Fic: Emerald Dust (1/4)
Title: Emerald Dust (1/4)
Author: BradyGirl
Pairings/Characters: (this chapter): Clark/Lex
Categories: Drama, Fix-It
Rating (this chapter): PG-13
Warnings: None
Spoilers: "Nemesis" (Season 6)
General Summary: Being trapped in a cave-in brings out certain hidden truths for Clark and Lex.
Summary: Lex discovers a wounded Clark after the explosion set by the desperate Jodi Keenan.
Date Of Completion: September 1, 2007
Date Of Posting: September 2, 2007
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC and Warner Brothers do, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1520
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note: I used the episode, "Nemesis" as the jumping-off point for this story. It follows the aired script for the beginning scenes, slightly changing how Clark and Lex meet up, and veers off from there. All chapters can be found here.
I fudged a little with Lionel getting out of the hospital a lot quicker than he should have, and I didn't give an explanation for the Lexana pregnancy as the show hasn't yet.
I
ALL THAT GLITTERS
He felt the meteor rocks before he saw them as they rained down in a shower of earthen debris. Instantly the pain seared through him as weakness grasped his bones. He fell to the hard ground, gritting his teeth as his knees were jarred and a rock caromed off the side of his head, the dirt and stone burying him.
His last thought was, I didn’t save Lex.
& & & & & &
Lex coughed, his lungs filled with dust and noxious fumes. He clawed his way up through the dirt, small stones rolling down as he heaved his way to a standing position.
The tunnels were a mess. The heartbroken woman seeking her lost love had effectively ruined his project here, and may have succeeded in killing him as well.
He coughed again but forged ahead, very aware of the timer on the rest of the explosives.
& & & & & &
The tunnel branched out into a larger area, but that had been hit, too. Maybe if he could get past this damaged area and find the way out…
A cough froze him. “Who’s there?” He searched the shadowy tunnel, then saw movement by a huge pile of debris.
“L…Lex.”
“Clark?”
More coughing, and Lex scrambled over to get close to the man he had once called friend.
Clark was in bad shape. He was buried under hard-packed debris, only part of his upper body free. His shaggy hair was streaked with dust, his face dirty and pain-filled, blood running down one cheek. His free arm was bleeding, an ugly jagged wound bright against tanned skin.
“Lex, you’re all right?”
“For now.” Lex reached out instinctively and brushed a strand of hair out of Clark’s incredible green eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“Rescuing you,” Clark answered with a tiny quirk of his mouth.
Lex let out his breath. “Well, let me see if I can get a lever…”
Clark’s grip was surprisingly strong as he clutched at his arm. “Lex, it doesn’t matter. I’m dying.”
“Wha…? No, you’re just hurt. I’ll get you out of here…”
“Lex, I need to tell you some things.” Clark’s breathing was ragged, Lex noted with worry. Could his chest be hurt? Or was his head wound really bad? “First, tell me…” he rasped. “This Project 33.1…it’s experimentation on meteor freaks, isn’t it?”
Lex felt his defenses snap up into place. “Why should I tell you anything…”
“Lex, please, I don’t have much time.” Clark’s eyes glowed an unearthly green, his skin tinged with emerald. “Just answer me, please.”
Once I could never refuse you anything.
“It is.” He said it short and clipped, pale blue eyes hard.
Clark briefly closed his eyes, then opened them again. “You’re not doing this just for power, are you?”
“Partly.” Suddenly Lex felt very uncomfortable. “But not the way you think, or anyone thinks. I…after Zod…I can’t let that happen again, Clark. There’s going to be an invasion. Earth is at risk. These aliens…their power will defeat us, even with all our mechanical weapons. We need natural-based power.” He swallowed. “I’ve been building an army to guard against that day when the invasion comes again.”
Sorrow shadowed Clark’s eyes. “Lex, there isn’t going to be an invasion.”
“What do you mean? Zod and his kind aren’t going to stop after just one try! I could feel his ambition burning in me, Clark. I…I tried so hard to fight him, get him out, but I couldn’t…”
Yet another failure, as his father liked to point out.
Clark squeezed his hand and a tingle went through him. “Lex, Zod was from the Phantom Zone. He’s a criminal who was sentenced there by my father.”
“Your father…?”
“Yes, I…I’m not a meteor freak, Lex. I’m not from this planet.” He watched Lex’s eyes. “I’m from the planet Krypton.”
Shock and a tinge of fear shot through Lex, then he asked, “Clark…how…?”
