Brothers And Heroes part 7
11/8/05 02:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
roxyParts Before
Time is passing so fast, isn’t it? Soon December will be here, and—I’m broke! I can’t even sell my hair to buy a chain for Mr. Roxy’s pocket watch, what with the butch cut I maintain. And I’m betting I’m not getting an ivory hair combs again this year. Saaaay—wait a minute—he doesn’t have a pocket watch…as for the children—maybe I can paint some rocks and call them paperweights. *ponders* Ah well. There’s always the Lurex hot pants!
Ready for some story? Me too! But you have to read this first…
Brothers And Heroes
After dinner, when they were tucked into their beds and talking idly, Lex finally told them the reason why his parents hadn’t come with this year.
“My mom’s having a baby.”
“What, really?” Bruce said, flopping over to his side and grinning at Lex, “that’s great—I guess, is it great Lex? I know you always wanted a baby brother—though it might be a sister.”
“Ew!" Clark said. “Don’t choose a girl Lex. No one wants a sister. Girls are icky.’
Bruce laughed. “Clark! You don’t get a choice”
He gaped at Lex. “But—is that true, Lex? What about Bruce?” He cut his eyes toward Bruce. “He got a choose.”
Bruce jerked upright in his bed, “Listen you- I didn’t—“
Lex cut in. “You don’t get to choose exactly. You love who you get, boy or girl. Just like Bruce loves you, and you love Bruce, right?’
Clark nodded but looked at Bruce with a worried expression. Bruce sighed—he’d managed to mess Clark’s mind up again.
He pulled up his blanket and called him over. “Come on, peanut brain, jump in with me.”
Clark hopped up happily, all grins and hurt forgotten, he jumped into bed with Bruce. “Okay now?” Bruce asked and Clark just snorted happily and scrunched down.
Lex laughed. “See? Happy family!” Bruce said shut up, but he was grinning. Clark insisted Lex join them, and soon the bed was filled to bursting, arguments broke out about covers and pillows and stinky feet and elbows. They laughed louder and louder until the door opened and the light flashed on.
Jonathan stood in the doorway, an enormous scowl on his face and “What the heck is going on in here?” he barked.
The boys tried to stifle laughter and make excuses and he promised horrible retribution if they didn’t pipe down, and left, but not before Lex caught the little smile on his face. Bruce and Clark were giggling, snorting as they tried to keep quiet and Lex felt like he was floating.
Family.
*****
November 19__
Dear Bruce,
Good news! I have a brother now too. His name is Julian, and he’s red and wrinkly and kind of smelly. But he’s my brother and I’m really happy to have someone to look up to me like Clark looks up to you.
My mom is feeling a little down. She’s a little sick now but she should be okay pretty soon, that’s what the nurse says. We have a nurse live in to help with the baby, and I get to sit in the bedroom when mom feeds Julian, some times, I get to hold the bottle for him, which I really enjoy, he’s so funny with his snuffly face and the noises! He sounds like a little pig, and FYI, no one thinks it’s funny when you say that out loud. But I absolutely draw the line at changing his diapers, I can forgo that pleasure thank you.
Write me soon—maybe we can call for Thanksgiving, I’ll ask Dad.
Love,
Lex
******
Casper,
I’m happy for you. I’m glad it was a boy. Clark is writing you a letter to, because I was going deaf, listening to him whine about it.
So expect one soon and for god’s sake write him right back.
Love, Spooky
*****
Dear Lex,
Hello. How are you? It isneci nice you have a broher to. Do’t forget me
Your fienrd Clark.
*****
November 19__
Dear Clark,
I could never forget you. Don’t you worry, you and Julian will be best friends one day, just like Bruce and I, but I’ll always think of you as my brother.
Love,
Your friend,
Lex.
******
“Bruce?”
“Lex! Great! You called—I was beginning to think you weren’t going to—what’s wrong?” silence spread down the wires and filled Bruce’s ear. “Lex! What’s wrong?’
Lex’s voice shook when he spoke. “Bruce, do you like me?”
Bruce blushed hard. “’Course I like you,’ he said. “You’re my man, you know that.”. Something terrible happened…“What’s going on?”
‘Is there something wrong with me? I mean—“
Bruce cut in,"—you’re different, I like it. You’re not like anyone else, I like that.”
Lex started crying. “I had a party— I tried to have a party. My dad made me invite kids from my class to my birthday party—thanks for the present by the way—I was going to write you, I really love Sherlock Holmes—thanks--”
"Lex! What happened?” Bruce was upset. Lex didn’t cry easy--hell, he got his lip split almost in half and he didn’t cry.
