COTW 52: Cat and Mouse
Apr. 23rd, 2006 08:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
serafina20Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
The route from Edge City to Smallville skirted the edge of Metropolis. The limo was nearing the last exit of the highway to the city when Lucas asked, "So, am I going to get to meet our dear father?"
Lex raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to?"
"Of course. I mean, the man gave me life, right?"
He checked his watch. If possible, he wanted to get back to Smallville early. That way, he could get Lucas settled, then head over to the Kents to see Clark. Lex was anxious to find out how Clark's first session with the state appointed social worker had gone.
"We could detour and drop in on Dad at work. If he's there."
"Sounds good." Lucas gave Lex a toothy smile. "I've got no pressing engagements."
Lex returned the smile tightly and asked the driver to drive to LuthorCorp. "Why are you so anxious to meet him, if you don't mind my asking?"
Lucas shrugged nonchalantly. "I haven't thought about my biological family since I was ten years old. Now all the sudden, I find out I'm the son of one of the most powerful men in America. And the richest. I admit, my interest is piqued." He raised an eyebrow. "Not that I'm not interested in my brother, too. I've just never given much thought to siblings."
"I understand. What did you know about your biological family?"
"Not much. My mom's name is Rachel. No clue as to why she gave me up. I never knew about my father. I just figured that my mom was young, got knocked up by her boyfriend, and was forced to give me up for my own good. Never could quite figure out why I was never adopted, though." His smile was pale. "I was a cute kid. Didn't have any of the problems a lot of the other kids did, either. I wasn't a crack baby, or born addicted to meth. No health problems to speak of, except for ADHD. But I kept slipping through the system somehow."
"Dad probably had something to do with that. His idea of a social experiment. One son has all the privileges in the world, the other none."
Lucas's eyes gleamed. "You think he knew about me? Where I was?"
"Oh, I'm sure of it," Lex replied. "Despite his protestations, I'm sure he followed your growth as closely as he followed mine."
"Doubt I entertained him half as much," Lucas muttered. Then, his eyes widened. "I've, uh, heard stories. I've been running in similar circles as you lately."
Right. "Oh, really? I was never really a poker player."
"Well, uh. Your exploits are legendary, man. Drugs, sex, acid punk. Quite a legacy. I have some big shoes to fill."
"You're a bit behind. By the time I was your age, I'd already covered a lot of ground."
That toothy smile was back. "Believe me, bro, I'm not exactly an innocent."
"Of that I have no doubt."
They spent the rest of the drive exchanging small talk full of inanities. Still, nothing was completely insignificant. Lex was able to find out some interesting details. Lucas wasn't a Warrior Angel fan, but he knew followed The Punisher. While Lex couldn't stand that particular comic--he preferred his heroes pure and focused on justice rather than vengeance--he was able to ask a few questions to get Lucas really rolling on the subject. His brother's delight in anything bloodthirsty and violent was disturbing.
Lex also learned that Lucas listened to rap and metal. He didn't like to read unless it was a comic, and only went to the movies to prove he could sneak in. Or when he was with a girl he could take advantage of in the dark.
Also, Lucas was so insanely straight that he bored on homophobic. Lex hadn't asked, of course, but his brother's language was peppered with slurs and insults towards gays. Anyone he didn't like, anyone who had ever crossed him, was "probably some fag" who "took it up the ass" like "all the fucking fudge-packers" and therefore "not worth my time, yo."
Lovely piece of work. Lex could hear his hopes for some semblance of a family that wasn't a direct extension of Clark's falling apart with each word that came out of his brother's mouth.
Predictably, Lionel was on the phone, yelling, when Lex and Lucas finally made it to his office. "I want him back from Prague now, Steven. Do you understand me?" His face twisted and he cut off the call and turned.
"Hello, Dad," Lex said, conscious of Lucas a half-step behind. His brother had hung back since they'd exited the elevator; Lex wasn't sure if he was overawed by the sudden luxury he found himself surrounded by, or if he simply didn't want Lex to see his reaction to Lionel.
"Lex," Lionel said. He turned to the door, to Lex's voice. For a moment, he stilled, and Lex had an eerie feeling that Lionel could see both him and Lucas. "To what do I owe this unexpected visit?" The eyes behind the dark glasses went out of focus again.
"You youngest heir, Lucas, wanted to meet you. Lucas. This is your father."
Lucas stepped next to Lex. "Mr. Luthor." The emotion one might expect of someone who was meeting his father for the first time was absent. Then again, Lex had noticed that a lot of emotion seems absent in Lucas. He was either his father's son.... or his mother's. Lex wasn't sure which influence he should be more concerned about.
