This is Not the End chapter 5
This is Not the End
By Ashtakra
Story: This is Not the End
Pairing: Oliver/Clark
Rating: M for the moment
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Warning: MM slash
Spoilers: none
Summary: Clark relishes his time as both the Green Arrow and lover of Oliver Queen. Lex closes in on the truth and begins to reveal his true intentions and the rest of the team shows up in the lead up to the final showdown. This one is really all about the Lex.
Previous Chapters: Chapter 1 : Chapter 2 : Chapter 3 : Chapter 4
Putting on the dark glasses but leaving the hood off Clark could not stop the grin from sneaking across his face. Oliver was asleep on the couch, soft lamp light catching his blonde hair and enhancing the musculature across his arms and chest. A body that Clark now knew intimately and that was one of the reasons the grin would not go away.
He wanted to stay. Wanted to have his arms around the other man and sleep in the aura of the love they had just made. Unfortunately the crime wave that was hitting Metropolis would not let him. The Green Arrow was needed and who was Clark to disappoint? Ghosting a kiss across Oliver’s lips he slipped out the balcony doors and leapt off the building. The thrill of falling was momentary as Clark glided to the ground and straddled the bike.
As Clark he could just as easy fly or superspeed around the city - but tonight he was not Clark but the Green Arrow; and the Green Arrow rode a Ducati. The engine roared to life and as he revved it Clark pulled over the hood before skidding around to race down the street. The grin turned into a toothy smile as he rounded the corner and almost went horizontal. This was, Clark knew, a night for letting go and he opened the throttle and laughed as he saw the people gaze in wonder at the green blur that whizzed past them. There was no reason he couldn’t have fun while ensuring the Green Arrow was spotted out and about.
LLLLLLLLLL
As soon as Lex had received word of the Green Arrow taking out a gang of skinheads at the docks he had made his way straight here. The night was still early and he had not expected word until later. Obviously Oliver had nothing better to do and Lex snorted at the thought. He had investigated but found that Oliver Queen, notorious womaniser, had not been connected with anyone since his ‘fling’ with Lois Lane. Lex was not surprised since he was now convinced that Oliver had been spending all his time destroying 33.1 facilities. That was about to come to a rude end.
Pressing the call button he expected to be greeted by a secretary, even at this hour any self-respecting billionaire would have one working. Instead the elevator started rising and stopped at the penthouse level. This was even better since now he would not have to bluff his way in to an empty apartment. Before the doors opened he absently rubbed the brief case he was carrying and he smirked, the only disappointment was that he would never get to see the look on Oliver’s face.
OQOQOQOQOQ
The video feed showed Lex Luthor in the elevator and Oliver swore before hitting the button. It was no stretch of the imagination that Lex was here to check up on him - and it would not be for a benign reason. If he pretended not to be here who knows what conclusions Lex would jump to - of course this led to the thought of how Lex knew he was here at all. Apart from the hospital visit, and that had been very discreet, Oliver had not left the penthouse. Lex’s connections must be better than he had anticipated.
Quickly glancing around the room he ensured there was nothing incriminating, at least not vigilante incriminating. Limping quickly to the environmental controls he killed the heat and threw the balcony doors open, the last thing he wanted to remind Luthor was that he had suffered hyperthermia recently. Such was the quality of his ducting the room cooled almost immediately. The elevator pinged and he realised there was little to do about the clothes he and Clark had thrown across the lounge area. Grabbing jeans he hoped were his he slipped them on and had only just grasped a shirt as Lex entered.
Lex stalked in but stopped dead when he looked at Oliver and an expression of shock registered. “Oliver,” he almost stuttered, “But you?”
Very interesting thought Oliver. Lex had not expected him to be here, then who the hell had he expected? The shorter man gave Oliver the once over and his eyes visibly narrowed at the arm cast and bruising on his ribs. His shock turned to mock concern and Oliver gave him credit for a quick recovery. “I’d heard you were injured and thought it was the decent thing to come and see if there was anything you needed.”
Oliver snorted and tried not to laugh aloud. They both knew the only thing Lex would like was for Oliver to be back in Star City, or six foot underground. Still, the game should be played. “Thanks Lex, it’s good to know old friends have my back - but you shouldn’t have bothered, I know what a busy man you are these days.” Oliver clicked his fingers as if remembering an important detail. “Oh no, that’s right - you have had lots of time on your hands recently, haven’t you? They say prison is a great place for introspection - any luck with that?”
Lex grimaced and Oliver could have swore the man was about to attack him. Then he seemed to shake off the anger and smiled while walking over to grab a bottle of water, glancing at Oliver for permission first. He threw one to Oliver. “Looks like you need it, warm night? Feels quite cool myself.” Oliver had to drop the shirt to catch the water with his good hand.