“I came to Earth in a rocketship the night of the first meteor shower that hit Smallville, the one that hurt you and killed Lana’s parents.”
Oh, no.
“I…Mom and Dad found me that night, and you, too, remember? They took you and Lionel to the hospital and me home. Eventually they adopted me (hollow coughing) and they’re the only parents I’ve ever known, Lex. They raised me to keep my powers secret, because they were afraid of…of…”
“Something like 33.1?”
“Yes.”
Lex felt nauseous. “I wouldn’t have…why didn’t you tell me, wait, you’ve answered that. I’m sorry, Clark.”
“I’m sorry, too, Lex. I had to keep my abilities a secret. Someone unscrupulous could have used me as a lab rat (more coughing), or maybe the Government. And taken Mom and Dad away as well. It could have been done (more hollow coughing) easily in Smallville. Unexplained disappearance…”
“Clark, that day on the bridge…”
“…your car hit me head-on. I’m invulnerable to things like that, and am pretty strong, too, among other things.” A faint smile curved Clark’s lips.
Beautiful lips that you’ll never kiss.
“If you’re so strong, why don’t you just throw off this mountain of dirt and let’s get out of here?”
“I can’t.” Clark’s eyes were still that unearthly green. “The meteor rocks…they’re part of my exploded home planet…they’re deadly to me, Lex. They sap my strength, and eventually, they’ll kill me.”
Lex could see the rocks glowing all around them, embedded in the walls and ground and in the debris burying Clark. And Clark was glittering with fine, green dust in his hair and on his skin.
No, no, this can’t be happening! I can’t let you die!
Lex stood up. “I’ve got to get you out of here.”
Clark’s fingers dug into his arm. “Please, Lex, I need to tell you…tell you…” Pain creased through Clark’s face, and Lex quickly knelt back down.
“What?”
“Promise me…you don’t need Project 33.1 anymore…disband it…let those people go…”
Shame flooded Lex’s face. “I wasn’t just doing it for power, Clark. I swear!”
Clark’s eyes searched his. “I believe you.” He coughed painfully, then his eyes focused on Lex again, which never failed to melt Lex’s bones. “I have something else…to tell you.” He took a deep breath. “I’ve used Lana…she was safe…a safe choice…I really…I’ve always loved you.”
Deathbed confession?
Lex reeled. It explained so much. And also helped him to understand his own recent obsession with Lana.
“That day…at the church…I thought I was grieving over losing Lana…I really was grieving over losing…you.”
Clark went into a spasm of coughing, moans mingling with the harsh sounds. Lex grasped his face with both hands and looked directly at Clark.
“I love you, too. And I have for a very long time.”
The kiss was gentle and loving, a tinge bittersweet, and then Lex pulled back. “Clark, I’ve got to get you out of here. The explosives are set to go off…” he checked his watch “…in five minutes!”
“Then go.”
Clark’s emerald eyes were steady, Lex fleetingly wondering at the irony of them being the color of what was killing him.
“I can’t leave you.”
“You have to stop the project.”
“If I don’t stop it, that rogue band led by Green Arrow will.” Lex grasped Clark’s hand. “I’m not leaving you. Even if there was a way out of here, I’m not going.”
“Lex…” Clark’s voice was weak, a tear slipping out of his eye and tracking down his beautiful, grimy face.
“Shh, it’s okay. I’m not noble, Clark. I’ve made a mess of my life and there’s nothing out there for me.” Lex squeezed Clark’s hand. “You were my first real friend. You’re also what I’ve always wanted, the one who always made me better than I am.”
“Lex, I wanted to tell you…I’ve never told anyone. They’ve found out by accident: Pete, Alicia, Chloe.”
Of course. All three make sense.
“I understand your reasons, Clark. And I’ve done horrible things that you could never forgive me for…”
Clark shook his head. “I have to be honest, Lex, since I haven’t been for so long. I probably would be shocked at some of the things you’ve done, and I don’t like Project 33.1 at all, but I understand what drove you. And Zod being in your body…I think he may have triggered some of that darkness inside you.” His eyes were looking deep into Lex now, maybe his very soul. “I’ve seen the goodness in you. If we had another chance, we could be so much more together than we are apart.” He coughed weakly. “We won’t get that chance now, but we’ll die together. Maybe that’s all the destiny we were ever meant to have.”
Lex felt his heart swell with love and sorrow. At least he knew this perfect feeling even if only for a matter of moments. He gently pushed back shaggy locks and waited for the end to come.
