Title: Core
Series/Sequel: We'll see what happens.
Author: Lydia aka Vinca
Pairing(s): Clark/Lex
Category: AU Angst Drama
Warnings: None yet.
Disclaimers: Smallville characters not mine *pout*
Summary: Prequel to Kidnapped
Part 2
After the division heads left, Lex went to the den and poured himself
a drink. Today had been hectic with shareholders reports, stock
ratings, and everyday business affairs. He had to admit though, his
father had left everything to fall in place perfectly. The companies
profit went down marginally in the first few months of Lionel's
death. Now that the world knew him to be completely capable to handle
the company, his business was booming. He'd even changed the
company's name to LexCorp, and with it brought new ideas, products,
and services to the fore.
Reporters did stories on him and the companies stability. Soon
afterward partners were calling, deals were being closed, and money
made. LexCorp took on body and expanded internationally over the
years.
And through it all Lex adapted. He was, after all, raised to head the
family business one day. Neither he nor his father had suspected he'd
be taking over so soon, or that he'd do so flawlessly. But even
Luthor's couldn't make unforeseen circumstances, (like 20 car pile
ups), disappear with a neatly signed check.
He used the remote to turn the fireplace up to blazing and settled
back against couch he had sat in. He laid his head against the arm of
the couch and curled into himself, letting the warmth from the
fireplace seep into his bones.
He used to be cold all the time. But now to his wonderment, (and
apprehension), he found himself being slowly thawed in light of the
Kent's heat. Thawed enough for them to carve a spot in the only place
warm enough to fit. With the only other person to ever show him
affection in that way, his mother. It was the only spot in his heart
that he had kept warm enough to have feeling. The concern and general
caring for his well being was enough to torment his soul.
He sighed and sat up when he heard a knock at the door. Devon stepped
in and announced that a Dominic was there to see him. He waved
vaguely and stood to get another drink. With that man around he'd
need another one.
Dominic strode into the room as if he owned it and grinned hugely at
Lex. "Lex! It's good to see you."
"Not that I can say the same. What do you want?"
Dominic looked crestfallen for a second then grinned. "You know
that's what I always liked about you, Lex. You always get to the
point" Lex rolled his eyes at the obvious stalling, and leaned a hip
against the counter. He raised an eyebrow and waited for him to
continue.
Dominic cleared his throat and nodded as if to prod himself into
motion. "You see I have an interesting tidbit about your future
employment. It seems the way you've handled yourself running of
LexCorp, you've turned some very important heads. I've heard
prominent voices comment on the fact that they'd like to have you
work for them." He paused dramatically, awaiting a sign that Lex was
interested, but he simply tilted his head and raised the other
eyebrow. Dominic sighed and gave up any hope of seeing the beautiful
young man react to him in any way, and plodded on in with the
information.
"Those men were men of government. Your skills and diplomacy has
reached many ears, and your name has been on the lips of several
countries' leaders. It seems that your diplomacy in dealing with such
a diversified group of people and helping them come together in
arrangements with their enterprises has drawn attention. They have
spoken to the President, and it has been agreed that you would be
considered as a candidate. If you show cunning and skill at your next
business meeting with those officials from Europe, I'm sure it would
tip the decision in you favor..."
Lex's eyes seemed to lose focus and turn inward as he thought about
what was presented to him. Then he centered back on the fidgety man
before him. "If what you say is true, what position would I be asked
to work?"
"From my sources, they say advisory, or even head of the diplomacy
agency. Whatever those men had asked of the President in your behalf,
was genuine. And my personal opinion is that if you wanted to do so
you could run for President with time and experience in political
world affairs."
Lex turned back to the counter and poured himself one last glass,
before facing him. "And what would you want in return for this
information?" He asked casually leaning against the counter again.
Dominic took on a leery expression, and gave Lex a once over. He was
dressed in a black silk shirt, and black slacks that stretched and
bunched from Lex's position. A silver chain rested against his smooth
hairless chest seen through the space of three buttons that he had
unbuttoned after the meeting. Dominic licked his lips and smiled
wantonly. "Well I'm sure you know what I'd like Lex," he fairly
purred, "but I will settle for a small piece of the company from your
fathers share." He added quickly when he saw the steel that warned
him off enter Lex's eyes.