A sheen of sweat still covered Oliver’s torso, a mixture of the recent room temperature and Clark induced activity. He could hardly deny it so just shrugged and gave a quick leer. “I only just finished catching up with another friend, I’d introduce you but,” he indicated the bedroom with the water, thankfully the door was closed so Lex could make any assumptions he liked, “They’re not exactly decent right now.” Popping the cap he took a quick gulp and studied Lex. He was up to something, more so than usual. Obviously he’d thrown the water to check if Oliver’s arm was really broken - which it was so no acting required. The comment about the cool night also nagged and with sudden certainty Oliver realised that Lex thought he was the Green Arrow.
That was why he hadn’t thought Oliver would be here - the Green Arrow, AKA Clark Kent was currently out causing havoc amongst the criminal element of Metropolis. By his shocked expression on entry there had been no doubt from Lex that Oliver was the Green Arrow. In that case what had he wanted here? If sure why double check and why do it yourself?
The cold was now beginning to intrude and Oliver bent down and picked up the shirt, slipping it on as best he could with a broken arm and bruised ribs. As his head cleared the material he caught a glimpse of Lex’s eyes widening as he fumbled the water, spilling it on his suit. Lex turned away to wipe it off but Oliver was sure he heard him muttering something. When he turned back his expression had steeled but he looked exceptionally pale.
“Looks like you’ve seen a ghost Lex? Anything particular the matter?” Oliver smiled contemptuously. Unsure how, but he had bested Lex, whatever the man had come to do he was now seemingly eager to leave. Lex grabbed his briefcase, put down when he’d got the water and walked towards the elevator. “You know how it is Oliver; businesses like ours operate all hours - great to see you’re okay.” The door opened and he stepped inside. “We really should catch up again soon.”
Once he’d gone Oliver replayed the meeting in his mind. It had been weird from the start but especially so since he… Oliver looked down at the shirt he was wearing and frowned - it was one of Clark’s - and Lex would have recognised it easily. Still, the Lex he knew would have stayed to make snide remarks about Oliver and Clark as a couple, not run out like a teenager on a broken first date. Thoughts of Lex evaporated as Oliver thought it again - him and Clark as a couple. The frown turned to a smile and he even hummed a little as he went into the bedroom. Clark would be gone for hours yet and he needed sleep because when Clark returned, Oliver grinned evilly as he pondered whether it was that image that had driven Lex out of here. Perhaps Lex’s obsession with Clark had been a lot deeper than anyone had thought? Jealousy, knew Oliver, could be a very ugly emotion.
LLLLLLL
Barely holding it together as he walked across the street Lex threw himself into the car and slammed the door. He had to gulp in the air; it suddenly felt like he was suffocating. Loosening his tie he slammed his hand on the steering wheel, then again and again until it was numb. It wasn’t enough and he yelled in anger and frustration, loud enough for some passers by to glance over and walk away even faster.
Turning on the engine he waited for the stereo to come on, turning up the volume he yelled even louder and tore off the tie. It was like he was being strangled and his chest could not contain all the emotions he was feverishly trying to control. It was unbelievable! Clark - with Oliver, and they had been in the very room where he had stood. Clark - his Clark! He thumped the seat and very nearly jumped out of the car to kick something. Only after some deep breathing did Lex manage to get some semblance of control back, but the anger bubbled dangerously under the surface. He could feel it like ants under his skin, screaming for release. He could not allow it, the madness had to stay put away - he was Lex Luthor damnit!
He was Lex Luthor. He could get any woman he wanted, and had - Lana was evidence of that. She may have been deceitful from the start but for just a while she had been his. All the time he had watched Clark, relishing the pain that Clark felt - the pain Lex had had to put up with all these years. The torment that was being so close to Clark Kent but not possessing him; for Lex it was about that. He knew himself well enough to know he was not interested in men - but Clark was something else. He was unique and interesting and special - and Lex had wanted to own him utterly and completely.
How many times had he come so close? Only to be turned away at the last minute by his own misgivings and by the fact that Clark always played it so unbelievingly straight. When he had given up having Clark he wanted him to suffer - deny Clark what he had denied Lex all these years. Now Oliver Queen had that which Lex had craved, still craved. That bastard, blatantly wearing Clark’s shirt and mocking him. Clark meanwhile, had probably been in the bedroom laughing at him, laughing at his inadequacies while saying ‘see Lex, this is what I needed - a real man and not some freak’.
The thought of all that had almost made Lex detonate the bomb right there and then - even if it meant his own life as well. The bomb which he had taken to be left for the Green Arrow. The plan had been so simple and beautiful, Oliver would return from another night parading as some righteous vigilante to find an innocent suitcase. A suitcase with a proximity sensor that would detonate twenty pounds of C4 when activated. His finger had even brushed the switch, so close but in the end that which made him want to do it had stopped him: Clark Kent. He may want Clark to suffer but not to die. He hated him and he loved him, he wanted Clark in pain and he wanted to hold him. The conflict was enough to get him out of the building without killing anyone.
