FIC: The Prince and The Crossdresser, Part Four
Title: The Prince and the Crossdresser
Author/Artist: ladydreamer
Series/WIP: WIP
Genre: slash, mixed
Pairing: Lex/Adina/Adam, possibly later Clexina
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Due to an unexpected illness, Lex finds himself needing to get out of the public eye. Fortunately, a chance encounter with a beautiful woman he meets in Metropolis will allow him to pull the strings of his company without anyone knowing he’s indisposed. All is going to plan, until Chloe and Clark start nosing around.
Spoilers: Through S5 Smallville, Sorority Boys
Warning: ( skip) transgender, character with history of rape, attempted but not completed rape
Part Four: One of the Girls
“Martha!”
Martha Kent turned with a slight frown to see Lionel walking at a good clip toward her. She pulled a bit of her long red hair behind her ear and waited for him politely but not with much patience.
“I’m glad that I caught you.” He slowed just as she began to walk again.
”I’m a little busy, Lionel, so if you don’t mind. Cut right to whatever proposal you have so I can shoot it down and save us some time.”
Lionel’s eyes sparkled in amusement. Teasing her was fun, but he didn’t really have much time to waste either. “Actually, this is a personal matter.”
“Not going out with you.” She smiled. “See how easy that was. I have a conference call”
“Martha, please. It’s about Lex.”
She sighed and slowed her pace. That boy. “I have about twenty minutes.”
His voice lowered slightly. “I’ve recently received information that Lex has changed his will, and I’m concerned because he has apparently willed almost all of his assets to someone I have never heard of.”
Martha pursed her lips.
“Given the number of times Lex has carried on affairs with individuals who ultimately want that prize…”
“I understand.” She furrowed her brow. She honestly did feel a pang of anxiety every time Lex appeared with a new woman on the tabloids. Wondering if this one would finally steal the life from that boy her Clark had saved so many years ago. “So, what do you know about this woman?”
“Man.” He said through gritted teeth. Martha stopped and looked at him in surprise.
“But Lex isn’t-“ Her frowned deepened in disbelief. “He’s been married four times.”
“He is I assure you. He’s merely kept his activities quite in the closet. It doesn’t serve his political aspirations.” He explained. Martha suspected that it didn’t serve Lionel’s business interests while the boy was growing up either. “Generally, I don’t worry when he has his affairs with men… well I worried a bit about his friendship with your son.”
“Clark and Lex were just friends.” Martha insisted, keeping her doubts to herself. She and Jonathan had spent many nights trying to straighten out what their united front would be if Clark ever came to them with a boyfriend, particularly that friend.
“Well, he did change his will to include Clark.”
“Oh. I didn’t know he had.”
Lionel shook his head, unconcerned. “Lex has few individuals he would like to benefit from his wealth.”
“That just isn’t true, Lionel.” She answered softly.
“Other than charities. Few personal individuals.”
“You think that this person is someone to worry about? You’ve never met him?”
“I’ve run a full background check on the name, one Adam Howard. Apparently a frat boy drop out from MetU. He switched from a history major to business in his sophomore year, played a little football for the Sharks, was in a band. He seems rather unremarkable, but again, I reference Clark. He seemed like a normal young man as well.”
“So what do you want from me?” Martha asked, trying to fight her sympathy. This man just had no clue how to really relate to his son… but if he got close to him again, she was sure he would hurt Lex somehow.
“I’m looking for advice on how to confront him. You’ve told me in the past that I should go directly to him, and just talk to him, but I’m not sure how I can make him listen. He will be on the defensive the moment I walk in.” Lionel frowned anxiously. Or what she perceived was anxiety. It was so hard to tell if he was being straight with her.
“Lionel…” She crossed her arms and looked over him critically. She knew she would regret getting involved in this.
***
Chloe crouched down behind the other girl and narrowed her soft green eyes in concentration. She was new at this, and she didn’t want it to turn out embarrassing or horrible. Her heart fluttered excitedly and she could feel how red her face must be growing. She wanted it to be fun. This was supposed to be fun, right? Not scary. Not scary at all.. She closed her eyes once, took a breath, and opened her mouth.
“BLUE 42!!” She yelled. The girls broke, she caught the ball, and she threw it with all her might the way she had seen Clark do it so many times. Lana flailed and fell on the ground, but Patricia darted sideways like a pro. She didn’t even have to jump to catch the ball, and when she came barreling forward, no one opposed her.
“Touchdown bitches!” Patricia bellowed happily. The blond woman Chloe had been crouching over clapped proudly.
“Way to go, Patty!” She put her fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly before jumping up and down in a booty shaking victory dance for her girls.
“Thanks Adina. I’ve been practicing. What do you think of Chloe here?” Patty came running up and clapped the smaller girl on the back.
“Not bad at all. You have a decent arm. It would be better if you lifted some weights, though.”
“I don’t know that I’m cut out to be a quarterback. I’m more… sit on the sidelines and write up the game girl.” She said with a self-depreciating grin. She saw Lana brushing herself off and storming off the field. Adina lunged at Chloe, and she jumped back defensively, colliding into Patricia. The older woman grabbed her around the waist regardless and swung her around in a circle.
“No bad mouthing yourself!” Adina ordered with a grin.
“Okay okay, let me down!” She laughed. She could see Clark approaching the field. He was wearing his glasses today, which made her glad because he only wore them about half the time. Adina caught sight of him and rolled her eyes before putting Chloe down and placing her hands on her hips.
“Yeah. Hi. We girls are practicing, if that’s okay with you.” She snipped at him, her eyes suddenly icy. He paused midstep. Chloe almost laughed at the image of such a big man being cowed by the tall but otherwise slight woman.
“Clark was on the football team for a year in high school. Maybe he could help?” Chloe suggested.
Patricia crossed her arms low on her body. ”Come on Adina. Let her boyfriend play.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.” Chloe protested suddenly and with heat. She wasn’t sure why it was so important for that to be known. She knew Patty had been kidding.
Adina looked over him dismissively. “We should take a break anyway.” She turned away and headed off the field.
“Uh, does she not like guys?” Clark asked quietly. That woman was a little scary.
“Oh, she does.” Patricia affirmed. “Adina has a pretty serious boyfriend, I hear and quite a few close guy friends, but uh, I don’t know what’s up with her today. She’s been a little more tense than usual. He might be sick again.”
She offered a hand to Clark, which he met, surprised at how strong she was. He was afraid to bear down and test her strength, but he was certainly tempted. She smiled warmly. “I hear a lot about you.”
“Oh, uh. Chloe and I have been friends a long time.”
“That’s pretty cool. I’ll let you guys talk. Adina’s probably going to have us running drills, with the mood she’s in.”
Clark raised his eyebrows questioningly. Chloe shrugged. “What?”
He tilted his head to the side of the field, and she followed, walking out of earshot of everyone else. “Is she… Patty… you know?”
“Um, well she dated the head K.O.K Big Johnson last semester, but only for a little while. She’s not pinging either way, so I don’t know.”
“What? NO!” Clark jumped. Chloe craned her neck and shook her head with a frown. He couldn’t help noticed how cute she looked all dirty from playing and wearing those pigtails. “I mean, do you think she’s a…. mutant?”
“Oh. I hadn’t thought about it.”
“…are they brainwashing you?” Clark asked incredulously.
“What? Why would you ask that?” Chloe looked rather put out and looked away. Clark shrugged.
”Because you are always on top of… the mutant front. You always know these things or investigate them.”
“Well, I just haven’t felt like it lately. I’ll get to it.” She glowered at him. “Is that why you came here?”
”Actually, I came to talk to you about Lex.”
“The mood swings and magical expanding ass?”
Clark frowned worriedly, and she straightened her face immediately. “He looks really sick, Chloe. Really sick. Not like he did in the coffeeshop at all. I think he could probably die.”
“That serious? You went to talk to him?” She was concerned. About Lex because it was hard to dismiss someone she had known for so long, but also about how worried Clark looked.
“Yeah, and he threw me out.” Clark sighed. He was still embarrassed about how badly he had freaked out. If he’d handled it better, he’d probably have more information to start with. “You think you can access his medical records.”
“Already tried. Whatever’s happening isn’t on file. Don’t be so surprised. I’m not. If I were him, I wouldn’t want my corporate enemies knowing about any of this.” She looked at her cleats as they walked along. “We may have to do some real investigation to figure this out. Not simple hacking. And he’s not going to like us butting into his privacy.”
Clark made the suspicious-of-brainwashing face again.
“Okay, so I’m not always Miss Sensitive About Privacy, but… I’m just warning you. If we’re going to do this, it needs to be said out loud at least once. He’s going to hate it and he’s going to hate us for it.”
“I don’t care if he hates me. He already does. I just want him to live.” Clark said dejectedly.