Lex nodded and grabbed his cell off a desk in the corner. He speed-
dialed, quickly spoke into it, telling the person on the other end to
ready Dominic's business section. He smirked at Dominic's surprise
and lifted a shoulder in a shrug. "My father already had a section of
LuthorCorp that he wanted you to have. Something about me not taking
over all the corporate secrets, not being ready for it. I assume you
know of them since you were his aid. Now if we're finished Devon will
show you to the door. Good evening."
With that he was out the door and headed upstairs to his bedroom,
glad to be out of Dominic's presence. The man just rubbed him the
wrong way. 'At least now he'll be busy with his little corner of the
world, I won't have to see him.'
He changed and climbed into the four-poster bed after he'd stripped.
He was almost unconsciousness when he thought of Clark. 'Maybe I'll
see him sooner rather than later.' He wasn't blind, or dumb, and he'd
noticed the way Clark looked at him today, and while sex wasn't at
the top of his list of things to do, it had been pretty hot there for
a minute. 'It had almost seemed as if he'd wanted to kiss me...Or
posses me.' He shivered at the memory of the intense heat in Clark's
eyes as they stood by his car, the almost touch, when Clark had
leaned towards him. 'It's time to find out exactly what is Clark's
story nowadays.' Though they had kept in touch, they hadn't been able
to discuss everything.
'Maybe I'll stop by tomorrow after that conference call to Sweden,'
was his last thought as he drifted into sleep, and into dreams of a
smiling Clark.
*
Clark sat in his loft soaking up memories of his youth spent in this
very room. The good time's he'd had, and the bad that had been made
here were etched into the walls.
He sighed inwardly and reflected on the day. After Lex had left they
had sat around and just talked. It felt good to be near his parents
again, even though they hadn't treated him like the 22-year-old he
is, but like the teenager that he had been what seemed like ages ago.
He had been so na�ve and innocent then. Life hadn't been as
complicated either. Sure he had these powers that seemed to just pop
up at random, and weird freaky people that he had to save his friends
and family (with the knowledge that it was his fault in the back of
his mind) from, but besides that nothing overly confusing. Just his
crush on Lana, his easy comradeship with Chloe and Pete, and his
position as school geek/brain.
Then he didn't have to worry about being tempted to throw his best
friend on the hood of his Porsche and claim him in a way he didn't
understand. He hadn't felt the need to connect soul deep with the
only other person besides his parents that he could just be Clark
Kent. Even with Chloe and Pete he had to act like the klutzy blushing
Lana-stalker they thought him to be. But with Lex he could just kick
back, and relax. The only thing between them was his origin, and
powers. Though he knew Lex thought something was odd about him, he
didn't know exactly what. He hated keeping secrets from him, but his
parents were still adamant about not letting anyone know. He
agreed...to a point. It seems that these new feelings within him were
pulling that point back awfully close to the line between telling and
not.
He shivered and looked around. All day he had felt like a presence
had been watching him. He had also felt a tug towards something else
that he didn't want dwell on for too long. He shrugged it off and
headed into the house and up to his room in seconds.
If only he had a manual for his peoples' culture, and habits.
Something that would tell him exactly what he was feeling and why.
Even though his parents, during slow moments forgot that he wasn't a
human, he remembered every second of the day. Living in this town had
seemed to emphasize his differences a great deal.
He sighed and pushed thoughts out of his head jumping into bed in his
boxers. 'No need to depress myself any further.' He fell into a
troubled sleep despite his wishes and dreamed again.
*
The throbbing pulse of cerulean light, and hum filled the storm
cellar. Kal-El had finally went to bed and was susceptible to her
calls.
She had watched him reach maturity through the Earth years, and felt
his pain acutely. She would have helped him sooner but the exit from
their solar system had been damaging, and then into Earth's
atmosphere had further damaged her, and she had concentrated all
power to keeping the pod intact and young Kal-El safe. Over time
she'd had regenerated, and since he wasn't at the learning center the
humans called college her messages would reach him. Now she would sit
and wait for him to come to her.
Author's Note: I know it's been a little slow, but it'll pick up,
promise. :)