Oct. 24th, 2009 04:19 pm
Team MetaHumans // 9 Drabbles
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sv100Team: Metahumans
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts
Rating: G - PG13
Characters/Pairings: Clex, Lex, Clark, Jonathon, Martha, Lionel
Author's Notes: Some of these are quite AU, preRift, Rift-what-Rift scenarios. (This is how I like my Clex at the moment.)
Title: Seasonal
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts - 06. Snow
Characters/Pairings: Clex
Warnings: Rifty. AU. Borrows a bit of DC!Lex.
Summary: Things change.
Lex feels the change in their relationship like a change in the seasons. Sultry nights of passion give way to intermittent, love-making. It lacks heat. The ritual morning kiss and the happy evening greeting go missing.
Then comes the dearth, cold mornings waking to an empty bed. Lex rises one morning to snow falling outside and the realization that Clark hasn't been home in three days.
At the office, aside from the normal orders for coffee and reports, he makes two requests of his secretary. His winter gear arrives minutes ahead of the death ray. He goes to the roof.
* * *
Title: Brightly Burning
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts - 10. Flame
Characters/Pairings: Clex, Lionel
Warnings: Dark!Lex.
Summary: Sometimes light only serves to make the darkness more apparent.
The fire between them burns brightly, to the point where it reaches far beyond the bedroom. He cannot be calmed, cooled, or controlled, and the battle with his father ends with Luthorcorp in flames, a just recourse for trying to bring Clark into their fight.
The threat to Clark is too personal to stop there, however. In the end, Lionel calls for a mercy Lex can't give and a desire for family Lionel himself has destroyed.
Lex's punishment is a night alone, until the blood washes away from his skin. His reward is Clark forever after, or so he expects.
* * *
Title: Let It Snow and Love Me So
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts - 06. Snow and 19. Cold, respectively
Characters/Pairings: Clex
Warnings: None
Summary: "Since we've no place to go" would be nice, for a change.
It's been a quiet night, and Clark's spent a good half hour just sitting with his head in Lex's lap, listening to the snow fall outside.
Lex claims he can't hear the scanner at its current volume. Still, when the call comes through for a large fire downtown, Lex looks down at his lapful of Clark.
Lex reads his hesitation and smiles. "Dinner can wait for you."
No lecture on what he should do, just the expectation that he will. Lex is left with a kiss, and tries not to feel resentful when it is an empty building, previously condemned.
*
Dinner is cold by the time Clark returns. Lex says nothing, simply stands to greet him.
Clark sweeps him up, the smell of smoke clinging to his costume as a kiss of greeting becomes something else quickly.
Under other circumstances, Lex would be smart enough not to question his good luck, but Clark wasn't so amorous when he left. "What-"
"I'm sorry I always leave."
Lex recognizes that tone, knows the guilt that fuels it, and he pulls Clark in for another kiss. He can't erase the uncertainty completely, but that won't stop him from trying. "You always come home."
* * *
Title: Even Gift Horses Have Teeth
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts - 21. Gift
Characters/Pairings: Martha, Jonathon, Clark
Warnings: Spoilers for early S3 (ie Phoenix).
Summary: Looking a gift horse in the house makes you an...
"Bought the farm," Jonathon muttered.
Martha's hands twitched. "Which he gave to us, no strings attached."
"There are always strings with Luthors."
"Welcoming him into our home, as we already do?"
There was more mumbling from behind the morning paper, but nothing intelligible.
"It was a gift, and we're going to continue accepting it graciously."
Silence this time in answer. Martha nodded and fetched the breakfast casserole.
Clark took his seat. "Does this mean I can keep the truck?"
Jonathon's grumbling reply was cut off by the smack of an oven mitt on top of his head. "Graciously, Jonathon Kent."
* * *
Title: Kiss of Lethe
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts - 03. Memory
Characters/Pairings: Clark, Lex
Warnings: None.
Summary: Sometimes the only way to go on is to start over.
Clark watched as Lex's eyes fluttered, the taste of Lex's mouth still lingering on his lips.
Lex's expression shifted from confusion to recognition, and back again, before settling on curiosity and concern. "Clark, are you okay? What's the matter?"
