sv fic post: East of the Sun part 9
2/26/08 10:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
roxyTitle: East of the Sun
Author: roxy
Pairings/Characters: Lex/people, eventually clex
Rating:G
Word Count:2084
Summary: Lex learns about trust and love from an unlikely source.
Notes/Warnings: this is me putting the boys in my version of the swing era, just to see how pretty they look.
Many, many thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
danceswithgary for beta duty, and the beautiful cover!
He scrubbed himself from head to toe, and brushed his hair until it shone—he was not going to embarrass Lana by looking like a chump if he could help it. He held the flower he'd bought for her under Whit's direction and practiced what he'd say in the mirror, and adjusted his tie and shirt collar a million times. He frowned over the fuzzy edges of his cuff and bit his lip. He should have thought about it before, he could have asked his mom to fix the cuffs. Oh well... at least his tie was new, colorful and bright. Again he frowned. Not too bright, he hoped. This whole dance thing was driving him batty. Somehow, Lana had gone from being his sister to an echo of that mystery girl he'd fallen in love with long ago. There was just too much stuff going on--his mom was beside herself, she was so happy Clark was on a date, a little too happy as far as Clark was concerned. And all day, Hannah'd been looking at him strangely. He wanted to ask her why, but he kept missing her and now it was time to go….
He got the truck key from dad, who handed it over as solemnly as if he was conducting some ancient coming of age ritual. Clark tried to keep his face as serious as dad's was, but a big goofy grin kept breaking through, and he snatched the key, "Thanks dad—see ya at ten!" and ran.
@@@@@
In no time he was pulling up in the Potter driveway, heart tripping a little fast. He ran up the porch steps and knocked on the door. When Miss Potter opened the door, her expression was a little sour, and Clark smiled shyly and hoped he looked like a friend and not a potential rival for rich Whitney Fordman, Nell's beau of choice for Lana. It turned out all right, she might not have been full of warmth and hail fellow well met, but at least she didn't slam the door in his face.
Lana swept up behind her aunt and Clark couldn't stop the admiring 'wow!' that fell out of his mouth—she looked beautiful, in a robin's egg blue dress, with little pearl buttons all down the front and little short sleeves with a slit in them, just like the girls in the movie. She smiled at him, and he was pretty sure he passed muster.
@@@@@
The hall was beautiful, full of colored lights and balloons and sunflowers everywhere. All the doors were open in hopes of coaxing a cooling breeze through. A lot of the girls were slowly losing their curls, their dresses weren't as crisp anymore, but not Lana—she looked as perfect as when they first stepped in the hall. They danced and danced, and she was so light, like dandelion fluff in his hand. He sang snatches of the songs, and she blushed and smiled when he sang and looked at her. It was fun. She talked to him, about school, and what she hoped for in the future, and her growing feeling that Whit was not thinking the same things she was, not expecting the same things and maybe he didn’t love her at all. Clark held her and danced her about the floor, and told her she was being silly, of course Whit loved her. The band took break, and they stopped dancing. Lana let Clark get her a glass of punch, and they walked back together to his dad's truck. He swallowed, a little nervous about doing that, but no one saw, and besides, it was Lana. She was like a sister to him.
They sat in the spotlessly clean truck, sipping punch, and Clark snickered while Lana filled him in on all the juicy gossip at school. They chatted a while and eventually the conversation turned back to Whit, and he told Lana that she was worrying needlessly. Whit was everything a guy should be, faithful and good and kind, "He's such a solid guy, Lana—why, he's friends with me, isn't he?"
Lana scolded him. "Don’t run yourself down, Clark. You’re a lovely person, a very nice boy." She smiled and cupped his cheek. "I know you've liked me for a very long time, Clark. I know you used to follow me home from school." She frowned just a tiny bit. "What happened? Why don't you like me anymore?"
"I do, I like you very much. You're the most important girl in my life," he smiled and was about to tell her he understood that there was no way they could be more than friends and he was happy about that when she crossed that few inches between them and kissed him. Kissed him!