Now he had to reassess everything. Oliver may not be the Green Arrow and Clark was further from him than ever. The FBI was all over him and the whole 33.1 program was in danger of collapsing. In the end it was the culmination of all these factors that gave Lex enough clarity to drive home, sorting through multiple problems diffused the meltdown somewhat. Revenge still lingered and he knew that it would have to be satisfied at some point. A final glance at the penthouse allowed him to think about that revenge before he pulled out onto the street and drove away down the darkened road.
CKGACKGACKGA
Clark held the villain against the wall and pulled the stun-arrow out of his shoulder. The man grimaced but stayed defiant, Clark increased the pressure. “Next time it goes through your heart.” The voice synthesizer added extra bass and threat had some effect. Releasing him to run off Clark turned to leave himself but stopped, before him stood a shorter man in a dark overcoat and hat. Strange things to be wearing on such a night - it was cool but not cold enough for such heavy clothing. Narrowing his eyes Clark x-rayed the man and laughed. “Victor!”
Victor peered at the Green Arrow for a moment then nodded in understanding. “The Green Arrow mark two, I thought you seemed a little,” he gesticulated with his hands sideways and lengthways, “Taller?”
“How did you find me?” asked Clark. In answer Victor just pointed at the Ducati, obviously it had a tracking system. “Need a ride?” grinned Clark.
OQOQOQOQ
“Where’s Victor?” asked Oliver of Bart and A.C. as soon as they exited the lift.
“Right here,” said Victor, his voice a little higher than normal. Spinning around Oliver saw Victor walking in off the balcony; a Green Arrow clad Clark behind him. It took every reserve not to run over to Clark, especially seeing him in the outfit. Oliver had to seriously think if it was narcissistic to find Clark even hotter in his own Green Arrow suit. “Thanks for the lift Clark,” continued Victor, “but next time I’ll take the stairs.”
Victor came straight over to Oliver and clasped his arm. A nod from Oliver was all the reassurance Victor needed. He next went to the computer and placed his hand on it. “Sorry to get right down to business people but duty calls.” The plasma flicked on to show a computer blueprint of what looked like an oil tanker. “The Crimson Balthazar, registered in Bermuda and owned by a consortium of European banks. It came to our attention through the beautiful and talented Watchtower.” A list of names flowed down the screen with monetary amounts and countries listed. “Through a couple of ghost corporations and false leads we finally tracked actual ownership - to Jasper Chemicals.”
“Jasper Chemicals is a company contracted to Luthorcorp,” said Oliver and raised an eyebrow at Victor. “Yeah,” agreed Victor to both of Oliver’s statements, said and unsaid. “For the first time since we started taking them out we tracked a 33.1 facility through legitimate channels.”
“It can’t be this easy?” Clark put in. “Lex would never be so sloppy.”
“I don’t think he has been,” explained Victor. “The last download we stole had the few remaining facilities on it - this wasn’t listed but an abandoned building in the Gotham docks was. I believe Gotham is a trap and this is the real thing; besides there are only a few very flimsy legal documents that connect everything together - and with Lex in jail all this time?”
“He overlooked it,” finished Oliver. “Guess we had to get lucky one day.”
“Not quite,” said A.C. “I did a swim-by and that thing is heavily defended, the sonar and energy coming off it is unlike anything I have ever seen. If I tried to approach it would have me in a matter of seconds - even at my speed.”
“That’s cause you’re so slow mer-man,” chided Bart. “I could be on there and out before they knew it.”
“No.” Victor said it with such certainty that even Bart didn’t question it. “Satellite imagery shows electronic enhanced gattling guns, energised plating and ship-to-air missiles. If you hesitated for just a microsecond they’d have you.”
“What about you Victor - access points?” Oliver asked. He was truly impressed by the amount of intel Victor and Chloe had put together in his absence, he had never doubted they could do it but the news was not good.
Victor shook his head. “They have no ship-to-shore cables and all their power is generated on board. I could hack-in remotely but their systems are hard-wired - all I would get is the surveillance footage.”
“I guess its up to me then,” suggested Clark and Oliver tried not to let the concern on his face show, even though he had been thinking the same thing.
“Afraid not Boyscout.” Victor changed the image to a satellite scan that indicated power sources. Many were in the red and yellow but scattered pinpoints showed purple. “These,” he indicated the purple, “Are some of the weapon’s energy signatures - and the signature is unlike anything I have been able to find on Earth.”