“No one came! I told him no one would come. I wanted to die—no one came. And he—he tried to make me feel better, he told me a story about this box I got from my mom, about St. George—“
Bruce nodded before remembering Lex couldn’t hear him nod. ‘Yes, I know the story of St George---“
“He told me to put my fears in the box—he hugged me…it was nice. And---“ Lex’s voice shivered and hitched as he struggled not to cry. “I’m sorry. I feel like an idiot, whining like a baby. The party was a stupid idea. The kids are stupid. I’m going to another school, mom said. I don’t want to go back to this one. Mom wants me to go to a boarding school though Bruce. I’ll be away all year long. She’s sending me away and I know why…she hates me…”
Bruce was shocked. “That’s not true, Lex, I promise you, it’s not true. You’re a great person, I’m proud to be your friend—if I could, I’d –I’d beat the snot out of all of those idiots in your class. Go to the new school, Lex it’ll be better, you’ll see. I.”
"What?" Lex sniffed, “You what?”
“I have to hang up now, Lex, but remember, I’m your best friend. Always.”
Lex thanked him and they hung up. Bruce stared at the phone and whispered. "I’m sorry.”
*******
The vacation that year was less of a vacation and more a long season of mourning. Julian had died, crib death it was explained, and reported as so in the papers. Lionel thought their annual vacation at the Hotel was necessary, getting them out of the public eye and giving Lillian a chance to recover from the grief that hung like poisonous mist in every room of the townhouse.
Martha spent most of the time doing her best to comfort and support Lillian, even though she felt shattered herself. Lillian had been sick even before Julian died, but now she appeared even more faded. Her skin looked paper thin and so white—her hair seemed less a vibrant red and more a dull mahogany. Her eyes stared blankly out at the world, half in it and half far away. She spoke little to anyone besides Martha and Lex waited on her hand and foot with little acknowledgement from her. She spoke of her love for her infant son in whispers; her looks for Lex were haunted and pained and Lex looked desperate and lonely.
The boys grieved also, almost unnoticed by the adults. Bruce tried his best to help Lex, but he didn’t know what to say, what to do to pierce the bubble of pain he lived in. He was trapped in his own pain—he couldn’t believe that Julian was gone. He’d been so—so alive, kicking his fat little legs, his wispy clown red hair, the same color as Lex’s, waving all over his head. He’d looked so healthy with his pink cheeks and Bruce loved looking at him through the crib bars, poking him gently in the belly. It made him giggle--Bruce’s eyes flooded--used to make him giggle.
The loss brought back dreams that had slowly faded, dreams of his parents, crying and crying and begging him for...something….
********
The Kents were the only guests taking advantage of the Hotel porch that evening. Lionel and Lillian had retired early, as usual, Lex stayed in the boy’s room to read.
Martha and Jonathan sat side by side on the wicker couch, Jon’s arm around her and Clark dozing on her lap. Bruce lay behind the white wicker couch, stretched full length on the floorboards. His back was slightly chilled and his tummy was warm from the wood giving up the heat of the day. He drifted along on the comforting drone of voices, the low breathy snores coming from Clark as he slept in his mom’s lap.
Bruce realized that they were talking about Lex, seemed very concerned about him. Bruce went small and silent as possible, hoping they wouldn’t notice he was still on the porch with them. Martha asked Jonathan what he thought was going on in the Luthor household, and the wicker creaked as he moved.
“I don’t know, love. I know they’re going through very bad times right now.” He had Clark in his arms. “I’m going to put him to bed, be right back.”
Bruce listened to the footsteps fade, and the warmth under him and the slight chill over him made him doze off a little himself—conversation woke him up again.
He heard Martha say, “Lillian is falling to pieces. She’s never been all that strong but this—this has been devastating for her. I can’t begin to imagine how horrible it must be.” Bruce shuddered himself. It *was* horrible to lose someone you loved, it was the worst thing you could ever think of….
“You know, Martha, I understand that, but I can’t understand how they could let Alexander just kind of –flounder on his own like that. That poor kid doesn’t know which way to turn.”
“I’m going to ask if we can keep Lex a few days before school starts. I think it’ll be best for all of them.”
Jon agreed, and then hesitated before speaking again. “Martha, does it feel to you like Lillian doesn’t want to spend time with Alexander? Or am I imagining that?”