"I'm fine," he said, or tried to. The words were hard to force out.
It wasn't until Lex reached up and wiped the tears away that Clark realized he was crying. It was bittersweet to be pulled into the embrace of a Lex who didn't have the memory of Clark's secrets or his betrayal.
What Lex didn't know couldn't hurt him.
* * *
Title: En Suite
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts - 08. Bed
Characters/Pairings: Clark, Lex, Clex
Warnings: None.
Summary: Clark's powers still get the best of him, occasionally... but they also get him the best.
"I thought this was a suite."
"A suite is what we had before the room caught fire."
"Oh."
"I'm sorry to snap, Clark. It's not like it's your fault."
"If it was?"
"I still wouldn't be mad at you. Taking my irritation out on you is the last thing I want."
"I could get another room."
"Correction, that is the last thing I want. We can share."
"We can't."
"If I ask why, will I get an honest answer?"
"It's one of ~those~~ things."
"Ah. And it happens when you share a bed?"
"Only with you."
"Oh. Well. We'll work something out."
* * *
Title: Let Speak Now
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts - 04. Wedding
Characters/Pairings: Jonathon, Martha, Clex,
Warnings: AU.
Summary: Jonathon knows when to bite his tongue.
Jonathon does not stride forward. He does not yell. He does not make a scene. He holds his peace.
He does turn his face away when Clark leans in. He catches Martha's eye and tries to return her smile. The minister announces them, "Spouse and spouse," and Jonathon stands with Martha to welcome their new son.
It helps, that Lex looks as incredulous as Jonathon feels. Jonathon is so focused in keeping himself under control, he catches only the end of Lex's words.
"-Miracle."
"He is," Jonathon agrees.
Lex's smile is beatific. "I meant that you allowed us to marry."
* * *
Title: Learning on a Curve
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts - 17. Hug
Characters/Pairings: Jonathon, Lex
Warnings: None
Summary: Some actions are harder to take than others.
Lex swallows hard, tries to work his arms. Intuitively, the action is easy. Hugging. In reality, it is far from it. Raise arms (but how high), close them about the torso (but how hard), return pressure (how much, for how long), and release (when).
He expects it to be over before he's worked out the details, but the moment stretches. His hands find purchase. He settles on an amount of pressure. He has time enough to breathe in the scents of hay and sweat and leather. Home. Family.
Jonathon's voice is rough, sincere. "It's good to have you back, son."
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts
Rating: G - PG13
Characters/Pairings: Clex, Lex, Clark, Jonathon, Martha, Lionel
Author's Notes: Some of these are quite AU, preRift, Rift-what-Rift scenarios. (This is how I like my Clex at the moment.)
Title: Seasonal
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts - 06. Snow
Characters/Pairings: Clex
Warnings: Rifty. AU. Borrows a bit of DC!Lex.
Summary: Things change.
Lex feels the change in their relationship like a change in the seasons. Sultry nights of passion give way to intermittent, love-making. It lacks heat. The ritual morning kiss and the happy evening greeting go missing.
Then comes the dearth, cold mornings waking to an empty bed. Lex rises one morning to snow falling outside and the realization that Clark hasn't been home in three days.
At the office, aside from the normal orders for coffee and reports, he makes two requests of his secretary. His winter gear arrives minutes ahead of the death ray. He goes to the roof.
* * *
Title: Brightly Burning
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts - 10. Flame
Characters/Pairings: Clex, Lionel
Warnings: Dark!Lex.
Summary: Sometimes light only serves to make the darkness more apparent.
The fire between them burns brightly, to the point where it reaches far beyond the bedroom. He cannot be calmed, cooled, or controlled, and the battle with his father ends with Luthorcorp in flames, a just recourse for trying to bring Clark into their fight.
The threat to Clark is too personal to stop there, however. In the end, Lionel calls for a mercy Lex can't give and a desire for family Lionel himself has destroyed.
Lex's punishment is a night alone, until the blood washes away from his skin. His reward is Clark forever after, or so he expects.