Soft, soft lips pressed against his, dry and warm. He was so surprised he gasped and Lana pressed forward. There was warmth, wet, she was scraping his mouth—a tiny bit—with her teeth and they tingled and heated and then, she was in his lap and he had no idea how. He felt a startling sensation growing below his belt, like his underwear was bunched and tight, his breath came harder, and he sucked in. Her tongue flicked against his teeth and he moaned, quietly as he could. He was kissing her, his tongue was touching hers, he was kissing the girl that Whit kissed, Whit's tongue had been right there, wet and warm—Clark's eyes flew open and he jerked back—"No! Oh! We—we can't do this!"
Lana's hands flew up to cover her mouth and she blushed so deep a red Clark was frightened—she looked horrified. "Are you—will you tell? Please don’t tell Clark, please!"
"But, but, this is wrong—oh gosh, this is so wrong." Clark felt crushed with guilt and Lana looked like she was going to cry.
"If you care for me at all, you'll let me tell Whit first, don’t you think it should be me?"
Clark nodded. "I guess. If you think it's best," he said. "Oh gosh, I'm so sorry, Lana. I really am." He must have said something, done something tonight that made this happen. It certainly wasn't Lana's fault.
They were silent on their way back to the truck and at Lana's house, he tried to apologize several times, but she wouldn't let him talk, and he drove back home in a blue funk.
@@@@@
Clark ran through that afternoon's rehearsal in his mind, juggling his books and his sweater as he pushed through the exit doors, humming the song he was supposed to sing, trying to think of parts he hadn't hit like he should. The other cast members said he was good, but he wasn't entirely sure about that.
He dropped his books on the steps outside the doors, and yanked his sweater over his head. He had to be more than good, he had to be perfect—for the first time, he'd been allowed to participate in something outside of church or home. He guessed maybe since Dad was seeing that he could be close friends with someone and the world not end, he figured it was okay to finally loosen the apron strings—or whatever dads loosened.
He strolled out to the road in front of the school, ready for the walk home. Another nice thing about staying after school was that there were fewer people around to stare at him and wonder just what had happened at the Founder's Day dance--the dance was more than a few days past, and he hadn't seen Lana or Whitney. He'd heard plenty—whispering and speculative looks, and outright snubs, but so far, he hadn't seen the other players in this little drama. Not that he was trying to avoid them, it was just…he really was busy. It was amazing how much needed to be done, at school, at home—especially when you looked for it.
"Clark."
Clark whipped around and gulped. Whitney. All his excitement dropped away under a ton of guilt. "Hi."
"So, what play is it this year?" He took the playbook Clark handed him and tried to look interested. "Oh. Good News, hunh?"
Clark nodded. "It was on Broadway." He swallowed hard. He'd used up his store of safe conversation. His heart sank. Whit was going to talk about *it*…
Whit handed the book back and sighed. "Lana told me what happened." Whit looked sad, which confused Clark, because he really expected to be dodging fists when Whit said that.
"Whit, Whit, I swear to God, I'm sorry." He winced inside. Apologizing was like closing the barn after the cows wandered, kind of pointless, and not helpful…there was no way he could make it up to Whit.
"We broke up. Or something like it. I'm not sure…"
Clark groaned…the weight of guilt turned into an elephant sitting on his chest. Whit started walking, and Clark didn’t know what else to do but follow him "…you—you think you broke up?"
Whitney nodded, and Clark followed him silently to his truck. Whit stopped and jerked his head toward the truck. "Get in."
Clark stopped. "No—I don’t think—"
"Get. In." Whit looked furious, his eyes were blazing. Clark rubbed his face but just nodded, and climbed in. If Whit was going to take him somewhere else to pound him, Clark guessed he had a right. He settled back against the seat. This was surely the last time he'd be riding in Whit's fine truck, and that really shouldn't make him sad.
Whit started the truck and drove, not saying anything, not looking Clark's way. Clark clutched his books and his playbook and watched him out of the corner of his eye. He tried again, "Listen Whit, I'm really, really sorry."
"Kent, don't apologize. You should have come to me first though. Lana says you're trying to hide behind her."
"But she…" Clark was shocked, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak against Lana. She surely had a reason to imply things happened differently than they had.
