alexander. (luthoran) wrote in thedoorway, @ 2012-12-17 01:53:00 |
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Lex had been in New York since summer and still hadn’t quite gotten used to the sudden population bursts. This wasn’t the New York he knew. There was no branch of Luthorcorp here and while that was a big letdown, it also meant that there seemed to be no sign of Lionel in this reality. Even starting over had a silver lining.
Today yielded yet another influx and unable to set aside his curious nature, Lex began to walk the floors of Potts Tower, weaving in and out of the bustle with a practiced navigation. It wasn’t until he saw a familiar frame that he slowed his pace.
“Clark?” The greeting is said as a question, a hope filled excitement tempered by caution. Clark had changed.
Everything was overwhelming. The sights and sounds of New York City gave an assault on Clark's already super senses, and he had to focus even more so than usual to keep relaxed. It had been years since that happened to him, but he blamed a new New York City, a new universe, a new -- something. He didn't know what to think or do. He and Lois had been moments away from getting married and then he'd been sucked into another dimension. It hadn't happened like it had with the Phantom Zone though, and this time he could see no explanation. And no way out.
He left Lois in their new apartment, saying he needed to go for a walk. He considered a trip to the roof but what would that have done? He thought about running off to find Metropolis or Smallville but then he realized someone said they didn't exist. He didn't know anyone here, hadn't run into anyone he recognized besides Lois, and he tried to tell himself that everything would be fine. They would be fine.
A familiar voice said his name, and he turned. "Lex," he said, standing up straighter and squaring his shoulders. He even crossed his arms.
Crossing his arms? Clark’s demeanor continues to be different to say the least. Most people would take a step back in caution, but Lex takes a step forward, peering at Clark with an unrestrained curiosity. Only a few months ago he would have walked briskly toward his friend with open arms and a smile, but it didn’t seem like the gesture would be well received.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Lex begins. It’s a genuine sentiment and from a person who finds little cause to smile, Clark makes the the corners of his mouth turn upward. “Can I help you with anything? I’ve been here a while.” The familiar instinct to help the Kent boy has already kicked in. Lex realizes after he’s already asked the question that he’s unsure if this time his help would be wanted, let alone accepted.
Clark tipped his head to the side just a bit, as if taking a long look at Lex Luthor. He found him looking younger, less hard than the last time he'd seen him. In the briefing about this world, Clark had been told that some of his contemporaries might be from some different life points or something -- they said "canon" points? Clark wasn't sure what that meant. But the last thing he expected was to find a less that was not, well, Lex. Or, rather, he was the Lex Clark remembered he liked, and not the Lex who changed things. Or, at least, Clark thought that for a moment but he didn't believe it. Lex always was good at different personas, being someone he wanted others to see and like.
"You have? How long? What's the last thing you remember?" It occurred to Clark after asking that he shouldn't have, that he was showing his hand too soon. But it was too late to take it back.
Lex drops his gaze, glancing down with only his eyes, keeping the rest of his posture perfectly erect. It was true. The difference wasn’t just physical. One of the most frustrating things about Clark was that he had the tendency to jump to the worst conclusions and stick by them. Yet it also was the flipside of strong convictions, a quality Lex had always admired in his friend. He’d grown used to others believing the worst in him, but Lex so strongly didn’t want to count Clark among “the rest.” Clark was special, someone who believed in him when no one else did. Lex had seen their friendship as a lasting one. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to know why Clark looked at him in a way that made him feel uneasy.
“Clark,” Lex said softly, a hint of questioning in his voice. “Before I got here you saved me. I was on a hit list of someone from your school. Van McNulty. He later went after you. We were in it together, Clark.” The repeated use of his friend’s name makes him feel better somehow. “Like I hope we can be now.”
"Van McNulty?" Clark echoed, shaking his head again. That didn't make any sense, because the last time he'd heard the name Van McNulty had been back when he was still in high school. He looked away from Lex as his mind raced. "You --" Clark stopped. The last person he thought he could trust was Lex, and this couldn't be any different.