“You see it too? It’s so odd, but then, her behavior this summer has been odd period. I think between the stress of losing Mattie and Tom, and then the horror of losing her baby…I don’t think I could handle it either, Jon.”
“Um, that’s true, that’s true…but, I think we should try to keep an eye on Lex. As much as we can, anyway.”
He noticed Bruce then, and told him it was well past his bedtime. Martha and Jon exchanged a slightly worried look as Bruce got up and silently hugged them both before running from the porch and back to their room.
He wasn’t sure if he understood everything Jon and Martha said, but he understood that Lex was going to stay with them if Mo—Martha had anything to say about it.
It was quiet in their room except for Clark’s soft snoring. Lex was sitting up, reading an Asimov paperback. He looked up and froze when he saw Bruce’s face. “What?” he whispered, careful as ever not to disturb Clark.
Bruce crawled into his bed. “What happened, Lex? At your house?”
Lex jerked away from him. “I told you what happened, I already said, Julian died, my mom’s sick and my dad—I guess he’s hurting.”
Bruce grabbed Lex’s arm and pulled him close. “Okay, now tell me what really happened.”
Lex opened his mouth, shuddered a little, and confessed. “I did it. I killed Julian.”
TBC
Time is passing so fast, isn’t it? Soon December will be here, and—I’m broke! I can’t even sell my hair to buy a chain for Mr. Roxy’s pocket watch, what with the butch cut I maintain. And I’m betting I’m not getting an ivory hair combs again this year. Saaaay—wait a minute—he doesn’t have a pocket watch…as for the children—maybe I can paint some rocks and call them paperweights. *ponders* Ah well. There’s always the Lurex hot pants!
Ready for some story? Me too! But you have to read this first…
Brothers And Heroes
After dinner, when they were tucked into their beds and talking idly, Lex finally told them the reason why his parents hadn’t come with this year.
“My mom’s having a baby.”
“What, really?” Bruce said, flopping over to his side and grinning at Lex, “that’s great—I guess, is it great Lex? I know you always wanted a baby brother—though it might be a sister.”
“Ew!" Clark said. “Don’t choose a girl Lex. No one wants a sister. Girls are icky.’
Bruce laughed. “Clark! You don’t get a choice”
He gaped at Lex. “But—is that true, Lex? What about Bruce?” He cut his eyes toward Bruce. “He got a choose.”
Bruce jerked upright in his bed, “Listen you- I didn’t—“
Lex cut in. “You don’t get to choose exactly. You love who you get, boy or girl. Just like Bruce loves you, and you love Bruce, right?’
Clark nodded but looked at Bruce with a worried expression. Bruce sighed—he’d managed to mess Clark’s mind up again.
He pulled up his blanket and called him over. “Come on, peanut brain, jump in with me.”
Clark hopped up happily, all grins and hurt forgotten, he jumped into bed with Bruce. “Okay now?” Bruce asked and Clark just snorted happily and scrunched down.
Lex laughed. “See? Happy family!” Bruce said shut up, but he was grinning. Clark insisted Lex join them, and soon the bed was filled to bursting, arguments broke out about covers and pillows and stinky feet and elbows. They laughed louder and louder until the door opened and the light flashed on.
Jonathan stood in the doorway, an enormous scowl on his face and “What the heck is going on in here?” he barked.
The boys tried to stifle laughter and make excuses and he promised horrible retribution if they didn’t pipe down, and left, but not before Lex caught the little smile on his face. Bruce and Clark were giggling, snorting as they tried to keep quiet and Lex felt like he was floating.
Family.
*****
November 19__
Dear Bruce,
Good news! I have a brother now too. His name is Julian, and he’s red and wrinkly and kind of smelly. But he’s my brother and I’m really happy to have someone to look up to me like Clark looks up to you.
My mom is feeling a little down. She’s a little sick now but she should be okay pretty soon, that’s what the nurse says. We have a nurse live in to help with the baby, and I get to sit in the bedroom when mom feeds Julian, some times, I get to hold the bottle for him, which I really enjoy, he’s so funny with his snuffly face and the noises! He sounds like a little pig, and FYI, no one thinks it’s funny when you say that out loud. But I absolutely draw the line at changing his diapers, I can forgo that pleasure thank you.
Write me soon—maybe we can call for Thanksgiving, I’ll ask Dad.
Love,
Lex
******
Casper,
I’m happy for you. I’m glad it was a boy. Clark is writing you a letter to, because I was going deaf, listening to him whine about it.