* * *
Title: Let It Snow and Love Me So
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts - 06. Snow and 19. Cold, respectively
Characters/Pairings: Clex
Warnings: None
Summary: "Since we've no place to go" would be nice, for a change.
It's been a quiet night, and Clark's spent a good half hour just sitting with his head in Lex's lap, listening to the snow fall outside.
Lex claims he can't hear the scanner at its current volume. Still, when the call comes through for a large fire downtown, Lex looks down at his lapful of Clark.
Lex reads his hesitation and smiles. "Dinner can wait for you."
No lecture on what he should do, just the expectation that he will. Lex is left with a kiss, and tries not to feel resentful when it is an empty building, previously condemned.
*
Dinner is cold by the time Clark returns. Lex says nothing, simply stands to greet him.
Clark sweeps him up, the smell of smoke clinging to his costume as a kiss of greeting becomes something else quickly.
Under other circumstances, Lex would be smart enough not to question his good luck, but Clark wasn't so amorous when he left. "What-"
"I'm sorry I always leave."
Lex recognizes that tone, knows the guilt that fuels it, and he pulls Clark in for another kiss. He can't erase the uncertainty completely, but that won't stop him from trying. "You always come home."
* * *
Title: Even Gift Horses Have Teeth
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts - 21. Gift
Characters/Pairings: Martha, Jonathon, Clark
Warnings: Spoilers for early S3 (ie Phoenix).
Summary: Looking a gift horse in the house makes you an...
"Bought the farm," Jonathon muttered.
Martha's hands twitched. "Which he gave to us, no strings attached."
"There are always strings with Luthors."
"Welcoming him into our home, as we already do?"
There was more mumbling from behind the morning paper, but nothing intelligible.
"It was a gift, and we're going to continue accepting it graciously."
Silence this time in answer. Martha nodded and fetched the breakfast casserole.
Clark took his seat. "Does this mean I can keep the truck?"
Jonathon's grumbling reply was cut off by the smack of an oven mitt on top of his head. "Graciously, Jonathon Kent."
* * *
Title: Kiss of Lethe
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts - 03. Memory
Characters/Pairings: Clark, Lex
Warnings: None.
Summary: Sometimes the only way to go on is to start over.
Clark watched as Lex's eyes fluttered, the taste of Lex's mouth still lingering on his lips.
Lex's expression shifted from confusion to recognition, and back again, before settling on curiosity and concern. "Clark, are you okay? What's the matter?"
"I'm fine," he said, or tried to. The words were hard to force out.
It wasn't until Lex reached up and wiped the tears away that Clark realized he was crying. It was bittersweet to be pulled into the embrace of a Lex who didn't have the memory of Clark's secrets or his betrayal.
What Lex didn't know couldn't hurt him.
* * *
Title: En Suite
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts - 08. Bed
Characters/Pairings: Clark, Lex, Clex
Warnings: None.
Summary: Clark's powers still get the best of him, occasionally... but they also get him the best.
"I thought this was a suite."
"A suite is what we had before the room caught fire."
"Oh."
"I'm sorry to snap, Clark. It's not like it's your fault."
"If it was?"
"I still wouldn't be mad at you. Taking my irritation out on you is the last thing I want."
"I could get another room."
"Correction, that is the last thing I want. We can share."
"We can't."
"If I ask why, will I get an honest answer?"
"It's one of ~those~~ things."
"Ah. And it happens when you share a bed?"
"Only with you."
"Oh. Well. We'll work something out."
* * *
Title: Let Speak Now
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts - 04. Wedding
Characters/Pairings: Jonathon, Martha, Clex,
Warnings: AU.
Summary: Jonathon knows when to bite his tongue.
Jonathon does not stride forward. He does not yell. He does not make a scene. He holds his peace.
He does turn his face away when Clark leans in. He catches Martha's eye and tries to return her smile. The minister announces them, "Spouse and spouse," and Jonathon stands with Martha to welcome their new son.
It helps, that Lex looks as incredulous as Jonathon feels. Jonathon is so focused in keeping himself under control, he catches only the end of Lex's words.
"-Miracle."
"He is," Jonathon agrees.
Lex's smile is beatific. "I meant that you allowed us to marry."
