's ear. "No more questions."
Lex frowned, but nodded. Lucas moved back to the wall, just as Lex started speaking to the room again.
"I'm afraid we'll have to cut this short," he said lightly. "It is Friday, after all. I'm sure I'm not the only one looking forward to getting out of here." More laughter, and Lex stepped back with a final congenial wave to the press. Everyone on the platform started moving towards the exit, but Lucas stayed put, taking in the faces of the crowd. Reporters and photographers were all gathering up their things and making for the doors, but he caught sight of the one he was looking for easily enough.
With one last look in the man's direction, Lucas crossed the stage and exited back out into the hallway. Several people were standing around talking, but he made his way past them towards his office.
When he opened the door, it was just Lex and his assistant Lanie again. Lex finished what he'd been saying, and then Lanie left the room without him even needing to tell her.
"Well, what was that about?" Lex demanded. "I trust your judgment, but I'd appreciate knowing why-- "
"Thom Aerson was in that room," Lucas interrupted. "Fourth row, left side, third seat from the center aisle." Lex was silent, his mouth downturned and his forehead furrowed in anger. "I thought it prudent to leave on a high note before he turned it ugly."
"Jesus," Lex whispered, stunned. He brought a hand up to his chin and rubbed it back and forth across his face. "That was a close one then."
Lucas nodded.
"Thank you," Lex suddenly said, meeting his eyes. "I had no idea he was there. No one else did either, obviously."
"That's my job," Lucas replied. "I know what goes on in this Plant. I know what goes on in all the Plants in my area." He waited, but Lex didn't say anything. "That's what you hired me for," he gently reminded him.
Lex's mouth twitched, but he didn't really smile. "That, and other things," he eventually said.
Lucas smiled at that. "That's what family's for," Lucas offered. "I'm supposed to look out for you. We're all in that same boat."
"And thank God we all know how to swim," Lex added.
Next