Rip Redux part 3
7/8/06 02:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
roxyMy Two Dads Are A Pair Of Mooks
(a working title)
A post-mpreg fiction
Fandom: SV
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Rating:2
parts one, two and three
No, seriously, I need a title…
They’d raced through the shortest fall in history, and winter was moving in with a chilly vengeance. Thanksgiving had passed quietly, and it was about the worst Thanksgiving Clark had had since that first one with Lex—only this time Lex wasn’t there to make it better.
Ripley’s birthday was coming up, and Lois advised him to act as if it was an average normal birthday and not even mention to Rip that Poppa probably wasn’t going to be there. Clark shook his head. Not possible. He wished he could make Lois understand. Tell her enough so she’d see just how impossible it was to treat the day a miracle happened as if it were ordinary, but he was afraid, for her sake, to tell her anything…besides, no matter how much Lois claimed to be “just crazy about Lexie”-–he knew, she was a reporter first and a human being second.
He felt like he was teetering on the edge of a decision that might be totally wrong for Ripley—and for him. He couldn’t talk to his partner—there was only one person he could talk freely to….
He was in the barn, watching from the open loft doors as Mom drove off with Ripley. Out to do Christmas shopping, she’d said. For everyone, Clark had insisted, fixing his mother with a glare until she’d reminded him that she was after all, a grown-up, and would never deny Lexie’s other parent. Yeah. So far, Clark thought. She was very careful not to say anything negative about Lex, that much was true. Dad, on the other hand, was practically Lex’s cheerleader. Even though Dad knew why he wasn’t with him. This whole miserable situation was bending his brain—Dad was supposed to understand why he left, not make him feel like he was being selfish. He huffed. Lex had a friend in Lex, it seemed. And
speaking of friends….
Clark picked up the phone and entered a number he hardly ever called anymore.
“Hello?”
“Umm, Jor…Jordan, it’s me.”
“Clark? Clark! What the hell—Clark, what the fuck is going on, dude? Lex is wandering around the penthouse like a ghost.”
“When were you at the penthouse...” Clark felt a strange twist in his chest, followed quickly by a huge sense of relief. He could talk to Jordan about anything. He was safe. “Jor…something bad is happening. I’m—I think it’s over for me and Lex.”
“Fuck, what? You’re full of shit. Lex would rather cut off his own hand than lose you. He loves you more than—fuck, he’s the definition of love. I can’t believe--”
“I left him. Because—because of something he did.”
“Oh…yeah? Tell you what, how about I drive out there and meet you? I’d love to see Ripley anyway.”
“Thanks Jordan, thanks a lot. How…how did he seem?”
“How do you think? We talked about the little girl, and about my business and stuff. He was thinking of you the whole time, even if he didn’t say it--you know.”
“Jordan…thanks. Maybe you can keep an eye on him for me.” Clark hung up and sighed in relief. At least Lex had someone to watch over him, someone they both could trust.
******
Jordan pulled up in the drive nearly three hours later on the dot—which meant he flew. He was almost as wild a driver as Lex, and they both loved their cars. He even had a silver 911 Turbo, same as Lex’s. When it came to rest into the drive, Clark was jabbed by a feeling of loss and longing.
Jordan jogged up the drive and kissed Clark hard, hugged him for a long time. “Man,” he murmured, his voice almost muffled by Clark’s coat collar. “I almost forgot how warm you are.” He shivered a bit and stepped back with a huge grin. “So—where’s the girl? I got something for her.”
“Her birthday’s coming up, and so’s Christmas—you shouldn’t be buying her things,” Clark scolded. “You’ll make her spoiled.”
“So? I get her what I want when I want, and you got nothing to say about it. Besides this is not just some toy, it’s a necessity.” He held up a mini version of a Metropolis Makos uniform. “See?”
Clark grinned broadly at his retreating back. Jordan—yeah, real tough guy, he was.
After dinner, and after Ripley had ripped open her gifts and sat on and slobbered ice cream all over her Uncle Jor and insisted he read her her bedtime story, Jordan and Clark finally snuck away to talk privately. They sat in the loft, an ancient space heater working over time, and Jordan complaining bitterly about the cold anyway. He was wrapped in an old trade blanket, settled back against the threadbare sofa that he remembered fondly. Satisfied that he couldn’t get more comfortable, he poked an arm out from under the blanket and pulled Clark against him. “So. Tell me what happened, Kent. What did he do?”
Clark let Jordan’s scent settle around him like a soothing cocoon. He almost hated to spoil it by talking, but… “What did he do? Shit.” Clark sighed, leaned back and told Jordan everything.