Chloe stopped and studied his face curiously. His eyes were shifting about, looking lost and frightened enough to believe that he himself was dying, and his lips were drawn tightly in a half-smile, half-grimace of facing a situation that he’d feared for a long time. Clark wasn’t just worried for a life. It was the same look she recognized from many episodes of trying to save Lana from herself.
Clark noticed she’d stopped moments later and looked back at her. To his recollection, she’d never looked at him like he was an alien before. Until now. Soft green eyes peered at him as though he were an unfamiliar thing that she suddenly found she didn’t understand at all. “What?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. Just… nothing, Clark. W-we’ll…we’ll give him all the help we humanly can. We’ve been up against worse I’m sure. Y’know. Brainiac. Zod. That creepy child molester with the giant dolls.” Her lips twitched into a smile that did not last. She twisted her fingers. “I’ll hit the mattresses, you know. And uh, I’ll get to the bottom of this, and you’ll save him. Just like always.”
They spoke a bit more about their classes and Clark’s peonship at The Planet, but Chloe was stiff for the whole conversation.
“What’s wrong with Mr. Football?” Adina asked with a slight edge when she’d returned.
“We have a friend… well, he was always more Clark’s friend.” Chloe shook her head. She couldn’t stop shaking her head. “I can’t really tell. But I just realized something that explains why Clark isn’t and never will be my boyfriend.”
“Oh?” Adina wrapped her large hand around the football. “He play for the other team?”
Chloe suddenly burst out laughing, and before she knew it, she was crying in Adina’s arms and being led to the bleachers.
“Hun, he’s not worth it.” She whispered to her. Patricia suddenly appeared at their side and knelt before Chloe.
“What’s wrong? Did she get hurt? Chlo?” Her face crumpled in worry. Chloe felt torn.
“No. It’s nothing. I’m fine.” She took a deep breath and fanned her face. Adina gave her a gentle smile.
“Got a lot in there, don’t you?”
“More than you’ll ever know. Probably more than I know.” She replied lightly with a forced laugh.
“Well, if you ever want to talk about it, we’re here for you.” Patricia reassured her, brushing a gentle hand along her arm. Chloe looked at it as though it were an alien thing. Her heart sped up and she realized she was gawking at everything around her like it was all new.
“Thanks. Do you mind if I… just go take a shower?”
“Of course!” Adina put her strong arms around her. Chloe leaned into them, letting the older woman stroke her hair. “You just go relax. Don’t worry about us.”
She stood and started making her way back to the house. She reached the shower and realized it was locked. “Oh.”
Patricia knocked on the door, startling her. Chloe hadn’t realized that she had followed her from the field. “Anyone in there?”
“It’s me!” Lana yelled. “Can you wait a few minutes? I’m almost done with the shower!”
“Um, well, these showers are for everyone, so…”
Chloe started to back away. “No, it’s okay. I’ll take one in a minute.”
She headed to her room, and Patricia was still with her. She looked at Chloe apologetically. “Sorry. I feel like a stalker, but I’m worried about you. That’s why I’m following you.”
Chloe sat on her bed and looked at the Wall of Weird. “Ever just realize something? Something that’s been pretty much in front of your face for years, but you just didn’t want to let yourself know it?”
“Uh, not really. Well,” Patricia sat on the opposite bed and her knees fell on one another. The bed looked like a child’s mat with her on it. “Kinda, I guess.”
“Yeah. Well. That’s my day today. I mean look at this wall.” She kicked off her cleats, then pulled off her socks and drew her knees up. “I figure out all the weird shit in this weird town every damn day. Here in Metropolis too. It never occurred to me that Clark was all Brokeback over his best friend? How dumb am I?”
“You aren’t dumb.” Patricia insisted earnestly. “You aren’t dumb.”
“Okay. Can I be clueless?”
“Maybe.” The other woman grinned. “So, uh…can I ask about that?”
“The Wall of Weird? It’s a mishmash of all the freaks and geeks and weirdness that’s happened since the meteor showers in Smallville. Most of the… um.” She looked at her abashedly. “Don’t take this wrong?”
“We’re talking about freaks and there’s a good way to say it?” Patricia said softly.
“I always tell myself I need a more P.C. term, but I don’t know what to say. The meteors cause these crazy mutations.” She pointed to a picture of the girl who had been able to make clones of herself by thinking about it, but they ganged up on her and killed her. “And I started keeping track, because nobody ever talked about it. It was so strange, to have all this stuff happen. People just go crazy for no reason, and nothing happens. People pretend they don’t notice. So nothing is said and you never know why. I’m just…”
She looked at Patricia and sighed. “I’m sorry. I really didn’t come here to investigate you guys or anything. It’s totally because I’m broke right now. If there are some fr-um. Still working on the word.”
“We prefer meta-human.”
Chloe blinked and sat up straight. “Oh. Wow. Clark’s meta-dar must be set on high.”
“It’s not a secret. I’m one, and Katie has recently learned she can control that voice of hers. You heard her practicing the sonic waves in the backyard yet?”
“I thought that was a freaken bat or something.”
Patricia chuckled. “Naw. Just Katie. And Susie can sort of… she can communicate with computers. She uses her mind to go into them with some kind of… psychometry, I think she called it. She’s a superhacker.”
“That’s pretty cool. I’m a hacker too. And did you guys… were you in Smallville when this happened?”
“No, we were born that way. Katie’s from up north. I don’t think there are any meteor metas here.”
Chloe nodded. “We don’t get many born-that-ways. The last ones I’ve seen were, well, amplified by meteor-rock juice. Before that, I knew a psychic or two and this guy who could compel you to do what he wanted. Creep.”
Patricia giggled. “So are you?”
“A mu- meta? No, I’m normal. Sadly.”
“Sadly!”
“Well, practically everyone I went to high school with had mutant powers. It’s strange. To be around all of these people, and their flaws are so obvious. I mean, everyone has them, right? So their taint or flaw or mutation, it’s just totally there. But mine.” She looked at her toes and started to peel the polish off with her thumbnail. “I’m defective on the inside where people can’t see.”
“Chloe-“
”I am. My mom has this hereditary mental illness, and you know, I’m probably going to have it and just flip out all oodly-boodly one day. And I have these issues from her leaving us, and these issues about things being quiet because we never fucking talked about mom going away much, even at family functions. It was like it never happened. And I have no sense of boundaries which loses me friends, and I still have nightmares because of this… what this guy did to me once, and I can’t even tell that my best friend is gay.” She laughed hoarsely. “I’ve never seen a guy so afraid of tits in my whole life. No wonder he wouldn’t ask me to the prom.”
Patricia smiled and came over to envelop her in her big arms. It was like being cuddled by a bear. “Chloe, stop. Stop okay? You aren’t perfect, and no one is.”
“But I am crazy, and not everyone is.”
“Well... Insane people are always sure that they are fine. It’s only the sane people who are willing to admit that they are crazy.” She looked pleased as Chloe lifted her head with an open expression and a lifted brow. “Nora Ephron.”
“Oh.”
“Maybe something will happen. And maybe it won’t. But don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with you, because you’re an awesome person, and we all love you. I’m not just saying that. I’ve noticed how you take care of that little friend of yours. And how you are with the other sisters?”
“Hm.” She let her head rest on Patricia’s shoulder.
“I think you think if this is all your fault, then you can control when people leave or hurt you. And it isn’t true.”
“I know. My shrink tells me so.”
Patricia started to play with a lose piece of her hair. “You should listen to your shrink then.”
“I’m paying him enough. I should.” Chloe quipped half-heartedly. Patricia continued to rub her arm, and Chloe realized how long it had been since someone had tried to mother her. Both Adina and Patricia had taken up the task immediately without question. She was sure that if Mrs. Kent ever saw her crack she would be right there with open arms and probably pie of some kind. But she never saw it. Most people didn’t.
The door of their room opened, and Lana started seeing them there. “Oh. Sorry to interrupt. Chloe, you have to hear this.” She was excited and, grabbing her comb laid a card and flowers down on the bed to read as she worked through her hair. “It’s from Lex.”
“Um. Lex?” She frowned a little. The last thing Lana needed right now was to barrel into another relationship.
“Lana,” She read.
“I regret the outcome of our altercation a few weeks ago. I would say that I am sorry overall for getting you fired or hurting your feelings, but you know I can be a petty man, and I would be lying. I know how much you despise that, so I will be honest.
I don’t hate you. I don’t think that I ever could. However, we both know that you betrayed me, and I am angry. Whereas I can’t stop myself from being angry, as you have witnessed, it really would be best if we attempted to give one another space.
I know, also, that you mock me for my grand gestures. I assure you, I neither seek nor feel that I need to ask for your forgiveness. Regardless, I do regret your troubles, and as I had intended to do this anyway, I don’t see the harm in offering it to you-”
“Well, he’s just incredibly polite, isn’t he?” Patricia laughed. Lana frowned initially at the interruption, but was too pleased to be annoyed at anything.