"How long have you been here?" he asked. He had learned quickly that most anyone could pull up information here on anyone else if one wanted to. This Lex could be anyone, from anywhere, and he could simply be using the internet and its database to convince Clark otherwise.
“July 11th,” Lex replies immediately. It’s a jarring enough event to remember the anniversary. “I work in the biochem labs for SHIELD.” His eyes narrow in a slight squint, studying Clark as he would an entirely new person. “The Clark I know doesn’t have me prove myself to him. I do have things to prove in this lifetime, but never to you.”
One thing Lex would never allow of himself again was to be a victim. He wanted to welcome Clark with joy but now he was placed on the defensive. If Clark didn’t trust him, why did he have to trust Clark? “How do I know you’re who you say you are? Or maybe you’re in another stealing motorcycles and running off to Metropolis phase.”
Clark tried to relax, but this Lex was a far cry from the Lex of his recent memory. So much had happened. Lex had changed. Clark himself had changed. They had been through so much together and then so much tore them apart and put an awful rift in their relationship that Clark knew -- he knew -- it could never be repaired. Well, at least it could never be repaired in their world. This was a different world. A world in which the click of a mouse would give Lex all those answers to which he sought for years and years. Clark didn't want him doing that.
Is that what this would come down to? Would Clark have to, while cautious, revert to a previous relationship with Lex merely to keep him at bay from researching everything there is to know about Clark Kent? It might be worth it, in the long run. "It's just been more time, Lex," he said carefully. "I'm still the same Clark Kent. I'm just from a point later in our timeline."
Lex took in what Clark said, giving every word merit. He’d heard of this kind of thing happening: those who know each other finding themselves here at different points in their life. It explains why clark looks older, because he is older. But other things besides appearance change over time.
There’s a question that has to be asked and though Lex doesn’t want to ask it, he steels himself anyway. He locks eyes with Clark, almost defying him to lie. Folding his hands in front of him Lex takes a casual stance while asking something of a juxtaposing gravity. “Am I your friend?” It’s a simple question, yet the answer and interpretation will tell him much about Clark’s current state.
Well, that certainly wasn't a question that Clark expected, and he was at a loss for how to answer it. Not at a loss completely, more tongue-tied that it was being asked of him. He tried to remember what Chloe had said, that this was a different Lex, and Clark wanted to believe that. "We haven't been friends for a few years, Lex," Clark answered carefully, trying to keep his voice light, so as to eliminate the curiosity or the next question, which will inevitably be: why aren't we?
He’d expected this answer, but that didn’t make hearing it any easier. From the hesitation that Clark had from the very beginning, this couldn’t have been something so simple as a person moving away. Reunions were usually happy things.
“I’d rather not know what happened between us to cause this,” Lex replied, not asking the question Clark had expected but not satisfied either. “I can’t force things to be the way I’d like them to be, but I would like to ask you to keep an open mind. Whatever has happened, I haven’t been there yet, and I really don’t want to.”
Clark really hoped that everything Lex was saying was the truth. Sure, Lex looked younger, less hard than Clark remembered, but still -- Clark was wary. He nodded. "I think I can manage that," he said carefully. After only a moment's hesitation, he reached a hand out, offering it to Lex.
After the words spoken between them this was something Lex hadn’t expected. As unpleasant as it was to think about, he had prepared himself to do his best to turn away and move on. Though things won’t be as he remembered them, any form of friendship with someone he’d clung onto so strongly was too much to release forever. With a small smile Lex stepped forward, extending his own hand as well and clasping it solidly against Clark’s.
“Thank you.” Resisting the familiar urge to clap Clark on the back as he had done so many times before, Lex released the shake and took a step back, slipping both hands into his trouser pockets. “I hope to see you around, Clark.”