*****
“Ahhh…wow. Fuck me, that’s—that’s--wow.” Jordan sat frozen. Clark looked down at the ground, miserable with reliving it. Jordan patted his back.
So, dude…didn’t you think at *all* that was going to happen? I mean, if we think that’s what happened. *If* that’s what happened. Hell—you had to know that Lex was going to…what made you think he wouldn’t?”
“Because it’s terrible, and he could have handled it less…less…deadly.”
Jordan leaned around his back and stared at him. “Lex. You’re talking about Lex. Lex who loves you to the point that it’s insane, and I’m not sure that’s exaggerating. Who loves Rip like he gave birth to her. Who knows about me and knows it’d kill you if—but that you could live with the other one.” Jordan looked sadly at Clark.
Clark glared at him. “So what—I should just—get over it? Not make friends because he might, you know.”
“Shit Clark, don’t be an asshole. There are things that—that can’t have normal laws applied to them, you know? We know that bitch—no way would she have been trustworthy. It would have come out and I don’t know how she would have handled it, but remembering her—no. it wouldn’t have been good.” He turned to Clark and gave him a grin that went nowhere near his eyes, “I noticed you haven’t told the chick you work with. You’re pretty close—I don’t see you telling all. And don’t tell me it’s because of Lex.”
Clark opened his mouth to protest but Jordan just grinned wider. “Yeah?”
Clark pressed his lips together. “No, it’s not because of Lex. Not completely.”
“You better be careful—Lex might decide it’s not his job to protect you anymore. You want to be the one to make the rough decisions?”
Clark thought about what Jordan said long after he left. He could. If Ripley needed to be protected, he could do it—and without hurting anyone. That’s what the powers were good for—to protect his family….and he didn’t need Lex for that, not anymore. He wasn’t a kid anymore.
Running back and forth to Metropolis everyday gave him a little time to think about his situation. What Jordan said, it was true. He should have known, because the thing with Lex was, the thing was, there was always a test, a test you didn’t know about. And if you failed it, you didn’t often get another chance. And the difference between Jor and—and…maybe what made the difference was love. Maybe.
Talking to Lois—carefully—gave him an outlet, too. Lois was proving to be more than a partner; she was also a very good friend, as Clark saw it. She did her best to run interference when the papers rediscovered Lex and him. Since the news value of Lex Luthor coming out to the public--his lover being in college *and* a single dad--had worn thin, Clark had gotten unused to being in the spotlight. Lex had also done his best to give Clark the freedom to be as average a guy as he could be.
Now—now he was big news again, but this time, as the other half of a highly publicized break-up. It was maddening, embarrassing, and a constant reminder of his situation. He’d already replaced one TV and he learned pretty quickly to avoid the entertainment ‘news’ shows. Nasty and hurtful speculation ran wild as to the reason, and it affected every aspect of Lex’s and his life. Meetings where held, with yelling and door slamming, and some light rending of garments. He had apologized profusely (with a little encouragement from Lois) to Perry for ripping his tie to shreds of shreds, begged to do all the shit work and just managed to hold on to his job at the Planet.
Lex’s political aspirations were tanked for that year, though he was assured his chances for office weren’t dead—just a little…becalmed. Temporarily. Neither one of them would comment about the situation or each other—but when paparazzi managed to catch them, Clark was always on Lois’ arm, looking pissy and annoyed, and Lex was always alone, looking pale, yet brave…it was all about perception.
Lex was coming out of the upheaval smelling like a rose, while Clark was nearly hissed at and spat on by old ladies…well, okay, just one, but she’d been an evil crone, short and squat and vicious and she’d really kind of scared him. Lois kept her from throwing her decaf no sugar, no cream at him.
In fact, every step of the way, Lois was great. She listened, she let him talk, or just cry on her shoulder, any time of the day or night. She never asked what happened, she never asked uncomfortable questions about Ripley’s ‘mother’. She gave him advice; she prodded him to take care of himself and move on. She played with Ripley and showered her with attention. She even visited Smallville to spend time with the two of them. She ingratiated herself with Martha, swept her off her feet, and earned the right to visit anytime, any time at all.
She pissed Jonathan the hell off.
Clark was lonely--he was unused to being by himself, in fact he was unused to not having every emotional need catered to, and Lois was more than happy to do so. She could be sarcastic, a little bullying, a bit overpowering and larger than life, but she knew what to say to him and what to do to make him happy, and she pulled Clark into her orbit. She treated Ripley like she was precious, and treated Clark like his needs were all important. In some ways, she was a lot like Lex.
Days had turned into weeks and weeks into months and he was no closer to an answer that he could live with. He was lonely, unsure of himself and what he was feeling, and extremely grateful to Lois, who was there all the time, with a smile and a ready shoulder.