“He is. Just, ridiculously so. It’s like they taught him to write like a refined prince in private school and he never found his own voice. He has a lot more life in him when he speaks.” She said before returning to the letter.
“I had intended to give this to you as a gift on our honeymoon. Obviously that fell through.
Aforementioned gift is a job in the Grandville Museum of Fine Arts. This, of course, stemmed from our discussion of what you would be doing after the wedding, and I know you disliked the idea of being my “kept pet.” From there, you can work on building your resume while taking classes. Granted, you won’t have use of the Luthorcorp transportation, so you will have to decide whether to transfer or put school on hold, but I think under the circumstances, this in itself should help you immeasurably. I encourage you to take the job. It starts next semester, and I have enclosed all contact information.
This should, if nothing else, ease a few tensions between us regarding my inability to reflect the six years in age that I have on you and regarding the changes in your life, which always come with a painful break up. What comes next, I am uncertain, but I reason we will have to wait until we are no longer angry to build any kind of relationship again, whether it be friendship or merely business.
Best Wishes,
Lex”
“You’re leaving?” Chloe heard her own voice crack like a pubescent boy’s.
“I know. It’ll be hard for me but… wow. Chloe, a job. A real job.”
“From Lex Luthor!”
“This will be good for us!” Lana insisted eagerly, ignoring the Luthor prejudice. She had long learned to understand there were many greys, one of which was that a man capable of getting his hands dirty in business was also quite adept at helping people. “I’ll be able to get the creditors off my back and start paying you what I owe.”
“So they don’t have any space in the museums here in Metropolis?” Chloe asked. She really wanted to just leave the room.
“They do, but… those are really not for people just learning. I’d getting eaten alive in Metropolis. Chloe, this is a great opportunity. Grandville isn’t that far away either! It’s closer to Metropolis than it is to Smallville, and Lex was planning on making a permanent move to the city after the wedding, too. It would have worked out pretty well. I don’t know why he wanted to stay in Smallville…”
“You’re right.” She said suddenly, pulling her shocked features into an easy smile. “This is a good opportunity for you. And, you know, Pete is going to school there. He could show you around and everything. Maybe you could coerce him to, I dunno. Stop being an ass and come visit his friends once and awhile!”
“Really. I’ve talked to him some over email, but he hasn’t come by once!”
“Yeah, we IM all the time, and remember I went to see him the summer before freshman year, but he won’t come here because apparently Clark is so scary he couldn’t risk running the mortal threat of awkwardness if they managed to bump into one another.”
“Guys are such idiots.” Lana said, taking her flowers and looking for something to put them in.
“Lex must have felt really bad.”
“Or he really wanted to get me yet another hour and a half away from him. I doubt he felt particularly guilty.” She replied cynically. “It was still pretty sweet.”
“So, uh. You’ll be leaving at the end of the semester.” Patricia asked. Her hand was rubbing circles on Chloe’s back.
“Yeah, guess so.” She smiled weakly. “What are you going to do Chloe?”
“What? Oh, I’ll probably stay here. I kinda like it.”
“Really?” Lana turned so they wouldn’t see her expression. Patricia blinked and assumed a slightly annoyed look. Lana rarely if ever joined their circles. When she did, she wasn’t much for joining in on pep talks. “So, what were you guys talking about?”
Chloe froze and felt an itching to be out of there.
“We were just talking about the Wall of Weird. You know you’re living with some non-meteored metas here.”
“I never would have guessed.” Lana said. “Do non-meteor freaks get on the wall?”
“Well, I considered putting Clark on there.” Chloe said casually. Lana turned.
“For his bizarre relationship with flannel. But I felt bad for pointing out his weird.”
Lana chuckled.
“I’m gonna go grab that shower.”
“I’ll go with you.” Patricia got up with her. “I need to get ready for a meeting pretty soon anyway. So you can have the room to yourself for awhile.”
When they reached the hallway, Patricia looked down at Chloe and asked, “Are all of your friends so…”
“Yes. Yes, they are.”
Patty laughed and ushered her into the bathroom.
***
Adam’s days since the last night he and Lex had sex together were long and busy. Time passed quickly, and he soon found himself wrapped up in running a company that belonged to the man he loved. He felt like a sneaky corporate wife. Except that he had the comforting monotone of Lex’s voice in his ear whenever he hesitated. He learned how to make hesitation look like thinking or annoyance at their completely stupid question. He learned how to intimidate without saying anything incriminating. He learned how to read people’s faces, when they were frightened or lying, or falling a little in love with him. Adam never stopped being amazed at the number of people who were completely overwhelmed by Lex’s aura. A fact that Lex acknowledged, but had little to no impact on his understanding of himself.
He’d told her softly, once when they had been walking down the street and Adina had noticed that a street vendor he knew was quite sweet on him, ”These are the people who will betray me, Adina. When they really get to know me.”
But it was just a part Adam played and nothing more. He knew that at night when he went home, slipped out of the business suit and into a wig and something a little less Lex, he would be himself again.
In idle moments his mind drifted, to the future with Lex. To the scary future without Lex. Who he would have to play with Lex gone, and how long it would be before he could be himself, if ever.
And he reminisced about the time he and Lex had spent together. He remembered the their first date and how hard Lex had fought against getting involved again. He remembered talking about their past relationships, and he remembered getting angry to the point of shouting when it came to Lex’s ex-wives. He’d know of course that there were people who would get into a relationship for money, but it just seemed like Lex attracted the most batshit insane among them. He’d wondered if Lex hesitated in part because so many people had tried to take advantage of him.
He remembered the first time Lex had let him come to chemo.
Lex had lain on the cot, his right arm accepting a large IV and the other holding Adam’s hand. He’d been all too aware that Lex was holding his hand. Being comforting and supportive when it should have been the other way around. Lex smiled more than he was inclined to and made jokes. For a little while Adam had laughed. Then he came to himself and realized that Lex was used to having to comfort others for what he himself was going through.
He’s sat back in the chair giving Lex’s hand a gentle squeeze, changed the topic of conversation, and made it his aim to have Lex giving him a genuine smile by the end of the day. It was the end of that day that Adam had first told Lex he loved him, and when Lex opened his mouth in surprised, Adam closed it for him with a kiss before he could feel obligated to give him something in return, verbal or monetary.
“Yes, I think our profit margins in that sector are a little low. We should be looking into better PR for the citizens in the area.”
If nothing else, putting on a Lex persona in the morning and taking it off with his friends as Adina helped define who Adam really was. And that wasn’t a corporate suit. Or a politician. But he wasn’t a genius scientist either, although quite a few of Lex’s projects were too cool for words.
A secretary walked into the room at the end of the meeting. “Sir? Senator Kent is here to see you, if you have a minute?”
“Tell him I’ll meet him in my office.”
His secretary blinked and turned his ear towards him in disbelief. “Um, alright.”
Adam headed to the washroom on the floor, locked it behind him, and tried to contact Lex. A year ago he wouldn’t have felt so ashamed for knowing nothing about politics in the state. Unfortunately, it seemed as though Lex was asleep or perhaps had already left for his doctor’s appointment. He looked at himself in the mirror until he could see Lex there and took a few deep breaths before heading out to meet the Senator.
He burst into his office, opening both doors. “Oh, hello, Senator!”
Martha turned and gave him a warm smile. “Hello, Lex.”
“Ah! Well, if it isn’t the best senator we’ve voted into office yet.” Adam put forward a hand for her to shake, and she looked at him oddly. “What can I do for you today?”
“I, um.” Her eyes followed him, looking suspiciously up and down his body. “Lex, you look different.”
“Been working out.” He fetched a bottle of water from the bar and took a sip leisurely as he could. “Can I get you something?”
“No thank you. I actually came on behalf of your father.”
Adam’s face tightened.
“Don’t get defensive yet, Lex. I wouldn’t get involved if I didn’t think he was genuinely worried.”
“My father only worries about power and money. He thinks of me when I relate to one of those two categories.”
She tilted her head and looked at him with an expression he recognized from his mother’s face. She was a little worried, and a little annoyed with his father, and a little put in the middle.
“Have a seat, Senator Kent. We can talk.”
Martha was a bit put off that he kept calling her that, as though he’d never met her before, but she realized that wasn’t the only thing off about him. She had to keep blinking. It almost seemed like this was a different person.
“Lex, you know that your father keeps tabs on you. I don’t approve, but he’s found something that seems worrying, and well, I know you won’t listen to him. Because what you just mentioned has been true as long as I’ve known the two of you. I want to believe he’s changed, but given his actions, I’m not sure he can, so I thought I might check in to make sure you were alright.”
Adam leaned back and made his face passive but vaguely interested. He raised a hand to his mouth and stroked his upper lip with one finger. “Go on.”
“You father told me that you’ve recently changed your will.”