So expect one soon and for god’s sake write him right back.
Love, Spooky
*****
Dear Lex,
Hello. How are you? It is
Your fienrd Clark.
*****
November 19__
Dear Clark,
I could never forget you. Don’t you worry, you and Julian will be best friends one day, just like Bruce and I, but I’ll always think of you as my brother.
Love,
Your friend,
Lex.
******
“Bruce?”
“Lex! Great! You called—I was beginning to think you weren’t going to—what’s wrong?” silence spread down the wires and filled Bruce’s ear. “Lex! What’s wrong?’
Lex’s voice shook when he spoke. “Bruce, do you like me?”
Bruce blushed hard. “’Course I like you,’ he said. “You’re my man, you know that.”. Something terrible happened…“What’s going on?”
‘Is there something wrong with me? I mean—“
Bruce cut in,"—you’re different, I like it. You’re not like anyone else, I like that.”
Lex started crying. “I had a party— I tried to have a party. My dad made me invite kids from my class to my birthday party—thanks for the present by the way—I was going to write you, I really love Sherlock Holmes—thanks--”
"Lex! What happened?” Bruce was upset. Lex didn’t cry easy--hell, he got his lip split almost in half and he didn’t cry.
“No one came! I told him no one would come. I wanted to die—no one came. And he—he tried to make me feel better, he told me a story about this box I got from my mom, about St. George—“
Bruce nodded before remembering Lex couldn’t hear him nod. ‘Yes, I know the story of St George---“
“He told me to put my fears in the box—he hugged me…it was nice. And---“ Lex’s voice shivered and hitched as he struggled not to cry. “I’m sorry. I feel like an idiot, whining like a baby. The party was a stupid idea. The kids are stupid. I’m going to another school, mom said. I don’t want to go back to this one. Mom wants me to go to a boarding school though Bruce. I’ll be away all year long. She’s sending me away and I know why…she hates me…”
Bruce was shocked. “That’s not true, Lex, I promise you, it’s not true. You’re a great person, I’m proud to be your friend—if I could, I’d –I’d beat the snot out of all of those idiots in your class. Go to the new school, Lex it’ll be better, you’ll see. I.”
"What?" Lex sniffed, “You what?”
“I have to hang up now, Lex, but remember, I’m your best friend. Always.”
Lex thanked him and they hung up. Bruce stared at the phone and whispered. "I’m sorry.”
*******
The vacation that year was less of a vacation and more a long season of mourning. Julian had died, crib death it was explained, and reported as so in the papers. Lionel thought their annual vacation at the Hotel was necessary, getting them out of the public eye and giving Lillian a chance to recover from the grief that hung like poisonous mist in every room of the townhouse.
Martha spent most of the time doing her best to comfort and support Lillian, even though she felt shattered herself. Lillian had been sick even before Julian died, but now she appeared even more faded. Her skin looked paper thin and so white—her hair seemed less a vibrant red and more a dull mahogany. Her eyes stared blankly out at the world, half in it and half far away. She spoke little to anyone besides Martha and Lex waited on her hand and foot with little acknowledgement from her. She spoke of her love for her infant son in whispers; her looks for Lex were haunted and pained and Lex looked desperate and lonely.
The boys grieved also, almost unnoticed by the adults. Bruce tried his best to help Lex, but he didn’t know what to say, what to do to pierce the bubble of pain he lived in. He was trapped in his own pain—he couldn’t believe that Julian was gone. He’d been so—so alive, kicking his fat little legs, his wispy clown red hair, the same color as Lex’s, waving all over his head. He’d looked so healthy with his pink cheeks and Bruce loved looking at him through the crib bars, poking him gently in the belly. It made him giggle--Bruce’s eyes flooded--used to make him giggle.
The loss brought back dreams that had slowly faded, dreams of his parents, crying and crying and begging him for...something….
********
The Kents were the only guests taking advantage of the Hotel porch that evening. Lionel and Lillian had retired early, as usual, Lex stayed in the boy’s room to read.
Martha and Jonathan sat side by side on the wicker couch, Jon’s arm around her and Clark dozing on her lap. Bruce lay behind the white wicker couch, stretched full length on the floorboards. His back was slightly chilled and his tummy was warm from the wood giving up the heat of the day. He drifted along on the comforting drone of voices, the low breathy snores coming from Clark as he slept in his mom’s lap.