A blind man could see what was coming…
tbc...
(a working title)
A post-mpreg fiction
Fandom: SV
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Rating:2
parts one, two and three
No, seriously, I need a title…
They’d raced through the shortest fall in history, and winter was moving in with a chilly vengeance. Thanksgiving had passed quietly, and it was about the worst Thanksgiving Clark had had since that first one with Lex—only this time Lex wasn’t there to make it better.
Ripley’s birthday was coming up, and Lois advised him to act as if it was an average normal birthday and not even mention to Rip that Poppa probably wasn’t going to be there. Clark shook his head. Not possible. He wished he could make Lois understand. Tell her enough so she’d see just how impossible it was to treat the day a miracle happened as if it were ordinary, but he was afraid, for her sake, to tell her anything…besides, no matter how much Lois claimed to be “just crazy about Lexie”-–he knew, she was a reporter first and a human being second.
He felt like he was teetering on the edge of a decision that might be totally wrong for Ripley—and for him. He couldn’t talk to his partner—there was only one person he could talk freely to….
He was in the barn, watching from the open loft doors as Mom drove off with Ripley. Out to do Christmas shopping, she’d said. For everyone, Clark had insisted, fixing his mother with a glare until she’d reminded him that she was after all, a grown-up, and would never deny Lexie’s other parent. Yeah. So far, Clark thought. She was very careful not to say anything negative about Lex, that much was true. Dad, on the other hand, was practically Lex’s cheerleader. Even though Dad knew why he wasn’t with him. This whole miserable situation was bending his brain—Dad was supposed to understand why he left, not make him feel like he was being selfish. He huffed. Lex had a friend in Lex, it seemed. And
speaking of friends….
Clark picked up the phone and entered a number he hardly ever called anymore.
“Hello?”
“Umm, Jor…Jordan, it’s me.”
“Clark? Clark! What the hell—Clark, what the fuck is going on, dude? Lex is wandering around the penthouse like a ghost.”
“When were you at the penthouse...” Clark felt a strange twist in his chest, followed quickly by a huge sense of relief. He could talk to Jordan about anything. He was safe. “Jor…something bad is happening. I’m—I think it’s over for me and Lex.”
“Fuck, what? You’re full of shit. Lex would rather cut off his own hand than lose you. He loves you more than—fuck, he’s the definition of love. I can’t believe--”
“I left him. Because—because of something he did.”
“Oh…yeah? Tell you what, how about I drive out there and meet you? I’d love to see Ripley anyway.”
“Thanks Jordan, thanks a lot. How…how did he seem?”
“How do you think? We talked about the little girl, and about my business and stuff. He was thinking of you the whole time, even if he didn’t say it--you know.”
“Jordan…thanks. Maybe you can keep an eye on him for me.” Clark hung up and sighed in relief. At least Lex had someone to watch over him, someone they both could trust.
******
Jordan pulled up in the drive nearly three hours later on the dot—which meant he flew. He was almost as wild a driver as Lex, and they both loved their cars. He even had a silver 911 Turbo, same as Lex’s. When it came to rest into the drive, Clark was jabbed by a feeling of loss and longing.
Jordan jogged up the drive and kissed Clark hard, hugged him for a long time. “Man,” he murmured, his voice almost muffled by Clark’s coat collar. “I almost forgot how warm you are.” He shivered a bit and stepped back with a huge grin. “So—where’s the girl? I got something for her.”
“Her birthday’s coming up, and so’s Christmas—you shouldn’t be buying her things,” Clark scolded. “You’ll make her spoiled.”
“So? I get her what I want when I want, and you got nothing to say about it. Besides this is not just some toy, it’s a necessity.” He held up a mini version of a Metropolis Makos uniform. “See?”
Clark grinned broadly at his retreating back. Jordan—yeah, real tough guy, he was.
After dinner, and after Ripley had ripped open her gifts and sat on and slobbered ice cream all over her Uncle Jor and insisted he read her her bedtime story, Jordan and Clark finally snuck away to talk privately. They sat in the loft, an ancient space heater working over time, and Jordan complaining bitterly about the cold anyway. He was wrapped in an old trade blanket, settled back against the threadbare sofa that he remembered fondly. Satisfied that he couldn’t get more comfortable, he poked an arm out from under the blanket and pulled Clark against him. “So. Tell me what happened, Kent. What did he do?”
Clark let Jordan’s scent settle around him like a soothing cocoon. He almost hated to spoil it by talking, but… “What did he do? Shit.” Clark sighed, leaned back and told Jordan everything.
*****
“Ahhh…wow. Fuck me, that’s—that’s--wow.” Jordan sat frozen. Clark looked down at the ground, miserable with reliving it. Jordan patted his back.