“I don’t see how that is anyone’s business but my own and my beneficiaries.” SHIT. He didn’t want to talk about Lex’s will.
“This is about one of those beneficiaries. Apparently, a man you seem to have just met. Adam Howard.”
Adam’s mouth dropped open. “Wh… um.”
Martha was surprised to see Lex fumbling. Lex never fumbled. “You do know him?”
“Of course, I do. What about him?” He replied, trying to regain control of his features.
“Well, you’ve given him almost everything.” She spoke softly and deliberately, gauging his response. He couldn’t help but trust and like her. What the hell was Lex’s father doing talking to a woman like this? “That’s a little distressing, given your choice of… partners.”
“Well, yeah. Al… I’m not usually good with that, am I?”
Martha wondered for a moment if Lex had taken to getting high on the job.
“There’s nothing to worry about. He doesn’t want anything. He doesn’t even know I’ve changed my will, and even if he did, I think he’d be more annoyed at the action than pleased.”
She relaxed. “He’s a friend? Like Clark was. Your…. father told me that you changed your will before to include him.”
“Well, Lex Luthor likes to take care of his friends.”
“The two of you are close?”
“Incredibly. We’re not quite like Clark and I were.”
The woman blushed. “Ah… I see. It’s your life, Lex. Just… please be careful. You don’t deserve to have people who claim to care about you… well you know what they do.”
“I do. And I appreciate the concern.” He felt warm and shucked off his jacket. Most of Lex’s associates were snakes. He didn’t like to lie to a good woman like this, and he wondered how she managed to get into public office in the first place. “But Adam has no intention of taking advantage of me.”
“Are men…”
Adam raised a brow, wondering if this interview were about to get personal.
“Easier for you to read?” Martha finished, reading his look and returning with one that indicated that he ought to know better.
“Sometimes. Not always. Clark…” Adam felt his blood heating up. That jerk… how had he come from this woman? “I’d really rather not talk about it. Adam and I have a special relationship, and somehow we trust each other. That’s all that needs to be said. I think I… just want him taken care of. He wanders and he really needs to get his head out of his ass and figure out who he is. Until then, I want to make sure that he’ll be okay if I’m not around. That’s all.”
Her smile was so sweet and accepting, Adam wanted to introduce her to his mother and ask her to take some lessons. “I’m glad. I’m really glad you found someone. And I hope you aren’t disappointed by him.”
“We’ll see, I guess.” Adam rolled up his sleeves. “Did you have anything else you wanted to talk to me about?”
“No, I think that’s it. I don’t know if your father will be satisfied, but I am.”
Adam nodded and headed to the door to see her out. “Then I’m sure you have more important things to do than sit here and baby sit me. I’ll see you around, Senator.”
“Lex, honestly. We’ve known each other for years and we’re practically peers at the moment. We could be running against each other next election.” She stood and walked beside him. “You can call me Martha.”
“I’ll try to remember.” He said, putting a hand on her shoulder. She looked down momentarily then froze. Her eyes fixed on the dark hair on his arm. Lifting her head to meet his eyes, she scrutinized them carefully. Not the right shade of blue. She backed away slowly. “What is it? Are you alright?”
“Who are you?”
He narrowed his eyes and gave her a confused smile. “I’m Lex Luthor.”
“Lex is bald from head to toe. You missed a spot.” She said tensely before her brain could scream at her to shut up and get out with the information. Her eyes darted to the door. Adam moved faster. He slammed his body against the door and locked it quickly. He could see the fear sharpening her eyes.
“Just let me explain. I uh,” He looked down at his arm and swore. “Shiiit.”
“You’re not Lex. Who are you? What have you done with him?” Martha asked. Keep him talking. Get information. Get out of there.
“Look, I can’t have you telling anybody.” Adam raised a hand and hoped she wouldn’t scream.
“What are you going to do to me?” She asked, trying to keep calm, looking for potential weapons and another exit.
“What? I’m not gonna to do anything to you.” He said, as though it were obvious. She immediately noticed the rise in pitch, the slightly different accent. He was younger than Lex, both physically and mentally. He was a little frightened himself. “You’re a fucken senator, how stupid am I?”
Her eyes widened, and she looked simply bewildered. “You’re a fantastic actor.”
“I’ve had a lot of practice pretending to be other people than myself.” He replied with an unhappy smile.
“Did you get your shapeshifting powers from the meteors?” She asked, slowly moving towards the window.
“… what?” He inclined his head backward and gave her a dubious look. “ I don’t shapeshift. I just kinda look like Alex, is all.”
“Alex?” She stopped and looked at him even closer. “I was going to say, you missed some of the details. More, now that I’d seen you up close.”
“We’re not identical. You’d be surprised at how many people don’t really look at him.” He was fidgeting now, his thumbs hooked into the belt loops on the back of his pants. He regarded her plaintively. “Please don’t say anything. Don’t do this to him.”
Martha drew closer, trying to steel herself. Too many times, the strangeness in her life had been malevolent. But she knew her boys, and this boy seemed mostly worried about Lex and a little lost on what to do now. His eyes were a different blue, a very clear and delicate blue. His face was narrower, and his nose was softer and a bit more upturned. His musculature was slightly different and now that she was looking, his shoes had thicker heels. This boy was a bit shorter than Lex and covering it. “Are you Adam?”
“Please don’t let on we switched. Not to the press. Not to his father.” He said father as though it were a dirty word. He was protective of Lex? Martha felt her body relax.
“I won’t if I can talk to Lex. I want to be sure he’s alright.”
Already Adam was shaking his head. “He doesn’t want anyone to see him.”
Not 'he doesn’t want to see anyone.' Interesting. “I wondered why Lex would seem surprised to have your name on his will.”
Adam made a face. “I’m not surprised I guess, I just didn’t know. Lex has an IQ off the charts, but he’s a moron sometimes. He doesn’t have to do that. He knew I’d be mad if he did.”
“Trying to take care of you.” She said softly, reminding him of what he’d told her.
“It’s not his money I’ll be needing when he’s gone. He knows it.” Adam spat, leaning against the door. When he’s gone. Martha got out her phone and dialed Lex’s number.
***
“Lex Luthor.” Even he had to wince at his dry, raspy voice.
“Lex, this is Martha. I was wondering if I could meet with you. Today, if possible.”
He didn’t hesitate, although it was difficult to maintain one’s finesse with a doctor shoving a needling in one’s arm. “If you call my secretary, she can squeeze you in this afternoon. I’m at my office right now.”
“I’m actually at the office.”
He tensed against the bed. Toby gave him a look to be still. “Oh?”
“And I’d prefer to see you, and not Adam.”
Lex was silent. He didn’t really know what to say.
“Lex, are you alright?”
“Define alright.”
“My instincts tell me he’s harmless. I came because I was worried about you.”
“That’s admirable, but misguided.”
“I won’t say anything, Lex. You have my promise right now, and you know I can keep a secret. I just… I really would like to see you. I’m backing off because Adam doesn’t seem like a threat. Helen always made my hair stand on end. I’m not getting that from him.”
Lex felt very amused at that. He wondered if she could say the same of Lana. She’d not met Desiree or Clare.
“I don’t want to push you. But I would still like to see you when you’re ready. I know you wouldn’t do this unless it was really necessary.”
She sounded so sympathetic. But she didn’t sound as though she pitied him. That would probably change, if she saw him in person.
“Can I think about it?”
“Of course.” He could hear the smile in her voice.
“Thank you, Mrs. Kent. For your confidentiality in a delicate matter.”
“I’ll let you go. And I’ll tell your father to back off. He noticed that you changed your will, and I really came over so it wouldn’t blow up in a fight. I know it’s none of my business-“
“I should probably thank you for that too. Adam doesn’t exactly like dealing with my father.”
“I think he would like to get in a fight with him a little too much.” She said with a light, knowing tone.
“As fun as seeing him in the Inquirer with a black-eye would be…”
Toby was now chuckling at his end of the conversation. He’d decked Lex’s father once. Lex still wasn’t sure how the man had gotten away with it.
Martha laughed. “Have a better day, Lex.”
“Have a less dramatic one, Mrs. Kent.”
“Call me Martha.”
Lex paused. He pressed his fingers to the gauze on his arm. “Okay.”
***
Martha ended the call, and thought Lex’s voice sounded very young just then. She turned to Adam and smiled reassuringly at his worried face.
“Convinced?”
“You haven’t been around long enough to realize how strangely normal this is turning out.”
“Normal probably isn’t the right word.”
“Would…” Martha stepped over to the boy and narrowed her eyes a little at the corners. “Would it be inappropriate to ask you to meet me for lunch?
Adam shrugged and wrinkled his nose. “Would it be inappropriate if I came as me and not Lex?”
She smiled widely at the young man.
You may hate me but it ain't no lie, Lana, bye bye bye!
I'm kind of non-plussed by all my titles. Anyway. Sorry this one is short.
