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The Previous Parts are here, exhausted, wet, sticky and vowing to never ever fill a wading pool with jello again. Words to live by.
I finally, finally thank God finally!-- managed to pull some of this together. Someone give me a cookie, 'cause I swear, it was that traumatic. Now--the other things I'm suppose to be writing...*sigh*
Oh yeah Roxy, do the challange--you can do it...Smack the fuck out of me if I ever mention wanting to do one again, please.
Dis Pater
VII
Lex drank a bit of water gratefully and held the bottle in his lap. His mouth felt dry after the flight, he felt sticky and grimy. If nothing else, taking a commercial flight reminded him that owning your own jet was a *good* thing, and next time it was Luthorcorp all the way. He laid his head back against the car seat and closed his eyes. The leather of the seats was oddly comforting; as was the complex scent of brandy he could hear gently splashing into a glass. He sighed. The spicy scent of Bruce’s cologne added to his sense of relief and for the first time since boarding the plane in Metropolis he could feel taut muscles slowly unwinding. Just knowing that at the end of the journey he could rest and finally relax had helped to make him feel human again. The glass was pressed into his hand, slim warm hands covered his for a moment and he smiled before opening his eyes again.
The car rolled quietly through the black streets and Lex stared out of the window—Gotham was as monumentally ugly as he remembered. The buildings towered into the darkness on either side of them, like crouching gargoyles just waiting for the moment they could give up all pretense and crush the mass of humanity clogging the grimy streets.
Metropolis’ unofficial slogan claimed it was the city that never slept, but Gotham--Gotham truly never slept, it’s heart beat non-stop from dusk to dusk and anything that *could* happen happened here. Lex smiled at his reflection in the glass, this was where he needed to be—at this moment this city was the perfect place for him.
Lex was thankful that Bruce gave him his privacy, he didn’t question the fact that he was suddenly on his doorstep, so to speak, he didn’t ask what drove him there—he seemed prepared to offer whatever help he could. He had an air of calm and quiet strength about him—and underneath that the quirky streak that had infuriated him in the beginning and now he’d come to enjoy. It was exactly what Lex felt he needed at the moment.
At dinner Alfred expressed his pleasure at finally meeting Lex. “Master Bruce praises you highly, sir. A rare occurrence indeed, I can see he’s very fond of you.”
Lex felt his cheeks warm and looked down the length of the ridiculously long table and Bruce shrugged, his eyes sparkling, and his mouth pursed in his unique and seemingly guileless smile.
“What did you tell Alfred about me,” he asked when the butler left them alone.
“I didn’t tell him what a wonderful kisser you are. Unless I should?” he asked with a smirk.
“No! Oh, be quiet,” he snapped when Bruce laughed at the expression on his face. “I don’t trust you *not* to discuss every aspect of your sex life with Alfred. I swear, sometimes I think you don’t understand personal relationships—and then sometimes I think you understand all too well,” he muttered and drank most of the wine in his glass.
Bruce raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment, and Lex was relieved. Time for that later, right now, he just wanted to enjoy a decent—much more than decent—meal, something he’d missed in Smallville.
*******
Dessert was enjoyed quietly and Bruce talked idly about local events and watched Lex slowly unwind. After dinner he took Lex up to his library, and asked him if he cared for a drink.
Lex nodded. “God, yes please, I’ve been afraid to drink at home. I felt like I had to be on point every minute of every day. I need to unwind—you have no idea how badly. Dinner was just the start—I seriously intend to have some down time.”
Bruce was taken aback but tried not to show it. That didn’t sound like the Lex he thought he knew. He pegged Lex as someone who needed to be clear and in control at all times, not unlike himself. But then again, Lex wasn’t someone like himself, he wasn’t as comfortable, Bruce felt, with being alone. Bruce found it very soothing, to get away from people after spending all day dealing with them. Lex—Lex needed people and yet seemed to dislike that he needed them. Bruce shook his head. The man was a tangled knot of contradictions.
Bruce viewed life as something waiting to be explored, examined, a mystery wanting to be solved. Le on the other hand—acted as if life was something that was lying in wait for him, ready to pounce on him, crush him. Poor Lex. Bruce sighed softly. He hoped he never became that kind of person. He was so single-mindedly convinced life was something to be endured, not enjoyed.