Whit shrugged, and frowned a little. "Don't worry. Her version…don’t add up to beans. Maybe we were through before this. You know, she wanted a lot of stuff I didn't--I mean, not yet. I'm going to college, she's going to college. We can't get married now. And we shouldn't tie each other down."
Clark sat like a stone; he had no idea what to say. I broke them up. It kept rattling through his mind, I broke them up… the last thing in the world he wanted to do. He was a rat, a skunk…
"It's just, she thinks she knows what she wants too, but mostly it's what her aunt wants for her." Whit shook his head. "Lana's too big for this crummy little town. I mean, what's Smallville known for? Killer rocks from the sky? Freaks hiding all over the countryside, everyone afraid to talk about it…we all need to get out of Smallville, pal."
"I don't think…I'll have the farm, someday it'll be mine. Just like I thought…you and your dad's store. That you'd be there."
Whit slowed and glanced at Clark, the tiny beginning of a smile on his lips. "Kent. Clark, did you think I was staying in this burg? What, you saw me and you together in Smallville, best friends, maybe raising our kids together, good old family cookouts?" He grinned, laughed.
Clark blushed and felt like a fool. "No, not really."
Whit's smile died. "Yeah, I thought about it. Staying here. Getting married. Sometimes, I think I can do it--if you stay here too."
Clark shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere, Whit."
Whit shrugged. They drove on in silence, until they were pulling up on the Kent driveway. "Clark." He reached out and slid his hand around Clark's wrist. "I forgive you, okay? I mean it."
The truck was suddenly tiny and stuffy and full of their smell…he pulled his hand away, rougher than he'd meant. "Okay, all right, I'll talk to you later." He felt hot and tight all over his skin, his eyes hurt like he'd rubbed burning sand into them. "Thank you. Good night, Whit."
He ran into the house, straight to the bath room and locked himself in. He couldn't move—he lay back against the closed door and panted in relief--felt like he'd just managed to escape something huge, overpowering.
part 10
TBC
Author: roxy
Pairings/Characters: Lex/people, eventually clex
Rating:G
Word Count:2084
Summary: Lex learns about trust and love from an unlikely source.
Notes/Warnings: this is me putting the boys in my version of the swing era, just to see how pretty they look.
Many, many thanks to
danceswithgary for beta duty, and the beautiful cover!He scrubbed himself from head to toe, and brushed his hair until it shone—he was not going to embarrass Lana by looking like a chump if he could help it. He held the flower he'd bought for her under Whit's direction and practiced what he'd say in the mirror, and adjusted his tie and shirt collar a million times. He frowned over the fuzzy edges of his cuff and bit his lip. He should have thought about it before, he could have asked his mom to fix the cuffs. Oh well... at least his tie was new, colorful and bright. Again he frowned. Not too bright, he hoped. This whole dance thing was driving him batty. Somehow, Lana had gone from being his sister to an echo of that mystery girl he'd fallen in love with long ago. There was just too much stuff going on--his mom was beside herself, she was so happy Clark was on a date, a little too happy as far as Clark was concerned. And all day, Hannah'd been looking at him strangely. He wanted to ask her why, but he kept missing her and now it was time to go….
He got the truck key from dad, who handed it over as solemnly as if he was conducting some ancient coming of age ritual. Clark tried to keep his face as serious as dad's was, but a big goofy grin kept breaking through, and he snatched the key, "Thanks dad—see ya at ten!" and ran.
@@@@@
In no time he was pulling up in the Potter driveway, heart tripping a little fast. He ran up the porch steps and knocked on the door. When Miss Potter opened the door, her expression was a little sour, and Clark smiled shyly and hoped he looked like a friend and not a potential rival for rich Whitney Fordman, Nell's beau of choice for Lana. It turned out all right, she might not have been full of warmth and hail fellow well met, but at least she didn't slam the door in his face.
Lana swept up behind her aunt and Clark couldn't stop the admiring 'wow!' that fell out of his mouth—she looked beautiful, in a robin's egg blue dress, with little pearl buttons all down the front and little short sleeves with a slit in them, just like the girls in the movie. She smiled at him, and he was pretty sure he passed muster.