Bruce realized that they were talking about Lex, seemed very concerned about him. Bruce went small and silent as possible, hoping they wouldn’t notice he was still on the porch with them. Martha asked Jonathan what he thought was going on in the Luthor household, and the wicker creaked as he moved.
“I don’t know, love. I know they’re going through very bad times right now.” He had Clark in his arms. “I’m going to put him to bed, be right back.”
Bruce listened to the footsteps fade, and the warmth under him and the slight chill over him made him doze off a little himself—conversation woke him up again.
He heard Martha say, “Lillian is falling to pieces. She’s never been all that strong but this—this has been devastating for her. I can’t begin to imagine how horrible it must be.” Bruce shuddered himself. It *was* horrible to lose someone you loved, it was the worst thing you could ever think of….
“You know, Martha, I understand that, but I can’t understand how they could let Alexander just kind of –flounder on his own like that. That poor kid doesn’t know which way to turn.”
“I’m going to ask if we can keep Lex a few days before school starts. I think it’ll be best for all of them.”
Jon agreed, and then hesitated before speaking again. “Martha, does it feel to you like Lillian doesn’t want to spend time with Alexander? Or am I imagining that?”
“You see it too? It’s so odd, but then, her behavior this summer has been odd period. I think between the stress of losing Mattie and Tom, and then the horror of losing her baby…I don’t think I could handle it either, Jon.”
“Um, that’s true, that’s true…but, I think we should try to keep an eye on Lex. As much as we can, anyway.”
He noticed Bruce then, and told him it was well past his bedtime. Martha and Jon exchanged a slightly worried look as Bruce got up and silently hugged them both before running from the porch and back to their room.
He wasn’t sure if he understood everything Jon and Martha said, but he understood that Lex was going to stay with them if Mo—Martha had anything to say about it.
It was quiet in their room except for Clark’s soft snoring. Lex was sitting up, reading an Asimov paperback. He looked up and froze when he saw Bruce’s face. “What?” he whispered, careful as ever not to disturb Clark.
Bruce crawled into his bed. “What happened, Lex? At your house?”
Lex jerked away from him. “I told you what happened, I already said, Julian died, my mom’s sick and my dad—I guess he’s hurting.”
Bruce grabbed Lex’s arm and pulled him close. “Okay, now tell me what really happened.”
Lex opened his mouth, shuddered a little, and confessed. “I did it. I killed Julian.”
TBC
Tags:
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
11/8/05 08:21 am (UTC)Poor Lex. I'm glad Bruce is there for him, but I want to know if it went down the same way as in canon, or if Lex really did do it.
*big hugs*
(no subject)
11/9/05 01:23 am (UTC)(no subject)
11/8/05 08:31 am (UTC)(no subject)
11/9/05 01:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
11/8/05 01:12 pm (UTC)OMG!!
U r so meeeeeeeeeen!!
*bounce*
Wheeee!
(no subject)
11/9/05 01:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
11/8/05 01:34 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/9/05 01:25 am (UTC)Jesus--you scared me, shouting like that!
(no subject)
11/8/05 03:31 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/9/05 01:26 am (UTC)(no subject)
11/8/05 06:20 pm (UTC)I NEED TONS OF PORN to recover from this!! you hear me!!!?? TONS!!
*returns to death , hugging Julian*
(no subject)
11/9/05 01:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
11/8/05 06:45 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/9/05 01:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
11/8/05 07:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/9/05 01:30 am (UTC)(no subject)
11/8/05 07:59 pm (UTC)Make the hurt stop!
(no subject)
11/9/05 01:31 am (UTC)(no subject)
11/8/05 09:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/9/05 01:32 am (UTC)(no subject)
11/8/05 11:37 pm (UTC)*Waits for more*
(no subject)
11/9/05 01:32 am (UTC)(no subject)
11/8/05 11:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/9/05 01:33 am (UTC)(no subject)
11/8/05 11:54 pm (UTC)*hugs*
(no subject)
11/9/05 01:33 am (UTC)(no subject)
11/9/05 03:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
8/27/06 11:45 pm (UTC)Two words: Owie, Lex!
I am glad Bruce and Clark are there for him, and that Bruce will be the one to get at the truth. (hopes).
(no subject)
7/1/08 10:01 pm (UTC)(no subject)
7/22/08 12:44 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/9/12 07:22 pm (UTC)(no subject)
11/10/12 05:13 pm (UTC)LOL!!!!!!
my secret is that I never liked Lillian at all.