Author/Artist: ladydreamer
Series/WIP: WIP
Genre: slash, mixed
Pairing: Lex/Adina/Adam, possibly later Clexina
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Due to an unexpected illness, Lex finds himself needing to get out of the public eye. Fortunately, a chance encounter with a beautiful woman he meets in Metropolis will allow him to pull the strings of his company without anyone knowing he’s indisposed. All is going to plan, until Chloe and Clark start nosing around.
Spoilers: Through S5 Smallville, Sorority Boys
Warning: ( skip) transgender, character with history of rape, attempted but not completed rape
Part Four: One of the Girls
“Martha!”
Martha Kent turned with a slight frown to see Lionel walking at a good clip toward her. She pulled a bit of her long red hair behind her ear and waited for him politely but not with much patience.
“I’m glad that I caught you.” He slowed just as she began to walk again.
”I’m a little busy, Lionel, so if you don’t mind. Cut right to whatever proposal you have so I can shoot it down and save us some time.”
Lionel’s eyes sparkled in amusement. Teasing her was fun, but he didn’t really have much time to waste either. “Actually, this is a personal matter.”
“Not going out with you.” She smiled. “See how easy that was. I have a conference call”
“Martha, please. It’s about Lex.”
She sighed and slowed her pace. That boy. “I have about twenty minutes.”
His voice lowered slightly. “I’ve recently received information that Lex has changed his will, and I’m concerned because he has apparently willed almost all of his assets to someone I have never heard of.”
Martha pursed her lips.
“Given the number of times Lex has carried on affairs with individuals who ultimately want that prize…”
“I understand.” She furrowed her brow. She honestly did feel a pang of anxiety every time Lex appeared with a new woman on the tabloids. Wondering if this one would finally steal the life from that boy her Clark had saved so many years ago. “So, what do you know about this woman?”
“Man.” He said through gritted teeth. Martha stopped and looked at him in surprise.
“But Lex isn’t-“ Her frowned deepened in disbelief. “He’s been married four times.”
“He is I assure you. He’s merely kept his activities quite in the closet. It doesn’t serve his political aspirations.” He explained. Martha suspected that it didn’t serve Lionel’s business interests while the boy was growing up either. “Generally, I don’t worry when he has his affairs with men… well I worried a bit about his friendship with your son.”
“Clark and Lex were just friends.” Martha insisted, keeping her doubts to herself. She and Jonathan had spent many nights trying to straighten out what their united front would be if Clark ever came to them with a boyfriend, particularly that friend.
“Well, he did change his will to include Clark.”
“Oh. I didn’t know he had.”
Lionel shook his head, unconcerned. “Lex has few individuals he would like to benefit from his wealth.”
“That just isn’t true, Lionel.” She answered softly.
“Other than charities. Few personal individuals.”
“You think that this person is someone to worry about? You’ve never met him?”
“I’ve run a full background check on the name, one Adam Howard. Apparently a frat boy drop out from MetU. He switched from a history major to business in his sophomore year, played a little football for the Sharks, was in a band. He seems rather unremarkable, but again, I reference Clark. He seemed like a normal young man as well.”
“So what do you want from me?” Martha asked, trying to fight her sympathy. This man just had no clue how to really relate to his son… but if he got close to him again, she was sure he would hurt Lex somehow.
“I’m looking for advice on how to confront him. You’ve told me in the past that I should go directly to him, and just talk to him, but I’m not sure how I can make him listen. He will be on the defensive the moment I walk in.” Lionel frowned anxiously. Or what she perceived was anxiety. It was so hard to tell if he was being straight with her.
“Lionel…” She crossed her arms and looked over him critically. She knew she would regret getting involved in this.
***
Chloe crouched down behind the other girl and narrowed her soft green eyes in concentration. She was new at this, and she didn’t want it to turn out embarrassing or horrible. Her heart fluttered excitedly and she could feel how red her face must be growing. She wanted it to be fun. This was supposed to be fun, right? Not scary. Not scary at all.. She closed her eyes once, took a breath, and opened her mouth.
“BLUE 42!!” She yelled. The girls broke, she caught the ball, and she threw it with all her might the way she had seen Clark do it so many times. Lana flailed and fell on the ground, but Patricia darted sideways like a pro. She didn’t even have to jump to catch the ball, and when she came barreling forward, no one opposed her.
“Touchdown bitches!” Patricia bellowed happily. The blond woman Chloe had been crouching over clapped proudly.
“Way to go, Patty!” She put her fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly before jumping up and down in a booty shaking victory dance for her girls.
“Thanks Adina. I’ve been practicing. What do you think of Chloe here?” Patty came running up and clapped the smaller girl on the back.
“Not bad at all. You have a decent arm. It would be better if you lifted some weights, though.”
“I don’t know that I’m cut out to be a quarterback. I’m more… sit on the sidelines and write up the game girl.” She said with a self-depreciating grin. She saw Lana brushing herself off and storming off the field. Adina lunged at Chloe, and she jumped back defensively, colliding into Patricia. The older woman grabbed her around the waist regardless and swung her around in a circle.
“No bad mouthing yourself!” Adina ordered with a grin.
“Okay okay, let me down!” She laughed. She could see Clark approaching the field. He was wearing his glasses today, which made her glad because he only wore them about half the time. Adina caught sight of him and rolled her eyes before putting Chloe down and placing her hands on her hips.
“Yeah. Hi. We girls are practicing, if that’s okay with you.” She snipped at him, her eyes suddenly icy. He paused midstep. Chloe almost laughed at the image of such a big man being cowed by the tall but otherwise slight woman.
“Clark was on the football team for a year in high school. Maybe he could help?” Chloe suggested.
Patricia crossed her arms low on her body. ”Come on Adina. Let her boyfriend play.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.” Chloe protested suddenly and with heat. She wasn’t sure why it was so important for that to be known. She knew Patty had been kidding.
Adina looked over him dismissively. “We should take a break anyway.” She turned away and headed off the field.
“Uh, does she not like guys?” Clark asked quietly. That woman was a little scary.
“Oh, she does.” Patricia affirmed. “Adina has a pretty serious boyfriend, I hear and quite a few close guy friends, but uh, I don’t know what’s up with her today. She’s been a little more tense than usual. He might be sick again.”
She offered a hand to Clark, which he met, surprised at how strong she was. He was afraid to bear down and test her strength, but he was certainly tempted. She smiled warmly. “I hear a lot about you.”
“Oh, uh. Chloe and I have been friends a long time.”
“That’s pretty cool. I’ll let you guys talk. Adina’s probably going to have us running drills, with the mood she’s in.”
Clark raised his eyebrows questioningly. Chloe shrugged. “What?”
He tilted his head to the side of the field, and she followed, walking out of earshot of everyone else. “Is she… Patty… you know?”
“Um, well she dated the head K.O.K Big Johnson last semester, but only for a little while. She’s not pinging either way, so I don’t know.”
“What? NO!” Clark jumped. Chloe craned her neck and shook her head with a frown. He couldn’t help noticed how cute she looked all dirty from playing and wearing those pigtails. “I mean, do you think she’s a…. mutant?”
“Oh. I hadn’t thought about it.”
“…are they brainwashing you?” Clark asked incredulously.
“What? Why would you ask that?” Chloe looked rather put out and looked away. Clark shrugged.
”Because you are always on top of… the mutant front. You always know these things or investigate them.”
“Well, I just haven’t felt like it lately. I’ll get to it.” She glowered at him. “Is that why you came here?”
”Actually, I came to talk to you about Lex.”
“The mood swings and magical expanding ass?”
Clark frowned worriedly, and she straightened her face immediately. “He looks really sick, Chloe. Really sick. Not like he did in the coffeeshop at all. I think he could probably die.”
“That serious? You went to talk to him?” She was concerned. About Lex because it was hard to dismiss someone she had known for so long, but also about how worried Clark looked.
“Yeah, and he threw me out.” Clark sighed. He was still embarrassed about how badly he had freaked out. If he’d handled it better, he’d probably have more information to start with. “You think you can access his medical records.”
“Already tried. Whatever’s happening isn’t on file. Don’t be so surprised. I’m not. If I were him, I wouldn’t want my corporate enemies knowing about any of this.” She looked at her cleats as they walked along. “We may have to do some real investigation to figure this out. Not simple hacking. And he’s not going to like us butting into his privacy.”
Clark made the suspicious-of-brainwashing face again.
“Okay, so I’m not always Miss Sensitive About Privacy, but… I’m just warning you. If we’re going to do this, it needs to be said out loud at least once. He’s going to hate it and he’s going to hate us for it.”
“I don’t care if he hates me. He already does. I just want him to live.” Clark said dejectedly.