The effect on Lionel was immediate. Color drained from his face. His mouth went slack. He staggered. Then he reached out and took Lucas by the shoulders. "Lucas." His hands gripped and felt the muscles hidden under Lucas's jacket. "Son." He pulled Lucas into a tight embrace.
It was a very moving performance.
Lucas was discomforted. His back was stiff and his hands clenched and unclenched around Lionel's body. He was clearly trying to pull away and seemed afraid to touch Lionel.
Maybe they were brothers after all.
"Well, uh," Lucas finally said. "Biologically speaking at least, right?"
Lionel's arms loosened. Lucas was out of them and across the room like a shot. Lex watched as Lucas rubbed his arms a couple times. He then adjusted his jacket, pulled the sleeves over his hands, thrust his hands out again, then shoved them into the pockets of his slacks. "I see we share a passion for Asian weaponry," Lucas said. He pulled his hands from his slacks and covered them with his sleeves again.
It was rather painful watching him.
The hands came out once more. Lucas picked up a sword that Lionel had mounted on the wall along with the rest of his Asian weapons. Lex had always loved that display. He'd started collecting similar items recently, only from various samurai movies. To see Lucas handling Lionel's precious collection, something that'd always been forbidden to Lex, made his breath catch. It wouldn't do to have Lucas's introduction to Lionel to include a hard whack across the arms with Lionel's cane.
"Huh," Lucas continued, unaware of the danger he could be in. "By the placement of the dragon, it was to be worn on the right hip. A rare left-handed sword." He glanced at Lex, who shrugged; he'd never used it, despite his left-handedness. "It's fake, though." He'd glanced at the sword before making the pronouncement, but his eyes were on Lex when the words came out of his mouth.
Lex didn't respond to what appeared to be a barb.
Lionel, though, laughed. "That's a very keen observation," he said, his voice full of fatherly pride.
"Especially from someone you told me was dead," Lex couldn't help pointing out. "Imagine my surprise to find Lucas alive and well in Edge City." And in serious trouble, but he didn't say it out loud. Suspicion wasn't proof and until he had proof that he was being played, he didn't want to give anything away.
His father turned away and poured himself a glass of water. "Lucas. Tell my secretary to take you down to the executive dining room. We'll join you shortly. My chef can fix you anything your heart desires."
Lucas started, then shot a look at Lex.
Lex shrugged.
"Don't, um, talk about me behind my back," he said with a half smile. He rubbed his hands down his slacks then left the room.
"So," Lex said after the door had closed. "The prodigal son returns."
"But, uh, unlike his envious brother in the gospel, it looks like you have welcomed Lucas with open arms." Lionel sat on the edge of his desk and cocked his head. Again, it almost looked like he was looking at Lex. Almost, but not quite. The light glinted off his glasses now, obscuring his eyes. "What do you expect to get out of it, Lex?"
Good question. He already had a family in the Kents. He wasn't getting anything from Lionel, no would he ever. And he was trying hard not to want it anymore, too.
And yet, blood was thicker than water. Lex wanted blood. And not in a freaky way. But when he and Clark got married, he wanted to have a Luthor standing by his side.
"Just a brother," he finally answered, trying to make it sound like a lie.
"One who's just turned eighteen, if I remember correctly."
Oh, yeah. *No* idea that Lucas was alive. Especially since Rachel had tried to laid claim on a sixteen year old without ever noticing that her son should be eighteen. But Lionel? Lionel knew.
"That's right."
"And now, being of age, Lucas is entitled to claim his inheritance."
"It was generous of you to set up your living trust so any heirs would automatically get ten percent of your LuthorCorp shares." He hesitated. "How many heirs do you have, anyway?"
Lionel's lips twitched. "Just the two."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Lex narrowed his eyes. "Just a few months ago, you claimed you didn't know about this one."
"Lex."
He let it drop. It was pointless arguing this anyway. He knew that Dad had always known about Lucas, and Lionel knew that Lex knew. Pretending was silly.
"You know, it occurs to me that the ten percent of the shares that goes to Lucas is the exact ten percent that you need to vote me out of power." Lionel laughed. Very fake. "Is that why half my board has suddenly found a myriad of excuses for not taking my calls? Oh my word, you're staging a coup."
Oh fuck. Was he? Or, more to the point, was Damien? Lex hadn't given the idea of voting Lionel out of office one thought. It wasn't what he wanted to do with his life anymore. And Damien was on the same page, at least that's what Lex believed.
However, ever since they'd gotten the information about Lucas, Damien had been... distracted. Lex had been so busy getting everything together for Lucas, he hadn't paid much mind, but now, at Lionel's words, it all came together.
Until Lex knew what game Damien was playing, it was best to go along with all. So, he just smiled an enigmatic smile and said, "Should we join the newest addition to our family for lunch?"
Lionel stood and straightened his tie. "After you, son."