@@@@@
The hall was beautiful, full of colored lights and balloons and sunflowers everywhere. All the doors were open in hopes of coaxing a cooling breeze through. A lot of the girls were slowly losing their curls, their dresses weren't as crisp anymore, but not Lana—she looked as perfect as when they first stepped in the hall. They danced and danced, and she was so light, like dandelion fluff in his hand. He sang snatches of the songs, and she blushed and smiled when he sang and looked at her. It was fun. She talked to him, about school, and what she hoped for in the future, and her growing feeling that Whit was not thinking the same things she was, not expecting the same things and maybe he didn’t love her at all. Clark held her and danced her about the floor, and told her she was being silly, of course Whit loved her. The band took break, and they stopped dancing. Lana let Clark get her a glass of punch, and they walked back together to his dad's truck. He swallowed, a little nervous about doing that, but no one saw, and besides, it was Lana. She was like a sister to him.
They sat in the spotlessly clean truck, sipping punch, and Clark snickered while Lana filled him in on all the juicy gossip at school. They chatted a while and eventually the conversation turned back to Whit, and he told Lana that she was worrying needlessly. Whit was everything a guy should be, faithful and good and kind, "He's such a solid guy, Lana—why, he's friends with me, isn't he?"
Lana scolded him. "Don’t run yourself down, Clark. You’re a lovely person, a very nice boy." She smiled and cupped his cheek. "I know you've liked me for a very long time, Clark. I know you used to follow me home from school." She frowned just a tiny bit. "What happened? Why don't you like me anymore?"
"I do, I like you very much. You're the most important girl in my life," he smiled and was about to tell her he understood that there was no way they could be more than friends and he was happy about that when she crossed that few inches between them and kissed him. Kissed him!
Soft, soft lips pressed against his, dry and warm. He was so surprised he gasped and Lana pressed forward. There was warmth, wet, she was scraping his mouth—a tiny bit—with her teeth and they tingled and heated and then, she was in his lap and he had no idea how. He felt a startling sensation growing below his belt, like his underwear was bunched and tight, his breath came harder, and he sucked in. Her tongue flicked against his teeth and he moaned, quietly as he could. He was kissing her, his tongue was touching hers, he was kissing the girl that Whit kissed, Whit's tongue had been right there, wet and warm—Clark's eyes flew open and he jerked back—"No! Oh! We—we can't do this!"
Lana's hands flew up to cover her mouth and she blushed so deep a red Clark was frightened—she looked horrified. "Are you—will you tell? Please don’t tell Clark, please!"
"But, but, this is wrong—oh gosh, this is so wrong." Clark felt crushed with guilt and Lana looked like she was going to cry.
"If you care for me at all, you'll let me tell Whit first, don’t you think it should be me?"
Clark nodded. "I guess. If you think it's best," he said. "Oh gosh, I'm so sorry, Lana. I really am." He must have said something, done something tonight that made this happen. It certainly wasn't Lana's fault.
They were silent on their way back to the truck and at Lana's house, he tried to apologize several times, but she wouldn't let him talk, and he drove back home in a blue funk.
@@@@@
Clark ran through that afternoon's rehearsal in his mind, juggling his books and his sweater as he pushed through the exit doors, humming the song he was supposed to sing, trying to think of parts he hadn't hit like he should. The other cast members said he was good, but he wasn't entirely sure about that.
He dropped his books on the steps outside the doors, and yanked his sweater over his head. He had to be more than good, he had to be perfect—for the first time, he'd been allowed to participate in something outside of church or home. He guessed maybe since Dad was seeing that he could be close friends with someone and the world not end, he figured it was okay to finally loosen the apron strings—or whatever dads loosened.
He strolled out to the road in front of the school, ready for the walk home. Another nice thing about staying after school was that there were fewer people around to stare at him and wonder just what had happened at the Founder's Day dance--the dance was more than a few days past, and he hadn't seen Lana or Whitney. He'd heard plenty—whispering and speculative looks, and outright snubs, but so far, he hadn't seen the other players in this little drama. Not that he was trying to avoid them, it was just…he really was busy. It was amazing how much needed to be done, at school, at home—especially when you looked for it.