The fireplace in the library was lit, as it was every night, no matter the season. They sat in a pool of golden light it created and Bruce silently enjoyed how the fire painted gold and rose across Lex features. He thought that as attractive as Lex was, strangely it was the lack of hair that made him beautiful. Their conversation flowed around business and social life in Gotham and Metropolis, and about life in Smallville and then finally Lex began to speak about Clark and the problems around him. Lex spoke seemingly freely; Bruce knew that he was holding something back. Lex was thoroughly confused and in pain and Lucas was conspicuous by his absence in Lex’s conversation—and of course Bruce would be willing to bet Lucas was at the center of this. But there was something…something odd about Clark…
“Lex,” Bruce murmured, “Are you so sure that you’d care about this boy Clark if he wasn’t such a puzzle?”
Lex looked at Bruce curiously. “Puzzle? What do you mean puzzle? The reasons I’m drawn to Clark are simply because…” He hesitated and Bruce took up the thread.
“Let’s see, you’ described in great -–great detail, exhaustive, even--” he grinned when Lex flung a pillow at him, “how beautiful he is. Very beautiful. He’s also exceptionally strong…how did you say he saved you and Lucas from the Porsche?”
“I—I really don’t know, somehow the--the roof was sheered off and he pulled us free…”
“Hmmm. Two men pulled out of a fairly deep river by—how old did you say he was then, thirteen? By a boy. Impressive.”
“And he pulled Earl Jenkins and me up by one arm…pulled us back onto the bridge…” Lex trailed off as the memory of what happened played in his mind again.
“That happened during the hostage incident in your plant? It was mentioned on the news. Do you want to tell me what happened—what really happened, not the doctored version.”
Lex nodded but his thoughts were back on the bridge, back to the moment that popped up in his mind from time to time—how did Clark do it? How was it possible? He told Bruce everything—which he’d not planned to do but once he started to talk about it he couldn’t hold anything back. He wanted to know—and maybe Bruce could help him understand.
“So, he’s very attractive, he’s very strong- he’s a puzzle…and he’s the perfect foil for this thing between you and Lucas. A nice little pawn in this…game between the two of you.” Bruce sipped at his drink and watched Lex. Interesting. When he mentioned Lucas, he’d paled.
“What the hell do you mean by that.” Lex said calmly. He met Bruce’s eyes steadily. “I didn’t mention Lucas—he has nothing to do in this.”
“You didn’t have to mention Lucas. He’s always there…you forget, I knew Lucas before I knew you and I know what drives him—or should I say who.”
Lex blushed deeply, anger fueling it and he said tightly, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Bruce. Lucas has his problems but they’re mostly with Dad—he and I…get along now—or we did until Clark came into the picture.”
Bruce shrugged. “You’re relieved that Lucas has concentrated on Clark—or you will be when you can admit it to yourself. You’re a little--” he looked at Lex and raised his eyebrow. “A lot jealous.”
Lex burned bright red and said, “No, what I am is somewhat jealous that Lucas has pushed his way in between Clark and myself, but…but I’ll get over it. I’m a grown man after all, not a love-struck teenager.”
Bruce nodded and stood to freshen their drinks. “True, true…Lex, if you really wanted the boy that much, why didn’t you go after him? Why wait? You *let* Lucas take him away.”
Lex shook his head, “No, no, I didn’t let Lucas take him—he did it to hurt me, because--” Lex broke off. Her pressed his lips into a tight line and looked down into his lap, at his hands balled into fists. He grimaced. He was acting like he was twelve. He looked up when Bruce stood over him, holding out a tumbler of amber liquid, his eyes warm with concern and Lex swallowed—it almost hurt to have someone show him such sympathy. His eye burned and he looked down again, into the swirling liquid in the glass. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the answers were in there--
Bruce nodded. “It’s okay, you know. There’s nothing you can’t tell me. After all, I doubt anything you could tell me about Lucas would surprise me.”
He sat back down and thought a moment before speaking carefully. “I think that separating yourself from Lucas is going to be more difficult than you expect. And it’s not only going to be hard on Lucas, it’s going to be hard for you—he’s been your full time job for a very long time, after all.” He smiled softly and tried to lighten the mood a bit. “If I were you, I’d pray that age slows him down. He’s a very willful boy. He certainly doesn’t take no easily.”
Lex sighed, a sound that became almost a sob. “You have no idea.”
Bruce finished his drink. “Come to bed—you must be exhausted.”
Lex smiled, “Not at all.” He said and tried to cover a jaw-cracking yawn. Bruce laughed, held out his hand and pulled him smoothly and easily to his feet.