Chloe stopped and studied his face curiously. His eyes were shifting about, looking lost and frightened enough to believe that he himself was dying, and his lips were drawn tightly in a half-smile, half-grimace of facing a situation that he’d feared for a long time. Clark wasn’t just worried for a life. It was the same look she recognized from many episodes of trying to save Lana from herself.
Clark noticed she’d stopped moments later and looked back at her. To his recollection, she’d never looked at him like he was an alien before. Until now. Soft green eyes peered at him as though he were an unfamiliar thing that she suddenly found she didn’t understand at all. “What?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. Just… nothing, Clark. W-we’ll…we’ll give him all the help we humanly can. We’ve been up against worse I’m sure. Y’know. Brainiac. Zod. That creepy child molester with the giant dolls.” Her lips twitched into a smile that did not last. She twisted her fingers. “I’ll hit the mattresses, you know. And uh, I’ll get to the bottom of this, and you’ll save him. Just like always.”
They spoke a bit more about their classes and Clark’s peonship at The Planet, but Chloe was stiff for the whole conversation.
“What’s wrong with Mr. Football?” Adina asked with a slight edge when she’d returned.
“We have a friend… well, he was always more Clark’s friend.” Chloe shook her head. She couldn’t stop shaking her head. “I can’t really tell. But I just realized something that explains why Clark isn’t and never will be my boyfriend.”
“Oh?” Adina wrapped her large hand around the football. “He play for the other team?”
Chloe suddenly burst out laughing, and before she knew it, she was crying in Adina’s arms and being led to the bleachers.
“Hun, he’s not worth it.” She whispered to her. Patricia suddenly appeared at their side and knelt before Chloe.
“What’s wrong? Did she get hurt? Chlo?” Her face crumpled in worry. Chloe felt torn.
“No. It’s nothing. I’m fine.” She took a deep breath and fanned her face. Adina gave her a gentle smile.
“Got a lot in there, don’t you?”
“More than you’ll ever know. Probably more than I know.” She replied lightly with a forced laugh.
“Well, if you ever want to talk about it, we’re here for you.” Patricia reassured her, brushing a gentle hand along her arm. Chloe looked at it as though it were an alien thing. Her heart sped up and she realized she was gawking at everything around her like it was all new.
“Thanks. Do you mind if I… just go take a shower?”
“Of course!” Adina put her strong arms around her. Chloe leaned into them, letting the older woman stroke her hair. “You just go relax. Don’t worry about us.”
She stood and started making her way back to the house. She reached the shower and realized it was locked. “Oh.”
Patricia knocked on the door, startling her. Chloe hadn’t realized that she had followed her from the field. “Anyone in there?”
“It’s me!” Lana yelled. “Can you wait a few minutes? I’m almost done with the shower!”
“Um, well, these showers are for everyone, so…”
Chloe started to back away. “No, it’s okay. I’ll take one in a minute.”
She headed to her room, and Patricia was still with her. She looked at Chloe apologetically. “Sorry. I feel like a stalker, but I’m worried about you. That’s why I’m following you.”
Chloe sat on her bed and looked at the Wall of Weird. “Ever just realize something? Something that’s been pretty much in front of your face for years, but you just didn’t want to let yourself know it?”
“Uh, not really. Well,” Patricia sat on the opposite bed and her knees fell on one another. The bed looked like a child’s mat with her on it. “Kinda, I guess.”
“Yeah. Well. That’s my day today. I mean look at this wall.” She kicked off her cleats, then pulled off her socks and drew her knees up. “I figure out all the weird shit in this weird town every damn day. Here in Metropolis too. It never occurred to me that Clark was all Brokeback over his best friend? How dumb am I?”
“You aren’t dumb.” Patricia insisted earnestly. “You aren’t dumb.”
“Okay. Can I be clueless?”
“Maybe.” The other woman grinned. “So, uh…can I ask about that?”
“The Wall of Weird? It’s a mishmash of all the freaks and geeks and weirdness that’s happened since the meteor showers in Smallville. Most of the… um.” She looked at her abashedly. “Don’t take this wrong?”
“We’re talking about freaks and there’s a good way to say it?” Patricia said softly.
“I always tell myself I need a more P.C. term, but I don’t know what to say. The meteors cause these crazy mutations.” She pointed to a picture of the girl who had been able to make clones of herself by thinking about it, but they ganged up on her and killed her. “And I started keeping track, because nobody ever talked about it. It was so strange, to have all this stuff happen. People just go crazy for no reason, and nothing happens. People pretend they don’t notice. So nothing is said and you never know why. I’m just…”
She looked at Patricia and sighed. “I’m sorry. I really didn’t come here to investigate you guys or anything. It’s totally because I’m broke right now. If there are some fr-um. Still working on the word.”
“We prefer meta-human.”
Chloe blinked and sat up straight. “Oh. Wow. Clark’s meta-dar must be set on high.”
“It’s not a secret. I’m one, and Katie has recently learned she can control that voice of hers. You heard her practicing the sonic waves in the backyard yet?”
“I thought that was a freaken bat or something.”
Patricia chuckled. “Naw. Just Katie. And Susie can sort of… she can communicate with computers. She uses her mind to go into them with some kind of… psychometry, I think she called it. She’s a superhacker.”
“That’s pretty cool. I’m a hacker too. And did you guys… were you in Smallville when this happened?”
“No, we were born that way. Katie’s from up north. I don’t think there are any meteor metas here.”
Chloe nodded. “We don’t get many born-that-ways. The last ones I’ve seen were, well, amplified by meteor-rock juice. Before that, I knew a psychic or two and this guy who could compel you to do what he wanted. Creep.”
Patricia giggled. “So are you?”
“A mu- meta? No, I’m normal. Sadly.”
“Sadly!”
“Well, practically everyone I went to high school with had mutant powers. It’s strange. To be around all of these people, and their flaws are so obvious. I mean, everyone has them, right? So their taint or flaw or mutation, it’s just totally there. But mine.” She looked at her toes and started to peel the polish off with her thumbnail. “I’m defective on the inside where people can’t see.”
“Chloe-“
”I am. My mom has this hereditary mental illness, and you know, I’m probably going to have it and just flip out all oodly-boodly one day. And I have these issues from her leaving us, and these issues about things being quiet because we never fucking talked about mom going away much, even at family functions. It was like it never happened. And I have no sense of boundaries which loses me friends, and I still have nightmares because of this… what this guy did to me once, and I can’t even tell that my best friend is gay.” She laughed hoarsely. “I’ve never seen a guy so afraid of tits in my whole life. No wonder he wouldn’t ask me to the prom.”
Patricia smiled and came over to envelop her in her big arms. It was like being cuddled by a bear. “Chloe, stop. Stop okay? You aren’t perfect, and no one is.”
“But I am crazy, and not everyone is.”
“Well... Insane people are always sure that they are fine. It’s only the sane people who are willing to admit that they are crazy.” She looked pleased as Chloe lifted her head with an open expression and a lifted brow. “Nora Ephron.”
“Oh.”
“Maybe something will happen. And maybe it won’t. But don’t think there is anything inherently wrong with you, because you’re an awesome person, and we all love you. I’m not just saying that. I’ve noticed how you take care of that little friend of yours. And how you are with the other sisters?”
“Hm.” She let her head rest on Patricia’s shoulder.
“I think you think if this is all your fault, then you can control when people leave or hurt you. And it isn’t true.”
“I know. My shrink tells me so.”
Patricia started to play with a lose piece of her hair. “You should listen to your shrink then.”
“I’m paying him enough. I should.” Chloe quipped half-heartedly. Patricia continued to rub her arm, and Chloe realized how long it had been since someone had tried to mother her. Both Adina and Patricia had taken up the task immediately without question. She was sure that if Mrs. Kent ever saw her crack she would be right there with open arms and probably pie of some kind. But she never saw it. Most people didn’t.
The door of their room opened, and Lana started seeing them there. “Oh. Sorry to interrupt. Chloe, you have to hear this.” She was excited and, grabbing her comb laid a card and flowers down on the bed to read as she worked through her hair. “It’s from Lex.”
“Um. Lex?” She frowned a little. The last thing Lana needed right now was to barrel into another relationship.
“Lana,” She read.
“I regret the outcome of our altercation a few weeks ago. I would say that I am sorry overall for getting you fired or hurting your feelings, but you know I can be a petty man, and I would be lying. I know how much you despise that, so I will be honest.
I don’t hate you. I don’t think that I ever could. However, we both know that you betrayed me, and I am angry. Whereas I can’t stop myself from being angry, as you have witnessed, it really would be best if we attempted to give one another space.
I know, also, that you mock me for my grand gestures. I assure you, I neither seek nor feel that I need to ask for your forgiveness. Regardless, I do regret your troubles, and as I had intended to do this anyway, I don’t see the harm in offering it to you-”
“Well, he’s just incredibly polite, isn’t he?” Patricia laughed. Lana frowned initially at the interruption, but was too pleased to be annoyed at anything.