"Clark."
Clark whipped around and gulped. Whitney. All his excitement dropped away under a ton of guilt. "Hi."
"So, what play is it this year?" He took the playbook Clark handed him and tried to look interested. "Oh. Good News, hunh?"
Clark nodded. "It was on Broadway." He swallowed hard. He'd used up his store of safe conversation. His heart sank. Whit was going to talk about *it*…
Whit handed the book back and sighed. "Lana told me what happened." Whit looked sad, which confused Clark, because he really expected to be dodging fists when Whit said that.
"Whit, Whit, I swear to God, I'm sorry." He winced inside. Apologizing was like closing the barn after the cows wandered, kind of pointless, and not helpful…there was no way he could make it up to Whit.
"We broke up. Or something like it. I'm not sure…"
Clark groaned…the weight of guilt turned into an elephant sitting on his chest. Whit started walking, and Clark didn’t know what else to do but follow him "…you—you think you broke up?"
Whitney nodded, and Clark followed him silently to his truck. Whit stopped and jerked his head toward the truck. "Get in."
Clark stopped. "No—I don’t think—"
"Get. In." Whit looked furious, his eyes were blazing. Clark rubbed his face but just nodded, and climbed in. If Whit was going to take him somewhere else to pound him, Clark guessed he had a right. He settled back against the seat. This was surely the last time he'd be riding in Whit's fine truck, and that really shouldn't make him sad.
Whit started the truck and drove, not saying anything, not looking Clark's way. Clark clutched his books and his playbook and watched him out of the corner of his eye. He tried again, "Listen Whit, I'm really, really sorry."
"Kent, don't apologize. You should have come to me first though. Lana says you're trying to hide behind her."
"But she…" Clark was shocked, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak against Lana. She surely had a reason to imply things happened differently than they had.
Whit shrugged, and frowned a little. "Don't worry. Her version…don’t add up to beans. Maybe we were through before this. You know, she wanted a lot of stuff I didn't--I mean, not yet. I'm going to college, she's going to college. We can't get married now. And we shouldn't tie each other down."
Clark sat like a stone; he had no idea what to say. I broke them up. It kept rattling through his mind, I broke them up… the last thing in the world he wanted to do. He was a rat, a skunk…
"It's just, she thinks she knows what she wants too, but mostly it's what her aunt wants for her." Whit shook his head. "Lana's too big for this crummy little town. I mean, what's Smallville known for? Killer rocks from the sky? Freaks hiding all over the countryside, everyone afraid to talk about it…we all need to get out of Smallville, pal."
"I don't think…I'll have the farm, someday it'll be mine. Just like I thought…you and your dad's store. That you'd be there."
Whit slowed and glanced at Clark, the tiny beginning of a smile on his lips. "Kent. Clark, did you think I was staying in this burg? What, you saw me and you together in Smallville, best friends, maybe raising our kids together, good old family cookouts?" He grinned, laughed.
Clark blushed and felt like a fool. "No, not really."
Whit's smile died. "Yeah, I thought about it. Staying here. Getting married. Sometimes, I think I can do it--if you stay here too."
Clark shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere, Whit."
Whit shrugged. They drove on in silence, until they were pulling up on the Kent driveway. "Clark." He reached out and slid his hand around Clark's wrist. "I forgive you, okay? I mean it."
The truck was suddenly tiny and stuffy and full of their smell…he pulled his hand away, rougher than he'd meant. "Okay, all right, I'll talk to you later." He felt hot and tight all over his skin, his eyes hurt like he'd rubbed burning sand into them. "Thank you. Good night, Whit."
He ran into the house, straight to the bath room and locked himself in. He couldn't move—he lay back against the closed door and panted in relief--felt like he'd just managed to escape something huge, overpowering.
part 10
TBC
Tags:
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
2/27/08 03:44 am (UTC)It was such a beautiful night until that little hussy got started. *grin*
LOVE THIS!!!!