That felt a lot longer when I wrote it. Huh.
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
The route from Edge City to Smallville skirted the edge of Metropolis. The limo was nearing the last exit of the highway to the city when Lucas asked, "So, am I going to get to meet our dear father?"
Lex raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to?"
"Of course. I mean, the man gave me life, right?"
He checked his watch. If possible, he wanted to get back to Smallville early. That way, he could get Lucas settled, then head over to the Kents to see Clark. Lex was anxious to find out how Clark's first session with the state appointed social worker had gone.
"We could detour and drop in on Dad at work. If he's there."
"Sounds good." Lucas gave Lex a toothy smile. "I've got no pressing engagements."
Lex returned the smile tightly and asked the driver to drive to LuthorCorp. "Why are you so anxious to meet him, if you don't mind my asking?"
Lucas shrugged nonchalantly. "I haven't thought about my biological family since I was ten years old. Now all the sudden, I find out I'm the son of one of the most powerful men in America. And the richest. I admit, my interest is piqued." He raised an eyebrow. "Not that I'm not interested in my brother, too. I've just never given much thought to siblings."
"I understand. What did you know about your biological family?"
"Not much. My mom's name is Rachel. No clue as to why she gave me up. I never knew about my father. I just figured that my mom was young, got knocked up by her boyfriend, and was forced to give me up for my own good. Never could quite figure out why I was never adopted, though." His smile was pale. "I was a cute kid. Didn't have any of the problems a lot of the other kids did, either. I wasn't a crack baby, or born addicted to meth. No health problems to speak of, except for ADHD. But I kept slipping through the system somehow."
"Dad probably had something to do with that. His idea of a social experiment. One son has all the privileges in the world, the other none."
Lucas's eyes gleamed. "You think he knew about me? Where I was?"
"Oh, I'm sure of it," Lex replied. "Despite his protestations, I'm sure he followed your growth as closely as he followed mine."
"Doubt I entertained him half as much," Lucas muttered. Then, his eyes widened. "I've, uh, heard stories. I've been running in similar circles as you lately."
Right. "Oh, really? I was never really a poker player."
"Well, uh. Your exploits are legendary, man. Drugs, sex, acid punk. Quite a legacy. I have some big shoes to fill."
"You're a bit behind. By the time I was your age, I'd already covered a lot of ground."
That toothy smile was back. "Believe me, bro, I'm not exactly an innocent."
"Of that I have no doubt."
They spent the rest of the drive exchanging small talk full of inanities. Still, nothing was completely insignificant. Lex was able to find out some interesting details. Lucas wasn't a Warrior Angel fan, but he knew followed The Punisher. While Lex couldn't stand that particular comic--he preferred his heroes pure and focused on justice rather than vengeance--he was able to ask a few questions to get Lucas really rolling on the subject. His brother's delight in anything bloodthirsty and violent was disturbing.
Lex also learned that Lucas listened to rap and metal. He didn't like to read unless it was a comic, and only went to the movies to prove he could sneak in. Or when he was with a girl he could take advantage of in the dark.
Also, Lucas was so insanely straight that he bored on homophobic. Lex hadn't asked, of course, but his brother's language was peppered with slurs and insults towards gays. Anyone he didn't like, anyone who had ever crossed him, was "probably some fag" who "took it up the ass" like "all the fucking fudge-packers" and therefore "not worth my time, yo."
Lovely piece of work. Lex could hear his hopes for some semblance of a family that wasn't a direct extension of Clark's falling apart with each word that came out of his brother's mouth.
Predictably, Lionel was on the phone, yelling, when Lex and Lucas finally made it to his office. "I want him back from Prague now, Steven. Do you understand me?" His face twisted and he cut off the call and turned.
"Hello, Dad," Lex said, conscious of Lucas a half-step behind. His brother had hung back since they'd exited the elevator; Lex wasn't sure if he was overawed by the sudden luxury he found himself surrounded by, or if he simply didn't want Lex to see his reaction to Lionel.
"Lex," Lionel said. He turned to the door, to Lex's voice. For a moment, he stilled, and Lex had an eerie feeling that Lionel could see both him and Lucas. "To what do I owe this unexpected visit?" The eyes behind the dark glasses went out of focus again.
"You youngest heir, Lucas, wanted to meet you. Lucas. This is your father."
Lucas stepped next to Lex. "Mr. Luthor." The emotion one might expect of someone who was meeting his father for the first time was absent. Then again, Lex had noticed that a lot of emotion seems absent in Lucas. He was either his father's son.... or his mother's. Lex wasn't sure which influence he should be more concerned about.
The effect on Lionel was immediate. Color drained from his face. His mouth went slack. He staggered. Then he reached out and took Lucas by the shoulders. "Lucas." His hands gripped and felt the muscles hidden under Lucas's jacket. "Son." He pulled Lucas into a tight embrace.