The explosion was right on time, hell on earth, except that Lex felt that it was heaven, or they would be there in a matter of seconds unless he took a detour first…
Author: BradyGirl
Pairings/Characters: (this chapter): Clark/Lex
Categories: Drama, Fix-It
Rating (this chapter): PG-13
Warnings: None
Spoilers: "Nemesis" (Season 6)
General Summary: Being trapped in a cave-in brings out certain hidden truths for Clark and Lex.
Summary: Lex discovers a wounded Clark after the explosion set by the desperate Jodi Keenan.
Date Of Completion: September 1, 2007
Date Of Posting: September 2, 2007
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC and Warner Brothers do, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1520
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note: I used the episode, "Nemesis" as the jumping-off point for this story. It follows the aired script for the beginning scenes, slightly changing how Clark and Lex meet up, and veers off from there. All chapters can be found here.
I fudged a little with Lionel getting out of the hospital a lot quicker than he should have, and I didn't give an explanation for the Lexana pregnancy as the show hasn't yet.
I
ALL THAT GLITTERS
He felt the meteor rocks before he saw them as they rained down in a shower of earthen debris. Instantly the pain seared through him as weakness grasped his bones. He fell to the hard ground, gritting his teeth as his knees were jarred and a rock caromed off the side of his head, the dirt and stone burying him.
His last thought was, I didn’t save Lex.
& & & & & &
Lex coughed, his lungs filled with dust and noxious fumes. He clawed his way up through the dirt, small stones rolling down as he heaved his way to a standing position.
The tunnels were a mess. The heartbroken woman seeking her lost love had effectively ruined his project here, and may have succeeded in killing him as well.
He coughed again but forged ahead, very aware of the timer on the rest of the explosives.
& & & & & &
The tunnel branched out into a larger area, but that had been hit, too. Maybe if he could get past this damaged area and find the way out…
A cough froze him. “Who’s there?” He searched the shadowy tunnel, then saw movement by a huge pile of debris.
“L…Lex.”
“Clark?”
More coughing, and Lex scrambled over to get close to the man he had once called friend.
Clark was in bad shape. He was buried under hard-packed debris, only part of his upper body free. His shaggy hair was streaked with dust, his face dirty and pain-filled, blood running down one cheek. His free arm was bleeding, an ugly jagged wound bright against tanned skin.
“Lex, you’re all right?”
“For now.” Lex reached out instinctively and brushed a strand of hair out of Clark’s incredible green eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“Rescuing you,” Clark answered with a tiny quirk of his mouth.
Lex let out his breath. “Well, let me see if I can get a lever…”
Clark’s grip was surprisingly strong as he clutched at his arm. “Lex, it doesn’t matter. I’m dying.”
“Wha…? No, you’re just hurt. I’ll get you out of here…”
“Lex, I need to tell you some things.” Clark’s breathing was ragged, Lex noted with worry. Could his chest be hurt? Or was his head wound really bad? “First, tell me…” he rasped. “This Project 33.1…it’s experimentation on meteor freaks, isn’t it?”
Lex felt his defenses snap up into place. “Why should I tell you anything…”
“Lex, please, I don’t have much time.” Clark’s eyes glowed an unearthly green, his skin tinged with emerald. “Just answer me, please.”
Once I could never refuse you anything.
“It is.” He said it short and clipped, pale blue eyes hard.
Clark briefly closed his eyes, then opened them again. “You’re not doing this just for power, are you?”
“Partly.” Suddenly Lex felt very uncomfortable. “But not the way you think, or anyone thinks. I…after Zod…I can’t let that happen again, Clark. There’s going to be an invasion. Earth is at risk. These aliens…their power will defeat us, even with all our mechanical weapons. We need natural-based power.” He swallowed. “I’ve been building an army to guard against that day when the invasion comes again.”
Sorrow shadowed Clark’s eyes. “Lex, there isn’t going to be an invasion.”
“What do you mean? Zod and his kind aren’t going to stop after just one try! I could feel his ambition burning in me, Clark. I…I tried so hard to fight him, get him out, but I couldn’t…”
Yet another failure, as his father liked to point out.
Clark squeezed his hand and a tingle went through him. “Lex, Zod was from the Phantom Zone. He’s a criminal who was sentenced there by my father.”
“Your father…?”
“Yes, I…I’m not a meteor freak, Lex. I’m not from this planet.” He watched Lex’s eyes. “I’m from the planet Krypton.”
Shock and a tinge of fear shot through Lex, then he asked, “Clark…how…?”
“I came to Earth in a rocketship the night of the first meteor shower that hit Smallville, the one that hurt you and killed Lana’s parents.”