“He is. Just, ridiculously so. It’s like they taught him to write like a refined prince in private school and he never found his own voice. He has a lot more life in him when he speaks.” She said before returning to the letter.
“I had intended to give this to you as a gift on our honeymoon. Obviously that fell through.
Aforementioned gift is a job in the Grandville Museum of Fine Arts. This, of course, stemmed from our discussion of what you would be doing after the wedding, and I know you disliked the idea of being my “kept pet.” From there, you can work on building your resume while taking classes. Granted, you won’t have use of the Luthorcorp transportation, so you will have to decide whether to transfer or put school on hold, but I think under the circumstances, this in itself should help you immeasurably. I encourage you to take the job. It starts next semester, and I have enclosed all contact information.
This should, if nothing else, ease a few tensions between us regarding my inability to reflect the six years in age that I have on you and regarding the changes in your life, which always come with a painful break up. What comes next, I am uncertain, but I reason we will have to wait until we are no longer angry to build any kind of relationship again, whether it be friendship or merely business.
Best Wishes,
Lex”
“You’re leaving?” Chloe heard her own voice crack like a pubescent boy’s.
“I know. It’ll be hard for me but… wow. Chloe, a job. A real job.”
“From Lex Luthor!”
“This will be good for us!” Lana insisted eagerly, ignoring the Luthor prejudice. She had long learned to understand there were many greys, one of which was that a man capable of getting his hands dirty in business was also quite adept at helping people. “I’ll be able to get the creditors off my back and start paying you what I owe.”
“So they don’t have any space in the museums here in Metropolis?” Chloe asked. She really wanted to just leave the room.
“They do, but… those are really not for people just learning. I’d getting eaten alive in Metropolis. Chloe, this is a great opportunity. Grandville isn’t that far away either! It’s closer to Metropolis than it is to Smallville, and Lex was planning on making a permanent move to the city after the wedding, too. It would have worked out pretty well. I don’t know why he wanted to stay in Smallville…”
“You’re right.” She said suddenly, pulling her shocked features into an easy smile. “This is a good opportunity for you. And, you know, Pete is going to school there. He could show you around and everything. Maybe you could coerce him to, I dunno. Stop being an ass and come visit his friends once and awhile!”
“Really. I’ve talked to him some over email, but he hasn’t come by once!”
“Yeah, we IM all the time, and remember I went to see him the summer before freshman year, but he won’t come here because apparently Clark is so scary he couldn’t risk running the mortal threat of awkwardness if they managed to bump into one another.”
“Guys are such idiots.” Lana said, taking her flowers and looking for something to put them in.
“Lex must have felt really bad.”
“Or he really wanted to get me yet another hour and a half away from him. I doubt he felt particularly guilty.” She replied cynically. “It was still pretty sweet.”
“So, uh. You’ll be leaving at the end of the semester.” Patricia asked. Her hand was rubbing circles on Chloe’s back.
“Yeah, guess so.” She smiled weakly. “What are you going to do Chloe?”
“What? Oh, I’ll probably stay here. I kinda like it.”
“Really?” Lana turned so they wouldn’t see her expression. Patricia blinked and assumed a slightly annoyed look. Lana rarely if ever joined their circles. When she did, she wasn’t much for joining in on pep talks. “So, what were you guys talking about?”
Chloe froze and felt an itching to be out of there.
“We were just talking about the Wall of Weird. You know you’re living with some non-meteored metas here.”
“I never would have guessed.” Lana said. “Do non-meteor freaks get on the wall?”
“Well, I considered putting Clark on there.” Chloe said casually. Lana turned.
“For his bizarre relationship with flannel. But I felt bad for pointing out his weird.”
Lana chuckled.
“I’m gonna go grab that shower.”
“I’ll go with you.” Patricia got up with her. “I need to get ready for a meeting pretty soon anyway. So you can have the room to yourself for awhile.”
When they reached the hallway, Patricia looked down at Chloe and asked, “Are all of your friends so…”
“Yes. Yes, they are.”
Patty laughed and ushered her into the bathroom.
***
Adam’s days since the last night he and Lex had sex together were long and busy. Time passed quickly, and he soon found himself wrapped up in running a company that belonged to the man he loved. He felt like a sneaky corporate wife. Except that he had the comforting monotone of Lex’s voice in his ear whenever he hesitated. He learned how to make hesitation look like thinking or annoyance at their completely stupid question. He learned how to intimidate without saying anything incriminating. He learned how to read people’s faces, when they were frightened or lying, or falling a little in love with him. Adam never stopped being amazed at the number of people who were completely overwhelmed by Lex’s aura. A fact that Lex acknowledged, but had little to no impact on his understanding of himself.
He’d told her softly, once when they had been walking down the street and Adina had noticed that a street vendor he knew was quite sweet on him, ”These are the people who will betray me, Adina. When they really get to know me.”
But it was just a part Adam played and nothing more. He knew that at night when he went home, slipped out of the business suit and into a wig and something a little less Lex, he would be himself again.
In idle moments his mind drifted, to the future with Lex. To the scary future without Lex. Who he would have to play with Lex gone, and how long it would be before he could be himself, if ever.
And he reminisced about the time he and Lex had spent together. He remembered the their first date and how hard Lex had fought against getting involved again. He remembered talking about their past relationships, and he remembered getting angry to the point of shouting when it came to Lex’s ex-wives. He’d know of course that there were people who would get into a relationship for money, but it just seemed like Lex attracted the most batshit insane among them. He’d wondered if Lex hesitated in part because so many people had tried to take advantage of him.
He remembered the first time Lex had let him come to chemo.
Lex had lain on the cot, his right arm accepting a large IV and the other holding Adam’s hand. He’d been all too aware that Lex was holding his hand. Being comforting and supportive when it should have been the other way around. Lex smiled more than he was inclined to and made jokes. For a little while Adam had laughed. Then he came to himself and realized that Lex was used to having to comfort others for what he himself was going through.
He’s sat back in the chair giving Lex’s hand a gentle squeeze, changed the topic of conversation, and made it his aim to have Lex giving him a genuine smile by the end of the day. It was the end of that day that Adam had first told Lex he loved him, and when Lex opened his mouth in surprised, Adam closed it for him with a kiss before he could feel obligated to give him something in return, verbal or monetary.
“Yes, I think our profit margins in that sector are a little low. We should be looking into better PR for the citizens in the area.”
If nothing else, putting on a Lex persona in the morning and taking it off with his friends as Adina helped define who Adam really was. And that wasn’t a corporate suit. Or a politician. But he wasn’t a genius scientist either, although quite a few of Lex’s projects were too cool for words.
A secretary walked into the room at the end of the meeting. “Sir? Senator Kent is here to see you, if you have a minute?”
“Tell him I’ll meet him in my office.”
His secretary blinked and turned his ear towards him in disbelief. “Um, alright.”
Adam headed to the washroom on the floor, locked it behind him, and tried to contact Lex. A year ago he wouldn’t have felt so ashamed for knowing nothing about politics in the state. Unfortunately, it seemed as though Lex was asleep or perhaps had already left for his doctor’s appointment. He looked at himself in the mirror until he could see Lex there and took a few deep breaths before heading out to meet the Senator.
He burst into his office, opening both doors. “Oh, hello, Senator!”
Martha turned and gave him a warm smile. “Hello, Lex.”
“Ah! Well, if it isn’t the best senator we’ve voted into office yet.” Adam put forward a hand for her to shake, and she looked at him oddly. “What can I do for you today?”
“I, um.” Her eyes followed him, looking suspiciously up and down his body. “Lex, you look different.”
“Been working out.” He fetched a bottle of water from the bar and took a sip leisurely as he could. “Can I get you something?”
“No thank you. I actually came on behalf of your father.”
Adam’s face tightened.
“Don’t get defensive yet, Lex. I wouldn’t get involved if I didn’t think he was genuinely worried.”
“My father only worries about power and money. He thinks of me when I relate to one of those two categories.”
She tilted her head and looked at him with an expression he recognized from his mother’s face. She was a little worried, and a little annoyed with his father, and a little put in the middle.
“Have a seat, Senator Kent. We can talk.”
Martha was a bit put off that he kept calling her that, as though he’d never met her before, but she realized that wasn’t the only thing off about him. She had to keep blinking. It almost seemed like this was a different person.
“Lex, you know that your father keeps tabs on you. I don’t approve, but he’s found something that seems worrying, and well, I know you won’t listen to him. Because what you just mentioned has been true as long as I’ve known the two of you. I want to believe he’s changed, but given his actions, I’m not sure he can, so I thought I might check in to make sure you were alright.”
Adam leaned back and made his face passive but vaguely interested. He raised a hand to his mouth and stroked his upper lip with one finger. “Go on.”
“You father told me that you’ve recently changed your will.”