It was a very moving performance.
Lucas was discomforted. His back was stiff and his hands clenched and unclenched around Lionel's body. He was clearly trying to pull away and seemed afraid to touch Lionel.
Maybe they were brothers after all.
"Well, uh," Lucas finally said. "Biologically speaking at least, right?"
Lionel's arms loosened. Lucas was out of them and across the room like a shot. Lex watched as Lucas rubbed his arms a couple times. He then adjusted his jacket, pulled the sleeves over his hands, thrust his hands out again, then shoved them into the pockets of his slacks. "I see we share a passion for Asian weaponry," Lucas said. He pulled his hands from his slacks and covered them with his sleeves again.
It was rather painful watching him.
The hands came out once more. Lucas picked up a sword that Lionel had mounted on the wall along with the rest of his Asian weapons. Lex had always loved that display. He'd started collecting similar items recently, only from various samurai movies. To see Lucas handling Lionel's precious collection, something that'd always been forbidden to Lex, made his breath catch. It wouldn't do to have Lucas's introduction to Lionel to include a hard whack across the arms with Lionel's cane.
"Huh," Lucas continued, unaware of the danger he could be in. "By the placement of the dragon, it was to be worn on the right hip. A rare left-handed sword." He glanced at Lex, who shrugged; he'd never used it, despite his left-handedness. "It's fake, though." He'd glanced at the sword before making the pronouncement, but his eyes were on Lex when the words came out of his mouth.
Lex didn't respond to what appeared to be a barb.
Lionel, though, laughed. "That's a very keen observation," he said, his voice full of fatherly pride.
"Especially from someone you told me was dead," Lex couldn't help pointing out. "Imagine my surprise to find Lucas alive and well in Edge City." And in serious trouble, but he didn't say it out loud. Suspicion wasn't proof and until he had proof that he was being played, he didn't want to give anything away.
His father turned away and poured himself a glass of water. "Lucas. Tell my secretary to take you down to the executive dining room. We'll join you shortly. My chef can fix you anything your heart desires."
Lucas started, then shot a look at Lex.
Lex shrugged.
"Don't, um, talk about me behind my back," he said with a half smile. He rubbed his hands down his slacks then left the room.
"So," Lex said after the door had closed. "The prodigal son returns."
"But, uh, unlike his envious brother in the gospel, it looks like you have welcomed Lucas with open arms." Lionel sat on the edge of his desk and cocked his head. Again, it almost looked like he was looking at Lex. Almost, but not quite. The light glinted off his glasses now, obscuring his eyes. "What do you expect to get out of it, Lex?"
Good question. He already had a family in the Kents. He wasn't getting anything from Lionel, no would he ever. And he was trying hard not to want it anymore, too.
And yet, blood was thicker than water. Lex wanted blood. And not in a freaky way. But when he and Clark got married, he wanted to have a Luthor standing by his side.
"Just a brother," he finally answered, trying to make it sound like a lie.
"One who's just turned eighteen, if I remember correctly."
Oh, yeah. *No* idea that Lucas was alive. Especially since Rachel had tried to laid claim on a sixteen year old without ever noticing that her son should be eighteen. But Lionel? Lionel knew.
"That's right."
"And now, being of age, Lucas is entitled to claim his inheritance."
"It was generous of you to set up your living trust so any heirs would automatically get ten percent of your LuthorCorp shares." He hesitated. "How many heirs do you have, anyway?"
Lionel's lips twitched. "Just the two."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Lex narrowed his eyes. "Just a few months ago, you claimed you didn't know about this one."
"Lex."
He let it drop. It was pointless arguing this anyway. He knew that Dad had always known about Lucas, and Lionel knew that Lex knew. Pretending was silly.
"You know, it occurs to me that the ten percent of the shares that goes to Lucas is the exact ten percent that you need to vote me out of power." Lionel laughed. Very fake. "Is that why half my board has suddenly found a myriad of excuses for not taking my calls? Oh my word, you're staging a coup."
Oh fuck. Was he? Or, more to the point, was Damien? Lex hadn't given the idea of voting Lionel out of office one thought. It wasn't what he wanted to do with his life anymore. And Damien was on the same page, at least that's what Lex believed.
However, ever since they'd gotten the information about Lucas, Damien had been... distracted. Lex had been so busy getting everything together for Lucas, he hadn't paid much mind, but now, at Lionel's words, it all came together.
Until Lex knew what game Damien was playing, it was best to go along with all. So, he just smiled an enigmatic smile and said, "Should we join the newest addition to our family for lunch?"
Lionel stood and straightened his tie. "After you, son."
That felt a lot longer when I wrote it. Huh.