Oh, no.
“I…Mom and Dad found me that night, and you, too, remember? They took you and Lionel to the hospital and me home. Eventually they adopted me (hollow coughing) and they’re the only parents I’ve ever known, Lex. They raised me to keep my powers secret, because they were afraid of…of…”
“Something like 33.1?”
“Yes.”
Lex felt nauseous. “I wouldn’t have…why didn’t you tell me, wait, you’ve answered that. I’m sorry, Clark.”
“I’m sorry, too, Lex. I had to keep my abilities a secret. Someone unscrupulous could have used me as a lab rat (more coughing), or maybe the Government. And taken Mom and Dad away as well. It could have been done (more hollow coughing) easily in Smallville. Unexplained disappearance…”
“Clark, that day on the bridge…”
“…your car hit me head-on. I’m invulnerable to things like that, and am pretty strong, too, among other things.” A faint smile curved Clark’s lips.
Beautiful lips that you’ll never kiss.
“If you’re so strong, why don’t you just throw off this mountain of dirt and let’s get out of here?”
“I can’t.” Clark’s eyes were still that unearthly green. “The meteor rocks…they’re part of my exploded home planet…they’re deadly to me, Lex. They sap my strength, and eventually, they’ll kill me.”
Lex could see the rocks glowing all around them, embedded in the walls and ground and in the debris burying Clark. And Clark was glittering with fine, green dust in his hair and on his skin.
No, no, this can’t be happening! I can’t let you die!
Lex stood up. “I’ve got to get you out of here.”
Clark’s fingers dug into his arm. “Please, Lex, I need to tell you…tell you…” Pain creased through Clark’s face, and Lex quickly knelt back down.
“What?”
“Promise me…you don’t need Project 33.1 anymore…disband it…let those people go…”
Shame flooded Lex’s face. “I wasn’t just doing it for power, Clark. I swear!”
Clark’s eyes searched his. “I believe you.” He coughed painfully, then his eyes focused on Lex again, which never failed to melt Lex’s bones. “I have something else…to tell you.” He took a deep breath. “I’ve used Lana…she was safe…a safe choice…I really…I’ve always loved you.”
Deathbed confession?
Lex reeled. It explained so much. And also helped him to understand his own recent obsession with Lana.
“That day…at the church…I thought I was grieving over losing Lana…I really was grieving over losing…you.”
Clark went into a spasm of coughing, moans mingling with the harsh sounds. Lex grasped his face with both hands and looked directly at Clark.
“I love you, too. And I have for a very long time.”
The kiss was gentle and loving, a tinge bittersweet, and then Lex pulled back. “Clark, I’ve got to get you out of here. The explosives are set to go off…” he checked his watch “…in five minutes!”
“Then go.”
Clark’s emerald eyes were steady, Lex fleetingly wondering at the irony of them being the color of what was killing him.
“I can’t leave you.”
“You have to stop the project.”
“If I don’t stop it, that rogue band led by Green Arrow will.” Lex grasped Clark’s hand. “I’m not leaving you. Even if there was a way out of here, I’m not going.”
“Lex…” Clark’s voice was weak, a tear slipping out of his eye and tracking down his beautiful, grimy face.
“Shh, it’s okay. I’m not noble, Clark. I’ve made a mess of my life and there’s nothing out there for me.” Lex squeezed Clark’s hand. “You were my first real friend. You’re also what I’ve always wanted, the one who always made me better than I am.”
“Lex, I wanted to tell you…I’ve never told anyone. They’ve found out by accident: Pete, Alicia, Chloe.”
Of course. All three make sense.
“I understand your reasons, Clark. And I’ve done horrible things that you could never forgive me for…”
Clark shook his head. “I have to be honest, Lex, since I haven’t been for so long. I probably would be shocked at some of the things you’ve done, and I don’t like Project 33.1 at all, but I understand what drove you. And Zod being in your body…I think he may have triggered some of that darkness inside you.” His eyes were looking deep into Lex now, maybe his very soul. “I’ve seen the goodness in you. If we had another chance, we could be so much more together than we are apart.” He coughed weakly. “We won’t get that chance now, but we’ll die together. Maybe that’s all the destiny we were ever meant to have.”
Lex felt his heart swell with love and sorrow. At least he knew this perfect feeling even if only for a matter of moments. He gently pushed back shaggy locks and waited for the end to come.
The explosion was right on time, hell on earth, except that Lex felt that it was heaven, or they would be there in a matter of seconds unless he took a detour first…