(no subject)
2/28/08 03:29 am (UTC)(no subject)
2/27/08 03:47 am (UTC)Lana's a real piece of work. And don't you think that Whitney thought something like that might happen and he could use it as an excuse to dump Lana? But to use Clark that way? Not good, Whit.
And somehow I don't think Clark's dodged that bullet, yet.
(no subject)
2/28/08 03:31 am (UTC)Ah, Whitney is thinking many things--none of those things beneficial to anyone. And you're absolutely right--Clark has definitely not dodged that bullet!
(no subject)
2/27/08 03:52 am (UTC)Oh, God, our boy is such a. . . well, I don't know what he is exactly except for a victim just waiting to be taken advantage of. Poor, poor boy. *whimper*
Clark shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere, Whit."
Oh, but you are, sweetie. Roxy's got to get you to Metropolis and into Lex's not-at-first-open-arms,but-soon-to-be-hot!possesive-embrace!
Great update! I absolutely love your Clark (though, I love every one of your Clarks, so. . .) *G*
(no subject)
2/28/08 03:34 am (UTC)*falls down laughing*
Thanks so much--I'm glad that this Clark is working for you!
(no subject)
2/27/08 05:17 am (UTC)You're teasing us with the clitney. Lana's pursuit actually made me a little afraid for our boy. Whit knows what he wants and it's really easy to believe this was one big setup. Especially after that line where he said he considered staying if Clark were in town too. *g*
Good, so freaking good.
(no subject)
2/28/08 03:35 am (UTC)I'm so happy this is still grabbing you! *hugs*
(no subject)
2/27/08 10:07 am (UTC)HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Lex/People!!!!LOL!!!!!!!!!!!! As it should be :D
(no subject)
2/28/08 03:36 am (UTC)Hey, I was pondering how to put the pairing--lol!!
(no subject)
2/27/08 11:45 am (UTC)(no subject)
2/28/08 03:37 am (UTC)(no subject)
2/27/08 12:01 pm (UTC)i hadn't noticed the "lex/people" until it was pointed out above. haha! that's our lex!
(no subject)
2/28/08 03:39 am (UTC)All the better to smudge him up, my dear! *G*
Lex/people...it does kind of say it all, hunh?
(no subject)
2/27/08 01:31 pm (UTC)(no subject)
2/28/08 03:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
2/27/08 02:33 pm (UTC)*groans*
I need some pudding now! Or Lex.
;D
(no subject)
2/28/08 03:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
2/27/08 02:49 pm (UTC)(no subject)
2/28/08 03:42 am (UTC)(no subject)
2/27/08 05:58 pm (UTC)Of *course* Whit forgives Clark. He luffs him.
*la*
:)
(no subject)
2/28/08 03:43 am (UTC)(no subject)
2/27/08 07:40 pm (UTC)Also, if that icon pic is of you, it's true! - anythng so cute must be evil!
(no subject)
2/28/08 03:45 am (UTC)And yep, I is the face of Evoooool! Not cute--evol! *makes evol hand motions*
(no subject)
2/29/08 05:12 pm (UTC)(no subject)
3/1/08 02:31 am (UTC)(no subject)
3/5/08 12:40 pm (UTC)I like the two seperate stories unfolding and I wonder how you combine them at the end.
I was never a "non-Clex" fan, couldn't really see Clark/Whitney or Lex/Pete but your telling has made it possible.
I love the language you use in this too. Makes me think I'm watching an old movie with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. Ma'am. LOL
(no subject)
3/5/08 01:26 pm (UTC)I *love* when folks say that--it's such a great feeling to think that the story is that good that folks can see the possibilities! Even though in my heart of hearts, Pete/Lex is kind of ew. Shhhh! I didn't say that!
Makes me think I'm watching an old movie
you just made my whole day, thank you!!
(no subject)
4/5/08 03:42 am (UTC)(no subject)
4/5/08 05:35 am (UTC)(no subject)
7/22/08 01:24 am (UTC)The descriptions in this part were gorgeous; I particularly liked They danced and danced, and she was so light, like dandelion fluff in his hand.