“I don’t see how that is anyone’s business but my own and my beneficiaries.” SHIT. He didn’t want to talk about Lex’s will.
“This is about one of those beneficiaries. Apparently, a man you seem to have just met. Adam Howard.”
Adam’s mouth dropped open. “Wh… um.”
Martha was surprised to see Lex fumbling. Lex never fumbled. “You do know him?”
“Of course, I do. What about him?” He replied, trying to regain control of his features.
“Well, you’ve given him almost everything.” She spoke softly and deliberately, gauging his response. He couldn’t help but trust and like her. What the hell was Lex’s father doing talking to a woman like this? “That’s a little distressing, given your choice of… partners.”
“Well, yeah. Al… I’m not usually good with that, am I?”
Martha wondered for a moment if Lex had taken to getting high on the job.
“There’s nothing to worry about. He doesn’t want anything. He doesn’t even know I’ve changed my will, and even if he did, I think he’d be more annoyed at the action than pleased.”
She relaxed. “He’s a friend? Like Clark was. Your…. father told me that you changed your will before to include him.”
“Well, Lex Luthor likes to take care of his friends.”
“The two of you are close?”
“Incredibly. We’re not quite like Clark and I were.”
The woman blushed. “Ah… I see. It’s your life, Lex. Just… please be careful. You don’t deserve to have people who claim to care about you… well you know what they do.”
“I do. And I appreciate the concern.” He felt warm and shucked off his jacket. Most of Lex’s associates were snakes. He didn’t like to lie to a good woman like this, and he wondered how she managed to get into public office in the first place. “But Adam has no intention of taking advantage of me.”
“Are men…”
Adam raised a brow, wondering if this interview were about to get personal.
“Easier for you to read?” Martha finished, reading his look and returning with one that indicated that he ought to know better.
“Sometimes. Not always. Clark…” Adam felt his blood heating up. That jerk… how had he come from this woman? “I’d really rather not talk about it. Adam and I have a special relationship, and somehow we trust each other. That’s all that needs to be said. I think I… just want him taken care of. He wanders and he really needs to get his head out of his ass and figure out who he is. Until then, I want to make sure that he’ll be okay if I’m not around. That’s all.”
Her smile was so sweet and accepting, Adam wanted to introduce her to his mother and ask her to take some lessons. “I’m glad. I’m really glad you found someone. And I hope you aren’t disappointed by him.”
“We’ll see, I guess.” Adam rolled up his sleeves. “Did you have anything else you wanted to talk to me about?”
“No, I think that’s it. I don’t know if your father will be satisfied, but I am.”
Adam nodded and headed to the door to see her out. “Then I’m sure you have more important things to do than sit here and baby sit me. I’ll see you around, Senator.”
“Lex, honestly. We’ve known each other for years and we’re practically peers at the moment. We could be running against each other next election.” She stood and walked beside him. “You can call me Martha.”
“I’ll try to remember.” He said, putting a hand on her shoulder. She looked down momentarily then froze. Her eyes fixed on the dark hair on his arm. Lifting her head to meet his eyes, she scrutinized them carefully. Not the right shade of blue. She backed away slowly. “What is it? Are you alright?”
“Who are you?”
He narrowed his eyes and gave her a confused smile. “I’m Lex Luthor.”
“Lex is bald from head to toe. You missed a spot.” She said tensely before her brain could scream at her to shut up and get out with the information. Her eyes darted to the door. Adam moved faster. He slammed his body against the door and locked it quickly. He could see the fear sharpening her eyes.
“Just let me explain. I uh,” He looked down at his arm and swore. “Shiiit.”
“You’re not Lex. Who are you? What have you done with him?” Martha asked. Keep him talking. Get information. Get out of there.
“Look, I can’t have you telling anybody.” Adam raised a hand and hoped she wouldn’t scream.
“What are you going to do to me?” She asked, trying to keep calm, looking for potential weapons and another exit.
“What? I’m not gonna to do anything to you.” He said, as though it were obvious. She immediately noticed the rise in pitch, the slightly different accent. He was younger than Lex, both physically and mentally. He was a little frightened himself. “You’re a fucken senator, how stupid am I?”
Her eyes widened, and she looked simply bewildered. “You’re a fantastic actor.”
“I’ve had a lot of practice pretending to be other people than myself.” He replied with an unhappy smile.
“Did you get your shapeshifting powers from the meteors?” She asked, slowly moving towards the window.
“… what?” He inclined his head backward and gave her a dubious look. “ I don’t shapeshift. I just kinda look like Alex, is all.”
“Alex?” She stopped and looked at him even closer. “I was going to say, you missed some of the details. More, now that I’d seen you up close.”
“We’re not identical. You’d be surprised at how many people don’t really look at him.” He was fidgeting now, his thumbs hooked into the belt loops on the back of his pants. He regarded her plaintively. “Please don’t say anything. Don’t do this to him.”
Martha drew closer, trying to steel herself. Too many times, the strangeness in her life had been malevolent. But she knew her boys, and this boy seemed mostly worried about Lex and a little lost on what to do now. His eyes were a different blue, a very clear and delicate blue. His face was narrower, and his nose was softer and a bit more upturned. His musculature was slightly different and now that she was looking, his shoes had thicker heels. This boy was a bit shorter than Lex and covering it. “Are you Adam?”
“Please don’t let on we switched. Not to the press. Not to his father.” He said father as though it were a dirty word. He was protective of Lex? Martha felt her body relax.
“I won’t if I can talk to Lex. I want to be sure he’s alright.”
Already Adam was shaking his head. “He doesn’t want anyone to see him.”
Not 'he doesn’t want to see anyone.' Interesting. “I wondered why Lex would seem surprised to have your name on his will.”
Adam made a face. “I’m not surprised I guess, I just didn’t know. Lex has an IQ off the charts, but he’s a moron sometimes. He doesn’t have to do that. He knew I’d be mad if he did.”
“Trying to take care of you.” She said softly, reminding him of what he’d told her.
“It’s not his money I’ll be needing when he’s gone. He knows it.” Adam spat, leaning against the door. When he’s gone. Martha got out her phone and dialed Lex’s number.
***
“Lex Luthor.” Even he had to wince at his dry, raspy voice.
“Lex, this is Martha. I was wondering if I could meet with you. Today, if possible.”
He didn’t hesitate, although it was difficult to maintain one’s finesse with a doctor shoving a needling in one’s arm. “If you call my secretary, she can squeeze you in this afternoon. I’m at my office right now.”
“I’m actually at the office.”
He tensed against the bed. Toby gave him a look to be still. “Oh?”
“And I’d prefer to see you, and not Adam.”
Lex was silent. He didn’t really know what to say.
“Lex, are you alright?”
“Define alright.”
“My instincts tell me he’s harmless. I came because I was worried about you.”
“That’s admirable, but misguided.”
“I won’t say anything, Lex. You have my promise right now, and you know I can keep a secret. I just… I really would like to see you. I’m backing off because Adam doesn’t seem like a threat. Helen always made my hair stand on end. I’m not getting that from him.”
Lex felt very amused at that. He wondered if she could say the same of Lana. She’d not met Desiree or Clare.
“I don’t want to push you. But I would still like to see you when you’re ready. I know you wouldn’t do this unless it was really necessary.”
She sounded so sympathetic. But she didn’t sound as though she pitied him. That would probably change, if she saw him in person.
“Can I think about it?”
“Of course.” He could hear the smile in her voice.
“Thank you, Mrs. Kent. For your confidentiality in a delicate matter.”
“I’ll let you go. And I’ll tell your father to back off. He noticed that you changed your will, and I really came over so it wouldn’t blow up in a fight. I know it’s none of my business-“
“I should probably thank you for that too. Adam doesn’t exactly like dealing with my father.”
“I think he would like to get in a fight with him a little too much.” She said with a light, knowing tone.
“As fun as seeing him in the Inquirer with a black-eye would be…”
Toby was now chuckling at his end of the conversation. He’d decked Lex’s father once. Lex still wasn’t sure how the man had gotten away with it.
Martha laughed. “Have a better day, Lex.”
“Have a less dramatic one, Mrs. Kent.”
“Call me Martha.”
Lex paused. He pressed his fingers to the gauze on his arm. “Okay.”
***
Martha ended the call, and thought Lex’s voice sounded very young just then. She turned to Adam and smiled reassuringly at his worried face.
“Convinced?”
“You haven’t been around long enough to realize how strangely normal this is turning out.”
“Normal probably isn’t the right word.”
“Would…” Martha stepped over to the boy and narrowed her eyes a little at the corners. “Would it be inappropriate to ask you to meet me for lunch?
Adam shrugged and wrinkled his nose. “Would it be inappropriate if I came as me and not Lex?”
She smiled widely at the young man.
You may hate me but it ain't no lie, Lana, bye bye bye!
I'm kind of non-plussed by all my titles. Anyway. Sorry this one is short.