******
TBC, and I can say that with conviction now.
I finally, finally thank God finally!-- managed to pull some of this together. Someone give me a cookie, 'cause I swear, it was that traumatic. Now--the other things I'm suppose to be writing...*sigh*
Oh yeah Roxy, do the challange--you can do it...Smack the fuck out of me if I ever mention wanting to do one again, please.
Dis Pater
VII
Lex drank a bit of water gratefully and held the bottle in his lap. His mouth felt dry after the flight, he felt sticky and grimy. If nothing else, taking a commercial flight reminded him that owning your own jet was a *good* thing, and next time it was Luthorcorp all the way. He laid his head back against the car seat and closed his eyes. The leather of the seats was oddly comforting; as was the complex scent of brandy he could hear gently splashing into a glass. He sighed. The spicy scent of Bruce’s cologne added to his sense of relief and for the first time since boarding the plane in Metropolis he could feel taut muscles slowly unwinding. Just knowing that at the end of the journey he could rest and finally relax had helped to make him feel human again. The glass was pressed into his hand, slim warm hands covered his for a moment and he smiled before opening his eyes again.
The car rolled quietly through the black streets and Lex stared out of the window—Gotham was as monumentally ugly as he remembered. The buildings towered into the darkness on either side of them, like crouching gargoyles just waiting for the moment they could give up all pretense and crush the mass of humanity clogging the grimy streets.
Metropolis’ unofficial slogan claimed it was the city that never slept, but Gotham--Gotham truly never slept, it’s heart beat non-stop from dusk to dusk and anything that *could* happen happened here. Lex smiled at his reflection in the glass, this was where he needed to be—at this moment this city was the perfect place for him.
Lex was thankful that Bruce gave him his privacy, he didn’t question the fact that he was suddenly on his doorstep, so to speak, he didn’t ask what drove him there—he seemed prepared to offer whatever help he could. He had an air of calm and quiet strength about him—and underneath that the quirky streak that had infuriated him in the beginning and now he’d come to enjoy. It was exactly what Lex felt he needed at the moment.
At dinner Alfred expressed his pleasure at finally meeting Lex. “Master Bruce praises you highly, sir. A rare occurrence indeed, I can see he’s very fond of you.”
Lex felt his cheeks warm and looked down the length of the ridiculously long table and Bruce shrugged, his eyes sparkling, and his mouth pursed in his unique and seemingly guileless smile.
“What did you tell Alfred about me,” he asked when the butler left them alone.
“I didn’t tell him what a wonderful kisser you are. Unless I should?” he asked with a smirk.
“No! Oh, be quiet,” he snapped when Bruce laughed at the expression on his face. “I don’t trust you *not* to discuss every aspect of your sex life with Alfred. I swear, sometimes I think you don’t understand personal relationships—and then sometimes I think you understand all too well,” he muttered and drank most of the wine in his glass.
Bruce raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment, and Lex was relieved. Time for that later, right now, he just wanted to enjoy a decent—much more than decent—meal, something he’d missed in Smallville.
*******
Dessert was enjoyed quietly and Bruce talked idly about local events and watched Lex slowly unwind. After dinner he took Lex up to his library, and asked him if he cared for a drink.
Lex nodded. “God, yes please, I’ve been afraid to drink at home. I felt like I had to be on point every minute of every day. I need to unwind—you have no idea how badly. Dinner was just the start—I seriously intend to have some down time.”
Bruce was taken aback but tried not to show it. That didn’t sound like the Lex he thought he knew. He pegged Lex as someone who needed to be clear and in control at all times, not unlike himself. But then again, Lex wasn’t someone like himself, he wasn’t as comfortable, Bruce felt, with being alone. Bruce found it very soothing, to get away from people after spending all day dealing with them. Lex—Lex needed people and yet seemed to dislike that he needed them. Bruce shook his head. The man was a tangled knot of contradictions.
Bruce viewed life as something waiting to be explored, examined, a mystery wanting to be solved. Le on the other hand—acted as if life was something that was lying in wait for him, ready to pounce on him, crush him. Poor Lex. Bruce sighed softly. He hoped he never became that kind of person. He was so single-mindedly convinced life was something to be endured, not enjoyed.