* * *
Title: Learning on a Curve
Challenge: 32. Past Prompts - 17. Hug
Characters/Pairings: Jonathon, Lex
Warnings: None
Summary: Some actions are harder to take than others.
Lex swallows hard, tries to work his arms. Intuitively, the action is easy. Hugging. In reality, it is far from it. Raise arms (but how high), close them about the torso (but how hard), return pressure (how much, for how long), and release (when).
He expects it to be over before he's worked out the details, but the moment stretches. His hands find purchase. He settles on an amount of pressure. He has time enough to breathe in the scents of hay and sweat and leather. Home. Family.
Jonathon's voice is rough, sincere. "It's good to have you back, son."
no subject
1. Seasonal made me go, "Eep!" at the thought of Clark and Lex drifting apart, and then Lex with a death ray.
2. Brightly Burning was very descriptive. I loved this, a desire for family Lionel himself as destroyed. That's exactly what that bastard did.
3. Let it Snow - I like the idea of a quiet evening, Clark's head in Lex's lap. Very soothing. I'm just sorry that Clark had to leave. I picture him coming back and kissing Lex's resentment away (don't disillusion me if that isn't how it goes *g*)
4. Even Gift Horses Have Teeth - I love the title. That's so creative. Martha is wonderful here, as is your description of Jonathan's gruffness. I liked the smack at the end.
5. Kiss of Lethe - you used the kiss. That's an awesome use of the memory prompt. I'd forgotten all about that ability. I liked Clark's tears, even if it made me sad that he felt he had to do it.
6. En Suite. Ha! Definitely lol here. I enjoyed the thought of Lex burning up there room, and only doing it when he shares a room with Lex.
7. Let Speak Now - Yay! They got married. I love happy endings, even better when there's humor involved as there is here.
8. Learning on a curve - Beautiful. Simply beautiful. The description of all that goes into a hug, as well as the variables involved. The hug not ending so Lex has time to really sink into it and practice. Then the final acceptance he's always craved.
These were awesome. I thoroughly enjoyed them all.
no subject
(You realize, this will forever change the way I review drabble sets. :D)
no subject
Let the games begin :D
2. Oh Lex. I don't blame you - I never have - but I think Clark might.
3. Anyone who really wants to be with Clark will have to contend with scenes like this. I think Lex would wear the wounded air best, though.
4. I have always thought Bo needed a bit of a smack. An oven mitt is too kind though; doesn't Martha have a cast-iron skillet around somewhere? :D Loved this one.
5. Oh, ow. This is a question I return to again and again: a Lex who knows or a Lex who doesn't? You've illustrated the pain of the latter very well.
6. They'd better line up another hotel altogether. I think Lex is going to have some excess damages to cover. Mmm mmm mmm.
7. So pretty, the idea of Lex as beatific. I can just see the halo around his smile.
8. NICE. I love how long you held out, it gave the reveal such punch. Very touching!
Really, really wonderful, all of them.
Team Aliens is totally going to win this one though :D
Re: Let the games begin :D
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed them, and I'm tickled that you went through and hit each one.
Also, everytime someone mentions "Bo" I giggle madly. There has to be crossover fic somewhere, but I'm scared to look for it.
Re: Let the games begin :D
Re: Let the games begin :D
Smallville makes me sad sometimes. They'd have great guest stars, and they'd bring them in ONCE.
In my personal fanon, Jonathon isn't dead, he and 'Uncle Jack' just have amnesia. Eventually, they'll drive through Smallville in the General Lee, and someone will recognize them.
Re: Let the games begin :D
I like your personal fanon. Since you're new to the fandom, have you heard of a new comm called
Re: Let the games begin :D
Joined (tried to?) Smallvilleland, by the way. We'll see what team I end up on. Also, I checked out TeamLuthor (as if I'd be anywhere else) and saw your recruiting plan. I was greatly amused.
Re: Let the games begin :D
Yep, were a wide open bunch of strange people.
Re: Let the games begin :D
I'm a double agent. *dons disguise* And yeah. Now I'm just feeling silly. I need to go revise my Clexmas. :D
Re: Let the games begin :D
Re: Let the games begin :D
Re: Let the games begin :D