The Talented Miss Ripley part 13

[roxy]

A post-mpreg fiction
Fandom: SV
Pairing: Clark/Lex...soonish
Rating:pg
what went before





Ripley yelled out, “The good part is coming up!”

“It’s Starship Troopers—there are no good parts!”

Dad grumbled as he strolled in the room, a pizza box in one hand, and two sodas in the other. “You have an unhealthy attachment to this movie, and since when does Lex let you watch stuff like this,” he grumbled but mostly to himself. “I can’t believe he’d even buy this thing.”

She coughed, blushed a bit and said, “Geez, you and Poppa have the same taste in movies. And music. And…well, certainly not clothes…” or movies or music but…

Dad growled a bit, but looked pleased a bit, too, and she smiled to herself. Oh, yeah, like shooting fish in a barrel…she frowned a little, what in the heck did that even mean….

He plopped down next to her on the couch. “Pop’s going to kill us,” he muttered. “ ‘nutritious snack.’”

“Unh-hunh, calcium, protein…green stuff…” she said. She reached for a slice—“Hey, you forgot--”

“Napkins, right!” There was a slight breeze and he was sitting next to her with a handful of napkins.

“Ah, what a wonderful use of these nearly magical powers we have…”

“Don’t start, watch the movie.”

She shoved her feet under Dad’s leg, and chewed her way through a nutritious slice with everything.

“So, what do you usually do when Poppa has a late meeting?”

“Mmm,” she shrugged. “Watch a movie, read, talk to my friends.” maybe she should ask him whether he thought Pop would go ballistic about Greg…

Dad nodded. “So…a meeting, hunh? They take long?”

She was so wrapped up in about Greg, she answered without thought, “ He thinks I think he’s at a meeting. He’s got a rent-a-date.”

Dad choked and sputtered, coke dribbled down his shirtfront. “What?”

“Oh, I’m not supposed to know, but hello—super-hearing?”

“But—but, that’s not possible—I’d know.”

Ripley looked at her dad speculatively. “So, you actually think that he’s not supposed to—even though you—with everyone?”

Dad was so flustered, he missed the jab entirely, waved his hands around. “No! No, that’s not what I mean at all. He’s a grown—I’m just saying I’d know if he, if he…”

“…so….you’re saying you stalk him, then?”

Dad turned bright red. “Eat your food before it gets cold.”

“You do, don’t you,” she crowed. “Dad! You’re so lame!” She laughed, but mostly out of happiness. She knew it, he practically came out and said it, he cared—all those stupid guys he dated--he was just waiting for Pop, who was waiting for him…geez. What would they do if she hadn’t been born? She shook her head. Idiots.
“Tell him dad. Tell him you know.”

“No—if I do, I’d have to talk about me.”

“Dad, you know it’s not like Poppa doesn’t know. He could give lessons in watching you. Thank goodness, or he’d be all in my business constantly.”

Dad raised an eyebrow. “You have ‘business’, Alexandra?”

“NO! You know what I mean—and don’t change the subject, we’re talking about you.”

He shifted and frowned. They both stared at the movie. She sighed.

“Talk to him Dad. Dad, you know very well you love Poppa, and don’t hand me that ‘like a friend’ junk. You know if you needed him he’d be there in a minute and not even ask what or why.”

Dad stared at the slice of cold pizza drooping in his hand. “Yeah. I guess. Um…what’s this dating service called?”

“I don’t know, ew. Why should I care—he’s out, comes home late and then mopes around for a day or two. Showers me with goodies, and then, it’s life as usual.” She shrugged. “You know Pop.”

He crammed the end of the slice in his mouth and chewed, nodded. He did know Pop. And she knew him. Wheels, my friend, wheels are turning….

“By the way, there’s this thing at school. I’d like for you both to come.”

Dad stopped chewing and smiled. “I’d like that. We haven’t been to a ‘thing’ together…”

“Ever,” she glowered. “You’ve *never* been to a school thing together. So you guys come to my play.”

He agreed, and looked so pleased….

“Great, you can ask him after his date tonight.”

He instantly deflated. “Oh. Yeah. That.” he said, and glowered at the screen.

She regretted manipulating him like that. Somewhat. “Dad, a dating service doesn’t mean ‘boyfriend’ you know.” She snuggled under his arm.

“Yeah,” he said softly, “It’s not like I’ve watched a parade of guys coming and going and had to wonder, which one would be the last one…”

She looked up and saw the terrible sadness on her father’s face, and was pretty sure he wasn’t feeling sorry for himself. She squeezed his arm and he hugged her back fiercely.

They sat and watched another movie in comfortable silence and after a while, he began to snore a little.

Hah, she thought. what a lightweight. It’s not even…that…late….

*****

Lex unlocked the door quietly, hung up his overcoat and loosened his tie. He could hear the TV from the foyer, and was deeply surprised it was still on. Alexandra was always sound asleep in her bed when he came home, weekend or not. He’d have to talk to her—talk to Clark. He shouldn’t have let her stay up so late…he walked into the entertainment room and stopped. Smiled. They were both on the couch, heads leaning together, and snoring gently.

It was a beautiful picture.

All the guilt that wore at him on the way home seemed to dissipate. Right now, the only thing he felt was a strong desire to join them there on the couch. He stopped, shrugged. Took off his jacket and tie, his shoes, and sat next to Lexie. He threw his arm around her, and his hand touched Clark’s shoulder. It felt…nice. Good. Too bad he wasn’t really sleepy, it would be nice to….