The fireplace in the library was lit, as it was every night, no matter the season. They sat in a pool of golden light it created and Bruce silently enjoyed how the fire painted gold and rose across Lex features. He thought that as attractive as Lex was, strangely it was the lack of hair that made him beautiful. Their conversation flowed around business and social life in Gotham and Metropolis, and about life in Smallville and then finally Lex began to speak about Clark and the problems around him. Lex spoke seemingly freely; Bruce knew that he was holding something back. Lex was thoroughly confused and in pain and Lucas was conspicuous by his absence in Lex’s conversation—and of course Bruce would be willing to bet Lucas was at the center of this. But there was something…something odd about Clark…
“Lex,” Bruce murmured, “Are you so sure that you’d care about this boy Clark if he wasn’t such a puzzle?”
Lex looked at Bruce curiously. “Puzzle? What do you mean puzzle? The reasons I’m drawn to Clark are simply because…” He hesitated and Bruce took up the thread.
“Let’s see, you’ described in great -–great detail, exhaustive, even--” he grinned when Lex flung a pillow at him, “how beautiful he is. Very beautiful. He’s also exceptionally strong…how did you say he saved you and Lucas from the Porsche?”
“I—I really don’t know, somehow the--the roof was sheered off and he pulled us free…”
“Hmmm. Two men pulled out of a fairly deep river by—how old did you say he was then, thirteen? By a boy. Impressive.”
“And he pulled Earl Jenkins and me up by one arm…pulled us back onto the bridge…” Lex trailed off as the memory of what happened played in his mind again.
“That happened during the hostage incident in your plant? It was mentioned on the news. Do you want to tell me what happened—what really happened, not the doctored version.”
Lex nodded but his thoughts were back on the bridge, back to the moment that popped up in his mind from time to time—how did Clark do it? How was it possible? He told Bruce everything—which he’d not planned to do but once he started to talk about it he couldn’t hold anything back. He wanted to know—and maybe Bruce could help him understand.
“So, he’s very attractive, he’s very strong- he’s a puzzle…and he’s the perfect foil for this thing between you and Lucas. A nice little pawn in this…game between the two of you.” Bruce sipped at his drink and watched Lex. Interesting. When he mentioned Lucas, he’d paled.
“What the hell do you mean by that.” Lex said calmly. He met Bruce’s eyes steadily. “I didn’t mention Lucas—he has nothing to do in this.”
“You didn’t have to mention Lucas. He’s always there…you forget, I knew Lucas before I knew you and I know what drives him—or should I say who.”
Lex blushed deeply, anger fueling it and he said tightly, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Bruce. Lucas has his problems but they’re mostly with Dad—he and I…get along now—or we did until Clark came into the picture.”
Bruce shrugged. “You’re relieved that Lucas has concentrated on Clark—or you will be when you can admit it to yourself. You’re a little--” he looked at Lex and raised his eyebrow. “A lot jealous.”
Lex burned bright red and said, “No, what I am is somewhat jealous that Lucas has pushed his way in between Clark and myself, but…but I’ll get over it. I’m a grown man after all, not a love-struck teenager.”
Bruce nodded and stood to freshen their drinks. “True, true…Lex, if you really wanted the boy that much, why didn’t you go after him? Why wait? You *let* Lucas take him away.”
Lex shook his head, “No, no, I didn’t let Lucas take him—he did it to hurt me, because--” Lex broke off. Her pressed his lips into a tight line and looked down into his lap, at his hands balled into fists. He grimaced. He was acting like he was twelve. He looked up when Bruce stood over him, holding out a tumbler of amber liquid, his eyes warm with concern and Lex swallowed—it almost hurt to have someone show him such sympathy. His eye burned and he looked down again, into the swirling liquid in the glass. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the answers were in there--
Bruce nodded. “It’s okay, you know. There’s nothing you can’t tell me. After all, I doubt anything you could tell me about Lucas would surprise me.”
He sat back down and thought a moment before speaking carefully. “I think that separating yourself from Lucas is going to be more difficult than you expect. And it’s not only going to be hard on Lucas, it’s going to be hard for you—he’s been your full time job for a very long time, after all.” He smiled softly and tried to lighten the mood a bit. “If I were you, I’d pray that age slows him down. He’s a very willful boy. He certainly doesn’t take no easily.”
Lex sighed, a sound that became almost a sob. “You have no idea.”
Bruce finished his drink. “Come to bed—you must be exhausted.”
Lex smiled, “Not at all.” He said and tried to cover a jaw-cracking yawn. Bruce laughed, held out his hand and pulled him smoothly and easily to his feet.
******
TBC, and I can say that with conviction now.