“Your meteor rocks.” Clark nodded and Oliver eased down to the couch. They may not be meteor rocks but he was not about to take that chance, he would not let Clark take that chance. He remembered Lex’s recent visit and decided that risky as it was they had to find a way to take the Crimson Balthazar out. If he was right then it was the last 33.1 facility, after this Lex would have to let the program die. The expression that Lex had shown before he left came to mind and Oliver saw it as a flicker of desperation. He had to wonder if Lex was crazy enough to…
“Gentleman,” he announced, “What we need is a plan that relies not on our enemies weaknesses but his strengths.”
OQOQOQOQ
After an hour the others left leaving Clark and Oliver alone.
“Bold plan,” said Clark as he moved towards the Green Arrow room.
Oliver could tell Clark was unhappy with what Oliver was suggesting. Thankfully he had not objected too much during the meeting but it seems he was building up to argue against the action now. It was not that he didn’t want to hear Clark out but Oliver was in no mood to justify his plan, especially since he had to continually avoid drooling at the sight of Clark in green figure hugging leather. “Clark - I need a favour.” The other man stopped and looked back. “Two actually - one… forget about the plan for now.”
“And two?”
Oliver walked towards Clark, using the limp to turn his gait noticeably predatory. He noticed with satisfaction that Clark’s eyes turned from slight anger to anticipation.
“Leave the suit on.”
The brunette looked warily at Oliver and he continued to sidle up until they were only a step apart. Saying nothing Oliver let his gaze wander up and down, from the green leggings to the nape of his neck. He knew that the lust and want would be evident in his own eyes but Clark had seen that earlier. Now he was letting Clark see the predator in him, the inner Oliver who went after what he wanted and always got his prey. The tall, dark haired incredibly beautiful man before him was quickly learning who was doing the real hunting tonight.
Clark licked his lips nervously and it was enough to make Oliver pounce. Pushing him against the wall Oliver ran his hands up and down the green leather, pressing hard enough to feel the firm muscles underneath. He got a satisfying gasp from Clark and the leather creaked slightly as he adjusted his position to let Oliver know how excited he was. Putting a cast clad hand on the back of Clark’s head Oliver moved in and nipped his ear, not worried he was going to hurt him but knowing he would feel it. Literally knowing the uniform inside out Oliver used his other hand to rip the front vest open and he immediately went to work on Clark’s chest. Running his tongue around a nipple Oliver was gratified to feel Clark buck in response and whisper Oliver’s name over and over like a mantra.
Taking a moment Oliver leered up at Clark. The brunette looked down at the same time and Oliver saw in them an instant reflection of his own feelings. A mixture of disbelief that this was actually happening but knowledge that they wanted it to keep happening; did that mean something more than lust and attraction? Right now Oliver could not form enough of a concurrent stream of thought to work it out. Rising up he stripped Clark of the rest of the uniform, leaving him only in the green patterned leggings. He stepped back to admire the sight and his jaw dropped in amazement. He had seen Clark naked earlier but it had been rushed and the lack of drugs had still been affecting him. Besides an almost naked Clark in the remains of the Green Arrow uniform had that little something extra that just did it for Oliver.
A small uplift of Clark’s lips turned his entire face truly lecherous and Oliver went to speak. He was interrupted by a gust of wind and suddenly found himself standing in only his underwear. Thankfully he had been wearing his most expensive, and he believed best defining pair. The appreciative stare from Clark assured him that they had been a good choice. Taking a quick glance around Oliver saw the tattered remains of his jeans, Clark shrugged in apology and Oliver so did not care.
He leapt up, rather awkwardly with his injured leg but he made it, onto Clark and wrapped his legs around him. The other took his weight without problem and Oliver locked his lips onto Clarks. This close together the friction and skin contact got them both excited very quickly. It was with disappointment that Oliver realised he would not last much longer - the look on Clark’s face told him he was close as well.
Letting Clark’s arms hold him in place Oliver plunged a hand down and released Clark from his leggings. Pulling down his own briefs Oliver wrapped his hand around them both and started to slow pump. The heat built quickly and sweat poured out across his body, it was with some satisfaction that he saw the same happen to Clark - some things did affect him after-all. One of Clark’s hands slid down Oliver’s back and under the elastic, gripping and kneading his arse. He could hear Clark panting, matching his own and Oliver speeded up. The familiar warmth suddenly swelled and Oliver thrust as he continued to jerk them both. They groaned in unison and Oliver slumped in Clark’s arms, trusting that the other man would not drop him. He let his head rest on Clark’s shoulder and chuckled with the little energy he had left. Deep rumbling from Clark revealed he was doing the same and neither needed to speak. Once again they knew what the other was thinking. It was the relief and excitement that what they had just done was both fantastic and so right and best of all there was the embracing trust that, although already there, had just became unbreakable.
Tbc…
AshtakRa Masterfile
Next: Chapter 6