******
Clark woke up with a warm weight against him, and a smile on his face. Something smelled good, like…home, and happy…he opened his eyes. of course.

Rip was curled into him, her hand wrapped in his shirt, gently drooling away. He closed her mouth with a fingertip, and looked over and—Lex. No wonder it smelled so…right. He took a moment to inhale, closed his eyes and savored his delicious scent, like he never had a chance to anymore. He sighed quietly. Lex looked kind of content. And elegant—no one wearing rumpled evening wear and sleeping on a couch should look so elegant.

He gazed at him, just enjoying the opportunity to look at him. He’d changed little in the past few years, really. Now that he was relaxed, Clark noticed that he had a few lines, a few, around his mouth. He liked it. It drew attention to his mouth, made it even sexier. He was a little heavier than when they’d first met. More solid. More…there. Lex had always seemed almost painfully thin to Clark. Breakable. He looked less so now. Clark smiled. He was willing to bet the few pounds drove him crazy.

Clark eased himself out of Rip’s damp embrace, and rose carefully from the couch. Before he left the room, he kissed his daughter on her forehead, and couldn’t resist laying his hand on Lex’s cheek. It was as silky as he remembered, cool, as humans tended to be. He desperately wanted to touch his mouth, the little scar still evident on his upper lip. He pulled himself away and headed to the kitchen.

It was early enough that Herta had just begun to make breakfast, so he begged a glass of juice, slipped on his sneakers and headed out to walk around the park.


He strolled slowly through the paths, watched the sun rise over the trees, enjoyed watching the daytime city come to life. He bought a coffee, and on a whim, a cinnamon roll, something he hadn’t done in a long, long time, smiling at the smell of cinnamon and butter, of memories. He laughed a little, thinking of cinnamon and confusion….

He found a bench that sat back a little way from the foot paths, took out his cell and searched a number he hadn’t called in a while.

*Hey—the hell you doing up so early?* A huge growl of a yawn filled Clark’s ear.

“Grumpy. Couldn’t sleep. I was out walking and realized I missed you, figured I’d call.” Clark smiled, waited for more grumbling.

*…You can’t miss me in the afternoon—it’s gotta be the asscrack of the morning? Jordan yawned deeply again, and Clark could hear rustling in the background.

“You’re in bed—I’m sorry.”

*Shit. Lucky for you, I’m alone. So what’s up?*

“I just wanted to let you know, that I’m…ah…living at Lex’s for the moment. Well, not living there, just staying a few nights. Helping out Rip. You know. So in case you wanted to call….”

*Living--man. That boy could slam his hand in a car door couple times and get the same effect for cheaper. He’s going to go broke, trying to feed her and you.*

“Shut up. I won’t hurt him.”

*Yeah, much.*

Clark was silent, thinking, and then asked, “Do you think…he’d want me to…to stay there? Let me?”

*You asshole. If I was him, I’d tell you to kiss my b—ass. But we're talking 'bout Lex, he’d just look. Do that eye thing, and say, if you’d like. Bastard.*

Clark was quiet, wondering if Jordan meant him, or Lex. There was more rustling and then a groan, and a suspicious, hollow sort of hissing sound.

“Are you peeing while I’m talking to you?”

*What—it’s not like you can see. Besides, take it from me, it’s as pretty as the last time you saw it.*

“Geez—that’s…well, okay, it’s not disgusting but it’s wrong. Very wrong.”

*Hmp. Tell that to little Jay. Anyway, you’re in there now, boy—dig in like a tick.*

“You have a very disturbing way of describing things, you know. Tick.” Clark shuddered lightly.

*Blah-blah. Look, you love him, he loves you, you need to stop fucking your way through the city *and* the mu’fucken suburbs and get back where you belong.* Jordan’s voice softened as he went on. *He loves you, he really does. Not so surprising-- everyone who knows you loves you, Clark. They can’t help it.*

Clark felt warmth spread through him, felt a big, probably goofy, grin bloom on his face. And Jordan continued.

* Must be some freaky Smallville meteor thing—* he chuckled at Clark’s gasp of outrage. * seriously… Lex…he needs you.*

“It’s been along time, Jor—maybe too long.”

*It’s Lex. Do you think time means anything to him? Do you think he doesn’t understand you better than anyone? Look, other folks might have given up, but he’s…he’s like one of those monks way up in those mountains, you know? He sees everything. And when he needs to be, he’s patient as shit. It’d kind of scary.*

Clark made a small noise. “Oh gosh—you do love him, don’t you?”

*What? Lex? Shit, you really are stupid. And stupid. Stupid as dirt. Go home.* He hung up and Clark sat for a while, soaking up the sun.

At least that wasn’t complicated.

*****

By the time he made it back home, Ripley was dressed and eating breakfast and Lex was just coming out of. Coming out of. Out of.

“Clark? Are you all right?”

"Oh yes, excuse me—I. Why are you in the hallway, in a robe? Wet?"

"Because...it’s my home and I can dress, or not dress, as I wish…are you *sure* you’re all right—you look a little pale. Have you been out yet this morning?” he asked sternly.

He nodded. “Yes, sunning--I really am fine. I’m going to shower and…you know.”

Lex gave him a long level look that made him blush, and he walked quickly to his room.

God, Shower. Shower and ‘you know’, *definitely* on his list.


tbc

Comments

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you like Jordan--and the couch bit! *happysmile*