So, dude…didn’t you think at *all* that was going to happen? I mean, if we think that’s what happened. *If* that’s what happened. Hell—you had to know that Lex was going to…what made you think he wouldn’t?”
“Because it’s terrible, and he could have handled it less…less…deadly.”
Jordan leaned around his back and stared at him. “Lex. You’re talking about Lex. Lex who loves you to the point that it’s insane, and I’m not sure that’s exaggerating. Who loves Rip like he gave birth to her. Who knows about me and knows it’d kill you if—but that you could live with the other one.” Jordan looked sadly at Clark.
Clark glared at him. “So what—I should just—get over it? Not make friends because he might, you know.”
“Shit Clark, don’t be an asshole. There are things that—that can’t have normal laws applied to them, you know? We know that bitch—no way would she have been trustworthy. It would have come out and I don’t know how she would have handled it, but remembering her—no. it wouldn’t have been good.” He turned to Clark and gave him a grin that went nowhere near his eyes, “I noticed you haven’t told the chick you work with. You’re pretty close—I don’t see you telling all. And don’t tell me it’s because of Lex.”
Clark opened his mouth to protest but Jordan just grinned wider. “Yeah?”
Clark pressed his lips together. “No, it’s not because of Lex. Not completely.”
“You better be careful—Lex might decide it’s not his job to protect you anymore. You want to be the one to make the rough decisions?”
Clark thought about what Jordan said long after he left. He could. If Ripley needed to be protected, he could do it—and without hurting anyone. That’s what the powers were good for—to protect his family….and he didn’t need Lex for that, not anymore. He wasn’t a kid anymore.
Running back and forth to Metropolis everyday gave him a little time to think about his situation. What Jordan said, it was true. He should have known, because the thing with Lex was, the thing was, there was always a test, a test you didn’t know about. And if you failed it, you didn’t often get another chance. And the difference between Jor and—and…maybe what made the difference was love. Maybe.
Talking to Lois—carefully—gave him an outlet, too. Lois was proving to be more than a partner; she was also a very good friend, as Clark saw it. She did her best to run interference when the papers rediscovered Lex and him. Since the news value of Lex Luthor coming out to the public--his lover being in college *and* a single dad--had worn thin, Clark had gotten unused to being in the spotlight. Lex had also done his best to give Clark the freedom to be as average a guy as he could be.
Now—now he was big news again, but this time, as the other half of a highly publicized break-up. It was maddening, embarrassing, and a constant reminder of his situation. He’d already replaced one TV and he learned pretty quickly to avoid the entertainment ‘news’ shows. Nasty and hurtful speculation ran wild as to the reason, and it affected every aspect of Lex’s and his life. Meetings where held, with yelling and door slamming, and some light rending of garments. He had apologized profusely (with a little encouragement from Lois) to Perry for ripping his tie to shreds of shreds, begged to do all the shit work and just managed to hold on to his job at the Planet.
Lex’s political aspirations were tanked for that year, though he was assured his chances for office weren’t dead—just a little…becalmed. Temporarily. Neither one of them would comment about the situation or each other—but when paparazzi managed to catch them, Clark was always on Lois’ arm, looking pissy and annoyed, and Lex was always alone, looking pale, yet brave…it was all about perception.
Lex was coming out of the upheaval smelling like a rose, while Clark was nearly hissed at and spat on by old ladies…well, okay, just one, but she’d been an evil crone, short and squat and vicious and she’d really kind of scared him. Lois kept her from throwing her decaf no sugar, no cream at him.
In fact, every step of the way, Lois was great. She listened, she let him talk, or just cry on her shoulder, any time of the day or night. She never asked what happened, she never asked uncomfortable questions about Ripley’s ‘mother’. She gave him advice; she prodded him to take care of himself and move on. She played with Ripley and showered her with attention. She even visited Smallville to spend time with the two of them. She ingratiated herself with Martha, swept her off her feet, and earned the right to visit anytime, any time at all.
She pissed Jonathan the hell off.
Clark was lonely--he was unused to being by himself, in fact he was unused to not having every emotional need catered to, and Lois was more than happy to do so. She could be sarcastic, a little bullying, a bit overpowering and larger than life, but she knew what to say to him and what to do to make him happy, and she pulled Clark into her orbit. She treated Ripley like she was precious, and treated Clark like his needs were all important. In some ways, she was a lot like Lex.
Days had turned into weeks and weeks into months and he was no closer to an answer that he could live with. He was lonely, unsure of himself and what he was feeling, and extremely grateful to Lois, who was there all the time, with a smile and a ready shoulder.
A blind man could see what was coming…
tbc...
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7/9/06 12:37 am (UTC)